"Gaara."

The talking at the table stopped when everyone realized that Tsunade wasn't reacting to the news. She'd won the bet, why wasn't she acting like it? Then it hit them. Every single one of them. She never won a bet. When she did, it was like a curse. Something bad always followed. There were collective gulps around the table and the tension spiked another notch.



Shizune looked at the pile and then back to Tsunade who was staring at it but not seeing it. "Hokage-sama?" Shizune reached out to touch the woman but Tsunade moved herself away. A fist banged down on the table with controlled force. She wasn't going to pay to have a new table brought it.



"Damn it!" Everyone at the table slowly started to rise and drift away. It wasn't something they needed to see. Kakashi told Iruka he would follow shortly and Iruka just nodded and drifted away like the rest of the members. Jiraya tipped back the sake bottle and downed it in one go. He pushed the other towards Tsunade. She took it and did the same, not really even tasting it. Shizune would have said something but Kakashi stopped her with a cough and incline of his head. She nodded and stood, leaving the table with the gray haired shinobi.



"She left me." Tsunade looked up, waving her hand for more sake to be brought. her eyes stared at Jiraya. "Because of you, she left me. Said she didn't want to have to chose between her Hokage and her heart." Jiraya laughed, a little hysterically. "How do you do it? You take away everything I care about and I just watch it slip through my fingers." He looked at his hands, eyes narrowing. "Slips right through, like water."



"She told me she didn't want to pick between her sensei and her heart." Jiraya looked at her and his face was blank.



"Nani?"



"She didn't just leave you, you old pervert. She left me too. She hasn't been to the hospital for her shift and when I sent Shizune to her home, she wasn't there. She's not even in the village."



"Where did she go?"



"ANBU sighted her at the Vally of the End. She was sitting there, looking through a book of pictures, crying and cursing everything." Tsunade laughed. "I don't take anything away from your Jiraya. You let it go. Just like I do."



"Oro."



"Hm. We're horrible shinobi and even worse people old man. Why don't we ever learn?"



"I think he asked us the same question once." Grabbing the bottle of sake that had been delivered, he poured a cup for Tsunade and then one for himself. The drank it in sips, staring into the liquid like it would come up and bite them. Maybe it would. Who knew?



"He did but then he turned on us. He left us to further his sick science. His knowledge."



"And how much of it do we use?"



"More than I care to think about."



"Reminds me of a few kids."



"Hm." She sipped her Sake and looked at the ceiling of the building. It had emptied out and only the bar tender was there. They must have sensed her mood and wanted no part of it. "He didn't leave for knowledge. He left for power."



"And hurt everything in his wake." She nodded and held the cup over to him for more. "What do you think is going to happen?"



Tsunade picked up one of the Polaroids and tossed it to him. He picked it up and sighed. They were just laying there, sleeping in one another's arms, smiles on their faces. "I don't have to guess or place a bet."



"I think you're right." The two sannin drank themselves dry, picked up the pictures and just left the money. It was bad money. It wouldn't bring anybody luck. It was still there the next day.





Naruto had woke first, found himself entangled between Gaara's limbs and frowned. What the- his face paled for a moment before he smiled down at the sleeping face. Gaara was still entangled with sleep and his mouth was slightly parted. Naruto bent his head and kissed those parted lips, chuckling when Gaara woke up and pushed him away. The red head looked down and his face turned to one of almost horror. He moved and winced, groaning. It hadn't been a dream. His body felt it.



"You okay?"



"No." Gaara glowered at Naruto who blushed and ducked his head. He stood up quickly and headed for the bathroom.



"I'll start you a bath. You should sit in it for a while so your muscles relax." Gaara just turned his face away and looked for the blankets. He was cold, naked, covered in come and his ass hurt all the way to his stomach. If that was even possible. Apparently it was because he was hurting. His mind thought back to what he'd thought was a dream and he blushed harder, covering his face with a hand. It had felt so good and he hadn't stopped it. What was going to happen now? They had been intimate...and they were supposed to be friends. He was so confused.



Naruto came out of the bathroom and helped him to his feet. He winced and they stumbled into the bathroom. The water smelled good. The blond had put something in it, and when Gaara sat down in it, he felt his muscles start to relax almost instantly. He groaned and Naruto smiled, Grabbing a washcloth and cleaning himself off. A knock at the door made him freeze. His blue eyes looked from Gaara to the wall.



It seemed a kunai came out of no where and Naruto stepped quietly from the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. The blond walked to the door, not caring of his nudity at the moment.



"Who?"



"I-it's Sakura." Something was wrong. Forgetting about his no clothes, he opened the door and ushered her inside. She'd seen him naked before when she'd had to patch him up while he was unconscious. It still didn't change the fact that he was very much awake and naked. "PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!" She covered her eyes and turned around so she wasn't staring at him. Naruto looked down and chuckled.



"Be right back. Make yourself at home." He trotted off to the bedroom and threw on a pair of his stripped pajama pants. He came back out half naked and it was better than utterly naked. Sakura had sat on the couch, on one of the smaller holes -she learned fast- and had her face in her hands. her body was shaking and Naruto thought he heard sobs.



"Sakura-chan!" He ran over to her and got to his knees in front of her. "What's the matter?" He didn't see her cry often but when she did, it wasn't any small thing.



"I left them! I left them both! I...I didn't know what else to do! I couldn't chose between one or the other it would tear me apart!"



"Calm down. Breathe." He rubbed her back and she took in several deep breaths. Naruto stood and went to get her a glass of water. "Now, who did you leave and why?"



"Tsunade and Jiraya."



"Huh?" he was confused and it showed in his features. Taking a place in front of her, Naruto crossed his legs and stuck his hands in his lap much like a five year old child might.



"I left them." She laughed a little and toyed with something around her neck. It was a necklace. She held it between two fingers and held it up so Naruto could see it. There were three charms on it. "This one I got from Tsunade when I started my medical training. This one I got from Shizune when I reached chounin rank and this one...I got when he asked me to marry him." Tears were bursting from her eyes like two flowing rivers and he didn't know what to do.



"Remember that person, the one I told you I had feelings for?" Naruto nodded. "Well, it was Jiraya." She held up a hand to stop Naruto from speaking. "I know, he's old enough to be my grandfather, he's a porn writer and he's a perverted old man but you will never understand Naruto. It's not as bad as it sounds. Anyway, we were together and last night...I went to go celebrate with Tsunade-sama and I bought her a gift too...and I heard it. She was arguing with him, telling him that I wasn't mentally stable enough to make 'such a big decision'. I opened the door to stare at her, pinning Jiraya against the wall and yelling at him. I didn't know what I wanted to do but my heart sank." She rubbed her eyes and sipped her glass of water.



"I couldn't chose between them so I had to. I had to leave them both and now I don't know what to do. Shizune was waiting at my house when I got back this morning and I had this," she held up a note and handed it to Jiraya, "under my pillow when I went to sleep." She sighed and rubbed her temples. She was so tired and she hadn't slept in days. "It's an apology from both of them. They signed it together. Tsunade said she would stay out of my private life as long as it didn't affect my work schedule and Jiraya said he would stay out of my work life as long as I wasn't running myself ragged."



'Then what's the problem?" He set the letter on the crate he used for a table and leaned his chin into a hand that rested against his knee.



"Don't you see? If I just go back then they have me!" She stood and started pacing. "Tsunade is like...well, I don't like how she put it but it's the truth, she's like an adopted mother to me and Jiraya...he's the love of my life. I can't just...just go back! If I do then they will have won!"



"Won what?" Naruto knew where this was going but he kept her talking, letting her work out her anger, frustration and sadness. Iruka had done it enough for him.



"I don't know. Me I guess. They would see that I was easy...they could just apologize when they did something wrong and they would think I didn't have a problem with it! I can't just let them fight over me like I was a piece of meat!" Her arms were flailing about and she was hollering, her feet stomping around harder on the floor as she paced. "I honestly don't know what to do. I don't want to go back to either of them right now. They were fighting over me and I can't lose either of them because of it. if I have to give them both up to keep them from fighting at all then that's what I will do but..." She stopped and put a hand to her chest, over her heart and rubbed it.



"Maybe you should get them both together and point out what you're telling me?" He threw the suggestion out there and she thought for a moment.



"Why didn't I think of that?!" She looked over at Naruto and bent down to place a kiss on his forehead. He was blushing and she smiled. "Thanks Naruto-" she stopped and looked towards the door to the bedroom. "Did I just hear a curse?" She started walking towards the bedroom and Naruto jumped in her path, his usual, big, dopey smile plastered on his face.



"You don't want to go in there Sakura-chan. haha..."



"It sounds like someone is hurt Naruto. It's my job as a medical nin to help those in need."



"Well...I..."



"DAMN IT!" There was a loud thump and Sakura and Naruto looked at each other before running into the bathroom. Gaara was in the bathroom, sitting on his ass and trying to get a towel when both Naruto and Sakura burst in. Sakura gaped and turned around, a blush covering her cheeks and Naruto blushed so hard that his face matched Gaara's hair. Gaara looked up at them and his cheeks started to turn pink. Naruto helped him to his feet and wrapped a towel around his waist quickly.



"Uhh...can I?"



"Yea, you can turn around now Sakura." She turned and stepped out of the way so Naruto could help Gaara to the bed. Gaara tried to shove off his help but Naruto was insistant.



"Where are you hurt Gaara-san?" His blush got deeper and so did Naruto's.



"I'm fine."



"You're wincing." Sakura pulled some medical gloves out of a pack on her hip and slipped them on. "If you don't tell me, then I will have no choice but to do a full body exam. I'm sure you want to save me the trouble ne?" She had a fake smile plastered on her face but her eyes showed she wasn't kidding. Naruto patted her shoulder.



"You wouldn't understand Sakura-chan. believe me." She stood, hands on her hips and looked at him.



"And what wouldn't I understand Naruto?" Her eyes were fiery green and he slinked back a step or two. She followed him. "What wouldn't I understand Naruto?"



"Uh..." He smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Just trust me okay?" Gaara scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. This was interesting. How was Naruto going to explain that it wasn't anything but his ass that hurt? Sakura turned and sighed.



"You leave me no choice." She stalked over and got to her knees, pulled the towel away. Gaara looked desperately to Naruto and pulled the towel back to cover himself. "I could knock you out to complete the exam or you could just tell me what hurts and let me look at it." Her face was all seriousness and Gaara growled at Naruto. Slowly, He turned, the towel still covering him and Naruto walked over, a blush on his face. He mumbled something. "What?" She turned her face up, confused.



"It's internal Sakura-chan."



"What is?"



"His...pain." Sakura's brows furrowed together for a moment but when realization of why Gaara turned and what Naruto was saying hit her, she blushed and a little blood started seeping out of her nose.



"Oh." Naruto wiped her nose and she turned, blushing brighter red then Gaara's hair and spread his legs. "I won't move the towel but I need you to spread your legs please." He did as he was told and she placed a hand just over his tail bone. She brought chakra to her hand and started to massage. Gaara relaxed and groaned.



"How do you know what you're doing?" Gaara turned his head to look at Naruto who asked.



"Kankuro calls for her when he's in town." Naruto's mouth dropped open and Sakura nodded.



"He and Kiba seem to need a lot of patching up when they get together so they call me because I'm descreat." Gaara was still blushing when she finished but he could roll over easier. "Not so rough next time. Wait..it never works with Kiba and Kankuro so I don't know why I'm even saying it." She laughed softly to herself and sighed, stripping off her gloves and handing them to Naruto. "Can you throw these away for me please? I need to check some other things and I'm sure Gaara-san doesn't want an audience." Naruto sighed but nodded and left the room quietly. Skarua turned and sat on the bed, pulling out another paid of gloves.



"What do you want to know?" He knew the questions were coming so he decided to just get them over with.



"How rough was it?" She waited, hands in her lap.



"Rough." He blushed but pushed the heat away from his face.



"What position?"



"I was on my side with a leg up."



"Did you use protection?"



"No." Sakura nodded and told him to turn over once again.



"I have to do an internal exam to make sure there isn't anything torn and your prostate wasn't injured."



"My what?" She shook her head and stuck a finger up his ass to start the exam. She brushed her finger over Gaara's prostate and he gasped.



"That is your prostate. When a man has sex with another man the prostate can be hit just like the female g-spot. When rubbed against, tapped or manually stimulated, it can be very pleasureful but if you are too rough you can injure it just like the inside of your body. Luckily, Naruto must have somehow known what he was doing and nothing is torn." She removed her finger and took her gloves off, setting them on the floor next to the bed. She righted Gaara's towel and stood. "Maybe you should mention it to him the next time."



"He doesn't need it mentioned to him." He blushed and pulled the covers over his waist.



"I see." She started for the door. "If you need me again don't hesitate to call me. It's better to have it taken care of then be in pain ne?" She smiled at him and left, closing the door behind her. Gaara sighed. She was right. He felt much better now, except he felt slightly violated.



"Naruto?" The blond looked up from his ramen cup to see Sakura coming out of the room. "There is another pair of gloves by the bed that need to be taken care of if you don't mind." She didn't know where the trash was in his apartment so she just left it to him. "And please, take care next time to make sure your partner is comfortable before you go hammering away."



"He was very comfortable when I was hammering away."



"Well, try putting a pillow under his lower back next time. It might help with the discomfort later." He nodded and she left the apartment. Frowning, Naruto set his ramen aside and was up in an instant running after her.



"Sakura-chan!" She was just heading out of the main door when she stopped and turned around. Naruto was smiling as he walked up to her. He grabbed his teammate and pulled her into his arms, looking her deeply in the eyes. She looked angry but he held her hands at her sides because his arms were wrapped around her arms and body. "Don't kill anyone okay? I'd hate to have to hide the bodies." Leaning forward, he laid a gentle kiss on her forehead and dashed away. She was left with her mouth agape but a smile tugging the edge of her lips.



"Maybe I'll kill you and have Ino help me hide the body!" She could have swore she heard a chuckle but shook her head and left, a full grin on her face.



Gaara was standing in the living room when Naruto got back and he was pointedly glaring at the ramen cup that he'd left on the floor. Naruto walked over and picked it up, bringing it to the kitchen and tossing it away.



"Hungry?" Gaara's stomach answered for him. "Guess so." Sighing and holding his chin for a minute, Naruto looked in the fridge for something to eat and smiled. There was still some of Iruka-sensei's cooking left over. Pulling out the plate, Naruto took off the plastic wrap and stuck it in the heater. When it binged, he put some curry on the side and handed it to Gaara who'd been standing in the door the whole time.



"Left overs."



"Hey, I can't cook to save my life unless it comes out of a ramen box and besides, it's Iruka-sensei's cooking!" Gaara shook his head and took the plate, returning to the living room to sit and eat. Neither of the teens said anything after that. Naruto stared at the wall across from the couch and Gaara just stuffed his face in silence. It was damned uncomfortable. Naruto opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again and then closed it, not knowing what to say. He couldn't apologize because he enjoyed every minute of what he did the previous night. If he hadn't seen Gaara's face twist in pleasure, he would have said maybe it was one sided but...



Shaking his head, Naruto grumbled to himself and crossed his legs. Just thinking about what Gaara looked like sprawled under him the night before was making him hard. The blond closed his eyes but the images just came flooding back in rapid succession so he opened them and stood up, making sure the front of his pants weren't visible to the rooms other occupant. Naruto walked to the bedroom and shut the door, leaving Gaara to finish his breakfast.



Once inside the room, Naruto swore and flopped down on the futon. He buried his face in the pillow there and felt like crying. It smelled like Gaara. It always smelled like him but now...now it smelled like the red head. Naruto tossed the offending fluffed and feather filled sack away from his head and just laid there....on his stomach....and thought about nothing. Okay, that was a lie. His mind was racing a mile-a-minute and couldn't focus on any one thought and whenever it did, it was one he was trying to avoid. The feel of Gaara's mouth, the paleness of his skin, that he was hairless below the hair on his head...and the look on his face as he exploded in orgasm.



Growling, Naruto rolled and looked down the line of his body to the tent that appeared at his groin. "I hate you."



"Hate who?" Gaara came walking in and Naruto flipped over on his stomach quicker than lightning and the red head just stared.



"Not you. Just...my frog." Naruto pulled over the frog in question and tossed it away. "I swear the thing just stares at me like some living and seeing thing but can't talk or move. It's creepy." Well, it sounded convincing but he knew Gaara didn't buy it. The look was there in his eyes.



"Hm." The red head walked around gathering up a net shirt, a black tee, his armor and come clean boxers along with a clean pair of pants.



"Where are you going?" Gaara didn't answer but went into the bathroom to change. Naruto sighed and got up, quickly donning his signature orange and black. he grabbed his hetai-ait and just as he went to put it on, Gaara came out of the bathroom. The red head was silent as he walked out of the room and to the door, slipping on his sandals, grabbing his gourd and leaving the apartment. Naruto was on his heels but when Naruto asked where they were going, Gaara said nothing. He crossed his arms over his chest and headed through the village main.



NOO! Get away from there! What are you doing?! STOP THAT! Naruto stopped and looked to his left. His superior hearing had picked up something and he looked to Gaara who ignored him but was looking the same way. Naruto ran off into the direction the yelling was coming from and came to an abrupt halt in front of the weapons dealer, the one who'd given him so many weapons and things. There were a bunch of people, men, women and children around the booth. The men were knocking things over, breaking things and the women were yelling, laughing and cussing. The kids were just there to be a nusience.



Naruto spotted the clerk's wife trying to fend off a bigger and heavier set man but he slapped her and she fell to the ground. The clerk was already there, bleeding from his mouth and nose. Walking over, Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets and walked through the people -who parted like water- for him as he stopped in front of the man and woman. With a smile hidden from everyone else but them, he winked and turned around.



"What do you idiots think you're doing?" He lifted his head at an incline and looked at them all.



"Teaching these fools a lesson!" "Yea!" "What they said!"



"What lesson would that be?"



"To not sell to the monsters!" Naruto's eyes narrowed and a wind picked up around him, tugging at his clothes and hair. He pulled a hand out of it's pocket and pointed a finger.



"You are the monsters. You would damage someone's property, what they work hard to maintain simply because they sell to someone you think is a monster? Do any of you even know what the word means?" When some would have spoken, he interrupted them. "Really means? A monster is someone with no feelings, no emotions. A monster kills without thinking about if it might be a woman or child. A monster destroys things because he does not like them. A monster hates." Some of the men rushed at him and he moved out of the way. "A monster attacks without a reason." He tripped them men who attacked him again and watched them fall to the ground. When they would get back up, a line of sand held them in place and Naruto smiled.



"These people are not monsters. If you want a monster than look to me." Gaara came out from above them, floating on sand and it was just like his eyes were glowing, a firey green. The women screamed and the children started to cry. The men shivered and the fallen clerk helped his wife to her feet and they backed away. Naruto smiled behind him. "I'll come back later and help you fix things up ne?" They nodded and looked from him to Gaara who was standing next to him.



"Why would you do this? After the way we've treated you?" The woman was wiping tears away from her eyes.



"Because, I'm not a monster." He turned and took up a pose next to Gaara. Them men on the ground were screaming and flailing their bodies around but the sand wouldn't let them go. "If you come near these people again you will deal with me Uzumaki Naruto!" He hiked a thumb at himself. Gaara put a very evil grin on his face and formed a seal. The sand came up in an almost tidal wave at his back.



"And me. Subaku no Gaara of the Hidden Village of Sand." The women turned tail and ran along with most of the men. The children were high on their heels and then men who were trapped on the ground were crying.



"Let us go." "We meant no harm!" "Please! Be merciful!" Naruto bent down and flicked one man in the forehead. A nice red dot appeared there.



"I am a monster remember? Monsters aren't merciful." He stood and looked down on them. His hands went back into his pockets. "If you really want to be let up then you have to ask this nice gentleman here." He nodded in the direction of the old man.



"Please! Let us up!" "We'll do anything!" "Yea! Anything!" the other's agreed and Naruto looked over to the old man.



"Well, they did say anything." The old man walked over and looked at them.



"You will help me rebuild what you broke? Replace what you stole?"



"Anything! Just let us up please!" They were sobbing now, still trying to struggle free.



"I'll hold you to that." The old man looked to Gaara and asked that he let the men go. Gaara waved a hand and the sand dissipated. The men stood up quickly and ran so fast away, they were stumbling among themselves until they were out of sight. Naruto turned and helped right some knocked over crates that hadn't broke and started to set up weapons that were knocked over. The old man stopped him with a hand on his. "You don't have to do that Uzumaki-san."



"No, I don't, but honestly, you're old and this is some heavy stuff." He grinned his signature grin and started righting more stuff and picking up and piling the things that couldn't be salvaged. The old man just watched and the woman brought out some rice cakes. When everything -or as much of it that could be salvaged- was back to normal, the woman handed Naruto the rice cakes and handed some to Gaara. The red head accepted them and looked to Naruto. "Thanks baa-chan." He smiled and bit into one, almost melting. "So gooooood." He inhaled the rest of it and started on his second one. The woman chuckled and she and her husband walked behind the curtain. Looking over to Gaara's untouched rice cakes, Naruto's stomach churned.



"You going to eat those?" Gaara shook his head and handed them over and they started walking again. Naruto smiled as he filled his stomach with the mushy goodness.



"Why?" Naruto looked over his mouth full of a whole cake. He forced himself to swallow and patted his chest to make it go down.



"Why what?" Gaara just stared at him. "That?" Naruto sighed and looked to the sky. "Because, I love this village Gaara. I would die to protect it even though there are very few to no people in it that care for me. Kyuubi took their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, cousins, brothers...so many died and he was sealed inside of me. No, I didn't do any of that but I have the demon inside of me." He looked at his last rice cake and started chewing on it thoughtfully. "The older people know what I am and the hate just continued onto later generations even though it's a secret about who I have inside of me. Whatever you did to that man, it changed his opinion utterly of me and he doesn't see me as a monster anymore. Why would I let someone suffer simply because they helped me? If I did then that would really make me a monster ne?"



Gaara thought for a moment and nodded once, turning to watch where he was walking. They came to a stop in front of the Hokage's office. Gaara was so sure of why he had wanted to come here when he started the walk but now he couldn't even remember the reason. A frown appearing on the corner of his mouth, the red head walked up the steps and inside the building. Naruto was following behind, just finishing his rice cake when they stopped at Tsunade's door.



"Enter." They did. Gaara walked into the room, ignoring anyone else that might be in there. Of course, there was no one but Tsunade in the room...well, and Naruto. The blond looked up from her paperwork and lifted an elegantly shaped brow. Leaning back, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"To what do I owe this surprise?"



"Don't ask me Baa-chan. he just decided to go for a walk I guess." Naruto took up a place at a side wall, looking to the floor and waiting for the answer himself.



"Send me back." Tsunade groaned and her forehead met her desk with a loud thump. She lifted her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.



"We have been over this Gaara. Until I can fix what's wrong with you, you are to stay here."



"You have had ample time." Tsunade rose her eyes to look into Gaara's and she glowered.



"Yes, yes I have but if you knew the amount of research something like this takes then you would not be here, making my life even harder."



"Hm?" Gaara rose an eyebrow. Tsunade growled and stood, both hands flat on her desk.



"If you are here to start something then turn your ass right back around and leave."



"I want to go home. If I am going to die then I will die there." His words seemed to echo through the room. Tsunade said nothing and Naruto scuffed his foot on the floor.



"You are not going to die Gaara. Just give me some more time." The red head let his hands drop to his sides and he stepped forward. Naruto was at his side in a flash, grabbing his arm. Gaara paid him no mind and continued forward.



"Send. Me. Back."



"I can't do that." Gaara moved close enough that she could feel his breath on her face. His eyes held nothing. His face held nothing. His body wasn't even tense! It frustrated her that he could be so calm...not even calm, emotionless. Tsunade took her chair and Gaara stood up straight, hands moving to cross over his chest. "Why do you truly want to go back?" She could have swore she saw a flinch but he said nothing. He just stared at her. "If you won't answer me then my answer stays the same. Unless you have convinced me thoroughly then you stay."



"Baa-chan?" Her gaze darted to Naruto. "What is it up too?"



"Thirty percent."



"Isn't there another way?"



"Unless that sly bastard has any suggestions then no. There is no other way." Gaara looked between them and his gaze rested on Naruto. The blond sighed and sat down in a chair.



"I guess I will just have to ask." The red head was confused but his eyes never left Naruto's face. He watched as blue eyes glazed over and Naruto's body relaxed utterly in the chair. His eyes....Gaara's face turned to one of concentration as he watched knowledge flicker across Naruto's blue gaze and then, his eyes turned a blood red and the blond stood up, leaning across the table, one sick smile across his face. His whiskers were darker, a different chakra pattern was flowing over his body and when he spoke, heard a much deeper, more freighting voice.



"To what do I owe this pleasure Human-san?" Tsunade's gaze narrowed and she stood, her nose meeting Naruto's.



"He's already told you."



"Of course." Another grin and Gaara noticed a mouth full of sharp teeth. The red gaze floated over to him and Naruto stood, circling around him. Gaara's sand hissed and swished, asking to be let out, asking to fight. "To save this pathetic beings life." He stopped, behind Gaara and grabbed the red head's ass, a full hand of it. Gaara jumped back and his sand was around him in seconds. Naruto laughed a delightfully evil chuckled and it ran down the other two shinobi's spines like ice water. "What do you want to know?"



"Is there another way to keep him alive? My findings won't keep him alive."



"That's too bad."



"Talk to me damn it!!" She slammed her hand down and yelled at Naruto. Naruto growled, the sound rumbling through his body and seeming to rumble the very floor itself.



"I am not that brat Human-san so do well to watch your tone with me." He hissed and a flare of chakra had her standing straight, eyes slightly wide. "You're afraid of me?"



"I would be stupid not to be."



"Pathetic. I am not even at a quarter of my strength in this body and yet you still fear me." Naruto shook his head and looked to the ceiling. "There is another way but it is not a way that any of you would like...well, maybe two of three." There was an evil laugh and Gaara could feel his skin crawl with something close to revulsion. His sand swirled around him and he hissed at it, commanding it to be still, solid. "Put that sand away and let me get a good look at you. He said you were the former wielder of Shukaku, yes?" Gaara frowned and looked to Tsunade who nodded hopelessly. Gaara waved his sand down, sending it around Naruto's feet. "Smart, but not quite that smart." Naruto shook his head and held up his hands in a shrug. "There is another way, yes but as I have said, it is a hard path and one that will most likely take this one's mind, making him crazy. It's a force feed. They will have to be joined in mind, body and soul before I can do it but the way it works is when they are, I take over this pathetic, little boys body and force my chakra into the red head holding his path ways open long enough for the chakra to restructure and heal what has been broken or changed. It could damage his heart or other vital organs so having you there Human-san would be beneficial to his physical health. But, the force feed of power takes it's toll on the mind. The body has more power than it knows what to do with and not being able to release it will make one go crazy. Power drunk but it will never go away. The chances of it happening about...eh-" Naruto put a hand to his chin and thought for a moment, "one hundred to one. Are you willing to bet?"



Tsunade's eyes raised in shock and horror and shook her head no.



"Well then you have your answer." Naruto smiled that evil smile again and red eyes turned blue, drooped and then closed. Naruto started to fall over, his legs not able to hold his body anymore. The sand around his feet caught him but he was out like a light.



"What does that mean?" Gaara looked to her and she sat down, her face holding a defeated look.



"It means unless I can come up with a better way to keep you alive, we will have to take that fox up on his offer which in turn could cost you your sanity or, if I can't stop your major organs from failing, your life."



"What about your idea?"



"It's no better and then chances are only slightly higher but it's not worth the risk to your life Gaara." The red head looked down to the ground and something washed over him. It felt like sadness but he knew what that felt like and it wasn't sadness. Looking to the passed out blond, Gaara let the sand gently set him down on the ground. Naruto looked rather innocent in sleep. Gaara didn't know if the blond was dreaming or not but his face was peaceful, gentle. Soft.



"Which is better?" Gaara looked back to Tsunade who looked at him like he'd become some giant...thing.



"Neither of them if you want the truth. They both risk your life Gaara."



"I died once."



"Why should you die again?" The red head gave that shrug that answered a question and didn't. Tsunade's face morphed into something he was unaccustomed to seeing. A fierce determination flowed behind her eyes. "That old bat won't out do me damn it."



Gaara could swear he heard a cackle. His face turned to the windows. Chiyo-baa.