Chapter 54
An Invitation

Each sweep of the broom seemed to find more and more sand, forming a disordered bundle of debris and filth.

Grimacing at the mess, Nomasaki sighed as she fixed the pile with her sweeps, making sure not to make the existing mess worse. Despite the dry season being a merciful time with the cooler desert winds, with those winds brought more sands from the surrounding dustbowl of the village. Above the sun was clouded by the dust-ridden plumes, darkening the land in intervals that seemed to last hours. Appearing as if the end of the world was upon them, the high desert sun managed to break through scarcely as the dust continued to circle in the skies. It was a usual sight in winter, she remembered, sweeping the last bits of grains into the pile on her balcony. It was not that she disliked sand, but she thought it was coarse, itchy, and got itself everywhere. She wondered how Gaara felt about it – being as constant with the sand as he was. Even when holding his hand, she could feel the grains laced between his fingers. Only his warmth made up for the discomfort.

"So much sand…" She sighed to herself. "It is the dry season, I guess…"

Gathering the dust into her pan, she made her way down the exposed clay stairwell of her apartment and emptied its contents into the large dumpster. Closing the wooden latch with a thud, she dropped the pan and turned calmly towards the back of the alleyway. Her violet eyes were alert but stern, narrowed towards the chakra that was lurking behind the walls.

"You can come out of hiding. I know you're there."

Leaping out from above the stucco buildings of the alley, a renegade dressed in mismatched soiled garbs appeared before her. A kunai was drawn and ready in his hand, with no forehead protector to signal his allegiance – or defiance. He looked to be a man in his late thirties, his face brittle from hunger and scars marked across his cheekbone. She sensed him to be a common criminal – a bandit, most likely. He was eyeing her from afar, grinning at the young woman dressed in blue. She was clad in her casual short-sleeved kimono – and she was unarmed.

"So, the rumors are true – your eyes," He sneered. "You're the wolf-girl?"

Calm and collected, she eyed him suspiciously. "What of it?"

His kunai glistened from the faint sunlight, gleaming in her direction so much she thought she could see her own reflection. Preparing himself, he readied his fighting stance, his free hand

forming a single hand-sign while she stood in the alley alone and unprotected. "I heard your head offers quite a high price these days," He grinned. "I would be able to be my own lord! I will bring your corpse to that sniffling oaf of a lard that sits on his palace steps wasting our coin!"

"Our coin?" She questioned, her hands tightening on the broomstick. "Are you of the Land of Wind? Or are you just a common bandit?"

"What does it matter?" He snorted, readying his weapon. "I will form my own land soon enough! With the coin from your capture, I will be my own daimyo!"

"And who is offering you the bounty of a slain young woman in exchange for coin, sir?"

"Eh? S-Shut up!" He shouted, flinching. "Someone will – s-some bandit lord, someone!"

A criminal, just as she thought.

Eyeing the sunken and dead glare of the bandit, she knew she had no choice. Her quiet morning had turned into something more troublesome than anticipated. All she wanted was to clean her balcony from the sands that plagued it, and here she now had a battle on her hands. "So, you're a defector." Breaking off the head of the broomstick against the ground, she took her stance with her makeshift weapon. "Well, then – try me!"

Gulping, the bandit sensed her chakra burst forth from the air. Realizing he bit off more than he could chew, he swallowed his fear and charged directly. Swiftly, Nomasaki dodged his first strike, stepping off to the side as his kunai punctured the air between them. He grit his teeth, slashing again and again, and each time she scarcely stepped aside, effortlessly dodging his stabs. The final stab was met with the swing and shield of the broomstick.

His eyes widened as he saw her deliver a counter.

It was her turn.

With the twirl of the broomstick, she struck him with a force that sent him flying towards the ground. As he leapt for another attack, she knocked the kunai from his hands with the base and struck him again from the side. Slamming across the dusty alleyway, she stepped closer and solidified her stance into the ground. Gathering himself, he felt a throbbing in his head and bruises start to swell and line his arms and face. His ribs ached as well.

The woman was stronger than he anticipated.

Gnashing his teeth, he charged for a last time with a rallying yell. Blocking his fist with her free hand, she clasped it firmly in her palm, her heel digging into the dirt. With the other, she swung the broomstick and struck him across the torso. His body bounced off the ground before he struck the wall, spitting out a bloodied tooth as he could no longer bring himself to attack. He lost. Seeing her ready the broomstick towards him again, he flinched.

"I yield! I yield!" He cried out. "Please – don't kill me!"

Calming her stance as she sensed another chakra approaching, she closed her eyes as she took a deep exhale. The broomstick still in hand, she let its base rest against the ground as she turned back to see who was approaching her. From the shadows, a shinobi landed in the alley behind her, standing through the scarce sunlight that reached the secluded road.

"I figured I'd find you around," The owl-faced tracker-nin spoke. Sohei, Moro's messenger and weapon's specialist – an old comrade she grew fond of. Taking notice of the injured lowlife groaning against the wall, he grew hesitant. "Is this one giving you trouble?"

"Not anymore it seems," She answered, turning back to them. "I should summon the guard, just in case." She looked to her masked comrade, a light smile on her lips as she could see the humor in his reaction. "He wanted my head, you know."

"Moro-sama is requesting you meet with him as soon as you're able."

She did not want to hear that.

His words made her finger grasp the broomstick tighter for a moment. Did Moro know about her trek to Yamagakure? She was hoping he did not – she could not afford to be penalized. She had no hot water last month, she was hoping the next month would be different.

"Did Moro-sama say why?"

"No," Sohei answered, his owl mask unmoving. "Best that you go see him yourself."

Brushing her nervousness aside, she gave him a stern nod before he departed back into the shadows. Once the criminal was seized by the village guards, she went back inside. More sands littered her steps by the time she went back home.

It seemed her sweeping was all but for naught.

Deep within the confines of the burrowing headquarters, a lone tracker-nin sat knelt before their commander.

That morning, the scarce rays of the desert sun shone through the rusted and aged pipes that littered the walls and ceiling, breaking through the burgeoning darkness that engulfed the secret meeting place. Striking the tracker-nin's porcelain mask, its white gleam revealed its beastly snarl upon its carvings while the red signaled its identity as an instinctual hunter. Knelt before her commander, Nomasaki waited patiently for her next assignment to be revealed.

"You summoned me, sir?" She spoke, calmly.

"Yes," Moro nodded, his stern glance meeting the faint glint of her eyes through the slits of her shroud. "We received an invitation for the upcoming Chunin Exams in Konohagakure. It seems Konoha is requesting that each village send two qualified chunin or jonin-level shinobi to act as proctors." Gesturing his palm towards her with a serious glance painted upon his brisk features, he gave his next command. "As the commander and captain of the Suna Tracking Unit, I entrust you to represent Sunagakure on our behalf."

Surprised, she jolted briefly from his words. To partake in the upcoming exams as a proctor was something she had not yet received the honor, but was more than willing and intrigued to do so. Since becoming a tracker-nin full-time after returning from Yamagakure, she had her fair share of assignments and tasks with the unit – and now as Commander Moro's right-hand, she was slowly climbing the ranks within Suna's secretive hunting corps. To be recommended as a proctor was a promotion only scarcely given, she heard from other tracker-nin and Suna shinobi.

"Commander Moro–!"

"You seem surprised," Moro smirked at her surprised glance, crossing his arms behind the leather coat on his back. "As my right-hand, I expect nothing but excellence from you." Reaching into his satchel at his side, he pulled out a parchment stamped with the seal and insignia of Konoha – marked in a red stamp that could be clearly seen within the darkened room. "Take this form to Kazekage-sama and have him sign-off on it. The exams are next week, so I suggest you start preparing"

Taking the parchment from her commander, she nodded – meeting his glance with an honored and stern glint to her lilac eyes. "Yes, sir."

Hours later, she made her way towards the Kazekage's mansion.

Cleansed of her shinobi attire and dressed in her casual blue kimono, she decided to best approach the estate in as casual manner as possible. After all, the guards would have to recognize her if she were to continue seeing the Kazekage. Walking past the many councillors and ANBU that patrolled the corridors she once knew as familiar, she entered Gaara's office with her parchment in hand – briefly interrupting his paperwork exploits for the morning. As she stood before him in his office while the faint sunlight entered through the windows, he examined the parchment presented to him with wide surprised eyes.

The timing of the Chunin Exams in Konoha had finally arrived.

"You're going to proctor for the Chunin Exams?" He asked, scanning the parchment for the involving details.

"Moro-sama insisted that I represent Suna," She nodded, a light smile on her lips as she watched him inspect the form at his desk. "I'm looking forward to it. It's been awhile since I've had a mission that wasn't a manhunt for a missing-nin."

Meeting her content gaze, his became one of concern. "I see." Quietly sighing to himself, he took out his pen from his pile of paperwork and secured the form before him – signing it in a careful and swift motion. "In that case, I authorize you to represent Suna for this year's exams in Konoha."

Taking the form from his reaching sands, she nodded. "Thank you, Gaara." Smiling to herself, she thought of the upcoming event fondly. "I'm still surprised that I was selected. I'm actually sort of excited, in a way."

His pen flinching upon his stack of paperwork, he looked down at his lap for a moment – concern once again setting in. "That's… great. I'm happy for you."

Slowly, her warm expression dissipated from her features as she could feel the ice and uncertainty from his tone of voice. Examining his averted glance from across his desk, she narrowed her eyes slightly at him in questioning. "You don't seem very happy," She retorted, raising a brow at him as she placed her hands at her hips. "Is there something wrong?"

He shook his head, his glance still avoiding hers. "No, it's just…" His words trailed as he tried to find the right thing to say to her conflicted expression.

"Just what? Why aren't you… happy for me?"

Closing his eyes, he stood up from his chair and left his pile of paperwork to fend for itself.

Meeting her curious and saddened glance as he opened his eyes, he remained silent as he walked towards her by the sunlit window.

"Gaara," She spoke, looking down in silent upset towards the carpeted floor beneath her stance. "You can tell me, I'm your gi–…!" She jolted to herself, her face reddening greatly from the thought. Averting her glance to the side, she held her elbow in attempt to distract herself from her state of fluster. "…g-girlfriend… You can tell me anything." Bringing herself to look him in the eyes, her expression held visible concern towards him – and he could clearly see it upon her face. "So… What's wrong?"

"You'll be outside the village, so…" He began, quietly, looking down as he spoke. Finding the words, his eyes met hers once more, gazing at her in a concerned and protective nature. "I'll… be worried about you." As he thought to himself, his cheeks reddened slightly as he averted his glance – a similar word coming to mind. "I am your… boyfriend, so… I will be concerned in times like these…"

Smiling to herself at his words, she chuckled silently, humbled by their shared shyness. "Is that so?" Gently, she smiled up at him as they stood before each other in his office. "That's sweet of you, but I think I'll be fine. You're the Kazekage, you have more important things to worry about."

Despite her comforting smile, he could not shake the concern he felt, his expression conveying his unease – especially now that there was potentially a new organization of criminals to think about. Their skirmish on the mountains weeks ago was proof of an impending danger, and it worried him to bear the thought of her venturing alone without him by her side. Strangely, it made him feel emotionally vulnerable in a way he never thought possible before. Love was indeed an intriguing emotion – to evoke such unnecessary worry. It must be what comes with any relationship, he thought to himself.

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. Temari said she's leaving at the same time for her Ambassador duties, so we'll be heading to the Land of Fire together."

"Alright," He sighed, lightly smiling back at her. "Just be careful, okay?"

"I'll be careful, I promise. We'll see each other soon, before the final matches start." She replied. "I'll be back in a few weeks. They won't need me around for the final rounds."

"Oh," He realized, scratching the back of his head. "You're right. I forgot."

Comfortingly, she held him close in her arms, gingerly holding herself against his burgundy shirt, her cheek nuzzled in his chest as her hands delicately touched his clothed back. Surprising him for a brief moment from her affections, he could feel his heart skip in his chest while he stood frozen from her soft embrace. "For someone so grumpy, you sure do worry a lot," She spoke, softly. "I'll let you know when I get to Konoha, okay?"

Holding her close in his strong arms, he nodded, smiling warmly to himself. For a moment, he felt completely assured that she would be safe – the thought comforting his worried mind along with her gentle affections. "…Thank you."

Suddenly, a loud knock on the office door startled them, erupting their tender moment of understanding. Alarmed, they separated from each other's arms and directed their attention towards the urgent voices.

"Kazekage-sama! Kyō-sama's owl arrived!"

"The council is awaiting your arrival to discuss Tenbu!"

Surprised, Nomasaki's eyes widened as she turned towards the door. "My dad," She spoke, in hushed tones. "So that means…–!" Whipping her head towards Gaara, who stood stern as if a statue towards the voices, her eyes grew concerned. "They found information on them, didn't they? That group of mercenaries… and that clan –,"

"Yes," He nodded. "We received intel from Zenken-sama recently. It turns out that the mercenaries aren't connected to Ishigakure, so the ones who attacked Yama were all missing-nin… or for lack of a better term, criminals. As for the clan, none have seen a Kumatsume clansmen in years. Some say they're extinct."

"They said the same for my clan, remember?" She corrected. "The Yamamori still survived by hiding their bloodline and names, so maybe they did the same?"

"There's no telling what to make of it. If Tenbu claim to be who they are, they will be taken care of swiftly by Ishi or whoever they intend to strike first."

"Then I'll go with you to the meeting," She started towards the door, alarmed by his words. "Since I was there when they attacked, I can tell them of my senses–,"

"No. You can stay here. You don't need to sit on the council for this."

"But why not? I fought them alongside you, so I should be able to testify!"

Feeling the guilt swell up into his chest, Gaara's expression grimaced slightly from sharing her innocent gaze. He was hiding something from her, and it was eating him from the inside. Ultimately, his feelings won the best of him. Looking down, his eyes closed halfway in sadness – averting her confused stare. "The council… They don't know that we're... together," He confessed, quietly. "Or that I left Suna to find you in the first place. To their knowledge, I was never in Yama fighting Tenbu. This could cause a rift between the councillors if revealed, and could potentially spawn dissidents within our ranks. What I did was selfish, but I did it for you - and for myself." Sensing her distraught expression, he turned towards her, meeting her silent shock painted within her lilac eyes. "Nomasaki, when the time is right, they will know everything. I promise."

"Gaara!" Alerting them, Kankurō's voice could be heard beyond the closed door. "Come on, this is urgent! It's not like you to be late like this!"

Before Nomasaki had the chance to say anything, a turban masked shinobi appeared in the room before them. His eyes were concealed by his veil, but a dark onyx shade was still visible through the shroud. Perplexing her, she sensed a great familiarity within his chakra. "Kazekage-sama," He spoke, kneeling. "The council is requesting your presence right away. They sent me for you."

"Who...?" Nomasaki asked, eyeing the ANBU suspiciously. "You have a new bodyguard?"

"Yes," Gaara nodded, carefully choosing his words. "This is... Shin."

"Shin." She repeated. Warily, she gave a slight bow of her head. "Nice to... meet you."

Seeing her greeting, Shinto cleansed himself of any bonds and emotions - remembering his task at hand. "Did you need me to escort her, Gaara-sama?"

"I'm alright, really." She assured. "I can go alone."

Gaara gave a look of concern. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, feigning a smile. "Yes, I'm sure."

"I'll be seeing you when the exams are over," Gaara said, turning back to her. His expression softened, its guilty undertone masked by a soft smile. "Let me know how you get along in Konoha."

Catching her off guard, she had no time to put her sadness on the backburner of her mind. Nodding at him with a shy smile, she masked her upset as she witnessed him leave the dimly lit room with the solid thud of the closing door. Once Gaara and Shinto were within the wide corridor, Shinto gave a glance that held a faint emptiness. "I take it your trip to Yamagakure had purpose?"

Gaara nodded. "It did. Thanks for covering me back then. I... appreciate it."

"Remember," Shinto affirmed, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "I did it because I have to obey your every command - and for her sake. She would never forgive me if I prevented you from fixing things."

A question entered Gaara's mind, prompting his curiosity. "You haven't told her you're my bodyguard?"

Shinto sighed. "ANBU code. You can't divulge mission details to those not involved... not even if they're seeing the one you're commanded to serve." A slight chuckle passed his lips. "I'm sure she'll figure it out if she hasn't already. I mean, her chakra sense is incredible. She probably already knows I'm the one behind the mask."

"You're right."

"Gaara!" Kankurō shouted, seeing them beyond the curve of the corridor. "There you are, let's go! The council is waiting!"

Back within the confines of the office, Nomasaki took her leave.

Making her way out of his office through the open window, she found herself crouched on the face of the Kazekage's mansion – perched upon the symbol for 'wind' that marked the identity of the towering building that stood in the heart of the desert village. Standing up as the harsh winds blew her dress and whipped her golden hair, she stared off into the blinding desert distance with a sorrowful tint to her eyes – thinking of reasons why he would still be keeping her a secret, especially after he went as far as to refuse the arranged marriage for her. In some strange way, the notion left her feeling as if she were still an outsider to the village of sands by which she pledged her unquestioned service.

Already, she felt her heart crying out for her homeland to the north of snow and ice.

Am I to be ruled by tenets and laws? As a secret of deceit and defiance?

The questions saddened her.

Is this what it means then... to be the partner of a Kage?

In her eyes, the wolf might as well have been caged again.

Darkness brewed.

Elsewhere, within the desert sands outside of Suna as the moon slowly approached into the darkened and cold night skies. Towering a menacing shadow over the dunes, the massive clay structure exerted its dominance over the sands that surrounded it, adorned with gates of barbed wire, alarm bells, trenches, quicksand traps, and hundreds of patrolling guards – the Suna Prison. Within the torch-lit bowels of the incriminating castle, a masked guard approached a silent cell alone in the corridor that night. Painted all over the cell were sealing tags written in blood, while a silent figure with long greying hair and a straw-like beard sat against the cold wall within his trap, clothed in tattered rags dirtied with filth. As he sat crouched, the stump of his severed hand was plainly visible from the dim flames of the hallway. His dark eyes narrowing a gleam towards the masked guard, he examined them, suspiciously.

"Are the patrolling rats gone?"

"Yes, sir." The guard responded, looking back and forth in the corridor to make sure he was alone. Reaching in his pack, he pulled out a bento with fried meats and rice. "Here, please eat – I smuggled these from the camp. You're a lord, you shouldn't be treated like a common criminal."

Taking the food into his cell, the convict ate as if an animal within the darkness – deprived of all resources for survival. "It's turns out you were a valuable Sleeper Agent after all…" The man remarked, wiping his face with his ragged sleeve. "The late Sasori-sama should be ashamed that his spy-technique can be so easily replicated." Glaring up at the guard's mask, his dark eyes narrowed. "Are the pawns falling into place?"

"Yes, Kenzō-sama." The guard nodded. "It should only be a few months' time until the Reverse Sealing can be completed. Once the time comes, we can then launch our assault."

"Does the council suspect anything?"

"Not in the least. They're completely unaware of our plans... and our planted-spy hasn't discovered anything."

"Good. Let's keep it that way." A sigh passed his chapped lips. "My brother is a fool for provoking Yamagakure twice. The first time, he was near swallowed whole by a great white beast... and the second time, his platoon gets slaughtered by an army of wolves and the she-wolf bitch who commands them. Koga has become hasty in his middle-age... such a fool, he is. At least unlike Kōgen, Koga has the sense to not approach directly." A thought crossed him, turning back to the guard. "And what of the mines?"

"Near emptied, Kenzō-sama." They replied. "They keep digging and recovering more ore as we speak."

"Good... now all we need to do is use it to our advantage. I take it the desert-rats still live?"

The guard nodded. "Reto's legacy still lives. All three of them... and the she-wolf is among them."

Kenzō snorted a laugh. "Of course she is... Capturing her will prove more difficult, I'm afraid. After all, she is the missing piece."

Alerting his senses, the guard turned his stance towards the darkened corridor behind him, glaring suspiciously into its realm. The chakra from his masked comrades was making its return towards his place – and sooner than he anticipated.

"I can sense the guards approaching," The guard spoke, turning towards him. "I'll be making my rounds again when I hear more from our scouts."

"Very well," Kenzō sighed to himself. As the guard began to walk away from his cell, a menacing grin cracked against his bearded face with his gaunt teeth of decay. "Suna will relish the day Tenbu rears its head towards them… and our clan will once again regain what was stolen. From the ashes…!"

Pausing for a moment, the guard bowed his head towards the disgraced councilman in servitude and honor. "From the ashes."

Silently, the guard retreated back into the darkness as it enveloped him. Reflecting to himself in silence, Kenzō dwelled within the confines of his cell, thoughts enticing his hunger and lust for power – waiting for his moment of escape after three long years of imprisonment.

And revenge.