Ascendance of the Flash by Kamikaze132

Chapter 4

It had been almost two hours since they left from Suna, and while Naruto hid it well, the heat of the desert was starting to annoy him. He had seals inscribed on his clothes so that they kept him hot or cool depending on the surroundings, but there was nothing protecting his head. Not only that, but his eyes were constantly squinting due to the intense light.

He wasn't the only one suffering. Even though his outfit was relatively loose, Neji's clothes were sticking to his skin due to the sweat. Sakura was sweating as well, but she was toughing it out with a scowl on her face. Tenten was wiping her face with her sleeve ever once in a while. Kakashi was suffering in the back, needing Gai's support to walk, having exhausted himself with Kamui. Naruto wondered if Kakashi really should be using that technique, considering it tired him out with just a single use. The only ones who didn't seem to have any problems were Temari, who was used to making trips in the heat and Lee, who was better left unexplained.

That spandex seriously couldn't be that comfortable.

Naruto turned his head to glance back, a few snickers escaping him. The others copied him, varying amounts of amusement appearing on their faces as well as they watched the drama behind them.

Gai's frustration was mounting by the second as he was forced to go practically at a snail's pace along with Kakashi. The silver-haired jonin on the other hand, chuckled nervously as Gai began to literally growl in agitation. The energetic taijutsu master wasn't used to moving at such a slow pace.

"Ahahaha, thanks for carrying me Gai. The mangekyo sharingan takes quite a toll on my body, you see..."

Kakashi's ever lazy drawl, now even more enhanced by his exhaustion, snapped something in Gai.

"THAT'S IT!"

That was the cue for Kakashi to begin panicking. "Ah! W-Wait Gai!"

But Gai had already thrown Kakashi into the air, only for the copy ninja to land.....right on his back.

So intimate....I guess they're closer than I thought. Sakura deadpanned.

Naruto had to press his fist into his mouth to prevent the snickers escaping from becoming full blown laughter. This was way too precious.

"That looks like a fun ride, Kakashi!" Naruto full heartedly teased the man.

Kakashi's glare could have scared off a full grown tiger, if he hadn't been in such a pathetic condition. Sakura looked a bit green though, pressing her palm to her forehead.

"Please don't say such things, Naruto. The images are hard to get rid of!"

Kurama was howling in laughter in Naruto's mind, who himself was having trouble containing himself. Temari looked a bit green like Sakura, thinking to herself.

Two years in the leaf and I'm still discovering new things every day.

Neji and Tenten were looking incredibly exasperated, no doubt used to the hyper activeness and weird actions of their sensei.

Kakashi spoke through gritted teeth. "Naruto.....get me off his back. Now."

"Not to worry, Kakashi!" Gai cheerfully maintained, adjusted Kakashi on his back. "I'll carry you everywhere if you need be!"

Naruto honestly thought that his stomach would burst from holding so much laughter within. It wasn't helping at all that Kurama wouldn't stop laughing. What he was about to say next wouldn't earn him any favors with Kakashi, but it would be so much fun. It had been so long he had played a good prank.

"Now we can travel much faster, eh Gai-san?"

Gai's answer was an ecstatic shout. "YES! LET'S GO!"

With that, Gai ran forward with a burst of speed that left a dust cloud behind him. Naruto turned to look at the one person who was happy with this development. Lee had his hands curled in fists, head bowed and trembling. When his head shot up, his eyes were swimming with tears.