(Gaara and Toph)

Chapter 5

Toph’s POV

As we neared the village, my eyes widened, the entire village was made out of sand – earth! I would be in complete control. I could like it here, I thought, smiling. I quickly recomposed my face, what was I thinking? I needed to get back to my world; my officers needed me. I smirked, after I disappeared off the airship, I bet I’d be able to convince the council they were too unpredictable to use.

“Welcome back, Gaara-sama!” the two people guarding the gate bowed to the earthbender enthusiastically. “But, who is that with you?” they asked, pausing.

“Perhaps a new addition to the village,” he responded. Hmph, I was leaving as soon as I could figure out how. I was surprised at how warmly they greeted him, he didn’t seem like the type to have friends.

I followed him to a large, round building, and we started up the winding stairs. He stopped in front of a room with a bunch of people seated around a table inside. "Wait here," he said, pushing aside the curtain and walking inside. 

Gaara's POV

"Good, you are all here." The council members looked up in surprise as I walked in. "I know this is unannounced but something has come up. I found a girl outside the village. I think she would make a valuable addition to our ranks, which we all know are still in the proccess of being replenished. Her background is unknown, but I'm fairly certain she is not from an enemy village." 

"Preposterous," Joseki exclaimed, slamming his hand down on the table, "You can't just bring in random people from outside the village. True, we need more shinobi, but they need to be people we can trust! If you let her in, she'll be a danger to the village?"

--

I was sitting on the roof, just outside the meeting room, knees wrapped tightly to my chin.

One voice began the meeting. "We have adjourned this meeting to discuss the development of Gaa - the Jinchuriki," he finished, unable to say my name, the name of his son. 

"He killed 9 men!"

"He broke my sons leg!"

"He can't be controlled!"

"He's a monster."

On and on they went. I lifted my head, "No, you've got it all wrong," I whimpered, "I never meant to hurt those people! They attacked me first!" All I could do was bury my head further into my knees.

"Yondaime, I know he's your son, but we have to eliminate him. He's a danger to the village," finished one voice.

--

I faced that voice again and said, "Well, some people once thought I would be a danger to the village, but I'm sure now they have been convinced otherwise, right Joseki?" I watched him squirm under my gaze. 

"How do you know she's not a threat?" Goza asked.

I stepped outside and led the girl in. "Examine her chakra network. She is not a shinobi. She is also blind," a murmur went up at the last remark.

"She's blind?" Joseki scoffed, "Then how can she become a shinobi? She'll disgrace our village!" She stiffened at the last remark and shot one of her metal ropes toward Joseki, wrapping it around his neck and yanking him toward her. 

"I'm going to disgrace your village? Well, you should be ashamed of yourself, getting totally outmatched by a simple blind girl," she growled, releasing him roughly back into his seat.

The council broke out into a noisy clamor. I glanced over at the girl to make sure she would behave herself.

"I thought she wasn't a shinobi!!"

"I thought she was blind!"

"Unpredicatble - just like him!"

"How do we know she can be trusted?"

I put a hand up and they quieted down. "Though she is not a shinobi, she is able to weild earth, and by extension sand and metal. She also senses her surroundings using her "bending" as she called her ability. I will vouch for her. She can stay with me, Kankuro, and Temari, so she won't be a danger to the village. I will take care of her if she makes a move against the village."

I waited as the council members began talking amongst themselves again. I felt confident they would agree once I said she would stay with me. No matter how skilled, no blind girl would be able to get past me. And, like always, some harbored the secret hope that, given her display of strength, maybe she'd be able to kill me. My prospective death, no matter how slim the chance, seemed to be a strong motivator for one council member in particular. I looked on impassively as he cleared his throat self-importantly and announced, "Alright. The council has decided she may remain with you. But, you will be held responsible for all of her actions."

"Thank you," I replied. I turned toward the girl, "Let's go." I was mildly surprised she had stayed quiet during the meeting. She had been pretty vocal when I met her on the dunes, glad to know she could behave herself.

Toph's POV

I smirked in satisfaction as I watched the old man's eyes go wide with surprise over getting one-upped by a blind girl. That's right. It was getting rather boring back at home, where everyone knew I was a kick-ass bender. It was just like good old times, the gape-mouthed reaction I used to get when people found out I wasn't just a helpless rich girl. After that, however, things got boring fast.

Oh man, it was even worse than the council meetings Sokka had to go to. My previous life as the daughter of a rich family had me well-versed in the art of zoning out while keeping a pleasant smile on my face. In Republic City, I would've just knocked their heads together, but one look at the guy named "Gaara" told me it wouldn't be a good idea. So, zoning out it was.

I blinked in surprise as he said, "Let's go." I started as I realized he had already left the room, and then quickly turned around and followed him out. 

"Hey, where are we going?" I asked.

"My house. I live with my brother and sister. You will be joining us," he said. 

Meh, sorry, not much happened in this chapter...I was going to include her meeting Kankuro and Temari in this chapter, but it looks like it'll take a while to write cuz I'm doing some research on them, soooo I just decided to upload this for now.

Oh! And I dedicate this to MariaPaolini because she was the first to comment ^^ thank youuu <3