The sun wise slowly rising as Sasuke, Naruto and the gang made their way to Sunagakure village, Naruto slowly waking up on Sasuke's back to take a look at the valley. Sunagakure itself lies in a fortified valley behind cliffs of rock, with passage in and out of the village restricted to a single cleft between two cliff faces, making the area very hard to attack from the ground.
Suna was where the most wanted people of the resistance were hiding. "What's your business here?" Said a man a medium built looking man, with blue hair and honey looking eyes. "We seek refuge here at Suna." Stated Sasuke. The man looked each of them up and down. "Let them in." Demanded a deep voice from behind them.
The gang turned around to see three figures, two men and one woman. The woman had teal eyes and sandy blond hair, which were gathered into four consecutive pigtails and bangs that fell to the right side of her face. She had on a black kimono that reaches down to her legs, with slits along the side and a more revealing neckline and a red sash tied around her waist.
She smirked at the group while using a fan to blow some cool air at her face. On her left stood a man who had brown hair and dark eyes, he wore a back, baggy, full body suit wearing a black outfit consisting of a long top and trousers with a red sash around his waist. On her right stood a man that had fair skin, green eyes and short red spiky hair.
He lacks distinctive pupils or eyebrows. He had tanuki- like black rings around his eyes. He had a kanji for 'love' on the left side of his forehead. He had on a crimson long- sleeve shirt with several buttons and pants that match the colour of his shirt. The man walked up to Sasuke and stood an arm reach distance from Sasuke.
They both extended their hands and held each other's arm up to the elbow as a greeting. "Good to see you're alive Gaara." Said Sasuke in a bored voice. "You don't sound thrilled at all to know I'm alive Sasuke." Said Gaara. "G-Gaara?" Both men turned to were the voice came from, their gaze landed on Naruto, who had a look of disbelief.
He step next to Sasuke, with tears in his eyes as he looked at Gaara as if he was a ghost. He stepped even closer and hesitantly placed his hand on Gaara's right cheek. "Hi Naruto." Said Gaara. Naruto laughed a little in disbelief as he cupped Gaara's cheeks, getting Gaara to lean in a little so their foreheads could touch. (An: Yes I made Gaara tall. Any objections.) "They said you were dead."
Gaara placed his hands on Naruto's upper arms, he smiled a small smile, only for Naruto to see and he shook his head. He then pulled Naruto into a warm embrace and kissed the top of his head. Sasuke felt they were holding each other a little too long and he inwardly growled. "It's good to see you've grown, Naruto." Said the four pigtail headed woman.
Naruto looked at her quizzically. "Temari, of course he does not remember us. We were hardly there and he was way too young to remember us." Commented Kankuro as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Though Sasuke here, where are your manners dear child. Weren't you taught to greet you elders?"
(An: In this story Temari, Kankuro and Shikamaru are five years older than the other's. The obvious ones like Kakashi, Iruka and Orochimaru are somewhere in their thirties. Nagato, Yahiko and anybody else I might include in their time frame are in their twenties. Naruto, Sasuke and the rest of the gang are either eighteen or nineteen. I know it's a little late, I just forgot to clear that out.)
"Hn." Was the only sound that came from Sasuke. Temari pouted. "Rude much." She flicked her wrist and a small needle shot out of the fan in her hand and pierced a small fly that was flying pass Shikamaru. She smirked in satisfaction when the needle pinned it close to the wall close to him. Shikamaru had a look of bewilderment on his face.
"I hate bugs." She then went on to continue to fan herself. "Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed and tried to calm his fast beating heart. "Temari! Do keep your toys to yourself, we don't want anybody losing an eye or two." Said Gaara as he began to lead the group into the village, his hand on Naruto's mid back. Sasuke inwardly snarled at the sight.
The gang looked around as the saw buildings that seemed to be made of clay or stucco. They saw some men with the standard attire that consisted of blue or black. "How did you manage to make it out alive Gaara? Sai had delivered his father's head on a golden plate for Orochimaru to enjoy." Asked Sasuke.
"The moment you left Danzo's land, I too had to return to mine. I had received news of what happened to Danzo, your brother Itachi and your cousin Shisui. I am sorry Sasuke, I should have been there to help-"
"Don't pity me!" The gang were at awe by the way the village seemed peaceful, as if they had not a clue of what's happening beyond their walls. "How is it still so peaceful here?" Asked Sakura as she interlocked her hand with her wife Ino. "It's just the works of harmony." Replied Kankuro. Kiba frowned at that his arm wrapped around Hinata's slim waist. "That doesn't make sense." Kankuro turned to him and smiled. "You'll understand someday."