Work has been slow, so I've been able to write a bit more. Don't get used to being updated so quickly, though. ^_^ See fist chapte rfor all disclaimers.

Chapter 7: Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. . .

"He killed the Mizukage!"

Naruto and Kakashi glanced at each other, ready to spring into action as they listened to the conversation happening only a short distance away.

"Yes, I know, I was there!" Hideaki's voice was clearly exasperated. "But his welcoming tea had been poisoned, and the Mizukage practically admitted to the deed!"

"He looks fine, though. . ."

"He got better, baka! But that's not the point!" Hideaki took a moment to take a deep breath. "The point is, we can not afford a war with Konoha. So put down the damn swords and help figure out how to avert getting our asses handed to us even worse than we did just now."

There was silence. Then a new voice, this one sharper than the other had been. "We need to try to restart negotiations, and to do that, we need a Kage. I nominate Hideaki for that role, at least in the interim, since he was the only person with the guts to publically disagree with the former Mizukage's plan."

"Santo—"

"Shut it, Hideaki. Not only that, but your sister can protect you should things not turn out well. I doubt she would be quite as willing for anyone else. You're quite right that we can't afford a war, especially not with Konoha."

Other voices chimed into agreement, and Iruka smirked as he heard Hideaki's reluctance acceptance. "Alright. But only until we've had time to choose a permanent Mizukage."

"Good," Iruka murmured softly. "Of the available options, that was certainly the most favorable." He sighed, then raised his voice to normal levels, addressing Naruto. "Our backup team should be arriving soon, you may wish to tell the new Mizukage to let them through, ANBU-san."

Only a few minutes later, a cloud of agitated kikai announced the arrival of Shino, Sakura and Hinata.

"Shino, before we can restart negotiations, I need you to send a message to the other Kages and the fleets." Iruka said as Sakura checked him over, Hideaki paling as his worries were confirmed. "Tell them that we're all alright, and to hold off the invasion. Tell them too that there is a new Mizukage who is more cooperative, and things look promising."

Shino nodded. He would also add that little detail about what happened to the former Mizukage. It would give people some amusement to read that.

* * * * *

"Message from Shino, Hokage-sama!"

Tsunade and Shizune hurried over to the table, reading the message spelled out in kikai.

The assistant started to giggle as Tsunade shook her head. "Why am I not surprised. . ." she murmured.

"Hokage?" The room had stilled, expecting more serious reactions, puzzled by the suddenly lighter atmosphere.

Shizune answered in her stead. "Well, basically, according to Shino, the former Mizukage poisoned Iruka's Welcoming Tea. Iruka, dying, managed to cut his throat with the Mizukage's own knife, and died, causing Kakashi and Naruto to completely go off. Then Iruka, and I quote, 'got better from being dead,' calmed Naruto and Kakashi, and is now restarting negotiations with the new Mizukage, who seems more willing to cooperate, and would we mind holding off the invasion for now. . ."

The room was silent as she trailed off, until it was broken by the sound of Izumo sniggering.

* * * * *

"He . . . got better?" Azuri blinked in surprise.

Gaara looked at his admiral. "It's happened before. . ." he said, glancing back down at the message. "Although, it was probably different this time. . ." he frowned. "We will continue with all speed to the rendezvous point. Even if the invasion is called off, I may be needed to help with containment."

The ship suddenly shuddered and groaned as the feeling of the waves changed. "That would be the Northeast current," Azuri nodded to himself. "If we keep the engines at full, we'll make the rendezvous in a matter of hours. Should I tell the others the war's been called off?"

Gaara gazed stoically out a porthole. "Tell them recent developments indicate we may not have to fight after all, but we won't know for sure at least until we reach the rendezvous, maybe the island itself. . ."

* * *

"Huhn."

"Hm?"

"Nah, it's just uh . . . the kikai the Hokage sent so I could update the Tsuchikage. . . that chakra blast. . . um. . . "

Akamaru wined from where he lay at his master's feet.

Kankuro finally tired of Kiba's uncharacteristic hesitancy and walked over to see the message for himself. He paused for a moment.

"Clearly, Naruto has mastered the ability of raising the dead." He deadpanned. "We'll need to prepare for the zombie invasion."

Kiba scowled, punching Kankuro in the side. "Maybe you crazy Sand-nins are used to folk dying and getting better, but it's a little unusual for us humble Leaf shinobi."

Kankuro sat next to his lover, hand automatically reaching down to softly scratch the top of the dog's head. "Nah, it's just my crazy little brother. You get used to not showing surprise when growing up around him. I'm glad your teacher is okay, and even more glad that we may yet avoid another war. We should probably go update the Tsuchikage on the situation."

Kiba nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

* * *

" . . . And so, from what we can tell, the natural magnetic distortions and gravity wells prevented the spike of Sigma radiation from being detected any farther away than Artemis. Aries was in the area, but reported nothing, likewise Ceres and Persephone."

"So the location is still hidden, Captain?"

"Yes, sir. If it had been out here, it would have registered at least as far as Hades, but being on the ground, it was contained."

"Hades." The other man sighed. "God damn, what I wouldn't give to be able to harness that. Just a break in the endless dying would be nice. Instead, it's like God is teasing us with survival . . ." he trailed off, the old bitterness lacing his voice again.

"Is that all, sir?"

The man nodded. "Keep an eye open on the place, make sure you get as much data as you can if this happens again. You are dismissed."

* * *

It was nearing evening when the Suna fleet came upon a small craft floating listlessly in the sea, three small leaf genin and what looked to be a dead jonin. Gaara came to the foredeack when he heard the commotion.

"C'mon, kids," Azuri was trying to cajole and yell at the same time. "It's clear from here you're dehydrated. Let's get some water in you—we're going to meet with your people anyway, we'll take you there."

"With all due respect, Admiral" came the reply, in a voice Gaara recognized. "We're under the strict orders of the Hokage herself to return to the Konoha forces, and we certainly cannot share this dead jonin with anyone not of the Leaf."

The small boat came into view as Gaara stepped up the rail. "Yamamaru," he called. "Are you and your team well?"

"Gaara-sama!" The boy grinned in relief. "We're a bit thirsty and hungry—we took down a Kiri jonin! But other than that, we're pretty okay!" His last words were belied at his swift glance to Umeko. "Your admiral was trying to convince us to get on your fine ship, but I'm afraid we can't do that!"

Gaara nodded, knowing better than to try to argue with stubborn Konoha shinobi. "Would it be acceptable for us to send over some water and food, and to escort you to the Konoha fleet?"

Yamamaru glanced at Ringo, who nodded. "Yeah, I think that'd be okay. Mind if we tie ourselves to you? Our team needs some rest."

Gaara allowed himself a small smile. Naruto would skin him alive if he let anything happen to his kids, and his team knew it.

"Admiral, assemble some fresh water, food and medical supplies. I will take them over, and ensure their well being."

"Ambassador, surely one of the chunin—"

"Naruto is their jonin-sensei. They know me." Gaara scowled. "And he'd be very angry with me if I didn't look out for them."

Azuri nodded his understanding. "Well, we can't have that, can we?"

* * *

They it had been several hours, and they hadn't stopped for supper, the new Mizukage and Iruka both preferring to work through and get a solid foundation for productive negotiations. Hideaki was surprised and pleased to find Iruka an honorable, compassionate man, given to thinking proposals through completely, and trying to come up with solutions that would be mutually beneficial, or at least mutually neutral. The man had an uncanny read of the situation not just in Kirigakure, but in all the known shinobi lands, and several times he had even taken the role of arguing points on behalf of Suna or Iwa, pointing out weaknesses and problems that, if only Kiri and Konoha were concerned, would not have been considered.

It had been dark for several hours before Hideaki realized that it was his place to call for a recess in the negotiations, and if he didn't say something, everyone would force themselves to stay awake all night. Frankly, the day had already been too long for that.

"Alright," he sighed. "I think we're off to a good start Iruka-san. I suggest we all retire for the night and get back together at midmorning. I, for one, have had a long, exhausting day, and would very much like to sleep, and I'm sure the rest of you are tired as well. Please, sleep well."

The whole team decided to stay in one room, not yet trusting the local shinobi enough to split their forces.

"I'll take first watch," Naruto volunteered. "Hinata after me, and then Sakura. Shino, make sure your bugs are well dispersed."

Kakashi frowned—it was unlike Naruto to volunteer for first watch so easily. "Naruto, you need to rest. You blew the top off the damn mountain."

He was answered with a wan smile. "I'm fine, Kakashi-sensei, and I will rest. But Shino and his kikai have been working all day, and you need to keep watch on Iruka-sensei—"

"I'm fine now!" Iruka muttered, but Naruto kept on as though he hadn't heard.

"Who was dead, you know, and we're all worried about him. So, I'd rather take first watch, then Hinata gets second watch with her eyes, and then Sakura's such a morning person I'm sure she won't mind waking before dawn!"

"Naruto—" the feminine growl was a nostalgic reminder for Kakashi of former days, when he had been their jonin-sensei. Although, he'd have to intervene now if she punched him in the head. But, that said, what Naruto said made sense, even if he still had the feeling there was an ulterior motive.

"Alright." He conceded. "But make sure you get a good sleep before you do anything tomorrow. No one likes a grumpy fox in the morning."

"Yeah, yeah" Naruto waved him off, sitting on a ruined window ledge as the others settled down. Soon, night closed around them, silent save for the sound of nocturnal jungle birds calling out in the moonlight. Naruto watched as the stars wheeled overhead, the Milky Way a jagged scar through the sky. When the time came, he awoke Hinata, and settled down on his bedroll. But even after Hinata had spent her time and been replaced by Sakura, Naruto was still awake, unable to sleep in the dark.

As dawn lit the sky, Naruto's sluggish mind finally worked out just how bad a problem he had. He was a shinobi. And he was now afraid of the dark.

His eyes finally fluttered closed as sunlight flooded their room, his last thought fleeing with the shadows.

Sasuke's never gonna let me live this down.

______________

The next chapter (8) will be published when I've finished with nine. There's gonna be some explainin' of stuff comin up, so keep yer britches on. I just have to allow our characters a moment's peace for that to happen, so, plat stuff first, then long metaphysical discussions. Who doesn't love philosophy! Yay!! ^________^!