Chapter 17: Visitor

"Is it just me, or is something going on in the village?" asked Ino.

"Dinner last night tip you off on that?" said Sakura. "Yeah, something's up."

"You said before that Naruto had been acting suspiciously when Sai was acting strange," Ino told her. "We thought it was because he was trying to hide the fact that he had done something to Sai. Which was possible. Then last night, Shino starts hugging people."

"Mostly Kiba."

"You think Naruto had something to do with that?"

Sakura sighed. "I thought he did, but then Shino hugged Naruto. Naruto obviously didn't see that coming and didn't want it. If he did do something to Shino for kicks, he wouldn't have let something like that happen. I don't think he's involved anymore. Not if he's being tormented, too."

"You're right. Look at the one who isn't being harassed and they're probably the one responsible."

Sakura sighed again. "Gaara's supposed to be showing up today. Let's hope the craziness is at an end by the time he shows up."

"Get it all out of their system before then, right?"

"That's the idea."

Naruto found Neji and Lee having a conversation. Lee kept pointing in another direction and Neji looked irritated. Lee must have been telling him about Shino and how he wanted to help him.

"Hey, guys," Naruto greeted.

"Hello again, Naruto."

Neji nodded his head. "What are you up to?"

"Oh, not much. Taking a break from training, Lee?"

He shook his head. "I am still trying to find Shino but he is a worthy advisory. Very good at hiding, like a true ninja. I have not given up my search, but I really must get back to training. Will you join me?"

"Not now. I was actually going to be doing something with Neji."

Upon hearing his name, Neji's eyes glazed over and his shoulders slumped.

"Ok, then I will be off. Feel free to join me when you are able." Lee vanished.

Naruto turned to Neji. "Come back to my place with me. I have work for you."

They started to go to Naruto's apartment, but then Sai showed up with a gleeful look on his face. Naruto moaned.

"I found you! Leave it to the best ninja in the world to evade me so," Sai gushed. "What can I help you with today, sir? I'm ready and able."

"Go, uh… find Sakura for me."

"I'm on it, sir!" Sai raced off.

"That should keep him busy for a while. Now, back at my place, I want you to…"

"Naruto! I found her!"

Naruto quickly shoved Neji into an alley. He couldn't let Sakura see him in such a state.

"That was quick."

Sai dragged Sakura over to Naruto by the wrist. "Here she is!"

"Goody. Thanks, Sai."

Sakura gave them both annoyed looks. "So what's going on? What did you need me for?"

"Uh…" Naruto actually had no reason for Sai to fetch her. He just wanted to keep him busy and asking him to find Sakura was the first thing that popped into his mind.

"I'm pretty busy today, Naruto. I don't have time to mess around."

"Why? What are you up to?"

Sakura was going to give him a curt answer, but she knew how much Naruto cared about Gaara, so she decided to give him the good news with a smile.

"We have someone special coming to the village today," she said with a grin.

"Yeah? Who?"

She couldn't wait to see the look on Naruto's face when she told him. "Gaara."

Naruto's face lit up. "Gaara's coming? Here? To the Leaf Village?"

"Yup!" She had to admit that Naruto's joyful expression was kind of cute. He looked like a puppy dog playing with a new toy. "He's coming here on business. He has a meeting this evening with the Hokage. He should be arriving anytime now."

"This is great! I haven't seen him in so long. I can't wait to hang out with him."

Sakura didn't want to crush his hopes but she had to put emphasis on the fact that Gaara was here on business before Naruto made too many plans.

"He's here for a meeting, Naruto. Didn't you hear me when I said that he was here on business?"

Naruto had already started making plans when she said this. "Huh? But… aside from the meeting, he'll have time to hang out and stuff, right? The meeting's not until evening, right?"

"You'll have to take it up with him," she said. "I'm sure he's busy, but he might have time or make time for you if you let him know you want to hang out for a bit."

Naruto grinned. He couldn't wait to see him. The earlier Gaara got to the Leaf, the more time they could spend together. They had the whole afternoon to waste until the meeting.

He felt something brush against him and looked to find Sai pressing close to him.

"Will you get away from me?" he hissed.

"I thought we could spend the day together," he purred. "You can show off your jutsu for me and I won't get mad. I'd love to see you in action."

Naruto covered Sai's mouth with his hand before Sakura could hear anymore. But Sai kept talking. Naruto could feel his jaw moving up and down under his palm and felt Sai's lips rubbing against his flesh. Unable to take it anymore, Naruto pulled his hand away and wiped it off on his pants.

"Please let me hang out with you!" Sai begged. "I promise I won't be a bother. I won't get in the way like she will." He pointed at Sakura.

"What?" Sakura's eye twitched.

"He- he didn't mean that!" Naruto wedged himself between them.

"Yes, I do. She's kind of a pain, like I've been saying."

To Sai, Sakura was very annoying. He wanted to spend time with Naruto and she was only getting in the way. She even bothered Naruto's dinner last night, arguing about clothes. In truth, he found everyone who got near Naruto to be annoying. He wanted Naruto's undivided attention and everyone was getting in the way of that.

He had been trying to tell Naruto this, but his hand was in the way. Naruto pulled his hand away at the worst time, when Sai was complaining about Sakura. Neither heard his other complaints about the other people getting between them.

As a result, Sakura took her anger out on both of them. She was aiming for Sai but Naruto got in the way of her punch, so she ended up hitting both of them in a blind fury.

Naruto moaned, sitting on the floor of his apartment with a throbbing shoulder.

After being smacked, he ordered Sai to go somewhere else and he would come find him. Sai obeyed, but for how long? This admiration drove Sai to be near Naruto at all times. Even being ordered to stay away from him wasn't enough to keep him away for long. He would obey, then come back in a few minutes when his longing became too much.

"I really should reverse this." Naruto rubbed his shoulder. "Hey, Neji, could you help me out?"

Neji, who had followed him, turned around.

"Do you think you can pop my shoulder back in or rub it or something? It won't stop hurting."

Neji sat behind Naruto and began to rub his shoulder for him. He moved Naruto's arm up and down and rubbed it some more. He gave Naruto's arm a squeeze, rubbed it and moved away.

Naruto moved his arm up and down without any pain. "Wow, that's amazing. You're good at this."

Neji sat quietly.

Naruto stood up. "I'm going to keep an eye out for Gaara. Neji, you stay here, ok?"

Neji did not respond which Naruto took as compliance.

He left the apartment and went in the direction of the main gate. If he stayed in that area, he should be able to see Gaara arrive if he hadn't already.

He was on his way to the gate when he saw a tuft of red hair. He stopped and went back. He looked and saw three people, but the third one was hidden behind their bodies. Naruto waited until they moved to be certain. When they did, he saw the redhaired boy with dark rings around his eyes.

It was Gaara.

Naruto was so happy to see him.

"Gaara!" Naruto jogged across the street to meet him. "Hey, what's up?"

Gaara turned around and gave Naruto a small smile. "It's been a while, Naruto. How are you?"

"I'm doing great. How about you? You look good."

"Thanks."

Before Gaara could say anything else, his brother did the speaking for him. "Gaara's really busy today, so he doesn't have time for chitchat."

"Who put you in charge?" asked Naruto.

"I've been assigned to watch him as one of his bodyguards. So there."

"That doesn't put you in charge of him."

The second bodyguard defended Kankuro. "We're also in charge of making sure the Kazekage stays on schedule. We cannot have him miss his meeting with your Hokage."

"I heard it wasn't until this evening," said Naruto.

"Doesn't matter," said Kankuro. "We still have to make sure he gets there on time. We already checked in at the gate, but we still have to check in other places beforehand. Like at the hotel we're staying at."

"Sounds to me that your work is already half done. And Gaara doesn't have to be there when you check in at the hotel. You can do that. And there's still a long time before the meeting. He can chitchat if he wants."

"Not if it makes us late to the meeting," Kankuro growled.

"He won't be late," argued Naruto.

"I don't think I can trust you to make sure he won't be, which is why I'm here. If he talks to you, it'll put us behind schedule."

"You're saying I'm not responsible?"

"Your chatting has already wasted several minutes of our time."

"But you're the one talking."

Gaara stood silently as the two bickered.

"It's been so long since I last saw Gaara. It'd be a shame to not spend some time with him. I was looking forward to seeing him and hanging out together," Naruto complained. "Come on. He can't come all this way and just go to a boring meeting. He should have some fun, too. Visit friends. Stuff like that."

That did sound like fun. Gaara couldn't remember the last time he socialized. It was a long journey to get here from the Sand Village. He needed time to decompress. Besides, what were they going to do for the next few hours? Wait until the meeting, maybe go over a few notes. He could decompress during his wait, but being with a friend sounded like much better company. Naruto seemed so eager to see him, too. He couldn't disappoint him.

"I'm not letting Gaara out of my sight," Kankuro growled.

"Then hang out with us."

"There's work to be done."

"Not until later. Let me hang out with my friend. He should see his friends once in a while, don't you think?"

"He doesn't have time for that. Being the Kazekage is hard work. It's a busy job. He can't just hang out. Not unless it's at a meeting, and even then, there's business going on."

"I thought you were the loose and cool guy, Kankuro. What happened to you?"

"I have a responsibility. I'm on the clock. I can't mess around."

After Gaara had been kidnapped and killed, Kankuro became a lot more serious about his bodyguard duties. Gaara had been captured on his watch. He couldn't let that happen again. If it meant staying by his side at all times, then so be it.

"It's just for a little while. He'll be back in time for the meeting. Let him have some fun."

"It's work. Not fun. He can't-"

"Enough," said Gaara and the two quieted. "I believe I have a say in what I do."

"Of course you do, Lord Kazekage," said the second bodyguard. "What will you do, sir?"

Naruto was giving him a pleading look. Kankuro was very tense. Gaara didn't want to disappoint either of them, but he did have some time before the meeting. It seemed silly to wait in a hotel room until it was time to attend. He could be spending that time in the company of a good friend. If he timed everything right, he could do both. He could hang out with Naruto for a little while, then do as Kankuro wanted and stay in the hotel and go over some notes.

Gaara folded his arms. "It is a rare opportunity to see Naruto. I'll spend some time in his company. Since we will be together, he will be like a third bodyguard. Afterword, I will return to the hotel with Kankuro with plenty of time before the meeting. I believe that's fair enough."

Naruto beamed at him and gave Kankuro a smug look.

"Are you sure, Gaara?" Kankuro asked him.

"Yes." Looked at Kankuro out of the corner of his eye. "Allow me a little time with my friend."

The way Gaara phrased it made it sound like he was asking permission rather than giving an order.

Kankuro sighed. "Alright, Gaara. I'll see you in a bit." He looked at the other bodyguard. "We have work to do in the meantime."

"Right."

Naruto and Gaara walked side by side down the street.

"They sure are strict with you, aren't they?"

"They have to be," said Gaara. "I am the Kazekage now. I don't have much time to do social things. Or have time to myself."

"Well, all that's about to change," declared Naruto. "It's about time you did something fun with all the work you do on a regular basis. Come back to my place and let's have some fun."

Gaara's here!

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