Embers of a Burning Sky

Chapter Nine

Naruto wakes from his dreamless sleep almost two days after the Fox had gone berserk in the streets of Suna. His eyes were blurry; thick with the crust of unuse and almost glued together, small crumbs sticking to his eyelashes as he forced his eyes open.

The flaming red of Gaara's hair is the first thing he sees-- like embers of a dying flame. He stares for a moment, still coming too until Gaara's worried eyes come into focus as well; peering curiously down at him as he chewed at his swelling bottom lip. Naruto's stomach clenches nervously, eyes caught on the movement until his worried face slid out of view and the first sounds fall on his ears;
"Haruno." Gaara sounds more commanding than usual-- almost harsh, "He's awake."

A familiar annoyed, guttural noise comes from his right as Sakura made her way to the bed; her hair messily tied up and wearing one of the long, white jackets' of a Medi-Nin. She looks him over quickly, tapping her pencil against the clipboard in her hand;
"He should be fine with another day of bed rest- but keep him from moving too much. Maybe the two of you-" She cleared her throat and looks scornfully to Gaara beside him; "Three of you should stay out of trouble for a while."
Naruto frowns,
"Sakura-- what's that supposed to mean?"

Her face makes him regret asking.
"It means you need to be more careful!"
She jabs a finger in his face;
"I can't believe you lost control so easily! Do you know how dangerous that was!? You could have hurt people--!"
Gaara's hand on her shoulder makes her sputter to a halt, face reddening as she forces herself to calm down.

"That's enough," His tone is colder than ice, "you can go."
There's no way for her to refuse the kazekage.

"... Gaara?"
Naruto's mouth is dry, especially as he watches Gaara settle down next to him on the bed. He pours him a small paper cup of water, hands gentle as he closes Naruto's shaking fingers around it. Naruto sips a little, finally feeling more human.
"Is Nara okay?" He asks quietly.

The soft smile that spreads across Gaara's face sends butterflies wild in his stomach;
"He wasn't hurt, but he does miss you."

Naruto doesn't know how to respond, trying not to reveal how choked up he's getting. He doesn't need to say anything, though, because Gaara's doing a little dance on the end of the bed; not at all paying attention to him.
He's about to ask what's wrong when Nara's head pops up over Gaara's shoulder.
"Nara!?"
Gaara actually laughs.
Well, it's more of an amused exhale, but Naruto is taking what he can get.

He can't help but beam as Nara fumbles over the small distance from Gaara's lap to his own, scooping him up and hugging him close.
There's a moment of something; something warm and happy and tangible between them. Gaara sitting beside him, relaxed and content; his son in his arms...
He feels the air change as Gaara stands, pacing to the window at the head of the bed.
"I did an extensive search of the guards, there's no way an outsider made their way in."
"So whoever cast the Genjitsu--"
Gaara's shoulders slump,
"Yes, there has to be a spy."
Naruto feels the weight of that implication settle over them.
"I noticed some of the attacker's chakra on you."
Gaara turns back to him,
"I've sent Kankuro and a team of trackers to see what they can find. They left a few hours ago."

"Wait-- did you say you noticed chakra?"
Gaara looks at him, puzzled.
"Yes, I am a sensory Ninja. I can sense chakra signatures and I can track people who I've marked with my sand."
Naruto gapes,
"That's so cool!"

Gaara's face remains blank, but Naruto can see something behind his eyes.
He isn't sure what it is.

~ ~ ~

The sun is starting to set behind him, but Sakura refuses to let Naruto out of the hospital until tomorrow. Gaara had spent most of the day with him, but he'd been called away an hour ago and hadn't returned.
"Stop scratching!"
Sakura flicks him in the head; startling him.
"You're going to make it worse, idiot, stop messing with it."

She lights up her healing chakra, closing her hand around his wrist where he had scratched himself bloody.

The silence between them is familiar.

"Wait a minute, why are you in Suna!?"
Sakura starts, then chuckles;
"I guess you wouldn't know. Gaara called for me as soon as you calmed down; it took me a day to get here, though, so they kept you under until I arrived."
Naruto nods-- he guesses that was smart.
"Well, I'm just glad you didn't hurt that kid. They told me he was inside your chakra form, but he was just fine when I checked him over. Gaara told me it had something to do with him being a mixture of you and him."

Naruto frowns;
"What does that even mean?"

Sakura sighs, releasing his hand and tucking her legs under her as she kneels.
"Well, according to the Hokage, that child is the result of experimentation. You already know that, but from what Gaara said, the kid--"
"His name is Nara."
Sakura looks at him, frustrated by his interruption;
"Nara is developing a similar Chakra to his, he can filter chakra from pure energy into objects; like Gaara's sand."

Naruto blinks a few times, processing, as Sakura stands.
"Anyway, since you heal quickly your burns should be gone by tomorrow, but the fatigue is still there." She rips a piece of paper off her clipboard. "Take a few days off and head here, I saw it on my way over."
Naruto took the paper from the outstretched hand and read the contents. It was an address for a hot springs and spa, located outside the village.
"If someone's after you, it might be good to get out of the village, away from innocent people. If not, it's specifically designed for chakra regeneration and healing."
She shrugs, turning with a smile as she left the room.

~ ~ ~

Naruto startles awake when the warm weight of his son is lifted off his chest. In a panic, he lashes out with a growl.
Gaara's hand catches his and he holds it;
"I didn't mean to startle you." He says softly.
Naruto nods quickly, trying to get his breathing to slow. He lets his hand go and sits on the bed.
"It's late, but I just finished my duties. I was going to take you home--"
Naruto's already climbing out of bed; ignoring the aches and pains and itches.
Gaara stands, already gathering his things; clothes and loose weapons and...

"What did she give you?" Gaara asked slowly, reaching out for the paper Naruto had left on the table.
"Oh, it's a hot spring somewhere in the desert! She said it was good for healing, I thought we could go, but I'm sure you're busy with Kazekage--"
"Yes..." Gaara's voice is breathless in the dark; "I mean, let's go. I can be away for a day or so without the village collapsing into chaos. Besides, if someone is targeting you, it may be wise to remove you from reach."

Naruto can't help his grin;
"Family trip?"

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Edited : HanayuK 10:7:2020