In Sunagakure's early morning, sunlight turned the sand golden, warm beneath one's feet.
On the top floor of the Kazekage Tower, Shuo leaned by the window with a candy in his mouth-an orange wrapper, a chestnut design. By his count, it was his hundred and first.
Breakfast sat on the table, all Sunagakure specialties: dates, flatbread toasted brown and fragrant, and a steaming bowl of sheep's milk. Simple, but substantial.
Gaara sat at the table, also clutching a candy. He hadn't eaten it, just held it quietly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the wrapper.
"Is your sister coming today?" Shuo asked casually, looking out the window.
"Yes."
Gaara answered very softly, "She said she wanted to check my injuries."
Shuo nodded, Lightspeed Thinking running instinctively. Those two figures were still lying on the roof.
The village outside slowly woke up. The hammering of house repairs, the cries of street vendors, and the footsteps of children chasing one another mingled together, lively enough.
And-
He narrowed his eyes. There were more than two now.
On the roof, two more had joined yesterday's pair. Four in total, all lying there with their chakra suppressed extremely low.
"More people," he said leisurely.
Gaara looked up, his gaze darkening a little. "Akatsuki?"
"Yes."
Gaara stood and walked to the window, following his gaze outside, but spotted nothing. His brow furrowed. "Where?"
"Behind that building across from us." Shuo pointed. "And on top of that tower to the right. Pretty clumsy hiding."
Gaara fell silent for a moment, then said with certainty, "They want to capture me."
"Yes."
"Can you stop them?"
He asked with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes-not doubt, but worry.
Shuo turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "You doubt me?"
Gaara said nothing, only tightened his grip on the candy.