A/N: Sorry for the late update! Just have to remind everyone that I will be updating every two weeks from now on due to lack of time to type, this also means that future chapters might end up shorter to keep up with my own deadlines. I DON'T OWN NARUTO!

Episode Ten: Naruto's Plan

Gaara could finally breath! Naruto had lied his way into getting the Hyuuga's to believe in their somewhat-true story on how Gaara couldn't report on Hinata's state as communication was being interfered with by outside forces. He let out a sigh when he dropped down onto Naruto's couch. Did he forget to mention that he was still living with Naruto? Yes? Well, due to their circumstances, Hinata arrived to her clan the day previous while he would be 'arriving' the day after she did. And currently he was bored out of his mind, there was nothing to do, and all Gaara wanted was be with Hinata. From the time he confessed to the moment Naruto announced Hinata's return Gaara had spent a total of three days with Hinata to get to learn more about each other and just be in each others company. Those days will forever be engrained into his mind where he would play them over and over like a beautiful melody.

"Hey Gaara, you ready for tomorrow? You get to see Hinata again!" Naruto said as he entered his room, only to stop dead in his tracks. "Dude, what the hell did you do to my place?" Naruto yelled, his head whipping from one end of his apartment to the other. The majority of the ground was covered in articles of clothing or his large collection of books- Jiraiya being the author- laying open with the pages down, the closets seemed to be torn open, and he didn't even want to start on the kitchen! It looked like a giant seaweed monster was growing in his sink! What the hell was Gaara making? "Really? Woah, what the HELL is that?" Naruto pointed to his trash can that was emanating a strange dark aura.

"I was bored." Gaara answered with a straight face. "That's what happened when I was mixing up strange foods that didn't quite come out to my liking, and any way this is entirely your fault."

"WHAT? How is this my fault?" Naruto's eye twitched.

"You left me alone with nothing to do."

"I assumed you would have done something to entertain yourself without involving the destruction of my apartment!"

"Yes, you assumed that, and this is what happened."

"Ugh! Fine! Just fucking fine! Can you at least tell me what in the world is coming out of my sink?"

"To be honest I'm not sure. I was experimenting with vegetation and mixed that growth formula you have- why the hell do you have that any way- and infused some chakra and at first it didn't do anything so I poured it down the drain and when I tried to wash what was left over it just started to expand."

"Ahem, that growth formula isn't mine. I now know to never leave you alone unless I want to find my apartment in complete chaos." Naruto fell face forward onto his bed, mumbling about how Gaara acted all cool but in actuality he was just an overgrown child while Gaara resumed his experimentation with his insatiable curiosity.

xxx

Gaara woke up to someone draped over his torso, the person was heavy and emitted a low snore as they remained unawakened by Gaara harsh shove onto the hard ground. "Naruto, what are you doing in here?" Naruto finally showed signs of regaining conciseness by giving a snort of annoyance to the glaring Gaara.

"It's your fault my own room is jacked up the way it is, so it's only fair that you share a bed, man. I can't even find mine!"

"Sorry, I lost it." Gaara apologized in his usual monotonous voice.

"HOW THE HELL DOES SOMEONE LOSE A KING-SIZED BED?" And that king-sized bed was never seen again... "Okay, let's forget what happened yesterday. Get ready, today we're meeting Hiashi to formally apologize for the late notice on Hinata's well being." Naruto picked himself up and headed for the door to get to his room in hopes of finding some clothes. Gaara busied himself with dressing in the clothes Naruto lent him since none of his were here, obviously. The excitement was boiling over in his stomach at the prospect of seeing Hinata again, the time they had spent together was made up of them talking about their personal lives, not sparing time for...other things. Gaara's head thought of that kiss and his hands moved faster to straiten his attire into something presentable.

They left half an hour later to head for the Hyuuga compound, but Naruto wanted to make a quick detour to the Inuzuka home. Gaara shot Naruto a perplexed look, and Naruto just shrugged it off as he knocked on the door and shouted for Kiba.

"Naruto? Gaara? What the hell are you guys doing here?" Kiba shifted his sharp eyes to Naruto then Gaara and then back to Naruto's smiling face.

"I want to make this quick, but this is a private matter, so may we come in?" Naruto asked to a confused Kiba. Kiba moved aside to let both Kages into his home. Gaara wouldn't admit it, but he liked the Inuzuka's home, it always exuded a warm air that made one feel welcome and had an earthy scent that was very calming. Kiba motioned towards a few chairs that were positioned next to a large window that gave an amazing view of the Konoha forest that surrounded them.

"So, what's up Naruto?" Kiba asked as he sat down onto one of the chairs, eying Naruto, his brow lifted as he focused on Naruto's azure eyes.

"Like I said before, I want to make this quick. You already know of the situation between Konoha and Suna, and how it is becoming progressively worse, well, this is tide to that. You have already heard both of Gaara's and Hinata's story and how this Dr. Mikoto is the cause of their and our problem. We know who is causing the problem, we have the location of his base, and all we need is select shinobi to help annihilate the research and take out the scientist before the people of both nations finally take things into their own hands. Kiba, are you willing to join myself and Gaara in destroying that lab?" Gaara looked at Naruto's stern face and Kiba did the same as he mauled it over in his head.

"I'm in, but who else do you intend to bring into this and what exactly is your plan?"

"Not many more, as this is marked a covert mission, it will be easier to get past guards unnoticed with a small group. Once we are upon them we will push forward and quickly take every scientist out, though we will have to take a few for questioning and prepare supplies for possible survivors."

"Those that are being held captive will most likely need medical attention, who are you planning on taking with us?" Gaara questioned.

"Hinata, and don't give me that look Gaara. Sakura is off in the Village Hidden in the Mist, Ino is out on a mission with Choji and Shikamaru, and TenTen- even though she knows the basics- is usless when it comes to healing wounds. Gaara you have to put your feelings aside, you must keep in mind that Hinata is a kunochi of Konoha, a woman who has trained her whole life for the moment she faces these sort of situations. I also want Shino to join us and and Lee for backup."

"That's a total of six shinobi, are you sure that that will be enough to take Dr. Mikoto down?"

"With all my heart Kiba, with all my heart. Kiba, what I need you to do is inform and recruit Shino and Lee as soon as possible, the assault will take place next week."

"Next week?" Kiba shouted in shock. "Why so soon?"

"Naruto wants to catch them off guard, and by attacking them early on they won't have time to prepare a counter attack." Gaara answered for Naruto. Kiba frowned but said nothing to the Kazekage. "Can we count on you in getting Lee and Shino to join us?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll go as soon as possible, now where are you two going?" Kiba raised a quizzical brow at their attire. Naruto was wearing a tattered-looking black and orange robe that was torn at the edges, and Gaara was sporting long black pants that were too long for him and a loose white shirt with a black fire centered on his back.

"We're going to visit the Hyuuga compound."

"Going to visit Hinata, aye, Gaara?" Kiba gave a hearty laugh as he watched the Kazekage turn his eyes down and cross his arms over his chest. "Well, I don't want to hold you up and keep Hinata waiting for you, so I'm going. Don't worry, I'll have Lee and Shino ready Naruto." Gaara and Naruto followed Kiba out the door and continued their journey to the Hyuuga compound, Kiba sped along the streets to Shino's place; the opposite direction of the Kages destination.

A/N: There you go! Sorry that it took me so long to get this up. Hope you enjoyed my strange humor! Until the next!

-Baron