Three: Diplomacy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. But I do own this story!

The Hokage tower was in a flurry of activity. An embassy from Hyougakure in faraway Glacier Country was to arrive in a few hours and last minute preparations were being made all around. Anbu squads took their place on the tops of buildings, on tree branches, and every single location where the Konoha elite shinobi would draw the least attention.

Also on the scene were the genin teams led by their respective jounin-sensei. All of them were given priority-one C class missions on account of this being a diplomatic mission involving the very fate of the Hidden Leaf armed forces. Backing them up were the chuunin squads, led by several battle-hardened special jounin.

Team 7 was on the rooftop of a building three blocks from the main path the Hyougakure entourage would be taken. Mission instructions were simple: if there is any suspicious activity within their territory, activate a special scroll tag to inform the anbu security units in the area.

To Kakashi's chagrin, his team had been paired up with the trio led by his self-proclaimed "eternal rival," Maito Gai. Ever since the mission began, the taijutsu expert has been challenging the Copy Nin to no end, rebuffing the constant refusals with "Damn it Kakashi! Your response is so hip! You are truly worthy to be my eternal rival!"

It wasn't a picnic for the genin either. Neji and Sasuke were trying to out-angst each other (Neji pitted his "I have a curse seal and I was sentenced to live a life of servitude just cause my father was born a few minutes later than my uncle" with Sasuke's "My brother killed my entire clan and all I have to look forward to is revenge and an early death cause a legendary snake sennin wants to take over my body"). Naruto and Lee were arguing on who would get to challenge the Uchiha first. Tenten and Sakura were probably the only ones who were even remotely getting along.

"Do boys always have to compete at everything?" Sakura nodded in response.

"Ah."

Kakashi glanced at his watch. "I think the embassy from Hyougakure is about to arrive," he observed. "Gai, have Neji look out for them will you?" The Blue Beast of Konoha erupted in tears.

"A very hip strategy Kakashi! The Byakugan would be an excellent tool to---"

"Just do it, Gai."

But Neji had already activated his bloodline limit. Scanning the direction from where the entourage would be arriving, he reported "I see them." The other genin stood ready.

The Hyoukage's entourage had passed through Konoha's main gates. The front of the parade was a group of five hundred of the Glacier Country's finest chuunin, followed by a few platoons of special jounin handpicked by the Hyoukage himself. The Snow shinobi were clad in heavy white coats with fur lining around the neck, excellent for the cold climates of Glacier Country but unbearable uncomfortable in the tropical climes of the Fire Nation.

Still the kunoichi showed no signs of discomfort. They marched with their heads held high and their weapons at the ready. A few feed behind the last platoon of jounin was the Hyoukage's carriage. It was a white, lacquered coach pulled by a team of six horses, the finest breed in the northern regions of the elemental nations. A pair of Snow jounin flanked the coachman, eyes on the crowd and hands to their kunai pouches. A flag depicting a white wolf, symbol of the Glacier Country's nobility was flying on all four corners of the carriage.

The entourage made their way across the main street of the village surrounded by crowds, Leaf nins and Snow nins, as well as the occasional shopkeeper who came out of his store to witness the arrival of foreign dignitaries. When the carriage finally stopped in front of the gates to Hokage tower, the Godaime herself came out to greet them.

The Hyoukage stepped out of the carriage with the practiced dignity of one used to the honor his office provided. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with shoulder-length white hair and a full beard around his square jaw. By his side were two swordsmen samurai actually, probably representatives of the Glacier Country damyo. Their formal kimonos covered in hand-painted scenes of white wolves confirmed their status as the Asakura Guard, the finest swordsmen in the north of the elemental nations.

Tsunade bowed formally and greeted the Hyoukage. "Konoha is honored to receive the Hyoukage and his entourage. Will you join me in my office where we can properly see to your needs?" The Hyoukage gave a polite nod of assent.

"I see that Sarutobi's student also has his diplomatic skill," he mused. "Very well, we have much to discuss Hokage-sama." The two Kages walked inside escorted by the jounin. The chuunin remained outside the gates and kept watch.

In the Hokage's office the Hyoukage and the two swordsmen were served tea. Sipping the aromatic fluid, the Snow Kage murmured his satisfaction. The samurai remained silent and kept their faces impassive. When the pleasantries had finally been exchanged, it was Tsunade who spoke first.

"I can never thank you enough for lending us your strength in out time of need, Kusonoki-sama," she said. "Very few have been willing to help us since the unprovoked attack by Oto—" The Hyoukage waved this away with an impatient hand. "I and my employers are well aware of the damage that vile Orochimaru is capable of," he said. "Lord Asakura is very much concerned that such a creature be disposed of immediately, if not sooner."

"Konoha thanks Hyou for its favorable response."

"No, my dear. I only wish to pay back my debt to Sarutobi."

At the Godaime's quizzical look, the Kusonoki laughed. "I had forgotten," he chuckled "that you may have well been in diapers at the time." His expression turned serious as he related the story.

"You see, back when old Sarutobi-bastard was a shit-green genin, he had been dispatched to Hyougakure for the diplomatic exchange student program in our academy. If you've known him then, you'd realize that he was quite the loudmouth. And the fact that he was such a bastard didn't help either." Tsunade laughed at the thought of her old jounin-sensei being addressed as "Sarutobi-bastard."

"We competed in everything. He was the top rookie of his year as was I. I had my own horde of fan girls as he was slowly gathering his own. In a foreign land no less! Anyway, one thing led to another and then we got assigned a C Class mission."

"At the time C-Class missions were a dime a dozen, so we weren't so out of experience that we'd never had one before. I was ordered to scout the area for opposing forces and wouldn't you know it, I had walked into a trap set by the enemy shinobi."

"They captured me and tried to torture the locations of the main force. It took a few hours before I found Sarutobi by my cell and picking the lock. Damn did we run when they discovered us!" Kusonoki laughed and sipped his tea. "If it wasn't for Sarutobi-bastard, I would have never made it to be one of the best looking Kages in the elemental nation." Tsunade suppressed the urge to arch an eyebrow.

"An impressive story Hyoukage-sama."

"Yes. I was planning on having it written as an action novel of some kind."

"About the treaty,"

"Yes about that." The Godaime glanced at the visiting Kage's face for some change in expression. The agreement will come to pass, it was assured by the exchange a while ago. Then what was the problem? "Lord Asakura wishes to add a few, relatively minor adjustments before he lets me sign the treaty." Tsunade heaved a sigh of relief. So the damyo wishes to haggle.

"He wishes for you to help find his daughter."

A/N: Right. Like you guys didn't see this coming. Anyway, I seriously don't think that Glacier Country or Hyougakure (though I think I found this name in one of LiquidDreamLad's fics) ever found their way in the manga or in the anime.