A/N: This takes place right before the Chunin Exams and will be some Suna characters that I take from both filler and canon (mixed in with more than a couple of OC's). This will follow canon but will have my own inserts to fill in the gap of Gaara's journey to becoming Kazekage.

Hope you enjoy!

Ch 1 - The Perfect Pawn

Hitomi knelt patiently as she waited for her father to make the next move. The tatami room he had specifically designed in their house was for tranquility and relaxation but Hitomi had always found it the most uncomfortable place to be. They were the only private residence in Sunagakure to even have a room like this.

The flat pillow under Hitomi's knees, although made with expensive and soft fabric, did not stop the aching in her legs that she had come to expect. It usually arrived at least halfway into her and her father's first game of shogi.

Rare desert flowers lined against the back of the room and its perfume would usually leave Hitomi with a headache by the start of a second game. Although Hitomi couldn't see the flowers, she knew they were brightly colored and very beautiful. Her father would only want the best.

The room was also too quiet for Hitomi's comfort. The household staff worked under strict orders to keep movement to a minimum whenever the master and his daughter was in there. Same applied to when they had guests. Usually, Hitomi heard the shuffling of feet, the scrubbing of floors, and the slight whisperings among the help that they thought she didn't notice. People seemed to think that just because Hitomi was blind, her hearing wasn't too great either.

As much as the room bothered her, Hitomi was as still as a statue and hid away any signs that most of her senses were being steadily attacked. Hitomi might not be able to see but she knew the importance of appearance. Her father had made sure of that.

This room was a subtle reflection of the wealth and power of Hitomi's family and it was confined to this room only. After all, a shinobi did not bother with extravagance or luxury and should not get lured into the temptation of money.

Hitomi's father, Katsuo Saboten, was the picture perfect example of what a Suna shinobi strived to be. He had his sand turban wrapped around neatly on his head, hiding his short and soft black hair. He wore no forehead protector as his long beige robe was enough to signify to the village his role as one of the Council members.

He watched his daughter like a hawk and then his dark brown eyes moved to the game table between the two.

Clack.

"7-6 pawn," her father said in a hushed voice.

Hitomi gracefully lifted her hand while pulling back the sleeve of her dark green kimono with the other. She ran the tip of her finger over a shogi piece in front of her, feeling the grooves to confirm that it was the pawn, and then daintily pushed it forward. She brought her hands back into her lap and she nodded her head to her father.

There was another minute of silence before Hitomi could hear any movement from across the board.

Clack.

"6-5, lance," her opponent stated.

Hitomi tilted her head to the side. Her father was playing aggressively today and experience taught her that it could only mean two things. Either he was feeling extremely confident about something or extremely anxious. She smiled internally and pushed her lance piece forward. Fighting his aggression with her own was the best way to get to the bottom of it.

"Hmph," her father huffed.

So it was anxiety.

"Is something bothering you, Father?" Hitomi asked, "Did the Council not vote your way on something?"

Katsuo's eyes narrowed at Hitomi but a small proud smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He should've known that his clever daughter would cut right to the heart of the matter. After all, he had taught her everything she knew about reading people. Still, despite being impressed, he knew that this conversation was not going to be in his daughter's favor.

"Both the Kazekage-sama and the Council voted in my favor," Katsuo replied as he picked up a small wooden tile, "But that is not what is on my mind. I have some bad news."

Clack.

"5-6, pawn," he stated.

There was no flash of surprise or worry that crossed his daughter's face. She knelt silent and still, which was a miraculous feat for a 12 year old girl in and of itself. Her eyelids didn't even flutter and were kept solidly closed. She was calm, poised, and everything he had shaped her to be. The perfect political pawn.

"It's about the Chunin exams…"

His eyes scanned her face slowly to gauge her reaction. There still wasn't any.

"I know I promised I would take you the next time they held a cross-village exam," he continued, "But I will need to break that agreement. I can't take you to Konoha with me anymore."

His daughter's chin lifted slightly and her lips pursed just a touch. It was subtle but did not go unnoticed by Katsuo's wary eyes. His daughter was not happy with this news. "May I know why?"

"No," Katsuo said and looked down at the board, "Not this time."

"I'm sure you have your reasons," Hitomi kept her tone calm and steady, despite the anger building up inside her, "But I also have my reasons to go, Father."

She was met with the sound of wood brushing against wood. "My decision is final," her father answered, "Knight 7-3."

Hitomi's clenched fists were hidden under her long sleeves as she pressed them against her lap. Her father was still playing aggressively so something else was weighing on his mind. It wasn't just about her not going to Konoha. He wouldn't be anxious over breaking a promise like that anyways. He wasn't a man of his word. He was a politician at heart, after all.

"Is something going to happen at Konoha?," she asked softly, "Is the Council planning something?"

She could feel the tension in the air and her father's sharp inhale. "That is none of your concern," he said gruffly, "And it is your move now."

Hitomi kept her hands where they were. "How can I play when someone has already moved my pieces on my behalf?" she asked.

She could practically hear her father's jaw clench. "I know I have always discussed Council matters with you but this time, I can't," he said with a hint of frustration, "This is something that you are too young to deal with."

"Is this about my age?" Hitomi asked, "Or about the fact that I'm not a kunoichi?"

"I admit that if you were a shinobi then it would help in the matter but like I said, this is one political lesson that is too early for you to learn from. Now, it is your move."

Hitomi refused to budge. "I have beaten you consistently for the last three months, Father, and I will win this game too."

"You cannot know the outcome of a game without seeing it through. No matter how many rounds you've won," he lectured, "There are more possible moves in a game of shogi than drops of water in the ocean."

"But it's still a number you can count."

Thwack!

Katsuo slapped his daughter across the face. Her expression was unmoving. She was already expecting the punishment. Her cheek was starting to redden but that seemed to be the only effect it had on her, which angered her father even more. "I will not have this discussion anymore!" he ordered.

She bowed her head, feeling her long black hair spill over her shoulders. "Yes, Father," she replied calmly, "I apologize for talking back. Shall we continue the game?"

"I accept your apology but I am no longer in the mood to play," Katsuo said and got up to his feet. He slid open the rice papered door and glared down at the muscular shinobi at his feet. He was asleep on his side with his head resting against his left hand while a heavy naginata sat on his back.

"Hitomi?" Katsuo requested from his daughter without taking his eyes off of the offensive napper.

"Tamotsu!" Hitomi called out and immediately the napper opened his eyes, revealing dark grey irises. He grinned lazily up at the head of the household.

"Oh. Game done already? That was fast," he yawned without even moving from his position, "She's beating ya quicker and quicker, Katsuo-senpai. Ya better find her a better opponent or else I won't get my nap time anymore."

"Get out of my way," Katsuo said tersely, "And put your headband back on. You are still a shinobi of this village, after all."

Tamotsu's smile never faltered while he sat up and scooted out of Katsuo's way. He stretched out his tan arms and then scratched his chin, which was littered with dark brown stubble that was many shades darker than his actual, sandy brown hair.

He placed his head cover back on his head and then tied his symbolic Sunakagure forehead protector over it. It was the only indication that he was an active shinobi as he wore dark grey sweatpants and a loose red t-shirt with a happy face painted sloppily on it in yellow. He watched lazily as Katsuo walked down the hallway and into his office. Someone's in a mood again.

The shinobi shrugged it off and then casually strolled over to his employer. He didn't even bother helping her to her feet and just scooped her up in his arms. He was aware that the girl needed time for her blood to circulate back through her legs after these meetings with her father.

His good humored grin left his face when he saw the handprint on hers. "Tch," he grunted, "Katsuo-san seems to be more and more on edge these days."

She sighed and folded her hands lap while he carried her towards the kitchen. "Wasn't entirely his fault. I provoked him."

Tamotsu rolled his eyes. "Little Hito?," he asked sarcastically, "The innocent princess?"

"I know you're joking," she replied solemnly, "But you and I both know I am no princess. I am just a pawn."

Tamotsu scowled as he brashly kicked open the door to the kitchen and marched in. It was being occupied by the housekeeper, the new cook, and a young, blonde woman. The woman's blue eyes narrowed and she wordlessly went to the freezer while the housekeeper and cook scrambled to their feet. Tamotsu set Hitomi on the kitchen counter while the woman placed an ice pack against Hitomi's cheek.

"Thank you, Michiko," Hitomi said quietly.

The cook, who was a middle-aged man with scars all along his hands and arms, looked at the old housekeeper in surprise. "I thought you said the lady of the house was blind?," he murmured to his new boss.

"Blind? Yes. Deaf? No," Tamotsu barked with his back turned to the cook.

The cook began to sweat nervously but then the lady in question smiled politely at him. It caught him off guard because she had turned her head so that she could face him full on as if she knew exactly where he stood. Except he was sure she couldn't, not just because she was blind, but because her eyes were still closed.

"It's okay," she said, placing a hand on Tamotsu's arm to indicate no offense was taken, "He's not the first and he won't be the last to wonder that."

The housekeeper wrung her hands on the bottom of her apron. "I'm so sorry, Hitomi-san. It's his first day and I haven't gotten around to telling him everything yet."

Hitomi directed her smile at the housekeeper. "It's okay, Kinu-san and if you keep doing that to your apron, I'll have to buy you two a year instead of just one," she said with a smile, "Besides, it's my fault for coming in here so unexpectedly."

She then returned her attention back to the new cook. "Kyo-san, I remember on your application you are a retired shinobi?"

Kyo nodded and immediately felt foolish. He cleared his throat. "Y-Y-Yes, Hitomi-san. That is correct but how do you know what was on my application?"

"Idiot," Tamotsu scoffed, 'Ya think Granny Kinu does all the hirings by herself? Hitomi-san is the lady of the house so all the staff answer to her."

Hitomi kept her focus on Kyo. "You'll have to excuse Tamotsu. He's grumpy when he doesn't get to nap."

"More like when he's hungover," Michiko muttered.

"You're one to talk, Hito," Tamotsu grumbled at the same time.

"But since you are familiar with jutsu, then this makes it easier to explain," Hitomi continued and choosing to ignore her two companions, "I am blind. I can't see what is physically around me. However, my mother was a sensory type and it seemed that it passed down to me."

"She can see our chakras," Tamotsu explained bluntly and then finally turned around to glare at the cook, "Now ya know so get out."

The housekeeper quickly bowed her head towards Hitomi and then nudged the cook to do the same. "Please excuse us, Hitomi-san," Kinu requested.

Hitomi nodded her head. "You're excused."

"Thank you, Hitomi-san," both Kinu and Kyo said at the same time and rushed out the kitchen. When the door shut behind them the young woman, who was still holding onto the ice pack, kicked Tamotsu hard in the shin.

"Ow! What was that for, ya damn stray?!" he huffed at his attacker.

"Men," Michiko huffed, "You should be more polite to Kinu-san and Kyo. They're the ones who are in charge of our food and housing, you know? And as for your father, Hito, he should know better than to hit a girl in the face. What if it leaves a bruise?! The face is the moneymaker you know."

"No wonder when we found ya, you were broke and near death," Tamotsu grunted, which earned him a kick to his other shin, "Ow! Stop doing that!"

"Drunk," Michiko growled.

"Tramp," Tamotsu snapped back.

"Enough, you two," Hitomi said and the two grown-ups instantly straightened up.

Hitomi took the ice pack from Michiko's hand and held it to on her own. "My father is a careful man so he wouldn't leave a mark on me. This was just a reminder," she said quietly, "He trained me to be who I am today but he could easily take that all away too."

"Hito, please stop playing these mind games with your father," Michiko pleaded, "I really can't stand it. Your father hit you for a reason and I know you didn't dodge the hit on purpose either. In fact, I don't even have to be there to know you provoked it."

Tamotsu scowl returned to his face and he leaned against the clay wall near the doorway as he shared a look with Michiko. He folded his arms across his chest. He always hated this topic.

"You are a person and not a tool, Hito. Just because your father thinks he can marry ya off to strengthen political ties one day doesn't make it right," he huffed, "And you shouldn't be involved in your father's ploys. I swear, sometimes I forget that he is a shinobi and think he's just a mouthpiece for the Daimyo"

"You're right. I shouldn't be involved in my father's political ploys," Hitomi said, which took her two guards by surprise. In the long years that they had been under her employment, neither of them had ever heard her take a direct stand against her father.

Hitomi turned towards Tamotsu with a determined look on her face. "I should be doing my own."

That completely blindsided Tamotsu and Michiko and they gaped at the girl. "What?!"

"Father just told me that he will not be taking me to the Chunin Exams," she stated, "But many important people will be there, which means I need to be there."

"Why would Katsuo-san suddenly decide not to take you?" Michiko demanded.

"He wouldn't tell me but I plan on going so I can find out why," she said, "Michiko. Tamotsu, get our things ready because we will be going to Konoha two days from now."

Michiko's eyes widened. "Wait! If your father finds out-"

"Father leaves tomorrow," Hitomi replied, "By the time he realizes I'm gone, we would already be at Konoha."

"Katsuo-san is a reasonable man. Proud and overly confident, yes, but he's smart," Tamotsu argued, "Something dangerous must be happening at Konoha and that is why he doesn't want ya there.'

"Of course something dangerous is happening," Hitomi said patiently, "The monster has entered the Chunin exams and has already made it to the final round. It's also a gathering of very powerful people from villages with a violent history with each other. It's the most dangerous place to be but that's you and Michiko's problem. Not mine. I hired you two for a reason. Your purpose is to protect me."

Michiko let out a sigh of defeat. "And what is your purpose?"

A smirk grew on Hitomi's face. "To be my own perfect pawn."