Changes Changes Chapter Six Pursue, a naruto fanfic

Changes

ALERT: English isn't my native language (far from it...)... There aren't any ortographic errors (bless word O.o) but the automatic correction doesn't include every grammar errors, so if anyone sees one too flagrant please tell me so I can correct it. Thanks

Chapter Six – Hunt

As Sakura and Naruto reached the Sand gateways, they noticed that Team 8 was already there, along with Kurenai, Kakashi and Temari along with Kankurou. It seemed that both siblings were eager to help their brother, especially Kankurou, which still seemed pretty beaten down because of Sasori and the poison.

"Everybody is here? Good…" Kakashi turned around. "Let's go!" All of them nodded and quickly fallowed Kakashi. Kurenai looked at him surprised.

"Weren't we supposed to go after Gai?"

We're not going to fallow Gai, since he has a head start in the chase, and if we chase him, we'll lose time… Since they already gave us their position we'll take the advantage of that fact and the new information that the Sand informers just got… Gai reached the rain country's borders, and he knows that Deidara's just reached the Earth Country's borders… I'll explain the information Baki gave me on our first camp and you'll understand…" Kurenai nodded.

"So we're going to make a detour?" Kakashi nodded. "Where are we heading exactly?"

"Sound country…" Every shinobi looked startled by this. "Don't worry… We won't cross it…" As the sun burnt down on their heads, the run speed increased. By the end of the afternoon, they already had crossed the Wind Country's border and had entered some luxurious forests. They stopped for some minutes, in a clearing, to rest and feed themselves. After having a comforting meal, Naruto sat down in one log and surveyed his sensei cautiously, as Kakashi took out Icha Icha Tactics, sitting against a tree contently.

"So sensei… what information do we have and why are heading for the sound?" Kakashi looked bored for one second and quite reluctant in placing his book away, when all the others sat down near Naruto and looked at him curiously. With a sigh, Kakashi pocketed his book carefully, extracting a large map from his pack, and looked to the ground, his hands resting idly in his tights.

"Well… We know Gai's team and Deidara's position… Here and here" Kakashi pointed the Rain country and the Earth country. "And we know that the Akatsuki's lair is somewhere here…" Kakashi made a circle that enclosed the Lightening country's border, the Fire country's border, the Sound country and the Earth country's border. "Except the Sound country off course…" Everyone nodded. "And as the Sound country is the midpoint of the locations, we'll head there and wait for news at this village here, where Gai said that he would send a messenger…" Naruto grinned.

"Sounds like a good plan to me…" Sakura's eyes didn't moved from the map. Naruto looked away. She seemed sad, her eyes hovering over the Sound country purple blur. Kakashi must have seen it too, because he quickly snatched the map inside his pack.

"Are we ready to go?" Everyone nodded in acceptance and quickly resumed their way. "Kiba! Report any strange smell you or Akamaru sense…" Kiba nodded and went at Kakashi's side. It had passed three hours when Kakashi stopped his run and looked back. They all stopped and looked at him confusedly, except Kurenai that went near Hinata and frowned at her. Naruto noticed that Hinata was much more paler than usual as she leaned on a tree.

"Hinata…" Kurenai opened her mouth but Hinata cut her off.

"My backs just hurt a little because of the run, that's all…" Kakashi scratched his chin.

"Ah… Don't lie Hinata… We know that the pressure of this run on your frail backs would accumulate in a while… And you even didn't slept well last night" Hinata looked down as Kurenai lectured her. Naruto felt guilt wash all over him again, as he saw dark circles on her eyes.

"I'm alright… I…" Kiba and Shino reached near her preoccupied. "Can do it…" Kurenai slipped Hinata's pack from her shoulders and gave it to Shino.

"Kiba, carry her for awhile…" Kiba nodded and went forward. Hinata seemed very discomforted, her cheeks getting red.

"Sensei… I don't want to be a burden… I…" Kakashi shook his head.

"Nonsense… You're injured…" Kakashi went near her. "Kurenai… I need Kiba however…" Kurenai nodded and looked at Shino, that simply nodded.

"Wait!" Naruto stepped forward as everyone looked at him. "I'm the responsible for Hinata's injuries, I'll carry her…" Naruto saw that Kakashi opened his mouth behind his mouth to obviously reject the offer and he quickly finished his sentence. "And I really have good stamina and don't tire easily so I'm the best choice…" Sakura looked at him surprised as Kakashi frowned, pondering.

"I think you're right… then… give me your pack…" Naruto did as he was told and went near Hinata that was looking to the ground shyly.

"Hinata…" started Kurenai.

"I don't want to be a trouble to Naruto-kun…" Naruto paused for a little, then sighed.

"You will be if you don't…" Hinata raised her head slightly and looked at him. "Come on! I'll give you free ride! It's my way of thanking you…" He grinned at her and she smiled faintly.

"It was my mission…" Naruto's grin widened.

"Well if you take it that way, this is my mission too…" Kurenai frowned.

"No more buts Hinata… just do as it is told…" Hinata nodded and Naruto crouched since Hinata only reached his shoulders. Hinata blushed but climbed in Naruto's backs. He rose up and smiled.

"Ah Hinata lucky you!" laughed Sakura along with Temari. Naruto felt Hinata's arms grip him strongly and he didn't liked very much of their teasing.

"Jealous Sakura?" Naruto grinned his foxy smile as Sakura blushed and Temari laughed even more. Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"Ma… ma… we've got to get going… we still have some hours to do…" said Kakashi and everybody fallowed him eagerly. They resumed their way for some more hours. Naruto sighed heavily, knowing that even if Kakashi had come up with a good idea for pursuing Gaara, the chances of actually get him were slim. 'Gaara… We're equal aren't we? Having been shunned away as children, and both targeted because of what we had inside of us… Demons… aren't we? It's that what they call us isn't it? But they don't know… They don't understand… We didn't ask for this, did we? Ah… at least I was able to have friends… I know what love is… What about you? Have you discover what love is? Have you discovered the meaning of the kanji on your forehead? Have you important people now? Do you now know the meaning of risking everything you had and accomplished for them? Even your life? I know… I understand you… It's hard isn't it? Not many people would think about us as humans as them… ' Naruto's train of though was cut short as he felt a small rustle in his shoulder, a tickling feeling trailing on his neck. Naruto looked at his right, being able to see Hinata's laid head on his shoulder, her face nestled in his neck. Naruto wondered darkly if she would consider sleeping on his shoulder if she knew what he had inside of him. He looked forward. Sakura and Temari were going a little ahead of him, both kuinochis bothered by different issues. Smiling faintly, he remembered when he had said to them what he had inside of him. They seemed shocked at first but had accepted him. Maybe the others would accept him the same way. But he wasn't so sure about that.

FLASHBACK

"Uhm… Ero-Sennin…" Jiraiya bashed him toughly on his head.

"It's Jiraiya dumb-ass!" Naruto yelped in pain and sighed. They were both in a hot spring, both relaxing after a very though training day. Jiraiya noticed Naruto's distressed face and sighed. "What is it Naruto…" He looked at the older man and looked down.

"I… have something to tell you…" Jiraiya's eyebrow shot up…

"What is it?" Naruto looked at him uncertain.

"Do you know about the Kyuubi?" Jiraiya tensed up instantly and Naruto fled his eyes from his sensei. "I have it inside of me…" Jiraiya's eyebrow shot even more up, disappearing in his forehead protector.

"Was that it?" Naruto looked at him strangely as Jiraiya laughed madly. "You're really dense kid… I'm one of the Sannin, wouldn't I know about it?" Naruto smiled calmer. "Anyway… how do you know? The Fourth explicitly prohibited you to know and punish everyone that told you or hint you…" Naruto grinned at him and told him the story about Mizuki and how did he graduate from the academy. Jiraiya eared with attention, and when Naruto finished, he whistled. "If I knew you knew, it would have been easier to me, helping you access that fox's chakra…Uhm… what's the matter?" Naruto looked at him embarrassed.

"Do you hate me?" Jiraiya smacked him again.

"Baka! Yes I hate you, that's why you're my student… Of course I don't hate you… I hate the thing you have inside of you… It took away many important people to me…" Jiraiya sighed. "I hate that, not you… How could anyone hate you anyway? You didn't have the fault did you? You were only chosen…" Here Jiraiya paused nervously. "But lets not talk about this anymore understood?" Naruto nodded and smiled at his sensei.

"Thank you Jiraiya-sensei…" Jiraiya smirked.

"Now it's sensei…" Naruto grinned at him.

"Yeah perverted old man… that's it…" Jiraiya clobbered him again and relaxed on the warm water as Naruto run around screaming, holding his head.

"Cute kid…"

END FLASHBACK

Naruto chuckled remembering this. It had given him courage to say the truth to Kakashi, Temari and Sakura. Speaking of the devil, Kakashi motioned them to stop at a small clearing. Everyone acceded tiredly.

"We'll pass here the night… Gather a fire and prepare something to eat…" Kiba and Shino along with Kankurou went to gather some wood as Temari and Sakura started to make the dinner's arrangements. Kurenai had approached Naruto as he slipped Hinata's sleeping form from his backs and caught her in her arms.

"I see she got tired and got to sleep… I won't wake her up, since she got so many problems to fall asleep yesterday…" Naruto nodded. "I still have to take care of her tough… Sakura! I need you… Naruto, go and help Temari…" Naruto went near Temari and helped her preparing the vegetables, cursing Kakashi and his healthy diet.

"She's asleep… That's good… she'll be able to rest…" Sakura whispered to Kurenai. Any normal person wouldn't listen but Naruto's enhanced hearing permitted him. "I wonder how could she fell asleep tough… since she was in such a position…" Kurenai chuckled.

"Well she was tired… And was Naruto-kun's back so… Here…" Naruto blinked and looked back, wondering what that meant and caught a glimpse of Hinata's bruised back, as Sakura applied a medical jutsu and Kurenai rubbed her backs with an ointment. Gulping down, Naruto looked at the fire again and sighed. Her skin seemed so soft and perfect and then, the large ugly red marking of Sasori's tale hindered across her backs. Guilt swam all over him again but he tried no to think about that. They still had a long way tomorrow.

AN:Wew.. that was a big chapter... but I won't updating this for a week or so, since I'm having some tests... Please review!