I don't own Naruto the series or anything in it. I am a simple writer and I make no profit from my stories. Warning for graphic description of illness, blood and other bodily fluids. Not for weak stomachs. Oh There will be character death, lots and lots of it! So be warned. Also watch for mature language and themes as you have come to expect from me.

My timeline is a bit off...at least I think it is, but if you could just go with it that would be great!

^.\ (does that emote look like Kakashi when he smiles? I think it does! You just have to imagine the face mask and the spiky hair!)

Zombie Love

Chapter 2: Dealing with Loss

Naruto sniffed back more tears as he covered the woman and child over with dirt. It was on his hands because he had not thought to get a tool to dig with. He dug their grave with his bare hands and his shinobi skills. His clothes were caked with dirt, it was matted in his hair, and smeared everywhere his skin was exposed.

He had cried the whole time he was digging, while he gently laid the bodies to rest, and while covering them. He has sworn never to cry, to be strong. He felt like breaking that rule today, but it was ok he supposed; because Yui and Kiyo deserved to have someone to grieve them. He wiped at his eyes further smearing them.

He stood and turned back toward his apartment, but a dark blur blocked his path, "Hey Dickless, the Hokage needs you."

"Don't call me that Sai," Naruto's voice didn't offer the protest his words implied.

Sai, who had been smiling that false smile, dropped it.

"What happened Naruto?" Sai asked almost sounding truly concerned. Probably he really was.

Naruto put on a fake smile that put Sai's to shame, "Nothing's wrong at all…Just doing some…gardening." He looked down at his clothes and grimaced, "W-we should go."

"Do you wish to get cleaned up first?" Sai asked.

"Is it urgent?" Naruto replied with his own question. Sai nodded slowly. Naruto sighed tiredly, "What isn't these days? I am sure I will have an opportunity to get clean later. No point in cleaning up if I'm going to get dirty again." Sai nodded and turned. The two of them took off toward the Hokage tower.

Naruto wondered just who was left to lose. The rookie nine all still seemed healthy; the more elite Shinobi all seemed to be doing well, though some of the chuunin and genin were suffering.

The busty blond stared impatiently at her office door. That brat was keeping her waiting! Finally the blond appeared with his teammate. Naruto looked a little worse for the wear but he smiled at her. His hair had turned brown with crumbs of dirt falling out of it. His face was a mask of brown smears, and his clothes were muddy. The original orange only barely managing to seep through. Only his eyes were that same brilliant blue that she, and so many others, could get lost in.

"Took you long enough Uzumaki," She barked, "And what were you doing? You look like someone chewed you up and spit you out!"

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly plastering on one of his more dazzling smiles, "What did you need Granny?"

"Don't call me that brat!" Tsunade scooped up her sake dish and took a quick draught, "I need a cleanup crew for the slums." Naruto frowned. Maybe he referred to his place as a slum but hearing someone else say it irked him. The woman continued, "Gather the bodies…Retrieve any survivors you can find. We're closing that whole area off until this plague has run its course." Naruto's mouth dropped for a few seconds then he clapped it shut and nodded, "I'm assigning a five man team to help you. You will act as team leader and also since I know you are familiar with the area that may help you locate bodies.

Naruto wanted to roll his eyes but he didn't, "Where is my team?"

"They should be arriving soon; Sai will be going with you there were four other volunteers. Now listen. I want you to take all precautions in handling the deceased. Firstly you will need to get a shower Naruto."

"If I had known that I would have done so before I got here," he sighed in frustration.

"After you and the rest of your team have scoured and sanitized yourselves, I have special suits designed to protect you from disease. You will all don one and a protective mask. You will have special gloves and boots also. I do not want to learn that any of your team has taken off any of the protective clothing until you are at the hospital. There you will be sanitized and checked over by myself." Sai and Naruto nodded.

Soon enough the team had gathered. Naruto was surprised, but pleased, to see Konohamaru amongst the volunteers. "What are you doing here Konohamaru?" Naruto smiled at the boy. He failed to notice the faint blush that dusted the boy's cheeks. Naruto looked up at the boy, yes up.

Naruto grudgingly had to admit to himself that he was not going to get much taller, and the third's grandson had shot up like a weed. Konohamaru was three years his junior and Naruto didn't have a clue that the boy harbored a long standing crush on him. Konohamaru actually had his own admirers…not just because of who his grandfather was either. Ko had grown into a strapping fifteen year old boy with broad shoulders and a cute cheeky grin. He still wore his hair in the top knot but had grown his hair out so it fell back against his neck and shoulders. The taller boy looked down at the boy he used to look up to (he still does in a figurative sense). Naruto was filthy at that moment but all the younger boy saw were those blue eyes and that caring smile.

"I…I actually came because I heard you were going to be the team leader. It's been a while since we got to hang out…you know?" Konohamaru smiled down at him. Naruto was only a couple inches shorter than him really but he was petite compared to Konohamaru. The boy relished the thought of just touching that tan skin. Even when it was covered in dirt it looked tantalizingly soft. Too bad that Naruto was oblivious and obviously hung up over someone else.

The team showered and suited up at the hospital. The uniforms looked similar to the standard jounin and chuunin uniform, but each suit was chakra enforced and had a seal painted on by Tsunade herself the help ward of viruses and bacteria. They were streamlined and form fitted. Konohamaru caught himself drooling over the cute blond. His every muscle and curve on display. The masks looked just like the one Kakashi sported. They two were chakra enforced and sealed. The masks were more comfortable then they looked. They were each issued boots and gloves with the same treatment. Once everybody was suited up they headed out.

It was grueling work carting off bodies, and persuading the ill to accompany them to the hospital. After several hours Naruto was certain that every nook and cranny was checked, including his own building. There were a dozen or so unwilling to leave. Naruto begged and pleaded with them, but in the end the team was forced to restrain and sedate the ones that would not come willingly. Others saw the struggle was futile and gave up, but some fought even as they were being put into a forced sleep.

It took them until the wee hours of the morning to finish up. All the civilians were checked in sanitized and monitored but the hospital staff whowere wearing similar uniforms to Naruto's team (except theirs were white and pristine looking). By the time the group was finished they were covered in dirt, sweat and even blood from the corpses. Naruto sat between Sai and Konohamaru waiting for his turn to be sanitized and checked on. Konohamaru went before him. When he was out he held the door for Naruto. The boy could not help but take a long glance at Naruto's well-rounded behind.

"He's a little too old for you isn't he?" Konohamaru jumped as the teammate of the object of his lust spoke. He turned glaring at Sai. He never liked the dark haired boy. He reminded him too much of Uchiha—besides Sai had the worst pet name for Naruto.

"What's it to you?" He ground out through clenched teeth.

"Well I don't want my good friend being accused of statutory rape…or being raped himself," Sai offered his annoying grin. The younger boy's face grew red in anger. He clenched his fists and leaned against a wall.

"So are you planning on jumping him when he gets out?" Sai persisted in his questioning.

"If I said I was what would you do about it?" Konohamaru smirked, "How could they accuse him of rape if he's the one being pounded into?" The younger boy nearly gave himself a nose bleed from the mental images. He would very much like to participate in those kinds of activities with Naruto, but he also wanted to just cuddle the boy and kiss him tenderly.

Konohamaru resolved himself he was going to invite Naruto to eat lunch with him the next day…There were a few restaurants and shops still open. Naruto's all-time favorite Ichiraku's was still open and the old man seemed to be healthy still. Konohamaru waited. Naruto came out in his freshly laundered orange jumpsuit. Ko really hated that thing. Naruto would look so much better in blue, but it didn't matter what color he wore (even pea green) he would still look sexy to the younger teen.

Naruto walked out he favored Sai with a small grin, "All yours Sai."

"Thanks Dickless," He smiled creepily.

"Would you stop calling me that?" Naruto answered to his nickname with more venom then he had earlier. He smiled at Konohamaru and moved to leave the waiting area.

"Hey Naruto! Wait up!" Ko shouted.

"What's wrong Konohamaru?" Naruto looked concerned. Ko blushed at him and scratched the back of his head almost in mimic of how the blond acted whenever he got embarrassed. He smiled and blushed, "I well I wanted to know if you would like to get lunch tomorrow? I um mean. I'd like to spend more time with you…you know when we're not picking up corpses. It'd be my treat."

"Ichiraku's?" Naruto asked hopefully pouring all his innocence and charm into his big blue eyes. Konohamaru swallowed his throat making a dry clicking sound in his ears, "L-last time I ch-checked they were still serving ramen." Naruto smiled big closing his eyes. Ko really loved this young man. He couldn't deny it.

"Hey c-could I walk you home?" Konohamaru asked with hope in his eyes.

Naruto suddenly froze, "Damn! That old bat closed off the whole neighborhood!"

"So?" Ko asked not realizing that Naruto's apartment building was in that neighborhood.

"So…my apartment…I mean you didn't realize? I lived in that neighborhood," Naruto grumbled, "Now I'm temporarily homeless."

Konohamaru was doing an internal happy dance (feeling guilty about doing it but still dancing none the less).

"You…you could come and stay at my house. I…gramps left me his mansion. He…you know that he had a nice estate built after he had retired…then he had to become Hokage again. We…I mean I have room. Ebitsu stays there. The old man had appointed him as my legal guardian in his will, damned old fart!" Ko spoke with a fondness in his voice. He then cleared his throat.

"You mean the closet pervert?" Naruto said smirking. Konohamaru just rolled his eyes, "He's not that bad you know. So what do you say?"

"I guess I have to say yes, and thank you." Ko managed to suppress the shout of victorious joy that lodged itself in his throat. Naruto spoke, "You were always such a cool kid. Thanks for helping me out." Ko's triumphant joy fell, 'He still thinks of me as a kid?' The taller boy loomed over the short blond, "I'm not a kid anymore! I'm taller then you!"

Naruto only chuckled, "Come on lets go Ko-brat!" Naruto stuck out his tongue and started pulling his young friend. He paused and looked up at the brunette. "I guess I don't know where you live."

The brunette rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Come on boss. I'll show you the way." he in turn dragged the blond toward his lavish home. Konohamaru blushed when he realized he was holding Naruto's hand.

{Ok ok! I was making a SasuNaru pairing...this just sort of happened but I think the KonoNaru angle is really one-sided. Oh and no zombies yet. I know! Where are the freakin zombies? Just wait! You'll see. I'll have the best freakin zombies in the world! 'Cause we makes 'em fresh!}