He Said She Said
Disclaimer: Don't own, not even a little crumb. Don't care to hear about what jutsu should be what and I post once a week. Deal with it.
Chapter 25
"When did it happen?"
Naruto was standing before the Hokage at the hospital. It was an hour after her victory and she looked at the sheet covered body of the red headed boy she'd fought only hours ago.
"During the intermission. Anbu found his body outside the walls. A mixture of poisons and seals on his body along with the decapitation which we believe was the killing blow." Hiruzen said sadly. He had Anko bring the blond to him and told him what had happened when she had asked where the Suna nin were staying so she could check on the sand user.
There was sadness in Naruto's eyes that stabbed the Hokage worse than any blade, "Jiji he was so scared and alone. When I fought him…he wasn't even trained. Without his sand…" Naruto's blue eyes looked back at the room. "Have his teammates and sensei been informed?"
The Hokage sighed. "They left, which means they know what's already happened to the boy."
"Gaara." Naruto said.
"What?"
"His name is Gaara." She looked at the Hokage. "And before Orochimaru fucked with me, I could have been him."
The Hokage had nothing to say to this.
"What now Jiji?" Naruto asked, her elation at winning the tournament dampened with the death of someone she wanted to know.
"We continue living, each day to it's fullest." The Hokage said putting a wrinkled hand on the young blonds tanned shoulder.
"You have a ceremony to get ready for." The Hokage said after several minutes of quiet. "Come to my office at seven tonight."
Naruto nodded and followed the Hokage out. She looked back at the morgue. "Goodbye Gaara. I think we could have been friends. I hope you find peace and happiness in Kami's embrace."
Naruto exited the morgue and the Hokage sighed. (For one so young to understand so much. You are growing into a fine person, one I am happy to know.)
XX
(Anko's Apartment)
Sakura laughed at the face her blond teammate was making. "Not happening."
"Bu Naruto." Sakura tried again.
"No." Naruto had returned to find Sakura there with a battle dress.
"Its even got orange." Sakura tried.
"I don't care if it came with a lifetime supply of ramen. I'll wear a dress on a date if I have to. But I will not do it outside of that." Naruto crossed her arms under her breasts. She had removed her mesh top and was wearing a sports bra.
"But it's a ceremony." Sakura tried. She looked at Anko who raised an eyebrow. "You sister wears a skirt!" she tried after looking at Anko for a moment. "Kurenai-sensei wears a battle dress."
"And I'm happy for them. Listen Sakura, I appreciate it. I really do. But I'm not a dress person."
Sakura sighed and looked at Anko for help, but the snake mistress shook her head indicating she didn't want anything to do with this discussion.
"Naruto it's a ceremony. You need to dress nice. You only get promoted to Chunin once."
"Sakura, if I so chose I can show up and get my Chunin vest butt naked."
Sakura's mind shot off in many directions with that statement.
"Sakura?" Naruto asked seeing the glazed look.
Anko was laughing. "I think she likes that idea brat."
Naruto narrowed her eyes at the older girl he considered a sibling then turned to look at Sakura.
Naruto grabbed her hand and dragged Sakura into her room ignoring Anko's call of "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Naruto slammed the door. "That leaves me a long list of things I can."
Anko blinked. "Damn. She's right."
Eureka on the couch gave a wheezing laugh getting Anko's attention. "Shut up furball. And get the fuck off my couch!"
XX
"Sakura-chan." Naruto said and the pink haired girl finally blinked. "What?"
Naruto grinned. "You were picturing me naked."
"I was not." Sakura said, trying to fight her blush.
"Were so. You want to kiss me. You want to…" Naruto's taunting was cut off as Sakura leaned in and kissed her.
The blonds slender hands went to Sakura's waist and pulled her closer.
Naruto was getting lost in the kiss when she felt Sakura's hands slipping under her sports bra.
"Sakura-chan." She said pulling back from the kiss, her voice was a bit rough.
Sakura blinked and realized where her hands were and she pulled them away with a speed that would have made an elite Jonin proud.
"I've gotta go." Sakura was out the door before Naruto could speak. She sat on the edge of her bed and looked up when Eureka slipped in.
"Hey girl." Naruto said scratching her companion behind the ears as she climbed up onto the bed. "I'll never understand girls, and I am one now."
Eureka gave the whisker marked blond a look before licking her cheek.
"Thanks."
XX
(Steets)
Sakura was mortified.
(Why did I do that?) she thought. (I mean, I've been interested in Naruto ever since he became a she.) Sakura had been confused about her blond teammate ever since the blonds transformation and Sakura knew that she was attracted to her.
(But she's got so much going on. She doesn't need me messing around with her.)
Cha! Are you stupid? Inner Sakura howled. Get back there and get some. Naruto's been interested in us for years and now…man that kiss. Inner Sakura seemed to be remembering the kiss and where Sakura's hands had ended up.
(It doesn't matter. Naruto made Chunin. We won't be around one another as often.) Sakura reasoned.
Bullshit! That's a lame excuse. Fuck, we might as well let Hinata have him if your going to be such a pussy. Inner Sakura snarked.
Sakura frowned. Hinata did want Naruto, and it didn't seem to bother the Hyuga Heiress that the blond she had been crushing on went from male to female.
And lets not forget flower girl. Inner Sakura said in a certain tone that had Sakura clenching her fist as images of the dancing they did during the month between the finals and the preliminary's.
But maybe you're right. I'm sure Ino and Hinata will enjoy teaching Naruto about being a woman in all ways. Inner Sakura fired off.
Sakura spun on her heel and stormed back towards Anko's apartment.
She opened the door without knocking and stormed back to the blonds room. Anko who was sitting her favorite chair with ice cream cup blinked. "HEY! THERE IS A THING CALLED KNOCKING!"
Sakura didn't respond as she opened and closed the door to Naruto's room with a slam.
Anko shook her head. "Teenagers. So the drama." She licked her spoon and saw she still had some ice cream. "Ah, cookie dough, what would I do without you?"
XX
Naruto who was stretched out next to Eureka lifted her head when her bedroom door banged open.
Eureka with a keen survival sense left her spot on the bed as Sakura slammed the bedroom door shut.
"Sak…"
Naruto was pulled up by her bra and Sakura once more slammed her mouth onto Naruto's.
It was demanding, it was filled with passion, and it was a statement of claim.
Naruto grabbed Sakura and flipped her over so she landed on the bed. Neither stopped kissing for a bit and when they did separate, they were gasping for air.
"What brought this on?" Naruto asked.
Sakura's emerald eyes looked into the blonds blue eyes. "I made a choice. I was on my way home and it hit me…I don't…I couldn't stand seeing you with anyone else."
"Is this that possessive thing?" Naruto asked.
"A bit. But in the last month…(sigh) You've been driving me crazy. It took an argument with myself to see that I…" Naruto covered Sakura's lips with a slender finger. "Don't. You're being competitive." Naruto said seeing the look in Sakura's eyes. "You got the same way when you and Ino fought over Sasuke."
Sakura saw the pain in the blonds eyes and she remembered what Anko said to her that night they went to Enchanted.
"Give me time Sakura." Naruto said softly. She looked down at the pink haired girl. "I'm still figuring myself out."
Naruto slipped from the bed leaving Sakura to lay there and think some more.
AN: The ceremony next chapter. Yes, I killed Gara off screen. Deal with it. Jiraiya is going to look for Tsunade and he's taking our favorite blond with him. Sakura is making her move, but she won't be the only one. And no, Naruto will not be dating any of the male teammates. Mentally he freaks out. And the voices in my head yell worse than fans at a basketball game.