A/N: This happens to be my shortest chapter and for that, I am sorry. However, like I have mentioned before - I plan on doing interludes to provide insight on what Bankotsu and Hakudoshi are up to during their time away from Konoha. The chapters won't be as long seeing as they aren't part of the true main story but from how I want this story to go, they will be later on.

Now, I know I have mentioned not really caring much for reviews however, it would be much appreciated as I feel as though no one is reading the story. I have written quite a bit of future chapters but chose not to post due to the lack of response. I am writing this not just for your pleasure but for mine as well so I do not have any qualms of nipping it in the bud should I feel that no one reads the story.

This is not a threat just for reviews. I would like to know what you think on the chapters so I know what to include or what to fix.

Please, review and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Naruto or Inuyasha - they belong to their respective owners.

"Sunagakure will be perfect to hone your skills, Bankotsu."

That one sentence had the weapon specialist excited to be leaving. Of course, he would be leaving abruptly as told by Lord Orochimaru himself. Why? He didn't really know. He just hoped Kagome and Hakudoshi didn't get too angry at him for not saying goodbye - those two had horrible tempers despite being emotionless brats.

'Then again, those two aren't too keen on being sentimental so this will probably work in my favor,' Bankotsu thought gleefully though he still felt the loneliness he thought he would never feel once more.

As he stared through the slit in his pseudo mask to block out the brunt of the sandstorms that seem to become more frequent the closer he got to Suna, Bankotsu took note of the massive sand city in front of him. It took him just shy of a week to get there and while he was tired of seeing nothing but sand, he was sure glad to see the sandy gates of his destination.

"Halt, state your business," A voice interrupted Bankotsu's thoughts as he paused to look towards where the voice came from.

In front him, standing just outside of the Suna gates, stood a female of average height. He took note that the girl was possibly around his age though she already had a shinobi headband which gleamed proudly from her forehead. As he got closer, he noticed her grey-blue eyes and realized, with a start, that it reminded him greatly of Kagome.

"Are you deaf?" The question snapped him out of his reverie and he glanced at the girl. "I told you to state your business here," The girl repeated, her tone revealing a superior attitude toward his person.

Bankotsu held back a retort as he stared at the girl in front of him. "My name is Bankotsu," He said instead. "I am here to speak to your Kage."

"Huh?" The girl reeled back and lost some of her bravado as she blinked at him. "What for?"

"What other reason is there?" He asked back albeit a little hotly. "I'm here to ask for permission to stay within the walls of Sunagakure."

The girl hummed in contemplation as she stared at the boy in front of her. No doubt in her mind that he was probably stronger than her. Though, his request isn't odd seeing as there were many others requesting the same thing; it was odd for a child to be coming alone.

She wasn't sure whether she should allow him passage or not.

"It's okay, Maki," The girl's - now known as Maki - thoughts were broken. "The Kazekage has been awaiting the boy."

Maki looked up to see her sensei, Pakura, staring at the boy with slight hesitation. Looking back at him, she noticed the smirk that has settled upon his lips at what her sensei said. "Alright, if you say so," Maki said with slight wariness as she stared at the strange boy one more time.

Pakura, however, looked on in slight hatred as she stepped past Maki. "While I have known of your arrival, know this: I do not trust you. Any funny business and you won't even be able t get out of these gates… At least, not alive."

Bankotsu refused to admit that he was scared but if he ever would be frightened, he told himself that she would be the reason. Though he shuddered - because of the wind - he nodded in agreement.

"Good. Now, follow me," Pakura stated tersely before turning to the other girl. "Maki, stay here and continue watch." Without another word, Pakura took off over the gate, never looking back to see if the boy followed.

"You may leave now, Pakura."

Bankotsu stared at the Fourth Kazekage. Already, he got a bad vibe from the guy and wondered why Orochimaru wanted him to gain his trust, no matter how little of it he got.

"Why am I even going to Sunagakure? There really isn't anyone there that could train me," Bankotsu complained when Orochimaru told him of where he was going.

"You are not going there for training, Bankotsu," Kabuto answered instead. "You are there to gain the Kazekage's trust."

"Thank you for the insight, Lord Orochimaru," Bankotsu mocked, his annoyance clear on his face and in his words.

Kabuto glared at the child and opened his mouth to retort when Orochimaru interrupted.

"Kabuto is correct," Orochimaru hissed out. "However," His eyes glowed with barely concealed delight, "that does not mean you can't use your time there to hone in your skills."

Bankotsu glared at the ground in irritation. "Did you not hear me? I already mentioned the slight flaw in that."

Orochimaru's eye twitched but he held down the urge to hurt the boy. "There are children your age who are already Genin and trained to be great shinobi. Especially the Kazekage's children."

"You want me to get close to those children?" Bankotsu asked curiously.

"Precisely."

"I had wondered why Master Danzo wanted to send a special student of his to my village," The Kazekage spoke as he scrutinized Bankotsu. "At first, I had thought that he was doing it in the guise of creating an alliance between Konoha's notorious Root members and my shinobi but," His face contorted into that of displeasure, "You look like you have nothing to offer which leads me to my second guess." He stood up from his desk to stand in front of Bankotsu, his form towering over the boy's. "He wants me to train you to the best of your ability. No matter, at least you have some potential."

Bankotsu really wanted to rearrange the guy's face despite the fact that he was a respected Kazekage. No one insults his abilities unless you were two gakis with the names of Kagome and Hakudoshi. Not even Lord Orochimaru and Kabuto kept their remarks to themselves.

"First matter of business, where will you be staying?" The Kazekage wondered out loud as he moved to sit back at his desk.

"I was hoping for a one bedroom apartment that I can have on my own," Bankotsu jumped at the chance to throw in his own suggestion in hopes that the Kage would find it in his best interests to allow the small (unbeknownst to him) favor.

"Unfortunately, I cannot allow that," The Kage informed Bankotsu. "While you may be a young boy, you have been under the eye of Danzo. I know what he's been breeding and so you must understand why I don't trust you on your own just yet."

Bankotsu sighed. 'It was worth a shot,' He thought to himself. "Then what? Where will I stay? On the sandy streets?" He asked hotly, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Don't be so dramatic," The Kazekage dismissed his complaints off with a wave of his hand. "You'll be staying with someone who can watch your every move as well as who will be teaching you."

"Oh yeah?" Bankotsu asked rhetorically, "And who will that be?"

"Me."

Bankotsu froze at the sound of the newcomer's voice. He groaned as he realized who he will be staying and training with. Turning around, Bankotsu came face to face with a smirking Pakura.

"Remember," She said to him, clearly enjoying this, "No funny business."