Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Wow, you know what? I'm gonna stop this. I'm just putting the disclaimer on the first chapter from now on. This is a troublesome waste of energy.

Before Kanemaru could answer, Sen disentangled herself from Gaara's lap and moved over to where the genin was standing. She began looking him over, like you would a work animal in a market stall. "This is the one you want," she started, as she moved around Kanemaru, even lifting a few strands of red hair to examine them.

"Yes," Gaara replied. What the hell was she up to? She was treating the boy like some pack animal, or perhaps a slave or something in an auction. Kami, this was odd, even for her.

Sen seemed to ponder this for a moment, as she continued her heavy scrutinization of the young and confused red head in front of her. "What do you see in him besides Uzumaki-esque determination?"

Oh, that's what she was doing, Gaara realized. She was giving him a chance to explain to Kanemaru why it was a genin he wanted and not an ANBU. Sometimes, she was so hard to understand, but she was always trying to make it easier for him to get his point across. Even if he had to add unecessary words, as troublesome as that was. Kami, now he was sounding like Shikamaru. He really just needed to send Temari to Konoha and get it the hell over with. "Well, aside from determination, he listens well. He's always respectful, although that could be a habit of upbringing more than choice. Also, his strengths compliment yours. He specializes in close combat with weapons."

Sen nodded and watched as the compliments sank in for the boy, the embarrassed pride showing on his face. "What's his element?"

"Sadly, we haven't determined that yet," Gaara said. "There hasn't been a need for it."

Sen smirked. That was Gaara for you. Never do something unless absolutely necessary. "Well, then we'd better find out, hadn't we?" She looked at Kanemaru. "Training grounds. Now, boy." She performed a hand sign before disappearing in a cloud of mist.

Before allowing the boy to question, Gaara chuckled, "Show-off." He turned to Kanemaru. "Come along. We'll take the normal way."

"Y-yes sir!" Kanemaru cried, before scrambling after the Kazekage.

They soon reached the training grounds, finding Sen leaning against a pillar, arms crossed over her chest and grinning cheekily.

"What took ya so long?" she teased.

"Walking," Gaara replied. "Like normal people."

Sen rolled her eyes. "Normal people? We're ninja for Kami's sake; there's a reason we have Body Flicker jutsus."

"Yes, and what was I thinking? You're not normal," Gaara replied.

Sen frowned, but then it disappeared. "What is normal?" she asked rhetorically. "But anyway, back to why we're here." She turned to Kanemaru. "You know about the elements, right?"

"Y-yes, of course," Kanemaru replied. "They're named for the Five Great Nations: fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water. Each is strengthened and weakened by another: fire is strengthened by fire but weakened by water and-"

"Okay, okay!" Sen said quickly, cutting him off when she saw irritation flicker across Gaara's face. He could only take a few shinobi's chattering: one being a blond: one Uzumaki Naruto and, of course, herself. "I see you understand about the elements. I take it you know about chakra paper?"

"Y-yes ma'am," Kanemaru stammered, his face red with a mix of emotions.

"All right, then," she handed him a slip of paper, "you know what to do."

Kanemaru took the paper and shut his eyes, focusing his chakra.

Sen glanced at Gaara, and saw her own curious anticipation mirrored in his eyes.

What element would this boy have?

What element will Kanemaru have? Will Gaara and Sen be able to train him? And most of all, will Kanemaru accept the mission? Find out, in chapter 12.