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Chapter 14: Clash in Loyalties
Sumiko smirked inside her room; no matter how quiet they thought they were, they had some very noisy ninja trying to set up this party. There was another explosion and an outburst of profanity that made Sumiko snicker. She looked at the ring in her hands and pulled out her Sand headband. I guess I really have to pick now… I really do not want to have to pick between my loyalties…
Flashback
Sumiko was on another visit. Gaara would travel in two weeks to the Leaf Village for the Chuunin exams. He knew that Sumiko would be too busy to see him during the exams, but she visited him in the Sand Village during the time he had left. That time, however, she saw a mysterious side of him that few lived after seeing: Shukaku.
Gaara had become angry listening to the Kazekage's orders so he just burst out. Being one of the few that Gaara never had bloodlust towards, she had been sent out to calm him down and bring him back. However, Gaara had started released the monstrous chakra and his sanity was starting to crumble before her eyes.
"Gaara-kun! What are you doing?" Gaara turned towards her and she realized something was wrong: his eyes were different.
"I want your blood…" Sumiko's hands started forming seals immediately when she heard the difference in his voice.
"Gaara-kun… you must not let Shukaku-sama win…" He laughed and sand enveloped her, stopping her hands from finishing the jutsu.
"My dear Sumiko-chan…" she froze when she heard the voice, "I have already won." His body began changing and she did the first thing she thought of: crying.
The tears hit the sand around her and while Shukaku's sandy grip did not tighten, it did not loosen either."Shukaku-sama, please release me or I will not hesitate to release my power."
At that moment, Temari and Kankurou had run to see what the ruckus was about. Seeing Gaara in this slightly transformed state made them back up. Gaara's altered eyes noticed his siblings and he smirked. Sumiko's eyes widened, "Get out of here! I can handle it!" They backed up a little, but their eyes remained focused on Gaara and his captive.
"Last chance Shukaku-sama!" He laughed, but she noticed the sand remained where it was.
"Secret Art: Chakra Cage!" Strings flew out from around Sumiko loosening the grip the sand had on her and enveloped Gaara. His form had to revert completely so he would not be crushed. Seeing the sand approach her, Sumiko ran along the very sand that tried to capture her towards Gaara, hands flying through several seals. She bit her thumb on the last seal. "Secret Art: Emotional Restraint!" She swiped her bloody thumb across Gaara's forehead and he staggered. The sand around them flew back into the gourd and Temari and Kankurou relaxed.
Gaara looked up at Sumiko. "Sumiko-sama… did I hurt you? I don't know what came over me…"
Sumiko's gaze softened and a smile tugged at her face. She bent down and hugged the red head. "It is alright Gaara-kun. You are safe now and that is what matters."
Gaara's brow furrowed. "I didn't want to kill you of all people. You're like a mother to me."
End Flashback
Sumiko's head suddenly pounded upon thinking about the memory. She smirked. I am old enough to be Gaara-sama's mother… I wonder where my former charge is?
Gaara sighed as they were wondering the countryside in the Fire Country. He looked towards the Leaf Shinobi who had been recruited to this task. "Why are we even trying? If Sumiko-sama doesn't want to be found, we won't be able to find her."
Temari glanced at Gaara, "Are you certain? I don't know Sumiko-sama's abilities but I thought you two were friends so at least…"
"Recall Temari that she is the second in line Kazekage. Remember, without injuring herself, she managed to partially seal in my emotions from spilling over. It's a pity that the Forest of Death incident undid that seal…"
Kankurou shook with the memory. After the incident before the Chuunin exams, he had tried to get Sumiko to teach him the secret of her chakra strings, but she refused saying that some techniques should remain untaught. He glanced at Gaara who indeed was fond of the mysterious ninja who came and went as she was needed. He remembered how proud he was last year to go on an S-Rank mission with her: that was an honor. She handled herself with such remarkable self-control that it seemed she was able to put on a mask when acting as a ninja. Performing was never a problem especially when they had to ambush some Sound shinobi. Without hesitation, Sumiko had taken out four squads of jounin and still had hardly depleted chakra. "Gaara… what if she joined the Akatsuki?"
Gaara shot a death glare at Kankurou. "She wouldn't. I know her… Sasori is her brother… that has to be the only reason…"
Temari's was cautious now as Gaara was obviously aggravated. "Gaara… Sumiko-sama has been missing a lot whenever we would try to locate her to do a mission and she has been more cryptic with her answers as of late. Something odd is going on and the Akatsuki are most likely involved."
Kakashi intervened before further arguments could erupt. "What abilities does Sumiko of the Red Dress possess?"
Gaara sighed, but knew it would be easier to answer. "Her chakra strings are the most noticeable thing. She can use puppeteer jutsu, but prefers to manipulate other objects with the strings. Her chakra control is second to none and she has a cold resolve that cannot be shattered. She is a shinobi that is truly of the S Rank."
Sumiko traced a finger over the Sand Village headband symbol. Who would have thought I would have to discard that loyalty…? A knock on the door and she rose to greet her future.
