Right about now Naruto regretted his decision of joining his gramps in visiting a foreign village because of politics.

Couldn't the old man have mentioned that the village is in the desert?

For the two Jonins, who were undercover ANBUs the trip wasn't nice either. Because of Naruto, they had to make 50 more stops than necessary. In the end, one of the ANBUs lifted Naruto piggyback-style (after having held him like a sack of potatoes, which got him a stern glare from his Kage).

Now Naruto wasn't the heaviest, the opposite actually, because of the vendors refusing to let him buy things, or expired things he didn't eat a lot and was malnourished. Hiruzen then asked Naruto the names of the shops and how long this has been going on.

Those shops will know to fear unfair taxes and bureaucracy in the future.

Back to the point, having to lift the extra weight on your back, not to mention the extra weight continuously asking if they have arrived directly into your right ear, will give you back problems.

Resulting in switching between the two ANBUs to who will carry him.

So after 3 days of travelling the escort has safely arrived in Sunagakure.

Citizens of Suna then process to tell their children in the future that the escort guarding the Kage was his grandson that looked nothing like him and two crippled Jonins if their constant complaining of back problems and pains were any indication.

XXXX

A knock led the Kazekage to look up from his papers. Looking at his clock he remembers the meeting and negotiating for the alliance.

"Enter"

He knew that the Hokage was once called 'the god of Shinobi' so he had respect from every Kage, although many would him see as dead than alive nowadays.

It was to his surprise that a blonde child was clinging to his robes like a lifeline looking around with as much interest as a six-year-old could muster.

"Kazekage-done, it's a pleasure.", Hiruzen greeted.

"The pleasure is all mine Hiruzen." The Kazekage, Rasa, greeted a lot more casually. "Who is the child?"

Hiruzen looked down at Naruto with a smile "This is Naruto, I took him as a guest. I hope it's not an inconvenience for you."

Silently judging Naruto with his look he eventually replied "He is already here, there's no use telling him to leave."

To which Hiruzen chuckled.

"He won't disturb negotiation, he doesn't like politics. Naruto why don't you go explore the village?" Naruto stared at his grandfather before smiling and nodding.

He soon detached from his robes and run out of the room.

Watching his figure retread Hiruzen's smile eventually faded and was replaced with a sigh.

"Well then. Let's negotiate, shall we?"

"Of course. I take it you have read the last propositions..."

XXXX

After a bit of running around the village, it became boring fast.

Honestly, it was boring before. The village, in his eyes, was nothing more than sand and more sand.

How did kids and adults like to live here? Willingly? The worst part of it was that he didn't say even one Ninja. This was bad as it but what was worse is that they didn't even have a ramen shop! How dare they!?

So it was this picture one could find Uzumaki Naruto, slouching down head dipped in depression and sadness walking around the village plaza.

A few gave the boy looks of pity, thinking he was an orphan or homeless. Or both.

Naruto didn't register them. He was so used to ignoring the states of his villager that it was second nature to him to ignore them.

But eventually, he came across something that he was fascinated by.

Now I will be said that Naruto was the manliest man in the sandbox, no matter what that brown-haired boy that sometimes plays with him is saying about him being the alpha. Whatever that means.

But one thing he really liked and still likes was dolls. He got one from his gramps as a birthday present and still goes to sleep with it.

It helped him fall asleep to keep him company when he is lonely and just as a playmate when the other kids would look at him with disgust.

So, he was thrilled to see a doll shop, he thinks, at the End of the plaza.

Wasting no time he ran down the plaza, dodging the much taller adults and enters the shop.

The interior was very clean and surprisingly made out of wood instead of sandstone. He looked around and could see many dolls of all forms and sizes. Some were humanoid, some were based on an animal or a mix of the two. Although the signs read as 'p-u-p-p-e-t-s'. Wasn't that the same as a doll?

"It certainly isn't kid!" A rough voice said behind him.

Startled by the noise, Naruto snapped his head back. What he saw was a tall, bald man with a scar on his right eye.

Frozen in fear Naruto did not respond.

"What? Someone has your tongue?" The man walked past him behind the counter.
"You're here to gawk or buy. Not that I think you would buy anything."

Shacking himself out of his frozen state he looked once more around.

"U-uhm what's the difference?"

"Huh?" The man looked confused at him.

"You said there was a difference between the dollar and this p-u-p-p-e-s."

"Puppets. Those are not play dolls. These are Ninja weapons." For demonstration's sake, he lifted his left hand and one of the puppet's arms sprouted a blade.

Naruto looked in fascinating at it.

"How'd do that?!" He looked back at the man with a mega-watt smile.

The man also smiled. He didn't have many customers lately, with the decline in interest in the art of puppets. Most kids were more interested in flashy Jutsus than building wooden dolls'. Heck, the only child that had any interest nowadays was the Kazekages child.

Also, he found it amusing to show off to children. Back when puppets were more common he did it regularly.

"It's the art of puppeteer. I use Chakra strings to manipulate the puppet making it a remote weapon." To further emphasise, he made the Chakra strings visible and moved the puppet.

It was standing on its own feet and if it had a disguise, could be seen as a human.

Naruto's smile grow even wider and he observed the puppet from every angle. Which made the man laugh.

"Names Roku kid. Owner of this Workshop."

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!" He turned to him with gusto and turned right back again.

The now-named Roku was enjoying his fascination and let the puppet do little things like walking and waving. Something which further fascinated the kid, Naruto.

"Can you teach me?!" Now to some, it would seem like a question he never asked someone. Quite contrary. He would ask every ANBU he meet and ran behind Ninjas to ask for technique and training. Sometimes just an explanation of how they did what they did. Most of the time he either gets 'with Chakra' or 'my Jutsu'.

Roku chuckled at his enthusiasm. But who is he to deny something like this? Sales have been going bad and he will probably close the workshop and work as a full-time Ninja again. Wouldn't hurt to show this kid one or two things about puppets. Not like he had anything better to do.

"Did you even unlock your Chakra yet? Takes a lot of control to form these threads. Not something you run-of-the-mill ninja can do."

"Yep! I learned it at the academy!" He said even more excited. This is the first time someone didn't outright say no. Even his Gramps refused to teach him anything, saying you're too inexperienced and young for this.

"Well then, how good is your Control?"

XXXX

So, the days passed. Negotiation has been going steady but slow and the Hokage was afraid that he had to stay for another week away from Konoha.

Luckily after much arguing from the Kazekage with his council (who wanted more than Konoha could provide), they came to terms on Friday night.

Hiruzen decided since they finished earlier than expected he would take the last two days as a vacation.

He didn't see a lot of Naruto during this time, but he did see him every day before sleeping time in his room, which the Kazekage provided for his guest.

So, thinking everything was fine he didn't disturb Naruto in his daily adventure.

Everything wasn't fine with Naruto.

It was splendid. Although Roku came as intimidating at first he had a heart of a child. He loved playing with Naruto and using his puppets to make little shows, and walking around showing him that the village had indeed a ramen shop! But playing and relaxing wasn't the only thing they did. They also trained.

Not by much mind, you Naruto was a six-year-old. But he did learn the leaf exercise from Roku which he practised every minute even in his room or when he walks with Roku through the plaza.

His puppets were another story. He was horrible at it. Horrible didn't fit since he couldn't form one Chakra thread yet.

Roku explained to him that for his age he had a lot more Chakra so the control that he didn't have even before training was worse.

Only on Thursday was he able to make a single Chakra thread with his index finger. And this Chakra thread was huge and thick. It was as thick as his middle finger and was phasing in and out of existence.

He tried it on one of the test puppets Roku made ages ago. Once upon a time they were used as a test for upcoming puppeteers. If they could make the puppet, which was a small humanoid doll, finish an obstacle course with one hand, they would move on to the life-size puppet.

His was less than successful. OK sure he could move it but it was sloppy and more like dragging it across the floor.

Inwardly he sighed because it would take till Sunday when he was able to move the puppet fluently. With both his hands and complete concentration.

XXXX

"Naruto," his grandfather said, "do you have everything ready? You didn't forget anything did you?" He asked.

Today they would depart from Suna. And honestly, he didn't want to. After finding out that the people didn't look at him with fear or hatred, including the free lessons from Roku, he liked it a lot more than in Konoha.

But he knew that this was only temporary, but he didn't even say goodbye to Roku yet.

"Uhm, gramps? Do you think I could say goodbye to a friend here?"

Smiling that Naruto had friends at all, something which also made him wince, he nodded.

"Of course, Naruto. Just be sure to not be late. We will meet in one hour at the gate. Do you understand?"

"Loud and clear gramps!" He gave a mock salute like the ANBUs did and run out of the hotel.

Seeing the puppet shop in sight he made his way to it and entered.

"Roku!" He yelled inside.

Not a second later Roku emerged from the back of his counter where his workshop was located.

"Hello Naruto, you want something?" He smiled lightly.

Fidgeting he didn't meet his gaze. "I came here to say goodbye. I and my Gramps are leaving today."

His smile vanished and Roku adopted a thoughtful look. He remembered Naruto talking about coming from Konoha once when they were eating ramen.

"Roku?"

Getting out of his musing state he smiles once again.

"Don't worry Naruto, your company was lovely for an old man like me."

"Thanks. I also loved your company Roku." But then Naruto's expression became sad.

"What's the matter?" He asked concerned.

"This means you won't be able to teach me anymore." Seeing this it became clear for Roku.

But what could he do? Training someone, not Suna in the art of puppets would be equivalent to giving up one of the last secrets Suna had.

It wasn't the best place for Suna.

They didn't have forests for woods or mountains for stone.

Only sand and minerals.

Sure, they got a nice price on the market, but you can't bet everything on one monopoly.

Getting back to the secret technique. Every Village had one Kinjutsu or secret nobody knew.

Kumo produced excellent swordsmen.

Kiri had the seven swordsmen of the mist.

And Iwa had the incredible rare but powerful Kekkei Touta, Dust release.

Konoha, to his knowledge, had a whole scroll of secret techniques and Jutsus.

But he knew Naruto was a good kid and honestly? He grew on him from the relatively short time they spent together.

And a puppet should never be half-finished.

"Wait here." Roku vanished back into his workshop. Only to merge with four books in his hands.

Giving him to Naruto he hugs him one last time.

"Take my lessons to hearth and become a splendid Ninja for me, would you?"

Being stunned Naruto read the titles of the book.

'Beginner guide to puppets.'

'Adept guide to puppets.'

'The art of Puppets'

'Chakra control for beginners'

Registering his words finally he returns the hug and sobs quietly. This is the second time someone believed in him other than his grandpa. And this person, Roku, gave him a way to become a powerful Ninja. He won't disappoint his temporary teacher. Believe it.

A/N

So after re-reading this text I found out that half of the sentences were wrong and had grammar mistakes. Sorry on my part on that, It should be fixed now, but do tell me should you find a mistake.

Anyway as you can see this is by far the longest chapter with over 2k words.

And now I'm curious, these What-If were going to be two-three shots but now that I look at them, those are all good, at least interesting, ideas. So should I make them separate Storys or leave them here as a collection? You can also suggest anything if you want, although I have a few ideas in mind already for the next few chapters.

That's all thanks for reading!

As a little teaser: Have you ever read "Who's your daddy?"