Eroninja - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Trouble in Sand and The Pack: Part IV




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[*Chapter 50: Trouble in Sand and The Pack: Part IV

Yukata stepped out of her apartment and couldn’t help but marvel at just how different she felt leaving it when compared to when she had entered. Whereas before everything outside the village had been a distraction, even the death of the Kazekage and her former crush, now she found herself deeply embroiled in what was going on. She knew that just as people might have looked at her strangely if they knew why she had been acting so withdrawn, she’d definitely be getting them because of her sudden reversal of opinion.

But it wasn’t just the mind-blowing orgasm that she had experienced, or the promise of many more just like it. In truth, she hadn’t even realized what it was that she had been trying to recreate with her trying to recapture the experiences of her time with the Training Force until Her Ghost had reappeared. Now though, she realized that what she had tried to simulate through her puppet and recreation of the summoning circle, wasn’t so much about the pleasure. But the feeling that when she had been in his arms that she had been the most important thing in the world. It was a little strange she knew to think of her being felt up in a privacy barrier in such a way, yet it was the best way that she could describe it. She guessed that the reason she could think of her experiences with Her Ghost in such a way, was because he had always made it worth the trip to the Summoning Circle. His mentioning that he had multiple lovers had made her realized that his skill with the female body was not so much an innate talent, although she wasn’t discounting that either, but from just how much practice he must put in. As a result of that understanding, she recognized that although no two women would react completely the same to his ministrations, the more times she had visited him, the more efficient he should have become at making her cum. And truthfully he had, but rather than her experience getting quicker in an effort to make time for the next girl to visit him. He had used the knowledge to make the experience more and more pleasurable as he would draw it out as he learned just how to push her buttons.

Still, despite his diligence in his exploration of her body, she had also come to realize that there had likely been an ulterior purpose for her Ghost to create the Summoning Circle, especially in light of his return on the eve of Gaara’s execution. One that he likely had achieved, which was why it hadn’t been there when she had wanted one last time with her Ghost before returning to Suna. Coming to that conclusion had thrown a bit of a damper in her exuberance at his return. It had also led to her asking just before he slipped out of her apartment, while still transparent, having yet to end his jutsu, and after giving her the task he needed for her to complete, “If you didn’t need my help…would you even be here now?”

Her Ghost had surprised her with his answer mainly because rather than give her the answer that he no doubt knew she wanted to hear. He had answered her truthfully in the deep disguised voice that almost seemed to echo around the room, “Right now…no, I probably wouldn’t be.” Her face must have revealed her shock at what was a most decidedly horrible answer to give a woman wanting to hear the opposite. But a warm feather light touch stroked her cheek as he explained, “But, in time as your summoning circle continued to call out to me. I would eventually have investigated, and finding you still hungry for my touch would definitely have made you mine. I’m sorry that I made you feel lonely or abandoned, but it never occurred to me that you would consider our times together as anything more than a pleasant escape. I only wish there was more time for me to explain myself.”

Yukata had found his words far more satisfying then the quick, ‘Of Course I would be,’ that she had expected as they pointed to his depth of character, rather than just some player that knew the right things to say. She guessed it was how he could make her feel like she had been the only thing in the world that mattered during their previous times together, and even now was still basking in that feeling. But she knew that in the outside world there were other things that required her Ghost’s attention. Pushing off from where she had been sitting naked since cumming, she had said, “Don’t worry, I understand. I’ll do as you asked.”

Her Ghost had pulled her close and although she had yet to actually see him. She knew his blue eyes were shining with a deep gratitude. “Yukata, thank you,” he said before giving her a kiss that had curled her toes before slipping out of her apartment. Yukata had quickly showered before leaving to complete the task she had been given.

Finding herself near her destination, she rolled over her wrist to see a small black mark in the shape of the One-Tailed Bijuu and which could have passed for a tattoo. Her Ghost had placed it there after asking her to find someone that would be in contact with Gaara before he was to be executed. She had immediately suggested Temari, but her Ghost had explained that he would prefer that she stay away from both of the Kazekage’s siblings. She hadn’t understood why, until he explained that he had little doubt Temari and Kankuro were being monitored. When she had asked what made him believe such, she had heard both reverence and pride as he said, “Because anyone that knows Temari knows that she won’t just sit back and let this happen.”

The emotion she heard in her Ghost’s voice for the eldest of the Sand Siblings made her wonder if she was one of his lovers. She quickly figured that Temari was, and that another reason her Ghost’s appearance was to protect a woman that held a place in his heart from harm. Hoping to one day have a spot there herself she had said determinedly, “I know who I’ll see.” Her Ghost showed the trust he had in her and the sureness in her eyes when he didn’t inquire about her choice.

Reaching an apartment, she banged on the door and wasn’t surprised when Matsuri answered despite not living there. “Yukata,” the kunoichi said obviously surprised by her presence, “I didn’t think you…”

“I know,” she interrupted, “I’m sorry that I’ve been so antisocial lately. I was so caught up in something I thought I had lost that I forgot that there were others feeling the same way.” Yukata could see Matsuri was pleased by her sudden turnaround, as well as grateful for her presence as she directed a worried look towards a couch.

Yukata felt her heart go out to the kunoichi sitting on the floor in front of it as Sari cried into her knees which she had pulled up to her chest. From the tissues that surrounded the young woman, Yukata believed she hadn’t stop crying since sitting at the spot. The black haired girl approached the crying girl who looked up to reveal her bloodshot eyes. Yukata crouched down as she said, “Sari, everything’s…”

“It’s not going to be okay,” Sari said between sobs. “They’re going to kill him tomorrow and they’ve barely even let me see him since the Daimyo’s judgment was announced. I…I said so many stupid things and started so many arguments about his…being so distant… and now…they’re only going to give me a few moments to try and explain that it was just because I wanted to be with him so much. There’s no way I can tell him that and make up for what I said in so little time…”

Yukata pulled her friend into a hug and felt a small jolt pass between them as she said, “Don’t fret about what to say or how much time you have to say it. Just make sure it comes from the heart.” The brown-eyed Kunoichi pulled away from her crying friend and noticed that the mark on her wrist was gone. She smiled brightly at Sari as she assured her, “If you can do that, then I promise you everything will be okay.”

Sari stared into her friend’s eyes and was surprised by the conviction that shined within in them that the words she had spoken were more than empty platitudes. Not sure, what made Yukata so confident, she nonetheless felt something cause her sadness to fade ever so slightly.

****

Sari tried to remain composed as she was escorted through Suna’s Torture and Interrogation Department. It wasn’t easy as although she knew it was only a part of her imagination, she felt that the Oni masks that Suna’s Anbu wore were staring at her in a judgmental way and by extension the people wearing them. She felt that she could almost hear them whispering, “So this is the girl that had been so pleased to be with the Kazekage, but only a year later wanted to move on.”

She knew that wasn’t actually happening as she had only aired her complaints about the lack of intimacy in her relationship with either Yukata or Matsuri, and she trusted both of them to keep such matters to themselves. However, she couldn’t help but feel the stares were judging her due to the fact that she had been in the midst of airing those grievances when the Anbu had alerted her to Gaara’s being a suspect in Joseki’s murder.

Not to mention she felt as if everything befalling Gaara was her fault due to her feeling that if instead of storming off after trying to use his frustrations at the Elder’s being let free as a means to slip passed the wall he kept between them, she had instead remained to just comfort him thus providing him an alibi, he wouldn’t be less than an hour away from death. Her friends Matsuri and Yukata had tried to assure her that it wasn’t her fault throughout the night, since if it was an active plot against Gaara then they had likely known exactly when he had been alone, and it wouldn’t have mattered when she left.

Although their logic made sense, the guilt she felt wasn’t so easily persuaded. But even after she had, if not accepted the truth of the matter, recognized her friends’ arguments were valid and thus stopped blaming herself although she didn’t want to feel better. She had still been able to argue that in the end she was ultimately unworthy of being Gaara’s girlfriend or lover. She had argued that she should have been cognoscente of what being with him should have meant. That she should have recognized that due to his childhood, Gaara would be uneasy about physical intimacy.

However, to her surprise both kunoichi had explained that they felt that while true, she had displayed quite a bit of patience as her complaining about the lack of progress in that area had been relatively new. Matsuri had gone one step further by adding that physical intimacy was just as much a part of a relationship as anything else, and as such Gaara had a responsibility to make sure her needs were met. Yukata had quickly agreed, also adding that if he felt unable to meet such needs then he should have let her know what to expect so they could both decide how to move forward.

While a part of Sari was grateful to the two, she didn’t want to start feeling better by placing any blame on Gaara on the eve of his death. Again, Matsuri had surprised her, since as far as she knew the kunoichi wasn’t seeing anyone, but sounded like an expert on the subject of relationships to her friend by telling her, “Sari, a relationship can never work if you aren’t willing to fight for what you want from it. You wanted to move your relationship further; he wanted it to remain where it was at. It was only natural for friction to occur. Don’t try to lump what is currently happening in with your relationship troubles, because I assure you that even if everything was going smoothly, it wouldn’t change the fact that somebody wanted Joseki dead and the Daimyo to blame Gaara for it. So for now, focus on the good and how happy you were. Tomorrow, it’ll be your job to comfort him.”

Thanks in part to Matsuri’s words; Sari did find it much easier to forget the troubles of the last few weeks in favor of the months of happy moments. She had regaled her friends with the how she had first started dating Gaara, a story Matsuri hadn’t heard since the relationship had been a secret from her in the beginning. But, basically it had boiled down to Sari, aware that Gaara, despite Shukaku’s removal, still slept very little and so had volunteered to be his assistant during the night. She had done it with the double purpose of getting to know him, but also to prevent him from working himself into an early grave. She had gotten him to relax from time to time, by playing some of the board games that she had used to play with her friends and she was sure Gaara had only heard about. Although he had put up a bit of resistance at first, Sari knew that he had actually come to enjoy the days where she would bring one.

It was as a reward after one such game that Sari had first asked Gaara to take her out on a date. Or as she had phrased it, “I want Gaara to take me out on a date.” Gaara had agreed, but insisted they go out henged since he was uncomfortable with his status as a person a lot of the kunoichi in his village wanted to date. It had been a simple affair, with a meal at the recently opened Ichiraku Stand. After the date had ended, and at the door to her apartment, Sari had revealed her trap by asking, “So when are you going to take me on a date?” Naturally Gaara had been confused pointing out that they had just been on one, to which she had corrected him by stating, “We did go out today. But I think it’s safe to say that Gaara didn’t take me anywhere.”

Gaara had been amused and to Sari’s surprise had agreed with her logic. Eventually their secret dates paved the way to an actual relationship, but due to Sari beginning to feel guilty about sneaking behind Matsuri’s back when Gaara had been ready to go public she hadn’t been. Sari had eventually worked up the courage to admit to her friend that she had been dating her crush for some time, yet strangely Matsuri had only reacted with pleasure to the news.

For the many months that followed, Sari had been quite thrilled with her place as Gaara’s girlfriend. But as the months fell away from the calendar, she began to grow frustrated by the lack of progress. She had tried to remain patient about it as she knew it was likely an understatement to say that Gaara had issues with trust and intimacy. Furthermore, she knew that he had never truly been comfortable with his role as Suna’s most eligible bachelor, but to her it had felt like their relationship had actually backslidden after they went public. She had believed the cause for that was due to Gaara feeling that he had needed to act a certain way, which had made Sari wonder if he had felt more relaxed and free around her when they had been henged. She would have suggested that they continue to do so if it wouldn’t have felt like they were taking a giant step back.

Truthfully though, what had really made Sari frustrated with her relationship were the rumors that began filtering back to Suna from the Training Force about a perverted ghost. Although, Kashike had only confirmed the ghosts existence after her short relationship with a boy that she had chased since the academy fizzled out. There had been signs, among the kunoichi that had visited home during the months that the Training Force was operating near Konoha. One such sign that Sari would notice was how some of the kunoichi would as they recount the tales of their time with the Training Force, would suddenly grow wistful. They’d refuse to speak about it, but Sari would be able to tell which kunoichi knew what had brought on the strange behavior as they’d look lost in thought and some would have a hard time sitting still as if recalling pleasurable memories that felt all too real still.

Naturally those kunoichi didn’t want to go into detail, especially with the Kazekage’s girlfriend present. But their silence just piqued Sari’s interest all the more. She finally managed to learn the truth when she had henged herself as one of the Suna Academy’s instructors, a woman by the name of Quistis Trepe. Despite the fact that she was only a few years older than most of the students that she taught, Quistis was well respected by her colleagues and adored by her students. In fact she was so popular there was a group of people that actually called themselves Trepies in honor of her.

Disguised as the instructor, Sari had questioned one of the kunoichi that considered herself a Trepie, and although the young woman had been mortified to admit that she had visited the ghost, she had been more so at the idea of lying to her idol. After hearing the details, Sari had thought she done a fair job of letting the girl know that she wasn’t judging her, but had reminded her that she was a representative of the village while away so shouldn’t do things that could reflect negatively affect people’s opinions of Suna’s Kunoichi. As a result by the time she left, Sari was quite sure the girl’s opinion of Quistis was even higher.

Ultimately what had eaten away at her the most about her relationship woes upon learning of the ghost was that there was a pervert out there making complete strangers feel incredible, but she couldn’t experience similar heights with her boyfriend. From that point on Sari had made more of an effort to break through Gaara’s inhibitions about physical intimacy, but as each attempt met with failure ended up growing only more frustrated.

Coming near the end of her journey, she felt foolish about her preoccupation with sex, and the steps she had taken to pry into the business of the Kunoichi that had met with the ghost. She supposed that was why she only told Matsuri about learning about it from Kashike. Recalling the conversation she had with her friend just before learning about Gaara being arrested, she felt like a spoiled brat that hadn’t known how much she wanted something until it was on the verge of being taken away. Now, she found herself swearing to remain celibate for the rest of her life so long as it was by Gaara’s side.

She reached the door at the end of the hall which was guarded by a pair of Suna Anbu. One of the men knocked on the door as he said, “Lord Gaara. Lady Sari has arrived.”

“Please send her in,” Gaara’s voice replied strongly and calmly, giving no hint of the turmoil that she imagined he must be feeling.

The Anbu did as instructed pushing the door open, and she felt like breaking down into tears as she saw him dressed in the white kimono of his execution. It took an exuberant amount of her will to call upon her academy training about keeping her emotions under control. Something that had grown harder and harder as the week progressed as her sorrow grew, along with the hate that she was beginning to harbor towards the Daimyo of Wind Country. Not for the first time a vision of her kneeling over the rotund man with her chakra thread wrapped tightly around his throat passed before her eyes. She pushed the thoughts of vengeance away to be pondered further at a later date, even as she railed against the fact that Gaara, instead of being given the chance to restore his supposedly tarnished honor by taking his own life was to be beheaded as a common criminal.

The dark clouds of her thoughts again were temporarily banished as a small light pierced through them as the corners of Gaara’s mouth upturned momentarily which was as close to smiling as he often came. Sari, tried to think of something to say, but cursed her mind for failing to produce anything. Gaara looked similarly unsure, but after the silence had stretched on for several seconds said, “Sari…I’m sor…”

Hearing him about to apologize unfroze her tongue as she instantly closed the distance between them as she said, “Don’t! Don’t apologize to me. I was…I was wrong to push you…” She trailed off not wanting the Anbu to hear any of the specifics about their intimacy issues. Staring into his eyes she said, “B-but please believe me when I tell you that I was happy you chose me and I’d give anything to remain by your side.” She cupped his cheek affectionately causing Gaara to close his eyes as he enjoyed the warmth of her hand.

Wishing he knew what had held him back from accepting all that she had offered, he pushed the regret that he felt away as he pulled her hand from his cheek to hold it between his. Sari looked on the verge of tears as he said, “Thank you. Our time was brief, but being with you made me happy.”

“Gaara!” she called out as she pressed her lips to his. Gaara reciprocated as he pulled her tighter against him. As the two kissed, what both believed would be their last; they felt a jolt pass between them. Sari pulled back as she recalled having felt something similar recently although with her emotions being all over the place she had a hard time placing it.

Before she could ask if Gaara had felt it also, a new voice cut in which said, “What the hell is this? Is this what you call securing the prisoner? What if she passes something to him, or…”

“Please remain calm, Lord Ishida,” the man accompanying the Daimyo’s representative said calmly as he felt a great deal of strain from holding his anger directed at the man in check. Councilor Sajo went on to explain, “The Lady Sari submitted to a full body pat down before having her chakra sealed. Furthermore, upon entering this hall, she has been under supervision of the Anbu that line the halls.”

“All well and good I suppose. That is if I wasn’t of the opinion that your Anbu would prefer to see this prisoner set free then punished,” Ishida said snidely.

Sari almost charged the man, but Gaara placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as he moved between the politician and his girlfriend. “Lord Ishida, I have submitted to the Daimyo’s punishment. Although I am in no position to ask anything, I do ask that you refrain from insulting the Shinobi of the Sand’s dedication to duty. It is that dedication which I hope to display with my death.”

Perhaps due to his sensing that it was only the fact that Gaara was going along with the execution that prevented the shinobi around him from slicing his throat and disposing of his body, Ishida said, “Of course.” Stepping to the side he gestured down the hall as he added, “I believe it’s time for you to show us your dedication.”

Gaara nodded as he began to walk behind Ishida and Councilor Sajo, but stopped a few steps later. He looked back at Sari, and she could see that there was more he wanted to say, but Ishida snapped impatiently, “Let’s go. I don’t have all day.”

Sari watched him resume his march and waited until she was sure he couldn’t hear her before collapsing to her knees as she cried uncontrollably. The tears of the young woman forced many of the hardened Anbu stationed in the hall to recall their own training in remaining impassive warriors. Yet, despite how they remained almost statue like as a result of their resolve not to give into the emotions they felt, not a single one of them wasn’t questioning their dedication to defending a country that would execute their beloved leader to reinforce the point about who was the master and who was the servant in the power structure that comprised the Elemental Countries.

*****

Temari was standing in front of the platform that had been erected to carry out Gaara’s punishment. She directed an angry glare to Ishida, who was acting as the Daimyo’s representative in the whole affair. She doubted he would have seen it even if he was looking in her direction, since the man had more than demonstrated that he considered shinobi to be little more than servants to carry out the tasks of the nobility of Wind Country.

Temari’s gaze shifted to her brother Kankuro. He gave her a barely perceivable nod which she returned as her gaze moved onto a shinobi dressed in the standard gear of the Shinobi of the Sand, and looked like he had been assigned to the task of crowd security. However, Temari knew that it was actually the Black Ant in disguise as inside of it was her battle fan.

Temari faced the execution stand again to see her longest brother kneeling in a white kimono. Feeling her anger once more begin to boil over she wondered if the Daimyo had any idea as to what his decision to make an example of Gaara in order to remind the shinobi of his country of his power could set in motion. Although, she didn’t look back at the crowd filling in behind her, she could tell that the people of Suna’s faces were all wearing the same masks of anger and disbelief as she was. She believed the only thing holding back the civilians and the shinobi of Suna from attacking the Daimyo’s Representative and taking back their leader was Gaara himself. The calm and dignified aura that he was projecting held the crowd in place as they didn’t wish to dishonor their Kazekage’s resolve. But Temari didn’t know if that would be the case once the executioner’s blade swung.

Not that she intended to let such a thing happen. Despite her words to Naruto that he needed to remain away. In the end she and Kankuro had been unable to accept sitting back and letting their little brother die. While she didn’t like their odds, she hoped that with surprise on their side and the Shinobi of Suna’s general displeasure at the execution they’d be able to save Gaara and get him out of the village before any organized pursuit could be mustered. Furthermore, she believed any force made up of Suna shinobi would be unwilling to give their all in bringing them back.

But she despite knowing that Gaara would be heartbroken if they proceeded him in death should they fail, he had been the village’s sacrifice once already. His siblings refused to let him face being one by himself again.

Temari’s gaze zeroed in on the greatest threat to the Sand Siblings freeing their brother, Senjumaru Shutara. The Royal Guard member was standing on the stage behind Gaara. The six puppet-like arms behind her were moving about and although she couldn’t see the threads attached to each finger of puppet hands. She could see the puppets that were at the end of those threads.

Based on the fact that she could currently spot thirty puppets spread throughout the area, she had to marvel at the woman’s skill since she was controlling each puppet with a single thread. Her respect for the woman’s skill only increased further as she wasn’t sure how the woman was also manipulating the six arms. Temari felt it was a shame that the woman had decided to toss away her pride as a Suna-nin in favor of being a puppet for the Daimyo. Especially since it was her puppets that were flanking Gaara and would deliever the killing blow, since Ishida didn’t trust any Suna-nin with the task, nor with providing security for the event.

Temari had to give the politician credit for his shrewdness in making it so that none of the Suna-nin present were carrying any weapons. Even the few helping keeping control over the crowd were unarmed. But it would be for that reason that any response to Kankuro and her attempt to rescue Gaara would be delayed or overmatched. Outside of that estimate though were the puppets already in the area, and Temari knew that an excellent puppeteer could easily handle a pair of shinobi if necessary. Furthermore, Temari wholly believed that Senjumaru was only letting her think that there were thirty puppets in the area. She had yet to see the woman’s real hands appear from beneath the cloak that she wore, making Temari believe there were another ten puppets that she was keeping in reserve.

Temari tensed as Ishida stepped forward to address the crowd, “The reason we are here today is to address the murder of a highly valued Land of Wind Magistrate, and to punish the man responsible whether it be directly or out of incompetence brought about by his disdain for the Magistrate’s friendship with Elder Joseki. Let this be a reminder to all present that we serve at the behest of our Lord, the Wind Daimyo. Does the condemned have any final words?”

Temari looked to Kankuro to give him the signal to send her fan towards her, since she feared that Gaara’s words would force the people of Suna to accept the Daimyo’s decision. However, just as she was about to move a flash of red appeared on the stage behind her brother. She could see the shock that appeared on all faces of those on the stage at the sudden appearance of Naruto. He was wearing his standard clothes complete with the red cloak that he had added in the aftermath of the Pain Invasion. But Temari also noticed what was missing which was his forehead protector. To Temari it was all the statement that her lover needed to make that he understood what his actions could end up costing him. Although she had known for quite some time that her chakra had been red, she imagined that if Hinata or any other Hyuuga were to look at it without the henge in place that hid the color change it would blind them with how brightly it was burning for him now.

The two puppets flanking Gaara moved to attack and were sent flying to be smashed to pieces against the rock wall of the village as Naruto hit them while in Sage mode. Gaara spun to face the blond even as Ishida leapt off the stage in an attempt to bury himself in the sand and Sejumaru leapt away to create some distance between the jinchuriki and her.

“Naruto stop it. I don’t want you to interfere…” Gaara said desperately even as Senjumaru’s other puppets leapt at the pair.

“Thank you,” Naruto said hearing what he wanted to so grabbed Gaara before disappearing again in a red flash. The puppets’ various weapons clashed as they hit where Naruto and Gaara had been standing not moments before.

Ishida leapt to his feet as he shouted, “What are you standing there for you fools after them?”

Despite that being the last thing Temari planned to do, she was one of the first to begin moving. But, stopped as she felt a nearly bone crushing force applied to her forearm. Looking towards the person responsible and who she had believed was a normal civilian, she was shocked as the skin began to turn to sand and fall away to reveal it was a puppet. Seeing the same thing happening to several other people surrounding both her and Kankuro she realized that if not for Naruto’s arrival Gaara would have died and her right alone with him.

Ishida spotted her and approached angrily. Getting in her face he shouted, “Where the hell did he take him?”

Temari couldn’t sense Naruto through the fox mark making her realize he had likely learned from Konan how to hide his presence. She smirked in the politicians face as she said, “I have no idea.”

“We’ll see about that my dear.” Addressing Senjumaru he said, “Take her and her brother to the Interrogation Department. Feel free to use any methods you want to make them talk.”

“As you wish,” Senjumaru said calmly before following the Daimyo’s representative’s command by having her puppets form up into a detail around the pair. Temari didn’t react as Senjumaru’s puppets began guiding her to the Interrogation Department, but on the inside she was smiling at how Naruto still found ways to surprise her.

*****

Gaara didn’t bother to finish his statement as Naruto and he appeared in an oasis. From the surrounding sand the Kazekage recognized that they were still likely in Wind Country. He could see that Naruto had taken steps to prepare for a life on the run as his gourd was lying against a tree along with a pair of backpacks. “Here, let me remove the seal they have restraining your chakra,” Naruto said as he applied chakra to a piece of paper marked with the kanji for seal.

As soon as it fell away once Naruto released it, the sand around him erupted picking the blond up and smashed him into one of the oasis’s trees. Gaara glared at him angrily as he asked, “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Although the question was delivered in his usual monotone voice, from the way his friend’s eyes were boring into him. Naruto infuriated him even further as he smirked. However, he calmed as the jinchuriki said, “I guess that’s what I get for trying to be the calm one.” Naruto disappeared in a red flash causing Gaara to let the sand fall to the ground. He looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see a smoldering anger in Naruto’s blue eyes as he looked back at him over his shoulder as well while he said, “But don’t think for a moment that you’re the only one that wants to hit someone. Yet, seeing as how that annoying automatic defense of yours will likely block it, let’s just get moving.”

“I’m going back,” Gaara said causing Naruto to pause in the midst of putting on his pack. The jinchuriki turned to face him causing the Kazekage to explain, “It’s not too late. If I go back and accept the…”

“It will not change anything in regards to me. I knew from the get go that choosing to walk this path likely ends with me becoming a missing-nin. It’s also why I waited until after you said you didn’t want to go to teleport us,” Naruto said calmly. “However, if you want to go back then do so. My conscious will be clear.”

“Then why did you interfere. Why would you become a missing-nin just to let me go back?”

“Because if you weren’t so busy trying to become a martyr, you’d have realized that your death wasn’t going to solve anything. Not to mention, do you really think your sister and brother were just going to sit back and watch you die. If I hadn’t of interfered Temari definitely would have.” Gaara winced at the truth of Naruto’s words having seen his sister prepare to move as he was about to speak. The blond continued by saying, “Yet, I do recognize that you have as much right to choose your fate as I did to choose mine. It’s something that I finally learned from what happened with Sasuke. I might be able to force you to do what I want. But, I can’t make you. If you honestly think dying for crimes that you had nothing to do with is best, then Suna’s in that direction. Me, I’m heading this way.”

Gaara looked in the direction that Naruto was pointing, which was West, and wondering about what laid in that direction that might interest the jinchuriki, since although he wasn’t exactly sure of what women outside of his village were with the blond. He didn’t think Naruto had too many connections to call upon in the countries that made up that particular area of the Elemental Countries. Considering he knew there were some leaders of Countries beholden to his friend he asked, “Wouldn’t it be more prudent for you to head north? I’m sure that both Koyuki and Konan would be in a position to offer you sanctuary.”

Naruto nodded, but explained, “I don’t want to cause either of them trouble. The Wind Daimyo might back down if Koyuki made an issue of it. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that due to her country’s rapid development of it resources, Spring is in a position to rival the other Five Great Nations. But, I don’t think it would be wise to put Koyuki in a position to test that out. As to Ame, well there’s still a lot of bad blood between it and the other Elemental Countries due to Akatsuki’s actions. No sense in giving anyone a reason to act on those hard feelings.”

“Then what lies in this direction,” Gaara asked.

Naruto shrugged as he said, “Nothing really. That’s rather the point. I guess we could head to Red Bean Paste Country or maybe Neck. I’m kind of up in the air on that right now.” Gaara stared at his friend in disbelief causing the blond to say, “What?! It’s not like there is a how to manual in becoming a missing-nin. Let’s just see where the path takes us. Unless you’re keen on returning to your prior engagement, that is?”

The jinchuriki turned away to follow the path he had set for himself. Gaara found it hard to believe how at peace Naruto seemed to be with his decision considering all that it may have cost him. The red-head turned in the direction of Suna, and for a moment considered going back, but unwilling to let the man that was willing to sacrifice so much for his wellbeing face the consequences of his actions alone turned to follow him. Grabbing his gourd and the pack Naruto had prepared, he only hoped his decision didn’t negatively affect those he was leaving behind.

Following after Naruto he asked, “Just when did you plant a Hiraishin seal on me?”

“Well I didn’t,” Naruto replied looking amused at the confused face Gaara made. “I asked Mito if there was a seal that could be passed between people like a virus. She told me there was so I applied it to a kunoichi…I’m familiar with and asked her to apply it to someone likely to touch you.”

Gaara figured the kunoichi Naruto mentioned was likely another recently added or so to be in his growing list of lovers. “Still, how would this seal know it had reached me?”

“That was simple enough to achieve actually,” Naruto said looking over his shoulder, “Despite her chakra signature having changed a little due to her new physical existence. Rangiku’s chakra is still a close enough match that Mito was able to use it in her seal as a means to know when it had been applied to you. If it didn’t reach you though, I would have just had to do things the messier way then. Oh, by the way feel free to thank me at any time.”

“I’m still upset at you.”

“Really, wow. Being Kazekage sure has made you into an ungrateful bastard,” Naruto replied with a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s just you have forgotten your origins as an unwanted jinchuriki.” Naruto added a melodramatic flourish as he added, “No matter, I’ll walk this lonely path by myself.”

“Are you finished?” Gaara asked unamused at how unaffected Naruto appeared by his recent decision to become a missing-nin. Watching his friend begin to whistle a happy tune, he wondered how Naruto could be so carefree since he may have set back his ambition by saving him.

****

Several hours after Naruto’s rescue of the Kazekage a man approached the oasis that the two had Hiraishined to via a kunai that the jinchuriki had buried after helping Sara’s Caravan. His relaxed manner as he approached, stood at odds with the fact that if any Suna shinobi were to have spotted the man then they’d definitely move to question, if not attack him outright as a result of the Kirigakure forehead protector affixed to the bandana he wore.

But due to his personality being suppressed as a result of the Edo Tensei jutsu that had brought him back to life, he didn’t have much concern for such matters. Although the red-lenses of his glasses made it impossible to see an amused glint enter his eyes as Kabuto took direct control. Able to still sense the two men, Kabuto was glad that he had taken the precaution to spread shinobi with sensing abilities throughout the Elemental Countries. He had been caught off guard by the fact at some point prior to Gaara’s plight, Naruto had placed the seals for the Hiraishin within Wind Country.

He wondered what had prompted the jinchuriki to do so, but discarded it as irrelevant as knowing the blond it was related to some people he had helped in the past. Yet, despite it making the next phase of his plan a little harder, he couldn’t help but be amused as he thought, “You never fail to disappoint, Naruto.”

He considered sending the Kirigakure Shinobi Chukichi, whose genetic material he had managed to harvest after Naruto had defeated Hiruko, off after the two at a dead run. But, seeing as his undead puppet never tired felt it unnecessary. It was only a matter of time before he caught up and if he could collect a few sacrifices to resurrect more of the undead shinobi he was preparing so much the better.

He also began to move the remaining sensor type shinobi that he had around Wind Country to other more likely locations that Naruto might pop up in should he Hiraishin again. He started Chukichi moving just fast enough to prevent the two men from slipping out of his sensor’s range, and began planning for the inevitable confrontation.

****

Temari directed her attention to the door of the interrogation room that she and Kankuro were being held in as it opened. Her gaze grew annoyed as Senjumaru entered the room. The annoyance was due to the fact that both she and Kankuro had been left to rot in the room for almost twenty-four hours. Knowing that the reason for it was to make her angry so she might say something to aid in tracking down her brother and Naruto, she calmed her spirit as she tapped her napping brother.

“Huh, wazzup,” he said sleepily as he pulled his head up from the table.

“It seems that they’re finally getting around to asking us some questions,” Temari said watching the woman as closely as she was watching her. Temari was also searching for some sign of how her lover and brother were doing in their escape. Unfortunately, Senjumaru’s face was a mask of calm giving nothing away. As she and her brother were being escorted away from the site of Gaara’s execution, she had noticed that Sari was also being taken and as she wasn’t being held with them asked, “Where’s Sari?”

Temari could see that the Royal Guard member was considering ignoring the question, but ultimately decided to answer as she replied, “Sari, was held and questioned briefly. But it was determined that she had no direct knowledge of an impending breakout attempt. Furthermore, the Leaf is also claiming to have no direct knowledge of this Naruto Uzumaki’s plan.”

“The why the hell are you holding onto us,” Kankuro asked angrily. “We didn’t know he was going to spring Gaara.”

“Perhaps,” Senjumaru said leveling a pointed gaze at the puppeteer, “but, you did plan to do so yourself. My search of the execution area turned up your puppet. You did a masterful job of hiding it during the confusion brought upon by the Uzumaki’s sudden appearance. It’s also rather interesting that there was a battle fan tucked away inside.” Two of Senjumaru’s puppet arms came around from behind her and folded their hands in front of her face as she rested the elbows on the table. She studied the two of them for a moment before saying, “I’ve yet to tell Ishida of my findings. I don’t imagine you’d be too surprised that should I do so. In all likelihood you two will replace Gaara on the executioner’s block.”

“Hey bitch, how about you suck my dick,” Kankuro said defiantly.

He grew a little pale as a third arm unfolded from behind Senjumaru as she said, “I have other plans for your, “thing.” She punctuated her sentence by having a knife spring out from the wrist of her puppet’s arm. She shifted her gaze to Temari, who looked conflicted as she looked down. Having a sense of how to break her, she said, “Lady Temari, I have little doubt that you do not fear death yourself. But can you really sit back and watch as another brother dies instead. The battle fan is merely circumstantial evidence of your involvement. Perhaps instead of being executed, we just lock you up until after the sentence could be carried out on your brother.”

Temari looked up her face showing the pain she knew she would feel at such a thing. Although Kankuro was a little surprised at how quick his sister was to react emotionally to the threat he said, “Temari, don’t listen to her. I knew the…”

“Kankuro be silent,” Temari snapped. Sounding defeated she asked, “What do you want?”

“You’ve dealt with the Leaf more than any other shinobi in Suna. I imagine you must know something of value about where Naruto would go. Perhaps allies he can call upon.” Another of her puppet arms produced a pen and paper which she slid to Temari as she said, “Write them down and I’ll forget what I found.”

Temari nodded as she took the pen and paper. She then began to write down all the people that she could think of that would offer to help Naruto. Senjumaru felt a smug sense of satisfaction that she would soon erase the embarrassment she felt at allowing the Kazekage to escape. To be sure that the names Temari wrote down were accurate she affixed a tiny chakra thread to the kunoichi and her brother. To her surprise, she suspected that Temari actually detected the move. Able to feel the young woman’s pulse, since another means puppeteers had to attack was to take control of shinobi directly and control them, requiring the puppeteer to be able to feel their victims’ vitals while they manipulated the person, as they were often resisting and thus needed to know how much force to apply. As Temari’s list grew longer and longer, Senjumaru began to grow frustrated as either Temari was an excellent liar, or she actually believed one shinobi had affected so many people that would willing offer him aid and possibly anger the Daimyo of Wind Country.

Commenting on the farfetched nature of the list that continued to grow, Senjumaru said, “You are not helping your situation any Lady Temari.”

Temari looked up and although the list didn’t include certain people that would gladly aid Naruto, such as the women of Kumogakure. Looking at it, even she had to admit it would be hard to swallow if she didn’t know the truth. Keeping the smug satisfaction she felt off of her face, or from being transmitted throw the chakra thread Senjumaru had affixed to her, she said, “You asked for people that I knew would help Naruto. I admit it’s a little incomplete…”

“Incomplete,” Senjumaru said incredulously.

“Well, yeah,” Temari said with a shrug, “I’m afraid I can’t provide any names of people that might feel indebted to him and want to help from his time training with Jiraiya. These are just from some of the official missions that I heard about.”

Senjumaru took the list and said, “You honestly expect me to believe that you think no less than three Daimyo would extend aid to him.”

“Well, I know for a fact that Koyuki Kazahana would in a heartbeat,” Temari said. “But to know that you only need to watch the end credits of that documentary about how Naruto and his team reestablished her as the legitimate head of her country.”

Kankuro getting an idea of what his sister was doing added, “Don’t forget that in the past year he also helped put down a rebellion in Spring Country.”

“That’s right,” Temari said glad her brother was playing along, “perhaps I should put a star next to that one.”

“Very cute,” Senjumaru said standing, “You seek to confuse our search parties by offering a multitude of choices. Your strategy won’t work.”

Temari shook her head acting exasperated, “I don’t know what you mean.” But her face did turn smug as she said, “Although if I were you. I’d hurry up and go find them, or else that list is only going to grow.”

“I doubt that,” Senjumaru said, “If they’re smart, both of them will go to ground and keep a low profile.”

Temari smirked as she said, “Being smart is not exactly something Naruto is known for. If you can’t see that then…” The two other occupants of the room wondered what caused Temari to trail off as she suddenly looked lost in thought. Standing suddenly, she caused her chair to fall over backwards as she said, “Dammit, I should have seen it.”

She turned towards the exit of the room, but Senjumaru stopped her by grabbing the kunoichi’s arm. However, she let go out of an uncontrollable impulse as Temari’s eyes met hers and a spike of pure killing intent was hammered into her skull. It had left the woman with the impression that if she hadn’t Temari would have killed her.

Temari quickly exited the room, as the guards decided if Senjumaru was not going to stop her; it would be wise if they didn’t get in her way. Kankuro though took off after her followed by the Royal Guard member. Calling after his sister, he said, “Temari, what the hell is going on?”

Temari ignored him as she approached the Anbu headquarters located in the building. Spotting Councilor Sajo, and along with the Anbu Captain and Ishida, she asked, “Have any of the search parties picked up signs of Naruto or Gaara?”

“It’s none of your business…” Ishida was in the midst of explaining.

But was interrupted by Sajo as he said, “None of our forces comprise the search groups. Instead, it is the Daimyo’s forces and the Royal Guard that are looking for them. They aren’t keeping us in the loop.”

“Of course they aren’t. How can they poss…”

Temari spoke over the Daimyo’s representative, “Send out our forces to the west. Tell them to be ready in the hour.”

The Anbu captain snapped to attention as he went to fulfil his orders, causing Ishida to say angrily, “Do not ignore me you, bitch.”

But she did exactly that, as she finally answered Kankuro’s question along with the questioning gazes of the others present. “We need to get help out to Gaara and Naruto as soon as possible. This has never been about Gaara, but about Naruto.” Turning to another shinobi she said, “I need every record of shinobi known to be capable of manipulating sand.”

“Ma’am the only one capable of that is…”

“I said every shinobi,” Temari snapped heatedly, “Living and dead!” Addressing those present she said, “The person behind the murder of Joseki and the magistrate was Kabuto. He used Endo Tensei to bring someone with the same abilities as Gaara back in order to frame him. He did this to lure out Naruto.”

“Come on Temari,” her brother said sounding skeptical, “How could anyone have predicted that Naruto would swoop in to rescue Gaara? Besides for that to even work, he’d need to be working with the Daimyo. The only reason Joseki was free to be murdered in such a fashion was because he sent that magistrate here.”

“Not necessarily,” Temari countered, “Kabuto was a spy, and any good spy knows how to ferret out information. The Daimyo might have wanted to send a message to Gaara by freeing Joseki, but that doesn’t mean he planned for them to be killed. Kabuto might have had a spy in the Daimyo’s court that informed him of what the magistrate was supposed to do, and he simply decided to piggyback his own plans onto it. By killing the magistrate and Joseki and implicating Gaara in the crime. Kabuto made it look like that Gaara was sending a message to the Daimyo as well. It is little wonder that he would demand his death.”

To everyone’s surprise one of Senjumaru’s puppet arms shot out and grabbed Ishida around the throat. She lifted him into the air as she asked, “Representative Ishida, is there something you would like to add to the conversation?”

“You crazy bitch,” Ishida shouted as he struggled to get the arm to release its vice like grip, “How dare you treat me in such a manner. I’ll inform the…”

“Daimyo,” Senjumaru interrupted, “I look forward to that. However, I couldn’t help but notice through the chakra thread I’ve affixed to you, that you’re heart skipped a beat when Temari mentioned a spy in the Daimyo’s court. I’m sure you can understand my obvious concern at such a response.”

“Who gave you permission to place one of your threads on my person?”

“The Daimyo naturally,” the woman replied, “He has charged me with the task of carrying out the punishment of the one responsible for his vassal’s death. In my judgment, it currently looks like you’ve had more to do with it then the Kazekage. Seeing as the execution was delayed, should I carry it out now?”

Her other puppet arms unfolded from behind her and hung over Ishida’s head as several bladed instruments sprung out of them. Ishida’s eyes grew wide as one of them pulled back as if to swing at him causing the man to shout, “Wait…I…I didn’t know he was going to kill the magistrate. I just told him that the Daimyo was sending him here to send Gaara a message by releasing Joseki…that’s all…I swear.”

Through the thread, Senjumaru could tell that there was more so said, “I highly doubt it.”

The arm swung forward preparing to bury the blade protruding from its wrist in the man’s eye, but he screamed, “Wait! I…I was also supposed to prevent Suna from sending any search parties. I…I don’t know why.”

Temari did as she realized that Kabuto wanted Naruto out on an island, and didn’t want any possible reinforcements aiding him. Not willing to let that happen, she raced to the armory and prepared to join those set to go after him and Gaara. She just hoped that she knew him as well as she thought that she did, since she had picked west of Suna as the area that should be searched as it was the only direction in which Naruto didn’t have allies.

****

Kiba sat on the patio that overlooked his family’s backyard and the woods that lay beyond. He watched Aeris as she laughed pleasantly as Akamaru, the Three Haimaru Brothers, and even Kuromaru leapt about her trying to grab the ball that she held. They set off after as she threw it, and scuffled briefly in order to be the one that brought it back to her. Thus far the Haimaru Brothers had managed to get it the most times as they worked together and took turns to be the one that brought it back in order to receive the pat on the head as she accepted the ball.

“Good job, Akamaru,” Kiba shouted encouragingly as his partner managed to get past the brother attempting to block him in order to snatch up the ball at the last second.

Aeris smiled at him, as her emerald eyes shined happily for a moment, before turning to Akamaru to rub his head affectionately. Kiba would admit to feeling a little jealous of his partner, so directed his attention to the mug of coco that Aeris had given him before playing with the nin-dogs.

“Mmmm, that smells good,” Hana said taking a seat in the chair next to him.

“It is,” Kiba said taking a sip, “There might be some left.”

“I’m good,” Hana said stopping her brother in the midst of his getting up.

Resettling in his chair, he asked concerned, “Are you really?”

Knowing that her brother was referring to Naruto and the news that he had interfered in the Kazekage’s execution, she said, “I’m worried, naturally. But, it’s something he had to do.”

Kiba wasn’t as sure as he said, “Was it? Doesn’t he have a responsibility to you and his other…relationships?”

Hana smiled at her brother’s discomfort at using the word lover in conjunction with their mother and her. Shaking her head, she answered, “You could say it was because of those relationships that he had to go. Besides, if you’re asking me why I’m fine with it, well I don’t want to see Gaara killed either.”

“Did you even know him?”

“Personally no,” Hana admitted, “But Temari is a part of my family now, and it would have killed her to watch her brother die. Naruto knew this too, which is why he had to act.”

“Still, to give up on his dream of being Hokage,” Kiba said in awe that Naruto could do that since for as long as he knew him it had been his stated goal.

Hana shook her head before correcting her brother, “He didn’t give up on his dream. He just didn’t let it get in the way of his doing what his heart told him was right. He was presented with a situation in which he had to choose between a friend and his dream. The thing of it is though, Kiba. I’m pretty certain that Gaara was a part of that dream as well. He didn’t give up on it. He’s just is taking a longer path to achieving it.”

Kiba turned to look at his sister, who shouted out her own encouragement as one of her nin-dog partners grabbed the thrown ball. In her eyes, he could see the admiration and love that she felt for the jinchuriki. Directing his gaze back to Aeris, who laughed as she was knocked to the ground by the five overly affectionate animals, he wasn’t surprised at how badly he wanted to be the recipient of such a gaze from her.

He wished for a moment that he knew a way to do so, as currently the only thing his heart was telling him, was that the right thing to do by Aeris was to let her go. He stood after finishing the last of his drink and said, “Thanks Hana.”

His sister looked at him in confusion as she asked, “For what?”

“For telling me what I need to listen to,” her brother replied before heading into the village to speak with the woman he needed to convince to go along with his idea.

*****

Gaara watched as Naruto slept contently while sprawled over his sleeping blanket. Gaara figured that at some time early in the following day, they’d cross the western border into Red Bean Jam Country. Knowing that after tomorrow he likely wouldn’t be returning to Wind Country anytime soon, filled him with quite a few regrets. The fact that Naruto was sleeping contently when Gaara felt he should be feeling much the same was a small source of irritation. Giving into the temptation he felt, he created a pair of hands from the sand near Naruto’s head and had them clamp over his mouth and nose.

“Gaah,” Naruto said sitting up breaking the sand constructs as the need to breath snapped him awake. Smacking his lips, he looked around him as he asked, “Did my face roll over into the sand?” Gaara didn’t respond as his face gave no hint that he had been behind his friend’s awakening. Naruto shrugged before lying back down. Closing his eyes he said, “You really should consider trying to get some sleep.”

The other reason he had awoken the jinchuriki made itself known as he asked, “Naruto, how can you be so at peace with what you have given up to save me? Don’t you have any regrets?”

Naruto sat up and looked at the stars before answering, “Sure, I do. I mean I’ll definitely miss going to Ichiraku for dinner every night. I mean I can still go, but not as myself. But I’ll still have all the important things like my lovers and friends. Truthfully, the only thing I lost is a status that I held in the Konoha. I’d easily trade that a hundred times over if it meant saving a friend.”

“Naruto, but what about your dream to be Ho…”

“Anyway,” the jinchuriki interrupted, “The decision has already been made. Fretting over it is rather pointless.” Folding his hands behind his head, he said, “Don’t tell me that is what is keeping you up?”

“Not entirely,” Gaara admitted.

“Are you regretting leaving Sari behind? Once the heat dies down, I’ll Hiraishin us into Suna so you can see her.”

Gaara nodded but said, “I’m not sure if that is for the best…for her.”

Naruto sat back up studying his friend as he asked, “What do you mean? I’m sure she’s ecstatic to know that you’re alive and kicking.

“I do not doubt that,” Gaara said as he looked back in the direction of his village. “It’s just…I think she should find someone else. Our relationship was…struggling before my becoming a missing-nin.”

“Oh,” Naruto said lying back down, “You two weren’t clicking. Was it just you argued a lot about stupid things or something else?”

“We argued,” Gaara said but didn’t elaborate.

“About?”

“Things.”

“What sort of things?” Naruto asked. “I mean were they stupid arguments like what color the carpeting should be in your office? Or something more…I don’t know meaningful, like you forgot an anniversary or something.”

Naruto noticed some color appearing in Gaara’s cheeks as he replied, “I do not wish to speak about it.”

Taking a wild guess, he said, “It was about sex, wasn’t it?” Gaara’s face showed his surprise for a moment before returning to the calm mask that he normal wore. His curiosity piqued he asked, “You can tell me. There’s nothing you need to be embarrassed about.” Thinking a moment he added, “Everything works down there, right?”

Gaara held back a sigh, but knew Naruto likely wouldn’t drop the matter now so said, “Yes, that isn’t the issue.”

“Then what is?” Naruto said growing annoyed at how his friend tended to speak in short bursts. Commenting on it he said, “Come on man. Give me something; it’s like trying to read a freaking statue here.”

Relenting he said, “For some time now, Sari has wanted to take things further.”

“Marriage?”

“Do you wish for me to explain or not,” Gaara asked annoyed at being interrupted.

“Sorry,” Naruto replied chastised.

Gaara resumed, “No, it wasn’t related to us getting married. She has wanted to move forward in a physical sense.”

“Okay,” Naruto said drawing the word out as he wasn’t seeing the issue. “So you’re uncomfortable with it.”

“Yes.”

Scathing his head, Naruto asked, “So she’s taking the physical intimacy to a place that you’re uncomfortable with.”

“Yes.”

“So where exactly is the line,” Naruto asked. “I mean, she doesn’t want to fuck you in the ass with a dildo or something, right?” Naruto saw Gaara’s eyes grow wide at his statement as the Kazekage wondered what his friend was doing with his sister, which caused the blond to quickly say, “I mean not that I have experienced in that or anything. But I know a thing or two about a lover wanting to take things to a place you’re uncomfortable with.”

“I suppose so,” Gaara said warily. “Truthfully though, calling Sari a lover would be an overstatement.”

A light bulb went off in Naruto’s mind as he said, “Oh, OH! You mean you two still haven’t been…” Gaara nodded causing Naruto to ask, “Are you sure everything is working down there?”

“Yes!”

“Okay, okay. Just double checking,” Naruto said holding up his hands defensively as he thought he saw sand beginning to gather behind his friend. “Then what is the problem?”

Gaara did sigh, surprising Naruto. “I…I’m not sure myself. I want to, but whenever things progress beyond a certain point…I feel like I’m losing control.” He looked at the man that understood the pain he had gone through as a jinchuriki as he continued, “You know as well as I do. It wasn’t Shukaku that made me act the way I did back then. It was my own darkness and anger at my fate as a jinchuriki.” Naruto nodded prompting him to add, “That darkness and anger has faded as my life became dedicated to others, and the people who have become a part of that life. But it isn’t gone and at times does come roaring back. I did consider killing Joseki myself. I think Sari’s visit that night saved me from falling back into that darkness. I…I can’t lose control of myself around her.”

“Did you ever ask her what she wants?”

“What do you mean?”

Naruto sighed, “Sari, doesn’t want the cool and composed Gaara, or the dark and dangerous Gaara. She just wants you, Gaara.”

“But…”

Naruto shook his head as he said, “Hell man, when you’re in the midst of passion there is no such thing as control. If you’re doing it right, you’re not thinking about anything other than making your partner feel good. That’s kind of hard to do if you’re worried about the face your making or any of the other things you’re thinking about to remain, ‘in control.’” Naruto made some air quotes as he said the last part. Chuckling he added, “Sari, knew what she was getting when she pursued you. Maybe not about the life of celibacy you seem to want.”

“I don’t want that, but…”

“Gaara, did you maybe not consider that she wants to be the one that makes you lose control. Give it a try, you both might like it.” Naruto laid back down as he got comfortable as he said, “Now, I’m going back to sleep, so goodnight.”

“Good night.”

“Oh, and Gaara.”

“Yes?”

“If you try to smother me with your sand again, the next time you’re about to be executed you’re on your own.”

Gaara gave his usual small smile, but before he could apologize Naruto was already asleep. Watching him, he said, “Thank you, my friend.”

*****

Temari had wanted to use her fox mark to call Kiyomi to her as she had prepared to race after Naruto and her brother, but unfortunately shortly after emerging from the armory she had found Senjumaru waiting for her. She had tried to ignore the woman, but was forced to acknowledge her presence when the woman asked, “While it seems your explanation is indeed the correct one. You failed to make mention as to why Kabuto is going to such great lengths to isolate Naruto.”

Aware that the woman might be gauging her responses, she told as much of the truth as she dared, “Kabuto most likely is after Naruto’s Kyuubi chakra. He made a similar play in Konoha recently. Therefore the last thing the Hokage would do is send Naruto on a mission that she thought Kabuto might be involved in. As a result, he needed to come up with a plan to make Naruto come to him.”

“Yet, surely he couldn’t possibly know that Naruto would throw everything away to save the Kazekage.”

Temari felt disappointed in herself that a bastard like Kabuto apparently did, while she had believed Naruto would listen to her and Gaara about remaining out of the matter lest his ambition suffer. Looking at the woman she said, “There are people that like to call him the number one most hyperactive unpredictable, knuckleheaded ninja of the Leaf. The thing is, what makes him unpredictable is that where most people in the shinobi world ask how they will personally benefit or lose out from a given action. Naruto acts despite how it might negatively affect him, and as such manages to protect what is most important to him, his friends.”

“Still to think he would cross the Daimyo…”

“You don’t get it,” Temari said, letting some of the disdain for the woman and her master enter into her voice, “Naruto doesn’t care about what the Daimyo wants or his message for Gaara. He only saw a friend in peril and so acted.”

“Such a reckless way of acting will earn him many powerful enemies,” Senjumaru said.

Temari wanted to tell the woman to bring them on as they would have to get passed her first, but settled for replying, “It’ll earn him many more powerful friends as well.”

Senjumaru studied her for a moment before saying, “I suppose only time will tell which is the stronger force.”

“I suppose so,” Temari replied confident she would be on the right side of that equation.

She was pulled back to the present as Kankuro said, “Temari, I think we should call a rest break.” Although not tired in the least, which surprised her considering they had run throughout most the night, she looked back to see the rest of her fifty-man squad was looking like they needed a break, although Naruto’s other lovers appeared to be willing to continue.

“We can keep going,” Sari said despite her face saying just the opposite.

Temari gave the signal to stop and felt a little smugness that the mighty Senjumaru Shutara appeared winded as well. Sari tried to push how they should keep moving, prompting Temari to reply, “I know the will is willing, but it won’t do us any good to push on if we arrive in the middle of a fight and are too tired to be of use. We’ll rest here for thirty minutes before moving again.”

Sari bit her lip but nodded and groaned in relief as she sat down. Temari tried to call out to Naruto with her foxmark, but wasn’t surprised when his presence remained stubbornly absent from the network that connected him to his lovers. She didn’t doubt he could feel the concern she was directing his way, but doubted he’d appear for such a reason.

But then she suddenly felt a spike of alarm from him, and from its sudden appearance she knew something had surprised him. With a general idea of how close they were, she was about to order everyone moving again when she was forced to leap from the spot she was standing as several kunai buried themselves in the ground. Pulling her battle fan as the rest of her shinobi reacted to similar attacks against them, she watched as a large force of shinobi came charging at them from behind a sand dune. Seeing the headbands of every shinobi village in the group and the dark eyes they possessed, she knew Kabuto was springing his trap on her lover.

“Get out of my way,” she shouted sending a wind scythe flying into the ranks of the shinobi. She was surprised that most of them didn’t manage to get out of the way of the jutsu. Wondering why, but needing to direct the battle she said, “Assault teams. Concentrate your jutsu on the biggest groupings of enemy shinobi. Sealing teams, bind the shinobi before they can recover from the damage. Defense teams, protect the sealing units.”

She received a chorus of acknowledgments which was swiftly followed by her shinobi leaping into action. She frowned as the enemy barely put up a fight and cursed as she realized that Kabuto was using what she could only describe as bottom of the barrel fighters to not so much stop them, but slow them down. Smashing her closed fan on the head of one shinobi that had manage to close despite the barrage of jutsu hitting them, she stepped back as Maki quickly wrapped the man in bandages before applying a seal to bind him. Spreading her fan, she fired another jutsu as she worried about the fact that Naruto was no longer bothering to hide his presence, telling her that either he knew it no longer mattered or needed all of his concentration for the fight he was currently engaged in. Sensing it was the latter, she and his other lovers tore into the second wave of Edo Tensei shinobi that appeared with an unbridled fury.

****

Naruto that morning had activated his Sage mode to get a sense of where any potential obstacles to his and Gaara escape from Wind Country might be lurking. He was pleased to find that except for one shinobi that appeared to be following them, there didn’t appear to be any others. Still, something about the one shinobi bothered him, which showed on his face as he wondered if that was what had Temari so concerned for his safety. Able to feel her and his other lovers closing with Gaara and him, he wondered what had happened in Suna for such a large force to be sent two days after their escape

“Is that shinobi still behind us?” Gaara asked, prompting the jinchuriki to nod.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look like he’s planning to keep his distance any longer. He’s heading straight for us.”

Gaara frowned, as he stood with his arms crossed before asking, “We could make a run for the border, but there is no guarantee he’ll stop his pursuit.”

Naruto agreed as he suggested, “It might be the guy that framed you? If his goal was your death, he’s probably none too pleased you skipped out on it.”

“Probably not,” Gaara said stoically.

Naruto smirked as he asked, “Should we go ask him?”

Gaara inclined his head and then a platform of sand rose from the ground with the two men on it before flying in the direction of their pursuer. Naruto crouched down, as Gaara guided their ride in the direction that he had indicated. The jinchuriki spotted a lone shinobi running along the shifting dunes, and pointing him out to Gaara held on as the Kazekage brought their platform to a stop in front of the man.

“A Kiri-nin,” Gaara said surprised at the insignia on the man’s bandana.

Although just as confused, Naruto sensed some other presence take over and growled, “Kabuto,” as he leapt from the platform. His fist smashed into the ground where the Kiri shinobi had stood, but wasn’t surprised that the man had managed to leap out of the way.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Naruto.” Kabuto said assuming full control of the undead shinobi. Indicating said control he added, “Relatively speaking, of course.” The smug man continued, “Tell me, was it those Sage abilities of yours that gave me away. Or did you perhaps recognize Chukichi here from your run in with Hiruko?”

Naruto was confused for a moment before recognizing the man as one of the shinobi that Hiruko had killed by absorbing him into his incomplete perfect form. Realizing that it had been Kabuto that had dispelled the clone he had left behind before he desecrated the corpses that had been there as well as had ransacked the missing-nin’s lab, he said, “You bastard. How can you be so smug about using people’s deceased friends and families like they’re your personal playthings?”

“Perhaps you should ask your second Hokage the same thing,” Kabuto said amused. “He did invent this jutsu after all.”

Naruto ignored the taunt to ask, “Why’d you set up Gaara? Are you a part of the Daimyo’s plot?”

“Hardly,” Kabuto said preparing to summon his trump cards. “The Daimyo was merely interested in reminding Gaara, who held his leash. I put all this in motion to arrange for another face to face, between you and me.”

“Speaking of faces, why don’t you show yours so I can rearrange it for you?”

“How drool, Naruto. Although truthfully, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you did prefer to jump straight to the action. Well then let’s get to it, shall we?”

Kabuto leapt away as the sand beneath his feet erupted in an attempt to grab him. Summoning a thick mist as he landed on the ground, he slammed his hands to the ground causing five caskets to appear. He heard Naruto say, “Shit Gaara, he just summoned some powerful reinforcements. Watch yourself.”

Stepping to the cloaked form of Karura, he handed her a device he had prepared for the encounter, and watched as she sunk into the ground. Letting the mist disappear since it would hamper his warriors more than Naruto he said, “Have fun you two. Let’s meet up again real soon.” Kabuto then recalled Chukichi causing a casket to appear and pull him back in before disappearing.

The mist fully disappeared leaving four men standing before Naruto and Gaara. The Kazekage grew concerned as he instantly recognized them as they had all once held the position that he now did. Naruto though didn’t, but commenting on one’s looks said, “Hey Gaara, that guy kind of looks like you.”

“He should, he’s my father,” Gaara said prompting Naruto to do a double take.

“Then would that mean…”

“Yes, they are all of the previous Kazekage,” Gaara confirmed.

“What Sand Shinobi does not recognize his former leaders?” the bald-headed Second Hokage inquired.

“He isn’t a Sand Shinobi,” Gaara’s father said recognizing the older boy as the nine-tailed jinchuriki. “He is the jinchuriki of the nine-tails, and a shinobi of the Leaf.”

“I knew Hashirama was holding out on us,” the First Kazekage said. “He said Konoha didn’t have the nine-tails.”

“You must be the money hungry bastard that cheated at cards to get Mito to provide you with Shukaku,” Naruto said recalling the description that Mito had used when she had explained why she had helped Suna capture the One-Tails well before her husband had gathered the others.

“I didn’t cheat,” the First said annoyed, “that woman just didn’t have any luck with cards.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Naruto said in a disbelieving tone.

The Third Kazekage watched the two men before him before asking, “Still it makes me proud to see Leaf and Sand standing together. This was the hope that the Third Hokage and I dreamed of when we signed the peace treaty between our villages.”

“That treaty nearly ruined us,” The Fourth said. “As a result of the unfavorable terms the Leaf stuck into it, we were tittering towards bankruptcy and dissolution. It was for those reasons I was forced to work with Orochimaru and his Sound Village to destroy Konoha.”

“No,” Gaara said stepping forward, “you could have turned to your allies in the Leaf and asked for them to rewrite the treaty.”

“Do not speak of things you do not understand,” the Fourth said angrily. “If you were Kazekage, you’d…”

“I am the Kazekage,” Gaara said causing a look of shock to appear on his father’s face. “I suppose I should thank you for choosing the path that you did. It was during that attack that I met my first friend, who showed me a better way to live. Konoha and Suna stand tall as allies in more than name now. You have been brought back to this realm to harm my friend, Naruto. I will stop you.”

“Hey, don’t act like I’m some helpless bystander,” Naruto said coming up next to his friend. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

“Well it looks like you’re going to have to show us,” the First Kazekage said sensing his body tensing to attack. He charged forward a moment later as two scythes appeared in his hands from seals located in his gloves. Naruto met the charge, ducking below one of the weapons, by a thin enough margin that it grazed the top of his hair. He struck out with a palm strike that hit the man in the chest causing him to fly back until he was caught by the Second Kazekage. “Watch out,” the First said, “he’s stronger than he looks.”

“It would appear he has studied and mastered the Sage arts,” the Second informed the man he had followed for years before Suna’s founding as a mercenary and eventually succeeded as Kazekage. “His striking range will be deceptively large also.”

“Well, while I don’t like being controlled against my will. At least I’m not being wasted on some small fry,” the First said. Charging at Naruto again, he leapt into the air at the last second to avoid the young man’s charge. He smirked as the Second Kazekage following in his wake, channeled chakra into his skin causing it to grow dense like Iron.

Naruto having followed the First movements, was almost caught by surprise, but still managed to catch the large man’s fist and retaliated with a punch of his own to the Second’s head. The blow staggered the Second even as Naruto shouted, “Ah dammit, what is his skin made out of?”

Naruto leapt back as the Second tried to connect with a backhanded blow from his kneeling position. The blond landed near Gaara, who had been forced to leap away as well as the mixture of gold dust and iron sand blasted a hole through a sand wall he had created. The current Kazekage said, “The Second Kazekage was able to harden his skin to make it almost impenetrable. He and the First made names for themselves as mercenary shinobi before founding Suna. When the Wind Daimyo announced he planned to follow Fire Country’s example and allow a Hidden Village to be built, they gathered other mercenaries to their banner. It’s the primary reason Suna isn’t comprised of Shinobi clans. Back then they were known as the Hammer and Sickle.”

The First spun the weapons that had given him that name as he said, “It’s good to see Suna is teaching its Shinobi about the elders that came before. While I always was one to put his trust in money and power, good comrades are always worth pursuing even at double the cost.”

Naruto grinned as he said, “On that we can agree.”

Gaara watched his comrade leap at the First Kazekage as he pulled out a pair of chakra blades, but was forced to contend with his own problems as The Third Kazekage held his hand in front of him causing grains of his Iron sand to gather before him. The grains gathered together as they took on the shapes of small round pellets which began to spin before launching themselves at the former jinchuriki. His sand erupted from his gourd and made a shield in front of him, which caught the small iron projectiles.

The Third Kazekage arched an eyebrow surprised his attack was blocked by regular sand. Commenting on it he said, “You must be quite skilled to condense your sand enough to block that attack.”

Gaara didn’t have time to respond to the compliment as he leapt into the air and created a platform of sand which absorbed the impact of several golden spikes which his father created beneath his feet. Gaara held one hand down on the platform to stop the spikes from penetrating further and was forced to use the other to summon more of his sand to block another volley of projectiles from the Third which had doubled in size from the previous one.

Sensing his father ending his attempt to push the golden spike into the barrier at his feet, Gaara stood and folded his arms across his chest as his sand moved to a ready position behind him. The Fourth Kazekage watched his son and was surprised at his calm manner as well as the fact that he could so masterfully control so much sand to block two attacks without calling on Shukaku. “Gaara, how have you subdued the One-Tails?”

“I am no longer the jinchuriki that you created, father,” Gaara said dispassionately. “It was extracted from me by a group called the Akatsuki.”

“Then how is it you are still alive,” the Third Kazekage asked. “Jinchuriki that have had their tailed beasts extracted die.”

“I did die,” Gaara answered, “But thanks to my friend Naruto, my body was recovered and the Lady Chiyo sacrificed her life to bring me back.”

“That woman did,” The Fourth thought in shock that the elder that had stopped caring what happened to the village would give her life for anyone.

The Third Kazekage was also surprised by the revelation, but for different reasons. His body began moving against his will as a wall of sand erupted from the dessert floor and moved towards the two Kage to bury them beneath it. The Fourth Kazekage moved forward and held up his hand causing a wave of gold dust to rise up and smash into his son’s jutsu as the Third dashed around the edge of the jutsu so that he could move to a position from where he could attack Gaara.

*****

Taken aback by how Gaara had explained it was a Leaf shinobi that had saved him. He let his body move on its own as he recalled a private meeting he had attended with his counterpart the Third Hokage. “This was not what we agreed to, Hiruzen,” he had shouted angrily having finished reading the treaty that would make the Leaf and Sand allies. “This is looking less like a treaty and more like a surrender.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed heavily as he said, “I know, my friend. But unfortunately the clan council refused to be swayed by my arguments. Danzou has managed to convince the majority of the councilors that it is our right as the victors to force Suna into the weaker position. He has made the case that to do otherwise would be to invite you to attack us again once you recover.”

The Kazekage watched his counterpart’s knuckles grow white as he held his pipe indicating that the Hokage was upset about something. “There’s more isn’t there?”

Sarutobi took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled before saying, “He also knows that you almost have to sign it, and has made that fact known to the council. Although we weren’t working together, both Iwa and our forces did make use of each other’s presence within your country. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that if not for Iwa needing to call forces back to Earth Country due the Kumogakure exploiting a weakness in their border forces to open a new front, that Suna would have been destroyed.”

The Third Kazekage smiled as he said, “I wonder how they learned of such a weakness.”

“I imagine a little bird may have mentioned it to the leader of Grass in passing. Those Grass Shinobi always seem to know how best to profit from such slips of the tongue,” Hiruzen said smiling around the end of his pipe.

The Third Kazekage shook his head amused before saying, “Funny I imagine it was likely a monkey.” The Kazekage sat back in his chair and rubbed his forehead as he grew serious. “What you say is true, Hiruzen. But even so, how can I in good conscious sign such a treaty? It would be better to die in battle being crushed by Iwagakure then to suffer a slow lingering death as Konoha poaches our prime jobs leaving us the scraps.”

The Hokage dumped the ash in his pipe into a tray before replying, “My friend, if you truly believed that then you wouldn’t even be here. I am as unhappy with this travesty of a treaty as you. Unfortunately, with the political realities that we face it is the best either of us can hope for. Ever since the First Shinobi war, Suna and Konoha have been at each other’s throats. When the villages were first founded there was a small path to peace that the First Hokage tried to build. Unfortunately the tides of war quickly swept it away. Here we are at the aftermath of the Second Great War and those tides are still growing stronger. Already in my village are the rumblings that we should strike at our enemies first to wipe them out before they can recover.” Hiruzen held his hand out over the document that the Kazekage had tossed onto his desk after reading as he said, “This document is far from perfect and is everything that you described. But it is also a small stepping stone to rebuilding a new path to the peace that both you and I desire. It is very small, and hardly stable, and carries with it the risk that those who step on it may find themselves tumbling head first into the next Great War. But even such a stone can lead to a bigger and sturdier one and the next, until we find ourselves at the place we want to be.”

“Forgive me, Hiruzen. But I see no such stone before me,” the Kazekage said indicating the document.

“Then perhaps you are not looking hard enough,” the Hokage said standing and turning the paper to his friend before putting out one of the paragraphs.

The Kazekage read what was pointed out and scoffed, “A joint Chunin Exams. I’m sure the only reason that’s in there is so Danzou can spy on Suna jutsu and combat techniques.”

Hiruzen smiled as he said, “Oh that is no doubt why Danzou agreed to it when I suggested it.”

Surprised at the idea of Suna and Konoha creating a joint chunin exam had been his friend’s idea the Kazekage said, “You suggested it? Why?”

Hiruzen chuckled as he explained, “Because it would be my hope that one day some promising Konoha genin would meet an equally promising genin of Suna, and although they would at first likely communicate with their fists. It would be through those fists that they realize that they are not as different from one another as they might think. Through that understanding they might even become friends, and one day meet each other as Kage. Where they will pick-up, where we leave off.”

“But in the meantime I will be remembered as the man that signed Suna away,” the Kazekage said.

“And I will be remembered as the man that took advantage of those in need of assistance,” Sarutobi replied, “not exactly something I am envious of myself. But if there is even a small chance to pull this off I will let history judge me as it will.”

The Kazekage sighed but held out his hand as he remembered encountering the young Sarutobi on the battlefield many times and through those meeting eventually learned he yearned for the same thing as him. With that in mind he said, “Then so too shall I.” Sarutobi grasped him by the forearm as they shook over the document that would one day be the link that brought two jinchuriki face to face.

****

Naruto gasped as he received a kick to the stomach from the First Kazekage. The blow caused Naruto to stumble back as the man used the kick as a means to leap into a backwards flip. The reason for the move became apparent as the Second Kazekage charged beneath his predecessor. Naruto recovered enough to avoid the punch the man aimed for his jaw, which as a result of the man’s iron like skin would have seriously rattled his cage.

Naruto retaliated by spinning into a crouch and tried use a chakra blade to severe the man’s leg at the knee. Despite his tough exterior the Second jumped back as he didn’t wish to test his defense against the blond’s wind chakra enhanced blade. Before Naruto could move to keep the pressure on the man, the First Kazekage leaped over the Second forcing Naruto to block his scythes with his blades. The First attacked wildly keeping Naruto on the defensive, until he seemed to miscalculate the distance between them as he did a backhanded swing which presented the jinchuriki with an opening he could exploit as the Kazekage brought his second blade around.

Naruto leapt back to create some more room between the two of them instead, and was glad he did as a moment later a cut opened on the front of his jacket. The First inclined his head that his opponent wasn’t suckered in as he said, “Not bad, what gave it away?”

“Your blades,” Naruto answered keeping his guard up, “Despite the fact that you weren’t extending your reach via using wind chakra. The fact that they haven’t incurred so much as a single chip is pretty telling. You swing the first blade slower, hoping to lure your opponent in so that as they try to reach you before the window closes; they end up skewering themselves on the suddenly longer reach of the second. That you cut me even though I leapt means the attack works even if they stand still.”

“Do you mind if I ask you one more question?”

“Sure.”

“Who taught you how to fight with those blades? The reason I ask is that while I definitely see the Leaf’s techniques, there are flashes of Kirigakure here and there.”

“I’ll never tell,” Naruto said aware that the Second was positioning himself to attack again. However his focus was split as Gaara with his jutsu was still battling his father’s, suddenly found himself under attack by the Third Kazekage. However, rather than attack the red-head directly, he sent a wave of Iron Sand flying into the gold spikes the sand platform was resting on. The Iron sand smashed into the soft gold causing it to break which began to topple Gaara’s platform. Naruto quickly pulled one of his tri-prong kunai and tossed it at Gaara’s back. His automatic defense caught the blade as the Third’s Iron Sand turned into a spear which shot up to impale Gaara, as the Fourth’s Gold Wave over powered the sand blocking it due to the red head’s attempts to correct his fall.

Naruto, Hiraishined and appeared inside Gaara’s defense where grabbed his friend and kunai, which he quickly tossed. He then teleported them to the thrown weapon which admittedly hadn’t gone far, but took them out of the path of the two types of sand closing in on them. The jutsu smashed into each other which Naruto watched for a moment nearly to his own detriment as the Second Kazekage appeared behind him. Rearing his fist back to smash it into the back of the jinchuriki’s skull he shouted, “You shouldn’t leave your back so exposed.”

Naruto didn’t react as he said, “I hate to break it to you. But my back is never exposed.” Naruto’s reason for remaining calm revealed itself as a large fist of Sand from the kneeling Gaara’s gourd slammed into the Second. The fist smashed him into the ground, which it did so several times after the first impact.

The fist remained buried after the last blow, but began to be pushed up as the Second said, “It’ll take more than this to keep me down.”

Naruto was already preparing the next shot, so that as the Second managed to fully push the fist over his head, he spun and threw the Rasenshuriken that hit the man in the chest. The jutsu sent him flying, and caught the First, who tried to pull the Second out of the way, just as it expanded, releasing its full power on the two.

Naruto knew it wouldn’t keep them down for long, but still spared a moment to help a kneeling Gaara to his feet. “Thank you,” the Fifth Kazekage said referring to the blond pulling him out of the bad situation.

“Don’t mention it,” Naruto replied brightly despite the situation, “What are friends for? Besides you returned the favor. I doubt that will keep those two down for long. Let’s take this chance to seal the other two.” Gaara nodded as they both faced the Third and Fourth Kazekage.

****

The Third watched the two men turned to face him and having witnessed their camaraderie felt the need to attack them lessen. Finding something within his soul was shifting he asked, “Tell me boys. You come from separate villages, yet consider each other friends. But you must know that someday you may need to face each other in battle should the politics between your villages change.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Naruto said steadfastly. “Besides, I decided to become a missing-nin to prevent Gaara from being executed despite what it could mean to my village. My goal is to unite all the shinobi villages to end the cycles of violence and bloodshed. I’ll keep fighting for that, and won’t let politics cost me a great friend.”

Gaara nodded as he added, “I will do all in my power as Kazekage to aid him.”

Seeing the culmination of what both he and Sarutobi had hoped would be the end result of their treaty, a weight was lifted from his soul causing his body to begin to crumble. As he was called back to the pure world he asked, “Where did you two friends meet?”

“The Chunin Exams,” Naruto answered and was surprised as the Third Kazekage began laughing before his body collapsed into ash revealing the sacrifice that had been used.

*****

The Fourth was surprised by the Third’s sudden removal from the battlefield as well as by the fact that it appeared his son had found a friend in the Chunin Exams when he was to be the weapon to destroy the Leaf Village. Wondering if the nine-tail’s jinchuriki was the catalyst that set Gaara on the path to becoming the Kazekage, he felt like an utter failure, not only as a father, but as a husband and even Kazekage. Seeing the chance to at least make up for it in one small way, he was about to tell Gaara the truth about his mother, when suddenly he felt as if everything that made him aware was being drained away. Understanding that the man that had summoned him and the other Kazekage was erasing his personality to prevent whatever had freed the Third from repeating he shouted, “Boys, you must stop us now. M-my…my will is being suppressed…”

Focusing on his son, he said, “Gaara…what you were…t-told about your mother… was… order… she… always loved…” Fighting against the jutsu with everything he had, he managed to say, “Your mother always loved you, Gaara. I was the one that…who put… your uncle…”

*****

Naruto noticed Gaara’s face register what his father was trying to him about his mother. He saw tears begin to appear in his friend’s eyes, but before the Kazekage could get lost in his emotions Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder as he said, “Gaara, I’m sure what you’re feeling has to be some heavy stuff. But if we lose our heads here, we’ll literally lose our heads.”

Gaara nodded as he wiped the tears and gained control of the many conflicting emotions that he felt. But hearing that his mother had loved him, and further to the point that his uncle had likely acted under his father’s orders freed Gaara of a burden he hadn’t even realized had been so heavy still. Only now that it was gone did he truly feel lighter.

Naruto watched as the Fourth was joined by the First and Second, and despite the fact that it appeared they had also had their personalities suppressed, that actually made the jinchuriki more confident the men could be defeated. He also believed it would make it easier as well. Formulating a plan he said, “Gaara, I need you to restrict those three’s movement. I have a way to bind them, but I need all of them grouped together.”

“Understood,” Gaara said before pressing his hands to the ground and sending a wave of sand that encircled the previous Kazekage and blocked their view of Naruto and him.

Gaara’s father countered by focusing his gold dust at a single point in the massive wave approaching from all directions, and had it take the form of a pair of hands that were pressed together as if in prayer. Once the hands hit, they dug into the Sand and he forced them open causing the sand wave to part. The First and Second moved towards the opening unheedful of the fact that such an obvious escape route would be guarded, which it was as a clone of Naruto raced forward to stop them as the blond had counted on them acting in such a manner. As he believed that while suppressing their personalities might make them more efficient or less likely to break free as the Third had done. It also boiled the men down to just their skills, without the accumulated knowledge that made those skills so powerful.

After all, Naruto didn’t doubt that if the two Kazekage racing towards his clone had been in control of themselves, they no doubt would be questioning why he wouldn’t just throw another Rasenshuriken into the opening rather than send a single clone. He also imagined that upon thinking that question, they likely would have refrained from attacking said clone.

But they didn’t, so they didn’t. The Kazekage buried his scythe into the clone’s side even as the Second hit it with a punch that snapped its neck. Which while it did cause Naruto to wince from witnessing another possible death, was exactly what the blond had hoped for. The clone having been made with a combination of his Sage, and Wind chakra didn’t so much explode as it imploded collapsing in upon itself. The negative pressure from the collapse, pulled the two Kazekage as it acted in a similar manner as a blackhole. The two men smashed into each other and were further crushed as sand and debris were pulled in as well. Naruto watched as the Fourth Kazekage tried to fight against the pull, but Gaara raised his hand and the sand at his father’s feet rose up into the air before losing its solidness. Once he was airborne, the Fourth was also pulled into the expanding mass of sand, gold dust, and crushed remains.

Once the jutsu ended, what remained at the center of a crater was a spherical ball of the tightly packed material that made it up. Naruto prepared to quickly move to slap another seal that Mito had taught him which would bind the man in their compressed grave. But just as he was moving away felt another presence behind Gaara and him.

Naruto spun and prepared to attack the violet eyed woman that was rising from the sand behind them. Gaara did as well, but went stock still as he recognized the face of the woman. Naruto heard him whisper, “Mother…”

The sight of his mother caused Gaara to drop his guard, which the woman exploited sending a tendril of sand towards her son. The end of the tendril turned into a spike as it rushed towards Gaara. Naruto could see the Kazekage’s automatic defense begin to react to the attack, but the woman’s sand appeared to be much faster. But Naruto pushed Gaara to the side, and blinked just before it was about to pierce his chest.

Gaara looked back as the sand flew passed him and expected to see his friend impaled on the attack. But to his surprise the sand again shifted so that it was flat and instead hit Naruto in the chest like a hammer. It lifted the jinchuriki off his feet, and the sand carried him over the crater that his jutsu had made. Something flew passed him, and he realized his mother was still connected to the sand so had been pulled along after the blond.

His mother’s jutsu deposited Naruto on the opposite side of the crater. She then made a gesture and Naruto’s shirt was ripped open by her sand. She then, used the knowledge that Kabuto had imbued her with on how Mito had picked the lock of his seal to open Naruto’s seal before procuring a mechanical device from within the folds of her cloak.

Although having not seen one in person, from the reports he had received as Kazekage, he recognized it as a mechanical chakra disruption device. The device was originally created in the Land of Snow, by engineers that worked for Doto Kazahana. In the aftermath of the man’s death, it was learned that many of those engineers had gone missing along with the weapons designs they had worked on. Only recently had the chakra disruption device begun to appear on the various black markets, and while it wasn’t something that shinobi would need. The devices were finding their ways into the hand of normal criminals as a means to keep any shinobi that they happened to capture under control. While the devices did pose a potential problem for the various shinobi villages, what most of them were truly fearful of was the Chakra Armor that Doto had developed starting to appear in a similar manner.

Gaara began to wonder why Kabuto would outfit his mother with such a device, but felt it was a secondary concern as red chakra began to leak from Naruto’s stomach. Fearing that the device would somehow extract the nine-tails, although he doubted it could contain it, he began to move to aid his friend. However, a moment later a dome of sand surrounded Naruto and his mother. Undeterred, Gaara prepared to cross the crater, but leapt back as he sensed an attack from above.

His automatic defense moved to block in front of him as whatever hit the ground exploded. “Ah, ah, ah, ah, let those two enjoy some privacy, hmmm”

Gaara instantly recognized the voice as he looked up to see the deceased Akatsuki member hovering on one of his clay birds as it took up a position above the dome. “Deidara,” Gaara said angrily as his eyes locked with the man responsible for killing him.

Deidara was clearly amused as he said, “So you remember me, hmmm? Well I suppose that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. How’ve you been? You certainly look much better than the last time I saw you.” He could see the Kazekage was preparing to attack, so he changed tactics as he said, “Not much for small talk then are you,” while he waved his hand over the dome. Tiny clay spiders appeared from the mouths contained in them which fell onto the dome.

To Gaara’s surprise the spiders were absorbed into the sand causing him to say, “Don’t!”

“Relax,” Deidara said, “Granted if it was up to me. I’d already turn that blond piece of shit into a work of art since I owe him one. But the man pulling my strings doesn’t want any permanent harm coming to him at the moment. But before you decide to attack me, keep in mind he likely doesn’t have anything against me maiming him a little.”

“What does Kabuto want?”

“Hell if I know,” Deidara said. Noticing the dome was about to collapse he added, “But it looks like he’s going to get it.”

*****

Kushina watched as the gates to the seal began to open. She quickly abandoned her human form in favor of her Bijuu one in case she needed to fight against an attempt at extracting her as she doubted the key that she had been given would work considering how the seal had been opened. Strangely though, outside of some of the Bijuu chakra leaking out of the open gate, she didn’t feel a force attempting to remove her.

However, she suddenly felt Naruto’s condition begin to deteriorate and she realized the device that had been affixed to her son wasn’t going to extract her, but drain him of his chakra. She realized then exactly what kind of cunning bastard Kabuto truly was. He had likely compelled the kunoichi being reanimated by Edo Tensei to open the seal for two reasons.

The first being to likely confirm a hypothesis that he had formed from when he had resurrected Mito, which was that Naruto and the Bijuu that he contained had come to some sort of an arrangement. She had to admit that it showed just how much thought Kabuto had applied to the last encounter, since the fact that Kushina hadn’t allowed herself to be extracted into Mito had left the man with two possibilities for her actions. Those being that the Bijuu within Naruto preferred it’s container to what it would be exposed to in a new one, or Naruto and Bijuu were actively working together. The device being set to drain Naruto of his chakra left Kushina with two choices and either one would confirm to Kabuto the nature of the relationship between them. If she aided Naruto by supplying him the chakra to offset what was being drained instead of escaping then it was obvious that the two had come to some sort of truce or arrangement. Obviously if she escaped, then Kabuto would come to believe that the Kyuubi saw it as more advantageous to remain with Naruto at the time.

The second reason was tied to if Kushina acted to save Naruto which it would make it much easier for her to give him chakra without fighting the seal. This would allow the device to more efficiently collect her chakra as she poured it into her son.

Naturally, for Kushina there was no choice so she began pumping her chakra into Naruto. But, hoping to give the device more chakra then it could handle she sent it full bore. She closed her eyes to see if her gamble worked as she became aware of the world outside the seal. She saw that the kunoichi was straddling her son as she used sand to hold him to the ground. As the amount of chakra began to flow faster than the device could absorb, it began to throw off arcs of energy. One of the arcs hit the woman causing her to scream as the energy coursed through her and she shook like she was being electrocuted. The kunoichi fell back as the energy finished passing through her, and as a result the sand dome began to collapse.

The device seemed to break as a puff of smoke blew out of it, and she felt the drain of chakra taper off. She directed her attention to her son, and breathed easier as she felt that although he was near chakra exhaustion due to how quickly the device had drained his chakra to force her hand, he was otherwise unharmed. Returning to her human form, she held up her hand and twisted it causing the gate to close. Although she still felt the temptation to open it fully and share her Bijuu chakra with her son. Knowing there would be no escaping the pleasure he gave to his lovers on an almost nightly basis held her back, as while she might have crossed that line from time to time. Taking this step felt like admitting she was a horrible mother due to how badly she wanted to be with him in an unmotherly way.

*****

Gaara watched the dome collapse, but didn’t move as he saw Deidara’s tiny spiders covering the area. He glared at the man, who smirked before throwing a small clay bird in Naruto’s direction which picked up the device that rested on him as he directed the larger bird he was riding on to grab the sphere resting below him. Catching the device the undead missing-nin said, “I know you’re capable of following so I’ll leave my friends to make sure you don’t, hmmm.”

His bird flapped after its smaller copy dropped the devise into Deidara’s hands before making a straight line for the Kazekage. Gaara waved his hand causing a stream of sand to rise from the desert floor and knock it out of the air. The bird exploded in the air revealing that the former Akatsuki member had used to moment to put as much distance as he could between them.

Gaara leapt into the air as a platform of sand appeared beneath his feet as he closed the distance between Naruto and him. Moving his hands apart, he caused all the sand covering the immediate area around Naruto to fly away taking the spiders along with it, which began to detonate.

Landing next to his friend, he breathed easier as he saw the black hole on his stomach closing, and saw his chest moving steadily as he breathed. Confident Naruto was in no danger, he turned towards his mother, there were so many things that he wished he could say to her. But, aware that she posed a danger he prepared to use his sand to cocoon her and hopefully contain her until he could find someone to seal her. He stopped though as he considered Deidara’s actions. He began to wonder why the deceased Akatsuki member had grabbed the mound of gold and sand which had contained the three remaining Kazekage, but had left his mother behind.

He approached the woman where he knelt down next to her and reached out with a shaky hand. Touching her face, he was surprised at how warm she felt to the touch. He felt several emotions warring within him causing a nervous sensation which set up residence in the pit of his stomach. He reached out for her eye and forced one open. His breath caught in his throat as instead of the black sclera that all those brought back by Edo Tensei had, hers were white showing that the jutsu no longer had a hold on her. Feeling tears appear in his eyes, he placed his head against her chest and hearing a heartbeat sat back in shock despite the evidence that his mother had been returned to the land of living that was being laid out before him.

He turned his gaze back to his unconscious friend and tried to understand what was going on. He knew of Naruto’s ability to counteract Edo Tensei in such a way, but doubted doing so for his mother had been a conscious effort on either his or the Bijuu that he contained part. For one, he knew Naruto had decided that doing so could in time become a source of grief and anger for some. If people learned of his ability after he used it for friends that lost loved ones, then it would only be a matter of time before others demanded that he did the same for them. Therefore, he knew that while Naruto may have considered it, he wouldn’t act on those feelings less he may also begin to feel an obligation to do so for the likes of Shikamaru or others within his village.

The other reason he doubted Naruto had returned his mother on purpose, was due to there being no sign of the sacrifice that had been used to power Edo Tensei. The lack thereof seemed to suggest that while it appeared his mother was indeed once more alive. The means may have been same, but the method was different.

That fact caused Gaara some concern for his friend since he believed that Kabuto no doubt realized that it wasn’t just a conscious effort on some Bijuu’s part that was responsible for returning those under Endo Tensei sway to the world of the living. But something unique about Naruto’s or his Bijuu’s chakra, or even the combination of the two together. Standing as he cradled his mother in his arms, he didn’t doubt that sooner rather than later Kabuto would be back with another scheme to either unlock the secrets of what was so special about Naruto’s chakra or to claim it.

*****

Temari had felt little relief as the weaklings resurrected by Edo Tensei had retreated, although she did feel some respite when she noticed the light encasing those that they had captured and wrapped in bandages indicating they had been released from the jutsu. The reason for her nervousness was due to the fear that Kabuto got what he was after and what it meant for the man she loved. She had wanted to push her squad after the fight, but since many had been ready to rest before the attack by the resurrected shinobi, they were in no shape to take off running after the battle.

The only thing that had kept her from taking off on her own was due to her feeling his presence still via her foxmark. She could feel it getting closer, and had to fight against the temptation to stare in the direction that she knew he was coming from, especially as she felt his presence was just over the next dune. Therefore, she was glad when one of the shinobi on watch duty called out, “Over here! It’s Lord Gaara.” She wasn’t surprised that her shinobi didn’t call out Naruto’s presence but felt her heart leap into her throat as the shinobi added, “We need some medics. Master Naruto appears to be injured as he is on a stretcher of sand.”

Temari nearly rushed off to check on him, but was stopped as Pakura said softly, “Remember where we are.” Sensing Senjumaru watching them, the green-haired woman added, “This could be another trap by the enemy to delay us.”

Temari wanted to shout at the woman to use her foxmark, but realized that in a sense that was exactly what she was telling her. Closing her eyes, she got a sense of her lover’s condition and could tell that although he seemed weak, it was in a similar manner to how he would feel after pushing himself too hard while training. Nodding her thanks to Pakura, she ordered, “All squads form up. Do not lower your guard. My squad will make contact once we confirm who we are dealing with I’ll signal the medics if they are needed.”

Temari moved with her brother, Pakura, Matsuri, and Sari following after her as did Senjumaru much to her annoyance. Cresting the dune near the shinobi that had called out, she saw Gaara moving slowly with his gourd and with Naruto suspended on a bed of sand. The two shinobi looked like they had been in quite the fight, causing Temari to wonder what they had faced. Moving down the sand hill, she pulled her fan when Gaara entered her range and called out, “Gaara is that really you?”

Before, Gaara could reply several puppets popped out of the ground around him and fired a barrage of poisoned senbon. The sand around the Kazekage created a protective barrier around him and Naruto. The attacks hit it bouncing off harmlessly, before the sand barrier retaliated with projectiles of sand which shattered the puppets.

Temari and the others rounded on Senjumaru as she prepared to attack the woman believing she was still planning to carry out with Gaara’s execution. They stopped though as Gaara ordered calmly, “That’s enough. I believe Senjumaru was just verifying I am who I claimed to be.”

The dark haired woman smiled coolly as she said, “It seemed the quickest way to ascertain the truth of the matter.”

Gaara inclined his head but added, “Unless of course I was the Endo Tensei shinobi that murdered Joseki.”

Senjumaru shrugged as she countered, “Considering the discoloration of the eyes those brought back by that jutsu possess. There is no proof to suggest it wouldn’t carry over to a henge. Otherwise Kabuto likely wouldn’t have cloaked the assassin. Also, there is no need to propose such a theory to clear your name; your sister realized the truth before we left Suna. Ishida has also admitted to playing a role in framing you, although he was unaware of it until after the murders.”

Temari tried to sound calm as she asked, “Gaara, Naruto is he…”

Gaara inclined his head as he calmed her fears, “He is fine. Unfortunately, Kabuto managed to drain a good portion of his chakra as he tried once more to extract the Kyuubi.” He knew Temari and Naruto’s other lovers were aware that he was being purposefully vague to prevent contradicting anything Temari may have revealed to Senjumaru already. He focused on the Royal Guard member to ascertain if she was suspicious about Kabuto’s true reasons for his interest in Naruto. To explain his scrutiny of the woman he asked, “With all that has been revealed, am I still a condemned man. I’m afraid I can no longer accept such a fate. With Naruto’s condition being what it is, I will not allow his existence to come to an end. Furthermore, I have come to realize that my continued existence does matter and my death will do nothing to ease the distrust the Daimyo apparently feels towards me and my shinobi. My execution in such a manner would likely only lead to worsening relations between Suna and the Capital.”

Senjumaru couldn’t disagree with Gaara’s conclusion. Therefore she replied, “Given the circumstances, it is clear that from the moment Joseki was cleared of the charges against him, both he and the magistrate were dead men. With Ishida being complicit in the matter, I’ll need to speak with the Daimyo to make sure the orders I was given were not changed to further Kabuto’s plan. I have little doubt that we’ll both find this has been all one large misunderstanding.”

Gaara inclined his head accepting Sejumaru’s chain of events, although he doubted the Daimyo orders had been changed. But, it would allow him to save face, and pin everything on Ishida. Gaara looked at his shinobi and saw that they didn’t believe it either. Yet, hoping to assure the Capital that he and his village weren’t a possible threat to their power said, “I’m glad that we have cleared up this misunderstanding.” Focusing on his shinobi he added, “Let us go home.”

The shinobi of Suna cheered and he accepted a hug from Sari, who surprised him when she quickly pulled back. One of his shinobi approached asking, “Lord Gaara, would you like me to carry your gourd for you? You must be tired.”

“No thank you,” Gaara said, “I barely notice the weight since it’s been a part of me my entire life.” The shinobi nodded as the Kazekage began walking towards his village. He directed the bed of sand Naruto rested on to follow and gingerly adjust the strap of his gourd being mindful of the occupant that resided inside it.

*****

Naruto groaned as he began to awaken. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he said, “Did a boulder fall on me or something. I ache all over.”

“I think this would fall under the category of or something,” a kind voice said that he recognized.

“Shizune,” Naruto said as his eyes shot open. His lover smiled at him, and although Naruto found the setting somewhat familiar since he could tell from the sounds coming from outside his room that he was in a hospital. Still felt disoriented due to Shizune’s presence since he knew it wasn’t the one in Konoha.

His lover helped him sit up and seeing the scenery outside his window guessed he was in Suna. “How long was I out?”

“About four days,” Shizune answered. “Sakura and I arrived just the day before. “

“Is Gaara okay? He froze when some woman appeared behind him, which is when everything went dark for me. I’ve seen her picture before in Temari’s room so I think she was their mother.”

“The Kazekage is fine,” Shizune said taking the chance to make sure her lover was as well. Although she and Sakura had been called to Suna for a separate reason, the two of them took turns to make sure Suna’s medics were taking good care of him. She smiled as she knew a few of the nurses were quite enjoying the task. “The woman you mentioned was indeed his mother. She was also the one that Kabuto brought back to frame Gaara. It turns out that his abilities with sand were not entirely of Rangiku’s doing.”

“That bastard,” Naruto said in reference to Kabuto. “When I get my hands on him, I’m going to…”

Shizune felt the same way as Naruto trailed off leaving the threat unfinished. She then informed her lover, “Keep Lady Karura’s involvement to yourself please. There have been a few complications as a result of Kabuto’s plot, and Gaara does not want anyone to know his mother was the murderer. Luckily, there were quite a few Sand users in Suna’s history that it could have been anyone. A fact most feel is unimportant to uncover considering ultimately Kabuto was the one pulling the strings.”

Naruto nodded, before asking, “How much trouble did I cause everyone?”

“We were fortunate,” Shizune replied with her relief being evident, “The Wind Daimyo is pinning everything on Kabuto and the representative Ishida. He says that his orders were only to make Gaara aware of his extreme displeasure at the fate of his vassal and to place him under house arrest until the matter was solved. No one believes it, but everyone is going along with it.”

Naruto sighed as he lay back down before saying, “Still regardless of whether it has allowed the Daimyo off the hook for his actions, there is going to be a lot of tension between the Wind Capital and Suna. A convenient lie isn’t going to erase that, and it’ll probably just boil under the surface until it explodes in the worst possible way like with the Uchiha.”

“Gaara is quite aware of that,” the dark-haired medic answered. “But, at the moment it is the best outcome we could hope for. The Daimyo’s actions were no doubt born of the concern that he must be feeling at Suna’s becoming less reliant on his tribute to function. It is something that we’re going to need to consider in the future in regards to our strengthening relations with the other villages. The

Daimyo, in many ways, have always used the annual tribute as a means to prevent the villages from growing too powerful.”

Naruto folded his hands behind his head and turned to look at Shizune before saying, “So what you’re saying is that now with the stronger trade between Suna and Konoha, one of the Daimyo’s greatest tools at keeping our villages in check has been lessened so now they’re growing nervous.”

“Precisely,” Shizune said with a pleased smile at how skilled Naruto was becoming at analyzing situations. “Although, for the moment it seems that only the Wind Daimyo is operating under the belief that Suna being a little more independent is a bad thing. The Fire Daimyo has openly expressed his gratitude to Tsunade about your actions as he felt they only highlighted why peace has been maintained between Fire and Wind for so long.” Naruto frowned causing his lover to say, “You don’t seem pleased.”

“I’m happy that it doesn’t appear I’m going to be living the life of a missing-nin,” Naruto said after a moment of thought. “But, I can’t help feeling that the Fire Daimyo is simply backing the winning side. He didn’t seem all that thrilled with the idea of us forming better relations with other villages when we spoke face to face.”

“You may be more right than not,” Shizune conceded. “The message arrived via a representative the Fire Daimyo sent to Konoha. But before it was delivered there was an incident at the gate.”

Naruto looked concerned asking, “What happened?”

Shizune put him at ease by smiling before she explained what happened. “Word had reached the citizens of Konoha that a representative was being dispatched to the village to discuss your going rogue. Fortunately, by the time the person arrived everything had been sorted out, but the people of Konoha feared you were still going to be branded a missing-nin so when the Representative signed in at the gate he was greeted by a mob of citizens baring his path. The citizens made it known that they wouldn’t accept any such decree as you were the Hero of the Village. Things grew rather tense as the guards escorting the man threatened to attack if the crowd didn’t let them pass, but fortunately Kakashi was there to calm everyone down. He reminded the representative that it was important to listen to the will of the people, but also reminded the citizens that you knew full well the potential consequences of your actions. Whether the incident influenced what the representative told Tsunade or not, I don’t know. But the people of Suna have already petitioned the Kazekage to offer you asylum should you have been branded a missing-nin.” Leaning forward she kissed her lover softly on the lips as she added, “So basically, now you’re a hero in two villages.”

Pulling away she said, “I need to get going. I’ll let Sakura and the others know that you’re awake.”

“Any idea on when I’ll be discharged?”

Shizune shook her head as she replied, “I imagine that it’ll be sooner rather than later. Although the doctors here are probably going to want to keep you under observation for a few days, I know how antsy you get in hospitals.”

A knock at the door was followed by a male nurse entering the room. He smiled brightly as he said, “Ah it appears my patient has finally awakened.” Focusing on Shizune he said, “I’m guessing he must be in good shape.”

“Yes, I took the liberty of checking his vitals. I marked my findings on his chart.”

“Good, I guess then that I won’t need to bother the doctor until after…”

“After what,” Naruto asked innocently as Shizune sent him an amused smile as she left the room.

“Why, after your sponge bath silly,” the nurse said producing a plastic tub and sponge.

Naruto’s eyes grew wide as he was uncomfortable with the idea of a man rubbing him down as he slept so said, “Um…thanks for taking care of me…but I’m sure I can handle it from here. No sense in bothering you with it.”

“Oh it’s no bother,” the man said eagerly, “it’s actually been the highlight of my shift the past few days.”

“Is that really something you should be telling a patient?” Naruto asked backing up on the bed as the man finished filling the tub and began to approach him with the soapy sponge.

“Oh don’t be shy,” the nurse said letting a seductive tenor enter his voice, “We’re both men.”

“T-that’s kind of my concern…I don’t swing that way.”

“Have you ever tried?”

“No!”

“Then how do you know? Now, hold still!”

“No! Stay back!”

*****

The sound of glass shattering attracted Shizune’s attention as she exited the hospital, which was followed by the nurse that had been assigned to her lover shouted, “Stop! Where are you going? Come back.”

Naruto didn’t bother to reply as he leapt over the rooftops of the village. She heard a couple of women giggle as they caught sight of his naked backside due to the hospital gown that he wore. She smiled since she had figured he would react in such a manner upon learning he had been assigned a male nurse. She suspected that Gaara had arranged for it as a little payback for his sleeping with his sister, but also to prevent Naruto from inadvertently binding any of the female nurses to him as he slept. Primarily due to the fact that in the day or so, since Sakura and her arrival they had heard quite a few of the female nurses commenting favorably on the sleeping jinchuriki and about how they would enjoy making some of his nurse related fantasies a reality. Although, considering how attentive the male nurse that he had been assigned was, she imagined it hadn’t just been the women thinking along those lines.

Shizune reached her destination as she approached the Kazekage mansion. Heading towards the room her patient was in, she was about to knock when she heard her say, “Why is it that you and Gaara insist that I be attended to by Leaf-nin, Temari?”

“Mother, please try to understand we need to keep your resurrection a secret. It’s common knowledge that you died giving birth to Gaara. In fact, father even went so far as to claim you were the sacrifice necessary to seal Shukaku into him.”

“That doesn’t explain why Gaara is letting these women attend to me, or why I haven’t been allowed to see Kankuro.”

“It’s complicated,” Temari replied. Hoping to give the Suna kunoichi a breather from the questions, Shizune knocked on the door causing Temari to quickly say, “Enter.”

Shizune smiled politely which wasn’t returned by Karura, who seemed to hold a low opinion of shinobi from the Leaf. Considering the actions her husband would later take, she didn’t doubt that he wasn’t the only one to feel the alliance with Konoha had been a negative to Suna. However, despite the woman’s less than stellar greeting she could see why her children had loved her so whenever she looked at her daughter. “How are we feeling today?”

“As I told you yesterday,” Karura said gruffly, “I am fine. I do not need to be attended to.”

Shizune nodded ignoring the woman’s less than pleasant disposition towards her, “I understand, but please just let us do as the Kazekage has asked. Now, are you sure there aren’t any strange…urges that you are feeling? If you are uncomfortable talking about it, I can ask Temari to step out.”

“I said I do not feel any uncontrollable urges,” Karura replied annoyed. “The pink-haired girl asked the same thing this morning. It would help if you would tell me what I should be feeling. Keep in mind that I’ve been dead for eighteen years and my last memories were seeing Gaara just after giving birth to him. I’m not exactly sure what constitutes how I normally should be feeling after being resurrected.”

Both Temari and Shizune shared a look as they noticed Karura’s reddened cheeks. Aware that the woman likely didn’t want to admit to either Konoha medics or her daughter how she felt constantly aroused as a result of Naruto’s chakra, Shizune said, “Well, if you do feel any strange urges please let me know. I doubt they’ll be something you need to concern yourself with in a few more days if you haven’t felt them yet.” A look appeared in Karura’s eyes that seemed to ask if she should be concerned if she had, indicating to Shizune that Naruto’s tainted chakra was indeed having an effect on the woman’s libido. Answering it without the question being asked she said, “In any case I’m sure everything will have settled down in a few days.”

Karura seemed relieved by the pronouncement causing Temari to ask, “Shizune, can I speak with you outside?”

“Of course, I need to go see how Sakura is coming along with the analysis of the blood samples she took this morning.”

The two kunoichi exited the room, and Karura was interested in what they wanted to discuss. But she couldn’t concentrate on eavesdropping as the need to do something about the insistent urge for release became too great. Bringing her hand between her legs, she hiked up the nightgown that she wore and began rubbing along her slit. She brought her other hand up to her mouth to bit on her knuckle to prevent herself from making any noises that would alert the women outside as to what she was doing.

*****

Her efforts were pointless, since both women had left in order to give her just such an opportunity to calm her urges. Temari pulled her ear from the door to face Shizune confident her mother wasn’t listening as she asked, “She’s going to be okay, right? It’s going to be like with Haku and Mito.”

“I believe so,” Shizune answered, “Neither Sakura or I have found any indications that this is only temporary. For all intents and purposes your mother appears to be alive and well. She’s also reacting to Naruto’s chakra much as we’ve come to expect. She is fortunate to have slept through most of the week. Has there been any discussion on how you’re going to handle her return?”

Temari nodded as she said, “I believe Gaara intends for her to go to Konoha.”

“Really,” Shizune said arching an eyebrow. “I must admit that I’m surprised. I figured he would want to keep her close.”

“I’m sure he does... we all would,” Temari said the slight pause and correction being a result of how she imagined her mother would react upon learning of her relationship with Naruto. She would admit to being surprised at how unwelcoming the woman she had only known to be kind and compassionate had been to Sakura and Shizune thus far. “However, there isn’t a way to explain her return to life without mentioning Naruto’s involvement. This would likely also lead to questions regarding his encounter with Mito, and Haku’s own resurrection.”

Shizune nodded at the explanation of the younger woman before pointing out, “I don’t know if your mother will be pleased with such a decision all things considered.”

“I know, but she’ll listen to Gaara. I suspect the other reason Gaara wishes for mother to go to Konoha is she’ll be well protected there in case Kabuto moves to retake her.”

“There’s no indication that he may try,” Shizune replied. “He’s made no such moves against Haku or Mito.”

“I know,” Temari said crossing her arms and leaning against the door her mother was behind. She could just make out the soft muted moans her mother was letting out as she satisfied her urges, “But, it looks like Kabuto is trying to gauge Naruto’s abilities. We have to now consider the possibility that he’ll make a move against those resurrected by him in order to learn more, or in my mother’s case why the sacrifice wasn’t spared like with the others.”

“I suppose that is a valid point,” Shizune conceded, “plus living at Kiyomi’s would mean she is surrounded by nine of the most powerful beings in existence. I still doubt she’s going to go along with what Gaara wants.”

Temari sighed knowing it likely would be difficult but said, “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” Her sentence was met with a muffled shriek which indicated that her mother was finished. Pushing off from the door she said, “I’ll speak with Gaara about it later to find out exactly how he plans to explain the situation.”

Shizune nodded before turning to leave and speak with Sakura about the tests she had been running. As she did so, she felt a new presence enter the network of women connected to Naruto via his foxmark. A smile appeared on her face as she wondered if either Temari or Gaara had considered the possibility that placing their mother in close proximity to Naruto might someday result in her overcoming her distrust and dislike of the Leaf in such a way that she too would be bound to the blond jinchuriki.

*****

Yukata walked home from the puppet armory where she had tested out some of the hidden weapons that she had added to her puppet Ghost recently. Some semblance of calm had returned to Suna in the aftermath of the recent turmoil, although she believed the Daimyo’s actions wouldn’t fade from the memory of most Suna-nin anytime soon.

Her thoughts didn’t linger on such concerns for long as she found herself wondering about her own future with a certain jinchuriki. Naruto’s sudden appearance at the execution left little doubt in her mind that he and her Ghost were one and the same. Strangely though, the reveal didn’t come as big of a surprise as she would have otherwise suspected. She guessed the reason was due to how popular he had been with the female members of the Training Force, as she recalled how often he could be found sitting sandwich between several kunoichi as the shinobi of the Training Force relaxed after their mock missions. It also answered for her, just why Temari had been so angry after Naruto had interfered in an argument between a Leaf and Suna shinobi and had received a bruised face for his trouble. Recalling the devastation the blonde kunoichi had visited on a training field in the aftermath, Yukata wondered if the Ghost story had been created to lure her to him, and if she had just been an unintended diversion.

She knew that the truth was that she had been, although she couldn’t be sure if Temari had been the target. Her Ghost had admitted as much as he didn’t think the kunoichi he had played with would be so fixated on him afterwards, and despite his rescuing Gaara showing what kind of person Naruto was. She would admit to worrying that now that he had achieved his goals, he would one more forget about her. She couldn’t help feeling that way due to it having been four days since Gaara had returned in spite of the fact that Naruto having been asleep for the same period of time. She knew she was being silly, but considering some of the women she believed might have been intimate with her Ghost. She couldn’t help but fear that she didn’t meet his standards of what a kunoichi or woman should be.

The delicious smell of the ramen shop that she associated with her Ghost caused some of the depression that she had caused herself to fade away. Deciding a bowl would help cheer herself up further, she adjusted her heading. Sliding the door of the small shop opened, she paused as she saw the man she had just been thinking of sitting at the bar gobbling down bowl after bowl. Placing the one he was working on down he said, “Mmmm, I can see why old man Teuchi would leave you in charge, Ikumatsu. It’s almost as good as the ramen that Ayame makes.”

Yukata felt her eyes go wide at the reminder that Naruto already had a girlfriend, although why she wasn’t sure, since she was already of the opinion that he was seeing women in Suna also. The blonde woman in charge of the Ramen Shop that Teuchi had opened as he branched out smiled as she said, “That’s the first time someone has complimented me by telling me the food that I cooked was almost as good as someone else’s.”

Naruto chuckled, but replied, “Sorry, but Ayame’s ramen is the best.”

Ikumatsu favored the blonde with a warm smile that held a seductive quality as she replied, “Well, I’ll just have to keep improving until I can hear you say that about mine.” The woman’s gaze shifted to her new customer as she said, “In or out please. You’re letting sand blow into the shop.”

“Sorry,” Yukata said getting over her surprise as she closed the door behind her. Not sure about how she should act around him, she took a seat at the bar one stool away from Naruto. She placed her order as the jinchuriki finished his current bowl while she watched him out of the corner of her eye.

Yukata felt concerned as Naruto seemed oblivious to her presence as he accepted another bowl of ramen while saying, “Man, I feel like I could eat for a week and still not be full.”

Ikumatsu turned back towards Naruto from where she was chopping ingredients as she said a little darkly, “Is that another comment on how my ramen isn’t as good as the one being made at the parent shop?”

Naruto’s eyes went wide as he realized that the woman was only going to accept so many comparisons to Ayame, he quickly said, “No, I was just going to say it was likely due to my not eating for the past few days.” Ikumatsu continued to stare at him causing him to add, “Honestly that all I meant.”

The woman turned away causing him to blow out a breath in relief, although he thought he heard the woman mumble, “It better be. Seriously, between you and Teuchi, you’d think this Ayame was some sort of Ramen Goddess.”

Naruto smiled as he guessed, that Ikumatsu’s description was pretty close to how he at times thought of his Ayame, especially when she served him meals wearing only an apron. He heard Yukata giggle at the exchange so turning to face her said, “I know you, right?” He wasn’t too surprised by the frown that appeared, at least until he said, “Wait; don’t tell me…Yukata, right?” The kunoichi nodded as he said, “We met during the Training Force. You’re the girl that liked Ghost stories.”

Yukata inclined her head and felt silly for her earlier concerns as he smiled brightly at her. She felt a thrill pass through her as he said, “You know, I’ve had some brushes with the paranormal in the past.”

Yukata wondered if Naruto was being serious or just alluding to his time as the Ghost that had haunted so many kunoichi lately. But her love of the paranormal caused her to ask, “Really?”

“Yep,” Naruto said scratching his cheek, “There was this one mission in the Land of Birds, where we were tasked with hunting down a ghost they called the Cursed Warrior. It turned out the Cursed Warrior was just a ploy, but during the mission I met the ghost of the current Daimyo’s brother. He asked me to save his sister…although I was half drowned at the time, so maybe I just hallucinated the whole thing.” Yukata smiled as she giggled at him as he scratched his cheek while he considered the possibility, he focused on her as he said, “There have been a few other incidents thought. I’d love to tell them to you sometime.”

She watched as Naruto paid for his meal and so she said, “I’d like that.”

“Good,” Naruto said as he stood, “Thank you for the meal Ikumatsu.” The cook replied in a similar manner before turning back to her chopping board. Naruto took the opportunity to place his hand on Yukata’s hip as he saddled up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Then how about tonight we make a new Ghost story?” Yukata shivered at the tone that he used as she nodded her head in agreement while Naruto applied a seal to her hip so he could Hiraishin to her later. Needless to say, Yukata ended up changing her order to go much to Ikumatsu’s annoyance.

*****

“Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” Senjumaru asked the Kazekage as he sat behind his desk. “The Daimyo has given you permission to pass judgment on Ishida in much the same manner as it was nearly meted out to you.”

Gaara nodded his head, but replied, “Perhaps that is why I feel it is important that Ishida at least be given a fair trial before his punishment is decided. I was just in his position.”

Senjumaru smirked as she added, “And you no doubt realize that the Daimyo is hoping to show those not foolish enough to believe Ishida changed his orders, as is being claimed, that you can act in a similar manner.”

Gaara sighed hating this side of being Kazekage as he rubbed his eyes, “I imagine some may see it that way. But, if I was the type to act in such a manner, I would have killed Joseki outright and avoided quite a great deal of later trouble.”

Senjumaru conceded the point as she turned away while saying, “I can see why your shinobi respect you so much, Lord Gaara. You truly are as what your people believe you are, a kind and compassionate leader. It’s a shame that those in the Capital see that as a threat.”

The woman began to leave, but stopped as Gaara said, “Senjumaru, if you wish, you could come back to Suna.”

The woman looked over her shoulder as she replied, “It isn’t that simple I’m afraid. I left Suna, because I realized that much like a puppet I moved however those holding my stings wished. The lower you are from those in power, the more strings there are manipulating you. I accepted my position to the Royal Guard so that only one person held my strings. In that regards, both you and I am the same Lord Kazekage as only the Daimyo holds our stings. But a terrible fate awaits any puppet that tries to cut the threads that bind it.”

“I have no intention of cutting those strings,” Gaara said. “I only wish to better relations with the other shinobi villages in order that we can stop the endless cycle of violence that has been a part of our lives since they were first founded.”

Senjumaru gave a small disappointed shake of her head as she said, “I think you may find that such a goal is exactly what those who control the strings are most afraid of. I bid you farewell, Lord Kazekage. I will make your recommendation regarding Ishida’s fate known to the Daimyo.”

“Farewell, Lady Shutara,” the Kazekage replied as she stepped out of the room. He sat back in his chair feeling the weight of his office and wondered how there were people opposed to an era of peace between the Shinobi Villages, considering it had been to end the Warring Clan period that they had first been founded.

A knock to his door alerted him that his attention was likely needed elsewhere as he called for the person to enter. His mood brightened as Sari entered the room, although he felt some concern in regards to how she acted around him since his return to the village. She smiled at him although it appeared constrained like she felt she needed to hold back her usual exuberant cheer. “I take it that she is returning to the Capital,” Sari said.

“Yes, she says she will pass on my wish that Ishida be tried before his punishment is decided. Although I suspect all that awaits him upon reaching the Capital is a quick beheading.”

“It’s more then he deserves,” Sari said letting her feelings for the man that had helped play a role in her nearly losing Gaara show through.

Gaara shook his head as he said, “He has a right to a fair trial. It was due to such haste that the truth of my own innocence nearly didn’t come to light.”

“He’s hardly innocent,” Sari countered. Her mood softened though as she added, “But I understand your point. The Daimyo is just hoping to sweep the whole thing under the rug, and the quickest way to do that is to kill the only witness to his ordering your swift execution.”

Gaara nodded, before asking, “Are there any official reasons for your visit?”

Sari inclined her head causing Gaara to nearly frown as lately his girlfriend had made sure all her trips to his office were for official reasons only. In truth, he felt like ever since he had returned to Suna, Sari was acting as she believed he wanted since her attempts at moving their physical intimacy outside of the boundaries they had existed at before had stopped. Sari stepped before his desk and placed a packet of papers on it as she said, “It’s related to the next Chunin Exams. Tsunade has asked that we postpone it for a few months.”

“Why?”

“The Konoha Council has voted to end the embargo with Kumogakure,” his girlfriend answered. “Several envoys are going to be leaving the Leaf Village in the hopes of discussing new trade relations, but also about the possibility of Kumo officially entering the alliance. She has asked that we send a few councilors as well so that Suna’s concerns may be addressed.”

“I’ll let Sajo pick the envoys,” Gaara said. “I’m sure he’ll volunteer for the chance to see Kumo with his own eyes.”

“I’ll let him know of his selection,” Sari said turning to leave since her official reason for coming was done.

She stopped as Gaara asked, “But why does the Hokage wish to postpone the Chunin Exams?”

Sari blushed in embarrassment since in her haste to leave she hadn’t actually answered Gaara’s question. “Right…um… she wants to offer the Raikage a chance to let his Genin participate and feels that if he accepts, it’s only fair that he have adequate time to prepare.”

A half smile appeared on Gaara’s face as he said, “I’m sure there will be certain parties that are annoyed by such a delay. But, I suppose it can’t be helped if the Raikage does agree.”

“I’ll send a message to the Hokage telling her that you agree with her proposal,” Sari said quickly turning to fulfill her tasks.

Gaara did frown as his girlfriend made a hasty retreat, so reaching for her caused sand from his gourd resting against the wall to move towards her. The sand wrapped itself around her wrists and ankles as it lifted her into the air as she let out a surprised, “G-gaara! What are you doing?”

Gaara came around the desk as he had his sand turn her to face him as he responded, “I’m forcing my girlfriend to spend time with me.”

“We’ve spent time together,” Sari responded although she knew what her boyfriend was driving at.

“I know. But, ever since I came back you’ve been…less like yourself.”

“I thought that was what you wanted,” Sari said confused.

Gaara cupped her face as he replied, “I think this whole ordeal has made us both realize what we want. Which I hope is each other, everything else we’ll figure out together.”

Sari was ecstatic as she began to reply, “I d…” but was cut off as Gaara pulled her into a kiss. Still suspended in the air, Sari nonetheless kissed him as passionately as she could. The sand around her ankles and wrists began to travel up her limbs as it moved under her clothes causing the kunoichi to pull away to ask, “Gaara…what are you doing?”

Her clothes were ripped away by the sand as Gaara answered as he stepped back to admire her, “Considering the number of times you’ve teased me in this office. I only think it proper to return the favor.”

Despite being surprised at her suddenly being nude in front of her boyfriend, Sari basked in his gaze as his eyes drank in her naked form, and seemed to enjoy what he saw. Sari was pulled into another kiss after which she stated, “It’s not fair that after all my attempts to seduce you I’m the only one that ends up naked.”

Gaara nodded as his sand carried her towards his desk which she was laid out on before the sand let her go as she watched her boyfriend, and soon to be lover, disrobe. He approached the desk causing Sari to lick her lips seductively while she squirmed on his desk while her pussy began to grow moist in anticipation as he approached where she sat on the edge of his desk. He took up a position between her legs as he brought his face close to hers and said, “Sari, I’m sorry for…”

“Shh, that’s not important now Gaara,” she said cupping his face between her hands. “I made some mistakes too. I’m just glad that I didn’t lose you.” She pulled him into a kiss in which their tongues danced against each other before pulling back so that she could reach down between them. She stoked his cock bringing it to full hardness as she added, “All I’ve ever wanted was to be with you. Now please become one with me.”

Gaara allowed her to guide his hardness to her slickened opening, where she slid the head of his cock against her wet folds causing them both to moan. Placing him at her entrance, she moaned as Gaara began to push forward and slowly part her around him. Despite having lost her maidenhood to the rigors of her training, she felt some discomfort as Gaara’s rather impressive package pierced her fully. He noticed her wince causing him to ask, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Sari shook her head as she answered, “I…I’m fine. I’m just so happy to be connected to you as a woman. Please don’t hold back.”

Hearing that, Gaara began to pull free of her soft grip, before slamming back in as his hips seemed to develop a mind of their own. Sari accepted everything Gaara gave her as her hands traveled up and down his back and the back of her feet pressed against his ass as she used them to urge him to fuck her harder and faster. The bandana she wore fell from her head onto the desk as a result of her head’s swaying as she moaned out with each thrust that bottomed out inside her. She fell back onto the desk, the cool metal of the nameplate causing her to arch her back as it so contrasted with the inferno burning within her.

The movement caused Gaara to focus on the swells of her breasts which he promptly seized upon sucking one of her nipples into his mouth. Sari’s moans grew louder as a result and her pussy clamped down around his driving dick when he pinched the hardened nub between his teeth. The sensation caused Gaara to groan as she urged him on, “More… more…it’s so much better than I thought it would be.”

Her lover was pleased to know he was surpassing her expectations as one thing that had held him back before was his concern that he wouldn’t be able to please her. Finding the task both harder and easier than his imagination had portrayed, since he felt like he had already run to Konoha and back, he wanted to make sure Sari was fully satisfied after their first time. Therefore, upon feeling his end approaching he hoped to buy himself more time so let his cock slip from the brown-haired kunoichi’s gripping snatch to give him a moment to recover.

Sari had other ideas as she spun around on his desk and rolled onto her stomach where she captured his manhood between her lips. Feeling her tongue rolling around his cockhead caused Gaara to moan as he said, “Wait…Sari…don’t I’m going to…”

His lover hummed into his dick causing him to lose control as he began flooding her mouth with his seed. Sari eagerly swallowed as he buried his hands in her hair as the pleasure of his release passed through him. Sari let him pop out of her mouth as she tasted his last mouthful of cum before swallowing. Then while still lying on her stomach, she leaned forward and kissed the tip of his cock before smiling up at him.

Gaara outside of still feeling fantastic as a result of his orgasm was rather disappointed that he had failed to make Sari cum with him. He gave voice to that feeling as he said, “I’m sorry that I came alone.”

Sari smiled as she sat back up on the desk before bringing her face to his as she said, “Gaara, it’s my job to make you feel good also. I’m quite pleased my pussy made you feel so good. Besides, I like to think this is something that we’re going to have to practice a lot before we become perfectly synchronized at it.”

Gaara nodded as he said, “I suppose you’re right. I don’t suppose we should call it a night until we’ve made sure to practice a few more times.”

Sari nodded as she was about to lean in to start things off anew, but panicked as she heard a knock at the door followed by Temari saying, “Gaara its Temari. I need to speak with you.”

*****

Used to entering without waiting for a response, Temari was shocked at how windy the office was as several objects swayed like a desert storm had passed through. She looked towards the window and was surprised to see them closed as Gaara sat at his desk with Sari standing perched over his shoulder as they read a report she had likely brought him. She smiled at the scene since it appeared that the difficulties in their relationship were a thing of the past.

Gaara looked up his face a calm mask, which when compared to Sari’s cheeks almost made her wonder if he was using his Sand Armor to mask his appearance. “What do you need Temari?”

“It’s about your guest…”

“I’ve already told Sari about our mother’s resurrection,” Gaara informed his sister.

Temari wasn’t too surprised as he had likely needed to explain his preoccupation to his girlfriend and didn’t wish to lie to her. “Good,” Temari replied, “Then I think we need to all sit down and discuss how you plan to send her to the Leaf.”

Gaara looked surprised as he said, “You mean…”

She nodded her head as she said, “Yes, I’ll let all the interested parties know to meet at your home tomorrow.”

“Very well,” Gaara said feeling relieved he could include Sari.

Temari began to leave, but stopped as she added, “Oh boy the way. That’s an interesting use for your sand armor Gaara. I don’t ever think I’ve seen you replicate clothes before.” She smirked as Sari turned beat red since the blond kunoichi’s gaze was zeroed in on her.

Sari felt embarrassed at being caught as the door closed. “She knows,” the chunin said mortified.

“Don’t worry,” Gaara replied letting the sand fall away from his girlfriend so he could enjoy her nudity. “Tomorrow, you’ll find out that Temari’s been keeping plenty of secrets of her own.”

“What sort of secrets,” Sari asked as her curiosity grew.

“You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Sari sunk to her knees as Gaara’s sand fell away from him to reveal his lack of clothes and wrapping her fingers around his cock began to stroke it as she said, “I think I can come up with a way to convince you to tell me sooner.” Gaara groaned as his body began to respond to Sari’s fisting of his dick and as she once more took him inside her mouth didn’t doubt that he’d soon be spilling Temari’s secrets to her, along with several loads of his seed inside her.

*****

Yukata had gone straight home after leaving the ramen bar. She was about to make a straight line to the summoning circle but stopped as a red flash appeared behind her. She was suddenly pulled back against a strong chest, and her face was turned to look over her shoulder as she was guided into a passionate kiss. She was pleased that Naruto had arrived using his Transparency Jutsu since there had been something she had wanted to do for her Ghost since back during her time with the Training Force.

Therefore after separating and seeing that he was about to cancel the jutsu as he began to appear she said, “Wait, not yet!”

She caught a glimpse of his surprise before he completely disappeared from her sight again. She approached him, feeling out in front of her, and smiled as she felt his strong hands grip her wrists before pulling her arms around his shoulders. She rubbed her face against his so she could capture his lips and after guessing correct cooed into his mouth as their tongues rolled around each other. She then pulled back before slowly sinking to her knees using her hands to locate what she sought.

Finding the fly of his pants she freed his invisible cock which she began to lick as she got an idea of his size and girth. The fact that she had yet to actually see it, coupled with what she had felt made her wonder how such a large piece of flesh would fit inside her. She pushed such thoughts aside so that she could concentrating on giving her Ghost a return on some of the pleasure that he had given her as she began to swallow his dick.

Naruto groaned as he watched Yukata’s mouth grow wider and wider as she took him into it. She was forced to back off as she began coughing when he poked the back of her throat when only about half of his manhood had been swallowed. He saw that Yukata appeared a little intimidated by that, but a moment later she was trying again. She didn’t try to take everything again as she instead used her hands to massage what she couldn’t comfortably swallow.

Naruto moaned, as he had to admit the fact that he could see inside Yukata’s mouth as her tongue swirled around him was highly erotic. Using her hands to gauge how far to go, she began bobbing her head back and forth causing Naruto to moan as he continued to watch her tongue dance as it pleasured his cock. Naruto wasn’t too surprised when despite her lack of experience, he soon found himself on the verge of cumming as her enthusiasm more than compensated. He announced his impending release and was pleased as she slid back until only the head of his cock was in her mouth. She then used her hands to milk his cum from his balls which as a result of the invisibility jutsu allowed him the pleasure of watching as his seed painted her tongue and throat with his cream.

Yukata received several powerful bursts of his cum, but didn’t spill any as she let him slip free of her lips. She had a little difficulty swallowing the foreign substance but after a few attempts gulped it all down. She stared up and watched as he appeared before her. She was thoroughly pleased by the look of satisfaction that appeared on his face.

Naruto reached down, and cupping her face pulled her back to her feet where he kissed her in gratitude for the pleasure she had given him. As they kissed she felt a sudden feeling of unease, like she had suddenly moved a great distance, and when she stepped away was shocked to find they were in the clearing and were standing where the original summoning circle once resided.

Her surprised gaze moved from Naruto to a blanket with a picnic basket on it before returning to the smiling blond. Upon her locking eyes with him, he said, “I had figured we’d have ourselves a romantic night before taking things to the next level. But I’m guessing you’d rather skip straight to the after.”

Yukata nodded and felt giddy as Naruto scooped her up in his arms while saying, “Well, I guess I have kept you waiting long enough.” Lying her down on the blanket so that her head rested on one of his arms, he moved a strand of hair from her face and then lowered his lips to hers. Before making contact he whispered, “Yukata, thank you for choosing to be with me. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Yukata was shocked by his words since in truth she was the one that felt lucky to be chosen. But before she could state as much, his lips were covering hers and his tongue began to engage hers. As they kissed, Naruto’s hand reached into her skirt where he began to slide his finger over her panty covered slit. She mewed into the kiss as her body began to react to his caresses. As her body awoken to the pleasure she began to move her hips as she tried to increase the pleasant sensations Naruto was creating within her, and was rewarded by his sliding her panties to the side in favor of burying two of his fingers inside her.

Naruto broke the kiss as Yukata moaned from his fingering and lowering his mouth to the zipper of her shirt clenched it in his teeth before pulling it half-way down. Kissing down her chest he used his nose to push her shirt away from her right tit, which he then teased by taking her bra encased nipple between his teeth. The kunoichi began to really rock her hips against the fingers buried inside her as a result, so Naruto moved to a kneeling position after withdrawing his fingers from her quim. Grabbing the band of her white undergarments, he pulled them down her legs before tossing them onto the blanket. He was about to lower his mouth to her pussy, but she placed her hands against his shoulders as she said, “No, please… I want the real thing.”

Naruto smiled down at her as he leaned back once more to divest himself of his cloak, jacket, and shirt. Unbuttoning his pants, he pulled down his fly and was amused as she gulped as his cock sprung free of his boxers. Losing his pants, he crawled between her legs where he said, “Yukata, from this day forward you’re going to be bound to me. Are you sure that is what you want?”

Wrapping her legs around his hips she said, “Yes. I want to be bound to you forever.”

“That is entirely a possibility,” Naruto said as he pressed the head of his cock at her entrance. He slid inside, and felt himself come up against a barrier. Not surprised at Yukata’s being a virgin, he looked down to inform her of what to expect, but found her eyes already closed as she braced for the pain. Pulling back, he slammed his hips forward causing the kunoichi to cry out as her hymen was torn. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes which Naruto kissed away before saying, “Let me know when you’re ready.”

Yukata waited until the sharp pain had regressed back to a dull throb before saying, “Naruto… “

The blond understood as he began to slowly move within her causing the pain to make a sudden resurgence. But after several thrusts it began to fade as it was replaced by soft pleasure that unlike all the times before didn’t originate from outside her but within. Wanting to experience the pleasure that it was promising her, she locked her ankles behind the small of Naruto’s back as she began to meet his pumping hips with hers.

A pressure began to build within her as both their needs for release began to claim them which resulted in their frenzied love making. Yukata felt the pressure grow and grow until it became too big for her small frame to contain resulting in her shouting, “I’m cumming!!!!”

Her world went white, as her pleasure seemed to double as a searing heat gushed into her womb as Naruto deposited his seed deep within her. She rode out her orgasm until her mind when blank and was surprised that when she became truly aware again she was lying on her side with her head resting on the nude jinchuriki’s chest. Pulling her head away to look into his eyes, she said, “I think I just died and went to heaven.”

Naruto chuckled as he cupped her face while replying, “Yukata, it’s going to be my extreme pleasure to show you that heaven is something that can be brought to you.”

Getting to her knees, Yukata pulled her shirt the rest of the way off as well as her bra before straddling her lover. Rubbing her pussy against his softened cock she said, “I’m looking forward to the next demonstration.”

Naruto smiled as he sat up to press his naked chest against hers as they kissed passionately. Wrapping his arms around her torso, he lifted her off his hardened dick before plunging her once more onto it. Yukata came from being so forcefully penetrated and as her world exploded into white once more found that for her Heaven had become a small clearing next to the remains of the Chunin Instructor proving Grounds.

*****

Kiba watched as Yuffie and Aeris talked happily while they walked in front of him arm in arm. Aeris looked back with eyes that shined like precious jewels which he hoped meant she had enjoyed the night out that he had treated both women too. He suspected Yuffie had if only due to the idea of spending his money.

“So what’s next perv,” Yuffie said causing Aeris to shush the deaged woman.

The little dig helped remind Kiba why he had come to believe neither woman could ever truly be happy in Konoha, or with him given the current circumstances. It helped prevent him from backing out since as Aeris had enjoyed the night, he had felt some of the magic between them returning. “How about we call it a night for the entertainment district? There’s someplace I need to take you.”

Yuffie watched him skeptically, but Aeris nodded and to his surprise hooked her arm with his as she dragged the formerly older kunoichi along with them. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Kiba.” The Inuzuka smiled somewhere between pleased and grimly. The brown-haired woman upon noticing asked him, “What’s wrong?”

Being true to her rather bratty self, Yuffie said, “He’s probably expecting some nookie in return.”

“Yuffie, stop it,” Aeris said a little anger entering her voice.

Kiba was grateful for the intervention, but said, “It’s alright Aeris. I’m just glad at least one of you had a good time.”

Reaching one of the lesser used gates; Kiba led them out of the village. Yuffie suddenly came to a stop prompting Kiba to ask, “Why’d you stop?”

“We can’t go any further than this,” Yuffie answered, “Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Kiba said. “That only applies when you’re by yourself. As long as I’m here you can go as far as you’d like.”

A dangerous smile appeared on Yuffie’s face as she said, “Is that so?”

“Don’t even think it,” Aeris warned.

“Aeris, come on, this is the break we’ve been waiting for,” Yuffie said excitedly. “We’ve finally found a means to get one up on that red-haired bitch.”

“Bitch,” a voice called from the nearby woods, “The only reason that condition exist is because I figured at some point Kiba may wish to treat you like the dog you are.”

“What’s she doing here?” Yuffie asked rounding on Kiba as Kiyomi appeared from the woods.

“I asked her to meet us out here tonight,” Kiba said moving towards the Bijuu, “But let’s talk about why somewhere with a little more cover.” Reaching an area that had two packs resting against a tree Kiba said, “Thanks for arranging everything as I asked, Kiyomi.”

“You’re welcome, although I’m beginning to have second thoughts,” the Bijuu replied sending a glare towards Yuffie.

“Kiba,” Aeris said confused felt a little dread settle in her stomach. “What’s going on?”

The Inuzuka turned to face her giving her the same pleased yet sad smile she had noticed before as he answered, “I’ve talked to Kiyomi, and thanks to Yuffie’s so thoroughly testing the restrictions placed on you two. She has agreed to let you return to Waterfall.”

“What’s the catch?” Yuffie asked excitedly.

“The catch is that as opposed to before where you’d simply act foolish. If you try to divulge the secrets you learned, an embolism is going to form in your brain and kill you,” the Bijuu answered taking a little satisfaction in wiping the smirk of Yuffie’s face.

“That’s a pretty steep catch,” Yuffie replied after gulping audibly.

“Perhaps,” Kiyomi said, “But only if you refuse to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you’ll be free to return to your meager lives as shinobi of Taki.”

Yuffie grumbled at the Bijuu’s remark, and began to back up as she approached. Concerned she asked, “What are you doing?”

“You can’t go back as a teenager, now can you?” Kiyomi replied clamping a hand on Yuffie’s skull. The woman didn’t scream this time around as the Bijuu reversed the deaging process causing Yuffie’s hair to turn grey, and although her skin looked like it belonged to a woman many years younger it definitely lost some of the shine it had just possessed. Kiyomi let go, causing the woman to collapse as she felt constricted by the suddenly much tighter clothes. As she approached Aeris she said, “You’ll find clothes to fit your original forms in the packs. There are also enough supplies for a trip to Taki and back.”

She reached out for Aeris who stepped back and directed a questioning gaze towards Kiba. A part of her feared that as a result of her rejecting him, the Inuzuka had simply decided that she wasn’t worth the effort any further, a feeling which surprised her due to how much it hurt. Kiba seemed to read her mind as he said, “I’m not angry about your rejection, Aeris. I’ve just come to realize that we could never truly get past how we met. I mean let’s face it, you’re a prisoner here. How can you ever truly be happy so long as it’s inside a cage?”

Kiyomi smirked as she said, “Actually, it was that last part which convinced me to follow his wishes.” Focusing on Aeris, she said, “Now choose.”

Aeris looked troubled as her gaze shifted between Kiba and the older Yuffie. Seeing an almost pleading look appear on Yuffie’s face she closed her eyes as she said, “I’m ready.”

Kiyomi placed her head on Aeris’s head causing her to age as the modifications she had made disappeared. Aeris felt drained when the Bijuu let go, but before she fell Kiba steadied her. She wanted to tell him that she thought she could have been happy with him regardless of how things started between them. But before she could Kiba said, “So that’s what you looked like before. I’m sorry, that was probably rude of me.”

Stepping away, the Inuzuka wasn’t sure what to say so settled for, “I’m not really strong on good-byes. I hope you have a safe trip back to Taki. I’ll tell Tifa that you send your regards.”

He turned to leave not wanting to look foolish but stopped as Aeris called out, “Kiba!” A long pause grew between them before she finally said, “Thank you.”

Kiba gave her a weak smile as he said, “You’re welcome. It was a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Whatever,” Yuffie said adjusting the pack she had chosen, “Let’s go, Aeris.”

“Right,” Aeris said accepting the pack her team leader handed her. After adjusting the fit, the two women leapt away leaving Kiba behind. She would be several hundred feet away before she thought, “Good bye Kiba.” Staring at Yuffie’s back she wondered why with her freedom ahead of her it was so hard to resist looking back.

Next Chapter: Blast from the Past Part Duex: Toka Senju

Author’s Note: Well at long last we can close the book on this arc. I hoped it lived up to everyone’s expectations. I’m actually quite pleased that this arc ended on chapter 50 since it seemed, at least to me, that this arc had a little bit of everything that makes this story such a joy to write. Also, with the next two chapters at least, it should be a return to the less overreaching and grand chapters as Naruto expands his influence with the ladies of the chapters. I would include the Sara chapter in that estimate, but a part of me is already expecting it to be a rather massive chapter considering everything I expect to need to cover. With that said, I plan to put out both the Toka chapter and the Samui chapter, before taking a short break from writing. It’ll probably only be around a month, but after putting out so many chapters a little break is called for.

I also plan to update the Sage’s corner in the next few days with a little introspection about what prompted me to write this story in the first place. But also to explain my thoughts and views on how the politics of the Naruto world work. I know from some of the reviews I’ve received there have been some differences of opinion with how I’ve laid things out, or questions that have been raised so I’ll try to address them there.

One other thing, as Yukata’s story has lain out there are still a few kunoichi out there that might be in the same boat as her. Therefore, if people have any suggestions on suitable characters they’d like to see as Suna-nin missing Naruto’s touch please make them none along with the series that they came from. If I agree, I’ll add them to a poll I’m putting together which people will then be able to vote on at my Fanfiction.net profile.

Now if you’re still reading this, let me thank you for taking the time to read an author’s note. As a reward please continue on to two Omake’s that I’ve written. The first will provide a little insight as to how Naruto came up with the Imploding Shadow Clone. The second will provide a little insight into my mind as to what readers can expect in the upcoming Toka chapter as well as a few hints on the future kunoichi and women to appear in the pages of EroNinja. Again thank you for reading this story through all the hassle of following it through the many deletions and movements, as well as for your many great and insightful reviews. So until next time, take care. Sincerely, The Lemon Sage

Omake 1: The thrill of discovery

To a casual observer Konohamaru was standing in a clearing at the center of training ground nineteen when suddenly he exploded.

Boom!

“Ha! Did you see that,” Konohamaru said excitedly popping up from behind a log as did Naruto. “Can your clones explode like that?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said with a smirk, “Yuugao taught me that jutsu shortly after we got together.”

“What?!” Konohamaru replied annoyed, “I had to agree to several weeks of D-ranked missions to get Ebisu-sensei to agree to teach me that jutsu. He said it was one used exclusively in the Anbu.”

“Well, Yuugao is the Head Anbu Captain,” Naruto said amused. His amusement grew even more as he said, “But let me ask you this. Was Ebisu ever in the Anbu?”

“Well no,” Konohamau said slowly. But realizing what Naruto was implying he said, “He tricked me.”

“Or, he was training you in how to see underneath, the underneath,” Naruto said thinking of his own sensei’s penchant for saying the same. “You shouldn’t always accept things people tell you at face value, especially now that you are a councilor.”

“I guess so, but you should be able to trust your sensei,” the young Sarutobi said annoyed as he crossed his arms.

Naruto chuckled as he said fondly, “Remind me to tell you about the time Pervy Sage suckered me and emptied my wallet by pretending to warn me about the three shinobi vices. Good sensei have a way to teach you without you even knowing that’s what they were doing.”

“Really,” Konohamaru said sounding skeptical.

“Or Ebisu needed some extra cash for the collector box edition of the Make-Out series that is scheduled to come out next month.”

Konohamaru frowned as he suspected that what Naruto had just suggested was closer to the truth. Looking at the blast pattern that his shadow clone had made he said proudly, “Not bad though, right?”

Naruto shrugged as he replied, “Ah, not bad. But I could do better, especially with the new clone that I’m working on.”

Konohamaru didn’t seem convinced as he said, “Pfft, you’re all talk. What could you possibly be doing to improve that jutsu?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Naruto said cursing himself for boasting since technically he had yet to perform the jutsu successfully.

Konohamaru sensing Naruto’s vulnerability hummed disbelievingly before he said, “Right, sure you have. I bet my jutsu was twice as strong as yours. I am a chunin after all.”

“Oh yeah,” Naruto said getting fired up from the dig at his lower rank. “Fine, have it your way. Just don’t come crying to me when you realize how pathetic your jutsu was.” Naruto moved to the center of the clearing and thought to himself, “Shit…way to go dumbass.” Recalling that last time he attempted to incorporate his wind chakra into the Exploding Clone, he remembered how it farted before bursting into a soft breeze. Trying to think of some way to make the jutsu live up to the hype, he thought, “Maybe if I add some Sage Chakra.”

Dropping down to sit cross-legged, he began to gather Natural Energy as he entered Sage Mode. He felt a vein begin to throb on his forehead as Konohamaru shouted, “Come on, just admit that you’re full of crap. I have to report to Ebisu soon for those missions I was talking about.”

“Shut up,” Naruto said getting back to his feet, “and prepare to be amazed.” As he created the clone by mixing his Sage and Wind Chakra, he thought, “Please let this work, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

The clone popped into existence and something told Naruto that he should get away despite how sickly it looked. Quickly running towards Konohamaru, he jumped over the log that they were using for cover and plugged his ears.

Konohamaru not wanting to admit his friend’s jutsu could be better than his remained standing. He felt rewarded for his skepticism as after nearly half a minute passed nothing happened, except for the clone rubbing its stomach. The sarcasm was readily present in the young Sarutobi’s voice as he said, “Wow!”

Naruto was about to admit defeat when a voice called out, “Konohamaru! Come on Konohamaru! You promised Ebisu-sensei you’d due D-ranked missions today!” Recognizing the voice as Moegi’s, Naruto heard it pick up a little as she spotted his clone and said, “Boss!” She began running towards the clone as she asked, “Boss, have you seen Konohamaru?” The clone began to bend over and hold its stomach causing the kunoichi to worriedly ask, “Boss, are you okay!”

Naruto popped up from behind the log shouting, “Moegi, don’t go near that clone!”

The orange-haired girl stopped looking at Naruto and Konohamaru in confusion as the clone said, “Shit! I don’t feel so good.” It then rather than exploding collapsed in upon itself like a miniature black hole. The pressure of the collapse pulled everything towards it, including a panicked Moegi. Luckily, Naruto sensing the danger had thrown one of his tri-prong kunai and although the jutsu stopped it from reaching her, he was able to teleport in her path.

Naruto caught her shouting, “Hold on,” as he used chakra to fight the pull of the jutsu by gripping the ground.

Moegi didn’t need to be told twice as she wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. She buried her face in his shoulder as Naruto fell forward so that he could use chakra in his hands to grip the ground. Despite the situation, she was intimately aware that the young man she had desired for years was between her legs. A fact further highlighted as her mound was pulled towards and ground into his as the air pressure tried to pull her towards the implosion and Naruto fought against it. She fought back a moan, as she felt a stiffness begin to press into her, and felt a sense of disappointment as the pressure pulling her into it began to lessen.

The pull faded, but instead of touching the ground Moegi remained clinging to Naruto. The blond moved to a sitting position, and Moegi almost wanted to coo as she felt their body’s mesh in the way lovers would. He pulled back to stare at her face and asked, “Are you okay?”

Moegi nodded, and her eyes grew wide as she noticed the crater behind him. Naruto catching the shocked expression on her face looked back and felt his jaw hit the floor as a giant crater resided where his clone had imploded. At the center of the crater resided a spherical ball of earth the size of a person where all the material that had been sucked into the area of negative pressure resided. Looking across the crater, he saw a stunned Konohamaru who sagged in defeat.

Naruto turned back to Moegi, and adjusted a piece of hair out of her face as he asked, “Are you sure you’re alright?” She once more nodded causing him to say, “I’m glad, but I’m going to get a lot of strange looks if I head back to the village under the current circumstances.”

Moegi let go of Naruto as she said, “Sorry.”

“What for?” Naruto asked confused.

“For not wanting to let go,” Moegi thought to herself but ended up saying aloud, “Nothing.” Wanting to escape the embarrassment she felt, she focused on Konohamaru before saying, “Ebisu-sensei sent me to find you. We have to meet our new teammate before we start taking missions for the day.”

Konohamaru frowned, but nodded as Moegi got back to her feet. The two bid Naruto farewell with Konohamaru adding, “Next time, I get to pick the jutsu we are going to compare and I’m going to blow you away.”

Naruto chuckled from his kneeling position before reminding his friend, “But you picked the jutsu this time. However, I’ll let you go again.”

“I don’t need your pity,” Konohamaru said agitated, “You can pick next time.”

Naruto juts shrugged as he replied, “Fine,” which he knew agitated the young Sarutobi even further. He watched them leave and standing turned to face the destruction he had caused and aware of how the people that maintained the training grounds tended to be annoyed with the state he left them in said, “Man, I’m glad Konohamaru signed this field out. Now, let’s see if I can get down the right mixtures of chakra.”

Omake 2: The Eroninja waiting room

In a plush room, tucked deep in the imagination of a certain Sage was a collection of women that had yet to have their stories unfold in the pages of Eroninja. But there was hope that soon it would be their turn as the current arc came to an end. Those not quite sure who would get the call felt the anticipation that they would be soon as almost palatable while they sat around a circular couch at the center of the room.

However that wasn’t the case for some, especially considering how due to their official standing in the manga felt they no doubt should have already been targeted by the protagonist. “I’m never going to get my chance,” one of the women sighed. “I mean honestly, canon wise I’m officially on equal terms with Tsunade and I haven’t even appeared yet.”

“There, there,” Isaribi said soothingly, “I’m sure you’ll get your chance soon. The Arc I’m staring in is being set in Sea Country which is neighbors with the Land of Water. I’m sure you’ll be called around then.”

“It’s shameful to watch kunoichi all salivating at the chance to be the next piece of meat to be thrown to that man.”

“I’m sure you’ll be singing a different tune after your chapter,” Sasame said, “plus it’s much easier to be relaxed about your appearance when you know that you’re up next.”

“Back in my day…”

“Apparently, women didn’t use razors,” Kurotsuchi said having seen that the woman didn’t shave under her arms, and sported a wild bush between her legs when the woman had bathed together earlier.

Toka scowled as she said, “Such grooming is done solely for the pleasure of a spouse. I sacrificed being a woman in order to become a shinobi. In my time, a woman at my age would be at home popping out children or were loose women who used their bodies to seduce enemies. Women warriors such as myself were only found in clans like the Inuzuka.”

Changing the subject as she and the other didn’t wish to once more be lectured again about how easy they had it when compared to the ancient Senju, Samui said, addressing a woman that although had appeared in the story was currently in an arc that was going on and on, “Why don’t you join us, Anko?”

“Hell no,” Anko said her voice strained as she sat in a plush chair with her back facing the others. Her legs were spread widely apart so that they were visible on the sides of the chair.

“Why not?” Mei inquired.

Breaking the fourth wall she answered, “Because the last time I stared in one of these Omakes, it set the stage for what would be over twenty chapters of angst and other bullshit.”

“Then why are you here?” Fuka asked wondering where Haruna had gone since she knew her chapter would take place in Vegetable Country where the woman ruled.

Anko held back a moan as she said, “Just, relieving some stress. I haven’t had Naruto’s dick in so long I’m starting to go stir crazy.”

Shion and Toki peaked over the back of the couch so they could catch some sign of the person they suspected was buried between Anko legs. But turned towards the door as the Lemon Sage’s production assistant entered.

“Alright Toka…hey Anko get the fuck out of here,” the assistant said covering the headset he was wearing, “The waiting room is for non-Harem members only.”

“Make me,” Anko said ignoring the man, “You told me my current arc would be coming to an end around chapter fifty. I haven’t been with him in so long I might as well be considered a Non-Harem member.”

“Yeah well take it up with the Sage,” the assistant replied not really caring as he thought of his impending lunch break. “He’s the one that decided to split the past couple of chapters.” Seeing that Anko was ignoring him and having a pastrami sandwich with his name on it he said, “Toka Senju, you’re up.” The woman in question stood and walked slowly towards the door causing the hungry assistant to say, “Come on sugar tits, we don’t have all day.”

Toka didn’t say anything, but upon reaching the assistant grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed her knee into his groin. “Argghh, right in the daddy button.”

The other women watched as the assistant rolled around on the floor while Fuka said, “Hm, I guess she’s being type cast as a man-hater.”

The women soon went back to discussing where they thought they would appear as they waited for Toka’s chapter to come to an end so the next woman could be called up.