[ At that his expression steels, a twitch of something -- Anger? Hurt? -- flashing on his features before he's tucking it away, back beneath the same firm expression. That hit him directly in every insecurity he's been feeling since the village had started looking to him for answers.. and the very last person he would have ever expected to be poking and prodding at already sore wounds was his sister. She's the person he'd huddled with when they were young, when Gaara's attitude had gotten to him, when the threats had become too much, when something had gone wrong and he'd needed someone to tell him it would be better in the morning. Temari had always been the strong one out of the three of them, she was always right, and Kankuro can't ignore the looming possibility that she has as little faith in him as he does.

He pushes that to one side for the time being.

Sure, he might not be cut out for that particular role, but he is very good at being a little brother. ]

They can stand to wait a few more minutes. It's still early. Besides, we have to lead the procession together, and right now you look like you'd rather chance sunstroke. [ His pose slackens, his usual slouch peeking through as he rests his hip against a nearby desk. ] ....Is it Neji or something? [ Worth a stab in the dark, he supposes. ]