The Path A Ninja Walks...
Chapter Eleven
The Desert Ninja Welcome
A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.
It was early morning by the time they had finally made it to the edge of The Village Hidden in The Sand. With Kankuro, a resident, leading the way, they were able to weave a slightly quicker path to get them in ahead of schedule.
"There it is~" Kankuro grinned as they began to approach the main entrance.
"Woah...so this is the Hidden Sand Village?" Sage beamed, his blue green eyes swirld and shone with awe,"So cool~"
"Not much really..." Kankuro blinked.
Man...this guy is weird...
"Hey..." Kankuro waved his arm as he greeted the main gate guard,"These are the hidden Leaf ninja here to aide us..."
"I see." said the guard,"Very well then, enter." the security stepped aside and welcomed the new comers to their village.
Hana held a heavy leer on Saseme and Kankuro, thinking their companionship was already odd enough on its own...
"What is with you?" Sage blinked,"you've been glaring at them the whole time..."
"I just...don't trust them..." Hana muttered.
That guy in particular seems like he's got something to hide...
She thought to herself.
And somehow...I just don't feel like she is really on our side at all...
"SO! Kankuro was it?" said Sage, starting Hana while he casually draped an arm over the Sand Ninja's shoulders.
Is he out of his mind!?
She thought to herself.
"Uhh...yeah?" Kankuro blinked behind painted over eyes with an awkward glance as Sage hung himself off of him.
"So tell me how you know my girl over there huh?" He beamed, pointing over at Saseme who gave an awkward expression and an apologetic gaze to their escort-
"Your girl?" Kankuro blinked and narrowed his eyes.
Man this guy must wear her out...
"I've known Saseme a while..." he blinked,"I guess you could say...she's sorta like my little sister to me?"
"Kankuro!"
"Speaking of sisters..." the black draped male smirked as a female approached the scene,"Temari...you good on your side?"
A blonde female with four way pig tails approached them wearing a confident smirk.
"Naturally...What did you expect?" she blinked,"So what's this?" she asked,"This the help?"
"Wooah~ Local babe~!" Sage said with a wink...Kokoua gave a heavy sigh while Hana looked ready to punch him flat.
"Oh please..." Saseme sighed,"Temari would destroy you..."
"Hm?" the blonde blinked,"Who are these twerps...? Wait...is that Saseme?"
"Yeah check it out~" Kankuro grinned as he playfully threw his arm over the shoulders of the Uchiha girl.
"Did you see, Gaara?" Kankuro called,"Saseme's back!"
In the distance, a brunette hung low in the shading of a Desert Gorge, darting sharp eyes toward the leaf ninja who were sent to help them flush out their invading pests. His arms were crossed and he used his gord as a lean-on.
"...I couldn't care less..." He said in a low hiss.
Both Temari and Kankuro let out small gulps as they gazed upon him with what almost looked to be fear in their eyes, which only rose Hana's suspicions more.
I see...so that's Gaara...
Kokoua thought to herself. A cold sweat trickled down her neck as she watched him.
This guy reaks with the scent of blood lust...
She blinked.
Saseme however showed no fear as she approached him.
"Gaa-chan..." she spoke his name softly, and he akcnowledged her with a sideways glance, "I'm back. Here to help..."
"Saseme..." he grumbled,"...Good to see you again..."
"Didn't he just say 'I couldn't care less'?" Sage twitched. Even he could sense an unsteady chill from this new ninja.
"That's just...Gaara..." Kankuro stated, a cover no doubt, "Believe it or not he and Saseme are actually closer than you would think at first glance. They're like...best friends you could say."
I just hope he stays calm enough to get this over with and get them out...
He thought to himself.
It's way too soon for Gaara to show himself now...
He gulped.
Though, with Saseme around...we might be all right...
Just so long as her idiot team mates don't rub him the wrong way...
"I see...Moody huh?" Sage blinked,"Makes sense that he's friends with Saseme then~" he laughed as he approached the boy soon behind his team mate.
Is this guy nuts!?
Kankuro gasped.
"She called you Gaa-chan right~?" He blinked before flashing a bright smile,"That's a term of endearment! You two must be really close friends then~" He grinned and rose his hand as though to give the fellow Genin a pat on the back.
Temari and Kankura both gasped and prepared to take precaution just in case...something...went wrong-
Though before Sage could even make contact with Gaara, His hand was instantly blocked by Saseme's and gripped tightly back away from him.
"...Don't touch him." she said in a low, warning tone,"...he just... doesn't like to be touched."
"Uhh...right...no...touchy...got it..." Sage gulped, startled by his team mate's instant reaction. He wasn't sure if it was Gaara she was protecting...or him. As she released his wrist he pulled it back and gave it a rub down,"Jeeze...you two really are friends huh?" he teased with a playful smirk as he flipped her hair. Her instant reaction was to kick him. And Gaara twitched as though he were ready to destroy this person before their eyes until Saseme gasped and intervened once again.
"N-No! It's okay, Gaa-chan!" she said reassuringly with an out spread arm to barricade him from moving further,"He's...just like that...it's playful..."
The two held a long and serious gaze with one another before he finally clicked his tounge in surrender. Seeming rather disappointed that he didn't get to destroy his prey...
"...Whatever." he huffed, slowly backing away.
"Phew..." Kankuro sighed in relief, joined by Temari. The black hooded male stepped forward and placed a palm on her head. It was a little rough, but clearly affectionate,
"...Good on ya, Saseme..." he said softly.
"You see...Kankuro, Temari, and Gaa-chan...they're all siblings." she explained, "So when Kankuro said I was like a little sister, I guess?"
"It means it goes all the way around." said Temari, "Saseme stayed with us during her time here...Gaara can get a little protective sometimes."
Protective...that's what they're calling it huh?
Kokoua thought to herself, still she remained weary of the boy with the Gord...
Meanwhile Hana hung back...with fear sticken eyes.
This guy...is a freak...
She thought to herself.
It's not a wonder that Saseme would be friends with the likes of him...
Her eyes narrowed and hung heavily on the other female of her team.
The more we hang aroun this place...the more untrustworthy she seems to me...
Even Sage had to swallow back a growing lump in his throat.
"She's sorta like a little sister I guess?"
That's what that Kankuro guy said right...?
He gulped and exchanged a glance towards Hana.
"Hey..." he whispered to her,"I think you better watch what you say around these guys in reguards to Saseme..." he stated,"Especially that one..."
"Yeah...no kidding." she whispered back,"He looked ready to kill you."
"Saseme was a resident of this village for a good part of her young life." Kokoua stated in a soft tone,"It would make sense if she had developed some kind of of bretheren bond with its people...for now...let's just focus on the mission..."
"Yeah...got it." Sage said.
"The sooner we get it over with...the sooner we can get away from these freaks." said Hana, watching as Saseme remained calm through it all.
And perhaps the sooner we might be able to find out what our supposed "team mate" is hiding...
To be Continued...