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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha.

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Chapter 16: Invasions, Irritations

Being a weapon to a village can and will always be a hassle. At least, that's how Gaara saw her role within Sunagakure.

Hardly loved (her siblings, she noticed in those few weeks of well-rested nights, cared for her to some extent), treated as a weapon (by her father, nonetheless), and she was supposed to begin a war with a place that, by all means, felt closer to what the word home should mean.

Konoha wasn't as disorganized as Sunagakure, it was full of people, and hardly anyone tried to nag at her. Then there was the fact that she discovered the 'secret' to truly fall asleep, and she was given a safe bedroom to enjoy naps whenever she felt the urge to do so.

The first time she went missing for hours due to her first serious night of sleep without nightmares had stirred a hornet nest. It was where the redhead realized that her siblings cared, something that truly baffled Gaara to some extent. She had been told by that kind man Jonno-san that it was fine to not see the 'love' siblings have for you because it's different than parental love.

In a way, this made sense. Despite her own expectation, love was so complex and odd. She had the chance to learn much about such interesting topic while getting to know Jonno-san and, to some extent, also help around cleaning the shop.

Gaara just took a broomstick and joined the man in the cleaning one day. He didn't ask her, but she felt compelled to do just something to show her gratitude.

Ignoring Shukako-baka and her whining about 'letting her at him' for 'humiliating her in such cold nights', Gaara realized that keeping the tailed monster outside of her for prolonged hours was helping her rediscover her much-needed control over her own mind.

While she could hear the beast lashing out at promising worse nightmares the moment Gaara slipped, the redhead hardly gave the 'bitch' a chance to accomplish this much. Instead, Gaara found herself actually 'training' during this month.

She had to run laps around the Pizzeria. It didn't sound like much, but Jonno-san 'lamented' how much reliant on her defenses was.

"You know there are techniques that are meant to break that sort of protection, right?"

She did not. No normal tool or attack could break into her cocoon of sand. Yet, she learned something interesting about the book Jonno brought up - the smaller the point of pressure of a powerful strike, the more intense and more probable to break through the surface.

That was concerning, but the man gave her an advice - to adapt herself to a more mobile presence in the field.

Being a static fighter is convenient until someone has a trick to go around it. Instead, if she was to keep moving and produce issues to anyone trying to use techniques that were powerful breakers but required precision.

Despite her own perplexities, Gaara was soon going through early morning runs, and she would finish those by getting headpats and praises from Jonno-san. Somehow that kind of familiar feeling of warmth that felt genuine and lovable reminded her of her uncle - before he tried ot kill her.

Actually, speaking of that matter, she couldn't help but wonder... why did he go through these lengths to try and 'kill her'? After all, there had been better chances to kill her rather than just jump at her.

No, that was... odd. And she had a feeling that her father was tied to this. After all, it occurred around the time Gaara started to be more ruthless in her reactions, which allowed her to join missions about killing bandits and missing-nins.

As the training time finished, the Suna-girl also learned through some clues left around that Jonno-san was aware of the invasion (and pretty much most of those relevant in this village knew too). This meant that her current role was less 'safe' than her father had dared to make it appear.

And a new idea came to mind as the final battles for the Exam began.

Gaara was already aware how things were going to go, and she barely paid any attention to the Namikaze Faker facing the Hyuuga boy. Despite how pathetic the brat was, the flat-chested idiot won by pure and sheer dumb luck (mixed to an extensive use of her limited Fox energy). It didn't help that the fellow redhead proclaimed her 'love' for one of the Hyuuga twins (who proclaimed an interest to murder her in return).

Gaara's first battle for the day was the funniest one she had in a while. And it was against someone that was somewhat 'acceptable' as a potential friend.

Uchiha Satsuki had trained with weights, and she was a speedy foe comparable to Rock Lee. Thinking of the boy with the bushy-eyebrows, she remembered how Satsuki had actually spoken to her during the training month and demanded she, at the very least, sent something to apologize what she did to Rock Lee.

It was only after talking with Jonno-san that Gaara understood the notion of 'restraint' - a fight was a fight, yes. But those exams were not meant to see people killed or permanently damaged. Admittedly, she didn't feel incredibly guilty over it, but she agreed to buy Rock Lee some of his favorite candy and have one of her Shadow Clones bring it to him or his sensei.

It wasn't enough to fix that, but she could at least do a 'nice thing' for once. And the reward for just gesture was a surprisingly fun match.

Satsuki bolted at neck-breaking speeds, electricity adding to her steps as she started to slash at Gaara's armor, reminding the redhead that she had to move or she may end up defeated for real. Gaara moving and actually not remaining in a single spot seemed to throw the Uchiha girl out of the loop as the electric attacks were phased out with Fire ones.

The intense heat usually wasn't an issue, but the intensity was another surprise that Gaara wasn't prepared for: the fire was turning her limited Sand into glass, further depriving her of the means to keep her defenses up. It became clear Gaara had to defeat her foe as quickly as possible.

Her saving grace came through the lessened pace employed by Satsuki. To cast such powerful fire attacks, she had to slow down and take aim, providing Gaara with a solution to this problem- as Satsuki tried to hurl another fireball at her, Gaara's sand slithered by the grounds and wrapped around Satsuki's left leg, forcing the girl to trip down.

A slight distraction that allowed for more sand to rush at Satsuki and suddenly engulf her in a eerily similar prison. Panic swelled within the Uchiha girl as she struggled against her restraints but... it was too late.

Instead of forming a fist with her open palm, a gesture that usually meant to crush her opponent, Gaara... snapped her fingers, and Satsuki's panic turned into true horror. Followed by some forceful giggles that were now leaving most of the spectators in utter confusion.

"Surrender, or I will tickle you to death."

This variant to her deadly technique came to a time where she wanted to punish Shukako for 'misbehaving' without causing her Shadow Clone form to collapse. Jonno had suggested to tickle her into submission and... Gaara learned that tickles can be a powerful tool to safely 'torture' someone.

"N-Never~- Hahahahahahahahaha~."

Despite Satsuki's best efforts to keep the fight going, the Jonin assigned to keep track of the match confirmed that Satsuki was in no condition to keep the battle going. Gaara won that match and she knew she was up to the second one.

She actually shook hands with Satsuki for the good effort, and Satsuki scowled and called her 'Ruruko but with red hair'. An odd 'insult', especially since some people had started to call her that despite not looking at all like Jonno-san's daughter.

Then it was time to face Namikaze Mito. Red-haired, smug-faced, very flat and already proclaiming herself the winner.

By all means, Gaara should have seen her as an equal but... that attitude, with a lack of genuine 'bite', felt like an insult to her. The only thing that stopped her from going too harsh on the brat was a matter of a promise.

Do not kill anyone.

That very 'simple' rule was turning into a true hassle due to how Mito was acting in the fight. It was less about her being a threat and more like Mito being an absolute irritation.

Gaara hardly gave a shit about nuisances, but this one was really wrecking her nerves. Especially as she said something about 'lingering in that shitty pizza place' as she knew what Mito was talking about.

And while she usually wouldn't be that irritated over insults aimed at others, Jonno-san has succeeded in becoming something of a surrogate father to her. And this sort of trash-talking was the tipping point for Gaara.

Murder was not an option, but she had something else that could work with Mito.

The brat was already using the limited fox energy, close to running out if she continued to keep up such a mindless attack. It was shedding at her sand, but Gaara was a patient individual and one that was constantly on the move.

The very moment that coat of corrosive chakra vanished from around Mito, the Suna-girl moved to strike back at her. All of her sand rushed up at Mito to form a ball of sort. Then, the large ball started to bounce by the ground. Each bounce would see the ball go higher and higher, until it finally broke at a fairly tall height and resulted in an unconscious Mito shuddering by the sand.

No visible injuries, potentially enough concussions for brain damage, no foul done as she was given the news she had won and...

Feathers started to fall around.

Her father's plan had started... so it was time for hers to start too. Vanishing with her sand, Gaara appeared right where Kankuro and Temari were waiting for her.

"G-Gaara, what are you-"

"We are not taking part to this invasion. We are not doing because of father's foolishness."

That warranted some surprised looks, and while Temari appeared unsure, Gaara sighed. "Sister, please. I know of a place where we can wait it out."

The blonde bit down a protest, knowing by looking at Kankuro that they weren't going to win as their father had hoped for. The entire invasion was doomed from the start and, if Gaara wasn't planning to take part to it, then there was no way they could survive through it.

"Fine. But this place better be-"

...

"And that's all, Jonno-san," Gaara finished her narration, ignoring the screams of terror from other civilians running for the bunkers while they all sat inside the very-barricaded and very sheltered pizzeria. "I understand I gave you no notice but-"

"It happened out of the blue."

She nodded. "Yes."

The man stared at the three Suna siblings with a flat look, with Kankuro looking embarrassed and Temari... frowning back at him.

"Fine. But no free pizzas. You either work around the kitchen to help me make those as we wait or you clean around."

"Okay," Gaara hummed and... smiled.

Temari appeared shocked, Kankuro was equally aghast. But the most shocking development was when Jonno-san reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Just be a bit mindful of what your siblings wants too, got it?"

"Okay~."

AN

Next time, Naruko POV! And then we see what the Sand Sisters will do with their new disposition. Kankuro finds a new passion, but Temari's tsundere side plus big-sisterly attitude may play an interesting element in Gaara's first lemon.