AN: Howling Winds

by ZenosParadox

SPOILERS for Rescue Sasuke Arc. Gaara, Kankuro and Temari help Baki through an Inquisition.

3. Ditching the Paperwork

Summary: Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara help the Leaf nins while Baki tries to maintain his solitary confinement as he awaits execution. Chronicle format. SPOILERS for Rescue Sasuke Arc

HOWLING WINDS
Living on the Edge

Hokage Tower
Solitary Confinement
Baki's View

I sleep well during the night in the dark cell. The furniture is simple and stark, reminiscent of the jonin barracks of Suna, except with a private water closet. Ah, the luxury!

I expected to be treated roughly, even tortured and interrogated. Perhaps they are waiting until my team has left Konoha? Even that thought does not shatter my sense of peace.

I think I'm mostly relieved that it's over--and that Temari isn't mad at me anymore. She really is scarier than Hiroko, but she's also strong and brilliant. Oddly enough, she's the one I worry about emulating her father. I hope nothing happens to make her harden her heart. She's like the beautiful Ice Princess of the folktales, but within her beats a warm and caring heart.

Kankuro will make sure she doesn't become cold and brittle. I think he saved me from that fate, too. It would have been easy to become as cynical as the Kazekage; the man should have spent more time with his son. He brings life to his puppets and those around him. That's what makes me hopeful about Gaara. The Ruling Council in Suna cannot last much longer. We will need a Kazekage and I wish I could have seen that.

The door of the cell opens and I look up from my meditation. The guard who tried to attack me--Atsuo?--carries in a tray of food to place on the table. He says nothing, but I can feel the hate emanating from him.

He glares at me and it turns into a rather silly staring game. I can meet Gaara's death glare; this chunin is a puppy by comparison. Yes, the young fool finally blinks, his eyes are beginning to tear, and the Puppy walks away after spitting into the rice bowl.

At least I'm now satisfied the food is not poisoned. Now why would the Puppy leave the door to the cell unlocked? No wonder he hasn't made jonin. I skim off the top layer of rice and eat the rest. Then I wonder. Is the door unlocked to tempt me to escape or to allow someone else to enter?

- - - - - - - - - - -

On the Trail
Temari

I find the Shadow Boy in a clutch with some red-headed Bimbo in the forest. Honestly, it takes me a moment to realize they aren't making out, but actually struggling. Hn. I have to save his sorry hide for Baki's sake, but I feel some personal satisfaction in whipping the Bimbo away from him. Shikamaru would be fighting a girl again.

I land on the branch and it takes a bit of work to get the information I need out of him. He sounds so morose that I wonder where the boy genius in him is hiding. I should have cast my attack to cut that silly mop of hair off of his head. Maybe that would get his brain working. I bet he just pulls it back like that out of laziness.

My four ponytails, on the other hand, are deliberate and tied with great care. Baki told me when I was just a girl that they come from Suna tradition to enhance the talent of a wind user by invoking the four winds. I felt so proud that he had noticed my hair; my father never said anything good about my appearance. I even boasted that I would master the wind and beat Baki one day. But my sensei didn't laugh or belittle me; he just challenged me to do just that.

Now my challenge is to get this Leaf nin back to his village alive, so I use another gift that Baki gave to me. My blood across the Mitsuki fan activates the contract imbued in its fibers and summons the Kamatari. The deadly scythe of the one-eyed weasel cuts through the forest to destroy the Sound nin. What do you think of that, Shadow Boy?

I snap my fan shut in satisfaction. Shikamaru is safe and we can see to his two comrades who were injured while my brothers do their job. I have no doubt that Kankuro and Gaara will succeed.

The Shadow Boy mutters something about my being scary. I smirk at that. The world needs more scary women.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Hokage Tower
Solitary Confinement
Yugao

I feel like I'm not even breathing as I make my way through the corridor. Stealth is second nature to me now; it's a necessity of being ANBU. I have a promise to fulfill to Hayate and Atsuo has provided the opportunity to act. My friend convinced the Hokage that he wanted to make amends to the Sand nin for his attack yesterday by taking his breakfast to him. I never realized how devious Atsuo could be.

I wait to see if the butcher will take the bait so that I can kill him just as he thinks he's gained his freedom, but the door remains stubbornly shut. The brute must be so dim-witted that he doesn't realize the door is unlocked.

I've waited long enough, so now I follow the alternate plan. How can it be wrong to kill a man already marked for death? I am doing the Hokage a favor.

I fling the door open with one hand even as I pull my sword from its sheath with the other. I see the man sitting in the middle of the room with his back to the door. I will show the Bastard mercy and kill him swiftly, silently.

My blade falls across his neck just as he raises his head. My heart now beats at the thrill of seeing his blood spilling from his body. Hayate is avenged!

But then a strong arm grabs my wrist as the blow follows through and the sand clone disappears. A hand wraps around my throat and I realize I underestimated my foe. He must have been hiding by clinging to the ceiling! I can feel the Bastard's chest against my back and realize his heartbeat is steady, calm.

I hear his deep voice rumbling behind me. "I'll comply with execution, but not assassination."

I struggle vainly to release my throat, but his grip is like iron. Then I hear Atsuo calling, "Yugao!"

The Bastard turns with me and deflects the blow from Atsuo's sword by manipulating my wrist so that the blades clash. I'm trying to kick at the Bastard, but he just captures my leg between his own. I'm nothing but a puppet! My sword swings at Atsuo and I despise the Sand nin for abusing him so cruelly.

Instead of using the sword edge, the Bastard turns it to slap Atsuo's face with the flat of the blade. My friend roars in frustration and I can only watch his rage build. I can't even call a warning for Atsuo to stop as he lunges forward.

The Bastard brings me closer to him as he steps aside, and then uses the flat of my sword blade to spank Atsuo! The force of the blow will leave a bruise; Atsuo's pride will be shattered. As he turns again in rage, a quick blow to his head from the hilt of my sword finally ends it.

And to add to my humiliation, I now hear Iruka's incredulous voice.

"What the hell is going on here? Yugao? What? Atsuo! How?"

I can't reply even though the Bastard releases me and manipulates my wrist so that my sword drops to the floor with a dull clang. I'm gasping for breath and go to check Atsuo. Not dead, but out cold. I clench my fists in frustration, but my fury is short-lived when Iruka turns to me.

The disappointment I see in Iruka's eyes is devastating. Only he, my old teammate, could have penetrated the haze that drove me here to kill the Sand nin. I hear him speaking softly. "Yugao, no. Hayate would not have wanted this."

"The Bastard is a condemned man!" My voice is raspy, but it is my only justification.

"No, Yugao, Marshal Baki is confined to solitary until the Hokage decides whether to call a hearing." Iruka turns to the Suna man and adds, "I came to tell you the latest development."

The Bastard speaks as Iruka bends to collect the swords. I hate how calm and reasonable he sounds. "I thought the matter was settled. Why a hearing?"

Iruka quickly explains that his team from Suna has gone after some Leaf genin led by a rookie chunin. Their success will assure a hearing for the Sand nin.

"No!" I scream the word, but Iruka just kneels beside me and touches my arm. He reminds me that we need to get medical aide for Atsuo, so I nod. I help Iruka get Atsuo between us so that we can leave the cell. He does not offer my sword back to me.

Before we leave, Iruka turns to the Bastard as if an explanation is his due. "Hayate was loved by many in the Konohagakure. Yugao and Atsuo have let grief twist their thinking. Forgive me for not anticipating this."

I bite back my objections to treating this butcher with any respect. Iruka's heart is too gentle to ever be more than a chunin. He can't understand. He's even smiling at the Bastard as he asks, "Why didn't you use this opportunity to escape?"

The Bastard shrugs. "A mountain of paperwork awaits me in Suna."

Iruka actually laughs now. "I will report this to the Hokage. Rest assured that your time away from paperwork will not be disturbed again. I think Lady Tsunade would have understood if you had killed them."

Iruka's tone of voice carries censure to me and I bow my head.

The last words from the Bastard make me hate him even more. "I don't intend to do anything to upset the alliance between Suna and Konoha."

How dare he sound like a man of honor!

- - - - - - - - - - -

On the Trail
Kankuro

Man, this Leaf team is getting its ass kicked! What the hell were they thinking by sending these greenhorns on this mission? And to waste time going after a spoiled brat like the Uchiha? Where's his Sensei? Baki would've hunted me down himself if I'd pulled some stunt like this. I guess the Hokage wasn't kidding when she said they were short-handed.

We leave Temari to help out the Shadow Boy. Hope she remembers to exclude him from her attacks. She still seems pissed off, but at least now she can direct her energies to another target. She doesn't realize it, but Baki has spoiled her over the years. Not coddled her, mind you, but anything that has been in his power to give her, he has. I think that's why Baki didn't tell her why he was coming to Konoha. If anyone could have dissuaded him, it would have been Temari.

I break away from Gaara since he really wants to help Naruto and we haven't caught up to him yet. I hear a whimper and realize the Dog Boy, Kiba, must be ahead. Now there's another loud-mouthed brat, but I like the dog. I always wanted a dog, come to think of it. Kagami's lucky that she can just create a mirror mutt like Souku. Wonder if she'll let him visit me? I'll write her and ask.

Now, I have to see to getting the Dog Boy out of the mess he's in with this Horny Freak. Talk about ugly! Karasu is gorgeous compared to this mug. I divert the strike against the Dog Boy and a quick glance tells me Kiba won't be much help.

But I'm wrong, because Kiba wastes little time expressing surprise and just gives me a rundown on the Horny Freak's abilities. I like that; Temari and Gaara don't waste time, either. I manipulate my puppets with lethal intention.

I've got to make this battle a quick one if I'm gonna get the boy and his dog back to the Konohagakure alive. We'll get that hearing for Baki from the Hokage and he'll figure some way out of it. Suna needs him alive more than Konoha needs his sacrifice. We'll convince the Hokage somehow.

But now I'm focused on my battle. The Horny Freak likes to taunt and tease, so my motivation to just shut the freak up is rising. Kuroari's chest cavity closes on him and then Karasu's knives puncture through the slots. It's over. I'll use some sand blasting to clean it out later. Yeah, I recently improved my skills at manipulating sand with Gaara's help. I think he got tired of cleaning Kuroari out for me.

I look down at Kiba and his mutt and he just nods his head in satisfaction. He doesn't question why a Sand nin is here to help; his main concern is for his dog, Akamaru. I kneel by them and stroke the poor puppy's head. Akamaru whimpers, but still has enough energy to lick my hand. That's all the thanks I really need.

We head back to the Leaf Village. My little bro can take care of himself. I'm confident that Gaara has as much invested in getting Baki back to Suna as the rest of us.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Hokage Tower
Solitary Confinement
Iruka

I open the door to the cell and find Baki juggling three pieces of paper that he's wadded up from a notepad that was left in the room.

"Bored?" I ask as I set the tray with his dinner on the table.

"Fantasizing," Baki explains. "I always wanted to crumple up all those official documents--"

"Copied in triplicate? I get it. Except in my case, it would be my student's homework. I normally teach at the academy."

"That explains it. You sounded like a tutor scolding a student earlier when you dealt with the Panther and the Puppy."

"Ah, you must mean Yugao as the panther. That's an apt description." I feel compelled to explain. "Yugao and Hayate were both on my genin team. Yugao thought I was too much of a prankster and couldn't take things seriously while I thought she was too serious and couldn't enjoy life. Hayate was our balance because he could help me focus while at the same time make Yugao laugh. That's the way he was with everyone, finding a balance."

"I would expect you to be angry with me for killing your friend," observes Baki.

I lean against the table in order to continue. "Frankly, I don't see the point of getting angry; it won't bring Hayate back. I prefer diplomacy over fighting, finding peace over hating. Besides, if I asked you to describe yourself, I bet the first thing you'd say is--"

"I'm just a soldier." Baki obliges my conjecture by producing the label.

"Just as I thought. When I heard you speak to the Hokage it sounded as if you were carrying out what you thought was your duty. I can understand that motivation; that's what any good soldier would do. Besides, I wonder if you didn't do Hayate a favor."

"His illness was terminal? One could not ignore the coughing."

I nod my head. "He and Yugao made jonin when they turned seventeen, but by then I knew that teaching at the academy was my calling. They were set to make ANBU at eighteen, but then Hayate came back from a mission with an infection that was resistant to all treatments. The coughing fits meant he could never become ANBU, but he demanded that Yugao proceed and make them both proud."

The memories flood my mind before I remember I'm talking to Baki. I feel I need to defend her. "And Yugao is very good at her job; her lapse of judgment is not like her. I think Atsuo--well, he's being kept for observation at the hospital and not on account of his injuries. Yugao was officially censured, but we're so short handed that she's been put on duty outside of the village."

"She'll soon have her satisfaction," Baki predicts. "Hayate's illness must have been difficult for her to bear."

"We were relieved that it wasn't contagious, but that didn't help Hayate. The only good thing to come out of it was that Yugao finally realized she loved Hayate. They were more than just lovers, but Hayate was determined not to tie her to dying man, so he balked at marriage."

"I can see why she's after my blood."

"All the anger she's built up against this illness that was killing Hayate was directed at you. But I know that Hayate would have preferred a death in the line of duty rather than by this disease. That's why he was so persistent in looking for Kabuto. Not that Hayate was suicidal, but that by dying in battle, he would beat the disease. I tried to explain this to Yugao, but..."

My words just die out, then I see Baki shrug and say, "I've never been able to figure women out."

The Sand nin actually sighs before continuing. "You asked before if I regretted Hayate's death. When he was just a threat I eliminated, I was satisfied that I had fulfilled my duty to my country. Now you've made him a person, and I do regret that your village has lost such a man. But he made a mistake in following Kabuto and that I cannot change. If I had not killed him, he would've died at Kabuto's hand."

"Fair enough," I reply and store this information away. Oddly, I feel some of my own grief lifting from me.

"You said you teach at the academy. How does that work? We don't use an academy in Suna; it's all handled through instruction by family or private tutors, then jonin are assigned a genin team."

His question gets me talking for an hour before I realize that I'm violating the solitary confinement edict. But the Sand nin was curious and it's not like I'm revealing anything that we haven't tried to share before with other Shinobi Nations. The ninja academy we operate doesn't just teach how to perform ninjutsu, but but why the techniques work.

We value talent and power, but the social ties the Leaf academy students build outside of their family units helps to bind us all together. A girl of noble birth, like Hinata Hyuuga, can be in the same class as an outcast like Naruto Uzumaki.

I see Baki smiling as I end my exposition on the value of academy training and I feel a little embarrassed. Then he says something that makes me regret he's a dead man walking.

"Perhaps you could put this information about the academy and its structure on paper? Send it to Sabaku no Temari in Suna. Tell her that I asked her and her brothers to make a Suna Academy a reality."

I'm flattered by his request and proud to be of service, but it saddens me to think he won't see this dream happen. "You place a lot of faith in your students. If they succeed and the hearing occurs, you'll be able to tell them about the academy yourself."

"A hearing won't change my fate," replies Baki. "I want them home in Suna, not in Konoha fretting over my execution."

I nod in understanding. Why couldn't we have had this talk about the academy during the chunin exams? We were allies with Sand, but that alliance only existed on a scroll. I hope the younger generation can make the alliance between Leaf and Sand real.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

On the Trail
Gaara

I am left alone to find Naruto, but instead I meet--what is his name? All that comes to mind are Baki's nicknames for the Leaf nins: The Jolly Green Jonin and his Little Green Sprout.

KILL HIM...Kill Him...kill him...

I push Shukaku's voice away and save the Sprout. At one time I wanted to kill him, but now I protect him. I believe Baki would find this encounter quite ironic.

I'm thankful that I don't have a sensei like the Jolly Green Jonin. I would have killed the man within minutes of meeting him.

KILL HIM...Kill Him...kill him...

I have enough noise going on in my mind. Baki is mostly calm and quiet, and I realize that his solid presence has been important in my life. We--I still need him, especially now that I am learning to fight for others, for my village. But first, I have to get these genin back safely.

I finally remember the Sprout's name. Rock Lee. He tells me he holds no grudges for the past and I wonder at that. I deliberately broke his body, then hunted him to kill him as he was helpless, yet he is willing to put that aside. Naruto has gone ahead after the Uchiha, so the best I can do is to make sure this Bone Wright does not follow him.

KILL HIM...Kill Him...kill him..Kill Him...KILL HIM!

DAMN IT! WOULD YOU SHUT THE HELL UP AND LET ME WORK! YOU'LL GET YOUR BLOOD, BUT NOT FROM ROCK LEE!

My exchange with Shukaku fades and I face my opponent. I hold nothing back, but the Bone Wright is powerful. He is obsessed with Orochimaru and I find this attachment pathetic. But I understand how loneliness works; even a demon becomes welcome.

I find it ironic that although I'm considered invincible in Suna, every time I set foot in Konoha it's proven wrong. I use everything I've learned to destroy this foe. I shield us, I attack, I bury the Bone Wright in sand.

But then the spears sprout through the ground leaving a forest of bare bone. I levitate a cushion of sand to take me and Lee out of danger. Everything is still and I think it's over when suddenly a gargoyle erupts next to us. The bone spear is at my eye and for a moment I feel regret that I have failed my siblings and my sensei, but the attack abruptly stops.

BLOOD...Blood...blood...

The Bone Wright is dead, but nature provided the lethal blow. He coughs and blood drips from his mouth. Shukaku rages in me for a moment at being cheated out of this death, but I push the demon back. I don't give a damn how the bastard died; the Leaf nin is alive and Naruto is free to pursue the Uchiha.

Lee is hurt, I'm drained, so the best thing I can do is to get him back to the Konohagakure. We rest in the forest for a moment and bicker about talent versus luck in battle. Then we bicker about the Jolly Green Jonin. I shudder to think what Baki would look like in green spandex--why am I sounding like Kankuro? My brother has obviously had an insidious influence on me. At least no one would call Baki a fool. A moron about women, yes, but then I'm beginning to think that applies to all men.

KILL HIM...Kill Him...kill him...

Every day I live with this litany ringing in my mind. I have learned a mantra of my own, one that Naruto taught me. Protect the precious ones. Protect...

A pug ninja dog suddenly appears and asks us a question. He works for the Copy Ninja who is on the trail of his students. I wish Kankuro were here; he'd be excited to see this. Rock Lee tells the pug where Naruto went and in a flash, the dog is gone.

The Sensei will soon find his students and whether from Leaf or Sand, that's how it should be.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Hokage Tower
Solitary Confinement
Baki

I wake up abruptly at dawn when I hear her wind whisper. Wasn't it a dream? I sit up to capture Temari's words again. The Leaf nins are back, two are critically wounded. She's at the Konoha hospital awaiting news on the outcome so they can demand a hearing of my case.

I dare not contact her; I don't want to encourage her or her brothers to stay in Konoha. But I find I am smiling as I lay my head down again. Most men find Temari too assertive; she speaks her mind and her honesty can make her seem harsh. I can imagine she's leaving quite an impression at the hospital.

Perhaps the hearing is what my team needs to give them closure. I am now restless because I don't want to hope. The hearing couldn't change the outcome; I killed the proctor. I go through a familiar series of kata and wish I had a wooden sword in my hand.

Soon I am literally running around the room in circles, up the wall, across the ceiling, down the next wall, to the floor, up the wall...

"I had a mouse once that liked his running wheel whenever he got nervous," says Iruka when he delivers a breakfast tray.

I flip back onto the floor and stand to face him. The Dolphin is smiling openly and I find his good humor is contagious. I've never been compared to a rodent before.

"What happened to the mouse?" I ask, fully expecting him to say the creature died from physical exhaustion.

Iruka smiles. "Funny thing about that mouse. One day, I found his lid was ajar and his cage empty. About three months later, I was walking in the woods with my genin team when we saw the oddest thing. We found a colony of mice, but instead of having agouti fur, some were pure white. And the largest of these mice looked at me for a moment before scampering away."

"Do you make up these stories for your students?" I can't help but ask.

Iruka frowns at me with mock offense because I can see a twinkle in his eye. "That would set a bad example; I always tell the truth, especially where mice and men are concerned."

"Temari sent me a wind whisper," I admit. "She says the genin are back, two seriously injured."

"I'll remind her that you're in solitary confinement," said Iruka, "but I can confirm that you have the latest facts. Kakashi found Naruto, but they failed to bring back Sasuke Uchiha. Still, Shikamaru did bring back his team alive."

"With the help of Sand," I feel compelled to insert. I am proud of my team. Their actions should solidify our alliance with Fire Country.

"Without your team, the medics would have been retrieving three corpses," confirms Iruka. "Temari rescued Shikamaru, Kankuro saved Kiba, and Gaara protected Rock Lee."

"The Little Green Sprout? That's the boy Gaara fought in the first round, mutilated him, tried to kill him later in the hospital. It's interesting how things change."

"Yes, but in this case, it's for the good." Iruka adds, "I suspect your team will want to talk to you, so you might have company for lunch."

"Don't you Leaf nins know the definition of solitary confinement?" I ask.

"I like to think we know the meaning of justice; that's more important," the Dolphin explains without apology. "The Hokage started making arrangements for a hearing as soon as your team got back. She'll be busy with the new patients this morning, so I think she forgot to tell them."

"Forgot or is letting them sweat it?"

Iruka grins. "I recommend you get cleaned up. Lady Tsunade thought you'd want the process expedited, so it's likely to be as early as this afternoon."

I can only nod in agreement. I'm not afraid of dying, but I find that there is much in life that I'd like to do now, new goals I would make for myself. I find solace in the fact that I can leave these dreams for my team.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Konohagakure Hospital
Temari

I send Kankuro and Gaara to find a room and food for us while I await the outcome for the Leaf nins at the hospital. I would argue that they were alive when we got to the Leaf Village and so have fulfilled our end of the bargain, but we'll have a stronger case to present to the Hokage once we know they'll recover.

I wonder what they're doing to Baki. Will we find him beaten or tortured in spite of what the Hokage promised? He didn't respond to my wind whisper. I understand he needs to be cautious, but, damn it, I would feel better if I could just hear his voice.

I try to get my mind off of my Sensei and turn my attention to Shikamaru. He's whining. I can't stand whining. Hell, if anyone has a right to whine, it's me, but Baki taught us better than that. These Leaf nins are so spoiled!

The Shadow Boy needs a good dope slap. Did he think his brilliance was all they needed to go up against their foes? And to hell with the Uchiha, we brought them back alive! His comrades are receiving care from the Hokage; does he have no faith in women?

I see him about to cry and ask if they have no training in emotional control. Baki made sure we understood the possible outcome of any mission. No shinobi is indispensable; no shinobi is irreplaceable.

But I realize that I envy Shikamaru his freedom to shed tears. I cried for my father, the bastard who used his own children to invade an ally, because even then, I still loved him. I'd be thrilled to have the luxury to break down now, have someone tell me it was going to be all right. But you see, Baki is that person who would comfort me, reassure me, make me feel secure. Losing Baki is as unthinkable to me as losing one of my brothers.

I walk out and run into the Hokage. Before I can open my mouth, she holds up her hand for silence and simply says, "Baki will have his hearing this afternoon. Now go away and quit making my chunin cry."

I walk away before she can see the tears of relief streaming from my eyes.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Solitary Confinement
Hokage Tower
Atsuo

When I kill him, I will ease everyone's pain, all who loved Hayate will praise my actions. The Hokage wouldn't punish me when so many want the Sand nin dead.

Don't laugh, mustn't laugh, must be silent. Silence is good until...

When I kill him, I'll be a hero. The Hokage will give me a commendation. She'd promote me directly to jonin! No one will laugh at me then for being spanked like some child.

Don't growl, mustn't growl, must be silent. Silence is good until...

When I kill him, Yugao will be mine. She'll kiss me in gratitude and then I'll tell her that I love her. I can make her forget Hayate; I'm strong and whole. I can show her pleasures she'd never imagine. She'll give up being in ANBU, she'll devote herself only to me.

Don't moan, mustn't moan, must be silent. Silence is good until...BOOM!

- - - - - - - - - - -

Hokage Tower
Stairwell to Basement
Iruka

BOOM!

I stand paralyzed on the stairs as the explosion reverberates from the basement. I feel Kankuro run into me and then the girl yells his name.

"BAKI!"

The Sand nins practically trample me as they run down the rest of the steps. The dust still swirls in the corridor until Temari generates a wind gust to clear our view.

"He's buried in the rubble," says Kankuro. He turns to Gaara with a plea in his eyes. No words pass between them.

The sand coils out of Gaara's gourd and begins to move the rubble. We see a body with the head crushed, the broken limbs bending oddly as if each bone were articulated like a spine. Kankuro uses chakra strings to carefully turn the body. Atsuo.

"That bastard!" Kankuro flings the body to the side and directs, "Keep digging."

His brother moves more rubble from what was the door and Temari scrambles inside the room as soon as there's a small opening. By the time we make the hole bigger and look inside, we see her holding Baki's body.

She's clutching him to her and her voice sounds anguished. "Don't you dare leave me alone to take care of my brothers! And to babysit the twins by myself. Or that mountain of paperwork. Don't you dare die on me!"

I see Baki's hand twitch, then his eye flutters open. "Temari."

She leans closer to hear his words.

"Did you have to mention the paperwork?"

Temari thumps his chest with a fist in response, but it looks like an excuse to hug the man.

"Sis, you are one scary woman," observes Kankuro.

"And bossy," Gaara adds, to which Kankuro nods.

I finally reach Baki and check him quickly. No broken bones, no sign of internal damage. "How did you survive the blast?"

"Wind shield," he replies as Temari helps him sit up. "I've never created a concave one."

I look at a remnant of the explosive tag and recognize the kanshouki tekidan. They bore through a structure and send a blast outward while creating a safety buffer behind them. Baki was able to reverse this with his jutsu.

"Damn, Baki, you are one lucky bastard," says Kankuro who kneels to inspect the debris.

"I'm getting called that a lot lately," replies the Sand nin.

"Luck is part of any battle," observes Gaara.

"So is preparation. What tipped you off?" asks Temari.

He winces a bit before explaining. "I heard an eerie laughter in the hall. Since I don't believe in ghosts, I assumed it was another avenger. The tags struck the door just as I made the seals."

"Atsuo must have slipped away from the hospital with all the commotion there this morning." I sigh. Things are certainly exciting when the Sand nins are in town. "We'll go straight to the Hokage's office and wait there until the hearing is called in the Council chambers."

Baki rises to his feet, takes a deep breath, and immediately assumes his stoic demeanor. I smile as I see his team mimic his actions. The Suna delegation is steadfast and I can't help but hope that there is a solution with a positive outcome for them.

End Chapter 3

Author Notes:

Iruka was perfect for this chapter and I enjoyed using his character. His genin team (Iruka, Hayate, Yugao) is not canon, but they were listed as the same age (22-23), so I don't think it's much of a stretch. And the Leaf nins are not incompetent; folks have other things on their mind than guarding a Sand nin who willingly gave himself up to Konoha.

Atsuo was an OC created for the purpose of menacing Baki. We'll see Yugao one more time, though. The pug dog is Pakkun, but the encounter with Gaara is not canon.

I gave quick descriptions of each of the three opponents that Sand nins faced. I hope the voice was sufficiently different to keep them in character. I figure Temari finds Shikamaru annoying at this time, but don't assume that's a prelude to anything more. I also thought Kankuro would be the type to like pets, etc, in that his puppets are not dolls so much as manifestations of pets. No slash is intended here or between Gaara and Lee, but with all three Sand nins, an appreciation for their counterparts is seeded.

Thekanshouki tekidan is not canon, but roughly translates into buffer grenade, which is the closest thing to what I imagined.

Thanks for reading; it's nice to see familiar names on the review list. I'm glad to see the support this story is getting, but I guess I'd feel that way even if I only got one review. I'll try to update by Thanksgiving. We have a hearing to listen in on next.