“Here’s a cave. We can take shelter here,” Aiden said. He waved the rest of his team over and entered the cave. Hayate and Taryn followed while supporting an injured Kakashi. They carefully lowered him to the floor and Taryn kneeled in front of him.
“Let me look at your wound,” she said.
Kakashi shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’ll hold on until we’re back in Konoha.” “
Don’t be stupid Kakashi. We’re still several days away from the village. Who knows what we might encounter in the meantime.” She lifted her hands towards his mask. It was half ripped anyway.
He grabbed her hands. “Leave it Taryn.”
“Don’t be such a baby,” she growled, “I know what I’m doing. Just take off that mask and let me look at your injury.” “
One of the guys can do it,” he said.”
Taryn rolled her eyes. “Come on. You can’t be that ugly.” B
ehind her Hayate chuckled softly. Aiden who had been standing in the cave’s entrance, looked over his shoulder. “Just get it over with, Kakashi. We don’t have time for this.”
Kakashi and Taryn glared at eachother until he gave in. All three men waited for the sigh of admiration that usually followed on anyone seeing Kakashi’s face, but it didn’t come. Instead, Taryn carefully examined the cut and cleaned it with a cloth and some water. “
It’s a nasty cut,” she commented, “but it won’t leave a scar I think.”
“Well that’s a first,” Hayate smirked.
Taryn looked at him. “A first for what?”
“That I don’t hear any screaming over his features.”
Taryn scoffed. “You think one pretty face makes me forge myself? I’m not that shallow.” She looked at Kakashi. “That’s why you hide our face?”
He shrugged. “I can hardly do my job when everyone is staring at me.”
“You could have just told me that,” Taryn snorted.
“Are you two done bickering?” Aiden asked annoyed, “then we can discuss strategies.”
“Why are you always so cranky Aiden?” Hayate asked still laughing. He ended in a coughing fit. Aiden glared at him. “Will you quit that already? You’ll alert every enemy in the area with your coughing. Why they send you on these missions is beyond me. Someone who’s always sick shouldn’t be a shinobi. You’ll only attract opponents.”
Taryn narrowed her eyes at Aiden. “Why don’t you go take first watch then?” she growled.
“Who died and made you team captain?” he bit at her.
“Just saying that if you’re going to comment on everything, you might as well make yourself useful.” “Don’t argue guys,” Kakashi said.
Aiden crossed is arms. “Fix up that cut,” he told Taryn, “and then take watch.” Taryn scoffed and strode out of the cave with her head high.
“Was that really necessary?” Kakashi asked when she was out of sight.
“She needs to learn her place,” Aiden said, “she’s just a kid. She needs to show some respect.” “She’s a Jounin,” Kakashi said, “just like the rest of us.”
“She’s a know-it-all. And she’s arrogant. You may like her, that doesn’t mean I have to.”
“No that’s right,” Kakashi said, “you don’t have to like her, but she’s a member of this team and we need to work together. She’s young, but she’s a good fighter.”
“She would be better if she learned to listen. Now get some rest. You’ll need it.”
“Have you been sitting here all night?” Hayate sat down beside her.
Taryn kept her eyes on the rocks when she answered him. “Aiden told me to take on watch duty, so I did.”
“Only first watch Taryn.”
“I didn’t hear him make that distinction.”
“You know what he meant,” Hayate told her. Taryn shrugged. Hayate sighed. “Why don’t you go get some sleep before we go? I’ll take over.”
“I’m not tired,” Taryn said, “I can go days without sleep.”
“I know,” Hayate said, “but that doesn’t mean you have to.” He looked at her. “We’re a team you know.”
“I know,” Taryn said. She sighed. “Will you be alright?”
He gave her a cocky smile. “I’m a Jounin too. And you’re not the only one to gain that position on an early age.”
“Heh,” Taryn scoffed, “maybe you should tell Aiden that next time he’s being a jerk.”
“Maybe I will,” Hayate said, “now get out of here and let me do my job.”
***
“So what exactly is your problem with Sasuke Uchiha?” Neji asked while directing a punch at her. Taryn blocked him and landed a blow against is shoulder. Neji’s arm went numb and he took a step back. “He’s an arrogant brat,” Taryn said.
Neji smirked. “I can’t argue with you there.” He blocked a kick from her, “but it seems more than that.” He eyed her carefully. He was old enough to know about her relation with Itachi Uchiha.
Taryn didn’t answer immediately. “Do you know why I was never branded with the Caged Bird?” she asked him. Neji shook his head confused. “Because my father refused it,” she told him, “he threatened with repercussions if they would dare to brand his daughter. He said branding me would make me one of them. He reminded them that there was blood of Suna running through my veins. That I was the daughter of the Kazekage. Marking me would be as if they were mocking him. He didn’t think about me. He only cared about himself. How something like that would reflect on him as Kazekage. That same father rejected me so easily only a few years later.”
“What does that have to do with Uchiha?” Neji asked.
“Nothing,” Taryn answered, “and everything.”
Her hand went to the mark in her neck. She turned around and walked over to the porch to sit down. Neji joined her with a thoughtful expression. “Answer me something,” Taryn said, “why did you hate Hinata?”
Neji closed his eyes. “I didn’t hate her,” he muttered, “I was just angry.”
“But you resented her,” Taryn said, “because you were marked by the Caged Bird and she was not. Because she belonged to the Main House and you to the Branch House.” Neji’s jaw tightened. “That wasn’t her fault. She didn’t do that to you,” Taryn continued.
“I know that,” Neji said stiffly.
“You still blamed her,” Taryn said, “sometimes we can’t help how we feel. There’s not always a reason and sometimes there are too many.”
She had seen it in Sasuke’s eyes. He was so full of hatred. He was determined to go after his brother and kill him. When she first came to Konoha she had just wanted to check on him, keep him away from Orochimaru as she had promised so long ago. When she had noticed the hate in his eyes, she knew it was too late. He had already decided and nothing she would say would make him change his mind. It would only drive him into Orochimaru’s arms sooner.
She knew something about hate. She saw a lot herself in Sasuke. Anger and determination. And yes, also hate. But no matter how much she hated her father, it was not enough to want him dead. She hated Sasuke because he was determined to get his revenge by whatever means. Even if it meant following someone like Orochimaru.
She hated him for his arrogance.
“Taryn.”
Taryn looked up. Lord Hyuuga approached them. Taryn and Neji both made to stand up, but Hiashi raised his hand to stop them. “No need for that,” he said, “have you two been training?”
Taryn nodded. “Yes we have.”
Hiashi nodded. “Very good.”
“Is something wrong sir?” Taryn asked.
He took out a scroll and handed it to her. “This came for you by messenger bird.”
Taryn stared at it confused. “For me?” A stamp form Suna marked the document. She looked at her uncle. “What is this?”
“It is addressed to you. I did not read it, but a similar scroll was set to the lady Hokage.”
Taryn stood up and walked a few paces away. She unsealed the scroll and opened it. It was a letter from her brother Kankuro. Her hands slightly trembled as she started to read.
Taryn,
I know that after everything that happened at the Chuunin Exams you’re probably still angry with us. We caused a lot of problems for you in Konoha.
Please believe me when I say we did not know Orochimaru was behind all of this. We were simply following orders. A letter of apology was already sent
to the elders of Konoha. We hope our alliance can still be mended. I know you’ll want to know about Gaara. I can assure you that he is doing fine and recovered completely from his battle in the forest.
Taryn, there is something else you need to know and I wanted to tell you this myself, rather than have you hear this from the Konoha elders.
Father is dead.
He was probably dead already when we set out for Konoha.
It was Orochimaru who tricked all of us in taking his place…
Taryn stopped reading for a moment. She lowered the scroll and stared into the distance for a moment. The Kazekage was dead. Her father was gone. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. There had never been warm feelings between the two of them and often she had hated him, but he had been her father.
“Taryn?” Neji asked carefully, but she shook her head and continued reading.
I know what happened between you and father. I was there that day. I’m sorry I did not speak out, but I was a child and I did not understand until later.
I hope you can forgive me.
I am asking you to come home. In the letter that was sent with this one, we already requested it with the elders of Konoha.
Your banishment has been recalled. After all that has happened I would understand if you refused, but we’re all hoping that you will return to us.
Your brother,
Kankuro.
Taryn looked at Hiashi with a blank expression. He gave a serious nod.
“What’s going on?” Neji asked.
“My father is dead,” Taryn said in a flat tone, “my brother is asking me to come home.”
“You should go then,” Neji said, “that’s what you want, right?”
“You knew,” Taryn said to Hiashi.
“Lady Tsunade informed me when she handed me this scroll.” Taryn nodded. “You should speak with her,” he continued.
Taryn pulled a face, but she knew he was right. “I need to think,” she said and walked away from them.
She wandered around for a while. What was she supposed to do? Since the day her father had banished her she had wanted to go home. And now… a lot had happened since then. She still longed to go back. She missed the desert.
She looked up when she found herself in front of Kakashi’s house. It seemed her feet had brought her here automatically. She hadn’t spoken with him since they had returned fro the mission yesterday. The argument was still lingering between them.
Taryn took a breath and knocked. A moment later the door opened and Kakashi looked at her surprised. “Taryn.”
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Come in,” he said and took a step back to let her through. “Listen,” he said, “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Taryn shook her head. “You’re entitled to have an opinion.”
“Taryn…”
“I’m not here for that,” she cut him off and handed him the letter.
He took it confused. “You’re leaving…” he stated when he finished reading it.
“I don’t know,” she answered.
“What do you mean you don’t know? You miss them don’t you? You’ve always wanted to go home. They’re your family.”
“That was before they declared war on Konoha,” Taryn growled, “and they call me a traitor.”
“They were following orders,” Kakashi said calmly, “you can’t blame them for that.”
“They could have refused.”
“The are children!”
“So was I!”
“You were a Jounin!” Kakashi answered “don’t let pride blind you Taryn.”
Taryn sighed and sat down on the couch. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Kakashi sat down next to her. “What is it you’re not telling me?” he asked quietly.
Taryn shook her head. “No matter what I do,” she said, “I’ll never get rid of him. You can seal my cursemark a thousand times and he’ll find other ways to complicate my life.”
“Orochimaru?” Kakashi asked confused,”… Sasuke…” Taryn averted her eyes. “Taryn,” Kakashi warned her, “what’s going on? What do you know?”
“Sasuke is determined to kill Itachi,” Taryn said, “he’ll seek out Orochimaru to achieve that.”
“I won’t let him,” Kakashi assured her.
“No Kakashi,” Taryn said, “you won’t be able to stop him. No one will be able to stop him. There is a darkness inside him. And I’m afraid of what it will do to him. Orochimaru will use him. He wants to use Sasuke as a vessel. He’s after Sharingan.”
“If no one can stop him,” Kakashi said, “then there’s no reason for you to stay here, is there?” It was silent for a while.
“I suppose you’re right,” Taryn said. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go home. She hadn’t realized how much pain it had caused her not to be able to go home.
“Don’t go onee-chan.”
Taryn looked at Gaara’s pleading eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I have to. But I’ll come back for you one day. I promise.”
“It’s strange,” Taryn said softly, “to go back to Suna after all these years. So much has changed. My sibling have grown up… what do I say to them?”
“Kankuro knows the truth, doesn’t he?” Kakashi stated.
"Yes, but the others don’t. What if I’m ordered the same thing again?”
“Your father ordered you to kill Gaara because of the one tailed beast, didn’t he?” Kakashi asked. That was what she didn’t want to tell him then. Perhaps he should have guessed it.
“He said it was out of control,” Taryn told him, “he said Gaara was a danger to the village. He feared his own son. His precious weapon that he created himself. He killed his wife in doing so. He forced a young child to host a monster. And when it didn’t work out the way he wanted... he simply decided to destroy it. His own son! My brother! And he used me to do it.”
“Why?” Kakashi asked quietly. That was what he still hadn’t figured out. Why ask this of his daughter? There were enough skilled shinobi in Suna. “Why you?”
“Because I was the only one that could get close enough,” Taryn said, “he had tried before, several times. Everyone he sent was killed by Gaara’s sand. My father knew that wouldn’t happen to me. He knew I would succeed.”
“Why?”
“The sand had never hurt me.”
“Why not?” Kakashi’s voice was soft.
Taryn looked at him sadly. “Because I loved him,” she answered, “I was the only one that didn’t abandon him. He trusted me.” She had betrayed him.
“Hey,” Kakashi said, “even if they did ask you to kill him again… Gaara is not a child anymore. There’s no need to protect him. Just talk to him.” He smiled. “Besides, you’re not a child anymore either.” His expression became serious again. ‘When are you leaving?”
“As soon as possible,” Taryn answered, “I need to speak with Tsunade first about the alliance.”
“At least you said goodbye this time.”
“Kakashi…”
He put a finger against her lips to cut her off. “Stay in touch this time will you,” he said.
Taryn smiled and nodded. “Sure.” She kissed his cheek and left the room.
Kakashi sighed. She was never going to stay here with him. “Goodbye… Taryn Desertstorm,” he whispered.
***
Tsunade looked at the girl in front of her. Since she had arrived in Konoha to take the position of Hokage, she had read a lot of interesting things about this girl in the reports. And still this girl was a mystery to her. Her eyes were distant and dark, but there was a deep strength in them. She was very solitary, but quick to defend her comrades.
“Taryn,” she said.
The girl straightened up and looked at her. “Lady Tsunade.”
“I assume you are here because of the message from Suna? You wish to return home?”
“I wish to apologize for my nation’s behavior,” Taryn said to her surprise.
“You are not held responsible,” Tsunade said, “we know it was Orochimaru who was behind the attack. Suna has already sent a full report and a letter of apology. Why should you apologize when you were banished from Suna until now?”
Taryn held Tsunade’s gaze when she answered. Her hand went to her hitai-ate. The one with the Suna symbol. “Because no matter if I was banished at that time or not, I am still a shinobi of Suna. And I should have seen through Orochimaru’s scheme.”
“Because you were marked by him.”
“Because I was hunting him,” Taryn corrected.
Tsunade sighed. “Orochimaru has been a missing nin for a long time. Our best trackers could not find him. There is no point in blaming yourself for his schemes. Another matter that occurred in this letter is your banishment. Am I correct in thinking a similar thing was in your letter?”
Taryn nodded. “Yes. My brother wrote to me.”
“If you want to go home Taryn then of course you have my permission. I only ask you to wait a few more days. I will give you a decree for the council of Suna regarding our alliance. Is this alright wit you?” Taryn nodded. “Good. Then you may leave. I will call on you when the document is approved.”