"Today we're having our history lesson outside," Iruka told his students. The children sat at the foot of the hills with the carved out faces of the hokages.. "As you all know, these stone images depict the faces of all past and present hokages..."

Taryn strolled her way through town. Over two weeks had passed since the Chuunin prelims and she had kept to herself as much as possible. Aside from Kakashi's visit on the training grounds a few days ago, she had succeeded. Of course, she had gone to town to eat, but she hadn't talked to anyone. She knew what people thought of her. She didn't care. Once she had seen Uchiha Sasuke, who had given her suspicious glares mixed with anger. She had returned his look with a cold one of her own. She hadn't seen her siblings but from a distance. If they had seen her at all, they hadn't tried to contact her. No sight of Orochimaru or Kabuto either, but she knew they were around. She kept a look out in case they showed up. No doubt they'd be there at the Chuunin Finals.

People in the streets gave her wary glances, but let her be. The hokage had granted her free passage through the village. Taryn rounded a corner. The children from the academy were seated at the foot of the hills Iruka was giving them a history lesson. The hokage had just joined them and his grandson was staring at him with idolizing eyes.

"You only live once," she heard Sarutobi say, "you need not choose an impossible path. You may live as you like, die as you like, just..." he let his eyes wander over the group and then up until he met Taryn's gaze, "no matter what path you choose... never forget to protect those who are precious to you."

Taryn looked away and turned to leave. The hokage's words lay heavy on her heart. 'Those precious to you...' She walked back towards town. 'No matter what'.

The path to the hospital was abandoned. Taryn rather liked the park. It was always so peaceful there. She took a moment to stare at the building and narrowed her eyes at a slight movement behind one of the windows. 'Sand?' With a worried feeling she ran inside. This could mean trouble.

In Lee's room, Gaara stood across from Shikamaru and Naruto. His eyes held an eerie calm look in them. "In the process of my birth, I stole the life of the woman I was supposed to call mother. In order to create the world's strongest shinobi, my father used ninjutsu to implant an incarnation of sand within my body." He glared at the two boys. "I was born a monster." Both Naruto and Shikamaru gasped at those words. "He is known as Shokaku," Gaara continued, "the one-tailed beast."

"A type of jutsu that causes a fetus to be forcibly possessed?" Shikamaru choked out, "to go that far... that's crazy."

Naruto only stared at him. So this boy was a Jinchuuriki too. "What kind of parent does a thing like that?" Shikamaru asked, "what twisted love."

        "Love?" Gaara said, "don't judge me by your standards. Heh... family... I'll tell you what that word means to me. Mere hulls of flesh, connected by hatred and murderous intend." The emotionless tone in which he said it made the boys look at him stunned. "My mother's life was sacrificed so that I could be brought to life as the village's ultimate weapon and as the Kazekage's son. My father taught me secret shinobi skills. I was raised in isolation, spoiled and overprotected. At first I thought that was love... until the incident."

"What incident?" Shikamaru asked frightened.

        "What happened?" Naruto urged.

Gaara chuckled. His eyes turned dark and he grew an insane look. "Ever since I turned five, my father has been trying to assassinate me. I've lost count of how many attempts he's made." Shikamaru and Naruto gasped in shock.

        "But..." Shikamaru said, "you just said your father spoiled you... so ... what do you mean?"

"A presence that is too powerful is a presence that is feared," Gaara explained, "having been born through jutsu, my mind is unstable. It seems the fools of the village finally realized I had emotional issues. To my father I was the village's most powerful weapon. But at the same time I was a fearsome and dangerous object. To them, I am now a relic of the past that they wish to erase and forget."

Taryn stopped at the door when she heard her little brother's voice and listened for a moment. "But while I continue to live, I need a reason. Otherwise... I might as well be dead." Taryn closed her eyes at those words. 'Gaara.'

Naruto stared at him. 'I think I get it. He's... just like me.'

        "Living in constant fear, knowing I might be assassinated at any moment, I finally found inner peace. By killing those who sought to kill me... I was able to discern a reason for living and justify my own existence. I would fight only for myself and only love myself. That allows me to experience the joy of living. For as long as there are people out there for me to kill, I will not cease to exist."

Shikamaru shivered.

Naruto could only stare at Gaara. 'I used to be like that too... All alone... not knowing why I was alive... in pain, but then master Iruka finally noticed me and for the first time... I experienced warmth and love. But this guy... he's still alone.'

        Gaara's eyes narrowed. Gaara's eyes narrowed. "Now..." he said in a low voice as sand started to rise, "help me feel alive!" The sand flew towards the two boys who hardly had any time to gasp. They stared at the approaching sand in shock, but it never hit them. Something blocked them from the impact. Or rather... someone.

         The girl Taryn stood in front of them, her hands protectively in front of her face. Naruto and Shikamaru stared at her surprised and confused. She had jumped in again, like she had done with Lee. Only this time, she was not injured. They dared a glance at Gaara, who's eyes were wide as he stared at his sister. The sand fell to the ground and from Taryn's skin without leaving so much as a scratch. So, he had stopped his attack before it could hurt her...

             Slowly Taryn lowered her arms. She looked at Gaara sadly. Gaara still stared at her in shock and was trembling lightly. "Gaara.." Taryn whispered. Gaara's eyes turned cold and he ran out of the room. Taryn closed her eyes and listened to his disappearing footsteps. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She formed a hand sign and vanished into a gust of wind. Naruto was the only one to notice the single tear falling from her eye. 

Shikamaru let his breath escape. "Man, that was scary." Naruto looked thoughtful. That girl... she had jumped in for the second time. The expression on her face had been one of torment and sadness. She cared... She actually cared for her little brother.

         "She was banished form Suna..." He remembered Kakashi's words. There was something... he couldn't quite figure it out.

"I don't know who scared me more," Shikamaru continued, "her or that Sand kid. I mean... he's scary, but that girl... I heard she betrayed her village. She's supposed to be a genius. And a dangerous criminal. Imagine that."

           Naruto didn't answer. Yes, she was banished. But someone who'd jump in to protect strangers from a deadly attack couldn't be all bad, right?

"Hey! You coming or what?" Shikamaru asked from the door. Naruto looked up and nodded. 

           "Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming."

***

Taryn glared at the target a hundred paces away as she threw another dagger. She was angry, but wasn't sure whom it was directed at. She had chosen the trainings-field to take out her anger at the equipment there. Several kunai and shuriken were already embedded in the targets. Furiously, she took another kunai and lifted it at the point to throw. She stretched her arm backwards, but turned around when she felt another presence behind her. She threw the knife at the person, but her kunai was countered mid-air by another kunai.

            Hayate stared at her with calm eyes. "Something troubling you?"

Taryn scoffed and turned around.

           "Heh... still charming as ever I see," he smirked. He walked up to he and coughed. Taryn gave him a concerned glance. "Your health still hasn't improved huh."

               "No, I don't think it ever will," Hayate answered and sat down on a rock beside her. 

It was too bad, Taryn thought. Hayate was a talented shinobi and a good fighter. He had become a Jounin at an early age. His illness made him unfit to be a spy, but he had other skills just a s useful.

"Did Kakashi sent you?" Taryn asked while turning towards the targets again.

     "Hn?" Hayate asked, "no. Why would he?" Taryn didn't answer, but threw a dagger. "Did you argue with him?" Hayate sighed.

"No," Taryn said annoyed.

         Her friend shook his head. "You attract trouble you know." He coughed again.

"Did you come here to lecture me too? What is it with everybody thinking I can't take care of myself?"

         Hayate stood up. "Why are you so determined to push everyone away? Do you think it easier then you don't have to care about people? If no one cares about you, you don't have to care either? It doesn't work that way Taryn." He walked over to the targets and pulled the weapons out. He handed them back to her. "You miss them, right?"

             Taryn snatched the weapons away from him and put them back in her bag. Hayate sighed again and walked away. "Why..." Taryn's voice stopped him, "...did you speak up for me at the prelims?" It was silent for a moment.

         "I was curious," he finally answered. Taryn stared at him, searching his eyes. A faint smile crawled over Hayate's face. "Come on," he said, "if you're done splitting those targets, I'll buy you lunch."

Taryn glanced at the young man beside her as they walked down the street. "So, did they send you to guard me?" she asked.

Hayate looked up. "Are you always this suspicious? Can't anyone just enjoy your company?" 

            "Hn," Taryn muttered.

Hayate gave a faint smile. "You never mined when I was part of your team." It was true. Many others had objected whenever Hayate was assigned to one of their teams, because he was so sickly. Not Taryn. It hadn't mattered to her. She didn't answer him. "So, where have you been these last few years?" Hayate inquired. He held the curtain of the restaurant aside for her so she could enter.

"Just...around," Taryn said. They sat down at a table in the back.

      "Dumplings, right?" Hayate asked. Taryn gave a nod and he went to order. Taryn looked around the restaurant. There weren't many people around. She saw the Kyuubi kid, Naruto, pig away his third bowl of ramen. Next to him sat a dark-haired kid, Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson. She stared at Naruto for a moment. Naruto, the Jinchuuriki. She remembered him now. He used to be alone all the time. Not anymore. It made her sad when she thought about Gaara. How long had he been alone?

"She's staring at you," Konohamaru said.

           "Hn?" Naruto looked up from his bowl, "who is? Is there a pretty girl in here?" He looked in Taryn's direction, who averted her eyes. Konohamaru turned to Naruto.

           "My grandfather says that she's had a lot of problems."

"What kind of problems?"

          "I'm not sure..."

"She was banished right? I wonder why. Nobody seems to know."

        "People don't like her much," the younger boy noted.

"Kakashi-sensei does," Naruto mused.

         "Eh?! Really?"

"Uh-huh," Naruto nodded. They both stared at Taryn curiously.

"Sorry it took so long," Hayate said as he put down two plates.

         Taryn shook her head. "It's fine."

"So, you're thinking about staying this time?" Hayate asked.

         "So, you're not here to guard me, but to interrogate me?" Taryn asked in return.

"You'll never change, will you? I was just interested. You don't have to be so defensive all the time. I thought you considered me your friend."

Taryn sighed. "I do... I'm sorry. I've just been alone for a long time. I don't trust people that easily."

 "I know," Hayate said. He coughed. "You didn't exactly get a warm welcome here."

             "I wasn't expecting any." She started on her dumplings. "So, why aren't you treating me like everybody else does? What makes you believe I'm harmless?"

Hayate gave a faint smile. "Oh, I'd never think you're harmless... no... the hokage trusts you... And I trust him."

"Heh..." Taryn said, "So it's not because we're friends."

Hayate looked at her. "Taryn, I'm not sure what to think after the way you left. A lot happened when you were gone..." He looked at the mark in her neck for a moment.

            "That was not my choice," Taryn growled, "and it was sealed up when I came back." "Yes," Hayate nodded, "and then you left again."

"I had things to do."

"Things you don't talk about." Taryn looked away. "I'm not judging you," Hayate continued, "I'm just saying it as it is. It's not that strange the villagers distrust you."

          "I never asked for their trust." She had finished her plate and leaned back.

"Do you plan to stay alone all your life?" he looked at her.

Taryn looked away. "Does it matter?"

"I know you don't do things without a reason." Hayate stood up, "I just don't know if it's always the right reason." Taryn didn't answer him. He nodded at her. "See you around." Taryn watched him leave. She stare at Naruto again for a moment, but when he turned his head in her direction, she was gone.

***

The Memorial Stone had been here since the foundation of Konoha for as far as she knew. It was an isolated part of town and rarely visited. It was a place of peace and the ideal place to think. Taryn stared at the relic without really seeing the names carved on it. She had seen them so many times She wasn't here for that. What was she going to do? She had no home to return to. She had abandoned Konoha twice already. She couldn't stay this time either, could she? Did she want to? Night was starting to fall and Taryn looked up at the sky. There would be a full moon tonight. Full moons meant trouble. On the full moon, the creature would awaken and it would thirst for blood. After seeing Gaara in the hospital, and before in the battle arena, she had to find him. She had to prevent him from hurting anyone. Just as she had done so many times before when she was still in Suna. There wasn't much time...

On a rooftop somewhere in Konoha sat a lonely boy, staring at the night sky. On his back was a big gourd which contained sand. A Suna hitai-ate was tied around its belt. The light of the full moon fell across his face as a light breeze caught his hair.

"I give up," a voice said somewhat below him. Gaara, for that was the boy's name, merely shifted his eyes towards his visitor.

"What do you want?" he asked. The sound ninja glared at him.

          "I was going to attack you while you slept, but it seems you never sleep. So I guess I'll just have to fight you like this. That way I can improve my chances of fighting Sasuke in the finals, since I'm the only sound ninja left." Gaara didn't respond, but stared at him coldly. The sound ninja took a step closer. "I've seen and analyzed your attacks... let's see what's quicker, your sand or my sound."

          "When the full moon is out," Gaara said in a dark voice, "its blood stirs up..." The sound ninja stared at him wide-eyed. Slowly his expression grew into one of terror.

          "What the... what on earth are you?" Before he had time to think about it, sand was flying his direction. He was dead within a second. Blood all over the rooftop. Gaara panted and supported himself on a chimney. It had happened again.

Not far away, on another roof, two men were watching the scene. One of them was Kabuto. The other was Baki of Suna, trainer of the Sand team.

           "Impressive," Kabuto said, "so that is his true identity."

"But why are you so pleased?" Baki asked, "his victim was one of your sound ninja."

        "Heh," Kabuto answered, "he fulfilled his purpose long ago."

"I thought he was a guinea pig to test the strength of that Uchiha kid."

        "Oh no," Kabuto chuckled, "there's no longer need for that. In fact, I've already been given the order to capture Sasuke. I just made a minor miscalculation."

"What?" Baki asked.

"Yes," Kabuto nodded, "they know I'm a sound agent."

Under the shadows of the building, Hayate pressed himself against the wall. 'Why is Kabuto talking with that Sand ninja?' he questioned.

"Then... if they discover that we're secretly meeting here," Baki said thoughtfully, "the plot to destroy Konoha and everything else we planned will come to naught." In the shadows, Hayate held his breath.

The two men hadn't been the only ones witnessing the scene on the rooftop. Taryn landed behind Gaara on the roof. Even though he felt her presence, he didn't turn around.

          "Stay there," he told her.

"I'm not afraid of him," Taryn said. She wasn't talking about the sound ninja and they both knew it. She took a step in his direction. And then another one. She had spoken the truth. She didn't fear Shokaku. Even though the one tail would like to hurt her, Gaara had never let him. She was the one exception. The sand had never harmed her.

           "Don't come near me," Gaara's eyes held a tint of red in them and his voice was raw as if he was trying to contain himself.

Taryn felt sad about his struggle. She hated their father for what he had done. For what he had put his youngest son through. And she felt guilty for the pain and anger the boy was feeling now, for it was solely directed at her. He had turned to face her and a cold glare was in his eyes. She knew that look. It was a look of betrayal. She had been the only person he had ever dared to trust and she had betrayed him.

"Gaara..." she said. His eyes flickered back to normal for a moment.

          "What do you want?" he hissed at her.

"I was worried about you," Taryn said. Gaara snorted.

         "Of course you were," he said sarcastically.

"I was," she said.

"You've made your choice," Gaara said and turned his back on her again.

"Taryn," Kabuto said while watching the two siblings, "will she form a problem?"

"She might," Baki answered, "if she suspects something. We should keep an eye on her."

          "Oh, don't worry. I'm planning to." He took out a small scroll and handed it to Baki. "This is the blueprint for all our plans. Pas the information along soon to your subordinates."

       "Sure," Baki nodded.

'I can't believe it,' Hayate thought, 'our supposed ally is in league with sound. I have to inform the hokage right away.'

"Well, I'm done here," Kabuto said, "and one more thing... I'll take care of our little spy."

          "No, I'll do it," Baki said, "one little mouse is no big deal."

Hayate gasped and hurried away. Unfortunately, he was cut off before he could escape. "Well well Mr. proctor," Baki smiled, "why are you out here all alone?"

Hayate narrowed his eyes. "It seems I have no choice but to fight you." He made a handsign and in the blink of an eye he pulled out his sword and jumped at the sand ninja. "Crescent Moon Dance!" Baki gasped as the sword hit his shoulder. Then she smiled.

         "Crescent Moon Dance? Very impressive to have managed it at such a young age." Hayate frowned as he noticed his blade was stuck. 'I can't pull it out.'

           "Your blade work is brilliant," Baki complimented, "but it is a simple task to halt a physical blade." He made a handseal. "However, blades of wind are impossible to stop." He made a fast movement and Hayate's scream died on his lip before he could give voice to it.