Chapter 37 New Day, New Troubles
Shikamaru yawned wide as he continued his slow walk down the deserted bridge alone. As much as he detested the idea, he knew Temari was the type to be fashionably early...early being a couple of hours early. So there he was, at almost 6:30 in the morning, strolling across the freezing bridge with nobody else in sight, with the exception of the teasing rising sun in front of him making him squint. To only further add to Shikamaru's misery there was not a cloud in sight.
'How dull...' Shikamaru inwardly sighed as he finally saw the exit in his vision. Shikamaru began recalling the events that had unfolded these past couple of days, since he couldn't think of what else to brood about.
'Kakashi is still reading that book, I'm surprised he hasn't finished it yet. Jiraiya has done nothing else other than spy on Naruto, and Lee has still been training with Sakura, while Naruto has been pouting for not being able to train.' Shikamaru shook his head at the last two members.
'Those two...' Shikamaru groaned while rubbing his temple.
The Nara did not miss what had Jiraiya going into overdrive, Shikamaru just chose never to acknowledge it because it was too troublesome to think about. Sakura was acting different around the blond, and the knucklehead was oblivious to it, or at least it was as it appeared. The Kunoichi was still herself, but she seemed....different.
One minute she would be smiling and happy chapping along with Naruto, the next she would do a one eighty in personality, and go quiet. It was almost as if Sakura wanted to get closer to Naruto, but at the same time was trying to keep her distance. Shikamaru didn't take long to work out that something had developed between the two of them recently, be it due to their long time apart, or recent events...But the real question was why he even cared about this recent discovery?
Thinking about a woman's feelings was the last thing he wanted to do, since he had concluded a long time ago that women thought differently from men. In fact he still couldn't even understand his father's response about that time when he asked about why his dad chose to marry Shikamaru's mother. It seemed that the Nara misunderstood much when it came to women and relationships, be it because of his shinobi status, or simply because he couldn't be hassled to venture the thoughts...it was definitely the later.
Finding himself oddly curious about the situation, he decided to bid the matter some time as he continued his journey. The main question he always had wondered from the start was why Sasuke always was so popular with the girls at the academy. The guy practically showed no interest for girls, yet they chased after him like he was some sort of god...and he distinctly remembered Ino and Sakura being part of the crowd.
What was it that made him so attractive?
The guy grunted and gloated more than actually communicating to anybody, yet he remembered that being one of his 'qualities'. Shikamaru wrote off the Uchiha's behaviour as just being an arrogant jerk, but now knowing the full story of the Uchiha, he could now understand Sasuke's attitude...Although he still believed Sasuke's choice of actions was inexcusable.
Before he could draw his attention off any further, Shikamaru shifted back to his main focus. No matter how much he tried to look at it, he really could not comprehend the logic behind admiring such a person, although he was relieved to see that Ino appeared to have grown out of her crush for the Uchiha, since she stopped comparing himself and Choji to Sasuke a long time ago. Sakura though he wasn't sure about, since other than her counter attack to Sasuke, there was no real solid evidence of showing if she still liked him in that way.
Turning now to the new variable, Shikamaru could actually make sense and understanding of what he had been seeing these past days, and could form a surprising comparison. Although his sensei continued to deny their claims, it was clear to team ten that Asuma and Kurenai were more than just good colleagues as Asuma put it once. Ino actually was the first to notice, and Ino being herself, couldn't resist spreading the news around to the rest of the team. Shikamaru and Choji at first brushed it off as garbage, but over time, they finally saw just how close the two senseis really were.
Using that as a base, the Nara could see the many signs to show it was possible. Both of the team 7 members always gave each other support when one or the other was down, they both spent a lot of time together, they enjoyed each other's company, and they understood one another. Naruto obviously likes Sakura, dare the shadow user say it, even Lee would be able to see that as clear as day. The issue however was Sakura...the signs are there that she likes the hyperactive ninja...so why is Sakura having trouble accepting her feelings for Naruto?
"Women are so confusing." Shikamaru moaned aloud to himself, as his attention returned to the now end of bridge, and his thoughts returned to his original concern.
'Now, where is that bothersome excuse for a Jounin?'
Naruto opened his blue eyes to the world and squinted his eyes at the blinds he forgot to close, which were letting in a blinding array of orange toned light from the rising sun. Today was the day of Temari's arrival, and Naruto couldn't be any more excited, even if they still needed to travel to Suna.
'All Sakura-chan needs to do is give me the all clear, and I get to see Gaara.'
Naruto turned his eyes at the said sleeping kunoichi that was on the couch on the other side of the room. The couch itself was ordinary, with soft, white cushions padding the arm rests, seating and back, with a strange pattern that resembled tree branches there were only visible if you squinted your eyes, and turned your head at a certain angle. Naruto couldn't make out Sakura entirely since the couch was facing the other way, but her pink hair could just be seen. Naruto pulled himself out of bed and looked over and smiled. Sakura was lying on her side almost like a cat underneath a mostly slid off blanket, revealing her slightly torn attire, since she crashed after returning from her training with Lee yesterday. Naruto flushed at her angelic like smile as she slept.
'Sakura-chan has become so...' Naruto couldn't think of the word, as pretty did not seem suitable anymore, but he didn't know what word matched Sakura.
'Perfect' was what he finally concluded, but shook his thoughts clear 'Sakura-chan doesn't view me as more than a friend though...' Naruto reminded himself, but couldn't help but recall what she had said to him about her feelings for Sasuke, which he dared not question after that conversation.
'...I don't understand though...she seemed very convinced two years ago.' Naruto couldn't help but recall his conversation he had with the Jiraiya yesterday.
-
Flash back- Dining Lounge, Yesterday
-
"So gaki, what's new with you and your girl-"
"ERO-SENNIN!"
'It's too early for this crap again.' Naruto groaned in annoyance.
He didn't know why Jiraiya was always on him and Sakura's case lately, but basically the hermit always brought her up whenever he unfortunately bumped into him....which was too many times in a single day that he could hope for. Naruto thought he could sneak in a late breakfast before 12, but only discovered the horror of finding a furiously writing Jiraiya curled up like a ball in the corner of his room, waiting for him to wake up.
Sakura was training with Lee at the moment, Naruto guessed she would be back soon, but from what Sakura hinted this morning to him, she was heading out again in the later afternoon. Naruto was more than happy that Sakura was satisfied with the arrangement, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel rejected.
Jiraiya spotted his students pout and smirked, "Someone's becoming jealous, no?" Naruto snapped his eyes to his sensei sitting next to him.
"What in blazes are you talking about?"
"Your girl is being stolen from you by a certain spandex wearing shinobi."
Naruto hung his mouth open in surprise while his right eye twitched, 'W-W-What the hell?!'
"N-No she is not Ero-sennin!"
Jiraiya stuck up his index finger as if to prove a point, "Then why is she with him instead of you?"
Naruto gritted his teeth, "Because she is TRAINING!"
Jiraiya put a hand to his chin while giving a perverted giggle, "Hmm, training indeed, no?"
Naruto looked in complete confusion at Jiraiya's statement, but brushed it off for drunken talk, since the stench of sake could be smelt in the Sannin's breath.
"What is with you anyway? I have told you so many times, me and Sakura-chan are just friends."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow and decided it was time to get straight to the bottom of this mystery, "What makes it just friendship?"
"W-What?"Naruto was completely caught off guard by the question.
Jiraiya frowned at his student's dumbfounded posture, "You tell me, but you never say why, surely you have a reason."
Naruto dropped his gaze to his bowl of breakfast and sighed, 'What makes it just friendship?' He repeated to himself, although he knew the answer.
"Well because..." Naruto's voice seemed to have lost strength, so Jiraiya decided to help his student out.
"Do you just not see her in that way?" Naruto at first jumped and looked in complete surprise at the suggestion, before fidgeting and refusing to meet his sensei's eye.
"N-no!....it's not that."
Jiraiya smirked, knowing that Naruto had just indirectly admitted he had a crush on Sakura right to his face, but decided to avoid teasing.
"Has she told you 'never'?"
"Well...There was those times back in team 7-"
"But has she said such a thing now?"
"...No."
"So what is your problem?"
Naruto gave in and decided to just spill it, "Sakura-chan doesn't see me that way Ero-sennin...she made it clear to me that she loves Sasuke." He paced himself, although he couldn't hold back the regretful tone woven in his otherwise neutral voice.
"Oh...but how long ago was that?"
"...Two years ago, before my first attempt to bring Sasuke back." Naruto admitted, feeling it would be best to not mention what Sakura had told him two days ago about her uncertainty for their missing team mate now.
"Gaki...you really are an idiot."
Naruto once again was thrown off guard, "Huh?"
Jiraiya shook his head in disbelief. The sannin was practically dying to enlighten Naruto on what he saw in that girl's eye that night, but felt there were SOME THINGS that you shouldn't interfere with, this being one...that didn't mean he couldn't hint to his oblivious student about how wrong his view was.
"You are aware people's opinions change as they age?"
Naruto blinked, but tried to recover, "O-Of course...you know the person more over ti-"
"Not in that way you knuckle head!"
Jiraiya groaned he really had to spell it out, "People's feelings change as they get older gaki, especially in your age group."
"T-They do?!"
"Of course they do gaki! Ever heard of puberty?!"
"Puber-...huh?" Jiraiya face palmed, then changed tactic.
"Without going into much detail...As you get older, you see people in different ways. Hell gaki, she could have even changed her likings to 'the other side' and you wouldn't even know it." Naruto mouthed an 'oh', but then shook his head rapidly when he processed what Jiraiya had just implied.
"SAKURA-CHAN IS NOT THAT ERO-SENNIN!" Naruto roared, repulsed that the sannin could even suggest such a thing.
Jiraiya waved his hands in exaggerated fear, "Wow, calm down Naruto-'chan', I was only saying it as an example." Naruto pouted, while mumbling 'you could have thought of something better than that.
'...Does that mean my opinion for Sakura-chan has changed?' Jiraiya raised an eyebrow at his student's sudden silence.
"What is on your mind Naruto?"
Naruto shook his head clear "Nothing."
Jiraiya scowled at his students secretive nature, "Sure doesn't look like nothing gaki." Naruto scratched his head, seeming to ignore Jiraiya's protest.
"I think I'm going back to my room for a while."
-
Present time
-
Naruto couldn't help but shiver over Jiraiya's suggestion yet again, 'Sakura-chan IS NOT THAT...HELL NO!' Naruto thought in repulsion of Jiraiya's logic, but sighed and approached the real concern.
'What if he is right about feelings changing though?' Naruto wondered, less about Sakura and more of himself.
'Do I still like Sakura-chan in that way?' Naruto casted a look once again down at the still soundlessly sleeping Sakura.
'Have I changed?'
Did Sakura truly mean that much to him? He would admit in a heartbeat Sakura was a very close friend to him, but was there really more to it than that?
Naruto grew agitated at the question now, to him he felt he knew the answer was 'no he hasn't changed', but Jiraiya's words were still getting to him.
'Is it wrong that my feelings haven't changed?' Naruto childishly hit the top of the couch with a fist, making a soft thud that didn't seem to cause the kunoichi to stir.
Perhaps he should have questioned Jiraiya about it some more?
The thought left Naruto's buzzing mind just as fast as it had popped in. The sannin while giving Naruto great advice, was just not the right person to talk to this about...He would never give Jiraiya the satisfaction of asking for help about this...as much as he really wanted to.
"Don't think too hard...you might hurt yourself."
'Yeah, this is beginning to get on...WAIT A MINUTE!' Naruto looked down to meet a very wide awake Sakura glaring at him, causing Naruto to yelp and jump back.
"S-S-Sakura-chan?!" He whimpered in fear, trying to hide his furiously blushing face.
Sakura sat up and looked at Naruto with a surprisingly very genuine grin, "Unlike YOU Naruto, I actually AM a trained ninja, it would be embarrassing if I didn't know you had woken up." She mocked.
Naruto laughed nervously while muttering his agreement, only to have Sakura talk over him in an interested tone.
"But anyway...what was on your mind? You looked really confused about something for the several minutes you were standing there."
'Several minutes?!' Naruto tried to hide his surprise through a neutral expression.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about something." Sakura laughed at his obvious lie.
"Naruto does not think..." Sakura grinned at the forming pout on the blonds face as she continued. "...Unless he is very confused about something important. Want to talk about it?"
"Er-um...N-No not really." He mumbled, looking away from her puzzled gaze.
After several moments of awkward silence, Sakura sighed dismissively, "Ok then...but can I at least say something?" Naruto found her eyes again as she continued.
"You always seem to do the right thing when you follow your instincts...while your 'gutsy' style gets you into all sorts of trouble, it does sometimes make you do the best thing...I suggest you stick to that if it can help."
Naruto waited a few moments before giving a teeth baring grin. '...Yosha! That's right! Whatever crap Ero-sennin was talking about with that 'puberty' nonsense can go to hell for all I care! Screw whatever he says happens in age! Only I know what I feel, and I know my view for Sakura-chan has not changed!' Sakura raised an eyebrow at his strange grin, but internally was happy her words had helped, although she didn't have the slightest clue what she exactly had helped with.
Sakura sat up and eyed the sheet and sighed, as her next question came to mind, "...I crashed didn't I?"
Naruto recovered and chuckled while running a hand through his hair, "More or less."
"Why didn't you wake me?" Naruto blushed while scratching the back of his head as if he had lice, "Umm..."
'Screw it!'
"I didn't want to disturb you because you looked so peaceful." The blond mumbled.
"O-Oh..." Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but ignored it.
"...Thanks then Naruto." Finding it too awkward, she tried to brush it off with a topic change.
"Must say though...Some nurse I am. I'm glad nothing happened while I was out."
Naruto shrugged, not really caring, "Neh, you have taken good enough care of me as it is, don't worry about it."
'More like you have been taking good care of me!' She rebutted, but didn't voice her opinion.
"Well it's not really something I can ignore you know." The blond came around and sat on the far corner of the couch while waiting for her to continue.
"Tsunade-sama made me memorize so many rules that are vital to a medic-nin's survival and performance. She practically beat them into me...yet I am breaking them faster than even you can eat ramen." Sakura lifted her still bandaged hand and clenched her hand back and forth as if to prove a point.
"I see, but as I told you, they are in hiding."
"Yes, but that does not mean we can be reckless now does it?"
"No... But that doesn't mean we should let it drive us crazy." Naruto averted his gaze as if recalling something that happened a long time ago.
"...I know what happens with that very well...there were times where you would even be afraid to leave your own apartment due to everyone's beliefs on you."
"...Naruto..." Sakura was still getting used to the entire situation with the Kyuubi. Although she had known about it for so long, this is one of the few times where Naruto was the one to willingly share something regarding his past that she still knew so little about. It was yet another side to the blond she was seeing for the first time.
Her concerned expression was met by a very genuine grin, "But, that's no reason to let it run your life now is it?"
Sakura formed her own smile and nodded, while only now really understanding how miraculous it was for Naruto to be the way he is, "Yeah...you are right."
After several moments of silence, Sakura decided to press on the day, "So...how do you feel today Naruto?"
She patted at her side on the couch as she half squatted on the other side, while Naruto slid down from the arm rest and made himself comfy, causing Sakura to raise an eyebrow full of amusement when she saw how eager he appeared.
"...You're excited about something?"
"Hell yeah, we are finally leaving to Suna!" Naruto beamed with a smile, looking out the window as if he could see Suna, which he obviously couldn't.
Sakura smiled, 'It's good to see he isn't focusing on the reason why we are going instead.'
"You're not going to leave poor Kazekage-sama alone are you?"
"What do you mean Sakura-chan? I just was going to ask him for a few tips on running a village."
Sakura giggled, "The thought of giving a report to you and calling you in respect...I might have to retire early before that happens."
Naruto felt hurt at that and pouted, "Shikamaru said something like that too."
Sakura laughed and leaned over and ruffled his hair teasingly, "Oh come on baka, I didn't mean that and you know it. Also like you care what that lazy bum says Naruto, or should I say, future 'Rokudaime-sama'?" she stretched in sarcasm, as the grand smiling Naruto swotted away her hand's assault on his head.
"Now before you get any more ideas for what you are going to ask Kazekage-sama, you need my clearance for if we are going to be leaving today?" She then slid her feet to the ground, to allow Naruto to slide next to her so she could begin checking the wound, while asking Naruto to breathe and cough.
"Well?" Naruto asked almost jumping.
Sakura shook her head with a small grin, "I am going to ask you something?" Naruto blinked as he suddenly felt Sakura press down hard on his chest, causing him to wince.
"Does that hurt?" She asked softly, although she already saw her answer when Naruto gritted his teeth.
Naruto nodded as the stinging pain got worse, and Sakura rested her hand again, "You are still injured Naruto." Naruto sighed, his shoulders slumping.
Sakura inwardly chuckled, 'The fact that he has stayed in this room without trying any more training is a miracle in itself...but I know him, he is just itching to do something, he will eventually try and do some training, even without my permission...'
"...But you should be fit enough to do normal things."
Naruto pulled a one eighty, "Really?" He asked, his excitement returning.
"Slow down, and listen to me." She instructed, turning serious, "I say you can do normal stuff Naruto, but just think, what would happen if instead of me just putting pressure on your chest...I punched it?"
Naruto nodded, "I understand, fighting is not an option?"
"Naruto, if you take even a bad fall it could be dangerous..."
Sakura smirked in seeing his shoulders' slump again, "...If you take it easy though, you should be ok."
"Does that mean-"
"Hai, we can work on your rasengan control if you wish, along with other things, but you are not to do any fighting or sparing with anybody, and when I say you have done enough, you have done enough...understood?"
Naruto nodded still happy with his conditions, "So I am going to be training with you only until I am better, this is so awesome, it's like a date!"
'Trust him to view it as a date...' Sakura opened her mouth to give a witty reply, but found no such strength in her voice to do so.
She then became alert at how close they were, and realised her hand was still resting on his chest. She whipped her hand away as if she had suddenly touched something burning hot, while trying to slide into the corner of the couch, only to find she was already at the end.
Naruto noticed her sudden discomfort, "Neh, something wrong Sakura-chan?" His breath brushing past her nose made her almost yelp, as she could already feel her face reddening.
'I really need to grow up.'
"N-Nothings wrong." She muttered, finding the window suddenly very interesting. Naruto shrugged and looked out the window as well, as they sat in strangely tense silence.
This was another issue that was beginning to puzzle Naruto, and the worst part was, he couldn't even begin to see what had happened between them. Sakura had been acting strange on and off starting from that time the other night. This would count as the seventh time as when this kind of situation would happen. Naruto quickly deduced that whatever was the cause for this sudden change, it always made Sakura seem to want to distance herself...
...distance herself from him.
Seconds past, but to both it felt like minutes. The only sound that could be heard was the footsteps of somebody walking past Naruto's room, and the sounds of the morning birds.
"Sakura-chan?"
Said Kunoichi finally moved and tilted her head so her eye could just see his blond hair. Naruto took that as a gesture for him to talk, "Have I done something wrong?"
Sakura now snapped her head fully to reveal her surprised gaze, "W-What?!" she blurted out automatically.
"Well, you seem a little anxious...so I assume-"
"Baka! There is nothing wrong!" Naruto at first went wide eyed at her shout, but recovered and mouthed a very unenthusiastic 'oh' and muttered an apology, while he tried to look interested somewhere else.
'Damn it! Now I hurt his feelings!' Sakura inwardly cursed.
"Naruto I-..."
'Damn it I can't tell him, not now!' Naruto's interested gaze had returned, only further adding to the problem as she continued, pacing herself.
"...There...there is a bit of a problem I am having Naruto."
The lack of response meant he was waiting patiently for her to continue as she struggled to think of what to say, "It's umm...It's..."
"It's something personal?" Naruto prompted.
"YES! Yes it's that Naruto!" Sakura agreed while nodding her head furiously, inwardly thankful for Naruto giving her an escape.
"...And?"
It seemed she wasn't out of the frying pan just yet, "Umm...I...umm-"
"Don't tell me."
"E-Eh?!"
Naruto grinned, "You said its personal, I will keep my nose out then unless you want to tell me."
"O-Oh....thank you Naruto, I would appreciate that." She replied, but felt she should say something.
"I know I haven't been myself, don't worry, it's not you..."
'Well at least not you entirely.'
"...So don't apologise for showing concern baka."
Naruto nodded and felt to move on since it seemed whatever had overcome his friend had passed on, "What will we be doing today then Sakura-chan?"
"Umm... we will visit Zabuza-san and Haku-san first to see if you can last the trip, which we will do after I get back from training"
"But what about Gaara?"
Sakura saw this question coming and spoke what she had concluded, "I really don't know. I assume Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya-sama would want to move to Suna as quick as possible...as I agree. Let's just see how we go today, but Naruto-"
Sakura raised a finger as she looked hard into his eye, "-Don't you dare even think about lying to me that you are ok if you aren't...or so help me... "
Naruto's smile caused her to stop, "I won't lie to you Sakura-chan, I promise."
Sakura smirked, "Good." She then relaxed with an audible moan, while glancing at the clock.
"Training again."
Naruto winced at what that meant. Sakura had to go spend most of the day with 'him'. Naruto couldn't believe he could have developed such a deep detest and hatred for forest green. After training again yesterday, Sakura returned just as bruised as she was before, and yet Sakura seemed to cheerfully praise Lee for his skills and talents. It was to Naruto so nerve grinding how she could praise somebody for beating her up senseless, and said guy would return with a proud smile as if he was happy about it.
Naruto tried to yell at him again yesterday, but Sakura scolded him for trying, 'Damn it, stupid injury and Fuzzy Brows!'
"Naruto..."
'If it wasn't for this injury, I would be training with Sakura-chan, not that damn spandex wearing chi-'
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted causing him to jump in surprise.
"Y-Yes Sakura-chan?"
Sakura blinked at his antics in complete confusion, "Is something wrong?"
Naruto shook his head furiously, "N-no nothing is wrong Sakura-chan!"
Too bad Naruto was an extremely bad liar.
"Naruto..." Sakura said in annoyance as she narrowed her eyes.
'Somebody save me!'
Almost as if somebody from above heard Naruto's request, there was a knock on the door, which was opened a moment later to reveal a summer spandex wearing Lee, who showed no signs of tiredness even though he was on night watch.
"Good morning Naruto-kun, Sakura-san." Lee said as he stood by the door.
Sakura put her suspicions of Naruto on hold and turned to Lee and smiled, "Good morning Lee-san! You will have to forgive me, I am running late this morning."
"...Morning Fuzzy Brows." Naruto said with surprisingly little energy, causing Sakura to raise an eyebrow again, but Lee was oblivious.
"That's alright Sakura-san, I felt after some thought, that I have a solution to your outfit problem that will be useful as you forgo your training to explode in a vibrant display of youth!"
Sakura's eye twitched at the saying but she asked in interest, "What do you have for me Lee-san?"
Lee gave a large sparkling toothy smile, and Naruto's alarm bells were ringing.
'....Don't tell me...'
Lee then gave the nice guy pose with one hand behind his back. To the pair, they could have sworn the lighting in the room had dimmed to focus around the miniature Gai.
'...He is going to give Sakura-chan...'
Suddenly Lee exploded in pride, "THIS!" Lee then revealed a loose green material that made Naruto start to see red, that item he once craved to have, but now was cursing its very existence...a spandex.
Sakura's eyes widened to almost bulging out of their sockets, 'OH GOOD GOD NO!'
Lee began his appraisals of the spandex, sounding disturbingly familiar to Naruto's ears, "It's splendid at maintaining moisture and allowing air to pass through." Lee swung it around wildly to demonstrate.
Meanwhile Sakura was turning pale and was sweating, 'That is one of his SPARES?! That's just...NO!!'
Lee continued, "It is also designed for maximum movement, is perfect in form, and has be-eautiful curves!" He exaggerated heavily.
'THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I AM WEARING THAT!'
Lee was oblivious to Sakura's inner disagreement, and said sincerely, "Wear it during your training, and you will be able to tell the difference right away!" he finished with another audible sparkle of his teeth.
Sakura had completely frozen when a painful realisation struck, 'I can't say no...Lee-san will think I am offending him!'
Sakura pictured herself wearing the spandex for one second and cried, while trying to hide from the world sliding further down behind the couch.
'I will have to wear it...oh god, I will never be taken seriously by anybody again! '
"Sakura-chan cannot train with you today Fuzzy Brows." Naruto said flatly with his arms crossed.
Sakura turned wide eyed to Naruto like he was the only hope she had in the world, not catching just how protective he sounded, 'You just crossed the line Fuzzy Brows!'
Lee blinked and held a curious gaze, "Oh? Are you busy this morning Sakura-san?" Lee asked innocently.
Sakura sat up and didn't know what to say, but Naruto answered over her attempts to stutter an excuse still holding the same tone, "Sakura-chan believes my wound is getting worse, and needs to stay close."
Sakura turned in question and minor shock, 'What?!'
Lee blinked in concern, "Really?!" he asked Sakura. Sakura nodded and rubbed the back of her neck while nervously chuckling.
"H-Hai."
She quickly put on her game face though, and stood up, placing her hands on her hips like an angry mother, "Baka over here doesn't seem to listen to my instructions of not yelling, nor training, so his injury has showed little progress in healing." Sakura lied with perfect acting, while pointing an accusing finger at Naruto on the other side.
Naruto played along with his whine and pout, "Don't be so mean Sakura-ch-"
"Baka!" She scolded, while delivering the best feigned dong on his head as she could, which Naruto heavily exaggerated, which almost made Sakura laugh.
"Sorry Sakura-chan." He whimpered in a sulk, his face near twitching as if he was about to explode with laughter.
Lee stood there and nodded in understanding, "I see...Well you best make sure Naruto-kun remains in his youth then Sakura-san."
Naruto's eyes twitched, 'That practically was like saying I am going to die Fuzzy Brows!? Do you even think before you add your 'youth' saying?!'
Sakura was sharing very similar thoughts but said in seriousness with a firm grin though, "Understood, I will do my best Lee-san."
Naruto cringed as his sweat dropped, 'Don't play along that far Sakura-chan!'
Lee left without further question, taking 'that' spandex with him. Sakura let out a deep sigh, then turned to Naruto, before she joined him in bursting with laughter. Sakura relaxed again, and wiped away her tears while suppressing her laughter to giggles and dropped back onto the couch again.
"Naruto....Thank you!"
Naruto seemed to change from his amused expression back to his emotionless face, while his arms folded, "For the first time ever I agree with Ero-sennin...that suit is very crappy."
Sakura nodded furiously in agreement, but in a moment later narrowed her eyes now in suspicion, "You were practically jumping up and down like a child when he offered it to you."
Naruto shrugged lazily, "I had a change of heart." Sakura just nodded in acceptance, since she sure as hell wasn't disagreeing.
"That was a very nice cover up though Naruto..."
Her eyes suddenly narrowed once again in suspicion, "...Although you just made yourself my priority...for the entire day."
Naruto gave his fox like smile, "I don't know what you're talking about Sakura-chan." He beamed innocently, although he had a pink hue across his cheeks.
Sakura shook her head, but inwardly was finding this situation just as satisfying, "I will go find out what is happening downstairs, and if Temari-san has arrived I wi-"
"Who is Temari?" Sakura looked at Naruto like he grew a second head.
"...You cannot be serious Naruto?!"
When Naruto blinked in blankness Sakura groaned and face palmed, "Temari-san is Gaara-san-I mean-Kazekage-sama's older sister...you baka!"
Naruto mouthed a silent 'Oh' and Sakura continued with a scowl, "Anyway I will explain that your injury still hasn't healed, and you are on probation for today...although I won't mention it is as 'life threatening' as Lee-san now believes-"
Both teens shared a chuckle and she continued, "-anyway, I assume you are TOO UNWELL to go downstairs this morning too?" Sakura said dripping in sarcasm, although she held an amused grin.
"Well it is pretty early..."
"Heh, guess I will have to make you something the-"
"I WILL BE JOINING YOU FOR BREAKFAST THEN!"
"Good!" She chirped with a smirk, then eyed her attire.
"I will go get changed, I will wait for you in th-AH!" Sakura cried in pain as her foot bumped into something hard next to the couch.
Sakura childishly hopped on her foot with gritted teeth, as she eyed the solid thing her stinging foot had collided with...her weapon pouch.
"Why did you put that there?!" She hissed at the now paling blond.
"My bad! I didn't know where you wanted it, so I just left it by your side." Sakura frowned as she eyed the mess she had made. Her equipment was scattered all over the place, her kunai, her medical supplies, her scrolls, her Icha Icha paradise book and medical book....uh oh.
"I will help you with th-"
"NO! NO! That's fine Naruto! It was my clumsy mistake for running into it!" Sakura almost shouted, while pulling a very easy to determine feigned laugh. Sakura instantly shot for the book like a hawk and tossed it into her pouch before Naruto could stand.
Sakura didn't know if the world was out to get her, but it seemed Naruto was still helping her regardless of her stressed request, "Naruto It's fine! You don't know how I have my stuff arranged!"
"Neh? But we looked at each other's inventory during Kakashi-sensei's training...you suggested it."
'Why lord, WHY?!'
"I changed the way I had everything arra- NO! Don't ope-" Naruto innocently opened her weapon pouch and pulled out the book without glancing at it, and placed it by his side.
"I swear I know where everything goes." He insisted, seemingly unaffected by her shouts.
Sakura gulped, while bearing her eyes into her red covered target by the blonde's side, 'If he looks at the cover-' Sakura couldn't finish the thought.
"O-Ok then." She mumbled, trying to hide her distress.
Sakura's misery was thrown off by her amazement that Naruto really did know where basically all of her stuff was placed in her pouch, she honestly believed he would have forgotten it the moment she explained it to him. Amazement and surprise was really something she was experiencing more of the blond every day.
"Wow...I am impressed." she stated her astonishment, while handing him the last scroll.
Naruto grinned in pride of his work, "Is it that surprising that I remembered?"
Sakura sighed while forming a grin, "You have no idea."
"But..."
Sakura instantly turned pitch white when Naruto lifted up the book in interest, the picture of the angry lady taunting Sakura to her face.
"Where does this go?" Naruto asked, looking at the back cover in curiosity, whether it was from his question, or what exactly the book was, was a mystery Sakura did not want to find out.
"I'll take that!" She quickly replied, snatching the book from his hand before he could turn it over. Naruto blinked and shrugged, 'ok' he replied, although he was turning suspicious as to what was causing her sudden fear of him knowing about that book.
"Now get changed, and let's head down stairs!" She ordered, as she picked up her pouch and clipped it to her back as she began to walk out.
'Safe!'
"Wait a second!" Sakura froze with her hand on the knob of the door.
"Y-Yes?" She asked, as she felt Naruto's presence moving towards her.
"Is that your new book that you brought?" Sakura made an audible gulp, and reluctantly turned around.
"U-Umm no- I mean yes." Naruto perked an eyebrow at her answer.
"Yes Naruto...it is."
"Oh...it looks familiar...what's the book called?" He made a hand towards the book she was clenching in her other hand, but shifted it behind her back protectively.
"Since when were you interested in romance novels?" She countered, while praying he took the bait.
Naruto blinked a few moments then shrugged dismissively, "I guess you're right."
"Of course I am right baka!" She scolded, as she turned cautiously, and left. Once the door was closed, Sakura let out a loud sigh of relief, while looking at the book that almost was discovered.
'That...was too close!'
"There is no evidence of where they have fled left behind." Announced Itachi, as he emerged from the entrance of the once occupied ANBU base.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed in annoyance, but gave his own report, "I searched down the riverside as Zetsu had said they were located, there was no signs either."
Itachi casually hung his hand out of his loosely buttoned up Akatsuki cloak, and showed no such signs of frustration like Kakuzu, "As expected, they are skilled in concealing their tracks."
"Indeed, however Pein will not accept that excuse if Ronan kills the jinkuriki." Kakuzu countered, his annoyance at Itachi's simple statement clear.
Kakuzu did not know what to think of his new partner.
Itachi was to him both a god sending refreshment from the fools that called themselves shinobi he had to deal with. The Uchiha however also was quickly becoming such a pain in his side at the same time. Unlike Hidan, Itachi only spoke if necessary, and when he did it was with the least amount of words to get his message across.
Kakuzu always felt he was superior to his previous partners, felt that he was the dominant one of the two, that he could make the decisions without needing the others approval. Hidan was an exception, but other than his frequent cussing, Hidan never was able to think rationally outside his ridiculous religion to lead. With the Uchiha however, all these senses Kakuzu was used to were no longer present. The Uchiha wasn't aggressive or easily stirred unlike many shinobi Kakuzu had seen in his long life. He was intelligent, calm, and almost disturbingly quiet. It was a rare quality he had only observed from the elites of the mist, but what made the Uchiha have such similarities was beyond speculation.
Through his age and experience, Kakuzu was able to respect the Uchiha for being so focused on his task, but at the same time was finding it nerve grinding to put up with. Even though it was never spoken who was in charge of this temporary arrangement, it appeared that one had already made the decision without discussion who was leading... and it wasn't Kakuzu.
"I will contact Pein, and request that Zetsu helps with the searching, he should be able to find them in no time" Kakuzu suggested to his expressionless partner.
"That won't be necessary Kakuzu-san." Kakuzu's left eye brow perked in interest, as the Uchiha continued.
"Ronan is after Naruto-kun. It is safe to say that if we locate Naruto-kun, Ronan will not be far...and unlike Ronan, we know where Naruto-kun is."
"And how exactly do you know where the Jinkuriki is?"
"Naruto-kun is located in Wave, with numerous Konoha shinobi protecting him."
Kakuzu inwardly growled that Itachi did not answer his question, but reluctantly brushed it off, "Very well, but there approaches another issue. Even though we are effectively protecting the Jinkuriki, they are not exactly going to allow us to watch over him, considering we need him sooner or later for our own plans."
Kakuzu was only met with silence, as it seemed Itachi's eyes had drifted to something above them, before casually returning to Kakuzu. Kakuzu resisted the urge to look up, knowing that if it was what he was assuming Itachi's simple gesture was implying to him, looking up would alert whoever was spying on them.
Itachi's arm seemed to have returned to his sleeve, while he continued with their conversation, "That is true, however, it seems that we are not far off Ronan's trail after all."
"What do you-"
The ear piercing screech from something above them cut Kakuzu off, as a soft thud was heard not far from the pair. Kakuzu turned and saw what he recognised as a hawk, with a small pool of blood forming around its body, the blood oozing from a kunai that had been stabbed thru its small body from behind.
"Is that..." Kakuzu's eyes travelled up, following the still hovering feathers to see another Itachi, who 'poofed' out of existence.
'When did he use Kage bunshin?! Was it when he returned his arm to his sleeve? How did he do it that fast!?'
"That is correct, it is a Uchiha hawk." Kakuzu shot his gaze back to what he could of sworn was a smug look moulded on the other wise stale Uchiha's face.
"I can see that, I assume that belonged to Ronan."
"He most likely had it stationed here in case somebody came to investigate the outpost. Ronan was probably expecting Konoha shinobi instead of us however."
Kakuzu eyed the bird once more, before dismissing it, and turning to Itachi, "Whatever the case, that hawk was our link to Ronan, and you just killed it." Kakuzu stated, sounding more pleased than annoyed.
Kakuzu should be concerned that their chances of stopping Ronan had dropped, but inwardly he felt satisfied to see the Uchiha had made a mistake. It meant Itachi wasn't as intelligent as he was being given the impression of, it meant Kakuzu was the real one in charge of the two. The rustling caused Kakuzu to eye the 'corpse' again, only to see it twitch and screech again.
"I disabled the hawk Kakuzu-san." Itachi stated void of emotion, although to Kakuzu, it felt like rubbing an injury in salt.
"I see." Kakuzu answered, while inwardly cursing the Uchiha for undermining him. Itachi ignored his partner and approached the still alive bird that was struggling to move, although the kunai had effectively clipped its right wing, making its attempts go to waste.
"I would never throw away a valuable asset, Kakuzu-san."
'Where is she?' Shikamaru wondered, eyeing the forest in front of him, as he sat in his unbelievably comfortable 'statue' seat on the left side of the bridge. Glancing at the sun, Shikamaru determined that it had been roughly three hours since he first stopped here...and Temari still hadn't shown.
To anybody else that didn't know the Suna jounin, there would be no cause to alarm. However Shikamaru knew the jounin too well for his liking, and this change of pattern had all his bells ringing. Temari, was never late for anything. Even her journeys to Konoha, when she had said she would be there at a certain time, she would come at the LEAST an hour ahead of what was planned.
If she was ever going to not meet schedule, she would find some means of informing the other people of her situation, and stating her new time of arrival. The woman was too organised to just suddenly break out of habit.
Shikamaru frowned, while glaring into the woods hoping to spot a blond haired Kunoichi, but to his dismay, found nothing but trees.
'Maybe she just got unexpectedly held up.' Shikamaru scoffed at his own stupid thought that went against everything that defined the person he knew, and thought of something more to her style.
'Maybe she KNOWS I am the one waiting for her...and this is another one of her stupid games to annoy me.' Shikamaru felt satisfied at that, seeing as it was the kind of thing Temari would do just to spite him.
Any moment now, that immature excuse for a jounin would come bursting out of the forest and say some slick comment of 'made you worry you little wimp?' and then they would get into a one sided argument as always.
The Nara began to find his seat uncomfortable as he snuggled in and groaned. It was now beginning to feel like he had moulded into the statue, which usually was a bad sign. It meant that time for the Nara was moving at snail pace, which either meant he was bored out of his wits, or it meant he was now becoming anxious.
Shikamaru didn't even know when the former transformed into the later.
'I hope to god this is just one of her stupid tricks.'