Origami Love

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto... Masashi Kishimoto does... sucker.

AN: Yeah, thanks for the reviews guys, they're appreciated. There are some things in this chapter that'll probably surprise you, but bear in mind this is AU, so yeah, you just have to deal with it. And another thing, would you like me to update more often with shorter chapters (about 1-3k), or every month with chapters with 5k words?

Chapter 1

Staring at the secretary Gaara ordered her to leave and when the doors where closed he begun.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." Naruto grinned a bit wider but Kazekage's face remained impassive, "destroying your village, killing over," he glanced at the report on his desk, "over two hundred people, leaving your sister behind, Uzumaki..." Gaara's voice was deadly serious, "What were you thinking?"

Naruto dropped the smile as he stared at his friend, thinking on how to say what he had to say.

"There's this group..." he started, "a group of S-ranked missing nins... they're called Akatsuki."

A raised eyebrow answered Naruto's explanation and so the teen continued.

"Their main goal is to capture all of the bijuu... That's why I left."

Though Gaara had a pretty good idea of what was going on he needed to make sure.

"Elaborate."

"They're S-ranked missing nins, Gaara. They are people like Uchiha Itachi, that can single-handedly obliterate the strongest clan in Konoha, within one night. If I would stay... They would eventually destroy the whole village."

"So you ran away... I would never think you're a coward but here I sit corrected."

In a fit of rage Naruto slammed his hand on the walnut desk, his eyes burning with emotions and his voice hot with anger and fear.

"I faced one of them... I thought with all I had, I even used Kyuubi, for God's sake... And he toyed with me. I didn't even land a hit on him. If one of them was able to do that, then think of what all nine of them could do. They would annihilate Konoha, they would slaughter them like cows! And it all because of me... if something happened to her, I would never forgive myself... Never."

"I know you love your sister, Uzumaki, I have a sister of my own, but destroying the village is no way to protect her. Don't you think you hurt her much more by leaving?"

The missing-nin sighed and suddenly Gaara noticed that Uzumaki Naruto appeared much more tired, black ring around the blue eyes and a sad smile that reflected the boy's broken spirit. The burden he carried and the decisions he made were mirrored in the pale, rough face, no longer outshined by the carefree smile.

Uzumaki, Gaara realized, looked a lot like a corpse.

"She's a strong girl, much stronger then either of us... I thought this through, Gaara. You've got to believe me."

Smirking slightly the Kazekage answered.

"I guess I have no choice. It would take quite a lot of manpower to drag you back to Konoha, I imagine."

The corpse like look vanished, replaced by the radiant smile and the blue eyes sparkled with joy.

"You have no idea. Besides, I'm trying to make a fashion statement here. Who knows, maybe in a few months Suna will be filled with redheads."

"Maybe not. You should take down this henge, I think. You're safe here."

A puff of smoke revealed the same face, only this time with whisker marks, and a bit more tan.

'What about the hair?' thought Gaara, voicing his question not a second later.

"And the hair?"

Foxily, Uzumaki smirked and suddenly the Kazekage had an inkling that he has just been manipulated.

"I had them dyed. I am your cousin after all. It'd be nice if Suna would finally get a hot redhead to stir things up, don't ya think?"

Massaging his head, which already hurt with the implications of Uzumaki's response, he decided to get it over with. 'It's like ripping off a band aid. Do it quickly, painlessly.'

"I suppose you want to live in my house, then?"

"What? Living in your house! That's an ingenious idea! It would go well with the cousin cover, wouldn't it? Oh, Gaara and I was just about to ask you for some money for a hotel, but since you're asking me to live with you, well, it would be considered rude to say no!"

'Sure. Just rub salt into my wound. I don't mind.'

"Anyway," continued Naruto, "I need to get a full access to Suna library."

Gaara's finely trimmed eyebrow rose before he asked.

"You're not planing to destroy the world, are you?"

A massive sweat drop appeared on Naruto's face.

"You're kidding, right?"

The Kazekage's inquiring gaze did not falter and the fox-boy's sweat drop became even larger.

'He actually thinks I'm capable of doing that.'

"No, I'm not gonna destroy the world... Geez, who gave you this idea?"

"It's only logical to ask a question like that when dealing with someone like you. And I'll notify the caretakers to let you in anytime you want."

A comfortable silence surrounded them, like a mist, obscuring any worries, letting them enjoy each others company.

"So," the mist of silence cleared as the sand-manipulator opened his mouth, "what do you intend to do?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"You said you thought this through. Surely, you have some kind of a plan."

"I want to contact the other Jinchuriki."

A frown formed on Gaara's pale face.

"You realize that forming any kind of group made of demon containers will be impossible. Some of them are already loyal to other villages and probably a few are not even shinobi."

"Yeah. Good thing I'm not gonna form any group. Akatsuki are made up of some of the best ninja that ever stood on this earth, and facing them head on with any kind of group, organization or team, whatever... well, I'd rather jump of the cliff."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, y'know. I'll say hi, grab a cup of coffee, warn them about a bunch of extremely powerful guys that are after their heads... stuff like that. Although, I'll probably start a spy network or something like that, just to keep tabs on everything important."

"I see Jiraiya-sama has rubbed off on you."

"Yeah, sure. Just compare me to some pervert, maybe to a pile of shit. You wounded my heart Gaara."

Smirking upon hearing Uzumaki's overly dramatic display, Gaara couldn't help himself and soon he was grinning. Only Uzumaki, he decided, had such an effect on people. Only the Kyuubi container could make anyone smile, and for that Gaara was thankful.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Loosing the clown like appearance, Naruto decided yet again to get down to business.

"Gaara... What do you know about the Sandaime Kazekage's bloodline?"

Sabaku no Gaara did not expect that question.

"You mean the iron sand? As far as I know, He could create a magnetic fields using chakra and that allowed him to manipulate iron, thus the name. I'm sure you'll find more information in the library. Also-"

"Hey... do you think there is a possibility of... of the bloodline being somewhat passed on other people?"

A raised eyebrow answered Naruto.

"Are you saying that you posses an ability to create a magnetic fields using your chakra?"

"No, it's just... Ah, it doesn't matter. We should probably get going, it's getting dark anyway."

Turning around the blond walked out of the doors, while Gaara remained sitting behind his desk. Something was definitely not right. It was unlike Uzumaki to avoid answering questions.

"Hey Gaara," A whiskered face poked through the doors, "are you coming?"

"Hm. Just keep your trousers on, there's no rush."


Sighing tiredly Gaara looked around the flower shop in search of Uzumaki, who magically vanished the second they entered.

"Why are we here again?" he asked. It was truly baffling in his opinion.

"To buy some flowers. Y'know for a Kazekage you're quite slow if you don't know why people go to flower shop. I mean, the name does kina' give it away-"

"And just why do you want to buy flowers?"

Walking up to the counter with a bunch of yellow flowers, the name of which Naruto never really intended to learn, the boy started to explain.

"Well, first of all my dear friend, I'm gonna to live in your house for some time and since Kankuro and I are getting along fine and you can somehow tolerate me... that leaves Temari. I want to make a good impression, y'know, I think it'll be best if we can all live peacefully."

"As surprising as it is, that actually makes sense."

"Of course it does! Besides," again, that sly grin that forebode doom sprouted on Uzumaki's face, "Your sis is hot."

"Uzumaki, if you as much as look at my sister the wrong way-"

"Mah. Empty threats, Gaara, empty threats."

"Hm. Whatever."

"Now lets pay and be on our way."

So they payed, or rather the owner gave them the flowers for free. Being a Kazekage, as Naruto found out, had a range of advantages that the boy never really thought of and getting stuff for free... Ah, he would definitely enjoy acting as Gaara's cousin.

And so they walked through the empty streets. It was already late, the moon gazing down at the village in the sand, the harsh cold winds ruffling their clothes, chilling their bones. Soon, however, they stood in front of the wooden doors, the comfortable silence broken by the sand-controller.

"Are you coming in, or are you going to stare at those doors for the rest of your live?"

"Hmm... such a hard choice, what to do, what to do-"

"Uzumaki."

"What to do? Argh, the choice is too hard! I have-"

"Uzumaki stop goofing around and come in."

"You're no fun, y'know that?"

And so the doors to Naruto's new life were opened.