IV: The friendly sands of a village, the rotten roots of another
"My only objective is for this war to end. And for the next one to never begin."
Hanzō of the Salamander
The star-ridden night sky stretched above them, in all its quiet gloriousness. It was a sight he always enjoyed, even back when he was an angsty little kid, mostly focused on murder and the euphoric power induced by the beast inside him. Of course Gaara knew better now. Naruto had seen to that, after he'd thoroughly beaten him to a pulp. There was love to be had in the world, even for beings like them. And somehow, impossibly, that was worth fighting for. Two former loveless kids like them, they'd fight for it to the ends of this cruel earth if need be.
Gaara smiled to himself, standing there atop the Kazakage building of his home village. An intimate love was yet to come into his life, but in the meantime, Gaara had the village. And he had his brother and sister. Temari was away, furthering their relations with their ally (and furthering other things as well, if rumours were to be believed) and Kankuro was by his side. He'd become so much more than his first and most loyal shinobi. After all these years of life here in Suna, Gaara had found himself a brother; it had only taken the lapse of their childhood for him to realize Kankuro had always been there, and waiting.
And then of course, there was Naruto. They were brothers too, although not blood ones. They were linked by the fate they shared instead. He and Naruto were Jiinchuuriki. That shared fate had been enough to serve as the foundation of a deep connection between them. Gaara knew for a fact that as long as they would belong to their villages, the alliance would stand; if they had their way, their newfound political kinship would go much, much further, and beyond their two lifespans. But of course, Temari was already seeing to that, wasn't she? Although Gaara doubted that her mind was anywhere near strengthening Suna-Konoha relations when she was not on duty. His light chuckle was lost into the echoing sounds of the desert breeze.
He would have to ask Naruto about the Nara son. He had to act the part of a real brother now, and Gaara believed that brothers tended to be protective.
Gaara enjoyed the atmosphere of his village once the scorching sun passed beyond the hills. There was only quiet and peace stretching before him. The political turmoil of his succession was mostly behind them, and now his place as their Kazekage was mostly disputed by old men who clung to their places of powers. But it did not matter; they would be dealt with in a matter of years at most, and all the while, they would be powerless. The village had spoken for him, he was loved just as he loved. Entire generations of the Suna population had chosen him. And he had the support of its youth. He would not disappoint. He would lead them all into a bright future; he would leave the village better than he'd found it, and pass it on to a worthy Kazekage. Their love and trust would not be left unanswered.
Gaara was about to head back into his office, when he felt the disturbance in the air.
"I'm so glad to find you here. It spares me from having to go through all the security."
He found a blonde head staring at him, with a smirk etched on the man's face. And then, after the sudden onslaught of tension drained away, he noticed the whisker marks, and Gaara smiled widely at his friend. "I should arrest you for infiltrating the village, I believe. I will have to spend hours bettering our security as well."
Naruto laughed at him. "Need any help? I could give you pointers; the next Hokage stands before you, y'know?"
"I am glad to welcome you here, Naruto, and the door will always be open to you. So perhaps you could tell the real one that you're granted entry into Suna?"
Naruto visibly winced at that, smiling sheepishly. "Ah. I'm afraid I'm not anywhere near here. I've only just returned to Konoha, and things are hectic. I wanted to see you, even if it's just like this. But you better believe you'll have to host me a few days the first chance I get," he finishes with a smile.
"We might as well catch up. I believe the shadow clones transfer information?"
"Yep! Anything important you want to share, I can pass on."
They headed inside. There Gaara took his place behind his heavy desk just as the clone of his friend did the same across from him. Not bothering to get up, he used his sand to bring two cups and a bottle to them upon realizing that no matter how close and friendly they were, Naruto remained a formal guest from an allied village, clone or not.
"You sure you want to waste the brandy on me?"
"You will taste it here, and the experience will be passed on, if I recall how the technique works. I would rather your original knows that no matter which Naruto comes at my door, he will be treated as my friend. As he should."
The blonde smiled a little ruefully at that, and Gaara watched his friend try to contain his blushing cheeks, allowing himself a smile of his own. "I'm afraid that this visit is not solely motivated by longing. I bring some concerning news from my travels."
Gaara eyed him with a shrewd look. "Does it concerns our little chakra friends?"
"It does, actually," Naruto answered with widened eyes, before he brought his countenance back to a friendly disposition. "I'm sure Suna's intelligence knows of Akatsuki. I know from an unquestionable source that they have been moving up their plans concerning us."
"An unquestionable source?"
"Yes. An infiltrated agent. And my late godfather."
Gaara noticed it instantly. Some years ago perhaps, he would not have perceived the blonde's sudden turn to sadness. Now, now it was clear to him, and it reminded him of his own past. Gaara sighed internally; he wished he had some experience with consoling friends. Even as the leader of a military village, he rarely dealt with the announcement of dire news himself. Now, he found himself regretting that.
"Naruto. If you need anything from me, anything at all, you need only ask."
"Yeah… Thanks, Gaara. It really means a lot. For now, I'll just need some lodgings here. Nothing fancy, mind you, I'm just the resident clone who's been assigned to Suna. If you have an urgent message to deliver, I'm here for that."
Gaara considered his friend's word for some moments, before he nodded in acknowledgement. "Found some uses for your clones, I see. Isn't there a time limit?"
Naruto smiled broadly at that. "Not as long as I still have my connection to them. There is a distance limit, though, but I've been improving on it. Also, my new clones can take some more hits before they're dispelled. I've been working with the toads from Mount Myoboku, they've been a huge help."
"And here I thought I could tease you about becoming Kazekage and being therefore stronger than you. Now instead I think you'd just wipe the floor with me all over again if it ever came to that."
Naruto grinned at his jinchuuriki friend. "I'm sure you'd give me a hard time. I've yet to develop a long distance thing of my own. I'd have to jump after you again and again," he added with an easy smile still stretching his lips, the whiskers made all the more prominent.
oOo
Hinata hopped in her room through the window, having avoided the whole of the Hyuga clan on her way. She didn't do things like this, usually. She would make her way through one of the compound's many doors, have a cordial chat with whoever had been assigned to it that day, and go on until she reached the ruling family house, bowing to her father if their paths ever crossed, weather each and every one of the questions he might have. But no, not today. She hadn't been able to resign herself to that; not after the mission. Not after Yugao-sensei's words.
In truth she didn't know how to feel; how to react to the jumbling emotions that had crashed upon her back in the clearing and hadn't stopped ever since. She'd been in a dazed state when they'd made their report, and she had had to deflect Godaime-sama's attempts at having her checked at a hospital. She hadn't sustained any injury. She was fine. Beyond fine, really.
It just was… He had been so infuriating! She'd had this little delusion buried in the deepest depths of her mind, where they would find themselves and – and she would speak with him privately somehow, and her blonde fool of a crush would agree to follow her back, perhaps even see her with the same respect most everyone had for her in the village, perhaps finally, finally consider her worthy of his time and attention. But no, of course silly dreams like that would only get crushed in the worst of ways. Of course she had once again let herself get vulnerable to the whims of a little silly girl whom she'd been so sure to have crushed beyond existence prior to that blasted mission.
Hinata threw herself carelessly on her mattress, almost violently, hoping she could just give herself a concussion and be done with her thoughts for the day. But her skull only met the soft plumpness of her pillow and she found herself staring helplessly at her ceiling instead. Thank the kami she was due to meet with Ino in half-an-hour; Hinata didn't know where she would end up otherwise. Well, there were a few likely outcomes. Drinking herself down to a stupor in some bar in the outskirts of the village, or right here more likely, after having stolen one of the better bottles within her father's extensive collection.
She got back up instead and started picking a suitable outfit for her upcoming outing. There was no point in trying to outdo Ino in terms of seductiveness (the woman always managed to find attires that were just suggestive enough not to be outright shameful) and dressing fancy was the last thing on Hinata's mind. She went for simple civilian clothes instead, stopping herself from grabbing the old ample jacket that most of her friends despised, Shino included. So what if she had self-esteem issues and didn't want to show herself in full to the first passer-by? Some kunoichi didn't have the graces required to manage the effortless attractiveness of the likes of Ino or Anko-senpai, and perhaps she didn't want to be perceived as –
She slapped herself in the face before she could finish that thought. Not enough to bruise, but not exactly lightly. It's not guilting, she told herself. Not when you're being a dumb bitch for real and badmouthing your friends.
She'd forgone any jacket entirely, in the end, and barely bothered herself with make-up (she still applied some, because while Ino might have her faults, she was usually right about these things) before exciting her room and the clan grounds at large the way she came, still very keen on avoiding her family. On her way out, she caught a glimpse of one of their inner training spaces and a smile quickly overtook her face.
Hanabi was there, right at the centre, byakugan awakend and her whole body tightly focused on one series of katas. And right by her side was their cousin Neji, who was adjusting her body and instructing her like a proper Jonin. With her abilities, it wasn't much trouble for Hinata to read their lips as they chatted, unaware of their audience, and she chuckled to herself when her little sister complained to their cousin about how he was going too soft on her training. She almost laughed out loud when Neji immediately proposed her a spar. She would need to have words with him. Hanabi had clearly already figured him all out and had him wrapped around her little finger, the little minx.
The moment soon passed, and Hinata was now zooming from roof to roof towards the Yamanaka flower shop. There was a little café there they were fond of attending whenever they could. It made delicious little pastries advertised as coming from a smaller country. Though it wasn't so much the delicacies' cultural origins that attracted them as their sugary, addicting taste. Ino always laughed that if they hadn't been kunoichi they'd already grown fat and sick. Ino had always had this way about her, this complete and disarming confidence in her body and its charms; she constantly managed to drag them all with her and make them feel better about themselves. It was partly why Hinata cherished her so much. Ino always had the right words to soothe her and she never let her wallow in her sombre moods.
The Yamanaka flower shop appeared before her in no time, and within seconds she found herself standing right before it, pushing the door to head inside where she already knew her friend was. Ino was standing right by the entrance, having already finished her shift and been replaced by some other Yamanaka at the counter (a teen genin, from what Hinata had seen through her byakugan.)
Hinata repeatedly found herself amazed by the effortless warmth emanating from the shop; she couldn't ever truly understand it, a mystical, symbiotic energy that was more than the sum of its parts and never failed to make her feel welcome. Her friend smiled brightly when she caught her and eyed her critically. "Wow, Hina, if I didn't know better I'd think this cute and casual look is not just meant for me. And the make-up, too! You'll get everyone blushing," she told her with a sultry smile as she pecked her on the cheek, causing Hinata to blush profusely, as always.
"Well, I – I know it's important to you, and you – you're important to me..."
Ino laughed just before she hugged her tightly. "Hold your horses, Hina. If I were interested I'd take you right up to my room instead of what we planned for today."
"Oh! I – I didn't mean!"
"Cool down," Ino laughed fondly at her. "I know that you're way too pure for any of that. Come on, let's get some pastries before they run out for the day."
They made their way out of the flower shop and into the crowded street, filled to the brim with store-fronts and exterior seatings filled with customers, spending lazy afternoons with friends and loved ones. It was only a couple turns until they found their target, a little crowded café with a lovely little store-front and simple wooden chairs outside with tables under parasols which, given the place's popularity, doubled as umbrellas when the interior was filled to the brim. Thankfully for them, their usual outside spot was left vacant, and they both took their seats nonchalantly across from each other, chatting idly while they waited to take their orders.
Ino was vibrant as ever, recounting story after story in a way only she could manage, making the shallowest of anecdotes sound like grandiose tales filled with twists and secrets. Hinata let herself fall comfortably within the flow of Ino's chatter, nodding along and humming whenever she felt it appropriate. They barely interrupted themselves as the waiter came and went, leaving them with hot brews and pastries and an afternoon with which to revel in their shared company.
The afternoon unfolded around them, their table never remaining empty for long, and before she could quite realize it, Hinata found that the sun was peering from behind the tallest buildings, and the streets, once filled with the idle meanderings of civilians, were now quiet and empty. "You sure you want to go back home with that same frown on your face?" Ino startled her, off-guard as she had found herself.
"What – What do you mean?"
Ino smiled at her, in this wicked, devilish way of hers, and Hinata knew she was done for. "Come on Hina, you know you can't fool me. Spill."
"I mean," she began, fumbling over her words. "It's really – really nothing really serious. Mission stress, you know?"
Ino eyed her critically, and she knew that her smile wouldn't have fooled a little kid, much less a Yamanaka trained in the mind arts of their clan. "I can't exactly talk about it. Classified." she whispered, eyes anywhere but on her friend's.
"Mmh. Tough business. If only I were a Yamanaka, and the daughter of one of the higher ups in TMI," Ino teased, her smile dangerous. "Then I'd be able to pick up on your boy problems face, and I'd know enough that there's only ever been one boy to cause problems for you."
Hinata shushed her instantly, sending wary looks at the few civilians walking past them. "Don't – Do we… Do we really have to talk about this?"
Ino stared back, unimpressed. "That depends I guess. Do you want to vent your heart out?"
"Of course I want to vent my heart out! I just – I don't see how that's gonna make him less of a complete blind dumbass!"
Her friend laughed mirthfully at her. Hinata could see that Ino was enjoying her distress entirely too much, but she was past the point of caring and they both knew it. "I take it he hasn't changed too much then. But that just means what I told you still applies. Not matter what folks tell young ladies, if you want him enough you gotta take initiative sometimes."
"I don't know if I could. I mean, back then when we went after him, I almost went back to being a little girl, and then he did a horrible thing and I get that he doesn't realize it but I really thought I'd killed him and wasted any chance and I get it's dumb and I should have moved on instead of being a silly girl with a crush for a boy that's probably not the same but I still can't get over him and it's driving me fucking –"
She startled suddenly, looking down at Ino's hand firmly grasping her forearm, her friend's face inches from her own. "Hinata, breathe," She told her in that calm, grounded tone of hers that always managed to pull her back. "A lot has happened, I get that. Now tell me, is it still possible for you to see him?"
She stared back, nonplussed, her mind utterly blank after her outburst. "I… I think so? Eventually?"
"Good. So the situation's the same. What you two lovebirds need is a proper –"
"Oh no," she cut her off. "No no no I could never – I mean look at me, I'm a stuttering fool every time I get within a mile… I can't Ino, I'll just end up making a fool of myself!"
Her friend's stare almost made her recoil in fright. She rarely gave her one of those, but Hinata knew them all too well. Ino would not relent, she would stubbornly push her until something gave, and usually that only meant the Yamanaka would get her way. What was worse, some deep, distant part of Hinata couldn't help but acknowledge that her friend was right about this. It wasn't surprising, because Ino usually was. She'd long since mastered relationships when Hinata had remained a stunted little girl preferring to retreat back into herself at the first sight of trouble. "It's the only way. You've got to get past the awkwardness. Then you'll see if the both of you click or if this crush of yours is just first impression with a guy that's your type. Either way it'll make you move on."
"I couldn't possibly… I mean what do I even say? 'Hey Naruto, I know we've pretty much never talked, but would you fancy a drink sometime?'"
"Pretty much, yeah," Ino agreed easily. "It's not so much what you say, y'know? And with me helping you get all sultry and enticing, he won't say no unless he's not at all into girls." She leaned forward them, whispering to her with laughing eyes. "Trust me, I would know."
"What if we don't click?" Hinata asked in a small voice.
"Then you get to have fun with me," Ino laughed lightly at her. "Oh come on, I'm just teasing," she added as Hinata promptly turned into a sputtering mess. "I get that you're a proper little princess, but that's why you're so fun to tease. But if you really want your Naruto you have to take a chance on this." She considered her for a few moments before she went on. "You've already burst your bubble and seen that your little prince can be as human and dickish as the rest of us. Now you've got to decide whether you still want to try your luck."
Hinata took some time to ponder her words. She was angry at him, there was no denying it. But she was also angry at herself for losing her cool in such a drastic way and jeopardising their assignment, putting herself and her sensei at risk. Ino was right of course. This wasn't just about her crush on him; it was about moving on, in one direction or another. Ever since his departure she had done her upmost to distance herself from the little weakling she'd been as a kid, to matter in a way that made her feel truly worthy of the love she'd been denied by others and herself; and she could hardly do that if she kept holding onto the worst tendencies she'd had, if she kept dreaming and hoping instead of pushing past the fear and taking what she wanted for herself. And she still wanted him, Hinata realized. He'd looked so weary, but he was still the same fool at heart: the little oblivious kid who conjured crazy plans when his situation looked desperate, who always let his stubbornness get ahead of his good sense. She had to see whether she could be with him as they both had become. Whether they would click, as Ino had put it.
"I think I still want to," she told her friend, her own eyes finding hers and trying to convey the firmness she was making herself feel.
"Great! Then all we gotta do is –"
A sudden ear-shattering sound startled them both.
It happened so abruptly they both jumped out of their seats, adopting their respective guarded stances on nothing but instinct as they ears began painfully ringing. Smoke was already rising from afar, billowing upwards in the early evening sky.
Faded from the distance, they could hear the distressed screams, the uncoordinated shouts of civilians scrambling haphazardly to safety. A shared purposeful look was all it took, and they both rushed side by side from rooftop to rooftop, following after the smoke and the screams, their liveliness of moments ago all but forgotten. It didn't take long for the sight to appear and for the situation to unfold itself. There had been an explosion, flames rising from the charred remains of the uppermost story of an elegant looking building.
Hinata took notice. Konohagakure wasn't new to targeted attacks. Civilians weren't often prime objectives, but when they were, shinobi would go for numbers and impressively devastating techniques. This was small instead. It was focused. More worryingly, the district was of those afforded the highest standards in terms of security. Her mind naturally went to the likeliest outcome: disruption.
She turned to Ino, who was wearing the same grim expression she knew she had. Her gift was already active, she realized. "There are two bodies on the rooftop, I can only confirm one's breathing. Go to them. I'll check the apartment and look for a runaway."
Ino merely nodded back before she went to carry her instructions. For a moment Hinata felt dazed, remembering she did outrank her friend. She quickly shook herself out of it and disappeared as well. A window had been completely shattered, which as good as any entrance. Mindlessly, she went through the motions to summon a water jutsu and put out any lingering fires. She kept low to the ground until the smoke finished clearing out, eyes focused on the blackened remains of a body. The throat had been slit, she could tell, which made little sense to her. If this had been the target, slipping in and out would have been the preferred routine. It would have been enough of a statement without the need for such a light show.
There weren't any more clues to be found on the body. Not ones she had the skill and knowledge to discern, at least. The explosion spoke of a quick escape, while the two bodies above evidenced that this wasn't some poorly prepared operation. The room itself told no useful story. A seemingly happily married couple with a daughter and expensive habits that spoke of some considerable wealth. Nothing out of the way for a district like this one. The man's face held some vague familiarity to her, but she couldn't place it right away. It wasn't someone she knew. She might have seen him a handful of times at most, which was of little help here.
She only truly gasped when she found the other body. Until then the horror had had yet to settle, covered under the dulling motions of her soldier job, of a lifetime used to death and gore and gruesome sights. Even then, there were things most of them couldn't get used to. Hinata wasn't the most jaded of shinobi, but there wasn't one hardened enough person she'd met who could betray nothing at the sight of a dead little kid. Some, like Kakashi-senpai, hid it really well; but to her Hyuga eyes there was always a tell, even a small, imperceptible one.
Hinata herself had no subtlety. She lacked the number of experiences they'd had to afford any emotional shield regarding those aspects of their duties. The civilians were the worst part of it all; there wasn't much guilt to be laid on their shoulders and alleviate the feelings brought by their demise. It was all Hinata could do to remain stoic and retain her sudden tears.
The child wasn't any older than ten, perhaps, and her death had been a kunai to the throat. A quick, mostly painless death, at the very least. Hinata grabbed the weapon carefully, her eyes keenly on the blood covering it all. There was no other weapon left. This had been used for both deaths. She'd been standing right by her open bedroom door. Whoever had come for the father must not have expected her.
Helplessness was slowly starting to overtake her. There was nothing here to help her get a reading on her target, and time was running short. The scene spoke both of skill and rush, and she lacked the capabilities to decipher any further from what little was left. Perhaps the explosion hadn't been rushed at all. Perhaps it had been about covering tracks.
Hinata strained her eyes until she could perceive far beyond the walls of the apartment, hoping to catch someone fleeing the scene, but she held little hope. She did catch movement however, coming towards her instead of away. Hinata suddenly straightened herself and bowed to her superior. "Hokage-sama!" she half sputtered. "I didn't expect – I've been trying to decipher -"
"Don't bother." Tsunade cut her off. She looked slightly dishevelled, the barest hints of untidiness only visible to Hinata's trained eyes. Her attention was soon diverted however. Her Hokage's face became a stone mask, the likes of which she'd never quite seen before. She followed her leader's eyes and found them lingering on the dead child lying by the bedroom door, in a pool of her own blood, still growing and seeping away from the corpse.
"I already know the culprit," Tsunade said, her voice betraying no emotion, an embodiment of the tight control she held over herself. "The victim was a member of the civilian council. He was leading a coalition hoping to push Shimura Danzo out of the affairs of the village."
"Shimura-san," Hinata whispered, confused. "But he's… he's Konoha."
Tsunada suddenly looked up, towards the hidden Anbu Hinata had politely avoided acknowledging, and nodded her head. She felt a wave of energy a moment later, sweeping through them, covering the room. Then, once she seemed satisfied with the seal, Tsunade turned to her. Hinata bent her waist in deference, until her Hokage bid her to look up.
"Danzo Shimura has been leading a cell within the village, without any supervision whatsoever. He does not answer to the council. He does not answer to me. Why my predecessor saw fit to let this situation fester as it has until this day, I will never understand. I certainly do not condone it."
Hinata understood right away. "What would you have me do, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade smiled at her. There was no joy to be found on her face. Hinata caught her looking beyond her shoulder for an elusive moment, where she knew the little girl to be. "I believe I should remind Danzo that I am not Hiruzen, and that my village will not be fashioned after his own." She paused then and turned away, making her way to the dead man by the window. "Consider this your ANBU application assessment. Your mission is simple. For this," she nodded towards the man and faced her again; her brown eyes hard and cold, her face like the stone of those towering above them all, "you will bring me Danzo Shimura. If nothing else, I will make do with his head."
Hinata nodded slowly. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
oOo
Away from Konoha's busy streets, far below the ground, in a place untouched by sunlight, a boy was making his way along a barren corridor. He strode quietly without skipping a beat, with a smile adorning his face, a fake thing that never quite reached his cold eyes. The boy smelled of smoke, and his jacket was burnt at the tips. There was blood strewn across his face. There was blood on his clothes. It did not seem to bother him; the boy kept on smiling.
At the end of the corridor was a vast room, a circular space with a high ceiling and dozens of entrances leading kami knew where. The room was empty save for an old man; he had a hard face marred with scars and a lone uncovered steely eye set on the approaching boy. His forehead and half his face were covered in bandages, along with his entire right arm.
The boy made his way before him and kneeled down, bowing in deference with his head upon the ground. "Danzo-sama."
"Rise. Tell me how it went."
His head was kept low even after he rose. "It is done. The target has been dealt with." He then hesitated for a second. "There was… an unexpected element."
"Go on." Danzo betrayed no emotion and simply gestured for the boy to continue.
"The target's daughter was present. She had to be eliminated along with her father. It complicated the escape."
Danzo hummed and began pacing before the boy. "A minor inconvenience. Nothing to bother yourself with."
The boy nodded again and acquiesced slowly, standing still before the old man pinning him with his own one good eye.
"What of your other assignment? Have you integrated well?"
The boy nodded eagerly. It was the first display of emotion since he had made all his way there, within the hidden rooms of Root. "I have begun a romantic relationship with Gai's student, Lee-san. I have been assigned on several missions with several teams, including his own."
The old man nodded briefly. "Good. Very Good. You will further endear yourself to them. Make your way into their circles and report to me of any major events. And look for the Uzumaki; I want to know where our dear Hokage has hidden our most prized weapon."
The boy kept his head bowed. "Hai, Danzo-sama."
Sai would do as he was bid. Danzo had made him into the person he was, built from the ground and turned a helpless little child into a deadly weapon. He would never disappoint his father. He would carry out his will, would bring about the great vision their father had shared with them all. Together, they would restore Konoha. They would bring back the long lost glory of better, happier days. And cut away all the rampant degeneracy that had for so long plagued their people. Konoha would be pure again.
