In which Kimimaro pouts, Naruto and Sasuke pray, and Gaara makes a discovery.

O-O-O-O-O

Despite accepting his apology, Kimimaro gave Utakata the cold shoulder for the rest of the night and the morning after.

Utakata couldn't blame him. After a long mission, he had arranged a short vacation for his team to rest and train on their own. The day after, Kimimaro had asked for personal training during breakfast. Utakata had agreed, promising to spend the entire day with him. However, the request from the Mizukage for a meeting had brought those plans crashing to a halt. While the boy had seemed to accept Utakata's apology at first, his actions told a different story.

At dinner, Kimimaro had eaten in silence, exchanging words only with Harusame. He had later refused to have a cup of tea with Utakata before bed as had become a tradition. The morning after, he had only muttered his greetings before going to the garden to brood.

Utakata might have been actually upset by his behavior if he didn't find it strangely endearing. He's sulking.

"Kimimaro, we're going to have a team meeting in a bit," Utakata announced as he approached the boy in the garden. "Haku and Kasumi are already on their way."

Kimimaro glanced at him, a watering can in hand, before going back to his task. "I see," he muttered, turning his back to Utakata.

He walked to the boy's side. "I'll explain everything the Mizukage told me yesterday to you three," he said. "It's all pretty important and I need us all to be on the same page."

Kimimaro nodded. He said nothing as he watered the irises and continued to avoid Utakata's attention.

"Haku and Kasumi will be here at any moment," he continued. "I sent shadow clones to get them."

Kimimaro nodded again, still watering the same patch of plants and still avoiding Utakata's gaze. With a sigh, Utakata grabbed onto the boy's wrist gently, stopping the constant stream of water. "You're going to drown the irises," he warned.

Kimimaro startled at the sudden touch before shrugging off Utakata's grip. "Thank you, sensei," he mumbled, staring at the ground.

Utakata sighed before crouching down to meet Kimimaro face to face. Despite the proximity, the boy tried to ignore him, turning his face away.

"I think the meeting today will be pretty short," Utakata began. "I only want to talk to you three about something important before we go our separate ways." Kimimaro still refused to react as he cradled the watering can in his hands. "So how about when the meeting is finished, we practice some of that new taijutsu you've been developing? Just the two of us."

At that, Kimimaro finally reacted. His eyes widened and he turned to Utakata. "Wait. Really, sensei?"

"Really, really. Only a true emergency would stop me this time," Utakata promised. "And if we have extra time, I can teach you some ninjutsu as well."

At that, Kimimaro smiled at Utakata for the first time in the day. "I'd like that," he admitted, his face glowing in happiness.

"I thought you would." Utakata placed a hand on Kimimaro's shoulder, making the boy's smile widen.

"Utakata-kun, Kimimaro-kun," Harusame called from inside the main house. "Your teammates are here."

"We're here, sensei!" Kasumi's voice shouted from somewhere inside. "What's so impor- Oh, uh... sorry for yelling, Harusame-sensei," she apologized in a slightly softer tone.

Utakata sighed. "Let's meet at the training grounds!" he shouted back.

"Sure thing, sensei!" Despite her earlier apology, Kasumi's voice remained as loud as before.

Utakata shook his head before turning his attention back to Kimimaro, who had placed the watering can on the ground. "Let's go. We have a few things to talk about."

Kimimaro hummed in assent but said nothing else. Together, they headed to their usual meeting area. Haku and Kasumi had already arrived; they sat on the ground, deep in conversation. Kimimaro left Utakata's shadow to join them in the middle. Expectant, the students quieted and turned their eyes toward Utakata as he sat in front of them.

"So you're probably wondering why I called you three today when we're still on vacation," he began.

Kasumi nodded. "My mom said something big happened but she didn't wanna tell me no matter how many times I begged," she whined. "My brother also knows and he also didn't wanna tell me!"

"Zabuza-sama was gone all day yesterday," Haku added.

Kimimaro said nothing, his green eyes focused on Utakata expectantly.

Utakata cleared his throat. "Well, the long and short of it is that Konohagakure and Kirigakure are now allies," he announced. "The Mizukage signed a peace treaty not too long ago."

Their immediate reactions were not what he had expected. Unlike the older Kirigakure shinobi, who had been full of anger and resentment, his students looked almost bored. Blankly, they stared at him, not recognizing the importance of his announcement.

"Is... is that it, sensei?" Kasumi asked, raising a confused eyebrow. "Is that the only reason why everyone is so secretive lately?"

At her side, the two boys said nothing but nodded in agreement, confused frowns on their faces.

Utakata groaned. How quick we forget the past. "How old were you when the Third Shinobi war ended, Kasumi?" he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Kasumi got a thoughtful look on her face as she calculated her age. "I was two, three years old at the most," she said. "I don't remember exactly."

"You three have grown up in an era of relative peace," Utakata said, fearing he was already veering into a lecture. "But before that, we were at near-constant war, not just internally but with other countries. Out of all people, I would have expected you to be the most aware of the price of war, Kasumi," he scolded. "Considering who your father is."

Kasumi looked away, chewing on her lip, chastened. She pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees. "Sorry, sensei."

Utakata sighed. "And the same goes for you two, as well," he continued. "You are young enough to not remember when we were at conflict with Konoha, but that doesn't excuse you from forgetting the past. If things had gone any differently, we might not be talking right now. We might not have even met each other."

At that, Kimimaro grimaced as Haku got a faraway look in his eyes. Next to them, Kasumi tightened her grip on her legs, chastened. Utakata shook his head. As a child, he had lived in constant fear of Harusame leaving and never coming back. He prayed that the three children in front of him would never live through the same experience.

"Most of our ninja, especially in the upper ranks, are veterans of the Third Shinobi War," he continued as he uncrossed his arms. "Many of us hold grudges that will never fade. An alliance with Konoha, not just a ceasefire, is unprecedented in the history of our village."

"I- I think I understand now, sensei," Haku muttered as he stared down at his knees. Kasumi and Kimimaro nodded at his side, finally understanding the gravity of the situation.

Utakata hummed, satisfied. "There is one thing that is particularly relevant for the three of you, however."

At that, the three children looked up, meeting his eyes.

"For the first time in history, Kirigakure and Konohagakure will have joint chuunin exams," he said. "I have already declared my intent for our team to participate."

"Wait, what? Chuunin exams!?" Kasumi's eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she leaned forward to gape at Utakata.

Ever collected, Haku only blinked, a small frown the only sign of emotion. Like Kasumi, he seemed to understand the severity of the last announcement.

"Chuunin exams?" Unlike his two teammates, Kimimaro tilted his head to the side, a confused frown on his face.

"Yes, the chuunin exams." Utakata nodded. "It will be an opportunity to showcase your skills and possibly be promoted to chuunin. Konoha has invited Kiri to participate in the next one, which will start in January. We won't officially declare our intent until December, however. I believe that you three are ready to take part, but I won't force you to sign up."

"What are the chuunin exams like, sensei?" Haku asked.

"I'm not exactly sure what the components are since they vary by village," Utakata admitted. "But I think you three are ready for anything. I believe you have the potential not just to survive, but to reach the end. The last stage of the exams always consists of spars meant to show off each village's strengths to the public. The Mizukage hopes to use that opportunity to demonstrate our military strength and obtain new clients."

"I see." Haku nodded, understanding the situation immediately. "So you expect the three of us to become chuunin then, sensei?"

"I think all three of you are ready, yes," Utakata answered. "Now, tell me, what is the most important thing for shinobi to do during missions?"

"Accompany each other to the toilet because that's when we're most vulnerable?" Kasumi guessed. Haku and Kimimaro nodded their agreement.

Utakata groaned and shook his head. Is that the lesson they remember best? "Well, yes, that's important," he admitted. "But that's just one specific part of a more general concept. And I think the three of you already understand the concept perfectly."

"A concept we already understand?" Haku asked, tilting his head to the side.

"What is it, sensei?" Kasumi leaned forward in excitement.

"Teamwork!" Utakata crossed his arms in front of his chest again as the children's eyes widened in understanding. "As a shinobi, you won't always have missions in teams. But when you do, being able to coordinate with your friends and allies is a key skill. I have seen how you three work together, not only on missions but also during our training sessions. I believe you three are ready for the next step."

"Y-you think so, sensei?" Kasumi fidgeted in place, looking up to Utakata with an almost shy smile.

"I'm sure you are. You are the most promising shinobi we have, after all." Utakata smiled and the three children returned the gesture, pleased with the praise.

"We will take fewer missions starting now," he continued. "I want us to focus on improving our individual skills for the last stage of the exams. Haku!"

The boy jumped at the sudden mention of his name. "Yes, sensei?"

"Focus on improving your medical ninjutsu and Hyoton. I heard you're starting to learn the Mystical Palm Technique."

Haku nodded, a rare smirk on his face. "Yes, sensei. It took me five minutes to kill the fish last time!"

Is that a good thing? Utakata nodded before turning his attention to Kasumi. "And you should work with Ameyuri-san on your kenjutsu. You two have similar styles, so that will be perfect."

"Yes, sensei!" she yelled, sending him a cheery salute.

"And Kimimaro..." The boy shifted before meeting his eyes. "I'll be working with you one on one to help improve your stamina and perfect your taijutsu. If you want, I can teach you some of my ninjutsu as well."

Kimimaro looked away, a pink tint on his face, before nodding. "Yes, sensei."

"Well, I sure talked a lot," he complained. "Let's break for the day. Unless... you three have any questions?"

The three children frowned before shaking their heads. Utakata let out a breath, relieved. For the rest of the day, he only wanted to spend time with Kimimaro and take a nap.

"Is that all, sensei?" Haku asked, polite as always.

"That's all. We'll meet in three days to discuss our progress and do some team drills. Don't be late! We'll meet at noon!"

"Yes, sensei," the children said at the same time.

"Well, I have to go and train with Ameyuri-senpai!" Kasumi shouted as she jumped up excitedly, extending a hand out for Haku.

"We will see you soon, Utakata-sensei, Kimimaro-kun," Haku said, bowing his head down.

"See you soon, sensei, Kimimaro-kun!" Kasumi waved her hand back and forth frantically before leaping away. Haku followed her out, bowing politely at Kimimaro and Utakata before leaving.

Within seconds, Kasumi's laughter was gone, leaving them alone together. Kimimaro shifted again, avoiding his eyes as he played with the hem of his sleeves, nervous.

Utakata sighed. "I promised you we would train together, didn't I?"

Kimimaro's eyes widened in joy and excitement and he nodded. "Yes, sensei."

"Do you want to show me what you've been working on first?" Utakata stood up with a grunt, extending a hand out for Kimimaro to take.

Eyes glittering, Kimimaro walked to the center of the field. Without waiting any longer, he began a taijutsu kata that looked almost like a dance.

O-O-O-O-O

Unlike the summer before, Sakura was actually having fun on vacation.

Since school had let out, Ino and Sakura had spent nearly every minute together. During the day, they would play games, practice their skills, or simply hang out. At night, they organized occasional sleepovers, whispering under the covers until they both drifted to sleep. With Ino at her side, even helping out at the Yamanaka Flower Shop was fun.

They could spend hours behind the counter, talking about whatever they wanted, giggling all the while. Sometimes, Ino's mother would serve them bowls of cut-up fruit as they waited for clients. Other times, Ino's father would come in and ramble about flowers and his business. Her favorite part, however, was seeing Ino in her element.

Ino was a perfect saleswoman. She could charm the money out of anyone with a smile and a few kind words. Meanwhile, Sakura stood in the background, too shy to interrupt. After closing the sale, they would make flower arrangements despite Sakura's mediocre skills.

It was on one of the days in which Sakura was helping Ino at the shop that Sasuke walked in.

While Ino and Sakura waited for the next customer, they heard the bell to the front ring. Together, they turned to the entrance at the same time, Ino with a welcoming smile already on her face.

"Welcome to the Yamanaka Flower Shop!" she chirped. "How may I-?"

The words died on her lips when she saw the boy standing inside. In an instant, Sakura felt her face go red and she hid behind Ino as best as she could.

Sasuke and Naruto were the only people that were ever consistently better than Ino in class. In comparison, Sakura was a mediocre student who could only brag about her math skills and giant forehead. Only Ino is cool enough to talk to him.

"Oh! Hello, Sasuke-kun!" Ino greeted, her smile widening. "It's very nice to see you at our shop. You missed the last few days of class! Did you get sick or something?"

Sakura said nothing, looking at Sasuke from behind Ino's shoulder.

At the entrance, Sasuke glanced around the shop quickly before walking to the counter. Up close, Sakura noticed that his face was pale and his eyes sunken. Nevertheless, he met Ino's eyes unflinchingly, cool and collected as usual.

"I need to buy a lot of flowers," he said, ignoring Ino's question. "For tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Sure! We can do that! How many do you need? We can do a discount for large orders!"

A blank look passed over Sasuke's face before disappearing a second later. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I just... know that I need a lot. Maybe one thousand?"

"Wow! That many?" Sakura saw Ino's eyes widen in surprise. "Who are you buying them for? Your mom?"

A pained look flashed across Sasuke's face and he nodded. "And a few other people," he muttered. "How much will that cost?"

"It... It depends on the type of flower," Sakura forced herself to say.

For the first time since coming in, Sasuke glanced in her direction, though he did not seem to recognize her.

"W-what kind of flower do you need?" she continued. Despite her stuttering, she felt pride in being able to say anything.

"I don't know," Sasuke confessed, clasping his hands into fists and shoving them into his pockets.

"Well, what's the occasion?" Ino asked. "I can recommend what you need if you tell me."

"It's for-" Sasuke shook his head, swallowed, and looked away. "I don't know what the flowers are called. But... they're white."

"White?" Ino raised an eyebrow. "You do know white flowers are usually for funerals, right?" Sasuke got a glazed-over look in his eyes and nodded as Ino and Sakura realized the implication at the same time.

"Oh! Sasuke-kun! I'm..." Ino bit her lip, mortified. "I didn't mean to- I'm-"

"Ino. Sakura-chan."

Ino and Sakura turned around, faces burning red, unsure of what to say. Ino's father had walked in from the back room and he looked down at the three of them, a sad look in his eyes.

"Can you two girls help me put all the vases in the correct boxes in the back? I'll help Sasuke-kun."

"Oh... uh... sure, Daddy."

With that, Ino grabbed onto Sakura's wrist and pulled her away to the back room, a perfect reason to escape. With the staff door closed behind them, they gaped at each other, both equally mortified.

"Did you know-?" Sakura began.

Before she could finish her question, Ino shook her head vehemently. "No. But..." She bit her lip. "I guess that would explain a lot."

"Sasuke... he... looked really sad." Sakura stared down at her feet, wringing her hands. From the corner of her eye, she saw Ino chewing on her thumbnail.

"Should we-?" Sakura gulped and gestured to the vases spread throughout the floor of the back room.

Ino nodded, her face still red and eyes sad.

Together, they got started on the task, quiet for once. They were almost done putting all the vases away when Ino's father entered the back room with a sad sigh.

"Daddy!" Ino shouted, running up to him. Sakura followed close behind. "What was-? Is Sasuke-kun-?"

The man interrupted his frantic daughter's questions with a shake of his head. "I wasn't sure how to bring it up to you, Ino," he admitted. "But I guess I should tell you what happened. You too, Sakura-chan, considering he's also your classmate."

"E-explain?" Sakura swallowed. She wondered if it had anything to do with her parents' whispering whenever they thought she couldn't see. And maybe why Ino's dad had so much work lately.

With a sad sigh, the man gestured to a bench. The two girls sat together side by side, their hands intertwined in comfort.

"I suppose I need to tell you a little about the Uchiha clan first," the man began.

O-O-O-O-O

Sakura went home for the night, walking slowly as she tried to get her jumbled thoughts in order.

Sasuke-kun... no wonder he wasn't in school.

Sakura bit her lip and stared at the ground, unsure of what to make of the thoughts rolling around in her mind. She could never imagine losing not only her parents but her entire family all in one night. With a sigh, she opened the front door and stepped inside, a wonderful smell leading her to the kitchen.

"Welcome home, darling!" her mother greeted, her back turned to Sakura. "Did you have fun with Ino-chan?"

"Y-yeah, I did, Mom," she answered, forcing a smile on her face. "We talked about flower arranging."

"Oh! That's good!" her mother said, her back still turned to Sakura. "You said you were having trouble with it, right?"

With a swallow, Sakura walked toward her mother. Before she could reconsider, she wrapped her arms around her mother's waist and buried her face in her midriff.

"Sakura?" Her mother paused her task, confused, as she placed a hand on top of Sakura's head. "Is something wrong?"

Sakura shook her head. "No. I'm just glad you're here, Mom. I love you."

"I love you, too, Sakura." Her mother put her spatula down and wrapped her arms around her. "You're my favorite child."

"I'm your only child," Sakura muttered, a genuine smile already on her lips.

"Still my favorite."

With a giggle, Sakura broke the hug. She grinned up at her mother, erasing the concerned frown on her face. "Thanks, Mom. When is Dad getting home?"

"In an hour or so. He has a lot of paperwork to do over at the Hokage's office," she answered.

Probably because of what happened to Sasuke's family. "Thanks, Mom. I can't wait for dinner."

"Of course! Your father should arrive soon. He promised we would have dinner together tonight."

"All right." Sakura nodded. "I'll be in my room. Ino lent me a book to read."

"Good girl." Her mother ruffled her hair, planting a kiss on her overly large forehead. "Go make us proud."

With a final nod, Sakura ran up to her bedroom.

Later, when her father arrived, they ate dinner as a family. They laughed, complained about the neighbors, and shared stories of their day. When they finished, Sakura helped her mother clean up. Later, she sat with her father, learning about paperwork- boring but necessary. With the moon up in the sky, her mother sent her off to bathe and get ready for bed.

Dressed in her pajamas, Sakura hugged her parents good night, holding on for longer than was strictly necessary.

O-O-O-O-O

Kneeling in front of the gravestone, Naruto peered at Sasuke from the corner of his eye.

Sasuke's face was grim but unexpectedly calm, his eyes closed in prayer. Naruto had expected him to cry but he was glad that he hadn't. At least not yet. Naruto could never rein in his own tears for long whenever anyone cried in his presence.

Naruto turned his attention back to the names of Sasuke's parents engraved on the stone in front of him.

Earlier in the morning, they had arrived in the Uchiha district, arms full of flowers, incense, and food. Together, they had placed their offerings on top of every single grave, both from before and after the Massacre. Sometimes, Sasuke would stop to send a prayer, hands clapped together and eyes closed. Naruto assumed it was for people he had known well. After they finished, a task that took hours, they had arrived at the graves of Sasuke's mother and father. Since then, they had knelt together in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

After hours of kneeling, Naruto's legs began to burn, but he would rather practice the shamisen with Yugito than complain about it. Sasuke's parents had been the first adults in Konoha that had ever had treated him like any other person. He would miss them more than he could ever say. If it only meant discomfort, he would wait in front of their graves for the rest of his life.

Finally, once the sun began to set, Sasuke stood up, suppressing a wince. Naruto joined at his side, stretching his legs to get the feeling back to them.

"I want to visit my house first," Sasuke said, his face solemn. "There is something I want to take back. Do you want to come with me?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. 'Course."

"Hn." Without another word, Naruto and Sasuke left the cemetery, empty baskets in their hands.

Sasuke led them to his old home, opening the familiar door but saying nothing as he stepped inside. Together, they took their shoes off at the entrance before walking down the hall and up the stairs.

Unlike when Naruto had snuck in, the smell of iron was gone. However, the house was still too dark, empty, and quiet. Sasuke's mother would've been forcing us to take a bath at around this time.

Without a word, Sasuke headed toward his parents' bedroom, pointedly ignoring the pictures with Itachi hanging on the walls. Not that Naruto could blame him. He doubted he himself could ever look at Itachi's face without fury welling up in his stomach.

While Naruto waited at the doorway, Sasuke entered the bedroom and started rummaging through a dresser, a determined expression on his face. Within a few seconds, he seemed to have found what he was looking for. He turned back to Naruto, a camera in his hands.

"I wanted to take this," he explained. "Since mom always took pictures whenever she had the chance."

"Oh," Naruto muttered. He walked to Sasuke's side, looking at the object more closely. "Have you used it before?"

"No," Sasuke admitted. "But it seems easy enough."

He placed the camera reverently inside the empty basket and walked out without another word. With Naruto at his heels, they went downstairs, putting their shoes back on at the entrance. Together, they left, not bothering to glance back as Sasuke closed the door behind them.

Side by side, they left the Uchiha compound and headed back to Sasuke's apartment in complete silence. When they arrived, Sasuke unlocked the door. They entered, placing the empty baskets near the entrance, as they kicked off their shoes.

Naruto glanced around the neat apartment. Over the past week, it had been transformed with the addition of pictures and decorations. Photos of Sasuke's family and from Naruto's birthday party were framed on the walls. A potted flower adorned the center of the dining table and new curtains hung from the kitchen windows.

On one corner of the room, they had built a small altar with framed pictures of Sasuke's parents. Since setting it up, they had given their offerings and prayers on a daily basis. They bowed in the altar's direction before continuing to the kitchen.

"What do you want for dinner, Naruto?" Sasuke asked. "And don't say Ichiraku again. We've been there too much already."

Naruto rolled his eyes. We haven't been there that often! "Omurice?" he suggested. "Auntie showed me how to make it a while ago, ya know."

Sasuke shrugged. "Sure. Works for me."

With only a few words exchanged, they began to cook dinner together. Less than an hour later, they sat at the table, meal in front of them, still quieter than usual. They ate slowly, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Hey, Naruto, who do you think I look like?" Sasuke asked after a few minutes of chewing in silence. For some reason, he avoided meeting Naruto's eyes directly.

Naruto looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is that a trick question? You look a lot like Auntie. Same pretty face and everything. Though you have Uchiha-san's eyes. Serious and kinda scary, ya know."

"Hn, okay." Sasuke huffed. In an instant, his expression lightened and Naruto saw a hint of a smile on his lips.

Naruto stared at him, frowning. What's with him? He wanted to ask more, but the day had already been long enough without Naruto interrogating Sasuke.

Plates empty, Naruto helped Sasuke clean up. He said goodbye, promising to meet for breakfast the day after. Sasuke returned the farewell with a grunt of assent and a lazy wave of his hand.

With that agreement, Naruto ran back to his apartment as he had started to do again. Alone in his own home, he took a bath before getting ready for bed, almost wishing he had stayed the night with Sasuke.

But Mom's picture isn't at Sasuke's apartment. Lost in thought, he stared up at the ceiling as he soaked in the warm bath.

Countless times, Naruto had considered showing Sasuke the picture, but he knew that would be a bad idea. Naruto's mother had died when they were both babies. Neither had ever met her. Besides, how was he supposed to explain how he knew the red-headed girl was his mother? He couldn't exactly tell Sasuke the jinchuuriki had told him about her. He couldn't even tell Sasuke that he was a jinchuuriki. He'd hate me.

The more time passed, the more Naruto wanted to know more. Were Auntie and my mom friends or did they just know each other? And why couldn't Auntie tell me about her?

Getting out of the bath, Naruto dressed and dried his hair quickly. Paranoid, he looked around his room, trying to sense if anyone was watching. Once certain he was alone, he grabbed a kunai, peeled back a floorboard under his bed, and took out the now-familiar picture.

Immediately, he smiled at the image, taking in every single detail as he placed it reverently on the bed. He knelt in front of the makeshift altar, closing his eyes and clapping his hands together, as had become his new routine.

"Mom, I don't know if you're listening," he began, part of him feeling strange for talking to a piece of paper. "But I like talking to you. I wish you were here with me. I think you would have loved me, ya know." He paused to think about what to say next. "I don't know if you can see what I do, but I went with Sasuke to the Uchiha cemetery for the first time today. We got some flowers for Auntie and Uchiha-san and everyone else." He paused to swallow.

"I really wish you were here with me, Mom." He felt his voice cracking but he continued with his prayer. "I think you would have liked Sasuke, too. He's rude, annoying, and full of himself, but he's my friend and I think he likes me too, even if he will never say it. I wish Auntie had told me about you. Was Auntie your best friend like Sasuke is my best friend?"

Naruto opened his eyes. The girl in front of him was frozen in time, forever-smiling, arms eternally wrapped around her friend. "I wish I could give you a hug, Mom."

With his prayer finished, Naruto took the picture in his hands, holding it close to his heart before hiding it under his pillow. Exhausted from the day, he collapsed into bed. He drifted to sleep, his dreams plagued with images of graves and a girl that would never grow old.

O-O-O-O-O

As his teammates began to set up camp, Gaara walked around the area, as had become his custom. He breathed in the dry desert air, already growing hot with the rise of day.

For the first time, instead of being asked to eliminate a target, his team had been assigned an escort mission. Starting at the capital, they were asked to take a man through the desert and to his town in the Land of Rivers.

Since leaving the capital, their client had spent most of his time at Baki's side. A few times, he had talked to Temari and Kankuro as well, telling stories of his travels and his town. Despite walking apart from the others, Gaara enjoyed listening to the man speak. He had a voice that commanded attention, which reminded him vaguely of Roshi and Yagura.

Taking a cue from the rest of his team, their client had yet to interact with Gaara directly. However, the man would throw Gaara quick and curious glances whenever they stopped to eat or for a break. He guessed the man was curious as to why Gaara was isolated from his own team. It was not every day that a grown man and two older children were terrified of a quiet eight-year-old boy.

As Gaara wandered around the desert by himself, a flash of dark pink caught his eye. Curious, he walked toward it and found a patch of tiny cacti blooming together near a mossy patch. His heart began beating faster in excitement.

It was a plant he had never seen before, even in the many books he owned on the subject. Did I discover something new?

Excited, Gaara squatted down, looking at the patch of plants from up close. They were tiny succulents, barely taller than his ankle. The spines were unusual, looking like furry little starfish, and the large blooming flowers were a vivid magenta color. If he didn't have several days of travel left, Gaara would have tried taking a specimen with him back to Sunagakure.

With only one option available, he dug through his coat pockets for his travel sketchbook and pencil. After a lot of practice, he had gotten better at recreating the many flowers and cacti he had collected in his room. Still, his skills were yet to reach the same level as the illustrations in his books. In any case, drawing was fun and it was something to do when the other jinchuuriki were busy or sleeping.

He was so engrossed in trying to capture the image of the cacti, that he didn't notice when the client approached him.

"Did you find something interesting, bud?" the man's deep voice called out from behind Gaara.

Taken out of his reverie, Gaara flinched. Wide-eyed, he turned his head to see the client staring down at him from a short distance away. To his shock, the man was still alive and standing as the sand had not reacted to his presence. Bewildered, Gaara wondered if he had improved his control or if the man was so unthreatening the sand had refused to react. He gaped up at the man, unsure of what to say.

Staring down at him, the man crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised an eyebrow. When Gaara still said nothing, he walked closer before squatting down next to him. Gaara tensed at the client's approach, but he didn't move away. Except for the jinchuuriki and his uncle long ago, no one ever came close to him by choice.

"Did you find something interesting, bud?" the man repeated his question. "I guess so because you've been staring at the same patch of dirt for the past ten minutes or so."

"I-" Gaara swallowed, unsure of what to make of the stranger's friendly tone. No one ever speaks to me like that. "I found a cactus I had never seen before," he managed to answer. "I was trying to draw it since I won't be able to take it with me back to Sunagakure." He showed the man a glimpse of the sketch he had been working on.

"Oh! That's pretty good, bud!" the man said, tilting his head to the side as he inspected the drawing. "I imagine it would be better with color, but I guess that's not a priority to carry when you're on one of your ninja missions."

Gaara nodded as he inspected the man closely for the first time. Their client was on the older side, crow's feet, age, and laugh lines marking his face. However, his hair, which was cropped short, only had a few streaks of gray in it. His body was strong and toned, seemingly from spending so much outside and traveling. Gaara guessed he was in his forties at the latest.

"I'm not familiar with the plants of the desert," the man admitted as he squinted at the cacti in front of them. "I know more about the vegetation in my country. More ferns, bushes, and flowers. Lots of trees. Have you ever been to the Land of Rivers?"

Gaara nodded, remembering their team mission there and how quiet Shukaku had gotten afterward. "I have. Lots of tall trees."

The man laughed. "Well, you sure got that right! Though I hear the Land of Fire has got some amazing plant life, too. I've only been to Konohagakure once though, so I couldn't tell you much about that."

That's where Naruto lives. "I see," Gaara muttered, unsure what else to say.

The man's grin widened. "Well, Baki-san is getting dinner- or breakfast?- ready for us. Why don't you join us this time?"

"I can't." Gaara forced the familiar mask of tranquility to settle over his features. On every mission, he ate by himself, sitting apart from the rest of his team.

"Can't?" the man raised an eyebrow as he stared down at Gaara, bewildered. "Why can't you?"

"Because my team is scared of me."

"Why is that?" The man looked, if anything, more confused than before.

"I'm stronger than they are."

To his continued surprise, instead of running away as most tended to do, the man laughed again. "Well, in that case, I'm glad I hired your team! If a little boy can scare the pants off of that terrifying Baki man, then I know I'm in the right hands." He grinned at Gaara, his eyes crinkling in happiness.

Gaara responded with a confused frown. What's wrong with this man?

"What's your name, anyway?" the man asked, a toothy grin still on his face, seeming completely at ease.

"Gaara." He stared up at the man, still confused.

"Well, my name is Yuda." The man introduced himself and extended a hand out for Gaara to shake. "It's nice to meet you."

Gaara stared at the extended hand. Is he actually serious? Unsure, he reached his hand out to return the gesture. The man's palms were dry and callused, yet full of warmth. The touch was electrifying and it made him shiver despite the warmth of a desert summer. I can't remember the last time someone touched me.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Gaara whispered in return, unable to meet Yuda's eyes as he pulled his hand back. It was becoming more and more difficult to maintain his facade.

"Well, I'll let you get back to your project," Yuda said as he stood up with a tired groan. "It was nice to talk to you, Gaara-kun. Has anyone ever told you that you're a cute kid?"

For the first time since his uncle's death, Gaara lost control of his composure completely as his face heated up in a blush. In a vain attempt to hide it, he turned his head away from the man and focused on the cacti in front of him. Only the jinchuuriki have ever called me cute before.

With one final chuckle, Yuda walked away, presumably to help his team get dinner started. Gaara watched him leave from the corner of his eye, unsure of what to name the feelings running around in his mind.

O-O-O-O-O

A/N: So I gave myself feels with the Naruto and Kushina scene. The cactus Gaara finds is based on Mammillaria theresae. It's a beautiful little cactus found in Mexico.

I'm available on Tumblr at waffledogwrites. I'm also on Discord if you want to add me.

Next chapter: return to school.