SUNAGAKURE

The Land of Wind was not a place that looked kindly upon the feeble. Unforgiving sands and a tyrannical sun dominated this barren wasteland, hardening the few that call it home. The people of Suna, as resilient as the cacti, would thrive in storms where others falter, their spirits unyielding as the endless sands...

This Chiyo believed.

Rasa's death was one storm. The loss of the Shukaku was another. The looming war with Konoha a third. The presence of the ever-treacherous Iwa-nin stalking their borders, crowning it all. A lesser, or perhaps, younger person, might have occupied themselves searching for who to blame. Why attack Konoha? they might demand, conveniently forgetting the underlying issues that culminated in that decision.

Chiyo was an old woman; one lacking the willpower or inclination to seek a scapegoat to assuage her insecurities and reaffirm her self-worth. So, instead, the elder sought to do what elders did best.

Cleaning up after the reckless youth.

The room where the negotiations were to take place was sparsely decorated, reflecting the austere nature of the desert village. A single oil lamp flickered, casting elongated shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was tense yet composed. Chiyo panned her gaze to the side to meet her brother's eyes. Ebizō sat leaning forward with his arms folded on the utilitarian table before them; his weathered visage and sharp eyes exuding a calm, calculating demeanour.

Chiyo knew that look. He was wary.

Not that she blamed him.

"...And why should we trust you?" Ebizō asked, eyes panning to lock onto the figure seated across from them. The dark-haired Kunoichi, met his gaze, her eyes flickering to regard Chiyo for a moment before settling back on Ebizō.

"I don't understand," Kage, the Uchiha's messenger, replied. "Our prior alliance was a fruitful one, was it not?"

Baki, who was leaning on the wall behind the younger woman sneered. "Lord Fourth died in a battle you ditched him in without reinforcement. Your master ripped the Shukaku out of our Jinchuriki before proceeding to destroy it without a second thought. I hope you are aware that under normal circumstances, things like this could easily be construed as acts of aggression which would be responded to in kind."

Chiyo raised her hand to stall further accusations. They weren't here today for that. "Enough!" she ordered before turning her attention back to their guest. "As you are aware, the destruction caused by your master, Sasuke Uchiha, has left Sunagakure in a precarious position. Iwagakure lingers on our doorstep and Konohagakure's forces are abuzz, their hearts consumed by thoughts of vengeance. Without the One-tail and Lord Raza..."

"I am aware of the situation, Chiyo-sama," the kunoichi replied with a slight nod of her head. "My master sends his apologies, but you must understand that his actions were necessary."

Ebizō leaned away from the table, his expression sceptical. "Necessary? Destroying the foundation of our village's strength is a curious way to show necessity."

The younger woman uttered a tired sigh. "...My Master sent me here to inform you he has plans in place to lessen the opposition your people would be facing these coming months."

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"Oh, he does," Baki chimed in, his tone flat. Unimpressed.

"The loss of the Shukaku was, unfortunately, an unavoidable incident. That doesn't change the fact that it is still in line with Uchiha-sama's interests that Sunagakure maintains its ability to threaten Konoha."

Chiyo sighed. She could feel a headache building. "So you say, yet, he has not shared these 'plans' you speak of. We cannot continue to risk our people without a guarantee."

"...That's unfortunate," Kage mused after a moment of contemplation. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to let you know Iwagakure is the intended target of said plans. Should all the pieces fall as intended, The Village Hidden in the Stones would be more concerned about the integrity of their borders than they would be about invading yours. Even if they do not retreat completely, they would at least be forced to reallocate a sizable bulk of their forces to attend to more pressing matters."

Chiyo exchanged a glance with her sibling, then looked back at the kunoichi.

"...If this is true, we would certainly have no reason to complain. But I must ask, what would this cost us now? If Uchiha Sasuke is indeed capable of such a thing, surely you understand we cannot afford to ignore the possibility that his motives are not aligned with ours."

Kage chuckled, seemingly amused. "I am curious, Chiyo-sama," she said, "as to why you think Uchiha-sama's motives are not aligned with Suna's. You are one of the few villages with the power and infallible desire to see Konoha's interests threatened, are you not? Or is there a truce with Konoha underway that we were not made aware of?"

Chiyo chewed on the question for a long moment "...Fair point," she said finally

***

Gaara lay motionless in a bed, his once fiery red hair now limp and dulled, framing his pale, drawn face. The room was silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the howling winds outside the open window. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the harsh fluorescent light above. As his vision focused, he noticed the featureless brown walls and the faint smell of antiseptics in the air, instantly recognizing the infirmary for what it was.

Memories of the battle surged back to him - the chaos, the pain, and the overwhelming sensation of something being violently torn from his soul. He tried to reach for the familiar, scathing presence of the One-Tail but found only a gaping emptiness where the foul beast once resided. Panic gripped him as he realized Shukaku was gone, leaving a void that echoed with its absence.

Confusion clouded his thoughts. The loss of the beast was not just a physical emptiness; it was as if a part of his very identity had been stripped away. For years, the beast's presence had been a constant in his life, an integral part of his existence that gave life meaning, regardless of how bleak said life was.

Now that it was gone, with all the power it granted, he felt lost and unanchored.

Gaara's hands trembled as he tried to sit up, his body weak and uncooperative. Every movement was a struggle, a reminder of his vulnerability. He had always drawn strength from Shukaku, but now he was alone, truly alone for the first time in his life.

The former Jinchurikin gazed out the open window, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Who was he without the beast? What was his purpose now? These questions loomed large in his mind, unanswered and intimidating; deafening.

They scared him.