#Kazekage Sama

[mixelation]

i was trying to rotate the reborn au konoha chunin exams and got stuck on "does kushina have to dress up" for SOME REASON followed by "what is uzushio formal wear" and then i wrote a whole scene. kill me

Kushina invited her over for breakfast, after Minato had left for work and after Naruto had dragged his feet over to training ground 12 for morning drills with Kakashi, but before either Tori or Kushina strictly needed to be anywhere. 

Tori didn’t really like being invited anywhere before 10 AM. She simply wanted to maximize time in her pajamas. But the Uzumaki-Namikaze household was a place she had permission to teleport to, and so there was no one but Kushina to judge her for showing up directly from bed, still in her PJs. 

“You and Minato….” Kushina started, eyeing Tori’s bed head as she poured her coffee, “took very different approaches to Hiraishin.”

Kushina set plates in front of both of them and then segued directly into complaining about all the red tape the Kazekage visiting was causing. The Chunin Exams were already an entire event during which Minato’s advisory committee got extra anxious about Konoha PR and representatives from the Daimyo showed up to be even more annoying, but the Kazekage also visiting made everything worse. 

Usually Kushina’s role would be to support Minato in his personal life, unless Uzushio or fuuinjutsu specifically were involved in whatever event and she needed to take a more formal role. But apparently for ultra public-facing events like the Chunin Exam, people started giving her a hard time about her public persona. 

“They want me to dress up all fancy whenever Kazekage-sama is around, including for the tournament,” Kushina said, rubbing her temples. “Minato told me to just wear whatever I want, but I know his advisors give him a hard time when I’m too informal at public events…”

Tori nodded along, sipping her coffee as Kushina complained. No one in Konoha cared much if the Hokage’s wife stood at his side in her Jounin uniform; that just made her one of them. But apparently when they had to appear as a pair for the Daimyo’s court, or more rarely for international events, there was some expectation of formal wear. Minato was expected to wear his ugly Hokage robes, and Kushina was expected to wear a formal kimono. 

(Minato didn’t get invited much to international events, not compared to other Kage. Mostly no one wanted to risk him marking things in their village or their shinobi with Hiraishin.)

“Dressing up sounds fun though,” Tori tried when Kushina paused in her complaints to finally take a bite of breakfast. Kushina wrinkled her nose as chewed. “I mean, it’s only every once in a while, right?”

“I like a pretty dress as much as the next person,” Kushina said after she swallowed. “But formal kimono? Yuck. Ugh, but I do think someone should be wearing traditional Uzushio clothes…”

Tori finished her breakfast at a normal pace as Kushina complained. Then Kushina shoved all her food into her face in record time and said: 

“Do you want to see some traditional Uzushio clothes?”

Kushina and Minato had a backroom they called an office but was probably originally meant to be a sunroom or breakfast nook. A long table was pushed against a wall with huge bay windows overlooking their back garden, and various fuinjutsu scrolls and notes were scattered across it. There were two chairs, and Tori could clearly see the line between Minato’s work space and Kushina’s: Kushina’s things were neatly arranged, and Minato’s side was absolute chaos. It would be cute, if Tori weren’t currently mad at dear Hokage-sama. 

There was a day bed tucked into one corner of the room, and the rest of the space was storage: piles of mismatched plastic boxes and old fashioned trunks, a floor-to-ceiling set of shelves, and a wardrobe. Kushina tossed open the wardrobe doors to reveal multiple kimono.

“I got these from Mito-sama,” Kushina said. “My grandmother was supposed to send me some of my mother’s when I got old enough, but… well, that couldn’t happen.”

Kushina plowed on without giving herself a moment to mourn, picking a kimono out and announcing it’s what she was thinking of wearing to the chunin exams. 

Uzushio formal wear didn’t seem much different from other older style kimono. The kimono Kushina spread out on the day bed was dark green with swirling gold thread to make a pattern of eddies, and it had a higher collar than normal. Kushina also set out a dark, brownish red obi, along with a gold obijime, a cord meant to wrap around over the obi. 

“This is the most Uzushio-specific thing,” Kushina said, holding up the obijime. From it hung dozens of small, rectangular wooden tags, which clacked together as the obijime moved. Tori leaned over, examining what was written on them. Uzushio fortune fuinjutsu— not real techniques, but good luck charms meant to protect metaphysically. Kushina had painted them all over her house. “A same-gender family member is meant to paint them for you. Mito-sama’s notes said most of these were done by her mother, and some by her sister, but when some of them wore out… well, it broke the gender rule, but she taught Tobirama how to redo them for her. Better someone of a different gender do it than you do it yourself. That’s how it works.”

Tori nodded. That made sense. Kushina had given her a few mini-lesson on the fortune fuinjutsu— Tori assumed because Kushina simply liked to talk, and also because some of the philosophy overlapped with her regular fuinjutsu philosophy— and the intentions of the fortune caster and her relationship to whom she was meaning to bring fortune was very important. If Tori understood history correctly, both Mito’s children had been boys, and Tobirama was the only one in her adoptive family with notable fuinjutsu skills. Better to break whatever gender preference for someone who loved and actively wanted to protect you, than to just get some unrelated woman.

“Are they different from the ones on your window sill?” Tori asked of the fuinjutsu. 

“Yes,” Kushina confirmed. “The traditions are all very complicated, even for me. There’s different ones for exterior rooms and interior rooms, for inside versus outside, for different types of clothes and for bare skin… honestly, I don’t know the clothing ones very well. I’m grateful that Mito-sama was very good at writing it all down for my family and hers, after… after Uzushio fell.”

Naruto had, for his own formal occasions, his own Uzushio-style haori fringed with fortune fuinjutsu tags. Minato had been the one to decorate it for him. Or— well— Minato had painted some tags and Kushina had sewn them in. Minato had also been, historically, the one to fix up Kushina’s inherited tags. She simply hadn’t practiced it much herself. 

It had been on their to-do list for a while to commission Minato his own Uzushio-style clothes, which Kushina would theoretically decorate for him. But neither of them much liked dressing up unless they had to, and he basically always had to wear his Hokage robes on any occasion where formal wear was required. 

“We keep joking we’ll finally get around to it the day before Naruto’s wedding,” Kushina said with a laugh. “And at that point, with the gender rule, he’ll be old enough to do it for Minato…

“Anyway,” Kushin continued. She shifted the obijime in her hands. “This is the one I wear the most, since it matches basically everything. A bunch of these tags should be replaced.”

She held it forward to Tori, like she was offering it to her. 

“Um,” Tori said. She stared down at it. This thing had come from Uzumaki Mito’s mother. Surely Kushina didn’t want her just handling it?

“I want you to do it,” Kushina said, pressing it further towards her. “It’s best if a woman does it, you know. I have Mito’s scrolls and the right brushes already prepped. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

“But you said…” Tori started. Kushina had very specifically said family. That’s why she and Mito weren’t just finding random female fuinjutsu users instead of Tobirama or Minato. 

Kushina frowned. “You’re my precious student, you know,” she said. “And I want you to.”

Tori still hesitated. This was important. This meant something to Kushina, to any Uzumaki. Since when was Tori a person anyone sane would look to for help or protection?

Would she protect Kushina?

All data points to yes, Tori decided. 

She accepted the obijime.

[animeyanderelover]

Tw: Yandere themes, possessive behavior, obsession, delusional mindset, manipulation, gaslighting, guilt-tripping, abduction

Tags: @shumidehiro @swagenemyartisan @jamayah @chxxz @leveyani @cynniical @shenryu-sama @maggiequinn59

Mother Hen s/o

Hatake Kakashi

📖​Kakashi hasn't had anyone making such a fuss over him probably since his mother died and initially the care you shower him with is almost scorching him. It is a sensation almost unfamiliar for him especially since he hasn't gotten that close of a relationship with someone in years, the mental scars of his heart having prevented him for a long time to let someone close into his heart. It takes Kakashi a good while until he has gotten over the initial shock of your attitude and the pampering you do whenever he gets hurt. As a famous jonin he always gets assigned missions with a high ranking which means that the level of danger he is going to face is also always very high. For him this is just a common part of his life and most of the time he tries to brush you off when you start making a scene over his injuries, whether it is a shallow cut or a slash so deep that his guts may fall out any moment. He downplays his injuries most of the times because he doesn't want you to worry though deep down he is always relieved to see that he means so much to you that you can't help but make a fuss over him.

📖​An abduction is going to happen since Kakashi is a case of a paranoid and overprotectice Yandere, two types that mash together to something even worse. He understands that you feel betrayed though so he allows you space as long as you don't do anything stupid and plot your escape. He hopes that you realise that he has way too much experience to let you run away from him. As perceptive as ever the jonin still picks up the signs that you are worried for him even if he has broken your trust in him. It's in the way your shoulders slump in relief when he returns from long missions or in the way you take care of him when he has received an injury during a fight. You may not look him into his eyes, may not speak a single word to him and your touches may be a tad bit rougher than what they used to be but deep down he knows that despite everything you still care about him and that floods him with silent relief. Be reassured though that he won't die on a mission whilst away from you. After all there would be no one to protect you if he were to die. Even if you may not share this opinion, what he is doing right now is exactly what you have always done with him. Caring for him.

Sabaku no Gaara

🐼​The way that you behave around him is everything Gaara has worked for so hard ever since he met Naruto during the Chunin Exams. Recognition and acceptance from the citizens in Sunagakure. You have no qualms about approaching him and openly making a fuss over him whenever he is stressed or tired, something that he would have never imagined would happen if he were still stuck in the same dark place he was in when he was a child. As the Kazekage he always reminds you that those are simply his duties he has to fulfill to keep his village happy but everyone around him knows that he secretly loves it when you make such a fuss about him since it shows him that you care for him a lot. He always feels special in such moments when your worried eyes are focused on him but he knows that he is not the only one to receive such treatment from you. He's observed you long enough to know very clearly that you happily act like a mother hen to everyone you like and it simultanously makes him love you even more whilst also putting his mood down a bit. He isn't that special after all.

🐼​Gaara tends to get paranoid about his darling as well which is why an abduction is likely to happen to you as well, especially since Gaara is quite clingy at times as well. He's still self-aware enough to notice that the relationship between the two of you as changed significantly after that day though and it affects his feelings deeply to the point where even his professional facade as the Kazekage cracks. The poor boy just wants to be loved by his darling but also knows that what he has done to you would obviously make you hate him. When he realises though that you still care for him, albeit in a less affectionate manner than before, his despair is at least partially quenched. After all this means that all hope isn't lost after all and that he can find a way to fix the situation between the two of you. He doesn't expect things to go back completely to the way they were before but if there is a way for him to still receive your love he will latch on to every chance that he can get his hands on.

Chrollo Lucilfer

📖​Chrollo has been gauging your every reacion since the first time that he laid eyes upon you. It is as natural as breathing by now for him to read the people around him like books, always scheming and searching for ways to gain their trust to get his hands on those things that he desires. There is no physical object that he desires when with you though as it is rather you as a person he is interested in. Quickly he realises that your love language for the people that you care about seems to be acting very protective of them as soon as they have gotten hurt and he decides just as swiftly that he wants that as well. Only that it still isn't enough to quench his growing obsession even when you also start acting that way about him. Chrollo still desires more from you and he especially desires to be the only one you make such a fuss about. The other people in your life are a hindrance in his eyes as they hold pieces of your heart and attention that he wants to claim solely for himself. He is only invested in you and what happens to the rest of your friends and family is of no concern to him.

📖​It is an expected reaction of yours as soon as the truth is revealed to you, the coldness and the bitterness that you treat him with. Whilst it is a reaction that he expected it isn't a behavior that Chrollo will accept. He wants your eyes and your attention on him and unfortunately he knows exactly how he can achieve that as he has read through your facade well enough by now. He doesn't get hurt often as he's too smart to get himself into rekless situations nor does he inflict self-harm on himself to gain your attention. Simply to prove to you that your claims of not caring about him are merely a dog's empty bark though he bites his thumb hard enough until blood drips out, dark eyes observing your gaze flittering back and forth before you can't take it anymore and cater to the minor injury, avoiding to look into his eyes to deny him a tiny part of the triumph to be proven right. Whenever he does end up getting hurt in a fight he makes sure that you see the bruises and the scars though simply because he knows that you won't be able to help yourself from pampering him reluctantly as soon as your eyes lay on his injuries.

Tendou Satori

❤️​Tendou initially flinches away from your protective behavior as he isn't quite used to being showered in such attention and care since he's labelled as the weird guy. It doesn't take long though before he becomes a total sucker for you as well as the care and the affection you give him whenever he gets even remotely hurt. He knows he isn't the only one getting this special treatment from you and it definitely leads to some hidden jealousy but that never takes away from his adoration whenever you end up catering to any cuts or bruises that he receives and pamper him in affection afterwards. He loves it in fact so much that he allows himself to be more careless in his daily life to receive more minor injuries, whether by getting bruises because he constantly bumps with his lanky body against stuff or by receiving some shallow cuts and burns on his hands. He's not very good in hiding it either how thrilled he is whenever you look out for him, a slight blush on his face when you cover his cuts with band-aid or ask him worriedly if he is fine.

❤️​There is no need of lying to himself after an abduction, he sees that you try to distance yourself more from him after the stunt that he pulled. A part of him understands you fully but on the other hand he is far too clingy and needy for attention to fully give you the time you would probably need to process the new situation better. Instead he is always lurking around every corner, peeking at you and hoping that things will get better between the two of you again over time. He's always had keen intuitions though and so he somehow has a gut feeling that your hatred is partially meant to disguise the fact that deep down you still care about him and he is proven right when he tries to test that theory of his and harms himself on purpose, even if only mildly. He feels like the freak he has always been called at school when only minutes later you walk over to him with band-aid in your hands, your facial expression neutral and cold as you help him with the cut whilst his silly heart is racing in his chest out of joy. Maybe there is a way to manipulate you into giving him more attention after all.

Gyutaro

🟢​Gyutaro has never in his life experienced such affection from anyone, not even his own sister. He's been hated and told that someone as ugly as him shouldn't even exist and his whole personality is build on a foundation of bitterness and sadism as a result of the way he was treated as a human. That is why he flinches away from the smothering care you are willing to give him despite his appearance as he believes that you are merely lying to appease him and get him to have mercy on you. He doesn't need nor want your care. He is a demon, his wounds heal within seconds and you should perhaps be more concerned about your own life by daring to get that close to him. He could easily kill and devour you after all, you stupid little thing. Nevertheless, something about you still draws him to you even if he keeps on insisting that no human could treat a demon that kindly, especially an ugly one like he is. So far he has hidden his full appearance from you but he is sure that once you were to gaze upon his full body you would change your mind. At that point he is always on the way to his obsession with no turning back though.

🟢​His jealousy is a major player in why he abducts you as he despises how you treat other people the same way you treat him. His bitterness flares up as much as his envy does and he has Daki isolating you before killing those friends of yours in a jealous rage. Gyutaro is one to hold grudges so he holds this against you for a long time after the abduction, insulting you and degrading you for being a dumb and naive little thing that clearly is so desperate to be loved and appreciated that you just threw yourself at anyone like a needy slut. Kindness and gentleness are concepts he is not familiar with yet even with his harsh words and painful rouches he still tries to get closer to you, secretly desperate to receive love from you whilst showing it in the only way he has ever known. Nevertheless, there is still a good level of scepticism involved when you start behaving more like you did before he murdered your friends and abducted you even though you're colder about it. His insecurities run deep with you around which is why he constantly second-guesses if you truly love him or just try to deceive him.

Ryuguji Ken

🐉​Draken is driving you absolutely insane and he is constantly torn apart between pitying you for that or being amused by it. As the second leader of Toman he gets in a lot of fights and whilst he is one of the strongest fighters on the streets there are always some monsters he finds during a brawl with other street gangs which leads to bruises and injuries. He's always quick to reassure you that it looks worse than it is though as his pain tolerance is quite high which is why some injuries that make you wince just by looking at them are things he simply brushes off. He can't help but think that in a way you are very similar to him though. In Toman he has pretty much assumed the role of the bigger brother who looks out for everyone and ends up looking out less for himself as a result due to paying more attention to the people around him. You seem to simply have taken over the part of worrying over him, something that he tends to neglect in favor of seeing it through that his friends and Toman are alright. Both of you act like mother hens around each other though when the other one gets hurt.

🐉​Honestly, he is one of the most mature and wisest people despite his younger age which is why he would give you the easiest time after an abduction. Draken knows that he should allow you some time to process the situation and wait until the worst turmoil of your inner emotions is over before testing the waters with you again. As long as you don't try to escape or act overly reckless you can sulk around all you want if it helps you to cool your head off. It really doesn't take long for you to blow your cover though because Toman seems to love their fights which is why you don't have to wait for too long until Draken returns with bruises and blood all over his clothes though you are sure that most blood doesn't belong to him but whoever he was beating up brutally. Whilst he insists initially once again that he is fine and that you don't have to cater to his wounds ultimately he ends up letting you do as you want, simply noting that you want to do it and that this is probably a good chance to try to pick up the broken pieces of your relationship again.

[ask-the-sand-fam]

How is the desert,Kazekage-sama?

Is everyone in good health? Was anything interesting happening around?

Gaara: The desert is ever-changing and thriving with blooms due to the closing of the rainy season.

Recently, my family and I spent the day visiting the dunes together. This annual event started between me and my siblings after the war, where the sands of our home blossomed in the shadow of loss that the world was cast in following the celebrations of peace.

Visiting the blooms with my family feels sacred, and is a journey that we have never missed in all the years since. Even Shikadai and his team were able to attend this year, much to my own children’s joy, although Yodo dreads flying on the platforms I create in order for us to travel there and back within a single day. Her brothers and Chocho have proved time and time again to help combat this.

Shinki, Temari and I have taken cuttings that we have already planted in our greenhouse collections. Kankuro and Inojin produced several paintings of the environment that now adorn our homes. Seeing Araya, Metal and Lee explore, Shikadai and Shikamaru resting among the plants and Yodo and Chocho taking time for themselves felt very rewarding. I greatly look forward to our journey next year.

As for our well-being, we are all in good health. Some of us are in even better health than others…

[Reblogging helps to share and support this new askblog. This stops my hours of hard work from dying in your likes, let’s others enjoy it, and motivates me to draw more of this AU! <3]

[meywanya-hikayami]

GaaraxFemReader - Romantic One Shot

Gaara has invited you to escort him to a ball in Konohagakure. It's a formal event meant to foster business relationships. You've known Gaara for a long time and are known for your free spirit. However, this time, you've decided to support him at this stiff event.

Attention, kitschy 👀✨

Gaara's PoV

The night was clear and the stars sparkled like a sea of jewels over Konohagakure. The ball, hosted by Hokage Naruto, was meant to strengthen the bonds between the villages. As Kazekage, I was used to being present at such events - polite, calm, and always keeping a watchful eye on the political nuances. But today was different. She was my escort, and her presence made the formal atmosphere strangely bearable.

I had asked her before we left for Konoha if she wanted to come with us. Her answer had been hesitant, but in the end she had agreed. And now she stood before me in a tight-fitting dress that emphasized her elegant silhouette.

“You look beautiful,” I said quietly as I looked her over.

She blushed slightly and avoided my gaze. “Thank you… I hope I'm not embarrassing you.”

“Impossible,” I replied seriously and offered her my arm.

When we entered the ballroom, she drew attention to herself - and I noticed how uncomfortable she felt. Her fingers gripped my arm a little tighter. “It's all right,” I murmured. “You're with me.”

The first few hours passed with formal greetings. Naruto was beaming as always and greeted us warmly. “Gaara, great that you've come. And you're Gaara's escort, right? Welcome to Konoha!”

“Thank you, Hokage-sama,” she replied politely, although I noticed the slight tremor in her voice.

Later, I spoke briefly to Shikamaru, who seemed bored as usual. “Really interesting that you brought someone with you. So, do you have a girlfriend now?”

I just looked at him without reacting, whereupon he waved me off with a smile. “It's all right, Kazekage-sama. Enjoy the evening.”

The evening took a more pleasant turn when the music changed and the guests poured onto the dance floor. I turned to her, “Would you like to dance?”

Her eyes widened. “I'm not very good at this…”

“Me neither,” I replied calmly. “But I'm sure we can do it.”

She let me lead her, and as we stepped onto the dance floor, I felt her trying to hide her nervousness. Slowly, I led her through the steps, her hand in mine while the other rested lightly on my shoulder. The contact was unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.

“That's… nice,” she whispered as she relaxed a little. “So many people, so much life.”

“It's different from Suna,” I said. “But sometimes variety is good.”

Her eyes searched mine. “You're the reason I can enjoy this.”

The words hit me in an unexpected way. For a moment, I forgot my surroundings - the curious looks of the others, the music, the conversations. All that mattered was her.

“Then I'm glad you're here,” I answered, perhaps a little too quietly.

It was a moment I wanted to treasure forever.

The evening dragged on like a never-ending sandstorm. Diplomatic conversations followed one another, one commitment after another. My mind was on the words I was saying, but my eyes kept wandering to her. She is a real free spirit. Quietly, she explored the room.

It was a miracle that she had come along at all. Normally, she had no interest in such forced events. Commitments, protocols - all of that was strange and reluctant to her. But she was here today, probably just so that I didn't have to endure it all alone.

As I nodded politely, responding to the words of a business partner from the Land of Fire, I saw from the corner of my eye how she sneaked closer to the long tables set with all kinds of food. Her movements were quiet and almost shy, but her eyes sparkled as she examined a small selection of delicacies.

First she carefully took a tiny pastry, looked around as if she was afraid of being caught, and then quickly popped it into her mouth. I couldn't help but feel a hint of amusement. Then, as she reached for another pastry, she looked around again. This time her eyes crossed mine and she paused for a moment.

The smile she gave me was strained, almost caught. But it had that quiet, headstrong beauty that I so often saw in her. A smile that seemed to say everything and yet gave nothing away.

“Kazekage-sama?” The voice of an envoy from Kumo snapped me back to the here and now. “What do you think of our idea?”

I forced myself to look away from her. “It sounds interesting. Let's delve into the details after the event.” My words were calm, controlled. But my mind was far away.

When I looked back at her, she had taken a glass of juice and continued to move around the room, her curiosity shimmering in every movement. Her posture seemed so out of place amidst all the formal guests, and yet she seemed to bring a kind of grace of her own.

My business partners kept talking, but I only listened with half an ear. One thought persisted in my mind: she was here - in this oppressively diplomatic world that she didn't like - just for me.

And even if I couldn't find a way to tear myself away from my responsibilities, I couldn't stop watching her.

After a few long conversations, I wanted to get some fresh air with her. We went out into the garden. The garden was bathed in soft, silvery moonlight. The sounds of the party echoed muffled behind us as we strolled through the manicured paths. The fresh air was a welcome relief after the stuffy conversations and incessant expectations.

She walked beside me, her steps light but irregular. I had already noticed it during the evening, but now that the crowds no longer surrounded us, it became more obvious. She walked differently than usual, almost hesitantly. Then I remembered - she was wearing high heels today. A rare sight.

She and high heels were like sand and rain: they simply didn't belong together. She usually walked barefoot or in comfortable shoes. Always free, without being restricted by social norms. This formal event was an exception, and I began to understand how much she had taken herself back for me.

I wanted to say something, but before I could form the words, it was her who broke the silence.

“You look tired,” she said matter-of-factly. Her voice was direct as always, straightforward. “All this talking is tiring you out, isn't it?”

I looked at her, surprised by her candor. “It's part of my job,” I replied, not really denying how tired I was.

She stopped and crossed her arms. “You are Kazekage, but you are also human. These conversations seem to suck the energy out of you. Why are you forcing yourself to do this?”

Her words hit me as they often did - honestly and with a clarity that forced me to reflect. I hesitated, then said, “Because it's expected from me. It's my responsibility.”

She laughed softly, a gentle, melodic sound that eased the tension. “Responsibility is all well and good, but what is the point if you are no longer yourself in the end?”

I had no answer for that, so I kept quiet. Instead, I watched as she leaned forward, untied the straps of her shoes and simply took them off. With a satisfied sigh, she straightened up, holding the shoes in her hand for a moment before throwing them into the nearest bush.

“So, that's it for these instruments of torture,” she declared with a smirk.

I blinked at her, speechless. Her love of freedom never ceased to amaze me, and I couldn't stop a rare hint of amusement playing around my lips. “You are… unique.”

She laughed again and grabbed my arm. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight and her smile was full of life. “Come on, let's get out of here.”

“I can't,” I began, automatically aware of my duty. But before I could continue, she pulled me a little closer to her.

“Yes, you can. You are Gaara, not just the Kazekage.” Her voice was gentle but firm.

For a moment I hesitated, the responsibility, the duty - it all screamed for my sanity. But then I looked at her standing next to me, barefoot, free and carefree, and I couldn't resist her.

She smiled, as bright as the moon above us, and pulled me with her, away from expectations and into the freedom that only she could bring into my life.

The path led us further and further into the silence of the garden, far away from the formal conversations and expectations that had dominated the evening. She walked beside me, but soon dropped back a little, only to jump onto the low stone wall that lined the path.

With playful ease, she hopped from one stone to the next, balancing on them as if she were a child without a worry in the world. She hummed a soft melody to herself, a cheerful sound that floated almost unreal in the cool night air.

I couldn't help but watch her. Ever since I've known her, she's been like this - free, carefree, always ready to go her own way, regardless of what others think. She doesn't care about rules or conventions. If she feels like jumping over rooftops, she does it. When she sees a beautiful meadow, she lies down and sleeps as if there is no world outside this moment.

I admire this freedom. It is something that is unfamiliar to me. My life has always been characterized by duty, responsibility, the weight of my role as Kazekage. To act freely without thinking of the consequences - that's not in my nature. But there is something relaxing about seeing her as if her freedom also radiates a little to me.

Suddenly she gave me a sneaky look. Her eyes sparkled and I suspected that she was up to something. Before I could react, she seemed to lose her balance and fell theatrically from the wall.

My body acted faster than my mind registered. I instinctively caught her, my arms wrapped around her before she could touch the ground.

Everything stopped for a moment. She was in my arms, her face close to mine, and her lips were curled in a mischievous smile. Her eyes - as bright as the rising sun over the desert - sparkled with amusement.

Of course, I knew that she would never really have fallen. She was far too skillful to lose her balance. It was nothing more than another game, a little prank she played on me so often. But even though I knew that, I couldn't help but look at her face in amazement.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Her smile was so catching, so alive, that I found myself twisting my lips into a slight smile.

“You always catch me, Gaara,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of teasing, but also something gentle.

I should have let her go right away. But my arms stayed where they were. It was as if the world had narrowed - only she and I existed at that moment.

“You were going for it,” I finally replied, my voice calmer than I felt.

Her smile widened and she laughed softly. “Maybe. But I knew you'd catch me.”

I couldn't stop a thought coming into my mind - a rare, atypical playfulness stirred in me. Perhaps it was her nature that infected me. Perhaps I wanted to lure her out of her shell for once.

She was used to being the one in control, the one who made others blush with her playful nature. But this time I wanted to see how she would react when the roles were reversed.

Slowly, without a word, I leaned a little closer to her. Her cheeky smile, which so often challenged me, disappeared and she blinked at me with wide, confused eyes. Her surprise was almost palpable.

I let the tension hang in the air for a moment before finally smiling slightly. Before she could react, I grabbed her legs and lifted her up with ease.

“Gaara!” she gasped in surprise, instinctively clutching at my suit. Her fingers clawed at the material, and I could feel her unsteadily trying to stabilize herself.

For someone like her, this was clearly something new. It wasn't just the surprise that I had simply lifted her up - it was the fact that she was in a position she couldn't control.

“What are you doing?” she finally asked, her voice soft and almost shy - a side of her I rarely saw.

I held her securely in my arms and looked at her, my expression calm, but inside I felt something I couldn't quite name.

She looked at me, her eyes wide and with a mixture of uncertainty and something that seemed almost like curiosity. A soft pink glow began to appear on her cheeks, a sight that touched me more than I would have expected.

“You trust me, don't you?” I asked softly, and my gaze remained on her, watching every nuance of her reaction.

Her grip on my suit tightened, and finally she nodded barely perceptibly. “Of course I do,” she whispered, her voice sincere, if a little uncertain.

That moment was like a silent promise. I knew how rarely she let anyone get that close to her. That I was someone she trusted enough to show herself like that - that meant more to me than I could say.

I carefully let her slide back down to the ground, but she stayed close to me, her hands resting on my suit as she looked at me. The pink glow on her cheeks remained, and for a moment, nothing else mattered.

“That was mean,” she finally said, her voice soft but with a small smile curving her lips.

“Maybe,” I replied calmly. “But I think you enjoyed it.”

She laughed softly, her embarrassment slowly fading. “Watch out, Gaara. Next time it's my turn.”

And yet - in that moment, close to her, I knew there didn't have to be a next time. Because this was exactly where it felt right.

I knew how I felt about her. It was no longer a question, no uncertainty. But these feelings were heavy, like the sand that has been with me all my life. Not heavy because they bothered me, but because they felt like a burden that I never wanted to put on her.

She was a being of light and freedom. Everything about her seemed to elude the world that defined me - rules, duties, obligations. Sometimes I wondered if I was locking her up with my feelings, as if in an invisible cage. Whether I would take away the freedom that defined her so much. These thoughts held me back, even though my desire grew with each passing day.

My gaze slid to her as she climbed back onto the wall and stroked the smooth stones with her toes. Her dress clung to her body, accentuating her graceful figure and making every move she made seem graceful. Her skin shimmered in the moonlight and her lips - soft and glossy - captured my gaze again and again.

I balled my hands into fists, trying to keep control. But the more time I spent with her, the harder it became. My thoughts became louder, my desire for closeness more demanding.

Suddenly she turned and caught my gaze. A slight smile crossed her lips. “Why are you looking at me like this, Gaara?” she asked with a teasing tone.

I paused, unsure how to answer. Finally, I forced myself to smile slightly. “I'm just wondering how you can always be so carefree.”

Her smile widened and she jumped off the wall until she was standing right in front of me. Her eyes shimmered with a gleam that always overwhelmed me. “Maybe,” she said softly, ”because I know you'll catch me if I fall.”

Her confession hit me unexpectedly. My breath stopped for a moment. It wasn't a confession of love, but it felt like one to me. And although I knew I had to keep my feelings in check, I couldn't stop my heart from feeling a little more hopeful.

My hand raised almost of its own accord, and before I could stop it, I grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to me. She blinked in surprise, but she didn't flinch.

“You say that so easily,” I murmured, my voice rough and deep. “That I'm going to catch you. But do you know what that really means?”

Her lips opened, but no words came out. My gaze wandered over her face, over the slight shadows the moon cast on her cheeks. It was hard to hold back when everything inside me was screaming to hold her.

“I can't just catch you and let you go then,” I said as I pulled her closer to me. “Every time you fall, I want to hold you. Forever.”

Her cheeks blushed and I could feel her breathing quicken. But she stayed, looking at me as if trying to understand my words. Then, quietly and hesitantly, came her reply. “Gaara… you're the only one I trust like this. The only one I feel safe with. If you want to hold me … then do it.”

That was all I had to hear. Without another word, I closed the space between us, pulling her tightly into my arms. It wasn't gentle, it wasn't careful - it was full of desire, full of the feelings I had held back for so long.

My lips found hers and the kiss was deep, demanding and unmistakable. I wanted her to feel how much she had taken me - my heart, my mind, my soul. Every fiber of my being seemed to cry out for her, and in that moment, I allowed everything I had suppressed for so long.

To my surprise - to my relief - she returned the kiss. Her hands grabbed my suit, pulling me closer as if she never wanted to let me go. Her body nestled against mine and I could feel the warmth radiating from her.

At that moment, we belonged only to each other, without doubt, without restraint. Nothing else mattered, just her - and the realization that she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

The End ✨

If you enjoy reading fanfiction set in the world of Naruto, I would be happy if you checked out my Wattpad story. ☺️

[aleksandracoffan]

Baki: "It happened right after we returned from Konohagakure. I knew that Kazekage-sama was no longer with us. But his presence was too realistic."

[happyocelot]

Konoha's Autograph Mafia

My little thing for NH Month 2024 Day 6: The Last anniversary 🥹

Please enjoy the results of that poll I posted...hyper fangirl pestering Naruto for Hinata's autograph. Inspired by the fangirls in the Last movie. :)

@naruhina-2024

Everyone who approached Naruto for autographs only ever wanted his autograph. Ever since Pain's invasion of Konoha, everyone who approached him for autographs only ever wanted his autograph. Not Ino's or Neji's or Shikamaru's or whoever.

"Oh, Naruto-san!" a young girl's voice called. "I have an autograph request!"

He had no reason to suspect that Hyper Fangirl Number 23 (in Sai's words) would be any different. For Naruto, though, these fangirls were never just annoying hyperactive numbers. They were his precious people who believed in him. Hyper Fangirl Number 23's real name was Atsuko and she was a chuunin from the Sand Village. After sharing with her a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku, he'd learned that she was a poor orphan girl bullied in Suna's only overcrowded children's home. She cherished hopes and dreams of becoming Kazekage. This was all because of a redheaded teenager who'd visited the place once, intending to build an extension. He'd smiled at her, the very first person who ever acknowledged her. Later she'd realized that he was none other than the village leader.

It was so funny how he ran into people with his exact same backstory.

For some reason, outside Konoha, Suna was the number one village with the highest concentration of totally deranged fans. He had no idea why. Once he'd asked Shikamaru and gotten the deadpan response that it was "obviously Gaara spreading Naruto-isms" throughout his village that had caused this. In fact, he'd grumbled, it was super troublesome, but lots of people had been coming up to Shikamaru whenever he was over there, asking for Naruto's autograph.

Naruto didn't know why that was super troublesome. HE would have loved to collect his friends' autographs on behalf of an autograph mafia. It sounded so cool and it was just such a shame that no one so far had asked him for his friends' autographs.

Like Hinata. Hinata deserved her own autograph club. Hinata was cool. She'd jumped in to defend him during that very same invasion when he'd become the village hero. He could help her design a cool custom autograph. He could start a Hinata autograph mafia.

"Uh, Naruto-san?" Atsuko waved her hand in his face. "Lately Kazekage-sama has been spreading what Temari-sama calls 'Naruto-isms'..."

She thrust a notepad and brush at him.

"And there's this Konoha autograph mafia in Suna. The thing is, your autograph is cheap now because of all the bootlegged copies floating around. So I was wondering if you know any other village hero with a cool, rare autograph."

Finally, they were all talking in Naruto-isms.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I know just the person, Atsuko-chan."

It was time to spread Hinata-isms throughout the village.

Neji was not amused.

[ukerukokoro]

The shock was clearly written all over Temari’s face.

„Wha…!?“

She had not seen that coming and apparently neither had he. Gaara had doubled over. Grimacing, his eyes were squinted shut while he was holding his nose. Damn! She had quite a punch!

"You ok? Where was the sand!?" she asked, coming closer. 

"I did not use it" he said with his voice muffled through his hand.

"You punched right through the sand armor" he added. His voice was entirely calm as usual. Hers was not.

"Well I have a mean punch! Why did you not use the sand Gaara?" she asked. 

"Hm." She would not like the answer. He straightened up and let go of his nose. His hand was covered in blood. Hahahahahaha the tanuki screeched in his head You are such a loser! You'd be dead without me! He closed his eyes for another moment and lifted his hand a bit. Temari fell silent. By now she knew when to give him a moment to deal with Shukaku. Reigning him in was never easy but he was getting quite good at pushing him down. 

"My defense sucks" he said and opened his eyes to look at his sister.

She frowned. 

"Not the jutsu...MY defense" he added to clarify. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Jutsu. On the contrary it did take some deliberate effort to surpress it.

"YOUR defense is non existant Gaara. You never  trained it" she said. You don't say Captain Obvious, he thought but did not say it.

"Exactly my point" he said and grimanced again. His nose hurt. 

"Wait a second ...you asked me to train with you Taijutsu without telling me we train Taijutsu?"

He stayed silent for a moment, his green eyes holding her blue ones. Sounded about right.

"Yeah."

"Gaara!" She sounded distressed though he was not quite sure why. He was the one with the bloody nose.

"I mean I always knew that Kankurō is an idiot but I actually always thought you were quite clever" she said.

"Gaara is not clever. He is just quiet and camouflages his stupidity." Gaara turned around to the source of the voice. Kankurō was apparently in high spirits today. Though he usually was.

"Wow...why is your face all bloody? Is that nose broken?" Kankurō asked.

"I punched him" Temari said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I mean...we all want to do that at times Temari but really you cannot punch the Kazekage" Kankurō replied which earned him a punch from Temari to his upper arm.

"Au...what did you do?" Kankurō asked then, looking at Gaara expectly. 

"It's more what he didn't do...he didn't use the sand for defense because your brother wants to practise Taijutsu but failed to tell me that beforehand" Temari said. 

Kankurō's attempt at giving Gaara a pat on the head as rebuke was prevented by a solid wall of sand.

"Figures...come let's get you to the doctor...I think that nose needs setting...and after that we can talk about this practising taijutsu thing...now...if you please Kazekage sama..." Kankurō said, extending his arm indicating to the door of the training hall.

"Oh yes... we so will talk bout that" Temari mumbled, strolling after them.

[teosrevenge]

Steady as the Sand CH.1

Warnings: N/A Word Count: 1000+ Summary: Lee is sent to Sunagakure on orders from lady Tsunade. Which is worse; the smothering heat or Gaara's indifference? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The heat was relentless.

Rock Lee had trained under waterfalls, run laps through blizzards, and sparred for hours beneath Konoha’s scorching summer sun—but nothing compared to Suna. The desert’s heat was different. It pressed down on him, dry and consuming, draining the sweat from his skin before it even had a chance to form. The wind carried sharp grains of sand that found their way into every crease of his uniform, and no amount of brushing them off seemed to help.

He had only been here for three days, but he already knew one thing for certain: this was not his home.

Tsunade’s orders had been clear. “It’s a temporary assignment,” she had said, handing him the official scroll. “Konoha and Suna need to reinforce their alliance. You’ll assist with training their shinobi for six months. No arguments.”

Lee hadn’t argued. A good shinobi followed orders.

But still, standing in the heart of the village, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place.

Konoha had always been full of life—lush trees swayed in the breeze, rivers ran through the forests, and even the air smelled fresh. Here, everything was still. The buildings were carved from stone and clay, blending seamlessly into the landscape, and the sky stretched endlessly overhead, a bright, empty expanse without a single cloud to break it apart. The people were different, too—quiet, watchful, their movements precise.

It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t his.

And then there was him.

Gaara.

Lee had no expectations of a warm welcome, but he had assumed that, given their history, things would at least be… not awkward. He had been wrong.

Since Lee’s arrival, Gaara had barely acknowledged him outside of brief, polite exchanges. He was busy, of course—he was the Kazekage—but the few times their paths had crossed, Gaara had been unreadable, distant. Not cruel, not dismissive—just… hard to grasp.

Lee wasn’t sure why that bothered him.

Now, he stood in the Kazekage’s war room, hands clasped behind his back as Gaara addressed a group of Suna shinobi. His voice was as calm and steady as ever, relaying details about upcoming training exercises. He never raised his voice, never wasted words. The room was dimly lit, the air cool despite the heat outside, and when the meeting ended, the shinobi dispersed swiftly, leaving just Lee and Gaara behind.

Lee straightened, forcing himself to focus. He was here for a mission. That was all.

Stepping forward, he bowed slightly. “Kazekage-sama. Thank you for allowing me to assist. I look forward to working with your shinobi.”

Gaara blinked, his sea-green eyes flickering with something unreadable. He remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

“You do not have to say that.”

Lee hesitated. “…Say what?”

Gaara shifted slightly, arms still folded. “You are here because of orders. Not because you want to be.”

Lee’s stomach dipped slightly. Had he been that obvious?

But he was nothing if not resilient. He pushed past the feeling and forced a bright smile. “That doesn’t mean I won’t do my best! A mission is a mission, and I intend to give it my all.”

Gaara studied him for a moment too long before giving a small nod. “I see.”

Lee wasn’t sure why those two words made him feel oddly dismissed. He had done nothing wrong—he knew that—but something about Gaara’s tone made it seem like he had.

Silence stretched between them. Gaara didn’t dismiss him, but he also didn’t continue the conversation.

Lee hesitated. Was he supposed to leave? Was Gaara expecting something more from him? His mind scrambled for something to say, but nothing felt right.

“…Well, then! I will begin training preparations immediately!” he said, perhaps a little too loudly. He turned on his heel, striding out with purpose, though he could still feel Gaara’s gaze lingering on his back.

As soon as Lee stepped outside, the dry wind hit him again, stealing the breath from his lungs. He exhaled slowly, adjusting the straps on his backpack as if the weight of it could somehow ground him.

That had been… odd.

Gaara hadn’t said anything outright unfriendly, but the exchange still sat strangely in Lee’s chest. He had expected some level of formality—Gaara was the Kazekage, after all—but something about the way he spoke made it difficult to tell what he was actually thinking.

Had he been annoyed by Lee’s words? Or had he simply been stating a fact?

Lee wasn’t sure.

But what unsettled him more was the way Gaara had looked at him—silent, calculating, like he was working through some equation that didn’t quite add up.

Not for the first time, Lee wondered what exactly Gaara thought of him.

A gust of wind kicked up a swirl of sand around his feet, pulling him back to reality. He had work to do.

The training grounds were located on the outskirts of the village, a wide expanse of compacted sand with stone formations serving as natural obstacles. When Lee arrived, a group of Suna shinobi was already waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

He greeted them all with a bright smile, clapping his hands together. “Good afternoon, everyone! I am Rock Lee of Konoha, and it is an honor to train with you!”

A few of them exchanged glances. One of the older shinobi—a man with a scar running down his jaw—folded his arms. “Kazekage-sama has us train in extreme conditions. Can you keep up?”

Lee’s grin widened. “My esteemed opponent, I thrive in extreme conditions!”

The skepticism didn’t disappear entirely, but it softened. Good.

Lee launched into a demonstration, moving with precision despite the shifting terrain. The sand tried to steal his footing, but he adjusted—each step deliberate, each strike controlled. He had no doubt that by the end of the session, they would see his skill for what it was.

Still, as he moved through the drills, his mind kept flickering back to his earlier conversation.

Gaara’s expression. His unreadable tone. The weight of his gaze.

Lee had fought against Gaara. He had nearly died to Gaara. He had seen him at his most terrifying and at his most vulnerable. And yet—standing before him today, trying to parse meaning from his words—Lee realized something frustrating.

Gaara was still a mystery to him.

And, whether he liked it or not, Lee was going to be stuck in Suna long enough to figure him out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading! Here's Chapter 2!!

[ghoste-catte]

I'm on my hands and knees asking you about your favorite gaalee moments (spin offs count bc why wouldn't they)

Anon ... I'm sorry I took a while to answer this for you, but it's because you activated my trap card. But without further ado ... here are my top 10 GaaLee moments.

(My 10th pick and rationale beneath the cut)

The Drop Kick So, I feel like we don't talk about this kick often enough. Because this is actually the first time anyone draws blood on Gaara (we see the scratch on his face once his head pops back up). As much time as was given in canon to Gaara's reaction to Sasuke drawing his blood, I don't really understand why Lee being the first to cut him wasn't as big a deal.

The Primary Lotus This is ... probably the first time Gaara's been touched hand-to-body in years. I've written a few times (and shout out to @egregiousderp for their hand in this headcanon) about how this was probably the first approximation of a hug that Gaara had since Yashamaru. He replaces himself with a sand clone halfway down, but for the initial drop, that's just Lee holding him.

The Rescue I wasn't able to find my favorite screenshot from this moment, which is the one where Gaara's sand is rushing to save Lee and it kind of looks like a heart, but anyway, I just love this pivot. The fact that Gaara uses the very weapon he used to crush Lee's dreams to save him. The way Lee still tries to be an equal partner in this fight despite his injuries. The "I don't hold a grudge!"

The Talk This moment means a lot to me. It's a deep conversation to have, and it's one that happens on two levels that I think aren't fully addressed by the narrative. Of course, on the surface, they're talking about Kimimaro and Orochimaru, but the subtext goes something like: Gaara: Even if people love me, I'm still a monster. All they would need to do is be desperate and lonely enough, and I might seem like a good choice. Lee: The fact that people love you proves you're not a monster! Obviously Gaara gets the final word in this conversation, but I do like to think it sinks in later on and influences their relationship in the future.

The Walk Home I hate that we only get to see this in flashbacks in filler episodes (although we do get to see it twice from two different perspectives!)

But I love this moment because of the way that Gaara chooses to carry Lee: he slings him over his shoulder with one arm. If you go back and watch Gaara and his siblings returning to Suna after his fight with Naruto, that's exactly the way first Kankuro, and then Temari, carry him when he's wounded.

This moment is during that time where Gaara's still learning how to be a person and not a weapon, and the fact that he chooses to carry Lee with such care … it feels relationship-defining.

6. The Eighth Gate That flashback that Gaara has to Gai and Lee's relationship shows that he's really internalized the defining impact Lee had on his life. The genuine care and concern that he looks at Lee with in that moment despite Lee's stubborn insistence that he won't be sad makes my heart ache for the both of them.

7. The Retreat If you've ever read one of my fics that's set during the war and notice that I mention Gaara carrying Lee around on his sand, this is what I'm talking about. I love that Lee sees the sand as an unequivocal source of safety instead of threat at this point (to the point of entrusting it to carry Gai-sensei in his frail state). And I love that this seems to be Gaara's default way of pulling Lee out of danger ... it's at least the second time he's done it, after all:

8. Gaara-kun! This was one of The Moments for me. We as a ship had been speculating so long about the degree of intimacy of Lee and Gaara's relationship. We'd spent, I think, a decade at this point writing fics where Lee called Gaara "Kazekage-sama". Then the Perfect Day for a Wedding arc dropped, and here's Lee calling Gaara "Gaara-kun" just like he does the rest of his friends ... wind was blown into the ship's sails on this day.

9. The Double Date Gaara and Lee go on a double date with Tenten and Kankuro to Ichiraku Ramen. This is canon. 'Nuff said.

And now, for number 10 ... drumroll please ...

10. The ILY I know, I know - those handsigns don't mean the same in JSL as they do in ASL. But my little hard-of-hearing heart can't help but see Lee shooting double "I love you"s at Gaara in this moment. And even if he's not, the starry eyes and blushy cheeks say it all. This is flirting, y'all.

[sagemoderocklee]

pleas my beloved, tell me more about cats guide and secret liaisons im blowing u so many kissies about it also hi it’s kel

genuinely was like "is that kel?" when i saw the start of this ask cause who else would be callin me 'my beloved' XD

ANYWAYS! i am sooooo excited for both these fics and it's a travesty that SL is still so far out... i NEED to work on Honor Bound T___T but god the editing on Alliance... and just the years and years its been since Alliance and how much my view of like EVERYTHING has changed...

okay so let's start with A Cat's Guide, which is a gift fic for @ghoste-catte (surprise!) that has been sitting for like 2 years now and was prompted by a video of a cat living in an apartment that i saw. this cat was like obsessed with the neighbor and always wanted to visit him, and i thought it would make a cute story from cat!Shukaku's pov as he tries to set up Gaara with his cute, nice neighbor who always gives Shukaku fresh salmon whenever Shukaku slips out of his own apartment to go visit Lee. it's 9 chapters cause you know cats have 9 lives (and i have years worth of gift fics for greyson to make up for) and the chapter titles are structured like a self-help sort of book and im genuinely so excited to work on this fic i just suck at getting anything started. but here's the opening:

---

Step One: Selecting an Ideal Match

Shukaku had been around for at least as long as Gaara had been alive, but for a cat pushing twenty-one he was a surprisingly healthy beast, except for the arthritis that had set in some six or seven years ago. Not that this deterred him in the least.

Quite the contrary, Shukaku spent much of his time climbing things he shouldn't and jumping from places far too high.

Yet however much trouble he managed to get into, Shukaku was a cat of breeding, and he took himself quite seriously. He did not, for instance, protest at the groomers because he liked to be clean; he did not, as a matter of pride, shove his face into his food dish and gobble it up; and he only slept on the nicest, softest cat beds money could buy. He ate expensive food, slept on expensive things, and shat in premium cat litter.

All in all, Shukaku was spoiled, and he liked it that way.

He was also picky, persnickety, and prone to biting for no discernible reason—at least, not as far as his human could tell. If Shukaku had been able to explain himself, he'd have told Gaara he was quite the sensitive soul and sometimes his mood simply got the better of him.

Gaara's brother might not be so sympathetic, having been on the receiving end of one of Shukaku's many fits of fury, but Gaara was understanding despite the language barrier.

(And that's all I have besides chapter breakdowns and chapter titles)

---

and now to Secret Liaisons, which is the third installment to the Allied Nations Saga and at one point was the FINAL part of it back when it was a trilogy, but I knew that there needed to be a fourth fic to that series because there were too many questions left unanswered at the end of SL.

So without spoiling anything for HB, SL continues to follow the ensemble cast with Gaara and Lee being like the main protagonists. This is yet another political drama and it starts off with a blow to Gaara and Lee.

SL is also where GaaLee actually comes into play, but I'm trying not to spoil too much so we'll leave it vague enough. However, I do have lots of snippets for this fic and can share the prologue because I'm just that generous. (Please keep in mind, I wrote this prologue like... 14 years ago and my writing has since evolved):

---

“We await your decision, Kazekage-sama.” The council rose as one, filing out of the room, leaving Gaara to sit with his thoughts, his siblings sharing significant looks over his head.

“Gaara,” Temari began, reaching for her brother.

Gaara rose quickly, stepping out of her reach. “I have things to take care of.”

Temari and Kankurou watched Gaara leave, helpless to do anything else.

***

“You wanted to see me, Kazekage-sama,” Lee said, bowing before Gaara’s desk.

Gaara turned from Lee, rising to his feet and moving to the window overlooking his village. This was his home, it was everything he had fought to protect in the war, it was the most important bond he had. He was the Kazekage of Suna, first and foremost, but that knowledge did little to sooth him.

“Do you miss Konoha?” he asked, not daring to glance at Lee.

“Of course,” Lee said, certain as always. “It is my home and my friends are there, my sensei. But I am happy here.”

Gaara didn’t reply, watching as a child ran past on the street, chasing a ball. It was his job to protect that child, to protect that child’s mother and father. The choice should not have been so difficult to make. He loved his village powerfully, he loved his people and his siblings just as much. They were a part of Suna.

Lee was not.

“I… have no more need of you,” Gaara whispered to the wind, not daring to turn around, almost hoping Lee hadn’t heard.

Silence stretched between them for a minute before Lee found his voice, cracked and uncertain. “I—beg your pardon, Kazekage-sama?”

Gaara closed his eyes, fisting the fabric of his Kage robe above his heart. “I am sending you back to Konoha.”

“Wha—but—why?! Have I done something to upset you? Whatever it is, I will make up for it! I will not do it again! I promise!”

Gaara shook his head. “You are a liability. You cannot stay here.”

“I do not understand,” Lee said, his words shaky and broken.

“It is not complicated: You will return to Konoha. I am releasing you from my service.”

“I—but I swore to stay by your side. I swore to always—you accepted me! Why would you do this?”

“Because I have no other choice.”

Lee was silent save for the heavy breathing that seemed to fill Gaara’s ears, making them ring. He had prepared for Lee to fight him on this, he had known Lee would want answers, but he had not been ready for the obstacle his own feelings created.

“Do you not trust me anymore?”

Gaara turned enough to glance at Lee over his shoulder. Lee’s expression was crumpled, his eyes wet and his lip trembling. In that moment, Gaara understood the power he had over Lee: the power to break him by words alone. He had never known that power and he never wanted to again.

“Kazekage-sama?” Lee asked desperately when the silence went on for too long.

Gaara’s vision swam for a second and he turned away. “With my life. That is the problem.”

“But why? What have I done? Why would you send me back?”

“Because the council does not trust you and my trust in you gives them reason to doubt me.”

Lee faltered, the words he’d been about to speak dying on a choked back sound, as though he were trying to keep from crying. Gaara could not stand to look at him anymore. “This is… temporary, right? Until they see, until you convince them—”

“No, Lee,” Gaara said, his knuckles white against the windowsill. “You will return to Konoha permanently. We are done.”

“N-no, I cannot accept that!” Lee cried suddenly. “Y-you cannot just send me back—I—you are everything to me. I have given my life to protect you—”

“Then honour your promise and leave,” Gaara said harshly, turning to stare at Lee. “If you wish to protect my life, then protect my title as Kazekage and leave Suna.”

Lee reeled, lowering his head. “I did not mean to speak so forcefully, Kazekage—”

“I am not your Kazekage. You are no longer bound to me.”

Lee closed his eyes tight, his hands in fists at his side that shook with the effort Lee exerted to hold his tongue. He took in a shaky breath, his eyes on Gaara’s feet. “I will a-always be bound to you, Kazekage-sama. Even if I leave…”

“You are a fool to think that,” Gaara said. “When you return to Konoha, in time you will forget your loyalties to me.”

“Forgive me, but you are wrong,” Lee said passionately, looking up at Gaara, his eyes hard and wet. “I will never forget this bond.”

Gaara stared, wide-eyed at Lee. “Why are you so determined to stay with me?”

Lee looked away, hiding his gaze. “Because you are important to me. Why should I waver in my affections for you? Why should I deny my loyalties when they mean so much?”

Gaara had no answer, but Lee’s words would not change their situation, no matter how much they both wanted them to.

“You will go back to Konoha. This matter is no longer up for debate.”

Lee closed his eyes, his face still turned away. “…as you wish, Kazekage-sama.”

“Don’t—”

Lee bowed and turned, leaving before Gaara could say more, the door clicking gently closed behind Lee. Gaara let out a shaky breath, sitting back down at his desk and pulling his official statement to the council towards him.

Rock Lee will return to Konoha…

The words blurred for a moment and Gaara blinked several times before his vision cleared, the report now stained with several drops that smudged the ink. Gaara set his brush down, staring at the report, only distantly aware of the wetness on his face and the ache in his chest.

---

I would definitely want to edit this before actually posting. I don't really like how choppy it is from that very first extremely brief scene which is just the like obvious tail end of a council meeting, and i think the actual pros are just… not great. i can def do better. but this is like the main obstacle of the fic and well I'm sure you can guess who these liaisons are between based on that lol

anyways <3 thanks beloved for the ask! hope you enjoyed these and they satisfied your curiosity

[jacksgreysays]

Primadonna Girl (needs papers, tickets, nerves of steel), (2024-03-25)

some additional lighter(-ish) additions to the bleak!primadonna AU (but still with some politics sprinkled in)

~

Primadonna Girl (fills the void up with celluloid)

~

“We’ve heard you’re the best blacksmith in town,” says the blandly smiling woman wearing a professional pantsuit that really shouldn’t work in the desert but somehow she’s pulling it off.

Even though Areki isn’t trying to hide the skepticism on her face, the woman’s bland smile does not budge an inch.

Sarcastically, she scans the vast, empty horizon that this tiny, nameless town barely interrupts. There is only one blacksmith in town. Frankly, this town is so small it shouldn’t even have one at all. It's not even big enough to be on most maps. Which is why Areki chose to set up shop here. Her response is as dry as their surroundings, “Thanks.”

Behind her manager, identity and amusement not at all concealed with her massive pair of mirrored sunglasses, is the best actress of their generation. What Kako Heijo is doing out in the middle of nowhere isn’t hard to guess—filming a movie, no doubt, with a ludicrous amount of explosions—but what she (or rather, her blandly professional manager) is doing talking to Areki is a mystery.

She sighs. “Can I help you?” she asks, because Areki isn’t keen on wasting time and it doesn’t seem like the other two women are in any rush to move the conversation along.

“Yes,” says the manager, words chosen slowly, as if she doesn’t have the full sentence yet, “we need…” She looks at Kako Heijo.

“Props,” says the most talented actress alive. Not too far away, Areki sees their film set—practically dwarfing the town—and the veritable army of production assistants unloading endless boxes of props.

“Props?” Again, Areki does not even bother trying to hide her skepticism.

Even her manager blinks, askance.

“Props,” repeats the international star of stage and screen.

“… yes. We need… props,” her manager confirms.

The silence is palpable.

Well, a commission’s a commission, and she has a child to feed. Areki sighs again, “What kind of props?”

—

(When the script allows, it really is best to film in the desert. An infinite sky, minimal scheduling and permit conflicts, and the Wind Daimyo is always eager to host globally acclaimed celebrities.

The fact that she chooses different areas of Land of Wind’s vast deserts, filling in the gaps of a long ago failed and abandoned search for the Godaime Kazekage, is just a coincidence. A matter of cinematography, really.

Anyway, only Shikako Nara would know that and she doesn’t exist anymore.)

—

“Kazekage-sama.”

“What now?” Kankurou snaps, looking up from the mountain of paperwork on the anchor of a desk in this prison of an office.

Jinzo, the secretary who actually runs the Kazekage’s office, shoots him a disapproving look. Well, whatever. Jinzo has never approved of Kankurou’s reign with the hat, only staying out of loyalty for the previous wearer, and it’s not like Kankurou even wanted the job anyway.

Behind Jinzo is the tiniest messenger genin, trembling as if they were in Land of Snow. Shit.

“You’re dismissed,” Jinzo murmurs to the messenger who flees with all haste, before he turns back to Kankurou, envelope in hand.

“What is it?” He doesn’t bother softening his tone, there can be no yielding from the Rokudaime Kazekage.

Jinzo doesn’t bother with it either. “An invitation.”

Ugh.

“Ugh, which councilor wants me to meet their suspiciously single, eligible daughter or granddaughter?”

“None of them.”

“None?” As if Jinzo hasn’t been tossing out the most audacious offers on a weekly basis.

“What I mean is,” he clarifies, “this particular invitation has nothing to do with that.”

There is an uncharacteristically hesitant pause.

“It’s for a movie premiere.”

Another uncharacteristic pause.

“A Kako Heijo movie.”

—

(There was a time when Kankurou was the least scary of his siblings, a mere puppeteer dreaming of show business, of reviving the dying arts of his culture. In comparison to his sister—eldest scion of the desert, Wind Mistress unmatched in the skies—and his brother—jinchuuriki and Wielder of the Cascading Sands—where was the threat in a fast talking, comedy relief?

But Kankurou doesn’t have siblings anymore, just like he doesn’t have any patience for people who think he’s the one at fault for his ascension staining Sunagakure a furious, ferrous red.)

—

“I’m not questioning your decisions,” Riku prefaces once she and her ward are in the relative privacy of their penthouse suite.

“That sounds like you’re about to question my decisions,” says the woman known world wide as Kako Heijo. Her eyes are sharp, but she gestures for Riku to continue anyway with an almost lenient air.

“I would never,” Riku says, blandly professional as always, “but I am curious about your reasoning behind the most recent addition to your retinue.”

“Our retinue,” corrects the preeminent multinational media darling.

“Kako Heijo’s retinue?” Riku counteroffers.

A considering hum, a nod, then another hand wave prompting Riku to continue.

“Do we really need a permanent props master that travels with us? One who has a child that also needs to travel with us?”

Riku’s responsibility shrugs. “I like knowing who makes my equipment. And I’m shocked, Riku, absolutely horrified,” she says, placidly, “I never took you for someone who would separate a parent from their child for financial reasons.”

She does not break in her professionalism.

“I am also wondering about your choice of VIP guest for the premiere.” Usually she never specifies anyone, letting Riku fill out the guest list based on her complex web of favors, social investments, and potential allies.

“He’s an important patron of the arts that resides in Land of Wind. What is there to wonder about? Surely it would be ruder not to invite him.”

She will not break.

“And plus,” adds the bane of Riku’s existence, “I heard he used to do stuff with puppets? Maybe I should introduce him to my prop master.”

She sighs, resigned. “And her child?”

“What a fascinating suggestion you’ve come up with, Riku!” says the exiled Nara clan heiress. “Yes, let’s do that.”

Riku is going to die from rage induced stress.

—

(Riku Sato used to go by a different name as well, but her duty has always been the same regardless.

If she knew forswearing the Genin Corps for advanced training in the Yamanaka clan arts would lead to this, she would rather have put up with a thousand D-rank missions to catch that fucking immortal hellcat)

~

A/N: I know as an artist you’re never supposed to point out the flaws in your own work, but I realize I should have had that middle section from Jinzo’s POV in order to make it… symmetrical? balanced?… with the other sections from Areki and Riku’s POVs. Really make it secondary characters looking in on the situation. But I just love writing Kankurou’s POV so much, I couldn’t help it TT_TT Also, this is roughly inspired by Mergen’s comments in response to the (this and that and everything, etc) installment of the ao3 port. Specifically, a brief theory that Souichi might be Shikako and Kankurou’s child, but the ages/math doesn’t really work out. BUT that did remind me of Shikadai’s cousins-that-aren’t and how, sadly, some of them wouldn’t exist. Or some of them would exist but not end up his cousins. However, one cousin in particular COULD have some interesting political ramifications (which is, you know, the whole point of this series) given he has Magnet Release and that was a major reason for Shikamaru being assassinated to begin with. I was considering Shikako finding Shinki when he’s recently orphaned (at nine, according to my Dreaming of S(haring the World) Shinki installment which ALSO has Kankurou) and then the two of them secretly training him in a sort of Anya to Anastasia (from the titular animated movie) type of con (that is less of a con and more a legitimate claim)… but that seemed pretty sketchy and also, like… surely SOMETHING in this bleak AU has to be better, slightly? So I made it such that one of Kako Heijo’s movies is filming near that town in the middle of nowhere before Shinki is nine which means Shikako can sense that there are TWO someones with Magnet Release, one of them being Shinki’s still alive mother :) Basically, this kind of solves the problem of Kankurou not having any children (thus making Shikadai his default heir) but it also adds some other problems in the sense that… well… both Areki and Shinki are untrained civilians and if some councilors who maybe didn’t fully internalize or maybe might have forgotten The Incident decide they’d rather be the power behind an untrained civilian Kazekage than one who is clever and bitter and suspicious of them… well… And then I figured I might as well flesh out Kako Heijo’s totally a civilian, blandly named manager since she’ll probably continue to make appearances in this AU. OVER A YEAR AND I CANNOT PUT THIS AU DOWN.

[kimimarothechosenvessel]

"i told you not to overdo it. now look what you did to yourself."

“But they were pursuing us, Orochimaru sama,” Kimimaro said through gritted teeth, doubled over. “We just killed the Kazekage. We can’t…we can’t expect to escape unnoticed. Got to stay on guard. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He sank to the ground. “I had to kill them.” Blood seeped from his mouth as he coughed.

[actuallysaiyan]

third kazekage railing his s/o as she calls him kazekage 😮‍💨

🤤🤤

He's pumping into you, his hands on your hips. He keeps pulling you into him, making his thrusts even harsher and harder. He leans in to kiss you, a searing and fiery kiss. He sucks on your tongue, then you let out a soft squeak.

"What's that?" He teases you.

You whine, "I'm so close..."

He chuckles darkly and he tells you to remember what he wants to hear. You're so fucked dumb, it's hard to keep things straight. Then finally, you mutter softly.

"Fuck me...please fuck me, kazekage-sama."

[ricflairdrip20]

Waiting on You - Third Kazekage x Reader

(a/n: I decided to name him Daichi)

You sighed as you flipped a page of your poetry book. Daichi was working in the Kage office unusually late. Normally, he’d be home about an hour ago, but upon checking the clock, you were concerned that he may be overworking himself. Setting down the book on your nightstand, you got up from the bed and walked over to the circle window overlooking the Sand Village, waiting for a familiar shadow of your husband, the strongest Kazekage. He would always make sure to be home at a certain time to his wife and two kids. That’s one of the many things you love about him; balancing his work-life schedule. However, there was an emergency mission he had to take on and he had his right hand man relay the message to you.

Your thoughts were interrupted by two small voices you always enjoyed hearing. You looked behind you and saw your two young sons with a curious look on their face.

“Mama, when will Daddy be home?” Your younger son asked.

“Soon enough, dear,” you replied. “Why are you up so late?”

“I’m just waiting for Dad to come say goodnight,” replied your older son, who’s a couple years away of approaching his teenage years.

You smiled. That’s another thing you love about Daichi, his love for his wife and children.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be sure to say goodnight as soon as he gets back. Now off to bed,” you replied as you walked your children to their own rooms.

After bidding them off for the night, you set aside your worries and decided to resign yourself to bed. Hopefully, by the time you wake up, he’ll be home.

————————————————————————

The next morning comes, and your eyes slowly opened. You turned on your other side, and paused. You weren’t awakened by a familiar warmth kissing your head. Maybe he’s in another room. You slowly got up, anxious to see your husband. Just as you approached your door, you heard rapid knockings. You opened it and see two shinobi with concerned expression on their faces.

“Ma’am, have you seen your husband?”

You shook your head no, then said, “I haven’t seen him at all since yesterday afternoon when I gave him his lunch. Did he not return home?”

“No, ma’am, he said that he left off to the desert to fight a rogue ninja. But he hadn’t returned since and we sent a search party.”

You sighed as your brows furrowed. It’s no wonder it’s so quiet.

“Don’t worry, Y/N-sama. Your husband is the strongest Kage this village has ever had. He’ll come around.”

“I hope so. Thank you,” you said as you walked past them to your children to tell them their father hadn’t returned home yet.

————————————————————————

Days has passed and there’s still no sign of the Third Kazekage. You grew more worried as more time has passed but you keep reminding yourself that with his strength, he’ll return home, as you repeated to your children everytime they asked for him.

“He’s strong. He’ll return home.”

But as more time passes, your two sons aren’t as convinced as they were. And neither were you.

Where the hell is Daichi?! Hopefully nothing bad happened to him… Maybe hiding out somewhere in the outskirt of the village?

As a former shinobi, you came up with every possible scenarios explaining the reasoning for his absence. But there were none that made sense, especially with your husband.

The strongest Kazekage… he should be here right now. And the rest of the village appeared to think so. They have so much faith in his strength and ability that he’ll resurface with an explanation. No matter what it is, you’ll be happy to see him again.

But with how much time passed, you tried not to, or you really don’t want to consider the possibility of him being killed. You just can’t. He has a wife and two kids to take care of and protect.

You stared at a framed photo of your family, your precious people. You and Daichi next to each other, resting your hands on the shoulder of your sons, a bit younger at the time. You smiled one second, then frowned at the next.

“Just come home already, the kids misses you,” you whispered at the photo.

————————————————————————

The village needs a Kage. Two weeks has passed and there were still no sign of Daichi. The Suna Council decided they were going to elect a new Kazekage. An interim leader if and when Daichi returned.

You hated the sound of it. Their decision sounded like Daichi is never coming back and they’re coming to terms with it.

A small voice appeared.

“So… is Daddy ever coming back?” you quickly turned and see your youngest standing at the doorframe.

Throughout the disappearance of your spouse, you kept up with the faith of his emergence as to not shatter your son’s.

“He will, don’t worry,” you replied. It’s starting to sound like a lie. It’s been too long. The possibility of him running into someone stronger than him is starting to sound realistic.

“I miss him,” he sighed sadly.

“I miss him too,” you replied. “Where’s your brother?”

“At a mission.” You nodded. Just as you assumed.

Your older son hadn’t been around as much lately. He’ve been taking on more missions lately, at first to get the disappearance of his father out of his mind. But he used it as an opportunity for a chance of finding him as he mentioned once. He would get frustrated whenever the mission ended, whether succession or failure. Because the true purpose is to find his father.

————————————————————————

A year has passed and a lot happened. Rasa is a new Kazekage, your young son graduated from the ninja academy, and took on the opportunity to find his daddy through missions. And you moved to a new house due to a new administration.

The chances are getting terribly slim. Your children aren’t as happy these days and neither are you. You lost interest in reading as you usually do and you struggled to cook meals for you and your children, knowing the empty seat likely never to be occupied by your husband again.

Whoever is responsible for this is tearing your family apart. It’s becoming more and more of a possibility that when searching for Daichi, it’s turning into a recovery of a body. But you still hope for his return. You just want your best friend back.

You stood outside, out in the more isolated area where there’s no one around. You decided to speak into the air, hopefully for a slim if not none, chance of Daichi hearing you.

“Daichi, I’ll always be waiting for you.”

[lavender-long-stories]

Spoilers for Lavender Clouds | Chapter 2 | Rated T

Being a missing-nin had a learning curve. Most villages weren’t as welcoming as Konoha. Even dressed as a civilian, people gave her weary looks because they knew she didn’t belong. 

Hinata drifted from village to village, never staying long, never leaving a trail. In her traveler’s yukata, with sunglasses to hide her Hyuga eyes, most people were uncomfortable asking more when she told them she had disfiguring scars around her eyes. 

No one ever caught up to her, but was she doing well, or were the Hyuga hoping she would be caught by the locals? They were definitely looking for her. Her name bounced around bounty hunt bars, a good place to hear the local rumors.

It felt like freedom, but it was lonely. Seeing happy families haunted her. Reminding her what she had given up. Hinata thought about it so much she weaved it into her cover story. 

Hinata introduced herself as older with a pseudonym. If someone dug further, she would tell them she was a barren widow who decided to travel when her husband died because it was what he wanted to do, but he was always too sick. Hinata added a new detail to her husband whenever she told the story. He was tall, with dark hair, friendly eyes, a crooked nose, a thin and sickly body, but the kindest heart and a soft, deep voice. She grew attached to a man that never existed. He filled the hole in her heart. At least a fictional man couldn’t let her down.

Though work wasn’t hard to find, starting in a new village was always difficult. Non-nin work was safer but harder to move on from. Too many times, Hinata wanted to stay with an aging shop owner that had shown her kindness, but once she started to get attached, she knew she had to go. 

Without the Hyuga’s restriction, Hinata’s training was unleashed. Hinata always wanted to study to be a medic, but the Hyuga thought it was a waste of the Byakugan. The possibilities were endless with what Hinata knew about chakra points. New ways to shut them down or heal them. Her main goal was countering traditional Gentle Fist. She couldn’t hide forever. One day she would need to counter it.

Presenting herself as nin for hire was dangerous but occasionally necessary when she needed a larger sum of money or to test her skill growth. It left a trail, so she was strategic about where and when she left that trail. 

Before long, Hinata’s hair was past her shoulders again. She left it long to pin it up to look older. She was lying about her age, after all. There was something freeing about growing it out for her own purposes, not for a crush or to look more suitable to her title. She could smile in the mirror now, knowing that the scared little girl now was a strong woman with a sense of pride and will. She would fight for her freedom to the death if she had to.

Hinata shivered as a powerful chakra presence came out of nowhere. A knock echoed through her hotel room, and fear trickled down her spine. How has she felt nothing until they were already there? Had her training been all for nothing? The room had no escape route with hard sand walls. She would have to face them head-on.

Hinata activated her Byakugan to peek. The power was familiar, which didn’t bring her comfort. She willed her pounding heart to calm. This was what all her work was for. She would fight to the death for her freedom. She put her sunglasses on and opened the door.

Hinata’s mouth fell open in shock.

The Kazekage was waiting on the other side. “Hinata Hyuga, please come with me.”

Hinata bit down on the inside of her lip. This couldn’t be worse. A shower of blood flashed in her memory of him. She had nightmares of the day for years. She fell back into a defensive stance. “I will have to decline.”

Gaara made no move to attack her. “I am not here to turn you in.”

That didn’t mean he wasn’t here to kill her. “Then what are you here for, Kazekage-sama?”

Gaara’s stone face twitched. “Interesting.” What was? “Tsunade asked me to offer you asylum if you ever ‘blew into town.’ The Hyuga is getting closer and closer to tracking you, so if you didn’t come through soon. I was to have someone track you down.”

Tsunade was going to get herself in trouble. “I was only passing through. I’ve been stationary for too long. They’ll come here for me…”

Gaara put up a hand to silence her. “I will deny them entrance. Our alliance with Konoha doesn’t mean they can search my village.”

Was he willing to start a dispute with the Hyuga on a simple request by the Hokage? “They will fight that.”

“And you can remain here until they find a loophole.” Gaara counter. “You may prove to be useful. Tsunade informed me the Byakugan would make for a decent medical-nin.”

“I’m not trained as a medical-nin, but yes,” Tsunade not only remembered but passed it on, but her self-teaching the last few months wouldn’t be sufficient.

“The potential should be explored then.” Gaara inclined his head to indicate her following. Hinata gathered her things and followed him. “I am considering having you train for field surgery. Tsunade thinks it would put your skills to good use.” Hinata didn’t understand why he was so willing to help her. Gaara explained the details. How long ago did Tsunade reach out to him that he had all this figured out? “As for a living situation, you will stay in my home.” 

“Is that necessary?” Hinata blurted, then blushed at her outburst. “I’m sorry, Kazekage-sama, but I don’t want to impose.”

“The Hyuga may believe I am covering your trail, but not that I would keep you in my home. It allows me to keep an eye on you as well.” Gaara explained. 

“You think they will try to sneak around the village looking for traces of me.” Hinata finished for him.

“Yes, I ask that you allow my brother to give you a ‘makeover.’” Gaara crinkled his nose in disdain. “He has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.” This seemed like too much. “Kankuro can hide you better if you drastically change your appearance.” That didn’t make her feel any better. Gaara stopped at a large building and opened the door, letting her in first. “There is a room down the hall to the left. That is where you will be staying.” When Gaara said his own home, he meant it. Hinata padded down the hall, trying to calm down. “I leave early in the morning, but Kankuro will come to explain further details expected of you. The bathroom is at the end of the hall. You are welcome to it.” With that, Gaara disappeared.

Hinata closed the door behind her and leaned on it to process. She felt such a burden. The Kazekage was willing to go so far at the request of an ally. He was putting a lot of faith in her to be useful enough for the risk. She would work her hardest to fulfill his expectations and surpass them. This was a chance to show her potential. She wasn’t letting it pass her by. She just hoped one day, her achievement would travel back to the Hyuga. She wanted them to choke on it. 

“I had food brought,” Gaara called from the main room. 

“One moment,” Hinata called back, straightening the emotions off her face before joining him. 

Gaara presented her with take-out. The idea of Kazekage ordering her take-out was surreal. “There was nothing else open at this hour.” Why was he explaining himself? 

“This is perfect, thank you.” Hinata sat down. There was too much food, but Gaara wasn’t joining her. How much did he think she could eat? “Will you eat with me?” Gaara’s non-eyebrows twitched together. Maybe she shouldn’t have asked. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to. It’s a lot of food…”

Gaara sat down across from her picking at the food while she ate. Maybe he already ate. Now she felt bad that she made him sit with her. “Do you remember me?”

Hinata remembered the blood as he crushed his opponents despite their begging, but she also remembered how highly Naruto thought of him. Naruto could be naive, but he was a good judge of character. Gaara had the benefit of the doubt. He was tormented by a demon all his life. Whether or not he gave into its desires determined his strength, and as far as she heard, he gained control with time. Gaara was a renowned strong leader now, credited with raising Suna from a pit it was digging itself. “Yes.”

Gaara frowned. “Yet, you wish to dine with me.” Did he think she would be too disgusted? Did he expect her to use him for protection and not appreciate it?

“I have nothing against you, Kazekage-sama. I was only ready to fight you because you threatened my freedom.” Hinata hoped he understood. How many people had harshly judged him on his past alone?

“You are one of the few.” Gaara’s downturn face hurt her heart. Hinata decided she wouldn’t treat him as others had. She never feared Naruto, so she would not fear him. “You have decided something.” Could he read her that easily?

“Sorry, this situation is a lot to take in.” Hinata felt her face flush, caught.

Gaara eyed her curiously.

Lavender Clouds

Pairing: Sasuke x Hinata Rating: T

Description: Hinata runs away from home into the arms of the Akatsuki. Bonds with Itachi. Saves his brother. Learns to reverse Gentle Fist. Raises a demon baby?

Tags: Adventure  |  Fluff and Angst  |  Romance  |  Slow Burn  |  Happy Ending  |  Akatsuki Hyuuga Hinata  |  Hyuuga Hinata-centric  |  Akatsuki Uchiha Sasuke  |  Canon-Typical Violence

Image by crawford

[dayeongi]

Sign of the Times (4970 words) by dayeongi Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Naruto Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Gaara & Kankurou & Temari (Naruto), Gaara & Kankurou (Naruto), Gaara & Temari (Naruto), Nara Shikamaru/Temari Characters: Gaara (Naruto), Nara Shikamaru Additional Tags: Character Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Star-crossed, Post-Fourth Shinobi War, Fourth Shinobi War, Gaara Week 2023 (Naruto), mostly canon-compliant Summary:

When he walks through the doors of Konohagakure no Sato, the people that knew him then, when they had walked with him, always accidentally glance to his sides. But some others don’t. “Kazekage-sama is always alone.” They must think he doesn’t know what they whisper.