Chapter 3

Kazekages Room

Gaara was sat on the edge of his bed. He had been sat in the same position staring at the same dot on the carpet. Temari had come in ten minutes ago and noticed how Gaara was acting, yet she didn't know how to help him because he wouldn't talk to her.

//He kissed me! What the hell? It's wrong! I'm a boy, he's a boy! Oh god why did he have to do that, why did he have to go and ruin our friendship why did he have to do something so stupid' "argh stupid Naruto" Gaara mumbled. He then froze as he realised he had said that out loud, also that there was someone else in the room. He turned to see Temari looking at him curiously. Gaara sighed and before Temari could say anything Gaara started to tell Temari what happened.

Hokages Office

"Kakashi I called for you over an hour ago. Where have you been?" She asked sighing exasperatedly. Kakashi could tell she had something bothering her and that why she hadn't shouted at him. He considered asking what was wrong but decided against it.

"I was teaching a dolphin some new tricks" Kakashi smiled perversely beneath his mask and looked at Tsunade who's expression hadn't changed. She seemed to be deep in thought and Kakashi wondered what would have happened if he had said that he was torturing villagers by making them listen to a tape of Naruto saying "Believe it" over and over again…(Deadly ne?)

"I want you to become Gaara's guide and guard Kakashi. Do you understand? You will not be late and you cannot say no to this mission" Tsunade said with a finality in her voice that had Kakashi snap to attention. He thought about asking why Naruto was no longer doing that job but he knew that he would have to find out himself. Sighing he waved good bye and with a 'poof' he was out of the office and back to teaching his little dolphin some tricks (;]).

Naruto's home: Next morning

Naruto woke up from an awkward position at the table. He remembered how he had got here, last night he had come in with all intentions to go straight to bed. Instead he sat down at the table and cradling his head in his hands he had burst into tears and had cried most of the night. Naruto wiped his eyes groggily and stifled a yawn. He looked u at his clock and went into his room to get changed, opening his wardrobe he winced at the bright orange and closed the doors again. With a sigh he opened the drawer next to his bed and pulled out the package that Jiraiya had given him on their trip. After he had a shower he got changed into the clothes from the package, he pulled on a pair of loose black trousers which had pockets down both sides. He clipped his Kunai pouch into one of the loops on his right leg and pulled on his Shinobi sandals. He then pulled out a royal blue sleeveless shirt and over the top of that he wore a dark grey jumper. He placed his forehead protector on his forehead. He then took a stroll from his apartment down to Ichiraku's Ramen stand, he took his usual seat and waited patiently.

"Good morning Teuchi-San, I would like one bowl of Pork ramen please" Naruto mumbled a small smile had replaced his usual grin and his eyes had dulled dramatically. Teuchi almost dropped his ladle in shock and Ayame looked at her father. They both smiled at Naruto and went to work getting him his meal, after he had eaten and paid he smiled at them and went towards the Hokage monument. Sitting on the fourths head Naruto could see Konoha in its entirety. He let out a small smile as he saw villagers going about their work and the other leaf ninja heading out and about. He looked over towards the Hokage tower where he could feel the presence of Tsunade, Shizune Kakashi….and the Kazekage. Naruto frowned and leant back so that he was now laying, he looked up to the clouds and he watched them float by. His thoughts drifted away with the clouds and he soon fell asleep on top of the monument.

Gaara

Gaara sighed and rubbed his temples. Today's meetings were more than troublesome…Kami, now he was starting to sound like the lazy jounin (A/N: Guess who?) He chuckled as he thought about how Temari blushed every time someone even mentioned Shikamaru (A/N: Did you get it? :D) and thought about using it against her sometime. He then remembered the blow to the head he had gotten when he told Temari what had happened. He had been glad that the fan she used was her small one and not her large one, he unconsciously rubbed his head and grimaced at her reaction.

(Flashback)

"What do you mean you ran away?!" she shouted at him, Gaara was silently thanking Kami that they had a room far away from anyone else so noone could hear them "He kissed you Gaara! You don't run away from someone else when they kiss you!" she sight and looked at Gaara disappointedly. He had no come back, no retort so he just looked at the floor. He then thought about it and a familiar feeling over anger washed over him.

"Why not? He's a boy! I'm a boy! It's not right! It's digusting! Who said he had a right to kiss me anyway! We were friends and now he has ruined it by doing something disgusting like kissing me!" Gaara breathed in as he finished his rant. Temari covered the space between them and slapped Gaara. His head snapped round to look at her and noticed the anger and disappointment in here eyes.

"After all he has done for you. After he has shown you how much you mean to him. Christ he saved your life! TWICE! You repay him like this? It's not right Gaara. You know, I think that deep down you really do love him but you're just too scared to admit it." She sighed getting up and walking toward the door. With one last look back she shook her head and went off to find Nara.

(Flashback end)

Gaara sighed again looking at his sisters bed. She hadn't come back last night and he thought he had upset her. After having a shower Gaara slipped into some khaki trousers and a dark green shirt and then he called for Kakashi. Knowing of the jounins infamous lateness he expected he would have about an hour before Kakashi got there. What he wasn't expecting was for Kakashi to pop up five minutes later. Kakashi looked at Gaara and bowed his head "Good morning Kazekage-Sama. Where do you wish to go today?" Kakashi asked monotonously. He did not know what had happened but he did know that because of this boy Naruto had seemingly 'broke' as the Hokage had put it.

Gaara looked at Kakashi slightly taken aback at the mans cold politeness. He immediately shook it off and requested to be taken somewhere for breakfast. Kakashi nodded and together they left for Ichirakus - both hoping the blonde was not there.

Naruto

Naruto was sure that the loss of feeling on his backside meant that he had been in his position for too long. He sat up to change position and once again his eyes drifted over the civilian population of Konoha going about their work and sighed. It was a beautiful day, blue skies the sun was shining. It was seemingly perfect, yet there seemed to be a dark cloud over Naruto. He thought that it was such a nice day for his heart to be breaking. He was bought out of his musings by a pink haired girl. She tapped his shoulder and he looked round slightly startled. The look on his face made Sakura smile on the inside but the rest of her was radiating concern. Naruto tried to smile, he really did but truly he failed to do so and unknowingly a small tear escaped. He sighed and moved his hand to wipe it away when it had got to his nose but Sakura had beatn him to it. She smiled reassuringly and squeezed his shoulder lightly.

"You know then?" Naruto asked in a small voice "or are you here to find out what happened?" He sighed as he looked at her.

"I know Naruto. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it you know. I'm sure Gaara won't hate you for this. So there's no need to be hiding up here! Go see him Naruto, make it all better. Only you can do it. Plus, it's not as though you're in love with him. You just kissed him right?" She said that last bit cocking her head slightly with a questioning look in her eyes.

"You didn't see his face Sakura-Chan. He…He…was disgusted. He looked at me like I was…well….he looked at me worse than any of the villagers have" Narutos voice cracked and he put his hand to his stomach "ano…yes. I do love him, I think I have all along. It wasn' just a kiss Sakura. I put everything into that kiss. My heart, my hopes, and all of me. Then he just ran away leaving me there with nothing left…leaving me empty." Naruto clenched his first and a cold set ran across his eyes. "Well looks like he's shown me where I stand. Stupid of me really. Someone like me doesn't deserve love. I've never had it so why not? And to think I stupidly believed that someone like the Kazekage could love me." He looked up at Sakura and she shuddered at the steely gaze in his eyes. "I will see you tomorrow, we have training with Kakashi-sensei and Sai ne?" He nodded then disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Sakura gave him a few seconds then she ran at full speed to the Hokage's office.

After knocking several times Sakura went in and told Tsunade exactly what happened. Tsunade frowned at the development and called a meeting of the other Konoha 12 (Well…10 really seeing as Sasuke is with Orochimaru *BooHiss* and the talk is about Naruto) she told them what was going on and Sakura was sat there frowning. The others took it well and promised to help Naruto as much as they could. When they left she called in Umino Iruka, Naruto's 'Guardian' to talk to him. She pulled out some sake - this would take a while.

Gaara - 3 days later

Gaara and Kakashi had spent most of the morning in and out of meetings. Gaara stretched and looked up at the sun. He had his last meeting today and from now on he would be helping the Konoha jonin. Kakashi took him to the Hokage's office to be handed a Konoha outfit until his Suna one arrived. When he got there he was escorted into the Hokge's office. He walked in and his eyes flickered to the side of the room briefly and rested on Naruto. Naruto didn't show any recognition of Gaara being there then after receiving his orders from Tsunade he left.

"Good day Kazekage" Naruto said monotonously, the coldness in his voice not being unheard by the others. He then smiled at Kakashi and walked out of the office. Gaara watched Naruto and could feel his heart clenching with pain. Turning as if to follow, he was stopped by Kakashis arm and he looked up to see the jounin shaking his head "he needs to be left alone. Unless you can tell him what he wants to hear. Something which I don't think that you are ready to do yet" Tsunade said, leaning her head on her hands. Gaara sighed and sat down, he look up at Kakashi briefly before looking back to Tsunade.

"Could you…help me then?" Gaara asked choosing his words carefully he proceeded "I..I'm not sure how this thing works. How do you know something like this?" He looked around in obvious discomfort.

"Do you not think you should talk to your sister about this Gaara?" Tsunade asked sweetly.

"Yes but you know him best. Your opinion on this matter would be highly appreciated. I want things to be….normal again. I want Naruto to smile again. But I also want to know how he really feels. Can you not help? Put us two on a mission together?" Gaara asked hopefully.

Tsunade smiled and nodded "Okay then. I will send you on a mission with the gakI. He needed someone else anyway. Just bear in mind if you hurt him again I will personally risk our alliance to kill you."

Gaara gulped audibly and left after thanking her…a lot. Kakashi's eyebrows were raised in what could only be a smile. He had worked out what was going on and left following after Gaara. He had something to tell Iruka tonight.

Naruto

Naruto was sat on top of his apartment roof thinking about who Tsunade would put on the mission with him when an unknown red haired jounin whom naruto had never seen before appeared at his door.

He jumped down off the roof and looked at the jounin, his eyes widened comically when he saw who it was. 'Oh Kami, Gaara looks so good in those clothes… I could j…no. He suits being a leaf jonin more than he does being a Kazekage…'He shook himself mentally. 'get a grip Naruto'

"Why are you here Kazekage-Sama" Naruto said monotonously bowing to Gaara.

"Don't be stupid Naruto. I am just a jonin now. No more Kazekage stuff. We best get going anyway, the daimyo wants us there by midday tomorrow. That gives us eleven hours" Gaara looked at Naruto seriously. He moved forward an inch as if he was going to do something, then stepped back obviously thinking better. Naruto sighed and picked up his backpack from just inside his door, he then took off towards the gates of Konoha and his mission.

Time skip - Wave Country

Naruto stood at the foot of the bridge with Gaara, he remembered being here a long time ago. He felt a pang of regret. Sasuke…this was where he could have died to protect me. Naruto grimaced and heard Gaara mumble "Great Naruto bridge" and look at Naruto with respect.

"It's named after me if you didn't guess already. I rescued the old man! Believe it!" Naruto proclaimed doing the good guy pose towards Gaara. The red heads smile grew as the old Naruto came through. He took hold of Naruto's hand and pulled the chattering blonde across the bridge. Gaara nodded and made noises at all the right times as Naruto retold the story of his first A-rank mission. Naruto had gone quiet and was looking down. Gaara looked at Naruto confused as to why he had trailed off mid sentence and followed Narutos gaze. He realised that they had been holding hands all the way across the bridge and was surprised at how he hadn't removed it when they both stopped running and at how little it had actually bothered him. Naruto looked extremely confused, yet he didn't move his hand away. Gaara could literally see the cogs in his head whirring and felt a pang of guilt. He slowly loosened his grip and by the time they were in the village they were heading for they were no longer holding hands. They arrived at the Daimyo's gate with two hours to spare and were escorted through by one of the guards.