Chapter 9

"Come on, Kohaku, you can hit me harder than that!" Daichi called out, a grin on his face. Smiling back, the older girl paused a moment, gathering her chakra.

"Let's see if you can take hits when you can't see them coming," she replied, sinking into the sand. Daichi backed up, eyes and ears open for the slightest disturbance. Senjo and Inkei were a few feet away, practicing as well, and they stopped to watch.

"She's going to come up behind you!" Inkei warned.

"No helping," Senjo scolded. "Daichi needs to learn this on his own." A moment passed, and the Tanamari siblings could see a thin sheen of sweat on Daichi's face as he kept trying to figure out where Kohaku was going to strike from.

"She's taking an awfully long-" Inkei's statement was cut short as a hand surged from the sand, wrapping around Daichi's leg and pulling him face first to the ground. Coughing, and rolling on instinct, he barely avoided a sand spike as Kohaku rose from the earth on a pillar of rock.

"Not bad," she said, hopping down and dusting Daichi off. "That armor is pretty resilient." She noticed that she had cracked the armor on his side with her last attack however, and he was breathing heavily. "That's enough for today."

"But Kohaku-"

"Daichi, listen to your sister," another voice said. The four of them spun around to see Kurai and his father standing a few feet away. How long had they been there?

"Yes father," the younger boy answered as he and Kohaku bowed. Senjo and Inkei inclined their heads, and Taru turned away, said something to Kurai, and walked off. Kurai walked towards them, and Senjo noticed he had a bit of a limp.

"It's good to see you, Kurai-kun," she said softly as he walked past her.

"You too." But he didn't stop near her, but went right to his siblings. "Mother is cooking some sort of special dinner to celebrate our return. Apparently it will be an entire family affair, so don't be late."

"We won't. So how was training?" Kohaku asked, quirking an eyebrow at how tired and harsh he sounded.

"Long, tiring, and enlightening. I learned a few new abilities."

"I would hope so. You've been gone at least six weeks."

"Six weeks and two days, actually."

"I've been training too," Daichi broke in. Kurai's gaze flicked to the scar across his younger brother's face, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Finally decided that your own family were better teachers than that abomination?" Daichi opened his mouth to argue, but Inkei put a hand on his friend's shoulder and rolled his eyes.

"Of course he did. Who'd want to study Gaara anyway? He's still weird and creepy." Kurai nodded and began walking back to the village.

"You should listen to your friend more, Daichi. At least he has a clear head." When he was gone, Inkei smacked Daichi across the back of his head as Senjo sighed heavily and wrapped her arms around herself.

"That's the last time I cover for you, idiot. Do you want him to kill you?"

"He'll understand one of these days, Inkei."

"Yeah, well I'd at least like to see us graduate together. Who knows, maybe we'll be on the same team like our sisters."

"That's a scary thought," Kohaku said as she ruffled their hair. "All right boys, time to head back. Daichi, we need to wash up before dinner."

"Sure thing." They scampered off, and the brunette turned towards Senjo.

"Give him a little time to adjust. They just got back."

"I can already see it, Kohaku. He promised me that he wouldn't let them change him. But I can already see your father in his eyes."

"Then you know what you need to do, Senjo-chan?" She looked up, eyes beginning to fill with tears that she tried not to shed.

"What?" Her voice was choked, and Kohaku placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear:

"Remind him how to be Kurai. If anyone can do it, you can."

"All right. I'll try."

"No trying, just do it. Now come on, let's go before the sun starts setting. I'd like to be back before father decides to scold me for making him look bad in front of the family." Side by side they headed back to the village, both of them worried about Kurai.

"You're coming with me to work," Naiteki said at breakfast the next day.

"What's the occasion?" Senjo wondered as she washed the dishes. Inkei and her father had already left, and she had been looking forward to a day off.

"You'll be taking my place one of these days, and it's time your learned how we do things. You remember that Sound spy we caught when you first came back?"

"He's still here? Why hasn't his village arranged an offer for his release?"

"We're not sure, but we sent a runner out with a message, and have received no reply. Yesterday he was declared a missing-nin by our council, so we now have the power to interrogate him further. You and I are going to oversee that today."

"Do you think he was sent to see if we're still allies?"

"Possibly, but the warm welcome our patrol gave him probably answered that question. I'm more interested in what he's seen, including any information on Orochimaru. He made quite a name for himself once it was learned that he killed the former Kazekage." Senjo finished with the dishes, and the two women headed for the central guard building, which also housed a temporary prison.

"What was Orochimaru's connection to Konoha anyway? Was there a reason he hated it so much?"

"He's one of their most powerful missing-nins, trained by the third Hokage. Years ago he was chased out for performing human experiments, and he seemed to vanish for a quite a while. And when he showed up here, a village under his control and promises of revenge, we were all fooled."

"He must be powerful, to trick you and the clan leaders." Naiteki frowned and cleared her throat, repressing a shiver as she thought back to her first meeting with him.

"He was a very disturbing man, if you could even call him that. To me, he wasn't human. No one can have eyes that full of malice and contempt."

"Gaara did."

"Much as I hate to admit it, he has a reason. Anyway, Gaara isn't completely human to begin with." They arrived at the building, and the two guards waved them in. Inside was a bit like an office, except that most of the desks were empty.

"Where is everyone?" Senjo asked as she looked around.

"Out on patrols or missions, currently. We're a little short-staffed right now, and that's why I want you to start learning everything. Now let's go see how our "guest" is, shall we?" They proceeded to the back of the office where a locked door greeted them. Naiteki produced a key ring from her vest and unlocked it, and they descended down a flight of stone steps. It was slightly chilly, and Senjo felt a shiver race up her spine. "You'll get used to the cold. The cells are kept underground in a natural cave. We think there used to be a river running underneath the desert, and this chamber was hollowed out by it. I think a damp, cold cave is the perfect place to keep prisoners."

"That's your sadistic side, mother."

"You'll have one soon enough, Senjo. Working here demands it. You cannot show guilt, remorse, sadness, or compassion. Here you have to be the stronger one, or else you'll break long before your prisoners will."

"Yes ma'am." Once they reached the floor, Senjo noticed the lack of guards, and instantly became alert. "More staff shortages?"

"We never have our people down here unless we're questioning someone. Myself and the Kazekage are the only ones who have a key, and the door locks when it closes. Not to mention that in case any of the cells are opened without a key, there are numerous traps set to go off." Nodding, the redhead shifted her attention to the cells lining the far wall. Only one was occupied, but the prisoner was sitting so deep in the shadows that she almost didn't see him. "On your feet!" Naiteki ordered.

"I won't tell you anything," came a raspy voice.

"Getting to your feet does not mean open your mouth, boy. Now come here." She was staring at the door to the cell, staring into it with hard eyes. After a moment she said: "Senjo, go get him. Apparently a few days without food have rendered him deaf."

"You want me to go into the cell?"

"How else do you expect to get him? Now move!" More frightened of her mother than the unknown ninja, Senjo cautiously opened the door after Naiteki unlocked it. Her eyes were adjusting to the dim light of the lamps lining the chamber, and she could see a bit clearer. Their prisoner was in his early twenties, maybe a little younger, with tattered clothes of gray camouflage. His forehead protector was tied around his leg, and Senjo noticed a bloody bandage beneath it. His dark hair was stringy and matted, his face pale and eyes fluttering closed every few moments. He was fighting to stay awake, and he must be starving if what her mother had said was true. Still being careful, she approached him with arms slightly at her sides, her right one near her weapon pouch. He moved his leg, and she heard the scrape of a chain across the stone, realizing he was tethered to the wall. He made no move towards or away from her, but continued to stare as she inched closer. Aside from one shackled leg, he had free movement otherwise, but he just sat still until she was right beside him.

"Stand up," she said softly.

"You'll have to drag me out of this cell," he shot back, his voice dry and a little choked. She tried not to feel sorry for him, but couldn't help it. Still, he was an enemy, and she had a job to do.

"I'll give you some water if you stand up and come with me," she whispered. His eyes widened, and he turned to stare at her.

"No one's offered me water before."

"There's a first time for everything. Now stand up and don't give me any trouble, all right?" He nodded and got shakily to his feet. Senjo steadied him a little, and they walked towards Naiteki, who had another key in her hand.

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" she asked as she bound his arms and then unlocked the shackle on his leg.

"Is there a water canteen down here?" Senjo asked.

"On that table by the stairs." Retrieving the precious liquid, Senjo held the container to the prisoner's lips and tipped it up so he could drink. He had gone through a quarter of the bottle before Naiteki took it away and recapped it. "Now then, on to business." She walked the man over to a chair and forced him to sit, bolting his legs to the chair, but leaving his hands bound in front of him. "As for your earlier comment, I can assure you that by the time we're through here, you will tell me everything you know, and you will do it willingly."

"Not likely."

"We'll see." Naiteki's smirk was a dangerous one, and Senjo began to get nervous. Did she really have what it took to be her mother's successor? Could she really go through with torturing someone for information? She had long thought about what being the village interrogator meant, ever since she had been told that to be a part of the Chuunin exam meant she might be forced to kill. Both Kurai and Kohaku had understood and accepted that part, but Senjo's very nature had made it difficult. She was not a ninjutsu or taijutsu user, and though she had been brought up knowing the life of a ninja, she still wasn't sure she could ever take a life. "Senjo?" Naiteki's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she glanced over sheepishly.

"Yes?" She caught the prisoner's eyes and focused on him. Maybe there was a way to find out what she needed without resorting to violence. After all, you could attract more flies with honey than vinegar, or however that saying went.

"I'm going to leave him to you, but I'll be back in two hours. If he hasn't talked by then, I'll show you both how we do things around here." Naiteki stalked up the steps like a predator watching her prey squirm beneath her. Once the door locked shut, Senjo pulled a roll of bandages and a kunai from her pouch.

"What are you doing?" the prisoner asked, staring wide-eyed.

"That bandage on your leg needs to be changed, and if you have any other injuries, I can fix them up a little for you. I'm not a med-nin, but I know a little something." She bent down and removed his forehead protector from around his wound, wincing when she saw the dark, blood-soaked bandages. Peeling them off carefully, she grabbed the canteen and began to wash the wound, smiling a little when it began bleeding again slightly. "Good, that should help get any excess dirt out." Tying a fresh bandage on, she wrapped his forehead protector around it again and stood back to admire her work. "There, all fixed. Anything else I should look at?"

"No, no, that's fine. Thank you." He was looking at the floor, the ceiling, his lap, anywhere else but at her. "I can't tell you anything. I'm only a regular Sound shinobi. Only Orochimaru-sama's personal squad knows anything."

"Actually, I think you can tell me a great deal. For instance, what were you doing out here? And why wasn't a deal made for your release?"

"I told you, I'm no one special. As for me being here, I was following orders."

"What were your orders?"

"To see how the Sand had recovered after the battle with Konoha. I was told to get as close as possible to assess your current military strength. That's when the border patrol found me."

"And what is our current military strength?" He stared at her, slightly puzzled. "I'd like to hear an impartial view. I know more than you about the ninjas who live here, but I want to know what you think."

"You would make deadly enemies and strong allies. To this day I don't know why Orochimaru-sama betrayed you. I wouldn't want the Sand coming after us."

"At least you know when you're outmatched. So, you have a name?"

"Daisuke. Sunomo Daisuke."

"Tanamari Senjo, pleased to make your acquaintance." She patted his bound hands, smiling up at him. Daisuke looked away and frowned.

"I still can't tell you anything."

"But you already have. You've told me your name, why you were here, and what you found. You even told me an opinion you had, all in conversation."

"Aren't you going to try and torture me? You know, hit me or cut off a finger or something if I don't give up my secrets?" Senjo stared at him with one eyebrow raised. He was one strange guy.

"Don't tell me you just became a Genin before they sent you out. Never suggest that an enemy torture you, and especially never suggest that you have secrets worth torturing you for. See, I'm not into the whole torture and threat scenario. I prefer to just talk to people. So unless you want that other woman to come back and do things her way, you might want to start talking to me."

"Will it be just like this? Just the two of us?"

"Sure. And don't go getting any ideas about trying to overpower me. I'm a Chuunin, and I can always lock you in a never-ending nightmare if you try anything stupid." The grin she added to that sentence made him pale, and she giggled. It was kind of fun watching him become nervous, and Senjo began to realize what her mother had been talking about. Standing up, she walked upstairs and knocked on the door. A moment later Naiteki opened it with a curious look on her face.

"Done already? It hasn't even been an hour."

"We're done for today. But tomorrow I want to come back and talk to him again."

"Where is he?"

"Still in the chair. I don't have the keys, so I had to get you."

"Wait up here." Naiteki went downstairs, and Senjo walked into the office and shut the door behind her. A few minutes later, the door opened and her mother closed it and sat down on the nearest desk.

"You talked to him? That's it? He hasn't said a word to anyone other than to be difficult. How did you get him to talk?"

"I was nice to him. I got him out of the cell by offering him water, and then I changed the bandage on his leg for him. I didn't find out much, but it was a start."

"So what did he say?"

"He was ordered to come here to assess our military strength, and he was going to report that we were still a formidable force. Then he told me his name, and agreed to talk to me as long as it was just the two of us."

"Senjo, you never cease to amaze me. You might not have my style, but you certainly get results. We might have to try teaming up against any further prisoners."

"That is a frighteningly good idea, mother. How about we team up on father and make him cook dinner to celebrate my first successful interrogation?" Naiteki smirked, then stood and began walking towards the front door.

"Sounds like an idea worthy of my successor."

After dinner, Senjo headed out towards the cliffs, hoping to catch Kurai in one of his practice sessions. Though that area was also where Gaara tended to go, the young Chuunin never seemed to care, and Senjo mused that he secretly wanted to run into the desert child one night. Sure enough, he was practicing with a sand clone, and barely paid her any mind when she sat a little ways away. When he had reduced the clone to dust, he faced her. "What?"

"I just came to talk."

"I don't have time, Senjo."

"Oh come on, Kurai-kun-"

"Don't. Not tonight. I have techniques I need to perfect, and I can't have you in my way. Go home."

"Since when have I ever gotten in your way?" The smirk was back in an instant, but this time, Kurai seemed more like he was looking down on her than just being a jerk.

"You can't really do anything on your own. Kohaku and I always have to soften the enemy up before your techniques are of any use. Even my father said you lack the drive your mother had to learn any other offensive techniques." Senjo's jaw practically hit the ground as she stared at him. Why was he insulting her all of a sudden?

"I thought we were a team-"

"We were, Senjo, but that's over now. Chuunins only work with teams when necessary, and Jounins receive mostly solo missions. Face it, we're all on our own. From now on, you have to rely only on yourself."

"I can do that. But I need to know that I can still come to you after a mission is over. Will you be there for me then?" He turned away for a moment, and a suddenly chill wind whipped over them, and Senjo shivered.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean? Kurai… Kurai-kun, you promised me you wouldn't let your father and the others do this to you. You made me promise to wait for you, and I did. Who you are now isn't the person I made that promise to."

"If you'd like, I can release you from that promise." She stared at him, eyes wide as she tried to understand why he'd said that. Finally she walked over to him, and he turned just in time to catch her hand across his face. His eyes burned with anger, but hers were just the same.

"How dare you! I'm the only one who can decide which promises I do or do not keep. Release me? Like I'm some doting pet? Of all the stupid… You bastard!" She hit him again, but he just stood there and took her punch, which wasn't as hard as she'd hoped. Whirling around and balling her hands into fists, Senjo raced back to the village. Behind her, Kurai stood watching her, wiping a trickle of blood from his split lip.

"I'm sorry, Senjo-chan. It's for the best."

Hajino Atsui was sitting outside her house watching the stars when she saw a familiar form running up the street. It was Senjo all right, but she seemed in a hurry. Too much of a hurry, because she tripped over a rock and fell to her knees in the dirt. Atsui hurried out to her when she did not get up, but was surprised when she heard what sounded like choked sobs coming from the redhead. "Senjo? Senjo, what's wrong? Were you attacked? What happened? Where were you coming from?"

"Atsui-san, he hates me!" Her face was pale, and her breathing erratic. But by the look in her eyes, the woman could guess who she meant, and sighed heavily.

"What has my son done this time?"

"He hates me! He promised me he wouldn't change, and he did. And then he said I didn't have to wait for him, like he made me promise before he left. And-"

"Senjo, Senjo, shh. Come in the house and I'll make some tea." Helping her up, Atsui guided the distraught girl into the house, praying that Taru stayed at his brother's for just a few hours more. Once they were in the kitchen, Atsui busied herself making some tea, and then she sat next to Senjo and stroked her hair. She had done it enough when the girl had been younger, and Naiteki and Seishin had been busy on a mission. It had been nice to have someone to comfort. Her own children were distant, even Daichi who was the warmest of the three. Now though, it had been one of her children to cause such pain to someone she considered a surrogate daughter. "What happened?"

"Before Kurai left to train, he made me promise to wait for him. He told me that Makoto had once promised the same thing, but she went back on it." Atsui grimaced at the mention of the other girl's name. She had not been fond of the blonde aspiring med-nin, but had kept her mouth shut for Kurai's sake. When she had betrayed him, Atsui had been glad that Senjo had been there to alleviate the worst of the hurt he had suffered. "But he changed, Atsui-san. He's more like his father now than ever. I don't want to lose him. What should I do?"

"Senjo-"

"How do you stand being around Hajino-san? All he cares about is the family legacy and its fall." Senjo sat in silence after she said that, refusing to believe that she had just said that. That was Atsui-san's husband, her teammates' father. Oh, she was not having a good night. Atsui was silent as she stood and poured the tea into two cups and served her guest. After a few more minutes, she said softly:

"He wasn't always like you see him, Senjo. When I first met Taru, he was different. He still trained hard and wanted the best for his family, but he was content to be both the Hajino heir and himself. When the plan to create Gaara was first brought up, he felt betrayed by the Kazekage, that he needed to make one person when an entire family had the ability he sought. And when Shukaku was reborn, he still refused to believe that a mere baby could ever surpass his line. Kurai and Kohaku were his pride and joy, and he had such high hopes for them. Hopes that turned to demands when it was discovered that Gaara had indeed surpassed even the most senior members of the Hajino clan. Kurai has too much of his father in him, and he takes everything as a personal affront to his honor. I fear that neither of them will be happy until Gaara is dead. And then I wonder if that would satisfy them if they were not the ones to bring him down? Kohaku and Daichi are different, though my daughter still follows the wishes of her father and brother. But she has her own rival to overcome, and that is what truly separates her."

"Is there anything that can stop Kurai from acting like this?"

"I don't know. Right now the only ones who can reach Kurai are you and Kohaku, and she's decided to let him go down his own path for now."

"So I'm it then? Even Kohaku gave up?"

"No, she didn't give up. I think she knows that you never will." Senjo stared into her tea for a moment, thinking back to the picture on her wall. She needed to get back the old Kurai, she just had to.

"Thank you, Atsui-san. I knew you'd understand."

"Is that why you were in this part of the village?"

"Not on purpose. I just started running and wound up here."

"I guess that means you feel safe here."

"I do. You, Kohaku, Kurai, and even Daichi are like another family to me. I've always been able to come here and feel like I'm part of something." They embraced, and then Senjo left for her own house. Atsui watched her go, then turned away with a sad smile. Her eyes alighted on a family picture that had been taken soon after the twins had achieved Chuunin rank. Everyone looked so happy…

"Kurai, don't throw away one of the best things to ever happen to you. Stop trying to be like your father and just be yourself. I only hope Senjo can make you understand."

"So Daisuke, are you feeling better today?" Senjo asked when he'd finished eating. Naiteki had suggested making it seem like she was sneaking him food, but Senjo was just content that he was being fed at all. That it made him trust her more was an added bonus.

"Yes, thank you." He was sitting in his cell, though unchained. His leg wound had even improved, and his recently washed forehead protector was now back on his head. "What did you want to talk about today?" They had chatted about everything during the last few days, mostly about seemingly-inconsequential things. He had originally been a Genin from the Hidden Village of Stone. Orochimaru had passed through there years ago, choosing what Daisuke had thought to be his own elite team. Out of the six Stone ninjas to join, only two were left, and now it was down to one. Senjo had requested that a message be sent to his former village, letting them know the fate of their missing-nins, and asking what they wanted done with Daisuke. It would be a while before they received a reply, however.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you about your village leader."

"Orochimaru-sama? What about him?"

"Does he ever say anything to the regular shinobi? Has he discussed where he's from, why he does things, or what his goals are?" Daisuke shifted nervously, looking away. "Please, I need to know."

"He wants to destroy Konoha, but none of us know why. I've heard that he had spies there, but they might've been pulled out when Kabuto-san left."

"Kabuto? Who's he?"

"A medic-nin, and one of Orochimaru-sama's personal guards. He used to be part of Konoha too, but he's been a Sound ninja for longer than I have."

"So Orochimaru is also from Konoha?"

"Oh yes, he's one of the Sannin, the legendary three." Senjo's jaw hit the floor. He was one of the Sannin! They were supposedly the strongest shinobi in the world, trained in Konoha under the third Hokage. But, wouldn't that make them old?

"He has a lot of ambition for an old man."

"Orochimaru-sama isn't old," Daisuke shot back. "He's immortal."

"Immortal? No one can live forever, Daisuke. Eventually, death catches up with everyone." But he shook his head, and a smile crossed his face.

"Death will never catch him. Everyone in the village has heard the rumors, but I think they're true. When he still in Konoha, Orochimaru-sama perfected a technique that would allow him to live forever."

"There is no such technique. If there was, someone would've learned it long ago."

"He experimented on people, or at least that's what the rumors say. That's why he was kicked out."

"Wait, he was exiled from Konoha?"

"That's what I heard. Oh, maybe that's why he wants to destroy it." The wheels were starting to turn in Senjo's mind, but she didn't like where any of her thoughts were leading. This man, one of the legendary three, was utterly twisted. Evil was a viewpoint, but if she had to call him anything, that would be it. He'd taken his own neighbors and used them to perfect a technique that must've been forbidden, all to become immortal? And he'd tried to use her village to help him take over Konoha? But what did he really want with that village? They had too many powerful families for it to be an easy takeover, as had already been proven. So was there something else there?"

"Does he want Konoha destroyed, or does he just want it under his rule?"

"Honestly, I think it's all the same to him. Again, all I've heard are rumors."

"Well, what other rumors are there? At this point, you just keep worrying me."

"Senjo, it isn't right for me to predict what he could do. For all I know he could be planning to destroy this village right now."

"We'll worry about that if it happens. I'm more worried about Konoha."

"But why? Aren't you enemies?"

"Yes and no. It's the same way with all the villages. Pay us enough or offer us the right incentive, and we'll ally with anyone. I don't like to admit it, but it's the truth. But, I do have friends in Konoha, and I don't want to see anything happen to them."

"Oh. Well, there was one more rumor to the immortality one. Supposedly the body can't last forever, so Orochimaru-sama needs to find a new one. Right now it's up in the air because one of his elite guards is ill, and it was thought that he was going to be the new body."

"Would someone really just give over their body to him like that?"

"Orochimaru-sama can be very persuasive, and he has power to back it up. He even gives people his own seal, to show just how close to him they are."

"Seal? What does it look like?"

"Everyone has a different one, but only his elite guards get them. Except, I don't think Kabuto-san has one."

"Why? Doesn't Orochimaru trust him?

"He trusts him the most. But I think the seal is visible, or can become visible at some points. Kabuto-san was a spy for so long, that I guess they didn't want the seal getting in the way and causing trouble."

"What does the seal do?"

"It gives its bearer power. It's a great honor to receive one, because that means Orochimaru-sama not only trusts you, but knows you can handle the power."

"So if he offered you one, you'd take it?" He looked her dead in the eyes.

"Wouldn't you?"

"That would depend on the price. There's always a cost to everything, and some things are not worth giving up just for power."

"You're from Sand village, so how can you not want power? There are ninjas from all over the world who accept that gift."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? My village is powerful, but our lord just refused to see it. That's why we went against Konoha, to show our power. And as much as we were allies, we both lost. Why is that?"

"I don't know. Maybe Konoha is just that powerful?"

"Your leader is one of the Sannin, right? Shouldn't he have been able to do something? He killed our Kazekage easily enough."

"He had help for that. But he was fighting his mentor in Konoha. I don't know exactly what happened, but even though he managed to kill the Hokage, the old man did something before he died. That's partially why a retreat was called. That, and Gaara never showed." Eyes wide, Senjo balled her hand into a fist.

"Gaara? How was he part of the attack?"

"Orochimaru-sama wanted to use Shukaku to help wipe out the majority of the forces. But when he never showed-"

"You wanted to use that demon?" she screamed. "Do you have any idea how unstable it is? Gaara can barely control it, and if he ever gave Shukaku complete control…" She shivered at the thought, then narrowed her eyes. "So the desert child was your trump card? That's a pretty big risk."

"No, Gaara was your trump card. Ours was ill at the time of the attack, and I heard that he was dying."

"The Sound village has a demon of its own?"

"No, nothing like that. Kimimaru-san has been a loyal follower of Orochimaru-sama for many years. He has a bloodline limit that's unbeatable. That's why he was supposed to be the next vessel. But now I'm not sure who that will be." Senjo's head was spinning with all the new information, and she had to let her mother know. This was serious, especially if even half of what she was hearing was true.

"Daisuke, I need to go. But I'll be back tomorrow, okay?" He nodded, then walked back to the wall of the cell and sat down.

"No one can beat him, Senjo. Orochimaru-sama will one day take over all the villages. It's better to be his follower than a slave."

"It's also better to die on your feet than live on your knees. If he came here, this village would stand and fight just like Konoha, and I'm sure the village of Stone would do the same thing. You can't give up just because you think the situation is hopeless. Sooner or later help will arrive, or you'll find the opening you need. Nothing is ever set in stone." Turning away, Senjo headed up the stairs and knocked on the door. Naiteki opened it, a questioning look on her face. "Brace yourself, mother. This is going to be a long week."

Kohaku was heading home from border patrol when she spotted Kurai heading down the street. "Come with me," he said.

"Where to?"

"No questions, just follow me." She did so, but there was something wrong with all this. Kurai had barely said a word to anyone except their father since his return. She'd overheard her mother talking to Naiteki-san about something he'd said to Senjo, but Kohaku had resolved to stay out of it. They ended up at the playground, but none of the children were around, and the setting sun cast long shadows over the twins.

"What is it, Kurai?"

"Father wants me to challenge Gaara. " The silence hung in the air after he spoke, and Kohaku did nothing but stare at him. Yes, Kurai was powerful, and definitely more skilled with the bloodline than most of their relatives, herself included. But to even think of challenging Gaara…

"What did you tell him?" she finally asked.

"It said it sounded like a good idea."

"So you are suicidal," a new voice said as they whirled around. Kankuro was perched on the top of the swings, which were occupied by two puppets. The twins were sure that no one had been anywhere near them a moment before.

"Mind your own business," Kurai told him.

"Normally I would, but what you want to do could stir up something. Something I'd rather not deal with."

"Shukaku? Let him release the demon. We'll see who the true master of the sand is then." Kankuro started laughing, and the puppets began chattering along.

"You're a long way from defeating Gaara, Kurai. There's sand, and then there's Gaara's sand. Only he can control it, and only he can keep Shukaku at bay. Save yourself the humiliation and just deal with it like we have."

"You're scared of him," Kohaku said, a smirk twisting her lips.

"Scared and having a healthy respect are two different things."

"Please. You don't respect Gaara any more than we do. You feel that he was given too much too soon, all because of Shukaku. After all, Kankuro, you were the only son before Gaara came along. And he even has you and Temari afraid of him." The black-clad boy jumped off the swings and walked towards them, but the puppets stayed where they were.

"If you two really want to kill yourselves all for your father's sake, then go right ahead. But my father's ambitions got him killed, and now Temari and I have to deal with Gaara by ourselves. Just don't challenge him anywhere near me." He walked away, and the puppets stood and followed, and they stared at the twins when they passed. Once they were alone, Kohaku let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"I hate those things. Karasu was bad enough, but now there's another one?"

"I'm surprised you remembered its name. They're just puppets," Kurai shot back.

"Yes, but would you ever want to fight those things? I have to admit, his control is almost flawless."

"Control is one thing, but power is another. If you have both, victory is assured."

"Power isn't everything. One wrong move and I can still turn a fight around. No one thing wins it."

"Care to put that statement to the test?" Kurai dropped into a fighting stance, but Kohaku just shook her head and turned away.

"I won't fight you, Kurai. You already know that when you're thinking clearly, I'm no match for you. I'm a better defender, at least with our ability. My ninjutsu is more offensive, and most of my attacks are useless on you."

"I still say you should focus less on the fire. How much good do they do here?" She turned back, a smile on her face now.

"I might not always be around here, and I like them. You don't see many of our ninjas using fire techniques."

"Konoha has more use for that."

"That's where I got the idea. There's a reason I developed my techniques during the Chuunin exam break. If you remember, one of our opponents in the forest used one."

"He wasn't very good at it though, not like Sasuke was with his."

"The Uchiha clan specialized in fire jutsus. Along with their bloodline limit, they were Konoha's most elite family."

"And yet they were cut down by one of their own. Makes you wonder."

"About what, that it could happen to other families? Let's get one thing straight: If you ever tried to kill our clan, I would take you out myself."

"You just said that if I'm thinking clearly that you're no match for me."

"If you were trying to kill us, you wouldn't be thinking clearly. Besides, I'd have Daichi helping me." Kurai laughed, but she shook her head. "Don't write him off, Kurai. He might be our little brother, but without you and father here he really came into his own. I was supervising his training, and I gave him some freedom."

"I thought he wasn't using those techniques anymore? He told me-"

"They are his techniques, Kurai, and no one else's. You should trying listening to Daichi once in a while. He's not a child anymore."

"He's still our little brother, and nowhere near my level." Kohaku began walking away, shaking her head and laughing slightly.

"You'd be surprised to learn how level the field becomes when you think differently than your opponent," she said to herself.