Author's Note: I really shouldn't be starting a new story when I have a few others that I still haven't completed... But I've been suffering from writer's block for a long time now, and I've actually lost almost all inspiration to write. So when I came up with this idea, I couldn't let it go. Be warned that I might not finish this story either...and updates will probably take forever, if any...but this plot bunny has been bugging me for the past few weeks, and I just couldn't help but write it out and so far I'm really liking where this is taking me.
I've been part of the Naruto fandom for a long time now, but I took a long break from it and only recently have I gotten back into it. So I am very sorry if the characters are OOC or there are plotholes and stuff. Please forgive me and my awkward writing. My stories are not beta'd lol.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, no matter how much Gaara and Neji tempt me.
The dark chill of the night breezed through his hair, succeeding in making a bigger mess of the already unkempt mane. Having spent his entire childhood in the cold, unforgiving winds of the desert nights, he easily ignored the drop in temperature. He used the darkness to conceal himself further as he lay hidden on the rooftop of a tall skyscraper, giving him a good view of the city's layout. From his vantage point, he had been focused in on his target for the last hour under the scrutiny of his scope. What was supposed to be a five-minute job had stretched into much longer than it should have because of the man's surprise trip to the brothel. He suppressed a scowl, taking comfort in the fact that the horny bastard would soon have a bullet to the head.
And maybe the other head, too…if he doesn't hurry the Hell up.
Gaara felt his patience running dangerously low. It was a simple job; in and out. It should not be taking this long to eliminate a cockroach. But however much he wanted to just go in there and strangle the bastard with a condom while forcing the whore to watch, a certain blond and blue-eyed idiot kept telling him to be as discreet as possible since years in a prison cell would not be worth the satisfaction. Despite whatever little he thought of the man, it did not change the fact that his target was a very influential politician with large public support. Unbeknownst to the public's eyes, he had been secretly trafficking dangerous and highly illegal weapons from Otogakure. Not only was he directly associating with Orochimaru—one of the biggest threats in the underground world—but he was also interfering with Naruto's own business, which didn't bode well with the blond. You have to make it look like an accident, or else everyone will be on your tail, he had warned him, the words ringing clear in his mind.
Try as he might, he had never been one for patience. Hence, his dilemma in the current situation. With no small amount of effort, Gaara directed his attention to his scope rather than the strangely satisfying mental images of forcing the bastard to choke on his own severed member.
While the redhead was lost in his musings, his target had finished with his…extracurricular activities, he thought with disdain, and was merely lying in bed with the woman fast asleep next to him. The man reached for something on the nightstand to his left, the tree branches outside of the room obscuring the item from his viewpoint. He leaned forward from his position, muscles tensing in anticipation as he gripped his PSG-1 tighter. The man got up from the bed and shuffled through the room, pausing only to grab a bathrobe hanging by the closet before putting it on and making his way through the balcony door and directly into his sight.
He paused, watching the man pull out the item in hand, a cigarette pack, and bring a smoke to his lips as he leaned onto the ledge of the balcony, shadowed by the limbs of the adjacent tree. Tch, not close enough. Finding a suitably heavy branch, he took careful aim and pulled on the trigger. The shot, silenced by a suppressor, dented the end of the branch and the noise from hitting the tree alerted the target and lured him closer to inspect the source. Two more quick shots, this time aimed right down the splitting crack, knocked the branch off the trunk. Although it wasn't as grand as his bloody fantasies, he still felt a sense of gratification as the wood collided with the man's skull, taking pleasure in the satisfying crack that followed shortly after.
He stood up from his position, shifting the rifle onto his back secured by a strap. Static ran through his body from the long hour he had laid in wait for his prey, who—he gave a quick once-over—was currently laying in a small puddle of blood and trapped under the heavy branch. He crouched down and fixed the contents in his black duffle bag, then unstrapped the rifle on his person and carefully tucked it inside. He slung the bag over his right shoulder and made sure it was secured tightly. Giving a cursory glance over the area to make sure he had covered all his tracks, he decided that he should report back with the successful mission.
Suddenly the air became heavier and his senses grew sharper. He tensed for less than a split second before his hand automatically reached for the Ruger hidden in his holster. He quickly spun around, finding the intruder's forehead against the muzzle of his gun and a knife pressed to his own throat. Shit, did that guy have a bodyguard up his sleeve? What a useless guard then… He narrowed his eyes in an act of annoyance, but also in an attempt to try and make out the intruder's features. The night cloaked him well but Gaara could see dark hair framing a petite face and falling over slightly broad shoulders.
"State your name and your purpose here." The firm, masculine voice confirmed that the intruder was male. Surprisingly, he snorted, with that hair of his.
"Ladies first," he replied, instantly taking a dislike to the haughty tone of the stranger. Looks like I hit a nerve, he noted as he felt the cold metal press further into his throat and narrowed his eyes as he felt it break skin, a testament to how sharp the blade was. He pressed the revolver further into the man's head, staring straight into his eyes as he pulled back the hammer, making sure that the stranger heard the audible threat.
"My apologies but I'm not a lady," the slightly taller male bit out, pressing the knife just deep enough to draw blood, "unfortunately for you, I'm not a gentleman either."
"That's a shame." He clicked his tongue in faux disappointment. "Someone should've taught you manners…or else you might end up coughing up a few bullets."
"Assuming if you can even land a shot on me?" Even in the darkness, he could see the brunet smirking and instantly bristled but quickly masked his irritation, schooling his features into indifference.
"I never said it'd be me putting holes in you…but if it's a challenge, then I don't think I can refuse…" He tightened his grip on his weapon as he felt the stranger do the same.
Three sharp, distinctive notes rang through the thick tension in the air, the familiar melody freezing them both to the spot as they realized the slight echo. Gaara stared at the stranger with wide eyes and saw that he had mirrored his expression. Both reaching into their pockets, they simultaneously answered their phones while glowering at each other, weapons still poised at the ready.
"Guys!" The panicked voice of Naruto resounded from both devices. "Stop! Stop trying to kill each other! It's all just a big misunderstanding."
The blond blew a sigh of relief when he realized that the two had paused in their attack. Sasuke must be watching somewhere then… He growled at the thought of being followed by Naruto's second-in-command and came to the conclusion that he had most likely tailed him not too long ago. Otherwise, he would've been able to sense the specter if it had been any time before this asshole—he glared at the brunet—attacked him out of nowhere.
A sigh of exasperation brought him out of his thoughts. Naruto was frustrated. For once, his tone was completely serious. "Report back to me immediately and I'll explain everything." A click indicated the end of the call.
Reluctantly, the knife was pulled away from Gaara's jugular and pocketed inside the man's vest. With even more reluctance, Gaara returned his revolver to its rightful spot in his holster but his steady glare remained.
"Shall we?" The brunet bit out, obviously just as displeased at the situation as him. He turned away so that Gaara could only see his back, ready to head back to towards Naruto's office.
"Let's get this over with," he replied with equal distaste, crossing his arms over his chest and following the stranger close behind while keeping a sharp eye on him.
. o O o .
The two made their way back to the busy streets of Konoha immediately, with Gaara trying to burn holes into the back of the brunet's head, who skillfully ignored his existence completely. At first he merely assumed that the latter was a bodyguard hired by the politician, or worse, by Orochimaru, and would be no match for him. He gritted his teeth, remembering what a grave mistake it had been to underestimate the other since he was easily held at knifepoint, which put quite a dent in his ego. After all, he prided himself in being one of the best assassins money could buy, something Naruto had recognized rather quickly.
Of course, Naruto was an old childhood friend he had met more than twelve years ago when the blond was accompanying his dad on a business trip to Sunagakure. Although he had been extremely dismissive of him, Naruto was impossible to drive off once he decided that Gaara would make a great playmate, and they had become inseparable ever since. He still found himself questioning whether that was a curse or blessing. However, only a decade later, Naruto's father, the Hokage, soon passed his title onto his only child after a deal gone wrong when he was murdered in cold blood. In a determined attempt to continue his father's legacy, Naruto built up his organization with only the best of the best. Knowing that Gaara received intense training from his own father, the Kazekage, he managed to persuade the assassin to move out to Konohagakure and work under him for a while until Gaara received his rightful title as one of the Kages, the five great rulers in the underworld.
And although he was not exactly the Kazekage yet, he was still a very good mercenary, which was why this stranger should not have even gotten close to him, much less manage to make him bleed.
He glanced over to the effeminate male a few steps ahead of him, watching his dark tresses trail behind him. Just who was he to be able to sneak up on him and catch him off guard like that so easily? Despite having worked under the Hokage for a decent amount of years and dirtying his hands with cleaning up the Kazekage's enemies for even longer, he had never seen anyone like him before.
His gaze lingered on the anomaly in front of him before ridding his mind of pesky thoughts. Instead, he took in their familiar surroundings. The night was overtaken by overwhelming skyscrapers and small establishments along with gray asphalt, chipped yet firm on the ground. Despite the late hour, there was still a fair amount of people going about their business. He studied each of them for only a second before passing his attention onto the next one. Sometimes, he was able to put a name to the face, recognizing certain features from living in Konoha for the last handful of years. He sensed his company pause next to him. Tilting his head up, he looked at the tall five-story structure: a contemporary complex with steel and glass facades that allowed clear visibility from within yet shielded the interiors from any prying eyes of the public. The roof and exteriors were clad with light, natural strips of stone varying in different widths, providing a smart contrast with the dark grey metal elements of the glass.
He walked towards the entrance that was neatly placed under the large silver plaque with the words, "Rasengan Inc." chiseled into the metal. On the surface, the building was office space for a steel producing company. The steel mills were miles away, being overseen by the staff in the office. However, the mills secretly functioned as the main warehouse for the illegal goods that Naruto purchased from time to time, but also for the custom weapons that some of his operatives used, such as Gaara himself. It was their arsenal. And even though the steel company was a cover, it still made a decent amount of extra money for their organization, The Jinchurikis.
The moment his foot stepped close to the entrance, the sliding automatic doors granted him access to the building. In the middle of the lobby seated in the center of the receptionist desk was a young woman with blonde hair tied into a high ponytail. Without looking up from her computer screen and rapid typing, she greeted them. "Hey guys, welcome back from your mission. I assume it went well?" She drew her gaze away from her screen and paused in her typing, but the smile on her lips fell immediately after. "Gaara, what happened? Do you need me to call Sakura?"
The redhead crossed his arms over his chest. Dammit. He needed to get the cut cleaned up. But he would rather not have anyone take care of him like some defenseless child. "No."
"Are you sure? It seemed to have bled a lot…" Ino looked at him with worry shining in her blue eyes.
"Yes," he grunted, not in the mood for social interaction. Not that he ever was, really.
"Pardon us for cutting this conversation short, Ino, but we were given orders to see Naruto-sama immediately," the brunet interjected smoothly. Gaara mentally snorted at the honorific attached to their boss's name.
Ino looked taken aback, no doubt by the rare and serious command from their superior. "O-oh, of course. I won't hold you up any longer. Go right ahead."
When she had returned to her typing, the two of them made their way to the elevator. Once they got in, they punched in the certain combination of buttons to send them to the lower floors. Although the office building had five floors on top to conduct business dealing with the steel company, most of the real business was conducted in the floors underneath the building, which had been built specifically for the purpose of keeping secretive information secretive. The lower levels consisted of offices and even rooms dedicated to the operatives, and the levels were mainly divided up by the ranks of the operatives in ascending order: genin, chuunin, jonin, and the Anbu, but the members of the last group are rarely ever seen because they operate specifically for the Kage. The lower the level, the higher the rank. Gaara, although fully capable of being a part of the elite force, was not technically an Anbu because he was to be Kage of Sunagakure. The Hokage's office was located on the lowest level.
The elevator doors opened with a small chime and led them right in front of the main door. Gaara shoved his hands inside the pockets of his black hooded army jacket and approached the metal door. His companion politely knocked twice. The doors slid open with ease and the two walked towards the wooden desk littered with paper and folders, some even settling on the floor, seemingly forgotten. Naruto hasn't changed a bit, it seems, he noted with slight amusement. Sasuke was standing to the right, mirroring Gaara's pose. He greeted them both with a slight nod and received a mild glare from the sniper. It seems that they had been beaten here.
Naruto, who had been immersed in his paperwork, paused for a second before scratching something out and scribbling a few words on top of the inked mess. Chewing on the end of the pen thoughtfully, he stared at it before smiling and putting his utensil down. He then shifted his gaze to the two persons in front of him, lips pulling into a mischievous grin. "Hey guys. What's up?"
The other bowed deeply beside him. "Naruto-sama." Hearing the snort from Gaara, he straightened his posture and narrowed his eyes, challenging him to say something. Gaara met his glare dead on.
Now, in the light of the office, he could see his companion's features much more clearly. Long, dark chocolate hair framed his delicate face and reached down to the man's lower back, his bangs covering the white warrior's band wrapped around his forehead. It made his smooth, porcelain skin look paler than it already did, especially when he was clad in a dark grey vest over an obsidian shaded long-sleeved shirt, complete with the same colored jeans. His eyes were the most interesting part of him, a pair of milky colored opals that were tinted lilac at the edges. He looked even more feminine than Gaara had originally thought.
"Guys, you just got here. Try not to kill each other again," Naruto chastised, looking at them with weariness. "You two already look like you went to a funeral, anyway. I thought I told you to dress casual for this mission." His sapphire eyes traveled up and down their outfits, frowning at the abundance of somber hues.
"It's not their fault that you dress as if you're colorblind, idiot," Sasuke huffed at Naruto's own choice in clothing, bright orange staining his jacket and sweatpants with stripes of white on the side.
Naruto growled, pointing an accusing finger at the Uchiha. "Who asked you, asshole? Anyway…" He leaned forward in his chair. "How did the mission go?"
"An accident, just like you said. Everything went smoothly," Gaara replied, then nodded towards his left. "Until this asshole showed up. Care to explain…?"
He already gathered from the small conversation with Ino that she was under the impression of them returning from having gone on the same mission together; she was the receptionist, she had to keep tabs on anyone and everyone, including who went on what missions. No one could go past the lobby without getting past the blonde. He had also realized that the similar cellular device and ringtone the other carried meant that he was part of The Jinchurikis since each operative received the same device, made by Shino specifically for missions and communication between members of the organization since it was difficult to track down or hack into their own personal network system.
Naruto grinned while sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… About that…aha… You see um… Er… Aheh…"
"He fucked up." Sasuke's deadpan tone and brutal honesty sent Naruto's forehead colliding onto the desk.
"Sasuke! You didn't have to say it like that," he practically whined, looking back at his assistant with what Gaara could only consider as a pout.
"What? It's the truth," he scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest. "He forgot to inform you two that you were supposed to work together on this mission."
Gaara felt his right eye twitch.
"Aha… Neji, meet Shukaku, my best sniper," Naruto grinned widely, gesturing to his old childhood friend. He felt a small surge of pride when he saw that 'Neji' had slightly widened his eyes in recognition. "Shukaku, meet Neji, my top officer, the Anbu commander."
Anbu commander… He had been told by his father that the Anbu were a select group of hired mercenaries that were trained specifically under each Kage. To be commander meant to be beyond mundane levels since it took much skill and power to lead more than a dozen killers, along with being able to serve as a third-in-command, right under the Kage's assistant. It was no longer a mystery as to why this…'Neji'…had been able to challenge him as he did.
"I had an emergency job that needed to be taken care of as soon as possible and the target was too dangerous for anyone but an Anbu to take on. Since all of my Anbus were preoccupied with their own missions, Neji was the only one that was free since he just got back from his solo-mission a few hours ago, and in a rush to relay the emergency, I forgot to tell him about you being his partner and all…" Naruto explained and then folded his arms. "It wasn't until half an hour after Neji left that Shikamaru came in and told me he gave you the info for the mission a while ago and you were already at the site, but he realized he forgot to tell you that it wasn't a solo-mission."
Gaara resisted the urge to sigh. Shikamaru's version of giving him the information had been texting him to come to his office to get something on his desk. When he had, he found the lazy tactician asleep in his chair, not even trying to be discreet about his sleeping on the job. He ignored it since he was easily able to snatch the mission report from the desk without needing to wake up the pineapple head for details.
"Naruto told me to follow you right after we remembered that both of you were clueless about each other to ensure both your safeties. I made it in time just to see you guys at each other's throats, Neji a bit more literally." The edges of Sasuke's lips curled in a smirk as he regarded them in amusement.
The sniper pressed his lips in a tight frown. But before he could even get a word in edgewise, Neji cut in as an attempt to quell the oncoming verbal assault. "My apologies, Shukaku-san. I had merely assumed that you were part of another organization that was a threat to my mission."
He studied the Anbu for a few seconds, who looked none too apologetic. In fact, he even looked rather uncomfortable with having to be polite to him.
"Well, now that we have everything sorted out," Naruto started, sensing Gaara's temper rising, "you both should go and get some rest. It's been a long few weeks for you, Neji. You need it."
The commander bowed lowly in respect and gratitude. "Thank you, Naruto-sama. Good night to you, and Sasuke." He nodded to the Uchiha who returned the gesture. Then he turned and looked at Gaara who met his cold stare. He frowned for a second before turning his back towards him and leaving the office.
Gaara's gaze didn't leave the door until Naruto followed his line of sight and coughed into his fist. "Uh, Gaara? You alright?"
"Hn… Yeah…" he replied, not even looking back at his boss. "Night," he mumbled, not one for many words, before taking his own leave from the office.
Once the doors closed with a quiet hiss, Naruto leaned back against his chair and watched while Sasuke returned to his personal desk, a smaller replica of his own, except much neater and organized. "So. That went well."
A sneer. "That's your definition of 'well'? They nearly killed each other."
A wide grin and a shrug. "Hey, I think Shikamaru's a genius. And I'll have to give props to Lee next time for suggesting the idea in the first place. Their plan went off without a hitch! Gaara and Neji didn't even suspect a thing."
"Yeah, great, except for the part where they want each other dead now."
"Aww, Sasuke, you take the fun out of everything, y'know that?"
Sorry all of that was really awkward. I was trying to explain a lot of stuff in this AU, but if it still doesn't really make sense then just wait for future chapters, where I can hopefully explain things more thoroughly. I just want to point out that this is AU, meaning alternate universe, meaning that I will twist and bend a lot of Naruto canon in order to fit this plot/universe. So they will not follow the original or represent the original in any way. For example, Naruto became a Kage before Gaara, which does not follow the original storyline. Bear with me.
Also, I know pretty much every NejiGaa story has the same image but it's just too awsome that I couldn't resist using it. And it's also how I pictured them while writing this. So yeah.
But for now, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. Thank you for reading. Criticism is much appreciated.