The Great Exchange
By TheCrackShipper
Summary: AU It is War. The Five Great Nations are pitted against each other. The Tailed Beasts are prowling the night, destroying lives and adding to the Chaos. Alliances must be made.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Bandits
"Are you girls any good on the battle field?" Kankuro asked his eyes calculating as he stood at the ready.
"Just watch," Tenten grimaced.
Kankuro's charka strings emerged from his fingertips. Karasu was awake. The amateur bandits, didn't stand a chance, they were out in a few minutes. It was with a slight frown that Tenten put her scroll back into her pack.
"Well that was anti-climactic," Ino grunted,
A sound whirred behind them and Tenten was on the ground struggling with the fist of a foreign ninja.
The bandits were a distraction; Kankuro cursed and was about to maneuver Karasu into attack but Ino stopped him.
"We've got to know if there are anymore of them out there," she said sharply. There were the familiar hand signals as she took the plunge into his mind. Her body slumped to the sand,
"Sorry Tenten," she muttered apologetically as she got off her. Tenten smiled as she stood up, dusting herself off.
"There's more coming, this guy was just a cocky idiot who lost a bet," Ino answered in the deep voice of the ninja.
"We've got to get out of here," Kankuro ran his hands through his auburn hair, "Suna's just a little ways off; we can't be out of the walls when they arrive,"
Both girls nodded. Ino returned to her body, Tenten finished off the mist nin. The journey became harried, the desert passing by them in a blur. The walls of Suna were just in sight.
"Hurry," Kankuro barked, picking up the already ridiculous pace. They flew past Suna's gates, heavy metal clanged shut behind them.
Ino leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, "Never again," she panted.
"Welcome to Suna,"
The girls whipped around as an old man, revealed himself, greed in his dark beady eyes. Ino gulped. The Kazekage stood beside him, his eyes glancing to the side, a faint pink tint on his cheeks. He was determinedly aloof.
"You are safe behind these walls," the old man spoke slowly, carefully. Gaara did not say a word.
"Come, quickly," The village elder beckoned with his long bony finger.
The entourage moved throughout the deserted streets of Sunagakure. The girls were absolutely appalled, horrified, no words could describe it. The destruction was too great for words, most houses were boarded up, most of the sand covered walls were blackened and covered with the remains of disaster. Konoha was lucky compared to Suna. They arrived at the once great Suna palace, merely a shell of its formal self. Inside was no different, threadbare and shabby, far from the glittering riches of yesteryear.
"Join hands!" the elder barked and turned to face them in the center of the hallway.
Kankuro immediately took a hold of Tenten's hand. She winced as their hands came into contact. Gaara hesitated before he loosely took hold of Ino's tiny callused hands.
The elder made a few hand signs and his own wrinkled hands began to glow with charka, he placed his hands over theirs.
"Do you four swear to be loyal to Suna and your spouses for the rest of your lives? There were four resolute I do's.
The elder smiled, "You girls are officially Suna kunoichi, and if any of you try to betray," he eyed them all warningly, "It will be a horrible end for you, I can assure you that,"
Two identical tattoos bearing the symbol of Suna glowed on each girls' right palm. They were bound now.
The elder nodded to Gaara and Kankuro before he entered a door to their left. There was silence.
"That was it?" Ino asked, "We're married now,"
Gaara nodded. Kankuro grabbed Tenten's hand so as to make the way to their room. Tenten's let out a little cry. They stared at her, bewildered.
"I'm alright," Tenten said a little too quickly. Kankuro was skeptical, but Ino and Gaara headed to their own apartment at the far end of the corridor with a final good night.
Tenten and Kankuro were silent as he unlocked the door to their own apartment. Their silence was stifling, threatening to choke them. As they entered Kankuro flipped on the lights for it had grown dark outside. The cry of the beasts arose everywhere, echoing in their ears and sending chills down their spines. These beasts couldn't enter the village, they were blocked, the walls were impervious, but that didn't stop the destruction and it did not stop the deaths.
Kankuro turned to her suspiciously, and took her hand again.
"You got hurt when that ninja ambushed us," he said flatly, examining her wrist, cradling it gently.
"Really?" Tenten asked faintly.
"Really," Kankuro replied, disgruntled, "And we're on lock down so we have no way to get you to a medical nin,"
Tenten shrugged, "I'm alright,"
"Don't' try to play brave," Kankuro said sharply, "How are we supposed to consummate the marriage when you've sprained your wrist?"
"Who said I'm playing?" she countered, "I hardly felt it,"
"Really?" Kankuro said for the second time that evening. His biting sarcasm was not earning him any points with his new wife, "It didn't sound like it,"
She glared at him, "This really isn't setting the mood you know,"
Kankuro sighed, "Alright yeah, let's just do what we have to do,"
There was an awkward silence. Kankuro let their hands fall as he reached out one hand to turn off the lights.
--
The next morning…
It was dawn when Ino awoke to a rustling sound. Gaara stood staring out the window, his shirt was still off but he had his pants on now. Ino colored slightly as she gathered the blankets around her. Gaara turned to face her.
"Good morning, "he greeted her quietly.
"Good-morning," she said softly, her blonde hair hanging loosely over her shoulders.
Gaara paused and took a look at her. He leaned back against the wall, and crossed his arms protectively over his chest.
"I…" he took a deep breath and tried again, "I hope I did not hurt you last night,"
It took a moment for Ino to understand what he was talking about, "Oh! Oh of course not," she straightened up, kneeling on the bed.
"That's…good," Gaara nodded, and turned to stare out the window again.
It was Ino's turn to stare at him. He certainly didn't sound like a homicidal sociopath. He sounded so sweet.
There was another pause.
"I hope you are not unhappy, I know I'm not exactly your first choice,"
Ino's blue eyes widened, He continued as though afraid of what she might say.
"I…want…to…make you…happy," he struggled with his words, as though they didn't really convey what he wanted to say, "If there's anything you need…please don't' hesitate to ask…please don't be afraid to talk to me,"
He was pleading with her. Ino untangled the bed sheets from around her and made for the edge of the bed.
"I…hope…you're not…unhappy," he repeated, refusing to look her in the eye.
Ino got off the bed, and made her way towards him.
"You see…you're very pretty and I know you probably had the choice of many men if it were not for…your circumstance," Gaara continued, staring out the window. She came to stand next to him "You're my wife, we shared something important last night, and though I do not know you, I care for you because we shared that," he stumbled over his words, unsure of how she'd react and afraid that he's messed up in speaking at all.
Ino stood on tiptoe to kiss him gently. Surprised, Gaara pulled back.
"Thank you," she whispered, before kissing him again, taking a hold of his hand. It was her way of saying thank you. She broke the kiss this time.
"Take care of yourself today,"
"You too," Gaara was more than a little dazed, "You should get some more sleep, it's early…"
Ino had gone to her pack to pull out her clothes, "its fine, I want to get to work,"
Gaara appeared highly uncomfortable, "There's a slight problem with that…"
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A/N: Ahh sorry it took so long to update. I've been very buzy lately. Next chapter is when we finally start seeing some SasuHina and SakuNeji action! Sorry it was short and overly fluffy, Do you guys think I'm progressing to fast? Please Review?
