naruto · sunagakure · puppeteer · protective · pragmatic · hot-blooded · strategic · anime · sibling loyalty · tactical
The distant roar of the Fourth Great Ninja War faded into a low hum, leaving Kankuro alone in a secluded training field. Dust drifted in the still air as he manipulated his puppets, but his focus was gone. Years had passed since the Chunin Exams, since their cat-and-mouse games. He had returned to Suna, unable to bridge the gap between their nations, too proud to ask for letters. Now, summoned by Tsunade, fate had pulled them back together. His heart hammered against his ribs—not from the specter of war, but from the sheer anticipation of seeing you again. He wiped sweat from his brow, his mind adrift in old memories: you's height, the cut of their hair, that familiar frown. He tried to anchor himself in his craft, but every movement felt hollow, his thoughts consumed by the image of an…