Gaara, the Godaime Kazekage of Sunagakure, sat in silence. He watched the sand blow softly in the wind by his window looking out into the village. He closed his eyes, in vain trying to suppress Kankurō's burial and funeral in his mind. Although he did not show it, his shoulders and hear were heavy from carrying his brother's body with his sand. Gaara would have shown no feelings at all towards Kankurō's death if it had occurred four years ago, but that time had passed and the young leader was grieving. Temari found her solace in training; Gaara found his by doing paperwork and staring at the sky, remembering his older brother who had eventually loved him, not as his Kazekage, but as his younger brother. Although Temari didn't know it, Gaara held him responsible for his shinobi's deaths. If he had not encouraged and inspired them to fight in a war, then perhaps they would have survived. It was the young and brave who always died, Gaara realized at the war's end. So why then did Ōnoki, the Sandaime Tsuchikage, give up his life for the shinobi world? "They entrusted the titles of five Kage to us!" Gaara was entrusted the safety and stability of Sunagakure, a village and home that he used to despise. The villagers and shinobi – from the weakest genin to the strongest jōnin – trusted him to keep them safe. Gaara took his responsibility very seriously, but hadn't realized the core of being a leader until Ōnoki died.
Gaara, the Godaime Kazekage, was entrusted with the future of his village, every person who lived in Sunagakure, and was bound to sacrifice his life to protect them without faltering. His father had faced a similar path, and understood know what his father had been through. "You tried to kill me six times, and every single time I grew to fear and hate you. But now, I do not hate you… I even understand now what you were trying to do… I am Kazekage now. It is the duty of a leader to protect the village…and eradicate any threat to his home." But would he sacrifice his morals and beliefs to protect his home and the people in it? Gaara didn't know, and hoped that day would never come.
Gaara's mind turned to the most recent event that troubled him. Temari and his new bodyguard, Hayate, had been with him to the Gokage Summit three days past. The summit was held in Kumogakure this time. The newly appointed Yondaime Tsuchikage named Katashi Juntsuchi, a fellow veteran of the Fourth Shinobi World War, was there as well. The Allied Shinobi Forces were no more, Gaara had explained to his former student, Matsuri, hours before. She had been dismayed by the fact that their shinobi villages were back to where they were before. "Are we allies or enemies now?" She had asked quietly, and Gaara hadn't replied. Matsuri was training for the Chūnin Exams, and was uneasy about fighting against their former allies. Gaara hadn't known what to say to her. She had been deeply crushed by Kankurō's death, and he was the only one who could talk with her – when they did talk. She and Temari were now wearing the Sungakure forehead protector once again; Matsuri now had hers fastened around her forehead. The other shinobi had their forehead protectors from their respective villages' symbols as well. The Raikage wanted Uchiha Sasuke executed for his crimes of kidnapping his brother and affliction with Akatsuki while the Mizukage wanted the said missing-ninja to be pardoned for releasing Edo Tensei. Gaara, the Hokage and the Tsuchikage were sitting in silence as the two leaders agued.
"I suggest that we stay calm and peacefully instead of squabbling like children."
The five kage looked at Gaara, who had his hands calmly in front of him. It was he who spoke those words, and the Raikage was glaring at him and the Hokage and Mizukage were amused. "I think we should tell the shinobi world about Uchiha Sasuke's reasons for associating with the Akatsuki and explain his brother's sacrifice," he said calmly without blinking. "We cannot execute a shinobi who helped turn the tide of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Nor can we condemn him to live a life of a citizen. It was the Tsuchigake's wish for whoever released Edo Tensei be revered as a hero." The Raikage had the grace to look ashamed. "I was like him once, Raikage, and I cannot throw away a man who was so similar to me years ago." Gaara paused for effect. "The Yondaime Hokage had a similar wish for Uzumaki Naruto, his son, which was denied. Let us not repeat the same mistake again. Uchiha Sasuke will be pardoned for his crimes after we explain the reasons for his actions." Gaara stood. "This summit is officially over." He was about to open the door when the Hokage stopped him with a question.
"What should Uchiha Sasuke be from this day forward? A citizen or a shinobi?"
"It's up to him to decide." Without looking back, Gaara, Temari, and Hayate left the Gokage Summit.
Gaara still remembered what he had said to Uchiha Sasuke during the first Gokage Summit. "Sasuke…you're a lot like me…you've been walking through this world's darkness…that's why even a tiny ray of light ought to reach our eyes. Whether in the past…or now…" A week past, Gaara had seen Sasuke at the funeral for all the shinobi and kunoichi who died in the Fourth Shinobi World War. Beside him was Sakura-san, who had healed Kankurō from poison when Gaara had been kidnapped by Akatsuki. She had apologized to Gaara about his brother's death before telling him his last wish. Kankurō wanted me to keep his puppets, including the two the Akatsuki member entrusted to him. He wanted me to take care of them until his successor claims them as his own. Gaara would fulfill Kankurō's last request, no matter how long would take for him to find Sasori's Mother and Father. At the corner of his eye during the funeral, Gaara had seen Naruto and a kunoichi known as Hyūga Hinata holding hands. Gaara was happy for the woman, and wished her well.
Uchiha Sasuke's voice was in his mind as he visited Kankurō's grave later that evening. "I suppose that the light has finally reached my eyes." If Gaara could change, then so would Sasuke. And if Konohagakure could survive two invasions in less than a decade, then the shinobi world could survive the deaths and destruction from the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Your death will not be forgotten, Kankurō, Gaara promised. He smiled, the sunset shinning behind him.