And here's Chaper 13. Just keeping the reunion rolling. Readers, Reviewers, thank you...My Girl by Alabama.
I have now reached over 1000 alerts for An Uzumaki Amonsgst the Dunes. That's a big milestone. Thanks to all of you who made it happen.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lee tried to run forward, but fell onto his backside and sprawled out on the ground.
"Darn, I knew I shouldn't have opened the gates for a simple race. But I wanted to impress Sakura-chan…"
TenTen glared at her fallen teammate and spuna kunai by its ring.
"We told you not to overexert yourself while you were racing. You knew we were going to try to spar him today, but you had to be hard headed."
"But it was a youthful race…"
"Lee, just lie back and be quiet. TenTen and I will need all our concentration."
Lee sighed and propped himself up against a tree. Sitting out of a fight sucked…
Naruto stretched himself out a little more and readied himself for whatever they threw at him.
"Sanzoku…"
Got it boss.
The members of Team Gai watched with wide eyes as the small red panda grew until he was the size of a horse…and then grinned at them.
Been a long time since I've been in a fight. Be gentle huh?
TenTen and Neji nodded dumbly. They thought it should be the other way around. The claws on the creature were nearly as long as one of TenTen's kunai. Naruto smiled and got into a low crouch. Without warning he shot forward and threw a kick at Neji's gut. The Hyuuga luckily had his Byakugan activated already and blocked the kick with his forearm. Bad idea, he realized, as Naruto's kicks were now on par with Lee's. Even blocking them hurt.
Naruto used the block to pivot off to the side and launch at punch at TenTen. The girl ducked out of the way and chucked a kunai at his chest. Naruto caught it as he backflipped away and came up swinging it on his finger.
"Come on you two, get serious. I've spent over a year training and I want to see what you can do."
"Well, you haven't exactly shown us anything yet that proves you've improved."
TenTen was about to respond but found herself blocking a large claw, courtesy of a red panda.
You're pretty cute you know…I'd much prefer the boss go out with someone who looks like a panda than that insane chick he's dating. But alas…let's see what you got.
TenTen growled and unsealed a sword from one of her scrolls.
"Bring it on furball."
Sanzoku raised his hackles and growled.
Now you remind me of her…
He leapt toward her and they began to fight in a ball of fur and steel, curses and shrieks.
Naruto grinned and formed a Rasengan in his right hand. Neji quirked an eyebrow and smirked.
"So you're able to make it with one hand now huh? That still doesn't prove anything."
"Perhaps…or maybe, as you're about to find out, it proves that I've accomplished a lot."
Naruto dashed forward and thrust the sphere toward Neji, who grimaced and began the preparations for his Kaiten. Naruto's grin was audible from the sky as he leapt into the air.
"I've always wanted to know what would happen if two spheres traveling in opposite directions met!"
Neji's eyes went wide with fear as Naruto plowed the rasengan into the kaiten, laughing like a maniac.
The resulting explosion blew them all in different directions.
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As Iruka and the group walked inside the classroom that Naruto usually occupied and introduced themselves to the class, they felt the shake from Naruto and Neji's explosion. Kiba grabbed the wall and looked around frantically.
"What the hell was that?"
The Konoha ninjas looked to the students and substitute for an answer and found…amused faces? The substitute chuckled and shook her head.
"That was probably just Uzumaki-san trying out a new jutsu. Don't worry; it's a common occurrence here in Suna. Besides, his chakra signature when he does things like this is large enough that everyone feels it."
"Yeah, Naruto-sensei is really strong. He's always doing something like this."
Iruka smiled and walked to the front of the class. He looked out over the small group and wondered what Naruto could possibly teach them. The rest of the Konoha nins stood against the wall behind him. This was Iruka's domain.
"Hello everyone. My name is Iruka and I was Naruto's old sensei in his academy days. These people behind me are his friends. We just want to know what Naruto is teaching you and what you think of him."
The students perked up when they heard Iruka introduce himself. One of the girls raised her hand. Iruka pointed to her.
"So you're Iruka-sensei? I always thought you'd be…bigger. Naruto-sensei talks about you all the time."
"He does?"
The girl nodded and a boy stood up.
"He's told us all about his time in the academy and how he was the dobe of his class. He's told us all about you too, how you used to get onto him for being dumb all the time and doing stupid things. He has a lot of respect for you."
Iruka beamed and sat down on the desk.
"Tell me what you think of Naruto."
The class immediately came to life. Iruka let some of his teaching ability come back out, showing the class where Naruto had gotten his intimidation tactics from.
"QUIET! Um…heh heh…anyway, we'll start over here. You on the end."
The boy stood and bowed.
"Naruto-sensei is a great teacher. He's taught us all how to do so much in just a year. We can all do henge, kawarimi, and bunshin without difficulty. And he's taught us morals and stuff like that."
Sakura snorted and everyone turned to look at her.
"Morals? Naruto? Like what?"
The boy glared and straightened his backbone. No one talked bad about his teacher.
"He's taught us that to be a traitor is the highest crime there is. That emotions are useful in battle, but should be carefully managed. And that you should always follow your own path. He teaches us more than the Leaf teaches their genin."
"Uh huh. Those are all basic skills that any ninja should know. What are you kids, twelve?"
"We're nine. We're a second year class. Come on guys, let's show them what else Naruto-sensei has taught us."
The Konoha ninjas watched with wide eyes as the students walked up the walls and stood on the ceiling with their arms crossed. That wasn't taught to second year students in Konoha. Iruka was the first to get over his shock.
"How long have you known how to climb walls?"
"Since the first year. Naruto-sensei is teaching us how to walk on water as well."
Iruka spluttered and looked back at his former students. If this is what Naruto was bringing to Suna in regards to teaching, then Konoha had a lot of catching up to do. He didn't miss the smiles on all the ninjas faces though. Naruto was actually a hell of a teacher.
"All right, you've proven your point. You can come down now."
The Suna students all flipped to the floor, landing lightly, and took their seats again. Iruka smiled at them and crossed his arms.
"You all have no idea how proud I am of Naruto, that he could take you all this far in so little time. I think…a revision of how we do things in Konoha may be in order. But that's for later. Tell me what he's been up to."
One of the girls in the back stood up.
"Naruto-sensei has been working to make Suna greener. He's always doing something. And while we're in class, he usually has his Kage Bunshin working on reading or working on jutsus. In the evenings, he spends time with Temari-sama if she's home."
The sound of the door opening was heard and everyone watched as Sakura walked out. Hinta looked at Ino and the blonde nodded, before smiling at the children.
"Sorry everyone. We have a bit of 'girl business' to take care of. We'll see the rest of you at lunch ok?"
The boys all nodded and Iruka frowned, but put his smile back on as he turned back to the children.
"Let's hear some more about Naruto-sensei huh?"
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"What the hell Sakura? Why'd you walk out?"
The pinkette turned to find the blonde and brunette following her. She sighed and pushed her hair back.
"I don't want to hear some little brats talk about how great Naruto's life is. I didn't come here to hear about how awesome it is that he lives in Suna."
"Sakura, I don't know why you're acting like this, but you need to stop. Naruto wasn't happy in Konoha. He wasn't accepted in Konoha. Why begrudge him happiness?"
Sakura turned to Hinata and frowned.
"I seem to remember Sasuke not being happy in Konoha, but everyone tried to bring him back, Naruto especially."
"He did that for you. And I'm pretty sure that Sasuke was very well accepted in Konoha. The question is, why are you and Kakashi being so resentful of Naruto?"
"Because he left! I don't have anyone anymore. My whole team is gone, left, just up and quit! What would you do if Kiba or Shino just up and left? Or Shikamaru and Chouji? What if they just said they weren't happy and left?"
Ino frowned and crossed her arms.
"But they aren't hated like Naruto was. They don't have a reason to leave. Damn it Sakura, why not just accept that he isn't coming back? Why not move on?"
They saw the tears piling up in Sakura's eyes as she tried to hold them back.
"He always told me I wouldn't have to do things alone. That he'd always be there. Well guess what? He's not there anymore and I'll never forgive him."
They watched as she stomped off somewhere and Ino heard Hinata sigh.
"I'm not happy he left either…but Naruto deserves happiness above all of us. I don't despise him for wanting to be wanted and loved."
Ino watched as Sakura faded into the heatwaves and turned around to go rejoin the group, Hinata following her. They'd have to find Sakura before lunch.
"Me either."
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TenTen panted as she laid on the ground. That summon of Naruto's sure could fight. It was like the thing was born for it. Hell, it had even thrown some water jutsus at her! She turned her head to find Neji and Naruto still fighting, although Neji was barely on his feet at this point. The pale-eyed man panted and settled back into his Jyuuken stance.
"Where do you keep getting energy from? It's like a repeat of our match from all those years ago. What pisses me off the most is that you're just a chuunin!"
Naruto grinned and took a step backward.
"Neji, you've always known I wasn't normal. And besides, genin, chuuning, jounin? They're just titles. I don't need to be a jounin to beat you. Let me show you one of my favorite new jutsu that I've learned."
Neji watched and prepared himself to use another Kaiten as Naruto began to spin himself like a top. From the middle of the whirlwind, he heard the blonde's voice.
"This is a little jutsu known as a tornado. It's not really a jutsu at all, merely spinning fast enough to allow my wind element to infuse around me and keep the air moving. The really fun part is that it picks up the sand around me and turns this fluctuation of air into a sandblaster, capable of peeling skin off the bones. Best part? Once I get the air flowing, its selfsustaining. No more effort needed on my part."
Neji's eyes widened as he saw the tornado begin to move forward.
"I'd use kaiten if I were you Neji."
With a curse under his breath, the Hyuuga began to spin furiously, actually feeling the impact as the tornado collided with his chakra shield. TenTen's and Lee's eyes widened as they felt the wind whip at them, opening small gashes in their arms and legs.
Neji felt like he was inside a blender. The air pressure was incredible. But it had to end at some point. He simply had to outlast Naruto with his Kaiten. He could do it.
Naruto's eyes shone with glee. He hadn't had this much fun in forever. Neji was proving to be a formidable opponent, just as he was back then. He gave the tornado a bit more of a push and watched as Neji exploded backward, skidding along the ground before coming to rest in the creek. Naruto rushed over to him immediately and laughed when he saw Neji's blissful look as the water caressed his wounds. The Hyuuga opened his eyes and let out a small chuckle.
"It seems, once again, you've left me laying on my back after a fight. Can we go to lunch now? I've worked up quite an appetite."
"Yeah, can we Naruto? Your summon really wore me out. Rest sounds good."
"Yosh! I, too, would like to rest. Perhaps I will feel like sparring you tomorrow."
Naruto sighed as he made some clones to carry them back to the compound.
"Sorry Lee, but tomorrow I'm talking to Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji I think. I don't know what they plan to do, but if Shikamaru wants a game, I imagine I'll be there quite a while. We'll see what I can arrange though."
Lee nodded wearily as he and his teammates were carried through the streets. At least lunch would be good.
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"And that's what's going on in Konoha, Gaara. You realize of course, that once I tell the council of all that Naruto has accomplished here, they will demand he be sent back to Konoha."
"Naruto is of the Sand now. I won't allow him to be sent back to a place that does not appreciate him, a place that would try to exploit him."
Tsunade frowned and bit her lip.
"I know that Gaara, but I'm just saying that that is what they'll do."
Jiraiya nodded and put in his two cents.
"The boy is the son of our greatest hero. I agree, it was stupid of the council to deny him his heritage, but they'll know he took his parents' scrolls when they hear of him using some of his father's skills."
Gaara leveled a glare at the Toad Sage and grunted.
"They don't know what was in those scrolls since Naruto burned them before he left. The only jutsus of his father's they would recognize are Hiraishin and the Rasengan. Anything else would be too obscure and undocumented."
"It doesn't matter Gaara. They want the Fourth's blood back in Konoha and they may get desperate to get it. I can't keep an eye on them all the time."
Gaara sighed and nodded. Why, oh why, did his friend have to be such a headache, even when he wasn't present? Gaara stood and made his way toward the door. Jiraiya raised an eyebrow and turned in his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"Lunch. I'm hoping Naruto is cooking for us and I like the way he cooks. Coming?"
Tsunade stood and began to follow after him and Jiraiya followed her with a grunt.
"The boy wasn't much of a cook when we were on our trip. I guess he cultivated it after he came back."
Gaara shrugged and nodded to those he passed in the street.
"I don't particularly care where he learned to cook. I just know he's a whole lot better than Temari or Kankurou when it comes to the culinary arts."
Tsunade chuckled and waved at a few people they passed. She elbowed Jiraiya when she saw him leering at some girls.
"I guess some things change. I miss him, you know. Konoha isn't the same without him."
"I'm sure it isn't. Things are much less quiet here now that the public knows what he can do. He's going to attempt to start farms soon, you know."
Tsunade smiled but on the inside she was calculating. Konoha was a big supplier of Suna's vegetable and fruit crops. If Naruto succeeded, then that would cut into their supply lines and profits. Jiraiya noticed how she got quiet and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't think about business right now Tsunade. You're here to visit, not worry about economic growth."
She gave him a curious look and her lips quirked downward.
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I've been around you long enough to know what you're thinking by your body language. Don't think about things like that. Besides, it'll take quite a while before he could have fully functioning farms."
Gaara chuckled as they reached the gates of his home and he pushed them open, allowing the other two inside first.
"It wouldn't take as long as you think. Naruto has become quite proficient with 'the green'. He can adapt several acres into pastureland in one day. The only thing that stops him is that he has to search for a water source that can support farms of a good size. It's been slow going."
Tsunade nodded her head, pleased to gain a little further insight into her favorite blonde's power.
"So that's why all of Suna doesn't look like Konoha."
"No, that's because Suna took a vote and we wanted to keep our heritage. We're the Village Hidden in the Sand. My people voted to only make parts of the village green. It was Naruto's idea to run a small river through the city and then branch several creeks off the side of it."
Jiraiya perked up when he heard that. Moving water required the use of a jutsu to make it bend to your will in so little time. Men alone couldn't do it.
"So Naruto can control water as well?"
"No, his summons control water to a frightening degree. That red panda of his is very good at it as well, though not as well as the King of the Raccoons."
Gaara trailed off as a screeching voice floated through the air.
"Damn it Chouji! Give me that pot! Naruto made enough stew for everyone! Don't be such a pig!"
"Back off Ino! He'll make more! This pot is mine!"
Tsunade slapped a hand over her face and dragged it downwards while Jiraiya laughed loudly. Gaara just quirked an eyebrow and grinned.
"That's nothing. You should see Temari and Kankurou fight over desert. She tried to stab him one time with a fork when he went for the last piece of Naruto's cake."
"She's very…protective of him, isn't she?"
"Jealous, is the better word I believe."
Gaara opened the door and stepped inside to the madness.
Naruto stood at the stove and three clones of him stood chopping up vegetables and meat furiously. Temari sat beside him on the counter with one leg thrown over the other, chatting as he stirred the pot. Kankurou sat on one of the couches in the living room, fiddling with a puppet as Shino sat close by, observing the puppeteer curiously.
Hinata sat close to Kiba, patting Akamaru on the head while the dog-like young man armwrestled Lee, who was spouting that he wouldn't lose because he was the more youthful of the two.
Shikamaru was holding back an irate Ino, who was trying to throttle an extremely happy Chouji as he cradled a pot of stew like it was a newborn baby. You could almost hear him growl when someone got too close to that pot.
Neji and TenTen sat on a couch by themselves off to the side, still nursing their bumps and bruises from the earlier spar turned all out brawl. Sanzoku was sprawled out on the cushion beside her. Tsunade saw their state and went over to heal them and glean any information she could off of them.
Jiraiya saw Sakura and Kakashi off in a corner; Kakashi's nose in a book and Sakura throwing Naruto and Temari glances when she thought no one was looking. Iruka sat at the table with a pondering look on his face.
Jiraiya crossed the room and stood beside Kakashi, who cut his eyes to the older man and went back to reading.
Gaara walked calmly through the throng and sat down beside Lee, who looked at him quizzically and flexed his free arm.
"Ah, Gaara-san! Come to see my youthfulness as I defeat Kiba?"
"Hardly. You're just one of the few I can stand here."
Lee blinked a few times and slammed Kiba's hand down on the table without looking. Kiba growled and jumped to his feet.
"That isn't fair man! He beat me without even paying attention!"
He was largely ignored, except by Akamaru who barked at him.
"I am not a sore loser."
Another bark.
"Yeah, well…who asked you?"
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Tsunade knelt before TenTen and began to heal her sore bones and bruised and cut legs and arms. The girl sighed in relief and leaned heavily against Neji, who groaned at the contact. Tsunade looked up at the two and grinned.
"So…got into a fight with Naruto, huh?"
The two nodded.
"How'd he do?"
"He made me fight his summon while he went one on one against Neji."
"What about Lee?"
"Lee fell over before we even got started. Idiot shouldn't have used the gates in that race."
"Hmm. So who won?"
"Naruto."
"How?"
Neji winced when TenTen bumped one of his bruises but answered the Hokage.
"He used elemental manipulation to form a tornado around his body and ground it against my Kaiten. The opposing forces blew me away and into the creek. He shrugged it off and laughed at me."
Tsunade nodded and turned to TenTen, whose injuries were now healed.
"And you?"
"I lost to his summon. That damned rat kept pounding away at me."
I'm not a rat; I'm a red panda.
TenTen glared down at the red ball of fur beside her and huffed.
"Furball."
Why is it that all the human girls I meet don't like me? Aren't you bitches supposed to like cute, cuddly things?
TenTen's eyes gleamed as she fished a kunai from her pouch.
"I suggest you start running."
Sanzoku squeaked loudly and bolted for Naruto's bedroom, slamming the door behind him with his tail. TenTen beat on the door, cursing the whole time. Neji sighed and let the Hokage deal with his injuries.
"He beat you again huh?"
"Yes. At least this time there was no audience to see me get humiliated."
Tsunade nodded and finished up just when Naruto called that lunch was ready. She wondered how it would taste.
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Jiraiya sidled up alongside Kakashi and stared out over the group as he spoke softly.
"Are you still upset with my apprentice?"
"Mmmm."
"I expect an answer with words Kakashi."
"Mmmmm."
Jiraiya grit his teeth and reached out with his one arm and snatched Kakashi's book away. The masked ninja narrowed his eyes and held his hand out.
"Give me back my book please."
"Not until I get a satisfactory answer from you."
Kakashi sighed and leaned back against the wall.
"Yes, I still resent him for leaving."
"Why?"
"Because all my life people have left me and I expected Naruto to stay. He was a ninja of the Leaf and he willingly left for a desolate wasteland like Suna."
"It's not so desolate anymore. Naruto has seen to that."
"And without him they wouldn't have this. Now, my book please."
Jiraiya scowled and handed the book back. He pushed himself off the wall when Naruto said it was time for lunch. Looking back over his shoulder, he leveled disappointed eyes at the Copy Ninja and his final remaining student.
"I'm disappointed in both of you."
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Naruto beamed as everyone settled in with a bowl of stew (Chouji with his half-eaten pot) and waited for their reaction. Temari saw the anxiety in his eyes and giggled. You'd have thought it was a life or death situation. Everyone took a taste test at the same time…and immediately began to destroy the contents of their bowl. Kakashi was the first to finish as usual and had to admit that it was delicious. Jiraiya's earlier words echoed in his mind. He put on his eye smile and turned to his former student. The least he could do was be polite.
"That was very good, Naruto."
The blonde beamed at the praise and thanked each of his former comrades in turn as they expressed their thoughts on it. He was just about to begin washing the dishes when the girls grabbed him. Hinata smiled and pushed him toward the table.
"We'll do that. You sit. Shikamaru wants a game with you."
Naruto looked across the table to where Shikamaru sat before a shougi board, looking hungrily at his opponent. He smiled and sat down in front of the Nara.
"Well, let's get this over with then. Chouji already got his wish and Ino never came up with anything other than a date, so let's play."
Everyone gathered round as the two began their game, never noticing the three clones sneaking upstairs. One clone whispered to the others once they were safely in Naruto's bedroom.
"Ok, the boss said to read some books on shougi and dispel when we'd read a good bit on strategy."
The other two nodded and sat down with their respective books.
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Shikamaru was sweating bullets. He hadn't had a challenge like this since Asuma and he was enjoying himself, despite wracking his brain constantly. Whenever he'd think up a strategy for how Naruto was playing at the moment, the blonde would change his game up. It was maddening.
Naruto smirked as he went through the paces. Shikamaru was in a corner and in just three turns, he'd have him. One turn. Two turns. Three.
"Checkmate."
Shikamaru sighed and looked at Naruto with a newfound respect.
"That…was troublesome…but it was fun. Let's do it again someday."
Naruto nodded and looked at the clock. It was nearly ten at night. They'd been playing for over nine hours. He glanced over to where Neji and TenTen were leaned against each othe snoring lightly, exhausted from the day's activities.
"Guess it's time to sleep. You guys can go back to your hotel and take the lovebirds with you. I'll meet Team Eight at the property tomorrow at dawn. Don't be too late."
The Konoha ninjas stood and said their goodbyes while Lee picked up Neji and Sakura hefted TenTen. Team Eight promised to be at the property right after dawn and bid Naruto goodnight. The blonde left some clones to clean up the kitchen and went to shower after saying goodnight to Gaara and Kankurou.
Naruto crawled into bed and laid there for awhile staring at the ceiling when his door opened up and he saw a familiar silhouette walk to the end of his bed and crawl on. Sanzoku looked up over his tail and sighed.
All right, I'm going, I'm going.
Naruto chuckled as his summon left the room and he lifted the covers for Temari to crawl under. She snuggled up to his side and rubbed her leg up and down his, trying to warm herself up. Naruto shivered at the contact. She was clad only in panties and a t-shirt, her favorite nightwear.
"If your brothers find out you're sleeping with me at night like this, they'll skin me alive, you know that right?"
Temari just nuzzled her nose further into his neck.
"Ah, they'll be fine. I'm a big girl and you know where your boundaries lie."
Naruto nodded and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.
"I think…I'll start on my house after everyone leaves. I'll need help with the décor you know."
Temari smiled as she drifted off to sleep, the rise and fall of Naruto's chest helping lure her to dreamland. Helping design the house huh? Sounded like plans for the future to her…
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"So they're all in Suna huh?"
"Yes, all of the ones you know have gathered there for some reason. Perhaps to visit him."
The dark haired man nodded and gestured for the woman to leave and she did so reluctantly. He put his chin to his hand in a thinking pose and narrowed his eyes.
"Perhaps it is time I visited the one who considers me a brother. A reunion would be nice…to finish that which is left undecided."
The dark haired man chuckled. Perhaps it was time to go to Suna on a whim…
Dun Dun Dun...Let me know what you think...