Author's Notes: Are you ready for some laughter? Well you better be because this chapter is dedicated to episode 101 where Team 7 tries their ninja best to see what lies behind their sensei's mask. I'm getting excited about this one!
blackhole, yeah Naruto was mean but wouldn't you if you were in his shoes? He's not naturally mean he's just really outspoken about things he doesn't see as right. Like Tsunade throwing her weight around because she's the granddaughter of the first. Yeah big deal, as if lineage makes one to be a good ruler (rolls eyes) Okay sorry I'm ranting, glad you enjoyed it!
DarkRavie, I love you!! And I hope you're ready to laugh at my pitiful attempt at a humorous chapter
Zane Makura, thanks for helping me with my mistakes. I went back to correct it (least I think I did) and glad you liked the chapter. Wish I could always update this fast with my other fics. Hope you enjoy this one!
dhh, yes I made sense!! I think I have one more chapter to bash later on but tell me what you think of this chapter and if I did it any justice please
Disclaimer/Warnings: From now on I will only post these on the first chapter. I don't want to fill up the chapters with these things and annoy you, the readers. Sound fair?
"Family Ties"
By: Beloved Shadow of Light
+ What Lies Behind the Mask? +
"C'mon!"
"Iie."
"Onegai?"
"Iie!"
"I know you wanna know!"
"What part of 'iie' do you not understand?!"
"Gah you're hopeless!"
"Me?! You're the one acting like such closet hentai!"
"It's just a mask!!"
It was almost funny to see Haku eyes dart back and forth between his siblings as they argued. Sadly his head was saying otherwise; he sighed deeply and rubbed his temples with his fingers, trying to ignore the yelling going back and forth. It was enough to make him physically ill.
"Quiet down, dobe." Brown eyes opened in time to watch Sasuke and Sakura slowly walk up to them but the young teen smiled when his blonde brother refused to answer to the taunt. The Uchiha narrowed his eyes, still not use to the new "dobe" but the Haruno girl knew better than to strike him. Last she tried to hit him she found herself flat on her back with a foot on her chest, threatening to do some serious damage; he warned her the next time she tried that, she would be dead and it would be ruled in self-defense.
"For Inari-sama's sake why do you want to know why he hides over two-third's of his face?" Shiruba sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose tightly.
"Because I heard that he never takes it off. Ever! No one ever sees him eat and apparently he even sleeps in it. What's he hiding? Maybe he has fish lips? Or beaver teeth? Maybe something really creepy!"
The three genins couldn't help but imagine their sensei with giant lips, huge buck-teeth, or even the world's tiniest mouth. The unfortunate Momochi boy coughed as he swallowed his rock candy at the wrong moment but managed to get it down and waved that he was okay. Even he was getting curious now!
"... You've been sneaking ramen with extra wasabi sauce before bed again." She sighed when he refused to meet her eyes.
"That's not the point! C'mon ane-chan, it might be fun!"
"..." It did sound fun. And it would help her quell her urge to track the thief and skin him alive for stealing her inheritance. "Hatake Kakashi is a famed jounin, how are a bunch of genins going to get him to take his mask long enough to see his face?"
"I-I don't want to be a part of this!" Sakura yelled out loud.
"Shut up you half-wit. If emo-gaki says yes you'll join in a heartbeat," Naruto snapped at her. He ignored the hurt look in her eyes and turned to his other teammate. "I know you want to know why he always hides his face."
"... Fine. If only to get you off my back." He wouldn't say it out loud but he was curious. "How do we do this?"
"Let's try a bowl of ramen and say it's our treat," the blonde grinned. He was hungry and he was really craving some miso right now.
"Same 'ole Naruto-kun," Haku sighed and licked his fingers clean of the slightest sticky candy. "Have you forgotten Hidama-san put you on a diet?"
"But Haku! I'm hungry!"
"Look, I'll take the emo-teme and see if the closet hentai can come with us for some ramen," she said and began walking off, dragging Sasuke by the back of his shirt.
"I can walk, damnit!!" he yelled but he couldn't get out of her grip least the shirt rip or he slip out and he was not about to do that with so many of his hormonal-driven fanatics around.
The rest of the group quietly sipped some green tea, sitting inside the dumping shop. It had been almost a full thirty minutes since the two had left but they looked up when they heard yelling. They watched as a harried-looking Sasuke came in, followed by a wary Shikamaru and Choji. Before they could ask what happened Shiruba came storming in and immediately plopped on the bench next to the blonde where she snatched the dangos on the plates and ate them, muttering to herself.
"What happened?" Sakura asked quietly, watching as she stabbed the skewers into the table.
"Ino," Shikamaru said simply. No sooner had he spoke did Ino come in and she looked worse than Sasuke! Her clothes were tore, body covered in dirt, and as she got closer they could see noodles and chopsticks in her hair! She whimpered and hid behind Choji when the silver-haired girl glared at her.
Naruto blinked and looked at his sister. "What happened, ane?"
30 minutes ago...
"Here you go!" Teuchi said with a smile as he placed the large bowl before Kakashi.
"This is unusual... why are you treating me to ramen?" he asked the two youths at his side.
Shiruba smiled as she reached for a pair of chopsticks. "Thank Naruto-kun, it was his idea."
He couldn't help but smile, feeling touched. "Why isn't he here?"
"Okaasan put him on a strict diet which means no gorging on ramen alone. Now hurry and eat or else it'll get cold!" she chided. Sasuke was silently but glared at the bowl before feeling fingers ruthlessly pinch his leg. Grinding his teeth he got his own chopsticks and quietly broke them apart.
"... I'm getting the distinct feeling that, you two are up to something," he said casually.
The Uchiha sprayed broth over the counter, coughing and looked at his teacher in shock. "I don't want anything to do with her! She's cruel and rude and undignified!" He yelped in pain when the rest of his hot soup fell right into his lap, burning his groin and staining the pristine white shorts.
"Oops! I'm so clumsy!" The girl was smiling in an apologetic manner but she was smirking as well.
"Okay... might as well enjoy mine then." To be honest the barbeque pork did look good and he really couldn't remember the last time he had ramen. He moved slowly grabbed a pair of sticks, broke them apart, and reached up to pull down his mask just when disaster struck.
"Sasuke-kun!!" A warning too late as Ino launched herself onto the Uchiha's back, sending his chest and head to hit the counter hard. Choji planted himself blocking their view of the jounin, and Shikamaru--looked very out of place with a stupid grin on his face.
"Get off, Ino!"
"Sasuke-kun, you do care!!"
"Hey I'll take that ramen!
"Where's the other two?"
"Move you idiots!!" Shiruba yelled and shoved the Nara out of the restaurant, literally wedged herself between Yamanaka and Uchiha, and shoved Akimichi face-first into his bowl. She watched in disbelief as Hatake clasped his hands together, sticks settled over his empty bowl.
"Arigato for the meal; it was delicious," he said to the two cooks.
"... I missed?" the merc asked in disbelief.
Sasuke gasped as he finally lifted his head and blinked at the looks on Teuchi and Ayame's faces. "Oy, look." They had looks that sparkled like they had seen the most beautiful and wonderful man the world has seen.
"Damnit I knew I should have brought my camera!" she growled as she continued to lean against the Uchiha so his chest was one more flushed against the counter.
Flustered that this new girl was throwing herself over her precious Sasuke-kun, Ino grabbed the girl's jacket, trying to pull her off but she didn't budged. "Get off him you whore!!" Picking up the girl's bowl of uneaten ramen she dumped it on her back, the heavy sauce staining the stylish fox on the bowl. She smirked when the girl tensed and got off, removing her coat and looked at it, thinking she would burst into tears she was taken back when the girl looked at her with a gaze that would kill.
"You did not just pour my chicken ramen with extra spicy soy sauce on my jacket, the same jacket I got from my godfather, one of my most precious items, and waste my bowl of ramen that I already paid for, and call me a whore."
"... I..." She screamed in terror as the girl pounced with murder in her eyes.
"I tried to skin her but vanity bitch landed on lazy-bones and Kakashi pulled me off but before the ama could bolt I grabbed her by her hair and tried to drown her in another bowl of ramen," she said with a huff. "By that time he left."
"Where's your coat now?" Haku asked as he motioned for some more tea and dangos.
"Ayame said she knows a family remedy to get the stain out and would have it ready in a few days. First my sword now my jacket, this isn't fair!" she said with a whine before letting her head drop to the table with a loud thud. "... Owie..."
Sighing Shikamaru nodded to them. "Uchiha told us what was going on. All of this to see Kakashi's face?"
"Hai. It was my idea but I just want to know why he hides it."
"But doesn't that big guy with the sword wear a mask, too?" Choji asked as he alternated from stuffing his face of dangos and tea.
"Only in public," Haku explained. "I asked him once and he said it was for a sentimental reason."
"Maybe Kakashi-san does the same thing as well," Ino asked meekly.
"Why don't you tail him?" Everyone looked at the Nara as he yawned, looking bored out of his skull. The group blinked and before he knew it they were gone, save only himself, Choji, and Shiruba. His best friend was too busy eating dangos and the girl still had her head on the table.
"I don't care what he looks like, I'm going home." Sitting up the boys stared at the large red mark on her forehead even as she stumbled out. Only then did the bill come and they looked at each other. They didn't have any money.
--
Kakashi frowned as he finally got back to his apartment, setting the bag of groceries on his desk. Things had been pretty strange today but he couldn't place his finger on it. First, Naruto had been tailing him all over town before he vanished, watching in amusement as the blonde tried searching for him. Sakura had tried spying on him when he went to the Memorial Stone but he had substituted his body with that of a scarecrow and left. Second, Ino called him to help with the family's shop while asking what type of flowers he was allergic to. After barely being buried in a mountain of flowers he headed to the training ground only to nearly get hit by some of Tenten's runaway weaponry. She claimed it was an accident but he knew through Gai that the genin could hit a target 10 out of 10 times. And earlier a large torrent of water tried to soak him but he had dodged out of the way. Unfortunately the same thing could not be said for the Hyūga heiress who had been behind him. No less than a second later Zabuza's boy came rushing out, apologizing to the surprised girl. This certainly beat any of his excuses by far!
"What could it be?" he asked himself. Shrugging he went about to putting the food away in the mini-fridge in his small one room apartment. "What next, a rain of toads?" He looked up when he heard a knocking on his door. Closing the fridge he walked up to the door and opened it. "Well this is a nice surprise."
Hidama said nothing but accepted the invitation to enter his apartment. She took a brief look around before turning to face him, arms crossed under her chest. In place of her usual attire she wore a tanzen kimono jacket only the material looked lighter yet more durable that those that spas had for their customers. "I'm only here because I want you to keep an eye on my kit for me for the next several days, maybe longer."
"May I ask why?"
"Sunagakure is begging for Gaara to return but I am not letting him go back alone. Zabuza is going to be busy so he won't be home very much. I asked Iruka if he could help but he has his hands full with teaching classes and working in the mission's office even with Shiruba popping in to help time to time. Haku is being evaluated to be a medic-in-training at the hospital as well."
"I see. Naruto is part of my team and I don't need you to tell me to take care of my students." That was a wrong choice of words as she glared at him, her hands sliding to plant themselves firmly on her hips.
"Listen well, Hatake; after the way you've been treating Naruto-kun I'm shocked that he's giving you another chance at redeeming yourself in his eyes and he never gives anyone a second chance. Before you ignored him in favor of the Uchiha and even Haruno but when Itachi said he was looking for him you started to train them on equal footing. The only reason you're doing this is because of the Yondaime Hokage but that is more harm than good. You had better pray he does not know about your guilt trip and you sure as hell better make sure he does not get hurt because of your negligence, or else I will hunt you down like the dog you are and make your very existence a nightmarish hell."
"Is that a threat?" He gasped and grabbed at her arm as she ruthlessly wrapped her fingers around his neck, tightening and proving that she could crush his throat if she wanted.
"I never make threats. By the time I return I expect to see my kit as I left or better. Am I clear?" she demanded in a low growl. He couldn't speak but choked out a yes and was released, leaving him gasping heavily for breath. Hidama moved around him and headed for the door but paused and said over her shoulder, "We all wear masks that hide our true self but you would know that better than anyone, Ōkami."
Kakashi stood there for a few moments, rubbing his chest. He glanced over at the two-drawer chest, knowing that hidden in the back of a drawer lay the box where his ANBU gear had been kept but he couldn't remember the last time anyone called him by his codename much less don the porcelain mask. His eye shifted over to the two framed photos before reaching up to touch his slanted hitachi, feeling his scarred eye burning once more.
--
Following morning was bright and Team 7 watched as Naruto hugged his mother and brother good-bye. The family each took turns embracing the young red-head and the pale woman, wishing them good luck on their journey. By looks alone Gaara didn't appear that he wanted to go but he wouldn't be going alone.
"I don't know how long I'll be but I'll send a message once we arrive. Take care, all of you," Hidama said to them.
"Be careful." With a nod the two walked off and within moments their forms vanished from sight.
Haku sighed deeply and tuned to the blonde, nodding. "Naruto, let me know when you get back."
"Promise."
Shiruba smiled but looking at the sun's position her eyes widen and she cursed. "I'm late, Iruka-jikei is gonna be so mad!" Kissing her brother on the cheek she dashed off, saying she would see him when he got back. Zabuza gave a low chuckle but nodded to him.
"Don't forget your training."
"I won't." With a wave the team headed off. A relatively easy mission; a farm needing some hands to help with some chores for a day or so. As Kakashi led the team off for their mission the three genin shared looks. Their mission was to see what lay hidden under their teacher's mask once and for all!
In the distance three strange figures watched as the team headed down the road. One of the men, apparently the leader, narrowed his eyes. He had finally found that shinobi who had made him a laughing stock and ruined his chance at true love!
"Fate has drawn us together again," he said to himself. "I will get revenge for what you did to me long ago!"
"Aniki, why exactly do you want revenge?" one of the men asked. What he got was a punch to the back of his head.
"Baka! You forgot why?! It was during the spring, three years ago..."
"Oh that time!" How could they forget the way they had been humiliated by him? They were the famous San Moya Shinobi and not only did they ruin their brother's love affair they humiliated them! It had taken forever to get down from the tree and finally track this Hatake Kakashi down.
"But aniki has gotten stronger and he's gonna beat 'im one-on-one."
"What a drama." That earned him another punch to the head.
"Baka! I'm not doing something dangerous like that!"
"Nani?" Wasn't that the whole point?
"Iie. If I were to get him, I'd get him from the shadows--secretly." He gave a rather stupid looking grin to the sky as his brother looked at him in disbelief. How was that going to work?
--
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!"
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all took several steps back from the strange woman who ran the onsen spring as she repeated herself whiling skittering side to side. She almost resembled a fiddler crab the way she kept on going from side to side. Kakashi just smiled and pushed them in.
"May as well enjoy this before we get to the farm. I can guarantee that this will be one dirty job," he told them with a hidden smile. No one seemed to notice a barrel watching them from a short distance away.
The team was led to one of the meeting rooms and was greeted with a massive feast that tempted more than one's taste, smell, and sight. Everything was exquisitely prepared they all savored the image before kneeling on the cushions and prepared to dig in. Naruto grinned as he picked up the polished chopsticks and picked up a nice-looking piece of Karei Shio-yaki.
"This looks delicious," he said and popped it into his mouth but as he chewed he felt a strange tingling on his tongue. "Tastes kinda funny," he admitted.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.
"I can't explain it just, doesn't settle right." He frowned and quietly set his chopsticks down as he got to his feet. "I think... I'm going to be sick..." Running out of the room he leaned against the doors, holding his stomach. Something did not settle right and for a minute he wondered if maybe it had been food poisoning. Maybe the fish had gone bad?
"Doubt it gaki," a voice said from deep within.
'Fox?'
"The fish was fine, and quite tasty, but someone poisoned it."
'Then everyone...' His eyes widen and without warning slammed the doors open and kicked the table up, sending all the food to spill onto the floor along with the tea and sake. Before his teammates could yell at him he said them it had been poisoned.
Kakashi frowned but looked at him, noting how he was sweating lightly and how his did seem a bit pale. "Are you alright?"
"Hai. I think so." Would he be alright?
'I got it. Not a deadly poison but it would make life unbearable for you. I'm expelling it now but don't say anything to that woman. Something smelled off about her.'
'Arigato.' A growling purr as he sighed deeply. "If anyone needs me I'm gonna use the hot spring."
"Naruto wait, if it was poisoned how come it didn't kill you?" the kuniochi-in-training asked.
"Guess I was lucky."
A short while later the blonde was soaking in one of the hot springs, sighing in content. The water did feel good and already he felt better. He had run into the hostess just in time to see that she and her ladies were bringing in a feast. He had asked about the feast that had waiting in the room but she said that she had been in the kitchen cooking this up just for them. For the sake of testing his theory he tried a sushi roll and found it was quiet delicious and not a single trace of the poison was anywhere near. Of course the hostess gave him a small plate to enjoy and took the rest to his team. He finished it with a smile and placed his clothes in a basket before wrapping a towel around his waist and entered the waters.
'Why would someone try to poison us?'
'Not sure but keep an eye open. I've noticed three new scents that aren't too good at hiding their presences.'
'Hmm... should I tell my team?'
'I wouldn't be then again I'm not into teams. Enjoy yourself gaki, you'll be expected to do a lot of work when you reach the farm.'
'Hai.' He smiled as he felt the demon kitsune settled into slumber. He didn't have to but he did help him. Everyday he wondered more and more why he continued to protect him. Was it because he was forced to live in his body or maybe something more? Holding his breathe he dunked his head under the water, letting a line of bubbles out but sat up when he heard someone enter the spring. Hair in his eyes he couldn't see who it was. "Sasuke, that you?"
"It's me. Came to see how you were doing."
"Kakashi-sensei?" Running his fingers through his hair be blinked and watched as the heavy mist from the springs temporarily clouded his vision but the hope of seeing his sensei's face was dashed when he saw he had a towel around his face, his headband still slanted over his eye.
"Looks like you were right about the poisoning," he sat as he lowered his lean body deeper into the water, feeling the heat seep in. "The hostess brought in the food and when she saw the mess she was genuinely shocked. After righting the table they set the food before us and disposed of the mess with apologies."
"Good thing it wasn't lethal then," he said with a sigh and leaned his head back. This did feel nice but he knew once they were done they had to leave.
The jounin watched his student but instead of seeing his former sensei he saw the boy. When did he change into someone completely different? But as he studied his form he felt himself growing a bit hot under the proverbial collar and it had nothing to do with the springs. Young, lithe, sun-kissed skin covering every inch of his body, hair so bright it mirrored the sun, eyes so blue and full of emotion one could drown in them, and a passionate heart that would challenge any and all that sought to hurt his loved ones. Oh he knew that once Naruto grew older he would be a force to reckon with and have admirers desperately seeking his attention. He would have that now if the villagers weren't so blinded by hate that knew not of. He wondered for a moment just who he would count himself among.
The two soaked there for a while but far too soon for Kakashi's liking did the blonde slowly open his eyes. "I'm going to get out now before I get dizzy from the heat," he said with a serene smile. But Uzumaki had stayed in for a bit too long and as he made his way to get out of the spring he slipped and fell. Luckily Hatake was there to catch him and helped him sit on the edge. "I take it back, I am dizzy."
"Take a minute to cool out before getting up, alright?" He could feel how flushed his skin was but as he stood there before him, hands resting on strong yet vulnerable shoulders he was tempted to tilt his face up and taste a sample of his kiss. How would he taste? Like the miso ramen he consumed every day? Or like the sun and sea? Or maybe something so unique, so different he knew that only one taste could and would never be enough? Instead he drew his hands back and settled into the water just as the doors slid open.
Sasuke blinked as he saw Naruto sitting on the edge. "You're alright," he said simply.
"Hai... I feel better." Moving slowly he stepped from the spa and nodded to him. "I'm gonna go cool off." Waving to them he left the spring and went to get his clothes. Closing the doors he sighed, wondering if the weird hostess had something cold for him to drink when he heard a splash. He just smiled.
'Looks like Sasuke found out that Kakashi hides his face even in an onsen.'
Some time later the group bowed to the hostess who did her impression of a fiddler crab as she said good-bye to them over and over and over and over and over. Once more they seemed obvious to a barrel with three pair of feet following after them. They arrived at a large ranch run by a sweet couple who needed a few more hands today to help with some chores. Kakashi briefed them on what was needed to be done and dismissed them as he went about his job of repairing the fence.
"Have fun guys," Naruto said and walked off.
"N-Naruto! What about Kakashi-sensei's mask?!" Sakura yelled after him.
"Try if you want, I'll be working." To be honest he really did want to lie under the mask but, he had a feeling it might have to do with a rumor he had heard from several of the elite a while back so he asked Sarutobi-ojisan about it and he told him that he had died long before he was born. A man who failed in his duties as a shinobi to save his comrades at one of the worse moments that ultimately caused a great loss to Konoha. Outcasted he killed himself and left behind a son who grew to loath his family name. Naruto argued about it but he learned that every mission given out is a risk of only one member of the team making it out alive long enough for their village to gain what is needed. He thirteen-year-old blonde may not have been the brightest boy that loved but he was far from being stupid. The man who had committed suicide was Hatake Sakumo; and the son he left behind was Hatake Kakashi.
An hour later he straightened and grinned at his Kage Bushin he summoned to help. Apparently several of the horses had gotten loose and the owners of the ranch could not have them running loose. The horses were not used to strangers so it took a great deal of coaxing and clever tricks to catch them but while those clones worked others went about fixing the hole in the fence that had escaped through so by the time they were done the animals could be set loose. He thanked them and allowed them to poof out, taking a moment to watch them run around freely. They always looked so free and when they ran they looked to almost be flying without wings. Sighing he turned to the barn. Knowing his teammates they would be doing whatever to get Kakashi's mask off which meant their chores were going undone. And he knew the stables needed to be cleaned out so he headed there.
Halfway through he heard footsteps but that didn't stop him from working. Sighing he closed the door to the stall, smiling at the horse as it pawed at the fresh hay scattered along the floor with feed and water buckets full he was taken by surprise when he felt hands push his hitachi down over his eyes, hands turning him around and being pressed into the door as lips took his in a powerful kiss. He struggled for a moment but if this was someone after him they wouldn't be kissing him. He couldn't help but moan as his hands were held above his head with one hand, the other sliding under his shirts to stroke at his sweaty skin. A fully clothed body pressed into his, a leg slipping between his and pressing up against his crotch caused another moan to issue from his lips only to be swallowed and another follow. The genin couldn't remember feeling something this passionate in his short life but he did realize that this, was his official first kiss. The hand reached further up his chest, flicking at his nipple, making him gasp and allow his attacker's tongue into his mouth. He groaned and bucked his hips, pressing his leg into the man's groin, making him press harder into him, into the stable door, tongues dueling one another in a passionate duel but it lasted too soon for the young teen. The kiss broke off, leaving him panting for heated breath, moaning as he felt that wet tongue lick away the sweat along the side of his neck then pulled back as quickly as he had struck. Naruto pulled his headband down to hang around his neck but there was no sign of the man and he knew it was a man but he just didn't know how. Sliding to the floor he sat there, panting deeply and touching his kiss-swollen lips that continued to tingle pleasantly.
'That was--incredible,' he thought to himself, taking a moment to close his eyes.
"Naruto! Hey-oh, there you are!" Sakura entered the stable and looked at all the happy animals and clean stalls. "Wow. You got all this done on your own?"
"... huh? Oh y-yeah..." he said, till a bit dazed.
"Are you alright?" she asked, kneeling down when she got close enough. "You're soaked in sweat. And you looked kinda flush." She reached out to touch his forehead but pulled her hand back when he raised his hand to stop her.
"Something you needed?" he asked, glad he was done here.
"Right. Kakashi-sensei sent me to find you and ask if you were done. Sasuke and I diminished but we failed in getting his mask off. But we did find out these three weird ninjas have been falling us ever since we leaf Konoha."
"Huh. They must be the ones that poisoned the food then," he mumbled to himself.
"Nani?"
"Nothing. So we're done here?"
"Hai."
"Great 'cuz I'm beat." Getting up he retrieved his jacket and walked with his teammate to meet up with the rest of their group.
The three brothers from Moyagakure were tied together rather comically and swung back and forth, crying pitifully. Three pathetic fools whose sad attempt at posing as shinobi had failed miserably that they were lucky it was Kakashi they were after and not someone like, say Zabuza. The couple and the few ranch hands they had thanked them and saw the team off as they headed home. While the raven-haired boy and pink-haired girl mumbled miserably at their failed mission of seeing what hid behind their sensei's mask the blonde was still thinking about his kiss. It sparked a jolt of lust and passion he didn't know until now. It also made those god awful books that the ero-sannin forced him to read pale in comparison. Before he knew it they were home and the team split up. He quietly headed home, feeling the carefully made traps and seals recognize him as belonging and went to his room. Dropping his pack down he opened his window and breathed in the scent of the vast forests of the village but as he closed his eyes he thought back to the kiss and how he wished her could have been able to run his fingers through his hair, to hold him tightly and press his hips into his-
'Iie, iie gotta stop,' he told himself and gathered his towel. He really needed a cold shower. As he turned away he missed the figure watching from a safe distance away in a tree, watching as he undressed and disappeared into the bathroom. He reached up, touching his lips, savoring the taste of taking his first kiss and smiled. Pulling the mask back up he vanished but there was nothing keeping the smile off his lips.
Author's Notes: C'mon, do I really have to spell out who took Naruto's first kiss? And before anyone reminds me I know that Naruto's first kiss in the series was when a kid stood up, bumping Naruto into Sasuke but that was an accident and in my book doesn't really count. Besides, this is my fic and I wanted his first real kiss to be hot and passionate. Yeah I used the filler episode but I found it funny and it actually worked well because Gaara had to disappear for a bit. Oh he'll return I guarantee that. Now, laughter, not so much but just sit back and use your imagination. I could really picture some of the rookie 9 trying to get that mask off in their own way. Okay it is late, I am tired, and I am closing this chapter. Complaints, compliments, your thoughts, leave a review. Next chapter or two will follow the Tea Country arch and will be introducing Morino Idate. As you can guess Shiruba, my OC, is not gonna be happy when he arrives. It episodes 102 to 106 and then that's about it for the fillers and closer to my version of the Shippūden episodes. So later and good evening/morning to you all!!
Ōkami: Wolf
San Moya Shinobi: Three Haze Ninjas
Karei Shio-yaki: Flat Fish with Salt
Moyagakure: Village Hidden in the Haze
((Side note, the hostess of the onsen spring is called Okami which means "hostess" and not to be confused with the wolf. Sav'y?) Sorry watching all "Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy" one after the other to get this chapter done )