So, on the agenda for today; the group from the leaf should be here any time now- They're running decently behind it seems. Gaara needs to revise these files by sundown so that everything can be prepped for action as soon as possible. The villagers from the west side of town have-
"Temari-chan!" A bubbly voice jarred the fan wielder from her thoughts.
Temari turned to see who was calling her as she set the papers onto the top of the Kazekage's pile of urgent documents. Bubble gum pink hair came bursting through the doors of the Kazekage's office.
"Oh hello, Sakura-san. I'd just been wondering about when your troop would be arriving." The sand sibling sauntered over to properly greet the kunoichi from the neighboring village.
No sooner than Temari had reached the chunin, Lee sprinted through the doors as well. An ear-to-ear grin threatened split his face in half as he made his way excitedly to join the pair.
"How wonderful to see you again! I assume all is well in your wondrous youth?" Lee bowed to Temari in a respectful manner before she sat down at her desk against the closest wall.
"I'm glad you're finally here. You've arrived a bit late. Was the journey eventful? Any troubles along the way that might concern the village?" Temari attempted to turn back to sorting paperwork but halted her actions quickly. Sakura and Lee had gone silent. She snapped her head up, instincts going into high gear. Both nin in front of her had become stiff and looked rather unsettled. Temari furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and waited patiently for some response to the question that she thought had been mostly harmless.
Lee spoke up answering the silent questions in her expression, "No, we encountered no issues along the way. We... merely had to depart belatedly, ma'am."
Temari looked to the two ninja in front of her with an obviously still confused expression. "What do you mean? Why the delay?"
"Well... we didn't have everyone so we couldn't leave at sunrise like we had arranged," Sakura fidgeted with her dress hem anxiously.
I just assumed Kakashi and Naruto were trailing or stuffing their faces or something of the sort. Now Temari was becoming quickly agitated. Her temper was not suited for things like this. They weren't being straight forward and she was becoming angry, rather swiftly. "You're hiding something! Tell me what it is this instant."
"Please do not be angered Temari-san! Sakura is just restless, as am I. We were waiting at the gates for Naruto's arrival but, he never appeared. Kakashi-sensei sent us on our way while he went to retrieve Naruto. They were supposed to catch up with us on the way here..." Lee pulled Sakura's shaking hand away from the edge of her dress and laced his fingers between hers.
Temari stared at them for a moment processing this new information, "So then, Naruto is not with you?" They shook their heads, "Nor is your sensei?" Again they confirmed the negative. Temari sighed heavily and fell back into her chair. "Is there anything else I should know?"
Sakura shuffled her feet and looked down at the red wood flooring. "Well…It's just that Naruto's been…um…"
Lee wrapped his other arm around her shoulders in reassurance. He turned to Temari when she opened her eyes and sat up once again.
"He's been what Sakura?" She tried to speak more calmly. Temari looked inquiringly at the now silent girl.
Sakura sighed finally meeting Temari's eyes. "He's been very depressed lately. Ever since Gaara's…death", she choked out the word, "he's become increasingly upset. His health is very worrisome as of late. Also, Sasuke's been appearing near the village again. He's become very, very paranoid. He was already acting really unsettled after the Akatsuki took Gaara and now... I'm a bit worried as to why he may be absent at such an unexpected time. It's not like him. With the events surrounding the circumstance I can't help but, worry."
Lee nodded his head in agreement, "It is very unlike Naruto-kun. We've all been worried about him lately. His liveliness seems to have withered."
Temari stared at the two chunin unsure of what to say from there. She quietly stacked her papers and rose from her desk. "I understand. Thank you two very much for the news. I assume you know where your quarters are located?"
Her guests nodded preparing to turn around and make their leave.
"Wait, we'll have a briefing of your mission when the others arrive or I'm given other orders, okay?" She addressed the pair.
Sakura turned around stopping Lee to respond. "Of course. Thank you for your time. You're going to go talk to Gaara-sama?"
Temari nodded, "Yes, I am. You too take it easy for a while. I know the trip is very exhausting and you two are probably more stressed than usual."
Lee turned around addressing Temari one last time, "You're right. We will relax and replenish our youthfulness! We appreciate your care and concern sweet Temari-san!" With that they turned back around hand-in-hand.
Temari sighed, dreading the unavoidable confrontation with her brother. Glancing over her desk she tidied up her papers some more and steeled her self to deal with this new problem. She made her way down the hall to grab Kankuro first.
A knock on the door shook Kankuro from his puppet work. Grumbling under his breath he went to answer the door. He was slightly shocked to find Temari standing at his threshold. "Uh... Yeah?" He questioned with one eyebrow raised.
"I need to go talk to Gaara about the Konoha ninjas' arrival. The lobby's empty and I need you to watch it for me. Can you do that Kanky?" She smiled sweetly at her sibling.
"Ugh, don't call me that Temari." She giggled at his reaction and looked at him pathetically.
"Please, please, please?"
"Fine! But, don't ask me any more favors. I was really busy you brat." Temari simply chuckled in response.
"So they're here finally, huh? I thought they'd get here a lot earlier than this. Oh well, shit happens I suppose. I'm sure Gaara will be happy Naruto's here, no matter how reluctant he is to admit it." Kankuro smiled and waited for some kind of humorous response but, received none. Confused, he looked to Temari and saw her face set in a grim expression.
"Naruto's not here. That's why I have to go speak to Gaara." She said morosely.
Kankuro's smile dropped and he became more serious. "Oh. That's probably important than. Go talk to Gaara but, make sure you fill me in later, okay? Now you've got me worried about the little guy." He said, solemnly at the end.
Temari allowed a small smile to grace her lips and nodded to her brother before heading down the hall in the opposite direction that he set off in. She walked down the halls and anxiously looked at the ground as she further approached the Kazekage's personal office. When she reached the door she didn't want to knock. Reluctantly she raised her hand to the cherry oak and knocked firmly three times.
A gruff voice responded, "It's open Temari."
She gently opened the door, feeling very uncomfortable about the interaction that was to take place. Clearing her throat she fully entered her younger brother's office.
"How did you know I was here?" She inquired looking across the room to her brother. He sat at his desk working furiously on paperwork that seemed to pile on for ages.
"Your chakra was easily detectable. When you're anxious or stressed I can tell when you're close." Gaara set down his pen and turned his aquamarine eyes up to his sister. He folded his hands and set his chin on top of them. "What's bothering you?"
Temari felt so odd having her brother act so caring towards her and their brother after their tense childhood. He was still almost cold to most everyone else. However, at times he was warm with them. She felt she didn't really deserve it because she'd ignored all the happenings in their house when they were younger. She'd just turned a blind eye to her little brother and it was wrong. She regretted in terribly now and-
"Temari?" Gaara snapped her back to reality.
"Forgive me, I was just thinking." She smiled at her brother, glad she had him now.
Gaara nodded in understanding and continued to stare at her expectantly. She cleared her throat again and walked over to his desk to inform him of the arrivals- minus some.
"Two ninjas from Konoha arrived moments ago." She watched amused as an almost unidentifiable look of joy flew across the redhead's face. She frowned inside when it quickly disappeared and was replaced by a look of unease and confusion.
"Two?" The Kazekage asked looking unhappy.
"Yes." Temari confirmed. "Only two."
Gaara swiveled his chair around and stood walking over to the window. "Tsunade informed me that she was sending over a team of four: three chunin and one Jounin. The plans have not changed." He turned his eyes to the blonde looking for an explanation.
She sighed heavily and sat in the chair in front of his desk. "Yes there were supposed to be four ninjas arriving today. Sakura and Lee have arrived and they informed me that neither their sensei nor Naruto are with them."
Gaara was becoming more and more upset with the situation. The old Gaara rushed back to the surface because of his uneasiness. "Temari. I want the truth and the whole truth." He turned around sharply stalking towards his sister who looked a little bit scared now.
"G-ga-gaara calm down, it's-"
"Temari!" Gaara screamed, "I need to know what is going on! Now."
All fear fled Temari's psyche when she began to clearly read the fear and concern in Gaara's voice. To anyone else his face would be emotionless but, she could read past that. His jaw was clenched ever so slightly and she could see the panic in his eyes. She placed her palm on his left forearm and talked soothingly to him.
"It's okay, Gaara. We don't know exactly what's going on yet. All we know is that Naruto didn't arrive at Konoha's gates when the group was supposed to leave. They waited for him and he didn't show. Sakura and Lee were both told to head out and Kakashi went to go find Naruto. He's supposed to be on his way with him. All we can do is wait." She looked patiently into Gaara's eyes as he tried to comprehend the situation and calm himself.
Gaara relaxed his body and looked sorrowfully down at his only sister. "I'm sorry I snapped at you; that was uncalled for."
Temari stood up and pulled Gaara into a hug ignoring how he flinched at her touch.
"I understand, Gaara. I know that you're probably very worried right now. Hell, I'm really worried right now. We just have to wait it out." She pulled away and looked into the ex-jinchuuriki's face. "Why don't you call it a day? You need some more rest as it is. I can handle the paperwork that needs finished tonight."
He gave a tiny smile to Temari and nodded. "Okay I will try, thank you sister. But first I'm going to send a message to Tsunade. I know it's probably pointless but it might make me feel better, regardless."
"Alright, that's a good idea." Temari hugged her brother once more before heading to the door. "Goodnight, little brother."
Temari giggled when Gaara just nodded at her and headed to his personal quarters. "And he's right back to his stoic self," she muttered in amusement to herself.
Forgive me, not much has happened. However, in the next chapter Naruto arrives and gets to see Gaara!
Preview:
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
"Call me Gaara!" The red head exclaimed furious.
"Yes, G-gaara." Naruto stuttered sounding unsure of himself.
Gaara's eyes softened, "Come here, Naruto."
Haha, you have to wait for the next chapter! Read and review!
*Chapter upgrade- Dec 3, 2020