A/N: Sorry about the wait, again. I've been having stomach problems and have needed to visit lots of doctors and have a couple surgeries. I also have so much school work to catch up on. Then SATs and AP tests and I'm just so stressed. Well that's enough about me, to the story.
Disclaimer: I owns nada
The little group walked up to the Kazekage building. The ANBU turned to watch as they walked through the door.
"My husband is a little over protective of his own life." Karura said with an eye roll
"Hmm… is he threatened a lot?" Rin asked the older woman
"No, just paranoid" Karura muttered as they group entered the building and Arashi let out a small laugh.
Karura led the trio down the hall in silence. They came up to a large ornate door and the ANBU opened it for them. As Arashi's team was ushered in by the ANBU, Karura walked up to the Kazekage. She bent down and whispered in her husband's ear.
The Kazekage nodded at his wife and then he turned to the Konoha ninjas. He then said "Welcome"
Arashi and Rin bowed their heads respectfully. Kakashi eyed the Kazekage wearily before his sensei pressed him into a respectfully bow as well. "We are grateful that you are willing to discuss this treaty between our two nations." Arashi said with a step forward
"Kazue, this is Arashi Minato and his team." Karura said with a flourish of a delicate hand
"I'm Rin Matsuki and this is Kakashi Hatake" Rin said pointing at herself and Kakashi in turn.
Kazue stood up and walked towards the trio. "So they sent you as representatives of your nation?" He scoffed "A feminine blond, a scrawny girl and a wannabe pirate."
Karura giggled from behind her husband. "You think that these people are weak don't you?" Karura asked
"What do you mean?" the Kazekage asked his wife
She laughed and said "That scrawny girl can kick some serious ass, that wannabe pirate is just covering up a Sharingan eye and the feminine blond is one of the fastest ninja around. Didn't you read the files that I had sent to your office yesterday?" Karura glared at her husband and not fondly
"No" Kazue said sheepishly
"Well they are anything but weak." Karura said with a flip of her hair
Kazue looked the group over with a wary eye. "Then I can't just sign a treaty, I must see how they fight."
Karura rolled her eyes and said "Fine, but make it fast. I'm so sick of your stupid games."
The couple began to argue and they ignored their guest. Rin looked at Kakashi and whispered "The Kazekage and his wife don't seem very happy together. Do you think that there's something wrong?"
"Rin, don't be sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. And don't try to fix something that is already broken beyond recognition." Kakashi whispered back
Arashi put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Shh…" was all that Arashi said. The blond then turned to look at the bickering couple and said "Excuse me"
Karura shot a confused look at the trio, than a look of recognition crossed over her features. "I'm sorry!" she said turning her back to her husband "I will get those treaty papers and my husband will sign them for you." She looked at her husband and asked "Right?"
"No!" Kazue said defiantly "I still believe that we should test them and since I'm the Kazekage we will do it my way." He smiled smugly as he finished his statement
"Ugh!" Karura exclaimed throwing her hands up in annoyance "Fine! I'll set up the battle arena! Tell your guard to get whoever they're battling 'cause I'm not doing!" She said as she stormed out of the office slamming the door on her way out.
The trio cautiously moved away from the door. The Kazekage looked at them and said "Never mind her; she is just a little high-strung. Now let's discuss these tests you must face." He motioned to the three seats in front of his desk. "Take a seat please." Kazue sat in his spot and faced the now seated trio.
"You want to see our strengths in battle?" Arashi asked looking Kazue and his team
"Yes, but I'm sure each of you has different strengths, so I will chose some of the strongest fighters in my 'arsenal'. I hope you're all ready." The Kazekage said
"Alright and then, if we do well, you will sign the treaty?" Arashi asked; he was uncertain if the Kazekage would sign the treaty at all.
"No" Kazue said with a smirk "You have one more test after that."
"What is the second test?" Rin asked warily
"I can't trust a village that doesn't have caring ninja's so I will have you each prove you abilities to care." The Kazekage laughed at the confused looks on their faces. They sat there for a few minutes in an awkward silence. "Shall we move this to the battle arena?" he said breaking the tension that hung thick in the air. He stood and moving towards the door.
The trio stood and made a move to follow the Kazekage. "Sir, who will we be fighting?" Rin asked from behind Kakashi.
"Oh, you'll find out" Kazue said with a smug nod and with that the group walked out of the office. As the Kazekage walked down the hallway he was flanked by two of his ANBU. He began to whisper with the one on his left. When they finished whisper the Kazekage and the two ANBU stopped; the one on the left bowed and ran off. He was then replaced at Kazue's side by another ANBU.
"Damn he is paranoid" Rin said as she eyed the ANBU from behind her male team members.
"I noticed" Kakashi said watching the ANBU warily as they walked into the battle arena.
"Well, welcome to my battle arena." The Kazekage said turning to face the trio with his arms held wide. "Now, who will be fighting first?" he asked
"I will" Kakashi said not missing a beat
"Well, I like you" Kazue said looking Kakashi over "You will be fighting my ANBU leader. You must knock him out before he can knock you out." The Kazekage laughed
"Fine" Kakashi nodded as he jumped into the arena, lifting his headband to uncover his Sharingan eye.
The ANBU leader followed Kakashi into the arena. Then the battle led to a quick start; the ANBU leader ran at Kakashi without any warning of the battle's start. Kakashi easily dodged the oncoming ninja and counter-attacked by kicking the ANBU leader in the neck. The battle went downhill quickly for the ANBU leader. Kakashi's Sharingan eye gave him a clear advantage and his quick moves. The battle lasted ten minutes before the ANBU leader was flying clear across the arena and he was knocked out.
"Well, that was fast" The Kazekage said a strange glint in his eye. He turned to look at Arashi "We can sign the treaty right now, if I can have that one." Kazue said pointing to Kakashi
"No thanks, I think that we'll keep going with the trials." Arashi said pulling Kakashi to his side as he jumped back onto the balcony.
"Fine, have it your way" the Kazekage said with a pout. "Girlie is next then."
"What?" Rin asked barely tearing her eyes away from Kakashi's body.
"You're next, battling my beautiful wife." the Kazekage said grinning at the woman who appeared by his side "You need to pin her for at least three seconds."
"Why do I have to fight her, again?" Karura asked slightly annoyed
"Because you are powerful" Kazue said with a quick eye roll "Now get down there and let the battle begin."
Both women jumped into the arena and began to size each-other up. Once they had done that they both charged each other. Madura grabbed Rin by the hair and whispered in her ear.
"I want this fight over as much as you do..." Karura threw the girl onto the ground and Rin kicked her shin so she was at her level again.
"What are you saying?" she whispered grabbing the elder's wrists as she threw a punch. Karura shook Rin off and flipped the girl over her shoulders.
"I'm saying that I'll throw the fight, but you need to make it convincing." Karura said as she stopped Rin from kicking her in the back of the head.
Using a jutsu Rin paralyzed Karura "This convincing enough?" Rin asked sincerely
Karura tried to nod or say yes but found that she couldn't, she couldn't even protect herself from the foot that was about to hit her square in the face. To Karura's surprise the kick was quite gentle and only managed to knock her over. The paralysis jutsu wore off enough that Karura could close her eyes and play knocked out.
"KARURA!" the Kazekage yelled as he watched his unmoving wife being carried out of the arena
"How did I do, sensei?" Rin asked jumping up into the stands
"You did great Rin." Arashi said rubbing Rin's head with pride
"You knocked out my wife!" Kazue screamed at the girl "How did you do that?"
Tapping Rin so that she would stand behind Kakashi, Arashi turned to glare at Kazue "Her specialty happens to be a paralysis jutsu."
"Paralysis, as in she was paralyzed when she was knocked out?" the Kazekage, his eyes flashing
"Yep" Rin said as she peeked over Kakashi's shoulder
"Humph…" the Kazekage huffed with a pout "Well, blondie your next."
"And I am fighting…?" Arashi asked
"Oh you'll see" Kazue said with an inhuman smirk; he then turned and yelled out to one of his ANBU "Bring out the beast."
A gate in the arena wall slid open and two ANBU stood on either side of a girl with ears and a tail similar to the ones that the Shukaku had. The girl looked no older than nineteen. She had muzzle on her face, over human features. Her wrists were shackled together and so where her ankles. She had a spiked collar around her neck and each ANBU had a leash that they were pulling her forward with.
"Shinkirou…?" Karura whispered from where she had been placed behind Arashi
"Beauty isn't she?" the Kazekage said with a sneer and look at the terrified brunette.
"Wha- how?" Arashi asked as the poor girl looked at Karura in the stands
Karura ran over to the railing and looked at the girl's pleading eyes. Her fear was replaced with fury as she turned to look at her husband. "How long have you been keeping her?"
"Why does that matter to you?" the Kazekage asked angrily
"Because she has rights and you are treating her like an animal!" Karura screamed
"It deserves to be treated this way; it's a demon, it kills people!" Kazue yelled back, he cut his wife off before she could speak again. Then he turned and began speaking to Arashi "In your battle you must kill this abomination." He spat the last word out as if it burned
Arashi threw an arm out to catch Karura as she lunged for her husband eyes blazing. Arashi nodded at the Kazekage. When Kazue turned his back to the group and began instructing his ANBU to take the restraints off of the Tanuki demon, Arashi began to whisper with Karura. "How could you?" she asked, pain evident in her eyes "She's still so young."
"I won't actually kill her; Kyuubi taught me a pressure point that if you press it just right it will simulate death. Once death is simulated you need to get her out of here and back where she belongs, understand?" Arashi whispered quickly, Karura nodded and mouthed 'thank you'
Arashi nodded and turned back to watch the ANBU un-shackling Shinkirou, the poor demon looked like she was going to run. "You should get in there before she attacks." The Kazekage said not looking away from the demon; he had an evil glint in his eye.
"Right" Arashi said jumping into the arena cautiously. As his feet touched the ground, the ANBU jumped out of the arena leaving the two of them to fight.
"Please don't hurt me" Shinkirou said with a whimper
"You won't fight back against me, will you?" Arashi whispered stepping closer and the little demon shook her head
"It's a lose-lose situation for me. I can fight and risk hurting you, which will get me killed, or I can just not fight back and be killed." She said looking at him with huge golden brown eyes. "Be gentle…" Shinkirousaid looking at her bare feet.
Arashi walked over and put his hands on her shoulders. "You're going home" he whispered to her as he pressed the pressure point that simulated death. The demon fell forward into his arms motionless, her eyes still open widely.
Karura jumped into the arena and ran over to where Arashi was holding Shinkirou. Karura takes the girl into her arms and yells angrily at her husband "She's dead! Are you proud of yourself?"
"Actually…" He started only to be cut of
"You know what? I don't care!" Karura picked up Shinkirou's body and jumped back into the stands. She began to walk out of the stands and the arena.
"Where are you going?" Kazue yelled as his wife solemnly walked away
"Returning this girl to her family." Karura said continuing on her way out
"You'll get killed" Kazue said silently telling his ANBU to come to either side of her
"No, I won't and you know that. You know that they were the ones that helped me deliver that stillborn four years ago." Karura turned to face her husband eyes blazing "These Tanuki demons are like family to me and they deserve to grieve over the death of one of their own. Especially one so young." She snarled and left the arena, the ANBU all just let her go.
Arashi came up behind Rin and Kakashi. Rin had tears streaming down her face as she turned toward her sensei. "How could you?" she whispered hugging him
Arashi bent down and whispered in Rin's ear. "She's fine; Karura is just taking her home. She's not dead, it's okay Rin." He hugged the girl back
Kakashi watched the Kazekage; he was still watching the spot where his wife left. "Are we going to start this next test?" Kakashi asked the Kazekage
"Yeah…" he said distractedly. He motioned for three of his ANBU to stand next to him. "Girlie, you go with this one." he pointed at the ANBU wearing a beaked mask. "Pirate, you go with this one." he pointed at the ANBU wearing a cat mask. "And Blondie, you will come with me and this one." The Kazekage pointed at the ANBU standing next to him.
"Bu-" Rin started only to be cut off by Kakashi
"Just do what he says" Kakashi whispered as he walked by her. Then he took off after the ANBU assigned to him.
Rin's ANBU offered to give her a piggyback ride. She looked at her sensei, shrugged and decided to go for a ride. "Bye Sensei" she said wrapping her arms around her ANBU's neck and the pair took off.
Arashi turned to look at the Kazekage. "Where are we going?" he asked
"You're going to babysit my kids. Temari is about two and Kankurō is about one." Kazue said pulling his hat down over his eyes. "Let's go"
They trio left in silence, there was so much tension is the Kazekage's stance and demeanor that Arashi was afraid to say anything. They got back to the Kazekage's building quite quickly. Kazue brought Arashi to a highly guarded room and sent Arashi inside. Arashi could tell that it was a playroom; there were children's toys everywhere. The only strange thing was that there were no children.
"Where are your children?" Arashi asked Kazue
"They're probably coming back from their naps now. Usually, they send the day with Karura's brother, Yashamaru." The Kazekage said just before the door opened and a sand brown hair man, who looked so very much like Karura, walked in carrying two small children.
"Hello Kazekage" Yashamaru said blushing, looking at his shoes
"Yashamaru" Kazue said with a nod
"Children say hello to your father." Yashamaru said putting the two small children on the floor.
"Father" Temari said with a giggle running at her father's legs. She latched on her little pigtails bouncing up and down
"Fadda! Fadda!" Kankurō said as he crawled toward his father. Kazue allowed a small smile to grace his features as he lifted little boy and girl into his arms.
"Alright you two, you are going to stay with Blondie back there." The Kazekage said nodding his head at Arashi
"Yep! Yep!" Temari said bouncing in her father's arms.
Kazue handed the two small children to Arashi. "We're going to go now. We'll be back in a few hours." He said putting an arm around Yashamaru's shoulders. "Now let's go find that sister of yours." The Kazekage said to Yashamaru.
Then next three and a half hours Arashi spent playing games, telling stories, listening to babble, making snacks, running around, playing the 'potty game' (when a little kid says they have to go potty then change their mind and then 2 minutes later they decide that they have to go again) and changing diapers. Arashi loved every minute of babysitting; he realized he really loved kids.
"Well, it looks like you all have passed the tests." The Kazekage said as he walked into the playroom followed by Yashamaru. "Yashamaru will put them to bed; we have to go sign those treaty forms." He turned and walked out of the room.
"Arashi" Arashi turned to look at who he had thought was Yashamaru
"Karura?" Arashi asked surprised
"Yeah, I'll explain later, I just wanted to let you know I'll come to get you after the treaty is signed." Karura said picking up the two half-sleeping children.
"Alright" Arashi said running after the Kazekage.
He met his team in the Kazekage's office. Arashi learned the Kakashi had spent time training some of the Genin, he had only lost three and only for about an hour. Rin had spent time working as a medic-nin; it fit her well especially because she was trained as such. Once the treaties were all signed the Kazekage said they could stay for the night.
Kakashi nodded to the Kazekage and followed the ANBU that had led him to his task. "Thank you" Rin said linking arms with the ANBU that had taken her to her task. Arashi thanked the Kazekage and walked out without an ANBU.
"Arashi" Karura said, she was still dressed as Yashamaru "Come on we have to go to the meeting, we're late as it is."
"Alright then, lead the way." Arashi said.
The pair took off and made their way to the bijou council meeting, slipping quietly past the guards and into the desert.
A/N: Once again I want to apologize for the wait and I will try to be more timely in putting out my next chapter. Well hope you enjoyed it. Reviews keep my stress levels down, so please help, it also makes it easier for me to write.