(AN: Alright Here we go its short but the story's almost over and the hour is approaching for climactic end!)
- Against Time
It was a not a very comfortable boat trip back to the main land. It was an even less comfortable run back to sand. Temari and Naruto stayed at point keeping a wide berth between themselves and everyone else. They even set up camp away from the main party.
"Naruto-san is acting strange... dont you think Yugito" Bee commented as they collected firewood.
"Ever since the incident on the ship he seems distant." She commented continuing her task.
"Should we ask him about it?"
"Shut up Bee... if he wants to talk about it he will come to us."
-----
Tsuande sat by Shizume and Jaraiya and silently looked down at the fire blankly.
"What's wrong Lady Tsuande...?" Shizume asked again noticing the older woman still wasn't acting like herself. Tsuande only shook her head softly letting out a sigh.
"I'm going to go out on a limb and say Naruto learned something he shouldn't have when he was in your mind." Ino said coming over to them. "That is the danger of my clan's ability's... you may learn something you don't want to." Tsuande shivered.
"Bingo." Jaraiya said bluntly. To his shock the simple comment earned him a fist in the face sending him flying away into the forest.
"Lady Tsuande... what did he learn... Not that..." Shizume covered her mouth. She knew of her teacher's fantasies about the boy mostly becouse she would walk into the hokage office to find Tsuande in the middle of a dream of the boy.
"Yes that." Tsuande growled out at Shizume for almost spilling the information to Ino.
"You know... Maybe you should talk to them about it." Ino said. Whatever it is I am sure that Temari and Naruto will be ok with it. Or accept it and get this silly little silent feud over with. Tsuande sighed.
"You're right... I'll go talk with them. Tsunade said standing up from her spot by the fire."After all were not kids... were all adults, we shouldn't be acting like two year olds.
-----
Temari was wraped up in Naruto's arms tightly snuggled deep into his chest. They sat in the crow's nest taking over after Naruto told the captain that his ninja passangers wished to help on the boat. It was really just a way for them to keep active and away from Tsunade.
"Shes coming up here." Naruto said almost sounding tired. Temari knew he was sick of avoiding the Ex-Hokage, but the reality was neither of them knew what to tell the older woman.
"It's ok... we can't put it off any longer." she said pulling his arms around her tighter. Naruto smiled and kissed the back of her neck softly just before Tsuande crawled over the banister of the lookout. The night was silent for a long time as the couple looked at the older blond waiting for her to start.
"Look... I... I'm sick of us trying to avoid each other like this. I love Naruto a lot... and yes I admit... I have thought of him sexually before... but I wouldn't act on it... For christ sakes im 54 years old... I know that it would never work. Your like a son to me Naruto."
Naruto bowed his head low. Temari stood and looked at Tsuande.
"Thank you... for clearing it up... I know it must be hard for you to see him and I together but... I do love him Tsuande-san. Naruto has done so much for my family, and me. He saved Gaara... He protected us and fought beside us when Akatsuki came to take Gaara from us. He truly is an amazing man..."
Naruto stood finally and looked to Tsuande.
"I'm sorry... I was so upset with you... I over-reacted a bit..."
"Thank you..." Tsuande said smiling softly. Temari however snapped into a hard look and swiftly moved her hand down to Naruto's groin snaching up his equipment though his pants holding on protectively as she eyed Tsuande.
"Just remember..." Temari said cold as steel. "This is mine!.. And I don't, and will not EVER share!" she said tugging lightly on Naruto equipment to emphasize her point.
Tsuande was stone straight in the face. Temari, 19 year old Jounin of the sand, had just openly promised a legendary Sannin an ass whipping if she got near her man. She was so shocked she almost fell out of the crows nest. She did the only thing she could, she laughed out, hard and loud. She laughed so hard her sides hurt and she held them and continued her fit for nearly a full five minutes. When she finally stopped, Naruto and Temari waited with questioning looks for an explanation.
"Naruto you have a hell of a woman there... take care of her always. Temari you be good to him ok... He's had it rough in life... he deserves a good woman, and a loving family." Tsuande said finally pulling herself out of her laughter.
"Ya I found a great girl kaasan." Naruto said making Temari and Tsuande smile. Temari hugged him and Tsuande hugged them both. "Well, we land soon... we will have to move fast to get to Suna."
"Right." Temari agreed
"You would of made a hell of a Hokage Naruto, you really would have."
"I know." He replied with a grin.
-----
Gaara and the Sand village ninja stood at the ready atop the walls of the sand village. Pain was approaching with the remainder of his troops. Konan, Zetsu, and all Six of Pain's body's stood at the front of a mass of nearly five hundred missing nin of rain. All under the control of their leader, Pain.
"Are all the gates closed?" Gaara asked as Baki landed next to him.
"Yes Kazakage-sama"
"All battle ready ninja, chunnin and higher here with us?"
"Yes sir."
Gaara nodded as his friends from Konoha lept up beside him. Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, and Chouji. Stood tall and proud the symbol of the sand village on there foreheads shined brightly under the desert sun.
"Well we have nearly half of their forces." Stated Shikamaru bluntly "But even still They will be hard pressed to break into the city, and running right across the desert into our walls is suicidal at best... even with a force their size."
"They likely have some kind of trick to break our wall's defences. But it is no matter, We will make our stand." Baki said sternly. "Sand ninja have their pride to think of... Our walls have Never once been breached in war times."
"They will come... and they will die..." Gaara said, his sand swirling around him violently.
"Agreed" Chouji said before the group disbanded to join their families for the fight.
-----
Naruto and the others were running full speed back to Suna. The massive group made good time across the landscape not slowing for anything as they went.
"Hows everyone doing" Naruto asked Temari as she came back to running at his side.
"The Genin are lagging behind a bit but they are still keeping a strong pace."
"Should we rest? I don't want to push them too hard." Naruto said.
"They will be fine. We need to get to Suna... I have a bad feeling."
"So do I sweety."
----
Jaraiya and Tsuande ran side by side not far behind Naruto and Temari.
"He has turned into a hell of ninja... Not even I thought he would make it this far this fast." Jaraiya admitted
"He is a special kid... A lot like his father."
"Yeah... That he is."
"And he's found a good woman." Tsunade added with a smile.
"A Kage's daughter, Wind mistress, Jounin with a promising future ahead of her... Drop dead gorgeous to boot... yeah he made out like a bandit."
"Well She did almost the same... A Kage's son... even though he will not get his family's money or land. ANBU hunter SSS ranked ninja sage, and keeper of the nine demon and now the eight tail fox summon."
"There is that..." Jaraiya said scratching his chin. "She did well for herself as well if you look at it that way. He may not have a place for them but Im willing to bet they will be fine."
"Same here Jaraiya. For a change we agree on something." Tsuande said with a small smile
-----
Bee and Yugito took up the rear guard together behind the sand team sent with Naruto and Temari.
"The boy is with that Temari girl it seems." Bee said as he fingered the hilt of one of his swords. "Good for him"
"It seems they're happy together." Yugito commented.
"Why can't we be more like that..." Bee commented bluntly not looking at the woman beside him.
"The arrangement our kage set up... Was simply for me to produce two children from you... to be the next containers of our tailed beasts... I have no love for you... and if it were not my duty as a ninja... I would have nothing to do with this at all... My husband may have past on but I am still loyal to him. Heart and body."
"I didn't agree with it either... and since we're technically missing nin now... The arrangement is dissolved... I wouldn't try and hold it to you... Especially if you still love your man..." Yugito grinned just slightly.
"You know... for the brother of the Raikage your not half bad Bee... Even if you try to be one of those annoying ass rapper bastards that never shut up and can't rhyme worth a damn." Bee grinned and laughed "Oh and Bee..." Yugito continued "Call me kitten again and I will personally see to it you will never be able to have kids... ever." Bee gulped and paled considerably.
"Yes sir... umm ma'am, Yugito-san..." Bee said moving just a little faster in hopes of not pissing of the woman more.
(AN: Alright so showdown is up next *terns on song 'how many people want to kick some ass' and starts typing* Will Naruto make it in time?!!! Will Gaara be an uber bad ass?!(well Duuuh)Anyway i'll leave you hanging for now. I'm still getting over a really bad cold so... :( hopefully it won't effect the time it takes to get the next chapter out! Oh... just to rant a slight bit... isn't it annoying when you read a story and in the AN they say "Will not be putting up a new chapter untill i get xx amount of reviews...." That just seems so pompous... don't be an ass not everyone likes to comment. Besides if your wrighting for reviews your writing for the wrong reasons. Write for yourself. Forget what others have to say. It's why I don't let flames bother me much. If you dont like it dont read it. I'm not stupid and think EVERYONE is going to like how i write or What i write about. If you do thats great, if not I'm sorry, maybe you will like a diffrent book or not I don't know. anyway I'm done I'm sure you don't want to hear me bitching. Take it easy all.)