He gestured to the training ground, "Even when I hold back it ends up like that." Turning back towards town he waved back, "I'll get my stuff out tonight and get a room somewhere, my business here should be done within the week."
He shunshined away, leaving Team Baki out on the training grounds in his wake. XxX
Roughly thirty minutes later, Naruto shut the door to the mansion to leave just in time for Temari to grab him and drag him back inside by the back of his shirt. Kankuro and Baki sweat-dropped at her display and went about their business.
Temari dragged Naruto up the stairs and back into his guest room before finally dropping him. Naruto stood up and shook himself off, "Any particular reason you just dragged me through your house like I was your battle fan?"
Temari crossed her arms and sat on his bed, "You're not leaving like that. Not because of a simple spar."
A quirked eyebrow from Naruto let her know his mindset on it, "You were just pissed off at me about the fight and you still want me here?"
Temari rolled her eyes, "Duh Naruto. I was mad, yes, but I had just lost decisively. What? Was I supposed to be happy that you kicked my ass? That's not a reason to want to kick you out, that would be petty, especially since I was the one that made you fight."
Her eyes narrowed however, "But you did humiliate me out there and you owe me for that."
Naruto gripped his hair, "Humiliated you? Who else saw it but your team and me?"
Her eyes softened after that as she looked at him with a smile, "You owe me, and you're taking me out tonight." She stood and walked over to him, looking him in the eyes, "Nothing big, just to get something to eat, but you will be paying." She walked out of his room but re-appeared at the doorway, "But it's not a date!" With that she left him alone in the room.
Naruto chuckled to himself, "Now that's my kind of girl. I kick her ass and then she wants to date me because of it."
XxX
That night Naruto had asked her where she wanted to go and she ended up choosing a simple diner, nothing expensive or anything, it was kind or spur of the moment.
The meal was spent with the two of them continuing to talk about their ninja lives. Temari had a good time learning about the strange blonde and he simply had a blast enjoying the company of a girl that seemingly wanted to spend some time with him.
Temari folded her hands and set her chin on them, "I watched the last couple of fights that you had. For some reason you really had it out for the Uchiha boy. What was that all about by the way?"
Naruto had set down the money for their meal on the check, "I hate Oto shinobi… so much. Long story short, they were the ones that gave me the scar on my face among other things. I dislike them immensely, and Orochimaru's cronies with those damn seals on their bodies are the ones I hate the most."
He paused to calm himself down, "I didn't really like Sasuke that much anyway. There was always some kind of underlying animosity, but seeing him, actually using that damned thing pissed me off so much, I couldn't take it." Naruto looked at her with a smirk on his face, "Who uses something that an infamous S-ranked nuke-nin with crimes against humanity on them gives him anyway? That really isn't the smartest thing you could do."
Temari laughed slightly, "True. I thought he was a genius wasn't he?"
Naruto laughed in return, "Yeah I guess, but they throw that term around a lot in Konoha, I swear. Every year another 'genius' ends up rolling out of the academy and gets pegged as the second coming of the Yondaime Hokage or something. It's ridiculous."
Temari had a smile on her face as their check and cash were taken by the waitress, "Well what about you? What does that make you? You're way better than anyone our age that I've ever met." Naruto shrugged in his seat, "I wouldn't call myself a genius that's for sure. I actually had to train my ass off to get what I've got, and I'm still nowhere where I should be. There are some dangerous people out in the world, and I've made some powerful enemies that I still need to prepare for."
Temari put her hand on his and smiled at him, "Well I know you'll be ready when the time comes to fight. You're a strong person Naruto."
Naruto smiled back at her, "Thank you Temari-chan. That means a lot to me."
XxX
After a short walk around the night-lit village Naruto escorted the girl to her bedroom door and bid her goodnight, even getting a kiss on the cheek for his chivalry. Naruto smirked all the way back to his room where he sensed someone's presence. Flipping his lights on, he saw the youngest member of the household standing in the corner of the room waiting, "Uzumaki."
Naruto got over his surprise and returned the greeting, "Hello Gaara. What are you doing in here? What's up?"
Gaara stayed in his place as his eyes stuck on Naruto, "How was your evening with my sister?"
Naruto felt the sweat roll down his back at the intent of Gaara's tone. He may have beaten him once before, but last time they weren't fighting in a desert either so he didn't really feel like scrapping with him again, "Uh it was great! Temari-chan is awesome. We had a good time." Gaara nodded and made his way out of the room, "Very good. And Uzumaki, if you hurt my sister I will kill you. Not Shukaku, me."
Naruto blinked as Gaara's presence left before a door down the hall shut, "Did Gaara just pull the protective brother card on me?" Naruto shook his head and started getting ready for bed, "This mission is weird…"
XxX
The next day Naruto received the scroll from the council, with their offers to Konoha for a treaty. With the bulk of his mission completed, Naruto bid each of the siblings goodbye at the gate. He shook Gaara's hand, bumped fists with Kankuro, and got a hug and a kiss from Temari.
That last one spurred him to a blush as he sputtered out a goodbye and turned to return to Konoha through the desert. Temari smirked at his reaction while Kankuro laughed heartily at the super-strong kid getting so flustered.
Naruto took off through the dunes to return to Konoha for his next assignment. Little did he know how important this next one would be to him personally.
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