Author notes: We leave Suna for this chapter, going for Nara Shikaku's point of view.

Shikaku was trying to sort out the week's mission assignments from the ranks of Anbu to Genin, bored as hell with the load of paperwork on his desk. When he was done with this, he had another pile to look at. He sighed. He just wanted to go home. Yoshino had a fever this morning, and Shikaku was hoping to go home early to take care of her and Shikamaru. He had left his baby in the care of Inoichi's wife, but he didn't want to have her caring for two infants the whole day.

Someone knocked at the door and Shikaku hoped it was someone to release him from his paperwork duty. Like the Hokage with something more important than that pile of paper in front of him. But it was not Minato. It was someone from the Anbu.

"Lord Fourth received this scroll. It seems to be coming from Suna. We haven't detected anything suspicious on it, but we wanted to give it to you before leaving it in the hands of the Fourth."

Shikaku nodded. They preferred him risking his life opening a scroll than the leader of the village. The Nara man frowned. What could Suna want? In the previous timeline, they didn't really have a relationship with the Land of Wind before another… five years? Maybe more? Shikaku didn't remember, but Shikamaru wasn't a toddler then. This scroll could have good or very bad intentions. And he didn't want to take the guess. His paperwork already puzzled him enough.

But the Hokage's assistant didn't have much choice. It was his job to assist the leader of the Land of Fire. He looked at the scroll. There was the Suna emblem on it, of course. Shikaku dismissed the Anbu.

After the first paragraph, it was clear it was written by the Kazekage himself. He was addressing the Hokage.

I would like the next thing I'm writing to be only read by you. It is personal information that I don't wish anyone to use against my village. I trust you because apparently you have experience in what I need. I'm not telling you my source yet.

Shikaku frowned. Was he supposed to give the scroll to Minato just yet? Could he read the next part? The man bit his lips thinking of his dilemma.

Shikaku stood up from his chair and went to the next room. He knocked on the door. The Anbu guarding it let him, as usual.

"Yes?"

Shikaku entered and closed the door behind him.

"Hi Minato. Uh, you received this scroll from the Kazekage. I was going to read it and resume it, but the Fourth Kazekage mentioned he wanted only you to read."

"The Kazekage? What could Rasa want from me?"

Shikaku had no idea. He wished he had a clue, but his experience as the third Hokage's assistant was no use. The Hokage had been the one trying to get in touch with the Village Hidden in the Sand, in his previous life.

"Have you ever reached out to Rasa?" Shikaku tried, in order to come to a conclusion on why Rasa was contacting them.

"No. Can you read it aloud for me?"

"Are you sure? I don't think anyone is listening, but the Kazekage mentioned it was personal."

"I don't care, I trust you. You won't tell anyone."

Shikaku nodded. He opened the scroll again, and started from the beginning.

I heard from my tailed beast that your village's beast is having a good relationship with its jinchuriki. They can communicate together. I've been told you had done the seal. I won't tell anyone if you help me. I plan on sealing the beast into someone, but I'm not an expert. Shukaku told me you did the nine-tail's, with your wife.

Shikaku was surprised, but it made sense that Kurama had told Shukaku about it. Kurama knew the future. And Shikaku believed that Naruto could be worried about Gaara, thus why Kurama had reached out.

Shikaku recalled his previous life, when someone told him about the Fifth Kazekage's childhood. If he was not mistaken, his own father had ruined it. Everyone knew of his jinchuriki status. And if he could take a bet, Rasa wanted to use his own son once more as a weapon. Minato was better at helping with the seal. Shikaku knew Kushina would never leave someone with a horrific seal preventing them from sleeping.

Shikaku read quickly through the rest of it. "The Fourth Kazekage wants you and Kushina to visit Suna after his son's birth. You could go with a delegation. Tell the village it's to discuss business. Rasa believes we would benefit from their medicinal plants they grow and other things he doesn't want to write on paper, in exchange for goods from our land."

Minato seemed to think about it. "What if it's a trap?" Kumo coming in peace was a trap after all, even though it happened a couple years after Minato died.

"Do you want me to send Anbu to investigate the Land of Wind and their intentions?"

Minato bit his lips. He took the scroll and read it himself. "I'll let you know what I want to do. While having an arrangement with Suna could be beneficial, I'm worried. Am I supposed to go with Kushina and leave my children here? They are so young, I don't want to leave them for days without their parents. And they are way too young to travel with us."

"You still have time to think about it," Shikaku said. From his knowledge, Gaara was younger than Naruto by a few months, at least.

"What if they trick us? What would happen to my boys?"

"I don't think they want to trick us, but I'll send Anbu on it. Ok? We can also write back to the Kazekage and see how it goes."

Minato nodded. Shikaku really hoped Rasa was well intentioned. Shikaku knew he wasn't lying about wanting to seal the one-tail. He wished he could write to Temari and Kankuro, but they were so young. Barely toddlers. Plus, if their Anbu saw it, it would not look good for Konoha. Why would they try to reach the Kazekage's children? And talk about time-travelling, of all things.

If Shikaku's timing was right, they could go to Suna in the spring. It left them plenty of time to discuss the steps to take and what to negotiate with Suna's leader.

"I suggest sending Kakashi on this mission," Shikaku said. Kakashi had been in his previous life in Suna. While not during Rasa's reign, he knew more about this village than any other Anbu Shikaku knew. Besides, Kakashi was also from the future, which could help. And Shikaku knew he'd protect the Hokage with his heart, just by how close he was to Minato.

The scroll ended up with Rasa saying he owed that to his children. Shikaku knew what that meant: Temari and Kankuro had tried everything to save Gaara.

"I didn't even know the Kazekage had children," Minato said.

Shikaku almost busted out laughing. He knew Temari quite well from their previous life. Shikamaru denied any feeling towards the girl, but whenever she had been in Konoha, his son had escorted her everywhere, even when she didn't need it, or if it meant Shikamaru had to wake up early. And it was the only time in his life that Shikaku didn't hear him complain about waking up early.

"I heard he had two. They are probably older than our children, but maybe you could travel with Arashi and Naruto if you're so worried about leaving them behind. They could benefit from meeting the Kazekage's family. Meeting other jinchuriki, even if they're so young they don't realize it."

"I can't risk Rasa knowing about their status."

"Either he believes it's Kushina, or the one-tail told him it's your sons. I'll go with you. I'll take care of the business side of it while you enjoy a semi-vacation."