Chapter 2
By Blood

The day passed as if some strange blur.

Only a mere few hours after awakening, Nomasaki found herself pulled into the Sunagakure Intelligence Division – a structure hidden within the winding confines of the stucco and clay buildings that wrapped around the central village streets. The room she sat in was dark, cold, and the air lacked the crisp moisture of the home she once knew. Each breath that passed her nostrils tinged with a burn of the strange land she found herself in as the draft entered behind her. Sitting nervously on the steel chair, she was seated across from the turban-wearing Suna ninja from earlier – his stone-faced expression boring through her in tense suspicion within the darkened room illuminated by a single dangling light. As she sat before his scowl, she examined the red markings present on the side of his face, fear making an appearance through the trembling on her hands upon her lap.

"And that's why you're here?" Baki asked her, papers and clipboard in tow with two Sunagakure ANBU standing before and behind her, keeping guard and preventing her from escaping. "You were fleeing the Land of Mountains?"

Nervously, Nomasaki nodded. "Y-Yes, sir. I…" She began, averting her glance. "I escaped Yama and made it to the desert, but then next thing I knew… I woke up here."

Looking down at her lap, her eyes closed halfway – remembering her scattered memories. Yamagakure in flames, the blackened crest of a beast upon the invaders' armor, her transformation, the desert, and the mysterious boy with the brooding ringed-eyes – her recollections were still fuzzy in her troubled mind. Each one of the memories shivered her from the thought. Desperately, she wished that it was all a bad dream and that she would soon wake up within the warm bed of fur pelts on her mountaintop – and her wolf was waiting for her patiently to come outside and join in on the hunt for rabbit. No matter how hard she pinched her palm as she sat silently in that cold chair, she could not wake up.

"I… don't remember how I got here. I could feel chakra coming from this place, so I… decided to come here… to escape."

"I see." Baki replied. "So, you're a sensory type?"

Noticing his glance upon her growing both suspicious and interested, she nervously nodded, remembering her bout for survival on the way down the mountain where she was born, and the warmth that filled her veins as she cried out in pain. Something changed within her she recalled, but all her mind could grasp was the swirling hail of white that plagued her descent down the frigid mountain. The tundra at its base was just as treacherous but barren, her senses leading her further and further away from her home consumed by fire. Its red and orange flames were still fresh in her mind, the stench of burning flesh and wood licking at the black skies. Even in the room she was confined in she could sense the chakra from the strange flak jacket-clad men who questioned her. Each felt different than the other - and each felt as if a warning to her instincts.

"Yes, sir. I… think so."

For a moment, Baki narrowed his dark eyes at her – analyzing her panicked exterior behind her nervous expression. A strange girl from a forgotten country and village, rather than a covert spy from an enemy – and her abilities a unique mystery. Knowing that it was Gaara's squad that recovered her, he questioned his motives internally. Why bring back a foreigner to Suna in the first place? Whether the answer was pity, a change of heart, or something more, Baki knew he would never gain a straight answer from his most socially-difficult pupil.

He was assuming pity.

As a village sheltered from the unforgiving desert and other villages, Suna had an abnormally high distaste for those from foreign lands – especially in recent times due to the previous Third Shinobi War and the village's ever-growing economic crisis. Beyond the vast reaches of the desert was the Land of Mountains, located between the borders of the Land of Earth in the north and the Land of Wind to the south – a cold and frigid nation comprised of sky-scraping peaks and a never-ending winter. The small nation was loosely populated, with most of its people residing in scattered settlements along the tundra-like steppes – with Yamagakure, its only military power, containing less than two hundred citizens before the recent invasion. Due to its isolation, the diplomatic ties Yama had with other villages were either strained or non-existent – and in the case of Suna, it was both. As trade allies in the recent war more than thirteen years ago, relations became strained when Suna's request for teamwork against their daimyo went unanswered – the strong-willed people of the north choosing to forever enact neutrality and independence.

It cost them their lives.

"And you said you were fleeing something?"

"Y-Yes," She answered, nervously. "They were... large men in black armor made of steel. They killed our leader and I... was told to run." Her scattered recollections haunted her, the fire entering her eyes as she remembered. She fought the tears she felt swelling up into her throat. "My village was burned to the ground... I could see the smoke as I fled."

"It's my understanding that these invaders hailed from Ishigakure of the Land of Claws." Baki said. "Can you confirm this?"

Her strange purple eyes contained a hint of shock from the words. "I... I'm not sure," She answered as if a lament. "All I remember is the fighting - and the fire. I'm... trying to remember more, but... I can't."

Standing up from his steel chair, Baki gathered up his papers – turning to the girl with a stern expression. "In the meantime, you're free to go. We've since sent squads north to Yamagakure to scout for survivors. So far, most appeared to have fled to lands northeast of the Land of Mountains… towards the Land of Earth."

Some survived, she realized. A relief. Her eyes watching him exit carefully, her palm trembled on her lap from the feel of tension, curious as to why Yama was being searched by outsiders. Why? Did her land's daimyo request help from Sunagakure – or were Suna attempting to meddle?

Pausing in his steps, Baki turned to the frozen girl – sensing her anxiety. "Are you waiting for family?"

Caught off guard by his calm question, she briefly jolted in her seat. Realizing what was reality, a saddened expression pained her face - remembering Hanone and her mother. "No," She said, quietly. "I… don't have one."

Acknowledging her response in silence, he once again analyzed her frightened and sorrowful expression with stern eyes. "I see... In that case, you're free to go. Our ANBU will show you out." Turning away, he directed his attention to standing Sunagakure ANBU – their faces masked by turban-like cloths, evoking mystery and silent authority. Watching them made her uneasy. "Men! Report to the Suna Council immediately with this information. A meeting will ensue with the council and presiding elders."

"Yes, sir!" The ANBU nodded, disappearing shortly after within a thick cloud of smoke – the door closing shut in the darkness.

"You two," Baki said, glancing to the last two veiled-men remaining. "Escort the foreigner outside. We no longer have a need to keep her."

Nodding in silence, the two men suddenly appeared at her sides and lifted her from her seat by her shoulders. Within only moments, the silent shinobi shuffled Nomasaki from the room in swift haste. She hardly had the time to say anything, her nervous violet eyes trying to follow what was happening around her. Entering the darkness, the heavy door closed behind them with a loud thunder.

The two Suna ANBU escorted her through the weaving stairwells in the cover of shadows. They walked before and behind her, neither of them uttering a single word or a single breath. Staying silent Nomasaki followed their path with nervous eyes, unaware what their plans were for the foreigner who wandered into their strange lands. She told them she had no family - leaving her only path for escape to crumble after the words left her trembling lips. She wondered if she really was free to go... unless they planned on arresting her the moment she stepped outside the dark. After all, she was an intruder within their borders.

"W-Where are you taking me?" She forced herself to ask.

No answer.

It could be a trap, she found herself thinking, They could kill me if they wanted.

Stepping out from the shadowy interrogation quarters into the village streets, the blinding desert sun stung her eyes as she took her first few steps of freedom. Delirious from her fatigue and hunger, the sun felt unbearably strong to her. Hearing their footsteps, she turned to watch the silent veiled-men retreat back to the large iron doors of the building behind. She was free, just as they said. But for how long she did not know.

I have to figure out a way home, she thought - but then the reality sunk in.

She no longer had a home.

Her stomach rumbled and churned painfully. It was days since she remembered collapsing onto the desert sands, and even longer since she last had a meal. Roasted rabbit with potato soup and leek never felt so appealing to her - and she knew there were no rabbits to be found in the desert. Already she could smell the aroma of beef and pork roasting from the food stalls in the distance beyond the clouds of sand and tall buildings made of clay and sandstone. If worst came to worst, she could steal something to eat - or find something in the alleys. Her stomach plunged at the thought.

Shielding her face from its strong rays with her fingers, she ventured towards the congregating chakras she could sense ahead. Marveling at her surroundings, she paused as she took in the environment around her wide-eyed in silence. Hundreds, if not, thousands of people were bustling through the plaza where she stood – each of them conversing with their neighbor, purchasing goods from the market, or shinobi preparing for their next assignments. Never before had she seen so many people at once – and in the same place. Familiar with only the scattered mountain-folk who lived in her tiny village, she could not fathom what life must be like within that nurturing cradle of the desert. For a place nestled within a valley of death, Sunagakure was a surprising sanctuary teeming with life.

She remembered that she asked her mother about other villages once. Sunagakure was the only village she could recall by name. Unlike the snowy lands of Yamagakure that were fraught with endless snow and frost, the lands of Sunagakure were marked with heat and wastes. She heard they worshipped the gods of the desert with shrines guarded by monks and had statues inscribed by red scripture and adorned in gold. In her homeland, they worshipped no such gods - only sending scattered prayers to her long-lost ancestors to the decrepit wolfish statue on the shrine covered by the snows. Another god she knew of was the god of death.

No one prayed to the god of death, but all would eventually greet him at his table – as her mother would say.

As she scanned the faces of the villagers she walked past, she could sense their chakra – down to every fiber and aura to the finest detail, each and every one distinct from the others. Since she fled from her homeland, she could not stop sensing the chakra of those around her, as if a gnawing thought that could not be pushed aside. Was it gained from her Kekkei Genkai? Desperately, she mulled for an answer. Feeling intimidating from seeing so many people at once, she retreated to the next street corner – hoping for some relief to her senses.

"Hey! Watch it!" In her frantic daze, she bumped into somebody – an obviously annoyed man carrying a bag of farmed herbs and spices.

"S-Sorry!"

When they seen her eyes, they flinched. Before she knew it, anger arose upon the man's face. "You don't belong here... outsider."

His venomous words irked her, but then she realized her appearance. Glancing down at her tattered and dirtied kimono, she noticed her state of ferality. Her gold hair was matted and wild-looking, her white kimono was tattered along its edges with tears at her sleeves, and her eyes were a strange violet hue. Although shaken by the man's sudden anger, she understood it entirely. She must have looked like a street-dwelling orphan to him, but his perception was not too far off from the truth. Watching the man walk off into the crowds, she pressed on within the vast maze of streets to find somewhere to rest.

Seeking calmness, she continued to venture through the village. The village of the desert was a spectacular sight to behold – a cradle of life nestled within a valley of death. As she walked on within the quieter reaches of the village, she could feel a lump in her throat and her lungs thirst for air – as if the dry desert heat was strangling her. She could feel it deep within her bones, aching slightly with each step as if the permanent frost from the mountains was melting away inside of her. As she collected her scattered thoughts and tried to ignore the chakra she could sense envelope around her, the image of the figure with the red hair repeatedly entered her mind - their brooding ringed-eyes of turquoise and dense chakra pierced through her memory. Who was it, and why did she remember them? Did she imagine them through a sandstorm mirage, or was it actually a real sight? Looking down at her feet as she walked, she wished the thought would stop bothering her.

Suddenly, a presence ripped through her as she entered the sheltered square – the chakra she sensed trembling her to her spine. Filling her mind with the scent and feel of sand and blood, she trembled. It was a very heavy and burgeoning presence, her senses screaming at her to flee. The mass of chakra felt as if it were over one thousand men – a monster. Never before in her life had she been so terrified of such a thing.

What is this… I feel…?!

Frightened and wide-eyed, she turned towards the menacing chakra she felt, her eyes frantically scanning the crowd before her. Then, she saw him. Within her sights across the busy square, she saw a boy about her age – his hair a crimson shade of red and his eyes ringed against his pale skin. His face resembled that of a tanuki, a tanuki in human form. Dressed in the same burgundy clothes she remembered and carrying a gourd on his back, his seafoam eyes held no emotion whatsoever as he stood unaware of the stare she locked onto him.

He was real.

As she watched him, her fear slow dissipated while her body shook from the ominous chakra – relieved that it was only a boy, not a monster like she originally thought. Her eyes flickering at him from a distance away, she noticed he stood with two others - a taller boy dressed in black puppeteer clothes with a witty smirk, and a girl with blonde pigtails clothed in purple with a war-fan strapped to her back – conversing with them across the village square. She hoped they had not seen her staring at them from afar, but as their conversation reached its end, they began to turn towards her direction. Quivering in fright from the chakra she felt, she slowly backed away into the sea of people. Finding an escape, she turned around and ran down the village street – her senses yelling at her to run.

Reaching a distant alley, she paused to catch her breath – confident that no one had seen her. Strangely, as she relaxed, she could feel something sharp begin to poke the inside of her cheeks. Something did not feel right to her and terrified her – alerting her senses. Frightened, she hesitantly turned to a broken mirror beside a pile of discarded garbage. Horrified, her eyes widened – her expression blank. As she looked into the glass fragments, she saw a wolf staring back at her – a human face grotesquely morphed with the ears and muzzle of a beast. A monster with fangs glistening in the reflection. Crying out, she closed her eyes as she fell to her knees, grasping her ears with her trembling hands in her silent pleads for them to disappear.

"What… What am I?!"

Tears formed in her eyes as they were squinted closed, her mind resisting to believe what she saw was real. Slowly, she reluctantly glanced up at the broken mirror once more – the sight surprising her. As she looked through the fragments of broken glass, she touched her face with her shaking fingers – all traces of the beast had disappeared as if it were an illusion. Inspecting herself thoroughly, only the fangs remained, visible only if she opened her jaw wide enough to see.

A monster.

A wolf.

"What just happened?" She asked herself, still shocked by the ordeal. "Is this… my Kekkei Genkai?" Staring at her hands with her fingers spread, her fingers trembled.

Did she just witness her true form?

"Hsss!"

Startling her, she turned towards the noise as she sat on the filthy alleyway. Perched upon a can of trash, a spotted cat had its back reared at her, hissing at her in defensive aggression. In understanding for its demeanor, her eyes closed halfway. Gathering her thoughts, she lifted herself from the ground, dusting off her already ragged dress, and started for the village streets once again.

What was she to do?

Evening approached.

Within a darkened room of the Kazekage's mansion, guards stood by the chamber doors clutching their sharply pointed spears. Attentively and quietly, the infamous Sand Siblings stood before their devoted sensei Baki as if in secret from the Suna Council and its elderly advisors. Since the aftermath of the failed Konoha Crush mission, the village elders began to despise the Sand Siblings and their parentage – especially Gaara, whom the mission highly depended on, and his status as the feared jinchuriki of Shukaku. Furthermore, the death of Rasa and the discovery of his remains was an earth-shattering event for the desert village. They have already faced heavy losses from the failed mission, but to lose their Kazekage was the final straw. It took days of bargaining and pleading to the daimyo to avoid any further economic penalties, but it left Suna a mere shell of its former strength.

And now they were without a Kazekage to rule them.

The loss of their father came to them as a shock, but none of the siblings had grieved for him. Rasa was a man 'married to duty', as many of the elders would speak amongst themselves. Absorbed by his duties to his village and plotting ways for it to emerge back to its lost greatness by using his created jinchuriki, he neglected all his time to his children with stern glares and secret orders to benefit his cause. If anything, some have seen Rasa's passing as a blessing for all the turmoil he caused the village by sealing Shukaku into its third host. Gaara did not know if he was truly relieved or if it was Shukaku influencing his thinking.

He went with the latter.

Having been their sensei and mentor for several years, Baki took his position with great responsibility. The late Fourth Kazekage entrusted the siblings under his care and tutelage before they took the genin exams, and he made it his mission to continue to fulfill Rasa's request even after death. They are my responsibility now - my burden, he reminded himself. And now controlling the unstable jinchuriki was left for him to deal with as well. None of the seal-masters of Suna had the strength or knowledge to further restrict Gaara's bond with the tailed-beast. Not even the revered and retired Elder Chiyo who sealed the monster within him in-utero knew how to tighten the formula. A lost cause, Baki knew, But still... he can control its urges better than before.

Still, he had to be cautious.

Although Gaara was more silent and calm than he was before the ill-fated invasion of Konoha, the will of Shukaku was a great risk. Sending the siblings off to assist Konoha in the retrieval of the last Uchiha from the clutches of Orochimaru proved successful - not to mention their new joint ally-ship - and Shukaku dared not rear its head in battle. But the toll of being its jinchuriki was a heavy burden to bear, even if his control was growing stronger. I can't put it past him, Baki decided, He can go berserk at any time.

With a stern and stoic expression, Baki eyed the three genin. "And you're certain of it?"

"Yes," Temari nodded. "During our last few missions as a functioning genin team, Shukaku didn't emerge at all."

"Well then," Baki acknowledged, turning towards the window at his side. "It seems focus and solitude are proven to be useful to you… Gaara." From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the emotionless prodigy, who stood silently between his two siblings. Despite the mention of his name, remained silent – his face expressionless as he stood. "What can you tell us about this?"

Taking one step forward, Gaara paused, lowering his head as if in a slight bow. "Since the failed Konoha invasion, Shukaku has been dormant." He replied. "I've been training my mind to ignore its urges... and take precautions when necessary." His eyes narrowing slightly, he glanced to his side. "Even if that means avoiding my comrades from time to time... for safety."

"Good." Baki nodded. "Now that Shukaku isn't much of a threat, the council might feel more comfortable having you rise through the ranks." With his arms crossed behind him, he turned to face the three genin. "As you three may have noticed, the village is in dire need of leadership. But due to our village's small size, strong candidates for the Fifth Kazekage are few and far between." Looking down, his eyes narrowed tensely. "Letting on the Fourth Kazekage is still alive is allowing us to repair our democracy behind the scenes... by having the council rule until a suitable Kazekage is found." Looking towards the young genin, his expression was stoic and calmer. As he gazed directly towards Gaara, as he stood expressionlessly in the middle of his siblings. "Gaara, when you come of age... you will be nominated as a candidate for the Fifth Kazekage."

Surprised, Gaara's eyes widened from his words.

Kazekage.

He nearly forgot about the line of succession. As children of Rasa of the Gold Dust, they carried the rare bloodline of the Kazekage clan. For him to be considered was shocking - especially due to his past terrors and status of the last-born. The elders would never, He was convinced. But Temari was not a man and Kankuro was merely a puppeteer - but Gaara was a jinchuriki who killed S-rank assassins as a child. It was then he realized his fate may have changed.

Shocked by the revelation, Kankuro stepped forward. "B-Baki-sensei," He stammered. "Are you serious? Gaara's only thirteen!"

"And you're fifteen." Baki scoffed, turning to him. "Not even a man yet. As I said before, Suna is in a time of desperation. We need a strong shinobi to lead us." Turning back to the stoic boy in the center, his glance focused on him. "And Gaara… is a jinchuriki. Not to mention the connection by blood. You three are all members of the Kazekage clan, so being Kazekage is in your birthright."

His shock dissipating, Kankuro turned to his younger brother - surprised and bewildered by the chance of another Kazekage dynasty. Since the time of the First Kazekage, their clan has laid claim to the title as leader of the village – the Kazekage clan and their powerful shinobi establishing the foundation for the settlement's authority. In their direct family, they possessed two Kazekage – their great-great grandfather, the First Kazekage - and their father, the Fourth Kazekage. As he thought of the implications, it started to make sense to him – Gaara being the Fifth Kazekage would seem like a smart move, being that he is young and a talented shinobi – aside from his jinchuriki status. Additionally, since returning home from the failed Konoha mission only a few months ago, Gaara was a changed person. He was no longer a blood-thirsty sociopath but a calm and collected introvert.

Could it be possible he would make a decent ruler for the village?

Kankuro struggled with the thought.

"Even so," Temari chimed in, her eyes serious and curious – prying for more information. "What about the higher-ups? I thought they were still sour about the mission in Konoha falling through. Why would they still consider this? Our family - our clan disgraced them!"

"Having you three in the normal troops has been softening them up," Baki replied. "Especially since you all received training from the Fourth, himself." A slight smile on his lips, his expression relaxed. "Your recent successes are changing their tone. I suspect the council will be putting more faith into you three, now that you've repaired relations with Konoha, thanks to that joint-training program." Turning towards the window, he folded his arms across his chest. "Until the next assignment, you three are dismissed. And don't let on to the council that we've had this conversation. It's best that we keep this quiet... understood?"

"Yes, sir."

As the siblings took their leave, Baki glanced back to the jinchuriki before he could step out into the hall. "Gaara, a word." Seeing the emotionless red-haired boy meet him in the room's centre from the call, Baki's glanced hardened. "The higher-ups have informed me that the foreigner found outside the village was discovered by you... is this true?"

Gaara's eyes met his, near as firm as iron. "What if it is?"

"We interrogated the girl. To our knowledge and from her testimony, she doesn't appear to be a spy. However, because of our village's situation we can't afford to let our guard down." Baki 's glance narrowed, confused. "Why did you save her? This is unlike you to do something like this. I would have expected you to leave her to the buzzards... or rather put her out of her misery yourself. Why did you do it?"

In that moment, Baki saw Gaara's expression change. His face went from a look of stoic calm to an averted glance containing a hint of sorrow. "I killed so many by my hand." Gaara said, looking down at the carpeted floor. "I thought... I should change that."

His words spoke for themselves. The failed mission did change him, Baki thought, This is indeed unexpected. Still, Baki had a reason to be frustrated by his sudden 'noble' act. "If it turns out she's a spy from a potential enemy territory, you would be blamed for it. Do you understand that?"

Calm-faced, Gaara looked up at him and nodded. "Yes."

Strange, Baki thought. "In the meantime, you must consider our village's laws and customs. You are potentially the next-in-line for Kazekage, so you should consider that burden heavily from this point onward." He gave him a stern glance. "If you make any move that jeopardizes the village further, the council won't hold you favourably. You're dismissed."

After a curt nod, the jinchuriki silently left the room.

"Kazekage?" Shukaku grumbled. "That fool can't be serious!"

Alerting him, Gaara suddenly found himself within his own psyche. "Shukaku,"

Leaning closer to him, the towering tailed-beast rumbled the still water that lay beneath them inside the dark chamber. Even from afar, its bloodlust felt unquenchable. The feel from its massive reserves of chakra spoke for themselves, filling the air around them with a dense aura that emanated revenge. "You ought to be grateful, runt. It's because of me that those foul elders are even humouring the idea."

"It's not something I considered." Gaara answered. "My father was... -," Supposed to live, he wanted to say - but the words never came to him.

"A bastard of a human... he sealed me in you - a puny infant!" Shukaku boomed, its boisterous nature showing in its voice. "It's not all bad. I can wreak havoc on his village as long as I have you as my vessel! That's what he gets for dealing with a tanuki... at least he's dead but I still wish I'd got to him first." Noticing his jinchuriki's silence, the beast drew closer. "You've changed since meeting that fox-brat... Not once since that encounter had you relished in doing my bidding. How can I take vengeance on this miserable village if you won't let me influence you?"

Gaara's ringed-eyes glared up at the beast. "I don't want to, not anymore."

"Keh?! What's gotten into you?" Shukaku fretted, its anger rising. "First - you get defeated by that stupid fox and now you go and save some dying girl from the desert? You're not the jinchuriki you're meant to be -!"

"I was never meant to be a jinchuriki." Gaara retorted.

"And I was never meant to be sealed in some bastard human!" Shukaku countered. Its jagged jaws of sand grinned before him eerily, its paws digging into the black waters below as it leaned near. "You better watch yourself, runt. From this point on, I'm going to make your waking hours a living hell! I'm going to emerge at every chance I get in order to persuade you what your true purpose is! You can't forget what you were born to do... you are a weapon!"

As sudden as the beast appeared, he was gone.

His temple throbbed in pain from the encounter, his mind near overwhelmed for a brief moment in time. He's gone, Gaara realized, For now. But for how long he could not say. Seeing his siblings backs ahead of him, he turned on his heel and retreated slowly to the dimmed corridor. He could not afford for Shukaku to emerge near his family - not again and not ever. As the three siblings left the darkened room that evening, Kankuro took notice of Gaara walking off into the opposite direction of the narrow hallway.

"Gaara," Kankuro spoke, pausing. "Where are you going? Shouldn't we –?"

"I'm heading out for the night." Gaara said, walking into the shadowed corridor. "I'll return later."

"Oh," Kankuro spoke, somewhat awkwardly. "Alright."

"Come on, Kankuro!" Temari chided. "The weapons shop will be closed by the time we get outside! Didn't you say you needed a part for your puppet?"

"Hey, now!" Kankuro ran to catch up. "Not just a part, an accessory!"

Silently, Gaara walked alone into the dark hallway seeking an exit. Gnawing at his psyche, he could feel Shukaku beginning to stir from its anger, its chakra burning in the pit of his stomach. Although his exterior was calm, controlled, and collected, his mind was fighting a constant battle. His turquoise eyes were worn from focus and control over the tailed beast that tormented him – a never-ending battle for self-control and peace of mind. Since that encounter with the unconscious girl of no name, Shukaku had grown restless. With every waking moment, it twisted inside him for the thirst of blood – a tumultuous craving that went unanswered by its host. Although no stranger to its internal outbursts, it perplexed him greatly as to why it had grown so restless all of the sudden. Feeling drained from his insomnia, he stepped outside into the night.

Seeking the moon for comfort...

Notes: (Fun fact that's commonly known...)

Tanuki (狸), literally meaning "raccoon dog" are supernatural beings in Japanese folklore. They are based upon the real raccoon-dogs of Japan and their tales are famous for their mischievous nature and shape-shifting abilities.

They are rivals to kitsune (狐, meaning "fox"), which created the Japanese proverb: "A fox and a tanuki matching their cleverness", which explains the rivalry between Shukaku and Kurama.