A/N: Thanks for the reviews, and sorry about the delay in updating. It's been a crazy week. Hope I got all the typos but ya never know.
Chapter 4
Haruno Sakura's body ached everywhere. This was the forth day in a row that the stupid cat ran away from that terrifying woman, and once again it led them on a chase all over the village. Sasuke was next to her with his normally quiet demeanor, and Kiba was off to the side playing with Akamaru. Sakura realized that Kiba sometimes felt like an outsider in this team. She was always around the Uchiha, and she didn't think that Kiba liked him very much. They were waiting at the first train ground they had used for their sensei to show up. Asuma told them that he was going to buy a pack of cigarettes and told them to head here while he did. That was an hour ago.
The pink haired girl let out a bored sigh. "Where is he!" She huffed. Sasuke quickly glanced at her before he continued to stare at nothing. Sakura never knew if she was annoying him or if he was just quiet.
"Sorry I'm late!" Asuma blew out a cloud of smoke as he talked. Sakura didn't think it was very wise to smoke as a shinobi. They had a horrid smell and you could see them from really far away.
"Asuma-sensei!" Sakura put her hands on her hips and stomped the ground. The older man flinched.
"I said I was sorry." He frowned with the cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth.
"Well, why were you so late?" Kiba walked over as Sakura was asking him.
"I had to meet the Hokage, we have a c-rank mission we are going on." Sasuke's eyes showed the smallest hint of emotion before it faded. It wasn't quick enough for Sakura not to notice though.
"When do we leave?" Kiba inquired as he put Akamaru on his head. The puppy was sound asleep as soon as he was up there.
"Um, now. Meet at the east gate in thirty minutes. Pack for a two week mission." He ordered and his team was gone. The large jounin took a long puff from his cigarette. He had a bad feeling about this one, but he didn't have any room to turn down a mission. The man Tanuza seemed nervous when he met him, but he dismissed the concern. How hard could a c-ranked mission be?
Naruto followed behind Kakashi. They had left Konoha two days ago and were scheduled to arrive at Suna in a few hours. It was hard not to notice how close they were to the village. They had gone from the lush forests in the Land of Fire to the scorching hot desert of the Land of Wind. Naruto seemed to be the least effected by it though. Kakashi was breathing erratically as they traveled. Hinata and Shikamaru weren't complaining, but Naruto could tell his teammates were nearing their limit. Kakashi seemed to notice this as well and called for a small break.
"Conserve your water. There are no oasis between here and Suna, and we still have about two hours before we arrive." The jounin gave them warning, but that gave Naruto an idea.
"Oi! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto jogged to the man as he sat in the shade that one of the large sand dunes managed to provide. Kakashi looked up at the boy wondering how he could be so full of energy when it was this hot. "I have a way to get water!" Kakashi's one visible eye brow rose.
"By all means." Kakashi gave him the OK and Naruto prepared himself. The blond genin made a few clones to dig a small hole to hold the water, and after about ten minutes he was ready.
"Water release: Torrent!" Naruto shouted as he made the hand signed. Kakashi and his teammates felt the air become filled with humidity before a blast of water erupted from around Naruto. It appeared that Naruto was attempting to aim the blast at the hole he had just dug, but he didn't have the control yet. It was good enough though. When the water finished following there was a few inches of standing water in the hole.
Kakashi noticed the frown on his student's face. "What's wrong Naruto?"
"Well, there is normally more water then that." Naruto explained. Kakashi wondered about what kind of potential Naruto had. He already had the chakra to create water out of thin air and was disappointed that he didn't make more.
"We are in the middle of the desert." Kakashi offered to explain the shortage.
"I guess." Naruto was still upset. He wanted to do the technique again, but Kakashi stopped him explaining that he shouldn't waste chakra because he wanted to do better.
"Drink up and fill your canteens. We leave in five minutes." Kakashi ordered as his team was getting its fill on the water. While it wasn't cold, it quenched their thirst perfectly. Kakashi listened as Hinata and Shikamaru complimented Naruto. Hinata, of course, was quiet with what she said, but there was no mistaking that she was very happy for Naruto. Shikamaru said something about Naruto making this mission less troublesome and thanked him.
Two hours later, the large canyon that led into the heart of Suna was visible. It was a sight for sore eyes, and it made team 6 move even faster. The man that they were suppose to escort back to Konoha was already at the gates ready to leave when they got there.
"Took your sweet time getting here, didn't you?" He spoke as he noticed the symbol of the hitai-ate on Kakashi's forehead. It was a heavyset man who was balded with a thick brown beard. Kakashi smiled at the man and apologized for the delay.
"Though, I am sorry to inform you, but we are not leaving today." The man's face turned red in anger when Kakashi told him that.
"And why not?!" He nearly yelled, but he managed to restrain himself enough to keep his voice from traveling too far.
"My team has just ran across a desert in one day. They need time to recover in case we are attacked on the way back." Kakashi explained as the man looked over the jounin's shoulder.
"Those brats are suppose to protect me?" He noticed Hinata and Shikamaru.
"Don't worry. They may be young, but they are strong. I am a jounin, nothing will go wrong." Kakashi kept his pleasant demeanor even though the man was beginning to annoy him. Naruto had just walked back from a near by store with a few bottles of cold water when the man recognized him.
"HIM!?" He shouted as he jumped back from Naruto, who just had a confused look on his face. "I will have nothing to do with him." The man pointed at Naruto before looking at Kakashi was even more anger from before.
Kakashi placed an arm on the man's shoulder. "May I have a word in private?" The man was a little startled at Kakashi's seemingly calm appearance. The two men walked off leaving a confused Naruto standing there. Had he done something to this man before? Or did he just not like his father?
"I do not want to be near that demon!" The man whispered in a raised voice.
"You will be careful with what you say. You wouldn't want to violate the law the Yondaime made." The threat was presented calmly, but it had the desired effect.
"I will not be near that... thing. My wife died on that day." The man's voice turned from anger to sadness.
"I am deeply sorry for that, but Naruto is not the kyuubi. Naruto is the son of the Hokage and a hero." Kakashi whispered so that Naruto wouldn't hear.
"A hero, ha!" The man's voice carried to the ears of Naruto. Naruto was worried that he had done something to mess this mission up.
"If you do not accept this team, you will have to send another mission request and wait for another team. And for making us travel here, you will lose your money as well." Kakashi smiled. "I have no problems with leaving you here to deal with whatever trouble you got into while you wait for another team." The man visibly gulped.
"I will show that demon no respect, but it seems you have forced me to accept this." The man glared at Kakashi.
"I have forced nothing. We will leave tomorrow morning. My team needs time to recover from the journey." Kakashi walked away from the infuriated man and called his team over. After he explained the situation, he pulled Naruto to the side while Shikamaru and Hinata went to check them into a hotel.
"Kakashi-sensei." Naruto's eyes were on the ground as he walked with Kakashi. "Did I do something wrong?" Kakashi was taken back by that. He didn't know that he held the kyuubi in him, and didn't know that their were people that hated him for it. No one dared say anything around Minato, but they still held on to their petty hatred.
"No, Naruto you didn't." Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "He is upset with your father over something and is taking it out on you." Kakashi lied. It wasn't his place to tell him the truth. Minato had given Kakashi permission to do so, but he didn't feel it was his place to do so.
"OK." Naruto's voice was quiet. It was very unlike him. Kakashi doubted he believed him. Kakashi gave him a smile before leading him to the hotel. Shikamaru and Hinata had rented three rooms. One for the two boys of the team, one for Hinata, and one for Kakashi. Kakashi put it as an expense for the mission and used money that he was allowed to use only on missions.
With all three of his students gathered in a corner of the main lobby away from the ears of the citizens of Suna, Kakashi laid down some rules. "Remember, we are guests in another shinobi village. Don't do anything stupid that would jeopardize the alliance we have with Suna. There are certain areas of the village that will be off limits, if you are asked to leave them do so immediately." Kakashi explained. He didn't want his team to be the reason for an already weak alliance to be broken. His three students understood this well enough. Kakashi told them they were to be back in their rooms by 9 P.M and they would be leaving at 7 A.M the next morning. He also told them to hold back on any sparring or strenuous activity because they didn't know what they might in counter on the road.
Shikamaru and Hinata excused themselves to their rooms since they didn't have as much stamina as Naruto. That left Naruto alone to explore the village on his own. It was the first hidden village Naruto had been in besides Konoha, and it amazed him about how different things were. All the buildings appeared to be made of sand. There were hardly any children running through the streets. It seemed like these people were prepared for war at any time. There were shinobi guards at almost every street corner. Most of them kept one eye on the leaf shinobi that was walking their streets.
Another discovery Naruto had made was that none of the restaurants here served ramen. It was a little disappointing that he wouldn't have his favorite meal before they started the trip home. It was when he was standing outside of one of the restaurants looking at a menu that he had his first encounter with two Suna shinobi.
"Look at this brat." A male voice came from behind him. "I didn't know they made babies shinobi in Konoha." He laughed at his own joke. The person he was with didn't find it that funny.
"I think he's kind of cute." She retorted. The corners of Naruto's mouth turned very slightly up.
"What are you doing here, brat?" The male asked again. Naruto refused to acknowledge someone that called him a brat. "Hey, kid!" He shouted.
"Maybe if you were polite he would answer you." His female friend scowled him. "Excuse me." She said as she tapped Naruto on the shoulder. Naruto spun around to face them. He expected them to be older. They might have been a few years older then Naruto.
"Hello." Naruto smiled politely remembering what Kakashi had said.
"Ha! Hes even younger then I thought." The boy in front of Naruto said. He had very strange face paint on.
"Shut up Kankuro!" The blond girl slapped this Kankuro across the back of the head.
"You are lucky you're my sister." Kankuro grunted before walking off.
"Don't mind my annoying brother. We aren't all like him." She said the part about her brother loud enough so he could hear her as he walked off. Naruto smiled at her.
"It's no problem." Naruto remained polite, but this time it was genuine. He gave the older girl a grin causing her blush.
"I'm Temari!" She extended her hand for Naruto to shake it.
"Daughter of the Kazekage." Naruto replied. "I'm Naruto." He reached out and shook the teen's hand.
"Naruto? Are you the son of the Hokage?" She spoke in a whisper. Naruto nodded at her. "Well how about that. The children of two Kages meeting on the street." She smiled.
"Quite the coincidence." Naruto released her hand.
"Hate to run, but I have to report for a mission. Maybe we will run into each other again, Naruto-san." Temari bowed before she ran off. Naruto watched her go before he turned back to reading the menu.
Sarutobi Asuma stood in a small clearing. Him and his team had just arrived in the Land of the waves when they had been intercepted by a man. Momochi Zabuza was not a man that Asuma could take lightly. He was in the bingo book, an A-ranked missing nin. Asuma ordered his team to take up a protective formation around Tazuna. With the thick fog it was impossible to see more then a few feet in front of them, but he also had Kiba's nose.
"Sensei!" Kiba shouted catching the attention of the Sarutobi. "Behind!" Asuma turned just in time to see the blade of Zabuza crash down on him. Asuma reached for his trench blades and dove at the missing nin.
"Impressive nose on that runt." Zabuza pointed his blade at Kiba. Asuma decided he needed to end this now.
"Your fight is with me." Zabuza's attention snapped back to Asuma as he lunged at the former mist shinobi. With his chakra following into his blades, he swung at Zabuza letting him think he was missing. After the two traded blows, they jumped apart from each other. A series of cuts appeared all over Zabuza face. Asuma didn't let up. The jounin leapt into the air throwing a few kunai at his opponent. With a few hand seals, the few kunai turned into hundreds of kunai. Zabuza had no choice but to swing his sword around to deflect them, but that was the opening that Asuma needed.
Sasuke watched as his sensei landed on the ground and launched himself at Zabuza with amazing speed. The chakra was visible as his blades connected with the stomach of Zabuza. The missing nin swung his massive sword at Asuma haphazardly. Asuma was easily able to dodge the massive blade before going in for another strike. When he connected with his blades the second time in Zabuza's back, his enemy coughed up blood.
"What did you say your name was?" Zabuza crashed to the ground. He didn't have the strength to even lift his sword.
"I didn't." Asuma moved in for the final blow when several needles hit Zabuza in the neck making him fall limply to the ground. A boy in a ANBU mask appeared next to the body.
"I thank you for your help." He said curtly. Asuma knelt down to check to body for a pulse. "I assure you that he is dead. I never miss." The boy told him as he picked up the body over his shoulder and held the large sword in his hand.
Asuma eyes didn't move from the boy. "If you were a hunter, you would just take the head as proof." The boy flinched.
"You saw through my act?" His voice had a hint of fear on it. Asuma tighten the grip on his knifes as he stared at the boy posing as an ANBU. "You leave me with no choice." The ANBU made a few hand seals with the hand that held Zabuza over his shoulder and pieces of ice burst from the ground around him forcing Asuma to jump back.
"One handed seals?!" One of the spikes of ice struck Asuma in the leg. It just grazed him, but it was deep enough to cause some bleeding. Sasuke jumped forward in front of Asuma. The boy that rescued Zabuza wasn't any where to be seen.
"Do we pursue?" He spun around to face his sensei.
"No, leave him." Asuma slowly stood up favoring the leg that was bleeding. Sakura ran over to help steady him. "Zabuza is probably still alive, but he won't be in fighting condition for a while. Let's get Tazuna home." Asuma gave the orders. Kiba took point, Sasuke walked beside their client, and Sakura helped her sensei walk.
Naruto tossed restlessly in bed. It was barely past 9 P.M, but Kakashi-sensei had ordered them to bed. He wanted them to be prepared for the walk home. It would take several days longer then the trip to Suna, and the team had to be ready for anything. Naruto wasn't tired though. He fidgeted in bed under the sheet. Shikamaru was already sleep, Naruto assumed he was just worn out from the journey. It was hard for Naruto to lay here. No training or anything.
The blond genin let out a sigh as he flopped on his back and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to do something. Anything to relieve his boredom. He looked at the alarm clock on his night stand again. 9:23 P.M. This was going to be a long night. Letting out a sigh, the restless teen sat up and look out the window. The village was still alive with activity. It was not the type of night Naruto should be lying in bed.
Carefully the genin got of the bed and slid into his sandals. Naruto tiptoed his way to the door and slid it open. He squeezed out into the hallway and shut the door quietly behind him hoping he wouldn't wake Shikamaru. Naruto crept his way into the lobby of the hotel not making a sound until he made it outside.
"Alright!" He nodded his head quickly celebrating his escape. Not really sure where to go, the blond just started to walk. Anything was better than lying awake in his hotel room not able to sleep. After wondering the village for about ten minutes, Naruto came to a path and a sign. The sign said something about a scenic view of the village. Shrugging Naruto started his way up the steep path. When he arrived at the top, he stood on a ledge overlooking the village. He could see everything. From the Kazekage's tower, the Suna Academy, he could see everything. After about a minute he realized he wasn't alone.
A redheaded boy stood on the edge of the cliff. He had a strange jar on his back. He didn't seem to notice Naruto's presence though. "Hello." Naruto walked over to him. The boy didn't look back. Naruto walked to within a few feet of him before the sand that was on the ground started to move causing Naruto to jump back. The redhead still didn't move as the sand just floated in the air.
"What do you want?" His voice was quiet, but it had a tone that sent a shiver up the spine of Naruto.
"Just saying hello." Naruto tried to sound friendly and not afraid. Slowly the boy turned his head to face Naruto, the bags around his eyes showed he hadn't slept for awhile.
"Leave." He turned his head back looking for the village. Naruto was taken back by the bluntness of him. "If you don't," He turned his head back to Naruto. "I will kill you." Naruto's eyes widened. What was this guys problem? He didn't have a hitai-ate on, but only an idiot wouldn't know that he was a shinobi.
"OK, OK. I'm leaving." Naruto started to back away and eventually turned his back when he felt the hair on his neck rise. He turned around just in time to see sand flying at him. He ducked and rolled out of the way and faced the redhead.
"You." For the first time there was emotion. "You are like me." A eerie grin appeared on his face as he moved his hands towards Naruto, the sand seemingly moving with them. Naruto dodged another blast of sand.
This isn't good. Naruto thought to himself. He would get in so much trouble if he attacked a foreign shinobi. Just as more sand started to swirl around the redheaded boy, a few flashes streaked in front of Naruto, and four shinobi were restraining him.
"Gaara-sama!" A voice barked from behind Naruto. He spun around to see a Suna shinobi. Half his face was covered with a piece of cloth that hung from a wrapping around his head. "You mustn't attack our allies!" He waved a hand and the four shinobi released Gaara. Gaara's lifeless eyes stared at this shinobi before walking past him.
Naruto stood there not really sure want to do. He was just attacked by a Suna shinobi, but it appeared as though he had been rescued. "Um." Naruto whispered catching the attention of the men around him.
"I apologize." The man with the covered face spoke. "Gaara-sama can be a handful to restrain sometimes." He gave Naruto a bow. "I hope that your father will be understanding." Naruto suddenly realized they knew who he was.
Naruto threw his hands up waving them in front of his face. "Don't worry about it!" He grinned causing the older man to smile weakly at him.
"I will have one of my men walk you back to your hotel." The jounin offered.
"That is OK. I can find my own way." Naruto politely replied before he made his way from the summit of the cliff. When Naruto was out of sight from the men on the top, he braced himself against one of the stone walls that lined the path he was on. His hands were shaking from the experience. He had never felt such killing intent than he had right then. His back slid down the coarse stone until his butt hit the ground.
Naruto sat for a few more minutes regaining himself before trying to continue back to the hotel. "I see you met an ally of ours." A familiar voice caused Naruto to look down the path.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto got over the shock of seeing his teacher before a blush spread over his face. "I'm, uh," Naruto stammered.
"I give orders for a reason, Naruto." The gray haired jounin took a seat next to Naruto.
"I know. I was just bored. I needed to get out." Naruto tried to explain himself but the more he talked the stupider he sounded.
Kakashi let out a very loud sigh as he shook his head. "Well, you had your first run in with a person that wanted you dead because you didn't follow orders. I hope next time you will think of this."
"Of course!" Naruto nodded his head vigorously. Naruto noticed that the man that ordered Gaara to stop walked around the corner.
"I hope that there will be an understanding, Kakashi-dono." The man bowed to Kakashi, who returned the gesture with a smile.
"Do not worry, Baki-san. We will be discrete." Kakashi reassured the Suna jounin. Baki bowed once more before he left Naruto and Kakashi alone. Kakashi ushered Naruto to his feet and the two returned to the hotel.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said as they approached Kakashi's room. Kakashi gave him a smile under his mask before walking into the room and silently closing it behind him. Naruto let out a sigh before continuing down the hall. He reached for the doorknob, but something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He looked down the dark hallway to see Hinata was looking at him from her door. She wasn't standing in the hallway, but the light reflecting from her light lavender eyes was unmistakable. Naruto's hand hovered above the doorknob before he clenched his fist and walked down the hall to her room. As he turned he heard Hinata gasp, but she didn't close her door.
"N-Naruto-kun?" She opened the door just enough so that her head could be seen.
"Hinata-chan." He smiled at her as he inched his way closer to the door. He was nervous about this, but he had been feeling weird around her for a few days now. Something just made him want to be around her.
"Are you OK?" Her sweet voice broke him from his thoughts and he smiled at her.
"I am now." His soft words made a fierce blush appear on her face. Hinata's grip on the door faded and the door moved opened a few more inches revealing that she was just wearing a over sized teeshirt. Her exposed legs made Naruto blush and turn his back to her. At first Hinata didn't understand why he turned from her, but when she remembered what she was wearing her face turned completely red.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun!" She moved her body so that it was hidden behind the door.
"Good night, Hinata-chan." Naruto didn't turn around to say it. His face was red as a lobster as he entered his own room. He kicked off his sandals again and crawled into bed. It had been one strange night.
It had taken about a day for the wound on Asuma's leg to heal up enough for him to feel comfortable to fight with it. His team was currently at the bridge that was going to connect the Land of Waves to the main land guarding Tazuna. With the injuries that Momochi Zabuza had sustained, it was going to be awhile before he would be able to fight again, but the boy that rescued him was unhurt. His ability to make one handed seals added problems to the situation as well.
The name of the boy wasn't know, but Asuma knew he had a unique ability. Perhaps even a bloodline. The black haired man stood outside of Tazuna's house with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. He would have to kill Zabuza before he could threaten the old man again. Letting out a sigh, the Konoha jounin heard his team arguing over something as they approached the house with Tazuna between them. Sakura and Kiba were bickering while it appeared that Sasuke was attempting to keep an eye on their surroundings. At least one of them was apparently remembering the mission.
"Kiba!" Asuma called out catching the attention of the boy. With his argument with Sakura interrupted, he jogged his way to his sensei. "I need your help with something." Asuma pulled him to the side away from the prying ears of his pinked haired teammate.
"What's up, sensei?" Kiba leaned against a tree as Asuma fiddled with one of his trench knives.
"Do you remember the scent of Zabuza?" The jounin asked as he spun the knife around on his fingers.
"Of course! I couldn't forget that bastard." Kiba gave a toothy grin and Akamaru let out a small growl at the mention of the name.
"Where is he?" Asuma caught the knife in his hands before making eye contact with his student.
"It would be hard to just tell you, I could lead you though." Kiba gulped. He had never seen his laid back sensei so serious about anything.
Asuma thought for a moment. "We have very little choice I guess. This became at least an A-rank mission with the addition of Zabuza, and I wanted to leave you guys out of the fight." Asuma took a long puff from his cigarette before throwing it on the ground. "We leave tomorrow morning." The jounin walked off to tell the rest of his team the plan. Sasuke wasn't very happy that he was being left out, but Asuma soothed his ego by telling him that his the other boy attacked he would be the only one that could stand up to him. Sakura supported anything her sensei decided.
The rays of the sun were just starting to fill the sky as Kakashi and team 6 met up at the gate of Suna to escort the merchant back to Konoha. It was going to be a long trip back, it would probably take almost two days to just make it across the desert. Kakashi went over the course he had plotted out the night before. He had marked every oasis between Suna and the boarder of the Land of Fire and they would attempt to hit them all.
The three teens were dressed extremely light. Hinata wore a white tank top with a pair of tan shorts on that ended mid thigh. Shikamaru had a fishnet shirt on with his own pair of shorts on. Naruto had a gray teeshirt on and a pair of brown shorts. Kakashi was the only one wearing his normal attire.
"Make sure your canteens are filled. We leave in ten minutes." Kakashi reminded his team before he went to talk to the man they were escorting.
"What do you want?" The merchant was preparing his wagon.
"Remember, you are not to break the law the Yondaime put in place." Kakashi said in a low voice. His threat was clear.
"I understand. I won't even say anything to that demon." The man whispered before he turned from Kakashi. The gray haired jounin let out a sigh as he walked back to his team. Idiots and their petty grudges. Naruto didn't pick to have the kyuubi sealed in him, but he would pay for it the rest of his life it seemed. Kakashi observed his team as they talked amongst themselves. Slowly it seemed that Naruto and Hinata were growing closer. Shikamaru was being more talkative then his normal self. At least it seemed that the younger generation wasn't being swayed by the hatred of the adults.
Kakashi turned to see their client pacing back and forth nervously next to his wagon. He appeared ready to leave. "Hey!" He called out to his team. The three of them jogged over to him. "We are leaving. We will be protecting the client from anything, but we will walk in shifts. Two people walking with the wagon, and two people riding in the back resting. Six hour shifts. Naruto and Hinata will be one shift, and me and Shikamaru will be the other."
Kakashi explained that him and Shikamaru would be walking first leaving Naruto and Hinata alone in the back of the wagon. It was a small wagon with not much room, but there was enough for two people to sit some what comfortably. Naruto and Hinata climbed into the wagon while the owner of it glared at them. When they got seated next to each other on one side of the wagon, Kakashi and Shikamaru threw their bags into the back, and they started to walk as the wagon pulled out of the village.
Naruto let out a yawn. Staying out that night wasn't the best thing he could have done. That red head, Gaara, was going to kill him or try. Hinata had been awake when he got back, and he could see the black bags under her eyes as a sign she probably didn't get much sleep either.
"Hinata-chan?" Naruto whispered not sure if she was sleep.
Slowly her face looked up at him. "Yes?" She let out a small yawn and rubbed her eye.
"Why were you awake last night when I came back?" He asked.
"I heard you go you and..." She looked away. "I was worried about you, Naruto-kun."
"Worried about me?" He asked with genuine surprise in his voice. "You could have come with me! I went to this place with a great view of the village!" Naruto smiled at her. Hinata blushed at him. Naruto had grown used to her blushing around him. Her body language used to make him nervous that he had upset her some how, but now he just knew she was extremely nervous. Not that Naruto wasn't nervous either. With her leaning on his shoulder, his face was red as a lobster, and his heart was beating so fast he thought it was going to jump out of his chest.
The wagon was fairly cramped and it caused their bodies to be very close, which just added to the red shade of Naruto's face. Hinata found her head resting on Naruto's shoulder as they rode in the back of the wagon. Naruto didn't seem to mind that she had her head on him, so she squirmed a little bit to get comfortable before she closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
A/N: Next chapter should be out faster, but I can't make any promises.