Not you, too!

38: When children fall in love – Where has the time gone?

The weather held beautifully and Nejiri was so handsome. Temari found her tears rolling down her face and by the time the wedding was over she didn’t have any make-up left on her face.
Nejiri had agreed that going away would have to wait until the Kazekage returned from Konoha. So, they simply went from the celebration tot heir new home and settled down for a day or two honey moon that was promised not to be disturbed.
Then, they returned to their duties and a week later saw Gaara and Choji off.
Kankurou traveled with them, so Temari and Otokage were in charge of the defenses while they were gone.
Gaara traveled well, though the girth of his condition had become impossible to hide, he never had issues with back or leg pains as the sand seemed to do most of the actual work. So walking along with Choji and his brother was not at all difficult.
Once they had crossed the desert and entered the forest area, they realized they would not be able to take to the trees and their trip would take longer due to this fact.
One day away from their destination the Kazekage stopped and grabbed both of his escorts by the arm.
“What’s wrong, Gaar-kun?” Choji asked looking at the redhead as Kankurou scanned the area. Gaara was holding Choji’s arm and looking at the ground.
“Shukaku is becoming agitated. I don’t think it is just the fact that we will soon be in the Leaf I an not sure, but I think it’s significant.” Gaara looked up from the ground into his lover’s eyes. “I think I’m going to be sick again, too.”
Choji helped him to a large rock and stood watch as Gaara sat holding his swollen middle and closing his eyes as the wave of nausea passed.
Kankurou had leapt to the trees and was out of sight at the time.
Suddenly the trees parted and three men stepped into view. They were dressed plainly and held clubs and large hammers. Choji stood before the other and watched them advance.
“Hey, hey. Look what we have here,” one said.
”I’d say these nobles are lost, eh brother?” another added.
“We could guide them, for a price.” The last injected.
“We aren’t looking for a guide,” Choji answered. “Just go back where you came from so we don’t have to hurt you.”
“Eh, brother? That fat one is threatening us.”
“And after we were offering to help them out.”
“Yeah. I say we teach him a lesson.”
And they all moved a little closer. Choji held his temper knowing that should he react in anger he could put Gaara in danger. The sand was doing extra duty to keep him going while his chakra was stressed and Choji wasn’t ready to risk its ability to protect him from this threat.
“Keep back,” he warned.
“Nobles are always telling us what to do.”
“Yeah, I hate that.” The shortest one said.
They had moved to about five feet away and Choji shifted to a defensive position prepared to deflect their blows and keep them away from his love.
Kankurou had returned to the trees above just as Choji had warned them off the first time. He placed himself in a tree off to the side and pulled out a summoning scroll. Soon, he was positioning Karasu and Kuroari in the trees above the bandits and preparing for his move.
As the men lifted their weapons he moved his fingers and dropped to the ground as his puppets landed effectively surrounding the villains and moving in swiftly.
Choji saw the sandman land and moved to the side grabbing the club from the closest bandit just as Karasu captured another and the third took note of Kankurou’s arrival.
Choji lifted the club and pulled the man from the ground along with it. He shook it quickly and the man let go only to have the chubby chuunin tap him on the head with it then he fainted to the ground.
Choji looked up to see that one of the bandits was fighting to be released from the insides of Kuroari as the other hung from Karusu’s arms and Kankurou was pulling out some strong rope.
Gaara had finally succumbed to his nausea and was leaning over the rock to expel his dinner.
“I think we should make camp. White you two rest, I’ll go on and bring back help,” Choji said as he took some of the rope and bound his opponent.
Kankurou nodded dropping this pack and pulling out a tent.

Choji dropped from the trees just short of the gates to the village and called out to the guards.
“Is that any way to greet a returning comrade?”
A familiar face with strong eyebrows and a short bowl cup of dark hair turned and stared while his partner smiled and called out a greeting.
“Choji, you’re as fat as ever. Living in the desert is a great look for you. Come on, man. And where is your red haired girlfriend?” the blond said, clapping the chuunin on the back.
Naruto! I’m glad it’s you. We are camped about a mile out and some local bandits had the stupid idea to attack us. We could use some help.” He said.
“Really? Hey Lee, I’ll go get some help. You go with him.” Naruto said.
“I believe that Shikamaru-san in nearby. I am sure he would be a big help.” Lee said as they nodded and took to the trees.

After he found out about their unusual use of the jutsu that Naruto had taught him, Konohamaru had an idea.
The Konohamaru corps had a new mission. They were going to make sure that their first boss’s baby was born healthy and happy and so he sent Udon and Moegi to be the assistants to Sasuke for the duration.
He took on the job of learning. He was often found reading over scrolls or digging through the archives. He questioned many of the villagers about their experiences in birthing and raising children and also on their thoughts regarding same sex couples.
There was where he discovered something he hadn’t expected.
Konohamaru discovered that he was growing up.
At sixteen years old he had only given a passing thought to his own sexuality but after speaking to so many about a very intimate subject, his thoughts naturally turned introspective.
“So, you’re saying that you have tried it, but decided it wasn’t your thing?” he asked “How did you decide such a thing?”
“Well, I slept with some of each and it was just better with girls. Plus most girls talk about being open minded, but they really don’t want a guy that sleeps with other guys. I didn’t like narrowing my options that much.”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess I see that. But how did you get started?” he asked before he realized the words had escaped his lips.
“Kid, are you a virgin?” the man asked and Konohamaru blushed darkly.
“I didn’t say that. It was just a question.” He turned and stomped away.
A head turned from where he rested against a wall and watched the genin as he crossed the street and headed toward the Hokage Mountain.
“I think someone needs a little advice,” Kakashi said pushing away from the building and heading after the boy.

In her job as the Hokage of the village of the Hidden Leaf, Tsunade had to deal with some very amazing and life threatening things.
Homicidal missing nins from every part of their world had become her responsibility as she accepted the various jobs that came up.
She was also responsible for minor life changing events like arranging for genin teams to do clean up and other minor jobs that, though they were necessary, were nothing to get excited about.
And being a medic nin, the blonde woman would have to oversee some of the more difficulty operations that the hospital had on its schedule.
So it should not have surprised her when the Kazekage of the Sand stood before her and informed her that he was delivering a mission request personally.
‘Should’ not have.
Tsunade stared openly at the small Kage who was currently nearly as wide around as he was tall.
Even standing next to Choji, Gaara was a sight as his midsection was impossible to disguise by his office robes and she had to shake herself from her trance.
“Hokage?” he said, bringing her attention to the scroll that he held out to her. “All of the details are here. Also, this is nothing we would have palmed off on a subordinate. If you choose to accept this mission, it would have to be you, yourself that undertakes it.”
Tsunade took the scroll and unrolled it. She gestured for them to sit as she read the details and looked up every so often.
"This says that you are only twenty-nine weeks along?” she said and Gaara nodded once. “Then you are at the same stage as Neji?” she added.
"Yes. The Hyuuga and I have already conjectured on that. Is there a problem?”
“Yes. There is no way that you could be only seven and a half months. I will need to check this out. I’ll make arrangement for you to have a sonogram.”
“Does this mean that you accept the mission?” Gaara asked as Choji smiled at the woman.
“Huh? Oh, yes. Yes. What’s one more Orioke no pregnancy to add to my already burdened schedule? Shizune!!” she called and her assistant came through the door. “Arrange for suitable quarters for the Kazekage and have the hospital clear some time and a room for an ultrasound tomorrow morning. Also, call Naruto and Sasuke. As long a s I’m doing this, I should check in on those two also.”
“Yes, Tsunade-sama. The guest rooms of the tower have just been cleaned. They should be perfect. I’ll contact the hospital immediately. Naruto is just downstairs. He has been waiting to see Gaara.”
“Good. Send him up, now. He can escort our guest to his rooms.”
Choji had stood when Shizune came in and now looked down at the odd smile on Gaara’s face.
“Gaar-kun?” he said quietly. Gaara just smiled wider.
“So Naruto is here. I haven’t seen my old friend in a long time, eh Choji?” the red head asked.

::This had to be cut in two. The rest will be in the next chapter.

Next chapter is Gaara and the Doctor