Chapter 7 – Home Frustrations
"Breaking news my little angels!" Deidara flamboyantly screamed to the screen.
"The Konoha Ninjas have returned to lead singers home town which just so happened to be the city in which inspired the name of the band, Konoha. What does this mean? Are they on vacation? What does this visit mean for their upcoming album? And most importantly will we finally get photographic evidence of Kiba Inuzuka's girlfriend who 'supposedly' lives in Konoha as well? Stay tuned for future episodes as news reporter, and general heartthrob, Sasori will keep us updated. Until next time my little lovelies. Katsu!"
(Meanwhile in Konoha)
"I cannot believe I'm home!" Naruto said as he skipped through the streets of his once familiar home, "Everything looks the same! Oh my God Gaara we have to go to Ichiraku Ramen and see if my old flat is still here, and of course go to the school!"
Gaara and the rest of the band smiled as they walked calmly behind Naruto who was jumping around like an excited child.
"Yeah, yeah, of course, Naruto," he replied smiling
"Say Naruto, is being home giving you any inspirations?" asked Kiba
Before Naruto could reply he heard someone scream his name, "HEY UZUMAKI!"
Naruto turned around and saw a brown-haired man who was with a blue scarf around his neck, "Welcome home man!"
Naruto's eyes lit up as if he had a moment of recollection, "Hey I remember you! I used to babysit ya! How've ya been pipsqueak?"
"Not so much of a pipsqueak now Naruto," Kiba sniggered.
Naruto turned to his bandmates who all had a smug look on their faces, "What dya mean Kiba?"
Neji smirked, "Isn't it obvious Naruto? The kid you used to babysit is taller than you!"
Kiba burst out laughing and Naruto turned back to the brunette, it was true he had grown taller than the blonde, "I'm good, and I'm actually a teacher now."
"Wait! Konohamaru, little rebellious Konohamaru, who would do anything for attention, is now a teacher?" Naruto paused for a moment before saying quietly, almost to himself, "That actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it."
Konohamaru ears twitched at the last part Naruto said so he simply replied "what?"
Naruto smiled a big smile as if to hide a secret and said, "Nothing, nothing." He stopped for a second, "Wait I thought you wanted to be Hokage?"
The once so little protégé smiled again, "wow I can't believe you remembered that. I did, originally, I actually was working for the Hokage for a while but it just wasn't for me, I wanted to help people and I didn't feel like I could do that from behind a desk waiting for the Hokage to pop their clogs. So I decided I wanted to help the next generation instead and I can do that now by becoming a teacher."
"So what do you teach?" Gaara asked politely
"I actually teach music," he replied proudly
"Wait! You teach music!? But what about Iruka-sensei? Doesn't he teach music? Please don't tell me he's died?!" Naruto started to panic
"Relax Naruto he's fine. In fact, Iruka-sensei is the principle now." He replied
"Wait, what?" Naruto asked shocked
"You should visit sometime, catch up, I'm sure Iruka would love to hear from his favourite student." He looked at his watch, "Shit. Sorry I've got to go, I've got a big date and I'm already late, see ya Uzumaki-dobe!" he stated running off
"HEY COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Naruto screamed after him only to see Konoharmaru running off, with his hand raised in farewell, he definitely seemed happy. "Wow, maybe things have actually changed."
(Time skip)
The next few days had been some of the best for Naruto; unfortunately, they were of the most agitating ones for his bandmates. Everywhere they went, the park, the school, nothing could inspire Naruto to finish that god damn song. Even the famous Ichiraku ramen couldn't suffice Naruto's writer's block and everyone knows that if ramen can't solve a Naruto problem then the band were truly stuck. As each day passed the three remaining bandmates were getting angrier, so much so that Kiba was forced to spend the rest of their unforeseeable time with his girlfriend Hinata, and Neji went who knows where leaving Naruto and Gaara alone most of the time.
Of course, the press, including Deidara's show, had a field day with this, reporting on every slight movement a band member made, and since the band were hardly seen together rumours actually sprung up that the band were breaking up. This obviously did not make their manager or their fans happy one bit, but no matter how many statements were released the rumours did not stop.
Gaara sighed as he read through another article outlining the possible theories about the band's current situation as Naruto was sitting on the floor at the other end of the room with a pile of scrunched up paper balls around him and a completely stuffed bin across from him. At least he was trying to write this song.
Gaara stood up from their double bed and walked up to Naruto who was facing away from him, he put a comforting hand on his lovers' shoulder. "Hey, how's it going?"
"Terrible, I have the vocabulary of a five year old," Naruto responded slightly stressed, throwing another paper ball at the over flowing bin.
"That's never stopped you before," Gaara joked, only to have Naruto glare back at him, he coughed, "I mean do you wanna get some ramen that always cheers you up, or perhaps we could go to the music store, have a look at the new Sound Four album?" Gaara added his remaining hand onto Naruto's other shoulder and rubbed them softly before brushing his hands down Naruto's arms crouching so he was closer to the blonde, "Or perhaps we could relieve some tension?"
Naruto smirked, "Believe me, I wanna do all of that," Naruto turned around, pulled Gaara down by his shirt so he was securely on the floor and started making out with him passionately. Their mouths fit around each other perfectly and each touch left sparks on the other person's skin. Gaara began to grow weak in his legs so he pushed Naruto down placing himself on top of him.
"I love you so much," Naruto breathed.
"No talking. I want you now." Gaara stated sternly which was very sexy to the blonde.
The two continued to make out whilst the pair carefully but quickly removed each other's clothes, they were down to their underpants and as Gaara began to take off Naruto's final bit of clothing-
"GUESS WHO BROUGHT TAKEOUT MOTHERFUCKA'S!" Kiba screamed as he burst into the room with Neji and Hinata behind them. The group stopped when they saw the remaining band members in their compromised position and Kiba shouted, "OH MY GOD! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON WE'VE GOT INNOCENT EYES IN THE ROOM!"
Naruto quite annoyed, and admittedly sexually frustrated replied, "Oh come on, don't pretend like you and Hinata haven't fucked!"
Hinata blushed as the pair started to get dressed, Kiba replied, "Who said I was talking about Hinata? Avert your eyes Neji; their scandalous behaviour might corrupt you!" Kiba covered Neji's eyes dramatically. "Oh, and by the way, Hinata and I do not fuck. We have passionate sex there's a difference." To that statement, Neji slapped Kiba's hands away from his eyes then proceeded to slap Kiba over the head. "Hey what was that for?!"
"Cousin!" Neji replied pointing at the only female in the room.
"Right, sorry dude," he walked up to Hinata, "Sorry babe I got too carried away," he kissed her cheek softly to which she smiled.
By this point, the boys were dressed and Gaara took the food off of Neji, "By the way what food did you guys buy?" he walked away getting ready to set up the plates.
"Pizza, we wanted to get curry but you know how Neji gets with anything spicy," Hinata replied softly, smiling a small smile to her cousin.
Gaara and Naruto smirked whilst Neji kept a stoic face not letting the inside joke affect him. The group all sat down around the round table on the floor and began eating their food, happily chatting and joking.
"So Neji, why didn't you bring anyone? Come don't tell me you were in the library every day we've been here," Naruto playfully poked Neji's side.
"I haven't actually, I've been to the gym, since the band is so clearly separating I thought it would be a good idea to show how I'm clearly not affected by the end of the relationship," Neji spoke with his unemotional face which made the whole statement hilarious.
The group laughed, "Yeah not to mention it gives the media some great photos of that smoking hot bod!" Kiba laughed.
"Shut up, you're drunk," Neji replied.
Kiba raised his beer happily, "Guilty as charged."
The group continued to chat and laugh, as Kiba continued to drink he noticed the amount of papers that was surrounding them, he didn't say anything whilst Hinata was still around, after all, he didn't like her seeing him when he was angry at Naruto or the rest of the band. After they had their pizza Hinata had to leave for work, she kissed her boyfriend goodbye and left the hotel room. Kiba closed the door after her, staying there for a moment almost as if he was trying to process that his girlfriend had left.
He sighed and spun around to face his bandmates, "Alright family meeting," he stated suddenly extremely sober.
"It seems that's all we do lately," Neji murmured into his drink which Naruto's sharp ears caught causing him to look down onto his lap.
"How's the song going Naruto?" Kiba asked, "By the number of trees that have been executed in this room I take it you haven't finished it. Am I right?"
Naruto nodded.
"Are you sure that the album needs this last song? Is it really necessary?" Kiba asked.
Naruto looked up to face his bandmates, "Honestly I do, this song ties up the album."
"Then why hasn't been tied up Naruto?" Gaara interjected.
"Well-"
"It's because you haven't tied up your relationship with Sasuke Uchiha, isn't it?" Neji asked but it sounded more like a statement.
Naruto stared wide eyed at the bass player, whereas the other bandmates looked furious, especially Gaara.
"Oh come on, it's not like we all weren't thinking it," Neji started, "Face it Naruto, this wasn't about the fact you left Konoha, we all told ourselves it was because we hoped you wouldn't have to deal with the bastard. Well, we're here, we're in Konoha but the song isn't finished." Naruto looked down at his lap again, "It's not Konoha Naruto, it's Sasuke Uchiha you haven't finished with." Neji stood up, "I think Kiba and I should leave you two alone to talk."
Neji left the room with Kiba following behind, leaving the couple in the room again, Naruto looked up at his boyfriend, "Gaara I-"
"Don't you dare apologise Naruto, I'll admit I had a feeling that you couldn't finish that song because of the pampered prick. But I didn't want to believe it because I was scared that if you realised that, you would see him and come to the conclusion that you should have never left him," Gaara quickly responded.
"But Gaara, why would you think that?" the blonde questioned.
"Because Naruto, I am an insecure person that had to deal with hate their entire life, I worry about the people I love leaving me because that is all I've ever known," Gaara turned away from Naruto pausing before he spoke again, "But Neji is right, if he is the reason that you are holding back then you should go and see him."
Naruto stared in shock at his boyfriend's back, knowing full well that he could tell what expression he was making. So many thoughts and responses came through Naruto's mind, whether he should deny it, deny everything and try to spare his boyfriend's feelings, but he knew it was true, Sasuke was the reason the song was not finished and if he ever wanted closure he knew he would have to confront him one final time.
"Okay," the blonde timidly replied.
Gaara, still not wanting Naruto to see his face nodded and stood up and walked towards the door, "I'm going to sleep in my own room tonight."
"Gaara," The redhead stopped, "I don't have feelings for Sasuke Uchiha," Naruto kneeled upwards as if he was trying to get closer to his boyfriend.
He turned to Naruto revealing his tear stained face, "Naruto, you cannot have someone in your life that long and not feel anything for them. Don't lie to yourself, and especially don't lie to me. Goodnight Naruto."
He left the room leaving the blonde dumbstruck.