There are currently 126 people on alert for this story. If you're one of them, thank you. You're partially who/what motivated me to keep on writing this story. I know it's been a year since I last updated, but suffice it to say, 2012 was an unpredictable year for me. That and this chapter was really hard to write. Just ask my beta. Anyhow, sorry for the long delay. Hopefully the length of this chapter makes up for it, just a little bit. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Negotiated Infidelity

Chapter 09- Moving Forward

Naruto slid into a taxi, his hands shaking as he closed the door behind him. He knew who sat on the other side, even before looking. Sasuke relaxed into the seat, head turned in his direction as though waiting for him. His lips were moving, pantomiming words Naruto couldn't hear over the car engine. His expression was blank, though Naruto inherently understood that they were both upset. Sasuke paused, and dark eyes fixed on him, the weight of expectation hanging in the air between them. Naruto's lips parted, anxiety bubbling up inside him as his lips shaped one word to the unheard question.

The rumbling car engine rasped and suddenly snorted and it was only when the wooden ceiling came into focus that realization began to sink in. Naruto blinked slowly. Fragments of his dream still lingered in his thoughts, confusing him. He turned his head, staring at the car window that slowly melted into a glassy blur. His vision gradually adjusted to the change in light and the bars of the bed across from him came into focus, along with the dark outline of Shikamaru's shoulder and back. Kankuro's breathing dragged out, the snore elongating into the sputtering engine in his dream before petering out into an exhalation of breath.

Gaara.

Naruto breathed. The name still lingered on his tongue. He closed his eyes, squeezing them tight against the anxiety still fluttering through his chest.

Naruto sucked in a deep breath and held it, releasing it in time with the nasal crescendos serenading him from the bottom bunk. It had been over a week since he last dreamt of Sasuke. Even now he could visualize the unearthly sunset in the backdrop of a dream that felt so real, he had woken up smiling. A dull ache flared in his chest.

Kankuro snorted and sputtered, his breathing calming into an even rhythm. The room plunged into a silence that was interrupted only by the faint chirruping of birds outside the window.

Naruto lifted his arm, letting it slip against the mattress just above his head. He closed his eyes and Sasuke's hurt look flashed in his memory. Naruto held onto it, reminding himself that he had caused this and no one else. He needed to accept that. He needed to stop running away from these feelings and move forward.

Maybe then he wouldn't do things like take his his anger out on Gaara. He had a duty, as team captain, to make the most of summer camp and if the first day was anything to judge by, he was off to a shit start.

Naruto heard rustling from the other bunk. He turned his head in time to see Asuma roll until his back was turned. The assistant coach looked like a giant, huddled up on the small bed.

Naruto lifted one arm and covered his eyes. Kankuro's words floated back to him and he remembered the barely perceptible smile that crossed Sabaku Gaara's face as he slipped the coffee out of his brother's bag.

Gaara hardly slept. Maybe in a dorm room across the way, he was equally awake.

Naruto's heart thudded against his chest. He wondered what Gaara thought of him.

For weeks he had agonized over what to say. And yet his conclusion was no more clearly formed than the night Sasuke asked what Gaara meant. In truth, he had been content to sweep everything under the rug. And now that the moment of confrontation had arrived, he didn't know what to say.

What could he possibly say?

Kankuro snorted again, a low nasal whine in pitch. The other bunk squeaked, the sheets rustling as Asuma shifted again.

Naruto pushed away the thoughts tangling in his head. He breathed in again, slowly, filling his lungs to steel himself against uncertainty. Carefully, he rolled onto his stomach, pausing as the bed frame protested. When the frame stopped shaking he placed his palms against the sheet and lifted his weight slowly. He felt clumsy as he lifted his leg over the bar of the top bunk. His toes curled against the second rung of the ladder while the other stretched for the ground. He kept watch over the other side of the room as his hands and feet felt their way down. His toes reached the floor and he stepped onto them carefully, allowing one foot to hold all his weight until his other foot caught up. Kankuro's face was tipped up in his direction, mouth wide open and a visible drool spot on the light blue pillow case.

Naruto tip-toed to his bag in the corner. He hunched down and settled onto one knee while his hands felt along the top. He held the fabric taut, pulling the zipper as slowly as possible. The sound seemed thunderous in his ears, and it was only then that Naruto realized Kankuro's snores had gone silent again. He glanced around the room, but Shikamaru hadn't moved once since Naruto first woke and if Asuma was awake, he didn't care to show it.

Naruto slipped on a pair of shorts. He felt for a pair of socks, grateful when his hand quickly landed on a bundled pair.

He grabbed his shoes and his room key, careful not to let the keychain rattle, and watched Asuma as he crept to the door. He wondered briefly if he should leave a note, but there had been nothing in the rules about getting up before everyone or leaving early for a morning jog. They simply had to go to bed by ten.

Naruto flipped the dead bolt, opening the door just enough to squeeze out before closing it silently behind him. He glanced down the empty corridor, locking the door behind him and pocketing the key. He tread lightly to the screen door, cringing as it squeaked open. He watched the empty hallway, waiting for someone to throw their door open and yell at him, but only silence greeted him.

He dropped his shoes to the ground just outside the door, lifting one foot to put on a sock while he balanced on the other. Once he stuffed his foot into his shoe he switched to the other leg and completed the dance.

He stood up again, stretching his arms above his head and relishing the balmy early morning air on his skin. The sky above him was light gray, dotted with a few clouds that were so fluffy it was like something out of Sai's paintings.

He felt a bounce in his step as he walked over to the grass. He rolled his head from side to side, pausing when his neck felt stiff and slowing the stretch until his muscles began to loosen up. Threading his fingers behind his back, he pushed his palms outward, lifting his arms as high as he could until he felt the familiar stretch in his shoulders. He could hear himself breathe in the silence of the camp. It was peaceful at this hour and he felt it seep into him, calming the nerves that were still on edge from a bad dream.

He reminded himself that Sasuke wasn't the problem.

Naruto breathed and hunched over slightly. He held his arms awkwardly away from his body and then lowered them, allowing his fingers to hang. He leaned forward slowly, stretching until his fingertips reached the ground. He closed his eyes and dream-Sasuke came back to him, mouth pantomiming the unheard question.

What does he mean to you?

Naruto's eyes flashed open. He ignored the tug in the back of his legs and leaned further, pressing his palms flat to the ground.

Nothing, he told himself. And even if there had been something there, that bridge was burned long ago. All he could hope for was a second chance, and the maturity to not botch it up.

He lifted his head and observed the silent dorms, seeking out the window he thought might be Gaara's. Naruto hadn't really been angry when he snapped. Not at Gaara anyway. But sometimes when his thoughts tangled themselves up in Sasuke, he felt irrational. It was like something took over him.

Naruto blinked slowly. He didn't fight the wave of shame washing over him. Kakashi-sensei had asked Naruto specifically to get along with Suna's captain, to set an example for the team. And he had failed to make it a day without letting personal feelings get in the way.

He felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment in himself. He was team captain, he reminded himself, not Sasuke. Sasuke was gone and he wasn't coming back.

Naruto picked up his knees and broke into a swift jog. His shoes pounded against the dirt, carrying him in the direction of a sign pointing to the lake. The path behind the dorms curved into a trail that cut through the trees. It sloped downward, the thin forest thickening into a wall of pine. There were no lights, but the sky was growing brighter and the white rocks lining the path guided him.

Iruka-sensei's voice warned him in the back of his head. He hadn't properly stretched, or warmed up and he could hurt himself. Naruto kicked his legs up higher.

The momentum tugged at him and when he reached a downward slope, gravity did the rest. His pace accelerated, his stride widening. His breathing picked up quickly and Naruto began to concentrate, taking deeper, slower breaths and carefully timing his steps. The elevation was higher than he was accustomed to and he was feeling the effects. He realized now why Kakashi-sensei had chosen the location. Gai's boot camp would be extra painful.

Naruto's pace slowed as the road began to climb. He took shorter steps, his knees rising higher. His eyes followed the haze sitting on top of the mountain, down to the copse of trees offering a mosaic of blacks and rich browns. He approached a fork in the road. One sign pointed to a narrower path branching downward while another pointed to the main road winding higher up the mountain. Naruto kept left onto the main path, deciding he would take the more challenging road. He kept up his pace, his breathing speeding up even as his steps slowed.

A red glow was visible just over the dark peaks of the mountain. If he stared too long it started to shimmer and waver on the skyline. Naruto closed his eyes and concentrated on the dark shadow of the light impressed on the back of his eyelids. He breathed deeply and even in his growing exhaustion, he relished the fresh scent of pine. He smiled in spite of himself, ignoring the damp feeling on his brow. As soon as the sun was up, it would be broiling. So he would enjoy this while he could.

He heard it then, even footfalls and the quick exhalations of breath in a steady rhythm. Naruto opened his eyes and spied a runner higher up the trail. A hood had been pulled up, the head bent while both arms pumped at the runner's sides. Naruto's pace faltered. His heart seemed to skip a beat and his feet suddenly slowed to little more than a walk. The runner ahead of him was too short to be Gai, and they were too close to the dorms for it to be someone outside of their party.

Naruto stared at his feet. He was pretty sure he knew who his fellow runner was. He hesitated, his pace slowing to a brisk walk. Naruto warred between turning around or trying to catch up; between running away or facing the conversation he knew was long overdue. The considerable distance between them grew with each second of indecision. He had to decide soon or the opportunity would get away from him.

And now was a perfect chance. It was just the two of them on the road.

I am the team captain, Naruto reminded himself. He balled his hands into fists and then released them again. Today is a new day, he thought, looking at the not yet risen sun.

Naruto released his breath a little too quickly. He picked up his knees and widened his stride, arms pumping swiftly at his sides. His toes hit the ground, pushing off the dirt before his heel could follow. Naruto sprinted at full speed and felt the strain on his breathing immediately. He covered half the ground between them when his steps began to feel heavier, and the sound of his own breathing was too loud in his ears.

He gasped for air and nearly lost his balance when his foot scuffed the dirt. He picked his knees up higher as though he were marching in place or running up stairs. His side began to throb and he ignored it. Each sharp breath made it more acute, but Naruto pushed the pain aside and worked through it.

Naruto tried to yell when Gaara was only a few yards away, but he choked on his own words. He coughed to his side and when he looked forward again, a green eye peered at him from just beyond the edge of the hood.

Naruto waved at him, too breathless to say anything. He slowed his steps, doubling over as he forced himself to take deep breaths. His feet kept moving, carried forward by his early momentum until his pace slowed to little more than a walk. When he finally glanced up, Gaara was walking in his direction, his brow furrowed.

Naruto smiled ruefully. As a striker, his lack of conditioning was utterly embarrassing. He shouldn't have been so winded from such a short trek.

A small flask was offered to him. "Water." Gaara said. Naruto shook his head and waved it away. He bent forward, hands on his thighs.

"Ran too fast," he said. "Air is thinner." Gaara nodded, though Naruto noted that he seemed to be the only one out of breath.

Naruto stood up again, hands on the back of his hips while he walked in small circles. He took one final deep breath and released it slowly, restoring a measure of calm. He paused at the edge of the trail, facing the hazy shadow of a sun that was now shielded by red-orange clouds.

"I need to talk to you," he said, still breathless and panting. Sweat slipped down his brow and he wiped it with the back of his hand.

Gaara pocketed the flask and then slid his hands into the front pockets of his hoody. His chin jutted out a little, his shoulders squared as he faced Naruto again.

"So talk."

Naruto huffed and puffed. He forced himself to breathe slowly as he moved to stand directly in front of Gaara. He pushed away the butterflies in his stomach.

"Sorry," Naruto said, "about yesterday." He forced himself to look Gaara in the eye, but Gaara's expression was partially hidden by the hood. The straight set of his mouth betrayed little more than disinterest. Naruto swallowed heavily. "Are you mad at me?" he asked.

Green eyes shifted away from him. "No," Gaara said. Naruto tried to follow his gaze, but the entire mountain was before them. He shuffled to the edge of the trail and glanced up at the clouds above them.

"I am sorry, you know." Naruto said. Sweat tickled his face as it slid down his cheek. "I shouldn't have snapped at you yesterday when you were trying to help. I was frustrated over things that had nothing to do with you and I shouldn't have taken out that anger on you."

The goalie's face was tipped up to the sunrise. His pale face was stark white against the dark frame of his hood and the dark edge of his tattoo was just visible over his furrowed brow. "You're not mad at me?" he asked, turning to face Naruto.

Naruto looked down at his feet, deliberately kicking a pebble and sending it skittering off the trail. He shook his head slowly. "I never was. Why would I be?"

A curious expression crossed Gaara's face. He blinked twice in quick succession. He tilted his head, his hands slipping free from his pockets and crossing over his chest. "You never answered my messages," he said.

Naruto closed his eyes and winced. "That," he paused, biting his lower lip. One side of his mouth lifted into a grin. "It's kind of embarrassing really, but I have about a million drafts of emails I started writing and never sent." Naruto's grin slid into a wince. "The last time I saw you, you were shoving a fist in my face. And I wasn't exactly sure what to say after that." Naruto shrugged.

Gaara looked out at the mountain. His gaze grew distant, as his mouth twisted in a wry grin. His shoulders relaxed, his hands sliding into his pockets.

"We both had our reasons for being angry," he said. "I'm not particularly proud of how I behaved that night."

Naruto offered a lopsided grin. "If it's any consolation, neither am I. And if I'm going to be honest," Naruto paused. He slid a hand through the back of his hair. "I've been afraid to face you for that very reason."

Gaara's mouth quirked upward. "Don't be," he said. "You were right about some things." His eyes were unfocused and Naruto had the distinct impression that the smile wasn't for him. He flashed back to the comfortable interactions he had witnessed between Gaara and his older brother.

"Yeah, well if it makes you feel any better... so were you." Naruto lowered his gaze to his hands. Somewhere inside his chest, a small ache resurfaced while another went away. He shuddered out a breath of relief and when he glanced up, Gaara's expression was thoughtful. "Truce?" he asked.

Gaara observed him quietly. He gave a slight nod, pulled his right hand out of his pocket and extended it to Naruto.

"Truce."

Naruto collapsed onto the bench and put his head down on the table. He closed his eyes, suddenly feeling the lack of sleep. The world narrowed to the pain of the unyielding table against his forehead and his sudden lack of caring when he thought of the nap it might afford him.

A loud clattering sounded directly beside his ear. Naruto startled, discovering a metal water bottle inches from his head. Kiba laughed wildly, plucking up the water bottle and swinging it gleefully. Naruto tried to swat him, but Kiba swiftly leaped out of reach.

"Let me nap. It's the only way I'll survive the second set!"

Shikamaru settled across the table from him, a bento box in each hand. He put one down in front of Naruto and settled the other in front of him.

"Eat now. Nap later. You are terribly cranky when you're hungry." Shikamaru split his chopsticks apart while his free hand popped off the plastic lid. "You're welcome, by the way."

Naruto grumbled, but he grabbed the boxed lunch and slid it closer to his side. He pulled off the rubber band holding the chopsticks and napkin to the bento. Slipping the chopsticks free from their paper wrapper, he split them apart.

Kiba opened Naruto's bento for him, leaned forward and sniffed it like a dog. Naruto shoved him away.

"You better go grab one before Chouji thinks there are spares," Shikamaru warned. Kiba grumbled, but he sauntered off in the direction of the food. Naruto's gaze followed him, observing Kiba fight his way through the small crowd and the resulting dirty look he earned from Neji for his troubles.

His attention switched over to Sai who had decided to cool off by tying his shirt up in a mid-riff. His sweaty hair was pushed back with a head band. Sai stopped beside Naruto, putting down his water bottle and lunch on the table. He climbed over the bench, sat down with his back completely straight and quietly opened his lunch.

Naruto shook his head and turned back to Shikamaru. "How was goalie training?" Naruto asked. Shikamaru leaned back in his seat, angling his head toward the door. He swept the dining hall, eyes darting every which way.

After checking every corner, he turned back around and leaned across the table. "Gaara is an absolute beast. He's worse than Lee. I almost wish I was training with Gai-sensei." His body sagged with a complete air of exhaustion. He dropped his head into one hand, his chopsticks poised in the other. He closed his eyes and gave a small shudder. "His physical conditioning alone was insane. I think he could give Lee a challenge, if he wanted to."

Naruto chuckled, remembering how breathless he was that morning while Gaara coolly jogged up that mountain. "I think he might train just as hard as Lee. But don't tell Lee that." Naruto pointed with his chopsticks at their teammate across the cafeteria.

"I can see why he's such a good goalie," Shikamaru continued. "He's small, but fast. It's like he's everywhere at once. Some of those exercises he showed me are going to hurt tomorrow." Shikamaru shook his head. "I get now why Kakashi paired us up."

"Because you're a lazy goalie?" Naruto said.

"As if," Shikamaru replied.

Naruto examined his bento more carefully. Salmon, assorted pickles and vegetables, and neat rows of rice with umeboshi on top. Naruto cut the fish with his chopsticks, picked up a large chunk and popped it into his mouth. He smiled around his food as he remembered his handshake with Gaara that morning. The redhead had turned back to the road after that and continued his jog, a casual "aren't you coming?" shouted over his shoulder when Naruto didn't join. And given the stitch in his side that refused to abate, he would have quit right there had Gaara not pushed him to keep going. No, Shikamaru certainly wasn't lazy. Naruto could only imagine what real training would be like.

He felt the weight of Shikamaru's gaze. Shikamaru had a mushroom pinned between his chopsticks and nibbled at it slowly. His eyes, however, were trained on him.

"What?" Naruto asked. He bent his face toward his food, chopsticks struggling to pick up rice. Shikamaru shrugged with one shoulder, and feigned ignorance.

"You're giving me that look," Naruto said. He gave up on rice and speared a flower shaped carrot instead.

"I'm just eating lunch," Shikamaru said, stuffing the rest of the mushroom into his mouth. "Why are you so paranoid?" he grinned, giving Naruto a preview of his chewed food.

Naruto opened his mouth to reply, but before he could Sai lowered his chopsticks and looked at Naruto and Shikamaru pointedly. "He's probably jealous of your one-on-one time. He's been stalking Gaara since we arrived."

Naruto choked on his carrot. He scrambled for his water bottle, hand clumsy as he unscrewed the lid. Shikamaru alternated between laughing and coughing up flecks of mushroom that flew across the table. A piece landed on his shirt, but Naruto ignored it in favor of washing his food down his throat.

"He also spent a week in front of the mirror pretending to, omph!"

Naruto grabbed a chunk of rice and shoved it into Sai's mouth. Sai slit his eyes like an angry cat, mouth struggling to chew through the giant rice ball.

"Thanks for the PSA, Sai. You should eat your lunch before it gets cold." Naruto hunched over his bento, shoveling food into his mouth and glancing around. He could feel the heat of his blush extending to his ears.

Shikamaru threw his head back, laughter bubbling out of him.

Kiba rejoined them, bento in hand as he plopped down next to Shikamaru. He glanced around at their faces and his face lit up. "What did I miss? Did someone fart?"

Shikamaru's shoulders shook with laughter. He leaned so far back in his seat, Naruto was surprised he didn't fall out of it. Sai lifted an eyebrow and continued chewing the giant blob of rice that made his cheeks puff out.

"Yeah," Naruto said, ignoring the burning sensation in his throat. "Your mom!"

But Kiba just smiled wide, his teeth visible as he laughed. "Shit, if my mom ripped one back in Tokyo, we probably could smell it over here." He split his chopsticks and picked up the whole fish. "Be grateful you don't live with her." He bit off a good chunk of the fish and mashed it with his teeth.

Shikamaru wiped at his eyes, his laughter simmering down to a few chuckles. Their circle gradually grew quiet until just the sound of eating filled the silence between them.

"When do you get one-on-one time with Kankuro?" Shikamaru asked. Naruto chewed his rice, shoving it onto one side of his cheek.

"Haven't checked the schedule," he shrugged.

Kiba scooted in a little closer. He leaned in diagonally chopsticks pointing in Naruto's direction. "You're going to include us, right?" Kiba nodded in Sai's direction. Sai's brows lifted. He looked at Naruto expectantly.

"It's supposed to be one-on-one. . ." Naruto replied.

"But you know we all need the training," Kiba said. He waved his hand at Naruto and Sai. "The sooner you two divas stop throwing tantrums and get along, the sooner we can start winning again." Kiba leaned forward, his mouth tugged up high enough to display canines. "And don't tell me you plan to hog Sabaku all to yourself. He's their best player."

"Kankuro requested it, not me," Naruto shrugged. Sai's eyes narrowed. "But I can suggest we expand the training to all the strikers," Naruto said.

Kiba settled back into his seat, a more content smile on his face as he took another bite. Naruto took another bite of fish, chewing slowly. He snuck a furtive glance at Sai, while Kiba's comment lodged itself in his thoughts. He thought he had been working hard to carry the team, but in some ways, Kiba was right. He hadn't taken much time to try to understand Sai or work with him. He had been too bent out of shape about Sai not being Sasuke.

Sai gave an indeterminate shrug. He paused with his chopsticks in his mouth, eying Naruto warily.

"It's worth a shot," Shikamaru said.

Naruto nodded. "Let me just run back to the room and grab the schedule. I need to make sure our training doesn't overlap with anything important. Shikamaru," Naruto made the sternest expression he could muster. He covered his bento and pushed it Shikamaru's direction. "Guard this bento with your life."

Shikamaru snorted.

Naruto eyed Kiba's half-eaten fish and Sai's now half empty rice. "Never mind," he said, lifting the lid. He leaned forward and spit in his own food.

Kiba and Shikamaru groaned simultaneously. Sai's expression was blank though he stopped chewing.

"I'll be right back!" Naruto grinned, rushing for the door. His smile vanished as soon as he stepped outside. The full intensity of the afternoon sun bore down on him as though he were a bug under a magnifying glass. Naruto shielded his face, feeling the midday heat against his palm. He walked swiftly, feet crunching along the gravel.

Members of Suna's team were trickling in from the direction of the fields. A pair of them talked excitedly, but their conversation paused as Naruto approached. They nodded at him politely and Naruto smiled back.

"If only we could play soccer in the lake. This heat is killer," he grinned. They chuckled and nodded, continuing on to the cafeteria.

Naruto reached his dorm, pausing when he noticed his door was open.

Kankuro stood in the middle of the room, his head tipped back as he drank from a water bottle. Gaara leaned against the frame of the bed, arms crossed over his chest. Naruto grimaced when he noted both of them wore long sleeve shirts. "Hey guys," he said.

Naruto deliberately looked at Kankuro, but he was keenly aware of Gaara in his peripheral vision. The goalie's attention shifted to him, his expression betraying a minute's surprise before winking out into a familiar indifference.

Kankuro smiled at him. "Hey, speak of the devil. You were just the person I needed to see."

Naruto perked up. "Me?" he paused in the doorway, looking from Kankuro to Gaara and back.

Kankuro nodded, pushing up the sleeves of his black shirt.

"I wanted to run something by the both of you." He smiled conspiratorially.

Naruto looked to Gaara for clues and received none.

"Yeah, Baki gave me some flexibility with our training time and I was thinking we could try some resistance training in the lake."

"Oh!" Naruto replied. He suddenly felt less tense.

"The problem is this naysayer here doesn't think it's a good idea." Kankuro nodded in Gaara's direction.

"I didn't say it was a bad idea," Gaara interrupted. "But a lake is not a pool. We don't know how level the lake floor is or how easy it is to walk in."

"We can scout it out during rec time and test a good spot in advance. So long as we're in and out before sun down, Baki won't care." Kankuro shrugged and held his hands up in the air. Gaara continued to lean against the bed frame, his mouth pursed. The two brothers stared at each other, neither backing down.

"I just came back to get the schedule," Naruto said. He bent down and unzipped his bag, hand reaching in until he felt the edge of paper.

"If Baki agrees," Gaara continued, "what exercises do you propose? If you don't have a clear plan, this will turn into a day of watersports. You need a clear plan of action."

Kankuro snorted. "Would it be so terrible if we had a little fun?"

Naruto glanced up in surprise. "You'll want to wear a full set of clothes. The more absorbent it is, the better. That will add weight on top of the resistance against the water. Basic exercises like squats, lunges and frog jumps become a lot more intense. Leg exercises are the best in case some people can't swim."

Both Sabaku brothers turned to look at him in surprise. Kankuro began to grin, nodding in agreement and shooting Gaara a smug look. Gaara looked less pleased.

"What?" Naruto asked. "I always try to train in water during summer." His words grew softer under Gaara's withering stare.

"We live near sand dunes. We don't have a lot of water to practice in."

Naruto shrugged. "You asked," he said. "And given how hot it is midday, it's not a bad suggestion. But you're also right to be worried about safety. It's not a level, paved floor. And if the bottom is full of rocks or debris, it could cut up our feet. I don't mind going with you guys to check the place out."

Kankuro looked to Gaara. The team captain looked from one face to another, his body still rigid despite the otherwise relaxed pose. After a few tense minutes of silence, his shoulders seemed to deflate a little. He lowered his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I'll suggest it to Baki right after practice wraps up. If he agrees, we can figure out a time to hike down there. Will that do?" Gaara addressed Kankuro.

Kankuro grinned, pulling Gaara to his chest with one arm and ruffled his red hair with the other. Gaara grimaced and shoved his older brother away. "You should get lunch before we run out of time. I'll meet you in the cafeteria." He turned to Naruto and gave him a curt nod. "See you later," he said. Gaara hunched his shoulders and walked out of the room like a cat slinking away.

Kankuro observed the younger Sabaku as he left and shook his head as soon as the screen door slammed. "That kid," he said. "I swear Uzumaki, you must have some sort of magic power or something. Gaara hates water. The last time I tried to take him swimming he wore pants and a long sleeve shirt and sat under an umbrella all day." Kankuro laughed. He opened his water bottle and took another swig.

Naruto chuckled half-heartedly. "Just persuasive, I guess."

Kankuro threw his water bottle onto his bed. He grabbed a sweat towel from off his duffle bag and draped it around his neck. "Glad to hear, because I was about to ask you for a favor." Kankuro tugged on both ends of the towel and nodded toward the door. "Walk with me," he said.

Naruto felt exhausted. He urged his legs forward despite the weakness in his knees and the muscles that currently felt like jelly. He leaned heavily against the wall and let Shikamaru fish out his keys to open the door.

"And that was only day one," Shikamaru said. "I'm not sure I'll survive a week of this." He shoved his key in the door, turning until the lock slid open and shouldered his way in. He paused just inside the doorway, blocking Naruto's way as he bent over and tugged at the straps of his ankle weights. They slid to the floor and Shikamaru left them there, his face relaxing into a look of pure bliss. ."At least you don't have to wear those everywhere."

Naruto stumbled in after him. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it over his bag, grabbing a fan and waving it enthusiastically under his arms.

"Ugh, don't do that, you reek."

Shikamaru moved to the window, shoving it as far open as it would go. He pulled aside the curtains, letting in the light.

Naruto put down the fan and reached for the ladder. He regretted choosing the top bunk as he struggled up the short rungs and collapsed onto the bed. He buried his face in the sheet.

"You're not getting dinner?" Shikamaru asked. Naruto groaned. He tried to wave his hand dismissively and only managed a sort of flopping of his limb that landed with his palm smacking the safety bar. "Is that a no?"

Naruto turned his head, pressing his cheek to the mattress. "You go ahead. I'll join you when I can feel my legs again."

"No one told you to sprint those last miles."

"I couldn't let Neji beat me!" Naruto grumped. Shikamaru sniggered.

"Dinner hours are limited, so don't miss it," he shook his head. "I'm not putting up with your whining when you get hungry later."

Shikamaru pulled off his shirt and draped it on a hanger. He wiped himself down briefly with his sweat towel before putting on a clean shirt.

Naruto bent his neck, angling it toward his body and took a whiff. It was hardly necessary to catch the almost animal scent emanating from his body. "I think I'm going to clean up first. If I miss dinner, I have my ramen as backup."

"Suit yourself," Shikamaru said, though his expression implied he had certain thoughts on the subject.

"I won't get cranky," Naruto said.

Shikamaru looked thoroughly unconvinced. He rolled his eyes at Naruto, bustling about the room to hang up his dirty, damp clothes to dry. Then he paused in front of a mirror, letting out his loose ponytail and carefully retying it. Naruto watched absently, aware that he too should probably change before his sweat soaked into the sheets. He tried to lift his arm again and promptly decided against the action.

The prickly co-captain shot him one last look as he grabbed his personal effects and closed the door. As soon as he left, the room was silent. Naruto heard voices and footsteps in the hall outside. The door never opened again and Naruto wondered if Suna's team was still practicing or if they had all gone straight to dinner.

Warm light filtered through the window. It seemed unbearably hot in the stillness. The heat pressed down on him, warming up the once cool sheet and seeping into the mattress. It sank into his limbs, making his body feel heavy and nearly lured him into slumber.

Naruto's eyelids began to feel heavy. He closed them slowly, his own lashes visible to him as he lifted them half-open. The bunk across the way came into focus before blurring and disappearing as he closed his eyes again. His mind grew foggy, his body relaxing and sinking deeper into the mattress. He kept his eyes closed, telling himself he was just resting them.

He dimly noted the voices growing louder in the hallway. The door knob rattled and a deep voice filled the room. "I'd kill for an onigiri, but I promised Gaara I'd meet him in the weight room. Our little brother is a machine. He never stops."

"I can take your place. You should go eat," a female voice replied.

"Only if you can spot him when he benches your entire body weight."

Naruto opened his eyes, blinking the two figures standing in the doorway into focus. Kankuro leaned against the doorframe, a hand towel against the back of his neck and his hair plastered with sweat. A girl stood right behind him, her blonde pigtails jutting out from her head.

"Shouldn't he take it easy today? Camp has just started." The girl frowned.

Kankuro snorted. "As if he knew how to relax."

Naruto scrambled onto his hands and knees. The bed frame squeaked and both Sabaku siblings glanced up, startled.

"Sorry to interrupt," Naruto rubbed one eye. "I was just dozing off," he smiled. Naruto pushed himself up and sat up on the wobbling bunk bed. The roof above him just cleared his head.

"Hey Uzumaki. Not sure if I introduced you earlier, but this is my sister Temari." Kankuro gestured to the woman beside him. Naruto smiled at her, giving a slight bow of his head.

There was an awkward pause in which she looked to her brother. Naruto wondered if she recognized him from that night in the pub, realizing they had interacted little despite the few times they had been in the same place at the same time.

She seemed to shake off her hesitation and her expression relaxed into a friendly smile. "You're Konoha's captain, right? I've heard all about you."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Really? All good things, I hope." He looked to Kankuro, but his attention was on his sister. She mirrored her brother's smile, their eyes meeting and sharing a look that Naruto didn't understand. "Or if it was bad," Naruto continued, "I swear it's not true."

She slipped into a smile that seemed more spontaneous than polite. "Nothing bad," she assured him.

Kankuro's stomach rumbled loud enough for all three of them to hear. His head dropped, chin resting on his chest as he rubbed his stomach. .

"Ugh," he groaned. "I'll just grab a snack and meet..."

Temari put a hand up to stop him. "You are going to clean yourself up and go eat dinner promptly. You have to take care of your body and stop trying to kill yourself keeping up with our insomniac brother."

"But Gaara..."

"Don't argue with me," Temari cut him off. Kankuro closed his mouth, quickly subdued by the sharpness in Temari's voice. Her dark green eyes slid to Naruto and he startled, sitting up a little straighter. "Hey. . . Uzumaki," her tone softened. "How much can you lift?"

The wooden door rattled as Naruto slid it open. The lights were on inside even though the late summer sun was still well above the mountain. An air of stuffiness greeted him as soon as he crossed the threshold; as though he were stepping into a sauna and not an empty gym. Naruto's hand paused on the door as he moved to close it. He thought better of it and left it open, hoping it would help.

He spotted Gaara on the far side of the gym, occupying a bench that faced the wall. The bench has been pulled up to allow for a sitting position, blocking Naruto's view of all but the maroon hoody draped over the top and snatches of deep red hair. A seemingly disembodied arm extended, lifting a weight that looked too large for the hand holding it.

Naruto approached from an angle, hoping this would allow Gaara to notice him. He paused halfway when he realized not just the hoodie was draped over the bench. Naruto observed Gaara from a three-quarter profile, his eye following the pale shoulder down the line of his chest and waist. His milky white skin contrasted sharply with dark clothes thrown over the bench like a towel. His legs, clad in loose black pants straddled the bench on either side.

Naruto averted his eyes, making an effort at observing the machinery or the lack of decorations on the wall as he approached. When he reached the far end of the room he stood directly in front of Gaara, careful to keep his eyes above the neck as he nodded in greeting. He sat down on the empty bench beside him, eyes darting around him as though he was interested in checking out the gym.

He reminded himself it was no big deal. They were both men, and his own teammates liked to practice topless on occasion. There was no reason to be so self-conscious. He tried looking at Gaara again, his gaze sliding down the expanse of pale skin and pausing on a dusky nipple. Naruto blinked and glanced away.

The room felt very stuffy all of a sudden. He stood up, feeling oddly claustrophobic despite it being just the two of them. "I'm going to open the windows," he said. Gaara lifted his weights and exhaled roughly. His eyes flicked to Naruto, a brief nod his only answer while Naruto's own attention had slid to Gaara's flat belly. Gaara was as toned as Naruto remembered, his stomach muscles shifting in subtle ways. A memory surfaced and Naruto turned sharply, wandering over to the windows. He made an effort to fiddle with the latches, tugging on the heavy wooden frames until they slid a few inches higher.

No breeze entered the room. The air outside was just as warm and muggy and Naruto stood there anyways, listening to the rhythm of Gaara's breathing. There was a silence when he rested, a sharp nasal sound as he breathed through his nose. Naruto smiled when he wondered if Gaara snored like his brother. He realized he had never seen Gaara sleep.

Naruto shook his head, trying to break that train of thought. He pat his cheeks lightly and when he felt calm he returned to sit on the bench.

"My brother sent you," Gaara said between breaths. Gaara's arm muscles strained as they pushed the weight up. Naruto's eye traveled from Gaara's wrist to his bicep, and up the toned shoulder to his neck. Not that he imagined himself an expert, but he had the impression that there was more bulk there and certainly more definition. Gaara's body was still lean like a runner's, but his arms and shoulders had changed. He had used the past few months to work hard. Naruto rubbed at his shoulder self-consciously. He moved to the weight rack to investigate.

"Actually it was your sister. Kankuro was going to be here, but he was tired and hungry and she can be crazy scary when she wants people to do something."

Gaara smiled at him. But the expression was short lived before he pursed his lips together, arms lifting while he released a whoosh of air.

Naruto ran his fingers along the weights. He fingers closed on a 40lb weight. He picked it up, adjust his feet and his back to stand in proper form. He curled his left arm, once and then twice. His stomach let out a loud, pained gurgle. Naruto grimaced and put the weight back down.

"You're not hungry?" Naruto asked Gaara. "I noticed you didn't eat with us yesterday either, or join us in the rec room. Where do you go when everyone else is taking a break together?"

Gaara lowered both weights. He held them there, pausing while his chest rose slowly.

"My body is on a different schedule," he said.

Naruto's gaze slid to Gaara's torso, watching the muscles ripple under his pale skin. "Oh," Naruto said, looking down at his hands. He rubbed at his palm, noting his hands were damp with sweat. "But you'll join us tonight?" he asked. He inwardly cringed at the hopefulness in his voice.

The metal weights clanked as Gaara set them down.

"I promised Kankuro I would," he said.

Naruto glanced up startled. "Promised? Is hanging out with the team so terrible?"

Gaara sat up straight. He grabbed a towel from the floor and mopped the back of his neck. His biceps were more prominent, Naruto realized before quickly lifting his gaze.

"No," Gaara said. "Socializing. . . isn't my strong point." He grabbed his shirt from the bench and slipped his arms through the sleeves. Naruto turned his head to give Gaara a modicum of privacy.

"I don't know. You seem to be making progress with your siblings." Naruto said. He smiled at Gaara over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of pale belly before the shirt fell to his waist.

Gaara's mouth slid into a smile. He got up from the bench, adjusting the incline and setting it flat. "Too much, perhaps. I knew he was tired. I told him I didn't need help today."

Naruto laughed He recalled the look that passed between the Sabaku siblings.

Gaara locked the bench into place. He climbed over it, one leg on each side. "You want to know what it's like to have siblings? It means having someone meddle in your affairs at every turn."

"You don't seem to mind. Though if you need any return fodder, I'm pretty sure Shikamaru digs your sister."

Gaara's smile reached his eyes. "She can handle herself."

Naruto sat back down on the bench, angling himself to face away from Gaara.

"You want me to leave you alone?" he asked.

"Your presence doesn't bother me. But if you're staying, be useful and come here."

Naruto hopped onto his feet and stood at the head of the bench. Gaara lowered himself onto this back, legs straddling the bench and feet flat on each side. Facing the ceiling he beckoned to Naruto with one hand. "Hand me those weights." He pointed to a set on the opposite side.

Naruto lifted both dumbbells. Gaara lifted his hands straight in the air, his palms open, ready to receive the weights. "Make sure I don't break form."

Naruto nodded. The smile a minute ago completely vanished. Gaara's expression was stern, his attention focused. Naruto handed Gaara the weights and stepped back, observing as Gaara bent his elbows, lowering the weight and pausing just as they reached his ears. He raised them back up in the air and repeated the motion. Naruto counted and noted Gaara stopped at ten.

His arms were slightly off and Naruto stepped forward, correcting their position.

Gaara said nothing, concentrating on breathing. His chest rose, damp shirt clinging to his skin. A drop of sweat slid down his neck. After a brief pause, he lowered the weights again. Naruto crossed his arms and counted out the reps. He kept his attention on Gaara's form, from his wrists to his shoulders. Gaara's jaw clenched as he reached the eighth rep. He grunted as he lifted the weights back up. There was a pause before he lowered the weights for ninth rep and even longer before the tenth.

Naruto watched him carefully as he lifted the weights above him again. His arms were less steady this time and Naruto helped him return to starting position. Gaara breathed heavily, his hips shifting on the bench.

"One more set," Naruto said. Gaara's eyes flicked to Naruto. He gave a quick nod of his head before pressing his lips in a thin line. His eyes narrowed on the weights above him, face screwing into concentration.

"One," Naruto counted out loud. He shifted to the side, watching Gaara's form from that angle. "Two." Gaara's shirt had ridden up a little, a small expanse of pale hip visible above the hem of his black pants. "Three." Naruto was fixated on that spot, resisting the urge to pull the shirt back down. "Four." Naruto blinked hard and returned his attention to the moving weights. "Five." Gaara's arms slowed. There was a slight shudder as he lifted the weights back up. "Six. Gaara panted and his red hair clinged to his forehead. His normally pale cheeks were rosy with exertion. The weights lowered more slowly this time, pausing when they reached his ears.

"Come on, Gaara, four more."

Gaara's face twisted. His eyes seemed to glow with determination as he pushed the weights back up. Naruto could see him struggling, hovering during those last three reps. Gaara's expression twisted during the last two, an almost pained look on his face as he struggled. As soon as Gaara finished Naruto grabbed the weights from him and set them back on the rack. Gaara lowered his arms onto his chest, his chin tipped up, his cheeks flushed and his body heaving. Naruto swallowed heavily as he watched another bead of sweat trail down Gaara's neck to his collar bone. His thoughts twisted without his consent and he felt a heat rise to the surface of his skin. A bead of sweat slid down the small of his back.

"I think I need a shower," he blurted. Gaara quirked a brow at him and it was only then that Naruto realized he verbalized his thoughts. He looked away suddenly, making a beeline for the window. "It's super humid in here, I feel like I'm in a sauna!" Nervous laughter bubbled out of him.

His hands felt jittery and he placed them on the windowsill, hoping the solid wood would keep him stable.

"I have water in my bag," Gaara said.

Naruto stood next to the window, lifting his shirt and fanning it out. "I'll be okay," he said, keeping his back to Gaara. His pulse thrummed in his ears. He told himself to calm down. He hadn't been celibate that long.

He heard rustling behind him and a zipper sliding. He glanced over his shoulder, hands slowing and falling away from his shirt. Gaara pulled a water bottle from his bag. He walked over calmly, holding it up as an offering. Naruto paused, and Gaara held it up a little higher. Naruto's fingers reached for the bottle just as Gaara tried to push it in his direction. His fingers slid against Gaara's and he pulled back. The water bottled tumbled to the floor.

Naruto scrambled to pick it up, but he only knocked the bottle further. He suddenly felt very clumsy, his hand slapping the top of the water bottle when Gaara's hand slid over his own. Naruto looked down, staring at their hands together. His breath hitched and his heart was racing.

"Are you okay?" Gaara asked.

He caught a whiff of Gaara's scent. It should have grossed him out or made him push away. Instead it brought up a memory he thought he had buried.

Naruto flicked his gaze up and then away, incapable of looking Gaara in the eye. "The heat must be getting to me," he said.

Gaara's hand slid away from his, shifting to the floor. He leaned in closer, head tilting to see him better. "Can I help?" he asked.

Naruto leaned away from him. He stared at the hollow of Gaara's neck and the sharp clavicle jutting out. Gaara leaned in closer, pausing far enough away for Naruto to still be able to retreat. Naruto's chest rose. He kept his eyes on Gaara's neck, feeling his own pulse leap against his throat. He felt like his head was in a cloud, all thoughts muddling. He watched through half-lidded eyes as the pale face in front of him tipped up, leaning close enough to touch. A puff of warm air washed over his mouth and then Gaara was pulling away. Naruto leaned in his lips raking against Gaara's mouth. His breath shuddered, as Gaara's thumb pressed against his bottom lip. Gaara's mouth pressed against his roughly. Naruto groaned when Gaara's tongue slid between his lips, his hand sliding through Gaara's damp hair.

Gaara had crawled up to reach him, his weight half on top of Naruto. Naruto's other hand slid against the small of Gaara's back, his hand tangling in the cotton shirt. Voices floated through the window. Naruto groaned and tore himself away. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Gaara sat up, picked up the water bottle and uncapped it. He stood up and took a swig, walking back to his bag as though nothing had happened.

"I think Gaara would forget to eat if I didn't remind him sometimes," Temari's voice carried.

"Che, Naruto is the same way until he's inexplicably cranky and can't figure out why. Unless it's ramen... and then he's always hungry."

Footsteps echoed just outside the door. Naruto jumped to his feet, straightening out his clothes. He looked around, trying to remember if he brought anything.

"Hey," Shikamaru said. "I brought you dinner. Figured you two overachievers would spend all day competing and forget. How did weight training go?"

Gaara pulled a towel from his bag and walked over to the bench. "Fine," he said, eyes darting to Naruto. His lips curved as he lowered his face and busied himself with wiping down the bench.

Naruto smiled and tried not to beam too idiotically. "Fine," he agreed.