Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 1: System Failure!
Suna
"Lord Kazekage"
The 18-year-old Kazekage lifted his head from the scroll he was reading. He was sat at his desk, swamped by mounds of paperwork, which was proving to be unbearably tedious. He was glad to have a visitor to distract him, although of course he wouldn't show it. His face set into a slight scowl, as he feigned his irritation at being disturbed. He looked over to the doorway. The visitor was a young ninja of Chuunin rank. He shuffled awkwardly, a timid look on his face. Gaara vaguely recalled him.
"What is it?" the Kazekage answered in a low growl.
The young ninja jumped at the Kazekage's reply before entering the room a little too enthusiastically. He tripped over his own foot and began hopping around, trying to regain his balance before taking a dramatic nose-dive to the floor. SMACK.
"Oowww"
Gaara watched the scenario, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. What a moron. Reminds me of my brother, he thought, a slight smirk settling on his lips.
The young ninja lifted his face off the floor and struggled to his feet, a goofy smile spreading across his face.
"Is that all?" said the Kazekage, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Err…I've been asked to inform you that the communication and surveillance systems are down, Lord Kazekage-sama"
The Kazekage gave a slight growl. The young ninja continued.
"Our ninja have reported that their headsets aren't working, so they have no means of communicating with their squad members. It seems to be a fault with the main system."
Gaara remained silent for a few seconds, irritated by this extra setback. It will probably mean yet more paperwork. The young ninja shuffled.
"Tell the Council to send for an electrical engineer"
"Yes Sir!" shouted the Chuunin, as he quickly reversed through the door. He swiftly slid the door shut, but didn't move his hand in time.
"Oowww!" came the muffled cry from outside the door. The sound of footsteps faded as the calamitous messenger trotted off down the corridor.
The Kazekage's eyes remained fixed in puzzlement, gazing at the space where the boy had been.
"Hn". If that was an example of the next generation of ninja, then Suna was in trouble, he thought.
Twenty minutes later, the same Chuunin shot through the door again, a little more carefully this time. His dopey face was flushed.
"Lord Kazekage, the Council have sent for a team of engineers. They are currently finishing a job in Konohagakure, but they are headed here as soon as they are finished"
"Very Well"
The Chuunin turned to leave, but Gaara stopped him.
"Tell me…Who is your Sensei?"
"Err…My Sensei?…Kankuro-Sensei, Sir"
"Hn…that explains things"
The young ninja's face adopted a comical look of sheer confusion, before exiting the room. Gaara turned his eyes to his desk. I may die before this paperwork gets finished, he thought.
Konoha
"Finally" Naoko sighed, fixing a panel onto a rather technical contraption. Technology was her speciality, and she was one of the most gifted engineers around. She dusted herself off and stood up. She was a petite girl with a delicate frame. Her long black hair was messy and tousled, but not unattractive. Her startling green eyes were an enchanting shade of khaki that radiated joyful amusement, but also betrayed a deep sadness. Had she not been grubby and messy from today's work, she could be called pretty. She wore a simple short sleeved black t-shirt and faded black jeans, with half-laced, knee-high, black leather work boots. A number of spiked belts hung over the gentle curve of her hips. She prided herself on being a bit of a rebel, and liked to look the part.
She looked out of the window. The trees shifted and swayed in the breeze and the azure sky remained expansively uninterrupted, save for the odd fluffy cloud skitting along daintily. The cherry trees were in full bloom and blossoms drifted down to decorate the ground in heaps of pale pink petals.
Naoko had enjoyed her time in Konoha. It gave her an opportunity to see her uncle Kakashi again. Not to mention his odd trio of students. Especially the dopey blond one, 'Naruto'. Naoko chuckled at this thought. She'd befriended the three of them, and a few others. Sure, they were a little shocked at her crudeness at first, but who wasn't? Prudish was something Naoko wasn't. But they'd recovered from their shock and had grown fond of her. Naoko usually made quite an impact on people, in one way or another. Coupled with the cool attitude she had adopted from her beloved uncle, she was certainly a character. But as much as she'd like to stay here, it simply wasn't an option. She had to move on. Staying in one place for too long was dangerous.
A troubled look settled on her face, her brow furrowing slightly. 'They'll never stop hunting me down' she thought. Her lips formed the words, but no sound came out. She realised that she was holding her breath. With a sharp shake of her head, she cast her anxiety aside.
Hokage's Office
Tsunade drummed her fingers loudly on the desk. In front of her stood one half of a team of two engineers; the squad leader was absent.
"Where the hell IS she?"
"I…I'm sure she'll be here, Lady Tsunade"
The Hokage looked at the girl who had spoken. She was an earnest looking girl, with a round face and wavy light brown hair. Her name was Yuki. She was 18, the same age as Naoko. A door slid open and Naoko strolled in, a sardonic expression on her face.
"You're late!" snapped Tsunade.
"I am? Huh" Naoko replied coolly. Just like her uncle, Tsunade thought. The Hokage rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Seeing as you have finished here, another village has requested your assistance. The communication and surveillance systems in Sunagakure have broken down. The Kazekage requested an electrical engineer, and seeing as Konoha and Suna are allies, I offered your services"
Yuki glanced at Naoko for affirmation. The team leader simply replied "Ok". Good, Naoko thought, must keep moving.
"You will depart tonight, and report to the Kazekage's office as soon as you reach Suna"
The two nodded in unison.
"And here is your payment for the work you have done here". Naoko stepped forward to take the envelope that the Hokage held out to her.
"Thanks"
The Hokage nodded and the team turned to leave.
"Oh and…good work, guys" Tsunade said.
Naoko grinned and gave her a thumbs up.
"Anytime" she chirped.
"So…Suna?" muttered Yuki, once they were halfway down the corridor.
"Yep" breathed Naoko "I hope you like sand, cuz you'll be seeing PLENTY of it there"
Yuki had been working with Naoko for a couple of years now and they considered each other to be best friends. They were complete opposites: unlike Naoko, Yuki was soft spoken and sensible, not to mention reliable and organised. By comparison, Naoko was brash and fiery, enjoyed getting involved in outrageous situations and would probably have lost her own head if it wasn't screwed on. But she was honest and loyal and had a good sense of humour. Somehow the friendship worked. Opposites attract as they say. They'd met in the hidden mist village, Yuki's home, and had begun working together. Yuki didn't mind travelling around a lot; Afterall, Naoko had her reasons for that, but every few months Yuki would return home to see her family again for a while. Naoko would continue working alone, until Yuki returned. She was due to visit home again soon. Naoko would probably be left to finish the job in Suna alone.
The two engineers stepped out into the street, Naoko shielding her eyes from the sun.
"Let's go, I want to see my uncle before we leave, and those loveable misfit students of his" she said with a smile.
Yuki giggled. "Yeah, Naruto would probably freak out and give himself a brain aneurysm if we left without saying goodbye to him"
"Aah, how's my favourite niece?" a silver haired Jonin called smoothly from his seat in the noodle bar.
"Uncle Kakashi…I'm your only niece" Naoko replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Naono, Nuni!! Oo wan phum ramen?" Naruto spluttered through a ramen stuffed mouth.
"Eww Naruto! Disgusting" exclaimed the pretty pink haired kunoichi beside him.
"How did I guess you'd be here?" Naoko asked pointedly, glancing at Naruto.
"Hey Sakura, Sasuke" the two engineers greeted the ninjas. Sakura gave a big smile and Sasuke just raised his eyebrows amicably.
"We've come to say goodbye, we're leaving for Suna tonight" Naoko piped matter of factly.
"So soon?" said Kakashi. Sakura cooed sadly.
Naoko turned to look at Naruto, who had an expression like someone had died, along with a rogue piece of noodle stuck to his chin.
Naoko spluttered with laughter. "What's wrong Naruto? You've got a face like a smacked arse! Are you really going to miss us that much?"
"Yeah! Believe it!" Naruto pointed his chopsticks at her before cramming another load of ramen into the hole in his face.
Everyone laughed, except Sasuke, who just rolled his eyes in that 'too cool for humour' way of his. Sasuke's reaction just made everyone laugh even more.
After the meal (or three meals in Naruto's case, who now looked like he was about to throw up), the engineers rose from the table, and Naoko leapt on her uncle, hugging him madly. She loved to embarrass him like that.
"Alright, Naoko, alright…watch the hair" Kakashi cried, to which Naoko cackled with mischievous laughter. She released the now crumpled man and said goodbye to the other three. Yuki gave a little wave.
"You'll come back and visit soon?" Sakura pleaded.
"Hopefully. An engineers gotta do what an engineers gotta do!" Naoko chimed.
Kakashi sighed heavily. "It's such a shame. You could've been an excellent ninja"
"Don't start uncle Kakashi"
The two girls broke away. "See you later guys!" called Yuki.
"So…to Suna it is" sang Naoko cheerfully.
"Yeah, I wonder what the Kazekage's like. I've heard he's scary…and powerful" Yuki shivered, being her usual sensible, cautious self.
"Oh come on, don't be such a wimp Yuki. He's probably just some withered flaky old man, like most of 'em are. And he can get screwed if he thinks he can tell ME what to do. Afterall, what can he do about it? Tap me to death with his walking stick? Throw his false teeth at me?"