When Kakashi hurried back toward Amegakure, he had no idea what kind of exchange had already taken place between the Sixth Hokage and the Fifth Kazekage. So when he finally arrived, after completing a classified mission, and saw how drastically the village population had been reduced, he didn't even take the time to drink water before heading straight for Sunagakure.
The village had already become like this. Even if it cost him his life, he had to protect Shigure and everyone still alive. Fortunately, Obito had once given him a clay bird, a tool that cut travel time in half. Because of it, while the prisoners from Amegakure were still being transported toward Sunagakure, Kakashi had already arrived.
Even with his awkward position, he was still treated as an honored guest of the Fifth Kazekage. But this time, the one speaking plainly was not Gaara, it was Hatake Kakashi.
"I ask you, Kazekage-sama, please spare the people of Amegakure. They are innocent. They know nothing of what happened. Shigure only acted in self-defense." Kakashi spoke sincerely.
Gaara remained unmoved. Sitting slightly off to the side of the sofa, legs crossed, he set his teacup down and looked at Kakashi calmly. "Kakashi," he asked quietly, "what identity are you using to stand in front of me and say that?"
That single sentence left Kakashi speechless. Was he here as a Konoha ninja? Or as Amegakure's overseer? If it was the former, then how could he explain the death of Kankuro? If it was the latter, then merely being allowed into this room was already a great mercy, how could he dare to make such an unreasonable request?
Kakashi couldn't answer. Gaara understood his hesitation. He had lost his brother, but he had not become a madman. Toward Kakashi, he still held respect.
The Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi was a renowned figure across the shinobi world. In Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto was Gaara's acknowledged friend. Kakashi, however, was a high-ranking elite jonin Gaara personally respected. Even if Kakashi had abandoned Konoha, Gaara still received him as an honored guest. Because of that, Kakashi's silence did not provoke suspicion, only disappointment.
"I heard you already gave up being a shinobi," Gaara said flatly. "Konoha spared your life. Don't do anything unnecessary."
Konoha, spared my life? Kakashi thought bitterly. He stepped forward and dropped to one knee. Then lowered the other.
Gaara watched him in silence. Kakashi bowed until his forehead nearly touched the floor.
"Kazekage-sama," he said hoarsely, "I, Hatake Kakashi, speak to you as the former overseer of Amegakure. I beg you, spare Shigure and the others. Your brother's death, Kankuro-dono, was my responsibility." He couldn't continue. No one understood Kankuro's death better than he did.
So he struck his head to the ground again. "I will take full responsibility. Direct your anger at me. I once promised Pain-sama and Konan-sama that I would protect Amegakure in their absence, but I failed. I can only try to prevent further losses. Shigure killing Kankuro-dono was unavoidable."
"Unavoidable?" Gaara's voice turned sharp. "So you're saying my brother deserved to die?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Gaara's gaze was icy as he looked down at Kakashi. Kakashi froze. One wrong word here meant total ruin.
So he lowered his head even further. "No, Kankuro-dono made great contributions in this war. His death is a loss to the shinobi world. Kazekage-sama, if a life must be repaid, then take mine. Please." Desperate. Humble. Pitiful.
Gaara remembered the Copy Ninja's reputation, the man who had defeated countless legends, feared and respected across the world. Some praised him endlessly. Others gritted their teeth at his name. Once, a masked ANBU wielding lightning had been said to leave only death in his wake.
And yet now, the man who once stood at the pinnacle of shinobi power was bowing before him. Begging. How interesting.
Gaara leaned forward slightly, studying him. "I thought calling yourself a 'supervisor' that day was just a convenience," he said. "But it seems I was wrong. Are you Konoha's Kakashi, or Akatsuki's Kakashi? That confuses me."
Kakashi didn't know the answer either. So he only repeated: "Please, spare Shigure and the others."
Gaara shook his head. "I traded land from the Land of Wind to secure these prisoners. Do you think I will release them just because you ask?" His tone was final. "I won't make things difficult for you. Leave."
Kakashi did not move. If he left, those people would be doomed. He couldn't even name them all, but Shigure was among them. That much he knew.
"Kazekage-sama, please." "I kill your family," Gaara interrupted coldly, "and then ask you to forgive me. Try doing it. If you can, then so can I."
Silence fell. Heavy and absolute.