The Sand Meets the Light (A Naruto fanfiction)

Chapter 12: Sharing Stories

"Kei," Temari asked while they were eating, as she looked over to Makoto who was handing the food to Yukari. "What did she mean, she can't eat these food?"

"Don't tell me it's poisoned," Kankuro's face went a little green, wondering if he should continue eating. But he was too famished from the whole day so he decided to just give in. Kei sighed, staring at Makoto as she walked to a different spot to lie down.

"Well, technically the food isn't... hopefully," Kei's answer didn't make either of them feel better. "Makoto has to survive on a... different type of diet. But she's trying her best right now to eat like regular people."

"That just sounds suspicious," Kankuro responded, feeling more and more uncomfortable.

"What's her story?" Temari calmly asked. Kei looked at her, his eyebrow slightly tense, clearly with some hesitation in his eyes and then he glanced at Makoto who already rested her back against a rock further off. Kei sighed heavily.

"Makoto wasn't originally from around here. She came from the surface, back when Yukari was still a child," Kei started his story. "When she first showed up, she was... an animal."

"What do you mean?" Kankuro was both invested and terrified to learn about Makoto.

"Her history with the village wasn't a stainless one. She thirsted for blood. Literally. She has killed several people and left the bodies drained out of all their blood. So the council sent some people to hunt her down," Kei started explaining. "It was difficult at first, but they found out her weakness: the sunlight. It harms her skin and causes a lot of pain. A place underground like our village was the perfect hideout for her. So, the officers opened some holes to the surface and cornered her to a spot where she can't escape. But she was too strong for them in combat. It was discovered that her saliva could cause paralysis and a bite from her fangs could be fatal because of the venom it secreted." Hearing all this made both Temari and Kankuro look at Makoto from a distance warily.

"It wasn't until Yuka herself intervened that they finally managed to take her down," Kei said.

"What did she do?" Temari asked.

"Yuka has a... special ability," Kei ambiguously answered. "She managed to keep Makoto in control long enough for the officers to come and lock her up in a sealed room, where she can't do any more harm."

"So then, why is she free now and working with both of you?" Temari continued to question Kei.

"That was Yuka's decision. I didn't agree with her initially, but I could only advise her," Kei told them. "She went to talk with Makoto privately and came to an agreement. If Makoto was willing to change the way she lived that wouldn't harm others and work under her, then she could have her freedom. This didn't sit well with the council and the villagers obviously, but Yuka insisted. So, they provided some conditions as well."

"Like being prohibited from entering the council office?" Kankuro asked, recalling what had happened earlier.

"Yes... among other things," Kei replied. "It worked out well under Yuka's supervision. Makoto's proven to be a capable fighter and she had never hurt anyone else again, so the villagers don't really fear her that much anymore. There was some... minor hiccups now and again, but they were resolved quickly."

"Man, if that were to happen to us," Kankuro turned to Temari, intending to make a cynical remark, but then suddenly realized the familiarity of the situation and decided to cut it off. "Actually, I don't think any of us would agree to that in the first place," he lied, with a shaky tone to his voice.

"I agree," Kei added. "But at least some things worked out, thanks to Yuka." Both Temari and Kankuro looked baffled at the constant mention of that.