Disclaimer: Once is enough.

" ….." Speech

'…..' Thoughts

"….." Demon speech

'….' Demon thought

"…" Fused speech

'…' Fused thought

A Stone's Throw

CH 4: Suna:- Sun, Sand & Surprises

Obito chuckled as Jiraiya made intimate contact with Kaze No Kuni's most abundant commodity, sand. He looked down when he felt a tug on his flak-jacket.

Naruto, who'd watched his godfather get smacked for the umpteenth time, asked his 'Bito nii-san innocently. "Is Ero-sennin a masochist?"

Everyone froze.

"Naruto-kun, do you know what that means?" asked Rin in a strained voice.

"Yeah, someone who likes getting hurt," the blond parroted," I asked Kaka nii-san after he called 'Bito nii-san that when he came back all bruised from his 'sleep-over' with Anko nee-chan."

Obito screamed girlishly as he ran away from a pissed Rin and an equally pissed Orochimaru, the trio rapidly disappeared over the horizon.

The four people left behind stared, Shizune broke the silence. "So Shishou, you've been encouraging Jiraiya-sama?"

This time Tsunade joined Jiraiya in biting the dust.

-X-X-X-

Temari Subaku sighed as she adjusted her formal kimono, her father wanted to present a good first impression, even though he was almost guaranteed the Kage's hat, the visit of th Sannin would be a chance for him to display his political skill. She heard a commotion at the gates and headed in that direction as did everyone else in the welcome committee.

The scene that greeted her caused her to stifle a giggle. A raven-haired man was being pummeled by a lady with funny tattoos and an older pale-skinned man.

'Raven', who she now saw was an Uchiha yelled. "But it was Ero-sennin who used her as inspiration for his books!"

She struggled to keep quiet as the duo then turned their attention to the white haired man who'd just arrived with two women and a blond boy her age. The blond who she noticed had what looked like whiskers on his cheeks, obviously didn't have to.

'He has a nice laugh.'

-X-X-X-

Temari watched as the blond, Naruto, bounced all around, exploring and dragging her otouto around. Gaara seemed to be enjoying it after all he was smiling slightly, something he was doing less and less everyday.

She glanced back at where her twin, Kankuro was listening as the Uchiha, Obito, described his team's first meeting with their other chaperone, Uncle Sasori, who kept grinding his teeth every time Obito called him 'ole Sassi'.

A sudden explosion in front of her drew her attention. "Gaara!" she screamed as her brother disappeared in a cloud of dust thrown up by the explosion, she saw a flash of blond before everything was obscured.

-X-X-X-

Naruto was surprised by the explosion, but all the training he'd done with his family kicked in and he went back to back with his new friend Gaara, who'd obviously had some training too since he was already in a stance, with sand swirling around him. Naruto filed that away to ask about later, even as he heard Gaara's sister, Temari if he remembered right, call out. Suddenly a shadow appeared before him knocking him away from the red head.

"Stay away, we're after the demon, not you." the newly revealed Suna Jounin stated as his partner attacked Gaara.

That comment got Naruto's attention. He'd learnt his secret since the incident on his birthday. His family had decided it was time and sat him down to explain. He understood his role. He even understood the villager's reactions. It all only drove him harder to become Hokage and gain recognition as Naruto Uzumaki and not the Kyuubi Jinchiruki..

To hear that his new friend faced the same thing he did made him mad. He cocked his fist back and punched the surprised Jounin in the jaw. He turned to hel his friend not noticing, the red around him or that the Jounin was out cold.

The second Jounin was stunned as he was pushed away from the red head, who he'd still not been able to hit thanks to the damned sand, by a blond missile.

"Today's your lucky day teme! Its 'buy one, get nine free' day!" Naruto growled as he unleashed a flurry of Kyuubi-enhanced kicks and punches some of which connected.

The fight was cut short as a blade appeared in the Jounin's throat. Naruto stared at the puppet that appeared as the body slumped down.

Sasori's voice snapped him back to reality. "Go join your friends." The puppeteer watched as the blond joined the group around Gaara before turning to interrogate the survivor who'd dared attack his godson.

-X-X-X-

Tsunade and the rest of the Konoha delegation were in the middle of treaty discussions when Sasori of the Red Sands burst in and pinned the potential Yondaime Kazekage to the wall by his throat.

"Sasori what's the meaning of this?" yelled one of the elders, Chiyo if Tsunade remembered rightly.

"Pardon the interruption Chiyo baa-sama, but the Kazekage" here the red headed puppeteer glared at the Kage-elect through his bangs has broken our agrrement by attacking his son.

Tsunade started, glancing at the red headed child, noticing that Naruto was gesturing that he wanted to tell them something. She was moving to join Orochimaru and Jiraiya when she noticed the elder Subaku go through quick one-handed seals, shielded from the others by his robes before kawariming with a chair and shushining outside. She was torn until she heard Sasori and Subaku's brother in-law give roars of fury before giving chase.

Orochimaru glanced up from where he was listening to Naruto and Obito explain what happened. "Could someone explain why the Kazekage would attack a Jinchiruki he created, not to mention that the Jinchiruki is his son.

Chiyo stepped forward hesitantly. "Something went wrong, he deemed the 'weapon' as 'unstable and useless'." The old woman spat the words as if they left a bad taste in her mouth.

"First of all someone should've told him this is a kid we're talking about, not a weapon!" Jiraiya said channeling some chakra to see the seal. "Secondly, the bastard made the mistake himself, this seal design's flawed. I can fix it though; with your permission of course."

After a quick conversation Chiyo continued. "We grant you permission, we never supported Subaku's plan but he convinced the Sandaime to veto us."

"we understand. Well no time like the present. I'll require the following items." Jiraiya went on to list the requirements for the seal modification ceremony.

-X-X-X-

Three weeks later

Gaara had slept for three days after the four day ceremony before waking up smiling and joining in Naruto's hi-jinx just like the blonde's friends in Konoha.

Yashamaru, Gaara's uncle was appointed the Kazekage on his return from chasing and fighting the elder Subaku who'd unfortunately managed to escape. Sasori vowed to track him down and kill him.

Naruto had enjoyed his time with the Sand Trio, especially Temari who'd surprisingly turned to him for reassurance during the week Gaara was getting his seal fixed. His fellow blonde held him in high regard, even though Naruto said that helping Gaara was the right and only thing to do. Finally he'd given up, after all he didn't want to spend all his time with the pretty girl arguing.

As for Gaara, he'd thanked Naruto in his smooth flat voice for all his help, something Naruto had waved off. Instead he'd introduced the red head to the world of pranking, much to the chagrin of Kankuro, the duo's favorite target. The black clad, budding 'transvestite' (another word Naruto happily told Rin nee-chan Kaka nii-san had taught him) had, as a result only grunted goodbye and refused to even shake his hand.

Naruto watched the cliffs of Suna disappear in the distance. He rubbed his cheek absently, remembering Temari kissing it after asking him to write to her. He planned to do that the day after they reached home.

"Thinking about your new girlfriend?"

"Nii-san!"

-Omake: The Origin Of Icha-Icha-

Jiraiya eyed the beautiful 16 year-old in front of him. "You want me to what?'

Anko shrugged. "You heard me; I want to give Obi-kun a teaser gift of what his birthday gift from me will be."

Jiraiya managed to simultaneously stifle a snicker at her nickname for her boyfriend and a nosebleed at the thought of what the guy would see. 'Wait a minute, if I play this right…' "Why me?"

"Because something that'll get a rise out of you will definitely blow him over."

Obito's 18th birthday party,

"You can thank your girlfriend for inspiring this gift. And me for helping her pick hers out. You're one lucky man." Jiraiya said handing Obito a slim package.

"Icha-Icha? What the heck is …" Obito stopped as he read a page in the book he'd just unwrapped.

"ERO-SENNIN!" he yelled chasing the cackling super pervert.

Later, Kakashi picked up the book curiously after having watched the rest of the adults look at the book for themselves and then join in the Jiraiya hunt.

Ten minutes later, he said to himself giggling perversely, "I gotta have a copy, wait till I show Ebisu this."

Next:_ Sasuke and Kumo.

A/N: Well, my first post from my new home, my college hostel, I'd just like to warn everybody that my updates will be quite erratic from now, since pursuing my Master's seems like it'll be taking up most of my time. That won't stop me from writing though; posting will mostly be done during the hols. Anyway, Team Minato's meeting with Sasori will be a separate one-shot. I'm also planning a companion 'Bingo Book'.