5
Yamigakure No Sato, Five star hotel, 12:38pm
'Let's explore the village,' Naruto suggested enthusiastically getting to his feet.
Kiba jumped to his feet, as did his big dog Akamaru, his fist pumped in anticipation. 'I'm with you, Naruto,' he said with a big grin.
'Forbidden.' The one word denied them. Gaara sat against the open window, his legs stretched out in front of him and his legs crossed. He ditched his Kage attire for simpler clothing to laze around in. He didn't remove his attention away from the largest building in the whole village. He knew it was the Chikage's building. What he didn't know was why they still were refused to see their leader.
They've been here for about twelve hours. There was no doubt why they were bored. They were refused to explore the village until the Chikage has seen to them first. The prospect of protecting the village until deemed they were not a threat? They were cautious people these Yami citizens. Yet Gaara could help but feel that there was something they were hiding.
'Aw come on Gaara!' Naruto whined.
He turned his attention to his blonde haired friend and fellow Jinchuriki. 'We cannot leave this place until the Chikage has seen to us first.'
Naruto sat down just as Gaara turned his attention back to the looming building. At least their host had the decency to provide them with very comfortable lodgings until they were called for. What was unexpected was the sight of the place. It was prosperous and filled with joyous, peaceful, people. Seeing intruders the change in their relaxed states changed. Their expressions were guarded and everyone stared. Not one wore expressions of hatred or disbelief. Open interest but very wary and alert of who and what they are.
'I didn't expect it to be so bright, not after that dark forest.' Yamanaka Ino declared to the others.
'It's probably a barrier to scare people like us away. They've obviously got secrets they don't want us to know about.' Haruno Sakura stated confidently. But was she really on the mark with her accusations or simply guessing because she didn't like the red haired beauty from before?
Ino nodded in agreement. 'It's probably that. Why else would they have hidden their existence?'
'Did you hear what she said? 'And be accused of crimes we hadn't committed?' Please, it's obvious they're the reason behind the attacks on the Five Great Nations.' She attempted to mimic the girl's voice from before. It was clear that Haruno didn't like the girl at all.
Gaara decided then to interfere. 'Yamigakure are not responsible for the attacks on the Great Nations. As leader of this operation, I'd advise you to be mindful of your words.'
Haruno looked at him as if wanting to argue but the stern look in his eyes made her turn her head away in defeat. 'Hai, Kazekage-sama.'
'Gaara what's the big idea?' Naruto snapped jumping to his feet to defend the girl. 'You didn't have to be so mean!'
The red haired Kage turned his attention on his friend. 'You never know who may be listening in, Naruto.' Naruto's shoulders dropped as dawning realisation slipped onto his face. 'You saw the civilians when we entered. All attempts of light hearted words, jokes and friendly conversations dropped the moment they saw us. They were guarded. Speaking ill-will of them before even knowing of them is ill-advised. Their rules are probably very different to ours.'
Again Naruto sat down. It's strange but Gaara appears to have gone distant on them. They knew he does it a lot but he's unused to opening up to people but never this distant. Sure he's open to Naruto sometimes but there are times when he's gone distant on him or pulled rank. But this time it's much worse. It's almost like he's shut himself off completely and gone deep into his role as Kazekage. Was it something to do with this place that makes him put up his guard?
A loud demanding pounding sounded on the door. For the third time Naruto jumped to his feet. Sai pushed away from where he leaned against the wall to answer the door. Standing on the other side was a female of twelve years wearing complete black and red ninja attire. The forehead protector was on her forehead and showed what happened to be stars surrounding a full moon. Her red hair was tied into a high ponytail trailing to her mid-back. Her ice blue eye stared at them with cruel indifference. She reminded them of a younger version of the female they saw in the forest, the one to have led them to Yamigakure.
'Kazekage?' her voice was a touch deeper than the one from the forest.
Gaara stood from his position and moved to stand in her view. 'Who are you?' he answered.
'Chikage-sama will see you now.' Resentment, the first to be seen, sparked in her eyes but vanished before he could ponder about it.
What was there to resent? Them? But why would she want to do that? Could she resent her Chikage? If so, if this meeting didn't turn out how Gaara hoped, would they have a possible ally amongst them to see to their downfall? Not such a positive way to think but it may gain them an advantage over Yamigakure if it was needed. But what of the girl from the forest? Would she hinder them or also be a possible ally? Why was he considering this so soon? It wasn't right to judge them before having greeted their leader. It wasn't right to lay down a plan for their deaths before having gotten to know a bit more about them.
He just hoped for their sake that they're not what he fears them to be.
She led the way the moment she finished speaking, expecting them to follow. Her attitude was much like the girl from the forest. Could they possibly be related? But this young girl's hair is of a lighter shade yet the eyes are the same icy colour. The older version's eyes held nothing but iciness as she regarded them. This younger one had other emotions visible. Gaara could tell that she was slowly losing them the longer she remains a ninja. Very soon she'll be nothing more but a deadly foe if they turned out to be enemies.
They followed and locked the door after them. As she led the way the others observed their surroundings. It surely was a prosperous village. Food was plentiful in stands and people bustled about like every other village. Gaara was the only one not oblivious to the constant guarded stares they were receiving. These civilians were no ordinary ones at all. Their eyes said it all. They were ninjas, the whole lot of them. Not one was untainted of the title. All had spilt blood, all would do it again and all would defend this village with their lives. Devoted citizens that were intent on keeping the peace they've had for God knows how many years.
Gaara found himself wondering how badly they would strive to protect this village if they happened to be against them.
Yamigakure No Sato, Chikage's office, 14:23pm
The Chikage found herself bored. Because of Yami's hidden status amongst other villages, they hadn't been much to do as the Chikage. So to be content, she doodled. She drew a little chibi dog with a wagging tail and a tongue lolling out of its mouth. Observing the picture a little more, pencil to her lip in thought, she then decided to add a little bow on its tail. Satisfied, the Chikage started colouring it, tongue poking out of her mouth as she concentrated. Sitting back, pencil poised, she again observed the picture. Setting back at it, drawing more chibi little doggies to go with the first. She didn't want the poor dear to be alone.
Just as she was connecting the last line the paper was snatched.
'Chotto!' she snapped and glared at the one responsible. Her twelve year old sister with a lighter red hair than hers stood there looking at the picture.
She sighed. 'Onee-sama…' She shook her head. 'Chikage-sama, this is not what you're supposed to be doing.' She showed her the picture as she scolded her. She sat back in her chair pretending to be scolded when she started to zone out on her words. 'Onee – Chikage-sama!'
'What?' the Chikage demanded.
She looked at her incredulously. Then she scrutinised the picture, first with interest and then with absolute scepticism. 'You drew on the back of a document?' okay she's actually pissed.
The Chikage pouted. 'I was bored…' she complained.
'Then do something proactive!'
'You try being the Chikage!'
'Now why would I do that?' the twelve year-old asked.
The Chikage crossed her arms. 'Then you'd know how plain old boring it is to sit here and do absolutely nothing whilst everyone else has fun.'
'Being the Chikage isn't about fun. I can't believe this! If the seat wasn't about heirs or that tradition, I would be sitting there leading this village better than you.'
The Chikage stood, walked around the desk and offered her younger sister the chair. 'Please do,' she insisted. The younger sister looked perplexed. The Chikage took off her hat and robes and handed them to her sister. 'Take over the position of Chikage. I don't mind kicking back and relaxing while you do all the work.'
Yamigakure No Sato, Chikage's office, 14:38pm
Gaara and the others stood just inside the room when the Chikage had spoken. Originally he thought the Chikage was a he. But the 'he' turned out to be a 'she'. Not only that when she took off her hat, the dark red hair, the same one from the girl from the forest, fell out of the hat and tumbled down her back. She then disrobed offering the stuff to the younger version of herself. Instead of dressed in a white dress, she wore genie trousers and a tube top completely showing off delicious pale skin, amazing curves, her developed chest and the physical fitness her body was in.
The moisture in Gaara's mouth dried up and he swallowed. He took up his fill as the two sisters argued over who should be the Chikage. Tsubasa Chi was her name, he remembered it well. Although he only met her in that forest, he felt strange around her and thought that taking her name to mind would surely help him. He was right about that. It really would help considering she was the Chikage. It was obvious she didn't want to be though. She found the task too boring.
'No way!' the younger one exclaimed, thrusting the stuff back at her sister. 'I'm still advancing. I ain't strong enough to be the Chikage let alone to uphold the position.'
'You just don't want me to be lazing around.' The older sister grumbled and dumped the robes and hat on the chair. She turned with crossed arms. Upon seeing them her eyes widened with shock and then immediately turned to glare icily at her sister.
At first the younger one was confused. Then she turned and remembered the reason why she was there in the first place.
'Shit,' the twelve year-old cursed. She turned desperately to her sister, eyes begging for forgiveness. 'Honestly, I had no intention of letting them see you out of your robes! I didn't want them seeing you stripping out of them either!'
So she didn't resent the Chikage. She resented them but why? Gaara frowned and instantly received a death threat from ice cold eyes. Chakra glowed and swirled around her body. She was pissed with them. Shit, if he'd know that any kind of reaction towards her younger sibling would result in causing her anger he wouldn't have done it. Now he's to thinking that he could go back into her graces just so this meeting could go smoothly.
'Did you enjoy the show?' the Chikage said coldly.
Even without the wolves surrounding her, she looked quite the intimidating dangerous girl she actually was. If her eyes could kill no one would be alive. Her smouldering gaze shifted to her sister who seemed to deflect the affects the gaze had over the others. Instead the girl responded with her own icy gaze. It didn't pack quite as much punch as the older sister's but nevertheless it would work on them.
'You're too early to try to intimidate me with your brutal stare, little sister.'
'Unfortunately it is true, Onee-sama. It is too bad that we have great difference between our ages. I would have loved to have done a lot of things together with you.'
'So formal yet you are forgetting your respectful duties as Jonin.'
Wait a minute! The twelve year old was a Jonin? How's that possible at such young an age? She appeared Chunin at best, but a Jonin? That can't be possible! But yet it was!
The Jonin bowed to her. 'Allow me to introduce those who stand before you. The ninjas who hail from the Five Great Nations and one of their respective Kages, the Kazekage.'
'Leave us,' she commanded from her little sister. The young girl bowed low in compliance and left the room with a soft click of the door. 'I must ask you to forgive her rudeness.' She took the stuff from the chair, draped the robe on the back of the chair and hooked the hat on the corner of it. She sat and then hooked her fingers together and placed them on the desk before them.
Her hidden apology for her sister's behaviour was aimed at the resenting glare she had aimed at them as she departed.
'Why does she resent us?' Gaara found himself asking even when her eyes suggested against the subject.
'You must not be akin to taking hints. I'll address that subject rather carefully around me, Kazekage.'
'And why is that?' he frowned. He knew he was skating dangerous territory but he couldn't help himself. 'As it stands from my point of view that girl simply wants to spend sisterly time with you yet you push her away as if she's nothing more than garbage dumped on your lap.'
'You perceive things in a totally different perspective to me.' She glared threateningly at him. 'Yes I push her away but not for the reasons you suggest or seem to think. I believe I have the right to privacy on personal matters that don't regard you. Now let us get down to business that does regard you and your people.'
He crossed his arms as he regarded her. 'You're displeased with us yet you don't know us.'
'I'm displeased because you think you have the right to interfere with matters that don't concern you. I'm doing my job of guarding my village, guarding my privacy and you come here acting as if you have the right to owning it. Well listen here –'
Just then Naruto decided to step forward. 'Excuse me, but I think we got off on the wrong foot.'
Her eyes widened incredulously at him. 'Who are you?'
He grinned widely. 'I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm going to be the next Hokage.'
Strangely her usually icy eyes softened and a soft small caressed her face. For the second time Gaara's mouth dried up. He had to swallow to bring back the moisture to his mouth. She was even more beautiful when she was smiling.
'Your dream I believe?' he nodded happily. 'So what do you suggest about our current situation, Uzumaki Naruto?'
'How about starting over again? No mentioning personal matters and going straight down to business of why we're here and who you are and all about this village?'
She nodded once in agreement. 'A sound plan. I think I can work with it. But is your company in agreement to that also?'
Yamigakure No Sato, Chikage's office
She wasn't sure what had changed her attitude but something about the blonde spoke to the softness inside her. She had reacted badly to the red head and she wasn't sure why. The dominance between two Kages, two dominant people or something else? Could this be that feeling others have described as love? No, she didn't feel like laying her hands on him in all the dirty places people describe. She didn't want to kiss him or have him worship her in return. But something was definitely there and something she wasn't sure if she wanted to unearth.
Naruto turned to look at his company and they all nodded. Gaara made no obligation to make any claims to agreeing but his eyes suggested he was listening. She was grateful he was willing to work with this. For the village, the prosperity and the obligation to see this village succeed, she'd work with these people if only she can achieve what former Chikage's have been striving for. It may not have been with other villages but what they wanted was all the same. She would not strive from her path as Chikage even if it means pushing away those close to her to achieve it.
She knew that was wrong but she couldn't be a family person as well as Chikage. She wished she could. She hated seeing her sister so beat up and alone. It's a sacrifice, one she was unwilling to do but she was the oldest and the Chikage position had fallen to her. It was not possible for her to back down from it as long as she lives or until she retires at a much older age. What she would give in order she spend time with her sister, to do things that ordinary people would do had they no responsibilities binding them.
Sighing, she studied each of those inside the office with her. They were very much the same as her, minus the massive title and responsibility on their heads, but they were the same in regards to their village. They wanted to protect, to preserve, to lay down their lives for their homes and for the people they love. They would do anything in order to achieve that. They were more alike than she had originally thought. At least now thanks to that boy, things could restart over and they could progress further. She hoped that this would come out with them agreeing to something they both wanted.