It was hot.
Really hot.
Naruto had no idea that Sunagakure no Sato was out in the middle of the dessert, not to mention scorching hot! There was some wind blowing but it wasn't much, it's a good thing he was wearing a short sleeved black shirt. Looking Yamato the little blonde noticed the man didn't seem all that bothered by the hot weather.
'Lucky.' Naruto thought barely keeping pace with Yamato.
Yamato looked down and saw Naruto was struggling, chuckling a little he placed a hand on top of the blonde's head, "Its okay, you'll get used to this weather sooner or later."
Naruto pouted, "How are you okay, anyway?"
"I'm in ANBU Naruto," Yamato reminded, "Sometimes we get called out to other foreign places just like Jounin and Chūnin, but for ANBU like us its different."
"Different?"
"That's right, when the Hokage goes to diplomatic meetings with either the Daimyō or the Kage's we the ANBU go with the Hokage as his bodyguards and protect him in case something happens." Yamato explained.
"Wow…being a Kage sounds tough." Naruto commented.
"It is Naruto." Yamato agreed.
"Why don't you become Hokage?" Naruto questioned innocently.
Yamato almost tripped on absolutely nothing after hearing such a question, "Wh-What?!"
"Your strong so you could become Hokage and the old man can relax." Naruto elaborated.
Yamato rubbed the back of his head, "Not that I don't appreciate the kind words, but I don't believe I'm Hokage material."
"Hokage material?"
"You see, for one to be elected Hokage they have to have the Hokage's recommendation as well as the shinobi council and civilians of the village. In other words, the Hokage chooses the successor to become the next Hokage." Yamato went into detail.
"Oh…" Naruto had never thought that selecting someone to be the next Hokage could be so complicated. He felt bad for the old man and hoped he'd chooses a successor soon. Feeling Yamato stop walking he looked at the man then looked ahead to see they've arrived at Sunagakure no Sato, their destination. The blonde's heart started beating a little due to nervousness of being in a new place, but since he was with Yamato he didn't feel all by himself.
'I'm finally here…' he stared at the village with determination, 'I'll master my Satetsu! I swear!'
Yamato approached the gatekeeper and showed him their papers as confirmation from the Hokage that they would be staying here for 4 years as part of a exchange program between the two Kage's. The gatekeeper nodded in understanding allowing them to enter the village. Yamato turned to Naruto, "Are you ready?"
"I am." The blonde nodded.
Yamato smiled, "Let's go then." Both of them entered the village and the blonde couldn't help but look around in wonder at the differences between Konoha and Suna. The first thing he noticed were that the buildings looked to be made up entirely of sand much to his astonishment.
"Wow…the buildings look like their made of sand." Naruto stared.
"That's because they are," Yamato told him, "During the Warring States Period, the Shodai Kazekage gathered desert-dwelling shinobi and under his control thus forming the village you see now."
"That's amazing!" Naruto said.
Yamato chuckled, "Starting to like Suna already?"
"Yeah, I am…" Naruto's eyes trailed off as he looked over at a playground seeing the other kids playing with a red ball throwing and bouncing it towards each other, but his eyes were more focused on the figure sitting on the swing by himself looking lonely. It was a boy with fair skin, green eyes, and short auburn spiky hair; wearing Suna standard clothes. The blonde watched as the ball was kicked too high over another kids head and rolled over by the lonely boy, he saw the lonely boy's eyes widen before showing a small smile. The boy got off the swing and picked up the ball intending to give it to them but the other kids started running away from him while the rest of the villagers looked on in…fear? Naruto saw the boy look down still holding the ball looking very sad, it was for a split second but the boy's image turned into him for a second before going back.
'He's…just like me…' Naruto looked at Yamato, "Nii-chan…"
Yamato placed a hand on the blonde's head, "I know. Go on and play, I'll go meet with the Kazekage."
Naruto nodded and walked over towards the boy gaining some attention by the people who tried to warn him that it was dangerous making him roll his eyes, 'He's not dangerous, he's just lonely and needs a friend that's all.' Before he knew it he was standing right in front of him, "Hey."
The boy looked up in surprise that someone called out to him, he was even more surprised that it was a boy who looked to be the same age as him and was smiling at him too.
Naruto held his hands out, "Can I play with you?"
Silence.
The villagers around them thought the blonde was crazy to even try to befriend the red haired boy.
"Has he lost his mind?!"
"That monster will kill him!"
"He's as good as dead!"
Naruto ignored them and held his arms out in anticipation waiting for the other boy give him the ball. The boy in question looked both confused and hopeful, "You…want to play with me?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded his head, "So can I?"
The red head smiled, "Okay!" he slowly gave the ball to the blonde, as soon as the blonde touched it sand began to creep up the boy's arm to try and hurt Naruto much to red head's horror as well as everyone else's but what happened next was something no one saw coming. Black sand moved to intercept the hostile intent preventing the blonde from getting hurt before creeping back towards him. For awhile both boys looked lost and didn't know what to say, but the rest of the villagers as well some shinobi recognized the black sand instantly.
"J-Just now was that…?"
"Iron Sand!"
"Just like the Third Kazekage!"
"Is that boy related to the Third Kazekage?!"
"Someone alert the Yondaime Kazekage immediately!"
Naruto was still staring at the red head before a huge smile took place, "That's amazing! You can control sand, too?!"
"Eh?"
"Just now, that sand I saw was yours, right? I can control sand too, except mines is called Satetsu (Iron Sand)!" Naruto grinned.
"Your not…afraid of me?"
Naruto shook his head, "You didn't do it on purpose, so its okay. Besides I came here to learn how to control my sand anyway. Mine acts on its own, too."
"Just like me…"
"Yeah, oh by the way my names Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto asked.
The red head gave him a happy smile at being accepted and gaining his very first friend, "G-Gaara Sabaku…"
"Hey, your name sounds cooler than mine." Naruto pouted then grinned, "Anyway, lets play!"
"Okay!"
Kazekage's Office
Rasa was currently in his office speaking to Yamato about what the Sandaime Hokage wrote down in his letter about Naruto studying here for 4 years under the pretense of an exchange student program.
"I understand the situation." Rasa told him.
"That's good," Yamato breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm very sorry about inconveniencing you like this Kazekage-sama, but Naruto unlocking the ability to use Satetsu within Konoha has become dangerous for him."
"I know, Hiruzen explained in his letter. Though I must say, I am surprised myself that a child born in Konoha managed to unlock a bloodline that first appeared in Sunagakure during the Third Kazekage's time in office." Rasa expressed.
"That's why the Sandaime figured it would be best to have Naruto study here in Sunagakure no Sato for 4 years before returning back to the village. For his own protection." Yamato explained.
Rasa leaned back into his chair, "I take it you have…a controlling council?"
"Something like that," Yamato shuddered, "There's no telling what they'd do to him at the age he is now. He's too vulnerable right now, not to mention is reputation in the village."
"Jinchūriki." Rasa said.
"Yes…"
Rasa looked out the window, "If there is one thing I regret in my life…its making Gaara the host for Shukaku."
Yamato said nothing and let the man speak.
Rasa closed his eyes, "Because of heavy cuts to our village's budget, I made my own son a Jinchūriki to serve as a weapon for the village. Temari and Kankurō weren't compatible…but Gaara was. Shukaku was sealed within Gaara while he was still Karura's womb by Lady Chiyo. Due to the stress of childbirth Gaara was born prematurely and Karura…my wife…died."
Yamato was wondering why the man was telling him this, but said nothing and let him continue saying what he wanted to say.
The man opened his eyes, "Before she passed away she held Gaara's small form and vowed to always protect him, and she has."
"I see…but, why tell me this?" Yamato wondered.
Rasa gave him a side glance, "I'm not sure myself."
Gaara was having the time of his life playing with his new friend Naruto. They were throwing the ball at one another then kicked it towards each other having a blast not even registering their surroundings. The red head had never smiled so much in his entire life, nor laughed for that matter. Once they got bored of playing ball, Naruto suggest to playing hide and seek instead stating he's never played before but seen kids back play it. Gaara expressed the same interest, so Naruto was designated as "it," while Gaara hid from him. Naruto closed his eyes and counted to 10 before opening his eyes and seeking out Gaara who he managed to find easily despite the red head hiding behind a tree behind the playground. The blonde wondered how he even managed to find Gaara in the first place but let it go soon after, instead opting to play more with his new friend.
"Hey Gaara, have you always been able to control sand?" Naruto asked.
Gaara nodded, "I have. It sometimes hurts people too…but I don't do it on purpose."
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder, "I know that. You've tried telling the people here that too, right?"
Gaara nodded, "I have, but they just run away from me and call me a "monster."
"Back home they call me "demon brat," Naruto looked up at the sky, "I really hate it. I think all the time, "why do they call me such a mean thing?" "I didn't do anything wrong!" I really hate it…"
"Whenever they say hurtful things to me my chest starts to hurt, why do you think that is?" Gaara asked.
Naruto looked at him, "I asked Hokage-jiji that once before too when he visited the orphanage. He said its because my heart is in pain."
"Your heart?" Gaara tilted his head.
"I didn't get it at first either, but after awhile I did." Naruto said, "When I lived at the orphanage the only people who were nice to me there were the people that worked there. The mean lady in charge and the rest of the kids don't like me and would often say mean things to me all the time. It hurt." He placed his hand on his chest.
Gaara looked sad for his friend.
Naruto stretched his arms above his head, "Oh well, I don't know why they hate me so much but I wont let them get to me! I'll live for those who do want me around!"
Gaara gave him a shy smile, "M-Me too…"
"Since I'm gonna be here for 4 years we can hang out together whenever you want." Naruto said.
Gaara blinked, "4 years?"
"Yeah, I'll be staying here for 4 years then I have to go back to Konoha so I can go to the Academy and be a shinobi."
Gaara looked down sadly, "Oh…" he really didn't want his new friend to leave.
"Its okay, we can spend a lot of time together while I'm here and when I leave we can still keep in touch." Naruto smiled.
"Really?" Gaara said hopefully.
"Mm, I promise!" Naruto grinned.
Gaara's smile brightened before nodding, "Mm!"
"Naruto." Both boys turned to see Yamato standing there next to the Kazekage who looked stoic but also intrigued.
Naruto went over to them with Gaara trailing right behind him hiding behind the blonde as they walked near the adults. While Naruto was curious as to why Gaara was hiding behind him all of a sudden but he didn't comment on it, figuring Gaara was just shy. When they both approached the adults finally Naruto was the one to speak, "Nii-chan, Kazekage-sama." He greeted.
'Nice Naruto! Showing manners and being respectful is a good start!' Yamato sent a mental thumbs up in his head. Thank god Yugao and Hayate taught him proper etiquette before they left the village.
Rasa stared at the blonde who in turn gave him a calm look showing no signs of nervousness or fear, unlike his son Gaara who was hiding completely behind the blonde showing shyness and slight fear of his own father. He was thinking about what to do with Gaara actually, and Hiruzen sending him a letter about Naruto's abilities might just help with what he had in mind.
"So you're Naruto Uzumaki?" Rasa spoke, "Hiruzen spoke very highly of you in his letter, even spoke about your ability to control Satetsu."
Naruto merely nodded.
"In that case, I will train both you and Gaara personally in controlling your sand and in helping you create your own jutsu's." Rasa suggested.
Both boys had wide eyes at the declaration and Yamato's jaw dropped taken completely by surprise. Naruto couldn't believe the Kazekage of all people was suggesting to train both him and Gaara! Realizing he'd just been staring instead of speaking he finally responded to the man, "S-Sure! Right, Gaara?!"
Gaara looked hopeful at his father who nodded his head in confirmation making the small child smile, "Yeah!"
"Then its settled then," Rasa said, "For now you two should check into the hotel we have here, you'll have your own private room. You two will be living there for the 4 years you'll be saying here."
Yamato managed to get his wits together and respond to the man, "Y-Yes! Thank you very much!"
"Gaara, lets go home." Rasa said gently.
Gaara was surprised by his father's sudden change but didn't question it as he slowly approached then stopped to look at Naruto who smiled return, "Let's hang out again tomorrow!"
The young boy turned to his father who gave a slight nod in return, "After training, you two can do as you please."
Gaara gave his father a shy smile, "Th-Thank you…"
Rasa said nothing and instead walked away with little Gaara following right behind him leaving Yamato and Naruto behind with smiles plastered on their faces.
Naruto looked up at his older brother, "Hey, nii-chan?"
"What?"
"Why did the Kazekage offer to take Gaara home? Are the like me and Hokage-jiji?" Naruto asked innocently.
"Not exactly, those two are father and son Naruto." Yamato revealed.
"Eh, really?! But Gaara looked scared of him earlier." Naruto exclaimed.
"That's true too, but I believe Kazekage-sama wants to try and make up with his son by offering to train him personally right along with you. Taking it slow is always a good thing, never forget that." Yamato explained.
Naruto nodded in understanding. He may not know much about the world just yet, but he was willing to learn a lot about the world, both the good and the bad.
After checking into the hotel and resting up, the two Konoha natives were on their way to the Kazekage tower where they would be meeting up with the Kazekage and Gaara to begin training. While walking towards the tower Naruto the villagers were smiling at him making him slightly uncomfortable, so he shifted a little more towards Yamato even grabbing the man's hand for reassurance. Yamato noticed the boy's unease and squeezed his hand in assurance, "What's wrong?"
Naruto kept his eyes forward but you can still tell he still uncomfortable with all the smiling, "They're smiling at me."
Yamato figured that was the case, which was to be expected seeing as how the people of Konoha would sneer, glare, and say things behind his back loud enough for him to hear. After experiencing rejection like that, it was only natural the boy would be uncomfortable around people who would actually smile at him warmly and not faking it. The man sighed, 'Its going to take him a long time to get used to something like this.' When that day comes he'll make sure to stay by Naruto's side and help him through it.
It didn't take them long to get to the Kazekage's tower, once the arrived they were greeted by the secretary telling them the Kazekage was waiting for them on the roof. With a polite bow the two of them walked towards the stairs before taking slow steps to get to the top to meet up with the Kazekage and Gaara. Finally arriving on the roof they spotted both Rasa and Gaara already there waiting for them, the red heads eyes brightened having spotted his friend, "Naruto!"
"Gaara!" Naruto ran towards the boy with a bright smile on his face, "I can't wait to start training!"
"Me too!" Gaara agreed.
Yamato bowed to Rasa, "I hope you don't mind me staying to observe your training methods?"
"Not at all." Rasa said turning towards the boys, "Gaara, Naruto, I will be teaching you both how to properly control your sand. Watch me closely."
Naruto and Gaara stood still and nodded their heads in wait, the man almost smiled but kept his stoic expression.
"Very well…we will start off with something very small. First, try to shape your sand into something, anything." Rasa instructed.
Naruto and Gaara thought long and hard about what they wanted to shape their sand into. Naruto finally got an idea of who he wanted to create with his sand and got right to it. Sticking both hands out he concentrated aware that his iron sand was responding to his will and started shaping into what he wanted to create. The iron sand slowly started to take the form of a person, when it was finished they saw who Naruto made it form into.
It was Gaara.
Yamato thought it was cute that Naruto shaped his iron sand into his new friend. He noticed the Kazekage show a small smile, while Gaara was smiling from ear to ear.
Naruto grinned, "How's this?"
Rasa nodded, "Impressive. Gaara it's your turn."
Gaara started concentrating to get his sand to do what he wanted until finally he got it to look like a grinning Naruto.
"D-Do you like it?" Gaara asked.
"Its awesome! Thank you, Gaara!" Naruto grinned.
Gaara smiled brightly in return.
Rasa nodded in approval, "Very good. Shaping your sand into things, such as people or objects can help you control your sand. Keep this in mind that sometimes using something of a higher caliber will not always give you good results, starting out simple is best and will keep you alive much longer."
Naruto and Gaara nodded in understanding of the man's words. The blonde may not be used to people like Rasa in Konoha but this man was still a Kage and was actually trying to teach him something important just like Hokage-jiji would. Almost like a father figure, even though he's Gaara's father he felt he could start to see the man in such a way.
"Now then…" the air shifted as Rasa was no longer going to take things slow, "Now that you understand its time to get serious!"
Naruto took it back. This guy is way too scary to be the loving, caring, father type!
"That's enough for now."
Naruto and Gaara dropped to the floor in complete and utter exhaustion having been using their sand do protect as well redirect some sand attacks the Kazekage sent at them. They've been at it for what seemed like a long time now, it was probably the afternoon now but the blonde was soo tired he didn't really care if it was nighttime right now. Opening his eyes slowly he saw Gaara staring right at him looking just as exhausted himself and gave a slight smile, "You look like crap…"
Gaara pouted, "You don't look any better than me…"
They stared for a bit before busting out laughing then coughing a little having laughed too hard. There was a sigh as Yamato appeared before them, handing them some water for the boys to drink. Not wasting any time they took the water that was given to them and started chugging down their throats no longer feeling dry.
Naruto finished his first, "I feel alive again!"
Gaara finished his second, "My throat doesn't feel dry anymore."
"That's good, and good work you two." Yamato complimented.
"I agree, for your efforts you two may take a break. Go on and relax until its time for you to train again." Rasa told them.
Naruto got up quickly dragging Gaara with him and running down the stairs not even saying "see you later" to the adults. Yamato sweat-dropped, "Well now…someone's eager."
Rasa made a small huff in amusement, "So it seems."
Meanwhile the boys were running as far away from the tower as possible before the man changed his mind, slowing down a little to catch their breaths they smiled before walking at a slow pace just taking in the sight of the village. Well, Naruto was anyway.
"That was harsh! Your dad's trying to kill us!" Naruto grumbled.
Gaara looked confused and a little scared, "He-He is?"
Naruto tried to calm him down; "I don't mean it like that Gaara! I mean his training's really hard!"
"Oh…" Gaara said.
Something caught Naruto's eye prompting him to walk over to it as Gaara followed right behind him. The blonde walked inside the building cautiously, seeing what looked to be human sized dolls everywhere looking right down at them.
"What are these things?" Naruto stared.
"I don't know." Gaara edged closer to Naruto.
"Their puppets."
Naruto's iron sand reacted about to harm the owner of the voice, but after seeing it was an elderly woman he willed it to not attack her and simply took in her features. She had black eyes and lavender coloured hair tied in a bun, wearing the traditional Sunagakure outfit which consists of a dark coloured, loose fitting outfit with a poncho-like top. The blonde didn't say a word for a few minutes and simply stared at the elderly woman, Gaara had long since hidden behind him out of pure shyness.
"Who are you, baa-chan?" Naruto questioned.
The elderly woman stared at him for a few more minutes before replying, "Do they not teach you manners Konoha?"
"Eh?"
"If you want me to tell you my name you must first introduce yourself." She stated.
"Oh, okay…I'm Naruto Uzumaki and this is my best friend Gaara." Naruto introduced.
Gaara peaked his head out from behind Naruto shyly, "Hello…"
The woman rubbed the blonde's head, then Gaara's confusing both boys before she smiled, "Good. That's a proper introduction, my name is Chiyo."
"Chiyo-baa-chan!" Naruto grinned.
"Chiyo-baa-sama." Gaara said standing next to Naruto.
Chiyo got into a thinking pose, "Hmmm, I like you boys so I'll let you look around while you're here, follow me." She walked away prompting the boys to follow her as they looked at the puppets all around them. It was kind of creepy actually, the way their faces would just stare down at you with hollow eyes.
"Interested, young man?" Chiyo questioned not looking behind her.
"Eh?"
"The puppets, judging by the look on your face you've become interested in them, haven't you?" Chiyo guessed.
Naruto eyed the puppets again; "Kind of…they are just normal puppets, right?"
"These puppets are special," Chiyo explained, "Kugutsutsukai use them in battle as a unique fighting style ninjutsu. We call it, Kugutsu no Jutsu."
"Wow…that sounds so cool…" Naruto said in awe.
"Mm." Gaara agreed.
Chiyo chuckled at their interest, "At least some youngers nowadays can appreciate how useful puppets can be."
"How do you use them, Chiyo-baa-chan?" Naruto asked.
Chiyo gave them a smug look, "Well now, why don't I just show you." One of the smaller puppets from her right that was sitting on the table stood up suddenly taking them by surprise as they watched it walk over to them slowly. Naruto and Gaara were intrigued as the little puppet continued to walk over to them.
"It's moving! It's really moving!" Naruto exclaimed happily.
"Amazing!" Gaara stared at it with interest.
Chiyo couldn't suppress her grin even if she tried, "In this old woman's opinion, puppetry is the perfect choice for learning about many things."
"Like what!" Naruto asked eagerly.
"Let's see, there's learning about Chakra control." She demonstrated this by revealing her chakra thread fingers that were connected to the puppet making it move.
"That's amazing! How are you doing that?" Naruto questioned.
"I'm using Chakra threads to make the puppet move." Chiyo explained.
"Chakra Threads?" they tilted their heads.
"It's a technique that puppeteers like me use to allow me to control the puppets you see before you. These threads are made by my own concentrated chakra, but other people besides me the user can still see them. A skilled user however, can suppress the chakra so that the strings become invisible like myself. I can manipulate whatever is attached to these strings, be it a puppet or a human being." She explained.
Naruto was completely hooked on the idea to use chakra threads to control puppets, but he had no idea how to use the chakra threads at all and would need some help, "Hey, Chiyo-baa-chan?"
"What is it?"
"Can you teach me how to control my chakra?" Naruto asked her seriously taking the older woman by surprise, even Gaara.
"Why the sudden request?"
He turned his attention towards the puppet, "You said no one appreciates puppet user's anymore, right? Then its okay if I learn from you!"
Chiyo for a split second thought she saw the image of her grandson stand before her showing the same enthusiasm for learning puppetry just like this young boy. The old woman smiled, 'He may be the son of the Yondaime Hokage, but he has a kind heart. In our world that's frowned upon, but that's part of the old generation. I think its time we old folks step down and leave the rest to them.' she thought fondly, "Very well, but I'm a strict teacher…by the time I'm done with you this old woman will eat you up!"
"Oni-baba!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Who are you calling Oni-baba?!" Chiyo had a tick mark on her forehead.
Gaara giggled at the interaction, his best friend was so funny.
Yamato walked side by side with the Kazekage down the village roads seeing the villagers do their normal routine looking relaxed. Very interesting.
"They seem more relaxed compared to the first time we came here." Yamato observed.
Rasa eyed the villagers, "Its probably because of the fact that Naruto is here and possesses Satetsu, which hasn't been seen since the Sandaime Kazekage's era. You can't blame them for having such a reaction for the man was probably the most powerful Kazekage we've ever had."
"I see, just like the Shodaime Hokage." Yamato commented.
"By the way, does the boy know who his father is?" Rasa inquired.
Yamato shook his head, "No, Sandaime-sama was very clear that his origins remain a secret until he was old enough to know about it. Don't tell me you plan to…"
"I will not," Rasa assured him, "If that is what Hiruzen believes to be the best then I will leave it at that. To be honest, the reason I'm even asking you this is because the boy has a somewhat…curious personality."
"You don't think he might…"
"Be curious about who his parents were? Its possible, children are curious about many things. Its just how they are." Rasa explained.
"That's true…but if by some chance he does find out about who his parents were, Hokage-sama will be tearing some heads." Yamato said.
Rasa actually chuckled, something he had been doing a lot lately since these two from Konoha came here. The Suna council had been breathing down his back about getting Naruto to stay here, and just kill off Gaara but that wasn't going to happen. He may be the Kazekage and has to put the safety of the villagers as one of his priorities, but…he was still a father and not a very good one either. Sunagakure is in financial trouble because their Daimyo keeps sending mission requests to Konoha instead of here, and the only option he could think of was to make his youngest a Jinchuriki which proved to be the biggest mistake of his life because it cost him his wife Karura and Gaara a childhood. Even his own siblings refused to go near him, which was also his fault. When Hiruzen sent a leader saying he would be sending their Jinchuriki under the cover of it being a studying abroad program when in real life it was to help the boy control his Satetsu he saw it as an opportunity to help his son and make up for the suffering he caused because of his mistake.
And it was the only good decision he made as his reign as Kazekage.
"Ow!"
Both men paused when they saw both boys attempt to wall walk up a building being observed by an elderly woman who looked really familiar…wait a minute.
"Chiyo-sama?" Rasa stared.
"Whose that?" Yamato asked.
"She used to be on the council but retired," Rasa explained, "Her name is Chiyo, but we all refer to her as Chiyo-sama because of her experience with puppetry. She's a strong elder."
"I see, but what is she doing with the boys?"
"I…have no idea."
"Try again!" Chiyo ordered.
Naruto and Gaara groaned before channeling chakra to their feet once more and slowly walking up the side of a building much to the astonishment of Rasa and Yamato as they approached the elderly woman.
"So that's what your doing." Rasa observed.
Chiyo huffed at him, "If they want any hope of surviving then they need to know this! We will not be leaving this spot until you two make it to the top!"
"Oni-baba!" Naruto shouted.
"Watch it, boy!" Chiyo warned.
Yamato sweat-dropped at the bizarre nickname, 'Oni-baba?'
Rasa coughed into his fist, "How long have they been doing this?"
"For about an hour, and judging by what I'm seeing they're almost to the top." Chiyo watched as the boys were taking their time and eventually made it to the very top of the building, "Not bad. Now, walk back down!" she ordered laughing at them when she could distinctly hear them groan.
Yamato whispered to the Kazekage, "She's quite the sadist, isn't she?"
"No, but she is mischievous." Rasa whispered back.
"What are you two brats whispering about over there?" Chiyo questioned not even looking back at them.
"Nothing, ma'am!" Yamato assured her.
"Hmph!"
Yamato smiled as he carried the little blonde on his back while he slept soundly. After their chakra control lesson was done thanks to Chiyo-sama they all went to get something to eat, once their bellies were full it didn't take long for little ones to fall asleep as soon as they finished eating. Yamato gave Naruto a piggyback while Rasa the Kazekage did the same for Gaara making the villagers drop their jaws witnessing such a scene. He wasn't surprised seeing as how the man hadn't showed affection to anyone before, not even his own children so the reaction was understandable. Back in Konoha the Sandaime didn't hesitate to show the blonde affection and didn't care who had a problem with it either.
Having said goodbye to the Kazekage he headed back to the hotel they were staying in until they eventually leave in 4 years. Placing Naruto down on the bed and tucking him in the man left the room for a few minutes.
Blue eyes stared straight into the eyes of a large serpent like creature that was black in color with red eyes staring right back. Between them was a blade that was blue in color and shaped like a kunai, the blade was surrounded by different colored orbs. Green, red, yellow, orange, and blue were the colors that were present.
Blue eyes still kept the gaze of the creature as it started speaking in what sounded like an ancient voice.
"Take up the blade and become my connection."
Naruto woke up suddenly looking around the room he was in panicking a little but soon calmed down once he saw Yamato sleeping next to him. Having calmed down a little he went back to sleep unaware he was clutching something in his hand that was similar to the blade in his dream.
Next Time: Ryūjin