***
Sunagakure and Konoha were simply too far apart.
For Genin traveling at a standard pace, the journey would take more than ten days. The Sand ninja had roughly planned to arrive a week before the Chunin Exam to give their Genin, most of whom had never set foot outside the Land of Wind, time to acclimate to the Land of Fire's environment.
The group of several dozen did not travel in a single, tight-knit formation. Instead, each squad was allowed to proceed at its own pace. Their team leader, Otokaze, did not travel with Daigan, Yome, and Chi, instead leaving Daigan to manage their itinerary.
Things were fine while they were still in the Land of Wind; the Genin were still somewhat reserved. But once they crossed the border, the environment—so starkly different from their nation of wind and sand—was a true eye-opener for the sheltered Sunagakure Genin.
Passing through the lush Land of Grass and crossing through Kikyo Mountain Castle, the Sand ninja who smoothly entered the Land of Fire couldn't help but covet its prosperity.
"This land was almost ours once," Kankuro said with a sigh, seemingly oblivious to the strange looks from Daigan's two female teammates.
"What are you following us for?" Daigan asked the grumbling Kankuro. "Didn't Temari tell you not to hang around me?"
"You think I want to? You have no idea how much pressure there is just being near Gaara…" Kankuro lowered his voice, afraid that Gaara, who was not far behind, might overhear. "That's why I hate dealing with difficult little kids the most!"
"So you're just going to leave your dear sister alone with Gaara? The bonds in your family really are as thin as water!"
"It's not like I have a choice! Just thinking about being stuck with Gaara for the next while sends a chill down my spine."
Even back in Sunagakure, Kankuro and Gaara barely exchanged a few words. When Gaara was lucid, he could just about restrain his desire for destruction and slaughter. But once he lost control, he would kill anyone, even his own family.
"Gaara's gotten more and more terrifying since Yashamaru died."
"Yashamaru? You call your own uncle by his name? How rude…"
"You think being born into the Kazekage's family is all sunshine and roses?" Kankuro scoffed. "My mother died when I was very young. I don't even remember what she looked like; I only have a vague idea from old photos that are already fading. Yashamaru wasn't much older than Temari and me, and he was ordered by *that man* to look after Gaara. Temari and I barely ever interacted with him."
"'That man'… you mean the Fourth Kazekage?"
Kankuro said nothing, tacitly confirming Daigan's guess.
"Every family has its own struggles, huh?"
Daigan's father had died young, and Kankuro was also from a single-parent home with a cold father-son relationship. "I have it a little better than you. My mother may be an ordinary housewife, but she still cares about me. Still, there are things about you to envy. You have a sister and a brother. I'm an only child."
"A sister, sure, but a brother?" Kankuro pondered for a moment. "Gaara doesn't see Temari or me as family at all."
"Is that so?" Daigan thought for a moment. "Gaara seems to be in a good mood today, don't you think?"
"How would I know? He's not radiating any killing intent, so I guess it's not too bad. What are you planning? Don't do anything stupid…"
"Relax, little brother-in-law…"
"Who are you calling little brother-in-law? Hey, stop right there! Don't get yourself killed…"
Kankuro watched in horror as Daigan turned and walked toward the silent Gaara and the trembling Temari.
"Yo, Temari. Long time no see. How've you been?"
"If you're going to hit on me, at least pick a better time, you idiot. Get out of the way…"
"Still as blunt as ever, I see," Daigan said with an awkward smile, then turned to Gaara, who had stopped walking. "Hey there, little bro. My name is Daigan. I'm the man who's going to be your brother-in-law. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Shut up. Get lost," Gaara said without even opening his eyes, a wave of killing intent locking onto Daigan's flippant, grinning face.
"Sorry to bother you." With that, Daigan turned on his heel and ran.
"That was terrifying." He casually slung an arm around Kankuro's shoulders and patted his chest, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
"Don't stand so close… Why did you go and provoke Gaara?"
"You saw that, didn't you?" Daigan wore a knowing look. "That's what happens when an outsider talks to Gaara. If he didn't see you as family, do you really think you could have stayed by his side for so long without being killed?"
Kankuro thought about it and felt that Daigan's words seemed to have some merit. But still… "You risked your life just to prove a small point like that? Is there something wrong with your head?"
"You were the one who wanted to see, little brother-in-law. How could I, as your future big brother-in-law, back down?" Daigan glanced at the impassive Gaara and a glaring Temari. "A sister, a brother, a father… Don't talk about them like they're just some kind of trouble. Some people wish they had that and never get the chance."
"You…"
Daigan's sudden seriousness left Kankuro stunned for a moment.
"You don't know how good you have it. Go back where you belong. There's no place for you in our squad." With that, Daigan gave Kankuro a shove, sending him back toward his siblings.
"We're opponents in the Chunin Exam. Your brother-in-law won't be holding back!"
"Tch…" Kankuro spat lightly. "No idea how strong he is, but his talent for bragging has definitely improved."
Temari walked up and grabbed the muttering Kankuro. "Hey, what did you and that guy talk about?"
"Just some boring stuff. Nothing worth mentioning."
"Good. Don't cause any trouble." Temari glanced at the unresponsive Gaara out of the corner of her eye and breathed a sigh of relief. Anything that could potentially make Gaara lose control had to be avoided at all costs.
Up ahead, Daigan quickened his pace. Right now, it was best not to appear in Gaara's line of sight. Chi and Yome exchanged a look and hurried to keep up.
"Daigan, weren't you scared approaching Gaara?"
"It was just for a few words. It should be fine."
"But everyone says…"
"I know, Yome." Daigan cut off his teammate's doubt. "We're away from home. Don't talk about Gaara. Some things are best discussed in private."
How many of the uninformed Genin knew about the relationship between a Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki? If a stray comment was overheard by the wrong person and they figured out Gaara was a Jinchuriki, it would be a disaster.
For now, at least, Daigan and his teammates were on Sunagakure's side. They were surrounded by potential enemies, including their duplicitous allies from Otogakure and Orochimaru.
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