Chapter Twenty One: Confessions, Threats, and a Ring
A/N: Chapter twenty one is going to get the ball bouncing!
Sachiko: Author-sama means that the plot will advance further. Story now Author-sama!
Author-sama: Yes, story time. XD
Many days had gone by such as Sachiko having fun with her new friends from the Leaf Village. She would often meet one of them for breakfast or for lunch but the month was over. She knew she would have to focus on training for the Chunin Exams. She also may have a part in the plan attack against Konoha. She felt like a traitor. She may not have been a Leaf Village citizen but she certainly felt like one. Perhaps she could stand back and let the others take care of it. It wasn't her job to participate.
She rose from her bed slowly. She looked at the other bed; empty. Temari was always off flirting with boys. Sachiko had met a lot of people from the village and wondered if they knew Temari. She never asked because she always forgot to when the time came. Temari was a girl of mystery. Sachiko began to wonder if Temari was even really flirting with boys like she said. Temari may have just been desperately trying.
As she exited her small room she shared with Temari she found Gaara outside her door. "Yes Gaara-sama," she said to him.
"This afternoon," said Gaara, "You will come with my siblings and I… We have some plans to set up for the operation. Meet us here after lunch. Don't be late."
By operation, Sachiko took it that Gaara meant the attack on Konoha. She had been dreading this moment. It was something she wanted to keep pretending wouldn't happen. The Sand Village would work together with the Sound Village and destroy Konoha. Konoha was such a beautiful village; Sachiko had loved it all.
"Hai," Sachiko replied, hiding her sadness.
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Sachiko was meeting Naruto for lunch today but he had invited her over to his house early. Sachiko was glad to be meeting him early now. It gave her a chance to talk to him. Naruto had surprisingly become a good friend to her and in such little time. Though at times she felt Naruto liked her more than a friend, she was happy to have him. Naruto and Kiba often argued when they hung out together and so she tried to separate her time with each of them. Sachiko would trade off hanging out with Naruto and Kiba; one day Kiba, one day Naruto. Both boys had made her terribly confused. She couldn't decide which she liked more. Kiba had reminded her so much of Kankuro, something she really appreciated. But Naruto just wanted so badly to make her happy and he seemed so needy. Sachiko always expected that in a relationship, one should feel needed and wanted. Naruto offered this.
Sachiko took the usual route she took to get to Ichiraku Ramen. It was a nice day but then again all her days in Konoha had been nice. She smiled more often in Konoha. If only she could live in Konoha the rest of her days. She would die happy.
Sachiko only had a chance to knock once on the door. Naruto had speedily come to the door this morning. He had been doing that a lot lately. Perhaps he had insomnia or perhaps was just waiting for her for a long time.
"Ohayo Naruto-kun," Sachiko greeted.
Naruto returned the greeting and let her in to his house. "Are you going to make me breakfast?" Naruto still had his night cap on, causing Sachiko to giggle. He took it off instantly, blushing a bit.
"No keep it Naruto-kun, you look cute in it," Sachiko complimented him genuinely. "Of course I'll cook you breakfast. You love it so much!"
Naruto nodded like a bobble head and sat down at the table. He fidgeted for about the whole thirty minutes until Sachiko served him breakfast. She served him many delicious dumplings and rice cakes. Tea was next. She poured him hot green tea. She had added a little honey to it because she knew Naruto was fond of it. "This is good 'ttebayo," Naruto told her, mouth filled with chewed up dumplings.
Sachiko smiled and thanked him with a small bow. She had enjoyed very much cooking for her friends. It had given her a feeling of being wanted or needed. She was taking care of them. One day she would have liked very much to be married and take care of her husband. She knew that life wasn't for her. No one would accept her with a demon on her back. Not even Naruto.
"He is interesting… this boy."
"Why is that," asked Sachiko. Chihoko hadn't spoken to her for a while it seemed. The cat had become quieter since their stay in Konoha. Sachiko wasn't complaining, but it made her a bit bored at times. Chihoko usually had a comment about everything and lately she was always having a cat nap.
"Something is… dormant inside him."
"You and your stupid riddles Chihoko… bother me with them another time," Sachiko scolded her.
"Fine."
Sachiko had no time for Chihoko to tell her half stories. That was the thing with Chihoko. She always only said half of the story and left Sachiko hanging all the time. It very much annoyed Sachiko like an upset stomach.
"Sachiko-chan," Naruto said in a needy voice, "Sachiko-chan…"
"Hai, Naruto-kun?"
"Nothing," he grinned, "I just like to say your name."
"You're funny Naruto-kun," Sachiko said with a giggle. There it was again; Naruto flirting with her. He was so ignorant and naïve. He never knew how to flirt properly but Sachiko didn't mind it. In fact, she preferred it almost. He was just like a little boy; so innocent and sweet. "Naruto-kun I wish I could spend the whole day with you but I have an important meeting with my sensei after lunch. I'm not sure when it'll be over so I don't want promise any plans I can't keep," said Sachiko to her dear friend.
"Aw… Sachiko-chan! Well that's okay 'ttebayo. We'll just hang out tomorrow," Naruto offered with a warm smile. He was so friendly all the time. It killed her inside to know she would take part in destroying his village soon.
"Naruto-kun… I don't think that's possible… My teammates are complaining that I do not train with them… for the next month I have to spend my time training with them," Sachiko said. It was basically the truth. She did have to train with her new team.
Naruto's face fell and his heart seemed to drop with it. "I see… Well will you come visit me here in the Leaf Village often?"
Sachiko nodded, "I will to the best of my abilities, Naruto-kun."
"Arigato Sachiko-chan," chirped up Naruto, trying to sound perky.
"Naruto-kun… I have a lot of things on my mind… Would you mind spending our time laying down in the grass and listening to my problems?" She had forced a smile but he knew something was bothering her that morning.
"Believe it," Naruto said, giving her a thumbs up sign.
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"So what's bothering you Sachiko-chan," asked Naruto once they got to a nice field to relax. It was a beautiful wide open space. In the Cloud Village there weren't flowers as pretty as the ones in Konoha and the Sand Village was nothing but sand. Konoha was definitely the best of the three places.
"I can't really say Naruto… My teammates… have something bad planned… I don't want to participate in it but I have to… otherwise I'd be traitorous to my land… I have to go through with the plans… I have no choice in the matter… Would you still be my friend?"
"Of course 'ttebayo," Naruto said, so sure of himself.
"Naruto-kun I mean it… This is serious! You say that now but later you may not," Sachiko told him with utmost importance.
"It's not like your destroying the village or something," Naruto said with a chuckle.
"Yeah… not like that at all," Sachiko said uneasily. She knew he was going to hate her even though he had said he'd still be her friend. You could do a lot of things to your friends and they would still forgive you or give you the benefit of the doubt. But some things were unforgivable. Sachiko just knew he wouldn't speak to her again. She would mourn their friendship.
"But seriously Sachiko-chan… I would forgive you even if you did something like that," Naruto said, taking her question seriously this time.
"Why Naruto-kun," Sachiko asked him, "Why would you do a silly thing like that."
"Sachiko-chan it is not silly! I would forgive you because you are my friend and everyone makes mistakes at times… Besides, you said you don't want to do what your teammates want you to do… so that means you're being forced. It isn't your fault," Naruto explained to her. He began pulling up grass out of the ground for laughs.
"Not all people are like you though…" Sachiko stared at the torn blades of grass. They were a destroyed village.
"Maybe so… but people will understand," Naruto told her, "If you have a good heart… They'll know."
"Naruto-kun, you are wise beyond your years… Don't let Kiba or Sasuke tell you otherwise," Sachiko said to the blonde boy. The comment made him smile.
"Tell them that, not me 'ttebayo," he laughed loudly.
The two friends had fun the rest of their time together. Sachiko made a flower necklace and made Naruto wear it. She also told him he had to wear it all around Konoha for that whole day and some of tomorrow if the flowers still alive. He had agreed if she, in return, would make time to eat ramen with him for the next month. She had promised to sneak away from her teammates and do so. Sachiko for the first time in her life, made a friend that would stay with her for the rest of her life.
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Sachiko went to Konoha Inn at exactly one in the afternoon. The Sand Siblings were already in the hallway waiting for her. They certainly looked like a solemn bunch that afternoon. Their mood suited the topic of discussion. This afternoon plans for the destruction of Konoha would take place. Naruto had said he would forgive her and that the village would too if her heart was in the right place. Her heart was there, in the right place, wasn't it?
"Konichiwa Kankuro-kun, Temari-san, Gaara-sama," she greeted all three of them. Only Kankuro and Temari greeted her back. Gaara stayed reserved. But he looked into her eyes for a moment, that was his way of greeting her, she knew. "Will Kentaro and Katsura be going with us? I think it would make more sense for two full teams walking around together instead of one and a third."
"Good idea," Temari said with a smirk, "I'll go get them."
After she left to retrieve the two boys Kankuro said, "She probably just wants someone to practice her batting eyelashes on."
"Yeah," Sachiko agreed, "She keeps telling me that there is 'Thee Local Hottie' hanging around somewhere. I feel kind of scared for him."
The two friends laughed; they had such great chemistry together and it showed. Gaara made a small grunt and turned around. Sachiko stared in amazement. Did he honestly think she and Kankuro were going to kiss right then or something? Surely he knew that they both agreed that being a couple wouldn't work. Sachiko scowled a bit but let her face relax as soon as Temari came back with Kentaro and Katsura.
"Let's go," Gaara said, finally turning around to face the rest of the gang. He didn't bother to unfold his arms as he walked down the hall. The others followed him, intimidated.
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The plan had been set up. Each person had a role. No one would be left out and no one, hopefully, would be left behind. It was a flawless plan. The Sound Village would do their part and so would the Sand Village. Sachiko had been nervous about the whole thing. She worried because it was flawless. She had hoped desperately that it would fail. How could she be apart of something she hated? Sachiko would have to grin and bear it. Her opinion didn't count on this matter. It was a kill or be killed type of situation.
Sachiko, Kankuro, Gaara, and Temari were the only ones allowed to leave the meeting. There part was discussed first and they didn't need to know the other parts being played out. Kentaro and Katsura had to stay behind for they were the ANBU that would disguise themselves as Leaf Village ANBU. Sachiko and the Sand Siblings walked around the village. Gaara had disappeared somewhere when they came across a cute little boy. Sachiko would have pinched his cheeks but Kankuro had grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and began threatening him. Sachiko stepped back, never having seen this side of Kankuro.
"I'm gonna teach him a lesson," Kankuro said fiercely.
A blonde haired boy appeared and Sachiko furthered herself from the scene. She didn't want Naruto thinking she was apart of this. Although she wasn't threatening the little boy, she wasn't taking action to stop Kankuro either. She was to blame either way.
Naruto had ordered Kankuro to stop torturing the little boy. Kankuro scoffed at him and directed his attention to Naruto. Naruto began to threaten Kankuro in return. Temari tried to coax Kankuro into leaving the boys alone but he wouldn't listen. Sachiko's mouth stayed agape. She just couldn't understand why Kankuro was being such a bully. She had stayed quiet in hopes that Naruto wouldn't notice her standing in the background but when Kankuro began to draw his fist she had to say something.
"Kankuro-kun you are being a bully," she yelled at him, eyes saying everything.
Kankuro tilted his head slightly so he could look at her but still keep his eyes on the little boy and the blonde as well. "Sachiko-san stay out of this," he ordered, "This isn't your battle."
Naruto immediately looked behind the black cat looking boy and saw his friend Sachiko standing back there. He couldn't understand what she was doing hanging around with people like him so all he could say was, "Sachiko-san? Doshde?"
Sachiko opened her mouth to speak but Kankuro began to draw his fist back again. "Enough talk, more action," he said as he swung.
Sachiko closed her eyes and cringed. She heard Temari gasp and so Sachiko cocked an eye open. She saw that someone had misdirected Kankuro's punch but with what? She looked where Temari was looking and saw Sasuke in a tree.
"Pick on someone your own size," Sasuke told Kankuro casually.
"Well come down here and maybe I will," Kankuro retorted to him, "Don't you look cool up there in that tree."
Sachiko stared to Temari and knew exactly what she was about to say. "Thee Local Hottie," said Temari, obviously admiring Sasuke. Sachiko rolled her eyes, she saw it coming.
"I don't have to come down from this tree to fight you," said Sasuke confidently, smirking all the while.
"Sasuke is always trying to look cool," Naruto complained to Sachiko, for she had stepped much closer to Naruto. She felt safer beside him than she did Kankuro for the moment.
"Oh yeah," Kankuro said, "Well I oughta—"
"—Shut up Kankuro," Gaara growled from a tree, "Or I'll kill you." Gaara had been standing upside down on a tree branch the whole time watching. He had finally interrupted when he started getting annoyed. "Stop making people think were a bunch of idiots from the Sand Village. You shame Suna by bullying around some worthless Leaf Village kid."
"I'm not worthless," whined the little, brown headed boy Naruto had called Konohamaru. He sniffled a bit and rubbed at his eyes, hands trembling as they did so.
"Sorry Gaara," Kankuro said, "I was just—"
"—Shut up you idiot," hissed the redheaded shinobi, "You shame us all."
Kankuro gulped down and nodded, releasing the little boy known as Konohamaru. Sasuke stayed in his tree but Gaara had reappeared next to Sachiko. Naruto had pulled Konohamaru away, backing up several feet away. He looked to Sachiko apologetically but she understood why. Now Gaara had resurfaced in the place Naruto had been standing. Sasuke decided to reappear on the surface as well. He appeared next to Naruto and Konohamaru. Sachiko looked at them and noticed a pink haired girl in the background. She guessed the girl to be Sakura. She had much about her; nice things from Naruto, mean things from Sasuke. The girl had pretty green eyes but she already looked dazed from Sasuke. The girl looked absolutely love struck.
"Thee Local Hottie," Temari said again, nodding her head at Sasuke. She almost seemed to purr like a cat as she spoke.
Sachiko looked at her and felt embarrassed for her. She would never such things in front of a boy. Temari was much to blunt with those kinds of things. Sachiko was glad she didn't go with Temari to flirt. She'd have ended up embarrassed and shy.
"Hey you," Sasuke directed toward the redhead shinobi, "Identify yourself."
Gaara turned to Sasuke. A strange feeling came over Gaara. He felt rivalry and bloodlust all at once; it enticed him. "My name is Sabaku no Gaara," he said with a fearsome voice. "I'm curious about you too," Gaara said to him, staring directly at him with bloodthirsty eyes and a cold heart, "What's your name?"
"Uchiha Sasuke," replied the raven haired boy.
Naruto, feeling quite jealous of Sasuke cut in front of him and said, "Don't you want to know my name?!"
Sachiko bit her lip hard; it bled. She was hoping to distract Gaara from Naruto. Her plan had worked. "No," Gaara said and then turned his gaze to Sachiko. He saw the blood dripping from her lip but didn't move. He closed his eyes for a moment and then breathed out slowly. "I have no use for your name."
Naruto finally grew quiet and gave up but not before grumbling something rude about Sasuke and how everyone thinks he was so cool. He crossed her arms defiantly and stuck his bottom lip out in a pout. Sachiko smiled at him affectionately but Naruto didn't notice. She looked back to Gaara to find him staring at her. It was a stupid move on her part to draw her own blood but she did it to save Naruto. She could face Gaara on but Naruto surely couldn't. Sachiko had often said, 'fight fire with fire.' So she felt it was her job to subdue Gaara. She too, had a demon after all.
"All from the Sand Village," the pink haired girl that had to be Sakura murmured to Naruto, "They're probably here for the Chunin Exams." He seemed confused at first but thought it over in his head and nodded. Sasuke rolled his eyes at the two but said nothing.
"Let's go," Gaara barked at his siblings and Sachiko. He turned his back to them. Temari and Kankuro instantly appeared at his side but Sachiko had lingered behind. Gaara turned around to see where she was and found her standing next to Naruto. Gaara had seen Sachiko hanging out with the black haired boy and the blonde boy so that's why she felt so awkward. He honestly didn't care. "Sachiko," he said, "Hurry up! I have little patience for you today." Her name was awkward on his tongue. He couldn't remember having ever said it before.
"Gomen nasai," her famous words sounded, "Gaara-sama." She ran past Naruto, Sasuke, the little boy, and the pink haired girl to catch up with the Sand natives. She turned her head back a moment and mouthed the words, "Gomen nasai."
Gaara saw this and growled at her, "Shut up and face forward."
"Hai, Gaara-sama," Sachiko murmured, nearly about to cry. She sucked it up though because she was in front of Gaara. He had no patience for tears and they had none for him.
After the four strangers left, Naruto, Sasuke, Konohamaru, and Sakura were left to talk amongst themselves. The first thing out of Naruto's mouth was, "Did you see the way they treated Sachiko-chan! Why does she hang out with them?"
"They're all from the same village. They were probably going out to lunch," Sakura offered, trying to help Naruto feel better.
"That Gaara guy and the guy with the black outfit weren't the two she described as her teammates though… I wonder why she's never with them," Sasuke mentioned to Naruto, his brow furrowed in thought.
"She said she doesn't like to hang out with them… they fight over her," Naruto said in a low voice.
"Is that the girl you like Naruto?" Sakura had been quiet while the two were discussing the blue haired girl.
"Hai," Naruto said happily, "She's very pretty 'ttebayo!"
"I can see that," Sakura said with a smile. Her and that girl seemed like opposites. It was a wonder what made Naruto like a girl. He had a crush on Sakura first but since Sachiko came in the picture she was all he would talk about. Sakura felt a little awkward at first but was glad that Naruto found someone else that would hopefully return his affection. She looked at him a lot and that was a good sign.
Naruto continued talking about Sachiko even though he wasn't asked to. He put his hands up in the air and waved them in a weird motion as if to say she had major curves. Sakura punched Naruto in the face and screamed, "You're such a pervert Naruto! I'm going to tell her what a pervert you are!"
"No, Sakura-chan," cried Naruto, trying to defend himself by covering his face.
Sakura slapped at the blonde boy and Konohamaru turned away. He couldn't bear to see the boss like that. "Pervert!" Sasuke shook his head. Why did his teammates have to be so immature and silly? He walked away from the two in search of something else to amuse him.
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Sachiko walked with the others around Konoha. They were heading back to the hotel but Temari had talked Kankuro and even Gaara to spend some time hanging around the village. Sachiko knew this was just Temari's excuse to go shopping. Sachiko thought to herself, "If you can't beat'em, join'em…"
Sachiko wandered around a jewelry shop hopelessly. There was no way she could afford to buy anything for herself but she did admire jewelry. Gold, silver, white gold, platinum; it was all so pretty to her. She loved to think of some beautiful princess dressed up in the finest silk kimono with dazzling hair pieces hanging down like a Geisha's with a lovely ring on a dainty finger as the finishing touch.
She gazed into one of the windows and saw a magnificent ring. The band was a regular silver band. It was crested with a geometric crown, filled with tiny little diamonds. It was so simple yet elegant. It was…
"Classy," Sachiko breathed as she stared into the window, practically smooshing her face into window. She rubbed the sides of her mouth because for a minute, she thought she was drooling. As she backed away from the shop window, the ring seemed to wink at her with its glistening gems.
"It is, isn't it," asked Temari. The blonde haired girl had just appeared right next to Sachiko. Temari stepped forward to take a closer look and admired the ring. "Think I should get it?"
"It's lovely," admitted Sachiko, "I would…" Sachiko's heart sank like a dinky little boat out in the big sea. It just didn't have a chance.
"I prefer a bigger ring but this one is nice," cooed Temari as she went inside the store, Sachiko desperately following her in. "I'd like to try that one," said Temari as she pointed to the ring. Sachiko's mouth was agape as Temari tried on the ring, awestruck by its beauty. It glimmered brilliantly when brought into the light. "What do you think Sachiko-san?"
"It's… beautiful," she said, sadness in her eyes. Temari would buy it just to keep her from getting it and to ruin her hopes of ever getting the ring. Girls were wicked this way and Sachiko just handed Temari what she wanted; approval. Now that Temari knew Sachiko really wanted the ring she would buy it to spite her.
A red head of messy hair poked into the jewelry store. He didn't look happy at all. Sachiko could almost laugh at his facial expression. Shopping was not Sabaku no Gaara's thing. "We're leaving now," he barked at the two girls.
"I was just going to buy this ring Gaara," Temari told him, "I'll be out in five minutes."
"No, now… or I'll break your neck in half," threatened Gaara to his sister. He was in no mood for her to argue with him and she could tell by his voice and the malicious look in his teal eyes.
"Thank you," Temari told the ring dealer, "Maybe some other time."
The ring dealer took the ring back with a shaky hand and returned it to its pedestal. Sachiko wanted to grin very badly as she exited the store but she waited until she passed up Temari. She didn't want Temari to see her face. Gaara stood at the front door of the store, arms crossed and angry. He looked up and Sachiko and saw a smirk. Their eyes met for a moment. He saw amusement in her hazy purple blue eyes. They twinkled with delight and laughter. Gaara looked past her and saw Temari walking toward the door. She had a disappointed look in her eyes but tried to hide it.
Gaara followed the two girls out of the store. "Stupidity," Gaara said to them, both in earshot. Temari scowled out the word but said absolutely nothing. Instead, she walked away to look for Kankuro, leaving Gaara and Sachiko to walk together. Sachiko turned to the redheaded boy and smiled. She took what he had said as a comment directed toward Temari and not herself. Her eyes seemed to still be dancing with laughter. "What are you smiling at," Gaara hissed at her, not liking her cheerfulness.
"Nothing Gaara-sama… You just have very opportune timing," she said to him. And that was that.
A/N: Okay. So that was Chapter Twenty One. Things are moving along and I'm excited! I really can't wait to get to the part that I couldn't stop thinking of today. I can't tell you guys my idea because that would be giving it away!
Sachiko: Author-sama must keep secrets! That way no one knows what will happen with me or any of the other characters!
Author-sama: That's right Sachiko-chan.
Sachiko: Author-sama what was up with the ring though?
Author-sama: I just wanted to have some girlish rivalry between you and Temari. It's not that she doesn't like you, she just sees you as competition. Especially because you knew Sasuke. "Thee Local Hottie." It was her way of getting back at you.
Sachiko: Oh I see! That makes sense. Temari-baka… Don't tell her I said that!
Author-sama: My lips are sealed! Anyway, I'm off to write the chapter twenty two! REVIEW!