(Chapter 42: Time for some Downtime)
It was a considerable bit later into the month of February and so far Team Kazushi was enjoying the bit of needed downtime after their raucously fantastic adventure in the Land of Wave, doing whatever they more or less wanted to wind down until the next adventure.
(February 13th, 998 S.E, Naruto's Farmhouse, 1:25 Pm)
It was into the early afternoon as Team Kazushi was enjoying some of their days off together with a picnic they'd gathered up to have at Naruto's Farmhouse, so that they could more or less just vibe together on a surprisingly sunny day.
"This is really nice you guys. After all that fun stuff in Wave, it's really nice to sit down and have a nice lunch out with some friends." Naruto said as he ate a large bite of his roasted pork-belly
"Honestly, I really can't say thank you enough for you guys doing this with me. It means the whole heckin' world, that we can take a break from all the nonsense we deal with, and just vibe." Naruto further spoke with a meat-covered smile; happy to be alongside his longtime friends for a nice day out
"Of course. We are not only comrades, we are also your friends, Naruto. So it is very little if any problem at all for us to take time aside to have a picnic with you." Sasuke said back as he drank some of his lemonade
"Plus, you're my brother so I'm more than happy to spend time with you. Hell, half the time you don't even have to ask most of the time. I'll just be happy to be there to hang out with you, you giant goober." Sakura told Naruto whose tail waved happily behind him like an excited labrador
"Just…Just thanks, you guys...I don't think can really say it enough, that I'm grateful to have you guys in my life." Naruto said to his longtime friends
"Hey, I will continue to say this till the day I die you goof. I am always happy to be here when you need me...Side note, by the way, this is a pretty nice setup you've got here too." Sakura remarked as she looked over the rather sizable amount of farmland
"Glad you like it, Sakura. Since its pretty nice out here too, its far enough so that I don't have anyone bothering me. But its close enough to where I can make a quick run to the village if I need anything." Naruto said as he gestured to the space around him
"Honestly, this whole setup is peaceful as hell and I'm loving it...Just me, some wide open spaces and a place of my own to just relax when I'm not doing anything. Honestly, I couldn't think of a better place to call my own." Naruto further spoke while devouring a giant helping of spinach
What with his farmland being 32 acres worth of open space for his plants to flourish under, as well as more than enough open space for some of his Pokemon to roam around in and call home, and even terraform it to not only make it more calming but also for the farmland to be much more effective; Naruto felt at home here almost as much as he had at the Haruno household.
"I will certainly give you credit where it is due…You set out to become a farmer, and I will be damned if you didn't achieve it." Sasuke said as the trio continued to eat their lunch
"Hey, when I wanna do something, I go out and get it done…The best part about this is, is that I got my own food and I get paid for planting whatever I want." Naruto spoke with pride at managing to follow through on his becoming a farmer
"Although, I do have to ask what will you do now that you have everything set up for yourself? Seeing as how you seem to more or less have everything you want at your disposal." Sasuke wondered given that he didn't really know where Naruto planned to go from here now that he got what he wanted
"That's easy, I want to crush Mizore and Toshiro at the Chunin Exams, get my promotion to Chunin underway, and continue to have you guys along for the ride with me…Plus getting the remaining plates out there too, that's just about it on the checklist of stuff I have." Naruto said listing off all of what he wanted to do in the near future
"With the obscene amount of power you command, I have no doubt that you will be able to crush them, and become a Chunin in record time...I swear it is almost unreal with how much power you command at this point." Sasuke said back as he continued to eat the last bits of dumplings that Naruto made
'By this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he equals or better yet outmatches the 9-tails in destructive power.' Sasuke remarked to himself over Naruto's vast and seemingly endless might
"To be honest, if I didn't beat them with all this surplus power I've got. Then I would be fucking disappointed in myself. I mean I can literally stomp on the ground and cause a volcanic hell-storm to erupt with the greatest of ease." Naruto said while his tail whipped about as if to emphasize his point
"By the way, Naruto. How much power do you even have now at just your 'base' right now? Since it's getting stupid hard to keep up when your not going balls to the wall?" Sakura questioned
"Well, let's see…I'd say that now my base when I'm not having to push my limits, is equal to Granny or Pervy-Sage when he uses that weird-looking sage mode of his. Give or take a few notches. At least that's how I see it, if I had to give a rough estimate." Naruto answered back on the scale of power he wielded
"You're that strong in base?!" Sakura said nearly dropping her fork mid-bite
"Yeah, and the thing is that's just me putting away the bulk of what I got away. Since if I don't then as we saw with Fu things get 'intense' as an understatement. Any lower and I start going fucking crazy; since there's only so much I can stow away before I feel like I'm gonna explode." Naruto elaborated on how much excess he still had left
"On the plus side…you don't have to worry about sensors being able to track you. Given that you no longer have chakra in your body." Sasuke remarked at how as of the moment they returned to Konoha all vestiges of chakra inside Naruto were gone
"Oh trust me, I've been taking advantage of that a lot. Considering that with my powers, plus the fact that I can't really be sensed by anyone. That there's not really anyone in the village that can check me…Except you guys; because you guys are my friends, along with Kazushi, Lyoto, Granny and Grandpa, and Mizuki-sensei, and Hanabi. Since ya know, I love you guys and stuff." Naruto replied
"Thank goodness, you actually love us enough to not fuck with our daily life. Otherwise, we would be daring down the barrel of walking apocalypse right now." Sakura said back
"Of course, I'd never mess with you guys. You are pretty much family to me at this point, as hell already have Sakura here as the sister I should've had from the jump." Naruto spoke in regards to what was essentially his foster sister
"Same to you, Naruto. I swear it has been awesome having you as my little brother, you know." Sakura said happy that the superhuman blonde was in her life
"Thanks, and here's to having you guys in my life, and crushing my dickhead siblings into the dirt. May I break both their bodies and their wills to fight ever again!" Naruto said as he raised his glass of lemonade
"I'll drink to that, Naruto. Fuck those uppity bastards, I hope Toshiro gets nutsack cancer, and Mizore gets a case of pancake titties when she hits her twenties." Sakura spoke as she and Sasuke clinked glasses with Naruto who had the widest but at the same time most joyful/unintentionally predatory grin on his face
"While I wouldn't be as vulgar as Sakura. I am more than excited to see you cause their downfall when the Chunin Exams begin…Now that will be something to witness." Sasuke said as he was keen to see his teammate and comrade put the two jinchuuriki in their place
"Trust me, you guys. I'm gonna put them in their place so bad. That by the time I'm done, everyone's gonna think of them as yesterday's news." Naruto replied with a savage grin before one of his dopplegangers' came out with a tray full of brownies, sweet potatoes and apple-pie fresh out of the oven
"Also, I hope everyone made room. Because I made dessert for everyone." Naruto told his companions
"Naruto…You are the best brother anyone could ask for." Sakura said as her mouth almost watered at the desserts served up
"Hey, as long as I have you guys. I'm just happy to be here. Now dig in, because your gonna be here for awhile after everything settles." Naruto told them as the trio continued to enjoy their picnic
(2 days later, February 15th, 998 S.E, Senju Estate, 1:05 Pm)
Meanwhile, Kazushi was at her family's estate getting baked while chilling out with her brother for the day; as she figured that after everything that happened in the Land of Waves she and her team could do with some much-needed downtime.
"About time Kakashi took a vacation. Between him being a Jonin almost non-stop when he isn't reading his smut, him taking on Minato's kids, and that Sai guy as his students. That man has been stressing himself out to hell and back." Lyoto spoke while his sister continued to smoke her 3rd blunt
"Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't burnt himself out any earlier. Especially, if his hair going white early, and him looking like he's pulled 4 all-nighters' in a row is anything to go by." Lyoto further spoke regarding the Copy-Ninja and his often tired and worn-down appearance
"You and me both Lyoto. To be honest, how he's lasted this long without turning into a hot mess; is beyond me." Kazushi replied in agreement
"Also how you can smoke so much pot and still function, is beyond me as well. I swear you smoke enough of that stuff to get high for over 60% of the village." Lyoto remarked over his pothead for a sister
"Blame great-grandpa Hashirama for making this stuff so good. If it weren't for him being a God when it comes to making it, then I wouldn't be the worlds' strongest stoner." Kazushi told her brother regarding her ancestor being the Godfather of amazing weed
"You know what, that is a very fair point…Honestly, I still can't believe that the 1st Hokage was the King of Potheads. Who would've thought that him of all people, can smoke entire forests of that stuff and still function enough to be Hokage.." Lyoto replied still finding such information surreal
"Hey, when you have to deal with Madara Uchiha being a full-time menace, the other 4 villages coming up in the world, on top of managing Konoha when it was still going through growing pains. You'd smoke a whole forests' worth of weed too, to get through the day." Kazushi said back in defense of their ancestor's eventual future as a chronic pothead
"Again, I can't really blame you for that. I would be stressed out of my mind too if I had to be Hokage." Lyoto said not envying anyone who took up that position
"Same here, brother. Honestly, I will never understand how people puff it up as the greatest thing in the world." Kazushi replied as she blew a puff of smoke into the air
"I would go absolutely insane; if I ever had to put on the Hokage hat. Hell, I'd probably smoke double if not fucking triple the amount I already do; to get through all that crap." Kazushi added knowing that she would have to greatly amp up how much she smoked in a week if someone ever made her Hokage
"I'm pretty sure the entire village would go to hell in a handbasket if you became the 5th Hokage, Kazu. No offense, but you are not Hokage material." Lyoto said knowing that while his sister was a strong shinobi she was not what you would call qualified for the position of a Kage
"You know, I feel like I should be offended. But with how I normally act all the time, and how much I like to actively be a menace. You really are not wrong about how I shouldn't be Hokage whatsoever." Kazushi replied knowing she did not have the countenance nor demeanor neccessary to be Hokage
"Plus, you would actually have to lay off the weed for a change to get stuff done. Since as we all know, being the Hokage means dealing with paperwork, meetings and bureaucracy. 3 things that require you not to be high as a kite to do properly." Lyoto told his sister who almost looked incensed at the thought of giving up her Mary Jane or ease off it in any capacity
"Yeah, that isn't happening anytime soon. I swear, how any of the Hokage did it, I will never know...Especially how anyone thinks doing that kind of stuff all day is so great, when its all boring, boring, boring bullshit." Kazushi said back in refusal to give up her ganja
"Let's see my dear sister, when you have legendary Hokage's in our family tree like our great-grandparents, Lord 3rd and Minato who practically built the village into being one of the greatest. If not the greatest in the entire world, Kazu. Then its a no-brainer that everyone's going to think that being the Hokage is the greatest thing in the world." Lyoto said to his sister
"I would too, if every time someone became Hokage it led to them being a living legend...Pretty much makes it a no-brainer to try and become one in that instance." Lyoto added at the extra prestige that came from Hokage's past up till current day
"Holy shit, I never really thought about it like that." Kazushi said as her face took on a look of surprised realization at that thought
"How else do you think they keep people inspired to one day get that hat? Because, this village is built on a legacy of heroes; from the 1st Hokage, to the Legendary Sannin, to our current Hokage. It is because of people who are those heroes; that our village will always have people who don't just want to be Hokage for the prestige of becoming something greater. But also for the fact that it inspires that Will of Fire that everyone carries, as to be a carrier of the Will of Fire is to carry with it the spirit and resolve to be a hero for the village." Lyoto spoke as despite being baked Kazushi was enraptured by the words of her brother
"Woooowwww, that was a damn good speech there. I didn't think you were the one for that type of stuff." Kazushi said
"Not necessarily, but then again just like how people don't expect you to be absolutely cracked in terms of raw strength. I can be as good of a public speaker as I am a swordsman." Lyoto replied with a self-satisfied grin on his face
"Hey, I'm not gonna knock you on that. All I know is that we're both strong as shit, and this is some good-ass weed…You sure you don't want some?" Kazushi asked as she offered her brother a blunt and a light
"No, I'm good. Besides, I'm meeting with Hana tonight for a date, and the last thing I need is to be high as a kite." Lyoto told his sister regarding his date for the night
Especially, since the last thing he wanted to do on a date, and especially with Hana who was an Inuzuka who like the rest of her clansmen had a extremely keen sense of small, as such his showing up smelling like he smoked a dispensary's worth of weed on their night out together.
"Fair 'nuff. By the way, how've things been going with her?" Kazushi asked regarding her brothers' love life with the veterinarian of a Inuzuka
"Ever since Naruto stopped pranking them like a complete gremlin. Things have been going a lot better for us lately." Lyoto said regarding his improved love life with Hana
"Really? That's awesome, man! Congratulations on your love life!" Said a more happy Kazushi over this information
"Yeah, and all I needed to do was train Naruto's friend…Honestly, if I knew that it would've led to this, then I would've signed on for training Sasuke years ago." Lyoto replied
"And how's the whole training Sasuke to be a super-duper-uber swordsman going?" Kazushi asked
"Our training has been progressing rather well. If anything he is a kenjutsu prodigy and then some." Lyoto answered back regarding his student
"Those are some pretty big words; coming from the guy whose a fucking taskmaster and a half." Kazushi said surprised to hear her brother speak so highly of someone
"It would be a disservice if I didn't speak on it. He has proven himself more than capable when it comes to my instructing him. His speed and ability to adapt in combat is borderline superhuman, his defense almost equally so, and on a technical level he could probably best most jonin." Lyoto listed off on the attributes of his prodigal student
"Honestly, I am so proud to call him my student, Kazu. I'm telling you, one of these days he just might surpass those 'Legendary' swordsmen that the Hidden Mist are so proud of." Lyoto added with a rare sense of pride at how far Sasuke was coming along
"Well, Damn! I knew Sasuke was getting pretty good. But if your willing to say all that stuff about him, then he's definitely gonna be a god-tier menace in the future." Kazushi spoke knowing that if her brothers' words were anything to go by then Sasuke would be a absolute terror on the battlefield
"The same can be said for the rest of your students, Kazu. Since as much I'd never thought I'd say it, you've done a bang-up job in turning Naruto and Sakura into some stellar shinobi." Lyoto replied regarding the other 2 students of his sister
"Hey, I can't take all the credit. All I did was just take what was already there and force that shit upwards." Kazushi told her brother with a shrug of her shoulders
"Well with our lazy day going at least for another few hours. I wanna say that its gonna be great to see what comes of our students during the Chunin Exams." Lyoto said with a low-level excitement in seeing what Sasuke could do during said Exams
"Same here, because that shit is gonna be awesome!" Kazushi replied in agreement
'Also, I still gotta wonder what the hell is Kakashi doing for his vacation?' Kazushi wondered to herself
Meanwhile, Kakashi was staying at one of the more coastal resorts in Fire Country having made sure that unless it was an urgent matter; that he wasn't too be bothered as he took in the surprisingly warm February day with a quickness at the fact that he could finally relax. What with him having taken this time to do something he'd always wanted to do since his promotion to jonin, but never had the chance to between his duties, becoming ANBU and becoming a jonin sensei…which was parasailing.
'This is nice, I get to finally relax and not have to worry about Mizore or Toshiro making me want to rip my hair out of my head.' Kakashi as he flew overhead free as a bird
"The best part is, I've stockpiled more than enough vacation days to enjoy this and everything else for the next month…maybe two. And I am going to enjoy this as long as I can until then." Kakashi said to himself as he continued to enjoy the warm sunny day to himself
(3 days later, Uchiha Compound, February 18th, 998 S.E, 1:45 Pm)
It would be days later as Sasuke was by himself at the Uchiha Compound having taken time to himself to do one of his favorite hobbies while his shadow clone wrote a letter to Azula, which was woodworking much to an outsiders' surprise.
"I will still never get used to the fact that you've taken up woodworking as one of your hobbies. Never seemed like your wheelhouse if you asked me." Came Shisui's voice as he saw his cousin work on a rather well-detailed woodcarving
"Hello, Shisui what can I do for you?" Sasuke said as he was finishing his foot-tall carving of an eastern-style dragon
"Not much, just figured that I'd stop by and say hello to one of my cousins is all." Shisui told the young swordsman
"So what're you working on?" Shisui asked as he took a seat across from Sasuke
"I am working on a present for Princess Azula. I just need to finish detailing these last few bothersome scales, then after that I can work towards putting the finish on it, and lastly painting it." Sasuke replied as he worked on detailing the eyes on the wooden carving
"Oh yeah, that's right you've got a crush on Lord Ozai's daughter…How's that working out for you?" Shisui said having long since heard of Sasuke's amorous feelings towards Azula
"While I have continued a correspondence with her since we rescued her. I do not know if she feels the same way, and quite honestly I do not know how things would go should I admit them to her." Sasuke replied without taking his eyes off his wood carving
"And with all transparency, Shisui. That is one of the few things that would terrify me the most…Knowing that if I put myself out there, and told her of how I felt in regards to wanting something more beyond what we have now. It is something that makes my heart go cold with fear." Sasuke further spoke with a rare semblance of nervousness in his voice
"...Look, Sasuke I get it. You have nerves about telling her how you really feel, and honestly, who could blame you? But don't you think that you owe it to yourself to at least tell her?" Shisui asked the prodigal swordsman
"As much as I would like to do that, I cannot. At least not at the given moment." Sasuke told his cousin
"And why not? What's keeping you from doing that?" Shisui questioned
"That would be despite my teams' impeccable mission record, on top of our being the strongest genin squad in the village. I still do not have what I need to go through with asking her out." Sasuke told the older Uchiha
"Could you elaborate on that? Because, I'm still not following." Shisui requested
"What I am talking about is that in order to go through with it, and make it legitimate. That I need to be promoted to the rank of Chunin, and perhaps follow through and go onto being an Anbu if possible. Given that as it stands now my being a genin will do absolutely no favors in legitimizing myself in the eyes of both Lord Ozai whose approval I'd need to date his daughter, and in the eyes of the world at large." Sasuke explained on his reasoning
Seeing as how Sasuke knew that the only way his relationship with Azula would be legitimized and taken seriously was if he reached the rank of Chunin or higher, hence why he knew that furthering his relationship with Azula couldn't be done until that point.
"So that's why you've been training like a madman lately?" Shisui said as Sasuke nodded
"That would be correct. It isn't simply so I can bring glory to our clan, Shisui. It is also so I can stand alongside Naruto and Sakura, alongside being able to better my chances with Azula…There is only so much I have to offer amongst the legions of suitors that are out there to win her hand. Which is why winning the Exams and any further opportunities for advancement is of utmost importance." Sasuke replied knowing that becoming Chunin and any further promotion was paramount
"Otherwise, I can say goodbye to any chance of potentially going forward with a relationship with her. I doubt she would date anyone stuck at the rank genin, no matter how talented they are." Sasuke added
"That's a lot of pressure that your putting on yourself, Sasuke. Especially over a girl, who don't get me wrong is a hell of a pick go for. But still, never thought I'd see the day you would go this far for a girl…Color me impressed." Shisui said with wry smile on his face
"Although, we have not been able to meet face-to-face for quite some time. It is through our continued letters to each other, that I have found someone who I would not mind pursuing a relationship with…Perhaps more if time allowed it." Sasuke said back with a small smile as he felt something in his chest warm at the idea of him and Azula progressing into something more
"Then I wish the best, Sasuke, and actually if you want I can help train you in some of what I know. So you can ace the exams." Shisui offered getting Sasuke to stop his wood carving to pay attention to Shisui
"You would really go out of your way, just to help my chances with Azula?" Sasuke questioned
"Hey, we've all done a lot of crazy stuff to win a girls' heart. Hell, ask Izumi what I did to help Itachi land a date with her…Your brother may be great at a lot of things, but asking a girl out isn't one of them." Shisui said with a chuckle
"So, you can believe that I will help you out. Besides, all you had to do was ask and I would've trained you anyways." Shisui added
"I will be more than happy to take you up on that, Shisui…Between, Naruto and Sakura, training with with Lyoto and Kazushi-sensei, and now you…I am going to be run ragged." Sasuke spoke while lamenting all of the stress he was putting himself under
"Hey, that might be true. But look at it this way, it's all going towards a good cause." Shisui replied with a smile that had Sasuke chuckle a bit at
"I suppose you're right…Now if you don't mind, I have a present for Azula to return to…I have to make sure that it looks fantastic before I send it off too her." Sasuke said as he finally finished the teeth of his wood carving for Azula
"Alright, well good luck to you, Sasuke. And remember, if you ever need any help; all you have to do is yell. You have the strength and care of one of the strongest clans in the village behind you, buddy…So just remember that no matter what happens, we are all here to support you in whatever you do." Shisui told the Uchiha swordsman
"And I appreciate that thought, I really do…To be honest, I don't know what I would do without the clan, or without Sakura and Naruto in my life." Sasuke spoke as he went to grab the gloss and painting supplies for his wood carving
"Well, lucky for you you'll never have to find out. But until then, and until we get started on training. I'll catch you later!" Shisui said before getting up and taking his leave
'Now, what colors do I use to make this really stand out…Hmmm, perhaps scarlet and violet will do the trick.' Sasuke said to himself as he took out his can of gloss finish and began to get to work on making the wooden dragon before him look as immaculate as possible
(The next night, 20 Miles from Sunagakure, February 19th, 998 S.E, 9:03 Pm)
Meanwhile, in the desserts of Sunagakure that following night; had Naruto once more traveled to the deserts of Wind Country to visit once more with the Kazekage's youngest daughter and give her her birthday present alongside a birthday cake he'd made for her.
"By the way, Gaara, I'm still super sorry I couldn't help you celebrate your birthday last month. I was kinda sorta stuck doing a big mission, and it had me caught up in some nonsense." Naruto apologized to the redhead before him
'As if I needed another reason to want to put a hole through Mizore and Toshiro's chests.' Naruto said to himself as he had to quickly shove the violent impulses related towards his siblings away to focus on Gaara
"It is fine, Naruto. You were on an important mission, so it is more than understandable that you couldn't make it." Gaara said as she ate her slice of birthday cake
"Besides, I am simply happy that you went through all of this trouble to make it up to me…It means the world to me that you did so." Gaara further spoke with a cake-stained smile spreading across her face
"All I know is that, as someone I care about a lot. Doing a make-up birthmas for you is the least I can do. Since you deserve it, and everything else under the sun." Naruto said back as he continued eating his piece of cake
"And I very much appreciate it. Especially since it is rare that I have anyone to celebrate my birthday with." Gaara told Naruto as she cut another piece of cake for herself
"I still find it hard to believe that no one celebrates your birthmas with you. Since you're an absolute sweetheart who makes awesome sand sculptures and stuff…So shame on all those people who can't see that your a wonderful person and stuff." Naruto said seeing it as a total shame that no one celebrated Gaara as they should
"Which is why I figured that with all the nice things you've done for me. That the least I could do; is get you a birthmas present." Naruto added as he dug into his backpack to get her her birthday present
"You didn't have to do that. Just having you here with me is more than enough." Gaara said as Naruto continued to dig through his satchel
"Nonsense. Your part of my people now, and as such getting you a birthmas present is no skin off my back. So here you go, Gaara; from me to you as part of your birthday." Naruto said as he hefted onto the table a foot-tall statue of Gaara made of obsidian and amethyst
"Y-You had this made for me?" Gaara questioned with wide eyes at the figurine of herself
"Mmmhmmm, I had it commissioned awhile back. I know I'm not a great sculpter like you are, but I know that with how much I had in the bank, and how much I think of you. That getting you something like this is the very least I could do for you…So happy birthmas Gaara, I hope you like it." Naruto answered back as he handed her the figurine
"I love it, Naruto. Thank you…Thank you so much." Gaara said as tears began to fall down her face from the gift given
"You're more than welcome, and besides everyone deserves to be happy on their birthday. So even though I'm really late to it and all, I still say that there should be someone that's doing their best to make you happy…That's why if no one in that village is going to go to the trouble of doing so. Then I will do it to the best of my ability; because you deserve happiness and I will do the best that I am to make sure your happy." Naruto told the redhead who in that instant rushed over to hug him as tears continued to stream and streak down her face
"What did I do to deserve someone like you in my life?" Gaara asked as she hugged Naruto as her entire being was overwhelmed with joy at being shown such kindness since meeting him
"You didn't have to do anything, Gaara. I'm just happy to be a part of your life, and bring some happiness into it. As long as I know that I'm being a good person to you, and that I can lift your spirits up. Then I know that I'm doing something right." Naruto answered back as he returned the hug in full
"I swear you are too good for me, you know that? It almost feels like a dream that I have someone like you to give me their friendship." Gaara replied as yet again she felt herself all too happy to have someone show her kindness even if it was something as small as a birthday celebration
"Ahhh, nonsense. I'm just some guy with superpowers is all. Besides, my friendship is welcome to everyone. You just happen to be in my radius to be apart of everything that I am, and I thank you for that." Naruto said back with a goofy yet bashful smile on his face
"Man, here I go being corny again...Curse my ability to not sound cheesy for one minute." Naruto added with a small chuckle
"I will take your corniess on any given day of the week…You certainly are an incredible person, Naruto Uzumaki." Gaara spoke with a tear-streaked smile
"And I appreciate that from here to Kumogakure…So how about we keep the good vibes going, and enjoy the rest of this cake and lemonade." Naruto replied his smile as omnipresent as the cheerful warmth he seemed to radiate
"Agreed." Were the only words a joy-stricken Gaara could respond with
From thereon the two continued to enjoy the good vibes created from their time in Gaara's sand castle; celebrating the redheaded young womans' 18th birthday, much to her joy and happiness that made her heart swell with an ecstatic excitement over having someone to show her care and love. So much so that it wound up going on into the wee hours of the morning as the two shared laughter, cake and good cheer; before they wound up on top of the sand castle looking up at the star filled morning with cake covered smiles on their faces.
"Again, I wish to say thank you for doing this for me. I appreciate it more than what I could put into words right now." Gaara told Naruto with all the sincerity she could put into her voice
"It wasn't a problem at all for me, Gaara. I'm always happy to spend time with you, your a great person ya know." Naruto replied
"Still, I do appreciate it nonetheless. It is incredibly rare that I have anyone to celebrate my birthday with. Even moreso to have someone give me a birthday present…being both one of the strongest and the most feared in the village is not the most ideal when it comes to moments' of happiness." Gaara said back
"I said it once, and I'll say it again. Those good-for-nothing jerks in your home don't know what they're missing out on. Because your one helluva lady, and its a damn shame they can't see that." Naruto spoke in severe distaste of the villagers' in Gaara's home
"At this point, I have grown used to it. It is something similar to being stung by a wasp multiple times. Sure it may hurt the first few times, but eventually you grow used to it and become numb to it all." Gaara said back having long sense become numb
"But it has become thanks to you that none of that matters anymore. I have finally found someone who makes me happy, but who makes every night special." Gaara further spoke as her smile grew as her hand reached over towards Naruto's
"Ahhh, thanks. I'm just happy to come and spend time with you Gaara. So thank you for letting me come around, and letting me be here with you." Naruto said as he absentmindedly closed his large hand around Gaara's smaller one
"You're quite welcome…and thank you for making this a birthday to remember. I doubt that I will ever forget this night for years to come." Gaara said back a light blush appearing on her face as their hands curled together
"Hey, as long as I'm making you happy then I know I'm doing something right." Naruto spoke as they looked at the starry night
"By the way, did you make a birthday wish?" Naruto questioned
"I did, and it already came true." Gaara replied with a jubilant yet modest smile on her face
"Really? Well, that's awesome…Good for you then, and glad I could share whatever it was with you." Naruto said back with a broad smile on his face at that
"Indeed, as I couldn't have wished for anything better, Naruto." Gaara spoke as her smile widened slightly as she continued to look at the star filled sky
'Who would have thought that I would gain someone who could not only silence Shukaku's voice. But also help me to love again…thank you Naruto. You truly are something incredible.' Gaara said to herself as she and Naruto continued to stargaze until the sun began to break as they enjoy their time celebrating Gaara's birthmas without another moment's distraction
So with everyone enjoying their own bits of downtime in the aftermath of the Land of Waves mission, what follows suit for everyone is unknown but what it entails is something you'll have to stick around too see in the upcoming chapters of, Naruto: The PokeSage!
Alright, I hope you guys enjoyed this chilled out chapter and everything that went on in it. Furthermore, I want to continue to thank everyone for sticking around for the journey thus far, and hope that you all will continue to support the story as every favorite, follow and review helps immensely.
But with all of that done and out of the way, this is Pravus666 signing off until next time. For the next chapter will have Fire Lord Ozai and such be paying Konoha a visit…so stay tuned for all of that good stuff.
Part 2 Theme Song: To the Pain by Nonpoint
Random End Song: Is it Good to You by Heavy D & The Boyz
Now then onto some of the reviews from the previous chapter.
Kourtney Uzu Yato: Yeah, as the only reason why Danzo wouldn't have the twins just outright terminated as a mission casualty is beause he knows that they still are valued as jinchuuriki...but even that is wearing thin on reasons to keep them around. Also, you just about nailed it with Haku, as it is pretty much either get it together and now be a nuisance or get executed plain and simple. Plus can you really blame Kushina for giving them the busness like that as they very well could've wound up getting captured, killed or enslaved by being that overwhelmingly arrogant to think they can just run-up on Zabuza for a round 2 and not have anything happen to them in the aftermath. Not to mention, even Minato knows that what Jiraiya is doing in trying to possibly seal away Naruto's powers is playing with wildfire as he both has no justifiable cause to do so, and because even if he does its gonna piss off Ozai to see why one of the villages assets/his daughters saviors got their powers sealed for no good reason and as such would be grounds for potential execution. Also, I'm glad you liked how I did the Wave Arc overall as I wanted to mix things up from it being the same formulaic thing over and over again in so many stories that it just becomes a drag to deal with, as well as Mizore getting checked as its a thing of what did you think was going to happen when you screwed up that royally.
Skull Flame: I'm making the Kin-Jabberwocky something of my making as I wanna make it really fun as a possible horror-show (cue evil laughter). Also, Mizore's hair had recovered enough for her to not wear wigs again (about near shoulder length) before Naruto hit her with the haircut of the Mudvayne lead-singer off their 1st album as revenge for ruining his fun times, that and its her fault for thinking that her shit wasn't gonna stink enough to make Naruto kowtow to her whims and have him sign off on her being innocent in fucking up in Wave Country...The only thing I can say is that it took all of Kushina willpower not to bust out El Chancla on them, otherwise not even Kurama would fix what she would've done too them.
Darth Diabolos: Yeah, as that sealing thing would most definitely not work, and if anything would probably just have Naruto have the adverse reaction of going instant kill mode on him; due to his powers reacting in a manner in which; as you said the seal in not knowing what its even sealing would just fuck with him like that as an example. That and even if did work, Kushina or Minato would undo it, and 3rd Ozai would come down on him super hard with possible execution for fucking up a asset as valuable as Naruto.
Starravenwolf: Also, get ready for the next chapter, because oh boy is Ozai gonna put the screws to Jiraiya with what he has a punishment; that actually is gonna tie into the Chunin Exams as a small hint for what he has planned to put it on Jiraiya. Plus, with Jiraiya tempting fate; all I can say is that if he pulls another stunt against Naruto; that its gonna have Arceus send more of the Legendaries to jump the Toads sense as we've seen from when he sent Giratina and Darkrai; Arceus does not play when it comes to Naruto.
UnsanMusho: It was pretty much one of those things where even he had to admit that the twins were fucking up, since when you get down to it. There's only so much of a person's actions you can defend before you have to admit that they were screwing up majorly.
