Ryuu and Shisui were running in the sandy paths created in the desert while the strong winds blew past them.
"Shisui, I say we take Nobu from here.
There's a giant sandstorm at this time of the year in the desert.
Unless you have a better idea, of course."
"Sensei, this mission isn't urgent, is it?"
Ryuu shook his head.
"No, it's just a B-rank, the Hokage didn't say the urgency for this mission, I assume we don't have to hurry." Shisui nodded.
"We can find a place to stay while the sandstorm passes," Shisui suggested.
"Alright."
Ryuu and Shisui found a cave and stayed there.
Ryuu made a camp and closed the entrance with a boulder.
He made a fire and unsealed a pot and put some hot water in it.
"Sensei, there's something I want to ask you." Ryuu looked at Shisui.
"What?"
"Well, it's about Itachi."
"What about him?"
"Recently, he's been distant, more than usual. Even to me, he isn't the same.
What do you think is going on? Do you think it's about the clan?"
Ryuu sat down and closed his eyes.
"Yes, and no.
Itachi is…
Well, he's different, but that's not the problem here, or… It's not the one to be worrying about here.
Currently, the only time uncle Fugaku ever wants to talk to him is when he talks about the clan and Itachi joining the Anbu.
Whenever you two hang out, you both circle back to the clan and its problems.
I think it's bothering him.
Of course, Itachi won't say it. He'd rather suffer for the sake of his friends and family than confess how he truly feels." Ryuu opened an eye.
"The water has boiled." He quickly unsealed a packet of Ichiraku ramen and then poured it in with its seasoning.
He unsealed two bowls and gave one to Shisui after pouring the ramen in.
"Thanks for the food!" They both said,
"There's only one way to help Itachi if you ask me." Shisui looked at Ryuu.
"Well, two, I guess I could add the other even when it's unlikely.
The first way is the one he'd dislike the most, but it's necessary.
Give him a break, literally.
I know he got one after becoming a Chūnin but he's still burdened with the clan's problems, and even worse uncle's subordinates keep pushing him around, it's such a drag that I have to always keep them in check.
Anyway, the second way we could help him out is by helping the clan and its matters.
Itachi burdens himself with many clan matters and even small matters, he worries a lot but this time it's different.
This time all that worrying has taken a toll on him, even worse is, this time his worries are becoming true."
Ryuu finished his bowl of Ramen and sealed it in a scroll.
"Well, now that I've answered your question, we better go, right?" Shisui nodded.
'If sensei is right, that means I've been disregarding Itachi for a while now, everyone has…
Except… Sensei.' Shisui frowned.
'I have to do better.'
Ryuu threw the boulder and opened the entrance.
Shisui finished his bowl of Ramen and poured water over the fire and then followed Ryuu.
They ran through the desert and finally reached the hidden sand village.
The entrance was hollow and had guards and multiple shinobi around.
"Stay where you are!" Ryuu and Shisui stopped walking.
"What business do you two have here?"
Ryuu pointed at his forehead protector.
"We're shinobi, from the leaf village, we came here on a mission at the request of the Kazekage."
"I know you, you're the infamous shinobi Scourge, Ryuu Uchiha, aren't you?"
Ryuu nodded.
"And him, he's Shisui Uchiha, of the body flicker." Shisui nodded.
The shinobi turned around and said,
"You there, Send word to Kazekage-sama that Ryuu Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha from the hidden leaf are here."
One of the other shinobi nodded and left.
"Follow me, the Kazekage is this way."
The sand shinobi lead Ryuu and Shisui through the town.
'Even for a village such as the hidden sand, the town is too quiet.
It's off-putting.' Ryuu noted as he looked around.
"I've never been to Suna, is it usually this quiet?" He asked.
"No, that's most likely the reason you're here.
The demon Shukaku has been causing unrest in the village.
Of course, we can take care of it by ourselves like we usually do.
However, the seal used to keep it inside its jinchuriki is too weak.
We need someone who specializes in fuinjutsu, that and the Kazekage wants to talk with you.
Alone." Ryuu glanced at Shisui.
"Well, alright, but I won't do it for free, you know?"
"We know, but we can make a substantial offer.
An offer that you'd be interested in, we're certain of it." Ryuu nodded.
"We'll see." He nodded.
"By the way, I'm Kidōmaru, I'm part of the Suna Council, it's the reason I know all this.
Kazekage-sama trusted me to be the one to get you."
"Good to meet you Kidōmaru."
They arrived at the Kazekage's office.
Knock knock knock…
"Come in!"
Kidōmaru entered, with Ryuu and Shisui behind him.
"Kazekage-sama, our honored guests have arrived."
"I see…"
Rasa stood up and offered his hand to Ryuu.
Ryuu greeted him with a smile.
"I hear you have an offer for me, I can't wait to hear what it is, I hope we can agree on something."
"Yes, I'm confident we will come to a successful arrangement."
Shisui greeted the Kazekage too.
"Please, sit down."
Ryuu sat down on the chair opposite the Kazekage's and Shisui stayed standing on guard.
"Kidōmaru notified me you need my help in fuinjutsu, the one-tail Jinchuriki is having trouble, is he?"
Rasa nodded.
"The name of the Jinchuriki is Gaara, a small boy, and my youngest son.
We had plans to make him Sunagakure's ultimate weapon, but he failed to control the beast inside him.
He can't control Shukaku, and he always ends up hurting the surrounding people.
As Kazekage, I can't allow that to happen."
"I understand."
'Give me a break, the only thing I understand is that you're a pathetic father, and don't let me get started on your work as a Kage…' Ryuu thought.
"In return for you properly sealing the tailed beast, I offer allegiance to Konoha.
An alliance with Konoha and some sacred artifacts to prove this allegiance, with some money, of course."
Ryuu's eyes perked up.
"Shisui, please wait outside as I handle these negotiations." Shisui nodded.
"Yes sensei." He left.
"I'm afraid that simply isn't enough.
By me making this deal, I'll be helping Sunagakure by creating an ultimate weapon.
You can use this weapon against Konoha, and I definitely don't want that.
Instead, I propose a different deal, a way to help Konoha, myself, and Suna."
"State your terms," Rasa said with a bitter voice.
"In negotiating for peace with other lands, I always refer to my past failure when I negotiated the alliance between Kumo and Konoha.
Kumogakure betrayed Konoha when I was M.I.A.
The moment I turned my back on them, they betrayed Konoha.
I'd hate for that to happen with this too, so I request evidence.
Proof that Sunagakure won't betray my village and my trust."
"And how do I convince you that Sunagakure won't betray Konoha, or how do I know Konoha won't betray Suna?"
Ryuu smirked.
"Konoha? When was the last time Konoha betrayed their allies? It's never happened and it won't start while I'm alive or dead."
Rasa scoffed.
"Empty words, that's all there is to that statement."
"Empty words aren't empty when you have evidence. But then again, this doesn't prove much, does it?
That's why I want a different approach to this.
I want to make a deal that won't only improve the relationship with Konoha and Suna, but it will also last forever.
I want two things.
One. A building of my selection, accompanied by uninhabited land to build a house.
Two. I can travel to Sunagakure to my liking with no trouble.
In return, I'll not only seal the one tail properly, but I'll also improve vegetation and ways to get resources in Sunagakure.
My sources tell me you're struggling to find resources.
With these two favors, Sunagakure and Konohagakure will be financially stable forever.
Konoha will benefit from the payment you're giving me today and the payment I'll be receiving from my investment in those buildings.
So, what do you think about my offer?"
"I'm guessing you already have an idea for the buildings you want?" Ryuu nodded.
"The first one I want is the hotel next to your office and I have no specifics for the land I want." Rasa scoffed.
"All these demands…"
"It's only fair, isn't it?" Rasa folded his hands and closed his eyes as he thought about what to do.
'His demands are almost impossible to meet, especially with the rest of the council.
I know lady Chiyo won't like this one bit, considering her history with the leaf.' Rasa frowned.
"Take your time deciding what to do, meanwhile my student and I will go to our hotel, I expect an answer by tomorrow." Ryuu stood up and left with a small grin.