The Chunins, Again...
Distance to Goal
The elders on the council rattled on, discussing various political issues, some more dire then others. One major issue that everyone agreed to be an issue was that a new Kazekage needed to be selected, but nobody had any kind of agreement on who should be selected. The council mentioned the two eldest of Lord Rasa's children, noting the fact the line should pass down as it always had, but the question of whether either were ready, let alone ever be ready came up. A few though questioned whether the position should continue down the line, and noted various issues that others tried to shush.
Outside of this nobody agreed on anything being an issue, although nearly everything had to do with the economic issues within Suna. Baki sat in his chair, listening to the rattling of the older elders, wishing he could roll his eyes at the stupidity of the men, his arms folded together, wondering how well his own issue would go over with the council. The jonin however couldn't help but feel slight pride over the fact Gaara had grown over the last month or so, and only wished that the council could also see the young man's growth.
"Is that the last issue we are needing to discuss."
"No." Baki watched as the older jonin looked up, a few with irritations on their face that one of their kohai had decided to add in an agenda not already planned for the meeting. His eyes took in the looks on every single one of their faces. "One of my students requested permission to take the chunin exams again, specifically the next chunin exams."
One of the elders folded his fingers together. "Well, it would be no problem for Lady Temari or Lord Kankuro, outside of the fact their team currently also consists of Lord Gaara. We can't exactly remove him from the team though, as they're part of the safety net should something go wrong. This is particularly so now that Rasa is gone."
"The one who asked was actually Lord Gaara."
Baki watched as the elders drew their breath, a few looking at each other, the looks of worry rather evident. One or two seemed to have rather amused looks, but it wasn't one of these elders who spoke up. "Are you joking with us?"
The jonin sensei of the fourth's children let his eyebrows raise up. "Do you think I would joke about this kind of thing?"
One of the other elders who was obviously worried tapped his fingers against the table, clearing his throat as he did so. "Well, it must be a joke on Lord Gaara's part. There is no way he could possibly think that we would agree with such a request."
Baki let his eyes look right into the man's eyes. "Actually, I think my student would ask what the difference between now and then is."
The first elder glowered at Baki, not at all pleased with the situation, making Baki realize the man speaking was Joseki. "Difference? We were preparing to attack Konoha, and to use him as a weapon. The last thing we need is for him to completely loose it in yet another village, and he will lose it. That child has a blood lust, doesn't care if he hurts others. That's the way Lord Gaara has always been."
"Perhaps that wasn't the best way to try and argue for Gaara's position." Baki's facial features softened, knowing full well that he had pushed the wrong buttons. The elder however unwittingly gave him a chance to counter. "That may be the way Lord Gaara has been in the past, but his behavior has changed over the last month. You did after all feel fine with sending him to help Konoha when they requested it, and without me going with my students."
One of the two others who favored Gaara lifted their hand in a light manner. "Come on now. Baki has a point. Lord Gaara's behavior has changed drastically, or are you going to say this change in behavior is due to an attempt by our jinchuriki is plotting something?"
Baki winced, wondering if this other council member would actually hinder his argument. Joseki noticed his movement. "Well, is Lord Gaara planning anything? There is a reason behind his request is there not."
"I believe that Lord Gaara sees it as his way of proving himself." The jonin felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, wondering if he would be giving Lord Gaara bad news regarding the request. A silence fell over the room, making Baki wonder if the other elders actually understood the fact Lord Gaara had gained a conscience so to speak. The silence continued, and Baki looked down at the ground, wondering how long it would take for someone else to speak.
One of the council members cleared their throat, looking at the table as if the idea of Gaara wanting to prove himself came across as creepy. "There are other ways to prove that he's a useful weapon to Suna."
Baki felt the corners of his mouth twist up, one of his fingers tapping the top of the table a few times. "What if per say that isn't what Lord Gaara wants to prove?" Baki watched the silence fall over the table, and the men looked at each other, trying to digest what Baki said.
"Lord Gaara works well with his siblings, to a point." Joseki twiddled his fingers together. "So perhaps sending him with Lady Temari and Lord Kankuro wouldn't be a bad idea."
The sensei of the fourth's children let out a sigh. "No. You're not understanding what he wants at all."
Joseki's eyes narrowed. "What Lord Gaara wants doesn't matter. He is after all our jinchuriki, our weapon."
"And perhaps that right there is the problem, that we keep thinking of him as a weapon, and forgetting that he is human." Baki listened to the silence fall over the table, and finally decided it was best to say everything that needed to be said despite the fact he knew none of the council members would agree with him, or only a few if he was lucky. "Lord Gaara wishes to participate in the chunin exams without Lady Temari, and Lord Kankuro, instead working with a new team." The man heard gasps from some of the members. "I'm going to add the fact I believe in my student, and would appreciate it if he were given the chance."
"So is this about proving yourself?" One of the council members let out a snort.
"No. This is about Lord Gaara proving himself." Baki listened to the silence, wondering if the men would actually give in.
"I think..." Joskei folded his fingers together. "I think Lord Baki, that this is something we should speak about, the rest of the council, without you being here to hear what we say."
Baki stood up, and made a slight bow to the men. "I still expect an answer from you."
The man still couldn't expect the council not to try and avoid the subject.