Sakura walked alongside Yukio. She looked at him warily. Honestly, this was not how she pictured her night going. She was just having a lovely dream about eating some sweet dangos while riding an elephant. Yeah, she has no clue where the elephant came from. Or why they were flying through the sky.
Despite how weird it was, it was a nice dream. Then Yukio woke her up and dragged her out of her bed and pushed her through the door, right into the cram school. She didn't even have time to get dressed. So, here she was, walking through the cram school, in a white shirt and pink short shorts. And her fluffy boot slippers. And the sun wasn't even up yet.
"I must be too relaxed in this world," Sakura said with a yawn. She stretched her arms above her head and sighed in relief when she heard her bones cracking.
"What makes you say that?" Yukio asked.
"Because I'm not alert and I'm not even asking what's going on," Sakura said with a sigh. "I've been trained to be alert the moment I'm waken up abruptly."
"Really?" Yukio asked. They stopped walking and he looked at her in shock.
"Yeah, that was not a fun time," Sakura muttered. She waved her arms and they started walking again.
"You can ask," Yukio said.
"Fine, where are we going?" Sakura asked.
"Your guards are here," Yukio said.
"Oh joy." Sakura crossed her arms and glared at the floor as they walked. "Time to meet my babysitters." She paused, staring at the ground. Yukio noticed that she wasn't beside him anymore and turned around.
"Something wrong?" he asked. His sister looked up at him and smiled.
"Nope."
Sakura entered the room behind Yukio.
"Sorry for the wait," Yukio said.
"It's no problem," one of the shinobi said.
"I thought I saw some sand on the ground." Sakura smirked at the three sand shinobi.
"Nice to see you again, Sakura," Temari said, hugging her.
"Hi Temari," Sakura said, hugging her back. "How's Shikamaru?"
"Just as lazy as ever," Temari said with a wide smile.
"And how's my favorite doctor?" Kankurō asked, giving her a hug.
"Fine," Sakura said, hugging him as well.
"You know, I still can't thank you enough for saving me," Kankurō told her.
"I was just doing my job," Sakura told him with a smile. She turned around and looked at the final sand shinobi. "And here I am, meeting you in my pajamas. This is so rude."
"It's perfectly fine," Gaara told her. "You know I don't care for formalities."
"Besides, we did arrive late, so it's not your fault," Temari said.
"Nice shorts though," Kankurō said with a snicker.
"Watch it, I can still kick your ass," Sakura threatened playfully.
"I wouldn't hold her back," Gaara said.
"Neither would I," Temari said with a smirk.
"Sakura, you know them?" Yukio asked.
"Yeah, we've known each other for years," Sakura said. She walked over to Yukio and pulled him forward. "Guys, this is Yukio Okumura, my youngest brother."
"Nice to meet you," Temari said.
"Yukio, these are the sand siblings. Temari, Kankurō, and Lord Gaara."
"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you," Yukio said, bowing. "Sakura's told us a lot about you three. Especially you, Lord Gaara. Kazekage at such a young age, it's quite impressive."
"Thank you," Gaara said.
"Sakura's been talking about Gaara has she?" Kankurō asked slyly. Sakura's cheeks turned pink, as did Gaara's.
"Not like that you idiot!" Sakura shouted, raising her fist. "I was telling them about Gaara and Naruto! About the demons inside them! It's relevant."
"How?" Kankurō asked.
"Y-You'll see," Sakura said nervously. She let out a short scream and looked at Gaara. "Wait a minute, what the hell are you doing here? Who's looking after the village?"
"You dropped formalities quickly," Kankurō muttered.
"The council is looking after the village," Gaara told her. "After Lady Tsunade requested this mission, I just thought it was fitting that I join Temari and Kankurō here," Gaara said.
"Yeah, now that we're on that, why are we babysitting you?" Temari asked.
"Well, actually," Sakura shrank back. Her form tensed and her head snapped in another direction.
"What is that?" Temari asked, an ominous feeling washing over her.
"Rin!" Sakura gasped, running out of the room.
"Oh no, brother!" Yukio followed her, taking out his gun. The sand sibs looked at each other before following them.
Izumo shrieked as large gusts of wind threw Rin into a door. The door flew off it's hinges and Rin tumbled into the room.
"Rin!" Izumo gasped. The crow demon pushed past her, smacking her back. He went into the room attacking Rin.
"Izumo-chan," Sakura said, kneeling next to her.
"I'm alright," Izumo said, standing up. Yukio stood in the doorway and began shooting the giant crow. The demon let out a shout and smashed through the window, flying away.
"Okay, what the hell was that thing?" Kankurō asked.
"Rin-chan!" Sakura shouted, running over to him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Rin said. His tail swished back and forth, catching the attention of the sand shinobi.
"Your cheek says otherwise," Sakura said, placing a hand over his cut.
"Come on sis, a little scratch isn't gonna kill me," Rin said, pushing her hand away.
"Do you know anything about that demon?" Sakura asked. Rin sighed and lowered his arm. His tail swayed and came around, wrapping around her arm, almost affectionately. Sakura quickly healed his cut and helped him stand up.
"Alright, explanation time," Temari demanded.
Sakura's tail came out from under her shirt and swung back and forth. The sands sibs watched her tail in shock. Sakura seemed to shrink into herself. Yukio, Rin, and Izumo looked at her in shock. The strong confident girl that they knew seemed to regress into a little girl. Sakura looked like she had just been caught breaking something very expensive. On instinct Rin's tail wrapped around Sakura's. The pinkette flinched at the sudden touch but her tail seemed to relax a bit.
Temari approached her, staring at her with narrowed eyes. Sakura refused to look at the older shinobi.
"Now hold on a minute!" Izumo shouted, running over to Sakura. "Don't you dare hurt her!" Izumo told Temari. She stood in front of Sakura, her arms held out.
"Hurt her? I'm not gonna hurt Sakura," Temari said. "I'd be crazy. I just want answers. If she's been possessed by a demon, we deserve to know."
"I'm not possessed," Sakura said. "I am one."
"...what?"
"We're the children of Satan," Rin said.
"Alright, it's time for an explanation," Temari said.
Sakura looked at the sand siblings anxiously. At the front of the classroom Rin and Izumo were cleaning up the mess that the demon crow had made.
"Okay, so let me get this straight, the king of all demons, is your dad?" Kankurō asked.
"Yes." Sakura nodded.
"And I thought Gaara was scary," Kankurō muttered. Temari glared at him and smacked him in the stomach.
"No wonder he's been so quiet," Gaara said.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"Shukaku has been awfully quiet since we saw you," Gaara said.
"Who's Shukaku?" Rin asked, overhearing them.
"He's the one-tailed beast that resides in my body," Gaara said.
"So, he's like a demon?" Izumo said.
"That's exactly what he is," Temari told her. The exwire froze, looking at him shock.
"So you're Gaara," Rin muttered, his tail twitching. "Sakura's told us a lot about you. Mainly about how I could learn something from you."
"You may learn more from Naruto, he's the one that taught me," Gaara said. "But no one knows where he is."
"Still?" Sakura asked sadly.
"I'm afraid so," Temari said. "None of the other villages have heard from him since his disappearance." Izumo noticed how Sakura seemed to sadden at that and frowned. "So who's Shukaku anyway?" She noticed how Sakura seemed to feel better once the subject was changed.
"Shukaku is one of the most powerful demons in our world. But don't worry, Gaara's got him under control," Temari told them.
"How are you doing, by the way?" Sakura asked the redhead.
"Having Shukaku inside of me again is a strange feeling," Gaara said. "But, it's comforting in a way."
"How about adjusting to the lack of sleep again?" Sakura asked.
"Shukaku actually allows me to sleep," Gaara said. "But he does get antsy if I sleep for too long, almost as if he doesn't trust himself. But, I can still get all the sleep I need, so I don't mind."
"Well that's good to here," Sakura said. "So, why is Shukaku being so quiet right now?"
"He's in awe over your power," Gaara said. "Plus, you're higher than him. He's thinking about the chunin exams." There was a small smirk on his face and his sister gaped at him.
"Wait, are you saying that he's scared about almost killing her?" Gaara nodded his head and Temari started laughing.
"Aw." Sakura chuckled as well.
"Okay, stop laughing, he's getting mad," Gaara told them. The two girls stopped laughing, but there was still an odd giggle that managed to escape.
At that moment Suguro, Shiemi, and Shima entered the room. They watched Rin and Izumo clean with confusion on their faces.
"What are you guys doing?" Shima asked.
"Cleaning up, obviously," Izumo scoffed.
"Shiemi!" Sakura called, waving at her.
"Oh, good morning, Sakura-chan!" Shiemi smiled and ran over to her. Sakura stood up and accepted the blonde's hug.
"What are you still doing in your pajamas?" Suguro asked.
"I can't say that I can complain," Shima said, looking at her long legs.
"Thanks for reminding me, pervert," Sakura said with a huff. "I probably should go get changed and head to class."
"Didn't you get the email?" Suguro asked, looking at the three of them. Rin and Izumo fished out their phones. Sakura looked over Rin's shoulder, reading the email.
"I sent that to all the exorcists in this region," Mephisto said. "I'm afraid there's a bit of an emergency."
"Why'd you send it to us then?" Shima asked. "I mean, we're just exwires."
"Because this is so dire that you assistance would be much appreciated," Mephisto said.
"A demon called Gufu managed to infiltrate the academy," Yukio said. "Sir Pheles has a barrier around the school that protects any demon mid-level or higher from getting in. So-"
"We have to figure out what went wrong and where," Sakura said.
"Exactly," Yukio said, nodding.
"There are only two ways that a demon could pass through the barrier," Mephisto said. "Either there is a tear in it somewhere or someone invited him in."
"What?" Rin whispered in shock.
"But who would do that?" Suguro asked. "Why would anyone do that?"
"No one knows, not even me," Mephisto said. "Now, I've tasked the instructors with investigating the whereabouts of Gufu. I would like it if you exwires investigated the barrier."
"Yes sir," the exwires agreed. The class was given clipboards and left the classroom.
"So what, do we do this too?" Temari asked.
"No, your duty is to watch over Sakura," Yukio said. He grabbed Rin's collar as he was about to leave. "Don't even think about it. You still have training to do. Both of you."
"No way!" Rin shouted.
"Oh man," Sakura sighed. "Can I at least get changed first?"
"So, you have to light the candles on the ends without lighting the one in the middle," Kankurō said.
"Yeah," Sakura said with a sigh. "I actually already did it, but Shura doesn't think it's good enough."
"How'd you do it?" Temari asked. Sakura pinched the wicks, lighting them.
"I agree with Shura," Gaara said.
"Ha ha!" Rin said, laughing at his sister.
"Hey, at least I can light them!" Sakura shouted, pointing at the melted heaps of wax that were once candles.
"Sh-Shut up! It's harder than it looks!" Rin said. "You've already trained with that chakra stuff!"
"The blue flames are different from chakra!" Sakura shouted at him.
"Maybe they're not," Kankurō said, picking up one of the candles.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked.
"This exercise...I did something similar," Kankurō said. "When I was first learning to use chakra strings. It just takes practice."
"Gee, great advice," Sakura said.
"No kidding," Rin agreed.
"Get back to training," Yukio ordered.
"But this is so frustrating!" Sakura said, falling onto her back.
"Seconded," Rin said, doing the same.
"Yeah, I can see how you two are related," Temari said.
"I got chakra control and manipulation perfected before Sasuke," Sakura said. "Sasuke! Sasuke freaking Uchiha! I beat him at chakra manipulation! And I can't get these stupid flames to do what I want!"
"Wait, you really beat that guy?" Kankurō asked, a smile slowly forming.
"Yeah," Sakura said.
"Good job," Gaara complimented, sitting next to her.
"Alright, sit up," Kankurō said, holding out his hands. Sakura groaned and grabbed them, letting him pull her up. Rin jumped as sand surrounded him and pushed him up as well. He watched the sand swiftly retreat into the gourd on Gaara's back. Gaara smiled and gently pat the gourd.
"I'm gonna teach you how to do this," Kankurō said.
"Really?" Rin asked in shock.
"Not you, I don't know how to help you," Kankurō said. "Especially since you don't have any control to build on."
"You suck," Rin muttered.
"How are you gonna help me?" Sakura asked.
"I'm gonna teach you how to use chakra strings." He pulled the wrapped up puppet off of his back and set it against a table. He sat down in front of her and smiled. "That should teach you how to control the flames better."
"Why can't I learn?" Rin demanded.
"We don't have chakra, Rin," Yukio said with a sigh.
"Whatever," Rin said with a huff. "How long do we have to keep doing this anyway?"
"Until you can control your blue flames," Yukio answered.
"Are you really okay with this?" Rin asked.
"With what?" Yukio said with a sigh.
"Sitting around here while there's a demon lose in the school," Rin answered.
"Not particularly," Yukio said. "I would rather be out there trying to hunt him down, but I don't have a choice. I've been ordered to watch you."
"Well then, let's bail!" Rin said, smiling at his brother. "Come on, you know you want to!" Sakura and the sand sibs looked at him, choosing to stay out of this conversation.
"Rin, I can't believe you. Will you be serious for once in your life?" Yukio shouted. "You don't have much time left! If you think that everything's just gonna end up going your way like it always does then you seriously need to-!" Yukio groaned, flinching back.
"Yukio-chan?" Sakura called.
"What's wrong?" Rin asked.
"It's nothing," Yukio said, standing up. "Just keep training. I-I'll be right back." He walked out of the room.
"As if," Rin said, looking up at the window.
"Rin!" Sakura shouted. Rin flinched and turned to look at his sister, who was glaring at him. "Take this seriously!"
"I am," Rin said. "I just can't stand to just sit here and do nothing while some demon's running around."
"Too bad," Sakura said. "Orders are orders and no matter how much you don't like them, you have to follow them."
"Don't tell me you honestly want to just sit here and do nothing," Rin said.
"We're not just 'doing nothing'," Sakura said. "We're learning how to control our flames so that we can help people. Do you really think that's 'nothing'?"
"Right now it is!" Rin shouted at her.
"It's not!" Sakura shouted. "Suguro's right, our flames can kill people. If we don't learn how to control them then we really will end up like Satan. Setting everything to burn in a blue fire. We need to learn control or else there'll be another blue night."
"I've got my powers under control just fine," Rin said. "I saved Shiemi this morning remember!"
"It was a fluke," Gaara said, glaring at him. "Next time you use your flames, not matter the intention, it may end up hurting someone. Could you really deal with that?"
"You can deal with your demon, can't you?" Rin asked.
"If Sakura talks about me and my demon as much as Yukio-san says she does, then you would know the truth," Gaara said. "I've been influenced by Shukaku since I was a small child. My own uncle tired to kill me, and in return, I destroyed him, there were no remains to bury. For years I killed. I let the sand control me." He walked over to Rin and looked him dead in the eye. "If I hadn't of met Naruto I wouldn't be Kazakage, and I would still be down that path. My family and my village would cower with every breath I took. I don't want to see the same happen to you." He stepped back and looked at Sakura. "Either of you. You need to control these flames before they control you. Remember Naruto?"
"Which part?" Sakura asked.
"He let his demon control him and he didn't care who was in his path," Gaara said, looking at her intently. Sakura frowned and gently grabbed her arm. After a moment she nodded, gripping her arm tighter. "He hurt those he cared about, and once he returned to normal, he regretted it. Do you want to know what that feeling's like?"
"N-No," Rin said quietly. "I don't."
"Then take this training seriously," Temari told him. "Sit down and concentrate."
"Don't try to hard kid, it'll come naturally," Kankurō said. "Trust me, you make the most mistakes when you're trying too hard."
"Alright." Rin nodded, sitting back down. The group paused when they heard footsteps heading towards the room.
"Yukio-chan?" Sakura called. She gasped lightly when she saw Konekomaru step into the doorway. "Konekomaru? What are you doing up? You should be rest-" She gasped when a shadowy form revealed itself. It resembled a crow and was sitting on the monk's shoulder. Konekomaru's face was twisted into pain.
"It's the demon!" Rin gasped.
"You two stay back," Temari said. "We don't want those flames of yours getting out of control right now." Kankurō waved his hands, his puppet appearing in front of him. Gaara glared at the demon, sand slowly circling the redhead.
"What are you waiting for? Get him!" Rin shouted.
Konekomaru groaned, his eyes opening. He saw them all in fighting stances, looking ready to attack him. He screamed and darted from the door.
"Don't let it get away!" Sakura shouted, running out of the room. The others followed after her. Sakura slowed to a stop when she saw Konekomaru with Shima, Suguro, and Yukio. "Yukio-chan!"
"Everyone, get away from him!" Rin shouted, drawing his sword. "He's dangerous." Konekomaru flinched and cowered, shrinking into Suguro's arms.
"Are you crazy?" Suguro shouted, glaring at them. "The only dangerous ones here are you!"
"Watch it," Sakura growled, drawing her sword as well. "Or do I need to repeat my warning?"
"Rin, Sakura, that's enough!" Yukio shouted, pulling out his gun.
"Okay, whoa!" Shima shouted. "Why don't we all just calm down."
"Yukio, stop pointing that thing at us!" Rin shouted. "Your target is over...there?" He trailed off in confusion, not seeing the demon anymore.
"Where'd he go?" Temari asked.
"What is wrong with you two?" Suguro shouted.
"Wrong with us?" Sakura growled. "Your friend is the one that's been possessed by a demon! We're just trying to help!"
"What demon? I don't see anything!" Suguro shouted, looking at his friend. He turned back to glare at the two demon children.
"Perhaps humans cannot see him," Gaara said.
"Oh great," Temari hissed.
"Hey! Don't laugh at me!" Rin shouted, swinging his sword.
"Rin no!" Sakura yelled as a jet of blue fire flew towards Konekomaru. Suguro tackled his friend out of the way.
"Shit!" Rin cursed as he sheathed his sword. "Are you okay-" He gasped as Yukio pushed him to the wall, pinning him.
"The hell are you doing?" Yukio shouted, grabbing his shirt. "Do you even know what'll happen to you if you go another rampage?" Suguro quickly pushed Yukio out of the way and swung his fist at Rin. Rin fell to the ground, his cheek stinging.
"I already warned you once," Suguro growled. "If you hurt my friends, I'll kill you for sure."
"And I thought I warned you, but I guess it didn't stick." Sakura growled lowly. The tip of her sword grazed his Adam's Apple. "Unlike you, I can actually follow through with my threats."
"Koneko!" Shima shouted, shaking the monk. Suguro froze, looking at his friend in fear. "Come on Koneko! Wake up! Oh man, he's not waking up." Yukio ran over to him and checked him over.
"He's fine. He's just unconscious." Suguro breathed a sigh of relief. He glared at the demon behind Sakura.
"Your flames kill people, don't you get that?" he asked. "When is it going to sink into your thick head?" Rin frowned and looked away from him.
"Don't worry, it's already sunk into mine," Sakura told him. "Do you want to see my control?"
"Sakura, that's enough," Yukio said.
"No!" Sakura shouted. "Nobody hurts my family! I take death threats very seriously."
"Sakura, stand down," Gaara said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She glanced at him, frowning.
"Only if you do something for me." She narrowed her eyes. "Seek and destroy." her eyes flickered to Konekomaru quickly. Gaara followed her gaze and nodded. Before anyone could react his sand rushed towards Konekomaru. It pushed the two exorcists away and enveloped.
"What are you doing?" Shima yelled. The sand lifted Konekomaru into the air. The young monk began screaming.
"Hey! You're hurting him!" Rin shouted. Suguro was about to move, but stopped when he felt the blade press into his skin.
"Trust me, we're helping," Sakura said. A part of the sand branched off and latched onto something. The demon howled, taking form.
"You can't escape my sand." Gaara held up his hand. The sand around Konekomaru gently lowered him to the ground. "Which one of you two would like to do the honors?"
"Rin," Sakura said, lowering her sword. Rin nodded and stood up, uncovering his sword. The blue flames surrounded him and he glared at the demon.
"Don't hurt my friends again!" He swung the sword, flames shooting out. The demon screamed as the flames enveloped him. The demon vanished and Rin called back his flames.
"I told you," Rin said quietly. "I told you he was possessed. But I'm just the son of Satan, why the hell should you believe me?"
"Rin," Sakura whispered, watching her little brother.
"Whatever, I'm outta here." The demon left, not saying another word. Sakura turned and glared at Suguro.
"Just because we're demons doesn't mean we're gonna go around hurting our friends for no damn reason," she told him, glaring fiercely. She sheathed her sword and turned to Gaara. "Thank you."
"I was just helping a friend," Gaara said. He smiled and chuckled softly. "Besides, I think that demon was pissing Shukaku off. Or that may have been you."
"He still scared?" Sakura asked with a smirk.
"It seems so." Sakura laughed and lightly punched Gaara.
"Don't you have some training to do?" Temari asked with a smirk.
"I'll get to it." Sakura waved them off and kneeled next to Konekomaru. She cracked her knuckles and placed a hand on his forehead. After a moment she retracted it and stood up. "There, he'll wake up in a couple hours, and he'll also be able to take the cast off in a few days."
"He didn't want you to heal him," Suguro said.
"Tough shit." Sakura glared at him. "I healed him, it's what I do."
"And you're the best damn healer," Kankurō said, ruffling her hair. "He should be thankful. The girl found an antidote to an unknown lethal poison and saved my life, there' nothing she can't do."
"Exaggeration," Sakura said with a sigh. "Now come on, I've got training to do. You said you would teach me chakra strings, remember?" She teased him and laughed as she passed.
"Yeah, I know." The group left, chatting amicably as they did.
"You okay, teach?" Shima asked. Yukio sighed and shook his head.
"Fine, let's get him to the hospital."