Chapter IV: Konoha, the Leaf Village
Naruto sat on the edge of the river, watching Ten-Ten and Neji training.
Suddenly, Rock Lee walked up to Naruto, and smiled down at him with one of his classic gleaming smiles.
"Fuzzy-Brows! How's it goin'" Naruto said with his usual enthusiasm.
"I am fine Naruto. I see the Springtime of Youth is treating you well. I am glad to see that."
"Thanks Lee! You training hard?"
"As always! Guy-sensei and I have done two thousand laps around the village, and have done five thousand push ups. I am feeling invigorated! Care to have a friendly ninja's dual? It would be an honor for you to be my opponent." Lee-san said with a thumbs-up, flashing his large teeth.
"Well..." Naruto said, not wanting to get bruised up from a dual, before he met Hinata for their date later that day.
"Sorry Fuzzy-Brows. Can't... I have a date with Hinata, and I don't want to show up looking like pulverized meat, ya'know?" He looked at Lee with sad eyes, and tried to act like he really was sorry, but when in reality he was relieved.
"That is okay Naruto-kun! We can always do it tomorrow!" Lee's eyes flashed merrily at the idea, and he waited to hear Naruto's answer.
"Yeah... Heh... Tomorrow. Sounds good I guess." Naruto said carefully.
"See you tomorrow Naruto-kun!" Lee said quickly, and went off to find another opponent.
"Phew. That was a close one." Naruto thought as he wiped the sweat off his brow.
"Neji! That is not fair! You said you wouldn't use your Byakugan!" Ten-Ten said sadly, her bright brown eyes looking at Neji with a slight twinkle.
"Ten-Ten love, I am just trying to avoid all those sharp objects you've been throwing at me. I can't do it when you throw them at me from all sides. So I did it to avoid getting hit." Neji said, walking over to Ten-Ten, and wrapping his arm loosely around her waist.
"Okay... But you promised!"
"Yes, but I had no other choice. Did you want to get me?"
"No. I'm just playing with this new move I came up with, and I thought I'd test it." Ten-Ten said, a broad smile appearing when she saw his look of astonishment.
Neji didn't comment on what Ten-Ten said, instead giving her a reproachful glance, then hugging her tightly.
"Using me as a guinea pig now?" He said with a smirk.
"Yup!" Ten-Ten giggled joyfully.
"Women." Neji said, shaking his head before returning to his fighting stance.
"Hey guys! The Sand Shinobis are here!" Came a loud female voice from across the river.
"Sakura-chan! Gaara, Kankuro and Tamari? Why are they here?" Naruto asked, confusion clouding his bright blue eyes.
"Yup. They are here to visit. Gaara wants to see you Naruto." Sakura replied.
"He does? Why?"
"Didn't say. He just said, 'Tell Naruto that I need to see him.'" That is all." Sakura told Naruto.
"Oh. Guess I'd better find out why."
He stood, and jumped lightly across the river, and walked back to the village.
Sakura turned, and went back as well, walking quickly.
Naruto found Gaara and his siblings standing at the entrance, talking to their friends.
Gaara stood off to the side, arms crossed over his chest, looking around with his large blue eyes.
"So, we meet again Naruto." Gaara said, extending his hand out to Naruto as he approached.
"Gaara. How are you? How is the Sand holding up?" Naruto said, taking Gaara's hand, and grinning at the Sand shinobi.
"Sand is well. How about Konoha?" Gaara's voice was still as quiet as ever, but at least he was more sociable.
"Well, Konoha is fine. You should come eat some Raman with me at Ichiraku's Ramen Bar! They have the best ramen ever!" Naruto said with a huge grin, noting the non-committal look that Gaara gave him.
"You haven't changed since the last time I saw you." He commented.
"Nope. And I don't want to either!" Naruto said, all but dragging Gaara to Ichiraku's.
When they got there, Ayame greeted Naruto with a pleasant smile, and asked whom his friend was.
"This is Gaara, Gaara of the Desert. He is the Kazekage of Sand now, and is one of my best friends. I want to introduce him to the wonders of your amazing ramen!" Naruto said amiably, putting an arm over Gaara's shoulders, and smiling at the Sand ninja, warmly.
"Nice to meet you." Gaara replied.
"We want two house specials please." Naruto asked.
"On the house, since the Kazekage is here." Ayame said, preparing the ramen quickly.
"Here you are. I hope you enjoy it Kazekage-sama." Ayame bowed respectfully, before returning to cleaning the dishes.
"Itamakimas!" Naruto shouted before devouring the entire bowl in about eleven seconds flat.
Gaara on the other hand, took his time in trying the food.
He raised the spoon to his lips, and tried the first bite of ramen.
Gaara's eyes widened, and his face changed to a look of shock.
He stared down at the ramen with wide eyes, unsure of what to say.
"This ramen is the best I have tasted in my life." He exclaimed calmly, shock still very evident on his face.
"Uh... Thank you Kazekage-sama... I am glad you like it." Ayame said, a slight blush coloring her face as she did.
Gaara finished the bowl of ramen, and looked at Naruto, who had been watching him for the whole meal.
"You like it!" Naruto shouted, cuffing Gaara on the shoulder in a friendly manner, laughing heartily at Gaara's reaction.
"Yes." Gaara stated, nodding his head once to signal his satisfaction.
"I knew you would like it!" Naruto said, beaming a smile at Ayame.
"He likes it Ayame! And to get a compliment out of this guy is like trying to break rocks with your teeth, you just don't!" Naruto just about squealed as he stated this fact.
Gaara looked a little put out by the last comment, but he smiled anyways, because Naruto had always been brutally honest with everyone.
"Thank you for the treat Ayame. I will tell the other's to come here and eat. They'd like it as well." Gaara said as he stood, and nodded one last time at Ayame, before cocking his head to one side, to tell Naruto that it was time to talk,
"Thank you again Kazekage... You are a kind man." Ayame turned back to her dishes, in order to hide yet another blush.
"We need to talk now Naruto. It is important." Gaara intoned, giving Naruto an uneasy feeling in his stomach.