Author Note: I ask for everyone's humblest apologies for releasing this chapter late. The last week for me was filled with a ton of work. Once again I thank all of those who have favorited and/or left a review.

Chapter 4: Wallflower

Naruto shivered as he slowly released his breath. He could see the gentle puffs of steam release from his mouth in the frigid cold. He pulled his jacket tight around him as he gazed out of the tree he was hiding within. It had been hours since Sasori had started the training for the day. Naruto had to find Sasori before dusk and currently he had no idea where his master had gone. It had already been seven months since the young boy had left Konoha and met Sasori. The former sand-nin had trained Naruto vigorously so that the boy could become strong. Naruto chuckled as he remembered the very first day of training.

"Hmm," mumbled Sasori looking down at the scroll in front of him, "And you swear you never saw this before?"

"Never Sasori-sensei," Naruto replied as he tightened his fists, "I didn't even notice I had it on me."

"Well, that doesn't matter now. This scroll could be very useful in training you. Instead of becoming a master of puppetry like I am, you now have a choice Naruto. You can learn from the jutsus written on this scroll."

A giant, red orb began to sink low in the sky as Naruto became even more desperate. He had to find Sasori before the sun set entirely. Naruto stood up and launched himself from the branch he had been squatting on. He kept himself moving until he found a small clearing. There Naruto analyzed his surroundings so that he could find Sasori's location. Naruto suddenly twisted his body and flicked his wrist hurling a shuriken into the branches of a nearby tree. A body fell out of the tree striking several branches until finally landing upon the cold soil. Naruto rushed over to the body only to be dismayed when he discovered it was another one of Sasori's puppets. This would be the eleventh puppet Naruto had attacked today. Naruto sighed realizing he was still nowhere close to discovering Sasori's whereabouts.

Only the lip of the beautiful, red sun could be seen. Naruto sat down watching it sink out of sight until he finally gave up. Soon he would be able to find Sasori-sensei, but today Naruto failed his training and would suffer the consequence of not being able to eat.

[----

"Happy Birthday, Naruto-kun," shouted Sasori as Naruto walked into the cave and fell backwards onto the ground.

"S-sasori-sensei, when did you," stuttered Naruto as he lifted himself back up, "How did you know it was my birthday?"

"You told me, you little dip-shit," mumbled Sasori as he glanced to the side, "Are you not happy or something? I came up with today's bogus training just so you wouldn't come back here while I was preparing."

"What!" screamed Naruto at the top of his lungs, "Y-you mean that all of my searching, everything I did out in the cold was for nothing?!"

"Yep," replied Sasori as he patted Naruto on the back, "One must always celebrate his birthday no matter what."

"Sasori-sensei," muttered Naruto angrily under his breath, "It... it was so cold out there! You could have made me do something else instead of sit in that weather. I felt like I was going to die out there."

"You're going to die in here if you keep being so ungrateful, you little punk. How dare you complain when I went to all this work making a cake for you. I even went and prepared some ramen."

Naruto's eyes glistened, "Sasori-sensei, you made me r-ramen! You are the best. Time to ea-"

"Stop right there," said Sasori as he grabbed Naruto's sleeve, "Why do you think you deserve that ramen?"

"B-but Sasori-sensei, you said you made it for me?" replied Naruto confused.

"Yeah, and you were being totally ungrateful. I honestly think you have no respect for me, you little brat! I've been training you for the last six months. I'm going to make you into an amazing ninja, and you thank me by complaining about my training while I prepare a party for your birthday!"

"S-sasori-sensei, I'm sorry. So may I please have some ramen?"

"Hmph, all you care about is ramen!" snapped Sasori as he grabbed a bowl, "Hurry up and eat. I have a present for you when you are finished."

Naruto quickly devoured his first bowl of ramen, but continued until he filled himself with ten more bowls. Sasori knocked him over the head for his gluttony, but Naruto just smiled. The red-haired ninja complained that Naruto would feel it the next day, and that he would make the boy's training especially hard. Naruto, however, shrugged it off and looked at Sasori with pleading eyes.

"So, Sasori-sensei, you said you have a present for me-"

"Nope, you don't get it until you say thank you with all your heart." interrupted Sasori.

"Sasori-sensei, you are so mean!"

"Say it!"

"T-thank you?"

"Why the hell did you say it like a question?!"

"Because I don't know why I'm thanking you."

"What?! I made you dinner, I bought you a present, and I've been training you to become a ninja! What do you mean you don't know why you should be thanking me. You little bastard, I swear I should straighten you out or something."

"Geez, Sasori-sensei you get worked up over nothing."

Sasori's face turned red as he shot a fist into Naruto's stomach, "You ungrateful little brat! I'm gonna torture you until you scream mercy!"

Sasori began to pummel Naruto into the dirt playfully until Naruto's face turned green. Sasori questioned the boy and began to run as Naruto gave chase. "S-sasori-sensei, I-i I don't f-feel so good."

Sasori backed away in horror as a slimy liquid poured out of Naruto's mouth and splashed onto the older ninja. Sasori stood disgusted as he looked down at Naruto who seemed to recover from his illness.

"You little shit," whined Sasori as he tried to clean himself off, "How could you throw up on me?"

"B-but Sasori-sensei, you caused me to throw up," complained Naruto walking over to the warmth of the crackling fire, "So, when are you giving me my present?"

"You are still worrying about that?" snapped Sasori in surprise, "Before I give it to you, I need to wash this filth off my body."

Naruto sighed as Sasori disappeared around a corner, "That really was a waste of ramen."

[----

Naruto lay soundly, filling the cave with the sound of his snoring. Sasori strolled back in relieved from the hot waters that lay deeper within the cave. He let out a long yawn as he kicked the boy in the stomach and shouted into his ear. The boy jumped up in pain and began to whine as Sasori pulled at his hair.

"You shouldn't fall asleep like that, you leave yourself open to pranks," explained Sasori as he grabbed something hidden behind a large, gray boulder, "Here, this is what I got you. You looked like you needed some new equipment."

Naruto slid the lid off the box and let a small tear roll down his cheek as he reached for the orange jacket that lay in the box. He pulled it out and held onto it tightly while he thanked Sasori several times over. Sasori smiled as he leaned against the cold rock of the cave. Naruto quickly pulled of his torn ragged clothes, and began to pull on the crisp, fresh orange clothing Sasori had given him. Moments later Sasori let out a whistle as Naruto stood pulling at the orange jacket and matching pants. The jacket was completely orange except for two patches of blue on the shoulders. The pants were completely orange and fell loosely to his ankles. However, what Naruto liked most of all was the spiral pattern attached to the left arm.

"Sasori-sensei, you even got the spiral pattern right." beamed Naruto as he continued to fawn over his new clothing.

"I never forget any details about a person, Naruto. You told me all of your favorite things. I figured that would be what you wanted for your birthday. Besides now you are seven years old, and you are going to have a lot more responsibilities. Like taking your training more seriously." muttered Sasori making a scary face, "Tomorrow is going to be hell for you, Naruto!"

"Sorry, but that might have to wait," mumbled a man standing outside the cave, "Sasori-san, I have a proposition to make you. You wouldn't mind if my associate and I come in would you?"

"Sasori-sensei, d-do you know these men? They scare me." whispered Naruto as he positioned himself behind Sasori's legs.

Sasori clenched his fists and gazed back at the two men. They were shrouded in darkness as they stood just out of reach of the fire's light. Sasori was disturbed by this and was unsure whether he should allow the two shady figures within the cave. He analyzed them for a moment making sure they posed no threat before saying, "You may come in."

The two figures slowly walked into the firelight and Sasori and Naruto quickly took in their appearance. The two were wearing a matching pair of straw hats that hid their faces. Both men also wore a long, black cloak with a pattern of red clouds across the front and back. The two also wore one ring, but on different fingers. Sasori noticed that the men had on nail polish, but each had a slightly different shade. One of the men carried a large wrapped sword that he wore strapped to the back, while the other, who had spoken, had no apparent weapons. However, the one with no weapons had a strange appearance. He had a large mouth sprouting from his shoulders that resembled a man-eating plant, and from what Sasori could see half of him was white and half was black.

"What did you come here for?" asked Sasori impatiently as he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "If you have any business with me, speak up quickly and then leave."

"Sasori-sama, we have come here for you," replied the black and white colored man, "We would like for you-"

"Zetsu, just tell the bastard that we want him to join already!" interrupted the other man with the giant, wrapped sword, "I'm getting annoyed. Hurry up so we can go get something to eat."

"Forgive me, but my comrade wants me to make this quick." quickly said the man called Zetsu, "My name is Zetsu and this person next to me is Kisame. We both belong to an organization of ninja and our leader wishes for you to join us."

Sasori glared at Zetsu as he lowered his hand from Naruto's shoulder. Sasori had already gathered that he was being forced rather than asked to join. More than likely these two ninja were sent here to either get him to join or kill him. If Sasori refused, they would not just kill him, but they would murder Naruto as well. Sasori looked down at the boy in order to reassure Naruto that everything was okay, but the blond-haired child was still shivering in fear. Sasori drew back in shock. Even at such a young age, Naruto could sense how powerful these men were. Zetsu and Kisame both had a murderous aura about them that smothered Sasori.

"You are demanding for me to join, correct?" snapped Sasori pulling Naruto closer to him, "Why should I join?"

Zetsu smiled and seemed to be talking between himself, also, Sasori noticed that Zetsu seemed to have two different voices. One was softer and gentler, but had a creepy sound to it, while the other was harsher and sounded gravelly. They seemed to be arguing until Zetsu finally looked up and smiled.

"There is no point in lying. If you refuse to join. we will kill you."

Just as I thought, wondered Sasori, I can't run. Naruto would never be able to keep up and they would hunt us down. I would be at a disadvantage if I fought, especially with that Kisame guy. He is beyond powerful. Should I join? While Sasori was pondering what he should do, Naruto's grip tightened as the boy shuddered in fright. He knew already that these men could kill him without mercy or regret.

"Sasori-same, we will give you one day to think this over. If you refuse, both of you will die."

The two men turned and began walking out of the cave. Kisame suddenly halted and slowly turned his head.

"Please don't run. I hate it when people run away from us. It makes the killing part less fun."