Disclaimer: When I have my army of rabid chipmunks then I shall own EVERYTHING! unfortunatly the chipunks are still in the mail, so dont own them...soon though...
FLASH BACK
"Kazekage-sama!" Gaara visibly twitched at the staff member that had just burst through his door. "I'm very sorry, he claims he is your friend-" The commotion in the hallway grew steadily louder, as the quiet teen stepped around his desk and past the woman.
"Who." It was more of a statement then a question, one that need not be answered a moment later when the new kazekage heard the familiar booming voice approaching.
"We tried to-"
"He is my guest." The woman went silent, nodding as Gaara pulled the door open.
"Gaara!" Konoha's green beast pulled him into a quick hug, a quick invasion of space that he no longer seemed to mind as much as he once did. "Gai-sensei sends his regards and Naruto said to make sure you went outside more and asked for any new ramen recipes…" Lee chatted away happily, following Gaara into the privacy of the Kazekage's office. "And anyways, it allowed me to take a break from my training and come visit you, but I look forward to training with you as well! It is so good to see you!" Lee finally finished his speech, sitting in a seat across from the smaller teen.
"It is nice to see you as well." Gaara spoke quietly, warmth seemingly making it onto his normally cold features, something that very few ever got to see, but more then before the Chunnin exams.
A small frown made it's way onto Lee's face, as his eyes tracked a bird flying outside of the window.
"Gaara- those people, your staff, they did not believe that we are friends. They made it seem like you had no friends." The warmth fell from the Kazekage's face, his eyes studying Lee intently. They sat there quietly, each pondering the statement.
"You are different." The red haired teen said finally. "As am I." Lee's face lit up, large grin lightening the mood in the room.
"See we are friends! Gai-sensei says that as long as you have one good friend you will never be lonely!" Something about the declaration seemed off, like there was a larger story there.
"Are you…lonely?" The green clad teens grin didn't even falter at Gaara's question.
"Not any more." No one had ever tried this hard to become friends with him, everyone had always feared him, his brother and sister included. The knowledge that Lee was his friend sent something through him. Happiness? And something else he could yet identify, but grew each time Lee smiled.
END FLASHBACKYyYyYyYyYyYyYyYyYyYyYyY
"Why were you following us?" Kiba growled, kunai in one hand, he gripped the captured nin's shirt in the other. Ino stood next to him, arms crossed. Shino had captured the lone enemy ninja, the others had escaped or been killed during the fight.
Naruto stood on the other side of the clearing talking quietly with Gaara and Lee, sending glances over to the others every once in awhile.
"Do you speak?" The Inuzuka snarled, pressing the weapon tauntingly on the man's jugular, digging into the soft flesh.
Ino watched, face betraying no emotion, left hand fingering her own weapon. They needed to know why these people had been tracking them, better yet, who they worked for. Their headbands were blank, no markings in them, she could only assume they were not sound ninja's but it was not safe to rule anything out.
Movement caught her attention, her eyes focusing on a thin strand of sand working it's way up the mans leg. Apparently he had felt it as well, thrashing around in his bonds in a futile attempt to escape.
"Now, tell us why you were tracking us!" Naruto grinned from next to her, watching Gaara walk over. "You don't want to make Gaara mad." Apparently the ninja didn't realise that Naruto would not let Gaara kill him, fighting harder against the bonds.
"They are bounty hunters." The glare sent at them confirmed it, as the nin suddenly stopped fighting, still staring warily at the Kazekage.
"Bounty Hunters? What are they after?" Kiba asked taking his attention off of their prisoner. Shino appeared next to him, mask firmly in place, carrying two of the enemy's head protectors.
"Uchiha." Gaara said turning and walking a fair distance away, the small group following behind.
"They're after Sasuke?" That was going to make things more difficult.
"Grreeaaattt! Just what we need! Why's everyone after the teme anyways?" Naruto groaned, pausing then looking sheepish. "Right, never mind."
"So they were tracking us to find Sasuke then." Kiba supplied. Gaara nodded, and then glanced up sharply eyes narrowing. Ino followed the gaze back to their prisoner. The man was turning purple, shaking violently. Gasping, she ran over, the other's at her heels. Blood spilled out of his mouth, eyes rolling back into his head.
"Poison?" Shino asked from next to her, fingers checking for a pulse. The man gurgled, then stilled, going limp in his bonds.
"Possibly, but we searched him. He could have concealed it though. Damn." She pried open his mouth, eyes narrowing further. "He bit his tongue off."
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"Nine hundred and ninety seven, nine hundred and ninety eight-" A familiar surge of chakra made its appearance, the ninja sitting quietly on the edge of the clearing, waiting for him to finish. "Nine hundred and ninety nine, one thousand!" Lee sat up, energized from his crunches. "Would you like to join me Gaara?"
The Kazekage dropped down from his tree branch, walking over to the leaf shinobi and sitting next to him.
"Shouldn't you be travelling with body gaurds Gaara? Or at least your brother and sister?" Lee asked, curious as to why the Kazekage was alone.
"The guards were…slowing me down." Lee's eyes widened, mouth-hanging open. Gaara had ditched his own bodyguards? Why?
"But Gaara, why would you leave your bodyguards, they are only for your own protection!" He protested, confused.
"I knew you were in trouble." Something akin to a blush made it's way onto the pale teen's face, which just confused Lee even more.
"I want to thank you for your help during the fight. I left myself unprepared." A small frown made it's way onto Gaara's face, barely noticeable to anyone other then Lee.
"Were you injured?"
"It is just a bruise! My youth shall heal it in no time!" He declared, grinning. Gaara nodded, watching as he suddenly tilted backwards, lying on his back, staring up at the darkening sky. "After this mission, you should visit Konoha, you can stay with me, if you want. There's a festival coming up that we could go to!" He tilted his head, taking in the fond expression on Gaara's face.
"I do not think my advisers would like that." Lee's smile fell from his face as he turned his eyes back to the sky.
"Oh."
"But I am the Kazekage, so they could not stop me." Lee moved quickly, hugging Gaara. The sand flickered around them, before deeming Lee as unthreatening. He pulled back, unsure as to why there was a blush staining his cheeks, settling back into his position on the ground. This time the other teen lay next to him, gourd resting against a tree.
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Naruto sat up in the top most branches of a large evergreen tree. He had first watch, so knowing that the others would fall asleep quickly, he had climbed the tree, choosing a secluded branch that still gave him a good view of the area and settled in.
He knew all those years ago that bringing Sasuke back would not be easy. He knew he wouldn't find him by accident, or that Sasuke would come walking back through the gates of Konoha and things would go back to the way they had been. He wasn't that lucky.
So he had trained and worked harder, preparing himself for the chance to bring his friend home. Spent days at the training grounds, nights lying awake wondering how much longer he had to wait until he saw that infuriating smirk again.
So maybe he obsessed to the point where blaming it on their stupid messed up friendship just didn't work, so maybe the tears that managed to slip past his mask on the really bad nights proved that it was something much more then friendship that kept him searching. So maybe he felt sometimes like he wanted with Sasuke what Shino and Kiba obviously had, but would easily settle for a simple friendship with the bastard, if he would just come back. It didn't really matter; none of it mattered until he brought the teme home. He promised he would, and he never went back on a promise.
FLASHBACK
"Get him!" A small boy cowered against a brick wall, trying to blend in with the shadows as the angry mob advanced.
"Stop!" He cried desperately as the first rock bounced painfully off his arm. He didn't know what he did wrong! Why were these people attacking him? Why did they ever attack him, a small voice spoke up from the back of his mind.
"Filthy creature!"
"You'll pay for what you did!"
"Horrid animal!"
He lifted his arms covering his head, crouching, trying to hide. He was only eight! He hadn't done anything! One of the larger men stepped forwards, broken broom handle in his head.
"I lost my family because of you!" The wooden object never hit him, clattering to the ground a few feet away.
"Don't touch him." Naruto peered up through his hands. Another small boy around his age stood in front of him, broken table leg held as a weapon. The man staggered back, shocked at the interference.
He knew this boy, he had seen him around the village, seen how lonely he seemed to be, just like himself.
The man started forwards again, as menacing as before. "Get out of the way kid, he needs to pay!"
"What did he do to you?" The cool voice showed no emotion, as the small boy made no attempt to move.
"It's what's inside of him!"
"Touch him and I'll kill you myself." Naruto's eyes widened. No one had ever stuck up for him before. Ever! Whispers broke out through the angry mob.
"Back off, it's the Uchiha kid!" The blond watched, amazed as the people left, disappearing back into the streets.
The boy that saved him turned to face him, seemingly trying to decide whether to leave or stay. Naruto stood slowly, feeling the bruises that he knew would be gone by tomorrow.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto." The other boy turned away, apparently choosing to leave.
"Uchiha Sasuke." Naruto grinned, quickly catching up to him.
"Thanks Sasuke."
END FLASHBACKThe inn was old and musty. Water and mould stains seemed to be the main décor covering faded blue wallpaper.
He made his way as quickly and quietly as he could up the creaky old stairs, small bag carrying his possessions slung over his shoulder. There, the third door on the right; that was his room for the night. Turning his key in the lock, he didn't bother to hide his disgust, entering the small room. There was a large bed and a small table with a door that he could only assume lead to a bathroom. Not much, but it would do.
His bag fell to the floor as he pulled off the hooded coat he had been wearing. Next off was his black mesh shirt and finally grey pants. He sank into the scratchy bed, muscles protesting from his travels.
Glancing out the window, dark eyes watched the moons slow descent into the dark sky. Just a little longer and he wouldn't have to run anymore. Konoha wasn't an option. He had run from there originally and if he returned now, not only would no one welcome him with open arms, but they'd be put in danger as well. Well, maybe one person would welcome him back, but he wasn't sure anymore. With those thoughts pushed to the back of his mind, Sasuke closed his eyes, welcoming the darkness that swept over him, infuriating blonds eating ramen floating through his head.