Sand and Snow

Chapter 31 - A Traitor in the Dark

Chapter 31

A Traitor in the Dark

A week has passed since the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron.

As they returned through the valley cliffs of Suna, the young Kazekage immediately called for a meeting with the Suna Council to discuss the results of the summit and the proclamation of impending war. Heeding Sōhei's advice, Gaara reluctantly ordered his siblings to stay quiet on the matter concerning Kenzō until the matter of war was settled. We don't want to cause a scene but I'll drag him from the council chambers myself if that's what it takes. Sitting in the same room as the councillor was nothing short of uncomfortable. Kankurō watched him carefully while Temari pretended he did not exist, and Gaara made sure to watch him during the conversations taking place.

You're the only dissident I missed after my inaugration. You may have fooled my father, but you'll never fool me.

In a ghostly silence with her clipboard in hand, Nomasaki stood idly behind his chair in the council's chambers, observing him discuss the summit with his siblings and councilmen as ANBU guarded the perimeters of the chambers. The shadows of the previous Kazekage hung over the table as the afternoon light of the sun gleamed through the windows, their intimidating glances of stone swallowing the conference in cold silence. She wondered if the past Kazekage could sense the tension within the room, or if they could tell the scent of treachery. It would be a tasteless question to ask men who were done in by their own people.

Shocked, the council stammered at the mention of war, the ten-tails, and the Infinite Tsukuyomi – the Akatsuki's end goal for world domination. A genjutsu of true horror and might, it was said it could grasp the fate of humanity in its clutches for time immemorial. They would all be husks for whatever world the Uchiha envisioned, looping through their hearts desires until their life ended. For the elders, it was something very difficult to believe but in the end they speculated it could cost the great villages dearly in victory and in lives.

It would mean the end of the world.

"It can't be helped," A councilmen grit his teeth, frustratedly. "The Akatsuki have grown too much of a threat to be further ignored... Swift action must be taken by all five great nations! Time is of the essence! We must make haste!"

"I agree. Suna must step forth a battle strategy to support the proposed Allied Shinobi Alliance." Another added. "We must establish connections with the villages as soon as we can if we are to defeat Uchiha Madara and his army."

"Raikage-sama was appointed the head of the Alliance, as the Supreme Leader." Temari added, calmly. "Gaara will be the Regimental Commander, as well as the commander of the Fourth Division."

"Kazekage-sama," Baki began, turning to him. "Is this true?"

Nodding once, Gaara glanced to him, his expression stern. "Yes, we've begun drafting battle plans for war... set to take effect within the next few months, at the end of the summer."

"It's soon," Kankuro chimed in, as he sat beside his younger brother. "But any time is good time. This gives us a chance to refine our strategies and attack formations."

Across from them, a councilman scoffed to himself. Kenzō. He was no more amused as the other councilmen, but also relished in the news. Silently, Nomasaki stood far behind the Kazekage before the towering statues, her head hung low as she avoided any eye contact with the one who struck her only days before. Although the ANBU guarded the chamber, she still feared for her safety while so close to him. She was bruised along her cheekbone, the indents still fresh in her memory. And her back was scarred from the lashes. Even though tracker-nin under Moro's command stood on guard within the shadows, she still wondered how long it would be until Kenzō sent his men to attack her out in the open. Surprisingly, no one noticed her bruises nor said a single word. As she looked down in her thoughts, her eyes were slightly widened and panic-stricken. Fearful of the idea of war and the massive chakra that would be the ten-tailed beast, its strength unfathomable in her mind.