Hidden Villages

I: Learning Curve

At first the youngest of the Kazekage's three children was in mental bliss. The words, "it is" made the already existing routine go well. With routine came a pleasant sense of security for Gaara. The first day after talking to his father was a day of normal routine with no major changes which might upset him.

"Do you remember how I showed you to hold your kunai?" Rasa spoke in a calm manner and waited as Gaara reached for the tool of their trade. Yashimaru normally stood nearby watching the morning routine the Kazekage made each of his children go through before going into the academy, but the man instead disappeared while the child in his charge didn't notice.

Gaara held the kunai in the correct manner, but beamed up at Rasa as he waited for the next instruction while a teddy bear sat watching the activity. Rasa nodded his head indicating the child should throw the kunai at the target he'd already set up. The kunai landed with a resounding thud, yet the other exercises went just as smoothly. Gaara finished the routine quicker than either of his older siblings.

Upon finishing Gaara looked around. "Yashimaru?"

"Why are you looking for Yashimaru?"

"Yashimaru..." The small boy's mouth formed into a pout.

"Don't you remember Gaara?"

The child's mouth twisted slightly as he thought carefully, but then a smile spread across his face. His sea-foam colored eyes looked up at the man. "Papa is teaching me today."

"Kazekage."

Gaara's sea-foam colored eyes stared at the man.

"One of your first lessons Gaara is that you are to call me Kazekage now that you're academy age."

"Why?"

"Because I am the Kazekage." The man crossed his arms in a stern manner.

"Why?"

For a brief moment Rasa's face revealed a bit of emotion. "What?"

"Why are you the Kazekage?"

"Why am I..." The red-haired man's eyes blinked as he took in the question. "I don't know."

"You don't?"

"I mean..." Rasa took a deep breath. "I do know. It's rather complicated."

"What does the word complicated mean."

"Complicated means..." The man watched his youngest carefully. "It means long and boring, at least for someone as young as yourself."

"Oh."

"The simple answer is I need you to call me Kazekage when you're out and about. It is a sign of respect."

"What is respect?"

"That is..." Rasa paused as he looked down at the child. "Complicated."

"So, long and boring?"

"You could say that." Rasa stared at the child which shared his auburn colored hair. "Do you understand the rest of it?"

"You're the Kazekage."

"Yes."

Gaara smiled up at him. "Now what?"

"Now I'd normally teach you the way to the academy like I did your older siblings." Rasa continued frowning at the child. "However, since I am teaching you I will be teaching you the route to the Kazekage office. I want you to follow me."

"Okay." Gaara walked over to where his teddy bear sat watching the training session and scooped him up into his arm. The rather incredulous look on Rasa's face went over the child's head. Instead he watched the man turn away and he proceeded to follow after.