Author's note: Spoilers for anyone who isn't watching Shippuuden. "It didn't happen like that"s for anyone who's reading the manga. Enjoy!
The Crow Cries "Fool"
A Naruto fan-fic
Outside the window, a crow's harsh cry broke the stillness. Naruto opened his eyes. The sun was just creeping enough through the trees to let a little light into the dim room. Sakura's arm was heavy across his chest and her cheekbone dug into his shoulder. He shifted and she stirred slightly, though still asleep.
"Sasuke-kun," she slurred.
Naruto froze, a sudden ache clenching his heart. He sighed, "Sakura-chan." It had been going so well.
The night before, they went out to with Temari and Shikamaru to celebrate Naruto finally becoming a chuunin. "I had to come with him or stay in my room all night and starve," Temari claimed, biting a piece of meat off of her skewer.
Shikamaru groaned, "As if I enjoy dragging you around everywhere I go. It's a pain in the ass!"
Naruto and Sakura just rolled their eyes. Temari and Shikamaru were still vehemently denying any romantic interest in each other, but the chuunin examiner and the Sand ninja acted like they were required to go everywhere as though joined at the hip, though Tsunade only assigned Shikamaru as Temari's guide, not her guard. Temari had free access to the village and was familiar enough with it by now not to require a guide at all. But every time Temari was in Konoha, Shikamaru barely left her side.
"Don't fight; we're here to celebrate!" Sakura said. She raised her cup. "To Naruto," she declared.
Temari raised her own cup and nodded, still chewing. "The runt finally made chuunin," she said. "I thought I'd never see it."
"Come on, Temari," Shikamaru said, nudging her with his elbow. "Naruto would have made chuunin years ago if he attended the exams. He almost destroyed that kid." That kid had been one of Temari's students, and only the fact that he had given Naruto a good fight kept Temari from sulking about it.
Naruto grinned. "Too bad Gaara wasn't here to see it," he said. "Make sure to tell him I'm gaining on him," he told Temari. "I'm not done yet; I'm still—"
"Gonna be Hokage someday?" Shikamaru said wearily. "Tch, we know."
Naruto grinned self-consciously. "I guess I say that a lot, huh?"
"You guess?"
Sakura, who was cheerfully ignoring all of this, said to Naruto, "Could you pass me one of those skewers?"
"No way!" Naruto protested. "Those are mine!"
"Baka!" Sakura retorted, "I put those two down. Yours is the one on the end that's on fire."
"Aah!" Naruto yelled, yanking the skewer off of the grill and blowing at the flames to try and put them out. Temari snorted, and Shikamaru hid a smile behind his hand. "This is why I prefer ramen," Naruto said, gnawing on a blackened chunk of meat.
"You can't eat just ramen," Sakura said.
"It hasn't hurt me so far!" Naruto protested.
"Maybe if you ate a more balanced diet, you'd be stronger."
"I'm plenty strong already!"
Shikamaru and Temari shot each other a secret look. Temari yawned expansively. "I should go," she said. "I have to make an early start tomorrow to head back to Suna."
Shikamaru gave an exaggerated sigh. "I guess that means I have to go too, to walk you back to your lodgings." He slid out of the booth, putting down enough money to cover his meal and Temari's. "Have a good night!"
"What are you doing? I have money, you know," Temari protested, fishing for her purse.
Shikamaru waved her away. "It's a man's duty," he said.
Temari gave a tight smile, but her eyes flashed dangerously. "I'll get you next time, then," she promised, though it sounded more like a threat. She stood also and turned to Sakura and Naruto. "You two should come visit sometime. I'm sure Gaara would like to see you again. I'll be sure to share the good news with him, Naruto," Temari said.
"Thanks! Tell him to write to me when he gets a chance," Naruto said.
"Goodnight, Shikamaru! Have a safe journey, Temari!" Sakura said, waving. The pair left the restaurant, walking mere inches apart as they always did, but not touching.
"Those two," Sakura mused, tapping her empty skewer on the table lightly.
"Do you want more barbecue, Sakura?" Naruto asked.
Sakura groaned and leaned back against the seat. "I'm stuffed," she replied.
"Yeah, me too." He had his plump frog wallet out and was counting out bills. Sakura went for her purse. "I got it, don't worry," Naruto said.
Sakura smiled. "I thought for sure I'd have to pay my own way tonight," she said.
"The only reason I never treated you before is because Ero-Sennin kept 'borrowing' my money to spend on sake and women," Naruto explained.
"I can't believe you still have that froggie wallet," Sakura said. Naruto grinned and held it up. It wasn't quite as plump as it had been.
"Come on; I'll walk you home too," Naruto said, helping Sakura out of the booth.
They went outside. Sakura breathed in the cool night air. "It's such a nice night. I don't want to go straight home. Want to walk a bit first?" she suggested.
"Sure," Naruto agreed.
"Thank you for dinner," Temari said. They walked side-by-side, watching the shops begin to close up and the streets begin to clear out. "You really didn't have to pay for me."
"It's no big deal," Shikamaru said with a shrug. "It's the least I could do to make up for dragging you out of your room and making you watch Naruto eat for half an hour."
Temari laughed. Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. When they first met as enemies, she had been so serious, always scowling. Temari was a lot prettier when she smiled, Shikamaru thought. Not too many people got to see it, though.
He came to a stop, and Temari gasped as she too froze in her tracks. "Sorry, we almost walked past your door," Shikamaru said. He released his shadow bind; it was a weak one, in the dim light of the lanterns, and Temari could have broken it if she tried. She hadn't even noticed it until he stopped.
"I didn't know you could pull that off in such dim light," Temari said. This street was deserted, lit only by a single lamp that was several yards away. They were out of its circle of light.
"You've always underestimated me."
"Not true. You always end up impressing me, so I expect more each time." Temari pointed a finger in Shikamaru's face. "You have to stop dawdling and become a jounin already!"
"Women," Shikamaru muttered. "More trouble than they're worth. I shouldn't even have made chuunin. I haven't had time to relax and watch clouds ever since, between my job and leading you around," he grumbled.
"Well," Temari said coolly, "tomorrow I'll be gone and out of your way for another six months. Goodnight."
"Wait," Shikamaru said softly. "Temari, I was just kidding…"
She paid him no mind and reached behind herself to open the door, but her arm wouldn't move.
The corner of Shikamaru's mouth curled upward. "Kage Mane no Jutsu, success," he said.
"You lazy ass. You'll overuse your technique rather than touch me?" Temari teased.
Shikamaru shook his head, still smiling in a self-satisfied sort of way. "Temari," he whispered, "if you knew how much I want to touch you…"He leaned in. Temari leaned in, closing her eyes. Shikamaru stopped just short, just far enough apart that Temari could feel his breath on her lips, but couldn't reach him.
"Damn you," she breathed, struggling to bridge the gap.
"How long could I keep you like this," he whispered back, "before you started to beg?"
Temari's eyes flashed. Before she could get properly angry, Shikamaru leaned forward just enough for their lips to meet. Temari made a noise of surprise that turned into a soft, almost inaudible moan.
As Shikamaru's fingertips brushed the soft skin of Temari's cheek, he felt her fingertips brush his cheek, mirroring his movements. It was strangely exciting to use the Kage Mane this way, when before he had only used it in combat. I could make her do anything, he thought. He was ashamed of the thought as soon as it flashed through his brain. It would be a terrible power to fall into the wrong hands.
Shikamaru pulled back, breathing fast. "I dropped the technique. You can slap me now," he said. He looked satisfied with himself. Temari leaned back against the door, her hand to her mouth.
"You always have some hidden trick," she said.
"I need some way to keep impressing you." Shikamaru leaned back, hands in his pockets. "Are you going to slap me? Or are you going to invite me in?" he suggested, voice husky.
She laid a hand on the back of his neck and pulled him closer, their cheeks brushing. "How many times can I leave you hanging," she murmured into his ear, "before you start to beg?" She slid her tongue along his earlobe and he shivered. "Goodnight, Shikamaru," she whispered. Then she disappeared into her room, flashing him a sultry look before shutting the door in his face.
Shikamaru sighed. So she was going to send him home with blue balls, eh? He adjusted himself with a grunt. Women. They were all so… His legs were a bit unsteady as he started to walk back home, deep in thought. What amazed him was that Temari hadn't fought him at all. That spoke volumes; she was not a trusting person by nature, and hated to be out of control of any situation. That she trusted him enough to give herself up to his control, when the bind was so weak that she could have broken it at any time, excited him further.
There was a couple on the footbridge ahead. Shikamaru stopped, cocking his head to one side. It was Naruto and Sakura, he realized. He turned to take another route to avoid disturbing them and continued on, shaking his head and smiling. "I hope you have better luck than me, Naruto," he said to himself.
Sakura slowed to a stop on the footbridge and leaned over the railing to look at the stars reflected in the water. Naruto came over to lean beside her. They looked at each other and smiled, then looked away.
"I'm really proud of you, you know," Sakura said suddenly.
Naruto blushed. It meant a lot, coming from her. "Thanks, Sakura-chan. I felt like a loser being so far behind everyone."
"Well you had a reason. You were training with Jiraya-sama."
Naruto snorted. "It's lucky all his training doesn't involve getting pushed off a cliff," he said.
Sakura looked puzzled. "When did he push you off a cliff?"
"Remember when I tried to kiss you and you beat me up?"
"Yeah."
"Ero-Sennin put me up to it."
Sakura wrinkled her nose. "What for? His 'research'?"
"No. He pushed me off a cliff to see if it would make me call on Kyuubi's chakra to save myself."
"So what does that have to do with kissing me?"
"It was one of the things I wanted to do before I died."
Sakura's mouth gaped. "Naruto…"
"He didn't tell me what he had in mind, but he said it might kill me, so I had better go do anything I wanted to do before I died." He chuckled. "It's funny: all the times I've almost died and I've never gotten to…" he trailed off.
"Naruto," Sakura stammered, flustered, "I didn't realize. I… I thought you were just being an idiot."
Naruto looked at her. "I love you, Sakura. That's why it's so bad that I never brought Sasuke back, after I promised you. I failed. I let you down." He sank down until his chin was buried in his folded arms, resting on the railing. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Naruto," Sakura said, reaching out. She cupped his cheek in her palm. "How many times do I have to forgive you before you stop apologizing?" she asked. Naruto managed a small smile and took her hand. Straightening up, he pulled Sakura into his arms and held her tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered. "But I told you I don't go back on my word. I'd do anything—"
Sakura stopped his words with a kiss. It took Naruto so off-guard that it was a few seconds before he began to return it. His heart seemed like it would burst from his chest with happiness. He could hear Sakura's breathing quicken, taste her cherry lip gloss. Her arms were around his neck, her fingers tangled in his hair.
They pulled back and gazed at each other through half-closed eyes, their lips a breath apart. "Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered.
Was she dreaming she was in Sasuke's arms? Did she pretend, last night, that Naruto was him? She was quiet now, her mouth slightly open, laying on her back. What would she say when she woke up? Would she feel the same, or would she make her excuses and run from her mistake?
Naruto edged away from her and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He still had the photo on the bedside table, the one of the three of them with Kakashi. He and Sasuke glared at each other while Sakura and Kakashi beamed at the camera.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. They should have all been together. By now, Orochimaru would have taken over Sasuke's body, and Sasuke as they knew him was dead. Naruto still held out hope that Sasuke had escaped, realizing that Orochimaru didn't care if he succeeded in killing Itachi, that he just wanted to use his body as his newest vessel. But even if he escaped, even if he killed Itachi, would he come back? And would it be as a friend, or an enemy?
"What are you thinking about?" Sakura said, startling Naruto. He looked over his shoulder; she was up on one elbow, yawning.
"Good morning," he said, giving her a wan smile.
Sakura collapsed back onto the pillow. "I was having strange dreams," she said, rubbing her hands over her eyes.
Naruto looked away. "Sasuke," he said darkly.
"Was I talking in my sleep?"
"A little. What was it about?"
"I don't know. It was all so confused." Sakura sat up and leaned against Naruto's back. The warm pressure reassured him. "I enjoyed last night," she said, her breath on his ear making his spine tingle. Her arms went around him, her palms against his chest.
"Me too," Naruto said, allowing himself a real smile this time. He lay his hands atop hers. She snuggled in sleepily, as though she did this every day. They watched the light grow outside the window. "I should go see Granny Tsunade today and see if she'll give me a decent mission now that I made chuunin."
"I have to meet with her too. Later though," Sakura purred, her hands slipping from beneath Naruto's and sliding down his stomach.
"Sakura-chan!" he sputtered, half-turning his head to give her an amazed look. She replied with a sultry smile. Naruto leaned his head back against her shoulder and closed his eyes. Her breasts were pressed into his back. How the hell did I get so lucky? he thought.
"Tsunade can wait," Sakura said as she pulled Naruto back on the bed.
Shikamaru yawned and watched the first glow of sunlight bathe the rooftops of Konoha. It was earlier than he ever wanted to be awake, but Temari had said she wanted to be on her way early. He was still replaying last night in his head. Shikamaru realized he didn't want to see her go, knowing it would be months before he saw her again. Maybe he could convince her to grab some breakfast at the teahouse on her way out.
The door opened. "You get up way too early," Shikamaru said playfully. "I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow, knowing you're out of my hair—eh?" It wasn't Temari, but a maid emerging from the room with a bundle of linen.
"Temari-sama left before sunrise this morning," she explained. Shikamaru's mood darkened. She'd slipped away without even saying goodbye. "Are you Nara Shikamaru?"
"Uh, yeah," Shikamaru said, trying to play it off.
"This was left here, addressed to you," the maid said, handing over a small, tightly-wrapped scroll before toting the laundry away.
Shikamaru leaned back against the wall and unrolled the scroll:
Shikamaru,
Sorry to leave so suddenly, but I didn't want to inconvenience you by making you get up so early, and I wanted to start out as soon as possible. I figured last night's goodbye was sufficient. I have a lot of work to do in the next six months before the next chuunin exam, so I won't be back in Konoha until then. Maybe the Hokage will allow you to come to Suna as a guest instructor; it's an idea Gaara had recently. I suppose I'll have to be your guide while you're here.
Remember what I said. You'll have plenty of time to gaze at the clouds when you retire.
-Temari
Shikamaru was annoyed, but impressed. She knew he was going to get up at dawn to catch her, so she got up even earlier. Thinking five steps ahead… Perhaps he would have a chat with the Fifth, if Temari hadn't already.
His stomach growled; well, at least he could stop by the dango shop and have some tea before going back to bed. He tucked the scroll into one of his vest pockets. No… maybe he could hit the practice field instead, get a little training in before going to the Hokage for another mission. The thought caught him off guard. What was Temari doing to him? "Hurry up and become a jounin," she said. Well, no woman was going to order him around.
Still, it couldn't hurt.
Sakura met Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen at noontime. "Tsunade-sama let me have the afternoon off," she told him as she sat down, "as long as I find Shikamaru after lunch and send him to her."
"Why's that?" Naruto asked, absently tapping his package of chopsticks against the counter.
"I dunno. I guess she has a mission for him or something," Sakura said.
Teuchi passed Naruto a steaming bowl of ramen. "Itadakimasu!" Naruto declared and dug in.
"You didn't even wait for me?" Sakura said in a wounded tone.
Naruto grinned sheepishly. "I'm sorry; I was helping Konohamaru train and I got hungry."
"Well," Sakura said, "I guess I should be glad you don't already have a pile of bowls next to you."
Teuchi leaned on the counter. "What can I get you, Sakura?" he asked.
Sakura smiled. "I'll just have your diet ramen," she said.
Naruto frowned. "Sakura-chan, you should eat some real food!"
"It's real food!"
"How are you going to have any energy to spar with me?"
Sakura raised her eyebrows. "You want to spar?"
"You said you have the afternoon off, right? Did you already make other plans?"
She gave him a wicked look. "Are you sure? Haven't I beaten you up enough for one lifetime? Besides, you saw what I could do to solid rock."
Naruto gulped. He laughed nervously, then said, with false bravado, "You're just afraid of my new technique—"
"What new technique?"
"You'll have to see it," he said, then turned his attention back to his meal.
"Tomorrow, then," Sakura said.
"Tomorrow?" Naruto exclaimed. "You said you have this afternoon off!"
"Baka, why would I want to spend a free afternoon training?" Sakura pulled her chopsticks apart as Ayame set her ramen down. "Itadakimasu," she said and began eating.
Naruto was puzzled. "Well then, what do you want to do?"
Sakura smiled slyly and gave him a look. Naruto blushed. "Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed, and giggled nervously, a huge grin on his face.
Shikamaru stepped into the Hokage's office and closed the door. Tsunade hurriedly slammed a desk drawer shut and sat nonchalantly, hands folded, and squinted at her paperwork as though she had been reading it all along. "Shikamaru," she said, looking up as though she had just noticed him.
"You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama," Shikamaru said. Tsunade's face was flushed; she had obviously been in the sake again. At least she waited until after noon nowadays.
"Yes, have a seat," Tsunade offered. As Shikamaru came forward to sit down, he noticed that the top paper on the pile was actually the page from the newspaper listing the winning lottery numbers. He raised an eyebrow at the Hokage. She returned the look with a steely gaze of her own.
Tsunade cleared her throat. "The Sand has requested we send someone to evaluate their training program for shinobi and make suggestions for improvement. You have served as liaison between Konoha and Suna, and you have a fine analytical mind. I'm sure you're up to the task."
"Hokage-sama, I've really just started as an examiner. There are many more experienced shinobi, curriculum specialists, even trainers. Why me?" Shikamaru asked.
"The Sand isn't used to having true allies, you know, people they can trust. Over the years their alliances have been tentative non-aggression pacts, but there wasn't any real trust there. It doesn't help that we were at war with them in the past." Tsunade's gaze turned inward for a moment before she continued. "I don't want to send them a stranger; either they won't work with him or her, or they will hold back information. I want an honest, thorough report. Besides," Tsunade's stern expression softened into a tiny smile, "Temari recommended you specifically," she explained.
Shikamaru was preoccupied all the way home. Temari asked for him… of course that probably just meant that she trusted him, because they had worked together in the past. But still… it was obvious she wanted to see him again. Before she even left, she was making sure their time apart was short. That woman can outplan me, he thought to himself. He chuckled. She probably has names picked out for the children already. Shikamaru pushed that thought away.
He had spent the last month going on missions and training in between, working harder than he ever remembered working, even for his own chuunin exam. His parents were amazed. He overheard his mother say to his father one night, "I didn't like Shikamaru hanging out with that girl from Suna, but she's had such a positive effect on him."
His father chuckled. "It's the age he's at. All the males start putting on their mating displays." There was a low, suggestive chuckle. "Remember when we were that young?"
Shikamaru's mother giggled, and he hurried away, not wanting to hear details.
Temari had pushed him from his comfort zone. There's no doubt he wouldn't have gone so far without her. It started before they even knew each other; first in the chuunin exam, because he didn't want to lose to a girl, and again when she nudged him to train harder, to become a jounin. He recalled what she said about expecting more of him. Wasn't it true that he had ramped up his efforts before this chuunin exam because he knew she was coming to Konoha for it, and he wanted to show her something new? He had spent so many nights with just a lamp or even the full moon, pushing his Kage Mane no Jutsu to its limit. Those nights he'd use up so much chakra that he could barely make it to bed before collapsing into a sleep so deep that he couldn't remember dreaming.
How far was he willing to go for her?
It occurred to him that might be what Temari was trying to find out.
"You're late, Shikamaru," his mother scolded when he got home. "The rice is almost cold."
It looked to him like it was still steaming, but a lifetime of his mother's temper told him not to argue. Shikamaru's father rolled his eyes, though only when his wife's back was turned.
"I'm sorry," Shikamaru said. "The Fifth had a mission for me." He sat down beside his father. They exchanged an exasperated look. Shikamaru often wondered why his dad married such a scary woman, but when he asked him about it once, his father just shrugged and said, "She's nice sometimes…" The whole story was probably in the conversation Shikamaru had heard part of.
"What's the mission?" his father asked.
Shikamaru shoveled rice into his mouth. "I have to go to Suna and report on the Sand's training program. I leave tomorrow."
"For how long?" his mother asked, pushing some steamed vegetables onto his plate.
"As long as I need, she said."
His mother sighed. "We're going to lose you to the Sand," she said wistfully.
"I never thought I'd see you chase a woman, Shikamaru," his father said with a knowing smile.
"It's a mission," Shikamaru muttered in annoyance. His face was getting hot.
"And we're sure you'll do an excellent job," his mother said, shooting her husband a withering look. "Eat up!" she urged Shikamaru, who had been doing so anyway. "You're going to need energy for the journey. It's at least three days to Suna, right hon?" she asked her husband.
"Over burning sand, choking heat, dry desert," Shikamaru's father said. He gave Shikamaru a sideways glance and said under his breath, "I hope she's worth it, son."
That night, Shikamaru lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling and unable to sleep. It was always like this before a mission or a trip, and it drove him nuts. He'd done plenty of things to try and exhaust himself. He was already packed. He'd mentally reviewed the various routes that would get him to Suna quickest. He even tried to read a bit, but couldn't keep his mind on it.
Temari wouldn't have reached home yet. She had a day's start on him, but maybe he could catch up. Wouldn't that surprise her.
Shikamaru threw off the covers and got up. He pulled on his clothes, slung on his pack, and padded down the hall with his shoes in his hand. In the kitchen, he scrawled a quick note to his parents to let them know he'd left early. The scroll with Tsunade's orders on it was secure in one of his vest pockets. He went out the door, closing it carefully behind him.
The night air felt cool and damp on Shikamaru's face. He savored it, knowing he'd be in the scorching, dry heat for long enough. He set out.
Naruto and Sakura faced each other unsteadily, panting as they swayed, struggling to hold their stances. Naruto's chakra wasn't spent yet, but his body almost was, and he could tell that Sakura was almost done. Neither wanted to admit the other had won their sparring match.
He started forward with a roar. Sakura braced herself. Suddenly, Naruto went sprawling, his foot having caught on a broken chunk of heaved-up earth. He hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from his lungs.
"Are you… okay?" Sakura gasped, bending forward with her hands braced on her knees.
Naruto struggled to regain his breath. Finally he rasped, "I give up!"
Sakura let her legs go to jelly and fell to her knees, slumping over until she too was face-down in the dirt. After a few minutes they had found enough energy to roll onto their backs, and lay cheek to cheek.
Sakura reached up and curled her arm around Naruto's head. He winced at the pressure of her elbow on his shoulder; she had managed to land one of her powerful blows, and the only thing that had saved Naruto from a broken collarbone were his speedy healing ability and the fact that Sakura had been holding back.
"Sorry," she panted. "I guess… I got you."
"You're getting… as scary… as Granny Tsunade," Naruto laughed breathlessly.
They lay there for a while, catching their breath. Sakura yawned. "I'm exhausted," she murmured. Her eyelids began to droop. Naruto nuzzled her cheek, and she gave a little hum of pleasure.
"Sakura-chan," he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"That night… what made you decide to kiss me?"
Sakura was quiet for a moment, considering. "It didn't happen all at once, really," she said finally. "We've been through so much together. When we were rescuing Gaara and I found out that the Akatsuki were after you too, and Chiyo told us what they intended to do, I wasn't worried about Gaara. I was worried about you. I tried to tell you—"
"I know—"
"—But you ran right in. You weren't concerned for yourself."
Naruto nodded. "I wanted to save my friend."
"And after you came back from going after Sasuke… he almost killed you, and all you did was apologize to me." Sakura looked at Naruto sadly. "I should have apologized to you!"
Naruto shook his head. "Sakura-chan…"
"It's just so amazing. You're always willing to risk yourself for others. And the other night, when you told me you love me…" Sakura smiled. "I realized I felt the same." She reached over to stroke Naruto's cheek. He smiled.
"It's like a dream, Sakura. I just can't believe this is real."
"Believe it," Sakura said. She moved to kiss him.
"Hey, you two!" Kakashi shouted from the other end of the training ground, startling them apart. "What are you lying around daydreaming for?" He walked over and stood over them, his expression deadpan.
"We've been sparring, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said.
Kakashi surveyed the nearly destroyed training field as though he was seeing it for the first time. Sakura's powerful blows had broken and tossed up the ground, and every log and dummy seemed to have been Rasenganed into splinters. "Oh, you should rest up then," Kakashi said. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled beneath his mask.
Naruto stood and helped Sakura to her feet, groaning at muscles already beginning to stiffen. "Don't forget to stretch before you go to bed or you'll be useless tomorrow," Kakashi advised.
"I could use a shower," Naruto grumbled as they staggered away, leaning on each other.
"Me too," Sakura said meaningfully. Naruto chuckled and grabbed her ass. Sakura shrieked and slapped his hand away.
Kakashi watched them go. "Something is going on between those two," he said to himself. Over the last few days, he had seen them in each other's company quite frequently. Yesterday he went to see Naruto, and found the door locked and his knocks going unanswered. Naruto never locked his door.
Kakashi shrugged and cast a quick glance around. Seeing no one, he sat with his back against a log that was still mostly intact and pulled a worn, dog-eared copy of Make-Out Tactics from his pocket. He sighed; it was a shame that it would probably be another few years before Jiraya came out with another novel. He had this one practically memorized already.