Chapter 2: Holding hands

A/N: I'm glad and happy for all the reviews my first chapter received. I hope to be able to live up to your expectations. Sorry if the last chapter was a bit short, I just needed to bring everyone up to speed. Anyway, thanks and bye.

CHAPTER BEGIN

Naruto and Haku were walking down a road. They had gotten separated from Jiraiya once again but this time it wasn't an accident. He had found a hot lead and had decided to follow it instead so the two were walking free again for now.

"So, this is where we are…" Haku stated and pointed her finger at the edge of the Wind Country. "It appears that the closest village is… here." She drew her finger a bit north. "I think it's… that way."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you looking into opposite direction? It's obviously that way!" He pointed into another direction.

Haku sighed. "And why exactly do you think that?" She asked, patiently as possible. "And please God, don't say instinct."

A vein appeared in Narutos forehead and looked away, sulking. "Shudup you stupid girl." He muttered.

"Hai hai." She nodded and stood up. "I think we should try to head towards that direction." She folded the map. "Let's try not to avert from path anymore, shall we?"

Naruto looked away. "No way. I don't want to go that way! We are heading east! Straight to east."

"Actually, we are not going that way." She stated firmly. "We are going this way, if you don't mind?"

"But I don't- "

Haku snapped her head around. "We are going this way, if you don't mind?" She said with a whole different voice. "You don't mind, do you?"

"But-"

"If you don't mind!" She smiled.

They looked at each other for few minutes, both realizing that they had entered a stalemate. Naruto tried to glare her down but Haku had grown accustomed with his death glare but her voice didn't do much for him either. But she knew that she had a weapon in her disposal which would win her this war. If she dared to use it.

They stared at each for five minutes and neither seemed about to give up so she was forced to bring out the big guns.

"I… will let you…(gulp) grope me for two minutes if you buy me a new dress." Haku said suddenly and smiled. "What do you think?"

"Under shirt and panties?" Naruto asked quickly.

"Under shirt and… panties." She agreed. Gosh, what did she sacrifice just to take care of them.

It worked like magic and he stood up quickly. "Okay! So we just across this river and head towards…" He stopped talking.

A leaf moved irregularly.

Haku pulled out a bunch of senbon needles with one hand and raised her other, ready to make jutsus.

Naruto leaped beside her, crossing his arms in a way that might appear arrogant but actually while his palms were hidden, his fingers prepared to pull the bandaged away if anything happened.

They weren't shinobis but they weren't idiots either.

When they were ready, eight shinobis landed front of them.

"Alright, let's get this over… wait… you are-!" Silver haired jonin of Konoha stopped the sentence at the recognizing of the pair.

"Naruto-sensei! Haku-san" Sakura gasped. "Why are you here?"

"Fuckface! Dyke!" Tayuya yelled. "What the fuck!"

Sai remembered that when meeting a person after a while you were supposed to greet them. But what was the appropriate amount of time, he wondered and instead of making any signs of greeting he lost himself in thought.

Gai, and his team joined in their shock. "Naruto-kun-!" He yelled. "How youthful to meet you after all this time!"

"Naruto-san!" Lee yelled excitedly.

"Naruto-sama." Hyuuga Neji bowed his head slightly but his frown deepened a bit.

"YOU! ! !" A kunai flew across the water that separated them and continued towards Narutos head, who hardly bothered to tilt it when he skipped everyone else and locked his eyes with the girl with twin puns, Tenten. Like everyone here, she too had memories of this blond wonder who was standing across them. Unfortunately, they weren't good at all. "What are you doing here! ! !"

"What'd you mean?" Naruto asked confused and pointed at the signs of camping they were leaving behind. "We slept here last night. That's what normal people do when they get sleepy in the middle of the forest." Then his lips formed a seductive grin. "But you sure have changed. You look so beautiful now." He winked.

Tenten blushed and threw another kunai which he again dodged easily. "Go to hell you enemy of women!"

"I'll walk path of burning stones on my bare hands if you're waiting at the other end." He winked and was about to walk forward when a sound of blood gushing out shocked everyone. "Nice to see all of you as well!" He yelled loudly, a senbon stuck in his head which dumbfounded others.

Tenten was about to continue the argument when Kakashi was forced to cut her off. "We all have our questions for you, Naruto-san but we don't have time for it now."

"What's going on?" He asked, not able to take his off Tenten who suddenly felt very vulnerable. "Never mind, I don't want to know. We will get our stuff and get out of your way. Let's go, Haku. See you again beautiful." He winked to Tenten. "And other people."

"I'm not beautiful, Fuckface!" Tayuya screamed and landed next to him, about to land a blow on his face when he simply caught her wrist and twirled her like in ballroom dance. "Jealous? No need to be my beautiful red rose. My heart beats only for you."

Sai was surprised to witness how red his teammate suddenly looked like. Was she hot, he wondered again.

"SHANNAROO!" Sakura appeared behind him and there was a large pillar of water. "Enemy of all women you bastard!"

"I don't know why you're so upset about?" She turned around and saw him standing on top of the water, two more senbons stuck in his head. Tayuya was panting next to rest of her team, promising revenge deep in her mind. "Anyway, I can tell when I'm not wanted so we will be on our way." He raised his hand. "Yaa ne."

Haku nodded in agreement and she bowed respectfully to eight people standing front of her.

They were already walking away they couldn't take too many steps before Kakashi quickly jumped front of them, stopping their way. "You're blocking the way." Naruto said with flat voice.

Kakashi groaned inwardly. This had to happen today of all missions available. "I'm sorry to have to do this, Naruto-san, but your mother has strict orders to capture you at sight." Then he narrowed his eye. "We are allowed to use necessary force."

Everyone saw sparks flying in the air when the two people had a stand-off right there.

"Is this really a good time for this?" Sakura asked suddenly and looked at the giant bolder, with a seal label on it.

"Listen to the lesbian." Naruto nodded and the pink haired girl sprung her head around a shocked expression on her face. He shrugged back. "I have a gaydar of my own." He said before glaring back at Kakashi. "But even if I don't know what's really going on, I can tell that it's going to be a difficult task. So I suggest that you think carefully if you wish to fight me and complete your mission, whatever it is. Because if anything threatens my freedom, I won't hesitate to go berserk."

Kakashi thought for a moment before he gave up with a sigh. "You're right. We can't afford to take any chances especially under these circumstances. But as soon as the mission is over, we are coming after you."

"Yeah, right." Naruto snorted. Meanwhile, Team Gai was preparing to disperse to deactivate all four seals around the one in the middle. "Good luck with everything, okay?" He turned around, ready to start running but not before Haku would be by his side.

She hadn't made any sign of following him yet and was looking at the bolder front of everyone. "May I ask, what is it that you're after?"

"A jinchuuriki from Suna was kidnapped." Kakashi answered while side-glancing Naruto. "We are here to save him."

"A… jinchuuriki?" Haku asked, unconsciously stealing a look from her only friend. "W-what's that?" She asked, trying to cover the look.

"A person with special charka." Gai interrupted before anyone else could say more. "Akatsuki has been capturing them all this time but our youth will prevail!"

"GAI-SENSEI! ! !"

"LEE! ! !"

"GAI-SENSEI! ! !"

"LEE! ! !"

"GAI-SENSEI! ! !"

"LEE! ! !"

"GAI-SENSEI! ! !"

"LEE! ! !"

"This might take a while." Kakashi cleared his throat while the two continued their long and popular display of affection. "So, perhaps it's better if you two get away from here. We don't have enough time to babysit and take on couple serious people."

"Your pathetic attempt of reverse-psychology only proves how stupid you really are." Naruto muttered with a dark glare and touched his abdomen. Kakashi had to fight the urge not to flinch. The day Naruto had been chased out of his village a group of ninjas had harassed him and then tried to kill him. The person executing the attack had been none other than Copy-nin Kakashi using his signature move, Raikiri puncturing his stomach and almost killing him. Almost, been a hair thin line of chance that somebody with skill, knowledge and experience to save him would show up. "I am a pacifist by nature. That hasn't changed." He said angrily and leaped into distance. Haku bent her neck slightly before following him, leaving the two teams of ninjas alone.

((A))

"Is this really alright, Naruto-san?" Haku asked as they leaped from branch to branch to get further away. "To leave like this?"

"If you want to go help them, be my guest." He muttered darkly. "I don't want to have anything to do with ninjas."

"Even when your… friend is in danger."

"He is not my friend." Naruto muttered angrily. "I haven't even met him!"

Haku didn't say anything but he felt her eyes on the back of his head.

"You won't stare me down this time." He said angrily.

She sighed. "So, you're not going, no matter what?"

Naruto halted on a branch and turned to glare at her. The hardness of the glare almost startled her. Only on handful of occasions had he actually been angry with her. And she knew she was already pushing it.

They stood on tree branches, looking at each other. And like during those time when he got angry, Naruto really reminded a demon. But even front of a demon, Haku held her ground against his fierce gaze.

((A))

"Remember, the ones we are facing are Akatsuki!" Kakashi reminded everyone while holding his hand over his ear. "People like Orochimaru of the Sannin and Uchiha Itachi. Don't let your guard down."

"Hai!" Everyone yelled together.

"When I pull this tag off, Sakura breaks the bolder and we move in. Team Gai, beware of the traps and try come to assist us soon as you can. Good luck everyone! One, two, three, NOW! !" Gai, Neji, Lee, Tenten and Kakashi all pulled the tags together and broke the seal. "Sakura now!"

Pink haired girl nodded and pulled her fist back. She could do this easily. She was after all her masters, Godaime Hokage's, Senju Tsunade's student. She wasn't the same as three years ago, the weak little girl whose specialty was crying. Now, she could break some serious bones.

"SHANNAROOO! ! !" She let out her war cry as her fist connected with the rock and they both stayed still until the weaker had to give in. And in this case, it was the gigantic rock as it shattered into million little pieces that fell all around.

"Move in!" Kakashi yelled and his team jumped over the rubble into action. He heard Gais voice's saying something about some clones attacking them and that they would be unavailable to back them up. They pushed forward and landed inside the cave where two cloaked figures were standing, expecting their guests.

When things calmed down a bit, they saw the motionless body lying in the middle of the room. They were already done with extracting Ichibi from Gaara and left his dead body to rot.

"Fuck it!" Tayuya shot angrily. "We were too late!"

"Well spotted, little girl." Sasori muttered. "What else can you figure out with that little brain of yours?"

"Shut up you freak!" She screamed back.

"Calm down!" Kakashi snapped quickly.

"Oy! Sasori, get out of the way!" Deidara yelled excitedly and picked up some bombs. "I will blow them up!"

"Idiot! If you do that here we will both go with them." Sasori snapped angrily. "Go play outside or I will kill you myself." He raised his tail menacingly.

"Sure, donna." Deidara laughed loudly. "Art is explosion!" He yelled and before anyone could stop him, he flew past them, out of the doorway, on his huge bird bomb.

"Sai, you're with me. We will deal with him. Sakura, Tayuya, I'll leave you with this one." He dashed out, chasing after Deidara while Sai quickly summoned an ink bird drawing and jumped on it.

"So, I'll have to deal with little girls." Sasori asked. "Seriously? This is the best Konoha has to offer?"

"Well make you eat your own shit, freak!" Tayuya yelled back and raised her flute.

"Shanaroo!" Sakura yelled and jumped between them in a fighting stance.

This was a practiced routine. Sakura with her inhuman strength as vanguard while Tayuyas backed her up with her genjutsu abilties. "Let's go!"

"Lesbo coming up!" Tayuya smirked.

"Stop calling me that, please." Sakura whispered, sweat dropped.

((A))

"Sai, your keep distance! Don't get inside his blast radius!" Kakashi yelled as they avoided another explosion. "Attack from distance!"

"Hai!" Sai answered and pulled out some kunais which he used to keep Deidaras attention on himself, trying to give Kakashi a second to prepare of using his Sharingan. This was also a practiced routine.

But they were forced to separate when they saw a rain of tiny spider bombs falling on them.

"Watch out-" Kakashi yelled but it was too late as the explosions occurred, covering his student.

((A))

"Puppets! Creepy fuck!" Tayuya screamed as she dodged whatever it was. "Couldn't score so you had to make a hole for yourself?" Her genjutsu abilities had proven next to useless against Akatsuki puppet master and her other attacks would be just as useless.

"You really have a mouth on you, don't you, little girl." He answered as he directed another couple dozen puppets at her. "I will silence it for you."

"Lesbo! I need your help here!" Tayuya screamed as she did her best trying to dodge all the attacks. "If you don't fucking mind!" Another puppet appeared right behind her, its poison blade revealed. "Shi-"

"I told you-!" Sakura screamed and her fist crashed the puppet into pieces. "Stop calling me that!"

"Shut the fuck up!" She snapped back and they leaned on each other. "We are so fucking screwed."

Sakura didn't say anything. "Jump!" They leaped over bunch of needles flying out of a puppets mouth. "Damn it!"

"Fu-ck!" Tayuya screamed as the blades came all around them.

((A))

Meanwhile outside Deidara guided his bird directly at Sai and they circled each other menacingly. He threw bombs at him while he tried his best to dodge all the bombs the maniac threw at him. Deidara kept going higher and higher, staying on top of his target.

Sai countered with a quick dive, trying to force the maniac into Kakashis reach.

"Running away, huh?" The bomber screamed as they flew down after him.

Managing to drop bombs with masterful accuracy, he force Sai into a ravine which was the worse possible situation for him.

Sai flinched as he searched for Kakashi who was still running but was too far away. But if he reduced speed he would be caught in the blasts that were happening all around him.

But before he could decide the best plan of action, a sudden rain of spider bombs fell all around him.

There was an explosion.

"That guy is finished, yeah!" Deidara screamed excited as the smoke started to clear and he turned his attention to Kakashi who had to brace himself. "How do you wish to be blown up! That's my ART! ! !" He screamed excited when suddenly a rain of needles impaled his bird. "What?"

((A))

"Are we dead?" Tayuya whispered in the dark.

"I… I don't think so." Sakura whispered and slowly extended her hand. "What is this? Wood?"

((A))

"You should be more careful." Haku said quietly while placing Sai to the branch. "You have some burns but you will survive. Will you be alright by yourself?"

"I will." Sai answered, between deep breaths. "Don't worry about me, please."

Haku nodded and stood up, facing Deidara who was looking back at her. "You're that…"

((A))

Sakura busted the wall and carefully stepped outside, Tayuya behind her. They saw a very familiar blond pony tail covered back standing between them and Sasori. "You… you were a Konoha Shinobi?" Puppet master asked.

Naruto sighed and brushed his hair. "Not really. I'm just a doctor. I consider all life just as important." Then he glanced over his shoulder. "And I will never stop myself if a young, hot babe is in danger!" He pushed his hand forward and raised the other one towards the sky and started doing very strange kabuki-like dance moves. "For I, the great master of Slugs and healing, Senju Naruto, whose name is moaned by beautiful ladies across the land, will never allow a woman be hurt in my presence… unless that's what's she's into. Then, I will only take my camera and snap few pictures as evidence!"

Sakura, Tayuya and even Sasori face faulted together. This guy was a serious pervert and not even hiding it!

"Fuck it!" Tayuya snapped angrily. "You, Creepyfuck! Can you kill me! I would rather die than be saved by a pathetic ass pervert like that!"

"You forget that I already saved you once." He yelled over his shoulder. "And besides, you two don't stand a chance against him." He added with a lower tone.

"And you think you do!" Sakura yelled. "No fence, Naruto-sensei, but you're not even an official ninja. You're just a doctor, like you yourself said."

"Don't worry." Naruto said quietly as he started removing the wraps around his arms. "I can easily defeat a guy like this."

((A))

"Haku-san." Kakashi said quietly as his new teammate took a step right next to them. "Thank you for saving Sai."

"Don't mention it." She smiled. "I just couldn't walk away, knowing that you were facing Akatsuki."

"Yes… I… I understand." Kakashi said a bit uncomfortably. "Then, Naruto-san is…"

"He went to save the girls." Haku giggled. "He might act like he doesn't care but he is so easy to convince when you understand him." Then she hardened her gaze. "Be ready. My jutsu will soon take place."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes and prepared, even not sure what to be prepared of when he too saw it. Needles that she had just thrown were freezing everything around them. "Makyou Hyosenbon no jutsu (A/N: Should mean Demonic Ice needles)." She whispered as the lower side of the bomb bird Deidara was now cracking. He hadn't noticed it yet but when the bird started slowing its movements, he knew something was off.

"What did you do!" He asked as he started to lose altitude. "Fine! Then-" He brought his arms behind to his pouch.

Kakashi saw an opportunity and moved in and activated his eye. "Too late!"

((A))

"You think you can defeat me boy?" Sasori asked quietly as Naruto dropped his bandages to the ground. Sakura and Tayuya noticed that they were filled with markings.

"Seals?" Sakura asked and Tayuya just shrugged back.

"I would prefer if you would just leave." Naruto said quietly. "I'm a pacifist by nature and hate violence of every kind."

"Naïve brat." Sasori coughed and ordered all his dolls attack this new opponent. "Now that I know about your Mokuton ability, its famous enough, I can easily avoid it." He raised his puppets. "These attacks won't be as easy to stop." Two puppets appeared from the left side and were about to impale him a tree shot out of the ground between them, blocking the blades.

"Please stop this while you still can." He answered quietly. "You have no chances of winning."

Sakura and Tayuya looked in equal shock. "Did you see that!" The pink one asked from the red one.

"Well, duh, I do have fucking eyes!" She snapped back.

"Now is not the time for your weird hobbies." Sakura whispered quietly. "But he didn't even do any seals and roots just jumped out. It's… it's exactly like Shodai-sama of the legends."

Tayuya only tilted her head confused.

Sakura sighed. "Shodai Hokage-sama, Harashima Senju-sama? Our first Hokage who founded our village. Tsunade-samas our current Hokages grandfather, Naruto-sensei great-grandfather."

"Don't lecture me Lesbo!" She smacked into her side painfully.

Sasori saw an opening and moved two dozens of dolls at them, launching all the traps. "Die you girls."

"It will not work." Naruto said sadly and another wall appeared to protect them when his eyes widened.

"Naruto-sensei!" Sakura screamed when three needles were stuck in his neck. "Those needles are coated with poison! You need to get yourself some treatment and quickly!"

"Naïve brat." Sasori laughed. "That's what happens when you underestimate your opponent and don't take this seriously." Naruto ignored him and pulled all the needles out and rolled them between his fingers. "You will die soon, sensei." He added mockingly.

"No I won't." Naruto answered and simply threw the needles away. "By the time I'm done with you, my body will have healed itself."

"What?"

Naruto watched into his eyes. "I cannot be poisoned." He smiled. "And this will be the end." He moved his leg slowly and pressed it to the ground.

The movement was so slow and graceful that when they saw the ground cracking their eyes widened in shock. "Mokuton: Healing cocoon no jutsu. (A/N: It's tiresome to try to figure out Japanese words for all jutsus so I will cover it like this.)" Roots shot out of the ground and the wrapped around Sasori, creating an airtight layer around his body, not enough room even to move a finger.

"Damn you!" His jaw dropped and needles rained out but Naruto created another wall without even moving and then, slowly even the face was covered with thick layer of wood. "It's over." He said quietly under Sasoris screaming threats. "The moment you decided to fight here, you lost, because where there is earth, there is life." He raised his palm and flowers started falling coming out of his skin. "And life will always win, you lifeless puppet."

The cocoon was complete and the fight was over.

"A-amazing." Sakura whispered.

"How wet am I?" Tayuya muttered back, equally mesmerized by now grown up Fuckface.

((A))

"So that's Senju Naruto." Uchiha Madara said to himself, following the fights from afar. "Very powerful indeed being able to capture Sasori like that. Very good, but I would expect nothing less from an heir of Harashima, and the son of Yellow Flash…" He smirked behind his mask and prepared to turn back into 'Tobi'. "I'll let you roam free for now, Kyuubi no Jinchuuriki, as it would be too much trouble to capture you and keep you locked." He saw Deidara faking his suicide bombing and run away, meaning that the day had come to an end. Madara looked with his Sharingan eye down to Konoha shinobi before slowly starting to disappear into thin air.

((A))

"With this we can have useful intel on Akatsuki." Kakashi nodded satisfied as he tested the strength of the barrier in which Sasori was confined into. "Thank you for your assistance, Naruto-san. Haku-san."

"I didn't do it for you." Naruto answered his eyes on Suna jinchuuriki, Gaara and his lifeless body. He slowly made his way to it.

Gaaras eyes were still open. He knelt down used his hand to close them. "Rest in peace." He whispered quietly. Then, deep bed of flowers covered the body, giving it a proper burial.

H felt others eyes on his back when he stood up. "You have a capable medic here. We are not needed. Haku." He said and the lady nodded back.

Gai and Kakashi exchanged looks. "Naruto-san… we need to take you back to Konoha with us. Because of your mothers orders and for your own safety. You do understand, right?"

"Stop it." He said quietly and turned around. "Team spandex has been run through ground and you have overused your Sharingan. I can tell just by looking at you that it won't take long until you come crashing down and your friends here have to carry you home. And then there's your friend in the ball. Think carefully your next words."

Gai and Kakashi shared a look before giving him a nod. "We will not try to stop you, but I will send a word to Konoha." He nodded. "Thank you again for your assistance."

Naruto took one more glance of Gaara grave before gulping down his emotions. His seals safely wrapped around his arms, Haku and he walked into the woods.

"Is this alright?" Neji asked. Being a jonin he knew… something reserved for jonins. "Hokage-samas orders…"

"I should have just enough chakra for this." Kakashi interrupted and formed few hands signs before summoning one of his dogs. "I'll leave them to you."

The dog nodded understanding and quickly jumped after its targets. And Kakashi came crashing down.

In the aftermath, before heading out to Konoha, Sai sent the word to Suna that their jinchuuriki had been killed. Temari would take the news pretty badly as they had started to connect during these years. Sakura, Tayuya, Tenten, Gai and Neji who were in best of shape were put in charge of the cocoon and Sasori inside. Lee carried Kakashi back to Konoha by himself.

That night, Naruto was by a campfire, watching deep into the flames. His thoughts were around Akatsuki and jinchuurikis, bijuus and whatnot.

"Naruto-san?" Haku whispered quietly while tending the fire. "What is it?"

"I'm just thinking my life, that's all." He answered quietly with such a hollow voice. "Seeing that Gaara… dead, made me think. Akatsuki will come after me as well one day." He touched his stomach. "Ever since I was born, this stupid fox has given me nothing but trouble. Made me an outcast. Chased me out of my home. Ruined my control over my chakra. And now this. A group of elite ninjas are after me just to kill me." He looked into the fire. "It makes you think." He held his hand towards her and she took it. It wasn't a romantic holding. It was… close. Just close.

Even if Naruto had grown during these years, in some parts he was still the same little boy inside who needed someone next to him. Haku never questioned this. She just gave him her hand when he needed it. "I'll be here with you." She whispered. "You have nothing to be scared of."

"I'm not scared. I'm… tired." He whispered and lied down, next to the fire. "I'm tired of always being targeted because of this damn fox. Why couldn't that guy just seal it on himself and take it to the grave with him? Life would be so much easier. I'm… tired." He closed his eyes.

Haku was starting to doze of herself when she suddenly felt a hand groping her breast.

Two seconds later Naruto was trying to sleep soundly… a senbon stuck in his head.

"Good night, Haku." He mumbled tiredly when he drifted into sleep.

"Good night, Naruto-san." She smiled, still holding his hand.

"You're a good person Haku. For putting up with an idiot like me." He snickered quietly. "But if you don't get yourself a boyfriend soon you will end up like Nee-chan."

Hakus mile faded slowly. "Yes… I wouldn't want that." She gulped when Narutos breath became calm and regular. Gently brushing his hair, Haku stayed by his late in the night.

CHAPTER END

A/N: How was that? Did you like it. Sorry for all Gaara fans out there. It's jus that there was no room in my fic for him and without Naruto to impress Chiyo from Suna, there was no one to bring him back to life. I did consider at first to make Naruto to do it with Kyuubi chakra or something but it just felt so… blah. Anyway, sorry again and please, don't kill me.

REVIEW OKAY!