Summer Affair

1

"I don't think you actually realize what kind of situation we've been put in!" an older man from the left spoke up, his tone angry.

"Indeed," a woman two seats down from him interjected. "With the Kazekage here in our village, all the resistance factions will begin filtering into our nation."

"It's only a matter of time before they declare us their enemies as well and begin attacking our own citizens!"

"The two of you have put everyone in the Fire Country in a dangerous position!"

"That will be enough, thank you," Uzumaki Naruto leaned forward, resting his elbows on the long polished wood desk. "I have yet to hear a word of concern for the Kazekage from any of you."

"He's the one that's put us all in danger!" another man called out.

"So then, it's perfectly all right to hand the leader of the Sand Country over to a bunch of renegades who are intent on killing him?" One of Naruto's blond eyebrows arched meaningfully. "I didn't think relations between our two countries had become so strained."

"Well, with all due respect, hokage," another council member spat the word out distastefully, "I'm sure if the Kazekage weren't a personal friend of yours, you'd be seeing more sense."

"Counselor, are you implying that my judgment is being clouded by the fact that the Kazekage is my friend?" his tone turned harsh.

There was a bit of silence. Then, a woman closest to Naruto's right hand spoke quietly. "I'm sure that's not what the counselor meant, Hokage-sama," she avoided his eyes. "They are just worried about the good of the people."

"You," Naruto turned to face her. "You seem to still have your sense about you. What do you think about this situation?"

"Well, I…" she glanced from him to the other council members in the room.

"Don't worry about what they think," Naruto waved a hand dismissively, "I want to know what you think. I don't believe I've ever heard you speak before today, actually, Counselor…"

"Rin. Maori Rin, sir."

"Tell me then, Rin-san," he gestured, "what do you think about the Kazekage taking refuge in Konoha?"

"Well," she took a deep breath, smoothing a hand back over her dark hair, "I don't think it's wise to become involved in another nation's problem." She hesitated. "But…as allies and neighbors, we cannot ignore his plight. He has come to us for assistance and I believe it should be given to him."

"Rin, listen to what you're saying!" a man yelled.

"Sir, one more outburst from you and I will have you removed from this meeting." Naruto shot him a dirty glare. "Is that understood?" When he got no answer, he turned back to the woman, Rin. "Please, continue."

"No, I…" she shook her head. "I just…that's all. I believe we should aid Kazekage Gaara."

"Thank you," Naruto turned back to the room. "This meeting is adjourned, but I'd like you all to stay seated for another moment. I will be back." Naruto turned to look down at the man sitting beside him. "Kazekage?" The red-haired man stood. Naruto's gaze skipped over to the purple-eyed woman. "Rin-san, will you accompany us?"

"Ah?" she blinked. "Yes, of course, Hokage-sama!" Rin rose from her chair and hurried out of the side door to avoid the daggers being glared at her. Naruto and Gaara followed after her at a slower gait.

"Seems like I've sent your entire council into an uproar, huh?" Gaara spoke offhandedly. "Sorry. It seems I still have that effect on people."

"You don't have a council, do you, Gaara?" Naruto asked.

"Too noisy," he shook his head.

"Erm, Hokage-sama?" Rin addressed him as they both approached her in the next room. "I didn't mean to sound…"

"Please relax, Rin-san," Naruto gestured to the comfortable-looking study around them. "Have a seat." She did, hesitantly. "Rin-san, can I ask you? What do you think of the council?"

"The…council?" she blinked.

"Yes, the council," Naruto reiterated. "They are not here to distract you, so if you please."

"I…" she looked like she was unsure of how to begin. "They are…they just want to…"

"Look," Naruto slid his hat back, revealing his spray of blond locks. He crouched beside Rin and shrugged his shoulders. "I want you to tell me honestly. I don't want to order you to tell me." His blue eyes sparkled.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I believe they are scared. Scared of change," she looked at him. "Scared of you, and what you are capable of doing to this country."

"What do you think I'm capable of doing to this country?" he prompted her to continue.

"I see your intentions are good and pure," she nodded. "I agree with a lot of your new policies. You're fair and competent, and are—most of all—human. You make mistakes. You ask for advice. You are emotional and optimistic; that optimism can change people. I've seen it happen before…" For a moment, Rin became lost in her own thoughts. Naruto and Gaara exchanged a puzzled glance.

"I do all that?" Naruto asked him.

"Sometimes," Gaara grinned.

Rin quickly became herself again. She shook her thoughts off physically with a small shudder and continued to speak. "I have no problems with you being hokage. Everyone else, though…" she frowned. "They want someone who won't fight them, and will bend at their will. They want someone…older, and less idealistic. They feel it's…safer."

"And my being a jinkurichi has nothing to do with any of their feelings, does it?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"That is, sir, what they're most afraid of," she admitted.

"That's what I thought." Naruto let out a sigh and hoisted himself to his feet. He pulled the hat back onto his head and went over to the small door (which was hidden behind a pillar on the outside, so not many knew about this secret room; Naruto liked it that way). He knocked twice. A young shinobi soon entered.

"Yes, Hokage-sama?" he saluted.

"Konohamaru, you remember Gaara don't you?" Naruto gestured back over his shoulder to the Kazekage.

"Yes, of course," Konohamaru smiled over at him. "I'd heard you arrived with the captain's group but I hadn't seen you around."

"I'm trying to keep a low profile," Gaara said dryly.

"Do me a favor, Konohamaru," Naruto said. "Go get Sasuke for me."

"No need," the younger man shook his head. "He's been waiting outside for the meeting to be over for about forty minutes now."

"Doesn't he have anything better to do?" Naruto rolled his eyes. "Send him in, would you?"

"Sure thing," Konohamaru saluted again and left. Rin watched the whole thing in a kind of stupefied surprise. Not even a minute after he left, Uchiha Sasuke entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama?" he saluted the other man.

"Sasuke, this is Maori Rin," Naruto introduced them. Rin jumped in surprise. "She's one of my youngest council members."

Sasuke gave a slight bow. "How do you do, Maori-san?"

"Um, thank you," she stammered. "Hello."

"Rin-san, this is Uchiha Sasuke, my Anbu Captain."

"Uchiha… Sasuke," she repeated, her eyes clouding. Sasuke noted it, but didn't pry. "How do you do?" she nodded a little stiffly.

"Sasuke, I want you to do me a favor," Naruto either didn't notice the change or ignored it. "I want you to gather every council member besides Rin-san and place them under arrest for treason."

Rin gasped. Sasuke and Gaara both blinked their surprise. "Are you…sure about that, Hokage?" Sasuke asked him.

"If I could arrest them for being stupid, I'd add that to the charge," Naruto stated grimly. "I mean it, Uchiha. They're in the main office. Get some Anbu on the double and do it now. I want every one of them thrown in jail and put on trial, and I want Rin to be promoted to the Hokage's Official Assistant."

"But… but!" Rin sputtered.

"Rin," Naruto turned to her. "I want to change these ancient, outdated laws we have. I want to build a country that is truly free and is not blinded or bound by fear. I can't change anything if every single power behind me is against it, can I? But I can't do it alone," he held out a hand to her. "Our nation is powerful, and we can become allies with the other four great countries and achieve true peace. The Kazekage and the Raikage wish for it, so we're already halfway there, right? Will you help me? Please?" he begged.

Everyone held their breath. The silence in the tiny room was deafening. All eyes were on Rin, waiting to see what she would do or say.

"It won't be an easy path, Hokage," she shook her head. "A lot of the people will become apprehended at the arrest of the entire council, especially the older ones."

"I won't turn Gaara over to those idiots," he growled. "I don't care if I have to fight the whole of Konoha for him to stay, but he is staying, and that whole damn council is getting arrested for wanting to hand over a nation's leader to spare their own damn comfort!"

"I'll help you," Rin nodded, grinning a bit. "Just in case you get carried away."

"Ten minutes and she already knows you," Gaara hid his own grin with one hand. "Beautiful."

"Sasuke, do it now," Naruto ignored the last comment. "And report back to me later with anything, especially what you hear from the villagers. Is that clear?"

"Sir," Sasuke saluted him and left, casting one last look over at Rin, who was eyeing him strangely.