Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

The Truth in Dreams	By : ClumsyPinkTiger Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female > Naruto/Sakura Views: 12448 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or make any profit from the creation/distribution of this work. It's all Kishimoto's.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter VII: Steam Valve and the Story of the Three
After Kakashi shut the door to the guy’s suite behind him, he let out a muffled sigh of relief. I thought I might have to step in between those two again! Kakashi eyed Naruto in front of him as they followed Shikamaru into the suite.
The suite had essentially the same layout as the girl’s rooms, but was a bit more austere and masculine. There was no multi-colored stained glass in the skylights above, for instance. Rather, the glass appeared to have another etched design.
Naruto looked up and studied the scene of the solitary male leaning against a tree. He thought the figure resembled the same male with dog-like ears from the feudal scene carved in the glass on the balcony doors back out in the hallway. Naruto squinted to try to make out more of the details of the carving. Does he have whiskers on his cheeks like me? That’s a little creepy. Maybe those are fox ears? Is he a Jinchuriki?
Naruto studied his face again and decided that despite the whiskers he looked very un-like him. Who the hell wears their hair that long anymore anyway? Eh. I guess Neji does, but he does kinda look like a girl . . . Naruto was now wearing a ridiculous expression as he thought of Neji combing his hair with a butterfly-shaped brush.
He heard Kakashi slap himself in the forehead with his hand and then saw him walk slowly by him and into the seating area.
Tch. I’m just looking at the details Kakashi. Figures that he doesn’t notice. Naruto returned his gaze to the ceiling. He squinted his eyes again at the image as he imagined Neji’s long hair simultaneously. That tree behind whiskers-dude looks really familiar. Where have I seen that bark pattern before?
“Tsk. Narr-uto.” After hearing Kakashi slap himself in the face from behind him, Shikamaru had spun around and was watching Naruto with raised eyebrows as he stared at the ceiling.
“What in the Kages are you doing?” Shikamaru asked pointedly then looked up at the glass in the skylight alongside Naruto.
“I’m enjoying the local artwork, Shika.” Naruto announced with an uppity snobbish air to his voice while continuing to stare at the glass. It’s so odd that I recognize the bark pattern on this tree. But I can’t think of why. Shikamaru didn’t laugh at his bad joke and just continued to stare at the pattern too.
“Heh. He has long hair like Neji and whiskers like you. But unlike you, he seems quiet and lost in thought.” Shikamaru lowered his head back down and walked back into the main living area. He was smirking, he loved poking fun at Naruto--especially his intelligence; Shikamaru knew better than anyone that Naruto was just as smart if not smarter than he was, he just kept it hidden and mixed in with moments of complete idiocy. Shikamaru sighed as he thought about it. If he just applied that incredible aptitude of his to read people--which is better than anyone I have ever met---he would be unstoppable and would definitely become Hokage. Baka. Regardless, I’d still follow the goof anywhere. Shikamaru sighed one more time as he admitted to himself how much he cared about and trusted Naruto.
“TEME! Naruto!” Shikamaru yelled behind him as Naruto was still staring at the ceiling with a confused expression. But, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t need to yell at him to snap him out of his idiocy from time to time.
“Gah! Coming, Shikamaru! You know, since I’m a Jonin now too, I don’t think you can pull that orders card on me anymore.” Naruto was wearing his cheeseball grin as he caught up with Shikamaru on his way out to the large balcony that joined the boys and girls suites together.
“Cripes. The world is over now that Naruto has been made Jonin. I guess that means it’s time for me to take up early-morning jogging.” Shikamaru said out of the side of his mouth. Naruto couldn’t help but laugh. He had missed seeing Shikamaru. The genius ninja and world’s most unpredictable prankster ninja were quite a pair.
“Ahh--so. You’ve achieved Jonin?” as Shikamaru and Naruto made their way out onto the shared balcony between the boys and the girls suites, they turned as Jiraiya’s loud, deep, and authoritative voice echoed behind them. He was standing just finishing up a conversation with Kakashi. Gaara was nearby with his back to them, though his head was turned slightly in their direction as he looked over the balcony out onto the landscape below.
“Ero-Sennin!” Naruto beamed and Jiraiya smiled back. Jiraiya reached down and fluffed Naruto’s hair like always used to do when Naruto was a kid. Even though Naruto had grown significantly over the years and towered over many of his Konoha peers, Jiraiya still towered over him. He was a massive sight of a man. Despite his age, Jiraiya’s muscle tone, size and strength still far exceeded that of almost all of his fellow nin. He was a legendary sannin after all. With his characteristic hedgehog tuft of long and spiky white hair, Jiraiya was unmistakable.
“Ah-no-sa Ero Sennin, how long have you been up here at the hotsprings waiting?” Naruto asked his first question with a smile on his face and then lowered his voice when he saw Jiraiya turning red. Naruto’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“Ero-Sennin. You’ve just been up here peeping on women this entire time haven’t you. Tch.” Naruto’s forehead twitched as he continued and Shikamaru reached up to scratch the back of his head as he looked at the floor as Naruto’s frustrated expression turned to one of seriousness.
“Ero Sennin! you can’t ditch me on the training and preparation I need for this mission. I want to make sure I don’t do anything to hurt Sakura-chan.” Naruto stared off into space. Jiraiya widened his eyes, then his face broke into a smile again and he bent over so his eyes were level with Naruto.
“Narr-uto. You have the mental aptitude, self-sacrificing and loyal qualities of your father and the will, stamina, and strength of your mother. I know that you won’t let anything come in between you and your most precious person.” At that, Naruto turned red and became less sad and more bashful.
“You just have to learn to trust her fully and know that she will help you--especially after all the turmoil the two of you have faced together.” Naruto studied Jiraiya’s eyes for more of an explanation on what he meant. Gaara had turned around completely to face the group and Shikamaru and Kakashi were listening intently to the conversation as well.
“I know that you have a lot of questions, Naruto, and I’m sorry that I haven’t always been there to answer them or to help you with your training. I do have quite the taste for women, but know that my leaving all the time has always far and above been to protect the people most precious to me.” With that, Jiraiya fluffed Naruto’s hair again and got a far-away twinkle in his eyes like he was thinking of another person too.
Naruto smiled and his bashful expression continued for a few more seconds as the others stared off into space. Jiraiya stood up as the squeal of a few women could be heard from the baths down below on the other side of the building. Jiraiya was turning red again.
“Ja-no! Time for me to try to take a few more notes for my research.” Jiraiya cackled and rubbed his hands together.
Naruto’s eyebrow twitched again and he grabbed Jiraiya’s clothing to prevent him from moving. He yelled.
“Eh! Ero-Sennin! FOCUS! Why are we meeting for this mission in the hotsprings and what does the Kyuubi have to do with my feelings for Sakura-chan?” Jiraiya deflated as the laughter of the women faded away.
“He just comes right out without it doesn’t he. . .” Kakashi muttered to Shikamaru beside him.
“So troublesome. . .” Shikamaru’s lip twitched. Jiraiya’s expression of fondness and the thoughts he was no doubt having about womanly bodies shifted quickly
“Narr-uto! Why must you insist on calling me that, especially with a member of the honorable Nara clan, the son of the White Fang and the youthful and great Kazekage of Suna present!” Jiraiya gestured to each of the other men who were part of their group and ranted at Naruto. Jiraiya’s deep voice had taken on an air of bickering and ridiculousness. He was whining.
“Pfft. You already know Shika, Kakas-sensei, and Gaara really well. And everyone knows you--” Naruto rolled his eyes and muttered at Jiraiya, who continued ranting as if he hadn’t heard Naruto’s response. Jiraiya was puffing out his chest and starting to clack his shoes on the wooden planks of the balcony.
“Here we go...” Kakashi mumbled under his breath. Shikamaru watched the exchange with raised eyebrows and Gaara was watching with his elbows resting behind him on the railing. He actually looked a little bemused if you studied his face closely enough.
“You should announce me properly as the one and only legendary Toad Sage Sennin of--” Jiriaya had started to go through his traditional barrage of Kabuki poses, clacking his shoes on the balcony floor and spinning around like a showy buffoon. To Naruto, it just seemed like he was trying to distract everyone from his succumbing to the sounds of women just now. Rather than entertain it, Naruto rolled his eyes and walked away.
“Gaara-san!” Naruto wasn’t paying any more attention to Jiraiya’s ranting, he had moved on to greet Gaara and see if his friend knew anything about the mission; he was the Kazekage of Suna afterall.
Naruto walked over to Gaara and hugged him, bashfully as he always did with one of his closest friends. Gaara’s lips moved slightly, which coming from Gaara meant a large smile. Jiraiya deflated and slumped over like he had lost his spine.
“Why doesn’t anyone let me finish my introduction?” Jiraiya muttered with hyperbolic sadness. Kakashi took a seat at the large table on the balcony and put his feet up on another chair beside him as though preparing for a nice nap. Jiraiya deflated further.
Shikamaru eyed Jiraiya with a smirk on his face.
“Jiraiya-sama. Good to see you.” Shikamaru extended his hand. Jiraiya, still mostly deflated, shook Shikamaru’s hand and gave him a hearty slap on the back.
Shikamaru started choking. I guess Jiraiya-sama is happy someone is acknowledging him.
“Good to see you Nara, Shikamaru! I know some time has passed since it happened, but I was very sorry to hear about Azuma falling on the field of battle. He was a brave nin and a good man.” Jiraiya’s repose had returned and although Shikamaru was saddened at the mention of his sensei, who was like a second father to him, he was also greatly comforted by the tone in Jiraiya’s voice. Like Naruto, he had a way of making people feel better. After their introductions, the two took seats at the table beside Kakashi, who remained motionless, but spoke up.
“Jiraiya-sama, we should tell Naruto some of the details before we send him off to be with Gaara.” Shikamaru’s expression changed to one of calculation and knowing.
“He will want to know as much as possible, especially because Sakura is involved.” Shikamaru spoke in something louder than a whisper, but lower than normal speech. They weren’t exactly trying to hide their conversation from Naruto, who for the moment was still chatting happily with Gaara.
“Yes. I plan to tell him enough that he will be still be able to relax when the time comes. But, Naruto, being the natural genius that he is, will need tangible examples not just a verbose explanation, and only Sabaku no Gaara can provide that for him.” The three men eyed Naruto and Gaara as they too started to make their way over to the table. As they neared the table, Naruto immediately perceived what they were discussing.
“Alright, what is the Kit’s problem.” He gritted his teeth. Kakashi and Shikamaru smiled as Gaara and Naruto sat down.
***********
Ino, Temari, and Sakura made their way down the stairs and through the main area of the bathhouse-resort in their robes and towels. As they hit the main floor, Sakura adjusted the shoulder of her robe and Ino belted out a squeal behind her.
“Gah! Is that a hickey??!!” Ino grabbed Sakura by the shoulders and stopped her dead in the hallway as they walked to the entrance to the girl’s bathing area. Temari turned around in shock.
“No way!!” Did you guys already hook up? Did it happen last night in the tent?” Temari put her hands on Sakura’s arms. Sakura looked embarrassed at the sudden attention and she put her hand over the offending mark Naruto had left on her skin last night. She smiled silently as she was reminded of what had transpired between them in the tent. The girls didn’t miss the smile that lit up her features.
“O MY GOD!!!!!! Something did happen!!” Ino was squealing even more.
“HOW!?” Temari was squealing beside her. “I thought Kakashi was in the tent with you two all last night?”
“Nothing happened.” Sakura started to walk past her two friends back down the hallway and toward the bathing area. But, despite her best efforts she just couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she recounted Naruto’s whiskers brushing against her skin, his hands on her thigh or his voice in her ear: “I want you Sa-ku-ra-Chan. ” Sakura could feel goosebumps on her skin as she thought about his deep, purring voice whispering in her ear as he kissed her and fondled her. Damnit. Her smile was spreading and there was definitely no hiding it from the girls now.
“I smell BS!” Ino countered. Temari snickered.
“Who do you girls think I am anyway?! Besides, this is Naruto we are talking about here.” Sakura made her best attempt at disgust. Ino and Temari both rolled their eyes.
“Please Sakura, it’s been about six years since you’ve been able to pull that. EVERYONE knows you have the hots for that bod of his.” Temari stuck her tongue out as the trio made their way around the corner.
“We both remember you telling us about how you and Sai oogled over him when he was doing his waterfall training with Yamato and Kakashi and he was shirtless. And that was a few years ago!” Ino stared her down. Sakura felt heat touch her face, her chest, her thighs.
Sakura looked shocked. I really have wanted him for a while haven’t I? Why did it take so long for me to notice? Was I not ready? Something deep inside Sakura told her that she had to cross an important milestone before she could be with him.
“Six years? Has it really been that long?” Sakura mumbled dejectedly--more about her not noticing her own feelings than trying to dispute Temari and Ino.
“That’s right--even during the Chuunin exams when Sasuke-kun was still around, we all saw how you looked at and worried over Naruto.” Ino smirked as she looked at her friend. Sakura was aghast and unable to deny it. Temari giggled.
“Seems like you were the only one who didn’t know how you felt. Everyone else was pretty sure. In fact, I think you might be more dense than Uzumaki!” Temari laughed harder and Sakura pouted. Ino gave her a consoling pat on the back.
Throughout the course of their banter, the girls had arrived at the entrance to the bathing area. They started grabbing two towels each from the dry towel stack and walked into the female bathing area. As the door shut behind them, Ino pinched Sakura on the rear. Sakura yelped. Their feet made a small tapping noise on the tile floor of the communal showering area. Only two elderly women were gabbing in one corner of the shower area.
“HAH! Sakura, remember when we were at the academy and the way you used to put soooo much effort into saying Naruto annoyed you, please. He made you all hot and bothered even then. You were just too embarrassed to admit it.” Ino slipped off her robe and walked triumphantly in her naked frame to the nearest clean shelf to place her robe and dry towels.
Sakura blushed. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen all her female friends naked before, but it had been awhile since she had seen Ino and she had really matured.
“Holy Sage of the Six Paths, Ino!” Temari was removing her own robe, revealing her muscle-toned frame. “Your tits got huge!” Ino blushed.
“You think so?” Ino looked down at herself as she turned on the shower-head closest to her, placing a clean wash cloth under her butt and sat on a nearby wash stool. Ino was the most busty of the three.
“They really did.” Sakura said a little defeated. She looked over at Temari.
“I’ve always thought you had amazing abs and hips, Temari.” Temari had taken a seat at the shower head next to Ino and began to soap up. Temari had small breasts and less curves, than Ino and Sakura; but, she was very well toned and graceful.
“Thanks, Sakura!” Ino and Temari both looked back at Sakura who still had her robe in place. They looked at one another.
“Forehead. This really isn’t like you. You’ve never been one to be shy about your body. What’s going on?” Sakura reluctantly took off her own robe. Of the three girls, Sakura was the most well-proportioned. She had sizeable, supple breasts, a sculpted stomach, fantastic muscle tone, curvy hips and a large, perky butt.
“Seriously. I don’t know what you need to be shy about with those muscles of yours. You are a babe.”
The two elderly women in the opposite corner of the bathing area fell silent as one of them turned to Sakura and spoke up.
“You are in love with someone aren’t you honey?” The other elderly woman nodded and Ino and Temari turned to them in shock.
“You’re worried he won’t take pleasure in the sight of you the first time. You fear rejection?” Sakura looked at the two women with an embarrassed, but knowing expression in her eyes.
“Take it from me honey, men love confidence, trust that body of yours. Listen to it. It will be the key your pleasure and to his.” All three girls turned beet red. “If he truly loves you. He won’t be able to contain himself. The very hair on your head will drive him mad. Trust us.” The ladies started to laugh as they went back to their conversation.
The three girls stared at one another uncomfortably at first and then broke into giggles too. Now that Sakura was fully naked herself, she took a seat on the other side of Ino and they all continued to soap up and scrub before they entered the bath.
“I’m really happy to see you and Shikamaru finally out in the open, Temari. Is it because of your brothers that you had to keep it quiet for so long?” Sakura said as she washed her stomach.
“It’s funny that you mention that. Gaara and Kankuro both love Shikamaru and are happy we are together.”
Ino blew air out of her mouth.
“I’m pretty sure it’s Shika’s parents that are the problem.” Ino announced. Temari remained silent.
“What do you mean? I’ve never known the Nara clan to have any problems with anyone from Suna.” Sakura asked as she rinsed her back.
“It’s not that. . . “ Temari cut her off.
“Shikamaru is worried about taking our relationship to the next level and he thinks introducing me to his family is the biggest step in that direction.” Temari was a bit sad as she scrubbed her arms.
“--So all this time Shika has had me and Choji covering for him with his parents when he would spend time with Temari.” Ino seemed almost as put off as Temari about the situation.
“Wow, Shika is a commitment phobe? I never would have guessed.” Sakura muttered.
“Heh. Yea. He hasn’t said the L-word yet either.” Temari blurted out.
Ino and Sakura looked at her wide-eyed.
“Well, how long have you guys been together? Not that long right?” Sakura eyed Temari and Ino answered for her.
“1 year.” Sakura’s jaw dropped.
“I know he does. It’s just like. . .something is holding him back. He just needs a little push, I know it.” Temari smiled a small smile.
“Well, let me know. I’d be happy to shove the shit outta him so I can stop covering for him. Besides, Shika is one of my closest friends, I know he loves you too. I think he is just scared to screw it up with you.” Ino’s smirked as she stood after she finished rinsing. Temari smiled back.
“Thanks, Ino.” Ino nodded in response and walked toward the door to the bathing area. Sakura wanted to make light of the situation as her two friends seemed to have gotten a bit mopey. The elderly women that were their only company, dried off and left.
“Well, since I have Ino-Pig and Sand-Crotch all over me about Naruto, I might not have the right to give advice. But, maybe you should try pushing Shikamaru a little bit tonight, Temari? This damn bathhouse definitely seems to have an effect on people.” Sakura reached up to make sure her hair was still tightly put-up as Temari and Sakura quickly rinsed and joined Ino.
The three girls grabbed their towels and robes and stood by the second set of doors out to the springs. They placed one dry towel around their naked frames and slipped the extra towel they each brought into little cubbies by the outer doors.
“Enough about me. What about you Ino? I want to hear about this mystery man who deflowered you!” Temari winked at Ino, who blushed and looked down at her hands.
“WHAT!? INO! When did it happen?? OMG! That means I’m the only virgin left besides Hinata!!!! GAHHH!!” Sakura squealed and hugged Ino, who wore a smile, but had a pained look in her eyes. Sakura noticed it immediately, but Temari who walked past them out to the springs didn’t seem to. Sakura tried to catch Ino’s eye. Does this have something to do with why she was spending so much time up here and didn’t arrive with Shikamaru? Did this guy break her heart?! CHHANAROOO! I’LL KILL HIM!
Sakura and Ino followed Temari outside. When they emerged, they were presented with a huge, natural, rocky bathing area with a small waterfall and bamboo growing tall to shield wandering eyes on the other side of the baths. They were the only ones in the bathing area. Temari stretched and sighed. Sakura smiled and felt herself relax even more at the scene before her, though she was still concerned for Ino beside her, who seemed to be calming too, but still had some sadness in her eyes.
“Looks like we have the whole bath to ourselves, ladies!” Temari announced.
Sakura sighed and decided she’d get the real details from Ino later. Time to really relax. She did take note of the many gaps in the nearby fence, however. Damn Pervs! Jiraiya-sama better not have all the guys over there right now. Although, I guess that means Naruto might be watching. Time for me to have some fun. Sakura took off her towel immediately and let the air hit her skin. She breathed in the freedom of being nude outdoors and closed her eyes. She couldn’t hear any perv sounds from the guys bath next door. Kuso. Guess he isn’t there. At least I can cheer up Ino.
Steam was wafting from the water. Temari took of her towel too, placed it on a nearby bench and walked into the water in the buff. Ino followed suit. Sakura hesitated following them into the water. If Ino doesn’t want to let on to Temari that it bothers her, then I’ll play along.
“Come on, Ino, out with it! Who is he???” Sakura rolled her eyes. Guess Temari can’t take a hint. As the trio settled on rocky benches beneath the water so they were submerged up to the shoulders and their breasts floated freely in the water before them, Ino sighed.
“I’d rather not say.”
“Oooooo! That means it’s someone we know! Who could it be?!!? One-night stand? Long-term affair? Is he batty over you or the other way around?”
“It was just one-night and I’m pretty sure there wasn’t much more to it.” Ino was blushing noticeably and biting her lip.
Temari winked. “Well, one night or not, he obviously did something right.” Ino started blushing even more. Sakura finally decided to chime in after watching Ino’s reactions. Well, she isn’t all bitter about him, whoever he is.
“Did you, uh-err. . .”
“Orgasm, you mean Sakura!?” Temari blurted. Ino was as red as a lobster and suddenly dunked her head under the water.
“GAH! You did!!” Sakura’s jaw dropped.
Ino came up gasping for air and was still brilliantly red.
“--from just a one-night stand! He must be a great lover.” Sakura stated.
“What was it like???” Temari was leaning forward now. Ino saw an opening and she took it. Ah-Hah!
“Wait! You mean you haven’t ever had one, Ms. experienced?” Ino poked Temari in the shoulder who flapped her hands like she was bumbling a magic trick.
“Well--err--see--No.” She looked cautiously at her two friends.
“What the hell is Shika doing!” Sakura was outraged. Ino just looked smug.
“Well, Shika and I haven’t actually, um, had sex yet.”
Both Ino and Sakura were speechless. Sakura muttered.
“At least I’m not the last virgin anymore.”
Ino yelled.
“Hold on, how in the fuck is it possible that you guys haven’t yet?!” Ino was dumbfounded. “After all that running around Choji and I did to keep you guys a secret, you haven’t even screwed yet!? Unbelievable. What is that dimwit Shika waiting for?! A solar eclipse?!!?”
The reference to solar phenomena reminded Sakura of what Kakashi had told her and Naruto about the solstice and the whole point of this mission in the first place. It seemed like ages ago that they had discussed it. This damn bathhouse puts a spell on you or something. I feel like I’m in a dreamworld! I need to focus on protecting Naruto.
Ino and Temari caught on to Sakura’s concentration. They both sighed to transition out of their discussion of Shikamaru’s seeming wussiness.
“Sorry, Sakura, you must be worried about the mission--and Naruto. Temari, do you know anything?” Ino turned to her. Temari, happy to have the heat of the sex discussion off of her, answered.
“Shika could only tell me a few things. Jiraiya was supposed to explain the rest to him sometime tonight. Apparently, we aren’t supposed to tell you and Naruto too much because we don’t want to put pressure on you two. Your love has to happen naturally--and until that can happen, we have to keep the two of you apart.” Temari and Ino winced.
“Wait, what?” The annoyance in Sakura’s voice was palpable. She was sick of being kept in the dark. All she wanted was Naruto. That’s it. So simple. How many more things stood in their way? And on top of everything else, my own friends are cock-blocking me?!
“Are you guys fucking serious?! If anything, it will just make us both explode if you keep us apart.” Sakura was starting to yell.
“I think that might be part of the problem--it can’t be just for lust.” Ino offered and Temari tried to explain.
“The gist of it is that Naruto isn’t the only one in love with you Sakura.” Ino and Sakura both raised their eyebrows.
“Now, this part, even I haven’t heard.” Ino was surprised.
“Apparently, the Kyuubi has bonded specifically to you and only you, which would normally seem like a good thing, right, to have Mr. Fluffles on your side? And I guess you and Naruto, with Fluffles in tow, have to seal the deal---heheh get it seal?” Sakura raised her fist and Temari flinched and continued.
“--As long as you do it before the solstice, we should be all good and the bonding will be complete. But, in the process, the Kyuubi could completely possess Naruto and--” Temari was interrupted as an uncontrolled gasp erupted from Sakura.
“Holy shit! That’s the most important part! So are you telling me, that we could potentially break the seal on Kurama? How in the Kages am I supposed to prevent that?!”
“I think so and about the prevention, I have no idea. But, going back to what Ino said about love over lust, Shika said that the most important thing is for the two of you to build your trust and love and make it as strong as possible. He said you have to ‘not be afraid and to truly believe that you can protect Naruto.’ Whatever the hell that means. He said you should know when the time comes.”
Sakura pushed herself off the rocky ledge and into the middle of the bath where it was deeper. She plunged her body under the water. The silence under the water drowned out some of the confusion she was feeling. She could only hear the movement of the water and her own heartbeat. I can do this. I have to do this. Only me. Naru-to. She came back up for air.
She let herself float on her back. She was too much in her own head to realize that Ino had remained oddly silent through the rest of the explanation. Well let’s think. I can’t be afraid? Does this have anything to do with the weird dream I had last night? Ino speaking up interrupted her thoughts.
“I think I know why Jiraiya-sama especially wanted me and the Kazekage here.” Sakura stopped floating and drifted back over to the other girls. Temari had a look of confusion on her face. They both waited for Ino to finish. She gulped and swallowed.
“About this time last year, Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna--your brother, Temari--and I were. . . together.” Ino looked up at Temari as the understanding sank in.
“What. Are you kidding me? You and my kid brother. Gaara was the one who deflowered you?”
“. . .” Ino looked petrified.
“Ooooooo, I get why you didn’t want to say anything now. Silly, Ino. He is my brother, but I know he’s a man and, well, you are a good friend. Why would I mind?” Ino let out a breath as Temari didn’t seem angry, just shocked.
“Wow. You and the Kazekage?” Sakura had a hunch about what Ino was getting at, but she wanted to hear it from her first.
“Yea. So. . .” Ino seemed really uncomfortable about it. Wow, she’s really broken up over this. I had no idea! She did fall for him! Sakura’s heart broke a little for seeing the pain grow in her friend’s eyes. Temari finally noticed it too but instead got a thoughtful smile on her face like she wanted to say something, but was holding back.
“Anyway, Gaara and I. . .well. . .it was late one night after I was walking back from pretending to be on a mission with Shikamaru to cover for him when he went to your place in the Kage's palace, Temari, and Choji couldn’t make it this time to go with me, so I just thought about making the walk back to Konoha on my own. . .” Sakura and Temari both interjected.
“--INO! Are you nuts! It’s too far for a Kunoichi to walk alone!” Both girls said in unison. Ino sighed. She knew her friends were right, but she was really, really tired that night and wanted to be in her own bed and something about seeing Temari and Shika so happy together made her really lonely.
“Well, don’t worry. I didn’t make it very far.” Ino pulled on a loose strand of her hair as she remembered. “It was pretty cold that night for late summer. I was just walking away from the Kazekage’s house where your room is, Temari, and getting ready to set into a run when I felt sand wrap around my waist.” Ino’s cheeks were coloring all over again. “Your brother, the Kazekage, told me it was too cold and too dangerous to walk back alone. He insisted I stay at the Kage compound--really at his place.” Ino cleared her throat.
“So, how, praytell, did you go from just crashing at the Kazekage’s pad to full on sleeping with him?” Sakura asked playfully.
“eheheh. Well---the heat wasn’t working in the sleeping area he found for me and. . .. It was a crazy night. I felt like I had known him my entire life. I’ll just say that.” Ino seemed to be getting frustrated.
“I think I know exactly what night you are talking about.” Ino stared at Temari like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Don’t worry, silly, I didn’t see the two of you together. I just mean I think I know when it happened because Gaara starting acting differently right after.”
“What do you mean?” Sakura asked for Ino who still seemed too shocked.
“We all know my brother is one of the most stoic people in the world, but well, Kankuro and I would catch him smiling randomly with this far off look in his eyes. He would never tell us what it was over when we would ask. More recently, he’s actually seemed almost sad. Kankuro and I have started taking bets over just who he had fallen for.” Temari grinned at Ino who seemed to be even more uncomfortable and shocked now that it seemed Gaara might reciprocate her feelings.
“Look Ino, you shouldn’t feel so uncomfortable about the whole thing. I know my brother--even despite how he used to be--and I have never seen him this sad and happy at the same time. It must be because of you." With that Temari stood up.
"Well, ladies, I’m going to go head upstairs and see what Shika is up to. I’ll see you up there in a bit for dinner?” Temari left the water and started to towel off.
“Both of you, go for your men! Trust yourselves.” Temari winked as she wrapped the dry towel around her body..
“Thanks, Temari.” Ino and Sakura said in unison.
“Don’t you go and wuss out with Shika, then.” Sakura reiterated. Temari smiled, nodded, and made her way back inside, shutting the door.
Sakura let her head fall back into the water to wet the edge of her hairline again. Ino turned to her.
“Sakura, there is one part of this that I guess Temari didn’t pick up on, the bigger reason that I know Gaara and I are here. It wasn’t just me and him hooking up. I know that the Shukaku bonded to me as well. When we were together, he told me that he used to dream about me and in some of the dreams, I was letting the Shukaku sleep in my lap. And, well, even before that. I used to dream of Gaara and the Shukaku.” Ino blushed and continued. Apparently they were naughty dreams.
“It’s really hard to explain or put into words. But I know I kept the Shukaku at bay while we were together. You would think it scared me. But, something about it felt so natural and so right. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone until Temari brought up the Kyuubi bonding to you. It must be connected.”
***********
Shikamaru and Kakashi both sat down around the low dining table in the guy’s suite while Gaara and Naruto were out at the bath and the girls were still downstairs somewhere. Jiraiya eyed them both with intensity--telegraphing that the situation was more serious than Shikamaru had first guessed when they spoke about it with Naruto and Gaara. Shikarmaru looked at Kakashi who seemed unfazed by Jiraiya’s sharp gaze. I guess Kakashi had a better understanding than I did. After the two settled around the table across from Jiraiya, he downed the cup of sake in front of him--the bottle for which had arrived some time after Naruto and Gaara had left--and looked back at them again.
“It is imperative that Naruto and Sakura do not know the full details of the situation. Pressuring them to behave according to what must occur will cause this mission to fail. Certainly, what they both likely know now should be enough, but all we can really do is put him in the position for the events to fall into place and hope that Sakura is able to do the rest.” Kakashi and Shikamaru nodded waiting for him to expand on the details.
Jiraiya refilled his sake cup and began again.
“During early summer, most creatures enter their breeding phase; however, the older and wiser the creature, the less frequent the phase. So while your average hawk might have a yearly breeding season, a hundred year old racoon, let’s say, will only have a breeding phase every ten years and the actual window in which the ‘breeding’ must take place might only be a 48 hour window.” Jiraiya’s eyes widened a bit. Shikamaru caught the reference. He must be referring to Shukaku, which explains why the Kazekage of Suna bothered to journey up to this bathhouse; he wasn’t just trying to get a respite from the bustle of the approaching summer festival and be here to support Naruto. They left these details out of their discussion with Naruto and Gaara. Jiraiya quickly perceived the understanding in Shikamaru’s eyes.
“Correct, Nara. The nine great mythical beasts are no exception.” Jiraiya eyed Kakashi and Shikamaru again--knowing they were smart enough to finish his first point.
“Meaning the Kyuubi has a an even less frequent breeding phase.” Kakashi stated.
“Correct.” Jiraiya downed another shot. Shikamaru closed his eyes and filled in the rest of the blanks.
“Meaning, more importantly, the farther apart the breeding periods, the more aggressive, territorial, and potentially dangerous a mythical beast becomes during and leading up to its breeding season, namely the Kyuubi, because Naruto is the first ever male Jinchuriki to host the Kyuubi and males are always more territorial during breeding.”
“Mmm. This will be the first time in memory since the Sage of the Six Paths, father to the two sons who would create the great schism of ninja ways and who would found the Senju and Uchiha clans, that the Kyuubi will go through his breeding phase in a male host. When the Jinchuriki is female, the male Kyuubi considers the bond he experiences with his host as sufficient. But, when the Jinchuriki is male, especially one with the drive and stamina of Naruto--” Jiraiya didn’t take a shot this time, but just watched the two men in front of him. Kakashi spoke up next.
“--The drive is exacerbated, which means Sakura will have to help Naruto control it or it will consume him.” Kakashi looked out the nearby window momentarily.
“What are the risks if she fails?” Shikamaru asked the two men.
Jiraiya made a clicking noise in his throat and Kakashi continued to stare out the window.
“The fact that Naruto has fallen for Sakura could not be more fortuitous. There is an old proverb that says that ‘only the sweet six-pronged sakura blossom can quell the constant stirring of the great Fox.’ Sakura has been blessed with the aptitude for a special Genjutsu that hasn’t been seen in generations. It is currently dormant and can only be awakened at the appropriate time, though I have personally only read about it. Tsunade and I have known about this for a while and we kept it quiet, but, of course there are those who had a need to know.” Jiraiya eyed Kakashi prominently and continued his explanation.
“This ability would have typically labeled her a fox-charmer among the older villagers. The irony is, of course, that Naruto--completely unrelated to the bond the Kyuubi may feel for whatever part of Sakura’s soul it recognizes--fell in love with her on his own. That love he feels for her is the key to keeping the Kyuubi from breaking free of the seals. If Sakura fails or if that part of her soul that feels an affinity for the Kyuubi alone overtakes her, Naruto will be lost forever and the dark side of the Kyuubi will be unleashed with the darkness in Sakura at its helm.” Jiraiya was quiet again and looked from Kakashi to Shikamaru and saw the serious expressions on their faces. This time, he poured three sake shots, one for each of them.
“If, however, Sakura’s deep love for Naruto and Naruto’s love for her overcomes the chaotic bond between the blossom and the fox, then we have nothing to worry about; the Kyuubi will bond with her and be satisfied that the reincarnated form of its demonic match is close by. While the sharingan might have some ability to manipulate Kurama, Sakura’s ancestor is the true songstress of both the fox and the snake and more importantly in the case of the Kyuubi, she has to power to decide its behavior, which of course depends now on the love between the two ninjas we have come to know and care for.”
“So, the risks are total annihilation of life as we know it?” Shikamaru asked rhetorically.
Jiraiya nodded and Kakashi and Shikamaru both raised their eyebrows in an expression of ‘ah fuck.’ The three downed their sake shots in silent camaraderie.
“Sensei?” Shikamaru looked from Kakashi and then to Jiraiya. “I see that this breeding period for the mythical beasts has less to do with immediate conception of err--offspring--and more to do with marking and bonding with the mate. Did Gaara experience this with the Shukaku before the Akatsuki extracted the Ichibi from him?”
“I see where you are going, Nara, and don’t worry Sabaku no Gaara is not the Kazekage of Suna for nothing; that is why he insisted he participate for Naruto’s sake. He has already gone through it and should be filling Naruto in on just the more important details right now, although the experience for the Jinchuriki of the Ichibi wasn’t nearly as pronounced as the experience will be for Naruto and the Kyuubi. In fact, rather like Naruto, Gaara himself fell in love with the Shukaku’s chosen mate on his own too and is still bonded to and completely taken with her even now that the Ichibi is gone. Such a series of remarkable coincidences in this generation. I really am getting too old.”
“Alright, so what’s the plan and when is the time window.” Kakashi wanted to get right down to business and Shikamaru was interested in the mechanics as well.
“The bonding must occur before the solstice but not before Naruto and Sakura both truly believe and know that one loves the other. If there is any doubt---”
The three nodded at each other in understanding and Kakashi sighed.
“So, we have to keep them from screwing until they both know it’s for love, until Sakura’s genjutsu is ready--whenever that might be--but not keep them separated for too long because Naruto will grow territorial, aggressive, and restless if he is away from her. Yup, this is totally an S Rank mission about sex, good work, Jiraiya.” The three laughed loudly for a minute and then sat in silence. Shikamaru made a very disgruntled face as the moment wore on.
“This is the most troublesome thing I think I’ve ever had to do.” Shikamaru raised his lip. Jiraiya started to chuckle and slapped Shikamaru lightly on the back.
“No wonder Asuma loved you like a son.” Shikamaru’s eyes lit up again at the mention of his passed sensei.
“We owe it to Naruto--” Jiraiya stated.
“And to Sakura--” Kakashi added more clearly.
“No, they owe it to themselves. They’ve been in love with each other since they were children and too much has stood in their way.” Another moment of silence passed by in which the three all thought of the same struggles Naruto and Sakura have faced, in particular, the unmentioned name of one person who divided them the most.
Kakashi and Jiraiya shared a knowing glance that was not lost on the genius Shikamaru.
“The unspoken love, the hurt, the regret. . .They must learn from the folly of their masters.” Kakashi’s knowing glance wore on as Jiraiya blinked his eyes slowly in agreement.
“All three of them.” Shikamaru added with a pained look. Jiraiya and Kakashi shared their knowing look with Shikamaru. The sudden unspoken understanding the three had made them each crack smirks.
“Hah! Let’s drink to that!” Jiraiya poured them each another shot.
***********
Sakura felt a bit better about the predicament she and Naruto were in after talking with Ino. She had decided to stay in the bath after Ino had gone back upstairs. She still needed a lot more time to clear her head. She wanted to do right by Naruto and make sure he knew that she really cared for him and didn’t just want him. But, with all the details that Ino gave her, the unknown of dealing with the Kyuubi still plagued her. Even if Gaara loved Ino and the Shukaku had chosen her, quelling the one tail’s strength was one thing, but the Kyuubi, that was another. She was the most interested in how Ino said it just happened so naturally and before she knew it, her chakra had wound its way over Gaara’s body. Sakura could only assume that her unknown ability, whatever it was, when it showed itself would be different.
Sakura floated aimlessly thinking about how to handle the Kyuubi in the bath water for what seemed like only a few minutes, but when her focus came back to her and she looked up at the sky, she noticed that the sun was making its descent and she had lost track of time.
She also had her ears submerged the entire time, so she missed the soft conversation between Gaara and Naruto next door in the men’s bath. She missed Gaara getting up to leave. After shaking the water from her ears, she sighed. Maybe I’m just over-thinking this? I guess I should just trust myself. Sakura climbed out of the water and reached for her dry towel on a nearby bench; it was then that she also realized she felt a bit light-headed. Must be too much hot water.
As she leaned for her towel and began to dry herself off, she bent over slightly to dry her legs. When she righted herself and all the blood rushed back into her head, she lost it. She felt her eyes starting to grey out and the sound in her ears getting muffled. The world was spinning and down she went.
She didn’t feel her head hit the stone.
When Sakura started to regain consciousness a few minutes later, she expected to feel pain in her head from hitting the stone and was surprised when she didn’t. She took a mental inventory of her body to make sure she hadn’t done serious damage--serious enough that she couldn’t feel it. Head, check. I don’t feel any bleeding. I can feel my legs and arms. She wiggled her toes, she moved her fingers. As feeling started to fully come back to her body, she also felt the heat from hands and arms wrapping around her shoulders and her hips, cradling her. She felt the heat from someone’s chest as the left side of her body leaned against it. Someone caught me?
She opened her eyes and found herself staring directly into the radiating blue eyes of Naruto; they were filled with concern.
“Sakura-chan! You’re awake! You’re ok!” His face shifted to show his relief.
“Naru-to?” Sakura was a still a little dazed. But, as she looked at him, she realized he must have caught her just before she hit the stone because he was sitting on the ground with her cradled against him. His skin was covered with water droplets and his hair was wet on the ends. He must have just gotten out of the bath. How did he get here so fast? She felt her pulse quicken as she realized how gorgeous he was with the water glistening on his skin.
“I saw you start to fall and I jumped over the fence to catch you.” Naruto did not yet realize what he said. Sakura slowly put it together and started to sit up.
“Wait. You saw me?!?! Were you watching me get out of the water?” Sakura felt her adrenaline surge and her temper rise.
“YOU PERVERT! You were watching me through the fence!!” Sakura was furious. She was going to hit him. She was going to kill him. As she untangled herself from his grip, he brought his left arm up bashfully to scratch the back of his head and prepare for impact from the punch she was certain to throw--just like he always did. But, something was different this time. Sakura noticed the bright red on his cheeks, and it wasn’t from the bath. His cheeks seemed to glow almost like he was drunk and his pupils were dilated.
As her own butt made contact with the cold stone and she could get a look at him, she saw the cut of his pectorals as the water ran down, the curve of his neck, the line of his jaw as he set it and bit his bottom lip, the lines in his stomach as his breathing quickened, the deep groves of his hip flexor and groin muscles, and the faint trail of blond hair from his belly button, as they pointed, like an arrow, down. Then she gasped. Kneeling in front of her, Naruto was completely and utterly naked. And very very erect.
He kept his eyes cast down for a good while--like he was unsure. He must not have had time to grab a towel before he hopped the fence.
Then, he slowly brought his eyes back up and stared at Sakura. His eyes were glowing and filled with desire. It felt as though they would bore right through her and see every part of her. He shifted his jaw again.
“Per. . .vert.” Sakura whispered as a tidal wave of heat sent shock-waves over her skin. Her nipples got hard, her own pupils dilated, the lips on her face swelled and her core flooded open like a dam had burst. The sight of him completely naked, vulnerable, and erect had completely undone her.
She scampered back a bit on the stone as her control slipped even more. Holy Kages. He’s huge! As she shifted, the towel that she had wrapped around her body and tucked at her breasts, that by some miracle had managed to stay on during the falling fiasco, unraveled of its own accord.
Her towel dropped to the stone. Sakura made no motion to stop it. Her control was gone. She saw only Naruto. And he only saw her.
Naruto’s eyes widened as his gaze wandered and consumed her now naked form in from of him. She saw his cock pulsate at the sight of her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He hadn’t moved.
While his eyes were closed, Sakura got on all fours and crawled to him. When he opened his eyes again, she was on her knees before him. He didn’t wait for her to move again. In one smooth adjustment--with lightning speed--he smashed her body into his and crushed her lips with his own. His tongue broke into her mouth--demanding, hot, filled with need. She moaned as their naked skin made contact. Naruto felt like he had been struck by lightning as he felt her nipples, her stomach, her groin press and rub against his. He pushed her body closer. She sucked on his tongue. He moaned back. They were a tangle of limbs, reaching, grabbing, squeezing.
Her nails dug into the sculpted muscle of his naked back. She pulled his hair. He ran his hands down her hips, pinching and squeezing, like she might vanish, like he might not hold her like this again. She broke her lips free of his as he caressed her and he let his head fall back as she sucked on his neck, trailing her tongue over his damp skin; she sucked, she bit. She wanted to eat him and run all of her sweat, her wetness, her heat, all over everything that was him. And she wanted all of Naruto all over her.
His hand found purchase on her naked behind and he squeezed its curve and pushed her into him again, rubbing their groins together. She cried out and her lips left his neck as she had to catch her breath.
“Naru-to!!” She cried. Naruto purred and took her face in his hands, forcing it back up so he could crush his mouth back onto hers. Their noses were smashed together, their cheeks touching. Sakura felt like she was melting into him.
She wanted desperately to touch him, to squeeze him. She slid one hand between them, down his stomach, over his trail of blond hair, her hand slowed its progress as it reached the part of him that throbbed with desperate need for her. She ever so gently ran her thumb over the head of his cock. It pulsated again and he stiffened and froze. She moaned again at his reaction.
You are mine and mine alone. With that thought, Sakura confidently and firmly took all that she could of him in her hand and squeezed gently, giving his cock one pump. He growled loudly in response, and in another liquid motion, put his other hand under her head, cradling it, smashed his lips to hers, and slammed her back onto the cool stone. He didn’t hurt her, but he was certainly aggressive about it. He pressed himself over her--his hands continued to squeeze and demand. They were covered in sand, and small bamboo leaves, and dirt from the ground. But it felt right somehow, Sakura thought, outside here in the sunlight with him.
His mouth left hers and he pushed himself up with his arm and bowed his head down. He grabbed her right breast with his other hand. She arched into him. He purred again. She could feel him twitch like he was restraining himself. Without warning, he smothered her other breast with his mouth. He nibbled on the nipple and squeezed and sucked. Sakura knew it would leave a mark. She didn’t care. She wanted to be claimed by him. She felt like he would devour her. She cried out his name again and reached for the length of him once more, this time with both hands. She got a firm grip and gave his cock another pump. His mouth left her breast and he groaned.
“Sakura-chan. . .” Then he grabbed both her wrists with his other hand and pinned them over her head. Sakura was gasping for air. She was overflowing with desire for him, with heat, with electricity. She wanted him to shove himself in her. As if he could hear what was in her mind, his whispered in her ear.
“Sakura. If you do that again, there will be no stopping me. I will fuck you until you scream. I will make you pass out from pleasure. YOU ARE MINE.” She heard more of a growl in his voice with the last part.
With that, he stuck his tongue in her ear and bit her lobe. Sakura was so lost in feeling him, she didn’t notice the Kyuubi’s chakra as it started building on his skin. She closed her eyes. The logically aware part of her was being subdued by a much, much stronger drive and need. Yes! YES! That need is what caused her to grab his back and push the full weight of him back down on top of her.
Now that she could feel the full weight of his body on her, Sakura thought she might orgasm right there. His hips, his cock, his chest, his heartbeat, his uneven breath, his heat, his blinding desire for her--she was overwhelmed by all of it. They kissed and sucked and grabbed as Sakura slowly moved her legs and her hips, so Naruto found himself nestled perfectly between them. The full length of him pressed against her groin and up the length of her stomach. The tip of his cock rubbed her belly button.
He moved his hips back and she looked up into his eyes. They were red with little slits for pupils. His canines had elongated and his whiskers were more defined. Sakura’s eyes widened. This was now all wrong and she knew it. Why can’t I stop myself? As if behaving on their own or controlled by another part of her, her hips lifted when he moved his hips down so the tip of his cock made contact with the outer edge of her very, very wet core. They both cried out and for a second, Sakura saw flecks of blue in his eyes again. But, they vanished as she saw not one but two tails of Kyuubi chakra grow behind Naruto.
What happened next was so fast and blinding, Sakura wasn’t sure how she was able to stop him. Naruto, with his claws growing on his hands and the Kyuubi chakra beginning to surround her too, started sprouting a third tail. Simultaneously, he made a motion to grab her hips and thrust himself fully inside her. No.
Sakura launched herself off her back and on top of Naruto, pinning him. Using her chakra enhanced strength snapped her out of her trance. How could I push him like this. He’s not himself. She felt terrible. As she held him down, he snarled at her. She could see all three tails snapping the air under him. Not to mention, how am I able to hold him still like this? I was never able to do this before. He writhed under her.
“Shhhh. Naruto.” Sakura was starting to tear up as she noticed Naruto’s skin was beginning to peel. No! This can’t be happening. Captain Yamato isn’t here. How do I stop this?
“Naurto!” She cried and looked into his eyes. Her own skin was starting to peel. Instead of Naruto’s voice answering her, it was the deep voice of the Kyuubi.
“Haruno, Sakura. Why do you restrain us. We belong together.” It growled at her. Sakura felt something in her chest, in her mind, tell her to listen to Kurama. Yes we do. What? Shutup! This will hurt Naruto. I WILL NOT do that. She mentally punched the other voice inside her mind back down.
“NO. I will not let you hurt Naruto.” She growled back. “You can have me. But only if you give Naruto back his body.” Naruto--or rather the Kyuubi controlling his body---cocked his head.
As Sakura struggled to continue to restrain him, she felt tears flowing freely down her cheeks, but she held firm. She wept, but gritted her teeth.
“I LOVE Naruto. You can’t take him. I won’t let you.” Renewed strength surged through her and she held him down harder. As she did so, several large clumps and strands of her pink hair tumbled out of her bun and into Naruto’s face and eyes. As they made contact with his skin, he closed his eyes and sniffed them and purred. When his eyes opened again, she saw some of the red recede.
“Naruto!” Sakura yelped and searched his face. He flinched and seemed to be writhing in pain. He was fighting for control of his body. Then he got still and closed his eyes.
“Come back to me. I love you. Don’t you go. I can’t live without you by my side.” Sakura said as she put her forehead to his. That was it. She’d said it out loud, how she actually felt. But, she didn’t care. She wanted and needed him to know.
“Naruto!” She screamed and all her fear, her desire, her anguish, her desperation, and love for him surged through her. She squeezed her eyes like she could mentally will the Kyuubi down. When she opened her eyes again, she saw a glow of green chakra push out of every pore in her body and envelop the red Kyuubi chakra and start to neutralize it.
One tail receded back into Naruto.
She let go of her grip restraining him and cupped his face with her hands. His eyes were still closed. Completely forgetting that they were still naked, Sakura willed all of herself, all of her energy, her chakra, her very life to save him.
As she stared down at his face and cried, she saw his eyes start to crack open again They were blue. He’s ok! She sighed her relief and collapsed on him and lost consciousness.
***********
When Sakura awoke, she was laying in her bedroom, in her bed linens on the tatami mats. She was back in her robe. Naruto was nowhere in sight. Sakura sat up, panicked.
“Naruto?” She cried. She glanced to her left and noticed that the sliding door out to her part of the balcony was slightly ajar. Did Naruto dress me and bring me up here?
“Forehead? When did you get in from the bath? Did you sneak in to take a nap? You're being a lazy-ass and dreaming about Naruto again, I see.” She heard Ino call to her from the other side of her bedroom door out in the hallway. Ino slide the door open.
“Tch. You really suck. If you were going to nap I would’ve showered instead of waiting for you for dinner.” Ino was dressed in a beautiful, but fairly short, purple silk kimono. Her hair was totally down. She looked stunning.
“What time is it?” Sakura said getting some of her wits back. “And where is Naruto?” Considering I just dumped my chakra into him, I don’t feel too tired. How much time has passed?
“It’s time for food! And how the hell should I know? I think he’s probably already downstairs in the restaurant with Granny Kagome waiting for us for dinner. Come ON! I was waiting for you to come back. I was getting worried you drowned or something, you were in the bath for so long; I was about to come get you.” Sakura crawled out of the tangled bedsheets and stood up. She took a glance at herself in a nearby mirror.
“O, let me get the Kimono Kagome left for you.” Ino disappeared out into the hallway for a minute and returned with a pink Kimono similar to Ino’s, but it looked far more regal and expensive and had long flowing, billowing sleeves. Sakura sighed and slipped out of her robe and found her bag with her other clothes. She rummaged for a black bra.
Ino raised her eyebrows as she slipped on the black lingerie.
“Expecting to get something good from Naruto tonight I see?” Sakura froze as she remembered what happened earlier and how she pushed him too far. That was all my fault. He’ll never trust me now. She found her good luck charm just where she had left it in her bag before she went down to the bath and slipped on matching black panties. She slipped it into her black bra.
“Look, they may be black, but they are my most comfortable too.”
“Surrrrre.” Ino winked at her and helped her slip into the Kimono and tie its obi. Ino told her about how she spent the last hour or so avoiding Gaara and trying not to barf while she watched Shikamaru and Temari love-talk each other out on the balcony.
Eventually, the two girls arrived on the main floor and made their way to the restaurant.
"Why were you avoiding Gaara? What are you so afraid of?”
“I dunno. I just. . . It hurt so much to stop seeing him. It’s not like he stopped calling or anything. It’s like we both silently agreed to pretend nothing ever happened. And all this time, I was doing that because I figured it was just a one-time thing with him.” Sakura cut in.
“Not from what Temari told us. He might have figured the same thing and thinks you aren't interested in him either. You have to talk to him.” Sakura would be damned if she would let another relationship get ruined because she didn't say what needed to be said. I hope Naruto will forgive me.
“Mmm.” Ino looked down as they entered the restaurant. They found the rest of the group at a large table out on the balcony. Sakura felt relief wash over her when she saw Naruto sitting with everyone else. He's ok. He's ok.
Kagome was sitting with them at a large wooden booth. As they walked up, everyone stood up to greet them. Sakura smiled as she saw Jiraiya first. She was avoiding Naruto. Stupid Guilt! What’s wrong with me? Hug him!
Skipping formalities and given her emotional day thus far, she just hugged Jiraiya first. He froze at first and blushed and then hugged her back. Ino said hello to everyone, she had just seen them minutes before; it was Sakura who hadn’t yet had a chance to see Jiraiya.
After she broke away from Jiraiya, Sakura caught Naruto’s eye as he stood next to Jiraiya. He looked unsure of what to do. Screw it and screw this guilt. I love him even if he won't forgive me. Sakura crushed him in a huge hug too. Naruto, like Jiraiya also froze and then hugged her back warmly and buried his face in her hair. She just barely heard him whisper.
“I’m so sorry, Sakura-chan.” Sakura felt her heart skip a beat. She wanted to respond and to call out to him and tell him it wasn’t his fault, but he slide back into the booth with others around him.
I guess no one else knows about what happened earlier today. Sakura stole another glance at Naruto as she slide into the opposite side of the booth across from him. He looked ragged and tired, but she could tell with her medical nin abilities that he was fine and his skin had completely healed. Thank the Kages! But, that really took a lot out of him.
In the her focus on Naruto, Sakura hadn’t noticed that in sliding into booth as she did, it made it so that Ino was squished right next to Gaara. Both looked stiff and avoided eye contact.
Their meal progressed smoothly enough, with Jiraiya and Kagome telling some funny stories about the early days of the bathhouse and Jiraiya sharing a few stories about Tsunade. Kakashi even shared a story or two about Guy Sensei. Naruto seemed like his normal self and would periodically throw in his two cents. Sakura was calmed by the normalcy of the meal and the fact that her beloved Naruto was ok. The only odd thing was Gaara avoiding Ino and Ino avoiding Gaara. Sakura caught Naruto’s eye a few times and he seemed to be holding back a bit too. She wanted to smack him out of it and tell him it wasn't his fault--that it was her fault.
After dinner ended, and when the light of the sun was gone from the sky and the fire pits on the balcony were roaring, Kagome announced that it was time for an important story and that someone should ask what she should tell. Ino raised her eyebrows. STORY?! I just don’t want to have to keep sitting here next to him.
Despite the fact that Gaara sat next to her in the small booth, they had managed throughout the entire night to avoid touching. Ino grimaced. Why did he sit next to me anywyay! Stupid Sakura she wasn’t paying attention and didn’t sit next to me.
“So, Kagome-ba-chan? Is there a story behind the carved scene in the glass windows and doors on the second floor?” Naruto asked Kagome after she had downed her final gulp of sake for the evening. Kagome looked at the group with a faraway glitter in her eyes. The other small conversations that were going on between Shikamaru, Temari, and Sakura died down. Kakashi stopped listening to Naruto and Jiraiya talk about their most recent exploits on their last training round together and the trio turned their eyes to Kagome.
Gaara, who still sat silently beside Ino, leaned forward and put his elbows on the table, listening intently.
Ino froze as Gaara’s motion brought the heat from his body closer to her own. As he raised his arms from across his chest to put his elbows on the table, his left forearm brushed against hers. She flinched as she felt goosebumps rise to the surface all over her body. Don’t look at him! Don’t look! We made it through dinner, just a bit longer.
It was impossible not to look. Her conscious mind said one thing, but her body did another. She thought she saw him flinch too. She thought she saw goosebumps on his skin too; beneath the many folds of his robes on his wide and firm wrists and the hint of his forearm she could make out beneath the dark cloth ripples of goosebumps. More importantly, as her body went against her will, their eyes met for a fraction of a second and in that second, she saw him part his lips and lick them! Ino felt heat coil in her groin. All she could do was turn away in shyness and focus on Kagome. Thank the Kages! Focus on her! Focus on her! And Kagome was. . .smirking at her? Does she know? As quickly as Ino received a knowing look and smirk from Kagome she looked away.
Old Kagome closed her eyes and furrowed her brow and the angles cast by the dim firelight moved shadows across the wrinkles on her face. She didn’t just seem old in the shadows, she seemed ancient almost like a spirit with visions in the form of shadows moving over her skin. When she opened her mouth to speak this time, her voice had changed, it wasn’t the eccentric twittering of the pervy grandmother who crushed on Jiraiya, her voice became the voice of a wise-old teller of legends, a bard, or a wandering keeper of the old ways. The entire group watched her in awe and puzzlement. Only Jiraiya seemed unsurprised. She began:
“A long time ago, before the Great Sage of the Six Paths tore asunder the ten tails into the nine great beasts, the creation animals all lived in harmony. One trio was closer than all the rest.
The three they were called. They were just babies then: a tiny red fox, a small black snake, and the first green buds of a blossom tree. They lived among the grass together.
The fox would romp and play and fill the others with laughter as he acted the fool; though he was the first to have strong legs to carry him away from their haven in the grass, he never wandered far and always slept nearby; the snake, who moved more slowly than the fox but with certainty and eyes that perceived even in the darkness, would slither along the ground clearing other small creatures that sought to do the trio harm; he would sometimes join the fox in his antics; the small, demure little bud of a blossom tree was the least mobile of the three and didn’t look like much as she yet had no blossom to adorn her, but she was rooted steadfast and strong to the ground. She loved both the fox and the snake as they loved her.
As the three grew older, the Fox’s legs got longer and his tail became bushier, his canines could been seen in his mouth, he laughed more loudly and feared less and less; he became more brazen and more daring in his antics, wandering further from the grass. But, ever he would return with the hope of impressing the growing bud and snake. The snake grew longer and stronger: his tongue more prominent as it slithered out of his mouth; his eyes more piercing and penetrating. But, unlike the fox, he sought instead the dark places to shield himself from the bright sunlight--though he would still return to the grass to be with the fox and the beloved bud. The bud had grown into a small sapling with many leaves on her small branches but still no blossoms to adorn her. Still she stuck steadfast to the ground; though she seemed to grow the least, her roots were spreading far and wide beneath the dirt.
Then one day, when the sun was rising and dew clung to the blades of grass and the fox and snake still slept beside the young bud that had become a sapling, on the oldest of the sapling’s branches, one shining blossom with six petals opened and shown brilliantly in the morning light. It glittered and refracted light and its aroma was sweet. As the fox awoke and saw the beautiful blossom, he was struck as he felt his undying love swell for the sapling that was becoming a tree and stood transfixed and purred next to her in adoration. He nuzzled her bark and stared at the blossom. The sapling blushed at the warmth of the fox against her bark and spread her branches, showering him in the sweet scent of her blossom; she too was transfixed by the strong fox who she loved in return.
Beside the fox, the snake had awoken and taken his notice of the beautiful blossom upon the sapling in the morning light. But, he did not stay transfixed like the fox. The snake, slithering above the fox up the trunk of the sapling that had become a tree and up her branches, stretched himself out over the oldest branch of her body and toward the blossom--running his scales in a forceful way over her bark and between her stems. She shivered at his cold scales as they ran over her.
The fox growled as he watched the snake force his way over the branches of the beautiful sapling that had become a tree. The fox set back on his hind legs and launched himself in the air with the intent of knocking the snake off of the branch of his beloved tree. The fox flew through the air and hit the branch, dislodging the snake.
The snake fell to the earth and hissed angrily at the fox as he tumbled through the air. The fox, being much too big and too strong for the still small branches of the sapling that had become a tree, fell down to the earth with the snake.
When the snake and fox landed they locked eyes in rage and prepared to fight. The sapling who had become a tree could only stand steadfast and watch; she was filled with agony at seeing the snake and fox so angry.
As the two stood on the grass they had once slept on in peace ready to fight and kill each other, the solitary six petaled blossom that glittered and refracted morning light wilted and broke free from its stem atop the sapling that had become a tree and fell softly and slowly to the ground between them. The sapling wept, but the bond had been shattered. Now the fox was a fox and the snake was a snake. They were enemies. But, the fallen six-petaled blossom stopped them from killing one another before her eyes. Instead, the snake hissed loudly at the fox and slithered far away in contempt and the fox growled and growled with his hackles raised until the snake was out of sight.
After the snake was gone, the fox remained sitting beside the sapling and her fallen blossom expecting the snake to return. He waited and he sat beside the sapling that had become a tree.
As the sun set on the third day, the fox whimpered that he knew the snake was gone forever. The fox stayed by his sapling that had become a tree. As the years went by, the sapling that had become a tree slowly became a great tree with many boughs and her roots expanded further. The fox grew into a great fox and slowly grew another tail, and another and another. . .
The fox’s undying love for the once small bud that became a Great Tree never ceased and as they grew. The small bud that was now a Great Tree yearned to be closer to the Great Fox and the Great Fox closer to her. But each time the fox would try to climb her trunk or jump into her branches, blossoms would fall, for the Great Fox had grown much too heavy and too strong for her boughs; the fox wept that he could not touch her. All he could do was chase the blossoms that she wept and wept for his touch as they fluttered by on the wind.
The snake never did return to the old Nine-Tailed Fox and the Great Blossom Tree with its roots around the world, though they both yearned for the days when they slept close in the low grass side-by-side. But, each and every morning when we see where the dew collects, somewhere the Great Fox opens one eye and weeps the saltiest tear of regret when a solitary six-petaled blossom falls from her branches.”
Kagome opened her eyes slowly after finishing the story and the group sat in total silence for long while. It wasn’t necessary to say what everyone was thinking, to mention the parallels between the story and two groups of ‘three’ people they all knew in the past and now. Despite the somber theme of the story, everyone at the table seemed to be lost in a trance, one caused by Kagome’s story-weaving.
Ino was the first to move. She cast her eyes down at her hands and shifted in her seat. That’s such a sad, sad story. She glanced sidelong at her best friend diagonally across from her at the table. More than ever before, Ino thought, Sakura didn’t just look beautiful, she looked regal. Her emerald green eyes had an otherworldly glow to them. Ino caught her glance for a second and she smiled at her. Sakura smiled beautifully back but beneath the smile, Ino saw a real sadness and a bit of fear. She felt a pang in heart over Sakura and Naruto. Come to think of it, did something already happen between them? She looked from Sakura to Naruto. He does seem really tired. She frowned again.
Ino wanted her best friend to be happy and over the years as she had watched Sakura slowly start to acknowledge her deep love for Naruto, Ino was thrilled. Deep down, Ino always thought they were the perfect match and, well, stupid Sasuke was just everyone’s cool crush, though apparently, based on Kagome’s story, Sasuke still had a bigger role to play. But now, with the risks caused by the Kyuubi. . . I wish there was more I could do. Ino looked back down at her hands. Beneath the feelings of concern she bore for Sakura, Ino could feel butterflies in her stomach and goosebumps building on her skin. Gaara. He must be in pain too. If this is the Kyuubi’s situation, I wonder if there is a similar story for the Shukaku.
Perceiving her distress beside him in his periphery, Gaara observed Ino’s shifting and uncomfortable expressions with a thoughtful expression. He studied every twitch and every move the muscles in her face made; he saw the light shift in her eyes, her thighs rub against each other in discomfort, her hands clasp then unclasp, her beautiful chest rise and fall unevenly. He wanted to be sure he didn’t miss any piece of her body language. He wanted to be there for her. He knew he wasn’t ever good with people, but he was determined to know everything he could about Ino and anticipate her every need or whim, no matter how small or insignificant. He continued to observe her with a calculated calmness.
Gaara stayed with his elbows on the table as Ino was lost in thought over Sakura’s situation. As she thought sadly about Sakura’s predicament--she noticed that Gaara seemed so very still. Is he watching me out of the corner of his eye? Damnit! I’m staring back!
Ino--now without a story to distract her--slowly found herself turning to Gaara once again. As she turned, he slowly brought the arm furthest from her back down. He let the closer arm linger on the table a bit longer. Ino’s breath was coming faster and her heart was racing. Why am I freaking out?!
On the other side of Gaara, Kakashi was leaning back against the bench and staring at the ceiling with a lost look in his eyes. He even seemed a bit sad.
In the nook of the table, Shikamaru initiated PDA with Temari and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a soft, small kiss on the mouth in the view of the others at the table. Temari blushed at her love’s more aggressive actions. They nuzzled into each other’s shoulders as their faces filled with color that was only magnified by the sake that had been passed around.
Kagome’s face spread into an ancient, knowing grin at the sight. Jiraiya watched the kiss between Temari and Shikamaru and a fondness grew in his eyes as though he were thinking of someone else and a far-away place.
Naruto and Sakura, who sat directly across from one another with Temari and Shikamaru in between them on one side and Jiraiya and Kakashi flanking them on the other, locked eyes and for another moment, everyone else at the table seemed to freeze too and watch them.
They hadn’t exactly been avoiding eye contact since the group sat down at the large booth; it was more like they were just preoccupied with their individual conversations and with catching up with everyone, although the events earlier in the day certainly played a role. But as they locked eyes now that Kagome’s story was complete, the entire world seemed to stop breathing. The look was vastly different from what they both experienced hours before, naked in front of each other at the bath. There was heat and desire in this look, yes, but sadness and pain too.
Shikamaru broke the silence and took the deep stares between Naruto and Sakura as a sign.
“Well, we are heading off. See you in the morning.” With that, he half-stood up and launched himself out over the back of the booth. Temari, who still held his hand smiled and quickly followed. They disappeared into the building.
Jiraiya smiled at everyone and stood up. He didn’t say a word. As Naruto looked up at his godfather, he couldn’t tell if it was the sake that was making his eyes water or if Jiraiya was crying a bit. As he nodded at the group, Jiraiya snatched up the almost-empty bottle of sake and sauntered back inside. Kakashi made a move similar to Shikamaru to get out of his seat, put his hands in his pockets and waved as he walked around the outer edge of the balcony away from the remaining members of the group.
Now that it was only Sakura, Naruto and Ino and Gaara with Kagome at the table, Kagome smiled again and spoke.
“Love is a fragile thing.” The four turned red. With no one between them on the booth any longer Naruto and Sakura finally broke their stare. Naruto got up first and wandered to the edge of the balcony. He didn’t turn around to wait for Sakura. With a pained look in her eyes she got up to follow him.
With everyone else either inside or out of earshot, Kagome turned to Gaara and Ino as they were the only two who remained at the table. She looked at the young lovers who were still in denial about their situation and smiled. Neither one of them had moved. They were frozen. Kagome wanted to give them just a little push.
“There is a story about the great raccoon-dog and the rare-blooming fragrant plum blossom tree.” Ino and Gaara shifted and listened.
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The Truth in Dreams