Merry Christmas! (My birthday's almost here!)
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Ch. 6 Chibi Travels
Naruto Uzumaki was not happy. Tsunade had called him into her office not even an hour ago to deliver his next mission to him. He and a few others would act as personal bodyguards to the Kazekage on his trip to Konohagakure.
Don't get him wrong, it had nothing to do with being around Gaara. Okay, so it did. But it wasn't Gaara's fault! ... Mostly.
"It's just that... He forgot me!" The blonde fumed while he held up his sleeping cap. It was an exact replica of his original, given to him by the Sand ninja. Iruka had been able to find an older seamstress, one who wasn't raised hating Naruto for the fox demon inside him, and she had been willing to make copies of it for him. So long as he paid, of course. He had gladly scraped his money together as a child, and of course, Iruka had helped him, and now he was there every year, buying another when his last one wore out. Of course, he had kept the original.
As a kid with heightened senses, he had been able to smell Gaara's scent in the fabric of his hat for a few weeks after he had left. So Naruto had developed a habit of talking to his hat, and even hugging it, when no one else was around. It was a habit he still carried on today.
"I mean, I guess I can figure out why he forgot me. He probably tried to block out as much of his childhood as possible, and I just for included." He nodded and put the cap in his bad, sighing. "Still, it would've been nice if he had remembered me. Then this mission wouldn't suck!"
The mission itself was simple. Travel to Sunagakure with two other shinobi, chosen by Tsunade, then stay there for the night to recover and let the Kazekage prepare for a trip, then leave the next day and return to Konoha with him, and his chosen guards. Really, Naruto's team was more like an escort, simply a formality. But he could guess who Tsunade would be choosing as his team mates. He had seen Sakura heading into the Hokage's office as he had left, and figured his third would probably be Neji. Maybe Sasuke. After all, it had been a couple years now that he came back, or more like, they took him back, from Orochimaru. That was one battle he did not want to repeat. He had almost lost both his best friends then. Sasuke, to Orochimaru, and Gaara, to death. After all, it wasn't easy or painless to pull one of the demons from their host. But it had been done. Gaara could still control sand, but he didn't have the deadly threat of sleeping and waking Shukaku anymore.
Naruto smiled as he finished packing. He truly was happy for Gaara, but he personally didn't want to lose the Kyuubi like that. He had grown used to the fox long ago, and it helped him out a lot.
Hefting his bag on his shoulder, Naruto glanced around his apartment again. Plants watered? Check. Note to Iruka reminding him to water plants every few days? Check. Everything packed? Check. Windows and door locked? Check. He was off!
And sure enough, waiting for him at the village gate, packs on their backs, was Sakura and Sasuke themselves. Sakura, thankfully, wasn't obsessed with the dark-haired Sharingan user anymore, and that made it easier for both boys to be in her presence. Sasuke was quiet still, but he didn't seem as cruel to Naruto as he had been at first. Maybe because Naruto had been the one pleading with Tsunade the most to give him a second chance when he returned to the village. He still called him 'Dobe', though it was more like a habit now, and didn't hold the sting it used to. And of course, to keep things normal, Naruto still called him 'Bastard'.
"Dead last as usual, Dobe." Sasuke just watched him out of the corner of his eye, while Sakura sighed in annoyance.
"Really, Naruto, I'm starting to worry you'll end up just like Kakashi-sensei at this rate!" With a grin, Naruto pulled his hitai-ate down to cover one eye, and pretended to whip out a book from his pocket. This made Sakura laugh for a second, and even Sasuke's lips twitched a little, until a voice was heard behind them.
"Is that really how I look? Oh, but you forgot the mask. You can't forget that." Turning, they were greeted with the real Hatake Kakashi, looking down at them with what was obviously a smile. "I just came to see you off. Iruka swore to water your plants, and he said if you're successful, Naruto, he'd treat you to Ramen when you got back." Immediately, the boy let out a whoop before turning and bolting out of the village, yelling behind him at the others to 'move their asses before they get left behind'.
With one last sigh and wave to Kakashi, the others leapt after their friend. Really, nothing stopped him when it came to his beloved Ramen.
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Well, one thing could.
"Come on! Naruto, we're not like you, we don't have endless stamina! Some of us have to rest!" Sakura glared at the orange back in front of her. It was weird, to be following the blonde. Back then, if Kakashi wasn't in front, then Sasuke was. Now, he and Sakura tended to follow their friend, who was always good at finding his way no matter what. Probably had something to do with the Kyuubi and his natural senses and instincts. 'Lucky...' she thought, even though she knew he wouldn't agree fully to that. No one would. She could remember the way he had been treated since birth. And even worse... she could remember treating him the same way.
"Dobe. You won't get any Ramen if you don't stop for us to eat, at least." As expected, Naruto froze. Sasuke always had been a genius. He knew better than to go on a mission, any mission, without packing at least one of those instant ramen cups for Naruto. It was the only way to make the guy sit down.
After dinner, it was decided they each take shifts to keep guard while the other two slept. After they each had had a two-hour shift, then they would begin again. (This means each person got 4 hours of sleep. Being high-ranking shinobi, on a mission, this was a lot.)
Sure enough, Naruto volunteered for the first shift after polishing off both of the cups Sasuke had brought. During his shift, he went back to thinking about the past, and how much he had cried when Gaara had left. Iruka hadn't been able to make him stop with just Ramen. Only after about two bowls did Naruto, for the first time in his life, have to go throw up his favorite food. It wasn't his fault, or the food's fault. It was just that he had been sobbing so hard that he had begun to choke. And if it wouldn't go down, well, then... It had to come back up, of course. After that had happened, he had finally just run out of tears. He was tired, his body hurt from retching, and his eyes hurt from crying. He didn't know then why it had hurt so much to lose his friend... He had just assumed because Gaara had been the only person his age who treated him like another kid. And that was partially it. But over the years, Naruto had realized, and come to terms with, the other reason as to why he had been so devastated.
He had fallen in love. Of course, it wasn't really that common for a kid to fall in love. It was always called 'puppy love', after all. And it was even less common for a guy to fall for another guy. Naruto had even tried to prove himself wrong. He had tried to like Sakura, he really had. But even the crush he had had on Sakura was nothing compared to how he felt when he saw Gaara again.
But Gaara had changed. He was cold, cruel, and even though the tattoo on his forehead said 'love', he seemed unable to comprehend the emotion. Naruto had been crushed. And even after the war was over, and Gaara was again an ally of the village, he still didn't seem to recognize Naruto. He had even hinted at a past memory, promising him that next time he came to the village, Iruka would treat them both to Ichiraku. But, there hadn't been even a trace of recognition in those eyes...
"Dobe." Naruto's head snapped to his left and he looked at his friend. "I'm wondering if it was smart for you to be on guard. Anyway, your two hours are over. Go rest. We should be there by tomorrow night, at the pace you're making us go at." Naruto laughed and scratched at the back of his head.
"Heh, sorry... I'm just ready to get there and get back." Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the blonde.
"You mean you're anxious to get to Gaara." Naruto gaped at him like a fish, and the brunette rolled his eyes. "Usuratonkachi. Did you think I never noticed the looks you gave him? You'd have to be blind to miss it. And I'm the farthest thing from it. Sharingan, remember? It may not be as all-seeing as the Byakugan, but I can see well enough."
"Well, that would explain a lot of things." Both men turned to look at the young woman who joined them. "And here I thought maybe I just wasn't pretty anymore. I mean, Naruto was spouting off stuff all the time, and then he just stopped. And I thought, 'Oh no, I'm not even pretty enough for Naruto to notice anymore!'" She laughed and ran one hand through her pink hair. "At least now I know why. And I know why Naruto's in such a hurry to get to Sunagakure."
Needless to say, the blonde was now blushing a bright red.
"Well, I'll be fine. I may not be as strong or as good as you two, but I'm not about to hold you back. I decided I was through with that during the Chuunin exams." She stood and dusted herself off, then looked at the others over her shoulder as she began to walk towards their goal. "Well? Are you coming? We have to get Naruto to his beloved Gaara before he goes insane and runs naked through the village, screaming 'Gaara swimming in a bowl of Ramen!' or something..."
With an embarrassed laugh from the blonde, and a small smirk from his friend, the group began to move again, towards the village where Naruto's love waited.
'I guess I'll just have to make him remember me... And if I can't... then maybe I can find a way to make him love me, anyway.'
Naruto had no idea Sakura was already making up her own matchmaking schemes, and was working out the details so she could get her old crush's help later.
Oh yes, this was going to be a very fun mission...
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Mwahahaha! How much shall I make Naruto and Gaara suffer!