I know I've been gone a lot. I'm in college and working. By the time I have a few hours free, I'm too tired, and don't feel like writing. But C.E.G is reading this fic again, and my friend Mitsuko (remember her from last chapter's AN?) just had her birthday yesterday. So, here's a late gift!!
Happy Birthday Mitsuko!!
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Chapter 19 Chibi Fits
Naruto had finished his Ramen after that horrible bowl, and headed off towards Sasuke's house, a silent Gaara walking behind him. The redhead couldn't bring himself to say anything to the obviously hurt blond. So when empty blue eyes turned to look in his direction, and asked if he could tell Sasuke that he'd be by later to add the second coat of paint, he just couldn't say no. As soon as Gaara nodded, slightly confused at what was being planned in the other shinobi's mind, the blond apologized and bolted, disappearing in a puff of smoke that had the Kazekage gawking. (Only inwardly, though.)
Of course, the lack of his designated guardian caused a certain event that the poor former jinchuuriki hadn't had to suffer in… well, only a couple months.
It started off simple, a young kunoichi asking him if he was really the Kazekage, another standing beside her and giggling at the sight of the pale teen. Why do girls seem to do everything in groups? He wondered, even as another pair approached, asking about his tattoo. And his gourd. And why the sand was currently rustling about his feet.
The thing that finally made him snap was when they began prodding him about if he was taking any 'lucky girl' to the festival as his guest. Immediately, the tattooed teen was gone, only a wisp of sand remaining of where he had once stood.
But these girls were all kunoichi. And while they couldn't catch him, they could keep up pretty well.
---
Sasuke slipped into a defensive stance by habit at the sight of his elder brother. But when Itachi merely made the usual "hn" sound and went back to looking at the scrolls.
"I did say to stay out of my room at all times." Not tensing any less, the younger of the two watched as his elder sibling began picking up scattered items and setting them back properly. It took almost ten minutes of pure silence until Sasuke finally stated what was on his mind. Of course, Uchiha-speak is only understandable by those close to the family. So just the Uchiha members, a few Hyuuga, and Naruto.
"It's true?" Meant: 'So it was true that you killed them all to protect me?'
"Hn." 'No, I was just furious at how they were acting. The fact that I protected you was just something that made it feel more justified.'
"Ah." 'Thanks, I suppose, but we're still not friends.' This was answered with a slightly cold look that simply meant, 'Of course not, I don't expect us to be.'
After a cursory glance around the now cleaned room, Itachi merely stated, "Stay out of my room", and left as suddenly as he appeared.
For once Sasuke wanted to just flop on the nearest futon (other than his brother's) and sleep like the dobe.
---
Naruto didn't know what to do, where to go. He needed to talk to someone, needed to vent. But who would let him? Not Neji, he was too much like Sasuke. The young Hyuuga would probably just tune him out. And Sasuke was out because the boy seemed angsty enough, the last thing he needed was for Naruto to go to him and provide more angst.
Kiba? Uh, no. He wouldn't shut up and listen. Shino?? Too quiet, wouldn't be able to tell if he was listening. Plus Naruto needed actual advice. Good advice. Which left only one person.
Nara Shikamaru.
Yes, he'd be called troublesome, and visibly ignored by the lazy genius, but that was the point. The genius part, not the ignoring. Shikamaru would seem to ignore him, but he'd listen well enough to offer some half-decent advice, at least!
Of course, this meant finding him first. Playing Go? No. Watching clouds? Another nope. Finally the brunet was found. Poor unfortunate soul, his sensei had offered to take him and Chouji out to eat. Thankfully Naruto was able to beg and plead, and finally threatened to eat Chouji's food if he didn't let Shikamaru leave.
They were thrown out by the ever-hungry shinobi himself.
Shikamaru led the way to his cloud-watching spot, allowing the blond to ramble on about his problems. Gaara, the festival, Gaara leaving, the traveling back to Suna to complete his mission, feelings for Gaara, and the now-worrisome job of being the future Hokage.
When the steam was gone and there was finally blissful silence again, Shikamaru turned bored eyes to the blond sitting beside him.
"You could just try asking him to go to the festival with you. See if you can't work up your courage to tell him you like him. Plus, if he doesn't return the feelings, you won't be stuck with him for long." The poor Kyuubi-container was horrified.
"Just blurt it out?! Are you freaking insane?!" Shikamaru shrugged and went back to looking at the sky.
"Well, there's hundreds of ways to go about it, but they're all too troublesome. Just do it the easy way." Naruto fell back and looked up as at the clouds as well.
"You suck, Shikamaru."
"Yet you still come to me for advice."
"Shut up."
Still full from his lunch, and back in a somwhat content (if not nervous) mood, the blond fell asleep under the sun, curling slightly like a fox kit when nudged.
It was therefore easy for Shikamaru to understand why Gaara didn't have it in him to wake up the poor teen, even though he apparently had the famous vicious horde of fangirls on his heels. Instead the redhead scooped up the person he had come for, and was gone again.
Though the genius wanted to kill the Sand-nin when the fangirls swarmed around him instead.
Damn girls were so troublesome.
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Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino glared daggers at each other. It was only a couple nights until the festival, and they had decided to take it upon themselves to choose clothing that would truly flatter the future lovebirds (if they had any say about it). Hinata had agreed to help, but she was quietly picking through articles of clothing.
Naruto was easy to shop for. With his coloring, almost anything looked good on him. As much as they had wanted something with foxes on them, that had proven impossible as Konoha citizens still seemed to think of the fox as a symbol of bad luck. But they had found the perfect thing while using Saukra's priveleges as Tsunade's student (as well as a lot of sake and some gambling). Now the truly hard part.
Gaara's outfit.
It was obvious they couldn't pick out something that screamed Kazakage!! The teen obviously had problems with the whole Kazekage thing. He hardly ever wore the traditional outfit, after all!! Otherwise, he'd be required to wear it to the festival. So really, they were doing him a favor.
But now there was a battle breaking out in the shop as Sakura insisted red would look best on the foreigner, accenting his hair and tattoo, hopefully attracting Naruto's attention and getting his mind to focus on 'Love' and all the things that could lead to. Ino insisted that it would be too much of the same color, and needed something to contrast it. Green, which would make his eyes look deeper and help the blond to 'get lost in them'. This led back to Sakura stating that green would make him feel like they were smothering him in Konoha's colors and would be uncomfortable, unable to focus on romance.
Hinata's quiet voice spoke up as she tried to get their attention, finally having to wait until they both turned to her, wanting her to defend their side. When they saw what she held, though, all was quiet, and they stared for a good few minutes before clapping in delight, actually able to agree for once.
"It's perfect!!"
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Okay!! Since I now have people lighting a fire under my ass, plus the mid-terms are over and I have one more month to save my poor butt from failing, I will be posting more often (I hope!!).