Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Sand and Earth. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
Kurotsuchi had stopped back at her room only to get her shoes, she would not dare walk halfway across the city she governed on bare feet.
"And your saying Suna sent an assassin to kill you… Why would Suna attempt something like this? nobody wants another war just after the first." One of the councils stated, Kurotsuchi sighed and hummed before rubbing at her temples.
She was glad at least that the assassin hadn't tried to run. He had sat on the floor, awaiting her final decision on whether to end his life or not.
"It isn't Suna, it's someone inside Suna… Garra wouldn't end up sending an assassin to kill me… especially not one that almost seemed to LET me subdue him." Kurotsuchi stated, it was hard to wrap her head around as well.
To be fair, it was past midnight, and Kurotsuchi wanted to sleep in the comfort of her own bed.
She was glad at least Akatsuchi wasn't awake… it seemed people forgot that the Kage of each village was more then able to handle themselves in a fight. you didn't choose a weak leader who couldn't defend themselves if someone gets around their defenses.
"Hmm. Then why would he still come after us?" Another member put in before Kurotsuchi sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Because according to him… someone wanted to frame Suna for a political assassination, I subdued him as I told you. he's being held by ANBI in my room since I told him not to leave." Kurotsuchi stated before leaning forward and tenting her fingers under her chin.
"We should still talk to Suna, get the other villages involved in this…" Kurotsuchi looked at the councilwoman with annoyance.
If it was noted that a political assassination was conducted by a rival village? It would lead to rivals thinking Iwagakure was weak and unable to defend themselves along with possibly starting another war.
"That would be political suicide. I subdued the assassin… I was asking what about a deal with Nao." Kurotsuchi got more then a few looks as the council questioned what their leader was up to.
"He told you his name?" Kurotsuchi hummed and shook her head.
"No, he doesn't have a name according to the fact he can barely recall his clan name… I gave him a name… Nao is willing to help us if we can protect his sister." Kurotsuchi stated, tapping her fingers on the table.
"He's trying to broker a deal to safe his cowardly hide?!" One councilwoman stated before Kurotsuchi sighed.
"That man didn't want to kill me. I've seen people in combat before, there was nothing, no killing intent, no drive to win. He wanted to lose, or for me to kill him… he might be decent as an assassin, but I know he isn't lying, assassins like to boast, their arrogant, cocky, or cowardly… Nao was neither, he's a warrior forced with a dagger in his back." Kurotsuchi stated before standing up and pushing her chair into the table.
"I'll let you delegate this and go and talk to Nao… we're reconvene in the morning." Kurotsuchi left the room, going to deal with the fact they had an assassin within their borders.
Kurotsuchi cracked her neck. She was going to need more sleep, which meant her grandfather was going to have several hours of dealing with business like this.
"I really need more sleep… ugh, I can't believe when I took this job how much work it would be." Kurotsuchi allowed herself a small break from her duties.
She didn't hate her people or despise her job. She had taken being the Tsuchikage knowing how responsible it would be. She did her duties to the best of her ability.
"Now, to deal with Nao." She chuckled with her silly joke before walking over towards the holding cells.
"This is still ridiculous." She stated, wondering what would drive someone to hire an assassin to try and kill her.
It annoyed her that she was currently dealing with this, though from the looks Nao gave her as the elite soldiers of her village moved him away? He was not willing to do this without a knife to his throat forcing him to move on instincts he didn't wish to act upon.
"Lady Tsuchikage? Nao is still waiting in his cell." Kurotsuchi heard from the guards as she walked past them inside, wondering what to do.
She sighed and walked to his cell; her heels clacked on the titled floor as she walked up to Nao who huddled in the back of the cell.
"Lady Tsuchikage." Nao stated, looking up from his position on the floor, he kept his eyes pointed at the floor.
He was like a mouse, too afraid to look up at someone who it believed was lower than the other person.
"Let's talk." Nao looked up.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to point out that Nao isn't supposed to be a Mary sue, he's not the best warrior currently. Next chapter will be in 1-2 weeks and will show Nao and Kurotsuchi talking and bonding. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
Ps: I will be making a Hanabi story sometime next week and Ino will be made sometime next week.