Chapter Sixteen

Pint-sized Games

Gaara tore through the alley at top speed; cackling wildly at his pursuers. The last major crime family in his neighborhood had just been robbed by him. He had taken all of the money in their bank account and had returned it to their victims, and the rest he had just donated to the animal shelter. Now their thugs were after him, and he was having a blast teasing them. When Hinata had told him to go play for the evening she had no idea just how much mischief he would cause.

He laughed as he darted out of the alley and summersaulted over a Sand Jonin, startling him. His pursuers nearly ran into the Jonin, who dodged in just the nick of time. The man was left standing in shock. Who the heck would chase after Gaara like that?! That was how people got killed!

Gaara vaulted up and stood on a bracket supporting a sign above a hotel. He giggled and stuck out his tongue at the thugs below him. They ground their teeth in frustration; they were not ninja, and as such didn't have the training to jump like that. The three men bellowed and shook their fists at him, and he retorted by making more funny faces at them.

"Nana nana nana; can't catch me!" he crowed at them, laughing uproariously at their frustrations. This was fun! He should really go outside and play more often! He hopped from building to building, just fast enough to keep away from the thugs, but not so fast as to lose them.

He jumped back down to the street and ran off towards the Kazekage Tower, his pursuers swearing at him as they followed. He giggled like mad and made a beeline for his father as he was leaving for the day. He was surrounded by his ANBU body guards, but they were unprepared for the pint-sized terror as he vaulted over the Kazekage and stole his hat. He flung it like a Frisbee at one of the thugs; smacking him fiercely on the forehead before darting off; cackling evilly all the while. The stunned ANBU and Kazekage looked on. Kankuro; who had been walking across the street, burst out in laughter. The thugs continued to swear at him, but were stopped by the ANBU. They were concerned that they might upset Gaara and bring about the destruction of their village.

Kankuro chased after his brother as soon as he was able to regain his breath. He had to congratulate him for his mad hat skills. Gaara peered down on him from the roof of a shabby-looking restaurant.

"Why are you following me?"

"Sup, bro, nice hat action back there. Why were they chasing you anyway?"

"I kinda make their lives difficult, heh, heh," his little brother looked so smug.

"Sheesh, you know, bothering criminals isn't exactly a healthy hobby. Shouldn't you be coloring or something?"

"Pshaw! Coloring's lame!" at this Kankuro cracked up. Hinata's voice drifted over the distance, faint but clear.

"Gaara! Dinner!" at this he hopped down and headed toward home. He paused after a few steps.

"Coming?" Kankuro nodded and jogged to catch up. Gaara was way cooler than Temari and his father at the moment. That; and he had mad hat skills.