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Gaara is standing at the edge of the village and gives his son a huge hug. He wishes him good luck and tells him to stay on his toes. He gives Katsuo a quick hug and the two ninja leap away. Gaara watches his son until they are out of sight. He goes back to his office with more work to await him.
Katsuo goes at a much slower pace so that Akane can keep up with him. They run through the hot desert sun and no sooner than an hour later or so is Akane complaining.
"Can we take a break?"
"No."
"Why not? I'm tired."
"Train more, then," says Katsuo, "We're not stopping until we reach the outer forest."
"How far away is that?"
"120 miles or so." Akane groans. Akane rolls his eyes, "Would you rather rest in the hot sun and die from dehydration, or would you like to rest in the shade of a tree and have something to eat."
"Option 2"
"Then let's keep going." Akane takes a swig of water from his flask and pushes forward. He was exhausted but Katsuo seemed to have no trouble at all. His hands were behind his back and he was taking slow long strides. Finally, after 2 hours of hell, the reach the forest and Akane collapses to the ground, gasping for air. Katsuo doesn't sit down.
"You build camp and I'll go hunting for food." Akane groans again, "Would YOU like to chase after animals for food and I just set up a tent?" Akane shakes his head and starts to set up the tent. Katsuo leaps into the forest and returns about 15 minutes later with two rabbit in hand. He forms some quick seals and fire ignites the tinder and a fire is started. Akane devours his cooked rabbit meat and falls asleep. Katsuo sits next to the fire and keeps watch for wild animals and thieves or killers. He was used to not sleeping for days, so he had no problem with having no sleep until they reached Konoha.
The next day was filled with moans, groans, and whining from Akane. He said he was tired, sore, and hungry. Katsuo just told him that this was the life of a ninja and told him to press forward. After another 2 days of travel, they arrived at the gates of Konoha. The large gates open and Katsuo leads Akane inside. They enter the Hokage's tower and find out that he is at the baths with his family. They walk to the baths and Katsuo sees a blond haired man in the baths with his kids and his wife talking with some friends. Katsuo tells Akane to wait and Katsuo walks over to the blond haired man. The man grabs a towel and wraps it around his waist. He looks over to Akane.
"Who is this young man?"
"It's Gaara's son, Akane." The blond man looks down at Akane and ruffles his hair.
"Your dad has told me a lot about you, Akane. I'm Naruto, the 6th Hokage."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You can play with my kids if you want while me and uncle Katsuo talk." Akane strips to his boxers and leaps into the water. Naruto and Katsuo sit down.
"Gaara believes that someone might be planning an attack on both Suna and Konoha. We believe that spies have positioned themselves in both villages." Naruto gets a serious look on his face.
"What gives him these assumptions?"
"Some documents have gone missing that show the layout of both Suna and Konoha. These may only be documents of the villages, but if an enemy learns of all the entrances and weak spots of the villages, we could both be in big trouble." Naruto stares at Katsuo.
"Thanks for the update. On a lighter note, how are Gaara and Matsuri?"
"Their doing well. Gaara wanted me to take his son with him so that he learns what it is like when on a real mission, not chasing cats or babysitting. I think that this might be some sort of punishment for beating up kids so that he would be feared and respected by the other kids."
"Sounds like the old Gaara."
"Yeah."
"By the way, how do you know Gaara?"
"I had just become a Genin when Gaara was born. I remember seeing Gaara sitting alone on a swing at the old playground, but my father wouldn't let me near him, even after I moved out of the house. I felt horrible for him. When Gaara came back from fighting you at the Chuunin exams, I overheard him talking with Kankuro-sama about how he respected you and his new look on life was quite different when he met you." I later ignored my family's pleads to stay away from him and he and I became slight friends. I respect Gaara with all of my being for what he and you both had to overcome, being Jinchuuriki and all. When Akane was born, he had me take care of him when neither he nor Matsuri could. I helped train him and raise him."
"He is like a spitting image of a younger Gaara. He should become a great ninja."
"He just needs to get accustomed to long trips, such as this. He complained the whole time." Naruto chuckles.
"He's only human. Anyway, thanks for the information and I'll be sure to…" suddenly Naruto stops and looks behind his shoulder. There is shadow behind them and it vanishes the moment they see it. Katsuo stands up and leaps after it. He sees someone running away and he chases after them through the streets. He sees the man leap onto a roof and he follows. The man hurls a kunai at him. Katsuo leaps over it and pushes forward. The man jumps onto the wall that surrounds the village and jumps over the other side. Katsuo follows and forms seals.
"FUUTON RENKUUDAN!" Shouts Katsuo and a large ball of compressed air fires from his hands. The air ball slams into the man's back and he falls to the ground. Katsuo lands next to the man. Looks up and sees a small group of missing nin's staring at him. He hurls his shuriken at them and forms seals.
"SHURIKEN KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" The shuriken multiplies into hundreds of shuriken and slices into most of the ninjas. There are two left. Katsuo forms more seals.
"Suiton Teppoudama" water flies out of his mouth like a large cannon and slams into their bodies and they are knocked unconscious. Katsuo gets help from the walls and the ninja are taken hostage. Katsuo later returns to the Hokage's tower and picks up Akane. He tells Naruto what he did and said that they might be back with more information. Naruto thanked them and agreed to give any info received from the spies to Suna as well. Then Katsuo begins the dreadful journey back to Suna with Akane complaining all the way home.
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