50 Shades of Sand

Chapter 8 - A Second Encounter

I heard talking. I didn't open my eyes but I knew there were four people in the room.

"Ugh, she's still sleeping?" I could hear a feminine voice speak.

"Let her sleep, she's just tired." Said from a familiar deep masculine voice.

"I can't believe she held them off for so long." This one was more in awe and I believed it to be Kankuro.

"I'm proud of her. She always complained of never being able to show herself to her teammates. They would be proud. She protected them whether she thinks so or not." My sensei responded.

"I'm hungry." Yes, that voice was Kankuro.

"Is Shikamaru going to be alright?" The feminine voice spoke again and I could finally tell it was Temari.

So it wasn't a dream. Everything that happened. It was real. The four ninja from earth country... Shikamaru.

"Yes, they believe he will be waking up soon. The blow wasn't too hard to the head." Asuma spoke and I felt relieved.

"You see, everything's great. Let's go get something to eat. They'll be fine." Kankuro spoke lastly.

"Alright, let's go to the cafeteria like the nurse insisted earlier." Temari answered and I heard their footsteps retreat.

The talking grew quiet as there was a thud from the door closing.

"Damn it." I mumbled in my knees.

"I thought they'd never leave."

I gasped as I looked up to see Raiku and Zen standing in the room with me. I jumped up on my feet and took a stance.

"What do you want now? You knocked them out already, and you just miss the Kazekage. Leave us alone!" I shouted at them. My eyes watered a bit but they dried once I realized the situation.

I gasped again as I felt Raiku standing right behind me. I kept my eyes wide and I stared at the wall ahead of me.

"You never shut up do you? We came here to finish you guys off. The Kazekage will follow us and fall right into our trap to retrieve you." He whispered into my ear and I shuddered.

"He'd never." I spoke through gritted teeth.

"I-Ino?" I heard Shikamaru awakening from my right.

"Shikamaru!" I shouted.

"Ah!" I heard him shout.

"Time to finish you off like I did to your friend." I heard Zen mumble. Oh no. That means he's draining his chakra. Raiku had a hand over my mouth and the other around my stomach. I bit his hand and he pulled back with a grunt.

"You leave him alone!" I struggled out of Raiku's grasp. He punched my stomach and I coughed from the pain. He then punched my face as Zen jumped in front of me.

"You're next." He mumbled and I could see his blue chakra in his hand as he began to take mine.

Raiku had his hand over my mouth again to silence my shouts as I began to fall to my knees. But as soon as they started they stopped. They looked at the door and I heard Zen curse quietly.