Sorry it took so long. I had to rewatch some episodes and do a little research.

Warning: Spoilers if you have not read up to volume 44 or so. Also, sexual themes and language. And just for you who hate fillers, there is no Filler Flashback.

I do not own Naruto or its characters! And I don't make any money off of this!

'thinking'

"speaking"

"singing"

Flashback

Chapter 26:

The boy that was like Lee waved Team Kitsune off. He had a big grin on his face. If he only had a bowl cut, bigger eyebrows, and wore green spandex, he'd be a clone of Lee and Guy. Naruto and Sasuke were glad that he didn't shout things about youth.

The group moved swiftly. They were going to reach Hoshigakure soon. Naruto couldn't wait to see his old friends. He hoped that they were doing ok.

Sasuke wasn't sure if he liked the look on Naruto's face. He looked happy yet sad, hopeful, yet afraid. He wanted to know what his Dobe was thinking.

Kurama just wanted to get this entire mission over with. He wanted to get home, slam Itachi down on their bed, and pound into him over and over again. He paused in thought as the thought of Itachi pounding him into the bed floated into his mind. He honestly didn't care which postion he was in when it came to Itachi. He loved him too much.

Itachi was worried, but he wouldn't admit it. He didn't want to see Tetsuya any time soon. He also knew that his time was running out. He was hiding something from the others, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they found out what it was. He could feel his body weakening. His fingers slipped inside his cloak and he caresses the bottle that held his best friend's eyes. Looking at Sasuke, he quickly removed his hand from the bottle and pretended that he did not just move his arm. Naruto also scared him. He had a feeling that Naruto knew what he was hiding. Shizuka knew and so did Kurama. The only person he didn't want to know was Sasuke. How could he tell his little brother that he was dying?

Naruto suddenly stopped. He turned around with a big grin on his face. "We're here." He pointed down to a small village. "This village has ninjas. I think we may be greeted with a few if we enter further. I think we should stay here at the border for the night. Finding a place to stay at this time of night will be, as Shikamaru would say, troublesome." The others, except Shizuka, laughed. It didn't take long to put up three tents. Shizuka insisted that sharing a tent with Hikaru would be fine. She only requested that the weasel and the elder fox be less loud in their activities tonight. Naruto then proceeded to lecture Kurama and Itachi.

"I'm going to get use some food for tomorrow," Sasuke said.

"Be careful," Naruto said. "If anything happens, tell them that you are a friend of mine."

"I'll be fine, Dobe," Sasuke said before starting towards Hoshigakure.

"Teme!" Naruto growled. Sasuke only smirked as he continued walking.

It didn't take long for him to find everything he needed. He bought some food, some new shirts for everyone to sleep in and to fight in, as well as pants for the men and a small skirt for Shizuka. The pants were black for the ninja and blue for Hikaru, while the skirt was purple. Sasuke was unsure if Shizuka would wear such a small skirt, but it was better than the one she bought. It reminded him too much of Sakura. He frowned at the skirt. 'Cause being reminded of Karin is so much better,' he thought sarcastically. He shook his head. 'Whatever.'

As he continued walking, Sasuke heard a voice. He got closer only to find out that it was someone singing. A boy about a year or two older than himself was sitting on a rock staring at the sky. His hair was a dark brown, almost black. Sasuke could not see the boy's face, but he could tell that the boy was a ninja.

"Summer Star, Why are you so red.
Because, I had a sad dream last night.
My eyes are red from the tears I've shed.
Swollen as I cried.

Summer Star, Why've you lost your way?
I'm searching for a child whose gone afar.
He can't be found, though I've searched all day.
My sad dreams come once more."

Sasuke found the song somewhat strange, but he continued to listen to it.

"Summer Star, Why are you so red.
Because, I had a sad dream last night.
My eyes are red from the tears I've shed.
Swollen as I cried.

Summer Star, Why've you lost your way?
I'm searching for a child whose gone afar.
He can't be found, though I've searched all day.
My sad dreams come once more."

When the boy stopped singing, Sasuke decided that it was time for him to return to camp. But as he was walking away, the boy turned around.

"Who are you?" The boy jumped from the rock, landing in front of Sasuke. "What do you want with Hoshigakure?"

"My name is of no concern to you," Sasuke said. "As for why I am here," he held up the things he bought. "supplies."

"I doubt that is the only thing you are here for," the boy took a fighting stance. "Leave now, or I will kill you."

Sasuke sighed. He put the shopping bags down. Then he raised his hands up to show he had no weapons in his hands. "I'm not here to fight. As I said, I only went to get things for my group. Food, water, clothes, that's all."

"Group?" the boy glared. "How do I know that your group isn't planning on attacking us?"

Another sigh came for Sasuke. "Naruto never said anything about stubborn idiots that don't listen." He whispered the latter, but the boy heard it.

"Naruto?" He lowered his stance. "As in, Naruto Uzumaki?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "If anything happens, tell them that you are a friend of mine." 'The Dobe is starting to get smart.' "Yes."

"Naruto huh?" the boy relaxed. "Blond hair, blue eyes? Says something about becoming Hokage and a whole lot of other stuff?" Sasuke nodded. "Then you must be a leaf shinobi." He glared. "What is a leaf shinobi doing in Hoshigakure."

Sasuke frowned. 'Is this guy deaf?' "I already told you."

"You still didn't answer my first question."

Sasuke glared. "My name is of no concern to you," he repeated then added, "and I do not care for yours."

"Bastard!" The boy lunged at Sasuke. He went in for a punch and Sasuke raised his foot to kick him. Suddenly, a hand was on Sasuke's foot and the boy's hand. Sasuke had déjà vu as he remember that Lee had done that before. However this time, it was Naruto.

"Geez," Naruto said. "I send you out to do one thing and you get in a fight."

"Hn," Sasuke said lowing his foot. "You didn't send me out. I went on my own."

"Still Teme!" Naruto yelled. "You didn't have to start a fight."

"Dobe," Sasuke sighed again. "The idiot was the one who started the fight."

"Outsiders are not allowed in Hoshigakure," the boy spoke up, rubbing his fist.

Naruto turned to the boy. "Sumaru?"

The boy finally looked at Naruto. "Naruto? So he wasn't lying."

"Yeah, I'm with the Teme," Naruto said. 'In more ways than one,' he added mentally. "Our group is just at the border. I was going to send a message in the morning, but the Teme here was hungry." Just as the word hungry come out of his mouth, Naruto's stomach growled.

"Says the Dobe that can't go with one of his seven meals," Sasuke smirked.

"Teme!" Naruto yelled. "I don't eat that much!"

"Of course you do," Sasuke's smirked widened. "You have to fill your three stomachs afterall."

"Bastard," Naruto growled, but his stomach was louder. He blushed as Sumaru laughed and Sasuke chuckled.

"Guess we need to feed you then," Sasuke said wrapping his arms around the blond. "Though I am hungry as well, I'm hungry for something else." He licked Naruto's ear.

"Sasuke!" Naruto's blush darkened.

"Are you two together?" Sumaru asked.

"Yes," Sasuke said. He held up Naruto's left hand. "And we're engaged." Naruto's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"I see," Sumaru said. His tone had a hint of sadness that only Sasuke noticed. "So, what are you here for?" This time he was asking Naruto.

"We are on a mission to show Hikaru, our charge around the world," Naruto said. "And I thought we'd stop here for a day or two."

"Oh, then that's fine," Sumaru said. "Then I'll let the Hoshikage know."

"So I guess you're not the Hoshikage yet?" Naruto asked.

"No," Sumaru said. "But that's ok. I decided that I'm more suited for the Hosikage's bodyguard. I'm on my break now."

"Then who's Hoshikage?" Naruto asked.

Sumaru smiled. "Mizura." And without another word, he vanished.

"Mizura?" Naruto grinned. "Who would have thought." He grabbed half of the shopping bags and headed back to camp. Sasuke grabbed the remaining bags and followed quietly. He knew one thing after today. And it was the fact that he hated Sumaru.

-=-=-=-=-The Next Day-=-=-=-=-

"I didn't expect the Hoshikage to meet us personally," Naruto grinned.

Mizura, a man with medium length, dull purple hair and brown eyes stood before him. He was wearing a light green kimono with blue trimmings. The only changes in Mizura was that he was older, more physically fit, and the hat and cloak he wore. He smiled. "Think nothing of it."

"It is nice to see you again, Naruto-kun," a woman said beside Mizura. Hokuto, a girl with brown hair and indigo eyes. Her hair had grown longer in the last six years. She was taller, but not as tall as Mizura or Sumaru. She wore a pink dress with a red belt. She wore pink leg warms with suspenders. Her forehead protector was now a bandana that kept her hair up.

"Wow," Naruto said. "You are very pretty Hokuto."

Hokuto blushed. "Thank you."

'Great,' Sasuke frowned. 'Another one eyeing my Dobe.' He glared at Hokuto and Sumaru.

"So who are they?" Hokuto asked. "Where are Neji, Lee, and Tenten?"

"Neji's in Suna," Naruto said. "Lee is probably with his wife Sakura. As for Tenten, knowing her, she is either on a mission or in Suna too."

"Oh," Hokuto said.

"Anyway," Naruto grinned. "This is Team Kitsune. The one with red hair is Kurama. The one next to him is Itachi. And this one, who tends to glare a lot, is Sasuke." Sasuke glared. Naruto rolled his eyes. "Shizuka here is helping us out. She isn't a leaf shinobi, but I trust her. And Hikaru is our client."

"Only you can form a group of weirdos," Sumaru said.

"Sumaru," Hokuto warned.

"Hmph," Sumaru glared back at Sasuke. Then it seemed like he remembered something and a light bulb went off. "What is the Hokage doing on a mission outside of Konoha?"

"I'm not the Hokage yet," Naruto said. "Once this mission is complete, I'll invite you to my inauguration."

"The Leaf is going down hill," Sumaru said.

"Sumaru!" Hokuto and Mizura yelled. But before they could lecture him, Sasuke had him by the collar.

"Naruto is going to be the best Hokage Konoha has ever seen," Sasuke growled. "And you are lucky that he has graced you with his presence." He tossed Sumaru away. Sumaru quickly got back to his feet then stopped away.

"Sorry," Mizura said. "Sumaru hasn't been the same since I became Hoshikage instead of him." He looked down at his feet. "I feel like I took a big thing away from his. Like I stole his dream."

"Sumaru needs to realize that a leader needs to be as smart as he is strong," Hokuto said. "Besides, the other villages in the Land of Bear agreed that you were more suited to the role than Sumaru is."

"I see," Naruto said. "Then I guess I should be the one to talk to him. The rest of you should go into the village. Sadly, we won't be staying long. We leave tomorrow."

"I understand," Hokuto said. Mizura nodded. They led the others away. Sasuke looked back at Naruto hoping everything would be ok. Naruto gave him a reassuring look. Sasuke decided to trust Naruto with Sumaru and followed the others.

Naruto easily found Sumaru. Sumaru was using the Chakra he had back when he trained with the star. "Sumaru? Can we talk?"

"Naruto," Sumaru said. "Yeah, I guess."

"I know that your dream didn't come true," Naruto began. "But you shouldn't give up. The first and second Hokages were brothers. I'm sure you could still become Hoshikage."

"They don't want me to lead the village," Sumaru said. "They say I'm the type that acts before thinking. And the Hoshikage has to think everything out before acting."

"Being a Kage is hard work," Naruto said. "You have to protect the village and do a lot of paperwork. Everyone counts on you to sort bad things out and to bring peace. But a Kage is not the most important ninja. A smart man once told me that the King is the next generation and that we are currently the knights that protect them. A Kage is just a very strong knight. I honestly had no idea what he was talking about until recently. A Kage gives hope to the people that they will live happy and in peace. But there is someone almost just as important as the Kage. And that is the one who protects the Kage."

Naruto paused and looked at Sumaru. "A bodyguard, or the Anbu Captain is the one who protects the peace. Think of it this way. A sheath is made of fine yet strong piece of wood or cloth. It covers a swords, a weapon used to protect or to harm. Without it, the sword would rust and become useless. The sword would lose its job and the one who wields it and the people around him are in danger. Without his Captain, a Kage is left open. And in turn endangers the rest of the village."

"I think I understand," Sumaru said. "Though your explanation needs improvement."

"Whatever," Naruto pouted. Then he got serious again. "Besides, Mizura needs someone he can trust by his side. And I believe that's you."

Sumaru smiled. "Yeah." A calm silence filled the air until Sumaru broke it. "When you become Hokage, Sasuke is gonna be the one at your side, isn't he?"

"Yes," Naruto smiled.

"You trust him?" Sumaru asked.

"With my life," Naruto said. "And my heart."

"You really love him, don't you?"

"I do. And you love both Mizura and Hokuto."

Sumaru blushed. "I do, thought there is someone else I like more."

"Who?"

"Remember that other girl I use to do star training with?"

"The one with light brown hair?"

"No, the one with black hair."

"Ah the girl that looks like a boy."

"Naruto, her name is Yagiza." Sumaru pretended he didn't hear Naruto's comment on Yagiza's looks. {So, I could not find her name so I made one for her. Yagiza means Capricorn}

"I'm happy for you."

"Thanks." Sumaru paused. "I'm waiting to see if Hokuto or Mizura confesses first."

"They still aren't together?"

"Not yet. Hopefully soon."

"Yeah."

The two spent a few hours catching up. They spoke of their previous encounters. {See Hoshigakura Arc, Naruto episodes 178-183 for more info} The two laughed, argued, then laughed some more. Soon, they joined the others for dinner.

The next morning, Hokuto, Mizura, Sumaru, and Yagiza saw Naruto and the others off. The group began its journey to Suna. Naruto didn't notice that Sasuke was deep in thought. Itachi knew that Sasuke was thinking about how Naruto kept attracting others to him. It was attention Sasuke did not like Naruto having. He was possessive of the blond. Itachi knew that if he was in the same situation with Kurama, he'd be jealous and possessive too.