The Suna siblings

After finishing the exams in the forest of death Jiang heads back to the hotel he's staying at and gets some sleep.

The next day and the following one he heads to Konoha's library to dig up some information on the threat staying in the village, Orochimaru. Hid search however only reveals minor information and nothing on the man's hideouts or his work on the curse mark.

So the next day he decides to go explore the town, bumping into the suna's puppeteer when he leaves the hotel.

'Hmm, so the suna team is staying in the same hotel as me.' Jiang thinks and starts walking through the village, stopping by some stores to see what they sell. When he gets hungry, he heads to the first place he sees, a barbeque restaurant.

When he enters, he hears some loud chatter coming from the far right of the room. Seeing the familar faces Jiang goes over to team 10, who are getting treated to an all you can eat meal by their sensei.

"Hi. Good to see our little fight didn't leave a lasting effect on your stomach." Jiang greets the group, focusing on Choji.

"Yeah, that was not cool man." Choji says, not stopping stuffing his face while talking to him.

"Well I thought you'd prefer a stomach ache over broken bones." Jiang says with a smirk.

"Uhh." Choji grumbles thoughtfully.

"Don't mind him, he's just considering if broken bones are worth being able to eat the few more hours." Shikamaru says in his tired voice.

"I see. How come you aren't training? I would have assumed the local contestants will be training nonstop." Jiang inquires, leaning against the wall next to their booth.

"We finished for today." Shikamaru says.

"It's four in the afternoon. Well I'm sure you know what you're doing. But be careful, don't underestimate the suna team." Jiang says amused with a grin.

"As if that crossed our minds. After what that Gaara did to Lee." Ino says.

"Well, I think we should be glad the senseis intervened when they did." Jiang says.

"So, what are you doing with your time?" Asuma asks.

"Honestly, looking around town. I've tried looking into the situation you should be aware of mr..." Jiang says.

"Oh, I'm Asuma Sarutobi. " the bearded man introduces himself.

"Sarutobi huh? The hokage's son?" Jiang asks, getting a nod in return.

"Anyways, I tried looking into it, but since I don't have that much access there is not much I can actually say for certain." Jiang tells him.

"I see. Tomorrow we are having a meeting but as far as I know, the plan is to try and be prepared for anything." Asuma tells him.

"Hmm." Jiang humms thoughtfully.

"Hey, why don't you join us? I'm sure sensei won't mind and we still owe you for your help in the forest." Ino invites him.

"Yeah, gives me the chance to get to know another promising newcomer." Asuma says, while Shikamaru and Ino scoot over, leaving place for Jiang to sit next to Ino.

"Thanks." Jiang thanks them, surprised by the invitation, from Ino of all people.

"So what situation were you talking about?" Shikamaru asks curiously, looking at his sensei.

"Uhh..." Asuma stammers, since he's sure the Genins aren't supposed to know what's going on.

"There is a missing-nin in Konoha. A dangerous one." Jiang tells them, fighting with Choji for a piece of meat with their chopsticks holding onto it.

"Fighting with Choji for food is a helpless cause." Ino whispers to him.

Jiang uses chakra to make the meat stick to one of his chopsticks while twirling the other around his finger, adding some wind chakra and splitting the meat in half.

"You were saying?" Jiang asks cockily, holding his piece of meat, now in both chopsticks in front of her.

"Humpf." Ino huffs, not liking his teasing and develops a smirk on her face before quickly eating the meat off his chopsticks.

"Looks like you brightened up fast." Jiang tells her, chuckling.

"Oh... yeah, I might not be completely over my crush, but at least in my head I understand what you were telling me. My heart only needs some more time." Ino replies.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. The heart is a difficult thing to control." Jiang tells her supportively, with a bit of sadness in his voice.

"So, are you going to be training for the exam? We might be facing off if I don't drop out first." Shikamaru asks Jiang.

"I will train a bit, but just in general. Not for the exam per se." Jiang tells him.

"Well, you're welcome to join our training." Shikamaru tells him.

"Trying to see what my abilities are?" Jiang asks smirking, while eating his first piece of meat.

"Saw through that huh?" Shikamaru asks.

"It probably wouldn't help either of us. I need water close by because I want to learn some suiton techniques and even if I were to reveal my capabilities to you or this village, there are only a handful of people who could make use of the information." Jiang tells the group honestly.

"How strong are you exactly? So far all we've seen is that your tai jutsu must be close to Lee's level." Ino asks.

"That isn't exactly true." Jiang says.

"Why?" Choji asks.

"My Tai jutsu is probably only slightly better than any of yours. I mainly use Bukijutsu and nin-tai jutsu." Jiang explains.

"Bukijutsu are weapon techniques right?" Ino asks.

"Yes. My trident isn't just for show. And nin-tai jutsu as the name suggests is the combination of the both. You probably haven't heard of it but maybe your sensei has heard of the lightning cloak?" Jiang says, looking at Asuma.

"Lightning cloak? Really? Even my dad and Kakashi can't use that." Asuma says impressed.

"Well I had a good mentor while in Kumo." Jiang says.

"Who was this mentor?" Shikamaru asks.

"The Raikage and his brother. Though they were always complaining about my tiny muscles." Jiang tells them laughing.

"You don't look that weak to me." Ino says a tiny blush on her cheeks.

"Thanks. But those two are muscle freaks. Imagine if Choji was made of only muscle and two feet taller." Jiang explains with a grin.

"Hey! I have plenty muscle." Choji grumbles, stuffing his face angrily.

"Anyways, that are my mainly used abilities Shikamaru." Jiang says.

"Hmm." The strategist humms thoughtfully.

"Well anyways, it was nice chatting with you, but I think I'm going to head to my room now." Jiang tells them, putting down some money for his share of the food and gets up from the stall.

"I'm gonna go home too." Ino says, following him out of the booth.

The two then make their way out of the restaurant.

"Can I walk you home?" Jiang asks Ino, not having anything planned for the day.

"Sure, come on." Ino says, grabbing his hand and leading him through Konoha until they reach her families flower shop.

"A flower shop? I assumed you were part of a clan since you have such an unique ability." Jiang says surprised.

"Oh, I am. This shop is my mom's she hasn't been in active duty for a while but my dad is part of Konoha's interrogation squad." Ino tells him proudly.

"I see." Jiang says, looking at the shop thoughtfully.

"What?" Ino asks.

"Nothing, just seeing a side of you I find refreshing." He tells her with a gentle smile, making her blush embarrassedly.

"Well, have a nice evening Ino. I should head back to my hotel now. And if you need help while I'm in Konoha, here's where I'm staying. Feel free to drop by. I'm bored out of my mind most of the time and spending the day with a beautiful girl sound better than looking through dusty old books to me." Jiang says, handing her a note with the hotel and his room number.

"OK." Ino says, looking to the floor blushing and wordlessly heads into the flower shop.

|The next day|

Jiang is heading to a weapons shop in Konoha, but when he steps out of his hotel he sees Anko and Team 8ths sensei inspecting something on the roof top of a close by building.

"Hey, long time no see huh?" Jiang asks amused, landing behind the women on the roof they are standing on.

"Oh, hi. What are you doing here?" Anko asks.

"I was gonna head to a weapons shop and get some maintenance equipment. What are you two doing here?" He asks them.

"Someone was murdered here last night. The instructor for the extra exam." Anko tells him after exchanging a look with Kurenai.

"Oh... I'm sorry for your loss." He says, looking at the marks on the floor behind them.

"Sorry to ask this, but where were you last night?" Kurenai asks.

"I was having a meal with Ino and her team in the afternoon, but after that I was in my room reading up on some techniques." Jiang tells them.

"Hmm." Kurenai nods thoughtfully.

"Before you start to overthink this. Yes I could have done this, but I didn't. What would I have to gain by killing anyone here anyways?" He tells them, leaning against thw railing of the roof, looking at them.

"That's a question that applies to all visitors though." Kurenai says, seeing her usual chipper friend remain silent.

"Well, let me help you out here, those marks they aren't from any weapon I know of. To me it looks like a futon technique where the user covers his hand in a massive blade of wind." He says, analyzing the damage to the ground.

"It could be a weapon I have no knowledge of still... but what are the odds?" He tells them and turns to leave.

"Thanks." Anko tells him, before adding "hey, wait up.", stopping him in place and he turns to face them again.

"Tomorrow evening 7 pm." Anko says.

"Got it, where?" He asks with a smile.

"That Dango place over there." Anko tells him, pointing at a restaurant.

"Alright, see you tomorrow then. I'm looking forward to it." Jiang says, hopping off the roof.

"What was that about?" Kurenai asks her friend.

"A dinner date." Anko says, licking her lips anticipatingly.

"Anko." Kurenai sighs, chuckling.

|the next day- evening|

When Anko arrives at the restaurant she sees Jiang already waiting in front of it.

"Hey." He greets her, entering the restaurant with her joining her at a table she heads to immediately, it being her usual spot.

"Hi. So, looks like you got your wish huh?" Anko asks smirking, putting her elbows on the table, pushing out her mesh shirt covered breasts teasingly.

"That I did." He says, looking at the menu, giving her a smile.

"So, I'm guessing you're a usual? Cause I see an Anko special dish with a miniature you winking at me here." Jiang chuckles, pointing at the drawing of her on the menu.

"Yes. Dango is my favorite food." Anko tells him.

"So, how are things? Everyone scared because of the murder?" Jiang asks.

"Let's not talk business tonight." Anko says, patting his hand.

"Alright." Jiang agrees.

The two then spend the next hour and a half getting to know each other. Jiang tells her some about his travel and his country, which is almost constantly in war and Anko tells him of her likes and about some places in Konoha.

After their dinner Jiang accompanies her to her home.

"So, will I be seeing you again?" Jiang asks when Anko stops in front of her apartment door.

She leans in, giving him a brief kiss, before pulling back with a grin, saying "maybe" and then enters her home, closing the door behind herself.

Jiang smiles to himself and leaves, realizing he forgot to ask her about her former mentor, having intended to try and find a cure to the curse mark when he saw the three tomoed mark on the side of her neck and witnessed how it affected Sasuke.

"Well, I'm sure that's not the last I saw of her." Jiang says to himself, heading to his room.

The next day Jiang decides to get started with his suiton training and goes to a lake located behind the hotel. When he steps outside to the backyard of the hotel, dressed in swimming shorts with only a towel draped over one shoulder he is surprised to see a stressed out Temari sitting by the poolside on a lounger, wearing an open hoodie over a dark purple swimsuit, which has an open back and a large diamond missing in its middle, reaching from just below her breasts to her bellybutton.

"Hi there. How are things? You look a bit stressed out. Nervous about the exam?" Jiang greets her, seeing that they are the only two people by the lake.

"Oh, it's you. And no, I'm just worried about Gaara." Temari tells him, zipping up her hoodie halfway, while looking at him.

"How come? He seems plenty strong. I doubt he'll get beaten by that stuck up Uchiha." Jiang says, sitting down on the lounger next to hers, placing his towel there.

"It's not that. It's just that he's just getting used." Temari says.

"Used for what?" Jiang asks genuinely concerned.

"It... I can't say. I probably shouldn't even be talking to you." Temari says, shaking her head.

"Just cause we're opponents in the exam doesn't mean we have to be opponents outside of the arena." Jiang tells her, grabbing her wrist gently when she turned to leave.

"I... fine, but I'm not telling you anything." She says almost threateningly.

"That's good with me. Just know that if you want to, you can talk to me. I may not look like much, but I'm not oblivious." Jiang tells her.

"I'll keep it in mind." She replies dismissively.

"So, what are you doing here? You don't exactly strike me as the type to want to get a tan." Temari says.

"I'm here to train a bit. You can join me if you want." Jiang suggests.

"What are you training?" She asks

"My suiton control." Jiang answers.

"I'm not really suited for suiton." Temari says.

"A shame, you look amazing in a swimsuit." He chuckles.

"I know. Your staring wasn't that subtle." Temari says with a confident grin.

"Sorry. Just tried to appreciate such a rare sight. Anyways, I'm just starting out with Suiton too. I have some affinity to it, but never learned any control over it. I have beginner scrolls though." He tells her, holding out three scrolls.

"Fine, doesn't look too hard. And I guess it couldn't hurt to give it a try." Temari says, looking over the first scroll.

"Come on then." Jiang says, leading her to the water's edge sitting down in front of it cross legged, putting one finger in the water and forming a one handed seal for concentration, while closing his eyes.

Temari sits down next to him, mirroring his action, close enough that their knees are almost touching.

The two wordlessly concentrate, trying to use their chakra to merge with water at the fingertip and rise up their arm. Jiang manages to cover his finger in water after about 15 minutes and opens his eyes, looking at Temari, with her jacket removed having water covering her arm up to her elbow.

"Wow." Jiang says impressed.

"What? Never seen a hottie in a swimsuit before?" She asks cockily, opening her eyes to look at him, letting the water flow down her arm, dripping back in the water.

"Well rarely one with such beauty, but I was even more amazed by your control over water. Have you tried checking your affinities?" He asks.

"No. I normally was good with wind jutsu and so far that's always been enough." Temari tells him.

"Well I wouldn't be surprised if you have a strong affinity for water as well. I only managed to get the water to cover my finger." Jiang tells her.

"Hmm, water affinity? Well I live in a desert. What use would that have either way then?" She asks a little upset.

"You know, heard the 2nd Hokage was strong enough to summon water out of the moisture in the air surrounding him. Wouldn't it be cool if you were able to create water in the desert." He says.

"Hmpf. Doubtful." She says.

The two then continue to train with the technique and when Jiang manages to cover his arm in a thick skin off water Temari has water covered her whole body in water, up to her neck, droplets of sweat pouring down her forehead.

"Temari." He says, breaking her concentration and the water around her drips down, pooling beneath them before flowing back in the lake.

"What?" She asks, her exhaustion finally hitting her.

"You should take a break. Your chakra reserves are almost completely drained." Jiang tells her, his own reserves only having been used to a third.

"Hmpf. What about you?" She asks grunting in acceptance and stands up, dripping wet from the technique.

"I'm good on chakra but I think I reached my limit for the technique at this point." He says, showing her the armor of water that covers his arm after 3 seconds of concentration.

"Yours look different than mine." She says surprised.

"I'm probably too used to a different technique and using the exercise wrong. Maybe you can give me a pointer if you want to train again some time." Jiang says.

"Hmm, maybe." She says, going towards the loungers.

"How about we swim a round to relax?" Jiang offers, seeing her stressing out again, now that their training stopped.

"I guess a quick swim will be nice." She agrees, running to the lake and jumps into the water.

"So, you don't have to say anything, but if your brother is being used, why don't you talk to him? He seems plenty strong enough to do whatever he wants, no matter what people want him to do." Jiang asks her, joining her, swimming beside her.

"The one using him is our father. The Kazekage." Temari explains.

"Ahh, now it makes sense. I thought I heard about a suna nin being able to control sand before. It's your dad right?" Jiang says.

"Somewhat, his is different." Temari says, shrugging her shoulders.

"And Gaara is convinced he's the villages tool and that nobody cares for him... but I do and I'm sure deep down Kankuro also cares about him." Temari says.

"Have you told him that?" Jiang asks.

"I... I'm too scared. The last person who said he cared about Gaara tried to kill him. He never was the same after that." Temari says saddened, paddling in place with Jiang facing her.

"I see. I could talk to him for you, but after our first encounter..." Jiang says.

"Probably not a good idea, yeah." She laughs slightly.

"Thanks for that time by the way." She says slightly embarrassed.

"Don't mention it." He grins back.

"How's your arm anyways?" She asks.

"It's been healed up for a while already." He says, showing her his arm.

"Good." She says and they fall into silence.

"So, would you like to train again?" He asks her, swimming again, heading back to the loungers.

"Sure. Despite my previous impression, you are a good listener and pleasant company." Temari tells him.

The two then head to their room and that evening Baki orders Temari to continue training with Jiang. She assumes it's so she gets stronger, but in reality Baki plans for Temari to either take out Jiang or convince him to join their cause.

A few days later Naruto is training with Temari when he feels a pair of hands cover his already closed eyes and feels a pair of large mesh covered breast pressed against his back.

"To what do I owe this pleasure Anko?" He asks, stopping his exercise, with Temari staring at them from the side, an upset feeling spreading in her stomach and chest.

"I've come to get you to treat me to lunch." She whispers in his ear, feeling up his unclothed arms and chest from behind.

"OK, give me a couple minutes to get changed." He tells her, walking over to Temari, saying "looks like I'm going to have to cut our training short today. If you want to continue, I'll be here tomorrow again."

15 minutes later Anko and Jiang are sitting in the Dango restaurant, eating their meals and talking.

"Oh, right Anko. I wanted to ask, do you know where Orochimaru's hideouts were by any chance or where he kept his documents?" He asks her, making her choke on her food.

"No. Why would I know that?" She asks darkly.

"You were his student right? I just thought he might've taken you to his hideout before." Jiang says.

"Well he didn't alright?" Anko says pissed.

Their meal then continues on in silence.

"So, there is no information about the curse mark?" He asks while paying for their meal, leaving the restaurant with her.

"No. You really are a dick you know. I thought you might really like me, but looks like you only want to use me for information." Anko tells him upset.

"Stay away from me from now on. I don't want to have to see you again." She tells him hurt.

"Anko, I can explain. This is just a misunder..." jiang tries to say, but Anko uses her snake technique, sending Jiang crashing through a wall, hissing "leave!" At the unsuspecting teen, who doesn't know what just went wrong.

When Jiang is at the lake the next day, his ribs having some red marks Temari greets him, asking.

"Morning. What happened with you?"

"Uhh, I don't know. I don't get women." He says sighing tiredly.

"Come on, let's get back to training maybe that'll take my mind off things." Jiang says, walking into the middle of the lake with her following, sitting down across from him this time, instead of her usual spot next to him.

The two stay afloat on top of the water with the water walking technique and try to gather water beneath them, to make it into a platform to sit on and raise it gradually.

"So, want to tell me what happened?" Temari asks after a while, her platform being around his head's height with him sitting on a 2inch platform.

"Fine, but only if you come down here." He says chuckling at staring into a pillar of water, before he sees Temari's grinning face enter his vision.

"Well as you know Anko and I had a meal yesterday and well I asked about this missing nin that's causing problems at the moment. He used to be her teacher and left her with a painful reminder. I honestly was trying to find a way to remove the curse mark, but before I could tell her that Anko accused me of using her for information and slammed me through a wall." He explains.

"Your thoughts?" He asks when he receives no reaction from Temari.

"I never said I would comment on it." She tells him teasingly, raising her platform again, but quickly lowers it back down again, putting her hand on top of his, saying "honestly I can't help you with your problem. I never had much luck with relationships, either guys are scared off by Gaara being my brother or use me to get close to my father." Temari sighs.

"Hmm, looks like we're both striking out in the love department then." Jiang laughs lightly.

"speak for yourself." Temari tells him snickering amused and kicks him off his platform, sending him into the water below.

"Hey." He complains, but Temari only smirks while raising her eyebrows expectantly and makes her platform shoot into the air, being about 3 meters over the water.

The next thing she sees however is Jiang coming flying at her, whooping her off her platform and landing in the water with her in his arms.

"Payback." He tells her smirking.

Temari looks up at him, his hands still holding her by her shoulders and below her knees and kisses him, surprising the teen, but Jiang replies to the kiss, changing his hold on her, putting her waist against his stomach and rubs her back with one hand, pressing her against him while his other hand caresses her thigh. The two continue to make out for a while like this, before Temari pushes herself off him.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have. We're going... to be opponents soon and all." Temari says, catching herself before letting it slip that Suna wants to invade Konoha.

"Right... guess it's just my luck striking again huh?" He asks, somewhat hurt, but shows that he understands.

"I'm gonna take a break." He then sighs.

"Jiang. I'm sorry, I just can't do it, now. Maybe someday." She says apologetically, brushing her hand over his.

"Maybe." He says shooting her a weak smile and disappears in a flash of lightning.

The same evening he's sitting on top of the Hokage's head, looking over the city below when he senses another person approaching and feels cold steel pressed against his neck soon after.

"Would you really kill a man who hasn't done anything wrong in cold blood Mrs. Kurenai?" He asks, not even turning around.

The kunai quickly disappears and he turns around, seeing her stand in front of him angrily, her arms crossed over her chest.

"What are you doing in Konoha? And why did you have to hurt Anko like that?" Kurenai questions.

"I'm only here to learn of your customs and society. And I never meant to hurt Anko. I only asked her about the mark so I could have a start to look for a way to remove it." Jiang says.

"Remove it?" Kurenai asks surprised, lowering the Kunai.

"Yeah. I saw how it changed Sasuke and I like Anko, I don't want anything to hurt her, so if my prying into the mark does that, she's probably better off hating me until I have a cure." Jiang says saddened.

"Why would you do that for a stranger?" Kurenai asks, not believing him and fearing he is in league with Orochimaru like Kabuto, only acting.

"If I would think of everyone as stranger my existence would be a very lonely one. I'm traveling all across elemental nations. And I try to make friends where I can so I have something to look forward to when I visit." He tells her solemnly.

"You don't have to believe me and I will do as Anko asks. Just know that you can trust me. I care for her and a few others in this village." Jiang says, standing up and starts to walk back to the hotel, entering the building an hour later. Temari seeing him walk into the hotel, his usual cheerfullness gone, leaving only his collective demeanor visible.

"Temari, it starts in 3 days. So you should act quickly, regarding that person." Baki tells the Blonde, setting down a small jar of Kankuro's poison next to her, oblivious of the girls sadness at having hurt her friend, whom she gained a crush on, over their time training together and him being an emotional support for her.

|2 days later|

Temari is sitting in the hotel, looking at the jar of poison, when her brother Kankuro enters the room freaking out.

"He went rouge." Kankuro huffs, holding his leg, where a red line is visible.

"Gaara? What happened?" Temari asks concerned.

"I don't know. We were walking around and he suddenly said he's going to finish it and he threw me into a wall, when I came back to, he was gone." Kankuro tells her.

"Stay here, I'll deal with it." Temari says, grabbing her fan and heading for the door.

"What can you even do? It's Gaara." Kankuro asks worried.

"I know someone who'll help." Temari says, setting down the poison jar she was holding previously and hurries out of her room, looking into the backyard, onto the lake through a window, but sees no sign of her ponytailed brunette friend anywhere.

She then heads to his room, knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" She hears Jiang ask, while steps head towards the door and when he opens the door, she sees him standing in his usual white, green attire, holding an opened scroll.

"Temari." He says, stepping aside and letting her enter.

"I need your help. Please. We need to go now." She pleads desperately.

"OK, what is going on? Where are we going?" He asks, following her, throwing the scroll into the room and grabbing his trident before following her back to her and her brothers' room.

"Kankuro, where could he have gone?" Temari asks, her hand grasping Jiang's hand hard.

"Who, what's going on?" Jiang asks.

Kankuro looks at his sister as if she's out of her mind and she nods for him to say what happened.

"Gaara went rogue. He said something about finishing it and left." Kankuro tells him.

"Finish it huh? Did he have any encounters with someone else other than me and Lee?" Jiang asks.

"No... Lee." Temari says, realizing what Jiang is saying.

"Where is he?" Kankuro asks, grabbing his puppet, but limps when he walks over to them.

"The hospital as far as I know. But you stay here, you'll only slow us down." Jiang says, tugging at Temari's hand, pulling her close and the two disappear in a flash of lightning, reappearing in the hospital corridors seconds later.

The two hear noise coming from a room and hurry there, finding Gaara standing in front of Naruto and Shikamaru, looking at them crazed, while his sand is wrapped around Lee to some degree, with a large wave of sand heading to the two other Genins.

"Gaara, no." Temari yells desperately, standing at the room's door while Jiang blocks the first wave of sand, slashing through it with his trident. When he sends another wave at the teens behind himself he speeds in front of Gaara, grabbing onto the belt going across his chest and speeds away in another shunshin, reappearing on a barren open field.

"What are you doing?" Gaara growls, staring at Jiang, who jumps back to dodge the incoming sand spears.

"Stopping you from doing something you'll regret." Jiang says.

"What so you know about me huh?" Gaara shouts angrily.

"Not much, but I know your sister and there is no one else, who loves you more than she does. And she doesn't want you to try and kill the kids inside that hospital room." Jiang says.

"Stop lying. Love is only for fools. No one besides mother loves me, that's how it is and how it's supposed to be." Gaara shouts, holding his head in pain while sand starts to fly around him, launching towards Jiang, with him dodging the sand projectiles.

This continues for a while, stopping when Temari lands next to Gaara, having flown after them on her fan.

Gaara swirls around to her, not even really seeing who just areived and sends a 4 meter long sand spear flying at her.

Jiang manages to appear in front of her, pushing her to the side, but gets pierced by the spear, going right through him.

"Jiang. Gaara, stop!" Temari yells worried.

"Why, Baki wanted you to kill this nuesance anyways. Just let me do it. I can do it so much better." He says evilly.

"No, don't Gaara." She says, getting in front of the now kneeling Jiang but Gaara doesn't care and a large Sand hand creeps towards the two, "don't hurt her." Jiang shouts, getting on his feet and pulling Temari aside, staring down Gaara, holding his side with a 2cm wide hole dripping blood down his stomach

Gaara groans painfully and falls to his knees, holding his head before looking at them as though nothing happened.

"Gaara?" Temari asks cautiously.

"I'm going to head to our room." Gaara says, disappearing in a swirl of sand.

"Jiang. We need to get you to a hospital now!" Temari says scared, seeing his bleeding side.

"You sure? If you want to kill me, now is a time where you have a fair chance in succeeding." Jiang tells her, grinning before falling over, breathing heavily.

"Crap, crap, crap. Gaara, what did you do?" Temari says, crying while pressing on his stomach, her tears falling on his chest.

"I will probably only stay conscious a little while, so if you want to take me to the hospital we should leave now." He tells her, forcing himself to his feet. Temari unfolds her fan, lying him down on it before kneeling down next to him and flies them towards the hospital.

"Don't cry. You really did care about me huh?" Jiang says with a smile, caressing her face with his hand, unknowingly smearing blood over her cheek.

"Don't die on me." She yells, seeing him gradually lose consciousness.

"Tell them I hurt myself while training." Jiang says before passing out for good.

Temari quickly brings Jiang to the hospital and they treat him, sending her home.

When Temari arrives at their hotel she goes to the lake behind the hotel and starts to cry again, washing Jiangs blood off her fan and her hands.

When she enters her room she sees Kankuro waiting for her, while Baki is talking with Gaara.

"Sis. What happened. Your face is covered in blood." Kankuro asks concerned, looking her over for an injury.

"It's not mine." She tells him, stopping her crying, when she sees their sensei.

"Temari, what of the hindrance?" Baki asks.

"In the hospital. I doubt he'll be a problem." Temari reports.

"Good. Then tomorrow we'll conquer Konoha." Baki says grinning evilly while Temari internally is a mess, staring past her teacher at Gaara.