"Whoa! Gaara buddy, you don't looks so well. I mean worst then normal! Ow! What was that for?" Rubbing the side of his head, Naruto dodged another attack from the pink hair medical nin who was sent to Sunagakure to over see this years chunin exams.
"It's rude to say such things." The obvious 'well duh' was laced thick into Ino's statement as she flipped her long platinum blond hair off her shoulders.
It was Suna's year to host the chunin exams, and being Kazekage it was Gaara's responsibility to greet the Leaf's two, three cell teams, that were to be participating, their sensies, the Hokage, the three guards who were there to protect the Hokage and the lead medical nin who was overseeing the medical team scheduled for the exams.
It was just Gaara's luck that Lady Tsunade couldn't make this years competition and sent her Acting Hokage in her place; Naruto. If Gaara had to guess this was most likely a test to see if the feature Hokage was ready to take the task on. This mission was important, yes but if Naruto was to slip up, this being just a chunin exam, the Leaf Village would be able to easily correct any of his mistakes.
Gaara had faith in his strange friend. Truth be told, he was relieved to hear that Naruto would be the one to be judging the matches along with him. That's not to say that he didn't like or respect Tsunade-sama, he just preferred his friend was all.
"None scene, Gaara knew what I meant. He normally looks like a raccoon with the dark circles under his eyes." Flipping his hand in a very flamboyant manner, Naruto waved the thought, of him being rude to a friend, off as if it was no big deal.
A small smile played upon Temari's lips as she watched her brother from the corner of her eye. Kankuro and Temari had been worried for their younger brother, while knowing that Naruto was about to deify Gaara's space and was the complete opposite of her little brother, Temari knew that his strange friend was just what Gaara needed.
Stepping within inches of his pale friend's face, concern heavily etched on his ever expressional face, Naruto spoke with such sincerity. "Is every thing alright?"
"I'm fine, and you?" Stepping back from his loud friend, Gaara politely replied to the last question, arms crossed tightly around his chest.
Naruto might be the only person to ever attempt, let alone survive, to openly invade Gaara's personal space. The rule of thumb that all young children were taught when they were younger was completely lost upon Naruto. The 'Comfort Bubble' was a lost bit of knowledge when taking the man in question, Naruto was just an exception to all, Gaara include.
Excepting this fact as one of the many odd quirks the blond possessed, Gaara brushed it off the best he could.
A brilliant white smile graced the loud blond's face, straightening his posture, shoulders leveled and square Naruto announced in his most business like tone. "Well, now that you asked," Leaning back on the balls of his feet Naruto's calm demeanor slipped, revealing a rather pleased and bubbly kid-like one instead. "Me and Sakura are dating." A cheeky grin shown brightly as Naruto rapped a warm arm around his new girl.
"Sakura and I are dating." Bored, Temari rolled her eyes at the thought of correcting Naruto's grammar for the next month and a half. She really should stop hanging out with the Lazy Ass, simple things as the blond dobe's poor grammar is starting to bother her.
"What!" Hands fling in the air, Naruto stepped away from the pink haired medical nin, eyes darting from his girlfriend to his friend's older sister. "You... Her.. You-What?"
Not really helping the situation, Temari calmly stepped across the little group to placed an arm around Sakura's waist pulling the pink haired Kunoichi to her side. This could be fun after all. A mischievous smile graced Temari's ruby red lips as she eyed the bewildered blond.
Gaara eyed his sister with little emotion upon his face, his stone features gave little away. He was a little surprised, he wasn't going to deny that. Granted his sister wasn't like most females he had known, she was more on the maleish side in some aspects but he had once heard rumor that she and that shadow nin from the Leaf were an item.
A part of Gaara was wondering if Kankuro was aware of this. Viewing the others reaction, Gaara guest that Naruto, the six Leaf genin and he himself must have been the last to know, all seem to share similar expressions. Most seemed to be suppressing some kind of joy. A few looked disapproving, even Hinata looked frustrated.
Taking another look at the small groups response, Gaara understood now, the disapproving head shake Hinata was giving his sister was the bit that Gaara needed. Some sign, granted he should have known all along, this was his sister after all.
"Naruto-kun, Temari-san was only correcting your grammar, not that she and Sakura-chan are an item, as well." The last part of Hinata's tone turned stern as she eyed the taller Kunoichi.
Shoulders dropping into a more natural setting, Naruto slowly took his place, replacing Temari at Sakura's side. "Oh, well why didn't you say so?"
"Because watching was more entertaining." The monotone words of the highly gifted Weapon Mistress came from the edge of the small crowd, Tenten's statement had the odd group laughing, even the students joined in.
They may not have been able to fully grasp the humor but they were old enough to understand some, and watching Naruto-sama make a fool of himself was always comical anyhow. Everyone but Gaara, that is. Gaara wasn't one to display his emotions out in the open like his blond friend was able to, but for the some who knew him well could easily tell that Gaara found this humorous as well.
Stepping out of the shadow that Gaara's tall form casted, Matsuri's sober facial expressions demanded full attention. All eyes studied the young lady before them as she spoke in a dominating but respectful manner. "Follow me, I'll show you to your rooms."
Leaning over to loudly whisper into his teammates ear, Souta spoke the only thought that just happened to popped into his mind. Like he always did. "The talkative type I see, hn?"
"Souta, that's not really nice." The stern and somewhat motherly tone had the young nin reproachful as Hinata politely scolded the young nin's behavior.
The sarcastic and some how playful comment had Gaara's mind tripping over itself as it attempted to find who this kid remind him of. The messy blond frosted chocolate brown tipped hair, cheeky grin and wild looking eyes gave this Souta kid an animalistic appeal, in Gaara's opinion. Even his suggestive eyebrow shake seemed familiar.
"Hinata-sama, while I agree with you that the approach was rather tactless, his observation however was correct. She appears to be-" Masahiro was interrupted by a very unlike Hinata behavior.
"And it appears to me that you both have been around my teammates for far too long." Mumbling more to herself, Hinata shook her head in defeat.
"Whoa! Hina, you make that sound like it's a bad thing." Pivoting his slender form to face Hinata full on, hands raised in surrender, Kiba's usually warm face held a mock hurt upon it.
"I for one, agree with Kiba." Making himself known for the first time, Shino expressed his opinion in his signature monotone while he casually leaned against the village's gate.
Hands folded tightly across his tiny chest, Souta eyed the accuser with his saddest puppy eyes he could manege while the taller boy of the two, Masahiro, stood unaffected by the statement as he read his scrolls.
The five remaining 'Konoha twelve' along with the two eldest of the 'Sand Siblings' chuckled at the scene before them.
Stepping in between both of her students, TenTen placed an arm around both of the young men's shoulders as she addressed her younger friend. "Note taken Hina-chan, from now on I'll try to limit their intake on the bad influence."
"Hey-Wait! Did you just call me a-"
"Kiba-kun, could we please be on our way? I'm rather tired." Before Kiba could fully unleash the full weight of his rant, Hinata's soft words had him halting in his place.
"Sure, anything for you Hina-chan." Taking his teammate under his arm, Kiba softly spoke in her ear. "So, what's your plans for tonight? Wanna get some drinks."
Pulling away from her dear friend, Hinata's eyes shifted to the reason for her being here; Naruto. Who happened to be whispering something to his dear friend's ear as well, the Kazekage. Sighing Hinata shook her head. "Kiba-kun, we have a job to do."
"You are such a kill joy!" Kiba and Naruto both shouted at the same time. Eyeing each other, hands flying in the air as they over exaggerated their defeat. It appeared that Kiba and Naruto both had the same idea, and were both denied.
Seeing that Naruto was apart of this group, Ino was beginning to think that they might never make it to their rooms with the way Naruto was so easily distracted. Sad to say, this was him being focused, too. Taking things into her own hands, Ino cleared her throat demanding everyone's attention. "Well, Gaara-sama, could you please lead the way, I'm sure my team isn't the only one in need of a shower."
A few yelps from Kiba's side had him chuckling to whatever Akamaru had said.
"I know, who would have thought such a pretty girly girl like Ino could smell- Ow!" Rubbing the quickly growing lump, Kiba eyed said girl.
"If you or your mutt makes one more comment I will inform anyone willing to listen of the time when yo-"
Flying at the tall blond Kunoichi, fingers tightly laced around Ino's ruby lips, Kiba stared transfixed at the girl. She wouldn't, would she? Ino's smile underneath his large hands, grew. Yeah she would, this is Ino after all.
"Fine, fine you win." Releasing the blond, Kiba stomped in the direction that he was sure Matsuri had been heading in.
"Thought so. Now lets get going." A triumph smile donned the ruby lips of the mind wielding Leaf Kunoichi as she watched Kiba pout.
Pulling on the hem of her purple outfit was none other then her own student's twin sister, Isoko Kako, Souta and Masahiro's fellow teammate.
"Please don't patronize him, Ino sensei." Isoko Kako's shy whisper could barely be heard as she hid her face within her large jacket, blush creeping across her slender cheeks.
"Yeah, way too much time." The smile faded as Ino slowly began to follow the rest of the group as she mumbled her latest thought just loud enough for fellow team leader to hear.
A small smile touched TenTen's pale lips at the thought of her student being similar to Hinata.
...
After walking up the twelve flights of stairs of the Kage tower, the group had finally arriver to the guess residential area of the tower. Pale fingers calmly pointed the direction. "Team TenTen will be residing in this room. And to your right will be Team Ino."
Turning to face the remaining group as the two teams filed into their designated rooms, Matsuri in a detached tour guide like tone picked up where she had left off. "Sakura, your room will be down the hall."
A small smile graced her lips as she regarded Naruto, he seemed to be the only person she was comfortable to be open with out of the Leaf nin. "If you four will follow me, I'll show the Acting Hokage and his three guards to his private chambers."
"Poke all the fun you want Matsuri, Acting Hokage is one step closer. I'll be there someday, just you wait." A proud smile graced Naruto's lips as he took her comment as it was meant as, to be playful.
"I bet you will." First time Gaara had spoke since he had turned Naruto down close to twenty minutes ago, and it was sensei. He truly meant that.
"Thanks, Gaara buddy, it means a lot to me that you said that." Beaming, Naruto clapped Gaara loudly on his back.
"You dobe! We," Elbowing a rather blush filled Hinata, Kiba loudly proclaimed his objection. "Hinata, has been saying that for years."
Looking a little bashful, Naruto eyed the ground as he spoke. "Yeah, but it's one thing to have your childhood friends to say it and another when it's coming from a feature fellow Kage."
"So, what you're saying is our opinion is bias because of our past?" Behind the tall collar, Shino awaited Naruto's reply.
"Um... yeah sure whatever you said." Leaning over, and not so quietly Naruto whispered into Matsuri's ear. "What does bias mean?"
"And with that, I'm happy I live in the Wind." Temari's not so silent mumble had a few chuckling along.
Reaching their destination, Matsuri took the initiative to redirect Naruto's attention before the two blonds had a chance to employ their ability to banter at one another. "Naruto-sama, your room."
To Matsuri's shock, Naruto's mind was already redirected. "So, Buddy, any chance that you've changed your mind? It's just a few drinks with a few friends, that's all. Come on, please!"
"No."
"Plus, Naruto-sama," A slight bow at his name, Hinata continued in her unusually sharp authority enriched tone. "I don't think that will be very wise. We are assigned to protect you, your current choice might hinder our ability to do our jobs. Besides that would not look all to good if on your first night upon arrive you're seen at a bar."
"Way to damper the mood, Hinata. But I guess," Stepping a mere inch away from her, a cheeky smile in place, and an almost suggestive demeanor upon his handsome face. "That's why I love you so, you give it to me like it is."
Bypassing the sudden flush of red, Hinata collided with the hard ground.
Scoffing more to herself, Matsuri rolled her deep brown eyes at the female on the ground before her. "Some guard."
"Don't underestimate her, Matsuri, trust me that will be mistake. I've seen with my own eyes what she can do when provoked." A wicked smile took ahold of Kankuro's painted face as he recalled the night in question, absentmindedly rubbing the scar just below his right collar bone.
"Hm." Not really caring too much about Kankuro's advise, Matsuri took her leave.
"So the Acting Hokage and the Head Assistance Medical nin are the next hottest item, who's next?" Temari calmly spoke as she fished for the latest gossip.
Leaning over Hinata, one arm under her neck the other under her knees, Kiba eyed the blond female before he gently stood with Hinata in his arms. "Well I'll tell you who is not, anymore; Neji and TenTen that's who."
"Hm, didn't seen that coming. Well what about you and Ino, huh?"
"Just friends." A slight shrug, as if it was nothing. And that's just what it was; nothing.
"Really, huh?" Anybody could see the chemistry between the two, perhaps they might even have a history already. How could they just be friends?
"Yep. Now I must be getting our little Hime into bed."
...
"Dobe, we're needed in the conference room in five minutes, can't your boo-"
"Naruto-sama, what Kiba-kun is trying to say is that it's very important that we appear professional to the other villages, and showing up on time is something that is required for that."
"And without the love bites, preferably." The dry comment came from the back of the elevator.
"Temari! You're not helping." Hinata's lack of honorific had the blond kunoichi smiling even more.
"It's the truth." Leave it to Kankuro to side with his sister, the two could hardly get along with one another but you pin someone against either one of them and the overly strong sibling ties appear. It's pointless at times to attempt to defy them.
But Naruto never gave Hinata the chance to use her dempmolatic ability, his overly mischievous grin gave all an eerie feeling.
"Well, that's fine and dandy, should I be going now to let him know that pulling a Kakashi -sensei isn't so wise."
"Huh?" Naruto's odd statement had all confused.
Poof!
Their question answered as Naruto's clone disappeared into thin air.
Slamming her fist into the metal door of the elevator Temari openly stated her dislike on the current situation. "I'm going to ring his neck! Why couldn't he just leave the clone with Sa-"
The Wind Mistress was interrupted by a gentle and somewhat happy voice of her younger brother. All seemed just as shock as Temari, as Gaara's words started to sink in. That was until-
"Leave him be. It will be fin-"
Until the tall red head slumped over, sliding down the wall and onto the cold ground.