Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hot Sand ❯ Sasuke's Mission and Gaara's Decision ( Chapter 13 )

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Hot Sand

by thatreevesgirl

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Chapter 12: Sasuke's Mission and Gaara's Decision

 

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He had failed the ANBU captain's test. It was absolutely humiliating to have something that should have been so simple be ripped away from Sasuke's grasp. The mock simulation portion had all but one of his team members die…it was by far the worst results out of any of others testing for the position. The mortality rate of Sasuke's simulation was seventy-five percent of his team (including himself who had died in the very end), and it hadn't even been that difficult. Kiba had achieved the rank of ANBU captain instead, teasing Sasuke mercilessly after the examination was over. It wasn't like there was really a way that Sasuke could explain the situation to anyone without divulging the whole ordeal involving Kakashi (which had kept him from getting any sleep at all), and so Sasuke just took the jokes the best he could.

 

There weren't that many spots for ANBU captain open, making it a prestigious and coveted position in the group. The fact that Kiba had obtained the rank over him made Sasuke want to beat the dog-nin into a pulp. Everyone, including the test proctors, had expected it to go to Sasuke. If that wasn't already bad enough, Sasuke received a summons from Tsunade, ordering him to come to her office immediately.

 

Opening the door to the female senin's office Sasuke took a deep breath and walked inside. Tsunade was busy stamping papers and arguing with Shizune. Sasuke was so focused on the verbal beating he was about to get from the Hokage that he hadn't even realized that there was another person in the room besides the two women.

 

“Hokage?” Sasuke asked while clearing his throat.

 

“Ah, Sasuke. It's nice to see you, take a seat,” Tsunade muttered as she shuffled through papers and scrolls until she found a few that she needed and separated them from the stack.

 

“Did you need something?” Sasuke asked, his mouth dry.

 

“I heard that your test went poorly. I fully planned on having you lead a mission for me, but seeing as you failed, I made alternative plans.”

 

The words stung. Sasuke fumed at the thought of that bastard copy-nin…completely ruining his chances for a position that he had worked so hard to be able to apply for since returning to Konoha.

 

“Here,” Tsunade told the younger man, shoving a scroll into his hands from across the desk. It was a standard mission assignment scroll, one that made Sasuke's breath hitch as he read it.

 

“I don't think…”

 

“You're damn right you don't think, otherwise you'd be a ANBU captain and headed to a completely different location with a team of your own. Seeing as that is not exactly possible you will be staying in the team you have been assigned to for the last few months. Sai here will fill you in on the other details.”

 

Sasuke tried to gulp down the gravely feeling in his throat. He glanced over to the other young man that was in the room, the one that had somehow been adopted into his circle of friends while he was gone. Sasuke didn't really care for Sai, and Sai wasn't too keen on the thought of Sasuke either, but that really wasn't what worried Sasuke the most. Sai was also on his current ANBU squad. Sasuke's team leader was a person that Tsunade had reactivated a few years ago, and the person was sauntering into the office at that very moment.

 

“Ah, Kakashi, good to see you,” Tsunade told the copy-nin, completely oblivious to Sasuke's complete and utter mortification at the older ninja's presence.

 

Kakashi nodded his head to acknowledge the Hokage and Shizune. Sai waved at Kakashi who returned it with a smile. Surprisingly, Kakashi also acknowledged Sasuke, making Sasuke radiate anger as the copy-nin walked over behind him and patted the younger man on the back. Kakashi was fully to blame for Sasuke's mental lapse, and though it was the asshole's fault that Sasuke had failed, the older man was acting like nothing had happened between them at all. Sasuke didn't know if he was angrier about the test or the fact that his heart felt like it had just been stomped on.

 

“Sasuke failed his test today, so he will be remaining with your team,” Tsunade told the older special-ops jonin.

 

“Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,” was the quiet response from the team's leader.

 

“You three will be going to Rock on a special mission the day after tomorrow when Naruto returns. You are to protect Naruto, since he will be the Konoha representative there for the Chunin examinations this year. We have received unconfirmed reports that there might be an assassination attempt on him or Gaara.

 

Naruto and Kakashi? Sasuke's head was spinning. This was the mission from hell…somewhere there was a higher power punishing him for all the things that he had ever done wrong in his life. This being obviously hated the Uchiha with an unrivaled passion.

 

Sasuke's eyes were glazed over in some irrevocably bitter fury. Right now he hated his life more than anything else…even more than Kakashi. Sasuke was snapped out of his daydream when someone squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. The hand that was trying to comfort him was that of the person that started all of this, thus Kakashi's arm was quickly shrugged away.

 

“Am I dismissed?” Sasuke hissed at Tsunade. The eyes of the female Hokage were confused, but she nodded and watched as Sasuke stomped out of the room in a highly emotional state that she hadn't seen the Uchiha in since he had returned from Ochimaru.

 

“What happened to asshole?” Sai asked before standing to leave as well.

 

Kakashi shrugged.

 

Sai still needed to fill Sasuke in on parts of the mission and hurriedly left to catch up with him. After both junior member of Team Kakashi walked out of the office the copy-nin moved to follow before the bellow of Tsunade's voice stopped him in his tracks.

 

“Spill it Hatake, what the hell is going on with him?”

 

“I apologize, Hokage. I'm afraid that this was my fault,” Kakashi informed her.

 

“How in the hell is it your fault? Please do not tell me that this has something to do with that little thing of yours that doesn't like to stay in your pants,” Tsunade mumbled, rubbing her temples with her index fingers. She somehow already knew the answer.

 

“Hmm, well I guess that I won't tell you then…and it isn't that little, Tsunade. You know that from personal experience,” Kakashi reminded the female Hokage with a grin.

 

The glare that Shizune shot Kakashi would have killed the man if looks could do such things. Even Tsunade's mouth was gaping at the nerve of the man, very glad that Jiraiya hadn't been present to hear that…it would have made him absolutely irate, and Kakashi might have really died by the hands of the other senin.

 

Jiraiya and Tsunade had been together for at least five years now, first getting together when Kakashi was still with Iruka. Being in a relationship with a pervert and womanizer like Jiraiya had given the two senin plenty of rocky times, one of which had been occupied by a little reckless rendezvous with a certain silver-haired jonin.

 

“If this is Sakura all over again I swear that I will demote you to genin, Kakashi,” Tsunade yelled before throwing him out.

 

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Naruto was packing his bag and trying not to notice how diligently Gaara was watching him, but it was difficult to ignore the fact that his boyfriend was ogling him.

 

“I'll see you at the Chunin exams, it won't be that long,” Naruto told Gaara after zipping his pack shut.

 

“I know, but I'll still miss you.”

 

Gaara's voice was low and sad, spurring Naruto to try and talk to him about moving to Konoha. Being completely unsure of how to approach the situation left Naruto avoiding it entirely until the end of his trip, which was right now.

 

“I have a question for you, Gaara,” Naruto began, swallowing a hard lump in his throat before continuing. “Sakura thought that maybe Temari is not liking Konoha as much as she thought she would and suggested that your sister should move back to Suna.”

 

Gaara's eyes shone with curiosity, there was more to this than just his sister. The Kazekage could tell that by the way Naruto was nervously avoiding getting to the point, but didn't push the situation. There was something up, and though Gaara wasn't sure what it was, he would allow Naruto to get to it on his own.

 

“I think it would be good if she came back here and you gave her a leadership position, she's an awfully good leader. There isn't anyone that can give her crap, and as much as she's abrasive at times I think that having her here would benefit Suna quite a bit.”

 

Naruto was silent and waited for some kind of input from Gaara…he didn't have to wait long.

 

“Which one do you think that she'd be good for? I know that Kankuro would not be happy if I gave her the position at the head of my cabinet seeing that it is his, and the elders would not be happy if I put her on their council. I suppose that she could fill in for Kankuro while he is gone on his mission with Sakura, but I don't want to disappoint her when Kankuro returns and she has to give it up.”

 

Naruto stared hard at the red head. This was difficult, because Naruto had blatantly told Gaara that he couldn't give up his position to come to Suna…what in the world made Naruto think that Gaara would do it for him?

 

“I think there is one position that she would excel at,” Naruto continued, “I think she'd make a fine Kazekage.”

 

“Kazekage…but I am the Kazekage,” Gaara rebutted, “Our bylaws do not allow more than one at a time, so it is a nice thought, but not realistic.”

 

“You could rewrite the bylaws,” Naruto tried, “Or…”

 

“Or what?” Gaara asked, now very interested in what Naruto was attempting to get to.

 

The words felt stuck, so completely and irrevocably stuck inside of Naruto.

 

Please come live with me in Konoha…be with me…never leave me.

 

That is what Naruto wanted to tell Gaara, perhaps even ask the Kazekage to do more than live with him. He loved Gaara, just as much as he ever had loved Sasuke. Though the two loves were not comparable by any means, they were both fierce and consumed his heart. It took a long time to quell the feeling that Naruto had for his old teammate, but the Hokage had finally found something that healed the painful loss that he had experienced by loving and being healed by Gaara. Being with Gaara was what made Naruto finally feel whole again…without this man he'd be back in the same vacant life pining over someone that would never love him back.

 

Gaara was Naruto's hope.

 

“I want you to come and live with me in Konoha.”

 

Gaara's eyes widened and his breath stopped, his lungs either unwilling or unable to bring in more air.

 

“You want me to stop being the Kazekage…give up everything and come with your to Konoha? I can't…can I? I, like you, have a duty to my people. I…”

 

Naruto walked over and hugged Gaara, letting him know that he understood completely. “I know. I know you couldn't, but I had to ask. It doesn't matter, because we'll make this work, I just…”

 

Gaara shushed Naruto, giving him a look that told the Hokage to be silent and let him talk. “I want to.”

 

“Yes, and I want to come to Suna. Sometime wanting isn't enough…”

 

“Quiet,” Gaara demanded. “No…I want to and I will. You are right, Temari is miserable and she has more experience running Sand than I do. It has been a mess without her here, and if I didn't have you I think that Suna might have fallen apart all together in the time that she has been gone. I am important to my people…but not necessarily as the Kazekage. You are important to not only Konoha, but Suna and Rock and Mist and all of the other villages. Our world needs you to be Hokage…and I think that you need me by your side.”

 

Tears were welling in Naruto's eyes, and try as he could there was no holding them back. Gaara wanted to be with him…Gaara desired to be at Naruto's side.

 

“Well, I think that a lot of my accomplishments are thanks in great part to you as well. We make a good diplomatic team.”

 

“More than politics, we are good together period,” Gaara added with a smirk. “So I will come to Konoha and be your head council. That is not negotiable.”

 

“Good, I think that position will be good for you,” Naruto told his lover with a smile.

 

Gaara pushed away from the Hokage and headed for the door, leaving a confused Naruto in the middle of his guest quarters. “Where are you going?” Naruto queried.

 

“To pack. I will give Temari this news myself, and I must convince the council before I go. There is a lot to be done before we leave for Konoha, especially since I will have to leave for the Chunin exams from there. I must pack and inform Kankuro. I'm sure he will be furious and very happy to hear this idea.”

 

Gaara smiled, he knew that Kankuro would be thrilled to have Temari back in Suna. Those two were always so close, despite how much they fought. Something in Gaara just told him that this was right…that he was supposed to be with Naruto. Stopping at the doorway, the Kazekage turned and faced the blond man who was still in complete shock.

 

“Perhaps we will be more?” Gaara asked.

 

“More? More than what? I think there isn't much more left other than living together,” Naruto muttered, confused and yet having an inkling to what Gaara was alluding to.

 

“There is one thing more, and I want it,” Gaara whispered, “I want it with you.”

 

The two men stood across the room from each other in complete silence, watching each other intently and never breaking their gazes. Both of them knew what Gaara was speaking of, but it was the Kazekage that verbalized it.

 

“I want to be with you…I want a family. I think that more than anything I wish to have what I never did. I want to love and to be loved, and I don't think there should be those like you either. I had Temari and Kankuro, but you were alone as a child. Perhaps we can change that fate for another orphan.”

 

Naruto was smiling like and idiot and quickly covered the expanse that stretched between him and Gaara. Pulling Gaara into a fevered embrace, kissing the Kazekage so thoroughly that the room spun and every nerve felt as if it were on fire in a wonderfully exciting way.

 

“I love you, Gaara,” Naruto panted as he pulled away from the other man.

 

“I love you as well, and I wish for you to be my wife.”

 

Naruto was too stunned to say anything for a moment, even to correct Gaara for his improper way of proposing.

 

“I…I think you mean husband…you want me to be your husband,” Naruto said with a chuckle.

 

“No, I will be the husband. I think that leaves only the one position left, and you can have it. If I have to move to Konoha then I get to be…”

 

Naruto was laughing hardily at a very entertaining marriage proposal, but shushed Gaara as the Kazekage tried to convince Naruto that the masculine title should go to him.

 

“Why don't we just both be each other's husbands. I'll be your husband and you will be mine,” Naruto told Gaara firmly.

 

This seemed to appease Gaara and a smile crossed his lips, but faded away into a look of complete perplexity.

 

“Did we just become engaged?” Gaara asked, confused wholly by the entire situation.

 

“I think we did. Nice, isn't it?”

 

Gaara nodded his head, it was satisfying to have Naruto for himself. “And we can have a family?”

 

“We'll adopt as many brats as you want, maybe even get a surrogate mother seeing as I don't think letting our bloodlines remain unused will be an option with the Konoha and Suna elder councils.”

 

“Should I have gotten on one knee?” Gaara asked out of the blue, another worried expression on his face.

 

“What? You mean the proposal? I…I'm really not sure. I think it was fine as it was,” Naruto told Gaara.

 

“Not very romantic,” Gaara muttered back.

 

“No…but very suited to us,” Naruto told Gaara while kissing the man on the forehead and then smacked him on the rear.

 

“What was that for?” Gaara growled, squinting fiercely at an amused Naruto.

 

“You need to go pack and convince a council of elders. Get going or we'll be late. I promise that we can celebrate our engagement when we get back to Konoha.”

 

Gaara nodded and left, leaving Naruto to plan a surprise for the Kazekage upon their return to Konoha. Gaara didn't deserve to be disappointed with how they had come to be engaged, so Naruto was going to come up with the most insanely romantic proposal he possibly could…it was positively devious and would definitely sweep Gaara off his feet.

 

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END OF CHAPTER

 

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