Council Meeting

On a makeshift couch and chair in the infirmary, Gaara rested, while Lady Chiyo and Yashamaru lay fast asleep nearby.

Meanwhile, in the castle, Rasa was nowhere to be found. After the battle, he had taken it upon himself to send the rogue ninjas away, handling the situation with a mixture of firm authority and a touch of fatherly care.

The village had quickly recovered from the destruction caused by Gaara's actions, and even his siblings, Kankuro and Temari, were no longer astonished by his feats.

Soon, the two of them entered the infirmary, each carrying a large load of food for their younger brother. They stopped short upon finding Gaara's room quiet, with everyone fast asleep in the broad daylight.

Unfazed, they dropped the lunchboxes, silently agreeing there was no reason to be idle, and left to resume their daily duties.

By noon, Rasa had returned to the castle. Baki accompanied him to the council room, where the three elders of Sunagakure awaited.

"What is our next step?" the First Elder asked, trying to anticipate Rasa's plans.

"I believe Gaara has shown he can handle the One-Tailed Beast. We no longer need to worry about him losing control," Elder Chiyo stated, causing Rasa to tilt his head toward her.

"It doesn't end there. The battle was large on our path, and while we prepared for it, Gaara didn't. If he is to be the ultimate weapon of the Sand, he needs more training to hone his skills," Baki added.

"I agree with you both, but at the same time, I feel a strong urge to make Gaara even stronger..." Rasa said, his voice tinged with resolve.

"You can't force the child, Rasa," Elder Chiyo interrupted, her tone firm.

"There's no time," Rasa shot back, his voice hardening. "The pressure from the Hidden Leaf is increasing, and on the other side, we have him, trying to take over the village. We never know when he'll strike. We have to be prepared."

"You have to be prepared?!" Elder Chiyo retorted, her anger rising. "He has to move at his own pace. Worst-case scenario, you'll have to be a father to him!"

Rasa, however, refused to acknowledge her words, though deep down, he knew she was right.

"He's not ready yet. Yes, he was able to fend off a few Jonin, but he didn't defeat them. The people we're up against are far more powerful, and that's another reason we need to hasten our plans," the First Elder chimed in, his voice steady.

"So, I suggest a training course for Gaara," Baki proposed. "Make him return to the academy and let him take the Genin exams as a special candidate. He needs to go on missions to see what lies outside of Sunagakure."

"You keep forgetting he's just six years old!" Elder Chiyo snapped, her anger now fully evident. "He's lucky to even be alive!"

"That's why, Elder Chiyo, we advise you to set up a proper training course for him," Baki suggested, his tone calm but insistent.

Rasa and the First Elder nodded in agreement, though Chiyo's disapproving silence hung heavily in the room.