Naruto: Fourth Hokage

(Late That Afternoon At The Hokage Tower)

Naruto was sitting at the desk in the Hokage study office with the forbidden scroll opened in front of him that Sandaime gave to him. While analyzing the Shiki Fūjin, the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and the Four Symbols Seal written in the scroll, Naruto recalled the conversation he had with Sandaime about Gaara's demeanor…

(Flashback: An Hour Ago)

Sandaime was making his way to Naruto who was waiting for him in the study office. In his hand was the forbidden scroll that had the seals that Naruto sought to study and analyze. While making his way to the office, there were a couple of factors that bothered the Sandaime about Gaara that Naruto didn't seem to explain to him and Tsunade earlier. The aged Hokage decided to ask Naruto about it after he meets up with him. Arriving at the office, Sandaime entered the room to find Naruto sitting at the desk awaiting his arrival.

"Ojiisan," Naruto greeted. Sandaime sighed again, figuring that Naruto will never stop calling him that. A small grin appeared on the blonde's face after seeing the elderly Hokage's facial expression.

"Greetings to you too Naruto," Sandaime said as he entered the office and closed the door behind him. The older man went over to the desk and handed Naruto the scroll.

"The forbidden scroll as promised," Sarutobi said as Naruto took the scroll from him. The blond Sannin-level Elite Genin unsealed the scroll and opened it before resting it down on the desk. He rolled the scroll opened until he got to where he wanted.

"Perfect," Naruto said as he seal the three seals he wanted to study and analyze before developing the method needed to fix Gaara's seal. While he was doing this, Sandaime decided to voice his thought, "Naruto, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Based on what you told me about Gaara," Sandaime started, "I would like to know why didn't he come right out and attack you where you stood. Since you informed your mother and I that his bijuu is unstable, it stands clear to me that he had every opportunity to attack you yet he didn't. He remained completely calm from what you said."

"Gaara appeared calm," Naruto said, "But I saw in his eyes that he was actually struggling hard to keep Shukaku at bay as that bijuu looked for every opportunity to seduce Gaara into attacking me. I had to present myself to the farthest extent possible to Gaara that I in no way posed as a threat to him. When I saw that I couldn't exactly gain his trust that readily I gave him my trust by showing him my seal that contained Kyuubi."

Sandaime made clear, "That in itself could have invoked Shukaku's influence all the more. What you took was a very risky gamble Naruto."

"I guess kaa-chan's bad gambling habit rubbed off on me in more ways than one, eh jiisan," Naruto remarked, "Except I didn't get her bad luck streak."

"Be that as it may," Sandaime retorted, "But luck won't help out in this case; a miracle is what you'll need to pull this off. You do realize that this is an S-rank mission you took on unknowingly, yes?"

Naruto was quiet when he heard that statement. The blonde then replied, "Up until now, I honestly never realized that what I was doing was in fact an S-rank mission. I figured that I was helping someone who was in need of my help."

"Thinking of the needs of others ahead of your own interests," Sandaime smiled, "Take my word for it that I would have never entrusted to you that forbidden scroll if I didn't have strong confidence in you. Believe me Naruto, I have complete trust and faith in your abilities."

(End Flashback; Present Time)

Naruto looked back at the scroll again as he resumed studying the ancient kinjutsu ougi, while listening to Yondaime give his inputs about the seals.

(Several Hours Later That Evening)

It was nighttime and many were either sleeping patrolling or enjoying the night out in town somewhere. Gaara, however, was in an isolated area in the forest by himself. He wanted to be away from everyone right now. Being an insomniac, he was deprived off all sorts of sleep. While sitting on top of a large boulder, he gazed at the full moon shining in all its glory.

During the time he was sitting on the large rock, he wondered if accepting Naruto's offer was a good idea. Clearly Naruto in no way posed a threat to him and like him, he's a Jinchuuriki. The differences between them were that Naruto housed an even stronger bijuu than his, Kyuubi No Kitsune; and yet he didn't look like he was suffering from madness.

He's strong, Gaara thought, This Naruto clearly-

"I wanted that Jinchuuriki's blood," a maniacal demonic voice spoke, "Why didn't you give me his blood when I was demanding for it?"

Gaara shook his head, trying to get Shukaku's voice out of his mind.

"Naruto is toying with you," Shukaku said, "He's only posing to want to help you so he can double-cross and kill you when you least expect it. You're nothing to him or anyone else! That's why you must prove your existence to him by killing him and taking his blood!"

The red-haired Suna shinobi struggled against the voice.

No Shukaku, Gaara tried to resist, Naruto is like me! He's the only one who can understand my pain! He-

"I WANT HIS BLOOD!," Shukaku yelled with an insane demeanor, "Naruto have blood tainted with Kyuubi's chakra! Don't trust that ninja! He'll betray you like all the others in your life! You can trust and love no one but yourself! KILL HIM BEFORE HE KILLS YOU GAARA! YOU MUST! SO WE CAN HAVE HIS BLOOD!"

Gaara held his head while trying to get Shukaku's torments out of his mind. Eventually the voice stopped leaving Gaara to pant heavily while he held his head.

(All The While)

Temari and Kankaro were walking around in search of Gaara. They sought to talk him out of what he had in mind in doing tomorrow afternoon.

"Are you sure this is a good idea," Temari asked her younger brother.

"We can't take the risk with this Konoha nin Temari," Kankuro replied, "We don't know much about Naruto besides the little facts he gave us. And since when did Gaara start trusting total strangers?"

"Look I'm as skeptic about this whole thing as you are," Temari retorted, "But Gaara seemed to have found some kind of connection with Naruto that neither of us have with him and he's our youngest brother. They're both Jinchuurikis after all."

"Listen," Kankuro replied, "Every person Gaara ever trusted turned on him and tried to kill him. What makes you think Naruto won't do the same?"

"Oddly enough Gaara doesn't seem to think so," Temari said, "Plus Gaara told us that he doesn't want us to participate in the invasion of Konoha should Naruto hold true to his promise."

"Gaara is being blinded by false hope and promises from a Genin who isn't even an experienced seal master," Kankuro countered, "And like you said earlier, Naruto could be setting up a trap for us. And the fact that he's in more control of his bijuu which is none other than Kyuubi makes him a dangerous threat."

"…We're being paranoid," Temari sighed, "…And it's so unlike us."

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