(A/N)
Sorry this took so long! I took one trip over the 26th-29th (where my laptop was not allowed), and then took another over the 1st to the 5th… and I didn't have any way to upload on either of the trips L
Hopefully the length and content will make up for it… It's long chapter that covers a lot.
Chapter Eight: The Afterward
With a groan, Naruto rolled over in his hospital bed, opening a sleepy eyes to close them again immediately in response to the bright daylight, covering his face with the blanket. He groaned again, this time in discomfort.
"Hey you," A familiar voice half-whistled. "Are you waking up for real this time or do I have to turn away your admirers?"
Keeping his eyes shut, he rolled in the direction of the voice, eyes still shut. "Kiritsu?"
"The one and only." She smiled under the bandages that covered almost all over her face, only revealing her blue eye. "Hey Pervy Sage, he's awake."
"Good. I'll talk to him once he's got food in him." The aging Sage said, ruffling Kiritsu's hair as he went out the hospital room door. "I've got to help prepare for the funeral after all."
She nodded soberly, grabbing the half-cooled bowl of ramen from the bedside table. "I just came back from Ichiraku's… and thought you'd like some."
He eagerly reached out, and she laughed as she handed him the bowl, watching him eat like a starving man.
Finished a few seconds later, he looked at her. "So, who died?"
Her mood fell again. "Well… I'll just say that Suna and Konoha have lost their deeply respected Kage's to Orochimaru."
"What! The Old Man was taken down by that creep!"
"Orochimaru also killed Kazekage-sama Naruto."
His jaw went slack. "No way, Gaara's dad is…"
"Yeah." She sighed, hearing Gaara shift in his bed on the other side of the dividing curtain. He could hear everything.
"Was he really all that bad?" Naruto said quietly. "Gaara told me about the… assassins that were sent on him by his dad, dattebayo."
"That all ended before I was taken in… but that's no longer important." She lightly punched his shoulder. "Thanks for everything Noodle Brains, I have some people to see before I go home."
"Aw, you're leaving?" He grumbled, and she smiled. "I really wanted to spend some more time with you and Gaara, dattebayo."
"If you get healed up soon enough, I might be able to pull something together." Her smile held until the door was shut, vanishing as she walked down the hall. 'If I still have friends here besides the Team Seven boys by tomorrow…'
Sensing chakras with a familiar flare, she turned down the hall to see Temari and Kankuro heading her way.
"Baki is telling the ANBU all the details of the alliance with Orochimaru." Kankuro said, eyes on the floor and his hands in his pockets, a sign something was bothering him. "We'll probably be here until the end of next week so the adults can fix all the political crap."
"That's good news." Kiritsu said, grabbing one of their hands each and walking between them, voice lowered. "Now you can apologize to your friends."
"She'd try to kill me*." Kankuro said, jaw set with unease in the way he held himself. "I don't want to see that Little Leaf's face… for once."
Kiritsu groaned.
"Shikamaru's probably just deiced I was toying with him to make it hard for him to attack me or something… I'd assume that if I was in his shoes." Temari bit her lip and played with the smaller-scale version of her battle fan. "Even though it isn't true. He'd an impressive kid."
"Don't tell me you've fallen for the 'Lazy Leaf'." He said, raising his eyebrows at his sister. She didn't answer at first.
"Like you're one to talk Niichan." Kiritsu released them and crossed her arms over her chest with disapproval. "Now; both of you suck it up like the ninja's you are and go talk to-"*
She cut off when she sensed two shadows move. Two Leaf ANBU appeared, and one held a scroll.
"Kiritsu Sabaku?" The other asked, and she nodded, receiving the scroll. "You have been summoned by Jiraiya-sama to meet this afternoon."
Quickly scanning the scroll, she nodded. "Thank you."
When they disappeared, she gave her siblings a pointed look and ran off.
"Jiraiya-Ero," She said, watching the man when she reached the pools by the bath house. "You'd better not be using me as an excuse to watch the ladies undress."
He gave her a slightly irritated look before smiling and ruffling her hair. "I actually summoned you for something important."
Though it went unseen, she raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
With a groan, he rolled his shoulders. "Those stuck-up elders want me to become Hokage. They say I'm the only one for the job…"
She kept a straight face for about two seconds… and to his disapproval, erupted into giggles. "Oh Kami… they'd last for two days…" *
"Hey! I could do it." He sighed. "I just don't want to. I'm not motivated enough to rule the village."
"Damn straight." She nodded seriously, crossing her arms over her chest. "So… there's someone you've suggested then?"
"The only other Sanin left."
Her jaw went a little slack. "Tsunade?"
"Yeah… I know it's a long shot. If you've studied Konoha's history, you'll get where I'm stuck."
Quiet.
"As a matter of fact, the histories of all the Nations interested me, so I've learned as much as I can."* She shrugged. "I'm guessing you and Naruto're going to get her then."
He raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're only ten? You've got more sense than those damn elders, and seem almost as keen as Kakashi."
A shrug. "So when are you two leaving?"
"After lunch. That kid does nothing without a full stomach." He grumbled, picking up his scrolls and leaving.
"True." She stood and followed him. "Be back quick though, I want to spend time with Noodle Brains before we go back to Suna in two weeks." *
"I'll try my best."
She nodded to herself and absentmindedly began to walk back to the hotel… to run into Shikamaru.
The two stared at each other for what seemed like a long time, sizing each other up. She dropped her guard down first; there was no reason for him to attack her. Physically, anyway.
"I've been wondering if you were still in the village, since your Sensei is the temporary leader of Suna,*" He said, his stance a hint off of being comfortable.
"Yep…" She stuffed her hands in her pockets. "So…"
"This is too troublesome." He said after her pause. "I'll treat you to ramen."
She raised an eyebrow. "Okay."
Thank Kami they were both comfortable with silence, or they'd both go crazy during the walk to Ichiraku's. Once seated, Shikamaru made an off motion with his hand, the girl that worked there* happily taking with Naruto before and after she handed the pair their meal.
"You're the least troublesome person I've met… in a way." He said as she began eating, a grin on her face at the comment. "You're powerful and wise for a ninja, and seem to blur the lines to attain peace."
"So you forgive the Sand." It wasn't a question.
"Yes." There was more to his answer.
"Well, I'm not the only Suna-nin that needs to know they're forgiven."
He groaned. "You can't just relay the message?"
A smirk that was almost visible crossed her face. "Nope."
"Damn pain you turned out to be."
"Takes one to know one." She slurped a noodle. "Now go before I tell everyone exactly how you lost some of those sparring sessions."
He grumbled incoherently and walked off, hands in his pockets. *
"Hey Sis," Naruto said, turning to her, confused at her amusement and Shikamaru's bad temper. "Why's he so ticked?"
The server looked absentmindedly at the counter and spoke at the same time as Kiritsu. "He's lovesick as a Lazy-Ass can be."
"Nani?"
The next day, Neji and TenTen were having lunch at Ichiraku's, sweaty from their afternoon training session.
"… At least I've managed to get past the 64-Palms in close combat." TenTen said smugly, blushing with pride and shame. The shame was from the person that had helped her become able to beat him. "After lunch I'll show you something new I've…"
She trailed off, lighthearted look changing to an angry and hurt one, narrowed eyes focusing on an approaching figure.
Looking more uneasy than he'd ever been before, Kankuro walked closer to the pair. Neji, having been told most of the story, glared at him. Taking no notice of the angered Hyuuga, he stopped a few feet from them.
"…Hey." He finally said, unsure what to say next.
**Slowly, TenTen stood and walked up to him, face unreadable. The looked at each other a minute, but when he read the intention that flashed in her eyes he attempted to speak, becoming unable when she landed a solid punch in his gut. Leaning over, he received another hit, this time in the jaw, that sent him to the ground. Holding his face, only heavy breathing was his reaction, willing his fighting instinct back.
He wasn't a baby, he'd suck it up like a proper man and ninja to take the beating he'd earned.
"You jerk! Why? Why did you just lie? To ME!" She kicked his legs and continued the beating as she yelled, her anger releasing all at once.
Now he winced, the words hurting more than the wounds, fighting himself a bit more to wait her anger out.
Her anger began to dissipate, but her attacks didn't loose their forcefulness for a few more minutes, when she finally stopped.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" She said, her fist inches from his face. 'He… he always fights back and beats the living crap out of me.' **
'Glad that's over… Now I get to give the apology speech. This "being the good guy" stuff really stinks.' Kankuro thought, rubbing his face and blushing slightly. "I'm sorry TenTen."
The look on her face was priceless. First it was confused, then livid, then finally astonished, a blush crossing her cheeks.
"You… you…" She couldn't make her brain function fast enough. "Said my real name… and… apologized!"
Neji gave the pair a confused look, unsure of what to do, and Kankuro smirked. "I know. And-"
"I… you…" She shifted her feet, uncertain. "Do you want to join us?"
Noting Neji's distrust, he shrugged. "If it means you forgive me… sure. Why the Hell not?"
Neji gave her the 'You sure?' look, and didn't argue when she nodded. 'You've never been steered wrong by her judgment before… When has she steered you wrong?'
Sensing the tension between the two boys, TenTen choose to sit between them, giving worried looks. Kankuro gave off an air of relaxation (though he was still sore from the beating she gave him), but Neji was another story. Between distrustful glances and strained smiles, he'd reach his limit sooner than later.
"I don't want to interrupt your conversation." Neji said smoothly, cutting off Kankuro, and TenTen turned to him. He ignored the dirty look he received from the other boy. "But since you did so well in the Exams, you must come from a good family or have a very good Sensei. Who-"
"My teammates are my siblings-even though Kiritsu is technically Baki-Sensei's adoptive daughter." Kankuro rolled his eyes, then muttered something about a doll under his breath. "But my dad is -was- the Yondaime Kazekage."
"And your mother?" He was mildly curious about his puppet and chakra control affinity's source.
"Died. Twelve years ago."
That surprised him.
"Interesting." Neji deadpanned.
Kankuro's gaze went sharp. "What's so damn interesting?"
"Kankuro…" TenTen grabbed his forearm. "Neji was just thinking about how you have something in common."
"It's a Shinobi world." He muttered, disgruntled but not moving from her touch. "Being an orphan isn't abnormal."
"Hm… Are you finished with your meal?" Neji pulled out some money. 'The Suna prince is her friend, so it would be polite to pay out of respect for her.' '
"Yeah…" He shrugged, and she slowly let go of his arm. "Um…"
Sighing because he knew what was bugging her, he nodded. "You can ask him." 'I am curious at how he got her closer to beating me than ever before.'
Because of his high stress level during the meal, Kankuro jumped when TenTen tapped on his shoulder. "Do you want to come with us and show off?"
His smirk was cat-like. "Sure."
"Are you in any pain?" Kiritsu asked, running her finger up the scar that wound the length of the arm she was holding in her other hand. "That Jutsu is incomplete and really complicated… I might not have been careful en-"
"Hn." Sasuke cracked his eyes open briefly. "It's fine."
"Still…" She gave him a dirty look, her visible eye flashing the Sharingan for a second. "I can tell something's wrong. Your chakra's been bouncing around a lot."
He sighed. 'This is going to get annoying.' "I just can't believe the dube is so much stronger than me."
She frowned. "That's out of his hands Sasuke, and you're strong too!"
"Not as strong as him." He muttered.
'He's… sulking.' She sweat-dropped. She touched his arm again. "Sasuke…"
A frowned. "Leave me alone. Don't you have someone else to bother, like Shikamaru?"
"That's Temari's job. Niisan is training with TenTen to annoy Neji." She smirked, then the happiness faltered. "Gaara's been resting up in the apartment, and I'm not sure if I should go see him yet…"
"…Annoying…"
"Strange. Shikamaru says the same thing."
Silence.
"So…" SHe rubbed her shoulder. "I guess I should leave…"
He raised an eyebrow. 'She doesn't give up that easily…'
A smirk as she leaned back in her seat. "I don't want your pathetic gang of fan girls to try and jump me after all."
Giving her a confused look, he said, "You're only ten."
"But not an idiot. There will be hordes of girls willing to fight me for Sas-Uke's* 'love'…" She rolled her eyes, voice dripping with sarcasm, standing. "Just let me give you some good advice."
"Hn."
~"Someone who's born with power but does not desire what they are given is the lesser man than the one who is born weak and earns his power rightfully." She shrugged. "And believe me, there is no worse hate than hate without a face."~
He sat up in bed. "I don't… understand you."
"I've heard that one before." She messed with her own hair. "But let's put it this way; I understand what you're coming from with this whole power thing… I've heard about your brother."
Something she'd said caught up with him. "Wait… Who do you hate? Who do you have to avenge?"
'And just as I'm about to leave, I have his undivided attention.' She smiled a little. "Whoever the person is, I'm going to keep my anger in check before I decide to kill them."
"Who? And why wouldn't you-"
'And who was he calling annoying?' She thought, holding up a hand to cut him off. "I don't know their identity… but the person that turned me into this ugly freak and took away my real family is 'that person'* in my life."
"Power like yours isn't ugly."
"Not having any answers as to why your limits and powers are this way… it's not pretty to me." She said, glad her bandages hid her slight blush. 'Did he just call me pretty in a weird way?' "I'll leave you to rest now."
"Hn." He smirked. "Finally."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that because you're already in a weakened state. Next time, you'll get in."
He could tell she wasn't bluffing, and watched her leave with amusement, their conversation replaying in his mind.
Stepping outside, she sighed, putting her hands on her hips. Walking to the village gates, her self-assigned mission now was to ask either Genma, Kotetzu, or Izumo if Naruto had arrived yet. Time was almost up- If Tsunade didn't show, Baki was ready to take their group back to Suna tomorrow.
"That old perv better not be slacking…" She muttered, only a block from the gates. "Now, how much further-"
"Kiri-chan!" Naruto yelled, running up to the girl and glomping her, squeezing her half to death. "You'll never guess what I did!"
'I won't be able to if I can't breathe!' She thought sarcastically, trying to wiggle free with no results.
"Choking… not breathing…" She muttered, pressing the pressure points on his wrists to make him let go. He made a complaining noise. "You can tell me later Noodle-Brained baka, where's-"
Turning, her partial vision was filled with the sight of Tsunade, and noted she liked the impressive figure the woman set already.
'And with those jugs on her…' She smirked, holding out a hand in greeting. 'I can't believe she's fifty…'
"Aren't we leaving Konoha Daddy?" Kiritsu said, following Baki to the Hokage Tower. "I mean… I'm really going to miss this place, but there's nowhere like-"
"You have been summoned to the Godaime Hokage's office." He replied flatly. "Last-minute before we leave."
"Okay…" Sensing that this was important, she decided to keep quiet, eyes drooping in boredom.
"Don't fall asleep on me, this is the Hokage you're going to see!"
"Baasama'll forgive me…" SHe began to dose off, grabbing Baki's arm to keep herself upright.
Giving her an aghast look, he lifted her up and put her on his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his head and got comfortable, asleep in seconds.
'I'll kill anyone who sees…' He thought to himself mildly, not noticing that every woman he passed (civilian and ninja alike) 'awed' and began to comment to each other on how such a tough Jonin could be such a sweet hearted man.*
Once inside the building, he poked her in the sides of her torso, getting the expected sudden chokehold from her legs. Once fully awake, she released him from her strangling legs, and slapped him upside the head.
"Daddy!" She complained. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
"You looked exhausted, and I really don't think you want to be dosing off during this."
Her jaw nearly unhinged from surprise, a gap forming in the bandages to reveal her mouth. "Then what's so important!"
He didn't answer her, and when the were inside the office, she saw several Jonin and ANBU talking with Tsunade. To her surprise, Shikamaru was there.
"What're you doing here Lazy Bones?" She hissed, and he shrugged.
"Nara Shikamaru, Sabaku no Kiritsu." Tsunade said, smiling at the pair. "Even though the competition was never completed, it was a unanimous vote for the pair of you. You two are now officially…"
"…Chuunin!" Kankuro's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head, causing TenTen and Kiritsu to giggle.
IT had been an hour since she'd been given the news herself, and she hadn't been able to tell all her Konoha friends before they left.
"Gaara's not going to be… mad about this, is he?" TenTen said with uncertainty.
"I'm sure it's going to be fine." Kankuro said, then gave Kiritsu a pointed look. "Go and tell anyone that's left, I'll meet you and the others at the gate."
She smirked and walked away, Chuunin vest hidden from behind by her hair. 'I'll leave them to their goodbyes…'
Rubbing the back of his head, Kankuro smirked at nothing in particular. "I guess this is goodbye for now Little Leaf… I'm going to be stuck with her until a mission comes up."
"Will you visit?" She asked, giving him a curious look. 'He's not the caring type…' "I mean, its been fun being able to beat Neji and mess with him together."
He gave her a confused look. "You want me to?"
"Eh, why the Hell not?" She said, quoting him. "It's not like you have anyone else to hang out with…" 'And you've gotten me to see past my hopeless crush on Neji.'
She grinned at his halfhearted glare. "Pft… whatever."
"I'll see you when I see you then." She played with her headband tails, flushing with excitement, unsure how to say goodbye. All of her friends had usually never truly left her before now. "It's been great… aside from the whole 'trying to take over your village' thing…"
"Yeah…" He took one of his hands out of his pockets and used it to brace himself against the wall next to her, leaning in front of her. She could see a slight blush creeping across his cheeks, and was confused as to why either of them were blushing.
'What is this feeling? Is it like how Hinata is around…' She cut off the thought, a little peeved. "What do you think you're doing?"
There was a thoughtful look on his face. "Deciding…" He finally murmured, getting his face too close to hers for comfort.
'Wha..? Is Kankuro going to-'
He kissed her forehead*, and quickly began to walk away. Seeing his smirk, she heard him call out, "See you again Little Leaf!"
She touched her forehead in surprise, and saw purple on her fingertips when she pulled them away. "That sand-ass jerk!"
Meanwhile, Shikamaru was waiting in a certain clearing* of the Nara Forrest, getting sleepy.
He yawned. "What a drag. Troublesome woman… always late-"
"I'm not late." Temari walked into the clearing, a smirk on her face. "You're just early. Are you itching to get tied up again one last time before I go?"
"Far from it." He frowned at the comment, but knew she was just teasing. Fighting was her passion after all. "I wanted to get this all off my chest before you left."
"Fire away, I don't have to leave for another hour…" She imbedded her fan in the ground, leaning against it like a chair back.
He groaned and sat against a tree across from her. "I just was wondering if you wanted to keep in contact is all… and I was curious to see what you act like lazy."
With a smirk, she spun around and stretched across his stomach, causing him to lay flat on the ground in surprise. Grinning at the look he gave her, she said, "I just… When I'm off a mission and am left alone in my room… I'm willing to lay around and take care of my flowers."
"That makes absolutely no sense, yet does in a strange way." He muttered. 'Thank Kami for sarcasm.'
Any harshness in her diminished, and she changed the subject. "I can still take you on, even though you're a Chuunin now."
"Eh, dream on." He smirked. "And you can get off any time you know."
Sticking off her tongue, her expression was playful. "What if I don't want to?"
Momentarily stunned, he didn't have any comeback at hand. "…Troublesome…"
Grabbing the collar of his vest, pulled him closer to her face, moving down to his lap to ease him into the new position. "My name is Sabaku no Temari, not troublesome."
Truth be told, he was unusually clustered by the new arrangement they were in, but kept his guard up and rolled his eyes. "I know that, troublesome-"
She hit him on the head. "Idiot."
"Why do I even bother!" He said, angry. "It's such a pa-"
Fed up and unable to think of anything else, she spun him around below her, straddling his hips and using her hands to hold herself up. His face turned red, and glared at her, confused and angry.
"This is why you bother…" She murmured quietly, kissing him on the cheek* before disappearing in a breeze.
He laid on the ground in a daze, realization crossing his face. 'A clone. She's… troublesome alright.'
Choji began to choke on the BBQ he'd been chewing, and Kiritsu spit up her drink on Kakashi. More like sprayed him with the liquid, but she was too busy dislodging the meat from the boy's throat to apologize right away.
"She did what?" Kiritsu managed, saying what several of the others were thinking.
Shikamaru turned an angry shade of red and began to mutter to himself, rapping his fingers on the table, avoiding the gazes of his expectant audience.
Once Choji's life was no longer in jeopardy, Kiritsu shrugged and walked over to Kakashi. "Sorry about that… and thanks for the address. I'll write as often as I can."
"Same here… when I have the time." Kakashi said with a happy eye crease, and chuckled at her angry expression. 'Where have I seen that expression before?'*
"I guess I'll see you all as soon as I can." She smiled under the bandages and stuck her hands in her pockets, walking out. "I'll write."
Once a good distance away, she began running and performing a victory dance, punching the air. 'It worked it worked it worked it-'
She tripped over her own tow feet and went flying, being caught by a blanket of sand. "…Gaara?"
His face was blank as he walked towards her at a casual pace, letting her down to the ground beside him. "You were running late."
"Thanks for catching me." She smiled and held out a hand to him. "Let's hurry up so Daddy doesn't get impatient."
Confusion crossed his features as he watched her hand, but he didn't attack when she sighed like a patient teacher and grabbed his arm, pulling him along with her as they walked to the gate.
"I'm… I'm going to try to be like Naruto." He said, eyes uneasy, and she smiled at him. "That baka… he's given me hope that one day no one will see me as a monster."
Her smile widened, and she whispered. "You will be as good as him to people."
"Then… I shall adopt one of his goals as well." The slightest hint of happiness crossed his face. "I'll live to protect my friends and village as the Godaime Kazekage. Will you…help me?"
"Of course Gaara-kun." She said affectionately, holding his arm tight.
Looking out her bedroom window in Suna, she smiled at the sunrise, ready to write with the pen in her hand on the scroll in front of her. She'd been so happy Gaara'd arranged for her to get a desk in her room, or her promise to write letters to her friends would've been difficult.
"It's been about a month Kakashi-Jonin." She said to herself, playing with the pen between her fingers, looking at the twin sealed scrolls to the side of the blank one. "I'd better send the letter for Sas-uke with Kakashi's-"
There was a purple and yellow cloud of smoke, a snake appearing and turning into a scroll, Kabuto's kanji on the seal.
'I've been waiting a week for your response. Damn four-eyes.' She thought, plugging her nose with one hand while using the other to have her fan direct the smell out the window. 'Now I have another letter to write…'
"Kiritsu…-chan." Gaara's voice was heard on the other side of the door. She hid her letter from Kabuto quickly. "May I come in?"
"Yep," She said, brushing off her front. Since she was off-duty and it was hotter than Hell inside, only her forearms and across her nose covered in bandages, and she was wearing a fishnet midriff shirt instead of her usual one.
He warily stepped in, leaving the door wide open behind him. "Get your vest and other bandages on… the council has called us into a meeting."
"What do those old farts want?" She did as he asked, adding her hat with her forehead protector on it for good measure.
"No clue." He deadpanned, though understanding crossed his features. He didn't care for the Elders either.
"Secretive, as usual…" She yawned, and the pair walked out. "I wonder what they're going to try to pull on us."
He shrugged, and rubbed his tattoo with an irritated expression. Shukaku was bothering him.
'He's been trying so hard, don't make it worse for him Shukaku…' She thought, angry, another yawn slipping from between her covered lips.
They reached the council room fairly quickly (having snuck into the room on several occasions as children), and were surprised to see several angered Jonin and ANBU there as well. Kankuro, Temari, and Baki saw them, and Temari waved them over.
"Do you know what this is all about?" Kiritsu whispered just loud enough for them to hear.
Kankuro picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. "They were saying 'reform' and 'new ninja training' a lot. Does that help?"
"No. Being vague does not." She pulled his hair.
"Ow."
Temari smiled at the exchange before going serious. "They're going to try to remodel the ninja academy after Konoha's, since our failure to take them down…"
Seeing Kiritsu's exited look, she frowned, and continued. "But the Elders aren't hearing it. They need a Kazekage to help them decided, the jerks."
Kiritsu's visible eye narrowed. "That's… pretty much stupid. Trying to simply stock up on only highly skilled ninja and leaving the weaker ones in the dust… That's a quick and disastrous downfall for crying out loud!"
All the adults had heard her, and now were angrily murmuring to each other.
"What would you know kid." An ANBU woman scoffed.
"A child that became a Chuunin before her older and more experienced Teammates." Baki said loudly, his tone commanding. The room went silent. "Her point is the same as mine. Why shouldn't we train all available ninja to the fullest? It would higher our military strength and income from ninja work."
The Jonin and several ANBU nodded, the remaining wavering.
"That has never been our tradition!" One man managed.
'And look where that tradition got us.' Kiritsu thought. It was clear some of the others felt the same.
Clearly no one is skilled enough right now-"
"The late Kazekage's youngest son and Baki's girl are fully capable."
Everyone froze and turned to the doorway, where the Honorable Siblings were standing.
"Pardon?" An ANBU said.
"Kiritsu-san and Gaara-san are both strong enough to lead this country and have the strength to protect it." Ebizo said.
"But you can have only one Kazekage, and they're just kids! Why-"
Shocking everyone, Gaara held up his arm. "It would be my honor to serve Suna."
Granny Chiyo cackled and clapped her hands together. "What have you got to offer boy?"
As usual, his face betrayed no emotion. "How did my father say it… 'Serving the people of their village is a Kage's job, no matter what village they are in.' Even though I was chained with the title of the Byuui's Jinchuuriki before birth, I owe this village my life, and am determined to make this village a better place. Starting with this present issue of training ninja… If you'll have me."
"Spoken like the son of a Kage alright!" Chiyo smirked. "You've got a lot of work ahead of you."
"Gaara-sama." One of the Elders from across the room said. "What will be your first step in gaining the favor of the people of Suna?"
Blinking once, he turned to Kiritsu, and she could read the question on his eyes. 'What do I say?'
Climbing down from Kankuro's shoulders, she landed next to Gaara and grabbed his hand, squeezing it in encouragement.
"My siblings, Kiritsu, and I will assist training the ninja academy students in a new training method for the time being… until suitable teachers are chosen." He said.
There were mutters of approval and agreement.
"That sounds… reasonable." Another Elder said, slightly distrustful.
A bit more confident, Gaara continued. "We'll send out notices through ANBU and messenger hawk. I expect that this could take a month to circulate through the village, so put a date for the first class around that time."
"Of course, Gaara-sama." The head Elder said, and the people dispersed with their orders, the meeting adjourned. Only the Siblings, Kiritsu, and Baki stayed.
Under her bandages, Kiritsu beamed, hugging Gaara tightly and without warning. "You- you're going to be the Kazekage Gaara-kun!"
While the others were mildly surprised, the two remaining siblings respected their brother even more than they had recently.
"Let's get out of here you two." Kankuro said, smirking, hands in his pockets. "The old hags have been stressed enough- I don't think they need to worry about their Kazekage-to-be murdering somebody."
Gaara rolled his eyes at the joke, but Kiritsu released him anyway.
With a relieved and accomplished sigh, Kiritsu watched the message hawk fly across the night sky towards Kakashi's home in Konoha.
'Now…' She thought, her stomach turning in anticipation and anxiety. 'Kabuto's letter.'
Breaking the seal, she skipped over his overly-polite greeting and looked for what she wanted to find, eyes widening.
It was… unexpected… but informative in the least.
'We (Orochimaru-sama and I) are sending the Sound Four to pick up Sasuke any day now.' She read. 'Orochimaru-sama needs his new body as soon as possible, and after all, the Uchiha is the perfect choice. Don't think that you can prevent this, or that I'll stop writing you. I think I can remember you, even though I would have been quite young then. The details will be coming back to me slowly, but I promise to fulfill my end of the bargain. I think your family was somehow involved with Orochimaru-sama in the early days… I hope you are in good health-'
She furiously put down the letter and began to write two short messages, hoping Tsunade would get her letter in time. Making several hand seals, she sent the transformed letter through the window (a bird), and began writing a letter for Kabuto. Once finished with that, she sent it through the window as a snake.
"Sasuke's in a weak emotional state right now…" She muttered, leaning out of her window, relaxed in her alcove seat. "I hope my letter…" *yawn* "Gets to them… in.. time…"
Exhausted, she passed out right there, leaning heavily on the window frame.
Later that night, Gaara was on one of his nightly walks, and noticed what position she was in through the open doorframe.
'She'll be uncomfortable if she sleeps like that.' He noticed, rubbing his tattoo to suppress a Shukaku-influenced headache. 'I'll get Kankuro…'*
He left, returning with a cranky yet sympathetic brother a few minutes later. Kankuro carefully lifted Kiritsu into his arms and moved her to her bed, tucking her in.
As the brothers left the room, Kankuro rubbed his neck awkwardly. "You've been doing great you know."
Gaara smiled a little. "Thank you."
A/N:
* Yes Kankuro, you've just said your first intelligent line in this fic. Congrats. TenTen may just try to kill you now for that comment
* I just had to have Kiritsu call them out. If you're too chicken to talk to somebody, than you aren't that much of a ninja.
* That was probably most fan's reactions to Jiraiya being offered to become Hokage… XD
* Stats: Kiritsu's hobbies are studying history and bothering people she's close to about their friendships.
* This is how long I've figured the Finding Tsunade arc takes place. (It took one week from the time they found her to the time they fought Kabuto and Orochimaru, and it probably was only a few days of travel between the town and Konoha)
* Since Baki is the closest advisor to the Kazekage in this fic (he may have been, who knows), he was appointed the temporary leader until the village had time to pick a new Kazekage. Leaving The Sand Siblings and his ward with him in Konoha
* Hama-Tsu has lines! Lines and action!
* I've never been a really big fan of pairing Shikamaru up with anyone but cannon characters, and probably never will be, but I love the dynamics of his relationship with Kiritsu; their similarities get under his skin and she knows it and abuses it.
**…**: I love angry TenTen. Especially here. It may seem a little OOC for her to react like this, but when your first crush ignores you, it's not that hard to forgive. But when the first guy that acknowledges you 'betrays' you, that has a much deeper reaction. And when they come back around, of course she'll hate them a little… until something unexpected happens. Then the hate goes downhill :D
* Kiritsu will be commonly be calling Sasuke 'Uke' because of her enjoyment of embarrassing people J
~…~: In the Harry Potter books, Dumbledore says something similar. 1)Naruto is weak but earns more power = good. Now Sasuke, he is the one who desires more power than what he's born with the potential to get, which is bad in her opinion. 2) Kiritsu's second line: Hating somebody is all the more aggravating when you don't know who they are.
*Sasuke refers to Itachi as 'that person' during most of Pre-Shippuden, and I'm assuming Kiritsu has heard this phrasing from either Kakashi or Naruto. No I am not making Kiritsu a Sasuke 'clone' in doing this; her objectives and plans are entirely different.
*Poor, poor Baki (insert evil laugh here)
* Kankuro's still too easygoing and playful to really go for a full-blown kiss. TenTen got all worked up over nothing, and I am evil to any NejiTen and KankuTen readers of this fic.
*Where Shikamaru was found tied up in chapter four
*The Sand Siblings seem to have no trouble making the first move, but committing to any real physical affection seems to be difficult. Their lack of love from parents is taking a toll.
* That very expression can be viewed on one of your friends Kakashi, you just don't realize it yet.
* I decided that Gaara didn't trust himself to be able to carry Kiritsu yet. Their height difference is less than a foot, but he's still mentally affected by Shukaku, and doesn't want to hurt her.
