Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Everyone Else is Doing IT ❯ On the topic of Gaara... ( Chapter 7 )

Everyone Else is Doing IT

(part 7)

SasuNaru

 

Naruto and Sasuke bond unconventionally over XXX Yaoi fanfiction. Neji turns out to have an interesting talent or two. Gaara is Gaara. Psychotic and unpredictable, with a penchant for black.

 

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“It isn't that simple… Naruto.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

A voice breathed in his ear, raising the hair on his neck.

 

“Narutoooo,” it hissed out, the voice deepening, becoming more strange. “Soon you'll be miiiine.” A hand grabbed the back of his neck, and lips were at his throat. Sharp.

 

“No, wait! You don't understand! The noise, Ga-“

 

There was a distorted tone humming, throbbing…

 

“Soon, even that won't matter,” the voice said. “Soon, you'll be all mine.”

 

The tone changed, warped, solidified… It was maddening and implacable. It was-

 

Naruto awoke with a start, realizing groggily that it was his cell phone ringing this whole time. He struggled out of his tangled sheets.

 

“'llo?” his voice was low and faint, scratchy with sleep. He shook his head to clear some of the utterly disturbing dream he'd been having from his head. “Hello?”

 

“Naruto?”

 

“Yeah, `s me.”

 

“Where were you today, man? It was crazy! They did some weird shit, and all the teams are mixed up, and -“

 

“Woah. Slow down, Kiba. What are you talking about??”

 

“The TEAMS, man. They're all jacked up! Well, like I'm with Hinata again, and Sasuke got Sakura again, but I've also got Neji, and you have Shikamaru and - ” Kiba broke off.

 

“And WHO? I mean, not that it matters, right? How cool is it that me and `maru are on the same team? We could totally slack off, but with his brains, we'd come out ahead every time! What could be better than -”

 

“Gaara.”

 

Naruto did something very complex and unexpected which involved the inhaling of his own spit, and choking on it for a full 40 seconds. “Excuse me?!?!”

 

“You heard me,” Kiba said sullenly. “I'm going to get more time with the girl I like, but I'll be too busy worrying about your safety to actually enjoy it.”

 

Gaara. Naruto shuddered. There was something undeniably off about the kid.

 

He recalled the blood-red hair, the crossed arms, the challenging glare that somehow felt so empty. The cold voice -

 

“AAAARRGH!”

 

“What?” Kiba yelled. “What is it???”

 

The dream! That was Gaara in the dream! Saying those things… biting him… He shuddered. Yech.

 

“Nothing,” Naruto said, feeling wholly disturbed. Was the dream some sort of premonition? Or some freak paranoia?

 

“Don't tell ME it was nothing! What the hell made you -”

 

“Look, Kiba, I gotta go. Nature's calling.” And with that, Naruto hung up and bit his nails.

 

 

---

 

 

“Tsunade's busy,” Shizune said firmly, with arms crossed over her chest.

 

“I don't CARE if the hag is busy!” shouted after being rebuffed for the fourth time. “This is IMPORTANT.”

 

“I'm sure it is,” the dark-haired woman said calmly. “However, it will have to wait.”

 

Naruto blew out an exasperated breath. He turned to go, replicated two clones to hold her off, then faked past her. He heard their temporary lives ended almost instantly, but it didn't matter. He'd made it inside.

 

“Hey grandma!” he called out with annoyance.

 

He heard something that sounded like the rhythmic puffing of air. It seemed to be emanating from the other side of the large leather desk chair, which was at the moment swiveled with his back to him. He walked closer. The noises sounded suspiciously like snoring. He crept up behind his adoptive aunt.

 

“HAG!!” he shouted.

 

Tsunade woke with a very undignified snort, casting about blearily. “Naruto?!” she snarled when her eyes fell on the snickering blonde.

 

“Oh GOD, that was priceless!” he gasped out as he doubled over.

 

“I'll show you priceless, you good-for-nothing brat,” she threatened, while straightening her clothes and smoothing her long ponytails. “What are you doing in here? How'd you get Shizune to let you in?”

 

Naruto beamed at her.

 

Tsunade groaned and rubbed her temples. “Thank god I never had kids.”

 

Naruto looked at the young looking woman who showed only half of her true age. He grinned, feeling real affection for her, despite how much he always tried to annoy her. “Aw, you know you love me.”

 

She gave him a bland look. “And to what do I owe this,” she waved her hand vaguely, “unexpected pleasure?”

 

Naruto frowned, the reason for his visit surfacing in his mind. “I need you to switch my team members.”

 

“What? Why?” Tsunade started sifting through some of the overflowing paperwork crowding her desk.

 

“Well, Shikamaru's ok… but….”

 

“But Gaara isn't?” she asked sarcastically.

 

“Well, no.” Naruto crossed his arms across his chest and thrust his lip out. “Couldn't you switch him with Sasuke or something?” He was still on rocky terms with his friend /rival, but if he was honest with himself he was actually disappointed they wouldn't be working together starting Monday. So yeah, he'd been dreading a confrontation, but he'd gotten used to the idea. Now it just felt like resolution would never come about. It's not like he and Sasuke hung out in their free time. Not that he didn't want to, but he was sort of afraid Sasuke would taunt him over it on top of saying no.

 

“Kid,” she said levelly, “Who would you recommend I put Gaara with?” Her tone demanded he think about it seriously. As a Hokage would. She did this sometimes. Urging him to be higher minded, to think of the greater good, as sort of a mental training to help him realize his dream to one day take her position as the overseer of the village. “Keep in mind his personal history, and who is likely to not send him into a fit.”

 

“Anyone but me,” he huffed, determined not to let this pass for `the good of the village'. She'd tricked him with that line before.

 

“Naruto, you are the most likely not to set him off.”

 

“How do you figure THAT, old bag? I wear bright colors, jump around a lot and emit loud noises. How am I NOT going to set him off??”

 

“You did fine with Sasuke. He was horribly touchy, yet he didn't kill you. This isn't so different.”

 

“Yes it is!” Naruto shouted. “Gaara mutters to himself and clutches his head and he's completely psychotic!”

 

“And if he does snap, who do you think is most likely to be able to handle him head on, huh?” her tone had gotten surly.

 

Naruto scrunched his face.

 

“Exactly. YOU. Now stop whining.” Her glare softened a little as she gazed at the dejected form in front of her. “It shouldn't be a problem at all,” she tried to cheer him up.

 

He looked up sullenly.

 

“Besides, I think he likes you.”

 

This didn't have its intended response. Tsunade clapped her hands over her ears as Naruto wailed.

 

“Stop that RIGHT NOW, BRAT!” She was close to chucking a paperweight at his head. At this rate, he'd never be happy. She had to find a way to get rid of him. She groped mentally for an idea, and one came rather quickly to the fore. She grimaced as she removed her hands from her ears to scribble something down on a piece of paper. She folded it, sealed it with wax, and pushed the Hokage mark into the thick, pliant red pool as it cooled.

 

“BRAT,” she shouted over the caterwauling. “Make yourself useful and take this to Uchiha.”

 

“Why?” Naruto sniffed.

 

“Because I said so,” she said with annoyance. “And I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to read it, since it is official business.”

 

He shook his head.

 

“And if you do, I'll KNOW,” she threatened.

 

“Yeah yeah,” he grumped. Geez, what do I look like? A messenger pigeon?

 

“Thatta boy, now get the hell out outta my office.”

 

Naruto grabbed the missive and slouched out of the room, feeling no better leaving than he did going in.

 

Shizune glared at him as he emerged.

 

He grinned at her and blew a kiss, her instant rage making him feel a bit lighter. Annoying people sometimes held a special sort of joy for him. He laughed as she nearly chucked her pet pig at his head, and made a hasty exit.

 

 

---

 

Sasuke and Neji waited outside Naruto's apartment for a long while, under the pretense of informing him about the new team line ups.

 

Sasuke couldn't let Hyuuga get more alone time with Naruto, so he followed the pale-eyed boy there as soon as they were dismissed from the academy.

 

Now both of them were eyeing each other, not wanting to be the one to leave first in case the blonde DID show up.

 

Finally, Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He'd been standing out here for the better part of an hour, with nothing but the prickly silence of true rivalry to keep him company. “Hn. Dobe,” he muttered at the door.

 

“Have fun, Hyuuga,” he said over his shoulder as he started home.

 

He told himself he didn't care if Naruto got jumped by Neji, and that the blonde probably wasn't coming home anytime soon anyway. He told himself that Naruto wasn't even talking to him, so what did it matter? None of these things were particularly convincing, and none of them dispelled the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

 

It had only been a few days that Naruto had been ignoring him, but it felt like longer. And now- he was forced to admit that he was really starting to miss the loudmouth, and his crazy grins, and their bickering. He scowled. He always thought he was merely tolerating the idiot. Since when did he get so attached that he was brooding over him?

 

“OW!”

 

Sasuke looked up. He'd automatically pulled out his key and attempted to unlock his door. He blinked to see Naruto standing on the stoop in front of his door, clutching his stomach.

 

“Geez, you bastard! You don't have to stab me!”

 

“Naruto…” Sasuke stared dumbly at him, waiting for his heart to climb out of his throat and back in place. “What are you doing here?”

 

Naruto scowled and looked away. “Delivering a message,” he said sulkily, “Then I'll be out of your hair, so you don't have to bother stabbing me again.”

 

Sasuke felt his chest clench, with anger and something else.

 

He reached past Naruto to unlock the door. It brought them close, as Naruto didn't budge. Sasuke averted his eyes, trying to ignore the way their bodies were nearly touching, and the way that made his heart thud sickly in his chest. The door swung open, and he slipped around Naruto, glancing back to see very blue eyes watching him with an odd look. It was gone again just as quickly, replaced with a surly expression.

 

Sasuke didn't ask Naruto inside. He merely left the door open, knowing the blonde would follow. He couldn't leave without delivering the message after all.

 

He ignored the irritated huffings and complaints as Naruto griped about being made to wait. Sasuke rummaged through the fridge and pulled out two cokes. He cracked one open and sat it on the counter in front of Naruto with an even glance. Then he cracked his own can open and took a swig as he waited for Naruto to react.

 

Naruto looked torn between annoyance and confusion. He settled for the former. “I never said I wanted a coke,” he challenged.

 

“So you're going to waste it then?”

 

Naruto hmphed at him. “Would serve you right if I did,” he muttered, taking a sip.

 

Sasuke was convinced that if he could just get Naruto to stay around him for a little while, their stupid fight thing would blow over. The coke had bought him a little time. Though not much. The blonde was gulping it down defiantly.

 

Sasuke sighed as the empty can hit the counter with a tinny sound.

 

“I'm supposed to tell you,” Sasuke started, hoping the blonde wouldn't cut him off, “that the team assignments have been changed this rotation.”

 

Naruto blinked at him. “I know.”

 

“You know?”

 

“Yeah. Kiba told me. That's why I went to see Tsunade, and all she did was make me a carrier pigeon.” He thrust the missive towards Sasuke.

 

“Naruto…” Sasuke felt the moment slipping through his fingers. “Since I won't be seeing you Monday… or maybe for a while…” he floundered as he tried to put his thoughts into words.

 

Blue eyes wavered, dropping the hostility for a moment. But only for a moment. Naruto shook the extended paper at Sasuke, who was forced to reluctantly accept it.

 

Sasuke blinked at the paper.

 

“Er-” he said uncharacteristically.

 

“What?” Naruto's expression was nothing but burning curiosity as he tried to peek over the top of the paper.

 

“This is from Tsunade?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

A single line of text read:

Make your move. He likes you.

 

Sasuke stared at the `official' document, not knowing what to think. He looked at Naruto. “Are you sure she said to give this to me?”

 

“Yup.”

 

“And she asked you specifically to deliver it?”

 

“Yeeeeeess,” Naruto said feeling like he was answering for the 10th time. “Man! I don't see what the big deal is. Let me read it.”

 

Sasuke glanced at the 2nd and final line of text.

 

Let him read this, and your chances are shot.

 

“No.”

 

“Sasukeeeee!” Naruto whined. “Let me read it, bastard!”

 

“Can't,” he said. “Hokage's orders.”

 

“Hmph. You would be all anal like that.”

 

Sasuke kept Naruto at bay while he pondered the missive. `Make my move?' What the hell did she mean by that? It's not like I - nevermind. I know exactly what she's trying to imply. But it isn't like that. He stared at the blonde and tried to think of him in that light. It was all too easy. His mind happily supplied an unlikely scenario where Sasuke pulled Naruto into a devastatingly hot lip lock, causing those baby blues to flutter shut and a moan to escape his mouth.

 

“Sasuke? Whatcha thinking about?”

 

Sasuke mentally slapped himself. Christ.

 

“Nothing.”

 

Naruto peered at him. “It didn't look like nothing.” His voice had a teasing quality to it.

 

He bristled. “I said it was nothing, Dobe.”

 

“But your face is red,” Naruto said observantly, obviously enjoying his discomfort.

 

“It's hot in here.” Sasuke tried to endure the torment without snapping angrily, as was his impulse. He was clinging to the hope that this might be sufficient to distract Naruto from being angry at him.

 

Naruto sidled closer to Sasuke. “What could possibly put that look on your face?”

 

Sasuke stood his ground as Naruto invaded his personal space. Naruto's bright eyes were studying his face, a slight smile on his lips. Sasuke desperately tried to keep his mind blank, but found, to his dismay, that he couldn't control it. He was drowning in blue, and all he could think of was leaning towards that inviting mouth.

 

“Sasuke…?” Naruto said his name like a breath of air, drawing it out.

 

Sasuke felt things low in his body tighten.

 

This was bad. Very, very, VERY bad. He tried to distract himself with words.

 

“Listen, Naruto…” his voice sounded deeper than usual. He realized with horror that his hand was moving of its own accord to brush Naruto's cheek. The blonde's eyes merely closed for a moment and he gave the impression of leaning into the caress although he did not move. They opened again, slowly, looking dark. “I'm sorry about everything,” Sasuke said softly. A humming sensation was buzzing through him, swirling haphazardly in his stomach. He felt like Naruto's eyes were reeling him in, bringing their faces ever closer. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

 

Naruto licked his lips, looking like he was about to say something. Sasuke watched as his pink tongue flicked out nervously.

 

“What are you willing to do?”

 

“Anything.” The word left Sasuke's mouth before he could think.

 

“Why the change of heart, Uchiha?” Naruto taunted, his voice dropping into a lower tone. “I thought you enjoyed being a bastard.”

 

Sasuke felt himself flush. “Hn.”

 

A grin that could only be described as lascivious formed slowly across the blonde's face. “Are you blushing, Saaaaasuke?”

 

“NO.”

 

Naruto leaned against him and breathed into his ear, “Are you suuuure?”

 

Sasuke's heart slammed in his chest.

 

Sasuke was at a loss. His lack of resistance to the blonde's teasing was damning. Naruto began to nibble on his ear, and his legs suddenly felt like rubber.

 

“Stop joking around, Dobe,” he said in a voice he hardly recognized. He added more solidly as he pushed Naruto back, “I didn't mean I'd act out one of those pervy fics you're on about.”

 

Naruto laughed, but his eyes were smoldering. “You did say `anything', bastard.”

 

“Within reason.” Sasuke's heart was still pounding madly. Was it possible Tsunade was right? That Naruto liked him??

 

“Within reason?” Naruto parroted back. “How is THAT supposed to win me over?” He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted in trademark Uzumaki style.

 

Sasuke smiled at that. “Why don't you stay over and figure it out?”

 

“Hmm.” Naruto looked like he was debating something.

 

“What?”

 

“I sorta promised Neji I would hang out with him tonight.”

 

Sasuke felt a surge of jealousy. “Cancel,” he demanded.

 

“Oh, I dunno,” Naruto drawled infuriatingly, watching him with a mischievous glint in his eye. “It'd be rude to cancel last minute…And we had such fun last time…”

 

Sasuke's fists clenched.

 

“But maybe you could convince me,” he continued. “If you agree to do whatever I say.”

 

“I'd have to be stupid to agree to that!”

 

Naruto shrugged. “You're the one who wanted to make things up to me.” He started walking towards the door. “Guess I should ask Neji what he wants to do tonight.”

 

Sasuke growled. Hyuuga would likely try all sorts of things on Naruto. An image of the light-eyed boy smirking came unbidden to his mind. “FINE. I agree.”

 

Naruto turned around, pivoting on his heel. “You agree…?” he prompted with a grin.

 

“I agree to do whatever you say while you are here.” Within reason, he wanted to add, but didn't.

 

“Great!” Naruto clapped his hands together. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Neji's number, canceling apologetically.

 

“Now come on,” he said to Sasuke.

 

“Come on what?”

 

“We have a little excursion to make.”

 

“What? Where?” Sasuke reeeeally didn't feel like going out again.

 

Naruto walked back to Sasuke. “You're going to buy me ramen, then we're going to the liquor store,” Naruto informed him. “Only you're going to do it shirtless.”

 

“WHAT?”

 

“You're bound to obey me,” Naruto reminded him with glee. “Now strip!”

 

 

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