Typhoon
Chapter Five
-Water Fun-
Sakura got up early the next day, too excited to sleep in like she normally would. Not only had it been a while since she had gone swimming, but it would be the first time that she would get to swim with Gaara, and see him in a swimsuit. True, she had seen his bare chest before, but the thought still excited her.
Getting out of bed, she made her way to the bathroom and took a shower. Even though she was going to get wet later, she still wanted to smell nice. When she finished she dried her hair and went back into her room. She rummaged through her dresser, finally pulling out her new swimsuit. She had bought it on a whim, because it was the same color as Gaara's hair. It was a two piece, with a solid string bikini top, and bikini bottoms that tied on the side.
Once her swimsuit was on, she walked over to her closet. She grabbed her black cover-up and threw it on, before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Not really having anything good to eat for breakfast, she grabbed a protein bar and ate it. Then she decided to put together a bag, with sunscreen and towels. Just then the doorbell rang, and she went to answer it eagerly.
Opening the door, she gave Gaara an assessing once over. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt. His swim trunks were the long kind, and were also black, with the kanji for love sewn in red on the left leg. She laughed at the irony, and opened the door wider to let him in. She still had some things to put in her swim bag before she was ready to go.
Quirking a brow at her, the redhead asked, "What's so funny?"
"Oh it's nothing. It's just that we match." She said, pointing to her ensemble. "I'll be ready in a minute, I wanted to put some snacks in my swim bag first." She told him, wandering into her kitchen.
"No rush." He said, not really looking forward to seeing Naruto or being in the water. And both combined was sure to give him a headache. When Sakura came back she stared at him oddly, trying to glance at his back.
"Where's your gourd? I thought you said you weren't going anywhere without it."
He sighed, giving a small shrug, "I have what's on me at all times, I'll take it off and then get it back after we're done. I can create more sand with just this amount." He explained, thinking back when he had been summoned to help with saving the Uchiha when he was captured. "So come on already lets go." He told her, turning to the door and heading out.
"Okay." She said, grabbing her bag and locking up. They walked through the village, meeting Naruto and Hinata by the gates of the village.
"Hey guys!" the blonde shouted, waving at them. "I hope you're ready for some awesome water fun, because…well…it's gonna be awesome!" Naruto said enthusiastically.
She rolled her eyes at him. "What did you come up with this time?" she asked, knowing there was a catch.
"Hehe, I'm glad you asked Sakura-chan!" he gave them a devious, plotting look. "How good are you and Gaara at races?"
"Really Naruto? A race? How genin." The redhead sighed, looking away as if ashamed Naruto was his friend.
"Ha! What Gaara, you afraid to lose?" Naruto taunted, knowing Gaara all too well. His angry friend would take the bait.
True to his nature, Gaara glared back the grinning blonde. "I would never lose to you, especially in such a childish game."
"So you accept?" the jinchuuriki asked, trying not to laugh at how easy his victory was going to be.
"Of course."
Sakura rolled her eyes. Such typical males. "Ok great. The place where we are going to swim is that waterfall about half a day's travel away from here. You know the one right Sakura-chan?" he asked, turning towards her.
She nodded. Of course she knew the one. It was the one she had always wanted to go to with Gaara.
"Cool. Ok so, we are going to race to the waterfall. I just learned how to flash-step, you know, like my father could do? So you guys are going down." The blonde said, grabbing Hinata by the waist. "Ok when I say go, we go." He said, as if the answer wasn't obvious.
Sakura merely exchanged a look with Gaara, nodding to him in understanding.
"GO!" the blonde jinchuuriki yelled, disappearing in a yellow flash.
As soon as that happened Gaara reached out for her, and she took his hand immediately. Pulling her up into his arms, and holding her bridal style, he looked down at her face. "It's about twenty-five miles southeast of our current location." She told him. Then she felt the familiar sensation of his sand wrapping around them, as they were whisked away to the waterfall.
When the sand cleared, she looked around and saw that Naruto wasn't there. Looking up into her fiancé's eyes, she smiled gleefully. "I knew you could beat him honey." She said, suddenly in a playful mood.
"Well teleporting and dashing are quite different." He said smugly, letting her down then, his eyes almost begging to know what she was hiding under her cover-up.
A brilliant light appeared and Naruto slid to a stop. Unable to control his speed yet, he fell forward, face first into the dirt with Hinata, terrified and latched like a koala bear on his back. Gaara stared down at them oddly, trying his best not to laugh.
"OW!" the blonde yelled painfully, a bit delayed. "Well at least Hinata-chan didn't get hurt," he mumbled, trying to look back at his girlfriend. "You can let go now Hinata-chan."
But the poor girl was scared stiff, "Um…Hinata?" Gaara gave her a poke to the head, but she did nothing.
"OH MY GOD I KILLED HINATA-CHAN!" Naruto cried out, sobbing dramatically. Both Gaara and Sakura gave him annoyed looks.
"Shut up Naruto." They said in unison. Gaara walked around the blonde and wrapped his arms around the Hyuuga's stomach, trying to rip her off Naruto's back. "Good God, she's got a grip." He growled, tugging harder. And with a quick release of her hands they both fell back. Gaara hit the ground, followed by Hinata hitting him.
"OW!" he yelled out. Finally snapped out of her shock, Hinata gasped, turning dark red.
"G-Gaara-sama! I-I'm s-s-s-so sorry!" she bowed apologetically as the redhead sat up. He rubbed his forehead and groaned.
"It's…fine…" he finally got out, now having a killer headache. Now this wouldn't be fun for anyone.
Sakura ran to his side to see if his head was okay. Her hands instantly turned green and she soothed the aching in his temple. Turning to Naruto, she sent him an angry look. "You can't even control it yet, and you wanted Hinata to go with you? Are you stupid?" she shook her head. "Nevermind. You are stupid!"
Before the blonde could say a word, Hinata spoke up to defend him. "It's alright Sakura. I just didn't know that Naruto-kun could go that fast, and I wasn't prepared for it."
"Well, at least now I know what Kakashi-sensei needs to work with you on." The pink haired woman said, an evil look in her eyes.
"You wouldn't! Sakura-chan, you know Kakashi-sensei takes joy in torturing us! How could you do that to me?" he asked, a horrified look on his face.
She shrugged. "It's what you get for hurting Hinata and Gaara." Then she stood up, brushing herself off. "So? Are we gonna swim or what?" she asked, looking around at the group.
Only due to Sakura's medic skills Gaara agreed to continue their day of 'fun'. "So what do we do?" Gaara asked, having almost no experience in these types of situations.
Naruto laughed and pulled off his shirt, stretching slowly. Being a man, he needed to get his dignity back with his body. Hinata looked away from him, blushing darkly. "Well first, we're going to play chicken!" he announced, punching a fist into his palm.
Gaara scoffed and held his open palm out, Sakura slapping her hand against his. "This'll be easy." She smirked, grabbing her cover up and pulling it over her head before tossing it aside. Gaara did the same with his dark shirt, throwing it over Sakura's excess clothing. He didn't attempt to hide his stare, Sakura's body was practically his now and he could look if he wanted.
She pretended to ignore his gaze, and walked towards the water. She stuck her big toe in, and immediately pulled it back, a small gasp escaping her lips. Turning back to the others, she gave them an embarrassed smile. "It's a little chilly." She explained.
"Don't be such a baby Sakura-chan! I bet Hinata-chan will get in all the way before you do!" the blonde yelled. Wanting to beat his friends in something, he walked over to his ebony haired girlfriend. "Hinata-chan do you need help taking that off?" he asked innocently, gesturing to her cover-up.
The girl simply blushed. "No thank you Naruto-kun. I can manage." Then she pulled hers off, revealing a modest blue one piece, yet on her, it still managed to look beautiful.
"Hm." Gaara looked at the girl, deep in thought. "You know of all the things I saw coming with our messed up generation, I did not see Hinata having such a large chest." He shrugged simply, not interested at all. He just found it funny that the shyest of all the Konoha girls got the largest feminine features. "Alright, I guess it's time to get wet." He spread out his fingers and gave them one abrupt shake. All the sand slid off its master and gathered into a pile on the grass. Gaara rubbed his fingers together and made an odd face. "This feels weird." He shrugged and walked towards the water.
Naruto stood proudly beside Sakura, boasting excitedly about how he and Hinata would win. Once Gaara was behind him, he gave the loud blonde a shove and he fell straight into the water. "Shut up Naruto."
The boy came back up, sputtering. "How dare you! Just because you hate having fun doesn't mean you can do as you please!" the blonde yelled, pointing a finger at him.
Sakura walked over and wrapped her arm around Gaara, placing a hand on his smooth abdomen. "Actually Naruto, it does. And I wouldn't have him any other way." She said with a smile, looking up into his eyes. Then she ran her hand over his stomach, a contemplative look coming over her face.
"I didn't think your skin would be so soft. But I guess having always been protected by the armor, it would be." She stated.
"Well I've only been wounded twice." He reminded her, kissing the top of her head, a small smile gracing his face.
"I wanna feel Gaara's skin!" Naruto jumped out of the water and ran towards the two, who were now seriously alarmed. Unfortunately for Naruto, his face met with Gaara's foot and he was kicked back into the water.
"Naruto! I thought we talked about not acting on your homosexual tendencies!" the redhead glared.
"Besides, nobody gets to feel Gaara's skin except for me. It's mine." Sakura said, feeling possessive over her new discovery.
Shaking out his hair, Naruto crossed his arms and stuck out his lower lip in a pout. "You guys are no fun. And why am I the only one in the water? Hurry up Hinata-chan! Beat Sakura-chan in!" he called over to his girlfriend.
"Oh she can have this victory Naruto. That water is too chilly for me to get in any other way but one step at a time." Sakura said.
"Sakura."
At the sound of her name she turned her head back to Gaara, a questioning look in her eyes. "Sabakus don't lose." Was all he said before he hauled her into his arms and threw her in the water.
The water felt like ice hitting her skin, and sent a shock throughout her entire body. When her head emerged from the water, it was to be met with amused jade eyes.
"You cheated! Sakura-chan had to get in before Hinata-chan on her own!" Naruto yelled, indignant.
Tilting his head to the side, Gaara continued to look amused with the whole situation. "Actually, you only said she had to get in, not that I couldn't help her." He pointed out.
Hitting the water with a fist in frustration, Naruto said, "I shoulda thought of that." Then he climbed out of the water and marched towards Hinata. "Come here Hinata-chan! I'll carry you in like a princess! Because Uzumakis don't mishandle their women!" Naruto yelled, directing that last comment to the no longer amused redhead by the lake.
Hinata merely blushed and allowed him to pick her up. She was starting to get used to his random ideas and constant affection, but sometimes he was a bit much. Out of irritation, Gaara stuck his foot out as Naruto passed him, making the poor guy trip and fall, with Hinata, into the water. "At least Sabakus don't wait like thirteen years to realize they love someone." He retorted, needing the upper hand again.
Naruto burst from the water and butted heads with Gaara. "HEY! It was a process!"
"Process my ass you pansy!"
"PANSY? I'll show you a pansy!" the blonde yelled, reaching out with his hands to grab the redhead. But Gaara's shot forward and met with Naruto's. It was almost like they were wrestling, in a far more aggressive way.
Sakura and Hinata exchanged looks, hers being one of annoyance and Hinata's one of worry. Wanting this nonsense to stop, Sakura decided to try and distract her redheaded lover. "Gaara, the water still feels cold."
Not catching what she was hinting at, he kept struggling with the blonde, beginning to gain an advantage. "So?" he grunted.
She crossed her arms and raised a brow. "Do you know what happens to a girl when she is cold?" she asked, hoping she wouldn't have to elaborate. Hinata, catching on to what her friend was saying, began to lower into the water slowly and scoot away from her friend. Experience taught her that this was the best course of action.
It didn't quite sink in at first, until realization flashed across Gaara's face. He pushed Naruto off a bit and then grabbed him, throwing him back into the water. Without any hesitation the redhead ran towards the water and dove in. He swam quickly and resurfaced beside Sakura, shaking his head and letting water fly from his hair. His hands rested on Sakura's waist and pulled her to him, pressing her whole front against his. He smiled and leaned down, kissing her wet mouth with his.
She responded to the kiss in kind, pleased that she had gotten her way. Pressing against him even more, she whispered into his ear. "I'm not so cold anymore."
"Darn," he laughed, ravishing her face with small kisses.
Naruto watched the two in envy, turning to Hinata and swimming towards her. "Hey Hinata-chan, aren't you cold?" he tried to give her a seductive smile that failed miserably. Hinata went an unhealthy red and started swimming away from her boyfriend.
Sakura laughed at her friends' antics. "Hey Naruto, weren't you saying something about losing to me and Gaara at chicken?" she asked, bringing his focus back on their purpose for swimming.
"No! I was saying how me and Hinata-chan were going to dominate! You two don't stand a chance!" the blonde yelled, grabbing Hinata by the waist and pulling her to him. "Get ready Hinata-chan, this is gonna be rough." He said in a serious voice, preparing for battle.
Gaara rolled his eyes, taking Sakura's hand and submerging himself in the cool water. Sakura moved onto his shoulders, keeping her balance as he rose and stood tall. She leaned over his head, staring at him upside down. She started giggling uncontrollably, seeing his hair was a bit long and blinding him. She pushed it from his eyes and pat his head lovingly. "There you go baby."
Sakura punched her hand into an open palm and smirked, "Don't worry Hinata, I won't use any chakra to enhance my strength."
"…Um…ok…but aren't you natura-" Hinata yelped as Naruto went under and stood, having Hinata on his shoulders now.
"Are you ready to lose?" Naruto asked excitedly. Then, without warning, he rushed forward with Hinata, trying to catch the other couple by surprise.
Sakura merely braced herself as Gaara lunged towards the blonde. She and Hinata grabbed each other's fists, linking their fingers together. Her brow rose in surprise. Hinata was stronger than she looked. Keeping this knowledge to herself, Sakura began to twist sideways, hoping to knock the Hyuuga off.
Once again the redhead and the blonde were head to head, Gaara growling and Naruto giving out a loud grunt. Despite the fact that this game was simply out of his character, he refused to lose to the fox boy. Sliding his foot between Naruto, he brought it back, dragging the blonde's foot forward, making him go underwater and Hinata to lower.
Taking full advantage of this, Sakura increased the pressure she was putting on Hinata's hands. She hadn't lied. She wouldn't need to use any of her chakra enhanced strength to win this game. Hinata whimpered softly, her brow creasing as she tried to push back. Sakura smirked at this. It was a valiant effort, but she and Gaara would not lose, especially not to Naruto.
Hinata was determined not to lose, especially when Naruto was trying his best to win. She would show him how strong she had become. Sakura felt a pain in her hands all of a sudden. It shot down her arms, locking up her muscles. She went wide eyed knowing this technique, but she couldn't believe Hinata was cheating! Unfortunately, it was too late to counter the Hyuuga's gentle fist and the shy girl almost pushed her off the redhead. But thank god Gaara was her foundation. His grip tightened on Sakura's legs and he kicked Naruto back, sending the two into the water. They stayed connected though, resurfacing with haggard breathes. "Come on Hinata-chan! That was great! You were so close!" Naruto charged again, keeping a firm grip on his own woman.
"Are you alright Sakura?" Gaara looked up, avoiding the charge of the anxious man to give her some time to get focused.
"Yeah." She said, sending some healing chakra into her arms. With a determined glare, she reached out and grabbed Hinata's fists in her own. Squeezing a bit, she sent some harmful medical chakra into the girl's hands, causing her to gasp at the pain that shot down her arms.
"Two can play that game Hinata. Are you sure you want to go there?" Sakura asked, raising a brow at the timid girl. Her words were lost on Naruto, but Gaara's suspicion rose, knowing how competitive his woman could be.
Hinata actually let a hard glare form on her face. "I'm sorry Sakura, but I can't…I won't lose. Not in front of Naruto-kun!" she nodded, pulling one of her hands away and only holding two fingers out. Before Sakura could react, Hinata struck the juncture between her friend's arm and shoulder, her byakugan activated now.
She could feel her arm go limp and knew that she wouldn't be able to use it for some time. Once again Gaara pulled away from the duo, making sure Sakura was alright. He didn't even have to speak for her to know that was what he was thinking. "I'm fine Gaara. I only need one arm to win anyway." She smirked.
Hinata still had a solid look of confidence, both her hands in her own gentle fist stance. "We got this game in the bag Hinata-chan!" Naruto yelled before rushing them again. Gaara slid his foot out, slightly tripping the blonde, and causing Hinata to sway. This was exactly the opening Sakura needed. Faster than the eye can see, she grabbed one of Hinata's hands and sent some numbing chakra into it, causing her left arm to fall limp. Then she moved her hand out of the way, so that it wouldn't get hit. She smirked at the startled look on the girl's face. "Now the playing field is even."
Hinata let out a small smile. "So it is." She kept her hand raised. This was a fight for Naruto's pride now, and she would defend it with everything she had. Naruto started at Gaara again, who decided to engage the blonde this time. Naruto sped up and then just as he was about to let out his battle cry, his foot caught on a rock. He tripped forward, sending Hinata towards the water with wide eyes, her forehead colliding with Sakura's.
Both girls fell back from the impact and crashed into the water. "Sakura!"
"Hinata-chan!"
Naruto pulled Hinata's head from the water, trying to make sure she wasn't unconscious. "My…head…" she mumbled out in pain.
Gaara pulled Sakura up, holding her bridal style and close to his chest. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. She nodded, coughing up some water and rubbing her aching head. She sent some healing chakra into it, sighing as the pain receded. Then she put her hand on her shoulder, slowly opening up the closed chakra pathway, so that she could use her arm again.
When she finished she placed her head on Gaara's shoulder. "I was so close to knocking her off." She whined, upset that once again, Naruto's stupidity had caused people to get hurt.
"It's okay." Gaara told her, not ever upset that it was a draw. He was just glad she was alright. "Naruto how's Hinata?"
"How are you Hinata-chan?" the blonde asked, concern in his eyes.
"I'm fine Naruto-kun, my head just hurts a little." She answered, rubbing her head.
Sakura climbed out of Gaara's hold and made her way to her friend. "Here Hinata, let me heal that." She said, holding out her hands. Hinata welcomed the help, slightly embarrassed that part of it had been caused in her need to win.
"Sakura, I hope I didn't offend you by what I did. I-"
"It's fine Hinata." The pink haired woman interrupted, not wanting her friend to feel bad. If Hinata hadn't cheated, then she and Gaara would have won in the beginning. "It seems acts like that run in your family. Just ask Neji."
Hinata blushed and shook her head, "I heard that Gaara-sama cheated first." She said quietly, not wanting to anger the Kazekage. He merely shrugged, it was true after all.
She laughed at that. "Well I would expect that from him, not your uptight cousin." She joked. Turning to Naruto she raised a brow. "So, who's going to be it in marco polo? I call not it!" she yelled, feeling somewhat childish.
"Not it." Hinata smiled.
"Not it!" Naruto screamed, giving Gaara a victorious look.
"Fine." Gaara moved over to the blonde and closed his eyes. "Marco."
"Po-" Naruto almost finished before the Kazekage smacked him over the head.
"Now you're it."
Sakura burst into laughter. "You should have moved away before talking Naruto. Gaara has excellent senses." She pointed out to the pouting blonde.
"Excellent senses my ass. He just remembered where I was standing." The fox boy replied.
"Still," Hinata said, "you should have thought about that before speaking Naruto-kun."
Gaara smirked in triumph. There was nothing better than having everyone on his side. Naruto closed his eyes tightly. "….Marco."
"Polo." Sakura called, a few feet behind him.
"Polo." Hinata mumbled, almost to the middle of the lake.
"…polo." Gaara said, still in the same spot. If Naruto was smart he would go for one of the girls.
It just so happened that that was exactly what Naruto had decided. He turned around quickly and made his way towards Sakura's voice. "Marco!" he called.
"Polo." She said, backing up in order to avoid him.
"Marco!"
"Polo!" she squealed, having just barely dodged Naruto's hand. She began to swim away from him, turning around so that she kept him in her sights. Grinning to himself, Naruto decided to do a small flash-step in Sakura's direction, having used the Kyuubi's abilities to pick up on her scent. He reached out a hand, only to have it land on her right breast.
She gasped and flinched away, a light pink covering her cheeks, since no one but Gaara had ever touched her there. She wasn't entirely mad, because she knew it was an accident. It was Gaara she was worried about. Before anything else could happen, the blonde was wrenched away from her.
Naruto hit solid ground with a hard smack before he even knew what was going on. Hinata let out a cry, not really knowing what to do. Gaara pulled himself out of the water, stalking towards his, right now, ex-best friend. "HOW DARE YOU!"
The blonde man scrambled to his feet, completely confused as to what was happening. What did he do? Naruto tried to think about it, and then realized why where he touched Sakura had been so soft. "N-now Gaara!" he waved his hands in front of his face, trying to calm down the redhead. "That was an accident. A mistake! I swear! I would never touch Sakura-chan like that!" he started pleading now.
Before he could react Gaara punched him square in the face, insuring him a black eye for later. Hinata yelled and got out of the water, running to Naruto's side and helping him up. "Gaara-sama it was an accident! You didn't have to hit him!" she actually yelled.
"No one but me touches Sakura." He spat out.
Sakura merely stayed in the water, wide eyed. One, because of the way Gaara had reacted, and two, because Hinata had yelled for the first time.
"Ok already! We understand! Just don't hurt Naruto-kun anymore!" she glared, standing between him and Naruto. It wasn't as if she were fearless, because he could see her hands shaking slightly. "It was an accident." She said again, her palms flat as if she were ready to fight.
Gaara straightened up and stared at the not-so-quiet Hyuuga. Well that was definitely an interesting reaction. He was actually…impressed.
"Hinata-chan I'm ok, really." The blonde said, getting up. "I would be angry too if the same thing happened to you." He looked over to Sakura, who was getting out of the water. "I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I didn't mean to." He apologized, hoping she wouldn't punch him in the face as well.
She walked up beside Gaara and put her arm around his waist reassuringly. "It's ok Naruto. But if you ever use that damn flash-step again while in my presence, I'm going to strangle you." She threatened, raising a fist for emphasis.
Naruto simply laughed nervously, placing his right hand behind his head. "Ok, ok. I'll ask Kakashi-sensei to train me."
The rest of the day went pleasantly, with everyone actually bonding. They talked of the future and when Naruto would finally become Hokage. It was one of the days that Gaara actually felt like a normal guy, hanging out like a normal person. It was nice, to just have days where it didn't matter about the outside world. All there was was this small oasis.