Chapter 12
Rasa was surprised to see who had just entered his office, he had not expected Sasori and his team so soon. He looked carefully at each of his children and was relieved to see that at first glance everyone was fine.
"I'm listening to you."
"Uh well that is to say..." Gaara started unsure of what to say.
"But normally it's up to Sasori-sensei to make the report, he's the most senior here" his brother wondered.
"Idiot, he's the only real ninja in this room with dad, we're not even genins" commented Temari annoyed by the stupidity of her younger brother.
"Hey miss know-it-all, I thought we shouldn't call dad 'dad' when we were out of the house, but we should say 'kazekage-sama'" he retorted.
A clearing of the throat behind them immediately silenced them, their teacher was not happy with their attitude and they lowered their heads to hide their shame. Gaara stood at Sasori's pants, saddened to see his two elders arguing and displaying them in front of their father. The latter hid his mouth behind his hands so that they would not see his amused smile.
"I'm still waiting for your report" Rasa reminded.
"Kazekage-sama, it's up to Sasori-sensei to do it to you" Kankuro repeated.
"Aren't you a little young to give me orders?" his teacher asked, raising an eyebrow.
"But it wasn't an order sensei, it was just the truth no.." he swallowed, meeting the gaze of the adult who served as his mentor.
"Besides, they haven't taught us how to do a report in school yet" the little blonde added in defence of her brother.
"It will give me the opportunity to see how you would make one without any lessons. Go for it because I won't change my mind."
The three siblings glanced at each other to see which of them would have the courage to talk about the mission. The only girl of the trio understood quickly that as the eldest her two younger siblings hoped that it would be her who would take the initiative. She resigned herself to having to comply because it was out of the question for her to make their father wait any longer and even less for her to humiliate her teacher in front of the head of the country. Sasori was one of the best ninjas in Suna, there was no way she would ridicule him in front of his superior. She cleared her throat to give herself some composure before she started.
"We went to Koseki, a much smaller village than here. We met Yokono Anju and her husband Yokono Shinzaburo, who are the leaders."
"Yes, they were very nice and we even spent the evening at their house" Gaara added.
"It's true we even had dinner and breakfast at their house" Kankuro confirmed.
"We picked up what they had to give us and brought it back here in perfect condition" his sister said.
"Of course we gave them the package we went there for" Kankuro said.
"And then here we are" the youngest of the three finished.
The three children stared at their father to indicate that they were finished. He in turn stared at the other ninja in the room.
"Sasori, I would like your opinion on this report."
"I would call it a report summary rather than a real report" the puppeteer corrected.
"Admittedly it was a bit short, but the important elements were there and it's quite encouraging considering that it was the first time they had done this exercise" Rasa recalled.
"Kazekage-sama you asked my opinion and I gave it to you, don't start making excuses for them because they are your children."
"Good, good" his superior replied.
He cleared his throat, opened a drawer and took out four tickets which he handed to Gaara. He retrieved them and examined them, they were all identical and he questioned his father with his eyes.
"These are vouchers to confirm that you have successfully completed your mission. You have one each and once you have left my office you will go to the accounts to collect your hard earned money" he said while his youngest son handed out the tickets.
"Money!" they cried in surprise and delight.
"I'd like to say something to Rasa-sama in private, go wait for me on the chairs in the hallway"Sasori commanded.
"Yes sensei!"
"Gaara, Temari, keep your brother from spending all his money on candy before you get home or your mother will admonish me" their father demanded.
" Promise daddy" they replied as they followed Kankuro who was already in the hallway.
"Here I made you a written and detailed report, much better than the one you got" the teacher of the three children affirmed.
He placed a sealed parchment scroll on his boss' desk. Rasa took it, unfolded it and looked through it carefully.
"Perfect, as usual with you."
"Do you still need me, otherwise I'd like to take my students back to your wife."
"No, that will be all for today...Sasori..."
The latter, who had gone to the door, turned around and waited to hear what Rasa wanted to say.
"Thank you for bringing my children back safely..."
"I have a reputation to uphold, it wouldn't make me look good...It would also be a big loss for the village, these little ones have great potential."
He withdrew knowing full well that the discussion was over. No sooner had he opened the door than the three Sabaku No got up from their chairs.
"Let's go get our money back so I can quickly return you to your mother."
They walked down the corridor, the adult in the lead as he was the only one who knew the way, and the journey didn't even take them five minutes. The office was on the lower floor and was the first door on the floor. Sasori knocked and didn't have to wait long to get permission to enter.
"Sasori-san what can I do for you?" the woman sitting behind the desk asked him, looking up from her documents.
"We've come for our payment!" a childish voice exclaimed, startling her.
She looked down and noticed three children, or rather what she guessed to be children, as the furniture between them only allowed her to see their hair. She had no trouble identifying who they were.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you," she said as the three Sabaku No stepped back to be visible.
"We've come to collect our pay," the Akasuna repeated in a tone of voice that showed some impatience.
He put his ticket on the table and was imitated by his three students who were waiting to see what would happen next. The woman took the four pieces of paper, went through them quickly, opened a drawer and took out a small purse, which she opened and took out coins which she divided into four equal piles. Sasori recounted them to make sure she hadn't made a mistake or deliberately forgotten to put in the correct count. Once he was sure that she had not, he gave each of the children their money. He nodded briefly in the direction of the other adult before turning to leave.
"Thank you madam" Gaara said before leaving.
"Thank you," his elders repeated before following him."
They placed all the coins in their pockets, making sure several times that they had not lost any. They made their way through the streets of Suna, careful not to stray from their referring adult. Well, mostly two of them, because the third, who happened to be the older of the two boys, was scanning everywhere for a sweet shop or a bakery. Gaara and Temari had their eyes wandering between the road and their brother so that he wouldn't spend his money on candy or cakes.
"Kankuro no!" his sister forbade him when she saw him approaching a sweet shop.
"You're not my mother Temari, I can buy whatever I want with my money!" he contradicted her.
"Dad doesn't want you to eat sweets before dinner," Gaara added shyly.
"Do you see him anywhere? I don't and he doesn't have to know" he defended himself.
"Idiot, you know very well that we can't lie to Daddy!" the only girl in the trio snarled.
"Well, enough of this council, I point out that you're in the way!" Sasori intervened.
The three Sabaku No looked around and saw that the people around them were indeed bypassing them.
"Sorry Sasori-sensei" they apologized in a small voice.
"Don't dawdle anymore and Kankuro they are right, it's almost dinner time so don't nibble!"
"But sensei I'm hungry!" he complained.
And why aren't the other two members of your sibling group hungry?"
The boy turned to his brother and sister for support, but they pretended to look away.
"Cowards!" he muttered.
"Enough talk, it's time I took you back to Karura-san."
They started walking again without discussion and it was only a few minutes before they saw their mother sitting on a bench with Pakura. The Akasuna waved to the two women before walking away. He stopped his steps and looked back at his students one last time.
"Good luck for tomorrow."
"Why is that, sensei?" Gaara asked.
"Don't tell me you forgot that tomorrow you return to school!" he finished.
"To school!"
He continued on his way with a satisfied smile on his lips, a smile that grew bigger when he heard their complaints.