Title: A Wager of Love
Chapter 4: Watching You No Longer
Author: Merciful Dark Heart/ NarutoxTemari for Well Kyuubi, does it look like I own Naruto or the characters within his universe?
- Kyuubi: Nope kit, but you know...if you don't let go of Temari she might just kill you.
- Hey the author has the right to a hug you baka Kitsune, don't you agree Temari-chan?
-Temari: As long as you don't try anything funny with me and Naruto-kun.
- See, all good! 3
Warning: This chapter will be exceptionally longer than the other if things work out the way I want them to(which they didn't hehe), as well the first hint of adult behavior will be seen. No lemons yet, that's saved for some way later chapters, but a moderate teaser. You have been waaaaarned. -Also the mysterious watcher shall be revealed, and I can say it's a different person than most of your expectations.
Comments: I apologize for the lengthy wait for this chapter, school and other hospital visits have halted my ability to work on it properly. Gomen. I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to read and review Chapter 3 of this story, and we're finally set to see our little pair move out to Suna. Also, do to the fact that well my backtracking and different points of views can seem a bit well confusing, I'm adding lines to seperate them where I feel are eeded. I hope this makes it easier for all those whoe wish to read and that have asked me to do so. Well I hope you enjoy, and I'm looking for a Co-Author for my next fanfic production if anyone's interested drop an e-mail or a comment in a review. Thanks.
"Hi." Speech
'Hi.' Thoughts
'Hi.' Kyuubi
'Hi.' Temari's Inner Voice
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The darkness issued by the night sky was something rather disturbing, had it have been starless, but luckily enough those glittering filaments darted the sky respectively. A full moon was also seen through the tree tops of the vast expanse of forest that occupied most of the space outside of Konoha, save for a few villages here and there. It had been an hour since Naruto and Temari had made their leave of the Hidden Leaf Village, and were currently sitting before a fire that seemed to be leaving a trail of smoke to the heavens. The smell of ramen and fish seemed to fill the air around the two shinobi as a set of blue stared upward to the sky after a stretched yawn.
"...Ahhhhh, so how do you like my cooking Temari-chan?" He grinned, sitting upright from his current position on his back just to look at the woman as she gave him an answer. Those eyes searched her own, hoping to find a hint that may have let him no ahead of time as to what she was going to say; however, Temari was exceptionally better at hiding her thoughts and emotions than Naruto was. She smirked as he tried his hardest to guess her response, a bowl of ramen cupped by one hand and a small plate of fish on her lap, and decided that it would kill him to let her pause go any longer. " It was good Naruto-kun, but you could do better than some fish and ramen I'm sure."
'Hmm, I wonder just how his dinner would have tasted if I had the chance to get some...'
'Ohh, it probably would have had your mouth watering, just like the thoughts running through your mind when you felt a certain blue-eyed ninja get a bit stiff, eh Temari?' Temari's Inner Voice couldn't help but laugh at the woman mentally. A blush slowly began to cross along her cheeks, accented by the warming glow that their camp fire produced onto her figure as her perverted inner mind began to comment about Naruto's earlier erection. 'Shut up, you baka hentai...please...' Temari sighed, debating on whether or not to cu her glance downward to avert those innocent blue hues of his, but then mentally smacked herself for even thinking as such.
...How could one boy make eighteen years worth of existence disappear, and leave a lovesick young woman?
It was about this time that Naruto found himself gazing at his Temari-chan with a soft look crossing over his rather rough, mainly due to the whiskers and stupid grin, face. She was beautiful, and under the light of the fire that natural beauty seemed to intensify itself accenting the cover of her faint blush. He was surprised that he noticed she was blushing under the warmth that the red-orange light produced, but he only assumed it to be because he was starring so intently at her. This realization, at least he believed it to be one, caused the gennin to blush instantly as he looked down with a slow fall. '...She's so, beautiful...'
Naruto was surprised that the Kyuubi no Kitsune was not attempting to be a smart ass with him for that thought, and smirked slightly. "...Temari-chan...?" He waited until he was sure that her attention was focused on him, though that wasn't hard to discern considering both spent their whole meal basking in the sight of the other with shy appraisal. "Yes, Naruto-kun?" The blonde kunoichi found herself resting head on her hand, canting it to the right as Naruto called out her name.
He found himself lost under a now rapid heart rate as he looked at her, attempting to remember what he wished to tell her. 'What was ...Oh yeah that!' A fox-like grin crossed the genin's face as his head tilted to the left, opposed to her own direction. "...You...look, beautiful...especially under the fire light..." It was true, in his opinion, and Naruto just wanted to innocently compliment Temari before falling asleep.
Temari's soft blush would deepen somewhat as she listened to the boy's compliment of her beauty, and found herself smiling actually. "Why thank-you, Naruto-kun." However, she soon realized that her thanks was unheard as the sound sound of snoring caught her ears. Paying more attention, it seemed that Naruto had immediately fallen asleep after his last statement, and that was enough to produce a grin on her features. 'He must have been tired.'
'Hmm, so what dirty little things are you going to try tonight, eh Temari?'
' What are you talking about, you stupid, pervert?'
'Like having a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy falling asleep with a hormornal teenage young woman. Hmm, I wonder how it must feel to...' Temari's inner voice was never able to finish the statement as it seemed her mind seemed to halt its functions. It seemed that the kunoichi found herself slowly drifting off to slee, but in reality it was an immediate technique used to force one to sleep by. The two would go undisturbed through their rest until some point near the dawn hours of the day; however, there were more eyes focused on them then they realized during the point and time they were awake.
The figure sat along a tree branch, starring downward as the two shinobi soon fell into a sleeping state after their meal. Having had followed them since they're little incident in Konoahgakure, a slightly agitated sigh would pass into the faint, nightly breeze. "...I suppose it's just hard for someone to say good-bye..." From the cloak of darkness, the mysterious watcher would then seemed to vanish from the position that was held only moments ago. However, a slight mark was lift in the making of the tree's trunk to indicate the position that was occupied.
"...Good night..."
Around the time that the first rays of light were making their appearance over and around the Konoah area, which included the forest on it's bounary levels, Naruto found himself slowly awakening with a rush. Scanning the area, while the heavy rate of his breathing was attempting to be regulated through mild pants, he noticed one thing that was helpful in easing his startled state. Everything was the same as it was when he fell asleep, except, for the fact he was now sleeping beside Temari's sleeping bag inside his own? '...I don't remember going to get my sleeping bag, or falling asleep next to Temari...' A mild blush crossed the shinobi's face, fading out his whiskers evenly, as he came to the conclusion that the sleeping kunoichi must have gone through unneeded effort to purt him in it.
Of course this time his peaceful conclusions were interupted by a slightly awake Kyuubi. Naruto was beginning to wonder if the kitsune ever got any sleep nowadays, or was he simply forcing himself to stay awake just to torment his 'friend'.
'Hmmm, well kit it looks like you're vixen is a little more bold than I gave her credit.' Taking a slight pause, the Kyuubi looked at the mentally perplexed facial expressions on his vessel's face before continuing. 'Hmm, she waited until you fell asleep, and then you're waking up in a sleeping bag next to her own,eh? Hmm, I wander what wonderful , lustful things she did to you kit?'
Naruto found himself the victim to a most vivid flushing reaction, even though he knew the Kyuubi's words were pointless because of who he was next to, but embarrassing to imagine nontheless. 'Shut up you baka kitsune...meh, not like you'd have let me stay asleep even if something like that did happen. Which I KNOW DIDN'T!' Growling lightly, as to not awake the sleeping jounin at his side, Naruto decided to wiggle from his personal sleeping bag and beging thinking on making their breakfast. Hmm, he could make some more of that delicious treat that existed only as RAMEN, or fish...but most likely ramen. The genin was lazy and felt the need to come pass his lack of ramen for approximately eight hours.
The Kyuubi watched from his mental imprisonment as the boy began to work around attemping to get a small fire started without the activation of his jutsus, which of course failed the first five times? It was amusing to watch the boy fail at something so simple, even though if he really focused, he could actually do quite easily. 'Kit, it amazes me just how talentless you are at everything that doesn't involve making your mate wanting.' Hmm, if the wise kitsune was able to read his vessel accurately, then Naruto would began to question the usage of the term mate in 5...4...3...2...1...and...
'NAAAANI! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT KITSUNE-TEME?' Once again he found himself blushing at the thought of being a 'mate' towards Temari, since having an overactive perverted demon in your mind makes you quite well aware of what mates do. It was enough to make Naruto step into the fire he made with his right foot. That of course he noticed only after the smell of something burning reached his nose. "Nani..wha...NAAAAAAANI? AHHHHH," Apparently the blonde shinobi was begining to realize that he was the object burning, and began to run around with a frantic set of yelling.
About this time, Temari was rudely awakened from such a pleasant dream about...well, she couldn't recall what it was about. Though she was sure it involved her Naruto-kun, who she now realized, with a questioning expression as to running around with his leg on fire. '...It's amazing to think that he was being trained by a legendary sannin, but, his accidents are kinda...cute in a way.' Smirking slightly, the blonde-haired young woman soon found herself moving to help snuff the flames that ravaged Naruto's right leg.
"And just how did you manage to get caught on fire, Naruto-kun?" Sometime after the usuage of a few wind based jutsus (which she knew would spread the flames, but something a bit chaotic flickered in Temari's nature for a brief moment), that immediately lead to the genin jumping into a lake...they both found themselves at their camp site under the shade of various oaks. Blue eyes would come to stare at her figure with a playful glare as he recalled her inappropriate usage of her fan, but found himself grinning stupidly as the answer to her question passed from his lips. "Well, Temari-chan..I umm, sorta...was listening to that baka kitsune...and well wasn't paying attention to where I was going..." A hand would come to rub the back of his head, while Naruto found himself laughing nervously at his own idiotic statements.
'...Well that officially made me sound like an idiot...'
'Don't worry kit, that's something that has been established waaaaaaaaaay before you made that statement. I'm sure you're supple, little vixen doesn't mind for your idiotic ways...since you're both apparently just lussssting to feel the other one...' Kyuubi grinned as it seemed his comments were simply on cue, and the boy never ceased to provide inspiration for further tormenting of his vessel. It was a bond that previously stated, seemed to be constant arguements that enforced their recent friendship (well as friendly as a greater demon and teen can become anyway).
Around the same timeline as Naruto and his perverted Kyuubi were conversing in the mental barriers that composed Naruto's mindscape, a certain kunoichi of the Sand was having a minor debate with an overly perverted voice that existed in the far reaches of her mind.
' ...Naruto-kun is such an idiot at times, but he's my idiot.'
' Well Temari, maybe it's that child-like charm that's giving you such, "sinful" dreams about our little idiot hmm? Man, if the visions in your dream left your mind the same day you wake up, then I wouldn't have to worry about being crammed up in here with all these...sexual desires running loose. Hehe.'
Temari blinked with a confused expression as she began to decipher what her inner voice was implying to her. What did it mean by "sinful" dreams...and that's when every memory of that pleasant dream she had the night before came flooding into her mind instantly.
Minor Flashback to the Dreams
Their lips met in a passionate lock, while both Naruto and Temari managed to wrestle each other's tounge in hopes of obtaining the dominant position. Two bodies wrapped and tangled atop and within the locking grasp of the other, found the rising drops of sweat washing over their skin and mingling with the close proximity of the other's body. "Na...Naruto-kun!" The young woman's breath was exhaled in a harsh gasp, while silverish-green hues would stare into the lustful orbs of an opposing male figure. Passion was their voice and the only road in which they both understood to follow at that time and moment.
Naruto, in response to the woman's exhaled proclomation of his name, grinned slightly from atop the older woman's figure. Caressing the exposed flesh of her breasts, the boy soon found himself licking between two erect nipples inbetween his own pants. It felt so right and yet so wrong to be teasing Temari as such, but when he felt her arch underneath him with nails digging firmly into his back...all seemed right. "...Temari-chan...do you like it when I do this?" The blonde-haired woman would look up at the boy in want, a slight confused expression written over her face when nothing happened; however that was soon replaced with a soft moan ringing from her slender frame.
She could feel his teeth digging into her neck while the bite area of skin was eagerly being suckled on. It drove Temari wild. Immediately she found herself calling out his name in the length of a soft moan, while the sensitive area between her legs began to grow immensely wet with her aroused state that the blue-eyed boy put her in.
Flashback Ended
Temari found herself blushing completely as the brief memories of part of that "sinful" dream came flooding into the empty space, or rather, the open concious thought of her mind. At least the origin of her pleasant sleep was brought to light with the fact that she assumed Naruto to be the original cause being confirmed. Technically she was supposed to be the adult between the two, so why was she suddenly finding herself very...well, wanting? "...Stupid horomones," the words were muffled as to not take the genin's attention towards them, but Temari began to wonder something very amusing. If one of the most collect and mentally stable shinobi in the neighboring lands was being assaulted by the raging effects of her hormones, exactly how much worst was it affecting her Naruto-kun, whom she imagined as having less of a control in that department than she.
A light blink would come to pass as the said boy was now watching the older woman become drawn off into another world, or maybe just her own thoughts? Naruto assumed that it must have been something of a more serious nature to get his Temari-chan to zone out completely; however, the moment he noticed she was a bit red in the face again he began to wonder if she was sick. "Eh, Temari-chan, are you alright? You're all red again. Hmm, T-e-m-a-r-i-?" It seemed she was completely drawn off into another world entirely, as his brief calls for her attention seemed to either be ignored or most likely than the first thought, unheard. So our number one maverick shinobi decided to do something to grab her attention whether she wanted to give it to him or not.
'Hey, baka kitsune, have any ideas to help me get Temari-chan's attention?' Yes, it seemed he resorted to asking that perverted kitsune for a suggestion to grasp at the lost attention the kunoichi seemed to have.
The Kyuubi laughed behind the mental cage-like structure that was his eternal prison, and began to dive into his own thoughts. The options of things he could tell his kit to do were practically unlimited, and almost all of them would lead to a scenerio that the greater demon found would be hilarious. Perhaps being inside the boy wasn't such a painful task as it once was, eh? 'Well kit...'
Naruto began to listen towards the Kyuubi's explanation and blush furiously at the very notion of what was being suggested. Yet, he knew he was curious as to see where it would lead him, since the older woman seemed to be different in reactions than the only other girl he had ever sought affection from. Sakura we are so looking at you right about now. "Oh Temari-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan..." He waited for a minute or so to see if she would finally snap out form her dazed state of mind, but it seemed to no avail.
'...I guess I could try what that baka kitsune suggested then...' Blushing at the mere thought of what he was about to do, a nervous hand would brush against the woman's cheek slightly. Afterward, he sighed briefly while leaning in with a canted head, to allow his rather fang-like teeth to dig into the flesh of her neck and suck lightly on that clasped area. Suddenly, he found the woman underneath his bite jumping, and yelping with surprise. Her complete reaction was something to this day, the blonde-shinobi would never forget so long as he lived.
Temari was still lost in her train of thought, having just rewitnessed her rather erotic dreams, when all of a sudden she felt a rather pleasant feeling on her neck. It started with a slight uncomfortable sting, but soon lead the kunoichi to melt in the spot she was sitting in with a soft yelp. "Na..Naruto-kun...!" Her body was overcome with a complicated sense of pleasure and pure lust, since she had never in her experienced such an action and was mildly turned on by the revelations of her little dream, Temari was lost to an action she had never in her life subcumed to. She fainted.
'Oh SHIT! She fainted...oh crap...umm what do I do? What do I DO? ...DAMN YOU BAKA KITSUNE!' Naruto began to panic the moment he felt her go limp from underneath the little bite and sucking that he provided to her person, and it seemed that following the Kyuubi's advice only lead to his Temar-chan fainting on him!
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From within the canopy of the forested area, a pair of eyes would be reviewing the events that happened below her. A white, animalistic mask that acknowledged one as a member of ANBU for the Hidden Village of Leaf would donned as a slight smile crossed pale toned lips. It seemed the blonde-haired woman had come to faint from Naruto's little action, and even she had to admit, from a distance that it was a cute little gesture. However, it was the fact that it was as such given to the kunoichi of Suna that caused a sense of anger to swell within the very pit of her soul. With the emittance of a long sigh, the female began to wonder as to when such things began to bother her if they revolved around the young genin.
"Naruto-kun..." Well, it would have to be now or never if she decided to ever make her presence known before they actually arrived anywhere near the borders of Konoah and Sunagakure. She may have lost him, however, she wasn't simply going to accept this knowledge without attempting to inform the boy as to her feelings. No matter how unlikely and inappropriate they may have been. "...How is it, that I can want a boy to look at me as a woman...where actual men seem nothing more than pigs?"
'What am I doing, really?' The silent stalker, so to speak, found her self asking a simple question of the mind. Exactly what was she doing here chasing after the boy while he was going out on his own assignment? Leaping from the tree branch that supported her footing with a simple molding of chakra, the masked figure would soon find herself landing infront of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy that had seemed to captivate her interest for what seemed like ages now. "Hello, Naruto-kun..."
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'Baka Kitsune, what the hell am I supposed to do now?' Blinking rapidly, those eyes were focused on the unconcious kunoichi that was right next to him. In all honesty, Naruto had no practical idea of what he was supposed to be doing right now and resorted to asking the mischievious Kyuubi no Kitsune within him. 'Baka Kitsune, this is all your fault!' Real smooth Naruto, blame the Kyuubi.
The Kyuubi on the other hand was more than content with accepting the said credit for Temari's uncharacteristic faint, as it seemed Naruto had the influence to affect her more than the oblivious boy knew, and grinned from the mindscape of the said genin. Now if he could only get the blonde to understand that he actually didn't do anything but leave a suggestion, it wasn't his fault that it caught the Sand-nin off her emotional guard. 'Why thank-you kit. I'm quite good if I do say so myself and I couldn't have done it without your help. Hahaha."
Growling mentally, Naruto was beginning to become very upset with the Kyuubi right now as well as agitated; however, that wasn't the first thing to catch his attention (if there was much left to catch anyway). Someone had just called out to him, and he knew the voice couldn't be Temari's since the young woman was unconcious at the time. Turning his head slightly, he could notice a person garbed in the ANBU attire of one of Konoha's own. Three things startled the blue-eyed shinobi as he blinked absently, acknowledging the presence of the person he assumed to be an ANBU member. The fact that he hadn't realized Temari and himself were being watched made him feel quite vulnerable (and the fact he felt vulnerable made him feel anger as well), a ANBU member addressing him as Naruto-kun made absolutely no sense whatsoever either, and finally why would someone of that level, assuming that they were on a mission to follow the pair, make themselves known?
"Hello...? And exactly who are you?" He was positive that he wouldn't recieve an answer to that question, but the slight grin forming on his lips proved that he really wasn't expecting an answer. 'Hey, I wonder if this person can tell me what to do since Temair's knocked out..?' Immediately, things seemed to brighten up for the boy and confusion was finally at a minimal...well that was until his mouth fell agape as the secretive ANBU member began to remove the animalistic detailed mask from her face. Well, this explained a few things, but once again proved to create many more questions as well as an even greater sense of confusion than he had just come away from.
"...NEE-CHAAAN..?"
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A smile crossed over the woman's lips as she watched the boy; however, it turned into a concealed frown as hidden eyes glanced towards the unconcious body of Suna's Jounin. The one who stole from her the hopes of perhaps attempting to influence some sort of relationship with HER Naruto-kun, even if she could no longer hold that state right in her mind. In response to Naruto's question, she decided to step forth form the shadows and allow him to see just who it was he was talking to, to know just who it was that seemed to have cared for him longer than any of the girl's his age were able to even create the notion of liking him. "Isn't it obvious Naruto-kun?" Changing her voice to it's familiar tone, a simple movement would come to discard the ANBU mask from her face to reveal a very familiar figure indeed...so familiar it looked almost exactly as if Shizune herself was standing right there infront of Naruto!
It was true that Shizune was often refered to as Naruto's older sister in a sense as well as Tsunade, but to be the one stalking him with such a ...lustful intent was ridiculous wasn't it? Well, not if you were looking from the perspective of the signifigantly older woman. 'I've spent time watching you Naruto-kun, where you vied for Sakura's attention and at all times held back by her craze for Sasuke...where other girls refused to even acknowledge you as affectionate material...I made my own plans for you. Because of my attachment to Tsunade-sama, my luck with relationships was less than my ideal term; yet I saw you and knew what you could one day be...and even though you called me to be your -Neechan, I was making plans to make you mine when Jiraiya-sama brought you back...but now...' The dark-haired woman would flash a slight smile towards the younger boy, different from the ones she usually issued his way as it had a slightly secretive nature. In all her time of silence, and conflicting silence during the passing years and party of the previous night, Shizune was determined to attempt and deter the emotions that he may have come to hold for Temari , even knowing full well the wager that Tsunade used to get the two together, yet...it seemed fate had a slight wake-up call for the older woman.
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"Nee-chan!" Naruto blinked with a slight confused expression riding across his whisker-marked face. When the mask had fallen, or rather been purposely discarded, he had expected to see someone like the crazy snake lady Anko or maybe Kakashi-sensei; however, found his Nee-chan? It was unexpected, and he had to wonder as to why Shizune was following him and Temari, but the last thought quickly made him retreat to somehthing more important. Temari was still unconcious and he had no idea as to what he should be doing to help her or if there was anything he could/ was supposed to do!
'OH GAWD TEMARI-CHAN!' For a moment, he began to revert to his former panicing moment, and get up running around frantically. "Oh man, Oh man, Oh man...what am I supposed to-...NEE-CHAN!" That was right, Shizune was a medical-ninja, so she would almost definately know what to do for Temari wouldn't she? How was he supposed to know the completely different train of thought of someone that he had only looked to as an older sister type figure, and precious friend to be so, well provocative eh?
The older woman blinked softly as she looked towards him, her head tilting to the left a bit as he began to randomly run around with panic struck through his voice and actions. It wasn't until his random mutterings came to use her name, that she began to realize that he wanted something. Should she let him break her confidence and talk on, if she didn't have a reason legitamately she wouldn't abandon Naruto's need for her help; however, she was focused entirely on her own mission so to speak. "Naruto-kun, I'll help you with whatever you need in a moment, but first please calm down, and let me talk to you for a moment...?" 'Please let him stop...I don't think I'll have to resolve to go through with it if he asks me something about HER...'
That statement immediately caught the boy's attention, and caused Naruto to stop; however...at the pace his paniced state was running around...he seemed to trip up and fall forward into a tree. "OWWWW!" Grunting, he rubbed the side of his face as well as the collective whole since it was now roughly marked due to its rather sudden introduction to tree bark, and glanced towards Shizune. "So what did you want to talk to me about Nee-chan, because what I've got to say is really important, believe it!"
Shizune would smirk slightly, allowing a slight sigh to be passed from her lips before walking towards the completely oblivious genin, and looked him in the eye with seduction written behind the feigned innocence she tried to apply. Of course, she'd never tell anyone this information and only Tsunade-sama actually knew, but this particular Jounin was never really well, accurate in using the ways of seduction. Leaning forward so that her face was barely an inch from his, the older woman would allow a playful wink (though she managed to appear nothing but serious for some reason which caused her to look rather, off in whatever it was she was trying to do). "Naruto-kun...?" She hoped that she was attempting this in the right manner, but even if she wasn't, it shouldn't be too hard to show the younger boy she was coming on to him right?
She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that Shizune had not yet come to realize that she had pulled the confused boy into a kiss, that her body refused to allow him to break free of. However, that changed quickly when a rather agitated voice called for this little interaction to stop, catching Shizune by surprise and allowing Naruto time to fall back in the absorbtion of disbelief.
"...Get your hands off of my Naruto-kun, NOW!"
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The sleeping, well as far as anyone except Naruto was aware of she was sleeping, young woman had come to open her eyes around the time that Shizune explained that she'd help Naruto. Temari was catching a rather disturbing aura from the older woman, and decided if she was going to identify why, it might be best to pretend that she was asleep. She did keep her eyes partially open, her expereince allowed her to feign the appearance of sleep perfectly for someone of her level, and the medical-ninja was too occupied to even notice that the Suna resident, whom for all practical purposes she considered as competition, was now awake. And when that short-haired woman went as far as to kiss her Naruto-kun, that envoked rage, and a murderous intent that would have rivaled that of her younger brother's two and a half years ago.
"...Get your hands off of my Naruto-kun, NOW!" The blonde-haired woman was now glaring with hatre-kissed eyes toward the older medic-nin. Her hands gripping the foundation of her immense fan in an attempt to restrain the desire she had to try and rip the woman's heart out. She remembered when she had fainted because of Naruto's rather, pleasant action, but Temari could never imagine that the Hokage's assistant would have come all the way to try and seduce her man, um err, boy.
'If it had been Sakura, at least I wouldn't feel so confused...but Shizune-sama? Why in the hell would she want to...to..' About that time, the Sand-nin found herself interupted in mid-thought by the perverted existence that was her own mind.
'Robing the cradle, eh Temari? Hahaha...now this is rich, you have a Uchiha slut realizing she has feelings for Naruto and less than a couple of hours later you wake up from fainting to see an older woman you respect kissing him? Hmm, you might have to keep him on a leash or something so you can watch out for your competition...heheh.'
That was more than enough to make Temari both blush at the thought of walking Naruto around on a leash, but also adding to the flames of her anger. This woman was more than ten years older than her Naruto-kun(whereas Temari was only three)...it just wasn't right! "...Shizune-sama, what do you think you were doing?" She knew there had to be some logical explanation to this, maybe Temari was just seeing things a bit groggily after having just woken up. Yet again, she knew that what she believed she saw, was an actuality, nothing close to a figment of the kunoichi's imagination.
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Naruto was so very confused from the last few moments that passed. He was waiting on Shizune to explain what she needed to so that he could ask her about Temari's health, and then he found himself being held and kissed! It just wasn't right, he knew it and more than anything he felt it, and during the time that the dark-haired woman was lost in her thoughts tried to pull away. Funny how a complete state of shock can drain most of one's strength, leaving Naruto to be restrained via the woman's recently established grip. What was going wrong in the world that used to be so simple, as to make it so very very complicated?
'What the HELL IS NEE-CHAN DOING?'
This whole scenario was like a dream for the Kyuubi to interject some rather, well Kyuubi-like comments. Having Naruto for a vessel, and as close to a friend as a massive imprisoned demon and a loud-mouth teen could be, lead to some very entertaining material. 'Well kit, it appears like she thinks she's kissing you. Tsk Tsk Tsk, Kit, haven't I taught you that you're supposed to choose one vixen for your mate eh? But I do admit, scoring two might not be so baaad, though you're not as LUSTING towards this woman now are you? Hahaha, this is priceless kit!'
However, Naruto found this situation less than humorous, and seemed to always find himself provoked by the Kyuubi's comments. 'Baka Kitsune! I know that she's kisisng me and it's wrong, it's like...I dunno but it's wrong! Wait, whaa...huh? SHUT-UP YOU BAKA KITSUNE! I'm not choosing two mates I'm only choosing TEMARI!..Wait whaT?' It seemed that he was lead on long enough to say he was choosing the Suna-kunoichi to be his mate, and when he realized this slip up so to speak...Naruto began to burn with a crimson streak. It wasn't until he heard a familiar, and very enraged voice of a certain kunoichi, that his blood ran completel chilled. The murderous intent that his Temari-chan was emitting was enough to scare the shinobi shitless.
Then again, did ask a question that seemed to intiate a set of questions within his own mind. What did his Nee-chan think she was doing? Why did she do it? If Temari was awake and angry, did that mean the young woman was okay? It seemed to pile up in his mind, but the moment he felt the older medic-nin release him even the slightest bit he made an insane dash towards his chosen of the two kunoichi.
'Baka Kitsune, what the hell do you think Shizune-neechan was thinking? SHE KISSED ME...wait, do you think Temair-chan's okay now?'
'Kit, you truly are the epitomy of stupidity...but then again, that's what makes you you I suppose...Anyway, your umm, neechan was doing exactly what you're doing for your vixen and that's simply pure lusssssssssting for a little excitement. Ever heard of robbing the craddle kit? She wants you. And as for our, I mean, your slender,rough, little vixen...if she's well enough to kick ass she's good enough to be okay, don't you agree kit?'
Naruto hated to admit it, but he did see some logic in the Kyuubi's words, and had to also admit that he was more than positive that Temari was completely alright. However, that didn't stop him from blushing at the insinuation that his Neechan was lusting for him as the perverted kitsune had implied. It was just wrong and impossible to even imagine, but...there was more than just the fact she kissed him that still left him in wonderment. There was eagerness, a familiar eagerness that he had only experienced with his Temari-chan in that kiss, which left no doubt that the baka kitsune's words may have been true.
...But why would they be...?
"Neechan, wh..wha...why...I'm confused!"
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'...So she woke up, just what I needed...great!' Shizune found herself letting Naruto go, or rather loosening her grip in which he took perfect oppurtunity to run from her. Now that it seemed she had some explaining to do, it appeared towards the medic-nin that any hope she may had have probably just died. '...But I've come out to sea too far to try and pull back now...right? Oh, Tsunade-sama, was part of your wager with Kazekage-sama to protect Naruto from me...or to protect me from what I might try and force on him?' Sighing, the chocolate-eyed jounin, as she was more than often seen as, knew that she had to explain herself...not for the kunoichi's mind but for Naruto's sanity at the least.
"...I've been watching you since I met you with Tsunade-sama, Naruto-kun, and even then you were a bit annoying...but you had something that men twice your age may never have. I..can't explain it any better than that, but I'm sure both Sakura and Temari as well as Hinata know exactly how I feel on that. ...None of the girls your age ahve ever looked at you as more than just a friend, except Hinata, but you've always been so blind that I knew she wasn't a threat to my needs..." Stopping to consider her next words carefully, Shizune looked up with a stern facial expression written across her face, her eyes narrowed towards both parties infront of her. "...Following Tsunade-sama for all these years, I've umm...never really had much of a relationship with the opposite sex and you've never had the attention you've tried so hard to obtain...so I decided two-and-a half years ago Naruto-kun...to make you mine."
It was at this time that both Naruto and Temari had to look at the older woman with a seriously blank expression. Neither of them could find anything to say immediately. The blonde-haired boy due to the fact that he was lost to a sea of absolute confusion at the words the woman he had been calling his sister for so long, go out and explain to him the reasons why she wanted to umm, rob his cradle. Temari was speachless due to the fact she was attempting to restrain every ounce of her being that told her to right up maul the woman infront of her, but yet she was curious to her the rest of this tale. However, their silence was short-lived as Naruto was the first one to speak. "...But Shizune...I, you've, ...I've been calling you my sister forever!"
It was at that time the older woman couldn't help but laugh at his innocent remark. "..It's true Naruto, that we've been like siblings, but then again...I did need a lure to get you close enough...even if it was one that I to this day love." She knew there could be no possible way that the boy would even dare to refer to her as his Neechan from this point on, but it was a small bit of comfort to know that for a certain time period she was. "...The moment when you and Temari had that little, accident in Tsunade-sama's office, ...I wanted it to be me so badly. To feel how you've matured physically ontop of me Naruto-kun, but most of all, I could tell that everything I've subtley been working on...every scheme, that in retrospect seems so childish and wrong of me, could be in jepordy if Temari was allowed to ...to love you..."
'Naruto must hate me by now...' Sighing, Shizune decided that to leave a pause here would be insufficient to her explanation, and began to procede. "...That night I followed you both to your apartment, and I watched fromt he shadows of a window the moment you two kissed and knew that you'd both be happy with each other ...but I couldn't accept that everything I've come to desire could just leave as soon as it returned. Of course I knew the party was approaching, and I...I decided that sometime during those events that I should just leave you two alone and let your relationship grow. However, my selfish needs were overwhelming, I had to at least bring closure to my..my indecency."
The formation of tears could be seen streaking the woman's face, falling freely towards the forest floor as her restraints emotionally were lost. Shizune could not believe how cruel, both to herself and Naruto as well as Temari, her intentions actually were. "...Naruto-kun, Temari, I ...cannot hope to imagine you'll forgive the selfish and stupid desires of mine but...please help me end it all..." Behind a half-choked sob, the medic-nin found herself starring ahead directly into hues of blue, those same blue-eyes that had many times secretly brought her tranquility through the hectic life she elad as Tsunade's assitant. "...Do you love her...Naruto-kun?"
Shizune was no fool. The woman was clearly aware of their feelings for each other; however, she had to hear it from the boy's lips so as to close the unmature thoughts that have roamed and become desire for so long. The shame she felt, couldn't be washed away by the year's worth of time she knew would seperate her from the boy she had come to act as a sister-like figure for, but...maybe in time it would fade some.
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'...Oh gawd...' Temari watched with her best attempt at an emotionless face, for even all the years of hardship and instability that was placed by Gaara, she had never come across a situation that was so...awkward and sorrowful. It was sad to see a grown woman in which she held nothing but the highest regards for, having thoughts of manipulating Naruto's emotions for her desires for years. But could she blame her for choosing Naruto or was the fault in the many years that kept her from having the ability to form a stable relationship? "...Shizune-sama..."
'Naruto-kun loves me right...? He...he wouldn't leave me...for her would he? She has been a stable part of his life ever since she entered it, I've just...I've...just come into it... How could Naruto-kun, even have to make this choice?'
'..Baka, Temari, you all ready know who he's going to choose so stop witht he emotional thoughts. You have enough repressed emotional memories in here, try thinking pleasant thoughts, like a little sinful escapade with Naruto in that lake you two passed on the way here hehe.'
Temari sighed, unable to find the words to say, because for once it wasn't her right to speak. Glancing towards her Naruto-kun, she blinked slightly, a slight apprehension hidden behind her eyes. He would choose her right? "..Naruto-kun...?"
The said blonde-haired, blue-eyed teen found himself in an even deeper state of shock and surprise as Shizune continued on with her explanation. It pained him to see the woman driven by such a shameful wish, but at the same time, he could find nothing close to the rage and anger that both he ( and the woman who spilled her guts to him and Temari) believed he would have stumbled upon. It was just, so unexpected and so utterly confusing. '...I...never expected Neechan to...oh man, this is just...' Naruto sighed, there were no exact words to describe the way he was feeling right now, or the awkward position that this information put him in.
It was during the moment of seriousness that the Kyuubi returned with his own comments; however, the situation was too serious for his perverted humor. 'Well kit, I'm sure you know what you have to do now...just, try not to go overboard eh kit?'
For some reason, the boy found some comfort in those words as he found the ability to give, what was to him an obvious answer. A fox-like grin was immediately attached toward his face, as the serious expression faded from his person. "Of course I love Temari-chan, Shizune-neechan!" A slight smirk crossed his lips, as he watched the disbelief that both kunoichi displayed to his sudden well, Narutoishness. He merely grinned, a set of hands moving back to rest behind his head as his that in itself tilted to the right.
"...What, did you think that I was going to be mad?" Of course he felt no animosity towards the woman that for the past two and a half years had become an older sister-like figure towards him, but that didn't mean he was entirely without a little rebuking. "...Neechan I'm un, I really don't know what else to say but you're still gonna be my Neechan Shizune, but yeah...I love Temari, I really do." Titling his head to the back, so that he was facing Temari partially, a playful wink was flashed her way. "Well, that wasn't how I planned on telling you Temari-chan, but I guess it's better than nothing right?"
Naruto smiled, and turned around to face Shizune once more, only to find the older woman gone with the passing wind. A confused expression crossed his face, as he stumbled back somewhat. "Where'd Shizune-neechan go?" He really didn't ahve the time to ponder on that for a longer span of time, as he felt arms lock around his waist, causing him to fall in a distracted yet relaxed state of mind. "...Temari-chan..."
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There were no words to describe the surprise, the disbelief that filled the medi-nin as she listened to the words that Naruto spoke. Sure, she knew that he was going to overall pick Temari, but she hadn't the faintest hope that the younger genin would still refer to her as his Neechan. A faint smile crossed her lips as she watched him turn to face the more deserving kunoichi of his affection,with herself deciding that it was an oppurtune moment to return to Konoha. Tsunade-sama was going to kill her for this reckless endangerment of her hopes, but she needed to do this as much for her as for Naruto.
'Thank-you, Naruto-kun... for helping me be free of myself...'
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Author's Notes: Well I'm going to revise that ending to give Temari's standpoint, but I felt as if I needed to give you all something to read because other than that missing excerpt I feel as if this chapter is finished. And it took a hella long time for it too, and I apologize for that. Well, I hope that the "Mysterious Watcher" surprise was something at least a bit enjoyable and I hope I explained that well enough to seem believable. Shizune will not return for Naruto's affections, his and Temari's relationship have been officially confirmed with this encounter, and the trip to Suna shall continue! . Read and Review. I can feel flames coming on... x.x I'm sorry.