Normal

"Speech"

Thought

Kyuubi

Warnings:I do not own Naruto. Rated "M" for language and adult situations.

Chapter 21: The best laid plans...

Gaara stepped forward and bowed slightly. "It is I who am honored to meet you Ravenheart-San." He straightened and offered her his hand. They shook hands and Myra did her best not to reel back from the cold sadness she felt when she touched him. Gaara had seen this reaction in people before and he was all too accustom to the response. Though her expression did not change, he felt the subtle flinch in her hand.

Gaara released her hand and continued the introductions, pointing at his older brother. "And may I introduce my older Brother Kankuro." Kankuro simply bowed. Myra returned the bow.

"I would introduce you to my sister; however, I believe that she has disappeared with Shikamaru." Gaara smirked.

"Really?" Myra raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think that Shikamaru-san would be the type that was interested in woman." She blinked. The boys were a bit surprised by Myra's observation.

"What would give you that idea?" Kankuro asked. Naruto was stifling a chuckle. Myra blinked in confusion.

"He didn't seem like the kind of guy that would care about that sort of thing." She imitated Shikamaru rather well. "Too troublesome, so he says. There were several clues scattered in my observations of him that led me to believe that…" She took a breath. "He didn't like girls very much. For instance, at the match yesterday…" Her voice trailed off and she smirked deviously blushing slightly. "He was the only gentleman that wasn't staring at some point."

Naruto felt momentarily guilty and looked at her through his bangs. "You noticed that?" Gaara laughed at Naruto. Myra smiled, putting her hand on his check. Her hand was warm and comforting.

"It was hard not to notice. Lee-san had the best cover when he said something about watching for tactical analysis. Hyuuga-san and Lee-san turned a lovely shade of pink when Lady Tsunade caught them spying on me. Shikamaru was the only one that didn't look, didn't seem to care, and didn't react to being baited. So naturally I assumed, because he hadn't even looked, he was the type of guy that wasn't interested in women." Myra shrugged. Naruto, Kankuro, and Gaara nodded in agreement.

"I can see how you could come to that conclusion, but let me assure you, Shikamaru managed to melt Temari's heart, and she can be a little… Well Temari is…" Kankuro stammered.

"Bossy, defiant, over protective, cold hearted." Gaara filled in the blanks very flatly.

"Not to mention vicious." Naruto added. Myra chuckled. "I like her already." They all chuckled. The laughter died down followed by an odd silence.

"So you're bored to death." Myra smirked. Gaara sighed heavily. "Extremely…"

Kankuro nodded in agreement. "This place is really stuffy."

"So then let's go do something else." Myra suggested. Six pairs of eyes turned to her.

"What?" Naruto voice cracked with the surprise of her suggestion.

"Let's go and do something else. I don't want to be here…" She pointed to Gaara and Kankuro. "They don't want to be here. So why stay?" She asked sincerely.

"Can we do that?" Naruto asked.

"I am not one to ask about these official social gatherings. I avoid them as much as possible mostly because I am not much of a people person." Gaara shrugged.

"I don't know either." Kankuro nodded.

Myra had a plan. "To be honest it would be rude if we all left at once. But if we leave separately we might be able to walk away clean." Myra smirked deviously and chewing on her bottom lip in thought. The light bulb exploded over her head. "Rank hath its privileges." She looked at Gaara. "Kazekage-sama, you could walk over to Lady Tsunade, tell her that you are tired from your journey and walk away. She wouldn't question it. Kankuro-sama would be able to go with you just because." Gaara pondered the idea.

"I'm in." Kankuro grinned. "But what about you and Naruto?"

"I'm gonna get yelled at aren't I?" Naruto shook his head. Myra just smiled.

"I need to eat because I'm hungry and the food is free. Then I go to Lady Tsunade and make the excuse that I am more tired that I thought. I am sure she will protest; make a few comments about engaging in "sport"; followed by some ranting and raving." Naruto interrupted her.

"Am I going to get hit?" He really didn't want to get hit by Tsunade.

"I don't think she will hit you. You will get yelled at… But I wouldn't feel bad, I'll get yelled at too. I'll swear off any more "sport" this evening, and you will offer to make sure I get home safely." She smiled.

"And what happens if that doesn't work?" Gaara stayed toneless.

"Worst case scenario, we sneak the fuck out." Myra nodded. Surprised looks greeted her again. The Kazekage shook his head. Kankuro laughed. Naruto hit the floor (anime style).

"What?" The girl was confused. "We're ninja, how hard would it be to sneak out?"

"I don't sneak." Gaara raised an eyebrow. Myra shook her head.

"You don't have to sneak. You get to walk out the doors with out a second glance. No offence Gaara-sama, you are the Kazekage and you have the intimidating broody look going on." Myra nodded.

Kankuro and Naruto deflated a bit. "I can be intimidating." Naruto puffed out his chest. Myra smiled at him.

"I'm sure you can be." Her tone was slightly mocking, she honesty couldn't see him as intimidating. Kankuro chuckled. Gaara came to his friend's defense. "I wouldn't judge too quickly, Myra-san. I have seen Naruto when he is protecting his friends and this village, he can be MOST intimidating."

Naruto looked at Gaara with a big wide goofy grin. Myra sighed, she was beginning to get a little frustrated. "Ok fine, I'm tapped for ideas on how to escape. I'm going to go eat now. When you boys come up with a plan, let me know." Myra stormed off towards the buffet table.

Gaara waited until Myra was out of earshot. "She flinched, but did not recoil. I approve of her." Naruto blinked. "What?"

"When she shook my hand, she flinched but did not run screaming or show fear." Gaara sipped his tea. Kankuro shrugged. "Who runs screaming anymore?"

"Small children." Gaara nodded. Naruto and Kankuro could hardly breathe from laughing. Gaara rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, Lady Tsunade, what did you plan to accomplish by allowing that creature escort the Ravenheart to the party?" The old man was beginning to annoy the Hokage.

"I didn't want to achieve anything." Tsunade lied, slamming another saucer of Sake. "Myra-san is the one that made the choice to bring Naruto. I do hope that Neji wasn't too terribly upset." She looked up from her Sake and glared at Hiashi Hyuuga.

"He was not. Actually, he seemed relieved." The clan leader glared back. Tsunade set down her Sake saucer and tried to keep her tone casual.

"I am glad to hear it. Then I hope we can put to rest this silly proposal…" Hiashi interrupted her.

"I do not plan to drop the matter. The Uchiha clan seat on the council has been empty for far too long. After the massacre, the council decided to change the seat to a non voting member of the council until Sasuke Uchiha had come of age to claim it. He is a missing nin now and will never return to the village. The Ravenheart is the last acceptable heir to the Uchiha council seat, the fortune, and anything else left by the Uchihas." An evil smirk danced on his face.

"So your motivation is greed." The Hokage stood up. "I do not believe Myra-san would be interested in such an arrangement, nor would her father. As I recall, you and her father were never the best of friends." Tsunade stared daggers at the arrogant clan leader. Hiashi kept his cool.

"I am thinking of the wellbeing of this village, along with the future of my own clan. An arranged marriage between the Hyuuga clan and Ravenheart clan would be beneficial to both clans and the village." Hiashi said like a politician. Tsunade kept her glare.

"Then there is the one possibility that I doubt you considered. Or you considered it, and it is the true reason you are pushing this arrangement. But why think of unobtainable possibilities… I doubt you will convince her father of such an arrangement, and even if you did, do you honestly believe SHE would allow it?" With that, Tsunade turned from Hiashi and walked away. The Hokage spotted Myra stopping away from Naruto and Gaara.

Myra grabbed a plate and started to wonder around the buffet tables. There was so much to eat and so little she wanted. It was mostly odd foods she never tried, didn't want to try, or just didn't look all that appetizing to her. She found one section of the buffet tables that had mounds of fruits and vegetables. Myra began to load her plate.

Tsunade walked up to her. "Enjoying your-self?" Myra gave the Hokage a fake smile. "You want the honest truth, or a polite response?" Tsunade laughed.

"I would prefer the honest truth in a polite manner." The Hokage raised an eyebrow.

"I am having a delightful time being bored to death." Myra was very cheerful about her response. Tsunade started to scowl.

"You asked for the honest truth. I gave it to you. Look around you… Most of these people here are a lot older than I am. I have nothing in common with them besides the political aspects of who I am." Myra growled.

"I wanted to give you a chance to meet the council in a way that wouldn't be intimidating…" Tsunade sounded concerned. Myra smirked.

"It takes a lot more than a bunch of old politicians to scare me. Actually, I find this situation more intimidating than a board room. Here in these social situations, it reeks of greed, betrayal, deception and a few other things I care not to mention." The girl munched on some celery sticks. Tsunade smirked. "I agree with you, but it will become a must at some point in your life."

Myra nodded. "But that is a LONG way off." Tsunade chuckled in agreement. Myra thought maybe with Tsunade in such a good mood, she could ask if they could leave. She looked back to the table where the boys were still discussing the means of escape, then turned back to Tsunade "Um… Lady Tsunade? Do you think it would be ok if Naruto and I leave after dinner? He promised to show me the village." Myra looked at the Hokage with hope.

The Hokage looked back at Naruto. At that moment he had a devious look in his eye and a foxy grin plastered across his face. Though Gaara showed no emotion, Tsunade could tell he was enjoying the half concocted idea coming from Naruto. Kankuro was trying desperately not to fall over from the laughter. The Hokage let out a long sigh. "Don't do anything too strenuous, you are still supposed to be recovering, and you might want to take the Kazekage and his brother with you. They don't look all that happy to be here either." Myra's face lit up. Tsunade waved as she went back to a corner to drink more Sake and be pestered by council members asking where Myra had run off too.

Myra walked back to the table with a large grin on her face. She couldn't wait to tell them they had a free pass to leave.