A/N: The rest of the chapters are going to take a little longer to post, for any of you who've stuck with the story so far. I'm starting a few new ideas which are all listed in my profile, although I promise to keep this story moving. This chapter marks the beginning of Part 2, which will feature (among other things) the Chunin Exams. It will also introduce my favorite Naruto character at the very end – extra points if you can guess before reading. As always, please read and review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in this story.
Part 2
Chapter 8: Room to Grow
The clouds over Konoha were breaking. Small slants of light peeked through the dark curtain overhead and reached the city. It was barely dawn and still cool, but grandmothers and grandfathers consulted their aching joints and confirmed – a sunny day was in store.
Outside the walls a clinging mist was just beginning to subside, unable to retain its substance with the coming of the sun. Asuma smiled, leaping down from his perch in the largest tree in Training Area 5. It was a good day for new beginnings.
Three indistinct shapes came into view at the end of the clearing, slowly approaching and becoming more solid in form. Ino, Choji and Shikamaru came to a stop before their sensei. The mist still obscured their form somewhat, but he could tell they all stood tall. Their eyes held the same sense of purpose.
"You're early," Asuma noted in a detached tone. They said nothing, only looked back at him with determination. He walked forward until he could see them all clearly, then went to his knees in a bow expressing his great regret.
"I owe you three my deepest apologies. I left you alone, to face an enemy far beyond anything we could have expected you to defeat. If you wish to train under another sensei, I will understand. I betrayed your trust, and a good man died because of it." Asuma bowed his head humbly, waiting for their decision.
Three pairs of hands gripped his arms and shoulders, pulling him up to his feet. They hugged him tightly, and for a while the four stood wrapped together silently in the dissolving mist.
At last they stepped apart. Asuma wiped an arm hard across his face. Soldiers don't cry, he told himself sternly. It was only condensation from the mist. Shikamaru cleared his throat, and Asuma saw he was having a similar condensation problem.
"I think," Shikamaru began softly, "that we all have regrets from our mission. We all could have done more, given more of ourselves. We came early today to tell you that. We don't blame you, and we don't blame ourselves anymore either. Now we start over, and we won't make the same mistake again. And there isn't anyone we would rather have lead us than you, sensei." Choji and Ino nodded, and Asuma felt blessed beyond words.
"Thank you. Your trust is a gift I treasure more than anything else. I also have something for you three." Asuma took out the small felt pouch that he had picked up that morning from the jeweler's.
"Have you ever noticed that your parents wear matching earrings? It is a long tradition, going back many generations. When young shinobi of the Akimichi, Nara and Yamanaka clans are formally recognized as adults, a member of the Sarutobi clans gives them the earrings. They mark the skill of those shinobi, and more importantly, symbolize the ties of friendship between the clans. I have consulted with your parents, and they agree with me that you deserve these earrings. You performed well beyond what would have been expected of a chunin team, and furthermore you all proved yourselves willing to sacrifice your lives to protect others. So take these earrings, and wear them with pride."
They took the three pearl earrings from Asuma with dignity. Asuma noticed Choji glancing up hesitantly, and then back down.
"Yes, Choji? Is there something you have to say?"
"I… uh, would it be possible…" Choji took a deep breath, squared his shoulders and looked up to meet Asuma's eyes squarely. He put his hand into his belt pouch and brought out a yellow object that glittered even in the limited early morning light.
"Toshiyo-san gave me this brooch, during the mission. He said it was to remember him by, and to thank me for encouraging him to find his daughter. But it's too fragile to take on missions. Can we take three of the rubies from the brooch and set them in the earrings? That way, it would be like he was always with us, and he'd know we were keeping his memory alive…" Choji trailed off, as his emotions caused him to choke up.
Asuma's heart filled with pride. "Are you sure you want to do that, Choji? Toshiyo gave the brooch to you."
"But we all owe him a debt, and he meant a lot to all three of us. Besides, he always had the most fun when he was watching us fight. This way, he'll be able to give us tips on our technique all the time." Choji gave a tearful smile, remembering the crusty old man shouting advice at Shikamaru and Ino while they sparred.
Asuma glanced at the other two genin, who clearly agreed with Choji's request.
"I'll have the earrings set tonight, Choji." Asuma gathered up the rings and put them back in the pouch. Choji's brooch he wrapped carefully and placed in his own belt pouch.
"Let me just say, I am so proud of all of you. You are true shinobi of the Leaf."
The silence stretched out, finally broken when Asuma cracked his knuckles loudly.
"Ok team, that's enough blubbering for one day. I hope you saved your energy, because today you're going to need it!" Team 10 was immediately alert, eyes gleaming and muscles tensed for action.
Shikamaru raised a questioning hand.
"About that, sensei. We were hoping you could expand our training program a bit. We can work on stamina outside of our time with you. We want to learn more techniques, so that when our specialized jutsus aren't enough we have more options in the field."
Asuma nodded. So they were going to begin training on their own. He could live with that.
"All right, then." He felt the corners of his mouth curl upward. It was his first grin in what felt like an age. "I think it's time we started playing with fire."
oOoOo
Inoichi squatted on his heels, trying to reach into the rosebush to pick up his clippers without getting pricked. Damn it! He jerked his hand back, sucking on the spot where the thorns had drawn blood. He stared resentfully at the flowers. Surely his wife wouldn't notice if he set one little rosebush on fire…
"Hello?" came a light feminine voice.
Inoichi whirled around in consternation. How the hell did she know? She's not the one who's supposed to be able to read minds! But it was Ino and not his wife who was moving up and down the aisles of flowers in search of him. She sounded more like her mother every day, and was looking more like her too.
Ino stopped in front of her father, and, to his complete shock, gave him a low bow.
"Sir, I understand that mind-reading is a subtle and dangerous power. I understand that I am too young to fully comprehend that danger. Yet I humbly ask that you teach me." She straightened and met her father's eyes, surprising him with a look that spoke of grief and regret.
"The world will not wait for me to develop at the pace you set for me, father."
Ah. This was in reaction to that tragic mission. Inoichi remembered his shock when his beloved daughter had come back from the hospital, covered in blood and staggering from exhaustion after carrying her unconscious teammate for miles. It seems his daughter had changed. He wondered what would come of this.
"Understand, Ino, that what you are asking has never been done before. It is irresponsible and foolhardy to send you into territory for which you are not prepared. Are you sure you wish to go down this road, knowing what the consequences could be?"
There was no hint of hesitation in her eyes as she nodded.
"Then I will respect your wishes. But Ino, if you're looking for another trick like Mind Possession jutsu, this is not it. This is a power that takes years to master, and is often next to useless in a battle. The results are invaluable once you attain true skill, but I warn you – the path is long and frustrating." No reaction, only quiet acceptance.
"Then let us begin now. Prepare your mind. I will show you what it means to be a Yamanaka."
oOoOo
Less than a week after beginning Team 10's new training, Asuma was astounded at the results. His genin were pushing themselves beyond their limits without complaint, and it showed. Training Area 5 was a wasteland of churned earth and scorched branches. Several of the smaller trees were severed at the base, where sharp winds laced with chakra had sliced through cleanly.
Asuma had begun training with Shikamaru's request in mind; specifically, that he teach them a wider range of techniques. During their fight with the escaped convicts his genin had relied on the signature techniques of their clan, and found them to be underdeveloped and unable to counter more powerful ninjutsu. Asuma had decided to teach them area effect attacks and element manipulation. Earth, fire, water and wind: the four elements forming the base for most ninjutsu.
They quickly mastered the basic techniques of all four elements. Small fireballs, spikes of earth, jets of water and strong gusts of wind were all part of their arsenal now. Since then they moved on to develop an affinity with the element they felt most comfortable with. Asuma hadn't told them yet, but his training was going to develop their affinity with a single element until they were ready to learn Change in Chakra Nature.
His own trench knives were propelled with chakra that contained the essence of wind, and could cut through solid rock with ease. That was the power he intended to give his genin, once they knew which element would fuse most easily with their chakra.
Choji's strength and enormous amounts of chakra had paid off most clearly with earth-style jutsu. He could send shields of earth in different directions and generate massive shockwaves ripping through the ground. After taking one of his smaller soldier pills, he managed to create a rift five meters deep and ten across that stretched all the way across the training field. It had taken him considerably longer to put the earth back where it had come from.
Ino was showing great dexterity with wind, sending layered gusts one attacks one after another that made it almost impossible to dodge. During one memorable bout Choji had underestimated the range of her attacks. The powerful wind clipped him on the head, instantly knocking him unconscious. Ino's power was lacking, especially in the other three elements, but the control she exhibited over her techniques boded well for the future.
Shikamaru had surprised Asuma. He had thought that, given Shikamaru's passive attitude toward life, water would be his preferred element. Shikamaru had surprised him by immediately gravitating toward fire. The strength of his techniques, often pushing the limits of what his chakra reserves allowed, indicated a deep passion that Asuma had never before detected in Shikamaru. Not only that, but the complaints Asuma had gotten used to hearing during training had disappeared. Asuma wondered if the lazy genin that had caused him so much frustration was gone for good.
Asuma called an end to the day, but didn't let them leave for their homes. Although recently, he remembered, his team had gone no further than the street stalls nearest Konoha's front gate before returning to the training field. Their dedication only seemed to grow the more they sensed themselves improving.
"I have some very important news," he told them. "In a short time Konoha will host this year's Chunin Exams. Genin from many different shinobi villages will be coming here to test their skills, and attempt to be recognized and promoted to chunin. Although you are first-years, I believe you are ready to take this test." He waited a moment for this statement to take effect, then added with a mock growl, "Do not disappoint me."
In truth, Asuma was looking forward to the Chunin exams with an almost unholy glee. He had purposefully stopped his team from sparring with older genin and chunin for exactly this purpose. His team would set out entirely on their own, and Asuma couldn't wait to watch from the sidelines. He expected that more than a few of his fellow jonin would be greatly surprised at what they saw. He hoped he could entice them into betting some money on the outcome beforehand. Still, he made sure not to let his confidence show. They would need their edge; after all, no one knew exactly who the other villages would be sending. And with the Sound village involved, the Chunin exams promised to get bloody.
"There are some things you need to know before you take the Exams. The first is that this is not just about you. While it would be wonderful if you all made chunin on your first attempt, that is not what these Exams are about. They are about presenting Konoha at its best. Other villages see this as an opportunity to test our strength. If our genin do not perform well, it makes Konoha look weak. Onlookers wanting to hire shinobi will take their business to other villages. But there is a deeper purpose even than showing off." Asuma paused, making sure he had his genin's full attention.
"We are not on friendly terms with the other villages. The Village Hidden in the Sand has been growing increasingly hostile, and diplomatic relations between the Hokage and the Kazekage are at an almost all-time low. There is also the question of the Sound Village."
Asuma wasn't sure how much to tell them. Information regarding the Sound Village was scarce even within the Hokage's inner circle, and most of what they knew was classified. He decided to share everything he could without breaking the Hokage's decree, trusting to their maturity. They would need to be prepared.
"We have long been suspicious of the Sound Village. They do not operate according to the same principles as the other villages, and show few scruples during their missions. They are a small village, but proud and determined to prove their skill. Their genin will have combat experience and be determined to win at all costs. Do not underestimate them, and always treat them with caution. That brings me to the real reason the Hokage is depending so much on the outcome of these Exams: they are a gesture of goodwill toward the other villages. We are showing our willingness to work together, to put aside our differences and take pride in the proficiency of our young shinobi. But this is also a way for us to observe the Sound shinobi and gather more information on their behavior."
Asuma watched his genin intently. They were all following his words grimly, processing the real importance of the Exams. Shikamaru's eyes were narrowed in concentration, and Asuma could see the gears turning. Asuma realized he didn't have to worry. Shikamaru would catch all of the possibilities and assess all of the dangers as easily as reading twenty moves ahead in Shogi. Though Asuma would be sending his team into dangerous waters, the unseen currents would not catch them unawares while Shikamaru was keeping watch.
"And it's possible that I should not be telling you this, but I think it very likely that our political relations with the Sound Village are soon to take a turn for the worse. The Hokage has received several petitions to investigate the treatment of villagers by Sound shinobi, and he is only waiting on what the Chunin Exams show us before he takes action. These Exams will be the toughest mission you've faced yet, and success is not measured by whether or not you become chunin. Success is not letting anything take you by surprise."
After that he dismissed them, and Shikamaru and Choji walked off deep in thought. Ino didn't move.
"Yes?"
"There has to be something more I can do," she told Asuma bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Asuma couldn't imagine anyone trying harder than Ino had been recently. She mastered new jutsus as fast as he could teach them, and practiced until she could perform them with all the ease of her Mind Possession.
"I'm still the weak link," Ino said, the set of her jaw telling Asuma that she wasn't whining or complaining, just telling the truth as she saw it. "My Mind Possession jutsu is a gamble at best: if it hits I can capacitate one enemy, but it comes at the cost of my mobility. And if the enemy is fast there's little chance the attack will hit, at least without Shikamaru stepping in to immobilize them first. As for all of the new element-specific techniques you've been teaching us, I don't have the power or chakra reserves necessary for them to be really effective. Shikamaru's fire style makes my jutsu look like a candle flame, and it makes no sense for me to use earth-style jutsus when Choji can generate more power with his little finger."
"But your strengths lie in other areas," Asuma pointed out reasonably. "I mean, you've started training with your father to learn the secrets of invading another's mind. You've already seen the benefits of that by using telepathy to coordinate with your team – that's an invaluable advantage on the battlefield, much better than having more power or higher chakra levels."
"Yes, but in a fight with strong shinobi I'm still the least capable of defending myself or others. There must be something more I can do!"
Asuma racked his brain for something he could tell the earnest young woman who was staring at him so fiercely. She truly was developing rapidly, but if she felt that she was bringing down her team it would affect her performance simply because of her lack of confidence. What to do?
Then the idea came to him. "I think I know what to do. Are you prepared to sacrifice a few hours during the mornings?" Ino nodded, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of learning something new.
"Meet me in front of my house two hours before we normally meet at the training field."
Asuma could see Ino quivering with curiosity, but he wanted to keep her in suspense. Besides, he had no idea if Kurenai would agree to what he had in mind.
"You're dismissed!" Ino saluted and shot off to rejoin her team.
Asuma made his way to Kurenai's house at top speed. If he was lucky she would be making dinner, and he could wheedle an invitation. As his father once told him, if you could get a woman to feed you on a regular basis then her heart was halfway won. Asuma figured his father must have read this in a book somewhere, because the mother Asuma remembered had never cooked much for the Hokage. Still, it sounded like good advice. If Kurenai got used to seeing him at mealtimes, maybe she would be used to seeing him around all the time. And that was just fine with him.
He reached Kurenai's house and grinned when he detected the mouth-watering odor of roasting meat. Asuma moved to knock on the door, but it swung open before he got the chance.
"A little noisy, aren't we Asuma? An elephant makes less noise than you." Kurenai stood in the doorway, grinning at him wickedly. He grinned back.
"I didn't want the food to get cold. Is that chicken?" He tried to peer over her shoulder into the kitchen, but she moved to block him.
"So you didn't just come to visit me. A good shinobi shouldn't divulge his mission priority so easily. Get along with you, I only made enough for one!" But she stood aside, leaving the door open.
Asuma laughed and entered, trying for a quick peck on the cheek as he passed Kurenai. She was already gone.
"Too slow!" came her cheerful voice from the kitchen.
Asuma sat down at the table, which already had a second plate set out. He really must have been making a lot of noise, if she'd heard him in time to lay a place.
"Actually, I have an even deeper and more devious motive for visiting you than you realize." Asuma uncorked the bottle of wine lying on the table invitingly, using his kunai to shoot the cork at Kurenai with a popping sound. She grabbed a salad spoon and knocked the missile right back at him.
"A surprise attack, eh? Take that!" Asuma was forced to duck in order to dodge a volley of silverware with that lodged with surprising force in the wall behind him.
Gods, what if the other jonin saw us? Asuma thought suddenly. He envisioned Kakashi watching him lazily with his uncovered eye, or worse, Gai giving them a double-thumbs-up and congratulating them on rekindling their "Fires of Youth." He shuddered, quickly motioning his surrender.
"I'm actually here on behalf of one of my genin. Ino came to me today and said she didn't think she was helping her team enough. It's definitely not true, she's coming along fine. However, knowing that she's working hard to improve will boost her confidence as well, and might be exactly what she needs. I was hoping you might be able to teach her genjutsu."
For some reason, Kurenai had an angry glint in her red-ringed eyes.
"Oh? You thought she needed an extra trick or two, so why not genjutsu? It's the perfect skill for her to pick up. What makes you think she's suited for genjutsu? "Could it be," her voice was dripping scorn, "that she's a girl?"
"No, nothing like that at all!" Asuma waved his hands in frantic denial. Although, the stubborn part of his mind said, girls DO tend to be better at genjutsu. It's a statistical fact. But the angry red eyes staring at him from Kurenai's usually cheerful face warned him to keep the stubborn part of his mind well in hand.
"You know she's a Yamanaka. And after our last mission Ino started training with her father for the advanced techniques of the Yamanaka clan." Kurenai's eyes softened somewhat at the reminder of Team 10's recent tragedy. "She's beginning her training in mind-reading earlier than most Yamanaka shinobi, but those techniques aren't always helpful in battle. I thought that her growing familiarity with the mind might make her a prime candidate for genjutsu. And since you're the best genjutsu user in the village, I came to you!"
Kurenai snorted, though she appeared placated. "Flattery will get you nowhere. But then again, it would be nice to have a determined student to work with. None of my genin seem to have much facility with genjutsu. Their abilities all work well against genjutsu, but I won't be able to teach them some of my favorite techniques for a while. It would be my pleasure to teach Ino, if she shows she can learn."
"Can I send her over tomorrow then? Say, around seven?"
Kurenai nodded. "Yes, of course. Early to bed for me, I suppose." She smiled and advanced on Asuma slowly, her red eyes glowing with something that was definitely not anger. "Then we'll just have to make the most of the time we have."
The bottle of wine sat open on the kitchen table, untouched, while the food grew cold on the counter.
oOoOo
Ino arrived at Asuma's house at seven sharp. He wasn't waiting for her as she had expected, but she saw a little note pinned on his door with a kunai. It read, Proceed immediately to Kurenai-sensei's house. Ino shrugged. Maybe Asuma wasn't a morning person.
A few minutes later she reached Kurenai's house, which Team 10 had visited a few times after training. She knocked on the door, feeling her heart pound with anticipation.
"Come in!" came Kurenai's voice from within.
Ino entered Kurenai's cozy living room and looked around for the jonin. Kurenai appeared from the direction of the kitchen, carrying two cups of tea in her hands. She handed one to Ino, and motioned at her to take a seat. Kurenai remained standing.
"You are here to learn genjutsu. Do you know what that means?"
Ino scrambled to remember her lessons from the Academy, which seemed to her as if they had taken place a lifetime ago.
"Genjutsu requires hand seals just like ninjutsu, but it affects the flow of chakra in the brain. So you only think something's happening, and you can't defend yourself because you're separated from reality."
"That's correct. But just because something is only in your mind does not mean that it is not real. Genjutsu is a powerful tool that is not affected by your enemy's speed or strength. All that is required is precise chakra control, and the attention to detail necessary to fool the senses…"
The next two hours passed in a blur as Ino began learning the secrets of manipulating the human mind. After what felt like seconds, Ino realized that it was time to report to Training Area 5 to begin the day's workout.
"Thank you so much for agreeing to teach me, Kurenai-sensei! I can't wait to show Asuma-sensei what you taught me!" Ino noticed the older jonin's soft smile in response to Asuma's name, and thought back to what Shikamaru had said when Asuma ordered them to attack Team 8 all those weeks ago. Kurenai-sensei is a beautiful kunoichi and Asuma-sensei thinks he's quite the player. Was it possible the genjutsu master had fallen for Asuma's charm? Was Kurenai sweet on her gruff, chain-smoking sensei?
"Kurenai-sensei…" Ino gathered her courage. "You like Asuma-sensei, don't you?" She mentally patted herself on the back when Kurenai whirled to face her, a bright blush spreading from her cheeks up to her forehead and down to her neck.
"What… what makes you think…" Kurenai stammered.
Ino laughed, and realized just how nice it felt to laugh. It had been a while. Kurenai realized she'd been caught, and gave a laugh that, coming from anyone else, Ino might have called a giggle. But no, she said to herself, jonin don't giggle. Do they?
"It's probably the worst-kept secret in Konoha," Kurenai said with mock sadness. "Yes, I like Asuma. I like him a lot. But don't tell him how much, all right Ino? He's self-satisfied enough as it is."
Ino swore not to reveal her secret.
"What about you, Ino? Is there a guy you're interested in?"
"Yes, I like Sa – " but Ino had to cut herself off. The thought of the last Uchiha, usually enough to make her sigh over his cruel beauty, had no effect on her anymore. She pictured his raven-black hair, his scowling expression. Nothing. Perhaps it wasn't surprising, she thought to herself. They had spent no time at all near each other since they became genin. But more than that, her crush on Sasuke was a remnant of her childhood. And after losing Toshiyo, after carrying Choji back to Konoha and sitting by his bed just waiting, praying he would survive the night… Ino didn't feel much like a child anymore. Still, it was surprisingly painful to realize that a feeling which she'd considered as much a part of her as her left arm simply wasn't there anymore.
Kurenai was watching her curiously. "No, Kurenai-sensei. There isn't."
oOoOo
The sun was just beginning to set, illuminating the sky with streaks of red and orange. Shikamaru stood alone amidst the lengthening shadows in the training field. Choji and Ino had practiced with him for hours and would be with him still, but he had told them to leave. Dusk was a good time for thinking, and he had a lot to think about.
The Chunin Exams were approaching. In fact, they were right around the corner. Shikamaru had faith in his team; they were stronger than ever, and ready for anything. But this would be their first real test since Toshiyo's death. Once again they would face danger, and the possibility of failure. Shikamaru was determined. This time would be different. He was different, as was his team. They knew the risks; they were ready as they could be. But still, doubts gnawed at the corners of his mind.
Was it possible to ever really be prepared? Was he strong enough, smart enough? All it took was one mistake, and just like that… a friend could die. No. Never again! He wouldn't let anything happen to his team. Not while he had breath in his body.
He should rest. Shikamaru knew there was a line past which training became over-training and ended up harming rather than improving one's skills. The whole team had been flirting with that line ever since Toshiyo's death, and it had paid dividends in terms of their abilities and combat readiness. But with the Chunin Exams would come the most dangerous mission they'd ever encountered. Shikamaru would be of more use to his team fully rested, with his wits working at top speed.
Just a little more. One more technique, and then I'll stop. He moved to a line drawn in the soft loam with a kunai, about thirty yards away from a bale of hay covered in sackcloth with a bulls-eye in the middle. Shikamaru had appropriated this target from the Academy. It was one of the basic targets used when first teaching the young children how to throw kunai, but Shikamaru had decided to put it to a new purpose.
He bent his knees and brought his hands up in the peculiar seal necessary for fire-style jutsus. "Katon: Burning Whirlwind Jutsu!" He let out the air stored in his lungs, expelling it along with chakra to fuel the technique. A roaring cylinder of fire exploded into the air, propelling itself toward the target. The training area was momentarily illuminated by bright flames, and for a moment Shikamaru thought he'd finally completed the task that had so far proved beyond his strength. But mere feet from the target, the flames weakened and then died out entirely. He couldn't funnel enough chakra into the technique to cover the distance. And until his chakra began replenishing, he couldn't repeat the technique with any hope of success.
Shikamaru sighed, determined to practice his technique and control even if he couldn't reach the goal he had set for himself. But before beginning the jutsu again, he sent his shadow out to measure the distance. If only my area-effect jutsus had the same range as my shadow, he thought regretfully.
It was the sun that gave him the idea; the sun, and its dull red glare reaching down only to stop where the shadows began…
With his left hand, he performed the simplest fire-style seal he knew. It was significantly more difficult to do with one hand, but his dexterity with all manner of seals had greatly increased through his extra training. He bent at the waist, lowering his right hand until it touched the ground, exactly as if he was performing an earth-style jutsu that required contact with the earth. Only this time he was maintaining contact with something else.
"Katon: Burning Fireball Jutsu," Shikamaru whispered the words, pushing all of his remaining chakra down his arm and into his shadow. There was a rush of heat and light and chakra and then his shadow ignited. Flames shot up to shoulder height and raced down the length of his shadow, changing from red with an orange center to a dark blue, tinged with streaks of inky black. Shikamaru watched with awe. It was like throwing a match onto a river of oil. The flames reached the end of his shadow, which was still pooled at the base of the target. The target ignited with a rushing sound and the hay began to burn with a ghostly blue light.
oOoOo
In a different country many miles away, a young kunoichi stood silently and watched the sun set. She folded her hands on the base of her giant fan, and looked out from her vantage point over the vast desert glowing with reflected light. It was like a sea of blood. Fitting, she thought sadly. Soon all of Konoha will be awash in blood.
A soft rustling sound alerted her to the presence of another. She turned to see a black-clad figure whose face was obscured in shadow. He put a hand on her shoulder, and together they watched the sun disappear behind the mountains in the distance.
"Get some sleep, sister. Tomorrow we leave for Konoha."
To Temari's ears the words sounded like a death knell, filling the hot, stale air with a heart-breaking sorrow.