The results are in:

Hinata: 8

Temari:11

Haku: 2

Chapter 4: Forming an Alliance

It had been nearly two years since Tsunade had won her little card game with Jirarya, and she regretted it ever since. After getting Jirarya a house of his own, the perverted Sannin started causing all sorts of trouble in the local onsen. Tsunade groaned, she had spent the entire morning today chasing Jirarya away from the bath houses, making it nearly impossible for her to get both herself and Naruto ready in time to meet the Kazekage and his family from Suna. The Kazekage was coming to Konoha to strengthen the alliance between the two villages.

Why was Tsunade, currently a simple medic ninja, and a mere three year child being asked to meet with the leader of a major power in the ninja world? Sarutobi, the current Hokage, told her that the meeting was going to concern her and Naruto, but he didn't elaborate any further than that. Tsunade was slightly nervous of what was happening, but not nervous enough to question her former sensei on the subject. Speaking of the three year old, Naruto ran down the stairs of Tsunade's two story home dressed in his orange and black hakama. Rather, he was half dressed in his orange and black hakama, he had the pants on, but the shirt and jacket were held in his left hand and his zori in his right, laughing as he ran toward Tsunade. The medic chuckled, even if it made them late, the child's display was well worth the laugh.

After getting Naruto into his hakama, Tsunade and Naruto were in the Hokage's tower, standing in front of the Kazekage and his family. At least, Tsunade was standing in front of the Kazekage; Naruto was hiding behind her legs, peaking around them to see the three children who were also attending the meeting between the powerful ninja villages. Temari, also hiding behind her parent's leg, stared at the whisker faced boy.

"Naru-chan, say something!" Tsunade chided, causing Naruto to look up to her. "Go on!" she told him with a smile.

"H-hello, T-temari-san!" Naruto stuttered, blushing bright red.

Temari giggled, the poor boy was utterly shy in a situation like this, and she was enjoying the look on his face. He is kinda cute. Temari thought, smiling back at the boy. Temari's brothers, on the other hand, were not as impressed with the boy at first meeting as she was. After further introductions were made all around, Sarutobi offered everyone to follow him to the rooftop, were he had several Chunin set up a table. "So, Kazekage-sama, what do you think of the treaty? It will cost both sides a little initially, but I think that it would work out better in the long run." The Hokage asked his opposite number.

"I think that the treaty is sound, but I think that it would be better to seal the deal a little more, well, permanently, than with just a mere piece of paper, don't you agree, Hokage-sama?" the leader of the Village Hidden in Sand placed his chin on his hands as he stared at the elder Shinobi.

"In what way were you planning, surely you don't mean to go through with that old custom? Even I can see that it doesn't work very well!"

As realization set in, Tsunade's eyes grew to the size of large dinner plates. They can't really be planning on arranging a marriage, can they? Using that for sealing a deal hasn't been used for nearly a hundred years! Tsunade ranted inside her skull.

"I only suggest it as a means for placating some of my country's more conservative council members. They seem to want everything done in the old style, including this. I'm not suggesting that you agree to the arrangement right off hand, but do think it over. That's why I brought my children with me. I had planned on letting Temari and Naruto getting to know each other a bit more before we decide on using that course of action. I'm sure we can placate the Suna elders in some other way." The Kazekage seemed to be trying to stare down the elderly Hokage, as if daring him to object from this turn of events.

"I propose that we let the children get to know each other, if Tsunade doesn't object to this course of action?" Sarutobi asked, looking at his former pupil.

"I don't think your being fair to the children, forcing them together like this at such a young age, but if the final decision won't be made until after they get to know each other, then I will agree, but only if I think that the marriage could survive." Tsunade answered, dropping into a more motherly role than normal.

"Then it's decided! My children will spend one month here getting to know Naruto, and Naruto will get to spend one month in Suna getting to know my children and their home better!" the Kazekage declared, apparently very pleased with Tsunade's decision.

--The Next Day—

Naruto picked up his bag, smiling. He was going on a hike through the forests with the Suna Sibs, looking for medicinal herbs for his Oba-san. He didn't get to look for herbs by himself very much, more or less because he was so small and there were natural enemies to a lone small boy in the forests, but in a group of four they could go anywhere he wanted (well, almost, he is only three!).

When Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro finally met Naruto at the front door, the kitsune boy was bouncing up and down with energy, rearing to go.

"C'mon, C'mon, C'mon! Let's go already!" Naruto exclaimed, ready to make tracks.

"Alright, we're coming! Just calm down a bit!" Temari said between giggles, getting a good laugh out of watching the blond boy bouncing all over the place.

"Please don't say that you're going to be this hyper the entire day." Gaara said.

"No, just until we get going! So come on!" the hyperactive kitsune replied.

With lunch packed for them by Tsunade, and a stern warning to be back before three o' clock, the four kids made tracks for Konoha's forests.

A/N: What do you think? The next chapter is going to be about the Suna Sibs in Konoha and the chapter after that about Naruto's adventure in Suna. Next chapter I plan to reveal a little about Naruto's powers, and I think those of you who asked me about the Mokuten bloodline are going to be pleased. Please R&R!

Your fledgling author,

Shining Pheonix.