Not you, too!

8. Morning of the mission


It was decided that the first day of travel would be faster and more efficient if done as themselves, without using the Jutsus. So, they packed up their things and put them on a cart that would take the luggage ahead to meet for them at the station.
Then, they pulled on backpacks and walked out of the village, taking to the trees soon after and heading out of the area. They would camp tonight and head over to the Grass village and talk to the contact, a man named Shiba. Next they would transform, meet with their luggage and board the train. After that, they would have to spend as much time in character as they could.
Sasuke jumped from branch to branch next to the blond, and Naruto noticed him looking at him. “What is it now, Sasuke?” he yelled, becoming frustrated by the Uchiha. “Did I call you Mommy or something?”
Sasuke rolled his eyes and kept silent. “Do you want me to call you Mommy?” Naruto added. Sasuke glared daggers at him.
Naruto was not going to spend the next few days being ignored and not getting to the bottom of this. He was used to Sasuke’s moods, but found that if he could diffuse one early, they didn’t get as far out of proportion.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll tell Kankurou about the obsessive amounts of makeup you bought, and that you left some at home, for later.” He blackmailed.
“You wouldn’t. I have a few secrets about you, too. You do realize that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but people don’t care about me. Now, the almighty Uchiha Sasuke, closet pervert. They will sit up and take notes.” Sasuke sighed at the truth in the statement.
“I was just thinking. If we live through this mission, what kind of changes will it make in us? I mean it’s one thing to play with it for a couple of days at Nara’s, but to live it for a week or two. It will affect us.”
“It's already affected you. I wonder, are you going to go out and find the mother of your clan future, now? Heck, then there will be lots of little Uchiha’s and you can take care of them all.” Sasuke snorted.
“I have got to save Itachi. Then, he can restore the clan and I won’t have to worry about it. You do know that there is no way I am going to find this perfect woman, don’t you?”
“Eh, duh. She doesn’t exist. Because the perfect woman for My Sasuke is a man.”
“Your Sasuke?” the Uchiha asked.
“Figure of speech.” The blond sputtered. “Anyway, that’s the facts as I see them. You can’t restore your clan, if you are as gay as a fruitcake.”
“Fruit cake? Naruto I will never understand you.” And he leapt ahead. Naruto smiled and shook his head.
“I have to keep one step ahead of you, Sasuke-kun. It’s the only way to keep you guessing.”

Choji took the first watch as the others climbed into their tents. He watched the stars wink into view and hummed quietly to himself. He knew that this mission was important as Gaara was now the Kazekage, and the future of an entire village was resting on their performance.
His part was not as important, and he hated being a burden to the others and in his transformed condition all he was, was a burden. He was stressing and it was not going to be a good night. He took out the emergency chocolate bar that Neji had given him for when he was feeling stressed. One bite reminded him of the way his two friends cared for him.
They supported him and kept him safe when he needed his jutsu, which was less often lately. They never seemed to judge him or belittle anything about him.
And Naruto. He had never asked Choji why he did the jutsu or how he had come up with it. The blond just learned it and even came up with the emergency early release words.
Sasuke had even accepted it, not with words but by the way he looked at Choji. There was no accusation in his eyes and he even bought some new baby clothes for him. They were mostly packed away but one small shirt that Choji especially liked, with three ducks waddling across it and another flying overhead, saying ‘Dare to soar’ on it, was even now under his pillow in the tent. Shikamaru had placed it there when he laid out the bags for the night.
But would they be okay with the rest of his problem. Would they accept it so easily, like Shikamaru and Neji had?
Choji sighed and walked the perimeter of their camp once more.

Neji rose and relieved the Akimichi Chuunin when his turn for watch came. He watched as Choji climbed into the tent and curled up next to Shikamaru. It was always like this. Choji, when not in his infant form, was a very cuddly person and was usually found somewhere around the Nara. It almost made Neji jealous on one occasion, until he noticed that when these times came, the chuunin was usually very subdued, and normally sucking on his thumb.
Neji just smiled and let it be.
He stood now, watching the man reach under his pillow and pull out something small and yellow, clutch it to his chest and bury his head in Shika’s hair. It was too cute.
Turning away he scanned the camp, and noted all the possible spots that someone could attack from, not that he was concerned. No one knew what they were doing, and so no one would be trying to stop them. But caution was a strong bedfellow.
Once done, he settled near a tree and began his watch.
Only the sounds of the forest animals as they hunted their nightly prey were his company, and it was good to hear. If it were silent he would be concerned.
His time went quickly and soon he was watching the Uchiha rise from his place and cross the camp to relieve him. Neji rose and nodded to the other, as he made his way back to the tent and Shikamaru and Choji. He climbed in to the remaining space on the other side of his lover and wrapped his arms around him. He felt Choji’s grip on his arm immediately and felt more comfortable than most would.


:::: Wow! Two reviews. I am overwhelmed. Thank you. So, now they are finally on their way. Off to the mysterious resort that has somehow captured the young man with a demon. Could the Akatsuki be involved? Or is it a new enemy? Has Naruto found out about the Uchiha's ultimate secret? Or is he bluffing?

yaoilover - Once again the issue of Sasuke's pairing rears its precious head. Hmmm, did I throw you a bone in this chapter, or was that just a teaser? You'll just have to keep waiting.

Serenia - I wonder, would Naruto agree????

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