Impressive, Unbelievable, Creative, Unpredictable, Special, Unique, Unorthodox, Brave, Courageous, a Leader, a King, a Brother, a Friend,....

So many words, yet none could quite exactly capture the mystery that is Uzukaze Naruto.

And Gaara has come to live with that fact.

But it still surprised him, even knowing Naruto, when he looked at the once 'Old Ruins' for the first time.

That place was called the 'Old Ruins' for a reason.

And what shocked him further was what's inside.

Lively streets and carefree citizens, so very different from the cold, dull village he'd grewn up in. People treats their Kage not only as a leader, but also as a hero, and as family.

"People of the Uzumaki clan value their families and comrades as if their lives depends on it." Naruto had said to him.

Gaara believes every word of it.

Even now does he still remember the sight of the first time he set foot into the village.

Two knocks on his office door brought him back to reality.

"Enter." The Chuunin did as told.

"Kazekage-sama, you have a visitor, he's a swordsman from Uzushio." The guard reported.

That intrigued the redhead.

"Let him in."

"Hai." The guard turned away. A few seconds later, a figure stepped in.

He looked young, with long black hair tied into a high ponytail and chestnut brown eyes. He wears a black battle kimono, grey shinobi pants and black boots. There are bandages wrapped around his wrists and ankles, two tanto swords on both sides of his hips, and a katana on his back.

His kimono also has some weird white textures too.

"What had you coming to Suna?"

"Naruto-san has agreed to trade some of Uzushio's resources with Suna, and in return, they get some resources from Suna." The teen said bluntly, completely oblivious of the way he addressed his leader, which Gaara rose a non-existent eyebrow to, but stayed silent.

He nodded to the swordsman.

"He also told me to relay this message: 'Beware of the Grass Snake that's going out for a hunt in the Whirlpools.' He said you might understand."

Gaara stayed quite. So Orochimaru's trying to make a move again...

"You may take your leave, tell Naruto i said 'thank you'".

"Hai, Kazekage-sama." The raven turned and left the Kazekage office.

________________________________________

"Hyakkimaru-san!"

The swordsman stopped and turned around. Sure enough, running towards him is none other than-

"You're-"

"Help me!!!"

"Fight me, coward!!"

"No means no, you brainless barbarian!!"

Hyakkimaru sweatdropped.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Preparing for a battle is what Sleepy Ash and his squad always do.

Preparing for an attack from Orochimaru and Amegakure isn't so much different.

"Captain." ANBU Bat appeared before him.

"Report."

"My informants have told me that Orochimaru would attack the East gate at dawn. The Ame army has about 250 shinobis, while Oto has, give or take a few, 200."

"Thank you, Old Child. Tell the Fuinjutsu squad to reinforce East gate extra carefully. Give order for squad 9 to evacuate the civilians to the underground hideout. You are dismissed." Old Child disappeared.

"Tsubaki." The Fox masked ANBU let out a 'yes'.

"I know this sounds selfish, but help me stall the armies. We need to save bloodshed to a bare minimum. Until Uzukage-sama arrives, we need to survive."

"You know my answer, big brother." Fox said without missing a beat. "We fight for the village with our lives on the line. This is but an occupational hazard."

Sleepy Ash sighed through his mask.

'I don't want any of you to die.'

"We won't, big brother." As if reading his mind, Fox grinned.

"Now let's prepare for some snake attacks, Captain Lion."

"So troublesome..."

"That's my big brother!"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Naruto carefully observed his village from the top of the Kage tower, a frown over his usually cheerful grin.

He sighed.

Orochipedo is never going to stop, is he.

"Lord Uzukage!"

The Uzumaki king turned around. He recognized the voice and features of the person who spoke.

"Tanjirou-kun, it's unfortunate that we have to meet again under these circumstances." He greeted.

"It's no problem, lord Uzukage. What have you called me here for?" Tanjirou could smell the hesitation from his leader, but what?

Naruto sighed, again. He couldn't not tell this someone as good as Tanjirou.

"I believe we have found a cure for your sister." Before Tanjirou could do anything rash, Naruto continued. "But, doctor Tamayo told me there are two ingredients left: Orochimaru's blood sample, and a forbidden sealing technique."

Naruto held onto Tanjirou's haori as the boy tries to run off, probably to Orochimaru.

"Tanjirou, i understand if you want to save your sister as fast as you can, i know how that feels extremely well. But you have to learn to be patient."

Tanjirou stopped thrashing as he smelled his leader's solemn mood.

"Go with the evacuation team. I'm not risking any kid's life."

Tanjirou took one last look at his leader, with a determined expression, he nodded and left.

Naruto made sure the redhead was out of his sensory range, and vanished to the battlefield.

"Time to take revenge on a pedo snake."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A Jonin disguised Orochimaru shivered. He had a feeling that someone worse than anything he's seen or heard before is after his head.

'I'm immortal, i can't die.' He kept on telling himself that.

Meanwhile, Naruto's blood clone watched the arena and stadium closely.

He is a sensor, yes, but his skill is far from perfect. So he called for a bit of help.

Let's just hope the 'help' he asked for doesn't include him helping them.

How Tanjirou had them under control, he doesn't know.

"Uwahhh, lord Uzukage!!! Help me!!!"

"Get back here and fight me, Monitsu!!"

"As if, ya stupid animal!!"

Naruto rubbed his temples under his fox mask.

This is going to be stressful. Where was Tanjirou when he needed the boy?

(Tanjirou had evacuated all the villagers and was going to get in the hiding spot himself when he sneezed.)

("My Kamaboko senses are tingling. Inosuke and Zenitsu are causing trouble again." He said barely above a whisper. "Meh, happens all the time.")

A crow landed on the Uzukage's shoulder. He laid eyes on the crow's neck and motioned for it to speak up. And speak up it did.

"The samurai Hyawkkimaru has given the message to lord Kawzekawge." The crow reported, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Satisfied, the fox masked leader looked at the arguing duo from before.

"Agatsuma Zenitsu, Hashibira Inosuke..." the two stopped at the use of their name from the leader. Both paled greatly until the blonde/redhead spoke again.

"I need your help."
.
.
.
.
.
.
"What?"
"What??"

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Ah, the smell of newly baked chapters are keeping me up all night.

I'm writing this from boredom and sleep deprivation and stress.

Be sure to kill me when you leave, because this is shit.

Now if you'll excuse me, imma give in to sleep. Bye.

TonaT.