Hello everyone, let's get started. This is a story about Kankuro which means that it will mostly be focused on him and the whole situation in Naruto universe will be seen from his point of view. I, despite being a Lazy Bastard I am, do intend to write a good story about this beautiful character. I humbly ask you for reviews and criticism.

The rating will be T for now because the main character is going to face a lot of violence and cause it himself. Plus minor language perhaps. Pairing yet undecided.

Meet you soon again, L.B.

Disclaimer. I do not own Naruto or any of its characters

Prologue

After the last attempt to get Sasori, Kankuro fell down painting the sand under him red. He could only look as the great puppeteer that he'll perhaps never be able to surpass was walking away with his younger brother, his Kazekage. For Kankuro the most painful thing to realize was that he couldn't even keep his own promise to guard and protect Gaara, that he has just lost easily in the area he thought he had mastered. Clutching his fists he tried to gain control over his body, though his vision was blurred and his legs were shaking widely. Despite that the man managed to lift the upper part of his body and performed the seals for Kugutsu no Jutsu. He was determined to hinder the attackers a bit even if it cost him all his puppets and his own life. But the challenge was worth a try: the young Jounin was sure that the ANBU squads would show up soon enough. If only he could keep them for just a little more…Kankuro moved his hands with great difficulty as if there was water surrounding him instead of air. He made Karasu move towards his opponent hidden in his wooden sanctuary, but he wasn't fast enough to counter Akasuna no Sasori. With the quick swing of Hiruko's tale Karasu was destroyed. The next blow was meant to crush Kankuro's bones but he somehow managed to block the deadly attack with the remains of Karasu and Kuroari. Suddenly the man felt that the entire landscape began to turn upside down as his arms refused to hold him and his face met the hot sand once again that day. The last words he heard from the humpbacked figure in that strange cloak were:

"You just hurt yourself more. But if you want to live so badly, I won't finish you. That poison will kill you in 3 days."

Kankuro's vision blackened as he once again cursed himself for being a weakling that can't even protect his own little brother, was he the Kazekage or not. Losing to the inventor of his weapon, he should have predicted that. Last thoughts were wiped out as he lost consciousness.

As if through the thick layer of cotton wool he heard someone talking about his puppets being broken. Despite lacking the ability to hear properly, he was still trying to figure out more about his current state. Just as he scarcely attempted to add two and two he was mercilessly moved to the litter and passed out because of pain.

The doctors were doing their best to find the antidote to the unknown poison, but they weren't professional toxicologists and couldn't match with the genius missing-nin who was well-known for his talent in poisoning even when he wasn't listed on the Bingo book. Kankuro's state was slowly getting worse and the speed of the destruction of his cells was also increasing rapidly. If only he himself could analyze the toxin, he would come up with the solution. The only problem was that at the moment the young puppeteer was facing the most exciting dream he has ever seen and something was telling him it wasn't such a groundless one after all.

Welcome to the bright mind-scape of a self-proclaimed number one puppeteer in Suna, more commonly known as Kankuro the Cocky Smart-ass of the same place. If Temari had ever seen this place, she wouldn't have been astonished at all – everything here practically shouted of its close connection to her brother. There was sand glowing blood red due to the everlasting autumn sunset with quite a few clouds colored with all shades of red in the sky. The wind was blowing not really fast, but an experienced traveler would recognize the fragile tension before the sandstorm. The creator of this place must have possessed a very sensitive and even romantic nature, though Kankuro would definitely beat the crap out of every single person who would try to announce his thoughts aloud. That means, even including his brother and for his sister there would be something terrifying.

At the moment he was lying between the sand-dunes facing the sky and wasn't having the time of his life. The sand was curling into small tornadoes reflecting his entangled state of mind. His eyes were closed but his breaths were short and tensed. Bounce from the sand next to him emerged a small figure of a boy about 8 years old. His face wasn't covered in face-paint and he resembled the over one very much. Older boy opened his eyes and lazily greeted the smaller one.

"Hey, gaki, long time no see. I guess, you were rather bored during my absence, if you show up so quickly."

The young one looked at the cocky boy calmly and said almost without intonation:

"We've just got a lot of things to discuss, unless you are very intrigued to find out how they're doing it on the other side."

His visitor answered while still not moving an inch:

"Why don't you leave these old-fashioned idioms in the books you've dragged them from? I've already read all of them and such the words don't match your calm childish style. What's the matter, anyway? – he asked straightening himself in the sitting position.

The small boy just merely nodded and went on talking:

"We're now in a terrible situation, dobe. You were so slow and clumsy that he managed to wound you with his tail soaked with some strange poison. If you were awake, you could find the antidote but the others aren't so…-the boy hesitated not willing to say "talented" to the older one – smart-asses as you. But I somehow fell that all we need to do is just hold out for a few days. However there is something you need to know right away since you probably won't get another chance. The borders of your sub-consciousness are weak now and you'll be able to get to the place where all the answers are hidden. I can't help you because I don't have access to that part of you."

All of a sudden he drew out a small knife and Kankuro's throat was slashed by it immediately. A huge puddle of red liquid poured on the sand but not a single drop dissolved, while the shinobi's body vanished. The young boy signed, his figure fused with the sand – he had much time.

Kankuro was falling in what seemed to be a bottomless hole, his neck was still aching though he was used to the fact that for all the valuable information within his head he had to pay with that imaginable blood and pain that was all real. But he didn't have the time to remember what he had figured out earlier as his fall suddenly ended. Ahead of him lied a long bad-lit corridor and when he turned around he saw nothing but pure darkness. "I guess, they don't approve of choice-giving", - thought the shinobi and headed straight ahead though rather slow. He hasn't ever been to such a deep corner of his own mind nor has he ever paid such a high price for that. The information must have been worth it so he doubled his guard. His steps echoed on the cobble-stoned floor as he was trying to sense any traps. When he looked up again he was surprised that the darkness was no longer mute and blank but there were animal noises and rustle while the left corner was now illuminated with several dark-blue flowers that were conjoined with the ears and necks of large brown animals that weren't well-seen. The entire world started moving past the boy and only his head was now fastened as the axis of asymmetry. Kankuro thought he was going insane, but just when he was about to scream with despair, the maddening spinning stopped and an incredibly exact and clear picture was before his eyes. He saw huge ice peaks in the distance and harsh sea below. His gaze was moving with high speed towards the cliffs and then further, to the very centre of the country. The secret paths were revealed to him and in the end there was an entrance of the ice cave. Kankuro realized that something very important was hidden inside and he was shocked with suddenly appeared confidence. There, in the ice cave in the middle of nowhere was the most precious and wanted tool for every puppeteer – the ultimate weapon that could make its owner the best of all, bring him to the peak of fame and power and then throw him down. He didn't understand how he managed to comprehend all these, but when his vision was blurred with the objects moving very fast straight up, he wasn't surprised. He just promised to return once again to that strange place.

"Look, it works! Don't worry anymore, Temari-san, he'll be fine soon, the antidote is making its job."

He heard that unknown voice and knew that he was back to the living world again. And he'd almost agreed to join Charon on his boat!

That's it for now.

Here you can find the description of the specific concepts used in this chapter.

Kugutsu no Jutsu - Puppetry technique. Allows the user to attach his chakra strings to the puppet to use it in mid-range and long-range attacks.

Hiruko – Sasori's favorite puppet with a long metal tail. He is usually hidden within it.

Karasu, Kuroari – along with Sanshouo make the first puppet trio Kankuro used