Disclaimer: The day I own Naruto would be a day where pigs fly, hell has frozen over and woman have possessed the ability the give birth through their mouths (I say that because I have a very strange friend who enjoys weird facts: apparantly, there's a type of frog with such an ability...)

Chapter 19- A Chance

They have been traveling in the scorching heat for a day now, having left the village by night when the weather was more merciful. It was evening now and Naruto was sweltering under the sun's glare. They have yet to escape the desert, seeing as Naruto – who is not used to such heat – had been in need to stop for breathe. Gaara simply humored him every time by giving the blonde the larger share of their water.

Though Naruto had been able to make it to Sunagakure by only 2 days earlier on, now he was plagued by a sudden discomfort. The adrenaline which had driven him to go full speed towards the village hidden in sand had been replaced by a sudden worry.

The Kyuubi hasn't spoken.

Not since the time when they had stopped to eat before leaving the village. The kyuubi was silent in his mind, though he had tried to communicate with him several times through this journey for lack of conversation.

Naruto shivered, despite the scolding heat of the desert; he shivered. There was something, something well beyond their knowledge lurking in the path ahead. He glanced back at his silent, indifferent companion. He didn't seem to notice.

Another shiver ran down the blonde's spine.

"Do you feel that?" Naruto whispered, his eyes searching the redhead's expressionless features. "I don't know about you, but something up ahead is really making my skin crawl."

But that wasn't the only thing that had him trembling; it was the fact that his mind was silent. As though the beast within did not exist or perhaps lay dormant in his mind. It frightened the blonde to, for once, not hear the cold voice of his captured beast. The beast had always answered his questions before… What has him tongue-tied now?

His red-headed companion stopped as well, his body frozen in a way that was familiar to Naruto; after-all he himself had been stuck in such a position when conversing with his beast. His body 5 feet away from the blonde, he always held this distance. Any closer and he'd let his sands grab you and harm you in any way. Naruto has been lucky to have peeked the petite teen's interest until the point where killing him no longer was an option.

"Mother says it's because of your foxes. They seem to have grown frantic in your absence." Gaara responded, his cracked and frail voice breaking him out of his thoughts and musing.

It took a moment for Naruto to register the information he had been given, a minute longer to puzzle it together and a second to conclude his findings.

"Foxes… I don't have any foxes."

Again he has proven his reputation as the legendary knucklehead to be true and strong.

Gaara narrowed his eyes towards him, causing him to shrink slightly from the pressure his stare brought. It weighed on him as though one of the monuments of the past hokages had been airborne and fallen onto him.

"Not specifically your foxes. Mother says it is the foxes under the rule of the Kyuubi – the nine-tailed beast." Gaara droned, his voice sounding agitated and annoyed.

Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to bring him along…

Naruto could feel a big drop of perspiration building up on his brow as his mouth fell open, releasing a drawn out. "Ohhh…" sound as he re-concluded his findings, again discovering a piece that did not fit in the puzzle. "But why do I feel as though there's some sort of… doomsday right ahead? Shouldn't I feel at home with the foxes?"

Gaara growled slightly with impatience. Naruto knew that the red-head did not like to be questioned, especially more than once. He could already see a steady stream of sand being drawn from the large gourd, swirling around it's user as it readied for command.

The drop of perspiration dripped of his chin and splashed heavily on the ground.

"Ask your beast. I do not hold all the answers. " Gaara coldly responded turning his glare away from the sweating blonde and began to walk onward where the tree line had begun to present itself in the horizon.

Naruto mumbled under his breathe about his beast not responding to him, before following after the annoyed red-head. He made sure not to step too closely in his personal space, aware that the sand could lash out at him any minute.

Naruto wanted to forget the horrible trembles and shivering. He didn't want to focus on them any longer than he already had. That was what led him to begin his chattering. He spoke volumes of his likes and dislikes, his past and what he planned for the future. He chattered on about things that were pointless and topics that were of the more serious matter, he did not care if every question he posed was met with utter silence. He didn't care to think about Gaara's feelings about all his ranting.

He knew that Gaara found it amusing.

If he hadn't then Naruto would've already been killed as soon as he opened his mouth. Naruto knew that Gaara found this idle and pointless chatter as a bit of a relief, though he'd never admit it himself. Naruto knew this because he already knew what it was like not to have anyone to talk to or anyone to listen to.

By observation you knew that Gaara was a man of very few words, only speaking when asked a direct question and, at times, not even then. Therefore he'd enjoy someone else do the talking, so he didn't have to. Naruto chattered on not only for his own sake, but for Gaara's as well. He knew that him talking made the red-head feel less alone, which in turn brought the 2 jinchuuriki into a closer bond.

He didn't have to ask Gaara, he just knew.

Careful there, Kit. I'm gonna start thinking you've developed feelings for the brat.

Naruto's body suddenly froze. His hand shooting towards his forehead as he shut himself out from the outside world, barely noticing the way pale green eyes widen in surprise.

Kyuubi? Kyuubi, you're there!

Of course I'm here, brat. Where else can I be?

You didn't respond to me at all. There are foxes in the woods ahead, they seem to be… what was that word Gaara used? Frenzied? Hysteric… Frantic! They are apparently frantic!

A moment of silence followed, Naruto's physical body stood shock-still, his hands clutching to the sides of his head. Completely ignoring the questioning red-head.

I was asleep. The fox responded at last. There's not a lot to do otherwise… But to answer your questions… The fox clan must feel my power residing in you that is why they are beginning to make themselves known. Don't fret about the shudders; it is only the foxes who are trying to connect with you.

Naruto, unsure if he truly believed the nine-tail's explanation, nodded.

It was by that time that the fox's earlier statement sunk in.

"I do not have feelings for him!" Naruto shouted out loud, causing the red-head to jump in surprise. That would have amused the blonde, if only he wasn't still stuck in his own mindscape.

The kyuubi answered his shout with a chuckle and then sunk deeper into his mind, his voice disappearing as he went along.

Well, you never know…

Shocked out of his hypnotized state, Naruto turned and observed his surroundings with confusion, his eyes stopping once they landed on a wide-eyed red-head.

A sudden blush crept onto the blondes whiskered cheeks as he hurriedly turned around, marching in the direction of the incoming tree line.

"Let's go, let's go! Naruto shouted as he rushed away.

He managed to make it just past the tree-line before nearly collapsing. He had forgotten why they had been walking in the first place, the retched heat was as unforgiving as ever not to mention the sudden change from heat to cold as the day progressed into night. Naruto's body couldn't take it.

He looked behind and saw that Gaara had already caught up to him, standing at his full height and remaining unaffected.

Though Naruto had long ago taken off his jacket, mask and headband, Gaara was still wrapped heavily in draping clothing lugging onto the giant gourd that was strapped on his back.

"How…" Naruto drew in a deep breath as he stared gob smacked at his travel-companion. "How can you sti-still be so dressed up and not even brea-break a freaking sweat!" He yelled as he wildly gestured at the red-head's clothing. He then began togging at the thin, sweat-stained T-shirt he was wearing. "I'm dying just from watching you!"

The red-head remained stoic, only sparring a glance at the suffering blonde before passing him to scan the area they had discovered.

"It'll be dark soon, we must settle for the night to travel tomorrow. It's dangerous for you to continue now." Gaara said as he shrugged off the gourd, placing it delacatly on the ground leaning it precautiously against a tree.

Naruto took a few deep breaths before nodding.

As the two began to pitch up camp, Naruto noticed that Gaara had brought no sleeping gear. Though Naruto preferred to sleep outside, finding comfort in the open air, he did have the brains to pack in a tent for the more harsher nights. Yet Gaara hadn't brought anything, not even a sleeping bag.

Naruto finished hitching up his tent before turning to his companion who had just managed to awaken a fire within a circle of stones.

"Hey, Gaara. I noticed ya didn't bring a sleeping bag or something. How ya gonna sleep?" Naruto asked as he slumped onto the ground on the other side of the fire, watching the pale shinobi.

Gaara looked up and clashed eyes with Naruto, icy green meeting sky blue.

"I do not sleep." He said, his voice still as cold as ever.

Naruto, not known for being the most sensitive person ever, cocked his head to the side and commented. "Really? That's why you've got those black circles around your eyes?"

Gaara nodded.

A long moment of silence followed. Both boys lost in their thoughts.

Although Naruto grew bored of just staring at the dark shadows and instead began rummaging through his bag, searching for some sort of food substance to quench his growing hunger.

Once finding a bag of chips hidden beneath an extra pair of underwear he cheered with joy and instantaneously tore the bag open to munch on the salty pieces the bag contained.

"Uzumaki…" The red-head called out, catching his companions attention at once.

It was then Naruto took notice of how vulnerable Gaara looked. He had tucked his knees beneath his chin, hugging his legs close to his body as his pale green eyes stared into the flames, as though trying to absorb it's warmth.

Swallowing down the mouthful of crunched chips, he responded. "Yeah, Gaara?"

The red hesitated for a moment, as though he second-guessed himself or was it because he surprised himself by calling out in the first place.

"You know… You're free around me, right? I'm not one to judge others…" Naruto said slowly as he placed his half-eaten bag of chips aside to give the red-head his ole attention. "I mean, alotta people call me stupid, but I am good at listening… When I wanna be."

This seemed to strengthen Gaara's resolve as he boldly met the blonde's eyes.

"During the battle..." He started his voice trailing away slightly as he thought of a way to form his next statement. "You… you held onto me." For once the red-head seemed almost shy to continue, but Naruto nodded for him to continue. "And no matter how much I screamed and struggled, you just… held on. You were bleeding and bruised… and still you held me as if I were a baby. And then you helped me out of the village, even after I harmed you."

That was the most Naruto has ever heard Gaara say at once. He had to admit that the red-head's voice was quite soothing despite how broken it suddenly from lack of use.

This brought a grin to his lips as he chuckled.

"You're like me, Gaara." Naruto said, stating the obvious. "We both hold a creature that had pushed people away from us… but the difference is that I had the luxury of not knowing why until a very few years back. You've known since birth, huh?"

The red-head nodded, yet his eyes still held the curiosity of a child.

"There are some precious people to me, back in my village. One of them had told me that in order to feel love you must give your love in return." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his headband, the metal plate glimmered in the fire's light. "See, she even gave me this to remember that as well as her."

A small smile graced Naruto's features as he suddenly rose from his place huddled near the fire. He slowly walked around the fire and sat down next to Gaara. He threw an arm around the startled boy and beamed brightly as he said.

"And now you're my precious friend, Gaara! I was afraid about being alone, but with you here I'm not anymore. Even if you do stare at me with cold eyes sometimes." Naruto laughed as he nodded happily. "We're friends." He stated.

Naruto patted the shocked boy on the shoulder before getting up.

"I'm gonna turn in. If you get cold out here you can sit in my tent or something, I don't mind." Naruto said before sliding into his sleeping bag, snoring up a storm within minutes.

Hinata's knees trembled before they gave away, her small frame fell with a thump onto the ground. Her chest heaving in a desperate attempt for air as heavy pants escaped for lips. Sweat coated every surface and leaked through her dark T-shirt – her fur lined jacket long since discarded due to heat and near suffocation.

"I-I…" She whispered as she balanced herself on the palms of her hands. "May have p-pushed myself too far."

Eventually her breathing evened out and she was able to sit up straight, releasing slight pants as she did, but was no longer pulling in gusts of air to survive.

Her eyes scanned the area, wincing slightly as they burned due to overuse. She had been training hard on mastering the Bykugan, but so far she was far off and nowhere near her cousin's, Neji Hyuuga, level. The area wasn't heavily damaged, only a few kunai and shuriken scattered around, a few imbedded into trees while others lay harmlessly on the ground or, in the worst case, a stray bird.

She sighed before shifting position, wincing as she did so. She crossed her legs and placed her hands so that her knuckles met. She closed her eyes and flared her chakra, concentrating on how low her resources were and if it were lethal in anyway.

She had enough to get by, not enough to take on any sort of mission, but enough to rest up a little than rush home for a much needed shower.

She nodded to herself as she scooted herself backward until her back hit the trunk of a near-by tree. She closed her eyes as she allowed her thoughts to drift.

As of late there was a question that had been haunting her, a question that most likely haunts many more. It was a simple question, yet it demanded answers. Answers that could either make or break a person's life. The worst thing about this question was the fact that those answers will go on hidden. Why? Well, because this question is based on a decision you've made in the past, a decision that you both take pride in and wish to know if anything could have gone wrong or regret and wonder if anything could have gone right.

It's a loaded question for the optimists and the pessimists.

What if?

What if I had bucked up and collected the courage to talk to Naruto? What if I had started training earlier challenged my father and beat the odds? What if I was born stronger? What if I was more courageous, more confident like Ino or Sakura?

What if? What if? What if?

"Wh-what if I w-was a better Kunoichi?" Hinata mumble to herself, her eyes prickling with each passing thought.

Suddenly there was a innocent mewl sounding from her left side as something soft and fluffy subbed against her head.

Her eyes snapped open, small drops of transparent liquid clung to her eyelashes as she locked eyes on the intruder. She was on the verge of activating the bykugan until she saw the white furred fox kit stroking his fluffy head against her hand.

She was frozen with surprise for a moment. Watching as it continuously rubbed against her, lifting her hand with his muzzle and placing it atop his head as it buried its small nose in her palm. Unconsciously she began scraping her fingers against his soft skin. It's fur clean and soft to the touch.

Slyly the kit moved slowly onto her lap, cutely nuzzling its head into her hand as it climbed up her thigh until it changed target and snuggled into her stomach. Its small fame curled into a ball as it fitted itself onto her lap with glee.

Hinata stared down at the kit, astonish at the kit's bravery. Foxes were sly, they hid from anything humane or dangerous, especially at a young age. What was this kit thinking? Wasn't he afraid? Didn't he sense any form of danger?

She glanced around the area warily; the kunai and shuriken were still in their scattered state, meaning that all animals were keeping away from her location. They could smell the sharp, human scented objects and scurry away from the oncoming danger.

She looked down as the kit continued to mewl. "Wh-what are you do-doing here, little one?" She asked it, not fully recovered and dizzy from the heavy explosion from earlier. "It's da-dangerous."

The kit shifted and looked up, causing Hinata's breathe to hitch in her throat and tears to brim her eyes. The snow-white kit had his eyes. It burned with a passion within cool orbs of various shades of blue. Darker in the around the pupil and lightening up by the edges, just like his.

"Y-you…" Hinata trailed away, breathless as her hands wrapped around the small fame, hugging it tightly.

The kit tilted its head, and then turned. Its ears suddenly on alert, standing straight up while its nose began to sniff the air. It shivered against her before wriggling out of her lap and dashing towards the bushes.

"W-wait!" Hinata called after, standing up, fumbling as her muscles gave way. "D-don't go!"

"Hinata!" A voice familiar to her growled out as a small dog jumped out of the bushes on the opposite side, growling and snarling as he did so. He took on a protective stance in front of Hinata before dipping his head between his forelegs and rearing his hind legs, readying to attack.

His target was the bushes the small white fox had disappeared into.

"A-Akamaru?"

"Hinata! There ya are!" Kiba hollered as he stumbled into the clearing, his eyes searching the area frantically. "We smelled something and thought you were in danger! Are you alright? We smelled a fox!"

Hinata blinked as she looked up at her frantic teammate. "A fox? Wh-why would you wo-worry about that?" She leaned against the tree as her knees wobbled, still weak after maxing out on her training.

"The entire Inuzuka clan has been on edge lately. The foxes have been appearing more and more, fearlessly leaving trails. It's been driving our dogs' nuts, 'specially Akamaru. He got attacked by a pack of 'em a few days ago." Kiba said as he bent down to pat Akamaru's head in an attempt to console the raging dog.

"Oh…" Hinata said, rubbing her arm as she looked at the dog owner comforting his companion. "I-I didn't know that f-foxes traveled in pa-packs."

Kiba froze. She could see the fine hairs at the back of his neck stand up as his entire back went rigid. "They don't." He answered turning his head to look his female teammate in the eye. His near slit, animalistic eyes narrowing as he processed his next words. "Which is wh everyone's freaking out over it. They are sly creatures, but they usually don't mean any harm. We still don't get why they'd attack Akamaru out in the open so freely."

Hinata nodded, not fully understanding, as her eyes drifted over to the bush that sheilded the escaped kit. Questioning it now after processing this new information.

"C'mon, Hinata. Kurenai and the Hokage has a mission for us." Kiba said, getting up from his crouch and placing Akamaru on his head. "We better get going.

"Ha-hai." Hinata replied absentmindedly as she jumped into the trees, following her teammate as they made their way to the Hokage tower.

"We're going on a C-ranked mission? Awesome! Finally something other than those friggin D-ranks!" Kiba howled as he and Akamaru barked happily at one another.

Shino, being the only serious one in the room, took the scroll from the hokage and nodded. "We'll be taking some merchants to the village hidden in the rocks." Shino stated, meaning for it to be confirmed. His sunglasses sent off a glare as he turned his head towards the hokage.

"Y-yes." The hokage stumbled on his words, a little surprised by the seriousness in the young boys voice. Hinata couldn't really blame him. She was silent by nature but there were times where Shino made even her stutter on her words more than usual.

"I want you all packed and ready and by the entrance gate in 30 minutes." Kurenai ordered, disappearing in waves as she left to prepare her own packing. Hinata nodded towards no one in particular as she hurried home, excited to be able to showcase her improved training on a higher rank mission.

AN/ Truth be told I've been holding this chapter hostage for a while... I feel really bad about that, but ya know... Life gets in the way... And Summer is a time meant to be spent lying around in a near comatose state... Yes I'm meaning that I have a very bad case of laziness...

Again, really sorry for the extremely late update!

Oh, and I've also changed my name from InsaneChickGoneMad to Soaring Keys. I've had this account since I was like 13 and never changed the name... Suddenly I didn't like the name so while writing I suddenly thought that my fingers were just soaring over the keyboard at the speed of light (it was a late night...) And so, I named myself Soaring Keys.

You know the Drill. Review, Review, Review!