50 Shades of Sand

Chapter 18 - Imposters

                  I walked calmly away from Gaara and towards Asuma and Zuko.

"Sorry." Kankuro whispered to me as I walked passed him and I shot my eyes at him. I knew what he was referring to and made me even more nervous. If he heard it, then the rest of them heard it. Great.

"Asuma, Zuko. I'm glad you guys are okay." I smiled at them and they smiled back. Asuma laid his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. It was an odd gesture but I just smiled at him.

"So we kind of discussed a plan on our way here, Gaara. If that's alright with you?" Kankuro questioned him and Gaara nodded his head.

"Proceed." He mumbled. I looked at him and his eyes locked on with mine. I looked away quickly towards Kankuro.

"Well, the way I was heading towards was leading to where the two ninja were hiding. I ran into them when they came through in another direction. They said it also led the way towards there hiding place. So we what if you, Temari and I head towards the main way to attack them and Asuma, Zuko and Ino can be a back-up team?" He suggested and I snorted.

"I'm not going to be back-up." I hissed at them but Asuma and Zuko each placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at Asuma.

"I think that's the best idea." Asuma added and I glared at him. Why doesn't he get it either?

"We will attack, and while they are distracted, Ino you retrieve Zenma and tend to any wounds he may have. Understood?" Gaara stared at me and I looked back at him. Well that's the best I have at doing anything here.

"Okay." I mumbled and gave him a small smile.

"Great. So Gaara, I think its best we head the main way, and they take the other way towards the spot." Kankuro suggested but Zuko interrupted him.

"Wouldn't it be best if you guys head the other way? I think it could be faster. Plus they will be expecting us to stumble along the main way first. You may get an advantage a bit by heading the different route." Zuko suggested and Gaara nodded at him.

"Alright. Your team is to not move into the location until we are present, is that understood?" Gaara stated but he looked at me. I rolled my eyes but I nodded at him.

"I will make sure she stays in line." Asuma spoke to Gaara and he just stared at him before nodding.

"Let's go." He mumbled towards Temari and Kankuro. They followed right behind him while our team followed behind them.

Asuma and Zuko walked on both sides of me. Asuma walked towards my right and Zuko to my left. Temari and Kankuro walked closely behind Gaara. With Kankuro at the right and Temari at the left. None of us spoke but everything felt odd to me. I looked at the back of Gaara's head as I walked. Of course, what felt right anymore? As we appeared kept walking another opening came to our right.

"That's the other way in." Zuko mumbled. Gaara and his siblings headed into the other opening and I stopped to watch them.

"Come on, let's get into position." Asuma stated and he began to walk ahead. I caught up to him and looked around.

"Sensei, how did you guys find that other entrance?" I asked him. He kept his gaze ahead as he spoke.

"Zuko and I were blasted away from everyone else. We kept walking ahead from where we woke up in and found that opening Gaara and them just walked through. As we kept walking we found ourselves in a large opening with a lit fire. No one was present so we figured they haven't returned yet. We were hoping they haven't found out about Zenma's trick for Gaara. Cause if they did, he was most likely gone. We walked around and found the main entrance to that location. We exited that way and kept walking hoping we would run into them. Instead we found ourselves back where we started. The opening to our left. We then heard people talking and we quickly walked into the opening again. We saw the two ninja walking by with Zenma tied up behind them. He was still conscious but he wasn't in his state. We watched them walk passed and quickly spoke about what we should do. We then ran into Temari and as we began to talk to her we heard another voice approaching. It turned out to be Kankuro. Then we discussed a plan and headed back towards you two." Asuma summed up and Zuko nodded lazily.

"Oh, at least Zenma is okay, right Zuko?" I looked at him and he gave me a half smile.

"Yeah. Good thing you're a medic nin. He's unconscious." Zuko stated and looked ahead.

"Oh kami! Let's hurry!" I walked ahead quickly and Asuma and Zuko followed closely.

"Slow down, Ino. Don't be too loud. Remember what the Kazekage said." Asuma shouted in a whisper and I slowed down so they could catch up. I could feel my nerves getting the best of me as I thought of finally finishing the ninja off. My teammates waking faces... But first Zenma was my top priority. He is harmed because of me... and I need to fix that.

A light grew brighter and we found ourselves in a large opening. I didn't see the two ninja but I could see Zenma leaned against the cave wall. They were right, he was unconscious and tied up. With cloth over his mouth.

"Zenma!" I cried as I rushed forward to him. I forgot about Gaara's orders to stay hidden. It seemed Asuma and Zuko forgot to remind me as well. As I grew closer to him, I noticed two other bodies next to his. What? I stopped in front of Zenma and saw a two familiar hairstyles.

"A-Asuma... Zuko?" I mumbled astonished as I saw they were also unconscious and tied up. My senses grew blank as I quickly and subconsciously began to transfer chakra to them. The jutsu, they got them with that damn jutsu.

"Don't undue, what I did. It will be useless." I heard a familiar voice hiss and I quickly jumped up. The Asuma who was with me all along laughed before dismissing his jutsu. There stood Zen and Raiku in front of me and I cursed under my breath.

"W-what?" I shouted confused and I took my stance.

"No one lives from my jutsu. Not they, not even you. They made the same mistake as you. They came in here distracted by Zenma's body. Forgot about us." Zen stated monotone-like as he stepped towards me. I couldn't move since behind me were three bodies and a wall.

"Zen, hurry. They probably discovered then dead end already. They'll be here soon." Raiku looked at Zen before returning his bored gaze to me.

"Let's make this quick then." Zen took a step forward.

I had a kunai in my hand and I kept it close to me. I kept my attention on Zen who only needed to make three more steps forward to be in front of me. As he reached a hand out, I threw the kunai forward and it scratched the edge of his hand. He hissed but continued walking forward. I tried to step back but someone wrapped a hand around my waist and another bounded my hands behind my back. I looked to my left to see Raiku looking back at me. He looked bored and irritated as I tried to struggle. As I started thrashing my head around Raiku head-butted the side of my head with his and I felt myself grow dizzy. He placed his head on my shoulder waiting to head-butt me again if I tried to move. Next a hand grabbed ahold of my neck. I cried out at the pain and began to kick as Zen picked me up into the air. My eyes shut tight as I struggled even more. Raiku's hand around my waist left and reappeared around my thighs to keep my legs from moving. Tears sprung in my eyes as I struggled to breathe. I then could feel my chakra depleting as Zen's jutsu ran through me. I grew tired and my arms and legs grew heavy. They felt like lead and I stopped moving. I could feel my body pressed against Raiku's.

"If only it didn't have to end this way. You have such a nice body." Raiku mumbled against my ear and I choked on a sob. Gaara. I should have listened to him in the first place. He tried his best to protect me and I still fought against him. Curse the Hokage for giving me this mission. Curse these ninja for taking away my teammates. Curse the feelings I had for Gaara. Curse him for making me this way. Currse myself for being so weak... I could feel the last bit of my life being sucked away but my mouth found a way to move and speak in a very soft whisper.

"I'm so sorry, Gaara."