Chapter Two: The Arrival of Vipers

He dreamt an old dream, or rather a nightmare. It was one that had plagued his slumber for as long as he could remember. As a boy it had terrified him, and even now as a grown man he still felt a certain unease when he experienced it.

There was a certain realism to it though, no matter how many times he experienced it. He often had to remind himself that it was indeed a dream, especially in the morning when he just broke free of it.

And it was always the same.

He stood alone on a beach, it was night and there was no moon in the sky, yet somehow everything was cast in shadows. The air was cold, not cold enough to see your breath, but enough to bring goosebumps to his flesh. The water, looking as black as ink, ebbed back and forth on the shore. But the worst part was the silence. There was no sound to the tides, no chirping of insects, or fluttering of gulls in the air. In truth, it was as if the entire world had suddenly become mute. He could not even hear his own heartbeat.

Earlier in his youth when he experienced this dream, he often thought he was dead rather than dreaming. Not because of how vivid the dream felt or even the eerie loneliness that was experienced in it. Instead, it was because being dead would have completely explained the hellish scene that came next.

From the darkness of the the ocean he watched as they emerged. They pulled themselves up from the water, like some undersea beast that had been hiding just beneath of the surface, yet not one of them were wet. They were entities in the shape of men but all of them cloaked in shadows; looking more like silhouettes than anything else. Their eyes were as red as blood and glowing as if lit by an internal fire. These shadow beings, more then he could count, dredged out from the dark waters and proceeded to claw their ways to the shore of the beach, as if the water was trying and failing to pull them back under.

Eventually the creatures would reach the beach and set their feet on the sand, yet with every step they took, no footprints could be seen. Despite what anyone seeing this would expect, they always moved past him, utterly ignoring him, and wandering towards some hills that separated the beach from the grass covered land beyond. They crawled like insects up the hill, silent and unseen. When the last of them had gone over the hill and disappeared from sight, he was swiftly bathed in light.

Not the light of dawn, but of an inferno.

Always it was so bright, like staring into a sun made of glowing swords just pulled out of the forge. It made him shield his eyes with his hands, and when he could see again, he found he was no longer standing on a beach but rather in the center of a burning village.

It was at this point all of the sound returned, yet the silence was preferable to this sound.

All around him he could hear the screams of women, the crying of children, and the shouting of men. Far away he could hear the ringing of bells in alarm and the clanging of metal against metal from swords.

The noise was deafening because it was all around him. No matter which direction he went he could not escape the inferno and no matter how many times he heard it, the screams always made him feel sick to his stomach. Not surprisingly, he could never see from whom these screams originated. If he focused hard he could make out vague blurs, but focusing too long made his head hurt.

He could always see the others though. The beings from the beach, still shrouded in darkness despite being bathed in light, were perfectly visible moved in all directions, like a well-organized pack of wolves on the hunt.

This was a nightmare of death and carnage. Every time he dreamed it there always seemed to be some kind of new horror to it and yet his mind seemed forbidden from getting a truly proper view of it. He could hear the screams of people inside a burning building while the shadow figures stood outside. He could see blurred images being hoisted up a tree by these shadows, struggling for a moment then becoming still. For a long time, he thought this was a battle…but he had come to realize this was a massacre filled with an inequivalent level of carnage.

Of course these horrors were nothing compared to what was about to come next; beginning with a bestial roar from behind him.

He would turn around to see something emerging from the fires, and unlike the others who were naught but shadows with the form of man, this one was fully visible. It was a creature that he had been terrified of since his childhood. The lower body was that of a man that bulged with muscles but the head was that of a bull. The horns were sharp as spears, his eyes as red as rubies soaked in blood.

This creature moved towards him and despite every nerve and thought screaming at him to run away, he never could. His feet were rooted to the ground and refused to budge.

This man-bull towered above him, saliva dripping from its mouth as it raised its fists high above his hands and then suddenly brought them crashing down. And all he could do in response was raise his arms to protect himself and scream out one single word; and yet he never understood why it was the only one he said.

"Mother!" And as the word passed through his lips, all the world went black.

Naruto sat up with a loud gasp, sweat dripping from his face. He placed a hand over his eyes, shielding them from the light of day shined through the open windows. He could hear the noises of the streets down below.

He took a few deep breaths to calm and steady himself. It was then he realized he was stark naked underneath a sheet and lying on a futon mattress. "What time is it?" He asked aloud.

His response was a dry chuckle from behind him, he looked over and saw a woman. This was an older woman, at least 10 years older than him. She was dressed only in a small silk kimono that did near to nothing to hide the generous figure of her tanned bronze body. Her hair was the color of starlight and her eyes like perfect cuts of amber.

This was Kasane, a high-class pleasure geisha of the House of Koi and this was her room. Currently she was eyeing Naruto with those piercing eyes of her and small smirk on her face as she sipped from a cup. "So, you finally woke up. I thought you were dead, I was just about to send for a priest so he might purify you."

Naruto shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "How long was I out? And what time is it?"

"Midday, or near enough that it might as well be. Either way you've been sleeping for ten hours, give or take."

Naruto tossed the sheet from his body and got off the futon, his clothes were in the corner, neatly folded. Kasane watched him, her eyes following his muscled frame, with a bored yet hungry look, like a cat playing with a mouse. "You came in late last night if you don't recall, driven by sake and lust. Whatever you were doing before that, I don't have a clue."

Naruto fumbled with his clothes, his face burning red with slight humiliation. He did remember, at least bits and pieces of it. It had been late in the evening; he had finished the last of the order at the Golden Forge for the day. Famished, he had gone off the food and drink stall, which had been overcrowded with visitors for the Tournament. He had three bowls of ramen and grilled fish, plus several bottles of sake to wash it down and…the rest became more a blur from that point on. He had a vague memory of stumbling around, not sure in which direction home was.

"And I called for you specifically when I came?" He said as he fastened on his pants.

"Oh I imagine you would have settled for any woman at that point; but who knows your needs better then I?" She said teasingly.

Naruto had met Kasane two years ago on his 16th birthday, the old man had brought him here so he might 'acquaint himself with the fairer sex' although he was pretty sure his father had only brought him here so he himself could partake and hadn't any better idea about where Naruto could be that day.

Kasane had been Naruto's first. She was older then he and more…experienced. However, one look at a woman of her beauty, such a factor was easily forgotten. He had been a nervous and idiotic fool back then when it came to love-making. But like a good geisha she had been patient and quickly schooled Naruto in the proper art of sex.

It had been an intense and draining night with her, but he learned much from it and enjoyed every single moment.

Occasionally he would return to her, when his body was hot with desire or his his mind dulled.

But he knew it was not wise to return often. For Kasane, she was like an orchid, beautiful in appearance yet still poisonous. Every time he left he felt as if she had taken a small piece of his soul.

Naruto pulled his top on over his head when Kasane spoke again. "So, what has you so worked up? Most men who come in here stinking of sake are pretty much announcing that they are deeply troubled."

"It is nothing that you would understand." Naruto said hastily.

Kasane smiled. "Oh, you would be surprised by the things I can understand. So why not tell me and see?"

Naruto hung his head for a moment in silence then turned as he answered so he could look her in the eyes. "The Tournament. I... I want to compete."

Kasane stared at Naruto with her amber eyes for a moment then started to laugh. "HAHAHA! You? A blacksmith? Worse, an Illborn blacksmith? Competing in the Grand Tournament? Next to members of the Imperial Family?" She continued to laugh and again Naruto's face burned with humiliation. "Next you'll want to be a shinobi."

"I could compete! I could even win! I am just as good as any of them!" It was true he was not a formal shinobi, but Jiraiya had trained him and Gaara in all of the necessary skills of a shinobi and more so even.

"If you really think the Tournament is about talent then you truly are a dumb blonde. This is not about who is better at swinging a sword, shooting a bow, or riding a horse. That's just what gives people something to look at. The tournament is at its core just a chance for nobles show off their colors and flaunt their heritage, and maybe if they're lucky or rich enough they could get a chance to stand in the shadows of the Imperial Clan. The Tournament is more of an advertisement than it is a talent show." She said in a matter-of-fact voice.

Naruto said nothing, his face as solid and cold as stone, so Kasane continued. "There is a way this world works, Naruto-kun. There are those who stay put in their proper place on the bottom, where they dig in the muck and scratch out a bearable living. Yet on occasion the people on the bottom will turn their faces up because they have dreams and aspirations that are above their station. At this point, the people who are on the top will put their feet in the faces of those on the bottom to remind them of their proper station."

She took another sip of her drink and set it down. "Your father is a man of great renown and importance; for that reason, you have a somewhat better life than most. But at the end of the day, you are still simply an Illborn, and because of that you are forever bound to a certain position, the shadows of the nobles. Your destiny is set, and the sooner you accept that… the happier you will be." She said this in a way that was neither cruel nor with any malice, but simply telling him what she herself had long ago accepted.

Naruto looked at Kasane for a long moment, his face very serious. "Our destiny is a road huh? With some forced to walk a well-kept path and others made to trudge on through the mud? Well, I refuse to accept that. I've never seen a road people can't step off of and go about making their own paths. Destiny to me is no different. It's what we make it, destiny is not set or impossible to escape."

He turned and headed to the door but stopped when Kasane had more to say. "I guess some lessons just have to be learned the hard way. By the way… you talk in your sleep. From what I could grasp of your babble, your dream must have been quiet a serious one. If you had kept on as you had before going quiet in the end, I'd be checking the sheets now."

Naruto was silent, his back turned away from Kasane. "What do you suppose was the meaning behind it?" She asked.

The blonde looked over his shoulder and said jokingly. "It means I should stay clear of the stuffed dragon peppers." With a laugh he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Kasane simply stood there, a small smile on her lips as she took another sip of her drink.

A grand assembly marched through the sands of the Land of Wind, their direction aimed towards Suna. But this was no ordinary assembly.

The Uchiha's imperial caravan was an impressive sight. The official party was made up of three hundred members. A hundred of them were shinobi, all blood members of the Uchiha; made up of distant cousins from the many branches of the family, they were either full jonin or genin serving as squires attending to the jonin. Some of the jonin also had a small group of chūnin with them as well, serving as guards or aids.

There were three ranks within the standard shinobi class. On the bottom was the genin or the serving apprentices. They were either fetching, serving, or watching their superiors in order to learn. Genin were not considered true shinobi, merely acolytes but with potential to become the real thing. Chunin meanwhile were those who had achieved shinobi status, but had yet to achieve any great deeds to distinguish themselves. However, chunin had the right to call themselves shinobi and serve as hatamoto, retainers to a liege lord. Jonin though, they were a step above chunin. They were those who had distinguished themselves with some great act or years of undeniable trust and were rewarded with the title of jonin. To become a jonin was a high and desirable honor.

And they were determined to let others know.

The Imperial Shinobi were an impressive sight, atop their horses and dressed in their finest armor. Some of them carried banners which bore the crest of the Uchiha clan which fluttered in the breeze. They each had a look of pride on their faces and an air of superiority.

The remaining two hundred individuals who made up the caravan were simply attendants that had been brought along to serve the whims of their lords. They were cooks, launderers, smithies, horse tenders, and so on. They walked, but they had horses and carts to carry their possession and the material they had been assigned to watch over.

Of course the numbers of imperial caravan did not include the number of various lords and peasants who had latched on to them during the journey. Various lords who sought to curry favor with their imperial overlords. Large groups of peasants simply hoped to earn a few slips of gold ryo.

Nor did these numbers did not include the scores of slaves that had been brought as well.

Slavery in the realm was widely looked down upon by the general population, and even among the elites it was only the most conservative and traditional of the lordly clans that continued to practice it. In the past, those who committed heinous crimes were often sentenced to slavery as punishment for their crime as opposed to death. Others, such as those who owed a debt to a clan, would sell themselves or even their whole families into slavery in order to pay off the debt.

When the Uchiha came into power, any clan who had not submitted to their rule and sworn fealty were stripped of their titles and lands, and in many cases even their clan name. Their heritage was stripped from them and they simply became collectively known as Nuhi. During the reign of Namikaze there had been much talk of finally abolishing the barbaric practice, but that talk died once the Uchiha came to power and so slavery persisted, some would even argue it had been expanding under their regime.

And the Nuhi who had been brought on this journey were the unfortunate souls who carried the imperial palanquin. It was a large litter, essentially a large rectangle 50 feet in length and 30 in width and was carried by seventy-five Nuhi.

The litter constructed entirely out of wood, its interior was designed much like an open-air gallery porch. Pieces of furniture like cushioned chairs and couches were there for the occupants to lie upon, including railed tables set with beverages, food, or scrolls and small books. There was a railing around the the entire palanquin to make sure that no one or nothing fell off. And at the four corners were four tall pillars which allowed for a cream colored sheet to provide the occupants with protection from the intense heat and sun of the Land of Wind.

And the current occupants of this litter was the Imperial Family itself. There were five of them together at the moment.

The first and more prominent of the group was Uchiha Fugaku, known as the Emperor of the Six Paths, Heir to the will of Hagoromo, Liege-Lord of all clans new and old, Guardian of the Realm, Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan and direct descendant of Ōtsutsuki Indra.

He certainly had the look of an Emperor, even sitting he was a tall and imposing man with a broad chest and shoulders. His hair was short and brown and reached to his shoulders. His eyes were onyx with visible creases below them that were made more pronounced whenever he adopted a stern look, which he often did.

Next to him was his wife, the Lady Uchiha Mikoto, Imperial Consort and Mother of the Heirs. She was a fair-skinned woman with long, straight black hair with her bangs hanging on either side of her face to roughly frame her cheeks and black eyes. She was often quiet and seen by her husband's side. At this moment she was gently pouring them both a cup of chai tea.

On the other side of the palanquin was Uchiha Itachi. As the eldest son of Fugaku, he bore the title First Prince of the Realm and Heir to the Chakra Throne. He was a composite of both his mother and father's traits. Like his father he had onyx eyes under which were long, pronounced tear-troughs. From his mother he had inherited her fair skin and jet-black hair which was pulled back in a low ponytail and his face was framed with center-parted bangs that extended to his chin. Even at the age of 21 he already possessed a reputation throughout the realm. Lordly nobles called him Itachi of the Sharingan, one of the finest shinobi ever, while peasants often called him Itachi the Crow, due to his dower and brooding nature.

Then there was Uchiha Sasuke, second son of Fugaku and Mikoto and therefore held the title Second Prince of the Realm. Sasuke was three years younger than his elder brother, though it is often said the two of them were near identical in their appearances. They shared their father's onyx eyes and their mother's fair skin and black hair, though Sasuke's was spikier, especially in the back, and also his hair possessed a slight a blue tint.

Itachi was looking over a scroll of poetry, though the distant look in his eyes suggested his mind was elsewhere and not the book. While Sasuke was looking off into the distance, a faint smile on his face, as he was slightly eager to participate in the Great Tournament.

The fifth member was Uchiha Yashiro, Fugaku's uncle. Yashiro was well into his 60s, his face was narrow and gaunt, his hair was the color of ash. Though he carried himself with a strong air and confidence. Because, although old, he is a seasoned warrior and a skilled tactician. He held the title of Gensui, Commander of the Armies. He was the head of the Uchiha forces which he dominated with a cool and ruthless efficiency.

"This place will have water right?" Sasuke asked, wiping some sweat off his forehead. As he walked over to the refreshment table and poured himself a healthy amount of lemon flavored water.

"People wouldn't live here if water wasn't accessible Sasuke." Itachi told his brother, gently closing the book.

Yashiro scoffed harshly. "I would not consider these Sand Snakes to be people. They are of an inferior culture and weak bloodline." The elder Uchiha said with distaste as he glared out and the empty sand covered lands. "Which is why I said before we started this trip that we should have held the tournament in Land of Fire. It is unfit that the Imperial family should travel out to the lands of their servants."

"As you say every year Uncle." Itachi said, his voice very calm, as if speaking to a child. "And every year it cannot be the case. For it would defeat the purpose of the Tournament, which is to encourage cultural exchange and meeting between the people of the realm. It would set a bad example if we held the tournament in one country every single year."

Yashiro narrowed his eyes slightly. "The purpose, with all respect my Prince, is to remind the people of the strength and power of the Uchiha Clan. That we are of the blood of the Ōtsutsuki. And that is through our rule that order is kept within the realm. Without our guidance the people would live in chaos."

"Do you think the people so low that they need a reminder every year?" Itachi tested, his eyes unwavering from his great-uncle. "Or is our clan so insecure that it needs to remind itself of this repeatedly?"

Yashiro glared at his great-nephew. "Mind your tongue boy. Prince or not, I've forgotten more about this world then you'll ever know. And I shan't be lectured by a green boy who has yet to earn his spurs."

"This is not a lecture Uncle, it is merely a conversation between family. And if you have forgotten so much, then how can we verify the quality of what you claim to remember?" Itachi replied, grinning lightly at the jesting with his relative who was clenching his fists.

"Itachi, Yashiro, please settle down. We're not here to do the fighting ourselves." Mikoto said, trying to pacify the group.

Reluctantly, Yashiro looked away. "The boy should mind the words of his elders."

"I'll mind it when I'm convinced it's worth minding. Not simply because it is spoken." Itachi added he then turned and bowed his head to his mother apologetically.

Mikoto sighed, seeing this was probably the best she'd get. She was a gentle woman and she hated to see discord and fighting amongst members of her own family.

Finally, Fugaku spoke. "Itachi, have you reconsidered about the tournament?" He tried to sound gentle, but to his son his voice was like the edge of a finely sharpened kunai.

Itachi looked at his father, staring at him for a moment before speaking. "My answer is still the same as it was last time Father. I do not wish to compete in the tournament."

"Why not? You would easily win." Fugaku argued. "Do you doubt your own skills?" For years Fugaku had made sure to have Itachi trained and prepared to one day lead the clan and empire, focusing especially on the arts of war and strategy.

"Not at all Father, in fact I am certain of my skills. So certain that I believe that by competing it would make the Grand Tournament rather boring. Which is why I suggested that Sasuke compete."

Sasuke gave a small smile and bowed to his father. "I promise I shall not disappoint you Father. I will bring honor to our clan by achieving victory in the place of Nii-san."

Fugaku regarded his second born with a type of cold affection. "See that you do. I will not settle for anything less than a total victory by the Uchiha clan in this Tournament." He then waved his hand, indicating he was done with the conversation.

Sasuke, although he did not show it, had a pained look in his eyes, he knew his father did not have the same level of confidence in his skills as he did with Itachi. To him, it sounded like his father was already disappointed, and he hadn't even started yet.

Mikoto wanted to sweep her youngest son into her arms, but she knew that would be improper at this time. So instead Sasuke returned to a sofa and sat in sullen silence and as Itachi stared off into the distance, Mikoto locked her eyes on him.

Both of her sons were good boys, but she knew it was hard for both of them. Fugaku was a strong willed and intimidating man who always demanded the absolute best from his sons. Anything less than perfect was inadequate. Itachi was trapped in the shadow of his father, and in turn Sasuke was trapped in his brother's shadow.

And although she loved both of her children equally, she did indeed share the sentiment with Fugaku that Itachi was everything one could have asked for in a son. He was dutiful, respectful, strong, and had a comforting personality. His one flaw if he had one, was that he had never accepted the clan's status quo. And to the Uchiha, this was a major flaw.

She knew that Itachi would one day ascend the steps of the Chakra Throne as the next Emperor of the Six-Paths, and she was certain he would be one the finest emperors the realm had ever seen. But she often worried if other members of the clan would think that as well.

Itachi never accepted anything as true simply because he was expected to. He never said anything just because it was what someone expected to hear. And he wasn't afraid to talk down to those with a title, even his father. Sure he'd go through the motions of princely nature to avoid unnecessary confrontation, but to Mikoto it looked like her son would have been happier had he been anything other than a prince.

The position had been forced upon him though. After the…change of power, the Uchiha had become the new imperial clan. Fugaku had become Emperor, Mikoto his consort, and their children princes. And while the rest of the family had slipped into their new roles, Itachi seemed unwilling to fully accept the mantle of First Prince and Heir.

This naturally made other Uchiha, including but not limited to Fugaku and Yashiro, quite unhappy with him. As proud as they were of his strength and accomplishments, they resented the fact that he behaved as if being an Uchiha was something they had to justify. Although, many Uchiha did feel a need to flaunt their pride, reminding all that their blood was one of the few that could be traced back to Hagoromo.

And yet, Itachi seemed the humblest of all of Uchiha clan; something that Fugaku frowned upon. Fugaku believed that humility was for the lesser clans and peasants, not for members of the Imperial clan. This might have been why Sasuke was always emulating his father, never once questioning or challenging the Uchiha way of life. For better or worse.

The imperial assembly continued to move forward towards their destination, while the slaves grunted under the weight of their masters.

"Okay here it comes." Naruto said as he kicked the ball. At the moment he and a bunch of the local young boys, ranging from 8-12, with him being the eldest one there, were playing a game of sand trap. Using a simple ball crafted from clay and wrapped in paper the object of the game was to try and kick the ball into a shallow pit dug into the sand. One team tried to kick the ball into it while the other team defended and tried to get the ball to kick into the other team's pit.

It was a very popular game amongst the children of the Land of Wind; although there were variations of the game throughout the realm. Gaara once mused that one day perhaps in the future the game might become popular enough that one day it might be included in the grand tournament.

The ball whizzed through the air, and young Tora, the boy who had come to warn Naruto when Gaara was being assaulted, jumped up and blocked it with his chest. The ball dropped to the ground and Tora kicked it to a member of his team.

Naruto smiled, he liked playing this game, it helped clear his mind and allowed him to focus and think. And what he was think about now was how he could compete in the grand-tournament.

The only way one could compete was if they were a member of a noble clan or a shinobi of rank, and like Kasane had pointed out, Naruto was neither. 'There has to be a way…something so simple that I am missing.'

As he thought two of the boys from opposing teams were fighting to try keep the ball from the other. However, they ended up tripping over their own feet and fell down into the sand, their bodies, already soaked from running around in the hot midday son, caused them to become caked in sand.

A few of the other children laughed and Naruto could not help chuckle lightly at the sight.

"You both look like mummies, I can't tell you apart." Tora joked.

And the moment he said that, the wheels within Naruto's head started to turn. He thought for a moment and then the answer to his problem hit him. "THAT'S IT!" He shouted with glee just before he ran back in the direction of the city.

"Naruto-san, where are you going?" Tora shouted, as it was unlike Naruto to just up and leave a game.

"To The Tournament!" The blonde called back over his shoulder, and was gone before the kids would ask more.

"Announcing his Imperial Majesty, Fugaku of the Uchiha Clan, Emperor of the Six-Paths, Guardian of the Realm, Liege-Lord of all clans new and old, Heir to the Will of Hagoromo, and direct descendent of Ōtsutsuki Indra." The herald announced as Fugaku descended from the Imperial litter.

Rasa and his two present children, Temari and Kankuro, as well as several dozen retainers bowed low and held the bow for a good 15 seconds, as was tradition before slowly rising again.

"Welcome Uchiha-dono, to my fair and humble home. Welcome to Sunagakure." Rasa greeted when the Imperial Family made their way to the sandstone gates.

"Hokari-sama." Fugaku greeted back, giving only the slightest nod of his head. "Thank you for receiving us."

"I am merely doing what any loyal vassal would do." Rasa said with a smile. "Please allow me to introduce my children. My daughter, Temari-" Rasa gestures to her and Temari in turn bows to the emperor and to the imperial family, paying special attention to the two princes as her father had instructed her. "And my eldest son and heir, Kankurō." Like his sister, he bowed too.

Yashiro leaned forward and whispered something softly into the ear of his nephew who nodded. "You have another son, don't you?" Fugaku said, though the tone of his voice suggested that he could care less.

Rasa gave a slight flinch, as if he had been hoping to avoid bringing up his third child, however he recovered quickly. "Yes, Gaara, my youngest. He is…unwell and unable to join us. He was born frail and is often ill." He then chose to change the subject "The whole of the city and all it has to offer is at your command, your majesty. Everything has been prepared for you."

"I would expect nothing less." Fugaku said "Now, I would like to see the tournament grounds. My son, Second Prince Sasuke will be competing."

Rasa bowed. "Of course your majesty. I have prepared palanquins for your family to take you directly to are newly built stadium." He gestured to a small fleet of ornate rickshaws, large enough for only one passenger each.

Fugaku walked towards them and his family followed close behind, when they were out of earshot Rasa gestured to one of his attendants. "Ride ahead to the stadium, make sure Gaara is not there and if he is send him off somewhere out of sight." The attendant nodded and then moved quickly to obey his lord.

It was then that Rasa put a smile back on and followed after the Imperial family, his children following behind him.

The Stadium of Suna was a grand design, it had only just been recently built. When Rasa had learned that the Land of Wind would be hosting the grand tournament that year he decided that he would host it in style. So dipping deep into the coffers of the Hokori clan, filled by the gold mines that were scattered throughout the Land of Wind he began construction of a massive stadium. Built entirely of red sandstone from a nearby quarry and done in the style of the ancient Rōran culture. He had worked the masons and craftsmen night and day until they had brought his vision to life.

At the top of the stadium, polls were attached with the flags bearing the Uchiha crest on top with a small flag bearing the crest of the Hokori clan underneath them, ringing around in a great circle.

The stadium had a race racing track, a range for archery, and melee ground for duels between shinobi to test their jutsu skills and martial abilities. With a seating section big enough to hold an audience of 25,000 people. Rasa had a special booth prepared for the arriving imperial family, making sure it was filled with all of the trappings and furnishings needed for their comforts, and Rasa had made sure to place his own booth adjacent to the Uchiha so that he might 'tend to their needs as their host'.

At least an hour before the designated time that the Imperial clan was scheduled to arrive, Gaara had been sent ahead by his father to 'oversee the final preparations' but he knew that his father really just wanted him out of sight while he greeted the Imperial family. Why have a third and disappointing child around when he had a beautiful daughter and more talented son to stand by him.

And although Rasa had not said it directly, he had hinted that Gaara should find other activities to engage in while the Uchiha were present. For Gaara this was not unordinary and he accepted it with a quiet dignity.

And, just as Gaara had already suspected, everything was already prepared and ready when had arrived at the Stadium. The crowds were already gathering for when the doors opened to allow them to enter, guards were in place to help keep order, the private booths were stocked with supplies, contenders in the tournament were preparing for the opening ceremony. A quick tour was enough to tell Gaara that everything was perfect.

He therefore did not see a reason to remain in the stadium, so he took the back entrance out and walked the streets of Suna, which were not partially deserted as so many were already at or had left for the stadium. Gaara had not intended to return to the palace of the Kazekage; he thought about going to the home of Jiraiya-sama, where he might spend the entirety of the Tournament amongst those who actually wanted him around.

However his trip was cut short as when Gaara nearly came crashing into Naruto as he rounded a corner, only a grinding halt and quick movement of the feet kept the two boys from colliding with each other.

"Gaara-san, just the guy I was looking for." Naruto said, breathing quickly as he had run all the way here.

"Naruto-nii, I thought you would be at home with your father?" Gaara said, shocked to see his friend.

"Nope, I've been thinking something over." He said.

"Such as?" Gaara asked, though he had been almost been afraid to ask.

Naruto gave no answer and kept looking at the stadium, a small smile on his face and a gleam in his eyes.

"Naruto?" Gaara asked again, not liking the silence.

"Gaara, if I asked you to help me do something others would call stupid-"

"Please Naruto, please tell me you're not seriously thinking what I fear you're thinking." Gaara said.

"It is and I am."

"Naruto, I will pay you, I will beg you on bent knees even, to pretend this thought never crossed your mind." The redhead claimed, and was very willing to make good on these words.

"You couldn't afford that price Gaara, besides begging doesn't suit you." Naruto stated with a grin. "So, are you willing to help me? Or you going to pretend you heard nothing?"

"I could instead stop you from doing this." Gaara offered.

"Would you?" Naruto said as he faced Gaara, the two of them locking eyes.

The two looked at each other, one confident while the other tried to be imposing. "Yes Naruto, I would. You know what my father would do if you were exposed, or what your father will do if he learns that you are even thinking this."

"Which is why I don't plan on being exposed."

"Naruto, let's say by some grave of the gods you succeed, even make it to the end of the tournament. How can you claim the prize without revealing who you are?"

"That's where you come in, if you're willing to help."

Gaara blinked, then sighed. "I know I'm going to regret this, but what is your grand scheme here Naruto-nii?"

Naruto simply continued to grin, as he placed an arm around Gaara's shoulder. "Do you have two sets of identical armor?" He asked casually.