Ha! Much faster release than my last chapter XD

Anyway, thank you to everyone for your reviews. I really didn't expect people to like the chapter that much so it was really nice to see :D

Also, I did promise to someone that I'd have this chapter out earlier, but my internet providers decided that this week would be a cool week to move a sever -.- Figures. Oh well.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Just one thing, there may be a few random mistakes in here. I sort of messed up the whole Review changes option in Microsoft Windows and some of the mistakes that I actually changed still appear. So if anyone spots one, please let me know XD


Naruto allowed himself to be pulled along by Sakura, not really wanting to risk facing her wrath. Not to mention, he liked the feeling of her hand in his. As she pulled him along, he saw the entrance to the large fortress in front of them where three figures stood.

There were two men dressed in Samurai armour, both standing at around 6 feet tall and looking intimidating. He guessed they were the third one's bodyguards, much like how Sakura and Kakashi were his own. The third figure was slightly shorter than the other two, standing maybe two inches shorter than them. He had long brown hair which he had tied back into a ponytail and held a lone Katana in a sheath at his waist. He looked relatively young, probably not that much younger than Naruto or Sakura. Unlike the armoured hulks behind him, he was dressed in a simple navy blue Yukata. Even from here, however, Naruto could feel the presence he had. It was like a blade, something sharp and dangerous but also able to be kept sheathed when needed.

When they were much closer, Naruto pulled his hand out of Sakura's, though he did try to make the process as long as possible, and strode forward to meet them. The man in the middle nodded towards him, also taking a few steps forward. "Hokage-sama. I welcome you to the Land of Iron. I am Kira, and I will be the mediator for this summit."

Naruto nodded, giving him a small respectful bow of his head in acknowledgement. Behind him, Kakashi and Sakura bowed their heads as well.

It sort of amazed Naruto how far he'd come regarding his respectfulness. When he'd first taken the job as Hokage, he'd been a lot like he'd always been. He was always informal, always treating everyone like an equal or just being very, very blunt about their appearance. For example, he'd seen the former Tsuchikage once before his retirement. Seeing as the man was older, Naruto had taken to calling him the grumpy ojii-san. The man hadn't liked that.

It had only been after a large political incident as a result of his name for the Tsuchikage and the threat of being in a world of hurt from Sakura if he continued to act disrespectfully that Naruto finally decided to, at the very least, act respectfully towards anyone he dealt with for his position.

"Hokage-sama, would you like to have something to eat? We will need to prepare some space for you since we weren't actually expecting you for a few days."

Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head and grinning sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that. We were sort of in a rush."

The man nodded, looking understanding. "It is no problem. Please, come inside."

The man turned, flanked by his two bodyguards. Naruto followed shortly after along with Sakura and Kakashi.


The cafeteria of the keep was nearly silent that day as most of the Samurai residents were out patrolling either the castle or the surrounding area. The only sounds coming from the massive room were the slurping noises made by Naruto as he happily ate his ramen bowl.

In front of Naruto, several identical bowls, all large enough to feed any normal person, sat emptied, much to Sakura's disgust. Nearby, Kakashi had his own bowl in front of him which he'd emptied within seconds of receiving it like usual. Now he was reading his book, the same orange book he'd read for years.

"I don't know how you eat so much ramen," Sakura said, scrunching her nose up as she eyed the mountain of empty bowls. Naruto just grinned in reply. Even he had to admit, the amount he'd eaten today was a lot. But the woman who cooked the stuff did something different from normal and the taste rivaled the ramen from Ichiraku's.

At that moment, the cafeteria lady, Hitomi, strode over. She held a few cups and a pot of tea, which Sakura had asked for moments earlier. She was an elderly woman and had warmed up to Naruto the moment he declared her food to be delicious.

"Ah, here you are Hokage-sama," the woman said, handing Naruto a cup as he slurped up the remaining juice. Naruto gave her a wide smile. "Aa, thanks Hitomi-san."

The woman smiled, picking up some of the empty bowls and making her way back to the kitchen. Sakura picked up her tea, taking a sip. "So, what do we do for the next two days?"

Naruto shrugged, drinking his own tea, though much faster than Sakura had. "I guess we should just hang around."

At that moment, the doors to the cafeteria opened and three figures walked into the cafeteria. All three Konoha shinobi turned to look and were surprised to see the familiar figures of Gaara, Kankuro and Matsuri. Naruto grinned, waving to get their attention. "Oi! Gaara, over here."

Gaara glanced over, spotting them. When he did, the three Suna shinobi all made their way over, sitting across the table from their Konoha counterparts. "Naruto, Sakura-san, Kakashi-san," Gaara said, nodding his head towards them. Beside him, Matsuri smiled brightly. "Hello Hokage-sama, Sakura-san, Kakashi-san. How have you all been?"

Sakura smiled back at her while Naruto continued to grin. "We've been good, Matsuri-chan. I see you guys got here early as well."

Gaara nodded with a blank expression. From beside him, Kankuro sighed. "Yeah. Without Temari here, no one is able to make Gaara slow down. He just kept on going."

Gaara turned to look at his brother, his head tilting just the tiniest bit. Naruto figured that this meant that he had no idea what he was talking about. He probably had thought that he was going at a completely reasonable pace.

Matsuri laughed at the look Gaara was giving Kankuro. Naruto wondered if she had thought the same thing as him. He hoped she did, it would have meant that he had one more person in his life who actually understood him.

"By the way, those Samurai guys wanted us to let you know that your rooms are ready," Kankuro continued, clearly ignoring the questioning look Gaara was still shooting him. Kakashi rose from his spot, book finally closing. "Okay then, I'm going to go rest for a bit. Having last watch has made me really tired," he said, smiling at his two former students. "Kankuro-san, would you mind showing me where they are?"

Kankuro shook his head, rising as well. "Not at all. I wanted to work on my puppets a little anyway."

Both men said goodbye and moved to leave the cafeteria. As the group watched them go, Matsuri turned and grinned at Sakura. During the last few years, Sakura had always accompanied Naruto on his diplomatic missions to Suna. As such, she had developed a bond with Matsuri, who had taken up Temari's place next to Gaara. Matsuri also admired Sakura, something the younger woman had felt she hadn't completely earned.

"So, Sakura-san, let's go catch up. It's been a while since you were last in Suna."

Sakura nodded with both her and Matsuri rising from her seat to move further down the table. It was something that the two of them did, talking away from the guys. Naruto had once asked Sakura what is was that they talked about. All she had said was that it was a girl thing. Naruto watched them go, wondering what they talked about when they went off like that.

"You're staring."

Naruto looked back at Gaara, giving him a blank look. Gaara looked back with an equally blank look. "What? No I'm not."

Gaara nodded, slow and purposefully. "You are. You were staring at her for quite a while, actually."

Naruto blinked. He didn't actually remember doing that. "No! I wasn't… right?"

Gaara just stared back at him, giving him an exasperated look. Well, as exasperated as Gaara can get. Naruto met his gaze for a moment before looking away, letting out a sigh. "Yeah, okay, I might have been staring. Honestly though, I hadn't even realized I was doing it."

Gaara let out a low hum, probably agreeing. They didn't say anything for a moment. Naruto stared at the table, a little embarrassed that he'd been caught staring. Gaara just stared at Naruto, wondering who knows what. After a moment, Gaara began to speak again. "Have you told her yet?"

Naruto looked up, frowning in confusion. "Told her what?"

The look Gaara gave him roughly translated into "Do I actually have to say it?"

After another blank look from Naruto, Gaara let out a sigh, glancing over to Sakura. "Tell her that you have feelings for her."

Naruto's eyes widened and he began waving his hands in front of him in denial. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. We-we're just friends. Best friends. That's all."

Gaara looked back at him, looking very irritated. Naruto had to admit, he'd never seen that emotion on his friends face. "Naruto, I live in a separate village and I am able to see how you feel. You're as easy to read as an open book."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at Gaara, a small pout forming on his lips. They remained silent for a moment before Naruto finally let out a small sigh. "Fine, so I do have feelings for her. Hell, I love her. Doesn't mean that she feels that way about me," he said, risking a small glance in Sakura's direction.

Gaara shook his head. "Sometimes the way two people feels is obvious to everyone besides the ones directly involved."

Naruto sent him a questioning look, but Gaara ignored it. "You know that someday, someone else is going to come along who's interested in her and she's not going to wait anymore."

Yuki's face suddenly pooped up in Naruto's mind, followed by the way he'd seen him so interested in her that time he went to the hospital. He'd clearly been interested, even Naruto had noticed it. Wouldn't she go out with someone like that? Suddenly, another thought made its way into Naruto's mind. 'Why hasn't she already?'

Naruto glanced over at her again, only to notice that she and Matsuri were both looking in their direction. The two of them both glanced away slightly red in the face. Gaara seemed to notice this as he gave Naruto a very blank stare. From the girls' side of the table, Matsuri giggled.

"Tell her," Gaara said, putting it very bluntly. Naruto just shook his head. "Why not?"

Naruto let out a small sigh. "She doesn't feel that way. I would just be making it awkward between us."

Gaara shook his head. "Awkwardness won't kill you."

Naruto grumbled out something that Gaara wasn't able to make out, probably something about nosy Kages. Gaara just shook his head again. "We could be at war in a few days. One of you could die. If that happens, won't you regret not ever having told her how much she truly means to you?"

Naruto was silent for a moment, taking it in. Gaara waited for a moment, patiently awaiting his answer. Finally, Naruto let out a sigh. "I guess you could be right. I'll… I'll think about it."

Gaara nodded. In all honesty, he felt it wasn't really his business. But he'd watched his friend deny his feelings for years and he felt that they should have at least have told each other how they felt. Besides, he meant what he'd said. Someone could die in the next few days. At the very least, he felt that the two of them should at least tell each other.

Gaara glanced over at Matsuri, smiling slightly as she laughed at something Sakura had said.

Maybe he should take his own advice.


"Oh, and then Temari said she kicked him off the bed."

Matsuri laughed, simply imagining Temari in such a foul mood. "Oh wow, I wish Temari was still with us. She was such a nice person."

Sakura gave Matsuri an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry you guys had to lose her. Maybe we should have given Shikamaru to you guys instead. Though Naruto would have missed him, I'm sure he would have been fine moving."

Matsuri waved her hand dismissively. "Oh no, it's fine. She's happy now. Besides, now I get to learn a bit more about Gaara-sama. So it wasn't all bad."

Sakura nodded. Suddenly, Matsuri grinned. "So Sakura-san, have you given all those poor guys who follow you around a break and gotten a boyfriend?"

Sakura started, eyes wide, before she frowned in genuine confusion. "What? Who are you talking about?"

Matsuri let out a small sigh. "You really haven't noticed? Whenever you come to Suna, all of the male medic-nins are always trying to get your attention."

Sakura blinked. Obviously this was the first she'd heard of this. Matsuri laughed, not completely sure what to make of her reaction. "You really didn't notice? Oh boy, you're almost as bad as Naruto-san."

Sakura frowned. She was the same as Naruto? Oh, now this she would not stand for. "What do you mean?" she asked, a little put off. Matsuri chuckled. "I can't believe you never noticed. Both of you have a huge following of admirers and neither of you even realized it."

Matsuri let out another laugh at the concerned expression on Sakura's face. But what Matsuri didn't realize was that Sakura had frozen because of what she'd said about Naruto. He had a huge following? So there were a lot of people interested in him? No, that wasn't possible, right? He was Naruto. I mean, sure, she was interested in him, but that was different. Besides, he was her-

"I guess you really didn't realize, huh? Yeah, you two are very popular in Suna. Especially Naruto-san," Matsuri said, interrupting Sakura's thoughts. Matsuri glanced over towards where the two Kages were talking about something. All of a sudden, she got a really dreamy look on her face and seemed to drift off. Sakura stared at her worriedly for a moment before following her gaze. When her own gaze landed on Naruto, a hot and bitter feeling settled in her stomach.

She looked back at Matsuri, a frown unwillingly forming. Matsuri wasn't interested in Naruto right? No, that wasn't possible. In fact, she wouldn't allow it. She couldn't be interested in Naruto!

'But you don't have a right to say who he likes or who he dates. If Matsuri is interested, why should you stop her?' the voice inside her head said. Sakura sighed mentally. This voice was becoming way too familiar.

'Be-because! Sh-she lives in Suna, he lives in Konoha, it would never work!'

'Temari and Shikamaru worked out, didn't they?'

'W-well... she's just not his type. That's all!'

'Oh? And what is his type then?'

'… I don't know. But she's not it.'

'Really? You sound like you're jealous.'

Sakura paused. She wasn't jealous, right? She looked at Matsuri again, feeling the small hot feeling building inside her again. 'Oh yeah. You're jealous.'

Sakura growled mentally. 'I'm not.'

'You are. Besides, what right do you have to say anything if someone is interested in Naruto? It's not like you're his girlfriend or anything.'

That thought made Sakura freeze. That was true, she wasn't his girlfriend. Naruto could date whoever he wanted.

But she didn't have to like it.

She glanced over at Matsuri, seeing that she had still not broken out of her trance. Sakura sighed and cleared her throat. This made Matsuri jump a little.

Matsuri glanced at Sakura, smiling sheepishly. "Ah, I'm sorry. I must have drifted off. I must still be a little tired from our trip here." Sakura nodded. "I guess. And I guess someone can get a bit distracted looking at Naruto," she replied. The second sentence was also aimed at herself, as she'd often found herself doing that lately.

"Huh? Naruto-san? What about him?" Matsuri asked, looking very confused. This, in turn, made Sakura confused. "Naruto? The one you were staring at?"

Matsuri blinked before blushing and waving her hands in front of her. "Oh! No, I wasn't looking at Naruto-san, I was looking at-"

She stopped, both of her hands covering her mouth, her cheeks flushed. Sakura stared at her, trying to figure out who she had been talking about as she glanced back at the two Kages. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she grinned at Matsuri, her jealousy forgotten.

"Gaara? You were daydreaming about Gaara?"

Matsuri's eyes widened and her blush deepened. She shook her head vigorously, glancing nervously in the direction of the two males. Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "Oh my… I mean, I just never thought…"

Matsuri frowned at Sakura, dropping her hands. "What? He's nice."

Sakura grinned at her. "Oh, I'm sure he is. But you have a lot to tell me."

The older girl sighed, fixing Sakura with an exasperated look. "Fine…" Sakura smiled at her, her foul mood from before now gone.


Naruto and Sakura both walked along the halls of the huge castle that night, trying to find their room. They'd walked with Matsuri and Gaara back to their own rooms before setting off for theirs. The rooms were located on separate sides of the keep, mostly so that no nation had a chance to attack another. Not that Naruto and Gaara would ever do that to each other, it was just a precaution.

Along the way, Sakura noticed that Naruto seemed deep in thought and wasn't really talking to her. She reached out, touching his arm lightly when he jumped a little. Sakura frowned at him, causing him to look away guiltily. "Naruto? Are you okay?"

Naruto was silent for a moment, looking away so she couldn't see his face. Just as Sakura was ready to stop him and force him to look at her, he turned, grinning. "Sure Sakura-chan. I'm fine." His grin faded, just a little. Sakura noticed but didn't say anything. When Naruto had his mask up like this, even she was unable to get anything out of him. "Just thinking…"

Sakura watched him for a few more seconds before sighing and looking back down the corridor. "Fine then. If you say so."

Naruto nodded, looking away again.

They remained like that the entire way to their room. Even when they were inside, Naruto was silent, not fawning over the splendour of the room like he usually would.

Their room was actually a suite. It seemed to have a central area which had a couch, a table and a kitchen area with four doors. There were two doors to the bedrooms on one wall. Opposite that was a door to another bedroom and a bathroom. The wall opposite to where they'd entered was a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. Their room was the same layout as the one the Suna shinobis had been given.

The two of them stood there for a moment, the room awkwardly silent. Finally, Sakura moved forward, saying "I'm going to bed."

Naruto stared at his feet and nodded. "Goodnight."

Sakura looked back one last time before walking over to one of the doors on the wall.

However, just as she began to open the door, Naruto's voice stopped her. "Sakura?"

She turned and saw a slightly nervous expression on his face. She began to feel a little nervous. After all, he hadn't even used the suffix with her name. He only did that when he was serious. "Naruto?"

He hesitated, seeing her beautiful green eyes of hers. "I… uh well… I … never mind. Goodnight."

He turned, walking purposefully towards his own room and went inside as fast as he could without looking too obvious. Sakura watched him go, completely confused. 'What was that about?' she thought, before shrugging and going into her own room for the night.


The next morning, Naruto sat in the cafeteria at around 8am. He was dead tired.

Naruto yawned, the tea in front of him not doing anything to help him. He'd barely slept at all the night before. He'd been thinking about what Gaara had said and it had made him too agitated to truly relax.

Naruto sighed as Hitomi came by and picked up his half eaten ramen bowl. She cast a worried glance at him before taking it away.

Naruto sighed, blinking his eyes sleepily at the tea in front of him. He briefly wondered if he should move it so he wouldn't fall asleep in it. 'Damn,' he thought, 'Haven't been this tired since... the last time I thought about my feelings for Sakura...'

Naruto let out a small groan, causing someone nearby to giggle. Naruto looked up, seeing Gaara, Kankuro and Matsuri watching him. "Tired, Naruto-san?" Matsuri asked with a small smile on her face.

Naruto nodded, and glared at Gaara. "Yeah. It's thanks to your Kazekage over here actually."

Gaara shrugged, sitting down opposite him. "I merely spoke the truth."

Naruto continued to glare at him until he eventually found it too tiring. He glanced around the cafeteria, seeing that it had filled up suddenly. Unlike the day before, today there were many Samurai in the cafeteria, eating and talking cheerfully. Naruto guessed that they would be heading out soon, replacing those who'd been patrolling during the night. As Naruto glanced around, he missed the sound of the cafeteria doors opening. Gaara, however, turned to look who it was. As soon as his eyes landed on the door, his blank expression became cold and hard.

"Naruto," he called, his eyes locked on the figure that was standing in the doorway. Naruto turned, also looking at the figure, his eyes confused until they came to rest on the hat the man wore on his head.

The Tsuchikage, a man who stood around 6 feet tall, his robes flowing around him, stood in the doorway. Even while just standing there, Naruto could feel the calm, cool aura he gave off. The man had tan skin, darker than either Naruto or Gaara, but not as dark as the Raikage or Bee. He had dark brown eyes which were currently scanning the room coldly. From under the Tsuchikage hat, Naruto could see small strands of short black hair. He seemed muscular, though not overly buff, his build like that of most ninja. He wore his robes sort of like a cape or a cloak, allowing the regular jounin shirt and pants underneath to show.

Eventually, his eyes passed over Naruto and the Suna trio. Naruto shivered at the look in the man's eyes. It was cold, like he wouldn't ever hesitate to cut you down.

The Tsuchikage made his way over, making long purposeful strides. Naruto watched him, his gaze locked onto the Tsuchikage's. Next to him, he could feel the calm aura that Gaara produced.

As the man strode up to him, Naruto suddenly noticed the two men standing with him. He'd been so lost in thought watching the Tsuchikage, he'd forgotten all about their presence. They both wore Iwagakure ANBU uniforms, a wolf and a bird mask on the two faces.

The fact that the Tsuchikage hid their identities was a little irritating to Naruto. Unlike the other nations, who allowed their bodyguards identities to be known, he'd purposely covered his up. It was insulting, basically saying that he couldn't trust them.

"Ah, Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama. How good to see you both," the Tsuchikage said, extending a hand out to Naruto first. Naruto nodded, giving his hand a shake. "Ah, Tsuchikage-sama," he replied, before being cut off.

"Oh, please, call me Ryuu. I am surprised to see the two of you here. After all, both Suna and Konoha are farther from the Land of Iron that Iwa."

Gaara shrugged, his eyes never leaving the man in front of him. Beside him, his two escorts stood tensely, their eyes never leaving the Tsuchikage's own escorts.

Ryuu smirked lightly at Naruto, looking as if he knew something that Naruto. "Oh, I almost forgot," he continued, his voice full of mock sympathy. Honestly, had Naruto not been able to see the smirk that seemed to grow along with his own anger, he might have believed him. "I heard about your teammate dying. I must offer my… condolences on his untimely death. I am surprised however that a man who'd been promoted to ANBU captain was defeated so easily. Perhaps he was not cut out for the job."

The rage that overtook Naruto was indescribable. He saw red, his vision clouded. His nails, all of a sudden much sharper and more feral than they'd been a moment before, dug into his palm as he tried to calm himself. For a brief moment, those around him felt the temperature drop at least 5 degrees. Even Ryuu looked slightly taken aback for the briefest of moments, though it was more surprise than fear, before that infuriating smirk was back on his face.

Naruto glared at the man, sure that his pupils were turning red as he spoke. "Aa, I'm sure you're very sorry to hear that," Naruto replied, his voice gravelly and sounding more animal than human. "He was a good shinobi. One who's death will be avenged."

Ryuu nodded, his eyes alight with fire at the unspoken challenge. "I'm sure he will be."

He took a step back, allowing Naruto to cool just a little. He nodded towards both Kages before him and turned around, walking out of the cafeteria doors.

As he got closer, Sakura suddenly rushed through them, her eyes searching the cafeteria. Eventually, after pausing for the briefest moment on Naruto's raging form, she came to meet the gaze of Ryuu. He gave her a patronizing look, but smirked again, nodding towards her. "Ah, Sakura-san. How nice to see you."

Sakura glared at him, wondering what he'd done to upset Naruto so much. Not that it really mattered. Whatever he had done, the simple act of making Naruto feel any sort of negative emotion made Sakura want to punch the man through a wall. Maybe two.

"Tsuchikage-sama," she replied through gritted teeth. He grinned coldly down at her, his advantage in height by a few inches allowing him to, literally, look down on her.

When she looked up again, he was still grinning madly at her. It unnerved her, sending the smallest shiver imaginable up her spine. "I was telling your Hokage, that I was deeply saddened to hear of your former teammate's death," he said, obviously enjoying the way Sakura's breath hitched. "I also heard that it was you, the pride of the shinobi medical world, who was in charge of healing him. And yet you were unable to do a thing. Such a shame," he continued, shrugging nonchalantly, as if he was talking about the weather.

Sakura felt her skin go cold at the mention of Sai and how it had been her who'd been unable to fail him. All the work, the reassurance Naruto and Kakashi had down for her on their trip here, the thanks made by the surviving members of the team; it was all cut away by those few words. She'd failed him.

She felt tears come to her eyes when suddenly Naruto's calming presence was beside her, though he was brimming with anger again. Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura could just make out the shape of the sharp, fox-like claws on Naruto's fingers.

"Ryuu," Naruto said, his voice a chilling calm that seemed to send shivers down the spines of everyone within the room, even the unshakeable Gaara and the currently non-smirking Tsuchikage. The only one who didn't was Sakura, who felt his warm hand on her back, reassuring her. "I am sure that you do not mean to say that it is Sakura's fault that my teammate is dead."

Ryuu stared speechlessly at Naruto for a moment before that grin was on his face again. Sakura wasn't sure if she was imagining it, but she thought she saw his hands shake just a little bit.

"Of course not, Hokage-sama. I'm sure she did everything possible and then some."

Naruto nodded, his eyes still blazing in fury.

"The ones at fault are obviously those who attacked him and those who ordered the attack. Of course, since you seemed so well informed, I hope you will be able to inform me if you hear anything about this."

Ryuu nodded again, seeming to have regained some of his composure. "Of course Hokage-sama."

Ryuu turned away and walked out of the cafeteria. His guards followed after him a second later, the fear Naruto had gripped them in finally fading away. Naruto glared after them for a moment before turning worried, blue eyes to Sakura.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his question bearing several meanings.

Sakura nodded, making a large warm smile appear on Naruto's face. "Good. That's all that matters." Naruto walked over to Gaara then, dragging the Kazekage, who still seemed to be in shock at Naruto's little outburst, over to where Hitomi was now bringing out more food. Matsuri, finally regaining the feelings in her legs, walked over to Sakura.

"Wow. I've never seen Naruto angry like that."

Sakura nodded in agreement. "Neither have I."

Matsuri grinned at Sakura, prompting one of Sakura's brows to shoot up in question. "I've also never seen him so protective of someone," she said, still grinning. Sakura rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the table where Naruto was calling her over, his fourth bowl of ramen already finished.

'Thank you, Naruto.'


The Tsuchikage strode down the hall angrily, his two escorts trying to keep up.

"Tsuchikage-sama-"

"Did you see that monster" Ryuu asked to no one in particular. Ryuu had never felt fear like that before. Even when he'd insulted the man's –no, monster's- teammate, nothing had compared to the aura he'd given off after insulting his other teammate. His hands were still shaking!

"That- that… thing is not fit to lead a village. No. It needs to be taken care of."

The two escorts looked at each other before Wolf stepped forward, a hand hesitantly reaching for Ryuu's shoulder. "Ryuu-sama?"

He spun around, a snarl on his face, causing Wolf to pull his hand back sharply. "Are the others in place?"

The two guards nodded, making Ryuu's grin from before reappear. "Good. That demon can rest easy now. He has no idea what awaits him tomorrow. You have the poison?"

The two of them nodded, one bringing a small vial of light violet liquid from under their armour. "Yes. This should work against the Kyuubi. We're not sure about the Hachibi, but our latest intelligence suggests that he will not be arriving with the Raikage, so we don't need to worry about him."

Ryuu nodded again. "Good. Once the Kyuubi is dealt with, those fools on our village council will see the advantageous position we're in and will finally allow us to proceed. Besides, it seems that Konoha's medical chief is here along with the Copy-nin. If they are taken out, the threat posed by Konoha will weaken. Then we can attack."

Wolf nodded again. "But what about Kiri? I've heard that their council isn't happy about the mission involving Konoha's ANBU commander."

Ryuu shook his head. "Doesn't matter. They are greedy fools and can be bought easily. Now, does everyone have the poison?"

The two of them nodded and Ryuu smirked again. "Good. Tomorrow then."

He grinned again, making his way to his room much more calmly than before.