askerian | Teamwork 3 - chpt 5

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Teamwork 3 - chpt 5 - part 2

I'm still writing at the moment, but where it stops is a tolerable stopping point. *typetypetype* omg writing mood, how long will it last...

Previous part

Naruto reformed two Kage Bunshins to guard their flanks and watch out for trouble, and they walked away from the trio, in search of a team to steal those elusive last tokens from.

"I think we have to set down ground rules about baby names," Sasuke said.

Sakura blinked. "Hm? Like what?"

"What's acceptable or not, mostly." He threw Naruto a faintly mocking smirk; Naruto scowled in wary confusion. "No ramen-based names."

"Wha --"

"In favor," Sakura replied without missing a beat.

The corner of Sasuke's mouth quirked up. "Motion passed."

Naruto stared at them both in turn, cheeks puffed up in annoyance. Sasuke gave him a look he probably thought was deadpan; Sakura was trying to smother a laugh behind her hand. "Hey! Come on, guys, that's not fair. Ramenmaru would be a totally bitchin' name!"

"No ramen names."

"Misohiko?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "I believe we've already had this conversation."

Naruto grumbled and gave them a half-serious glare-pout, glad to see them joking even at his expense. "Fine, but then I get to set rules too. No flower names, hah!"

Sakura put both hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you have against flower names? They're a family tradition, I'll have you know."

"It is?" Sasuke asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sakura briefly looked sheepish. "Well, it's only been two generations. But it could be."

"Well yeah, but your mom is 'flower' in general and you're 'one kind of flower'; if you keep getting more specific, what's the kid gonna be called next? Stem? Pistil?"

Sakura pouted. "Kahen -- petal -- it could work. Besides there are many very pretty flower names."

"I don't know for you, but if I'd been named after some sissy flower I'd have become a hermit at age five," Naruto drawled, crossing his arms behind his head casually. Sakura bristled.

"Oh, because being named for a ramen ingredient is any better?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, though Naruto could see he was laughing at them a bit. "Compromise. If it's a girl, flower-based names are acceptable; if it's a boy, it isn't. Easy."

Sakura was still frowning a bit. "Fine. But I get veto rights on everything."

"Oi! How come?"

"Because I'm pregnant and you're not. But I'm sure I could come up with some kind of medical jutsu to fix that."

Ghhk. Naruto pressed his thighs together and shuffled a few steps back. Sakura crossed her arms sulkily.

Sasuke was absolutely no help, of course.

"How about tree names for a boy?" Naruto said, as a peace offering.

Sakura blinked at him with some surprise, and seemed to be considering.

"...It better not be a sissy tree, is all I'm saying."

"Oh, shut up."

Sakura shoved him halfheartedly, and Naruto pretended to stumble, laughing. He bumped into Sasuke, expecting a sarcastic comment or a shove in the other direction, but Sasuke only pushed him enough to get him back properly upright. Naruto blinked and then squinted at him.

"Okay, what's got you depressed now."

"I'm not depressed." Sasuke glared a little; Naruto didn't believe it. "... I'm thinking, is all -- wait, you wouldn't know what that's like."

"Oh hah hah. That was old when we were twelve, man. Okay, what are you brooding about?"

"I'm not brooding. Leave me alone already."

Naruto's face scrunched up in fake horrified sadness and he threw an arm around Sasuke's neck. "Don't tell me you really had your heart set on naming our unborn son Marigold."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but some of the inward-looking vagueness in his eyes faded, reassuring Naruto. He never liked it when Sasuke thought too much about depressing things. Then he'd get pissy because he couldn't find anything else to do about his worries and push his lovers away and sulk like a bitch.

Sakura slowed down and moved to Sasuke's other side, peering at him. Sasuke looked away, as if he were considering ignoring her and running away from all their well-meaning worrywartiness. Naruto secured his hold, just in case.

Sakura's voice was soft, a little sad. "Would you want to name them after... someone?"

Sasuke's put-upon expression melted away, and he met Sakura's eyes with a solemn look of his own.

"... Your parents?"

Naruto blinked when he finally understood. "Huh? People do that? That's a bit weird, isn't it?"

Sasuke tensed under his arm and leaned away from him slightly. Naruto grimaced, and didn't let go.

"Lots of people are named for someone -- or something -- meaningful," Sakura intervened, scowling at him for being insensitive. "Naming a child isn't just about what sounds pretty."

Naruto grimaced at her a little. He hadn't meant it like that. "Maybe it should be," Naruto said back, and then realized it sounded kind of like he was looking for a fight. He softened his tone, his eyes never looking away from Sasuke's angry ones. "No -- listen, I just mean, it's not a bad idea in general, but... Wouldn't the kid wonder if they're supposed to be a replacement?"

From the flinch and the way Sasuke's fists clenched, Naruto could see that Sasuke didn't like hearing that much -- but also that he could see his point, however reluctantly. Naruto nudged him a bit, trying to find the words to make it better.

He didn't, so he just nudged Sasuke again.

"... You're right," Sasuke admitted with some difficulty. He looked away then, not quite at Sakura either. "It would be too much baggage to saddle the child with."

Naruto smiled then. "Yeah. A brand-new person. No baggage allowed."

Sakura smiled a little wetly and slipped her arm around Sasuke's waist, hugging him. Sasuke sighed. "You two are so clingy."

Naruto noticed Sasuke wrapped an arm around Sakura's waist right back nonetheless, allowing himself a few seconds of sappiness before he shrugged them both into giving him back his personal space. Naruto obliged, allowing his arm to slip away from Sasuke's shoulders, but really just because it would be stupid to be too entangled to fight back if they were attacked now.

"Hey, we can always badger our children into choosing who our grandchildren get to be named after."

"... Naruto, don't talk about grandchildren now." If it had been anyone else, Naruto would have said they sounded a little faint, but of course Sasuke did not. Yeah right. Now Sasuke didn't look vaguely depressed anymore, he looked just a bit overwhelmed; but Naruto thought worrying about the future was still better than brooding about the past.

"Traditional clan names are probably okay, though, right? As long as they sound nice. We don't want the kid to be laughed out of the schoolyard."

Sakura grimaced at him behind Sasuke's head and mouthed silently 'Leave it alone already.' Naruto blinked, and realized Sasuke's face looked kind of a little seasick.

No matter what Sakura said, it was just too tempting to pass up.

"Hey, bastard?"

"What?"

Naruto allowed himself a grin of amusement about the fact that 'bastard' was now so much of Sasuke's official nickname that he didn't even blink twice anymore. Granted, it would also depend a lot on the tone of Naruto's voice when he said it. "You get to be the get-off-my-lawn grandpa. I'll be better at the candy-giving one."

Sasuke's reaction was a mix of annoyance -- expected -- and cringing frustration -- definitely unexpected. "Don't --" He breathed out, and glared, but it didn't make his first word sound any less pleading. "You're a real pain in the ass."

Naruto sighed. Now he felt a little bad, for teasing Sasuke when he was feeling vulnerable. He should probably have encouraged Sasuke to open up more by being attentive and supportive and stuff, but he didn't have a clue how to do that without looking stupid or making Sasuke clam up. At least if he teased Sasuke having him clam up as a result would be deliberate.

"Don't what?" Sakura asked softly.

Sasuke glanced at her, and then glared at his shoes. "... Nothing. Look, there's animal tracks, let's find some food."

He went up ahead, bouncing over a rock and quickly out of sight; Naruto winced guiltily. Sakura gave him a little glare but it soon melted away; she stepped up to him and bumped him with her shoulder.

"I don't think he's angry, just... Wigged."

"But having a family is great!"

Sakura nodded. "Yes. He thinks so too, you know that. I think that's the problem. Maybe he's just afraid to jinx it."

Naruto wrapped an arm around Sakura's back and hugged her to his side briefly, sighing in her hair. It made sense, now that he thought of it. It was more scary to have the potential of something good than nothing at all. Then you got to be scared of everything that could make it not happen. When you had nothing and expected nothing, there was nothing to lose, not even hope.

"...Our boyfriend is a freak."

Sakura gave him a crooked smirk and prodded him in the chest with a hard finger. "Like you can talk, ramen-boy."

"Hey, my liking of ramen is perfectly normal and healthy. Ramen is great, AND it's nutritious and filling."

Sakura gave him a dubiously cocked eyebrow. "I don't think you want to argue nutritional values with me. You'll lose." She flipped her hair and started jogging after Sasuke.

"It's not my fault they don't make fruit ramen!"

Since they were going hunting and not passively waiting for someone to attack them, Naruto dissipated the bunshins. They'd seen nothing but rocks and thorny bushes and more rocks. He could have spared himself the expense of chakra -- but then again they wouldn't have had that conversation.

The area smelled like rabbits and that weird miniature island deer, a few small predators, and a lot of lizards, so when they followed Sasuke down a hollow and found a little stream at the bottom, half-hidden by tall ferns, he wasn't too surprised. Sakura tested the water and then she and Sasuke refilled the flasks. Naruto watched the area. The hollow was greener than the rest of the island so far, the plants higher; a few of the trees even managed to reach about Jiraiya's height. Which was kind of ridiculous for a tree, but on that island it was still damn high.

Good hunting here, he thought. Well... Rabbits. But good enough.

"It's getting late," Sakura commented. "Should we camp here?"

Sasuke grimaced. "We can, but tomorrow we'll have to go straight to the tower.

By this point it would be full of enemies lying in wait... "It's not as if we've had any luck finding tokens out here," Naruto grumbled. "I say we just run at them and smash right through."

Sakura huffed. "You would."

"We'll have to go through to get to the watchtower anyway. Might as well use them."

"And if we don't fall into a trap?"

"Then we make one. Or look for a Jounin to steal from."

Judging by Sasuke's decisive tone, he'd managed to find his footing again. That or repress like crazy. Business as usual. Naruto was almost sad.

Naruto took in the place and considered. The slopes weren't steep enough to keep game boxed in if he tried to flush them at his teammates, so...

"What are you grinning about?" Sakura asked, looking faintly worried.

Naruto realized he was doing a happy shark impression and immediately looked sheepish. "Haha, nothing, I just realized I'm gonna have to crawl around in the bushes to hunt. It's kind of fun. You know, stalk your prey..."

Sakura's worry didn't seem to be getting much better. Naruto sighed, shoulders slumping.

"Or I could just crawl around so I can find rabbit tunnels and know where to put up some snares."

"I'll come with you," she said. "Your traps are horrible."

Well, it was funnier to catch them with his own teeth. ... Hands. Naruto shivered. 'Hey Kyuubi, you here?'

"--Naruto?"

"Uh -- sorry, distracted. Alright, if you insist..."

"And you, Sasuke-kun?"

"I'll set the camp. Just go."

next part.

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Aww, poor Sasuke!

♥

u.u He's so easily tortureable though. It's his fault.

This was a lovely segment. <3

Thank you, dear. ^^

♥

Sasuke is Very Messed-Up. And Naruto is as usual clueless about it.

Sounds so IC to me. ;)

^__________^ yayy.

... What's IC is so difficult to juggle. I'm not feeling Naruto even half as well as I usually feel Sasuke, and this time around I couldn't even feel Sasuke worth beans. Gah, having to THINK about POV things. DX Bleah.

*takes a break from homework to read* I love their interaction here. Sakura and Sasuke putting their feet down about ramen names, and Naruto complaining about flower names just to be contrary, then Sasuke inwardly flipping his lid at the thought that one day, he might be a grandfather and Naruto Not Getting It. And this line: Judging by Sasuke's decisive tone, he'd managed to find his footing again. That or repress like crazy. Business as usual. Naruto was almost sad.

So Sasuke it hurts. ^_^

Minor note: I'm not sure Sakura would use the word 'wigged.' It felt kind of jarring, threw me out of the story for a second. Perhaps think about changing it?

♥ ^___^

Yeah, you're right about wigged but that's the word that came to me and I can't think up a synonymous word at the moment. Suggestions plz? XD;

You meant for it to mean something along the lines of "spooked," yes? Not, as dictionary.com claims, as "to make or become wildly excited or enthusiastic."

So there's 'spooked,' which doesn't have quite the same connotation but is close. There there's 'disconcerted,' 'disquieted,' which I don't think are strong enough, or 'distressed,' which would probably work okay if you want her to have an air of understatement. I'll get back to you if I think of any more.

Hm, I like spooked. She doesn't want it to sound too srs business... Thank you, lovely~

You're welcome! ^_^

On second thought Unnerved might be better. Spooked sounds like sasuke is scared -- which is is, but that could damage his honor!! and prompt naruto to go all "haha scaredy-cat" on him. XD

And God forbid Naruto call him a scaredy-cat. *snickers* *loves all over them*

Baby naming ground rules and hunt-planning without freaking out your teammate/loves, yep, just yer normal day in this neck of the woods...

You'd think they're on vacation instead of in the middle of a dangerous exam. Ahh, kids. u____u;;;;

Gyah. How did I miss this? So in love with your trio it hurts. Can't wait to see how the last token fight goes. 'Cause they gotta advance, you know!

^___^ thank you --

-- ... bwahahaha.

........BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

What??? They're not gonna advance??????

Deny it, woman!

*says nothing* :3

*prays that your writing mood lasts*

He was bigger than quite a few predators around the island, but there were the huge lizards to take into account, and the deer made cracks too. He forgot Sakura at first, delighted by the grass and leaves surrounding him, hiding him from view. It was tempting to just find a burrow and lie in wait for the next rabbit. But he was too impatient to wait long, and there were too many scents to explore. And he had to bring food back to his mates anyway.

"...Naruto?"

Naruto jumped a little, and grinned at Sakura over his shoulder for reassurance. She didn't look very reassured.

"Don't go all foxlike on me... Please?"

It was the please that did him in. Naruto sighed, anticipation simmering down. "Sorry. Look, there's a burrow here."

"No, I'm sorry, I mean -- it's totally harmless, right? I know that. But it's just that it feels a little weird when you stop talking."

Hnnn, I'm a little stuck. I know what happens next... stupid transitions. >.> *edit edit*

*squeals quietly and hopefully*

*gg* does naruto alwasy think with his stomach?!

hugging grumpy sasuke's sweet! - it's good he doesn't push them away anymore

That's the organ that gets the most work in his body. >D

Thankies~

"Motion passed."

lol I love how formal Sasuke and Sakura are in banning Naruto's ramen-based name suggestions.

^_________^ Glad you like this bit! It just amused me so much to write Sasuke and Sakura teasing in tandem. XD

Oh Sasuke. Fella has Issues, and Naruto's just not quitting while he's ahead.

...Given time, I can see Naruto as the jolly old fellow who spoils the kids with candy and Sasuke as the gleefully snarky old buffer who teaches them jutsu and encourages them to steal the candy out of Naruto's pockets.

Yeah, Naruto tends not to be very sensitive like that. Bad boy. XD He understands Sasuke well enough when he stops and thinks, but first he has to actually notice the warning signs...

... Oh yeah. X3 gah,now I want to draw them as old men with grey hair and everything. And a boatload of kids. You know Naruto's the one you'd go to get candy, but Sasuke's the one you'd go when you're really in trouble, he'd be all RARRR MAI FAMILY >E

granted naruto would be like that too. ahhh socute. XD

I'd like to see that drawing. Have to include old Sakura with a weapon giving them the evil eye.

I am loving this. I love how Naruto thinks about hunting. I still have this image in my head of Kyuunaru chasing a rabbit. LOL

XD If I can slip it in, I'll make him hunt a rabbit for you. ♥

*Squeals with delight* "It was tempting to just find a burrow and lie in wait for the next rabbit. But he was too impatient to wait long, and there were too many scents to explore. And he had to bring food back to his mates anyway." Love it.

This made me smile so much. I really needed that today too.

Funny thing is, I remember having a conversation sort of like what they did about naming kids after dead relatives or friends in a writing class of mine. It was a bit different though- like parents naming their kid after an older sibling who died. "Yeah, you're named after your late big brother." That sort of thing.

You think themes would be okay with them, though? That's pretty common in Naruto. Like InoShikaCho first generation and the ones from rookie 9. Maybe something from their parents, but without being a complete replacement. My family's got that with the middle name "Donald" (or in my case, Dawn)

...Or would that be too much like what they're against? XD

*not conveying self really well today @_@*

Having a bad days? *offers pettings* .__.;

Naming a child after a dead sibling is so creepy. D: It's like they don't want the second child, they just want the first back and the second one was only made as a replacement. Brrr.

Themes are okay, yes. That's more about the heritage of the family than about replacing someone specific. ^__^ Unless I change my mind again the name will be kind of Uchiha-themed, though not obviously so. (Dawn is sopritty. X3 Donald, well, I always think of the duck... XD;;;)

Bad days ._. *petted* Bad week is more like it. D8

Yaaay Uchiha theme! I was hoping it would be. I can't help it- things like this always make me feel for Sasuke hardcore and I'm like "compromise, compromise! ;__;"

What about weapon based names? Sakura having a conversation with Tenten about baby names.

(I review as I read.)

Oh, this is funny. ____ “a look he probably thought was deadpan.” What was it if not? ____ Lol, “It could be.” And Sasuke’s all skeptical. ^^ ____ I’m with Sasuke on the compromise bit. ____ “But I’m sure I could come up with some kind of medical jutsu to fix that.” [to Sakura] Scary thought, but no you couldn’t, dear. ____ Good suggestion, Naruto. Tree names are cool. ^_^ ____ (*hugs Sasuke whether he likes it or not*) ____ I like Naruto’s POV on the subject of name kids after a previous family member. And I’m wondering if Sasuke’s just getting defensive because Naruto found a possible flaw in his idea . . . or was he named after someone? (Okay, I know Kishimoto named him after someone. But I meant something a little different in this case; was he named after a specific family member or something.) ____ I’m glad Sasuke let it go. (Though it’s probably gonna come back to him later.) ____ “(*sigh*) You two are so clingy.” ♥ ♥ He likes it! (*squees*) ♥ ____ Boy, I’d love to see what Sasuke would look like as “overwhelmed” in this scene. ^_^ I’m so loving this chapter! ____ Seasick? Okay, is being reminded about the future . . . is that what’s bothering him so much? Cuz the future’s so !HUGE! or something? ____ “Get-off-my-lawn,” lol. ____ Or is he still worried about the Itachi-business throwing everything in shambles or something? Hmm. I guess no matter what, just judging from Sasuke’s personality alone, the future would seem intimidating. ô_o ____ I like how Naruto and Sakura are discussing it. (Hopefully Sasuke’s out of earshot.) ____ Lol, that’s cute: “I don’t think you want to argue nutritional values with me. You’ll lose.” Great line. ____ Yay, Sakura “looking faintly worried.” Scare her, Naruto. XD ____ Love the creepy ending of this section.

Naruto didn't believe it

rofl XD

... ahaha. I didn't even notice XD;;;;

*____* I love this fic.

So many favorite moments. The argument over the names. <3 I love the bickering over flower names vs ramen names and then when you got into deeper stuff with Sasuke... it's like you're drawing everyone together and showing so much about their personalities and feelings with just this conversation. <333 And Sakura's threat of making Naruto pregnant. *snickers more*

Naruto's description of what Sasuke does ("sulks like a bitch") made me laugh out loud. *snicker* And Sasuke's clingy comment amused me as well. <33 I love them as a threesome.. it's like so meant to be. *___* Now only if I could find a doujinshi with them as a threesome. ~~You know I'd shower you with money if you ever made a doujinshi.~~ "...Our boyfriend is a freak." Best line. Ever.

*lovelove* Thank you, pet~

The best I've ever found was gen stories, sadly. T____T And very light sasunaru yaoi with Kakashi and Sakura hanging around. No threesome kissies. Woe and misery. ~~are you kidding, that's way too much work D:~~

Aww...so touching...and I loved the Sasuke teasing. I can't believe I missed all these updates but I've been busy. I too would love to see a doujinshi by you! ^_^

I'm off to read the other entries now!

This was a really sweet segment... I always like seeing how fragile Sasuke is in his own special way, going from the normal friendly bickering to comfortable affection to normal aloofness to getting unnerved. Poor Sasuke... this is weirdest for him, I think. I mean, he's the one who wasn't in love with either of them in the beginning, even though his feelings grew... and the whole mess with his family is a lot of baggage... I don't know, I'm just rambling.

I liked Sakura's reason for a veto and the insinuation of mpreg. It gave me a giggle.

I also enjoyed the beginning of the hunt at the end of the scene.

~Sara

Sasuke is such a minefield. XD He's really fun to write, always so much going on under the surface.

I don't think he wasn't entirely not-in-love with Naruto... it was kind of a crush, and kind of, since naruto didn't die, the only one sasuke subconsciously felt like he could safely love, since naruto just could not die on him. (which is kinda fucked up if you consider that he found that out as a result of sticking his arm through naruto's lung. >__> Then again sasuke *is* fucked up.) It definitely wasn't obvious, and even if he had been aware of his feelings he wouldn't have acted on them or showed anything because he just doesn't WANT to be in love.

^_____^ ♥

And, you're good at dissecting characters, pulling out the really interesting bits, and bringing them a little closer to the surface for us to see *continues with the morbidness*

Well, yeah, that makes sense, and I agree. (As for the lung thing, you made me think of guro and shudder... gawd, what's wrong with me today?) It's just Sasuke doesn't really feel capable of loving because he refuses to, because of his sole purpose of revenge... that is, up until now, when he has a family.

~Sara

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Teamwork 3 - chpt 5 - part 2

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Just found this funny

Re: Just found this funny

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