AN: Until now, I've pretty much just written Yashamaru as a total bastard. I decided to try delving more deeply into his character and his complicated relationship with Gaara in this story. Iwao is the name I gave the Fourth Kazekage, since calling him "the Fourth Kazekage" all the time is kind of awkward. The name means "stone." As always, reviews are very much appreciated.

Iwao was a practical man. As Kazekage, he could afford to be nothing less. He had learned to suppress feelings such as love and hate and simply do what needed to be done for his people.

When they lowered his wife's shroud-wrapped body into the ground, he did not weep. Karura was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good, and dying for one's village was the highest honor a ninja could attain. Had she been in a more rational state of mind, he was sure, she would have been happy to make that sacrifice.

Next to him, Temari sobbed on her brother's shoulder, while Kankurou tried to choke back his own tears. Elder Chiyo stood beside them, her head bowed, her face deeply lined with sorrow. Iwao watched calmly as the mourners dropped flowers into the open grave. Shovelfuls of dirt landed atop the corpse, covering it.

The priest said words over the gravestone, then urged the mourners to close their eyes as he led them in prayer. When it was over, Iwao opened his eyes and looked up at the man standing across from him, the man holding the Kazekage's infant son in his arms: Karura's younger brother, Yashamaru.

Tears streaked his face, but he was not sobbing. He glared at Iwao with a look of pure, concentrated loathing.

Iwao was accustomed to hatred. Over the years, he'd faced and defeated countless enemies. But now, as he looked into those eyes—eyes that burned like cold, violet-gray fire—a chill slid down his spine. He averted his gaze.

Foolish, to let it affect him so. What did he have to fear from the likes of that man? As a ninja, Yashamaru was mediocre at best. He had certain valuable skills, but he was soft, utterly lacking in ambition. A non-threat. Yet something in those eyes unnerved Iwao.

No doubt Yashamaru resented him for taking away his precious big sister. Iwao had expected as much. But if he left the situation as it was, that man could become a problem.

Something had to be done.

Iwao sat at his desk, studying the ninja he'd just hired. The masked mercenary stood with his arms crossed over his chest, one knee bent slightly as he leaned back against the wall. Black, form-fitting cloth covered his body from head to toe, leaving only his eyes exposed.

Generally, Iwao tried to avoid dealing with rogue ninjas, but in this case it was a necessary evil. "I understand you specialize in mind control?"

"Not mind control. Mental manipulation. There's a difference."

"Whatever you want to call it. This man I told you about, Yashamaru—I need to make sure he doesn't get any thoughts about betraying me. I have enough problems to deal with. My village's budget has been slashed down to nothing and my resources are stretched thin. The last thing I need is an underling plotting against me. With Karura dead, I fear he's become a bit unhinged, and he blames me for her death."

The mercenary chuckled. "Probably because you're the one who killed her."

The corner of Iwao's eye twitched. "I did not kill her. She died birthing Gaara." Of course, he had known what would happen. But even so. "I'd advise you to guard your tongue. You may not be one of my subjects, but trust me when I say you do not want me as an enemy."

"Right, right. Sorry." The man appeared annoyingly un-intimidated. "I have to ask, if you're worried about this fellow betraying you, why not just have him killed? I could do that too. I'm known for my mental manipulation Jutsu, but honestly, I find killing more fun."

Iwao remembered the cold look in Yashamaru's eyes, and for a moment he was tempted. Then he shook his head. Killing was wasteful, and he had too few shinobi under his command as it was. "He may yet serve a purpose. With Karura dead, I need someone to serve as Gaara's caretaker, and Yashamaru is the most logical choice. He's her brother, after all...and he seems to have taken a shine to Gaara."

"Hmm." The masked ninja tilted his head and rubbed his jaw.

Iwao drummed his fingers on the desk. "Well? Can you do it?"

"It's not a question of whether I can. It's a question of how you want it done. If he's filled with hatred toward you, I can't simply erase those feelings…not without causing significant brain damage, anyway. I can divert the hatred away from you, but it will need someplace to go, some other object."

"Another person, you mean?"

"Yes. Of course, we can't just choose someone at random. It has to seem logical and natural, or he'll realize something's amiss. In any case, it will be a complicated and delicate process. If anything goes wrong it could create mental instability in the future. I'll need to carve new pathways in his mind, put up walls, tweak memories, plant a few subconscious suggestions…"

"I don't care how you do it," Iwao snapped. "Just get it done."

He shrugged. "As you wish, Kazekage-sama." He gave Iwao a bow which contained more than a hint of mockery, then vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Arrogant prick," Iwao muttered and went back to looking over his papers.

Only later did it occur to him that he really should have spoken with the mercenary ninja a bit longer. And he wondered…who had that man chosen as the object of Yashamaru's hatred?

-To be continued