Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. This applies to …. Forever or when I can earn a bazillion dollars to buy the copyrights to it.

A/N: I know it's a bit slow. This is just some R&R. Have fun. The next one will be out next week. Leave me some feedback.

Chapter 4: Welcome to the Sand Box!

Sakura was pondering the meaning of one of the greatest mysteries of life. Naruto. What are those? They look…fluffy. Why is he carrying that? Is it really needed on this mission? He's such an odd person; to this day, he still surprises me. The object of her perusal were multicolored fluff ball key chains or something that Naruto was stowing away in his knapsack.

"Hey, Naruto?"

"Ohayo Sakura-chan! How are you this lovely morning? In the prime of our youth-"

"You've been hanging around Lee too much." With that, Naruto just stuck out his tongue at her and winked. "Anyways Naruto, I was wondering," an inquisitive glance in the direction of a pink, fluffy object, "what is that?"

"What's what?"

"That?" asked Sakura, pointing to the unidentified thing. Several pairs of eyes directed their gazes at the said object.

"Hehe. It's…" A sheepish grin replace the questioning look before, Naruto looked at his comrades, "—a secret."

"Hmm, it doesn't look like something that needed to be pack. I thought we were only supposed to pack the minimum for the mission." With that, Ino looked at Naruto with a chastising look. "I doubt they're you're good luck charms. Knowing you, your good luck charm would be a used ramen cup or something,"

Quickly hiding his good luck ramen cup, Naruto pouted. "Mou, Ino, I NEED it for the mission. You'll see. I'll tell you all what it's for after we leave Sand and before we get to Avian Village." That said, the group headed towards Sand Village.

Office of the kazekage

"Naruto. What do you require?" The redhead had grown tall in the past 4 years since the group had last seen him. They would normally hear that he is in the village from time to time, but never had the time to chat. The three men in the room all were around six feet tall. Naruto being the tallest at 6 feet 2, Gaara being the shortest at 6 feet

Who would have thought that those two shorties would grow so tall? The pink haired girl looked at the three tall and beautiful men around her.

"Hey Sandman!" At the impassive look, but heated glint, Naruto quickly continued. "We're on our way to a mission and there were some supplies here that I couldn't find in Konoha. It's just a quick stop. We'll just be here a night."

Gaara looked at the group. "Do you require assistance?"

Naruto shook his head. "Nah, I've got it covered." Looking at the team he waved. "I'll meet you guys at the inn later." With that, Naruto left 3 people looking at the Kazekage.

Sakura, not one for being rude, decided that she would try to initiate conversation with the stoic kage. It can't be any harder than talking to Sasuke in the old days. "Kazekage-sama, you look well."

Gaara looked at the kononochi. "Hn. Do you 3 need anything else?"

Ino started towards the door. "No, no. We were just leaving. Thank you Kazekage-sama."

Gaara nodded at the group. "There is a festival tonight. I will be unable to assist you this evening."

With a last glance at the red-haired man, Sakura began to leave. Sasuke, on the other hand, looked at the kage and left.

As the three headed to the inn, Sakura sighed. "Same old Gaara. Well minus the killing aura. Well, not entirely. Just less."

Sasuke just looked at her. "He's changed quite a bit."

A befuddled look crossed Sakura's face. "Huh?" Ino looked at the handsome shinobi skeptically. "Yeah right."

Sasuke kept his pace and looked towards the inn in front of them. "Hn. Ino didn't know him, so she wouldn't know. There were more subtle differences if you looked closely. As a shinobi, you should be more observant Sakura."

"Hai, Sasuke-kun." Always the same. You would think that after all these years, I would have improved enough to match him.. We're the best in our respective fields. Oh well, that's one of those things I love about him. With a smile, she entered the inn after her two comrades.

Town

A blue-eyed blond was sauntering around with his arms full of bags. Ah, I'm so excited! I wonder what they'll think. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Naruto continued his way back to the inn. "Ah, it's almost time for dinner! I'm starved!"

Inn

BANG, BANG, BANG

"Oi! Are you two ready yet! I'm starved! Let's go eat!" Naruto was trying to gather his companions for a nice evening out.

In the background, a stoic man smirked. "Dobe. It hasn't been more than five minutes and you're already making a racket. How are you able to succeed in our covert mission?"

"Bastard! Respect your future hokage! Besides, I have a plan." The door opened and revealed two kimono clad women.

Naruto stepped back. "Why are you two so dressed up?" He glanced at Sasuke, who had changed into black slacks and a formfitting shirt. "Speaking of which, why did you all change clothes?" Naruto looked down at his own clothes. He was wearing the same clothes he traveled in.

Sakura looked at the blond. "Baka! You should at least shower before we go out! You stink!"

Ino looked at Naruto with an amused look. "There's a festival tonight. I guess someone," glancing at Sasuke, "forgot to mention it to you."

Sasuke shrugged. "When he returned, he threw everything on the bed and stormed over to your room."

Naruto looked at the three and sighed. Giving a large smile, he made his way back to his and Sasuke's room. "Alright, I'll get ready. See you in fifteen downstairs."

The other three smiled. Sakura looked at Ino. "Since we have fifteen more minutes, why don't we put on some finishing touches." Both girls looked at Sasuke and returned to their rooms.

Sasuke returned to his room and took out a book to read. Five minutes later, a loud crash and a wet towel in his face greeted him. "Dobe….."

Naruto looked at his friend. Swathed in a towel and still very wet, Naruto stood there drying his hair. With a smirk that rivaled with Sasuke's, "Oops, didn't see you there."

Sasuke looked at Naruto. Looks like he's been slacking. "That was fast. You need to train more. Looks like you lost some definition." He smirked at the blond.

Naruto laughed. "Still as observant as ever, neh Sasuke. Doing hokage work isn't all fighting you know." Frowning he looked at himself in the mirror. "Hmm, you're right though." Glancing at his still staring friend, Naruto smiled. "Didn't know that you were so closely observing my body."

Tinting a little pink, Sasuke glared at Naruto. "Hn. A good ninja is observant. Figures you wouldn't know that."

Naruto promptly tried to tackle him. "I'm the best ninja in Konoha. Teme, you should appreciate me."

Pushing the blond off, Sasuke looked at the blond again. "We don't have time for this. We can spar after the mission. Besides, aren't you cold?"

Naruto looked at the man skeptically. "What?"

Sasuke pointed at the towel that was sliding off the other man's waist, revealing well defined muscles, as well as a fair amount of skin. "That's quite a scandalous show you're giving there. I would think it drafty too."

Naruto turned red and ran to his bag to get his clothes. He sputtered something that Sasuke couldn't make out.

A few minutes later, a dressed Uzumaki and an amused Uchiha met two beautiful companions.

Festival

Sakura smiled at her friend. "My Naruto, you clean up nice."

In the glow of the lanterns, Naruto looked absolutely gorgeous. Even in a plain maroon t-shirt and jeans, Naruto drew many appreciative looks. "Thank you Sakura. You look really pretty. You too Ino."

Ino smiled and looked around. "Ah look, takoyaki! Let's get some!"

Naruto and Ino went on ahead, practically drooling.

Sakura looked at her two friends then back at Sasuke. "I guess they still have the child in them."

Sasuke gave a small smile and looked towards the disappearing silhouettes of his friends. "Yeah." I wonder what it's like to be so…free.

Sakura continued on, noticing the smile. "Hmm, it's nice to act like a child once in a while. I'm amazed that as shinobi, they can still maintain and enjoy such activities with child-like innocence. Naruto especially. After all that he has gone through, he still is a free spirit. I wish I can be like him sometimes."

Sasuke glanced at her. "You are you. Naruto is Naruto. Although I wonder what it would be like to be, like that, I know that I cannot. But that does not matter. I am me. We have our own strengths. That is his. Your strength is different."

Sakura stared at her companion and gave a beautiful smile. Her green eyes reflected her happiness. In her lavender kimono, she was breathtaking. "Thank you Sasuke."

Sasuke nodded and continued towards the other two who were eagerly waiting with four takoyaki sticks. I wonder why I am not attracted to Sakura. She's beautiful, strong, and intelligent. Isn't that what I was looking for? That is the perfect match for an Uchiha.

Naruto waved at them. "Hurry! They're getting cold!"

Throughout the night, the four enjoyed the evening and companionship.

Inn

Naruto yawned and looked at his friends. "Let's get to bed. On our way tomorrow, I'll discuss the plan."

The group started back to their rooms to gain a peaceful night of sleep before the mission.