Chapter 35 – Relaying Message
"Talk"
'Think'
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.
Kazekage Office
Rasa was looking out of the window. He had just received the decoded message from the scroll and send Baki to call for Hatake Kakashi.
Then he felt an incoming chakra "Gaara?"
"Kazekage-sama" greeted Gaara.
Noting the formal tone, Rasa asked "What do you want, Gaara?"
"I'd like to ask your permission to follow the Konoha team back to Konoha and participated with their D-rank missions" asked Gaara.
"You want to do D-rank?" asked Rasa.
"Yes"
"You want to do chores?" pressed Rasa for clarification.
"Yes"
"Why?" asked Rasa, bewildered. He did not expect Gaara, off all people to want to do chores.
"That…sounds normal" said Gaara while looking down.
"I see" Rasa began to comprehend "I'll discuss this with Kakashi"
"Thank you, Kazekage-sama" said Gaara before he suna-shunshin off.
"You called, Kazekage-sama?" asked Kakashi.
"Yes, I've deciphered the message. What's your message?" asked Rasa.
"We've received intelligence that there is a group comprising of S-rank nukenins. Their objective remained unknown but they are led by a man with a Rinnegan" informed Kakashi.
"Rinnegan!" asked Rasa in disbelief "How valid is this report?"
"It's from Jiraiya-sama"
"If it's from Jiraiya…" Rasa did not want to believe it but while Jiraiya has many undesirable reputations, his information gathering was top notched "Why didn't you just write it in the scroll?"
"This information is known to four people only; Jiraiya-sama, Hokage-sama, me and now you"
"To prevent leakage, huh" said Rasa. His admiration to Shisui increased a little "So, why is Konoha willing to share this information?"
"Sunagakure is an ally to Konoha. If this group has bad intention, wouldn't it be better to fight with an ally than without? Also, Hokage-sama proposed an information gathering and exchanging pertaining known S-rank nukenins. It'll increase our chance of surviving if we fight them"
"How about the bounty?" asked Rasa.
"We just exchange information. If Suna killed the nukenin, the bounty goes to Suna, and vice versa. If it's a team alliance, then we split 50-50 unless the other team declined" explained Kakashi.
Kakashi had guessed Rasa's train of thought. With the information, Rasa can send his best shinobi to hunt the nukenin and claimed bounty. He had no problem with it and he knew, neither did Shisui.
"It's settled then" said Rasa.
"Hait" said Kakashi.
"Now I have a request. Gaara is asking permission to follow your team back to Konoha to do D-rank missions" said Rasa.
"Gaara, your son?"
"Yes"
"D-rank missions?"
"Yes"
"Chores?"
"Yes"
"… … …and you are okay with that?" asked a confused Kakashi.
"Gaara never asked for anything in his life except for this. As a father and a Kazekage, I feel compelled to allow it. Besides, being with those two has changed Gaara for the better" said Rasa and thought 'and me too'.
"This is unusual but I don't think I can make the final call" said Kakashi.
"I've send Takamaru to Konoha. You are welcome to stay longer while waiting for Hokage's response. In fact, I'm inviting you and your team to join us for breakfast tomorrow"
"We'll be there. Thank you Kazekage-sama" Kakashi said as he bowed.
The following day, people of Sunagakure was greeted with a sight of their demon and his siblings playing ninja with team from Konoha.
Gaara had used his ability and manipulated sand to form an incorrect miniature of Sunagakure that was half their heights. He, Noriko and Temari formed a team to defend the city while Kankurō, Naruto and Tenzō formed another team to attack the city. They agreed to use only toy shurikens and toy kunais as weapons and no jutsu.
Their game was fun and loud but more importantly, it boosted Gaara's image. Half of the kids forgot their fear as they watch him played and wished that they were part of the team too.
After Gaara and the rests had finished playing, they left the sand for the kids of Sunagakure to play, to their great delights.
"Thank you Gaara-sama" yelled one of them. This halted Gaara's movement and inadvertently, other people's too. They watched Gaara's reaction with bated breath.
Gaara turned, looked at the kid who yelled (who at this time, turned white) and nodded his head before turned back and resume walking. Everyone gave a sigh of relief and few of them began to re-examine their fear of Gaara.
Kazekage Office
"Kazekage-sama" greeted Gaara.
"Gaara. I've received Hokage's replied. You are given permission to join for three days. You will not be paid for your service. Moreover, you'll pay for your lodging which will be deducted from your account. Do you agree?" asked Rasa.
"Yes"
"Remember, even for D-rank missions, you represent Sunagakure no Sato. I trust that you'll do us proud" said Rasa.
Gaara looked at Rasa and nodded his head before he walked out of Kazekage's office.
End Chapter 35
Nukenin – Missing Nin
Suna-Shunshin – Sand Body Flicker