Ascending (Sequel to Rock Bottom)

Chapter 6 - Anchors Aweigh! 🚢

Naruto has had his fair share of tough battles, but this was ridiculous. It was like trying to serve ramen in an upside-down bowl: stupid, impractical, and just plain weird. Imagine all the noodles all over the place...

Naruto shook his head. Yes, ramen was the food of the gods, but he couldn't be thinking about that now. 

Sakura had managed to pull Team 7 out of the fight to make a plan. They were currently hiding behind a few bushes, though Naruto didn't think that was necessary.

He also saw the complicated plan Sakura was blabbing about as unnecessary and decided to voice his opinion. "Sakura, can't you just do your metal armor thing to get Gaara out? That's all we're really here for anyway 'ttebayo."

Sakura stopped talking and stared at Naruto blankly for a minute, and then let out a small, humorless chuckle. "For once, I think that's a good idea." And before the three of them could say anything, she sprinted back out into the commotion. Returning a minute later with Gaara's unconscious body. "He's still alive, if we leave now we can get him to the hospital."

The four of them wasted no time in getting back to the sand village. In fact, Sasuke would argue that they traveled even faster than they did exiting Sunagakure. But that could have been because of the pretzel incident.
When they were about halfway to Suna, Naruto noticed that Gaara started bleeding a lot. And it made him question why they didn't just have Tsunade heal him when they had the chance...

Oh well, too late now. Naruto could already see the hospital in the distance. They probably broke some world record for the fastest running time.

Before her teammates could react, Sakura mustered up her last bit of strength and bolted towards the hospital building while keeping Gaara suspended in the air next to her as she ran. Leaving the other Team 7 members in a cloud of dust.

"Should we go after her 'ttbayo?" Sasuke shook his head no.
"We should go find Temari and Kankuro."

.
.
.
"You what!" Finding Kankuro and Temari was fairly easy, Suna had been rebuilt for the most part, and the two sand siblings were in the Kazekage tower. Sasuke only wished that explaining their situation would be just as simple. Though there is no easy way to tell someone that you accidentally hit their sibling with a large bomb...

"It was an accident 'ttebayo!" Naruto protested, trying (and failing) to calm an enraged Temari.

"Accident or not, you still hit him with a Bijuu Bomb!" Naruto crossed his arms and glared at the ground.

"Yeah, well...he's a jinchuuriki too." Naruto trailed off. Then Kurama suddenly appeared.

"Worry not little humans! Shukaku has healed most of Gaara's major injuries! They should be back in business soon!" Hearing this, Temari visibly relaxed, however, Kankuro didn't. He turned to Kakashi and whispered,

"I forgot about that little rat,"

"Hey! I am not a rat! And who are you to judge Totem Pole?" Hearing Shukaku's voice, Kankuro screeched and jumped five feet high. Making Temari burst out laughing. That is, until she noticed who was behind Shukaku.

"Gaara!" Said Kage was immediately glomped by his sister.

"Temari....can't breathe!" Temari quickly loosened her death grip but refused to let go of Gaara. Even when Sakura tried to forcefully pry her off.

"My poor little Gaara! Your big sister was so worried!" Temari said as she rubbed her cheek against Gaara's, completely oblivious to the glare she was receiving from him.

"Temari, I don't think he appreciates that," Kankuro said as he tried to free his brother, but he immediately stopped when he received a sharp glare from Temari.

"Shut up Kankuro, what would you know?"

"I know what happens after Gaara's death glare." Naruto shivered, remembering the incident. It was when Kankuro made the mistake of mentioning that he had flirted with Sakura before the Chunin Exams. At first, Gaara seemed fine, but a few minutes later, he decided to use Kankuro to test out his new jutsu. It was called Shukaku's wrath, but Temari dubbed it "PMS-ing Sand Demon" and Kankuro called it the "Don't mess with Sakura or Gaara will End You no Jutsu"

Everyone preferred Temari's name for it though.

When Temari finally let go of Gaara, he was immediately engulfed in Sakura's (much gentler) embrace. She buried her head in his chest as he pulled her closer.

"You idiot," Sakura managed to choke out. Gaara leaned away from Sakura for a moment to cup her tear stained cheek.

"I'm sorry," without warning, Gaara nudged Sakura's face closer to his, and gently pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was far from perfect, they were both new this and were unsure of what to do. But that didn't make it any less meaningful. In those few seconds, a million emotions were conveyed between the two of them. And when they parted, Sakura could see the fainest smile on Gaara's face.

Sadly, their moment was ruined by loud cheers and excessive clapping.

"Whoo-We! Get some Gaara dattebayo!" Naruto was promptly shut up with a slap to the head from Sasuke.

"What the hell was that Naruto? 'Whoo-We'? What does that even mean?" Naruto chuckled sheepishly.

"Um, well, cuz'...you know..?" He trailed off. Sasuke sighed, mentally preparing for the earful they were going to get from Sakura later.
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Alright alright....tell me how bad the jokes are in this book XDD I know they suck, even I'm not laughing at them.

ITS CUZ I BROKE MY FUNNY BONE!!! MY SENSE OF HUMOR IS GONE 😫

[tries really hard to be funny but fails miserably]