AN: Don't own.

Apartment of Hisoka no Suna

Eyes opened and his awareness returned to the world around him. His chakra resumed its habitual flow, making his way onto his feet Hisoka reveled in the calm that meditation always gifted.

His Grandmother had taught him meditation when he was young, telling him it would provide him many benefits with one being increased attunement with his chakra. And with his already high familiarity with his chakra the daily meditations made his control over it even greater.

Hisoka looked around to his clock, seeing that it was nearly time he began to get ready for his departure. His apartment was simple, a bed, desk, a closet, a small attached kitchen, and a bathroom near the closet.

His walls were interspersed with pictures and other decorations. One was lamp from a festival the village held some years back. Another was the tea menu from Saryo's, next to it was something his Grandmother had put up prior to his moving in. Near the head of his bed were the Shinobi prohibitions, three things a shinobi should always be wary of: Money, Women, and Alcohol. Of course, he had tried several times to take it off to no avail. It always brought him some embarrassment whenever he had to explain why they were there whenever he had company.

The pictures throughout the room mainly consisted of friends and family. If one were to look closely at the set of pictures near his desk that were made up of Hisoka, his Uncle, and Grandmother, they would notice the small smile that evolved onto his Grandmother's face as Hisoka grew in each picture. At first not showing one and in the last a small but proud smile being present. His Uncle seemingly becoming more content with each photo.

Right by his door, opposite his closet, Hisoka had placed a sword rack capable of housing three swords. Each held special meaning to Hisoka. Next to his desk was a large bookshelf filled with books and scrolls on various subjects.

Going to his desk, he read the note his Grandmother sent him one more time:

Grandson,

Come for dinner, do not be late.

Grandmother

Smiling at his Grandmother's note, he checked his clock and nodded to himself. He made his way to the door, putting on the standard shinobi footwear, an open toed boot, he then left his apartment.

Walking down the street, moving with the flow of foot traffic. Hisoka felt at ease, Suna was unlike any place he had been to. Being under the sun gave him a distinct feeling of wholeness.

Stopping into a store to grab a bitter sake for his Grandmother and Uncle, both had made similar comments about sweets weakening the will of a shinobi. Asking the clerk for the time, Hisoka then quickly left and hurried into the long trek up to where his family lived.

Finally arriving, Hisoka opened the door and immediately had to duck as a plate flew right over the spot his head recently was, smashing into the wall behind him.

A cry of battle followed the plate, "You want to try and rob me?! Prepare yourself!"

Hisoka paled as his Grandmother jumped at him, her legs aimed at his throat, "Granny!"

Roughly hitting the ground, Hisoka gasped and his airway was constricted, the surprising strength of his Grandmother allowed very little oxygen into his body.

"Chiyo, stop choking Hisoka. There is no burglar," said Ebizo from the entryway into the dining area.

Chiyo looked down and indeed saw her grandson begging for air while frantically tapping her leg.

Giving a slight laugh she let go of Hisoka. As he stood Hisoka looked to his Uncle with wide eyes who returned his gaze with a stare. Both then turned to Chiyo one in slight confusion and the other with outrage, "I'm not a thief, are you crazy?!"

"Ahaha, I was only pretending to go senile," came her reply.

Gaping at her, Hisoka's mouth moved wordlessly.

Ebizo, somewhat amused, addressed the two, "Come, our food is ready."

Narrowed, suspicious eyes followed Chiyo as the three sat for their meal, "Stop glaring at me, Hisoka. You should be ashamed an old lady attacked you so easily."

Hisoka sputtered as she calmly ate, "W-what!? I didn't expect my own grandmother to attack me!"

"A shinobi should expect the unexpected."

"Uncle!"

Hisoka huffed then joined them at the table.

After dinner the three moved to the sitting area, making themselves comfortable on the cushion.

Sipping the alcohol Hisoka brought he asked, "Not too bitter is it?"

"We're not children, Hisoka."

Slyly smiling, Hisoka began to speak as Chiyo slowly shook her head knowing what was about to happen, "That's good, it bitter not be."

A moment passed.

"Ho! You said bitter! Good one, Hisoka," chuckled Ebizo.

"Idiots."

"Oh, Granny, don't be so bitter," said Hisoka with a wide grin.

Chiyo cursed as Ebizo and Hisoka laughed together.

The night wore on as the small family caught up.

"Hisoka," Ebizo looked into his nephew's eyes, "tell us what happened with Gaara."

Taking a sip, Hisoka answered his uncle, "A standard retrieval, Uncle. Not a lot to say on that end. I found the three Iwa jonin and took them out. Gaara was in a sealed bag and I alerted him to my intentions then he removed himself from it," Hisoka paused, unsure of how to continue.

"Hisoka," came the questioning tone from Chiyo.

"Why are there two chakra signatures in Gaara? What's inside him?"

The siblings glanced at each other, if they could trust anyone it was Hisoka.

"What do you know of the Tailed Beasts," asked Ebizo.

Hisoka sucked in a breath, "Just what I've read in stories. They're beings of pure chakra, recognizable by their number of tails. Because of their extreme destructive potential, the stories labelled them demons."

"Not just potential, a Tailed Beast sighting is considered apocalyptic. An unknown amount of shinobi are required to subdue one, some have said five full squads others say an entire army. A Tailed Beast cannot be killed due to them being living chakra only briefly subdued."

Wide eyes followed Chiyo's explanation, "So, then," started Hisoka, "what happened to them? If they're still out there surely we'd have heard about them devastating villages."

"Due to their immense power, it was decided that if it was possible, they could be used as weapons," answered Ebizo.

"How? It's hard to imagine these beasts willingly fighting for a village."

"They don't, so began the practice of sealing beasts within people," came Chiyo.

Hisoka was floored, chakra beasts within people? How did someone come up with this?

"The shinobi world has come to label these individuals as Jinchuriki. Individuals with the potential to wield the power of a Tailed Beast."

Hisoka stared unbelieving at his Grandmother, "Where are these people?"

"It is said that each of the five major villages have at least one Jinchuriki," answered Ebizo.

Hisoka's mind went through all the information he was given, Suna had a Jinchuriki. Most likely Gaara but which Tailed Beast was inside him. From his subconscious he remembered a ghost tale they'd use to tell each other back in the academy, a story about Shukaku the Sand Spirit. A spirit that resided in a pot and would curse anyone that came near it.

"Gaara has Shukaku sealed inside him."

The siblings nodded.

"Why him? Why did Lord Rasa seal Shukaku into his youngest?"

Chiyo gave a deep sigh, a mournful look entering her eyes, "Rasa asked me to see if Shukaku was compatible with each of his children, only Gaara was."

"Granny."

"While Rasa's wife, Karura, was pregnant Shukaku was sealed into Gaara. As a result, he was born too early and Karura didn't survive the birthing."

Hisoka knelt next to Chiyo, looking toward Ebizo he saw that his Uncle was looking at Chiyo as well in concern.

"Karura didn't want her son to have Shukaku sealed within him but Rasa insisted that it was for the benefit of Suna. He convinced me that it was for the betterment of the village and I agreed," Chiyo sounded bitter as she recalled Gaara's birth.

Hisoka couldn't help but be bothered, a family in ruin all in one night. He knew the Kazekage was a stern man but to do this to his own family. It was reprehensible.

He recalled Gaara's terrified face, the nine-year-old had no say in what Shukaku did. The fact that Gaara was able to hold up after all this time with a demon inside him deserved recognition.

"Why doesn't Lord Rasa acknowledge Gaara for all that he's doing?"

The siblings gave Hisoka a questioning look, "Gaara is essentially keeping a Tailed Beast at bay for the sake of the village. Surely, Lord Rasa believes that deserves recognition, that kid is keeping us all away from a massacre."

"Rasa, wishes for Gaara to be in complete control of Shukaku so that Suna can improve. In his eyes, Gaara is not," answered a thoughtful Ebizo.

"It's more than that, on more than one occasion a villager has been killed due to an outpouring of Gaara's emotions. Shukaku takes advantage of this opening and strikes out at the people who have imprisoned him," added Chiyo.

Hisoka frowned, he had heard the rumors about the villages but didn't believe a child was the cause.

"Why has no one shown him how to control the Tailed Beast?"

"I believe it's because no one knows how," replied Ebizo.

"Each of the past Jinchuriki have been unable to, Shukaku is in a constant fight with its holder" said Chiyo.

"Must be difficult," muttered Hisoka.

Neither sibling elected to further the conversation, each mulled over the conversation.

His mind buzzing and seeing that his Grandmother and Uncle were equally lost in thought, he bid them both a good night and thanked them for the meal.

Stepping into the early night air, hands in his pockets, Hisoka walked the familiar path home all whilst thinking of Tailed Beasts.

Sunagakure Library

Kankuro returned the books to the shelves, having seen that it was night he decided to wrap up his independent study. Keeping a book with him he walked up to attendant, received a due date and left the library.

Walking along the quiet street offered Kankuro a chance to reflect on the happenings of the day. Mostly his little brother.

Gaara had been cornered on the playground by some of the kids in their class. They were bolstered with false confidence that a group tend to offer. Forgetting why it was they were calling Gaara a demon and a selfish monster. If they had remembered maybe they would've left Gaara be.

They were lucky Gaara was able to stay calm and ignore most of what the kids were saying but then they mention him and Temari, saying that even Gaara's own brother and sister only saw him for a demon. At that Kankuro quickly ran over, standing in between the group and his brother.

They only left after Kankuro reminded them that they were the Kazekage's children, asking them what they thought would happen when the Kazekage learned that his sons were hurt.

Kankuro tsked as he walked, his father wouldn't do anything. What he said earlier was for show, only said to get those brats to leave. He clutched his borrowed book a little tighter, he didn't like being known only as one of the Kazekage's children. It amounted next to nothing.

The second son of the Kazekage was a meaningless title, it got him nothing worth having. Sure, there was Temari, he knew his older sister would always be with him. It was the only thing he'd never have to doubt. Although now he knew he'd never let his little brother think he was alone, like Temari had done for them he'd do as well.

His father was that in only name, the man made it obvious he thought there were bigger concerns than being there for his children.

Not for the first time, nor would it be the last, did Kankuro miss his mother. His grip on his book tightened, his knuckles whitening, he would make her proud.

Still ruminating, Kankuro rounded a corner and spied a shadow walking a few paces behind him. His heart beating slightly, he urged himself calm and continued his walk. Making his way down multiple streets and through various turns Kankuro confirmed it to himself, he was being followed.

He couldn't make out his pursuer as they kept their distance but he knew that he wasn't going to be able to lose his tracker. They were most likely a shinobi but why would they be following him? He was too far from his home and he doubted he could beat whoever was following him in a foot race back to the Kage Tower. He was out of options, in his panic he turned onto a dead end. He turned to face the unknown pursuer.

Kankuro waited with bated breath, his heart pounding. Blood rushing to his ears, he could barely hear what the man said to him as he drew closer, "You damn Kazekage brat! I'll show them I deserve to be a member!"

Kankuro paled as he watched the man pull out a kunai, holding it out toward the boy. This man intends to kill me. The thought froze Kankuro, feeling the bloodlust trickling off the assailant. The kunai was poised to strike through Kankuro's neck.

The man had a look of savage glee as he struck forward.

Kankuro violently flinched, shoving the book in front of him in the hope that it might halt his impending death.

It never came.

Hesitantly opening his eyes, all he saw was the Sunagakure symbol. Getting a better understanding of what he was looking at, he saw a scabbard, the standard Suna flak jacket, along with the headband.

"Oi."

It came from the man that now stood in front of Kankuro.

Then, seemingly from nowhere, the sand around them was kicked up whilst air buffeted into them.

Staring around the newcomer, Kankuro saw that he had his assailant's wrist in a tight grip, forcing the pursuer to drop the kunai.

In a cry of outrage, the assailant swung his right fist at the man only to have it casually batted to the side then the man struck the side of the assailant's neck causing him to crumple to the ground.

Kankuro gaped, switching between staring at the assailant on the ground and the man who was standing above him.

"Are you alright, kid," asked the man.

Kankuro nodded, "Yes, Mr. Hisoka."

Hisoka's eyes widened slightly, "Just Hisoka, no need for the Mister. Do you know me?"

Kankuro shook his head, "No, I've just heard about you."

"Oh?"

Kankuro gave a small frown, "My father is the Kazekage."

Expecting the reaction he usually got, Kankuro was surprised when it didn't come.

"Well that makes sense then. If you don't need anything else," Hisoka grabbed the man on the ground and hoisted him onto his shoulder.

Kankuro began to shake his head, watching as the Jonin began to turn to leave, eyeing the man's katana, "W-wait, can I ask you a question?"

Hisoka smirked, "Other than the one you just asked?"

Kankuro couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Why do you practice kenjutsu?"

Hisoka looked down at his blade and back at Kankuro, narrowing his eyes as if internally debating.

"I was raised by the Honorable Siblings, I wanted to show that I was more than just their grandson or nephew. I wanted to get out of that shadow. Kenjutsu allowed me to carve that path."

Hisoka glanced at the book Kankuro was holding, "You're an interesting kid."

With that, Hisoka vanished without a sound.

Kankuro could only stand as Hisoka's words washed over him, resonating with the boy's desires. He looked at his book, The Art of Pulling Strings: The Puppet Technique.