Considerations
Temari defeated.
Kankuro denied.
Baki muses silently as he walks through uncleared rubble in the streets of the Leaf village, his two ANBU tails not far behind.
At least there was now an agreement in place. Shaky, but in place.
Konoha and Suna were now allies.
He still remains in Konoha along with his genin. There was much to consider before returning to Suna.
Namely, how to do so?
Companions
He sees the two of them walking down the street.
The blond is beautiful, beyond all compare.
So this is their new Hokage.
She lives up to everything that's been written about her, truly deserving the title legendary.
But it's the brunette that his gaze follows most closely.
His ears catch her reference to the blond as m'lady.
With that one word he understands the relationship between the two clearly.
Cooperation
Ibiki tries to deny the problem.
A blasted water tower testifies otherwise.
Baki knows who will accept his offer.
Tsunade hasn't been in the village in years.
The best she's got to lead this mission is a newly minted chuunin?
The last thing she needs is to fail in her first mission.
And Baki needs an unqualified success.
He goes to see Shizune.
A/N: Okay, so I'm picking up with this one again. The post-failed-Sand/Sound invasion still fascinates me. I'll probably continue this on up to the conclusion of the 'rescue Gaara' arc because I think that's Baki's last appearance in canon. But if I have overlooked or do overlook any scenes he's in please point them out to me.
Please read and review. :-)