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tampered2006-10-22 09:54 pm
lonelysandstorm.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2006-10-22 09:54 pm
Log: Complete
When; October 19
Rating; G-PG
Characters; Gaara![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lonelysandstorm, Shizunemedic_assistant
Summary; Gaara and Shizune meet to exchange intel
Log; He stood, leaning against the wall. Arms crossed in front of him, even expression on his face, one never would have thought that the red-headed young man was growing swiftly more irritated with the passing of time. Indeed, his expressionless visage did nothing to betray either aggravation or impatience. His appearance drew more attention then that of most people, likely because of the large heavy-looking gourd that rested against his shoulderblades, held in place by the straps that connected to his vest. The Godaime Kazekage narrowed aquamarine eyes slightly, studying the clock on the wall across from him. The Konoha-nin was late... Deep red eyebrows shifted fractionally as his slight change in position allowed a large pink and purple blossom to drop onto his shoulder, the stalk that held it seeming too slender and delicate for the weight of the petals. Those same eyebrows drew together in a frown as one hand reached up and carefully removed the offending thing from his person. Why did she choose this place? There's too much...green here...
Shizune walked slowly, spotting the Kazekage by the red flame of hair standing apart from the greenery surrounding him. She'd been to these gardens before, but never with such serious topics at hand. She hadn't meant to be late, in fact, she'd meant to leave early, but had been delayed by... well, she'd been delayed. "Gaara of the Sand." She intoned with a small nod of her head in greeting.
The silent young man simply gave a curt nod in reply. "Shizune of the Leaf." He offered no friendly greeting, no warm conversation. Allies or no, grateful to Konoha he might be, it simply wasn't Gaara's way. Turning slightly to let his mint-hued gaze study their surroundings momentarily, he turned his face back towards hers. "I trust the City is treating you with the same "care" that it treats all those who inhabit it?"
"Of course." Shizune did not expect pleasentries from the young man. He may have become Kazekage, but he hadn't exactly suddenly developed social skills along with the position. Sitting down on a marble bench, she made herself comfortable. "I trust, since I looked after a child who looked suspiciously like yourself, that you're being treated the same?" She was trying to make a joke, unsure of if the stern Sand nin would be amused or not.
For just a moment, the corners of his mouth turned up just a fraction. He nodded slightly at the memory. It had been..fun. Enjoyable to have experienced, even if just for a few days, a childhood without the pain he had always known in his youth. "Yes, it has been...kind to me as well."
Shizune almost laughed. Almost. But the seriousness about what they had come to talk to came back to her. Used to Tsunade-sama's prescence, she glanced to her right, where the older woman usually sat. She had never done treaties on her own before this City, it was not her place. But with the Hokage gone, it seemed she had assumed some of Tsunade's role. She'd already arranged a truce with Deidara of the Akatsuki, now it was time to speak to the representative of Suna. "This City makes everything difficult." She commented. "Especially alliances and the like."
Gaara was not one for small talk, so the russet-haired shinobi simply got right to the point. "You refer, I am assuming to those who are our mutual enemies. As Suna and Konoha already share an alliance, there would be no difficulty to be had in their relationship."
"No, there would not be trouble there." Shizune stated slowly, glad of that reassurence. She hadn't wanted to doubt it, but she had to make sure in this City. "What troubles me is the Akatsuki... and Sound." She pulled a series of bingo book cards from her pocket and laid them out on the marble bench's surface. Tayuya, Sakon, Ukon, Kimimaro, Orochimaru, Deidara, and Itachi. Kabuto was noticably absent from the group.
Pale green eyes studied the cards, brows furrowing slightly as he reached out with one finger and slid the cards showing Deidara and Itachi apart from the others. Other hand slipping inside his jacket, he pulled out two more cards and slid them across the table to join the ones containing the Otonin. Yakushi Kabuto and Kaguya Kimimaro. "It seems as though sharing our intel is indeed a wise decision, as your "collection" is lacking in a few members."
Shizune watched Gaara moving the cards about, her mouth pursing into a fine line. She picked up the card on Kimimaro, examining the information written down. It was more detailed than the card she herself had. She read it thouroghly, memorizing the information on it. Setting it back down again next to the other Sound cards, she used the point of her index finger to slide the card bearing Kabuto's name on it to the side, in a group of it's own without a word.
His red brows raised slightly, the red scar on his forehead crinkling slightly as he watched her move the card. Whatever her reasons, she obviously didn't view the Otonin in the same light as she did his compatriots. That in itself was rather intriguing to the leader of the Sand village. While he didn't particularly care what Shizune's feelings regarding the silver-haired young man were, he DID care if it meant a change in the lines drawn between allies and enemies. Black-ringed green eyes studied her, their gaze boring into the dark eyes sitting across from him.
Shizune glanced up from the cards, noting Gaara's eyes seeming to look right through her, for an explanation. "His alliances may not be as clear as we thought." She offered as reason for moving the card aside. "... He isn't in the same classification anymore." Pausing, she continued. "He lives with me anyway, so I can watch him, if that reassures you."
He nodded slightly. He had known she shared an apartment with the Otonin in question, but the exact details of their relationship were a matter for them. As long as it cast no danger onto himself or those he allied with, Gaara was simply not interested. "That fact is already known to me. As you see..." He reached into his coat again and pulled out a stack of cards, sliding them forward to fan out across the table. Emblazoned across each one was information on other individuals. Hyuuga Neji. Nara Shikamaru. Mitarashi Anko. Yamanaka Ino. Hyuuga Hinata. Tenten. Rock Lee. Akimichi Chouji. Uchiha Sasuke. Even Shizune herself. Picked out in minute detail on the laminated card. "...my intel is not only limited to those who have raised a hand against my village."
"... of course." Shizune idly leafed through the cards, nodding off at each one after reading its content. She had intelligence on Sand as well, but had not brought them, deeming it not neccessary. She handed the cards back. "Correct, too, of course." Her fingers moved back to the cards on the bench, pulling out Itachi and Orochimaru. "These are the most dangerous indiviudals." Another finger shoved the info on Deidara to one side. "I've spoken with this one. I believe we have an understanding."
He nodded. "I am certain that you possess intel of the same caliber regarding myself. But you are correct in your assessment of the threat. However, I believe that I am in doubt as to the trustworthiness of this one." He tapped the Deidara card with one long finger.
"I knew you would, considering the circumstances." She didn't need to elaborate. "However, the truce we have established seems to have lasted." She stopped for a moment, and then decided to tell the whole story. "In exchange for reattaching his limb, he promised not to harm any of Konoha within the City. I know you are of Sand, but I believe I can manage to make the same apply to yourself, if you wish. I normally doubted his word, and did for a long time. Still do. But it's held this long, and it's reasonably safe to assume it will continue to hold, at least for a while."
Gaara simply sat and listened, taking in everything that she said with a grain of salt. "You certainly make a valid point. However, I am not sure that I believe he would extend that .."courtesy" to myself. I find it far more likely that he would find it to be a personal affront that I am yet living. Though..." He reached out and slid the card with Kimimaro's picture on it aside. "it is truly this one I find most concerning."
"... I agree." Shizune eyes the card with Kimimaro's picture, eyes cold. "I have reason to believe he and Orochimaru... and Kabuto, had something to do with an abduction and murder a week ago. I believe the woman's name was... Nemu?" You gained a lot by watching those 'posts'.
The young Kazekage nodded. He had indeed heard of the abduction of the woman, who was a Shinigami, and it hadn't taken Shizune's knowledge to make him suspicious of Orochimaru's involvement. "Yes, I would have to agree. Those three together are indeed a force to be wary of."
"... Yes." It took her a moment to answer, eyes closed, trying not to remember the look in Kabuto's eyes the night he had come home, covered in the woman's blood. A cold, detached look. One she didn't want to see ever again. "I don't know why they did it, or how, but I do know they were all involved." For this she moved Kabuto's card back next to the Sound, now taking the oppurtunity to pull out the cards for Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon. "These three fought with two of Konoha recently. Sakon and Ukon fought Chouji, and Tayuya fought Shikamaru." She tapped lightly on the card's faces to emphasize her point. "Shikamaru and Tayuya came to a stalemate, but I'm afraid Ukon and Sakon beat Chouji. The Sound ninja are out for blood concerning their own deaths."
"That is understandable, of course. And all the more reason that I should be on my guard against this one." He pointed to the Kimimaro card. "As those three have taken it into their hands to revenge themselves, it should not be too difficult to assume that this one also may wish to revenge himself upon those who faced him. Myself, and the strange shinobi with the black hair and thick eyebrows."
"Rock Lee." Shizune nodded. She was surprised that the pale haired shinobi hadn't tried anything yet, but if her reports were accurate, it seemed he was an obsessive type, concerned very much with Orochimaru the man, not Orochimaru the evil ninja. "It all boils down to what we expect to happen, and what we will do to counter it when it occurs."
Gaara nodded in response. "Very true." He glanced up as the sand coiled around him, a teacup balanced precariously on the grains of stone and earth. Taking it carefully, he took a sip while the sand curled around to hand one to Shizune as well. Obviously, his new position as Kazekage had done some good on the young man's temperment. He sighed, placing the cup down on the polished marble wall he sat on and brushing yet another clinging plant away from his person. "Could there perhaps be some other reasoning behind his lack of animosity towards us? You mentioned something before that I found rather intriguing. You asked "what time" I was from. I would wish to know exactly what you meant by those words."
One eyebrow raised slightly at the appearence of the sand, but she politely accepted the offered cup, cradling it gently in her hands as she listened. She took a sip before answering, nodding at the taste. "Different times... this place can bring people to this world from different times in the same world. For example, Uchiha Sasuke is still twelve years of age, even though from the present we know he is not."
His eyebrows raised in interest. That certainly explained a select few things, such as why a number of the Konoha-nin that he knew to be his age seemed several years beyond him. He'd noticed it the most in the Hyuuga, who seemed much less a boy and more a man then someone 15 years of age. Once he'd noticed Neji's older appearance, he'd taken a somewhat closer look at the rest of the Konoha shinobi, and had noticed subtle differences in many of them as well. As for the Uchiha, Gaara had heard he'd returned to the City, but he was unaware that the Sharingan-user was that much younger then the rest of them. "I see. This explains many things. I was aware of the difference in appearance of many of you Konoha shinobi. Especially the Hyuuga. Once I noticed that he seemed older, I noticed that he was not the only one."
"Yes... they've grown up ahead of us, it seems." Shizune gave a small laugh. "I'm just waiting for one of them to show up and be older than me, now." She took another sip of her tea, savoring the flavor. This was definitely a Suna blend. "... is there anything else you'd like to know?"
He folded hands in his lap, long fingers interlacing. "Well, you wished to know of Konoha during the time that I come from. I am willing to supply that information, in return for the same favour from you. If we come from different times, it would be in our best interests to be as knowledgeable regarding the status of both our respective villages during both times. Don't you agree?"
"I do." Shizune said, crossing her legs and resting the teacup on the upper knee, taking the opputunity to move some wayward hairs from her face, nodding towards the Kazekage in a gesture asking him to continue.
The crimson-haired shinobi nodded, pale green eyes seeming to study his fingers. "Well, I supposed it would be prudent at first to explain the circumstances under which I arrived here. As you probably already know, in my time I am currently 15 years of age. I have spent the last year serving as Godaime Kazekage, in the interests of Sunagakure. A short time ago, we were attacked by two members of the Akatsuki, Deidara and his partner Sasori. Deidara managed to overpower my defenses and I was captured. They...killed me by extracting the Shukaku from my body. The last thing that I remember is a voice, calling me back from the brink."
"I come from a time only a little after your own." Shizune said. "And, you aren't dead, if that reassures you." She gave a soft smile, touched with a hint of sadness. "Chiyo sacrificed her life to bring you back." She pulled two more bingo book cards from her pocket, detailing the two Akatsuki that had been threatening Konoha before she had come to this City. "These two Akatsuki are currently heading towards Konoha, last I heard before I came here. I haven't heard if they attacked or not."
He nodded slightly, the knowledge indeed coming as some degree of comfort. After all, no one wanted to be dead. "So then Elder Chiyo is dead. I suppose she felt it was only fitting, as it is she who sealed the Shukaku within me when I was born." He placed one long finger on each card, sliding them towards himself and picking them up to study them. "Hidan, Kakuzu. These are two I have not yet received intel on." He pulled out another card, sliding it across the table to join the card with Uchiha Itachi's picture on it. "So including this one, Uchiha Itachi's partner, there are 6 that have been accounted for. Hoshigaki Kisame, Uchiha Itachi, Deidara, Akasuna no Sasori, and now this Hidan and Kakuzu."
"Yes." Shizune nodded, afirming that as correct. "We have not heard still about the identity of the Akatsuki leader, nor if Sasori has been replaced, since Sakura and Chiyo killed him." She added that last part as it was pertinent to Gaara's own information. "That is all we know of them." She looked at the Kazekage. "How would you like to proceed in regards to the Akatsuki and Sound?"
With a slight sigh, he leaned back, the sand cushioning his back against the harsh stone. "Akatsuki is certainly an enemy to be reckoned with. And now that the Uchiha has appeared, we must be even more on our guard against them. You say that the Akatsuki Deidara has entered into a truce of sorts with you, and that he is currently remaining good to his word. I will trust your judgement on this matter for now, so long as he makes no attack towards me. As for Sound..." He paused momentarily to take a sip of his tea. "While Orochimaru did indeed deceive Sunagakure several years before, he has made no move against our village since then. As he should technically be considered an enemy, we plan no alliances of any sort with him. Yet....neither has he attacked us. As for killing my father.... I cannot say that I am ungrateful to him for that."
"I see." Shizune crossed and uncrossed her legs, leaning back against one arm. "I know Orochimaru is planning something, he always is." She frowned. "But I have no details, and no way to get them." She stacked the cards. "It seems the best option right now is to avoid and watch. Make no moves, merely watch until they make the first strike. It would do us no good to attack them as we are now. Not yet."
Gaara nodded, finishing off the last of his tea. "I agree. Even if we chose to attack, it would do us little benefit. Though..." He pulled out a few of the cards he had on the Konoha-nin. "It would seem that a number of your shinobi do not see things in the same manner."
"..." Shizune gave a small sigh. "... I know." She would be giving lectures later. "Tenten and Neji, it would seem, called out the Sound ninja in retaliation for their attack on Shikamaru and Chouji. Shikamaru managed to get to me under his own power, he wasn't mortally wounded, but Chouji was, and it took us a while to find them. It caused a large amount of worry amoung us all." She bit her bottom lip lightly. "And Orochimaru not being present is being... confusing as well. We can only pray he's left the City."
Gaara nodded, red bangs shifting slightly over the kanji emblazoned on his forehead. "I couldn't agree more with you on that note. Although I would feel more at ease knowing for certain whether or not he is indeed still here."
"I know, I would as well." Shizune stood. It was getting late, and she needed to return to her apartment and continue looking for Neji and Tenten. She knew Orochimaru was indeed in the City, that he was with the Yondaime. But until she had authorization, she could not share that information. "But until then, we can only continue as we have."
He nodded, getting to his feet as well. "Indeed." He dropped the cup and saucer, the sand catching it and spiriting it away to whatever location it had originally come from. Stepping lightly across the floor, he stopped next to her and offered his arm in an extremely surprising and gentlemanly gesture. "If you like, I can accompany you back to your apartment."
Shizune blinked, one eyebrow raising slightly. She had heard much of Gaara of the Sand, but not anything of this gentlemanly sort. With a small smile, she nodded. "Why thank you." She laid her hand lightly on his arm and allowed him to escort her back to her apartment, content with the way their talk had gone.
Rating; G-PG
Characters; Gaara
lonelysandstorm, Shizunemedic_assistantSummary; Gaara and Shizune meet to exchange intel
Log; He stood, leaning against the wall. Arms crossed in front of him, even expression on his face, one never would have thought that the red-headed young man was growing swiftly more irritated with the passing of time. Indeed, his expressionless visage did nothing to betray either aggravation or impatience. His appearance drew more attention then that of most people, likely because of the large heavy-looking gourd that rested against his shoulderblades, held in place by the straps that connected to his vest. The Godaime Kazekage narrowed aquamarine eyes slightly, studying the clock on the wall across from him. The Konoha-nin was late... Deep red eyebrows shifted fractionally as his slight change in position allowed a large pink and purple blossom to drop onto his shoulder, the stalk that held it seeming too slender and delicate for the weight of the petals. Those same eyebrows drew together in a frown as one hand reached up and carefully removed the offending thing from his person. Why did she choose this place? There's too much...green here...
Shizune walked slowly, spotting the Kazekage by the red flame of hair standing apart from the greenery surrounding him. She'd been to these gardens before, but never with such serious topics at hand. She hadn't meant to be late, in fact, she'd meant to leave early, but had been delayed by... well, she'd been delayed. "Gaara of the Sand." She intoned with a small nod of her head in greeting.
The silent young man simply gave a curt nod in reply. "Shizune of the Leaf." He offered no friendly greeting, no warm conversation. Allies or no, grateful to Konoha he might be, it simply wasn't Gaara's way. Turning slightly to let his mint-hued gaze study their surroundings momentarily, he turned his face back towards hers. "I trust the City is treating you with the same "care" that it treats all those who inhabit it?"
"Of course." Shizune did not expect pleasentries from the young man. He may have become Kazekage, but he hadn't exactly suddenly developed social skills along with the position. Sitting down on a marble bench, she made herself comfortable. "I trust, since I looked after a child who looked suspiciously like yourself, that you're being treated the same?" She was trying to make a joke, unsure of if the stern Sand nin would be amused or not.
For just a moment, the corners of his mouth turned up just a fraction. He nodded slightly at the memory. It had been..fun. Enjoyable to have experienced, even if just for a few days, a childhood without the pain he had always known in his youth. "Yes, it has been...kind to me as well."
Shizune almost laughed. Almost. But the seriousness about what they had come to talk to came back to her. Used to Tsunade-sama's prescence, she glanced to her right, where the older woman usually sat. She had never done treaties on her own before this City, it was not her place. But with the Hokage gone, it seemed she had assumed some of Tsunade's role. She'd already arranged a truce with Deidara of the Akatsuki, now it was time to speak to the representative of Suna. "This City makes everything difficult." She commented. "Especially alliances and the like."
Gaara was not one for small talk, so the russet-haired shinobi simply got right to the point. "You refer, I am assuming to those who are our mutual enemies. As Suna and Konoha already share an alliance, there would be no difficulty to be had in their relationship."
"No, there would not be trouble there." Shizune stated slowly, glad of that reassurence. She hadn't wanted to doubt it, but she had to make sure in this City. "What troubles me is the Akatsuki... and Sound." She pulled a series of bingo book cards from her pocket and laid them out on the marble bench's surface. Tayuya, Sakon, Ukon, Kimimaro, Orochimaru, Deidara, and Itachi. Kabuto was noticably absent from the group.
Pale green eyes studied the cards, brows furrowing slightly as he reached out with one finger and slid the cards showing Deidara and Itachi apart from the others. Other hand slipping inside his jacket, he pulled out two more cards and slid them across the table to join the ones containing the Otonin. Yakushi Kabuto and Kaguya Kimimaro. "It seems as though sharing our intel is indeed a wise decision, as your "collection" is lacking in a few members."
Shizune watched Gaara moving the cards about, her mouth pursing into a fine line. She picked up the card on Kimimaro, examining the information written down. It was more detailed than the card she herself had. She read it thouroghly, memorizing the information on it. Setting it back down again next to the other Sound cards, she used the point of her index finger to slide the card bearing Kabuto's name on it to the side, in a group of it's own without a word.
His red brows raised slightly, the red scar on his forehead crinkling slightly as he watched her move the card. Whatever her reasons, she obviously didn't view the Otonin in the same light as she did his compatriots. That in itself was rather intriguing to the leader of the Sand village. While he didn't particularly care what Shizune's feelings regarding the silver-haired young man were, he DID care if it meant a change in the lines drawn between allies and enemies. Black-ringed green eyes studied her, their gaze boring into the dark eyes sitting across from him.
Shizune glanced up from the cards, noting Gaara's eyes seeming to look right through her, for an explanation. "His alliances may not be as clear as we thought." She offered as reason for moving the card aside. "... He isn't in the same classification anymore." Pausing, she continued. "He lives with me anyway, so I can watch him, if that reassures you."
He nodded slightly. He had known she shared an apartment with the Otonin in question, but the exact details of their relationship were a matter for them. As long as it cast no danger onto himself or those he allied with, Gaara was simply not interested. "That fact is already known to me. As you see..." He reached into his coat again and pulled out a stack of cards, sliding them forward to fan out across the table. Emblazoned across each one was information on other individuals. Hyuuga Neji. Nara Shikamaru. Mitarashi Anko. Yamanaka Ino. Hyuuga Hinata. Tenten. Rock Lee. Akimichi Chouji. Uchiha Sasuke. Even Shizune herself. Picked out in minute detail on the laminated card. "...my intel is not only limited to those who have raised a hand against my village."
"... of course." Shizune idly leafed through the cards, nodding off at each one after reading its content. She had intelligence on Sand as well, but had not brought them, deeming it not neccessary. She handed the cards back. "Correct, too, of course." Her fingers moved back to the cards on the bench, pulling out Itachi and Orochimaru. "These are the most dangerous indiviudals." Another finger shoved the info on Deidara to one side. "I've spoken with this one. I believe we have an understanding."
He nodded. "I am certain that you possess intel of the same caliber regarding myself. But you are correct in your assessment of the threat. However, I believe that I am in doubt as to the trustworthiness of this one." He tapped the Deidara card with one long finger.
"I knew you would, considering the circumstances." She didn't need to elaborate. "However, the truce we have established seems to have lasted." She stopped for a moment, and then decided to tell the whole story. "In exchange for reattaching his limb, he promised not to harm any of Konoha within the City. I know you are of Sand, but I believe I can manage to make the same apply to yourself, if you wish. I normally doubted his word, and did for a long time. Still do. But it's held this long, and it's reasonably safe to assume it will continue to hold, at least for a while."
Gaara simply sat and listened, taking in everything that she said with a grain of salt. "You certainly make a valid point. However, I am not sure that I believe he would extend that .."courtesy" to myself. I find it far more likely that he would find it to be a personal affront that I am yet living. Though..." He reached out and slid the card with Kimimaro's picture on it aside. "it is truly this one I find most concerning."
"... I agree." Shizune eyes the card with Kimimaro's picture, eyes cold. "I have reason to believe he and Orochimaru... and Kabuto, had something to do with an abduction and murder a week ago. I believe the woman's name was... Nemu?" You gained a lot by watching those 'posts'.
The young Kazekage nodded. He had indeed heard of the abduction of the woman, who was a Shinigami, and it hadn't taken Shizune's knowledge to make him suspicious of Orochimaru's involvement. "Yes, I would have to agree. Those three together are indeed a force to be wary of."
"... Yes." It took her a moment to answer, eyes closed, trying not to remember the look in Kabuto's eyes the night he had come home, covered in the woman's blood. A cold, detached look. One she didn't want to see ever again. "I don't know why they did it, or how, but I do know they were all involved." For this she moved Kabuto's card back next to the Sound, now taking the oppurtunity to pull out the cards for Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon. "These three fought with two of Konoha recently. Sakon and Ukon fought Chouji, and Tayuya fought Shikamaru." She tapped lightly on the card's faces to emphasize her point. "Shikamaru and Tayuya came to a stalemate, but I'm afraid Ukon and Sakon beat Chouji. The Sound ninja are out for blood concerning their own deaths."
"That is understandable, of course. And all the more reason that I should be on my guard against this one." He pointed to the Kimimaro card. "As those three have taken it into their hands to revenge themselves, it should not be too difficult to assume that this one also may wish to revenge himself upon those who faced him. Myself, and the strange shinobi with the black hair and thick eyebrows."
"Rock Lee." Shizune nodded. She was surprised that the pale haired shinobi hadn't tried anything yet, but if her reports were accurate, it seemed he was an obsessive type, concerned very much with Orochimaru the man, not Orochimaru the evil ninja. "It all boils down to what we expect to happen, and what we will do to counter it when it occurs."
Gaara nodded in response. "Very true." He glanced up as the sand coiled around him, a teacup balanced precariously on the grains of stone and earth. Taking it carefully, he took a sip while the sand curled around to hand one to Shizune as well. Obviously, his new position as Kazekage had done some good on the young man's temperment. He sighed, placing the cup down on the polished marble wall he sat on and brushing yet another clinging plant away from his person. "Could there perhaps be some other reasoning behind his lack of animosity towards us? You mentioned something before that I found rather intriguing. You asked "what time" I was from. I would wish to know exactly what you meant by those words."
One eyebrow raised slightly at the appearence of the sand, but she politely accepted the offered cup, cradling it gently in her hands as she listened. She took a sip before answering, nodding at the taste. "Different times... this place can bring people to this world from different times in the same world. For example, Uchiha Sasuke is still twelve years of age, even though from the present we know he is not."
His eyebrows raised in interest. That certainly explained a select few things, such as why a number of the Konoha-nin that he knew to be his age seemed several years beyond him. He'd noticed it the most in the Hyuuga, who seemed much less a boy and more a man then someone 15 years of age. Once he'd noticed Neji's older appearance, he'd taken a somewhat closer look at the rest of the Konoha shinobi, and had noticed subtle differences in many of them as well. As for the Uchiha, Gaara had heard he'd returned to the City, but he was unaware that the Sharingan-user was that much younger then the rest of them. "I see. This explains many things. I was aware of the difference in appearance of many of you Konoha shinobi. Especially the Hyuuga. Once I noticed that he seemed older, I noticed that he was not the only one."
"Yes... they've grown up ahead of us, it seems." Shizune gave a small laugh. "I'm just waiting for one of them to show up and be older than me, now." She took another sip of her tea, savoring the flavor. This was definitely a Suna blend. "... is there anything else you'd like to know?"
He folded hands in his lap, long fingers interlacing. "Well, you wished to know of Konoha during the time that I come from. I am willing to supply that information, in return for the same favour from you. If we come from different times, it would be in our best interests to be as knowledgeable regarding the status of both our respective villages during both times. Don't you agree?"
"I do." Shizune said, crossing her legs and resting the teacup on the upper knee, taking the opputunity to move some wayward hairs from her face, nodding towards the Kazekage in a gesture asking him to continue.
The crimson-haired shinobi nodded, pale green eyes seeming to study his fingers. "Well, I supposed it would be prudent at first to explain the circumstances under which I arrived here. As you probably already know, in my time I am currently 15 years of age. I have spent the last year serving as Godaime Kazekage, in the interests of Sunagakure. A short time ago, we were attacked by two members of the Akatsuki, Deidara and his partner Sasori. Deidara managed to overpower my defenses and I was captured. They...killed me by extracting the Shukaku from my body. The last thing that I remember is a voice, calling me back from the brink."
"I come from a time only a little after your own." Shizune said. "And, you aren't dead, if that reassures you." She gave a soft smile, touched with a hint of sadness. "Chiyo sacrificed her life to bring you back." She pulled two more bingo book cards from her pocket, detailing the two Akatsuki that had been threatening Konoha before she had come to this City. "These two Akatsuki are currently heading towards Konoha, last I heard before I came here. I haven't heard if they attacked or not."
He nodded slightly, the knowledge indeed coming as some degree of comfort. After all, no one wanted to be dead. "So then Elder Chiyo is dead. I suppose she felt it was only fitting, as it is she who sealed the Shukaku within me when I was born." He placed one long finger on each card, sliding them towards himself and picking them up to study them. "Hidan, Kakuzu. These are two I have not yet received intel on." He pulled out another card, sliding it across the table to join the card with Uchiha Itachi's picture on it. "So including this one, Uchiha Itachi's partner, there are 6 that have been accounted for. Hoshigaki Kisame, Uchiha Itachi, Deidara, Akasuna no Sasori, and now this Hidan and Kakuzu."
"Yes." Shizune nodded, afirming that as correct. "We have not heard still about the identity of the Akatsuki leader, nor if Sasori has been replaced, since Sakura and Chiyo killed him." She added that last part as it was pertinent to Gaara's own information. "That is all we know of them." She looked at the Kazekage. "How would you like to proceed in regards to the Akatsuki and Sound?"
With a slight sigh, he leaned back, the sand cushioning his back against the harsh stone. "Akatsuki is certainly an enemy to be reckoned with. And now that the Uchiha has appeared, we must be even more on our guard against them. You say that the Akatsuki Deidara has entered into a truce of sorts with you, and that he is currently remaining good to his word. I will trust your judgement on this matter for now, so long as he makes no attack towards me. As for Sound..." He paused momentarily to take a sip of his tea. "While Orochimaru did indeed deceive Sunagakure several years before, he has made no move against our village since then. As he should technically be considered an enemy, we plan no alliances of any sort with him. Yet....neither has he attacked us. As for killing my father.... I cannot say that I am ungrateful to him for that."
"I see." Shizune crossed and uncrossed her legs, leaning back against one arm. "I know Orochimaru is planning something, he always is." She frowned. "But I have no details, and no way to get them." She stacked the cards. "It seems the best option right now is to avoid and watch. Make no moves, merely watch until they make the first strike. It would do us no good to attack them as we are now. Not yet."
Gaara nodded, finishing off the last of his tea. "I agree. Even if we chose to attack, it would do us little benefit. Though..." He pulled out a few of the cards he had on the Konoha-nin. "It would seem that a number of your shinobi do not see things in the same manner."
"..." Shizune gave a small sigh. "... I know." She would be giving lectures later. "Tenten and Neji, it would seem, called out the Sound ninja in retaliation for their attack on Shikamaru and Chouji. Shikamaru managed to get to me under his own power, he wasn't mortally wounded, but Chouji was, and it took us a while to find them. It caused a large amount of worry amoung us all." She bit her bottom lip lightly. "And Orochimaru not being present is being... confusing as well. We can only pray he's left the City."
Gaara nodded, red bangs shifting slightly over the kanji emblazoned on his forehead. "I couldn't agree more with you on that note. Although I would feel more at ease knowing for certain whether or not he is indeed still here."
"I know, I would as well." Shizune stood. It was getting late, and she needed to return to her apartment and continue looking for Neji and Tenten. She knew Orochimaru was indeed in the City, that he was with the Yondaime. But until she had authorization, she could not share that information. "But until then, we can only continue as we have."
He nodded, getting to his feet as well. "Indeed." He dropped the cup and saucer, the sand catching it and spiriting it away to whatever location it had originally come from. Stepping lightly across the floor, he stopped next to her and offered his arm in an extremely surprising and gentlemanly gesture. "If you like, I can accompany you back to your apartment."
Shizune blinked, one eyebrow raising slightly. She had heard much of Gaara of the Sand, but not anything of this gentlemanly sort. With a small smile, she nodded. "Why thank you." She laid her hand lightly on his arm and allowed him to escort her back to her apartment, content with the way their talk had gone.