OMG! Please do not kill me! I know it has been a long time since I posted a chapter in any of my stories! I got a second job and had a full load at school, plus I moved and got a roommate! CRAZY-NESS! But here is the chapter! I hope you enjoy it! I only got to go through it once for grammatical errors so please bear with me if I made some mistakes! Oh and I know some of this may seem non-cannon or out of character but it was written that way! So again please bear with me!
Btw! Over 600 Followers! You guys are the best! Lets strive for 1000! :0 :D
The Redhead and The Blonde
"Kakashi."
"Sensei!"
Minato flashed to the familiar sensation of his seal, although the scene he arrived at was not was he was expecting. In the large area just outside the base of the main tower a small battle was taking place. Kakashi stood next to the two Kages. He was breathing heavily in a battle stance with his Sharingan exposed and a kunai in hand. Baki stood next to him with a protective stance for the small red headed boy behind him. Gaara looked completely passive about the whole situation.
Minato did a head count and notice his son was not among his comrades, "Kakashi, where is…" Minato started to ask then turned and look towards the enemy they were current battling. A small bundle with a yellow top wrapped in the scorpion-like tail of a large but short-cloaked figure caught his attention.
They had his son.
Black cloaks with red clouds… the Akatsuki…
Minato narrowed his eyes at the two members. The large one that had a hold of his son matched the description Itachi had given him of the man by the name of Sasori. Short with scorpion-like tail, tan face with a ragged mask obscuring the bottom half of his face, along with five short hair spikes. The other one was standing on a large white bird with his arms crossed. He had blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail with a long bang covering his left eye. Deidra, Minato confirmed was this man's name.
"Looks like the Hokage AND the Kazekage have decided to grace us with their presence," Deidra laughed.
Minato's first instinct was to rescue his son from the enemy's grasp, but years of experience told him otherwise. Analyze the situation, make a plan then act Minato told himself.
The Kazekage looked toward Baki "Where are the others?" he ask referring to his two other children.
"They are out of harms way, sir," Baki replied.
"Very well," the red head then turned to Minato, "do you know anything about the situation, Hokage?"
Minato nodded, "Yes, these men are members of the Akatsuki, a new organization composed of S-ranked criminals and rogue shinobi. Rumors have it they are collecting Jinchuurikis. It was one of the topics I came here to discuss with you sir."
"Yes, and we've come for the Ichibi Jinchuuriki. Hand him over and we will leave peacefully," Sasori confirmed, "For now."
Minato glanced over to the Kazekage who had a look of confliction on his face, then the blonde understood, "you are not seriously debating on handing over your son, are you?"
The Kazekage looked a Minato, "you do not understand, I love my son, but he is a danger to the village."
"Why is the village in danger? Is the Ichibi not under control?" Minato replied.
"Yes… no… its hard to explain," the Kazekage shook his head.
"We'll take care of that later, remember, Gaara is your son, not just some weapon you created," Minato replied.
This caught the attention of the Kazekage, and after those words sunk in, his love for his son and his determination to save him was reestablished, "Yes," was his only reply.
"Hokage-sama, don't you want your son back?" Deidra laughed, "Either the Ichibi comes with us or your son does. Choose wisely."
Minato's eyes narrowed…They don't know Naruto is a Jinchuuriki…Those chakra masking seals I placed on Naruto are working well then…
"Kakashi, lend me your ear," Minato whispered, "I've got a plan."
Kakashi nodded quickly and did what he was told. His eyes narrowed in determination as his sensei told him exactly what to do, then when Minato was finished he gave a short nod and got ready.
Minato placed a hand on top of Kakashi's shoulder, then glanced back at the Kazekage, "I know it's not my place to ask, but cover my back will you?"
Kazekage smirked then nodded, "Sure, Hokage."
Minato gave a quick nod, and then in a flash he and the silver haired man disappeared, leaving behind only a three-pronged Kunai.
Before anyone could blink, they both reappeared a top of Sasori. A thousand chirping sounds could be heard as Kakashi slammed his lightning covered hand into the back of short man, simultaneously breaking the tail off of the man as well. As soon the small blonde bundle was loosened from the tail's grasp, Minato latched on pulling his bundle close to his body.
Although Minato now had a hold of his son, they weren't out of danger just yet; Deidara had acted quick and prepared some type explosive that was now heading towards the Konoha shinobi. Minato saw the white explosive coming towards them but it was too late for him to do anything. He wasn't close enough to Kakashi to flash them out of danger and he wasn't going to leave his student to take the hit of the explosive. So he did what he thought best and that was to protect his son, so he turned his back and held Naruto as close to his body as he could, shielding him from the blast.
However, nothing came.
After a few seconds, Minato turned and noticed, a large wall of gold was shielding him and Kakashi. Letting out the breath he was holding, he reached his hand out for Kakashi to grab and flashed back to the kunai he left earlier.
"Thank you, Kazekage," Minato said as he landed, then turned to Kakashi handing him his son, "Protect him with your life, even if it means running. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Kakashi nodded then held Naruto close to his body.
Minato turned back to the battle at hand, and walked forward so that he was standing next to the red hair Kage.
"Since you saved my life, I assume being allies is no longer in question?" Minato asked.
"Yes, it would be beneficial for Suna to have an ally such a Konoha, however if anything were to happen..." the Kazekage started to speak.
"I understand," Minato cut him off.
"Good, then lets get started," the Kazekage nodded.
"Agree, I'll take this man, while you take the one of the bird?" Minato stated rather than asked.
"Fine with me," the Kazekage nodded as Deidara started to fly off with his bird. The Kage turned to his son, "Gaara."
The young red head turned to his father, with a look of confusion.
"Gaara, come with me, I need your help," the Kazekage said holding out his hand.
Gaara looked at his father in confusion, but nodded and started to walk over to him. Before Gaara reached his father, he stopped at Kakashi and looked down at the blonde.
Flashback
"You're not scared of me?" Gaara asked.
Naruto was sitting across from him at a small table. Temari and Kankuro had been escorted to another room for training. Kakashi was leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed seeming out of it, but keeping a close eye on Naruto, while Baki was standing across the room doing the same.
The room was quiet large, but very plain. Windows facing the village lined the wall on the far side, while only a door was on the other. A small round table with only two chairs which both were being occupied was located in the center of the room. Naruto had a small piece of paper and pen, and was doodling, or so it seemed to the blonde. Gaara on the other hand, was sitting quietly holding the small brown teddy bear.
"Why would I be scared of you?" Naruto asked without looking up from his paper.
"Because I'm a monster," Gaara replied.
"I highly doubt you're a monster," Naruto laughed still not looking at Gaara.
"But I am," Gaara replied.
"You don't seem like one to me. We are the same age, I think, so you look like a typical boy to me," Naruto talked into his paper, yet to look up at the red head.
"But I have one in me, and everyone calls me a monster. So I must be a monster," Gaara replied looking down in his lap, but when Naruto didn't reply, he hesitantly looked up only to find the blonde had dropped his pen and was staring up at him. Gaara feared the worst, "See? I am a monster."
"No, your not," Naruto said sternly then his tone changed, "You're like me!"
"What?" Startling Gaara.
"I've got one in me too!" Naruto smiled.
"You do?" Gaara asked then frowned, "then why are you smiling?"
"Because I know by having a monster inside me, I'm protecting my precious people!" Naruto continued smiling.
"Your precious people?" Gaara asked.
"Yep, like my dad and my sensei, even Sakura and Sasuke-teme," Naruto laughed, "By holding back my monster I'm protecting them."
"Oh," Gaara looked down.
"But that doesn't make me a monster!" Naruto smiled, "When I first learned it was in me, I thought I was a monster, because people in my village would call me monster and demon, but then my dad explained that I'm not a monster but I'm a hero. So your not a monster, but a hero too!"
"A hero?" Gaara repeated.
"And anyone who says differently are shitheads!" Naruto crossed his arms.
"Naruto, what has your dad said about swearing?" Kakashi warned.
"Sorry, sensei…" Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly and smiled, and then looked over to Gaara who was taking in everything he had just told the red head, "Gaara, do you have any precious people?"
Gaara just looked at him.
End Flashback
Gaara looked down at the teddy bear he was holding.
Naruto, you are a precious person to me.
He then placed it with Naruto and headed over to his father.
"I need you to create something that can hold the both of us and catch up to that man," the Kazekage, instructed, "Can you do that?"
Gaara nodded and held out one hand. A large disk-like structure started to form underneath them and rise off the ground. Both red head's kneeled down to gain more stability during flight. As soon as they were off the ground, they flew off in the direction Deidara was heading. To the Kazekage's surprise, they were catching up at an increasingly fast rate. The blonde noticed and came to halt realizing he was not going to be able to out run them.
"Tch," Deidara shook his head, "Can't out run them."
The Kazekage looked down at his son, "Gaara, I'm going to need your help to rid Suna of this man. My gold is heavier than your sand but your sand is a lot faster. However, they are after you, so if you are in danger, I will tell you to leave and you will leave, do you understand?"
"Yes, father," Gaara nodded.
"Good," the Kazekage nodded.
"Had to get the little Jinchuuriki to fight for you huh?" Deidara laughed.
"No," the Kazekage shook his head, "I wanted to fight a long side my son, and protect him."
Protect me? Is he a precious person to me too?
"Ha! Whatever," Deidara laughed, "He won't be here long so say your goodbyes!"
The Kazekage didn't answer, only stood up and started making hand signs, "Magnet Release: Gold bullets!"
Large amounts of gold dust collected and gathered into small, dense balls then shot rapidly at the blonde they were fighting. However, Deidara using the bird he was standing on to dodge the bullets easily enough. The Kazekage kept shooting hoping to wear the blonde out, however it was having the opposite effect, the more the Kazekage shot, the weaker he got and the slower the bullets got.
If the bullets won't work, lets try something larger…
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Waterfall!"
A large wave of gold appeared seemingly out of nowhere and rose high enough over the blonde to engulf him. As the gold wave headed towards the ground, it took the blond and it's bird with him. Gaara and his father, watched the gold covered ground intensely, but just when they thought they had defeated him, a large explosion took place and the enemy came flying back.
"Ha! Can I keep some of that gold?" Deidara asked.
The Kazekage narrowed his eyes and prepared another technique but Gaara spoke up, "Father, let me try."
The Kazekage smiled, then nodded agree. Gaara stood up and raised both his hands. Sand started towards the enemy, who took off at a fast pace as well. The sand chased the blonde around the village until Gaara was completely out of breath. The younger red head cornered the enemy and, created the same waterfall of sand his father had, but instead of going to the ground, it engulfed the blonde along with the white bird in a large sphere.
"Sand Prison," Gaara muttered, then his father noticed the sand was getting tighter and tighter, so the sphere was shrinking.
"Gaara do not kill him, we need him for integration to gather information," the Kazekage spoke calmly.
"Yes, father," Gaara nodded, and the sand ceased to shrink any farther.
As Gaara started to lower the sphere to the ground, another explosion took place revealing a blonde diving head first towards the ground. Gaara just narrowed his eyes and sent a long string of sand after him and catching him by the leg. The sand line swung him around until he started heading back towards the sphere Gaara created earlier.
"Father, do you think you can combine your Gold with my sand? If we make the sphere heavier and denser, he may not be able to break out of it so easily," Gaara asked.
"Yes, I believe so," the Kazekage nodded and sent a large amount of gold towards the sphere Gaara had created.
The gold started to combine with the sand just as Gaara's sand line threw Deidara into it. The sphere started to close up and get tighter again, but Gaara knew not to make it to tight so he would not kill the man inside. Ignoring the voice inside his head urging him to kill the man. Gaara and his father were satisfied that the man was not going to escape he started to lower the sphere until it reached the ground. Gaara and his father turned to see the progress the Hokage was making with his battle.
"Is that Sasori? I thought Chiyo told me he was dead?" The Kazekage asked to no one in particular.
"Sasori, Father?" Gaara asked.
"Yes, once a powerful shinobi of this village. A Puppeteer I recall. Some of your brother's puppets were made by him," the Kazekage explained, "However I was lead to believe he had died years ago, but it does not seem that way."
"I see," Gaara nodded, then started lowering their stand to the ground to assist the Hokage, until suddenly an explosion larger than any other before took place, completely obliterating the sphere Gaara and his father had created.
An angry looking Deidara stood in it's place. Deidara had a large white owl in his hand, and unbeknownst to them, it was about to get a lot bigger. In his other hand was a large white spider looking creature. Gaara narrowed his eyes at the blonde Akatsuki member.
Across from the blonde, Minato was currently engaging in a battle of his own with a young red head, and a few puppets. Although Sasori was good, he couldn't keep up with Minato's speed. Every attack he would through Minato would dodge or counter attack. Deidara waited till the right moment, when the two were far enough apart that Sasori would not be hit with his explosive or at least take minimal damage from it. And that moment came, one of Sasori's puppets lunged at Minato with purple covered spear from its mouth. That wasn't the only thing, the Hokage had to worry about, several senbon needles shot out from the puppets mouth.
Minato cursed under his breath as he made several hand signs, and then lifted one hand towards where the needles were coming from as a seal started forming on his hand, "Jikūkan Kekkai." The seal that started forming on his hand expanded until a shield that was made out of the seal protected his body. All the needles were sucked into this seal, and then disappeared.
Deidara took this moment and threw the spider-looking bomb behind Minato so the damage would hit both Minato and Kakashi.
"Naruto!" Minato yelled realizing they were both going to be killed by the explosive Deidara threw. Kakashi turned his back and tried to cover Naruto as best he could, Baki did the same.
However, Gaara noticed before anyone else did and covered the bomb with sand to contain it.
"Gaara, you…" the Kazekage started but he couldn't finish, he just smiled at his son.
"Naruto, he's a precious person to me. I will protect him," Gaara stated.
"I see," his father nodded.
Minato looked up when he didn't hear any explode and saw the dome of sand in place of where the bomb would have been. He glanced up at Gaara and the Kazekage and noticed it was Gaara who had protected them, and the Hokage smiled.
Thank you, Gaara.
"Damn it," Deidara swore, "Sasori, lets get out of here!"
"I agree," Sasori replied as Deidara created another one of those large white birds and flew down to pick up his partner, "Destroy that," Sasori asked pointing at shattered puppet he once inhabited.
Deidara nodded and threw a small bomb at the puppet, destroying everything.
The white bird flew off, but as soon as it was high enough it stopped. Gaara had lowered his father and himself to the ground, but as soon as his father stepped off the sand, he immediately flew back up, knowing what the blonde Akatsuki member was about to do.
"Gaara!" the Kazekage yelled after his son.
Gaara ignored him however and continued to fly up towards white bird. Deidara threw the white owl he had created before, only to have puff of smokes surround it. When the smoke died down, the owl was much large than it was before, then it started to fall.
Gaara reacted as quick as he could covering the entire village with sand to protect it. Everyone in the village tried to protect themselves, but when nothing happened after the loud explosion, then noticed the large blanket of sand that covered the entire village. The sand started to fall back down and went back to where it came from. Deidara and Sasori were long gone. The Kazekage searched frantically over the sky to find his son, then he saw him. Gaara was falling from the sky headfirst. A large arm of gold was sent to catch the young red head and bring him back to his father.
The Kazekage held tight to his son when he reached him. Gaara was out cold. Minato walked over and smiled.
"Its chakra exhaustion," Minato explained after looking at the boy, "He'll be alright."
The Kazekage nodded in return and carried Gaara over to the rest.
"Sensei," Kakashi called, "Naruto still hasn't woken."
Minato placed a hand on his son as the Kazekage called for a medic.
Once the medic arrived, they took Naruto to the hospital. Minato, the Kazekage still holding Gaara, Kakashi and Baki stood outside the room, which currently housed Naruto. Gaara woke up from his chakra exhaustion.
"Ah, Gaara. You're awake," the Kazekage smiled.
"Father?" Gaara replied at little shocked to see his father holding him.
"You did well to protect the village. I'm proud of you," the Kazekage said to his son.
Gaara was speechless. His father rarely ever praised him. He thought his father was scared of him, let alone proud of him. Gaara felt a hot tear roll down his face, but hurriedly whipped it away before anyone else could see it.
"Where's Naruto?" Gaara asked.
"He's in there," his father pointed to the room, "being seen by the doctor."
Minato was listening to the conversion lightly, but he was more concerned about his own son. He and Kakashi were starting to become impatient, when one of the medics stepped out. Minato jumped up.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama," the medic started, "He's been poisoned, but it's too complicated and even if we were to attempt an antidote, we don't have the necessary ingredients for it."
"What do you suggest?" Minato asked calmly.
"Maybe a medic in your village would have better luck?" the medic said then walked away.
The Kazekage let his son down walked up to Minato placing a hand on his shoulder, "Is there away to get you and Naruto back to your village without travel?"
"Yes, I will have to send word to my village and contact my elite body guards. They use the Hiraishin to teleport multiple people. Kakashi, do you have the message tube I gave you?" Minato replied.
"Yes, sir," Kakashi nodded.
"Then send word to Genma to have the three of us ready to travel in the next hour," Minato instructed.
"Yes, sir," Kakashi nodded then did as he was instructed.
Minato and the Kazekage, along with Gaara walked into the room to see Naruto eerily still on the hospital bed. Minato walked up next to the bed as Gaara did the same, but the Kazekage held back. Minato shook his head and turned around, walking back the other Kage.
"You know," the red head started, "I wanted to thank you."
"Me?" Minato replied with out looking up.
"Yes, and your son. If it wasn't for you and Naruto, I wouldn't have regained my son back," the man smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"As we were fighting, and Gaara protected you, Kakashi, and Naruto from one of the explosions, he told me Naruto was precious to him and he wanted to protect him," the Kazekage explained, "I don't know what Naruto did or said to my son, but it changed him, for the better. I've never seen my son like this. For me, when you told me Gaara was my son and not just some weapon I created it made me realize how I have been treating my son."
"I see," Minato smiled.
"I've been angry with Gaara because my wife died while giving birth to him," he looked down ashamed of himself, "I shouldn't have been, and because of that, I've treated Gaara more like weapon than a son, and it pushed him away. But now I realize, it was not his fault my wife died. He is my son and I love him. The more I ostracize him, the angrier he will become and the more likely, the Ichibi will take over."
"My wife, Kushina told me something I think you should hear," Minato said placing a hand on the Kazekage's shoulder.
"Yes?"
"When she was about to be made the Jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi, she was scared that she would be come a monster," Minato explained, "So Lady Mito told her to fill the vessel with love before making them a jinchuuriki. At first I didn't understand, but then when Naruto was born, and we had to make him the Jinchuuriki, Kushina told me that we loved Naruto and he was filled with love before we put the Kyuubi into him."
"You're right, Hokage," the red head smile, "my wife love Gaara, even before we placed the Ichibi inside him, he was full of her love before hand."
"And yours, Kazekage," Minato added.
"Yes, and mine," the Kazekage nodded, "Thank you Hokage, for helping me realize this. I don't know what would have become of me or my son, if it weren't for you."
Minato only nodded in reply then turned back to his son. Gaara was standing next to the bed as Minato walked up, then the Kazekage called Gaara and told him to let Minato be alone with his son for now. As soon as they left, Minato kneeled down next to the bed and took one of his son's hands in his.
"I'm sorry, my son," Minato whispered, "I'm sorry, I wasn't there to protect you."
Minato felt the hot sting in his eyes as he whispered to his son. He felt it was his fault for not being strong enough to protect what was most precious to him. His quickly whipped away the moisture from his eyes and stood up as he heard the door open.
"Sensei," Kakashi said, "Genma replied, they are ready when you are."
Minato nodded quickly and gathered up his son. Holding Naruto in his arms, they made their way to the base of the Kage tower were the sealing for traveling was set up. He and Kakashi stood in the center of the large seal. Kakashi placed his hand on Minato's shoulder. The Kazekage and all three of his children stood near by.
"Will you let us know about Naruto?" Gaara asked.
"Of course," Minato nodded, "I will send word once we know something."
"Thank you again, Hokage," the Kazekage nodded, "We will continue our negotiations soon, but consider Sunagakure a strong ally as we will consider Konohagakure one as well."
"That's good to hear, Kazekage," Minato nodded, "I look forward to our negotiations."
"We will be waiting to hear about Naruto," the Kazekage said.
Minato gave a quick nod, and the seal on the ground started to glow and as soon they arrive, the Konoha shinobi vanished.
So there is the chapter! I hope you like it! Now that it's summer I will try to update more often! Please review and let me know what you think!
Thanks!