Hi Guys, Sorry for the long wait work and life keeping me busy. Anyways Chapter 30 up woop woop! Thanks you everyone for bearing with this story.
DISCLAIMER: SAME AS CHAPTER ONE!
Enjoy :-)
Three long days passed as Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru trekked across the endless sea of sand, towards the Daimyo's palace, the bright sun beating down on them. The journey was uneventful for the trio, once in awhile a conversation would be engaged other than that, they walked in comfortable silence. Everything was going smoothly before six sand ninjas sprung out off the ground, holding kunai and short swords pointing them threateningly at the trio. The instead movement was registered, Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru formed a defensive formation kunai's in hand.
Neither side moved, eyes darting side to side, muscles coiled ready to leap into action. Wisps of sand drifted by, unfazed by the increasing tension. The blazing sun reflected of the highly polished weapons, giving them more of a deadly appearance. Small beads of sweat trickled down the ninjas faces, still no one made a move.
"Stand down, all of you." commanded a voice from behind the group. "They are our allies from Konoha." the tension dropped drastically as the sand nin put away their weapons. "It's good to see you again Naruto." turning to face the new arrivals. As he did, he was face-to-face with Gaara. Upon seeing his old friend, a wide smile graced his lips, showing his pearly white teeth.
"It's good to see you again Gaara." greeted the blond happily, the smile never fading. The Kazekage extended out a hand, noticing it Naruto slowly took it. The corners of Gaara's mouth twitched upwards as he shook the teens hand. Kiba stood there watching how the two Jinjuriki interacted with each other, a twinge of jealously reared it's ugly head.
'Look how he is with Gaara. He's not like that with me.' spat Kiba venomously. His animalistic eyes narrowed at the sand user.
'Get the fuck away from my Naruto.' as though sensing his thoughts, teal coloured eyes meet his. A hairless eyebrow rose ever so slightly, as though taunting him. Noticing who Gaara was looking at, he decided to introduce his lover to him;
"Gaara, this is Kiba." indicating to the brunette. "And Kiba, this is Winds Kazekage Gaara. Well I suppose you already know that see as I've said his name already." stated Naruto sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck. Both teens looked at each other, neither one showing any signs of greeting. Oblivious to what they were doing, azure eyes scanned the small group accompanying the Kazekage.
Earlier that day team Guy were asked by the red head if they would be travel with him and his escort to Konoha. Guy being Guy jumped at the idea, shouting out 'The flames of Youth will get them there in two days'. The two sane members sweat dropped at the thought of the impossible target, while Lee was joining in (encouraging more like) with their sensie's made logic. Having enough TenTen shouted;
"Will you stop shouting about the 'Flames of Youth'! No matter how hard (or stupidly) you push yourselves, it will still take three days!"
"But TenTen, how can you say that?! The Flames of Youth are in all of us and it will push us to do it in two days! Scratch that, One day!" exclaimed the Jōnin excitedly, doing his hero pose. "In one day we will arrive in Konoha!" after hearing that Lee joined in shouting;
"Hai, Guy sensie!" over and over again with stars in his eyes. Both Neji and TenTen hung their heads in defeat, with massive sweat marks dropping.
"Why do I even bother?" muttered the Kunoichi, wondering what she did to deserve this. The Hyūga didn't say anything, knowing it wouldn't make a difference.
'I hate you fate.'
Team Guy left with the Kazekage that morning after his morning meeting. It was a pleasant surprise when they met Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru having a stand off with several sand ninjas.
"What are you doing out here Bushy-brow?" inquired the blond walking up to his comrades. The energetic green spandex Chūnin bounded up to him, skidding to a halt mere centimetres from the younger teen.
"Naruto-kun! It's good to see you my youthful friend." asked Lee while bouncing on his heels like an excited pup. Edging away from the teen Naruto replied nervously;
"It's good to see you too Lee." taking his gaze of Lee for a moment he saw the rest of the team. "Hey TenTen, Neji, how has it been? Brushy-brow sensie."
While Naruto was of reacquainting with his friends, Kiba and Gaara hadn't moved as they sized each other up. After a few minutes Gaara was the first one to speak.
"Naruto was my first ever friend. He was the one to befriend me regardless of what I was and still am." teal eyes bored into ecru coloured ones. "I hold his friendship in high regards, and you do anything to hurt him, I swear I will not hesitate to crush you with my sand." his icy tone stabbing the brunette with fear and promise. Kiba didn't know how to respond to that statement, so he opted to say nothing at all. Seeing that his work was done, he turned to his fellow Jinjuriki.
"Naruto, what brings you three out here?" ending his conversation with Lee, Naruto replied with his normal enthusiasm.
"We're on our way to the Daimyo's palace, to deliver some documents." smiling at the red head.
"Would those documents have red and blue ribbons tying them together would it?" hearing that, Kiba answered;
"Yes it does. Why do you want to know?" a hint of sarcasm lacing the words. Pale eyes looked at him for a brief pointed look, Naruto noticed the looks they were giving each other. A feeling of annoyance crept in as he watched how hostile Kiba was to Gaara.
'What the hell is his problem?' thought the Chūnin as inwardly growled with annoyance. "Why do you want to know Gaara?"
"I requested those papers be delivered to the palace, where I would have been. However plans have change as I am now making my way to Konoha." explained the young Kazekage. "If it'll be easier for you then, you can deliver the papers to me when we get there."
"That's an excellent idea Kazekage! The power of youth is indeed with you!" exclaimed Guy, doing his victory pose. A collective sigh greeted that comment, from the sane members of team Guy.
"Kazekage-sama. It is time we continued our journey to Konoha." stated a random sand nin. Without saying another word, the sand delegation and Konoha ninjas fell into formation before heading towards Konoha. Naruto fell into rhythm beside the Kazekage as the ran across the endless sea of sand. Jealousy wormed it's way into the brunette's heart. A small voice started to whisper things into his ear.
A gentle breeze blow across the rolling dunes, a shadow rose up from the ground. It's blazing green eyes watching the group the disappear into the horizon. Once they were out of sight, it sank back into the ground.
The shadow moved through a wall as if it was made of smoke, stepping out onto a well lit cobbled hallway. In the place of the shadow stood a young man, no more than twenty-five years old. Hair black as the night and emerald coloured eyes. He wore a black travel cape, which concealed the rest of his body. Moving down the corridor his feet emitted no sound, not a single flame flickered when he passed it. To anyone he seem like a normal person, but to those who see the underneath of the underneath would notice this fact: He wasn't casting any shadows like a normal person.
Silently he trekked through the building, coming across a handful soldiers and other personnel. Turning down another corridor, he headed towards a large oak door, flanked by two guards. As he approached both snapped to attention before opening the heavy door. Once the doors opened he passed over the threshold.
The room was a buzz of noise and activity, large maps of the different countries, some with coloured dots and flags on them. In the centre of the room stood a large circular map of the known world. Men and women in different uniforms stood around it pointing to different sections on the map. Taking a deep breath he walk to a tall slender women, as he drew closer all eyes were on him. When he reached her, he whispered lowly into her ear. A smirk plagued her face.
It was a cloudy day in Konoha, over at the Hokage mansion sat a tired and irritated Tsunade. The pass three day had seen her and the hospital staff pushed to their limits. In front of her stood stacks of medical files, each one filled with information on each infected person. At last count seventy-eight people were positive, that was six hours ago. A knock echoed through the silent office.
"Come in." amber eyes watched as Shizune walked in with more files. The young medic placed them in front of the fifth.
"These are the latest figures, as well, we have a problem." stated the brunette gravely. Amber eyes watched her, getting the hint she explained. "We've managed to track everyone's movements who were at the bar, except one." taking in a deep breath she continued. "When we did manage to track her movements, she came into contact with six different people. Two of those we managed to quarantine easily and another is being test, however the other three have slipped the net."
"What do you mean they slipped the net?" inquired the blond, as her mind ran through every scenario she could think of.
"Two of them had left this morning on missions, and the other one was a travelling merchant. He left at dawn." silence followed that last statement. Shizune watched as her master decided there next step.
"Send out a bulletin to every hospital and clinic in fire. Any one showing plague symptoms to be refereed to use immediately. Also send word to every checkpoint, and docks that no one is allowed to leave the country. Tell them also to quarantine anyone showing plague symptoms. And send a message to the Daimyo and inform him of the situation." ordered Tsunade watching her apprentice jump into action. As Shizune reached the door it swung open revealing the village elders. Shizune bowed to them the scarred out of there before Tsunade blew up, inwardly she hope her master did. The old corpses deserved it.
Upon seeing the last people she wanted to deal with, inwardly she grimaced at the thought of them bitching about something.
"Tsunade, why hasn't Uzumaki Naruto been brought in so a cure could be made with his immunity?" demanded Koharu Utatane holding a file.
"What are you talking about?" asked Tsunade irritatedly, her answer was given when the file was chucked on to her desk. Wearily she opened it, amber eyes absorbing every piece of information on the several sheets of paper. The office was silent except for the odd sound of paper being flipped over.
"Well why isn't he?" pushed the elder, a vain pulsed on the blonds forehead.
'Mustn't kill the old farts, mustn't kill the old farts.' she chanted over and over again, bring her anger to more manageable level.
"The reason why is because he's on a mission to Suna and won't return for a few more days." she explained. "And for the matter of his immunity, these are preliminary results, which means nothing is certain no matter how promising they are. Even with the antibodies, it'll take months to sympathises a cure. By that time, it wouldn't matter." an eerie silence filled the office. For the first time Homura spoke;
"Do what needs to be done Tsunade. When Naruto returns, we trust that you can get it done?" without another word the two elders left, leaving the medic alone with her thoughts.
'How am I going to tell him this?'
The large group of shinobi set up camp in a defensible clearing. Everyone pitched in together, in no time the camp was set up. A large roaring fire situated in the middle spreading warmth and light around the camp. The sun disappeared casting the sky with pinks, blues and purples, giving a calming feel to the evening. Naruto sat surrounded by his friends, telling them about some of the wacky adventures he had while training with the Pervy-sage. Arms waving around animatedly, emphasising the tales, everyone around him were in hysterics, some were laughing so hard, tears were running down their cheeks. Even the stoic faced Gaara had mirth gleaming in his teal eyes, the corners of his mouth turned upwards. That was everyone except Kiba as his was off collecting firewood. Akamaru diligently followed his companion fetching decent size pieces of wood.
'Who does he think he is? Acting around my Naruto!' growled the brunette, kicking a stone.
"He's after your mate." whispered a quiet voice. "You can't trust either of them." images flashed across his mind. Planting the seeds of doubt and betrayal deep within his heart.
"I've nether loved you. I used you. Your nothing compare to Gaara. Nothing, you measly mutt." spat out the blond. The red-head stood there looking smug, as he wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist.
"See what they really are like when your not around."
Kiba's heart began to clench painfully, his true fears bubbling to the surface. All the plain, all the suffering they went through together. A small part of him remembered what they meant to each other, that they loved each other.
"Do you honestly thing that he loves enough. Ha...he's using you. He never loved you."
"Kiba?" turning around, he came face-to-face with his blond lover. Sapphire eyes shining with worry. "What's the matter?" he asked as he walked closer to the taller teen. As he reached the brunette he placed a tanned hand on the tattooed cheek, stroking it gently with his thumb.
"Nothings the matter Naruto. Why don't you go back to camp and catch up with Gaara." a minuscule amount of hate and distaste laced the last word. Hearing his mate say Gaara's name with hate and distaste, he removed his hand. Noticing the lack of warmth on his cheek, hazel eyes met azure ones for the first time that day.
"What the hell is your problem with Gaara!?" shouted the blond. "What the fuck has he done to you?" he went to worried to pissed off in less than two seconds. "Answer me Inuzuka!"
Kiba just stood the shell shocked, never in all his time knowing the blond, had he ever heard him shout at anyone with such anger. Taking an involuntary step back from the enraged teen, but Naruto wasn't having it. In a blink of an eye, Kiba was pinned painfully to a nearby tree.
"You have no idea what he's been through. To have no-one to talk to. To have no-one to love him." angry tears streaked down whiskered cheeks. "Did you think I would leave you for Gaara? Did you?" silence ran through the forest. "Your silences has just answered my question. I thought you would know that I only love you, Kiba. But obviously I was wrong."
"Ha, your not believing the guilt game are you? It's obvious he's playing you." growled the venomous voice, feeling it's grip on him loosen.
'What the fuck am I thinking!' while Kiba was fighting his own thoughts, he barely noticed Naruto leaving. As the blond turned to leave a firm but gentle hand grabbed his bicep stopping him from leaving.
"I'm sorry Naruto, I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I was just jealous of how both of you interacted with each other." explained the brunette softly. "I should of thought what I was thinking was stupid, but I just let my jealousy take over." nothing was said. "Please Naruto..I don't want to loose you. I love you."
A moonless night sky covered the sleeping world below, nocturnal animal roaming the forest for food. A single silhouette's sat on a stone ledge watching the woodlands below for any unusual activity.
"All quiet on this front?" came a emotionless voice, scaring the ninja. Recovering from the near death experience, Kiba narrowed his eyes threateningly at the culprit. A small chuckle escaped from Gaara as he lent against the smooth stone observing how the teen reacted. Déjà vu all over again, neither one attempted to move or speak to the other. Neither knew how long they stood there, eventually Kiba broke the deafening silence.
"Is there something I can help you with Kazekage-sama?" bowing his head slightly, remembering his manners, barely.
"Do you have a problem with me Kiba-san?" inquired Gaara, getting straight to the point. "Ever since we were introduced to each other by your lover, you've been nothing but cold and hostile towards me." stated the Kage bluntly, putting the Inuzuka on the spot. Regaining his composer he turned back to looking out onto the forest below.
"I don't have a problem with you Kazekage-sama. What ever the issue was it's...it's been resolved." he replied quietly. See as the brunette wasn't going to say anything else, Gaara left without a sound.
Naruto sat by a dying fire, staring into the dancing flames, looking up he noticed Gaara sitting next to him. Neither one needing to speak, both just sat there in a comfortable silence. A small smile found it's way onto Naruto's face.
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