Disclaimer: Naruto's not mine

Chapter 9: Arriving at Gate 1—Konoha Village
(aka The White Zone is for Immediate Loading and Unloading Only)

Naruto looked up when Gaara came out of the forest. He didn't look any different than he had fifteen minutes ago, but something about the Sand nin gave off a sense of urgency that he rarely showed. "Gaara?" he asked. "What's up?"

Gaara ignored him and spoke to his sister instead. "Temari, get Kina's sewing kit and as many bandages as you can get together. Kankuro, Jiraiya, Naruto, follow me. I don't know how hurt he is, but I don't think Kina-chan can hold him down if he decides to fight."

Before he could ask who was hurt, Temari rushed by him and followed her brother into the woods. Naruto looked over at Kankuro, who shrugged, and headed towards the clearing. What he saw shocked the shit out of him.

"SASUKE!" he yelled. Naruto ran and fell to his knees next to his long missing friend. "What the hell happened to you, baka! Don't you know how worried everyone was?"

"Naruto…" Kina panted beside him. "Shut…up!" She finished the jutsu and turned to Temari. "Needle," she ordered. The older girl gave her the threaded needle and silently sat across from her. Together, they sewed up the Uchiha and bandaged him.

"How did he get here?" Kankuro asked from the sidelines. Jiraiya stood next to him and Gaara sat on the rock he had vacated earlier.

"He dragged himself from over there," Gaara nodded towards the direction Sasuke came from and frowned. "He must've heard the water in the river."

"But what happened?" Naruto demanded.

Gaara shrugged in his best "How the hell should I know?" manner and moved his gaze to Kina's back. He could still hear her whisper to Sasuke that he couldn't die. She didn't even know the boy. Gaara hadn't mentioned him, but he couldn't be too sure about his siblings. It amazed him that the girl who could barely complete basic ninjutsus suddenly knew how to use complex healing jutsus.

Just how many secrets do you have, Kinabuhi? Gaara asked himself.

"Itachi did this," Kina whispered.

Everyone's head whipped around to stare at the girl. Even Sasuke's eyes widened at her statement.

"Can't you smell it?" she asked as she looked first at Gaara and then at Naruto. "Use your noses guys, Itachi's scent is all over the wound."

Both Gaara and Naruto closed their eyes and inhaled. "She's right," Naruto declared. "Itachi did this."

"How did you let him get so close, Uchiha?" Gaara asked contemptuously. "From the stink on you, he was practically pressed up against your back."

Sasuke closed his eyes and turned his head in that "I'm too good to answer that question" way that Naruto knew so well. The kyuubi vessel's eyes filled as he stared at his friend.

"Well, now we can take you back home, Sasuke," he decided.

"Like hell you will," the dark haired boy yelled. He tried to get up, but was stopped by the combined forces of Kina, Gaara, and Naruto holding him down.

Naruto laughed his first real laugh in over a year. (1) "There's no way you can fight back now, Sasuke!"

The self-proclaimed Avenger scowled. "I could go to Stage 2," he threatened.

Kina surprised the boys by laughing. "Honey, you could go to Stage 2, but it won't help," she said. "Not with the three of us here to hold you down."

The others were curious to know how Kina knew about the seal and Stage 2, but kept silent. This wasn't the place to ask such questions since the answers would probably include a discussion about the three teens' demon sides.

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's shoulder while Kankuro grabbed his other one. Together, they stood up and dangled the Uchiha between them. "We can tie him to my horse," Kina said. "The saddle horn's a perfect place to tie his legs."

"What if he acts up?" Jiraiya asked.

"I'll ride beside him," Naruto answered, his 'serious' expression back on his face. They all made their way back to their horses.

"Kina will ride with me," Gaara said. "And my sand will tie him to the saddle. If he moves, the sand will tighten." He helped Kina astride the horse and fluidly mounted behind her. She turned as Naruto and Kankuro threw Sasuke roughly onto her horse and protested.

"Be careful! Nightshade's delicate!"

Gaara smirked and laid his hand on her waist. He saw Sasuke's eyes widen as his sand tied the boy to the saddle of the horse on their left. "Don't worry, Kina-chan," Gaara said, kissing the side of her neck. Sasuke's eyes widened again at both the action and the term of endearment. "The tonto won't hurt Nightshade." (2) He held Kina's left hand in his and brought it to his lips.

Sasuke couldn't take his eyes off of the scene before him. Gaara was acting nice. Gaara was kissing a girl. Sasuke remembered that her name was Kina and that she had saved him. Light flashed off of the rings that Kina was wearing and Sasuke realized that Gaara wore a matching ring on his left hand.

Gaara was married?

"When did you get married?" he asked, disgruntled. (A/N: isn't 'disgruntled' a great word?)

The couple looked over at Sasuke. Kina looked up at Gaara and asked him a question with her eyes. Gaara answered her question with a reassuring hug. "Just recently actually," he answered.

"We're headed to Konoha for the Summer Festival and to introduce Kina-chan to Tsunade-baachan," Naruto added from his spot on Sasuke's other side. "Ero-sennin and I were sent as escorts."

"Hn."

Kina found it odd to hear Gaara's favorite phrase from someone else. She twisted in the saddle to look up at her boyfriend/husband and smiled. He caught her thought and gave her a small smile in return.

"Maybe he'll lighten up when he finally gets some," Gaara whispered mischievously in her ear.

"You haven't gotten any yet, Gaara-kun," Kina whispered back. "And you've lightened up quite a bit."

Gaara sniffed Kina's hair and smiled again. "Must be the company," he said.

She smiled back and snuggled into the redhead's lap. "Must be," she agreed.

00000000000000000

Sasuke was never so happy to see the gates of Konoha as he was at this moment. Even though he had left with the intention of never returning, he gladly welcomed the sight. Reaching Konoha meant only one thing to the Uchiha.

The journey was finally over!

Between Naruto's constant chatter about the missions he went on while Sasuke was gone, the strangely creepy PDAs from the couple riding beside him, and the unaccustomed pain of riding a horse, Sasuke was willing to face three hours in Morino Ibiki's interrogation room if it meant that he could get away from the trio riding beside him.

"Gaara-kun," Kina began. "Don't you think we should hide Sasuke with a genjutsu until the Hokage sees him?"

Gaara turned to the Uchiha and nodded. "Things will be hectic enough when they see us," he agreed. "Kankuro."

Kankuro had heard their conversation and immediately nodded. He performed a series of seals and whispered a quick jutsu. Kina had a brief vision of Sasuke with long black hair and wearing the same clothes as her and Temari before her powers kicked in and the genjutsu faded. (3)

"He's now disguised as your handmaiden," Kankuro said, laughter in his voice. "So, Kina-chan, what will you name her?"

She laughed at the idea of renaming a female Sasuke. "I don't know. Naruto," she called out. "Why don't you do the honors? After all, she was your friend first."

Naruto laughed also as Sasuke's eyes, now a beautiful light blue, narrowed at him. Somehow, Kankuro's genjutsu had worked on Gaara's sand binding as well and it just looked like the folds of Sasuke's skirt. "Let me think…" he said. "How about…Temeki?"

"Teme...ki?" Kina repeated, horror and laughter in her voice. (4)

Everyone remained silent. It was only when Sasuke hiccupped and turned bright red that the silence was broken. Everyone started laughing and gasping for air. This was how the guards at the gate saw the group as they entered Konoha.

Genma and Aoba had been waiting at the main gate for the past hour.

"When will the Kazekage's entourage get here?" Genma asked. The senbon in his mouth bounced up and down with his words.

"Soon. Godaime-sama said that the message Naruto sent told her that they would arrive this afternoon," Aoba answered for the fifth time. He adjusted his sunglasses and looked down the road at the sound of laughter. "That must be another group of entertainers."

Genma laughed and poked Aoba in the ribs. "It definitely isn't the Kazekage," he joked. He looked at the travelers and promptly dropped his jaw. The senbon he was chewing on fell to the ground as he witnessed the impossible.

The laughing group was the Kazekage's entourage. There was no mistake about it. Even if he doubted the identities of four of the riders, there was no mistaking the bright orange clothing and annoying voice of Uzumaki Naruto. One of the riders took up the lead and both Konoha jounin recognized the red hair of Sabaku no Gaara.

Two things surprised them. The first being that instead of his normal brown clothes, the Sand nin wore the blue and white robes of the Kazekage. The second surprise was the beautiful girl in Gaara's lap. Her long black hair was braided and placed in an intricately designed bun on her head. Even from the distance separating them, Genma could see the girl's unusual purple eyes. She was a beauty to be sure.

They stood at attention as the party got closer to the gates. Aoba could see that Temari and Kankuro also accompanied the Kazekage. The former was dressed as formally as the girl in Gaara's lap, while Kankuro wore black riding clothes and his customary purple make up. Aoba noted that Kankuro led another horse that pulled a small cart.

Why do women have to pack so much? The jounin asked himself.

"Konoha welcomes the Kazekage and his entourage," Genma said as Gaara and the others halted their horses at the gate. "If you'll follow us, we will escort you to your apartments for the Festival."

"We need to speak to Tsunade," Gaara said, not moving his mount. "Now."

Genma wasn't surprised by the Kazekage's brusque tone of voice. But he was surprised when the girl laid her hand on Gaara's wrist and looked up at him.

"It is a matter of some importance," Gaara elaborated. "I apologize for being so abrupt."

Aoba and Genma gaped. The Kazekage had apologized to them? Temari and Kankuro snickered from their spots behind the couple while Naruto just laughed louder and Jiraiya coughed into his hand. The seventh member of the group, an oddly familiar and pretty girl, remained silent, but looked like she wanted to laugh as well if the redness in her face was any indication.

"I thought that your group only equaled to four people," Aoba said. "If there are five people in your entourage, we can use the time you use to speak to Godaime-sama and prepare another room."

"That won't be necessary," the girl with purple eyes said. Genma was immediately entranced by her husky voice. "My handmaiden, Temeki,"—everyone on horseback snickered at the name—"will take the extra room."

"And where will you sleep?" Aoba asked.

The girl smiled and reached back to lay her hand on Gaara's cheek. "With my husband, of course."

It was only years and years of training and discipline that kept the two leaf jounin from falling over in shock.

Kina had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the shock and horror on the faces of the jounin. She recognized their faces, but couldn't give them names. Gaara's hands on her waist tightened and she knew that he was having as much trouble keeping his laughter in as she was.

She turned in the saddle and whispered into her "husband's" ear, "I wonder what they would think if they knew that my husband likes to sleep on panda printed bedsheets?"

That did it.

Gaara couldn't hold back his laughter anymore and finally let loose. The look of fear and disbelief on the Konoha shibobi's faces quickly made up for the temporary loss in dignity.

"Again, I apologize," Gaara said, once his laughter subsided. "My wife has a wicked sense of humor."

"We really need to see Tsunade-baachan, though," Naruto interrupted. Genma looked at the boy and realized that he had grown since the last time he saw him. Both in looks and personality. He also noticed that Naruto subtly crowded and controlled the horse Temeki rode on.

Could he finally be over Sakura? Genma wondered.

"Of course," Aoba said. He waved the group through and started to walk beside Gaara's horse, while Genma took the rope from Kankuro and led the horse and cart from the back of the line. Slowly, the group made its' way through the village and to the Hokage's building.

Kina couldn't help but notice the stares they were getting from the townspeople. Instead of the fear and contempt she expected, she heard excited murmurs and squeals from the children who saw the Sand nin.

"It's Temari-neechan!" one little girl told her mother.

"And Kankuro and Gaara-san!" another boy said.

"That's Kazekage-sama, gaki," the boy's mother corrected.

"But who's the girl riding with him?"

"I dunno."

"Maybe they're here for the Festival?"

"Probably."

The whispers continued until they reached the Hokage's building. Kankuro, Temari, Jiraiya, and Naruto immediately dismounted. Gaara got off the horse and raised his arms up to Kina. She smiled and slid off the horse and into his arms. She looked over at Temeki (Sasuke) and laughed.

The girl (boy) couldn't get off the horse because of Gaara's sand still binding her. Naruto saw this and walked over to her. Temeki's eyes narrowed at the sight of Naruto standing by the horse, arms outstretched.

"It's alright, Temeki-chan," Naruto laughed. "I'll catch you."

Sasuke wanted to wipe the smirk off of Naruto's face and decided to "fall" off of the horse. A few bruises were worth it if it meant knocking the dobe to the ground. He leaned to the side and pretended to fall, but before he knew it, strong arms enfolded him in their embrace.

"Told ya I'd catch you," Naruto joked and placed Temeki/Sasuke on her/his feet. (A/N: I'm tired of doing the whole Temeki/Sasuke thing…from now on I'm calling him Temeki until the story demands otherwise.)

Temeki blushed at the laughs from the others present and scowled. She was blushing way more now that she was female. Is this Kankuro's doing? She shot the puppet master a dark look and followed the others up the stairs.

"Shizune-neechan," Naruto began. "Is baa-chan busy? We need to talk to her."

Shizune looked up from her desk and saw Naruto, Jiraiya, and the Kazekage's entourage. She blinked and replied, "Tsunade-sama is in a meeting with Sakura-chan, Naruto."

"Is it because of that?" Naruto asked, excitedly.

A voice from behind them answered. "Yes, it's because of that."

Everyone, except Shizune, turned around to see Kakashi leaning against the wall. "That's great! So she did it while I was away, Kakashi?" Naruto asked.

"Obviously," the copy ninja said. He pushed away from the wall and smiled. "Tsunade-sama is giving the results to Sakura now."

Temeki desperately wanted to ask what Sakura did while Naruto was away, but couldn't. She wasn't sure if the genjutsu would mask her voice as well and she wasn't going to find out in front of her former sensei. Luckily for her, Kina asked the question instead.

"What results?" she asked Naruto. "Sakura is Ino-chan's friend, right?"

Naruto scratched his head and laughed nervously. "Ino told you that Sakura-chan is Tsunade-baachan's apprentice, right?" When she nodded, Naruto continued, but stared at Temeki the entire time. "Well she's been doing real good. She mastered level 7 healing two weeks after she started training with baa-chan. That was almost a year ago. Before I left, I heard baa-chan say something about testing Sakura-chan for her medic license."

"So she's to be a medic chuunin?" Temari asked, proud of the girl.

Naruto's reply was cut short by Tsunade's office door bursting open and a certain pink haired kunoichi running through it.

"Alright!" she shouted, holding a green vest to her chest. "I got it! I got it! Go Sakura, it's your birthday!"

Naruto smiled at his friend and grabbed her hands. Sakura opened her eyes, surprised to see him there, but smiled back and continued dancing. She bumped hips with Naruto and then Kakashi as she kept on celebrating.

"Congratulations, Sakura-san," Gaara said, formally bowing to the newly promoted chuunin. Temari, Kankuro, and Kina followed suit and so did Temeki after a glare from Kina.

"Thank you, Gaara-san, Temari-san, Kankuro-san," Sakura replied. She looked over at the other two girls and smiled.

At first, Kakashi and Shizune looked confused as well until Kina jabbed Gaara in the ribs. Then they were surprised at the girl's audacity.

"This is Kinabuhi," Gaara finally said, holding out Kina's hand. "And her handmaiden, Temeki." Kankuro snickered at the name. He decided then and there that he would never get tired of hearing the proud Uchiha called that.

Sakura's expression lightened. "So you're the Kinabuhi-san Ino has been talking about. Welcome to Konoha."

"Kinabuhi?" Kakashi asked. His droopy eye took in the two girls standing next to Gaara. There was something off about the both of them. Too bad he couldn't use his Sharingan to check his suspicions out.

Kina smiled and held out her hand—her left hand. "Yes," she said. "I'm Gaara-kun's wife."

Shizune, Sakura, and Kakashi were stunned. "Wife?" they asked.

Kina frowned and turned to Gaara. "Am I going to get that reaction every time I get introduced as your wife?" she demanded.

The answer was unanimous and came from everyone's lips.

"Yes."

A/N:

Another chapter done…yay! So what do you think? Good, bad?

Oh, can someone tell me the names of the other jounin in Konoha? Y'know, the one with the scar, the one with that piece of cloth across his nose, and the one who's always with the one with that piece of cloth across his nose?

I can't remember for the life of me! Argh! Ok, I'll figure it out eventually.

(1) Remember how I had Gaara find Kina after they came back from the failed mission to find Sasuke? Well, Kina's been with them for almost a year, so that makes it a little more than a year since Naruto fought Sasuke.

(2) Tonto is Cebuano for 'fool' or 'idiot.'

(3) Kina can see through genjutsu in only a few seconds…she can't control it at this point of the story.

(4) In case you didn't know…Teme means 'asshole' in Japanese. And ki means 'spirit' or 'energy.' So the name Naruto gave Sasuke can mean 'asshole energy.'