Third part of my Gaara x Naruto story. This story will contain boyxboy don't like don't read. Story is an M, why not sure yet. Just a bit of fun but starting to think of carrying it on a bit longer. I don't own Naruto sadly. Reviews welcome, any pairings people would like to see other than the ones already mentioned let me know. Enjoy.

Chapter 3. The night begins.

Naruto entered the little inn on the outskirts of his village with a grin. It had been three weeks to night that Temari and Shikamaru had announced their wish to wed, and finally the eagerly awaited stag night was upon them. Even from outside the building Naruto had been able to hear the music from the live band. The band was situated at the far end of the room, with a make-shift dance floor in front of their little stage. The dance floor already had two green clad ninja dancing happily. Naruto laughed a little he really shouldn't be surprised that Guy sensei and Rock Lee were already in the spirit of things. A quick glance around told him that nearly everybody who had been invited was here the room was full of shinobi, standing around talking or sat drink at the tables scattered around the bar. The blond Hokage made his way to the bar were a raven haired shinobi scowled at him.

"Your late dobe."

Naruto rolled his eyes at the greeting from his friend as he sat on the bar stool beside the dark haired ninja. "Are you drunk that almost lacked any real bite?"

Sasuke snorted but shook his head. "No, I'm not drunk I wish I was it would make the fact that Kakashi asked me to dance more bearable."

Naruto laughed. "Really?" When the Uchiha gave a stiff nod Naruto doubled over in a fit of giggles. "Now I'm really sorry I was late."

It took a few moments for Naruto to calm himself when he did he asked. "How's Sakura?"

"The same as she was when you asked this morning. She's at Temari's baby shower. Those two have been acting weird." Sasuke added the last part with a thoughtful look.

Naruto nodded, he had noticed wherever one seemed to be the other wasn't far behind, and usually whispering. Naruto's eyes popped open. "Hey you don't think Sakura's pregnant too, do you?"

Sasuke froze for a second then shook his head. "No. She would have told me the minute she knew. I do know that Gaara asked if she would take care of Temari personally. Maybe that's why."

"Is he here?" Naruto twisted on his seat his eyes scanning the crowd eagerly.

The Uchiha smirked at his best friend's poor attempt to look causal as he searched for his crush. He still marvelled at the fact Naruto thought no one else in the village knew of his interest in the other Kage. Though the truth was everyone in Konoha knew. He watched the blonds shoulders drop as he was unable to find the object of his desires.

"He's sat in the corner." Sasuke told the blond.

Quickly snapping his ocean blue eyes in the direction Sasuke had vaguely motioned Naruto's eyes finally found a mop of red hair. Gaara sat ramrod straight in his seat, eyes wide and staring straight ahead. A blond head resting on his shoulder. Wait, what? Someone was cuddling up to Gaara and they were still alive? A little burn started in Naruto's chest as he thought how much he'd like to switch places with the mystery man. Naruto along with Temari and Kankuro were Gaara's closest and most trusted people, but still Gaara had his boundaries. A handshake, a pat on the back or an occasional brush of their hands was the closest the smaller male would allow before he retreated away. Yet there he was sat with someone's head resting on his shoulder. The blonds' eyes narrowed as he leaned forward in his chair to get a better look at Gaara's companion.

"Who's...who's that with ...is that granny? What's she doing here? This is a guy's only party." Naruto squeaked.

Sasuke spun to look for himself and a smile pulled at his lips. "Looks like Gaara's pulled, though he doesn't look overly happy about it. Maybe you should rescue him."

Page Break.

If this was a tradition in Konoha Gaara was eternally thankful it wasn't in Sauna. The Kazakage had been here less than twenty minutes and already he was at his limit. Tsunade leaned into him more pushing her ample bosom against his side. Uncomfortable just wasn't the word for how the redhead felt right now.

"You know i-if I was ten years younger...I'd have h-had you...I'd have had you back at my place by now." Tsunade slurred.

Gaara's eye twitched. He was pretty sure if she was ten years younger she'd still be older than his mother. The Kazakage tried to discreetly slide away, but the drunken ex-Hokage followed.

"Even if you were twenty years younger I can assure you I would have no intentions of going anywhere near your place." Gaara hissed, but Tsunade didn't seem to hear or if she did she wasn't bothered by the remark.

Begrudgingly the redhead had to admit that maybe Kankuro's reasoning behind kidnapping Gaara's gourd had been valid. Tsunade most probably would have been crushed into an unidentifiable mush by now if he had it. Another one of the reasons the Kazakage found himself sat in this bar, was Kankuro's threat that went something along the lines of "if you ever want to see your precious gourd again you have to be a good baby brother tonight, okay?" No, no it wasn't okay at all. So far three people had bumped into him, one standing on his toe. That wouldn't have happened if he had his sand. The redhead would have crushed that foot before it squished his own. In fact Gaara was starting to feel that everything was Kankuro's fault. Gaara squeezed his eyes shut he had only left his gourd for a few minutes.

Flashback.

Gaara glared at Kankuro's head peeping around the door to his guest suite.

"I just came to make sure you would be ready on time."

The red haired man just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Have I ever been late? As you can see I'm already ready."

Kankuro stepped into the room and eyed his younger brother dubiously. "You're attending the stag night in your Kage robes?"

Gaara gave a curt nod. The brown haired shinobi ran a hand down his face.

"You can't wear them."

"Why?" Gaara asked in confusion.

"Because...you just can't find something else. Something casual." Kankuro sighed.

"Fine." The younger male snapped striding to his wardrobe and pulling out his long burgundy coat and chest armour.

"Jeez, Gaara you're not going to war. Something casual."

With a glare Gaara barked. "Why? What's wrong with this?"

Kankuro walked into the room and towards the wardrobe. "Because you're not a village leader tonight you're the bride's brother. It's a casual event. You need to dress more neutral. I'll pick you something."

"I refuse to let you dress me like one of your puppets."

"Don't be silly. I'm just gonna pick out some cloths that are appropriate for tonight." The brown haired ninja mumble as he retrieved a few pieces of clothing from Gaara's draws and set them on the bed.

The Kazakage stepped forward to examine his brother's choice. Gaara turned his turquoise eyes to the puppet master with an arched brow.

"Why these?"

"Because tonight you're not the Kazakage."

"I'm always the Kazakage."

"No tonight you're...Gaara."

"...The Kazakage of the sand."

"What? No, that's not what I mean." With a frustrated sigh Kankuro tried again to explain in a way his younger brother would understand. "Everyone knows you're the Kazakage. That you're a strong, stoic and intimidating shinobi. Some even remember you from when you were a weapon, but tonight you are just Gaara. A normal shinobi from Sauna, brother of the bride, future brother-in-law to one of their highest ranked ninja and friend of the Hokage. People still fear you a little so tonight is a great opportunity to show them you're just like them. Have fun, socialize and make bonds."

Gaara tilted his head to the side a he considered Kankuro's little speech. "Make bonds?"

Kankuro nodded. He'd have to remember to thank Naruto later for making the word "bonds" such an important word to his brother. Any mention of the word had Gaara over analyzing the conversation around it.

"So you are implying by attending tonight I may be able to create more or stronger bonds with the shinobi of this village."

"Exactly. They get to see a less intimidating side, a more approachable side of you."

"Fine."

"Good now go take a shower and get dressed."

"No." Gaara deadpanned.

"What? Why?" Kankuro held up a hand when Gaara made to answer. "I know you feel vulnerable around water and it's scarce in Sauna. But here we can use as much as we want, so take advantage of it."

"Fine." Gaara's face started to crack as he removed the layer of sand coating his body.

"Really you're wearing your sand armour in the guest suite of the Hokage tower."

Instead of answering the red haired watched silently as the sand retreated back into his gourd that was resting in the corner of the room. Once Gaara was satisfied his sand was safe he proceeded to untie is robes and hang them up. Once they were neatly hung in the wardrobe he faced his brother and said.

"You can leave now."

"Have you got any different sandals?" Kankuro asked.

"Yes over there." The redhead pointed to a rack with three pairs of shoes resting on it.

"Great you go get in the shower. I'll pick out which ones you should wear then we're all ready to go." Kankuro smiled clapping his hands together.

Gaara narrowed his eyes on his brother but decided to just shrug it off and made his way to the bathroom. He paused at the door and threw one last look in his brother's direction. Kankuro was stood watching him a small smile on his face, he made a "shoo shoo" motion. Gaara rolled his eyes and shut the door behind him.

Five minutes later Gaara emerged from the steamy bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and one slung around his neck. His dark rimmed eyes scanned the room for a moment, something seemed off. Feeling unnerved Gaara summoned his sand to his side. It didn't respond. Gaara quickly realized the corner his gourd had been placed was empty. Snatching his cloths from the bed he dragged them on and over his still damp body. He was going to kill Kankuro, brother or not. The Kazakage stormed through the halls until he reached his brothers room. He had tried several times during his short journey to call his sand back, but still it didn't respond. With a snarl Gaara balled his fist and banged twice on the door of the room Kankuro was staying in with unnecessary force.

"Good you're ready." Kankuro remarked as he opened the door and stepped out.

Before the puppet master could shut his door Gaara barged his way inside scanning the room, his turquoise eyes aflame. "Where is it?"

"If you mean your sand it's not here. I'm not that dumb. I'm kidnapping it. So you'll be a good boy and play nice with the other ninja if you ever want to see your precious sand again. Relax its fine you can have it back in the morning. You can't take it with you. That's why I took it I knew you'd want to take it."

Gaara remained silent as he tried to summon his sand unsuccessfully once again.

"When you jumped in the shower I took the opportunity to seal your gourd with a few dozen sealing tags then I hid it. I'm officially holding your gourd hostage. If you turn up at the bar as the only one armed the shinobi here will think you don't trust them." Kankuro claimed.

"That still doesn't give you the right to steal my gourd. I will not sit in a room full of drunken shinobi unarmed." The redhead ground out through clenched teeth.

"Sorry Gaara. I'll give you your gourd back in the morning. Now come on we'll be late."

Gaara watched as his older brother strode out the room whistling a chirpy tune. Black rimmed eyes narrowed dangerously and Gaara bitterly wondered how rusty the retired psychotic side of his personality was."

End Flashback.

Gaara stiffened as Tsunade tried to force a cup of sake in his pale hand.

"Come on Kazakage live a little, it might lose...loosen you up a little."

"I don't drink any alcohol." Gaara repeated the same line he'd been telling the drunk woman since she decided to invade his quiet corner.

Tsunade waved a hand around nearly knocking the glass of water Gaara had been reaching for over the table top. "You should, ha. I-it might make the night go f-faster."

The redhead took a deep breath before answering. "I doubt anything short of a miracle would make this night end faster."

"How about a little wager? If I win you have t-to have a little drink, and (hic) if I win I'll get you o-out of having to s-stay until the end of the night." The blond woman smiled mischievously.

Gaara turned curious eyes on the slumped ex-Hokage. "What kind of wager?" Everything about this as a bad idea and Gaara knew it, but the idea of being able to leave this ridiculous celebration was just so tempting.

Tsunade smirked. "If you can swipe me two...no three jugs of sake f-from the bar, I'll give you an excuse to l-leave."

"Swipe? You mean steal? I can't steal from a bar in an allied village." The Kazakage growled.

Tsunade laughed. "You have fifteen minutes to c-complete my challenge or..." Here she leant forward and gave Gaara a nasty smile. "you will be my drinking partner for the night."

Gaara opened his mouth not quite sure what he was going to say. Yes he wanted to leave, yes the challenge should be easy, but he didn't have his sand and if he got caught? Would it ruin his reputation as a Kage? That was a stupid question of course it would. And Naruto would be disappointed he had...what was the word the hyperactive blond always used when Gaara refused to go or do something with him? Ditched? Yes Naruto would accuse Gaara of ditching him again. No he wouldn't be pulled into any childish bets not tonight, not ever.

"I will have to decline the offer lady Tsunade..." Gaara stopped when a shadow fell over the table.

Both Gaara and Tsunade looked up to see Naruto glaring down at them. Though Gaara's facial expression didn't change his heart jumped he really hoped Naruto hadn't overheard their conversation.

"What the hell granny? You're a girl you can't be here." The blond yelled pointing a finger at the woman.

Tsunade shot to her feet slamming her hands on the table. "What did you say brat?" She snarled.

Gaara raised a hand to his forehead and traced a finger over the scar found there. "Why did I agree to this?" He thought ideally to himself. A quick glance up through his lashes at Naruto's heated glare that was still fixed on the ex-Hokage and Gaara's breath hitched ever so slightly. "he's why."