Naruto: Forbidden Pleasures

Naruto woke up with his usual boundless energy. After a good night's sleep, he was ready to take on the day. Stretching long and yawning loudly, he began preparing for his morning training session with Neji. Grabbing his jacket, he slipped it on in one swift motion and headed for the door when loud, urgent knocks echoed against it.

He frowned, surprised by the apparent urgency. "Who could be banging on my door so early?" he muttered. As he adjusted his jacket, the knocks grew louder, more insistent, and almost violent.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! No need to break my door down!" he grumbled irritably. He opened the door quickly, and his expression shifted from annoyance to surprise as he saw Sakura standing before him, hands on her hips and visibly furious.

Naruto stared at her for a moment before a teasing grin spread across his face. "Still as brutal as ever, huh?"

Those words were enough to ignite Sakura's anger. Her face turned red, and she instinctively raised her fist. "What did you just say, idiot?!" she shouted, swinging a punch at him.

But this time, Naruto was ready. With agility honed through training, he dodged the blow and caught her wrist firmly. His expression hardened instantly, and his serious gaze locked onto hers. "Don't ever do that again," he said calmly, his voice laced with an unusual coldness. A faint but palpable aura of killing intent radiated from him. "Next time, it won't end here."

Sakura's eyes widened, startled by Naruto's tone and glare. She yanked her hand back and stepped away. "Who do you think you are, Naruto?!" she retorted, though her voice lacked its usual fire. Troubled, she stood still for a moment before turning on her heel and leaving, forgetting entirely why she had come.

Naruto sighed, closed the door, and went back inside. He wasn't about to let himself get distracted. After all, he still had breakfast to make before training. He set water to boil for his instant noodles, going through his well-practiced routine. As he poured the water into the bowl, another series of knocks sounded, this time lighter and more hesitant.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, a grin forming on his lips. "Ino, maybe?" he thought, already picturing his friend dropping by for a visit. He walked to the door, but his grin vanished as soon as he saw Sakura standing there again.

"Sakura... you again?" he said, his voice tinged with weariness. "What do you want now?"

This time, Sakura seemed much calmer, almost hesitant. "The Hokage wants to see you. Immediately," she said simply, before leaving without waiting for a response.

Naruto watched her walk away, crossing his arms. He briefly thought he should've been more polite, but recalling her earlier arrogance and aggression, he convinced himself he had acted appropriately. "She got what she deserved," he muttered to himself.

He quickly returned to the kitchen, finished his noodles in one go, and got ready to leave. Once prepared, he set off toward the Hokage's office, curious about this unexpected summons.

[...]

Tsunade's office was bustling, but the atmosphere was heavy. As Naruto entered, he noticed Kakashi flipping through a book with his usual laid-back demeanor, Sakura standing off to the side, and Shizune, who looked worried. Tsunade, seated behind her desk, appeared more serious than ever.

"Yo, everyone!" Naruto called out with his usual enthusiasm, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Naruto, you're finally here," Tsunade said, rising from her chair. "We have an urgent mission."

Naruto, intrigued, stepped forward. "A mission? What's it about?"

Tsunade took a deep breath before responding. "Gaara... he's been kidnapped by the Akatsuki."

Those words plunged the room into a chilling silence. Naruto felt his heart clench. "Gaara... Akatsuki..." he repeated, his expression hardening.

"Our mission is to find him and bring him back before they do anything irreversible," Tsunade continued gravely.

Naruto clenched his fists. "We can't let this happen. Not to Gaara. When do we leave?"

Kakashi closed his book and interjected. "We'll leave as soon as everything is ready. Pack your gear immediately. Sakura, Naruto, you'll be under my command for this mission. Shizune and I have already outlined a departure plan."

Naruto nodded firmly. "Got it! I'll bring him back, no matter what."

Sakura, though still shaken from their earlier exchange, regained her composure. She cast a fleeting glance at Naruto, who looked ready to do whatever it took to complete the mission.

"Don't waste any time," Tsunade concluded. "Every minute counts."

Naruto rushed back home to prepare his belongings. His mind raced with memories of his first encounter with Gaara. He recalled the shadow of loneliness he had seen in him, a shadow he understood all too well. "I won't let you down, Gaara," he murmured, clutching his bag.

A short while later, he was back at the rendezvous point, where Kakashi and Sakura were waiting. The team, now ready, prepared to leave the village.

"Be careful," Shizune said, her worried gaze following them as they stepped through Konoha's gates.

Naruto, casting one last look at the village behind him, gritted his teeth. "This time, it's my turn to protect Gaara."