Author'sNote

Hey wow, it's been a while. If anyone reading this follows my account then you'll know that I've been rather busy working on other stories in the meantime. I hadn't lost the zeal to continue this one, but just had a burnout.

For any worried about this, no, there is absolutely no chance this story is going to become a harem. Not now, not twenty chapters down the line. That's not happening, so I hope that clears some people's worries.

It is now and forever, just between Naruto and Hinata.

Uploaded

07/01/2022

LEGEND BELOW

"Oh, she loves these!" = Normal speech.

''You can stay like that for ever...'' = Normal thoughts.

"No... Go away..." = Bujuu/beast Naruto talking.

''So noisy...'' = Bujuu/beast Naruto's thoughts.

Chapter 16

An emergency meeting/Suna's troubled heiress

When he was pulled aside by the masked ninja and told that the Hokage had requested his presence urgently, he wasn't quite sure what to expect. It wasn't too often that Hiruzen requested something of him in general, so he was honestly interested in what the man had in store for him.

Nevertheless, he quickly kept pace with the ninja all the way back to the Hokage tower. It only took them a few minutes to arrive, and when they did the ANBU agent offered a quick bow of respect before vanishing into a swirl of leaves. Now standing just outside the old man's office doors, he took a breath and mentally prepared himself. It wouldn't do to lose his cool a third time this day…

He knocked on the door, waiting for a response.

"Enter." And there it was. He stepped in, hands clasped together hidden underneath his kimono. He noticed immediately that they weren't alone. Beside's Hiruzen, there was a man he'd not recognized, and a few more ninja, obviously from Konoha's own ranks. He recognized Anko immediately, the ninja smirking at him the moment she lay her eyes on him. There was a few more, but he'd not the pleasure of having met them before.

"Kurama-Kun, I'm glad you made it here so fast." Hiruzen opened, hands clasped together underneath his chin. Naruto smiled.

"Of course. You never request me urgently without reason, in fact." The nine tailed fox stated. However, his smile faded to a look of confusion. "However, I'm curious to the reasons behind everyone else's presence in this room."

Hiruzen nodded. "Indeed. Kurama-Kun, I've called you here today because I have a proposition for you. The Chunnin exams are coming up and I've picked you as one of the instructors of the exam."

The looks of surprise were shared among the other instructors currently in the room, chief among them torture and interrogation specialist Ibiki.

Naruto, for his part, blinked in shock. That wasn't quite what he was expecting the man to say.

However, there must've been an important reason behind why. He was sure that the village would be up in arms when they heard that a Yokai was going to be responsible for taking part as an examiner in the Chunnin exams. Yokai as a whole had been practically outlawed from entering the village, if not by law then by general consensus that there was a general distain held against them by the majority of the population. Naruto was the only example of a known Yokai living within the walls, partly because no one would dare to try and make him leave.

They weren't that stupid…

"I'm sure you are surprised. Likely everyone in this room is surprised, however, it is necessary." The Hokage said. "I want you to join alongside the other examiners as a… precaution."

''Ah… There it is.'' The Kitsune thought.

"I had hoped you would take up this task, seeing as you cannot join Hinata during the exam for obvious reasons." Hiruzen said.

"I see." Naruto said quietly. "But that's not the only reason is it, I wonder?" His eyes sharpened at the man. There was something he wasn't telling him.

Hiruzen sighed. "We have reason to believe that Suna will be launching an invasion on Konoha during the finals of the exams." His words echoed out like an explosion, staring seriously at the wide eyed Kitsune. "The news that they'd betray us was… disappointing to say the least. But that is why I want you on this." He said, before turning his attention to the odd one out in the room. It was a man wearing typical Suna ninja garb. "Baki?"

"Yes, Hokage-Sama." The man nodded, turning to face the fox. "My name is Baki, Jonin Sensei to the Kazekage's genin team." Then, to the surprise of everyone, he bent down in a kowtow. "Please… If you could find it in yourself to show mercy to the sand family, I'd be in your debt forever!" The man pleaded.

Naruto stared in silence at the man groveling before him, not entirely sure what he was asking of him. Seeing this, Hiruzen moved in to explain. "The Kazekage has sent in a Jinchuriki, his own daughter, to lay siege upon the village. Kurama, if at all possible, I want you to prevent it from coming to that." Hiruzen turned to the sand ninja, who was still face down before the fox. "Baki has betrayed his village to inform us of this event, in the vain hope that the Kazekage's children are spared this fate. I believe it is the very least I can do to offer him help…" He sighed.

He was getting too old for this. He'd hoped that he'd go the rest of his life without seeing another war on his own village, but sadly it seemed like that wouldn't be the case. That's why he wanted Naruto to take care of this.

However, he was also aware of the fact that Naruto, now knowing of this threat to those that he loved, could choose to hunt down the daughter of the Kazekage to stop this. There was likely no sage chance stopping him if he decided to kill her to protect Hinata.

But he had to ask, because Naruto was the only one that could safely stop the Jinchuriki without dying. That and prevent anyone from dying while doing so.

"Why should I even consider what you're asking of me, I wonder?" Naruto's words bore down harshly onto the man, surprising many in the room. "How do I benefit from this? It seems like you wish for me to stick my neck out without receiving anything in return. I can barely trust the villagers to not attempt to stab me in my sleep half the time, why should I trust an outsider?" He muttered, eyes sharpened to a point as she glared down at the man.

"Kurama!?" Anko shouted in surprise, but he ignored her. She quieted at the look he subtly shot her, stepping back in line with her fellow ninja.

"No, you're right…" Baki muttered lowly. "If you can stop this war from happening and save Gaara, then when I become acting Kazekage, I've already promised the Hokage that I will give her over to you in marriage as a sign of peace between us." Baki stated seriously, eyes determined.

Naruto frowned. "You'd be willing to do that?" The fox man asked slowly, eyes searching the man for something only he could sense. "Why? Why would you venture so far, I wonder?"

Baki went silent for a moment, before steeling his gaze. He looked up, locking eyes with the Kyuubi. "Because I'm willing to go against her own personal wishes if that means saving her life. If I don't do this, then not only will Suna fall in the attack, but she'll die too…"

The room was tense with silence, everyone watching with baited breath, waiting for the fox's reaction. Then Naruto grinned, and the tense air vanished. "Good. I just wished to make sure of your reasoning, in fact." He said lightly, smiling down at the man. "I shall help you out. However, you don't need to go through with this marriage. I am not interested." He admitted, waving down the man's offer.

"No, do not pity the Sand." Baki exclaimed as he stood up. "A promise is a promise. If I were to betray a promise then I would be no better the the Kazekage." He admitted lowly. "I'm going to start this off right, all cards on the table. I'm sure your Hokage would have nothing less." He exclaimed firmly.

"N-Now hold on…" Naruto tried, but stopped short when Baki grabbed his hands. "You can still accomplish such an act without giving me a bride." Naruto tried persuading the man.

"I do not see a ring. You aren't married, are you?" The sand Jonin said strangely firmly, eyes boring into him.

"Well… Not yet…" Naruto muttered, looking away as his cheeks warmed lightly. But he wanted to be, and he knew exactly who it was going to be.

And it wasn't going to be this sand ninja woman…

To everyone else, it was surprising to see the usually unmovable fox thrown off his game from one serious question.

"Great! Then with the Hokage's blessing, this can be arranged!" The sand ninja stated.

"Wait a minute… I didn't agree to this…" Naruto muttered in confusion. The Kitsune's eyes narrowed as his tail shot forwards, snatching up the documents Baki held faster then anyone could react to. "Find someone else to marry her, I accepted to help you, not bed the Kazekage's daughter." Naruto stated clearly.

"Now hold on Kurama-Kun… I ask you to think of the potential disaster we can all avoid if you do so. Should this marriage go through, not only will we strengthen ties between Suna, but an event such as this won't ever happen again. The Hidden Sand wouldn't attack the village that their princess lives in." Hiruzen explained his side. "You'd be doing this for the safety of the Hyuuga as well, as this could very well prevent a war from breaking out in our lands."

Naruto's head dipped in understanding, but he wasn't convinced. "Yes well, any other man can marry her. Why do you need me, I wonder?" His tails idly waved behind him, almost knocking Anko who'd been back there, off her feet. The woman pouted as she backed away, arms crossed.

Naruto ignored her.

"Do you see another man that is fully capable of detaining a wild Jinchuriki?" Hiruzen shot back.

"Tsk…"

"You must see my point." Hiruzen hummed seriously. "I'm not going to force you to do this, believe me, I know how such an action would be foolish, and impossible. If it means anything, you would only be married in paper. Nothing is stopping you from seeking out someone you love." The man clarified.

Naruto didn't like this…

But…

After he thought about it for a few moments, although he was loath to admit it, and arranged marriage with the daughter of the Kazekage would indeed bolster relations with Suna. He'd also not have to worry about an attack from a previously thought ally.

As it stood, he cared little, if at all, about Konoha as a village. He held near no emotional relation to the hidden leaf, and cared for few that called themselves residence of said village. The entire Hyuuga clan was one being on that list, so if he counted them all as he did, then the number would be a lot bigger. That's why he counted everyone outside the clan as few he cared for, because that number was small.

In fact, his relationship with the village hidden in the leaves could be described in one word.

Disdain.

But that was why his relationship was hard to describe. Though he loathed the village and many of its people, he didn't necessarily wish to see it burn. More then that, he did call it home, because the woman he swore to marry was born and raised here. His home was her home, and if she lived in and cared for the hidden leaf, then he had to as well to some degree.

Plus, if word had gotten out that it was him who was responsible for stopping the war that was and or will break out, and who was the one that was married to the Kazekage's daughter. Said daughter just so happened to have been a Jinchuriki as well, and such a political marriage was sure to bolster relationships between the villages after everything died down. More then that, it was he, guardian spirit of Konoha's resident Hyuuga Princess, and loyal to a fault, that was marrying her.

Her stance in the village was sure to skyrocket in leaps and bounds from this. She'd be viewed completely differently then she is now. She'd gain a potentially better political backing once she grew to Chunin or Jonin ranking. Her dream of taking over and bettering the entire Hyuuga clan would be closer to reach then before.

His brows furrowed deeply at the thought. He knew she wanted to be responsible for achieving this on her own, hence why she asked for little assistance in missions, but he still did things to help her from the shadows. He knew she'd probably be upset with him somewhat if she learned of that, but he didn't plan on sitting on the bench while people went after her, nor did he plan of standing on the sidelines while an opportunity to make the path easier for her appeared to him.

After all, everything he strived for was all for her in the end, nothing else. All the moves he made was for her, everything he did was for her.

She practically had to order him to take a day off otherwise he'd never relax on his own.

But this marriage idea was something he'd never do without her express consent. He already had a feeling she'd be against it, but perhaps she had a better thing in mind.

"Hmmmm..." He intoned.

He'd decided.

Naruto finally looked up, locking eyes with the Hokage. "I see. I do think this is a… potentially useful idea." He started.

"Wonder-"

"However." Naruto quickly cut him off. "I won't make a decision like this without Hinata's consent. If she doesn't like it, then I will not except it, in fact." He stated, arms crossed. "This is non negotiable, in fact."

"You plan on balancing the future of Konoha on some foolish level of respect for another woman?" The comment came from T specialist Ibiki Morino. He was a tall and imposing man, dressed in dark black and head capped off with a bandana. Scars covered his intimidating face. "Do you understand how foolish that is?" He ground out. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Quite, in fact. However, I do not care." Naruto responded almost immediately, eyes shooting the man a dark glare. Ibiki's eyes shot wide, teeth grinding together. "I am not against the woman becoming a friend or someone willing to stick by my side."

''Oh boy…'' Hiruzen thought, expression falling. Leave it to the Kyuubi to make Ibiki lose his cool.

In fact, Naruto was astoundingly great at doing that to everyone he didn't care for…

"You should be lucky that Hokage-Sama is even giving you an option." The interrogator snapped lowly. However, he wasn't expecting Naruto to laugh. "As a Ninja of the leaf, it is your duty to heed the commands of those above you."

The Kitsune hid his mouth behind his hand, eyes scrunched up as he tried to stifle his giggling fit the man had thrown him into. "O-Oh… You are quite the funny man, Ibiki…" He giggled out, trying to calm his laughing fit.

Anko started sweating in the background. She understood the difference between her and the Kyuubi standing before her, but it seemed that Ibiki did not.

"What's so funny?" The man grunted as he stepped up to the fox. Naruto finally stopped laughing, lowering his hand as he smiled up at the taller man.

"The fact that you think I can be told what to do. Tis quite amusing." Naruto stated. A vein appeared on the older man's head and he genuinely looked as if he was going to lash out. He locked eyes with the fox, staring intensely. He held the fox's gaze for what felt like hours but was likely only a few long moments at best. Naruto didn't flinch nor did his smile fade even in the slightest. He held his ground easily, and it wasn't faked.

The large man glanced down from the Kitsune's eyes, gaze locking onto the leaf ninja headband hung loosely around his neck. He sucked in a gasp when he noticed the large slash cut horizontally through it, the meaning behind it not lost on anyone. It was an announcement to the world and whoever would listen, that the fox was underneath the command of a girl, and in no way shape or form did he take orders from anyone else in the entire world. He was his own being, too prideful and powerful to be pushed around by those he viewed as beneath him.

"Take a look, Ibiki. Do you see this?" Naruto spoke up, grasping the cut headband hanging loosely around his neck. "Do you fathom what this means? Don't answer that, of course you do. It means that absolutely no one here can tell me what to do, especially not you. It also serves as a declaration of where I stand, and where my allegiance lays. And that allegiance is not with this ninja village, nor any ninja village. My allegiance is with one girl who just so happens to live in this village, and who serves as a ninja of said village, in fact. I came to this meeting, in fact, because I still hold some respect for Hiruzen, not because I was ordered to." Naruto stated clearly, not raising his voice in the slightest.

And he made it clear, that everyone who wasn't Hinata Hyuuga, was beneath him in his eyes. And he wasn't backing down because this large man was trying in vain to intimidate him.

Finally it was Ibiki who stepped back. With a confirming hum to himself the older man said nothing as he returned to his spot on the wall. Whatever had upset him so before, he seemed to accept now. Or perhaps merely he was testing the fox's resolve. Either way, he'd given up on trying to make the fox surrender to Hiruzen's request.

"Contrary to what you are likely thinking, I do hold the future of Konoha somewhat high on my list. It is the place my Princess calls her home, and I do take a keen interest in its affairs." Naruto clarified lightly. "If someone or something poses a threat to the future of this village and it's… people, then I take that personally." No one missed the way he seemed to pause when talking about the residents of the hidden leaf.

"With that made clear, what do you wish for me to do as an instructor?" Naruto asked, hands once again clasped together beneath his kimono.

Hiruzen nodded. "You shall be accompanying the other instructors during their examinations. I want you to personally accompany Anko here." He turned the attention to the purple haired snake mistress.

To many's surprise, the woman actually turned slightly red when the attention was drawn to her. But perhaps that had something to do, in partial, with the events of yesterday that she'd spent with the Kitsune. This morning as well.

"I'd be happy to work with you, Anko-San…" Naruto smiled.

"So, explain to me her situation." After the meeting was adjourned, everyone attending returned to their duties. However, Naruto stayed behind, alongside Baki. He needed to know exactly what to expect from the Jinchuriki of the sand. And Baki was the only one able to offer this information.

The sand ninja in question sighed deeply at the question, instead going to sit on the couch behind him. The man seemed deeply troubled by the topic at hand, so Naruto found it in himself to wait for him to continue instead.

Hiruzen was already aware of most of the information this conversation was going to hold, but he didn't wish to speak up in Baki's behalf. He'd let the man tell his story.

"It all started… before she was born…" Baki stated seriously. Now that he was out of the light of others, his professional stature seemed to crumble away. "Sunagakaru was suffering financially in those years. Rasa had resorted to creating a Jinchuriki out of the members of his own family to hopefully offset the power difference. Neither siblings were compatible with the Shukaku, so he used his unborn daughter to carry the beast."

Naruto's eyes widened, the words the man spoke sinking in like hot poison in his stomach. He was surprised, repulsed even. However, things such as this were becoming less and less shocking as time went on for him. He's already seen and experienced much in his life, but hearing about this seemed to set him off. His face tightened at the man's statement, teeth clenched.

"He was overcome with the taste of power and threw away all his prior ties to family. He cared little what he had to do to get his results, and it didn't matter what happened to her so long as that satiation of power was met." Baki explained.

Naruto frowned deeply at the man's words. It reminded him of his own circumstances, how he'd been made the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi at childbirth. And while not ideal, he was aware that it had been done in an emergency and he'd been the only option available. It was only radical circumstances that led to him becoming the Kyuubi instead of it's host, a total turn around from any normal Jinchuriki and something he wasn't sure was possible to recreate again in anyone else.

But for the Kazekage to create a Jinchuriki out of an unborn child, the thought was wild to even comprehend. How the girl was still alive after the ordeal was surprising, to say the least.

"But Sunagakure doesn't have sealing masters on the same level as Konoha had. Her sealing was rushed and is faulty." Baki continued.

"How so?" Naruto couldn't help but ask. She'd made it this far in life, how faulty could her seal have been?

"The Shukaku can speak to her. It's powers to tamper with her mind are barely held at bay from the seal and it often tries to manipulate her. Should she be knocked unconscious at an inopportune time, the Shukaku would have almost nothing stopping it from taking full control of her body."

"How has the Shukaku not escaped containment yet, I wonder?" Naruto asked. Baki looked grim.

"Because she doesn't sleep." He responded. The fox's eyes widened in surprise. "Terrified of what would happen should she fall asleep, she hasn't truly slept in years." Baki looked up, hands clasped together tight. "It's driven her nearly insane. She lashes out at the slightest things, and even now, her own siblings aren't safe from her."

"You've got to understand, Kurama-Kun. She cannot control herself due to the Shukaku's influence." Hiruzen spoke up. "She is a serious threat if not taken care of."

"She truly is a nice girl… at least, she used to be." Baki sighed, resting his head in his hands. "But now I fear that the Shukaku has twisted her thinking too far."

The room became quiet after that. Naruto quietly contemplated the man's words. However, one things still stuck out to him, and he couldn't help but voice his questions. "I understand this, however, I am still unsure of the reasons behind why you so desperately wish for me to deal with this. What is the real reason? Why do you want to place your trust in a Kitsune such as myself? If anything, that's what strikes me as odd above all else."

Baki looked up, locking eyes with him with such an intensity that he was given pause. "You are the Kyuubi No Kitsune are you not? The all powerful nine tailed fox? Only one known to walk the earth?" Baki asked, systematically listing off facts.

"I believe so. I've yet to see or hear of any other. But don't go around telling people that, you'll break their minds if they figure that out…" The fox smiled lightly. "Why am I not surprised that it took an outsider to put that together, the fact that I'm standing right here but no one really noticed..." He shook his head. If the citizens of Konoha pulled their heads out of their asses then they'd realize that he was the same thing they'd all feared since the day he was born. There was no other Kyuubi that just so happened to be a spirit guardian for a Hyuuga princess. That was way too convenient.

No. Perhaps they were aware of the truth, yet all too afraid to truly put it together. Because if they put it together, they'd have to accept that they'd been wrong this whole time, and that was something many seemed unable of doing. So they easily accepted his half assed disguise of a mystical spirit guardian for the Hyuuga clan.

Because they didn't want to accept the alternative. Because the alternative was the fact that Kurama was in fact just the same Uzumaki Naruto that they'd belittled and harassed and abused his whole life. But now he had the power to flatten them all.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead as he focused back on the conversation at hand.

"However, what does me being said fox matter in light of this?"

"Well, that is exactly where all this lies on you. It's is exactly because of you that we are all as safe as we are." Hiruzen stated.

"Pardon?"

"Kurama-Kun… When was the last time you've seen another Yokai inside or even near Konohagakure?" Hiruzen asked. Naruto frowned.

"Never…" The fox answered truthfully. Hiruzen nodded.

"That's because of you. Yokai are terrified of your existence. You've staked your claim here, and none are stupid enough to step foot here without your express consent…" Hiruzen explained. "Jiraya had been doing research into this matter and had come upon that discovery recently."

"That ties into this topic heavily. Shukaku is afraid of those he views as a threat to him." Baki jumped back in. "In recent memory, the only time Gaara had regained some sort of control over herself was when she came across another stronger Jinchuriki."

It finally clicked for the fox. His eyes widened in understanding.

The reason they wanted an arranged marriage was for, one, political reasons yes. But more then that, they wanted Gaara close to him at all times on the account of taming the Shukaku with his presence alone. If it worked like they made it out to be, she'd be heavily dependent on him and him alone.

She'd become attached to him, likely unwilling to leave his side. And while he wasn't necessarily opposed to that as an idea, he wasn't sure how that would affect his relationship with Hinata.

He'd wouldn't usually be so open with helping others, especially when it didn't prove any benefit to him or his princess. Sure it was selfish, but he'd been made that way from those who shaped him growing up. He didn't owe anyone anything. Why should he?

But…

He felt a sort of kinship with this girl he'd never seen before, because she was in a similar situation as he was. The key difference was the fact that she didn't have anyone to latch onto to keep herself sane. If he didn't have Hinata to keep his head above water…

Well…

He didn't want to think where he'd be…

If he was honest with himself, he did want to help her out, because in a way she was just like him. She'd been set on a bad course in life and had any choice of a life worth living stripped away from her before she ever grew old enough to understand what that truly meant.

"I'll help her, in fact…" Naruto finally spoke up. Hiruzen and Baki looked up, eyeing the fox. "I'll speak to Hinata tomorrow about this matter, seeing as it pertains to her dealings with me. Even should she view the idea of a marriage as not… ideal, I see no reason Gaara shouldn't still be able to stay by my side. Perhaps as a personal assistant or attendant of mine. Besides for Hinata, I have little that care to keep me company..."

"Konohamaru-Kuuun!! Wait up!" A shrill female cry echoed out across the roads of the Hidden Leaf's back streets.

"Come on Moegi! You can't miss this!" A young boy laughed, running full speed ahead of his friend. "The Chunnin exams bring all sort of ninja here! We gotta check out the competition!"

"B-But… Konohamaru-Kun… We're too inexperienced to enter the exams…" A rather nerdy sounding voice spoke up, inserting himself into the conversation. "That's left for the senior Genin…"

"Well yeah, duh…" The apparently named Konohamaru scoffed, not loosing his exuberance in the slightest. "But we can at least see what we're up against for the future! Come on guys, you gotta think ahead…"

The brown haired ninja had heard of the upcoming Chunnin exams said to take place here in the village, and couldn't contain his excitement at the prospect of seeing outside ninja in a safer environment.

However, depending on who you asked, safe was a selective word…

"Honestly guy's! When will we ever get another chance like thi- ooughf?!" Halfway through trying to convince his teammates he rounded a corner at full speed, running face first into someone.

"The hell?! Watch where you're going you little shit!" Konohamaru found himself hoisted up by the front of his shirt suddenly, harsh words shouted in his face. The boy blinked owlishly at the face that met his own.

"Who the heck are you? Crazy clown?" The young Leaf ninja couldn't hold back the first words that came to mind, immediately blurting them out upon seeing his aggressor.

"Hahaha! Told you people'd think you're a clown, moron!" A feminine voice laughed from somewhere behind him.

"Temari!? The hell sis!?" The aptly named crazy clown hissed in betrayal. He rounded on the girl, face heating up in shame as he madly giggling face came into view.

"Oh man up you big baby! You can't be whining while wearing that getup, Kankuro." Temari stated with a roll of her eyes. Kankuro, while still holding the struggling Konohamaru, looked aghast at his sister's words.

"Put me down you stupid loser!" The leaf ninja hissed, slamming his fists against the older teen's chest.

"Now listen here you little shit! Watch where you're going next time! Otherwise I'm going to break that stupid nose of yours."

"Oooh, big words from a little boy. Nice try kid, you're not fooling anyone." Temari laughed, before hoisting a massive metal ninja fan over her shoulder. "Believe me, you don't stand a chance." She boasted.

"Konohamaru-Kun!"

"Konohamaru!"

The boy's two friends came around the corner, looking afraid yet ready to throw down if it came to it. That was, until they noticed the headband the two other ninja wore. The insignia of the hidden sand village was emblazoned across their forehead.

"Oi! Put me down or I'll get my gramps to kick your ass!" Konohamaru threatened. Kankuro laughed.

"Okay Kankuro, let the brat go." Temari sighed. "Don't want his gramps to kick our ass. I'm trembling just thinking about it." Temari mocked.

"Temari!" Unfortunately, it seemed like playtime was over. A sharp voice cut into the fray, pulling everyone's attention to a large tree casting a shadow over the road. There, standing on a branch was a ninja in red and drab, adorned in the clothing that screamed that they hailed from the desert. Red hair pulled up into a messy ponytail, and eyes that promised murder of the most painful way possible, was a girl likely similar in age to Hinata.

"Let the child go before I kill you." The redhead blatantly threatened, eyes glinting with murder. Both brother and sister swallowed hard, dropping the kid and backing away.

"G-Gaara…" Temari squeaked, eyes twitching as she stepped back. "I-I didn't see you there…" The blond tried weakly, that gung-ho attitude from before shattered upon laying eyes on her sister.

The red haired sister's eyes hardened, her gaze seeming to freeze the two down below.

"W-We were just messing around, you know?" Kankuro laughed nervously, sweat starting to pour down the back of his neck. On the inside he was panicking. ''What is she doing here?! She's not supposed to be out and about yet, damnit!'' His thoughts flashed by, hidden behind his nervous smile. ''The Shukaku has been extra spiteful lately, she's super on edge!''

"Are you trying to ruin the plan? Picking fights with leaf ninja?" Gaara uttered in monotone, eyes unblinking. "Do you want to die?" She threatened. Her eyes suddenly scrunched up as she grabbed her head, apparently suffering from some unseen trouble. "Father would punish us if we ruin the plan. We can't let that happen, we don't want to upset father again. Do you want to upset father again?"

The two sand siblings froze, pinned to the spot with fear. Temari swallowed hard at the reaction her sister seemed to have.

"Now now, there's no need to fret. Why don't you just take a moment to breath, in fact?" Everyone stopped, all eyes turned to the red head atop the tree branch. Or more importantly, the Kitsune standing beside her, whispering in her ear.

Gaara froze, eyes impossibly wide. She hadn't even heard him move, yet he was able to get inside her personal space without her ever noticing. It sent a chill down her spine, rendering her frozen.

And yet, for the first time all day she felt like she could think. She turned her head, coming face to face with the gently smiling face of a nine tailed Kitsune. They were so close that their lips were almost touching. They were so close, she could feel her heart almost stop. She was so close, that she was forced to feel the weight of his unbelievably powerful presence.

"See? Does taking a moment for yourself not help wonders, in fact?" He asked lightly, smiling brightly. Her mouth opened and closed, but words did not reach her. She was too distracted by the red slitted eyes boring deep into her soul, as if they weren't truly looking at her, but something else deep inside her.

Then the man simply vanished, reappearing beside Konohamaru and his friends. "Are you alright?" He asked, bending down to his knees. He completely missed the small wave of sand that had appeared to stab him before he left her side, having dodged it entirely.

"Kurama-Sama!" The boy shouted in surprise, awe radiating off of his entire form. "What are you doing here?!" He asked in surprise, only to pout when Naruto ruffled his hair with a smile.

"Well, I happened to be in the area and saw you all having fun without me, so I decided to join in. Now, what's the Hokage's grandson doing with these Sand ninja I wonder?" Naruto said lightly, turning to face the gradually turning white sand siblings. They both paled when they registered the fact that the kid just so happened to have been the Hokage's grandson.

"We were just…" Konohamaru started, turning to eye Temari from the corner of his eye. She shook her head rapidly, not saying anything. "Oh you know… just saying hi. I always wanted to meet ninja from another village!" He laughed weakly, throwing a thumbs up. Naruto hummed in thought, eyes closed.

"Ah, I see now. Well then, run along, I've got some business to attend to here." The Kitsune hummed, standing back up.

"Yes sir!" Konohamaru saluted enthusiastically, before running off with his friends. But before he could leave he faced Temari and mouthed the words, 'you owe me', before quickly making his escape.

Naruto smiled as he watched the boy and his friends run off, before turning his attention to the sand siblings. "So, you three must be the sand siblings Baki speaks of." He said, leveling a look at them. He gave the brother and sister a once over before turning back to the redhead in the tree. "And you must be Gaara of the sand. It's a pleasure to meet you." He took a moment to take her in. She looked very similar to her older sister, but with a little more defined facial features. She lacked eyebrows of any sort, and had rings around her eyes so black that almost didn't look real. Her hair was a maroon red in color, wild and frayed at the ends, and extended down to her shoulders.

She was dressed in typical Suna garb, but with the addition of reds and tans to define her more from her sister. She'd also calmed considerably since he arrived, for whatever episode she seemed to be suffering from before he arrived had all but vanished.

"Who are you?" The girl in question asked lowly, eyes narrowed at him. She would've lashed out already were this a normal situation, but something had changed. She didn't feel as…

Crazy, anymore…

The voices in her head had quieted…

And the way he'd looked at her, well…

It had taken all the fight she had in her and shot it dead, leaving her feeling lighter then she'd ever been.

"You may call me Kurama. The Hokage has kindly requested that I act as your guide during your stay in Konohagakure. After all, he does wish for the safety of the Kazekage's children." Naruto said. He turned his attention to the other siblings, watching as they cowered in place underneath his gaze. He wasn't doing anything to be hostile, yet they seemed petrified of him.

"I apologize if you are afraid of me. Perhaps the tails are a bit concerning in number, no?" He said, throwing a short look over his shoulder, eyeing the nine huge tails he called his own. He was used to a general sense of fear, but many inside the walls also hated him too, which overrode that fear many a time.

Perhaps this was how those outside Konoha viewed a Kyuubi?

Perhaps…

He'd have to be gentle, lest he scare them off…

More then he already had...

Chapter

16

End