heat

disclaimer: not mine

A/N: Let me just say right here (like I always do) that I love all you lovely reviewers. You guys know how to make my day!*Gives you all hugs* Anyway, here's chapter 10. Hope that you all enjoy!

A/N: Another chap fixed up.

Heat
by vampchic


Chapter 10


"I'm what?" Naruto asked in a calmed disbelief. They had to be joking. They had to be. It was just some perverse joke that Jiraiya conned Tsunade into. That had to be it. There was no way that he was in...

Naruto burst out laughing, his eyes blurred with tears as he gripped his sides, his lungs burning as he gasped for air. “That’s funny. Very funny. How’d you come up with that one? You almost had me. You really did.”

Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at each other in start, confused by Naruto’s unexpected outburst. “Naruto, this isn’t a joke. You really are in heat.”

Naruto immediately calmed and straightened himself from his bent position. He stared at the two sennin, his eyes growing wide as Tsunade’s words sunk in. "But... How's that possible? I'm human."

"The Kyuubi isn't." Jiraiya pointed out. "Because the Kyuubi's in heat, it’s affects you as well."

Naruto slumped into the chair in front of the Hokage's desk, trying hard to digest the information. “Heat? How come it never affected me before?" he asked after a long stretch of silence.

"I think it's because you were never physically mature enough before. And its actually rut, but you get the picture." Tsunade answered as she studied the blond across from her.

"Must be why Gaara said to talk to Kyuubi." Naruto mumbled under his breath, far too low for the two Sennin to hear. The two frowns went unnoticed as Naruto continued to try to process everything.

"Naruto." Tsunade called, trying to get the boys attention again. "Sasuke’s on his way over."

Naruto's head shot up at that. "What? Why?"

Tsunade sighed. "He came barging in here this morning demanding to know what was wrong with you. I didn't tell him anything, but I promised to send for him when you got here."

Naruto groaned. Sasuke didn't know about Kyuubi, and now he was expected to tell him he was in heat? Or rut, or whatever it was he was in?

"Naruto, he's worried for you." Tsunade assured. "It’s up to you if you want to tell him about Kyuubi or not, but he wants to know something. He cares a great deal for you."

"What should I do?" Naruto asked with pleading eyes.

"Well, do you feel you can trust him with your secret?" she asked.

Naruto bit his lower lip, giving the question serious consideration. He trusted Sasuke with his life. If he really loved him, he should be able to tell him. Sasuke deserved to know, even if it drove him further from him. "Hai." he answered, nodding his head.

"Then tell him. Even if he doesn't accept the news, he’ll be under orders to never tell another soul about it."

A pang of hurt shot through Naruto’s heart at the thought of Sasuke rejecting him because of the demon he carried. 'Sasuke wouldn't do that? Would he?' The knock on the office doors pulled him from his thoughts, preventing him from spiraling further down into depression.

A dark head poked itself into the office, black eyes focusing instantly on Naruto. "Naruto." Sasuke breathed with relief as he rushed into the room. If it weren’t for the other occupants in the room, he would of thrown his arms around the blond. Instead, he contented himself with standing by the boy’s side. "What have you found out?" Sasuke asked, turning his attention to the two Sennin in front of him.

Tsunade turned to Naruto, giving him a reassuring smile. "It’s up to you." Naruto held his breath and nodded, indicating for them to tell. Tsunade sighed again, pulling her gaze to the Uchiha. "Naruto’s in heat." she stated simply, letting the information sink in for a moment.

"What?" Sasuke asked in almost the same tone Naruto had. "That only happens to animals." Naruto grunted at that, causing Sasuke to look at him in confusion.

"Naruto isn't exactly what you would call normal." Jiraiya piped in, earning a glare from the blond.

"Do you remember what happened to the village sixteen years ago?" Tsunade asked.

“The Kyuubi no Kitsune attacked the village. The Yondaime sacrificed his life destroying the demon." Sasuke answered with a frown. What relevance did that have with Naruto?

"That's what your generation is lead to believe. In truth, the Fourth sacrificed his life, sealing the demon in a baby boy." Tsunade said, her gaze shifting to rest on Naruto as he sucked in a breath.

Sasuke’s frown increased, missing the pointed look Tsunade sent Naruto. "Sealed away? In who?"

"Me." Naruto answered in almost a whisper, his eyes filled with apprehension as he looked up at the Uchiha.

"You?" Sasuke stared at the blond in shock, not sure if he was hearing correctly. Naruto nodded his head miserably, his heart racing anxiously as he waited for the Uchiha's next reply. "Why haven't we been told this before? Why did you all keep this a secret from us?" Sasuke asked, turning accusing eyes back to the two Sennin.

"You've seen the way the villagers treat him. The Third didn't want the younger generation, your generation, treating him the same way. So he made a law to try and protect Naruto. Anyone who knew the truth wasn't allowed to speak of it." Tsunade answered, as sad smile pulling at her lips. The Thirds plan didn’t work out as well as he hoped. The younger generation grew up listening to there parents hatred for Naruto, and in turned reflected those feelings.

Sasuke fell silent, trying to absorb the information. All those cold looks, the hated treatment, they made much more sense now. Why didn’t anyone ever bother to tell him before? Or any of the other teams? Sasuke cringed as he answered himself. 'Because I used to treat him in just the same fashion. All those times that I insulted him and ignored him. Why did he ever feel anything for me? If I hadn’t followed him home a few days ago, I would still be treating him that way.'

"So it's because of the demon that Naruto‘s... in heat?" he finally asked.

"Hai."

"And how long will this last?" Naruto looked to Tsunade as well. She hadn't told him much besides the fact that he was in heat.

"From what I understand, every year during spring." she answered.

Naruto's eyes widened at that. "Every year!?" he asked incredulously. "As in ever fuckin' year for the rest of my life?"

"Damn, it sounds great to be you." Jiraiya piped in, the biggest grin displayed on his face, Naruto’s glare only making him laugh.

"Hai. Every year." Tsunade answered, flicking her wrist at the Frog Hermit, sending him crashing into the wall behind her.

Naruto sighed and slumped further into his chair, his brow furrowing. How did Gaara know? Unless... Naruto sat up straight, his eyes wide as he looked straight at Tsunade "What about Gaara?" he asked, "Is Gaara in heat too?"

Sasuke's black eyes narrowed at the mention of the red head, but he turned his attention back to the Hokage. He wanted to know as well.

"Gaara has a demon in him too." was the only answer Tsunade gave.

Naruto's head was spinning. 'Gaara knew. He knew I was in heat. Why didn't he tell me?’ He looked up at Sasuke who was staring back at him. 'Sasuke doesn't seem to be taking this too badly. So far, at least. Oh shit. He's narrowing his eyes at me. I knew it. I shouldn't have allowed them to tell him.'

Naruto swallowed, trying to figure out what to say to the Uchiha. "Sasuke, I..." he bit his lower lip again. He didn't know what to say. He didn’t want to know what Sasuke thought, if he was going to reject him because of the demon he carried.

"This information does not leave this room." Tsunade said sternly to the Uchiha. "Is that understood?"

Sasuke broke his eye contact with Naruto, shifting his gaze back to the Hokage. "Hai." he answered, his voice and expression as stoic as ever.

Tsunade leaned back into her chair, swinging it slightly from side to side. "Good. Is there any other questions you two would like to ask?"

Naruto thought for a moment. There was one really important question that he needed to know. "Can I return back to my missions?" he asked hopefully.

"No." Tsunade answered bluntly.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Why?" he whined.

"Look at yourself. You can barely contain yourself with Sasuke standing right next to you." she pointed out, causing Naruto to turn an interesting shade of red. "What are you going to do if you're on a mission and you lose your concentration because of him or some other pretty face?"

Naruto stared at Tsunade in horror and embarrassment. 'God, I want to die. Why did she have to put it like that? How humiliating.' He didn't dare look at the Uchiha, who was as bright red as he was.

"Until the season is over, you are restricted from any shinobi work. If you want to continue training, that's fine, but only on your own time. Got that?" Tsunade said, looking straight into Naruto's pained blue eyes.

"Hai." he said in defeat. "Hey, Baa-chan, doesn't the same apply to Gaara then?" He wasn't the only one in heat after all.

Tsunade leaned forward in her chair again, ignoring the all too familiar insult. "Hmm, you're right. The same should apply to him. I'll inform him later. Now, is that everything?"

Naruto frowned for a moment, thinking. When nothing else came to mind he nodded and looked to Sasuke, who nodded as well.

"Good. Now get out. I have a load of paperwork to get to." Tsunade said, waving the boys out.

Naruto stood up from his seat and followed the quiet Uchiha to the door. He chewed his bottom lip nervously. There was one more question he needed answered, but he didn’t want Sasuke to hear. “I’ll be out in a second.” Naruto said as Sasuke gave reached for the door knob. Sasuke turned to Naruto, studying him for a moment before nodding and walking out the door. Naruto sighed as he turned back to Tsunade and made his way back to her desk. “Baa-chan.”

"What?" Tsunade asked, looking back up from her paper work.

Naruto took in another breath, trying to fight the blush that threatened to return. "Um, because I am in... heat," he struggled, "and Gaara is too - does that mean... ah... I mean the two of us... Is it possible... that... um.." he gave up. There was no possible way for him to ask his question; it was too embarrassing. He looked helplessly at the Hokage, pleading with his eyes for her understand what he was trying to say.

Tsunade suppressed a chuckle at the blonds uneasiness and smiled. "From what I understand, you and Gaara are attracted to each other, am I right?" Naruto nodded. That fact was proven more then once. "Whether its because the two of you are in heat, I don't know. You're going to have to figure it out on your own. The two of you may actually have feelings for each other."

Naruto thought that over. He knew that he was powerfully attracted to the red head, but he was just as attracted to Sasuke. But he knew that he loved Sasuke. What did he feel for Gaara? Did he have feelings for him?

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He had feelings for the red head. He didn't know if they were as strong as the ones he felt for Sasuke, but they were feelings nonetheless.

He frowned. That still didn't help. What was he supposed to do? God! He was so confused. "Thanks Baa-chan." he mumbled and turned to leave again.

"Naruto, if you need help with anything or need to talk, feel free to come to me." Tsunade offered before he reached the door.

"Thanks, Tsunade-sama." Naruto smiled at her and walked out the door. Tsunade leaned back in her chair, slightly shocked that the boy had spoken her name with respect.

"You know I found the two boy's together." Jiraiya said as soon as the door closed behind the blond.

"Who?" Tsunade asked, watching as Jiraiya pick himself off the ground and dust himself off.

"Naruto and Gaara." he answered. "Should of brought my camera..."

Tsunade sighed and pinch the bridge of her nose. She really didn't want to deal with the Sand nin twice in one day. He was worse then Sasuke with his impassiveness. "Could you have someone send for him please?"

"Hai." Jiraiya said with a laugh. 'At least some of us are having a good day.' he thought with a grin. 'And some of us better then others!'


TBC

A/N: Please review and let me know what ya think.