Tip Of The Spear
Chapter 29
It took about twenty minutes for the strike team as well as Temari, Kankuro and the other Sand ninjas to return to the caravan camp. As they walked back Sakura and Temari made small talk aside from introducing Ino, the rest traveled in silence. Sakura had convinced Temari that it was better to stay with them than trek back to Suna as they would be at the village by early afternoon at the latest.
As soon as they entered their camp Naruto went to report to Jiraiya while Choji and Shikamaru arranged places for the Sand nins to set up camp. As that was happening Sakura dragged Temari into her and Naruto's tent. Sitting down across from the blond girl Sakura smiled,
"Sooo, what do you think about him now? Especially seeing him in action. He's interested you know, we've talked and agrees that he needs a wife for his father's clan in the village as well as the Senju."
Temari just blinked. She and Sakura had exchanged letters since they had met. Most of them were from Sakura telling her how much she would love her to be included into her and Naruto's family. Temari was interested in the future Hokage and had been since she first met the young man. Every time she received a letter from Sakura she'd talk to Kankuro about it and the few times she'd receive a letter from Naruto she would talk to both Kankuro and her youngest brother Gaara.
To most in Suna Gaara was the psychotic youngest child of their Kazekage. A boy with little to no emotions or empathy for others. To Temari her baby brother was misunderstood, he was shunned by nearly everyone but family and even then their uncle had tried to kill him as a young child. Gaara was also quiet and well read, reading was his only hobby as he really couldn't sleep, the daemon sealed inside him saw to that. He also loved his elder sister who mothered him as a young child so it was no surprise when he listened to and gave advice to Temari. It was because of him that Temari had decided to accept Sakura's suggestion that she date Naruto to decide if she was a good fit for the family. So as she blinked one more time she cleared her mind and answered Sakura's question,
"S..S...Senju? I thought that Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya were still young enough to have children, aren't they?"
"Well, they are but they've decided that they're only able to produce one heir, two if they have twins. With that in mind since Naruto is her grandson she asked him to ensure that the Senju line is continued."
"So, I would be the matriarch of the Senju?"
"Well, yes, after grandmother passes but that won't be for a while. Hopefully she can produce a male heir that we can marry off to one of the Uzumaki before that happens. You, I hate to say, are meant to be the shield between Konoha and Suna. Your marriage to Naruto-kun is how the villages are going to keep from trying to kill each other. That's why I want to make sure that you marry into our family for the right reasons."
"The right reasons..."
"You know, love, happiness and that sense of feeling protected in his arms," Sakura explained with a dream like smile.
"Protected, I saw you in action tonight Sakura, you don't appear to me to need protection."
"Temari, Naruto-kun and I've seen and experienced things that you could never fathom. Should you accept Naruto-kun and become his loving wife I promise you'll learn all of our secrets."
Meanwhile Kankuro had followed the blond teen as he entered a tent. Naruto looked at two boys a few years younger than him, "Kono, Udon, set up the prick*, long wire. We need to make a report."
Both boys nodded and scrambled to their task. In less than five minutes Kankuro was staring as a collection of boxes, wires, a two handled hand crank and a...kite? Hearing a girl shouting he turned to see a petite and lithe looking blond girl kicking the crap out of what appeared to be a member of the Nara clan.
"Okay, okay Ino-chan, I'm up. Troublesome woman."
"What was that Shikamaru? Just start turning that thing so Naruto-kun can send his report."
"Yeah, yeah. Kono, give me a hand with this yeah?"
Kankuro then sat and watched as he saw Naruto plop his self in front of the black faced dark green boxes as the Nara began turning the crank. Naruto then turned a switch to a setting reading 'CW' and began to tap on a small button. All he heard were a series of clicks and clacks that was answered with a series of long and short sounding beeps. This exchange lasted for about five minutes with members of the strike team handing Naruto sheets of paper that he then read all the while hitting that button like there was no tomorrow. Finally it was all over and Kankuro was just wondering what had happened.
Seeing the look on his face Naruto chuckled a bit before walking towards the black clothed man, "Sorry but they're things that we needed to take care of before we settled down. Boys, keep the kite up for now, pull it in just after the morning report. Konohamaru, take first watch."
"Sure dad/boss," both boys replied and set to their tasks.
Kankuro just stared at the two boys, "Dad?" he muttered.
"Long story, Sakura-chan and I adopted them and a girl their age. All of them were orphans like me, and well, they kind of grew on us. I need to talk to my grandfather before I turn in, you're welcome to join me."
"Huh? Sure, look, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, doesn't mean that I'll answer though but ask away."
"My sister and your...wife have been exchanging letters for some time now, you know that right?" Naruto just nodded his head so Kankuro continued, "Well I want to know how you feel about my sister."
Naruto sighed as he motioned for the two of them to sit down on the sand, "To tell you the truth I don't honestly know. I mean I've only seen her once in person but what I know of her is this. She's pretty, I can't get her eyes and her looks out of my mind. She's got a wit and sharp tongue on her and she's not afraid to use both if the mood or situation calls for it. I also know that she's as unsure of her feelings about being asked to be a sacrifice for the good of the village as I am."
"But you like her don't you?"
"Yes, I'm not going to lie, I would love to see if we share the same feelings and if so I would love to add her to our family. I'm sure that Sakura has been campaigning my good points but I want your sister to follow her heart. If there's someone in Suna that sh..."
"There isn't," Kankuro interrupted, "I'm sure you know of our little brother's...instability. Between him and her being the daughter of the Kazekage means that few guys our age have the guts to court her. As it is I fear Gaara isn't going to like you, he's not that much into sharing Temari with anyone but father and me."
"Your brother shares the same burden as I do, he's the jailer of the Shukaku, the one tailed beast isn't he?"
"H...how did you know?"
"As you may know, I have my sources, but it is true is it not? That's one of the reasons that I'm meeting your father, according to my informants your brother doesn't sleep only meditates. That's not good, the mind needs sleep to function properly and twelve to thirteen years without REM sleep is fatal to all but people like your brother and I.
"My grandfather and I think the root of his problems are connected to the seal that contains the one tail. We plan on fixing that seal, with or without your father's permission."
Before Kankuro could respond Naruto had made several clones and handed one his equipment and ordered the others to do the same with the rest of the assault teams gear. Turning to were the others were camp Naruto called over his shoulder, "You coming? We've set up some more tents for you and your team."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, coming. Say, where's my sister staying anyway?"
"Oh, Temari? I suppose Sakura-chan's convinced her to stay with us."
"But..."
Naruto just laughed, "Don't worry Kankuro, Sakura-chan won't let me lat a finger on your sister, not until we get to know each other first," with that he began talking to his grandfather.
Kankuro just looked at where the blond had stood, "It's not her I'm worried about." Shrugging his shoulders Kankuro kept quiet and listened to the hushed conversation.
/
Kiba yawned as the morning sun entered his eyes. As he tried to move he felt a weight on his chest, "Hinata, you spent the night worrying about me again?"
The dark blue haired girl stirred at the sound of his voice, "Kiba-kun, sorry, I just wanted to stay with you. Are you feeling well?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling lots better, I...Hinata, I'm getting bored sitting in bed looking at four walls. I was wondering if we could see the village after breakfast?"
"Yeah, Sora and Akamaru would like that too. We can..."
"Excuse me Lady Hinata, your father would like to talk to you and Master Inuzuka as soon as you two can," one of the branch members said as she interrupted the young couple.
"I see, thank you, please tell father that we'll be there shortly."
"As you wish my lady," with a bow the servant was gone.
Several minutes later the pair found themselves in Hiashi Hyuga's office. As they sat in front of his desk the tranquil peace was slowly giving away to a rising tension and apprehension from both Kiba and Hinata. Kiba kept a level gaze at his girlfriend's father as the man sat and filled out some paperwork.
Eventually he finished up and slid the sheet towards the Inuzuka clan heir but kept his eyes on his daughter. Slowly, due to his injury, Kiba leaned forward and picked the slip up. As he read it his eyes grew wider and he began to sweat,
Hiashi-san, this..."
"Is a marriage certificate, yes," hearing that Hinata gasped in surprise causing her father to display a small smile, "Seeing my daughter sleep in a chair by your side these past few days made me realize a couple of things.
The first is that she must be awfully uncomfortable waking up with her head on your chest that way every morning. And two, If she has her way I'll be a grandfather before she's a bride."
"Fa...father, I...eeppp!" Hinata was blushing as Kiba placed his hand on her shoulder surprising her and causing her to blush bright red.
"Babe, it's okay, really," turning to Hiashi he smiled, "When will this take effect? I mean Hinata is wanting a traditional wedding and...well, I...I mean my mother and sister were looking forward to something like that too."
The elder Hyuga laughed, "Well, the certificate will take effect when you two sign it and Lady Tsunade places her stamp and files it. The wedding can still be held when the Uzumaki couple, Hanabi and the rest of your friends return from their trip."
"But father...it's too soon for the wedding!"
"Hinata my dear, you're too much like your mother for your own good," Hiashi said as he smiled at his daughter, "once she set her eyes on something she got it, it's how I ended up marrying her. My child, seeing you dote on Kiba made me realize something..."
"S...s..something father?"
"Yes, it was only a matter of time before you and he were caught by someone, most likely your sister, having wild sex. I don't need to remind you about how she gets around Konoh...Hinata, Hinata?"
Hiashi looked over his desk to find his eldest daughter passed out cold with a blush, smile and nose bleed. Kiba himself was red faced at what his future father in law had said and was trying to get the thoughts of what he and Hinata had been doing during their last deployment. As he did he looked at Hiashi, the man pointed to the certificate,
"Just sign that and when she comes to have her sign it and take it to the Hokage tower before it closes." With that the elder stood and walked out of the room. As he slid the door closed he started to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud. The look on Hinata's face was priceless.
/
Kakashi sighed as he read his book as he sat in front of the memorial stone. Even though Naruto had talked to him about his visits and putting the past behind him he still made time for visits. He would come out on days like today like today as it was his day off. Once a week he would come and tell his old team what was going on. Right now he was bored.
Since that talk with Ayame about training together he'd been spending more and more of his time with her. He found that she was good company and was not a bad chunin koinichi. In fact she packed as vicious a punch as either Sakura and Tsunade. Since she'd been spending time with him he'd neglected to visit his comrades. At the moment he was bored since Ayame was on a mission to set up a relay in Tanzuka Town. So here he sat in front of the stone reading a book and enjoying the quiet.
After a few more minutes he closed the book and turned to the monument and spoke, "Well guys, it's been a while. Things have been really different since Naruto returned."
Pausing for a moment he rubbed one of the names, "Sensie, a few months ago I adopted Naruto, the council blocked my applications that I put in but in the end I was allowed by the Hokage Koho. You know, I met your chakra construct, it's like you're with us but it's not the same. I know you're gone but at least I can pretend when Naruto let's him out."
"I'm told that you put some Kushina's chakra in that seal as well. I...I don't know what to tell her when she finds out how Naruto and Sakura-chan were treated before the fox, Kurama, took them away from here. Frankly, I'm afraid of her. If the clone your son puts her in is half as bad as she was before...well, you know, I hope that it counts so she doesn't kick my ass after I'm dead."
Kakashi paused once again before he pulled out a bottle of sake, taking a a long pull from the bottle he looked at the next name on the stone, "Rin, I always knew how you felt about me but I was too busy trying to stick to the rules and and keeping that stick up my ass. I'm sorry that I never told you how I felt but...well..."
Taking another pull he continued, "I met someone, you'd like her. She's a little younger than I was planning but she's a strong woman. She's smart too, she was a genin before she quit, medical retirement, but Naruto-kun talked her into returning to duty. Part time at least, as I said, she's smart. Naruto brought in some new things. One of them is a long range radio and Ayame, that's her name, she learned the new system fast enough to be not only a supervisor but an instructor as well, she's on a mission to train some new operators in another town."
"Anyway Rin, I like her a lot. I promise that I'll return her feelings for me. I won't treat her like I did you, you didn't deserve how I acted but...well, Obito loved you from the start. I felt that he deserved to be happy with you. I still do so if you see him in the pure lands give him a chance."
For a while Kakashi stayed silent and drank from the bottle. The sun was high and it was getting warmer. The sake was making the jonin-sensie a little sleepy. He was about to take another drink but decided against it, he had one last person to talk to,
"Well, Obito, always the best for last. Your cousin Sasuke had a child a few days ago. Her name is Hatsuko and is a little doll. You'd like her, her parent's friends all love her but there's a little problem. You remember that Orochimaru betrayed the village, well, Danzo did the same thing. The problem is your cousin is afraid that one or both will do something to her so Sasuke's closest friends took it on themselves to protect her and any other children from their class that comes along."
"I'll tell you about your cousin, after Itachi slaughtered everyone in the compound that day the boy just shut down emotionally. He went through the motions but he wasn't living. All he wanted to do was kill his brother out of revenge. He still does but now it's not out of vengeance but out of love. Naruto gave him the real report of that day, Sasuke says that when the time comes he'll put his brother down because if Itachi ever realizes what he'd done it would destroy him."
"Anyway, after Naruto and Sakura returned something happened, in a good way that is. After the massacre was over and done with Lord Third offered him counseling, the boy refused. For almost five years he refused but... well Sakura said something to him that got through.
The kid started slow but he's made friends over time, heh, he even got a cute girl and well, they've had a baby. Anyway, I made a promise to you to pass on what I know about your eye. When Sasuke withdrew into himself I felt I failed you, now that he's got a kid and girl he's coming into his own. In a few months he'll be clan head, the other's are backing him. We thought that there'd be a power struggle but the older members have all put their faith in the young man."
Taking a final swig Kakashi placed his hand on the cold stone, "Naruto made me promise not to come out here too much, said I shouldn't bother you everyday. I guess he was right, so, if it's alright with you sensei, Rin, Obito, I'll just visit once a week or two. Take care you all, I...miss you."
With that Kakashi poured the rest of the booze on the grass in front of the stone. It wasn't much but it was enough to satisfy the spirits of his team.
/
The genin of team nine joined Shino, Sai, Sasuke, Ami and Hatsuko in Tsunade's office. Neji asked them to show up since Hinata was so nervous about getting married to Kiba. Neji had come a long way from how he used to feel about his cousin. She had proved her mental strength during the SERE exercise, withstanding nearly thirty-six hours of interrogation after helping her team evade capture for the previous fifty-two had shown him she was stronger than she looked or acted.
It was during the time that she had been by his side during their last mission that sealed his faith in her. Her mental collapse when Kiba had been wounded was, to him, a reasonable exception. He understood emotions but the Hyuga, like the Uchiha, were trained to keep their emotions in check. Lately though, he understood that times were changing, even the once brooding Sasuke Uchiha was smiling more and showing a gentle side of himself since he started dating his fiancée and became a father. Hinata, he found out, was the same. She had found a person to be happy with and grew stronger because of that person.
Now, his cousin that he saw as a little sister was standing with the man she was in love with. To Neji and the rest of the clan it was a huge sigh of relief since she had harbored a crush on Naruto that started after he and Sakura had rescued her from a kidnapping some time before they had went into 'exile'. For years she hoped and wished 'her' Naruto-kun would return and by the time he did Hinata was just starting to get attached to Kiba. It was a good thing too, it seemed that some time during their absence he and Sakura had got married.
Neji remembered how he scoffed at Hinata's distress when she found out that fact about the Uzumaki heir. At that time he still harbored a dislike for his cousin, the wound of losing his father was still too fresh and his uncle had kept putting off the real story of his father's death so Neji blamed his cousin for getting kidnapped and Kumo raising the specter of war if the one that killed their 'peace envoy' wasn't brought to justice. Neji grew up believing that his father had been ordered to sacrifice himself to save his uncle, but it was his father's love for his brother that drove the man to take such action. It wasn't until after that almost week in the forest of death that he was told of his father's actions and was given his final letter to his son.
While Neji may have resented his cousin he still protected and looked out for her. When the clan elders were discovered planning their coup against his uncle Neji was willing to ensure the safety of both Hinata and Hanabi. Maybe it too was out of love but Neji would always say he didn't know why he did and would always protect those two girls. Hinata always called him 'big brother' and would hug him at least twice a day. Even Hanabi would smile and sit with him in the gardens after the evening meal. Neji would swear in his later years that it was their love for him that wore him down.
But, that was in the past. Today he was watching his little sister bloom into a beautiful young woman that was loved by a man that looked a little wild and was loud and brash, just like his clan's dogs. But that mattered little to him and those present, all that mattered to them was the big smile Hinata had on her face as she kissed Kiba for the first time as his wife. Tsunade offered a toast from her sake that was always stashed in her desk. The happy couple drank a saucer each but no more. Neji had plans for the wedding dinner and a drunk Kiba was never a good thing.
It was near sun down that the party entered one of the Akamichi restaurants in which they were whisked into the party room in the back. While there were more than a few out on Naruto's mission the rest more than made up for that. Choji's clan had made sure that there was no shortage of food or drink. While Hinata had her hands full with her new husband, Tenten had it worse with Lee. Despite him knowing the effects that alcohol had on him he still insisted on sharing a toast to youth with the newlyweds. The pictures that were taken of this were good for blackmail use for years. There was even one of Tenten beating her boyfriend into submission after he challenged the groom to a friendly spar.
In the end the happy couple was escorted to the Hyuga clan estate. It was to Hinata's surprise that both houses of the clan greeted her and Kiba on their return. Surprisingly Hinata and her wedding party were led to a formerly unoccupied house near the center of the compound by the house she grew up in. Confused Neji led her and Kiba to the front where they found her father with a smile on his face. Kissing his daughter on the forehead he nodded to Neji who opened the door. Turning to Kiba the man placed a hand on his shoulder,
"Congratulations you two, daughter, this is your house now. Yours and your husbands, I ask you to accept this gift from a foolish old man, besides, it your birthright."
"Birthright father?"
"Yes my daughter, this house was the one your mother and I first had, the one you were born in. Kiba, how is your wound doing, any pain?"
"No sir, I feel as strong as ever, why?"
"It's simple really, the tradition is that a man carries his bride over the threshold of their house upon the first time they enter as husband and wife."
"I see, I never heard of that before, thank you."
"No problem, oh there's one other tradition to follow," Hiashi said with an even bigger smile, "the happy couple is to remain in their wedding bed for the next three days. Don't worry about your meals, I'm sure your cousins will be happy to bring your breakfast and dinners. I'll make sure they'll bring food to ensure that both of you keep up your stamina. After all, I'm sure that it's time for me to be a grandfather."
With that Hiashi turned and left Kiba holding a passed out Hinata, his bride once again sporting a deep blush and a nose bleed.
/
As the sun rose it painted the desert in shades of pink and rose. It was a sight that Naruto loved, the colors reminded him of his beloved Sakura-chan. As it was he had awoke in his and Sakura's tent but forgot about their guest sleeping in the bag nearby. Temari stirred at the noise Naruto had made getting out of bed. Looking over to the man that she, if things worked out, would soon marry she blushed the same color of the sand outside.
It seemed that Naruto was in the habit of sleeping in the nude along with Sakura, who had remembered their guest and had worn a sports bra and panties to bed. Naruto however forgot and as he rose from his shared bed he gave Temari a sight that she'd not soon forget. As he stood in profile near the young woman he not only gave her a silhouette of his honed body but his body's natural reaction to his seeing his wife sleeping next to him.
Temari gasped in surprise and shock awakening Sakura who saw what her guest saw and began yelling at her husband, "Naruto you hentai baka!" SLAP!
Outside the kids were laughing at the misfortune of their adopted father. It seems that the guy could never catch a break from Sakura. Either she reacted to something he did that was not his fault or...he said something that triggered her. This time they were betting that it was something that Sakura took out of context. Off to the side Kankuro was looking a little bewildered at the goings on in Naruto's tent. Seeing Jiraiya he asked the man, "Does this kind of thing happen all the time?"
"No," the Sanin replied, "only when Naruto forgets about his morning wood."
With a laugh the elder man walked off leaving Kankuro to shake his head in disbelief. Soon after Naruto come out and began pounding out, on the what he now knew as a telegraph key, his morning check in message and then ordered his team to break camp. As the caravan began to make ready for Suna, Naruto began ordering his troops to their stations around the caravan to boost security. After yesterday's raid he was taking no chances.
The caravan entered the gates of the Village Hidden in the Sand shortly before fifteen hundred hours. The genin were shown to their quarters and the diplomatic mission was taken to meet with the Fourth Kazekage. Rasa No Sabaku was an impressive man, tall and dusky skinned from years of exposure to the sun and winds of his homeland. His eyes were the same as Kankuro's dark in color, almost black. His hair was auburn that was lightened somewhat by the same sun and wind that weathered his flesh.
Sakura looked at the man and was impressed. While older he was still handsome in a rugged way and while she loved Naruto deeply she appreciated a good looking man. To night she would show her husband that appreciation ten fold, but that was later. Fighting a small blush she bowed low in respect to the man and Naruto held his hand out in greeting. This was his mission and he would see the Kazekage as an equal in this endeavor. Lady Chiyo was warmly received by Rasa as was Hiruzen. Jiraiya was also given the respect that was due him by Rasa as the introductions were continued.
Shikamaru was petrified, it had been a stressful two days and it wasn't going to let up it seemed. His presence was required as he was tapped to be one of Naruto's advisors, a task he felt he wasn't cut out for. Naruto however didn't agree. He felt that Shikamaru was going to be perfect for the job once he grew up and took things seriously. As for now he decided that he'd keep quiet for the time being.
As the introductions wound down the door to the Kazekage's office opened and a small boy, about a year or two younger than Naruto entered. He had the same hair as Rasa and Temari's eyes. The two most striking features he had though were the dark rings around his eyes making him resemble the beast he held inside of himself and the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead. On his back supported ny a single strap was a large sand filled gourd.
What made Naruto stare at him however was the massive amount of killing intent. Shikamaru was sweating and looking ready to pass out and Sakura was looking at the newcomer with narrowed eyes, her hand moving to the storage seal that both she and Naruto had tattooed on her left forearm ready to pull out her pistol if the threat she felt turned on Naruto.
Said ninja noticed her movement out of the corner of his eye. Lightly touching her hand he minutely shook his head no, the threat would pass. As he looked at her she could feel the oppressive atmosphere lift the moment the Kazekage spoke,
"Gaara? What brings you here? I thought you said that you had no interest in weak diplomats."
"Mo...mother is calling me, tells me that someone is here that can hurt me, kill me. I need to end their life so I can validate my existence."
"I see, and who is that person?"
"There are three, two male and one female, mother is sure of it. Mother says they want to kill me, but I'm to kill them first!" the small boy yelled.
Turning around to look at the guests his father was receiving his eyes widened in shock and surprise. Before anyone could react sand began to swirl out of the gourd on his back and quickly surrounded Sakura. Naruto stood with his mouth agape as the realization set in that the boy meant to kill her. Before he could say a word his eyes changed from blue to slitted red and for the first time in his life Kurama's red chakra began to spill out of him taking the form of a two tailed fox cloak.
Time stood still as Naruto race to stop the little psychopath, "NO!" was shouted as he grabbed Gaara's hands breaking the seal for the sand coffin technique. Just as that happened a cloud of the same red chakra burst from the cocoon of sand surrounding Sakura throwing the sand it was made from in all directions. As if it had a mind of it's own the sand rapidly retracted into the gourd with just a few tendrils waving ineffectually in the air. By now Naruto had Gaara in his grip and was about to gut him with one swipe of his now clawed hands.
As his right arm was raised for the killing blow it was covered by a softer and smaller one. Still in her own one tailed cloak Sakura gently pulled Naruto's arm down as she rested her head on his shoulders, "No Naruto-kun, don't. I'm okay, see? Besides, look at him, he's just a scared child."
Looking at the cowering boy in front of him Naruto dropped his arm and wrapped his arms around Gaara and let a tear roll down his face, "No, look at him Hime, he's more than a scared child. Sakura-chan, look at him, he's what I could've become."
Sakura swallowed dryly as she too embraced the boy and told him he was okay, no one would ever hurt him again. That they would help him deal with his 'mother' and her rantings. At hearing that he began to struggle but Naruto held him tighter and leaned towards his ear. Eyes turning red once more he let Kurama take over trusting his 'uncle' to calm the boy down.
Kurama smirked as he whispered into Gaara's ear, "So little sister, you got sealed too. How low the mighty have fallen," at that Gaara thrashed a bit but he was held fast by Naruto and Sakura, "Uh, uh, Shikaku, big brother is here with friends, friends that will help you and your host."
"No, humans aren't friends, they shun us, hurt us, try to kill us," Gaara's voice rasped, "Brother, I'm scared don't let them hurt my host anymore."
"Then you need to stop telling him to kill everyone he meets. Our hosts are meant for greatness not to be mindless killing machines, did you forget what Father told us before he passed? He foresaw all of this and even told us that we had to protect and guide them. Sister, war is coming, and it's going to change the world as we know it, we need you to guide this boy, if not he's as good as dead right now."
"The seal, I don't think it's working correctly. I can talk to him but it's like my thoughts are corrupted, I've tried to be kind but it never works out, Big Brother, I'm, scared."
"Shh little one, we'll help. Naruto and Sakura are not going to hurt him nor will they ever turn their backs on him."
"Why? Why would they care about my host? We did try to kill the girl and he almost killed us. So why do they care so much?"
"Because your host is what the boy could've become if that girl didn't love him. I admit that I was to filled with hate when I was sealed into my first two hosts but...seeing and feeling the hatred sent the kit's way and him not giving up and then having that pink haired girl come into our lives changed me. I think it was for the better. But we'll talk about that later, you both have had a busy day," as Kurama spoke these words Naruto's fingers began to glow a soft purple as his and the boy's chakra mixed. As he touched the glowing finger tips to Gaara's forehead he whispered softly into Gaara's ear, "now sleep little ones. When you wake I promise that you'll both feel better."
With a poke Gaara's body went limp. As he slumped out of Naruto and Sakura's grip Temari and Kankuro rushed in to catch him before he hit the ground. As Naruto stood Temari rounded on him with her baby brother in her arms, "What did you do to him? He's not waking up! What did you do to my brother!"
"Kurama put him and the one tail to sleep. Don't worry, none of us will hurt Gaara, after all, the nine tails' little sister is sealed in your brother. He's as much our family as he is yours. He's mine and Sakura-chan's brother through our link with Kurama, the Kyubi No Kitsune, Chief of the Tailed Beasts. Take him to his room please, my grandfather and I will be in later to inspect his seal. Something went wrong with it and it needs to be fixed. Should Shikaku escape she'll kill your brother. A host that has a beast sealed in them for more than a month or so becomes dependent on that creatures chakra. Remove that chakra all at once and the host goes into a sort of drug withdrawal except in this case instead of being sick for a few days said host dies an agonizing death.
"That's not going to happen, I'll make sure of it, Temari-chan," hearing Naruto's words comforted the girl as she looked at her sleeping brother.
Sleep, that's something she hadn't seen her little brother do in years. Meditate? Yes, Gaara could do that for hours on end, same with reading but in the past ten years she'd never seen him actually sleep. Not since the one tail had gotten strong enough to take control of his body should he lose consciousness. Lifting him up Temari looked into Kankuro's eyes and then with a slight bow to her father took her brother and left.
Naruto held Sakura for support as he swayed a bit. His wife wasn't doing much better as they had never once had that happen to them before. Somehow they had accessed Kurama's chakra to defend themselves and others and while tiring it, to Naruto, was exhilarating. When under the influence of that chakra he felt faster, stronger and more aware of everything around him. He looked at Sakura as he realized that she too had used something that is normally denied a human. He sighed as he realized that their lives just got more complicated if judging the looks of Rasa and his family were anything to go by.
Right now he wanted to lay down and wait out the headache that was already starting to form. Sakura looked just as bad so he made his mind up, turning to face the Kazekage he bowed,
"I beg your pardon Lord Rasa but this recent...event has taken a toll on my wife and I. May we be shown our quarters now? I think that we should let things calm down over night."
The Kazekage just nodded his head as he considered the teen and his request, "Yes, I suppose that would be the best course of action. A team of my genin are standing by to escort you to your rooms. I shall see you in the morning then?"
"Yes, Kazekage-dono, might I trouble the cook to ask that breakfast style ramen be served?"
"The cooks will be informed, you may go now but I have need to speak with your elders. Baki! See that that Uzumaki-sama and his wife are taken to their quarters."
Naruto bowed once more and turned to leave. As he took a step forward his vision swam before going black. The last thing he knew was that he was on the floor and Sakura had collapsed onto his back.
A/N:
This is being released on 0001 hrs 30/MAY/18. This date has significance to me as it's my 58th birthday. I'm going to spend it with my family and eat a good Basque meal for which Bakersfield is famous for. I'm going to make my wife drive because they have some of the best red wine I ever tasted so I'm going to get toasted.
Tip Of The Spear will updated in the next month or two. I know that this is a shorter chapter than usual but after writing a couple more pages from where I eventually cut the chapter off I found the impact of meeting Gaara for the first time ended up being watered down. I hope you like what I did with Shukaku.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Tip Of The Spear; Untold Stories. It's a collection of one shots of things in the main story that didn't make the cut. The first real chapter explains how Sakura and Naruto lost their child in the other world. The second, well the second ties into the last couple of chapters. Please give it a try but don't expect fast updates. I'm trying to come up with a good story about Sasuke and the joys of being a new dad. I think the last few years with my wife and I more or less raising our two youngest grandsons have something to do with that. I need to inflict changing diapers on a kid as well as them teething and dealing with temper tantrums. I figure the guy is as good a target as any, hey, at least I'm not bashing him or making him a complete dick. Written the right way he's an interesting character and he's still a perfect foil for Naruto.
I hope that you enjoyed this chapter's look into the lives of the other main characters in the story. One of the things I didn't get to was Shikamaru's trying to deal with the aftermath of his actions in the last chapter. He always struck me as someone more resistant to killing than Naruto. Oh sure in canon he did his duty and even took some pleasure avenging his sensei but in this story he's lead a more sheltered life. He father was too lazy to talk to him about the darker aspects of ninja life and Shika couldn't be bothered about at least asking how his old man dealt with his first kills. Yes, I know that he was part of the execution squad but then he knew exactly why the persons in front of him were condemned to death but he still hadn't faced the mindless, and I use that word reluctantly since I feel it insults my family members that did take lives in combat, killing and violence of a combat action. Basically he still needs to grow up and earn back the trust of his friends and leader that he lost in the Forest of Death. Even Konohamaru feels that the teen is lacking and that's by design. Naruto in this story can't be the one against killing as he is in canon.
Yes, he dislikes taking a life needlessly as does Sakura but because of his position of Hokage in training they no longer have that luxury as being completely against killing would send the message that he was a weak leader. No, Shikamaru has to be the one that grew up blissfully unaware of the dark side. He knows that it exists but his father and teachers in the civilian run academy reinforced that ignorance. Now he has to deal with confronting this side of being a ninja on his own with only Ino and Choji to talk to. And there's the problem, Ino, while being his girlfriend, lost her trust and faith in Shika when he allowed her and the others to be captured. At the moment I don't know if this is going to be resolved off screen, in the next chapter (which is going to another busy one jumping from group to group) or in it's own one shot in the Untold Stories folder. I just wanted you all to be aware that I didn't forget about him and his leanring to cope with killing in cold blood like the others. I think the one thing that will bother him id the look Konohamaru gave him in the last chapter and how the kid was able to do his job without a thought.
Lat thing, a few years ago I read a Sakura time travel one shot. I forgot the title and that's the problem, I want to read it again. Not for ideas but just to enjoy it. The gist of it is this, a pink haired ANBU of Jonin, can't remember what she was ranked, appears during the original time line's Chunin exam and kills a missing or otherwise extremely dangerous person as per her orders. As she completes her mission she reports her success to her Hokage, a very confused Naruto. If anyone knows the story could you please give me the name? I really enjoyed it the first time around.