2

Shikamaru,

Things here have pretty much quieted down. Our soldiers have been capturing member after member of the resistances. There are probably only two major ones left that we're aware of, and two we can definitely handle. Thanks for the support and the offer to come down, but I think you're better off over there. Who else is going to be the brains behind your government, hmm?

I'm sure by the time you get this, it's already been exposed that leaving Gaara by himself was never an option. It's the best thing I could come up with: send my brother your way in hopes for sanctuary or some other sort of protection. I'm sure you and the chibi hokage can manage something. I mean, I ran out of options and I didn't have anywhere else to turn. I know that sounds girlish and weak, but I really couldn't think of another solution. Just let him stay there for a month or so, until we get everything completely under control here. Please?

I got a letter from the Raikage the other day too. It turns out that all those small resistances have joined up and become one big one. They're calling themselves the Heaven's Guard—can you believe that? Anyway, the Raikage's trying to make it into the Rock Country without much success. They already tried escape to the Water Country by boat but (get this) they closed their borders to all trade and travel from the North. It was hard enough getting him there, and now they've got to traverse across to the Rock's border. I mentioned going to you guys, but he seemed hesitant. I guess because he doesn't know your feelings toward Cloud. Maybe you could send him a message about…?

No, I've written enough as it is. I just hope Mr. Captain got this to you safely and this isn't being read by some retarded resistance lackey.

And I'm sorry if I disappointed you in my not going there. Maybe some other time. Tell my brother to write me.

Thanks,

Temari

"Why must you involve yourself in other people's problems?" Sasuke sighed.

"Why must it bother you so much?" Naruto stuck out his tongue in response.

"Naruto, I'm serious."

"And so am I."

He sighed again. "Look, I'm just saying. You arrested fourteen people for treason. You made Konoha a target for rebel attacks. You put the entire nation in the middle of a political power struggle! At least feel a little responsible!"

"Who says I don't?" Naruto shot back, waving a stack of papers languidly at the other man sitting on the couch opposite him and plopping them onto the tabletop. "I know what I did. The fact of the matter is, Gaara is in danger and I'm going to help him. If it bothers you that much, have Anbu start patrolling the areas around the inner border!"

Another sigh. "You put your country in the middle of political power struggles for fun, then?"

"Argh, Sasuke! You're not listening to me!" Naruto flailed.

"I understand what you're saying, dobe."

"Don't call me that. I'm the hokage now."

"Doesn't change the fact that you're a dobe, dobe."

"I hate you," Naruto shook his head in defeat.

"Do you?" Sasuke asked.

"Oh, shut up, Sasuke. You know I don't."

"So, you like me then?"

It was Naruto's turn to sigh. "I'm going to kill you," he dropped his head into his hands. A pause. "Man, I'm tired…"

"Leading a nation does that to you," Sasuke nodded.

"It's not leading that's the problem," Naruto frowned. "I just… I'm trying to think of a solution to it all, and my brain's shot. I can't come up with anything."

"Well," Sasuke leaned back, lacing his fingers together and laying them across his belly. "Let's talk it out. How about it?"

"Okay…" Naruto kept his head in his hands.

"Alright. Gaara and the Raikage are trying to negotiate a peace treaty."

"Yes."

"The people of Cloud Country don't want peace; they're angry at the other four nations for losing the Great War."

"Idiots."

"Talk, don't think," Sasuke reprimanded.

"Sorry," Naruto grumbled.

"So a bunch of resistances have sprung up—same for the Sand Country, but not as intensely, right?"

"Mm-hmm."

"And all the northern resistances have pooled their might together to make one formidable resistance, according to Shikamaru."

"That's where I get stuck."

"Talk."

"Right."

"The resistances in the Sand are pretty much not a problem anymore, but Gaara's here, just in case they try anything."

"Yeah, we're pretty neutral here."

"So then, shouldn't we bring the Raikage here?"

"How? That's what I can't think of! And what about the Water Country and their border closing? What about the bridge…?"

"They're not going to close the bridge," Sasuke assured. "The Water Country's just scared. They're a knot of islands. Even with a Mitzukage, they're not a large force. They don't want to get sucked in and destroyed, like Whirlpool."

"Mom…" Naruto whispered.

"What was that?" Sasuke asked.

"Nothing," Naruto shook his head. "Okay, so the Water Country's scared. What can we do to convince them this is the right way?"

"We can give them aid," Sasuke suggested. "Soldiers, wares, whatever they require to better themselves. You've seen the country with your own eyes. You know it can stand some improvement."

"What about…another bridge?" Naruto asked.

"Now you're just copying their original idea," Sasuke frowned.

"No, hear me out!" the blond sat up. "They've been making all the effort, right? An effort to change, to gain control of the Mist Village and its shinobi, and even an effort to reach out to us, by building that bridge! Am I right?"

"Keep going," Sasuke nodded.

"We'll send them troops, to help in their efforts in controlling the Mist Village. If the Mist doesn't like it…" he faltered.

"It shouldn't matter if they like it or not," Sasuke shook his head. "Shinobi need jobs to survive, that's true. But a village that breeds heartless killers isn't a village at all; it's a training facility. And it needs to be shut down."

"I agree," Naruto straightened again. "We'll help control the Mist. We'll send money and supplies by boat to start overall improvements. And I'll hire a contractor to build another bridge, this time, from Konoha to the Water Country," he smiled, "to show we're reaching back."

"Excellent," Sasuke sat up. "I'll lead the siege on the Mist."

"No, not you," Naruto shook his blond head. "I need you here, Sasuke."

"What for?" the black-haired man asked incredulously. "That's possibly the most dangerous mission I've ever heard—"

"Please, I just need you to stay here," Naruto said quietly.

Sasuke sat still for a moment. "Why me?" he finally asked.

"If I have to explain it again, you haven't been listening to me," Naruto shook his head. "You can send your best people in there, but I need my captain to lead the main troops. Alright?"

"…yeah," Sasuke settled back down. "I think I understand."

"Mm…" Naruto sat back as well. There was a pregnant pause.

"How many can I send?" Sasuke asked.

"As many as you feel the need to," Naruto allowed.

"What about the supplies? Someone needs to guard the ships."

"I can send chunin and jounin on the boats; don't worry about that."

"The contractor?"

"I'll send Konohamaru to get him."

"Where is he?"

"In the Water Country."

Sasuke took half a minute to compute this. "But then that defeats the purpose—"

"No, it doesn't," he shook his head. "He won't begin from there. He's going to start the bridge from here."

"You're going to bring someone from the Water Country to build a bridge to it?"

"He's the only one capable of doing it," Naruto nodded and picked up a pen.