Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.
Chapter 1: On the Way
The carriage jostled as it moved on the uneven ground of the sand dunes.
"You would think that there would be better roads. I'll have to speak to Daddy about this." Aoi complained as she checked her makeup in a small hand miror. I ignored her as I leaned closer to the carriage's window, pulled back the protective screen and peered out at the dry landscape.
"Is everything okay?" The escort walking besides the carriage asked. I ignored him and continued to look out at the desert. As I scanned the landscape, I spotted a sandstorm forming in the distance. The guard, had been staring at me, followed my gaze and spotted the storm as well too. "Best sit back, Your Highness. It's about to get rough." He said as he motioned for the other escorts to prepare themselves. I dropped the screen and slumped back in the velvet cushion of the carriage seat.
"Sit up straight." Aoi barked. I reluctantly obeyed. We rode in silence as the wind picked up outside. The carriage swayed side to side as gusts of wind pounded it relentlessly. "I hope the others are okay back there." Aoi said nervously. I smiled. That's Aoi for you. Self centered one second and willing to give her life for someone else the next.
I closed my eyes and settled in for a nap. We weren't going fast to begin with due to the amount of people traveling in this carriage train but now we were barely moving due to the wind. "Don't go to sleep in the middle of the day. You aren't a baby like Jo or Lili." Aoi said. I sighed as I opened my eyes once again.
"Now remember, when we get there we must be on our best behavior. We are representing a noble family and we must not bring shame to it." Aoi continued oblivious to the fact I wasn't listening. Her voice trailed off as I hummed a familiar tune I had long forgotten the name to.
In the Village Hidden in the Sand
Temari walked quickly through the village. She had to be careful not to get in the way of the work going on throughout the village. Everyone was preparing for the Fourth Great Ninja War. She hurried to the office of the Kazekage, aka her little brother, Gaara. Temari pushed the door open to see her brother behind piles of paperwork.
He looked up at the sound of her arrival. He sighed. "Are they here yet?" He asked as he stood up to stretch. Temari shook her head.
"No. It appears that there has been a sandstorm and they won't arrive till tomorrow morning." She said as she placed the scroll she had gotten from the messenger hawk on top of his piles of paper.
Gaara became slightly troubled. Spending the night in the desert wasn't really safe. It was crawling with bandits every since the start of the war and the carriage train would be easy pickings. He could send a team to retrieve them but there was a chance they would get hurt in the sand and he couldn't spare ninjas.
He would have to risk it. '"Very well. Make sure that they receive a warm welcome when they do arrive." he said as he sat back down to his paperwork. Temari saluted and exited the room.
Gaara picked up his pencil again as he tried to concentrate on the report in front of him with little result. No matter how hard he concentrated the words just didn't seem to register in his mind.
Running a Hidden Village was a lot of stress and the fact that there was an upcoming war didn't help either. What had possessed the Feudal Lord to send his precious children to the Village Hidden in the Sand in the middle of a war!
It wasn't like he could refuse the request though he had been very tempted.
Gaara closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He had a vague memory of meeting the Fedual Lord's children when he was little but couldn't remember much about them. He remembered about five of them but there was probably more.
He opened his eyes and returned his attention to the reports, this was going to be a long night.
On the Desert
The sandstorm had retreated but had put the train behind schedule. It would soon be dark and very dangerous. The guards had sent a messenger hawk with the plan to camp out on the desert and arrive the following the morning.
Tents were set up and fires were lit as the Royal cook prepared a simple meal. I fiddled with the wooden flute, running my fingers over the groves where my brother had whittled it. I put the flute to my lips and played a simple tune.
"Hey Sis, play me a song will you?" Lili piped as she jumped into my lap. Aoi pursed her lips obviously not approving of Lili's behavior. I smiled as I picked up Lili and put her to the side. I placed the flute to my lips and blew.
My fingers moved quickly up and down, covering the flute's holes. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be carried away by music.
At the song's end I opened my eyes to see that a crowd had formed around me. I put down my flute as a wave of applause sprang up from the crowd.
"Here. Some nice warm soup for the star." Cook said, pushing a bowl into my hands. I nodded my thanks as I raised the spoon to my mouth. As I ate, Lili talked. She talked about how the carriage was so pretty and how she had been scared when the storm had hit.
She talked about how excited she was to be going to the Hidden Village and what she would do when she got there.
"They say that the Kazekage is just a boy." Lili chirped as she traced patterns in the sand with her fingers. "That he's about sixteen. Isn't that something? The Kazekage is the same age as you." I shrugged my shoulders as I finished the soup.
I stood and walked back to Cook to return the bowl. What Lili said sticked with me though. A boy so young with so much power. Tomorrow morning was going to be interesting.