XXVIII: Negotiations

Temari

At midmorning Temari had been told by an ANBU messenger to come to the Hokage's office for an important mission. She had to meet with her students to inform them that the morning's training session was cancelled.

When she had arrived at the Hokage Residence Temari was greeted by Shizune, who quickly escorted her to the office, foregoing any of the usual formalities. Whatever was going on, Temari figured that it had to have been important. Indeed it was.

"A diplomatic mission to the Hidden Sand?" Temari was surprised to hear this. She was technically still the liaison between the two villages she both called home, but relations had always been so smooth that she rarely had to fulfill that role.

Naruto nodded. "Yes. We already sent a messenger hawk to the Kazekage last night. The meeting will be held on neutral ground in the Land of Rivers in three days." He picked a scroll off his desk and handed it to Temari. "All the details are in here."

Temari took the scroll but didn't read it. "Are you sure? I mean, this is really short notice here."

"Temari," Naruto said, "my daughter is missing and I don't know who has her. Meanwhile, the civilians are blaming the wrong people, wasting my time with calls for war." He paused and sighed in exasperation. "I need that time to find Himawari. Besides, this could be a chance to get some help from the Sand."

Temari made to say something in response, but found she had nothing except, "I understand. Who all will be coming with me?"

"I'll send a squad of ANBU Black Ops with you as bodyguards," Naruto replied. "Other than that…" Naruto stopped, distracted by something going on in the hallway. "Whoever is out there, you can stop eavesdropping."

The door to the office opened and there stood Bolt Uzamaki.

The boy's father looked surprise. "Bolt? Is something wrong? I promise I'll be right with you in a moment. Shikamaru, take care of…"

"I don't care about that," Bolt interrupted. "We're going with Temari-sensei."

"You're going where?" Naruto asked in disbelief. "Wait…uh…who's 'we?'"

Bolt motioned to people outside of the door frame. "Come on, guys!"

Into view came Temari's other students, Haruto Hyuga and Tora Yamato, the former talking back to Bolt. "I told you this is a stupid idea, Bolt. We shouldn't be doing this."

"What are you doing?" Temari asked sternly.

"I told you, we're going with you," Bolt answered. "We're not letting you go alone."

Haruto rolled his eyes in annoyance. "He means he won't let you go. I swear that losing his sister is making him paranoid. How disgraceful, no true Hyuga would ever act in such a manner."

"Excuse me?" Naruto said, his tone causing the Hyuga to recoil in fear. "Are you belittling my daughter's kidnapping?"

Haruto turned to the incensed Hokage. "Of-of course not, Lord Hokage."

Naruto relented and turned his attention to his son. "Is this what you really want?"

Bolt stood determined and nodded. "Yes."

Naruto sighed, giving in. "Alright, you three will go with Temari on her mission."

Bolt whooped in victory while his teammates looked on, resigned to their fate. Temari stood there flabbergasted, wondering how she had ended up in this mess.


Gaara

Gaara sat in the Council Chamber, watching the members of his council, waiting for a response. Baki had just finished reading the letter from the Hidden Leaf that had arrived in the middle of night.

"My Lord," Isamu said, standing up, "you should not go to this meeting, it is likely a trap."

"I am not going, Isamu," Gaara replied. He wasn't, he didn't feel safe leaving the village out of his protection. "But someone will represent the village."

"Then I beg you, Lord Kazekage," Isamu said with a slight bow, "send me."

Gaara regarded the councilman with suspicion. He wasn't about to send a war hawk like Isamu to a diplomatic meeting, especially with his recent attempts to agitate relations with the Leaf.

Baki must have been thinking the same thing. "I would think that unwise. I suggest we send Lord Ebizo to represent us."

Gaara considered that for a moment. Ebizo was ancient, well into his 80's, and mostly just observed during council meetings, but he was also highly respected. Above all else, he was cautious. He wouldn't jump into conflict as others might. "I think that is an excellent choice."

Ebizo opened his eyes, though Gaara knew that he hadn't been sleeping, and sighed. "Very well."

"Then I will assign a squad to guard him," Isamu said quickly.

Gaara hesitated for a moment. For the same reasons that he didn't want Isamu going to the meeting himself he didn't want him having any say on who was there.

Baki leaned in and whispered to Gaara. "He is Head of Security. We can't deny him that, Gaara."

Gaara nodded, conceding the point. "Very well, Isamu."

Isamu bowed before he left the room, going to prepare the guard detail.

Ebizo slowly came his feet. " I suppose that I should go and prepare for my journey. The meeting is in three days, correct?"

"Yes," Baki confirmed.

"Hm," Ebizo said. "Well, Temari is a reasonable girl. This shouldn't be too difficult on my old bones." He then left the council chamber, not bothering with any of the usual formalities.

"Well, then," Baki said once the elder man had left the room, "I think that this meeting is concluded." He looked over at Gaara for confirmation. The Kazekage nodded, giving his consent.

The councilors all stood and left the room, walking out in a casual manner. Gaara remained in his seat and watched as the others left. When he was the only one in the room he stood up and walked to his office, moving at a leisurely pace with his hands clasped together behind his backs.

Gaara's thoughts turned to recent events. There was something off that he didn't like, but Gaara couldn't quite figure out what it was. The Sand patrol being murdered, Himawari Uzamaki being kidnapped. There seemed to be some conection between the two but Gaara couldn't see it.

Isamu was another concern of his. Was he just a war hawk, taking advantage of an unfortunate event to stir up aggression? Perhaps he was doing what he believed to be his patriotic duty. The worst possibility was that the councilman was somehow involved in all of this. Gaara hoped that wasn't the case.

Above all else, Gaara thought about the meeting with the Hidden Leaf. Any hopes of maintaining peace between the villages hinged on the outcome of those negotiations.