Chapter 26: Blood and Sand: The Distance of Kinship
The Hidden Sand and the Hidden Leaf are separated by a wasteland of death. To a civilian, it's an impossible journey; to a Genin, it's a ten-day marathon of grit and parched throats.
We were officially outsiders now. The safety of the village walls was gone, replaced by the predator-filled shadows of the Land of Grass and the looming fortifications of Kikyo Mountain Castle.
(Internal Monologue: Finally. The Land of Fire. Looking at this lush greenery makes me realize why my village is so obsessed with invading it. Our home is a sandbox; this place is a garden. No wonder the Kazekage is willing to bet his life on a coup.)
"This area almost became part of the Land of Wind once," Kankuro muttered, his eyes tracing the rich soil with a mix of envy and bitterness.
I turned to the guy with the purple face paint. "What the hell are you doing over here, Kankuro? Didn't Temari tell you to stay away from the 'bad influence'?"
Kankuro grumbled, lowering his voice until it was barely a whisper. "Do you have any idea how much pressure it is staying near Gaara for ten days straight? My nerves are fried."
He glanced back. Gaara was trailing behind them, a silent, walking disaster wrapped in a gourd.
"So you're just going to leave your dear sister alone with that monster?" I teased. "Your family affection is as thin as desert tea, isn't it?"
"What choice do I have?" Kankuro shivered. "Just being in his shadow sends a chill down my spine. Ever since Yashamaru died, Gaara hasn't been... human."
"Yashamaru? You're calling your own uncle by his first name? Cold."
"Do you think being born into the Kazekage's house is a fairy tale?" Kankuro pouted. "My mother died before I could even remember her face. Yashamaru was ordered by that man to watch Gaara. Temari and I were just... there."
(Internal Monologue: 'That man.' He can't even call the Fourth Kazekage 'Father.' I guess having a mother who's an ordinary housewife is a luxury compared to being sired by a gold-dust-wielding tyrant.)
"Every family has its skeletons," I said, leaning back. "I'm an only child. I'd kill for a brother or sister, even if they were a bit... murdery."
"Gaara doesn't consider us family," Kankuro said flatly. "To him, we're just meat that hasn't been crushed yet."
"Is that so?" I smirked, an idea forming in my head. "He seems to be in a good mood today."
Kankuro blinked. "How would you know?"
"He hasn't tried to bury us in a sand coffin yet. Watch this."
"Daimaru, don't—!"
I ignored him. I turned on my heel and marched straight toward the most dangerous weapon in the Hidden Sand. Temari was walking beside Gaara, her shoulders tight with tension. When she saw me approaching, her eyes went wide with panic.
"Yo, Temari! Long time no see. Miss me?"
"You idiot!" she hissed, her voice cracking. "Get lost before you get us all killed!"
"So impolite," I laughed. Then, I turned my gaze to the redhead with the 'Love' tattoo on his forehead. "Hey, little brother. My name's Daimaru. I'm going to be your brother-in-law soon, so let's get along, alright?"
The world seemed to stop.
Gaara didn't open his eyes. He didn't move a muscle. But a wave of killing intent so thick it felt like physical pressure slammed into me. The air turned cold. The sand at his feet began to ripple like a hungry beast.
"Shut up," Gaara rasped. "Get lost."
"Right. Noted. Catch you later!" I chirped, then turned and ran back to Kankuro at top speed.
"That... actually scared the hell out of me," I panted, hooking my arm around Kankuro's neck.
"You're insane," Kankuro gasped, staring at me like I was a ghost. "Why would you provoke him?"
"Did you see that?" I asked, pointing back. "He didn't kill me. For an outsider, that's a greeting. If he didn't consider you and Temari family, you wouldn't be standing in his presence. You'd be dust."
Kankuro paused. The realization seemed to hit him, but he quickly shook it off. "To prove a point? You risked your life for that?"
"Well, you're my 'little brother-in-law,' aren't you? Had to show you the ropes."
(Internal Monologue: Kankuro and Temari are taking their blessings for granted. They have a father, a sister, a brother. In this world, that's a fortune. Even if one of them is a Jinchuriki.)
"Go back to your squad, Kankuro," I said, my tone suddenly turning serious. "During the exams, we're opponents. I won't go easy on you just because we're family."
"Tch," Kankuro spat, though a small smirk played on his lips. "Your bragging is definitely Jonin-level, Daimaru."
Temari stomped over and snatched Kankuro by the collar, dragging him away. "What were you two whispering about?"
"Boring stuff," Kankuro muttered.
I watched them walk away, my eyes drifting back to Gaara.
(Internal Monologue: A Jinchuriki. A human sacrifice for a village's greed. If the Leaf finds out what he really is before the invasion... we're all dead. I need to keep my teammates focused.)
"Daimaru? You okay?" Yome asked, stepping up beside me with Chiyo. "You actually approached him..."
"It was just a few words," I said, my voice dropping. "But listen. From now on, no one mentions Gaara's 'condition.' Not a word. Not even in private."
The two girls nodded, sensing the shift in my energy.
"We're in the Land of Fire now," I whispered, scanning the dense treeline. "The Leaf is watching. Orochimaru is watching. And somewhere in these woods, someone is waiting for the Sand to trip up."
The bushes rustled. I gripped the handle of my puppet scroll.
We weren't just examinees anymore. We were the first wave of a storm. And in the Land of Fire, storms have a habit of being extinguished before they even reach the shore.
"Keep your eyes open," I commanded. "The 'Joint' part of these exams is about to get very bloody."
Daimaru has crossed the border, but the Hidden Leaf is a maze of spies and secrets. Will the Sand's plan stay hidden, or has the enemy already spotted their weakness? The entrance to the Leaf Village is only miles away!
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