Thanks for reading that last chapter! I know it was horrible but I don't blame you! This chapter is 3 ceremonies in 1. Because I feel better that way.

OH! And a big THANKS! to Yuki-Kage - Sama! Thanks so much for my 100th review! And thanks to all my loyal readers who have been with me this long! I love ya all! So enjoy and tell me whatcha think! Once again everyone thanks for 100 REVIEWS OF JOY!

Chapter 13

The ceremonies of Dark, Ice and Grass

As the sun rose in the east that morning Konoha was shined on with its wonderful glory. Lee woke up as the first streak of daylight hit his face. Looking around the room that was fitted for his mate and himself he looked around for Gaara. Seeing his mate by the window Lee got out of bed. Walking up to him he touched his arm lightly. Gaara looked at Lee and then back towards the city where it was transformed into a dark abyss. Lee saw it to as the dark decorations were being placed up.

"What are you doing up so early Gaara-san?" Lee asked. Gaara wasn't usually a morning person and wouldn't get up early only if he had to be to a special meeting that day. Gaara stared out the window watching the sun beam out from the distant mountains. Gaara looked at his hands. "Are you ashamed of me Lee?"

Lee was taken back by Gaara's words. "Why would I be ashamed of you Gaara-san?"

"Because he kissed me…" Gaara looked at his lover.

"That was just one kiss… besides I would never let him take another one from you ever again!" Lee linked his hands with Gaara's. "Because I promised that I would keep you as mine forever and ever Gaara... Besides I think he was caught in the moment." Lee went towards the drawers and took out a new outfit for the day. "I'm going out for a morning marathon with my father. Do you want to come? Because running makes you sweat out all the impurities that have built up while you were sleeping." Gaara looked at him.

"Only while I was sleeping?" Lee shook his head and grabbed his husband's arms. "You should come along Gaara! My father would be happy to have you along on the run!"

Gaara shook his head. "I want to visit someone… I'll go with you that far…"

And both lovers ran out the door into the now light city.

--

The ceremony of dark was to be held along with the ceremony of ice. So this particular ceremony lasted for 2 days. The city that was once light now turned dark under the dark affect that was placed over the city.

Gaara and the others were shocked as the Yamikage appeared. He was much older then the rest of them and smiled at them all. Taking Tsunade's hand he introduced himself. "Thank you for having me this year Hokage-sama. I am Kazehana Hiko the Yamikage of the Moon Nation." His eyes glinted with slitted eyes that only that of animal god possessed. Only those of animal god race knew that he wasn't a human.

Gaara went up to him and looked him in the eyes. There was only one other person who held those eyes. "You're Rizu's son aren't you?"

Hiko was surprised, "You know my father's name? You must be Shukaku's son then..." Gaara nodded and Hiko looked at the others. "You all are related to one of the 9 great beings. Except you Hokage-sama…" Hiko looked them all over; shaking his head he turned around and walked away. "Excuse me please…"

What a strange person… Gaara thought as Lee appeared before him.

Keeping his cool around Orochimaru he decided to start walking off with his mate. "Lee, make sure there is extra security around the Uchiha Manor." Lee nodded with a "Hai!" About to disappear Gaara grabbed hold of him and dragged him off towards the foods.

--Ceremony of Ice (The next day)

The streets were filled with ice. It was colder then usual in Konoha and everyone was trying to keep warm. The city was an ice glacier and the parade of ice had already begun.

Tsunade watched the parade. The ice dancers were very elegant and soft like the snow they were representing. The music was elegant but very powerful that it brought a chilling feeling to the people as the flutes hit their high notes. Instead of like the other parades the ice dancer that was going to be dancing that night was dancing along with the others. She was known to be the Leader of the Snow country. Her name was Yuki, and she was Hiko's cousin.

When Yukie began walking up the stairs waving to her people she was glomped by her younger cousin. She quietly peeled him off and hugged him properly. Both ascending the stairs to the top. Greeting everyone from Gaara to Tsunade she introduced herself. "Thank you for having me here everyone. I am Kazehana Koyuki the Leader of the Snow country. I am looking forward to my stay here in Konoha." Bowing to them they all bowed to her.

Hiko watched his cousin. "Yuki?"

"Yes? What is it Hiko?" Hiko looked towards the ground. "Do you think… never mind…" Hiko turned away and began walking. Yuki shook her head and walked the other way. They both needed to get ready for the ceremony that night.

--That Night (The ceremonies of Dark and Ice)

The lights were lit up and everyone was crowded around to hear the story of Shukaku on his journey to the colder parts of the earth. "When the breezes of the north and south changed on him. Shukaku went north to what is now known as the Snow Country. When he finally arrived he couldn't believe his eyes."

Gaara stopped watching as the two others came out. They were playing around in the snow and giggling. "Shukaku instantly knew that these two young boys were his 6th and 7th siblings. Because of the number of tails they had. The two noticed Shukaku and instantly asked him to play with them." Gaara was dragged along by the other two to play with him. Yuki and Hiko were using a jutsu to make them look like young children. So then it would look more convincing. Gaara began to dance around with the other two in a circle of linked hands. "When they broke apart from their merry dancing Shukaku watched as one disappeared into the snow and another from the darkness that the clouds placed over the moon. When Shukaku heard his father's voice it said to him, 'Shukaku these are your brothers Rizu of the darkness," And then Hiko appeared and smirked. "'and your other brother, Kazu of the snow.'" Yuki appeared out of the snow and then she and Hiko began circling Gaara. Remembering the steps to this dance Gaara laid them out in his head, back 2 pivot, left right spin Yuki pivot spin Hiko. Then the complicated part of the dance began. With a gust of snow they were all gone the crowd gasped but as the light appeared on another part of the stadium they all began to cheer as Hiko began his dance.

The dance consisted of many mysterious movements and things that you would least expect. Like a double back hand spring and landing on one finger then moving forward to do flips of many kinds. His was a wild dance and as he moved he had a dark force fallowing behind him. Hiko was supposed to avoid it by doing many fancy things and that was what he was doing. Dancing to the beat of the now faster music Hiko twisted and turned as the dark tried to consume him. As he finally reached the end of his ceremony he waved to the audience and everyone else and then he was consumed and the dark spelled out "Day of Darkness: Rizu" the audience clapped but as the fast beat came to a sudden halt and then towards a slower moving music.

There at the top of a rather large hill stood Yuki. She moved her arms in a delicate moving pattern. Creating a snowflake pattern in the icy cold wind and moved her hands over her eyes. They glinted and the stadium lit up!

Sliding down the hill she created large avalanches of snow. The audience gasped and was quite scared. She created a snow barrier at the bottom of the hill and the avalanches were blocked off creating only a little hole for her to escape through. Yuki brushed herself off in a rather boy like manner and jumped to the top of the large pillars of snow. Beginning her complicated dance she began to kick into the rock hard snow pattern letting little flakes fall on the little children who were sitting up close and up top. Yuki danced and the snow started creating the pattern. She hurriedly looked to see if it was right and danced to the front making the pillars collapse just how she wanted them to. Everyone groaned thinking they fell on accident. But Yuki shook a finger at them, it wasn't over yet. She disappeared into the snow and out she came with Hiko with a large bang of snow. When the audience saw what happened they all stood and cheered. There stood under the sign of darkness said, "And Day of Snow: Kazu"

All stood and cheered and they beckoned Gaara over all three bowed and then disappeared in the wind.

As all left the stadium no one bothered to see the lone nine-tailed fox creature leaving in a sprint as well.

-- The Next Day (Ceremony of Grass)

The streets were green again. It felt a little less homey to Yuki but she managed. Naruto on the other hand was so anxious. Tonight was the ceremony of Grass and he wanted it to be tomorrow. He was itching to show off his dance to the eight others. Scratch that… seven others. Naruto had been practicing long and hard so today he was going to rest. Taking out a cup of ramen he poured some hot water into it. Preparing a few other dishes he ate them all quietly at the dinner table. Deciding that it was boring he wanted to talk to some of Sasuke's family or ancestors. Seeing someone in the hallway he fallowed after it. Going through to a door he had never seen before he watched as the spirit or something went inside. Fallowing it down the long flight of stairs Naruto took some fire into his hands.

What he saw amazed him, hundreds of scrolls were piled up in here. There was a painting done and he saw it was of an Uchiha and his father. They were in intense battle and it looked so real. Like they had stayed that way for hours as the artist painted it. Naruto looked around and found one scroll that particularly interested him. Looking it over it had a fire seal on it. Inside was writing that was dated hundreds now maybe thousands of years back. But it was written in his native language. That was strange for a human to know.

"It says something about my father in here. This must be a more ancient tongue then what I speak. Kyuubi and Uchiha… That's weird… Forget it…" Naruto rolled up the scroll and placed it back where it was found. "I don't think I should be down here. I mean what if these are Sasuke's?" Naruto quickly went upstairs trying to forget about the room with the scrolls.

--The Parade

The parade went on as usual. The strange thing was that the dancer was in no ways related to one of the 9 great beings. Just like Tsunade he was an ordinary Human leader. Except for the fact that Tsunade was one of the legendary sennin. He came up the steps and bowed. "I am Fukimura Kajito the leader of the hidden grass village. It is an honor to be here Hokage-sama. Thank you for having me." Like Tsunade he wasn't young either. He was older then most of them but that would be perfect for the ceremony tonight.

-- I decided to skip the grass ceremony because I want to end this chapter so I can write the ceremony of fire!--

--Buuuuut! With Sasuke!

Sasuke fell on the ground to his knees. He panted heavily as the smoke cleared. There stood a large hole in the mountain side. His Chidori was powerful and now perfected within that short amount of time. Kakashi watched him, he reminded him so much of that other Uchiha. Although that was years ago… Uchiha Obito… The man whom he got his left eye from. Kakashi placed a hand towards his covered eye trying to forget the pains of the past.

Sasuke looked towards his trainer and sat down on the ground. "Good job Sasuke… Since you've nearly mastered Chidori I'll let you go home to Konoha early." Sasuke wanted to hug the man right then and there. He wanted to see Naruto so badly and it was a pain that he couldn't get out of his chest. He wanted to see Naruto's bright shining eyes, and he wanted to be there when Naruto was dancing. And he wanted Naruto's lithe body to writhe under… Sasuke stopped thinking and bowed to Kakashi. "Thank you Kakashi Sensei. I will use this technique to protect Naruto with my life." Kakashi placed an arm on his new students shoulder.

"Sasuke… Remember to only use it on those who would dare kill your loved ones. And your loved ones aren't just the people you are used to. Who knows… Think about that as we head back to Konoha." Kakashi started walking with Sasuke back to Konoha as fast as possible without trying to strain his chakra. This could take a while…

--Back in Konoha! (Last part I promise)

Through the streets people wondered who he was. Most knew him to be a pervert, a freak, an old man. But he was neither of them. Well maybe the pervert… But still he was a legend amongst the people of Konoha. Known for his great ninja skills and also for peeking in ladies bath houses. Yes… He was Jiraiya. A ladies man and an old toad…

Walking around in the streets he met up with Tsunade. She saw him and slapped herself. Running up to him she asked him, "Why are you here Jiraiya?"

"Reference and kings orders…" Tsunade nodded and took him to the place. Writing on a piece of paper she wrote down the coordinates and Jiraiya nodded and was off. Burning the paper and then eating it she made sure no one was in sight to see it. But lo and behold there was Kabuto… The sly sneaky guy who wrote them down and returned to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru grinned as he read the coordinates. "So Jiraiya is here too? That Kyuubi is clever to bring him here but not clever enough…" Staring at the screen as the Uchiha manor was brought up his eyes widened as he saw who inhabited the mansion. He looks just like that other Uchiha brat who would come to the kingdom. It can't be… Reading the name Orochimaru grinned. Sasuke huh? Well little Sasuke let's see what you can do…

The room turned black with the sound of laughter filling it.

TBC

There you have it! The Ceremonies of Dark, Ice and Grass. I was bored and so yeah! That last part was creepy!

Next Chapter: The Ceremony of Fire begins but little does Naruto know that Orochimaru will strike. And that's just what he does. But Kyuubi arrives with his secret. What is it? Find out next chapter!