I will answer comments next chapter!

Sasuke is still standing where Kankuro left him when Gaara returns about ten minutes later - holding a stack of papers and flipping through them, distracted.

The Uchiha's eyes land on the Kazekage, and he feels his throat tighten for a moment, unsure what to say.

Did Gaara really-? Why?

"You didn't tell me."

Gaara looks at him, obvious confusion buried in his eyes.

"About Orochimaru."

Gaara is quiet for a second - frowning and placing the papers on the nearest end table.

"You had a disassociative break just mentioning him. I didn't want to trigger you, or upset you further." Gaara says, "I was going to inform you, but you looked...quite tired, honestly. I assume someone told you before I could."

Sasuke feels all apprehension leave him in that moment, like a rush of air from a balloon. Orochimaru is in prison. The man who pinned him down and ruined his brain further is locked away and...Sasuke will probably never have to see him again. One less thing hanging over his head. Sasuke stands there, unable to process it.

He isn't sure what to say to that.

"If you're worried about Naruto, the official reports have been...slightly altered. On paper I found out about Orochimaru's whereabouts from intel I've received from a few of my ninja I sent to the sound to hone their water jutsu." Gaara says, "You're nowhere on the reports, and as far as Konoha is concerned, you're not the source of information. I simply...happened across him."

Sasuke is really at a loss for words now.

"But - why would you...do that?" He asks, confused and frustrated by his own inability to understand the man in front of him.

Gaara was so incredibly frustrating. A puzzle he couldn't completely figure out.

"Do what?"

"Lie, for my sake." Sasuke says, "This could impact the peace treaty between Suna and Konoha. Why would you do that?"

"Letting a monster roam free is something I can't abide." Gaara says, frowning, "And you shouldn't be blamed for inadvertently turning in a criminal who should have been behind bars to begin with."

"But...Naruto will be angry with you." Sasuke says.

Of what he knew of the redhead when they were teenagers, he greatly cherished his friendship with Naruto. The fact that he would risk that was...

Not that Naruto would break a bond with someone over this, and especially not Gaara (the blond was just as attached to the Kazekage, and this wouldn't change that, surely. No matter how angry he became with him) but...it would cause a fight, wouldn't it? And strain between nations. It could impact everything some trade to Kage summits.

Sasuke of course was no stranger to fighting with Naruto, but Gaara…

Have they ever fought about anything? Especially after the war?

Naruto always spoke of Gaara with such a fondness that he couldn't believe they ever had a serious disagreement after everything. Sasuke was the friend Naruto fought with, Gaara was the friend he always had such an almost sickeningly sweet and agreeable relationship with. That is, after they almost killed each other during childhood.

But once they got past that...

"The fact that he and his council were hiding a kidnapper and child abuser means I have the right to be upset with him. Not vice versa." Gaara says, suddenly sounding angry, "He's lucky I don't-"

Gaara cuts himself off abruptly, tensing in anger.

They're quiet for a moment. Sasuke more so from surprise and Gaara simply brooding for a moment, glaring at his shoes. Rage simmers under the omega's skin, and his sand swirls around his shoulders, agitated.

"I understand him less and less." Gaara says - almost to himself - and his tone goes from bitter to saddened in an instant, "Why would he…"

The room goes quiet.

"It's...easier, I think." Sasuke says. He understands the man's disappointment.

And...in a way, he understood Naruto's predicament. It was easier to just keep doing things the same way than to risk having the village despise him again, he supposed. After a childhood of being scorned and ostracized it wasn't difficult to believe that someone would do all they could to keep the love and reverence they fought so hard for. Naruto bled and cried for years to get where he was. The blond suffered.

He had still expected Naruto to be above that, though.

And the fact that he wasn't…

Gaara was clearly only just now learning of Naruto's shortcomings, and the omega was clearly becoming disillusioned and saddened with his friend and his choices.

Sasuke finds it sad, really. He understands.

"That's no excuse." Gaara says, frustrated, "My council hates me. They do all they can to make my life hell. But I still do what I have to. Things should be better now! Things like this shouldn't be happening anymore! Schools shouldn't be teaching children how to be soldiers and nations shouldn't be hiding monsters. I thought all the Kage were in agreement, but...but maybe-"

Sasuke wonders briefly if this was Gaara having an anxious breakdown of his own. He looks more distressed than Sasuke has seen him in a very long time. Since his chidori pierced Gaara's shoulder during the chunin exams, years ago. It's hard to believe this is the same boy, really. But again, they've all changed.

The omega's scent is dull and muted, wavering as he speaks.

And then Gaara's words catch up to him.

"Does Suna not train genin anymore?" He asks.

Gaara looks startled by the change of topic, but he tilts his head and looks at Sasuke imploringly.

"We do, but people can only train to be genin after the age of 22." He says, "It's illegal to train children as soldiers here. Anyone who does so will be brought up on incredibly harsh abuse charges. It's the first thing I did once I could pull it off without the council's support, though it was the farthest things from easy."

"I…"

What?

Suna wasn't training children? This village...their Kage...wasn't using innocent kids to fight their battles anymore?

The library goes deathly quiet.

Even Sasuke isn't sure what reaction he's having, but it's...his brain blanks for a moment and something slams through him.

It's a thought he's had no many times before but...

He had no idea someone would actually do it. That such a stark difference would be made at all. Even Naruto was hesitant to abolish the laws that made them...how they are today, hence why Konoha's ninja academy still stood and children were still required to attend. But…but here...

This also meant that Sasuke wasn't crazy. Someone else agreed with him and implemented the change he wanted to see. He just had no idea because he's never paid any attention to Suna before that fateful day when he needed supplies and was greeted by Gaara.

So... so...

Sasuke wasn't fucking crazy. Or rather, if he was, then Gaara was crazy too. Apparently his council thought so, as they apparently fought the Kazekage tooth and nail on this decision.

Then another thought strikes him. How hard was it for the Kazekage to pull this off? How has he pulled off dismantling such an integral system of a shinobi village?

That was a huge change to the tradition of the ninja world. They'd been training shinobi from birth almost since the beginning of...well, everything. And Gaara was hated prior to becoming Kazekage - as far as Sasuke knew - and the redhead alluded to still having to deal with hatred and opposition even after taking on the role of the leader of the village.

So how the hell did a former jinchuuriki and terror to his village manage to break an age-old tradition and change the very fabric of (what used to be) an assassin village? How did he manage to stop the cycle?

What the hell?

"Sasuke? Are you alright?"

The Uchiha realizes - a bit too late - that he's staring. The Kazekage is staring back at him, obviously concerned that Sasuke was having another breakdown.

Is he? He might be. All his thoughts hit him at once and he can't think all of a sudden.

"Do you need to lie down again? You look pale." Gaara asks, "You can if you need to-"

"I... I'm…" Sasuke blinks, completely at a loss.

Gaara's face takes on an even more worried expression, as Sasuke tries to function.

"I'm fine." He manages after a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I…I'm just surprised."

An understatement, actually.

Green eyes go dark for a moment, and Gaara looks tired and hesitant all at once.

"Are you going to tell me that I'm ruining my village as well? Upsetting the 'balance of the ninja world'?" Gaara frowns, "There's no need, I assure you. I've...heard that a lot. That the delay in producing more shinobi at a young age would lead to the Sand becoming weak, but you have to understand , we can't move forward if we keep traumatizing our children in such a way. And I can't live with myself knowing that I didn't do everything I could as a leader to put and end to such a terrible practice-"

Gaara rambles, eyes wide and trying to get Sasuke to understand as the Uchiha stands there and stares at him, confused by his reaction for a short moment.

Oh. Gaara thought Sasuke would-

No.

"I don't think that at all." Sasuke says quickly, urgently and trying to get the other man to understand, "I don't think that. I am surprised, but you're right. I...hate the fact that so few things have actually changed - even after the war - for most villages. I'm just... I didn't think anyone agreed with me about...this. I've tried to tell the Kage, and Naruto, but no one would listen to me. So I just... didn't expect..."

It was true. He was foolish to think anyone would take anything he said to heart - him, the traitorous Uchiha - but years ago he'd tried to tell them all that this needed to change, or else the Uchiha massacre could happen again, and that children like himself and Naruto could happen all over again if this toxic tradition didn't change. The villages being peaceful towards one another was a step in the right direction, and uniting people was the right thing to do, but that was only one part of the problem.

No one listened, of course. Sasuke was an idiot for thinking they would, but he'd still been filled with such hope back then. He still believed that maybe they'd all be willing to challenge the harmful practices that were the cornerstones of their still-flawed world, especially after everything they'd all witnessed during the war. Bring about real change.

Gaara hadn't been there, but the rest of the Kage were seated around the meeting area they'd designated for the summit that year, and Sasuke had proposed the idea that maybe they don't train the children of their villages to kill anymore. But all they'd done was make excuses and attempt to shut him up. Sasuke wasn't an idiot. The only reason they even listened to him as long as they had that day was because Naruto was there, and it was respect for the Hokage that they even let him finish speaking at all.

Then they had all simply waved him off.

'Genin will be given easier missions.' the Mizukage had shrugged, 'Minimal danger.'

'That's not a solution. Children shouldn't be working for the state at all.' Sasuke had insisted, remembering Itachi. He was a child as well, far too young to be traumatized in such a way and forced to do what he did. That disregard for mental health and life had been one of the many reasons his clan had been ended the way it had. Why the world was how it was. Why Neji Hyuga died. Why so many people died, shinobi and civilians alike. It was all connected, and it was a domino effect that they needed to stop. And it needed to stop with this.

No one else agreed, apparently.

The conversation ended soon after that, and Sasuke stormed from the room, unable to listen to their excuses any longer.

Things had gone down a very hopeless road after that. A few months later he'd been forced to sign a marriage certificate and was required by Konoha to have a child with Haruno. Konoha's elders were worried he'd defect and turn against the village again, and his ideas were apparently too radical. They'd tethered him to the village via marriage, convinced that he'd think twice about attacking someplace his wife and child lived.

He was trapped before he knew it. Sasuke was too powerful to just allow to have such ideas about how the world should be. He was talking about revolution again, and that had spooked them.

They needed him on a leash.

That's how he ended up in a marriage he never wanted with a child he hardly saw. Even if he didn't particularly care for Sakura, he would care for his daughter - as she was his only other blood relative in the world, his only tether - and they knew that. They knew Sasuke was still wounded from losing his family (the family they took from him in the first place), so they basically held his child hostage. As a bargaining chip. Insurance he wouldn't turn against them again.

Sarada was the only bright spot in his whole mess of a life, and he unfortunately didn't see her often. He was grateful for his daughter. She was his only family, and he loved her with everything he had in his very tired soul.

The point was, he tried to tell them that things needed to change, but he was snubbed and called crazy. Too radical. Punished for his too-progressive thinking.

But he wasn't crazy, was he?

So many times he wondered if the problem was him. Was this how the world was supposed to be, and Sasuke just couldn't accept it? Was he too hung up on the pain of his past that he couldn't see that this was how the world should be?

But no. No.

He wasn't crazy. He was right. Gaara was right.

They were right .

"So you don't think I'm insane." Gaara says, sounding cautious, like Sasuke could be joking, or possibly mocking him. The Kazekage looks wary, with a healthy dose of disbelief.

He looks the Kazekage right in the eyes, black meeting shocked green.

"Gaara. You're the most sane person I've spoken to in a very long time." Sasuke says. And he means every word.

They stare at each other for a long moment, clearly in awe of each other.

"No one's ever said that to me before." Gaara says, non-existent brows raised.

"First time for everything." Sasuke says, and he actually feels a smile pulling at his lips.

It's genuine. And foreign.

It feels weird, having something to smile about. Sasuke almost forgot how it felt.


They spend the rest of the day exchanging thoughts on foreign policy, guidelines for change among the villages and improvements for the world as a whole.

They're both very quiet men, often keeping to themselves and poor at socializing - but that night they can't seem to stop talking. They converse and learn they have very similar visions and ideas for peace, and once they start sharing those dreams with each other neither of them can seem to shut up.

Sasuke is surprised when the sun comes up and they're still seated by Gaara's library window - the teapot long since gone cold and their cups drained. They'd spoken all night, hardly noticing the time passing at all.

Sasuke leaves Suna exhausted, but more hopeful than he's been in a very long time.


They start exchanging letters, and continue their conversations that way.

Soon they're talking about any and everything, from politics to how their days are going, and before he knows it they are sending several pages of letters back and forth every other day.

Sasuke starts giving Garuda treats more often, as a thank you for suffering through carrying multiple pages back and forth every day. He suspects Gaara is doing the same. His hawk has been getting a bit fat lately.

But he figures she deserves to be spoiled a bit. He's never asked so much of her before. He never had so much to say.

Before he knows it Gaara is the one he's talking to the most, and he reads the Kazekage's notes about his day, how the meetings were especially infuriating, or amusing things Shinki has done or his ideas for improved immigration policies. Sasuke sends Gaara letters about his travels, the people he meets, the missions he's sent on, and his own ideas on what the world needs and how to improve it. They trade thoughts on laws and how shinobi life should be from now on, and they talk about interesting things they've seen and done for the day. And with these conversations comes a familiarity that Sasuke clings to. Someone who thinks the same as him, but differently enough that they can challenge each other's ideas and create better ideas from that.

Neither of them are initially very social when left to themselves, but they find they have a lot to say to each other. More so than anyone else.

By the end of that summer, Sasuke knows he can definitely call Gaara his close friend. He has no doubt that the man thinks the same of him. It's nice to be sure of something, and to have another bond. One that isn't so complicated. One that doesn't hurt. Something built on shared ideals and understandings.

Naruto sends him missions, but he wakes up every morning and looks forward to Garuda delivering Gaara's next letter. It's nice, having someone to write to. To talk with.

Missions keep Sasuke busy, and he isn't sure if Naruto even knows about Orochimaru's arrest yet, but he's not even thinking about it at this point. Be doesn't really care, truthfully. His newfound bond with Gaara keeps him occupied, and he finds himself thinking of troubling things less and less when his hawk drops off his letters every morning. He isn't able to visit for a while (he's kept busy with missions and such) but the letters make it feels like they've barely missed a step.


Sasuke makes his way back to Suna the first chance he gets. Once two days pass with no word of another mission from Naruto, he changes course and heads toward the desert.

Once he feels the bright, hot sun he breathes a sigh of relief.

When he makes it to the village gates it's dark, and he's loathe to bother Gaara at this hour. Shinki was asleep he was sure, and Gaara was most likely stepping in for the night. He had some of the Kazekage's books to return though, and he finds himself drawn to the mansion anyway. It's just where his mind takes him.

The streets are devoid of the usual crowds - save for the occasional person making their way home - and the dimly lit lanterns that line the streets are bright enough that he can find his way easily. Even if they weren't he could still find the omega without much effort. He knew Gaara's scent very well, and could follow it easily. He catches sight of the ANBU guarding the mansion, and he decides he doesn't really want to have to speak to the guards right now. He'd have to explain why he was there so late and he wasn't really up for that at the moment, as he didn't really have an answer that didn't sound completely ridiculous. He has no doubt they'd let him in, but...

He looks up at the Kazekage building, locating Gaara's window. If anything, Gaara was probably awake anyway. He slept very rarely - the man had told him that himself via letter not too long ago.

He scales the structure easily and slides in quietly, somewhat surprised to find it dark. He knew Gaara didn't sleep much, but there he was.

In his bed, curled on his side, eyes closed.

Asleep.

Best to be quiet, then.

He makes his way to the Kazekage's bedside, reaching into his pack for the book. He pauses, unable to stop himself from staring at him for just a moment, his hand hesitating on his pack as he grabs the volumes.

The room is dark, save for the dim lamp on Gaara's nightstand that casts shadows along the omega's face.

Gaara stirs and opens his eyes a crack, frowning slightly. His hair is a mess, like when he was a teenager. When Gaara had permanent bedhead and didn't seem to care in the least.

Sasuke puts the book on the night table, barely concealing his smirk, "Just returning your book."

"Oh. Hello. Welcome back." Gaara mumbles, closing his eyes again, "Okay. You know where the guest room is - down the hall across from Shinki's room, if you need it. Just be quiet? I just got Shinki to sleep."

And then he yawns, curls up and goes right back to sleep.

Sasuke snorts at the Kazekage's quick acceptance of the fact that Sasuke crept in through his window in the dead of night. Then he considers the offer before he turns out Gaara's dim lamp before noiselessly heading out of the room and towards the Kazekage's guest room.


Sasuke wakes to the sun once again, and to Garuda tapping her beak against the window. Sasuke blinks the sleep from his eyes and clumsily sits up - tricky to do while half asleep and missing an arm - before locating the source of the steady tapping noise. She's clearly peeved at having been kept waiting, and he opens the window and scratches her head in apology.

She titters at him moodily, but accepts his gesture, perching on his shoulder and tapping her beak against his cheek, demanding more attention.

And then he hears a sound from the kitchen and knows he isn't the only one awake, clearly. Gaara always rose early, he knew that.

Sasuke considers putting his shirt back on, but decides against it. It was already too hot for such a thing. Sasuke got used to the desert's weather pretty quickly, but he still marvelled at how hot it got so promptly after the sun rose.

He makes his way into Gaara's kitchen, shirtless and toting a grumpy bird on his arm.

The redhead is at the stove, making something Sasuke can't see, but he can smell. It's good. The tea kettle is whistling as well, and Gaara leans over to switch it off, running a pale hand through fire red hair.

The hawk flies from Sasuke's arm to Gaara's shoulder, chirping for treats. The Kazekage reaches up to pet her with a practiced motion that makes Sasuke's chest tighten. The Kazekage opens a small container and gives her a few bird seeds, smiling lightly as the bird chirps happily, pecking from his hand.

"So you're the reason she's getting fat." Sasuke says.

Gaara turns to him and gives him a bland look, "And I bet you're the other reason. You spoil her more than I do, I'm sure."

"Hm. Maybe."

"I figured." Gaara says, then he gives him a small smile. "Slept well?"

Sasuke nods, accepting the cup of green tea Gaara hands him, "Yeah. You?"

"Yes. I partially thought you were a dream last night, I won't lie." Gaara says, "The window, I assume?"

"Yeah. Did I startle you?"

"No, it would startle me if you didn't come back, actually." Gaara says.

They stare at each other for a moment, eyes searching the other's face. Then - like they both notice what's happened at once - they look away, faces growing hot. Sasuke preoccupies himself with his tea to hide his own expression, and Gaara turns back to the stove quickly, like he's trying to hide his face from the man who sits at the table.

"I wanted to ask your opinion on something, actually." Gaara continues, clearing his throat and changing the subject.

Sasuke raises an eyebrow, "Hm?"

"Well, since we were talking about mental health services that could be implemented in the villages, I was wondering what your thoughts would be on a hospital soley for-"

He trails off when Shinki wanders in and attaches himself to Gaara's leg in that moment, yawning loudly. He rubs his eyes and blinks sleepily before then his gaze lands on Sasuke, who sits at the table and tries to think down the slight flush his face has taken on.

What the hell was this reaction about? They just looked at each other. Sasuke frowns into his tea, frustrated.

The little boy wanders over to him and yawns again.

"You're back." He says, tugging on Sasuke's pant leg. Sasuke looks down at the little boy in surprise.

"Hn, yeah. I am."

The child yawns once more, eyes barely open, "Hello Sasuke."

"Hello, Shinki." Sasuke says. He sets down his mug to pat the child's head.

The boy sniffles sleepily before he stumbles back over to Gaara, who watches the scene with obvious amusement.

"Father…" Shinki yawns, tugging on Gaara's sleeve.

"Good morning, Shinki."

"Morning…"

"You're not awake at all, are you?" Gaara smiles, picking up the child. Shinki yawns again, clearly happy to be held.

"You know, soon you'll be too big for me to carry you like this." Gaara says.

"No!"

That wakes him up a bit, pouting grumpily.

"It's true, but don't worry. Not too soon."

Shinki whines and shoves his face in Gaara's neck, clearly unhappy with the thought. Sasuke looks on, heart doing something unrecognizable at the look of contentment on Gaara's face.