I marched up the stairs with a fiery sense of determination, climbing higher and higher within the Kazekage's tower ready to rock my grand entrance.

The walls were plastered with so many historical symbols that it felt like a ninja art exhibition. On the first floor, the walls were adorned with the stern faces of Sunagakure's founders looking down at me with disapproval like I stole candy instead of classified documents.

On the second floor, the walls held symbols of Sunagakure's history and the achievements of past leaders. As I ascended, I tried to still the shaking of my hands. I'll be meeting the Kazekage for the first time! The fourth Kazekage himself. Wielder of the magnet release, the man who single handedly props up Suna's economy and a ninja strong enough to subdue the single tailed beast! Yes, he was killed by Orochimaru but who cares?

As I climbed, I contemplated a dilemma. What's the best pose for my dynamic entry? I think I'll just go with All Might.

Reaching the top floor, I burst into the room with one fist in the air and the other on my hips. "Never fear citizens! For I am here!"

And there we were, looking like a scene out of a Naruto parody.

I stood at the door holding my pose.

On the right side of the room was a reception desk holding a chunin whose mouth was hanging open like he just discovered the mysteries of the universe.

Stationed in front of a large wooden door that was definitely the Kazekage's office, stood two imposing guards. They're aura was demolished though by the fact that they were struggling very hard not to burst into laughter.

After a few seconds of silence, I strode towards the door with supreme confidence. No one would dare stop the Kazekage's nephew.

The guards eyed me with a hint of skepticism. "Who goes there?" The dude on the right asked before the lady on his left whacked him on the back of the head.

"It's a kid, Renji. Halt! What's your business here?" she demanded, raising a hand to stop me. Renji massaged the back of his head as he mumbled that I could be an enemy in disguise. He did have a point though.

I squared my shoulders and stood tall, or as tall as I could manage. "Behold! It is I, Taka, the future SS-rank ninja!"

"SS-rank ninja!" Renji guffawed. "It must mean Snack Snatcher rank ninja or Silly Socks ninja." He laughed pointing at my socks.

I looked down at my choice today. Blue socks patterned with smiling yellow suns. I picked it out for the sun's resemblance to SpongeBob. For insulting my socks, I'll wear those socks until I become an SS-rank then I'll strangle him with his own socks.

"What's the purpose here?" The female guard asked, ignoring Renji's antics.

"I'm here to see my uncle the Kazekage. I have a personal matter to discuss," Taka responded confidently, attempting to maintain a composed demeanor. Dropping my relation to the Kazekage should scare Renji's socks off.

The female guard crossed her arms. "Sorry kid, no one sees the Kazekage without a proper reason or appointment. State your business or turn back."

Should I tell? I took a deep breath and took a leap of faith. "I want to ask him if I can borrow his hat. It's for a special occasion."

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The guards exchanged perplexed looks, and then the lady chuckled. "You're asking to see the Kazekage just for a hat?"

"It's a special hat! It means a lot to me," I insisted.

They both stared at me like I just suggested turning the tower into a giant sandcastle. "You want to see the Kazekage for a hat?" she repeated herself.

"Yes. Like I said, it's a hat of great importance!"

They seemed to be torn between amusement and annoyance. "Hold on a moment," one of them said before they turned to each other. "Rock, paper scissors, go!" Renji groaned before disappearing behind the door.

While waiting, I couldn't help but wonder about the security measures in place. If I, a kid, could casually walk into the Kazekage's tower, it raised questions about the village's defenses. No wonder Orochimaru could kill the kazekage without raising any alarms. Doesn't matter though, I'm one step closer to my goal.

With a creak of the door Renji returned, trying to stifle a laugh. "He says you need an appointment. Do you have one?"

An appointment? To see my uncle? "Can't I just walk in?"

"Nope."

"Did you tell him I'm his nephew?"

"First thing I said kid." Renji leaned against the wall, his expression unchanged. "You can't just walk in, kid. If you want to discuss matters with the Kazekage, you need to make an appointment through his receptionist. Do you have an appointment?"

I scratched my head. "Nope, didn't know I needed one."

"Well, it isn't that hard to set one up." Renji pointed to the chunin at the reception desk who had been watching us while grinning like a loon.

With a sigh of defeat, I walked to the desk. "Hi, I would like to book an appointment to see the Kazekage."

"Name?" The chunin asked, a second away from bursting into laughter.

"Taka."

"Purpose of the appointment?"

"Personal."

"Ah, it can't possibly be for a hat can it?" He asked with the red face of a man holding on for dear life. "Ninja registration number?"

"Err…I'm not a ninja."

"Sorry kid, only ninjas can book appointments directly with the Kazekage."

"Well, if you have a matter to discuss, take it up with the Kazekage's representative or present it to the civilian council of elders," the chunin suggested.

I deflated. "How do I find the Kazekage's representative?"

"Ground floor."

I turned around and walked out. As I closed the door behind me, peals of laughter floated to me. I'll show them. I'll make them acknowledge me. (NOT in the Naruto way though.)

As I descended the stairs, the stern faces followed me signaling their disapproval like I was a kid who dared to reach above my station. Reaching the ground floor, I went back to the chunin at the desk. "Excuse me, how do I find the Kazekage's representative?"

The dude smiled down at me. "Let me guess. Someone, probably your parents, gave you the task of retrieving the Kazekage's hat?"

My mouth hanged open in amazement. How? How did he know that?

"Sorry kid, you were sent to fail. The Kazekage doesn't give out his hat."

No.

No!

How could this be? I've been set up! Given an impossible task! I could feel my visions of my almighty fuinjutsu fading away. This can't be the way it ends.

Wait a minute. What if this is a test? What if mom contacted them to make the challenge harder. It was a bit suspicious that she'll give me such an easy task. This means I'll have to find another way to meet the Kazekage.

If the guards are blocking me, the solution is easy. I'll have to sneak in. After all, if Naruto could sneak past a better guarded Hokage tower, this shouldn't be a problem.

Ha ha ha ha ha! My laughter echoed around the room.

"Are you alright kid?" The chunin asked, looking at me with concern.

"I'm all right. In fact, I've never been better."