Chapter 6

The news of council elder Motomiya's death started several riots. By the second day, the people were mostly contained but the Kazekage and his party remained indoors. It was obvious that someone was trying to sabotage thee friendship Sunagakure was trying to build with Kirigakure, and whoever they were they were succeeding. Motomiya wasn't particularly loved, but his murder made it seem that Suna was actually trying to start an attack. The people of Kirigakure were notorious for being battle-loving. The era of killing each other had been put to a stop decades ago but there were still individuals from tose times that still refuse to disengage from that violent culture.

Haku was grim and silent as he stared out the window. On the sofa across frm him his companion said nothing as he glanced away from him, rubbed his throbbing temple and closed his dark-rimmed eyes.

Their investigations lead to nothing. There were no traces of the killer, and neither the servants nor family members from the elder's household saw or heard anything that could give a clue for them to solve the murder, which happened on the evening they had sealed away Sasuke's eyes. That meant that Sasuke definitely couldn't have done it because she had been unconscious on the very couch he was currently occupying. It had already been the morning after when she had awaken. Although Gaara had gone to his bedroom to sleep that night and the door had been closed, he was certain he would have awakened and heard her leave if she'd been the one who'd done it. Besides, she hadn't known where elder Motomiya's house was located. He really shouldn't waste his time suspecting the Uchiha, but he wanted to go through every possibilty.

Each of his men had been accounted for on that night. Definitely none from his own entourage was responsible for the crime. Mist villagers needed a lot more convincing though, and he really couldn't blame them. He had come personally to improve their relations by showing a measure of trust, and here he was failing miserably. The last few weeks of effort had been gradually bearing fruit, but this incident was completely reversing the effects and if they didn't figure out something soon it would turn out that his visit had only made things worse between their villages.

"If Naruto was in our position, he wouldn't give up." Gaara immediately felt better as he thought about their friend and said those words aloud. The Mizukage smiled as he turned his kind face towards him.

"He definitely wouldn't," the elder of the two answered. They both thought to themselves how amazing it was for one presence to be so far away yet so powerful that it could affect them. That was Naruto's light. The blonde could uplift their spirits without trying and without even knowing about it.

"Shall we have a late lunch before we continue solving this case?"

"Yes," the redhead answered his friend. "We deserve a break. I suddenly feel very certain that we'll be seeing the end of this soon enough."

It was very misty on the morning one week after the council elder's murder. The Kazekage's activities have resumed in the last two days. He had again started attending all the events scheduled months prior to his visit and made other appearances to address the issues regarding the recent incidents. The fact that he himself and every single one of his men were innocent of the crime was slowly being accepted by the villagers, althhough there were still small groups who rallied against Sunagakure. The diplomatic strategy seemed to be going back on track, but for true progression the culprits must definitely be caught.

Because of the heavy mist, Gaara's speech in the public square had been cancelled, and once again the entourage remained indoors in their current residence. Sasuke looked out the window of the room she shared with twenty-nine year-old Emiru. She could barely see anything outside, which meant that the streets were probably empty, except possibly for a few guards patrolling the village. An idea went around her could attempt to leave now. It really wasn't wise. She would most definitely get lost. But Gaara had been ignoring her for the most part recently, and he wouldn't be needing her today at all. Even if she wouldn't be able to escape, now would be a good time to see how far she could go in such weather conditions.

Emiru-san had just recently entered the bathroom, and she liked to take long, warm baths whenever the opportunity presented itself. Since today everything was cancelled, they were free to do whatever they want. Sasuke was certain it would be at least an hour before her roommate would make an attempt to remove herself from the water. Silently, she rose from her bed and slipped out of the room. Not wanting to go out the front door, she started heading to a small room in the second floor that she knew was used for storage. It faced the small garden in the back of the building and rarely anyone spent time there. Luckily, she didn't encounter any of her fellow residents on the way down, and when as soon as she arrived at her destination and shut the door, she went to the only window and jumped out onto a tree branch and then towards the high wall that surrounded the whole building.

Making sure the coast was clear, she landed beyond the wall gracefully and listened for a while. The mist not only obscured her sight but muffled the sounds as well. It was working both for her and against her, but Sasuke didn't mind. It was the only time she could attempt to roam freely and she wasn't about to miss out on her chance. Slowly, she began to follow the map in her head, heading to the direction away from the Mizukage's tower. There would obviously be more guards roaming there.

She was only half a block away where she came when a man turned the corner and they collided with each other. He wore a hood lowered over his eyes so his face wasn't completely exposed. Sasuke never heard any footsteps, and she herself had been sneaking away so he hadn't known she was coming either. Or so she first assumed until another person appeared from behind and locked an arm around her neck. At the same moment, the one she collided into brandished a blade from beneath his cloak.

She began moving without thinking. Before she could be held down further, she quickly clutched her hands behind her agressor's head and somersaulted him over her back and into the other with the weapon. They collapsed in a heap. She turned and ran back towards their apartments.

No one seemed to be coming after her. As soon as she climbed down the concrete fence of their residence, the glass doorway to the building opened and the Kazekage stepped out. Since she was almost directly behind a tree and some thick bushes and because she wasn't moving he didn't immediately notice her until he turned his head and his gaze fell on her.

Briefly, he looked surprised, but then his expression quickly turned stoic. Judging from his reaction, he had no idea that she had just come from outside. They were separated by more than ten feet of space. In silence, they stared, both unsure what to do. Neither of them had any intention of saying anything either. Sasuke sighed and began stepping out of the shrubbery.

It was then that something went over the wall from outside and they both heard it land on another part of the garden.

It exploded.

Sasuke was closer to the explosion. It threw her back roughly and her head collided into something hard.

Her ears had been ringing for a long time before she could find the strength to open her eyes. Heavy smoke and some flames appeared before her blurry vision before blood dripped over her eyes and obscured her vision further. She understood then that the men from before had been planning to attack the Kazekage and his men. They had probably seen her leave and decided for a more certain process of elimination.

Standing was not an option. She could barely move. She knew that more explosions followed when she felt the earth create more tremors. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve and trying to look around again, she saw Gaara crawling towards her, his hair as if it was flame itself. He was calling out to her, but she couldn't hear him. His temple was also bleeding.

The morning had started so quiet and peaceful, and now the world wouldn't stop ringing and was so full of chaos. it reminded her how things could change in a moment. She should know. A decade ago her whole life had changed overnight.

Clenching her fists, she rolled to her side and herself for the onslaught of headaches. She looked up towards Gaara whose hand reached for her arm, urging her to stand. They had to get out of the garden before they could get burned. It was also possible that more bombs would come. Leaning against the less-injured Kazekage, they found their way out around the building, which was also assaulted with bombs inside.

Sasuke awoke in the hospital later that evening. Three of Gaara's men died in the explosion, including Gaara's secretary, Saeki, and everyone else sustained injuries although none were life-threatening.

In another part of the hospital, Gaara's fists shook as he stared out into the misty evening. When Haku entered his room, the younger man's palms were bleeding from the cresent wounds his nails had caused. A firm grip rested on his tense shoulder, and without looking behind him Gaara knew what it meant. Reassured that he had his friend's support, he calmed slightly.

"I'm sorry this happened," Haku said to him. "I will not let this go unpunished."

The Mizukage meant his words. He had vowed to protect his village and his people, and he had vowed to protect his friends as well.

He burned with his own resolve as he left the room.

Made two updates in two days. I'm on a roll.