Andromeda & Aburame

Chapter 27: Sides

Shino's POV:

Lord Tsuchikage: "She can't be trusted if she attacked the people who saved her, what would she do to complete strangers in the village or in the world for that matter."

For a time we bickered back and forth at one another, me, and my comrades against the kage but I couldn't get through to them. Just as I was giving up hope, I heard a voice rise above the others, one filled with a depth of outrage and sadness that echoed my own feelings that I just couldn't get across.

Sayuri: "ENOUGH! Listen to yourselves squabbling like children, not listening to what anyone but yourself is saying. I thought that the Kage were supposed to be the wisest and strongest among all ninja."

Raikage: "HONORABLE SISTER! How dare you speak to us this way, have you forgotten who it is you're addressing!? Lord Hokage control your sister or get her out of here!"

Sayuri: "My name is Sayuri Hatake not Honorable Sister and I refuse to be quieted and I refuse to leave. Even you couldn't drag me out of here Raikage."

The calm voice of Lord Kazekage quieted everyone.

Lord Kazekage: "We have heard Shino speak, perhaps it is time we hear what the others have to say."

Why couldn't I be like the two of them? Sayuri rarely got angry, rarely asserted any authority, so when she did people listened to her. And Lord Kazekage possessed such an earthly calm, he rarely spoke and when he did people couldn't help but hang onto every word he spoke. For once I wish that someone would think what I had to say was important, that I was worthy of being listened to.

Lord Tsuchikage: "Why bother listening to them Lord Kazekage. Bottomline is, that girl is an Ōtsutsuki, so as it stands there is nothing more to discuss in my opinion."

Rock Lee: "No! The bottom line is that she is a human being! She is our comrade!"

Lady Mizukage: "You're the taijutsu Chūnin who fought on the front lines right? Might Guy's protege I believe?"

Rock Lee: "Yes Lady Mizukage I am."

Lady Mizukage: "If memory serves me correctly, your sensei permanently lost the ability to walk and nearly died in the war. That girl, her people are the ones who pulled the strings and caused the war. Do you truly want to defend such a "person"?"

Lee's gaze turned icy as he looked at her, it was the first time I saw him truly angry.

Lee: "Do not talk of my sensei's sacrifice in that manner. He was willing to sacrifice everything for the ninja world including people like you. He taught me the value in living and the value of dying, I see no value in Andromeda dying."