The sand siblings plus Hinata made it to one of the few trees that overlooked the Suna and they stood there in a horrible silence at the shocking, horrific, bloody scene that lay before them. Bodies were strewn over their sandy domain both those of the enemy and their comrades. Eyes gouged, hands and fingers lopped off, heads missing, ivory bones peeking out from fractured ribcages, arms, legs, and spines, bodies bathed in sweat and blood, some with their eyes opened to reveal the shock on their faces. There were those that were injured but still fighting on and those that were on the sidelines trying to help those that were unable to fight any longer. But the most horrific sight was that some of the bodies were children and women of the village, and the houses were burning down with the cries and screams of those trapped inside.
The Sunagakure way was to never give up ad never stop until you did what you must and the brave soldiers that rushed into battle were not just Ninja's, Genin, or sensei's but villagers as well. All were in battle in the hope that they could reclaim their land and dignity. The people of the Suna were restless warriors, drowned in their own blood, ruthless fighters skilled in warfare tactics. Hinata gasped at the terror of it all, trying to cover her mouth and hold back her sobs. She had never seen a war so bloodied as this one. The fact that even children were involved was enough to make her queasy in the heart and stomach and the wretched, blood-curdling screams that blasted from the battle field and inside the burning homes mingled with the scent of burning flesh, rotting flesh, blood, sweat, and death that loomed over the place was more than enough to sicken her. Gaara put his arm around her and buried her face in his shirt.
Here lie his people, his kin, the people he served and cared for, on the ground in a heap of body parts and blood. It was more than he could bare and he felt so helpless at that moment, a heavy burden was placed on his shoulders and it weighed more than he could possibly fathom. His thoughts went to Hinata especially, not quite certain if she could make it through this…if she could live. The image of his fragile-like Hinata's delicate bird bones being cracked out of her lithe body with her dark-colored blood was tormenting him. How could he fight, win, and protect Hinata at the same time? His eyes found Temari and Kankuro, who looked utterly revolted.
"We're going into this battle with our heads high and the element of surprise on our hands. This is our home and we won't let those sick bastards take it from us. These are our people, the faces we've seen every day, and they sacrificed too much for this place. We should honor our village by fighting back. Protect Hinata, you two. Protect her even if it means your life."
Temari and Kankuro pulled Hinata close, nodding their heads toward Gaara.
"You know we will."
"I don't need to be protected! I can fight for myself."
"I understand that but-"
"You think I'm some little delicate blossom that can be easily ripped at the slightest touch to her petals but you don't know me Gaara I can do this."
"I know you can but I just think-"
"Well stop thinking! This is my home too and damnit if I'm not going to fight for it! Stop trying to coddle me like some infant, I'm fine. And-"
Smack. Gaara's hand thrashed across Hinata's face with a swiftness that could not be seen, leaving a red mark on her cheek. He stood trembling, looking at his hand with fear.
"Damnit all Hinata! I love you and if I lost you for good I don't know what I'd do. Please, please just be careful. If I say that you will be shielded from danger then let your shield come up around you. I need you protected…don't you see? I love you so much…if it all goes to hell and at least YOU survive, then I will die a happy man knowing I have done all I could to keep you safe. Forgive me for hurting you…but I didn't know what else to do to make you see."
Gaara tried to run away but Hinata stopped him. She saw wetness on his face. He was crying.
"Now we're even. I slapped you so you have every right to do so to me. I understand Gaara. You know I can fight but you want to protect me…fine, but just know that I will slip through my shield every now and then to fight on my own. If the enemy thinks I'm weak then they'll go after me so let them think I'm strong."
Gaara turned and embraced his lover tight then took out the concealed desert rose from his shirt. He placed it in her long indigo hair with a smile.
"Let them know who you stand for, what you are, and where you belong. If we die, we die with honor for our home. This battle is for the Suna!"
"For the Suna!" They all shouted in unison then they broke into little groups. Kankuro was in front of Hinata and Temari flanked him while Gaara went in by himself. He wasn't all alone, it seemed, for a familiar face was fighting too.
"Matsuri?"
She turned, a sword in one hand and the other hand at the ready to make a hand sign. Matsuri grinned. He was here, fighting at her side, with her. Maybe she should stop the enchantment…she froze. Her heart skipped a beat. He was standing very close to her, flanking her, protecting her, fighting with her, being her armor and without lifting a finger or even inhaling she could smell him, taste him, and feel him. Her Gaara-Senpai just had that air about him, potent, strong, deadly, the kind of air that comes with being a respected leader of such a desolate, hot place.
"I didn't expect to see you here, in fact I'm a little surprised and truthfully, scared. I had hoped you would be somewhere safe and I'd hate to think of what would happen to you if you got hurt and I couldn't protect you."
She blushed and her heart sped up. Kazekage Gaara-Senpai wanted to protect her? He'd feel bad if she got hurt? Surely this meant he more than cared for her. Those soft eyes looking deep into hers told it all. Maybe Gaara liked her…a lot! It had to be the enchantment…what else could it be?
"Gaara-Senpai….you do care."
"Of course I care, Matsuri, you're one of my kin, you also just happen to be my savior and my best friend. Now enough talk."
Gaara and Matsuri went headfirst into the barrage of enemies and allies. Temari, Kankuro, and Hinata went in as well, full throttle. Kankuro made a face of disgust while Temari snarled.
"I knew it was them…"
They stood there watching men in black coats with red swirls that were similar to clouds run around slaughtering millions. These were a group of highly skilled assassin Ninja's, the highest in their class with all the brutality and force of a tiger, the swiftness of a cheetah, the cunning of a fox, and the blood thirst of a lion in the hunt. They were vicious murderers on the bad side of the law. Some of them were even in cahoots with the evil, villainous scum of the earth, Orochimaru, who at this moment had Sasuke under his thumb. They were called The Akatsuki and they were a lethal bunch. Though they were rather small in numbers they could slaughter entire villages by themselves.
One of them, some say he would be the leader, was a steely-eyed, devilish man named Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother, and he was responsible for the death of the Uchiha clan, leaving only Sasuke behind to concoct a plan for exacting his revenge for Itachi killed his parents in front of him. Itachi was cold, sarcastic at times, brutal, sinister, yet calm and collected as if nothing could faze him. Pain, anguish, remorse, he could eat those feelings up with great fervor and a smile that would haunt you for days. He had hoped, actually he knew, that Gaara would show up. He knew Gaara would come to rescue his people and they would kill him for good. He was a nuisance to the Akatsuki ever since one of them stole his Shukaku away. What Itachi didn't foresee was a young girl who obviously didn't belong to this village.
She looked about Gaara's age with long, silky navy colored hair, rosy cheeks on top of porcelain skin, but what was most interesting were her large opal eyes. Those eyes belonged to those of the Hyuga clan, and make no mistake the girl was obviously a Hyuga from the highest branch and belonged not to the Sunagakure, despite the headband and regional flower sewn into her hair, but to the leaf village where his brother belonged. Itachi smirked behind the tall collar of his that only showcased his eyes, nose, and if he was lucky, his mouth. As to what the girl was doing here, out of her manor and village, was no matter to him, the fact was, she WAS here and things would be interesting now.
"Fall back." Itachi said, in a voice just above a whisper. All the members of the Akatsuki swarmed around their leader wondering why he and called them back.
He turned and leapt away, into the distance, queuing them to follow him and follow him they did, begrudgingly. Hinata looked up at the fleeting figures, noticing the one she assumed was the leader, looking back at her, his dark eyes burning into hers. His eyes were twinkling, smiling, laughing, plotting and becoming darker and darker. It sent shivers through her soul. He told her, without saying a word, "Be careful. I want your eyes and your soul and I could be anywhere and anytime. Watch your back because I'll be coming to get you….very soon."
Gaara wanted to follow them, he wanted to finish his fight that he started with Deidera, the blonde bastard who stole his life away but he had to worry about Hinata, his siblings, and the village. Matsuri was proud of herself, she managed to cut one of the mouths that Deidera had on his hands. She turned to Gaara, hoping for a high five, a hug, a look of appreciation, but no, he turned and ran. Who was he running to? His siblings? Well, he obviously cared about them but he went past them. Who was that person he was holding so dearly? It was a woman. No, not just any woman, it was THEE woman.
'It's her….that girl that broke my poor Gaara-Senpai's heart. How dare she be here, pretending to be like us. As if sporting our headband is enough! But he is holding her so warmly, smiling so sweetly, and caressing her so lovingly. I thought they weren't together, that she hurt him…that she was evil. They are together then? Things have been patched up? I won't allow it! She is beautiful though…how am I to compete with that? I know…the spell…yes. I will keep it up but while that's working I'll pit them against each other, make him see her for what she really is and all I need to do is find some dirt on her and maybe even fool her too…yes. A hair from that pretty head will do nicely to complete this spell…soon Gaara will be mine. Just you wait and see. Whoever you are, whatever your name is, I will be you and you will be long gone…if not dead.'
Gaara finally let go of Hinata and smiled at her.
"Oh yeah! That young girl over there is Matsuri."
He gestured to the pretty brown haired miss that stood all alone in a field of corpses. Temari and Kankuro left to put out fires and save the people of the Suna but the bodies that littered the floor could not be saved, that much was obvious, ever still they would try to save them. Hinata ran over to Matsuri and gave her a big hug.
"Arigato, Matsuri-san! You saved my Gaara-kun's life and for that I owe you mine."
'You have no idea how true that is,' Matsuri thought. She smiled broadly to hide her thoughts. "Well, what else could I do for my best friend? Who are you?"
"His girlfriend, Hinata Hyuga. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Matsuri."
"The same to you, Mistress Hyuga. You are as beautiful as they say you are. I would love to stay and keep talking to you but I am a medical nin and it's my job to help those in pain so I'll be off."
"Let me come with you. I'm skilled in the medical arts as well, given my Byakugan I can see many points of pain."
Matsuri snarled internally. 'Cocky whore.' She turned and grinned in an adorable way. "I could sure use the help, Lady Hinata. Come with me."
Hinata followed behind Matsuri while Gaara smiled. They would be best friends, he could tell. Now he was off to help the wounded, bury the deceased, put out fires, and save lives. Just the average day in the life of the Kazekage but he wondered why Itachi decided to leave as soon as he got there. Was he frightened of Gaara's power? No, in fact Gaara was probably the reason they were demolishing his village. He swore he saw Itachi look back, directly at Hinata, into her eyes. Was he curious as to who she was and why she was there? Was she an interference with his plan? Or did he have a new plan involving her and needed time to plot it out? Gaara knew Itachi was not one to give up or simply just stop genocide, so there had to be the reason and the obvious reason was Hinata. Hinata held power and Gaara knew now that Itachi would want to harness it. He would protect his Hinata-seme even more now. He would not lose her….not again and especially not the insolent, black-hearted mass that was the Akatsuki. Gaara would die again, if only for Hinata. But he didn't know that the Akatsuki might soon be getting help in their plan from an unusual source...Matsuri.