Tsunade put her thumb and index finger to the bridge of her nose and squeezed. It was hard not having a two-hundred plus IQ and trying to listen to Shikamaru explain everything that he found out through the papers, and surprisingly, Gaara. She couldn't take much more of his lengthy explanation; it was honestlygiving her a headache.
"Wait, wait," Tsunade said with her handup. "I think what you're trying to tell me is that the Kyuubi can only be healed if Naruto wakes up and somehow convinces it to heal him first or we get someone else to talk to the Kyuubi and you asked Gaara to find out if Shukaku can. Is that right?"
"Yes," Shikamaru nodded.
"Then why didn't you just say that," the Hokage boomed.
"Forgive me, Hokage-sama," the young Chuunin hung his head.
"It's alright, Shikamaru. You're free to return to your class now. I'm sure they are absolutely dying to hear more about the bunshin no jutsu. How is Konohamaru doing, by the way?"
"He's horrible at it. He's also very similar to Naruto. He's such a troublesome child... but,I think he'll go far in life. He seems to want to prove himself by being Hokage, too. I may be teaching a future Hokage, Hokage-sama," Shikamaru stated, almost proudly.
"Thank you. You're dismissed," Tsunade waved him out.
The kunoichi watched as the young prodigy walked out of her office. She sighed. Konohamaru was following in Naruto's footsteps. Hopefully it was Naruto who was Hokage by the time the little brat grandson of her sensei started causing the same kind of trouble as Naruto. But, knowing Naruto, he'd probably just encourage him. Tsunade sighed heavily.
Back in the hospital, Gaara was trying to get a hold of Shukaku like his life depended on it. He called out to him. He tried to feel around for the massive chakra within him. He just couldn't find Shukaku anywhere. The sand-nin wondered if Shukaku had just left him somehow. Thankfully, his worries were quelled when he finally reached deep enough into himself and hear a faint snoring. That bastard demon was sleeping!
"Shukaku! Wake up!"
The demon stirred within him. He slowly stood up even more gradually opened his eyes to glare at his vessel. Shukaku was standing a tall as he could and staring down at Gaara.
"What do you want, boy? I was trying to sleep, you know. It was a nice dream, too. Lots of blood.Go away before I eat you!"
"Quiet. This is no time to be… what ever it is you're being. I need your help. This is serious, so don't laugh. Please. I need you to talk to the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Can you do it? Can you save him?"
"And just why would I want to save that bastard? He's caused me nothing but trouble in the past! In fact, I might just let him die," Shukaku laughed in his strange manner of speaking.
"He'll owe you a life debt if you save his and his vessel's lives. Wouldn't that be nice," Gaara attempted to bribe his demon.
"A life debt, eh?"
"Yes," the redhead nodded.
"What do I have to do," inquired Shukaku warily.
"Get in contact with Kyuubi through me and Naruto. Naruto is unconscious and the Kyuubi won't heal him unless you tell him that it's impossible for him to live without healing his host first. Similar to our situation."
"I'll see what I can do, brat."
"Thank you, Shukaku."
Shukaku stared down at his container. He was surprised that Gaara had gotten so soft. He was thanking him, and saying please, and just plain showing some respect. Had this Naruto boy changed his vessel so much? And just why did he care anyway?
Gaara stood over Naruto's pale body and studied the calm face before him. There had to be some way for Shukaku to get inside of Naruto to talk to the Kyuubi. It was their last option. Time was ticking away fast. If this didn't succeed, then, well… Gaara just didn't want to think about what would happen if he failed to save Naruto.
Naruto was his precious person. He would die for the blonde boy. He would give his life to protect him. This is all because of a few sentences he had spoken to Gaara when he had beaten him. Gaara believed every word that Naruto had said. Love did make people stronger. Gaara didn't quite know how to love, but he knew some of it. He could channel this feeling of hope and warmth and happiness that Naruto gave him right back into the boy. He would save Naruto by loving him.
But… just what did people do to the ones who they love?
Gaara was sure he'd seen it somewhere before. He had to think back a while.
However, before he could remember what it was, the door opened and in stepped two of the blonde boy's comrades. Sasuke and Sakura. She greeted Gaara and Sasuke held up a hand towards Gaara in a half-assed wave.
"We're here to see Naruto. Then we're heading to Sasuke's surgery. I'm going to be Tsunade-sama's head supporting nurse for the surgery. We're both a little nervous," Sakura said to both Gaara and Naruto.
They looked at the mess of open letters and packages.
"Did you open these," she asked with a warning, even if Sasuke was glaring enough for her. "You read our personal letters?"
"Yes, Naruto asked me to. I read them to him since he couldn't hold them."
"He asked you to?"
"Naruto didn't want to go back to sleep at all. He was scared that he'd… die… in his sleep. So, I read those to him to keep him awake."
"Oh," Sakura nodded. "I suppose that's alright then."
Gaara relaxed. He watched as Sakura brushed the loose strands of hair from Naruto's face. Sasuke moved next to the bed and took Naruto's hand. They both just sat and stared at his face. Memories of Naruto flashed in their eyes. Gaara sat in silence and let them have their moment with Naruto. It was obvious the effect the number one loudmouthed ninja had on the two of them.
"He gives us courage when we look at him," Sakura started. "He's gone through so much and yet he is still so strong and determined. His level strength is something I know I could never hope to attain. But, somehow, just being in his presence is enough to give me the courage to perform well. I'm no longer nervous to partake in my first surgery."
Sasuke looked at her and nodded in agreement. He let go of Naruto's hand with a new look in his eyes. Gaara pondered if what Sakura said had any realistic truth to it. Did Naruto really emit such an aura or was it just the memories he had made with everyone that change people. Sasuke put a hand on Sakura's shoulder and she nodded to him.
"It's time for us to leave," she said to Gaara. "Take care."
"Good luck," Gaara replied to both of them.
After a moment of shock that that had come from the redhead's mouth, they both just nodded to him and made their way to the door. When they glanced back at Naruto, Gaara suddenly remembered his thoughts before they came. He called out to them.
"Wait! I have a question. What's the best way to show someone that you love them?"
Sakura blushed at the question (and was a little taken aback by it) but replied, "I suppose that would have to be a kiss. A kiss is something that allows you to pour all of your emotions into another person. It speaks everything you have to say to that other person, too. Without words, you can silently tell them how much you love them and cherish them. It's a very emotionally based step in a relationship, much more so than holding hands and hugging."
Gaara nodded at this answer, "One more question, Sakura-san. How does one perform this kiss?"
Sasuke turned his head and laughed silently while Sakura just giggled.
"Just put your lips to that other person's lips. It's that simple," she giggled.
"I see. Thank you," Gaara said. "Take care or Naruto would be worried."
Again, the pair in the doorway smiled at Gaara. They exited the room and shut the door behind them lightly. Half-way down the hall towards the surgery rooms, Sakura stopped Sasuke and looked up at him.
"Naruto has changed Gaara, too, hasn't he? He's just amazing."
Sasuke nodded and smiled in agreement. And they were on their way to Sasuke's neck surgery.
Back in the room, Gaara pondered what Sakura had told him about kisses. They conveyed every emotion and told the other person everything without having to use words. Would that mean that if Gaara kissed Naruto, Shukaku's message to get through to Kyuubi? But you only kissed someone that you loved, right? What defines love? Gaara should have asked Sakura that one too. Is the feeling that makes someone a precious person the same as if you love them?
At this point, Gaara was willing to try anything. Even if he didn't know what love really was, he was willing to kiss Naruto just to get the message into him so that he could get well. This just HAD to work. Gaara tried to get in contact with Shukaku again so that he could tell him of his plan.
"Shukaku! I have a plan!"
"What is it now, you unpleasant child?"
"I have a plan to help Naruto and get in contact with Kyuubi no Kitsune. It involves kissing him…" Gaara started. Before he could finish, Shukaku broke into laughter.
"Oh yes! I'm sure the kiss of his one true love will wake him from his horrible nightmares and bring him back to life," Shukaku roared.
"Will it really," Gaara asked excitedly.
"Sure kid. Sure," Shukaku continued laughing
Gaara never picked up the sarcasm and continued his plan, "When I kiss him, try and send a message through our bodies to the Kyuubi. Anything that you think will convince him to heal Naruto first. Are you ready?"
"You're serious," Shukaku muttered. "Alright. I'll try. Don't blame me if it doesn't work."
"Thank you, Shukaku."
"Yeah, whatever, kid."
So here goes nothing. Gaara took a deep breath and concentrated on what Sakura had told him. Just put your lips against him and all the emotions will be conveyed through the kiss. It seemed simple. So why was he working himself into a panic. Why were his palms sweating? Why did his stomach feel like it was tied in a knot? Why was he shaking so much? If is was this simple, then why was he getting so nervous about one little kiss to save Naruto's life.
Gaara sucked it all in and decided to just go for it, like Naruto would in a battle. He slowly leaned over the other boy and brought his face closer to the sleeping one.
"Get ready, Shukaku."
Then he just did it. He put his face against Naruto's and pressed his lips to the pair below his. It was soft. And warm. And rather pleasant. Gaara smiled slightly while kissing Naruto.
He tried to focus his thoughts. He tried to tell Naruto silently with his lips that he was Gaara's one and only special person. Gaara has been trying to save him for so long now. He told Naruto about all the things that he did for him. He told Naruto about how he changed him. He told Naruto that his only concern was seeing his precious person up and walking around again. He told Naruto that the Kyuubi had to heal his vessel before the demon could be healed. He told Naruto that he was worried about him and upset that he couldn't say these things to him with his voice.
He told Naruto that he loved him.
He loved him in his mind because of how he had changed him for the better. He loved him in his soul for making him see the better side of the world. And he loved him in his heart for being someone like him that showed him that the pain could go away with this love that he felt for him.
Gaara thanked Naruto for everything through that long kiss.
Gaara pulled back from Naruto and hoped that all those messages were conveyed to Naruto. He prayed to the sand gods that Shukaku's message had gotten through more than his own messages. Gaara had faith that Naruto could pull through this, he got through everything just fine. This couldn't be any different.
Gaara took Naruto's hand into his own, as he had seen Sasuke do on a couple occasions. Naruto's hand was warm and soft. It was limp and pliable, not holding Gaara's back. In turn, this actually made Gaara slightly upset at the hand. However, the hand twitched. And again it twitched while holding his. The temperature of Naruto's skin was on the rise. Gaara was slightly scared. He reached over with his free hand and pressed the blue button that he had pressed before.
Less than a minute later, Shizune and a team of nurses burst into the room. Her thoughts focused on the fact that Tsunade was in surgery with Uchiha Sasuke so she couldn't be here. Shizune panicked when she felt Naruto's temperature. He was running a very high fever. Had Naruto finally run out of time? Was this the end of this whole mess? Shizune looked at Gaara who was still holding Naruto's hand. The hand looked as though it was cutting off Gaara's circulation to his fingers. The redhead had a smile on his face as if he was happy about what was happening.
"You're happy that he's dying aren't you," Shizune yelled. "What did you do to him!"
Gaara stood in shock, "I only kissed him."
Shizune stared at Gaara confused. Kissed? She shook the thoughts away and looked back at Naruto. A steam had begun to rise from his body. The Hokage's attendant remembered when this same thing had happened to Gaara. Is that why the other demon boy was smiling at the blonde? Did he know that this was happening? The steam stopped.
"Check his stats," Shizune ordered the nurses.
Before they began to do so, Gaara interrupted with a huge smile plastered on his face, "He's completely healed. I did it. Now, he's resting like I did after having been lacking so much chakra. He's just going to sleep for a little while more to replenish his and the Kyuubi's reserves."
Shizune nodded and softly replied, "We're just going to monitor him anyway. I'm going to go inform Tsunade-sama of what happened. She'll be interested to know. Sabaku no Gaara healed Uzumaki Naruto with a kiss. This will be all over the hospital in no time."
Shizune left the room laughing. The nurses scattered around performing different healing and monitoring jutsu on Naruto. They maneuvered around the redhead who refused to move from Naruto's side.
Gaara just stood there with a stupid grin on his face, which was beginning to hurt his face because he wasn't used to smiling so much, holding Naruto's hand and staring down at the blonde boy's lips.
"Thank you, Shukaku."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going back to sleep now. Don't even think of bothering me for a couple of days."
"Whatever you want."
Shukaku laughed and then all was silent inside of Gaara.
Gaara knew what love was now. He wasn't going to let it go.
