By: Prodigus Feldspar
Disclaimer: I ain't gots no ownership. (Tear, tear).
Also, I just have to add, this is before the exorcism of Shukaku, but after Gaara becomes the Kazekage. Woo!
000
A light, gentle breeze drifted through the secluded trail, every leaf on every tree seemed illuminated by the scorching summer sun.
Gaara clasped his hands behind his back as he admired the lush Konoha foliage, what a beautiful day, he thought contently.
The soft crunch of dirt and leaves underneath his feet created a soothing rhythm. The only other sound was the rustling of leaves.
Gaara frowned as a nagging thought drifted into his mind, why had Tsunade invited me here on my week off?
Gaara inhaled the fresh summer air and brushed away his confusion.
Anyway, as Kazekage, he was usually cooped up in his office, and a chance to leave was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
He smiled slightly; I wonder what everyone at the sand village will do when they find out that their leader left mysteriously! I should have made an announcement, but I won't be gone too long.
Gaara snapped to attention as he heard footsteps behind him, fast footsteps. The footsteps cut through the peace of the trail like a knife through butter.
Before he could turn around, two bandaged hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who, Gaara-san!" A familiar voice said.
Gaara frowned in annoyance.
"An annoying idiot who won't leave me alone?" Gaara asked playfully and, before the person behind him could reply, using some nearby sand, grabbed the hands covering his eyes and wrenched them away.
Gaara smiled upon hearing a cry of pain, and turned around to see Rock Lee on the ground rubbing his hands.
Gaara smirked in triumph.
"You should be kinder, Gaara-san." Lee muttered.
"Looks like I guessed right," Gaara chuckled and began walking away.
"H-Hey! Wait up!" Lee called, pulling a letter out of the olive-colored vest he was wearing.
Gaara took notice immediately to the Genin gear that covered up half of Lee's spandex-clad body.
"You became a Genin?" Gaara asked in usual monotone and began walking briskly, hoping to have bought enough time with small talk to run away and escape a meeting with "Granny Tsunade."
Lee jogged faster and easily caught up with the red-haired Kazekage.
"Yeah!" Lee said enthusiastically with a warm smile, "Now I can inspire students like Gai-sensei inspired me!"
Gaara cringed, how lame can he be?! He thought.
Gaara sighed inwardly and walked faster, a few fallen leaves crunching underneath his feet. Lee subconsciously matched strides.
"Tsunade-sama ordered me to give this to you," Lee announced, holding out an envelope grandly, as if he were a messenger from some sort of queen, which, in a way, he was.
Gaara groaned inwardly, Kazekages do not groan in public. Anyway groaning isn't a very Gaara-esque thing to do, now is it?
Gaara snatched the envelope out of Lee's hands who, in turn, stared at him expectantly.
Gaara lifted a non-existent eyebrow.
"Tsunade-sama said that the letter somehow involved me also," Lee explained, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
Gaara tore open the envelope and stared at the letter.
"What does it say?" Lee inquired, leaning closer to Gaara, who winced at the raven-haired nin's closeness.
"She cannot be serious." Gaara muttered, glaring at the paper in his hands.
To be continued…
Please excuse my "Fic-writing A.D.D." I will try my hardest to finish this story and then I will finish my other stories.
Also, sorry for the short chapter, I just felt like this was a good place to end. (Anyway, this will get better! Wink, wink.) Bwafafafa!