Love's Misconstruities
Spoiler Warning: At this point the story takes place within the Shippuuden timeline, so if you don't want to be spoiled you'll have to stop reading here and either read the manga or wait until it's aired in the US. If you decide to continue (which I am grateful for, don't get me wrong) I warn you that the spoilers will be pretty big. But if that doesn't bother you then, by all means, please continue. This will be my last spoiler warning. Though not all the chapters directly reflect spoilers, there will be minor references and whatnot, so...read at your own discretion.
Chapter 12
Another year and a half passed by and the three Sand-nin hadn't stayed chuunin for long. They had quickly surpassed the rank and become jounin, however Gaara didn't stop there. He volunteered his free time to the Academy as well as helping the village in any way he could. His behavior and actions during the exams (having not killed a single person despite opportunity and, as some argued: justification, yet also exacting punishment on those who had harmed their own) had also greatly helped influence a decent portion of Suna's council. The others, who were in opposition to his ascension, were finally suaded by the idea that, by agreeing with his supporters, they would be better able to keep an eye on and control the container of Shukaku. Either way, it wasn't long before they appointed Gaara as Kazekage, and he took his job quite seriously. Almost too seriously, as Kankurou pointed out. The day had barely begun and instead of sleeping in like most teenagers their age, Gaara was already behind his desk and hard at work.
"Hey, I heard that Akarui asked you out," he stated, barging into his brother's office.
"Mm," the Kazekage confirmed, not even bothering to look up from his work.
"And?"
"And, what?" he replied, shuffling through the stack of papers on his desk.
"And did you accept?"
"No."
"No?! Gaara, what is wrong with you? She's hot!"
"My duties as Kazekage are extensive. I have no time."
"Bull shit!" the older boy yelled, slamming a hand on top of the papers Gaara was reading. The red-head finally gave him his full attention, his brow furrowed. "You're just using that as an excuse."
"Think what you will," Gaara remarked, slapping Kankurou's hand off his work and trying to keep calm. This was a touchy subject for him, one that he and his brother often debated about. Kankurou tried to encourage his brother to socialize with the many young girls in the village, but Gaara was content to ignore them completely. The only girl within his age range that he willingly associated with besides Temari was Matsuri who, though she was just as spastic as the other young girls, was his student and she had the highest respect for him. The others girls did not.
"I think that you're still hung up on that Konoha kunoichi, that's what I think," Kankurou boldly stated. This earned him a cold glare which made him think twice about his next words. Kankurou continued, but with a kinder tone. "Look, there are plenty of girls around and if you haven't noticed, a lot of them like you. Did you know you practically have your own fan club? I'm not saying you have to get married or anything, just give it a chance! Go on a date or two. See if you like any of them. I think you might be surprised how quickly you'll forget about the Hyuuga girl."
"You're wrong. Those girls you mention are just infatuated with me because I'm now Kazekage. They may have accepted my existence but it's not me they care about, just a false image they seem to have created. These are the same girls who feared, hated, and ridiculed me years ago. The only thing that's changed is my position. They didn't want to get to know me then, nor do they now. I'm just an idol to them."
"Gaara…geeze! At least give one of them a chance. Let them get to know you better."
"I'll pass…and I'm done talking about this," he declared, standing and staring his brother in the eye as if daring him to push the subject further. Kankurou took the warning and just shook his head in disbelief as he exited. In an effort to calm himself, Gaara left soon after to his private balcony which Suna.
It wasn't 'bull shit' that he was always busy, as his brother had accused. He truly did have much to do…but only because he kept himself that way. The council had made sure that he didn't have too much power over the happenings of the village, but still, he refused to delegate any of the tasks which he was allowed, thereby ensuring that it would be a rare occasion for him to be without something to busy himself with. It had gotten better in recent months, but still, when his mind had time to wander it usually found its way to memories of her and what could have been…and that only upset him.
He stayed there for the rest of the morning, watching over his village as the new day's sun and breeze washed over him. Despite his frustration that some still viewed him as a monster and others regarded him for not who he was but only what he could do, they were still precious to him…and he would gladly give his life for them if the occasion arose. Gaara did take some comfort in the fact that, if such an occassion ever did arise, it would finally be a way for him to prove his loyalty and intentions to everyone once and for all, both supporters and opponents alike.
"Kazekage-sama, it's about time for the meeting to start," called one of his aids from behind.
"Understood," came his somber reply.
"These past few years, we've been able to stabilize the village's power. Our relations with the other hidden villages have also improved greatly. Especially since we adopted the training program for new recruits from the Hidden Village of Konoha and have been getting good results," Baki reported, reading from a clipboard.
"The Chuunin Exams are coming up. I look forward to seeing the results there," an aged council member remarked.
"However, there are bad rumors going around again now that it's about time for them," one of the younger councilmen added.
This earned Baki's attention. "What is it, Yuura?"
"Have you heard of an organization called Akatsuki?"
'Akatsuki…I've heard that name before. Yes… They are the reason Naruto went to train with Jiraya,' Gaara recalled.
"The mysterious organization called Akatsuki is made up of about ten shinobi. All of the members are rated S-level criminals in the bingo book," Yuura elaborated, going on to describe several of the known members, including an ex-member known as Orochimaru who had been responsible for the death of the previous Kazekage, no great loss to Gaara. Still, he listened intently, on the edge of his seat.
"I see… I've heard rumors of them before, but how did you know about this organization?" Baki questioned.
"I've received this information from Jiraya-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin, so I believe it's accurate. Before the meeting I ordered security to be tightened. Strategic points around the outskirts of the village are guarded by the ANBU. Regardless of how much power these shinobi may have, they aren't going to be able to break in through sheer force," Yuura confidently explained.
'It appears everyone is doing their best to prepare, but it may not be enough. I cannot let my guard down.'
Gaara was right not to do so. Later that evening he noticed a mysteriously large bird high in the night sky that grabbed his attention. By the time he left his office and changed into more appropriate attire, he'd discovered that there had already been casualties as he made his way along the rooftops.
'I'm too late. The attack has already begun. Whoever is responsible for this will pay with their life,' swore the Kazekage. 'Whoever you are, I will not let you harm this village or anyone else in it!'
Soon the battle began. His Akatsuki opponent was living up to his reputation and had forced Gaara to take to the sky. It wasn't long before the Kazekage became frustrated. His airborne opponent's use of explosives had forced Gaara to encase himself within his sand shield. After many attempts to restrain and crush his long-ranged enemy, he finally had success in ensnaring and tearing off his left arm, yet it barely slowed him down.
This one is strong… I can tell by the taste of his blood. I want all of it. All of it! Gaara hardly had time to pay attention to the nagging voice in his head. You're having a hard time. Why not let me come out and take care of this guy?
'Never.'
C'mon! I could waste him in seconds! Swallow him up and devour him! Mmm…sounds tasty!
'And destroy the village in the process.'
A good battle isn't without its casualties… C'mon! They deserve to die anyway! You know how they really feel about you! They don't trust you, they're just afraid! …and they should be.
'No! I am connected to these people now, and they to me. Nothing you say or make me remember will change my mind.'
Arg! You used to be more fun! What's happened to you?! Have you forgotten how miserable those bastards made you?
'No, but I refuse to return to that lonely existence again!'
Pfft. Why did I have to get stuck inside a boring guy like you? Maybe I should have let your father get a hold of you all those years ago. Then I would have been put into a different host; one that would appreciate me and pay tribute! Arg... Mark my words, brat... If you do not call on me, you will lose. And if you die, so do I AND your precious villagers.
'Not if I have anything to say about it!' Gaara added as he watched in horror as the one-armed blonde produced a large explosive and dropped it into the heart of Suna. It took nearly all the chakra the Kazekage had left to cover his village with an impossibly thick and strong wall of sand, successfully shielding it against the attack. He was barely able to breathe a sigh of relief before he noticed one of the enemy's small exploding birds approaching the visual opening of his sand shield. He hastily returned the sand he'd used to smash the blonde's arm to patch the hole, effectively guarding against the explosion. He then watched in disbelief as tiny spider-like explosives crawled out of that sand. Before he had time to utter a curse, they detonated. Had he not been wearing his armor of sand he knew he would have been dead, though in this weakened state his fate had already been sealed.
'Maybe Shukaku was right… Maybe this is a fight that I can't win…but I refuse to harm my people!' he adamantly resolved as his outer shield broke away, leaving him to struggle against letting himself fall to the village below, and slowly failing. It was with the last of his strength that he painstakingly removed the roof of sand covering the village so it wouldn't crush anyone when he lost control. 'I protected the village up till now with my own strength. It's up to the rest of you to finish the job… I'm sorry…I've done all I can,' he relinquished as he began to lose consciousness and succumbed to gravity's forces. The last thing he felt was being rescued from his rapid descent. Sadly, he would wish he had been allowed to fall to his death. Soon he would experience pain unlike any he'd ever felt before as Akatsuki spent days extracting an eager Shukaku from him.
'Whose hand…is this?' Gaara thought as the intolerable and unrelenting pain began to drift away, leaving his world a numbing nothingness. After days of torture, he now had nothing more to worry about than the appendage before him which encompassed his gaze. 'Huh? It's my hand? … I wonder… Did my existence ever become necessary for anyone?' He closed his hand slightly and saw a figure far in the distance. 'Huh? Who's that? …Me?' he realized. 'That's me. The me…whose existence someone else needed. How did I come to… Why? Why did I want to become like that? Why did I desire it so badly? Those eyes… That nose… That mouth… Why… Why is that "Gaara?" ' he questioned retrospectively, realizing now that he was no longer connected to the figure. 'I used to be inside of that. But what am I now?' Confused at this out-of-body experience, he tried to make sense of it all. 'Just one state of consciousness… What did it used to be? It was just…a small…feeling.' He watched as the figure drifted further and further away into the blinding light until finally, everything was consumed and became silent.
Sabaku no Gaara, Godaime Kazekage of Sunagakure, had died.
Translations/Term Definitions...in no particular order:
- Bingo Book: It lists the top criminals and rogue ninja from all the hidden villages. I'm not sure what they call it in the dub, but it has included such illustrious shinobi such as Momochi Zabuza and Uchiha Itachi among many other dangerous villains.
- S-Level Criminal: The highest level a shinobi criminal can become. Lowest is C, then B, A, and S. Plainly put, S-ranked shinobi criminals are badasses.