Thank you all who read the first part, and followed. This the first story I've written in a long time, so the more favorites and follows and reviews.. The faster I will update the story.
Chapter 1
A Thousand Summers
Reds and golds and pinks fluttered through the sky, as dawn finally broke over the horizon. The small granules of sand glittered with the bright colors, making the dawn seem more spectacular. But that was for those that were unused to the land that was of Wind. This was a normal dawn for those who spent decades in its wake. The baking sun had yet to strike down, and it was rather a cool temperature, as that night had been a rather chilly one. For the heat of summer, anyhow. The Hidden Village that was in that country, was bustling with people, all ready for either the morning's market, or perhaps heading off to work. A few shinobi teams were heading off to complete missions given to them by their Kage, and a few were heading in from completed missions.
One of these Shinobi came in the form of a kunoichi, her steps taking her through the crowded Main Street. The Adobe buildings stood high above, not yet letting the warmth of the sun hit the shopping and haggling people. Sounds of chickens and banter were the loudest.. This was what the jonin missed about her birthplace, several years have passed since she last entered it. Though the smell that surrounded the streets, minus the spices and cooking stalls, were less to be desired. Her sight was set on the rounded building that had the symbol ιΆ¨ or Wind in the center. The Sunagakure center, the office of the Kazekage and the council.
As she grew nearer, several of the guarding shinobi gave her a bright smile. Welcoming her back after so long, asking her how she had been. And how long she would be staying. "Only for a few days. That lazy ass thought it would help for some reason." She explained, her voice seemed tired and worn out. Though, it didn't feel any better to leave that man with their 6 month old son. She loved Shikamaru, but she swore that his fathering was slightly less to be desired. She was glad to have Sakura check in on them every now and then. Otherwise she would not have made it all the way here, and turned around as she got to the Land of Rivers.
"The Lord Kazekage will be happy to see you again, Temari-sama. He's got his hands full with the Bug." This made the blonde confused, her brows knitted for a moment, before realizing they were talking about the child that would be about 3 now. The dark haired man continued in a joking tone. "She's taken a liking to sit in his office and make animals out of the mission reports." This made her grin slightly, and this finished the conversation. They were now talking to a shinobi from the nearby Land of Mountains*, who was acting as diplomat. Into the cool building did the fan-wearing woman went, hearing the bark of laughter from a familiar voice, which made her smile, and move to open the door.
~x~
Deep within the circular adobe building was a robed man sitting at his mahogany desk. Filing and receiving payment for missions, writing down mission objectives and descriptions in scrolls, and reading reports. A tiring, and near-thankless, job. Something most of the younger generation doesn't understand when they fight to become the next Kazekage. Allowing himself a break, the fingers went through his unruly auburn hair and he leaned back against his chair. His eyes shifted to the right, as he heard the sound of wood against wood. A small child was playing with a puppet, one that his older brother made, trying to pretend to be a puppet master. Lately, his mind had been on this small figure, and when she noticed that she was being watched, she turned to grin at her father-figure.
"Tou-tan." Even after her speech impairment had ended, that was the name that stuck to her, though she could call him 'Chichi' around the council or those that she did not like. A smile graced the Kazekage's lips as he heard those words, and did not notice as she got up off the floor and race over to him. Until maroon crossed his vision, it was short and messy. Even after one of the secretaries, most of the time it was Matsuri, had tried to get flatten. It was not what kept her by his side no matter what. Sometimes Kankuro had her, but they spent very little time together. It had always been Gaara. Calling him an 'Overprotective Father' was an understatement, but he wanted to get things right. Unlike his father's attempts with him and his siblings.
But the fear of her taken because he was the Kage, was not the only problem. What scared him.. And yes, even the ex-Ichibi container was frightened to the bone of this.. Was the fact that he might loose her. Or be killed. Because she was the spitting image of Akasuna no Sasori. Her features made everyone turn their heads, those that were old enough to remember what the Master of Puppets looked like. The only difference was her softer features. And the bright golden eyes she inherited from her mother. If one were to put a gold coin next to them, it would hold a slightly darker shade compared to the jewels that graced this child.
Then there was the actual begetter, that haunted his mind. Ayatsuri often visited several villages, and were quite close to the Akatsuki later in her years. Her main haunts were Amegakure, Konohagakure, and Sunagakure, and those lining areas. Not to say that this Bug's, as her Uncle calls her, mother was in the field of man-hopping. But it was hard to..
"O-TOU-SAN." The loud voice came through, snapping Gaara out of mass analysis of his adopted daughter. Who stood there, arms crossed, and pouting playfully. Her lower lip jutted out in the right angle and the golden eyes held that slight annoyance. She would get nothing with that, and the child knew that most of all. But it did get his attention, and that is all she wanted.
"Yes, Chinatsu?" His voice was even with the girl, who now had a bright grin on her face. She pointed to the large double doors which were the entrance to his office. Normally a knock would get the Kazekage away from picking apart things, but it seems not even that stopped him now that she was older. Ripping his gaze away from Chinatsu, he focused on this new person. Only to realize that his theories on knocking were dropped in an instant. This man, which leaned against the door on his elbow, never knocked. Just let himself in, and that was always the case. No matter how many times Gaara said in the past to do so, it was simply ignored. It was starting to be a failed effort to even tell him anymore. "Kankuro."
"Little brother, you need a break. You've been here since before the Bug got up." At her nickname, the niece ran to hug the puppet-master's legs, and with a pat of her head, she went out of the room. Free finally after several hours, actually two, of being cooped up, which was something she did not like very much. Her attention span did not keep for that long. Back in the large office, the two were arguing slightly. "At least eat Gaara. Chinatsu has already, but you have not moved from your desk. I know that the jonin exams are soon, but you need to see the light of day. And I know you did not have breakfast." Slightly dramatizing, it was a joke between the two of them, which allowed a smile to crack over the younger brother's face. The brunette was the only one to demand things like that, for it was true that Gaara might have even skipped lunch to fill out the mountain of paperwork that he had not even touched yet. They were sitting on his desk in a neat manner, in the corner in two stacks.
"Alright. But I must return soon, I have a important meeting soon." His voice was strict, and the two cracked into a chuckle and that loud laughter. Removing his green Kage robe, which was just in case someone diplomatic walked in, Gaara moved to follow Kankuro. Only to run into a very familiar figure. "Temari." The youngest blinked, actually surprised to see her standing near their doorway. Turning to see if the other knew, but his face was just as shocked. They had not seen each other since she had moved to Konoha to marry Shikamaru. And have their young son. Tsunade, nor the in-training Naruto, warned him of this incoming event. But it never failed to crack a smile on their faces.
"We have a lot to talk about, perhaps over breakfast. Or second breakfast for this one." The blonde thumbed to the second child, who looked offended for a slight second. It was true, the kabuki-painted man could eat several sittings of food in one go. But he was a guy, and he had to eat. And One must never miss a good opportunity. He could eat anything... Except for Spinach, even the though made him gag slightly. He followed behind his talking elder sibling and the younger, turning to look back to see if his niece was going to follow.. But Chinatsu had vanished. Kankuro should not have been surprised by this, it was something she often did. He blamed Aya, she always had the ability to disappear. The little runt was like her in that manner, as he looked through open doors to see where she had gone.
The cowl-wearer began to panic slightly, after several minutes of not finding her. Normally she popped up with that bright smile, holding up whatever she found interesting at that time. And it wasn't until her loud scream, panicked and afraid, sounded in the Kage building, did he stop dead. In a full sprint, he went into the dark room, only to find her in the fetal position on the floor. Bawling, and sounded to be in a lot of pain. It was until he looked over at what she had broken, did he outwardly cuss. Gaara was not going to be happy.
* = Go look at my Profile, there should be map there.
I had debated for an hour whether to leave the cliffhanger, or keep going.. In the end, Cliffhanger won. Next chapter will be longer. Every child will have two chapters on them. And then an extra bit at the end. Then the plot kicks off.
