Gaara watched as Ira surrendered herself to Kankuro so easily. He found it interesting that Naruto would plan for this to happen. When they walked out of his office, Gaara pulled Naruto's note out and reread it, wondering what Naruto had seen that he hadn't.

Gaara,

I know this sounds crazy but I'm sending you Ira because she's going to be perfect for Kankuro. She averts her eyes from the men here, and I have a feeling Kankuro might be the one she's been waiting on. I know it's weird to expect Kankuro to go along with all of this, but once they get to know each other, things should go great. She's an excellent ninja, so I've told her to be Kankuro's body guard. This might cause a problem if she likes him, don't worry about it. She's smart, she'll figure it out. Good luck! Believe it!

~ Naruto, the Hokage.

Gaara closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "I doubt you know what you're doing Naruto. I don't like games being played with my siblings."

Kankuro took Ira by the hand as he led her through the village, his heart was soaring from their kiss, through Ira seemed to have sheltered herself inside since that moment. Kankuro paused at a restaurant and motioned towards it. "Are you hungry, Ira?" he asked with a warm smile. She nodded slightly, but never took her eyes from the ground.

Ira wouldn't dare another glance at Kankuro. She should run away and never look back for what the Hokage and Kazekage did to her. She felt so ashamed, so betrayed. She stopped before entering the restaurant and waited for Kankuro to realize she hadn't followed him in. It only took a moment before he stepped back outside.

"What is it?" he studied her, her face hidden behind deep black hair. He could see her eyes when she turned away from him, she had been crying. "Ira…" Kankuro stepped towards her and rested a hand gently on her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Did I hurt you? I don't understand what's happening." Ira looked up into Kankuro's dark eyes, new tears threatened to fall as she watched him.

"Why was I sent here to be yours? Is that all I am, something to be traded to be a man's possession?" Kankuro widened his eyes, he should have known. He caressed her cheek, and laid a soft kiss on her forehead.

"That's not all you're for Ira. I didn't mean it that way when I said it. Truthfully, Naruto had a feeling that you'd like me and I guess he didn't expect I'd be the one to like you first. Is there something about men that you don't like, Ira?" he led her inside and they sat in a corner, away from everyone else so she could talk to him.

"It's not that I don't like men. I do. I'm attracted to men if that's your concern." Ira brushed her hair from her eyes and looked at him, absorbed his features and burned them into her mind. She couldn't recall having ever seen a man like him, sometimes he looked so cruel and mean, but then he would smile and he made her melt. He was truly a unique and handsome man. "I've just had bad experiences with some men. I wasn't born in the Leaf Village. I was born…somewhere else. I can't remember. My father sold me after he couldn't pay off his debts, and I was brought there. Kids laughed because they knew; of course they knew. Children are so awful to each other. Since I was a child I've been labeled with any name you can think of for a girl who's been sold to a man." She met his eyes, and let him think of the names for himself.

"I didn't know."

"I didn't want you to." She sighed softly, shaking her head as she looked down at the table. "Think twice about me now, Lord Kankuro. You don't want that kind of a woman associated with you."

"What kind of a woman do you mean? I see no whore, no prostitute, and no pet before me. I see a beautiful young woman who's been through a lot, and I see a woman I would like to know better." Kankuro felt embarrassed speaking the words out loud. Would she reject him? He watched as she smiled, a true smile that lit up her violet eyes like the glowing twilight sky. Damn she's beautiful he thought to himself.

"Thank you Lord Kankuro." She blushed and looked down at the menu quickly, fearing if her heart beat any faster it would burst. Kankuro allowed his eyes to wander as she glanced over the menu. It was hard to believe this soft body was that of a powerful ninja. His body reacted again, he bit his lip as he watched her breasts. With each breath she took they made his mouth water for a taste, he wondered what she'd feel like in his hands. Shaking his head to clear it, he took a deep breath to calm himself. Naruto had just sent him the hardest test he could fathom, and when Ira looked up and smiled at him, tucking her midnight hair behind her ear, Kankuro lost his control.

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

"I'm not beautiful Lord Kankuro. Lady Temari is beautiful." Ira froze as Kankuro stood and moved to her side of the table, his hand settled on her thigh.

"You're right." He whispered in her ear, he heat fell on her skin and made her body tingle. "You're not beautiful Ira. You're totally fucking stunning." He kissed her neck softly, unable to resist her any longer. Her flesh was so sweet, he burned hotter for her as he took her lips.

Ira was confused, excited, and afraid at the same time when Kankuro began touching her. His skin felt so warm on her, her cheeks flushed. She managed to push him away enough to breathe "We're in public, Lord Kankuro." before he kissed her again. Kankuro knew he should stop, that he was making a scene and scaring her, but her lips were too good to pull from. He felt her hand slide to the back of his neck, pulling him harder to her, and he snapped.

Digging into his pocket quickly, Kankuro threw money on the table before gathering Ira in his arms and taking her away.