With his arms resting on the railing, Baki looked out over the village. He'd received a message from Kabuto, instructing him to meet at the top of a tower. It wasn't a meeting Baki was looking forward to, especially with how Gaara had been acting. How could he assure Kabuto, and in turn Orochimaru, that the well-laid plans would go off without a hitch? Gaara was still a wildcard, just not in the way he was before. Lord Fourth was relying on his son's detachment from reality to aid in the assault. Orochimaru was also relying on it. What is going to happen if Gaara doesn't participate?

Baki took a deep breath as he felt Kabuto's chakra coming toward him.

'I think, ' Kabuto said as he dropped down beside Baki, 'that some things are not going as planned. ' He flicked his eyes to Baki as he repositioned his glasses. 'Lord Orochimaru will not be happy that you have let that Taki jinchuuriki around that boy. It's interfering with his plans. '