E.H.

Here 'tis! Yet another chapter! This one is courtesy of Mishi Nagano. Naruto vs. Naysayers. This was highly fun to write! I enjoyed writing this from a new perspective. You'll see what I mean soon. Writing from Naruto's perspective is fun, of course, but sometimes I feel a little…brain deprived afterwards. Haha! I hope you like this next piece! It is only a one-shotter. I'm working on the next couple as we speak. Not sure if it'll be more one-shots or a few more trilogies. In any case, I AM tackling that list of prompts! Rest assured!


Rated T (ish)
The Nay-Sayers Comeuppance

Perhaps he wasn't the most obvious choice of savior. However, when it came to his team-mates, few could deny his unique take on protecting those whom he held closer than anyone else. Emotions weren't exactly easily come by for the man. Even at the age of twenty-four, he still struggled with several ideas and notions. Such as women. They were a complete mystery to him and from what he'd come to learn from most of his fellow gender…he wasn't alone. However, he held a certain special charm apparently when it came to his female team-mate. He could ask the awkward questions and still walk away from it all. Not that he understood the entendre to the particular inquiries being made. It was irrelevant at the moment. When Ugly and Scarecrow had decided finally announce a romantic endeavor aloud and publicly that really wasn't any surprise, he'd been rather surprised by the way people had taken it.

Maybe it was his general lack of understanding. Maybe it was just the fact that when many others completely distrusted him, Ugly and Idiot had gone out of their ways to help him learn. They taught him what friendship was. Companionship; affection. Love. He was still a newborn in this world of rich feelings…but Sai never once took his team-mates for granted. Scarecrow had even helped him find a way to undo the seal Danzou-sama had placed on his tongue permanently. That was a blessed day indeed.

So it was probably not all that surprising that he felt a strange burning sensation in his chest when he heard several people whispering behind the couple's backs. His eyes would narrow and he'd find himself doing a gesture he'd seen Ugly do numerous times that always worked to make other's back down. She'd once told him it was called a 'glare.' Idiot had quickly corrected her to say it was a 'death beam' only to be sent flying several feet away. Sai was quick to agree with her in order to save his life. And not bruise quite as badly as the last time she'd hit him. He didn't care for pain…

But if his current actions led to her fists in his face, side, or random appendages being potentially broken…he'd actually welcome it. He wouldn't be able to accurately describe why he was following the group of people he'd overheard moments before talking distastefully about his team-mates as they'd strolled past them. All he could say was…he didn't care for it. That was the strongest feeling he gleaned from his emotions. Dislike. Anger, perhaps? It would explain the inflaming heat that spread throughout him as he continued to listen to their harmful comments. Such comments that, despite Ugly's brave bravado exterior, would make her hurt. It would make her withdraw from emotions that she had every right to feel. Sai wouldn't stand for any of his team-mates to be hurt. If he didn't like hurt, they wouldn't either.

The group came to a stand-still just on the edge of the middle garden area that had been planted and carefully cared for after the war had ended. It was a tribute to the fallen. A living reminder of why Konoha would live on and recover. Regrow. Like the flowers did every spring. But now, these fools were tarnishing the good name of what it was to be Leaf Shinobi.

Silent as a wraith, Sai slipped into a tree overhead them. He poised for the strike when he felt familiar chakra approaching. With a slight crease to his brow (the closest he could come to a frown), Sai turned in the direction of the approaching shinobi. Orange came into sight. The one and only Uzumaki Naruto came to a halt beside the group. The former ROOT member watched with a curious tilt to his head as the blonde gained the group's attention quickly.

…..

"N-Naruto-san!" One of them said his name. He ignored the slight hum of annoyance from deep inside him.

'Tch. Now they speak to you with reverence, boy.'

'This isn't about you, Kurama. So shush for now!' Naruto growled back subconsciously while shifting his stance wider while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oi! What the hell was that talk back there 'bout, huh?"

The first one to speak looked confused. "What do you mean, Naruto-san?"

"Why were you talking down about my team-mates?!" Naruto snapped. He hated how Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan had begun to be treated. Sure, they were like…well…really freaky long apart in age. But so what?! They loved each other so that was all there was to it-ttebayou! Nobody but nobody had the right to talk down to them about it! They didn't see any of the shit or live through it that Team Seven had as a unit…a family. And Naruto was very protective of what he called his family.

"O-oh…you heard that?" The girl, kami…what her name? Eri? Yuri? Yami? Eiko? Eiki? Oh whatever! She spoke up and shifted her gaze before returning it to Naruto with a look he knew all too well. Disgust. It was a look that had been his mother's milk as a child. Nursed him from babe to teenager. Nothing had hurt him more than that look. So seeing it when it was directed at his family really pissed him off. The girl threw her hair over her shoulder annoyingly. "Well they should have some restraint in public! You should really speak to them, Uzumaki-san! It would be horrible if their…scandalous relationship did anything to your reputation!"

"Screw my reputation with a capital F!" Naruto shouted, throwing his right hand out to the side angrily.

"Uh…that's not how you spell scre—" One of the guys started in before cut him off.

"Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei aren't a scandal! They're a couple in a very stable, loving, caring relationship! And I better not hear nothing else about it!" With a few grumbles in reply, he nodded and turned to leave.

"At least Hinata-sama isn't fourteen years younger than he is." One of them whispered. Apparently they were dumber than he was. And he was pretty damned renowned for his lack of…well…okay. For his lack of brain-power in most cases. But how could they forget he could hear them because of his super hearing from the Kyuubi? Spinning on his heel, he clenched his fists ready for a fight.

"That's it!" He flew at the group. Of course, each of them were trained shinobi of at least chuunin level. So it wasn't that far-fetched that they dodged him. But he had speed on his side. Though he was predictable…he was fast. He didn't, however, expect the sudden blur of black and ink to appear at his backside helping him fight the brats.

To be honest, Naruto hoped it would be a decent fight. Something to stretch his muscles at the very least…but it wasn't. The fight was over almost faster than it began. The girl had fled…both males allowing it out of a weird sort of male pride they seemed to be channeling…but the rest? They were currently a stack of unconscious shinobi that nearly reached midway up the tree Sai had appeared out of. Naruto dusted his hands as he turned to his less-stoic-than-usual team-mate.

"Oi! Sai! What's up?"

Sai sighed and looked at the pile as if it was painfully obvious why he'd just appeared out of thin air. Then Naruto realized…it kind of was.

"I overheard their unkind comments over Scarecrow and Ugly. I was not pleased. So I followed them."

"And then you waited for me to come back ya up? Aw, man! That's really cool!" Naruto grinned, hooking his arms behind his head.

"No. You simply arrived at the exact moment I planned to strike. But that was probably for the better."

"Huh? Why?"

"I'm not sure my ROOT training and ANBU training would have kept me from doing something regrettable."

"Eh? Like what?" Naruto frowned, not following. He looked at the pile. It wasn't like they hadn't already knocked out the whole group of dumbasses. What else could he have done?

"Hey! What are you two up to…?" Sakura's voice rang out before he turned toward her. Her green eyes found the pile of bodies and she gasped loudly. "What did you do?!"

"Eh?! That's what you have to say first!? Not, hey! How are ya?!" Naruto pouted. A simple greeting went a long way.

"Naruto…" Uh-oh. She was dragging his name out. That meant her fist would follow and he'd be flying halfway across town in three…two…one…

"We dispatched of some rather unkind naysayers." Sai stated simply as he shrugged. The gesture looked painfully awkward; in fact…Naruto winced in sympathy.

Sakura's demeanor shifted. "Naysayers? To what?"

"You." Sai really had no tact, did he? Naruto grimaced before he looked at the couple. Kakashi-sensei played it off fairly coolly, but he could see the slight discomfort in his visible eye.

"Oh…?" Kakashi-sensei turned to look at him. Naruto almost flinched.

"Yeah. These jerks," Naruto pointed over his shoulder with his right thumb, "were walkin' around talkin' smack about you two. So we took care of them."

Sakura looked like she was debating on whether or not to kill them both or hug them. She settled on locking her arms behind her and looking at them each. She finally smiled in a way that said she was grateful if not a little embarrassed. "Thanks…you two."

"Nah! What're friends for, huh?" Naruto laughed and shrugged.

Sai smiled lightly. Okay, really? It was more like a lip twitch but he wasn't going to discredit it, man! A smile was a smile! No matter how small!

"You are welcome, Ugly."

Annnnd…the brow tick was back. Damnit, Sai. He really knew how to ruin just about any happy moment! Sakura, however, didn't punch him but leveled him with a patiently irritated look before turning to Naruto.

"But, you do have to make sure all of these boys get home safely. Oh, and you get to explain to their mothers why they're unconscious." Sakura smirked as she spun on her heel and returned to Kakashi.

"E-eh?! Why?!" Naruto whined. This was totally unfair! He and Sai were only protectin' their names!

"Because, idiot! You knocked them out! You, as a newly made chuunin have a responsibility to every shinobi in this village! Now get to it before it gets too dark!" Sakura waved her finger at them before she hooked her arm through Kakashi-sensei's offered one. She turned back with a warmer smile. "Besides, if you can get it done before seven, I'll pay for Ichiraku."

Four people were suddenly slung over his shoulders; two on each side while he flung himself with effort across the village rooftops. Nothing but nothing was going to stand between him and his ramen! Not even some stupid, dumbass kids who couldn't keep their mouths shut!


Insert a stupid, toothy grin here and you'll have my expression easily. I really enjoyed writing from Sai's point of view for once. I definitely can't wait to write from his stand-point again. I also need to try out a few other view-points too…

Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it! Thanks for sticking with me so far!

Erika Hearken