Crow's feathers - Naruto fanfiction

Chapter 19 Kidnapped

Taryn silently stood between two buildings, making sure to stay out of sight. She had sent her siblings to teach at the Academy today. Weapon lessons were on the program. It would be good for the children to learn from different shinobi. It would prepare them for real missions when they were under the supervision of a teamleader. Besides, it would be good for her siblings too. They were Chuunin now after all and would soon be made teamcaptain.

All three of them stood behind a table with weapons on it. The students were gathered in a small group and listened to the instructions. “Weapons are the most important part of a shinobi’s equipment,” Kankuro said, “and the weapons you choose to wield say a lot about you as a shinobi. Not every weapon is suitable for everyone. Standard weapons are kunai daggers and shuriken, but there are a lot more and some are specially designed to suit a certain jutsu.” 
“For example,” Temari said while unfolding her fan, “a fan is a common weapon for a winduser. It can increase the impact of your attack. Swords are also used often. But there are numerous kinds of other weapons such as explosion tags, smoke bombs or puppets.”
The children took in every word. It wasn’t often that they had the chance to learn form experienced shinobi. And not just any shinobi, but the children of the late Kazekage. But a few of the students were casting nervous looks at Gaara and whispered among themselves.
“Who is that?”
“Don’t you know? That’s Gaara of the Sand. They say he has a monster inside of him.”
“He’s scary.” 
“He’s dangerous.”
“His eyes are so cold, like he’s ready to kill at any moment.”

Taryn was close enough to hear them and was sad at their words. They didn’t know Gaara. They only repeated what their parents had told them. Gaara had changed a lot since they had returned home. He wasn’t like that anymore and even if he had been, it was her father’s fault for making him that way.

“Divide yourselves in groups,” Kankuro said, “each of us will instruct one group and teach you about weapons. You can pick a weapon for yourself and we will see if it is suitable for you.”
Taryn watched as the children divided themselves between Temari and Kankuro, all the time casting wary glances at Gaara.
“I don’t want to be left over with him,” one of the children whispered to an other, “he’s scary.”
“What if he kills us?” 
Kankuro cast a concerned glance towards Gaara when none of the children seemed willing to join his table. He was about to snap at the children and send a few over when he noticed Taryn. She lightly shook her head at him. Kankuro glanced at Gaara again. His younger brother was staring straight ahead.
One of the children was still standing there.
A girl.
She was carefully eyeing Gaara. Hesitantly she took a step forward. And then another until she was standing in front of Gaara. She flinched lightly when she met Gaara’s gaze, but didn’t move.
Gaara nodded at her. The girl nervously eyed the weapons in front of her. “Are you sure you want me to train you?” Gaara asked, “wouldn’t you rather join my brother or sister?”
The girl looked up at him and shook her head. “I’m sure,” she said softly. She looked at the weapons again.
“What is your name?” Gaara asked.
“Matsuri,” the girl answered.
“I am Gaara,” Gaara said, “why don’t you choose a weapon?”
Matsuri swallowed and picked up a heavy sword that was at least twice her size and stumbled under the weight.
“Perhaps you should pick something more manageable?” Gaara suggested. He took in her scared expression as she looked at the weapons and wondered about it.
Matsuri’s eyes wandered over the different kind of weapons.
“A good weapon should be light to carry and easy to wield,” Gaara told her, “and suited to your fighting style.”
Matsuri picked up a chain and tested the weight in her hands. She looked at Gaara questioningly. He nodded at her. “Try it.”
Matsuri stretched the chain, but wasn’t sure how to go from there.
Gaara gently took it from her. He took the grip in one hand and swung the end around with his other. “It is a good weapon,” he told her and gave it back to her. “Here. Wield it yourself.”

Taryn gave a relieved sigh and smiled as she turned around to leave. Her brother would be fine. She wondered about the girl though. Perhaps there was something in the files about her. For a shinobi in training she seemed awfully scared. Something like that could easily get you killed on a mission and it could endanger the rest of your team too.