173. Aproaching conflict
<span style="font-weight:400">Once bijuu and girl were back things became simple. Shukaku got to talk with Gaara as they shared their distaste for thetter''s father. It actually didn’t take too long for them to get to an amicable state after they aired their grievances against one another.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, with that out of the way now. How about we make a deal.” Tomoka’s grin alongside the way she rubbed her hands together made her look like the sketchiest con-woman ever. Though that didn’tst long as the girl got smacked twice on the back of the head by her lovers.
<span style="font-weight:400">““Don’t say it while looking like that!”” Both girls said at the same time. It had be amon urrence for them to do this.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine. Anyway, I am serious about the deal. Want to hear about it?” Shukaku and Gaara looked towards each other before giving their answer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Might as well.” Said the sand tanuki while Gaara just gave a small nod.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So it goes like this. Akatsuki is a group that…” After exining what the group is and wanted, Tomoka continued with her offer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I kinda need them to seed to a certain extent but at the same time not. That is why I am nning to interfere. My n is rather simple, I want the two of you to move to one of my bases after another incident I want to happen. After that incident I will have a clone Gaara with half of Shukaku here go back to the Suna while you two move to one of my bases. The clone is the one that will be taken and killed”
<span style="font-weight:400">Both Shukaku and Gaara looked creeped out by Tomoka’s n and deal. They didn’t really have an option either. Even if they refused they doubted they could survive akatsuki despite knowing about them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A clone?” This was also one of Gaara’s concerns. How would that work?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes a clone. Though it would be identical to you gically speaking it would have no soul. Instead I will be the one controlling it or you could do it instead if you so wished. I would need to set a contention to you anyway so it could believably act like you.” Yeah no, there was no way Gaara would let the rather weird girl in front of him control a clone of himself. Who knows what she could make it do.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I will control it.” Though he didn’t like the idea of the clone there wasn’t much he could do about it anyway.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Great. I will be leaving one of my phantoms behind formunication once we leave.” Having finished with the conversation Tomoka pulled everyone out into the real world. A wide genuine smile on her face. She loves when a n works out.
<span style="font-weight:400">The next day, the trio had dealt with their business, they decided to just go around and act like tourists. Unfortunately Suna didn’t have much in the form of entertainment. Some retired shinobi would do puppet shows and ys which they watched. Tomoka also took to stealing the chakra string technique for her own usage.
<span style="font-weight:400">The following day as the trio prepared to leave something unexpected happened. As they waited for the summoned spider to smuggle them out Tomoka snapped her head in the direction of Konoha.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tomoka?” Nozomi was the first to notice. As she looked into Tomoka’s eyes she could see a sort of eerie calmness that felt utterly unnatural.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What happened?” Noticing Tomoka’s behavior Hinata became curious and worried.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They done goofed. They shouldn’t have done that.” Tomoka’s expression was one of calmness like no other. It made the girl’s worry.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who?” Hinata had a bad feeling about this.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The Hyuga n.” Was all Tomoka said before they disappeared in a cloud of smoke as they were reverse summoned into Konoha.