Walking out of the grass village was a big relief for the group, finally free of danger. Once Minato decided they were far enough away from the group he began giving orders "Now I'm going to flash our guests back to the leaf before we continue our mission. I have peace talks in the sand village so you will accompany me through there on your way to meet the next group of Uzumaki. Start moving to Suna once I leave."
Everyone nodded. "ummm Dad I was given this scroll to show Akira and the others what should I do with it?" Naruto asked
"Make a shadow clone and I'll put a stasis tag on it, it will be frozen until the conditions are met to unfreeze it. That will preserve it until She gets back." The Hokage replied. After the preparations and 'good byes Minato' flashed to konoha.
Kushina took charge and started the march to Suna. "we will be passing through the land of rain to get to the land of wind. Lets have a little race through the land of grass, first of you three to get to the border wins."
The race began. Jiraiya sped in front to make a trail and kushina kept in the back to keep watch. The two younger Uzumaki were faster than Naruto but he was able to keep up using shunshin. The tall grass ruffled with movement as the group rushed to the border. Naruto chained together 3 shun-shin in a row trying to get ahead of His siblings. "Nice job! I was only able to do multiple shun-shin after a month of learning." Mito congratulated.
Menma laughed "Narnar is showing us up, we have to train harder haha!" As he chained three shun-shin of his own to speed ahead.
"Hey brat don't get ahead of me!" Jiraiya grabbed the red headed boy by the scruff of his jacket. "we are headed into rain, its unallied territory at best. You need to be more careful."
Menma nodded sheepishly, as he fell behind jiraiya. The three genin realized now that the race wasn't truly between siblings but of their group and the time it took for news to spread from grass that the uzumaki clan head was reforming the clan. "we're almost at the border." The red head looked at the sky "Let's go dad might be done already."
The border between grass and rain was tenser then the border leaf and grass all guards were alert. the dark browns and grays of the war torn rain juxtaposed the vibrant greens of the grass village. There Jiraiya stopped the group. "Let me check out by myself. Grass is neutral with everyone even if they won't like us for a while, but rain isn't. We were against them in the past wars, so bringing a team with 2 s-rank shin-obi unannounced is asking for trouble. But international treaties say we can't enter or leave unannounced in certain lands without it being seen as an act of aggression. So what we planned to do, your parents and I, was to sign us out and have your father flash us to suna directly."
The three younger shin-obi didn't want to admit it but not having to walk in the hot desert or be soaked in cold rain was a good thing in their books. Feeling their fathers chakra in the special kunai given to him Menma threw it at the ground, a yellow flash later and there Minato was, right in front of them.
"You all ready? Good we'll be in Suna in a flash." The blonde leader teleported his family away with a jovial tone.
The immediate transition between the cool spring climate in grass country and the oppressive heat in Suna was jarring to almost everyone. Jiraiya had dealt with such changes, being Minato's teacher and was unfazed. The group landed large room with pillars and circle windows with a tinted box hiding the Kazekage. Team 11 was surrounded by 10 adult ninja and three child ninja a fan user a puppeteer and a redhead with a gourd of sand.
"Welcome Hokage, I am glad you could make it." Rasa said taking off his hat and showing his face. "You are a bit early for the meeting, may I assume you agreed to the proposal to check my son's seal?"
Minato nodded. "Yes, me and my wife agreed to check and repair your son's seal before her group depart from Suna."
"Excellent, now if you may follow my children's sensei and my son Gaara to our sealing grounds, while my other kids treat your team to a tour of the village."
Both sets of kage children bowed and prepared to leave but as Naruto was walking out the door the red-headed Sand ninja spoke.
"Wait." All the sand ninja tensed "You. You know pain similar to mine, but it is… managed? How is that?"
Naruto paused and thought about how to respond "It was a huge effort between me and a group of really special people close to me."
Gaara looked annoyed by the answer but did not respond opting to leave with his sensei instead. The other two sand genin quickly ushered The leaf nin out of the building.
Once outside the building the tour began with the Kazekage's older children nervously guiding the Uzumaki siblings and Jiraiya around town, showing them markets and such. The group seemed extra twitchy with Naruto, flinching when ever he spoke or moved too quickly. "Here you guys must be hungry lets get a bite to eat." Tamari said. The restaurant was nice obviously, it was the best one in the dessert village. Contrasting the light browns of the stone buildings and walls the interior was a cool blue, reminiscent of the highly valued water that the leaf ninja took for granted. The group was led into a room into the back. One away from the crowd in the main restaurant, with a large table.
"Here is a private room we can talk more freely here." Kankuro stated stealing a glance at Naruto again.
"So can you tell me why my brother makes you so nervous?" Mito asked one part curious, two parts offended.
"It's not… he… well…" temari stammered as she wanted to find the right words to placate her guest.
"he interests Gaara, that means he's like Garra or he's going to be killed by him and we can't tell which." Kankuro bluntly stated. Then he smirked "Well anyone who's like gaara would eventually cross him in battle then be kilt by him. So, difference without distinction."
Jiraiya sighed, knowing of the sand's weapon. "I would not count out Naruto just yet, but no he is not like your sibling. He shared a similar pain of being forgotten and ignored for many years. Not exactly the same though, his childhood was undoubtedly better."
Kankuro nodded Temari seemed lost in thought. "Were you like the others then? Are you one of Konoha's version of our scorpions?" Temari asked. Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Jiraiya sighed "No… Naruto is advanced for his age but he is not anything like a those living weapons."
"Then why was he removed from his birthright?" The puppet user asked.
"Im right here, ass." Naruto took a bite of his meal "and if you must know, I simply am getting another title, Cheif clan diplomat most likely, I abdicated myself from the heir role."
"I don't buy it. No-one just gives up their clan heir title like that. You want to keep it personal? Thats fine, but everyone can see through that." Jiraiya and the konoha ninja all stared at Kankuro with levels disbelief at what was said.
"let's change topics," Temari said sensing the danger approaching "Konoha is holding the chunin exams this year, will we be seeing you?" She kicked her brother under the table. He winced.
"perhaps, perhaps not." Mito said before taking a sip of water.
"well if you all are ack-" Kankuro started before being kicked again. Temari sent him a glare saying he wasn't allowed to talk again for the rest of the meal.
"well, if this sealing process that our brother is going through works and he becomes more stable we might join the exams." The Kazekage's daughter said
"Hmmmm." Naruto took another bite "The fixed seal alone won't make him sane, he needs support. Show him that people care. Don't change your behavior overnight, but let him know he's not alone."
Mito and Menma shared a look. Both felt guilty for the years they left Naruto without being there for him. Temari and Kankuro did the same, was there something they could have done to save their brother from his madness?
"But why do you want to become a Chunin so quickly? Gaara looked the same age as me and so you must have only become team now. Chunin are squad leaders there is no way six months is enough time to learn how to lead like that."
Kankuro smirked " hehe lets just say we're counting the days when we never have to sweep sand off streets or do any other chore again."
Naruto smiled "sucks for you, our team proved to be chunin strength right away so we only had to do one d-rank."
"Lucky little bastard."
Gaara touched his new seal, "I cannot hear moth- no. I cannot hear the beast's voice anymore. I feel … at peace."
"AND Im betting your glad to have met your real mother as well!" Kushina grinned aren't you glad to know she truly loved you?"
Rasa was shocked "Karura… she was in the seal?"
"yep!" Kushina chirped "Her chakra fused with his sand. So he keeps his automatic defense!"
"She told me many things, and we have a lot to discuss." Gaara pierced through his father with his eyes "Did you tell Yashamaru to lie to me? To tell me that he hated me?"
Rasa looked at his son with hardened eyes and opened his mouth.
Kushina and Minato walked back to the hotel, by the time they returned Jiraiya returned with the kids as well. Everyone seemed lost in thought. Naruto despite being conflicted himself on some things shook it off and smiled a huge grin. "Well tomorrow we return to rescuing the clan right?"
a/n hey guys it me here with a new chapter happy saint pattys day on sunday! next chapter we checking with the other konoha elite! this is my first original arc so i hope im doing well, next chapter is my planned halfway mark. the first half i tried to balance current stuff with foreshadowing future threats and events but the latter half will be more action and in the moment. see you all soon!
