Hotshot: Hey guys, sorry I haven't been updating a whole lot, please forgive me! Anyways, here is a short chapter!


Naruto, Not Naruko

Chapter 4

It had been a few weeks since that day Naruto saw Gaara and his siblings and not much had changed. Everything is still normal- bullies, goofing around with friends and so on. The siblings usually keep to themselves- well Gaara does. Kankuro usually flirts with most girls he sees and Temari started to hang out with the gang- mostly Shikamaru though. The two didn't talk to Naruto that much and he didn't mind at all. Hardly anyone outside the group talk to him.

Naruto was currently at the mall with Sakura- a friend from school who he didn't see much off, she was one of Naruto's first friends and at the start of high school, started to date Sasuke. He was happy for them, though he did envy them like he does with Kiba and Hinata.

"Naruto." Sakura piped up, making Naruto look at her.

"Yeah, Sakura-chan?"

"Are you ready for that annual camping trip?"

"Of course!" Naruto grinned.

The annual camping trip was something Iruka came up with a few years ago. It was a camping trip to a nearby camping ground for the science classes and is made up the eleventh and twelfth graders with special exceptions of some tenth graders.

"You're going to need some waterproof binders, aren't you?" she hummed.

Shit, he forgot about the lake that was around.

"I won't be able to go swimming. I mean, what kind of guy wears a shirt while swimming?"

"Naruto, calm down." Sakura laid a hand on his shoulder. "No one's gonna say a thing, alright? Besides, you will have your friends around you. Now, You'll probably get roomed with Sasuke-kun and then you're gonna have fun."

"Maybe…" Naruto sighed. He felt Sakura sliding her hand into his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Let's talk about something else. Did you find a guy you fancy yet?"

"Who the hell ever says fancy now a days?" Naruto teased.

"Oh shut up and answer the question."

"Well, no…" Naruto mumbled.

"I don't believe that! Who is it?"

Naruto opened his mouth, to answer or deny, he didn't know, before he saw something red out of the corner of his eye. He looked over and his mouth snapped shut and, of course, Sakura followed his line of sight.

"Isn't that Gaara and his siblings?" Sakura inquired before looking back at Naruto, who had yet to speak, and saw that he was staring at the red head...she couldn't help but squeal- thankfully low enough so no one could really hear her- and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You have a crush on him!"

"N-no I don't!" Naruto stammered, a pink hue appearing across his cheeks.

"You totally do!" Sakura grinned. "My little Naruto is growing up so fast!"

Oh kami, why? Naruto sighed, rubbing his face.

The trip is going to be a long one, he could just feel it.


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