Incompetent

Gaara stood silently, contemplating what more to say. It wasn't truly necessary—after all, anything he said might just hinder their growth. His thoughts were interrupted as he turned his gaze toward Lady Chiyo, his expression hardening as if expecting her presence.

"I know you've been looking for a way to escape the clutches of this village," Gaara's voice was steady, but carried an undercurrent of resignation. "And that's why, no matter how far you tried to avoid us during the journey, I kept you close. The moment we stepped into this village, I already sent word out." He paused, letting his words settle before continuing. "Gaara, you're still young and indecisive. Mistakes can be corrected with lessons, and you're lucky to have teachers like us."

The air grew thick with tension as Baki and several other elite jonin appeared, stepping out of the shadows, their presence an immediate warning. They had been waiting, prepared for whatever Gaara might do. One by one, the jonin materialized until, finally, Rasa himself emerged. Temari and Kankuro exchanged confused glances, trying to make sense of the situation.

"So, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Rasa demanded, his voice tinged with impatience.

Gaara, however, did not flinch. His gaze shifted calmly around the room, memorizing every face. "You underestimate the power of the One-Tails' Jinchuriki. Blame yourself for your incompetence. You're too late."

Rasa's lips twisted into a smirk, clearly unimpressed. "Don't tease yourself. Everyone here is capable of apprehending you, whether through brute force or by sealing you once again."

"Are they now?" Gaara replied coolly, his voice almost mocking. He slowly raised his hands, a smile playing on his lips. His fingers moved deliberately, folding into a partial fist, leaving only his index and middle fingers pointing forward as though preparing to cast a jutsu.

Tension crackled in the air as every jonin tensed, ready for any move Gaara might make. Just as it seemed like a confrontation was about to erupt, Gaara's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Kankuro, Temari, don't slack off."

The moment Gaara's fist closed fully, the jonins acted immediately, launching a sealing earth jutsu in unison, their scrolls unrolling at lightning speed. But to their shock, Gaara vanished in a puff of smoke—revealing that it had been a shadow clone all along.

Emotions swirled through the room—anger, disbelief, admiration. The feat Gaara had just pulled off was no small thing, and the more they thought about it, the more they realized just how difficult it had been to execute.

Baki, along with the other jonin, scrambled to search the area, but they soon realized the futility of their efforts. Lady Chiyo, having read the report filed earlier, knew exactly what had happened.

Rasa, however, was not so quick to accept this defeat. His gaze turned to Lady Chiyo, a flicker of hatred in his eyes, but she held his gaze unwaveringly. He knew the truth—he had been outplayed. His incompetence had led him into this trap.

Kankuro and Temari stood speechless, unable to process what had just unfolded. They could only watch in stunned silence as the situation rapidly spiraled out of control. It was clear now: Gaara was gone.

"How long? How long has he been gone?" Kankuro's voice was strained, his words tinged with guilt. He felt helpless, as though he had been manipulated, used, and had never even seen it coming.

Lady Chiyo responded calmly, though the weight of the situation was heavy in her voice. "The average shadow clone lasts independently for about half a day. At best, maybe a day."

Baki, ever observant, nodded, piecing things together. "If that's the case, then you would have been on the road to Sunagakure when he switched places with the clone."

Temari's eyes widened in realization. "But... that would've been impossible to notice. He avoided us, but he was always within sight."

Lady Chiyo's voice was measured as she spoke the truth: "He played us all. And that's what matters."

Rasa's face twisted in fury as he glared at the spot where Gaara had once stood. His voice rang out, full of venom. "Biting the hand that fed him. Fine. Send word. Gaara is now a traitor to Sunagakure, a rogue ninja. From this day forward, as long as I live, Gaara is no longer the heir to the Kazekage. If he is found, he is to be killed on sight."

Rasa's declaration hung in the air like a dark cloud, the final word on Gaara's betrayal, sealing his fate and marking him as an enemy of his own village.