By The Strings

5~ a pure hatered

Do you want to know how petty I can be? 5 months passed and I had not said a word to Kankuro. I had been giving him the extreme silent treatment.

I and Temari had developed a nice friendship along with a mutual respect with Gaara who had become the Kazekage. I stretched pulling the blanket off of me, my hair was a mess along with a bit of smudged paint on my cheek.

I had bought myself a new outfit for my birthday that had just passed making me 15. Today felt like the perfect day to wear it.

I ran a brush through my medium length hair, it matched my brothers but less messy because I actually knew what a brush was. I put it up into a high ponytail before painting two red marks on my cheeks, the same as I had always done. I slipped on my mesh undershirt that only covered my torso, a purple long sleeve crop top that was tight at the bottom covering some of it. The sides of the sleeves had 2 red triangles the color of my face paint sewed in at the top by my shoulders, and a tight turtle neck covered half my neck. The triangular cut in the front showed a little cleavage making me a bit uncomfortable at first. I slipped on my black pants ending right below my belly button. they were stretchy, and perfect for fighting. I slipped on my boots, the ended about 2 inches below my knees. I avoided the usual shoes to keep the sand out.

I glanced in the mirror, it was a completely different person. This look was much different than my messy hair and chunin outfit. I found it hard to believe it was actually me.

"Knock knock," Temari came into my room. Her eyes widened, "well damn!" She laughed walking over to me.

"Decided to change up your style?" She questioned walking around me to take in the full outfit. I wrapped my bag around my thigh like it always was. "Yeah, got tired of the same old thing, decided it was time to shake it up," my confidence climbed as she complimented me.

"Did you need something, Temari?" It wasn't unusual for her to visit me but I thought to ask anyway.

"Actually, im here to tell you about your next mission, Gaara felt it would go better if I did it..." She mumbled avoiding eye contact. "He spent hours deciding the best duo for the mission and you are one of our only fighters who can fight in drastic weather." Her face was hiding something.

"What about my students?" I questioned worriedly about the small group of three I was training.

"They will be here when you get back, it shouldn't take you too long, let me tell you your mission." She proceeds to give me the details mentioning the artifact we would be going after and why it was so important to the sand village. She mentioned some other aspects of the mission before getting serious.

"You're medical experience and ability to put up barriers is perfect for the mission along with your close-range fighting skills and tracking ability, as for your partner... His chakra control will be extremely useful along with his skill with puppets, he will cover long-range fighting."

Realization hit me instantly. "You don't mean-" I started with wide eyes "Kankuro will be your partner on this mission." My jaw dropped as anger boiled up in me. I marched down to find Gaara, there was no way is be working with him. I slammed my hands on his desk in anger earning nothing more than a glance.

"Is something wrong, Masako?" He questioned unamused. "Why the hell is that bozo on my team?!" I snapped earning a chop to the head, "he's still my brother. Don't talk ill of him." She remarked making me apologize. "I've run the numbers. The two of you are the ideal duo to track down the artifact."

The dog beside me yipped loudly in disagreement, I looked down at him, "I know right!"

"If you can not learn to get along with Kankuro I will be forced to terminate your stay here." His voice was more serious than he normally was with me.

"Do I even get anything out of this!" I cried out in frustration.

He put his fingers on his chin thinking for a moment.

"If you can work well with Kankuro, I will request Honorable grandmother Chiyo take you on as her apprentice to learn from her." It was an offer I knew I couldn't refuse, I learned everything I knew from Lady Tsunade but there was still so much even she didn't know. If I could combine what I learned from her and Chiyo I would be the most powerful medical ninja to ever live.

Yosuke rubbed his face on my leg knowing what I was thinking, "Alright..." I gave in to the good offer.

"Great! Kankuro is waiting right outside for you." Temari grabbed my arm right as I turned to leave, "we didn't tell him you would be joining him yet..." Her face was a light pink from embarrassment before she went serious, "Masako, communication is key."

I left without another word.

Outside stood Kankuro leaning on the wall, "can I help you?" He spat coldly.

"Oh get over yourself, we have a job to do," I muttered walking off ready to leave the village for the first time in many months.