The Exam of a Lifetime
Given the nature of what transpired for Xion and his nature in general he was forward with everything that happened which put the other genin on edge with his gruesome detail and flat line way of speaking. The Hokage having received his reports before didn't think twice of it and even thanked him for being detailed.
Once released they all went their separate ways but not before learning that their mission had been bumped up to an A rank and that they'd be given a few days rest from missions. The Hokage asked to keep Xion and Kakashi for more questions he had of them.
"So tell me what you think?" He asked of the cyclopes jonin, lighting up his pipe now that the younger ones were gone, Xion excluded as he bellied his age. "Commendable. He showed skill, poise, and a ability to lead and take control of a multitude of situations that goes beyond his age. He's got rough edges but they don't rub up to his allies and mainly grind on his enemies. I'd promote him now but im sure you have different thoughts." Kakashi drawled out with his book put away showing how serious he was taking the Hokage. "Yes I had the idea to show him off in this upcoming Chunin exams." The elder in the room replied blowing out smoke with his thought. Turning to the boy in question he remain stoic and ready for any questions they had of him. "Genin Xion I have a mission request for you and you're allowed to decline if you so choose to." Sarbutobi asked his young subordinate who almost seemed to roll his eyes without even doing so. "There's no mission I'd decline even given the option, I'm here to serve in whatever capacity is asked of me." Was the reply to which got a surprise out of both his seniors. The smirk from the Hokage told enough on what he thought of it, "Then your next mission is a long term one and will be completed upon the end of the chunin exams. I'm asking you to go out of your way to show everyone just what being a kohona nin is all about, and secondly to look out for any of our own during the tests. I know the exams are one team for themselves or a one for all kind of event but I suspect the younger genin will be making their way into this one and while I'm sure they'll all do well I'd rather not see any of them fall in battle." Catching at what the Hokage meant the younger but still tall boy bowed, "I'll gladly do as you ask of me, I assume I'll be a one man squad as to be able to be more mobile." The Hokage nodded his head in affirmation puffing on his pipe some more, "That you will, I'll be entering you personally so expect a target on your back when other nations gain wind of it." Xion nodded his own head, "noted sir." And with a wave of his and the genin was off for a day of rest after their long mission and travel home.
(Days later - midday)
I have been gathering Intel on the few notable genin from other villages that have been slowly flooding in over the past few days. Trying to find what made them strong and weaknesses that would pop up with proper observation. Along one of my treks through the village I ran into Naruto who seemed to be making it a habit of reaching out to me or greeting me and talking in passing. I liked the guy, had an airhead attitude that hid his more true self, not to mention it was hard not to like someone so full of life, an opposite to me in ways. During this particular exchange some of Naruto's younger friends made them self known and wanted to spend time with him. They asked who I was and I obliged them with Naruto's help of course.
When Sakura came around the conversation between allies and friends seemed to halt as she felt the need to belittle Naruto for wanting to play 'ninja' with the kids when he himself was already a ninja. I took offense to this since hearing what I would call a teammate and friend of Naruto's treating him as such, "I would refrain from treating your comrades in such a manner Haruno. Its shows a rather distasteful side and improper actions of a kohona shinobi." The tone I took wasn't one of malice but she rounded on me with twice as much, "oh and freak like yourself would know what proper kohona nin is supposed to be right." The next thing she knew she was being very quiet and nervous as she caught the squinting of my eyes as I turned to face her full. "Yes. I would." Sensing the tension in the air Kohmaharamu mistook it and said some rather choice words that sent the already irritated pink haired girl after him. I didn't have much planned in my day so I followed and boy was I glad I did.
There right before my eyes. Two suna shinobi. And not just any two, two of the only three friends I ever made in my time there. Kankaru and Temari. So they did end up making it. I thought to myself but my attention was drawn away to the situation before me. The older boy was currently gripping the hokage's grandson by the neck and being rather brash with him. I went on auto pilot barely holding back my building rage. Pushing back a scared Sakura and flustered naruto I ground out past clenched teeth, "So sad to see they still haven't learned to teach proper manners in that God forsaken desert pit." The speed at which Kankaru's head snapped in my direction it seemed like he was using one of his puppets at how inhuman it looked, "who in the hell!" He began shouting as he dropped the young boy who scurried over our way, "Your long lost friend is who the hell you point eared bitch." Disregarding the fact the children were around I just had to put him in his place since I couldn't tear a limb off, "and before you go starting a political fuck up I suggest you keep that infatted ego in check and not harm the Hokages grandson." Oh how sweet it was to see that shock on his and even Temari's face, this has been to long coming. "Hey Temari." I waved with a fake smile as it still seemed they were processing what they were seeing and hearing. Temari gained her wits first, "Xion? Is, is that really you?" She asked tentatively moving forward not seeming to trust what she was seeing, "In the flesh and not dead as I'm sure you're sad to know." I smirked their way and the remark seemed to make them wince as if I had struck them. Kankaru gained his strength next, "Xion we looked everywhere for you." He asked in a caring way that I had no part of, "as if, I doubt lord kazekage would allow his loving family to look for a runt like me." More winces that a part of me hurt to see but the rest of me relished in. Nothing prepared me for him though and all that anger seemed to was away as that red hair and sea green eyes came into view, "Bear." Was his simple address with his cold as ever features. I could see pain and longing in those eyes that seemed to tell the world his story even as the rest of him read nothing at all. I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my mouth or the words that followed, Gaara was always and seemed to still be my weakness, "Sand pup." For a brief second there was joy behind those eyes, and was that satisfaction? But as quick as it was there it vanished behind his features. "Why haven't you returned home." Leave it to Gaara to make a simple question sound like a demand. The fear in his siblings eyes didn't escape me either. More sighing, more thoughts, memories, and experiences I'd rather lay dormant. "Will you two sack up and stop acting like the world will end in his presence, im 10 times worse and you both know it." Running my hand through my brown locks I shook my head, "why." He repeated as he edged closer to me. "Why did you abandon me then, huh?" I asked back equally as forceful. This stopped Gaara in his tracks, "I did no such thing." He stated sternly as with his closer proximity I could hear the angry hissing of his sand in the gourd on his back. "Ha" I laughed lightly at that, "yea cuse the look of pure hate in those eyes just screamed come spend time with me. I couldnt even get you to look at me without making me feel like death was preferable let alone get you to say anything meaningful." Well that was the wrong answer I guess if the anger in his face was any indication. It settled though and he made a move to turn as he said, "you're coming home with me now that I've found you. Follow." Okay now this was priceless and couldn't help the chuckle escaping my mouth, "hehe, my ass I am, im already home. A home that welcomes me, not scorning my very presence." Wrong answer again if the growing fear in the other two's eyes were anything to go by. He turned back to me and all but ground out, "Bear. You will. Return to me." He began closing the distance to me which i gladly began to close to. When I reached at him he was shocked. When I put both my hands on his shoulders he was more shocked. The final straw was when his sand reacted but my chakra did the same batting his away from me as sand is just more earth for me to control, "Gaara, you'll always have a place in my heart as much as I don't want any of you three to… but… fuck. Off." The anger in my veins reached a boiling point as I shoved him back from me. That anger fueled my chakra to react when his sand did and we were at a stalemate, him trying to grab hold of me with his sand, me effortlessly driving it deep into the earth and away from us. The pain in his eyes hurt for a second before it went away when it faded from his eyes. The sand retracted. He turned to his siblings and made his way to leave, "You will come home." He stated again before I responded, "like hell I will." He stopped for a second but continued on, his siblings following close behind.
I had enough to deal with seeing them again, I didn't need the barrage of questions that came my way from those around me. I went to train and work the anger from my veins, I didn't need outbursts, I needed control.
(Flashback)
A lone boy walked the sandy streets, his red hair gleamed in the sun as his tiny body carried him forward. Glares and looks of worry graced the faces of those who passed by, giving the child a wide berth. Others ran to grab their children and hide inside, remarks and gossip thrown left and right as he passed. Many had a right to fear the unstable child as there was no telling when they could become his next victim. Just like the unsuspecting children playing with a ball in the street ahead of him.
The ball went past one of the other children and rolled right to the feet of the monster. Grabbing it he looked up with a confused child like expression. "Hey give that back!" Shouted a brave soul who didn't understand the dire situation they found themselves in, the older brother did and immediately quieted him. "Keep it! Come on let's go." He said as he began to drag his little brother away. All the while the little unsuspecting red head kept eyeing the ball with curiosity. "Can I play?" The boy asked of the others but they were already leaving him behind. When no response was given and all he saw was the backs of the children his mind turned dark, "Why does no one ever want to play!" He growled out gripping his head in what looked like pain.
A jonin tasked with watching over the boy observed an all to familiar scene when the jinjuriki went out for walks. He prepared himself to risk his life in order to save the soon to be dead children knowing how it was to play out, but it never came. A large boy came out from the side street and when the sand began to rise and shoot out towards the kids it met a wall of earth that sucked it down and kept it from moving any further. That boy Darth Xion was a blessing this village had needed for so long, the earth bent to his will as much as the sand did for the monster. The jonin had half a mind to tell the Kazekage to task this boy with watching over Gaara on daily basis, whenever he was around him there were no casualties, and the beast seemed almost docile.
"Gaara, they're idiots, don't play with them." Was all the cold and level talking boy said to the red headed demon in front of him as both sand and earth clashed for dominance. Clutching for more aggressively at himself Gaara shouted in rage, "But why! Why do they always leave me!" The sand rose and fought with more vigor but by now the area was clear with anyone in ear distance keeping clear of the deranged child.
More earth rose to fight and push back the sand, "because they're all idiots, and I'm not leaving unless you want me to pup." The ever cool child replied by which seemed to strike a cord in the demon vessel who dropped the sand in an instant. "No I don't want you to go to." The red head all but whispered out now clearly ashamed from his early display and attack on his one friend. The bigger boy approached and patted his head, surprising the jonin even further at how close they were and how the sand didn't lash out at him, "good cuse I won't so long as you don't want me to." And with that the two children may their way down the street together.
Oh yes Darth Xion was a blessing for this village. And also a curse.
(Day of exam start, main room)
I arrived almost first into the room, a few other teams were already here but it was easier for me since I was alone on all this. Thankfully I didn't run into any of the sand three again, my mind really couldn't handle that again. A part of me felt regret seeing Gaara like that again, reverted back to how he was when I first got to know him, stop it. I told myself shaking those thoughts away, he wanted it like this that much he made clear. I set myself up in the back corner when the door entrance was, easier to see who comes and keep any team at a bay with my eyes seeing the full room.
Slowly more teams trickled in, some stared me down, others paid me no attention. Some seemed destined to fail, some seemed more than ready. Then they entered and almost instantly they scanned the room and spotted me. I sighed knowing what would come next and prepared myself mentally. The trio approached me and I gave them a good look over as they approached with my impassive eyes.
"Where have you been." Gaara demanded, yes demanded because he forgot how to ask things again, typical. Sighing out loud this time for the three who all but had me cornered. Well Gaara did, the other two held back a distance clearly giving their brother space. "Around." Was my vague answer as we eyed each other, neither willing to break contact first. "I searched." I had to repress a snort at that, "I know, you're easy to sense." The smaller boys non existent eyebrows scrunched at that, "You hid from me." To this I did give out a chuckle, "I have no need to hide from anyone, I merely stayed clear of you when I knew you were coming my way." Oh wrong answer, the anger briming in those sea green eyes was clear to see now, "so you ran from me." Another sigh, "no I don't want tedious conversations like the one right now." I leveled a glare back at the boy who seemed to be conflicted with the way the conversation was going, if you could call it that.
Temari took the bold move seeing the slowly building anger between us two to speak up. Guess being in my presence makes her feel safe enough around her brother, "Xion we just want to talk, it's been so long." My eyes ripped from gaara to stare her down now, credit to her for not flinching, though im sure she gets worse from the smaller boy in front of me, "no you want to take me back home." I emphasized the word to show my distaste for my previous country of residence.
I noticed some of the rookie genin teams entering, some gave me a glance as I was in a way being encroached by a sand team but none made a move over to me. That relieved me, I don't need more headaches. Sighing I put my hands up, "Look I get what your father did, I know how he has treated you three, im not exception seeing as I mean less to him than you. But you are each your individuals and you made your choices. Just like I made mine." I'm emphasized that by staring down all of them.
Temari and Kankuro felt it and it reminded them of the pain and neglect they gave to one of their only friends in his time of need. They backed off since if anyone was going to get me to budge it was the monster of their brother. They went and found seats for themselves and to think over all the thoughts racing around their minds. Gaara kept glaring.
"You know that anger doesn't help this." I rolled my eyes at the much shorter boy with his arms crossed. To which he shifted a little and the look hardly softened. "You should come back to me." Was all he said and I was left exasperated and felt like I was talking to a wall. "Yea and you shouldn't have regressed this badly in a couple years without me but we can't always get what we want." I replied back to which he seemed to be saddened in those sea green eyes before determination took hold. "You will come back with me, I will have you again." As he walked away I couldn't help but chuckle, "what kind of relationship is that pup. You'll see me dead before owned." I don't know if he heard or just didn't care, but he went to his siblings. My head was spinning from all the memories and emotions I tried so hard to crush and keep locked away. It wasn't time for this, I had a test to take and important people to keep alive, no use worrying over a dead past.