AN: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, only my OC's…wait I don't have any OC's, they're all my co-authors *sigh*. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Masked Affections
A Naruto FanFiction
Chapter 11: Bodyguards and Backstory
Jiraiya looks up a bit surprised, nervously licks his lips, swallows and leans forward to touch his lips to hers.
She pulls her hand up, only to bury it into his hair instead of hit him. Eventually she pulls back, "That wasn't too bad was it?"
He clears his throat, surprised, "No…it was amazing." He manages a grin. Tsunade returns a small smile and leans against the couch, looking back at him, eyes half closed. "What are you smiling about?"
"I'm just happy." She replies with a small chuckle.
"Oh…" He smiles sheepishly and leans back on the couch with her, and she falls asleep but moments later. He notices and gently picks her up, takes her to bed, tucks her in, and places a quick peck on her forehead. He shakes his head at the cluster of stuffed frogs and toads on her bed while she snuggles into one, holding it like a teddy bear.
While Jiraiya heads home, Hinata and Naruto leave the Hokage tower.
"Do you want to go to Ichiraku?" Naruto questions.
"I…I'd love to Naruto-kun." He smiles, grabs her hand, dragging her along, her blushing all the way.
He orders a bowl of ramen, "You can get whatever you want, I'll pay for it." She nods nervously and orders the same as him.
"Th…thank you Naruto-kun." She says quietly.
"You're welcome Hinata-chan." He smiles widely. They eat in a comfortable silence, and when finished, "Is there any where you want to go now?" He asks.
"I…I really don't mind Naruto-kun." She blushes again, pushing her pointer fingers together nervously.
"We could go on a walk." He offers.
"O…Okay, I'd like that." She smiles softly, and walks with him around the village. It is a quiet but serene walk, and when they reach the Hyuuga estate, "I had a good time." Naruto voices.
"Me too. Th…thanks Naruto-kun." Hinata turns to head inside but Naruto speaks up again.
"You're welcome Hinata." He gently kisses her cheek and then poofs away quickly.
She blushes, and manages not to faint. Thankful none of her family saw, she heads inside, remembering that kiss for the rest of the night.
The week draws to a close, and it becomes the morning of Dawn's test, and she is at the training field before anyone else, even before the sun itself. He eyes are closed, almost as if meditating, her mask still on, never having removed it once all this time.
"Good morning." A solemn voice greets her.
She opens her eyes, "Good morning Lord Kazekage." She gets up, "I was enjoying the early morning air before everyone showed up."
"Understood."
"So are we waiting for anyone else?" She questions.
"No." Gaara blinks, "The others are not training with you today."
"I am honored that I can face you Lord Kazekage." She gives a small bow.
"I am ready whenever you are." He says, arms crossed.
"Very well." She jumps forward, quick and sly as a Jounin. She lashes out with sound, and Gaara simply has a sand shield. He sends sand flying at her, "Sound wall reverse beat!" She shouts, and a shield deflects his sand, taking the chakra and sending it back, twice as powerful, but he dodges quickly.
The fight progresses for a while, and though her attacks aren't very powerful, she has high endurance and quick speed. She defends more than attacks, and is a quick thinker.
"That is enough." He stops her. She nods and relaxes, some of her hair is sticking to her and she is out of breath.
"It was a good spar." She comments.
"Indeed. I will talk to the council of elders, and see if we can decide the best place for you, that you can still be kept under supervision, even if not as strictly as you have been."
She sighs, "Let me guess, you are going to leave now…"
"You may stay here. I will return shortly."
"Very well." She plops down, waiting.
"So what have you decided?" Gaara ponders.
The council members look at each other and nod. "We figured she would prove useful. After the fiasco with the Akatsuki, we have deemed it necessary for you to have a bodyguard. And this girl has the skills to do so. You will be able to observe her and see if she really is as loyal as she seems."
"And if she isn't?" Gaara raises one non-existent eyebrow.
"Then kill her. We have no use for traitors here." They reply with ease.
"Of course." He leaves the council room, and heads back to where Dawn is waiting. "You have been assigned as a bodyguard."
"Who will I be guarding?"
"Me." He replies simply.
She blinks at him, surprised, "Why would you want me to be your bodyguard Lord Kazekage? You don't really know anything about me."
"They decided it was best. I need protection. I have been kidnapped before, and you still need to be watched. But I trust you. I don't believe you will harm me." He explains.
She gets up, "Thanks you Lord Kazekage. I will do my best not to betray your trust."
"You may call me Gaara. There is no need for formalities." He offers.
"If you are sure L…Gaara." She corrects herself, "If you want to, you may ask some questions about me. It is only fair since you are choosing to trust me."
"Why do you hide your true headband?" He points to wear another headband hides under her sleeve on her arm.
"I'm not sure many people will like me once they find out where I was raised." She explained, turning away from his gaze.
He pulls out a sand headband from his pocket, "Well here is your new one. I would appreciate it if you would display it proudly."
She blinks, "Are you sure? You don't even know where I'm from."
"I trust you as I said." He explains.
She removes her old headband, replacing it with the new one, this time showing the symbol.
"So sound?" He asks, having caught a glance.
She looks at him, hand frozen on the new headband, "Is that okay?"
"I don't mind. It changes nothing. My only other question right now is why you're hunted."
She slightly relaxes, "It has to do with some of my arrogance, my father and the jealousy of a team mate. I can tell you the story, but it's slightly long."
He settles down, cross-legged, "I am listening, if you don't mind telling."
She looks off in the distance, "Well I guess I will tell you about the overall story of my birth. It will help explain things later. You see I was born in the Leaf village, but my mother took me to the Sound as soon I was born. My father did not know about me until ten years later. I was taken in by a noble family of the Sound. I was good at Jutsu and I was at the top of my class. You could say it went to my head. I was very arrogant and thought everyone was beneath me. I learned later how foolish that was. Anyways, I did get on a team and I was fine with Forest, one of my shy teammates, but I had problems with my other teammate Javan. He didn't like me very much. He was good, but not as good as I was, and I was always tell him down. I'm not sure why but maybe I felt threatened by him because he could take me spot as the best in the class. I didn't like the competition. Forest tried to get us to get along but it didn't really work. Even our Sensei said it was hopeless when I nearly killed him in training. Now things started to change when I met my father on a dark, lonely road outside of the village on my eleventh birthday. At first I was very shocked, but I did learn the truth of what he said. He was the one who taught me humility. Of course it took time. I changed slowly. I stopped fighting so much with Javan. He didn't trust it. He always thought I was putting on an act because my foster parents announced I was their heir. Over the years this happened, during the day I would train and do missions, at night I would talk to my father. He always found me no matter where I was. Now by the time I was about to turn fifteen I was going to be promoted to Jounin. I was proud of that, but I didn't let it go to my head now. Javan didn't like it at all. He was just a Chunin at the time. It was that night I learned how much he hated me. That night I went out to talk to my father and tell him of my promotion. I guess I was too excited, because I never noticed Javan following me. He found out who my father was and went straight to our Kage about it. He accused me of being a spy for an enemy village. I really didn't have any defense because my father was from a different village. My former Kage gave me a choice; die or be kicked out. I choose to leave. I can never forget the hatred that I saw in Javan's eyes that night. He seemed ecstatic that I was leaving. For five years I was chased by hunter ninjas because Javan convinced them I was evil and I had to be killed because of my father. I lived like that until I met you." She turned to him, "You changed my life Gaara, and for that I thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm glad to protect you from such silly reasons."
"It's not so silly to Javan. If anything I think he hates me even more now." She gave a weak, fake smile.
"Most likely, but me, this village, we will protect you." He assured her.
She smiled, a real one this time, "Thank you Gaara."
"You're welcome." He gave her a gentle look.
Meanwhile, outside the village a shadowy figure spies on Dawn and Gaara from a distance, "What an interesting specimen. I'm sure we could use her for some experiments. Orochimaru will be pleased." The figure smiled, pushing a pair of big round glasses up his sharp nose, the sun reflecting off of them menacingly as he moved towards the Village Hidden in the Sand.
AN: Such a long back story for Dawn…that paragraph felt waaaaay toooo long, that's for sure. But hey, romance and explanation and now finally turmoil! YAY! I probably shouldn't be too excited for that…but it also means Madara is going to be joining this story finally XD
AN: Will Dawn be a good bodyguard? Is it right to trust her? Is Javan still angry? Who is that outside the village? What are they doing there? Why are they working for Orochimaru? Is it so obviously Kabuto and I'm just being silly by not telling you? What will happen next? Stay tuned for the next installment of Masked Affections!