lostmoonchild: Hey, thanks for the reviews! I was originally going to write down what exactly Sasuke did but for some reason the words didn't come so I just decided to skip it. Yes, Sasuke is going to be a good guy (he's still not going to like Hi-chan) although I still think he's an ass. I know the "san" and "chan" differences, I was just kinda playing with the idea that Hi-chan technically is older than Matsuri despite having the phsyical appearance and mentality of a child but thanks! So here's this week's chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto so don't sue.
Chapter Fifty One
He was beginning to suspect that he'd have to assign an ANBU squad to ensure that his goddaughter didn't cause any trouble although he also suspected he'd be seeing several transfer requests from the ones that were terrified of the girl. As Gaara stared at the three people in his office, one teenager and two children, he had the sinking feeling that he couldn't keep up the routine he had allowed himself to settle into. He just wished that his goddaughter hadn't thought to pull Kenji and Ichiru into the mix seeing as the former looked about ready to cry and the latter looked a bit anxious.
The Kazekage raised a nonexistent eyebrow as he read through the report, wondering how exactly his goddaughter had managed to stick all of the furniture in the Jounin's area onto the ceiling when reports showed that Kenji and Ichiru showed up shortly before the Jounin arrived. "I did most of it, Gaara, so Kenji and nii-san shouldn't get into trouble." Hisoka offered. "They showed up right after I had basically finished up."
"Hisoka! We helped paint the floor!" Kenji protested.
"At the end!" Hisoka sighed as she put an arm around Kenji's shoulders. "You're a goofy."
"Am not!"
Ichiru sighed as he looked at the two children before looking at Gaara. He wondered if he'd have dark marks around his eyes from the lack of sleep as well or if the few hours of rest he was granted would help fight back the marks. "Don't count on it." Ichibi chuckled darkly.
Hisoka frowned slightly as she stared at Ichiru, her gray eyes questioning. "What's Ichi-kun talking about?" Hisoka asked. "Don't count on what? Nii-san, what's Ichi-kun talking about?"
"It's nothing." Ichiru told her.
"It's nothing terrible."
"Ichi-kun's lying. He sounds like Kabuto when he said the green stuff wouldn't hurt and the people's skin got all bubbly before they folded backwards and they broke."
"It's nothing like that, little one." Ichibi tried to reassure the child.
While her eyes said that she didn't believe him, Hisoka chose not to voice her doubts. "Let me get this straight." Gaara said calmly. "Hisoka got bored so she decided to pull a prank on the Jounin and somehow you two knew that she was pulling a prank and decided to sneak in and join her."
"Basically."
He really should remember that one Uzumaki can cause enough trouble by themselves but if a friend or two were added then real trouble would get started. He had forgotten that was the reason why there were always one or two people around Naruto that could keep him in line. He just wondered what Akina would do when she found out her son had gotten into trouble with her boyfriend's daughter. "I really shouldn't be surprised that you and Kenji are already acting like you're siblings." Gaara sighed.
He knew that the relationship between Naruto and Akina was getting pretty serious and that any day now he'd be seeing a request for transfer on his desk. Of course it wouldn't be for Naruto and Hisoka to live in Suna seeing as Konoha would have a fit if Naruto even attempted to leave for good but for Akina and Kenji to move to Konoha. "Why did you three choose Jounin?" Gaara asked finally.
"Gennin are no fun, Chuunin tend to only yell, and ANBU throw explosives." Hisoka listed effortlessly. "Jounin at least chase."
What the hell was the difference between Suna and Konoha ANBU then? "You two head home. Hisoka, you'll wait until I can leave." Gaara told them. "I'll figure out what to do with you three later."
"Bye, Hi-chan. We'll see you later." Ichiru sighed softly.
"Bye, nii-san!" Hisoka hugged Kenji tightly. "Just tell your mom I'm a bad influence. That's what Daddy calls Kakashi-Ji-Ji when he reads those orange books around me."
Which would be all the time if he remembered correctly unless by some miracle the Jounin managed to pry his eye away from the book when Hisoka was around. "Go home." Gaara told the two boys with a small nod. "Kenji, if your mother has any problems just have her talk to me and we'll work something out."
"Okay."
Those two children really were joining together on a sibling level. Gaara watched the worry in his goddaughter's eyes as Kenji and Ichiru left the office before she crawled onto his lap. "Gaara, if Daddy and Kenji's mom decide to get married will she be my new mom?" Hisoka asked quietly.
"She'd be your stepmother."
"What about Kenji?"
"Stepbrother."
Hisoka didn't say anything for a few moments before nodding slightly. "So how come you really decided to prank the Jounin?" Gaara questioned.
"I miss school. I know I'm ahead of the other kids in my class at home but I still miss school."
He'd have to set something up so the girl could get lessons then. "Let's go home." Gaara said with a small sigh. "Then tomorrow I'll see what we can do."
"M'kay."
Lightly pushing her off his lap, Gaara held the girl's hand as they left the office with the redhead wondering just how Naruto could handle this without losing his sanity. He could still remember Matsuri's questions regarding why Hisoka called her "Matsuri-chan" when the girl was only six. Of course the expression on the kunoichi's face when she realized that she had babysat someone older than her had been amusing but it was still a headache.
He just hoped that Hisoka understood why she had to act like her physical age instead of her chronological age.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
"You want what?"
Naruto grinned as he rubbed the back of his head a couple days later, knowing that Tsunade still wasn't overly pleased over three of her shinobi and Sasuke being thrown in the hospital for alcohol poisoning by a couple of drunk shinobi. She still hadn't read the report but if even Naruto had drank enough alcohol that his metabolism couldn't keep up, it was something she'd be better off reading little by little. "Well, there's this one girl in Suna-" Naruto's eyes widened when Tsunade suddenly stood up.
"Whole story. Now."
Tsunade listened as Naruto told how he and Akina had met as well as when they had realized their feelings. "Then we got to talking that maybe she could live here so we could be a family." Naruto told her. "Hi-Hi and Kenji are around the same age so they can entertain each other. I know Hi-Hi's lonely with no other kids around that don't have to listen to clan etiquette and stuff like that. Besides, Hi-Hi likes Akina and I want to marry her but I don't think either of us could stand being married and being so far apart."
As a medic-nin, Tsunade remembered the auburn-haired woman and from her first impression, the woman was more than capable. Hisoka had appeared to like the woman enough to do everything the woman had asked as if she were the girl's own mother. "So you want to marry Akina." Tsunade said calmly.
"If she's willing to put up with me."
"She has my permission if Lord Kazekage will agree to allow Akina and her son to leave Suna."
Naruto cheered loudly before looking sheepish when Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Is your apartment going to be big enough for four people?" Tsunade asked finally.
"For now. I mean it's not like it'll be impossible to get a bunk bed."
Tsunade nodded slightly before dismissing him. When the blonde man left the apartment, the woman smiled to herself as she began writing a message to send to Gaara.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
He thought he'd have a moment's peace but when Akina came into his office looking a bit anxious about something, he knew that today was the day that the question finally came into play. "Good afternoon, Akina-san." Gaara said with a small nod.
"Good afternoon, Lord Kazekage." Akina responded. "May I have a moment of your time?"
"Go ahead. Is something bothering you?" Gaara asked.
Akina fidgeted slightly a moment before answering, "I know you're friends with Naruto so you may have already heard from him regarding our relationship."
"I have."
"Then you're probably aware that he's asked me to marry him and that he'd like Kenji and me to move to Konoha so we can be a family."
Gaara smiled softly in amusement as he leaned back in his chair. "That seems to be a theme lately. Temari's already asked for permission to move to Konoha so she can marry Shikamaru Nara."
A blush formed on Akina's cheeks as she responded quickly, "I mean no disrespect, sir, and I don't mean to sound ungrateful for your father accepting a wandering shinobi family to settle down within Suna, but I have never felt truly comfortable here. I don't regret serving under you and I-"
"I understand." Gaara offered a comforting smile. "I must admit that I had been wondering when you were going to seek permission to take yourself and your son out of the village."
Surprise crossed the woman's features before her blush deepened. "Kenji adores Naruto and I feel that my son needs a man like Naruto to be in his life." Akina told him.
"As do I. You have my full permission to move to Konoha as well as my blessings and congratulations."
Akina bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Kazekage," she said softly.
"Gaara."
The woman jumped slightly in surprise and gave the redhead a questioning look. "Naruto is considered to be an unofficially adopted brother to my siblings and myself. Since you are going to marry him, I request that the formalities between us are dropped." Gaara explained. "Also, Naruto has sent word that things have settled down enough for Hisoka to return to Konoha."
"So soon?"
"As much as it displeases me. I intend on telling Hisoka tonight although I've sent word to Naruto that it will take a little while for you to get your affairs in order and that Hisoka will be returning to Konoha with you, Kenji, and Temari. Lady Tsunade has already informed me that two squads will be sent to meet up with you all at the border."
Nodding slightly in understanding, the woman bowed again before leaving. Happiness grew within the woman as she walked through the streets, knowing full well that the only time they'd be in Suna was to visit. She didn't know why this village felt like a prison to her when she didn't even know how Konoha would feel to her or Kenji. Would they be accepted or would they be looked down upon for leaving their village?
Her eyes softened as she walked by the park and saw Hisoka and Kenji chasing each other around the swings with some other children, their shouts of excitement filling the air. Even among other children they stood out as something different. Perhaps this move would be good for her son and give him what he needed to avoid following in his father's footsteps.
Pain clenched Akira's heart as she remembered her ex-husband before she stomped down on his memory. She hoped he was rotting in a gutter somewhere and completely miserable seeing as he had ditched his family just because she had gotten injured. The wounds he caused her, however, she knew Naruto would be able to heal.
Smiling softly, the woman turned towards her and Kenji's apartment to begin packing their things.
lostmoonchild: Yay! Gaara and Tsunade gave permission for both sets of lovers to be together in Konoha! So I'm gonna vanish again until next week and I hope ya'll have a good Easter. Read and review!