You were the one behind the mask

Hello there,

It's been a while but I am back.

I want to thank to all the people that review this chapter even though it wasn't beta-ed, thanks guys and like I promise...or not ,I don't really remember, I am posting this chapter once again this time MiraMira helped me out with it, which means that my mistakes had been corrected. Thanks once again for your patience.


Also I want to thank to those who propose some of the costumes Redluna32, ednama and Sneakyfox , this chapter is for you !!!

And of course I want to thank (and dedicate this chap) to all of you who had reviewed the story and had made me happy with those reviews. So thanks to :MiraMira, mistress0fyaoi, AngelicChaos, LunakaWren, lilburrito , Rianne, bonnenuit,sweetangel18 and Zimmrie Kanoah.

I hope you enjoy this!!

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Chapter 6


Regardless of how early it was, the morning was warm and promising. The grass was slightly wet with dew and birds could be heard nearby. The place was an area of flat ground full with white or grey gravestones and in front of one of them were two figures, one taller than the other, each with a white rose in hand.


Their eyes were fixated on the tombstone in front of them. Their faces showed the sorrow the person buried there left behind. The taller man kneeled and put his rose on the grave then stood up and broke the silence of the cemetery with his voice.


“I heard you have a big party tonight” he said with a small smile on his face, “and that it was going to be ‘epic’ and ‘fun’ and on top of that a costume party.”

The blond beside him kneeled in front of the gravestone and stayed there. He snorted before he answered to his companion.


“You were spying on me last night.”


“Well, I had to; I couldn’t let my little brother be raped now could I?” The blond boy opened his eyes in shock at that answer and he turned around to glare at the man.


“Where the hell did that come from? I was with Sasuke, it isn’t as if I was with Hidan or something,” replied the boy shivering slightly at the memory of Hidan. This time the older man snorted and rolled his eyes.


“So, there is going to be a party, eh?” Naruto broke into a soft smile and nodded.


“A big and epic party. I invited everyone in my year. Are you coming?”


“Are you kidding? A Halloween party with a bunch of noisy and annoying brats? I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world!!” was the sarcastic reply of the man, “ I can already imagine Jiraiya’s reaction to this, imagine if he found out…or better yet, Tsunade-sama….” An evil smirked form on the man’s face and Naruto opened his eyes a little worried.


“You wouldn’t!!! You’re supposed to be my brother…the one that would back me up with this!!” once again the man smirked, a gleam of mischief appearing on his face.


“Oh, but I would do it if I felt like doing it. Though I have to admit that while Tsunade-sama would kill you, Jiraiya would merely be really proud that his Naru-chan chose a party at his own place to loose his sweet, virgin innocence."


“Zabuza!!! What the hell is wrong with you??” Zabuza snickered at the loud comeback and put a hand on his surrogate brother’s shoulder.


“The question is what the hell is wrong with you? When I was your age I had already done everything you can imagine.” Naruto shivered imaging what that ‘everything’ could be.


“I don’t think this conversation is really appropriate. Either way, my love life is none of your business.”


“Of course it is! I promised Haku I will take care of you, and so far I’ve been doing a damn good job.” At the mention of the boy Naruto let a sad smile form on his face, he turned around to look at the gravestone where the name “Haku” was written in big letters. Naruto set his white rose there and stood up, putting on a cheerful smile.


“You have done a good job so far Zabuza” The man smiled down at the blond then turned around and started to walk away with Naruto following behind. “You know, I’m a little hungry…”


Zabuza snorted and shook his head. Uzumaki Naruto never changed; one moment he was serious the other he was either smiling or eating.


“Come on then, I think another breakfast wouldn’t be so bad”


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They sat in a café that was near downtown, it was a small place located beside one of Naruto’s favorite malls, the boy knew that if he played his cards right he might convince Zabuza to take him there and buy him some music or maybe movies. That’s why Naruto make sure to sit beside the window that faced the street with Zabuza sitting in front of him. After giving their orders to a flirty waitress they sat in complete silence, the only sounds being those of the cars or other customers inside the café.


They had been in the café for over an hour while Naruto talked and enjoyed his coffee and Zabuza listened over his cup of tea. They boy kept rattling about all the preparations concerning the party, his costume (he mention someone called ‘green arrow’ though Zabuza didn’t who he was or why it was a ‘cool’ costume, but in the end he did end up buying it for Naruto), his classes, his former crush on that scary girl called Sakura, and that time he had gone to the movies with the younger Uchiha and some other kids. Then Naruto proceeded to tell him about the different events involving Sasuke and Gaara and Zabusa couldn’t help but laugh really hard at that.

“I thought the Uchiha was a little more determined like his brother, but it seems like he’s kind of a coward. Really, to just act jealous instead of claiming you as his property!” What Zabuza had said took Naruto for surprise and the coffee he had in his mouth ended up on the table and window. Naruto had his eyes wide opened and his jaw dropped in a comical way. Zabuza passed him a napkin rolling his eyes. “Close your mouth and clean the mess you made.”

Naruto didn’t move, didn’t blink, and certainly didn’t close his mouth. He was analyzing what Zabuza had just said and his brain was just registering the implications, then he reacted with a very loud ‘WHAT!’ followed by a ‘what the hell are you talking about?’ and an amusing stutter of ‘which Uchiha?’

Zabuza had never thought of Naruto as a dumb or goofy person, certainly the blond boy was a little…special, when he wanted to be, but he was smart. That was why he couldn’t believe that his surrogate brother didn’t know anything about young Uchiha Sasuke. For God’s sake, even the ten year old Haku had noticed some competition in the black-haired boy.

“What do you mean ‘which Uchiha’? I’m talking about the youngster that seems glued to you and that glares at every human being that gets remotely close to you!” replied Zabuza. Naruto merely shook his head and laughed out loud which only made Zabuza lift his eyebrows and stare at the boy.


“That was a good one Zabuza…really, you almost got me there,” said Naruto chuckling while cleaning the window. When he turned to see Zabuza, the man was looking at him and Naruto could tell that there wasn’t any joke behind Zabuza’s words. Naruto paled and said, “You mean…Sasuke…?”


Zabuza nodded.


“You mean Sasuke, as in my best friend ever, Sasuke?”


Once again Zabuza nodded.


“Fuck.”


“You really are that dense?”


“Hey, in my defense how I was supposed to know that my best friend, someone I see as a BROTHER, likes me?” said Naruto leaning on the table with a frown on his face.


“Come on Naruto, the looks he sends your way, the touches, the smiles….that boy has it bad for you.”

“But…but, I don’t…I mean, sure Sasuke is hot and all and he’s a good friend and we had been together all our lives but…I never, I mean, I never thought of him that way.” Naruto was trying to clear things up on his mind. He really was a little confused about this, he and Sasuke were supposed to be family not…lovers.

“I know what you mean boy, but, the thing is, he really likes you. I thought you’d have noticed,” said Zabuza finishing his tea. Then a smirk appeared on his face causing Naruto to gulp.


“But enough about your boyfriend-wanna-be, tell me about this mysterious guy with shinning green eyes and red hair with a wicked tattoo on his forehead.”


Naruto blushed at the commentary. Had he really described Gaara that way? He looked over at Zabuza.


“Well, he’s this new guy at school. His name is Gaara and, well…that’s just it, I already told you what had happened so far.” Then Naruto remembered the mall and a mischievous smile appeared on his face, which made Zabuza shivered at what was to come.


“So, Zabuza, now that we’re here, why don’t you be a good big brother and buy me something?”


“Don’t push it brat.”


“Oh, come on, we’re here and you are allowed to spend money on me.”


“Tsunade-sama never said anything like that”


Naruto pouted and crossed his arms.


“You’re really mean. Come on, I want something before I go back home and see how they destroyed it.”


“Destroyed it?”


“Yeah, Itachi and his friends are ‘fixing it for tonight’s party.’”


Zabuza sighed and stood up leaving some money on the table.


“Ok then, come on.”


Naruto smiled in triumph and followed Zabuza outside the café and towards the mall.

Naruto’s thoughts were still on the mall and what he would probably buy that day, then his mind slipped towards a particular moment eight days before involving a good-looking red-head. His mind was now full of Gaara and Naruto had to wonder how it had come to that. Just a few days before he didn’t even know his complete name or anything abut him and now…he was there, always present in his mind. Granted, Naruto had been watching him since the day he arrived at the school and run into Gaara making him drop all the things he had been carrying, Naruto almost snickered at the memory of another event like that back when he was around four years old when he had met Haku for the first time.


Zabuza looked at his surrogate brother and decided to add his two cents on their relationship, after all, he had promised Haku and Tsunade-sama he would take care of the blond, and truth be told, he wanted Naruto to have a happy future.


“So Naruto, seems to me that you like that Gaara kid, right?” The answering blush and stuttering coming from Naruto confirmed what he already knew. “Well then, as a big brother, I would like to say something to you…”


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“You know Deidara, we were told not to destroy the place,” came the hiss from one Uchiha Sasuke who had just caught the blond man setting off fireworks in the backyard. Deidara turned around and gave a half smile.


“Come on Sasuke-chan, I am not going to destroy the place.”


Sasuke’s eyebrow twitched at the ‘chan’ reference and the condescended tone of Deidara’s voice.


“This is art and as such it is never destructive it is just a moment in….”


“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don’t really care. All I want is for this place to look perfect and for you to not set the whole thing on fire!” Sasuke turned around and, just before he disappeared into the kitchen, turned to glare at Deidara “And don’t called me Sasuke-chan ever again.”


Sasuke entered the house and heard the laughing Deidara. The black-haired boy pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He would never understand his brother; he was smart, handsome, and, when he wanted to be, fun, so why he had to hang out with crazy people, like Deidara and Kisame, or with stupid ones, like Toby, or really weird fanatics, like Hidan and that Yahiko guy, was beyond him.


Sasuke entered the living room. The place was really huge and he could understand why sometimes Naruto said that he would prefer to live into an apartment or a condo. The house really was too big for just two people; the living room was as big as four classrooms and the dinning room was just as large. As if that wasn’t enough, there was still room for a studio and the kitchen, which was decorated in a modern way. Upstairs there were seven rooms and above that was an attic that you could access by a small door on the roof just outside of Naruto’s bedroom.


Sasuke turned to see his brother and Kakuzu putting up lights and setting the atmosphere with black, orange, and red around the living room. Sasuke hated the fact that he was all alone helping out with some of the decorations (more like giving orders). Early that morning Zabuza had come and taken Naruto to the cemetery and Sasuke understood that it was that time of the year when would disappear to go over Naruto’s dead friend’s grave.


‘No, not just any dead friend. It was Haku. Sasuke, you got to know him…you shouldn’t be thinking of him that way.’


“I still don’t bloody get it. Why do I have to stay behind this stupid thing? Why can I just jump there and dance with Naruto?” complained a man with blond silver hair and a white shirt open with black pants. Sasuke clench his fists and sent a murderous glare at the man. As if Naruto would ever dance with a fucking moron like him!!! Behind the man stood an exasperated Kisame who was ready to punch the man, however a red-head boy stood up before anything like that happened.


“Hidan, you know why; you’re the DJ. You’re supposed to put on the music and that can’t happen if you aren’t there.”


“Well why don’t you fucking do it!”


“Because I don’t know how to work that!


“Tobi can…”


“Don’t even finish that sentence, dumb ass. The last time you tried you somehow caused a short-circuit!”


“Oh, great just leave them alone for five minutes and they start behaving like a bunch of five year olds.”


Sasuke turned around to see a woman with blue hair. Konan was the only one that seemed to be able to cope with that Yahiko guy. She turned around and gave him an apologetic smile.


“How long have they been fighting?”


“Just a few seconds.”


“Ok, well, it’s already three o’clock and if they continue like this they could end up destroying the place.”


“Wouldn’t be the first time,” said Itachi with an amused smile “Remember that party we held for Sakon and Ukon...I love going to those kind of parties.”


Sasuke gave his older brother a strange look and Itachi merely shrugged. Once Konan had regained some kind of order with the situation, the group ended up working at a fast pace and by five everything was set. Zabuza and Naruto had arrived then and Naruto had to admit that everything seemed great. Sasuke couldn’t help the grin that appeared on his face.


“Wow guys, this is…thanks…” Sasuke smirked and try to get closer to Naruto who moved in a not-subtle way away from Sasuke. “Sorry, I think I’m gunna go put on my costume.”


And with that the blond went to his room without stopping once. Zabuza smack his forehead with his palm while Sasuke seemed really surprised and hurt by Naruto’s reaction.


Zabuza followed Naruto and, after a moment of hesitation, Sasuke decided to do the same. When he arrived to the second floor he found Zabuza and Naruto arguing over something or more precisely Naruto arguing and Zabuza snickering in amusement. When they noticed Sasuke, Naruto shot a glare at Zabuza and closed the door. Once again Sasuke felt rejected and a little hurt by Naruto’s behavior, then he walked forward to Naruto’s room with determination, but was stopped by Zabuza.


“Naruto is going to take a bath,” he answered Sasuke’s glare before he smirked. “I know you would just love another excuse to see my little brother naked.”


Sasuke rolled his eyes and tried to stay cool, but the little blush on his cheeks wasn’t left unnoticed. Zabuza put a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder and the black-haired boy gave him a curious glance.


“Come on, we haven’t talked in ages, what happened with the little brat that was following me around calling me ‘Zabuza-niichan’?”


Sasuke gave a small smile at the comment and snorted in an amuse way.


“If I remember correctly, that was Naruto.”


Zabuza chuckled.


“Yeah well, if I remember correctly, it was you and Naruto …you know, wherever Naruto was you were close behind along with Haku…and you were always ready to call me brother if that mean you could get away with the amount of candy you three used to steal.”


Sasuke laughed at that and Zabuza had to admit that it was nice to see that the old Sasuke was still there.


“I can’t believe you still remember that.”


“I’m not that old brat,” said Zabuza smacking the back of Sasuke’s head “Come on. Now that I’m here I want to see your mother. It’s been a while since I last talk to her. Besides you can start dressing for the party.”


Sasuke gave a last glance towards Naruto’s room and remembered the costume Zabuza had gotten Naruto which made him leer a little at the thought before following Zabuza. Once downstairs they ran into Itachi who had a big grin on his face, something very odd that made Sasuke and Zabuza uneasy and nervous.


“Zabuza-san, are you leaving already?” Zabuza and Sasuke looked at each other before Sasuke answered the question.


“No, I’m taking him home, he wants to say hi to mom” suddenly the smile disappear from Itachi’s face and the older Uchiha had his black eyes on Zabuza. A glare full of threats that send shivers down Zabuza’s back.


“I hope your not going to flirt with my mother Zabuza-san, I know how much Naruto loves you and it would be a shame if he had to miss you”


“Yeah, sure brat, see you later.” Zabuza and Sasuke left the house with a smiling Itachi watching their backs. Zabuza lean over to Sasuke and said “you know, your brother really is too weird for his own good.”


“You would be surprised at the amount of people that said that to me.”


Naruto arrived at his room and locked the door behind him. He had completely forgotten about Sasuke until now, and now that he had seen his friend, well, he couldn’t help but feel weird around him. Naruto sighed and went to his bathroom to take a shower before putting on the costume. He definitely needed to talk to Sasuke.


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Gaara looked at himself over and over again, not quite believing that the boy looking back at him in the mirror was really himself. He was dressed in the costume that he had bought the previous weekend, sans the cloak. He had the mask covering the upper part of his face leaving part of his mouth and cheeks uncovered. He looked at his reflection again and a wicked smirked appeared on his face. He did look great. He looked at his bed where a picture and an oil painting rested. He had made a painting for Naruto taking as a model the small picture the pink haired girl…Sakura, had giving to him.


Gaara remembered the time he had, albeit reluctantly, asked Sakura what he could possibly give Naruto for his birthday. He had thought about giving him music or a book or maybe something that he could use, but at the same time he wanted Naruto to remember him. All of that was kept as a deep and dark secret in Gaara’s mind. He was not about to tell anyone that he was having those kind of sappy thoughts about the blond boy, but those thoughts were there and he really wanted to give the blond something that to make him notice the red-head in a, Gaara shivered at the thought, romantic way.


Sakura had told him Naruto’s likes and dislikes, so when she asked why he was so curious, Gaara felt obliged to tell her the truth. The girl had smiled at him, not a mocking smile or an evil smirk, it had been a real smile. And then she had said that Naruto was a sucker for art, more specifically paintings. The next day she had come with that picture and told Gaara that Naruto would never forget his gift.


“Damn, you really look good” said a voice behind him. Gaara turned around to see his brother dressed in a…black cat costume with face paint? “You know you really are going to … what are you looking at?”


“Are you some kind of…cat with white and purple make up?” Kankuro’s eyebrow twitched in an annoyed way and Gaara let a smirked show on his face.


“It is not make up, it’s paint, and this is supposed to be a puppeteer costume.”


Gaara’s smirk grew and Kankuro could see that his brother was silently laughing at him.


"Tell me Kankuro, has Temari see you in ‘that’¨ Kankuro paled under all the make-up.


“Oh, come on! I gave you a compliment!! I really meant it when I said you looked good. Whoever you are after is totally gunna fall for you” said Kankuro putting his hands up in a defeated gesture.


Gaara debated on whether or not he should keep teasing his brother before he merely shrugged deciding that Deidara could do a better job of the mockery than himself once they arrived at the party.


Kankuro sighed in relief when Gaara turned towards his reflection, put the cloak over his shoulders, grabbed the picture and the painting, and nodded at Kankuro to follow him to the first floor.


Shikamaru yawned and greeted Gaara with an unusual smirk. Gaara merely rolled his eyes at his friend’s antics and then proceeded to examine Shikamaru's attire. The lazy boy had chosen a costume that matched Temari’s one in era. He was dressed in a black frock coat, a white shirt, an equally black vest, and black trousers. Around his shirt neck was a black cravats and his hair was pulled in a ponytail that actually looked really good on him. Gaara stared at the boy amazed at the effort his friend was making to look good for his sister.


“Well, you have my blessing to court my sister” said Gaara with his face pulled up in a big smirk at his friends blush.


“Tch, troublesome. Mother wanted me to look like a real gentleman for once.”


“Well, for once you look like one” said a voice behind Gaara. Both boys turned to see Temari there with her costume. The girl had a flustered face at the sight of the Nara boy, and not just because he was looking at her opened-mouth, but also because he really did look handsome dressed like that.


“Ok, then let’s go, your wasting my time” said a grumpy Kankuro who, once again, received an odd look—this time from the Nara brat—something that didn’t improve his mood. Gaara rolled his eyes and followed his older brother. Shikamaru put a hand behind his neck, somewhat embarrassed and then stretched his right arm out, offering it to the girl who smirked at him.


“Wow, you can behave like a real man…let’s see at the end of the night if I want to help you become one,” said Temari winking at a blushing Shikamaru.

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Naruto was cornered; he was trying to look everywhere but at the man leaning dangerously over him with one arm on the wall just beside his head.


“So, how old are you again? Eighteen? Seventeen?” Naruto gulped at the sound of the man’s voice.


“Seventeen” he said, trying to sound calm but falling just a little. The man, Hidan, smirked. He was dressed in a black cloak with red clouds, as were the rest of his group, and on his back he had attach a long death-reaper sickle.


“Hidan what the hell are you doing?!“ hissed an annoyed Konan. “Stop molesting the underage boy and go over there and put on some music. Now!”


The man didn’t have time to reply, he begrudgingly let go of Naruto and went to fulfill his task. Konan just smiled at Naruto.


“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You don’t know how much I owe you!!!” said the boy hugging the woman who merely sweat dropped at the boy’s antics, though, truth be told, she couldn’t blame him.


“Don’t worry, you better go over to the front door; some of your friends are looking for you.”


Naruto nodded and started making his way over. On the way there he greeted many people he either knew because of school or because they were neighbors, there were others who he didn’t know and he suspected that many of them were friends of Itachi and his gang. Naruto lift his eyes and saw someone waving at him. Once he was closer he identified the person as Kiba dressed like a pirate with a red bandana around his head and a black patch over his eye, on his shoulder was…Akamaru?


“Why did you bring Akamaru?” asked Naruto over the music. Kiba merely shrugged.


“Couldn’t find a parrot.”


Naruto sweat dropped at the response and then turned to Shino who was dressed up with a black tuxedo and a black bow tie, he was also wearing a white shirt and sunglasses. Naruto smiled at his friend who nodded at him. Beside Shino was Sakura and Naruto felt his mouth opened in shock at the suggestive Red Riding Hood. Next to her was a smiling Sai dressed up as a wolf.


“Hello, Naruto-kun,” greeted Sai, “you have a great costume there.”


“Yeah…I...you, Sakura, you…Red Riding Hood and the wolf?” asked Naruto after his first impression.


Sakura merely nodded and Sai decided to add his two cents to the conversation.


“Yes, I was thinking that, as she was the Red Riding Hood, I should be the wolf who is going to eat her” ended Sai with a sincere smile. Naruto and Shino blushed while Kiba had a serious case of nosebleed and Sakura gave a death glare before hitting the poor wolf.


“What have I told you Sai?” Naruto looked from to one the other and then started laughing really hard. Sakura turned to him, sending the same glare which promptly quieted the blond boy.


“There you are! I’ve been looking for you since Zabuza dropped you off here.”


Naruto turned around to see Sasuke. The black-haired boy was dressed up as Edmond Dantes, better known as the count of Monte Cristo. The black cloak he had decided to wear was a classic three-tiered one that resembled that of a coachman when driving the horses or the ones people wore to the opera. Naruto gave an appreciative and very surprised look at Sasuke which make the black-haired boy smirk and feel all the more confident, not to mention the small blush forming on the brunet’s cheeks.


“Yeah, about that…sorry I was just…you know...” then Sasuke remembered that Naruto was supposed to go to Haku’s grave and immediately felt stupid. Of course his friend felt a little down today, and instead of trying to cheer him he had decided to brood just because Naruto seemed a little distant. How far off reality Sasuke was!


“Don’t sweat it. I’ll forgive you if you dance with me,” Sasuke said with a smug smile.


Naruto merely smiled back while Kiba and Sakura rolled their eyes before the blond responded in a much unexpected way.


“Sorry Sasuke, I’ll dance with you later. I promised Sakura-chan I would give her my first dance, right?” Naruto looked over at Sakura that reacted just in time to take Naruto by the hand and smile in the same smug way to Sasuke.


“Sorry Sasuke-kun, I promise I will give Naruto back to you in one piece.” Sasuke stood there opened mouthed but his expression soon changed to an angry glare aimed towards the laughing wolf and pirate. Shino for his part was, wearing a slight smirk that only made Sasuke crossed his arms and brood.


“Oh man, that was priceless!! Come on Sasuke, he did say he was going to dance with you later.”


Sasuke snorted, but the expression on his face changed into one of satisfaction.


‘He did say he was going to do it…I just have to wait.’

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Naruto and Sakura found a spot in the dance floor where they could not just dance but watch their friends at the other side of the dance floor. Sakura merely giggled at Sasuke’s face while Naruto seems a little pensive. They both start moving at the rhythm of the music; Sakura gave Naruto a concern looked that the boy dismissed with a grinned. Then Naruto’s eyes locked with Sasukes and he decided to change of position, this time Sakura gave him an inquisitive looked.


“Eh…so you and Sai eh?” Sakura narrowed her eyes at the question, but answered it nevertheless.


“Yes, we’ve been going out for a while but…we didn’t want to say anything yet.”


“So that’s why you never wanted to go out with me.”


Sakura was about to reply, but Naruto stopped her.


“It’s ok. I mean, Sai is a little weird, and he says the most embarrassing or annoying things, but he is a good friend. I approve him.”


Sakura rolled her eyes but hugged her friend and gave him a peck on the cheek.


“Thanks, even though I don’t need your approval, I appreciate it” they fell into a comfortable silence until Naruto broke it again.


“So, how long have you known that Sasuke has a thing for me?” Sakura stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Naruto totally shocked. Naruto had a confident smile on his face, though his eyes were a little to hard to read. Sakura shook her head.


“So, you finally noticed? Did Sasuke finally try something or you figure it out on your own?” At that Naruto smiled sheepishly.


“Actually, Zabuza told me…he kind of made a comment when I was talking about Gaara.”


“So that’s why you’ve been evading Sasuke?”


“Well, not really. I need to talk to him, but it’s just that I don’t know how. And …well…” Naruto trailed off and a blush formed on his cheeks. Sakura looked at him with a little amused and waited for her friend to finish whatever he was going to say.


“Well, I was hoping to make everything clear to Sasuke so I can…make a move on Gaara.”


Sakura was so proud of Naruto, over the years he had become a fine man; he wasn’t by any means totally mature or anything like that, but there was something about him that always make him make, if not the right, at least the most viable decisions. She was about to say something when her eyes caught someone of interest.


“Speak of the devil….Look over there.”


Naruto turned around and his eyes immediately fell on the red-head with a white mask on his face. He wore what looked like a black tuxedo with a black cloak. Naruto stared opened mouthed and Sakura couldn’t help the girlish giggled and the…not so pure thoughts about her friend with the red-head.


“What are you doing? Go over there!!” said Sakura, pushing Naruto towards the red-head who was beside Temari and Shikamaru.

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Kankuro was looking a little annoyed. Who would think that his friend Deidara was friends with the blond brat that had dared to insult his puppets? He smiled at Deidara who promptly dragged him towards the backyard leaving behind his siblings and Shikamaru. Gaara, for his part, was feeling really uncomfortable. He had never been to these kinds of things; never before anyone had worried or cared enough to invite him to parties. And now, here he was in a big house where the boy he had a crush on lived with a bunch of people he only know by their looks.


Suddenly Naruto seemed really far away. There was no doubt the boy was rich beyond imagination with what Shikamaru had told him and the neighborhood he lived in and, of course, the huge place that was in front of him. Gaara fidgeted and looked at the floor. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. Maybe if he turned around he could escape and...


“What the hell are you doing?” the voice of Shikamaru brought Gaara back to reality. He looked over at his friend and sister who were giving him worried looks. Gaara turned to the house and then to them but said noting.


“Come on, I bet he’s waiting for you,” said Temari, trying to light up the mood.


“Yeah right. I bet he’s inside with the Uchiha…seems like they really are made for each other.”


Now that kind of commentary coming from Gaara was really weird. He usually wasn’t that…depressing. Shikamaru and Temari glanced at each other before turning to Gaara.


“Ok, that’s the most idiotic thing I have heard you say in the little time I’ve know you,” said Shikamaru. “Stop being an idiot and let’s party.”


Gaara blink at Shikamaru's words. He couldn’t believe that those kind of things could be said with such a soft and tired voice, but then again Shikamaru was famous for the lazy things he could manage. Temari merely hit him on the arm causing Shikamaru to snort and whisper ‘troublesome woman’ before he turned to the house.


“What’s gotten into you Gaara?”


“It’s nothing, let’s go…” said Gaara following Shikamaru.


Temari rolled her eyes and with a ‘men!’ he followed them inside.


The place was crowded and they didn’t know what to do at first until a woman with blue hair came near them. Gaara looked around and found some familiar faces from school and others that he had never met. In one of the corners he saw Sasuke with his little gang, but Naruto was nowhere to be seen. He was about to continue looking when a voice interrupt him.


“Yo, Gaara!!!”


Gaara turned around and had to stop himself from opening his mouth and stareing like an idiot, though he couldn’t help the small blush on his face at the sight of Naruto. The blond boy was dressed up like Green Arrow, one of the heroes on a comic that the boy loved to read. His clothes had many shades of green and were really tight, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Naruto not only had real arrows attached to his back, but also a real bow.


“GAARA? Hey, is that you Gaara? You there?”


Gaara blinked a few times before looking directly in Naruto’ s blue eyes, for a moment they stayed there just looking at each other, Naruto with a big grin and a little blush and Gaara with an expressionless face, though he wore a blush as well.


“So it is you or not?” asked Naruto once again, “You know it would be good to know if you are Gaara so when I say that you look really hot I don’t embarrass myself,” said Naruto scratching the back of his head and chuckling in sheepish way.


“You…you think. I look hot?” Gaara asked in disbelief.


“Well, if your Gaara, yes.”


"Of course he’s Gaara, didn’t you noticed the red hair?” Naruto looked up at the voice and his eyes opened wide at the sight of the lazy boy and his beautiful companion.


“Wow Shikamaru, is that really you?” Shikamaru merely rolled his eyes and nodded before Naruto’s attention shifted to the blonde beside the Nara boy and he smile at her.


“So you must be Temari-chan, you look beautiful!”


“Thank you Naruto” said the girl. Gaara was a little quite, he was still a little shocked at Naruto’s words.


“I’m so happy you guys came. Please, come in and enjoy!!” said Naruto in an enthusiastic way. “The kitchen is that way with find food and drinks and, well, that’s the dance floor and the bathroom is over near the stairs.”


“Thank you Naruto, I hope you wouldn’t mind if I entrust my little brother to you?” asked Temari with a mischievous smile. Gaara shot her a glare and tried to ask his best friend for help with a look, but the boy was giving him the same smile as his sister. Sometimes Gaara regretted introducing those two.


Gaara had always been known for his expressionless face, his calmness, the way he would act in difficult situations, and, overall, for the control he had over his emotions. But the moment Naruto put an arm around his shoulders and brought him towards him where Gaara could felt the strong hold and the warm body next to him, he couldn’t help the gasp and the shiver that shot through him down his spine.


“Don’t worry, Temari-chan; he’s in good hands now!” said Naruto. “Right, Gaara-kun?”


“Oh that’s good to know. Then, see you later, Gaara” and with that his sister and his best friend abandoned him with the blond boy that was still held onto him, even after an angered voice broke the little moment.


“So, I hope I’m not interrupting anything important Naruto.”


When they both turned, they saw a very stressed Sasuke who was sending daggers Gaara’s way. Then he turn his eyes and his appearance change completely, he sent Naruto a pleading and sad look and, with a little determination, stretched his hand towards Naruto before saying “I thought you promised me a dance.”

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So, how was it??? this was really long and I hope you really like it.

I relly hope you enjoy this chapter, please do not forget to review and tell me your opinions, suggestions and other things ( not flames though) about the chap.