A meeting of Nations

[Yuki]

Gaara sat paitently in Tsunade's office with his eyes closed in silent meditation awaiting the arrival of the Hokage. They both understood what they needed to discuss, it was just a matter of formalizing their discussion.

[Akira]

The door opened and in walked Shizune and one of Tsunade's Anbu, without his mask for it was not permitted in this situation. They walked over and stood againest the wall behind the Hokage's desk. "Kazekage, welcome." Tsuande said to Garra as she walked towards her desk.

[Yuki]

Gaara opened his eyes and stood, giving a slight bow. "Hokage-dono," he returned her greeting and waited for the the woman to sit at her desk before returning to his own seat as well.

Konkoro an Temari apraised the two Tsunade brought with her on instinct, not that they feared trouble, and stood off behind Gaara a little ways, knowing they were not going to be needed.

"You have already informed Yuki?" he asked her..

[Akira]

"I have mentioned to him what may happen at the end of this meeting yes.' She told him. "Assuming that is the outcome of these proceedings."

[Yuki]

Gaara nodded his agreement.

"Very well. Straight to my purpose here, if you do not mind Hokage-dono. It is my intention to have the Hidden Sand host this year's Chuunin exams." He put it on the table, and waited to see what Tsunade would do with it.

[Akira]

These exams have been put off for some time now dure to the events during our last nation wide exam." Tsunade said thinking back when the sand had lost there Kazekage as did the Leaf lose there Hokage. "Seeing as we have both felt the same sence of loss for it I don't not protest to having these exams on your home field." She told him. "Though the great tragity it was I am pleased that the Sand and Leaf have form an alliance with one another like we have."

[Yuki]

"There is no benefit to operating apart from one another, and the Leaf has proven as valuble an ally as I hope my Sand has in return."

Gaara held out his hand, and Konkoro passed him a scroll which he briefly looked over. He then set it on the desk for Tsunade. It was a list of potential teams -two- that the Sand wanted to enter into the exams. Yuki was already selected as the third member of one of those two teams. "How long do you need to prepare your ninjas for this exam?" he asked, wanting to know how many ninjas he should expect from the leaf, as well as when to plan the exams for...

[Akira]

She looked over the scroll and she sighed insdie seeing Yuki's name on it. "Not to avoid your question, but concerning Yuki..." Tsunade started looking up from the scroll.

[Yuki]

Gaara nodded. "The reasons for his banishment no longer exist," he said not glossing the issue at all.

[Akira]

"We took Yuki in to spite his banishment from your own village. Why should I so willingly give him back. He is a valued member of this village." She asked him.

[Yuki]

Gaara looked at the Hokage, looking for some sign of what this was about. "And yet... He is not utilized as a ninja, but as a carpenter?" Gaara observed. "If his skills are required, given that his mate is here, I am confident he would return as required."

[Akira]

"Yuki... has some problems. We have been dealing with them and it hasn't been smart to send him out on many missions." She explained to him. "Oki will be fine either way. This really has nothing to do with her."

[Yuki]

"Has he healed enough to travel and to train?" Gaara asked, agreeing that this had nothing to do with Oki, but knowing that she would always be on Yuki's mind, and likewise the reverse was true. They would have to be allowed to see one another when they could be spared...

[Akira]

"Oki has yet to prove herself as a capable ninja and will not be permitted to go to the sand." Tsuande told him. "But as for Yuki it is not his phyical injuries I am speaking of. There is something else very wrong with him."

[Yuki]

Gaara continued his gaze at the Hokage. "Please, Hokage-dono. Explain," Gaara said, not showing the degree to which he was unnerved by that news...