I do not own any rights to Naruto (story or characters). Just the characters I make up along the way! I have full love and respect for Masashi Kishimoto!

While this isn't my first story it is under my pen name, Aubrei Seraph. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to ask me any questions or offer any suggestions!

Have fun!

UPDATE: Oh My God, I need to get the internet! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to QueenOMedia for helping me overcome some horrible writer's block and being patient while I edited this chapter. You are a saint dealing with my anxieties all the time!

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"Yuumei is in Konoha on the Council's orders." Kankuro watched as his words registered with the Kazekage. He had been his brother's guard and confidant for years now and knew how to read the man. On the outside, the only sign that Gaara heard him was his fingers tightening on his sleeves. but on the inside, he knew the Kazekage's blood was boiling.

The fight with the council had been ongoing since Gaara took office. Gaara had hoped that after the war that things would settle down. Sadly for the past five years, the council seemed to only give their Kazekage more headaches. The current focus of their attention was on Yuumei. Her unique abilities were a prize for any nation, but in the harsh climate of the desert, they were.

Until now they had followed his orders keeping her out of any missions that required her to leave the desert. He should've expected this but it never occurred to him that they would take their power play this far. "Everything alright Kazekage-sama?" The voice of the Hokage pulled him out of his thoughts.

Kakashi was leaning in Gaara's direction. His eyes were still on the people speaking as if he was paying attention. "It was an update on the mission in Konoha." Gaara offered eyes afire as he looked up at the man sitting next to him. Kakashi looked down at him not even a hint of concern in his voice. "Funny I wasn't aware of a Suna mission in Konoha." It was said with no hint of what the Hokage was thinking, but something in his eyes flashed dangerously.

"Involving the need of my head medic." Gaara offered eyes challenging the man that by all accounts was his senior. It may be disrespectful, but Gaara had been Kazekage longer than the copy ninja. That fact alone acquired him a certain leniency with the older man. Sighing Kakashi slid back into his chair rubbing the back of his neck. "When the cat's away…" He sighed before turning back to the meeting.

Gaara continued to listen as village representative after village representative spoke. With the war, many smaller villages sought the protection of the alliance. It involved long meetings that droned on and on for hours. By the time they broke for the evening Gaara was beyond tired.

Sleep was already difficult to find but now that Yuumei wasn't here to help he found it even harder to come by. Outside of the village, he had to resort to sleeping pills. Yuumei was not happy about this what so ever. In the end, her concern for his mental health overrode her dislike for modern medicine. Gaara was starting to see her point as each morning he woke unfocused and feeling like he hadn't slept at all.

"I haven't had a chance to treat you to that dinner I owe you from our bet two years ago, no?" Gaara had no energy to try and be polite to the copy ninja. So when he approached him after the meeting Gaara glared up at the taller man. With a chuckle and that damn eye crinkle of his, Kakashi patted him on the shoulder. "Don't give me that look Gaara-kun. It will be fun." The bastard didn't even wait for him to answer before walking out the door. "Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered under his breath before reluctantly following the man out.

The restaurant they ended up in was crowded even at this time of night. Kakashi shook the hand of the owner who had walked out to greet them before they were led to a small table in the back. The food was ordered and drinks poured leaving Gaara in a much better mood once he was able to take his first sip of sake.

"You know…" Gaara's eyes were brought up to the older man's somber gaze as he swirled the liquid in his glass. "Sometimes I wish I could hand off the title to Naruto already." Quirking a non-existent eyebrow at the man Gaara took a sip of his drink hopefully for just that to happen.

"I know he isn't ready yet, but the urge is there. I'm not cut out for the politics of this job; too much smiling." With a heavy sigh of a man burdened with the responsibility, Kakashi put his cup down. The mood of the room took a sudden dive as he spoke. "Konoha's council is attempting a coup d'etat." There was no sugarcoating with that statement.

Downing the rest of his drink Gaara stopped the waitress and ordered another bottle. This was going to be a long night. "To put it bluntly," Gaara replied leaning back in his seat. Kakashi took the bottle from the waitress giving her a warm eye crinkle as she left. Filling up both their glasses Kakashi sat back holding his glass up to the light.

"I've sent word to Sai asking him to keep an eye out now that I know they are making their move. I was expecting them to pull something while I was away but to involve Suna as well…"

"Do you think they are working together. Suna's council and Konoha's?" Gaara interrupted with a frown. Kakashi didn't answer either way but there was a considering look in his eyes.

Looking up at where Kankuro stood their eyes met. With Temari no longer in Suna, Kankuro here, and Yuumei away in Konoha that left just Kaiyo in the village. The small medic was a force all her own but the power of the council ran deep. While the majority of the shinobi were loyal to Gaara there were still those that felt the old ways were better.

"I'll send word," Kankuro answered turning to say something to Shikamaru before disappearing. "It makes me wonder if these attacks are part of the council's plan." Kakashi offered after a moment eyes narrowed in concern. Gaara had just been thinking the same thing.

It was almost too much of a coincidence these attacks started right as the council began making noise. For the past five years, every attack on Suna had been more aggressive last. With no one taking claim of the attacks Suna's citizens were getting more and more afraid of another war. Discord would advance the council's plan quicker than simple deception.

Gaara respected Kakashi as a shinobi, but there was still a part of him that couldn't fully trust him. A man whose first loyalty was to his own village. As much as he wanted to believe that Kakashi couldn't be swayed by the council he wasn't taking any chances. "Suna's loyalty is to Konoha." Pausing he took the time to lock eyes with the somber man in front of him. "But mine will always be to Naruto first."

The waitress was about to stop and ask if they needed anything but froze seeing the tension between both men. It was a two-way deadlock and neither men seemed ready to break. Even Shikamaru looked ready to intervene if one of them didn't blink soon.

"Understood." Kakashi finally broke the stare down. His eyes were filled with warmth as he looked down at the Kazekage. There were more than a few relieved sighs from the tables around the room. Closing his eyes Gaara pulled his glass to his lips downing the rest of his drink in one go. He wondered if the alcohol plus the pills would be enough to knock him out tonight, after today he needed it.