Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 13
"Tempo Primo"
[Kazekage Rescue Mission, Part 8: Epilogue]
"I see...I was wondering what you meant when you said your father died."
Aiko and I are heading over to the Kazekage's Office, where my comrades from the Leaf are set to appear within the next hour or two. It's just before noon on the third morning since Guy and I arrived.
"Yes. He did a despicable thing, and so...even though I didn't want it to end that way, I took his life. It was something that hurt me immensely, even if it was the correct action," I say to her.
"I couldn't imagine doing something like that. Even if he was a terrible person, he was still your family. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Lili."
"I remembered Gaara and what I said to him, that day we first fought. That you don't have to remain where you are the rest of your life. He's taken that message to heart, and so have I. Thanks to my mom, my loved ones, and all of the lessons that I've learned...well, I ended up right here. I didn't just survive, I grew even stronger from that tragedy."
"Good for you."
"Thank you, Aiko. More than that...I've learned many things about myself as a result of that experience." I close my eyes. "I carry my mother's spirit, and my father's blood. It shouldn't be that I ignore one and greatly favour the other. Otherwise, I would never be able to reach my full potential. You must go through the same thing, with the Sharingan..."
"I think about it sometimes, yeah."
"That's more than fair. Accepting those parts of yourself, and then making use of them in the best way that you can. That is what leads to completion, in the end. I have challenged that man's shade many times since then, to know myself better than before."
"That sounds scary," she says with concern.
"It was frightening at first, especially when it used to happen involuntarily. But in my recent meditation, I can choose the time and place, and when it is time to make my exit. It is an intense sort of training, but necessary for what I intend to do."
"What are you thinking?" Aiko asks.
My eyes open. "I will challenge the world, in the same way as Hanzo of the Salamander did."
"I've heard of him...hmm. I guess I can read more about the stuff he did, then. But you said I just have to worry about what's happening here, right?"
"That's right."
"Okay." She smiles and pumps her fists. "I'll add it to the list, then. Mom will help, too. Even if she can't speak to me out loud too often, and stuff. Oh, yeah. There's a guy in your village...Sasuke, right? Does he know about me yet?"
"Not at this time, and I haven't told him. I don't have any plans to, either."
She lets out a breath, relieved. "Okay, good. I think it would be really awkward since I already have a girlfriend and everything...and he's the last known Uchiha. Since my dad isn't really...known, I guess."
"He's occupied himself at the moment, so you don't have to worry about that. Not that you would be compatible, anyways."
"I see...is he, like, a bad person?"
I frown. "His heart is generally in the right place, but he's a massive buffoon and an insufferable grouch besides that."
"Hmm. I get the sense that you're not that fond of him."
"An understatement, to be sure."
She nods. "Got it. Well, I can't wait to meet your other friends, even if it's just for a bit. Master Guy is really nice, and Makoto likes him too."
"He is a unique gentleman, to be sure," I say with a smile. "It took me a bit to come around to him, what with his fashion sense, or lack thereof. But putting that aside, he is a fount of wisdom and a stellar shinobi compared to many others."
"I can see that." She pauses. "His eyebrows are really thick, though. Weird."
"Looks like you guys are the last ones to join the party."
Kankuro welcomes us as the rest of the group stands outside the entrance. Baki is here, with a few kunoichi who are less worried about their work and more interested in ogling - pardon - protecting the Kazekage from outside threats. Chiyo is having fun needling Ebizo, with that laugh of hers ringing out. Makoto and Suketsune are waiting next to them.
"Arriving fashionably late is what we girls do," Aiko says with a smile.
"Whoa. Looks like someone's been rubbing off on you."
"Jerk." I hit him on the shoulder gently. "Feeling better today?"
"Back to normal, yeah. Can't thank you enough for what you did."
"Seeing you healthy is its own grand reward, Kankuro. You're safe, and that's what matters most."
"That looks like them," Baki says. I watch as a group of five shoots towards us, with members of the regular forces trying to keep up behind them.
"Is that...really you? Gaara?" Temari asks as she lands, out of breath. She looks quite different since the last time...her hair is done up in the same way, but she has on a black kimono with short sleeves and a red sash around her waist. Simple enough, but quite stylish as always.
"Temari, you-"
"Just be quiet...just..." She smothers him in a hug and starts crying.
"..." He quietly hugs her back.
"I...I can't believe you're...but you're okay. I was so scared..."
"Everything is fine now, nee-san. I'm okay."
"Yeah..."
"There is a lot we have to tell you, but that can wait until later."
"Sure." She lets him go and wipes away her tears. "Yeah, for sure. I just wanted to see you first..."
"Pretty glad you raced all the way here for nothing, right?" Kankuro says.
"Obviously." Temari punches him in the chest. "As for you, you were just being an idiot as usual. I heard you almost got yourself killed."
He winces. "Sheesh. You're lucky that I got back to full strength."
"Dumbass." She pulls him into a hug. "I'm glad you're safe, too..."
"I know."
"Yo! Finally made it!"
Naruto drops in first, followed by Kakashi, Hina, and Shino.
"Well, I don't mind getting some exercise in every once in a while...but I'll temper my expectations for the next time we follow Miss Kobayashi's lead," Kakashi says.
"It seems like the mission was over before we started on our way here," Hina says, smiling. "As expected of our Lili."
"Indeed," Shino says in agreement.
"Wait, seriously? We don't have work to do?" Naruto asks.
"Do you remember what our mission was, Naruto?" Kakashi asks him.
"Yeah! To help bring Gaara back to the Sand, right?"
"That's right. And who do you see here in front of you?"
Naruto blinks before turning his head to see Gaara, who gives him a friendly wave.
"Um...oh! Gaara, he's right here! Wait, wait...Kakashi-sensei, it took like, almost three days for us to get here!"
"Lili and Guy are pretty unique individuals. How long did it take in total, Guy? About a day, I'm guessing?"
"Hmm...about nine or so hours, I believe."
Kakashi's eye widens. "You can't be serious. That quick? That means you would have gotten here on the same day you left."
"That we did," I say. "The mission was completed on the very next morning, with the help of our lovely band of ladies. One of the Akatsuki escaped into the sky after we retrieved Lord Kazekage, and the other we defeated soundly with no casualties."
"Trust me, I was feeling just as shocked when they got back," Kankuro says, chuckling.
"Okay, hold on a second," Temari says, waving her arms. "Repeat this back to me in full, because this is all nonsense-"
"No...it cannot be! You!"
"!"
Chiyo suddenly charges at Kakashi, who is utterly confused. I race in front of her and cleanly deflect her strikes, sending her flying backwards.
"You fucking fossil. What the hell has gotten into you?" I growl.
"It's that despicable White Fang of the Leaf! I will never forgive you for what you took from me!"
"White Fang? Open your eyes a bit wider, you senile bat."
"Be quiet, child! Out of my way! I must collect vengeance for my son!"
"Nee-san, she's right. Take a moment to look closer...they seem similar, but aren't actually the same."
"Eh?" She stops at Ebizo's suggestion and stares at Kakashi for a few extra seconds. "..."
"..."
"Oh...well, never mind then! Hahahahaha!"
Kakashi breathes a heavy sigh of relief.
"Oi. I'll turn your bones to soup the next time you try that nonsense again, fucking fossil," I say to her. "Get yourself a pair of glasses before I beat your wrinkled-"
"Um, I can do it," Aiko says quickly to interrupt me. "The whole explaining thing, for Lady Temari! Right, okay! So, Major Kobayashi got here really early with Master Guy, and then she went to the hospital room to help cure Lord Kankuro of the poison. Then she called for us and waited for Suketsune to mix an antidote using her instructions so that Lord Kankuro could get all of the poison out of his system. We assembled, went over mission stuff, and then went out into the desert after the enemy really early in the morning. Oh, that's because Lord Kankuro was awesome and got us a piece of Sasori's clothing so that Major Kobayashi could lead us to Sasori. Okay, so we chased the Akatsuki and caught up to them at sunrise, split them up, and then Master Guy and Major Kobayashi got Lord Gaara back from the flying Akatsuki-"
"Deidara," I say.
"Yes, Deidara. Thank you, ma'am. So we got Lord Gaara back and then he was taken to the village while we fought Sasori, and we eventually beat him and came home. All in the space of one morning, I think. It was pretty exciting! Um, Lady Temari, ma'am."
"..." Temari stares at me. "You saved both of my little brothers in the space of twelve hours?"
I smile and wink at her. "Nothing to it."
"A great task, to be sure...but nothing beyond the reach of one who will become the great goddess of men in the future," Gaara says.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you were flirting with her," Temari says. "Not that you becoming infected with the chunni virus is all that great, either." She sighs. "My blood pressure was shooting to the moon before, but I feel a lot better now. Kankuro was right earlier. I've never been so happy to have so much of my time wasted..."
"Yeah! It's awesome that Gaara's back, and you guys beat the brakes off those Akatsuki losers! Would have liked to give them the business myself," Naruto says. "But I can live with Lili doing it for me."
"I think it's long past the time we did some proper introductions," Makoto interrupts, placing herself in front of Hina. "My name's Makoto Hibana, proud chuunin of the Hidden Sand. May I have your name, miss?"
"Hinata Hyuuga, heiress of the Leaf's Hyuuga Clan. I've heard lovely things about you from my sister Lili," she says with a smile. "Very nice to finally meet you."
"No, no...the pleasure is definitely mine, Lady Hyuuga." She kisses Hina's hand gently. Aiko smiles and shakes her head.
"Everyone's so happy."
Temari stands next to me, as we linger a bit outside of the sphere of chatter that has formed.
"A few years ago, I couldn't imagine anything like this happening. This moment is something we fought for...for so long. Gaara, especially. I know that not everyone's come around yet, but...he's got the respect of so many people. And we can finally be a family again, instead of just three kids trying to survive and tolerate each other. We can be the siblings we were always meant to be."
"That's very good to hear," I say.
"It's thanks to you, Lili. I know you don't want to stand in the spotlight and take this moment for yourself, but it's the truth. You could have killed Gaara on that day. Nobody would blame you for it. Maybe I would be bitter, and so would Kankuro, but...we were so far removed from him that it wouldn't have lasted that long. We had forgotten what Gaara was like before he hardened his heart. And then, to come back here years later at the first call...and not only give Gaara yet another chance at life, but save Kankuro too, when nobody else could. There's nothing I can say that would mean anything. Nothing that would possibly convey my feelings right now."
"I am a person with her own goals, and desires that would be called twisted. I have a recklessness within myself that I have embraced, even as it stands at odds with this world of ours," I say as I look over to her. "Even so...Gaara is a pure person, who deserves as many chances as needed to walk down his chosen path. To give new light to a family, and to protect the possibilities of those who wish for a better world...knowing that they will continue to live and breathe is a beautiful reward. I cherish their happiness like it was my own."
"You've done so much already...you're really saying that you don't want a real thank you, or anything in return?"
"Those things are all lovely, but they're not a necessity. As long as I have your love, it's always enough."
She blushes and puts a hand over her heart. "I...think I can see what he sees now. You really are a goddess."
"I wouldn't go that far. Even with all of the strength at my disposal, I am still just a humble child of the stars. But even that title is enough to uproot mountains and part the seas as I will it. Thank you for your praise, Temari. I appreciate it, and it does make me happy. I want to continue my fight for a better world, but I know that in the end, I won't be able to do it alone. And I don't want to leave the fight to another generation, or one after that, or one even after that. It has to be us, and it has to be now."
She nods. "Whenever you need me...or any of us. Just say the word."
"As long as you promise to do the same."
"I promise, Lili. Thank you for all of this...I know I'll never be able to say it enough."
"You're very welcome, my love."
"Hey, you guys!" Naruto calls to us. "Gaara's taking us out to a big lunch to celebrate!"
"We'll be right with you, darling," I say. He nods and continues his conversation with Gaara. "Well, shall we join them? I know you must want to get off your feet after so much time rushing here."
"Yeah, for sure." She shoulders her fan again, then pauses. "Actually, before we go...there's something I should give to you."
"What is it?"
"It's...a bit awkward, especially here. But I shouldn't let that stop me...you deserve this. Close your eyes, okay?"
"Alright." I do as she asks.
"Make sure your lips are together, and don't move. I'll probably hurt you if you do."
"Hmph. I have to wonder if this is safe, with all of the unruly mumbling that you're doing..."
I almost want to cheat a bit and tease her, but this seems important. Temari stops in front of me, and I can tell that she's started to lean forward.
"..."
It's a brief sensation. She presses her lips against mine gently before backing away. Warm, and...filled with meaning that I understand immediately. My eyes slowly open, and I see that her teal eyes are filled with sincerity and reverence.
"Thank you for that memory, Temari."
"It was the least I could do. I...found a way to express myself to you, that didn't need so many words."
"I felt it...all the way through. I appreciate it, and always will."
She nods slowly and turns away from me. "Come on. Let's make sure those kids of ours don't get too rowdy. Baki-sensei and Sharingan Kakashi couldn't possibly handle all that noise themselves."
I laugh a bit at that. "Well said. Let's away, then."
We made sure there was room for our last three comrades, from Guy's team. Neji, Tenten, and Lee join us about an hour later, and we extend our session a bit so that they can eat and relax with the rest of us.
Lee looks the same as ever, save for the flak jacket that indicates his ascension to the ranks of chuunin. Very much a mirror of his beloved sensei. Tenten I notice has blossomed splendidly, growing to around my height with a solid build. Her usual outfit has changed a bit as well, with maroon pants that remind me of Ruki's shrine wear, and a white blouse that has the same maroon colouring at its edges. She's sticking close to Neji, as usual, but isn't making a scene of it. They do move at the same speed, don't they...it's really cute to watch.
"I see! Then I will train to be able to make the trip to the Hidden Sand in six hours!" Lee declares.
"No way in hell is anyone going to match that pace. Me, especially. Getting here was already too much for my poor bones," Tenten complains. "I mean, it's incredible to think that Sensei and Lili got here so fast...so please, don't ruin the moment, Lee."
"Travelling at such high speeds is a rush unlike anything you've known before, Lee," Guy says.
"Sensei, seriously. Don't encourage him."
"Lee is free to spend his time as he wishes, now that he's a chuunin," Neji says subtly.
"Hm. Okay, never mind...keep encouraging him," she says with a smile. "That gives us more time for other pursuits."
"So nothing came up on your way over?" Kankuro asks after finishing off a drumstick. It's just our core group now, with the other shinobi having left at Gaara's command to tend to other duties. Nothing important should leak out as a result.
"Nothing," Hina says. "Brother Neji and I compared notes and we didn't see anything like unusual birds or similar things...if that Deidara person left, it was by some alternate route."
"It might be more likely that he's hiding somewhere within Wind Country until things die down. Naturally, he would have expertise in Earth Release jutsu as a former native of the Hidden Rock," Neji adds. "With his resources allegedly low, it would be a good time to search for him...but trying to scour an entire country for one man isn't likely to end well for us, I suspect."
"He is Akatsuki, in the end...after reporting back to his master, he will set out again towards a new target," Gaara says. "We can only remain vigilant until that time. Granny Chiyo, what do you think they mean to do with the tailed beasts once they are extracted from the hosts?"
"What's all this host stuff about? And tailed beasts and junk?" Naruto asks. "I know they're after the jerk that's stuck in me, too."
"You don't know?"
"It's classified information in the Leaf...Lord Third went as far as forbidding anyone to speak about Naruto's status in public," Kakashi explains to Gaara. "A few of us know through various means, but..."
"I see."
"Would you like to explain, or should I?" I offer.
"You know about this stuff?" Temari asks.
"Plenty by now, yes. There are reasons as to why." I brush back some of my hair. "Now, this is important lore, and it will differ from many things that you've probably been told about those so-called monsters inside of human bodies. They're called bijuu, named because they all have tails. Each of the beasts has a differing number of tails, from one all the way up to nine. From what I can understand, the number of tails represents the amount of overall strength that each one has...that makes one tail the overall weakest, and nine tails the overall strongest. It has meaning...seeing as it took the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage just to seal away Nine Tails, compared to the Fourth Kazekage's layering of gold dust to slow the One Tail to a crawl over and over again. These beings are not mere spirits, they are truly immense concentrations of chakra. They can become weapons of mass destruction in an instant, and that is why humans have sought to control them over and over again for military purposes." I look at Naruto and Gaara. "Which is where the second part comes in. Both of you are hosts for the tailed beasts, called jinchuuriki. Do you understand why you have the tailed beasts inside of you?"
"Control," Gaara says. "Placing the wild concentrations of chakra into a human body...it means the power can be used and controlled, for the purposes of war."
"Yes. The power is contained, it is compressed inside of that person. Furthermore, when the spirits of both the tailed beast and their human host align, they are capable of extreme power. You and Naruto have experienced it already."
"There's a risk to all of this, isn't there?" Tenten asks.
"There is, yes. The tailed beasts are by no means passive, and seek to escape their human prisons most of the time. They will seize upon volatile emotions, such as anger and fear, to manipulate the person's psyche in order to suit their needs. There have been many failures throughout history, because of incompatibility and similar things. Not just any person will do...an unsuitable host will be torn apart as the tailed beast completely escapes from their body. That knowledge has not stopped people from trying, especially with the political implications."
"Jinchuuriki are usually chosen from the families or close relatives of the Kage," Temari explains. "It ensures loyalty and security...since being a jinchuuriki is a miserable experience on its own. Someone saddled up with all that power might be tempted to skip town. But if it means betraying their family, they're likely to think it over plenty of times. It's no guarantee in itself, and ruling families can change...but it's a better bet than leaving things up to chance."
"I'd think that you would just switch hosts whenever you needed to. The tailed beasts are chakra in the end, right?" Makoto asks. "I'm sure it would take a while, but you could just transfer the chakra over, couldn't you?"
"Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way," I say to her. "The tailed beasts as amalgamations of chakra have existed for centuries by now on their own, but when inside of a human being, they become part of that person. Their chakras, however imperfectly at first, become one - usually because they are sealed together so early in a human's life. There are ways to remove the beasts from people, with various types of sealing arts that equal their power for a brief moment, enough to seal them inside of some sort of container until the next host is ready."
"Why...would they need to do that?" Suketsune asks nervously.
"When you're a jinchuuriki...it's for life," I say with a solemn tone. "The beast is usually put in at an early age to try and obtain mastery. If the village is lucky, there are few problems and the beast remains with their human host."
"I don't like the sound of this," Aiko says.
"The reason that I was adamant about Gaara not leaving the country is so that there could be no chance the extraction process could start. Because once the tailed beast is extracted, the host dies."
"That is how the two previous jinchuuriki left this world," Chiyo explains. "Once you become a host, your life ends when your usefulness to the village does. The other option for escape is to have the beast take over you completely."
"So in the end...jinchuuriki are just people made into tools of war," Hina says. "That's so cruel. I...understand why, but it doesn't make it easier to accept. Just sacrifices..."
"..." I watch as Naruto places a hand over his stomach, saddened by everything he's been hearing.
"And so Akatsuki is the same...intent on using the tailed beasts to wage war, by placing them into newer, more loyal hosts," Guy concludes.
"No. That's not it," I say.
"What else would they be using them for?" Baki asks. "Surely with everything we've heard, it adds up to such an outcome."
"It sounds logical enough, yes, but I do not believe it to be the case. The tailed beast you all call Shukaku has been an incredible pain to wrangle. And the effort needed just to keep the Nine Tails at bay was extraordinary. No, they mean to use the power of the tailed beasts for something else entirely. It's not worth killing jinchuuriki left and right when they could kidnap and possibly brainwash them instead to do their bidding with jutsu. Akatsuki wants the raw power for some other, more sinister purpose that we have yet to discern. Hoping for compatible membership and having to train new hosts all over again...it doesn't make any sense to me. I will consult with Lord Hokage when I get home, but I know that it's something else." Something that not even Itachi is aware of, unfortunately. We need to try and solve that issue soon.
"So...there are nine tailed beasts all over the world?" Aiko asks.
"Yes. The Hidden Sand had possession of their tailed beast, called Shukaku, before any of the other nations. Seven others came into the possession of Hashirama Senju, the Founder of the Hidden Leaf. And the very last was the Nine Tailed Fox, who was sealed away because it was such a menace in the first place. This was the seeming exception when it came to jinchuuriki...the first two of the Leaf kept themselves as containers for the Nine Tails as a defensive measure for the most part. They most certainly satisfied the role of threatening war weapons, but above all they were meant to contain that incredible power so that it wouldn't devastate the village and the surrounding shinobi world. As for Naruto...his path will be a bit different, at the end of the day. I, along with many others, will see to that."
"It was said that the First Hokage distributed them as a form of appeasement in the early days...to help with the balance of power as new shinobi villages formed," Gaara explains. "And so, with many things happening, we have the current status quo. Two jinchuuriki in the Hidden Rock, and two within the Hidden Cloud. One each in Leaf, Sand, Mist, and Waterfall. And one unaccounted for."
"Unaccounted? Waterfall?" Tenten asks. "What's up with that?"
"From what we know, the Three Tails is currently wandering the ocean...and yes, the Hidden Waterfall has a host of their own."
"I've no recollection of how they obtained a tailed beast so powerful...but they are a village cloaked in mystery," Chiyo says. It seems to be so...that is Kakuzu's old village, after all. And the larger nations seem loathe to have any sort of a go at it despite the number of opportunities. I wonder what the person housing the Seven Tails is like.
"I got a question..."
"Of course," I say to Naruto. "What would you like to know, my darling?"
"Are the other hosts...treated like Gaara and I used to be treated?" he asks quietly.
I close my eyes. "Throughout history, jinchuuriki have been hated. They carry the burden of being associated with the beast inside of them, no matter their actual personality, and so experience plenty of hardship. And as people end up failing to contain the power of the tailed beasts, rampages happen over and over again, building resentment among the masses. Each new host is under more pressure than the last, for reasons that are not their fault. Many have died being hated for their supposed inadequacy and weakness."
"I see..."
"But..." My eyes open again. "You sit beside someone who has overcome that darkness. Gaara has become a well respected leader after many years of struggle. And from my research, both of the jinchuuriki that call the Hidden Cloud their home are regarded as iconic figures."
His face brightens. "Really? Wow..."
"There is light at the end of the tunnel. As I said before, you'll have help getting there."
"Yeah. It just...sucks, you know? Gaara and I didn't get a choice in all this. We didn't get a say...and nobody asked us about how we felt in those early days, or could comfort us properly. Just bad looks and even worse feelings. But...I know that there's a reason I have this power. It didn't just happen to me for nothing. So I want to find out what it is, how it works, all of that."
"I feel much the same. Beyond my father's intentions...there is a greater purpose to the power that I was given so long ago. With the support of our comrades, we will find that purpose. Remember to trust in your friends, Naruto," Gaara says.
He smiles brightly. "Yup!"
"That is the end of the relevant information for now. With tensions between each village still high, I don't see much in the way of cooperation happening immediately," I say. "Even the Hidden Sand wanted to keep this recent event as quiet as possible, due to all of the politics involved."
"The other villages are in better shape, from what I understand," Baki says. "But I take it that aside from those mentioned, the jinchuuriki do not enjoy a comfortable relationship with the military leadership. At what point is the line drawn? Would it be the same as we had here?"
"Yes. Becoming missing-nin or getting captured by foreign elements is undesirable, but neither do they actually care for the host's well being. Whether it's physical or mental."
"Hm. I see."
"And there is nothing we can do about such terrible things?" Lee asks.
"Sovereign nations get to set their own rules. It is as you fear, Lee. Jinchuuriki will continue to be mistreated as the villages allow it, and Akatsuki will continue to be a threat for that reason. We can only send as much information back and forth as we can, so that we can try to prevent the worst from happening," I reply.
"Which isn't much, if what happened here was any indication," Kankuro says. "I bet they've got spies embedded in every village by now. That just makes it all easier."
"Currently, we cannot do much as a village," Ebizo says. "The generosity of the Hidden Leaf cannot be understated, but our resources are still low in general. Our military strength has improved greatly, and yet it is still not enough to handle attacks from multiple high level shinobi..."
"Seriously," Temari adds in. "With just three of us out of play, the whole village was in a really bad position. Meanwhile, the Leaf can send four jounin out for lunch with us and still have enough firepower to glass the next country over in the space of a week. That said, we're also not going to sit around and cry about it. We can still do things over here."
"Right now, analysis is being conducted on Sasori's puppets and other items, in addition to that strange construction of clay used by the Akatsuki member Deidara," Gaara says. "Deciphering these abilities and studying their functions and origins may give us an edge in the future. Whatever happens, we cannot waste this opportunity given to us."
"I have another question, if that's okay," Aiko says.
"Of course. What did you want to know?" I ask her.
"Throughout this whole conversation, the tailed beasts are named according to their tails and stuff. But...Shukaku is the One Tail, right? How come he has a name?"
"That is a salient point, Aiko. Chiyo, would you know?"
She shakes her head. "This is how it has always been in the village. The first jinchuuriki of the Hidden Sand was before my time...an old priest who had Shukaku sealed into him after his birth. But we have no reason to question that his name is Shukaku, seeing as he responds to it, and that the records of the previous jinchuuriki say the same."
"..." Does that mean that the tailed beasts...?
"People do accept names given to them, so it's possible that he's using that in place of another name that was lost," Neji says. "Though even that is speculation on my part."
"The dumb fox hasn't told me anything, so I dunno about that," Naruto says. "If he did have a name, it'd be good if he could tell me about it. We'll probably have to get along eventually. Don't see how, though."
"These fellows can be difficult, even in the best of times," Gaara says.
"Tell me about it."
"It's good that we had this conversation," Kakashi says. "Not only does it tie our villages closer together, but it'll be a big help in the fight against Akatsuki. Their capture of the tailed beasts won't just be a threat to the villages that lose their military strength, but the entire shinobi world. I have a feeling that down the road, we'll need all hands on deck to take them on. A stronger Leaf and a stronger Sand will be necessary."
"We can agree on that, Sharingan Kakashi," Baki replies. "You of the Leaf have done well by us, over and over again. We stand ready to assist you if you should need anything in the future."
"We should stand ready to get out of here, too," Temari quips. "I'm sure the owners are sick of us sitting around here all day, even if we're the Kazekage's entourage."
"Yeah. What's happening with you Leaf guys, you sticking around?" Kankuro asks.
"We just got here, but since the mission has been over for a while, we should get back to the Leaf," Kakashi says. "Unless there are any objections."
"Depends on how fast you're itching to get back," Tenten says. "If you're trying to set a new world record for border crossings, I can get myself a hotel room and leave in the morning instead."
"A normal pace will do well enough, now that the work is done," I say. "I do agree, we should make our way home. Our friends in the Sand have their own work to take care of."
"Then let's get you lot to the front door," Temari says.
Gaara takes care of the bill, and then everyone chips in some extra ryo for our service. I'm sure that our hosts will be pleasantly surprised by it. The afternoon sun greets us as we walk towards the village entrance, more shinobi following as to keep an eye on their recently kidnapped village leader. Through the narrow passage, and finally out into the desert.
"We thank you once again for your help, shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. And we gratefully hold this debt to you," Baki says. "May your journey home be safe."
"Take care of yourself, Gaara! I'm not too far behind you, remember that!" Naruto extends his hand towards Gaara, who smiles and shakes it firmly.
"Of course. No matter the result...I await your future growth. As a fellow jinchuuriki, and as a friend."
"Hehe!"
"Take care, Lili!"
"See you soon, Cap! Be safe!"
"Please take care, Lili."
I share a hug with Aiko, Makoto, and Suketsune all at once.
"I certainly will. Thank you for all of your help, my loves. You've grown splendidly, so continue along your path."
"Yes, ma'am," they say in unison.
"Sssstay cool, Sssscarlet Viper," Kankuro says as we shake hands. I playfully hit him on the shoulder afterwards.
"You'll be seeing me around more, what with the diplomatic stuff happening. And I'll need your help dealing with the slacker," Temari says as I turn to her.
"Shikamaru? You're paired up with him, are you?"
"Unfortunately. Blondie over there thinks we're dating. As if."
"Heh." We share a warm hug. "Just let me know when you're in town."
"For sure."
"Lady Kobayashi. Until we meet again."
"Of course, Lord Kazekage."
We politely bow to each other and smile. I shake Ebizo's hand, then Baki's.
Chiyo gives me a haughty look as I face her. "Well, a final word of advice from someone more seasoned than you, girl."
I sigh and put my hands on my hips. "And what might you have to say that I would find useful, fossil?"
"Don't get too cocky. It's always foolish ones like you that reach too far and end up getting themselves killed."
"You've borne witness to my work, and you still choose to respond with insolence. You are tiresome, old woman," I say with a smile. "I will ask you once more, before we finally part ways...do you know who I am?"
"I'm not senile yet." She smiles brightly. "You're hope itself, aren't you?"
I preen at that. "A fine answer!"
"You mean the only answer someone so stubborn would accept!"
We laugh and hug each other.
"I'll be quick, Granny Chiyo."
"I know. Take care...you are a woman of great spirit, and I know that you will do what so many could not."
"Thank you."
I let go and start to turn away. My pack is secured, and everything is set.
Time to go home at last.
"Formation!" I yell.
"Formation!" I hear back.
"Now returning to the Hidden Leaf! Onward!"
With the desert sun warming our bodies, we start our journey across the sand once more.
Today, we return victorious.