The Way Through Stone Village (Naruto)

36: Compromise?

[OP: Bitter Water-The Oh Hellos]

Kurotsuchi did appear a second later.

She found them all waiting almost in formation, thought it was unintentional.

It was a little daunting with so many people.

But she straightened and tried to look professional.

"My gra-- I mean, Lord Onoki sent me to tell you that he regretted making such a hasty decision," she said. "And he wants to take more time to consider what to do...so for now, he asks that you just wait."

"He does?" Temari said. "That was fast."

"Temari please," Gaara said again.

Temari wasn't falling into line as fast as she usually did when he said something, and it was bothering him.

Temari perhaps had gained a little more boldness about disagreeing with Gaara recently without even knowing it. At any rate, she wasn't sure he was being wary enough.

"Why did he change his mind?" Shine asked Kurotsuchi directly.

"I...he didn't say...Perhaps it was Lady Tsunade's protests," Kurotsuchi seemed uncomfortable.

Karin frowned.

"She's lying right?" Suigetsu asked.

"I can't tell," Karin said. "Her chakra is confused, but it's not as unsettled as if she was lying deliberately. I would more guess she doesn't know... and that bothers me already."

Shine probably could tell the same thing even without the special ability, since she frowned also.

"It seems Onoki is getting more flexible with time," she said in a tone that said she didn't believe it. "So he wants us to wait?"

"Yes," Kurotsuchi said.

"And he didn't say why?"

"Other than to think more carefully about the diplomatic way to handle this, no."

"Perhaps he realized that there wasn't enough reason to dismiss us yet," Gaara was relieved. "I knew he couldn't truly turn on us just over one conversation. He's more sensible that that."

"Hold on," Temari said.

"Temari, will you just stop it?" Kankuro hissed. "You're making us look bad."

Temari gave him a surprised and, honestly, somewhat hurt look.

"This is too convenient," Sasuke muttered behind Naruto and Sakura. "No way that's all there was to it."

"And you're an expert now?" Sakura said testily. "Since when could you read people?"

"Sakura," Naruto was uneasy. "Why are you being like this?"

"He must have take what I said seriously," Tsunade said. "He won't risk alienating two villages, possibly three."

"Well, I guess that's good," Wally wasn't as analytical as his partner, but he had very good gut instincts, and his was telling him this didn't quite sound right.

"So will you wait?" Kurotsuchi asked them.

"Of course," Gaara said. "We must give him more time."

"Must we?" Shine looked at him. "Gaara, this is not the time to argue, but, I'm not so sure we should stay. Once warned, it's usually best to proceed either with open defiance, or to clear out. Limbo is the worst thing you can do."

"I don't agree," Gaara said. "He was probably angry because of what you said an spoke rashly, but now his better judgment has told him that we can't be crazy. We must try to think better of him if we want to maintain peace. I'm a little surprised that you're the one who is suspicious here, Shine-sensei."