Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Between A Rock And A Hard Place ❯ Over My Head ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Kankuro watched bemused by Gaara's sudden inability to stay on task. He had left Gaara's room earlier today to inspect Gaara as he begun work, but since then the teen hadn't been able to complete much of anything. Kankuro had paid close attention to his brother for what was slowly turning into two hours now and only a small portion of his heavy work load was actually done. Of course Kankuro was sure this was hard to finish when Gaara's pen remained still for at least five minutes at a time before he realized it and continued working again. But it was too late to consume himself in work any longer, because something or rather someone else had captivated all his thoughts.

"Gaara...how about you take a break now?" Kankuro offered warmly as he pushed off against the wall and headed closer to his brother's desk. "I know it's unusual, but your head is in the clouds today and I'd rather not have you screw up any paperwork because of it. We mustn't give the villagers any more reason to despise you." Kankuro explained, though cruel it sounded, true it was. People could be so heartless during troubling times like this. They seemed to forget their human qualities. Like animals, when faced with something new or strange to them, they either flee or attack it head on. It was just unfortunate Gaara was caught in the cross fire.

It didn't take much more convincing to get Gaara out of his seat. "I going to town." Gaara replied shortly.

"Ah, to go see that blond crush of yours?" Kankuro asked with a snicker. Oh how he wanted to laugh more when Gaara flinched and turned to glare at him. "Don't try to play it off for one minute. It is obvious you were thinking about him this whole time. But would care to explain to me, why him? You are powerful and good looking enough to have any person you want, man or woman, yet you go for the bottom of gene pool." Kankuro teased. But he soon enough found it hard to laugh when Gaara's hand was clasp tightly around his neck and he was reduced to gasping for breath.

"Don't talk about Naruto like that. If you haven't notice, him and I are a lot alike. To call him so inferior would also be insulting me for being the same as well as taking a liking to him." The raspy voice was hard and stern. Kankuro scratched at his brother's hand a little until Gaara finally released him; Kankuro dropped to the floor quickly. "I won't let people like you demean him because of what you think is a lack of intellect. If you were as keen as me, you would have long ago noticed the it was not a lack of intellect that governs over all that he does, but more of a lack of selfishness."

As much Gaara felt like straggling his brother, his frown slipped away into a slightly intimidated look when Kankuro started to laugh at him uncontrollably. "Man this kid really has you wrapped around his finger. I swear, you've never stood up for anyone like that before. You may think it is just a friendship, but I guarantee you there is something much more you are wanting." Kankuro chuckled, getting up on his knees. "I just dare you to find out on your own. Go on and kiss him, that is sure enough to answer all of your questions. Even you are smart enough to notice when there is a flame." Kankuro persuaded. He watched Gaara leave in a heated embarrassment. "Good luck little brother."

"Kankuro is out of his mind." Gaara grumbled furiously as he stamped outside. " Naruto would kill me if I ever tried something like that. Plus, we would I want to find out any more about this. Naruto is my friend. I might just lose him if I push the matter any further." Gaara tried to argue with himself. What was he to do? He knew for a fact that this feeling had to have more to it than friendship. But he was terrified to acknowledge what it really was. Such a feeling could lead to all sorts of trouble: heartbreak, jealousy, and even death. Though he was not afraid of dying, he would hate to see Naruto put down his life for such a meaningless emotion.

"Panda-san?" Gaara snapped out of his thoughts and stared in front of him. He hadn't realized he was still walking this whole time. And somehow he had managed to end up here in town and in front of the two kids from last night no less. "Are you looking for Naruto?" The girl asked curiously. Gaara didn't answer, simply because he didn't know the answer. Sure it would be nice to see Naruto, but if he saw him again he was sure Kankuro's little idea would be constantly plaguing him. "It's a good thing you showed up. I was worried we might have to find you."

This struck Gaara's attention immediately. "Why? Is Naruto hurt?" He asked more apprehensively than he thought. Why was his heart suddenly pounding at the thought of Naruto injured again?

"Haruka..." Kaito hesitantly whispered. He didn't think it was such a good idea to tell him since it looked to already be worrying the older boy.

But his sister ignored him. "I don't think so. We saw Naruto earlier today and some creepy guy was with him. He was making Naruto all red in the face and was holding his hand. He got mad when I warned him about you." She continued earnestly. "Then when Naruto tried to run off, he went after him. They went into that house, but when they came out Naruto was crying." Gaara's eyes narrowed at these simple words, his mind ticking with random scenarios. "But that guy made Naruto come with him, they were headed over to the stream." She pointed south of the village with a worried look.

"Naruto..." Gaara dropped his head; his fist clenching a bit. Surely no pervert would intend to seduce Naruto because he was new in town. But weirder things had happened, not that it was all that weird, just unexpected. There was a greater chance of the guy being a villager or enemy ninja that didn't like him and so tried to kidnap someone of great value to him. Of course that would have to mean Naruto was of great value to him, but was he really? "Thanks." Gaara chirped quickly before running off in that direction. "You better be safe Naruto."

"Come on Kaito." Haruka said, tugging at her brother's hand. "I want to see what Panda-san does to that scary guy. I know a short cut. " She explained, pulling her brother along with her though he had much preferred to stay home and watch over their mother.

"Come on Naruto, cheer up." Sasuke tried to console the saddened blond for a long while now. But whatever he said or did, didn't seem to do much to help. Naruto was still sniffling, even after they had been looking for a place to eat.

"I can't help it Sasuke!" Naruto whined out. "They don't have a single ramen shop in Suna at all!" He burst out yelling, tears tugging at the edge of his eyes. Sasuke could have fallen flat on his face at hearing this, but instead he roughly slapped Naruto up side the head.

"You idiot! This whole time I thought you were still sad about that lady. Gosh dammit! Get over it! We'll get all the ramen you can possibly eat when we get back to Konoha. But let's think about what we can eat now, okay?" Sasuke requested. Not seeming to understand why Sasuke was so frustrated with finding this out, Naruto nodded dumbfounded. "You are such a child Naruto." Sasuke grumbled. He grabbed Naruto's hand and lead him further away from the busier parts of town. "You act like you don't know anything. One moment you are sad over a strangers death the next you are complaining about ramen. Is this just one of your little tricks to throw us all off of your real personality? Do you not want us to know about your boyfriend?"

"Huh?" Naruto slowed down a bit when he heard this. "What are you talking about Sasuke? I don't have a boyfriend. And when would I have time for one if I'm always doing mission or training in Konoha. Surely you don't believe Haruka. She's just a little girl, what does she know about that type of stuff." Naruto eagerly cleared up. Personally, he didn't see why this had Sasuke so frazzled and upset. Did it really bother him that much if he did have a boyfriend? Naruto didn't think for one moment that Sasuke would care about his personal life like that.

Sasuke growled lowly at Naruto's objection. He found it hard to believe either cases. After all he had spoke to the girl a while longer after Naruto went after that man...

' "I'm sorry, but you are terribly mistaken. Naruto doesn't have a boyfriend or even a girlfriend." Sasuke explained quickly. He couldn't believe he was worried for even a moment. After all this was only a child and anything they thought had a different meaning than the actual case. Plus, why should he really concern himself about Naruto like that. It wasn't like this effected him in anyway.

"You're wrong!" Haruka yelled back. "You didn't see what I saw! Panda-san really likes Naruto-chan. He looked at him with dreamy eyes." She cooed sweetly. "He saved Naruto's life and he even kissed him!" At this Sasuke doubled back. That was impossible! Naruto wouldn't let some guy kiss him, even if he did rescue him. And if he did, why the hell didn't he get any kisses after all the times that he saved Naruto! Wait! What the hell is he thinking?! He doesn't want to kiss Naruto, that's disgusting!'

Was Naruto really hiding this stuff from him? Weren't they best friends, though more of rivals? Naruto wouldn't dare keep secrets like that from him. "She wouldn't just say that for nothing Naruto. Did some guy come onto you?" Sasuke asked angrily. "You know like kiss or touch you?" Sasuke didn't seem to think his question was as a bizarre as Naruto made it out to be the very moment his jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

"What?! Now way in hell! Why would I let some creep touch me?! That's dumb Sasuke!" Naruto chorused dramatically. "Can we stop talking about this please?" Naruto suddenly begged. "I swear I would have told you if I knew I had a boyfriend. But I don't, so their is nothing to discuss." Naruto insisted urgently. He had no idea how much relief he had given Sasuke at that moment. In fact, he had released Sasuke of all worry he had recently.

The refreshing words made Sasuke smile in a way he didn't know he could. "That's good." He looked around, noting a nearby stream just a few yards ahead. "How about you wait over there? I'll go find us something to eat and bring it back." With all this rumor explanations, Sasuke was anxious to not bring it up again. Of course having Naruto around him for hours while they looked for a place to eat was not the best way to go about the plan. He was sure as soon as they had some food in their stomachs they would get over this own situation. But why it had been so important before, Sasuke would never know.

Naruto agreed to Sasuke's terms and curiously watched his teammate scamper off down the street. "He left me alone again." Naruto sighed. He was a little disappointed to find out Sasuke didn't even want him around to look for food. "Even I can't screw that up." But he supposed it was for the better that he stay here and wait until Sasuke got back. With a dreary huff, Naruto lonely made his way toward the small stream of the village.

He would think it was the only place where most of the greenery was since it was the most open source of water. But it wasn't all that populated by people, he had noticed. Sitting down on the outer banks, Naruto tiredly started to poke at the ground. "What's gotten into everyone lately?" He questioned himself. Sasuke had never acted so jumpy before and Gaara never acted so...friendly before. He hoped they weren't coming down with the illness. Though he doubted an illness would affect someone's personality all that drastically.

The wait was unusually boring for Naruto's taste. He was never much of a still and quiet person, so to wait here and try not to draw any attention to himself was one of the hardest things you could ask of him. He rocked childishly to and fro as he sat on the ground, his eyes randomly running over all the puffy clouds in the sky as if he were some patient with a short attention span. That may actually be the case by the looks of it. Thankfully, something or someone one had caught his interest the next moment.

"Naruto?" The blond boy stiffened to hearing his name being called. It came so sudden and he knew the voice wasn't Sasuke, so naturally he thought he was in some sort of trouble. But when he turned around he saw Gaara standing behind him with a troubling look on his face. "Naruto stared absentmindedly as Gaara sighed in relief and kneeled down before him. He most certainly thought this was strange for Gaara, because it seemed like the teen was actually looking for him. "I'm glad I've found you." Gaara remarked, answering Naruto's unasked questions.

"Is something wrong?" Naruto asked obliviously, his head tilting to the side a bit as he looked at Gaara with those naive yet insightful blue eyes of his. This typical Naruto behavior only comforted Gaara more. He was sure that nothing could have happened to Naruto if he was safe now. Then again, Naruto might just be a good pretender when he needed people not to worry about him. And being that this was Naruto, it did sound like something he would do. One could rarely tell if Naruto's smiles were real or fake because they were given so often and carelessly.

"Nothing much. I just heard that you were crying and I thought you could have been hurt again." Gaara informed. He bit his lip in regret as soon as he recognized a flash of pain glaze over Naruto's soft cerulean eyes. So something had happened? Gaara's fear had returned full force and he had begun thinking the worst of the situation. Was it something so ashamed Naruto could not dare to say or even express his actual pain or sadness? The blond would never really know how badly Gaara suddenly wanted to take all his despair away. "What happened Naruto?" Gaara asked. He dearly hoped Naruto would confine in him to be a friend for he could tell him much of anything.

Naruto paused in his speech. He wasn't too sure this was all too good of news for Gaara to hear since it was his villagers that were suffering. "I'm just really scared..." Naruto mumbled lightly to himself. His eyes slowly drifted back to the ground where he proceeded to poking it again with his trembling fingers. "I don't think I will be of much help to your village Gaara. I saw this woman...she was in so much pain, but I couldn't do anything within my power to heal her." Gaara's dismal demeanor returned upon the mention of people from Suna. This was certainly not a topic he wanted to discuss with Naruto. "She died Gaara...and no one was around to help her."

Gaara's eyes hardened and he stood back up. "This is not something you should be concerning yourself with Naruto. I suggest you keep your thoughts on what you came here for." Gaara ordered more than he had suggested.

"What?!" Naruto's eyes widened and his head jerked back toward Gaara. What was he saying? Surely Gaara didn't expect him to just forget about what he saw. "But Gaara, I came here to protect them. It's my responsibility to worry about them. What if Tsunade can't heal them like you want? What would you do then?" Naruto hurriedly asked, rushing onto his knees to slightly level his gaze with Gaara, but it did not soothe the coarse anger in Gaara's eyes from this subject.

"This has nothing to do with you Naruto. Just stay out of it!"

"How can you ask me that?!" Naruto lashed back quickly.

"I'm not asking, I'm telling you to drop it!" Gaara countered harshly.

Naruto glowered at this statement. "Why?! So I can be like the rest of your villagers and ignore the people that are in danger?! I've seen they way they neglected her. Just the mention of another ill person within their town and they all turn their shoulders! It's not right Gaara! People are actually dying and all they can think about is themselves!" Naruto didn't see between the time when Gaara walked toward him and how his palm came furiously across his face like an iron skillet, leaving his cheek red and sore.

"Don't act like you know the situation Naruto, because you don't!" Gaara hissed. His anger for the moment had overcame his desire to protect the blond, only resulting in him hurting Naruto himself. But he couldn't care for right now. This was something entirely too important to forgive. "I am doing everything I possibly can for this damned town! They are already marked by death, I just called Tsunade so it would look like I was doing whatever the hell I could do! I know for a fact there is nothing in her power that can heal these people. I just thought for once why not let hope alleviate some of their pain before they died. So don't act like I'm just another cold hearted villager assuming others for their misfortune because they were too cowardly to admit it was their own damn fault this happened to them! I don't need anymore fucking guilt on my hands!"

Taken aback by the sudden fit of rage he had not seen from Gaara before, Naruto stepped back. His lips tugged into an unsatisfied frown but he couldn't bring himself to chastise Gaara any longer. Naruto forced down his own frustration in the situation, before finally taking a deep breath. His glare connected to the ground as he tried to convince himself it would do no one any good to stay mad at Gaara for this. He was Kazekage after all, he was allowed to do whatever he saw fit for his people. "I'm...sorry." Naruto murmured. "You're right. I know you aren't like them and I wasn't saying you wasn't doing anything." His bottom lips trembled as he lightly bit into it and a small trail of tears timidly rolled down his cheeks. "I just can't stand to see anymore innocent people die..."

The red haired teen softened his gaze and walked over to Naruto. He knew there was more than guilt bothering him now. Sure he had hit Naruto and hurt his feelings, but that seemed to be the least of his distress right now. "Then...it's a go thing you won't ever have to see anything like that as long as I'm here." Gaara said sternly. Naruto gasped softly, hoping to tell whether or not Gaara was telling the truth as he looked into his eyes. "I promise...I won't let anymore people die because of this. I'll find a way to heal them...but you have to promise me that you won't look any further into this. I wouldn't be able to control myself if I found out you caught the plague as well." Naruto nervously nodded in agreement.

"I promise Gaara..." Naruto sniffled, lightly wiping away his tears with the sleeve of his coat. Gaara could all but ignore the sudden intensity of the moment and wasn't able to let it pass by. He had to know for sure. Is what he was feeling was really...love? "Gaara?" Naruto called out quietly in curiosity when the other male had gently placed his hands on his shoulder. Blue orbs stretched wide as jade ones disappeared before him and a pleasant warmth came over his lips. Naruto hadn't provoked himself into pushing Gaara away for the suddenness of the kiss nor had he allowed himself to close his eyes, though strange as it may be for his first real kiss. His cheeks lit up with a small tinge of pink and he finally released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding throughout the tender contact.

Gaara finally pulled back slowly. He was all too sure his own face was a deep red once he noticed Naruto was too much in a dazed state to even scold him on the action. "Forgive me" was Gaara's only words before he disappeared in a puff of sand, leaving a still petrified Naruto alone again.

What had just happened? Naruto timidly touched his lips where Gaara's had been just moments before. His pounding heart was the only sound he could be sure of, yet his timeless fantasy had come to an end the moment the loud thud of fallen belongings ruptured in his ears. Naruto rapidly turned to the sound, his eyes surprisingly fixated on the frozen formed a few feet away. "Sasuke..."

To Be Continued...

A/N: What did you think? There's a lot of questions to be answered here! Like what’s truly behind this plague. Gaara seems to know more than he is leading on. And now Naruto is in deep trouble when he had both Gaara and Sasuke to deal with. Both may be getting mixed signals and things go out of control. So I hope you all keep alert for next chapters!