Disclaimer: yet another failed attempt to gain control of the Naruto series

A/N: I'm sooo sick I cant even think straight... not that you needed to know this but I felt like saying it.

Also someone told me that this kind of story is called AU… I have no idea what it stands for but I'm glad I have a better way of explaining it )

So here's the next part of my Artichokes United (aka AU) Naruto story

Also for those who care I might not be able to put up the next chapter as quickly, S.A,T's are this Saturday and I'm kind of stressed out seeing as I'm like the worst test taker in the world… anyway here's chapter 3

---------------------Chapter 3--------------------

First he was dead tired, then there was a girl in his room, and now said girl started to scream, sounding extraordinarily like a banshee or some unearthly thing. Itachi couldn't take much more of this. Tired killers and screaming girls did not mix. (Liz: ok that sounded wrong.) In one quick motion, the second-to-last Uchiha clamped a strong hand over the girl's mouth, turning her scream into a squeak of fright.

"Now, I'm going to let go, and I want you to calmly tell me what the hell you're doing in my room," he hissed into her ear. The girl nodded, her aqua eyes wide with fright. Slowly, the Uchiha released her, remaining ready to clamp his hand back if she showed a sign of letting out another bloodcurdling scream.

"Explain."

The girl looked at her feet. "Uh, I just arrived here and Kabuto gave me this." She handed him the key with the room number on it. "I…I had NO idea that I was sharing a room with a … guy," she mumbled. "I'm sorry, I'll leave, please don't hurt me or anything." She started to get up, but Itachi pushed her back.

"Just sleep."

The girl's eyes got bigger, if that was possible, but the Uchiha just turned and walked toward his bed, not even bothering to undress. Tuyen gently got back into her own bed and, still trembling, pulled up her covers.

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For the first few minutes, Tuyen lay there, wondering why she didn't hear the normal things she herd every morning: people talking, carts rolling, children playing. Slowly, she opened her eyes, taking in the messy room…

'What the?' She bolted out of bed, gasping as memories of last night flew back at her. Her eyes scanned the room until they fell on the man she had "met" last night. He was leaning against the wall across from her bed, reading a piece of paper, probably a letter. Feeling her eyes on him, Itachi looked up from his reading.

"You're a gift."

Tuyen blinked.

"You're a gift from my leader, for doing such a good job."

The color drained from Tuyen's face while Itachi barely batted an eye.

"Since I'm not looking for a bed partner, especially one… like you…" he said, looking Tuyen over from her small, disproportionate body to her uneven brown hair.

"Er… I can, uh, clean… uh, I mean, I'll clean and stuff like that and stay out of your way, you won't even know I'm here…"

Itachi nodded, deciding that if she stayed out of his way, he was fine with that. He then handed her a piece of paper.

"This is for you," he told her. With that, he walked out, leaving Tuyen staring dumbly at the empty room, mouth hanging slightly open.

Slowly, she looked down at the paper.

Tuyen,

You are to go to Gatou, the head of the miners. This is where you will be working until further notice.

You can meet him at his office; he will fill you in on your chores.

Anko

(Liz: I'm sorry, but she's working for Sound because she was the only one I could think of, but I love Anko so she'll be in here more)

Tuyen quickly dressed in some of the clothes she had received the night before and left the room, almost colliding with Gaara.

"OH! I'm so sorry!" Tuyen said hurriedly, backing up. Gaara just looked at her through teal eyes. Tuyen glanced down at her paper, then back at Gaara.

"Um, Gaara? Would you mind telling me where the head miner's office is?"

"Come."

Gaara walked off. Tuyen, guessing that he was taking her there, followed.

They silently moved through the many halls, not saying anything. For the first time since Tuyen had met Gaara, she was glad he didn't talk much. Before, she had been worried that she needed to fill in the silences, but now she was glad he was quiet; it gave her time to think.

Soon, Gaara led her to a door that read 'Gatou's office'.

Tuyen walked up and gently opened the door, peeking in. "Hello?"

She saw an older man sitting at a desk. Slowly, she entered. "Um, hi, I'm Tuyen," she said, giving him a small bow. "I got this note today…" She held up the note and he took it, read it briefly, then smiled.

"Oh yes," he purred, rising. "I finally got my own little girl."

At this, Tuyen stiffened and glanced back at Gaara. Gatou turned to the boy as if noticing him for the first time.

"Thank you for bringing me my new flower. You may go."

The redhead left, ignoring the pleading looks that Tuyen was sending him. He couldn't care less as to what happened to that stupid girl.

"You can shut the door, my dear," her new master said, a silky smile on his face. Gently, Tuyen shut the door, as if it was going to break. Then, just as gently, she turned to face the man.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked her. She shook her head, her voice stuck in her throat. "I'm Gatou, but you can call me 'master'."

"Um…yes, master."

"Now," her master said, looking her up and down, "I'm glad they finally got me another girl. It's been a while."

Tuyen gulped. 'Quick, do something.

"Oh, well, I can, er, tell this place is a mess, so I'll get to work right away, master." With her words, she bounded toward one of the large bookshelves and began to straighten the books piled haphazardly on and around them. "I'll start here."

Gatou chuckled, "I like you. You've got spunk." Then he went back to his own work.

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"Hey, Gaara," Naruto said, waving as the redhead walked toward him. Gaara nodded a greeting.

"I was just about to tell Kiba about the new girl we met last night." Naruto indicated the brunet and his dog; Kiba gave Gaara a weak smile. Gaara didn't even blink, used to the fear in the dog-obsessed boy's eyes.

"So, where is she working? What's her name? Is she hot?" Kiba asked, turning his attention toward Naruto. The boy being questioned just shrugged.

"Her name's Tuyen, and she's okay-looking, I guess, nothing like Sakura." At this, he got a faraway look…

Sakura and Naruto stood in a field of flowers, holding hands. "Oh, Naruto, you're so cool, much cooler than that horrible Sasuke," proclaimed the rose-haired girl.

"Oh, Sakura…" he breathed. They leaned in…

"Uh, Naruto?"

He woke up to find Kiba looking at him like he was crazy. "You just spaced out for a moment there…"

The blond blushed. "Oh, sorry."

"Anyway, where does she work?"

Naruto, who was still caught up in his fantasy, had NO idea who Kiba was talking about. "Sakura? She works in the medic room." The brunet rolled his eyes.

"No, you lovesick idiot, the new girl. Tuyen."

"Oh. No idea."

"For Gatou."

Both boys turned to the silent Gaara. Naruto's eyes grew round as he totally forgot about his lovely Sakura. "That guy! Oh man! The last girl that went there had to leave because she almost killed herself! A girl like Tuyen would never make it!"

Kiba patted Akamaru's head. "Well, it's not like we can help her," he pointed out, pausing at a hall. "This is my stop, see you guys at lunch." With that, he ran off to the dog training room.

Soon, Naruto and Gaara had to part as well. Naruto had to work in the lumber yard, and Gaara was to mine.

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"Ugh, I can't believe that jerk gave me double duty!" Naruto cried in disgust. His friend Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"Well, it wasn't like you weren't asking for it… back-talking isn't how you get off early. Besides, wasn't that how you got into trouble yesterday?"

The blond stopped to think about this. "No, I played… OH NO, TUYEN!"

"Do I want to know?"

"Tuyen, she's this new girl me and Gaara met yesterday, she's working for Gatou, I was going to get her for lunch… she has no idea where anything is being new and muhh…"

Shikamaru put his hand over the blabbing boy's mouth. "First, it's 'Gaara and I'. Second, working for that guy is going to be so troublesome for her, but—third—you should have thought of that before you mouthed off."

Naruto muttered a few choice words for the worker he had back-talked to. Suddenly, he lit up, an idea popping into his head. "Hey, Shikamaru…"

"If it's something that will get me into trouble, the answer is no."

"Could you get Tuyen?"

Shikamaru shrugged, sighing. "How troublesome."

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Well I hoped you liked this chapter things are moving along pretty nicely if I do say so myself I have an ending so that's good and I also have some cool middle parts. Still ideas are loved as are reviews

-Liz Mizu