The Sand Meets the Light (A Naruto fanfiction)

Chapter 3: Underground

        An hour had passed. Gaara was placed in a private room, where he was being treated. Thankfully, he didn't sustain any serious injuries. Just minor trauma to his head, some cuts on his face and a sprained ankle. Even then, thanks to the medical workers, who happened to know medical ninjutsu, his wounds were nearly all healed up. He was required to rest for the night for a complete recovery, so they advised him to stay in for one more day.

Temari and Kankuro were hanging around in the room, keeping their little brother company as he sat in his bed. Kankuro was resting against the armchair near the window, taking in the scenery of the village outside while Temari was by the bedside, crossing her arms as she looked out the room's opened door.

"For an underground village, this doesn't seem like a dump," Kankuro remarked bluntly.

"We owe these people for helping us. Have some manners," Temari snapped, annoyed at his brother's attitude.

"We don't even know them," Kankuro straightened up and leaned forward in his seat. "Stay on guard."

"Relax, will you?" Temari responded, tired of her brother.

"If you're so calm, why do you keep looking at the door?" Kankuro retorted, with a sly smile on his face. Temari felt irritated, but he was right. She was naturally watching out for any threats, even if they did seem safe here.

"In any case, they haven't posed any danger to us. And the only time they did, they had the right to do so," Gaara suddenly voiced out, which prompted both his older siblings to silence themselves, feeling slight shame. And as if right on cue, the man and woman from earlier appeared, knocking on the door.

"May we come in?" the man asked, in his usual serious voice, but it sounded more polite than before. The woman looked like she couldn't care less as if she was forced to tag along. Temari nodded and they both walked in.

"I'm sorry about earlier," the man apologized. "We were on patrol and we couldn't take any chances." Temari looked to Kankuro with a smug look, who returned her glance with an irritated expression.

"I understand. We would have done the same in our own village," Temari replied with a smile on her face.

"My name is Kei. I'm the official advisor and mentor for our village leader," he introduced himself and looked to the woman at his side. He coughed, prompting her to continue on their introduction. She turned to him with a defensive look and glanced at the siblings. She sighed, giving in.

"Makoto," she stated her name, uninterested. "Always a pleasure to meet new blood." She cracked a toothy smile, showing her fangs. Kei grunted at her, as if asking her to shut up.

"I'm sorry... Your village leader?" Gaara asked. Makoto and Kei looked to their sides, as if searching for something. Makoto turned back towards the door.

"Oh sorry, I thought she's here," Makoto replied jokingly. "Come on in!" She called out to the door and the girl from earlier peeked out carefully. She had worry and anxiety written all over her face and wouldn't walk in, just lingering outside the door.

Makoto rolled her eyes walked over to the door and dragged her inside until she stood in front of the Sand Siblings, who seemed confused and just stared at her the whole time. The girl seemed stiff and nervous.

"THIS is our village leader," Makoto said with some pride in her voice and her face.

But the girl's reaction was a contrast, as she seemed shy and timid when stood in front of them in a casual setting. This was a different presence than earlier when she confronted them in the tunnels.

"Go on," Makoto told the girl with a softer voice. The girl shifted her eyes between all three siblings, hesitant to speak out.

"I'm... Yukari," she said with a small voice, keeping her eyes on the ground. "You can call me Yuka," she practically went into a whisper. The older siblings just looked at her with raised eyebrows, wondering if this was a different person and they were just trying to prank them.

"Nice to meet you," Gaara told her with a small smile on his face after an awkward silence hung in the air. Yukari looked up to him, wanting to say something but she decided to back away.

"Please excuse me!" she said with a shaky voice as she took a few steps to walk back towards the door. But Makoto grabbed her arm and dragged her back, wrapping her arm around her before she could escape.

"Say, Yuka," Makoto said. "I was thinking, me and Kei can show these two around the village. Why don't you keep this guy company?" She pointed to Gaara and went closer to Yukari's ears to whisper. "You know, make a friend your own age."

Yukari turned to Makoto with a mixture of an offended and baffled look on her face, then looked at Gaara nervously. She struggled out of Makoto's grasp and paced out the door quickly, leaving Makoto and Kei to stare after her in confusion. They both turned back to the siblings.

"Sorry. She has trouble... socializing. We've been trying to work on that," Kei explained, scratching his head.

"Come on, Kei," Makoto turned to Kei. "Let's go give a tour."

"Makoto, don't just rush into deciding-" Before Kei could continue, Makoto cut him off.

"You haven't had dinner yet, right?" She looked over to Temari and Kankuro. "Let's go, guys. Since you are CURIOUS about us, you might as well get a first-hand look. Your brother's in good hands." She walked out the door, with Kei walking after her. He stopped by the door and turned to the siblings.

"I apologize. Meet us outside," he informed them before leaving. Temari and Kankuro looked at each other, shrugged and walked towards the door. Gaara suddenly realized what just happened.

"Oi! Temari, Kankuro!" Gaara called out and reached out with his hand, seemingly wanting to stop them before they stepped out the door.

"I am kind of hungry," Kankuro muttered as he walked off. Temari turned to her brother with an apologetic look.

"We'll be back soon. Rest up, little brother," she reassured him and disappeared too, leaving Gaara feeling annoyed as he was being left alone in his room.