Third Person POV ~

Next Day ~

Naruto had woken up early like everyday and had gone to gym for working out and practicing his Katas. He was on his third Kata when Kakashi entered the gym. Not entirely surprised by each others presence in early morning at the empty gym, they nodded to each other and muttered a soft "Morning" in greeting.

After a satisfying workout they both decided to do a light spar. That's how Sai and Yamato found the duo, kicking punching and dodging.

A greeting was muttered. By mutual consent, they took turns in sparing one another.

"Where's Sakura-chan?"

"Still sleeping, she is not an early riser."

"Ah."

They shrugged, it was fine. Everyone had their own timing for workout and she was a perfectly fit and capable Kunoichi. She would work on her own time. None of them had planned for meeting in morning anyway, it was a surprise they were present almost at the same time.

Satisfied with their morning sweat, the men retreated to their rooms. They had asked Sai to wake Sakura up and to meet the others in an hour downstairs.

An hour later the squad of freshly cleaned and dressed Konoha ninjas were lurking in the streets, looking for a restaurant or café. They had decided they'd go out today for breakfast and lunch and would return to their inn for dinner.

Sakura had adorned a cute red mock neck short sleeve top, paired with white thigh length skirt. She had set her weapon pouch around her waist belt. Usual ninja sandals. Her Hitai-ate like always was worn like a headband.

Sai had worn a dark grey 3/4th length T-shirt and his usual black ANBU pants. He was carrying his tanto like usual and his weapons were also kept in the same fashion. His Hitai-ate like always was on his forehead and same ninja sandals.

Yamato was dressed like usual just not his Jounin vest and instead of his usual blue shirt, he was wearing a dark brown one.

Kakashi was the one with no change in clothes apart from the lack of his vest.

Naruto was wearing a full sleeve white button up shirt whose sleeves he had folded till elbows. Paired up with dark grey joggers. His usual ninja sandals. He had worn an orange colored finger less glove on his right hand. He had his Hitai-ate around his neck and weapons in usual places. Hair in usual low ponytail.

All in all the group from Konoha was looking really good.

They found a small café around the third corner in which they had a satisfying breakfast. They roamed in the market enjoying their self proclaimed 'well deserved' vacation.

"Oi Sai, I think I heard someone talk about an art gallery. Wanna go tteba?" Naruto asked.

"Yes of course." Sai answered, for once real spark of excitement in his monotonous voice. No one had cared to ask him where he would like to go. He felt warmth in his stomach by such a small gesture. Maybe Dickless did genuinely want to spend time with him.

"You guys comin'?" Naruto asked the remaining members of the group.

"Maa I'll lurk around more. You two continue." Kakashi answered shrugging, eye firmly set on his book.

"Me too." Yamato shrugged.

"I'll pass, there were these plants used for poisons I saw which are not available in Konoha that I want to get." Sakura said excited.

Naruto smiled at her. It was nice seeing her in a good mood.

"Okay then let's meet here in 2 hours." Naruto stated, getting a nod of affirmation from everyone, Sai and he walked away in the direction Naruto had heard of the gallery.

The gallery was plain colored with a scheme of beige and brown. Naruto observed how Sai was taking in every art piece and sculpture eagerly, it was refreshing to see Sai show real emotions. He wished he could bring out more of them but was satisfied for now. One little step at a time.

They had spent almost 1 and half an hour in the gallery. Sai bought one handmade painted mug, both boys bought set of handmade brushes and imported special made ink from Kumo.

"Why buy such expensive ink dickless?" Sai inquired.

Naruto eye rolled at the nickname, "Fuinjutsu."

"I see." Sai nodded.

"I saw a bookstore on the way. Let's check it out." Naruto said cheerfully.

They both reached the bookstore and separated their way in it.

After spending almost more than half an hour they exited the store.

Sai had bought yet another book on social adaptation, also a book of title 'Guide To Understand A Girl' and 'How To Be A Good Friend'. Naruto had bought a love story (after hearing his parents tale he had been interested in love stories he found them cute and they were good read when he just wanted to relax or refresh), 'Icha Icha High School' that would not be available in Konoha for another 2 months and a few history books on Suna and bloodlines. Neither commented on others choice and hurried to the meeting point.

When Naruto and Sai arrived at the meeting point, only Sakura was there looking pleased. Seeing the duo she had smiled and waved. The three of them waited for their superiors, knowing for sure that Kakashi will be late and if... if Yamato-Taichou was with Kakashi-Sensei the wood user was bound to be late like their silver head Sensei.

And indeed they were correct, the two superiors reached the meeting point half an hour past the meeting time. Yamato was nervously trying to scold Kakashi and Kakashi was dismissing it all easily, in fact it looked like he wasn't even listening. Then Sakura proceeded to scold them, "You both are late!"

"Maa Tenzou here was busy eyeballing something that caught his interest and I was supporting him like a good friend I am."

"Oi senpai! Don't go spewing such lies!"

"Hmm?" Kakashi smirked.

Seeing the wood user blush and stutter Naruto and Sakura made eye contact and smirked.

"Mmhmm.." They replied in a sing song voice simultaneously. Yamato blushed more and they both laughed while Kakashi chuckled.

They all started moving in search for a restaurant to have lunch, they were done for today and like any sane Shinobi they wanted to spend most of their time sleeping now that they were on vacation.

After their lunch when the squad was walking back to their hotel leisurely they were interrupted by someone, "Uzumaki-Sama?"

The squad turned back towards the man who had called Naruto, Naruto scrunched up face adorably "Maa please drop the 'Sama'. How can I help you tteba?"

"Uzumaki-Sam-"

"Uzumaki-San."

"Uzumaki-San, Kazekage-Sama awaits your arrival. I'm here to escort you to his office."

"I see."

He turned towards his team and scratched the back of his neck, "Looks like I gotta go. I'll see y'all later ttebayo."

The team nodded and continued their way back, Naruto and the escort walked towards the tower.

"Naruto." Gaara greeted as soon as Naruto sat on the chair in front of the Kage's table.

"Gaara. Thank you for taking out your time. I hope it wasn't much trouble dattebayo." Naruto replied. He observed there were no guards, not even Temari and Kankuro, and he could faintly sense the silence barrier.

"It wasn't. Do you want my help with something?" Never one to run around the bush, Gaara questioned.

"Well, sorta. I need your assistance really. I want to see your seal."

A slight frown settled on Gaara's usual stoic voice, he didn't like talks about his seal but it was Naruto and Naruto was like him and he had no reason to deny the sunshine blonde. He nodded and calmly removed his Kage robe, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt and Naruto looked down at his lap to give him some sort of privacy.

"Naruto." Gaara called and Naruto looked up to see a pale chest. Naruto waited for Gaara to channel his chakra, he was expecting a seal on stomach like his but winced when he saw the placement on Gaara. It was located on the heart. Naruto walked closer and bent forward to see the seal details totally missing the blush that rushed to the Kazekage's face. Out of nowhere, the blonde whipped out an empty scroll and inked brush and drew the seal perfectly on it.

He walked back to his place in thought which gave Gaara some time to compose and dress himself again.

"Can I meet your biju?" He suddenly questioned.

"Why?" Gaara rose an eyebrow that wasn't there.

"I just want to talk to him."

"I am... not sure if I should let you do that."

Gaara cut off before Naruto could say anything, "But tell me how do I do it?"

Naruto smiled at him, "You have to balance your conscious and semi-conscious body at the same time, when you feel yourself in the seal pull my chakra from my hand you will be holding."

Gaara nodded thoughtfully. Naruto offered a hand to Gaara which was grasped firmly, Naruto missed the faint blush again, the redhead closed his eyes and after a minute Naruto could feel a tug of chakra and he too closed his eyes. When he blinked open his eyes, Naruto and Gaara both were standing in a very dimly lit place where they could hardly make their surroundings out but they could clearly see the one they had come to meet.

Shukaku of the sand.

He screamed at them in his high pitched voice, Gaara watched him and Naruto impassively with folded arms while Naruto frowned.

"What do you want intruder!"

"Saa no need to shout, Ichibi no Shukaku. I wanted to ask if you had any problem with the seal. Is it comfortable?"

Gaara's invisible eyebrows creased, this was a surprise alright even Shukaku faltered in his screeching.

"Is this a new way to insult someone as great as I!?"

"No. I am genuinely curious. I saw the placement and the seal itself. And I must say it is a disaster. The seal, I suspect, is not just giving Gaara pain but also you. So ttebayo..."

"Whatever you want do knowing if it pains or not! I don't want to stay in a seal altogether!"

"Do you wish to be sealed within a new object or human? Gaara has come in peace with you, can't you do the same ttebayo?"

"I don't want to! I want bloodshed! I need blood!"

"So, you're the punk of the nine eh?" Naruto muttered then mimicked the sand biju in a high pitched voice with a funny face, "'I want bloodshed! I need blood!'"

"You! How dare you! I will kill you!"

"I dare you to lay a finger on my jinchuriki, Ichibi." came a grave voice in a calm tone. The term, one tail, sounded like an insult.

Gaara and Shukaku's eyes widened in fear, but for different reasons. Shukaku because the voice was of the one he hated, and secretly feared, the most and look now, he's being ordered again! Gaara because he could feel the malice and power from the unknown voice which shouldn't have been in his mind in the first place. Both were slightly trembling whereas Naruto scratched the back of his neck bored, "Maa Kyuu, I was doing fine on my own."

"Heh. I just wanted a reunion with my brother. It has been long huh, Shukaku." The heavy voice said lazily but Naruto could feel the smirk in the voice.

"You.. You!! What are you doing here!? This is my place! How dare you come in!?" The sand demon screeched slightly panicked.

"Oh? Forgot to respect I see." Gaara could finally see the figure of the voice and he gulped as he trembled more. In came the massive body of Nine Tailed Demon.

"Stop bullying him Kurama." Naruto intoned lightly rolling his eyes.

"Che." Kurama smirked looking at the Ichibi and his host, loving the scent of fear.

"Does the seal hurt you?" Naruto questioned again.

Shukaku stubbornly looked away, he didn't have to answer a mere ningen.

"Answer him." Kurama ordered.

Shukaku sulked, "Hmm."

Naruto sighed, "It itches and when you aren't staying connected with Gaara, it hurts your body and you feel unbearable heat, am I correct ttebayo?"

Gaara and Shukaku's eyes widened.

"H-how do you know!?" Shukaku questioned and Gaara whipped his head in his biju's direction. Why didn't he know of this? Why was his seal defective in the first place?

"What else do you know about the seal Naruto?" Gaara questioned monotonously.

"First, tell me when was Shukaku sealed in you?" Naruto questioned with a slight frown.

Gaara clenched his teeth as he remembered, "When I was in the womb of Haha-ue."

"She couldn't bear the pain and pressure and died at childbirth huh?" Naruto questioned more like stated in a sad tone.

"What?" Gaara whispered unbelievingly.

"The seal. Your mother could've been alive after giving birth to you, had they not made this haste decision of sealing Shukaku when you were just in her womb. Not to mention the seal is one of the shittiest seals I have ever seen. Had they called a proper seal master. Tch." Naruto stated all while pacing, a furious expression beginning to overcome on his usual happy face. "How many suffered because of this?! You two are still suffering because of it! Dammit how can someone be this careless with lives?! Does no one have value of any fucking life anymore? This fucking seal is made to make you loose control and constantly pester the goddamn biju! How dare they insult a biju!? How dare they ruin your life dattebayo!?" The blonde was heaving by the end of his rant, face red and azure blue eyes turned into ice blue with slits.

Shukaku's eyes were wide and mouth slack jawed, the boy was bothered for him. Kurama made eye contact with Shukaku and his eyes said it all the sand demon needed to know. The boy was genuinely worried for him, he didn't say all that just for saying.

Gaara was so lost. Was his mother's death not his fault then?

Naruto sighed heavily and flopped down, he felt like crying. Gaara had to go through so many hardships since the beginning from his birth. Why? Why were people so selfish? Does being a Kage mean that they completely forget that who they were sacrificing was a human and not a tool they expected them to be.

"Why are we treated like tools tteba? Why are the bijus treated like they're weapons? Is power that important? Is power above love? Is power above the lives we are supposed to save instead end up killing ttebayo? If these 9 biju are mass of destruction ...then... then what are we? Aren't we all Shinobi, all humans monsters dattebayo?" Naruto questioned himself softly as two drop of tears fell from his eyes.

Kurama had unconsciously linked all the biju minds together and they all heard Naruto. To say they were surprised and shocked would be an understatement. Nobody uttered a word.

Naruto wiped his tears and stood up with a bright grin as if nothing happened. The two Suna residents eyes widened and they bowed slightly before him unconsciously and Kurama smirked, his kit was strong alright.

"Let's go out then Gaara. You rest Shukaku, I'll do something about the seal if Gaara allows me. Take rest Kurama, I'll call you if I need you."

Shukaku and Kurama's gaze met again and they nodded to each other. For once bidding farewell civilly. Naruto threw a bright grin at Shukaku and waved bye as he and his Kazekage friend left the redhead's mindscape and Kurama vanished too.

The jinchuriki duo returned back in the real world. They sat in silence for a while and then unsurprisingly Naruto broke the silence, "Will you allow me to change your seal Gaara?"

"Can you?" Gaara questioned with slight hope.

"Hai. I think I am at a level where I can seal up-to Sanbi." The blonde answered all business like.

"I trust you and I would say yes but I have to talk to a few people before I give my answer." The redhead stated in monotone.

"Of course. Let me know when you are ready. Try to keep this information to minimum people though Gaara, we aren't sure of the Akatsuki yet dattebayo. And now that I'm on that topic I wanted to talk about this as well." The jinchuriki of Kyuubi said scratching his nonexistent beard.

"What is it?" Gaara rose a nonexistent eyebrow.

Seriously what was with them and their nonexistent parts.

"I am going out of village for a year or so to travel around." Naruto said scratching the back of his neck.

"Why? When? Is your village giving you trouble?" The jinchuriki of Ichibi frowned.

"No, nothing like that. It's just that we have some time before Akatsuki makes their move again and there are a few things I want to do tteba."

"I see. When will be you going?"

"A week or so after going back to the village. This mission is most probably my last mission outside the village before I leave. Though Baa-chan hasn't confirmed my permission to leave yet but I need this ttebayo."

"Hmm."

"I'll drop by the replacement of seal tomorrow morning and then you ask your Fuinjutsu experts for advice and see if you are fine with it."

"Alright. It's evening already, you should go. I'll give you my answer soon."

"Cool. Uh Gaara can you remind Temari-nee-chan to meet me sometime tomorrow or they after tomorrow. I need help with my training."

"Sure."

"Alright then, ja ne Gaara."

Gaara nodded.

Naruto left towards his inn room leaving behind a thoughtful Kage. When the guards filled in their spots again he commanded, "Notify Lady Chiyo for a private meeting later in the afternoon tomorrow." and one of the guards saluted and left the office.

Naruto arrived at his and Kakashi's room and collapsed on his bed with a groan. Kakashi looked up from his book to glace at him.

"How was your meeting?" He asked casually.

"Good actually. Might have to go tomorrow again but I'm done for the day."

"Hmm."

"Do you have anything to eat? I'm really hungry."

"No."

"Wanna go out and eat something?"

"No."

"C'mon."

"Don't wanna."

"Come along Kaka-chan."

"Wha? What did you call me?"

"Kaka-chan. Come on now, I don't wanna go alone."

"Not my problem. Go by yourself."

"Pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaaassssssseeeee." *puppy dog eyes at max*

"Fine you damn brat." 'How is that not an S-rank jutsu I would never understand.'

"Yay! Kaka-chan is the sweetest!"

"Stop calling me that."

"Mou, pity. Sounds cute."

"Whatever, just don't."

"Alright." *overly sad exaggerated dramatic sigh* "Kaka-chan."

They both were out of their room, one grinning brightly and other grumbling lightly.

Ichibi no Shukaku - One tailed Shukaku