Naruto is the creation of Kishimoto Masashi, I own no part of it.
Just a forewarning, this story will contain shounen-ai. Gaara/Naruto will be the main pairing, and there may be some het in the form of Temari/Shikamaru on the side.
This story is also somewhat AU, in that the timeline has been thrown a little off for the sake of the plot. Just go with it and don't let it bother you.
Adstratum Influence"Kazekage-sama has decided to send you three back to Konoha," says Baki, standing before the infamous Sand trio.
"What?" says Temari, eyebrows raised in surprise. "But we just got back, why are we going there again so soon?"
"As you know, the Sand and the Leaf are currently in a state of truce. Konoha has forgiven us our part in the Chuunin exam fiasco, and we in turn have sworn an allegiance with them. Konoha is currently suffering from a dire shortage of shinobi, and as a gesture of goodwill Kazekage-sama has decided to send some of our best to help them out in this time of crisis."
Temari nods, seeing the logic behind this. She is actually rather pleased with this decision, as she has grown quite fond of the Leaf in the space of her time spent there. On her right, Kankurou is nodding as well. Sneaking a glance to her left, she notes that Gaara is as expressionless as ever. Gaara has changed, this past month; he no longer seems on a hair-trigger to violence. Ever since his fight with that blond child, Uzumaki, he has seemed different. Thoughtful, rather than indiscriminately angry. Temari almost dares to hope that maybe her younger brother has found another means of proving his existence. She had been worried when they had first been dispatched to help the team sent to retrieve the Uchiha heir, worried that instead of helping Lee Gaara would decide to finish what he had started at the preliminary Chuunin selection exam. But he had not, and both Temari and Kankurou now breathe a little easier in the presence of their brother.
"You will start your journey back tomorrow. Four other shinobi will accompany you, two Chuunin and two Jounin. Report to the Hokage and accept any mission she gives you," continues Baki. The three nod their understanding, and Baki dismisses them.
"So, it's back to the sunny forests of Konoha for us," says Kankurou, stretching as he leaves the debriefing room. "And I was just getting used to our lovely sandstorms again, too."
"Konoha has spoiled us," agrees Temari, walking beside him. "As much as Suna is home, it is nice to be able to walk outside anytime, and not have to worry about how much water you use."
Kankurou hums his agreement, and Gaara walks off to his room without a word. Kankurou and Temari watch him until his door closes.
"It'll be good for Gaara, too, I think. I don't know what exactly changed him, but whatever it was, it happened at Konoha," says Kankurou, in a rare moment of insight.
"Yes," says Temari, and bids her brother goodnight as she enters her own room.
Temari and Kankurou both feel it, as they are making the long journey to Konoha. There is a tension in the air that's making them nervous, and they're both wondering if the Kazekage was really thinking when he decided that he would send four unknown shinobi with Gaara on a long journey. Gaara may have changed, but to strangers he is still a monster, and now both Temari and Kankurou are sincerely hoping that Gaara will not snap and kill them all because of the combined hatred and fear radiating off the four Chuunin and Jounin traveling with them. Outwardly Gaara betrays no expression, but his siblings know that underneath he is struggling for control.
Gaara, for his part, is hardly aware of the worried glances Temari and Kankurou keep shooting at him. He can sense the fear of the strangers with them, he can sense their hatred, and he is trying to quell his own instinctive reaction to that hatred. He reminds himself of the debt he owes to the Leaf, he reminds himself of the fateful battle with one Uzumaki Naruto, a boy the same as him, with a demon inside, hated and feared by the villagers. He tells himself that he will not let the Shukaku control him anymore. People have acknowleged his existence, he does not need to kill to confirm himself anymore. It's hard, though, and with every step he can feel the weight of the strangers' emotion, and he can feel the bloodlust rising in him. He is tainted with blood, the sand he carries a constant reminder of this, and every day he can smell the blood and it gets harder and harder to resist the urge. He cannot sleep because of the demon inside him, and so he has no surcease at all from his constant struggle.
Temari and Kankurou grow even more worried as Gaara's steps slow, and one hand slowly clenches in his hair. They know that Gaara is on the verge of snapping, and they also know that once he does no one is safe, not even his own siblings.
"What's wrong? We need to get to Konoha as soon as possible," says one of the Jounin, noticing that their pace has slowed.
Temari shoots the man a warning glare as Gaara's steps stop completely.
"Shut up!" hisses Kankurou, looking fearfully at Gaara.
"I knew bringing that kid along would be trouble!" says one of the Chuunin, somewhat hysterically. "What would Konoha want with a couple Genin and a demon, anyway? Kazekage-sama should have just sent us, it would have been better!"
"Shut the fuck up!" says Kankurou again, more vehemently this time. "Do you want him to kill you?"
"I think it would be best if we continued this journey separately," says Temari, still looking warily at Gaara, and noticing the sand swirling beneath her feet. "You four can go on ahead, we'll continue by a different route. Tell the Hokage that we were delayed."
The four men hesitate, and Temari snaps, "Go now! Otherwise we might all die here!"
Finally noticing the sand's agitation themselves, the men spare one last look at Gaara and then follow Temari's advice, walking rapidly away.
Temari and Kankurou stand near Gaara, afraid to do anything else. Eventually, the sand slows and settles, and Gaara finally looks up.
Without a word, he starts walking again. Temari and Kankurou follow in relief.
------
Shikamaru sits on a bench outside the hospital, looking up at the clouds. Cloud-watching is one of his favorite activities, a way to relax and not think about anything, but today he just can't get into it. He envies the clouds, just drifting across the sky without a care in the world. He has no such freedom, and as he sits there his thoughts return again and again to his team, his first mission that he failed. Every one of his team badly injured, and they didn't even accomplish their goal... He sighs, wistfully thinking back to his days as a Genin. Even as he thinks about the carefree times, though, he knows that he can't go back. He has resolve now, to live up to his Chuunin title and lead his next team better.
As he sits and contemplates, Shikamaru notices four men displaying the Sand symbol go by. Idly he thinks about going to ask Tsunade-sama about it, but then decides it would be too much trouble. Obviously they're not here to stir up conflict as they're walking quite peacefully through the town, and besides they're heading straight for Tsunade's residence.
He does sit up and take an active interest, however, when Temari, Kankurou, and Gaara come by a little while later.
Temari notices him, and waves cheerfully. Shikamaru lifts a hand in response, calling out, "Why are you here? I thought you were going back to Suna for a while."
"We're here to help out your village," replies Temari, veering over towards where Shikamaru is sitting. "Kazekage-sama decided to send some of us from Suna here to Konoha since you guys are having such a shortage of shinobi available for missions."
"I see," says Shikamaru. "Tsunade-sama will be pleased, she's been run ragged trying to juggle missions and rotate available shinobi."
Temari nods; she knows this. She's about to turn and start heading for the Hokage's office again, when Gaara unexpectedly speaks.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he says. "Where is he?"
Shikamaru looks over at the redhead cautiously. Despite Gaara's help in defeating Kimimaro, Shikamaru still remembers the Gaara that killed three men without a second thought at the Chuunin exam. He remembers the absolute fear he felt at that point, and remembers how Gaara seemed to enjoy the kills. He also remembers hearing Gaara talk about how killing justified his existence.
Shikamaru remembers all this, but nevertheless he answers the boy. "Naruto's inside, he's still recovering. He'll be leaving in a week or so to train, though."
Gaara nods, then turns around and walks off. Temari tells Shikamaru that they should really get going to see the Hokage, and she and Kankurou follow Gaara down the road.
Shikamaru watches them recede into the distance, then goes back to staring at the sky.