Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Orochimaru's Apprentice ( Chapter 25 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine...*stabs whoever invented a disclaimer* Like anyone would be stupid and say “Naruto is mine! I made him! My story line! Me, me me!” Feh! Anyone that does that should be shot and tortured very slowly- I mean uh...ON WITH THE STORY ^^;

 

Recap:

“Oh, Gaara...I love you so much,” she cried. “I don't ever want to leave you again!” she said as she hugged him tight and rested her head on his collarbone. Gaara wrapped his arms around her tighter and held her there.

 

Gaara got an idea. His eyes opened slowly. “Then...don't.” Shiruki looked at him curiously. She saw the distance in his eyes and blushed. She'd never seen such a look before. He smiled at her and Shiruki shook her head. “Never,” she whispered as she kissed him again, falling asleep on top of him peacefully.

 

 

Chapter 25: Orochimaru's Apprentice

 

It was morning time. Shiruki awoke to a faint pounding on her door. She laid next to an awake Gaara, who was apparently fixated on watching her sleep soundly on his chest. She sat up, still naked from past night's events, and rubbed her eyes, letting her humility crumble along with her modesty. She looked down at Gaara and smiled adoringly. “Good morning,” she smiled. He nodded and glared off, hearing the door banging loudly again. It was her bedroom door. Her eyes widened. “Who has my keys?” she whispered to him before getting up, wrapping a separate sheet around him. Nevermind the clothes, she mind as well to just give whoever it was a show.

 

She opened the door slowly and peeked out. She was suddenly on the ground with Naruto and Konohamaru on top of her, the sheet barely hiding anything. Gaara growled and Naruto jumped up, scratching his neck. “Uh...sorry...Konohamaru woke me up early to come and get you,” he blushed. He saw Shiruki's upper body naked. Sasuke would be jealous. He grinned mischievously and suddenly stopped when his glance met Gaara's infuriated glare. He blushed and avoided eye contact of any kind with anyone.

 

Shiruki giggled slightly, partly from nervousness. She desperately tried to cover herself before smiling at the young Konohamaru who had her pinned with a hug. She giggled and hugged him back, not minding that the only barrier between them was a thin white sheet. She looked down at him and smiled maternally. Konohamaru smiled back. “Shiru-chan! You promised we'd hang out today!” he smiled, resembling a young Naruto. She smiled and glanced at Naruto. He really did take after his idol. It was so adorable.

 

She nodded and smiled. Konohamaru cheered and got up, ushering Naruto out of the room so she could get dressed and say bye to Gaara. She giggled again with a slight blush and closed the door. “I'll be out in a bit.” Hearing an ok from the other side and footsteps promising they were downstairs, Shiruki sighed in disappointment. She turned back to Gaara and stared apologetically. She walked over to him and dropped the sheet, crawling on top of him again. She laid on the sheet that separate them and felt his muscles clenching through the thin material. She smiled as his arms wrapped around her and hands explored her flawless skin. She shuddered slightly and sat up on her elbows to look at him. She smiled at him, earning a crooked grin in return and she giggled. Gaara removed the Demon Sealing jutsu and Shiruki nipped at his fingers. “Ya know...” she said in a seductive voice Gaara had become all too fond of. “They're downstairs...we're up here...alone...oh, the possibilities,” she hinted, nipping at his neck.

 

How he'd love to take her up on that offer so badly right now. He couldn't help but snicker at her eagerness. He sat up, her strattling his hips still, and wrapped his arms around her to hold her up. He grinned and shook his head. He kissed her cheek and then her neck and nuzzled her softly. “You know as well as I...they will get impatient and they will come back up here,” he said with slight disappointment. He looked at her and saw her about to say something. “And no...I will not just simply kill them,” he said bluntly, taking the words out of her mouth. She giggled innocently and smiled at him. He kissed her forehead softly and smirked at her. “Get dressed.”

 

She nodded reluctantly and got off him. She walked over to her dresser and started to rummage shamelessly through her drawers, Gaara watching ever so slyly. He grinned before getting up to find his own clothes. He dressed and noticed that she too was dressing. He caught a glimpse of her wardrobe and shook his head. Much, much to his liking. The outfit she donned wasn't too far off his. It was dark red, with slanted white belts around her hips. She wore black pants underneath that stopped way above her knees. She wore shoes matching his, black. She took a choker out of her jewelry box on top and put it on. This one had a cat bell on it. The choker itself was black and velvety. The bell was silver. It jingled as she put it on. The outfit clung to her body perfectly, looping around her middle fingers like all of her clothes did, and you could see the shuriken and kunai pockets protruding on her thighs. She smiled as she flashed a signature crossed arm stance, resembling Gaara's. Gaara couldn't help but grin at her antics. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist protectively, laying a kiss on her forehead. She giggled and kissed him back before grabbing his arm and escorting him out of her, or rather their, room.

 

They walked downstairs, hand in hand, and were instantly met by Konohamaru. The blonde was trying desperately to restrain his young admirer before Gaara snapped, but to no avail. Gaara simply grinned and started to walk on ahead of his love and the boys. Naruto stared in disbelief. Gaara wasn't snapping? Naruto looked back at Shiruki and Konohamaru and smiled. He nodded and followed Gaara out. When Naruto made it outside, he saw Gaara standing against the wall, waiting for them all to emerge. Naruto walked over to him silently and seriously. "Gaara," he said, stopping beside him to tell him something. Gaara looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "The Hokage has called a meeting..." he told him seriously, which was unlike the blonde.

 

Gaara looked at him fully now. "Concerning what?" he asked lowly. Naruto held a look of seriousness and what looked like uncertainty. Gaara turned away, waiting for the blonde. He would not ask again. It was rather annoying.

 

Naruto sighed. "Tsunade wants to call a meeting to discuss the apprentice. She wants you and Shiruki to attend," he informed him finally. Gaara looked at him, rather glared at him. Naruto nodded, confirming it. "She needs at least one of you there. But it seems...Shiruki is preoccupied. So...that leaves you." He looked at him. Gaara looked uneasy. He also looked like he'd snap and bite Naruto's head off any minute. Naruto sighed. "It's either you or Shiruki. Or both. Pick one. Although...Konohamaru is not allowed at the meeting. So...good luck prying her away from him.," Naruto informed him with a smirk, knowing full well how Konohamaru was with his idols.

 

Gaara slumped uncharacteristically, knowing all too well he could not resort to violence to tear the brunette brat from her for the meeting. Besides...she has not been in Konoha for so long, so he figured it would be fine to let her do as she wished. In return, however, he had to attend the blasted meeting. Gaara growled lowly then shook his head, running his hand through his hair. Another uncharacteric thing he did in Naruto's presence. He saw Konohamaru and Shiruki emerge hand in hand. Shiruki had a smile on her face. A motherly one. He stopped. All train of thought left him. All common sense left him as well. That one smile made him realize that he had made the right choice. He slapped on his normal glare and walked up to Shiruki and Konohamaru, Naruto hanging back as a spectator. Shiruki looked at him with the same smile, except this one had morphed into nothing but love and admiration. He almost flinched at how sweet it was. He truly loved her smiles. They lit the darkest parts of his soul, exposing any hidden "demons" he had to deal with. That one light showed him that whatever the case, Shiruki would be there for him. Suddenly, going to the meeting with that blasted Tsunade wasn't that bad. He grinned and Shiruki blushed slightly. "What is it, Gaara?" she asked cutely.

 

Gaara shook his head and hugged her lightly. Konohamaru let go of her hand and stepped back, giving them room. He was still a kid, but he knew when the time was to hold hands and stay out of the lovers' way. Gaara whispered into her ear without meaning to. "I must attend a meeting. I will return shortly," he told her delicately.

 

"Well, wait, I'll go with you," she smiled, pulling away from him. Gaara just pulled her back and snickered quietly so only she could hear.

 

"It is not necessary. You stay. Relax. The only times we have come to Leaf Village was if we needed something or if we were injured," he told her. "This is your home. Stay and relax for a while." Shiruki sighed in resignation with a silent nod. "Besides," he whispered even quieter. "It will be difficult to get rid of Konohamaru, will it not?" he challenged.

 

Shiruki grunted and giggled seconds later. "Alright...just...be careful," she said quietly and hugged him back. Gaara nodded and released her. She smiled at him and Naruto. She looked at the blonde with playful harshness and Naruto tilted his head. "You let anything happen to my Kazekage, and you'll be food for Nikkaku. That understood, Uzumaki?" she teased.

 

Naruto caught on. They had always play threatened like this. Except, she wasn't joking. He grinned and waved her off playfully. "Yeah, yeah...as if I'm gonna hold his hand," he said back, that comment directed towards Gaara. He grinned afterwards and looked at Shiruki. "Anything happen to Konohamaru and you'll be Kyuubi's dinner. Is that understood, Shiruki?" he challeneged back.

 

Shiruki winked and they both broke into laughter. With a chaste kiss to Gaara, she waved them off as her and Konohamaru played tag away from them. Gaara watchd them run off and smiled inwardly. He nodded and walked alongside Naruto towards the Hokage's office. This should be fun.

 

 

Twenty minutes later...

They reached the Hokage's office and saw Shikamaru, Tsunade, Kakashi, Asuma, Iruka, Neji, Sasuke, and Hiruka present and accounted for. Gaara's vision wandered over the bunch, earning nods in respect to the new Kazekage. He nodded back reluctantly and his sights landed on Tsunade. He waited for her to proceed before he spoke. Naruto stopped alongside him and Sasuke. To Sasuke's right was Neji. To Neji's right was Shikamaru. To Shikamaru's right was Kakashi, Asuma, Iruka, and finally, Hiruka. Tsunade sat at her desk, as usual. Gaara stared at her. "All of you, I take it, got word from Naruto to come here?" she inquired. They all nodded and Naruto stood silent. Tsunade nodded and stood, walking around her desk sitting on it in front of them all. She sighed. "Alright. Time to get to business." She looked at Gaara. "Tell us all what happened with the run in with the Sound Village. Every detail," she ordered. Gaara sighed and crossed his arms. This was going to take longer than expected.

 

 

Meanwhile...

"Get back here, ya little runt!" Shiruki called after Konohamaru who was way ahead of her and running faster ahead. She could easily catch up to him, but it was only a game and that would be cheating if she used Nikkaku's agility and speed. So, she relied on her own ninja swiftness.

 

Konohamaru giggled and kept running, throwing taunting looks back at her. "No chance, grandma!" he laughed. He ran faster and faster through the streets, earning glares and giggles from bystanders.

 

Shiruki laughed as well, chasing Konohamaru like a mother would a child. She also earned looks. Looks of happiness and relief. Ones she had never earned from Konoha. She smiled in return and kept focus on Konohamaru. She noticed he was leading them towards the training grounds Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi had went to years ago. She laughed and saw him standing on top of a log. She skidded to a halt and grinned. "What's wrong, runt? Run out of energy?" she challenged.

 

"Feh! As if, grandma!" he threw back, his usual smirk in place. "I just wanted to give you a rest! Ya looked pretty beat," he teased. He grinned again. "Hm...hey. I have an idea. Let's play a game-"

 

"Thought that's what we were already doing!" she laughed. She bent over her knees, feeling sick all of a sudden. It couldn't have taken affect that soon. It just happened last night. There was no way her pregnancy was verified this early. So, then, what was it? Why was she sick all of a sudden? She held her stomach and collapsed to her knees gracefully, careful as to not worry Konohamaru. She made it look like she did it on purpose, while in fact, it was accidental and unpreventable. She smiled at Konohamaru nonetheless.

 

"Alright. Smarty! I meant...let's play a high stakes game," he grinned. Shiruki's head snapped up to look at him. Her head tilted in confusion. Konohamaru grinned. "Catch me, and we'll do whatever you say. However...if I can get to the lake before you catch me, then you do whatever I want. Is it a deal?" he challenged. Shiruki smirked. Nikkaku would allow her to win easily- "And no using that neko demon either!" he added, seeing what she was thinking.

 

Shiruki giggled a little. She stopped when she felt more nausea. She smiled at him and nodded. "Alright," she smiled. "No Nikkaku...and if I catch you...we'll do whatever I want. And if not...you win," she smiled. She struggled to get to her feet and got ready to dash towards him. "Ready, twerp?" she grinned.

 

Konohamaru grinned. He nodded and turned his back to her. "Ready...set....GO!" he yelled as he dashed off towards the lake a little less than twenty yards ahead of them. Shiruki grinned and rushed off after him, following closely. Even without Nikkaku, she was still the fastest ninja in Konoha. The only person that outdid her speed was Sasuke. And even then, it was a challenge for him. She smirked and caught up to the little brunette in a second. She grinned at him as he looked back with wide eyes. "How'd you-"

 

Shiruki smirked and reached out to him. He bowed his head and increased his speed again. She smirked and laughed as she too increased her speed. She saw the lake and smiled. Should she let him win or not...how debateable...She grinned and realized that it was not the lake he was heading towards, but instead, a cliff. A waterfall. Her eyes widened and she kicked it into high gear, catching him, knowing he couldn't stop. She took him in her arms and skidded to a halt, her foot grazing the edge of the cliff. She looked over the cliff and sighed with relief. She looked back at the boy in her arms and saw him frightful as well. She hugged him tightly and sighed before walking off towards the lake. "Please be more careful, Konohamaru-kun," she whispered, carrying him softly in her arms.

 

Konohamaru sighed and nodded. "Sorry, Shiru-chan..." he whispered back. A thought came to him. "Hey! You cheated!" he whined. Shiruki laughed and shook her head. Konohamaru raised an eyebrow. "If you didn't cheat...then that means..."

 

Shiruki smiled at him. "That's right. You're looking at the second fastest ninja in all of Konoha. And no. Nikkaku was not released to assist me. Though it mind as well could have been..." she said more to herself with another sigh. She wasn't sure her body could handle Nikkaku surfacing at the moment. She was physically exhausted. They made it to the lake and Shiruki sat down next to Konohamaru. She pulled her knees to her chest and stared out over the water.

 

Konohamaru smiled and leaned into Shiruki, feeling an arm wrap around him in return. He smiled. "So, Shiru-chan...why Tenuki-sama?" he asked, sneaking a mischievous look up at her. He saw her blush and he laughed.

 

 

Meanwhile...

Gaara stood silently for a moment before sighing quietly, noticing eyes were on him. How he hated to talk to Leaf Village shinobi about his personal problems. But this time...they could be of some major assistance in finding out who exactly was Orochimaru's apprentice. He opened his eyes and sighed again. "Orochimaru's apprentice...is after Nikkaku...Shiruki's inner demon. They are taking after the Akatsuki in such a way that almost killed her." He face turned malicious. "Three Sound ninja ambushed us when we were first coming here to learn the Demon Sealing jutsu from Tsunade. That was when it started. Kasuke...Takuya...and another. One that remembered Shiruki well. One that had many scars on his face and body from her...mishaps." He looked around, seeing eager, studying and contemplative faces. Even Naruto looked deep in thought. "Makuro...he took on Shiruki...well...tried to. I got in the way," an evil grin passing his features. "Shiruki took on Kasuke and Takuya by herself, knowing full well she was no match. Her eye movements are not trained to watch two Sound ninja as are mine and some of you. She had no choice in the matter, however." He shook his head with a small pang of guilt. "I killed Makuro...Shiruki...was injured by the other two. After I intervened, they escaped." He lowered his head and leaned against the wall as if contemplating something. How would any of this help? "Later...we ran into Kasuke and Takuya...them claiming they planned to extract Kyuubi from Naruto." Everyone looked at Naruto and saw him nod in confirmation. They all turned back to Gaara, urging him to continue. He did. "Shiruki told them to make a deal...her life...for his..." he said quietly, and with obvious struggle. It wasn't every day that the love of your life wanted to die for the life of another. "So...they agreed...but...Nikkaku proved too strong for them. Nikkaku killed them but did not return to Shiruki until our third run in with another Sound ninja. While we were on our way to Suna...another attacked." Sasuke listened intently, as did Naruto. This was when they were all alone. "She offered no information. Except that Orochimaru has an apprentice, and is apparently stronger than Orochimaru, having control over all the Sound ninja." He raised his head. "They plan on taking Shukkaku and Nikkaku from us. As well as Kyuubi. In order to gain more power and be the dominating village."

 

Shikamaru stepped forward after Gaara slipped into silence again. "So...the apprentice is power hungry, feared, powerful already, and a psychopath. Sounds easy to pick out of a crowd," he said sarcastically.

 

Everyone glared at him.

 

 

Meanwhile with Shiruki and Konohamaru

Shiruki blushed and giggled, pulling Konohamaru closer. "Well...to be honest...we kind of...just fell together in a way. We were friends all through childhood...until I came here. He's really protective. Most people don't see that," she said, her smile fading and her brows knitting together with sorrow. "He actually is a very nice person. People just are too afraid to get close to him, what with his past and all..." she sighed. "Really sad, really."

 

Konohamaru lowered his head. "I-if it helps...I'm not afraid of him..." he whispered quietly with a small blush. Shiruki looked at him with apparent shock. He saw it and smiled a little. "Well yeah...he's nice to you. So...he can't be all that bad," he smiled. Shiruki's eyes watered. Konohamaru truly did understand. She was grateful.

 

 

At Tsunade's office

"Well...what can we do? Wait til he strikes again?" Naruto reasoned. They organized this meeting and yet no one had any idea as to what the creep looked like.

 

Sasuke sighed. "Quiet, Dobe. We have plenty of information. It's all a matter of putting it together." Everyone turned to Sasuke incredulously. He smirked. "Clearly you all have missed the point...power hungry...making it a 'he,' having access to Sound Village and all of Orochimaru's techniques...knowing and going after Shiruki, Gaara, and Naruto...they have to be someone that knows them. If not, then how else would they know of all three of them?" he reasoned. Everyone followed. "And not to mention, haven't you noticed that he strikes at the most opportune of times? Kidnapping Naruto...extracting Nikkaku...sending someone again to attack and retrieve Shiruki while everyone was injured? This guy knows us. Either that, or he has some pretty good spies to watch us at all times."

 

Everyone looked defensive and resentfully at Sasuke. "Are you suggesting this apprentice...is a traitor to the Leaf Village?!" shrieked Naruto, taking Sasuke by the shirt offensively.

 

Sasuke nodded and slapped Naruto's hands off of him. "It makes sense, Dobe. Think about it. No one else would know. It certainly isn't Kabuto. Remember? You killed him two years ago. Tsunade killed Orochimaru...so that leaves one of the Leaf Village ninja. Otherwise...Sound is extremely well at hiding their appearance for years," he reasoned.

 

As much as everyone hated to admit it...Sasuke was right. His way of thinking was logical. Shikamaru smirked. "Unless...Sound village sent someone...that they already knew wanted to betray Leaf Village, to try to throw us off their tracks," he challenged back at Sasuke in an accusatory manner.

 

Sasuke grinned in return. "There is also the possibility that Sound village sent someone to try to throw the others off the track of everyone else, accusing someone in particular, to push them off the trail of that suspected person." (if that did not make sense, let me rephrase it...shikamaru is suggesting that sasuke is trying to warp everyone's minds while sasuke is suggesting that shikamaru is the one that is warping the minds. don't get it? email me)

 

Tsunade caught onto each other accusing the other and sighed. She stepped in. "Quit it you two. This is no time to be accusing each other. I highly doubt that anyone in this room is the apprentice."

 

Kakashi stepped forward. "Ruling people out already, Tsunade? That is not like you...it could be a grave mistake," he said darkly. But he was right. "What evidence do you have that it is not one of us? What evidence suggests that one of us is not the apprentice?" he asked logically. Tsunade's eyes widened a little. "It might be anyone of us. Or...it might be anyone in the village. It is not certain. I am not suggesting to suspect your allies...but you also can't trust them fully anymore until we find out who this apprentice is," he reasoned again.

 

 

TBC

 

 

A/N: Well now...seems that people are getting accused....and seems some people are rather...incriminating. Suspicious suspicious....for shame....There ya go! Next chapter should be up soon! I've been in a rather...creative and conspirative mood lately XD ^^; R&R

Oh...and if you did not understand anything about that little Shikamaru/Sasuke scene...email me and I will be happy to explain it better

Another thing...even if Orochimaru and Kabuto are not dead...they are in here XP Don't like...go away XD