The Definition of Piety

A/N: Yay! New update! Anyways, just as a quick side note, most of this story will be told from Neji’s perspective, but occasionally I will switch the point of views…not that I’m sure you care, but meh, anyways…

Special thanks to:
Limericks
XoXgaaraXoX
jess249
lexjamandme
Shikyaku
PlotAficionado
yaoilovergirl
Vin

Not to sound like a stalker, but I love you all and I am now sending you internet hugs and kisses filled with my devotion.

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Of Bathing and Pit Stops

They had a problem.

It was a great plan in theory, at least Gaara believed so, but it was slightly more difficult than expected when put into action. For instance, it was easy to say that they were going to somehow bring Naruto and Sasuke together on this three day journey through woods and the desert. However, three days was not really a long time, and with the way things were currently going...

“Fuck off and die, you uptight prick!” Naruto’s bellow of outrage had surely been heard all the way to Suna. Neji and Gaara both had to hold back a cringe as they watched their two companions exchange heated glares. Honestly, they had only set off two hours ago.

“That’s eloquent, Dobe, but of course I really wouldn’t expect someone like you to know how to speak properly. Besides, there’s no point in ‘fucking off’, we all saw what happened last time I tried to accomplish that particular task.” The Uchiha finished in a dry tone, his pointed nose turning up slightly in a sneer.

“Yeah, I kicked your ass all the way back to Konoha, that’s what!” It was not difficult to pick out the triumph in Naruto’s voice.

“No, idiot, you stuck that nose of yours in places that it didn’t belong.” Sasuke growled, his fists curling up by his sides.

“It got you back, didn’t it?” Naruto shot back, a shit-eating grin plastered on his tan face, causing the slight dimples on his whiskered cheeks to stand out.

“You assume that I even wanted to be back. Especially with an idiot like you.” Sasuke said coldly, his eyes averted towards the ground. Naruto’s smile quickly dropped to be replaced with something that could only be described as a snarl.

“What did you say, teme?”

“You heard me.”

And on it went.

Neji and Gaara hung back a little ways to watch the two boys argue with each other. It seemed to be the same thing over and over again. There was never really a specific point to any of their arguments, just always one boy trying to one-up the other. Insults were tossed around like common speech between the two and each time the argument would either end in cold silence or a full-blown physical fight.

It was unnerving to watch.

“Love is in the air.” Neji muttered under his breath, as not to alert the two boys in front of them, the sarcasm nearly dripping from his words. Gaara looked over to the shinobi beside him, his head nodding slightly in agreement. “Do you think we’ve gotten in over our heads? This seems pretty hopeless.” Neji asked in a hushed tone.

“Most things do until you look at them from a different angle.” Gaara said softly, and Neji had to admire the fact that though the Kazekage did not speak often, when he did it was worth the wait.

“Any ideas then, Gaara?” Neji questioned, a delicate eyebrow quirking as he eyed the redhead expectantly.

“None.” Gaara stated simply, his sea green eyes staring unwaveringly into Neji’s own lilac ones. “Besides, I believe it’s your turn to come up with one, Hyuuga.”

“I didn’t realize this was a ‘take-turns’ situation.” Neji said, his voice as level as the Kazekage’s own.

“Then that was your mistake, Hyuuga.” Gaara answered, a hint of a smirk tugging at his pink lips.

Neji was about to open his mouth to retort when the increase in volume in front of him halted any type of comeback he had prepared.

“Dammit, what is your problem!” Naruto and Sasuke had completely stopped walking and were now facing each other, mere inches separating them. The lack of distance between them would have seemed intimate if it weren’t for the deathly glares that were being shared.

“My answer is the same every time you ask me that, bakayaro.” Sasuke replied, without any hint of emotion in his voice.

“Well, I’ve always been slow on the uptake, so could you repeat it for me?” Naruto growled, his breath dancing across Sasuke’s pale skin, causing a shiver to race pleasantly and unwelcome down his spine.

“Just leave it, Naruto.” Sasuke demanded, his annoyance beginning to show. He did not really feel comfortable having this type of conversation in front of two people that he was quite certain would have no problem administrating capital punishment if he said something too hurtful to the blonde. Not that was afraid, far from it, it would just be a hassle to deal with them both.

“No, I wont, Sasuke.” Naruto pressed, determined to get the answer from him.

“This is pointless-“

“Just answer the question, bastard.” Naruto gritted out, clearly having no patience for this game that they had played many times before.

“You are my problem!” Sasuke took a step even closer to Naruto, the tip of his nose almost touching the tanned one that was so close to his own. “You are always there! Always there when everyone needs you. Always there to save the day. Always there to help out those in need. But what if I don’t want you there, Naruto! I didn’t need to be saved, and I sure as hell didn’t need to be saved by you.” The Uchiha, who had yet to raise his voice beyond a cool octave of indifference, was now all but yelling at the other boy. Naruto stood in shock, his blue eyes wide with something that could only be viewed as hurt, and his mouth hanging open, but any words that might have been said were lost in the silence that now stood between the boys. Naruto stood for a few more seconds, letting Sasuke’s words completely register, before his mouth fell into a rehearsed grin and a hand reached up to scratch hesitantly at the back of his scalp. Naruto was the perfect picture of what those who did not know better believed him to be. A goofy, happy-go-lucky idiot. Years of training himself to fool those around him had made him one hell of an actor. But the hurt in his eyes was still there, one just had to be able to see it. And unfortunately, no matter how good of an actor Naruto might be, he would never be good enough to fool these particular three.

“Ah, gomen, gomen,” Naruto said in a tone of false cheerfulness and Neji and Gaara would have been ready to screw any previous hang-ups they had about killing the Uchiha if it weren’t for the fact that it looked like Sasuke wanted to kill himself. “Sorry, I got a little carried away. Lets get going. Forget this happened, ne Sasuke?”

“Naruto, I-“ Sasuke began, but Naruto cut him off as if he hadn’t even heard the other boy speak.

“Neji, Gaara, will you two hurry up! It’s a wonder you are shinobi with how slow you both are!” Naruto bellowed over his shoulder to his friends, that same grin on his face, just as heartbreaking as it always was. Naruto began to walk on ahead of them, never looking Sasuke in the eyes as he passed him. Sasuke could feel the murderous intent of the two chakras behind him, but he ignored it as he followed after the blonde jinchuuriki, head hung low and black bangs covering his face from the world.

Neji and Gaara watched the other two walk away as they shared glances towards each other.

“Bastard…” Neji seethed quietly beside Gaara, constantly having to remind himself that it would upset Naruto if he were to maim the love of his life. Gaara chose to ignore that comment as his hand fell warningly on Neji’s shoulder. He didn’t believe that the other boy would actually do anything but it never hurt to be too cautious.

In all actuality he was just as pissed off as the Hyuuga was, but he felt that that anger could be directed into actually achieving their goal rather than just mindless killing. Ah, If his old-self could see him now…

“We could really use that plan now, Hyuuga.” Gaara said expectantly.

“We need more time. Three days is not enough.” Neji replied, keeping his voice even as he tried to focus on a plan of action in order to calm himself. Neji began to search desperately in his mind for something, anything to help. They needed more time, that was all there was to it.

And then it hit him.

A smirk spread across his lips, one that Gaara did not miss. Neji looked again towards the two boys ahead of him before calling out. “Time for a break!”

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Neji saw Sasuke’s eye twitch for what must have been the thirtieth time that day. He was starting to be able to anticipate when it would happen and he had to admit that the habit was becoming increasingly annoying. However, he wasn’t sure if he would be faring any different if he was in Sasuke’s current situation.

In the time span of the last five hours they had stopped a total of seven times. Neji worried that they might be taking things a little too far, but hell, it seemed to be getting the job done. (Not to mention that when they were moving Neji would purposely leading them through “short-cuts”) Their “breaks” were increasing in length each time they stopped, and the reasons behind the little pit stops were increasing in falseness.

First it had just been excuses of needing a break to rest up. Still, they were trained shinobi so that in itself was already unbelievable.

However, after that one had worn out its welcome, a string of other ailments had sprung forth from the Kazekage and the Hyuuga prodigy’s mouths.

“Gaara you look paler than usual, maybe we should stop and rest.” It was no use pointing out the fact that it would be very difficult for Gaara to get much paler than he already was, but who were they to argue with the eyes of the Byakugan.

So they stopped. Again. That’s when Neji noticed the thirty-first eye-twitch of the day.

Naruto seemed to be completely oblivious to the entire situation and Neji and Gaara’s intentions, but Sasuke…well, Sasuke was pissed. He was, after all, yet another one of Konoha’s geniuses so for him it wasn’t very hard to figure out. He didn’t know why the other two were stalling but they were, and it was really beginning to piss him off. It was bad enough that he was already stuck on a mundane mission with two people who probably spent their spare time plotting his unsightly demise, and the blonde that was already permanently implanted in his brain anyways, but now this little escapade had to be longer than it needed to be? This was a load of bullshit.

But Uchihas do not pout, so Sasuke opted to scowl instead.

Neji and Gaara watched as their two companions leaned against trees facing the opposite direction from each other. They had not spoken to one another since the incident some hours before. Most would think that their silence was better than the constant fighting, but the tension was so think that it was nearly strangling. Why had Naruto fallen in love with this prick and opted to pursue such a screwed up relationship?

However, neither Neji nor Gaara felt that it was their place to question it. Love wasn’t always simple and perfect, they were already proof of that themselves.

They loved the blonde enough to try to hook him up with someone else who they hated…no, they had no room to talk at all.

After some minutes of uncomfortable silence, with Naruto and Sasuke refusing to make eye contact, Neji and Gaara doing nothing but making eye contact with each other and sharing silent conversations, it was Sasuke who finally spoke first.

“Well, you seem better now, so why don’t we keep moving.” He threw out in a low voice, cutting effectively through the smothering silence. As he stood to dust himself off, Neji looked for an excuse to prolong their little stop. Finding nothing, he looked to Gaara discreetly for help.

“I’m hungry.” The Kazekage stated simply, looking directly at the Uchiha. “We’re not leaving until we eat something, and I don’t much care for rations.”

Even Neji had to give him an incredulous look at that one.

Seriously…

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed slightly as he met Gaara’s blank stare with a glare. “If we keep moving for a little longer then we can eat dinner when we stop for the night.” He said coldly.

“Well, then lets camp here tonight.” Gaara said smoothly, clearly unfazed.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Do you have a problem, Uchiha?” Though Gaara’s voice was as flat as usual, there was an underlining warning in his tone. Sasuke only took a step towards the flame haired man, his jaw set in a firm line.

“As a matter of fact-”

“Yatta! Man, you’re right, Gaara, I’m starving! I don’t mind stopping here for the night.” Naruto was now standing between Gaara and Sasuke, his voice as cheerful as ever, but it was clear to everyone what he was trying to do. Naruto loved to fight with his friends, but he couldn’t stand to see his friends fight with each other.

“Naruto-” Sasuke began in a heated voice but Naruto quickly cut him off.

“Onegai, Sasuke.” Naruto’s voice was one that people did not hear often, completely devoid of it’s usual cheerfulness or outrage.

Sasuke stared at him for a few moments, as if contemplating his decision, before sighing in annoyance and going back to lean against his pervious tree. “Fine, let’s stay here for the night.”

“Arigato, Sasuke.” Naruto said with a genuine smile, while Neji and Gaara looked at each other in mild surprise. Maybe there was more understanding between the two than Gaara and Neji had given them credit for.

“Hell yeah, let’s have ramen!” The blonde’s boisterous attitude had returned in full force.

“Quiet down, dobe.”

“Oi, bastard!”

And so it began again.

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Night had finally settled fully upon them as the group sat silently around the campfire, save for one member.

Naruto.

The boy had decided to take a small walk a while back ago and had yet to return. Needless to say, the other three who had stayed behind were passing the time by coming up with ways to make the tension even thicker. Though, they really hadn’t made it passed glaring silently. Sasuke sat with his elbows on his knees and his chin resting on his hands as his coal eyes studied the two other shinobi that sat across from him. Neither of them felt it necessary to be polite and not stare, so Sasuke’s gaze was met directly and unwaveringly by two other pairs of eyes. None of them were willing to back down. Sasuke’s glare was one of contemplation, as he tried to figure out what was going on in the other two’s heads. Neji and Gaara’s glares were there because…they didn’t like Sasuke.

It went on like this for quite some time and Sasuke was beginning to wonder where the dobe had run off to. He wasn’t worried. Oh hell no, Uchiha’s do not worry. But, still…

“Maybe you should go look for him if it’s bothering you that much.” Neji’s voice would have startled Sasuke if he was a lesser man.

“It’s none of my business what that idiot does.” Sasuke snapped, resuming his position of contemplation.

“You’re fidgeting quite a bit, Uchiha, is something wrong?” This time it was Gaara who spoke as he glanced over the Uchiha.

“I’m fine.” Sasuke ground out, he had been edgy all day and interrogation from these two emotionless assholes was not something that he really wanted to deal with.

“Is that so…” Neji said, his lips twitching slightly as he watched the Uchiha’s fists begin to ball up unconsciously.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes. Neji and Gaara just waiting for the inevitable. Finally the Uchiha stood up abruptly.

“Dammit.” He muttered in irritation before setting off in the direction he had seen Naruto take off in.

If Neji and Gaara were anybody else they would have been grinning like idiots at this point.

Sasuke walked through the forest, the trees thick around him as he searched for the blonde shinobi. He followed the trail of broken twigs and familiar chakra signature as his mind raced with the events of the day.

The image of Naruto’s impossibly wide and hurting blue eyes was the one that continued to make itself apparent. He hadn’t meant to hurt him, or perhaps at the time he had, but the result of his words left no triumph only a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.

If it was anyone else, he wouldn’t have cared. If he had seen that looked of pain in anyone else’s it wouldn’t have bothered him. But it had to be Naruto and he had to be the cause of it.

And he hated the guilt he felt for it. Hated the way seeing Naruto in pain made him feel it as well. Hated Naruto for making him feel when all he really wanted was to be numb.

He cursed under his breath as he felt his chest tightening. He didn’t want this. He was fine with being dead on the inside, he didn’t want Naruto to make him feel alive.

He wasn’t happy when he suppressed his emotions, but he wasn’t sad either, and he couldn’t forgive Naruto for taking that emptiness from him. Naruto had saved him yet again and Sasuke hated him for it.

Hated him because he made Sasuke care.

And Sasuke wished for anything else but that.

His was pulled from his thoughts as he heard splashing coming from somewhere in front of him.

He quickly headed in the direction of the sound and stopped short behind a tree, his eyes coming in contact with a small lake and a very naked blonde.

His first instinct was to turn away, to give his teammate some privacy, but for some reason his eyes lingered on the lithe form of his friend. The pale light from the moon illuminated the tan skin that was exposed before his eyes and he felt his mouth go dry, as his sharingan activated, and he unconsciously began to memorize the sight in front of him.

Naruto’s back was facing him as the blond stood up to his waist in water. His hair was darkened with water from a previous dive in and droplets of liquid were slowly trailing from the tips of his hair to trace between golden shoulder blades, down a delicately curved spine, and down to the slope of the blonde’s ass, which was mostly hidden in the water, but Sasuke could still make out the beginning curve of what promised to be a round yet firm buttocks.

Naruto had a nice ass, Sasuke was well aware, and seeing it like this was all the more alluring and aggravating. Sasuke had seen Naruto naked plenty of times before in places like the public bath house, but this was different. This was private and intimate and something that Sasuke new he shouldn’t be spying on.

He knew this, and yet…

Despite his back being turned from Sasuke, he could tell that Naruto was holding something white in his hands.

Soap.

The blonde slowly began to rub the bar against one sculpted shoulder and down a muscled arm, leaving a light lather in its wake. Naruto then began to rub against the smooth skin of his bicep, working out the kinks and smoothing in the soap.

Sasuke licked his lips, and was just about to step in closer for a better look when he became quite aware of the tightening in his pants. Somehow, the awareness of his arousal pulled him forcefully from his dobe-induced haze as he felt his cheeks grow hot with a blush that was unbefitting of an Uchiha. Sasuke berated himself as he turned reluctantly away from the tempting sight and left the other shinobi in privacy as he headed off quickly and stealthily towards camp.

As he reached the place they had set up for the night, he spared no glances at the other two boys as he stormed into the tent. He could feel their questioning stares on the back oh his neck and he resisted the urge to tell them that it was ’none of their damn business.’

Neji and Gaara sat looking at the tent entrance in mild shock.

“What the hell was that all about?” Neji questioned, and all Gaara could do was shrug.