"Speech"
'Thought'
"Demon/Summon Speech"
'Demon/Summon Thought"
"Jutsu"
Chapter 9 - A Softer Side
Gaara and Naruto appeared in a clearing within the forest of death, around them the sounds of animals fleeing could be heard, the boys oppressive chakra scaring off even the largest of predators.
Before Gaara could ask what Naruto wanted he felt a hand encased in demonic chakra slam into his shoulder, directly over his concealed seal.
"Ugh" Gaara grunted as he opened his eyes, finding himself inside his mindscape. Looking around at the familiar site of a dessert stretching to every horizon with a giant pyramid located directly in front of him.
"Hmm much better than mine, poor Kurama was living in a sewer until I showed up." Gaara jumped slightly as he saw Naruto standing next to him. "Come on Gaara time to meet a demon." Naruto said with a grin as his shadow took the form of a nine-tailed fox.
Gaara just followed numbly as Naruto led him into the pyramid where they found Shukaku pressed firmly against the fair wall.
"Keep him away from me!" screamed the mad demon as he clawed at the walls.
"Now now Shukaku that isn't nice, come say hi to your big bro." Naruto said with a laugh as his shadow grew into a glowing orange Kurama.
"No, leave me alone!" Cried Shukaku, Gaara could only stare in shock as the demon who had made his life a living hell cowered in fear like the men he himself had killed.
Naruto just smirked as he was suddenly surrounded with his three tailed cloak, with a small grunt he launched himself up onto the head of the great tanuki.
"Now then if the history books are right then I should be able to do this." Naruto said quietly as he plunged his clawed hand straight into Shukaku's forehead.
"Aaaaaagh!" screamed the demon as he felt the Kyuubi's chakra forcefully invading his system. With a triumphant shout Naruto pulled his arm free, now clutched in his hand was a glowing black orb, with a smirk Naruto let go of the orb and both he and Gaara watched as it formed into the shape of a monk.
"The mad monk of Suna, glad to make your acquaintance, Gaara meet your predecessor as Jinchuriki. A hideous attempt at fusing Human and Demonic souls." Naruto explained as the ghostly apparition looked around in confusion. "Now we say bye-bye to this filth and hope that poor little Shukaku feels better after some much needed sleep."
The monk tilted his head sideways as he was engulfed in burning red chakra. The sounds of countless screams were heard as the soul was slowly burnt away.
Gaara was still in complete shock as Naruto climbed down off of the unconscious one-tailed tanuki.
"Now you probably need some rest too." Naruto said with a grin as he pressed his hand to Gaara's seal.
Line Break
Naruto opened his eyes and looked around, they were still in the clearing but it was now late at night and Gaara was sleeping peacefully on the forest floor. Wiping the smile from his face Naruto set his features into his fanged smirk and slung Gaara over his shoulder. Jumping up into the canopy above Naruto used demonic chakra to propel himself through the tree tops until he entered the village proper where he then made his way straight to the hotel that was housing all the teams from out of Konoha.
After a quick check with the receptionist Naruto took the elevator up to the floor the Suna team was staying on. Walking up to their door he knocked three times and waited for about five seconds before the door swung open.
"Gaara?" Temari half yelled as she stood in the doorway in a bathrobe. "Oh Naruto..." Temari looked down at herself before blushing slightly. But her blush was forgotten and replaced with panic when she saw Gaara fast asleep on Naruto's shoulder.
"Oh god he's asleep, we are so dead." She whispered in shock.
"Nah you'll be fine Temari-chan, and so will Gaara. I've helped him with his little problem." Naruto said, his usual smirk slipping slightly as he smiled at Temari.
"What? How?" Temari whispered in shock as she tried to avoid waking Gaara.
"I entered his mindscape and cleansed Shukaku of the invading spirit of his previous host, duh." Naruto said with a half shrug. Temari just stared in awe. "Now then where can I put my burden that shares a burden?" Naruto asked with a laugh.
Temari led Naruto into the room and gestured towards the only available bed, the other two holding Baki and Kankurou.
"We didn't bother booking a bed for him." She said with a slight blush as Naruto lowered her sleeping brother onto the bed, she couldn't help but smile as she saw how peaceful he looked.
"So are you just gonna crash on the couch or something?" Naruto asked as he looked around the hotel room.
"I might not even go to sleep... I've had so much coffee waiting for Gaara to get back that I'm not sure if I'll be sleeping for a few days." Temari said with a small laugh.
"Well if that's the case why don't you come on a walk with me around the village?" Naruto asked with the slightest hint of a blush on his cheeks. "My chakra is charged way too high to get any sleep tonight, I was expecting some better competition." he laughed as scratched the back of his head.
Temari looked up at him in shock, a blush burning fiercely on her cheeks.
"If you give me five minutes to get dressed then sure." She said quietly.
"I'll be waiting in the lobby then." Naruto said with a smile.
Line Break
"Oh Kami this is too funny, the kit has a date" Laughed Kurama as Naruto sat in the lobby with his hands behind his head.
'Oh shut it, I'm just entertaining a guest to the village' Naruto responded.
"You don't give two shits about this village." retorted the fox, "Admit it, you like this girl. I mean I can see why" Kurama mentally grinned as he sent images of Temari naked into Naruto's mind.
'Kurama if you don't stop that I am going to come into the mindscape, transform it into a giant burning hamster ball and roll you down a fucking hill' Growled Naruto. Kurama just laughed more as Naruto cut the connection.
"Stupid fox" He muttered under his breath as the elevator doors slid open revealing Temari in her ninja gear.
"So want to come see the only good parts of this shithole of a village?" Naruto questioned as he began walking side by side with Temari.
"Has it been as bad for you here as it was for Gaara back home?" Questioned Temari as she walked with Naruto, noting the disdainful looks he was receiving.
"It was a few times. But the majority of the worst incidents are only just returning to my memories. A lot of them were suppressed by complex seals that were placed on me by the hospital staff I've only just finished removing them." Naruto explained quietly. Temari placed her hand on his shoulder in a show of support.
"You can move your hand back now." He growled "I don't care for sympathy nor do I care much for this village." Naruto said as he received more hateful looks from the villagers.
"Why don't we go somewhere less crowded, I'm feeling claustrophobic from the staring." Temari said as she glared back at the villagers.
Line Break
Naruto and Temari sat on the head of the Sandaime atop the Hokage monument.
"This is the only time I can appreciate this village." Naruto said slightly as he gestured at the lights that sparkled like stars far below them.
Temari looked over the village and couldn't help but admit that it was a nice sight.
"So why did you really offer to show me around the village Naruto?" Questioned Temari as she blushed slightly.
"Well I was thinking of asking if I could train with Gaara over the month." He explained, Temari looked down at the ground in sadness at hearing that, "And I haven't been able to get you out of my mind since that game of shogi."
Temari looked up at him and met his eyes, she smirked slightly as she saw his eyes drift slowly over her body.
"Yep definitely never losing that image." He said with a smirk as his gaze finally returned to her eyes.
"Is that so?" She playfully questioned as she looked into his eyes, slowly leaning towards him, Naruto copied the motion, when their lips were almost touching Temari pulled back and sat up straight.
"You are more than welcome to come train with Gaara this month, after helping him it's the probably the best thing for him. And having the added benefit of keeping you around is starting to sound very appealing." She smirked, Naruto growled slightly at having his kiss denied. Temari shivered slightly from the sound of the growl, she was shocked to find that the shiver had been one of pleasure travelling up her spine.
"I really like the sound of that then." He said with a gravelly voice as his hand slowly traced her jaw line.
Temari felt his hand slide across her neck and into her hair as he roughly pulled her to him and kissed her. She moaned slightly as Naruto took complete control of her. After nearly a minute of kissing her Naruto pulled back, his smirk immediately finding it's place on his lips.
Naruto leaned forward again as he brought his mouth to her exposed neck and exhaled a long hot breath down. Temari moaned as he kissed her neck and bit her skin lightly.
"I think I will definitely like having you around." She shakily said, her breathing laboured from her raging hormones.
"I should probably get you back to your hotel room now." Naruto growled softly as the light of the rising sun broke over the trees behind them and bathed the village in light.
Temari sighed as she stood up with weak legs.
Naruto watched her and smiled slightly before standing up and smirking.
"Race you to the bottom." He said as he launched himself off of the monument with the sound of rushing wind marking his passage.
Temari laughed as she grabbed her fan which had been laying next to her and unfolded it before using it to glide down to the ground below.
When she landed at the bottom she found a small crater with Naruto sitting on the edge of it.
"What took ya so long?" He questioned as she looked at the crater in shock. He smirked before dusting himself off and started walked back towards the hotel, Temari was quick to follow.
'What is it about this guy that gets me so worked up?' she thought to herself, 'one second he's cocky, then he's bloodthirsty and murderous and then he's cute and then finally he's incredibly sexy before going back to the start. He's so confusing but I just can't get that kiss out of my mind'
Naruto waved his hand in front of Temari's eyes as she was slightly spaced out.
"Hey Temari-chan, we're at your hotel." Naruto said as Temari snapped out of it and looked at the door. Reaching into her ninja pouch she pulled out a key and slid it into the door opening it quietly. When the door was opened fully she desperately tried not to laugh at the scene in front of her.
Baki and Kankurou were crouched fearfully behind a flipped table peaking over at the sleeping form of Gaara.
"Temari, he's asleep." Kankurou whispered fearfully, "We're done for..."
Temari couldn't hold it any longer as she started laughing as loud as she could. Gaara looked up blearily as he was woken up by his sisters laugh.
"Oh Naruto, Temari. Hello, now let me sleep" Gaara said as he buried his face back into his pillow.
Kankurou could only mutter incoherently as Baki stared in amazement.
"I'll leave you to explain things to your team, come meet me on the monument tonight and we'll talk training this month." Naruto said as he gently slapped Temari's rear end, pushing her into the room as he turned and walked away.
"Good work Kit, she is eating out of the palm of your hand now. Now all you have to do is make her yours" Kurama said with a lecherous grin.
'Oh do you ever shut up' Naruto growled as he left the hotel. 'Sometimes I really wish I could just seal your stupid muzzle.' Naruto was left with the sounds of the fox laughing as Kurama forcibly held the connection open between them.
A/N - Hey there, just a filler written at 2 am while fuelled by accidental coffee consumption. Getting back into the swing of writing something that I actually want to share, not just my little experimental pieces that are building up... So in case you're wondering Naruto will act more open when around the sand sibling purely because he sees them as worth it (and because of his encounter with his alternate self). He will still hate all things Konoha which will only grow with coming chapters.
Also on a side note I was tossing up whether I should write a lemon this chapter and decided against it, gotta leave some things for later chapters.
Thanks Trigger2332 out!