Heroes [Naruto]

35 ; READY

It took Ushio an hour at her top speed to get where the Sand Siblings were. 

"Hold on guys," Kankuro's familiar voice drifted to her ears.

"What is it, Kankuro?" the eldest questioned with annoyance. "You need to piss again?"

"No, Shio's here."

"Hm?"

Ushio landed on a tree next to Gaara, smiling widely. "Heyo!"

"Where are the rest?" Temari wondered, staring at the small girl. "Tsunade wouldn't have sent you alone."

Ushio shook her head, "let's get going, I'll explain."

The three nodded, and she fell into step with Kankuro. "We've sent three separate squads. I am the first one, sent as backup to the two other squads and you. I was to join the moment I can. The second team is Sakura Haruno, Shino Aburame, Neji and Hinata Hyuuga. Sakura's training in medic jutsus these days, and the rest are tracking.

"The third squad is the attack. Lee, Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba, Chouji and Ino. By the way, I'm gonna be staying at the Sand for a few days once we're done here, so I expect yall to show me the best restaurants around."

"You're such a fatass, aren't you being sent on diplomatic business?" Ushio nodded, "then why are you thinking about food all the time?" Kankuro teased.

"My dad wanna make food from each of the great nations, so that travelers ninjas could find the food they are used to, so I'm looking for recipes for him in each mission."

Kankuro pinched her cheek, cooing. "Aren't you a good little girl?"

She swatted his hand away, glaring, the spot he's just released tinted a shade darker than her cheeks, that were flushed. Kankuro laughed, turning to look ahead.

Gaara was giving them flat looks, but Temari was suppressing a smirk.

"If you'd keep watching us you're gonna run into a tree eventually," Ushio commented flatly, making Temari grin, turning back forward. Gaara stared a moment more, before turning ahead.

"Kankuro," he spoke after a moment. 

"Hm?"

"Don't be too idiotic, Ushio's nice."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" the older brother wondered, confused. 

"It means that if you give Ushio hard time we'll be taking her side." Temari told them boldly.

"Does it mean that I'm getting the dog if we split?" Ushio joked lightly, trying to refrain from blushing insanely.

"Am I missing something?" Kankuro questioned.

The three chuckled. 

Ushio couldn't help but marvel at Gaara's nearly silent chuckle. How did he come such a long way from practically a schizophrenic sadist into a guy that jokes with his peers?

Maybe Naruto wasn't that big of a doofus.

They kept traveling for a while, and Ushio couldn't help but think. They've left a trail that either an untrained shinobi would leave, or one that would be left on intention.

"Has any of you seen the bunch?" she wondered as they neared them. She could feel five Chakra Signatures ahead.

"No, why?" Temari wondered.

"Nothing... just, it's odd. The trail they've left is either one that a Genin, or less, would leave, or one that is left intentionally. All Chunins are given a scroll with basic information you must act upon on missions, not only in Konoha. Everywhere. So... it's odd to have them not act by one the most basic codes. Leave nothing at the crime scene."