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A Leaf in the Wind Country	By : Figaliz Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 973 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Thanks to Dragon for the review! Please vote or review if you enjoy this story ^^.

Part Four: Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof

Sasuke sat on the shaded side of the
roof of Sunagakure�s central government building, absently petting one of the
stray cats that had taken to him during his time in Suna. Cats like him, and he
liked them. He often brought treats for them, which he�d leave where dogs
couldn�t steal, and they in turn let him pet them. The first time Kankuro had
caught Sasuke patiently and gently coaxing a wary stray to take meat from his
fingers, the Puppet Master had stared openly. When he found Sasuke again later
that day he�d shoved a paper bag at the Uchiha, muttered something about
kitchen scraps and slouched off. Sasuke had smiled and given the contents of
the bag to the cats, informing them that Kankuro was their benefactor that
time. Since then Kankuro had thawed towards Sasuke, enough to invite him to
lunch on occasion.
Things had slowed considerably
since his confrontation with Naruto and completion of his ranking trials six
weeks before. He�d been promoted to Jounin with minimum fuss, and had been sent
off on a number of missions; with Kankuro or Temari at first, then with some of
the Chuunin and Jounin they suspected might be on Kadu�s payroll. Finally, when
nothing turned up, Gaara had sent him on a solo mission he�d requested: the
mission timeline was a week in length, but Sasuke had completed it in two days
and taken the other five to investigate on his own, secretly. Gaara had
apparently expected as much, and they�d discussed Sasuke�s solo findings, and
the prospects for future solo excursions, when he�d returned the day before.
The frustrating thing was that even
his solo excursion just hadn�t turned up more then the thinnest of leads. All
of their investigations to date had led to nothing, or to findings so
inconclusive they might as well be coincidence. They still had no idea who was
definitely in Kadu�s pocket, and they didn�t even have a list of who wasn�t.
They had only speculation to supply them with any idea for Kadu�s eventual
goals, and Kadu himself was currently visiting the Daimyo; they didn�t expect a
visit from him for at least a month.
The only good news had come with
Temari when she returned from her trip to Konoha. Tsunade had still been pissed
that Gaara hadn�t informed her of the real stakes himself, but she�d understood
the reasons. She had also promised she and those she trusted most would be
hunting down any agents in Konoha, and if she got any information that might
help Suna, she�d send it with a secure messenger. She�d promised Konoha�s aid
as well, if it was needed and they had the forces, if things got hairy, on the
condition that Gaara do everything in his power to convince Sasuke to return to
Konoha after everything was over. Temari had smirked when she had delivered
that part of the message.
�I quote, �Deliver the damn boy
in a bucket if you have to, since that�s how he left the village anyway. But
deliver hi. If he wants to leave again that�s his choice but he can make it
after he comes back.��
Sasuke closed his eyes and breathed
in the desert air. It was harsh and dry as old bones to lungs raised in the humid
climate of Fire Country forest. The smells were alien, and the sun was wickedly
cruel, even this late in the day. He let his fingers explore the rough, gritty
texture of the cat�s fur as his mind worked over the little information they
had to date. Everything was gritty in Sunagakure, even cats. Even the water.
Sasuke was a patient man. He�d
endured three years of Orochimaru as his master, because he�d had a goal. He�d
have endured Orochimaru taking his body, if it had been absolutely necessary
and the only option left to achieve that goal. As it was, Orochimaru still
troubled his dreams occasionally, trying to break from the Genjutsu that had,
in essence, imprisoned him in the body he so desired. If necessary Sasuke would
wait patiently for years tracking Kadu, until he was sure he could not only
eliminate the man, but every evil branch of his dealings and organization, as
well. However he was not certain Sunagakure had years to wait; certainly Kadu
had the advantage of time, Sasuke was dead certain that Kadu had been
insinuating agents into Suna since before Sasuke himself was a Genin. It was
very possible Orochimaru had used some of those agents to assist his ruse when
he�d killed Gaara�s father and taken the guise of Kazekage for the Chuunin
exams those years ago. It was not an unreasonable assumption, taking what
Sasuke knew of Kadu and Orochimaru.
Orochimaru had wanted Konoha, as
well as Sasuke. Kadu wanted power, perhaps he had other goals, but it was
certain that power was one of them. Sasuke wouldn�t be surprised if Kadu�s
eventual aim was to replace the Daimyo. If the two had worked out an
arrangement that suited them� Yes, that would make sense. Once the Kazekage�s
assassination had been discovered, and after the attack on Konoha, successful
or unsuccessful wouldn�t matter, Sunagakure would be a mess. A perfect
opportunity to place trusted agents in high places, or to buy the loyalties of
those shaken by the events. It made too much sense.
Sasuke ground his teeth, opening
his eyes to stare at the pale blue desert sky. He needed to know Kadu�s
motives. Did he want to become Daimyo? He�d need Sunagakure�s support. Or he�d
need Suna out of the way. Sasuke suspected he had the means to orchestrate
either. Perhaps Gaara�s kidnapping a year ago had as much to do with Kadu
wanting a different Kazekage, as it did with Akatsuki�s Jinchuuriki collection.
Perhaps it was coincidence. If not Daimyo then what was Kadu�s goal? Did he
want the Jinchuuriki for himself? Were his agents in Suna nothing more then
spies to feed him with juicy information he could use in some other schemes
with goals Sasuke had yet to contemplate?
It was giving him a headache. Too
many questions and not enough answers. And another month or more before Kadu might
visit Sunagakure, and might visit an agent of his, or many.
Sasuke lowered his lashes, looking
down at the cat by his side. He needed to get close to Kadu. Talk to the man,
watch him from a close distance; so far he�d only been able to track the man,
lest he tip the Lord or his bodyguards that he was being watched. Even his
Sharingan techniques weren�t surefire against the elites Kadu hired, not for
stealth.
But now. Now he was a legitimate
shinobi of the sand. Kadu was an important Lord, he�d be attended by the
Kazekage when he visited, or by Temari when Gaara was busy. Who would attend
him if Temari were away, perhaps on an important diplomatic mission, and Gaara
had his duties ad Kazekage? Kankuro had the rank, but he was no diplomat. One
of the senior Jounin might be appropriate, but wouldn�t Sasuke do just as well?
In fact, Sasuke believed a Lord with Kadu�s unique interests might be
exceptionally pleased to be attended by a new escort while in Suna, one who
might have questionable loyalties to the Kazekage, and possibly useful ties to
Konoha.
The cat objected vocally when he
jumped off the roof, taking the shortcut down the two stories to land slightly
on the small balcony to the Kazekage�s office. The window doors were open, so
Sasuke walked in without knocking. The Kazekage didn�t even spare him a glance
as Sasuke detailed his plan for Kadu�s next visit.
�Very well.� Gaara�s voice was as inflectionless
as usual, but he looked up to fix Sasuke with one of his pale, eerie stares.
�It�s a good plan.�
Sasuke was a little surprised by
the words of approval. Gaara wasn�t exactly incapable of praising others, he
just did it rarely. That he said anything now might indicate Sasuke had earned
a measure of respect from the Kazekage. That would be good, and an interesting
tidbit to stow away. It would make their job easier if they got along. So far
their interactions had been business and cold, and while a measure of
friendliness wasn�t necessary to their goals, it might help them work together
more easily. At the least he needed more of Gaara�s trust then he currently
had; he had a plan for that as well, and now was as good a time to bring it up
as any.
�Were you taking any missions
soon?�
Gaara blinked at him slowly.
�You need to take me with you.�
Sasuke leaned forward, letting his lashes partly conceal his gaze, he was
always aware of where he looked, who he looked at, how directly he looked at
them. When he stared people in the eyes it was always potentially dangerous,
potentially threatening to them, whether they knew how dangerous his eyes were
or not.
�Why.� Gaara met his eyes without
flinching, he always did. His flat voice barely made a question out of the
word.
�Because we need to work together.
No team is perfect their first mission. We cannot cover all the angles
concerning Kadu, we cannot trust each other�s efficiency and strengths, and we
cannot watch each other�s backs if we have no concept of the other�s true
capabilities. If you weren�t planning on taking on a mission, I can suggest
some from the roster.�
Gaara was watching him with the
same detached interest he might apply to someone who�d spontaneously grown a
second head. �I don�t work with others.�
�I don�t really care.�
��
�I�m not saying you need to end up
trusting me, personally. Just my skills and abilities, and I need to know
yours. It�s better we do this while we have the time.�
�You�ll be in my way.� Gaara�s
finger�s absently tapped the desk, the faintest scowl marring his smooth
features.
�Maybe you�re afraid you won�t be
able to keep up with me.� That earned Sasuke something like an expression;
incredulousness. Gaara wasn�t offended�it was hard to offend someone who grew
up believing himself a monster�but he was obviously surprised by the barb. �If
you have a mission picked out it saves us that much at least.�
Gaara stared at Sasuke a moment
longer, expression once again guarded and unreadable, before he reached into
his desk and drew out a mission scroll. He handed it to Sasuke, and watched as
Sasuke read through the mission details. �This will do well.� Sasuke set the
scroll down and looked at Gaara. �I�ll start my preparations right away. As the
higher ranked member on this mission, is there anything special you advise I
bring along?�
�� Gaara leaned back in his chair
and crossed his arms, frowning slightly at Sasuke. �You said this was to build
our abilities as a team.� His words were slow, as if he were still considering
them even as he spoke them. �If you consider us� Equals in our observation of
Kadu, then this exercise of yours won�t do much good if you take the role of
subordinate.�
�No it won�t.� Sasuke agreed. �But
I�d planned to build up to that eventually. But this is better. The sooner we
start getting a feel for one another, the better.� Sasuke leaned forward, one
hand resting on Gaara�s desk as he watched the Kazekage. �It�s good I�m coming
along as well; a mission to eradicate pirates? If we can�t find their lair and
have to take to sea to track them, you�ll be at a serious disadvantage.�
Gaara�s scowl was the closest to
angry Sasuke had seen the Kazekage, or maybe he was getting better at reading
the Sand ninja�s facial expressions. �You patronize me. Doubt my ability if you
want, but not my intelligence. I have a very good idea, based on their attack
patterns, where their base is.� The Kazekage stood and walked around his desk,
stopping in front of the giant map of the Wind country that decorated one wall
of the office. �Drummond�s crew has been sighted at each of these locations.�
He began indicating areas along the coast. �Her pattern of attack usually follows
the same route, starting here and ending here. Her most frequent raids are
here, here and here.� The Kazekage�s fingers brushed the map and precise
locations. �Based on the consistency of her raids, and the locations, I suspect
that her fleet anchors somewhere here.� Gaara�s fingers hovered over a stretch
of rocky coast labeled the maze on the map. �From land navigating the
cave system is dangerous. By sea you need a skilled navigator and precise
charts to find the safe route into the place, and if there�s anyone guarding
it, it would be impossible to bring a ship in safely. Pirates usually pick a
safer location to harbor.�
�But not this one. Interesting. So
our approach is from land.� Sasuke had followed Gaara, watching over the Sand
ninja�s shoulder as the redhead indicated points on the map. �Were you planning
on collapsing the caves on their heads?�
�No. The maze has been used before
as a retreat when that area of the coast is under attack. We�ll sneak in
through he back and take care of the pirates normally. The caves are an
important stronghold when they aren�t filled with pirates.�
�When do we leave?�
�In three days. Drummond was last
seen here.� Gaara�s fingers touched a point somewhere in the middle of the
pirate�s usual raiding route.
�That gives us plenty of time to
sneak in and set up before the fleet returns.�
Gaara nodded.
�Alright. In three days then.�
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A Leaf in the Wind Country