The Truth in Dreams

Chapter VI: Wet, Steamy, and Sandy?

After Naruto left the tent, Sakura sighed to herself. It’s going to be a while before we can be alone again, I think. ARGH! CHAAA! My desire for him is getting more and more powerful! This might require some sneaking around at the hotsprings. She felt a devious smile spread across her face and her eyes were sparkling with the thought of Naruto in a hot spring and completely naked, and wet. Drool was forming at the corners of her mouth. She shook her head to snap out of it.

She heard a crash come from outside the tent.

“CHIKUSHO!!” Naruto is swearing; sounds like he dropped something on his foot. BAKA! I should get other there and make sure he doesn’t light himself on fire again. Sakura focused on her task of getting ready for the day.

Instead of changing into fresh undergarments and a new outfit, Sakura decided to just put on the same clothes she had on yesterday and keep her still damp (from last night) green striped underwear on as they progressed to the hotsprings. I’ll feel more refreshed after I have a chance for a hot bath and shower up there anyway.

She made quick work of brushing her hair so it was a little more presentable, put her ninja headband back in its place and rolled up her sleeping bag and started to seal up her backpack. As she was just about to zip it shut, she noticed the bottle of body spray she put in her bag before leaving her apartment a day earlier. She took it out and gave herself a good spray. The light and airy scent of cherry blossoms and honey flooded her nose. It was a scent that Ino’s family had especially made at their flowershop for her for her last birthday. She was named after this particular flower after all. The scent also further helped to snap her out of her Naruto-induced stupor.

I really need to focus if we are going on a mission. Not to mention I feel a little gross right now. I can’t wait to wash my hair! Sakura remembered Sai mentioning a few weeks ago that she had really ugly, oily hair and she wanted to punch him from across the forest all over again. But, he was out on his own mission with Yamato, Kiba, and Hinata. She punched her bag instead. Pfft oily my ass! Man I have too much pent up energy! There must be something in the air these past few days.

Once she stepped outside the tent and slipped her feet into her boots, she noticed that Naruto had warmed up the rest of sticky-bean buns they bought in Konoha yesterday. They were pierced like marshmallows on skewers and leaning neatly over a small camping pot that looked as though it contained oatmeal. It also seemed as though Naruto had managed, successfully, to not set himself on fire for the second time in less than 24 hours.

Sakura continued to survey the campsite and noticed that most of it had been packed up and put away, except for the tent. She noticed that Kakashi was leaning against a nearby tree reading his Icha-Icha book. He was munching on a sticky bun as he read. His own backpack was neatly assembled next to him. Sakura dropped her newly sealed backpack on the ground next to the tent entrance.

She turned her eyes back to the fire near where Naruto was standing; the fire was smoking slightly as though it were just doused with water and Naruto was stirring the ashes to put the embers out completely. He had his back to her, but from the way he stood up taller suddenly, she knew he was aware that she had exited the tent. He stirred the fire again. The embers of the dying fire flared up a bit in response. It would still be a few minutes before they were entirely out. Sakura found herself staring at Naruto’s back and the way his shoulders moved as he stirred the embers. Focus!

She peeled her eyes off of his back and looked more thoroughly around the rest of the campsite. Looks like it’s just the tent that’s left. Her eyes traced over the trees as they moved slightly in a breeze that swept by. She gazed up at the sky. Not a cloud was in sight. Looks like today will be another beautiful day. Despite the cold they dealt with the night before, it was unseasonably warm again for what Sakura guessed was about 9:30 in the morning and it was only early summer. Especially in the woods at this time of year, it was usually still a bit chilly. I have a feeling today will be another hot and sticky sort of day. heheh. If only we were walking the rest of the way alone, then I could really show Naruto what hot and sticky feels like! Sakura smirked at her own perverted thoughts and looked around like she was afraid one of her two companions could hear her.

But, she realized after she was done behaving like Ero-Sennin, that the summer solstice was fast approaching, which meant that the heat would only increase (and likely so would her desire for her baka-yarou). It appeared that she was safe and neither Naruto nor Kakashi had picked up on her private imagery of a very naked Naruto; plus, she was now almost fully distracted by Kakashi’s earlier comments about the solstice.

Sakura furrowed her brow as she remembered what he said about the solstice approaching and her need to care more for Naruto for some reason. What was he talking about anyway? Other solstices have come and gone and Kakashi has never mentioned anything like this before. Sakura quivered a bit as she remembered her dream.

The frightening image of Naruto bleeding out internally before her eyes as he was engulfed by the Kyuubi’s chakra darkened her vision of intimacy with him. She flinched as she thought of him suffering and dying in her arms. She felt a pang in her heart as she remembered how terrifyingly real the dream had felt and how harrowing and final his death had felt. It felt as though she would die from agony beside him in that moment. But it was just a dream! Naruto was fine and very much alive. Her eyes had found their way back to Naruto as he stood in front of the fire, needing to confirm that he was fine.

Her troubled thought process was thankfully interrupted when she noticed Naruto had looked up from stirring the fire and was staring at her. It’s like he knows just when I need him most. I might always call him baka, but there isn’t anyone like Naruto when it comes to reading people.

When she met his eyes, his face spread into a ridiculous grin. His face also colored quite a bit. Is he trying to cheer me up again? He really is shy about this isn’t he? Sakura could feel color touch her own face. Hard and soft, childish and un-godly powerful, innocent and so so devious. . .my Naruto. She could feel herself swooning over him. I don’t think Kakashi needs to worry about me trying extra hard to protect him until the solstice. Hell, I’d like to attach myself to him right now, just so I can feel his body against mine. And no way in hell would I ever let anything happen to him. Kyuubi or otherwise. Sakura blushed as she realized that now she too must be wearing an idiotic grin.

Again, there was the sound of someone clearing his throat rather loudly.

“Eat up you two, we need to get going.” Kakashi announced without looking up from his book--shattering their little moment. Sakura stood up straighter and marched herself over to the food without looking up at Naruto again.

“Hai.” She sat down on the two-person log after grabbing a skewered sticky bun. Naruto grabbed the small pot of oatmeal, a sticky bun and walked over to the log. He hesitated for a second like he still wasn’t quite used to this new way of being around Sakura.

She eyed him with raised eyebrows. It’s not like we didn’t ever sit next to each other before! Now that I’ve planted a kiss on those lips of his he looks like a lost puppy. I take back what I said about him being so good at reading people. He is a moron.

Sakura sighed and took a sizable bite out of her sticky bun. Naruto finally sat down beside her. As he did so, she could feel his thigh make contact with her own. She felt goosebumps rise on her skin. Guess I’m still not used to it either. Sakura munched harder on the sticky bun.

“Sakura-chan do you want any oatmeal?” Naruto had placed two spoons in the pot of oatmeal as he offered it to her. As she was still chewing, she gazed at the oatmeal.



She swallowed.

“Yes. Thank you Naruto. . .kun.” As she took the pot from him, she held the skewer holding her sticky bun in between her thighs. She had no trouble keeping the skewer firm between her thighs given the tone she had on her quadriceps.

Naruto found himself staring at her thighs as she held the skewer in place. Tch! Why am I looking at her thighs like this? All she is doing is holding the skewer. Naruto thought of feeling her legs squeezing tightly around his hips. He thought of her thighs covered with moisture from the hot springs. He thought of her thighs covered with . . .

It wasn’t helping that he could feel the muscle in her left thigh clenching as he sat next to her. His painfully unsatisfied erection was making a comeback. Kuso! Not now. Naruto tried to punch the urge back down. It feels like it’s getting worse with each touch from her! If I don’t take her soon, I don’t know if I can hold out like this. Maybe it would be better if I avoided her until I can act on it? At this point I’m really afraid that I won’t be able to hold myself back much longer.

His desire for her was reaching a fever pitch and because they were out on a mission, he hadn’t had any alone time to masturbate to relieve a bit of the pressure. Sakura seemed unaware of him salivating over her as she munched on the oatmeal.

From across the campsite, Kakashi was watching Naruto and Sakura intently from behind his Icha-Icha book. They are turning into an Icha-Icha couple with all this sexual tension. It seems unlikely that they can hang on much longer; and as much as I’d like material to start my own dramatic-crazy-romance series, I need to protect them.  We need to hurry up and meet with Jiraiya-sama as soon as possible. In the meantime, I need to keep their minds off of it. Kakashi shut his book and stood up.

“Alright you two, I’m going to take down the tent. Take a few more bites and then we need to get moving.”

“Che. Kakas-sensei! What’s the rush?” Naruto looked up from his Sakura-induced haze. Kakashi sighed.

“Think about it, Naruto. The more time we give Jiraiya-sama at the hotsprings, the more time he has to conduct his ‘research’ which will only distract him from what we are actually supposed to be doing, the mission.” Kakashi was crouched over the tent, collapsing it.

“Gah! That’s right! We can’t let ero-sennin get too wrapped up in being a perv or he won’t ever help us with this mission. It will be like the beginning of my training with him all over again. . .” Naruto’s voice trailed off at the end of his statement and he made a grumbling noise as he took the remainder of his sticky bun into his mouth. Sakura rolled her eyes at his complaints.

“So what is this mission about exactly, Kakas-sensei?” Sakura had sated herself on the oatmeal and was now very pointedly looking at Kakashi’s face as he finished extracting the poles from the tent. She placed the pot of oatmeal on the ground by her feet and removed the skewer with her sticky bun from its position between her thighs. Kakashi paused in the middle of his tent-collapsing and looked from Sakura to Naruto and back again. He sighed.

“I suppose there’s no point in keeping the two of you completely in the dark any longer. The mission directly concerns your relationship with Naruto and . . .” Sakura flinched at Kakashi’s statement and Naruto choked on his sticky bun for a second as he swallowed the last of it.

“What do you mean Kakas-sensei?” Naruto asked with the raised and confused voice that was characteristic of him when he was taken off guard. That particular expression of his had always made Sakura think of the face Naruto gave when Sai was trying to get a little too ‘physical’ and hug him.

“Wait, my relationship with Naruto and what?” Sakura asked again.



Kakashi began to roll the tent up and as he did so, he turned his head so he broke eye contact with his two former students.



“Your relationship and the Kyuubi.”

Both Naruto and Sakura were frozen in place after Kakashi’s last words. Hearing her sensei mention the Kyuubi, Sakura couldn’t help but think again about the terrifying dream she had--and a sudden sinking feeling that there might be more to it than just her mind running amok.

 

Naruto’s confused and goofy expression fell. He leaned forward with his forearms on his knees and clasped his hands together. He hung his head and looked down. Sakura could no longer see his face. Why is he so quiet all of a sudden? Does he have an idea what Kakas-sensei means? Sakura looked from Naruto to Kakashi and back again. She reached her hand out to touch him---she hesitated and withdrew it. At that moment Naruto stood up.

“What does the Fox have to do with . . .this?” Naruto asked with a controlled monotone. His jaw was set and his arms were crossed in a simultaneously firm but uncertain way.

Kakashi watched their reactions closely. Sakura’s arm dropping back into her lap--her eyes cast down. Naruto standing--his angular jaw, the consternation in his brow. This is still hanging on a razor’s edge. They are such fools--but I love them and have to protect them. Kakashi decided--again--to cut straight through the tension. He narrowed his eyes at his two former students.

“Naruto, Sakura. Do you remember the training that Naruto went through to first learn how to create his rasen-shuriken with Yamato? And that we needed Yamato to help control the Kyuubi for Naruto until he built up some of his own ability to control it?”

Kakashi took their silence for acknowledgement. He saw Sakura slowly lift her eyes. They were filled with determination.

“Well, what Yamato told you, Sakura, that only his wood style in combination with the First’s necklace that Naruto wears around his neck are capable of holding back the Kyuubi is not true. . . There is another way.”

Sakura’s eyes narrowed in deeper determination and a glimmer of shock. She was now standing too and grasping the empty skewer that once held her sticky-bun-breakfast with a clenched fist. Her glove was causing friction against the metal she was clenching so hard.

She said slowly: “What do you mean Kakas-sensei? Why would I need to know this now? More importantly, why the hell are you only telling me about this now if I could have used it in the past to heal and protect Naruto from the Kyuubi.” Sakura’s voice was rising in anger and frustration.

Naruto was silent but listening and watching Kakashi intently. The intensity of Naruto’s gaze practically bore a hole right through Kakashi’s eyes and skull. He really has a Kage’s will.

“. . .I apologize, Sakura. But, it wasn’t something you were ready to learn yet. Nor was it something that would have worked on Naruto and the Kyuubi before he learned how to control his relationship with it a bit himself. More importantly, it’s something only you can learn to protect Naruto. For you to be together, you must  learn this way. It will take incredible focus and control on your part, Sakura, more than even you, who was trained by the legendary Tsunade is used to. . .It will also take incredible trust between you and Naruto.”

Sakura turned her intense gaze toward Naruto for a moment. With blinding fierceness, his eyes met hers and Kakashi felt like he was watching two lasers or the powerful wrath of two heavenly bodies point at one another. But neither did the look shatter, nor did it incite a fight. Their eyes met with an awe-inspiring ferocity and they held the gaze and then looked back at him to explain. Jiraiya-sama doesn’t know how right he was and just how necessary these two being together must be. It has to happen.

As Naruto stared at Kakashi, something at the corner of Naruto’s mind was twitching, bothering his temples. They were starting to pound. He winced for a second and re-focused on the conversation. Damn kit is trying to butt into the conversation again. Naruto rubbed his temples with his fingertips briefly and then dropped his hands so as not to suggest anything was amiss.

Kakashi caught the slight pain on Naruto’s face as quickly as it vanished. I can’t speak about this anymore until we get him to Jiraiya-sama. It’s too risky.

With that, Kakashi had finished sealing up the tent and stood up.

“You will have to wait to hear the rest from Jiraiya, I’m afraid.” Sakura opened her mouth and cracked the joint at her neck to indicate her distaste for Kakashi keeping mum on the subject, but Naruto suddenly brought his hand up and meditatively closed his eyes.

“Let’s wait for Jiraiya, Sakura. I need rest and a chance to think and I know you do too.” Naruto systematically put his nearby backpack over his shoulders and started to leave the campsite. Sakura was frustrated, hurt, and confused. I wonder if this is how Naruto used to always feel? But at that moment, she was also aware of the warmth and awe she felt for Naruto growing ever stronger. Something about the way he just told her to wait put her at peace and dispelled her own temper and misgivings about what was just discussed.

Kakashi took one last calculating gaze at his students as Naruto made his way to the road. Ever does he calm her nerves and she keeps him moving forward.

Sakura caught Kakashi looking at them with focus and she exchanged one sharp glance with him and they made the final adjustments to the campsite, collected their bags and the tent and caught up with Naruto on the final stretch of road to the Hotsprings.

********

The rest of the walk to the hotsprings passed by for the trio fairly quickly. Nothing more was spoken of the Kyuubi or Naruto and Sakura’s growing bond.

It might have been the growing heat or the nearing silhouette of the hotsprings bath houses as they made the final climb up and past the treeline as it swept around the path, but Sakura had all but forgotten about her conversation with Kakashi and Naruto back at the campsite earlier that morning. It was almost noon when they finally saw the bathhouse come into view.

The bathhouse was set up in an palatial feudal building that had been located at the apex of the hotsprings as they rolled out of the mountains in the distance for hundreds of years. The mountain range that composed the northern border of the land of fire on one side cut into the sky behind the bathhouse and created a half-moon bowl that sheltered the building; it could only really be approached from the small foot-path they were currently on.

It was a surprisingly fortifiable place for an old bathhouse. Sakura often wondered if it had been used as such in prior ninja wars, though she was never able to find any documentation on it in the libraries in Konoha.

Regardless of the beauty and practicality of the building, Sakura was flat-out relieved to finally be getting a chance for a nice bath and shower. The trio was sweaty and Sakura knew that she was at least downright smelly. She had purposely starting walking so that Kakashi was between her and Naruto so she didn’t have to risk Naruto catching a whiff of her.

God I am turning into such a little wuss! All this because I want to keep him coming back. What is wrong with me!? I never gave a shit about stuff like this before. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure Naruto’s sensitive nose can smell me anyway. . .CHANARO! I am such a moron. Sakura sighed and smacked herself in the forehead.

She came away with an even sweatier hand and she decided to remove her Konoha headband and let her soaked hair fall in a heap about her face. Kakashi and Naruto both gave her sidelong glances as they made the final 50 foot journey to the door of the hotsprings.

Even Kakashi had taken off his vest and was down to just his one piece bodysuit/mask combination that he always wore and his ninja pants, though they were rolled up high on his calves.

Naruto had long since removed his jacket and henley and was just wearing the red t-shirt he had put on in his apartment the day before after the spilled milk incident. The t-shirt was sticking to him in a few places due to his own sweat; despite the heat, he still wore his Konoha headband on his forehead. Somehow, Sakura thought, sweat is so much more attractive on Naruto than anyone else, in fact part of the reason Sakura decided to walk so that Kakashi was between them was so she wouldn’t end up gawking at Naruto the entire rest of the way to the hotsprings.

As they reached the front door of the Hotsprings, a little old woman walked out to greet them; Sakura felt a gush of cold air issue from inside the building as the woman came out. She sighed as it blew across her face.

“Welcome! Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto I presume? I’m Nakamura Kagome, but you can call me granny-Kagome if you like. Jiraiya-kun is waiting for you!” The little old lady bowed, smiled, and gestured that they follow her back inside. Sakura and Kakashi respectfully nodded in response, Naruto merely raised his eyebrows. The three began to follow her.

“Eh? Jiraiya-KUN?!” Naruto whispered loudly. “Nee! Kakas-sensei, what is that old lady talking about? Who calls Jiraiya....kun?”

Kakashi sighed for what seemed to him like the fiftieth time on this trip and whispered as he spoke.

“Let’s just say, Kagome-sama’s family has always owned this hotspring and Kagome, who has gotten used to Jiraiya’s visits over time, began to believe that he was really here to visit her because he kept coming back.”

“Che.” Naruto rolled his eyes and stretched as the trio walked into the waiting area of the hotsprings and removed their shoes. They were greeted by a very young housemaid dressed similarly to Kagome who took their shoes and bags. In all the years that Naruto and Sakura had had missions in and around the bathhouse, they had never actually had the opportunity to be among its pampered guests before.

The inside of the bathhouse was adorned with dark wood trim, a fountain in the center of the waiting area and a few meditation shrines were set up with soothing incense burning. Comfy pillows and tatami mats and blankets offered warm seating on the floor. To the left was a barren and austere concierge desk adorned with just one very well tended pink orchid in a pot. The ceilings of the main room were high, at least 25 feet, a-frame style with exposed wood beams, with floor to ceiling windows on both sides with and rice paper doors in their midst that led out to the balcony on the perimeter of the structure.

As the trio looked further into the large greeting area they saw little old Kagome at the back near a hallway as it lead off deeper into the bathhouse. The stairs leading up and down were to her left as she angled her body down the hallway to her right. Kagome announced over her shoulder as she angled: “Please allow Kisa to take your things to your rooms for you. Jiraiya-kun has asked that you all relax completely while you are here. The bedrooms are all upstairs, the entrances to the baths are this way on the main floor. We have one bath for men, one for women, and two special and more intimate bath sections, one for couples and one for private request. However, both of the special baths are by request only and cost extra. There are also small private showers and bathrooms in each of the suites upstairs. Jiraiya has had the upstairs rooms organized especially for your mission.” Sakura and Naruto exchanged glances at that comment.

Kagome-ba-chan made her way down the hallway; the trio lagged behind as they followed her so they could chat. As they rounded one corner, they could smell the bath salts and feel the steam coming from the bath entrances down the hall. Sakura found herself leading the way with Naruto and Kakashi behind her. She turned and whispered over her shoulder.

“You mean she doesn’t really know about Ero--Jiraiya Sama’s habits?” Kakashi only shook his head.

“How long has she thought Jiraiya was after her?” Naruto chimed in.

“About fifteen years.” Both Sakura and Naruto’s jaws dropped.

“I guess Tsunade-shishou really has never joined Jiraiya-sama officially at the bathouse.” Sakura mumbled. She should really seize her chance with the old cook and set this old lady straight before she loses him for good.



They turned a corner and saw two doors before them with steam issuing noticeably from around the doors. One door had the character for female carved into it, the other had the character for male. Nearby were several shelves that housed an assortment of clean and neatly folded towels.



“Here are the entrances to the male and female separated bathing areas. Before you enter, it’s best to change into just a robe and your shoes so you don’t have as much to put in the shelf on the other side of these doors where you undress. Also, be sure to take a clean, fresh towel each time you enter the baths, we want to keep you as clean and comfortable as possible. Feel free to take two if you like, but please take no more than 3 towels each time you enter. Please remember to clean yourself completely in the showering area before entering the baths. Finally, please keep in mind that the water for the baths  are naturally occurring and out in the elements, so you might experience rain; also, although we do monitor the temperature of the springs in case they become too hot and check for unhealthy levels of sulfur and other naturally occurring gases, please use your own best judgment as well.” Kagome gestured to the doors and then turned back to make eye contact with the trio.

“Any questions so far?”

“Ye--” Kakashi had started to ask. But Kagome cut him off.

“O, that reminds me! The bathing areas are nude. So, please, do not wear any sort of towel or other fabric into the bath with you. Limited jewelry is fine, but please no makeup either. For dinner and other meals, we generally bring the meals to your suites or rooms, but for those who wish to join with other guests, the restaurant is just down the hall past these bath doors.” Kagome pointed past the doors to the hallway as it continued and turned left.

“There is a lovely balcony and outdoor seating area in the restaurant that allows our guests to look at the tranquility of the spring as it comes down from the mountains behind us. Any questions?” She turned to them again.

“Yes, ho--” Kakashi was cut off again by Kagome who seemed to be deaf. Naruto and Sakura raised their eyebrows at the second interruption. Kakashi sighed--time 51 by his count over the past few days.

“Ah! Outdoors, the male and female bathing areas themselves are separated by a fence for your convenience. Jiraiya-kun also often tells me that the most beautiful foliage grows right along the fence-line. We do have some climbing ivy and rather lovely spanish moss that you may want to peruse along the fence-line if you so choose. Jiraiya-kun often does so. Any questions?”

Naruto coughed like he had a bug caught in his throat. Sakura made a screwball face at Kagome. Kakashi stared blankly and thought of all the legendary konoha pervs that have peeped through the same fence over the years--and the climbing ivy and spanish whatever had nothing to do with it. She really has no clue how see-through this fence is supposed to be does she? No wonder it’s never been repaired over the years.

“EH? Any questions?” She asked again more loudly this time like they were the ones who were hard of hearing.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura were thunderstruck with silence as they began to grasp just how clueless Kagome must actually be. She continued to stare at them. They stared back. Naruto’s cheek twitched and he opened his mouth like he was about to ask a really inappropriate question. Kakashi seemed content to let it happen. Sakura intercepted it.

“Actually, Kagome-ba-chan, would it be possible for you to show us to our rooms? We are pretty tired and I would personally love a chance to take a shower.” Sakura used her louder, outside voice so Kagome could hear her.

“Of course dear! Right this way, everyone.” With that Kagome lead them back down the same hallway into the entrance area and then up the stairs.

“Mm. Kagome-ba-chan? What’s in the lower levels downstairs?” Naruto asked loudly as they mounted the first five steps.

“O, well in addition to the main restaurant and dining area we have on the main level past the bathing doors, we have a small sake bar downstairs, which doesn’t usually open until after dinner hours around 8pm; it stays open until 5am, however, for our late drinkers. There is secluded seating for couples who want privacy. The main pump and cleaning area for monitoring the springs’ water is also down there as well as two small sauna rooms--by request only--and a few storage areas. Of course, only the bar is available for all guests and the saunas by request. The other areas are explicitly off-limits!” Kagome fell silent as they mounted another seven steps.

“I guess I should mention that we do encourage couples to enjoy our facilities and attain bliss together. But, please remember that the walls upstairs and on the main level are thin!” She paused to turn back to them with a cooky and devilish smile. Naruto flinched and curled his lip up, non-verbally communicating some disgusting image he was thinking of. Sakura turned red and began twisting her dirty locks of hair and Kakashi merely cleared his throat---again.

After finally reaching the top of the steep flight of stairs, they emerged into a hallway with floor to ceiling windows and doors leading to another balcony. The glass panes of the windows and doors were carved with a large feudal scene of a man chasing a woman through a forest. He chased her from one window to the next and onto a door; she’d turn around and smile coyly at him as he chased her. The man had dog-like ears in his long hair and the woman had blossoms in her hair. The afternoon sunlight was shining in through all the carved glass and creating shadows and crystalline reflections on the wood floor.

“Beautiful!” Sakura mumbled as she looked at the patterns created by the glass.

Naruto stretched and let out a sigh of relaxation as he reached the last step behind her. Kakashi was silent.

“This way! Jiraiya has arranged several rooms for your group. The other guests are already here and should be around somewhere to greet you.” Kagome walked past the first six or so doors that appeared to house smaller rooms.

After she was done staring at the glass carving, Sakura looked past the glass to the wide balcony outside and noticed a few lounge chairs--some specifically designed for couples--positioned outside in the afternoon sun. They each had small tables with umbrellas to provide optional shade.

She noticed three or four other guests sunbathing on a few chairs. As they passed the eighth and ninth doors along the hallway and the doors became double-doors (no doubt to suites), Sakura noticed something familiar. On one of the couple-seating lounge-chairs she saw a strikingly familiar tuft of black hair tied up and shorter blonder hair on the female companion seated with him on the lounge chair. The couple had their legs intertwined and the woman was laying with her head on the chest of her male companion and her thigh was rubbing him ever so slightly. The man really seemed to enjoy it. Sakura blushed at the scene. Unlike the other more subdued couples, this couple felt no shame at all but rubbed against one another in the lounge chair, though they weren’t kissing but chatting instead.

“Shikamaru?” Naruto called out behind her. It was then that she finally recognized the couple. They seemed so different without their uniforms and while they touched each other that way. I knew it! Shika is seeing Temari!

Naruto put his bag down and opened the nearest door to the balcony and walked out. Sakura tried to stop him; she was pretty sure Shikamaru and Temari weren’t expecting their friends to barge in on them, even if they were in a public place. She was certain that Shikamaru was seeing someone in secret for a while now and seeing Temari confirmed her suspicions that it was her all along. Naruto! Leave them be! By the time Sakura opened her mouth to stop him, he was already outside.

“BAKA!” Sakura announced and followed him outside onto the balcony. Kagome and Kakashi remained behind in the hallway.

“Ah! It appears Naruto and Sakura have already found some of their friends now!” Old Kagome seemed very pleased as she clasped her hands and watch Naruto and Sakura walk out onto the balcony.

Kakashi raised his eyebrows at the scene before him on the balcony. Is Jiraiya trying to taunt and incite Naruto? I don’t think he needs much more pushing to be with Sakura. Talk about a blunt object.

Naruto was smiling from ear to ear as he saw his close friend, Shikamaru, with the blonde beauty from Suna. I always pictured them together. They are both so smart and competitive. They fit. Naruto was very satisfied with seeing them so close on the lounge chair. I wonder if Sakura would be open to PDA? He blushed and spontaneously turned back to find Sakura and was surprised to see her right behind him and looking like she was about to punch him. He jumped.

“BAKA! Naruto!” She punched him in the arm.

“Che! Sakura-chan!? What was that for.” He kept walking forward to the lounge chair where Shikamaru and Temari were sitting. Sakura followed him step for step. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. Her breath tickled his neck and ear and he felt her hair brush his shoulder. The over-powering scent of her sweat penetrated his nostrils.

“Naruto. . .Don’t you think they want some privacy?” Her lips lingered next to his ear for second like she was going to kiss him. They both blushed. The commotion caused by Sakura punching Naruto alerted Shikamaru and Temari and the couple on the lounge chair watched the exchange between Naruto and Sakura with shock.

Temari looked up at Shika and muttered.

“Finally, those two--” Shikamaru brought his hand up and covered Temari’s mouth. He shook his head and mouthed the word “mission.” Temari nodded in realization.

“Shika, Temari are you both here for the mission too?” Naruto waved to them like everything was normal. Although Shikamaru and Temari had been dating in secret for a while, Shikamaru still wasn’t quite used to having people he knew openly see his affection for Temari. He bashfully brought up his right arm behind his head and blushed noticeably. He tried to shift his weight so Temari would dismount from her position draped over him, in particular, her thigh that she still had rubbing against his pulsating erection. It wouldn’t go away until she stopped and she wasn’t stopping.

Unlike Shikamaru, Temari had absolutely no shame and was blunt and honest with anyone who asked about her relationship with Shika from day one. She smirked as she knew she was irritating the hell out of Shikamaru by her current actions. He knew she enjoyed getting a rise out of him---literally. So, all he could do was enjoy it too--despite his best efforts to stop her.

“Tch. So Troublesome.” He squeezed her thigh with his other hand and blushed some more as she pressed her thigh a bit harder into him for just a moment.

Naruto and Sakura had noticed her ministrations and were turning bright red. Naruto swallowed. Sakura turned so she was only looking at them with her peripheral vision.

“Nice to see the two of you. . .er. . .together. You make a really cute couple.” Sakura couldn’t resist. She had always really liked Temari and was very happy to see Shika so obviously happy. . .in more ways than one, although it was embarrassing the hell out of her. I wish I had a dose of Temari’s lack of shame sometimes.

“Aww! Thanks, Sakura, sweetie. It’s really nice to see you too, especially so close to Naruto.” Shikamaru winced and pinched Temari’s hip.

“Ow!” She glared at him and stopped moving her thigh but kept it draped over him to shield his erection until it receded.

“What Temari means to say is that it’s nice you are both getting along and yes, Naruto, we are also here for the mission with Jiraiya-sama.” His erection was starting to go away--at least to the point that it wouldn’t be so obvious in his baggy swimming trunks. Temari removed her thigh and stood up. She gave Sakura a hug. Sakura hugged her back, though a bit surprised at the sudden affection.

“Listen, Sakura, let’s go have a bath and let the guys catch up. I’m sure you are exhausted. Plus, Ino is here too, I’m sure she’ll want to join us.”

“Ino?” Sakura said in high-pitched surprise. Shikamaru stood up and smirked at Naruto, who gave his cheesy grin back.

“Mm. Let the girls chat and we can get lunch set up.”

“Yessss. I am starving.” Naruto said as his stomach grumbled. Temari turned back to wink at Shika who smirked back at her. The girls started to make their way back to the door off the balcony. Naruto and Shikamaru followed. The four walked back in a line together.

As they reached the door, as if knowing one of them would ask about who else would be present for the mission, Temari spoke up.

“Gaara is here too.” Termari slide the door open off the balcony and back into the hallway. Naruto was smiling from ear to ear at the mention of one of his closest friends, although he hadn’t seen him in a few months.

“The Kazekage-sama is here?” Sakura followed Temari back inside. The girls made eye contact with Kakashi and smiled at Kagome as they entered the hallway.

“Sakura-chan! Don’t you remember?” Naruto blurted from behind her, following the girls inside. Shikamaru followed smoothly and slide the door shut.

“Because of the new relationship Konoha has with Suna, we’ve started a tradition of a summer festival between the two villages. It lasts the week of the solstice.” Naruto looked very smug and pleased with himself that he could explain this to Sakura.

“Che! How is it that you know about this and I don’t?!” Sakura raised her voice and looked at Naruto.

“As future Hokage, I keep up on village affairs.” He winked at her. That smug bastard! Sakura narrowed her eyes at him and simultaneously felt heat surge between her legs. The urge to strangle him was only adding to the throbbing need to fuck him senseless. I just might get my chance tonight! Eep! Now that the chance is real and not going to be interrupted, what am I thinking?! I’ve never even done it before. All this time. . .when it comes down to it. . .will I know what to do? She narrowed her eyes some more trying to disguise her sudden paranoia. Unfortunately, she only focused more on his lips, the sweat on his collar bone, the cut of his shoulders beneath his dirty shirt. Naruto didn’t seem to notice her penetrating glance.

“Sakura, Temari, Kagome mentioned that Ino is in the girl’s suite here. You three should enjoy a bath while Naruto, Shikamaru, and I meet with Jiraiya, who I believe is meeting with the Kazekage at the moment.” Although Naruto seemed oblivious, Kakashi was staring at Sakura as if he could read her craving for Naruto on her face. Although she welcomed Kakashi’s interruption of her fantasy, he was getting downright eerie with his awareness. Get out of my head pervy, Kakashi! She pouted at him.

At the mention of Kazkage, Kagome stood up taller beside Sakura.

“Such a nice and young Kazekage. How proud the village of Suna must be with such a prodigy. If you don’t need me anymore, I’ll be on my way, please don’t hesitate to ask at the desk if you need anything. An early dinner will be prepared shortly, please let Jiraiya-kun know if he plans to have you all eat together in the suites.” Kagome puttered away back down the hallway and announced over her shoulder: “Please ennnnnjoyyyy and remember, thin walls.” She walked away swaying and humming to herself.

“eheheheheheheh.” Naruto and Sakura both laughed uncomfortably. Temari and Shikamaru seemed to be looking at the ceiling. Kakashi cleared his throat.

“Alright, ladies, go enjoy yourselves. Kagome told me this suite is for the boys.” He pointed at the double door down the hall a bit more. “That is the girl’s suite. They are linked via a common space in the middle, but the private quarters are largely separated.” He smirked and motioned at Shikamaru and Naruto and turned toward the nearest double door. “Mm.” He gestured inside the open door. Shikamaru winked at Temari and she winked back. He entered the room first. Kakashi turned his gaze on Naruto, who didn’t budge, but instead turned his head to stare obviously at Sakura.

“Alright!” Temari announced as she swung open the next double door to the girl’s room.

“Let’s find Ino and go relax.” She gently put her hand on Sakura’s bicep.

“Mm.” Sakura acknowledged Temari half-heartedly as she looked up to meet Naruto’s gaze.  Kakashi gave Naruto a little push on the shoulder and he slowly moved forward to follow Shikamaru as the eye-lock between Sakura and Naruto intensified.

They seemed to walk in slow-motion into the separate rooms, as though the impending separation they were about to endure was causing the magnetism between them to intensify. Sakura’s stare of connection transitioned into a powerfully heated look that, for once, didn’t seem to be lost on Naruto.

For a second, Sakura caught a flash of the mature, crystalline heat she had seen in his eyes less than twelve hours prior. Why can’t I be alone with him? How much longer must this go on? She knew she must have an expression of desperation in her eyes now. She thought she saw Naruto set his jaw and tense his shoulders like he was about to move. His eyes flashed a look of the strongest lust she had ever seen just as Kakashi gave him a final push into the room. The connection between their eyes was severed.

“See you at dinner time in two hours.” Kakashi followed and shut the door. Sakura deflated and frowned at Temari.

“Sheesh. You’d think you were never going to be together again! Don’t worry, Sakura, you’ll see him soon.” Temari turned and went into the girl’s room and muttered over her shoulder. “Besides, I don’t think there’s any doubt that Naruto wants into your pants and then some.

Sakura blushed at Temari’s last comment as she shut the door.

“I had no idea you were such a freaking sap! You are going to have to dish the goods when we get to the bath. I’m pretty sure Ino and I both want to know what Naruto is packing.”

“Ehhhhhhh!” Sakura’s shocked reaction was lost as Temari walked forward into the suite. Sakura looked around still confused over Temari’s bluntness.

The room had a large entryway adorned with shelves containing house-slippers and hooks. A small but sumptuous and low sofa was nearby with a small fountain on bamboo plant on an end table. Sakura noticed stained glass skylights from above letting multi-colored light hit hit the tatami-mat floor. It felt a bit like entering a different world--a calmer more poetic one. Thin rice paper doors were open in front of the entryway to a large sitting room with a low table, chairs and a small kitchenette and fridge. A second set of thicker doors stood open to a private balcony overlooking the part of the hotspring below that was only decorative and not for swimming. The room was enormously large. The whole suite seemed huge, in fact. Beside the open double rice-paper doors to the sitting area was a rice-paper wall leading down a narrow hallway to what Sakura could only assume were the bedrooms and bathroom. Temari walked forward into the sitting room.

“Ino?” She called out as she progressed into the room and looked around. After looking from side to side, Temari walked out and back down the hallway toward the sleeping rooms.

“Hey! Sakura! You have the biggest room on the end of the hallway.” Sakura followed her down the hall to see her pointing to the door at the end.

“Jiraiya-sama really ponied up for this mission and each room has its own bathroom.There’s a small bathroom in the hallway here too. As if we need a fourth one. I’m going to check Ino’s room. Make yourself comfortable and then get changed for the bath!” Temari continued down the hall and slide open the second to last door. Sakura could hear her call out to Ino again.

Finally left to her own devices again, Sakura walked back into the large expense of a sitting/dining room and made her way to the balcony, which as she approached, she realized was much larger than it looked. It seemed like it wrapped down the entire length of the suite to the left past each of the bedrooms. From what she could gather, as the balcony curved around the building, her own portion of the balcony near her bedroom in the back was hidden from the rest of the balcony.

She turned her head and looked to the right and noticed that the balcony continued past the wall of the girl’s suite and all the way down past what she assumed were each of the boy’s bedrooms in their suite. Right in the middle was a bump out and the widest part of the balcony with two large hammocks swaying freely in the breeze and a table even bigger than the one inside the suite.

Sakura jumped as she realized she wasn’t alone on the balcony. Leaning on the railing at the balcony’s edge with his back to her, was Sabaku no Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna. He was dressed in his regal black flowing robes for missions and his deep blood red hair was blowing a bit in the wind. She walked closer with the intentions of saying hello to him. But, something prevented her from announcing her presence to him right away, although she was pretty sure he could sense her nonetheless.

As she got a bit closer, she noticed that he was holding something in his hand. She squinted her eyes. Is that. . .a yellow rose? Made of . . .sand? It dissolved back into Gaara’s hand and fell away in the wind as he turned his head to meet her eyes. Is that a look of embarrassment on his face?

Sakura bowed.

“Kazekage-sama! So nice to see you again.” She lifted her eyes and though Gaara was ever stoic, it seemed as though he was smiling slightly.

“Haruno, Sakura, Naruto’s beloved. Call me Gaara.”

Sakura all but choked on her next words.

“Alright, nice to see you Gaara.” He nodded, smiled ever so slightly, and turned back to look over the edge of the balcony again.

“Sakura!” She heard a yell from behind her; it was Temari’s voice. Sakura took a few steps back in the direction of the sitting area in the girl’s suite.

“There you are! I found Ino!” Sakura turned to see Temari already in a robe and ready for a bath. Ino was too. She had her hair bunned up on top of her head. Sakura had never seen all of Ino’s hair pulled out of her face before. She looked older and strikingly beautiful.

“Che. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone can expect to lose Sakura. Her forehead can be seen from space.” Ino smirked and put her hands on her hips. Sakura raised her fist as her eyebrows twitched.

“Nice to see you too, Ino-pig.” They both broke into smiles and hugged each other.

“Alright Sakura, get your ass changed. It’s bath time.” As Sakura started to walk back to the suite, she turned, realizing Gaara was still on the balcony behind her.

“See you soon Gaara.” She bowed again in his direction, a little less formerly this time. As she brushed by Temari and Ino, she caught Ino tensing up like something was making her uncomfortable.

“I’ll come with you, Forehead, and show you where the robes are.” Ino followed her back inside. Sakura could hear Temari walking over to her brother and chatting with him as she walked back inside with Ino.

“Gaara? I thought you were meeting with Jiraiya-sama. . . .”

Sakura was out of earshot for the rest as she and Ino walked down the hall toward the rooms.

********

Sakura and Ino caught up while she changed and Ino helped her pin her still filthy hair up on her head.

“Tsk, forehead, you are so oily! Did you run a marathon on the way here? Or is it really that hot outside?” Sakura rolled her eyes affectionately at Ino. The girl was her best friend and always had been, but it was their mission in life to give one another a hard time.

“It’s near 80 outside! Weren’t you just out there when you made your way up here with Shika earlier today?” Sakura eyed her friend.

“. . .”

“Nothing to say? Hello? Ino? Are you ok?” It wasn’t like Ino to not have a comeback.

“Yea, I’m fine. I just haven’t been outside in a little while is all.”

“Alright missy. Tell me what is going on right now.” Sakura eyed Ino with scrutiny.

“Maybe later, when Temari isn’t around.” What is going on with Ino?? Does it have something to do with Temari or Gaara? Pfft. Ino and Gaara have barely had more than two words with one another. It can’t be Gaara.

“Alright. Whenever you are ready. I’m here.” Sakura smiled at her. Ino smiled back weakly.

“Ino?”

“Mmm.”

“Do you know anything about what this mission is about?” Sakura had all but forgotten what Kakashi had told her and Naruto at the campsite earlier that morning. She was noticing more and more that this bathhouse had an odd way of making you forget your current situation.

“Not really, forehead. Jiraiya-sama just told me and Shikamaru that we would be participating in a joint mission involving the safety of you and Naruto. What the hell that has to do with this hotspring is beyond me. Besides, do you not know what’s going on?” Ino stopped working on Sakura's hair to look at her.

“Not exactly. I was really hoping you could tell me a bit more.” Sakura looked down at her hands.

“Well, I’m sure Temari knows something. Shikamaru must have spilled to her and he definitely knows what’s going on and I know for a fact that he can’t keep anything from her.”

“Mmm.” Sakura was unconvinced and what Kakashi told her about Naruto and the Kyuubi had really made her nervous. She wanted to protect him, but how could she if she didn’t have all the details? Ino snapped her out of her momentary funk.

“Hmph. Not to mention, you need to spill about baka-yarou!!” Ino poked her and changed the subject as she finished putting up her hair. Now she had a gloating smirk on her face.

“Eh! What’s there to tell?!”

“O quit the bullshit, forehead. Naruto has been swooning over you since we were kids and Temari told me you were making eyes at him out in the hallway earlier. I expect full details when we get in the bath.”

The girls walked out of Sakura’s room in their robes and found Temari lounging on the sofa near the door with the room key in her hand.

“Come on slow asses! Sakura, you better not have given Ino juicy details without me.”