just like us
mission board: convocation — any skill +1
Temari thought it was kind of cute, the way he created a deer. The kid didn't appreciate it, but what did kids know, anyway? That was why they were kids.
If her glare could get any sharper, it would. For as observant as he could be, he hadn't noticed one key thing about her. "What fan?" she asked.
"Jeez, you two are both lame."
Daisuke certainly had a spine on him. What an odd kid. "If we're that lame, maybe we should leave you to the nukenin."
Daisuke scoffed. "I can handle it. I'm going to be a ninja when I grow up. Nukenin can't hurt me."
Daisuke's father, a jolly man who hadn't stopped stroking his goatee since they set off, let out a full-belly laugh. "Sorry 'bout our boy. He's been watchin' too many of those ninja films. Dreams of bein' one of them Kage-somethin's."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Kage, huh? You'll have to work pretty h—"
A flash of silver skimmed his cheek.
Someone shrieked.
"Honey!" Daisuke's mother flung herself across the wagon seat at her husband, who was now slumped to the side with a kunai wedged perfectly between his eyes.
Temari heard the thunk of metal lodging into bone. A little hand grabbed hold of her shirt. The boy froze. On instinct, Temari pushed the boy back and stood in front of him, but the boy didn't let her go. He was just a kid, despite the bravado.
"Lookie here," a voice said from the trees, chuckling, "just some kids and some lady. I don't think we need to try real hard for this one."
Temari reached for her tessen, but it wasn't there. Everything she and Shikamaru had lost, they would simply have to fake it. Temari tried to step forward, but the little hand on her clothes stopped her. She looked behind her to tell Daisuke to let go, but the look in his eyes stopped her.
"My mom," he said. It took her a beat to understand.
"We won't leave either of you."
She heard a rustle in the branches and threw a shiruken. Whether it landed or not, she couldn't tell - but she doubted it.













