"Gaara."

Naruto came too and the first thing he noticed was that his head was killing him. The back of his head was where it was located and he muttered a curse, sitting up as slowly as he could. He noticed next a pain in his left shoulder and gut, then one in his left hip and both legs. Thankfully, his ribs didn't hurt although he wasn't sure if he should be happy or worried. Blue eyes opening, Naruto stared at his feet and frowned. Why was he covered in a hospital blanket? Hell, why was he in a hospital bed? It dawned on him then. He'd had his ass thoroughly kicked by ANBU. He chuckled to himself. He was glad to still be alive. The chuckles hurt his head so he stopped and looked around.



There was a bed next to him but it was empty. He frowned. Where was he? His thoughts were halted when someone walked into the room. Well, more like rolled. Gaara. He was in a wheelchair, in pants and a shirt, sitting up and eating something that looked like an apple. Eyes moving up, Naruto noticed Temari behind the wheel chair pushing. Frowning, Naruto shook his head a little and groaned when he realized it was the wrong thing to do. Two set of eyes looked at him and Temari's eyes hardened. Gaara blushed but it was gone instantaneously.



"Morning, Uzumaki." Temari helped Gaara into his bed and he watched as the red head covered himself and laid back on the pillows. Why was he cooperating? A frown spread across his features and Gaara looked over.



"Why are you still here? How long was I out? Why is she looking at me like that?" Naruto looked at Temari who was glaring, a blush slowly creeping up into her face. "What the hell happened?!" He winced when his own yelling hurt his head. Hands came up and he rubbed gently, trying to massage it away.



"Don't you remember?" Temari stared at him, a rather shocked look on her face.



"If I remembered anything do you think I would be asking questions?" His tone was sharp and held a slight bite to it. He quickly apologized and she shrugged.



"ANBU sensed a change in chakra but they couldn't get in. Come to find out you started molesting my brother and then, when they got in, you were standing, disoriented and they kicked your ass. Gaara was still in the chair but he was awake. Wide awake. You've been asleep for two days." Naruto felt heat rush to his face.



"I did what?!"



"You heard me. You molested my brother. Not to mention you had an audience!" She hissed and walked over to slap him in the head. He caught her arm and growled. She sighed and threw up her hands. "I don't know why I bother. You are both the same." Shaking her head, she looked back at Gaara who just gave one of his shrugs. She grumbled something about pubescent assholes and left the room, making sure to slam the door loudly on her way out. Naruto cursed her and laid back on the bed.



"I don't know what happened Gaara. I'm sorry if I've caused any trouble." Blue eyes looked over. He looked better. You couldn't see his skeleton anymore and he looked like he had some meat on his bones, finally. He looked like he did when he first got to Konoha. It was a major improvement. "What did he do?"



"I don't know." Naruto frowned and looked to the ceiling. He didn't remember anything from that night. Nothing at all. He wondered why. When he tried to look for Kyuubi, he couldn't find the fox. Well, he knew where to look but the fox couldn't be seen and wouldn't speak. The most he got was a small flare of chakra. His frown deepened as he lost himelf in his thoughts. He tried to remember but drew a blank.



"What happened Gaara?" Naruto looked over. He could smell a lie. Okay, so that was a lie but he somehow got the feeling Gaara was lying to him. Green eyes hardened and Naruto got a glare that sent a shiver down his spine. "Fine. Don't answer me then." Shaking his head, Naruto laid back on the bed and covered his head. "When you're ready to talk just wake me up." The blond went back to sleep and left Gaara to stare at his covered form.





It was a few hours later when Tsunade came in and woke him up. He would have said something but the look on her face stopped him. He gulped. She didn't look happy. At all.



"What the hell did you do Naruto?" She was leaning over the side of his bed and staring at him like she would rip him apart if he gave the wrong answer.



"I don't know what happened. I swear! I tried to ask but I didn't get anything at all! When I try to remember what happened I draw a blank!" He sighed and covered his temples with his hands and started massaging. "Just trying to remember is giving me a headache. And did you fire those ANBU? You know, the ones who put me here?" He looked up thought his fingers and she gave him an evil grin.



"Why would I do that?" Growling, Naruto rolled over and covered his head.



"I'm tired. Go away." The blanket was snatched away from his body and he sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. "What?"



"You don't remember anything?"



"Not a thing. Although, Temari did inform me that I molested that asshole." He indicated Gaara with a hike of his thumb. When Gaara gave him a dirty look, Naruto shrugged. "Well, you were acting like it so I think the name fit." Tsunade smacked him. "WHAT?!"



"Knock it off." Pinching the bridge of her nose, the Hokage closed her eyes and lost herself deep into her mind and wealth of knowledge. "I think we need to call him out." Nodding to herself she looked at Naruto. "You said that you couldn't talk to him yes?" He just nodded, wondering where she was going with her thoughts. "Well, looks like I need Kakashi." Frowning, he walked out of the room and then back in moments later.



It was an hour later when the gray haired shinobi showed up. Tsunade sent a pen flying at his head but he dodged. Kakashi looked from Tsunade to Naruto whom he gave a wink...if it could have been called that. Naruto blushed a deep crimson color and shook his head, trying to hide his face in one of his hands.



"Enough." Tsunade walked over to Naruto and pushed him against the pillows. "Just relax okay? Kakashi, don't do any permanent damage." Kakashi just nodded and walked over to Naruto's other side, moving his hetai-ait up so his sharingan was revealed. Naruto's face paled.



"Oh no. I never agreed to that." Shaking his head, he went to sit up only to find his body held stead fast by Tsunade's hand.



"Shut up brat and let him do what I asked him to do." Naruto looked from one shinobi to the other and then his eyes glanced to Gaara who was watching with a look of vaugue interest.



"I am not letting him use that thing on me." He'd had it used on him one too many times.



"Yes. You. Are. Now shut up." She boxed his ear and he growled, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked up to Kakashi and met his normal eye.



"If you do anything, anything that isn't in her plan book then I will kill you Kakashi." His threat wasn't empty. Sure, he knew he might be able to sorely injure the shinobi but kill? It was iffy. Kakashi just nodded and patted him on the head.



"Not to worry Naruto-kun." With a sigh, Naruto relaxed and looked into Kakashi's sharingan. He watched it for a moment then felt his body start to get heavy. He tried to speak but his words were so slurred, no one understood anything. With his body and mind turned into proverbial jelly, Naruto's eyes drifted closed. He felt so weird.



With his eyes closed, Naruto saw Kakashi. He frowned. Shaking his head, he opened his eyes but was drawn right back to the red eye. His eyes dropped again but this time, he wasn't able to open them. His body felt even weirder when he felt the fox stir. Naruto -in his mind- walked through the maze he was so familiar with and found himself standing in front of the fox's cage. He looked around and spotted Kakashi. Tilting his head, Naruto walked over but stopped when kakshi raised a hand.



"We need answers Naruto-kun." Kakashi looked to the cage and cleared his throat. "Kyuubi-sama."



Annoying meat bag-san. Naruto shivered. The fox was not happy.



"Sorry to interrupt but you have caused quite a commotion Kyuubi-sama. It seems...we don't exactly understand what you did to Gaara."



Nor should you need to know. He lives and that is what matters. My part of the bargain was completed and I expect your Hokage's part to be just the same in ten days time.



"Ten days Kyuubi-sama?"



I didn't stutter, meat bag-san. If you are finished here then leave. The fox turned and it was the end. Naruto frowned.



"Kyuubi...was did you do exactly? I mean...Temari told me you molested Gaara. What was that about? And why does his energy feel so different? And why are you ignoring me all of a sudden?"



A growl sent Naruto stumbling back away from the cage. I have said all I will say brat now leave before I take over your body again for my pleasure. His voice was a growl and a hiss all at once so Naruto just shrugged and followed the maze out. He got the distinct feeling that something very bad was going to happen in ten days. He just couldn't put his finger on it.



Kakashi stumbled and sat down on the floor holding his eye. Naruto shuttered but sat up, putting one hand to his chin. It was so weird. Naruto's gaze looked over to Gaara who wasn't even paying him any mind but instead looking outside.



"What happens in ten days? Why is that day so significant?" Naruto was talking to himself out loud and didn't realize it until Tsunade spoke up.



"I don't know. Is that what he said?"



"Something like that. He said you needed to finish your part of the deal and he is going to pick ten days from now to be the monthly outing."



"He was already out. Three times already."



"I don't think he sees it that way." Shaking his head and deciding against sleep, Naruto hopped out of the bed, made sure Kakashi was alright and looked around for his clothes. He was in his boxers but he could have cared less. He found his clothes, washed no less, and threw them on, stepping into his sandals and left the hospital. He didn't hear Tsunade as she yelled at him to get back into bed.



Not paying attention to anyone or anything, Naruto headed out to a deserted training ground and started some tai jutsu. His mind wasn't focusing so he just sat down, looking at the blue sky. There weren't many clouds. Naruto rubbed his eyes and put an arm over them to block out the sun. He laid on his back and let out a long and deep breath. Even though his brain started to feel like it was fracturing into a million pieces, Naruto went through as much of the past two days as he could, trying to remember what happened, what he felt and what he saw that night.



When he remembered one thing...just one minute detail, it all came flooding back like a movie right before his eyes. He remembered the sights, sounds, emotions and even the feeling of getting his ass kicked -something he could have done without-.



"Bijuu!" Naruto sat up straight and looked to the grass in front of him. "That's what you did! But how the hell?" Eyebrows knitting together, Naruto tried to figure out how it was possible for one Bijuu to give a Bijuu -that wasn't himself- to another mortal. It was complicated and his brain started to hurt even more. Maybe it was something like what Chiyo-baa did to give Gaara back his life? A force-feed of chakra? Wait, wasn't that what he said he was going to do in the first place? "That's it!" Grinning, Naruto laid back and covered his eyes with his arm, smiling likea kid who got his hands on the best cookies.



I know what you did! My head hurts like hell but I got it.



Well, what do you think happed?



Well, it must have happened when you were forcing your chakra into his body. Not only did your chakra make it's way into his body but a part of your spirit energy as well! I remember the Third saying something about every living thing have spirit energy but the whole lecture is fuzzy. Anyway! When you forced both energies into their body, the morphed into something that his body was familiar with and now, even though his body and mind were used to Shukaku, he's got a different bijuu albeit a smaller and more tame one.



You amaze me even more with your stupid intelligence. I would say it's a lot more intricate and detailed than that but yes, that's the jist of it.



So what is it costing you because of what you did?



Nothing you need to worry about. But I do suggest you keep from fighting or at least getting so beat up that you can't heal on your own. It makes my life much harder than it already is.



But if I die, you die too so... There was a growl followed closely by a hiss.



You know brat, if I didn't have to live in your body, I would have eaten you.



Hm. I bet I taste bad. You wouldn't have been able to digest.



I don't have a problem eating kit if they are weak.



Eww. Disgusting and too much information!! I'm going now before I can't get the picture out of my head. Naruto heard a snarling laugh -if that was even the way to describe it- as he pulled back and blinked up at the blue sky. He'd finally figured out something before anyone else. A smile tugged at his lips but it turned into a frown. Why had Gaara lied to him? Shrugging and standing, Naruto pushed the thought from his mind. He was elated about his discovery and didn't want to make his head hurt anymore than it already did.



Targeting a far away stump, Naruto took a stance and then went after it in a flurry of kicks and punches. He spent the rest of his day at the training grounds.





"Itedakimasu!" Grinning from ear to ear, Naruto broke apart his chopsticks and dug into his first bowel of pork ramen. By the time he was on his second, someone had joined him but he ignored them in favor of great food.



"Vegetable ramen please." Naruto looked over with a frown, face half inside of his bowel and noticed a woman he was unfamiliar with. She was clad in every day get up but...his frown deepening, Naruto finished his ramen and while he waited for his third bowl, he turned over to the blue haired woman.



"Who are you?" The woman looked over and smiled. It was just as fake as Sai's. Naruto's face lost it's emotion as he stared.



"Kakizawa Riu. Who are you?" Her face did the same thing Naruto's had.



"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto turned when his bowel came and he ate it slowly, making sure it was human sized bites. "What are you doing here in Konoha? You're an unfamiliar face."



"Visiting." She picked out a carrot and set it aside in her bowel.



"Hm?" Riu looked over then and a half smile came to her lips.



"I'm visiting a friend of mine. I'm sure you know him." She took a bite of noodle and wiped her mouth with a cloth. "His name is Aburime Shino."



"Shino?!" Naruto started and looked around to make sure no one but Riu could have heard his reaction. "What on earth do you want with Shino?"



"He happens to have Shin, my bug." Naruto's face turned into something that probably should have been left in private. He shivered, making a disgusted sound.



"Bugs...ewuah." Shaking his head, Naruto went back to eating, trying to get the images of swarms of little black things from his mind. He could never deal with Shino's affinity for bugs and when he'd found out that they lived inside of him...nope. Never. Uh-uh.



"Is there a problem with bugs?"



"I-they-" Naruto frowned around his chopsticks. Apparently he'd offended her. Swallowing a larger than normal bite, Naruto patted his chest and looked at her. "I don't do bugs. Sorry if I offended." She turned, another fake smile appearing on her face. It was then he noticed a few rings in her face. Naruto counted four. Two in her nose, one in her eyebrow and one in her lip. The two in her nose looked like they'd gone through the bone but...she didn't look bad.



"It's alright. Not many people seem to like bugs." She finished her ramen, all carrots pushed aside and stood, paying for her bowel. "I supposed I should go and get Shin." She nodded and Naruto just bobbed his head. "Nice meeting you." As Naruto watched her leave, he noticed a trail of blue hair following behind her. It was to her ankles. Odd. She didn't look that old. Shaking his head, Naruto went back to his ramen, a sudden worried feeling coming over him. Maybe he should follow her? Maybe he should report her? Yea, that sounded like an idea...but then it would take all the fun out of following her.



A grin appearing on his face, Naruto paid for his ramen and set about following Riu.





Three hours later, Naruto was dragging his feet. She had done exactly what she said she was going to do. She went to see Shino to get back a bug. The...reunion -if that's what it was- was simple and short. Shino hugged her and handed her a small container. Riu opened the container and one blue and purple butterfly came out. Riu did something odd then, she'd lifted her shirt -giving Naruto a nosebleed- and he watched as the butterfly landed on her lower back and just...well, the butterfly became her back. It absorbed into her back. Shino let out a laugh -very very rare- and poked at it. Riu just started talking and let her shirt down. Then Shino came out with another container. This one held a tarantella. Naruto blinked as he watched Riu put the spider on Shino's stomach -which he bared willingly- and then the spider did the same thing to Shino the butterfly had done to Riu.



Grossed out, Naruto looked away for a moment then back. She was hugging Shino goodbye and he went back to following her. In the last few hours, she'd been shopping, went to eat again, twice, and now she was stopping by the hospital. Why would she need to stop by the hospital? Frowning, Naruto followed her in. Riu stopped a few men -and women- in their tracks, asking a couple of questions. They just pointed towards the back of the hospital and she nodded, giving them that fake smile, and left. He continued to follow her, that was, until his way became blocked with a body. Growling, Naruto looked up to meet one white haired and perverted hermit.



"What are you doing?" Jiraiya lifted a brow. Naruto's mouth opened and closed and opened again a small sound escaping, then he closed it and sighed.



"I was following someone until you decided to let her get away."



"Oooh?"



"Don't give me that shit!" Naruto punched his sensei in the arm. "Now move so I can see if I can still find her."



"I thought you liked boys?" Naruto's color blanched for a few seconds then heat rose up and he was blushing so hard, Jiraiya contemplated calling for a nurse.



"You...." Shaking his head, Naruto breathed out, letting the heat seep from his cheeks as he pushed past the perverted hermit. Jiraiya didn't stop him but watched as Naruto continued to follow the blue haired girl. Shaking his head, Jiraiya headed off to find his teammate and let her know she had a guest. A cute guest. A smile tugged at his lips but he held it firmly off.





"There's someone looking for you."



"Oh?"



"Naruto is following her."



"A woman?"



"Girl. Can't be more than fifteen or sixteen."



"Shinobi?"



"Definitely. Her chakra is so masked it's almost non existent."



"Assassin?"



"Probably." Jiraiya sat down and pulled out book. Small glasses came from under his shirt as he placed them on and opened to an already marked page.



"Glasses Jira?"



"Hm." He looked up through some bangs that tumbled foreword and Tsunade's breath hitched. She never would admit it, but she thought he was a very sexy shinobi. She always had. She regretted not trying a relationship with him. No. No she didn't. He was perverted and even though he had someone, he wouldn't have stopped looking at naked men and women if his life depended on it. She would have killed him. Shaking her head, the Hokage looked to the door and waited.



"Enter." She noticed the very masked but slight chakra signature outside of her door. She stood and Jiraiya just moved out of the line of fire.



"Tsunade?"



"Hai."



"Kakizawa Riu." The girl bowed and came closer. She pulled out a slip of paper -that held a seal- and handed it to the Hokage. She watched, silently, as Tsunade looked at it and then opened to read. The blond woman's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She threw the paper down on her desk -among all of the medical files plaguing it.



"You can't be serious!"



"I don't know a thing." The girl held up her hands, signaling she was innocent. Her face said something entirely different. Jiraiya walked over and picked up the paper, read it once, twice and nearly choked. Tsunade looked at him, obviously for help. He just set the paper down and headed for the door.



"Don't look at me. I have no idea what you're supposed to do." He left, closing the door behind him. It seemed they had a lot to talk about. Making his way through the hospital, Jiraya headed for the other side of the building and to a very familiar office, grin on his face.





A sigh escaped his lips as she lay in the bed...alone. Naruto had left and Temari was heading back to Suna to give them all the news. He wasn't allowed out of the hospital for another couple of days -no matter how much he argued- and he was bored. Bored. He had never been so in his life and now it was very real and very annoying. There were no books or anything in the room so he was stuck...with nothing to do.



And as if his thoughts had been answered, Naruto walked in and shut the door. Gaara blinked to make sure he was real and just watched the blond walk over to the bed and sit in the chair right next to it. He looked troubled.



"What?" Gaara just stared at Naruto who shrugged.



"Nothing." A grin appeared on his face and he reached out, touching the tattoo on his forehead. Gaara moved away, giving Naruto a glare. "Sorry." Gaara just looked out the window, like he had been doing for the last few days. Naruto leaned over and rested his chin on his hand, looking over the red head. "Why did you lie?" Gaara looked back.



"What?"



"You lied to me. Why?" The red head shrugged one of his shrugs and just looked at Naruto, meeting blue eyes with green. "I figured out what happened. My head hurts still just thinking about it but, I got it."



"Tell Tsunade."



"No way!" He pulled back and sighed, rubbing his temples. "Let her figure it out on her own. It really isn't that hard...well, to understand anyway. How he did it however, that is still a mystery."



"How did you figure it out?"



"I sat outside and thought very hard for a few minutes. Okay, so it was more than a few minutes but it came to me."



"How?"



"It just did." Naruto glared at him and then looked away. "So now that you are healthy, what are you going to do?"



"Go home." It had been on his mind the last couple days and he felt something that resembled the excitement Temari described to him, welling up in his gut.



"Oh." Naruto looked away from the window and Gaara and his face seemed to close down quickly. "Well then, good luck." He gave a fake smile and stood, heading for the door.



"Wait." The blond just stopped walking. He didn't turn and he didn't say a word. "I leave in two weeks." He didn't know why he said it, why he felt like he had to tell Naruto. He couldn't wait to go home honestly and the quicker he left, the better he would feel but...somehow it seemed to hurt Naruto that he was leaving. He didn't know why.



"I'll have your stuff sent over to the hotel." With that, he was gone. The door closed behind him with an echo and Gaara just felt his mood go miserable. He threw off the blankets and started to his feet so quickly he fell back onto the bed with a wave of dizziness. It made him feel worse. Letting out a small growl, Gaara got to his feet once again, albeit slowly, and headed over to retrieve his gourd and step into his sandals. His clothes were clean and he had nothing else in the room so he just hopped onto the windowsill and then out to a nearby tree. He had to grab on to keep from falling over with another wave of dizziness.



When he was sure he was going to be alright, he hopped to the roof and started off in the direction of Naruto's apartment. The annoyance seemed to feed right into anger and when he stepped through the door, his sand was hissing and his green gaze was searching. Naruto was no where to be found. Setting his gourd aside and stepping out of his shoes, Gaara shut the door and headed for the kitchen, not bothering to hide his chakra signature.



Naruto came strolling through his door an hour and a half later, a large box in his arms. He dropped it with a crash as his eyes fell to the kitchen. Gaara stood in the door, a bowel in his arms as he whisked something. His face betrayed nothing but his eyes seemed to seethe with anger. Naruto looked from Gaara to the gourd which was right by his foot. Shaking his head, he stepped out of his sandals and picked up the box, heading to the bedroom. He gathered up Gaara's toiletries, what clothes he'd bought, his extra pair of sandals and anything else that was his, putting it into the box. The clothes were folded and set to one side while his sandals were set at the other along with his weapons. The toiletries were set on top of the clothes and when he was finished, he brought the box to the living room and set it at one end of the couch.



Gaara had brought in a few plates, four bowls -two of which were empty- and two sets of chopsticks. He set everything on the floor and pointed with his sticks. Naruto just sat down and stared.



"What are you doing out of the hospital?" Gaara didn't say anything but went about serving himself. Naruto frowned and stopped his hand from moving. Gaara looked up with an almost death glare and Naruto moved his hands. The red head went about serving his food and started eating in silence. The room was full of unspoken tension and Naruto sighed. He stood, dusting off his butt and headed to the bedroom. The door was left open and he just went to lay down on the bed. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to do but he didn't feel like being in the living room.



Gaara just finished his food in silence, all the while staring at the open door. Naruto usually closed it. Why was it open? Was he in the shower? No, he didn't hear the water running. What was he doing? Standing, his bowl forgotten, Gaara walked to the bedroom and stopped at the door. Naruto lay on his stomach, head under his pillow. He wasn't sleeping. He said something but it was muffled by the pillow. Some of Gaara's built up anger seeped from his pores. Why? Shaking his head, Gaara walked over and removed the pillow. His eyes held the question.



"I said, I'm going to have to send my pillow." He grabbed the aforementioned feather filled bag and put it back over his head, affectively ignoring the red head. Gaara grabbed the pillow and tossed it across the room. Naruto sighed and sat up, looking at the discarded pillow. It smelled good. He wanted it back. It was a good hiding spot. Blue eyes drifted up to look into green but Naruto just flinched and looked away. "What?"



"Food."



"I know it's out there. When I'm hungry I'll go get some." He stood and headed for the bathroom. The tension was invading even the bedroom so maybe some hot water and steam would make him feel better?" More than likely not. Shaking his head, the blond started to shut the door but a hand stopped him and thrust the door back open. Naruto just watched as Gaara stepped in and started to remove his clothes. A blush crept into his face. "Uhh...Gaara? What are you doing?"



Gaara said nothing and when he was naked, he turned to stare at Naruto. The blonde’s eyes roamed over his body, bringing it to life. He couldn't get the one night they'd shared out of his mind. It invaded his dreams when he did sleep and even though he was angry, his thoughts turned to the sex. Maybe it would help? Gaara mentally shrugged and his hand moved down to cup himself, feeling his shaft hardening.



"Gaara!" Naruto moved and got a towel to cover his friend's body. Gaara just hissed and threw the towel away. He started walking and pushed Naruto against the wall, one hand to either side of the blonds head. Being the same height, he could stare into Naruto's twin oceans and see the emotions conflicting with one another. His body moved foreword and Gaara rubbed his hardening cock against Naruto's thigh. Naruto shuttered, eyes dropping lazily. "What the hell are you doing?" His voice had dropped an octave. It was a sexy puur.



The red head said nothing as one hand moved to cup Naruto through his pants. The blond moaned a little and pushed his body into Gaara's grasp. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. That one night. Sure, he didn't talk about it and he didn't let it show that he couldn't stop thinking about it but his body was constantly hard and he was on edge more. The night invaded his dreams and he couldn't get a peaceful night's sleep without having a wet dream or waking up so hard he had to relieve the pressure. Why was Gaara doing this? Why was he even out of his hospital bed? The reality of what was going on came like a right in the face and Naruto's hand stopped Gaara's, the blond swallowing and opening his eyes fully to look at Gaara.



"You shouldn't do that." Gaara's hand massaged and Naruto's breath hitched. "Gaara, stop." The red head moved his hand, placing it back at the side of Naruto's head. Both hands slid down to stop at the blonds sides and his face hardened. Naruto's hardened just as much and it became a glaring contest. Gaara just let out a scoff and walked out, fetching his clothes on the way. He dressed as he walked, grabbed his gourd and stepped into his sandals. Tying the gourd to his back, he grabbed the box of his things and left. There were no parting words and there was no bang of the door behind him. He just left silently.



Naruto sank down to his butt and rested his forehead against his knees. What was that? What was he thinking? Mind racing, Naruto closed his eyes and let out a heavy, shaky breath. Naruto spent the next couple of minutes sitting there, trying to calm his body and mind. It didn't help. Deciding he'd take his shower, the blond stood, stripped and started the water as hot as he could stand, then got in. he didn't care the bathroom door was open and he didn't care that the bedroom door was open. He just needed to forget. The hot water helped more than he could have imagined.



His erection went away -thankfully- as he washed and his mind pushed all thoughts of what happened and Gaara's departure date from his mind. Why was he so worried about Gaara leaving anyway? He was, after all, the former Kazekage and now that he was better he was sure Kankuro would be pushed from the seat and it given back to Gaara. Shaking his head, Naruto stood under the spray and let it pour over his body. When the water went cold, he turned it off and let himself drip dry in the shower.



When he left the bathroom, he pulled on some clothes he kept hidden -just in case- and went to grab another pair of sandals. Forming a couple of seals, Naruto changed his appearance and smiled. With auburn hair, brown eyes, freckles, stronger facial features, no whiskers and a slighter build, he left his apartment -Frogger in his jacket pocket- and headed for the bar. Sure, they might catch on but he'd be so full of sake and anything else he could afford it would be too late.





The Shinobi's Whiteness was packed. There was a line part way down the street with people wanting to get in. Naruto decided he'd go to another bar. He picked one that looked almost deserted. He grabbed an order of strong sake -showing a fake id- and headed to a table very far in the back. It had views of all exits and windows and a view of the few people that were in the building. That was where he started to sip his sake and when he brought his next few bottles.



By the time his henge wore off, he was too far drunk to care. No one else seemed to care that he was there because he was out of sight. He was a quiet drunk, or that's what Jiraiya had told him during their training. He didn't talk unless he was spoken too and he didn't give away he was drunk. It never lasted long. Something about having Kyuubi inside of him always made the alcohol wear off after an hour or so. He had to keep a steady supply of sake going down if he wanted to stay that way.



The hour was all he needed. Naruto was just coming to his senses when he saw Kakashi and Iruka walk into the bar. They weren't holding hands and he wasn't certain if they were together in those moments but his questions were answered when they sat next to one another at a table. A few minutes later, Genma, Kotetsu and Izumo walked in, sitting around the same table. Jiraiya was next, followed by some people he couldn't name because he'd never seen them before and they pushed another table over to accommodate everyone. Then, a few kids came in but they had the same masked chakra that the blue haired girl had. Then Shizune and Tsunade came in followed closely by some more -obvious shinobi- he couldn't name.



Naruto put back on his henge and moved a little closer, just picking up what Tsunade was saying.



"Welcome to the seventeenth Gossipers meeting everyone." Naruto slunkered down and started sipping on another bottle of Sake.



Well, we all know that Gaara-san is leaving in two weeks to the day. Temari sent a messenger bird ahead of her to let the council of Suna know his condition and his departure date. I still don't know what happened and though he escaped the hospital, Sakura is in the hotel with him to make sure he's doing fine."



"So he did leave Naruto's apartment!" Kakashi grinned and Naruto noticed some people pulling out their wallets. He almost choked as he watched people put money in the center of both tables and Kakashi pull it towards him. "Who wants to take a bet they hook up before he leaves?" The blond watched in abstract horror as people put up their hands and how much they were in for. Shizune just recorded the information.



"Since my bad luck has finally come around, I'm in for twenty." Naruto's face paled as he watched Tsunade place her bet. Bad luck? What the hell was she talking about? Then it hit him. If not for horrible luck, Tsunade wouldn't have any. She must have placed a bet and won. That was the only way she got any luck at all unless it was doing something in the medical field.



Naruto listened as everyone announced whatever they had to, some pulled out pictures and other's gaped. Kakashi was among the few who had pictures and Naruto could almost bet on what they contained. He felt sick to his stomach. Some of Konoha's best shinobi were betting against their own and they were laughing about it. Drinking even! Having heard enough, Naruto stood and went to stand behind Kakashi’s chair. He was the one after all, that had put out the bet on him and Gaara.



Letting his henge fall, everyone at the table just gaped. A hand twisting into a fist, Naruto aimed a blow right at the gray haired shinobi's face and watched it connect. His angry blue eyes locked onto everyone at the table. "It's nice to know you all enjoy betting on who's life falls down the drain and who's doesn't. You should all be ashamed of yourselves." Shaking his head, a tear sliding out of one eye, Naruto left the bar.



Kakashi rubbed his cheek, glaring with his one eye at the door Naruto had left through. Tsunade spoke. "What I the only one who didn't sense he was in here?" Everyone shook their heads. Among the ANBU, jounin and chounin that were there that night, no one had known Naruto was in the bar. Tsunade sighed and placed a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "This is just what I needed," she mumbled. Jiraiya patted her back.



"Well, someone was bound to find out sometime. Not everyone actually agrees or gets enjoyment out of what we do here."



"Too true." When movement caught their eyes, everyone turned to watch Iruka stand up and head out the door. When Kakashi would have followed, Iruka held up a hand and the shinobi just nodded, settling back in his chair.



"Who's putting up Kakashi's not getting anything for a very long time?" There were laughs, giggles and some people started putting up money. Kakashi just glared at them and then went back to watching the door. Who knew Naruto could hit so hard?