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Scale	By : AkashaEmily Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1195 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Scale
Chapter 8: Big or small, all�s fair in love and war

As before, *** denotes that time has passed and
that the previous point of view has been continued

�The ink isn�t dry yet.� Sai explained,
deftly moving Sasuke out of Sakura�s reach before the kunoichi could touch
Sasuke-kun�s face. He smiled while he spoke, deliberately ignoring the look of
disappointment that darted across her face as he hid the Uchiha under the
table, sitting Sasuke on his thigh. �I do not think I could be so accurate a
second time.�
�It�s so life-like.� Sakura said,
withdrawing her hand and letting it hang by her side as she visibly struggled
to shake off her surprise. �I knew that you did some doll pieces in your spare
time but that is truly a work of art, Sai! What made you paint one like
Sasuke-kun?�
��Naruto misses him.� Sai said
matter-of-factly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The
kunoichi watched him expectantly, waiting for him to elaborate, but, when he
did not, Sakura began to look very uncomfortable. Glancing over at Naruto, who
had not moved since Sakura�s arrival, Sai felt a strong sense of alarm flash
through him. �Sakura, please check Naruto.�
�You aren�t going to throw a fit
over dolls again, are you�?� Frowning and clearly irritated, the kunoichi
turned her attention fully on the blond, did a double take and strode over to
him. It wasn�t surprising that she was concerned since the jinchuuriki had
paled considerably with beads of sweat plainly visible on his forehead and
temples. The medic ninja began demanding answers from the blond as she fired
off questions, but Naruto ignored her, his angry blue eyes focused intently on
Sai.
Taking advantage of Sakura�s
distraction, Sai released the henge cloaking Sasuke and placed the furious
looking Uchiha inside the dollhouse before shutting the construction and
locking it. The artist heard the tiny brunet moving around before Sasuke�s face
appeared in one of the second story windows and Sai gave the other a warning
look to remain hidden.
There was a muffled thump as
Naruto�s knees hit the floor but Sakura�s noises of distress were swallowed by
the blonde�s claims that he was alright.
�Sai, give me a hand!� Sakura
commanded, ignoring the jinchuuriki�s protests as she knelt next to her
teammate, her hands automatically checking his pulse and temperature.
�Sai was with them in seconds, kneeling on
Naruto�s unoccupied side and placing a hand on the blonde�s shoulder. Panicking
would not help and so, to his emotions in check as Naruto�s coloring returned
to normal, the artist moved his hand to the nape of the jinchuuriki�s neck,
letting his fingers idly play with the mussed blonde spikes there while he
covertly took the box of doll-sized dishes from Naruto�s hand and slid it under
the couch next to them.
�I�m fine,� Naruto said again,
but there was a subtle note of strain in his voice that Sai detected easily. The
artist regretted scaring the blonde but there was nothing to be done about it,
not with Sakura in attendance. �I�m just hungry.�
Sakura sat back on her heels,
looking him over critically before her gaze drifted briefly to flick over Sai.
�You�re stomach is going to have to wait a bit longer. Tsunade-seisho sent me
to get you.�
�Huh?� Naruto frowned, leaning away
from her and a little heavier against Sai.
�She wants to talk to you.�
Sakura elaborated, standing and absently brushing her knees off as she waited
for the other two to get up.
��Fine, fine.� Naruto grumbled unhappily,
standing and turning to trudge down the hall to his bedroom. �Lemme go change
first.�
�It is very odd that the
Godaime-sama wants to see him this early.� Sai noted, studying the kunoichi
once the blonde had disappeared into the bedroom. �The sun has just risen,
correct? And you, too, have clearly been up awhile. Did you not tell me on our
last mission that lack of sleep was the enemy of clear skin?�
�Tsunade-seisho suddenly ordered
an inventory of our anti-venom stores.��
Sakura explained, grimacing and looking all the more exhausted. �Until I
was sent here, I was helping Shizune-sempai catalog everything all night long.�
Sai frowned, wondering if this
was an annual event within Konoha�s medical community or if there was another
reason behind the activity. �Was this a scheduled activity?�
�Sakura�s brow puckered thoughtfully and the
artist mentally sighed as he waited for the kunoichi to collect her thoughts
since sleep deprivation dulled even the sharpest of minds. �No, it was very abrupt
actually. She pulled me off clinical duty last night to help Shizune-sempai.
When we finished, sempai and I reported to the Godaime in her office and
Shizune had to wake Tsunade-seisho up so she would stop drooling on the mission
reports all over her desk�� Sakura paused in her rambling, her lips turning
down in a frown as she scrubbed a hand over her face tiredly. �She must have
been reading them all night...�
Sai kept his expression patient,
revealing none of the worry that was suddenly gnawing at him. It was possible
that there was another perfectly valid reason why Tsunade would suddenly be
concerned with Konoha�s anti-venom stock that had absolutely nothing to do with
the incident involving Naruto�
�When we were stacking the files,
I noticed that most of them seemed to be related to Claw and Bear Country
though and one was definitely Naruto�s- I�d know his scrawl anywhere! But the
Godaime wouldn�t explain anything and just sent me to come get Naruto.� She
abruptly laughed. �I bet that�s why Tsunade-seisho fell asleep- she got
eyestrain from trying to read that idiot�s handwriting!�
Sai did not share her mirth but
before he could attempt to question Sakura further, Naruto interrupted.
�I heard that!� The voice from
the bedroom may have been muffled but that did nothing to hide the indignation
it contained.
�Then hurry up and learn some
penmanship, moron! That�s probably why she wants to see you so early in the
morning- so you have the whole day to rewrite the damn report!� Sakura roared,
causing one of Naruto�s neighbors to bang on the wall in protest. Chastised,
the kunoichi ducked her head in Sai�s direction, her eyebrows rising as she
finally registered his state of dress. �Why are you here this early, Sai?�
�It was movie night last night.� The
artist answered, unconcerned. �Do you remember the names of the authors of the
other reports?�
Blinking, Sakura nodded slowly
though her shoulders noticeably stiffened. �Movie ran that long, huh?�
�� She
was either deliberately ignoring his last question of simply hadn�t registered hearing
it and Sai wondered at the odd edge to her voice that somehow made the idle
question more significant than it should have been. Wondering where this was
going and knowing he wouldn�t get any answers from her until he solved the
mystery of her behavior, Sai watched her face as he answered calmly. �No,
actually we had an early night.�
�� We?�
Sakura repeated, surprise and anger briefly flashing across her face before she
could mask them. Visibly working to keep the expression, her face took on a
look of mild concern as she licked her lips. �Naruto was a little warm. Was he
like that�last night?�
�No, but it is not unusual for
him to feel warm in the morning when I touch him.� The artist offered, puzzled
by the expression that suddenly appeared on Sakura�s face. He did not know it
and so he filed it away for further study later.
�When you�� She blinked, eyes narrowing. �Touch him?�
Sai nodded and cocked his head to
the side, studying her reaction as he explained. �His body heats up at night so
it is normal for his skin to become very warm.� Another expression darted
across the kunoichi�s face but this one Sai did recognize. �Why are you
jealous, Sakura?�
She flushed and sputtered before
hissing venomously, �How would you know how warm he gets at night?�
Sai frowned at her accusatory
tone. �We sleep together.�
Sakura�s mouth opened then
closed, her eyes widening comically as she continued to gape at Sai, a
brilliant blush breaking out across her cheeks.
�Will you lock up Sai?� Naruto
asked as he rejoined them, rubbing the back of his head with one hand and
tugging his jacket into place with the other. He was now wearing his normal
mission attire as he walked past them, pausing in the doorway as he pulled on
his sandals and waited for the kunoichi.
Sai nodded, walking to the door
and undoing the lock to open the portal. �Yes. Please remember your keys this
time.�
�Never going to live that down.�
The blonde muttered, scrubbing a hand through his hair. Naruto leaned into the
artist, putting his lips close to Sai�s left ear, using the former ROOT
member�s head to hide his lips from Sakura as he whispered softly, �I kept my
promise in full. Please protect him while I�m gone and don�t tease him, Sai.�
Sai smiled and pulled away,
nodding shallowly to indicate that he would do what was asked of him. Naruto�s
posture instantly became more relaxed and he nodded before stepping through the
door, a silent, red faced Sakura following behind him.
��
��
�Those are the parameters of your
mission.� Tsunade said grimly, her expression sympathetic but nonetheless
unyielding. �If those two go to war, it could plunge the entire region into
chaos and we must avoid it at all costs.�
Naruto stared at her, his mouth
agape. �But, but the treaty was signed last week! It�s a done deal- there�s no
point in threatening anyone now!�
The Godaime nodded in agreement
but her expression hardened. �Nothing is finalized until the wedding and without
the prince and princess joined in holy matrimony, the treaty is only ink and
paper. The wedding must go through as planned, Naruto, and you have specifically been requested by both sides to make that happen.�
��But I didn�t do anything except watch the
prince and call him a prick!� The teenager whined, confused and angry. He
folded his arms, put out with the whole situation. He wasn�t going back there
to be pawed and groped again, no way, and he petulantly told Tsunade as much.
�Get Ino to go- the prince has a thing for blondes and she�ll probably like the
cover story better.�
�Your participation is vital
Naruto.� Tsunade growled. �Without you there is no wedding. No wedding means no
peace. No peace means all out war!�
�But it�s just two tiny countries
in the middle of nowhere!� Naruto shouted, his hands balled at his sides. He
nearly stamped his foot but resisted the urge. �One is full of mountains and
the other is only known for its weaving! Why would anyone care about them and
why are we being dragged into it again?!�
��We went over this before the last mission,
gaki, and the answer hasn�t changed!� Tsunade said, a tick suddenly possessing
her left eyebrow and making it dance. �Konoha is already seen as a weak village
and to an extent that is true. We do not have the resources to withstand a
prolonged war, Naruto, and that is why we care!�
�But-!�
�Shizune will help you find
appropriate clothing so leave that orange monstrosity here.�
�But I-!�
�No �buts,� gaki! You�re leaving
immediately!�
��I am not a whore!� He all but
screamed, desperate to make her understand just how much she was demanding of him.
�I am a ninja and my duty is to protect my precious people!�
��And when those �precious people� get caught
in the cross fire of a war that you could have single-handedly
prevented, what will you be then? When you stand in front of their graves and
apologize do you think they will care as you explain that you couldn�t violate
your personal ethics?� The Godaime�s hand slammed down on her desk as she
abruptly stood, leaning across her desk and causing the wood to groan
ominously, making Naruto wonder if Shizune would have to order another desk
today. �There are greater things at stake, Naruto! You cannot let your personal
biases get in the way of the greater good! This is what it means to be a
leader! This is what it means to be Hokage!�
Naruto felt his lips curl in
contempt, the action twisting his expression into something completely
unfamiliar as he bowed his head, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the floor.
It worried him, his reaction, but that worry was pushed aside as his anger hit
flash point inside him, causing other calculating and self-serving elements to
awaken and flip a switch he had had to fight very hard to repress. In the past,
he had always simply let his emotions out for fear that keeping them all
contained would warp him as it had Sasuke but this time Naruto held onto it,
using it as fuel for his courage, for his plans.
Tsunade was right- there were
greater things at stake. To prevent a needless war, to protect those dearest to
him, he would do what was necessary but, this time, he simply couldn�t and
wouldn�t do it for free. It made him hate himself for his selfishness but this
was a golden opportunity for him to make use of the sacrifice that was being
asked of him and secure something in return. She needed him involved to make
the mission a success and that gave him a bargaining advantage he�d never previously
had when negotiating an agreement.
With his head still bowed, he
silently approached the desk and placed his hands upon it, a sense of
satisfaction coursing through him as his additional weight made the wood groan
again. When he finally looked up, he was nearly nose to nose with Tsunade and
he pinned her with the full force of his hardened gaze, using his larger physical
presence for the first time to be truly intimidating. It took a lot of effort
but he did not shout, instead working to keep his voice low and even as he
spoke, never breaking eye contact with the buxom blond as he invaded her
personal space as if it was his absolute right.�
�I know all about sacrifice,
Godaime-sama, more intimately than
you can possibly imagine. I will prevent your war by any means necessary in
exchange for your agreement to honor my demands.�
�Demands?!� Tsunade yelled, outraged. �You
are a shinobi of this village-�
Naruto�s voice remained low as it
smoothly cut off her loud tirade. �Who is absolutely vital to this next mission
to maintain the peace of the region and prevent the fourth great ninja war.�
Tsunade�s jaw worked as she
glared at him so hard that Naruto should have burst into flames instantaneously
but she had lost this argument- he knew it and she knew it. What she was asking
of him gave him a legitimate claim to request compensation and, as Hokage, she
had the obligation to fulfill it within reason and to the best of her ability. They
stared at each other, the Godaime�s face twisting into something ugly as Naruto
watched her with a serene expression.
�I could have you arrested for
treason.� She said at length, a vein in her temple throbbing as she clasped her
hands in front of her. It was an idle threat- if Tsunade followed through and
locked him in a cell then the mission wouldn�t proceed, putting them all right
back at square one. Even if she did put him in prison, she would only have to
release him if both Fang and Claw were making such a racket for him to be on
site for the wedding.
�Then you better begin preparing
for war.� Naruto replied, his lips curling into a smirk that would have made
any Uchiha proud. Damn Sasuke for rubbing off on him so much.
Tsunade ground her teeth so hard
that Naruto could hear it and his teeth ached in sympathy but he would not back
down.
There were greater things at
stake.
�Fine!� Tsunade sat back in her
chair heavily and threw up her hands in submission. She glared at him but there
was a glint of pride in her eyes, as if she were proud of his action despite
the aggravation it caused her. �Let�s hear your terms, gaki.�

�How long does it take to rewrite
a mission report?� Sasuke said, pacing back and forth across the table, making
yet another circuit around their used breakfast dishes. In the hour since
Naruto�s departure, the pair had already eaten and bathed after which Sai had
seen to the Uchiha�s wounds so that now all that remained was for both of them
to get dressed properly.
The artist glanced at the agitated
Uchiha before returning to work on the tiny shirt he was in the process of
altering.
�Sasuke paused and glared at the silently sewing
brunet. �What the hell are you doing anyway?�
�You�re current clothing is
unsuitable.� Sai said, tying off the last stitch and biting off the extra
thread. �Come here, please, and try this on.�
The tiny brunet scowled. For
several seconds he didn�t budge but before Sai could repeat his request, Sasuke
approached and held out his hand, looking irritated and put out about the whole
thing. Part of the artist was annoyed over the other�s display, especially so
given that Sai was only attempting to fulfill Naruto�s request and care for the
Uchiha.
�How does it fit?� The artist
asked when the other had pulled the shirt on but failed to comment. The shirt
had been made from one of Sasuke�s old blue shirts that Naruto had kept after
the Uchiha�s defection so the fabric should have at least been comfortable
against Sasuke�s pale skin. It was unfortunate however that the fabric would
not be suitable for pants and the artist made a mental note to stop by a fabric
shop while running errands.
�It fits.� Sasuke said at length,
straightening the collar, the combination of the shirt and the towel knotted at
his waist looking out of place.
�Good.� Sai said, pushing out his
chair. From the separated piles of clothing dotting the table, the artist
selected and pushed a small pair of pants and boxers toward the Uchiha before
standing so that the other could finish getting dressed in private. Grasping
the knot of cloth at his own waist, Sai peeked briefly through the blind of the
large dining room window to take in the day�s overcast weather before crossing
the room to retrieve clean clothing from his backpack. Hurrying, he headed down
the hallway to the bedroom to get dressed, hoping he could complete his
shopping before the rain hit.

The Godaime�s eyes narrowed as she
looked up at him, staring at him like she had never seen him before. �I cannot
do this, Naruto, not in exchange for what the mission requires. Your demands
are completely out of proportion with the scope of the responsibilities asked
of you.�
The significance of the phrasing
of her answer was not missed by the jinchuuriki but he did not let his anxiety
show. In truth, Naruto was asking for a great deal but, as the agreement stood,
Tsunade would not go along with it though that did not mean that she would
dismiss it just yet. Knowing Tsunade, she had a demand of her own to add,
something of which she had deliberately withheld when initially outlining the
mission, and a brief flare of fear flashed through him before the teenager
could firmly stomp it out. �
Naruto licked his lips, planning
his argument carefully. This wasn�t an easy thing to do since persuasion wasn�t
a skill he himself had used a lot but Naruto had seen others do it, and he used
them as his model as he continued, incorporating their sense of drama and
vocabulary into his own. Sasuke, Neji, Tsunade, and even Sakura were all very
good at twisting the words of an argument and using them to create a completely
opposite argument, all while sounding terribly reasonable. They did it to
Naruto all the time, making his head spin in confusion until by the end of the
conversation he did exactly what they wanted because he could no longer tell
his left from his right! He hated it but he had to make Tsunade see that he
would not back down, that he was not a stupid kid any longer, and that if he
was doing this mission she had to meet his demands.
It was time for Naruto to try his
hand at the art of verbal combat.
�You are whoring out the future
Hokage,� He said, proud that his voice was steady as he mimicked a reasonable
and confident tone of voice. �That in and of itself will damage Konoha�s
reputation and mine once it gets out. This wedding is also an excellent way to
gain both credibility and allies through simple networking, thereby insulating
Konoha from future attacks without lifting a kunai. I assume the team you send
with me will be chosen for their sociability as well as their battle skills?
Being that it is Claw Country�s neighbor, Lightning Country is bound to send an
envoy to attend and this will be a magnificent way to sooth some of the bad
feeling caused by the treaty between us. With Fang�s permission, Konoha can
post a squad along their border with Rice Field Country and keep an eye on the
trouble you have undoubtedly heard about brewing there.�
�I�m amazed by how well informed
you suddenly are.� Tsunade remarked dryly, attempting to look nonchalant
despite the sharp, warning undertone to her voice. �It is comforting to know
that at last you can use that empty head of yours, gaki.�
Naruto scowled, his self imposed patience
wearing thin. �That�s my price! You pay it in full and you start right here,
right now. No procrastinating, Baa-chan; begin drawing up the paperwork or
start preparing for war.�
Tsunade folded her arms under her
ample bosom, her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed in a tight line. �Then I
have a condition to add to our pact.�

Though it was quite early in the
morning, Konoha�s open air market was bustling with people hurrying to complete
their errands before the day�s weather turned dismal. Attempting to be as
efficient as possible among the hoard clogging the narrow path that divided the
multitude of stalls, Sai had already been to the fabric store and come away
with all the supplies he would need in order to make suitable clothing for the
Uchiha.
To his credit, Naruto had tried
very hard to give Sasuke an appropriate wardrobe to wear but the inherent
problem with clothing that was made for an inanimate object was that it was
inappropriate for a living, breathing creature. Dolls did not become hot or
cold, did not care if it was rainy or sunny, did not complain about how the
fabric actually felt against their skin. Dolls did not get sick and though they
could be destroyed, they could not die in the way humans could.
�� Sasuke
may have been doll sized, but he certainly was not an unfeeling toy and he
could die a very real death if not clothed properly. The issue of the traitor�s
size alone put him in danger of being harmed by circumstances neither Naruto or
Sai would consider a threat and so the artist had to even more diligent in his
self-designated task to mitigate any potential hazards to the Uchiha.
He didn�t know why, but watching
Naruto fuss over the tiny ninja was a sight Sai was rapidly beginning to find
nauseating.
It was as Sai was standing
outside the grocery store inspecting the tomatoes on display that he noticed
Sakura walking in his direction. The kunoichi did not look rested and so the
artist concluded that Tsunade had not dismissed after fetching Naruto.��
�Hello Sakura-chan.� Sai greeted
as her path brought her closer to his position.
�Sai�� Looking half awake, she
scrubbed a hand over her face and rocked to a stop beside him. �I thought I
told you it was okay to leave off the suffix. We�re friends so it�s okay to be
informal.�
�Apologies, Sakura.� Sai replied
contritely. Looking over the kunoichi, he decided that stopping her had been an
unwise decision since she obviously had been heading home to get to bed. He set
the tomato in his hand back down on the pile and turned in the direction Sakura
had been going. �Shall I walk you home?�
Nodding, she grasped his arm and
leaned against him as the two began walking.
In the silence that followed, Sai
thought about relationships. He thought about his friendship with Sakura, the
kunoichi asleep on her feet, and about the way her soft body pressed against
his side in a warm line. He thought about his friendship with Naruto and
contrasted how different the kunoichi�s body felt in comparison to the
blonde�s.
�Are you working on another project?�
Sakura asked suddenly, rousing as they neared her door. She fished clumsily for
her keys in her pocket, making the pieces of metal jingle in counterpoint to
their footsteps.
�Yes,� Sai said, glancing briefly
at the plastic bag filled with yards of fabric hanging from his free hand. �I
wish to complete Naruto�s and needed more fabric.�
�Naruto�s not going to like it,
you know.� The kunoichi said flatly. �Whatever doll you make, he�s only going
to break it.�
Sai blinked and frowned, not
liking that she was picking on the blonde. �Naruto is capable of being quite
gentle��
Sakura made a loud rude noise and
Sai immediately stopped walking.
�Explain, please.� He demanded,
looking at her intently, his frown deepening.
�Well, I mean,� Sakura flushed as
she floundered for an answer. �Naruto�s about as gentle as a bull, is all.
Whatever he does, he charges it straight on regardless of the situation.�
She was correct but only to a
point and Sai looked up at the swollen grey clouds above as he spoke. �Naruto
is very strong but he only releases that strength when engaged in battle. He
exercises great care daily to keep that strength in check.�
Despite how irresponsible he
seemed, the blond was physically powerful and it was a lesson Sai had learned
only after Naruto had not been in a position to control it. Once he was
unconscious, the jinchuuriki could no longer regulate his strength and this had
proved both surprising and life-threatening to the former ROOT member when the
blonde had nearly crushed him during an episode of delirium. In a fight, having
a target to pummel to his heart�s content must be incredibly cathartic for
Naruto and if that was the case, his blatant willingness to run recklessly into
a confrontation was of little surprise.
�Oh please!� Sakura rolled her
eyes dramatically and waved a hand at him. �He tramples everything in his path
and then we have to clean up the mess! Honestly Sai, that Sasuke doll you made
is just a waste for a guy like Naruto! He�ll only break it, not appreciate it
like I would.�
Sai�s brow furrowed as he tried
to understand the motive behind the sudden turn in conversation. As hard as
Naruto could be to deal with, somehow Sakura was even more exhausting and the
artist was at a complete loss as to how to handle her. Ignoring the rumble of
thunder over head, Sai stared at her, hoping she would give him more
information to work with.
�I mean,� Sakura blushed, and
shifted under his gaze, toeing the ground with her foot. She ducked her head,
looking up at him through her lashes shyly and the coy display made the hair on
the back of Sai�s neck stand up. �Since that idiot would only break it, I�d
make a much better recipient for such a present. Won�t you�give it to me
instead?�
Danger, Sai�s senses whispered, his body
already priming for a fight. Even allowing the kunoichi every amount of
leniency warranted by the situation, this behavior was odd. She was not asking
him to make her one of her own- she was asking directly for the �doll� Sai was
supposedly giving to Naruto.
�It would be rude of me to take
back a present I have already given,� The artist said gentlyin an effort to defuse the
situation. �But if you would like one as well, I can make you
one.�
Whether she accepted the offer of
not, Sai planned on making several pseudo-Sasukes just in case. It was not that
he expected her to break into Naruto�s apartment and steal Sasuke exactly but
Sakura could be incredibly and particularly tenacious about certain areas of
interest. It would be very� inconvenient if the kunoichi found out that the
Sasuke �doll� was anything but.
Sakura was not fast enough with
her wide smile and pleased tone to hide the subtle expression of anger that
crossed her face before Sai saw it. �Thank you so much, Sai!�
Before the artist could think of
a response, rain began to fall on the pair causing Sakura to shriek and bid a
hasty farewell as she unlocked the door and ducked inside. Though unbothered by
the downpour, Sai, too, quickly turned and headed back toward the market so
that he could complete his shopping, thoroughly unsettled by their
conversation.

Naruto�s hand seemed to swallow
Tsunade�s as they shook over the signed document resting on the desk between
them.
�I have faith in you, Baa-chan.�
The teenager said, smiling in what he hoped was a confident manner. There were
butterflies the size of toasters flitting about inside his stomach and he had
to concentrate on locking his knees together to keep them from shaking.
Tsunade made a rude noise and
withdrew her hand. �You may not be saying that later, now go home and prepare
your things immediately gaki.�
�No problem!� Naruto said, rubbing
the back of his head and laughing nervously. �Leave it to me!�
Her expression serious, the
Godaime nodded shallowly but did not take her eyes off him. �I�ll see you at
the hospital in an hour, Naruto.�
Officially dismissed, the
teenager fled, feeling as if he had just made a deal with the devil even if he
had been the instigator of the situation.
There
are greater things at stake,
he reminded himself silently. Though he knew that they were true, the words
sounded hollow when he abruptly remembered what his mission- and Tsunade�s new
condition- entailed.

***

�I�m home!� Naruto called out,
closing the apartment door behind him and locking it. �Sai, you still here?�
The door to the dollhouse opened
as Sasuke stepped out onto the kitchen table. �He left a little while ago,
dobe.� There was a pause and Naruto watched the Uchiha�s pale cheeks flame
before uttering an awkward, �Welcome home.�
The blonde held still, closing
his eyes and basking in the warmth the simple greeting caused before heading
over to the teme. Using his foot, he dragged the single kitchen chair over and
sat down on it heavily, looking the small brunet up and down, taking note of
the new blue shirt and black pants.
�Did you and Sai get along
alright while I was gone?� Naruto teased, folding his arms on the table and
laying his head on them so that he was eye level with the Uchiha.
�Don�t ask stupid questions.� Sasuke
walked over and flicked the blonde�s nose once before folding his arms over and
leaning against the tan skin. The brunet smelled like soap, shampoo and very
faintly of musk, Sasuke�s own unique scent, and as Naruto inhaled he remembered
that he personally still needed to shower.
They were literally eye to eye
and the jinchuuriki shut his eyes slowly, finding the position a bit too intimate
for his own comfort yet unwilling to move. He wanted some comfort, just a
little, and Sasuke was unknowingly providing a lot until a gentle tug on his
blond wayward hair got his attention and Naruto opened one eye to look at the
small figure frowning at him.
�What�s wrong?� The question was
followed by a pale hand being pressed to Naruto�s forehead and blue eyes looked
up automatically, blond eyebrows arching and making the expanse of tan skin
wrinkle.
�I have another mission.� The
jinchuuriki muttered unhappily as the brunet withdrew his hand. �We leave in a
few days but I gotta do something first for Tsunade so I actually have to get
ready now.�
�I thought you just got back from
a mission.� The Uchiha noted, the disapproving note in his voice making the
blonde sigh as he nodded, the action nearly causing Sasuke to fall over.
�I did but now we gotta go back.�
�I�m coming with you.� Was the
immediate response and Naruto smiled before he could stop it.
��And what are you going to do?� The blonde
asked, irritated that his voice reflected the duel emotions of fear and
happiness over Sasuke�s willingness to keep him company. �I haven�t seen you do
anything that uses chakra, teme, so I don�t think that you can use any jutsu
and you can�t just glare at people until they run away in terror! One well
placed foot and you�re Uchiha paste on the carpet!�
Sasuke�s fists were balled at his
sides as he scowled fiercely at the blonde. He looked adorable, not fearsome,
making Naruto want to laugh out loud and the blonde sank his teeth into his
bottom lip hard to keep the urge contained. It wasn�t funny and he should not
be laughing at his friend.
But
he looks so damn cute!
The Uchiha grabbing hold of
Naruto�s eyelid and yanking the delicate skin banished that thought instantly. The
blonde reared back but Sasuke didn�t let go and the additional weight of the
brunet dangling from the handful of delicate skin was pure agony as Naruto
thrashed, trying to dislodge the ninja without actually hurting his friend.
Ultimately, all his wobbling and cursing earned him a quick trip to the floor
as the chair tipped over.
�Ow, my head!� Naruto whined,
covering his tearing eye with one hand and gingerly touching the new bump on
his cranium with the other. �Damn it, Sas-ke!� �
�� The
sudden pressure on his throat was startling and it took several seconds for it
to register that the brunet was using his minimal weight to effectively cut off
the blood flow to Naruto�s brain. If Sasuke had truly meant him harm, had truly
been an enemy with a blade, the blond would already have been bleeding to death
before he hit the floor.
�� Sasuke
stood fully from his crouched position and stepped up onto Naruto�s chin,
walking until he stood squarely atop the blonde�s sinus cavity. �My size and my
ability to perform jutsu may have been compromised, dobe, but I am still an
Uchiha! I am still a ninja and I do not need your protection!�
Naruto blinked, the worry born in
Tsuande�s office rearing up again. He swallowed it and the fear left a burning
trail all the way down his throat. �Do you trust me, teme?�
The question seemed to catch the
fuming Uchiha off guard and Sasuke folded his arms over his chest, cocking his
head to one side. �What?�
�Because I don�t trust you.� Naruto
said softly, elaborating before the brunet could lash out. �Right now, you are
more fragile and vulnerable than you�ve ever been. It�scares the hell out of me
that you can be hurt so easily, that I can hurt you so easily without trying,
and I don�t know what I would do if��
Blushing, he swallowed hard and
took a deep breath to collect himself. �You left, teme, and it turned my world upside
down. It took a long time but its finally right side up and part of that is
because you�re back, however much you may not want to be. This mission is
important and I�m going to be in a position that will put me in danger most of
the time we�re there. You say you don�t need me to worry after you but, damn
it, you need someone to do that! You�re so fucking eager to prove how much you
don�t need any body�s help that you�re blind to the danger you�re already in!�
Sasuke�s expression was fluid as
Naruto spoke, changing smoothly from emotion to emotion, going the entire
gambit starting with outrage to wonder to apologetic to contempt as the blonde
finished. The brunet glared down at the jinchuuriki for a very long time before hopping onto the floor beside Naruto's head and
responding. �You were always the one who needed a babysitter, dobe, and that
hasn�t changed even after all this time.�
�He smirked and Naruto felt like screaming in
frustration as he glared at the ceiling.
�You,� Sasuke said thoughtfully, making the blonde turn slightly in his direction.
�Never were any good when it came to covert ops. From what you�ve said, you are
going undercover, probably as part of Yukio�s entourage, and will primarily be
on your own for the majority of time even though another team will be there.
Has Tsunade given you any training in political social gatherings?�
Blinking in surprise, Naruto
shook his head slightly, watching as the Uchiha nodded absently, obviously lost
in thought. �Isn�t it just like any other party but with, like, more bowing or
something?�
Sasuke stared at Naruto as if he
had said something outrageously profane.
�So, I take that as a �no�?�

�Do you know if Tsunade is
supplying your wardrobe?� Sasuke looked over the dobe�s clothing with dismay.
It was all perfectly fine for regular wear and tear missions but completely
unacceptable given what was to be expected of Naruto. The blonde hadn�t come
out and said exactly what that position was which meant that either he wasn�t
comfortable with it or that Naruto knew that Sasuke was going to hate it.�
Neither option sat well with the
Uchiha.
�Yeah, I think.� The blonde said
hurriedly, pulling on a clean pair of black sweat pants over his blue boxers.
He snatched up and donned a white tank top that was quickly covered by a gray
sweatshirt before turning to the bed stand where Sasuke stood.� �There�s a note for Sai in the kitchen, make
sure he reads it. I gotta go- I got five minutes to be at the hospital or else
Tsunade may call off the deal!�
Deal?
�The hospital?�
The Uchiha repeated, concerned. �What�s wrong? Are you sick?�
�No, no.� Naruto muttered,
bending to quickly set Sasuke on the floor before jogging down the hall to the
door and making the floor boards vibrate. �Not yet, anyway.�
�What?!� Sasuke had to run to do
it but he managed to keep up with the harried blonde.
Grimacing, Naruto pulled on his
sandals, not even caring that he had put them on the wrong feet. �Look, teme, I
gotta go! Stay with Sai and please, just try to get along with him! I�ll see you
in a few days!� �
�A few days?!� Sasuke sputtered, his heart
seeming to fall out of his chest at the prospect that the blonde would be out
of sight for that long.�Naruto Uzumaki get back here and
explain yourself!�
�Tell Sai to take you shopping!� Naruto
said, ignoring the fuming Uchiha and using his foot to keep Sasuke from following
into the apartment complex hallway after him. �Be ready to go- Oh!�
Finally! Calming somewhat, Sasuke glared
up at the blonde expectantly.
�Tell Sai to look on the top shelf
of my closet for a cup hidden behind the stack of spare blankets! Tell him to
give you what�s inside! You�re going to need to be armed if you�re going to be
my secret weapon.�
The jinchuuriki winked once and
then was gone, the door shut firmly behind him before Sasuke could even respond.

�You were very nearly late,
gaki.� Tsunade said, ignoring him as he fought to catch his breath while
following her deeper under the hospital. �It would have been alright if you
changed your mind, Naruto.�
�N, no way,� The teenager huffed,
a hand on his chest over his racing heart. �I never go back on my word,
baa-chan, and I�m holding you to that contract no matter what you throw at me.�
�You may not feel that way
later.� Tsunade cautioned, taking a set of keys from her pocket and unlocking a
door that blended seamlessly with the wall. It was nearly undistinguishable
even in the brightly lit corridor and Naruto let out a low whistle at the
craftsmanship in an effort to relieve some of his growing anxiety over what was
to come.
The door swung inward to reveal
what would have been an immaculately clean area if not for the Sanskrit seals
covering the walls and the clinical set up in the middle of the room. Equipment
had already been arranged around the upholstered exam table and Naruto had to
fight for every step against his instinct to flee as he approached it. Knowing
that he was stalling, the teenager took off his sweatshirt and held in like a
shield between himself and the machinery around him.
Tsunade�s hand on his back made
him jump, reminding him that dawdling would get him nowhere. He had made a deal
and by God he was going to stick to it! Besides, he�d lived through something
similar before and that time hadn�t killed him�though it had hurt like hell and
he had had to turn to Sai for help� But Naruto hadn�t died, that was the
important thing, and with that thought firmly in mind, he leapt onto the bed.
�What happened to your eye,
gaki?� Tsunade asked as she gripped his chin and used it to reposition his face
so that she could look at the wounded area. Naruto had tried to reduce the
swelling in his shower and, though most of the damage had faded, some bruising
still remained.
�I, um, fell�?� He said, them had
to resist the urge to roll his eyes at his inane answer. He fell? On what, a nail? A pair of pliers
that automatically closed and wouldn�t let go?�
�Come on, I can do better than that�Ow! Oh my God, ow! �That hurts!
Stop poking it Baa-chan!�
�Hmm.� Tsunade released his eyebrow
and withdrew her fingers, frowning down at him before walking away from the
table and over to a sink set up on the left side of the room. Puzzled, he sat
up and watched her, one hand covering his injured eye until a cold wet
washcloth sailed across the room to hit full in the face and making him sputter
indignantly.
�Put that on it.� Tsunade
ordered, returning and forcing him to lay back on the table again. �The damage
is all superficial but we can�t send you to a wedding looking like you got in a
bar fight.�
Because,
out of anyone, Baa-chan would know about bar fight wounds. Naruto snorted but did as he was
told, closing both eyes and draping the cloth across them as Tsunade went to
work.
�Don�t forget I�m here,
Baa-chan.� He told her as he felt her place little sticky pads to his chest and
switched on a monitor. The sound of his heart rate abruptly burst into being,
providing incredibly irritating background music.
�Pfft.� She replied, and from her
tone of voice alone� he could tell she
was rolling her eyes dramatically. �You�re too loud a brat to ignore. I
couldn�t if I tried! Shizune will be down shortly to keep you company and to
collect the antibodies from your blood. She�ll be exposing you to various
toxins on a set schedule and it will be important for you to tell her
immediately if you need more time to process a current poison. This is
dangerous Naruto��
��This was your stipulation, baa-chan.� He cut
in, his voice rising higher momentarily as she pierced his skin and placed an
IV in his arm. Naruto moved the cloth enough to reveal his good eye and he
stared up at her intently as he spoke. �I agreed so let�s get started already! The
sooner we start, the more anti-venom I can produce and the sooner I can get
this whole mess over with!�
He sounded confident but the
heart monitor made it plain that his bravado was all for show, proven all the
more thoroughly when from a tall rolling cart Tsunade picked up a thin syringe
and a small vial half the size of Naruto�s pinky. She stuck the needle into the
top of the vial and withdrew a quarter of the liquid before with-drawing the
syringe and depressing the plunger until drops of moisture oozed from the sharp
tip.
�Are you sure you want to do
this?� She asked again, poised to inject the deadly contents into the IV line.
He was aware that he was
breathing rapidly, that his heart was galloping away with the progress
dutifully tracked by the noisy monitor, but he nodded sharply, expression
determined.
�Prove me right and reverse your pronouncement,�
Naruto said, proud that his voice was steady as Tsunade took him at his word
and the minor amount of poison began coursing through his veins. �And being a
lab rat, stopping a war- it�ll all be a small price to pay.� Just honor�just honor� �
His words trailed off as Naruto
became aware of the spreading sensation of numbness making his lips and limbs
tingle. The teenager flexed his hands and had to watch the action to be sure he
had done it since he could barely feel the movement. It was familiar but disconcerting,
as if someone else was in the process of slowly possessing him while he
watched, and desperate for some sort of distraction Naruto glared up at the
Godaime stubbornly as he recaptured his original train of thought.
�I�ve already told teams in the
area of Rice Country that the KOS orders have temporarily been lifted for
Sasuke.� Tsunade said, patting Naruto�s head fondly and he nodded in minor relief,
smiling up at her even though his vision was becoming distorted. �I�ll do my
best to investigate that other matter but you know damn well how� delicate I�ll
have to be while doing so. I never go back on my word either, gaki, now stop
glaring at me!�
He obeyed, his eye closing as the
ability to keep it open slipped away. So far this wasn�t nearly as bad as she
had made it out to be- okay, so his breathing was a bit labored and he was mostly
numb and maybe the room was a bit warmer than it had been a few seconds ago but
the amount of poison was so tiny in comparison to his last experience that it
couldn�t possibly be worth Tsunade�s repeated warnings�
Thought fled as in one single
voice every nerve in his body began screaming in tortured agony.
As Sasuke had demonstrated
earlier, small things could indeed pack an incredible wallop.

Sai stared at the cover of the
manga in his hand, his puzzlement by the plastic wrapped paperback overcome by
the blatant curiosity he felt as he studied the figures on the front cover.
Three well dressed young men sat on a white couch as they sipped drinks from
long-stemmed glasses, their expressions inviting a sense of familiarity and
camaraderie underneath the embossed title of the book, �Deep Love.� While the
shorter two were brunets, the tallest of the three was blonde and something
about that figure�s slightly playful yet challenging expression reminded Sai
strongly of his jinchuuriki friend.
The artist frowned in thought as
he considered the title of his potential purchase. During previous visits, Sai
had already exhausted the library�s section on relationships in the vain hope
that he would find some insights into the dynamic and complex subject of human
interaction. So far, all that he had learned had only served to increase his
confusion further, especially so when his attempts to utilize the information
fell through or produced unforeseen results that did anything but threaten the
tenuous bonds between himself and his teammates.
When Sai had asked him, Naruto
had explained friendship as a bond of love which was helpful but still did not
give the former ROOT member much of a frame of reference to work with given his
lack if experience in social interaction. Sai suspected strongly that speaking
to Sakura could prove to be more enlightening but, given her behavior of late,
Sai was not willing to ask unless he had no other alternative.
He sighed quietly as he
considered the cover again, paying particular attention to the drawn figure
that strongly resembled the Uchiha. The artist was not looking forward to spending
the day cooped up but at least he would be with Naruto and that was never
without entertainment. Though, on further consideration, with the Uchiha was
now dwelling in the apartment, Sai doubted that the time would be pleasant
despite the exuberant blonde. There was nothing to be done about Sasuke-kun
unfortunately; he was an important component to Naruto and that meant that Sai
would simply have to endure the traitor�s return if he wished to remain in
Naruto�s company.
Sasuke, Naruto�s most precious person,
and the Uchiha had thrown the blonde away like trash in a bid for power�
Sai saw red for a moment as his
dislike for the traitor seemed to unwind like some large beast as it filled
him, making the artist�s grip on the book tighten to the point that he actually
began to crush the item before realizing it. Smoothing the cover as best
possible, the artist decided that he was going to need all the help he could
get and headed up to the cashier to pay. Ignoring the odd looks he received
from the blushing girl who charged him, Sai tucked the book into one of the
grocery bags absently and headed toward Naruto�s apartment with a heavy heart.
Emotions and relationships were
not Sai�s forte by any stretch of the imagination but it stood to reason that,
if he initiated a truly heartfelt friendship with Sasuke, it would beneficial
to all involved. Perhaps in time, Sai could become friends with Sasuke as the
former ROOT member had with Naruto but, at the moment, a large portion of Sai
was terribly unhappy with the situation. On the last mission, Naruto been
forced to put his jinchuuriki healing ability to the test to protect Claw�s and
Fang�s royal families from an assassination attempt and Sai had been the only
one the blonde had trusted when he was in need. Whatever his feelings toward
the traitor, the fact remained that Sasuke had temporarily been placed in Sai�s
care and the artist would not betray the faith that Naruto had placed in Sai�s
ability to fulfill this responsibility.
Exactly how Sai was supposed to
accomplish such a task was beyond the artist�s comprehension and so he hoped
dearly that this new book would be able to give him some ideas on how best to
do it.

More�s Moment of Insanity (because,
honestly, there really is no other way to describe it):
::Grimaces apologetically::: Ugh!
I actually had the majority of this done and planned out but then ran into
issues with Sai. Sai�! I finally managed to pin down Naruto and Sasuke, then
hashed out Sakura and Tsunade, but Sai refused to cooperate. Obstinate,
emotionally-stunted little bastard that he is wouldn�t play well with me until
I beat his ass into submission.
:::Gestures to a hog-tied and
gagged Sai at her feet:::� But I did it!
While juggling two term papers, a mock interview worth 50% of my grade, three
regular finals and a legislative presentation I DID IT!!!!
Ahem. ::Coughs and turns off the
�We are the Champions� theme playing in the background:: Sorry, got a little
carried away. It has been a very busy semester and I am happy that I have
finished this chapter to share with you all. I hope everyone enjoyed it and
lets me know their thoughts via some reviews.
This chapter (hopefully) marks a
definite turn in personality for Naruto, who now is looking at the �Big
Picture� angle of things regarding Sasuke�s predicament rather than the short
term daily challenges facing them. He�s made a deal with Tsunade but what were
his terms and what exactly does his new mission require him to do that he
compares it to prostitution?
Sai has willingly become Naruto�s
accomplice and stepped into his role as protector of Sasuke. The artist
constant calm exterior is about to be seriously put to the test by the Uchiha
while Naruto�s away. Wonder if that book he bought will help, though, as far as
I know, only certain types of books come sealed in plastic in bookstores�? Hmm.
Good luck, Sai.
For those of you who see where
this is heading, don�t spoil it for those that don�t. For those who don�t get
it and can�t wait until the next chapter to know the punch line, wander around
your local bookstore and see what novels/magazines/manga are usually sealed in
plastic. The media format may differ but the theme is the same throughout.
::Laughs evilly::
Anyway, I finally have a picture
up of the T-shirt that won my design contest last year for AX in California. I
know, I know- it took forever but there were two reasons why I haven�t done so
before now:
1)
Vanity
(I am as photogenic as a ratty tennis shoe)
2)
Didn�t
want to ruin the fantasy. (It sounds, well, blatantly retarded, but have you
ever read a good story then looked at the author�s picture on the dust cover
for the first time and had all the wonder of that story sucked away as you
think about that person writing the
story you just finished? Personally, it weirds me out� and ruins the escapist episode I just had
since it reminds me that the story isn�t real, that the characters I have gone
on this journey with have simply been made up by a very human mind. Obviously,
the tale didn�t just appear out of the ether and, though I know this, I really
dislike being reminded of it. Stupid but true.)
Turns out that neither of those
meant much since I had to crop the damn thing so many times, I had to cut my
head off just to make sure the shirt was shown! You can see it here at http://www.fanfiction.net/u/124420/More_Than_I_Appear if anyone is interested. Sadly,
after going through the wash, the graphic was ruined and thus is no longer
presentable for public viewing� At least I got four days out of it before this
happened. Since, putting a graphic isn�t as cheap as one would think (about $25
for the process plus cost of shirt), this year I am trying my hand at making my
own designs to put on shirts via iron on transfers. If I am successful, I�ll be
wearing them around AX. So far, everything has a �Scale� theme to it which
isn�t surprising since this is the only story I�ve been updating of late�
Anyway, see you at the convention
everyone!
- 7
- 8
- 9
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