A New Day!
A Naruto-Neko original
Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of this. You should know that if it's on fan fic, it's not by the actual creator.
Chapter 5
The atmosphere in Konoha was intense. Sakura looked up at the sky, and squinted. No, it wasn't an actual coming storm. She'd felt this feeling before. When Ume was mad, the atmosphere always felt heavy and oppressive. Sakura laughed at the memory. Ume wasn't around; she was training somewhere, not in Konohagakure.
However, there was a disturbance near the front gate. Sakura heard a shout of "Naruto!" Sakura wasted no time in running to the gate. However, as she drew near, the atmosphere grew thicker. Sakura spotted Naruto, holding a knocked out Sasuke in his arms. She started toward them, but she noticed violet eyes and raven black hair next to Naruto and Sasuke- that could mean only one thing; Ume was back, and she was not happy.
The crowd was loud and happy, but when Ume saw Sakura, there was a sudden, deep, frightening silence. Ume twitched, and the crowd parted in front of her out of fear.
"SAKURAAAAAA!" She screamed. She sprinted to Sakura, and held her up by the collar. "What the hell were you thinking, letting them run off and try to plot revenge against Madara?" Ume hissed. There were flames visibly leaping out of Ume's eyes. Sakura sweat-dropped.
"I was at the hospital!" Sakura said, trying to get free of Ume's death grip.
"Horrible excuse, Sakura. You should know by now where they always go, too. I thought you loved Sasuke!" hissed Ume, and she threw Sakura at the two run-aways. "Heal them," she demanded.
Ume grabbed Gaara, who was staring blankly at the scene, and turned out of the village, before she could even get ramen.
"Ume-chan! Come back!" yelled Naruto after them, but it was too late.
"Visit me sometime, Naruto. I'll be in Suna for a while. Let Tsunade know for me." That was all Ume said in response. People in Konoha knew she had a temper, but they'd never seen her that mad before. They all were stunned.
Sasuke opened his eyes, and looked at Sakura. "What? What did she mean by, 'I thought you loved Sasuke?'" Sakura sweat-dropped, and Sasuke smirked and passed out again.
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"Are you ok, Ume?" asked Gaara as they jumped branch-to-branch in the Konoha forest.
Ume's eyes were bright with anger still. "Hai," was all she said.
Ume was thinking about how pointless revenge was. How she would never try for it. Revenge ruined lives daily, causing a domino effect. She wished she could end it. It was a source of pain, only caused by pride and man's obsession with equality. When she told Gaara this, he looked at her a little differently. Even though she had a horrible temper, she was wise for her years.
Ume didn't seem to notice that, though. She was determined to do something. What it was, Gaara could only guess, but he had a feeling it wasn't revenge. A couple years before, Ume, Naruto, and Sakura had mostly saved Sasuke from revenge, so she was dead against it. Well, it had to do with Suna, so he guessed he'd find out eventually.
They spent the 3 day trip in silence. Ume seemed to have endless food on her, so they ate fine, but it was still awkward. Ume still seemed to be troubled. When the two got back to Suna, Gaara told her to come with him to the Kazekage's mansion. Ume smiled politely and followed.
When Gaara arrived, there was initial fuss and chaos because of his absence for a week, counting the 6 days required for travel between Suna and Konoha. But, Gaara finally managed to get everyone out so he could talk to Ume in private, in his office.
"What are your plans in Suna?" he asked, looking directly at Ume for the first time since the first night she arrived in Suna.
"To avoid killing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura." She answered bluntly. She looked straight back at him.
"How long do you plan to stay," asked Gaara, "the counsel is nosey and curious, and I might as well save a lot of trouble and ask you now."
"As long as it takes for me to be able to keep them out of trouble." Her voice was strained. This said a lot about Ume, right in one sentence. Gaara told her she could go, since she had a hard time this past week. He also told her there was an apartment she could stay in, near the mansion. One of the guards showed her how to get there, then Ume disappeared into the night.
Gaara sat quietly in his office, looking out into the sunset in Suna. He was glad he didn't leave Ume and actually went with her to find Naruto. At least it got him out of the mansion for a week. Through the window, Gaara could see a head of long, dark hair jumping roof to roof, and stopping at a hill. Gaara smiled to himself as Ume looked up at the moon.
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Ume threw a rock at the moon, but gravity grabbed a hold of the rock, as always, and brought it back to Earth. The rock landed harmlessly on a patch of grass. Ume had no idea what she was going to do. She was tired of traveling, and she couldn't go back to Konoha, because she was still so mad. She'd said she was going to stay in Suna without thinking, though. What was I thinking? She thought constantly.
Ume looked towards the Kazekage's mansion. She wondered why in the world Gaara had asked her for help. Sakura should've said something. Ume put her head in her hands. My life is such a mess, she thought to herself. Crickets didn't chirp here; it was too dry and desolate in Suna. Ume missed the soft chirping of crickets while she was away from home, but she hadn't stayed long out of fury.
The moon was full, seeming to touch the tops of the buildings in the nearby village. She sighed, thinking of the events of the past week.
A voice startled her; it came from behind. "You know, you could go back to Konoha. I think at least Naruto would forgive you." It was Gaara.
"Why do you always seem to… appear? Why don't you leave me alone?"
Gaara looked at the large moon, too. His demon-like eyes were calm. Ume turned her head to look at him. Gaara took in a deep breath. "I don't know, actually. At first, it was because I needed your help to find Naruto… I was worried, and I knew you two knew each other. But now, I don't know. You looked like you needed someone to talk to, I guess."
Ume stared at him in surprise. Gaara never talks this much, not in the week she'd known him. After that, they just sat and watched the stars. At some point, Ume fell asleep on her back. It was late at night, so Gaara carried her, bridal-style, to the apartment that had been prepared for her. He left her on the bed.
When Ume woke that morning, she was at first confused, but then realized Gaara must have carried her there last night. She was embarrassed for a moment, but she was kind of pleased, too. She stepped outside, and felt that she didn't need to know what she was going to do. It was a new day.
AN: OK, this may or may not be the end of this fan fic. This will most likely have a sequel, though.