Gaara had insisted that her name should be the main focus on the book, even though the whole reason the book was even getting published was because of him.

Temari and Gaara were publishing a textbook on botany. Using the plants he'd nurtured in his greenhouse and a few trips to the village's greener greenhouse and archives and meeting some old, out of breath professors, they found themselves with enough material for a book that'll inevitably be used as a paperweight.

It was weird to be considered an author now, but it wasn't all that exciting for her, it was just another thing most Jonin did. She signed off on the package and took the parcel from the delivery man. She flipped it over in her hand so the parchment paper slid against her palm and she closed the door behind her.

She went upstairs to her room and slipped the string off the package and carefully removed the parchment off of the book.

Temari saw her name along with Gaara's in black ink on the cover.

If anything, she was proud of how she and Gaara worked together to make something she can actually hold.

A little bit of affection for the book settled into her just as the book settled into her hands.

The back door opened and closed and she heard her brothers speaking as they shed off their coats and shoes. "We're back!" Kankuro's voice yelled.

She placed the book back on her desk and went to go greet them.

"Hey, good work today," she said when they came into view on the top of the flight of steps.

Gaara gave her a small wave and Kankuro looked up as he was pulling off his shoes.

"Yo, Temari," he grinned. "Nice to see you out of your room, jan."

Had she really been in there that often?

"What've you guys been up to?"

"I've been expanding the landlines across the village," Kankuro said as they all moved into the kitchen. Kankuro stuck his head into the refrigerator as he kept talking, "I'm managing the installments of the phone lines, where to put them, where to put the energy plants, all that jazz. We're having pretty good progress. I'm thinking of starting to promote Dividies next."

"DVDs," Gaara corrected.

"That's what I said." Kankuro pulled his head out of the refrigerator with a confused look on his face and rubbed the back of his neck. "There's no food."

"What?" Temari went over to see exactly the same empty shelves as Kankuro. "You're right," she said in bemusement, "there's only an empty carton of milk which," she pressed it into Kankuro's face, "I told you to stop putting empty cartons back into the refrigerator!"

Gaara went over to join them now and peered into the empty along with them. "There's not even leftovers left."

"What have we been eating...?" Kankuro wondered aloud.

Ramen after cup ramen zoomed by in rapid succession through all of their memories of the past week and they felt shame rumble in their stomachs.

"We need good food. Immediately."

They bought take out.

"I miss Suzume's cooking," Kankuro bellyached, his chopsticks snapping as it neared another side dish.

"When is she coming back?"

"Ten hours," Gaara answered, popping a piece of broccoli into his mouth.

"Wow, that was a specific answer." Temari regarded Gaara curiously, "Worried?"

"He had a fight with her just before she left," Kankuro said. "So he's been counting down the days until she comes back."

"You've been having a fight with her since last month," Gaara retorted.

"Wait, wait," Temari swallowed her food, "you guys are both having a fight with Suzume."

"Yes."

Temari leaned back into her chair, "Seriously? My bros, do you understand how much of a deal this is? This is Suzume we're talking about. She's probably beating herself up over this."

"We know, jan," Kankuro groaned.

"And don't you remember the rule, Kankuro? Never-"

"Never leave something unsaid before a mission, otherwise you might never get to say it," Kankuro recited with wistful eyes sinking down. "I remember. Not like I'd forget."

Temari pursed her lips and quickly backed off of Kankuro. She turned to Gaara, who had been watching in curiosity and confusion.

"How's your networking been doing?"

Gaara acquiesced to the change in topic after a split second of hesitation and a glance Kankuro's way. "I've compiled a list of counselors who appear to be able to be swayed to our way of thinking. I believe we can start contacting them soon."

"How many?"

"A total of ten but realistically only five of those ten would be guaranteed."

"Not very high prospects," Kankuro said.

"Yes, but it's what we expected," Gaara ran a hand through his hair, something he picked up from the both of them. "Other than Baki, a potential ally would be Councilor Ryusa. She is the most reasonable and had been known for her fairness and respect."

"I've always liked her," Kankuro said. "Too bad she's isn't that high up in ranks."

"And then there's Councilman Dorai who is a senior and his influence may carry over to the other ten. Councilman Kanbatsu who is a weak figure compared to the other twenty and might be persuaded to our side after a bit of negotiating."

"Have you spoken with Councilman Sakyu yet?"

Gaara's mouth sinks slightly into a frown. "I'm planning to."

"Good," Temari said, "he's different, but his interests appear to line up with ours."

"What do you mean by he's different?" Gaara asked sharply.

"I've spoken with him once," Temari explains, "he defended me from Councilman Toge who threatened me with the position of Kazekage. He said to take good care of Suzume out of nowhere. I took it as he supports our adoption despite everyone else's stance on it."

Gaara's expression immediately grows sharp in a way when he's finally aligned the dots he's had in his head. "Apparently he's been close with Suzume ever since or even before her graduation."

The eldest both felt uncomfortable with this information, although they weren't sure exactly why.

"He was the one who instructed her on chakra natures," Gaara continued, "and I've found out recently that he's been teaching her mithridatism."

The discomfort plummets into a chill that seeps through their skin.

"He taught her mithridatism as a pre-mature Genin?" Temari seethed.

"I don't like it," Kankuro states, abhorrence prevalent on his face. "Why didn't we know about this?"

A part of Gaara is relieved that they were reacting just the same as he had when he found out, assuring him his reaction was not uncalled for. But then he remembers the face Suzume made when he got up to answer the phone. "Suzume has assured me he's a good person. Maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt and trust our sister's judgment."

Temari's fire seems to weaken. "We do need all the support we can get."

"Getting his support doesn't mean we support him," Kankuro affirms scathingly, crossing his arms across his chest tightly.

"We can talk about this more later when Suzume comes home," Temari said, turning the conversation back on track. "Let's summarize. So four out of ten and ten out of twenty."

"Five out of twenty are radically against us and three of them have been leading the council ever since dad died," Kankuro contributed. "They have a tight grip on the other seven, so unless we do something big to sway them we don't have a chance with only a potential half."

"If they end up winning, I'm going to be Kazekage," Temari mused. "Then we're at a dead-end. I can't give up the position to Gaara without looking like we're abusing our authority, and then the people would never accept you."

When the eldest both looked up at their little brother, he was quiet and staring at the table.

"And if you don't give up the position to me?" he asked.

Temari's eyebrow raised, "Then I will be Kazekage."

He looked to the side evasively. "What's wrong with that?"

She had a ready answer. "It's easy, and everything will just be the same as before. Not to mention, you won't be happy."

Gaara didn't say or do anything for a while and Temari was staring long and hard at him. Kankuro blew out of his cheeks and drummed the surface of the table awkwardly.

"Sis, Gaara's just-"

"I know what he's doing, and he better stop it," she snapped. "Gaara, I can be Kazekage. I grew up believing I'm going to be, I never wanted it, I just knew that's how I was going to live. But when you said you wanted to be Kazekage--knowing full well that it's going to be difficult even impossible to become it,--you owned the position, right then and there. Nothing's going to change if you give up, I think I can make one hell of a Kazekage, but you know what? You'll go back to being dissatisfied with yourself."

When Gaara continued to stare at his hands, Temari leaned forward. "Gaara, it's not about everyone else, it's about you, what you want to do."

He finally lifted his eyes, and seeing Kankuro's worried expression and Temari's flare, he said, "It was just a thought," in an attempt to be casual.

His sister's expression slowly melted into a lighthearted yet dangerous sneer. "This little shit. I bet you've been having a lot of 'just a thoughts.' You can't trick me."

"Temari, come on," Kankuro said.

She visibly relaxed. "Alright, sorry, I went too far."

"No," Gaara separated his hands, "I shouldn't have such a shaky resolve."

His sister softened. "You may not see it, Gaara, but you've changed a lot around you already. You'll see it one day, all of your efforts will pay off."

The phone went off again. Temari withered as she pushed herself up and went over to pick it up.

"Yes?" she said. "Yeah... yeah... alright." She hung up and stepped back into the doorway. "Kankuro, you and I need to go back to the office. There's some things we need to check and I need to drop off the papers I've been working on."

"Gaara, can we leave you to clean up?" Kankuro asked as he gobbled down the rest of his food and chugged his water.

"Yes," he said as his brother hurried to the mudroom to get his and Temari's shoes.

"It'll be quicker through the hallways." Kankuro grinned and headed upstairs after Temari. "Oh, and Gaara."

"Yes?"

"Temari just wants the best for you. We all do, jan."

Gaara's eyes widened at those words and he nodded once slowly.

After another grin, Kankuro took the stairs two at a time.

As soon as the pair entered the office, they were bombarded by people, either shouting at them or shoving papers into their faces.

Temari collected the papers and Kankuro addressed one person at a time as they went to their desks. Kankuro had to pick up a stack of books and files on his desk and put them down onto the floor where they slid out of their stacks.

Temari's phone was ringing incessantly and she picked it up and tucked it between her ear and shoulder as she riffled through the papers she'd collected.

There were problems with the phone lines, equipment that should've been delivered to sector 3 was missing, there were complaints with the merchants dealing the spices, the construction in the old districts was being stalled because of an unprecedented plumbing problem.

As Temari checked through the papers, she passed the ones that needed to be signed and stamped to Kankuro in front of her, while he took care of the verbal communications in their immediate surroundings.

Temari was speaking to the ones in charge of construction on the phone and passed her finished paperwork to her assistant.

Four times that day, Temari had to raise her voice. She never liked yelling, but if people are going to be stupid enough not to realize their decisions were detrimental to the village, raising her voice was the least she could do.

When they were done, it was late at night, they were the only ones in the office, and she had the worst neck pains that crept up to her headaches. Kankuro was hanging off of his chair, groaning.

"I'm sick of this place," Temari said hopelessly, staring up at the ceiling, "I need a mission. Or else I'm going to die."

"What time is it?" Kankuro grumbled.

Temari's eyes slid over to look at the clock. "Shit, it's four in the morning."

"...I'm just gonna sleep here," he said as he slumped further into the chair. "I don't wanna move."

"Where do you think Gaara is?" Temari asked. "He would've checked up on us."

"My assistant said Gaara stopped by and told him that he was going to go wait for Baki's team to come home. They should be back sometime this morning."

"Hmm..." she hummed and her gaze landed back on her desk. "Let's pack it up then and get back."

"I guess," Kankuro stood, "but we're going to have to come back here at seven anyway, jan."

"Shit, you're right," Temari sighed as she grabbed a handful of folders. "But we should go back to see Suzume before work."

Her brother's face lifted from its gloom immediately at the mention of their little sister. He had a little hop in his step as he slung his bag over his shoulder and opened the door for Temari to go through.

"I hope they had fun. Escort missions always lead to cool places."

"I think they were on the route to the seashore." Temari felt a little excitement in her chest as well. "She must've loved that."

While the two siblings were heading down the hall, a man appears from the other end. A quick glance tells them he's not someone of a rank who usually belonged in the headquarters based on his attire. He was wearing worker's pants and was hunched and timid looking. But his face lights up in recognition once he sees them and he shuffles up to them sheepishly.

They stop for him and he bows. "Temari-dono and Kankuro-dono."

"Hello," Kankuro took this one, knowing his sister was dead tired. "You're Omari-san."

The man's entire posture straightened and beamed, "You know who I am?"

"Of course. The department head of the upkeep of the boundary wall."

"It may seem strange that I'm here so late, and I'm surprised you're here still, honored ones."

"Yeah, you know," Kankuro laughed, "overtime exists."

The old man laughed genuinely before he said, "I will try to be brief so both of you can get some rest as soon as possible. I wanted to, on behalf of my division, thank the honored ones for all their hard work. Especially Gaara-sama. After Gaara-sama gave us the new equipment, our jobs have been much more effective. Please thank him for us."

"Thank him in person. I'm sure he'd appreciate it coming directly from you."

"Ah, well. To be truthful, we're still uncomfortable around him," the man said, eyes falling in shame. "But since our department is often overlooked and underappreciated, the board hasn't been funding us very well and, I guess, Gaara-sama has really been listening and although I can't face him yet I still want to thank him."

"Alright, that's fine." Kankuro smiled. "I'll pass on the message. Thanks for the thought, Omari-san."

The siblings said their farewells to the head of department and went on their way to their home. Temari was wearing a pleased smirk on her face and Kankuro's face was split into a toothy grin. They ended up teasingly socking each other on the arms for their obvious glee.

Gaara had indeed stopped by the office at around 1 o'clock in the morning. Shinobi were rushing through the hallway jammed with stacks of books and papers almost as tall as him. He had to step out of the way of a particularly rushed man who looked about ready to cry.

Once he got to the doorway of the office, he peeked his head in to see his brother and sister meticulously working in the midst of frazzled co-workers. They were so absorbed in their work Gaara didn't know whether or not he should interrupt. He caught the attention of Kankuro's assistant and he shuffled over quickly.

"Gaara-sama," he bowed. "Should I call over Temari-dono?"

"No, it's fine. Just tell them I stopped by and will be waiting for Suzume and Baki to return."

"Yes, sir. Have a good rest of the night, sir." The assistant hurried back to his work and Gaara left after one last look at his siblings.

After escaping the stuffy hallway, it was disconcertingly quiet in the dead of night. Gaara was walking through the moonlight flushed corridors and enjoying the peace.

It didn't last long however as a figure appeared at the end of the corridor and Gaara recognized the man. His guard was immediately up.

"Gaara-sama," the man bowed.

"Councilman Sakyu," Gaara returned.

The man's grey hair shone silver in the moonlight and he shadowed over Gaara with his lanky build. He smiled invitingly.

"Can I accompany you?"

"I'd be glad for the company."

The two started walking side by side, heading to the Kazekage quarters. Gaara wondered what the man wanted from him, because he sure knew what he wanted to ask him.

"I heard the upcoming session will involve your grounds for ascending the Kazekage's position."

"Yes."

Sakyu hummed, a detached smile on his face. "Do you know how I got to be in my position, Gaara-sama?"

Gaara knew. "You received the favor of the people and you were awarded an honorary position on the council. Before your term, you were a civilian worker in the government extension."

The old man chuckled. "I shouldn't have expected anything less. You're completely right. I wasn't a decorated shinobi nor did I inherit my position. Therefore, you could say I don't think the same as the rest of the council, but I think I have as much pride as they do for this nation."

Gaara already understood what he was building up to. He was impatient, he wanted to get his own answers. "You do not think me fit for the position," he summed up.

"No, I don't think any of you are fit to be Kazekage."

Gaara almost stopped in his tracks.He turned his head up to look at the side of the councilman's face. "None of us?"

Sakyu kept up the friendly smile as he turned to face him as well. "None of you. I do not believe you and your siblings care enough for the village. You are using the position for your own selfish gains, correct?"

Nothing more was said by either of them and Gaara thought heavily about what he should say next.

"If that's the case," he finally said after a long silence, "who would you have as Kazekage, Sakyu-dono?"

"That's the sad part, I'm afraid. I do not know." Sakyu turned to look at him and the two stopped before the hallway leading to the private quarters. He looked down at Gaara with an underwhelmed but polite stare. "Perhaps you can find them for me. But as of now, I have no interest in supporting you, Gaara-sama, or your siblings."

Sakyu bowed once more. "Please rest well."

Gaara remained where he was long after the old councilor had gone, and only after he got back to the house did he realize he had been unable to have his turn as interrogator.

Another week went by, and it was only Baki's eagle on the fourth day that calmed the family down. He informed them that due to an incident they were pushed back on their return. He also made sure to tell them that Suzume was, at the least, physically fine.

Then one morning, on the eighth day over the intended return of Team Baki, Temari woke up and rolled back the blinds covering the double doors leading outside.

She stalled. "...Gaaaaaara!"

"Yes?" came his voice from inside the house.

"Why is there a chicken on our doorstep?"

"...a chicken?"

"Sheep..." Temari pushed a hand through her hair, looking thunderstruck. "There are goats and sheep too!"

Gaara briskly went to Temari's side and stared incredulously at the farm animals now occupying their backyard.

He stepped outside closely followed by his sister and searched around. "Suzume must have come home."

"But she isn't here?"

"Check the tree."

Temari waded through the sheep and then circled the length of the tree. When she reappeared she shook her head. "Nope."

"Maybe she dropped the animals off and then went straight to the post-mission report with her team," Temari said when she was back at Gaara's side.

"Probably," he agreed, his face bright and Temari was also grinning.

"The tree looks more alive too don't you think?"

She saw her brother give the tree a strangely blistering look. "I suppose so."

Baki had sent three hawks. One for his kids who must've been worrying, another for the council reporting the reason for their absence and lack of contact, and another to his trustworthy assistant.

The time gap between when they stepped back into the village and when they were expected to report to the council was one he was going to take full advantage of. After instructing his students to head straight to the Kazekage mansion as soon as they can, he made a detour to his office. But before he could even get halfway there, he bumped into his assistant.

They looked at each other and mirrored each other by heading straight back the way Baki came and went straight to business.

"They've already been promptly paid off," his assistant said as she flips through her clipboards and files.

Baki's eyebrows raised. "They have?"

"Amazing, right?" She handed him a file. "This is what you asked me to find."

Baki opens it and thumbs through the contents, his eyebrows furrowing. "Thank you for your hard work."

They were in front of the conference room now, and all that's left is for Baki to go in.

"That file," his assistant said as she looked from it to him keenly, "it's going to start something."

Baki nodded. "Something I'm not sure we're ready for yet, but nevertheless something we need to confront."

She drew in a great breath and bowed. "Good luck, Baki-dono."

He gave her an appreciative look before swinging the door open and marching in. Each step he took mounted his rage, feeding his passion. Once he reached the front of all of the counselors--as the board was in session for the day-- he was fit to burst with everything he wanted to say and throw at their faces. Whether he can choose the right words to say would determine the outcome of this verbal battle.

Baki saw his team already there and waiting for him, all looking worn but clean, having washed and changed for the meeting. They bowed to him once he reached them and he empathized with their bed yearning expressions. He needed to make this quick.

The councilors sat around a table all facing each other as if they were about to start a dinner party. The ones with their backs to them had to turn their chairs to face them. He caught sight of members who he was close to give him a flicker of worry but he kept his eyes on the main three: Nousa, Saboten, and Koyo.

They knew. As Baki shifted the top file below the other, their eyes lingered a bit too long on it, uneased.

"Lords of the council, I'm here to report for the C-mission my team: Special Operations unit 15 received to escort a merchant caravan across the desert to a trade town. The mission went a week overdue from its initial estimated time of two weeks.

"We're so relieved to have the team back safe and sound," Counselor Saboten said with an exaggerated welcoming voice. "We heard of your unexpected circumstance and praise you for dealing with it so efficiently."

Baki saw Ritsu's expression shift uncomfortably from the corner of his eye. His experience with the council showed as this was not the usual reaction to this kind of result for a mission.

"We accept your kind words." Baki and his team bowed in cue. "We hope our oversight didn't cause you too much trouble. As I've heard, the merchants received their reimbursement early yesterday morning."

"It's only natural for us to pay back what is due," Councilor Koyo said with a sickeningly solemn drop of his face. "What trauma they would've been through."

Nousa rumbled in agreement and cast his eyes down.

Baki took the chance to take a furtive glance around the table and was reassured to see some of the councilors looking exactly how he felt. Some cleared their throats uneasily until Nousa peeked out of one eye to see nobody impressed. He turned pink and readjusted himself on his seat.

"Anyhow," he continued briskly, "we grant Team Baki a month of leave. I believe you will assure they attend counseling?"

"Yes, the appointments have already been set."

"Good, good. Well, then I see no need for anything else to be said for the time being. We will send a summons once you are needed again. You are dismissed."

Baki's students bowed and marched out of the room.

After his students were gone, Baki remained to speak with the council alone. He pulled up his chair and he slammed down a file onto the table. Several records with pictures of men and women spilled out.

"Why has the escape of convicted shinobi been concealed from the public?" he said. "And why has the decision to do so been disclosed from me, an active member of this board?"

Miniscule but significant changes in the faces around them told Baki everything he needed. There were those who looked betrayed, those who looked enraged, and those who tensed the moment the file was dropped.

"We thought it best to keep from divulging information that may cause the public to go into a panic," Saboten responded irritably. "We have such rights over the media."

"Fair," Baki said more to push aside that conversation than to agree. "But what of our shinobi? Are you sending them out on missions without briefing them on the possible threats?"

"If this is about the casualty on your mission, passing on the blame is unlike you, Baki," Koyo spoke up.

"The fact remains that I and the rest of my team would've been more prepared if the board realized that our actions impact others, and that the presumptuousness to assume we can be forgiven just because of our rank will not stand," Baki thundered.

"Are you disrespecting us, Baki?" snapped Nousa.

"If that is all you interpreted from my words then I suppose I am."

"Now, see here--"

Councilwoman Ryusa held up a silencing hand and Nousa glowered at her. "We can discuss this when the whole board is present. This is news to me as well," she said, her eyes sharp.

"There's nothing to discuss."

"I think most of us here beg to differ, Councilman Nousa," Councilman Dorai said in a deep voice, a small, aged man with a beard that reached the middle of his stomach. "Why don't we see for ourselves? Those who wish to discuss this matter further raise your hand."

After he spoke, the old councilor rose his hand along with more than half the room.

Dorai gave a rumble of approvement and lowered his hand. "It's decided. The next meeting when all of us are present, we will speak thoroughly of this."

Councilmen Saboten, Nousa, and Koyo were all steaming in their seats. Saboten's burning gaze was targeted at Baki, who was staring back just as hatefully.

"This meeting is adjourned."

After they were dismissed, the three genin all went along their own way home. Ritsu was dead tired and was dragging his feet home, wishing for a long bath and some cold soda.

"Oh Buddha's bald spot!" He jumped when Suzume's face appeared right in front of him. "What is wrong with you?! Where did you come from!"

"I want to learn from you."

"Doesn't everybody." Ritsu pushed her face away and walked past. "Lesson number one: fuck off."

Suzume caught up with him and stuck to his ankles. His shoulders drooped, he didn't have the energy to deal with this right now.

"Alright... alright. I got it. Just..." he took in a deep breath, "just come by later. Please." It was the most sincere 'please' he'd ever said.

Suzume nodded, bowed an apology, and disappeared.

Ritsu sighed out a new continent and trudged along, never wanting to sleep more and be useless as at that moment.

But even as he slept, he kept thinking, keeping his consciousness alert even when his body yearned for rest.

Suzume could feel herself dropping in and out of sleep as she walked home. She shouldn't have pushed it so much, shouldn't have followed Ritsu, should've went straight home.

The gaining successions of finding herself lying on the ground with no memory of how she got there made her frantic. She could feel her control slipping as the amount of chakra signatures built up and up until the colors mixed around her and the too unique sounds of different shinobi shrieked in unison.

Suzume couldn't remember how she got there but felt herself falling through the barrier of the tree and the sounds cut off.

Relieved, she picked herself up and lumbered to the house.

The goats bleated in worry at her as she walked by, her arm already prematurely stretched out to open the door.

"I'm home..."

The door flew open before she could even touch it and she sort of stared at her hand in question.

"Suzume...!"

That's my name, she had to affirm with herself before looking up.

Gaara was there looking wide eyed and seemingly lost for words.

The sight of him drained the last of the strength in her legs and she collapsed.

Gaara jumped to grab her. He lifted her up and ran to the tree, placing her at the base gently.

"Suzume, it's more important to save your life than to announce that you're home."

"Worried... if... hungry" Suzume slurred.

She had a weak grip on his sleeve and Gaara didn't have the heart to pull it away.

"You need to rest."

"Gaara-sama?" Suzume asked curiously.

He blinked. "Yes?"

Her eyes lit up. "Gaara-sama."

"Yes?"

"Gaara-sama. Gaara-sama.... Gaara-sama...!"

When Suzume started to cry, Gaara was immediately out of his element.

Suzume wanted to tell him everything, about Jabari, about how she failed as a shinobi and a friend, how her mistake was the reason he was dead, how she had no idea how she was going to feed all the sheep...!

Unknowingly, Suzume was sputtering all of this out loud and Gaara was only able to catch every other word, but he understood enough. His face fell back into neutral as he watched his sister sob. He pulled out of her grip and slipped his hand into hers and squeezed reassuringly as her rambling trailed away and the exhaustion caught up to her and she fell asleep.

The sound of chewing alerted Gaara and he looked around to see the two goats eating his shirt.

Before he could decide what to do, one of the sheep leapt onto his face.

When Temari and Kankuro came home, they were greeted by a small sand dome periodically pushing off the animals that would climb on top of it.

Baki came to them not long after.

He was thunderous. Not as much of a hello was said and he dived right into a rant. "They paid off our patrons before my team even stepped a foot back into the village." He stomped toward them, pulling off his turban and shucking off his vest. "And I just found out they've been keeping the fact that a good amount of rogue shinobi are loose in the nation."

He sent a glance over at Suzume, almost automatically, to see she was under the tree and then collapsed into a chair. Gaara served him some ice water and Temari and Kankuro pulled up a chair across from him.

"We might have a conspiracy on our hands."

"Beautiful," Kankuro grinned. "I'd expect nothing less, jan."

This made Baki scoff out an amused laugh through his rage and Kankuro beamed at his reaction.

"But what happened, Baki?" Temari urged. "I've never seen you look so exhausted for a C-rank mission."

"It was momentarily an A-rank." Baki rubbed his eyes. "I was careless. One of our customers was killed and the rest lost their goods."

"They really got the jump on you," Kankuro gawked. "That's a huge loss."

"And the Board paid them off immediately?" Temari said shrewdly. "It takes them months if not years to pay anything back."

"Exactly," Baki said. "Not like them at all." Temari couldn't help noticing the amount of wrinkles etched into his skin. "Hope you three had a better couple of weeks."

"Yeah, actually," Kankuro pulled out a notebook from his vest pocket, "we had substantial progress."

He slid the notebook over to Baki who flipped through and read. When he passed it back to Kankuro he had an approving look on his face. "I was afraid you three might choose Suzume but I'm impressed. He's much more suitable. The choice of which councilors to appeal to was well thought out as well."

"I also wanted to ask for your opinion on Councilor Sakyu, Baki," Gaara said.

"He's a good man," Baki answered blandly, "hasn't really stood out however. He appears the type who waits everything out. What about him?"

"He doesn't seem to approve of us," Gaara told him, "he's voiced how he doesn't think we're the best for the village."

"All three of you? Even Kankuro and Temari?"

Gaara nodded.

Baki rubbed at his stubble. "Odd..."

"But at the same time, he doesn't agree with the rest of the councilors," Kankuro said. "He doesn't engage with them in any sort of outside activities apart from the meetings either."

"Now that you mention it, the higher ranked members of the council seem abnormally scared of him even though he's only middle ranked," Temari recalled.

"Would it be foolish to think he would hear us out?" Gaara said.

"It would be foolish not to try I think," Baki replied. "You can't hesitate anymore, Gaara."

Gaara's face tightened and he drew back into his seat.

"What," Kankuro was looking between them, "what is it, Baki?"

"You three might be called up soon."

"What, why?" Temari demanded.

A glance toward the backyard delivered the answer.

"Oh, what now," Kankuro groaned.

"We all made mistakes, but Suzume might be the one all the blame will be transferred to," Baki explained. "She's an easy target right now. Her image is your image, her actions directly affect you, and the board will by all means use that against you."

None of them could argue against that.

"So they'll try to discredit us, forcing us with an ultimatum," Temari hypothesized. "Suzume or our approval, and we can't give up either."

"We can work with that," Kankuro said and all of them turned to him in surprise, expecting him to have been infuriated at the very circumstances.

"How?" Gaara inquired curiously.

Kankuro smirked slyly. "We just add our own conditions to the ultimatum, jan."

It wasn't until a week later that all members of the counsel were able to attend the meeting. Councilwoman Jaya with her harsh face and bushy eyebrows who had been checking up on her province and had been absent for a good few months sat next to Councilman Tanu who was her neighboring province. The two of them were speaking of the day's topics as Tanu provides her with all of the things she's missed. Councilman Dorai was listening solemnly to what the highly opinionated Councilman Basma was running his mouth about. Councilman Sakyu was smiling pleasantly while speaking with Councilwoman Ryusa who seemed to enjoy his company. Councilman Toge had on an arrogant sneer and talking the ears off of three lower ranked councilors.

Saboten, Nousa, and Koyo were all muttering at the head of the table. Baki entered the room and he felt their eyes on him. He dusted off their gazes and approached the table. Councilwoman Jaya caught sight of him and rose to shake his hand. He fell into easy conversation with her and Tanu.

Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara entered shortly after and the table slowly grew silent. By the time they pulled up their chairs, all talk had ceased.

"It seems everyone has arrived on time," Saboten started and all attention was placed on him. "There are two topics of interest we will be discussing today; the recent failed C-rank by team 15 under Baki, and the Kazekage prospects. The floor is now open."

Nousa picked up the discussion and he looked at the youngest among their number and the three stared adamantly back. "As you three are aware, the position of Kazekage needs to be filled as soon as possible."

"As delayed as possible, yes," Temari said with an entertained smile.

The councilors all shifted in their seats. Baki had to hold back a sigh, She was never one to hold back punches.

"Temari-dono," said a chiding female voice.

"My apologies, Counselor Jaya," Temari bowed her head towards the woman, "but this board seems to have been ignoring the empty position and opted to extending the regency period. I would like to know why."

"That is because we are taking into account your proposal to transfer the inheritance to Gaara-sama," Ryusa answered promptly. "Who is, as of yet, not even of age."

"If you say that then there is nothing for me to complain about as he will be turning of age next year," Temari said. "Is there anything else that is preventing Gaara from taking the position?"

"Our shinobi have expressed that they would refuse to work underneath him."

She raised an eyebrow. "I am glad to hear you are taking the words of 'our shinobi' into account, but I think you have forgotten to speak to the lower divisions, who have all agreed to assist Gaara during his period in office." Kankuro pulled out the papers to display to the board. "They've found his support in their systems very much appreciated and wholly support him."

The councilors appeared to have had the rug pulled out from under them.

"This is all unanimous?" Dorai asked in an impressed tone as he looked over the papers Kankuro had handed to him.

"Yes, sir," Kankuro answered.

The lower divisions are often overlooked, therefore it is also often forgotten that their unanimous support on one candidate gives them at the very least a say in the board.

The Counselors were taking them more seriously now. Scattered astonished and pleased looks among the wary and slight angered faces.

"Anything else you would like to address?" Temari prompted, reveling in their distress. Kankuro gave his sister a side-eye, She's enjoying this.

A clearing of a throat. It was Tanu with an analyzing spark in his gaze. "Tradition states that the eldest has the right to the title. Not only are you breaking this tradition, but you are also handing it to the youngest of your siblings. Now if it was Kankuro-dono..."

"I see no problem if I willingly relinquish it to my brother. I think him more suitable for the title."

"Why do you believe so? Temari-dono, you have many successes under your name."

"Gaara has worked with the regular forces, pushing aside his status and gained the respect and trust of their number. He has done great services to the village, ceasing the fire in the old district, volunteering hours to the Institute among the many examples. He is also doing research to strengthen our wall's defense, providing spectacular results. Additionally, his strength, needlessly mentioned, is superior to mine."

Go on, say it. Kankuro glanced at Temari from the side of his gaze. She was staring them down relentlessly. He's a jinchuuriki. You don't want him to be Kazekage because he's a jinchuuriki.

"Gaara-sama," all of their eyes landed on Sakyu, who's own entertainment with the situation matched Temari's but none of the stake, "Gaara-sama is a jinchuuriki, is he not? A jinchuuriki cannot be a Kage."

"There's no denying that," Temari answered, "however-"

"Forgive my rudeness, Temari-dono," Sakyu inclined his head slightly in her direction, "but if we are speaking of Gaara-sama becoming our Kazekage, I would prefer to hear him speak."

For a split second, Temari was taken by surprise, but swiftly and gracefully recovered herself. "Of course. Gaara," she turned to her brother, "you may take the floor."

Gaara nodded and waited for Sakyu's questioning.

"Gaara-sama, some would say it would be inappropriate for you to become the Kazekage because of your status as a jinchuuriki. Jinchuuriki, under every village, during every time, have been created in those who were related to or close to the Kage at the time. This can be seen in the lightning nation with the Raikage's B, and even in our own previous Kage with you. If you were to become Kazekage as a jinchuuriki, you would be disrupting the status quo. What would you like to say to that?"

"The jinchuuriki are a symbol of power among the nation of shinobi. If a nation were to lose their Tailed Beast, they would be in danger of being raided, and questioned. I don't think it's so much a problem of status quo but of the fact that an object cannot become a leader."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Jinchuuriki aren't seen as people. They are objects of power that must be tied to the village, thus the Kage, so they do not betray the village. I wish for the board and the people of my village to see me as a person."

"Are you accusing us of disrespect?"

"I am not accusing anyone of anything, but pointing out a way of thought that may be the underlying reason of your refusal to appoint me as a leader. So I implore you to consider me as a person and not an object. I am also aware of my importance to the village, and what better way to keep me from harm's way but appointing me to a glorified desk job."

There were some amused huffs and hateful scowls at these words. Sakyu persisted.

"Being Kazekage means you are the face of the village. If you, a jinchuuriki, were our Kage, would the rest of the villages take us seriously?"

"I will make them take me seriously. If they are prejudiced because of my service as a jinchuuriki, that is their shame and not ours."

"You have amazing confidence."

"I would be most grateful if I could also have the confidence of the board."

The two of them stared at the other, Sakyu frowned as he held Gaara under heavy scrutiny. After he was satisfied, Sakyu leaned back into his seat, indicating that he was finished.

"We could give it to you," spoke up Toge, "but we question some of you and your sibling's actions. Such as adopting an orphan from the streets, which is already a major commitment and gives us doubt in your decision making."

The mood around the table shifted.

Here it was.

It's begun, and everyone was anxious to see how it would end.

"Her name seems to be Suzume," said the senior councilman looking down at the packet that was given out prior to the meeting, "and she's a genin as of last graduating year."

"She's one of the subjects of the second topic of today's meeting it appears. Her first C-rank mission already reveals her failings as a shinobi. She was the primary reason one of the patrons were killed. A bit young to already have a casualty under her name."

"Placing the blame on a genin is immature of the council, especially since I have already discussed with them the true reason behind the death of one of our patrons. The responsibility falls on myself." Baki said.

A councilor spoke over him. "She has also been known to disregard authority, has committed multiple accounts of insubordination, and her peers have complained of her actions and attitude multiple times."

"To have such a person associated with your titles, perhaps it would be better to relinquish ties in advance to avoid any other mishaps."

"If we were to relinquish ties to our sister over something like reputation, we would be presenting an image of false compassion and shaky resolve. We adopted Suzume in a promise that we would care for her as one of our own. Saying we want no more to do with her after an experience that would be traumatizing for a child of her age would be disgraceful."

"It is unprecedented for persons of your stature to have adopted in the first place. Your family name isn't one to be thrown around to just anybody. Think of how the lineage will be affected. How will the property and titles be distributed with an outsider involved?"

"Suzume is family now, she is part of the Kazekage's name. She will be given the respect she deserves."

"There is no blood involved, she has no right to a title or any sort of property!" was an outburst.

"Then all we ask is for her right to stay as our surrogate sister without any questions."

"If you want the girl to stay, Gaara-sama who already has complications, will have a harder time becoming the Kazekage. If it was Temari-dono, we would of course do so with no questions."

Temari's eyes flared, "Is this coercion, Councilman Koyo?"

A hand fell with a huge thud onto the tabletop and the room was silent once more. The old Councilman Dorai had slammed his hand in order to bring peace again. He cleared his throat and looked in disappointment at the three council members at the top of the table. "Isn't this all wrong, Councilman Saboten? In the first place, the subject of scrutiny wasn't to be the young genin, but you and your supporters."

"Your actions are deplorable," Ryusa spat. "To think you three could fall so low."

"Men and women of the council," Dorai said, "there was a significant jailbreak of convicted shinobi and now these rogues are loose in our nation. This is a shame upon us all. However, the ones who hid this information from both our forces and community were Councilman Saboten, Koyo, and Nousa without consulting the rest of the board. And we would like to know why."

They watched as all three of them rose and bowed.

"We deeply apologize," Saboten said. "We were only attempting to keep the peace of the village and that might have put the people in even further danger."

Temari had to contain her incredulity as her head spun through flurrying thoughts in her head. They've never apologized for their actions. Ever. It was preposterous. What does it mean? What are they trying to do? What could they hope to gain from this? This doesn't make sense.

A light tap on her knee brought her back and she saw Kankuro's leg retreat again. She looked up at the side of Kankuro's face, he was looking straight at the bowing counselors. She looked to Gaara and Baki at her right and saw that they also had their eyes on the three, dissecting them in their heads.

"It would be wonderful if the board were to help us in retrieving the rogues," Koyo said once they were standing straight again.

Temari didn't know what they were trying to do, but they can alter their actions accordingly later. She stood from her seat. "As a matter of fact, we have a proposal relating to this situation."

Right now, it was imperative they secure their plans. "We, a team made up of Baki's team 15 with Kankuro and Gaara and I, shall take it upon ourselves to bring the rogue shinobi back into the hands of authorities and we will bring our sister to instruct her in the proper ways of a shinobi. She will be allowed to finish what she started."

"What do you think of this, Councilman Saboten?" Dorai said.

"We will be doing our best to right this wrong ourselves, but if Gaara-sama and his team wish to work alone I don't see why the extra effort is not welcome. It may even be a chance to prove themselves."

"And if you don't succeed you will cease all connections and contact with this girl?" Toge said.

"And if we do succeed, her status will never be questioned again?" Kankuro replied a bit heatedly.

Councilwoman Jaya closed her eyes and shook her head in disapproval.

"Who is this girl that you would wager your entire future for her?" Councilman Dorai asked now.

"She's family," Gaara said.

"Why did you in fact adopt the girl? You three have never given the board a clear answer. It is most unorthodox for any family of the Kazekage to accept a person of different blood into their ranks, so why... her?"

"It just happened, Councilman. And we've come to cherish her like family."