Chapter 7
He was comforted by the stroking sensation he felt every so often. A connection he held dear, even though he really didn’t know where it was coming from, not having realized that he’d placed part of his sand on Sora.
As he grew older it stroked him differently, not just in comfort, but in want. A clinging sensation that was a different sensation, Not just bodily want but in hope for a deeper connection. Now he almost desperately needed to figure out what it was or who it was. Thinking about this, as well as thinking over the words of the nine-tails, meant he was often pensive and silent. Even more so than when Shukaku had been the only one he really talked to. He began to appear more mature as his thought process developed over the course of five years, and his siblings noticed.
They began to lose their mind-numbing terror of him, still cautious, but they began to care for him as a sibling rather than a monster. This was misleading. He still had it in him but was less willing to threaten others with it and to kill aimlessly. He didn’t realize this was influenced by his connection. Sure a lot of his maturation was due to his mentality after his defeat by Naruto, but the final push from resentment to reason? That was all her.
They elected him Kazekage before he had really proven himself. He wasn’t sure what they were thinking. But he would protect the village, even if he didn’t really understand.
It was five years before she saw him again.
Jiraiya and Naruto had dragged Tsunade back with her assistant and a pig? She was presently holed up in the Hokage’s office with piles of paperwork and sake. Which was a truly awful pairing. Alcohol and confidential diplomatic documents? But she seemed to be pulling it off. Maybe a tolerance?
She had been declared Jonin due to her healing ability and chakra management, rushing past chunin despite her injury. She was one of the best medics, not on the same par as Tsunade, but still really good. Her healing chakra was slightly different, it didn’t have the usual calming feel, but more of a seductive rush. At least when she didn’t control it. The T&I department wanted to use her but she refused, carefully.
She had been called into the Hokage’s office for a mission to Suna. Naruto had recently come back with his team from his mission against Akatsuki and their efforts to capture the jinchuuriki. Gaara had been captured and Sukatsu purportedly removed, and Tsunade wanted her to check over Gaara. The Hokage was a busybody.