Author's Notes: I'm sorry this chapter took for FLIPPIN ever to upload, but like I said in my special note, I've had a really bad writer's block. Luckily, some people helped me with that.

Special Notes: Review as always, but no flames will be accepted or acknowledged, so don't do it!

Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 6 - Unexpected

(Naruto's P.O.V.)

She stayed motionless, looking me in the eyes. Her eyes were a deep azure color. I can tell that she regretted doing that.

She scooted away from me. She was saying inaudible things under her breath. She sighed and got up. "I'm sorry I did that, Naruto." She hung her head dwon and began to walk away. I quickly grab her wrist. She turned around slowly, revealing a very confused look.

"Wh-what are y-y-you d-doing?" she asked, trumbling. I didn't answer her question. Instead, I gave her a serious look that screamed, 'Please, don't leave!'

"Uh, Naruto..."

"Yeah?"

"I'm not leaving, I promise. But could you let go of my wrist? Your grip is too strong."
I relax my face and my grip. She massaged her wrist.

"Damn, Naruto, you got one hell of a grip!"

We went back into a silence. Her laughter broke the silence.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"Well," she said. "This was surely an eventful day, wasn't it? I mean, you come at me with your sensei and friend with a mind track to kill me and look at us now; opening up to each other, hugging, kissing, the whole bid. It's just funny to me how much things change in a day. I'm sure this whole thing is new for you, right?"

I laugh along with her after thinking about it. "Yeah, I guess you're right. That's definitely never happened to me before."

"Hm. Me neither," she chuckles. She pauses. "Hey, I got an idea."

"What is it?"
"Just for now, why don't keep this whole thing a secret. You know, just for a little while. I mean, it would probably better if we don't let Hatake-san know. And Haruno-san especially can't know."

"Why Sakura, especially?" I asked, mocking her tone.

She gave me a quick glare. Anyways, she can't know because she's well..."
"She's what?" The suspense was killing me. Jeez, this wasn't a movie, dammit!

"She's...well...jealous." My jaw drops. I couldn't believe that. Sakura? Jealous?

"It may be hard to believe, but it's true. It's in her thoughts and in her actions. Truth be told, she's jealous of both of us in a way."

"Huh?"

"I'll explain. She's jealous of you because she really didn't expect you to, you know, fall for a person. you barely know so easily. And to have said person," she said pointing to herself, "seemingly fall for you just as easily. She's jealous because that didn't happen to her with, well, you know. She also sees you as one of her 'back-up guys,' so the fact that you might have someone and are paying to very little attention to her in that sort of way doesn't make her all that happy. By the way, there's no way I could have made that up."

I find myself becoming furious by what she said. I've practically been in love with Sakura for years and that's how she saw me. As a back-up? What the HELL did she take me for?

"While you're inwardly yelling at her, can I at least finish?"

"Fine."

"Anyways, she's also jealous of me for two very simple reasons: 1) I easily got your attention and you barely know me and 2) I have a better body than her."

I stop. I'm still a little shocked by that. When she said that, I started to remember how Kakashi had said that Kaede is an upgrade compared to Sakura.

"Oh, Hatake-san really feels that I'm an upgrade? I'm flattered by his comments. I even agree with that," she said, gripping her chin and slyly smiling.

"Wait...what?"

"Well, look at me, Naruto. I have a goddess's body compared to her!"

"How could you say that?"

"Easily, just look at me. I mean, I have D-cups, a nice, firm behind, and ridiculous curves, if I do say so myself. Haruno-san on the other hand, is a different story. She does have a washboard body, whether you compare her to me or not. So when I put in those terms, it's easy to see who the obvious choice is. But at the same time, I'm talking about bodies. Personality is a whole different subject, even though I think I'd win that contest too."

Damn that Kaede! It's pretty damn cruel to say something about Sakura-chan, even though it's true. But that doesn't matter, it's still wrong to say about someone you hardly know. But then again, I shouldn't care because I'm just a 'back-up' to her. But she was definitely wrong for saying that.

"Naruto," she says abruptly, pulling me out of my train-of thought. "Your waffling is giving me a headache."

"You know," I say back. "You wouldn't have one if you got out of my head for a while."

"As nice as that would be, I can't do that. My mind-reading ablity isn't necessarily a jutsu. It's just one of those things that I can't turn on or off. I'm always able to read minds whether I want to or not."

Wow. The down-side to her incredible ability.

"Thanks," she said sarcastically. I gotta admit, that's starting to get annoying. I let it go, though. She starts yawning and looks out the window. "It's pretty late, isn't it?"

"Yeah, guess so."
She stretches and yawns. "Well, guess I should get some sleep. Goodnight, Naruto." She smiled and gently kissed me on the cheek.

She layed down on the bed. A few moments later, she was breathing softly, sleeping like a baby. I lay down next to her, keeping my distance, of course. I look at her, admiring the way she looks so peaceful while she's sleeping. Before I knew it, I was sleeping just as peacefully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Next Day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake up the next morning and see Kaede still sleeping. From the looks and sounds of things, I was the only one awake. I look over at Kaede. She really did look peaceful when she sleeps. Not long after I wake, Kaede stretches, yawns and rolls out of bed. She must have hit her head on the floor.

"Aw shit, not again!" She exclaimed, rubbing her head. She's obviously not a morning person [1]. She looks up at me and her expression changes.

"Oh, hey, Naruto. Did you sleep well?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I did." I stretched. "So you're not much of a morning person, are you?"

"Shut up!" She glared then softly laughed. "Hey," she continued. "Are we the only ones up?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. I haven't seen Kakashi-sensei or Sakura-chan today. Besides, I just woke up a little while ago."

"Ok. Well, I'm sure we'll see them soon."

"Yeah, you're probably right." We paused, still trying to fully wake up.

"Hey, Naruto," Kaede calls, breaking the silence. "About last night, are you okay with keeping it a secret for a while, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I only ask now because I didn't ask last night and we never shook on it."

"Wha-?"

"Well, let's just pinky swear on it." She held out her pinky. I hooked mine with hers.

"Deal?" she asks.

"Deal!"

She catches me off guard by kissing me on the cheek. She giggles.

"Let's keep that between us, too." I smiled.

That would have been a sweet moment if only Kakashi-sensei hadn't seen it. DAMN, THE CRUEL SICK IRONY!.

"Hatake-san," Kaede called. "How long have you been there?"

"Oh I don't know," he says, using his patronizingly sarcastic voice. "Somewhere around the 'let's-keep-last-night-a-secret' part."

Asshole. We both sweatdrop and glare at him.

He continued. "So, what did happen last night?" He raised an eyebrow. I could tell he had a stupid smirk on his face under that mask.

"Well, you see..." Kaede started.

"We can't tell you," I blurted out. I start laughing.

"Why not?" he asked.

"It's a secret, remember? Right, Kaede?" I say slyly.

"Huh? Oh yeah! It's TOP secret," she said in giggles.

Kakashi sweatdropped and sighed. "Never mind."

"We're not lovers, by the way," Kaede said. He gave us an exhausted look. We laugh even more. He turned away and was half-way out the door before he said, "If you need me, I'll be in the pool. But I'm sure you two won't because you guys can keep each other plenty busy." I glare at him while Kaede laughs. He leaves in laughter. He comes back for a quick second. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that we're leaving today as soon as I'm done, so get packing." He then turns and finally leaves.

"Well then, why don't we get ready?" Kaede asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~later that day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had our things packed and prepared to leave to finally get back home. Luckily, Sakura was starting to talk to me again. She even apologized. Kaede was something different. Sakura barely looked at her. But then again, Kaede didn't seem to notice. That's something I really don't get about girls [2].

We left the hot springs and Kakashi conveniently remembered to chain Kaede up. I was starting to think he got some sick, perverted kick out of that. I let it go and put Kaede on my back. We head out from there.

Several hours later, we finally arrive at the village gates. The minute we got past the gates, I had to put Kaede down. She really doesn't know how lucky she is, being able to take a nap while someone has to carry her. I can't believe she did it again! I wake her up.

"Hmm?" she asked, still waking up. "What happened? Where are we?"

"Konohagakure," I told her.

She looks around in disbelief. "Hah, so this is it? Nice village."

"Uh thanks," we all said awkwardly and in unison.

"We should probably get going to Tsunade-sama," Sakura rang in.

"Uh, right," I said, stretching my back.

With that, I put Kaede on my back and we head off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~in Tsunade's office~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We came in Baa-chan's office quietly and stood in front of her desk.

"Welcome back," she said. "So how did things go?"

I took Kaede off of my back and sat her down on the floor.

"So I see that you did find her and take her down," Tsunade said calmly. I was waiting for it. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but you all did do what I asked." I backed up a little. "I'll let it slide just this once." I sighed in relief. "As for you," she said, turning her attention to Kaede. "I have a special treatment for you." She gulped while giving a look of horror.

Author's Notes: I wanted to thank a few people: 1. Trey of the rebellion (your idea will definitely be used in the next chapter at the earliest. I really appreciate your help.) 2. NanMiya (thanx 4 your help, too!) 3. John Lennon (your music gets my creative juices flowing! Thanx a bunch and RIP!)

Anyways, I really hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and thanx a lot to every1 who was bearing with me during my writer's block. I appreciate that too. Again, reviews, suggestions, and constructive critizism accepted. Flames are not, so don't waste your time!

The Numbers:

[1] Kaede's not a morning person and neither am I.

[2] It's not meant to be understood, accepted only!

'Til next time, ciao!