Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Words Aren't Forgotten ❯ Sound is Back ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Sound was starting to rise again, and they wanted Gaara as a partner in their rapid movement of gathering others to join. Gaara shoved the scroll back into Leila's grasp as she glanced back at the scroll, it would be hard denying Sound, but Gaara had no choice. They betrayed Konoha before, so it was best to keep them as a close ally especially since Ura did such a good job forming strong bonds with them. Gaara took long strides back to his mansion as he had to plan how to deny Sound any partnership with their plan to bring them back to ultimate power. There was no way he would do them any favors after what he saw his father go through. It was risky buisness, but all he had to lose now was his only son, the last reminder of his life that was before.

Leila followed Gaara each step of the way, she had become his little sister in a sense as she tried to help him as much as she appropriately could. She found Kankurou wandering back to their home and grabbed his wrist, he had to come as well since she didn't want to be alone with Gaara. They followed Gaara all the way to his office where he paced the floor for a few minutes as he took a pencil and paper to write down his thoughts. Gaara had gotten rid of his advisors long ago, he didn't need them when Kankurou and Leila put in their input on every decision he made.

"Gaara, don't fall for this trick. Any move you make now will make a reaction," Kankurou took the scroll and read it silently.

"Sound only wants to force you to join, but there's no way you can. Our economy is at our lowest and the people can only take so much strife before they're going to go against you, Gaara," Leila stated as she glanced out the window.

"This has nothing to do with the economy," Kankurou snapped as he slammed the scroll on Gaara's desk, "This is a matter of warfare that you don't understand. Sound has us in a trap where it's going to be very difficult to get out of."

"This also deals with the people of this country, Kankurou," Leila spun around, her eyes ablazed with frustration, "There will be casualities if Gaara doesn't make the right desicion. People can suffer for his mistake!"

"And what if he makes the right choice and backs out of this situation without any chaos?!" Kankurou raised his voice slightly.

"Enough."

All went silent as Gaara finally spoke, he took the scroll and threw it across the room. His rage of the surprise was great as he sat down, it would've been so much easier if someone could give him some ideas. Gaara places his forehead in his palms as he tried to think. Sound was at his home front, it would only be a matter of time before they would send a messenger for his response. The safest bet would be to decline and prepare for the worst, but Gaara knew his shinobi and kunoichi were in no condition for an all-out war. Everyone was going hungry, the only thing that was growing was the school system. What was that supposed to do? Train the children to fight for the shinobi? Even Gaara was at his breaking point in hopes of finding some food for him and his son.

Times were tough, and Sound was just making it worse for his country. Gaara looked back up with his chin in his palm, "There's nothing much I can do...i'll have to seek my ally's councel in hopes of keeping the peace."

If anything, he would need Naruto's imput before anything else. Gaara stood up and took off his Kazekage uniform, he only allowed Kankurou to join him as they ran off towards Konoha. The last thing Gaara needed was a was that would end the ties between his country and Naruto. Konoha was keeping his people alive, and if they pull back because Gaara had betrayed their trust...Suna would be lost in desperation.

It took a few hours, but Gaara and Kankurou made it to Konoha in one piece. Gaara rushed towards the Hokage's mansion where he found Naruto sleeping on top of a few scrolls and books. Typical that Naruto would be trying to study after he graduated from school. Kankurou kicked the desk and Naruto just opened his eyes lazily, "What is it this time?"

"Sound sent me this," Gaara tossed the scroll on Naruto's desk and took a step back.

Naruto's deep blue eyes widened as he glanced back at Gaara, "You aren't planning on..."

"Why would I be here if I wanted to join? I'm looking for a solution with your country so my people won't be in a war," Gaara growled as he pointed in the direction of his country.

"Alright, alright, calm down," Naruto waved his hand in the air, obviously this was a very serious matter.

Kankurou waited near the door way, the whispering between Gaara and Naruto wasn't unusual to him anymore. They had a very strong ally bond between each other so both countries basically were one. He didn't need to be there, so Kankurou took his leave and went outside where the sun was beaming with the summer heating things up. It seemed ironic that such horrible news came on such a beautiful day for Konoha, Kankurou popped his neck at the thought.

"Kankurou? What are you doing here?"

He turned around to see Ino carrying a bag of groceries in each arm. Though she was a lesbian, Ino had aged with such grace and ease that Kankurou envied Sakura for having such a sexy partner. Her blonde hair wafted slightly as the wind caressed her, Ino's eyes were filled with curiousity as she came closer to him, "Is something wrong?"

"Ugh...just some news, Gaara came to Naruto for some advice and i'm just killing time," Kankurou shrugged as he averted his gaze.

"Oh, how about you come over? Sakura's home so it'll be fine to have a guest over for lunch," Ino smiled as she led the way.

Things seemed more perfect over in Konoha to Kankurou, everyone had a set routine for each day while his life was more spontaneous. Everyone seemed super happy as well. Kankurou could glance in each direction to see a smile on someone's face when his country simply frowned out of being tired, hungry, or just angry. He let out a quiet sigh at the differences between their countries, maybe Konoha could grow a little bit more for Suna people to enter there.

Ino led the way to her apartment with Sakura, who was very surprised to see him there. Sakura stood up when she saw Kankurou there and had a suspicious look on her face, "Hey...Kankurou."

"I invited him over for lunch, Gaara is getting advice from Naruto about something," Ino explained as she headed straight for the kitchen.

Sakura went over to Kankurou and pulled him into the living room, "It's not happening againg is it?"

"Sound had offered Gaara a position in helping them get some control. Gaara went to Naruto in hopes of forming some type of escape or plot to get out of this," Kankurou summed up the experience for her.

He could tell by Sakura's expression that the thought of Sound getting some power back made her remember their fight in that country. From the letters he found between Sakura and Ura, Sasuke wasn't even truly over his life in Sound either. Kankurou glanced at the window at the fate of Sasuke, he had formally ended his life as a shinobi and broke ties with Naruto. Sasuke was apart of the village, but he didn't fight for anyone's side anymore. Kankurou couldn't help but feel that was still a betrayl to his country, but it wasn't his life to give an opinion to.

"So...they're looking for Gaara as an ally... Does Osamu know?" Sakura asked as she gazed up at Kankurou.

"Not yet, but i'm sure Gaara will mention something to the village once he and Naruto come to a conclusion," Kankurou looked over at Sakura with a worried look.

"Hey you guys, lunch is gonna be a few minutes and... What's going on?" Ino came from around the corner, approaching the two of them.

Sakura pulled Ino aside and the gasp that Kankurou heard was more than an answer...



*~*~*~Suna~*~*~*


Leila had infomed Amane of what was going on and to why Gaara had left, but Amane just sat angrily in her seperate home. It was common that Leila was seen with Amane, but it bugged Leila to no end that people often noted them as 'sisters'. She had no intention on being close with Amane, but more along the lines of showing her the ropes of being married to a person of authority. Amane even called her a sister before, which Leila had more than willing corrected with the term as 'slight friend'. Leila just gazed sternly as Amane stirred in her frustratin.

"Gaara should return within a day or two," Leila commented as she sat across from Amane.

"He better... I don't see why I get left out. Gaara's the one who wanted to marry me," Amane toyed with the ring on her finger.

Not even close. Leila had remembered that day with such distaste, but she knew Gaara didn't have much of a choice. People were raging that he was controlling the people to hard and that maybe he should give up his power. Gaara was given the solution to marry an unknown kunoichi in hopes the people would see that he's just an average guy doing his best. Many people were then happy at the new change, but a very few were unhappy that he remarried a woman who knew nothing of Suna's history. Amane was merely chosen as a number, every female name was given a number to marry and her number came up. She was just a random guess while, in her mind, she believed that she was chosen by her skills and facial beauty.

Amane got up and paced her room, "You're my only friend here, Leila, what should I do?"

"I would stay out of it, even Kankurou didn't want me to go and i'm friends with a lot of shinobi over there," Leila stood up as Amane continued to pace.

"But i'm his wife, Gaara knows marriage is a partnership," Amane stated bitterly as she glanced over at Leila.

"You may have forgotten but i'm also married to Kankurou," Leila pointed to the ring on her finger.

"For two years, you two don't even have children," Amane crossed her arms, "It's different when you have children."

"You have none for youself as well," Leila pointed out as she pointed towards Osamu's house, "He's not yours, that son of Gaara's belongs to my sister, Ura. You have no heir of your family and you never will because Gaara won't touch you."

All went silent as Amane glared at Leila in such fury, how dare she bring up such a touchy subject. Everyone in the village knew Gaara wouldn't touch Amane in any place or situation. At their wedding, it was more military than anything. Gaara didn't hold her hands, kiss her, stroke her hair, or even gently tap her. To Gaara, Amane's skin was acidic and nothing would make him even think of touching her. Leila knew she went too far, but Amane had to remember her place in that family. She wasn't a welcome member with any status or place to make any remarks. It wouldn't be the first time Amane was set in her place, in fact it was on a constant, daily basis that either Leila, Gaara, Temari, and Kankurou told her where she stood below their level. Sometimes Leila felt sorry for Amane because of that, but it was days like that one that made Leila not truly care.

"I think you can leave..." Amane waved her hand towards Leila.

"This is my home, I paid for it to be built so it's you who should leave," Leila crossed her arms defiantly.

It was a lie, Gaara had paid for that home, but for power's sake Leila told Amane that she had that home built for her and her only. Amane growled angrily as she stomped out of the home. Leila sighed heavily as she slumped against the couch, she hated fighting with Amane because the woman always brought the worst out of her. Gaara had better get home soon, there were so many things that needed to be discussed and set.