In which important things are said.
Warning for child abuse caused by Rasa being a dick.
O-O-O-O-O
Yugito kept her eyes focused on the ground as her team returned to Shiokaze in defeat. She kicked a tree as she passed by it, splitting it in two out of sheer anger.
After more than five months chasing after a lead, to find it came to nothing was more than a letdown. It was absolutely fury-inducing.
The two other jinchuuriki were just as enraged.
Soon after Orochimaru's space, Han had punched a tree so hard it had fallen in one second, splinters floating in the air. After that, he had seethed in complete silence, the only noise coming from his grinding teeth. Roshi had reacted similarly, covering his body in lava before turning a giant tree into ash.
Even Yagura was angrier than she could remember in years. He had stopped making jokes about the situation and was fuming instead, wondering aloud if he should have tagged along after all.
C himself was not immune. He had been annoyed to discover that Han and Roshi were jinchuuriki. But that was nothing compared to his wrath at finding out Orochimaru had escaped. Since leaving their campground, his fists and jaw had been clenched in fury.
However, to him, Orochimaru's escape meant only that a mission had failed. Unlike her, he knew nothing about the potential lead that had slipped through their fingers.
Orochimaru had been so close, yet, he had disappeared so fast they had not even noticed it. How hard is it for three fully-realized jinchuuriki to catch one snake?
"We're almost back at Shiokaze," C announced, his voice exhausted and defeated. "I can feel Darui's chakra. And that friend of yours, too. Kaito."
Yugito only nodded, not knowing what she could say. Walking close behind her, Han and Roshi grunted but said nothing.
A few minutes later Yugito got her first glimpse of Shiokaze after more than five months.
As soon as they stepped foot inside the town, the people greeted them with smiles and waves. From their perspective, Yugito and her team had returned alive, which was the only proof of victory they needed. After all, no one else had disappeared in over half a year and they had reason to be optimistic.
Yugito could not return their cheer. She had failed her mission, one in only a handful ever since she became a shinobi.
She couldn't let the people know the true extent of the situation either. Not unless she wanted panic to erupt. I can't tell them that Orochimaru is the one that had been taking all their children.
Biting her lip to suppress a scream, Yugito led them to the town's central building, knowing that Darui and Yagura were there.
Sure enough, once they stood in front of the main building, Darui flickered in front of her, the usual bored expression on his face. Yet, Yugito could see a hint of disappointment in his eyes. She looked away, ashamed in her failure.
"Akio-san told me about the whole dull thing," Darui said, his gaze sweeping over the four of them. "So Orochimaru managed to escape after all."
Yugito nodded, her teeth gritted in rage. All that effort and it was all for nothing. We didn't even learn anything about their organization.
Darui's eyes grew gentle and he turned around to enter the administration building. They followed him as he led them down the hall and into an empty room, sliding the door closed behind them.
"So I guess things didn't work out, did they?" Yagura sat at a low table, a fake smile on top of his disguise. He stared at the four returning shinobi, an indecipherable look in his eyes.
For the first time ever in Yagura's presence, Yugito felt guilt burrow into her stomach. She clenched her hands into fists and looked down at her toes, ashamed. They had thought they could handle Orochimaru, but clearly they could not.
I'm weak. I should have been able to capture Orochimaru, if not kill him.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, bending her head forward in front of Darui and Yagura. "I failed you and this village. I should have been able to do more."
Yugito felt tears building at the corners of her eyes, but it was easy to push them back. The only people she had ever allowed to see her cry were Samui and Mabui and that list was not going to grow. I'm supposed to be the leader. I should have been able to do more.
An awkward silence settled over them as they absorbed her apology. Yugito was unable to meet their eyes.
"Not every mission is a success, Yugito-san," Yagura eventually broke the silence, his voice gentler than she had ever heard. "What matters is learning from our failures and doing better next time."
Yugito heard mutterings of agreement from the other shinobi at Yagura's words. She bit her lip, still afraid to look up.
"No, you really should blame me," she retorted. "It's my mission and that makes me the one responsible. I had the opportunity to chase after Orochimaru but I decided that the summoned snake was more important."
"I'm afraid we were the ones who ruined this mission, Yugito-san," Roshi said with a heavy sigh.
Yugito glanced up to meet the short man's eyes. To her dismay, his words were completely sincere. She grimaced. Can't he see how much I fucked up?
"I underestimated Orochimaru," Roshi continued. "I might have called for backup but it doesn't change the fact that I was overly confident in my own abilities. If I had-"
"No," Han interrupted, speaking for the first time since their fight. "When you tore off his leg, I had the opportunity to finish him quickly, but I acted too slowly, believing there was no way for him to counterattack. If I had taken him down, we would have managed to capture him."
Still sitting on the floor, Yagura shook his head. "It's my fault as well. I might not be the best fighter anymore, but I could have provided support in a difficult situation."
"That still doesn't change the fact that as the leader, the success or failure of a mission is my responsibility," Yugito concluded. "I apologize for my weakness."
She stood up straight, meeting everyone in the eye, afraid of their reactions.
"So basically it's everyone's faults except for me and Darui," C commented, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Except that you weren't necessarily the best support in the fight, boy," Roshi grumbled. "Your clone got destroyed and you were unable to sense the difference between a shadow clone and the original body."
C's face reddened but he maintained his haughty posture. "It's not like I can do much about it! Shadow clones have the same chakra signatures as the original bodies, after all. The original must've suppressed its chakra while we were chasing the clone."
"Still means you messed up, C," Darui drawled, hands in his pockets. "How dull."
C's face grew redder but he had no retorts. Yugito almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of Darui of all people scolding C.
Yugito sighed. "Well, in any case, we let Orochimaru get away," she concluded. "So now, the question is..." she looked up to meet their eyes once again. "With the mission failed, what are we going to do now?"
The other shinobi shifted, unsure of what to say.
Finally, Yagura sighed. "Sit down," he ordered before heading toward a water kettle sitting by the wall. "Roshi, Han, C, you too. Would you all like some water? Tea?"
"I'd like five bottles of sake to black out on," Roshi muttered as he collapsed on the floor with a grunt. "Han can probably handle ten."
Han said nothing. He sat down near Roshi, leaning his body against the wall. He took off his hat and mask, placing it next to him on the floor and staring up at the ceiling. Yugito grimaced at the sight. She had never seen the giant man look so defeated before.
"Some tea for me," C sighed before kneeling down close to the table.
Darui sat at his side and Yugito joined him on the floor. "Same for me, please," they said at the same time.
With a nod, Yagura prepared a kettle full of tea. The room grew silent, each of the shinobi lost in their own thoughts.
"I don't have sake, so you'll have to make do with tea," Yagura muttered as he placed two steaming cups of tea in front of Han and Roshi. He handed the rest of the cups out.
Yugito accepted hers with a muttered thanks. She took a sip of the hot liquid, comforting in the winter chill. In an instant, her body felt warmer and the situation did not seem as desperate anymore. The power of tea.
Yagura sat down next to her with a sigh, his own cup cradled in his hands. He took a long sip before speaking again.
"I guess there is something we have to do now," he said as he turned his attention to Han and Roshi. "We need to find Orochimaru again. This time, it's personal."
"Why personal?" C asked. He placed his cup on the low table at the center of the room, untouched.
"It's none of your business, boy," Roshi grumbled before taking a large gulp of tea.
C frowned. "You know, there are a few things I've been wondering about since the fight." He glared at Han and Roshi, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "First of all, when did the jinchuuriki of Iwagakure leave their village?"
A chill passed through the room. Yugito frowned, turning her attention between her teammates and her fellow jinchuuriki. As much as she loved the jinchuuriki and considered them her family, she was still a shinobi loyal to her village.
She had to change the topic before her nightmare of split loyalties turned into reality.
"There's nothing we can do about it now, C," Yugito interrupted before C's threats turned into action. "Or do you really think we can handle two jinchuuriki without leveling the entire town?"
C gave her a look that could best be described as a pout before looking away and glaring at the wall. Yugito sighed in the relief.
"I'm afraid we will have to report this to the Raikage," she said, knowing that the knowledge that Iwagakure had lost their jinchuuriki would make A dance in glee. "I am unable to guarantee anything from him, but for now, you have my promise that I will not hurt you."
Yagura nodded, although he hadn't seemed worried about that at all. "I understand. It's not every day that you bump into missing-nin that just so happen to be jinchuuriki, after all."
"There is one other thing," C continued stubbornly as he focused his attention back on Han. "When you saw Orochimaru, you said you only wanted information. You said that as long as he told you about the organization he belonged to, you would let him go."
Han hummed, turning his attention back to C. "Yes, I suppose I did." He took a sip of tea, ignoring when C's face turned red with annoyance.
"And why are you searching after this organization?" C persisted. "What's the name of this organization, anyway?"
"It's really none of your business, boy," Roshi grumbled, defending his friend. "Orochimaru seems to belong to a group and we are trying to track that group down. There's nothing else I'm willing to tell you about it."
"It's best to just leave it be," Yagura confirmed, drinking some tea from his own cup. "The organization we're looking for does not concern you at all."
Roshi and Yagura's words only seemed to make the blond angrier than before. Furious, he glared at Han, then Roshi, then Yagura and back again. He opened his mouth to say something when Darui placed a hand on his shoulder. When C turned to him, Darui gave him a look and a gentle shake of his head.
Frustrated, C scoffed, turning his attention to the cup of hot liquid in his hands. Yugito breathed a sigh of relief. For the moment, at least, her loyalties were intact.
The room fell into silence once more, broken only by the occasional sips of tea and C's grinding teeth. Yugito shifted in her seat, unsure how to break the silence.
"So what are we going to do now?" Darui finally spoke, focused on Yugito and C, easing some of the tension that had built up. "I'm not sure we can return to Kumogakure with Orochimaru still on the loose."
"I will stay here in Shiokaze," Yugito declared, her eyes sweeping over the room. "Darui and C can return to Kumo and tell the Raikage about what happened. Whether he will send me support or will order me to stay for the foreseeable future, we will have to see."
Yugito bit her tongue, hoping A wouldn't force her to stay in Shiokaze for long. She missed her home. She missed her cat. And she especially missed Samui. I missed our anniversary, she thought with a pang.
C and Darui looked at her, silent. Reluctantly, they nodded. She turned her attention to the other jinchuuriki.
"And what about you?" she asked. "What are you going to do?"
Han said nothing while Roshi only leaned his head against the wall. Yagura was the only one who seemed to be taking her question seriously. A million thoughts seemed to flash across his face and she waited patiently for his answer.
"We're still going to keep searching for Orochimaru," he eventually announced.
Han and Roshi looked up at that, frowning slightly at the man. Still, they did not say anything.
"How do you plan to do that?" C asked, his expression half curious and half disbelieving. "Even with my help and the help of Yugito-san, the bastard escaped, free to do who knows what creepy things. What makes you think you could handle him the second time?"
Yagura hummed in deep thought, placing his cheek on the palm of his hand and leaning forward. "What do you know about the Legendary Sannin?" he asked.
Yugito shrugged. "Not much," she admitted. "They were some of the strongest shinobi during the Second Shinobi World War, active mostly in the area close to Amegakure. Tsunade is famous for her medical ninjutsu and Jiraiya is the Toad Sage. Not much more than that, I'm afraid."
Yagura nodded, expecting her answer. "It's rumored that both Jiraiya and Tsunade have left Konoha but remain loyal to it. They are possibly the only people who truly know how to fight against the stupid snake bastard."
Yugito's heart began beating faster as she realized what Yagura was implying.
Yagura smirked. "So why don't we try and pay the other two Sannin a visit?"
Han and Roshi's eyes widened in understanding. For the first time since Orochimaru escaped, they looked almost hopeful.
O-O-O-O-O
Gaara collapsed on the sand, cold as ice in the winter night. He shivered and felt his eyes water, but he refused to cry in the presence of the Kazekage.
He looked up to meet the man's eyes, panting in exhaustion and fear.
"You are waking up too early," the Kazekage said, standing over Gaara, his gaze cold and severe. "How can you allow the full power of the bijuu to come out if you don't allow yourself to sleep?"
Gaara shivered despite himself, looking away from the man's eyes. He panted in exhaustion, swallowing to force down the bile that was building up in his throat.
Ever since that promise in his office, the man had taken Gaara at night to the middle of the desert. There, he ordered Gaara to let Shukaku loose, the first time that he had ever been given permission to fall asleep.
Yet sleep had not been restful in the slightest.
Unlike meditation, he didn't allow himself to enter the Room in fear of the other jinchuuriki learning about his situation. He knew that if they heard what the Kazekage was forcing him to do, they would invade Sunagakure and try to take him away.
Gaara couldn't allow that to happen.
They had more important things to worry about than Gaara's comfort and happiness. At the very least, they had to chase down that mysterious organization they had told him about. That took precedence over anything that happened in his life.
Alone, he would tolerate anything and everything that the Kazekage was doing to him, even if he hated it. So whenever Roshi, Han, or any of the other jinchuuriki asked if anything was wrong, Gaara's only option was to lie.
Fuu didn't seem to believe him, but despite pressuring Gaara, she was unable to get anything out of him. Suspicious, she had been forced to take his words at face value. Naruto had sensed Fuu's worry, but like her, he too couldn't get Gaara to talk.
The only silver lining in Gaara's new life was that the Kazekage was too busy to train with him regularly. If they had trained more often, he might have tried to escape Sunagakure, if only out of pure desperation. The monthly meetings were as much as he could stand.
Swallowing his bile down, Gaara looked up and met the Kazekage's gaze. He was waiting for Gaara to stand up, ready to try releasing Shukaku again.
"Are you finally ready to try again?" the man asked, tapping one foot on the ground with impatience.
Gaara nodded, not wanting to speak in fear of throwing up, even on an empty stomach.
Shaking, he stood up. With a final sigh, he forced the familiar mask onto his face before meeting the Kazekage's eyes unflinchingly. The man only met his gaze with a deep frown, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Let the bijuu out," the man commanded. "I don't know why you keep trying to suppress it. It's a weapon for our village meant for destruction. It's what it was meant to do."
Gaara felt a fresh surge of hatred for the man standing over him. The man's insistence that the Ichibi was solely a tool for destruction only worsened their already contentious relationship.
The bijuu was reluctant to give up any of his chakra and he refused to cooperate, no matter how much Gaara pleaded and begged. In the end, Gaara could only use Shukaku's chakra by allowing the Ichibi to possess his body.
'If you gave me chakra, I could find a way to work with you like the other jinchuuriki.'
'They can do that because my siblings are weak,' Shukaku complained. 'But how could they match me in magnificence and power?'
Gaara shook his head in a vain attempt to get his mind to focus. Sometimes, he wondered if their shared hatred of the Kazekage was enough to settle their differences. Based on their inability to work together, it wasn't.
"Fall asleep again," the Kazekage ordered, his cold facade not changing. "Allow the bijuu to take over completely. I am here in case it begins to rampage if that's what you are worried about."
Gaara shook his head again. He was less worried about Shukaku rampaging and more about losing control over his own body. Without the Room, he was stuck in a nightmarish state somewhere between consciousness and not, free to watch his actions but unable to change them. On top of that, with the adrenaline running through his veins, he always woke up too early, to both the Kazegake and Shukaku's displeasure
Gaara wished he had the power, as Yagura said, to make the Kazekage fuck off. But even if Shukaku actually agreed to work with him, there was no possible way for Gaara to defeat the man. He's too strong, even for Shukaku.
Frustrated and at the edge of tears, Gaara took a deep exhale as he moved his hands into the Ram position. With a pulse of chakra, he performed the Tanuki Sleep Jutsu and fell asleep.
O-O-O-O-O
Gaara followed as far away from the Kazekage as possible as they returned to the village. It was an hour past midnight and their training session had, unfortunately, been very productive.
After a few more shaky attempts to fall asleep, Gaara had relinquished control to his bijuu for a little under one minute. It was still not as much as the Kazekage wanted, but it was the most Gaara would muster for the moment.
Yet, if Gaara could work with Shukaku the same way the older jinchuuriki worked with their bijuu...
'I don't suppose you would lend me your chakra by choice, Shukaku-sama?' Gaara asked, trying to be as polite as possible. According to Fuu, the Nanabi said that Shukaku liked being addressed very respectfully.
The Ichibi snorted. 'As if I would let my magnificent self work with such a lowly human. My siblings might think it's fine, but I know where we came from.'
'The Sage of Six Paths?'
'Don't you dare mention that name in my presence!'
Gaara frowned to himself, wondering who was so great as to earn the arrogant bijuu's admiration. He guessed the sage must have been an amazing person if even Shukaku respected him.
Gaara and the Kazekage crossed the village gate soon after. Gaara met the eyes of the guards unflinchingly, unsurprised to be met with barely hidden fear. He ignored them with the ease that came with years of long practice.
"I assume you can make your way back alone, Gaara," the Kazekage stated once they had passed the gates.
Gaara nodded, hiding his joy at the separation. Without looking back, he leaped onto the roof of the nearest building, leaving the hateful man behind. The Kazekage said nothing as he went on his way back to his own home.
Once Gaara was sure the man was far away, he dropped back to the ground, walking slowly on the desolate streets.
With no one to see him, he allowed his carefully honed mask to crack. He took a shaky breath out, holding his arms close to his body in a hug. Shivering, he forced himself to walk back to the house he shared with his siblings.
He wished it wasn't so late or he could talk to the other jinchuuriki. At the very least he had spent nearly an hour with Naruto, Fuu, and Roshi in the Room earlier. That had been enough to make his training session more tolerable later.
His brow furrowed with worry about his last few interactions with the older man.
Roshi had been angry for the past week, but unlike the Kazekage, he never allowed that to influence how he acted with Gaara. Still, the man looked more upset than Gaara could ever remember.
Han, Yagura, and Yugito were similarly angry about something.
However, they had refused to tell Fuu, Gaara, and Naruto anything about it, no matter how much they begged.
While Fuu and Naruto were growing annoyed with their secrets, Gaara had yet to say anything. He was sure they had their own reasons to hide the full truth from them. Considering his own lies about training with the Kazekage, he didn't have much room to complain.
Silent, he stepped into his home, taking his shoes off at the entrance. With a sigh, he headed to the kitchen, his stomach growling in hunger.
He walked down the hall and to his surprise, despite the late hour, there was a light on in the kitchen. Are Temari and Kankuro awake? Maybe they got up to get some water.
Apprehensive, he walked down the hall, using chakra to hide the sound of his footsteps.
While his relationship with his siblings had improved ever since they returned from Shisen, things were still awkward. He found it difficult to talk to them and they had little to say in return.
He was still unable to tell them his true feelings the same way he could with the jinchuuriki. While they spent more time together than before, there was a wall between them that Gaara doubted would ever disappear.
With his stomach rumbling in a mixture of trepidation, hunger, and nausea, he peered inside the room. He blinked when he saw that it was completely empty.
He frowned before stepping inside the kitchen and heading to the fridge. Did Temari or Kankuro forget to turn off the lights?
Gaara was about to open the door to take something to eat when he noticed a small note hanging from a fridge magnet. He could immediately tell that it was written by Kankuro based on the neat handwriting. Curious, he leaned forward and began to read.
We made too much curry. It's in the fridge if you want some. We just didn't want to let it go to waste.
Gaara's heart began beating faster and he placed a hand over his chest, grasping his shirt in a tight fist. His lips quirked up in a smile and he felt like laughing and crying at the same time. It was the kindest thing either of his siblings had ever done for him that he could remember.
A smile still on his lips, he opened the fridge. Sure enough, on the top shelf were two ceramic containers with a small label with only 'Gaara' written on it. He took out the first container and removed the lid, inspecting the contents.
As Kankuro's note had stated, it was leftover curry, the spicy smell tantalizing his empty stomach. He guessed the container under that was the spiced rice Temari liked to make.
With the two containers in his hands, he walked toward the stove to warm up his food. A few minutes later, the room was filled with the smell of spices and aromatics. His stomach only growled in hunger, his previous nausea and fear disappearing completely.
Alone at the kitchen table, he dug into his meal, eating faster than usual. It was the best thing he had ever eaten in his life, though he would never be able to put into words why.
O-O-O-O-O
"Please be careful, Kasumi!" her older brother, Asahi, pleaded with a concerned frown on his face.
"I'll be fine, nii-san! I can take care of myself," Kasumi boasted. "Plus I have Haku-kun and Kimimaro-kun, too." She glanced toward her teammates with a smile. "Oh, and Utakata-sensei too, I guess." She waved off-handedly in his direction.
Utakata sighed and shook his head fondly. It was time for them to leave Kirigakure and everyone he knew seemed to have shown up to say goodbye.
Nearby, Kasumi said goodbye to her mother and older brother. Her face was split in two with a giant grin, talking a mile a minute to her family. A little farther away, Zabuza was giving Haku his final farewells. However, his thoughts seemed to be composed of grunts while Haku led the conversation. Meanwhile, Kimimaro listened attentively to Harusame's words of advice, nodding along.
Utakata tuned his students out and focused on the Mizukage and her entourage. Mei Terumi stood with Ameyuri, Ao, and an ancient woman, their voices too low to make out. They stared at their students, their demands for victory obvious.
Utakata felt anxiety settle into his stomach.
He understood why his team was under so much pressure. As the first genin team invited to take part in chuunin exams outside of Kirigakure, his team had a lot to prove. However, other than Asahi, no one seemed particularly concerned about their safety. Either that or they hid their fears better than the older boy.
They really should be more concerned. People die in the chuunin exams all the time, no matter the village.
"Are you ready to go now, Utakata-kun?" Harusame asked, leaning in close to his ear to talk. "The chuunin exams won't start for another week, but you don't want to miss the ferry. There's only one per day."
Utakata nodded. "Yes, I think it's time," he muttered before stepping forward, commanding everyone to focus on him.
"It's time for us to leave," he announced when everyone was looking at him. "Haku, Kasumi, Kimimaro, let's go."
The children nodded and as a team, they stood in front of him.
"I do want to say one thing before you leave," Mei Terumi announced as she stepped forward. Her face was calm and peaceful, but the aura surrounding her was demanding.
Sensing the change in mood, Utakata and his students turned back and stood at attention. The other shinobi and family members moved, allowing the Mizukage to stand in front of Utakata's team.
"You three are the pride of Kirigakure," she began, her eyes meeting each of the children's eyes one by one. "This is the very first time we have been invited to participate in chuunin exams outside of our own country." She paused to smile. "Make us proud and return victorious."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!" Kasumi and Haku said while Kimimaro only bowed his head down in respect.
"We won't disappoint you, Mizukage-sama," Haku continued, a small, gentle smile on his face. Kasumi and Kimimaro nodded their agreement.
"I'm glad." The Mizukage's smile widened. "In that case, I will see you at the finals in a month. I believe in you."
His students' eyes brightened but Utakata fought to keep a frown from appearing on his face. While he wanted his students to succeed, he worried about them becoming reckless.
Based on Kimimaro's previous visit to the hospital, he already had a tendency to push himself past his limits. Haku and Kasumi were not much better.
Both tended to keep going even in the worst circumstances. Haku was afraid of being useless in Zabuza's eyes while Kasumi needed to prove herself as the Fourth Mizukage's daughter. Unlike Utakata, they actually felt like they had a lot to prove.
Utakata bit his tongue, not wanting to bring down the optimistic mood. I will talk to them once we make camp.
"Thank you very much for your words, Mizukage-sama," Utakata said, bowing his head down one final time. "Now, I believe it is time for us to leave."
Mei Terumi nodded and took a step back. With her permission, Utakata and his team turned toward the exit.
"Wait!" Asahi's voice interrupted before they had taken a single step outside.
Curious, Utakata and his team turned to look at the older boy. He had started rummaging inside his bag, looking for something. A few seconds later, he took out three separate scrolls, holding them out in front of him.
"I made some storage scrolls for you three," he explained as he handed them out, one to each of his students. "I've been practicing and was able to make them. They can't hold too many things- only ten objects each- but they're useful for all kinds of stuff."
"Nii-san! You made this for me?" Kasumi's eyes grew wet with unshed tears and she looked up at her brother in admiration.
At her sides, Haku and Kimimaro took the scrolls gratefully, inspecting them from up close.
Utakata raised an eyebrow, impressed. While Kasumi had mentioned off-handedly that her brother was studying fuuinjutsu, she had said nothing of his progress. Even basic storage scrolls required a certain degree of knowledge and talent to pull off.
From what he remembered, the boy was only thirteen years old. He made a mental note to mention it to Yagura the next time they met.
"Thank you very much for the gift, Asahi-kun," Utakata said, nodding in the direction of the older boy. "I'm sure it will be useful."
The boy smiled, tilting his head to the side in a way that reminded him of Yagura.
Utakata swept his gaze over the other people that had come to say goodbye at the gate. With a final respectful nod, he waved goodbye, turned around, and exited the village.
The children followed after him, ready to make their way to Konoha.
O-O-O-O-O
From Kirigakure, Utakata and his team traveled to the small port on the main island of the Land of Water. Once there, they took a ferry to the Land of Fire. Once at the mainland, the rest of the journey would take approximately three more days at a decent pace.
While Utakata led the way, his students stayed close at his heels, looking around the new land in wonder. A few times, they broke out into spontaneous conversations, mostly led by Kasumi. He half-listened to their talks, smiling to himself.
It was their first visit to another shinobi village and their excitement was obvious. Their cheer was becoming contagious despite Utakata's worries for their safety. He thought about scolding them a few times, but he refrained. They had suffered too much in their short lives to not be allowed some excitement.
The thing I want to talk about with them is too serious to bring up now, anyway, he thought to himself.
"Winters in Konoha are warmer than in Kiri," Utakata said during a lull in their conversation. "It rarely snows there, and when it does, it's even rarer for it to settle. I imagine that's good news to you, Kimimaro."
Kimimaro nodded, relieved, and even Kasumi looked up, happy with the news. Haku only smiled up at him.
"That's good to know, sensei," Haku said with a smile. "But the cold never bothered me anyway."
"That's 'cause you have Hyoton," Kasumi whined with a roll of her eyes. "We have to make ourselves warm somehow."
Kimimaro nodded his agreement vehemently. The boy was sensitive to the cold and with good reason. Unless he wanted to rip his clothes apart, he always had to fight shirtless, no matter the weather. Utakata and his other teammates had needed to warm him up with a hug more than once in the winter.
Utakata laughed. "Well, it will probably still be pretty cold," he admitted. "But it might be more tolerable for you two, at least."
"That's great, sensei!" Kasumi cheered. Kimimaro hummed in agreement at her side.
Utakata looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set and they still had a couple more days of travel until they arrived in Konoha. Considering they were in the middle of a forest, it was unlikely they would find an inn before nightfall. We will have to set up camp soon.
"It's getting dark so we will have to stop within the next hour or so," he announced. "Keep your eyes and ears open for a good place to rest."
"Yes, sensei," the three children answered at the same time. As ordered, they began to inspect the forest more carefully, searching for sources of water and defensible locations.
"I hear a river," Kimimaro said half an hour later.
Utakata and the two other children paused, straining their ears to listen. With everyone quiet, the sound of rushing water was almost deafening. As one, they left the path, walked a few meters down, and found their campground for the night.
The source of water was small, more of a stream than a full river. There was a large clearing near it, perhaps built by shinobi or travelers that had passed by before.
"This place is perfect," Utakata said with a satisfied nod.
The three children seemed to agree because immediately they began to make camp. Kasumi set up the tent while Kimimaro searched for firewood and Haku headed to the river for fish and water. Utakata hummed, glad that he didn't have to order them to split up their tasks himself.
"I'll take a nap until dinner is done," Utakata declared as he headed toward a patch of grass. He inspected it for danger before collapsing atop of it with a yawn. In an instant, his eyes were closed and he had started drifting to sleep.
"Sensei!" Kasumi yelled, indignant. "You're so lazy! You should be helping us set up camp!"
Utakata could imagine Haku and Kimimaro pouting in agreement.
"We won't be taking watch shifts tonight," he explained with a shake of his head, his eyes still closed. "I want the three of you as well-rested as possible, so until we get to Konoha, I will stay awake through the night."
He opened his eyes to peer at the three students. They were staring at him, eyes open wide incredulously with their tasks half-completed. Considering Utakata's love for sleep, they seemed amazed that he would sacrifice it for them. Utakata sighed and shook his head.
"Don't give me those looks," he whined. "I want you three in the best possible condition before we get there and it's only two nights for me. Besides..." his gaze grew more serious as he met the children's eyes. "There's something we need to talk about before we arrive."
Noticing the change in tone, the children nodded, frowns on their faces, before returning to their tasks. Utakata closed his eyes again and fell asleep within minutes.
To his relief, no one woke him up until a few hours later, when Kimimaro squatted down next to him.
"Sensei?" the boy asked, tentatively shaking his shoulder. "Dinner is ready."
Utakata blinked awake. He sat up, yawning and stretching his arms over his head. Based on the total darkness, he guessed at least a few hours had passed since he had fallen asleep.
Sitting up, he turned his gaze toward Kimimaro, who was waiting for instructions. He smiled.
"Let's go then." Utakata stood up and headed toward the campfire, Kimimaro close at his heels.
A fire was already roaring, a safe distance away from the tent and anything flammable. Four fish were speared on sticks, already cooked, while some of their rations from Kirigakure were nearby.
"Finally, sensei!" Kasumi whined. "I'm starving! Haku-kun and I wanted to wake you up earlier, but Kimimaro-kun said you needed to sleep."
Utakata raised an eyebrow, turning his attention down back to Kimimaro. "Is that true?" he asked.
Kimimaro nodded, a pink tint on his face. Utakata placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. The boy's face turned a deeper shade of pink.
"Thank you, Kimimaro," he began. "But you don't have to worry about me. That's my job."
Kimimaro nodded, still looking unsure. With no other words said, Utakata sat down next to his students, making a circle around the fire. Starving, they ate, few words exchanged.
They finished quickly and began to clean up. Kimimaro washed the dirty dishes by the side of the river as Kasumi and Haku looked for more firewood.
Utakata remained by the fire, watching as his students prepared everything before bed. They're so young. He bit his tongue, anxiety worming into his stomach once more. Maybe too young.
With the last of their chores finished, they walked back toward the campfire, firewood in their arms for their morning breakfast. The three children sat nearby, huddling close to the fire for warmth. They began to chat, but Utakata wasn't paying attention to their words. The Mizukage's final statement was bouncing around his head and he had to talk to them about it.
It's a harsh reality, but I have to say it.
"Kimimaro, Haku, Kasumi," he said, tone serious. In an instant, the three children stopped their conversation to look at him.
"What is it, sensei?" Kasumi asked. Her expression made it clear she understood Utakata had something serious to say. She met his eyes unflinchingly, biting her lip as the only sign of apprehension.
Kimimaro and Haku copied her lead, also meeting Utakata's eyes. While their faces were calm, he had known them long enough to know they were uneasy about the change of mood.
Utakata sighed, unsure of how to begin. The three children were staring at him expectantly and he still didn't know how to bring up the topic. Well, might as well make it up as I go along.
"People always die in the chuunin exams," he began, making his students tense immediately. "Kirigakure was once infamous for hosting school matches where students fought each other to the death. But even in other hidden villages, it's common for students to die in the chuunin exams."
His students nodded, their full attention focused on him. He saw a shiver pass through Kasumi while Kimimaro tightened his hands into fists and Haku frowned. They seemed to understand what Utakata was getting at.
"Everyone in Kirigakure is expecting you to win and show other countries our strengths," he continued. "While I also expect you three to try your hardest, I don't want you to pay the ultimate price for it."
"Ultimate... price?" Haku asked. He leaned in closer to Kimimaro, searching for comfort.
Utakata nodded. "If you three do not succeed at the chuunin exams, we will return to Kirigakure in disgrace," he stated, voice certain. "At the very least, expect disappointment from other shinobi. I will be deemed a failure as a teacher as well, mocked for being unable to teach a group of prodigies how to fight."
The children absorbed his words, frowning at the certainty in his voice. Yet, they couldn't dispute the truth.
"But..." he paused, not sure how to say his next words. "I would much rather return to Kirigakure a total failure and disgrace than return with one of you in a body bag."
His students' eyes widened and they stared up at him, mouths agape. They shifted slightly closer, waiting for his next words.
"Help each other. Save each other's lives. Don't throw away your careers and especially your lives just because you want to succeed," he ordered. "During the exams, I won't be able to help you, but you aren't alone. You have to look out for each other."
"I-I see, sensei," Kasumi stuttered. Unsurprisingly, her eyes had grown wet with unshed tears.
"Promise me, no matter what happens, you will not throw your lives or even your careers away," Utakata demanded. "Whether victorious or not, the four of us will return to Kirigakure all in one piece."
The children nodded before leaning in close to each other. "We promise," they said at the same time.
Utakata smiled. "Good. That's the only thing I wanted you three to think about."
He looked up. The half-moon was high up in the sky and the stars were out. If he had to guess, it was close to midnight. They really did let me sleep for longer than they had to.
"Well, I guess it's time for you three to go to bed," he ordered. "I want to get to Konoha as quickly as possible."
"Yes, sensei," his students said together.
As one, they stood up and headed to the tent. Without waiting, they crawled into their sleeping bags, huddling together for warmth.
Utakata followed behind them. He entered the tent, sitting cross-legged at their feet, ready to stay up the entire night.
Under the light of the half-moon and the remains of the campfire, Utakata watched as his students settled in for the night, his fond smile invisible in the darkness. He was glad they had taken his words to heart. Only time would tell him the results.
He turned his gaze out to the dark forest, forcing himself to stay awake. He focused on the sounds of his students' breathing as they drifted to sleep. Alone, he looked up at the sky, his senses searching for any sign of trouble, no matter how unlikely.
"Sensei?" Kimimaro's soft whispering interrupted his wandering thoughts.
He looked back at the inside of the tent. The boy had sat up inside his sleeping bag and he was grasping the edge of it in tight fists.
"Sensei?" the boy asked again, sounding unsure.
"What's wrong, Kimimaro?" Utakata whispered. "Do you need to go to the toilet?"
The boy shook his head. His grasp on the sleeping bag tightened. In the darkness, Utakata was unable to make out his full expression. However, based on his slight fidgeting, he looked uncomfortable.
"What's the problem, then?"
"I... I can't sleep," the boy admitted.
"Nervous?" Utakata crawled closer inside the tent.
Kimimaro shook his head again. His grip on the sleeping bag did not ease. He paused before giving his answer.
"I'm cold," the boy confessed.
"Cold?" Utakata repeated.
Hidden in the darkness, he raised one eyebrow. While it was winter, the night was mild, without any ice or snow. With the sleeping bag and the warmth of his teammates, the temperature should have been more than comfortable.
Kimimaro nodded, his hands fidgeting with the edge of the sleeping bag. Utakata smiled to himself, not wanting to call out Kimimaro on the obvious lie. He really is just a kid.
"Come close, then," he ordered.
Without hesitation, Kimimaro crawled to Utakata's side, his body still inside his sleeping bag. Utakata wrapped an arm around him, holding the boy close.
"Better?" he asked, one hand on the boy's head.
Kimimaro only nodded into his chest.
Utakata took a deep breath in and out before turning his attention back to the forest, watching out for danger.
At his side, Kimimaro relaxed as his breathing became more even. A few minutes later, he had fallen asleep, his breath slow and steady.
Gently, Utakata moved the boy so that his head was resting on his lap. With Kimimaro sleeping close to him, he watched the sky until the moon disappeared and the sun rose over the horizon.
O-O-O-O-O
A/N: Oh, Gaara, baby, you ARE the most important thing to the other jinchuuriki.
I'm available on Tumblr at waffledogwrites.
Morket is the nicest person I know and he's super duper cool. He's a cool cat beta reader.
Next chapter: A new year.