"What's with you?"
Naruto turned to look at Jiraiya, who is staring at him with an analytical look. The women playing in the water had left to go eat, so the old coot was actually looking after his training.
"What do you mean?" asked Naruto in confusion. Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, making the blonde even more confused.
"You have always been annoying and energetic." Said Jiraiya, making Naruto's eye brow twitch. "But you are more excited than usual, you have something planned?"
"Oh!" exclaimed Naruto. He had not noticed that he was acting different. "I am having lunch with someone!"
"Oh?" questioned Jiraiya with a raised brow. "You're having lunch with a lady friend? How did you manage that?"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" yelled Naruto angrily, raising his fist in front of his face then pointing at the toad sage. "And for your information it is not a girl!"
"Sorry, I didn't think you swung that way." Said Jiraiya bemused. Naruto fell backwards in shock at what the pervert said.
"I'm not gay!" yelled Naruto. "We are going as friends, that's all."
"Oh? You could've fooled me." Smirked Jiraiya in amusement. "The way you're hyped up, one would guess that you had a date."
"Eh?!" He loved getting under the brat's skin. "Well, it is with a friend and as a matter of fact, I should get going!" With those words Naruto stomped away, leaving a smirking Jiraiya behind.
"You say that, Naruto, but I can't help but wonder if your friend feels that way." Mutters Jiraiya, still smirking. "This is going to be interesting."
~NxG~
"Stupid Pervy Sage. Hmph!" grumbled Naruto, walking down the road to his apartment. 'Can't a guy be excited about going out to eat with a friend? Okay, Gaara has a crush on me, but it is a lunch between friends. We agreed!'
Though he couldn't help but feel a nervous, giddy feeling when he saw his apartment building in the distance. Then he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the building. Time to stop feeling nervous, he is Naruto Uzumaki for crying out loud! So that's what he did.
"Hey, Gaara!" called Naruto with a wave, causing the red head to focus his attention on the blonde. "I'm glad you came! Hope you didn't wait too long."
"No." Gaara shook his head. The red head is secretly relieved, though he wouldn't show it, that Naruto didn't trick him into waiting for hours like an idiot. Gaara wouldn't be able to handle that, not when he is trying to open up for the first time since he was small.
"Awesome! Let's get going!" exclaimed Naruto. He almost made the mistake of grabbing Gaara's arm, the dude may not want to kill him, but that does not mean he shouldn't be a little cautious.
Gaara walked slower than what Naruto was used to and seemed to like walking slightly behind him, so Naruto had to seriously slow down so the two could walk side by side. Also, Gaara isn't a big talker, but luckily Naruto is overly talkative and can talk for two people. Strangely enough, Gaara didn't show any irritation to his constant chatter like the others do. Which is a nice change for the blonde.
As they went further into the village, the more congested it got, which means the hateful stares were more noticeable. Naruto hoped that the stares would not lead to the end of their starting friendship, oblivious to the now shaking form next to him and the crazed look in the red head's eyes, who thought the stares were directed at him.
"I'm sorry for the stares." Said Naruto with a pained smile. They reached Ichiraku's and Naruto held up the curtain. "They're staring at me, so it's okay." Naruto said reassuringly, now noticing Gaara's shaking.
Gaara stared confused at Naruto's back as he entered the stand, before following inside and taking a seat. "They were looking at you?"
"Uh, yeah." Said Naruto lamely then, to change the subject, quickly said. "One Miso Pork, please!" Gaara, not knowing what to choose, ordered the same thing. Sadly, the red head is persistent when he wants to be.
"Why would they look at you like that?" Naruto gulped down his bite of noodles with some difficulty. This was a conversation he didn't want to have with his da-friend on their first lunch together. It could ruin everything!
"Uh, how about we have this conversation another time?" asked Naruto solemnly. "It's a hard thing for me to talk about, especially since we just became friends."
There was a slight pause before Gaara nodded in agreement.
"Thanks!" said Naruto. "Why don't we get to know each other?"
"Get to know each other?" asked Gaara monotonous, looking at his bowl questionably, obviously he has never had anything like this before.
"Yeah!' said Naruto enthusiastically. "For starters, what's your favorite food? As you can tell mine is ramen."
Gaara did not answer right away, instead he took his first bite of his bowl of ramen. It tasted pretty good, better than what he expected. After swallowing he answered. "Salted tongue and gizzard."
"Gizzard and tongue?" asked Naruto perplexed. He never imagined that would be someone's favorite food, it sounded gross. But he did not want to insult Gaara. "Never tried that before."
"I will take you to eat some, sometime." Stated Gaara, then resumed eating. Naruto sweat dropped and covered his look of dread with his bowl. 'I think I just dug my own grave.' Lamented the blonde.
"What about your favorite color?" asked Naruto, he had a feeling he would be the one to do the questioning. Gaara definitely was not a talker and would only speak unless asked something directly, even then he takes his time answering.
"Crimson." Replied Gaara curtly. Naruto sweat dropped once again, along with a shiver up his spine. 'Why am I not surprised?'
"Mine is orange!" said Naruto. "It's really bright and happy. I can't help but feel happy wearing it!"
Gaara stared at him or rather his outfit with a weird look. Like he is trying hard to find something nice to say about it.
"It is very bright." Consented Gaara before an emotion flashed in his eyes, too quickly for Naruto to identify. "It is a dangerous color to wear on missions." The sentence was said in his usual emotionless tone, but Naruto knew the reason why the sentence was said. Gaara is concerned for him and Naruto couldn't help the wide smile that spread across his face at the realization.
"You don't have to worry about me." Said Naruto, his wide smile still in place. Gaara adopted the look of someone whose secret was found out. "It takes a lot to take me out!" Gaara didn't respond, instead he turned his head and glared in the direction opposite of the blonde.
'Ah man, did I make him mad already?' thought Naruto in dismay, before he realized something. 'Wait. I recognize that look, Sasuke would get that look when he is embarrassed!' Gaara and Sasuke really are the same, personality wise. They both prefer to hide their emotions and get embarrassed when they are caught showing it. At least Naruto knows how to deal with this, except he is going to respond the opposite way he would with Sasuke. He doesn't want to antagonize Gaara like he would with Sasuke, not yet.
"So, tell me about your teammates." Said Naruto, changing the subject. Causing Gaara to look at him "Are you guys close?"
Other than the fact that he set himself up for possible food poisoning in the future, Naruto has to say that their lunch together went smoothly. They were able to learn a lot about each other. Such as, Naruto finding out that Gaara's teammates are actually his siblings! He never would have guessed, they don't look it and definitely don't act like it! Naruto wanted to ask for more details about their relationship, but felt like it is too soon to ask. He also learned that the red head doesn't sleep and prefers sitting in high places with a scenic view
Gaara learned about his relationship with Sakura and Sasuke, though he didn't like the look in the red head's eyes when he heard about how Naruto has had a crush on Sakura for years. He was told all the pranks the blonde has ever pulled. A real surprising thing he learned is the blonde's love for plants, he definitely doesn't seem the type to enjoy planting.
All in all, this lunch can be considered a success. Now they are leaving the stand in a comfortable silence. "That was a lot of fun! We got to do this again, soon!" exclaimed Naruto enthusiastically. "But for now I got to get back to my training, the third round is in a week!"
"You are going against that Hyuuga." Stated Gaara. "He is strong and brutal."
"Yeah." Said Naruto, his eyes darkening. "I will beat him! Just like I promised." Gaara just stared at him.
"Well, I'm off!" said Naruto. "I don't want Pervy Sage to leave while I'm gone." With a big smile and a wave Naruto raced off to his training area. Gaara stared off after him until he was out of sight.
Yes, they will have to do this again soon.
Just like I promised, updated in July! I kept on getting little writer's block at the start of the chapter, but I did it! And a few days before I go to San Japan!
It is too bad that they never mention Naruto liking to plant in the anime or even in the manga. It definitely would have showed you a different view of him. So I decided to bring it up.
Hope you enjoyed it!
