Chapter Three
"You have my word, Hinata, I'll get you two back together, no matter what."
She jerked away from him, "N-Naruto, y-you - I -"
"Hinata," he was a breath away, "You can trust me-"
"No, Naruto, if he doesn't want to be with me then you shouldn't force him," she pleaded desperately.
"That's just it, Hinata, he does want to," Naruto silenced her protest with a shake of his head, "He's just scared to death he'll get hurt again."
A firm hand gripped her chin and forced her to meet his steady determined eyes.
"Listen to me, Gaara would probably rather kill me than have me tell you this, friends or not, but he's lonely. He wants so badly to be loved, to be seen as more than a monster . . .
"We're more alike than most would think," his blond head lowered breaking eye contact, "That's why I know . . . I know he wants this even more than he ever wanted to be Kazekage. He's just being stubborn, telling himself he doesn't deserve it."
She was trembling in his grasp, tears stung her eyes.
"But if there is anyone who can even come close to having enough love to overlook our demons, it would be you Hinata," he lifted his head, "I give you my word. I will get you guys together, no matter what, believe it."
A tear made it's way down her cheek and was followed by another.
"Naruto."
"Ah, Hinata," he pulled her to him, "Don't cry." He sighed and smiled at the top of her head, "You know, I wish I had a girlfriend like you."
She could only cry harder.
Gaara frowned as he opened his correspondence with the Leaf Village and found a personal note from Naruto.
Gaara, You're being an ass. We need to talk. Naruto
That was odd, Gaara tilted his head as he regarded the letter, usually when Naruto was mad at him the blond would rant for an entire scroll. Then when they met up again the blond would reveal he had forgotten the entire incident.
The first time he had received such a letter, he had gone into a panic and had made it to the Leaf in record time. He couldn't loose his only friend. When he had arrived Naruto had merely stared at him blankly.
"No, I'm not mad at you." Gaara pulled out the scroll and thrust it at him. Naruto laughed and put his hands behind his head, "Oh, that, I didn't mean to scare you." "I wasn't scared." He replied coldly. "Ah," Naruto smiled, "You were too far away to punch so I yelled at you." He glared at the grinning blond. "Ramen?" He offered. He nodded sharply and the matter was settled.
The Kazekage steepled his fingers and regarded the short note with concern. This was different. He was really mad this time but over what? He didn't recall anything in particular that would merit this type of response. . .
Unless it was over the Hyuuga girl.
Naruto did seem to be upset when he had informed his friend of the 'break up.'
Shocked blue eyes stared into his own, "Why?" "It's not meant to be," he stated vaguely, "She . . . didn't seem very . . . I must go." He vanished in a swirl of sand, deliberately not giving Naruto a chance to protest.
Gaara tilted his head, knowing Naruto the way he did, the blond should have gone running to her. What could have possibly gone wrong? Did she not take advantage of the situation? And why the anger?
He picked up his pen and wrote a reply.
Naruto, Soon. Gaara
He sealed it and set it aside with all the other outgoing correspondence. He was sure the council would find fault with the trade agreement he had just arranged with the Hokage. They were never happy and this one time, he would agree with them.
He started to pen a letter to Tsunade.
Neji narrowed his eyes at his cousin. She had been notably depressed the last couple of days. She also had been hanging around Naruto a lot.
His first thought had been his shy cousin had finally confessed her feelings for the dense blond, though, the sadness in her eyes said otherwise.
Had she confessed only to be rejected?
He mentally shook his head. No, somehow he couldn't envision Naruto callously hurting her feelings like that, especially since the dimwit was insisting on her presence.
No, something else was going on and he was going to find out what, he turned his attention back to Tenten, he would not leave Hinata to face the wolves alone.
"Don't worry, Hinata, I'll talk some sense into him," Naruto glared at the note he had received not too long ago before sticking it back into his jacket.
She sighed and didn't bother to correct him. She knew better than anyone just how stubborn he could be when he made his mind up about something. He would never give up, would not be persuaded, and would not stop until he accomplished any goal he set for himself.
It was ironic that the very quality she admired most about him was the thing that would keep him from her.
She was doomed and had only herself to blame. Why did she have to be so spineless when it came to him? Why?
"Naruto, I'll be right back," Hinata slid off the stool and disappeared into the crowd. She had to find the little kunoichi's room.
Neji noted her move and destination before switching off his byakugun. He would keep an eye out for her return.
"Neji?"
"It's nothing, Tenten," he waved away her concern.
She arched a brow at him but let the subject drop.
Tsunade was boiling as she paced her office. She had, in fact, been pissed since she had received the letter from the Kazekage of the Sand Village. That little brat of a Kazekage thought he was going to put her through the ringer, did he? Well, her office was going to have a new Kazekage shaped hole in it soon!
A sharp knock sounded, "Come in!"
"The Kazekage has arrived with his entourage."
"Send them in," she sat at her desk. The various scrolls of their trade agreement were open and ready to be looked over with a fine toothed comb.
She watched coolly composed as the Sand Trio entered.
"Lady Hokage," Gaara greeted her as he stopped a foot from her desk.
"Lord Kazekage," Tsunade nodded and went right into business, "You mentioned you wanted to discuss our trade agreement for possible changes?" She asked sweetly with barely restrained malice in her tone
"Yes, I wished to discuss it," Gaara's voice was neutral, "We have your permission to remain in the village for a week?"
Kankuro and Temari exchanged glances when the Hokage's eyes sparked dangerously.
A week?! Tsunade ground her teeth, he thinks he's going to hold me hostage over these stupid contracts for a WEEK?!
"A week?" She clasped her hands together to avoid forming fists.
"Any conflicts should be resolved in that time," he nodded peaceably.
Tsunade growled, "All right, you brat, I'll give the Sand Village one more percent of profit and that's it!"
Gaara blinked at her, "That is agreeable. We'll depart after the week is out."
Temari and Kankuro exhaled in relief as their little brother nodded his farewell to the dumbfounded Hokage and left the office.
"Did he just use me to get a week vacation from his village?" Tsunade was blown away.
Temari shrugged carelessly, "Something must be up with Naruto."
"Is that why we're here?" Kankuro grumbled, "Hope he's in a better mood on the way home."
"He usually is," Temari smirked, "Sorry, Lady Hokage, we didn't mean to give you the wrong impression."
"He's brilliant," she muttered to herself, "He'll have to return the favor one day."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Temari waved as she left the office with Kankuro in tow.
Tsunade smiled, "They're a tricky bunch. I'll definitely have to visit to get that one percent back."
"Naruto."
The blond jumped and spun around at the sound of his name to find the very person he was pissed off at, Gaara.
To the Kazekage's immense surprise, his fellow demon carrier didn't immediately launce into an hour long rant.
"We need to talk," his voice was low and dangerous.
Gaara merely nodded cautiously.
Naruto flashed a quick smile at the owners of the stand, "Tell Hinata we'll be right back."
"Sure," Ayame nodded at the ninja.
Gaara just followed the other's lead into a more secluded area. This was serious, he thought as the scenery became more wilderness and less village, privacy has never been a requirement before.
They arrived at Naruto's favorite training ground to find it blissfully empty.
"Why did you break up with Hinata?"
Gaara blinked. The blond hadn't even bothered to turn around to face him. That wasn't like Naruto at all.
"She's in love with someone else."
Naruto spun around at long last, his blue eyes blazing with fury, "Is that what you think?!"
"It's what I know," he replied quietly, unsure how to handle this side of his friend.
Naruto clenched his jaw and exhaled slowly, "If she's in love with someone else then why did she cry when I told her you broke up with her? Why did she cry and gasp as she clung to my shirt as if her heart was broken?!"
Black rimmed eyes widened in surprise, "She cried?"
She's a better actress than I gave her credit for, he thought absently.
"Yes, she did," Naruto took the widened eyes as a sign of remorse, "Look, I don't know where you got the idea she was in love with someone else but-"
"Naruto-"
"-she's in love with you!"
"-you don't understand."
"Stop!" Hinata stumbled into the clearing, her bloodline limit clearly activated, "Please! Stop!"
End of Chapter
AN: Wow! Thanks so much for the kind reviews! I'm just glad you guys like this! Michelle
