Ayame's P.o.V.
Temari and Kankuro jumped down to help Gaara, while Yuki and I just didn't know what to do. The Third Hokage was under attack, but we couldn't help. There was some kind of barrier around him that we couldn't get to. Was the Kazekage, the leader of the Sand Village, behind this? What even was this? Sabotage? Invasion? Both?
"I have to find my brother," I said to Yuki. "You need to find your team and sensei." She shook her head.
"If they are under the genjutsu, they're safe," she said. There was a crash somewhere in the distance that only my ears could detect. Was the entire village under attack? "If we wake them up to fight, they might die."
"The rest of the village is under attack- what if the carnage comes this way, too? We need to start waking people up and get them to a safe place." She looked dubious. I turned my back to her. "These people are precious to the Hokage, and the Hokage is precious to me. I will fight to protect them." I moved to go, but Yuki caught me.
"Stop," she said. "We'll wake up a few ninja, but that's it. They can take it from there." She pointed down below. "Then we have to figure out what's going on with Gaara, understand? That is necessary." I nodded. She was the Chuunin after all. A personally involved Chuunin, but still my superior.
"Hai."
We used the chakra in our feet to cling to the wall and our speed to get to where I sensed the rest of my team's chakra: Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. When we arrived, there were some sand ninjas and someone dressed as an ANBU special operations ninja whose chakra was familiar, but I couldn't place it. They were talking to Kakashi and Gai.
"The village is under attack," I told them.
"Release ninja from the genjutsu first, then have them help move out the civilians," Yuki said. "After we take out these guys."
"Kakashi, look over there," Gai said, talking about the barrier by the Hokage. I had to squint to see, but when I did I felt my blood boil.
"Orochimaru," Kakashi said in his low voice. Sakura gasped and leapt to her feet; I clenched my jaw. Just what was going on around here? Two enemy ninja jumped over to Sakura, but Kakashi managed to thwart them.
"Sakura, you stay there," he said, "while I trim the enemy's numbers a bit." He continued to fight. Yuki and I rushed over to Sakura.
"Are you guys okay?" She asked.
"We're fine," Yuki said. "Are you hurt?" Sakura shook her head.
"Where are Nauto and Shikamaru?" I asked. Sakura pointed up the stairs. I smiled. "Let's go wake them up and help Sasuke-kun, ne?" She looked puzzled for a moment, but she nodded once despite her confusion.
We nearly flew over to our sleeping comrades. Even though Yuki tried to remain objective, I caught her glancing about as she tried to locate her team. Kakashi and Gai struggled to dwindle the enemy's forces behind us. The silver-haired one leaped back to talk to us.
"Sakura, Ayame," Kakashi said. "You'll have to help Sasuke. He went to follow Gaara and the other Sand ninja. But you'll need help." I saw him cut open his thumb with a kunai and manufacture handsigns. "Summoning Jutsu!"
On the ground, a small brown dog wearing a ninja vest sat. He looked old, bored, and tired. Sakura scratched her face and cleared her throat.
"A . . . puppy?" She muttered. The dog yawned.
"Listen, little girl," he said gruffly, "you better watch it. Don't think of me as just some cute puppy." My eyes widened. Of course he could talk. Maybe I should summon Akarai, too. I decided against it as more team members would complicate the mission and I didn't want to put her in harm's way.
As Sakura woke up Naruto and Shikamaru, Yuki and I guarded over the three of them. It was pure chaos and madness from where I stood. I could hear the destruction taking place by Konoha's borders; crashing and thundering booms echoed about. I wondered where Akio was, and if he managed to get himself out of the genjutsu.
"Now that you're all awake, let me explain the mission," Kakashi said, his back still turned to us as he assessed the danger. "First, track down Sasuke and stop him. Then, find a safe location and await further orders."
"Did something happen to Sasuke?" Naruto asked, dubious. Sakura said she would explain on the way before hoisting Naruto away. Shikamaru, Yuki, and the dog named Pakkun scurried off, but I hang back briefly.
"Kakashi-sensei," I said urgently. "I need you to find my brother. He will be vital in defending the village."
"Understood," he said. He turned back, showing me that serious eye over his shoulder. "Now go."
. . .
We were hot on the trail to find Sasuke, Pakkun leading the pack. I wondered just what was going through Sasuke's mind, going after Gaara like that. Was he crazy? Crazy as he might be, I hoped he was safe. Yuki was concerned, too, and she didn't have to show it on her face for me to know. But I couldn't tell if she was worried for Gaara's safety or Sasuke's.
"C'mon, you guys," Pakkun barked. "Hurry it up!" We were soaring in the trees from branch to branch, following Pakkun's nose. I tried to listen for that familiar heartbeat of his, but Sasuke was too far away.
"Do you see Sasuke?" Naruto asked. Pakkun looked over his shoulder.
"No, but there is a squad of nine ninjas following us."
"Oh, man," Shikamaru groaned. "So troublesome. Give me a break!"
In order to throw the pursuing ninjas off the trail, Pakkun had us all retrace our steps to make it seem like out footprints just disappeared. Though it wouldn't throw them completely off, it would still manage to buy us some time. But, after a mere few minutes, Pakkun lost hope of losing our tails.
"Be prepared for an ambush," he warned. Someone suggested that we ambush them first, but Pakkun informed us that Orochimaru's henchmen were too advanced for us to be able to handle. As Shikmaru explained all the reasons why an ambush wouldn't work, he offered another solution.
"A diversion," he suggested. "That means one of us will stay behind to give the illusion of an ambush."
"One of us will be a decoy," Sakura reiterated.
"The decoy will throw off the search team, allowing the rest of us to escape. But, the person who acts as the decoy will probably . . . die." When Shikamaru said this vital word, we all stopped and took a breather in the treetops.
"I'll do it," Yuki volunteered solemnly. I turned to look at her, dumbfounded. This was crazy. She thinks she's a Chuunin, but really she's still a Genin. And we're all just kids. "Their sand jutsus may fall powerless to my ice - "
"Thanks," Shikamaru began, "but no thanks. Something tells me that Gaara will need you there for him." Yuki looked away from Shikamaru, but he continued. "Besides, it's my plan. I'm the only one that can do it. I'm the only one who's got a chance at pulling off this decoy act and surviving through it." He leapt away to another tree and looked over his shoulder. "Shadow possession was invented as a delay tactic after all."
"Shikamaru, wait," I said, jumping over to him. We faced each other, he had a reassuring half-smile on the smug, bored face of his. "If you don't come back from this, I'll never forgive you."
"Sheesh," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not like you're risking your life, are you?"
"As soon as we find Sasuke, I'll come and get you," I promised. "Be careful." I stuck out my hand in front of me and Shikamaru just looked at it for a moment. He grasped my hand in his for a brief moment before flying off in the other direction.
"We need to keep moving," Pakkun said as I stared off after Shikamaru, one of the first kids to be nice to me.
"Let's go." I caught up with the rest of them, and we were back on the trail, as fast as our legs could carry us.
. . .
After a time, the ninja stopped following us. I guess that meant Shikamaru got them all. Now we could focus on finding Sasuke. Naruto was near the front of the pack, determination set in his shoulders. No matter how much he pretended to hate Sasuke, he couldn't fool anyone. Sauske was his best friend.
And Sakura . . . She was still in love with him. I looked at her, her short pink hair fluttering from her speed. She was still devoted, like she still thought she could win him over. I looked down at the ground far below. Maybe she could.
I thought about Orochimaru's mark on Sasuke; it would make him crave power like no other. A stronger draw than a glass of water would have on a man dying of thirst. Was going after Gaara, one with considerable technique and chakra, be a way of him getting some form of power? Proving his strength?
The skies soon became dark. Too early to be night, we knew that heavy clouds were blocking the sun. Booms in the distance got our attention.
"Trip-wire traps," Pakkun explained. "Whoever set them certainly aren't making Sauske's job any easier."
"It'll take more than that to slow down Sasuke," Naruto boasted.
"We should keep moving," Yuki suggested. "If we catch up to them in time, the darkness will conceal us in addition to our silence."
"We need to rest," I countered. "If it comes to a fight, we don't want to be exerted." Yuki gave me a side-glance, but said nothing. Pakkun looked between the two of us.
"Let's rest another five minutes. Then we'll be on our way."
"Hai," the rest of us said together.
When they skies cleared, we began to move. Yuki seemed cross to have lost our cover, but it was only for a fleeting moment. If I'm being honest, I'm glad I wasn't like that anymore. Always showing a blank face to everyone and all. I wondered what Yuki was hiding from.
"I hope the village is okay," I said aloud. Sakura and Naruto turned to me.
"Huh? What're you talking about, Onee-san?" Naruto asked. So they didn't know. Of course not, I was the only one who could hear the chaos.
"Oh, I was just commenting," I covered. "Forget it."
"We're almost there; I can smell Sasuke!" Pakkun suddenly said. "They're close together and they're not moving. It could mean a fight."
"I don't think so," I said. "I don't hear any struggles." I enhanced my hearing further, honing in on the direction in which we were moving. "I think they're just talking for now."
"Regardless, we should hurry," he said. "Smells like we aren't the only ones tracking Sasuke. Friend or foe, I don't know, but whatever it is . . . it isn't human." I could see Yuki's frame become rigid, her eyebrows furrowed. This mission was insane.
Finally, I could hear the commotion of a battle. We were so close that I barely needed to use chakra to listen in on the fight. Sasuke was close. Through the trees we could see . . . something. It reminded me of what we saw in the arena - a big arm with those violet veins. Except now it was attached to Gaara's body? It was too crazy.
Naruto jumped faster and farther than I have ever seen him go, and his foot collided with Gaara's face, making him turn so we could see his horrific features. It looked as if half of his face was covered in sand, with black eyes and ears like an animal. His face was contorted in all things negative: pain, anger, sorrow, blood lust - you name it. The chakra all around us was so strong, I had to wonder how Gaara could have so much.
"Gaara!" Yuki shouted. Gaara landed on a tree branch, the thick claws of his hand scoring up the wood and sinking deep into the tree as he skidded to a halt. I went to Sasuke, Sakura already by his side. He was drained from fighting and looking pained. Those dark marks covered his skin, the marks Orochimaru gave him. We needed to get him medical attention.
"We have Sasuke, now we have to go," I ordered, reaching for Sasuke's arm. He shoved me away.
"All of you, get out of here!" He hissed.
"Guys, we gotta go, now!" Naruto warned us, but it was too late to move. Gaara was already coming towards us - towards Sasuke. Sakura and I had one thing in common: We had to protect Sasuke. As we stood there, feet planted on the branch, Gaara was screaming.
"Die, Uchiha Sasuke!" The monstrous arm shot out at Sakura and I, and all we could do is stand there like fools.
"Gaara, no!" Yuki's voice called out, leaping in between us and his hand. She was swept away and harshly pinned against a far-away tree. She was barely conscious. Sakura and I leaped elsewhere, still guarding Sasuke.
"Hey!" I yelled. Gaara was clutching his head and trembling, but his pain was meaningless to me. I was infuriated seeing Yuki that way even if I didn't know her that well, even if she was a little bossy, even if she beat me. That was my friend. "What the hell's the matter with you!?"
"Weren't you all about to make a run for it?" Gaara growled. I could see it now: he wasn't a boy anymore, he was more like an animal. "What does it matter anyway?"
"These guys are my friends!" Naruto yelled, voice echoing. "If you so much as put one more finger on them, I'll pulverise you!" Gaara chuckled viciously and put more pressure on Yuki, making her yelp in pain. I tightened my fists. What could I do?
"What's the matter?" Gaara beckoned. "Weren't you going to pulverise me?"
"Why are you doing this!?" I shrieked at him, fury fueling my voice. "We were friends as kids - don't you remember? And Yuki cares about you! She might be the only damn person who does - even your siblings are afraid of you, but not her!" Gaara grasped his head again, as if my words physically pained him.
"Sakura, guard Sasuke; Naruto, you try to land a hit on Gaara," I said. "I'll try to release Yuki."
Gaara's arm crumbled away from Yuki's body and I jumped over to the tree she was pinned to. In mid-air, I was hit by one of Gaara's sand shurikens and went soaring in another direction. I hit the ground with a hard thud, a shock wave violently penetrating my right side. I slowly sat up, gripping my shoulder. The mark hasn't burned since Akarai had started training me, but I feared that that could change at any moment.
Unsteadily, I jumped up to Yuki with one leap. Naruto was just standing there. I was surprised that he wasn't going for Gaara. He was thinking.
"Ayame," Yuki groaned quietly. "Gaara."
"I'm going to get you out of here," I said, getting out a kunai. I began to chisel, bits and pieces of sand falling to the ground The hand tightened like a vice. I turned to Gaara and nearly gasped. Gaara's form truly did look like a monster now. Sand covering his entire body, like a costume of some big animal. He looked demonic.
A demon? Of course. All the chakra, feeling alone and forlorned like Naruto and I, being feared by everyone around him. Even the form he was in, like a giant raccoon. Gaara was a tailed beast. All along, I can't believe I didn't put it all together myself. A Jinchuriki.
"It takes one to know one," I muttered. I looked down at my hands. "Okay, Akarai. Let's see if this works!" The blue glow of chakra wrapped around my hands. My nails grew long, sharp, and thick; I began to claw at the sand ceaselessly until half of Yuki's body was uncovered. I grabbed onto her exposed arm and leg before Gaara could apply more pressure (not that he could, considering Naruto's hundred clones kept him busy) and yanked her out.
"Ouch," she groaned weakly.
"Sorry," I said, retracting my claws. I carried Yuki to a big branch for her to rest on and looked up at nearby Sakura. "What did I miss?" She had a glazed-over look on her face and pointed upwards.
Following her finger I saw the demon in its full form. At least sixty feet tall, Gaara was now in the form of a sand spirit, a tan and purple raccoon. It was insane. In addition to that tall monster, an enormous red toad with a pipe hanging from its lips was standing in front of Gaara's monster. I squinted and saw Naruto on top of the amphibian. Did he summon that thing? Amazing, I thought. Looks like he didn't spend his month of training goofing off after all.
"There's nothing we can do now," I said, taking a knee. The animals began to fight, leading to a brief downpour of water on top of all of our heads.
"Is Gaara okay?" Yuki asked, sounding stronger than before. Perhaps the water refreshed her.
"Don't worry about him," I said, wringing the heavy water from my hair. "You need to rest."
"That's - " Sasuke gasped. I looked up from Yuki and saw what he meant. The Nine Tailed Fox, the Jinchuriki of the Leaf, fighting the Jinchuriki of the Sand. Of course, it couldn't be the real Fox, could it? Either way, t hey were nearly stalemated. What could we do?
"Ayame," Yuki called, weakly climbing to her feet. Her long dark hair was matted to her face, her eyes serious. "Help me get someplace high. I have an idea."
"You aren't strong enough - "
"Please," she said. "I can help. You said it yourself. I am not afraid of him."
"I hope you know what you're talking about, Yuki," I muttered more to myself than anything. I looked at Sasuke, who was eyeing me questioningly. "You stay right there, okay? I'll be back." He hesitated, but nodded once.
I scooped up Yuki in my arms and used my legs to climb to the top of the tallest tree that was nearby. From there we could see the entire battle ground. I thought we were too far for Yuki to do any damage, and her chakra hadn't yet been restored.
"Stand behind me," she said, extending her hands in front of her, nimble fingers pointing towards Gaara. I did as told and watched as she made handsigns before returning to her original outstretched position. "Hidden Art: Snow Blanket no Jutsu!"
An abrupt wave of a white flurry shot out of Yuki's fingertips. It reminded me of her ice daggers, only the texture of this ice blanket was much softer, and seemed less deadly. The current of crystals reached far and wide, going straight to Gaara. I suppose the demon didn't notice the snow right away, because it only reacted when it was already encased by the waist.
The snow began to creep up the raccoon's midsection. It tried to struggle, but it appeared as though the snow paralysed it. I looked at Yuki's face in astonishment, but I could see that this jutsu was taking a lot out of her.
When the last of it seemed to leave Yuki's fingers and landed on the monster's shoulders, she slammed her hands together and shouted, "Ice Coffin no Jutsu!"
A low rumbling sound came from the monster as the pressure from the ice made its body cave in on itself. Suddenly, a puff of smoke replaced the spirit, leaving a free-falling Gaara in its place. Yuki, no more stamina remaining, collapsed. I caught her and quickly jumped back to Sakura and Sasuke.
"Yuki, are you okay?" I asked, moving damp hair out of her face. She coughed and sat up.
"We have to check on Gaara and Naruto," she insisted.
"You're insane," I groaned. I put Yuki on my back and she clung on tightly as we sprinted to where Naruto and Gaara's battle ended. Snow was still falling, the flakes gently drifting down to us. It was beautiful. The fighting boys were laying on the ground, facing the sky. Snow lazily fell on their faces.
"Can you put me near Gaara?" Yuki asked. I was skeptical, but I did as she asked.
"Why," Gaara gasped, looking exhausted. His teal eyes moved over to Yuki. "Why . . . did you all stay? You could have all died."
"Jerk," I muttered. Why did we stay? Was he serious? He continued to look at Yuki as I went to check on Naruto. "You know what you are? You're just a brat who likes to throw temper tantrums. So what, people don't like you. You don't have to let it own you, especially when some people are trying hard to protect you and not kill you. Who the hell do you think you are?
"Why did we stay? Because we all care about each other! We're a team, comrades, friends. I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, huh? It's loyalty - loyal to the ones you are bound to protect! Selfishness doesn't fit in that equation. You don't deserve any friends until you act like one. Being afraid is no excuse."
"Onee-chan," Naruto said, gripping my shoulder. "I think he gets it." I turned to look back at Gaara, who was staring at me now.
"You," he said in a low breath. "I remember you."
It was quiet for a moment. I thought that my whole speech went right over his head with that empty look in his eyes. All of us were exhausted and drained. Temari came out of hiding and went to Gaara's side, though she looked frightened to be near him after his meltdown. There was a sniff in the silence. I looked back at Gaara's face and saw tears streaming down his face as he repressed sobs.
"I'm sorry," he said. I couldn't be sure, but I thought I said even Yuki's eyes become misty as she touched his face.
. . .
Yuki's P.o.V.
While I was on Ayame's back, thoroughly exhausted, the seven of us headed back to the village, picking up Shino, Kankuro and Shikamaru on the way. The village was in disarray. The sabotaging ninjas must have been handled as civilians were speckled throughout the village.
Our group went to the hospital first, where there were so many people needing medical attention, that there were gernies going out the door.
"Yuki! Yuki!" Himeko's voice beckoned me to look in her direction. She ran to me, a bandage wrapped around her head covered her brown hair and tears escaped her blue eyes.
"Are you all right?" I asked, coming off of Ayame, who steadied me when I wavered. Himeko threw her arms around me.
"I'm fine - We were so worried about you!" Ryo came from behind her, his arm in a sling.
"I'm fine, too. Thanks for asking."
"I'm sorry," I apologised. "I thought you would have been safer if you weren't involved."
"I'm going to take Yuki to a doctor, guys," Ayame said, slipping my arm over her shoulders. "You guys go get some rations." They were wary, but when I nodded, they left.
Sasuke, Gaara, and Naruto needed medical aid, as well, so we went inside the building in search of help. There were people inside the lobby getting bandaged for minor injuries, crying for loved ones, and others appearing to be in a state of shock.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura, who was supporting Sasuke's weight, called. Kakashi looked solemn as he made his way over to us.
"I see the mission was a success," he said, though his voice supported no enthusiasm. "Good work. Ayame, I need you to come with me. Privately."
"I need to get these guys someplace first," she insisted. Kakashi looked down at me. The uncovered eye was filled with sorrow. Perhaps he lost a comrade.
"All right," he said. "Follow me."
He took us down a hallway with hospital rooms on either side. Some had the injured, some the dead. The corridor reeked of the copper scent of blood. I looked over at Gaara, who was hanging off of Naruto, to see if it was affecting him. He must have been too tired to react.
"The rest of you can wait outside," Kakashi announced as he stood outside a room, the door wide open. Ayame set me down, leaning me against the door frame of the room she entered. Kakashi followed her in and left the door open.
"What is it?" Ayame asked, watching her sensei carefully. "Why is no one else in here with us?"
"Ayame, " Kakashi sighed, bending forward so he was at a closer eye-level to her. "You know that some people died today, right?"
"I assumed so," she answered skeptically. "What happened?" Kakashi walked over to the bed in the middle with an unmoving body on it. He pulled back the covers, but I couldn't see who it was from my angle. I peeked further into the room.
"Just look."
Ayame looked almost unwilling, but she cautiously walked over to the side of the bed. Her confused face gradually sunk, as if slowly comprehending the gravity of what was happening. A boom in the distance rattled the foundation of the hospital. Some would have thought it was another attack, but I recognised it as the rumble of thunder.
"No," Ayame whispered. She reached down the the person on the bed, seeming to grab their collar and shake them. "Hey, wake up. Come on, you jerk, this isn't a game! Wake up, you son of a - " She stopped shaking the body. Her lower lip trembled, her grey orbs glossed over as discharge from her eyes fell down her face.
"Akio!" She screamed. His name echoed throughout the silent halls. My mouth hung open, my knees weak as I crumbled to the ground. My stomach felt hollow and my chest felt tight. The ones in the hall hung their heads down. I looked back into the room to see Ayame's face buried in Akio's unbreathing chest. "No , no Onii-san, wake up! Please, wake up. Big Brother, please. You're all I have. Please . . . "
"I woke up up from the genjustsu," Kakashi explained as Ayame's muffled sobs filled the room. "He helped take out some sand ninjas, but he bit off more than he could chew. He went after Orochimaru himself."
"Orochimaru," Ayame growled. I rose to my feet and entered the room. It was dimly lit, but I could still make out Akio's colourless features. His strong jawline, his elegantly narrow nose, his medium brow line. Ayame stroked his dark hair, her tears falling on his flesh. And his lips, making a faint smile. As if he died proud that he was defending the village.
"I'm sorry I couldn't stop him, Ayame," Kakashi said, looking down. Ayame kissed Akio's pale forehead.
"It's not your fault," she said, erecting herself while holding onto her brother's limp hand. "Orochimaru will pay for this. I swear to you, Akio."
"Ayame," I said gently, coming towards her, "I'm so sorry." Ayame didn't look at me right away. She just pressed her lips in a hard line and nodded, fresh tears springing from her eyes as she blinked.
She suddenly hugged me and I returned the embrace. She shuddered as she sobbed in my shoulder, unable to contain her sorrow. I tried to sooth her, but as I saw Akio over her shoulder, the pit in my stomach only got wider.
Sheets of water slammed against the window and clamoring reverberated in the hall from people scrambling to take cover from the rain. As Ayame's tears soaked through my shirt, I realised that this was the first time I saw it rain in Konoha.