Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
P.S. If you didn't get the message about me changing chapter 31, you can go and read it now. It's not necessary though because it's mostly just a filler chapter.
I kept my features at a blank calm as Gaara conveyed all that had happened at the Five Kage Summit. It was a struggle, considering he had been attacked, but I managed. Even when he announced the declaration of war, I showed no emotion. I was shinobi; I'd act like one. Afterwards, I headed directly for my office to gather information on the ninja in the village. I had been personally updating their files, also including personality into the mix. Leaders tended to forget how things like that could affect a shinobi's performance.
Suddenly, Gaara strode in. "I can't tell if you want to talk to me or not," he said. I quirked an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I keep hearing your voice but it's a strange. Almost as if you're humming to some non-interpretable tune." Scarlet filled my cheeks.
"I'm sorry. My mind is so used to being connected to yours, it's having a hard time keeping to itself. When you were away, it didn't matter since nobody could hear it. I'll try to keep it under control."
"Perhaps, it would be best if you shared some of your concerns."
"Probably not. I'm just overthinking things. It's kind of ridiculous." His eyes narrowed.
"I know you well enough, Nari, to know that your thoughts are never ridiculous. With how much you've experienced through the minds of others, you never allow them to be. What are your concerns?" Reluctantly, I rested my chin on folded hands and began to explain,
"Tobi being Madara Uchiha is my main issue. I knew him well during the time I spent under Itachi's tutoring and it doesn't make sense. While I admit, his mind never matched up to his outward personality, he still didn't seem like he could be Madara. If anyone…" I shook my head, pushing such suspicions away. "As I said, these thoughts are ridiculous. They make even less sense than reality."
"Is that all?" Although he also thought I needn't ponder over whether or not Tobi was Madara, he still believed some of my other worries might have some worth to them. I had predicted that Five Kage Summit was going to be attacked, after all.
"The rest of it is common worries everyone is suffering through. Who will die? How many will we lose? Will we even win? What if the Allied Nations turn on each other? It's stupid."
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to be so worried about the war. In fact, I figured the only thing you'd be interested in is whether or not you'll get to fight." A short laugh escaped my lips and I gave him an earnest smile. Gaara's eyes softened a little but not much. He, too, was stressed by the prospect of war. He wanted to protect all of the people of Suna, ninja and civilians, but he knew that was impossible. Deaths were going to be inevitable, no matter what he did.
"So, will I get to fight?"
"I don't know. I'll have to discuss it with Lady Tsunade and the other Kage since we're now all allies. The reason why is because you're such a danger on the battlefield. Not to mention, we can't be sure that the Akatsuki can't use you to replace Naruto in the resurrection of the Ten Tails. The other Kage should be alerted to this."
"I see. You're not going to try confining me, are you? You know that won't work on me."
"Yes, I've already realized this. Ideally, you'll be put into the Intel Unit. Either that, or I'll have you put somewhere where you'll only be used as emergency back-up." So little faith, I thought, sending it to him.
Do you have a better suggestion?
Allow me to be an advisor. That would be best suited for my skills and you'd get your wish to keep me out of danger.
The only way the other Kage would accept that is if you shared all of your information with them. They barely give me respect. It would be interesting to see how they treat you. Of course, you may be rejected on your history of shifting loyalty and your past with the Akatsuki. It's a risky idea. They could demand that you be locked up.
Like you could put me in a prison. I tried to imagine it and almost busted out laughing. No room could contain me and only the Sharingan would be powerful enough to trap me in a genjutsu.
Do not resist their commands, Nari. Your actions would reflect on both of us. I froze, frowning. I know very well that you're only loyal to those you deem worthy. That is why I am asking you, for the duration of this war, to obey me. Not as your friend, but as your Kazekage. Instinctively, I gritted my teeth. All my life, I had seen it as "If you can't beat me in battle, you have no right to order me around." As I studied Gaara, I became aware of how much he didn't want to ask this of me. He had spent the past three years trying to bridge the gap in our relationship. Now that he had done it, he didn't want to lose it to some war. But he was the Kazekage and he'd put the shinobi world first, as he should.
"You have my loyalty," I said both out loud and in my thoughts; a double vow. "Lord Kazekage," I finished, nearly spitting it out. Her pride has just taken a considerable blow, he noted.
"Don't, Nari. You'll never be able to say those two words with respect, not to me, so let it be. Thank you for your compliance. I have one last order before I leave." I waited.
"I want you to make a complete profile on yourself. Everything related to your life as a shinobi should be included, especially everyone you've trained under and any notable ninja you've killed. I give you permission to block of some information from others' view, but anything I know, must be left revealed."
"Everything?"
"Everything. Obviously, you don't have to include personal information, like relationships, but you should have a list of your most trusted comrades. That is, if you're serious about becoming an advisor to the Allied Shinobi Forces."
"I am."
"Then do it." A swift nod was enough of a reply. "Also, I'd like to thank you for how you organized the files of the shinobi you sent over. It will make it easier to split the ninja into units." I beamed proudly, then set to work on my own profile. What a nuisance that would be to write…
►§◄
"You want to make a child an advisor to the Allied Forces," Lord Raikage demanded, glaring at me. The four able Kage, and the leader of the samurai, were in attendance and each were equally stunned. If Lady Tsunade was well enough, I'm sure she would've understood where Gaara and I were coming from.
"Allow me to explain," I offered, stepping out from behind my moon. "My name is Nari Ninetails and, though I may appear young, I'm more experienced than everyone in this room combined. I wish to be an advisor because I have a special skillset that allows me to see beyond my personal interests and determine what is best for the whole. If I were to be given this position, I would become a neutral pawn between all of those participating in the alliance."
"What skillset do you speak of?" Lady Mizukage asked softly. I took out five journals from my scroll pouch and distributed them to each official.
"Reading this will give you an idea of my gifts."
"There's a lot blocked out," Lord Tsuchikage noted.
"In this booklet, Nari has recorded everything in relevance to her life as a ninja. There are things in here that even I, who she considers as a close friend, do not know. I can assure you, however, that everything I do know is revealed. Whatever is hidden is personal information she has no reason to trust with any of us."
"A subordinate should never hide anything from their leader," the Samurai Master pointed out calmly.
"As a former jinchuriki, I know better than to try to control something more powerful than myself. Nari is a part of my village because she considers it worthy of her loyalty, not for any other reason. While she obeys me faithfully, I have no true power over her. Therefore, I do not force her to do things she does not want to do."
"I can see why you have that perspective," Lady Mizukage muttered, lowering her booklet. Her fast reading was quite impressive. If this information is true, the child might be as powerful as a Tailed Beast herself. Lord Kazekage is right to act with caution when dealing with her.
"What do you mean by that?" Lord Raikage asked hotly. She waved him off and stared into my eyes.
"Explain something to me, Lady Nari. Why the Sand?" I nodded politely.
"Before I became a ninja of Konoha, I had gone around to the other Great Nations and asked to be a part of their villages. I was refused by each of them, but, while I was in Suna, I came across an interesting boy. I had just discovered that there were other demon children in existence, though not in the same way I was, so when I saw this boy single-handedly defeat to high-ranking ninja, I was beyond impressed. I decided to have a conversation with him and was instantly fascinated by his strange personality and the fact that I couldn't enter his mind. Sadly, the meeting only lasted a night and we didn't meet again for six years.
"The next time we met, I had just become a ninja of Konoha. Again, I had a short conversation with him, but he did not remember me. The next night, however, we fought each other in a heated battle. It was the first time, in nearly ten years, that I had been defeated in a battle solely based on ninjutsu. From that night on, he had my respect, albeit grudgingly. This boy later became the Kazekage of Suna. That is why I chose the Sand."
"You chose a village because of one person?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Most shinobi will murder in cold blood because of one person. Is it truly so hard to believe that this was how my decision was made?"
"If that's how you decided then we have no reason to trust you," Lord Raikage deemed. Biting my lip, I slowly calmed the anger bubbling up inside of me.
"You, of all people, should understand this," I replied. "Lord Killer Bee is only loyal to the Hidden Cloud because of you."
"How do you…," he stopped, remembering my mind reading abilities. Now I understands what the Kazekage means by beyond his control. "So, you're saying, if I beat you in battle, you'd join the Hidden Cloud instead?" I shook my head.
"You misunderstand my story. Gaara has my respect because he managed to defeat me. Gaara has my loyalty because of the person he is. I am loyal to Suna because he is loyal. It took my one conversation to feel connected to him. It took two to convince me that I'd follow him to the ends of the earth and back if he just asked."
"Perhaps, it would be best, instead of making you an advisor to the Allied Forces, to make you a guardian over the jinchuriki," Lord Tsuchikage suggested. They had already decided to hide the jinchuriki, they just needed Lady Tsunade's permission to carry it out.
"You would trust her with that?" Lord Raikage was incredulous. He had absolutely no faith in me at all.
"If you've read her profile, you know she's more than qualified to keep them under control. She also has experience when it comes to dealing with the Akatsuki. Besides, just by looking at them, you can tell that their relationship has gone far beyond one of simple friendship. I doubt the girl would ever betray Lord Kazekage." Even at his age, he can see evidence of love? his granddaughter thought.
"I thought you were Lord Kazekage's love interest," Lady Mizukage admitted. I tried not to blush but it wasn't something you could control.
"Yes," Gaara agreed. "But she comes here as a trusted member of the Suna Council, not my love interest. As to Lord Tsuchikage, we did not consider this because Nari has already refused to be hidden with the jinchuriki. She knows, that even if she were just to participate as a normal ninja, she'd be more useful than as a guardian over the jinchuriki."
"That is true. Her powers are beyond comprehension and we shouldn't waste anymore military force if it's not necessary," the old man agreed.
"While I can't read minds like she can, I doubt any of us actually want her to take part in the initial action alongside the other ninja. It's too great of a risk with her unstable chakra, even with Lord Kazekage's cuffs to assist in controlling it. Making her an advisor, a buffer, for all of the Allied Forces seems to be best," Lady Mizukage stated calmly. Everyone but Lord Raikage agreed. Then, grudgingly, he accepted.
"We'll establish exactly what your role will be in another meeting, when the Hokage is in attendance." I bowed and thanked them for their cooperation before returning to my place behind Gaara. Then, closing my eyes and forming a single seal, I revealed the rest of the details in the booklets. Gaara noticed first and glanced back at me. Are you sure about this? he asked.
Yes. I can see it in all of their minds that it was a silent agreement to keep this information confidential. I have nothing to fear by revealing it.
As you wish… Then the group launched into the next topic of discussion.
Since war is starting, I had to find something for Nari to do in the background. For those still curious about Nari's near immortality, answers are coming soon! Thanks for reading and please review.