Ch. 38 Departure
Hinata and Neji woke to the aroma of food the next morning. They got dressed and followed their noses to the source of this pleasing smell. They entered the kitchen to find Don cooking breakfast for them.
"Good morning you two, I made breakfast, I hope you like it." Don said happily. Hinata and Neji sat down and Don served them their food. Don sat down with them and sipped some of his morning tea while they ate.
After a while a knock sounded at the door. "I'll get it." Don said. He got up and answered the door to see two Anbu agents at the door. "Don, the Hokage herself requests your presence." One of them said.
"I figured this would happen before I left." Don said to himself. "Sure, I'll be right back, let me tell my hosts I'm leaving and grab my ninja gear and we can be on our way."
Don walked past Neji and Hinata and went to his room and grabbed his things. "Bye guys, I have to go see Tsunade about where they are going to have my funeral." Don said sarcastically as he left waving to them.
Neji spat out his food, "What did he just say?" Hinata and Neji got up and went after Don. Don and his escorts finally made it to the Hokage's building. Don entered an unfamiliar room that was pitch black.
Then some dim lighting lit up the room revealing what looked like to be the elders of the village and the Hokage. "Don, please do sit down, make yourself comfortable." Tsunade said almost calmly that still had a sense of anger in her tone.
"Don, you do realize what your consequences are for deserting this village are right?" Tsunade said sternly. Don nodded, "Yes Lady Tsunade, I was fully aware of what my consequences would be when I left the village."
Tsunade grunted. "You deserted this village knowing that if you were ever found, that by law you were to be assassinated?" Don lowered his head and nodded. "My intentions were of my own personal gain. I will take any punishment that must be taken to reperate for my deserting of my home village."
"Don, you know I don't want to do this. You are too valuable to this village, but there is nothing I can do. Don you are hear by sentenced to…" Tsunade started then the door flung open and Gaara stepped into the room.
"Kazekage Gaara what are you doing here?" Tsunade asked. "I had a couple of Don's friends tell me his situation and I figured as this Sand Ninja's superior, I would come and see if I could not help form a compromise with the ruler of an allied village." Gaara smirked.
"There is nothing you can do here Kazekage, Don has already been sentenced to death." One of the elders said. Gaara smirked, "Hmm, funny, I never did hear Tsunade say that." Tsunade stood up. "So Gaara, what is it that you want to say here other than I never finished my sentence condemning Don to death?"
"Isn't it true that in Don's file in your office that, yes, he is presumed dead but over all he was marked MIA?" Gaara asked. Don and Tsunade looked at him awkwardly. "Yes, what does that have to do with anything?" She asked.
"Technically Don is still apart of this village and now that everyone in the village knows he's alive he is no longer missing in action. Therefore he is now an active ninja in this village." Gaara said.
"That is true Gaara, but what does that have to do with anything?" Tsunade asked. "Well, here's a solution to all of our problems that would do less harm to the morale of this village. You could simple place in Don's file for the past six months he has been working with the ally department and was stationed with us on his mission and it will be unknown for how long he will be stationed in Suna."
"I see your point, but how do we explain him fighting for Suna in the Chunin exams?" Tsunade asked. "Simple, Don has to see what it's like to live in Suna, it is apart of his assignment." Gaara replied.
Don just sat there almost to frightened to even move. Here were his two home village rulers trying to make a compromise over his life. Don just sighed because he knew he could only accept his punishment for what he did.
"Gaara, I will concede to your plan, Don shall live." Tsunade said. The group of elders began an uproar. "Lady Tsunade, you can not be serious, this boy must die, deserters must be killed." One of the elders stated.
Tsunade banged on the table. "What Kazekage Gaara says is true and there is no getting around it, as Hokage of this village my decision is final. Don shall live and we will go along with Gaara's idea."
Tsunade looked up at Don; "You can leave now." Don got up and bowed in thanks then left with Gaara to join up with his team.
Temari and Don's squad reached the gates when Gaara stopped Temari. "Aren't you forgetting someone Temari?" he said. Temari turned around to see Don smiling at her. "What is he doing here?" she said. Don stepped up, "What am I doing here? Last I checked I was a full fledged Sand shinobi."
"Oh, really?" Temari said, "Yeah? Wana make something of it?" Don replied. Just as they were about to fight a voice called out to Don. It was Hinata and Naruto. Hinata ran up and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Come visit again soon ok?" She said. Don turned red, "Will do Hinata." Don peered over Hinata's shoulder to see Naruto pouting. Don gave Hinata one last hug and he and his companions headed back home to Suna.