90 degrees

By Fancyspinner

For warnings/disclaimers see pt1.

Beta requested anyone interested PM me.

Interlude 2: Countdown

Kurenai watched with a feeling of 'surprise at how well Gai handled the boys. He seemed to have a natural gift for soothing overwhelmed children. Maybe this would work out. She looked around his home. It was an interesting place. The sleeping spaces were made with Tatami floors but the public areas were wood. The kitchen was pretty typical. The only surprising part was that there was a great deal of counter space.

Gai suddenly rushed towards her out of the room and she could almost swear his feet didn't touch the floor. He softly asked if she could pass him the bags and she held them out. She hoped that she managed to keep the totally stunned expression off her face when he took out 2 of the most beautiful dragons she had ever seen. They glowed as the early afternoon light streamed in through the windows.

He then quietly went back to the boys. Feeling way too much interest in what Gai was going to do with the dragons she stood in the doorway. He placed the Bronze dragon next to Naruto and the Green one next to Lee. Then he picked up a coverlet and spread it over the 4 occupants of the bed. It was such a tender seen that it made her a little emotional. She watched as he gently smoothed the coverlet over the boys and absent mindedly stroked each boy's hair. She quickly backed away. When Gai came back out she was sitting down on a one of the many cushions Gai had spread out for company.

"Kurenai, I'm sorry would you like some tea or something?"

"No don't worry. Are the boys settled in?"

"They didn't even stir a bit."

"Those dragons are beautiful. Where did you get them?"

"Well, when I went to get Naruto from Yamanaka Naruto was holding the dragon and talking very seriously to it about flying away." Yamanaka let him keep it. That's the Bronze one. The Green one, on our way to the hospital I asked Naruto if he wanted to get Lee a gift. Once I explained to him that we would find another dragon for Lee, Naruto thought we were going to give Lee his, Naruto found this stall with lots of stuffed toys." He reached out to the last bag and tugged out his little Chef. Kurenai laughed.

"Oh Kami! He's so cute!"

"You can go get your own." Gai mumbled in embarrassment.

"There was this old lady Sanju Tsu. She seems to be one of the travelling folk. She was very kind and even gave us some spray to keep the fur soft she seemed to relate to Naruto very well."

"We should really talk about basic child care."

Gai shrugged. "Kurenai, I know about keeping them clean and fed and all of that and that advice to the contrary a 4 or 5 year old is not able to care for themselves." He grew pensive then and she waited to see what he would say. "I also know that in this case in particular, there are many things to take into consideration. I know there are prodigies like Uchiha Itachi and even Kakashi but I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"You can be very wise, Gai."

"Hardly, I just know what I wouldn't want for my children. I'd rather have two well adjusted children with average behavior than two geniuses that are not able to handle the pressure."

"Naruto especially has many emotional wounds that will need to heal and they might never fully do that. Have you thought about that?"

"I hadn't given it a lot of thought. I just figured with a lot of caring and acceptance that things would get better."

"I'm sure they will but he might always be a little more clingy and need that little bit more attention and you cannot neglect Lee for Naruto."

"I do know that."

"Ok," Kurenai changed her approach. "How will you handle the evaluation?"

"I don't have much of a choice, do I? It has to happen and I'm … unsure what to do. I can't help Naruto or lee for that matter do things they cannot or react in ways that might be considered more appropriate."

"Why would you need to do that?"

"I'm already kind of attached to the kids. The Hokage said that if they don't think that Naruto is doing ok they'll take them away."

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

While Gai and Kurenai talked about child rearing practices, Inoichi Yamanaka found himself wanting to get drunk and for once, being unable to do so. He stalked down the hallways of the Hokage tower searching for Ibiki Morino and when he found the office he flung the door open.

"Yamanaka. What seems to be the problem?"

"The problem seems to be that this village is falling apart!"

He was motioned in and glared at.

"Oh cut it out. You try dealing with the insanity that is Maito Gai."

Ibiki pointed to the line of bruising surrounding his throat.

"Inoichi couldn't help but laugh.

"Guess I had it better than you."

"Why are you here?"

"I do work here. Tell me about your run in with the nut."

"Gai is not a nut. He is a unique individual."

"Hmm! What did you do to piss him off?"

"I did what I was told to do."

"I guess he didn't take you insulting the kid well?"

Ibiki shrugged.

"I didn't get to that part. I just used a bit of scorn and a look."

"I guess that situation will work out?"

"We shouldn't under estimate Maito Gai."

"Maito Gai could take apart most Jonin in the village if he got it into his head to do so. His mind is a very … unique place and somewhere I would hate to go." Inoichi waved the glare away.

"You spy on his mind?"

"I took a little peak today and it left me with a headache. He wants to cut you up into tiny bits. He's rather unreasonable on the subject."

"I destroyed his belief last night."

"go fix it! We need to work with his approval for the next several months and I will not work in a battle zone."

"People like him don't trust easily even if it seems as if they are open to everyone."

"Go tell him the Hokage made you do it."

"That won't matter. What will we be taking tomorrow?"

"You are an idiot and when he puts you in the hospital I will laugh. Where's all your kid equipment.

Ibiki pointed to a solid looking wall and then turned back to his paperwork. Inoichi went over to the wall and traced its outline looking for a hinge to denote a door or something and came up empty. Then he grabbed a Kunai out of his pouch and pricked his finger and traced a circle on the wall. The entire wall sprang out towards him and almost knocked him out. The next several months were going to be horrible he just knew it!

He wandered through the organized racks of equipment. He picked up some simple puzzles. There was a large variety. He loved the one depicting a ninja all decked out in battle gear. Then he picked one up depicting Konoha. He grabbed a large box of colored pencils and paper. And added word pictures. He dropped the pile of stuff on the floor. He hummed happily as he looked around for more items to take. Then he spotted the Dragon book and grabbed it. If nothing else interested the Jinchuriki, he was certain the dragons would. He added the book to the pile. Then he exited the hidden room and the entry silently disappeared.

"Ibiki." He called softly, "I'm leaving. He picked up all of his items for the next day and set them on an empty chair.

"I'll pick all this up in the morning."

"Sure."

The instant Yamanaka left Ibiki rose and went over to a bookcase set along the wall. He was probably the ninja most versed in the human psyche in the elemental nations. The cost had been terribly high but he would do it again if he had too. He understood the cruelty and pain and human kindness but most importantly Morino Ibiki understood the masks people developed. That was why the Sandaime had tasked him with this mission no one else would be able to understand the impact Uzumaki Naruto's abuse would have on him enough to minimize them.

Gai could offer love and affection and even limits. Knowing Gai, Limits would be a constant trial. The man didn't believe in limits save for those one set on themselves. Ibiki just knew he would be the one to make Gai set limits and feed the kids proper food because the others were too annoyed with Gai half the time to really call him on the more insane challenges he set for himself.

Ibiki grabbed a pad of paper and a couple of pens. Then he picked up 2 of his most treasured possessions One was by Carl Jung it was rumored that it was written before the elemental nations were even thought up and dealt with many interesting things such as the collective unconsciousness and archetypes. He hoped it would help Gai understand people a little better. The other discussed a concept called the hierarchy of needs by someone named Maslow. The book also talked about ways to modify behavior. He might tell Gai about the Hokage sending him to test Gai's commitment but he shouldn't have to do that because Gai should already know the truth. Looking around his office, he picked up a couple of sealing scrolls and placed everything in them. Then he went home.

TBC

Upcoming: the evaluations and time moves on.

Not real happy with this part. I rewrote it several times.