Kyuubi's Calm Chapter 7: Drafted, a naruto fanfic

No part of this plot, my own characters, or text can be used without my permission. I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, but the plot and Yasu and Akira are my own and copyrighted.

At 11: AM the third guest showed up. Sakura and Shikamaru had arrived early: Sakura to help set up, and Shikamaru because he had nothing else to do, but he helped anyway. We had all sorts of snacks and a towel rack, plus a wooden piñata shaped like a shuriken that was round in the middle and stuffed with something for a game. It looked like a picnic, definitely. Kiba arrived with Akamaru right on time, and Ino showed up a few minutes later. Hinata arrived at noon, and by then everyone was swimming.

When Sasuke arrived, I noticed a change in Sakura and Ino, and they both glared at each other.

"How about some competition games?" Sakura and Ino became determined and leapt out of the water, preparing for a shuriken battle or something. "I meant like water-chicken or something." They ran back in the water and looked towards Sasuke, about to ask him on their own team. "I MAKE TEAMS!" I shouted over the splashing and scurrying rivals. They paused and looked at me.

"Okay, Hinata with Shikamaru, Ino with Kiba, Sakura with Sasuke, and I'll go with…" I stopped, realizing I'd run out of guys. Just then, Gaara showed up. "I'll go with Gaara!" He froze and stared at me in horror, as did everyone else.

"No." He said simply.

"Just one round?"

"No."

"Alright, then first it'll be Ino vs. Hinata, then whatever guy would like to do another round with me will go against Sakura, then the winners will face off." Everyone nodded, a little unnerved by Gaara still. While Ino, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Hinata prepared for the first round, Sakura sat by Sasuke and I approached Gaara.

"Gaara, thanks for coming!" I smiled and Gaara shrugged.

"I'm only here for a few minutes, so I guess I'll stick around to watch your round. I can't stay for long." I sighed.

"Alright, but I think you'll change your mind." I really didn't expect him to, and I think he knew that too. I walked back to the shore, then walked out into the water, where Kiba and Shikamaru were up to their waists and Ino and Hinata were on their shoulders. They watched as I stepped out onto the water, and the stares made me lose concentration until I sunk. "Okay, first one to fall is disqualified, and… GO!" I ran away and sat next to Gaara on a rock.

Shikamaru and Kiba approached each other and Hinata and Ino began shoving each other. After a few minutes of edge-of-your-seat action (you know how it is) Hinata tumbled into the water with a death grip on Shikamaru's neck. They surfaced laughing, and Kiba dropped Ino as she laughed triumphantly, causing a second round of laughter, even a slight grin from Gaara. Kiba approached me and picked up my hand.

"May I have this game?" He kissed the back of my hand and I giggled, thinking it fun just to be flattered like this. Ino splashed Kiba, getting me wet, and Sakura leapt into the water after Sasuke. Kiba easily lifted me onto his shoulders and Sasuke did the same for Sakura. In a few seconds we were warmed up. Sasuke and Sakura grinned determinedly, and Gaara actually called the start.

"Same rules, first one down is out. Ready… Go." Sasuke was more daring than the other guys and charged straight at Kiba through the water, getting right in his face as I met Sakura above them. We began shoving, laughing the whole time. I tried twisting Sakura to the side but Sasuke always moved under her. She tried the same thing, and on the fifth try Kiba wasn't able to keep up, and I landed on the water's surface on my side. I surfaced to a few claps and Kiba let me go. Sasuke kept Sakura on his shoulders and did a victory circle, ending with a combined 'V for victory' sign with Sakura. He set her down laughing, and I caught her eye and winked. She grinned back before returning her attention to Sasuke.

I went over to Gaara again. I wanted him to feel included.

"Do you have to leave so soon?" He looked at me again.

"Yes. That was an interesting game. I've never seen it played before."

"Well, you could play next time or something. At least have a little snack." I walked with him to the small food table and we each took an onigiri apiece. I munched happily until they called me back for the final match, and I said bye to Gaara. He finished his rice and made a slight bow before disappearing in a whirlwind of sand.

"Alright, I'm going with Shikamaru this time, I don't want Kiba to dump me off again." Ino said, and Shikamaru waded into the water, smirking. I called the match start and five minutes later the boys were standing still as Sakura and Ino battled it out on their shoulders. Shikamaru and Sasuke stood for another minute of perfect-match stale-mate then shrugged and fell over backwards at the same time.

Sasuke stopped right before he hit the water and stood back up as Shikamaru went under.

"Sasuke and Sakura win!" I declared as Ino and Shikamaru dried off. Sasuke let Sakura down and they high-fived each other. After that we all took a break to eat, and around one o'clock we began the piñata.

"Alright, this piñata is two games in one. First we have to break it blindfolded, then we have to collect as many of the things inside as we can, and there are fifty total. Sasuke, you move the piñata, because I think you'll break it straightaway. The lineup is Ino, then Sakura, then me, then Shikamaru, then Kiba, ok?" Everyone agreed and I handed Sasuke the piñata rope.

"I'll pass; I'm gonna go get some food." –Hinata

"Yasu, I have to leave after this." –Sasuke said so only I could hear.

"Really?" I was a little sad.

"Yeah, and also, training next weekend will have to be moved to a later date. Omph! What was that for?" I'd elbowed him in the rib.

"Don't use the word date," I whispered, "there's a couple girls here who'd get very jealous." He looked at the waiting group and noticed Sakura and Ino craning their heads to try and read our lips. "Alright, see you in two weeks, then. And whenever around town."

"Yeah."

"Alright, make the piñata tricky, too. Unless you feel like going easy on someone." He tried to ask me what I meant by that but I walked away, passing Ino the bat.

"Piñata!" Ino put on the blindfold and started her three swings, denting the shuriken. Sakura went next, and the piñata seemed to not move as trickily. She hit it each time, also denting it. I swung and missed twice, but on the third try I heard a board splinter. (Yeah, you betcha it was wooden! Where's the fun in cardboard and papier mache?) Shikamaru stepped up next and a few more boards splintered when he hit it twice. Kiba stepped up and after his turn (I could tell he held back) the piñata was splintered and just needed the final push. I took the rope from Sasuke and he stepped up, not blindfolded because he was the last one. He took the great swing and out of the piñata burst fifty little bells, shiny silver and charmed by a jutsu to bounce, and bounce they did, in fifty different directions.

Sasuke immediately took to the new game, and the others were just a few seconds behind. Five minutes later, we all held our hauls around the table.

"Is that all of them?"-Shikamaru

"I think so."-Hinata

"Wait."

"Shush, I think I hear something."-Kiba

A bell was bouncing in circles, jingling. Kiba sent Akamaru after it as I sent Akira and they raced to it, Akira beating Akamaru.

"Alright, let's count." I said as Akira dropped the bell into my hand. The total was no surprise, Sasuke with 17, Ino and Sakura with 6 each, Kiba, Shikamaru, and myself with seven each. (Yeah, it adds up to fifty). "Sasuke, you win a new kunai." I took out a small wooden case that held a kunai. It looked pretty regular, but it was a special adapted version, better for fire stuff. "See you, Sasuke!" He waved goodbye and Sakura and Ino realized he was leaving.

"Don't go Sasuke, it's only 1:30. There's a lot more time!" –Ino

"Sorry, I've got to go take care of some business."

"Alright, see you around, Sasuke." –Sakura. I personally began to like Sakura more than Ino. She wasn't so possessive. I grabbed another onigiri and put all the bells in a bowl, picking up the disheveled shuriken piñata. We played in the water until 5 PM, when Asuma and Iruka walked by.

"Guys, you're going on a C-slash-D rank mission. It starts tomorrow, and you'll be gone about a week. You're accompanying a traveling caravan to the village in the land of waves. All you have to do is get the caravan safely over the Great Naruto Bridge, and you can come back." Asuma said.

"That's right, tomorrow, mark that, at ten in the morning. You need to meet at the village gates. Yes, you too, Yasu. Your water ninja skills should come in handy, especially since you've been on the road for a while. You have good traveling skills. You've all been volunteered, so no complaints. Besides, you all haven't done any missions recently, now have you?" The teachers walked away, then Asuma paused.

"Your names have already been written down for it, so don't think about getting out of this one." Everyone sighed and got out of the water, going to dry off.

"Thanks, Yasu, it was fun." –Ino

"Thanks for inviting Sasuke." Sakura winked and left grinning. Kiba came next and made a slight bow.

"Thank you very much, it was fun."

"No problem." Shikamaru walked up and took a hand from his pocket, taking my own hand and kissing it.

"I'll see you for the mission tomorrow."

"Yes." I didn't know what exactly to make of Kiba and Shikamaru, but I figured it wasn't worth worrying over. When everyone was gone I packed up and loaded the little bit of leftover trash onto Akira, and we disposed of it on our way to the hotel. I packed before sundown and ate a good dinner, taking extra care in brushing Akira that night. It was my first mission, and I wanted to make a good impression.

By sundown my bag was all but packed and Akira was well fed and sparkling clean, and we were both fast asleep. I dreamed of Naruto, and Gaara and Shikamaru and Kiba.

They all swam around in my head until I felt an incredible loneliness by the time I woke up, and realized I wouldn't be able to see Naruto for at least a week because he was getting back tonight and I was leaving before that. I re-brushed Akira and packed the last of my bag, slinging it over his back. I'd taken off my headband to clean it and I studied the leaf symbol, realizing it was my closest connection to Naruto. I brushed my finger across it lightly and tied it around my head, pulling it tight.

The last paragraph is the first paragraph in the next chapter. You know, sometimes, don't you just feel like hugging someone in the Naruto character lineup? Or slapping them? Just asking. Like in the waterfall special, when Sasuke walked on water. It's like… what the… when did that happen?! Outrage! Ya know? Oh, and i have to write!!! I only have chaper 8 done still I'm Halfway through 9... I think. Whatever.