A life without my Raven version 2

Chapter 1 crimson blond and snow

Snow….cold white snow that can engulf ones senses and render them useless but for others it is a dangerous beauty than can leave one feeling comforted, and that was just the case for Uzumaki Naruto. Who was currently on a mission to seek out the one that had tried to sever a bond that was only being held by a few remaining strands, strands that kept the young blondes hope alive. The air around was thick and laden with a continuous breeze that spin tingling chills through his body causing his breath to be shown vividly as he breathed out white clouds of air. While staring at the three sand shinobi in front of him each with a different expression.

"And that's what happened at the five kaze submit" said Temari, as she shrugged her shoulders letting her arms fall back to her side placing a hand on her hip, she being eldest of the three Shinobi stood before him her place was to the left next to her youngest sibling Gaara, the red headed Kazekage of the sand village. Standing next to him on his right was the second eldest brother Kankuro whom had his hands held securely behind his head looking off to the side at nothing in particular.

Kakashi and captain Yamato both had their arms crossed over their chest a they both stared at Naruto with unreadable expressions that could only be taken for as hidden pity as they stood behind him. Along with Sai who was also steeling glances at the said blonde. While Naruto stared at the white covered ground with a somber expression hoping that if he stared at it long enough that it would somehow make him forget what was truly happening at this very moment.

Naruto grimaced slightly as the situation was being further explained, "Sasuke doesn't see you anymore. He only seeks darkness." Causing Naruto to flinch at the others choice of words while looking up at him as azure blue orbs looked into Jade warm green eyes. "Naruto you once declared to me that you would become Hokage one day….well I've become Kazekage." Gaara's eyes never left Naruto's as he walked over to Naruto stopping only a good two feet in front of him placing a hand on his shoulder trying to convey something of the utmost importance. "And if you truly have resolved to take the mantle of a kage, then you must do what needs doing as Sauske's friend." They stayed like that for a few moments as the snow fell silently around them. Naruto stared at Gaara with a blank expression that did not suite the blonde's normal jerry attitude.

Naruto lifted his hand and gently brushed Gaara's hand to the side shifting his head back to the ground this action cause Gaara to be a little taken a back but he couldn't find it in himself to be upset with the blonde he understood all too well what he was going through, the sorrow that he felt. "We've relayed all that we needed to say…..let's go Gaara" said Temari as she and Kankuro began to turn away and head off to the Hidden leaf village to report to Lady Tsunade as well. Gaara too began to walk away listening to the snow crunch underneath him but stopped short needing to tell him how he truly felt. "Naruto….I considered you as a friend." Naruto's head snapped up with a wide eyed gaze causing everyone else to gasp. "Before the word friend was just a word to me…..nothing more nothing less…but after meeting you I realized something that what that word means is important…..now you must decide what you can do for your friend….your friend Sasuke." Naruto looked at Gaara with a small smile and started walking towards his friend. Gaara noticed this and turned around facing the one he thought of more than a friend.

They stood like that for a while staring at each other for what seemed like a millennium but didn't bother the red head one bit. Naruto tackled the said man into a tight embrace that surprised everyone that was there, Kakashi took this moment to sneak a glance at Sai who actually had a genuine smile on his face.

Gaara not being use to such contact slowly placed his hands around the small of Naruto's back and closed his eyes relishing in this very moment with the one he liked more than a friend and smiled taking in his sent. "Thank you Gaara…..thank you." Naruto chanted into Gaara's ear as he tucked his nose into the red heads shoulder. "Naruto…" Gaara cooed into Naruto's ear causing the blonde to shiver in appreciation. "Naruto…..there is something that I must tell you once you get back to the village something of high importance." Gaara pushed away a little so that his eyes were staring into the others. Naruto was about to protest but saw the serious glint that was held within the other's gaze, causing him to keep his trap shut. Gaara slightly nodded with a satisfied nod and looked at the others eyeing Sai who gave him a small smirk barely noticeable to the naked eye but Gaara noticed and returned with all too knowing satisfied smirk.

Kakashi smiled and pulled out his Ich Icha paradise novel and started to chuckle while Yamato went back into his wood style house that he created with a small smile graced upon his unmoving features. "Gaara?" Naruto asked eyeing the young Kazekage with a less crestfallen gaze then before. Gaara's smile grew noticeably wider as he looked at his Naruto yes….His Naruto. "I'll see you soon Naruto I'll be at the village by the time you get back." Naruto smiled and gave him his signature grin with a thumbs up "Alright!" Naruto exclaimed

Gaara's smiles remained on his face as he left giving his siblings a curt nod signaling that it was time to go. Temari and Kankuro gave a knowing smirk at each other as they followed their younger sibling and their Kazekage to the hidden leaf village.

"Naruto…I truly believe that you will make a fine Hokage and a great future companion to have…."

Meanwhile with Sasuke

Flash Back

"GAAAAAH WHY IS IT SO HARD?!" yelled a heavily breathing blonde whom had been trying to climb a tree using his chakra all day. Along with his rival Sasuke Uchiha whom he had been stuck with for the past 4 hours training on the same exercise, also having trouble but would never admit that he too was feeling just as frustrated as his blonde companion.

Sasuke breathed heavily trying to get his breathing under control so that the blond dobe couldn't see how truly warn out he was. Being the Uchiha that he did his best to uphold his family name by surrounding himself with an air that made him seem truly above all. As he stood up Kunai in hand he watched the blond out the corner of his eye with a faint look of amusement to see the blond almost at his limit. This amusement did not last long however as the blond suddenly took off up the long sturdy tree in front of him far exceeding the young Uchiha's last mark that he had left on a neighboring tree.

Sasuke growled at his team mate only to be greeted with an overwhelmingly large fox like grin that spread across the dobe's face as he adjusted his head band. Sasuke looked back to his tree and closed his eyes letting himself relax ever so slightly. Eyes suddenly snapping open as he barreled up the tree barely exceeding Naruto's last mark. Sasuke landed back to the ground with an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. Only to be met with an agitated frown that caused the raven to smirk wider.

Suddenly Naruto took off and so did Sasuke both of them stopping at the same time and doing a back flip to land safely down. "Damnit?!" Naruto murmured to himself as he punched the ground clearly agitated. The blonde's inner turmoil was interrupted by his raven haired team mate that hadn't spoken to him throughout the whole exercise. "Um…hey Naruto….when Sakura was here earlier….and you asked for advice,,..what…what did she tell you?"

Naruto sat there staring at his team mate with smirk that seemed to grow as he put the puzzle pieces together. "I'm not telling you." Came his short and offhand reply. Sasuke looked at him with agitated glare that Naruto had grown accustomed to. "God your such a dobe." "Say that to my face again teme! I'll beat you this time for sure." Sasuke smirked at that remark and walked towards his team mate and bent down to his level and leaned in close to his ear. Naruto shivered as he felt the raven's breath tickle the shell of his ear. "As if you ever could….Dobe" Before Naruto could retort he was roughly shoved to the ground as his team mate rushed up the tree leaving Naruto with a dumb founded expression on his face. "T-TEME!"

Something Hours later…..

The moon was full and round as it illuminated the features of two ninja that both had two different looks on their faces one with a smirk ever present on his face but yet held something above all of his other smirks that seemed to become more prominent over spending time with his opposite….true happiness could be detected through them now but still barely noticeable. The other had a large grin that was ever present upon his fox like features, features that complemented him in all the right ways but his grins seemed to become larger and brighter if that was even physically possible.

"Let's go home Naruto…"

"Alright!"

"Hn"

"Teme I'll race you down to the bottom!" The two ninja took off down there trees landing at the same time however a brief thought flashed, causing the older of the two to stop. "Naruto…." The blond before him stopped and turned toward him with a look of confusion that made him look to cute for his own good. "Sasuke why did you stop? You're not sick are you?" Naruto asked placing a hand out of concern for his partner's wellbeing. Sasuke slightly blushed at the sudden action of kindness that was almost unknown to him. The only act of kindness that was ever shown to him was from his older brother Itachi Uchiha….but he couldn't even remember if he considered that be real kindness and love.

Yet looking into the captivating blue eyes of his team mate that showed such true genuine care and consideration made the raven slightly shiver in anticipation and began to lift his hand covering the cool hand that felt good on his forehead. "Naruto…promise me something. Onyx eyes met sky blue that eliminated in the setting sun, "what is It?"

"Promise me….promise me that you will never leave me." Voice barely above a whisper but yet firm and serious, Naruto stood there for a minute eyeing the older and slightly taller boy carefully letting a sudden grin brake out over his features. "Teme what are you talking about? Of course I'll never leave you." And with that Sasuke grabbed his team mate by the wrist and brought him closer. "Hmph…so naïve dobe." Sasuke murmured with a smirk. Naruto blushed a dark shade of red, "T-teme!?" Sasuke leaned closer Naruto's wrist still in his hand, head on the blonds right shoulder. "Shut up dobe…just let me stay like this for a little while." Naruto instantly shut his mouth blush still evidently intact as he shifted a little uncomfortably but let his free arm gently place itself on the upper part of Sasuke's back and slowly began to relax into the others warmth.

Thank you Naruto

End of flash back

Konoha Leaf village In the Hokage tower

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune yelled slamming the door before her only to be greeted with stacks upon stacks of half completed and uncompleted paper work, and in the very center sat a sleeping Tsunade whom might I add was drooling with at least eight empty bottles of sake.

"LADY TSUNADE!" Shizune shrieked at the top of her lounges "eh…wha?" The lazy slug queen stammered from her drooling slumber while knocking stacks of papers and binders in her wake. "S-Shizune what is it?" Her gaze shifted to the female that stood before her eye sight still slightly hazy from the late night work. "Lady Tsunade Lord Kazekage is here to speak with you on a urgent matter and here you are sleeping on your job-" Shizune continued her ramble as Tsunade blocked out her voice by looking into her empty bottles of Sake hopping to find at least one that was not completely ridden of the bitter substance.

"Shizune!" her voice boomed throughout her office causing the smaller female to instantly keep silent. "Y-yes Lady Tsunade-Sama?" "First bring Gaara in here and then go get me a bottle of sake now!" Tsuande yelled placing her hands on her desk in a loud threatening thump. "Yes right away!" and with that she left, Tsuande sighed and slumped back her chair with a heavy sigh her index finger and her thumb pinching the bridge of her nose causing her to wince in frustration while letting her eyes slip close.

Then there was a small gentle knock "Tsunade-Sama Lord Kazekage is here." Tsunade opened one of her eyes peering at the door that was now slightly ajar only to see a wolf anbu black ops mask peering at her through the small crack. Tsunade sighed and let her head fall back onto her chair while letting her other hand fall to her lap. "Send him in." came her short yet commanding reply.

The anbu nodded and opened the door wider to let the red head through along with the other two sand shinboi that stood by his side Temari and Kankuro. The anbu bowed out of respect and left leaving only a slight breeze that swept through the room. "Lord Kazekage what brings you here?" Tsunade regarded her subordinate with a curt nod as she leaned forward letting her hands fold before her, her chin resting on her hands watching the red head giving him her full attention as was needed.

Yet before answering Shizune came in bearing a tray with two sake bottles setting them down before the hokage herself. "Thank you shizune." Tsunade grabbed one of the bottles and took a large gulp eyes never leaving the man that stood before her. "Hokage-Sama there is a rather serious matter that I wish to speak with you about." Gaara said taking it upon himself to move closer the large breasted female before him. Tsunade swished the bottle between her fingers watching the last swig move around at the base of the bottle before taking the last sip and placing it off to the side in front of her. "And what would that be Lord Kazekage?"

For a minute the two stood there as if they were the only ones within the room eyes locked onto one another. Tsunade being the one to break eye contact stood up letting her chair hit the back wall behind her as she walked around her desk letting her perfectly manicured nails scrape across the wooden desk. She stood before Gaara hand on her hip finger tips still barely grazing the table as she leaned back onto the desk crossing her arms over her large chest. "Everyone out now." She ordered "L-lady Tsu-." "Don't question it Shizune out!" Shizune nodded and scrambled out the door waiting for the other two sand shinobi to follow suit, Gaara nodded off his two siblings. Once the door was closed silence engulfed

"Hokage- Sama I would like to ask for Uzumaki Naruto's hand in marriage."