It has been a week.
A whole damn week since he was brought back to Konoha and was held here inside the Hospital since then!

What was their damn problem anyways?!
It wasn't like he would just escape them all and run after Sasuke!

No... he wouldn't. Even if he would like that.
He had to go with Jiraya and train with him. He had to grow stronger! Strong enough to beat the shit out of the Uchiha and drag him back to Konoha by his stupid duck-butt-shaped hair!

He was pouting and angrily mumbling again, when the door opened silently.
"You're mumbling again."
Naruto perked up at the voice.
"Of course I am! They won't let me out of here! It's sooo boring!"
Gaara smiled lightly at him and sat on the chair next to the bed.
"It's because you can't behave yourself."

"That's not true! I can behave myself! They're just overreacting!"
"They let you go for a walk two days ago and had to stitch two of your cut's anew. I wouldn't call this overreacting."
Gaara chuckled softly and Naruto pouted.
"That was an accident..."
He puffed up his cheeks and looked out of the window when Gaara's chuckling wouldn't cease, but his angry pouts were faked. He was relieved to see Gaara smile, to hear him chuckle again. The first few days he wouldn't leave the hospital in worry for Naruto. He didn't know that Naruto knew, but Temari had told him.
She said that he was barely leaving the floor Naruto's room was on until Tsunade gave him a lecture about it - a lecture he thoroughly ignored.
He did what he wanted and didn't seem to show Tsunade any respect.

It was funny, really, how the two of them would always tangle with each other.
Tsunade would always shout at him and show her bad temper while Gaara just looked at her with an indifferent look on his face and leave her raging.

It wasn't until Shikamaru had talked to him that he finally left the hospital from time to time.

"How are you feeling?"
Naruto wanted to squeal - and roll his eyes. Gaara was sweet and caring. He made it hard to resist the urge to just jump him, but Naruto really felt better! Ok, he still looked like a mummy 'cause of all these damn bandages, but he felt a lot better than a week ago.
"I'm alright, believe it! If they would let me I would go out to train!"
"So you have to be stitched up again? Don't think so."
"Stop holding it against me!"

This time, Gaara laughed. This lovely laugh he hid so well.
It took a second for Naruto te realize that he was staring at his friend - again - and grinned at the raccoon.

"Now that we are talking about it. How's your training? Have you escaped Lee again?"
Gaara shook his head, still smiling softly.
"No. He wanted to visit his teammate, the Hyuuga."
"Neji? How's he?"

"Better." Gaara nodded lightly. "His healing process is steady, but he is like you still bound to the bed."
"So I'm not the only one suffering!"
He laughed, but Gaara shook his head and chuckled quietly.
"He's not suffering. You're just overreacting again. He actually knows how to stay still for a moment. He's meditating a lot and reading."
Naruto made a face.
"Bleh! Reading is the most boring thing in the world!"
"It can be quiet entertaining if you have the right book."

"No it's not!" Naruto cried out and completely missed the knocking on the door. Gaara didn't.
"Come in." Surprised, Naruto looked at the door and saw Shikamaru standing there.
"Your sister is one troublesome women..." he sighed unnerved. "She's looking for you and bothering everyone about it."
The Sabaku nodded and stood.
"I'll come back later."
"Say hello from me! Kankuro too, if you see him."
Gaara nodded and left with Nara.

Naruto sighed and stared at the ceiling.

It was getting painfully obvious that he really loved his raccoon.
It was getting hard to not jump the redhead... He was just so adorable! The always slightly worried eyes, how he would sit at Naruto's bed until Tsunade threw him out, how he always asked if he was ok...
He even cooked for him! He knew that Naruto didn't like the food here, so he always brought something from home. It was heaven!

But Naruto also felt kinda bad...
He was growing restless when Gaara was near. Gaara's hand were always neatly folded in his lap, but Naruto wanted them in his hands! Gaara had beautiful hands. They were pale and unscathed and had long elegant finger...
He also recently noticed how soft his lips looked like... he didn't have girly lips, but they weren't all too thin either. They had a soft tone to them, slightly darker than his pale skin, and the last time Gaara slept in the chair beside his bed, Naruto had to turn away or he would've done something stupid.
His hair was always shiny and a stark contrast to his fair skin... Not to mention his eyes. Those deep teal eyes, surrounded by the darkest black... He shuddered by the thought.

There was no denying it: He loved Gaara.
He loved him and he wanted to be with him!

There was only one Problem: Gaara.
This was Gaara. What would he think? What would he say?What would he do?
Was he even into guys?

He never approached one of the girls that were swooning after him... But he also didn't seem to notice them. It was like he didn't know what they wanted from him.
He also never answered Ino's approaches, but he and Hinata were seen quiet often together...

Could Gaara and Hinata be... ?

Naruto groaned, turned suddenly and pushed his face into the pillow.
This was bad. He didn't even know for sure and was already jealous... But if she made him happy there was nothing he could do... nothing he would do. Gaara's happiness was far more important than his selfish feelings...

He lay there and sighed sadly.

Gaara deserved his happiness.
He didn't deserve a best friend that was jealous of his girlfriend...

But on the other hand...
Gaara had never laughed in her presence, he never joked or chuckled at something she'd said. He had visited her when she was in the hospital after the exams, but he hadn't sat next to her until sleep overcame him.
He hadn't cooked for her every day, he hadn't smiled at her like he smiled at Naruto...

Naruto was the only one who had the honor to see Gaara without his mask - be it in sleep or awake.

So... there could be hope, couldn't there?

The fox annoyingly groaned into his pillow.
He needed to know if Gaara liked Hinata! Was this too much to ask?! Gaara would've told him, wouldn't he?
But he was a shy guy... Urgh!

He jumped a little, when the door burst open.

"Gaara-kun! I hope you've had enough rest! We... uhhh... huh?" Lee blinked a little confused. "Naruto-kun, where is Gaara-kun? He said he would visit you..."
"He left with Shikamaru. Temari was asking for him."
Naruto sat up, to face Lee better.

Lee scratched the back of his head while staring out of the window.
"His sister? Maybe it was something important..."
He was quiet for a while, before he slammed the door shut and grinned at Naruto.
"Well, I'm gonna wait here for him! There's no doubt he would go somewhere else after talking with his sister!"

He laughed happily and began running on the place.
"It's a shame we have to wait. I'm full of youthful energy! I can't stand still now!"
"I can see that!" Naruto laughed, then stopped.

Lee was the one closest to Gaara, if you didn't count Naruto himself.
They always found time for each other, so Lee would be the closest person to know...
But... this was Lee.

Lee.
The one who turned to Lee with love problems was either really desperate or insane...
But he already was pretty desperate about the whole thing and it wouldn't take him long to grow insane if it would go on like this.

He sighed and looked at his raven-haired friend.

"Lee? Can I... Can I ask you something?"
"Sure thing! What is it?"
"Well.. you see..." He sighed and looked helplessly from the right to the left side, before he faced Lee.
"Do you know if Gaara likes Hinata?"

Lee stopped his running.
"Huh? How could he like her? Aren't you two together?"
"Well, they're together pretty often and... WHAT?!"

Lee and Naruto both looked at each other.
Lee with his eyes slightly confused, Naruto's eyes big and round in surprise.

It was the green beast that broke the silence.
"Well... I always thought so... the fire of youth in both of you shines the brightest when you two are together, but it seems like I misunderstood it..."
Naruto kept silent for a moment, before he began to grin.
"No problem! I think you're right, one could easily misread the situation. I mean... with us always sticking together like that it's no wonder!"

"What is no wonder?"
Gaara stepped into the room and looked at both, but Lee only grinned.
"I was just misjudging things! Now come on! We have training to do!"

He grabbed Gaara by his arm and dragged him out.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh at them.

Lee was right.
Sakura had told him, Kiba had told him... but he never realized what it meant.
They all thought that they were already together! Everyone could see it! Everyone with the exception of the two themselves!
It was just hilarious!

There was hope.
More than that: he was sure he could win Gaara's heart!
He already seemed to like him quiet much, so he just had to put the icing on the cake!

The fox let himself fall into the pillows and grinned at the ceiling.

The raccoon would be his before he had to leave with Jiraya. He would make sure of that!

Hello my lovely readers! ﾐ(o*･▽･)ﾉ

I've holidays, so I have some time to write and I still have to make up for the past time, don't I? ;)

So... yeah XD
I think this chapter is rather self explanatory, so I just keep my mouth shot and go to bed. XD

See you, when the next chap is ready ;)