This is my first fan-fic so I hope I don't disappoint (to anyone who actually opens this up and reads it at least). Please review. Characters belong to Kishimoto-san.

Chapter 1: A Surprise Trip to Konohagakure

Temari woke up to the sound of something heavy falling and a series of loud curses. She didn't even need to ask to know who it was.

"Kankuro, what did you do this time?" Temari accused her younger brother as she got out of bed. She was received with another string of curses, quickly followed by a shout of pain. Temari wondered for the millionth time how she was even related to him.

"Kankuro, are you okay?" The voice was Baki's and Temari frowned. What was he doing inside the mansion at this hour? Baki was a private tutor her father had hired to teach Temari and her two younger brothers when they were younger. He acted as a mentor, but also as a bodyguard and one of his many duties was sending them safely to school. He usually met them at the front of the mansion, choosing not to intrude in what he termed "the usual morning chaos".

Temari got ready as fast as she could and walked out of her room, taking the stairs a step at a time as opposed to running, which was what she assumed Kankuro had done. At the bottom of the stairs she was greeted with a view of Kankuro hunched over, holding his foot painfully, with one of his many puppets lying on the ground next to him. Baki was handing him a pack of ice while the last brother, Gaara, merely stood to the side, watching disapprovingly.

"Good morning, Temari-san," Baki greeted.

"Morning, Baki-sensei," Temari replied. "Is something wrong?"

Baki shook his head. "Not necessarily. Your father wants to meet with the three of you."

Kankuro looked up from his injured foot. "Right now?"

Baki nodded and Temari exchanged looks with Kankuro. Their father was the current mayor, or Kazekage as he was more commonly known as, of the city of Suna, as well as the CEO of Suna Corporation. He was a busy man and rarely met his children face-to-face.

"What does he want now?" Kankuro complained. "School starts in an hour. Not that I mind being late to class, though."

"Show some more respect for your father," Baki scolded. "He's already in his office."

Kankuro mumbled something under his breath and picked up his puppet, limping his way to the door. Temari quickly followed, with Gaara trailing close behind and Baki bringing up the rear as usual.

The Kazekage was busy writing papers when the three siblings opened the door to his office, but he paused his work and looked up as they walked in.

"Father." The three siblings greeted respectfully, bowing their heads slightly.

Rasa wasted no time. "The Land of Wind recently signed a new peace treaty with the Land of Fire. As per agreement, the two countries are conducting exchange programs between high schools in Sunagakure and Konohagakure. The daimyo has chosen you three as Suna High's exchange students for this year."

"For-for the whole year?" Kankuro spluttered. "In Konohagakure, of all places?"

Rasa silenced his son with a stern look. "You have no say in this. It is a direct order from the daimyo."

"Won't it be weird to have exchange students coming in a month after school started?" Temari asked.

"Konohagakure's schools start a month later than us," Rasa explained, a tone of contempt creeping into his voice. "They start in late August."

"Lucky." Kankuro said. "Why do we have to start school in July? Does that even make sense to you?"

Rasa gave him a dangerous look and Kankuro decided it was best not to say anything else.

"When do we leave?" Temari asked.

"Your flight is in two hours. Baki will accompany you to Konohagakure. He has your passports ready. I expect all three of you to behave while in Konohagakure. It'll only be for this year, so try not to do anything rash." At this, the Kazekage gave his youngest son an accusing look. Gaara said nothing, staring impassively at the wall.

"Wait, but where will we live?" Kankuro asked, forgetting his previous commitment to silence. "And don't tell me I'm still stuck with Temari?"

"Stuck with me?" Temari said angrily. "I'm the one who's stuck with you!" When the three siblings were young, Rasa used to have Baki teach them. As soon as the two boys were of school-age, he had sent them to school instead. However, in Suna, wealthy girls usually stayed and learned at home. Temari had pleaded with her father to also send her to school, and Rasa had eventually agreed, on the one condition that she would be in the same year as Kankuro. It was a sore topic for Temari, being stuck with kids younger than her, and by the glares Temari was sending his way, Kankuro knew he shouldn't have brought it up. He was going to earn a smack on the head for this. Or a punch to the face. Or gut. He never knew how she would react.

"That's enough!" Rasa commanded before things could escalate and the two siblings stopped arguing. "Go back home and pack your things. Baki will pick you guys up in an hour."

An hour later the three siblings were seated on the plane, with Gaara sitting next to Baki, and Kankuro and Temari behind them.

"I hope Gaara didn't bring the gun," Kankuro whispered to Temari.

"It'll be fine," said Baki, having overheard him. "Your father has already spoken with the principal of Konoha High School. Since the three of you are the Kazekage's children, she understands that you'll need protection. One of me isn't enough to protect you at all times."

"Then why didn't Father just send more guards? Why only you?" Kankuro demanded.

"That would defeat the point of being an exchange student." Baki said. "You're there to learn, not to be restricted to the house all day by security."

"Which you seem to have no trouble doing anyways," Kankuro said.

Baki sighed. "Your father knows the three of you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourselves. However, Gaara, being the heir to Suna Corporation, is more likely to be kidnapped or harmed than the two of you. Remember what happened just last month?"

"Yeah, and Gaara almost killed him!" Kankuro exclaimed. "He's dangerous with a gun!"

Gaara turned around to face his older brother, a cold look on his face. Kankuro swallowed nervously. He had forgotten Gaara was there.

"I don't see you capable of protecting me instead," Gaara said. "Nor do I see you capable of handling a gun without shooting yourself. Why don't you stick with your dolls instead of worrying about matters that don't concern you?"

"Don't get mad, Gaara," Temari cut in hastily. "Kankuro does make a good point. I don't think Konohagakure citizens normally carry around guns, or at least not the children."

Gaara stared at them for a moment, and then said nothing, putting on his earbuds and turning back to the front.

"Don't provoke him, Kankuro." Baki said quietly. "Gaara can take care of himself. He knows when to use the gun, and when not to."

Kankuro nodded glumly. "Yeah, yeah, sure. How long's this flight, anyways?"

"It's three hours." Baki said. "Konohagakure isn't exactly right next door."

Kankuro mumbled to himself and proceeded to occupy himself by playing with one of his harmless puppets, which had barely managed to pass security.

Temari sighed and looked out the window. The clouds seemed to stretch forever. It was going to be a long year.