Apologizes for the delayed update. I had this chapter prepared and ready to go, but my sister seemed to be far too busy to edit it. None the less she finally did, this morning.

Geez, anyways expect the next chapter by next week. I had my sis edit it already so, it's ready to go but I chose to wait before posting chapter 3 up.

Enjoy.

OddLibbie

The Crumpled within a Stack of Paper

Chapter 2- Transaction complete and blonde boy is coming home!

An overall excited, hyperactive man bounced in and out of the rooms where his fellow 'co-workers' resided, in search of a certain pink haired girl.

"Sakura-chan!" he beamed as he opened the last final door at the very end of the hall.

He immediately was faced to her back. Tilting his head in a curious manner, his eyes drifted from the cabinet she was emptying and the small suitcase she was filling.

"Neh…Sakura-chan, are you alright?" Sakura simply banged her cabinet door shut, which caused Naruto to jump five feet in the air.

Once he came down he slowly crept up from behind her to grab her small waist, and was about to nuzzle her neck when she elbowed him in the stomach. Naruto immediately released his hold on her and kneeled to the floor.

"Sakura-chan, w…why?" he questioned in a tragic tone. Sakura just rolled her eyes.

"Naruto no-baka, I told you I would never let you touch me," she hissed, causing Naruto to wince.

Hurt was clear in his beautiful blue eyes, but it was only for a brief second before the sadness dissipated and the annoying Naruto she knew for years came back.

"Are you going on a trip?" Naruto and Sakura had silently agreed that all these transactions that occurred between their master Jiraiya and the customers would always come to be known as just 'a trip.'

Sakura solemnly nodded her head as she looked at her briefcase which was barely half full, but was already filled with her all things.

"It seems like a long trip," Naruto plainly observed.

"For six months," Sakura informed him quietly.

"Nani?"

Sakura looked up in alarm as Naruto's eyes began to flash a dangerous red. Worried about his safety and the safety of the others, she quickly shut her door while going over what she should do to calm him. Turning around, she looked at Naruto with pained eyes.

"Please, Naruto. Calm down. It's only for a few months and I will be back." Sakura still maintained her distance from him, knowing all to well that he'd get the wrong idea if she came any closer. She eventually resorted to her expressive eyes to tell him how sorry she was. It worked; Naruto's eyes went back to their handsome cerulean color.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura walked to her bed to pick up her briefcase. Just as she was about to take a hold of the battered handle, one of Naruto's hands reached out to grab her wrist. Surprise was written all over her face as Naruto's lips moved and words were uttered from them.

"We'll get out of here, I promise."

Giving him a half smile, Sakura gently pulled his hand from her wrist before proceeding to grab her suitcase. He always said that every time she went on a trip.

"Nobody bided on you," she said simply. Naruto just shrugged before taking a seat on her bed, causing Sakura to scowl. He was still only dressed in his boxers and that muscle shirt that he liked so much. It was the same muscle shirt she had bought him with her own earnings if she remembered correctly.

Naruto paused for a minute before flashing a foxy grin.

"Nope"

Sakura sighed before placing a hand on her hip, which only emphasized her curves. "Naruto, I know that the last experience…." She paused as she intently watched Naruto's expression which continued to be solemn. "Was horrible, but Jiraiya will only continue to make you the exhibition until you finally give-"

Naruto looked away then. "Never, Sakura-chan. It's a gift for you and only you."

Shaking her head, she finally exclaimed, "That's where you're wrong, Naruto. We have no say in the matter. I've already given mine."

The smell of salty tears assaulted Naruto's senses as he looked up to see Sakura beginning to cry. Panic reached his senses as he hated it when a woman cried because of him. "No… Gomen, Sakura-chan. Please don't cry."

"What a disgusting sight; the world's most pathetic virgin and the world's biggest whore."

Sakura and Naruto jumped although Naruto's reaction was soon replaced by strong hated for the figure that had silently opened the door and was blocking the door frame.

"Gaara," Naruto hissed while Sakura wiped her nose in dismay. "What are you doing here? You're presence is…is…" Naruto paused to think of something to say, while Gaara just gave him an unaffected face. However, his eyes carried a bloodlust look that frightened Sakura to no end.

"Jiraiya wants to see you," Gaara didn't bother to add the 'sama' suffix, as he established that nobody was going to own him. As a constant reminder, he had a tattoo on the edge of his forehead reading: "Love"; love for himself and only himself.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed "Ero-Sennin? What does he want?"

Gaara's face betrayed nothing, and soon Naruto was out of Sakura's room in a flash. It was only when he was out of hearing range did Gaara turn to Sakura.

"Your number-one fan has been sold permanently." Sakura could only gasp, and watch helplessly as Gaara left from whence he came.

Meanwhile, the news of Naruto's current situation had spread faster than wildfire to hay. Every ear within the inn had caught a hold of how Naruto had been bought by some strange girl, who had an even stranger companion. Ironically, none of this reached Naruto's ears as he entered Jiraiya's office where a fair assembly of nudist posters hung from every corner. Jiraiya was currently drooling over one poster with some red head as Naruto entered.

Naruto looked at the man in disgust before clearing his throat to get the latter's attention. But unlike any respectable man, Jiraiya had the nerve to lift a finger; indicating his need of one minute, before finally addressing Naruto.

"I've permanently sold you," he informed the blonde without tearing his gaze from the poster.

Naruto's jaw dropped to the floor.

"NANI!"

Jiraiya continued without a care in the world, "So if you could pack your bags, you're leaving immediately. Be sure not to leave anything behind; you're not returning."

Naruto's eyes began to change into a dangerous red. He glared at Jiraiya with so much hatred it would make any man fall dead. Jiraiya, on the other hand, remained firm and acted as though nothing had happened. It was only a minute of intense snarling and staring until Jiraiya rose from his chair and formed a few hand seals that sent Naruto into the floor. He was glad that he decided to put that subduing technique on Naruto.

After the smoke cleared Jiraiya watched as Naruto attempted to stagger his way onto his knees. Calmly he spoke, "Consider yourself fortunate. Most would kill to be in your position."

"Kuso," Naruto hissed.

"Cursing won't do you any good. The transaction has been sealed and I have no intent of going back on it." Jiraiya had the nerve to smile then. "After all these years, I'll finally get rid of you."

He went back to his previous occupation, leaving Naruto to make his way to the door with his battered body. "You better hurry; she's waiting for you."

Naruto raised his head in surprise "She?"

By the time Naruto had packed, barely five minutes had passed. Sakura was long gone by the time he had come back from his meeting with Jiraiya, which depressed Naruto. He really did want to kiss her good-bye or at least tell her how he truly felt. Even so though, he knew she would never see him any more than just a friend. Attempting to smile, he walked the long corridor to the lobby that, for the first time, seemed to stretch a mile.

When he finally raised his head, he noticed a woman who wore two buns identical at both sides at her head.

At least she's not a guy.

However, on closer inspection she seemed to be older than him by several years. She looked to be at least twenty-four, five years he's senior. He sneered in disgust; she was one of those kinds of women.

"Kuso, you're too old for me," he exclaimed without thinking.

"Excuse me?" Ten-ten replied slowly as though grasping what he had just said to her.

"Look, if you think I am going to be doing those things to a hag like you…" Naruto immediately felt a sharp pain on his head. Looking at the woman, he was surprised to find a club in her hand that had seemed to come out of nowhere.

"For your information, I am only twenty-two and I am happily married and pregnant," she screeched.

"Didn't know you're so desperate for attention from your husband," Naruto muttered with a smirk on her face.

Just when the woman was about to pull out another weapon, one that would most likely break skin, a small voice from behind spoke out, "Tenten-san ple..please don't hurt him."

Both Naruto and Ten-ten turned to look at a blushing blue-haired girl who, once again, was poking her two index fingers together.

Naruto's expression seemed to lighten up at the timid girl. She was wearing a fairly massive white coat, accompanied by a pair of deep navy blue khakis. From what he could see, she had flawless skin that was only further enhanced by the deep richness of blue from her hair that reached past her shoulders. However, when she raised her head to look at him Naruto couldn't help but take a step back. Her eyes were alarmingly frightening, empty voids with nothing but the color of light lavender all around. Yet when she smiled softly, they seemed to warm up in a comforting gesture that caused Naruto to relax.

To say that Hinata was nervous would be an understatement. She was shaking from head to toe when the blonde came in clear view. It was only when he came closer did Hinata really began to get alarmed. He reached a good six feet; she probably barely came close to matching his shoulder. Apart from his height, he seemed to have relatively good muscle tone, not too bulky but not too lean. However, Hinata was most attracted to the whisker like markings on either side of his face.

She found him to be an amazing specimen if she dared to call him that. Of course that was until he started insulting Tenten-san. Some of the remarks he made were a bit extreme, but overall Hinata couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the two. After a while, she decided that the two of them were going to kill each other if someone didn't intrude.

No sooner did she speak those words, did all attention turn to her. And she couldn't help but blush under the blue-eyed boy's gaze.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard Tenten speaking again. "This is Hinata. She's the one who was crazy enough to buy you. Not me!"

Hinata's expression became one of shock as she looked at her cousin-in-law in horror, "Ano…Tenten san."

Tenten just raised an eyebrow, "What?"

Taking a gulp, Hinata allowed her hand to fall back down. No longer paying the shy girl any mind, Tenten gave Naruto an approved once over, which angered Naruto no end.

"You have a problem?" He hated it when people look at him like a piece of meat.

However, Tenten paid him no mind as her eyes drifted to the strange talisman around Naruto's neck. Reaching up, Tenten was about to grab it only to have it fiercely pulled away from her grasp. She looked up to met up with Naruto's piercing blue eyes that had all of a sudden began to swirl with…red. Tenten even had to admit she was frightened.

"I...it's his talisman," Hinata stammered. "Jiraiya-san told me it...it would... allow me t…to c...control him."

Naruto scowled at Hinata then, causing her to make a small 'epp' sound while she ducked behind Tenten to shield herself from his gaze.

"Tsk, is that anyway to look at your new master," Jiraiya waved his finger from no where before performing the few hand seals that caused Naruto to eat dust. Hinata and Tenten watch horrified as Naruto's body made a hard crack as it hit the wooden floor. Clouds of dust dispersed causing Hinata to cough quietly, while Jiraiya looked on the boy with a bored expression.

"Here's your receipt Miss, although I hardly think you'll need it since I don't do exchanges or, more importantly, returns," he replied to Tenten, who had gotten over her shock unlike Hinata who's eyes were still glued on the unconscious boy buried in wooden rubble.

"I… I think…you… ki…killed him," she exclaimed softly while one of her hands covered her soft lips.

Jiraiya's gaze drifted to Naruto once more, "Nah, the boy has taken worse beatings."

However, once said his eyes darkened slightly, only to go unnoticed by both clients. Hinata gingerly bent down to inspect the boy before bringing his arms around her one shoulder and his legs around the other. To Jiraiya's amazement she rose on her feet baring the weight of Naruto's body on both shoulders. Tenten took immediate notice and began to protest.

"Hinata-chan, you shouldn't; he's much too heavy."

Hinata just smiled reassuringly, "I…I am fine, he's my…pur…purchase. And you're pregnant. You shouldn't lift heavy objects."

Tenten just sighed as she watched her cousin leave the front door to head for the carriage that was parked outside.

Jiraiya was at her side in an instant. "She has a nice ass," he commented.

That comment earned him a beating from Tenten on Hinata's behalf. When she was done, she began to follow her cousin outside when Jiraiya stopped her by grabbing her on the wrist.

"Here," he said handing her a suspicious looking scroll. Narrowing her eyes caused Jiraiya to place his arms up above his head as though he were surrendering. "It's just insurance if the boy gets out of control."

As if it were possible, Tenten's eyes narrowed into slits, "What do you mean, 'out of control'?"

Jiraiya sighed, "Just make sure that the lady doesn't get him peeved."

Tenten laughed then, "Hinata? As if that would ever happen."

Jiraiya smiled, in spite of himself, "That's why I allowed her to buy him."

Tenten stopped, suddenly feeling the urge to interrogate the man even more about the meaning behind his comment. However, he dissipated in a cloud of spoke, leaving Tenten alone in the lobby.

"Oh, geez," she mumbled to herself, taking one last look at the scroll before she shoved it in her pocket. She headed outside where Hinata was.