Sorry this chapter took so long, and also that's it's so short. I really haven't had much time to write for fun lately, I've been too busy with classes and other activities. I do have a life, and it's been rather hectic.

Oh, and before you start this chapter, I must warn you that it's become an AU. I already said the timeline was a little off, but I've decided to go ahead and make it completely AU because, well, I'm too lazy to go back and reread the manga to make sure I'm not screwing my facts up. I normally try to do my research, but I just don't have the time.

Adstratum Influence

Gaara doesn't know why he asked. It's not like he's actually going to go see the boy, after all. He's uncertain, and Gaara is not used to being uncertain. Usually he could just kill the source of the problem and he didn't have to think about anything but the sand and the blood and his own existence. Uzumaki Naruto awoke within him feelings that he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe he will go see him after all.

Temari doesn't know why Gaara asked after the Uzumaki kid, and she feels a little apprehensive. She thinks that Gaara became a little softer after that battle, but maybe she is wrong and really all Gaara wants to do is kill the kid that made him that way and go back to being hard and uncaring. She doesn't know, and she knows she won't find out until too late, because Gaara still scares her and she won't ask.

Kankurou is starting to put two and two together, but it'll be some time before his answer equals four. He just doesn't want to reconcile the thought of that yellow-haired brat having an impact on stoic, angry Gaara, Gaara who barely acknowleges his own siblings, Gaara who would kill someone standing in his way without a second thought. Kankurou just can't see it, and he won't think that maybe he just doesn't want to see it, doesn't want to see that some brat could undo in one battle what he himself, with the help of Temari, had been trying to undo for years. He won't admit it to himself, but a tiny portion of his being is saying that Gaara's siblings should have been the ones to break Gaara from his shell of hatred. But no matter which way he looks at it, eventually two and two will have to make four.

Finally reaching the Fifth's office, the Sand trio present themselves to her.

"Ah, you're here," says Tsunade. She looks over the three siblings. "Have a seat," she adds.

They sit, and wait for her to continue.

"I appreciate that the Kazekage sent you here. It's true that we desperately need more shinobi, and Konoha is grateful to the Sand for this. I would give you all time to rest a little, but there's a mission in Rain that needs immediate attention, and I'm going to put two of you on the case right away."

"Only two?" asks Temari.

"Yes, you are all high level shinobi, and the mission is such that two should suffice. Temari and Kankurou, you two will start for Rain tomorrow. Here's your mission." Tsunade pushes a folder towards Temari, who nods and takes it. Even as she does so, though, she is not thinking of her mission but of her brother, who will be left alone without his siblings to keep what control they can over him.

Gaara says nothing.

"If it's in Rain, it's bound to be dangerous," says Kankurou. "Are you really sure two'll be enough?"

It's clear what he is trying to say, but Tsunade only frowns at him and replies, "Yes, two will be fine," in a tone that brooks no argument.

"It's almost like she wants to get rid of us," says Temari sometime later. "I don't understand why, though, she knows how dangerous Gaara is…"

"Used to be," says Shikamaru. "I've been watching him, he's changed. I still don't trust him, but he's lost most of his unreasoning, dangerous aura of death."

Temari is surprised at this, although she shouldn't be because she knows that Shikamaru would have figured this out, and actually she had come to him just so she could get his opinions on this very subject.

"It's because of Naruto, isn't it?" he continues. "I'm not sure what exactly happened between them, but he's been hanging around the hospital ever since you got back from Tsunade's office."

"Yeah, I think it's because of Naruto," Temari agrees. "They fought to a draw, and afterward Naruto said something to Gaara. He's been different ever since."

Shikamaru nods, inwardly rolling his eyes at Naruto's ability to get into fights completely out of his depth and still come out on top.

"Naruto must have some sort of protective layer of cheerful optimism that gets him through anything," Shikamaru muses. "Annoying brat…"

Temari raises an eyebrow, but agrees.

Gaara looks up at the hospital. Scowling, he decides that standing around outside indecisively is too boring and it would better prove his existence if he went inside and killed Naruto. He decides he just won't listen to the part of him that's saying he just wants Naruto to acknowledge him; what better way to get a person's full attention on you than to kill him? So thinking, Gaara strides inside and intimidates a nurse into telling him where Naruto is.

Gaara looks at Naruto's door. Still scowling, he pushes it open and walks inside. He's not sure at this point why he has even come; he's admitted that he's not really there to kill anyone. He doesn't know why he's been acting the way he has lately. It was so much easier when each person he killed confirmed his existence. He created death; it's what he was made for, it was all he knew. He knew he was alive because he could affect the world that way. Now he's uncertain, and he doesn't like that.

He stares at Naruto until the boy in question opens his eyes.

Okay, there it is. I'll try to get the next chapter out somewhat faster, since this one was kind of short, but seriously, I've got a lot that I'll be doing, including looking for a new apartment, so I'll be a bit short on the free time.