Here's the backstory of Kuro before he became part of team Taryn. It ties in around the start of Crow's Feathers with the Chuunin Exams in Konoha. At that time, Taryn was still banished.
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It started off as any other day in Suna. His classmates were noisy, all nervous for their first day in the Academy. In a few years time, if all went well, they would graduate and start their training as ninja. But for now they were merely students.
Kuro sighed and stared out of the window. He had never been a very social person. It would be hard to socialize with his classmates, but he would try. He would have to learn how to work as a team if he wanted to become a ninja like his brother.
Suzaku was his idol. He served the Kazekage’s personal guard and he was only twenty-four.
Kuro leaned his head on his hand. Suzaku was in Konoha now. The Chuunin Exams had come around and he had to go with the Kazekage to attend the final round. It would be a while before he’d be back.
Kuro focused his attention on the blackboard. Kasumi-sensei was writing down a series of jutsu for them to copy and Kuro got to work.
For a while it was silent in the classroom.
Then the door opened.
Hojou-sensei walked up to Kasumi-sensei and whispered something. Kasumi-sensei froze and her eyes turned sad. She nodded. “Kuro,” she said.
Kuro looked up surprised.
Kasumi-sensei sighed. “Please go with Hojou-sensei. He will take you home.”
His classmates exchanged confused glanced and he could hear a few whispers. “Why?” he asked softly.
“It’s better if you hear it from your parents. Please go now,” she said encouraging.
Kuro slowly gathered his things and followed the male sensei out of the school. He had a bad feeling. He wanted to run and hide, anything to postpone what was to come.
Hojou-sensei pated his shoulder when they arrived at Kuro’s house. “Go on, kid,” he said and waited for Kuro to enter.
Kuro took a deep breath and stepped inside.
His mother was crying.
His sister Kimi stared in the distance, her face pale.
His father was pacing the room, clearly upset, while conversing with two Jounin that were in the council.
“Dad?” Kuro whispered. He barely noticed when Hojou-sensei left.
His mother looked up. “Kuro-kun,” she cried and pulled him in her arms.
“What’s wrong?” Kuro asked. His lip trembled. His family’s behavior scared him. Kimi was still staring and his father had sunk into a chair. “Mom?”
One of the council members turned to him. “There’s been an ambush,” he said calmly, “the Kazekage’s party has been attacked on the way to Konoha.” He pause for a moment.
Kuro turned white. He knew what the next words were going to be and he shook his head.
“I’m very sorry. There were no survivors.”
Kuro’s mother started to cry again.
Kuro blinked. He heard the words, but they didn’t make sense. Suzaku. Suzaku was in Konoha. He had to guard the Kazekage. “Where is Suzaku?” he asked distracted.
At his words, Kimi broke from her trance and started to cry too.
“He fought bravely,” the Jounin said, “but it was not enough.”
Souta Shiraki took a deep breath. “What happens next?” he asked.
The second Jounin turned to him. “The Council will gather. We are currently leaderless. We need to appoint a new Kage before the other nations catch wind of the situation and decide to invade.” He paused. “Of course your son will receive a hero’s funeral. We will honor him and his name will be carved into the Memorial Stone.”
“Again,” the first Jounin added, “we are very sorry for your loss.” They nodded and left the house.
Kuro stared into nothingness. He was still trying to comprehend what was happening. Suzaku… Suzaku was dead. The brother he idolized was gone. Just like that.
“Kuro,” his father said quietly, as if only now noticing his son was there. He pulled the boy in a tight embrace. “He’s gone my boy.”
That was the moment the words sunk in. Kuro closed his eyes and sobbed.
***
The death of the Kazekage was the talk of the town. Even his classmates couldn’t stop talking about it.
Kuro avoided them. His days went by in a haze. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the Kazekage wasn’t the only one that had lost his life.
He sighed as he cleaned the cages that held the messenger birds. Helping his father after school distracted him from his grief.
“Wouldn’t you rather be out, playing with your friends, son?” Souta asked.
“I like helping you,” Kuro said quietly.
Souta sighed sadly. His youngest son had always been a loner, but since Suzaku had died, Kuro had withdrawn even more. It concerned him.
Life in Suna as precarious at the moment. No new Kage had been chosen yet and the village was ruled by the council and the Kage’s oldest son, Kankuro. But Kankuro was young. And even though he was a skilled fighter, he was only a Genin and nowhere near the level of Kage.
Suna was vulnerable. Especially after betraying their biggest ally, Konoha. How could they have let that criminal Orochimaru fool them?
Souta placed a hand on is son’s shoulder. “I’m not chasing you away, my boy. I could use the help. I just don’t want you to hide in here. You should have fun with your friends.”
“I’m fine, dad,” Kuro answered, “don’t worry about me.”
“Alright,” Souta nodded, “go get the birdfeed then.”
***
“We cannot go on like this!” Yura said firmly. He slammed his hand on the table and looked around the council room.
“Then what do you suggest, Yura?” Baki hissed through his teeth.
“We need a new Kazekage,” Yura answered, “and with all due respect, Kankuro is not fit for the position.”
“I know I’m not ready,” Kankuro said calmly.
“Then who?” Baki interrupted, “he is the oldest son of the Fourth. No one in Suna is currently up to the task…”
“We need Taryn,” Kankuro interrupted.
A silence fell across the room. Kankuro sighed. “I may be the oldest son, but Taryn is the oldest child. She became a Jounin and an early age and she served my father’s special guard.”
“She was banished on the count of treason,” one of the Jounin growled.
“You know that was not the reason!” Kankuro countered.
“Kankuro!” Baki called, “calm yourself!”
“You know we need her, sensei,” Kankuro said, “she is still loyal to Suna. She protected Gaara back in Konoha.”
“We can’t trust her,” Yura said, “It is common knowledge that she has ties with missing nin. We cannot risk the safety of Sunagakure now.”
“Kankuro does have a point though,” Ao said, “besides, she is the only one that can control the One Tail when it emerges.”
“That is something to consider,” Baki admitted unwillingly.
Yura narrowed his eyes and sighed in defeat. “We will take a vote on it.”
***
Souta looked up when the door to the tower opened. He gave a slight bow when he recognized the visitor. “Kankuro-sama.”
Kankuro nodded. “I need to send a message,” he said.
“Of course,” Souta nodded.
From the corner of the room, Kuro looked on curiously. He hadn’t yet seen a message being send.
“Where to?” Souta asked.
Kankuro took out a scroll and tolled it up in a second scroll, sealing it with wax. “Konoha,” he said, “with the upmost urgency.”
Souta nodded again and took the scrolls. “It will be done.”