Chapter 34

As soon as Jiraiya and Baki were out of the village, Jiraiya summoned a toad as tall as a one-story building, and they leapt on board. They'd cover ground faster this way, even if riding a toad wasn't exactly a skill most people learned. Baki had to sit up front, so that Jiraiya could hold him and make sure he didn't fall off.

"So, about us," Jiraiya said.

Baki glanced at him. "Are we really going to talk about this now?"

"Distract me. I'm worried. We've got half an hour left to go, and I'm sure not gonna spend this time in silence, wondering about what could have happened to Kakashi, the only surviving connection I have to Minato or his family."

"I thought Naruto was Minato's son," Baki said.

"His parents died when he was born," Jiraiya said. "The only person I can talk to about Minato stuff is Kakashi. He knows Minato. He trained under my student. We both love him. That's the kind of support I need when times are bad. Naruto's a legacy, not someone I can talk to."

"I guess twelve-year-olds aren't normally good conversationalists anyway," Baki said.

Jiraiya nodded. "That's true."

"So, about us," Baki said.

Jiraiya glanced at him with a grin. "Alright, alright." He said what was really on his mind. "Were you really jealous that I danced with Yondaime last night?"

Baki thought that was an unfair question. What am I supposed to say? Either way, it's going to embarrass me. "Sort of."

"Why?" Jiraiya asked.

"What do you mean, why?" Baki looked away, at the blurry landscape. The forest was streaking by in leaps and bounds.

Jiraiya hesitated. He honestly had to search for words to respond to that question. "Because…it's not like…No one except you would want me. So why is it a big deal that I dance with other people?"

"You can dance," Baki said wryly. "I just don't want you to have sex with other people."

"Do you have any idea what my track record is?" Jiraiya asked. "I couldn't sleep with somebody if I tried. Nobody wants me. I'm an old pervert who writes romance stories."

"You're not that old," Baki said.

Jiraiya grinned and snorted. "But I'm perverted, right?"

"How would I know?" Baki pouted, adopting a tragic tone. "You haven't slept with me yet."

Jiraiya burst out laughing. When he was able to speak, he said, shaking his head, "Now, wanting to know if someone is perverted or not by sleeping with them, that is perverted."

Baki grinned. "Then we're well-matched."

Jiraiya squeezed Baki's waist, suddenly grateful for that statement. "Nobody's ever said that before," he said softly.

"Well, no one else needs to say that," Baki said. "You're mine."

Jiraiya blushed. "Oh, is that so?"

"It's so," Baki said.

Jiraiya tightened his arms around Baki and rested his cheek on Baki's shoulder blade.

He wasn't going to argue with that.

xXx

In the Kage Box, cold drinks were served at the conclusion of the first match. Yondaime accepted a glass of lemonade. "Thank you very much."

The jonin bowed. "Of course, Kazekage-sama." Yondaime didn't know the man's name. He had a distinctive scar, though. It looked like it had been caused by a fire release jutsu.

"A decisive first battle," Sandaime said, accepting a glass of iced tea. "Your daughter is impressive, Yondaime."

Yondaime inclined his head. "Thank you. You owe your praise to her, though. I was unable to train her, since I have no expertise in wind release, nor the ways of the fan."

"Yes…" Sandaime puffed on his pipe. "What was your wife's specialty?"

Yondaime glanced at Sandaime with a smile. "Karura? Karu-chan was a puppet master. Like Kankuro."

"How did Temari-san inherit the fan, then?" Sandaime asked.

"That was her grandmother," Yondaime said. "Karura's mother. Karura's father was a puppet master, and her mother was a fan wielder."

"I see…" Sandaime looked mildly puzzled. "What did your children inherit from your side of the family?"

"Very little, thank god," Yondaime said.

Basa squeezed his shoulder.

Sandaime politely refrained from digging into that statement. Yondaime had never told him much about personal things, being that he was a professional colleague on the world stage and not a confidant. Sandaime had always respected that, in spite of hints the man must have picked up by now.

After all, they'd been seeing each other twice a year at the Chunin Exam for twelve years. Aside from Jiraiya, Sandaime was the only other person from another nation Yondaime could say he knew.

"The next match is about to start," Aio commented. He rubbed his hands together. "This is the big one. Jinchuuriki against jinchuuriki."

"Yes," Sandaime agreed.

"A lot of nations are looking forward to this battle," Basa said. "As well as a lot of clients from those nations. Is that correct?"

Sandaime nodded, once. He looked out at the arena thoughtfully. "Correct, Basa-san. This match could well determine the fiscal future of both our villages."

"I doubt Gaara or Naruto-kun know that," Yondaime said lightly, smiling. "Thank goodness. I would hate to give the boys stage fright. They view this as a friendly competition. Or at least Naruto-kun does. But Gaara is learning. Naruto-kun is good for him, I think."

"And the other way around," Sandaime said, with a chuckle. "Naruto-kun has been very excited since meeting Gaara. All he's talked about since the first half of the Chunin Exam concluded was beating Sasuke and Gaara; with emphasis on fighting Gaara in the final rounds. I think he appreciates having someone more like him around to play with. He was always a lonely child."

"Gaara was the same way." Yondaime paused, but this seemed like the opportune moment. "Sandaime-sama, please consider having Naruto-kun train with us for the next few years. We would both benefit from our jinchuuriki going on this journey of discovery together." The teenage years were very important for jinchuuriki, since most of their bijuu's power could only be harnessed by a young adult.

Sandaime looked at him in surprise. Then the Hokage looked thoughtful. "Jiraiya and Baki too, ne?"

Yondaime nodded. "They are very taken with each other. I think that as brothers they can support each other, and in turn can support the development of their students."

"What about Kakashi-kun, then?" Sandaime asked, seeming to direct the question more at himself than Yondaime.

"Kakashi, Sandaime-sama?" Yondaime asked, curious.

"Kakashi-kun will feel guilty," Sandaime said, "if he is not able to aid in Naruto-kun's growth. Doubtless, he will also miss Jiraiya."

Yondaime didn't know what to say about that. He only knew that Baki and Jiraiya would be devastated if they couldn't stay together, and Gaara and Naruto were getting along surprisingly well.

He sipped his drink and gazed out at the arena. Soon enough, it will be Gaara down there. Against Naruto, no less. He reminded himself that the seal keeping Shukaku in check had been reinforced, and sat back in his chair.

"It is your decision, ultimately," Yondaime said. "But Jiraiya said he was going to train Naruto abroad anyway, and Suna definitely counts as abroad. Like Mt. Myoboku, it is also safe."

Sandaime inclined his head. "I will consider the possibility. Perhaps we can arrange an exchange of sorts; Naruto and Jiraiya's stay in return for a team from your village training abroad in Konoha."

"I'll agree to that, as long as it isn't Team Baki," Yondaime said. "That would defeat the point."

Sandaime nodded. "I agree."

Yondaime ventured a smile. "Then, pending approval of the council of elders, it is a deal."

Sandaime smiled and playfully clinked his glass against Yondaime's. "A deal. We shall do our best to arrange the mutual training of Naruto-kun and Gaara-kun together."

xXx

Kankuro considered going down to the locker room area to get a drink from one of the vending machines there, but he didn't know how much time he had, or if Gaara would be comfortable with him leaving for a few minutes.

"Looks like they're finishing up," Kankuro commented. He nodded at the forest area of the arena. All the debris had been cleared away, and the last few trees were being put back together by the mysterious ANBU agent who would apparently re-grow trees at will. An interesting talent.

"The Chunin Exam will resume in three minutes!" Genma announced from the arena. "Stay in your seats, folks. You won't want to miss the action. If you need to use the bathroom, do it now!"

Kankuro rolled his eyes. He thought Genma enjoyed being the referee a little too much. Hayate had been way better, calm and collected. No wonder this guy's just a sub.

Naruto was stretching. "Are you ready?" He grinned Gaara's way.

Gaara merely nodded.

"Too bad Sasuke-teme and Kaka-sensei are gonna miss this," Naruto said. "At least I'll have Sakura-chan cheering for me."

Kankuro withheld a comment. I don't think she's your biggest fan, man. She didn't even wanna dance with you when there was no one else around.

He suddenly caught a flash of silver hair out of the corner of his eye and turned on his heel. He was just in time to see a young man in a white medic's uniform disappear into the crowd. He had silvery hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Kabuto? Kankuro thought, confused.

Then he shook himself as Temari appeared, coming back from the locker rooms. She looked much better, though her hair was damp. "Ah, hey, I'm in time." She grinned at them.

"Gaara of the Sand and Uzumaki Naruto, report to the arena!" Genma announced. "Your exam is about to begin!"

The crowd cheered.

xXx

Aio unashamedly leaned forward over Yondaime's shoulder at the announcement that the match was about to begin. "This is it."

Josei shook his head and gently pulled his partner up straight.

"Indeed," Basa said. He looked at Yondaime. "Never fear, Kazekage-sama. No matter what happens, Suna's future is in good hands. And Gaara will graduate. It is only a matter of when. Enjoy the fact that all of your children have made it this far and relax."

Yondaime nodded and took a deep breath. "You're right." He was grateful for the speech. Basa could always tell when he was nervous. It came of being his teacher as a child.

"Of course he's right," Aio said. "This is going to be a blast!" He cheered along with everyone else in the stands as Naruto and Gaara appeared in the arena, standing by Genma in the packed dirt area.

"Fight!" Genma announced.

Gaara immediately leapt back and encased himself in a ball of sand.

Naruto wasted no time making half a dozen shadow clones.

"I doubt Naruto is going to get anywhere with that tactic," Yondaime said. "Gaara and I practiced what to do in such a situation."

"We'll see," Sandaime said, with a gleam in his eye.

Yondaime chuckled. He couldn't fault Sandaime for cheering for Naruto.