When sound meets sand
Disclaimer: I do not own any sort of naruto character other than my own.
Chapter 10
Shikamaru and Kazumi walked peacefully to the gate of suna. Kazumi's waist length hair swayed back and forth with the hot, sticky wind of the desert. 'Ever thought about cutting your hair? It's getting pretty long.' shikamaru asked. 'Ever thought about cutting yours?', she retorted. Her brother glared at her, but continued walking. Many villagers greeted Kazumi, telling her to visit soon and that they'll miss her. She felt so at home in suna. So wanted, so appreciated, so...loved, and that's the first time an entire village accepted her. It took the leaf village years to accept her, and only a week in suna. 'Hey shikamaru, I need to make a quick stop at the orphanage, kay?', she said, running toward a small, church-like, building. Kazumi knocked on the door, and within a couple of minutes, the same middle-aged lady came out. 'Oh hello Kazumi-sama, what brings you here?', she asked politely. Kazumi blinked. *sama? What's that all about.* the bluenette shrugged herself out of her thoughts. 'Hello, Eliza. I came to say my farewells to Yoshio.', she replied happily. Eliza sighed. 'Yoshio was adopted by a wonderful couple from the mist, we're going to miss him.' Kazumi nodded. 'Well I better get going, the brother over there isn't one to be kept waiting.', she joked, and waved goodbye, as she walked down the steps.
Kankuro was waiting at the gate with something behind his back. Kazumi rose an eyebrow. 'Whatcha got there, war paint?', she asked coyly. Kankuro handed her a small, black box. 'Don't open it until you get to the leaf village, okay? It'll help with the news.', he whispered, trying to hold back tears. The kunoichi rose an eyebrow. *what news?* She shrugged it off again, then smiled, sticking out her arms for a hug. They embraced. 'Im going to miss you war paint. Don't get into any trouble without me.', she said into his shoulder. Shikamaru stood a couple of feet away from them, smiling. They said their farewells, then they were off.
The three days of traveling back to the leaf village were traveled in silence. It didn't bother either of them, they preferred it that way. They were about an hour away from the village when Kazumi finally spoke. 'So what's this thing that is so important that you couldn't have stayed a day in suna to rest? You look exhausted.', she asked, irritated. Shikamaru closed his eyes, he could tell that she was worried, but she hid it with irritation. 'Lady tsunade wanted to talk to you about something. I don't know what though.', he sighed. Kazumi nodded. *that's strange. She usually tells shikamaru everything about any mission his going on.* the gates of Kahona were now visible. Shikamaru didn't even give her the chance to greet the gate keepers, he just grabbed her arm and dragged her to the hokage's tower.
'Milady', shikamaru said as they walked inside of her office. 'Thank you shikamaru, hello . I haven't talked to you in a very long time.', she stated. 'With all do respect milady,but cut to the chase.', she said sarcastically. The hokage glared at her. 'You are the new hokage. You are not to leave this village. You are not to disrespect this village. You are not to put this village in any danger. You are to treat this village as if it were your own child. You are now the hokage, respect the title, respect the village and the people who inhabit it.', she demanded. Kazumi remained emotionless. *So this is why eliza said sama. this is the news kankuro was talking about. naruto's going to be devastated.* 'No.', she replied sternly, then turned to walk out, but she couldnt, she felt paralyzed. Shikamaru had trapped her in his shadow possession jutsu. 'Continue, lady hokage.', he stated. Tsunade nodded, 'I know what you're thinking. Naruto will get over it, but this is important Kazumi. You're the only one that can actually protect this village from the akatsuki. I don't trust anyone else to do this job.', she sighed. Kazumi broke away from shikamaru's jutsu, and slammed her hands down on the hokage's desk. 'The daughter of the man you wish to murder heartlessly as the hokage?', she whispered harshly. 'Are you insane? Do you know what kind of publicity we'll get? All the horrible critic.' Tsunade waved at shikamaru to leave. Once he was gone, she spoke. 'It's because you're the daughter of orochimaru. You know the most about him and the akatsuki. That will bring Sasuke back.', she explained. Kazumi stepped back, and took a deep breath. 'I see. I will do my best, lady tsunade. Go enjoy yourself, I'll sign all the paper work to make myself hokage.', Kazumi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Tsunade stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. 'I know you're going to make me proud. Don't worry, this is only until we get a lead on orochimaru.', she whispered. 'Oh and by the way, there's going to be a ceremony later to announce my resigning and your new job.' She said before stepping out of the door. Kazumi sat at her new desk and let her head fall into her hands. 'Uuuuugh!', she groaned loudly. *i got to tell Sasuke I'm not going to make it back to the sound. I bet he's already beyond pissed at me.* Kazumi grabbed a blank scroll, and started writing about her current situation. Once she was done, she sealed it with only a seal Sasuke could break. She bit her thumb,and a small stream of blood came pouring out. 'Summoning jutsu.', she whispered, then out came a small blue dragon with lime green eyes, and was the size of a iguana. 'Kazumi! Long time no summon? How you been? Ooooooh you're hokage now?! How my little girl has Gra-own!', he shouted. 'Namaiki! Keep it down! I need you to take this scroll to Sasuke secretly, please?', she whispered. The dragon nodded as she strapped the scroll to his back, once she finished, he dashed off. The newly found hokage looked at the black box Kankuro had given her. She grabbed it and slowly lifted the lid. Inside was a miniature puppet that resembled Kankuro, and the small puppet was controlling even smaller versions of puppets that resembled crow, black ant, and salamander. She smiled as a tear fell from her eye. She carefully leaned the puppet on a pencil holder. She checked the box again. There was a smaller box in it. She opened the smaller box, and pulled out a necklace shaped as the yin symbol. There was a note attached to the top of the box. 'In the black, there is some white. In the wrong, there is some right. In the dark, there is some light. In the blind, there is some sight. You and I, we are like the yin and the yang. -Kankuro', she read out loud. She smiled, then put on the necklace. 'Lady hokage? May I come in.', shizune asked, opening the door slightly. Kazumi waved her hand to proceed. 'The ceremony is starting. We should get going.', she stated.
The ceremony was rather long, and exhausting. All Kazumi could hear was Naruto's ranting from the crowd, she had enough of it. 'That's enough naruto!', she yelled at the top of her lungs, startling everyone. The blonde stared at her with wide eyes. 'I don't want to be known as the sixth hokage, for I am not. I am a temporary fifth hokage, and that is all. My face will not go up with the rest up there. Use honorifics if you please, but it isn't necessary. I will do my best to protect this village. I'm only eighteen, so I know some of you will have your doubts, but I'll try my best to prove to you that I am worthy of protecting this village. We all are a team now, and we must all put an effort to bring back one of our own who lost his way.', she stated. The villagers cheered. 'Okay, that is all. Continue on with your day.',she smiled. Naruto was already in her office when she walked in. 'You didn't have to scold me infront of the whole village.' he muttered coldly. Kazumi walked around him and leaned on the front of her desk. 'I know. I didn't want to, but you wouldn't stop ranting.', she sighed. 'Uzamaki, I didn't want to have this job anymore than you wanted me to, but it's for the protection of the village.' Naruto didn't look at her, he was angry at himself. Kazumi sighed. 'Lets go out for ramen? I haven't been here in years, and I'm pretty hungry.', she suggested. Naruto shrugged. 'My treeeeeeeeat.', she nudged him softly. The blonde's face light up,and before she knew it, he had dragged her to ichiraku's.
~meanwhile in sunagakure~
Kankuro and Gaara ate silently across from eachother at the dinner table. It was lonely now. Temari had a mission to complete, and Kazumi had left, it was just them two. Gaara was still furious at his brother. He knows it was just a harmless confession, but the kazekage couldn't help but feel betrayed. 'Kankuro?', he asked coldly. 'Hm.', the puppet master replied, with a noodle hanging from his mouth. 'I know what you did.', he growled. Kankuro rose an eyebrow at him, putting his bowl down. 'What did I do?' Gaara slammed his fist down on the table. 'You insignificant piece of wood! How dare you try and take Kazumi away from me!', he yelled. Kankuro blinked at his brother's sudden outburst. 'She wasn't yours to begin with, little brother.', he smirked. Gaara glared at him. 'I thought you cared about me. Pfft. Some brother you are.', he muttered. Kankuro's eyes shot wide open. That struck a nerve. If anything, he cares to much for his brother. How dare he say that? The puppet master glared at him. 'You want to talk about caring? And feelings? And being a good brother?! You shouldn't be one to talk, Gaara!', he barked. 'Caring? Remember that day after the chuunin exams when I left sobbing my eyes out to be alone? Oh yeah, you cared so much that day. Feelings? Those 'feelings' you have for Kazumi are FAKE. You just have a small crush on her, and you're probably going to ignore her like your paperwork. I've loved her for three years, nonstop. Those are feelings. Oh and don't forget being a good brother. I protected you so many times before, tried my best to keep you away from trouble, and how did you repay me? By saying you didn't see me as a brother, and you would kill me. Some brother YOU are, Gaara.', he yelled, throwing his bowl to the wall, shattering in contact. Tears of frustration started forming in his eyes. 'You know, sometimes I wish mom never had another kid. Everything would have been much easier.', he sobbed. Kankuro was furious, and decided to take a walk to cool down. Gaara sat emotionlessly. The things that Kankuro had said echoed through his thoughts. The door shut, and now he was alone. 'He's...he's right. I'm a horrible brother. I don't deserve miss Kazumi Nara. If anyone, he does.', he whispered to himself. Tears started rolling down his face, as the constant sound of kankuro's speech lingered in his head.
Done with chapter 10 ^-^ what did you guys think? Remember, leave a review on saying who you would prefer having Kazumi end up with :3!
As usual, review, favorite & follow, my lovelies c:!