Thud. Click. Snap.

The sound of metal sliding open and an angry snarl.

Vicious teal eyes glaring hatefully into vivid orange ones.

Slam.

The blonde kunouichi's breath stilled, her mind going clear yet angered. She growled, taking the now open fan and charging at the woman in front of her. The opposite lady mimicked her movements, charging and slamming her fan into the others. The collision from their weapons, caused a loud 'clang' and sent sparks flying every which way. Their eyes met and the two simply rebounded back landing ever so lightly on their feet. Not for long however as they soon attacked again; they went at each other so quickly, their visage was that of bullets smashing into each other with sparks raining down at metal on metal.

The midnight locked woman skidded to a stop much like her rival, attempting to twist and smack a closed Tessen into her opponent's head. When the blonde ducked and tried to trip her, she flipped backwards, rebounding off of her hand in a spring, and pushed off of a tree. The teal-eyed woman charged as well, both causing the same jutsu to ring through the air.

"DAI KAMAITACHI NO JUTSU!" Two large, and powerful storms of wind collided, making trees bend and break; making arms shield their bearer's faces; making both nin try to hold their own. Without giving a chance for the deadly winds to die, the woman with sunset-hued eyes whipped her black Tessen, the one with three circles of explicit yellow, and shielded her body against said winds, charging once more. Her opponent had no room to react as the Tessen slammed hard and cold into her side, eyes widening as she flew to the side. Smacking the ground with a hard thud, blood seeped from her mouth and dispersed into the air.

She attempted to push herself up, arrived on all fours before being beaten into the ground once again with a closed Iron Fan. A wicked snicker and a voice dripping with sarcastic melody made itself known.

"So. Sabaku no Temari beaten by -- " She wasn't able to finish her sentence as the blonde, Temari, brought her white fan into the abdomen of her opponent, much like she had suffered. The girl doubled over and Temari weakly stood the rest of the way, spitting her mouthful of blood onto the ground. That usual angered glare was in her eyes as she kicked the woman, growling still. As the woman stood, she used a familiar kata, diffusing into a cloud of smoke before a yelling Temari could stop the basic Shunshin. A tired grunt, and she placed her weapon on her back, switching moods almost immediately.

With the turn of her back, she headed back towards Sunagakure no Sato, in the land of Kaze no Kuni.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Tsunade's eyes stared at the scroll, a heated sigh falling from her mouth, heavy with the smell of Sake. Why now? Why -- of all the times of the year -- did the Kazekage pick now to aid Konohagakure no Sato's peace treaty with the enforcing of the peace treaty with Mizugakure no Sato? The Hidden Mist Village was a hard one to comprehend, and another Kage helping seemed inevitable to be intimidating. Ah well...

'Man...This is just to much work...I need some Sake...Where's Shizune...?'

A sigh emitted from her mouth and she lazily looked at the clock, groaning and going back to the scroll.

'... -- Hokage-sama,

Please understand my reasonings for wishing to send Suna's liason to help enforce the new peace treaty with Mizu no Kuni. I realize help may or may not be neccassary, but as an ally I believe it is a good 'back-up.' I ask that you provide residence and missions for said liason, considering she will be staying until the end of the Rain Festival, or Sakura Festival for your Land. If she produces any trouble, feel free to send her back immediately, and she will be punished accordingly. As for the other issues I -- '

Tsunade quickly skimmed through the rest of the khaki parchment before rolling it back up and glancing at her door. It opened soon after, revealing a frail brown haired woman and her pig, lying delicately in her arms. A mischievous smile formed upon the Hokage's lips as Shizune entered. Shizune glanced up a moment, looking back down before quickly jerking her head up and staring at the woman. She knew that look… Before Tsunade would get a chance to say anything, Shizune abruptly turned around and fumbled with the doorknob in an attempt to escape.

"Ah! Come on Shizune-chan! Wait and listen to me this once, it's not about Saki!" she assured. Shizune paused, looking at her wearily with one eye and responding, "Or gambling? Or debts? Or you needing a break?" The Hokage furrowed her brow, ignoring her and continuing what she was saying.

"Yes – No, it's none of those. I need you to 'obtain' a certain Shinobi for me. Suna is sending their liason." Her grin was plastered on her face like a school girl with gossip. After all, she technically was. Shizune smirked and nodded, complying with her request and leaving the room. As she shut the door behind her, she merely took a few steps before groaning at the voice floating down the hall from Tsunade's enclosed space.

"AND I NEED SOME MORE SAKE!"

x-x-x-x-x-x

The battered Temari made her way into the office of Gaara, her youngest brother and higher ranking officer, Kazekage. Her tattered kimono hung loosely from her body as she leaned against the door, eyes closed and to tired to open it. A pang hit her chest, causing her hand to instinctively whip upwards to hold it. Her ribs were searing with a heavy pain, as she remembered the sensation that had come from both smashes to her abdomen. As the pain subsided, she opened the door weakly, causing Gaara to look up in alarm. His dark rimmed eyes narrowed as he saw her state, flickering to her marine irises for an explanation with sea-green pupils of his own. Her look was too tired to answer as the woman went forward to place the completed scroll on his desk, merely to lose footing and faint.

A shot of sand softly caught her falling body, lowering her to the ground before Gaara stood up and placed his pen down. The sand retracted as he walked to her, kneeling down and picking her up, eyes closed. He said not a word, yet walked out into the hallway, stopping Kankuro as he walked by. Even if Gaara was Temari's younger brother, he was still outgrowing her. He easily fit her in his arms as well as into Kankuro's as he passed her to him. Crimson hair fell lightly into the range of his eyes as he spoke quietly to Kankuro.

"Kankuro, take her to her room. And make sure her wounds are tended to. I want to know who did this -- but I'll wait. Have her see me immediately when she awakens." Recieving a solemn nod from Kankuro -- free of sarcastic remarks, he turned and glowered as he re-entered his office. Gaara shut the door quietly behind him and leaned against it. His eyes were closed as his hair graced the blood red Kanji of 'Ai.' Ever since Naruto awakened his sense of caring towards others, Gaara had been more protective of his siblings. He threatened them less, and he spoke to them more.

Like he had just done, he even took care of them better. Whoever did this...was going to pay. No one hurt Gaara's family -- not when he cared about them, again.

x-x-x-x-x-x

A slight breeze brought the fragile, hurt woman to reality as she left the conundrum of her dreams and meekly opened her eyes. Blonde hair graced the violet pillow beneath her, no longer in that signature style she wore. A servant slept in a chair by her door, obviously exhausted from something. But wha---

Oh. That. She cringed as it hit her why he was sleeping, and because she had moved. Her chest was bandaged and her kimono hanging limply at her waist. Taking a deep breath, the woman moved from bed, rubbing her temples as the pain subsided. It wasn't so bad after the first few movements. Besides, some medicine would help the pain. Standing from her bed, she attempted to fix it to no prevail, and pulled her kimono delicately back onto her shoulders. Noticing the polished Tessen, she gave a weak smirk and walked out the door, blowing her fist into the wall next to her.

Luckily the jounin dodged, grinning as he poked back up and crossed his arms.

"So I polish your weapon, carry to your room, and make sure you're tended to...and this is the thanks I get? I'll feel sorry for your man -- Shit!" He cut off as her fist flew again, a ravishing glare on her face. As he laughed, he started walking away, turning around and shoving his hands into his pockets, brown hair flopping messily atop his head. Black pupils glanced at her and he nudged his head towards Gaara's office.

"He needs you again. You need to go see him, Temari." Said woman groaned, making her way unwantedly towards the office of the Kazekage. She just got back and already he wanted to give her some mission? That's just bull. Ah well, all's well that ends well.

Whatever the hell that means.

Yup, redid chapter one and fixed my mistakes. Thank you so much, to my wonderful BETA, Midnight Memories. Check her wonderful fanfics out if you get the chance. As for this chapter:

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naru'ttebayo!

Copyright: These characters, the original ones, and the plot are mine. Write your own damn stuff.