Crack would be fun, but I see plenty of that floating around lately. I feel like a more 'proper' execution.
I was thinking the same about the old man. He'd definitely be a huge help in helping the kids to understand what they are and what they can do. Only
question is what sort of person is he? Is he a stubborn, grouchy, crotchety old fart or what?
Personally, I was thinking about the kids getting kidnapped when they were around five years old - all but completely helpless if they haven't received any
training yet. Gaara's a different story in that respect, though - he'd already killed a few people by then, IIRC. But I don't believe that he would
be too much for the Akatsuki to handle at that point.
As for stabilizing the warped children, I figure that would be resolved by getting them as young as five years old while their minds are still mallable(sp?)
and before too much damage is done. That aside, I don't think that the basic personality traits are going to be changed much. Naruto will still be noisy
and brash while Gaara will be quiet and let his actions speak for him.
The idea that Naruto Just Doesn't Get It is an interesting angle, but I think the central plot would revolve around how all the other Nin nations go to war
against each other once again because they all think that the other's got their Jinchuuriki. I figure it would be something that Pein would do, ironic as
it seems - cause a war amongst the other Nin nations so that they conveniently overlook Rain.
Another interesting angle to persue would be if Sand and Leaf got wise to what the Akatsuki was up to. Sand, of course, would be infuriated, but too busy with
fighting off everyone else in general to do anything about it, even if Gaara is supposed to be their trump card. Leaf (or rather, Sarutobi) would probably be
like, "Well, you coulda just asked, you friggin' asshat!" This could lead to an uneasy alliance between Leaf and Rain, thus leading to the sneaky
political manuvering as Leaf tries to find out what is really going on - they just don't trust that Akatsuki operation with all the shady characters they
got.
I was thinking the same about the old man. He'd definitely be a huge help in helping the kids to understand what they are and what they can do. Only
question is what sort of person is he? Is he a stubborn, grouchy, crotchety old fart or what?
Personally, I was thinking about the kids getting kidnapped when they were around five years old - all but completely helpless if they haven't received any
training yet. Gaara's a different story in that respect, though - he'd already killed a few people by then, IIRC. But I don't believe that he would
be too much for the Akatsuki to handle at that point.
As for stabilizing the warped children, I figure that would be resolved by getting them as young as five years old while their minds are still mallable(sp?)
and before too much damage is done. That aside, I don't think that the basic personality traits are going to be changed much. Naruto will still be noisy
and brash while Gaara will be quiet and let his actions speak for him.
The idea that Naruto Just Doesn't Get It is an interesting angle, but I think the central plot would revolve around how all the other Nin nations go to war
against each other once again because they all think that the other's got their Jinchuuriki. I figure it would be something that Pein would do, ironic as
it seems - cause a war amongst the other Nin nations so that they conveniently overlook Rain.
Another interesting angle to persue would be if Sand and Leaf got wise to what the Akatsuki was up to. Sand, of course, would be infuriated, but too busy with
fighting off everyone else in general to do anything about it, even if Gaara is supposed to be their trump card. Leaf (or rather, Sarutobi) would probably be
like, "Well, you coulda just asked, you friggin' asshat!" This could lead to an uneasy alliance between Leaf and Rain, thus leading to the sneaky
political manuvering as Leaf tries to find out what is really going on - they just don't trust that Akatsuki operation with all the shady characters they
got.