Byakuya
Chapter 7
"Naruto's changed." Sakura said sullenly to Lee, sitting on a railing near the main road that went through the Konoha east-gate. Lee looked at her intently, both of them unaware that everyone was listening to their talk. Not much more to do really, as Neji and Naruto hadn't showed up yet.
"I don't think so." Lee answered thoughtfully. Sakura turned to Lee, her eyes slightly wide that Lee would answer like that. For the most time he agreed with her. Her face shifted to confusion. What would Lee know anyway? She had been his team-mate, after all.
"His mask has just started to crack." Lee explained. Sakura frowned.
"Mask?"
"Oh come on, surely you know all about it, being his team-mate and all…?" Lee asked. Sakura was just about to answer when Sasuke spoke.
"He's right. The mask is cracking. Wonder what happened to him…." Sasuke trailed off. Ten-Ten snapped from her thoughts as she heard Sasuke speak.
"To whom?" She asked.
"Naruto." Sasuke answered.
"Oh, that… I was wondering about that too. That act-like-I'm-more-idiotic-than-the-rock-next-to-you-act… It just kind of isn't there anymore."
"Hm." Sasuke acknowledged the sentiment.
"What mask are you talking about?" Sasuke asked completely confused.
"Oh come on Sakura-Chan. surely you've noticed. Nothing about Naruto is real. He doesn't even have any real interest in you. I happen to know for a fact that he's gay." Lee said calmly, crossing his arms over his chest. Everyone's attention snapped on Lee.
"And how would you know that?" Sasuke sneered. Lee got a dreamy look on his eyes.
"Oh I know. I know." He said confident, his thought turning back on the meeting he and Naruto had. Not that anything sexual had actually been going on between them, but there was that tension between them, until they got used to each other again. They had changed in three years, he and Naruto. The entire rookie nine had. Maybe Naruto a bit more than the others.
"Hmm… I always wondered about that. He and Neji did have a strange relationship after all. Too bad actually. I always kind of wanted to give it a go with Neji." Ten-Ten remarked freely. The edge of Sakura's mouth curled up slightly. Ten-Ten's personality had opened up a lot more these few years, and Sakura found the blunt remarks refreshing. Well, that, and that she and inner Sakura had lot in common.
Sasuke turned slightly away from them as the discussion seemed to have died now. He resisted the urge to activate his Sharingan. It would be unwise to use his chakra before the mission began, after all. His dark eyes softened as he peered into the thick fog. Fog always had this effect on him. Perhaps it was some remains of his time in cell seven with Naruto and Sakura. Konoha often had fog in the spring evenings. When the moisture from the air was drawn from the ground by the last rays of sun peeking over the Hokage-mountain.
A shape started to appear from the shadows with fast speed. Sasuke's eyes widened as the figure stopped next to him.
"Hi Sasuke." Naruto said, but his usually loud voice was raspy and down, and it took some effort to hear him. Neji, who had Naruto on his back, gave the blond a tissue. Naruto muffled something that sounded a lot like 'thanks Neji-chan'. Naruto couched into the tissue loudly, making the others turn to the two. Ten-Ten and Sakura blushed and Lee sniggered as they saw the position Naruto and Neji were in. With Naruto straddling Neji's lower back and Neji holding Naruto up from his knees.
"Dobe. Hyuuga." Sasuke acknowledged before turning away, unfeeling as always. Sakura jumped down from the railing she had been sitting on, her brow furrowing in worry. She scrambled next to Naruto, helping Neji set the other boy on the ground. Naruto leaned heavily on Neji, trying to not to pass out, and trying to clear his head from the fuzziness it seemed suddenly enveloped in.
"Naruto… A-are you all right?" Sakura asked, worried for the blonde. Neji seemed a little surprised by Sakura's show of concern, as the pin haired kunoichi was known of brushing Naruto off like dirt. But, as Naruto had been gone for so long, Sakura had had time to grow up a little, and to get more in touch with her brotherly feelings with Naruto, and her not-so-brotherly feelings with Sasuke.
"It has to get worse before it gets better, right?" Naruto stated, closing his eyes for a moment before leaning closer on Neji, who didn't object. Neji wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist while hefting Naruto's other arm over his shoulders. Naruto smiled slightly, before leaning into the warmth. Ten-Ten smirked evilly at Sakura who was looking at the two male's slightly gob smacked.
"Maybe. I just don't like the fact that Tsunade-sama let you on this mission when you can't even stand on your own." Sakura frowned, running her fingers along Naruto's bare arm, surprised by the fact that Naruto didn't withdraw. Naruto had never been big in physical contact, even though it would be hard to guess. Usually Naruto would just clomp someone before letting go immediately. And of course he let the people he had complete trust in touch him. Like Sasuke and his teachers, and perhaps Sakura. She had never bothered to think about it deeper, because it wasn't like she wanted to touch Naruto. Naruto smiled tiredly at her.
"Don't worry about it. It'll pass. Besides, Neji-Chan here has agreed to carry me until I can travel on my own." Naruto said, some of his old cheer returning. Sakura turned curiously at Neji who flinched at the nick-came. Sakura opened her mouth to say something when she was abruptly cut off.
"Yo!" Kakashi smiled from on top of the beam of the Konoha gate. Naruto gathered his energy at the sight of his teacher.
"Oh! Old man! You made it! Did you kick those chuunins we left you with?" Naruto yelled to Kakashi, which inspired curiosity in everybody but Neji and Lee, having been there and seen the situation.
"Maah…no bid deal…After all I'm your great sensei!" Kakashi lazily expressed from on top of the beam with self credit they had never seen from him before. "And I'm not old… I'm mature, unlike some little pieces of shit I could mention." Kakashi continued, expecting a rise from Naruto. Instead, Naruto smirked.
"Hah! I knew it! You could barely stand by the time they were done with you, could you? Jiriya-sensei was saying you've been careless lately… But then again, you never could even complete the step 3 of Fuketsu Koodori, so maybe that just means you're unable to actually learn anything new or anything you haven't copied off someone else…" Naruto said off handedly, seemingly looking on his left even though his eyes were trained on Kakashi the whole time.
The rest of the cell seven and cell Gai turned on Kakashi, curious on how the jounin would react to the clear offence of his authority. After all, all ninja's were expected to respect their elders. So they were very surprised when Kakashi froze and then slipped over the beam in shock, barely rolling in time in the air to land on his feet. They silver hair covered the startled eyes for a moment before Kakashi's head snapped up. His only visible eye was wide. Kakashi jumped on his feet before disappearing, only to appear beside Naruto and Neji.
"Fuketsu Koodori?" Kakashi asked, his eyes dark and tone serious. Naruto nodded, equally serious.
"Hai." Naruto whispered. Kakashi nodded. He then massaged his jaw absent mindedly, though Naruto knew the act was one of nervousness. Kakashi turned to look at him with his eye half closed.
"Stage four." Naruto answered at the unspoken question. Kakashi nodded before disappearing and appearing in front of the group again.
"All right people! Let's get going… we'll be expected to reach wave country at nightfall." Kakashi said before jumping to the nearest tree. The genins followed him, Neji carrying Naruto. Sasuke threw a suspicious look at Naruto, who was looking dazed at something over Neji's shoulder.
Wonder what Fuketsu Koodori is? And how he shocked Kakashi-sensei with it like that. He's not easily moved… Too bad we weren't close enough to hear what sensei said to Naruto. Sasuke thought curious. Then his gaze darkened as he picked up the pace, jumping in front of Ten-Ten.
And what is Neji's and Naruto's relationship anyway?
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"All right. Neji, Sasuke, first room on the right. Lee, Naruto, second room on the right. Ten-Ten, Sakura, third room on the left." Kakashi said to the genins standing in the wooden hallway before disappearing.
"Where is that Kakashi-Sensei going?" Ten-Ten asked, her brown eyes curious, while her mouth was set on a frown at the seemingly useless Jounin. Well, of course she knew that Hatake Kakashi was a good ninja, a famous one, but he didn't seem to be so... informant on his students as Gai sensei was.
"Checking the perimeter." Sasuke said, before retreating to his and Neji's room. Sakura turned to her and Ten-Ten's room silently, pulling the other girl with her. Ten-Ten squeaked in surprise before letting out a snort.
"He, guess you'd be one for masochism and bondage." She remarked, making the other girl blush furiously. Sakura pushed the door close behind her, trying to hide her blushing cheeks while inner Sakura was screaming 'Oh YEAH! Tie her down girl and punish her!'
Back in the hall way, Lee asked Naruto if he needed help. Naruto snorted.
"I'm fine!" Naruto stressed the word. "Just because I should avoid using chakra for couple of days doesn't mean I can't walk!" Naruto exclaimed before turning to his room. He threw a glance at Lee and Neji behind him, and added:
"And besides, I got some people to meet here."
Lee traded a look with Neji before shrugging. It wasn't their business who Naruto met and saw after all.
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A/N: All right! Here's chapter 7. Wow. I can't believe I've actually came this far.
So, here I put them on the mission finally, and get to play more with what Naruto has been doing while gone. And next chappie you get to see some of the new characters I made up.
Please review and let me know if this story actually is worth writing for!
--Dark
