For some reason I completely forgot about this story. It might have something to do with the fact that I've died from the withdrawal of reviews. I'm a ghost now, writing this story because I can't leave things unfinished.

Warnings: are any of you vegans or lactose intolerant? Also, I kinda shoved everything plus the kitchen sink into this chapter. It's really long.

(**)

Naruto was easily impressed; it was something that came along with his happy go lucky attitude and his general demeanor. In fact there was a time that a squirrel ran through the orphanage's kitchen, up the stairs, dodged all attempts at getting at him and then jumped out of the window only to land safely on his feet and rush off into the sunset. That was the most impressive thing that Naruto had seen… until he watch two tortoises fighting and one tortoise literally fell in slow motion. It took the turtle nearly five minutes just to hit his back. Then that was the most impressive thing in the world.

Now he had something that trumped each one of those animals—something that trumped his papa flying which Naruto thought would never be broken unless it was broken by the man himself. However, Gaara had done something that he had not thought possible: he tricked Zabuza. Well, Gaara was in the process of tricking Zabuza at that very second. The Seven Swordsman had walked in on them in their discussion with Kimimaro, Naruto's new friend and soon to be permanent residence within their home. Now, Kimimaro's placement in the house was not exactly… steady in a sense so Naruto had been hiding him for a couple of days and someone found him—his siblings and TenTen and Tayuya. That wasn't important. What's important is that Zabuza had come down into the basement and each of their little hearts had gone into overdrive because they knew they were caught but Gaara…

"I am testing my new clone jutsu," Gaara said blankly. Zabuza looked down at the white haired, blank face boy with big green eyes. It looked absolutely nothing like the redhead or any of the children there. Naruto wanted to hit his brother over the head for such a ridiculous lie only for the redhead to reach out and grab a chunk of Kimimaro's hair. He yanked it and, to everyone's surprise, it came out in his hands and immediately turned into sand.

"I'm trying to make new people, people I've never seen just in case someone needs a distraction but each time I do it… I can never get its feel right. Its skin is gritty and his hair feels wrong and it comes out to easy," Gaara sighed sadly as he continued to talk. Zabuza stepped even closer and reached down. Naruto could literally feel his heart trying to make its way out of his mouth of all places. But, to his amazement the man ruffled the white hair and several pieces came out and sand slid down Kimimaro's face.

"It's pretty good visual work kid but you need to take away some of your chakra and add it gradually. This has too much chakra forced into it too fast. If you do that, it feels sloppy. Take your time," Zabuza grunted before turning on his heel. He began up the stairs and paused and started back towards them, "Remember to remove any traces of your time down here. Severus would have a heart attack if he knew you brats were down here."

Then the ninja was gone. The six children held their breaths for a long moment, listening as the door slammed above their heads but, of course Zabuza walked silently so they could not hear his footsteps but they did wait several minutes before daring to draw in a breath.

"I think I almost peed myself," Tayuya panted, collapsing onto TenTen. The girl nodded in agreement and they watched as the sand spilled off of Kimimaro and back onto Gaara, blending into the young boy's skin effortlessly. Kimimaro shook himself, blinking rapidly. He rubbed at his eyes pawed at his skin idly.

"That was amazing but it felt very hot in there," Kimimaro said to Gaara. The boy blushed under his sand armor and thanked God that he had thought to have it on him that day. Naruto nodded in agreement and mentally marked this single moment as the most impressive thing in the whole world. Gaara had assembled a type of shield that looked exactly like Kimimaro in less than five seconds.

"Thank you but I kinda tired myself out. I'm gonna take a bath and do some homework. You wanna take a bath Kimimaro?" Gaara offered, holding out his hand. The white haired boy could not have heard a better offer than what the small redhead was offering him. He took the pale hand and was pulled to his feet with surprising strength.

"Now all we gotta do is sneak you by Zabuza and Tsunade… now how are we gonna do that…?" TenTen tapped a finger against her chin in thought. Tayuya was the first one to have a light bulb come on in her head. She jumped up and swung her arm on Haku's shoulder.

"I have the perfect idea!" she announced to her fellow adolescents.

(**)

Severus blinked at the sight before him and twenty little eyes blinked back at him. He blinked once more and brought a quick hand to his eyes, wiping the sweat out of them. He had been to every house by now and he was more than exhausted. Hell, there was not a time in his life that Severus felt as tired as he did right at this moment. Now he was at a small house set a little away from the village and he found himself staring at twenty or so children, each dirty and frightened but none seemed to be infected. They were practically jammed together in the space and seemed to run over each other just to get away from him as he reached forward.

"What is the matter? I am here to help. Is anyone infected or sick?" Severus asked in the most patient tone that he could. He had been scratched, slapped, bitten, screamed at, punched, kicked, and stabbed all throughout the day and the sun was just beginning to set. He had yet to eat or close his eyes for longer than a few seconds and he was sure that he looked slightly deranged.

"How are you gonna help? Huh? You're the one that hurt everybody!" a brave little girl piped up in the front. Her front tooth was missing and her hair in two sloppy ponytails. Severus felt his eye twitch violently and he stepped back into the light so that the setting sun shone down on him. He pulled his hair and quickly fashioned it into a high, crooked bun.

"I want you each to take a very good look at me. The last time I was in this desert, it was summer. It is now winter although that means absolutely nothing to your little ears nor the ears of your ancestors," Severus said snidely. He honestly would have to work on his patience but eleven hours of working after running a long distance that should have taken two days in several hours only frayed him all that much more. Later he would probably realize that there were other things that needed to be tended to until the Kazekage rose again and then he would have to send a message back home while he and Shizune rested. It was going to be a long time before he was calm and collected once more.

"Wait… Aika… that isn't the guy! He ain't got the purple stuff on his eyes and his nose is all wrong and he's too skinny," a boy climbed over his brethren and sisters to come to the doorway of the shack. The boys and girls around him all murmured their agreement and the girl, Aika, jumped up with a relieved smile that showcased her missing teeth and rushed over to the Magic User. With a running leap, Aika threw herself at the skinny man. Severus, as a second reflex, stepped to the side and watched as the child landed face first in the sand. The other children didn't seem too worried about her as they swarmed forward and surrounded their hero. Severus found himself the victim of twenty or so little voices asking thousands of questions and hands pulling on his person.

"Oh we were so scared!"

"It feels like we were in there for weeks!"

"Is my nana alright!?"

"Have you seen my mommy?"

"How many people are gone?"

"Did the Kazekage live?"

"My mommy said she was gonna come right back but she never did!"

"Is my brother—?"

(**)

Shizune knew that she should not laugh, especially while they were still in the midst of a very real crisis. The last thing that anyone should be doing in their situation was laugh but the sight of Severus Snape, practically covered with children and fighting every step of the way as he entered the nearly silent hospital was too funny. It was definitely a sight better than the raspy breathing and occasional groans as the antidote worked through their blood.

"Shizune, I believe that I have found a clump of children that have been stowed away before the infection fully hit," Severus said dryly. Of course this comment only caused Shizune to break down and burst into joyful laughter. She almost fell to her knees as she tried to pull air through her lungs as it quickly left her body. After a few moments she began to gain control, or at least enough so that she was standing straight up and looking Severus in the face. The man looked worse for wear, probably after working nonstop the entire time and having run to his fullest speed to the Hidden Sand. She was tired too but she had been at the hospital, preparing for everyone before going out on the streets and ordering everyone there to be examined and cleaned. She also dealt with people not too far into the infection. Severus had to deal with the people hallucinating and deranged.

"Children, please release Severus-kun. He has been helping Sunagakure for the entirety of the day. I have a separate space for those that are not infected. However, a nice shower and a clean body come first. Next will be a hot meal and after that, bed time. In the morning, it should be safe for you to see your loved ones," Shizune took control of the situation quickly as Severus seemed to be nearing the breaking point. The children all sighed or whimpered but listened to her instructions as they went off to the direction that she pointed to.

She had sealed off the cured infected people in another wing of the hospital and would be checking on them in but moments. She looked back to Severus and reassessed a statement she had made. Severus did not look to be near the breaking point. He looked as though he had been shattered and tossed further than that point. His head was bowed but without his hair down, she could see his ragged and worn face. She seemed to have lost a couple of inches and his eyes were set deep in his skull.

"You should follow the example of the children too, Severus," Shizune meant it as an order but the man straightened his spine and seemed determined.

"The dead cannot stay out there. The infection might still travel through the air because of them and we cannot risk such a thing. We must cremate them but I wish to know who each person is so that their name may not be forgotten," Severus sighed. He had a long night ahead of him.

"We can help," a voice stated. Severus and Shizune whirled around, eyes narrowed and kunai placed in front of them. They were both a force to be reckoned with. They immediately stopped as they recognized a recovering shinobi and what appeared to be a civilian.

"You should be resting," Shizune sighed, straightening her stance and approaching the two. The woman shifted away and fiddled with a ring on her finger as the civilian man glared at their cities' salvation. They both knew the city's inhabitants and Severus could easily find the records of people in the village so that their family members could be told and their names… checked off.

Yes, Severus had already given in to their offer. Severus could tell the two were not going to give up and he did not have enough fight in him to argue about their safety of mind and health. He simply wanted to get the deed done and dream of the day when he would forget this horrible tragedy and the screaming of the many victims that had fallen prey to it.

(**)

It was going into the third day that Shizune and Snape had gone to save the Sand. And Tsunade was trying. She was really, really trying to not reach for a bottle of sake and pour all of her worries and sorrows into a cup before drinking them back up inside of her body. She didn't want to disappoint her assistant or scare the children in her drunken state but she needed some alcohol lest she go mad.

"It'll just be a single sip. That's all," Tsunade muttered as she carefully snuck her way out of her room. It was rather hard with both Tayuya and TenTen snuggled up in bed with her but she had slipped their hold by some miracle and hadn't even made them shift. Yeah, she still had her skills. She had to be discreet and—

"You can stop sneaking and join the party," a gruff voice grunted. Tsunade nearly jumped out of her skin as she rounded the corner to go into the kitchen and was met with the sight of Zabuza Momochi. The missing ninja had his legs propped up on the table and was sipping from a glass. Judging by the empty bottles on the table, he had been tossing them back rather swiftly in the beginning. The man should be in a delightful buzzed state and moving into oblivion drunk.

"You could hear me?" Tsunade strode into the kitchen and poured herself of the liquor. As she felt the burn slide down her throat she had to compliment the man—this was the strong stuff and anyone that drunk this would instantly turn into an adult.

"When I'm drunk, the world is open to me and I am the master of it," Zabuza chuckled sarcastically, throwing out his arms and nearly tipping back in his chair but he kept his balance remarkably well for someone well into their way of becoming thoroughly smashed.

"If Snape finds out that you put your feet on the table, he'll murder you and then bring you back to force you to leave up the mess you left behind," Tsunade smirked although it did not last long as she realized that she brought up the skinny man who had left them alone with children nearly three days ago.

"If Shizune or Severus finds out that you're drinking in the house, they'll both sew your lips together and then rid the world of liquor one city at a time," Zabuza returned, trying not to let a bit of depression start up. He was a strong man and he had people depending on him which meant that he would never, ever leave them mentally or physically.

"Oh, that sounds like something worse than Hell," Tsunade nearly shivered at the mere idea of such an atrocity happening.

"What is? Getting your mouth sewn shut?" Zabuza tilted his head. The woman rolled his eyes and tossed back her fifth glass. Honestly, the man should know her much better than that after all of the time she spent with the family.

"Hell no, getting rid of alcohol is a punishment worse than death," she corrected quite seriously and reached for the bottle to make secure another glass of her elixir.

(**)

Severus made a cross over his body as the last person was stored into a beautiful and unique urn. There had been a total of forty casualties, some adolescents but most of them were adults. To Severus' bitter happiness, there had not been a single newborn which could be attributed to the fact that the birthrate had dropped slightly due to the recession which had worked in their favor. He sent a silent prayer out to the soul of Kagome Toshiba. He looked up at the starry sky and rolled up the scroll of the living and dead. The civilian man, Akahoshi straightened from his bow and looked upon the urns that they had gotten from the funeral home.

"Is there anything else that I can assist with?" the shinobi, Chika asked of her city's savior in a respectful tone. She knew that if the man and the shinobi had not arrived when they had, then she and many more might not have made it long enough for their allies to realize that they were in trouble. She was thankful towards Snape-sama and Shizune-sama and she would do anything that he asked of her to show her gratitude that her Kazekage was not able to show at the moment.

Severus turned his head to the woman and he felt his mind travel at least fifty miles per hour. If Chika ran at a normal, healthy pace then it would take her two days to get to the small city and his family plus Shizune's would take another two days to get there if they too remained calm and took their time. If he and Akahoshi were to work throughout the entire night and there was bound to be more people willing to help clean up and protect the city further by getting rid of anything contaminated. If his math was correct then it was enough time. Everything should be cleaned and disinfected if not burned down entirely and, by the time they arrived, Severus would either be resting or awakening from his rest.

"There is a message I would like to send," Severus requested.

(**)

Zabuza groaned as a pounding echoed throughout his poor skull. It felt as though his head was a door and someone was banging on it. Oh wait… Zabuza moved very carefully and cocked his head to the side because he realized that it was not in his mind. Someone was actually pounding on the front door. Zabuza sighed and rolled off his bed which felt so much colder than he thought possible. If he wasn't sure that the boys were curled up in Severus' room, he might have found himself in there. He stumbled down the stairs and realized that the house was quiet. Either Tsunade was trying to bury herself in work or she had simply stumbled out of the house in her drunken stupor while the children had gone off to school… wait, no, Zabuza had a vague recollection of taking (read: stalking) the boys and TenTen to school. He was not too sure where Tayuya was but he was thought he could hear her breathing in the boy's room.

"I swear if you hit this door one more damned time!" Zabuza growled as he yanked it open, his eyes cutting into the woman standing on the doorstep. The woman, obviously a shinobi by the gear and forehead protector she was a Sand shinobi which meant that she probably had information about Severus. He wrapped his fingers into her vest and pulled her quickly into the house, slamming the door.

"He said that I'd be in a shock…" she muttered as her brown eyes looked him in the face. Ah yes, he was a missing ninja, probably in the bingo book. He rolled his eyes and mentally prepared himself for a worse headache if the woman thought herself strong enough to take him. He only hoped that any blood he got around the house would be easily cleaned or Severus would have his head.

"My name is Chika of the Sunagakure. Two days ago, a man named Snape Severus requested that I bring a message to his family. It is safe for you to come to the Hidden Sand. Be sure to formally bring the boys out of school… send Tsunade with a forged note from me. Try not to be too creative," she said aloud, having said the message to herself throughout her entire trip there. She bowed to the man and left the house quickly, putting the fact that she saw a criminal in the back of her mind. It was not something that would cause sleepless nights.

Zabuza stared at the door that the Sand shinobi had just left out of and a smile spread across his lips. He ran up the stairs to tell someone the good news and, of course to send a messenger in the form of a little girl with pink hair and brown eyes. Now of course that was who he thought he would walk in on but he found himself staring at not only Tayuya but some unidentified white haired boy that looked like Gaara's sand clone only now… Zabuza knew that this was not a clone in any way, shape, or form.

(**)

Naruto looked up from his classwork as his name was called. He saw his teacher calmly waving him over and Tsunade standing in the doorway with Gaara, Haku, and a wig wearing TenTen all bouncing on their toes. Naruto leapt from his chair, already knowing the he was leaving school and rushed to his current guardian and siblings. As they left the school and he spotted Tayuya coming to walk by their side, he knew that something was wrong.

"What happened, Tayuya?" Naruto asked immediately. The girl sighed and pulled at a clump of her hair nervously before looking at all of the eyes stuck on her, even Tsunade seemed curious.

"Zabuza… he found Kimimaro and I think he kicked him out," Tayuya revealed. Horror struck each of the children and they took off in a run back to the house, leaving a confused Tsunade to hurry and catch up with them which was almost difficult in their blind panic. Naruto could only hope and pray that Zabuza hadn't kicked out their soon to be brother. Kimimaro did not deserve such a thing to happen to him and Naruto had decided last night that he was going to convince Severus to let Kimimaro stay and be their new brother. Yes, it might be a little hard considering that his papa convinced himself that he wasn't much of a kid's person but he would eventually come around once he heard Kimimaro's story and saw how awesome Kimimaro is.

The small group ran as if the world was ending and their only salvation was the house their destination. It had taken them but mere moments to reach the house in their break neck speed and they immediately spotted Zabuza leaning against the door jam with a bag over his shoulder and a bandage covering the bottom half of his face. He wore no shirt and the baggy pants that he had arrived in those months ago. The six children came to a halt and stared at the painfully calm man.

"Zabuza, where's Kimimaro? What did you do?" Naruto demanded immediately which was echoed by his brothers and a concerned TenTen. Although they had not known the white haired boy as long as Naruto, they still felt something for him because he was one of them. The missing ninja sighed through his nose and pushed his body off of the doorframe.

"Your papa sent a messenger and told me that it is safe for us to go to Sunagakure," he said simply, ignoring their questions. Naruto planted his feet firmly and glared at Zabuza. He was excited to hear that they could go to Suna but his papa would be there—Kimimaro could die or get lost or hurt! Papa had people that could protect him at that moment and he had promised Kimimaro that same protection!

"You have to go get him!" Tayuya shouted, stomping her little foot. She had actually really liked Kimimaro; he was really smart and funny. He took her mind off of the sick and dying in her Village and reminded her that, if what he had heard was true, then Suna was in good hands with Severus and Shizune.

"It's not right for you to throw him out! Papa is the one that decides!" Naruto added.

"We should bring him with us so papa can choose," Haku said calmly although, in the inside, he was crying for the little boy that was thrown out. He already knew how cold and scared Kimimaro was, stumbling around the Hidden Mist by himself and knowing that no one would ever love him because he just left the warmest place he's been in all his life. Although it must be worse for Kimimaro because he was thrown out while Haku left of his own free will.

"Zabuza, please go get him. Please," Gaara pulled at the man's pants and looked up with the biggest, saddest eyes that could ever be made. Zabuza looked around at all the children, tears pooling in their tiny eyes and dripping down their cheeks and, he wished he could say that it didn't affect him because he was a ruthless shinobi that tried to kill his Kage. He listened to men beg for their lives like the cowards they were and had not flinched, not even when they soiled themselves in their fear and yet… these children around him were actually making him uncomfortable with their tears and sad faces. No, he was not gonna break—he refused to break! He…

"Oh you know you're gonna do it so just go," Tsunade ordered, yanking the bag from his shoulder. He glared at the woman but he knew that she was correct. He was going to go after the little brat he had evicted from the house and, while he would not like it, he would bring him back in one blissful piece. Zabuza pulled his cloak over his shoulders and pulled the hood over his head so that no one could be able to recognize him then he took off.

(**)

Kimimaro was not lost and he was not sad… okay, he was both but he knew that he shouldn't be sad. He had known for a long time that he would have to eventually leave because there was no way that anyone wanted to be around a killing machine in the form of a child. He couldn't blame Mr. Momochi for not wanting him in the house but Kimimaro should have taken a cloak. He wrapped his skinny arms around his body and continued to stumble forward. He winced as a rock stabbed him in the foot but continued on, knowing that the skin would heal itself shortly. He only wished he had had time to say goodbye to Naruto and his siblings.

"Hey kid… what are you doing out here… all alone?" a voice croaked. Kimimaro jumped and nearly fell backwards in his effort to not crash head first into the man before him. He looked up and saw the deadly pale face of a man. There was something wrong with him, a strange rash on the side of his face and going down his neck. There were purple markings on the inner side of his eyes, going down his nose a bit.

"Um… I…" Kimimaro stammered, not sure what to tell the man. There was obviously something wrong with him, his eyes glazed over and his forehead gleaming with sweat. Kimimaro took a step back and yelped as strong arms suddenly scooped him up from behind. The man pulled his hood over his face as the newcomer rearranged Kimimaro more comfortably against him, bringing him under the cloak he wore and into warmth.

"Kimimaro, what are you doing out here!?" Zabuza's deep voice sounded in his ear. Kimimaro tripped over his words for a long second, his green eyes wide as he stared up at the man's half hidden face. Zabuza lifted his head and looked to the man that had been talking to Kimimaro. He did not like the smell coming from him for one second. The man was swaying on the spot and probably drunk worse than Zabuza and Tsunade were last night or the night before. Zabuza turned on his heel and stomped back the direction he came, being sure to keep his ears perked to listen to the swaying man in case he attempted to harm them.

"W-why did you come back…?" Kimimaro whispered, burrowing close to the strong, warm chest.

"It's Severus' place to reject or take in brats. We're going to Sunagakure to catch up with him," Zabuza answered truthfully. Kimimaro began to fiddle with his hair, almost giddy to meet the man that Naruto almost boasted about. He couldn't wait!

(**)

If the first thought in someone's mind when they wake up the most important then Katsuya was proud to say that his first thought upon opening his eyes laid solely on Temari and Kankuro. He didn't remember much except for a burning fire that literally licked at his pathetic excuse for a soul and he remembered that his children… oh no. Katsuya sat up on his bed and stared blankly down at his lap. It was covered with his thin blanket. He looked around the room and saw that it was still destroyed, still in pieces but he was no longer in pain. He looked at his arms and saw them free of leaking bumps and disgusting rashes. Katsuya let out a chuckle then a giggle that evolved in stomach twisting roars of laughter. Even to his own ears he knew it sounded hysterical but he was hysterical. He felt as though he were teetering on the edge of insanity with the wind howling and pushing him to fall over the edge.

Someone had cured him, that much was obvious but he remembered that their little hearts had stopped almost at the same time. Their hearts had stopped and Katsuya was alone in their room, praying and crying for someone to come and put him out of his misery. He remembered that he had written in one of their books, a letter to someone that found them but he had vomited on the book and their blood was all over his hands and his words had become practically illegible but he didn't care. He simply wanted to die with his children although he knew that while they went on to heaven, he would sink down into the pits of Hell.

"What's wrong, lover boy?" a brash voice asked loudly. Katsuya slowly turned his head to see the busty saanin standing in the doorway. He let loose a choked sound that might have been a chuckle. Great, now he was hallucinating all over again. He would have to talk to his savior and tell them that they're antidote obviously wasn't working correctly. Katsuya buried his head into his hands, great sobs beginning to shake his entire body.

"Hey, Kazekage…" her voice was in his ear and her warm hand slid over his shoulder until she was slowly but surely pulling him into her slightly frame. He buried his face into her bosom, not even taking note where his head was instead he savored the warmth she gave off. Her arms were strong as they wrapped around him and he couldn't help but pour each feeling of sorrow and regret into him.

"Temari, why is dad crying into that lady's boobies? OW! Don't hit me!"

"Then don't say 'boobies'!"

"You mad that you never gonna have some!? You're always gonna be a flatty!"

"Well you're always gonna be fat!"

Katsuya raised his head slowly as he heard the bickering children and, when he turned, he had to stop himself from rubbing at his eyes. The last thing he needed was for them to disappear. Temari and Kankuro stood there, pushing at each other and pulling at the other's hair. They would soon be on the ground if they followed the normal protocol of their fights.

"Temari, Kankuro… come here," Katsuya said tightly. The brother and sister immediately stopped fighting and slowly walked to their father's side of the bed. When they were in reaching range, Katsuya scooped them onto the bed and into his lap, his eyes searching their faces for the tiny imperfections that his mind could never duplicate and he felt a smile nearly splitting his face. He pulled them close to his chest, nearly crushing the air out of them and buried his nose into their hair.

"Dad… we're okay you know," Temari said, catching onto their father's sadness first. Kankuro shifted a little and pulled away. He had never seen his dad's face when he cried.

"Wow… you're ugly when you cry—OW! Dad, tell Temari to stop hitting me!" Kankuro yelped as Temari bonked him on the head once more. This caused another fight between the two which landed them on the floor, rolling around and hitting each other with their little fists. Katsuya turned his head to see Tsunade smiling softly at him, her brown eyes shimmering with relief and happiness. Now that he knew that his children were okay, his spirits felt uplifted.

"I think I'm still feeling a little upset. I'm gonna lay back down," he said with the best innocent smile he could manage on his decided not-innocent mind before going towards Tsunade's large breasts once more, only this time he was going to note how soft and—

"You damned PERVERT!"

(**)

The End

It's always Gaara that gets them... damn eyes. Anyway, this chapter is the longest (w00t for people that like to read) and ended rather nicely. I wonder if I'm gonna start the next chapter on a good note... or a bad.

Comment, please! I know I'm a ghost but I still like to eat your words!