Thanks to BlueDragonGirl1 for proofing the story.

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Getting Settled

We will first switch to Temari making her way to Shikamaru's house. She was currently trying very hard to push away all the ideas that where coming to her. She probably wouldn't be able to create much good will with the village if she spent her entire time here torturing one of their shinobi.

But of course, that didn't mean she couldn't dream. She let out a slightly crazy laugh, which didn't draw as much attention as you'd think it would. Outside the village walls the cloud watch Shikamaru suddenly shivered.

Soon the directions lead her to a pleasantly clean and nice looking house. A part of her mind had been expecting to see a place in shambles.

"Guess the apple fell pretty far from the tree," she said with a smirk and walked up to the front door. Ringing the doorbell she waited for a few seconds to have an equally pleasant and nice looking lady answer the door.

"Welcome. May I help you?" She asked with a smile. Temari gave her best smile back to the lady, a smile that was slightly strained.

"Hello. Is Shikamaru-san in?" being polite was hard, but she did have a mission to think of.

"'Shikamaru-san'? What would a nice young girl like you want with my sorry excuse for a son?" the sweet smile didn't leave her face.

Temari sweet dropped. This lady seemed slightly scary. "Well, since he isn't here I suppose it would be okay to give this to you. It should explain everything." The pig-tailed girl said while handing the lady the sealed letter.

Shikamaru's mom quietly read the letter, her smile growing bigger and bigger as time went by. She then gave a short laugh.

"So that's it, hmm? Come right in. I've always wanted a daughter. I'm sure Shikamaru will be glad to see you to." the nice looking lady gave a smile that sent a shiver down Temari's back. The Sand Nin found herself wondering what exactly was writing on the letter and straining to see.

The lady of the Naru household disappeared inside and quickly went about setting up tea and cookies for her guest to enjoy while she went to prepare the spare room.

Maybe a nice girl around the same age of Shikamaru living in the house would finally convince him to shape up. Anyway, it should be interesting.

---

Kankuro stood in front of a large gate. Behind the wooden wall all he could see was trees.

'Is there really a house back there?' he wondered to himself, 'Wait! What does that matter? Maybe if I go now I can sneak back to Suna before anyone notices. No, I'll just get in trouble. Maybe becoming a missing nin would be better then staying here?'

Kankuro could follow that thought no further as the door on the gate suddenly swung open, revealing the last person the puppet master wanted to see.

"…" said Shino.

"Uh...Here." he said as he thrust the sealed letter into Shino's general direction. While Shino slowly read the letter (or maybe he had finished and was now just thinking of something to say. Who knows with those glasses on?), Kankuro briefly thought about asking how he knew he had been at the gate doors. Then thought better of it. It'd probably have something to do with bugs.

Kankuro hates two things most in the entire world, kids and bugs. His sadistic sister follows closely behind.

"…" went Shino, stepping aside to let Kankuro enter the complex.

The puppet master gave a defeated sigh and slowly trudged in. Acting like this probably wasn't the best way to promote good will, but maybe if he did a bad job he'd be sent home. But he doubted it.

---

Gaara was lucky enough to stumble across Lee on his way to said boys house. It was easy to catch up with Lee since Lee was limping. After all, kicking a lot a thousand times is bound to hurt the leg.

Gaara began walking beside the tired boy and a few minutes later was noticed.

"Gah! What are you doing here!" Lee spoke louder then usual.

Gaara silently handed him the sealed envelope.

-

Dear Lee,

Gaara and his siblings have come to Konoha to help foster good will between our villages. Because of some unexpected circumstances, the residence for their stay has not been prepared yet.

As such, I am putting my trust in you to take care of Gaara and keep him out of trouble. For every person he kills you have to run around the village ten thousand times and will have a 10 pay cut.

If you are having any trouble you can either call Naruto or Gaara's sister, Temari, for help. If neither are available then try refusing to take him to the park, or if that just makes him angry, take him to the park.

Good luck!

Lady Tsunade

Hokage

p.s. Try not to get killed yourself, okay?

-

'The park?' Lee wondered to himself, "Wait!" he suddenly shouted as the actual meaning of the letter sunk in, "You're going to be living with me?"

Gaara nodded.

Lee:...

Gaara:...

Lee:...

Gaara:...

Lee:...

The sand that stayed around Gaara's feet began to shift.

Lee: o

"So, uh. You wanna go to the park?" he said with a nervous laugh. Once more Gaara nodded.

"We have to go get Temari." He finally spoke. His voice didn't have that crazy 'I'm going to kill you' tone that it had the last time Lee met Gaara, which made Lee feel better. Plus, what kind of bad guy likes to play in parks?

Somewhere Far From Konoha

"Itachi-san," an exasperated voice spoke, "how much longer are you going to be? We have a mission to carry out."

"Not much longer, Kasumi. As soon as the moat is done."

"Alright, Itachi-san. I'll be on the swings when you're finished."

-Back in Konoha-

Lee and Gaara reached Shikamaru's house just a few minutes after Shikamaru himself.

"What?" was what a rather loud voice said just as Lee was ready to knock on the door.

"Wow, I've never heard Shikamaru be so loud." Lee said in amazement. Gaara simply opened the unlocked door and went inside. "Gaara!" Lee exclaimed, "It's rude to go into someone's house like that!" he said while following Gaara into the house.

The scene inside was interesting, and part of it would be very familiar to the full grown male of the Naru house. Shikamaru was backed against a wall, his eyes going between the other two women in the room. His mother, who was standing with her arms crossed and a frown on her face, and Temari, who was leaning against her giant fan and smirking.

"Don't be impolite to our guest. She was sent here by the Hokage herself! It's a great honour." his mother said in a stern voice.

Shikamaru opened his mouth, most likely to point out that this girl had helped attack their village just a month prior when Temari caught sight of her brother.

"Gaara! Have you come to pick me up to go to the park?" She said, a nice smile suddenly donning her face

"The park?" Shikamaru asked, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"To play tag." Gaara stated with an overly serious look on his face.

"Tag?" Shikamaru echoed.

"Why don't you come with us, Shikamaru-san?" facing Shikamaru, Temari once more wore her smirk.

Shikamaru sweat dropped. He didn't know whether to be more wary of the politeness of using 'san' on his name, the invitation, or her sudden change in expression.

"No." he said.

"Yes." his mother said.

"Yes." said Gaara's sand. Well, not so much as 'said' as shifted murderously at Shikamaru's 'no'.

"Come celebrate youth!" Lee said, giving a nice guy pose.

"I'm am not going to play tag at the park. I have more important things to do."

"Shikamaru. If you had more important things to do, then you should have done them this afternoon instead of sleeping outside the village gates. Now take our guests to the park!" her tone left no room for argument. At lest not for any argument that wouldn't get him locked out of the house for the night.

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Next week: another chapter.