Chapter 18 – Trip to Sunagakure no Sato

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.

A/N: Thank you I-R-Stormzz for your comment and Arianna Le Fay for your support.

Sunagakure

"Kazekage-sama. Hokage-sama has arrived" announced Baki. Rasa nodded and stand up from his chair, preparing to meet his guests. As Shisui entered, Rasa's eyes scanned the new Hokage's delegation; a Hyūga (judging from the eyes), Hatake Kakashi, a young man with prominent eyebrows in green jumpsuit and two kids ('Huh?' thought Rasa).

"Hokage-dono" greeted Rasa

"Kazekage-dono" greeted Shisui "Allow me to introduce, this is Hyūga Hizashi, Hatake Kakashi, Maito Gai, my niece Noriko and my nephew Naruto.

Hizashi, Kakashi, Gai and Noriko gave Rasa a respectful bow and greet "Kazekage-sama" while Naruto grinned and said "Yo Kazekage-sama" followed by a nudged and a hissed of "be more respectful".

Rasa's mind was assessing the scene. It was unusual for a Kage to bring a kid for political negotiation, let alone two. Since this is first political discussion between Yondaime Kazekage and Godaime Hokage, most likely they'll go through existing agreements.

Bring the kids perhaps to reinforce the idea that Godaime Hokage comes for peace 'Unless it's a ruse' thought Rasa 'If it's a ruse, he will not bring his own niece and nephew. A ruthless man might, but reports surrounding Shisui indicated otherwise.

"Shall we started?" said Rasa.

"Sure but I hope you don't mind if they-" Shisui pointed towards Naruto and Noriko "walk around with their sitters?-" pointed towards Kakashi and Gai "This is their first time seeing deserts, and they are quite excited about it"

At Rasa agreement Naruto yelled "Yes! Come Noriko. I saw-" and he continued to chatter as he ran out of the office dragging Noriko.

Naruto was running around, dragging Noriko until he saw a red-haired boy and yelled "Hey you!"

The red-haired boy startled.

"I saw you doing some cool stuff with sand. Can you show me?" I've never saw sand this much, by the way, my name's Naruto, what's yours?"

The red-haired boy just stared at them.

"I think you scare him, Naruto" said Noriko.

"No I did not!" answered Naruto indignantly. He then waved his hand in front of the red-haired boy and said "Hello?"

The red-haired boy blinked a few time before answered "Gaara. My name is Gaara".

Naruto beamed "My name is Naruto, I've told you that before, and this is my sister, Noriko"

"Noriko" greeted Gaara.

"Hi Gaara" said Noriko, smiling "So, what's this sand thingy that Naruto talked about?"

…

"If it's a village secret, it's okay. You don't have to show us" said Noriko.

"No, it-it's my sand. It protects me, but sometimes it moves on its own" said Gaara.

"Protect you? Let me see" said Naruto before he punched Gaara.

Gaara sand risen and blocked Naruto's punch. Naruto eyes go round "That is awesome! See Noriko, I told you"

Noriko was looking at the interaction with interest "Can I try too, Gaara?"

Gaara was surprised. Normally people run from him. These two wants to test his sand?

"S-sure" answered Gaara.

Noriko stand in front of Gaara, looked at his apprehensive eyes and poked him gently. His sand raised.

"Wahhhh!" said Noriko in amazement "Can Naruto and I tried at the same time?"

"Sure?" replied Gaara hesitantly.

Both Naruto and Noriko aimed a kick at Gaara at different directions but were stopped by his sand.

"How about you close your eyes this time?"

"Okay"

Naruto's kick and Noriko's punched were blocked by Gaara's sand.

"Cool" both of them said.

"So what else can your sand do?" asked Noriko.

"I can retrieve something" answered Gaara.

"Really?" said Naruto with a grin. He leaned closed to Gaara and whispered something to him.

Gaara eyes turned wide "Are you sure?"

"Come on. It'll be fun" said Naruto, grinning widely.

Gaara nodded. His sand moved surreptitiously towards his (Naruto's) target, then "Oi!" shouted Kakashi followed by laughter from Naruto and Noriko.

"RUN GAARA!" yelled Naruto while laughing and running.

"Come Gaara-kun. He's crazy about his book" said Noriko while running after Naruto. Gaara wasted no time following them.

Kakashi pretended to run angrily. He had noticed the looks given to Gaara from the villagers. It took him little time to figure out that Gaara was the jinchūriki in Sunagakure 'I guess jinchūriki are being treated the same wherever they are' he thought. He did not mind that Naruto and Noriko interacted with Gaara, as long as no harm comes to them. He kept an eye on them while reading and had sensed the incoming sand but he allowed his book to be taken by the sand.

He cornered them in an alley, crunching his knuckles and said menacingly "So…what do you brats got to say about yourself-" when his instinct kicked in and he jumped to the nearby wall.

Gaara's sand had shoot out whereas both of Gaara's arms in front of Naruto and Noriko, as if he was defending them. Naruto and Noriko looked surprise.

The scene was observed by Rasa and Shisui.

"Gaara? Gaara never do that before" claimed Rasa.

"Does Gaara ever have a friend before?" asked Shisui.

Rasa was silent.

"I guess you just answered you question" said Shisui, quietly

"Gaara-sama!" yelled a brown-haired man.

"Yashamaru" answered Gaara. His sand dropped.

Yashamaru bent in front of Gaara, Naruto and Noriko "Are you alright?"

"We are. Yashamaru, this is Naruto and this is Noriko" said Gaara "Naruto, Noriko, this is my uncle, Yashamaru"

"Yashamaru-san" greeted Naruto and Noriko.

Yashamaru nodded and smiled before asking "What happened here"

"Oh, my sister and I was playing with Gaara's sand…" answered Naruto while Yashamaru was thinking 'they played with Gaara's sand?' "…so we run here and he looked like he want to punched us, then Gaara saved us" Naruto beamed at Gaara "Thank you Gaara"

"Yeah, thank you Gaara-kun" said Noriko with a smile.

Gaara blushed shyly. Yashamaru look at him and smiled 'Good for you, Gaara-sama' he thought before suggested to the kids "How about snacks?"

"Yes!" answered Naruto while Noriko responded politely "Yes, please"

Yashamaru turned to Kakashi who was still on the wall "You are welcome too, Jōnin-san"

That night

Rasa was standing on the roof, looking at the streets of Sunagakure and asked quietly "Have I failed Gaara, Karura?"

End Chapter 18

Omake

Kakashi was reading while keeping an eye on the kids while Gai was doing push-up on his fingertips when he had to excuse himself.

After answering nature's call, Gai went back to a deserted area

"Everyone?" Gai called out.

'How long was I in there' he asked himself as he stood bewildered.

A/N: to I-R-Stormzz, I think there are different council members, depending on the situation such as nominating new Hokage (including ANBU and jōnin commander), discussing serious issue (Team Tobirama + Danzō), general everyday mission and not so serious issue (Hokage only), as well as during 4th war (which include a lot of mothers). Hokage may have the final say, but in Danzō's case, he perceived Hiruzen as weak and unsuitable to be Hokage so he took certain matters in his hand such as Uchiha massacre which was not sanctioned by Sandaime Hokage.