10. Konoha Day 1: The Hokage and the Kazekage

We were at the village gates, waiting as Gaara gave instructions to the guards and wished them well. It was a two-day journey to Konoha and aside from myself and the Kazekage, Temari and Kankuro were going to make the trip as well. As skilled shinobi as well as his siblings, the two were the Kazekage's personal body guards and although the prospect of being in close proximity with Temari for such a long period of time made me uncomfortable, I felt safe.

The path to the Leaf Village from Suna wasn't what I'd call peril-less but it wasn't exactly easy. There was the threat of shredding sandstorms, life-threatening terrain, and malicious monsters. And through all of that there still existed the ever-persistent possibility of enemy forces just lurking beyond our sensory threshold. Most of the trip was silent with the exception of the occasional bellyaching from Kankuro about why we had to walk so much and why it was so hot. He didn't get very far though, silenced continually by Temari and a blast of wind from her ninja fan which kept me firmly and quietly in my place which was near to Gaara. He didn't seemed bothered at all by the trek, occasionally allowing small smiles to grace his soft lips. I wondered why it was he seemed so cheery— well, cheery for him that is. I'd been with the man for nearly four months and had never seen him smile so much in such a short period of time. It made me suspicious, but excited.

For most of the walk I was bored, amusing myself by watching the clouds as they danced above us, twirling and swirling into forms unknown. In the night it grew colder and I found myself walking admittedly close to the Kazekage, for warmth, of course. When we stopped to rest or sleep, which was a few times a day, the three ninja took turn keeping watch as the other two slept, ate, or had to relieve themselves. When the forest of the Land of Fire finally came into view, I was thankful. The heat subsided in the newfound shade as we moved through the trees. I wasn't very fast, but I kept up, just glad to be near the village.

The Kazekage explained that when we arrived at Konoha he'd have to immediately attend a meeting which meant Temari and Kankuro would have to accompany him. I would be receiving an escort, someone chosen by the Hokage, who would stay with me as I took the stuff we'd brought with us to an inn. If I wanted to do anything- sightsee, shop, etc.- I was allowed to but only in the company of my escort. They were to be with me at all times.

When finally we made it to the village gates, I was ready to pass out. But the thrill of being in a new, foreign place shot my body with pent-up energy. We were greeted by guards and allowed to enter. The other three told me goodbye, as I was to wait with the guards for my escort. Within the next five minutes a young woman had arrived and approached me, extending her hand.

"You must be Lady Koshinja." She smiled as she shook my hand. "Hello and welcome to Konoha. My name is Sakura Haruno and I'll be your escort for the next couple of days." Lady? I'd not yet been referred to in such a manner, it shocked me.

I returned her smile. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Why don't I take you to where you'll be staying so you can set your things down?" She held out her hands, gesturing for me to give her the bags. I didn't want to be rude but I was concerned it would be too much for her to carry by herself. But she insisted, smiling kindly, emerald eyes shining. So I complied, watching in amazement as she stacked everything and seamlessly carried it with one hand as we walked. I figured she was probably a shinobi.

We'd made our way through the village streets, me trying to suppress how impressed as was as we went. It was much bigger than Suna, with many street vendors and people all around. Even the inn was larger than I'd expected, complete with its own bathhouse. We went upstairs after getting checked in.

"Um Sakura, do you know how many rooms we have?" I asked as I set some things into a corner.

She thought for a moment, moving her pink hair aside. "Two, I believe that's what the women said when I checked you in."

I nodded, wondering how we'd split ourselves up, either by sex or relation most likely and I was sincerely hoping it was the latter, not wanting to be stuck in a room for three nights with Temari.

"So Ms. Koshinja, what would you like to do?"

I blinked. "Well, I'm not so sure. How long will they be meeting for?"

"Probably a few hours, which is plenty of time to do whatever you want. And mind you, money is no object as per the Kazekage." She winked at me then and I had to think. I had some money on me, I wasn't going to allow him to pay for everything. Tourist attractions tended to be expensive and since I was in a place I'd never been, I was tempted to do anything and see everything. But I had to plan and not be so impulsive so as to not break our bank.

"If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to see some of the village's historical sites."

Sakura seemed surprised but to also appreciate my decision as she opened the room door, saying it wouldn't be a problem at all.

In the few hours in which I'd spent touring Konoha with Sakura I'd learned a lot about the village and all of its history, ninja-related or otherwise. She took me to see a wondrous site- all of the Hokage's faces carved into a mountainside- and explained to be a little about all of them. She took me to memorials, monuments, and even an academy where I greeted young children as the instructor used our visit to teach a quick lesson on inter-village relations. In the short amount of time I'd been with her, I decided I liked Sakura. She was a jonin and a medical ninja, something I could relate to. She was intelligent and pleasant to be around, well except for that one time we were passing a hot springs and she caught a teenage boy with a long scarf peeping. Then she got really scary, really fast. But now she was calm, smiling and laughing with me as we walked down a crowded street towards one of her favorite restaurants for lunch. She was telling me a story about a medical emergency one of her missions when I remembered something.

"Sakura, do you know anyone called 'Shikamaru'?"

She looked at me sideways, raising her eyebrow. "Yeah, I do actually. We've been friends for a long time- went to the academy together when we were training to be genin. He's really smart; he'll be the Hokage's advisor soon. Why?"

I pursed my lips. "The Kazekage mentioned his name to me. Does he know Temari by any chance?"

She put her hands on her hips. "They're dating, so, yeah."

"Dating?"

"Yeah, they've been going out for a little while now. Ino tells me it's getting pretty serious."

"Does she like him then? Like, like-like?" I'd turned to her quickly, invading her personal space unintentionally but too eager to know to care.

She put up her hands, signaling me to ease back. "Well I would hope so, they've been around each other since he was thirteen and have been dating for about a year now."

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks as I realized what that meant. I smiled to myself, feeling butterflies bump against the inside of my stomach. He likes me, huh? He probably didn't have the words to speak his feelings and that was why he went to his sister for help. Sakura seemed confused as she looked at me, head tilted a little to the side. I had to admit, the news excited me. But then again, who wouldn't be excited once they found out that feelings were mutual between themselves and someone special. I was turning to explain some thing or another to Sakura when a masked man appeared, leaning and whispering in her ear. She nodded and turned back to me, smiling.

"Looks like the 'Kages want to see us."

…

Sakura and I entered what I assumed to be the Hokage's office after a short walk upstairs. I looked around, expecting to see Gaara but instead finding him nowhere, my eyes settling on a lone yellow-haired man in 'Kage robes. I quickly bowed to the Hokage as a Sakura shut the door behind us.

"Where's the Kazekage?" she asked, walking further into the room.

"Huh?" he paused. "Oh Gaara, he said he had to go take care of something but he should be back soon." He seemed to notice me then. He covered his mouth as I straightening from my bow, whispering loudly to Sakura. "Hey, who's she?"

Sakura seemed peeved. "He didn't tell you? Or did you just forget? This is Koshinja, the Kazekage's wife."

I waved a little. "Hello Hokage-sama, it's nice to meet you."

He stood there blinking as if he were dazed. "Gaara got married?!" he exclaimed as he rushed over to me, getting a little close. He appeared to be examining me, eyes searching my face and my hair, looking me up and down- I felt like a dog on display. "Well you seem real."

"Naruto you idiot!" Sakura landed a punch before I could even respond. I wasn't sure at what I should've been more surprised; the fact that she'd actually hit the Hokage or that he'd let her. "You're making her uncomfortable!"

To be absolutely honest, Sakura was causing me more discomfort than was the Hokage. I raised my hands in protest, trying to calm the situation. "No, no, there's no problem, he was fine."

The Hokage recovered from Sakura's blow and stood, whining a bit. "Sakura, you can't beat me up in front of an esteemed guest, it makes me look bad."

"Naruto I've been hitting that big head of yours before your 'Kage hat was even made for it." She crossed her arms. "I'm going to wait out in the hallway for Koshinja, give a shout if you need anything." she declared. I nodded to her as she left the room. Although rowdy, I got the feeling the two had known each other for a long time. I laughed to myself.

"Anyways, sorry Miss, I just didn't expect a guy like Gaara to get married." He smiled as he said them but his words left me feeling a little strange. A guy like Gaara, what did that mean? I decided to ask.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean."

He grin got bigger. "Don't worry, he's a great guy and all but his social skills were a little wanting last time I checked."

Well that was a little true. His lack of speaking had a tendency to bring about awkward silences. Then I thought of something. "How long have you guys known each other?"

He put his hands behind his head. "Almost ten years now, we were barely teenagers when we met. It was during the chunin exams of that year." He walked over to the window, nostalgia setting into his form. "Seems like just yesterday." Then he frowned. "But Gaara was… different back then."

"Indeed I was." The Hokage and I turned around as the Kazekage entered the room. "I owe Naruto a great deal. He's one of my closest friends, that's why I wanted you to meet him."

I hadn't realized this was who he'd been talking about but it was clear by the gleam in his eye that the man standing before us, blushing slightly with a goofy grin, had changed his life. "Don't worry about it Gaara, that was a long time ago."

"No matter the time that passes, I will forever be in your debt. To this effect I truly hope that there will continue to be peace and cooperation between our two lands, even beyond our rules as 'Kage."

The Hokage nodded, reaching out to take Gaara's hand and shake it. "You know it."

I watched the two of them smiling, not really understand what type of bond it was that they had, or how it had formed, only knowing the familiar expression of admiration that had consumed Gaara's face, knowing that I gazed at him with that same look. I wondered if the Hokage saw it, just like I wondered if he saw mine.

We left the Hokage's office shortly after. Gaara told Sakura since I was with him, there was no need to worry and sent her off. Apparently he knew where he was going as we walked through the village together as evening settled across the land. I knew Kankuro and Temari had to be close by but I didn't bother myself with trying to find them. I looked up at Gaara, watching the shadows dance across his calm, pleased face. He seemed so peaceful here, so at ease. I had to think it was because of the Hokage, although I wasn't sure how. I wanted to ask but I wasn't sure if I should. I just, wasn't sure.

As we walked I noticed a sign for a unisex bathhouse and got an idea. "Gaara, do you want to go to the hot springs with me?" I asked.

He looked down at me, a little suspicious, but nodded. "If you wish."

It didn't take long to find the place and after putting our clothes neatly away and grabbing some towels, we descended into the water. I sighed, feeling relief from the long journey as the heat was soaked into my bones. It felt so nice. There wasn't anyone around besides myself and Gaara and I was pleased at the turnout. I looked up at the darkening sky, watching the last rays of red and orange fade away.

"Gaara, if you don't mind my asking, how are you and the Hokage so close?" I said.

He looked sideways at me, probably deciding whether or not he wanted to share. He closed his eyes before speaking. "I told you once before that my childhood was my one regret. The reason for this is before my birth the village elders and my father decided to seal the one-tailed Shukaku within me. At the time the village was lacking in military strength and I was to deliver them from such weakness and serve as their ultimate weapon. I was born prematurely and my mother did not survive childbirth- the sand spirit began to take its toll. Growing up I was shunned, treated as if I were the monster trapped inside of me. The adults hated me and their children feared me. Even my father tried to kill me on numerous occasions. I was ostracized as such is the fate of a jinchūriki. The only person I had to turn to in those dark times was my uncle Yashamaru."

I listened, horrified at his tale. I didn't grow up within the Sand Village, my home was beyond its walls. I trained at the academy but had to commute there daily. My family couldn't afford to move until the time I'd made genin so while others might have known about the version of himself of which he spoke, we had never met. My anger boiled over as I neared him. "But how could they do that to you? It wasn't your decision, you didn't choose that! How could a father do such a thing to his child and then punish him for his own actions?"

His eyes searched mine as he frowned. "People often fear what they do not understand; it's in our nature. But my uncle was different and he tried to teach me empathy, to teach me understanding. Even Kankuro and Temari were weary of me then so he was all I had. One day my father offered my assassination to him as an assignment, and he accepted it. When the sole person that had ever dared to stand beside me turned against me, I decided solitude was the only option. I adopted a mindset in which only my own existence mattered and it caused me to kill without mercy to validate that existence." He paused, looking at me questioningly.

I'd been shaking without realizing it, trembling with anger and sadness. I didn't understand how anyone could turn a child into a monster and then hate the child for it. But Gaara misinterpreted my reaction, turning his head to the side slightly, avoiding my eyes. "I understand if you are afraid, I do not blame you."

"You idiot." His attention snapped back to me. I felt the tears pricking in the corner of my eyes. "I'm not afraid of you, I'm mad as hell. You shouldn't have had to endure all of that abuse, you shouldn't have been all alone. I knew Kankuro growing up and he never once told me about you when we were kids, only mentioned you once when he left my squad. I could have done something for you early on, could've helped you feel not so alone. They ruined you and blamed you for it."

Gaara just looked at me for a moment and a shadow of guilt passed over his face, moving like glue into his features for such a short moment that I was surprised I'd caught it. Then he turned his attention to the sky. He inhaled deeply before speaking. "We cannot expect fairness in this life, only hope for love along with people who will become precious to us and the will to protect those people. Naruto Uzumaki taught me about real strength, he rescued me from the darkness I'd enveloped around myself since childhood." He turned to me again, smiling softly, and immediately my anger dissipated. The look he gave me was pacifying. "I hold no anger nor ill-will towards the people who once hated me. I want to serve and protect them at any cost." His eyes gleamed in a way that made my chest burn.

I nodded to show that I understood and sat back down into the water. But still, the thought of such a young child having to endure so much hate sat like rocks in the pit of my stomach. Looking up at his calm face I thought about careless people and ignorance, the corruption they undoubtedly brought. I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop myself from speaking my thoughts, I knew he would only brush them aside. Instead I chose to rest my head on his shoulder, pulling my knees us to my chest. I didn't know if he was still hurting but there was something so abundantly clear to me that I felt the need to remind him that I was there for him.

"Did you need to be comforted?" he asked.

"No. But I thought you did." At his puzzled expression I explained. "I'm not a fool Gaara, I saw the way you looked when you spoke. You still blame yourself for the way you used to be, you're still guilty. I know you're sincere in your desire to protect people but you're also atoning, aren't you?"

Subconsciously I'd reached behind my neck and touched my tattoo. The guilty look returned as he averted his eyes. "I must take responsibility for what I have done."

I closed my eyes, sighing and leaning further into him. I didn't respond and as the moon rose above our heads, we settled into a warm silence. I resolved myself to the notion that we probably wouldn't speak for the remainder of the night when he rest his head on mine. And as we sat together I realized that sometimes words weren't always essential for communication.