I'm on a role with these. I'll keep going for you guys. I do require a Beta Reader.. Or someone who's willing to give a straight critic on the chapter. And if you guys have any ideas on the characters, minus Chinatsu.. (And the moment when you realize that you spelled your character's name wrong the entire story.).. Then that would be awesome. I don't need OC's of any kind, I just need ideas~

Chapter 2

Protector Crane

Wild thumping of shoe'd feet against wooden floors sounded as a small, red haired child ran through the wide halls in search for more things to discover. The deeper she went, the more trouble she could possibly get in. Some parts of the tower were forbidden to her, but that did not stop her. It only drove her curiosity to learn more about what her world was like outside this building and the encasing walls of Sunagakure. Perhaps just a peak, and if her papa or her uncle asked, she would never lie, and say she touched nothing. Which was a half-truth, but they didn't know that. In her journey, she nearly bumped into a few people, which the three year old bowed and apologized.. Waiting for them to exit her line of sight, and dive into the nearest unknown door.

Little fear to no fear came as she looked around the room. Mountains of paper and scrolls, lined with large metal cabinets and basin's filled with more of the reed-made objects written on by ink. In a slight awe, she weaved between them, giggling. It was like going through a forest, but after a few minutes, the short attention span and impatience got to her. She ran out as fast as she could, nearly knocking over the tall towers in her haste to leave. The polite girl shut the door behind her, and went back into the hall. Only to have a loud bang and something crashing into the floor, making her flinch in a sheepish way.

"Oops." Another bit of laughter came from her mouth, but dived into the nearby room, adjacent to the filing room. Closing the door behind her, she turned to look at the much larger space. It was filled with paintings and art of every single type. Puppets and clay jars as well. Her eyes widened with complete awe and shock, and then she went to explore, and touch everything. Her first stop was a pretty silk tapestry of a frail looking bald man, who had a long beard and mustache. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that he had rings around his eyes like her papa had. And his hands were held out, palms facing forward. There was a character in each palm, one read 心, or Heart, the other was 受, or Accept. The two words combined made the character for 'Love', but that was not something she understood until later.

However, what caught her attention most of all, seemed to be the most important object. Even past the painting of her father, which she glanced over once. This was where her curiosity crossed the line between Childish and Dangerous. For on a tall stone slab, a bit taller than she, was a sandy brown tea kettle. Chinatsu's head tilted to the right, confused on how such a thing got there in the first place. 守鶴 was written on the front in gold. The short child, who was at least three or four inches below average in the Sand Village, stood on the tips of her toes to try to touch it.

Managing to do so for a few seconds, a deep voice, almost bored and interested at the same time, echoed out. "Now what exactly are you doing, Chibi?" The words held much amusement and irritation, and spoke highly of himself. As she would find out later. These same words, made her reel back, and turn to look at the closed door with an innocent smile like she had been caught. Only for it to fall in slight confusion. There was no one there.

"Hello?" She asked with a whisper, but it was not answered. Returning to the porcelain ware, she reached to poke it again, and the voice returned quite quickly.

"I," This was spoken in that 'ore', or higher-than-thou words, "Do not know whether you are a brave.. Or a down right stupid child. Do you know who I am? Or what you are messing with?" It was spoken in grumbles, which only made the bubbly child giggle and answer with something that one of her age could come up with. It was cute, but a rolling sigh of frustration came after it from the voice inside the pot.

"You talk funny." Chinatsu had heard people speak in that manner before, but it never failed to make her crack a smile and laugh. It was funny to her, to think that someone wanted to better then everyone else. Though, she answered his questions politely, "I don't know you you are. But you seem nice." Another growling sigh came from the beast, as inside he was holding his head in his claws. This is why he hated children, they never understood anything. But another side reasoned that she had no clue on who he was, for she was never told. Well then, a teaching was in order. For he would not have the fox win, but he had to check.

"I am the Ichibi, something your little mind probably would not comprehend." He snorted, and made a noise as he could feel her start to pick up his make-shift container. Now with two hands on the teapot, he could feel her power... She was similar to that of his last host.. But taking one when they weren't newborns was against the rules. That was so that there was no trouble that might come. He would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted.

"Oh!" She said, she knew who that was, and she bowed politely. "Pleasure to meet you, Shukaku-san. You were in my Chichi, right?" The young girl had earned a few points, even though the previous bombardment of his eternal sleep. Not only did this child have good manners, but she was the spawn of Gaara. A grin spread over his face. He needed a good host, and it was tiring being inside this jar. Shukaku had to persuade this girl. Though her next words snapped him out of his diabolical plotting. "I'm Chinatsu." That sealed him, he already liked her, and it almost reminded him of Bunpuku. This could be an enjoyable host for once.

But how to do it. His answer came in the form of an itch. The dust that had collected all over this place had become overbearing, and in a small sneeze.. The tanuki could feel his jail falling, and when it shattered.. In such slow, agonizing moments to him, he was free. For several seconds, before entering his soul and body into this host. All he could say was that she broke it, and it was that or rampaging through town. But something didn't feel right.. Of course. One thing he forgot about molding with a child older than a few days..

Their souls would merge.

This was why this was forbidden. Shukaku reprimanded himself. How could he! The greatest of the Tailed Beasts, forget about this one detail! But what was done, was done.

And the noise of her loud screams sealed that deal officially.

~x~

Kankuro let out a low sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. His niece was in the hospital for several days now, unable to wake up. Her constant screaming was heard, as her body, mind, and soul was fighting against that of the Ichibi. His younger sibling did not sleep through this time, either pacing around in a nervous manner, or trying to forget with paperwork. Barely eating as well, but that was everyone who thought dear of the Bug. It was clearly her own doing, smashing the pot. But who is to say that demon didn't persuade her to. Bringing his tanned fist against the nearest wall, he seemed to be the one that was taking this more personal. If he had been there just a few seconds earlier. If he had run to find her, she might not have to go through with this.

At the coughing of a nervous jonin that didn't want to be at the bad end of anyone of the Sand Siblings, she spoke in the calmest manner that she could. "The Elder Council wishes to speak to you, Kankuro-sama." Her voice was still shaken, but bowed and left as quick as she could. He didn't blame her for running, he probably looked like a Oni at this very moment. Running a hand over his face, the puppet master accepted the summons, and traveled towards the Kazekage Tower. His legs took him automatically, up the flight of stairs and down towards the large council room. It seems the meeting as already started, arguing sounded as soon as he opened the red doors.

".. can't be serious. The Ichibi should have been sealed in that room. How could a three year old girl possibly open a sealed door?" One of the elders, the one that both brothers detested. He was constantly looking backwards, instead of forwards. And he hated the small child that constantly used the Tower as a playground. The purple and black wearing man settled himself against the wall, his arms crossed to listen at what these people had to say. His presence was for Gaara's sake, who's fingers were slightly turning red from being locked together and attempting not to loose his patience. This man, and several others, were speaking against his own daughter, hell he was tempted to beat the living daylights out of them.

"She had always been wanting to learn more about the world around her. Books could not even hold her hunger for it." A kinder, younger member of the council spoke up. His hands were folded similarly to his Kazekage's, but not to keep himself from storming out of room. "And I believe it is in our best interest to look past the how. Now we must know what to do with her. Only this council knows that Chinatsu is not our Lord Gaara's child, but perhaps we could trick the rest of the world into thinking that she always had the Bijuu." That was spoken after several moments of silence, and seemed to have heads turning to the black haired man.

A few hours of debate later, Nori's plan was eventually agreed on, and there seemed to be a lot of stress off the red head. He barely spoke during this entire thing, and his mind was clearly elsewhere. Now to see what would happen, and most of them wished the small child in the hospital would make it.

A day had passed, and yet the battle continued, this time with rapidly flaring chakra that sent most of the Shinobi on edge, but they were given the reason for it. The one that the council had made up to keep the village at ease. Most seemed calmer, others were even more frightened at the fact that this was Tailed-Beast chakra that was being held onto by a small child. This continued into the evening, before eventually, the two raging energies became one. Leveling out to a heavy hum of power, then to one that Chinatsu could hold on her own. During this time, her father had not left her side, gently wrapping her in sand to help her sleep better. It was something he when she was a tiny thing, and had to keep his hands free to write. It never failed in making a peaceful smile come over both parent and child's face.

~x~

"Its time to wake up Chibi, our fight is over. You have one this time, but do not think that I simply let you won." The almost drunken tone of Shukaku came, as he was starting to be rather fond of this young girl. Even will her lack of knowledge on most things, stayed on par with him in witty comments. Or ones that his new host could understand. "Next time, will be different. I will not always let you win, you know." This was said in amusement, the tanuki was a bragger, but she knew that already in the nearly 48 hours that she had been in his domain.

"But don't you need me?" She simply said, crossing her arms and gave him a grin after a long stare. She had used the 'Ore' as well, which made the ancient creature chuckle, and simply answer with.

"Just wake up, child. Tomorrow, I will teach you what you need to know."

That ends the Chinatsu section of the introductions. Next will be Takumi. I will not be posting for a few days, for I will have no internet. So when I do return, expect either a massive Chapter 3, or both 3 and 4.