Naruto: Marionette of Suna

[Year 52, Suna Encampment]

The Suna encampment in the Land of Rain was a somber, damp place. The relentless drizzle that seemed to haunt the region soaked into the very ground, turning it into a muddy quagmire that clung to boots and made every step a struggle. Thick fog rolled in from the hills, mingling with the smoke of campfires and the sharp tang of iron and wet earth.

Despite the hardships, the situation amongst the Sunagakure shinobi was much better than what it was a few days ago. The declining discipline was now nowhere in sight as their morale skyrocketed. 

Sentries remained vigilant and the shinobi sent for patrols did so with gusto. Souei could see all their movements being purposeful as they went about their tasks, preparing for the inevitable conflicts to come.

At first, Souei was shocked that his presence brought this change, but he was glad for it. He didn't know much about the current state of the war. Being behind enemy lines for a little over half a month lent to him being largely ignorant to any recent news and updates of the war. 

Which was probably the reason why the Kazekage asked him to meet him in the main tent. He walked on the dirt path as a few shinobi gave him passing nods. His wounds had mostly healed apart from a few aches, but a medical shinobi who had diagnosed him after returning to the camp said that a few days of rest was all he needed to get back into shape.

Spotting the war tent in the distance, his pace quickened slightly. The war tent was large, made of some type of cloth specifically designed to be able to handle the copious weather in the Land of Rain. 

"Souei," a familiar voice sounded as Souei neared the tent.

Turning, he saw Rasa approaching, his expression as passive and unreadable as ever. The red haired shinobi's sharp grey eyes briefly flicked over Souei, as if assessing his condition, before gesturing toward the tent. "Kazekage-sama is waiting."

Nodding, Souei adjusted the scrolls on his back that Aunt Chiyo had given him and followed Rasa into the main tent. Dim light from lanterns filled the interior as maps and scrolls were strewn across a central table, weighted down by kunai to prevent the persistent wind that came from the open entrance from scattering them. The Third Kazekage stood at the head of the table.

"Souei. Rasa." The Kazekage's voice cut through the muffled sounds of rain outside. "Step forward."

The two shinobi obeyed, stopping a respectful distance from the table and bowing their heads slightly. Ryushi regarded them for a long moment, before nodding to himself as if affirming a decision.

"You have both exceeded expectations during this war," he began. "Your actions on the battlefield have earned you the respect of your comrades and the recommendation of your superiors. It is only fitting that you be recognized for your efforts."

Souei exchanged a brief glance with Rasa, whose expression remained calm, though Souei could sense the confusion beneath his composed exterior.

"Effective immediately, both of you are promoted to the rank of Jonin."

Souei blinked once before the words registered in his mind, and Souei felt a mix of pride and disbelief swell within him. A Jonin. While the rank certainly carried weight and responsibility with it, he was confident that he was more and ready to tackle it. For a brief moment, he thought of Aunt Chiyo, and what she might have said if she were still alive to witness this.

Ryushi pulled two tan vests from behind the desk, before placing them in front of him and Rasa. "This is not just a recognition of your skills but a reminder of the responsibilities you now bear. Do not take it lightly."

"I understand, Kazekage-sama," Souei said with a small bow. Beside him, Rasa mirrored the gesture, his voice equally solemn as he acknowledged the promotion.

Ryushi nodded, seemingly satisfied. Then his expression turned serious. "Now, onto more pressing matters. Souei, I understand you have been cut off from intelligence for some time due to your situation behind enemy lines. There is news you need to hear."

Souei's brows furrowed as he straightened, slightly perplexed by the switch in topic.

Ryushi's gaze bore into him. "Sunagakure has been attacked."

The words hit Souei like a physical blow. His eyes widened in shock, and his heart clenched. "What? Attacked? By whom? How—?"

"We do not yet have definitive answers," Ryushi interrupted, his voice grim. "The investigations are ongoing, but the initial reports suggest a small, highly skilled group. They targeted specific locations: the Kage building, the academy, and the library. They bear a lot of resemblance to the shinobi who ambushed you during your mission in the Land of Vegetables."

Souei's mind raced as he tried to piece together what this could mean. The academy and the library were repositories of knowledge, housing everything from shinobi training manuals to sensitive village records. If the attackers had managed to access those…

"And the casualties?" Souei asked.

Ryushi's expression softened slightly, though it was clear he was holding back the full weight of the situation. "The casualty reports are still being compiled, but there is one name you will be relieved to hear is absent. Sasori is fine."

Souei exhaled deeply, relief flooding through him. His nephew, Sasori, had always been something of a prodigy, but that didn't mean Souei didn't worry about him. The thought of Sasori being caught up in such an attack had been gnawing at him from the moment Ryushi mentioned Sunagakure.

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama," Souei said, bowing his head again. "I'm glad he's safe."

Rasa, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "Do we know of the attackers' objective?"

Ryushi's gaze shifted to him. "If I were to hazard a guess, I would say they were after sensitive secrets—information that could be used to undermine our village. The choice of targets makes that clear. Another thought would be sabotage, but they didn't go anywhere near the hospital nor did they destroy the academy. It seems information gathering was the main thing."

Souei's hands clenched into fists at his sides. The idea of someone violating their home filled him with a quiet fury. 'Again and again, this damn war keeps continuing to escalate. At what point would any of this stop?'

Ryushi continued, his voice resolute. "The attack has left the village shaken. We need to show the civilians that they are still safe, that Sunagakure remains strong. To that end, I will be sending some of our forces back to the village to bolster its defenses."

Souei and Rasa both straightened at this, understanding the unspoken command.

"I'm placing the both of you in command of the ones returning," Ryushi said. "Publicly, your duties would be to help reassure the people and reinforce our defenses." 

Souei and Rasa furrowed their eyebrows at the wording. "Publicly?"

Ryushi's gaze then bore into each of them that caused both to tense slightly. "Secretly, your main job is to rat out the spy. The fact that this person continues to elude us shall stop now. I have sent word to the ANBU commander to work together with you once you arrive. Consider it your first duty as Jonin."

"Yes, Kazekage-sama," Rasa said with a sharp nod.

Ryushi's piercing gaze softened just enough to convey his trust in them. "I don't need to iterate how important this mission is. Do whatever it takes to find them. Pack your things and prepare to leave at dawn. Dismissed."

As Souei and Rasa stepped out into the rain-soaked encampment with their new vests firmly worn over their regular clothes, the weight of their new responsibilities settled on their shoulders. The cold rain splattered against their faces, but neither seemed to notice as they walked in silence back to their respective tents.

Finally, Rasa broke the silence. "It seems our promotion comes with more than just a title."

Souei huffed a quiet laugh, though it lacked real humor. "Did you expect anything less?"

Rasa's lips quirked into a faint smirk. "No. But it's still a lot to take in." 

Souei nodded, his mind already racing ahead to what awaited them in Sunagakure. "I wonder how Rukia will take this. We both made Jonin before her."

"I'm sure she'll make a few exaggerated quips about the unfairness of it all before firmly congratulating us." Rasa replied. "I'm more interested in how Ishito-sensei would react. We're now officially his peers sharing the same rank."

"As if. The only moment sensei would consider us as his equals is the day we reach S-Rank, which is still a long time coming." Souei replied with a small chuckle.

As they reached the tent he shared with a few other shinobi, Souei paused. "Rasa," he said, his tone quieter now.

Rasa stopped and turned, one brow raised in question.

"This whole war," Souei said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions churning inside him. "When do you think it's gonna end?"

Rasa remained quiet as he let out a slow breath. "Who knows…"

"Well despite everything, I'm glad you're still here. And I'm glad we're heading back to the village together." Souei patted his shoulder.

Rasa's smirk softened into something more of a genuine smile. "Likewise, Souei. We'll protect our home. Together."

With that, Rasa turned and walked away, leaving Souei standing alone in the rain. For a moment, he let the cool droplets wash over him, grounding him in the present. Then, with renewed resolve, he ducked into the tent to begin packing.

_____________________________

[Sunagakure, Five days later]

The convoy crested the final dune of sand, and Sunagakure came into view. Nestled in the heart of the desert, the village seemed to rise organically from the golden sea of sand that surrounded it, its walls and buildings sculpted from sandstone and clay. Jagged rock formations encircled the settlement, providing natural fortifications alongside its high, reinforced walls. At its heart, the Kazekage Palace loomed tall, a beacon of stability amidst the swirling sands.

Souei couldn't keep his eyes away from it. Despite being only six months since the war started and he was subsequently deployed into the battlefield, it felt like a lifetime ago since he was here. 

'Though it wasn't exactly the same since I left.' He thought. Plumes of dust and smoke hung in the air as workers scurried over broken walls and shattered buildings. Scaffolding had been erected in several places, and shinobi and civilians alike toiled side by side to repair the damage. Souei's sharp eyes caught sight of wide gaps in the village's perimeter defenses, sections of the walls reduced to rubble. 'The destruction is a lot worse than I imagined.'

The convoy slowed as it approached the gates, which was among the few defenses that remained untouched. Sunagakure guards saluted the returning contingent, their faces weary but relieved. As the group moved into the village, Souei took in the destruction in detail; homes reduced to hollow shells, blackened scorch marks streaking the ground, and the lingering smell of smoke and scorched sand.

"Quite the welcome sight," Rasa remarked dryly, his tone betraying no emotion.

Souei glanced at him, noting the faint twitch of tension in Rasa's jawline. "It could have been worse," he replied. "At least it's still standing."

"Barely," Rasa said, his gray eyes scanning the repairs. He leaned closer to Souei as they walked through the main street, lowering his voice. "Who's running the village in the Kazekage's absence? With the attack, there must be someone keeping everything in order."

"During war times, protocol states that the ANBU Commander assumes command. They act as the interim Kazekage until Ryushi-sama returns." Souei replied.

Rasa nodded thoughtfully. "A logical choice. Let's hope they're capable of managing the situation."

After passing through the battered streets and giving orders to the contingent, Souei and Rasa halted in the village square. The shinobi behind them came to an orderly stop, their thoughts pretty clear on their faces as they gazed at the destruction around them..

"Rest up and recover your strength. You'll be briefed tomorrow morning and deployed to your posts as necessary. Until then, remain alert." Souei raised his voice, his tone commanding and clear.

The contingent saluted in unison before breaking formation. Souei turned to Rasa, whose expression was as unreadable as ever.

"We'll meet at the Kazekage's office tonight," Souei said. "We need to debrief with the Anbu Commander and get a clear understanding of what's happening."

Rasa met his gaze and immediately understood his meaning. It was the perfect cover for their secret mission. Rasa's eyes momentarily flicked toward the dispersing shinobi. "Understood."

As Rasa turned to leave, Souei noticed a familiar figure falling into step beside him—Karura, the brown-haired kunoichi that was among the ones who came to rescue him. Her presence around Rasa had been increasingly noticeable in recent weeks, and though she didn't speak much, the subtle dynamic between the two didn't escape Souei's notice.

Souei watched them for a moment, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. 'Oho, what do we have here?'

_____________________________

The Matsuri Clan mansion was one of the few places in Sunagakure that had remained untouched by the attack. Built in the traditional Sunagakure style with arched doorways and clay walls, it exuded a quiet dignity and a place that he gladly calls home. 

As Souei entered the courtyard, memories of his childhood flashed through his mind—sparring sessions with Aunt Chiyo, quiet evenings spent on the terrace drinking tea, and the sound of Sasori's laughter before the war had hardened them both.

Speaking of his nephew, he found Sasori in the workshop hunched over a wooden table scattered with tools, diagrams, and half-assembled puppets. The smell of lacquer and freshly carved wood was thick in the air, an oil lamp making dim light through the interior. Souei studied his nephew, noticing his usually neat red hair now messy and damp from the heat. 

"Sasori," Souei called softly.

Sasori's head snapped up, his amber eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, he simply stared, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Then, with a rare display of emotion, he abandoned his tools and crossed the room in quick strides, pulling Souei into a tight hug.

"Souei-niisan." Sasori exclaimed, his voice muffled against Souei's shoulder.

Souei returned the embrace, a small smile on his face. "It's good to see you, Sasori."

They pulled apart, and Sasori gestured toward the table. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon. What happened? When I heard you died… But then news came in that you were alive." That was when he took notice of the tan vest that Souei currently wore. "Wait, you're a Jonin, now?"

"I got promoted in the field just a few days ago." Souei's gaze then fell on the project Sasori had been working on: a finely crafted puppet arm, its joints intricate and seamless. He raised an eyebrow, impressed by the craftsmanship. "I'll explain everything later. But first, what's this?"

Sasori hesitated for a moment, his expression growing serious. "It's for Komushi," he said quietly. "He lost his arm during the attack. Protecting me."

Souei noticed the pang of guilt as he studied Sasori's face. The boy's usual confidence was overshadowed by something heavier— regret, fear, and determination. "You're making him a replacement?"

Sasori nodded, his voice steady despite the tension in his posture. "It's more than just a replacement. If I can get it to harness chakra properly, he'll be able to fight again. It could change everything for shinobi who've been crippled in the war."

Souei's eyes widened at the implications. "You're serious?"

Sasori met his gaze, the faintest hint of a challenge in his eyes. "When am I not?"

For a moment, Souei was at a loss for words. Creating prosthetics that could be manipulated like puppets? The idea was revolutionary. If Sasori's idea works, then former shinobi who retired due to losing limbs would be able to get back in the force. It would work wonders to all shinobi's and even civilians who are crippled. After all, there are no shortages of crippled shinobi due to the war.

"I'll help you," Souei said.

Sasori blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "You will?"

"Of course," Souei said, with a small smirk. "You're not the only one with unfinished projects. My spider legs were destroyed during the war. I've been meaning to recreate them, but I haven't had the time. Staying in the village will give me that chance."

A faint smile tugged at Sasori's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It'll be good to work together again."

Souei placed a hand on Sasori's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "We'll make it happen. For Komushi, for the village, and for ourselves."

As they settled into the workshop, Sasori began recounting the events of the attack in vivid detail.

"We were out in the practice fields," Sasori began, his hands idly adjusting the puppet arm as he spoke. "Just training like usual. Then, out of nowhere, explosions started rocking the village. It was chaos. There was fire everywhere, people were screaming."

Souei listened intently, a hand on Sasori's shoulder for support.

"My team and I rushed back to help," Sasori continued. "We got as many civilians out of danger as we could. But then the attackers showed up."

Sasori's voice faltered for a moment, and Souei noticed how tightly his younger cousin's hands gripped the edge of the table.

"They were strong," Sasori said quietly. "Stronger than we expected. They had no visible features, with only blank masks and standard shinobi outfits. Komushi—" He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "I was distracted during the fight and he threw himself in front of me. Took the hit that would have killed me."

Souei felt a knot tighten in his chest. "Sasori..."

"I should have been faster," Sasori said, his voice filled with self-recrimination. "If I had been stronger, smarter, he wouldn't have—"

"Stop," Souei interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. He placed a hand on Sasori's arm, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. "You can't blame yourself for this. Komushi made his choice because he's your friend. And now you're doing everything you can to repay that. That's what matters."

Sasori looked away, his jaw tightening. "I just... I don't want to lose anyone else. When I heard that you and Aunt Chiyo... I was in a pretty bad place, Nii-san. First it was mom and dad, and now this. I considered leaving the village altogether. Being a ninja brought me nothing but pain. How do you deal with everything?" 

Souei was quiet for a second before replying. "You know it's funny. I once asked this same question to Aunt Chiyo. She told me back then that we are shinobi. We grieve, we endure, we move on. It's as simple as that."

Sasori furrowed his eyebrows. "And what did you say?"

"I told her that it doesn't really sound so simple." Souei replied. "How are we supposed to move on after losing the ones we care most about? It's a question that has plagued me ever since your parents died."

"The only reason I stopped myself from making the decision to leave the village was when we received a missive from the frontlines that you were alive. I slapped myself then, thinking that I was a coward for even considering it. That's when I decided to make the puppet arm. I don't want to lose anyone else, Nii-san."

"You won't," Souei said with quiet conviction. "Not if we can help it. And with your idea—this puppet arm—you'll be saving lives, not just here, but everywhere."

Sasori nodded slowly, thinking about his words.

As they worked late into the night, the air between them grew lighter. They shared stories of the things they did during the war. For the first time in a long while, Souei felt truly relaxed. A glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of war. 

_____________________________

AN: Returned to the village at last! Those field promotions were also a long time coming. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

As always, if you want advanced chapters, feel free to visit my P@tre0n account to check it out. There's a few unreleased fics that I've written there if you're interested. An unedited version of Chapter 47 for MOS is also available.

Just look up my name on the site. P@tre0n_com/TeemVizzle.