Her brother catches up.

"What did you mean, 'we will meet again'?" he asks Elieyha.

She's quiet.

Then, "They held back Shukaku. Together."

"Mm?"

"The Kazekage. Only ever faced me alone. Everyone else evacuated. They stood together. But I couldn't kill them. I want to know why."

"Are you going to try again?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Uchiha Rian. She said, there has been enough death. And she did not kill me. And she was angered by the Kazekage's actions, though I was a threat. As was Uzumaki Mariko. Their way is different than the one we were taught. It may be better. With the failure of the invasion and the death of the Kazekage the village will be in flux. There will be opportunity for change."

"That's a big project for one person."

"I'm not alone."

"What do you mean?"

"I have the two of you."

Oh.

"You got me away from the arena. You fought for me. You came back to get me. I think that you will help me in this. Am I wrong?"

"No. I don't think you are."

"Good."

There remains the problem of Shukaku. If he stays wild, it will be difficult to convince others to trust her. She will have to change their relationship. Right now he is tired, sleeping. Time to plan.

Three days later, they get back to Sunagakure.

They're identified at the gate and waved in. The gate guards have drawn expressions, and there's a low murmur of worry within the village itself.

Hardly surprising, really. Is anyone going to debrief them?

They're told to report to the Kazekage Tower after a bit, where apparently the Kazekage's old advisers have hastily taken over his duties and split them among themselves.

To the tower, then.

They're waved into a meeting room, and met by a semi-familiar face - an old man, faced weathered and scarred, who usually lurks quietly in the background of any meeting.

"Team Baki. Report," he says.

By silent agreement, Kankurou does the talking. He quickly summarizes the leadup to the beginning of the invasion.

"At that point, there were unforeseen complications with Shukaku, possibly due to the Uchiha girl's Sharingan. Baki sent us away in order to give Elieyha time to recover control."

"Did the Uchiha use a genjutsu, or some other trick?"

"Unclear. Our background intelligence on the full capabilities of the Sharingan is sparse, at best."