I do not own 'Naruto'

Chapter 6

Naruto paced back and forth, never taking his eyes off of Temari. The kunoichi, his fiance, lay sleeping next to a clone he had switched with as not to disturb her.

He had a calm look on his face, a rare sight for those who knew him. Truthfully, he was angrier than he had ever been, and more afraid.

Someone had threatened Temari. He was used to being threatened, shunned and just plain hated. But this...she didn't deserve it. It was all because she had been associated with him. Just like everything good in his life, someone was trying to take it away from him.

It's my fault. Naruto thought.

He had a sudden rush of memories telling him what he needed, it was time.

As silently as possible, Naruto left the house. He'd fix this problem immediately.

Danzo was a practical man, but he was also a veteran Shinobi and a survivor of two wars. He new the importance of safety. Even if it was on a paranoid level. His home was one of the most secure places in all of the village. So imagine his shock when he found Naruto Uzumaki sitting in his home, waiting for him.

"Hello, you old fossil." Naruto greeted.

"How did you get in here?" Danzo demanded.

Naruto didn't answer, he didn't say anything, he just sat there staring at the man.

"You talked to Temari today." Naruto stated. "You scared her."

"I simply-"

"I don't care." Naruto stated as he stood. "Stay away from her."

Danzo watched as the Chunin boldly walked by him not the slightest bit worried about being struck.

"I was trying to help, you and your woman will have a lot of opposition in the future."

Naruto stopped and turned to look at the elderly man out of the corner of his eye.

"Is that a threat?"

"No, simply a fact." Danzo stated. "What I tried telling the woman was that I could be of help to you, for a price. I have influence, experience and resources, what do you have?"

Naruto turned to fully look at the man. His cold blue eyes turned into a raging crimson as he glared at the bandaged man. Danzo just stood there and narrowed his eyes at the child's display.

"You know what I have." Naruto stated. "And very little to lose."

"And that's what makes it all the more precious." Danzo stated, not intimidated by the theatrics. "If not for your sake, think of how I can help her and your children."

With a grunt, Naruto left the man.

Naruto slid back into bed as easily as he could, hoping he didn't disturb his fellow blond. Once he was comfortable, she rolled over and wrapped her arms around him. The familiar warmth brought a smile to his face, he slid his arm around her. It was amazing how quickly one could get accustomed to sharing a bed.

"Where did you go?" Temari asked, making his heart skip a beat.

"Hm?"

"Where did you go?" She repeated, this time her eyes were open, looking into his.

"No where important." Naruto stated. "Just taking care of a pest."

Temari didn't respond to his answer, at least not verbally. She uncurled herself from around him and turned to the other side of the bed.

Shit. Naruto thought. He may not be the brightest, but even he knew he had messed up. He got caught.

Naruto walked towards the living room with a pillow in hand. He wasn't as shocked as he should have been to find the pervy sage already sitting there.

"Banished to the couch on your second night together?" Jiraiya chuckled.

So this is how Danzo felt. Naruto thought. "I'm going to need a better lock."

"No lock can keep me out!" Jiraiya declared. "Just ask the the managers at the local lingerie shop!"

"...What do you want Pervy-Sage?" Jiraiya opened his mouth but Naruto cur him off. "In the form of a straight forward answer and no sexual references."

Damn. The perv thought as he considered his answer.

"I'm here to begin your lessons." The Hermit stated. "Who better to teach you in your family art of sealing than the best in the village?" He pulled out a blank scroll, a brush, a bottle of ink and a book that read Beginner Seals for Dummies: First edition. "Lesson one."

Naruto smiled as his day was beginning to look up.

The Next day

"Okay team 7, I have a C-Rank mission for you." Tsunade stated. "An escort mission to the Waterfall Village." The Genin an Chunin looked on eagerly, while Kakashi passively read his book, much to Tsunade's anger. "You are to escort Shibuki here to the Hidden Waterfall Village."

"Wait, so a ninja needs an escort?" Naruto asked. "Wouldn't they send their own ninja?"

"They pay and that's all that matters." Tsunade stated. "So I-"

Tsunade stopped talking when she realized Naruto wasn't paying attention. Before she could reprimand him with her fist, she followed his gaze. He was looking at Temari, who was looking everywhere but at her fiance.

"I came for a mission." Temari stated.

Luckily Temari had been promoted to Chunin as well before her relocation to Konoha. She was able to take up to C-Rank missions on her own.

Temari and Naruto locked gazes for a moment before the blond guy took a step towards his fiance. She turned from him, and with her nose in the air, made her way to the mission distributor.

"You're Temari?" The Shinobi asked, gaining a nod. "Because of your...status, the Council believes that it's best you not do anything too dangerous. That means you can only take D-Rank missions."

"Fine." Temari stated as she moved to the D section. As she examined the jobs she frowned, the frown only deepened as she continued to search through them. "This is it?" She asked in disbelief. "These are nothing but chores!"

"Take'em or leave'em." The Shinobi stated with a shrug.

Temari frowned before leaving. No missions were better than doing someone else's chores.

"Wait right there Temari." Tsunade ordered, halting the Kunoichi. "Anyone not a natural blond, get out."

One by one the Shinobi began leaving the room until it was the Hokage and the new blond couple. And Inoichi Yamanaka. The trio turned to look at the clan head as he looked back in confusion.

"My hair is natural." He stated.

"Just...go." Tsunade stated with a sight.

With a shrug, the clan head disappeared in a Body-Flicker.

"What can I do for you Hokage-Sama?" Temari asked politely.

"What's going on between you two?" Tsunade asked. "Two days and you already won't look at him."

"Ask him, he's the one being secretive." Temari stated with a frown. Naruto frowned at being thrown under the bus. This was one of those rare times he didn't want to be the center of attention. "I told you I didn't care if you wen't to visit some...mistress." Temari stated as she looked away. "I just don't want you to lie to me about it."

Tsunade's head snapped towards Naruto in shock. Her eyes in a mix of shock, denial and anger. She couldn't believe that the little goof was a two-timer...unless he took lessons from Jiraiya. Then she'd be digging a second hole to fill.

"Is that what you think?" Naruto asked, offended.

"Care to tell us different?" Tsunade asked calmly. She highly doubted he was capable of cheating.

Naruto frowned, uncomfortable with the piercing gazes. He hadn't wanted to bring either of them into his mess. But it seemed that keeping it a secret would do him more harm than good.

"Yesterday some guy payed a visit to Temari and scared her." Naruto stated, not meeting their gazes. "Last night I paid him a visit."

"What did you do!?" Tsunade demanded.

"I told him to stay away from her." Naruto answered.

"...Is that it?" Tsunade asked worriedly. "Did you hurt him in anyway?"

"No, he scared Temari so I scared him." Naruto stated. "Just gave him a warning. If he had harmed Temari, I would have killed him."

Tsunade sighed in relief, but she still needed to take care of the recklessness. "I know you care Naruto, but I can't just let you-"

"I won't have anyone threatening my family!" Naruto declared, cutting the Hokage off. "I've been dealing with this all my life! I won't have her deal with it because of me! I-"

Naruto was silenced by a metal fan slamming into his head.

"You idiot!" Temari shouted, face red with anger. "What did I tell you when your team was hassling you! There is no your problem, no my problem! It us Naruto, us! That's why I came to you instead of the Hokage with this problem, because I trusted us to handle it!"

Naruto lowered his head, not knowing what to say to his fiance. He wanted to take care of her, but she wasn't some damsel in distress.

"...I'm sorry."

"Don't be too hard on him." Tsunade stated. "He's only trying to take care of you."

"Maybe it would be sweet if I was a civilian." Temari admitted. "But as a kunoichi, it's an insult to my pride."

"His pride as a man and your pride as a woman." Tsunade sighed. "Why don't you two put your pride aside and find common ground. After your mission I want you two to sit down and...talk. Have you two actually talked, just as friends?"

The two blonds looked at each other and shrugged, they hadn't. Their conversations so far had been focused on their duty.

"How about a date?" Naruto asked. "We hadn't been on one of those yet?"

"That would be nice." Temari admitted. "Try not to get into any trouble on your mission Naruto...kun." Temari stated.

"Good." Tsunade stated. "As for your problems, you two know it was going to be tough when it started. I'm here to help you two, it's more than your marital issues that's at stake here, both our villages need this alliance to work. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Hokage-Sama."

"Yes, Granny."

Naruto was do to meet his team, but he needed to take care of one thing first. He needed to enlist the help of someone he could honestly say he trusted. And would trust him enough to do what he requested.

That person happened to be Lee, doing push-ups with a boulder strapped to his back. Sometimes Naruto wondered if the boy was even human. With that ridiculous strength, stamina and eyebrows. But, who was he to judge another.

"556...557...558...5-" The spandex wearing Genin stopped when he noticed his visitor. "Hello Naruto-Kun, are you here for a sparring match?"

"Lee, I want to ask something important of you." Naruto spoke seriously. "A favor."

"Anything Naruto-Kun."

"I'm going on a mission for a few days." Naruto stated. "I want you to...watch over Temari while I'm gone."

"...May I ask why?"

The blond stared at the one he was trusting, a little more trust seemed fair for what he was asking. But Naruto couldn't trust him with it, yet. He told his friend that the Kunoichi was staying for political reasons. He even mentioned how the villagers weren't too kind to having a Sand Kunoichi around after the invasion. That was all that was needed to be said.

Naruto didn't tell him anything about the political marriage and the circumstances behind it. He left out the parts of the Council Elder Danzo. He trusted Lee, but only so much.

Lee nodded in understanding he could tell there was somethings Naruto wasn't telling him but let it drop. It was a serious situation and a sign of great trust.

"I'll do everything I can to watch over her." Lee stated sincerely.

"Without her knowing." Naruto added, and his friend nodded. "Could you tell Neji that I won't be able to attend the lessons and if you can, ask him for help as well." Naruto stated. "He already knows."

With that, Naruto went up in a puff of smoke. Gotta love clones.

Naruto arrived to see his team waiting for him. Even his Sensei, it seemed that missions were the only things he was on time for.

"Well it took you long enough." Sakura chastised.

"Granny Hokage kept me, take up any problems you have with her." Naruto stated.

He wouldn't let them bring him down. This was his first mission as a Chunin, not counting the marriage. He had just got back in Temari's good graces. And he had a date when he got back. Yep, things were looking good.

"What did the Hokage want to talk about?" Sasuke asked.

The Uchiha acted as if he didn't care, But Naruto knew he was dying to know. But the blond wouldn't tell him anything.

"He asked you a question you-"

"Naruto-Kun!" A voice called in the distance.

Naruto and his team turned to see Temari running towards them.

"Isn't that...Gaara's sister?" Sakura questioned. "What is she doing here, asking for Naruto?"

Naruto ignored her and walked to greet his fiance with a smile. She stopped a foot from him and stared, a little embarrassed at seeing her fiance off.

"Hello Temari-Chan?" Naruto greeted with a smile.

"I wanted to say...good luck on your mission Naruto-Kun." Temari stated with a small smile and blush. "And that I want you to be on your best behavior. As well as to not let this mission spin out of control."

Naruto smiled brightly. "Don't worry Temari-Chan, what could possibly go wrong?"

"I know about the Wave mission." Temari stated.

"Not my fault." He declares with a pout.

The desert kunoichi had to resist squealing at how cute he looked as he pouted. Instead, she pulled him close to her, in a hug.

"I'll be taking care some business while you're gone. A little change here and there." Temari stated.

"If anything happens..." Naruto began.

"I'll tell you." She promised. "And we'll handle it."

"Together." Naruto assured.

"Comeback home safe." She stated as she hugged him to her chest. "The bed fills empty without you."

"Of course Temari-Chan." Naruto smiled brightly. "See you when we get back!"

Naruto turned to leave for the mission, leaving a confused Sasuke and Kakashi, along with a sputtering Sakura. He didn't give them the time of day, he had a job to finish so that he could get back to his fiance. He didn't think he'd ever get used to saying it.

Won't need to. He reasoned. Going to be wife soon. Mrs. Uzumaki-Namikaze.

Review

Next chapter, Temari's day in the leaf.

Sorry for the wait, hadn't realized how much time had passed. Next chapters will be quicker.