Anime- Naruto
Pairings- SasuNaru Slight All/Naru
Genre- Romance/adventure
Rating- T for now
Lost and Found
Chapter 2
~AllenNlavi~
Golden blond hair glinted in the streams of sunlight that escaped the foliage of the tree, making Naruto flinch. The sunlight always gave him headaches, so it came as no surprise when the throbbing in his temples started. He leaned his head against the rough bark of the tree with a small grunt. Sakura frowned when she noticed the expression on his face.
"Naruto-kun? Are you okay? You look pale." Naruto snorted. When didn't he look pale? Was it really that weird? Judging by their expressions- Yes, yes it was. Sakura's smile never wavered as she reached out to feel his forehead.
"Are you sure? Do you have a temp-" Just as her hand almost made contact with his forehead, a pale hand sharply smacked her's away.
"He said he was fine!" Sasuke hissed despite himself, but he reached out to touch Naruto's head himself. Sasuke frowned.
"You have a fever Naruto. Maybe instead of going on the mission, you should-"
"I said I was fine!" Naruto snapped.
"And I said that you aren't, you Dobe." A smirk curled the corner of his lips when Naruto's jaw dropped.
"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you correctly. I thought you just said-"
"Dobe." He finished the blonds' sentence. "And yes, I did."
"Stop that!"
"Dobe."
"Teme!"
"Do-be." Naruto's face began to turn an interesting shade of red and Sasuke could practically hear his teeth grinding. It was fun riling the normally reserved boy, he realized with a slight smile. The blond boy growled, turning his head to the side to glare at nothing in particular.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura whispered, glancing nervously at Naruto. "Don't be mean to Naruto-kun! He was just beginning to open up to me!" If Naruto ignoring everyone and glaring at at anything that moves was 'opening up' he didn't want to know what closed off was. He was in for a hell of a time, Sasuke thought as he glared at the silent redhead. Gaara and his two team members hadn't spoken, only giving curt replies to anyone who tried approaching them. There was a whirling sound, Kakashi poofing in a puff of smoke.
"So we're all here now, right?" Kakashi smiled- assuming that's what he was doing with that damn mask on his face.
"Some of us," Sasuke snarled, "are actually here on time!" Kakashi cocked his head, trying to look innocent and completely failing.
"I wonder who was late...? Oh well, on to more important things! Our mission today is a simple one: escort and protect a bridge builder to the Land of Waves. Easy, right?" Sakura smiled in relief. She had been worried it would be something dangerous. Everyone else however, looked utterly bored.
"What the hell? I ask for protection and I get a bunch of kids?" Sasuke glared up at the man who was leaning drunkly on the side of Konoha's gate, sake bottle in hand. 'How dare that jerk!" Sasuke spat mentally. Here they were, about to risk their lives for this waste of space, and he was acting as if it was him being put out! An insult was bubbling in his throat, but a smooth voice beat him to it.
"Sir, please rest assured that you'll be protected well. My team and I know what we're doing." Naruto spoke in a cool voice and walked pass his stunned team members. Naruto paused by the bridge builder, his eye's staring straight ahead.
"We can protect you just fine, but it would be a lot easier if you were sober. Wouldn't you agree, sir?
Naruto's eyes slid languidly over his 'teammates'. Kakashi was at the head with that Sakura girl. On either side of the bridge builder, who really needed a shower in Naruto's opinion, was the redhead and the Teme, the opposite was the girl with the fan and puppet guy. Naruto himself brought up the rear.
"Sensei? Can we take a break? My feet hurt!" Naruto snorted inaudibly in disgust. How the hell did she think she could become a ninja if she complained about walking a few hours? The very though was laughable. Kakashi tapped his chin thoughtfully, never looking up from his novel.
"Hmm? Sorry, but we can't stop now. Although..." He trailed off.
"Although...?" She repeated. Kakashi smiled slyly and a glint entered his visible eye that Naruto was entirely sure he didn't like. It screamed for small children to run away and hide.
"Naruto!" Said boy watched the gray haired man warily. How had his name been brought into this? Last time he checked he had absolutely nothing to do with the pink haired menace. Unless...
"Why don't you carry her, Naruto?" Sakura's face inflamed while, Naruto just shrugged absently. If he carried her he wouldn't have to listen to her whining. That, and they could cover more ground without her slowing everyone down everyone with her pitiful complaints. Sakura shuffled shyly to Naruto's side with a hesitance that set his teeth on edge. What if she was too heavy? His arms were covered from the long turtle neck, but from what she could see, his arms were rather weak looking and frail...
Annoyed by her bashfulness, Naruto crouched slightly, wrapped his arms around her thighs and hoisted her onto his back easily. Her arms flailed slightly at first, unsure as to where to put them, so heaving an annoyed sigh, he used one hand to grab her arm and wrap it around his neck.
"There we go! Everyone happy now?" Kakashi asked, ignoring the death glares he was receiving from a certain Uchiha and redhead. Surprisingly, as they began walking again, Naruto never slowed his pace. He didn't sweat nor did he look uncomfortable, just walked slightly behind and would hoist her up occasionally when she began to slip.
They travled for hours in silence, Sakura keeping her nose buried in Naruto's hair. He smelt like blueberries, but there was a distinct scent that made him Naruto. Feeling slightly giddy, she buried her face in his knitted scarf, causing it to tug down slightly. His blonde hair was soft and occasionally it would stir and brush her cheeks coyly. Naruto stiffened, and immediately Sakura to straightened up. Had she done something to make him upset? Did sniffing him cross the line?
"Naruto-kun? What's wrong?" She whispered, but it was apparently loud enough for everybody to hear because the all stopped to glance back impatiently.
"Dobe? What's the hold up?" Sasuke was slightly worried when the blonde didn't respond to his taunt. Was Sakura finally becoming too heavy to carry? Was it wrong of him to hope that was the case? The girl's face had been practically embedded in Naruto's neck the whole time and it had been bothering Sasuke the entire time. It was like a constant fly that kept buzzing back into his mind unbidden. The raven found himself constantly looking over his shoulder, making sure Sakura kept her hands to herself.
"Kakashi." Naruto's voice came out tight, his grip in the girl's thighs tightening enough for her to wince slightly. "When was the last time that it rained?" Before Kakashi had a chance to answer, Gaara's monotone voice broke in, sounding utterly disinterested.
"It hasn't rained since we arrived back here two weeks ago." Naruto nodded thoughtfully, his blond brow creasing slightly. Abruptly, Naruto hissed something under his breathe and slid Sakura off his back.
"Why? What's this all about Naruto-kun?" Sakura asked, slightly miffed he had put her down. It was hot outside, but despite Naruto walking for hours in a turtleneck and scarf, his skin was still cool to the touch, as if it was 30 degrees out. Naruto glanced at her and bit his plump bottom lip.
"Look under your feet you unobservant fools!" Naruto hissed. His foot skimmed a puddle, causing some of the muddy water to spray forward across the ground.
"There should be no puddles here if that's the case. The should all be dried already." Now that the boy had pointed it out, it became painfully obvious. 'How had I not realized?' Sasuke thought with a frown.
Naruto meanwhile, wanted to bang his head into the fucking tree. Some ninja he was, not noticing he had been sloshing through damn puddles for hours!
"So...That means-" Sakura whispered.
"Too late now." Came a whispered hiss that caused them all to freeze. Naruto took no time hesitating. It took him less than a second to grab Sakura's arm and sling the girl over the shoulder like a bag of flour .He jumped back and flipped backwards, landing next to Gaara with no sound. The spot where Sakura had stood just seconds before had multiple kunai plunged into the ground ominously.
Sakura gulped loudly. If Naruto hadn't-
"Come out!" Sasuke snarled, backing up to the bridge builder. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro formed a protective circle around the man, weapons ready. Well, Gaara just stood there anyway.
"Sensei! No!" Sasuke whipped around to Sakura's shrill voice, only to see their Sensei of only two days cut into pieces. The abruptness of it left Sasuke feeling numb. He knew he should feel something, but dammit, everything was happening so fast, his mind hadn't caught up yet. He watched in and sort of morbid fascination as two rouge ninja landed soundlessly where Kakashi-Sensei once stood, smirks on their faces.
"What will you do now that your precious Sensei is dead, kiddies?" The first rouge ninja spoke in a taunting voice that instantly had their hackles rising in defense.
Discreetly as Naruto could manage, he positioned himself so that he was situated between them and the girl latched desperately onto his arm and cutting off circulation. He shook her off, but she just tightened her hold and whimpered. He knew she was scared, but dammit, he didn't have time to baby her, so he pulled sharply and nodded toward the hurdled circle behind him.
"Protect that man, okay? Don't draw attention to yourself by becoming a whimpering fool. Now go!" He whispered sharply and watched as she nodded shakily and backed up to stand between Kankuro and Temari in the circle. She held a kunai in defense, but her hands were shaking so badly it did little good.
"Let's just get this over with." The second one sneered as he watched, and before the other answered he was already in motion.
He sprang, feet gliding across the ground soundlessly and heading straight for Tazuna. The man was petrified in fear and looked close to wetting himself. It seemed impossible to reach the man, though. Sakura, Sasuke, Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari formed a protective barrier around the man on all sides, leaving no openings to get through. The rouge ninja never slowed though, the smirk on his face becoming more pronounced when he locked eyes with Sakura's frightened ones. The easiest way to break formation? Pick off the weakest link, and he knew exactly who that was.
Bingo.
Sasuke cursed under his breath, already understanding the man's plan. If he made a move to help Sakura, the other ninja would take the opening he left! What could he do without jeopardizing Tazuna's safety?
"Don't you dare!" Temari hissed under her breath, watching Sasuke's face flash with indecision."She knew what she was getting into when she became a ninja!"
Sakura's eyes widened when the man drew closer to her. There was no way she could win, how could she? She was just a kid after all. If they took out their Sensei so easily she had a snowball's chance in hell. Resigning herself, she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable pain to reach her.
Naruto...sorry for being weak...
The pain never came.
She opened her eyes slowly and allowed a small gasp to escape her lips. The man that was only seconds ago about to end her life, stood a couple of feet in front of her. The kunai in his hands dropped with a loud thump from his limp hand.
Naruto stood behind the man, kunai blade poised at his throat. Bangs shadowed Naruto's eyes and he pressed harder so a thin line appeared, blood beginning to drip down the blade.
A silent warning. Naruto's voice came out cold and detached.
"Call off the other one, now. I have no need of you, so I won't hesitate." Naruto pulled the kunai tighter against the man's neck for emphasis. Sweat beaded on the man's clammy forehead and rolled down his cheek, dropping on the tip of the blade. Blood mingled with the sweat and plopped soundlessly onto the ground. The man gulped, his face white. His hand itched toward the other blade attached to his hip.
"Try it and see what happens." Naruto hissed.
The boy was serious he realized. This blonde kid that he had completely disregarded before just one upped him and was about to kill him. This kid that looked like the slightest wind would have him blown him away with how frail he looked...
"S-stand down." He stuttered. The other ninja stiffened, hesitating slightly. He wouldn't be able to kill the bridge builder and help his teammate.
"Stand down now, Juuko!" Juuko cursed and was about to get up from his crouched position but the hairs on the back of his neck stood. The wind whipped past his hair and before he had a chance to blink, he was hit on the neck and went limp. His body was caught their undead Sensei.
"Z-zombie!" Sakura shrieked loudly, causing them all to wince.
"Loud woman!" Kankuro grumbled. Kakashi's visible eye shined with mirth.
"Yes! I came back for you all! I just couldn't go and leave my cute students all by themselves!" He said jovially. Chuckling, Kakashi heaved the unconscious ninja to the base of the tree, tying him there securely.
Naruto did the same and hit the the back of the man's neck, but he didn't bother to catch the limp body at all. He watched dispassionately, kicking him toward Kakashi.
"Should have just stayed dead. " Sasuke grumbled as he relaxed his stiff body, but his words held no real venom, only relief. He didn't stay relaxed however, when the pink haired ninja shuffled toward Naruto shyly.
Sasuke's back stiffened the same moment Gaara's did.
"T-thank you for saving me, Naruto-kun." She mumbled shyly. Naruto turned toward her with a piercing stare and immediately she didn't like how small she felt under the intense scrutiny of his burning gaze.
"Never close your eyes in front of an enemy. Doing something so careless will cost you your life." She blushed, partly because this was the longest he'd talked to her and partly because she was embarrassed for being scolded. Naruto must have noticed something on her face because he forced his tone to soften.
"I'm sure there are those who would grieve if something happened to you."
Sasuke glared daggers at the girl's back, willing her to disappear. He knew it was irrational, but he didn't like this intimate atmosphere, or the fact that Naruto's blue eyes where looking at the pink haired girl. At all.
"W-would you?" She asked meekly.
Naruto didn't answer at first, and she thought he was going to ignore her again. He turned his back towards the others.
"I'll be long gone by the time you're gone, Sakura. I'll tell you, the people who die have it easy. It's those who the dead leave behind who have it tough."
To be continued
