Trial and Error

by GiaShakira

He led a squadron in the 4th Shinobi war only to shirk his councilmen duties to his Kage and countrymen upon arriving home. His recent conversations with his sister have been one-sided at best, and his Genin feel abandoned and alone.He's been evading his sensei, and he's locked himself inside of his house. Everyone just summed it up to PTSD, but none of them ever suspected treason.

2. Chapter 2

Trial & Error

By GiaShakira

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I am writing this as a hobby. I receive no money for this story.

2 months ago…

Red.

Once it had been his most feared color. It symbolized death, torture, insanity, and a constant reminder that he was never the focus of either of his parents' attention. He wasn't the first born nor was he the baby. Even in the baby boy category he had failed. Usurped by a demon container and a dead mother.

Red.

He was also the dreaded middle child, a reservoir for the leftovers of affection-or disdain in his father's case. He never doubted his mother's love, but his father was always sketchy. And Rasa wasn't above manipulating Kankuro's admiration and love to get a mission objective done. Bah, sentiment. Who needed it?

Red.

Gaara's sand coffins had given Kankuro a strong aversion to dirty kills. He liked clean deaths, and was proud that he could send another person into the next life as peacefully as possible. He'd let Gaara have the obsession with blood. Red just wasn't his color, or so he thought.

Red

He had been hiding out in Kumogakure under a new name, a new look, and a ton of anger. If he were to die in this newly created life that he had made for himself, his grave would say Aratamaru. His new look was actually what he really looked like underneath his bunraku and war paint. Of course, he had to change some minor details. He was a carbon copy of his sire. Couldn't have the citizens sending word to his baby bro, now could we? Noooooo.

Red

He had been in Kumogakure for three months, and in that three months he had performed various missions for the Raikage. However, due to how well suited he was for these missions, the Sunan puppeteer found himself with an enormous amount of something he had never had a lot of- free time.

Red

Being a brother, student, councilmen, sensei, and puppeteer rarely left as much free time to dawdle as so many thought it did. Kankuro was a fairly busy man. So, imagine his surprise when his free time over the past three months started to be filled with red, but not the usual red that he was accustomed too.

Red

He could talk with this red. He didn't have to worry about this red threatening a sand coffin on his ass. He didn't have to be a reservoir of leftovers for this red. This red could actually be different, welcoming, a red he could come to like.

Red.

Until he figured out that this red was connected to someone in his old squadron. It was at that moment that he realized that because of what the Raikage was asking of him he would never be able to see how much he might possibly be able to finally like the color red.

If he failed at this bullshit mission, not approved by his Kage, then he would have to revert back to his old red. This new red and his old red would mix, and it would be her red blood that would make him feel regret the most. More so than that of his kin.

It's in the basement of this assigned house that he hosts the hulking Raikage of Kumogakure. No one knows that they are even meeting-have been for three months. Not even A's right hand man knows about this mission.

"I can't stay much longer."

"I'm aware. Listen if things don't work out with your Kazekage, then I'd be more than willing to set you up here."

Kankuro chuckled. "Permission to speak, freely?"

"You're not my subordinate, so-"

"Exactly." Kankuro cut in. "Don't get things twisted. You are not my Kage. I'm here for Suna. This isn't permanent. I have more on the line to loose than you on this one. My Kage isn't just my Kage. He's my brother. My ex-psychopath, Jinchuriku baby brother with trust issues."

"…and if he doesn't trust you back after your 'death' and he sentences you to a real death for "treason"? What then?"

"I knew the risks when I agreed to this."

"And what about her?"

"Aratamaru will die next week, and she'll grieve. She won't have any ties to Kankuro, Rasa's son. I'm sure Omoi will take good care of her."

"…"

"It seems fitting really. I never liked the color red, anyway."

His words sounded sure, but his stomach twisted in knots of regret that would never be brought to light.

To be continued…