Through the village hidden in the sand swept a gentle wind of deserts, as if it was the hot breath of the sun that evaporated every drop of water.
An unexpected heat wave had haunted the wind empire.
It was already the dawn of the night, but the thermometer still showed a whopping 32 degrees.
The stars shone on the dark night sky and dipped the spherical buildings of gold-brown sandstone into silvery light.
There were lights still flickering here and there, a testimony of the sleepless, who suffered from the burning heat.
"Some tea, venerable Kazekage?"
Rasa Sabakuno turned away from the idyllic window view and reached for his cup.
Finely worked, from pure porcelain with filigree patterns.
"With pleasure.The cactus blossom tea is excellent", he replied coolly.
The employee, who was holding a tray, only nodded and took a dainty porcelain pot, pouring the reddish-brown liquid into the cup.
There was no thanks and he didn't expect any.
He might be his superior, but he had the village in custody and the stuff for the leader.
"Do you expect a visit today?", the subordinate asked politely with a casual undertone.
"Yes, I have hurriedly sent to Baki. Call him in, he's already there."
The Kazekage made a brusque hand gesture.
The man didn't wonder how he knew that again, made a respectful bow, and then rushed out of the door.
A few seconds later, the sliding door glided aside and a Baki in sweaty Suna vest appeared on the threshold.
He bowed briefly and entered the room.
Exhausted, he sat down on one of the bamboo mats, which were available to visitors who visited the head of the village for an audience.
"Master Kazekage, I immediately canceled the evening training of my proteges, to be able to be here instantly.What can I do for you?", he panted, wiping his sweaty egghead.
His red-striped, wavy face painting had already gone completely.
The Kazekage wasn't easy to see, a glass slice separated him from his visitor.His countenance was more a sketchy outline, concealed by a white cloth that reached over his nose.
Only one slit slot for two narrow eyes was free, which flashed their counterpart expectantly.
They lay in the shadow of the rhombus-shaped, blue-and-white Kage hat, with the wind sign and the shoulder-length cloth, which gave authority and dignity to its wearer.
A long, white, flowing garment concealed Rasa Sabakuno's strong, tall body.
He was still quite young, barely thirty-five years old and had been Baki's tutor in his time.
This cleared his throat.
It was odd to him that his former master fell into such a long silence.
"Your team must leave Sunagakure immediately.
More and more letters of complaint were submitted to our commission.
Above all by the numerous, shocking murders, there are great unrests in the village, which are directed against your group, Baki", replied the Kage.
The Sensei looked troubled. Of course Gaara's unrestrained blood thirst had come to his ears, he had already experienced it himself.
But apparently the incidents had taken over - a delicate issue.
Actually it was an unwritten law not to talk about it, but it was still on everyone's lips:
There was a dark gulf between the legendary Kazekage, one of the five most powerful men of the Ninja empires and his children.
Almost never had they seen him.
For them, he was the unattainable Kage on his throne, the man who commanded the destinies of the village, the man who signed the death sentences, and the man of whom they had only known anger and hatred over the years.
The word "father" was not present in their vocabulary.
Some rumored that Sabakuno was insane.
Baki believed in the rumors.
Who else would voluntarily use his own son as Jinchuurinki? And also only for the reason to upgrade its own country militarily?
No one in mind.
No doubt Sabakuno was very strong as a Shinobi, but still a cruel, cold-hearted man, as was shown here again.
"How do you imagine that?
Do you really know what you're saying?", Baki asked, bewildered.
A surge of nervousness arose in him.
His gently trembling hand drew back the white turban, his cloth covering an eye, not unlike the bedouins' head-dresses.
"Of course", answered the 4th generation, and even the practiced ear of the Jonin couldn't hear a trace of regret in his voice, which decided with provocative serenity about the future of his three children.
"And... how can I tell them?", Baki asked tense, trying to change something. But he already knew that the Yondaime would stick to his decision.
And he hadn't deceived himself.
"To give it an answer seems to me superfluous."
The Shinobi knew this tone from his former Sensei.
Now, extreme caution was required.
"I just meant", Baki began, and dared a last, desperate push. "Perhaps we shouldn't act hastily, perhaps it would be better -"
"Perhaps it would be better for you to keep your mouth shut", the Kazekage replied irritably. "And, if it is new to you: Not we decide, but I."
The Jonin bit his brittle, sausage-like lips.
There he talked about the future of three good children (or rather two good children), and Sabakuno only thought of his own plans in favor of his power games.
"I..."
"Be quiet!"
Baki was visibly demotivated, but it didn't show it.
Now all hope was in vain to turn the fate of his most promising disciples.
He had just wanted to protect them.
Although - was the village hidden under the sand still a safe place?
The majority of the inhabitants detested the three deeply (due to Gaara's actions, which spread terror and horror throughout Sunagakure).
The unrighteousness of the story was that Temari and Kankuro, his two older siblings, were also marginalized and felt the deep hatred of the people.They were avoided by everyone, as if they were impure lepers; a painful realization.
The Shinobi sighed resignedly and nodded slowly.
Maybe the idea wasn't so bad.
"Where are they going?"
"As I see, you have become friends with my order.
Good for you.
Regarding your question:
Konohagakure seems to me to be perfect." The voice of Kage didn't tolerate any contradiction.
"Konoha, why so far?", Baki didn't understand the world anymore.
I thought, just out of the village.And why a ninja village?
"Because."
The answer couldn't have been more concise.
"All right. Of course." The Jonin struggled to look more respectful than he was.
"After how many weeks can we go back?"
His heart contracted when he thought of how long he would be separated from his beloved desert.
"Back?" The Yondaime sounded as if it hadn't occurred to him.
"It seems to me that a year of distance will suffice, don't you think?"
"Why, surely." Baki suppressed the mute outcry of indignation that rose in him.
In the meantime he had only one wish:
Get away from here.
"Can I do anything else for you?"
Sabakuno took a deep sip from the teacup and dabbed his lips slowly and carefully with a silk napkin. A normal activity, only the slightly fanatical sparkle in his eyes reminded Baki that his ancestor wasn't a rational man.
Then he leaned back comfortably - while the Shinobi was still waiting for him in his sweat.
"You could actually do something for me."
"Yes?"
"Leave the ground under my feet!"
"Very well. Venerable feet; I mean, venerable ground", Baki stammered, rising quickly.
He bowed, and walked through the room, muttering: Venerable cheese-feet, probably. Bah...!
"Baki?"
Already with the hand on the brightly polished door knob, the Jonin turned again and was glad that the 4th generation could not recognize his facial expressions.
"You don't need to make any preparations, and your team will go on the journey alone."
"Without me?", Baki pushed out.
"You have captured it. Your astonishment surprises me every time a new."
"But why?", the Shinobi sat down.
"Well, I just felt like it." The fabric rustled behind the glass, probably the Kage shrugged. "The group consists of a battle-tested ninja, there will be no complications. What are you afraid of, man?"
"You can't do that!", Baki almost lost his usually so leisurely restraint. "That..."
"Oh, be quiet. It disgusts me to keep the conversation with you for longer. Will you already leave, or are you going to question my order?"
"No." The Jonin pressed his lips forcibly. After each conversation, he had to skip his frustration at his training. And now this one question was burning on his tongue again.
"But how am I to tell Temari, Kankuro and Gaara?"
"If you don't have the courage to tell the truth, just lie. What is unclear about this? Sometimes I wonder if you are a professional ninja or not."
Baki pushed the door aside with the last force to escape the bizarre nightmare.
"Henceforth!", the Yondaime urged him impatiently, adding mockingly, "And don't draw such a face, you wimp!"
What an asshole..., Baki ran it illegaly through his head as he hurried along the rough wall, weakened by the conversation, and slowly slid down the stairs, while the mad laughter of the Kazekage rang in his ears...