Chapter 59: Turning Point

"So, Izuka has never been in Amegakure to begin with?" asked Kankuro as he, Gaara, and Temari walked up the steps toward the Kazekage building's main entrance. Gaara had just finished giving his siblings an overview of what happened when he was talking with Izuka in his sleep the previous night.

"That's correct . . ." Gaara told him simply as he continued to move forward. "Apparently, Amegakure has been playing the Five Great Nations by making us think that they were keeping Izuka within the country when she's actually being held somewhere else."

"I hate to admit it, but that's a smart tactic on their part," mumbled Temari as they quickly went by the guards and walked inside. "While we've been focusing the search area to within the Land of Rain, the Rain Daimyo and his minions have been free to reeducate Izuka somewhere else . . . So, Izuka believes that the Rain-nin are actually holding her in an area that is not in the Land of Rain, but close enough to it that the Rain Daimyo can make visits to see her progress?"

"That is also correct . . ." said Gaara as he shook his head as the three made their way down the long hallway that led to the main staircase. "The Land of Rain shares their borders with many countries, and she could be in any one of them."

"Not only does Amegakure share a border with us, but they also share a border with the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rivers, as well as with the countries where Kusagakure and Ishigakure reside in . . ." said Temari as she brought a hand to her chin. "We can take out the first two countries I mentioned from consideration, leaving us with the last three."

"Well, the land where Kusagakure resides in could be the place where they're hiding Izuka in . . ." said Kankuro as the three began to climb up the staircase. "Even though Kusagakure is allied with other nations, the Land of Fire most importantly of all, it does have some animosity toward the other nations. It's been so ever since the 3rd Shinobi World War."

"There have been factions residing in that land that have been very vocal when it comes to their hate toward the Five Great Nations . . ." agreed Temari as she shook her head. "Amegakure could have sided with them in order to gain access to land they needed for a base to keep Izuka at . . . Then again, we don't have that much intel on the Land of Rivers or on the land that Ishigakure resides in, which makes them just as likely to host a base. . . That does not make things easy for us."

"Who says that Amegakure wants to make things easy for us?" asked Gaara as he raised an invisible eyebrow. "Anyway, Izuka also mentioned that Amegakure is hiring outside mercenary groups and missing nin in order to carry out their plans of crippling the five nations so that they'll be easy picking for when they finally attack."

"Outside mercenary groups AND missing nin?" asked Kankuro as he looked at his brother in shock. "Damn, that country must have a hefty payroll if they can manage to pay all those ninjas."

"I have a feeling that the ninjas they hired won't get their payment till after Amegakure sees the Five Great Nations burned down to the ground, which I think most of the ninjas they hired wouldn't mind . . ." mumbled Temari as she shook her head. "We need to tell the other Kage about this latest development . . . But, do you think they'll believe us?"

"Considering that only the three of us, Daisuke, and Ryu are the only ones that know about Izuka and Gaara's Shukaku-induced psychic connection, I find the odds of the other Kage believing our story very small," said Kankuro as he scratched the back of his head. "We can probably convince Lady Tsunade and Lady Mei, but convincing Lords A and Onoki on this is a whole other story."

"Kankuro's right Gaara . . ." said Temari as she turned to her youngest brother. "The Tsuchkage and the Raikage will be hard to convince, since it is basically impossible to prove the psychic connection you have with Izuka is real."

"Convincing the other Kage will be a difficult task . . ." said Gaara as he shook his head. "That's why it's probably for the best to not tell them."

"Uh . . . come again?" asked Temari as they reached the floor where Gaara's office was located. ". . . You don't want us to tell the other villages? Are you sure about this Gaara?"

"Think about it: If we alert the other Kage by messenger bird, it may get intercepted by one of the ninjas that Amegakure hired," said Gaara as the three siblings walked down the hallway. "If we send word by ninja, they may get intercepted as well. Either way, it's going to be hard to get word to the other villages about what we know. . ."

"So, Gaara . . . what do you suggest?" said Kankuro as they reached the Kazekage office. "Do we just, go in this alone?"

"That's probably our best option . . ." said Gaara as he opened his door. "While the other four villages continue with the surveillance mission in Amegakure, Suna will send small units to other nations that could possibly be hiding a base for the Land of Rain. In the meantime, we fortify our defenses here in the village and tighten security. All important areas within Suna need to be secure in order to prevent another inside attack from happening."

"I'll have Baki start on the security measures . . ." said Kankuro as he went back down the hallway. "You're probably going to have to talk to the rest of the council about sending small units to other countries."

"I'll have all the council members rounded up and in the council chamber within the hour . . ." said Temari as she shook her head. "I suggest you think over what you're going to say to the Elders when the meeting commences. They may be a wise bunch of men, but even they will be a bit hard to convince."

"Right . . . I'll see you in an hour Temari . . ." said Gaara as he walked into his office. He closed the door behind and him and pinched the bridge of his nose before walking over to his desk, where his stacks of paperwork awaited him. He let out a small breath, knowing full well that the results of the next meeting could mark the turning point in the battle between the Five Great Nations and the Land of Rain.

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