Stronger is the Bond

Pairing: Various
Rating: NC-17 for future chapters
A/N:This is soooooo AU. I mean, way out there. In my world, everything's fine, Sasuke's there, Tsunade's Hokage, and Gaara lives in Konoha. So if you can't handle that, go away. Otherwise, welcome! As always, remember to love your authors, review.








"What you are now holding is the list of the new Chuunin that I want to go. Are there any questions?" Tsunade paused, folding her hands on top of her desk. The room remained silent for a moment. Asuma Sarutobi looked around the room, snorted, and demanded, "Just how are we supposed to get the Sand group to go, Hokage-sama? Ask real nice?"

Tsunade smiled, choosing to ignore Asuma's rudeness, and replied, "I've taken care of that. They have been sent a separate letter. As for the rest of them," Tsunade stood, pushing her chair back and leaning closer to the five nin in her office, "You will all deliver their letters personally." She gestured to a pile of scrolls stacked neatly on the corner of her desk, cell numbers written on each one.

"As soon as possible." Which, in Hokage-speak, meant, as soon as you leave my office, or you're gonna pay big time, buddy. "Are there any other questions?"

Iruka Umino stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, why exactly am I here? This meeting is normally for cell leaders, and-"

"I know that, Iruka. Rest easy, I have called you here with a purpose. You were the first sensei of most of these Chuunin. It might make it easier for everyone if you went along." Iruka opened his mouth to reply, but was stopped by Tsunade's hand waving impatiently.

"Also, I want you to observe and record everything of note that happens in camp. Then, on a weekly basis, report to me here. Better?" Tsunade resumed her seat, propping her chin on one hand.

Iruka nodded, then stepped back, ending up a bit wedged between Gai Maito and Kakashi Hatake, who had been....close. Iruka felt Tsunade's gaze on him again, and he tensed, expecting another comment. When none came, he looked up to find her speaking quietly with Kurenai Yuuhi.

"Just my opinion, Hokage-sama," Kurenai ended mildly, stepping away from the large mahogany desk.

"No, no, you're right. Keep a close eye on that. We may have to end up changing that rule. Now then, if there are no more questions, I believe you all have a bit of news to deliver. Be at camp by nine p.m. tomorrow. And remember why this has to be done. The new Chuunin must bond as one team, or else they will surely fail. You have six weeks. Go."

Almost too fast for Tsunade's eyes to follow, they had all disappeared, and the bundles of scrolls at the corner of her desk were gone. She smiled lightly to herself. Opening her desk drawer, she pulled out a coin and flipped it into the air. "Heads," she whispered. It turned over and over in the air, then landed into Tsunade's open palm with a light smack. She peered over it for a second, then smiled again. "I lost. Good." Satisfied, she went back to her paperwork.


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Sabaku no Gaara and his two siblings had temporarily taken up residence in Konoha. It had been four months since Gaara had made the decision to move. Four quiet, relatively uneventful months. Of course, that didn't mean that Kankuro, the middle child, had relaxed at all. He hadn't. In fact, he was only at peace when in the forest, far away from the village and the people in it, his family included. Sure, he loved his older sister and younger brother, he just....didn't want to be around them that much. Karasu was, in Kankuro's opinion, much better company.

Since Kankuro was the one most frequently out of the house, most of the outside chores fell to him, getting food, the mail, and all other such tasks. On his way home, he stopped to eat some ramen and get the mail. Walking through his front door, Kankuro waved at his sister, Temari, and continued through the house to Gaara's closed bedroom door. Knocking lightly, Kankuro waited for a response, stomach tight with the residual fear that his brother's close proximity always caused. Finally, as the puppet-nin was about to turn and walk away, he heard Gaara's voice. "Come in, Kankuro." A slight headache already brewing, Kankuro turned the knob and pushed open the door. "I brought the mail. How'd you know it was me, anyway?"

Gaara was sitting on the far side of the room, in a window seat that overlooked most of the village. As Kankuro approached, he held out his hand for the mail. Without looking at him, Gaara spoke. "I knew it was you because Temari doesn't knock." His voice was flat, as emotionless as always. "Whatever," Kankuro muttered, turning to leave.

"Stop." Gaara stood up. Kankuro turned to face his brother again, accepting the scroll Gaara offered him. "Read that, then give it to Temari and make sure she does the same." Kankuro finished reading quickly, then left the room without another word. Shutting Gaara's door, he slid down the wall beside it with a barely audible, "Fuck."


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In the forest, Kurenai's team was engaged in some early afternoon training. Shino Aburame sat at the base of a tree, meditating, ignoring Kiba Inuzuka's constant yells to his dog, Akamaru. Hinata Hyuuga was some distance away, practicing her hand to hand skills on a tree. Kurenai jumped down onto the forest floor, nearly silent. She waited until she had the attention of her team before handing them each a scroll. Kiba held his up to his nose, sniffing it curiously before breaking its seal and opening it. They were all quiet for a moment, each reading their letter. Hinata looked up, a question on her lips, only to find that their sensei had vanished into the trees.


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Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi were sitting on a bench, eating their lunch and waiting for their teammate, Ino Yamanaka to get off work. Asuma approached them from behind, tapped Shikamaru on the shoulder, and handed him a scroll. Choji barely noticed his sensei's appearance, more concerned by far with Shikamaru's now unattended lunch. Without looking, Shikamaru pushed the box lunch closer to Choji, silently giving permission. Eagerly, Choji devoured the rest of the food. When he was finished, Asuma handed him his scroll. "What's this, sensei?" Choji asked, breaking the seal on his scroll. Shikamaru sighed and rolled his eyes, muttering, "Another drag, that's what."

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"You're all doing great! Only fourteen more laps to go!" Gai smiled proudly as he surveyed his team, currently running laps around the training ground. As each teen finished their laps, Gai handed them a scroll. Patting each one on the back, Gai said, "Wonderful displays of youthful exuberance. Take three minutes, get some water, and read those. After that, we'll start training. No more warm ups!" Rock Lee's cry of, "Of course, Gai-sensei!" drowned out the soft groans of Neji Hyuuga and Tenten. As the team read their letters, Gai watched them with interest, noting the emotions on their faces. Gai smiled as his excitement for the next few weeks rose. This would be a truly enriching experience.



Alright! Next time, we see what's up with Team 7! Woo! What the hell's in those letters, anyway? Tune in to find out!

And any feedback would be good. As this is my first Naruto fic.......Yup yup.