A Flowing Stone (AWESOME Naruto FanFic!)

Okay. This isn't mine. This is Emilio's Project. Although he hasn't updated this for YEARS!(6, I think) This was a great read. Too bad, ne?

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1657270/1/A_Flowing_Stone
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Disclaimer: This disclaimer covers my entire story. From this point on, none of the characters I will use in this story are owned by me and are the exclusive property of.. well the owners of Naruto, whoever they are. If I make up original characters, I own them.
Yahoo!! My last computer was damaged and it took me awhile to get a new one. But now I have one! I am going to be switching off between writing this fiction and an Inu Yasha fiction.

Anyway, please review and let me know what you think!

And now, on with the show!

Chapter 1:

Around the quiet village of the leaf, also known as Konoha village, a dense forest grew, swallowing it from sight. Great Nations had spent tons of resources and sent top agents just to find out the exact location of this village. All efforts had failed of course, because this was no average village: this was a village of specially trained ninja.

The forest had another purpose, other than hiding the village from prying eyes. It was a perfect training ground for the young ninja of the hidden leaf. Young ninja's just like Uzumaki Naruto, who at that very moment lay unconscious beneath a mighty oak tree, exhausted after another day of pushing himself to his limit, and beyond.

Naruto seemed like any other normal twelve-year old boy. He stood shorter than some, taller than others, with blond hair and a wide smile always at the ready. His only truly distinctive features were striking deep crystal blue eyes, and three small scratches on each cheek that almost seemed like cat whiskers.

Naruto wasn't any ordinary ninja however, despite his looks. Naruto had a terrible demon locked inside of him, and it pulsed within, adding its strength to his. As the sun sank towards the horizon, the trees casting long shadows, Naruto slowly opened his blue eyes.

Naruto's perspective

My limbs felt heavy as I dragged myself into a sitting position. I had failed again! Damn it, why is it I still couldn't learn this Jutsu correctly?! Wincing as another twinge of pain flared in my gut, I scooted closer beneath the oak tree I had been training beneath, resting my head against its trunk and breathing through clenched teeth.

I had defeated Hyuga Neji, who was one of the strongest rookie ninja's in the village, in a one-on-one fight. I had defeated Gaara of the Hidden Sands village, and saved the lives of my teammates Sasuke and Sakura. Besides being able to summon powerful frogs, I had even learned the Rasengan, a powerful Jutsu only the fourth Hokage and that perverted Senin Jiraiya knew.

As I thought of those accomplishments, I felt a certain pride surge through me. I had come so far from my days as a washout at the Ninja Academy! But it just wasn't enough.

For every step I took forward, it seemed another obstacle got in my way, forcing me two steps back. The newest obstacle was a big one. A powerful group called the Akatsuki, with Sasuke's own brother Itachi as a member, was out to kidnap me. Or maybe kill me, not even Jiraiya knew for sure.

The group only had powerful elite rogue ninja as members, each as powerful as master Kakashi, or stronger. And Kakashi was among the Leaf villages most powerful Ninja. Which was why I was out here in the middle of nowhere pushing myself to get even stronger; so I could protect myself if it came down to it. And I was failing even at that!

Sometimes I wondered why I even tried. Despite everything, Sakura STILL didn't like me much, and that prick Sasuke still thought I was inferior to him. Not only that, but the people of the Leaf village still couldn't stand the sight of me, and at the end of the day, I really didn't have a true friend outside of Iruka, who had been my teacher when I was still in the Ninja Academy.

I felt that familiar painful warmth start somewhere deep inside my chest, as I realized just how lonely I still was, despite the people around me. I knew the feeling well, since I had carried it with me my entire life. It was that sensation you had right before you actually cried, as though a pressure were building up from the inside just begging for release. I shoved it back down, used to controlling it now after so many years; it was second nature to me now.

Before I dwelt on that too long, the part of me that was always willing to fight came to the fore, as always. They just didn't know me or understand, that was all. I would MAKE them see! Once I become the Hokage of the leaf, they would acknowledge me for who I am!

With a grunt I pushed my back against the tree, using it for support as I brought myself to my feet again, the painful emotions in my chest easing as I threw my mind into the effort of just standing up. That was the trick, I had found. Think of something else and the pain would go away for a while. Usually it worked.

Taking deep breaths I closed my eyes, trying to shut out my surroundings. I could DO this! I had been trying to use the Rasengan using just one hand, instead of using both of my hands. So far I wasn't having much luck, and each attempt had drained me more than I had thought possible. Idly I wondered if anyone in the village noticed I had been gone for a week now. I wondered if anyone even cared.

As though reading my thoughts, and amused voice sounded across the clearing I was training in. "So this is where you ran off to."

My eyes popped open to regard Sasuke with some surprise. He stood across from me beside a group of low bushes, his hands in the pockets of his white shorts and that familiar smirk on his otherwise bored looking face.

Of all the people to come looking for me, it just had to be Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke stood a little taller than me, with black hair that always seemed to be in place, and black eyes that never missed a thing.

Damn it, how had he found me?! Gathering myself, I pushed away from the tree I had been leaning against, somehow finding the strength I needed to stand without support. I would be damned if I showed weakness in front of HIM! What was he doing looking for me anyway? Did we have a mission? No that couldn't be: Kakashi had given us a month off to train on our own.

"Sasuke?! What in the hell do YOU want?" I asked, already resenting his superior attitude.

Even the way he STOOD screamed arrogance! Sasuke pissed me off more than any other person I had ever met. He had everything I didn't; looks, skill, and everyone seemed to love him. And what did he do with all of these gifts? He shrugged them off like they didn't matter. Sakura's love didn't matter to him. Nothing did but the death of his own brother.

Sasuke just snorted and rolled his black eyes. "Want? I don't want anything, you loser. I was just told to help find you."

That didn't sound good. "Huh? Who wants to see me?" I asked. Suddenly images of a certain pink haired girl flashed through my mind. "Is it Sakura- chan? Oh it has to be! She likes me after all doesn't she?!" I gloated happily.

Sasuke was looking at me with an eyebrow raised. After a moment he breathed out with a heavy sigh. "Idiot. What are you talking about? The Hokage is looking for you. Now come on, I've got better things to do than run errands."

Idiot huh? The bastard was going to get it one of these days! Then the rest of what Sasuke said penetrated. The HOKAGE wanted to see me? All of a sudden I wasn't tired anymore. With a surge of energy I ran past a startled Sasuke, making my way through the forest towards the village.

What could she want to see me for? Could it be a secret mission that only I could do maybe? I could hardly wait to find out! While branches and trees flashed by as I ran, I sensed movement to my right. Looking over I saw Sasuke pacing me wordlessly, his face set.

Whatever the fifth Hokage wanted, I hoped it was challenging; I needed more practice before I could well and truly surpass Sasuke.

In Konoha village, Tsunade the fifth Hokage tapped her fingers impatiently across her large mahogany desk as she waited for Kakashi, who stood across from her to finish talking. Also across from her, seated a little behind Kakashi were three Genin of the Sand clan: Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro.

Gaara's perspective

My head nodded forward, causing me to jerk my head up reflexively as my fear of falling asleep kicked in again. God I was tired. Three hours of sleep a night was just not enough, not that I really knew what it was like to sleep for more than that. I heard it was nice though.

I quickly glanced around to see if anyone had noticed me start to doze off. Luckily Temari and Kankuro on either side of me were busy fighting the urge to fall asleep themselves, while the Hokage and the Jounin Kakashi were too focused on their little squabble to pay the three of us any mind.

Grinding my teeth, I tried and failed to focus on what they were saying through my pounding headache. Headaches were another thing I had never been without. The only reason I knew I wasn't supposed to have migraines, was because Temari had told me so a few years ago, which had done wonders for my temper. She had been lucky I hadn't killed her there and then.

Clenching my fist in my lap, I resisted the urge once again to lash out and kill the two arguing leaf ninjas just to shut them up, despite the fact that they were probably more powerful than me. Their voices sounded like nails across a chalkboard to me. In the back of my head, the ever-present voice of Shukaku the sand demon whispered once again to kill them all, and be done.

I ignored it as usual. I had made a promise to myself that I would never lose control like that again. Ever since my fight with Uzumaki Naruto, I had sworn to myself to try and live like he did; and protect the people close to me. In my case, the only two people that meant a damn where my brother and sister sitting on either side of me. They were the only ones that truly accepted me despite everything.

Making that allowance had done a miraculous thing; the killing urge had faded and was replaced by something tender, giving me a peace I hadn't thought I would ever know.

As the voice in my head and the urge to kill both faded into the background, I was able to focus in on what the two Leaf ninja were saying.

". Which is why I think it is a mistake to send a team of Genin on this mission." Kakashi finished in a bored tone.

I was beginning to suspect that was what he always sounded like. Kakashi towered over us, standing slightly slumped as though he were tired with his hands stuck in his pockets. Between his bland way of speaking and the face mask and head protector covering his face leaving only one eye exposed, it was nearly impossible to tell what this elite Ninja was thinking. Nothing seemed to excite the man.

"I understand your concerns, Kakashi. But there simply is no other CHOICE." Tsunade said wearily.

With long blond hair, blue eyes, and a very low cut kimono that revealed a large expanse of bosom, Tsunade looked like anything BUT one of the Leaf villages' most powerful ninja. On top of that, she looked to only be about twenty years old although rumor had it she was really fifty. Not that I really cared about such things.

"All other nonessential ninja are currently on assignment. Including YOU, Kakashi. You should have left this morning! What are you still doing here arguing with me?!" She continued, suddenly seeming more dangerous than she had a moment before.

As she railed at Kakashi, who suddenly seemed a lot smaller, the wide door leading to the hallways opened, and two girls slipped in.

The first one I remembered from the Chuunin exam. I forgot her name, other than the fact that she was of the Hyuga clan. Short dark purple hair framed a timid face, with large light colored eyes that darted here and there as she entered. If I remembered correctly she had been almost killed by her cousin, Hyuga Neji, and he had done it easily. I hoped she wouldn't be one of those selected to join us.

Coming in behind her was the girl I remembered trying to kill in my battle with Naruto. I could never forget her name, since Naruto had been shouting it through most of our fight. Haruno Sakura, the girl who I could only assume was Naruto's girlfriend, judging by how fiercely he had fought me just to save her life. Unlike the Hyuga girl, Sakura had a serious face. Her pink hair was cut short to her shoulders, and her sharp green eyes seemed to catalogue everything.

When she saw me watching her she gave a start, fear entering her eyes. I had that effect on people. I chuckled quietly to myself when her eyes left mine, studiously not looking my way again.

Kakashi had said something that I missed. But whatever it had been, it obviously wasn't what the Hokage wanted to hear. Her face a thunderhead, she stood up from her chair and leaned on the desk. Opening her mouth, she looked like she was about to really let the now nervous Jounin have it, but stopped when she spotted the two girls standing near the door.

"Ah girls, please come in." Tsunade said instead, waving them towards some empty chairs next to Temari.

Temari had woken up enough to give the two girls seating themselves next to her a scathing once over. She could get arrogant when she thought she was better than someone, which was most of the time.

"Excuse me Hokage-Sama, but what is this about? I was just told you needed to see me." The dark haired girl asked respectfully after she had settled herself. You had to give the girl credit; she was doing an amazing job of ignoring Temari. I don't think I could ignore Temari if she was shooting looks at me like that, not that she would dare.

Tsunade smiled slightly and sat down once more. "I'll get to that in a moment. We're just waiting for one more person and I will tell you ALL why you are here, and what I want from you."

That was good news to me. The ruling council of the Sand Village had sent us over, saying we were to cooperate with the Leaf to the best of our abilities. They had refused further explanations, claiming that sending the three of us to help out in a special mission was a way to mend relations with Leaf village after our recent betrayal. The Hokage would fill us in on the rest.

As though on cue, the door opened once more to admit two more people. Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto. Sasuke coolly stepped to the side of the door, crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes like he was tired. Sasuke was one of the few people I had ever met that could actually HURT me in battle.

I had learned the hard way that Sasuke wasn't the real danger though. No, the real danger was the innocent looking blond haired boy who walked in behind him. Taking in everyone in the room, Naruto seemed to vibrate with energy.

"What the--?! What are THESE guys doing here?!" He exclaimed, gesturing at my siblings and I.

"Well, if you would sit down, I'll tell you." Tsunade said blandly, although she had a small smile on her face as she said it, as though she were talking to a boisterous son.

Everyone in the room seemed to have a different reaction to Naruto's appearance.

The Hyuga girl started stuttering his name half under her breath, "Naruto- kun," while she fidgeted with her fingers.

Sakura's face grew an annoyed expression "Naruto," she sniffed, folding her arms across her chest.

Temari and Kankuro both grew very still, something that meant that they were scared. They used to laugh at Naruto as a loser, but neither could do that now, after seeing the power he could draw on in his fight with me. They probably feared him now as much as they did me, which was saying something.

Kakashi and Sasuke had the exact same reactions; both sighed slightly and shook their heads.

Looking around and realizing that everyone was staring at him, Naruto laughed slightly and swiftly took a seat next to Sakura. "So what's up?" he asked Tsunade.

"Well, now that you're all here, I'll explain," she began, "After negotiating with the country of the Hidden Sand, we have agreed to combine forces on a mission that requires the utmost secrecy."

"I KNEW IT! You DID want me for a special mission!!" Naruto burst out happily, rubbing his hands together in glee.

"NARUTO! Shut up and let Hokage-Sama finish!" Sakura yelled, hitting him upside the head with a resounding clap.

"Ouch," Naruto mumbled rubbing his head where she had hit him.

"As I was saying," Tsunade continued, "Your mission is to infiltrate the country of Hidden Stone. We suspect the organization Akatsuki is based there."

I couldn't believe my ears, this wasn't a mission for Genin; this was a mission for specially trained Jounin! The voice in my head started to laugh. This would be a true challenge.

The Genin gathered in the room were shocked. The room became silent as they all took the news in. Sakura, who was generally acknowledged as one of the smartest rookie ninja to come along in quite awhile, was turning over one burning question over and over in her head.

Sakura's perspective

"Why US?!" I exclaimed, unable to hold back any longer.

I flushed a little in embarrassment as every eye in the room focused on me. I've always felt a little nervous whenever I become the center of attention. On the other hand, I could almost FEEL Sasuke-Kun's eyes on me from where he stood by the doorway behind me. I've been in the same team as him for almost a year, and I STILL get butterflies whenever he looks at me. Although lately I've started to wonder why; after all this time, he was still cold towards me, very cold.

"Why you instead of someone more qualified?" Tsunade responded, breaking that train of thought, thank god. "Because frankly, there is no one else left. Ever since the surprise attack at the Chuunin exam, we have been dangerously low on active ninja. Believe it or not, all available Jounin and Chuunin and even many Genin have already been assigned to missions. Now it's your turn."

I sighed, resigning myself to the inevitable. "Well, at least Kakashi- Sensei will be with us," I said, finding comfort in that.

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. "Actually, no."

"WHAAAT?!" Naruto shouted, jumping up from his seat. "Won't we be facing Jounin if we are looking for Akatsuki?!" He Protested. For once I completely agreed with Naruto; this was way out of our league.

"I've been assigned to a different mission. It can't be helped." Kakashi admitted ruefully.

"You won't be facing ANYONE if you do your job right," The Hokage added. "Your mission is to spy. That's IT. If you are confronted you are to evade and escape. I want you to bring back information of the area, and any leads that could be helpful," Tsunade explained as though it were the easiest thing in the world.

Well, at least Sasuke would be with me. And no adult supervision! I couldn't wait! Maybe I could get him alone somehow and--.

"Sasuke, you will be coming with me on my mission," Kakashi said suddenly. I felt my hopes and dreams crashing to the ground. NO! Trapped in the wilderness with Naruto, a timid girl, and those crazy Sand ninja?! I was doomed!

"Yes!" I heard Naruto whisper beside me, his blue eyes sparkling. Damn it! Why couldn't it have been the other way around? Why couldn't that loser NARUTO leave with Kakashi?!

"Sakura-Chan?" Naruto said looking at me, sounding like a kicked puppy. His expression looked like one too.

That was when I realized I had just said my last thoughts out loud. Shit! I yelled at Naruto a lot, but I really had started to like him over the past few months. Despite his wild and loud behavior, he was really sweet, and he WAS the one that had saved my life a while ago from Gaara. Or so Sasuke told me. Which was why I felt like crying a little when I realized how cold I must have sounded just then.

"Naruto, I--" I began apologetically. I paused when my eyes met his briefly before he looked away, focusing on something else, his face set. "I'm sorry," I finished weakly, staring at my hands clasped in my lap, shaken. For that brief moment, I thought I had seen a hurt so deep in his eyes there hadn't seemed to be an end.

I felt a chill rush up my spine while I wondered if I was the one who had put that hurt there, or if it had always been there. Of course, it might have been my imagination, but if it wasn't, how could I have missed it? My heart thudded painfully in my chest, as I felt in that dreadful instant the possibility that I might have let Naruto down somehow. The fact that I didn't even know HOW I had let him down made the problem even worse.

Maybe I should try and be a little nicer to him. I had said that to myself before, but I always managed to slip somehow. It seemed more important this time, for some reason.

"I want Sasuke with me because I need a partner, and his skills closely match mine," Kakashi said patiently, "and, there is no one else," he finished, sounding pleased to use Tsunade's words.

"I wish it was another way too. Why couldn't Sakura go with the Jounin and Sasuke come with us?" I heard the Sand ninja named Kankuro whisper to Temari, who snickered. I felt my cheeks burn with shame as I tightened my grip on my knees, refusing to look up. All I wanted to do at that moment was run somewhere and hide.

"Take. That. Back," Naruto said tightly, his voice steel. Shocked I looked up to see Naruto had stood up and was glaring at Kankuro, his gaze flinty. Kankuro suddenly looked unsure of himself.

I could only stare in dumb wonder at Naruto. How could he jump to my defense so fast after what I had just said? 'And why hadn't Sasuke been the one to defend me like that?' A part of myself asked, before I stomped down on it ruthlessly. Sasuke probably would have if Naruto hadn't gotten there first. That seemed like a weak argument.

"Enough!!" Tsunade shouted making most of us jump. "You will NOT fight with each other! Hinata, you will be in charge on this mission," The Hokage said, addressing the purple haired girl who had been silent the entire time. Hinata gave a little jump and looked at Tsunade in alarm.

Hinata was going to be the leader?! I had to be dreaming. Hinata looked like she agreed with me; she had gone very pale.

"Your lives depend on you working as a team!" Tsunade continued, "If she comes back and reports that you all fought each other every step of the way, there will be HELL to pay. Am I clear?!" She stormed at us.

"Yes Hokage-Sama," I mumbled, hearing everyone else, including even Kakashi echoing me.

Looking us over, Tsunade nodded as though satisfied. "Alright. You have two hours to pack up supplies and meet each other at the East Gate. Good luck."

We all stood up and filed out, except for Kakashi and Sasuke. As I passed him on my way out, I hoped I would have a chance to speak to Sasuke before we left.

That's the end of my first chapter! Please review it and let me know what you think! In case you might be wondering, this is going to be a romance at its heart. Although I plan to have some action mixed in.
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Well, I like the insights from different character's perspectives (especially Gaara's). It looks like you've got a fine story goin'.

Props.

Thank you very much for all the great reviews! Some of you pointed out things I'm going to watch out for. I will take you're suggestions to heart! You know who you are. And someone pointed out a discrepancy in the first chapter, which I hope I addressed in this chapter. Time will tell, but I'm pretty happy with the way I worked it into the story. If you don't know what I'm talking about-I'm not telling!
Anyway, please enjoy my second chapter! I like my story already-even though I am obviously very biased about that.

And now, on with the show!

Chapter 2:

Night had come to the peaceful village of the leaf. Winter was getting closer, the wind bringing chill but fresh air. As the rest of the newly established team went their separate ways to prepare for the coming mission, Naruto quickly ran to his sparse one bedroom apartment to gather his things for the trip ahead. Finishing quickly, he decided he needed one last trip to the ramen shop before he left.

Naruto's perspective

Rounding a corner, the first thing to hit me was the great smell of shrimp ramen coming from The Ramen Shop. It was really called that; The Raman Shop was what Jack, the owner chose to name his business. He was a strange old man. He hardly ever spoke, but when he did it was usually to yell at me for something I had done around town. I liked him a lot anyway: he was one of the few people who had never seemed to judge me. Of course, I had a sneaking suspicion that because I ate there so much, I was single handedly keeping his business afloat, so he had reason not to judge me.

The light from The Ramen Shop bled out into the night. Jack liked to close very late, and open very early. Most of the other shops near him had already locked up for the night, leaving jack an island of light in the darkness.

Shifting my backpack straps into a more comfortable position across my shoulders, I took my usual seat at the bar. Jack stood with his back to me, already making me a bowl. It never really mattered what he made for me, I wasn't picky; I liked it all.

"One bowl! Quick I'm going on a mission!" I said loudly into his back anyway. This was our ritual. Ever since I was five I had come here and said the same thing. The fun thing was that this time it happened to be true. In a town where no one would even talk to me without hate in their eyes, it had always calmed me a bit when the owner of The Ramen Shop treated me just like anyone else.

"Yeah, I heard you," Jack said irritably without turning around, just like always.

Putting Jack out of my mind for a moment, I slipped my backpack off of my shoulders and opened it, looking over the survival equipment I had packed. I had forgotten important things before, and I felt determined not to let that happen this time. It was the little things that made the difference sometimes. A length of rope for instance, matches for a fire if need be, and a first aid kit for emergencies to name a few.

"Here," Jack said gruffly, cutting off my train of thought as he set a bowl of hot ramen in front of me. "Next time you're here it will be time to settle up the tab, Naruto. I'm not running a charity," he continued before I could thank him.

Mention of settling the tab made my stomach do flips even as it growled in anticipation of the food in front of me. That was the worst part of the month: sometimes it was even more than my rent! Sometimes my addiction to ramen was a real curse.

"You should give me a discount damn it!" I accused hotly, shaking the chopsticks I had just picked up at him like one of my kunai - a pointed throwing dart that could be used in a pinch for close up work if needed. "I'm always sending you business! I practically work here!" Well none of that was really true, strictly speaking, but I wanted him to feel guilty. I mean some of the prices here were unreal! Extorting money from a minor HAD to be breaking some kind of law right?

Jack just snorted at me and turned away. "If you worked for me, this place would have been ruined a long time ago," he scoffed over his shoulder. Sticking my tongue out at his back I put the old man out of my mind again as I looked down at the bowl in front of me. Here was the source of all the trouble. If only he wasn't so good at making it!

Digging in I ate quickly, finishing it off before most people would even be half way through the same meal. Sitting back, feeling full and happy, I thought about the mission ahead. This would probably be the most dangerous mission I had ever been on, mostly because we would be far from the support of any friendly higher-level ninja.

I still couldn't believe I would be teaming up with that psychopath Gaara! I was still a little shocked; after the meeting with old lady Tsunade I had pinched myself to make sure this wasn't all some complex dream. A long mission with Gaara, no Sasuke for Sakura to moon over, and just to make things interesting they had made Hinata the team leader? I pinched myself again, just to be safe.

I still didn't really understand a lot about Hinata. She was always quiet and shy. In fact, if I hadn't seen for myself how she acted during the Chuunin exam I would have sworn she didn't have a personality at all. The one thing I knew was that for some reason I still wasn't really clear on, she saw something in me, and tried to copy it.

After seeing her in her fight with Neji, and our one conversation right before I fought Neji, I knew she was much more than what I had always thought. Suddenly I realized that without even really knowing it, I had come to really respect her.

I decided right then that no matter what, I would try and help support her role as the leader. I had a feeling that the others would take one look at her and laugh if she gave an order. Standing, my mind set, I picked up my backpack and left for the meeting place, not even remembering I hadn't said good-bye to Jack until I was most of the way there.

The other members of the new team had already gathered together at the gates wide road leading out of the Leaf village. Waiting for Naruto's arrival, they sat or stood around, not even talking. Hinata Hyuga, the newly appointed leader of the force, sat on the ground further apart than the rest of them, nervously fidgeting as the reality of the situation set it.

Hinata's perspective

What was I going to do?! All I really remembered about Gaara and his team was that he was a merciless killer, who would turn on his teammates if pushed. And now I had to give him orders?! And if I gave an order and he ignored it, I would be embarrassed not only in front of everyone, but in front of Naruto-kun as well! And how could I order NARUTO-KUN around?! This was the end, and I had no escape.

At least my father had been happy about the mission. As a vital person in the leaf village, acting as the head of the Hyuga house, he was one of the few high-level ninja left in Konoha. Hearing that I had been assigned as the team leader, he had done something I rarely saw him do: he smiled at me.

"Do the Hyuga name proud," had been his only advice before leaving me as I packed for the journey. My father had never been one to mince words.

'Easy for him to say, he's not the family screw up.' I thought to myself dully.

I was going to mess up on this mission, and it was going to be big. The thought of someone dieing because of me sent shivers down my spine. The thought of Naruto-kun dieing because of me was almost enough to make me sick.

"Well, looks like everyone's here!" Naruto-Kun's boisterous voice sounded from close by. Scrambling to my feet, my heart pounded as I watched him come closer, his clear blue eyes set on me. My body always did this when Naruto-kun was near; my palms grew sweaty almost instantly, my heart started pounding in my chest and my stomach warmed up and started doing flip flops. When he actually looked at me and paid attention to me like he was doing right then, those feelings tripled.

"You're late, Naruto," Sakura said sourly from her position on the other side of the trail we were meeting on. I sighed in relief as Naruto-Kun's attention shifted to Sakura. I always froze when he looked at me like that.

"Hah-ha, sorry about that Sakura-chan, I had to visit someone before we left," he explained with a wide grin, while I silently tried to get a hold of myself. It was just no use! For some reason I just got weak in the knees around him!

"Whatever," the Sand Genin Temari said as she walked over to us. I realized with a start they were all starting to stand around ME. "let's just get going," she finished in a bored tone, crossing her arms across her chest.

"There's just one problem with that," Kankuro said as he joined us, "does anyone know exactly how to get there and what exactly we are going to do? Spying is well and good, but I think I need a better explanation than 'go spy in the Hidden Stone,'" he continued scornfully, shoving his hands in the pockets of his black jumpsuit, while shifting the weight of the doll he carried on his shoulder. The doll wrapped up in bandages on his shoulder made it look like he was caring a dead body around. Combined with the makeup on his face, he looked like a sadistic clown.

Gaara, the one I feared the most, came up behind Kankuro silently watching us with a guarded expression on his face.

I actually knew the answer to Kankuro's question. Before leaving the Hokage's office, an aid had handed me a document that had all the particulars of the mission. From what Akatsuki was, to the best route to get to the area most suspected of being a base for them. Everything was explained very clearly, and it was my job to tell them what I felt they needed to know about it.

"I--" I started, stopping as every eye turned onto me. Swallowing, fidgeting before I could stop myself, I opened my mouth to continue, but swallowed again at the sudden lump forming in my throat instead. This was it! Now that the moment had come where I needed to step up, I felt myself begin to slowly crumble inside under the pressure of actually taking all of this responsibility onto my shoulders. I wasn't ready for this!

"Well?" Sakura prodded impatiently after an eternal moment, during which I wondered if they could see my knee's shaking.

Looking quickly from face to face, I felt my chest tighten up as panic began to set in. They were all going to see I didn't know what I was doing! Suddenly a hand settled onto my shoulder, and I looked in shock at Naruto- kun, who was smiling softly at me. "Hokage made you our leader, right?" he asked simply.

Staring into his blue eyes, not able to look away, I nodded dumbly. For some reason, I was starting to feel calmer with his hand on my shoulder. Still staring at him, I absently realized that this was the first time he had ever touched me on purpose.

"So then you must know how to get to the Stone country, right?" he concluded gently, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly.

"Y-yes," I replied smiling back at him, enjoying the warmth that seemed to radiate into my shoulder from his touch. I had memorized the map already before I had packed. With wonder I realized it really was as simple as that. These weren't my enemies; they were just comrades who simply looked to me for information they didn't have.

Nodding to Naruto-kun, feeling the grateful smile stretch across my face unbidden, I turned to the others and knelt to the ground, picking up a near- by stick and sketching a simple plan for the route we were going to take. Answering their questions became easier as I went, as I answered any questions they had about how to get there, or even clarification on what the Akatsuki really was.

"-And that's it," I finished as I stood up dusting off my hands, feeling a deep pride in myself. I had done it! Feeling a strange confidence swell up inside of me, I looked over to Naruto-kun once more as a rush of gratitude towards him rushed through me. He had helped me with just two questions.

This was just another example of why Naruto-kun was so special to me. Suddenly it hit me that they were all looking at me again, expectantly. What did I do wrong? Had I forgotten something? Frantically I racked my brain for what I needed to do, but I came up with a blank.

"So, what was the marching order going to be again Hinata?" Sakura asked pleasantly, coming to my rescue.

Oh god! I hadn't even thought of that! Quickly I came up with an order, hoping that it would work out.

"Kankuro w-will be point," I said somewhat hurriedly, putting as much false confidence into my voice as I could, "f-followed by Temari. Next will be myself, Naruto-kun and then Sakura. Gaara will watch our tail as rear guard," I announced, gaining strength as I spoke. I had no idea why I came up with that; the names just tumbled out of my mouth.

The fact that Naruto would be close to me was a complete coincidence! At least that's what I would be telling myself. Amazingly the others nodded to themselves as though the arrangement made complete sense.

"Ok!" Naruto exclaimed, making most of us jump as his sudden shout. "Let's go then! The night is young, and we've got a lot of ground to cover!" he continued excitedly, his face animated with energy.

Sakura groaned into the night air, "I think I'm tired of this mission already," she said mournfully, taking her place behind Naruto as we all set out, Kankuro making his way ahead of us without a word.

Temari smiled at her before walking to her place ahead of me. "I was tired of this mission before I got here," she muttered half under her breath.

Like a grim ghost, Gaara took his place at the end of the line without so much as a sound. Seeing him stare stonily at Sakura's back, I suddenly felt sorry for her. Maybe I should have made Gaara walk on point?

A little dazed that I had actually gotten through all of this so far without someone making fun of me, I started walking as well.

"This is going to be great! Right Hinata?" Naruto said excitedly from behind me. Feeling flushed all over again from his attention, I nodded to him over my shoulder, suddenly nervous again.

"Y-yeah!" I agreed stammering, a little ashamed at my own shyness. Suddenly I felt energized though; this was my first mission with Naruto! I had wished for this for so long, and now it was really happening! My shoulder still tingled from where Naruto's hand had rested. It felt cold now, as though a warm blanket had been taken away on a cold night.

'Maybe everything will be alright after all,' I said to myself hopefully.

Feeling Naruto's presence at my back, I felt it just might.

Well, there's chapter 2! What do you think? Did I earn a cookie? Let me know.

Nice very nice in fact..... are you sure you wrote this? I mean not only is the writing style different, the plot was so well developed as well, it's just too different from that High School Fic that you wrote not too long ago. I had almost nothing to critisize lol even the description of the characters were well written, the changes of perspectives was nice and so perfectly done i wouldn't have seen this in your previous work......

I rate this 9.0/10 This is a great story with a greater potential keep it up!!!

Lol. Maye you should've read the A/N above^^

Like I said. This isn't mine. This is Emilio's project. He also has a InuYasha Fanfic that is pretty nice too.

I'm diggin' it.

Just.... it's spelled dying. Heh, like I'm one to talk. :lol:

That figures...... i suspected as much....i mean no human can improve so much within a week or so unless you are a god or a manga character.....

But i would really like to read more of this guy's works...its so incredible to see someone with this much potential....he should really be a writer i bet his book would be an instant best-seller.....

BTW if you post the Inuyasha one i probably wouldn't read it anyway cause i hated the anime so much(too repeative for its own good and boring fights....)

You think so too? There're other stories full of potential like Emilio's on Fanfiction. But it's only few. I'mg gonna post them here tomorrow.

BTW, Emilio hasn't updated this story for 6-7 years, I think. I believe that he has died or he forgot his account or something... oh well^^

PS

The Inu-Yasha aint too bad at all

i keep meaning to read this but i never get the chance lol i will soon tho...

it was a good read i had a good song going in the background so it was good 8)

Lol. How come you're in the Writing section, animeholic? jk

It's just that i've never seen you around these parts of the Forums^^

i figured id give it a shot + i have been here my first post was in omnis thread

Wat?! you serious?! well, since you're here. Why not giving my story a shot???

i already read it

i enjoyed it nice work *thumbs up* *smiles* *sparkle in teeth*

Lol i'm guessing you two are friends? well nice to meet you anyways....

Well! Many great reviews, and I thank each one of you for them!
Someone was confused that the Hokage is a woman, and the only way I can respond without ruining too much is by saying that eventually in the manga, there is a female Hokage of the leaf named Tsunade.

Spelling of some names, and other details might be off, and I apologize for that. But that is because I simply can’t help it, and so I ask you all to please ignore the little things since I will continue to make mistakes through ignorance or downright incompetence.

Well, thanks again for all the reviews!! LOVE them!!

And now, on with the show!!

Chapter 3:

The moon, hidden for a time behind night clouds, peaked out at last, bathing the landscape in silver. The forest outside of Konoha Village seemed to greedily absorb the moons glow, turning light to shadow for the six ninja now trudging beneath the trees protection. The first few hours of the companion’s journey went by quietly for them as they trouped through the dense forest. After a time, Hinata called for a short rest.

Naruto’s perspective

“Oh no! NOOOO!” I moaned in agony, peering into my backpack in shocked disbelief.

I felt the beginnings of a tear start to form in my eye, but I was too agitated to stop it. I had been so focused on packing survival gear that I had forgotten to pack the single most important thing! I sat on the ground with a thump, cradling my head in my hands.

“Well? Are you going to tell us what’s WRONG? Or are you just going to moan all night?” Sakura demanded from behind me, where she was munching from a bag of dried fruit.

Sakura-chan had been acting strange ever since we started on this mission. Granted, she was foul tempered whenever Sasuke wasn’t around anyway, but this time she seemed extra snappy. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, except for Kankuro, who had decided to range ahead a little further while the rest of us rested. Apparently he had quite a bit of stamina. Great, now they were all expecting an explanation.

“I... I forgot to pack any FOOD,” I sighed, still not believing my own stupidity.

Soft, barely conceal snickers immediately surrounded me, just as I knew it would. Hell, if it weren’t happening to ME I would probably laugh too. I looked around in shame, to try and gauge how they felt about me. It was actually a game I played with myself from time to time; I would try and see how many people were affected all at once with my actions. The higher the number, the more points I gave myself. Growing up, people had always acted, well... FAKE around me.

A typical villager would look at me like I had splashed mud on their favorite clothing, but would otherwise either ignore me, or if forced to speak with me, speak in cold tones usually only reserved when speaking to your worst enemy. To offset that, the things they actually said to my face where generally civil. What they said when they thought I couldn’t hear was something else all together.

Because of that and a lot of time on my hands, the game had formed in my mind. I have become pretty good at gauging my own popularity after a stupid stunt, if I do say so myself. Laughter worked for me most of the time, because laughter was close to happiness. If they laughed at me, then technically they were happy, and I felt better because they were feeling that way because I made them feel that way. It was the realization that they were laughing AT me that usually nipped whatever good feeling I got from it in the bud.

At least that’s what I used to tell myself until recently. Now I had a new goal. If I could become better then the ones they looked up to, then there was no WAY they could look down on me. If they didn’t appreciate me, they would be hypocrites. They would HAVE to look up to me.

Old habits died hard though, and I found that I still slipped up and did something stupid or funny when I most wanted not to. Oddly, beyond the first round of snickers, no one seemed too affected by my screw up this time. Looking over, I saw Gaara give me an unreadable, bland look, his green eyes flat. Sitting down he put his forehead up to his knees and wrapped his arms around himself, covering his face as though he were trying to go to sleep.

Sakura-chan just groaned and shook her head at me as she continued to eat her snack, long used to my little fuck ups. I wasn’t even really surprised or hurt when she didn’t offer to share what she was eating. She probably thought it would be fun to watch me go hungry.

“No problem, Naruto-kun,” Hinata said abruptly, surprising me.

Digging through her bag, she brought out some dried beef jerky, and held it up with a small smile on her face. The moon played tricks with the light, shining through the branches and leaves of the trees, creating crazy patterns that obscured one moment, yet illuminated the area the next. Hinata came closer, now disappearing then reappearing in turns as she moved through the shadows until she knelt in front of me to present me with her gift.

Hesitantly I reached out, accidentally holding her fingers as I grasped it, absently noticing with pleasure how smooth her fingers felt. At my touch she jerked her hand back with a small gasp, as though I had shocked her.

“Thank you Hinata,” I said anyway, feeling a small frown form on my face. Did she not like me touching her that much? If she didn’t like me, why was she so nice to me all of the time? Confused, I settled back and took a bite.

“N--no problem, Naruto-kun,” she said somewhat breathlessly as she brought the hand I had touched to her chest.

What was her deal anyway? Why was she acting so nice and so strange at the same time? I just didn’t get it.

“Are you ok Hinata? Food wise I mean. I’ll go hunt for myself the next time we stop,” I asked after realizing that all she was doing was sitting there, looking at me like a bunny rabbit. Come to think of it, she almost looked like a bunny, with her white coat and large pale eyes. Abruptly it sort of hit me that she was actually really kind of cute!

“Fine! I’m fine!” she laughed nervously as she stood to go back to her own bag saying things I couldn’t quite hear under her breath. I wished the lighting were better so I could get a better look at her face. It happened to be shadowed so all I could really go by was her body language and voice.

Suddenly I felt the pressure of some ones eyes on me. Looking up I realized Temari had leveled a thoughtful gaze my way, her dark eyes unreadable. Out of all of the girls present, she was the most... developed. Standing a little taller than Sakura or Hinata, she wore a white shirt and skirt combination, with black fishnet stockings that didn’t completely cover either of her legs.

On one leg the stalking stopped above her knee and disappeared beneath her skirt. Her other leg the stalking stopped below her knee and covered her foot. Her weapon, a large fan as tall as she was rested next to her against the tree. She was good looking; there was no doubt about that. But from what I saw she had a bad temper.

†˜What was she staring at ME for?’ I wondered nervously, swallowing a little under her gaze.

Seeing that I had caught her looking she gave a short snort and looked away, her face, which could clearly be seen (even though most of her body was in shadow) not changing at all. The Sand Genin were a tough group to read; Gaara seemed like icy rage stuffed into a can, Temari was just sarcastic and distant, and Kankuro was plain mean.

At the moment, I only felt comfortable around Sakura-chan and Hinata, but even with that, Hinata was acting strange, and Sakura-chan was acting even stranger. Looking over towards Sakura-chan, I gave a start as my eyes met her angry green ones. Her very beautiful green eyes, I couldn’t help adding to myself.

I had always been attracted to Sakura-chan, ever since I had first met her upon entering the ninja academy. She had always ignored me of course, or when that became impossible she had told me she hated me outright. I often wondered why, but just figured it was one of those things. People either hated you or they didn’t. I couldn’t lie to myself and say that it didn’t hurt. It hurt a lot. But letting other people know that was a big mistake, so I had become very good at hiding that fact.

At the moment, it looked like she REALLY didn’t like me, judging by the glare she was shooting my way. What in the hell was going on?! Why was everyone STARING at me for god’s sake?! Looking around me, I tried to see what was wrong. Lifting my arm I sniffed my armpit. Nope, I didn’t smell. Then WHY?

“Why are you looking at me like that Sakura-chan?” I asked at last, not able to take it any longer.

Behind Sakura-chan, Gaara lifted his head, an eyebrow raised as he listened in. I sensed Hinata behind me pausing whatever she was doing as well.

Oddly her gaze suddenly softened, and she looked down at what was left of the bag of dried fruit she was holding. For a brief second I could have sworn she was blushing! But that was impossible, because there was just one time, and one time ONLY when she did that, and that was whenever she came within five meters of Sasuke. Actually, she didn’t have to come near him for that, I corrected myself. You only had to say Sasuke’s name for her to blush. That must be it, she had probably thought of Sasuke for whatever reason.

Did I do something to remind her of him? That thought got me a little mad. I was NOTHING like that bastard!

“Um... nothing Naruto, sorry about that. Here, want the rest of my trail mix?” she offered holding the bag towards me, still looking towards the ground.

My sudden anger forgotten, I stared at her in complete shock, nodding my head dumbly. “S--sure! Thanks Sakura-chan!” I exclaimed, hardly believing that SHE would do something so, well... nice!

Snatching the offered bag from her, I happily began munching on Hinata and Sakura’s gifts. My heart felt ready to explode with warmth.

“This is great!” I cried cheerfully between bites, “You guys are the BEST! Just wait, I’m gonna get each of you something good when I go hunting next!” I promised, too happy for words.

Sakura and Hinata began giggling for some reason at that. Looking up I stared between them suspiciously. What was so funny?

“I’m looking forward to it, Naruto,” Sakura said, smiling at me brightly, causing my breath to catch in my throat.

She rarely smiled at me like that. No wait, she had NEVER smiled at me like that. She had never looked so beautiful to me as she did at that moment. She sat in a circle of moonlight, as though a spotlight were shining on her in some great play. Her short pink hair and green eyes seemed to glow in that pale light, making her seem like an angel.

I tore my eyes away from her, afraid she might get mad at me for gawking at her. Looking over I saw Hinata was staring at Sakura as well, a slight frown on her face. She looked sad for some reason. What was going ON with those two? First Hinata helped me but was scared to touch me, and then Sakura turns from looking like she wanted to kill me to being my best friend! I had never been so confused before in my entire life, and unfortunately, Iruka-sensei was too far away to advise me.

Quiet as the shadows that surrounded us, Kankuro landed between Hinata and I, startling us both. Ignoring my panic, Kankuro turned away from me to face Hinata, speaking urgently.

“Mist nin ahead,” he said in a low voice, crouching down in front of Hinata.

His movement meant that the mummified doll he kept on his back was facing me, the only thing visible of the doll itself being brown hair that stuck through the bandages in odd places. A little disturbed, I shuffled away from him a bit.

“H--how many?” she asked Kankuro somewhat nervously, looking over his shoulder at me for some reason. Figuring she could use a little support I stepped closer, smiling at her reassuringly.

“Four, but there might be another on lookout. Their camp has traps all over, but I haven’t seen anything to worry about so far,” he explained calmly.

I had to give it to him; he really sounded professional at the moment.

“We should avoid them,” Gaara’s voice said softly from close behind me, causing all of us to turn towards him.

“Why?” I asked, a little outraged at the notion. It seemed cowardly to me.

He shrugged, “our mission is to spy in a foreign land, not to play with these mist puppies,” he returned dismissively, crossing his arms.

“No! Absolutely not! We have to take care of them; we are still in Leaf Country,” Sakura-chan exclaimed hotly, turning to confronting Gaara, “it’s our DUTY to capture them!” she finished, glaring at him.

“Capture?!” Temari scoffed from close by, distracting us from Gaara, “we don’t have time to capture anyone. If we confront them, we’ll have to kill them and move on,” she said, eyeing Sakura-chan with a superior look on her face.

Sakura-chan stared back at Temari, obviously disturbed at the idea that they would have to KILL them. I felt a little queasy in the stomach thinking about it as well; so far in all of the missions we have been on, neither of us ever had to kill before. I was pretty sure it was the same with Hinata. Blood starting to boil at Temari’s tone towards Sakura-chan, I opened my mouth to defend my old teammate, but stopped as Hinata spoke.

“W--we have to confront them, I think,” she began, looking around at us as though begging for us to understand. “Foreign ninja on our soil so far off the road can only mean they are spying on the leaf. We HAVE to stop them,” she explained softly, seeming to shrink in on herself as we all stared at her.

A long silence stretched, during which Hinata began to fidget, darting glances between us all before finally settling her light gaze on me once more. Her eyes told me one thing; †˜HELP!’ Smiling at her I nodded, stretching myself as I worked the kinks out.

“You heard her guys, we’re fighting. Anyone have a plan?” I asked, my tone firm.

Gaara growled in disgust, but luckily otherwise stayed silent. That was when something odd struck me; GAARA wanted to avoid KILLING?! I peered at him closely, raising an eyebrow at him in question. Noticing my look, he raised his own eyebrows in return as though to ask, †˜what?’

“Kankuro, can you sketch on the ground the enemies layout?” Temari asked finally forcing me to put aside my curiosity for the moment. I was surprised it was Temari out of everyone that was getting the ball rolling; she had never seemed like a team player to me.

Kankuro nodded, kneeling next to her and began drawing on the ground with a stick.

The newly formed team spent half an hour debating amongst each other on how to attack. Gaara just wanted to walk straight in and deal with them head on. The rest shot that idea down quickly; pointing out that not everyone had magic sand for protection. It was Temari who came up with the final plan.

They were to split into two teams of three, and attack on each end of the camp, trapping the enemy between them. Deciding that they were more comfortable working that way, Temari, Gaara and Kankuro circled around, while Naruto, Hinata and Sakura would wait for the signal, (in the form of Gaara making a ruckus) before charging in them selves.

Temari’s perspective

Peering down from my position in a tree at the enemy campsite, I frowned. Something wasn’t right: the four ninja below me slept peacefully in a circle around a burnt out fire-pit. No ninja worth their salt was THAT relaxed in enemy territory. I glanced over towards Kankuro a few branches away, seeing me he nodded. Yeah, something was fishy.

“Follow my lead,” Gaara’s low voice whispered from somewhere nearby.

Gaara had always been the best out of us. He was stronger, he was faster, and if I really looked at it, which I rarely did, he was more skillful too. The three of us had been a team ever since I was ten years old. Gaara, one year younger than I, had taken the role as leader despite the fact that he was the youngest.

The reason was obvious really. Kankuro and I didn’t dare order HIM around. Just being around him sent shivers down my spine sometimes. I couldn’t count the number of times I had almost died by his hand just for speaking when he was in one of his moods, let alone the times where it had been my job to stop him from going on a murder spree. It always shocked me when he actually listened to me, for reasons he had never shared. I could always ask him, but I didn’t feel like getting killed.

Well, maybe he was a little safer to be around lately. Ever since that Leaf Genin Naruto fought him, he hadn’t killed ANYONE. That was a feat in and of itself for someone like Gaara.

On top of that, he had actually started treating Kankuro and I with a little respect! Asking our opinions over certain matters where before he would just state what we would do. Wondering how we were feeling on occasions, and once, I had even seen him smile slightly after Kankuro had cracked one of his awful jokes. It was like a miracle! And it was all because of that Naruto.

Every once and a while I would see his battle with Gaara in my dreams. I had never seen someone successfully stand up to Gaara like he had. I could still see Naruto in my mind, surrounded by that powerful red glow of chakra, right before multiplying himself by untold thousands.

Then another image of Naruto flashed through my mind, of him happily gobbling down snacks his teammates gave him like he hadn’t a care in the world. I grinned to myself at the imagery. He had stood up to my brother, who frightened even the leaders of my village, and yet he remained normal. Hell he was more than normal; he was damn near lovable! I shook my head, awed at the thought.

Movement to my right broke my train of thought, as Gaara’s shape pounced into the clearing the enemy ninja where camped in. Walking calmly up to the sleeping Mist ninja, he kicked one. The shape on the ground thumped over, revealing a plain log instead of a body. Instantly a shower of Kunai shot from a position from across the clearing, aimed for Gaara’s head.

I smirked as I watched the throwing weapons thud home into a barrier of sand that appeared around Gaara as though by magic, saving his life like it had countless times in the past.

Nodding to Kankuro we both leaped from our position, joining Gaara as three mist ninja, appeared opposite us. Only three? Looking around I tried to see if I could spot the fourth, or possibly the fifth one Kankuro mentioned earlier. I gave up after a moment, more concerned with the three in front of us.

The three Mist ninja wore all black tunics and leggings, with purple sashes tied around their waists. Dark colored masks hid their faces, their identifying headbands prominently on their foreheads.

The one to the right spoke up. “Nice trick kid,” he rasped in a deep voice, pulling a long length of chain with a dagger attacked at the end from behind his back, twirling it around as he spoke.

“To bad it’ll be the last trick you’ll ever do!” the one in the center said confidently, as the three of them rushed us.

I tensed, bringing my battle fan in front of me, but relaxed a bit as I realized it wasn’t necessary. The three ninja had made only a couple of steps towards us before they all jolted to a stop with cries of surprise. Looking down at their feet we all watched as sand swirled around them, holding them immobile as it slowly started to cover them completely.

Gaara stretched out his hand toward the shocked and now terrified Mist ninja that were slowly being consumed in his sand trap. His fingers slowly closed, and the sand slowly obeyed his silent command.

“Last trick? Hardly,” Gaara hissed at them, his eyes tight as his hand slowly began to close. The ninja in the sand started screaming as the pressure increased with every moment that passed.

“W... WAIT!” one of them gasped as he desperately struggled, “P... AAAGGHH!! ... Please... MERCY!!” he sobbed.

Gaara regarded the three of them for a moment, his head tilting to the side as his eyes took on a far away look. Sighing, he abruptly tightened his hand into a complete fist, causing the sand to finish its gruesome work. The three Mist ninja screamed as the sand stabbed into them and crushed them all at once, cutting off their cries as they all died at instantly, blood shooting through any gaps in the sand, splattering in random places.

I fought the urge to retch, swallowing as I regarded the mess that had been three human beings. It was always like this when Gaara did that. It had been awhile, but I don’t think I would ever get used to the horrid way Gaara could sometimes kill. I didn’t WANT to get used to it. If I did I was sure a part of me would die.

“Desert coffin,” Gaara whispered, his hand shaking as he brought his fist down to his side.

“Gaara?” Naruto’s uncertain voice sounded from across the clearing.

The three ninja from the leaf village came out of hiding, staring in disbelief at the mess that Gaara had made, approaching us slowly. Searching their faces, I couldn’t help but wonder what they were thinking at that moment. I had witnessed this for years, but for some of them, this was probably the first time.

Sakura took in the scene with wide green eyes, her hand covering her mouth, moving as though in a trance. Surprisingly, Hinata took it much better: she merely swallowed somewhat nervously while avoiding looking for too long at any one spot. I quickly dismissed them from my mind after a moment.

It was Naruto’s reaction I was worried about. I had heard from the Hokage that Naruto was much stronger than he had been during the Chuunin exam, when he had faced my brother, although Tsunade wouldn’t tell exactly how. If he really was stronger than he had been in his titanic struggle that day, I had no wish to ever see what he could do now.

Naruto’s jaw was clenched tight, his face set as he regarded Gaara’s handiwork. The moon highlighted his already light colored hair, softening his features. With his deep blue eyes, I remember realizing earlier that he was really a pretty good-looking guy, for a leaf Genin anyway. That thought was reinforced now in the soft lighting. I shook the thought away quickly, not liking where that thought was leading me. Naruto’s ocean blue eyes, lifted from the carnage to regard Gaara, who was standing still and stiff.

“Gaara, why did you...” Naruto hissed, pausing to swallow as he glared at my brother, “why did...” he tried again, still unable to finish.

A silence settled over us, as Gaara seemed to struggle with himself, his shoulders shaking.

“I... didn’t have a choice,” Gaara said hoarsely, staring back at Naruto.

“No prisoners, remember Naruto?” Kankuro said mockingly, from the other side of Gaara, earning him a sharp glare from Naruto, which wiped the smirk right off Kankuro’s face. It was that kind of look.

I couldn’t repress a quiver of fear in the pit of my own stomach. God, please don’t let them fight again, I silently prayed.

“We had to kill them, that much I can take,” Naruto grated, the anger clear in his tone, “but why did you kill them THAT WAY?” he seethed, grabbing Gaara’s collar and dragging him till they were staring eye to eye.

Shit! I had never seen ANYONE actually manhandle Gaara that way before and get away with it. I felt like running, or crawling into a hole somewhere till this passed over. Heart pounding, I grabbed my fan, leaning on it while gripping it for all I was worth to keep myself from shaking.

“Naruto...” Sakura began, stepping towards him, obviously trying to calm him down. Gaara spoke up first, his voice filled with an emotion I had never heard him have: sorrow.

“I’m trying,” he whispered, shocking everyone, “ever since that day, I’ve been trying,” he continued, closing his eyes and leaning forward, resting his forehead against Naruto’s forehead protector like they were brothers.

I felt like an electric volt had struck my soul. This didn’t seem like Gaara at ALL! Eyes widening, I looked over towards Kankuro, who met my look with a blank look of his own. What in the hell was going ON here?! What did Gaara mean when he said he was trying?

For some reason, this answer seemed to satisfy Naruto, who sighed, letting go of Gaara and stepped back, calm once more.

“Don’t use that technique again if you can help it, Gaara. Just don’t,” Naruto commented, as though he were simply offering friendly advice. Maybe he was.

Gaara looked away, losing himself in thought. That was his way of agreeing with someone; not arguing. Taking a deep breath, Naruto casually looked my way before tensing. Before I realized what was happening he suddenly leaped towards me with a shout.

What the HELL? Caught off guard, I didn’t even have enough time to block him before he roughly shoved me to the ground, the world blurring around me as I skid backwards from the force of the hit.

“What the fuck is the matter with you?! I thought we were on the same damn team!” I shouted up at him from were I sat, my vision slowly clearing as I looked up at him for an answer. It had better be a pretty good one too!

My shout echoed in the clearing, as everyone looked at Naruto in disbelief. A kunai lay embedded in Naruto’s stomach, where he clutched it, a red stain slowly appearing around it as his orange jacket absorbed the blood. Naruto was staring down at the wound in shock, his eyes wide as he slowly slumped to his knees.

“NARUTO!!” Sakura screamed, running over to help.

I felt horror grow in my heart as I realized our mistake. We had forgotten about the fourth ninja! Scrambling up I caught Naruto as he started to fall over, easing him onto his back. Giving short gasps of pain Naruto looked up at me, suddenly not in shock any more.

“You took a shot for me,” I mumbled in awe, absently realizing that I was in more shock than Naruto was.

Naruto huffed a laugh up at me through his pain, “Well, we ARE on the †˜same damn team,’ after all,” he joked, winking at me before suddenly tensing up and grunting as another wave of pain spread through him.

“Gaara! Kankuro! Sakura! Take care of that ninja! Temari, help me take care of Naruto!” Hinata’s voice rang out, a tone of command in it I had never heard before.

We all stared at her in amazement for a moment, before Gaara nodded and tapped Kankuro on the shoulder as they hustled after the ninja that was even then probably running for dear life. Sakura hesitated though.

“I can’t leave Naruto,” she protested, her voice agonized as she crouched over her friend.

Running a hesitant hand over one of his cheeks, her face took on a tender look that was almost painful to look at. Naruto’s eyes opened to look at her when she touched him.

“Don’t worry... Agh... Sakura-chan. I’ll be alright, follow Hinata’s orders,” he panted, smiling at her. While he spoke Hinata arrived and without a word, started to slowly unzipping his jacket to get a better look at his wound.

“But...” Sakura started to argue, tears starting to form.

“Don’t worry and just go,” Naruto said as he stared intently into Sakura’s eyes, suddenly calm as though he felt no pain at all. “Besides,” he continued, the pain returning to his voice, “now... that I have a hole in my... stomach, I have an excuse... Agh... for eating so much,” he joked again, giving her a huge grin.

“This is no time to joke you idiot!” she half sobbed half laughed, as she stood over him, still hesitating on leaving him. The tears where in full fee fall now, streaming down her face.

“You should go, we’ll take care of him. Don’t worry,” I told her, hoping she would just LEAVE.

Staring at me as though she had never seen me before, she nodded slowly. With one last look at Naruto she took off, hurrying to catch up with my brothers.

Meanwhile Hinata had opened her first aid kit. I gave a small gasp at how many tools of the medical trade she kept in that small packet. Sometime during the exchange, Naruto had passed out, his body going limp as consciousness left him. Taking off his forehead protector, I smoothed back his hair. Looking over at Hinata’s worried expression.

“Will he be ok?” I asked, keeping my voice carefully neutral.

Hinata’s hands shook slightly as she regarded the wound. “We’ll see,” she replied grimly, before getting to work.

Well there goes chapter 3. What did you think? Kind of a nasty cliffy eh? I hope you liked it! Please let me know!!

Very nice but i have to say that Gaara's reaction is a little unnatural...even in the second chapter i noticed the 3 sand siblings reaction to Naruto is a bit unnatural especially the "fear of Naruto" part maybe you should tell that to Emmilio. Even if this is a fan fiction the reaction should be natural or within logic for that character....

Um, just so you know, as far as this story is concerned Naruto still hasn’t realized that he heals faster than everyone else. He thinks EVERYONE heals that fast. In other words... to him it’s natural.
Thank you for the incredible reviews! You are all fan-friggin-tastic! I love hearing your opinions! I am surprised at all of the Temari/Naruto supporters out there (not that I blame you... the reason I included Temari in this fiction is because I do like her)! I didn’t realize such a thing was so popular. Or do you like the idea just because it is so rare?

I won’t say which pairing I like most... other than to say I like Naruto/Hinata, Naruto/Sakura, AND Temari/Naruto pairings. (I actually like Ino/Naruto pairings too... but decided 4 was just WAY too much. Even three is pushing it. )

And now, on with the show!

Chapter 4:

The night forest was still and calm. A few nocturnal animals prowled while the rest slept, resulting in isolated lonely calls at random times. A solitary figure dashed silently above and then below branches, flashing by faster than a normal human could run on the ground, let alone above ground using tree branches.

His passage disturbed nothing but stray leafs. Behind him gaining steadily, two more figures flashed by chasing the first. Behind them all another shape named Haruno Sakura sped, moving the fastest of all.

Sakura’s perspective

My heart hammered in my chest as I pushed myself to catch up to the two Sand ninja ahead of me, forcing more chakra into my legs for speed. The wind from my passage seemed to freeze the tears on my cheeks before drying them.

Typical Naruto; why did he have to throw himself into harms way like that?! Leaving him behind had to have been one of the hardest things I had ever done. He was always there for me when I needed him; it felt wrong to leave when he might need me.

Unbidden, my earlier conversation with Sasuke-kun before we left on our separate missions came to mind. I’d waited for him while he spoke privately with the Hokage-sama and Kakashi-sensei, eager to try yet again for him to really notice me. I’ll never forget how he’d looked at me when I told him to be careful on his mission. His look was... tolerant: distantly tolerant, as though he was putting up with a door-to-door salesman, too polite to tell the salesman to get lost.

Telling me to be careful as well, in that indifferent way he had, he’d followed Kakashi-sensei down the hall without looking back, uncaring. Staring after him, it’d crashed home all at once that I would never be with Sasuke-kun. As much as I liked him, he just didn’t return the feeling, and probably never would. Heart breaking, I had fought tears all the way home to pack; I’d fought more tears while waiting for everyone to arrive; and I’d fought still more as we went on our mission.

I had never known I could be hurt so badly without having a visible wound to show for it. Oddly, it was Naruto I’d looked too for support. I kept expecting him to notice and comfort me; to smile that wide smile of his and tell me it was all going to be ok. What was even stranger was the sense of betrayal I’d felt when he didn’t notice. I argued with myself, knowing there was no way he COULD know or comfort me if I didn’t tell him, yet still the feeling returned. It was stupid, and selfish, and it made no sense whatsoever.

Now Naruto was hurt badly, and here I was running AWAY from him instead of comforting him. It felt like I’d lost the two most important people in my life in a single day. A lump formed in my throat, as I forced down the urge to scream in frustration. Gritting my teeth instead, I forced even more chakra into my legs, eager to take out my frustration on the Mist ninja, before Gaara could get his murderous hands on him.

Ahead I caught sight of the two Sand brothers, who sensing me looked back in some surprise. I smirked at that. So they didn’t think the girl could outpace them huh? I didn’t have a special jutsu; I had no special talents at all really. But I had a lot of control; it was the only thing Kakashi- sensei had ever praised me for, so I had a lot of pride in it. It was amazing what you could accomplish with fine control.

Deciding to show them how to REALLY move, I paced them for a bit until the two of them focused ahead of us again. Then I turned on the speed again, zipping past them and taking the lead.

“Damn,” I heard Kankuro say to his brother from behind me.

HAH! Feeling better about myself, I left them behind, eager to catch the asshole that’d harmed Naruto. Branches, trees and bush whipped past me, as my eyes started to tear up again, only this time it was because of the wind of my passage. Ahead I spotted movement; I was catching him. At the sight, an anger I’d never felt before took root inside of me, starting in my belly and spreading through me until I was consumed by it.

Suddenly all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart in my ears, and my breath as I grunted each time I leapt to a new branch. Without realizing it, I had drawn a kunai from the holster on my leg, letting it fly in a smooth movement. A cry sounded from ahead, signifying a hit. A part of my mind marveled at myself, amazed I was capable of doing something so dexterous; I’d actually hit a moving target by moonlight in a dense forest.

Abruptly I burst out into a clearing, and the Mist ninja was waiting for me, his arm dangling at his side with my kunai stuck deep in his shoulder. His other hand held a long dagger, as he crouched into a fighting stance. I had lucked out; the fact that his arm was useless probably meant he couldn’t form any seals for a jutsu.

I only noticed that in passing; my world had focused into a point, with my enemy in the center. I flipped out of the tree towards him at full speed, landing in a crouch before springing towards him with a kunai appearing in each of my hands. The corner of my mind that was still rational noted that I might have screamed out something, but I couldn’t be sure what. All that mattered was putting this shit-face into the ground.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he swept his dagger at me in a somewhat desperate gesture to buy himself some space. It seemed like I had all the time in the world as I ducked under his outstretched arm, twining my arm with his and bracing it, squeezing as I bent the arm at the elbow, the wrong way.

Hearing as much as feeling a deep snap in his arm, I shifted my grip even as he started too scream. Twirling around him like a dancer, I rammed the kunai in my free hand into his lung from behind. He staggered forward a little stunned as I, not finished, dropped down and kicked his legs out from under him, causing him to land full on his back, on top of the weapon I had just stuck into him.

Gasping in agony while blood flew from his mouth, the Mist ninja writhed on the ground, his two arms flopping useless beside him. Quickly straddling him, I held my remaining kunai to his throat, quivering and gasping for breath as I prepared to end his life. I looked into his eyes seeing the terror in them as he watched me draw my arm back for the killing stroke. I paused, my anger starting to drain from me as I realized with a shock what I was about to do. I had never killed before. This ninja was young, I saw; probably only a few years older than I was.

Trembling I swallowed, desperately trying to reclaim the anger I had felt only moments ago, so I could finish him off. He had hurt Naruto! He might have killed him for all I knew! Still I hesitated as I felt tears start to form in my eyes. Suddenly there wasn’t an enemy ninja below me, but a scared boy around my age.

“Just do it!” my mind screamed at me, trying to will myself to move. With a cry I stabbed down, barely missing the ninja’s head, embedding the kunai in soft soil. Panting I stared down at him, wondering what I was going to do. He stared back up at me, eyes wide while sweat glistened on his face.

Abruptly someone shoved me, causing me to fall aside. Looking up into Kankuro’s angry eyes, I watched as he bent down to grab the Mist ninjas dagger from his useless hand. Holding it in his fist he reached over, quickly slitting the startled Mist ninja’s throat, causing blood to spray. Heels drumming, the Mist ninja gasped feebly, his struggles fading until he lay still.

My stomach turning, I crawled away in horror a little before emptying what I ate for breakfast onto the ground. Breathing hard, I settled back on my knees, taking deep breaths. I had witnessed death many times before... but never so cold, so close to me. I had never been so close to being the one who did the deed.

“What kind of fucking ninja do they raise in the Leaf anyway? Next time, finish what you start!” Kankuro growled behind me in disgust.

Turning a little I glared at him over my shoulder. Gaara was kneeling over the Mist ninja’s body, searching pockets. Finding nothing of value, Gaara shook his head, short red hair swaying slightly as he rose. Turning, he started towards where we’d left the rest of our group. And Naruto.

The thought of Naruto brought me to my feet again with renewed energy, as I wiped my mouth free of any remaining puke, with the back of my hand. Praying he was going to be ok, I started to follow Gaara, but stopped as I felt Kankuro grab my arm. Remnants of my earlier rage almost surfaced at being kept from Naruto still longer, before I fought it down again. Taking another deep breath, I glared at the strangely dressed ninja who was scowling at me. I remembered a time when he’d frightened me. But at the moment, all I could see was just a heartless ninja who was standing in my way.

“Did you hear me?! I’m not going to clean up your damn messes again! Next time... FINISH it!” he hissed at me, anger contorting his features while his hand on my arm tightened painfully.

Scowling at him, I wrenched my arm away from him before turning away and following Gaara back. As I walked I started to tremble as all that’d just happened came hammering back home to me. Was I crazy?! I must be to stand up to Kankuro like that! He obviously had no problems killing like I did.

I couldn’t help but wonder if when the time came, could I really kill someone? It was expected of me... but could I really do it? Shaking the thought aside I hurried back to camp, praying I would have a chance to talk about that with Naruto. Somehow, I knew he would understand.

While Sakura and the two Sand brothers where still chasing the Mist ninja, Hinata and Temari rushed to do all they could to help Naruto.

Hinata’s perspective

I’ve known terror before. When I realized I would have to face my cousin Neji in battle, and then found that there was no way I could win; and the first time I’d watched as Gaara killed a team of people in the Forest of Death. But somehow, this was worse than anything before it.

Had Temari not been there next to me, I would’ve broken down and cried on the spot as I watched Naruto-kun’s lifeblood glittering in the moonlight. With effort, I kept the wail of grief that threatened to break out contained, as I hurriedly opened my first aid kit.

I wasn’t a doctor; I was just a little good at making medicine and stitching wounds. But I was all he had, and I wasn’t sure what I would do with myself if he died on me. I wished someone else could do this other than me; Naruto-kun deserved anyone but the Hyuga family fuck-up. My hands started shaking as I watched Temari take off his bloodied coat, quickly cutting the bottom half of his shirt so it wouldn’t snag on the kunai still inside of him.

With Temari’s help, we wrestled Naruto-kun’s black shirt off of him so I could get a better look at his wound. Naruto-kun lay bathed in sweat, and he groaned unconsciously every time we moved him. Despite the situation, I felt my breath hitch in my throat and my cheeks heating a little when we finally got his shirt off; Naruto-kun was in very good shape. I had dreamed of seeing him like this a few times, but the reality was much better. Or would have been if he wasn’t so hurt. A strange amulet made from some sort of crystal lay around his neck, gleaming in the faint light.

Temari had removed his headband, and smoothed back his hair saying words of encouragement even though he couldn’t hear them. I snapped out of my little trance and focused again on his injury. What was WRONG with me?! Ogling him while he was hurt! The kunai was fairly deep into his stomach area, and blood had pooled around it.

“When w...we pull it out, he’s going to start bleeding a lot more,” I informed Temari, trying and failing to keep my voice steady.

Frowning, Temari studied Naruto-kun and his wound before she finally turned to me. “I think it’s fatal,” she pronounced, coming to her own conclusion.

“We don’t know that,” I argued weakly.

This was Naruto-kun! He’d never given up on anything, and now it was my turn not to give up on him. I looked at the wound again, watching as blood oozed out around the weapon, and I flinched internally.

Shaking her head, Temari looked back down at Naruto-kun, her brow furrowing in thought.

“A gut wound is the most painful way a person can die, Hinata,” said Temari in a distant voice. “With this kind of wound, it’ll take him hours or even a day to die, and he’ll scream the entire way. I would know; I’ve watched it happen,” she finished, her eyes taking on a far away look.

“W...what are you trying to say?” I whispered, not liking where she was going with this.

“I’m saying...” she swallowed, and for a second almost to fast to see, she nearly looked like she wanted to cry until she gained control again, her face hardening. “I’m saying we should put him out of his misery. No one deserves to die like that,” she told me firmly, her eyes steady on mine.

I felt as though an icy hand had grabbed onto my heart and squeezed, as a cold shock rushed through my system at the thought. My worst nightmare had arrived before I’d even left the Leaf country. Feeling tears I hadn’t known I’d shed sliding down my cheeks, I stared at Naruto-kun numbly. I hadn’t even told him that I loved him.

Abruptly a memory of Naruto-kun fighting at the Chuunin exam flashed through my minds-eye. Of the times he’d gotten back up when everyone else had been sure that he wouldn’t. Looking down at him, his face seeming even paler in the silver light, I decided to believe in him one more time, just as I had back then. I shook my head at her, making up my mind.

“That’s HIS choice to make. WE need to take out that weapon and bandage him up,” I told her with all the strength I had left in my voice... which wasn’t much.

Taking a breath, she nodded at me in resignation, obviously thinking this was a waste of time. Scooting over she placed her palms on his shoulders, holding him down before turning to me with a nod. I was a little surprised she’d listened to me; in fact, every time I opened my mouth I kept expecting someone to laugh me down.

Nodding to her, I couldn’t keep a relieved smile from my face as I grabbed the kunai and tugged it out. Naruto-kun convulsed beneath me, and Temari pressed down with more of her body weight as he cried out, his eyes shooting open at the pain. Tossing the weapon aside I quickly grabbed an absorbent pad I kept in the first aid kit for something like this, pressing down to try and slow the bleeding.

Naruto-kun, awake now, groaned at the pressure but kept from crying out. Probably guessing he wasn’t going to thrash around as much, Temari eased off of his shoulders, peering intently at his face. After the pad turned almost completely red, I lifted it up slightly to exchange it for a fresh one, but paused for a second in shock as I realized his bleeding had slowed considerably.

I gasped as I saw that a strange swirling pattern, almost like a tattoo, had appeared on his stomach underneath the smeared blood. I stared transfixed, as the open wound which cut through the tattoo slightly, seemed to pulse a dull red in time to some unknowable beat. Very little blood leaked out now, and I hesitated, unsure what this meant.

“What in the hell is that?” Temari muttered in awe, as she peered down at it.

I shrugged, at a complete loss. “It almost looks like a seal of some kind,” I murmured half to myself, studying it.

Naruto-kun grunted in pain again, snapping me out of my daze. That was TWICE I’d lost concentration when it mattered! The bleeding may have slowed, but the real danger had never been bleeding to death; vital organs had been punctured, which would kill him long before loss of blood would.

Gesturing for Temari to lift him up a bit, I hurriedly placed a fresh pad on him, before winding a bandage around him as best I could. After I finished, Temari gently settled Naruto-kun down completely onto his back once more, peering at the spot where the strange pattern on his stomach was, which was now covered from sight by the bandages.

“I’ve never seen a seal like that,” Temari said at last, her brow knit in confusion.

“Don’t... don’t tell anyone you saw it,” Naruto-kun said unexpectedly, startling us. With his eyes still closed, sweat rolled off of him as he panted in pain.

“W...what is it, Naruto-kun?” I asked hesitantly. Slowly he cracked an eyelid open slightly, his piercing blue eyes looking directly into mine. My heart skipped a beat despite myself, unused to his attention. Slowly he smiled at me, which was an amazing feat given how much pain he must have been in.

“It’s... ugh... a secret,” he told me mischievously, his tone playful even as he convulsed for a moment in pain.

Temari snorted from beside him, giving him a scathing look. “Dead men shouldn’t keep secrets, Naruto,” she told him callously, crossing her arms.

“Temari!” I cried, aghast. Quickly I checked Naruto-kun’s face, to see how he was taking it. Apparently, he hadn’t taken the hint; Naruto-kun was staring at Temari in confusion.

“... The hell was that supposed to mean?” he wondered after a moment, his voice seeming to hold less pain in it than a moment before. Finding no answer from Temari, who was pointedly not looking at him, he darted a look at me for an explanation.

Unable to meet his gaze for long, I looked down, biting my lip to keep from crying out. I felt tears start to form again but stopped myself from crying, and hunched in on myself, wishing for perhaps the first time in my life that Naruto-kun would look away from me. How could I lie to him... to Naruto-kun of all people?! Besides, I was about as good at lying as I was at just about everything else I did -- I was terrible. But how could I tell him the truth? How could I tell the only person I really cared about that he was probably going to die?!

Someone had to do it. Then I reminded myself that I was supposed to believe he would pull through, just like always. So steeling myself, I looked at him again, his concerned face a blur through the water that gathered in my eyes despite my best efforts.

There was only one thing to do: give it to him straight.

Naruto’s perspective

I tried to stare Hinata in the eye to get the truth from her, but I was interrupted by my own body as a fresh wave of pure agony shot through my belly and seemed to echo inside of me. Losing my breath, I saw spots, and I shook my head to clear it, blinking rapidly. The spots faded after a moment, and when my vision cleared Hinata was bent over me, her face close to mine as she peered down at me in concern.

“I’m so sorry, Naruto-kun,” she whispered to me, her eyes liquid.

I’d never seen her quite so close before, and for a moment her gaze seemed to trap mine as I stared up at her. Her eyes were fascinating; I had always thought they were white, but up close I realized they had a pale gray tone to them. After a moment I realized she had been crying at some point; her eyes looked a little puffy and faint tracks where tears had dried where upon her cheeks. It took another shot of pain to break me from my study, and I clenched my teeth to keep from crying out.

“What are you sorry for?” I wondered after a gained my breath back, honestly confused.

Hinata could be so strange sometimes. Although now that I’d seen her so close, I found that she was a lot cuter than I had realized. It seemed the closer you got to her, the better she looked.

I still didn’t get what they were talking about. Dead? Me? Temari had said I was a dead man, and Hinata looked like she wanted to cry all over again. But I knew my own body, and I could feel myself healing. In a few hours, I would probably be able to sit up on my own, and by morning I might even be able to walk. I probably wouldn’t be able to fight for a little while, but I wasn’t worried. So why were they speaking as though I was already a corpse? Had the weapon been poisoned?

For a moment Hinata didn’t reply, just biting a full lower lip as I watched tears start to gather in her eyes.

“Your injury is serious, Naruto-kun. You might not last the night,” she told me bluntly, looking away as the tears that had built up finally slid down her face.

I was stunned. Not from her announcement, but rather the fact that she was crying for my sake. I could count on one hand the number of times someone has cried for me. Not knowing what to do, I reached over and caught one of her hands, which was coated with my blood, squeezing gently in support.

As my hand closed around hers, Hinata jerked a bit, a small gasp hissing through her teeth. But even so her hand stayed in mine, and her fingers even tightened a bit on mine as she got over her shock. I smiled inside, glad she was willing to overlook her dislike of my touch, at least while I was on my †˜death bed’. It saddened me that I scared her so much that she flinched every time I touched her.

She was worried for nothing; they both were I realized, as I glanced over at Temari who looked to be battling emotions of her own. Seeing me looking, her face smoothed quickly before I could guess exactly what emotion she had allowed to show.

As yet another spasm of pain grew in me, I tried my best to keep from reacting to it, for their sakes, and even managed a grin. That was pretty hard, considering that all I wanted to do at the moment was scream bloody murder. Looking between them, I laughed a bit, causing fresh new pain in my stomach.

“What’s so funny about you dieing?” Temari demanded a little waspishly, her arms still folded across her chest.

“I’m not dieing. Just give me †˜til tomorrow and I’ll be good enough to walk,” I told them in my most soothing tone. “I promise!” I exclaimed as they both stared at me as though I’d grown antlers.

“Sure Naruto-kun,” Hinata said reassuringly patting my hand with her free one, obviously thinking I was delusional.

I gritted my teeth, knowing I would just have to show them by living through their death sentence. I didn’t really care if they believed me, as long as their moods brightened, which had a little bit, I noticed. Now instead of just being worried about a teammates death, they could worry about something else; whether I was crazy or not.

“Just promise me you won’t tell anyone about my mark. Please? If I’m dying I get a last request, don’t I?” I bargained, giving them my best puppy-dog look.

Temari shook her head at me, but finally sighed in defeat. “Whatever,” she said standing up and heading towards the edge of the clearing, where we had collectively heard the others return from hunting the Mist ninja; they must have been making noise on purpose. That was fast, I marveled. Sakura-chan appeared out of the bushes, heading straight for me, her face set. Quickly I turned to Hinata, staring at her seriously.

“Ok Hinata?” I asked as much as said, hoping she would do me this one favor.

Slowly she nodded, her eyes intent on me. “Ok,” she agreed softly.

Sighing in relief I gave her a grateful smile as I released her hand, figuring she didn’t need comforting any longer. As I let go of her, I could have sworn I heard a disappointed sigh from Hinata. For a moment I wondered if Hinata had still wanted to hold my hand for comfort, but I quickly tossed that thought aside; the way she’d reacted earlier made that impossible. Her sigh had probably been one of relief that I’d finally let go. Sakura-chan arrived on the opposite side of Hinata, snapping me out of my thoughts as she grabbed my hand on that side in one of hers, as her other hand felt my forehead.

“How are you feeling?” Sakura-chan asked, her worry plain on her face.

I gave her a cheeky grin, knowing that always pissed her off. “Like I’ve been stabbed by a kunai,” I deadpanned, giving her a playful wink.

I was tired of all of this worry. I wanted another emotion other than pity directed at me, and Sakura-chan almost always delivered it, in the form of anger. Unfortunately, this was one of the rare times she wouldn’t rise to the bait. She surprised me with a soft sigh, as she ran a hand through my hair, sending tingles through me. Gripping the side of my face in her hand, she turned me towards her more fully, staring into my eyes.

“Don’t do something that stupid again,” she told me fiercely, as the hand that gripped mine tightened almost painfully.

It was rare that I saw her this serious, and all I could do was nod slowly, if only to assure her. I knew if someone got into danger again, I would do it again if I had to, and I was pretty sure she knew it too, going by the uncertain frown that had appeared on her face as I nodded.

I looked over as I sensed Hinata stir; she hadn’t left when Sakura-chan had come, and she began shifting as she looked everywhere but at the two of us. I opened my mouth to ask her what was wrong, but stopped when I saw Gaara approach. Standing behind Hinata, he looked down at me, a slight frown on his face.

“How bad is it?” he wondered, his voice as cold as always. I was willing to bet his voice would sound that hard on his wedding day... assuming he ever found someone stupid enough to marry him.

“I’ll live. I should be ok by tomorrow. Next day at the latest,” I assured him quickly, before Hinata could tell him what she thought.

“That’s not what Temari told me. She thinks your gonna die,” Kankuro said as he walked up behind Sakura-chan to stare at me with harsh black eyes. Temari herself seemed to have disappeared, I realized quickly looking round. Oh well, she was probably just off making sure there were no more hidden spies in the area.

Kankuro and I had never gotten along, and I doubt we ever would. There was just something about him that pissed me off. And it was different from the way Sasuke pissed me off. Sasuke was a good guy deep down, who acted like an asshole most the time; Kankuro was an asshole to the bone. I snorted at him, realizing after a moment that the intense pain had faded, just a little bit. As I’d thought, soon I would be as good as new.

“Well Temari doesn’t know me like I do. Trust me; be ready to march sometime tomorrow,” I declared firmly, glaring up at him. It was too bad that I grunted in pain and nearly blacked out after I said that; now they wouldn’t believe me.

Giving me a snort of his own, Kankuro turned away to do whatever it was that he did when he wasn’t picking on people.

“What do you think, Hinata?” Sakura-chan said, as though I wasn’t even there. I frowned in annoyance; the one thing I hated was being ignored. Hinata shifted nervously, fidgeting as we all looked at her. A long silence stretched while her cheeks grew redder and redder.

“W... well,” she began at last, uncertainly looking around until she looked at me again, “if Naruto-kun thinks he’s ok, then he’ll probably be ok,” she said softly, looking away and blushing even more, if that were possible.

My gratitude that she was backing me up was tempered by my confusion. Why was she so damn embarrassed? She just said her opinion after all. It didn’t change the fact that she WAS supporting me, no matter how weirdly she was doing it. Giving her a wide smile, I turned to look at the others triumphantly.

My smile was wiped right off my face as another surge of that now familiar pain flared up, leaving me gasping for breath. Only this time, it was worse than before. I broke out sweating as I fought to stay conscious as the agony not only failed to fade, but also increased.

Distantly, I thought I heard Sakura-chan’s voice calling my name frantically, but it faded away as my world turned black. My last thought was frustration that I’d fainted right when I most needed to stay awake: just my luck.

Chapter 4 done at last! What did y’all think? I hope you liked it as much as I liked writing it. Until next time!

Kankuro seem to be too mean?* he isn't always like that in the manga..(or is it just for this story?)and everybody elses' attitude seem to be understandable/revelant.?*

zomg. idk wat im spasming about anymore. sry..
well! anyway, GREAT CHAPTER! this chapter was the bomb-shizzle 8)

I'm digging this story, and you ust reminded me to get on the next chapter of my own story. +rep Uzumaki.