It was nightfall when the politicians of the village were settled, as it had taken an extended period of time to gather up the members of the council. Of course, they were understandably flustered, perhaps with bruised prides. It had been a long time since any of them had been at the blunt of any shinobi attack, especially something as extreme as chemical warfare. It had even been enough to draw out the elder, Chiyo, who had vowed to permanently isolate herself from the village's affairs.
Upon being cured, the only information they had received was that the poison was from an unknown person or persons and that, somehow, their Kazekage (who had returned a day later than he informed his brother he would, which had already caused concern) had found someone who was capable of making the antidotes for it.
Then there was the unexplained capture of Sasori within their borders, after the Akasuna member had not been seen for over two decades.
In short? Gaara had a lot of blanks to fill in. Several of which he was not keen on informing anyone.
Baki and Kankuro, being dedicated Shinobi, as always, were the first to greet Gaara in the meeting hall. They exchanged their concerns for each other's well being, and Kankuro asked why it had taken him so long to get back from wherever it was he had gone. Gaara managed to avoid that question by saying he would inform the whole council. Despite the lack of crucial knowledge between the three, the encounter had the typical muffled affection to it, and Gaara was relieved beyond belief to see the two well.
Shukaku, who for a while had been placing imaginary bets on whether or not the puppeteer could actually save the majority of the village in time, gave a snort and settled back into the recesses of his container's mind. Some few people had died. Most were alive, and the fun was over once the old men sat down to talk.
Gaara sat in his casual clothing (that he hadn't changed in three days; he felt filthy) at one end of the table, looking tired, if anything. The conversation amongst the other council men was sparse. Really, there was no other issue that took priority over the current ones, and their Kazekage and their newly returned elder were the only ones with any comprehension of what was going on.
One of the councilmen gave a rattling hack, which turned out to be the aging equivalent of clearing his throat. This one reminded Chiyo – sitting a few rows down – of a fat, graying hound, his cheeks loose and drooping and his eyes baggy, his body almost too big for his chair. Every time he moved, it seemed to groan under his weight. Fortunately, he didn't move often. His voice was rough when he spoke, as though his words were produced by rubbing sandpaper together. Gravely, low, chafing at the ears.
"We are gathered here today-" Cough. "-to discuss the matter of-" Cough cough hack. "-the recent attack upon Sunagakure."
With that, he slumped back in his seat, clearly exhausted.
Another man, this one with a feeble, breathy voice that wavered rather severely when he used it, continued the opening remarks. He, too, had a face that seemed to hang off of his skull, though he was thin and sticklike, sharply contrasting to his fellow. His nose whistled faintly as he took a breath to speak, and he hand he lifted to accent his words trembled. "Though the village has been healed of its ailments, with only a handful of deaths," Another airy breath. "The question still remains within the council of the identity and intentions of the perpetrator."
Chiyo nearly scoffed at the twig-like old man. The question only remained in part of the council – if they had no information on the 'perpetrator', as he had so eloquently put it, they'd be sending out shinobi to search instead of holding a meeting with a group of elders far dustier than she would ever allow herself to be. They were gathered in this ancient stone room because there was information to be shared. She could see the curiosity burning in the eyes of the assembly.
Her dark eyes flicked to Gaara.
She would wait for him to speak before revealing what little she knew – after all, she was quite certain he had a good deal more to confess than she.
Gaara was still in his seat, his attention politely following from one speaker to another, as was the courtesy in the meeting hall. He had known the elders since he was competent enough to recognize faces, although he hadn't learned their names until much later. Up until the Chuunin exams—his entire life was beginning to be divided by that event—they had been objects of his sheer disgust. Useless, aging relics that somehow held power over the weaker-willed beings in the village. But that view had grudgingly faded, and he was used to them now.
His breath caught in his throat almost noisily when the second of the elders gave information that was news to him. A handful of deaths? There had been casualties?
His eyes were widened, and for a moment he stared forward, looking through the people sitting across from him.
The other's statement was his cue to begin explaining himself, but still.
He hadn't known anyone had died.
He forced the shock off of his face, his gaze finally focusing to the people around him. And he began.
"Four days ago, while a short distance outside Sunagakure's walls, I encountered a shinobi I identified as Sasori. He later confirmed that he was affiliated with the organization Akatsuki." Had this meeting been more prepared, Gaara might have arranged for someone to pass out papers containing the information Konoha had given them about the Akatsuki. But, unfortunately, it wasn't, and there was little to know about the Akatsuki anyways. "Initially, I did not engage him. Instead, he approached me and proposed that I return with him. He expressed his organization's intentions to extract the Shukaku from me."
Now, the story turned sour. So he did not pause to allow the others to question what his response was – he went ahead and said it.
"I agreed to come along with him. He directed me to return to Sunagakure and inform someone close to me that I would be gone for an extended period of time."
The more he said, the more idiotic he felt for making those choices.
The only sound in council room was the hiss of the elders' breathing. A few of them were stunned, their eyebrows lifted in a way that made the skin on their foreheads fold, their mouths hanging open. A few more seemed aggravated, frowning as they listened to the story – whether their scowls were directed at the Kazekage and his choices or the absent puppeteer was impossible to determine. Others leaned forward, listening intently so as not to miss anything. Those that were left were in silent stupors, either thinking or (in one case) sleeping.
Between Baki and Kankuro, the differences in their concerns were made evident. Baki had long been his teacher, and had been part of the council since he was Kankuro's age, so his expression slid from disbelief to disappointment.
Baki would lecture him on his choices, of course. Gaara could practically hear him now, but that was mainly because he had been lecturing himself over and over again about this.
Kankuro, however, seemed more concerned than anything. Sasori was an S-ranked criminal, and his thoughts were currently more occupied about Gaara encountering him. That was before the young Kazekage got to the part where Kankuro was in the story.
Chiyo narrowed her eyes, disappointed by the boy to say the least. She'd expected him to have a bit more sense than that.
But she said nothing. Despite herself, she wanted to hear more about the antics of her grandson preceding his capture...Though she told herself that she would keep her mouth shut only because it would be unbecoming to lecture the red-haired youth on proper decision making in the middle of a council meeting. She'd save that for later, beyond the public eye. Then she could howl at him as loudly as she pleased.
For now, she would listen.
Apparently, the hound-like councilman had a slightly different idea. He cleared his throat – the sound of it rough and phlegmmy – and asked in a grating, deep voice that was thick with disapproval, "I don't suppose you gave any thought to the consequences of-"
His critique was interrupted by his characteristic fit of coughing, during which a woman far older than Chiyo chose to interrupt.
Her skin had the powdery softness of a peach, albeit paper thin and deeply lined, and not quite as loose and pouchy as that of the others. Her cotton-white hair was thin and delicate, framing her round face in a curtain that drifted over her shoulders. The corners of her eyes crinkled when she smiled at the Kazekage. Clearly, she hoped to ease any hurt he may have sustained from the other's biting comment. "And who did you decide to tell about your venture?" She inquired gently, folding her thin, veined hands atop the table.
Gaara's brother would not abandon him so easily. In response to the second question presented to the table (the first would be ignored; everyone expected Gaara to answer that soon enough) he stood up from his seat.
"Gaara told me that he would be distancing himself from the village for a day," a pause, and both siblings locked eyes. Kankuro was waiting for him to explain further, to make this lie feel less like a betrayal. With that, the elder sibling sat down again, to allow Gaara to continue.
Gaara couldn't make excuses for the choice he made.
He also couldn't tell them the real reason why he had agreed to it. 'I agreed to follow him due to my own self-interests.'
"I was unaware the magnitude of the position I was in. I acted without fully accessing the situation, and Sasori was permitted to enter the village. There, I believe he implanted several canisters of the poisons."
There was a muted chorus of murmurs and whispers, most revolving around the fact that a ninja who was known to be dangerous had – somehow – been allowed to wander about in the village. He'd come how close to the sleeping, unguarded villagers? He'd planted what amongst the buildings? He must've been unattended for it to happen without the Kazekage's notice. How incredibly reckless. Just reckless...
Again, the grandmotherly elder intervened.
"And after you left?" She pressed him, and the table grew silent. Despite their growing discontentment at the choices of their young village leader, they were curious as to how the events played out. How was it, exactly, that captor had become captive?
Chiyo continued to look on in silence.
"We both left Sunagakure, and he intended to head to River Country. On the way there we fell into conflict, and he incapacitated me. I was unaware of it at the time, but he chose then to detonate the poison canisters. He continued onto River country, where I regained consciousness and engaged him again."
This was another part where he chose to omit one fine detail.
The village did not need to know of Shukaku's involvement. It was another irresponsible choice, but it was ironically the most effective one he had made.
For a moment his gaze turned to Chiyo. He distantly wondered if she would want to know what exactly had happened.
"I was able to disarm him." To Chiyo that would have an obvious and rather literal meaning, "And I returned to the village."
Now here was the issue that would certainly raise the most controversy.
"When I arrived, I found Sunagakure in a state of crisis due to his poisons. I knew Sasori was capable of producing antidotes, so I was forced to make a deal with him. He would provide antidotes for the population, and I would release him before our shinobi would recover enough to stop him."
There was silence around the table, this time. Absolute silence.
When a bent and withered elder broke it, his voice shook more than it should have.
"Surely you did not mean to...to go through with this deal, Kazekage." He almost insisted, glancing around the table as he spoke. "A missing nin could not possibly be allowed to...to go free." Nods and murmurs of agreement. The atmosphere was changing to one of delicacy and care – no one was sure what they believed or wanted to believe about the red-haired boy who sat at the head of the table.
No one, with the exception of an individual who was quite involved in the whole affair.
Chiyo's hands clenched where they rested on her knees beneath the table, and she gritted her teeth. It was a promise that would've been considered a clever way to bend her grandson to suit the village's needs...had the boy not intended to keep it.
Gaara, you are the kage of fools.
Kankuro glanced back and forth between his brother and the council.
A deal with Sasori that persuaded him to help the village? Initially, Kankuro took this the wrong way. It was commendable that Gaara had managed to procure that kind of bargain from him. Admittedly, that kind of deceit seemed...unlike Gaara...
But then, of course, the young puppeteer took notice of everyone's doubt, and the quavering question that lingered in the air.
Had Gaara...seriously intended to let Sasori go?
The same sort of thought simultaneously entered the minds of both Baki and Kankuro.
Perhaps all he had learned from that Uzumaki Naruto had made Gaara...too sympathetic.
Gaara's stillness did not shift, and he did not readily avert his eyes from those around him. But on the inside he was squirming like a teenager forced to admit a grievous fault to his furious parents.
Finally, he managed what was probably a very unsatisfying answer.
"Obviously, he wasn't allowed to go free."
"Which brings us to now," Chiyo, in a small effort to spare the boy the probing questions that lingered on the lips of the aged council, divulged what little information she had. "The village is, as stated before, healed. Casualties were minimal. The one responsible for it – Sasori – has been captured and put in confinement. We have the Kazekage to thank for that. Were it not for the decisions he made, regardless of what the circumstances may have been at the time, it's entirely possible that Sasori would still be wandering in the desert, free to do as he pleased."
The drooping, flabby councilman thought it apt to give his input.
"The Kazekage said that he had a conflict with the-" Hack cough cough."-rogue, and that was when he set off the bombs. Is it not entirely-" Cough. "-possible that the village would have been untouched were it not for his involvement?" He gestured to the boy, the layers of his prodigious stomach jiggling.
"I suspect," She glanced pointedly around a doubtful council, her dark eyes narrowing. "He would have attacked the village whether or not he was let into it. It is not in his nature to let something he despises go unscathed. But, were it not for his involvement," She nodded at Gaara. "We would have no idea who had launched the attack and why."
"But-"
"The point of the matter," Chiyo was glaring now, wearied by this line of questioning. "Is not what was done, but what there is still yet to do."
Mutters of agreement broken out, and the few speculating whispers were silenced.
What to do indeed.
You mean, had it not been for you, Sasori would still be wandering the desert, free to do as he pleased. Gaara corrected Chiyo in his thoughts. Despite her words, he found himself surprisingly grateful that she would say such a thing, as she had no reason to help him save face. Especially since he really had been caught attempting to escort Sasori out of the village. But perhaps she was just trying to get this over with so she could talk to the council about Sasori's fate. Fine by him. He was glad to have rest from explaining what he had done in the past week (although he knew he would have to explain again and again to his siblings and his teacher).
To this Gaara looked to Chiyo. He had no suggestions to how the captive should be handled. At this point in time, he didn't want to think of it. In all likelihood, Chiyo had an idea of how to deal with her grandson, didn't she?
"I'm sure you are all aware of how missing-nin are handled." Chiyo continued, folding her hands atop the stone table. "They are put in confinement, questioned if there is a possibility they may divulge important information, and then, once their usefulness had exhausted itself...executed."
A ripple of nods, come confirming and some agreeing. Yes, they were quite familiar with the processing procedure of rogues. Yes, they all thought it quite suitable.
"We've already done the first of the three, and I seriously doubt he will have anything to say to anyone here about the Akatsuki organization. So," She leaned back in her chair, regarding her audience flatly. "I suggest we move on to the final step."
"Are you sure?" The grandmotherly elder inquired, doubt playing over her face. "Perhaps if you spoke to him, he-"
"I assure you, he would say no more to me than anyone else on this council. Less, I suspect." Chiyo responded coldly, her mouth twisted into a grimace.
The curiously talkative old man with the gravely voice and expanse of stomach gave his opinion on the matter quite bluntly: "I say we-" Cough. "-kill him. As soon as possible."
Chiyo's proposal struck Gaara speechless. Kill him? Kill Sasori without even bothering to attempt to question him? And somehow members of the council were willing to go along with it, even though it was obvious it was based on an old woman's grudge?
Perhaps it was out of guilt, and of the slightest bit of gratitude he felt he owed Sasori—but for now, Gaara spoke, questioning the logic of such a wasteful killing.
"We manage to capture a member of an organization we know near nothing about, and you suggest we kill him?" The slightest tone in his voice was incredulous, but his eyes were blank as he looked to Chiyo. "No arrangements to even attempt to pry any information from him?"
He looked back over to the council, "When I was with him, he was slightly disposed to tell me some things of his organization. Most important being that after being captured by the enemy, his Akatsuki may not be inclined to take him back under its wing if he returns. That gives me reason to believe he may talk. If you all think it is a wasted effort to use our country's interrogators on him, I'll I go and talk to him."
Chiyo did not bother to sheathe her glare. There was no point in hiding the fact that she would be more than agreeable about killing her grandson – there was nothing left in him of the boy she'd cared for with the exception of the mystery of his face, which (though she was admittedly curious about it) she would not delay execution to solve. He was cruel, he was cold...he was a murderer. What reason could anyone have to keep him alive?
Apparently, Gaara had found a reason.
She gritted her teeth, glancing around the table.
They seemed to be considering it, turning the possibility over in their heads. After all, there was undeniable truth in his words; any information a member of the Akatsuki might possess was invaluable, and if there was even a chance he might talk, then there was reason to keep him alive just a little bit longer.
"Sounds very reasonable." The elder with the peach-soft face murmured. In the silence following the Kazekage's statement, her voice was easily loud enough to be heard by the half-deaf man on the opposite side of the table.
There were nods and mutters, all with opinions parallel to hers. Only two scowled, disapproving of the idea: the hound-drooping councilman and, of course, Chiyo herself.
"It would be foolish to put an end to him when there is a chance he may speak." The woman continued with rising confidence, her voice slightly louder to carry over the mumblings of the others.
"Yes, of course." The skinny elder agreed.
The fat elder harrumphed impatiently. "I still think we ought to k-"
"Don't be ridiculous. A member of the Akatsuki? What he knows may protect the village in the future." The twig-man retorted.
"Ridiculous? Speak for yourself, you old-"
"Excuse me, gentlemen." The grandmotherly one had begun to look less and less like a grandmother as the argument rose in volume. She quite nearly had to shout to be heard over them. When they glanced over at her, both balked and fell quite silent; apparently, she could be frightening when she wanted to be. "This is a council meeting, not a verbal wrestling match." She scowled, and both nodded.
"Now," Glancing back at the suddenly attentive council, she smiled a rather warm and fuzzy smile. "I say we let the Kazekage speak with him. Are we in agreement?"
There was a circle of nods, broken only by the sulking councilman and the glaring Chiyo, whose eyes were once again locked on the boy's face.
How dare he?
Kankuro found himself under a bit of confusion, mainly that Gaara would so eagerly volunteer to go talk with Sasori. Maybe the sibling was being suspicious, but he relented to believe that there was something more going on between the two than any of the council was willing to admit. Despite his hesitancy, the plan was the most valid anyone had come up with so far (and it had seemed strange that Chiyo was in such a hurry to kill off her grandson) so he agreed.
Baki was still in some wondering as to why Sasori would be more willing to talk to his captor. After all, the Jounin had been in the village a while, and he knew that if there was one thing an Akasuna could hold onto, it was a grudge. But, if by experience (what a dreadful thought) Gaara thought Sasori would be willing to communicate, then he was in no place to disagree.
"And the Kazekage will be monitored, of course," came a new suggestion, said as if the speaker had just sat down for the meeting. And indeed, Yura was known for his lapses in memory, so he very well could have just done so. He seemed informed, however, of all that had been said, and was in the mood to put in his own opinions.
The young Kazekage turned his attention to the sleepy looking Jounin that sat vaguely at his left. The sentiment put a bad taste in his mouth...but had he really expected to get off this incident without any suspicions on his head? No. That would have been folly.
Chiyo leant back in her chair, eyeing the councilman.
What was his name...Yura? Ah. Yes, that would be the one...A sharp witted young man, and a skilled politician. Nothing seemed to escape his notice. He was a judicious sort, she recalled, and had served the village well in his few years spent making decisions for it. Now, he was applying his experience to this rather tangled situation, and making sensible suggestions in the midst of the muddled knot of indecision.
She would've been happier had Sasori's death been decided upon, but having him monitored while meeting with the Kazekage was...fair enough, she supposed.
"Of course," She agreed, scowling at what few others seemed doubtful until they nodded with her.
One man raised his voice in a question. "Who would you suggest we choose for the...monitoring?" He inquired, his voice fragile with age. "In the event that the...unexpected should occur."
Many of those seated at the table exchanged glances. They all knew what he had so subtly implied with his carefully vague words: what if the Kazekage and the puppet master decide to make a run for it again? After all, the intentions of the demon boy had already been brought into question by his previous actions, and there lingered enough suspicion for extra precautions to be entirely necessary. As for the rogue...there was no doubt he'd take any escape opportunity presented to him.
Who would be best suited to the job, then? Was there such a person in the village? Someone who, if not able to detain them, could as least flee in time to alert someone?
Yura had a look of light contentment on his face, in triumph of winning over Chiyo's opinion. She seemed to be the one everyone was seeking to please today, which was probably due to her relation with the missing nin in question. At least, that's what it seemed to the younger generation. Anyone who had been in the council longer than ten years recalled the manner in which Chiyo had left it, vowing to never again involve herself in Sunagakure's squabbling affairs. Oh, and everyone was nursing a fear of her wrath.
But there was a question still hanging in the air.
"Perhaps I could accompany the Kazekage." Yura proposed. He was a Jounin after all; he could handle a number of situations.
Across the table, Baki gave him an odd look. Yura didn't seem to catch it. If he did, he gave no indication of it.
Gaara also had no response to present to the group. Any indication of favoring an attendant would seem as if he was picking someone he could win over. Which was ludicrous at this point. He doubted even his brother would be willing to give him any slack in any way after this meeting.
Chiyo glanced at the others, gauging their reactions to the young councilman's offer. They all seemed content to name him Gaara's babysitter, nodding to themselves or each other sensibly. One or two frowned at the ceiling, as though trying to recall if there was anyone better suited. No one came immediately to mind.
Yura did, indeed, seem to be a logical choice in this particular matter. The pair would have to be monitored by someone who was aware of the situation – both of Sasori's history, and Gaara's more recent attempt to, possibly, free him. They would need someone with a sharp mind. They would need someone who was trusted to act in favor of the village, no matter what the situation.
He fit every requirement.
"I don't see why not." Chiyo announced. She was the only one to speak, but the decision was made by all – Yura would look after them. He would make sure they did nothing questionable. He would report back to the council on what he heard, along with Gaara.
Excellent.
Baki gave a relieved exhale. Finally. There was a moderate amount of peace that came with the decision made. He did not entirely see Yura's volunteering as without suspicion, but at the same time Chiyo coming to an agreement was something they all wanted...But there was still something odd about the Jounin's preposition to the role of babysitter. No other council member, save Baki himself, would have offered himself up. So why had Yura?
Gaara locked his gaze with the other council member. The other watched him in turn, and they exchanged impassive looks. The young Kazekage was the first to turn away, back to the others sitting around him.
"Have all issues been decided upon?" He offered to the group, subtly hinting at his desire to distance himself from the minds behind Suna. He had, out of some petty guilt in his thoughts...saved Sasori's life?
No. Sasori was still dead in the hands of his enemies. He had only managed to extend it for perhaps a handful of days.
"Yes." Chiyo answered curtly, ignoring the opinions of the others seated at the table. If any of them had a problem that they would like to resolve, they would have to wait until the next council meeting; she was loosing patience with the whole affair, and – much like the Kazekage – wanted to distance herself from this dusty, wretched room as soon as humanly possible.
One of the other elders cleared his throat. "We will meet again in one week's time." He muttered, the phrase little more than a formality. It was as much of an ending as there ever was to the council meetings, and it was done every time.
Chiyo repressed a heavy sigh. She couldn't decide if she was happy it was finally over or irritated it had to be ended by ancient rituals.
Kankuro was the first to get up, stoutly, pushing his chair in with a decent amount of noise. He gave the expected bow of his head, and with one final look at his sibling, left the room.
Gaara actually seemed to shrink a little in regards to that. It was one of the few reactions he had given that day.
Baki stood up, but not to leave. He watched his ex-student-now-Kazekage.
Of course. It was time for a talk.
With a bit of frustration, it came to Gaara that one major issue was an elephant running through the room, unresolved. When was he to talk to Sasori? Now? Whenever the council ordered? He doubted he could request to them when he wanted to talk with the nuke-nin.
His gaze shifted to Chiyo, wondering if he would receive any direction from her.
Sasori's grandmother was a sharp sort, and her abilities were plentiful...but she was not a mind reader, and saw no more in the look Gaara sent her way than the look itself. Maybe there was a question hidden in it, maybe not. She couldn't tell either way.
The elderly, peach-skinned councilwoman, however, may very well have had the power to look into people's thoughts.
"Kazekage-sama," She spoke with light formality, her tone lacking the doggish reverence of the village's other inhabitants. "You may interrogate the Akatsuki when you are ready...but try not to delay too long, and be sure to report to Yura beforehand. That's all."
Chiyo listened to the gentle instructions offhandedly, shuffling to her feet with a groan; she was beginning to feel her age.
Being in this damned council room would make anyone feel their age.
How incredibly true.
For Gaara, he definitely felt as if he were an inexperienced, undependable child. He gave a nod of respect to the woman. "Elder." Finally, he got up out of his seat. After a look from Baki, he walked over to stand beside his teacher. They both gave a nod to Chiyo; Baki's bow was more defined, but Gaara lowered his eyes. "Elder Chiyo." The Jounin spoke.
Gaara turned his attention to Yura, "I'll be free in about ten minutes. Will you wait for me outside the containment cells?" Gaara was treating himself as if he had lost all ability to command. Everything was in request.
Baki looked to his Kazekage with a bit of uncertainty. Gaara still retained his dangerous quality of being unreadable. Needless to say, nearly every councilman's faith in him had been shaken. And Gaara gave no indications as to whether his intentions were innocent, or perhaps with malice.
But at least there was progress. He would talk with Gaara.
Lightining Ougi: Gaara, Kankuro, Baki
NightmareTears: Chiyo, Councilmen/women
Oh my god. A chapter without Sasori in it. Quick, call the media!