A/N: This is a really long chapter, but it has vital parts in it, so, yeah. There is also a limey part between Shika and Temari, so if that kind of thing offends you, skip that part please. I'll mark it to show you it's start. Also, there is a little sexual hints between Tenten and Neji and rather vague allusions to a homosexual couple doing stuff, but that is why this fic is rated MA...its for MATURE AUDIENCES...so if you're not in that group...please don't read. With the utmost sadness I must confess that I did not create, nor do I own any part of Naruto.
CH. 16: Apologies from an Unlikely Source
Sai appeared in the middle of the room he had left his two team mates in, only to find Tenten upside down on the floor, Neji looking at her over the edge of the bed, and Shikamaru being mauled by the sleeping Temari. He gave them all a wide eyed stare, then blinked a few times, before standing and addressing them.
"Sakura-shishou requests your presence…all of you." He said the last part looking at Temari, who was busy nuzzling Shikamaru. Noticing Sai's scrutiny, Shikamaru blushed more and struggled to wake Temari up.
"Temari…wake up…we have to meet up with Godaime-sama and Sakura-sama. Temari!" he shook her shoulder and listened to her grumble. He gulped and looked over at the other three people in the room. "You guys head on out. I'll wake Temari up…I just hope she doesn't kill me when I do…" he muttered the last part in a strained voice, and the others didn't envy him. Sai disappeared to find the other three, while Neji looked down at himself, then at Tenten.
"What happened to my shirt?" he asked curiously, watching the color rise in her face. She put her hands up defensively.
"You are a bed hog. You knocked me off the bed and I grabbed the only thing I could reach…your shirt…" she held strips of his shirt out in front of her and sweat dropped. He arched one dark brow at her and looked down at his tented pants. He turned red and looked away.
"Something tells me that isn't the real story. I did NOT go to sleep with this." he said, giving her one last chance to fess up. She looked at him innocently. He stalked towards her, but she stood her ground.
"I'm telling you, you knocked me off and I tried to prevent myself from landing on the floor, which I failed at miserably." she pointed out, giving him a mock glare. He was right in front of her now, looking down at her, her body only inches from his.
"Am I going to have to use unfair methods to get the truth from you onna?" he said, breathing against her ear and making her gasp.
"Wh-what…are you talking…about. I w-was being…truthful." she stuttered, overcome by the feel of his breath against the shell of her ear. He definitely knew what he was doing; she thought and decided to show him she could do the same. She looked him right in the eyes and smiled. It was the most disarming thing Neji had ever seen…and she didn't stop there.
She lost her smile and gave him a curious look, her eyes darting back and forth between his lips and his eyes. Neji found that the roles had been reversed. She was much better at the art of seduction than he was, but he could tell that this was not just an attempt to avoid the truth…she was indeed strongly attracted to him. And he would use that to get the truth out of her if he had to pin her to the wall and make her scream it to him.
The image of doing that caused his tent to become larger. Tenten noticed and blushed heavily, looking at him again with wide, innocent eyes. "I will give you one last chance to tell me the truth of things before I pin you to this wall and make you scream the truth to me." he warned her, hiking her leg up around his waist and situating his erection against the fabric of her pants.
Tenten gasped and stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. She was NOT going to lose her virginity against he wall of the school's hospital. Calming her breathing, she concentrated on being out of his arms and on the bed, crouching in a defensive position. Before Neji had time to react, she burst into feathers and reappeared on the bed, crouching and staring at him. She looked down at her hands, then back up at him.
"What…happened!?" she asked tears streaming from her eyes and fear written all over her face. Neji ran to her and pulled her into a hug.
"I didn't mean to frighten you Tenten. I don't know how to act around you…you make my blood boil and you make me want to do things I know I shouldn't. Don't cry, toriritoru, I will never do that to you again…" he started stroking the chocolate locks that hung loose about her shoulders.
"No…I mean…how…how did I do that!?" she asked, fear of her own abilities driving her to ask. He looked surprised, then smiled softly at her.
"Just like this." she said and put his hand in front of his eyes and disappearing in a swirl of grass clippings. He reappeared behind her, taking her into his arms and holding her while she processed what was happening. He knew she was afraid of herself, of her powers, and just held her while she thought.
"Can…can you teach me to control it?" she asked meekly, looking at him over her shoulder. He closed his eyes and nodded at her. She smiled and turned quickly around and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Neji-kun…and I was telling you the truth…you bucked me off the bed after I brushed against you accidentally. I had just waked up and was very disoriented. I didn't know my head was in your lap and my cheek brushed against your…um…" she looked down at his tented pants and blushed. She looked back up at him apologetically.
"I was embarrassed and didn't want to tell you." she looked down, dropping her arms away from him. He looked at her, how she felt guilty for unintentionally molesting him. He smirked at her and put his hand under her chin, making her look him in the eyes.
"Don't be embarrassed Tenten. I've been in this condition since the moment I laid eyes on you. There is something about you that stirs me. I don't understand it, but I would like to explore it, if you want to, that is." he was blushing slightly when he finished talking and turned to where he was facing the door, his left side facing her. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes with his hands on top of his head.
She looked shocked at first, but then a wide smile spread across her features. "I'd like that too…but you still owe me a fight Neji-kun. I have a score to settle with that ego of yours." she gave him a mischievous smile and jumped off the bed. "Now…hows about you show me how to do that disappearing thing and we get to the Godaime's office and see Sakura-chan!?" she jumped playfully, reminding him of his first chance at training with someone who knew something he'd never seen before.
He smiled and walked over to her. He stood behind her and showed her how to hold her hands and chant the seals, without ever moving his hands. She muttered them to herself and could feel a tingle of power. He told her to visualize the Godaime's office and then try the seals again. She did and they both disappeared in a burst of white and brown feathers.
Shikamaru had seen the exchange between his captain and the weapon mistress. He was a tad surprised at how Neji had acted, knowing that Neji did not like using seduction to get what he wanted. Then again, Shikamaru didn't like the perverted streak in himself since a certain blonde who wielded an one hundred fifty-five pound iron fan came around.
He shifted again, trying to get out of her hold. He decided that he had to resort to drastic measures to escape. He looked at the ceiling and prayed to kami-sama she didn't kill him. He reached out and tweaked her nipples roughly, but not rough enough to hurt her.
Her eyes twitched in annoyance and she swatted him in the head, growling. He wondered if she was having some kind of dream and was reacting to it this way, or if she felt it and wanted him to continue. He gave her a skeptical look until her breathing even out once more from the gasp.
Shikamaru's eye twitched with disbelief. He then got another idea and wrapped his arms around her waist, both hands resting on her behind. He again prayed she wouldn't kill him and squeezed her butt and thrust against her with as much power as he could with the leverage he had.
Her eyes snapped open, unfocused and clearly still thinking she was dreaming, because she cradled his head to her breasts and panted his name. He stared at her in surprise. 'Was…was she dreaming of me? Of…of US, doing this together!?' his mind screamed the question at him and he looked into her unfocused eyes. He knew the exact moment her mind started thinking again because slate colored eyes blinked up at him and an insanely red blush covered her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
"Sh-shikamaru…what…?" she felt his hands grasping her behind and her eye twitched. She looked down and saw every inch of their bodies pressed together. He gulped and hastily explained.
"You were pressed against me like this when I woke up…but I had to wake you up and shaking you didn't work. I heard you moaning something and the idea kind of came to me. I knew it would work…even if you did try to kill me for it later." he shut his eyes and prepared for her to pound him into the ground.
He felt her stillness as significantly as he would have felt movement. He opened his eyes to see a cherry red Temari, looking down between them. He looked down and noticed a wet spot on the front of his pants. Apparently she could feel it too.
He didn't know if it was coming from him, or from her. He seriously wanted it to be from her. He blushed at that thought and all he could do was shift some to find the source. She gasped and threw her head back, thrashing against the pillow.
He saw the wetness growing and knew it WAS from her. He smirked perversely and gave her another thrust, this one much more gentle. She wrapped her legs around his waist and arched against him. He leaned down and suckled on her neck. She whimpered and he chuckled, nuzzling her.
"As enticing as the idea to take you here and now is…Sakura-san and Godaime-sama are expecting us soon. We can pick up where we left off at a later date, when I don't have to worry about your brothers trying to kill me." he purred at her, trailing kisses down the side of her face.
She huffed and pushed at his chest to get off of her so that she could clean up. He got off of her and looked down at his pants. There was a large wet spot on them now. He smirked again and thanked kami-sama he had packed some extra in case he got injured at Tenten's house.
He went behind the curtain in the room and changed his pants, wrapping the other ones up and putting them in his small waist pouch. He came back around the curtain to find Temari wrapping her upper things and hips in gauze. He could tell she'd had lots of practice.
"You have medical experience?" he asked trying to ignore her soaked panties on the floor and the jeans that sat beside her on the bed. She glared at him, letting him know it was a sore subject. He left it alone and instead reached down and picked up her panties. "Can't leave these here. Some orderly might get perverted and jack off with them." He watched the scowl that spread over her face.
"I catch any man jacking off in my lingerie and I'll cut his dick off and fuck him in the ass with it." she said crudely, making Shikamaru gape. He grunted and looked at her suspiciously.
"For a girl that's blushed more around me today than Lee does when he sees Shino's porn, you got a foul mouth. I can't believe I kissed that same mouth several times today." He saw her blush again, only to fight it away and scowl at him. He arched a brow upon realizing she was putting up a tough front.
"I'm crude naturally…it's the only useful trait I picked up from my worthless father. Keeps all the would-be lover boys across the room and their dicks in their pants. You, on the other hand, are turned on by my foul mouth…" her tone was curious, but he looked shocked.
"And just what makes you think I get turned on by your crude behavior?" his tone was annoyed, even if she was right, she didn't have to point it out. He watched her smirk and her eyes drop to his crotch. He looked down to see his rampant prick stretching the fabric of his pants. He sighed and glared at it, then at her.
"Well? Are you going to stand there and let it stay like that or are you going to fix it?" she asked, glancing out the door towards the bathroom. He arched a brow at her and stalked right up to her.
"I have a better idea…since you got off with help from my bump and grind, why don't YOU take care of it for me." He could see the blush brighten, but he could also see the defiance in her eyes. He decided to seal the deal by taunting her. "Unless you are AFRAID, then I'd have to go and take care of it myself-" he never got to finish because she grabbed a hold of him and squeezed a little harder than was comfortable.
She eased her grip and glared at him. "DON'T think to use my pride to make me do something baka. It will turn out bad for you." She slowly began to massage the aching flesh. She heard him grunt and he braced himself against the wall, his hands on either side of her head.
He was panting now and she set a pace for him that had him begging for more. Temari felt a sense of power she had never felt before. This powerful man before her was begging her to complete him and it gave her a high. She wondered how he would react with a little more stimulation.
Temari dropped to her knees and closed her lips around the head of his erection, which was now peeking out of his zipper. She heard him hiss at the wet sensation and his hips thrust against her face several times. She smiled at the power she had over him. She could sense his helplessness in each thrust he made. He reached down and drug her up his body.
"You're…going to…get it…on you if…you don't…move." he managed to pant out. She really didn't have any clothes to change into, so she circled around behind him and continued pumping her fist up and down. She saw beads of sweat rolling down his neck and into his shirt. She licked one bead off and she felt him stiffen.
He hissed as she felt him pulse and felt something sticky coating her hand with each new pump. He slumped against the wall, her hand still on him and his legs like noodles. He let his head roll back onto her shoulder and felt her still lightly pumping him, the aftershocks causing him to come again. He moaned out another orgasm and this time she watched it squirt out onto the wall.
A thick, white substance was running down the wall she had been standing in front of only moments ago. She lifted her hand and looked at it curiously. She licked it slightly and purred at him.
"Mmmm…you taste like sake and cinnamon." he blushed brightly, but was too exhausted to do more than zip his pants up and turn around to look at her. He saw her licking her hand and it was almost enough to make him hard again.
"Temari…you can't do that in front of me or I'll just get turned on again." he groaned turning away from her again. She wiped the rest of fluids off on the blanket they had been resting on and walked up to him and hugged him from behind.
He sighed and covered her hands and smiled at her over his shoulder. "Thank you Temari…I'm completely relaxed now. She chuckled and looked at the wall again. She whistled as the large quantity of white fluids dripped down the wall.
"I feel sorry for whoever is going to have to clean THAT up…" she chuckled again when he blushed bright red.
"HEY…I've been turned on since early this morning…and I hadn't done anything for at least six months…hadn't needed to. I don't act like this around women…only you. You are the only woman I've ever propositioned to jerk me off, and I can't help it. Every time I see you I just want to rip your clothes off and fuck you until you can't walk anymore." He turned around to face her and leaned against her, purring this in her ear, and wrapping his arms around her. She chuckled again and then they were gone in a cloud of smoke.
Naruto was glaring at the man who was subbing for Gai because he wasn't allowed to be Hinata right now. Before he left Gai said that the boys were to lift weights and the girls were to play volleyball. Naruto stood in the gym, refusing to lift weights because that would mean Hinata being out of his sight. The sub walked up to him and scowled.
"Why aren't you lifting with the rest of the boys Naruto-san?" the sub had never really liked Naruto because the boy gave off a dangerous aura. He stiffened when Naruto turned feral blue eyes on him, which were speckled with red.
"Because the weight room is down stairs and that puts Hinata out of my sight. She panics if I'm not within viewing distance." he growled, his tone hinting his temper was barely leashed.
"Well Hinata-san is a big girl and she doesn't need you to hover over her all the time. Go join the boys in the weight room…heaven knows you need to build up your muscle strength." the last part was muttered disdainfully. Naruto's eyes flickered red for a second before they returned to their natural sapphire blue. The sub blinked a few times to make sure he'd see correctly.
"I don't need weight training, you white haired freak. I can beat you without even moving, much less using my muscles." Naruto just glared at the older man. The sub's left eye twitched and he yelled for the other students to stop what they were doing and join them. Naruto smirked, knowing what was coming.
When everyone was present, including Hinata, the sub turned a fake smile on them all. "My name is Mizuki and I have a special treat for you all today. Instead of volleyball and weight training, you are going to watch me spar with Naruto-san." Mizuki turned back to Naruto, a dark look on the white haired man's face.
"Let's get started, shall we." Gai took up a fighting position and waited for Naruto to do the same. Hinata's eyes widened and she ran between them.
"You can't do this…Naruto-kun…you can't fight. You know what happens!" she looked at him imploringly. He shook his head sadly, and moved her out of the way.
"I can't get out of this one Hinata-chan. He picked a fight by telling me to leave your side. I told you two years ago after what happened I would never leave your side again and I won't. Not even if it means beating up our polo wearing sensei." Naruto's eyes gleamed again and Mizuki could swear he saw something crawling under the boy's skin.
"Less talk, more fighting. You disrespected me and now you must pay the penalty." Gai said this in a cheerful tone, making Naruto grunt in disgust.
"Mizuki-sensei…please…stop this…you are going to get hurt very badly if you pursue this matter further." Hinata begged the older man, trying to dissuade him from getting himself killed.
"I will be fine Hinata-san. Just a little disciplinary sparring, all will be well." the man in the white polo launched his first attack at the blonde, who had yet to take up a stance, or move for that matter.
"You have no idea how much trouble you're in…" Hinata whispered, her eyes wide and terrified. She knew that since her rape, Naruto had a terrible temper where she was concerned. Anyone that hurt her, scared her, or made her cry, was punished severely. She hid her eyes behind her hands as the sound of Mizuki's punch connected with some part of Naruto's body.
Mizuki smiled, until he saw the smirk on the boy's face and felt his fist throbbing. He pulled his hand back and examined it. He was sure that several of his fingers were broken. Naruto had taken a direct punch to the face, and yet there wasn't a scratch on him.
"Try again, girly man. That one actually made my nose itch." the blue eyed boy just glared at Mizuki. When Mizuki didn't make a move, Naruto grunted and turned his back on the man. "Are you done now, or should I actually fight you? I gave you the advantage of throwing the first punch, but I'm getting pretty sick of you treating me like you're better than me." Hinata heard his growling tone and knew she had to stop this now.
As Mizuki prepared his next attack, she ran between them and blocked his punch, her Byakugan activated. "STOP THIS!" she yelled, loud enough to startle the students, who had never heard her be loud before. All the students stared at her with utter disbelief. Most were creeped out by her eyes, and some whispered freak. But Mizuki is the one that stared at her like she was some kind of demon.
"How is it that a girl blocked one of my more powerful punches!?" he backed away from her and noticed her eyes. He glared at her as he saw them and anger etched his face.
"I should have known that a freak like Naruto would fuck some just as freaky as he is." Mizuki hissed and backhanded Hinata, sending her sprawling to the floor. She looked back at Naruto, wide eyed. All the students heard growling, low and menacing.
"Oh no…he's…Mizuki-sensei…you HAVE GOT to run while he is distracted. In the state he's in…he'll KILL you!" Hinata scrambled off the floor and latched onto Naruto, who was shaking with rage. He looked down at her with red eyes, noticing the small trickle of blood from her busted lip. He stroked the blood away with his thumb and put the finger in his mouth. His growling escalated.
He looked up at Mizuki, who was glaring at the two of them, and pointed at the white haired man. "YOU!" he roared, making the kids drop to the floor in fear. Hinata clutched at him desperately, trying to calm him. "You, Mizuki, are a dead man. You should have NEVER put your hands on her." Naruto crushed Hinata to him in and protective hug, kissing her forehead. He gently pushed her aside and stood before Mizuki, who didn't know whether to be scared or angry.
"What the hell are you Uzumaki?" he demanded, his voice shaking ever so slightly. He continued to glare at Naruto as the feral young man approached him. Hinata shook her head in denial and took off to get Sakura.
"Your worst nightmare asshole." Naruto growled and launched himself at the white haired man.
Tsunade couldn't believe her ears. All this time someone could have abducted her, her husband, or her kids for the POSSIBILITY they had a kekkei genkai!? She rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly. She was about to respond when Hinata, Byakugan activated, ran into the office, straight through the door that sealed the room off limits.
"MIZUKI-SAN STRUCK ME AND NOW NARUTO'S GOING TO KILL HIM!" she screamed, her normally soft voice strained. Everyone looked at her like she was some kind of apparition, including Sakura.
"Hinata-chan…how did you get through that door?" they all looked at the door to see it lying in pieces. Hinata blushed and looked down. "I…I had to get in…and…well…" she stuttered, not being comfortable with all the attention. What she said then registered with Sakura.
With an "Oh fuck" she disappeared, leaving Hinata in the room to continually receive stares from everyone over the decimated door. It was at that moment that Neji popped in. Hinata took several steps back at seeing her long lost cousin so suddenly. He looked totally shocked to see her there…dressed like THAT.
"Hinata-sama…" he started, but she took off back towards the gym.
Two sets of eyes watches as all the students were staring wide eyed as Naruto continued to rip apart their teacher. He looked like he had been in a bar fight with a bunch of angry bulls. The left side of his face was starting to purple and he was bleeding almost everywhere.
But he was still fighting. He took something out of his pocket and stuck it into his arm. His bleeding instantly stopped and his face turned skin colored, even if it was still swollen. Naruto sensed the change in his energy and chakra pattern.
"Steroids? Aren't you a little old for that Mizuki?" Naruto taunted. He was going to kill this man, so it didn't matter what he said or did.
"These are steroids you idiot. It's a new drug that my boss is developing. You'll find out soon enough." only Naruto heard him, but it made Naruto's skin crawl. Naruto started powering an attack that he was sure would turn the man into ash.
Chakra started swirling in his clawed hand. When it formed a tight ball, he pumped his elemental chakra into it, making it more concentrated and causing it to spin faster. "Wind Release: Rasengan!" the red eyed jinchuriki (finally found out how to spell it!!) roared, rushing at the white haired man, who had a Fuuma Shuriken out and ready to use. He slid the four blades apart and got ready for Naruto.
As the distance between the two dwindled, there was an immense explosion. When the dust cleared, there was an extremely pissed off female holding the Wind Rasengan in one hand and the blade of the Fuuma Shuriken in the other.
Her hair was floating around her and her eyes glowed intensely silver. There was silver energy whipping around her, lashing at everyone in its path. He wasn't a painful lashing to the non combatants, who were far enough away to only get thin whispers of it.
But for the two that were up close and personal with the source, it was like acid eating their skin away. The Rasengan died, not finding a target and not being able to go any further. The Fuuma shuriken melted under the scalding heat of the silver chakra. Blood was leaking out of the palm where the shuriken had been buried, the blade intended to decapitate Naruto.
With both attacks disabled, the enraged female roared and strucked the ground, blowing both Mizuki and Naruto on opposite sides of the gym and embedding them into the walls. "TAKE A FUCKING SEAT GENTS. NOW…WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE FUCKING PROBLEM!" she yelled looking from one to the other.
Naruto recovered first, making his way to the woman while holding his ribs. "Stay out of this Saiki. He threatened the kit's mate. He deserves to die." came the growling voice that possessed the red eyes.
Silver, pupil-less eyes that glowed like the stars met red, hell fired eyes. "OH…Is that SO…then why did his mate come to me to stop this!?" she yelled, her fangs bared and claws retracting then extending. Kyuubi noticed and backed off.
"I guess she doesn't want him to get into trouble…but…that guy struck her!" As the last part came out of the blonde's mouth, it was clear Naruto was in control again. His blue eyes held rage at the man who'd struck his beloved.
"You can read his fucking mind Saiki! Look what he did and said to her!" Naruto yelled, jabbing his finger at the white haired man who had managed to fall out of his crater and lean against the back wall.
The students watched with controlled horror as the female demon stalked over the man and grabbed his head. The man screamed as she forcefully took as many of his memories as she felt were important to her. She growled menacingly at the man, her fangs getting longer as her rage increased.
"Naruto…take him to the Godaime's office and give him to my operative who goes by the name Lee. He's the one who will crumble the wall this man hides his most secret thoughts behind." she picked the man up like he were a wet towel and tossed him at Naruto. She then turned her attention to the class.
Hinata ran in at the precise moment and watched as Sakura lifted her arms and white light exploded from her body. When Hinata could see again, all the kids were sitting in a huddle, looking around. Naruto was gone and so was Sakura. Hinata shook her head and saw their black haired teacher looking around him.
"I thought I was off today…oh well…weights and volleyball!" the spandex wearing teacher exclaimed, making the kids groan in distaste. Hinata ran out of the room before Gai saw her and rushed back to the Godaime's office to find Naruto. A black haired boy with a bowl cut and a man that was completely covered except for his eyes looked at one another and disappeared.
Choji had been talking to Michi for a long time when Sai just suddenly appeared beside them. Michi jumped into Choji's lap because the artist was a little closer to her than she was comfortable with. Sai looked at them, then grinned disarmingly, which took Choji by surprise.
"Sakura-sama teaching you emotions again Sai?" he asked teasingly, knowing the artist wasn't bothered by the dig. Sai blinked the blank look back on his face before he stuck his tongue out a Choji and delivered his message.
"Shishou wants everyone back at the office so that we can be briefed on out current assignment. She said for you to bring Michi as well. She told me to tell Michi just to tell Dr. Ochi that she was going to Sakura-shishou's for dinner. Said she would be able to leave no problem. Where's Shino?" the artist asked, the added as an afterthought "and Lee?" Choji arched a brow at the blushing young man, but didn't press.
"They left a while ago to head back. Why don't you use one of your paintings to find them?" Choji suggested to the artist, who beamed at him.
"That's a good idea…thank you." Sai took out his brush and scroll and pulled the under scroll of Konoha out. "Find Shino…and Lee." the artist had almost forgotten about Lee…again. Choji chuckled and looked at Michi.
"Let's go find the resident head and tell him about dinner tonight. He won't give you any grief with me around. He knows I work directly under Sakura." Choji offered Michi his arm and she took it, blushing cutely. Before they were too far away, Choji heard Sai yip for joy, then disappear.
"He is one strange young man." Michi commented, looking over their shoulders to see the artist disappear. Choji just chuckled again and put his hand over hers.
"He was stripped of his memories and emotions by scientists that wanted the perfect killer. He's like a child that had grown up physically, but not mentally. That is why Sakura-sama protects him so readily. Outside of our squad, hardly anyone has ever seen him like that. You are one of the first to see him show any type of emotion." he explained to her. He saw her sad look and frowned. Did she feel guilty for having said that about him?
"What kind of a monster would take a kid and strip him of his emotions? Why take his memories?" she looked up at him innocently and Choji could only stare at her. When she blinked and waved her hand in front of his face he snapped out of it.
"They strip the memories to take away the memory of emotions. Even when you can't feel emotions, the memories of them are prone to make you contradict what you've been told to do. Like when Sai was sent after Sakura, she was able to reverse the neural stripping, allowing him free will to choose if he wanted emotions. A deep sadness welled up out of Sai for no reason and he tried to kill himself. His emotions had been suppressed for so long that it almost killed him. We've come across more young people like Sai, but they've gone mad and we can't help them. It's mercy to end it quickly for them, or they will find a way to kill themselves." he said this quietly, so that no one could overhear him and also because it made him angry to think that people would do that to kids.
There were tears in Michi's eyes and he knew it was because she felt sorry for Sai and also for the other kids subjected to that horrible treatment. He hugged her close to his side and sighed in contentment.
Michi put her head on his shoulder as they walked down the hall. They were almost to their destination when a stern voice interrupted them. "MICHI! What are you doing with that man!?" Choji looked behind him to see a stern faced young man with glasses. Michi shrank behind Choji, her grip tightening on his hands.
"Who are you and why are you yelling at her!?" Choji's voice was low and dangerous, his temper rising seeing how afraid Michi was of this man.
"Who are you!? Why are you groping her like that!?" the man demanded viciously. He stepped up to them and was about to grab Michi when Choji caught his arm and held it like a vice. The man winced and glared at him.
"My name is Akimichi Choji…Michi is my girlfriend. Who the hell are you!?" Choji glared at the young man who in turn glared at Michi. She shrank behind Choji, which was easy for her to do.
"I'm Matsuro, and I'm sorry, but Michi is MINE. She's going to accept my proposal and become my wife, aren't you Michi." he glared at the woman, who winced and hid behind Choji again. Choji felt her shaking her head in denial into his back.
"Matsuro…I told you before, I don't like you that way. My older brother doesn't own me. I'm not a poker chip. Just because he owes you money doesn't mean I have to pay off his debt. I've been supporting myself and my little brother ever since Gato gambled away mother's insurance money. I'm not marrying you to cover his debt. You collect from him, not me." she felt safe with Choji between the irrational young lab tech and herself and felt she could tell him the truth instead of dodging like she usually did.
Matsuro didn't like this answer. "We will talk when this BRUTE isn't between us. I will see you at 9pm tonight. DO NOT keep me waiting Michi." with that, the young tech left, Michi still shaking behind Choji. Choji turned and hugged her to him.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Choji-kun. Matsuro has been after me since I started as a nurse here. He got my alcoholic older brother to gamble with him and took all of our insurance money in hopes that Gato would use me and my brother as compensation. Gato told him that he'd make me marry him if he lost again. Matsuro beat him and has been trying to collect from me ever since. He uses my familial tie to Gato to make me do what he wants." Michi said, looking at the toes of her nurse's shoes. Choji's face hardened.
"Let's go talk to this boss of yours." they walked into the room where the resident head was currently checking dockets.
Sai followed his painting to the location that Shino was supposed to be in. The dark artist was surprised to see the bug handler outside in the forest, a butterfly on the tip of his finger. Sai could feel the fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach when he saw Shino.
He cocked his head at Shino and just watched the brunette until the butterfly flew off and Sai's gaze followed it, as did Shino's. The butterfly came over and lit on Sai's face, right on his nose, making it look like he had large blue eyes. Sai smiled slightly and crossed his eyes to look at the butterfly.
Shino had sensed Sai as soon as the artist had appeared in the clearing with him. Shino watched the black haired youth's delight play all over his face. There was innocence about the young man that drew Shino, like a moth to a flame, and he was afraid of getting burned.
Shino grimaced at his own thoughts. He should not feel this way about the artist. He should not feel this way about anyone. There was no guarantee for tomorrow. But that just made Shino want to get closer to the painter.
"Was there something you needed Sai?" Shino asked, his voice low and gentle, so as not to drive off the butterfly. Shino watched Sai look up at him with the butterfly on his face and he couldn't help but chuckle. Sai smiled a disarmingly real smile and it made Shino gasp quietly.
"Shino-san…I'm confused about something…and I would like your advice on the matter." Sai very delicately put his finger up to his face and allowed the butterfly onto his finger instead of his nose.
"I will try and help you the best that I can Sai." Shino wasn't sure what was going on, but if Sai was seeking him out for advice, then it must be important.
"Is it wrong for one man to fall in love with another man?" Sai gave him such an innocent look that had Shino not heard him, he would have thought the artist was asking him how the weather was.
Shino started at the question, and contemplated it for a second. He looked at Sai, who was looking down and blushing, occasionally glancing up at him. "And just what has brought this up, if I may ask?" Shino's heart was beating rapidly and he was starting to sweat a little.
Sai blushed again and looked down towards the school. "I was talking to Tsunade-sama about emotions earlier. While I was painting during some of my down time, I saw two boys sneak out of the school and they ran, hand in hand, into the woods. I…I got curious, so I followed them; discreetly of course. When they stopped…they…" Sai was bright red now and looking at the ground. Shino smiled at the thought of what this innocent, inexperienced young man had most likely seen.
"They were touching each other…weren't they?" Shino's smile translated through his voice and Sai looked up at him. Sai nodded his head and Shino chuckled.
"They…had the same parts…is it supposed to be like that? I know girls don't have those parts because I can remember being at The Center and the doctors were making theirs disappear in the female subjects. The females would cry and beg them to stop, but they never did. How come those two wanted each other and not one that they can make theirs disappear in?" the question was confused and innocent enough, but it caused Shino to blush lightly.
"Sai…sometimes you can't control how you feel about a person. Those doctors didn't care for the women they hurt like that. It was all about making themselves feel better. But when you care about someone, it doesn't matter about what you want, you can only concentrate on how the other feels, whether they are happy or not." Shino crouched down beside the painter and looked out over the school.
"I have a feeling you got more of a show that you thought you would when you got closer. What did you see Sai?" Shino could feel a nose bleed coming on. He was a closet pervert, but even so, he couldn't resist hearing Sai describe what he saw. Sai blushed and looked at his lap.
"The larger boy had the smaller one pinned down and was pushing against him from behind. His hand was between the smaller boy's legs, doing something that was making the smaller boy scream. I thought maybe he was hurt until he kissed the larger boy over his shoulder. It was then that I went back to Tsunade-sama's office and was then sent out to find everyone for Shishou. I never got to tell Tsunade-sama what I saw." Sai blushed again and blinked, looking towards the school.
"Okaa-san doesn't like the thoughts going through my mind…I better go and talk to her before she gets upset…" Sai was thinking out loud, whispering to himself and looking down in the direction Sakura was. Shino arched a brow at this statement.
"Okaa-san? And just who are you talking about like that Sai?" Shino couldn't help but be just a tad bit jealous of whoever had captured the boy's heart. Sai looked up at Shino, his face carefully blank. He was in operative mode once more.
"Shishou wants us to come in for the briefing…I suggest we go. He stood and disappeared before Shino could say anything. Shino sighed and disappeared as well.
Sakura was fuming. She was way beyond normal anger, because the man she had thought was a substitute teacher was actually a spy for The Center. She sat on Tsunade's desk, waiting for the rest of her team. Gaara hung in the back of the room, sensing she needed to let out a little steam before he tried cuddling with her. He knew she needed time to calm down and instinctively let her have it.
Sakura looked up as Lee appeared before her, his face grim. Sakura sighed and got straight to the point. "Did you break the barrier in his mind?" she gave him a look that said he better have. Lee gave her a thumbs up and a smile.
"It's my specialty Shishou…Ibiki-sensei taught me everything he knew about mental interrogation before those bastards got him." Lee now looked angry, thinking back to how his teacher had been mercilessly injected with an extremely painful poison and left out in an alley when it was too late to save him.
"Lee…If I could have saved Ibiki, I would have tried…but the poison had already destroyed most of him on a cellular level. I tracked the bastards who did it and let you get your revenge, didn't I? I also let them catch me and inject me with the poison so that I could make an antidote for our guys. No one will ever have to go through that again…I promise." She took his cheek into her hand and wiped the tears that fell down his face even with him fighting so hard not to cry.
"Hai…I'm sorry to act this way in front of you Shishou…A man of my age should be able to control my emotions better." Lee turned from her and walked towards the back of the room, slowly fading away. Gaara regarded the young many and his abilities.
"How is it they can all disappear the way they do?" Shizune had voiced what he was thinking, and was grateful she had. Sakura looked at Shizune and smiled.
"I taught them. I've been honing their unique abilities for the past five years. My most advanced student thus far is Hyuuga Neji. He is a very quick learner and very stubborn." As soon as the words left her mouth, a burst of feather had Shizune clutching her chest and almost hyperventilating. Sakura watched as the feathers settled and then saw an ecstatic Tenten with her hands in the position for the disappearance jutsu. Sakura's eyes narrowed on her pupil.
"Cool…I was actually able to control it this time…Would have been bad if I had done that and ended up blinking into a wall or something…" Tenten smiled at Neji and then looked at Sakura.
"Neji is a life saver Sakura-chan. I accidentally blinked away from him in the hospital. Scared me so bad I started crying. I never knew I could do this. It's good to learn to control it quickly, before I accidentally hurt myself or someone else." Tenten looked over her shoulder at Neji, who was looking down at her with complete gratitude.
"Yes…good thing he taught you to control it all right. That particular aspect of a kekkei genkai doesn't require the use of your chakra. It's more like an instinctual reaction. You kekkei genkai keeps you out of danger. But tell me…how did you go about triggering it, I wonder?" when Sakura looked at them, Neji turned red and Tenten just gave her an innocent glance.
"That is between Neji and myself Sakura-chan…or do you want everyone to know about your roof bound fling?" Tenten arched one haughty brow as Sakura sweat dropped and held up her hands.
"Fine…you win. Just keep that to yourself. Nee-san, I you peek, I'll kill you." Sakura growled at the curious look on Tsunade's face. She turned to Gaara, who had a light blush on his face, too light for anyone but Sakura to see.
"I went to the roof after Kakashi-sensei started talking about Ji-chan in the past tense." she said, and looked down. She knew that would stop all conversation from heading in that direction.
Gaara looked at her and noticed there was sadness in his onna's eyes. He walked over to her and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I will gladly pick up where we left off later tonight, say, after dinner?" he gave her a wicked smirk as she 'eepd' and blushed madly. Kiba, ever watchful, took in their interaction.
Ino stirred against him, making him look back down at her. Just then, Evanescence's 'Call Me When You're Sober' started playing and everyone blinked. Sakura reached into her pocket and looked at the number. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Karin…" she opened her phone up and answered it. "Hello?" she asked, her voice holding curiosity.
"Sakura…Can you come to the jail? I need to talk to you." this did not sound like the same Karin she had put in jail the other day.
"Sure, Karin. What time do you want to see me?" she said, looking at Gaara, who had a scowl on his features.
"They told me that I would be able to go home in three weeks because of my 'miraculous turnabout'. But I would like you to know something Sakura. I…I'm so sorry for how I treated you. My cell mate, Sophie, told me that she would give anything to see her sister again, and it really made me think. Obaa-chan also came by with a letter our Ji-chan left. I've read it every day since she brought it. I…I want you to know…I'm really sorry, nee-chan." Karin said, then hung the phone up, tears in her voice.
Sakura looked completely dumbfounded. Tears pooled in her eyes and started streaming down her face. Gaara had his arms around her immediately. "What's wrong mitsukai-chan?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. She laid her head on his shoulder as the tears just leaked out.
"She…she called me nee-chan. Karin called me nee-chan. She said she was sorry for how she treated me. Karin has never apologized to anyone, not even her father…" Sakura was in total shock. Kiba could smell it. He felt Ino tossing, as if she were having a nightmare.
Ino woke with a start, only to see Sakura crying. She reached her hand out to Sakura, even though they were across the room from one another. Kiba picked Ino up, as she still couldn't walk, and took her over to Sakura, who was in Gaara's arms.
Gaara growled at the Inuzuka for getting to close to them, but it stopped when Ino slipped her hand in Sakura's and Sakura squeezed it. She clung to Gaara, who in turn wrapped her up in himself. A gust of wind made everyone aware that Sai and Shino had shown up. The dark haired artist looked at Sakura and his eyes widened greatly.
"OKAA-SAN!" he attempted to punch Gaara, but Gaara's sand prevented it. "Let her go! What did you do to her!? I'll kill you if you hurt her!" the young artist was about to perform a jutsu, but Shino came up behind him and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy. Sai blushed and looked over his shoulder at Shino.
"Look at her Sai, closely. She clings to him for emotional support. Something has sent her into shock. We must wait until she is better. For now, settle yourself. This is your okaa-san's mate, after all." Sai knew nothing of lovers or husbands and wives, but he knew what it meant to have a mate. Sai's eyes widened more, if possible, and looked at the way Gaara was holding the girl, how his hands soothed her and his sand wrapped protectively around her.
Sai became the emotionless artist once more. He relaxed, but Shino did not release him. Shino knew Sai was most dangerous when he was dead calm like this. "You hurt her ketsunoana…and I will show you the true meaning of pain." Sai turned around in Shino's arms and looked up at the taller man, smiling at him.
"It's okay Shino…I won't kill him…yet." with that, Sai slipped from Shino's arms and went to stand by Tsunade, who was frowning. The phone call had sent her joji into shock. She could tell from the turmoil in her mind that Sakura didn't know what was going on. She looked up as Sai looked down at her, pleading in his eyes. She smiled at him, then nodded, and he jumped into her window sill and started painting once more.
A small mew made everyone in the room stiffen slightly and go silent. Gaara looked over at his darkened corner where Sakura's messenger bag was. A small lump was trying to get out of the bag. Kiba started growling at it, and was about to set Akamaru on it, but Sakura's menacing voice stopped him.
"You set Akamaru on Hime and it will be the last mistake you make Inuzuka." There were tear trails down her face, but her eyes were a bright sterling color. Sakura bent down as Gaara drew the bag to he with his sand. Sakura opened the flap and picked up the small, calico kitten with large silver eyes.
"Hello precious. Have a nice nap with panda-chan?" she asked the kitten, smiling through her tears. Gaara could see the effect of having the kitten had on Sakura. The kitten needed her protection, was like her child. When the kitten was threatened in any way, Sakura responded as a mother tiger would…with fierce protection.
As Gaara regarded her cuddling Hime, a thought went through his mind. 'If she's that protective of a stray kit, how is she going to be with ours?' Gaara blushed brightly as the thought sent a wave of desire through him. Sakura felt his sudden spike in emotion and looked at him. Her eyes were back to their earth shattering emerald. He could fall into those eyes.
As he thought this, there was a knock on the now reassembled door. Shizune opened it to reveal Hinata and Naruto, who had Kankuro between them. Kankuro scowled and looked at them. "Dammit guys, I'm not going to fucking break! I just hit my head because of my dumb ass older sister!" He hissed and then noticed all the people. Most he didn't even recognize.
"Uhhh…" Kankuro's eyes were as big as dinner plates and his mouth was about to hit the floor. A hiss from the ceiling made him look up to see vein popping Temari glaring daggers at him.
"Um…Hi, sis…You know…um…" Kankuro sweat dropped and ran for dear life until he was hiding behind Sakura. "She's going to hit me with her fan!" he wailed, tears of utter fright in his voice. Gaara gave an exaggerated sigh and looked at his siblings with an emotionless face, but there was love for them in his eyes.
Temari was about to throw her iron fan at Kankuro when it was yanked out of her hand and it dropped to the floor, making a HUGE splintered crater in the already ruined floor. Tsunade's eyes turned to little hazel dots under her straightened out lids and looked up at the two, one fang hanging out of her mouth.
Temari was clutching onto Shikamaru, who was in turn trying to keep himself on the ceiling. He quickly flipped off the ceiling and landed on his feet, Temari in his arms.
"Sakura-sama…I know you don't like it when we walk on the ceiling, but I was pointing out who everyone was for Temari-chan. You didn't need to disrupt my chakra flow to get me down. You could have asked." Sakura could have sworn she heard troublesome woman added to that, but she chose to ignore it.
Gaara, however, was not ignoring the fact this man had his hands on Temari. She may be older, but she was still his sister. Gaara's sand started creeping towards the pineapple pony tailed man. Suddenly, he couldn't move.
"Now, now little brother, no need to get all defensive. I'm not going to hurt her. She came to me of her own volition, so no jinchuriki sand tricks, ne?" Shikamaru had surprised Gaara with Shadow Possession and just kept the red head still. Sakura looked from her operative to Gaara, whose eyes were flashing dangerously.
"Now Panda-chan…Temari's a big girl. Besides…now you know how all six of the feel every time you put your hands on me. How would you feel if they reacted as violently every time we touched?" She smiled up at him, Hime pressed against her cheek. She stuck her tongue out at him and then chuckled.
"There is nothing on this planet that can stop me from touching you, mitsukai-chan. Not even this…" Gaara pumped a little more chakra into himself and broke Shikamaru's hold on him. Gaara did not, however, continue to attack the brunette.
Sakura smiled at him mischievously and he sweat dropped. He knew that look…she'd had it earlier, on the roof. Before anyone could say another word, the loud drone of the bell sounded and screaming and laughing came from the hallways. Sakura cheered and put Hime on her head, the little kitten looking oddly small in her wealth of black and red hair.
"Well, seems like it's time to go home guys! Let's GO!" she started out the door, only to come face to face with pitch black eyes and chicken butt hair. She backed up a step as the others started filing out. Gaara had her bag in his hand, and gave it to her without even looking at the obstacle in the hall.
"What do you want Uchiha?" Gaara asked, his voice unemotional. Gaara felt, more than heard, Ino gasp and bury her face in Kiba's shoulder. Kiba whispered something to several of the guys in front of them and they formed a wall between the blonde and the black haired boy. Uchiha arched a brow at the small army of black clad teens.
"Starting your own cult Sabaku? Or is this the onna's doing?" Sasuke looked at Sakura and she could see the perverted gleam in his eyes. Gaara saw it too, and he didn't like it.
"Stop looking at my onna like she's prime cut Uchiha, or you will lose those precious eyes of yours." to emphasize his point, sand particles started getting in his eyes. The Uchiha squinted and finally looked away. He rubbed his eyes as they burned.
"Actually, Uchiha-teme, these are some guys that work for me. Being the head of the largest Private Investigation Corporation on the face of the planet gives you lots of interesting employees…and friends, something you are not accustomed to. I only accept the best at Hatori Corporation." She purred and his eyes widened immensely.
"YOU are Hetoshi's heir?" she asked, disbelief written all over his face. Sakura was about to knock him out again, but Sai beat her to it. Sai had the Uchiha around the neck, his eyes dull, his face emotionless.
"NEVER talk to my Shishou like that again. Next time I hear it, I will separate you body from that pretty little head of yours." when Sai released him, there were finger print sized bruises already forming.
"Koneko…why don't you go on ahead and take Hime with you." Sakura put her hand on the emotionless boys shoulder. He instantly relaxed and she allowed him to take the small calico kitten fro her. He walked out the door and turned back to give Sasuke a glance that said 'Mess with the tiger, you get the teeth.' Sasuke grunted and stood up.
He had no sooner got to his feet that a tall boy covered in black clothes with dark glasses walked up to him, his hands still in his pockets. The boy stopped as they were side by side. "You mess with Sai, you mess with me. And I am much more sadistic than Sai. He's too innocent to do some of the things I could, and would, do. Play nice or you will suffer." with that, the masked boy walked out after the other boy.
"Fags…" Sasuke hissed, watching the boy go. He could tell the two boys had a bond, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what type of bond it was.
Neji arched one brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "And what gives you the right to judge them? They don't have to intimidate people into respecting them…they earn it." Sasuke glared at the brunette with eyes that reminded him of Hinata. He looked around the group and saw the violet haired girl. He smiled evilly and waved absently at her. She didn't flinch from him like she used to…and it made him mad.
Neji noticed and put two and two together quickly. Instantly his Byakugan activated and he was about to attack Sasuke when a voice stopped him. "Nii-san…he doesn't scare me anymore…and that frightens him. He is trying to pick a fight, but he is not worth your time. We must return home and prepare for tomorrow. Let us be on our way." Hinata looked Sasuke square in the eyes, like she had before he'd 'taught her a lesson'. It made Sasuke angry, but he couldn't do anything about it with so many of them here.
Neji deactivated his kekkei genkai and walked past Sasuke. As he did, he put a large kunai at the Sharingan users throat. "Touch her ever again…and there won't be enough of you left to bury Uchiha." He looked back at Tenten, who had her hand to her chest protectively as Sasuke leered at her. Neji punched him in the stomach and held his hand out to Tenten as the pervert doubled over. Tenten took his hand and they left the school building.
Kiba looked down at Ino, who was now asleep once more. He walked past the Uchiha and stopped right by him. He never even looked at the man. "I have your scent memorized Uchiha. There is nowhere for you to run that I won't find you now. Mark my words teme…I WILL kill you." Akamaru growled for emphasis and they two walked out, carrying the immobilized girl. Sasuke snorted and looked at the remaining few.
"Anymore threats? Because I have business to take care of." Sasuke looked bored, but Sakura knew different. She smirked at him and everyone saw him flinch. Shikamaru walked past the boy and stopped slightly behind the boy. Sasuke felt something tightening around his throat suddenly and panicked.
"Neji is like a brother to me. You mess with him, or his family, and you mess with the Nara clan. You stay away from Hinata and the other girls, or I won't be so forgiving next time Uchiha." Shikamaru said, and release his Shadow Neck Bind. He looked behind him to see Temari heft her iron fan onto her shoulder. She walked right up in front of the Uchiha and 'accidentally' slammed the heavy fan on his feet.
"Stay away from my family Sasuke…and I won't have to resort to drastic measures. You have no idea what I'm capable of." she smiled and pulled the fan up to put it on her back. It caught him right under the chin and made a small cut. Sasuke winced, but otherwise glared at the blonde. Kankuro stuck his hands in his pocket and as he walked by he hit Sasuke in the top of the head with his fist.
"Stop glaring at my nee-san or I'll bring in Kuroari and introduce you to his chambered stomach. He likes blood, and you're full of it." The puppeteer walked away, following his sister and her new boyfriend.
Sasuke glared at the only two remaining people. They were the only two people that he was truly afraid of. Gaara looked at Sakura, who was smirking sadistically at Sasuke. "Mitsukai-chan…I'll meet you outside by the bikes." Gaara caressed her cheek and she smiled at him.
Gaara walked past Sasuke, and with his lips never moving he muttered this warning in passing. "If I feel anything through my link with her, and you will rot in a sand hole for eternity. Don't you DARE put your hands on her." to emphasize his point, Gaara used his sand to squeeze Sasuke's hands until they were numb.
Gaara stepped through the door and into the bright sunlight, his sand following, all except a brown floating eye made Sasuke sick to see. Sakura looked up and saw the eye. She waved at it and blew it a kiss. After that, it burst into sand and trailed after Gaara.
Sakura turned and looked at him once more, her face blank of all emotion. "We were supposed to race tonight, but it's going to rain, so I'm rescheduling it. In three weeks from today, we will be racing. Better get home now, before one of my boys decides that it's too tempting to pass up a chance to beat the life out of you." she reached out and flicked his forehead with her forefinger and he went flying into the cement wall, a small crater behind him.
He hissed at her and gripped his ribs. It was then that Tsunade came into the hallway and looked at them. Tsunade glared at Sakura, who waved and skipped down the hall. "I just got a call from the Kagure police department. Seems that you were the last one seen with the Yamanaka girl before her rape. They are sending in a team to investigate the rape, by request of the Yamanakas. I have no choice but to suspend you until the investigation is closed. You will be confined to your home and your homework sent to you by one of the officers. That will be all." she said, then walked back into her office. Sasuke slammed his fist into the ground, making a small crack.
A voice whispered through his mind telling him that this was only the beginning of his self made hell. He heard Sakura singing a song as she left.
'Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now
As she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend,
One day this world's going to end
As your lies crumble down,
A new life she has found.'
He looked at her and saw her glowing silver eyes. "It's called 'Face Down' by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. You should look up the lyrics…it's a good song." she smiled wickedly and slammed the door shut behind her.
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OMFG!! 'Face Down' by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus was THE PERFECT song for this chapter!! Lemme know what you think. If you are uncomfortable with the relationship between Sai and Shino, I'll let you know now, that is the furthest I am delving into the two of them. The highlights of the other relationships outside of Gaara and Sakura will be put into little side stories.
ch. glossary:
toriritoru--> little bird
ketsunoana--> asshole (ass)