While this might seem the safest course, this plan also held a great risk…if he was able to conquer either Kumo or Iwa like he conquered Kiri, practically from one day to the next,…then Suna would have no choice other than to surrender.
Still, this would be an act of war…it was not something for a Kage to choose on his own.
The young Kazekage sighed…this was a horrible situation. The whole nation was at this point, on the very edge of a power struggle that could escalate into the largest war this world had ever witnessed.
And all because of one Jinchuriki.
Kirigakure: Training ground 22
Guan entered the training field and found Ginchiko. Her back was to him as she practiced her Kata with her blade. Bandages were still wrapped around her, and small stains of red could be seen on them, as well as her heavy breathing. All indications that she should not be out of the hospital. He walked behind her, intent on ceasing her training before she injured herself further.
She suddenly spun around sword already swinging. But he had been expecting it, having seen the Kata many times over. So he calmly brought up his arm, which held a small metal arm bracer which he used to block her blade with a loud resounding -Clang- of steel against steel
She gasped, and the unexpected resistance nearly knocked the blade right out of her grip. "Gu-Guan? What in the-"
"I believe…" He interrupted calmly as he lowered his arm. "That you were not due for your release from the medical ward for at least another week."
She scoffed, as she fixed her grip on the sword again. "I cant stay there I'll lose my mind. Now if you…What the hell happened to your eye?" She asked, only now noticing the new patch covering the wound.
He raised his hand and absently rubbed the spot around his eye. "Two talented girls…I was careless and they were stronger than I anticipated."
She looked at him incredulously for a moment before she spoke. "Its not like you to underestimate anyone." She then shrugged before she turned to leave again.
"Ginchiko." Guan called her retreating form. "Have you decided on your allegiance in this war?"
"Have you?"
She questioned a little harshly.
There was a pause that Guan did not bother to break, waiting for her to eventually fill the silence.
"Are you really going to stay with him?"
Guan nodded. "Yes…" He spoke solemnly yet fiercely.
She took a deep breath as she looked up to the sky. "Then I suppose…I'm with him too then." She then turned and smirked at him. "After all, someone has to make sure you don't loose your last eye." She taunted before walking off.
Guan smirked before he made his leave in the opposite direction.
And as he made his way through the village, that they had been fighting for so fiercely, he could not help but recall his brother.
'Hidetada, my brother. Though I may have failed you in life, I swear I will do everything within my power to fulfill your dream in your stead."
Mika growled as she lazily tossed kunai, hitting the bulls eye repeatedly with a hard 'Thunk' sound as she pulled the kunai back with a wire.
'Unite the land…that's no good, then I cant kill anymore…'
-Thunk-
'If he unites the land, then the chaos will end…'
-Thunk-
'And if the chaos ends…'
-Thunk-
'Then my fun ends…'
-Thunk-
'And we cant have that now can we?'
Sunagakure: Market district.
Inuzuka Kiba promptly spit out the contents in his mouth, which consisted of a fried eel, rice, and some green peppers all over one Nara Shikamaru as he rounded on the Suna Kunoichi sitting next to him. "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS!"
Temari nodded, ignoring Shikamaru's indignant sputtering as he wiped all the crap that had landed on him. "Yeah, supposedly, that guy's already conquered Kiri. Gaara's meeting right now with the council to decide on what course of action we should take.
"ISN'T IT OBVIOUS!" He yelled standing up catching the attention of the other patrons. "YOU NEED TO GO AND KICK HIS ASS NOW THAT HE'S WEAK!"
"Kiba!" Shikamaru cut in sternly. "There are a lot of risks with that plan. If we were to attack now, then Iwa, who is also a rival of Suna would simply wait it out for us to destroy eachother and then would take both territories with little resistance. If we were to wait for Kumo or Iwa to make a move, then we also risk being consumed in the power vacuum that would occur upon Konoha's defeat, and, because of Suna's recent defeat during the chuunin exam, we barely have the numbers to take on a fully functional village like Kumo and Iwa…Attacking him at all could lead to Suna's downfall, and even though I want that guy dead as much as you I'm not willing to destroy Suna in order to get it."
Kiba and Temari both stared at Shikamaru, one in anger yet acceptance that he was correct, the other in slight amazement. He had analyzed the situation and had explained some risks that even she and Gaara hadn't thought of.
Temari sighed before she stood. "Look, as of right now this is top secret, no one under jounin knows about it, I just told you out of courtesy. Tell your friends but make sure they don't tell anyone else. As of now, Suna could be moving to war very very soon.
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