Moon Eyes

Chapter Warnings: The stuff I've already mentioned on pervious stories, MiC death, and uh.... possible typoes and shit like that as I may have missed some.
Author Note: Let's see, I have decided to skip on over to Suna to see what's happening there. Ho hum... what to say about this chapter, not a whole lot really. Hope all of you enjoy it. Read, Review, Vote if you would please. I love hearing from ya'll. Replies to those who reviewed last chapter are at the end of the chapter. Until next update!

Chapter: Gaara

Gaara grabbed a hold of Matsuri and covered her eyes with his left hand, snapping his eyes closed just before the eyes fully opened up.

“Don’t look at the eyes!” he called out to those around him, but it was to late.

Silence reined over his village, a death like quiet, and he felt the tinge of fear deep inside himself. Matsuri started to shake and he could feel wet tears slide out from behind his hand. Then, after what seemed like ages, screams could be heard from the other side of the village, and slowly, like the falling rain, the screams started closer and closer until those that stood around him fell to the ground screaming as well.

“I’m going to remove my hand, what ever you do don’t look up.”

There was no reply.

“Matsuri, do you hear me? Do not look at the moon.” He told her sternly.

“Ye-yes Gaara-sama.” she finally replied.

He knew what he was about to ask her was something that would haunt her for life, but he didn’t have much choice.

“Listen to me,” he started as he lowered his hand. “We need to look for those who haven’t been effected by the moon eyes. It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to see things you wish you hadn’t, but I need you to do this.”

She nodded at him once they made eye contact. For him it was like staring at a child, she wasn’t prepared for something like this, but there was no one else. He looked around him, making sure not to look up at the moon, and saw his men on the ground convulsing, some where already dead. A sound came from the left and he quickly looked over to see Kankurou wobble on his feet. Gaara’s eye’s narrowed and he allowed sand to pool around him.

“Ga-Gaara-sama what are you doing?” Matsuri said from beside him horrified.

The moment his brother twitched he was dead on the ground and Gaara took off running towards the edge of the building. He distantly heard Matsuri cry out something about that being his brother, but that hadn’t been his brother anymore. Kankurou had been long gone before he put him out of his misery.

“Don’t trust anyone who acts even slightly off. Kill them, don’t second guess it, or your dead.” He called out behind him as he leapt off the building.

He didn’t have time to coddle her, or completely explain what was going on. If Matsuri died now it was her own mistake, he couldn’t wait around and allow others to fall victim because of one girl. He was Kazekage after all, no matter how he felt about her, or his brother, they weren’t as important as the whole.

Landing on the ground with a soft thump, bending his knees to absorb the shock, his sand immediately wrapped around him as a slicing wind attack went sweeping by him. Gaara found himself thankful that the sand still acted as a being of its own and narrowed his eyes in the direction the attack had come from. Nobody was there, which made things far more dangerous under the moon eyes affect people moved faster than usual. For the first time he was sorry that Shukaku was not with him.

Not wanting to waste time he started to run down the road heading towards his sister’s lodgings. If Temari was still alive she would be a great help and a strong asset, if she wasn’t then he would have a big problem on his hands. Turning a corner he jerked to a stop and his hand shot up to his mouth as he fought the urge to vomit. Before him were villagers eating the bodies of other villagers.

Hands and mouths bloodied as they tore at the innards of the fallen crouched over bodies like animals after a fresh kill eating hungrily of the flesh. He found himself torn on what to do, kill them all for such depravity or conserve chakra for fights that were sure to come. Deciding that was better to conserve, even though he was highly disgusted with what he saw, he slowly back away down a side street.

Getting far enough away from the monstrosity that was his village’s people, he bent over and retched. Nothing that Shukaku had ever showed him would have prepared him for what he’d just seen, and he feared that it was the tamer of many scenarios to come. He pause a moment as he realized that Matsuri would forever be scarred by the images of people damned by a madman hungry for power. He sighed, it just couldn’t be helped, he only hoped that she was ninja enough to do what needed to be done first, and break down later.

****

He stopped in front of his sister’s building forming a spear with his sand, before quietly pushing the door open to peek inside. The interior was dark and his eyes slowly adjusted as he cautiously stepped into the building. Gaara carefully scanned the first room before going to the next, there was no need to be caught unawares, best to dispatch enemies this time round while looking through an enclosed space.

Even though he was here for his sister, he hoped to find others civilians or fellow nin, it didn’t matter which as long as they were unaffected. Coming around a corner he spotted man raping the dead body of a boy and slammed himself against a wall before he was spotted as the creature looked up. Gaara closed his eyes tightly trying to erase the memory that had been burned into his mind. He would probably never forget it though.

The child’s eyes had been open and glassy frozen in the throws of horror and pain a rope tied around his neck. His body had been beaten, cut, and the body had lain in an unnatural way on top the table. The man he had seen was a shunobi, but he couldn’t tell who as the turban had been askew. There had been other bodies, tossed carelessly upon tables through out the room all dead and brutalized their bodies open ready to be used again when it suited their killer.

Gaara didn’t want to enter the room, did not want to look at all the faces, but knew he had to confirm none were of his sister. Gaara rounded the corner as the man was put into a vise by his sand and stared blankly at the Shunobi before bending him backwards and in half. Bones cracked under the pressure and the creature cried out in a guttural sound before blood spilled down to the floor.

Allowing the body to drop he slowly made his way through the room looking over each face, trying not to remember them as the village people he once knew. Carefully, not able to leave them in such disrespectful poses, he placed them side by side on the ground by hand. Running his fingers over their faces he closed the eyes and said a small prayer. He was not religious, but he felt that if there was a god then he should be present to help these good people make it to peace.

Hearing the sound of dust crunch under foot his sand shot out and wrapped around a neck. He turned quickly ready to snap this person as well but relaxed minutely when he saw it was the Hyuuga named Neji. He had forgotten the man had been here resting after his mission with his young team.

He watched as Neji lifted his hands in a defensive manner and Gaara realized the man was himself. Even knowing this he wasn’t taking any chances and slowly unwound his sand from around the man’s neck. Neji let a puff of air, apparently relieved that he was free to breath.

“Your group?” Gaara asked.

The Hyuuga winced and looked away, that was all Gaara needed to know. A shame, the group of three had such promise too. He looked around the room trying to regain his poseur and swallow down the pain he could feel rising in his chest. So many lives lost, so many being lost at that moment, more to be lost was more than probable.

“How did you find me?”

“I used my blood line limit.” Neji responded.

“Is anyone in this building worth going to?”

Neji shook his head, and given the green pallor of the man’s skin at the mention of others in the building what he had witnessed was no less devastating than the group of cannibals he himself had stumbled upon. Everything was so fucked up, he almost couldn’t keep his mind centered on what had to be done. He looked back at the dead then green eyes focused onto pale ones.

“We need to find survivors, we need to find shunobi survivors to help protect those who are not.”

Gaara nodded in agreement, they did indeed need to do those things.

“I’m afraid you’ll need to use those eyes of yours then.”

“I know,” and he did not sound overly happy about that either.

****

His sand stretched out in all directions around him squishing enemy nin and villagers alike, blood splattering across the ground and walls of buildings. Gaara didn’t like the fact that he was having to kill so many, but those who were still the same seemed highly thankful for it. He looked to Neji who seemed slightly squeamish at all the blood and body parts his sand left in piles on the ground. Gaara remembered a time that he too had felt that way.

“Thank you Kazekage.” an old woman bowed.

“No need. Have you seen my sister?” He asked.

IN all the bodies they had discovered and individuals changed they had yet to see her. That did not mean she was still the same, but it gave him hope for it anyway. The woman shook her head in the negative and he sighed.

“Have you seen any shunobi that has been normal ma’am?” Neji asked beside him.

“A few, Matsuri had a small band that jumped across the roof tops an hour ago.” a man spoke up from a few feet away.

Gaara kept the relief from his face, but his body language said just as much for a few people smiled at him. Matsuri was fulfilling her duties like a true Kunoichi it made him proud to know he had trained a competent fighter. She would more than likely break down later, if she hadn’t already done so after he’d left the roof tops. All the violence and blood could have that effect on people, he himself was forever changed because of what he had seen and he’d been with Shukaku for many years.

“I want you all to stay in your homes with the doors and windows closed.”

“I’d suggest all staying in one and no making any sounds for any reason.” Neji suggested.

Gaara nodded, “yes that’s even better. Stay there until we come and get you. The code word will be blue sky. If it is not said then do not come out.”

The people nodded.

“I have water stocked up in my house, and a cellar we should be safe there.” A man stated opening up his house for those to come in.

Gaara stayed where he was until he was sure everyone was safely inside and nothing torrid could happen. He looked over at Neji who nodded and activated his byakuugon and survey the land in front of them.

“Just a few blocks up from here there seems to be a small group.”

“Nins, civs, or walkers?”

“Two nins, fighting off four walkers and a small family of three scrunched down in a corner of a house.”

Gaara took a deep breath and let it out quickly, it was going to be a very long night. The two took off in the direction Neji had scoped out. Even though there hadn’t been anything in their path, they still had to be alert they’d been attacked four other times.

****
As the time for daylight grew near, Gaara realized it wasn’t going to be coming. Some how this Uchiha moon jutsu kept the sun at bay. It didn’t make all that much since as the sun was what gave the moon it’s light. He looked at the small group he had assembled and the villagers that stayed in the middle, before looking forward once more.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“What?” Neji asked.

“That the sun will not be rising.”

“Nothing of this night has made any sense.” the man commented.

It was true but it didn’t make the fact any less bizarre. The group stopped and allowed Neji to scan the area for immediate danger. Gaara was anxious to get back to the kage tower, it was a strong hold and could easily be defended. At Neji’s nod the group proceeded to the next block.

“Still, how does one have such a powerful jutsu?”

“I for one do not wish to understand the Uchiha madness.”

“Then why were some spared?”

He knew no one would have the answer to that, and truth be told hadn’t meant to ask it out loud. It was odd though, a jutsu so powerful that it could keep the world in perpetual darkness, but not effect everyone. He hadn’t looked at the moon, but he could still feel the tendrils of the jutsu brushing over his psyche. There was no way that people that did not know of the Uchiha eyes and the curse that it could put upon you hadn’t looked up at the moon.

There was a thump in front of them and Gaara’s sand shot out quickly before it hit a large fan. Neji was still on alert beside him as he took in who was standing in front of him. Temari peeked around her fan and gave him a relived smile.

“Oy, little brother good to know you’re alive.” she said.

He was so damn relieved he did not care when he stepped forward and gave her an uncharacteristic hug. He felt the blond tense in shock before she relaxed and hugged back. Gaara was so happy to know that at least one of his family had made it out alive, and normal.

“I had to kill Kankurou.” He whispered into her ear, as now he was as tall as her.

He felt her body language sadden in his arms.

“I know. Matsuri told me.”

He pulled back going back to his persona that was more comfortable and everyone knew best. He looked at her as if searching for answers he was sure she would never know.

“Is she alright?”

Temari shrugged, “she is alive.”

Gaara nodded understanding, it was to be expected the things happening now no ninja was trained to handle. He looked back at the group who seemed to be getting more and more anxious. He couldn’t blame them, it was hell on earth out here.

“Let’s continue moving.”

“Everyone that Matsuri gathered are at the tower. She knew the best place to hold out was there.” Temari informed him.

Gaara smiled, good girl, she remembered what he’d taught her.

~TBC~

END NOTE: Per usual...

overlordofnobodies: First I'd like to say thank you for reading and giving me your opinion about who you'd like to see live. It helps me decide a little easier.(most of the time. ^^) Thank you so much for liking this story! I feel so happy to have such a positive responce to it. Yeah killing Kiba by Akamaru was pretty wow... lol Please do keep reading I plan on keeping it this dark. tee hee

Propaganda!: Well I'm thinking this chapter has made you immensly happy then as both characters you wanted to be alive are alive. XDD GLad to hear you like this story and are awaiting the next chapter. (Gaara is noetably awesome I must concur.) Please stay with the story and I hope you continue to like the story.

weskerism: *cakcles* Welcome to the dark side! Bwhahaha Sai is the bomb! I'm sorta well.... this story kinda takes place some time after Sasuke has defeated his brother. From there it sorta goes UR but I do have changes and twists in mind. Funny you should mention Hidan because I was thinking of a way to work him back into the story the guy amuses the hell out of me. Five of the characters you mentioned in your picks will be alive(not counting the two mentioned in this chapter assuming I can count lol). Yes Hinata becomes a different babe all together. I plan to rework everyone's character as they are now facing an entirely different future but they will still be the people we all know and love. And thank you for rating my story, much love to you. *hugs*

All Readers: As of right now still looking for your thoughts and opinions on who you'd like to see live. Also feel free to simply let me know what you think of the story. Vote and Enjoy!