Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1.

AN: Chapter title: Visiting Hours

A particular purple haired Kunoichi was alone. She had no idea how she had gotten to the spot but she was almost glad. No one could find her here, no one could see her, and she could be alone. She could let herself think. She could reflect on the day.

Yugao Uzuki was glad Kakashi had seen sense.

He hadn't headed out.

He hadn't gone out to die.

So it didn't matter that he assuredly hated her now. It didn't matter that his eye had been cold when she had walked out. None of it mattered. He was still alive. She could live with it. Her old Captain was still alive, was still breathing. He could hate her so that was good. It meant he was alive. Her own personal mission was a success. He was still alive.

It didn't matter if he hated her now.

Hayate was still breathing. He was still alive too. She had stopped him. It didn't matter what he felt about her. He was still alive.

She could be happy.

She could be so happy because he was still alive, Kakashi was still alive, she was still alive. Everything had worked out. The invasion hadn't been the end of the Hidden Leaf, the Third Hokage would have a mission for her soon, and things would be back to normal by the time she returned to the village.

She would be alone. Like she was now. But it was fine. Hayate was still alive. Kakashi was still alive. Kurenia was still alive. Asuma was still alive. Gai was still alive. They were alive. It was all that mattered.

Yes, things were good.

There was no reason for her to want to scream, to want to cry. She was fine.

She had spied on a friend without a second thought.

But she was fine.

She had nearly lost Hayate only a few days ago.

But she was fine.

She had watched as the village fell under siege.

But she was fine.

She had watched so many fellow Shinobi die.

But she was fine.

She had seen a monster unleashed to kill them all.

But she was fine.

She had felt a raw power she thought was gone forever, a malicious power that left terror in its wake.

But she was certainly fine.

Completely, utterly, and perfectly fine.

She just needed a mission. She could head out and everything would be fine.

She wasn't running from all of this, from the friends she had betrayed, from her lover. That was insane. It didn't make any sense. She was part of the ANBU Black Ops. She was one of Konohgakure's most trusted, most skilled, most loyal Shinobi. The Hokage himself had appointed her to her position, assigned her missions of the highest importance. It was insane to think she was running.

She wasn't running from anything.

She just wanted the village to prosper.

So what if her friends hated her? The less connections she had the better. It made her missions easier, made the Will of Fire within her burn stronger. She could commit entirely to the village. Only to the village. She wouldn't even need to bother with living without her mask.

She could be like the others. A face that went unseen even by fellow agents. She could join them in their utter commitment to the prosperity of the Hidden Leaf. It couldn't even be considered a sacrifice. She could live only for the mission, for the success or failure of her tasks. She could be like so many others.

She could take on more missions. More missions would mean the village would be safer.

She could take on missions vital for the village. Missions too dangerous for the Hokage to assign to any but his most trusted, most devoted Shinobi. She could be one, sent away from the village for months on end. She could be like the agents who served the village to the very end.

She could di-

"Yugao."

The voice wasn't what made her jump. Her adrenaline hadn't fully faded, she still hadn't fully calmed down from the battles that had finished not even a few hours ago.

She didn't jump because the voice surprised her, didn't jump because her mind had run wild. That was ludicrous. She was one of the elite of the village. Her mind didn't run wild, she didn't get lost in her thoughts. She was a professional who could take on any mission.

She wasn't afraid.

She couldn't be afraid.

She was privileged enough to be part of the ANBU Black Ops. She couldn't feel fear. She was part of the elite of the village.

"Kakashi." The Jonin's recovery was both surprising and not. He was one of the elite of the village, had been considered a genius and prodigy since he had first entered the Academy. It was almost expected that he be up.

And so he was. If one didn't know where to look it was hard to know he had been so injured, that he had nearly died when the invasion began from his battle with the Hidden Sand's Pakura of the Scorch Release. He was standing as if he hadn't clashed with a terror of the battlefields of the past.

He was standing as if he wasn't still in pain, as if his body wasn't still in need of further healing.

"Good to see that you're still around." Kakashi kept his hands in his pockets as he walked up to her. "I thought you would have gone to the Hokage and asked for a mission by now."

"I was about to leave." Her once Captain knew her better than she thought.

"I wouldn't bother." Kakashi turned his eye elsewhere, possibly out the window at the end of the hall. "I think somebody told him you should get some paid downtime or something. I don't know for sure but I think they had a clone do it." He shrugged his shoulders. "But since you've suddenly got this free time, maybe you could join the rest of us in Gai's room?"

"G-Gai's in the hospital?" Yugao suddenly paid all her attention to the Jonin. "What did the Kazekage do to him?"

"Kazekage? Ah, that's why he won't stop smiling." Kakashi seemed to have gotten an answer to a question she didn't know about. "I guess he beat me this time. Where was I? Oh yeah. He's not in the hospital for any real injuries. The Third put him on bed rest for a few days and he showed up in my room talking about spending them with his rival. I gave it to him so I could leave early."

Kakashi drew up his hand and Yugao belatedly realized he had a bag hanging from his wrist.

"I also went back to my place to pick up the drinks." His eye posed his question without him needing to speak it. He did it anyway. "So want to join? I've already dragged Hayate in so you might as well say yes."

She could say no. She should say no.

"A-Alright."

She didn't.

She found she didn't want to be alone right now.

"AH KAKASHI! You've at last returned!" Gai's voice was loud as always once his "Eternal Rival" had opened the door to the room they would be sharing. Kakashi offered a wave with his free hand, the other still holding the bag. Yugao silently stepped in behind him, her eyes scanning the room more out of habit than anything else.

She found Hayate remarkably quickly.

She was glad to see that he was still in bed resting, that he wasn't straining himself with trying to move any more than he already had. It gave her an immeasurable peace of mind.

"Did you bring anything good back?" Asuma stood near the open window, flicking the remains of his cigarette out upon Kakashi's return. The masked Jonin only rose the bag in his hand as his answer and Asuma closed the window. "I'll take that as a yes."

They didn't have a table but they did have a few of the hospital standing trays Kurenai had "borrowed" from the staff. Kakashi sat down on what should still be his bed and set the bag down on one of the trays, letting his back hit the sheets once he had done so.

"Well I'm exhausted." Kakashi closed his one visible eye. "I think I'll take a nap or something."

"Get up Kakashi." Kurenai bumped his leg with her knee as she walked past, her and Asuma using a third bed the Jonin had dragged over. "If anyone should be asleep, its Gai."

"I could never fall asleep at a time like this Kurenai!" Gai's smile was as wide as always, no real signs of the strain his body must have been under to use half of the Eight Gates, the exhaustion from his race across the village from his fight with some of Orochimaru's henchman to join the Third's battle against the Fourth Kazekage. "The joys of being around friends is more than enough to grant me boundless energy!"

"You've got enough to make up for the rest of us at least." Kakashi hadn't bothered to sit back up since laying back.

"Now is no time for sleep Kakashi!" Gai bounded over to him, one of no doubt several bottles of sake in one hand and a host of filled glasses balanced along his raised arm. "It is time for us to celebrate our victory!"

"Oh yeah. We did win." Kakashi did sit up and took one of the glasses off of Gai's arm. "Cheers." He laid back down and Gai only laughed. He threw his arm up and sent the other cups sailing through the air to both Kurenai and Asuma and where Yugao had sat down with Hayate.

"You act as cool as ever my rival." Gai raised his glass before downing it, the rest of the Shinobi in the room mirroring him and doing the same.

Now was the time to drink and relax among friends, to appreciate the fact that they were all still here, appreciate the fact that the village still stood.

In the same building of such a jovial gathering, on another floor, the room was tense.

Naruto had forgone his armor for this visit, choosing to take a moment to relax in plainclothes instead. He had only kept his sword on hand and a pair of Praetorians stood outside the doors. All others were needed in the village, were under the command of his Legate. He was joined by two others, his Praefectus Castrorum and the latest to see the power of his Orange Legion, the latest to see the certainty of his vast Uzumaki Empire.

Gaara of the Sand.

Across from him, seated actually, was the girl he had tried to kill a month ago during the Chunin Exams, Tenten Ken.

And with her stood her teammates. Rock Lee's presence in the room did not surprise him but his opponent's participation was unexpected but it was something he appreciated. He enjoyed the sight of it for it showed him that the actions of the Hyuga had not broken him, had not rendered him weak.

His strength remained an interest to a Caesar.

"I truly do wish that we had a better opportunity for this meeting." He relaxed in his seat, a simple wave of his hand and the armored form of his Praefectus Castrorum stepped up to his side, handed him a scroll. He had already broken the seal before offering it to Tenten. He could not help but agree with his Legate's thinking, with his choice on who to go to. "I understand you wish to do nothing more than to kill Gaara but I have brought him under my protection. He cannot die while I still have use of him. Regardless, you still have my vow to see you healed. I will allow nothing to stop me in that regard."

"All that means is he just can't die when I'm finally out of here? Good. That doesn't mean I can't take a hand. Maybe an eye. I think limitations like that will just push my creativity." Lee had been the one to get her scrolls to her, give her something to occupy her time with while the village recovered. Currently she was making use of it, a variety of her favorite weapons surrounding her at the moment. "I'll make sure to keep him breathing after I'm through with him."

"Ah. You're more creative than I once gave you credit for. I enjoy such a surprise as this." Naruto chuckled as Tenten set aside her weapons to open the scroll. "As you no doubt will know once you finish reading that, I and those of my Legion are in need of your services for our arms. The couriers my Legate sent will be entering shortly to discuss the specifics with you, I requested they spend some time outside with my Praetorians while I spoke with you. The two you saw outside with me will also be remaining, consider them the guards I can offer to you while my forces recover from the invasion." Naruto's hand clenched before he noticed it, before he forced his hand to relax.

The problem of his seal still vexed him, made his planned meeting with the leaders of his Legion all but impossible. He would postpone it for now while he worked out what was the problem.

"Of course, myself or my Legate if I am otherwise occupied, will come to speak with you again in the coming days to check in on such a project as this." Naruto rose from his seat and at last turned his red eyes to Lee and Neji. "Rock Lee, I have no doubt you will cause problems. I will only tell you to think of the consequences if you anger me with any of your actions." He turned his eyes to Neji and his grin returned, wider than ever. "Neji Hyuga, neither of us saw the end to the challenge I laid out to you earlier today. Fear not, we will clash again and we shall see who is stronger: Your decree of fate or my strength as Caesar."

He motioned for his Praefectus Castrorum to join him as he walked away from the bed. Tenten's eyes didn't leave Gaara as he followed after the self-proclaimed Caesar. The three left the room and Naruto returned the customary salute from the two Praetorians and Centurions outside the room as they snapped upright.

"Speak with her as long as you see fit." Naruto glanced to his arm once more before he tore his now blue eyes away, his use of the beast's Chakra concluded for now. "Supply both the Legate and myself with updates on any progress you make on my Legion's arms with Tenten."

He received affirmation from the two Centurions so he turned to his Praetorians.

"Remain nearby and do not let the door leave your sight, do not bar others from entry but report to the Legate and your Praefectus Castrorum all who enter and for how long they remain with her. Am I understood?" A Caesar appreciated the fire in the eyes of his Praetorians. "Good. You are dismissed to your posts then."

Naruto left the hospital with only the Praefectus Castrorum of his Praetorians at his side.

"I will speak with my Legate and have a number of my remaining Praetorians placed under your command for now. It will likely not measure up to a Century but the rest of the First Cohort will be back to the village sometime tomorrow from what they have last reported. All that remains of the Fifth and the rest of my Praetorians will fall under the authority of myself and the Legate while the command of the First will become yours."

"I will not disappoint you Caesar." The Praefectus Castrorum saluted his Caesar. Naruto returned the honor.

"I know you aspire to never."

The two continued walking, Naruto's destination the Uchiha District.

Away from the hospital, away from the festivities, and under guard a man merely waited.

He waited and cursed.

To any outside observer he did nothing. He remained in a cell befitting his status. He waited in nothing but a prison with an excess of amenities. He waited and he despised every moment of it, loathed every second that passed.

He nearly wished that the Third had sought to kill him instead of this indignity, to cut his head from his shoulders as a message to others that would seek to attack the Hidden Leaf.

But he hadn't.

He had only looked at him with those eyes. He hadn't filled his gaze with hate, with disgust, with loathing. No. The Third did no such thing because he knew what was so much worse for one's opponent. He had stared down at his defeated foe with something else. He had looked at him with the disappointment one might have as a teacher when faced with an underperforming pupil. His eyes had been ones of pity.

And he hated him for it.

The old man had not only beaten him but he had looked at him with those eyes.

It was enough to drive a lesser man to madness.

But he was not a lesser man. He was not some fool that would fly into a fury so soon after such a humiliating defeat. It was not his nature. He had carried the Hidden Sand through one great crisis and now he would carry it through another. He would act with a cool head, act for his village above all else as he had always done before.

He would see Suna prosper before he allowed himself to die, such a thing he was sure of. He would accept nothing less from himself, the man so many called a genius, a prodigy, a man that would lead Suna to a golden age.

Rasa was a patient and hardened man. One had to be such when living in a land as harsh as the Land of Wind with its scorching heat and punishing winds. Any others, ones that lacked patience, those that could not endure such hardships, did not last long in power. He would see this embarrassment through, see that his village benefitted in some way, anyway, with whatever concession he needed to make to the Third and his council, to Konoha, and he would see his Shinobi do the same.

The attack had failed and he had received the reports, the Third allowing Lady Chiyo to send a Shinobi with messages to a courier, one of the Third's ANBU Black Ops. He had seen the reports on the casualties, on the loss this attack had caused his village, and of Orochimaru's monstrous additions to the attack.

The words of the Third had rang true in the end. He had been played. The traitor had used him and his village to test his newest creations, the abilities of his Cursed Seals used by a maddened horde. Identification of the corpses was pointless but the Snake had gotten what he wanted out of all of this.

Notoriety.

Even if no one confirmed it, everyone who mattered now knew he was the power behind the new village of Otogakure. The Land of Sound was suddenly on the radar of many, the Shinobi of the Hidden Sound were now of interest to many, and Orochimaru's shadow cast over it would provide legitimacy. His power was undeniable and, even if the invasion had failed, he had still managed to field a force large enough to match that of the Hidden Sand. People, those that mattered, would follow whatever trail of crumbs he left.

And whatever his endgame was, it was clear to Rasa now that the Snake had one, he would move another step closer to it.

All on the back of Sunagakure, on the bodies of those who had given their lives because he had ordered it, and on his very pride as the Fourth Kazekage. And all because he had failed to see the truth in time because he had been blinded by a future of lies spun by a silver tongue.

So the Fourth Kazekage remained in Kikyo Castle, converted into a prison for both him and of his captured able bodied Shinobi. He waited and let his mind process the information he had learned, reflected on what he had done, and predicted the future of his village.

He sighed.

"What a fool I have been…"

AN: And now something on the Jonin (possible majority to Yugao) side of things concerning the fallout from the attack as well as Naruto taking Gaara to Tenten. Why? Who knows how this guy's mind works.

Also touched up on the good ol' not dead Fourth Kazekage. He seems to have figured out he's been played like a fiddle. Not even the expensive kind.