A/N - Okay, I know it's been a long damn time since I updated anything, but there's a reason for that. Well, multiple reasons. The most troublesome of which is the fact that things have gotten rather hard on me in the time I've been away. I've had to deal with so much shit it's ridiculous. Needed to buy a new laptop, needed to replace a few things here and there, lost my inspiration to write anything, there's been family drama, there's a chance I could end up homeless again, the works. Suffice it to say, things have been hectic.
Anyways, as you can no doubt see, I've decided to write and upload a new chapter for The New SeeD. I decided to start doing things a little differently and reworked a bit of the dialogue in this chapter so it's not exactly the same as in the game. I put my own spin on things and I think it turned out rather well. You'll also see that I've explained certain things throughout the chapter that some of you have been either wondering about or griping about for one reason or another.
Alrighty then, without rambling on anymore, please enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 7 - Reunion
As Squall and company were experiencing their dream, Naruto couldn't help but frown in thought as he watched Rinoa and Zell. He noticed Rinoa's reaction when he mentioned the woman, Julia, and couldn't help but wonder what their connection was. If I had to fathom a guess, I'd say this Julia woman is a relative, perhaps. Possibly her mother? Or, depending on the nature of these dreams, could she be her grandmother? Aunt? Hmm…
Looking from Rinoa to Squall, Naruto began to think over the possible explanations behind these 'dreams' of theirs. If they're all sharing the same dream, then chances are they're connected to this Laguna fellow and his friends, Kiros and Ward. But more than that, this means that they're connected to each other in some way. Most likely some commonality between the four of them. Perhaps they grew up together and don't remember? That sounds too convenient. More than that, what links them to Laguna and his friends? And just what is the nature of these dreams? They have to be visions of some kind, but is it the past? Present? No, it can't be things happening in the present time, that wouldn't explain Rinoa's connection to this Julia woman. Ugh. There's just too much I don't know yet about these dreams of theirs!
Naruto's thoughts were disrupted when he felt someone touch his shoulder. Looking at who it was that disturbed him, he ended up looking right into Rinoa's eyes. "Hey. Are you alright? You were spacing out for a while there."
The blonde looked calmly into Rinoa's eyes for a time before returning his attention to Squall and the others. "I'm just trying to figure out what these dreams of theirs mean. There's just too much we don't know, so I'm finding it hard to figure out what it all means. I'm also worried about what could happen if they were to suddenly pass out in the middle of enemy territory or something. Protecting them might prove a tad...difficult in that circumstance."
The black-haired girl nodded her head in understanding before looking at Squall's sleeping face. Naruto and Zell had carefully moved the three youths into the shade of the nearby tree and repositioned them so they would be more comfortable while they slept. She was about to say something when Naruto spoke up again. "So, what's your connection to this Julia woman?"
Rinoa's eyes widened and she turned to look back into Naruto's eyes. "I-I don't know what you mean…"
Chuckling to himself, Naruto poked her nose and said, "Don't try to lie to me. As soon as Julia was mentioned, your eyes widened in recognition and your body tensed up. You know something about the nature of their dreams. I know you do."
The lovely young woman sighed and nodded her head slowly. "Yes. You're absolutely right. My mother is Julia Heartily, but I sadly don't remember much about her, as she died when I was only 5 years old. I think...I think she might have mentioned a Laguna to me once, but it was so long ago that I just can't remember."
Naruto nodded his head in understanding before looking at Selphie and Quistis with a frown on his face. "That confirms something for me then. From the sounds of it, these 'dreams' of theirs are visions of the past, and seem to revolve around this man, Laguna. The problem now is, just how far back do these visions of theirs take place? I'm assuming your father isn't this Laguna fellow, otherwise you would have said something."
Rinoa nodded in confirmation of that fact. "Yes, my father is a man named Caraway. My last name is taken directly from my mother, rather than his surname."
"I see. Makes me wonder if Laguna died before he could achieve his dream of being with your mother or if something else happened. It's obvious this Laguna had romantic feelings for your mother, but something happened that prevented them from being together." Naruto deduced.
"Maybe. I think my mom actually wrote a song in honor of Laguna. Eyes On Me. Have you ever heard it?" Rinoa questioned.
Naruto shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. Ever since arriving here a year ago, I've spent most of my time training to become a SeeD, getting to know the people at Garden, and studying, trying to learn as much about this world as possible. I haven't had much time to listen to music, I'm afraid. Though certain songs did help me through the long, tedious study sessions I had." he said with a chuckle.
Before Rinoa could reply, Squall and the girls started to stir. As soon as the three of them rose to their feet, Zell turned to look at the three of them and immediately asked, "Was it Laguna again?"
Selphie nodded emphatically and exclaimed, "Mr. Laguna's in big trouble! I really hope he'll be okay…"
Naruto frowned in thought for a moment before looking at the three of them. "What about Ward and Kiros? They were in this dream as well, weren't they?"
Once more, the brunette nodded. "Yes. The two of them...they weren't doing so well at the end."
"I see." Naruto said with a sigh following shortly after. "I honestly wish I understood what these dreams were and why you four seem to be having them."
Quistis looked around at everyone with a frown and said, "I take it this isn't the first time this has happened? What is this phenomenon?"
Squall frowned as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. If it was just me, I could tell the others it was just some crazy dream I was having. But as it stands…
Sighing to himself, the gunblade specialist looked at the others and said, "We can stand around debating this and trying to figure everything out, but we'd just be wasting our time doing that. We need to get moving."
Zell nodded once as he clenched his fist tight. "Yeah, let's get going already! I think we're almost there."
As Zell and the others walked off into the next area of the forest, Naruto watched as Rinoa approached Squall. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned and began to follow after his friends. "I'll just leave you two to it then. Try to get along, alright?"
Neither of them replied, instead waiting for Naruto to leave. Once he was gone, Rinoa looked into Squall's eyes and fidgeted a bit as she said, "Umm, Squall? About earlier...I'm sorry."
Squall frowned in thought for a moment as he tried to recall what she could be apologizing for. When he realized what she was talking about, he let out a soft sigh and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I didn't take any offense. You were right after all, I should have tried to assuage Zell's fears. Instead, I only compounded things and caused Zell more stress. I'm not as experienced with this sort of thing like Naruto is. Sometimes I find myself wondering if Cid made a mistake in naming me the leader of this team instead of Naruto."
Rinoa shook her head and offered him a small smile. "You shouldn't say things like that, Squall. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Headmaster Cid chose you for a reason, and I think it's because he saw the potential you had to be a great leader. And didn't you guys tell me that Naruto was made your second in command should you need any help? Rely on Naruto a bit more, and learn from him if you need to. I think you'll be fine. And again, I'm sorry."
Squall watched as Rinoa turned and walked away to follow after the others. Once she was gone, Squall brought a hand to his face and massaged the bridge of his nose. "I'm glad she's got so much confidence in me, but still…" Sighing, the young man decided to shake it off and continue on his way with his team to hopefully reach Galbadia Garden sooner rather than later.
Galbadia Garden
As the party approached Galbadia Garden, they each found themselves looking up and watching the various hover vehicles flying about in the airspace above the Garden. Naruto blinked a couple of times as he watched the vehicles flying about in astonishment. "Wow. This world really is far more advanced than anything in the Elemental Nations. This is amazing!"
The others chuckled a bit at his behavior. "You should get used to it, Naruto. This world's pretty amazing." Zell said with a grin. "Now, let's get in there and see what there is to see in this place. I know I, for one, could use a bit of rest after all we've been through."
"Some rest would be nice. Let's just hope we don't have to deal with anything crazy while we're here." Naruto said before he and the others began to approach the entrance of Galbadia Garden.
Upon entering the Garden, Naruto couldn't help but frown a bit as he and the others looked around. "This is weird. I expected more people to be walking around or something. I wasn't expecting a greeting or anything, but this? This is just weird."
Quistis nodded in agreement with his statement before she chanced a glance at him. I hope we get some time to just sit and talk about what you brought up earlier. I...I just wish I knew how I felt. I care about you, I truly do. I just wish… Sighing to herself, Quistis averted her gaze and continued walking with the party deeper into the Garden. I don't know what I want. I wish I did.
When they reached the automated turnstiles, Selphie paused to look around for a moment before saying, "Wow. This is completely different as compared to Balamb Garden."
Zell walked up to the turnstiles as well and looked around with a critical eye. "Sure is quiet. What do you think, Naruto?"
Naruto frowned and shook his head. "I don't know what to think, Zell. Considering this is Galbadia's Garden, I can't help but wonder if we're walking into a trap of some kind. Then again, I might just be overthinking it and they're all just busy or something. Who knows?"
Squall looked at Naruto and Zell for a moment before turning to stare ahead. "I like the quiet."
Zell turned to Squall with a deadpan expression on his face. "Of course you do. Why wouldn't you like the quiet, Squall?"
Naruto took this moment to thwack Zell in the back of the head with his open palm. "Oi! Don't go picking a fight with Squall just because he's a bit different. Nothing wrong with enjoying the silent atmosphere. Sometimes the quiet is better. It certainly helps a person to think more clearly than if they were in a crowded area or something. Though, I can't shake this feeling that something's just not right here. I dunno why."
Quistis stepped up to the turnstile and turned to look at everyone. "Mind leaving this one up to me? I've been here several times, and I know the headmaster pretty well." She explained before she passed through the turnstile. Turning around again, she said, "I'll go and explain our situation. Try not to cause a ruckus in the meantime." And with that being said, the ex-instructor ventured further into the Garden to speak with the headmaster.
Once she was gone, the group began to discuss things amongst themselves as they proceeded through the turnstiles as well. "So, why don't we explore a bit? See what there is to see? I know I, for one, would very much enjoy challenging the students here to a few games of Triple Triad." Naruto said with a grin.
Squall sighed and shook his head in disbelief. "Of course you would. I do wonder if I can get some new cards here though, so perhaps that would be a good idea. Though I'm also curious to see what's different about this Garden as compared to ours. Exploring for a while seems like the best thing to do right now."
Selphie grinned and rushed over to Naruto. "Well, if we're going to explore, I'm going to be with Naru-Naru! Come on, let's go explore together!" she exclaimed, gently tugging on the blonde's arm to get him to move.
Naruto chuckled a bit and began to walk away with her. "Sure, sure, Selphie-chan. While we're at it, want me to instruct you in the ways of Triple Triad? I'm sure you'd be great at the game."
The brunette giggled as she looked into Naruto's blue eyes. "You really do love that game, don't you Naru? I think I could get into it, but I don't have any cards to play with."
The blue-eyed blonde poked her nose and grinned at her. "Not to worry, my dear, for I have a bunch of extras that I can give to you! I'll make a pro player out of you, no sweat. Now, onwards my lady! Let us explore Galbadia Garden and make some new friends! Whee!" he exclaimed before rushing off with his love interest.
Squall, Zell, and Rinoa watched as the strange couple rushed off. "Well, they sure do get along well. We sure they aren't a couple yet?" Zell questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Rinoa smiled at that and nodded her head. "I think they are. They're good together."
The scarred teen looked at the two of them before sighing and rubbing the back of his head. "Problem is, Naruto's in something of a love triangle right now. Selphie's crazy about him, Quistis isn't sure how she feels about him, especially considering she was making moves on me first, and Naruto? Naruto's been in love with Quistis for months now. Quistis was his first real friend here, and she was the first person he met when he arrived in this world. When he saw her pining after me...it hurt him a lot. I think Naruto wants to move on from her, but at the same time, Naruto did explain that because he's the last of his clan, he might need to take on multiple lovers/wives to restore the Uzumaki clan here on Gaia. In order for that to work though, they'd have to agree to share him. Selphie seems to be onboard with the idea, but Quistis? She's unsure." Squall explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "I just hope Naruto doesn't end up getting hurt again."
Rinoa frowned as she watched the happy couple disappear around a corner. "For Quistis to suddenly start coming onto him after you rejected her, as I assume you did, it must be pretty confusing for him. I can only imagine how he must be feeling."
Squall nodded once before he began leading the two of them deeper into the Garden. "Such a sudden shift in her behavior is troublesome. It'll be hard for Naruto to accept her feelings because he'll wonder if she truly cares for him or if he's just her rebound guy. I hope he can handle this."
Zell nodded in agreement with Squall's sentiment. "Same man. Naruto's my best buddy, and I saw how much he was hurting whenever he was around Quistis. If it turns out she's genuinely interested in him, then awesome. But...it feels too much like she's just using him to me. If she is, he's just going to be crushed all over again." Clenching his fist tight, Zell gritted his teeth for a moment as he thought about Naruto being hurt all over again. "She'd just better not hurt him again. Naruto's a great guy damn it! I love him like I would a brother. I swear, if she is just using him, I'm going to give her a real good punch to teach her a lesson."
Rinoa frowned at Zell and lightly whacked him in the back of the head, just as Naruto had done earlier. "Bad Zell! None of that talk, you hear me? I think Quistis is just...confused right now. Give her some time to come to terms with how she's feeling and come to the decision if she'd like to be with Naruto or not. If she decides that she's not interested in him in that way, then we should respect her decision. But, if she decides that she really wants to give a relationship with Naruto a shot, then we should be supportive of that decision. I don't think she wants to hurt him. She seems like a good person to me."
The spiky-haired youth rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head and pouted for a moment at her. "What is it with you people and this strange need to whack me in the back of the head? Believe it or not, that really hurts."
The raven-haired beauty put her hands on her hips and stared Zell straight in the eyes with the utmost seriousness. "Stop saying and doing stupid things and maybe it won't be necessary. In the meantime, you're going to receive the patented Gibbs' Smack every time you do or say something stupid." After saying this, Rinoa nodded her head proudly before she turned and began skipping off, eager to explore this new place with her friends.
Zell blinked as he watched her get ahead of them. "What the hell's a Gibbs' Smack? And for that matter, who the hell is Gibbs?"
Squall shrugged his shoulders and began to follow Rinoa. "Hell if I know. This is just one of those things you're better off leaving alone. Thinking on it too much is just going to hurt your brain."
The tattooed teen nodded his head in understanding for a moment before what Squall said hit him. "Wait! Did you just call me stupid?!"
Naruto & Selphie
Naruto and his sort-of girlfriend walked down a hall after using a hidden Draw point in the central hall to gain access to some Haste magic. Being the gentleman that he is, Naruto let Selphie have the magic before the two of them exited to the west. They both saw a man standing guard in front of what they assumed to be a classroom. This was proven correct when they tried to talk to the man, who insisted that they remain quiet while the students inside took an exam of some sort.
Looking back the way they came, they saw a door that wasn't being guarded, so, out of curiosity, the duo stepped inside to see a classroom. It was empty except for two very important things, or rather two very important someones. "Ino? Hinata? Is it really you?" Naruto questioned, eyes wide in astonishment.
Hearing a voice they hadn't heard in years, the two women in the room turned to look at the man that had entered the room. "N-Naruto-kun? Is...is that really you?" Hinata questioned as she looked into his eyes, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks at finally seeing the man she loved again. However, the three of them couldn't help but notice something strange: Naruto looked almost the same as when he had left their world those many years ago. "Um...N-Naruto-kun? Exactly how much time has passed since you came here?"
Naruto frowned in thought for a moment as he looked at his old friends. "It's been a little over a year since I came here. Just how much time has passed in the Elemental Nations since my coming here?"
Ino ran her fingers through her ponytail and said, "It's been almost seven years since you disappeared, Naruto-kun. A lot happened after you disappeared. The Akatsuki were somehow dealt with before they could enact whatever plans they had in store for the nations. Your heritage was revealed to everyone in Konoha, though even then people still badmouthed you and had nothing really positive to say about you. That old man on the council, Danzo? He was killed, sentenced to death for treason. Jiraiya barely even tried to solve that seal you used to come here. Tsunade-sama tried to make him focus on it and finish the damn thing so they could get you back, but he was more focused on his precious 'research', as he chooses to call it. Like Icha Icha was more important than finding you."
When Ino scoffed, Hinata decided to take over their explanation. "Our fellow rookies, Neji and the others, all turned against you. Sakura is pissed at you because you never came back to fulfill the promise you made to her. She doesn't care about you at all and only sees you as a means to an end. Or at least, you were a means to an end. In truth, we're not entirely sure what happened to Sasuke. Last anyone heard about him, he killed Orochimaru and Kabuto, stole anything he 'needed' from their various bases, and after that? Who knows? At first, we assumed that jerk masquerading as Madara Uchiha got in touch with Sasuke and took him under his wing, but when the Akatsuki were killed, Sasuke was nowhere to be found. After some time though, he reappeared, swearing vengeance upon Konoha for whatever reason. He also demanded to know where you were so he could 'settle the score'. Needless to say, we made sure to kill the smug bastard."
Naruto frowned at this and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. And I'm not surprised that Neji and the others chose to turn on me like that. Not like it matters much in the long run. I'm happy here and I plan to stay here for the rest of my life. But, I need to ask: why did you two come here? How did you come here?"
Ino smirked in response and said, "How we got here is pretty simple: we studied fuinjutsu for years in order to hopefully find a way to reach you. We had to spy on Jiraiya from time to time until we got the seal down just right. After that, we had to do a little brainstorming in order to finish the seal, because he just couldn't figure it out. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is just what you need in order to achieve a goal and figure something out. It took us a while to get everything just right, but we're here now, and that's what matters."
Hinata smiled at Naruto and said, "As for why we're here, it's simple. We couldn't stand how things were in Konoha anymore. But, more than that, we both missed you terribly and wanted to see you again. We...we both love you, Naruto-kun. Even if we have to share you, we both wanted to be with you until our dying days."
The spiky-haired teen blinked a couple of times in shock at this news. However, before he could quite register what they had just said to him, Selphie gripped his hand a bit tighter and glared harshly at the two older women. "Naru-Naru's mine! I won't just give him up without a fight!"
Naruto blushed at this and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as if to reassure her before he looked back into Ino's and Hinata's eyes. "Things are...complicated in terms of my relationships here. I know that as the last member of the Uzumaki clan, I'd probably have to take on multiple spouses in order to restore my clan, but it's still going to take some getting used to. And…"
Selphie looked at her chosen boyfriend and frowned softly before she turned to look at the other women. "I...I already have to share him with Quistis. Or at least, I said I would, but I don't trust her not to hurt Naru anymore. How am I to know that you two truly feel that way about him and don't just want to use him like she probably does?"
Hinata and Ino scowled as they picked up on what Selphie hinted at. "This Quistis...she's hurt Naruto-kun? What exactly did she do?"
The brunette looked at her boyfriend before looking back at the newcomers. "Naruto...fell in love with her. But...she was pining after this guy named Squall. He's a good guy, nothing against him, but Quistis? She hurt Naru deeply with her actions, and now? Well, after Squall turned her down and informed her about Naru's feelings, she started coming onto him. She even stole his first kiss! But...I'm worried that she's either using Naru as a rebound boyfriend...or worse."
Hinata and Ino clenched their fists tight and gritted their teeth for a moment before they managed to calm themselves down. "I see. We'll need to have a little 'talk' with this Quistis woman. Tell us, what's your relationship with Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned.
Selphie glared at them for a moment before she slumped her shoulders and released a heavy sigh. "I'm...well, I think I'm his girlfriend now. But…"
When Selphie looked into his eyes, Naruto offered her a small smile and began gently running his thumb in circles on the back of her hand. "Yes. We're boyfriend and girlfriend now." Looking back at his old friends, Naruto smiled softly at them and said, "Give me some time you two. I'm still trying to come to terms with everything, but I won't turn you down just yet. Let's just spend time together again and see where things go from there. But...I want you to know that Selphie means a lot to me. If she isn't comfortable with the idea of sharing me with you two, then it's a no go. Okay?"
Selphie's eyes brightened at hearing this and she quickly glomped onto her boyfriend, giving him a kiss on his whiskered cheek. "Oh Naru, you're so sweet to me! If you keep this up, I'll truly fall in love with you." she said.
Ino and Hinata frowned at this interaction, but they both continued to look into Naruto's eyes. Nodding in understanding, they approached Naruto and his girlfriend and offered the two of them warm smiles. "We understand. Just...don't push us away, alright? Now that we've found you, we're not leaving. We want to stay with you, wherever you go."
Ino nodded in agreement with this before she looked the blue-eyed teen up and down appraisingly. "I must say Naru-kun, you're looking amazing. Much better than that old orange tracksuit you used to wear."
Naruto chuckled a bit and scratched at the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm glad to be rid of it. I've been treated so much better here than I ever was back in the Elemental Nations. People support me here, and nobody treats me differently just because of what I hold. In fact, I've informed my friends here about the Kyuubi and I've been accepted for it. No ridicule, no fox hunts, nothing horrible at all. On top of that, the Kyuubi and I are actually getting along now. Life is so much better here, and I think you two will enjoy it here very much."
Ino and Hinata nodded in understanding before they looked at Selphie again. "I'm glad, Naruto-kun. We're just so glad you're alive, and we'll do whatever it takes if it means we can be with you. We'd both love to start a family with you, and we understand if it takes time for your girlfriend to accept us. We knew there was a possibility that you'd be in a relationship with someone if we came here, and we accepted that. So we'll wait as long as necessary if it means we can all be happy together."
Ino nodded in agreement before she stepped up to Naruto and gave him a loving kiss on the lips. It didn't last very long, only for a few seconds, but it conveyed her feelings well enough. "We love you, Naruto-kun."
Hinata did the same before they both looked at Selphie with small smiles. "I promise we won't try to steal him from you. Though, I must admit, we'd be over the moon if you accepted us into this relationship of yours."
Selphie found herself smiling at them and nodded her head in understanding. "I can't say I approve just yet, but...I can't help but feel like I can trust you. My name's Selphie by the way. Selphie Tilmitt. It's really nice to meet you two."
The two older women smiled and shook her hand. "Likewise. I'm Ino Yamanaka and this is Hinata Hyuga. I hope we can be the best of friends Selphie-chan!"
It was at this point that an announcement came over the speakers. After listening to the instructions given, they looked at each other and nodded before turning back to face Hinata and Ino. "Well, it seems like we need to head to the reception room on the 2nd floor. You two will come with us, won't you?"
Ino pumped her fist into the air and grinned. "Hell yeah we will! Now that we've been reunited, there's no way we're leaving! You're all stuck with us now."
Hinata giggled a bit and nodded her head in agreement with her best friend. "I hope you don't mind letting us tag along."
Selphie shook her head and grabbed their hands, one in each of hers, and smiled at them. "Of course not! Come on, let's go! I want to hear everything you can tell me about Naru-Naru."
The Hyuga woman couldn't help but giggle just a bit more as she and Ino walked with Selphie out of the room. "We'll be happy to tell you all about Naruto's life in Konoha and the Elemental Nations as a whole. Though in exchange, we want to hear all you can tell us about Naruto-kun's life here."
As they left the room, Naruto watched them go before releasing a heavy sigh and shaking his head. "I didn't even get to ask them about my parents. If...if they truly know about my heritage, I'd really like to hear it."
Shrugging his shoulders, Naruto soon left the room as well to follow after his friends. I've still got a really bad feeling, but I don't know why exactly. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Reception Room
Upon entering the reception room on the second floor, the group of four immediately saw that Squall, Rinoa, and Zell were waiting patiently for them. "Hey guys. I've got a couple of people I'd like you to meet."
Squall and Zell couldn't help but stare at the new women and blink a few times. Their beauty was a sight to behold, after all, and they were teenage men with raging hormones. Give them a break! After a moment though, Squall regained his senses and asked the ever important question: "Who are they? You obviously know them from somewhere, Naruto."
Hinata stepped forward and bowed politely to Naruto's friends. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. My name is Hinata Hyuga, and my friend here is Ino Yamanaka. We're from the Elemental Nations, same as Naruto-kun. We came here in order to be with him again. He told us a little about you all and what you've been up to. We've been here for about six months or so now, trying to get used to everything that this world has to offer. The Garden staff and the headmaster have been very understanding with us and have provided us with much needed support. We were actually planning on trying to find Naruto-kun soon, but it seems you've all beaten us to the punch." she said, giggling a little afterwards.
Zell, ever the one to put his foot in his mouth, said, "Wow. Naruto, my man, you've scored yourself some hotties! Way to go!"
Naruto and Squall both facepalmed and watched as Selphie practically leapt at Zell and began to beat him mercilessly. "You stupid idiot! Think before you speak, Zell!" she exclaimed angrily before finally standing straight again, brushing herself off, and smiling at the others. "Anyone else have something brilliant to say?"
The whiskered teen sighed and shook his head. "You just wanted an excuse to beat him up, didn't you Selphie-chan?"
Selphie knocked herself lightly on the head with her knuckles and giggled a bit. "Maybe. I needed to relieve a bit of stress that I've been holding in and he just made such a good target. I don't want to hurt you, after all. And...I don't want to upset you by attacking Hina and Ino. They're your friends, after all!"
Naruto sweatdropped a bit before shaking his head in exasperation. "Um, by that logic, wouldn't you have left Zell alone too? He's my friend as well."
"Details, details. Now come, let's sit together! And before anyone else tries to, I call your lap! I shall sit on it and be merry!" Selphie exclaimed as she practically dragged Naruto over to the couch and sat on his lap after pushing him down onto the couch.
When Selphie scooted herself back a little further so her back was resting against his chest, Naruto chuckled nervously and tried to keep a certain part of his anatomy down. After all, whether she knew it or not, Selphie was practically grinding against his precious buddy. He didn't say anything, however, and chose to simply wrap his arms around his girlfriend, if she could be called that yet. His hands rested on her belly and he couldn't resist it when he parted the hair on the back of her head and blew lightly on her neck, sending a pleasant chill running down her spine.
"Oooh, someone's feeling a little playful. Naughty naughty, Naru-Naru." Selphie teased before she spun around on his lap and leaned in, kissing him softly on the lips. When they parted, she began to slowly snake her hand downwards towards her prey, only for a loud "AHEM!" to interrupt her.
Grumbling a bit, Selphie turned around to see Squall looking sternly at her. "None of that now. Public displays of affection are alright to an extent, but you're about to cross a line none of us would like to see. Calm down and relax."
Selphie pouted before she wrapped her arms around Naruto and kissed him again. Afterwards, she got off his lap and snuggled up next to him. "No fair." she mumbled.
Naruto breathed a silent sigh of relief and chose to simply wrap an arm around Selphie, hugging her close. Looking at his best friend, Naruto mouthed 'Thank you!' to him before closing his eyes and humming softly to himself and Selphie.
After a moment, Quistis entered the room and, upon seeing the state Naruto and Selphie were in, frowned slightly. Without saying a word, she looked at the two newcomers and blinked a couple of times in bewilderment. "Um, who are they?"
Ino and Hinata noticed Quistis' reaction to the PDA, but chose to ignore it for now. "You must be Quistis. I'm Ino Yamanaka and this is my best friend, Hinata Hyuga. We're from the same place as Naruto-kun. Nice to meet you."
Frowning further, Quistis slowly shook their hands before thinking to herself, Great. More competition for Naruto. I'm still not comfortable with the idea of sharing him, and now these two come into the picture. Ugh!
Hinata and Ino watched Quistis' body language and facial expression and were easily able to read how she felt. After all, it didn't take a mindwalker to understand what this woman was feeling. Looking into one another's eyes, Hinata and Ino silently agreed that they'd need to watch Quistis and step in if necessary to keep Naruto from being hurt.
Deciding to get things back on track, Squall looked at Quistis and asked, "So, how'd it go?"
Thankful for the change in topic, Quistis looked around at everyone and said, "They understand our situation, thankfully." Looking at Zell, she stepped closer to him and smiled down at him from his position on the opposite couch. "And Balamb Garden is safe. I felt you should know that, Zell."
Looking around at everyone again, Quistis offered them all a smile before turning back to face Zell. "The attack on the president in Timber was classified as an independent action. There was an official notice from the Galbadian government saying that Balamb Garden isn't being held responsible."
Zell breathed a huge sigh of relief before looking into Quistis' eyes with a bright smile on his face. "So, I take it from that that Seifer is taking all the blame?"
Quistis nodded slowly and said, "The trial's over and the sentence has been carried out…"
Before she could finish, Rinoa crouched down and wrapped her arms around herself, an expression signifying that of horror and sadness somehow taking hold of her face. "...He was executed?" Feeling herself on the brink of tears, the raven-haired lass said, "...Of course he was. He attacked the president. He sacrificed himself for the 'Forest Owls'..."
The ex-instructor stepped up to Rinoa and looked sternly into her eyes. "It was your group that got Seifer involved in all this. You're a resistance faction, right? You must have been prepared for the worst, were you not? I'm sure Seifer was prepared, too. So don't think of it as Seifer sacrificing himself for you." Sitting on the couch near Naruto, Quistis shook her head and said, "I'm sorry. I guess that's not much consolation for you."
Rinoa didn't say a word. Instead, she chose to turn away from the group and stare solemnly at the ground. Seifer...I'm so sorry…
Squall frowned at this, and decided to talk with everyone to see how they were all feeling after receiving such devastating news about a fellow Garden member. Approaching Zell first, he asked, "You look devastated. What's on your mind, Zell?"
Zell looked up into his friend's eyes for a brief moment before shaking his head and staring at the floor again. "I didn't like the guy, but executed…? That...that stupid bastard…"
Sighing softly, the scarred teen placed a gentle hand upon Zell's shoulder and offered him a small smile. Without saying a word, he left Zell to his thoughts and walked over to Selphie and Naruto. "Thoughts?" he questioned simply.
Selphie looked between Squall and Zell for a moment before asking, "You didn't care much for Seifer, did you Zell?"
The tattooed blonde nodded slowly and said, "Yeah, but…!" Sighing again, he averted his gaze and continued, "He was from Garden… He was one of us. If it's possible, I'd like to get revenge for this."
Selphie nodded in understanding before returning her gaze to Squall. "I'm...not sure how to feel right now. I didn't know him well, or for very long for that matter. Still, to be executed for trying to help Rinoa and the Forest Owls? It just doesn't feel right to me. Like Zell said, he was one of us. I feel sorry for him…"
Naruto frowned and shook his head. "I hated the guy. Seifer was always such an asshole, and he didn't get along with anyone. One of those truly awful people that only a special few can really like. Yeah, I'm sure he had his soft side that he shared with those select few people, but...I dunno man. This just doesn't sit right with me."
Squall nodded in understanding before looking over at Zell again. "I understand what you mean. Nothing we can do about it now, though. Am I upset that he's gone? I...I don't know. Seifer was cruel. I mean, look at what he did to me." he said, pointing towards the scar on his face. "But did I want him dead? No. He was a rival, a worthy one at that. Despite everything, I respected him. Like Zell, if I get the chance, I'd like to avenge him. I won't make it my life's mission like that Sasuke guy you told me about, but I'll be damned if I let what happened to him go, just like that."
Naruto offered his friend a smile and said, "I'm with you there, buddy. We'll set things right, somehow."
Looking at Quistis, Squall asked, "How are you holding up? What are you really thinking about this whole thing?"
The blonde shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't have any good memories of him. I've seen some troubled children, but he was beyond troubled. He wasn't a bad guy, per se, but he wasn't exactly a saint either. Seifer...never to be a SeeD."
Squall once more nodded in understanding before he looked at Rinoa. Walking up to her, he placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder and asked, "How are you feeling? You two were close, weren't you?"
Rinoa linked her hands together and fidgeted slightly in place. "I...I really liked him. He was always full of confidence, he was smart… Just by talking to him, I felt like I could take on the world."
Selphie looked at her curiously for a moment before asking, "Was he your boyfriend?"
Rinoa turned to look at her and shook her head. "I honestly don't know. I'm not sure what we could be called. We...we went on a few dates, sure, but I wouldn't quite classify us as a true couple. But...I think I was in love. I wonder how he felt…"
They watched as Rinoa took a seat on the couch Zell was on. Looking into her eyes, Selphie asked, "Do you still like him?"
Rinoa giggled sadly before saying, "If I didn't, I wouldn't be talking about it." Sighing softly, she let a small smile grace her face before saying, "It was last summer… I was 16. I have lots of fond memories of that time…"
Squall frowned as he tried to piece everything together that he had just heard. She liked him… Quistis doesn't seem sure how to feel about his death. And...he was one of us. But how do I feel? Do I even really feel anything? Shaking his head, Squall clenched his fist and thought, Seifer, you've become just a memory. I wonder, will they talk about me this way if I were to die, too? 'Squall was this and that.' Heh, using the past tense and saying whatever they want. So...this is what death is all about…
Pacing around the room for a brief moment, Squall clenched his fist and shook his head again. I won't let it come to that. Like Naruto says, I'll fight to keep a smile on their faces. I care about these people and I refuse to become just another stupid memory! I'll fight for them!
Quistis, seeing Squall's behavior, stood up from her spot on the couch near Naruto and looked at her student. "What's wrong, Squall?"
Squall turned to look at his comrades and said, "I refuse to just roll over and die. I won't become another memory! I vow from this moment forth that I won't let another person die for such a stupid reason! I won't let any harm come to those I care about. And...I won't allow myself to die at such a young age. I'm going to fight for all of you and survive!"
Zell blinked a couple of times in shock at such a bold statement. "W-What? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
Selphie couldn't help herself as she began to giggle. "Wow, Squall. That was quite the impassioned speech. Why don't you tell us how you really feel, hm?"
Squall found himself blushing as he came to the realization of what he had just said and done. Turning around, he quickly rushed out of the room without another word. Once he was gone, Naruto couldn't help it as he burst out into laughter. "Wow. I wasn't expecting that from Squall one tiny little bit. Glad to see he's coming out of his shell though."
Quistis giggled a bit and nodded her head in agreement. "Indeed. For now, I think he just needs some time to cool off. In the meantime, I have something to discuss with you, Naruto."
Naruto sighed at this and nodded his head slowly in understanding. "You want to talk about that multiple wives thing, don't you? Very well, let's talk."
The female blonde sighed and rubbed at the bridge of her nose for a moment before she sat down beside him again. Looking into his eyes, she frowned a bit before saying, "Naruto...I care about you. I truly do. But...I don't know if I can share you. I...I want to be happy, but at the same time, it just feels…"
Naruto held up a hand to stop her. "Before you continue, we need to make something clear. Quistis…" Looking deep into her eyes, Naruto asked seriously, "Am I just a rebound guy to you? Someone you can use to make yourself feel better? Or are you genuinely interested in me as a person and a potential love interest?"
Quistis' eyes widened at this question, and she went to speak up in protest. However, the moment she opened her mouth, no sound would come out. Reaching a hand up to her throat, she touched it momentarily before closing her mouth. When it was obvious she couldn't offer up any kind of answer, Naruto frowned and rose from the couch. Walking past her, Naruto glanced back at her for a moment and shook his head sadly. "I thought as much." was all he said before he, too, left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, the women that were genuinely romantically interested in Naruto practically descended on Quistis like a hurricane. "What the hell was that?! Why didn't you answer him?" Selphie questioned angrily.
Ino looked at Quistis with a critical gaze and said, "It's not that she didn't say anything, it's that she couldn't. Because deep down, she knows what he truly is to her, and it's not what Naruto wishes it would be. Am I right, Quistis?"
The younger blonde clenched her eyes shut tight and began to shake. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know how I feel! I don't want to treat him like he's just a replacement for Squall, but at the same time, I think part of me doubts that Naruto is anything but a rebound. I want to give a relationship a shot, but…"
"No. No buts." Hinata said angrily. "You've hurt Naruto time and time again from what we understand. I think you've done enough harm. Naruto-kun is better off without you attacking his heart every chance you get. Don't toy with him anymore!"
Quistis began to quietly sob to herself and hugged herself tight to try and ward off the painful truths being thrown at her. "I'm...I'm sorry. I really do care for him! I just...I just...I...I don't even know! I'm confused and lost and...and…"
Selphie glared hard at Quistis and shouted out, "Stop making excuses! You need to figure out what Naruto is to you before you lose him for good. I already told him that I'll share him if that's what it takes to be with him. But you? You're not even trying to build a relationship with him! You're hesitating is killing him! Why can't you see that?"
Before Quistis could even think up a reply, Selphie had run off in search of her love interest. Once she was gone, Quistis took a seat on the couch Naruto and Selphie had been occupying and began to quietly sob to herself once more. Oh Naruto...I'm so, so sorry!
Selphie
As Selphie searched for her boyfriend (at least she considered him to be her boyfriend), she stumbled across Squall speaking with both Fujin and Raijin in the central hall. Frowning in confusion at this, she would have said something, but she decided to leave them alone and continue searching for Naruto. When she finally did find him, she saw him shooting hoops on the basketball court.
Quietly approaching him, she watched as he made basket after basket, though this fact didn't surprise her one bit, knowing how skilled he was at a variety of things. "You know, you don't need to sneak up on me." he said with a grin as he turned around to face her.
The brunette giggled a bit and shook her head. "I wasn't trying to. I just didn't want to disturb you in your moment of deep concentration." she teased.
Naruto chuckled a bit and shook his head. "Deep concentration, huh? Funny. Ah well, wanna play some hoops with me for a little while? I think we both could use a bit of stress relief, and this is a fun distraction."
Selphie shuffled a bit in place and fidgeted a little. "I'm afraid I'm not very good, Naruto. I doubt I could make this very fun for you."
The blonde smiled softly at her and gently took her hand in his. "Selphie-chan, it doesn't matter to me if you're good or not. If you'd like, I'd be happy to teach you. But honestly, I think just spending some time with you will really help. I'm...honestly feeling pretty frustrated. Playing a game of basketball together might help."
His brown-haired sort-of girlfriend offered him a tiny smile and accepted the basketball from him before they began to play together. As they played, she watched her love interest carefully, trying to gauge how he was really feeling based on what she could see. After she scored a few baskets, though she suspected Naruto had let her do so, she spoke up. "Sweetie...are you going to be okay?"
Dribbling the basketball for a bit, Naruto slipped past Selphie and scored a quick 2 pointer before passing the basketball to her. "I'm not sure how to feel, Selphie-chan. I...I kind of figured that she felt that way. If she doesn't feel that way about me, then there's really nothing I can do besides try to move on from her. I refuse to let her toy with my heart."
Selphie offered him a small smile before she dropped the ball and wrapped Naruto in a hug. "You have me Naruto. I promise I won't hurt you. I'll stand beside you and help you through all your tough times. Everything will be okay."
Naruto was shocked initially by her action, but soon embraced her and let a small smile grace his face. However, much to his shock, tears began to stream down his face as he held Selphie tight against him. "It...hurts so much more than I thought it would. I'm sorry. I shouldn't...shouldn't be crying like this. I just can't help it."
The petite brunette moved her hands to his face and made him look her in the eyes. "It's okay Naru. I'm here for you." she said before she leaned in close and kissed him lovingly. "Everything will be okay. I promise." And with that being said, Selphie held him as he quietly sobbed with his face buried in the crook of her neck. I'll always be here for you Naru. I won't let anyone hurt you like this ever again.
Squall - Earlier
Squall sighed in exasperation as he descended the stairs back to the first floor. Is it really necessary for them to tease me like that? For crying out loud, I was trying to be serious. Then again, I suppose that little speech was unlike me. Oh well.
When he entered the central hall, Squall was a bit startled upon hearing a familiar voice calling out to him. Turning around, the scarred teen looked up above to see Raijin standing there. Before he could say anything, Raijin ran off, but soon reappeared on the same floor as him with Fujin right behind him. Blinking a couple of times in a mixture of disbelief and shock, he asked, "What are you two doing here?"
Raijin grinned and boastfully declared, "What am I doin'? I'm a messenger, ya know?" Looking at his partner for a moment, they nodded at one another before Raijin looked back into Squall's eyes. "Brought you a new order from Headmaster Cid, ya know?"
As the two Jins looked at each other and nodded again, Squall quirked a brow and asked, "What's the order?"
Raijin shrugged and said, "I dunno. I gave it to the head honcho here. I just did what Headmaster Cid wanted, ya know?"
Fujin looked coldly into Squall's eyes and said simply, "EXPLAIN."
Raijin frowned at Squall and said, "We were suppose'ta go to Timber. But the trains have stopped, so we had no other choice but to come here. Kinda relieved to see you guys here."
After looking around for a moment, Fujin looked into Squall's eyes and asked, "SEIFER?"
"Oh yeah! Wasn't Seifer with you?" Raijin asked.
Squall frowned and released a quiet sigh at this point. "I believe Seifer may be dead…" Seeing the look in Fujin's eye, he decided to explain. "I heard he was tried in Galbadia and then executed…"
"LIES!" Fujin exclaimed, clearly in disbelief at what Squall was telling her.
Raijin laughed boisterously and said, "That's gotta be a lie, ya know!? There's no way he'd put up with a trial, ya know!? Or an execution for that matter! It's just so not Seifer, ya know!?"
Fujin narrowed her eye at Squall and said, "FIND!"
Raijin looked at Fujin for a moment and said, "O'What…! We're gonna meet up with Seifer?" Looking back at Squall, the muscular teen said, "Well, see ya, Squall. We're gonna head off to Galbadia to look for Seifer." And with that, the duo rushed off in the direction of Galbadia Garden's entrance/exit.
Once they were gone, Squall frowned and shook his head sadly. I hope we're wrong. I sincerely hope Seifer is alive. But, if he is...what exactly has become of him? I've got a bad feeling about all of this.
It was at this point that an announcement came over the speakers again, directing each of the Balamb SeeD members to meet at the front gate. Deciding he could put it off for a little while, he decided to do a bit of exploring and perhaps even challenge a few people to a game or two of Triple Triad so he could build up his deck a little more.
Later - Front Gate
When Squall arrived at the front gate and its turnstiles, he saw Quistis standing there waiting for him. Passing through the turnstile, he stopped in front of Quistis and looked carefully at her. She wasn't looking him in the eyes and instead seemed to be focused strictly on the ground at their feet. Sighing, he looked at her and asked, "You've been crying, haven't you?"
Quistis looked up into Squall's eyes and grumbled a bit before saying, "Yes. I'm having a rough time right now. Anyways, it's time to meet up. Let's go."
As Quistis turned and began walking off, Squall sighed and shook his head in disbelief. She thinks she's having a tough time. She should look at Naruto. Still, can't say I blame her after I turned her down like that. Feel kind of bad about that now that I think back on it. Oh well.
Following after Quistis, Squall soon saw the others all rushing towards the exit and quickly made his way after them. Upon catching up to them, he noticed Zell was rather restless and was practicing his punches and footwork. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked to see a few of them pacing around, stretching, or just goofing off in general while waiting for the meeting to start.
It was then that his gaze was drawn back to Naruto's two new companions/old acquaintances. "You two are coming with us, I assume?"
Ino looked at Squall and smirked slightly at him. "Of course we are! Yeah, we may be old enough now to be your teachers, but we still kick butt and can easily handle anything thrown our way, no sweat. Besides, now that we're reunited with Naruto-kun, there's no way we're leaving you guys alone."
Nodding his head in understanding, Squall soon turned his attention back to the others. Walking over to Rinoa, he was about to speak to her when they heard the sound of a car coming their way. Blinking, Squall turned to look at the approaching vehicle when he heard Rinoa begin to speak. "Oh, that must be him! Just pretend I'm a SeeD, too. It'll be less complicated that way."
Everyone got in a line and proceeded to salute the man that stepped out of the vehicle. After a moment, he looked them over before greeting them. "Good day. I have official orders from Headmaster Cid addressed to you. Following regulations, I have gone over these orders. After careful consideration of our options, we have decided to fully assist and cooperate with Headmaster Cid. Actually, we too have been planning for this for quite some time now. In order to stress the importance of this mission, I must first brief you on the current situation." Stopping his pacing, the Garden's headmaster turned to face them once again and said, "At ease."
Once the party had relaxed their stances, he continued speaking. "You all know about the sorceress being appointed as the peace ambassador for the Galbadian government. However, this ambassador thing is just a cover up. There will be no peace talks, only threats. The sorceress creates fear among people. Therefore, peace talks are impossible. Galbadia is planning to use this fear to negotiate favorable conditions for itself. It is clear that Galbadia's ultimate goal is world domination. Garden is no exception, either. It is a fact that the sorceress is planning to use this Garden as her base." Stopping to release a quiet sigh, he soon continued by saying, "We have very few options available to us. We entrust world peace, and the future, to you."
Once more, the party saluted him before listening as he began to speak again. "Details of the mission are enclosed in these official orders." Walking forward, he handed the instructions to Squall before looking around at the others. "Any questions?"
Before anyone else could ask a question, Squall spoke up. "The orders say by means of 'a sniper'. We don't really have anyone with that kind of skill. Sure, we've got a few, erm, skilled assassins, I guess you could say, but no true sniper."
Headmaster Martine smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. Let me introduce an elite sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden. Kinneas! Irvine Kinneas!"
Glancing off to the side, they watched as a butterfly flew to a young man's outstretched finger and landed on it. After a moment, this cowboy-looking fellow made a motion as if he was shooting a gun, scaring the butterfly off. When he rose and smirked at them, Naruto couldn't help but sigh. Oh goodie. This should be fun.
Irvine began to pace in front of them, looking them over one by one as he did. While he did this, the headmaster began to speak again. "This is Irvine Kinneas. He will be your sharpshooter. Leave whenever you're ready." Approaching his vehicle, the headmaster paused just outside it before turning to face the party once more. "Failure is not an option."
As the headmaster took off, Irvine turned towards it and made a motion of firing a gun with his index finger once again. "BANG!"
Naruto quirked a brow at this behavior, but chose to remain silent on the matter. He watched as Irvine walked past him, not missing the way he eyed Selphie and the other women. Eyebrow twitching slightly, he thought to himself, Oh goodie. I'm really gonna hate this guy, aren't I?
Turning his attention to Squall as he stepped to the front, he listened as his best buddy began to speak. "This is no ordinary mission. It's a direct order from both Balamb and Galbadia Garden. We're to assassinate the sorceress. We're to shoot her from afar. Kinneas will be our sharpshooter. We're to support Kinneas to our fullest. Though, if that fails, we do have a backup plan." he explained before nodding at Naruto, who understood the message. If Kinneas fails, Naruto can pull it off. Looking around at the others, he sighed before reaching up and rubbing the back of his head. "Should all else fail, we are to attack head on."
Irvine turned to face them and grinned slyly at them. "Thanks for the support, but I never miss my target."
Ignoring the obvious showboat, Squall paced around a bit before saying, "Eliminate the sorceress. That's our order. We're going to head to the capital of Galbadia, Deling City. There, we'll meet up with General Caraway to go over the details for the plan. Let's get going."
Hearing the general's name, Naruto's eyes widened fractionally as he glanced to Rinoa, who also appeared to be rather shocked by the name. We're to meet with her father? Oh, this will be interesting. I wonder what will happen when we meet.
Glancing at Naruto for a moment, Rinoa saw that he realized it as well. Fidgeting a bit, Rinoa stayed silent and simply waited for the party to set out once again. Father…
"Well then…" Irvine said, breaking the silence that had overcome the group. "I guess we're off to Deling City. So how'sabout you lovely ladies join me and we can be on our way, hm?" he said as he made a motion to wrap his arm around Selphie's shoulders.
Selphie was about to slug the lech, but Naruto's hand latched tightly around Irvine's wrist, causing the young man to wince in pain from the shinobi's rather strong grip. "Touch her and I swear to Kami I'll make you regret it. If you want to work with us, you'd best keep your hands to yourselves, otherwise you're likely to lose them. Is that understood?"
Irvine nodded his head rapidly and began to nurse his bruising wrist the moment Naruto freed him. "Damn dude, you've got one hell of a grip. Seriously though, you called dibs on these lovely ladies or something?"
Naruto growled at Irvine and said, "You don't call 'dibs' on women, Irvine! That's disrespectful to them. No, I'm in a blossoming relationship with Selphie-chan, and those two are dear friends of mine. As for Rinoa and Quistis, I think you should steer clear of them as well. Rinoa's been through a lot and doesn't need your crap. And Quistis...just...don't bother her, okay?"
The sharpshooter frowned at this and looked at the various lovely ladies around him before slumping his shoulders. "Damn. You're a real piece of work, you know that? Keeping all these honies to yourself is just wrong."
Facepalming, Naruto shook his head, but didn't say a word. After a little while though, he said, "Whatever." and began to walk off. After all, they had to hop a train in order to reach Deling City, and the nearest train station was a bit of a walk from here. I'm probably going to end up kicking this guy's ass a number of times on this journey. I just know it.
A/N - And that's the chapter! Like I said up above, I put a new spin on things and I think it turned out rather well. I hope you all enjoyed it and I certainly hope you're looking forward to what comes next! I might work on another chapter or two for this story, simply because I've been really enjoying the game again lately and would like to continue playing it. Sooo, we'll see.
Anywho, for those of you that were upset at how things were progressing with Naruto and his relationships with the girls in his life, this chapter delved into that quite a bit. As you can see, Quistis screwed up and doesn't really know what the hell she wants. Selphie knows EXACTLY what she wants and is totally going for it. Then you have the two newcomers: Hinata and Ino. Whether they end up in a polygamous relationship with Naruto and Selphie is currently unknown, as Naruto's still trying to come to terms with everything, including his budding feelings for the lovely Selphie-chan.
Also, I explained the time difference between the Elemental Nations and Gaia. While only a year has passed on Gaia, quite a few years passed back home in the Elemental Nations. Ino and Hinata are, indeed, older than Naruto and company now. And while Jiraiya was slacking off, Ino and Hinata did watch him whenever he did work on the seal. However, whereas Jiraiya was stumped, the two of them figured that with a fresh set of eyes and two heads working as one, they'd be able to complete the seal. As I mentioned, they've been in the world of Gaia for 6 months since using that seal, so they've been there for about half the time that Naruto has been.
Anyways, I am dead tired right now after staying up all night working on this chapter. Sooo I'm gonna shut up now and hopefully get some damn sleep. lol. Take care everybody!