Suna no Hoshi [Naruto Fanfic]

What I've Done

Rasa looked over his village, inwardly sighing to himself. The days passed were growing harder on the village, but there was really nothing he could do. Especially since that old bastard heading the Land of Wind was downsizing the budget to Suna and regulating missions to Konoha.

He frowned, trying to think of a way to save his village from ruin once more. The main attempt he’d tried had so far seemed a failure, and he could barely look at his own son because of it. Not because he was ashamed or disappointed in Gaara, but it seemed as if he’d condemned his own son for nothing...

I know you’ll take good care of him…and Gaara…

He winced, reminded once again of another boy he’d failed, along with words from so long ago.

“Kazekage-sama?” a male’s soft voice crowded into his office.

He turned slowly to face his brother-in-law tiredly.

“So you’ve heard the Council’s latest clamoring?” Rasa’s barely hidden sneer wasn’t loss on Yashamaru. “Even Chiyo-baasama has told me her worries about Gaara as a failure.”

The blond man flinched.

“Rasa, you know Gaara doesn’t mean to harm the others. It’s just that –”

“I’m not stupid, Yashamaru,” Rasa snapped. “I know my son doesn’t mean to harm any of them. It doesn’t stop the fact that he is harming them, and doesn’t stop the Council from freaking out.”

“Does he not perform well in your lessons?” the slightly older man asked gently.

Rasa’s shoulders slightly slumped, but not enough to willingly show emotion to someone, even if it was sort of family.

“Yes, he does well enough, I suppose. But that’s in lessons and what I teach him to do with his sand. Outside, his control seems to become nonexistent and he becomes more concerned about having people be with him. His sand reacts to his wants.”

“Perhaps if you spent more time with him, aside from training,” Yashamaru tried. “I know being around him hurts you, but it hurts him to be so alone.”

Rasa frowned at the other man, immediately closing up.

“I don’t have the time to coddle him. You do enough of it anyway,” he said stiffly.

Yashamaru sighed, changing the subject back. “There must be something we can do.”

“Gaara is a danger,” Rasa said tiredly. “Even you have to admit that. Without any control, he’ll continue to lash out –even if it is unconscious. People are still getting hurt. You tell me how I can help my son and show the Council he can still give Suna hope.”

“Maybe we can devise a test of some kind?” Yashamaru thought up desperately.

The Kazekage frowned, but sat back and thought on it more.

“Yes, that would do. If we can test him and prove he can handle the power of Shukaku, then he will continue to be seen as valuable…and not drive me to an early grave with all this stress,” he firmly rubbed his forehead in agitation.

“How will we test him then, Rasa?” Yashamaru refrained from smiling sadly, knowing the other man wouldn’t appreciate it.

“…Corner him, Yashamaru. I want you to focus on psychologically. Lie to him about his mother, and we will see if Gaara can retain control of Shukaku,” he sat up and declared determinedly.

Yashamaru hesitated, “Rasa, are you sure that’s wise? His mother…Karura…”

Rasa flinched at the mention of his late wife and averted his eyes.