Angel's Touch

Artemis: *springs forth fully rejuvenated* Hello, peeps! I’m so sorry for the delay again. After my sickness cleared up, I was struck with a bout of exhaustion and slept for most of my free time. Then I had a test in DirectX with C++, my programming class at college. I hated programming…I’m so the artist/storyteller. XD But that’s over, I got a good grade on it, and now I’m ready to type up the next chapter.

Sorry if my chapters have felt a little off…or is that me? I’m having that hate/love tendency towards my work again. ^^ But since you guys seem to like this so much still, I guess it’s all good.

Anyways, some of my personal thoughts about the last chapter? Well, I enjoyed the rivalry that’s blossomed between Neji and Sasuke over Naruto. Hee hee. As for the basketball scene, I had you peoples help which I still thank. But I also recalled my gym days of basketball…the chaos of people who can and can’t play thrown together…and Sasuke played just like me. I always steal the ball, but my shooting sucks. XD Used to be good, but fell out of practice. Baseball is more my sport to play. ^_^

Oh…and if you guys ever chance upon it, watch the ‘Gakuen Heaven’ anime or play the game. It’s an excellent yaoi game/anime, that ENDS HAPPILY FOR A CHANGE and has the cutest pairing of sexy Kazuki (Endo) and adorably cute Keita. ^^ *huggles the anime* Make sure it’s the jap with eng subtitles though. >_>

NOTE FOR ALL: I scared some of you when I mentioned the sad-ish ending for the first part of the story. Let me assure you now, no one dies and Sasuke will NOT be leaving to join the bad side. That’s overused in my opinion, and I already swore to not have that in any of my stories because I’m just tired of reading about it. Yes, Sasuke left in the manga, again I’m not reading yaoi/shounen ai fanfiction solely to be reminded of this. And I’m sure most of you don’t read fanfiction for that reason as well. >_>

This chapter should be really fun though… =)

---------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13: Hot Water Fun

“YAY!!!!!! HOT SPRINGS!!” Naruto cheered, jumping up and down happily.

Sasuke smiled slightly at the bouncing blonde, before turning back to the girl standing in his doorway. Hinata was blushing slightly, watching Naruto run around inside the apartment with enough enthusiasm for them all. Gaara sweatdropped and managed to avoid a glomp from the blonde, walking over to where they stood and out of Naruto’s path of destruction.

“H-Hai…we were given reservations for up to six people,” Hinata smiled, poking her fingers together nervously. “Neji-niisan thought it would be nice to invite all of you and besides, it was thanks to you both that I won the contest and the prize.”

“Of course we’ll go!!” Naruto declared, glomping onto Sasuke from behind with a huge grin.

Gaara thought for a moment, “May I come?”

“Course you have to come, Gaara! And Kakashi to! Right, Sasuke?” Naruto insisted, pouting at Sasuke slightly for his approval.

Sasuke sighed and considered his options, then smiled at him and nodded his agreement.

“YAY!!!”

“Oh? A hot springs sounds like a nice idea,” Kakashi voiced, popping his head in to their conversation. He could overhear Naruto’s shouts from his place and had come to check it out.

“K-Kakashi-sama,” Hinata widened her eyes in surprise, blushing harder in nervous embarrassment.

“YEP! We’re going! You’ll come to, right Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto grinned at him.

Kakashi smiled back, “A hot springs is a great place to relax. Now if only my Iruka-chan would be there to cuddle with me.”

Sasuke smirked at their teacher, “How’d the date go?”

Kakashi blinked in mild surprise, then shrugged and sighed exasperatingly, “He wouldn’t come out of his house, and when I tried to go in after him he called the police. My Iruka-chan is such a tease.”

Sasuke, Gaara, and Hinata all looked oddly at the delusional man with the hearts around his head.

“Neh! Sasuke, can I ask you something?” Naruto spoke up with a slightly confused look.

Sasuke looked at him and raised an eyebrow, “What is it, dobe?”

“What is a hot springs anyway?”

Again, silence and odd looks followed this statement. Sasuke already had a good feeling this would be an interesting little vacation.

“So how much time do we have to pack?” Gaara asked, breaking up the silliness of the moment.

Hinata looked down, avoiding Gaara’s eyes shyly, “W-Well…Neji-niisan’s waiting outside in the car. W-We’re not really in a hurry…”

“K…” Was Gaara’s only reply, heading out of the apartment and back to the one Naruto and he shared.

“Seriously, what’s a hot springs?” Naruto pouted, not getting his answer which slightly depressed him.

Sasuke rolled his eyes at the blonde and ruffled the spiky hair a bit, “You’ll see, dobe. Just make sure to pack extra clothes and possibly swimming trunks.”

“Teme, don’t call me a dobe,” Naruto huffed and glared at him, then rushed off to pack for the trip.

“Sometimes I honestly can’t believe that boy is the reborn Kyuubi,” Kakashi sighed, watching Naruto rush off before turning to go pack.

‘I just hope he never changes’ Sasuke thought with a slight smile.

Hinata watched them all leave, leaning back against the railing and calming down slightly. It was hard for her not to get flustered when so many people had their attention on her at once. But she was glad Naruto-kun was coming, and happy that Sasuke-kun was to.

Sasuke walked out of his apartment a moment later and closed the door, locking it and turning as Naruto and Gaara also exited their apartment with duffle bags in hand. They seemed all set…but Kakashi was taking an odd amount of time. Sasuke walked over and poked his head into Kakashi’s apartment curiously, spotting the older man by the phone seemingly talking. Catching a bit of the conversation, he rolled his eyes and returned to the others.

“Let’s head down. Kakashi will join up with us soon enough,” Sasuke sighed, waving his hand.

“What’s he doing?” Naruto asked curiously.

“Leaving Iruka-sensei a message on his answering machine.”

They all took a moment to sigh at the older man’s persistence, then made their way down the stairs and out of the complex towards Neji’s car.

When Neji saw them, he frowned, “Hinata-chan, I told you not to invite that asshole!”

Hinata hesitated and frowned, looking down at her feet, “B-But…Neji-niisan…”

“And what’s he doing here!” Neji cried the moment he spotted Gaara, shooting up in his seat and reaching to his pocket for something.

Gaara flinched slightly and took a step back, unsure what to do. Naruto didn’t seem to notice the tension and jumped in front of Gaara, smiling brightly at Neji, “Hiya, Neji! Thanks for inviting us to go to whatever a hot springs is!”

Neji hesitated and blushed lightly, forgetting his earlier thought when faced with Naruto’s smile. “Y-You’re welcome…?”

Sasuke glared at Neji, not liking the idea of Neji having a crush on HIS Naruto. Naruto didn’t notice, frowning at the car.

“Um…are we……going to ride in this?”

Neji blinked and looked at his car with a frown, “Is something wrong with it?”

Sasuke sighed and deposited his bag into the trunk, taking Gaara’s and Naruto’s as well and placing them in there. “Naruto is uneasy with cars.”

“Oh…HEY!” Neji glared at him angrily. “I told you, you’re not coming!”

“Bite me,” Sasuke replied, opening the door and settling into the vehicle.

Naruto hesitated, whining softly. He really didn’t like cars for some reason.

“Naruto…come on. It’s ok,” Sasuke coaxed, holding his hand out to the blonde.

Naruto took it and shakily got in, clinging a bit to Sasuke once settled in. Sasuke, ignoring Neji’s angry glares, buckled him and Naruto up as Gaara got in. Hinata carefully got into the front of the car, a little worried about becoming victim to Neji’s wrath.

“Leaving without me?” Kakashi called, half joking and heading to the car.

He dropped his bag into the back and waved merrily at Neji, who looked thoroughly stunned to see him. In fact, Neji turned to give Hinata a look that clearly said ‘did you invite the whole friggin school?’ Hinata blushed and hung her head in an attempt of an apology. Unaware of the silent exchange or just not caring, Kakashi got into the back, somehow managing to squish in and close the door. Gaara frowned and tried to get comfortable being stuck between Naruto and Kakashi. Sasuke solved the problem by pulling Naruto into his lap.

Neji frowned in his rear view mirror at them, grumbling irritably and starting the car up. Pulling out and onto the road, the six of them made their way to a week of Hot Spring relaxation and fun. At least, Sasuke hoped that was what it would be like. But he was certain there would be conflict, especially since he wasn’t on the best terms with Neji and vice versa.


“So…are we there yet?” Naruto asked about an hour later, having relaxed a bit during the ride and gotten bored.

“Almost,” Neji promised, pulling onto an off road.

Gaara frowned, glancing at Kakashi beside him, the older man having his nose currently in a suspicious looking orange book. “What are you reading?”

Kakashi glanced at him and smirked pervertedly under his mask, but didn’t reply and went back to the book.

Sasuke leaned over slightly and whispered, “Trust me…you don’t want to know.”

Gaara took the hint and didn’t question again, scooting closer to Sasuke and Naruto and farther from Kakashi. Sasuke sighed and relaxed in the seat again, trying to ignore Naruto who kept shifting restlessly in his lap.

“Ugh…” Naruto groaned miserably.

Flying would have been faster and more interesting then this. He was stuck in a car with silent people…not meaning to offend his loved ones of course. They just didn’t talk or anything. Whining slightly, Naruto shifted in Sasuke’s lap so he could lay against Sasuke with his head on the other’s shoulder. Sasuke reached up and started to softly stroke his hand through Naruto’s hair, making the blonde smile at the touch.

Neji’s eye twitched slightly when he glanced into the rear-view mirror. He bit the inside of his cheek slightly and focused on getting to their destination quickly before that asshole could get any more cozy with his future wife…err…he meant his Naruto.

Another agonizing hour, but actually ten minutes, later, Neji finally pulled the car into the hot spring resort’s parking lot.

“Are we there?” Naruto asked, sitting up and looked outside curiously.

“Yep,” Neji stated in relief, glad to have arrived.

Everyone slowly got out of the car and stretched, save Naruto who practically clawed his way out and then bounced around the vehicle hyperly, trying to look everywhere all at once.

“Neh! Neh! Sasuke! Is this a hot springs?!” Naruto asked, rushing over to Sasuke after a bit.

Sasuke pulled their bags out of the trunk, smiling at Naruto, “Well…this is the resort. The actual hot springs are connected behind the hotel, closer to the base of this mountain.”

“They say the mountain used to be a volcano…and the springs are heated by the hot lava still below the earth,” Gaara explained slightly, pulling out his duffle bag.

Naruto looked at them both in awe, “So…hot springs are lava?”

Kakashi chuckled and patted Naruto’s head, “No Naruto. Hot springs are basically pools of water heated naturally by the underground lava. They’re very relaxing and said to be a healthy way to refresh one’s body and soul.”

“Ooooooh,” Naruto grinned, finally getting the explanation he wanted. His grin turned into a brilliant smile. “So we’re going to go swimming!?! YIPPY!”

Neji smiled, watching Naruto bounce on his feet with over an hour of pint up energy. “That’s not the only rumor about these mountains though. There are a bunch of folk tales about Onis and spirits. They even say a tengu watches over the forest and mountains in these parts.”

Naruto paused, looking at him curiously, “What’s a tengu?”

“Naruto, didn’t you pay any attention at all in school? Tengu’s are goblins that live in forests and mountains. They are depicted in many forms, but they actually resemble winged humans and are well know for using illusions and pulling pranks on people,” Kakashi frowned exasperatingly at the blonde. With a sigh, he mumbled, “In fact, I swore you were a tengu when I first met you……”

Naruto hadn’t listened though, his attention having turned on something else during the educational lecture from Kakashi. Sasuke had noticed and chuckled. Naruto honestly never payed attention to lessons unless they were about chakra techniques or fighting.

“Let’s head on in and get our room keys,” Neji suggested, slinging both Hinata and his bags over his shoulder and starting towards the hotel.

The others followed as well, Sasuke having to keep a hold of Naruto’s hand so the other didn’t run off in his excitement and curiosity.

“Miss Hyuuga?” The receptionist at the desk asked, smiling at Hinata and the group of boys.

It hit Sasuke then that they must have made an odd bunch. One girl and a bunch of boys. It was kind of funny really, but only when you tried to guess what other people might be thinking.

The receptionist set out three keys for them and bowed. “Please enjoy your stay.”

“T-Thank you…” Hinata smiled and took the keys, bowing back.

“Ok…Sasuke will share a room with Gaara and Kakashi. Hinata gets her own room. And Naruto will bunk with me,” Neji decided with a smug smile.

Sasuke growled a little and took a key from Hinata, keeping a firm hold on Naruto. “Naruto and I will share a room. You, Gaara, and Kakashi can bunk together and Hinata will get the third room.”

Neji glared, his face reddening slightly with sudden alighted anger, “Naruto and I will share a room!”

“No. Naruto will stay with me!”

“You weren’t supposed to be invited! Naruto’s with me!”

“Hinata invited me and there’s no way I’m letting you sleep in the same room with Naruto, snake bait!”

The two boys tensed, readying their fists in a possible fight. Kakashi’s eye widened slightly when he realized they were gonna break out into a fight over this, then he closed it and let out a sigh. Boys and their hormones…

“Naruto…who do you want to bunk with?” Kakashi asked, deciding that the best way out of this without violence was to have Naruto voice his choice.

Naruto frowned at them both, pouting slightly, “I want to share a room with Sasuke and Gaara.”

“What!?” Both boys exclaimed slightly, Neji upset about this and Sasuke having not planned on sharing the room with Gaara.

“Well then, it has been decided. Gaara, Naruto, and Sasuke will share a room. Neji will bunk with me, and Hinata will get her own room,” Kakashi chirped merrily, taking a key and a hold of Neji’s bag, using that to drag the protesting brunette behind him to their rooms.

Hinata sighed, silently thanking Kakashi for preventing the fight.

Naruto smiled happily and grabbed Sasuke and Gaara’s hands, pulling them behind as he followed Hinata, Kakashi, and Neji.

They made their way along the hallway, each silently giving into the seemingly now permanent sleeping arrangements. Stopping outside the three doors, those that had a key went about unlocking their doors. As soon as the door was unlocked and opened, Naruto ran into the room with an exclamation of awe, jumping on one of the two beds.

“I claim this one!”

Sasuke and Gaara walked in after him, looking at the remaining unclaimed bed and then each other.

“You can share with Naruto,” Gaara offered, knowing Sasuke would be happier and less hostile towards him that way.

Sasuke blushed slightly but nodded, glad Gaara wasn’t going to put up a fight over this like Neji had. He sat Naruto and his bags on the bed beside the blonde. Kakashi poked his head in a moment later, already stripped and robed.

“How about we all take a dip in the springs. I’m sure we could use it after that long ride and I’m certain Naruto’s still bursting with curiosity over this,” Kakashi suggested cheerfully.

“YEAH! Can we, Sasuke?” Naruto asked.

“Sure. Go undress in the bathroom and put on one of the robes,” Sasuke agreed, smiling and watching Naruto go into the bathroom to do so.

With their backs turned to each other, Gaara and Sasuke both stripped down as well and pulled on bath robes. Naruto came out in his soon after and they headed out to join Hinata, Neji, and Kakashi again. With Sasuke keeping hold of Naruto so he didn’t wander off, they made their way to the hot springs.

“Hey, what’s that guy doing?” Naruto asked as they neared the bamboo fences that made the separate male and female pools private from each other.

Sasuke turned to look, spotting an old white haired man crouching and peeping through the bamboo into the girl’s hot spring section.

Hinata gasped and clutched her robe with a shriek, “Pervert!!!”

Neji growled and stepped protectively in front of her, “HEY YOU!!! What do you think you’re doing!?”

The white haired man jumped slightly and looked over with surprise, before cursing and running off. Sasuke sighed and sweatdropped. Well…there was always a pervert or two wherever you go anyways.

Hinata looked utterly terrified now, still clutching onto her robe.

Neji huffed and relaxed, disgusted with the man. “Hinata…why don’t you relax with all of us?”

Kakashi sighed and looked at the worried girl, “That would probably be best.”

Sasuke nodded in agreement. It would be much wiser move then leaving her alone with a guy like that hanging around.

“What’s wrong? Was that a demon?” Naruto asked, confused by everyone’s reaction.

“Just a pervert,” Gaara excused and headed into one of the men’s private springs.

Neji nodded and led Hinata along with them, glancing back where the man had been angrily. Hinata blushed faintly, but felt safer with Neji and the other’s then to go off alone. Naruto frowned and followed after them, wondering what the man had been doing to be a ‘pervert’.

Inside the bamboo fence, he forgot the slight incident in favor of staring in awe at the scene. This ‘hot springs’ was really a pool like everyone had said! It was steamy, though, with soft rocks surrounding the water and small bamboo shoot fountains circulated the hot water in small little waterfalls.

“WOW!!” Naruto exclaimed and rushed towards the water, his movement halted as two arms wrapped around him and lifted off the ground so he couldn’t get far.

“Woah, dobe!” Sasuke gasped, having caught the blonde in time. “First of all, you never go rushing into this kind of water. And second, you don’t want to get your robes wet.”

“Huh?” Naruto blinked and looked at him, then noticed everyone taking off their robes. Kakashi and the other guys had towels tied around their waists to cover modestly and Hinata had a larger towel wrapped around her whole body save her legs and the shoulders up.

Sasuke sighed and let Naruto go, removing his robes as well. “Hot springs are just that, hot. The water is also shallow, so you can’t jump in or really swim like you can in a swimming pool. It’s more about sitting in the water and socializing.”

“Oh…” Naruto replied, then blushed slightly and leaned over to whisper something into Sasuke’s ear.

Sasuke frowned and flushed slightly, “You didn’t tie a towel around you!?”

“You didn’t tell me to!” Naruto pouted.

Hinata blushed slightly and the other’s all sweatdropped. Sasuke sighed and rest his head in his hand for a moment, knowing this was partially his fault.

“F-Fine…Hinata…if you could?”

Hinata nodded and turned her back to them all. Sasuke then instructed Naruto to strip, though made sure Neji didn’t get the full view, then led Naruto carefully into the water to a sitting place.

“K…its safe, Hinata. Naruto, don’t stand up without warning Hinata to look away first, ok,” Sasuke instructed, settling down beside the blonde in the water.

Naruto nodded, still getting a bit used to the water’s temperature. Everyone else joined in afterwards and relaxed, glad to be off their feet and in the soothing waters.

After a moment, Naruto frowned, “So…this is all we do?”

“Yep…” Kakashi replied, pulling his book out from his robe.

“This is boring,” Naruto whined.

Sasuke smirked at the blonde, “Don’t be so whiny, dobe.”

Naruto sighed and slumped in the water, looking up at the sky above them. A barking sound caught his attention and made him sit up.

“Is that a dog?” Neji asked with a frown. Who brought a dog to a hot springs?

As if on cue, a white dog about the size of a wolf rushed through the fence door and bounded straight towards Naruto, letting out a happy bark and pouncing the blonde. Naruto yelped as he was pounced, then became a victim to a series of wet dog licks. Sasuke and everyone else had reflexively jumped aside, then Sasuke moved forward to try and pull the huge dog off of Naruto.

“Akamaru!?” Naruto cried out in surprise, laughing under the tongued assault as Sasuke finally managed to pull the dog off him.

Akamaru barked and wagged his tail, sitting down in front of the blonde. Naruto grinned and gave the dog’s head a scratch while everyone relaxed a little.

“Naruto…you know this dog?” Sasuke asked.

Naruto grinned and nodded, still petting Akamaru’s head, “Yep! Akamaru’s a good dog, so don’t worry. But if Akamaru’s here…”

“Akamaru?” A young male voice called out, a spiky haired brunette walking into their springs area just then. He stopped when he spotted Naruto and blinked, “NARUTO!?”

“KIBA-BAKA!” Naruto shouted, shooting to his feet with a glare at the brunette.

Hinata shrieked and blushed red as Naruto’s full naked form was exposed to everyone in the vicinity, collapsing in a faint. Kakashi caught her in time, keeping her from sinking under the water and fanning her with his book. Neji stared and practically drooled. Gaara and Sasuke both grabbed Naruto and pulled him back down into the water, Sasuke caught between glaring at Neji and looking curiously at this ‘Kiba’ guy.

Kiba and Naruto stared at each other for a while, before Kiba rest his hands on his hips and laughed out loud. “Well, well, if it isn’t the chibi!”

“Don’t call me a chibi!” Naruto shouted angrily at him, scowling at the other boy.

Sasuke was a little surprised, not used to seeing hostility on his angel’s face. “Naruto…is everything all right?”

Kiba frowned and looked at Sasuke then with a puzzled expression, “Hey, who are you?”

Sasuke turned and met his gaze steadily, “Uchiha Sasuke. Who are you?”

“Uchiha…Sasuke…hah! You’re the chibi’s charge, aren’t you?” Kiba grinned, moving to take a seat in the springs with them all. “I’m Inuzuka Kiba…a soldier.”

“Quit calling me chibi!!!!”

Kakashi sighed and smiled, amused by this turn of events. “Kiba and Naruto both attended the same academy, Sasuke. They’re…old rivals.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that, needing no more information. So this kid was a rival of his angel? In fact, now that he thought about it…he could slightly recall Naruto mentioning a Kiba before when telling him about angels becoming either guardians or soldiers.

Akamaru wagged his tail as best he could in the water, before strutting over to Kiba and out of the water, shaking off and then laying down on the stone behind the brunette.

“So, I finally get to meet the famous Uchiha Sasuke. The chibi’s forbidden lover,” Kiba grinned teasingly at Naruto.

Sasuke blushed at that while Naruto glared at Kiba. “We are not!”

“Whatever, baka. All you ever talked about was becoming Uchiha Sasuke’s guardian,” Kiba smirked, always one to enjoy annoying Naruto to death.

“Shut it, dog breath! What are you doing here on Earth, anyways?!” Naruto demanded.

Kiba scowled at the insult of a nickname. “Watch who you call dog breath, runt! And anyways, I’m here on special training. We soldiers unlike you guardians take our duties seriously, so we have to train hard.”

“Hey! I take my job seriously!” Naruto protested.

Kakashi sighed, deciding to cut them off before they got into a fight and Naruto flashed everyone again. “You can’t be here alone, Kiba. Where’s your chaperone?”

Kiba turned to look at Kakashi, blinking a little in surprise to see his old sensei there, “Yo, Kakashi-sensei. Haven’t seen you in a while. My chaperone’s around here somewhere…but I had to get away for a bit before he and my fellow trainee drove me nuts.”

“Humph,” Naruto grinned smugly. “Who’d you get? Bet it’s old man Corach, neh? After all, weak people need weak instructors.”

Kiba’s eyebrow twitched at the insult, his hands forming into fists, “For your information, I got one of the best instructors there are! He’s just simply…well…he’s kinda…weird.”

Kakashi immediately frowned in worry, “Weird?”

Just then a loud crash broke their discussion, the bamboo fence on their right cracking and bursting into pieces in dust and wood. Sasuke reacted in time, grabbing Naruto and lunging for the other side of the pool out of the way of the damage and debris.

“DYNAMIC ENTRY!!!” A voice shouted from among the quickly clearing dust.

Kakashi groaned and sank into the water, sweatdropping, “Dear Father…”

Neji coughed against the cloud of dust, seeing the unconscious Hinata sinking into the hot water and quickly grabbing hold of her and hauling her back up safely. Gaara coughed, having ducked under the water to avoid the debris. Sasuke and Naruto both sat up in the water and turned, wondering what the hell that had been about.

Standing there in the newly made hole that separated to of the spring pools stood a man with a bright green towel wrapped around his waist and the weirdest hair style Naruto and Sasuke had ever seen. His eyebrows were thick, which was the first thing Sasuke noticed. The pose was the second thing he noticed. It was the lamest, gayest pose a full grown man could ever strike and it made him stare wide eyed in disbelief at the guy.

Naruto however seemed to recognize the person before them.

“GAI-SENSEI!” Naruto cheered out, waving hi to the man.

Gai rest his hands on his hips and grinned with teeth so white they practically glinted in the sunlight, “Naruto! Is that you? It’s been a while. And aha! My long time rival, Kakashi! So you are here as well.”

“…” Kakashi sat up and relaxed, letting out an irritated sigh.

Gai gasped and took a dramatic jump back, gritting his teeth with a light curse, “Damn you, Kakashi! Hip as ever, I see!”

Sasuke’s opinion of the current moment went from silly to plain out wacko weird. He, Gaara, and Neji all wore the same expressions. This guy was so……….

“Now you understand,” Kiba stated to them calmly, recognizing the look on their faces for the same expression he’d worn when first meeting Might Gai. “But don’t worry. You get used to it after a while.”

Akamaru let out a whine and covered his face with his paws.

“GAI-SENSEI! That was the most amazing entrance ever!” Another voice cut in.

Low and behold, the stunned boys all watched as a boy about their age hopped through the hole in the fence, the mirror image of Gai except shorter.

Naruto blinked in surprise, having never seen the boy before. “Hey! Who’s the fuzzy brow?”

The boy blinked and straightened, turning to look at the questioner seriously. He then smirked confidently and turned, bowing, “A pleasure to make your acquaintance! I am Rock Lee, Heaven’s Beautiful Green Wild Beast!”

Naruto blinked, and then smiled, “Hiya! I’m Uzumaki Naruto, guardian of Uchiha Sasuke and future Head Angel!”

“I see. An honor to meet you, Naruto-kun,” Lee smiled, walking over and offering his hand to shake.

Naruto smiled and took it, shaking back.

“Did this just get weirder?” Sasuke asked.

“It definitely got weirder,” Neji answered with a nod.

***japanese folklore***

Tengu - Tengu come in various shapes, all mostly bird like. They can be humanoid or more animal-like with long noses. They can transform themselves into an animal, craft illusions, and some can control gale-force winds using a hauchiwa fan. Tengu inhabit the mountains of Japan, preferring deep forests of pine and cryptomeria. They are particularly associated with Mt. Takao and Mt. Kurama. Tengu are capricious creatures, and legends alternately describe them as benevolent or malicious. In their more mischievous moods, tengu enjoy playing pranks that range from setting fires in forests or in front of temples to more grave offenses, such as eating people (though this is rare). Tengu enjoy posing as human beings to dupe lost mountain travelers. They tend to take friendly forms, such as wandering hermits. After gaining a victim's trust, the tengu may simply toy with him by, for example, flying him around on a saucer-like contraption or immersing him in a masterfully created illusion. Alternately, the tengu may kidnap him, a practice known as kami kakushi or tengu kakushi — divine or tengu kidnapping. Victims often awaken far from where they were taken with no memory of the lost time. Missing children are also often blamed on the tengu.


***notes***

Lee - Yep, Lee has arrived! ^^ Ain't he cute? Lee's personality is kinda easy. Noble and kind of heart, brave and fond of Gai-sensei. Talks in a very proper manner. ^_^ I love Lee.

Kiba - Heh. My Kiba likes to call Naruto 'chibi' and tease him.

Akamaru - yep, akamaru in his grown up size. ^^

Hinata - poor Hinata, yet lucky Hinata. Gets to hang out with a bunch of hot (mostly gay) guys. XD

Neji - Yes, Neji is old enough to drive. ^^

***reviewer responses***

CommGonn - Thanks. And no...never been to the halo tournaments myself and besides, I don't think it will fit in in the story.

littleolmee - Hmm...I wonder. Who knows...maybe Neji is serious with his crush. And thank you. ^^

Artume - thank you. ^^

Rasengan22 - no. Sasuke won't leave and join the bad side. No worries. And don't worry, you'll get your Neji asking Naruto out moment soon enough. XD And glad the sharingan thing went over well. But he's not yet fully aware of it and Kakashi isn't sure.

Anna - *joins in the Sasuke jealous chant, then adds Neji is jealous* XD

Yuri-san - *cackles evilly* It'll be a while before I give Sasuke's story away. XD It is futile. ^^ And yeah, I'm a procrastination queen myself. ^^

Jadejj - Thank you. And yeah, it's cursed. You'll see why soon.

Passing Reader - Don't worry, don't worry. ^^ I'm not mad or upset. *hugs ya*

Everlasting Skies - I'm so glad the tension could be felt. I was worried that I might not have been able to get that through in the basketball game. And I have the 11 Gravitation Remix mangas. They are all NC-17 and each one is dedicated to a yaoi pairing. There is one with Yuki/Tatsuha/Tohma. One with Hiro/Shuichi. One crazy one that's Hiro/Shuichi/K/Yuuji. A Hiro/Yuuji. A Tatsuha/Yuki. A Tatsuha/Ryuichi. A K/Hiro... XD They're interesting to say the least. ^^