Affection Blooming From A Desert (Gaara x OC)

Chapter 10: War

It had been a week since the troops were deployed to the edge of Wind and Fire country. The battle proved to be much more difficult than either Kages anticipated. All the planning and scouting did not prepare them for the reinforcements that the rogues had amassed. Konoha had been flanked on the East and now were, unfortunately, fighting a battle on two fronts. This made breaking into the already impenetrable fortress that much harder. Things were not looking good so Gaara and Kakashi had agreed to contact Iwagakure for reinforcements of their own. Their Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi, had agreed to send forces immediately. Her father, Kitsuchi, was expected to arrive today by mid-morning with their troops.

Gaara stood around a table with a large map of the surrounding area laid on top. As the battle continued, he and his anbu commanders would plot the ever changing battle field on the map to gain the most updated information to inform their next moves. Gaara was discussing next steps with his commanders when a jonin entered the large tent.

"My Lord, Kitsuchi-sama has arrived." The jonin bowed and stepped aside. Kitsuchi entered the tent with a large grin on his face.

"Ah, Gaara. How are you, boy?"

"I am well, Kitsuchi-san. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Kitsuchi shook his head. "Don't worry about it, we're glad to provide whatever aid we can. Now how are things looking?" He asked, coming around the planning table to peer at the map.

The next hour was spent devising a plan. The first goal was to help alleviate pressure from Konoha's side and the second was to find a way to enter the fortress. The heavy waterfall created a barrier to the massive steel reinforced door. They had decided to send half of the Iwagakure troops to Konoha's side to out flank the rogues. The plan to break the door was to attack it with a steady stream of fire until the metal weakened enough for the earth-style users to break through the door. However, none of the Suna or Iwa nins were proficient fire users...they were all on the Konoha side. They hoped that by sending the Iwa nins to out-flank the rogues would provide the space for Konoha to assemble and send a team of fire-style users.

While Kitsuchi assembled a team to send, Gaara exited the tent to visit his troops at the edge of the barricade they erected. He gazed at the waterfall from where he stood. His sensory team had informed him that beyond the wall were over a hundred nins. Breaking into the fortress was one thing, but taking down the enemy and rescuing the prisoners on the other side was another thing.

"Gaara." Gaara turned his head to see Kitsuchi walking towards him. "I just deployed the team, if there are no delays we should expect Konoha's troops to be here within an hour."

"So...how are things at the village, boy?" Kitsuchi asked, trying to make conversation until something needed their attention.

"Good." Gaara replied, but in his mind everything was far from 'good.'

"Really? Nothing involving a particular lady friend of yours?" Gaara gave Kitsuchi a sidelong glance.

Kitsuchi answered the unspoken question. "I overheard some of your troops talking about the rumours."

Gaara sighed. He knew his troops would never disrespect him by talking about it near him, but it didn't mean that they wouldn't gossip about it in their own small groups.

"This war came at a wrong time." Gaara commented, still gazing at the entrance of the fortress.

Kitsuchi nodded slowly. "I'm guessing you didn't get the chance to set things straight before coming?"

Gaara shook his head. "She left the village after things blew up for a break."

"Ah. Well, hopefully she is back by the time we get things sorted out here."