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Thank you to those who participated in my last poll in regards to how you wanted to see this story be updated and lo' and behold — here it is!

[ Seven: Intimacy ]

"They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered."

–F. Scott Fitzgerald

The gust of the desert sandstorm drowned out the silence in the cave, the strong midday sun blanketed by the grains of sand that whipped around the desert plaines. It was dangerous to continue forth Temari had said when the winds had gotten stronger — the unexpected fifth member of the team to joined them on the second day of their travel. Luckily for them and her knowledge of living in the desert, they had managed to find shelter to house them temporarily.

Sitting across from Amaya by the entrance of the cave was Temari and Sakura with Kakashi by the entrance. Right next to her and noticeably restless was Naruto himself. When younger, Team 8 had on some occasions joined forces for a mission, so she had seen Naruto in action before. The rambunctious, overconfident and positive twelve year old ready to take on the quest was often needed to be reigned back to save his skin either by Sakura or Kakashi, but his eagerness to accomplish something was apparent — and it was just as apparent as it was right now.

Though the sandstorm had darkened the sky, it had also made their shelter dull with the lack of natural light. So while everyone was still visible, there was a dullness to their facial expressions. Because of this and because Amaya happened to have been sitting right next to Naruto, she could sense him being restless much so with their knees touching as she could feel him fidgeting. Had she not known what she knew now, she would had not thought much about his eagerness.

It was on the eve of their second day, hours after Temari had joined along with them on their quest to Suna, that Naruto had revealed a secret Amaya herself didn't know about. It was after Sakura had chastised him for his eagerness for wanting to push everyone to continue forth without a break. Considering the time and length to get to Suna, those breaks were necessary for their well-being. After all, an overworked and exhausted shinobi was not a wise person as mistakes could be unconsciously committed at the time. Amaya had pegged her friend's eagerness as someone who wanted to get into the midst of things, his overexcitement for dashing into a situation was not unheard of whether good or bad — which was one of the attributes she admired about him despite those drawbacks. But the reason for his eagerness went beyond his need to be in the action — it was personal.

Deeply personal.

Being told that he was a Jinchūriki was more than a shocking revelation.

It all made sense when she allowed the wave of surprise to roll off of her. To think that he held within the same beast that almost destroyed their village sixteen years ago was… dangerous. This explained the treatment he received when younger, the discrimination, the guilty-by-association she herself had lived through just for being his friend. All because of something he had no say in and still had to suffer the consequences for it. Though they were best of friends, she understood why he hadn't not revealed this secret to her — she would probably done the same thing for fear of losing his friendship. Now, ten years later since they had first met, she now felt a renewed sense of wonderment for the blonde haired shinobi. To had carried all that on his own and still be the good and amazing person that he is now? How could she not be amazed by Naruto?

To say the vibe in the group had not changed since his revelation for wanting to get to Suna would be a lie. At least that's how Amaya felt as they continued on their quest for Suna soon after his reveal. It isn't that this was a joyful adventure to begin with but at least there was a sense of excitement at being part of a very important mission alongside Naruto and Sakura. If she could describe the feel at the beginning of their quest till now, she'll have to admit that Naruto no longer felt as light. It didn't take her much to guess which one of the two reasons was taking a toll on him but it was evident enough that it was making an impact on his psyche.

Without giving it a second thought, Amaya scooted closer to Naruto and rested her head against his shoulder. The moment she did this, she felt him go still. They had done this plenty of times when they were younger, either holding her up or vice versa. While there really hasn't been an opportunity for closeness — with the exception of his tremendous welcoming hug —, this act felt natural for this moment as if they were alone.

"A-amaya?" He finally breathed, clearly taken by surprise by out-of-the-blue closeness at a time like this.

"Just take this opportunity to rest," she started, "once we get to the village, we'll be hurried to do what is necessary."

She sensed his body slowly relax or at least he no longer fidgeted with her body practically leaning against his. It honestly felt like they were alone… with the exception that they had an audience.

"Mhmm…" Kakashi hummed in agreement.

.II.

Amaya could not think of a day like today and quite frankly she was ready to call it a day and just slip into a warm bed and sleep her exhaustion away.

She knew what she was getting into — not that she offered herself to begin with — when she was assigned to Team 7 for an S-rank mission but she never had expected for it to have turned into today. Amaya knew that a ninja's life varied from day to day depending on both rank and what their chosen career path consisted of. Some ninja's led a calm existence despite being well-trained in the field up to those who belonged to ANBU, a life literally focused on secrecy and dangerous tasks. While the latter consisted of well-trained and talented shinobi's, an average shinobi such as herself could very well still experience that level of excitement that came with an S-rank mission. That and with the chance of death for added measure.

It, literally, had been a wild ride the moment they stepped into Sunagakure.

Between rushing to save Kankuro from Sasori's poison to the attempt of following Pakun's nose before coming across their own village traitor, Itachi Uchiha. It would be soon after when the five member team split into two with Sakura and Chiyo staying behind to fight with Sasori while Kakashi, Naruto and Amaya chased after the blonde haired Akatsuki. What followed was a whirlwind of emotions, thrill and chance in Amaya's part.

Throughout her short lived shinobi career, she had never worked alongside someone as talented, fearless and tactical like Kakashi. While her own sensei Kurenai stood on her own amongst the rest, Kakashi was on a whole different level. Even so, she liked to think she fared well alongside him — not up to his level but enough to actually make an impact to their fight but what pleased her the most was the confidence that he had in her abilities, shown a couple of times when either one was in a bind. With three against one, you'd think the fight would had ended quickly but Deidera was a formidable opponent and they were all tested in more ways than one, especially for Naruto.

With the knowledge that Naruto was a Jinchūriki — which so happened to had been the reason why Gaara was taken — Sakura and Amaya had shared an unspoken concern for him before they separated ways. It was evident to them both he didn't enjoy speaking about this part of him, but after Amaya had indirectly insisted that he should be careful, he simply grinned at her and told her and the rest they'll save Gaara. Amaya had seen how Naruto worked, how he had literally grown from the boy she knew to the young man that stood alongside her — first seen with their encounter with Itachi. It wasn't until — for a lack of a better understanding — he started to change that raised her concern.

The friend she knew was slowly disappearing into something she didn't know. Slowly shrouding him was a red powerful aura. It wasn't until Kakashi had informed their change of plan and focus on Naruto instead. Laying out their plan, they were to tag team and reign in Naruto before he was "completely engulfed" as Kakashi had stated. With Kakashi serving as distraction as he chased after a runaway Naruto, her task was to place the seal he had given to her on Naruto. That in itself was easier said than done because this version of him was quicker and stronger than what she was accustomed to seeing with Naruto. It had also helped that it had a one track mind — which at that point was zeroing on Kakashi and ignoring her. It had all happened so quickly that she barely escaped a swipe before placing the seal on his forehead protector.

As he was returning to his former self, dazed and with a loss of equilibrium, she caught him in time before he fell forward, only to awaken to a protective embrace from her. Words were not exchanged for that brief moment as she held onto his body, waiting for him to return to his senses. For the briefest moment, this was the second time Amaya had ever been this close to him and her stoic shinobi training faltered. A warm heat slowly spread through her cheeks as Naruto was coming around, but not before he muttered her name. It was as Sakura and Chiyo appeared that she picked up her resolve and cautiously knelt down, bringing Naruto with her. From her keen medical student observation, other than exhaustion, he looked remarkably well with the exception of some small characteristics that could possibly be related to him being a Jinchūriki. Amaya wasn't sure what to expect, she had never studied the subject so all was new to her but she hoped that he was indeed all right, given the circumstances.

Now, the sun had already set and they were all between night and day, twilight casting over the solemn gathering. Amaya knew well enough there were no losers or winners for today, though they had all lost someone wise. With Chiyo having made the ultimate sacrifice, Gaara was alive and standing around within another much smaller crowd. Though she was part of this mission from the beginning, she had nothing personal invested like those she came with. Even Gai's team had a part in this and rightfully they were amongst the Sand Siblings and Team 7. Even so, the Kazekage's final decision was shared and everyone heard his order — They were all to take Chiyo's body back into the village for a proper burial.

"We'll be staying in for the night and leave when morning breaks," Sakura said as she came up to join with her. "Kakashi-sensei wants us to get to Konoha as soon as possible."

"At least we'll be getting some rest," Amaya responded as she watched the slow march back into the village. "How's Naruto?"

"He's... okay," Sakura responded thoughtfully. "He's right up at the front with Gaara and the rest. We should get going and meet up with them."

Amaya nodded in response as she joined Sakura into the solemn march back into the village.

.III.

To say the last two weeks was a whirlwind in Amaya's life would be the understatement of the year. From venturing out to a mission to save the Kazekage and encountering dangerous criminals, to finding out the indirect truths of who your best friend of ten years really is to the culmination of finding out you were in an exam that you were completely unaware of being part of and actually passing it with flying colors? Well, it was definitely safe to say that Amaya never really had experience something like it in the last couple of years of her life.

Her time with Team 7 and the joint effort with Sakura in finding a cure for Sasori's poison had been the final exam on her path to becoming a medic-nin. It had been a day after returning from Suna that she had been called in that she was given the news. Naturally, she was flabbergasted — concentrated on the task at hand and putting her knowledge to work, she did what was expected from her. Amaya had expected to had taken the final exam under the watchful eyes of the medical director or even under Lady Tsunade considering her expertise, but it was from Sakura's and to an extent even Kakashi who vouched for her. After collecting herself, she didn't question it how these two people had the final say but she took the honor nonetheless. After all — she had just completed one of her life goals.

Even as everyone was relieved to return back home and were given a couple of days off to rest, Amaya still had a small task she had to complete. Naruto's birthday was coming up and while she had originally planned on a get-together with their friends prior to being sent on the mission, the situation had changed, somewhat. For starters, it would be a very last minute thing — she actually planned on being more detailed about the event considering he was turning seventeen, which in itself was a milestone. Secondly and most importantly, she couldn't help but feel that Naruto was a bit distant with her. Of course, they still had the camaraderie that was expected — sharing it on their return to the village from Suna. Nothing appeared out of the norm between them but there was a palpable difference that she could sense. It wasn't until after they all reported and were excused by Tsunade that it was evident to her that something was up when he declined meeting up for dinner at Ichiraku.

Since the day they had first met, the both of them had made it a habit of celebrating each other's birthdays and special events in their own personal way. As they grew older and gained heir own money, those little celebrations were a bit more special in their own way of course. As it was the first celebration since Naruto arrived from training with Jiraiya, Amaya wanted to continue their tradition. So while she was a bit taken aback by Naruto's aloofness towards her, she gave him his space. After the morning she was given the news of her passing her final exam, she planned on a birthday picnic. Taking a rain check on a celebratory dinner with her mother, that same afternoon she picked a basket and placed the homemade bento's and a blanket and left her home to get the last item she needed.

Thankfully, Naruto was home when she arrived at his apartment. Holding a basket of fresh food,she noticeably surprised him when he opened the door. For some unknown reason that he didn't say at the time, he was not expecting to see her and much less be invited out on a picnic to celebrate his birthday but he happily accepted her invitation nonetheless. Though the different reactions puzzled her and made her more curious on his change of character, she did not dwelled in the feeling.

Amaya led him to their spot, the one near the river. They ate their bento's as they chatted away about their day like nothing was amiss between them. As it was his day she was celebrating, she choose not to speak about her finally becoming a medic-nin or inquire why the distance or the events that happened while in the mission. Sitting criss crossed across one another, Amaya finally surprised him with a small strawberry fruit cake as the sun was setting. With his boyish smile and a light pink tinge on his cheeks, Amaya felt an overwhelming sense of warmth towards him.

As darkness was encroaching and the stars above were making their appearance, Amaya laid on the picnic blanket and Naruto soon joined alongside her. She felt a sense of deja vu as they laid there as a comfortable silence set on them. It was only then that she remembered they had done something similar to this not too long ago, laying by the river and talking into the night on their first time getting together after his return from training with Jiraiya. With a deep sigh on her part, she acknowledge to herself that today was a good day and though it hasn't ended, she had a feeling they would end on a good note.

"Amaya," Naruto softly called to her.

"Hmm?" She responded as she kept staring up into the night sky while her hands rested on her stomach.

"I'm sorry for earlier," he said solemnly. This in turned caused Amaya to turn to the boy next to her. "For the distance."

Though there was no light source other than the soft glow the full moon casted upon them, Amaya could tell he was being serious with the look he held. "You don't have to apologize for anything, I'm sure you had your reasons."

"No, I-I," he cleared his throat. "I saw the look you had when it was revealed that I was a Jinchuriki and it brought the memories of when I was younger. I didn't knew it then of course, but it made sense why the people treated me the way they did. They were afraid of the young kid with the monster inside of him..."

'And there it is', Amaya thought to herself as she turned to look into the night sky.

"The scorn, the distance," Naruto continued in his solemn tone. "But you were the only person who didn't see me like that and because of it, you became the best friend that you are now. I didn't know why you didn't treat me the same way like the others, but I cherished our friendship because of it. So once you found out and the look you gave when you did, I feared you would no longer see me the same way..."

"So you thought by pushing me away, it would be easier for you to accept that our friendship was over?" Amaya asked him as she turned to face him.

A familiar sadness crossed his features, "yes."

"I'm not going to lie to you, I found it shocking when it was mentioned and you didn't deny it but I knew you weren't the monster that you carry. You're you, Naruto Uzumaki," she could sense that he was looking at her. "I understand why you didn't tell me before. You don't have to apologize for not telling me sooner." Amaya turned to look at him with a smile on her lips, "I like you Naruto, I cherish you too much to drop you off because you withheld that information."

Just like that, Naruto's expression cycled through his features. From solemn, to surprised and ultimately ending with his trademark smile she had come to admire, she couldn't help but interlock her right arm with his left as she scooted her body closer to his. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me from here on out, Naruto."

Naruto let out a soft chuckle, "I wouldn't mind that at all. Couldn't honestly ask for a better person to be next to me."

Author's Note:

Are things happening? You bet that something has started! Hehehehe

Thank you for reading!