HELLOO!

Yeah, so sorry for the really late chapter, but I really couldn't decide on how to get the story going next so, yeah.

Right the disclaimer.

Nah, I don't think so. I'm too damn lazy to type it out every time so on the first chapter is where it's gonna stay.

Currently, it's crunch time at school and I'm practically piled in homework, but I'm trying, I really am. I'll get the next chapter done asap, so just hold on until then, kay?

I AM LOOKING FOR A BETA READER FOR THIS FIC; if you enjoyed this chapter in the story and would like to beta read the rest of them please drop me a private message right away!

And now, on with the story.

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The Kazekage's house.

"Gaara?"

Silence.

"Gaara!"

Silence.

"GAARA! GET YOU AND THAT STUPID GOURD OF YOURS UP HERE RIGHT NOW! THIS WAS YOUR IDEA! I SWEAR, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SORRY ASS UP HERE IS TWO SECONDS, WE WON'T GO AT ALL!"

Temari stopped to breathe for a few seconds and listened to the soft thump of someone coming up the stairs. With any luck, it would be Gaara. If Temari wasn't so worried for her little brother's safety she would have absolutely refused to go with him, this new plan of his was insane, and Kankuro wasn't over the moon about it either. Gaara really was going too far now, even after becoming Kazekage, he couldn't make 'Sandpit Time' compulsory for all schools until students turned thirteen like he tried to do last week. There was a limit to these kinds of things.

Gaara pushed the door open a little more and walked in to face a very annoyed Temari. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked back at his sister. Just because he didn't have the urge to kill her every time he looked at her, didn't mean she was in charge all of a sudden. "Damnit, what do you want?" Gaara regarded his sister coolly. She was annoying but necessary; after all, Gaara was useless with money.

Temari glared at her little brother. He was the one that came up with all of these insane ideas and he was the one out of the three of the sand siblings with the most free time. How was that fair? Temari was always the one who had to sort all of the financial things out, Kankuro had to trail around after Gaara making sure that the Kazekage was okay and Gaara just did whatever he wanted to do. "Here." Temari threw his bag at him, which he caught. "This time, you're going to pack your own bag because, sure as hell, I'm not going to do it."

Gaara looked down at the bag in his hand and back at Temari before throwing it at her. "No I'm not. You're going to pack for me, and Kankuro is going to carry it."

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!"

"GAARA, DON'T ARGUE!"

"TEMARI! WHO'S KAZEKAGE?!"

"DOES THAT FRIGGIN' MATTER?!"

"PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHUT UP!"

A third voice joined the ensemble; Kankuro's head snaked around the second door closest to Temari. "I'm trying to watch Hollyoaks!" Kankuro had recently found a love of soap operas and had only just gotten his brother hooked too. Kankuro sighed, unlike Temari; he didn't care if Gaara had more free time than he did, as long as he got to watch Hollyoaks. "Look, I'll pack Gaara's bag and carry it for him, it's not a big deal."

"KANKURO! YOU'RE SPOILING HIM! THE BOY HAS TO LEARN TO PACK HIS OWN BAG!"

No one noticed Gaara slip out of the door and run downstairs to catch the last ten minutes of Neighbours.

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Training Ground Eleven, known as the Bell Test Area.

"Geez, he told us to be early." Naruto grumbled. Kakashi-sensei had told them that this was an emergency meeting and that they were to be at Training Ground Eleven at 7 o'clock sharp. Naruto had gotten very bored since then, Kakashi was an hour late. Naruto sat on top of one of the stumps, while Sai sat on the other, sketching. Sakura had a very blank look on her face. Naruto sighed for the fourteenth time that morning, and his ears pricked up when he heard voices over the far side.

"Sai, Sakura, we're being ambushed!" Naruto switched into over dramatic mode, ready to fight before a voice stopped.

"Save your energy Naruto, why would we want to ambush you lot, it would be no fun." Ino's voice cut clear across the plains, much to Sakura's annoyance, Sakura jumped up quickly with an extremely fierce frown on her face.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ino-pig? We're the ones waiting to get a special unranked mission from our sensei." Sakura shouted going into over protective mode while Sai and Naruto watched them from the stumps they were sitting on.

"Puh-lease, me and my team were the ones who're getting a special unranked mission." Ino motioned to Shikamaru and Choji who were following her in close succession. Choji, typically was eating a bag of crisps while Shikamaru was trying to block out the noise of the arguing girls by putting his hands over his ears.

"Please, it's too early in the morning." Shikamaru said through gritted teeth as another two teams emerged from out of the bushes. Kiba, Akamaru, Shino and Hinata approached from one side of the training ground whilst Gai, Lee, TenTen and Neji emerged from out of the other side.

"I thought I heard Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber arguing." Kiba yawned leaning on Akamaru as they stopped near the group.

Hinata blushed a bright crimson as she approached Naruto and Team Kakashi. "N-n-naruto-kun. H-how are y-you?" She toyed with her fingers and refused to look at Naruto's face. Naruto should have noticed but Naruto never noticed anything in Hinata, and it didn't help that she was so shy around him.

"Hey, Hinata, I'm just fine." Naruto also had the bad habit of not asking how other people felt.

Ino quickly scooted over to Hinata's side. Her friendship with Sakura might have deteriorated, but Ino had found a firm friend in Hinata, it was almost like Sakura, when she was younger of course, but Ino enjoyed spending time with Hinata, because Hinata really was a beautiful person, once you got past her shy demeanour. "Hi-naa," Ino bounced around Hinata's shoulders. "You were told to come too?" Ino dropped her voice quickly so no-one could hear her except Hinata. "Did you have to bring dog-boy? He smells like… dog." Ino's comments caused Hinata to giggle and Sakura to frown. What exactly did that Ino-pig say?

"Children, children, children." Gai put up his hands to calm the group, they were getting slightly agitated, who knew what they were hauled here for? "Let us wait quietly for Team 7's ever late Sensei."

"Present." Kakashi emerged, from the bushes, holding up a hand and smiling (well, he looked like he was smiling).

"SENSEI!!!" Naruto was the first to erupt. "WHAT TIME DO YOU CALL THIS!?!?" Naruto stabbed at his watch with his finger a few times, eyes blazing with annoyance.

Kakashi surveyed the watch carefully, as carefully as he would survey a poison tipped kunai. "Hmm, I'd say it was 15 past 8. But on to more pressing matters."

"Yosh, I'm sure you wondered why we called you lot here today…"

15 minutes of explaining later…

"ALL RIGHT!!! AN EXPEDITION MISSION! THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GREAT!"

"Hn."

"Uh uh, no way am I going to spend time with Billboard Brow."

"The feeling's mutual Ino-pig."

"U-um…"

"Whaddya say, Akamaru?"

"Woof!"

"I wonder if there's any nice scenery…"

"I should polish my kunai."

"HOW YOUTHFUL!"

"Mmm, new types of food to try…"

"What a drag."

"…"

"Is everyone here?"

Gaara, Temari and Kankuro walked towards the whole group, which were currently, in deep conversation, or talking to themselves. Gaara's slightly creepy voice lulled everyone into silence quickly as everyone turned to face the sand siblings. Temari had a frightening expression on her face and Kankuro looked slightly uncomfortable under two formidable looking bags and all three of his scrolls. Gaara however looked perfectly composed in his full Kazekage outfit, minus that weird veil thing that his father used to wear.

Naruto was first to greet them. "GAARA-SAN!!" Naruto rushed up and hugged Gaara very, very, hard. "I'm so glad to see you!" Gaara's face lost any colour that was there in the first place and he seemed to be choking.

"Naruto… lungs… need… air…" Gaara managed to gasp out the last few words. Naruto's hyperactivity was a tad to much for the struggling for air Kazekage.

"Hehe, sorry." Naruto managed to say sheepishly, letting go of Gaara, who collapsed on the floor, gasping. After a few seconds Gaara stood up and regained his composure while Naruto made the second part of his speech. "Can I try on your hat?"

"No."

"Please? I only want to see how it looks!"

"Bite me, Goldilocks." Gaara sent one of his evil-death-glares-that-could-scare-the-living-dead-and-could-make-Kankuro-wet-himself-and-Temari-shut-herself-in-the-closet type of death glare. Rori says: YAY GAARA! GO GAARA! WHOOO! Naruto shrank to half his normal size and scooted over to Sakura and hid behind her. Gaara might have been better and more sociable, but fucking hell, he was still scary.

Gaara fixed his collar quickly before readdressing the group as he would readdress his own people, with grace and an air of nobility. Hey, the Kazekage had to be classy; he was of course, the boss. "So, you've been told, blah, blah, blah, lets not waste time, we leave tomorrow at nine." Gaara turned to his siblings. "Temari! Kankuro, to the Hokage's Tower." Gaara got ready to leave with his ever faithful (or not so faithful) brother and sister.

"TOMORROW?" Was the outburst that spewed from the mouths of the Rookie Nine + Team Gai. Even Shino, Neji, Kakashi and Gai joined in.

"Yeah, tomorrow." Kankuro said, turning his head slightly to look at them.

"So get packing." Temari turned away and followed her brother's after saying her bit.

The Rookie Nine + Team Gai immediately rushed away to pack.

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Sometime later at the Hokage's Tower.

"Right this way, Kazekage-sama." Shizune nodded and opened the door to Tsunade's room. Gaara, Temari and Kankuro followed her in. "Tsunade-sama, the Kazekage is here to see you!" Shizune left the room closely afterwards.

Tsunade immediately shot up from the chair she was sitting on. She smiled knowingly, and sat down slowly again. "Ahh, Gaara-san, so you did come. I kept up my end of the deal; it's your turn now." Tsunade smiled again, showing her teeth, really, this was such a good idea, a win-win situation.

Gaara snapped his fingers. "Kankuro!" He said, with much authority in his voice before placing his hands by his side again. Kankuro shuffled forward with three large boxes of expertly made Suna chocolates and a bottle of vintage Suna sake and he placed them care fully on Tsunade's desk.

Tsunade expertly checked the chocolates and sake before leaning back on her chair and smiling contentedly. "I am satisfied, and I do hope your expedition goes well." Tsunade said politely while watching the Sand Siblings walk out the door.

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Naruto's apartment.

"Uh, ramen, ramen, underwear, ramen, Gai's spandex suit for emergency purposes, ramen, ramen…"

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Hyuga Compound.

"Hanabi-chan! D-did you take m-my shampoo and conditioner? I-I need them back…"

"No…"

"Neji-ni-chan, have you s-seen my shampoo and conditioner?"

"Uh, no, no, and I didn't take them, if that's what you're thinking…"

"Neji-ni-chan, give them back, now."

"… Fine."

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Sakura's house.

"HAHA! THE ULTIMATE CAMPING OUTFITS! INO'S GOING DOWN!"

"Sakura! Make sure you take that woollen bunny rabbit cardigan, in case it gets cold!"

"… Yes Mom."

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Ino's house.

"DADDY!! I WANT MY HAIR CLIPS BACK NOW!"

"BUT I'M USING THEM!"

"DAADDDDDDYYYY!"

"ASK YOUR MOTHER!"

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Inuzuka Compound.

"AKAMARU! NO! KIBA GET YOUR DAMN PUPPY OUT OF MY KENNEL! DON'T MAKE ME TELL YOUR MOTHER!"

"S-sorry, Kuromaru, it was an accident, honest, Akamaru was only trying to find his chew toy."

"I DON'T CARE! GET HIM OUT OF HERE!"

Of course, you get the general idea.

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The next morning at Konoha gate.

"You know, I always knew that they were going to be late." Kankuro was leaning against the left gate of the entrance to Konoha with his arms crossed against his chest. Kankuro, no matter how stupid/formidable he looked, was very big on keeping time, especially today, after all, if they got behind schedule, both Kankuro and Gaara would be in big trouble.

"Shut up." Gaara was pacing in front of the gates with his hands behind his back. The expression on his face was of utmost annoyance, clearly, Gaara was also irritated what they were behind schedule. "If they aren't here in five minutes, we'll leave without them."

"Relax you two. It's only 10 past nine; it's not so much of a big deal." Temari shrugged nonchalantly. She really didn't get why her brothers were so wired up, it's not like 15 minutes made much of a difference, after all, this expedition didn't have a time limit, as long as they found the village in a week, it was all good.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Kankuro shouted into Temari's face. "If we don't get to that outpost town before three, I'll miss this week's episode of Neighbours and then I'll never know what Steph's going to do!" Temari never knew Kankuro was so hooked on these things. It got even weirder when Gaara whipped around.

"I was on the internet and I saw a couple of rumours on the website…" Gaara and Kankuro started to converse heatedly about Neighbours and Temari felt like she was going to be sick when Gaara looked at her again. "By the way Temari, what's sand-cest? I was looking through some titles of fanfiction and…"

"YOU DIDN'T READ THEM, DID YOU?!?" Temari and Kankuro shrieked. The two were trying to preserve Gaara's innocence for as long as possible, if Gaara found out what those crazy authors wrote about -Rori looks around shiftily- there would be hell to pay. Temari and Kankuro really didn't want to explain what it was to him.

Gaara looked back at his siblings wondering why they looked so… shocked? "No, of course not, I just…"

"DON'T ASK WHAT IT IS!"

"DON'T ASK ANYONE ELSE TO TELL YOU EITHER!"

"FORGET YOU EVER HEARD THE WORD!"

Gaara would have demanded to know what it was if it hadn't been for the Rookie Nine + Team Gai's not so timely arrival. Temari and Kankuro looked like they were saved but Gaara was not so happy.

"And what took you?" Gaara glowered at the Expedition Team hotly. They were late and they didn't look in the least bit sorry about it.

"Eh, we had to make sure Kakashi-sensei came along with us." Naruto pointed to Kakashi who was rubbing the back of his head looking somewhat at a loss. "Otherwise, you would have had to wait even longer."

Gaara turned his face into a blank again. "I see. Okay, our first aim is to reach the outpost whose name escapes that is somewhere over there." Gaara pointed vaguely over to somewhere. "Kankuro knows the way. If we reach there by three I can relay what I've found out and you," Gaara pointed at Kakashi and Gai. "Can tell me what the Hokage has found out." It was sort of strange for Gaara to be talking so much, but to tell the truth, he was sort of excited, and this expedition idea had just saved him from that stuffy office while it was being redecorated. Gaara really did hate the smell of paint and wallpaper paste.

"One question, Kazekage-sama." The great copy-ninja put his hand up, causing Gaara to frown very obviously at him. "Wouldn't it make more sense to keep walking and then when it got dark, find another outpost town?"

"Hell no." Gaara said, turning his back on the Jonin. "It took me a long time to find a damned hotel with a television, so we're going to get to that hotel by three o'clock, got it? Stragglers WILL get left behind." Gaara look forwards to the path out of Konoha. "Right then, onwards and upwards."

And that my friends was the start of an epic struggle against time, after all, who knew what Kankuro and Gaara would do if they missed Neighbours? (Possibly something to do with puppets, sand and a hell of a lot of blood).

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Next time on The Hidden Leaf Super Sonic Expedition Team; Neighbours, 21 Dares, and Kakashi's Boxers
BWAHAHA! See you very soon hopefully, when school stops being such a bitch.