DISCLAIMER: I DUN OWN NARUTO SO YOU CAN'T SURE ME!!!! NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NAAAAAA!!!!!
After bring tied to my computer and threatened (not to mention being pestered by Mai ha-ha j/k! ^^) I have finally decided to update little story of mine since it seems that I have many rabid fans XD So there! I updated! Now leave me alone!!!!!!!
If I get at least 70 reviews I promise an update…oh and no repeats! At least, no more than twice, you can review twice, but PLEASE don't leave the same comments and don't leave a review just for the sake of me updating okies? Or I shall ban anonymous reviews buhahaha! *ish strangely hyper and evil*
All that said and done, on with the fic!
Furiwake Kasho was the name of the place where Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi headed. Its name was unique and fit its part perfectly. It was a trading post, a market, to say the least, for people to go shopping and to exchange goods. Merchants from all over gathered here and wanderers exchanged stories about their lives on the road.
Inns and hotels were there as well, for everyone to stay in. It was a bustling and busy place, located at the intersection of the Tree, Stone, and Sand country. ((A/N I looked at a map of all the countries and found that there was an intersection between those countries. I didn't see a symbol for a forest or anything so I decided to put a market there instead.))
It was accessible by anyone and everyone. There, you weren't considered a foreigner or stranger for Furiwake Kasho belonged to neither the Sand, Leaf, nor Stone countries. It was an independent place all on its own.
It was also the busiest time of the year and everywhere people were haggling prices, selling; auctioning and so much more hustle and bustle filled the entire place.
"I'm booooooorrrreeeeddd" Naruto whined as soon as the four stepped into the market place. Sakura sighed. "Naruto" she said trying to say it as nicely as she could. "Why don't you just go wander off and we'll meet you here after dark?" she said a little irritable though Inner Sakura was begging for her to just leave him there for the rest of his life.
"Fine by me, I don't care" Naruto replied then something caught his eye. "Oh wow!" he suddenly exclaimed and rushed over to a stand selling sculptures. "That's so cool look Sakura-Chan, it's the 4th" he said and pointed to a small but almost life like figure of the 4th Hokage. Sakura took one look and her eyes widened as well. "Oh wow" she said her voice in awe. But then her eyes wandered down to the cost of it. "Holy..." she said. "35,000 yen!"
It took a while for Naruto to comprehend what Sakura was saying. Then, he too looked down at the price and frowned. I only have 35,000 yen he thought and sighed. Oh well, it's nice, but I'm here to buy presents for Master Iruka, and Gaara too, not me. Then he smiled. Naruto then remembered his morning run-in with Gaara and hoped he could find the red-haired boy in the market sometime later. Maybe they could go shopping together, even though they most likely were buying things for each other.
It didn't matter. He and Gaara didn't need to keep secrets from each other. They were friends now. Well actually, lovers. Naruto felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he thought of the red-haired boy. It's such an odd feeling he thought to himself. What was it called? Love? Naruto knew he felt it. Iruka had told him once what love was. It was when you cared deeply enough for a certain person that you'd do anything for their happiness and health, even if it meant risking your own. It was an unexplainable feeling, and Naruto, at first, didn't understand it so well.
Maybe he thought I sort of get it now
"What's your problem dobe? You got a fever or something?" rang Sasuke's voice knocking Naruto out of his thoughts. Naruto, just realizing he had been blushing snapped back "No, It's just cold, Sasuke-temee, why would you care if I'm sick or not anyway?" Naruto then turned away slightly so that Sasuke wouldn't be able to see the blush creeping up on his cheeks again, this time, for a very different reason. It really was cold and Naruto hadn't worn the best winter clothes.
Suddenly, he felt something thrown upon on his head. It was a dark blue blanket. "Take it," came Sasuke's voice as he walked almost out of sight. He had started walking a while ago and Naruto hadn't noticed. When he was gone, Naruto just started at the blanket, surprised at how, hospitable Sasuke had been to him just now. He wrapped the blanket quickly around his head and ears, not caring how he looked-there were stranger people wearing even stranger outfits-and set off to go find Gaara.
~* ~
"Errrr....Gaara?" came Temari's timid voice. "Are you...uhm...waiting for someone?" When she didn't get a response she thought on two options: either he was ignoring her, or he just didn't hear her. The latter would most likely get her killed if she repeated herself. "O-Kay....then, whoever you're waiting for, if he comes, just tell me, I'll be right over..." Temari looked around and picked the most eye-catching place "There..." she pointed and headed towards the spots and walked quickly to it.
Temari sighed once she was out of range of her little brother. It still wasn't easy to be around him despite everything that had happened. Yes, she and Gaara had grown a bit closer but she still felt awkward around him. Gaara had stopped taking lives pointlessly thanks to that loud-mouthed blonde from the Leaf but Temari knew her brother would not turn into a saint overnight. Temari was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice where she was walking and she bumped into-or rather collided with some else. Both of them fell to the ground.
"Owww watch where you're going!" came a loud voice. Temari's head instantly snapped up. Speak of the Devil she thought to herself. "Well sorry," she replied coolly. "But if I remember correctly, you're the one who ran into me."
Naruto was about to come back at her saying that she was in his way but he stopped when he saw Temari's face. Where have I seen her before? He thought. He knew she was foreign it was obvious on her forehead protector but what village had she come from? He couldn't remember. Finally, after a few moments of silence, he finally asked, "Do I know you?"
Temari almost fell over again. How could he NOT recognize her? She sighed to herself and was about to answer when Gaara's voice interrupted her response.
"She is my sister."
Temari's noted that the blonde's eyes lit up as he titled his head backwards to see her younger brother behind him. He smiled and waved. "I found you," he said.
What was shocking was that Gaara smiled as well. Temari blinked then rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing correctly. Currently, her younger brother was helping the blonde up on his feet. Naruto dusted himself off and threw his arms around the red-haired boy. Temari, still on the ground, stared wide-eyed at the two and wondered why Gaara hadn't killed the blonde yet.
When Naruto had finished glomping Gaara he turned to Temari and offered her a hand. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "You're...Temari right?" The blonde girl nodded as Naruto helped her u and dusted the dirt off her clothes. She eyed the two, since when had they become such close friends? It was the first time she'd seen him since the Chunnin Exam.
"Is this who you were waiting for Gaara?" she asked. Gaara nodded and Temari shrugged. "All right then, all we have to do is wait for Kankuro. Or do you two want to go ahead and we'll meet back here later?"
Naruto bit his lip for second and turned to the redhead next to him. What do you want to do Gaara? He asked him telepathically. Gaara only shrugged. I would like to spend more time with you. I would like to get to know you better. Is that okay? Naruto nodded, that was the answer he'd just been looking for. He turned to Temari and grinned. "We'll meet you back here later." he replied simply.
Temari shrugged and turned her back to the sales clerk behind her. "Do as you wish then," she said waving them off. Naruto smiled and took Gaara's hand. Let's go he told him and the two were off to explore the market. Temari smiled as she watched the two go off. I don't know what he's done to you Gaara but I'm glad you found a friend. She thought.
Meanwhile, Sakura was dragging Sasuke everywhere. "Ooh Sasuke-kun look at this! Isn't it wonderful?" she asked holding up a bright pink dress. Sasuke sighed and nodded, just to satisfy the pink-haired girl. He really didn't want to be here. So far, Sakura had bought a dress for Ino, a bunch of jewelry and shoes for herself, and god-knows-what for all the rest of her friends and family. She'd even bought Sasuke something but she'd blindfolded him and made him sit outside while she went in and bought it.
The worst part was that he was stuck carrying everything. Everywhere Sakura went, she just had to stop and buy something whether it was just a keychain or an entire wardrobe, Sasuke knew that he would never go shopping with Sakura again.
Sasuke sighed as Sakura started once again talking to another merchant and haggling prices. Exhausted, he found the nearest bench and dropped dead on it, with most of the packages next to him. After all, there needed to be some room for Sasuke on the bench. Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, Sasuke leaned back into the bench and began to watch the clouds go by. There was nothing else better to do anyway.
"Ok, thank you, come again," the merchant currently talking to Sakura said. The pink-haired smiled in turn and nodded. "Arigatou gozaimasu!" she replied with an obvious perkiness in her voice, this was the best day of her life, her parents wouldn't have ever taken her here, there were always complaining that it was too far away or too crowded or too dirty. Now that Sakura had other people to go with her to the market, she was definitely going to take advantage of this day. A giant trail of things to buy, both for her family, friends of course, herself, Sakura proceeded on to the next store.
And she caught a glimpse of something she did not want to see. She hadn't gotten very far when she accidentally bumped into someone. It had been an accident and the girl hadn't seen where she was going, but when she turned to apologize, she was met with very angry aqua green eyes. Sakura gulped as she recognized the obvious signs of insomnia and the Sand Gourd behind the boy's back. Letting her ninja instincts take over, she quickly reached for her kunais, which she unfortunately, had left at home. Not good.
Crap she thought in her head upon finding no weapons by her side. Gaara was glaring daggers at her and Sakura gulped looking for someway out of her predicament. Sasuke, who had been enjoying his break, saw Sakura's apprehensive look out of the corner of his eye and glanced at what she was looking at. His eyes widened in shock upon seeing Gaara, and the look he was giving her. He immediately got up form his comfortable spot on the bench and rushed to her side, which was difficult, since a small crowd was forming around the two in curiosity as to what was going on.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked calmly when he reached the two. Gaara's gaze turned from Sakura to Sasuke but he didn't' show any look of surprise. In fact, Gaara had not betrayed a single emotion at all.
"It is none of your business, Uchiha Sasuke," he replied with a tone equal to Sasuke's. "You're girlfriend just bumped into me and I've yet to receive an apology." Upon hearing Gaara's comment, both Sakura and Sasuke blushed but for different reasons. After a moment of silence, Sakura stepped forward a little and bowed, much to both Sasuke and Gaara's shock, but neither showed it.
"I-I'm sorry Gaara," Sakura said timidly, and then took a step back by Sasuke, who, still apprehensive of Gaara's presence, place his arm around the pink haired shinobi and brought her closer to himself. Sakura was about as red as a tomato and speechless but her inner self was whooping for joy. YEEEEESSSSS!!!! HE'S SO INTO ME!!!! WOOOTTTTT!!!
"Gaara-san!" a loud voice that all three of them recognized broke the tensions between the three. "I've got the…ice….cream? Uhm…" Naruto froze when he saw Gaara, Sasuke and Sakura, all seeming to let out a breath they never knew they were holding. Gaara's head was the first to perk up and he smoothly walked next to Naruto and took the strawberry ice-cream Naruto had bought for him. "Uhm…" Naruto began. "I can explain…"
"YOU'D BETTER!!!!!!" Sasuke and Sakura screamed in unison. "WHY ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER? SINCE WHEN WERE YOU FRIENDS!??!!?"
"Eep…" Naruto squeaked and hid behind his former lover and covering his face with the red-head's shawl. He then noticed that Sasuke had his arm around Sakura and took it the wrong way. "Sakura-chan? Are you on a date with Sasuke?" The comment made both blush as Sasuke relinquished his grip on Sakura, much to the pink-haired girl's anguish. Nooooo!!!! Stupid Naruto! Why'd he have to say that?!?! Inner Sakura moaned.
"That's not the point, I was trying to protect her from Gaara," Sasuke replied quickly a light tint of pink still on his cheeks. "Riiiiggghhhttt" Naruto said obviously not believing it.
"Just answer the question dobe!" Sasuke yelled getting impatient with the boy. "Why are you here with Gaara of all people?"
"Well, I don't know Sasuke, maybe because I WANT TO BE," Naruto said making a 'd'oh' after that. Sasuke sweatdropped.
"Since when? When last I remember, he was the ENEMY!" Sasuke shot back.
"Yeah, that was way back when, Gaara-san and I are friends now!" Naruto said cheerfully glomping the older red-head. Sasuke though he was seeing things upon seeing a small smile cross the boy's face when Naruto did that.
"'Sides Sasuke-temee, you're not my mother!" Nyyyahhhh!" Naruto cried out pulling the skin below his right eye down and sticking out his tongue.
Sasuke felt the blood boil in his veils but smirked at the same time. "You're really asking for it dobe…" he said then suddenly disappeared.
"Sasuke?" Naruto asked surprised that the raven-haired boy could vanish. "Sasuke? Sasuke? Saaasssssssuuuuukkkkkkeeeeeee? SASU-Wahhhaaa!!!!" Naruto screamed when Sasuke reappeared and put the blonde in a headlock.
"You're a very bad boy Naruto, this is your punishment," Sasuke said quite evilly and started ruffling the boy's hair.
"Eiiiiiiiii!" Naruto squeaked as the raven-haired boy gave him a rough- yet friendly noogie. Sakura sweatdropped. Do they HAVE to do this IN PUBLIC? She thought. Sasuke meanwhile, was having fun torturing the boy, until something attacked him from behind.
"What the-?!!" Sasuke screamed as he lost his grip on Naruto and fell to the ground. Noticing the sand around him, Sasuke glared at Gaara. "No fair!" he cried out. Naruto, who had also fallen on his butt winced and shook his head then glanced at the red-haired boy. There was no indication that he had even summoned the sand and there was none around him, and Naruto noticed the sand was edging closer to him instead of Gaara.
:Was that me?: he asked the red-head telepathically. Gaara nodded at the blonde. :It was. The sand doesn't protect you automatically like it does with me but if you feel like you're in danger, it will rise up to defend you: Naruto smiled knowingly at Gaara and smiled :Alright then, I'll try and remember that: he told him and their link was broken as Naruto got up.
"Ha-ha, Sasuke-temee, that's what you get for being mean to me," Naruto chuckled and extended his hand to the still sitting Sasuke. "Gaara-san and I are friends now, he isn't the enemy, Gaara-san is really nice if you'd give him a chance, right Gaara???" He said turning to the red-head. Gaara and Sasuke's expressions turned serious once more and both Naruto and Sakura sweatdropped. The two approached each other, eyes still locked, as if breaking contact would result in something bad. Both seemed to be studying each other, as dogs studied a new animal or person they didn't know, without the sniffing of the rears.
Finally, it was Sasuke who sighed rubbed his temples. "I don't wanna know how or why Naruto and you are suddenly so buddy-buddy but I trust his judgment," he said then walked up to the blonde and ruffled his hair one more time. "Sakura and I are gonna go and find Kakashi now," he said as he took the girl's arm to lead her away. "Be careful dobe," he said his eyes still lingering on Gaara.
"Nyah…" Naruto said shaking his hair back into place. "Sasuke should stop treating me like a kid," Naruto said smiling at the raven-haired boy. "Besides you said, you trusted my judgment."
"That I did," Sasuke replied smirking at the boy as he and Sakura began to walk towards the plaza. "But you are still a kid,"
"Hey!" Naruto protested and wanted to argue but the two were already beyond hearing distance. Naruto huffed. "Jeez…" he said sighing then turned back to the red-head and smiled. "Come-on, I still have to buy you a present Gaara-koi! Naruto said Gaara's pet name openly now since Sasuke and Sakura were gone. Gaara smiled a little as the blonde dragged him off through the rest of the market but he couldn't shake off the negative feeling he got when he saw Sasuke ruffling the boy's hair and smiling. Of course, he understood that the two were close friends, but he couldn't help feeling a bit…he couldn't really decipher the feeling. He wasn't angry at the boy, not exactly, but he felt a bit left out when the two of them were so close together. Upon examining it a bit closer, he was able to recognize the feeling he felt when Naruto and Sasuke were together.
Jealousy
Buhahahha! This is where Seiya-Chan will stop because she has once again run out of ideas ^^ Remember what Seiya-Chan said, 70 reviews and she will update! No doubles too! I can delete them since registered users can only review one chapter at a time ^^ And yes, it is a high number, I know that, but hell, I got 42 reviews for two chapters I think 70's no too high XD Besides, I need some time to slack off again I have a life people XDDDD
~Seiya
(Yes, I changed my siggy again, I am now just plain Seiya XD)
