7

"So, when exactly are the Chuunin Exams going to be held?" Gaara looked out of the long window and down onto the street. Children chased each other back and forth with waterguns, shrieking happily. He saw a man leading two children up the street and raised an eyebrow curiously.

"In the Fall, after the academy re-opens," Naruto responded from his couch, lounging on it thoughtfully.

"Isn't that bad for security purposes?" Gaara turned from the window and took a seat behind the long desk.

Naruto shrugged. "Not necessarily. It'll keep the kids safe, actually; all those teachers guarding them. Plus, I'll get Sasuke to post some Anbu around the school as a precaution."

"He has children that go to the academy, correct?" Gaara's lips twitched in a little smile.

"All the more reason to get him to post Anbu there," Naruto nodded.

"And the Rock?"

"Well, the Tsuchikage is coming, so you and I can talk to him then."

"About that, Naruto," Gaara frowned. "I was…thinking of giving up on that."

"What? Why!" the blond shot upright, looking surprised.

The red-haired man swivled the desk chair away from his friend, staring back out the shatter-proof window. "I've…caused a lot of trouble for you, for everyone. The Water Country's declared Isolationalism, the Raikage's life is in jepordy, and I've even had to abandon my own country." He frowned. "This isn't what I intended, and I don't want to cause anyone trouble anymore."

"Gaara…" Naruto looked at his friend sadly.

"I'll go home after the Chuunin Exams are over," he nodded, more to himself. "I'll face all of my problems with Temari and Kankuro by my side." He turned his head sideways to glance at the other man. "Don't worry. You have Sasuke now, after all."

Naruto blushed a little at that. "Yeah, but, Gaara…" he started, sounding unconvinced, "I don't think you should just give up on that. What kind of impression would that make on your people?" He frowned. "Those who oppose you can use the lack of follow-through as leverage in getting you out of power."

"I just want what's best for everyone," he mumbled.

"You can't please everyone!" Naruto shot back. "Look at me: I tried to please my people, my council, my neighboring country, and it's almost all backfired on me!" He rose to his feet. "But you, Gaara, you have to forge your own path, no matter how difficult! I can only help you along; I can't make the path for you, and if you want to turn away now, I can't stop you… But I will take up what you've been trying so hard and so long to build, and I'll continue with it, because it's what all of our contries need. You knew that, and that's why you started it. Am I right?"

"I was a little worried," Gaara admitted, "that you'd changed, Naruto."

"Huh?" the blond blinked, taken aback.

"You've been…different. Almost passive, and that's not like you at all," his friend shook his head, turning the chair back around to face the other man. "I was worried that everything was changing you into a political tool, and that it was my fault, so I wasn't sure how to proceed."

"Huh…?" Naruto felt even more lost.

"But now that you've said that, I'm convinced that you just needed a little push to get you feeling like your old self again," Gaara shrugged. "Just remember, Naruto: you may be the leader of a country now, but that's no reason to change who you are and what you believe. I'll continue with these peace negotiations because I want to, not because I have a sense of duty to fulfil. I feel it needs to be done, and I'll do it; I don't care if one or two countries turn yellow and try to hide from the truth." He clasped his hands together and leaned forward on the desk. "The fact that you and the Raikage have responded to my summons means that this is what we all want, just some people are afraid of change. It can't be helped," he shrugged.

"This was…a test?" Naruto blinked, shocked.

"Pretty much," Gaara shrugged.

"That's—!" the blond didn't have time to finish his sentence. The double doors flew open and a dark little figure shot into the room and toward Gaara.

"Uncle Na—eep!" the figure turned into a little dark-haired boy who froze at the sight of Gaara sitting behind the desk. His white eyes widened and he darted back for the door.

"Huh? What's wrong, Haku?" a little girl entered in his place, looking around. "Oh, I see," her eyes fell on the red-head sitting behind the desk. "You must be the Kazekage. Where's Uncle Naruto?"

"Hana, be polite," Uchiha Sasuke came into the room after her, a terrified Haku locked onto one of his legs. "Haku, don't be rude. Greet the Kazekage." The two children obeyed, the boy detaching himself from his father and shuffling up to his sister, hanging slightly behind her.

"I'm Uchiha Hana, Kazekage-sama," the girl bowed only slightly, inclining her head more than the rest of her body.

"I… Uchiha Haku, honorable Kazekage," the boy's hair almost touched the floor with the depth of his own bow. Gaara stood from the chair and walked around the desk to the twins, kneeling in front of them and bowing his own head slightly.

"It's nice to meet you, Hana. Haku," he said gently. "My name is Gaara, and you can just call me that, if you'd like."

The children looked immediately to their father, who shrugged. "Do as the Kazekage says," he nodded.

"Okay, Gaara!" Hana beamed. "Where's Uncle Naruto?"

"He's right there," Gaara tilted his head to the left, indicating a stunned Naruto. "I'm afraid we were just talking about a few things, so we weren't expecting any visitors." He looked at the boy. "Sorry to have startled you."

"No," Haku blushed and shook his head, shrinking behind his sister. "It's alright, Gaara-sama."

"Oh," Sasuke followed the Kazekage's inclination. "There you are, dobe. You okay?"

"Fine," Naruto said, not sounding entirely convinced of that himself. Sasuke gave him another analytical look, his mouth twitching into a skeptical frown.

"Uncle Naruto, guess what?" Hana raced over to him. "Uncle Neji's coming home today! We're going to go meet him in the Anbu Tower!"

"Is he?" Naruto shook himself out of it and smiled at his niece and nephew. "That's great! And you stopped by here on the way?"

"Haku wanted to see you," Sasuke commented.

"Only Haku?" Naruto lifted an eyebrow at the dark-haired Anbu and then knelt in front of the children, similar to Gaara. "What's up, Haku?"

"Uncle Naruto, um…" Haku blushed, averting his eyes.

"If you want me to, Haku, I'll leave the room," Gaara stood.

"No!" he whirled frantically, looking slightly paniced. "It's okay! I mean, I don't mind if you hear, Gaara-sama…"

"Haku's worried," Hana said, a frown creasing her little brow. "He's having bad dreams lately."

"Not like that," he wailed, his face reddening even more. "I just…don't feel…right."

"He says it's like a premonition," Sasuke offered from the doorway.

"What do you see?" Naruto asked soothingly. Haku took a deep breath, closing his eyes, forcing himself to think clearly. Hana, standing beside him, calmly took his hand and waited.

"I see a tall, white-blond woman running away through some trees," he murmured, his white eyes looking away distantly.

"Is it long hair?" Gaara asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are her eyes yellow?"

"They're brightly colored," the little boy shook his head. "And her hair is very long and beautiful. She's being chased by men in black clothes; their faces are covered so I can't see them. They're chasing her to kill her, I can feel it," he whimpered, shaking at the memory. Hana wrapped one arm protectively around his trembling shoulders and glared at the three grown men.

"He's tired. He hasn't been getting any sleep," she defended him crossly. "We're gonna go get some water. Come on, Haku." She led him out. The three men watched the children leave. Naruto stood up as Sasuke closed the door after them.

"He was talking about the Raikage," Gaara stated.

"The Raikage's a woman?" Naruto asked.

"He's been having these dreams or whatever for a week now," Sasuke informed. "He was so worked up over them that I finally convinced him to talk to you about them today as we were passing through."

"Do you think he's just making it up?" Naruto frowned.

"He described the victim as a white-blond woman with long hair and light eyes," Gaara shook his head. "That's a basic description of the Raikage, and I think it's safe to assume it's her, seeing as she's being chased in the dream."

"Do you talk about anything at home?" Naruto turned to Sasuke.

"Just my own missions, and I don't go into details," Sasuke shook his head. "This is something else.

"The Byakugan working in some weird way?" Naruto guessed.

"Too vague," Gaara waved that thought off. "It might be a coincidence, and it may be that he's really seeing the future. We won't know until we investigate."

"He may be my son," Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest, "but I'm not going into the Cloud Country over a dream."

"What do you think, Naruto?" Gaara turned to the blond.

"Well, I've always been sorta mystified by this kind of thing," he admitted, slightly embarrassed. "But I agree with Sasuke on this: it's not much to go on."

"I think I'll send another message to the Raikage, just in case," Gaara nodded.

"It's good to keep her updated anyway," Sasuke agreed. "And we can learn more about her status too. Maybe we could see if Haku's dream is worth taking any precautions over."

There was a knock on the door. The two children re-entered, Haku looking much better, but still carrying an embarrassed blush on his face. "Um, daddy, can we go see Uncle Neji now?" he asked timidly.

"Sure," Sasuke nodded, turning to go. He stopped and looked back at the two kages. "We're having a welcome home dinner for Neji at the house tonight. You two are invited to come, if you'd like."

"Oh, please come!" Hana's eyes brightened. "It'll be so much fun! And I can ask Gaara about the Sand Ninjas!"

Gaara raised an eyebrow. Sasuke shrugged. "She likes combat stories," he explained.

"I might be able to come up with one or two," the red-head gave a small grin.

"YES!" Hana jumped up and down.

"Uncle Naruto?" Haku looked up expectantly.

"If I say no, I'll be left out," he laughed softly. "I'll come too."

"Okay!" Haku smiled brightly.

"We'll see you later then," Sasuke waved and led his children out. Naruto and Gaara watched them go.

"Cute," Gaara commented.

"Wait 'til dinner," Naruto chuckled. "They're a riot."

"I'm sorry about pulling you around like that," Gaara gave his friend a side-glance. "I hope you're not too mad."

"I'm not mad," Naruto shook his head. "You're right, I haven't been myself for a while now. I've been distracted by everything. But, I'll change that," he nodded. "Thanks, Gaara."

"No problem."