Author's Note:

Hey everyone!

For those of you who read my previous fic, "Sand and Snow", this new fic serves as its sequel!

I've been playing around with the possibility of posting this fanfiction due to my current life situation (pandemic, grad studies, work, mental health issues) but I've ultimately decided that now is the time to publish it. I'm also in the midst of writing an original story (which should be *hopefully* finished by the spring... only time will tell), and my other fic "A Forest Hidden" is now on indefinite hiatus (I really wish it wasn't, but I hit a massive wall with that one... oof), so this fic will be my "break" from reality so-to-speak.

Because of my current situation, I will mostly post chapters when I can so you can expect a chapter roughly every 2-3 weeks. I'll leave updates when I can if I can't post for some reason, so bear with me!

I really miss writing and posting fanfiction, and I've started watching Boruto (about time) and I have lots of ideas for this story and where it can go, so it will serve as a great outlet for my writing that is non-work/academic because over the last year I realized I really like creative writing and I want to continue building that skill. This fic is also a genfic, so the only pairings in this story are those of the parents of the Boruto/next-gen characters.

In short, I hope you enjoy this story and for those of you who haven't read "Sand and Snow" - you need not worry to read that one (the only thing that carries over is the pairing of the parents, Gaara/OC).

Thank you for reading! xx

Red Iron

-Gaara Shinden-

Chapter 1
A Chance Wind

Fifteen years have passed since the war…

And a new generation takes flight…

The light flickered through the canopy above as she jumped from branch to branch as if dancing upon the soft winds. The desert was at her back now, she had to remember, for the forest was all around her. A sea of green stared back at her while she leapt from one pine to the next, being careful not to let her nimble footing slip. Her chakra control was strong – but not near as strong as her brothers. Still, she knew she was the faster Kazekage child. Not even a full-fledged genin like her siblings and Setsuka could still outrun them both with ease. No matter which one of them chased after her, they could not catch her – never. Laughing as her back disappeared from their view in her mind, she felt the wind under her propel her forward.

Just a few more miles and I'll be there, she thought, Just a few more.

Never before in her near thirteen years of life had she ventured this far, the trees changing from green pines to yellowing birch within only a matter of moments. The Land of Birds was close – Setsuka could feel it on the winds. The familiar scent of the mountains and their tundra was fresh on her nostrils, while the heat of Sunagakure and its desolate lands beckoned her back. But her drawn-up map in her rough pack needed the Land of Birds added to it, no matter who objected. Whether it be her mother or father, she had a task to complete – whether they approved or not. Not even a Kage could scare her otherwise.

A howl suddenly sounded at her back.

Shivering her spine, she glanced behind her path. She could not see the source, but the trees quaked and swayed as it thundered on towards her. Gritting her teeth, she pounced in a hurried panic. The chakra was all too familiar – and it was gaining fast. Relentlessly. She knew exactly where it was coming from, her senses could never lie.

"Damn it!" She barked under her breath, swinging herself to the next branch. "Not now!"

Pushing herself against the winds, she leapt as fast as she could to continue on her path of branches. In haze of yellow and orange, her vision became scattered. Soon the stray hairs of her red ponytail invaded her sight, her violet eyes narrowing in focus to see what lay ahead. Her vision was soon blurred by the hasty colours of autumn. The sight of a trunk caught her off guard. Lightly, she danced on the winds once more and jumped to the adjacent tree, just barely missing her brush with humiliation. Once upon the next branch, she leapt as the next entered her sights. Under her, she could hear the beast thundering below, its paws rumbling the very earth as it charged in pursuit.

With more force, she leapt to the next branch.

A gasp escaped her confident lips as she felt her footing slip under. The limp branch burst under her foot, shattering in a hail of splinters from the untamed chakra that emanated from the strange-eyed kunoichi.

She was falling – falling.

Noticing her quick descent, Setsuka hastily flipped her flailing body and struck the tree before her with her drawn kunai from the holster on her thigh. Holding it tightly with both hands, she desperately kicked her feet to break her fall. Luckily, she slowly came to a screeching halt down the towering birch in the silent forest of autumn leaves. Hesitantly, she peeked with one eye to see how high up she was. Appalled, she was mere steps from the forest floor. Clumsily, she pulled out the kunai and stumbled onto the moss-covered ground, her pack spilling open in the process. Gathering herself and dusting off her white tunic, she grumbled shamefully as she marked the spot on her map with a red pencil.

"Yet again… I couldn't make it," She sighed. "Maybe fifth time's the charm…"

The scribbles of red were all around the image of the Land of Wind, with a chain reaching the Land of Birds – the newest being the farthest. She heard the Land of Birds had an eternal autumn, similar to how her mother's homeland had an eternal winter. Her homeland was blessed – or cursed – with an eternal summer. She wanted to see the land for herself, her explorative nature getting the better of her and her 'adventure' conquests. She also made a wager to her elder brother – if she could reach the land unscathed, he would give her his prized katana. Kyokuro was not one to go back on his word, but she knew he would be relieved that he would not have to part with his favourite weapon. Not this time, at least.

The chakra stood behind her, still and as silent as a ghost.

Gulping, Setsuka put on a brave face and stood to see the large white wolf under the forest canopy. Its violet eyes bored through hers with an eerie calm, the creature watching her carefully. Before Setsuka could make a step forward, she felt a sudden emergence of others from the forest shadows. A rope swung around her, knocking her underfoot and tying her against the birch tree at her back.

"M'lady," A shinobi appeared beside the beast. "The pursuit has ended."

"So it seems," Another added. "Setsuka-sama, why do you continue to run off? Kazekage-sama won't be too happy when he hears about this. This is the fifth time this week!"

"I'd say!" One sighed, near out of breath as he rubbed the back of his neck. His worn hands held the rope tiredly, yawning as he stretched. "We can hardly keep up with m'lady, let alone the daughter…"

Within a gust of wind, the white wolf changed into the form of a woman.

Setsuka suddenly grew fearful.

Unimpressed, the golden-haired woman in the blue kimono looked at the girl with subtle yet piercing violet eyes. She appeared calm, elegant, and fierce as ice. Nomasaki, the wife of the Kazekage – Setsuka's mother. From the harsh northern lands of Yamagakure to the far tundra and mountains, her mother had the reputation to be the wild-foreigner – the 'Wolf of the Desert'. Descended from a long line of wolf-people, Setsuka also carried the blood of the wolf within her – although it was scarce. On the other side, she inherited the blood of her father, the last jinchuriki of Shukaku and the lost lineage of the Kazekage clan. She did not know who was more fearful when angry, her Kazekage father or her wolfish mother.

"It's alright," Nomasaki assured them. "The task is done, and I thank you for the help."

Stepping closer, she knelt before her daughter and examined her unprepared expression. Although her mother's face was calm with an air of kindness, Setsuka could still feel the chill tremble down her spine. There was no escape for her. Trying to laugh off her fear, she forced a chuckle through her trembling lips.

"Hi, mom."

"Well, to say the least… I'm disappointed."

The Kazekage's office was nothing short of unpleasant.

Sitting firm at his desk, Gaara held his folded hands against his chin and watched his daughter avert her embarrassed violet eyes from his stern tanuki-like glance. It had been days since he last a full night of sleep, and he felt his patience beginning to wear thin. Five times she left the village unsupervised and five times she caused a country-wide goose chase. Not even her instructors at the Sunagakure Ninja Academy could catch her escaping from her lessons. It wracked his mind to figure out where she got her 'unique' sense of adventure. Her hands bound by rope, Setsuka stood beside her mother while her uncle kept watch from behind the Kazekage's seat. The room was silent and tense. It was safe to say the Kazekage was not impressed with her voyage to the Land of Birds. His stern glance and folded hands made it clear.

"Uh, Gaara," Kankuro coughed, leaning near his ear. "Maybe you should go a bit easier on her? She did nothing criminal, aside from leaving Suna unsupervised."

Gaara's eyes closed. "Yes, but… this was the fifth time, Kankuro. Fifth."

Setsuka gulped.

She knew his lack of patience well. A great father he was, but when he was buried in his work he often shut himself out in the study or his office. Only would he emerge when his wife would coax him otherwise, but his silence often accompanied his lack of sleep and occurrent stress. Her brothers hardly broke his temper, but they were calmer and never tested his patience. Setsuka tested his patience as if it were a game. Twelve years old and rebellious by nature, she was the most wild of the Kazekage children – and the most unpredictable. Still, Gaara loved her just the same – regardless of his temper.

"What you did was reckless, as well as stupid. As both your father and Kazekage, this upsets me, Setsuka." Gaara opened his eyes, looking directly at her. "I don't know what you're trying to prove, running away on your instructors – but this game has to stop. It has to stop now."

"Well, Setsuka?" Her mother chimed in, her voice soft and stern. "Do you have anything to say?"

Shamed, Setsuka averted their glances upon her. "…Sorry."

"Is 'sorry' all you have to say?" Her father barked, clearly upset. "You ran away five times since the beginning of your genin-training. Five times I've had to summon the village ANBU to find you before it was too late." He looked to his calm-faced wife. "Even your mother had to scour the lands for you using her Kekkei Genkai, because the ANBU lost your trail."

Setsuka flinched, closing her eyes. He had her there, she had to admit. The ANBU were always slow, she thought, they could never catch me. If not for her mother, she could have made it to the Land of Birds and back without a second notice. Unlike her siblings, her mother was faster than her. Frustration growing in her belly, she managed a nod and held her glance down to her feet, her crimson bangs shielding her expression.

"I'm… just so sick of this charade." She said. "I just want to see what's out there, I feel… trapped in this stupid village. I just wanted to go to the Land of Birds. It was next on my map."

Her mother sighed, placing her hand on her temple. She heard the same excuse nearly every time this would happen, and every time she never learned regardless how many times her daughter was warned of the consequences. Embarrassed, she had to remember that she was the mother of a rebellious child – a wild-child, to be exact.

"Nomasaki," Gaara spoke.

"Hm?"

"I'd like a moment alone with our daughter."

"Of course." Nomasaki nodded, as she started for the door. "I'll be seeing you two for dinner, then."

He glanced to his brother. "You too, Kankuro."

Kankuro sighed. "As you say so, little brother." Leaning in, he offered his last piece of counsel. "Don't go too harsh on her… Remember, she's just a girl – your daughter… Don't let your temper get the better of you… You know how she is…"

Glancing up at his brother while his palm was cupped over his ear to whisper, Gaara did not budge. Heeding his words, he watched his brother and wife leave the office chamber. When the door closed, the orange light of the sunset entered the room. The tension between the two parties was never so thick with conflict. If blood was thicker than water, than they were both iron. Setsuka narrowed her lilac eyes at him in defiance, groaning to herself under her breath. Gaara's glance narrowed into a glare, the grip on his hands tightening.

"Why," he began. "Why do you always do this, when I repeatedly make myself clear for you not to? I've told you several times to remain in the village, and yet you don't listen."

"I -,"

"You disobeyed me."

Her lilac eyes saddened as she looked down. "Father, I -,"

"You said you feel like you're trapped, but if you keep behaving this way I won't allow you to even leave the mansion or estate without an escort."

Her eyes shot open, shocked by what she heard. "What?! Are you crazy?!"

"No," His eyes narrowed at her, sternly. "I'm your father."

"But why?" She questioned, standing her stubborn ground. "All because I try to venture on my own, why is it such an issue? No one can catch me, you see for yourself -,"

"It's an issue because," Gaara began, trying to form the right words. "There are still terrorist groups that are actively trying to destroy us. The Akatsuki may be gone, but there are enemies of our lands who wouldn't hesitate to take you as a hostage." His glare softened, the grip on his hands easing. "The reason why your mother and I are so protective of you and your brothers is because we want you to be safe. You have the blood

of both the Kazekage clan and the Yamamori clan in your veins, which is highly valued by our enemies that seek our demise." Gaara's eyes closed halfway, concerningly, his fatherly tone surfacing. "So you're a target, same with your two brothers. We don't want anything to happen to either of you, so we will take any measures necessary to ensure your safety."

Her face protested. "But what about my brothers? They leave the village all the time and they never get in trouble!"

"Your brothers are both Chunin and above. You are still a Genin and have yet to take the exam… let alone complete the lessons you keep ditching to go on your adventures outside of Suna and its walls. If you were to pass through the ranks, you would be able to do the same."

She groaned.

That was something that ate her up inside. Although completing her lessons until her eleventh year, becoming a shinobi was something she remained unsure of. Both of her parents were remarkable in ability and stature, with her father being the youngest Kazekage to ever reign. Her brothers were also talented, both of them being blessed with their father's coveted Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai – a talent that she did not inherit. Kyokuro was fourteen and had just earned his Chunin certification, gaining a full-time job at the Suna Aviary after his performance at the Chunin Exams held in Kirigakure. Gold Dust was his ability, just as his grandfather's before him. Her adopted brother Shinki was a rare find, she often heard from her instructors. Inheriting the Iron Sand from the bloodline they shared, Shinki was near unstoppable during the Genin Exam matches, his opponent pleading for mercy that was granted by intervening proctors.

Setsuka was a different case.

She was the blood of the Kazekage yet she did not possess a hint of the Kekkei Genkai her family proudly wielded. Not even the bloodline of her mother's clan dared to show its face to her. Her sensory skills were exceptional, but she could only change her face into a beast before the scarce nature energy in her veins stirred silent. If she managed an arm, she would often get headaches from the exertion. The elders looked at her as if a lost cause, dwarfed by the shadows of her heritage. The life of a shinobi scared her, and she seldom wanted to admit it.

"But what if…" The words hesitated to come out. "What if… I don't want to?"

Curiosity etched its way into his glance. Perplexing him, he shook off the thought. "Then you're out of luck, and you will be continued to be guarded inside the village by the ANBU."

Silently, his sand started to move from its small gourd on his desk. In a swift motion, the sands sliced through the rope binding her hands and releasing her. Flexing her fingers, Setsuka felt a tinge of a sob rise into her chest. Pushing it aside, she pouted and averted her troubled eyes. If only her father was not so busy with his work, she could tell him, she reminded herself, she could tell him why it bothered her.

"In the meantime," Gaara said, his tone calm. "It's getting late. You should go home, before your mother gets worried about our conversation."

Biting her lip to quell her upset, Setsuka started for the doorway. Touching the doorframe, she found her steps pause. Her eyes were blank with emotion and looking straight ahead, cleansing her psyche of her guilt.

"At least with mom, I'm not the burden-child."

And the door shut with a thud.

Her words cut him like ice. Watching her leave, he could sense the sadness masked behind her violet eyes. It had been months since he saw her smile, or that he could remember. His days were long and tiring, and by the time he came home it was often past dark when his family was asleep – save for Nomasaki who would lay awake waiting some nights. Their relationship was always the rockiest out of the three siblings, especially since Shinki became his student a year prior. He was never sure of how to talk to her despite the guidance from his wife, but he was always worried he would say the wrong thing. It was about time he said something – anything – to make things right. Maybe the council would understand if he took a day off from his duties to spend with his family. Growing tired, Gaara looked towards the window and let out a sigh, knowing it will be another late night.

With lots of time to think...

Notes: Setsuka's name comes from a type of flower. In Japanese, "Setsuka" (雪華) literally translates to "snow flower". Outside of the story, "Setsuka" is also the name of a playable character in the Soul Caliber series of video games.