Gaara brushed the strands of hair from Naruto's face as Naruto slept soundly. His wounds were completely healed, considering he has been unconscious for nearly a week. Gaara stood up and adjusted the hita-ite on his sash, then left the room, where Temari nodded and stepped into the room to guard Naruto.
Gaara grabbed the robes and put them on, heading towards his office where he had a meeting to attend to. He achieved his goals, and now he had respect…but if only Naruto would get what he deserved…
A frown appeared on his lips. Why is Naruto here before the message was sent to Konoha? And why did Tsunade agreed to keep him here without the blonde's consent? Gaara sighed…he had heard that Sasuke was in prison…but the reasons were unclear. Gaara sat on his chair, and the meeting commenced.
/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
Sasuke stared at the doors to his cell. It was pointless to look for a weakness…his sharingan was useless in this cell…and every time he tried to use his sharingan, the walls would consume his chakra at a rapid rate. Why did Naruto react in such a way? Why was he paying for something he didn't do? He would never hurt Naruto…and the accusations were farfetched for crying out loud!
"Uchiha…you have a visitor…" the guard said as he opened the door to reveal Hinata. To say Sasuke was confused was an understatement.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her confused. Hinata stepped into the cell, closer to Sasuke.
"I know what happened that night…and I know it wasn't you…" Hinata said. Sasuke stared at her dumbfounded. He quickly stood up, grabbing her arms.
"If you know…why am I still here? What did I do to you so you can condemn me" Sasuke asked, getting angry. Hinata remained calmed as she peeled Sasuke off her.
"Uchiha…san…before I was knocked out…my byakugan was activated…and the chakra I saw was not yours…" Hinata said as she averted her gaze.
"It was Itachi's"
/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
Hot breath tickled his neck as he whimpered, begging for it all to end…begging for him to kill him already. But no…he would simply laugh and cause him more pain…but what was worse was that he made sure he remained awake.
"Stop…please" Naruto whispered to deaf ears. Screams filled the room as the grunts became louder. The pain was too much for him and he could feel the darkness surround him.
"Do it…" a voice whispered. Naruto blinked…everything was suddenly dark.
"What…"
"Do it brat…unleash me…" the voice echoed. Naruto recognized who it was.
"No…I won't do it…I won't!" Naruto shouted.
Naruto sat up, gasping for breath as the cold sweat trickled down his spine. He looked around frantically and wildly, trying to find 'him.'
"Naruto…even asleep you're loud" Temari said as she sat on the bed. Naruto looked at Temari, focusing his eyes.
"Temari?" he questioned.
"At least your memory isn't as slow as before" she said with a smirk.
"So…I made it…" Naruto said. Temari looked at him puzzled, and her puzzlement grew to worry as Naruto smiled and chuckled.
"I made it…I made it!" he shouted as he glomped Temari, causing the duo to fall off the ground. Gaara raised an eyebrow as he entered the room. Naruto was rubbing his head where Temari had smacked him.
"Boy…I take care of you and you push me off the bed" Temari snapped. Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry…really sorry…" Naruto said. Gaara's lips twitched as a small smiled formed.
"You're awake…" Gaara said. Naruto looked up to see Gaara, a grateful smile in his eyes.
"I'm sorry…" Naruto said as he bowed down suddenly.
"For barging into this village without a perm…" something hit Naruto's head. He looked down at the scroll confused.
"A permit? But you have one here…" Gaara said. Naruto opened the scroll and indeed it was a permit, and a small note attached to it. Naruto opened the note and began to read it, sadness appearing in his features.
"Baa-chan…thanks…" Naruto said as he closed the note and the scroll.
"I won't be here long Gaara…" Naruto explained. Gaara shook his head as Temari stood up and left the room, smirking slightly.
"Stay here for as long as you wish…" Gaara said as he took a seat near the bed.
"Actually…because of recent incidents…I had requested your hokage if you were allowed to remain here under my care until everything settles down…but we never expected you to show up the same day it was decided" Gaara said. Naruto looked at him surprised.
"Re…really? You were going to let me stay here?" Naruto asked. Gaara nodded. Naruto lowered his head slightly, his hair shadowing his eyes. His bottom lip trembled slightly as his hands clenched into fists. Gaara tilted his head confused with Naruto's reaction, until he found himself staring at the ceiling and his back against the floor, with a puddle of blonde on him hugging the living daylights out of him.
"Oh…sorry…" Naruto mumbled as he sat up, tilting his lead like a fox would. Gaara sat up amused. His sand didn't react to the impact and Naruto hugged him…wait…Naruto hugged him? Gaara smirked slightly to much of Naruto's surprise and shook his head.
"No need to apologize…I've learned…years ago…that sometimes risking a little…is rewarding in itself" Gaara said, making Naruto even more confused. Gaara stood up and offered his hand to Naruto, who looked confused.
"I bet you're hungry…" Gaara said. Naruto smiled and grabbed Gaara's hand, standing up and noticing he had a whole new wardrobe on.
"Temari took care of your wounds and clothing…I hope you don't mind our clothing" Gaara said. Naruto grinned and shook his head.
"Not at all…it looks really cool on me" he said. Gaara shook his head, smiling as he still had Naruto's hand clasped within his hand.
"There's a ramen stall here…though I don't know if it will meet up to the standards of your…Ichiraku" Gaara said. Naruto was gaping at Gaara. Why was Gaara so talkative? Had things really changed in all these years that even the cold hearted Gaara was warm hearted? Gaara looked at him puzzled for his silence.
"Are you…ok?" he asked. Naruto snapped back to reality and grinned, only to notice his hand in Gaara's. Something flashed in Naruto's eyes as he quickly pulled his hand away, startling Gaara.
"No..nothing…I…I'm sorry" Naruto said as he lowered his head. Gaara was a little puzzled for Naruto's actions, and he had to admit, he felt something bad in his chest when Naruto pulled away.
"I…don't like being touched….I'm sorry…hey lets get that ramen" Naruto said, changing the subject quickly. Gaara nodded as he showed Naruto the way towards the ramen stall, until it dawned on him. Tsunade had mentioned something about…Itachi and his eyes grew darkly.
"I understand Naruto…" Gaara said and Naruto noticed the darkness in his eyes, shivering slightly.
"You…know?" he asked confused. Gaara turned to him and nodded.
"Only your hokage and I know…that's why we won't let anyone get near you here…unless he or she has a permit from Tsunade herself…" Gaara said with a half smile. Naruto smiled slightly and nodded, following Gaara through the streets of Sunakagure.
/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
Kakashi sighed as Iruka paced around the living room.
"I can't believe it! Why is Sasuke so…stupid! And now Naruto…Oh kami please guide him" Iruka said. Kakashi stood up and hugged Iruka. Iruka sighed and let Kakashi hug him…it felt safe and warm and that is what he wanted at the moment.
"Naruto is in Sunakagure…under Gaara's care…you know Gaara and his village are strong allies…and because of them…Naruto is now finally safe…" Kakashi said.
"But Sasuke…" Iruka started as he sighed.
"Orochimaru is still at large…Akatsuki also….Naruto and Sasuke's lives are in danger and you know Orochimaru will enter this village at will and take Sasuke away…" Iruka said.
"Iruka…do you believe him?" asked Kakashi.
"Believe who?" Iruka asked as he looked at the silver haired man before him.
"In Sasuke…do you believe his words?" asked Kakashi. Iruka sighed, but nodded.
"I know Sasuke…and I know Naruto…something just doesn't click in all this mess…I know Sasuke wouldn't stoop that low…no matter how much he loves Naruto" Iruka said. Kakashi nodded and smiled…Iruka always had a sixth sense…if you put it that way…to sniff out those are be telling the truth and those who are culprits and deserve to be burned to death. But if Iruka believe Sasuke…then it put Kakashi's mind in ease…because he was hoping he wasn't the only one…
"Still…Hinata is the only one to save him…" Kakashi said. Iruka nodded as he kissed Kakashi's neck.
"Things will get cleared out…but Naruto…" Iruka's eyes saddened for a moment.
"Don't worry…he'll be back here soon…" Kakashi said. Iruka shook his head as he pulled away form Kakashi and sat down.
"Here….there….it doesn't make a difference Kakashi…his fate is sealed…" Iruka chuckled at this. He was sounding like Neji all those years ago. Kakashi sat down next to him and pulled him close.
"Tsunade is still searching for a cure Iruka…with Naruto in Gaara's care and out of the emotional and mental stress he was in…he might actually start getting better…Tsunade is working hard…and so is everyone…believe in her…believe in us" Kakashi whispered as Iruka sobbed into his chest.
/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
Tsunade folded her hands under her chin as she stared at Hinata. Hinata remained calmed and stoic, yet still had that fragile look.
"Are you sure?" asked Tsunade. Hinata nodded.
"My byakugan was activated…I saw through the illusion…and I am willing to prove it hokage-sama" Hinata said. Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose. Oh how she would kill for some sake.
"We can prove it…it may be a little painful Hinata…but there is a way to check your memories of that moment and see if what you say is true…and if truly wasn't Sasuke" Tsunade said. Hinata nodded and bowed.
"I will go through with it" Hinata said. Tsunade looked at her for a moment.
"Why are you doing this for him Hinata?" asked Tsunade.
"Because neither of them should be alone…especially when they need each other…I know Sasuke is innocent…and I know Naruto is blinded by fear…especially now that…Naruto's life has been sealed…they need each other Hokage-sama…they need to erase the pain and loneliness stitched into the fabric of their lives…" Hinata said. Tsunade smiled and nodded.
"They will not be alone for long Hinata….I guarantee it" Tsunade said with a smirk.
/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break/
Five pages for you guys /glomps reviewers/
Misao92: here ya go…hope ya like it
Tamara2187: I wonder if Naruto will forgive them too lol and I'm the author P but…my weird mind will figure something out for his friends
Red Rose: /glomps/ yay my faithful reader lol I always look forward to your reviews XD and thanks for not killing me lol
Kyuubi-kun: well I hope you like this chapter then lol I didn't like my last chapter either…poor Sasuke…/sniff sniff/
Stupidbakaznfool: you'll see why Itachi wants Gaara /maniacal laughter/ I'm trying to make the chapters longer I really do…but half way through them my hands get tired and my brain dies…/sweatdrops/
Arrowofhikaru: glad you liked it…enjoy this chapter
Naiei-no-miko: ah priestess-sama /bows down/ lol you'll see what happens in like…two more chapters between Gaara…Naruto and Itachi XD
DeAtHaNgEL-LaVeNdA: aww I don't mean to be cruel……..ok maybe I do lol but its for a good cause lol
Tenshi-no-Youkai: here's the next update…please don't kill me lol
xXFissshBonesssXx: Gaara is a good kage /glomps Gaara plushie/ sorry for all the page breaks lol I needed to break it so I can finally get to the main part of it lol
Rosemary: yes evil Itachi lol go Itachi! Torture poor Naruto-chan
RuByMoOn17: glad you like it. Enjoy this chapter