Typhoon
Chapter Six
-Scavenger Hunt-
"So," Gaara looked off into the busy streets of Konoha. "What are we going to do today?" he asked, staring back at her from across the table. They sat in a small bistro in the village, enjoying a quiet breakfast without any interruptions, surprisingly enough.
"I dunno," Sakura gave a small shrug, nibbling on her last piece of toast. "Maybe we can finally relax together. After all, we went with Temari and Shika to the spa, which ended terribly." She sighed, thinking back on how defensive Gaara was. But then smiled, it did make her feel loved, even if it was overwhelming at times. "Then we played croquet with Neji and Tenten," she counted off two fingers. "And yesterday we played with Naruto and Hinata. It would be nice to just sit and unwind."
Gaara leaned back in his chair, wanting nothing more than to do the same. But considering who they were and who their friends were, they would get no such luxury. The waiter came by and left the bill on the table. After they had paid the two left, just browsing around the streets of Konoha. Sakura was showing him all the places she had spent as a child when they were accosted.
"Hey forehead!" someone called from behind.
Sakura blinked, about to turn around when Gaara grabbed her hand and pointed off in some random direction. "Look at that!" he cried, before pulling her down one of the turns to another street of Konoha.
"Gaara! What are you doing?" she flailed, running to try and keep up with him.
Finally he slowed, looking around as if he were searching for someone. "Gaara!" she demanded again, a little miffed about being ignored.
"What?" he replied simply, as if their previous escape had not just occurred.
"What the heck was that for?" she asked, yet again.
"What was what for?"
Her eye visibly twitched. "Well when I heard Ino you grabbed my hand and ran off. That's what."
He scoffed, crossing his arms in protest. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He smirked victoriously.
"Gaara!" an excited yell rose above the dull noise of the streets. The redhead's face fell as he looked over and saw Kiba.
"WHY!" Gaara shouted angrily to the sky. "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?" he demanded from the universe, shaking his fists in the air.
Kiba laughed, running up beside the pair. "Haha, Gaara you're weird."
The angry Kazekage focused all his fury on the brunette, silently telling him to go away.
"So!" Kiba smiled, ignoring the threats from Gaara. "I heard you guys have been hanging out with everyone but Ino and I. So today, the four of us are going to go on a scavenger hunt!" he cheered excitedly.
"WHY!" Gaara shouted, again to no one.
Once again ignoring the outbursts, Kiba handed Sakura a piece of paper. "Here, meet me and Ino there in one hour." He nodded and then dashed away.
Sakura looked over at Gaara, "No." he said, plain and simple.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun." she giggled, clinging onto his arm.
"No it won't! It will be horrible, and something bad will happen just like it always does!"
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "Well if you have that attitude then of course something bad will happen."
He rolled his eyes, not willing to fight with his better half. "Whatever fine."
"Good!" she smiled brightly, "Now let's go get ready for the scavenger hunt!" she looked down at the paper and noticed something she hadn't before. "Oh look, no ninjutsu or genjutsu." She pointed.
"Whatever." He said again, not obliging to her will.
"It also says, 'Gaara, no sand.' Haha, looks like you'll be on equal terms this time around." She gave him a poke and started walking. The next hour went by far too quickly in Gaara's opinion. With his sand gourd now left at Sakura's, the two made their way to the destination Kiba had written out.
When they arrived, they saw Ino talking to Kiba amiably. They both turned and waved to the contrasting duo. "Oh Sakura, I'm so glad you could hang out with us today. You don't know how much work we put into getting Kakashi to agree to set up the whole thing."
"You got Kakashi to do it?" Sakura blinked in utter surprise.
"Well of course," Kiba nodded, laughing. "I couldn't design it or I would know all the answers. Now Kakashi should be here any moment to tell us the rules and location."
Said sensei appeared in a loud puff of smoke. He walked forward, his nose in a book as usual. "Alright," he said, though all they could see was his mask move slightly with every word. "The location is the Forest of Death. There are ten clues for each team hidden throughout the place. You'll know you've won when you get to the end. Trust me, you'll know. NO, cheating will be allowed." He scolded them all.
"No jutsu at all, Gaara no sand, Kiba no Akamaru, Sakura no medical anything or chakra enhanced crap, and Ino…well…" he stopped, trying to think of what she could actually do. This made the blonde extremely upset, as was clearly seen on her face. "I guess…don't put your mind into anything…cause' that would be stupid."
The girl was fuming now, trying to get her hands on the older man, but Kiba held her back with all his might. "Anyways," Kakashi continued, clearly not caring. "The teams will be Sakura and Ino against Gaara and Kiba."
"WHAT?"
They all turned towards the redhead that looked as if he didn't mean to say that aloud. "I mean," he paused, then decided not to hide his rage. "Are you insane? You're going to make me and Kiba work together?"
"That's what I said isn't it?" the jounin didn't bother to hide his irritation. Without another word of instruction Kakashi gave Sakura and Kiba each a piece of paper. "Your first clue. Now go away, I have some reading to do." He said, and with that he disappeared.
"Well come on Ino, off to the Forest of Death!" Sakura cheered, running away with her friend then and leaving their men in the dust.
Gaara felt his eye twitch. He knew this was a bad idea. "Come on Gaara! They're getting a head start!" Kiba yelled, grabbing Gaara by the wrist and dragging him after the two girls.
"Alright, alright. This place matches the description in the clue." Kiba nodded, looking around the green area. They hadn't gone too far into the forest yet, but knew the dangers were only just beginning.
"There it is!" Kiba exclaimed gleefully, running towards a scroll lying on the ground.
Well that was easy, Gaara thought, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Unless, "Kiba, wait-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" the brunette yelled, a trap rope tightening around his ankle and jerking him into the air. "What happened?"
Gaara ran closer and looked up, "You moron! If Kakashi made this hunt most likely you wouldn't just be waltzing up to it and grabbing it!" he glared up and then heard another snap. In a matter of seconds Gaara was hanging by his foot right next to Kiba.
Kiba laughed, "Well at least later on we can laugh about this right?"
"Haha! WOW! You guys having some trouble?" Ino's voice broke through the forest as she and Sakura walked into the clearing, already holding their second clue.
Sakura tried to stifle her laughter, knowing it would upset the already seething Gaara. "Well good luck boys." She waved, as they disappeared once again off to their third clue.
"Well-" Kiba began.
"Don't speak to me." Gaara glared, he was so not having fun.
It wasn't too hard for Ino and Sakura to find and retrieve their clues. Both girls were smart, and since Sakura had been on Kakashi's team for years, she knew some of his tricks, which helped a lot.
By now they were already on their seventh clue. Trekking through the brush, she held out a hand, stopping her friend. "What is it?" she asked, curious.
"I think this is where our next clue is." She answered.
Crossing her arms, Ino huffed. "Impossible forehead. The last clue said 'In a place where things are not as they appear three miles northeast of your location'. This is just a small clearing."
Performing the proper seals, Sakura focused her chakra. "Kai." She said, effectively breaking the genjutsu that had been in place, revealing their next clue, lying in a pit of spikes. She turned to her friend with a smirk. "Well, if we had continued forward, we would have died from the fall, and the spikes. Aren't you lucky to be teamed with someone as amazing as me?" she asked smugly.
Popping her knuckles, Ino walked forward. "Yeah, yeah, now grab onto my feet and lower me down."
She did as she was told, and, after a few minutes, they finally had the eighth clue. "Got it!" the blonde yelled, as Sakura pulled her up, panting.
"Dang pig, you got heavy."
"Shut up forehead, let's just read the next one."
They opened the scroll and read the clue. Already knowing where it was located, the two women headed off into the forest. This whole scavenger hunt thing was a great idea. A really good way for Sakura to exercise her brain, and allow her to use skills she normally didn't. She only hoped Gaara was having as much fun as she was.
"I HATE this stupid scavenger hunt!" Gaara yelled, trying to swat away the gnats that would just not leave him alone. "I hate this forest, I hate this village, and GOD I hate you!"
"Hey! How was I supposed to know that that goo wasn't water?" the brunette huffed, crossing his arms angrily. They had only barely managed to get four scrolls, almost dying every time they had to retrieve one.
"Because it was green! You imbecile! And even if it was water, why the hell did you throw it at me?" Gaara stopped and glared back at his 'partner'.
Kiba scoffed, "Because, Gaara, it growled at me, and I'm pretty sure it tried to bite me!"
"So naturally throwing it in my face was the logical solution!"
"Well I thought you'd kill it!"
"I'll kill you!" the redhead shouted, tackling Kiba to the ground and banging his head against the forest floor. They struggled around, exchanging punches, until a loud crack made them both look over. An enormous tree, about a mile thick, seemed to be growing larger. They both went wide-eyed, realizing it was falling towards them.
Letting out a yell, they scrambled to their feet and ran as fast as they could, diving just out of the way of being smashed. Gaara and Kiba turned on their backs, trying to catch their breath and ease their terrified hearts. "Well…" Kiba huffed, "that was close."
Gaara glared over at him, giving him another hard punch in the arm. "Why are you such an idiot?"
When they both focused up, together they eyed something odd in the trees. It was a large gray net. "What…" Kiba began.
"Is that?" Gaara arched what could be a brow, as it slowly slipped from the branches and fell towards them.
"Oh COME ON!" Kiba cried out, jolting up with Gaara as they began to run again.
They slammed into a tree, pressing their backs against the bark and watching the net hit the ground with a great impact. The net exploded, and thousands upon thousands of kunai flew in every direction.
"OH MY GOD!" they yelled together, ducking down and falling beneath the tree's roots. It was like an underground cavern. The area was spacious, letting in the light from the spaces between the large roots. Finally sitting up, they both groaned. Kiba looked at his hand and saw a kunai imbedded through his skin.
"AHHHHHHHH! GET IT OUT!" he screamed, running around and flailing like a woman. Gaara grabbed him by the shirt and stopped his rampage, ripping the metal weapon out of Kiba's flesh.
"OWWW!" Kiba yelled again, holding his hand over the wound to try and sooth it.
Something fell from the ceiling and hit Gaara right on the head. He jumped away, glaring at the offending object. He blinked and then knelt down, picking up the scroll. "Hey it's the next clue."
"Really?" Kiba stopped running and returned to Gaara's side. "Wow! What are the odds of that!"
"Not very high," the redhead nodded and opened it up, reading the contents. He glanced around the area and laughed. "Hey we fell right into where the next clue is."
"Sweet! Maybe our luck is finally turning around. But…where is it?" Kiba looked around as well. That was when they heard loud snarling. Slowly, the two turned around to see an animal about the size of six elephants.
It was brown and furry, its sharp fangs clearly visible to the two. Tied to one of its enlarged canines was a string that had the next scroll. Gaara's jaw jobbed. "How did he even do that?"
The animal roared and charged at them then. "You've GOT to be kidding me!" They shouted, their yells being heard from all over the forest.
A few birds flew from the trees, startled. Ino blinked and looked back. "Did you hear that Sakura?"
Sakura looked in the direction of her friend and raised a brow. "It's probably nothing. There are a lot of wild animals that live here. That noise could have been made by any one of them." She said, continuing on her way.
They were looking for their final clue. So far it hadn't been too difficult for them to find the scrolls, but since it was the last one, and Kakashi was the one who made the scavenger hunt, she wanted to be extra careful. Walking through some bushes, she was grabbed sharply by Ino. Looking down, she realized that she almost walked off the edge of a cliff. "Thanks Ino."
The blonde shrugged. "Don't mention it forehead. Gaara would have killed me anyways if you fell."
That was when she saw it. There, near the bottom of the canyon, was the scroll they were looking for. "Ino! Look! There it is!" she yelled excitedly.
"Really? Awesome!" The other woman reached into her bag and pulled out some rope. "Here, tie this around your waist. I'll tie the other end to a tree, and lower you down."
"Why do I have to get it?" Sakura asked, crossing her arms.
Ino deadpanned. "Because, I got the scroll from that spiky pit."
"Fine. Just make sure you tie the knot properly." She said, securing the rope around her waist.
Once they were ready, Ino lowered Sakura down to the scroll. She had to stretch a bit to get it, but made it back to the top safely. Once she was back on land, she opened it up and read it.
Congratulations and whatnot, you were able to find the last clue. As a reward I will give you some words of wisdom. Sakura, remember what I said at your birthday party. Numbers one, two and three. Just tell me, and I'll kill him for you.
Now go to the tower used for the Chuunin Exams and wait for the boys. I have a feeling they will be a bit late.
Kakashi
"What does numbers one, two, and three mean?" Ino asked, confused.
The pink haired woman rolled up the scroll. "Oh it's nothing! Just an inside joke, that's all. Nothing to worry about." Trying to change the subject, Sakura turned in the direction of the tower. "Let's go and see if the boys made it yet."
"Fine with me. Wow! We even finished before lunch! I hope they hurry, cause' I'm starving." The blonde said, rubbing her empty stomach.
"Remember what I said about gaining weight pig. Kiba won't be able to carry you if you eat like one." Sakura said with a smile.
"Shut up forehead."
Gaara shoved through the bushes, not bothering to hold the branches back for his companion. "Hey Gaara wait up! You're going too fast!" the brunette yelled. A branch that the redhead was holding flew back and smacked him right in the face, knocking him onto his back.
"AAAAHH!" Kiba yelled, rubbing his now sore, red face. "What was THAT for!"
"Because I hate you," Gaara glared down at the man on the ground. "We only have seven scrolls and it's already almost sunset! I want to finish this stupid game, go home and get in bed with Sakura. Because after this, I definitely deserve it." He turned away from Kiba and started walking off.
He felt something thin press against his ankle and looked down, barely seeing the trip wire. Before Gaara could even react, a pulled back tree branch flew forward and nailed him straight in the face. "OH MY GOD!" he yelled holding his now bleeding nose.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Kiba rolled around on the ground, "Now that's what I call karma."
"SHUT UP!" Gaara ordered, silencing the focus of his irritation.
Finally they both got up, and without a word they started forward. There was a small clearing not too far ahead, and once they stepped into the open space they noticed there were holes all over the ground. Gaara pulled out the last scroll they have received and opened it. "In a crater you will find, something that'll make you shine…what the hell does that mean?"
"Maybe we just need to look in these holes and try and find the scroll." Kiba said, walking forward and trying to see down into the darkness. "Well it's deep enough so we can't see the scroll from above." He informed after rounding the clearing. He stopped at one near the edge and pointed down. "Let's try this one."
Gaara walked over and looked down the hole. "Well go on," Kiba urged. "Just stick your hand in the hole."
"How about you stick your hand in there."
"What if something's down there waiting to CHOMP and eat my hand!"
"…"
"What?" the brunette arched a brow.
"So…you won't put your hand in because you're afraid something will try and eat it?" Gaara questioned.
"Yeah." He nodded.
Gaara's eye twitched. "So you want me to get my hand eaten instead?"
"It's better than my hand getting eaten!"
"Kiba."
"What?"
"Come over here…" the Kazekage said darkly and, stupidly, Kiba waltzed right over.
"What is it? Do you see it?"
Gaara formed a fist and hit the dog boy so hard over the head he blacked out and fell forward. After hitting the ground, Kiba was startled awake by the shock, and looked at the hole beside his face. A foot slammed down on the brunette's head and held him to the forest floor. "NOW REACH IN THAT HOLE AND LOOK FOR THAT DAMNED SCROLL!"
"But I don't want to!" Kiba cried out, whining.
"I SAID DO IT!"
"No!"
"YES!"
"Okay!" he yelled out when the pressure on his head increased. "I'll grab it! I'll grab it!"
Kiba reached down slowly, trembling a bit. With what they had been through today anything was possible. His hand touched the dirt at the bottom finally, after his whole arm was in the hole. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. "Well at least there wasn't anything dow-" Kiba yelled, ripping his hand from the hole and staring wide eyed at his bleeding finger.
"I TOLD YOU!" he stood, pointing an accusing finger at the amused redhead.
Gaara tried not to laugh aloud, "Yeah I know. Besides, the scroll is right there." He glanced over at a space of grass trying to hide another part of the sunken ground.
"Then why did you make me do it?" the brunette yelled at the redhead.
He shrugged. "Karma." Then he walked over and picked up the scroll. Eight down and two more to go. Thank God.
Reading over it quickly, he began to walk off in the direction the clue pointed him in, completely forgetting about Kiba.
"Hey! Wait for me!" the dog boy yelled, scrambling off the ground and running after his stoic partner.
"Oh my God! What's taking them so long?" Ino yelled, tapping her foot in annoyance.
"Who knows. It's getting close to dusk, why don't we just leave?" Sakura suggested, knowing that when the boys finished they would probably just head home, considering how late it was getting.
The blonde ran up to her and enveloped her in a fierce hug. "That's the best idea you've had all day forehead! Come on! I'll treat you to dinner!" she said enthusiastically, beginning to walk off.
"Um…Ino? We could just use a teleportation jutsu to get out of here. I mean, now that we've finished, the rules don't apply right?" she asked, shrugging.
"Another great idea! See, I'm so hungry that I can't think straight! Come on, let's go!" Ino yelled, walking back towards her.
"When have you ever thought straight pig?" Sakura asked, right before they both vanished from the forest in a puff of smoke.
"All we have to do is make it to the tower and it's over!" Gaara said excitedly, dashing through the trees towards the building at the center of the forest. Kiba trailed silently behind him, so tired by now that he was about to collapse from exhaustion. It was already dark out, it taking many hours and many precious bodily fluids to get the last two scrolls.
They both landed in front of the large doors that led to the tower. It had been so much easier to just kill people in this forest and transport to the center after getting two scrolls. "Thank God…it's about time." The brunette yawned and started forward. Gaara followed closely behind and inside there was one last scroll waiting for them.
Gaara leaned over and picked up the cursed thing, unrolling it to its full length so they could see the whole message.
Idiots,
I hope you enjoyed the little scavenger I designed, I did everything in my power to make this the worst day of your life. Especially you Gaara…I really don't like you. This was for deflowering my precious little Sakura! I know what you did to her…don't try and pretend like you didn't! Because you did…oh yes I know…because I know all. And Kiba…well I plain just don't like you either.
Hope you had fun!
Kakashi
Gaara was so angry that he ripped the scroll in half. "WHAT?" he screamed at the top of his lungs, taking deep and slow breathes.
"I KNOW!" Kiba huffed, crossing his arms firmly over his chest. "Everybody likes me!"
The redhead's eye twitched as he slowly turned his head to the brunette. The paper crumpled in his hands from his now tight grip. "I'm going to kill him."
The sand on Gaara's body flew off, almost like an explosion, taking its master off to his destination.
Kiba blinked, "HEY!" he shouted. "I can't believe he just left me here!"
Gaara dropped to the floor in Sakura's living room. He went as quickly as he could towards her room and slammed the door open. Sakura jumped, looking up from her book. She was comfortably situated in bed, dressed in some shorts and a tank top. Without a word he walked towards the bed, kicked off his shoes, and crawled beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist and resting his head on her stomach.
"…I missed you…so…so…much. Please don't ever make me do something like that again." He begged, nuzzling his face into her abdomen. "Can I sleep with you tonight? Please? I'll behave, I just had the worst day of my life."
She continued to stare down at him in shock. The scavenger hunt couldn't have been that bad, could it? But, she had missed him, and so, vowing to control herself as well, she nodded.
"Of course." She wrinkled her nose. "But shower first please. I just put clean sheets on."
He nodded and got up, disappearing behind the bathroom door. He didn't take a long shower, but it was long enough to get all the blood and dirt off of his body. He wanted to be clean for his special night with Sakura. Once he was finally done, he got out and wrapped a towel around his waist. He really didn't want to get back in his tattered pants. He finally decided he would just wear his boxers to bed and hoped that he could control himself.
Finally Gaara came out, and threw his dirty clothes in the hamper in her room. "All clean." He told her, not able to show how truly happy he was to be with her.
She set her book on her nightstand and moved over, patting the spot she had previously occupied and giving him an inviting smile. He didn't need to be told twice, getting back in her bed and beneath the covers within a few seconds. Wrapping his arms around her waist again, he was back into the position he had been when he came to lie with her the first time. "I love you Sakura." He said simply, wanting her to know he truly meant it.
Placing her hand on his head lovingly, she got comfortable. "I love you too." She sighed, sleep overtaking her. She had everything she needed, and she was happy.