True Directions

I've gotten some 'Don't let it Diiiiiie!' e-mails lately. I had the same thing happen with another fic (Primary Gain) and I gave them a teaser to prove that the fic wasn't dead yet. It's only fair that I do the same for all my Naruto friends. You can thank 'Suicidal Cats Go Flush' for making me do a double-take and go through the rest of my comments. I do read comments and I do my best to satisfy... I love you too Suicidal Cats Go Flush.

Step Five- Reclaiming Masculinity

“WAKE UP MY YOUTHFUL STUDENTS!” Naruto jerked so hard that he fell out of bed, wrapped in sheets and staring up in bleary horror as Gai grinned down from behind bullhorn. “IT IS ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY!”

After a few stunned moments Naruto looked up at the clock on the wall and rasped, “It’s really not morning yet.”

Gai smirked, *smirked*, and said, “Why youthful student, that’s precisely why you went to bed early…so you could get your full eight hours of rest. Did you perhaps have a sleepless night?”

If the time on the clock was correct, and it was, Naruto had gotten about four hours of solid sleep and those hours were filled mostly with nightmares and the feel of Sasuke’s mouth.

Gai’s smirk turned into a smile as he asked, “Do you always sleep in your shoes, Naruto?”

Naruto felt the moment that the others fully comprehended the situation because the room filled with a thick, pregnant tension as Naruto's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. He felt his heart start to pound wildly, felt his skin leech of blood as fear made him tremble.

“I…” Naruto’s voice was barely a whisper as he clung uselessly to the fallen sheets, “I…”

Gai’s smile dimmed for a moment, his eyes going soft as he announced, “Will have plenty of time to sleep in the truck!”

“Truck?” Sasuke sat up, not bothering to hide the fact that he was still in his button-down shirt. He ran a hand through his hair and even from his position on the floor Naruto could smell cigarettes and beer, could see the small red mark on his neck revealed by his fingers. Naruto stood, throwing the covers on his bed sightlessly as Gai announced the plans for the rest of the week.

“You can’t be serious.” Neji’s voice was rough but managed to fully display the disgust in a breath. “I refuse.”

Gai raised an eyebrow and lifted his fisted hand and for a shocked moment Naruto thought he intended to hit Neji, but then his hand opened and Naruto sort of wished he had. A familiar box of matches was cradled in his palm, vivid against flesh. Again time seemed to pause as the room held its breath.

“Your clothes are in your top dresser drawers.” He closed his hand and said, “I put them there last night. Perhaps, young Neji, you may regain your youthful enthusiasm after a shower and a change of clothes.”

In complete silence Neji rose, pulled out a bundle of fabric and walked through the bathroom door.

“Very good!” Gai’s grin sparkled, “I will meet the rest of you in the front yard by six. WE WILL GREET THE DAWN AND BEGIN OUR MANLY TREK!”

Then, as he turned, he said, in almost a murmur, “And this will *not* happen again.”

Naruto collapsed to his bed at the click of the door, a hand to his forehead as he whispered, “Sweet fucking Jesus.”

“Do you think he’s very angry?” Lee’s voice was small as he collected his clothes, blue jeans and plaid nearly spilling out of his arms. “Will he tell Miss Kurenai?”

“No.” Gaara also stood, staring down at his own clothes with a glare. “But he’ll use it as leverage and it’s a quarter to six.”

The rest of them nodded and Naruto followed suit, clutching his clothes to his chest and running to the shower without a thought in his head. There was only fear there, a shivering terror as he washed the smoke out of his hair, as he pulled on new Levis a white undershirt a plaid blue cotton button-down and stuffed his feet into pristine hiking boots.

And in his rush to get outside Naruto forgot to make his bed.

***

The truck was enormous, an f350 with custom rims and that beautifully familiar Ford blue. It was pristine, nearly untouched, and when Naruto opened the cab door the new car smell wafted out in the morning breeze. For the first time since Naruto walked into Ebisu’s stinky van Naruto smiled and didn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.

“Shotgun!” Naruto yelled, taking the front seat and bouncing on the chair in glee.

“God help us,” Sasuke groused, “It’s the fucking mothership.”

The other boys collected near the open door as Naruto bounced around, trying to shake the cab but to no avail. The thing was rock solid, a monster of a truck that Naruto instantly fell in love with.

“Where the hell are we supposed to sit?” If Neji knew he looked ridiculous in plaid he didn’t show it, but his temper was touchy as hell. Naruto grinned.

“In the back.” He pointed a thumb and they all looked at the piles of tents and other camping supplies. There was room for one, maybe two people if those two people were really good friends.

“You just get a good grip on the side,” Naruto continued, careful not to let his grin to get too sharp, “and hold on. In this kind of rig it shouldn’t be *too* bumpy-”

The look on Neji and Sasuke’s face was *priceless* as they stared at him with expressions moving between fury and horror. Gaara rolled his eyes.
“Put the seat forward, Naruto.”

Gaara ruined Naruto’s fun by pulling down the collapsible bench in the back, buckling up near the window. Sasuke, cursing vividly, took the other window to leave Neji and Lee looking a little worried.

“Well,” Naruto smiled, “It looks like someone’s gonna have to sit up here with me.”

Lee and Neji looked at each other while Sasuke simply unbuckled, put a leg over the chair and dropped into the empty seat. He didn’t look once to the side, he simply buckled himself back in, put his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes.

Lee laughed a little and went to the middle seat of the back bench, a certain twinkle in his eyes as Neji joined him.

Naruto pushed his chair back into place and buckled in, getting comfortable enough that when he stretched his legs his thigh pressed against Sasuke’s in a warm line. Watching out of the corner of his eyes he saw Sasuke’s lashes flutter, almost encompassed by a deep, weary-sounding sigh.

****

Naruto was halfway through the fourth rendition of his favorite Roger Miller song when they turned the corner into the camp and Gai stopped the truck.

“You can’t drive around with a tiger in your car!” Sasuke’s previous mild annoyance was starting turn into homicidal rage if his bright red face and fisted hands were an indicator but for Naruto that was half the fun, “You can’t drive around with a tiger in your car! You can’t drive around with a tiger in your caaaaaaar…But you can be happy if you’ve a mind t-ack!”

Gai got out of the truck, humming along, and the second his door slammed shut Sasuke lunged, a deep growl echoing out of his chest as he slammed Naruto into the window.

“Sleep with one eye open.” Sasuke hissed, “I swear to god, Naruto, if you don’t-”

Naruto grinned. If being pressed down by Sasuke’s weight, hands fisted in his shirt, was supposed to be an intimidation tactic Sasuke was failing and poorly too.

“You can’t go swimming in a watermelon patch!” Naruto continued, laughing as he tried to push Sasuke away, “You can’t- oof,”

Neji finished the argument by folding Naruto’s chair forward and shoving them both into the dashboard. They were both just a big tangle of limbs, Naruto nearly kissing the plastic mats on the bottom of the floor while Sasuke was trying to get loose. Naruto kept squirming, trying to make a little free space until Sasuke’s hands clenched down on his arms and he hissed, “Stop. Moving.”

“Um-” Naruto tried to get a hand on the headrest but Gaara gave the seat a good slam before he jumped out of the back. If he shifted his hips, he could just about-

Sasuke made a small, pained sound and repeated his last directive with a little more force. Naruto froze, he could see just enough that he knew Sasuke’s eyes were closed, his breath was coming fast, and…Naruto moved his leg a little and realized why Sasuke wasn’t letting him get any leverage.

Naruto sucked in a sharp breath and felt his face flush as he realized how easy it would be to make Sasuke tremble. It was that moment that Naruto knew the ramifications of Sasuke’s desire for him, how much he could *change* Sasuke if he gave in…but Naruto looked up at Sasuke, his closed eyes and flushed face, and knew he would never try to change him, because Sasuke, as he was, was per-

The seat went back to its natural position and Naruto finally fell into the foot well, landing badly on his shoulders and banging his head on the glove compartment. Sasuke made a small, frustrated noise and nearly followed, the only thing saving him was a good grip on the headrest. Naruto looked up to see Gai’s face staring down at him, looking a little surprised.

Naruto blushed and explained, “Sasuke was trying to choke me but Gaara pushed the seat forward-”

Sasuke cursed vividly as he smashed his back on the parking break and hit his elbow on the horn, alerting everyone in a five mile radius about their predicament.

“AH!” Gai looked relieved, “The manly art of unarmed combat!”

One black eyebrow arched as he added “*Again*.”

Sasuke finally got himself upright enough to escape out of the driver’s door, rocking the truck as he slammed it behind him.

Naruto finally got vertical. He spilled out of the passenger’s side to land in the dirt of the road, hitting the footrest on his way down. Very suddenly the height of F350 was not quite so appealing.

“Owie.” Naruto got up to his knees with a wince.“Owie Owie Owie-”

There was a little comfort that the pain from the fall had fixed any problems below the beltline. He gratefully grabbed the first hand that was held out, groaning as he was pulled his feet.

“Thanks-” Naruto wiped his shirt to no avail. He looked up to give his rescuer a smile-
And stared into a pair of the greenest eyes he’d ever seen.

****

“Ah, Temujin,” Gai smiled a smile that was far more like a grimace. “I was told that your father would be handling the retreat this year.”

The man nodded and Naruto felt his brain melt a little as those green eyes were augmented by a small, mischievous smile. His memory went back to the time one of the horses had kicked him in the gut as Naruto stepped back reflexively at the blow of the man’s regard.

“Yes,” Temujin moved those eyes back to Gai, “Unfortunately he’s got a nasty case of hunting season. He sends his apologies and promises to send venison sometime soon.”

Gai laughed a little uneasily, nearly wincing as he scratched his forehead.

Naruto immediately knew why he was looking worried. Temujin was the most striking person Naruto had ever seen. Long pale hair framed vivid green eyes and a smile, soft, that just wouldn’t stop. There seemed to be a little humor in his apology, but barely as Gai made a few uneasy sighs and looked over to the group. Most of them were already sitting at a picnic bench, watching with interest as Naruto tried and failed to shut his mouth.
Naruto looked at Temujin looking at Gai and his heart knocked into his ribs so suddenly that Naruto inhaled a sharp breath.

It was automatic and frightening, but if Naruto had been unsure of his sexuality before, well, the proof was in the sudden, giggling thrill that raced down his spine when Temujin glanced over and said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to do.”

Naruto bit his lip and carefully shut the door behind him, trying not to make a noise that might attract the man’s attention again. He almost succeeded. Temujin’s eyes flicked briefly towards him but moved back to Gai before he could see Naruto blush from his neck to his ear tips. It was with careful attention to his feet that Naruto walked over to where the group had congregated, taking a seat on the end where he dropped his forehead and groaned, “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

And no one asked what he was referring to, which was confirmation enough that Naruto had just made a complete fool of himself in front of god and everyone who mattered…and Sasuke. Naruto lifted his head in sudden panic just in time to see Sasuke round the corner of the old cabin/house with a pack of cigarettes clutched tightly in his hand.
The heart that had been beating so wildly dropped down to his stomach in a wave of guilt.

Naruto put his head in his hands and whispered, “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

****

“… and we’ll be going to the paintball station,” Temujin smiled softly, “It’s always been a popular activity here. There’s a nice lake close by, fully stocked, so you’ll also try your luck with fishing. And then the usual camping things: tents, campfires, wilderness survival.”

“Ghost stories.” Temujin added at the resulting silence, completely straight-faced.
“Smores.”

Lee raised a hand and Temujin nodded.

“Will Mr. Gai be helping too?”

“No, he’ll be staying at the cabin. I’ll be in charge.” Then that placid calm turned stern as he said, “And I know the rules. If anyone steps out of line they’ll go back to the cabin with Gai and be sent home.”

That brought the murmur of the group straight back to a tense silence as everyone realized that this man, a perfect stranger, knew who they were and why they’d be sent from True Directions.

“Now,” The tension eased as he looked them over, “Does anyone here have any camping experience?”

Naruto had taken a seat directly behind Neji when their little powwow had started, hiding behind Neji’s superior height as he stared at the ground and not at their instructor. Naruto didn’t answer, content to play novice, but after a few minutes a familiar drawl answered, “Namikaze does.”

Naruto looked up long enough to glare at Sasuke with a promise of merciless retaliation but Sasuke just smirked back, mocking and cold.

Naruto scooted over enough that he could face Temujin and keep his eyes glued to the trees at his left.

“Yeah,” He kept his voice even, uninterested, “I’ve done some camping.”

In fact he’d done so much camping that he and Kiba had stayed up in the mountains by themselves long enough to fill their father’s freezers with enough meat to last through winter. His father proudly displayed a wall filled with racks and racks of antlers.

“So you know the basics.” Temujin moved so that their gazes met for a moment and Naruto immediately shifted his attention to the totem pole directly behind the man’s head.

“Yup.” Naruto closed his mouth so hard that the muscles stood out, crossing his arms in the most belligerent way possible. If he could make the guy think he hated him, maybe Naruto could-

“Oh, good.” Temujin shifted his head and Naruto found himself caught suddenly in green eyes before he could slide his own to the roof of the cabin where Gai would be staying.

“I guess you’ll be my helper then.” Temujin said, finally keeping his head in one position. “I don’t usually do this, so it’ll be nice to have a second pair of helping hands.”

Naruto fought a smile down into one grim line.

“Somewhere,” Gaara said softly, “Tayuya is laughing herself sick and she doesn’t know why.”

Naruto reached over grabbed the flesh of Gaara’s exposed ankle and *twisted*.

It was not surprising that Gaara didn’t seem to mind.

“Whatever.” Naruto did his best Sasuke impersonation but it came out weak, sounding more petulant than derisive. “I can manage.”

“Good.” Temujin clapped his hands together and Naruto jumped, exhaling a nervous breath as he scooted behind Neji again. “Then I guess we should get started. All of your supplies have gathered at the campsite, so we’ll have a little hike. A few packs have been assembled with emergency supplies and water, so find your name on the picnic bench and meet me at the totem pole.”

The boys continued to stare, Naruto staying hunched before Temujin sighed deeply and said, “*Now*, please, gentlemen.”

Doing a quick about-face, Naruto stood and headed towards the picnic table, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. When Gai had told them about the plan before, three days camping out in the wilderness, he’d been ecstatic, but now…three days of Temujin giving him that bemused smile was going to be worse than Naruto was willing to comprehend. He found his backpack, bright blue with the True Directions logo, and slung it over his shoulders, making sure adjust the straps correctly. A long hike with a wobbly backpack was hell.

He looked up when he was done to see Neji struggling with own. The wide straps kept slipping off Neji’s narrow shoulders, and Lee was pretty much in the same condition with his backpack practically resting on his thighs.

Naruto sighed and went to help his friends.

Neji asserted that he needed no help, was perfectly fine, until Naruto grabbed one of the straps and pulled. He did the same to the next, Neji watching in surprise, and then turned him around, adjusting the clip on the front of the body that held the straps together.

“Better?” Neji gave a slight nod and Lee starting jumping up and down.

“Naruto MY BOSOM BUDDY!” Lee’s voice echoed and the cheerful chirp of the birds came to an abrupt stop, “I am in need of assistance. Perhaps you, whom I love LIKE A BROTHER, would deign to help me?”

Naruto grinned, matching Lee’s expression of joy, and said, “No problem.”

Lee was a more difficult case, he wouldn’t stop squirming, but Naruto finally managed to get him calm enough to clip the pack into place. Together they walked over to where Gaara and Sasuke were at the totem pole with Temujin. Gaara was completely at ease, his pack expertly adjusted, but Sasuke had his arms crossed and was glaring at Temujin’s extended, empty palm.

Temujin’s eyes were slit as he said, “You can give them to me now or you can smoke them all the way home.”

Sasuke just kept staring, his jaw clenched, and Naruto knew that if someone didn’t do something-

He stepped forward in three quick strides and stood between the two, facing Temujin. He had to stuff his shaking hands in his pockets and his first attempt at communicating was a little dry, but Naruto looked up at Temujin and managed some semblance of control as he said, very quietly, “He’s practically a chain-smoker and I don’t see any place to pick up some nicotine patches. Maybe you could,” Naruto cleared his throat, and scratched the back of his head as Temujin stared down, “you know, ration them or something?”

Temujin stared down and said, “It is not in my nature to facilitate addicts.”
Sasuke stepped forward, bumping into Naruto’s back, but before he could open his big, stupid mouth, Naruto turned and snapped, “Stay out of it, Sasuke.”

Sasuke backed off, jerking away from Naruto with wide, startled eyes.

He turned back to Temujin, “We are not here as *drug addicts* and smoking is still legal in the United States.”

“For eighteen year olds.” Temujin added, looking amused when Naruto fisted his hands and began to turn red for an emotionally legitimate reason. For a moment it seemed that he would be forever fated to be attracted to handsome, belligerent, stuck-up-

Naruto pulled himself together long enough to exhale, look into those green eyes, and say, “Haven’t we already given up enough?” He felt something in him, some dam, start to crumble and his voice went hoarse, choked, “Or do you have to have this too?”

Temujin’s hand closed and fell to his side. The amusement was gone, replaced instead by a thin line between his eyebrows and a moment of tense silence before he looked over Naruto’s shoulder to Sasuke.

“Four a day,” He murmured, “and more if I think the situation allows.”

Naruto kept his eyes pointed to the ground and smelled more than saw Sasuke hand the pack over without a word.

Temujin pocketed them and went to the head of the group, giving instructions in a loud, clear voice. The trail was easy, a clear furrow through the trees that headed deeper into the forest until they were surrounded entirely by trees.

Sasuke touched Naruto’s shoulder and Naruto jerked away.

****