Chapter 7:
Tsunade's order
It had taken Shizune all day just to even get a chance to fully grasp the Hokage's attention. She was worried about Naruto and even worried about Tsunade's stress level. What with all the work and mission briefings. Hell if the Hokage could get her hands on some sake, Shizune was sure that she would chill even for a little while. Sitting down before the Hokage Shizune sighed.
"What is it, Shizune?" Tsunade said setting her pen down from the paper work she was doing.
"It's Naruto.." Her subordinate said, her hands folded in her lap.
Tsunade's eye brow arched, " What's wrong? Is he okay?"
"Well... It's just ever since this morning he's been acting strangely. He locked himself in his temporary room in the Hyuuga manor and Neji is not too happy about that." Shizune took a breath before finishing.
"And I caught him drinking sake this morning..."
"Naruto was drinking?" Tsunade asked, curiousity written on her face.
"Neji said that Naruto was rubbing at his neck a lot and wincing, " The black haired girl stated.
"Hmmm... So what does this have to do with me... other than the fact that he is drinking..." Tsunade said frustrated more with the paper work on her desk than with the blond boy they were talking about.
"He won't talk to us... so maybe he'll talk to you..." Shizune suggested waving a bottle of sake in front of Tsunade's face.
Hell if she would talk to him she'd be willing giving her a 'relaxant.' Tsunade eyed the bottle and smirked.
"Alright, on one conditons... Get me another bottle" Shizune smiled and handed Tsunade the bottle.
"When should I bring him in?" She asked before leaving the Hokage's office.
Drinking the contents of the bottle, Tsunade shrugged, " Sometime soon? Around.." She checked her schedule and the time, " 4-ish. "
Shizune nodded and rushed off to tell Neji.
Neji paced the hall infront of the door to the hot spring. The blond had locked himself in there and it took all of Neji's will not to break the damn door down. Sighing, Neji retreated with frustration back to his room. Pausing, when he head the front door swing open. Shizune came waltzing down the hall toward him.
"Neji!" She smiled, " Tsunade said she'll see him at 4 so Let's tell him."
Looking at the blondes open door, Shizune peeked in, " where is he?"
"He locked himself in the hot spring" Neji grumbled.
"Oi... If he doesn't want to come out then Tsunade will have to come here..."
Meanwhile, in the hot spirng. Naruto sat near the edge of the water, his knees drawn to his chest. His hair was soaked and his eyes were down casted. He needed to think and the longer he spent thinking the longer he could stay away from people.
"Kit...?"
"Hm?"
"Are you scared?"
"Of what?"
"Of the Uchiha?"
"No..."
"I know what it is... You're afraid of what you're feeling..."
"I'm confused Kyuubi... Sasuke tried to kill me... then he comes back just to tell me I'm his? What am I supposed to do? Be happy and excited?And Neji... I like him Kyu... Probably even more than I like Sasuke."
"The heart can tell you a lot of things Kit... But who is always going to be here for you?"
"You?"
Kyuubi chuckled, " No, that's not what I meant. Who will always be there on the outside to care for you? That's what you need to think about."
Naruto nodded and sighed. Who was going to be there for him...? Well, Iruka obviously but that was more of a family type caring and Naruto could never be physically attracted to him that was just... Ew. Beside's Iruka had Kakashi. Iruka had Kakashi... Hmm. Now there's a thought. Kakashi was alwayus going to protect Iruka nd it was made easy by them living in the same village and one not being evil. Okay one was evil but only in a perverted way. With Sauske not in the village there was no closeness. But Neji's family had that stupid Hyuuga pride shit going on. Wow it was more trouble than it seemed.
"Naruto?" A voice on the other side of the door called, " Open up!"
Naruto stared at the door and just sat there.
"Uzamaki Naruto... This is my house now open the damn door!"
Naruto could tell Neji was frustrated.
"Hey... Naru-kun please open the door. Neji and I are really worried about you.."
This time it was Shizune.
"And anyway, you'll have to come out Tsunade wants to talk to you around 4 and it's already 3:30"
Naruto pushed himself up off the ground and picked up his clothes tossing them in the dirty clothes basket. He had left Sasuke's headband in a safe place in his room. Walking to the door, the blond opened it and sighed. Neji looked him over, blushing when his eyes stopped at the area the towel covered. Bad time to be thinking about this when he was so worried. Naruto coughed and Neji's eyes shot back up.
"What does Baa-chan want?" Trhe blond asked softly.
"You'l just have to go and find out," Shizune siad acting as if she didn't know.
"I.. er set some clean clothes on your bed by the way, " Neji said.
Naruto nodded before pushing himself between the two of them and going to his room. He closed the doorbehind him , a click echoed down the hall telling them he had locked the door. Naruto dried his hair and began to dress himself. Neji had chosen clothes that he didn't recognize. He figured that Neji let him borrow some of his since Naruto did have to go do laundry. He slid on a pair of black boxers, then tan knee length shorts, then finally he pulled on a tight black shirt. He looked himself over before nodding in approval.
Neji and Shizune sat in the front of the Hyuuga manor, sighing and waiting. Neji was concerned, Shizune was concerned and secretly had jacked a bottle of sake from the kitchen. When Neji shifted to looked behind him, Shizune smiled. Naruto was coming. Plastering a false smile on his face, Naruto walked passed them and toawrd the Hokage tower. Neji stood and raced to walk next to the blond. Naruto looked at him and smiled softly. Neji let a small smile grace his lips in return.
"So you two don't know what Baa-chan wants?"
They shook their heads.
"Hmm... maybe she just wants to see how I am.." Naruto shrugged and started to climb the stairs to the tower.
Neji watched the blond and sighed to himself. What was going on with him and... Wait... What was that? The Hyuuga tilted his head trying to get a better look at Naruto's neck. Naruto covered it by putting his hands behind his head as he usually did.
'Damn it Naruto move your hands...' Neji thought to himself.
Shizune grabbed Neji's collar and pulled him into a seat outside the Hokage's office, " We'll wait out here."
Neji glared at her and grunted.
"Alright..." Naruto smiled before heading in.
Tsunade sat, still filing out paperwork that riddled her desk. She hadn't even noticed the blond until he had sat and coughed.
"Aww there you are" She smiled setting her work aside.
Naruto was a welcome distraction.
"Shizune said you wanted to talk to me." Naruto said.
"Yes. yes I did... How are you feeling Naruto?"
"Fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Tsunade's eyes studied him then stopped. Frowning, she rose from her desk. Walking around it she tilted Naruto's head although he started to protest. She gave him a 'sit still and be quiet' glare making him stop and let her inspect his neck. Tsunade's frown deepened with a tinge of anger.
"What happened Naruto? Who did that to you?"
Her voice was serious and the tone made Naruto wince. Yet he remained quiet. How to tell her Sasuke was back and he wanted him? That would blow over well... NOT!
"Answer me Naruto..."
No response.
"Uzamaki Naruto you either answer me or I will make you answer!" She almost yelled but caught herself though her voice clearly spelt 'spill the beans or die'.
Sitting on the edge of her desk she waited with arms folded. Naruto looked down his eyes emotionless and dull. This puzzled the Hokage. Naruto mumbled something so it was incohereant.
"What was that?"
He muttered a bit louder.
"Still can't hear you Naruto..."
The blonds lip quivered and he looked at her sharply, tears building in his eyes before falling freely.
"It was Sasuke! Okay? Sasuke did this to me!"
Tsunade was taken aback by the blondes out burst and tears. He was ashamed he was marked. And even more that he didn't put up a fight.
"Sasuke?" Tsunade knelt before the usually bubbly blond and tilted his chin so he looked at her.
"What happened Naruto... What happened during you're missioin that it is making you this way? Are you afraid of something?... Or someone?... You need to tell me..."
"Tell her kit..." Kyuubi stated.
"No!" Naruto barked aloud but only meant that for Kyuubi.
"No what?"
"I don't want to tell her!"
Tsunade studied the blond, waiting.
"Tell her Kit..." Kyuubi growled.
"He tried to kill me," Naruto said softly while wiping his tears away.
Shock took hold of Tsunade's face and eyes. All Naruto had said before was that Sasuke got away. He never said anything about a battle in his report.
"And he did this to you then?" She motioned to the bite mark that looked a little too fresh.
"No... he did that to me... last night"
Tsunade sat down, down right confused. If Sasuke could get back in without being detected and hurt Naruto then what else would he try to do.
"Shizune!" Tsunade called.
Shizune stood hearing her name being called. All that noise from inside yet this was the one time they heard anything clearly. Shizune entered the room and bowed.
" Take Naruto and Neji back to the Hyuuga manor and tell the ANBU to keep watch... I need some time to think of what to do."
"As you wish Lady Tsunade" Shizune bowed and nudged Naruto to stand.
"Neji, I need your help, " Shizune said.
Neji entered next and took the blond, " I'll take him home will you be right with us?"
Shizune nodded then watched them leave. She then turned her attention to Tsunade who was sitting in her chair and thinking with a look of frustration and rage. She didn't want Orochimaru to get to Sasuke and they had 3 years before that could happen but she didn't want Sasuke getting to Naruto either. For the risk that Sasuke would kill the boy. But what to do? Naruto would have to go into hiding. Tsunade watched at Shizune briefed the ANBU on their objective before they left with a nod to watch the boys and protect them.
"Tsunade...?"
"Hm?"
"What did he say?"
The blonde women sighed and rubbed her forehead, " It's worse than I thought... Shizune... Come back early tomorrow morning I'm going to be holding a counsel meeting."
Shizune nodded and left to go and catch up with the boys.
"We'll need to think fast..."
†
Alrighty I got to decide for myself on this one and I'm sorry if it doens't make sense... and if it does then thank god I did my job right.
Anyways.
Next Chapter:
Operation: Desert Secret