Chapter 14
Days later…
Early one morning…
In the training area at the Kazekage's mansion…
Alone, Gaara stood.
Craters in the ground surrounding him and sand displaced all along the pillars and fighting area.
There was a final target left behind him.
Unscathed.
He was leaving it for last.
He closed his eyes in focus: then opening them as he turned around.
Swinging his arm before the target.
Suddenly, a massive stream of sand of intense strength obliterated the target.
When the sand settled, he folded his arms in front of his chest.
Calming himself from using his chakra.
His powers fully returned, at long last.
Slightly, he felt a tiny painful pulse in his wound from days before.
It was near healed but it would still twinge.
He grabbed the bandages, suppressing the pain.
His memory jolted.
Sadly, his eyes closed halfway.
Remembering the one who healed him and the words the wolf spoke…
Elsewhere in Suna, within the tracking unit corps...
Kneeling, a shinobi clad in the Suna attire bowed before their superior in the darkened room.
Their tracker-nin mask appearing feral and wolfish, adorned in red markings and menacing scowl.
The evidence of recently completing a mission shown on their clothes, as the presence of dirt and combat was easy to conclude.
Obediently, they awaited for commands from their master, the captain of Suna's tracking unit..
"Good," The captain spoke, their back facing the shinobi. "It appears your tracking abilities are refined as ever, you were indeed a useful find."
Turning around, his aged scarred face gazed towards her.
Sternly.
"Yamamori Nomasaki."
Taking off her mask, she met his glance.
Her expression stoic and calm, she nodded.
"Thank you for allowing me to enter the ranks of the tracking unit." She replied. "My mission was completed, so I'm pleased you appreciate the results."
Turning towards the fragile sunbeams entering from the shuttered window, his dark eyes narrowed.
"The elders on the Sand Council are still uneasy of your heritage," He said. "But they're warming up, thanks to you reporting to them on the Kazekage and his activities."
Pondering her words, she looked down for a moment.
After a moment of silence, she looked up to her captain.
"Speaking of which," She added. "May I stop my spying on him, since he is no longer a jinchuriki?"
Guilt evident in her lilac eyes, she glanced to the floor.
Her eyes closed halfway in sadness and betrayal.
"Since... Shukaku is no longer a threat to the village, I mean."
"Is this a change of heart?" He asked, his voice stern.
Jolting her slightly, she averted his eye contact.
"N-No, well..." She began. "Gaara-sama... I'm his assistant, so I feel... guilty for keeping tabs on him behind his back."
Swallowing her nervousness for speaking out of turn, she faced him.
Her eyes prepared for authority to strike her down.
"So would it be alright if I ended this assignment?"
Turning away, he stepped back towards the front of the room.
His back facing her once again, with hands folded tightly.
"You've been a member of the tracking unit as a rookie for only months... and now you're attempting to go against orders?" He scoffed. "Well, then..."
Biting her tongue, she looked down.
"I'll relay your request to the council." He replied. "You're dismissed."
Accepting her fate, she nodded, her eyes closed in regret.
"Yes, sir."
Standing up, she started for the door.
"I expect you to report when called."
From his words, she paused.
Turning to her captain with a surprised yet curious expression.
"From this day on, you are no longer a rookie, but an equal to the tracking unit." He stated, turning to face her.
His expression was stern, yet also welcoming at the same time.
Although he was a fearful man, his comradeship stood above all else.
"I give you the name... 'wolf of the desert'. You will live up to that name as a shinobi of the Sand and a tracker-nin who protects the village from the inside."
Bowing to him in acceptance and relief, she smiled, lightly.
"Sir," She acknowledged. "Thank you."
Later that day…
"So, they accepted, huh?" Kankuro asked.
Leaning his back against the wall in the Kazekage's office that morning.
Gaara turned to his older brother from his office desk.
Nodding once.
"Yes." He replied. "That village is now an ally with ours. Negotiations weren't easy, but it's solved."
Averting his glance, his eyes narrowed.
-But that rogue ninja that attacked us… Was that really the council's doing…?-
Remembering their last mission.
And the fighting that ensued.
Kankuro closed his eyes and smirked.
"Times have changed, that's for sure." He said. "I thought Nomasaki might get kidnapped again by those ninja!"
When he turned to his little brother, Gaara shot him a vicious glare.
Piercing him.
-Sheesh… what is with him? It was only a joke…- Kankuro thought, annoyed.
"Oh, speaking of Nomasaki," He started, getting back on topic. "Where is she?"
Gaara glanced at the window for a moment.
"She's gone on a mission right now, with the tracking unit." He answered. "She won't be back until later."
He turned back to Kankuro.
"Why?"
"I was just curious." Kankuro sighed. "We might need her and the tracking unit to help with our next mission with the puppet corps."
Closing his eyes for a moment.
He smirked again.
"I'm just surprised you didn't want to tag along with her again this time."
Gaara's hand jolted on his lap, beginning to feel flustered.
Unbeknownst to him, his cheeks reddened slightly.
"Kankuro, Nomasaki's a jonin-level kunoichi." He stated, sternly. "She can handle things herself. Besides, that was a rare instance, as the council specifically requested us to embark together."
Kankuro lifted his back from against the wall.
"You're probably right." He agreed. "She is a scary fighter. She doesn't look it, but I'd hate to be the person she'd be up against."
He remembered that time three years ago…
During his second attempt at the Chunin Exams…
Nomasaki was pitted against a hulking Kumo ninja in the arena.
A terrifyingly large lightning release user with rippling muscles.
And there she stood, a tiny pixie, with average muscle mass and wind release.
But also with her Kekkei Genkai.
The odds were definitely against her, but despite that her teammates cheered her on.
With the Sand Siblings closely watching.
The fight was over in just a matter of minutes.
He could feel a small bead of sweat on his face.
-She near tore that guy to shreds… good thing she's soft or that really would've been a mess…-
After Kankuro spoke, Gaara's eyes closed halfway.
Sadly.
Looking down at the paper and files on his office desk.
In silence.
Remembering what Hanone revealed to him the other night…
Noticing the sudden quietness in the room, Kankuro looked back to his little brother.
"You worried about her, Gaara?" He asked, concerned.
Gaara shook his head.
"No, that's not it." He replied, quietly.
"Then what?" Kankuro pressed. "Something wrong?"
Gaara's eyes narrowed at the desk.
"It's nothing…" He answered.
No emotion on his tone at all.
Kankuro's eyes looked at him.
Worriedly.
He never saw Gaara like that before.
It was strange to him.
Suddenly, someone started knocking on the office door.
To their surprise, a Cloud ninja had entered his office.
"Sorry to interrupt, Kazekage-sama," He started. "But I have a letter to give you from Raikage-sama."
Calmly, the Cloud ninja handed Gaara the letter.
Kankuro watched him read the letter with curious eyes.
Gaara's eyes had slightly narrowed after reading the letter.
"I see." He said. "A five Kage summit in the Land of Iron… concerning the matter of the Akatsuki."
"And your response, sir?" The Cloud ninja asked.
With serious eyes, Gaara looked up to him.
"Tell the Raikage I'll be there." He replied. "We'll be there at the summit."
The Cloud ninja nodded.
"Very well, Kazekage-sama." He said. "I'll relay your reply to Raikage-sama immediately."
Then, the Cloud ninja left his office.
On his way home to the Land of Lightning.
As the sun was setting, he stood alone on the rooftop.
Looking down at his village from above.
Nomasaki walked towards him.
Hearing her approaching, Gaara turned to his side.
"You're back." He spoke. "And the mission?"
Nomasaki stood beside him.
Her hands grabbing onto the steel barriers in front of them.
"It was a success." She nodded up at him. "Our village's secrets are once again safe."
She smiled to herself.
"The tracking unit… I think I'm going to like it."
He looked down at his village once again.
"I see."
Following his gaze, she looked down at the village as well.
A gentle breeze blew past them, swaying her long strands of golden blonde.
And his messy head of crimson.
"There's a five Kage summit in the Land of Iron."
"R-Really? A summit?"
"I'm the Kazekage. It's my duty."
"O-Of course. Forgive me for asking. Of course, you would go, it is a Kage summit after all."
As the breeze blown past them again, her smile slowly faded.
"But," She started, quietly. "You'll be back soon, right?"
He gazed into her eyes, nodding.
He turned back to the village.
"My sand… I think I figured it out." He said. "My ultimate defence is restored, and even stronger than it was with Shukaku."
Surprised, she turned to him.
"Oh, that's a relief!" She smiled. "I'm glad, especially since Temari and Kankuro will be going with you."
Looking back at the village, her eyes closed halfway in concern.
"Just… be careful." She whispered. "I know you're the Kazekage, but I still worry when you leave the village."
After she spoke, he turned to her.
Gazing at her with a pleading and saddened glance in his eyes.
He wanted to ask if what the wolf said was true.
But he didn't know how to even begin.
Before he could say anything, the door opened.
"Gaara, we have to go." Kankuro entered. "We must be prepared to leave first thing in the morning."
Interrupting them.
"Right." Gaara nodded, turning to him.
He turned back to her, his expression stoic.
"I'll be seeing you when we return. Until then, keep an eye on things."
Slight surprised, she turned to him and nodded.
"Yes." She spoke. "Safe travels, to the three of you."
"Thanks!" Kankuro nodded, smiling.
As he began to walk off with his brother, Gaara briefly turned back to her.
Noticing her worry.
Briefly, they shared a longing glance.
With the closing of the door, he was gone.
Staring into the desert horizon, she stood on the rooftop.
Concern entering her eyes again, Nomasaki watched the sunset.
Her instincts gave her a bad feeling…
"Don't tell me it's true,"
Startling her, she turned towards the beast-like voice.
Hanone was sitting on top of the water tower behind her.
"You can't possibly have feelings for that Sand bastard…" He scoffed. "He's your superior. You serve him."
Flustered and shocked at his wording, she jolted.
"I… How would you know?" She stammered. "I'm just his assistant. Naturally, I'm just going to worry if he leaves the village!"
"Hmph." The wolf snorted. "Just remember what Sand ninja did to your family. You're of the snow, it's best to not mix with sand."
Sadly, she looked down.
"I know, but…" She replied, quietly. "He's different… There's good in him. You, of all things should sense it, too…"
Dismayed, he snarled, turning away from her.
"And don't forget," She reminded. "I have some Sand blood in my veins, not just from Yama."
"You are not your father!" Hanone growled, turning to her with a threatening glare. "But the more you stay here, the more alike you're becoming…!"
Taken aback by his warning, she grimaced.
Turning away towards the sunset.
"What am I supposed to do then, Hanone?" She asked, quietly. "I don't know what you want from me…"
"Don't fall for the Kazekage." The wolf warned. "You'll only be hurt, in the end. You're a wolf, you belong elsewhere."
And right before her eyes, Hanone disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Dispelling his summoning.
Concern and sorrow in her eyes, she looked at where he once sat.
Pondering her life choices…