IY: I'm baaaack! And I have another chapter with me. XD

Kit: No, really? Wow, I didn't notice.

IY: -sniff- I don't appreciate your sarcasm.

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Thanks to: takuya, hidan11 (I would, but I don't read anything that doesn't have Naruto as main. I just lub my Naru-chan too much!), and peepsolez!

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Disclaimer: Don't own!

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"Okay. Let's make camp. Unseal our things, Naruto." Kakashi ordered that night.

When they finally stopped it was already dark. They had paused to eat lunch (which took a whopping three hours) at a small civilian village they had passed and therefore had to make up for lost time by traveling after sunset. They had to make it to Grass on schedule, after all.

Naruto nodded. "Okay, I'm on it!"

He looked around, searching for a patch of soft-looking grass on which to lie his charge. She'd fallen asleep a few hours before and the responsibility of acting as her transport had been thrust upon him.

Finding a spot where the grass looked thick, he put her immobile body down. As soon as she was released, Machiko made a whining sound in the back of her throat, which caused Naruto to frown. He whipped off his vest and covered her with it, hoping that it would offer her some comfort.

"Okay, now to get the stuff…" He got a small scroll from one of his pants' zipped pockets, opened it and smeared it with a bit of blood from his thumb (which he bit with one of his unnaturally sharp canines).

Naruto threw the scroll onto the ground when it made a small "poof" sound. It was a good thing he did, too, since immediately after the cloud of smoke dispersed a heap of camping supplies appeared.

"Good job, Naruto." Kakashi praised, nodding approvingly. "Okay, then! Sakura, fix up the tents; Sai, set up some traps around the perimeter; Naruto, go get us some water- there's a stream about half a mile to the west."

He pointed in the right direction, knowing that Naruto wasn't very good at deducing his location without the help of either the sun or a map.

"I'll gather some firewood and guard Mizuhara-san while she rests. Got it?"

The teens of Team Seven nodded affirmatively.

"Good. Scatter!"

Naruto went to the pile of supplies and retrieved two large buckets and their four canteens. If he filled them up now, he wouldn't have to do it in the morning. (Naruto was nothing if not lazy)

Jumping into the trees, the blond took off swiftly in the direction Kakashi had pointed out. He was hoping to be done with this chore quickly; there were other things he needed to take care of.

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"Aw, damnit!" Naruto swore, reaching into the chilly water of the stream in order to retrieve the canteen that had slipped out of his fingers.

"Gotcha!" he exclaimed happily, grabbing a hold of it by its strap before it floated too far downstream. He proceeded to pull it out, smiling at his accomplishment.

His bubble of happiness was short-lived, however, since he'd obviously forgotten that things made a splash when they left the water.

"Gah!" Naruto yelled, shuddering fiercely. "That was COLD!"

"Hn. You always were a dobe…"

Naruto froze and spun around, still shaking slightly.

"Sasuke! What are you doing here?"

The last Uchiha (once Itachi finally decided to croak, that is) sniffed haughtily. "I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you, dobe."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard all that before, Sasuke-teme," he said, waving a hand airily. "But really, what are you doing here? Kakashi's nearby; he'll detect you for sure!"

Sasuke frowned. "Give me a little credit, dobe. My chakra's well-hidden; he won't know I'm here unless he sees me with his own eyes."

"But…" the blond started, tilting his head. "I sensed you a long time ago."

The raven-haired teen smirked, slinking closer to the blond. "That shouldn't be a surprise, dobe. We've always been aware of each other," he said huskily, placing a gentle hand on the younger boy's cheek.

Naruto leaned into the touch, not breaking eye contact. Those deep, ebony-hued eyes always had the power to draw him in…

Sasuke smirked sexily, closing the small gap between their bodies and wrapping his arms around Naruto's slim waist. He moved in for a kiss… tightened his arms… tilted his head…

And jumped back when his legs were drenched with icy water.

"Dobe!"

Naruto laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Eh he, sorry?" he offered timidly, bending down to retrieve the canteen that had slipped from his fingers. Again.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Only Naruto could ruin a moment like that…

But maybe he should be pleased? After all, he had just reduced the blond Jounin into a nerveless, helpless, vulnerable pile of uke-goo.

… Okay, you know what? Sasuke was pleased. Not to mention smug.

"So, anyway, you never answered me, teme! What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, setting the bottle down safely on solid ground.

"What? I can't go wherever I please anymore?" Sasuke asked (a touch defensively, Naruto noticed gleefully), gazing into the rather dense forest on the opposite bank.

"Aw, were you checking up on me again?" Naruto replied, smiling innocently, hands folded under his chin prettily. The glint of mischief in his eyes betrayed his act, however.

The Uchiha scowled. "I have never 'checked up on you,' dobe."

Naruto grinned cutely, biting the nail of his left index finger and tilting his head to the right. (Sasuke gulped)

"Really, now? Then what was with that little scene a few months ago, huh? C'mon, I sensed you hanging around Suna for the whole two weeks I was there," Naruto said. "…Especially when I was around Gaara," he decided to add, smiling cheekily.

Sasuke frowned. "I don't see why you hang out with that guy, anyway, dobe. He's obviously looking for a bit more than friendship from you…"

"Oh! Is that why you were there, Sasuke-teme? Were you worried? Jealous, maybe?" Naruto asked impishly.

"No!" the brunette snapped, glaring at Naruto for even implying that he was daunted by the red-haired Kazekage.

"Uh-huh," the blond nodded passively. "If you say so…"

"Yes, I say so, dobe."

Naruto grinned, grabbing Sasuke by the collar and pulling him down to his level. He smiled foxily when Sasuke's usually impassive face showed his surprise.

"You're so cute when you're jealous, teme."

Naruto then pushed his lips against Sasuke's thin ones, granting the Uchiha entrance into his mouth once the brunette had recovered his wits enough to kiss back.

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Hehe. I bet y'all weren't expecting that, were ya? XD

Anyway, their relationship will be explained as the story progresses.

Please review now!