YOSH! Chapter Eight! Hehehe! So happy! Now we have plot development! Aren't we all happy! Its getting somewhere! And even though I only got one review for the last chapter (Crimson Reality, my most beloved, kind reviewer!) I'm going to keep posting anyway, because it gives me something to do!

So this is the next chapter. And I'm not sure, but I need someone to tell me which leader belongs to which village- ie. Konoha has the Hokage, Sand has the Kazekage, but I don't know the others. So could someone be really nice and enlighten me? It would be greatly appreciated! And just so you all know, I only watch the anime, I don't read manga, so if any of this is wrong in accordance with the manga, bear this in mind, and remember it's a fiction that I created, so what happens is whatever I can think of. Okies? Now that that's sorted out, we'll move on, shall we?

Disclaimer: None of the characters or any of the story line of Naruto belong to me (good thing too! It would be seriously weird by now!)

Warnings: Hmmm….in this chapter, there's not much bad/naughty stuff…maybe a few vague references to violence, but nothing much! Your minds shall remain uncorrupted for this one!

Chapter Eight: Aftermath

Naruto turned his face up to the warm spray of the shower and closed his eyes, letting the hot water course over his body. It felt good and soothing as he washed away the sweat from his nightmare. As the water ran down the drain, so did the remains of panic and fear.

He'd slept peacefully after that nightmare. In fact, he'd slept for two days straight, and now he felt like he was about to burst with restored energy. He felt rested, and relaxed, and he hadn't felt like this in years. He liked it. He also knew that he wouldn't be getting another sleep like that in a long time.

When he'd woken up, he'd found Neji sprawled on a mattress next to him, his hair tangled messily about him. It had been a rare sight indeed to see the normally well-groomed man so mussed up from sleep. Suppressing his laughter with some difficulty, Naruto had made his way to the ensuite bathroom. The only question he had was why was Neji here in the first place?

No matter, Neji would update him as soon as he woke up.

Naruto smiled gratefully, remembering the comfort Neji had provided during the aftermath of his nightmare. He was glad Neji had been there. He didn't know what he would have done if he'd been alone. Definitely something regrettable.

But now that the effects of the nightmare had worn off, Naruto was calm, in an eery sort of way. H was able to contemplate the problems that were associated with this latest development.

As he washed his hair, he went over everything in his mind, carefully picking everything apart and examining it carefully before putting it back together again.

It was a nightmare, true. But there was something different about it. Naruto felt slightly disturbed by this. It hadn't felt completely natural, which meant that someone was playing with his mind. Perhaps they were premonitions of some kind?

Naruto dismissed the idea almost immediately. It didn't seem probable. Who would have such powers anyway?

Immediately his mind came up with several possible answers to that particular question, and he darkened. He knew of several people, none of whom he particularly cared for.

Giving his body a last rinse off, he turned off the taps and reached for a towel.

A sudden whirlwind of sand in the middle of the bathroom announced Gaara's arrival.

"Is this how you normally greet people who've just stepped out of the shower?" Naruto asked, amused.

Gaara ignored him, and Naruto sighed inwardly. Gaara had never really appreciated his sense of humor, and he had a feeling that he never would.

"You're up," was what he said instead.

"Obviously," Naruto replied dryly, rolling his eyes as he dried off. He was not in the least bit embarrassed about Gaara seeing him naked. Shinobi seldom had times to think about such things, and Naruto had never been bothered about others seeing his body before. He wasn't about to start now.

Gaara handed him his freashly-laundered clothes.

"Thanks."

"Who's that in your room?" Gaara asked bluntly with a frown on his pale face.

"Neji? I thought you knew he was here?" Naruto asked confused. "It is your house after all."

"Temari must have let him in. I have been on a mission for the last few days." Gaara said. "Who is he?"

"Hyuuga Neji. He was the one I fought in the chuunin exams, remember?"

"I remember."

"He's a member of my Anbu team now. Very powerful. If I hadn't taken the captain position, Neji would have gotten it." Naruto continued, as he finished dressing. He raked his fingers through his wet hair to give it some resemblance of order and then turned to Gaara. His eyes had taken on a distant look, which meant he was thinking about something. Naruto immediately perked up, his attention caught. But he hid his smile, a plan developing in his mind.

"Come on, I'll introduce you."

Naruto grabbed his arm and dragged a slightly annoyed Gaara into the bedroom.

Nehi was already awake and sitting up on his mattress on the floor. He'd used his fingers to get rid of the knots in his hair, and it was now neat again. His torso was bare and he wore only his Anbu pants, revealing a well-muscled chest, littered with faint scars.

"Morning Neji!" Naruto greeted him cheerfully.

Neji eyed him for a moment, as if deciding whether or not he was truly okay and fit to be up and about. After suffering through Neji's silent scrutiny, Naruto gestured to Gaara.

"Gaara, this Neji. Neji, this is Gaara"

Neji stood up, with his normal cool, elegant composure. He bowed respectfully, his silky hair fally gracefully over his shoulders like a waterfall.

Naruto glanced at Gaara, who was watching Neji with a slightly predatory glint in his eyes.

"Gaara-sama. Forgive my presence in your house. Your sister brought me here."

Trust Neji. He was so polite and he valued good manners and tradition highly.

Neji straightened and brushed his hair off his face. He was taller than Gaara by quite a bit….

"What are you doing here, Neji?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Hokage-sama was worried about your well being, and sent me here."

Gaara eyed him.

"Was she worried that we would nistreat him?" he asked, a sharp tone in his voice.

Neji met his eyes squarely and held his gaze. Neji was used to people with short tempers. After all, he frequently dealt with Tsunade. Not to mention Naruto himself. He wouldn't back down if he knew he was right about something, and he knew how to diplomatically soothe a potentially damaging situation. He had all the political skills that Naruto lacked, and Naruto often used them to his advantage. Neji had no problem with this at all and always knew when to step in.

"Of course not. He left without giving any notice, and she merely wanted me to check if all was well." Neji replied calmly. "Besides, I have that report you requested, and she didn't feel comfortable giving it to a messenger she didn't know and trust. She thought it would be better if I delivered it myself."

Gaara nodded, and seemed to be placated by this.

"Report? What report?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know. I didn't read it." Neji answered.

"Why not?" Naruto asked, absently mindedly straightening the bedclothes as he await Neji's reply.

Neji frowned.

"Because that would be violating the Hokage's trust in me. I was only asked to deliver it."

"That old hag wouldn't have known if you had read it." Naruto countered. "Sometimes you need to bend the rules a bit."

"It wasn't my place to pry." Neji maintained, and Naruto sighed.

Neji wouldn't change his views easily. He was too honorable. Well, Naruto would just have to work him down, little by little, until he saw Naruto's point of view.

Neji pulled a scroll out of his bag and handed it to Gaara.

"The report."

"Arigato." Gaara murmured. He took it and turned to leave.

"Naruto. Temari's downstairs cooking breakfast. I suggest you get down there soon, or things could get quite ugly for you."

Naruto grinned, and Neji groaned inwardly. Naruto was up to something, and it could only mean trouble for Neji, who usually had to clean up the mess that Naruto made.

Naruto and Neji were currently in Gaara's small study, waiting for said person to arrive. Neji was seated in one of the chairs before the desk, while Naruto was wandering around the room, fiddling with things.

"He's doing well for himself, ne?" Naruto mused. "Temari thinks the Kazekage is considering him to be his successor."

"Hmm." Neji's eyes were followed Naruto around the room. "Naruto."

The tone of Neji's voice made Naruto stop moving and face him.

"Are you…okay now?" He asked hesitantly. "The nightmare, I mean."

Naruto gave a small smile and sat in the chair next to Neji's.

"Yeah. I'm okay." Naruto replied quietly as he leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. "But…I don't think I could have dealt with it if I had been alone. Thank you Neji."

"No thanks in needed. You're my friend. It was my duty."Neji told him. "Will you tell me about it?"

At first Neji thought he wasn't going to reply. He stayed quiet for a while, his blue eyes unfocused and slightly troubled.

"It..was…I was at the gates of Konoha. I knew something wasn't right because it was completely deserted, and silent. Some of the building were damaged."Naruto began, and Neji listened closely, watching Naruto's face as he spoke. A knot of tension was beginning to form in the centre of his chest already; if it had been bad enough to freak Naruto out, then it had to have been horrible.

"I was in the school. In iruka's classroom again. At first I though it was empty, but then I heard a noise. Iruka was…hurt. There was blood everywhere. I held his hand and he told me I'd betrayed him. He died before my very eyes and faded away."

Naruto explained about what had followed after with Kakashi at the bridge and at Sakura's apartment. Then he stopped.

"What happened next?" Neji prompted gently, knowing there was more to the story.

Naruto drew in a breath and exhaled loudly, seemingly reluctant to continue.

"Do you remember her balcony? Where I told you about the Akatsuki?"

Neji nodded but didn't speak.

"You were there. You were dying too. I was about to go get help. But you stopped me. Said things…" he stopped.

"What kind of things?" Neji asked sharply, desperate to know.

Naruto's eyes met his.

"You called me a filthy demon. Told me you should have killed me years ago."

Neji's eyes widened at the blunt words, horrified and shocked. But what scared him more was Naruto's face. Expressionless. Empty.

Neji knew how much those words would have cut at the time, how they must have hurt.

"Naruto, I…" he began.

"Its okay Neji. I know you wouldn't say those things." Naruto said, his eyes meeting Neji's once more. This time however, there was an odd little smile on his face. A smile filled with…a strange haunting pain. An old pain, one he was obviously used to by now.

He knew what loneliness and doubt Naruto had felt when he was younger. Now Nruto's eyes held those old doubts again. Neji wasn't sure which was worse. The emptiness, or the loneliness and doubts.

Maybe he actually believes he's a demon…he can't see that the demon and himself are two separate beings…

And Neji could do nothing to make him believe otherwise, or heal that wound. Neji cleared his throat. Something told him that there was more to Naruto's nightmare, but he didn't push. If he wasn't telling him something, he had a good reason for it. May be it was too painful, or too personal. Naruto stood up and moved to look out the window.

"That's a bad nightmare." Neji commented.

Naruto nodded. "But it sounds pathetic when I explain it. Look at me, acting like a child again. Afraid of a dream."

"No it was bad. To watch the people you care about die before your eyes and to believe it was your fault is a terrible thing to experience. I should know." Neji murmured.

Naruto didn't say anything. He was back to his old serious self again. Neji hadn't found out what had made Naruto amused earlier; he'd almost been like his old self for awhile. But it was gone now. A brief glimpse of what used to be.

Neji fiddled absentmindedly with the hem of his shirt and looked around. Gaara….The strange red head with those captivating shadowed eyes. He was so similar to Naruto. Their eyes were the same.

But they were so different. Gaara had the aura of one who was just learning how to live normally. Naruto had the aura of one who was only half-alive, and suffering in his solitude.

Gaara carried himself in a contained manner, quiet, but confident. Neji had felt how powerful the red head was; there was no doubt that he rivaled Naruto for the position of being among most powerful and strongest.

Neji was in the shadow of these two shinobi, and he was in no rush to change that. They were both insanely strong, and Neji wasn't sure what he'd do with such immense power. He knew he was lucky to have Naruto as an ally and not an enemy. He knew that Naruto would fight to the death to protect him. To protect any of his precious people. He was so stubbornly loyal to those that he loved that he would willingly sign his life away if only to let them live for a while longer.

But Gaara….he was entranced by the strangely handsome demon-container. He'd know immediately that he was attracted to Gaara, but that all took a back seat to his duty to Naruto, his captain.

Neji adamantly pushed these thoughts of Gaara from his mind as heat flushed through his body. He couldn't afford to think about him. Not now, anyway.

The door opened then, and the object of his thoughts walked in.

Naruto turned as Gaara seated himself at his desk and set down an armful of scrolls.

"Evening Gaara."

Gaara grunted in reply and leaned back in his chair. He looked faintly tired, and the ever present black circles under his eyes didn't help to dispel the illusion..

Naruto noted subtly that Neji's eyes were latched intently onto Gaara's face. He knew it. Neji was attracted to Gaara.

Which could become another problem entirely…

"Naruto. My Kazekage has ordered me to tell you all I know of the Akatsuki."

Naruto stiffened as his attention immediately switched to Gaara. A corner of the Sand nin's mouth quirked.

"Tell me." Naruto sat down next to Neji.

"Some of their members were sighted down in Thunder country a few weeks ago. It wasn't a clear sighting, so we don't know which members they were."

"Thunder country you say?" Naruto asked, a frown appearing on his face as he processed the information.

Gaara nodded in confirmation.

"It's the first time in years they've been sighted, and the Thunder country sent out spies to follow them."

"I'm guessing it didn't go too well?"

"They were found a few days later by a messenger. They died slowly."

Torture wasn't the best way to go. And if the perpetrators were the Akatsuki, it was guaranteed to be painful.

"The Rai kage sent out messengers to alert their allies," Gaara continued

A.N: I'm only guessing that the leader of the secret village of lightning is the Raikage. Correct me if I'm wrong.!

"And you told us. That's why your security is so tight." Neji said slowly.

Gaara nodded once more, his eyes flickering over Neji's face before they returned once more to Naruto.

"Its not much to go on really."

"Considering the fact that it's the first sighting in years, it's plausible that whatever they're planning is ready to be executed now." Neji said.

Naruto nodded.

"You're probably right. It's a logical conclusion."

"It means that not only you and I are in danger, but all the villagers too." Gaara said quietly.

"Where does Orochimaru fall into all of this?" Naruto asked suddenly, noticing how Neji stiffened, and Gaara's eyes became more alert when he said this. He decided to let it go and ignored their rather obvious reactions.

"It's a common know fact that he was once part of their organization. We don't know why he left though. Obviously, they disagreed about something. They are not allied any more. Tha's the extent of our knowledge."

Naruto was unhappy with the situation. Something wasn't adding up. There wasn't enough information and he couldn't be satisfied until he knew more.

"Naruto. The Kazekage wants to formalize the treaty between the sand and leaf. He wishes an alliance treaty to be drawn up."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Tsunade-baa-chan has been talking of making such a contract for awhile now."

"Is it suitable to assume that you'll act as ambassador for the time being?"

Glancing at Neji quickly, he nodded.

"Yes. Temporarily. I still have duties in Konoha that I must attend to soom."

"Understood."Gaara rose from his chair and led them to the door. "Come with me. The Kazekae waits."