Chapter 13
Sowing the Seeds

Making her way towards the growing shadows of the grand estate, the dogs barked in her wake from the refuge of the street side.

Barring their teeth with their tails curled between their legs, the dogs huffed and yelped towards her while she walked down the main road of the village. Nomasaki hated dogs. Hate was a strong word, but she was nonetheless annoyed by their incessant yaps and growling. Suna was full of stray dogs, feeding on scraps of meat from the butchers, chasing each other in feral packs, and following around the children of the alleyways who would play with them. Her sense of smell was not the greatest of her senses, but the wolf blood within her stirred at the scent of dog whenever it was lingering. It made her gut twist, her want to bark back rising as she felt her canines grow within her jaws. She was always careful not to change form while out in the open, keeping her wolfishness at bay and practicing her best behavior when she could. As the villagers still kept their wits about the purple-eyed foreigner, she never wanted to give them another reason to shun or fear her. Keeping quiet and appearing as human as possible was her best bet – but the dogs were definitely pushing her patience.

Dressed in a casual blue kimono with narrow sleeves of white, Nomasaki met the questioning glances of the guards who stood outside the mansion's gates. Their faces were as hard as iron, aged by the sands and their years of service. They did not seem pleased to have the foreigner at their steps. "Excuse me," She started, pausing after reaching the first step. "I was summoned."

"By who?" One of them questioned, narrowing their dark eyes. "Off with you – no one except those with clearance are permitted inside. Now, be on your way."

"Kazekage-sama summoned me," She answered, cautiously. "I'm to meet him at his office."

The other guard laughed airily. "Kazekage-sama summoned you, eh? Best one I've heard all day, I'll tell you that!"

"Listen, girl –," The guard closest to her glared into her timid eyes, boring into the purple that flecked them. She noticed his grip upon his spear tightened, reminding her she arrived with no weapons of her own. All she had was the dress at her back – no tools, nothing. They probably thought she was a clueless civilian, she pondered, or an enemy in disguise. A wolf in sheep's clothing. "It's best that you be on your way. We don't want any trouble, now if you'd step aside –,"

"There you are!" Temari entered from behind the gates. "I was worried you lost your way."

Startled slightly, the guards directed their attention to her. Straightening their arms at their sides firmly, they tapped the posts of their spears off the marble at their feet. "Temari-sama!"

"She's with me." Turning to Nomasaki, she noted her timid nature in her glance. Although her eyes were stern, Temari gave her a light smile to assure her. "This way, Nomasaki – I'll show you to him. We shouldn't be keeping Gaara waiting."

"Y-Yes," Nomasaki nodded. "Sorry, Temari-senpai."

Following her as the guards stepped aside to let them pass, she entered the vast confines of the Kazekage's mansion one step at a time. She remembered she was at the mansion once before when she received her chunin certification, but she seldom remembered her way through its aged and winding corridors. The building was as massive inside as it was outside, with nearly ten floors filled with chambers for every shinobi faction to gather, the grand council chambers, libraries, archives, and the like, with the top floor reserved for the Kazekage's residence and office. Without Temari leading the way, she was certain she would get lost on her own. Not even the detection of Gaara's chakra could lead her to him through its weaving halls and staircases.

The mansion was like a labyrinth to her.

Nearly every doorway they walked past had guards standing by. As they walked, Temari mentioned the changing times of the village. With Gaara receiving the nomination of Fifth Kazekage, the time was ripening for the numerous assassins who lurked in the shadows to strike. No one could be too careful, she said, they even had to investigate their own council for dissidents following his imminent reign. Even so, the sight of armed guards with spears made Nomasaki uneasy. She was a shinobi, she had to remind herself, she had to be unafraid. As she felt Gaara's chakra become closer, staying unafraid was proving to be challenging. She could feel the nervousness pound in her chest, and the fact they have not seen each other in close to a year made the feeling worse.

"This is where we part ways,"

Flinching, Nomasaki turned to her. "You're not… going in, too?"

"I have other duties I have to take care of," Temari answered, smiling at her nervous eyes. "You'll be fine on your own. Remember – you're a jonin. I'll be seeing you!"

"T-Temari-senpai –!"

With a smug smirk, Temari waved as she disappeared within the curves of the corridor. Now she was certain she would get lost when it came time to leave. Turning back towards the wooden door before her, she took a deep breath to calm herself from the chakra that was beyond the walls. He was my friend, she remembered, I have no reason to be nervous. She was a shinobi.

The doorknob creaked as she let herself inside. Closing the door behind her, it shut firmly on its hinges, shuddering her arm from its noise. Turning towards his desk, she braced herself to meet his gaze. Surprising her, she was lucky. Standing before the window, Gaara stood with his back facing her, gazing out onto his village. Timidly, she entered the room further as Shukaku's chakra lingered upon the air. Hearing her footsteps come to a halt in the center of the room, the young Kazekage directed his attention towards her. Meeting her timid expression, Gaara examined her meek appearance. It had been a year since they last properly seen each other, yet it felt as if they were meeting for the first time. They were both different and changed people. Surprising him, she was no longer the scrawny chunin he remembered from when he saw her last, but a calm young woman with the evidence of her shinobi training marked in her eyes. He surprised her as well, his height especially. He was taller than she last remembered, the mocking whispers of her comrades who once called him short seemed foolish to her now. He was even taller than her, noticing that she had to look up at him as he approached closer. As always, she felt as though he could read her through the mere glance of his ringed-eyes – but the familiar calm was still within them, which relieved her.

"Nomasaki," He greeted, pausing before her. "It's been a while. It's good to see you."

"Likewise," She nodded, smiling lightly. "I suppose I should say congratulations on your appointment as Kazekage. I know how much that means to you and I'm… happy for you."

Nodding back, a smile formed on his lips. It was genuine, warmed by her words. "Thank you, Nomasaki. I understand you're a jonin now, Temari told me of your training."

"Oh," That took her off guard, her timid nature instantly found its way back to her expression. Shyly, she averted her eyes. "Yeah, that surprised me as well."

She was not meant to be a jonin, she reminded herself. She did not yet harness the skill, yet the higher-ups persisted. Her gut wrenched from the mere thought. Looking back to him, she curiously peered into his pupil-less turquoise eyes that watched her every movement carefully. Maybe he could not help his intruding glance, she thought to herself – intruding was not his intention.

"Gaara – Gaara-sama," She pushed herself, cautiously. "May I ask why I was summoned?"

Understanding, he nodded subtly, looking at her with an expression stoic and slate-like. It was the face of a kage – not a young man – that was looking down at her, startling her from the difference in their strengths. He had grown not just in power but in wisdom, she could see it clearly within his eyes. "As you're aware, I was recently appointed as the new Fifth Kazekage." He said. "I will be taking office in the coming days… but before I do that, I need an assistant. Someone loyal and trustworthy, someone who has abilities that could be of great benefit… a sober second thought. I am asking that you be my assistant, Nomasaki."

Her heart stopped.

"Your assistant?" She repeated, stunned. "Forgive me – but I've only been promoted to jonin a week ago. My strength isn't exactly that great compared to the others –,"

"It has nothing to do with strength, but it has everything to do with trust." Gaara explained, drawing in her surprised eyes. "You put your trust in me when I shared my dream to you of becoming Kazekage… now I'm putting my trust in you to support me as I protect the village as its central pillar."

Warmed, she nodded. "I can't say no then, can I?" Meeting his eyes, she smiled. "As a kunoichi of Sunagakure, I accept your proposal, Gaara-sama."

Relieved, he found himself smiling back. How strange, he thought, she always provoked such a friendly reaction. At least with her by his side, he need not worry about dissidents and their schemes. She could find them with her senses – and stand by as a friend to help him with whatever was troubling him. He had chosen wisely. "Thank you," He nodded back. "As my assistant, you'll be tasked with helping me with my day-today operations as the Kazekage, and anything the Suna Council directs. You will act as my proxy." When he finished, his expression became stoic again – leader-like and unmoving. "Do you have any further questions?"

Nervously, she shook her head, giving a friendly but timid smile as she stood across from him in the sheltered room – feeling every fiber of his chakra surrounding her as she looked at the burgundy of his shirt and the purple flak jacket secured over it, examining the needlework of its seams. "N-No, everything was clear, Gaara." Jolting, she realized she made a fatal mistake in addressing him, and on her first day of work, too. "O-Oh, I-I mean… –!" Flustered, she tried her best to correct her mistake, bowing her head to him slightly. "G-Gaara-sama - I'm sorry, please forgive me."

"Don't worry about honorifics." He assured. "I don't expect you to be formal, being that we knew each other since we were genin. You can address me as you always have."

Looking up to him, she nodded, smiling at his response in relief. "Y-Yes, sir."

Slightly surprising her for a moment, he stepped closer towards her in the room – standing only inches apart from each other – the closest he ever was towards her. "Before you take your oath as my assistant," He began. "I must ask something of you."

"What is it?"

The young Kazekage locked eyes with her in a serious exchange as he stood before her, his ringed tanuki-like eyes gazing into hers unwavering in nature. Nervousness entering her glance as she looked up to him, she could feel the chakra of his tailed-beast wrap itself around her – although that was not his intention, nor was he aware of the fear she felt in her senses from its presence. "If I do anything out of line... If I make a decision that puts the very existence of Suna in jeopardy," He started. "I expect you to speak out and stop me… even if that means to strike me down, if things take a turn." Surprised, her eyes of lilac widened from his request fearfully. Nervously, she gulped from the thought. "Can I trust you with that?"

Swallowing her emotions and nervousness, she remembered her duties as a shinobi, a newly-appointed jonin. As a shinobi, one's duty is to the mission at hand – and one must complete their mission above all else. A shinobi must not show their emotions at all costs – and a shinobi must never show weakness. That was the sacrifice all shinobi must make to survive and allow their villages to prosper. Killing her emotions was a struggle to become the kunoichi who stood before him in that chamber, and she was barely able to do just that. Changing from the meek and timid girl from the mountains was no easy task, but with her duty she donned the mask of a controlled, precise, and obedient kunoichi of Suna. She was still her – and she still clung to her emotions, nonetheless, hiding her weakness from her superiors as she was able.

Would Gaara care if she clung to such things?

She hoped he would be at least understanding.

Knowing full well their shared history – from him saving her life twice to her intrigue and fear of his chakra – even to him injuring her by accident those times. She honored his request despite her fears. "Yes." She nodded, obediently. After a moment of shared silence, she averted her glance. Her light-hearted and friendly nature poked through the holes of her timid exterior, pushing herself to meet his eyes again. "Although, it won't come to that. I have faith in your judgement, but if you do anything out of line… I will be sure to speak out."

"Is that so?" Nervously, with a determined glint to her lilac eyes, she nodded, standing by her answer to his hardened question. Gazing into her eyes, he saw the of her expression, reading what her eyes conveyed to him. She was indeed serious. Acknowledging her answer, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Thank you, Nomasaki."

Softly, she smiled back at him, their bond as Kazekage and assistant solidified. Startling her, the air between them suddenly grew dark and heavy with carnage. Before she knew it, her vision turned black. Darkness was all that she could see.

"Hmph! You're going soft, as I feared." A low growl rumbled. "You're making a big mistake, boy!"

Slowly, her eyes flickered as she became drawn to the scarce light that reflected upon the pool of water. Everything was so dark, so dim, and so unknown. Standing on her wobbly legs, she felt that same burgeoning chakra exert its threatening presence towards her. Where on earth was she? Surprisingly, as she walked above the rippling pool, she did not plunge down to the waters from the first step.

Was it a genjutsu?

If so – why would Gaara think to do of such a thing?

Perhaps she was being tested, she thought – she hoped.

Her fears were suddenly realized as she approached closer.

Towering above the dark lit pool was Shukaku, arching itself over its jinchuriki as it spoke through its jagged jaws of sand and death. Gaara stood before the beast, standing firm in his stance with his expression calm and stern. She felt her heart pound through her chest as she took in every ounce of its chakra. It was so close – too close. She wanted to scream from how frightened she was, her instincts telling her to run as fast and as far as she could. But there was nowhere for her to go. She was trapped in that pit of darkness.

"I already told you, Shukaku – this does not concern you." Gaara spoke, narrowing his eyes towards his tailed-beast. "You have to understand –,"

Shukaku sensed her.

Whipping its tail as it turned its sand-covered body towards her, the tanuki's brow furrowed and its vicious jaws gnashed instantly as it sensed her in the cool air. The water shook and rippled violently from its weight, thrashing under them. Nomasaki fell to her knees above the restless waters, trembling before the gigantic monster and its winds of fury.

"I told you there was a wolf at your door!" Shukaku roared. "What the hell are you doing here?! Away with you!"

Shocked, Gaara turned around to see her on the waters behind. Her eyes were wide with fear, panicked by the sight of the tailed-beast. His thoughts raced with many questions, all of them scrambling for a logical answer as to why the strange-eyed girl was within his psyche. It was a realm where only he and Shukaku could enter – no one else, whether it be man or monster.

"Nomasaki?! How did you –?!"

"What is this –?!" She stammered, frantically. Her panicked eyes were locked upon the tanuki, unmoving. "S-Shukaku –?! Where am I – what is place –?!"

Watching her tremble, he then realized she had no idea how she appeared either. How did she was a question she desperately wanted an answer to – so she could escape and run from the chakra that was trying to suffocate her in the winds. Shukaku lurched closer, paying no mind to its jinchuriki. "Gaara, you know I'll have to kill her!" The beast bellowed, sending its sands towards her. "She's given me no choice – she invaded MY realm!"

Before she could react, she was clutched in the sweeping sands. Wrapping around her, the sands crept closer up her torso, making its way to her chest by the time Gaara stepped in. Reaching out, he prepared his stance against the beast, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"No –!" He shouted. "Stop, Shukaku –!"

She could feel the sand tighten around her throat, choking her as her vision darkened.

She gasped for breath, clutching her throat as she stepped backward.

Stunned and speechless, Gaara stood with his back to his desk, his hand clasping his sweat-drenched forehead. His heart was still pounding as his breaths calmed, shaken by how close his timing was. If he had not have ended the link between himself and Shukaku, there was no telling what would have happened to her. It was a great risk to have taken, especially against someone as impatient and brute as his tailed-beast. Collecting herself, Nomasaki slowly retracted her shaking fingers from her throat, clutching her hands into her chest. Her eyes were still wide and frantic, her gaze locked upon the floor. She was so close to death she could sense it. "What… just happened…?" She breathed, looking up to him. "Where was that place?"

"My seal… That's where we were, my psyche." Gaara met her eyes, bewildered. "How did you enter? No one except myself can speak with Shukaku in that realm."

Gazing down at her shivering fingers before her, her eyes desperately sought an answer – but none came. "I… don't know. I suddenly felt – Shukaku's chakra and I… I don't know exactly how it happened, but next thing I knew – it was so dark –,"

A person entered the office chambers, shuffling their way through the old wooden door as it creaked in entrance. Drawing both of their attentions, they saw an elder of the council step forth, his expression aged and hardened like iron. Nomasaki recognized the man instantly from the dark of his eyes – and they paid no mind to her. Kenzō, the man who threatened her with his tracker-nin after she became a chunin of Sunagakure. He was not threatening her within the office, his eyes only focusing on the burgundy-clad young man with the ringed-eyes. He was putting on a feeble mask, as if he were another person entirely. Such a troubling fellow, she thought to herself, withdrawing her gaze from him.

"With all due respect, Kazekage-sama," Kenzō started. "We must begin the details of your impending inauguration." Catching wind of the foreigner, he gave her a calm glance – but the darkness was still visible to her from his vile eyes. "Who's this?"

"Nomasaki of the Yamamori clan," Gaara answered, calm and stoic. "She will be working as my assistant during my reign as Kazekage." Turning towards her, he gestured towards the weasel-faced elder. "This is Kenzō-sama, he was one of my father's principal advisors."

Masking her nervousness, she gave a subtle bow. "Nice to meet you… sir."

Meeting her slightly narrowed eyes, Kenzō gave a glare as a rebuttal. Boring through her strange lilac eyes, he could see the uncertainty and fear that lingered behind them. She may have been good at hiding how she felt from the outside, but her eyes gave everything away. He could see it painted clearly amongst their violet hue. "Your eyes… the blood of an outsider flows strong…" Kenzō muttered to himself. Turning to Gaara, his expression eased. Appearing calm and dignified, as any other senior elder of the council. He was the master of faces, and he knew it. "Kazekage-sama, allow me to escort your assistant from the estate. The day has grown tired."

"Alright," Gaara nodded, watching them leave with a questioning glance. When the door closed behind them, he had to admit that something did not feel entirely right. Shukaku for once seemed to agree, twisting inside him as the scarce sunlight faded from the window.

Holding her tongue, she stood silently before the stern-faced elder before her within the darkened chambers. Sitting at the worn table across from her, Kenzō gave her a coy grin as he rested his turban-covered head upon his balled fist. His expression made her uneasy. As she stood in that room with him, she could feel her instincts creep into her mind – telling her to flee. She was essentially a sitting duck for the taking. The tracker-nin who pledged their allegiance to him were many and hidden from her view, but she should definitely sense them nearby, watching every move she made.

Their chakra was everywhere.

"You can sit," He spoke from the shadows. "Sit, outsider - or better yet… sit, wolf."

Irking her, she swallowed her trembling breaths as she edged forward. With a creak, she pulled the wooden chair out for her to sit upon, its worn feet scrapping against the clay floor as she moved herself closer to the wide table.

"I never expected you to do that," He jested. "Surely, me taking an interest in you was the biggest stroke of luck the dead gods of these deserts have thrust upon me."

He knew what happened, she realized.

He knew.

She was still unable to figure out how she entered that place, but deep down she thought her wolf's blood had something to do with it. She could sense all chakra, whether it be human or beast – and she was also drawn to it. Shukaku could have lured her, but maybe she overstepped her bounds and forced herself through by accident. Either way, she was determined to never let that happen again. She was already afraid of the one-tail enough.

"That Kekkei Genkai of yours... have you no idea of how it truly works, do you?" Watching her widened eyes glance to her shivering palm, Kenzō took amusement in her bewildered silence. "You possess a natural reserve of nature-energy... the old power that even precedes chakra itself. You feel a burning when you transform, correct? That's the effect of nature energy upon the human body – it changes the body into what it wills. Your clan of wolf-people had nature-energy in their own blood... that's how they became wolves in turn, and how you do the same." His darkened eyes glinted within the darkness. "You can detect chakra - all chakra... even the chakra of the tailed-beasts."

Flickering eyes of fear, she brought herself to meet his unnerving gaze. "How do you know all this? Why are you –?!"

"You and I... in a way, are the same. I am also a sensory type shinobi, so I know all the tricks of how you can detect chakra over great distances just from mere existence. Your clan in particular... such an extreme form of sensory jutsu, I must admit. Nature energy is not for the faint of heart, it takes years of mastery for only the exceptional shinobi to master it." Kenzō grew amused at her shocked expression. "Judging by your stunned expression, it seems you didn't know that either. I take it you still remember my message?"

"Y-Yes, sir…" She brought herself to reply. "What was it you... wanted of me?"

"You're straight to the point… perhaps I won't despise asking of your service after all." He sneered, the glint of his dark eyes visible through the shadows. "You pose a great risk to Sunagakure… You're an outsider from another land, but you also hold sensory abilities that can benefit the higher-ups such as myself… The current Kazekage is also a risk, with an unstable chakra reserve and a tailed-beast that refuses to stay silent. You must know what I'm talking about, yes?"

"Shukaku," She spoke quietly, looking down solemnly. "Kazekage-sama, he… is a… he's a jinchuriki –,"

"He is an abomination."

Her instincts screaming at her to leave, she sat up from her wooden chair and started for the door. Hearing Kenzō's chair creak behind her, she could sense his chakra approach from behind. Pausing where she stood within the broken shadows of the chamber, she could feel his menacing presence surround her without a single sound. Pacing around her with hands folded behind his back, the councilman examined her shivering appearance with delight and curiosity.

"You must know where I'm getting at?" Piecing the puzzle together in her mind, her fingers trembled at her sides while her breath struggled to form a response. His chakra was gnawing at hers as he continued to peer into her vulnerable state – he was clearly enjoying himself. "You may be his assistant... but you are also a tool for the council to use as we see fit. Do not forget – you are a jonin of Suna with duties to fulfill for the sake of the village." He began, while he circled her like a vulture. "Gaara is the son of the Fourth Kazekage, however – his status as a jinchuriki and both the Fifth Kazekage may place our village into great peril if he were to lose control and Shukaku run amok. Thousands of lives could be at stake… including yours," Chilling her instantly, she felt his palms grasp her shoulders from behind. Averting her gaze from his bitterly, she could still feel his foul breath upon her neck as he uttered his words of treason. Flinching, she refused to be near but his forceful hold forbade her escape. "You don't want to die, do you? Of course… if you decline this generous offer, you might be lucky enough to be exiled into the Demon Desert where the vultures will finish you off from the thirst and starvation… or an execution might be in order."

Grabbing her throat, the councilman grinned from under the shadows as his fingers pressed into her shivering neck. Just from his touch, she felt as if it were getting difficult for her to breathe. Desperately, she tried to keep her wolfishness at bay before lashing out at him. Her canines were already growing within her jaws, ready to lunge out in retaliation. "Your task is to monitor the Kazekage's activity and report all instances to me. You must tail him after hours and at all costs… you must not be seen. And if he suspects anything," His grip on her throat tightened. "…kill him."

Her chest sank as the words entered her mind, her purple eyes widened from the sound of the command. Kill him, she thought – but why? The mere thought of it sent shivers of fear and defiance down her spine. Gaara was someone she considered close. They shared a similar pain – loneliness – and he saw through the heavy exterior that the name of her clan bore onto her. From the beginning, she knew she could trust him. Why betray him in such a vile way? As Kenzō released her from his grip and returned towards his seat at the table, she clasped her throat with her palms as she refused to turn to face him. As her widened eyes flickered around her as she stood, the breath returned to her as she rapidly gathered all the thoughts that were burgeoning her shoulders.

She had no choice – and Kenzō knew it.

If she refused, she would die. If she agreed, Gaara could die – unless he never found out, that is – and that was her final gleaming hope. No, she thought, never. "Why are you doing this?" She pressed, hurt. "Why should I –?"

"Don't you want to know who your father is?"

Shocked, she felt her body become frozen where she stood. Her father. The mere mention of that man sent a shiver through her, her mind struggling to grapple with how the councilman knew it all. The foreigner had a Suna father, a father that she was yet to find. The tracker-nin who follow him have eyes and ears that went unseen throughout the village – she should have known better. Appalled, her eyes widened towards his, watching his foul expression curl into intrigue.

"Simple thing, you are. That's right – I can track him down for you… I can tell by that pain shielded behind your eyes that you hold a great deal of hatred for that man. If you do what I ask, then I will reunite you with that estranged father of yours." A grin etched itself upon his lips, eyeing her narrowing lilac eyes with amusement. "It must be a tragic thing, really… not knowing who he is yet you have one of the greatest sensory abilities running through your veins. He could be under your very nose and you not know a thing."

His words struck her.

He was right.

"H-How can you know that?" She retorted, a startled anger rising in her voice. "How can you know who or where he is? He could be dead –!"

"Oh no," Kenzō corrected. "He's very much alive. I know all about him. His name, his whereabouts... his desertion to be with your mother – everything." Seething through her heart was the twisting of raging belief. Even as she stood with her fists balled at her sides, they twitched with each breath she took from her fuming muzzle of growing canines. Her eyes bore through him as if knives, clawing onto him from afar. In moments her calm exterior crumbled, the beast within her awake and ready to lunge out in desperation. "A hasty one, aren't you? I should know that a beast has a rather foul temper." Kenzō remarked, forming a hand-sign. "No matter... I'll sort you out!"

A surge of chakra struck her – a genjutsu.

Her thoughts gone vivid with tortuous reminders of the past, she felt the overwhelming grip of her mind forcing her into coercion. His jutsu picked apart her very mind, rifling through her most traumatic memories her eyes could remember. Flashing before her eyes were the memories of home – the snow, the mountains, and the fires that swallowed it all. Out of the fire she saw the flicker of her battle against the Kumo ninja, the orange and red flames licking at her heels as she ran behind the rocks for cover.

The fire still persisted in her eyes.

"Please –! Make it stop –!" She wanted to yell, but her voice was frozen. Repeating in pattern, she saw the faces of her villagers as they died screaming in a crimson haze, the flames that licked the night skies – and the smiling face of her mother. She was soon graced with the forced memory of the assassin who attacked her, the feel of sand slicing her cheek, and the dark chakra that lurked within her ringed-eyed friend. The recollection of Shukaku was soon taken over by an inconceivable barrage of fire, swallowing everything in her vision and rendering her blind to everything else.

Her blood suddenly boiled.

"Enough!"

Snapping out of the jutsu's grasp, her snarl ripped through the still air as a white wolf suddenly emerged from her stance. Its slit violet eyes glared threateningly towards the disgruntled man, its back arched and poised to attack while its tail frayed . A deepened growl rumbled through its snarling muzzle while its claws dug into the clay floor beneath, its strong limbs waiting for the moment to strike. Dismayed, Kenzō met its beastly eyes in cold anger.

"It seems I must've struck a nerve," He breathed. "What good will growling at me do? Have you forgotten something?" Gesturing towards the shadows, the still faces of his masked shinobi entered in a deadly quiet. Sensing the intruding tracker-nin within the chamber as the hilts of their katanas glimmered in the scant light, the wolf stood its ground and curled its muzzle. Unmoving. "These masked shinobi answer to me and me alone. If you take one more step out of line... I'll have no choice but to end your miserable life right here." His lips curled into a sneering grin. "...and then I shall deal with the Kazekage."

Her heart froze.

As her wolf-form receded, she stood as still as a statue. Gaara was what he wanted all along. That was his goal. Whether it was from the rage and hurt was masked behind her nervous eyes or his tracker-nin that lurked beyond in the chamber, Kenzō looked at her in a way that made him realize he won the game. She was powerless to him and her weakened heart. She wanted to shout out and call him a monster for what he really was – but her mouth struggled to form the words her frightened mind wanted to speak.

"How long… will this mission continue, sir?" Her voice quivered, trying to sound calm.

"As long as Shukaku remains a threat to our way of life… your assignment will not end." His eyes glared towards her. "...and any defiance on my orders will result in your punishment - and death. Are we clear?"

Bringing herself to face him directly, she met his sneering glare from across the darkened chamber. Trembling still, she gave a subtle bow. "...I... will do as Kenzō-sama asks of me."

Notes: The name of Kenzō (建造) can be translated to "Build" (建) and "Create" (造) in Japanese. His name is also derived from the Japanese Emperor Kenzō, who was the 23rd emperor of Japan from 485 to 487 CE.