This is my first story, please enjoy! I am trying hard to get a good feel for the characters.
(Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any of it's characters.)
Chapter 1- The Meeting
"Ino, your mission is to go to the sand village and get a good understanding of their medical staff and report to me afterwards."
"Yes, hokage, but wasn't Sakura supposed to take this mission?" Why would she want me to go? Sakura is her head apprentice.
"You're correct, but she is on another mission right now with her team and is unable to do so. She suggested that you go along as her replacement." Tsunade replied. She held her hands in front of her face and had her eyes close. Her usual stance.
"Yes, Tsunade." I replied. I have never even been to the sand village and now I am supposed to review their medical standards?
"You will leave tonight and your team will accompany you to the village. This mission will be quick. It will only take you a couple of hours to determine. You will meet with the Kazakage. Sakura already had questions written down to ask him, so you may take these for you to use. Once you are finished you will return. It's very simple, yet very important. Do you understand, Ino?"
"Yes, hokage!"
"Alright, dismissed." Tsunade said as she got up from her desk to look out the window.
I don't even know how to begin for this. I have never visited the land of the sand before. The only thing I remember of it is from the Chunin Exams and what Sakura has told me about it. She said they were in need of some medical advancements and due to our alliance we are to help them. I am very trained on the medial staff, but I'm not sure I can really monitor their status. At least Sakura was nice enough to have questions written down for me. Gaara. He is the Kazakage from what I have heard from Sakura's explanation of her last mission there. I don't know much of him, besides the whole Chunin Exams. And that wasn't what you could call a great impression. At least I am not alone on this.
"Ino, what are you up to?" said Choji. Asuma and Shikamaru joined behind him.
"Nothing much, how about you guys?"
"We are heading to have some short ribs! You in? It's Sensei's treat." Choji and Asuma smiled, while Shikamaru shook his head.
"Of course!"
After dinner, I quickly went home to make sure I had all what I needed to bring for this trip. I was extremely nervous. The trip to the village took three days time. I don't even know what to expect in their weather.
I met my team by the gate and we prepared to leave. The trip was exhausting. As we grew closer to Suna, the days grew hotter and the nights became colder. We finally reached the gate to the sand village on the third day early morning. My stomach was in knots.
Two guards stood by the gate. "Who goes there?" One questioned while the other stared.
"We are here for a mission from the Leaf village, we are to be meeting the Kazakage." Shikamaru replied as he held the paper holding the information.
"Yes of course, Zuku will take you to the Kazakage building." The guard said as he pointed to the other guard.
We followed him. The sand flying through the air whipped at my bare stomach, legs and arms. My hair also smacked my face plenty of times as we passed through the village. I couldn't help notice how revealing my regular outfit looked in this village.
"Shikamaru, why do they seem to be staring at me?" I asked him quietly.
"People here are very conservative. You're outfit is rather… revealing, young lady." The guard spoke loudly which startled me. I panicked a little as I realized how much I stuck out. I had platinum blonde hair and a bright purple skirt and top. I stuck out like a teenage boy in a lingerie store. Then again, this is how I dress and I don't mind how people judge me. Yet my pale skin, glistened in the light and sweat that was dripping down my body from the heat.
We approached a rather huge building. We entered through once the guard spoke to the second guard in front of the building.
"Which one of you is Sakura Haruno?" asked the guard from the building.
"I… well actually I am Ino Yamanaka. I am replacing Sakura on this mission. She is currently occupied. Our Hokage sent this with us to inform you of the quick change. She couldn't have sent it sooner." I quickly and loudly spoke as I handed him the form containing the information I just stated.
"Very well then, you may follow me Miss Yamanaka. The rest of you may await here in this room. He is not fond of too many people in his office at once." The guard spoke to my team members.
"Alright then, see you soon." Said Asuma-sensei as him and the others took a seat.
I followed the guard and took in my surroundings. There were a lot of rooms in here, a lot that seemed to be unoccupied. We stopped at a large door and he knocked loudly, then opened the door a little to stick his head in.
"The medic from Konoha is here, sir." He quickly said before sticking his head out and gesturing me to walk in. I smiled at him and began to walk in through the door.
My nerves got the best of me and I tripped once the door behind me closed. Arms came around me to help steady me. I looked up to see red hair and pale blue eyes staring into mine. I blushed and quickly straightened myself up. I gave him a shy smile as he quietly walked back to his desk.
"I was expecting Sakura Haruno. Who are you?" He asked. There was no tone as he spoke.
"Sakura is currently on a mission and I was sent as a replacement." I spoke trying to gather confidence but I shivered as he looked at me. He was much taller than from the exams but I was still a little nervous.
"Alright, but that doesn't answer my question… who are you?" he replied. I couldn't tell if he was aggravated. He didn't seem to show emotion through his voice or facial expressions.
"Oh yes, I am Ino Yamanaka, Kazakage-sama." I answered quickly.
"Well, Ms. Yamanaka-"
"Please, call me Ino." I quickly stopped him. I wasn't much into using last names.
"…Very well then… Ino… are you here to ask me some questions about my medical facility?" he spoke gently.
"Yes, I am, Kazakage-sama, I-"
"You may call me, Gaara." He spoke interrupting me. I couldn't tell if he was joking or just trying to be friendly. He showed no emotion as he just stared at me. His stare sent shivers through me, but it wasn't 'cause of fear.
"Alright, Gaara. These are questions Sakura has written down for me, so please understand I am a little unaware of these." I glanced at him. He crossed his fingers in front of his face and closed his eyes. I took in the details of his face. It looks from a distance that he does not have eyebrows, but I think the hair may just be blonde. There was no emotion in his face at all, he looked very relaxed and calming. His tattoo stood out, but this time it made him appear calmer. I had to admit, Gaara is quite attractive.
"Proceed." He opened his eyes and looked at me. I blushed as I realized he caught me staring at him. I quickly looked down at the paper and began to read the questions.
"How many medics do you have on staff here at your hospital?"
"There are eight doctors, twelve nurses."
My mouth dropped as I realized the small number of staff.
"Why so little?" I quickly blurted out before I shut my mouth as I realized the rudeness of my question.
He smiled slightly, before returning to his straight glance. "We do not have many people here who study medicine. We are hoping to try and advance that as we begin to train some young interns."
"Oh okay, next question. How do you find your supply of medicine and other first aid necessities here to be in order and up to date?" These questions really got straight to the point.
"We have a small green house for herbs that we cannot grow in our terrain. We are a little under equipped here when it comes to medicine and equipment. We are hoping to expand this soon. My top priorities concern the hospital and medicine that is available to my people. This is why I contacted the Leaf village for help on furthering our education and helping us advance… our staff is older, more from a previous generation. They are accustomed to medicine from their time of study. The Sand village could really use new modern medics." He answered without hesitation. He was very aware of what was going on and the fact that he knows he needs modern medicine showed he wanted a better change for the village and his people.
I asked the next question without even bothering to read it first.
"Do you find there to be a more unfair opportunity for women in the medic field due to the older generation of staff and council men here who hold views degrading women?" I shut my mouth quickly when I realized what I had just asked. This question really took it far. It is not only demeaning to his medics, but his council and people. What's worse is here you have a woman with the most revealing outfit he has probably ever seen in front of him, asking questions about sexist in the work area.
At first his eyes widened then he closed them and smiled lightly to himself. He stood up from his desk and walked next to it. I watched him closely.
"You are right about the views of some of the staff here. With the staff being of older men who were raised when women are to be kept at home and fulfill their responsibilities as a wife and mother, it has become hard for women in here… but that is why I would like to advance our facilities and have a more modern approach to it. As you know, we are under staffed because it has been hard for women to make it in the medical field. So once we can change this, not only will our staff increase, but we are more likely to see a… variety of staff here as well." He spoke calmly and I watched him in awe. He took a very demeaning question and answered it with no insult taken.
"I'm sure you may have experienced this…view… on your walk here?" I looked at him as he stood next to me. I then realized he was talking about my outfit. I flushed from anger and embarrassment. I stood up and looked him straight in the eyes. He seemed to flinch a bit at the close contact.
"I hope you know, no one informed me of the weather here, nor how the villagers are. I can wear whatever I want and feel comfortable in! Like you said, Gaara, the people need a more modern view, and well. I'm as modern as it gets." I stared at him waiting for his reply.
At first he looked a little shocked at me but then he simply closed his eyes and smiled slightly before returning to his emotionless glare.
"Very well then… I guess the villagers will have a lot to learn when this…modern advancement…does take place."
"You're damn right. Now may I please have my tour of the hospital so I may report to my hokage and finally return home?" I placed my hands on my hips and titled my head towards him.
"Very well. You may exit now and Baki will take you through the hospital as you take the notes needed. Please send my regards to the hokage."
"Thank you, Gaara-sama." I nodded towards him and I walked to the door as he began to also. I bumped into him and he placed his hands on my shoulders to steady me.
"You're welcome, Ino. Try and avoid tripping… we don't need any major injuries… we do only have eight medics and I believe they are all busy at the moment." His hands were still on my shoulders but he smiled at me as he made his sly joke. I couldn't help but giggle slightly and I then noticed his warm touch on my shoulders. His hands dropped to his side and he walked back to his desk. I slipped out the door quickly and followed Baki to my team who were waiting for me. Gaara has definitely changed since when I last saw him and I don't know why, but I could still feel the warmth from where his hands were on my shoulders. It sent shivers through me.