I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I tried for humor in this one. And as I've mentioned in the last chapter I've been threated if I don't update often so I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. I can tell you that it will have Sakura in it but I'm not sure about Sasuke and Naruto.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Ch. 8: Becoming Kazekage

It was almost two years after Naruto and Sasuke both left with their senseis to train. No one was really worried. They were with the strongest ninja in the world. They would both be just fine. They had heard from their friends in Konoha though. The village was as prosperous as it had always been. Sakura was doing just fine. In fact she wanted to come and visit them soon. Shikamaru and Ino seemed to be getting closer though they denied having any feelings for each other. Neji and Tenten had finally gotten together. The news from all her friends made Kaoru happy.

Kaoru was now 14 but her birthday was coming up in a month. She spent a lot of time at the hospital because her training was almost complete. The girl was now one of the best medical nins in Suna. She was also still the only medic that would treat Gaara. He had gradually become more accepted but people still feared and respected his power. That was alright. They were no longer so afraid that they ran every time they saw him or cringed when he spoke. There were several, especially among the older generation, that still hated him but most of the younger ninja admired him. Gaara had even developed a fanclub of girls much to Kaoru's annoyance.

Kaoru sighed as she walked out of one of the hospital rooms. She was carrying a bundle in her arms. The girl felt depressed as she looked down at the bundle. Sometimes even with medical ninjutsu you couldn't save them all. Gaara was walking down the hall and saw her. He had been looking for her because Temari said the medic had missed lunch. When he saw his friend he paused. She had changed a little in the last two years. The medic was a chunin now. She wore a light blue dress like Temari's black one and had a white sash around her waist. Her thick dark hair reached her waist though she still had it in the same style she had always used. The two locks of hair framing her face were shorter than the rest of her hair and only reached her shoulders. Her crimson eyes were older and even more understanding than they had been back then. They also contained a bit of sadness in them right then as she looked at the bundle of blankets in her arms.

"Kaoru?" he called to her.

She looked up at him and smiled. It still amazed him that she smiled at him so easily. Maybe one day he would get use to it. Her tone was light when she said hello to him. "How are you Gaara-kun?"

"Fine. Why are you sad?"

Kaoru was just about to respond when a new voice entered the conversation, "How is he, Kaoru?"

"He's alright, Yuri-sensei. Just hungry."

"We'll have to find a home for him. He can't stay here anymore. I'll get to work on that. Meanwhile can you take him?" Yuri asked. Her blue eyes were looking at the little boy with pity.

"Sure. Between me and my grandmother we should be able to take care of him."

"Good. Give him a name and go home. You look tired," Yuri ordered as she walked away.

Kaoru turned back to Gaara who had his eyebrow raised in silent question. She answered, "A woman went into labor a few months ago. She's been sick for the last few weeks of her pregnancy and we were afraid she would lose the baby. Instead we lost her. The baby is fine but his clan doesn't want him. Apparently they weren't happy that his mother got pregnant out of wedlock."

"Poor kid," Gaara commented.

Kaoru nodded in agreement, "It's alright though. Yuri said she'd find a home for him."

"That's good." Gaara looked at her, "Temari said you missed lunch."

"I know. I had to take care of the baby."

"Come on. I'll get you something to eat," Gaara stated.

"I have a better idea. Come with me to the Tsukino compound. We can eat there and I can get this little guy fed," Kaoru suggested instead.

Gaara agreed and the two of them were walking into her clan's compound a little while later. The head of the Tsukino clan, Kaede, met them at the door, "Well, it's about time dear. I was beginning to get worried."

"Hello, Grandma," Kaoru stated.

"Hello dear." Kaede said with a smile. Her crimson eyes focused on Gaara. His red hair was still spiky and those sea foam eyes were blank of expression until he looked over at Kaoru. He was wearing a red shirt that had to flaps split off at his hips. These flaps reached down to just above his ankles. His baggy pants were black as were his boots. He wore a one sleeved vest over his shirt. While she examined him Kaede felt the nervousness coming from the boy so she reassured him, "It's nice to see you again, boy. Come in. I'll get you some soup."

"Can you get a bottle of milk too, Grandma. We have another guest."

"And who would that be, Kaoru?" Kaede asked. Kaoru pulled the blanket back to reveal a tiny little face. The baby yawned and rubbed at it's deep blue eyes. Kaede smiled at the cute little thing, "So this little guy is our other guest. Well, I'll go get something for him and you can explain how he got here."

The three of them went into the kitchen and Kaede began to make lunch. Kaoru felt bad because she couldn't help. Her hands were full with the little boy. Then she got an idea. She turned to Gaara, "Hey, Gaara-kun, can you do me a favor?"

He looked at her and nodded. Poor Gaara should have asked what the favor was first. She smiled and handed him the baby. Gaara took him because he didn't know what else to do. Kaoru looked into his face and laughed. Gaara was looking at the little boy with something akin to fear. It was funny to see the ultimate weapon of Suna looking at a four month old baby like it was going to murder him. The medic fixed his arms so that he was holding the little boy correctly and then started to help her grandmother cook. Gaara wished she would hurry up so that she could take the thing back. He felt as if he was holding a ticking time bomb.

"So what's his name, Kaoru," Kaede asked.

"Umm, I don't know. We hadn't wanted to name him yet because we were hoping he would've gotten adopted by now. Yuri told me to name him today."

"Do you have any ideas?"

Kaoru's eyes softened, "Yeah. I think I'll name him Kohaku."

Kaede froze for a moment then smiled, "I should have known."

Gaara glanced away from the bomb in his arms to look at Kaoru, "Who's Kohaku?"

"That was my father's name."

Now Gaara understood. The baby in his arms made some kind of noise and Gaara's eyes focused on it again. The baby looked back at him innocently. Gaara wasn't falling for it. This thing was probably planning something. It would start to cry any minute he just knew it. The baby just stared back at him. Kaoru and Kaede were watching them with amused smiles. Kaoru finally took pity on her friend and took Kohaku back from him. Gaara let out a mental sigh of relief and it must have shown on his face because Kaoru started to laugh again.

"Who would have thought that you were afraid of a little baby, Gaara-kun," Kaoru commented in between laughs.

Gaara's eyes narrowed in insult. This just made her laugh harder. Kaede just smiled at them. She could tell that Gaara had changed in the last two years. There was even talk of him becoming the Fifth Kazekage. The village had still yet to select one for one reason or another. Baki and Yuri were currently trying to convince the council that Gaara was the best choice. Baki and Yuri were now often seen together planning their next argument. Personally, Kaede thought that the two of them were starting to develop a relationship but she didn't say anything. If there was one thing all ninjas had in common it was the dislike of having their emotions known to everyone or at least to have them broadcasted. It would probably ruin things if she said anything.

Kaoru told her grandmother how she had ended up with Kohaku and that he would be staying with her until Yuri could find a good home for him. Kaede was excited. She loved kids and knew her granddaughter did too. Kaoru may not live in the same house anymore but she still lived on the compound. Now she would get to see the little one a lot. Kaede watched Kaoru as she fed Kohaku and smiled. She made a mental note to talk to Yuri about Kohaku. She had plans for that little boy now.

After lunch Kaoru and Gaara got ready to leave. The medic had asked Gaara if he would go with her to get clothes for the little boy and he had agreed as long as she didn't make him hold it again. Kaoru had laughed and said she couldn't make any promises. Kaoru went up stairs to see if any of her mother's old baby things were here like a crib or some toys. Gaara started to follow but Kaede held him back. He looked at the old woman with a raised eyebrow.

The woman smiled, "I'm glad you've become her friend again. She was so sad after you pushed her away. I just wanted to tell you that I support you, Gaara, just as my granddaughter does."

Gaara nodded in appreciation and headed up the stairs again. As it turned out there was a crib still in the house so they took it back to Kaoru's home. Kaoru still lived on the Tsukino compound but she had her own house. It had originally been built for her mother so that when she married she would have a place of her own. Things didn't work out that way. Her mother had left with Kaoru's father to Kirigakure in the Land of Water. Now Kaoru lived there. The house suited her. It had two floors. On the first was a what was suppose to be a living room but Kaoru had turned it into a library. There was a little alcove with windows for walls that had several large comfy looking chairs in it. There was a table with a single book on it in the center of the circle of chairs. On the wall opposite the front door was a doorway that lead to the kitchen. Kaoru lead Gaara upstairs and into one of the four bedrooms.

"Here this is my room. We'll put the crib in here that way I can keep an eye on him."

Gaara set the crib down and Kaoru placed Kohaku on her bed. She began fixing up the crib with the occasional help from Gaara. The red head took the time to look around. Kaoru's room was a sky blue color. She had a desk and a dresser. On the dresser was pictured of all her friends. One had Team 7 and there was another of Shikamaru with Ino on his back with her arms around his neck. He was glaring back at her she was grinning at the camera. Another one had a very red Hinata with a goofy Naruto. The last picture was of him, Temari, Kankuro, Baki, and her from their genin days. There was a window seat with a book on it. He was getting the feeling that she liked to read. Gaara looked at the other side of the room and saw her bed in one corner with a nightstand that had a single picture on it. He walked over and picked it up and barely hid his surprise. It was him and her when they were kids.

"Alright Gaara-kun. I'm ready to…" she trailed off when she saw what he was looking at.

"I didn't know you had kept this," he commented.

"It's my favorite."

He set it back down and looked over at her, "Let's get going then."

Kaoru lifted Kohaku up and followed Gaara out of the room. Gaara glanced at her, "Kaoru, I never did tell you that I was sorry did I?"

"Sorry for what, Gaara-kun?"

"For the way I treated you. I told both Temari and Kankuro sorry and I've been working hard to show everyone else that I was. But I haven't once done anything for you have I?"

"Oh, you don't have to. It's enough just to be your friend again," she said with a smile.

Gaara nodded and looked away. He didn't really agree. Even as they walked through the store he was planning on finding Temari and making sure that he got Kaoru something for her birthday that she would love. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought about it before. Kaoru had always been there supporting and defending him even when he hadn't wanted it. Why the hell hadn't he done something for her before now? Right, it was because the girl never asked for anything. She was always trying to please everyone else around her. Oh well, he would fix it now and he would get Temari to help him because, let's face it, Gaara isn't good at that kind of thing.

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Gaara did end up having to hold the kid a lot. When Kaoru wanted to make sure something fit she would make him hold it long enough for her to put it on him then take it off and put his other clothes back on. But once she had finished clothes shopping, Gaara didn't have to hold the little thing anymore much to his relief. Kaoru did make him help her carry the bags home since she had her hands full of the kid. Gaara chose not to complain. He was too afraid she would make him hold the kid again.

When he finally made it home Temari had finished making dinner and was putting on the table. She looked up at him and smiled, "Hey, Gaara. How was your day?"

"Hell."

"How so?" she asked curiously.

"Kaoru made me hold it."

"Hold what?"

"The baby."

"Gaara, I know you don't like to talk but I think you should in this case so that what you just said makes sense," Temari pointed out.

Gaara explained about Kohaku and the shopping over dinner. By the time he was finished Kankuro was dying of laughter and it was obvious that Temari was trying to hold hers in. Apparently Kaoru wasn't the only one that found his reaction to the kid amusing. Gaara hit Kankuro on the head with his sand and gave Temari a glare. Kankuro's laughs were replaced with cussing as he rubbed at his sore head. Temari proceeded to look innocent. Temari decided she wanted to go see Kaoru and the kid the next day and she was dragging both of her brothers with her. The look on Gaara's face sent both of his siblings into laughing fits. The youngest of the sand siblings went to his room on annoyance and ignored is siblings for the rest of the night.

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Kaoru poked her head into Yuri's office the next day, "You wanted to see me Yuri?"

"Yes. Go get the sand siblings and meet me at the council meeting room. We're going to be talking about some things that concern all of you."

Kaoru blinked but nodded. She ran off to find her three friends. As she expected they were in the training grounds. A quick glanced found Gaara standing at the opposite end of the area from her. She rushed over to him and told him what Yuri had told her. He used his sand to make Kankuro and Temari stop fighting. The group headed over to the council room. When they walked in the entire room fell dead silent. Yuri smiled at them and Baki gave them an acknowledging nod.

"You asked for us," Temari stated.

"Yes. Some things have come into discussion here that involve all of you," one of the council men said.

The four ninja just stood there and waited for the council to continue. The men and women in the room seemed nervous about something. Finally Yuri got impatient with them and said, "Oh for goodness sake. Since the rest of them are too chicken to ask you, Gaara, I will. We have finally decided on our new Kazekage and the vote is for you."

Gaara blinked in surprise. The other three were just as shocked. None of them had ever expected the council to offer this to Gaara yet. He was only 15 right now. They had thought the council would wait a few more years before even considering it. Besides far at they knew the council still thought of Gaara as a monster rather than a person. Gaara looked at the each person in the room. The only two people that didn't look nervous or concerned were Baki and Yuki. The two of them were looking at him expectantly almost as if they knew what his answer was already. Gaara looked back at his siblings and Kaoru. They were smiling at him. Kaoru said, "We'll back up whatever decision you make, Gaara-kun."

He nodded to them then looked back at the council, "Let me think about it for a week. Then I'll decide."

They all nodded in agreement. Now Yuri turned to Kaoru, "Now, Kaoru. I want you to be a member of this council."

"What?!" Kaoru said in complete shock.

"You heard me. One day you will take my place as the Head Medical-Nin. I want to make sure your ready so you have to learn how this council works. I want you to be a part of it now while I'm here to teach you."

Kaoru blinked and as she processed this information Baki turned to Temari and Kankuro, "We also want you to become part of this council for the same reasons. I want to teach you how it works now rather that make you learn by yourselves when I'm no longer here."

The sand siblings and Kaoru all exchanged looks. They came to a unanimous agreement. Temari stepped forward, "We will all think about these offers for a week. At the end of this week we will return here and give our answers."

"So be it," said the ninja in charge of the council.

The four of them left the room. Gaara walked Kaoru home. He could tell she was thinking about the offers made that day and asked her what she thought of the whole thing. Kaoru let out a sigh, "I don't know. I mean I know that Kankuro and Temari will both be a benefit to the council. You will make the best Kazekage Suna has had in quite a while. I'm just…Gaara I don't have the kind of personality it takes to be on the council."

"How so?"

"Think about it. I don't like confrontations and I'll have to get use to it on the council if I want my opinion heard and considered. Not to mention that I'm known as one of the most timid ninjas in Suna."

"You're right. But you're not as bad as you seem to think. You do stand up when something is important to you. I think you'll be just fine. Besides you'll have Kankuro, Temari, and me to support you."

She looked at him, "I guess you're right. It just makes me nervous to have all these people expecting so much from me."

They reached her clan's compound. He turned to face her, "Look, Kaoru, you are won of the kindest people I know. We probably need someone like you on the council. Someone that will consider other people's feelings in every decision just as we need someone like me that can put other's feeling aside for a decision."

Kaoru considered what he had said and admitted that he might have a point, "Alright. I'll join the council but only if you're the Kazekage."

He looked at her in surprise, "Why would that matter?"

"Because I'm loyal to you, Gaara-kun. No one else will have my loyalty."

He gave her one of his rare smiles. She felt her heart do little flip flops at the sight. Kaede came out of her house and walked up to them. She carried Kohaku in her arms and the little boy was sound asleep. The precious bundle was passed to Kaoru who invited Gaara over for a little while. Gaara was eyeing the bundle like it was a little green alien and decided it was best if he refused. He didn't feel like getting laughed at and that always seemed to happen when he got near the brat. Kaoru's mouth was already twitching and he hadn't even done anything yet. Gaara waved at the two of them then turned and walked to his own home.

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By the next morning everyone had heard of the council's decision. Most people didn't complain. No they didn't like Gaara anymore than they had before. It was just that they had to admit he had changed for the better. Now he probably would make a wonderful Kazekage. There were also many people in the village that accepted Gaara just fine. Yuki and Daisuke being two of them. They had dropped by to congratulate him and suggest that he take the position. There was one person that absolutely didn't like the council's decision.

"There's no way in hell I want him to be Kazekage," Hiroshi shouted.

Gaara glanced up at him. He was eating lunch with his siblings, Kaoru, Daisuke, Yuki, and Matsuri. The three girls had been playing with Kohaku who was loving the attention. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to look at Hiroshi with annoyance. It had been two years since the last time Hiroshi and Gaara had been on the same mission. Since the last time Hiroshi had left Gaara to die even though the red head had saved his life everyone had decided it was best if they didn't get placed on the same team anymore. Hiroshi had been happy with that since he still didn't like Gaara at all. Every time he turned around the bastard was with Kaoru. Hiroshi had been trying to get the medic's attention for almost three years and this freak gets it in less than a day.

"Did you say something, Hiroshi?" Kaoru asked in a falsely sweet tone.

"Yes. I don't want that bastard Gaara to be the Kazekage," Hiroshi responded with venom.

All the guys but Gaara suddenly stood up and started to attack Hiroshi. Before they could lay a finger on him a wall of sand got in their way. They looked back at Gaara. He simply shook his head at them, "It's a waste of time."

"But Gaara..." Kankuro started then let the sentence go unfinished. He got a defeated look on his face, "Alright."

All three of the men sat down. The wall of sand vanished and Hiroshi was glaring at them all. Before anyone could blink Hiroshi was sent flying across the room. Standing where he had been with anger burning in her eyes was Kaoru. Hiroshi had been unlucky enough to step on the only button that made her violent instantly. He had bad mouthed Gaara and Kaoru had never let anyone get away with that in her presence. Everyone looked at her in shock because they had never seen her hit someone so quickly.

"Don't ever insult Gaara-kun in front of me again, Hiroshi, or I swear I'll kick your ass," Kaoru said in a cold deliberate tone.

Gaara stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kaoru glanced at him then sat down grumbling something about an idiot that should really get a brain. No one asked who the idiot was. Hiroshi got back up rubbing his head. He glared at them, "I won't follow him."

"You will if he gets selected as Kazekage," Yuki snapped at him.

Hiroshi seemed to see that he was on the losing end of the argument and stomped off. He hated Gaara. If he had his way the bastard would be dead. Unfortunately everyone else seemed to be falling for his tricks. Hiroshi knew that the freak was just pretending to be a good guy. The minute he became Kazekage he would go back to being a monster. When he did he would be ready. Hiroshi would get Gaara and the village would thank him for it.

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Yuri was sitting at her office at the hospital when someone knocked on the door. She looked up from her paperwork, "Come in."

The head medic smiled when she saw who it was. She hadn't seen Lady Kaede in several years but she remembered that the old bat was a feisty one. The old woman sat down across from Yuri with a smile, "I want to talk to you about something, Yuri."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"I hear you're trying to find a home for a baby boy."

"Yes. I believe he's staying with your granddaughter right now and that she named him Kohaku."

"You would be right. I have a suggestion on where to put him," Kaede said with a grin.

Yuri had a feeling she knew where this was going and shared a conspiratorial grin with the old woman, "I'm listening."

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Yuki was sitting in Kaoru's kitchen across from Gaara. The head medic had something she wanted to talk to Kaoru about and Gaara was there for dinner. That wasn't abnormal. The youngest of the sand siblings could be found at Kaoru's house most of the time. Kaoru was cooking right now so she couldn't talk. Instead Yuri was talking to Gaara about his decision about whether or not to become the Kazekage.

"Have you made a choice?" she asked him.

"Yes. I've known what my choice would be the whole time."

"Then why the hell did you ask for the week to decide?!" Yuri demanded.

"So that I could see what everyone else's reaction would be."

"Oh. I suppose that makes sense."

Kaoru just walked in with three plates full of food. Gaara was staring at the kid sitting on his lap. Kaoru had handed Kohaku to Gaara when she left to cook. The kid was smiling up at Gaara as if the red head was his best friend in the entire world. For his part, Gaara couldn't wait to give the kid back to Kaoru. 'She gives me this kid just to torture me,' he thought to himself. Kaoru took Kohaku from Gaara and set him down in his baby chair. She placed the food in front of everyone and sat down to eat herself.

"So what did you want to talk to me about, Yuri-sensei?" Kaoru asked.

"Well, first how are you getting along with Kohaku?"

Kaoru looked confused but responded anyway, "Fine. He's no trouble at all."

"Good. That means his new home will love him," Yuri said.

Something flashed in Kaoru's eyes but nobody could tell what it was. Kohaku had been living with Kaoru for almost a month. She had gotten use to his presence. It was almost like losing a member of the family. She smiled, "So who are they?"

"You."

Kaoru blinked, "What?"

"I was hoping you would take him."

"Me?" Kaoru squeaked.

"Yup. He's already use to and likes you. I see no reason to take him away if you're willing to keep him."

Kaoru just stared for a moment then smiled brilliantly, "I'd love to keep him."

"That's good. If you need anything let me know. I don't want him to become a burden."

"He won't be. Besides I have my grandmother if I need anything. She already loves to babysit him. Then there's Gaara of course."

Gaara blinked then his eyes narrowed, "Don't you dare suggest I babysit."

The two women laughed in amusement at him. Gaara pretended not to listen to them. After Yuri left Gaara helped Kaoru set up one of the other bedrooms as Kohaku's room. It was late by the time they finished so Kaoru told her friend to sleep in one of her guest rooms. Gaara didn't sleep unless he was beside Kaoru but he chose not to argue. She was still thrilled because she got to keep Kohaku and he didn't want to ruin her happiness by arguing with her right now.

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The next day the week was up and the sand siblings and Kaoru were back in the council room to give their decision. Temari, Kankuro, and Kaoru all agreed that they would agree to join the council only if Gaara was the Kazekage. So they made Gaara tell them his choice first. The council men and women sat there looking at him, "Well, Sabaku no Gaara, have you decided?"

"I have. I accept the offer to be the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure."

That's it. I hope you guys liked it. Now please review.