A mini-series of [reader-insert] drabbles/ficlets of the Naruto babies being shown various Halloween traditions. Part 8. For ShadowVixxen's All Hallows Eve contest.

"Ari, Ari!"

The strawberry-blonde looks up from her book as she hears the eldest blonde child calling for her. Arianna rises and heads toward the bathroom, as Temari has first bath rights tonight. She knocks and pushes the door partway open.

"What is it, swee- … oh."

The young blonde is standing on the center of the bathmat, covered in soap suds and wrapped in an oversized, fluffy purple towel. Arianna also quickly notices the girl is… well… no longer blonde. The stormy teal eyes are filled with tears, unusual for the strong girl.

"Ari, he ruined my hair!"

"Oh sweetie," Arianna enters and shuts the door, kneeling and hugging the upset girl through the fluffy towel.

"Now I'll have to cut it all off and be bald!" She wails, leaving Arianna to hush and soothe her until only sniffles remain.

"Let me take a look at it, Temari." The girl continues to sniffle as Arianna lifts a few of the wet locks, examining the blue and purple hues.

"You know what? I think I can get this out."

"Y-you can?" Teary teal eyes lift to hers.

"Hai, Mari-chan! Just let me get my special shampoo!"

"You mean the white tea and lily one?" Her eyes grow even wider.

"Hai, I'll let you use my special shampoo to get out the colors!"

And a quick scrub with Arianna's special shampoo later, Temari's hair has returned to the pretty golden blonde she usually has.

"Thank you, Ari." The girl snuggles into bed a little later before stating crossly, "I'm so tired of Kankuro's stupid pranks!"

"He does this often?" Arianna quirks her brow.

"Yes, and they're getting meaner and meaner!"

"Why is he pranking you so much?"

"'Cuz it's almost Halloween," she sighs in exasperation. "He has been pranking me all month!"

"Then… why don't you just give him a good scare?" Arianna grins.

Temari's eyes widen and flicker with deep interest. "What do you have in mind?"

"Double, double, toil and trouble…"

Kankuro yawns and rubs his eyes, frowning as he hears an odd chanting coming through the wall. He gets up and goes to knock on his sister's door but finds it cracked open.

"Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!"

Kankuro peers into the room, seeing an eerie green glow coming from a big black pot, the gooey, bubbling contents of which his sister is stirring with a big wooden stick.

"Snips and snails and puppy dog tails!"

He watches her toss a couple fistfuls of something into the glowing goop then pour in a glowing purple liquid from a glass vial.

"That's what little boys are made of!"

His eyes widen as she starts cackling, and the hair stands up on the back of his neck. Not needing to see any more, he creeps back to his room, crawling under the blankets to pretend he didn't just find out that his sister is a REAL witch.

Kankuro yawns and wanders into the kitchen the next morning, sniffing lightly. He can smell breakfast cooking, courtesy of his favorite babysitter. He enters the kitchen and smiles.

"Mornin' Ari!"

"Good morning, Kankuro!" Arianna smiles as she turns around with the skillet in hand, sliding fresh chocolate chip pancakes onto his plate as he sits at the table.

"Yes… good morning, brother." Kankuro's head snaps up, a chill rolling up his spine at the sound of the… icily pleasant voice.

"O-oh um, hello Temari…"

"Kankuro, would you like to try my… special Halloween drink?"

He swallows hard as she holds out a glass of an odd, green goo that resembles the stuff he dreamed he saw in her room last night. And it seems to be… smoking.

"Um… no thanks, Temari."

She shrugs and turns to the older girl at the stove. "Ari, would you like to try my special Halloween drink?"

"Hai, I'd love to! It looks spooky!" Arianna smiles as she takes it and lifts it.

Kankuro says nervously, "Ari, wait–!"

But it's too late. Arianna takes a sip and freezes, her eyes going blank as she drops the cup. Temari cackles in delight and turns to Kankuro. "Now I'll get you!"

But Kankuro is already gone, with an overturned chair left in his wake.

Soon after, the grin returns to Arianna's face as Temari laughs in delight.

"It worked, Ari!"

"It sure did!" Arianna pours herself another cup of the smoking goo. "Excellent green apple slush, Temari."