I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! NOR DO I OWN SHIKA!
Chapter 4 – Back On The Run Review
I took shelter in the trees for the night. Sleeping lightly with silent jutsu traps around my camp, I waited for daybreak to arrive. It came unusually fast.
After I took down camp, ate a small portion of the food Kaharu gave me, and cleaned myself up, I headed toward the 'Wind Country'. There I would go to the Hidden Sand Village. Maybe I'd find help there. Hopefully. At least I hoped for a comfy place to rest…
Chapter 5 – The Hidden Sand Village
It took me two weeks, but I finally made it. I was standing outside the gates if the Hidden Sand Village. I only knew three people here. They happen to be the 'Sand Siblings'. Temari. The Wind ninja; Kankuro, the puppet master ninja; and Gaara, the sand wielder, also known as the Kazekage. The Kazekage is the leader of the village. I STILL can't believe Gaara became Kazekage. He is only 13 years old!
I took a deep breath before wandering into the village. There, I saw a sight that took me home. The ninja's and villagers were all communication and interacting with each other. I wandered in further.
A hand settled on my now-tense shoulder. "Well if it isn't Shikamaru Nara…" the feminine voice drawled. I turned to see Temari standing right in front of me. Her blue eyes clashing with my brown ones. "WOW! You have changed in less then a year!"
I gave her a calm smile. "Hello, Temari." My brown hair blew gently in the air current surrounding her. "You know?" I questioned softly.
She frowned grimly. "Yeah…come with me, Nara." I allowed her to lead me to a small house. Stopping in front, she murmured, "This is my house. We can talk here without being heard."
Once we settled in her living room, she questioned me sharply. Like, why I left, how long I've been gone, how I made it this far, etc.
"Why did you come here?"
Her quiet question caught me off-guard. "Well…I thought that maybe you could help me figure out what to do…and maybe," I mumbled, "Help me out with shelter for tonight."
"Shikamaru…I wish I cou-"
A swirl of sand interrupted her. When it cleared, there stood her infamous little brother.
"GAARA! What are you doing here?" Temari cried, standing protectively in front of me.
He gazed sharply at her. "I won't hurt him. Trust me, he's the reason I came. I sensed him and remembered what the Hokage told me. It isn't bad, so I think I'll help him."
I stared openly at him. There were some thankful changes in his appearance. His shaggy, short red hair was a bit longer and the marks around his eyes were faint and thin. He still bears the look of an insomniac, though.
Temari's mouth dropped. "Help him?" she blanked.
Gaara smiled faintly at his sister's openness. "Yes…I know what happened…" he turned to face me. "I would like to help you, Shikamaru."
To say I was surprised was taking light of my real feeling! This person standing in front of me, offering to help was different now. He used to be bloodthirsty and silent. Now, though, he will speak when need be, which is a lot since he is the Kazekage.
"How?" Temari sharply asked. It was obvious that she doubted her brother's sincere words. "How are we supposed to help him? Start a war on the leaf ninja's?"
Gaara grinned sheepishly. "No…we learned that the hard way. They're WAY to strong. And besides, it's not worth starting a war, if they don't even know he's here!" His words were wise and telling. "I say we give him a place to rest and a path to walk…"
After awhile of talking, it was decided. I would get some rest at Gaara's (Since NOBODY would DARE to go in there uninvited) before going to there the grass village. There the Tsuchikage would help me as a favor for Gaara.