Natsumi

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Naruto (except the head protector I'm currently making) and Naruto was made by Kishimoto-sama. So I'm not to blame for that wonderful Manga that haunts me day and night ^_~ hee..

Authors note: This, I suppose, is between #19-20 in the anime and Manga #4 ? (The arc with Zabuza and Haku, Naruto bridge and 'SasuNaru incident' ^^)... hope that makes some sense. Either way... I think you manage if you've seen it, since it's has to be AT (alternative timeline) cause in the manga Iruka says to Kakashi that he hasn't met Naruto after the homecoming, and lookie, here he has! O.o R&R!

~ Written to Little Leila! Who really deserves a cheer! ^^ I love to beta her stories! Sorry about this not being Gaara x Naruto. Might do one of those eventually, prolly pwp (not my fav paring)..

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Words/references that you might need to understand:

(but I'm sure y'all already know since you watch Naruto ^_~ plus I use more that I didn't care to list .___. Gomen...)

                                                                                                                                                 

Anou: means "um" "uhh" Attention-getting idiom like "hey" "Hey, so..."

Kunai: Throwing knives, like dagger. Can also be used in close combat.

Shuriken: Throwing stars.

Shinobi: Other word for Ninja. Means "master of Stealth".

Ramen: is Chinese noodles, "Ichiraku Ramen" is the place where Iruka and Naruto usually eats Ramen at.

Icha Icha Paradaisu: A book written by Jiraiya. Icha means desire (I think). This book is usually referred as either: "come come paradise" or "icha icha paradise". Does anyone know if this is a book or actually a manga? (I never did see the pages on the inside)

Sensei: Teacher, mentor, tutor (could also mean doctor etc). Putting this after a persons name is how you address a teacher, a expression of respect.

Urusai: means loud, obnoxious, annoying or noisy.

Kuso: shit (curse word)

Teme: Bastard.

Gambatte: "Go!" "Get up and fight!" "Try hard"

Yamero: "stop it!" "quit it!" (yame means stop)

Maa: is usually said by kakashi. Could be compared with "well.."

Dobe: Means something in the way of Dirt, but when Sasuke says it to Naruto he means it like idiot, stupid.

Ninja ranks

Genin: Low rank ninja

Chuunin: Middle rank ninja.

Jounin: High/upper rank ninja (there is also Special Jounin, whom are specialized)

Henge no jutsu – Transformation skill

Kage bunshin no jutsu – shadow clone skill

Bunshin no jutsu – clone skill

Kawarimi no jutsu – Body substitute skill

Genjutsu – illusion skill

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Warnings: Shounen ai! SasuNaru and KakaIru. Heh.. OOCness.. actually trying to make Sakura interact with Sasuke without glomping him O.O whoa!

And that I wrote the first part with Naruto earlier, and the parts with Sakura and Sasuke later… which might show since there is a lot of thoughts in the later part. Hope it doesn't look bad, and that it's not too obvious. ^^'' You could pretend that it's pov. But that it's not... err..

On with story:

~ ~ ~

It was one of those warm summers. The air was tingling with electricity and warm gushes of tiny wind, coming somewhere from of the east coast, were disappearing in the heat at hidden leaf village and even the shadow was confined for one who dreamt of a place to chill.

Naruto woke up late that day heavy lids blinking a few times, he then grasping for breath as the sun was shining greatly trough his window straight down on his bed (in mornings it only hit his face from the side). He realized that he was sweating profoundly, his cloth not on him but discarded next to the bed because he had moved around in his sleep. Rolling over to his side, trying to avoid the suns merciless beams, he fell of the bed with a heavy thud.

After some sleepwalking around in the house he realized something.

"Ack! I totally forgot our training, and it's already mid day. Ahh.." Stumbling blindly into the kitchen he grabbed a glass of water while pulling his yellow pants up. He took the proof of him being a *real* ninja, the head protector with hidden leaf village's symbol on it, from the shelf and tied it around his head. He halted at the mirror looking with astonishment at his reflection.

The door flung open and a smiling Iruka stood there with a towel hanging over a bare shoulder.

"Ohayo! I noticed that you didn't come out today, was going to tell you that lessons are cancelled and some of us are going to the beach. But it seems you already knew..." he said, pointing at Naruto's bare chest and pouty belly. Suddenly painfully aware of standing in front of the mirror without his jacket, and showing the mark on his stomach Naruto grabbed his jacket, and as if he hadn't heard what Iruka said he continued

"Anou... was just getting ready for a mission, I overslept, silly ne Iruka-sensei?" he started for the door when the taller man gripped his arm.

"no.mission!"

"Eeehh..?" Naruto really seemed to have missed Iruka's earlier statement so rubbing his back and sighing Iruka started once more

"Since it's unbelievably hot today, some of us Chuunin's are going to hit the beach south of here, while the rest and some Genin's stay put to look out for the village. Sorry to tell you but Kakashi showed up before I went to you, and he insisted on coming which means that you, Sakura and Sasuke will have to do without mission today..."

"NO!!!" the number one loudest ninja exclaimed, not being able to hold it in, "I knew that waking up late was a bad omen"

"Since when do you believe in bad omens?" Iruka said raising brow but not getting any answer given that Naruto had ventured into his kitchen to get some breakfast, stopping at the calendar putting an X over the date on it. Feeling really guilty for not pursuing the Hokage to let him bring Naruto along he jogged after the sealed nine tales, wondering why the old man denied him the first time.

"What are you gonna do today?"
"Nothing, the less I do, the safer I am from bad things... not even sure I dare train" the Genin brooded, crossing his arms with a glass of milk in one hand. The taller teacher was worried that this was Naruto's way of dealing with difficulty, by making the issue on his mind less of a worry.

"Just don't overdo it, remember that you and Sasuke have a difficult task ahead of you now that the heat is on and a lot of the older will not be here!" he scold, knowing that it would catch Naruto's attention. And it did, naturally, when he heard about the task that had been given to him and Sasuke, 'to watch the entire town', his heart rate sped up. He would definitely show Sasuke today, that he was a true ninja, and not at all dead-last. Iruka would have never guessed that Naruto made his little exaggerated statement into a fantasy of 'Naruto – savior of Leaf Village' when he decided that the Hokage truly had a reason to keep team 7 and the other teams, that Iruka used to teach in the academy, in the village. And of course he did, the Hokage thought as he turned from the crystal with a small smile on his lips.

"Kakashi should be here... right about... now!" Iruka barely had time to say before there came a knock on the door.

~ ~ ~ Earlier.

Sasuke pushed of the log that he had been seated on for the past half-an-hour. Sensing someone approaching he looked to his left, where a pink haired girl was approaching.

"Sasuke-kun!" She exclaimed when she had reached him, and he nodded in response. "What are you doing here?"

"Was waiting for the dead-last, but it seems like someone told him that we aren't going to have a mission today" the brooding young man said,

"Oh, why?"

"Because I wanted to spar"

"But we have the day off, you might as well find someone... thing, that is more worth waiting for"
"They asked us to stay put since most of the Sensai, counting our, are heading to the beach... any day is good for training!" he said slowly, Sakura swaying on her heals at that.

"What?! But it's so hot today!" she said, "You'll just waste tons of chakra and get really exhausted"

"I'll just have to be careful and drink a lot of water. I have to train, whatever the weather!" Sasuke seemed quite annoyed now, and emphasized the last sentence with spite.

"Well, I'm of to meet Ino pig-chan, and she lives near Naruto... so if you want to I could ask him to join you, seeing as I'm sure he shares your opinion about the training." She said cautiously, trying to be a little tactful.

"You know where he lives?" the boy asked, when she said yes he turned his back on her and nodded, starting towards the forest. She, too, stared walking but stopped suddenly.

"Sa- Sasuke-kun...?" She stuttered unable to contain her nervousness.

"Hn?"

"Why do you waste so much time on him?" at first Sasuke thought she meant his brother, but then he realized that they were still on the topic of Naruto.

"Because I hated him" he said simply and started walking again, not caring to hear her out.

/ But, why? / She thought miserably / That energy just goes to waste... if it was given to me I'd make sure that Sasuke would enjoy himself, I'm sure of it! / trekking on, away from the little clearing at the foot of the woods she rubbed the brink of her nose. / It makes no sense, spending so much time about a person you hate, when you could spend it on loved ones instead. Sure he's an avenger, but I have a hard time believing... / nearing the place where Ino and the other girls would be waiting she decided against thinking anymore about Sasuke's business.
"Where have you been?" Ino said, dangling with her feet above the ground seated on a big rock. "and why is not Sasuke with you?"

"Ah. anou.. he said he had things to do, seemed important, so I didn't feel like butting in..." "Shimatta, I soo wanted to meet Sasuke, I haven't seen him for so long." Ino said in casual way, tapping her heals into ground.

"uh.. well, I see that none of the others have arrived, so well... I promised Sasuke to tell Naruto about us not having a mission."

Eyes widening.

"So I'll be back in a sec!" Sakura lied and with a wave sprinted towards Naruto's house, which didn't at all lay near the place where neither Ino lived, nor where Sakura had set the meeting with her. / What is it they share, that happened in the demon like mirror prison? / the question bothered her once more, as she saw Naruto's house in the distance. She knew she would never dare ask, because the boys hadn't brought it up and it seemed like something taboo. / But I wouldn't mind knowing, I deserve to know, yet it's non of my business... / She had been so scared when she had seen Sasuke's body lay motionless on the bridge and she had, clinging to him, cried. Almost, but just almost, she had wished that it would be Naruto laying there, but then dismissed the though since it was too cruel. But she was just human after all, and loosing Sasuke was too much.

But then when he had come back, like from the dead, he had asked her to move away, it had hurt. What had she done? / I just hugged him harder, suddenly it was as if his wounds weren't there / It disgusted her. She didn't want to be a slowdown, yet when push came to shove, she had hung on him for dear life. But after little complaining, he had rose and waved to Kakashi... and Naruto. / I should have never underestimated him. If he is so inclined to, he will survive, oh Sasuke! / That whole sequence played trough her head once more when she ran down the passage to Naruto's place.

~The number one rookie of leaf village waving to Naruto, and that boy, the number one loudmouthed ninja had started laughing, with tears in his eyes, in response.~

Not one of those halfhearted, fake ones, that he could pull out when he needed to cover something up, those laughs Sakura had learned to see through as he was after all very easy to read, but he had laughed happily and relived. Such a beautiful scene with the boys alive after that terrible attack. / HELL YEAH! / Knocking on the door she shook the thought of off her head.

"Oii!! NARUTO, open the door!" she screamed.

~ ~ ~

Sasuke trudged through the dense bushes on the side of the memorial place. He had decided to make a detour while waiting for the troublesome blond. Pushing some strains of hair from his face he looked down at the names carved in the ebony. / My name could have been there, if... Even if I had saved him, had he not done what he did, what ever that was... I wouldn't have been able to avenge Itachi. / It had offended Sasuke not knowing how he survived, just that the dobe had done something, incredible, obviously. Relaxing he sat down in the grass, hands still in pockets.

"I guess he is kinda bearable, because... because… what?" small pause, "Because he knows how I feel?" / Who am I trying to fool? Since when did Sasuke needed anyone understanding him, he doesn't need pity. / He took out his hands plunking down with them tucked behind his back. / Maybe cause I know how he feels, though I don't get why he acts like that to be acknowledged... / "Felt like Sakura could see through me, when she asked about Naruto. I used to hate him, well not really, but he was annoying." The trees cast chaste shadows on his face, the sun less inconvenient under shades, but still too warm. He drifted away, the hot air suffocatingly dry with every deep breath.

~ ~ ~

Iruka walked towards the door, opening it slowly.
"oh! Haruno Sakura, what are you doing here?" he smiled at her and opened the door, sidestepping so that she could enter.

"Iruka-sensei! I came to talk with Naruto, is he here?" there was a large bang from a cupboard and Naruto came.

"SAKURA-CHAN!!" he beamed, a big smile smeared across his face. / Ugh, what a total moron. / Sakura though but straitened and soothed her hair.

"Hello, I talked with Sasuke earlier. And he asked me to tell you that he wanted to spar with you." Naruto's face fell, he didn't at all look bright anymore, raising a brow confused.

"He wants to spar with me?" / What? So he can make me look even worse by beating me up / "Not like I would let that happen!!" He exclaimed out loud, getting strange looks from the other two ninjas. Sakura excused herself almost immediately, explaining that she had to go and meet Ino again, as she was heading towards the door she was greeted by a puff of smoke and a cloaked figure with a book in hand.

"Omatase-shimash'ta, Sorry I kept you waiting, oh! Hello Sakura-kun!" Kakashi addressed the young girl, getting even more strange looks than Naruto had gotten previously. Sakura helloed and went out the door in a hurried fashion. While Kakashi ventured into Naruto's home, which he had been in once, flaying a arm over Iruka's shoulders and unceremoniously dragging the younger man with him.

"Iruka-sensei, ready to play with the dolphin?" Kakashi said casually but with a hint of a grin underneath his mask, bringing a blush to the addressed Sensai.

"We are going to the beach right?"

"Ahh... sou desu yo..." Ahh, that's right! Iruka said smiling at Naruto in a silly, apologizing way.

"Yosh'! Sure sensai, you go, seems like I have to prove my strength to a special person!" Naruto shouted before he was able to contain himself. It burned on his inside. / Special person na? Wonder what Sasuke would say if he heard me talking about him like that... eeehhh... / he dismissed it and watched the two elders heading for the door, Kakashi hanging full weight on Iruka who was trying to not stumble out the door. Before neither of them noticed, so engrossed in their joking, Naruto was behind them shoving Kakashi really hard. But being keen in speed, balance, stealth and mastering at least a thousand skills, Kakashi was immediately grabbing for Iruka's legs, flinging him up in a embrace. Iruka was now scarlet red in his face, bare chest pressed to the Jounin who was balancing them both against the railing outside Naruto's house.

"Bwhaha!! You two look so stupid!" Naruto laughed before waving and closing the door right in their faces.

"I wouldn't see what purpose that served..." Iruka said climbing down from Kakashi's arms, "but on your next training you will have to scold the rascal!"

"Maa... I know what he wanted, and I can't believe he did it" Kakashi said, "He actually made a decoy to steal the book!!!" O.O

~ ~ ~

Bam Bam Baaam!! So did Naruto actually steal Kakashi-sensei's book?

And what will happens when Naruto finds Sasuke at the memorial? Will Kakashi and Iruka have a good time at the beach? (well of course they will hee hee) What will Sakura and Ino do. And what are the other Teams up to? ^^'' This and lotsa more (or not..) in the next chapter!! Yah!

Authors end note: hmm.. well.. this is my first naruto fic. and well.. might be some errors or OOCness.. hope you will help me correct that. Like: I don't think that Sakura is really good friends with Ino after declaring to be 'rivals'... (but they still meet up here)... Ahh well. Please Review so I know if I should continue! Yay! More Naruto to the people (and more Shounen ai)!!!

Big thanks to:

To all those who writes KakaIru! You make my day! (M. Alexander and Virgo especially! *^^*)

And Lady Adako and Kinu-uni, who cleared out the confusion of Naruto's "nickname"! It is Usaratonkashi that Sasuke calls Naruto. Gomen mina-san, my bad. Totally heard it wrong.