I'm sorry about the delay I'm really tried from today's events. I hope you enjoy the chapter. I'm not good at being girls. Please review.
"I'm serious he it just rested on my shoulder and when I looked at it...it blinked. How disturbing is that!" Ino shivered visibly.
"Hahahahahaha That sounds like Gaara. It this it?" Temari answered looking at the gates to the Haruno compound.
"Yeah it's just a little further and for the record your brother is a jerk." Ino continued with inpatients.
"Ino that's rude." Ten Ten pointed out admiring the gardens that stretched out before them.
"I could be worse you know. Holy shit that girl has good taste." Temari was now admiring the scenery. Her eyes catching in each green houses plaque. The gardens had specific uses as well as dedications. The Akimichi's garden for example contained Garlic, Peppercorns, Oregano, Basil, Dill Weed, Paprika, Cumin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Thyme, Parsley, Bay Leaf, and Arrowroot. What was more surprising was the arrangement was done so it didn't look bad.
"Naruto-kun had a hard time finding all the flowers and herbs. Sakura wanted her home to be useful to the village as well since they were paying for it." Hinata smiled watching as a few gardeners enter a green house.
"Wow she really planned it out so it would pay the village back and then some." Temari pointed out as she read a sign to the last green house sign that said rare antidotes as they reached the door.
"She doesn't want to hurt the rebuilding economy. A Lot of the rare plants had to be collected by ANBU and she paid for the missions out-of-pocket." Ino answered knocking on the door rather loudly causing the other women to cringe. A few seconds later the door opened with an irritated Kotaru greeting them this time. As soon as they entered they were stopped by Kiba's arm only to barely be missed by Sai's body whipping past and slamming against the wall followed by Shino and Yahiko's. Temari grabbed for her fan out of instinct but Ino pushed her hand away with a smirk.
"Yahiko get out of my house! Shino I will go where I damn well please with or without whomever I please! And Sai I can take care of myself!" Sakura appeared from the hall way with rage rolling off her in waves. Sai wheezed a little but gave her the thumbs up to let her know that he understood. Shino simply huffed.
"You aren't leaving the house in that! You look like a tramp!" Yahiko ignored her demand for his eviction. Temari took a step forward with a dark aura radiating from her body. Shino visibly stiffened. Did this guy really have the nerve to say Sakura looked like a tramp? In all honesty Sakura wasn't dressed all that badly. She wore a pair of black shorts that ended at mid-thigh that hugged her hip bones exposing the v of her hips. A black and red checkered sleeveless zip up shirt that ended a few inches above her belly button was slightly unzipped showing her black sports bra. Her hair was tied back into a high ponytail which draped over her shoulder. Upon seeing this nose bleed inducing sight Yahiko had lost his cool and demanded she change. Sai came to her defense once Yahiko grabbed her intending to force her to change her clothes. Shino demanded she take someone with her. The rest of the men had the wisdom to just watch and wait. Temari on the other hand had no qualms about picking the idiot up by the collar of his shirt and throwing him out on his ass.
"Now that were done with that lets start over. Good morning Sakura you look radiant as always." Shisui laughed and wrapped an around her. To which she flicked his nose and moved away. Ever since breakfast the day before each guy was becoming a bit more assertive and touchy. It wasn't so much uncomfortable and it was annoying at times. It seemed that the others were accepting Kiba's challenge to the fullest.
"Hey Temari long time no see." Sakura smiled walking away from Shisui who simply smirked.
"Oh how she tempts me with this game of hard to get." He feigned hurt placing the back of his hand on his forehead.
"Sakura you look amazing! It's been too long. I hope my baby brother isn't causing you any trouble." Temari laughed.
"Your to sweet Temari, and no not at all." Sakura laughed as they gave each other a warm hug.
"I said the same thing and get ignored." Shisui grumbles as he helps Sai from the floor.
"Well at least one of them can behave." Temari joked. "By the way the first guys you sent back got a beating they'll never forget. You should have just punted them back to Suna."
"I think the wind resistance would have been too much." Hinata giggled covering her mouth.
"Are we ready to go Choji, Shika, Naruto, and Lee are waiting." Ino laughed gesturing to the door. The pinkett nodded and with that they left.
"You know this is going to be a drag right?" Shikamaru asked leaning back against the bench to look up at the clouds. It was going to rain and it was starting to get colder as autumn was starting to relent to winter. This meant Temari would want to stay close. Maybe winter wasn't such a bad thing.
"You think everything a drag." Lee chuckled catching a falling leaf between his fingers.
"Prove me wrong." Shikamaru smirked looking at Lee from the corner of his eye as he took a long drag of his cigarette.
"Right and then I'll take Naruto's spot as Hokage." Choji laughed. "You know you aren't completely against going with them."
"Yeah cause we get to see our beautiful women model for us." Naruto wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. This caused the others to grin as well.
"So who do you think Sakura will be modeling for?" Lee asked dropping the leaf he was no longer interested in.
"I'm not sure but he's one lucky bastard." Shikamaru grinned flicking his finished cigarette into the public ash tray.
"Better not let Temari hear that." Naruto teased leaning his elbows onto his knees.
"She knows I'm not going anywhere. Our relationship is already set in stone. My clan met with Gaara last month and we'll be married next autumn." Shikamaru grinned.
"Great lazy ass, aggressive kids." Naruto laughed causing Shikamaru to grin.
"congratulations Shika your life is officially over." Lee smacked his back.
"I'm not the only one Lee. Naruto and Hinata are engaged, and Choji plans to tie the knot with Ino this summer. Ten Ten is the last of the rookie women who isn't getting married yet. You seem to be slacking. What happened to all that youthful crap when we were kids?" Shikamaru pointed out trying to hide what they were all thinking.
"Naruto when did this happen?" Lee asked shocked.
"When her dad caught me kissing her after dinner. He went crazy with all these assumptions. So I kinda told him I planed to marry her no matter what he had to say. My dad had a large hand in the negotiations." Naruto grinned reminiscing fondly with a warm look in his eyes.
"Aw their gossiping!" Ino laughed as she dropped over the edge of the bench Choji sat on and dropped directly into his lap. Instantly he held her closer and placed a kiss to her temple.
"Perhaps we should leave our house wives to their gossip." Temari laughed leaning on Shikamaru's shoulders from behind with a smile. Hinata was pulled into Naruto's lap with a shy smile.
"Troublesome woman." Shikamaru smiled as she flicked his nose.
"Well lets head over to the salon then we need to go shopping." Sakura smiled watching her friends so happy.
"Are you by yourself today Sakura?" Lee asked with a raised eyebrow. Sakura was about to say something when a strong arm wrapped around her making her look up into Sauske's dark eyes a scowl on his face. Sakura began gathering chakra in her hand as she raised it she shifted to face Sasuke. She could feel her muscles protest and threaten to tear as she did so. Tsunade had warned her about using her chakra that it would tear her muscles apart if she didn't allow her chakra to rebuild sufficiently. Sasuke moved towards her but was cut off by a figure blocking out Sakura. His hand griping her arm to keep it in place as his jacket fell around them concealing her from the Uchiha. This caused her to gasp for a moment. His aquamarine eyes and sinfully indulgent smile caused her to relax and absorb the chakra she was about to spend. Her muscles silenced their protest.
"Gaara how did you?" She was confused he loved that look on her face. It was so open and care free. To be fair he was visiting with Tsunade when she mentioned that Sasuke was out in the shopping district earlier. Knowing Sakura was there as well did not settle well with him and so he decided he would find the foolish man and watch him. He didn't plan to intervene as long as Sasuke behaved. The minute Sasuke had grabbed Sakura all bets were off. She needed to rest her chakra, and that could not be accomplished if Sasuke was present.
"As if I would pass up the chance to spend the day with my blossom." He smiled and bent to place a kiss to her temple. She had not invited him to come along but she would allow him to stay because he had saved her from destroying her body. Naruto smirked looking over at the other men who nodded.
"So when did you two get so cozy?" Sasuke asked with a sneer.
"That has never been any of your concern." Gaara smiled sliding his fingers down her arm wrapping her hand with his own not bothering to look at the man. Sauske's eyes narrowed upon their hands which caused Gaara to lace his fingers with hers possessively. "Shall we go bubble gum?"
"Actually why don't you stay with the guys while I get my hair fixed with the girls." Sakura smiled back at him pulling him into a hug that allowed her to whisper in his ear. "Please get rid of Sasuke before I get back."
"It would be my pleasure." Gaara whispered back returning her hug and pulling away. She attempted to leave but he pulled her back to his chest with a grin his fingers lifting her chin. Her giggle was genuine, he enjoyed the sound. It was a sound that could sooth even Shikaku.
"Gaara I can't leave if you don't let me go." She informed him before he leaned in and kisses her tenderly cupping her face with a gentle palm. She heard Naruto yell something but her mind was unable to register what that was as her eyes drifted close. A few seconds later his lips moved back from hers hovering inches from her own.
"Something to remind you of who awaits you when your done." He smile releasing her as she was pulled away by Ino, and receiving a smack to the back of the head from Temari. A few moments later he was no longer able to see her. So he turned on his heals to lock eyes with the annoyance who was already surrounded by the rest of the men. "I suggest you leave."
Sakura was shoved into a chair as Temari huffed and Ino giggled. Her lips were still warm from the kiss and Hinata smiled knowing exactly what she felt like. "So it seems you have the tanuki's favor."
"Ino that's not funny. Stop giggling. Now Sakura just relax and breath. My baby brother can get a bit intense sometimes." Temari had masked her pride in her brother with a look of concern. Sasuke was seen passing the window with a black eye and fat lip making his escape. He looked into the window to be greeted by three middle fingers. One from Ino and two from Temari. This caused him to leave the shopping district feeling rejected again. Still this could offer him a way to eliminate both Itachi and Gaara from the competition and leave her open for him to take.
"So how was it?" Ino asked.
"Like a hot chocolate on a cold day." Sakura giggled making Ino, Ten Ten and Hinata blush as Temari rolled her eyes. This referred to back in the genin days when the five of them were watching the snow flakes dance around in the wind. The subject had turned to what kind of kiss they wanted their perfect guy to have. Temari was in an unusually good mood that day and answered smokey and warm. Hinata almost fainted after replying like a warm broth. Ten Ten wanted the cool peppermint flavor. Ino gave an exaggerated description. Finally Sakura answered the mouth of her cup was the closest she'd ever get to a kiss. Then the hair dresser came and ushered the women into chairs. They talked for an hour about the guys that were now living with Sakura, the broken furniture, yesterdays breakfast, the attacks, and a possible five bride wedding shower. Sakura wasn't sure about that topic but she appreciated being included.
Meanwhile the guys had settled into a few chairs around a large table after grabbing a few drinks for themselves and the girls once they returned. Choji had a snack, Shikamaru was puffing down a pack of smokes, and Lee was flipping a kunai from one hand to the other. That's when Naruto decided to speak up. "You know you almost died right?"
"The Uchiha doesn't scare me." Gaara answered with a sigh.
"He means when you kissed Sakura. She could have punched a hole through your chest." Shikamaru clarified.
"And yet she chose not to each time." Gaara smirked, and Lee fell out of his chair.
"What do you mean this time?" He asked picking himself up.
"Exactly what I said." Gaara said with pride. "Do not miss understand I am not the only one to do so, but only four of the remaining men have done so."
"So she just lets you guys kiss her?" Shikamaru raised a brow in disbelief.
"No. One must create a situation that allows it to come naturally. Otherwise the kiss would be meaningless and result in injury. Even the Uchiha understand this." Gaara glared at Shikamaru.
"So does she favor anyone as of yet?" Shikamaru asked.
"No but I can tell you that the Aburame, and Kotaru aren't going to make it much longer. Yahiko was tossed out this morning." Gaara got them up to speed on the few events that had occurred. Soon after the girls returned taking their men by the hand and dragging them into a nearby store. Gaara had no problem following Sakura as he pulled her closer as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. The girls fanned out through the store picking out various articles of clothing and move to the dressing rooms. The men Sat in front of the dressing rooms as they were expected to chatting easily. The only time they stopped was to view there corresponding woman's outfit and give a compliment. By the time everything was said and done each man was weighted down with there dates purchases. Gaara was carrying even more considering Sakura was shopping for the men that lived with her as well. She wanted their clothing to match their owner so it took her longer than the others. Gaara could care less about the burden that his sand carried because after dinner with the group Sakura had fallen asleep on his back as he carried her home.