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Chapter 7: Chibi Reunions (and plans!)
Thanks to skipping their full sleep schedule, they were able to make it to Sunagakure earlier than planned. Plus, the fact that Naruto made them run the whole way, even once or twice making shadow clones to carry Sakura when she got too tired (Sasuke would never admit it and ask for Naruto's help), helped them make it a good 12 hours before expected, in fact. This, of course, caused different reactions in different people...
"Finally!" Sakura plopped down in front of the gate, panting quietly. She had insisted upon running this last stetch, due to the fact that she felt bad for holding back the team again. Sasuke just remained quiet, his cheeks a little flushed from the run as he drank some water from his rations before passing it to Sakura, who drank greedily to soothe her poor throat. Naruto, always impatient, waited for the gates to open to him. He had announced, quite clearly, almost five minutes ago, that they were the shinobi from Konohagakure, here to meet with the Kazekage. Of course, since they were earlier than expected, the guards didn't believe him. So he demanded they tell the Kazekage himself that Naruto Uzumaki and his friends were here, and to get his sand-covered ass out here before he forces his way in.
That had the local ninja racing for their leader's office. Sadly, the poor Kazekage had just sat down to do more of his paperwork. Well, he didn't mind, personally, but his secretary wasn't happy. After all, since he had sent that message to the Hokage, he had become less and less focused on his work, and would often times go missing, only to be found an hour later, sitting on top of a building with an old, worn pouch in his hands. But as soon as the shinobi entered his office announcing that one annoyed blonde ninja claiming to be Naruto Uzumaki and allies from Konohagakure, Gaara was up, that pouch was tucked away in his robes, and he was gone, not even thanking the man who had delivered the message.
Only moments later, the gates were opened to reveal the Kazekage himself, watching as his best friend from childhood spun around to grin at him.
"Gaara! 'Bout time, I was starting to wonder if I'd have to make Sasuke burn the gate down..." This earned the blonde a glare from the other male on his team, before he nodded to the redhead in greeting. Sakura politely greeted their host, though she was still unusually quiet. Naruto, though, being the energetic person he was, strode to his friend and grinned impishly. "I think they're tired... We kinda didn't sleep last night..."
With a nod, Gaara instructed to show the other two to their rooms so they could rest. Having been the carrier of a demon himself, he knew that Naruto might be a little tired, but not enough to need to sleep just yet. Plus this gave him a chance to talk to Naruto alone.
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"Sasuke-kun?" Said brunette turned to look at the person calling to him from thedoor of his room. Sighing, he stood and opened it, allowing his teammate to enter. As soon as she did, though, she turned to look directly at him.
"I need your help." Now she had his attention. "You and I both know that Naruto likes Gaara, but we don't know if Gaara likes him. I was trying to think of a way we could get them together. Like maybe we can dig a pool so that we can all go swimming and they get to ogle each other in bathing suits or-"
"Sakura. This is the Village Hidden in the Sand. It won't work. However, they should have public baths here, as well. And even if they don't, we do back at our village. If they're not together on their own by then, then we can try something. Otherwise, I say we give them a chance to work this out on their own." With that, the Uchiha got back on his bed and closed his eyes, planning on resting some before the trip the next day. "Besides, notice he didn't send Naruto to a room? He's probably talking to him now. And if he wants to talk to him alone, then they probably won't need our help after all." He opened a black eye and looked at her. "Besides, he may be a Dobe, but he's not as stupid as he used to be."
With that, Sasuke closed his eye again and tuned out the presence of the pink-haired ninja, who quickly made her leave, thinking over what had been said. Perhaps she should visit Gaara's sister and ask her if Gaara showed any interest in her friend...
Inside, though Sasuke started to think. After all, better safe than sorry. And he did wanted to see the stupid blonde end up happy, after all the things he had given up for the youngest Uchiha...
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"Naruto..." He began quietly, reaching up in order to pull out the pouch. But as usual, Naruto's impatience drove him to interrupt.
"Man, Gaara! It's been a really long time! So, is being a Kage really as boring as the old hag made it sound?" Naruto was looking around the village, obviously unable to stay still for long. He had no idea how to approach the subject. After all, for all he knew, Gaara was still blocking the memories, and he didn't want to feel stupid by saying something like, 'remember when we were kids and we were best friends! Well, I think I love you now!'
No way in hell.
Gaara, however, was also having trouble. He deeply wished he could tell Naruto that he remembered, but he didn't know if his friend had forgotten their past together. All he could do was nod in answer to the question andfall into his old habit of creating sand sculptures in his hand. But he wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing and didn't know what he had created until it was too late.
"Man! That's so cool! I wishI could do that!" Naruto grinned and poked at the sculpture, knocking a few grains loose before the redhead was able to adjust them. "It looks just like him!"
Looking down, the Kazekage saw that he had created a perfect miniature of Iruka himself, all the way down to the scar on his nose and the friendly smile.
"Yes..." He said quietly, smiling ever so slightly as he looked at his friend. "It does look a lot like Iruka-sensei..."
Wide blue eyes came up to meet his, and he could see the recognition in those eyes, not confusion. Which meant... he remembered!
"Gaara? Don't tell me you..." the blonde leaned closer, causing the redhead to blush. "You have a crush on Iruka-sensei!"
The sand in his hand fell to a pile that slid between his fingers as Gaara's eye began to twitch.
"Of course not! He's at least 10 years older than me!" Naruto blinked, then shrugged.
"So? It happens a lot. People end up crushing on older people, for some reason or another. Personally, I like people closer to my own age. Besides, Iruka-sensei's like a dad to me. But if you really like him..." Gaara sighed and shook his head.
"I like him as a friend, Naruto. Only as a friend. After all, he treated me to Ramen and ice cream and took me to wake you up." He smiled at his friend's look of shock. "And he told me what a panda was."
Naruto began to laugh, thougha small blush was visible.
"Panda-man!" With that, the blonde hugged the person he had missed the most since his childhood. Of course, this resulted in a numerous amount of stares from other shinobi, but one glare from their Kazekage had them happily minding their own business. Plus, that glare was usually followed by sand inching closer to their feet. They liked living enough to not mention what they saw to anyone, even each other.
Gaara reached into his robes and pulled out the familiar item hidden there, handing it to Naruto, who laughed and smiled up at his friend before reaching into the pack on his shoulder and pulling out a very familiar sleeping cap. It looked larger than he remembered, but the Kyuubi container gladly explained why as they headed towards the tower that was Gaara's home. After all, he had to meet the shinobi who would be his fellow guardians, right? The fact that there was supposed to be a banquet that night in the honor, and that Gaara had demanded Ramen be present amongst the foods, had nothing to do with it.
Until he told Naruto. Then he found himself being dragged by a happy kitsune.
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The small group that Gaara had chosen consisted of two Chuunin and one Jounin. He didn't really think they were necessary, but his people refused to let him leave without a proper escort, apparently. But neither of the two men minded. They got to spend a few days together! They were both pretty happy with the idea. So happy, in fact, they didn't notice when a young man dressed in dark clothing entered the office through the window as they went out the door.
TheUchiha moved swiftly and silently to the door, listening to the receding footsteps before moving back to the desk. He made a note of where each item was, even the sand particles that seemed to linger on the wooden surface, as he skimmed through papers and dossiers. Finally he found the imformation he wanted. The name and address, as well as a picture of, each of the shinobi Gaara had chosen as his personal escort. Hurriedly, he made a copy of it and memorized the faces themselves.
As silent as he had come in, the young Sharingan user was gone, the office in the exact same condition it had been before his visit.
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Dinner wasan... interesting... affair. Even though he tried to be polite, Naruto couldn't help but scarf down bowl after bowl of his favorite food. Gaara didn't seem to mind, he simply ate his own food in silence, listening to the others at the table talk. Sasuke had been late to the table, though Sakura pointed out that Sasuke had been tired, and must have slept in. The brunette had frowned, but let it go. All throughout the meal, he was quiet, but it was expected, so no one minded.
It wasn't until after everyone was fed and cleaned up that Naruto realized something.
"Hey Panda-man." Many looks of horror and shock sent his way. "Where the hell am I supposed to sleep?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Blonde hair moved as he shook his head. "In my room. You're my bodyguard from now until we reach your village, remember?"
No one knew what to be more shocked about. Their leader being called a name like 'Panda-man', or the fact that, after seeing the look on his new guard's face, their stoic leader actually, albeit quietly, began to laugh.
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Oooh.. a plotting Uchiha... wonder what's coming up? Don't worry, not even I know yet!