Chapter 36
On her way back from the market, Temari, carrying two bags full of provisions particularly Gaara's favourite gizzard, still detects the same presence as the ones she felt before following her on her way to market almost an hour ago.
She has her weapon on her back but a Konoha nin attacking two Suna nins might be frowned upon by the bystanders. Striding with nonchalant gait, she leads her stalkers to a less populated area then, without looking behind her, Temari puts the two bags on the ground and without warning she unhooks her big metallic folding fan from her back and performs a wind jutsu.
In response, the two shinobis that have been following her merge into one and seem to increase their weight a thousand fold; the strong gust of wind from Temari's fan doesn't even push them back. The combined shinobi is now an eight foot, very stout giant and he guffaws at Temari's attempt to throw him off.
Temari realizes that, with the shinobi's ability, he will be able to come close and assault her. Her strategy is to make sure that the enemy won't have that opportunity. After all any attack thrown from a distance will be easier to deflect rather than a close strike aimed at her body.
Snarling at the smirking enemy, Temari has never been more glad at the moment that she's a long range fighter. She knows she can't lose in this fight. No, more than that, she should not get hurt in this fight. With that plan in mind, she begins another attack. Temari bites her thumb and summons Kamatari, lending her a stronger blast of wind.
The wind howls towards the enemy, engulfing the giant Suna shinobi in a mass of sand storm, but when the sand settles, Temari discovers that she has only budged the enemy backwards half a step. The enemy's body has sprouted a thick heavy armour that repelled Temari's wind jutsu.
"My turn!" the enemy announces, laughing loudly.
Temari watches as the Suna nin rushes towards her. For a shinobi that must weigh more than a ton, he moves fast, not as fast as Lee but fast enough.
Temari moves backward but she recognizes the futility of trying to elude the enemy. She has to come up with another tactic to defeat the bastard before he reaches her with his huge destructive fists.
Perspiration dripping from her forehead, with the enemy gaining less distance from her, it is then that she remembers Shikamaru's strategy the first time she met him. Still running, she uses the looseness of the sand beneath her as she suddenly disappears underground.
The enemy nin makes random punches on the ground looking for Temari, with his increased weight the holes bored on the loose earth are deep and after each impact what's left are massive crater like dents on the sand floor.
However, when the next time the nin throws another blow on the ground, he topples within it. Temari, using air to slowly separate the particles of sand, has loosen the tiny grains around the nin and now his weight works against him as he drops into a quicksand.
Temari uses that split second that she has caught the enemy unaware to her advantage. Re-appearing quite a distance in front of her enemy, she waves her fan. With the rush of wind, the nin's eyes are covered with sand, making him temporarily blind. The enemy then flails as he uses his hands to protect his eyes from the combined wind and sand attack while trying to stay upright in the quagmire.
Temari throws several kunais with exploding tags towards the caught giant Suna nin.
When the smoke clears, the enemy shinobi has separated into two different persons.
Temari then with her wind jutsu, throws the two shinobis away from each other, not allowing the pair of them to combine again. And after several air strikes that lash and churn her enemies, Temari hits one with a fatal blow.
The remaining shinobi looks at the blond kunoichi with petrified amazement in his eyes.
Temari glares at him as she shouts a warning, "Tell your superior his secret is safe. But if he continues with this, it won't be. Now go!"
Panting, Temari watches the nin carry the body of his partner. She doesn't need to kill him too; the Kazekage will after he has delivered her message.
Her father's immediate acquiesce is now shown for what it is—a plot to dispose of her without owing Konoha a concrete explanation. If she dies here, right now, they could just announce she has repaid the Kazekage's good will with spying in his home.
Temari's hand creeps towards her stomach. She will not let that happen.
TBC
~4/5.10/14/11AF~
A/N: Thanks to Lollipop-Mania and Jxmorphine for making me feel inspired again...
Guys, check Lollipop-Mania's community When Temari Kissed Her Guide...it's a recommendation lists of awesome ShikaTema stories!
Sandanio! Congrats on your first story!
Ciel Orihara, my beta! Two new chappies coming right up ~haha this is a note to self actually~
And guys, I know it's short but I would still love to hear your comments ~it's my energy bar~ Thanks!