Scroll 3, Sand Problems
Yukari stood, trembling, in absolute rage. Usagi-san had thrown sand into her clothes pack once again. Her cousin was not only testing the limits of her vowed, civil patience that the Wheel Nin Barokendo had force out of her; but wearing on Barokendo's immeasurably short patience as well. Now, Yukari had sand in her underwear and the canyon-ed entrance of Sunagakure was on the horizon.
"Kakashi-chan; I can't take it anymore." Yukari hissed out through gritted teeth. "I have sand crawling up my torso and down my legs."
Having spent the past two days on vivid movement; her legs felt like noodles. Jumping through the five-story tall trees of Konoha was something she could easily do; but when it came to trekking through ever-shifting sand – it used a whole different set of muscles. Her lower calves screamed in protest; her toes nearly rubbed raw from sand and her hair gritty with wind-blown particles. But that wasn't what she was complaining about. It was the fact that her cousin was purposely needled her all the way to Sunagakure's front door.
"Eh, Yukari-chan, we're almost there." Kakashi smiled only at her. It had been a trying trip for all of them; escorting Konoha ninjas and their Wheel-Nin clients.
Usagi had been a brat towards his Yukari-chan and it showed that both girls were mean as can be. Yukari, however, had taken the high road after the first six pranks she pulled on Usagi to pay her back. Now the genin/chuunin Uzaruki was giddy and anxious to get into Sunagakure and most likely take a shower. He needed one too, since stepping into the sandy Wind Country. Not that Kakashi minded the sand; he had been here previously.
"Oy, Kakashi, I'll bet ten sake cups that Usagi will make Yukari-chan snap once we get a Sand escort." The Takimoto clanswoman walked up next to him as the large group had voted unanimously to walk the rest of the way. Since the jutting rock formation was on the horizon ahead, they opted that they could stop their chakra-induced running and take it easy. It was a good decision too, since the mid-day sun beat down on them like hammer-wielding jounins.
"I'm not betting anything on the Uzarukis, Hani-san." Kakashi lowered the pale orange covered book that he had his nose in. "Yukari-chan has a Will of Fire that is unpredictable, like Naruto. Although I've never figured out just how she forged it. She never faced Naruto in an all-out battle."
"Aye, I see." The almost boringly-cloth-cut medical nin turned her green eyes towards the Uzaruki cousin that was walking along side her romantic interest, as large giant of a man known as Barokendo.
Having met the black-cloth clad ninja from a traveling group of ninjas calling themselves the Wheel Nin, Hani Takimoto had first met him when she was called on to heal Yukari Uzaruki's broken nose. That broken nose was a result of mouthing off to a bigoted group of Akadou; all of whom were from one of twenty-five major clans within Konoha.
Yukari had taken a hit to the face, and the action had sat terribly with the three children that the Akashingan-user was with. Those same three kids were now in the group that she, Kakashi Hatake, Yukari Uzaruki, Usagi Uzaruki and another, unknown ROOT agent were escorting. Having been called upon to assist the requested mission, Hani had slowly uncovered the story of how the Wheel Nin; and the three children, had come to be in Konoha.
The trio of children had wandered in; caused trouble and had been apprehended for that night by ANBU. The following day revealed that the rest of the Wheel Nin – ninjas that were all specialized in the Art of the Wheel – came sniffing along; laying claim on the young ninjas. A cook, gambler, Suna Kunoichi, four unicyclists, a titanic-sized brother and two misshaped others had been granted Konoha reprieve. Their enemies, however, came following as well; attacking the West Gate and striking fear into the general population.
It was the Wheel's enemies of now noted clans known as Darkness and Twisted that spurred a covert mission from the Hokage to hand-select a special team of ninja escorts to travel with the Wheel Ninja groups to alert Konoha allies; and to forge their own alliances with other, willing villages.
That was where they, the largest of the three Wheel Ninja groups, were headed now: Sunagakure. Hani only hopped the new young Kazekage, the demonic child of the previous Kazekage, wouldn't try to kill them all like he attempted during the Sand-Sound Invasion.
They all paused for a break; some of them taking instant opportunity to catch some sleep. Hani nor Kakashi opted for that, but stood around and talked.
Shozaku, however, was jolted awake by a large creature bumping to a stop at his side. He opened his eyes and sat up to see what looked like a reptilian armadillo, uncurled to reveal a large package and letter strapped to its stomach. He blinked, took the package, and watched as it rolled off a few feet, then down into the sand and out of sight. He opened the letter, read it, and started laughing.
"It looks like Skimi gave the dragon ninja the slip. Says here he needed to go do something about a family matter and he just up and left. He left her with directions to the Sand village though, so she should be coming sometime soon. This'll be interesting, might get lucky this time around." he said with a stretch and an irritated sigh.
The Gambler had struck out with Hani because she was interested in Baro. He didn't bother going for Yukari while the man she crushed on was right there, and for some reason Usagi had been oddly…cold in that nature. The Gambler teased the branch-clan woman, but only went that far. He'd had his hopes up; judging on Yukari's reaction to him back in Konoha village the evening they left; and they weren't high hopes. He couldn't wait to get into the sand village and find a brothel, almost hoping that the main business would be conducted at a later time so he could relax his nerves first.
Barokendo himself was standing a little apart from the group, next to Usagi, well aware of the Takimoto woman's gaze. He wasn't joking when he'd said that for a time, he wasn't going to let Usagi out of his sight. He'd granted her the illusion of privacy when she needed to go to the bathroom, but wherever she went, so did his eyes or his presence. He had always walked apart from others, far enough away so that none would notice an odd habit of his.
None, except Usagi if she listened closely enough. It seemed that when nobody else was around, Baro was always talking in whispers. But not to himself, almost as though he was having a conversation with someone, or thing, that wasn't there. It was also the only time he didn't have a constant look of anger on his face, that his body didn't seem like it was right on the edge of attack, if something so much as breathed funny. The giant man paused for a moment when he overheard Yukari's angry speech. He couldn't hear the content, but the tone was enough.
"Again, Usagi?" He asked with exasperation. Barokendo would make sure that if he ever again used a protection clause, he'd include a 'beat your ass if you piss me off' warning in case it was needed.
The three children were seen slightly ahead of the group, almost as if they were trying to gain enough distance to do a repeat performance of their last village entry: walking into the busy village alone; just the three of them. Only this time they had a new, four-footed companion, Reena.
If any were familiar with the Inuzuka clan, they'd know that the puppy was growing at an alarming rate, and also in ways that a canine, or most animals for that matter, shouldn't. It wasn't huge, but it did seem to be growing at about twice the rate a pup of its age should, and its fur had begun to shine more than normal, almost as if they were taking on another quality. Its teeth were a little more jagged as well as its nails. Yet stranger still, its features somehow seemed bright, almost cute.
If there was a Hyuuga in the area, they would see that anytime one of the three children was near the puppy, there was an almost constant chakra flow, though a small one, going into it; sometimes from all three. At the moment though, they were playing with the puppy happily, just bouncing around and wrestling in the sand.
Over the past few days though, the children had begun to get a worried look on their faces. They weren't sure what, or even why, but they felt like something was going to happen. They weren't sure if it was going to be bad so they didn't panic, but the feeling of change had them a little on edge. It was one of the reasons they stuck near Reena; she made them feel more at ease.
Yamira was next to Joma somewhere in the middle of this semi-scattered group, just talking animatedly about what she remembered of the Sand village. There were still some holes in her memory, but she was excited to be back. She hoped they would still have records of her, as it had been more than five years since she'd been home, because she wanted to see if she had family. Joma just nodded along, looking to the world like he wanted somebody to come over and save him. He was polite, but he didn't like small-talk. He was a man of actions; the kind that thought if what you said didn't have importance, it shouldn't be said.
Shozaku walked up to Yukari and Kakashi, the package still un-opened under his arms. "Since I'm going to be meeting with him sometime today or within the next week, tell me about the Kazekage."
Yukari, glaring daggers at Usagi as Usagi threw – using all her elite, sneaky ninja skills – a sand-ball at her cousin. Just how the older kunoichi managed to keep sand in ball-form was unknown; but it was well known that she had stopped to go pee minutes earlier.
"THAT DOES IT! I'm going to kick your ass, you little piss." Yukari's temper snapped as the liquid-loaded sand ball barely scuffed Yukari's cheek; brushing past the shortened raven-black hair.
Hani and Kakashi – most possibly for the millionth time since the mission began – exhaled tiredly as the genin heiress stepped towards the cousin; murder in her intent.
Thankfully – as it seemed that karma was paying Barokendo back – a squad of eight or nine Sand ninja blurred into view and gave a greeting bow. At the head of the ground was Kankuro, the older brother of the Kazekage. Wearing his black nin-attire, purple face-paint (Temari called it make-up) and carrying a huge, wrapped bundle on his back; the Puppet-Master grinned as he stood up.
"Well, if it isn't the…holy shit, I'm seeing two of you, Yukari-san." The purple-rimmed lips turned upside-down as Kankuro blinked at Usagi. "Ah, man, this gets better and better." Was said as the Puppeteer looked at Barokendo in awe.
"Greetings, Kankuro-sama. I am Hani Takimoto, medical ninja assigned to this mission." Hani Takimoto took the lead and brushed past Shozaku; giving a light pinch of his rear. Her gloved hands then came together and she bowed politely back. "I assume that the Hokage has sent message ahead of us explaining our mission?"
"Yes, we have received word of your arrival from the Hokage. The Kazekage is expecting you and has sent us to guide you to the village."
The other Suna ninja barely masked their curiosity at the Wheel Ninja; as well as a lost Suna kunoichi. The stories would fly like wind-blown sand tonight.
Usagi could hear Barokendo sigh, mutter the words. "I fucking knew it." Before speaking a little louder.
"Usagi, show me that scroll he gave you, but don't unroll it; no questions asked. Something's coming, there is little time, and I'm going to be leaving soon."
Yukari, Kakashi and Hani were busy giving formal greetings and slowly walking towards the rocky cropping far away. Usagi nodded as she untied the scroll that she hid under her back skirt flap. "Here." She smirked to herself as she got away with needling her money-idiot cousin. Turning to the cutie Kankuro, she walked next to Joma and Yamira, turning to Yamira and smiling brightly.
"Hi, it's great to be in the Sunagakure, isn't it?"
Further off, the two jounin had finally moved into action again as they were escorted to the Sunagakure entrance an hour away.
Reena was loving it in the sand; digging psychotically every few inches. This was funny to watch; as the only down side was when the fast-growing puppy discovered she would take a bite out of Gilligan's leg and produce a teddy-bear. The pup would proceed then to bury the hapless part of the girl-masquerading as boy.
Sand would make a small flurry around Usagi's feet, then form a small case and slide her back towards Barokendo. The scroll rolled down off a spike into Usagi's cleavage; only it was significantly different. Now it was incase in rock, with spike going into it – it looked like a rock-skinned sandwich wrap, with a spike as the toothpick that would be pinned through the middle.
"I didn't say I was done yet. I am now though…" the sand would slide her back, and Barokendo would stand up straight; which he hadn't done in his time at Konoha. His hunching habit was so much of his nature that most had seen so far that some just assumed it was how he was formed. As he stood up straight, a large bump appeared under his coat over his torso, and the spikes jutted out from the front of his coat now by a few feet. Standing tall, the scary man reached eight foot and six inches.
He started to laugh, a rather creepy sound that, to most, would be just that. This would be creepy, confusing and scary; given his usual nature so far. To Sheena, eyes growing wide, she grabbed her two friends and Reena with chains and got on the other side of everybody else, wanting to put as much distance between the two of them as possible.
"Oh Kami; not again. No, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO." she said, eventually screaming the words and crying. Wydra sensed the urgency and in a heartbeat, the three kids were on an enlarged unicycle. They had almost boosted off into the distance, but crashed into a rock wall that appeared out of nowhere.
Barokendo crackled his neck, and knelt momentarily. He spoke something in an incomprehensible language, and his coat flowed off of him as though of its own will, before he stood back up. What was revealed underneath gave way only to more questions, even as it partially revealed a method to his madness, and a reason to his rudeness.
As he had said to Meiko back in Konoha; he had spikes implanted all throughout his body. Not just small ones, large spikes as big and long as a small child was tall; conical tips that came down to a fine point, were shoved from one side of his body and out the other. There wasn't a pattern to it; the spikes looked to be shoved in haphazardly and had been done in haste and anger. There was even a spike shoved straight through where his heart should be.
All along the rest of his body it looked like there were scars; both the kind that had just healed over and ones from surgery. Burns, gashes, many other atrocities had marred his skin showed. Not alarming but rather mystifying, were the arms and hands that he had always kept hidden. It started out as a thin coating over his arms, but ended in a large cylindrical ball over his hands, was a strange kind of rock. It was black and shiny, almost reflective, and sparkled in some points.
The changed Barokendo kept laughing, smiling even, as he lifted up this formation of mineral over his upward limbs, held out his knee, and smashed out. It flew apart with two distinct sounds. The first was the screams of many; as though each and every person he'd killed had somehow been contained. The second sound was the sound of bells, as though something was trying to get a message across to anything that would listen.
After this, his true arms could be viewed. They were purple, and his muscles were sickeningly large and covered in surgical scars. His arms grew to sickening proportions the further up they got, until his hands were about five times the size they should have been – even for a man of his proportions. His fingers extended by an extra joint and his nails ending in jagged points. Barokendo turned around, facing away from everyone else as he'd distance himself from all, and shouted:
"LOOKS LIKE IT'S ASS WHOOP-O-CLOCK." He clapped his hands together, and the spikes all over his body lit up, forming a pattern as though forming with light the signs necessary to a jutsu while his hands were otherwise occupied.
Even though few, elite seconds had passed since he'd handed the scroll back to Usagi; Barokendo's actions seemed to drag into minutes. Given his unmatchable strength in earth-style jutsu, he would have to use it to sense approaching danger that others wouldn't have noticed until it was too late.
They could feel the ground around them shaking, and immediately beneath their feet there was what felt like an explosion, as though something with great force crashed against an immovable object. There was a series of loud cracks, the ground around the entire group aside from Baro himself seemed to be fissuring apart from the land it was set in, and a pair of giant rock hands would emerge from beneath the sand and grip the sides of it. As this happened, a large reptilian body rose from beneath the ground.
It was Manda, the snake that even Orochimaru hesitated to summon unless it was absolutely necessary. Riding atop his head was a strange ninja that none had previously seen - all but the Sand would know him. Across his head he wore a headband with the Twisted symbol, and the guitar he held, he was strumming like the greatest of practitioners.
The evil-exuding man's mouth was stretched wide as he roared out incomprehensible lyrics to his evil music – most similar to death metal. More alarmingly yet; a smug-looking James was sitting on the snake behind this new, terrifying man. All around them, spread throughout the ground, the guitar's sound was raising welts of terra-firma; signaling even more approaching objects.
The giant rock hands took an even more define shape, revealing themselves as monolithic versions of Barokendo's hands. The large chunk of rock and sand that everyone was standing on; tilted backwards: leaning a bit to the south. It paused, just long enough for the sand to anchor friendly feet to the ground.
Though much had happened, it had happened very quickly. If Sheena hadn't freaked out, most would barely have had time to turn around and see what Barokendo was doing. As it was, all the Wheel nin had time to do was go on the defense, believing that Barokendo had finally snapped. Sheena was still crying and screaming, as the other two were now, clutched tightly together with Reena in the middle. The Konoha, Suna and Wheel ninja all began to get tense as the ground around them cracked and they were exhumed from the ground. Gigantic, rocky hands threw the removed patch of rock towards Sunagakure, launching it towards the red-canyon rock formation on the horizon. The battle of what appeared to be titans was quickly left behind as the sand-anchored ninja soared with the rock towards their destination.
Whatever he'd done - why ever he'd done it - Barokendo was gone for now and they were all zooming through the air on a giant rock towards the Sunagakure entrance.