Time management

"Um Temari-chan... right now isn't the best time.", Naruto said hesitantly as he stared at the Suna Kunoichi standing so close to him. Naruto was feeling more and more nervous, especially since Temaris grip on his arms was slowly getting tighter. "Um... well, I have a team meeting at eight and I really should be checking up on Kin so Tayuya doesn't get her chance to beat me up...", Naruto muttered, making up partial excuses and truths.

Temari however just narrowed her eyes a bit as she replied "It's only one date Naruto, it's not going to take us seven hours to have a date, so whatever you and your teammates have planned won't interfere with our date. Besides, you can check on that sound girl tomorrow, you still do have one free day left before the exam.", Temari said as she began leaking killing intent on Naruto, something that was making him very uneasy.

This was just like when Ino had first found out about him and Tenten, that same 'If you don't do as I say you will die'-aura was around her as she in a overly sweet voice asked "Now Naruto-kun, are you going to be a gentleman and keep your promise to me?". Naruto couldn't nod his head in agreement fast enough as Temari was suddenly happy again, any trace of the killer intent vanishing as quickly as it had come.

'Why is it all kunochi are so scary?', Naruto thought to himself. "So... um Temari-chan, where do you want to go?", Naruto asked nervously as Temaris grin widened. "Well, how about the park?". That got Naruto to look at her funny. "The park?", Naruto asked curiously as she nodded "In Sunagakure, we don't have the kinds of trees and plants you do, so I want to take a walk around one of these big parks you have.", she said as Naruto nodded in understanding. He guessed if he grew up where she did then seeing a place like this would be a big deal.

So Naruto led Temari to one of the largest parks they were close to, all the while Temari was hanging off of Narutos arm with a smile gracing her face, a fact that made many other residents of the village stop and stare at the odd pair. "Hey, isn't that...", one woman whispered as another nodded. "What's he doing with that foreign kunoichi? You think he's planning something?", the other asked in a hushed tone.

"I heard he made it to the finals! How could they let HIM get that far?", she asked back as Temari gave a weird glance at the two gossiping women before looking back at Naruto. "Hey Naruto-kun, what with the old women around here?", she asked as Naruto rubbed his neck. "Hehe, I kinda pulled a prank on them a while back and they haven't exactly forgiven me.", Naruto quickly said making her narrow her eyes a bit.

"Naruto, I'm not stupid! What's going on here?", Temari more demanded then asked as he looked away. "Temari-chan, there are just some things people wished would go away and I'm am a reminder of one of those things. Now please, for now, let's just enjoy the date, ok?", Naruto asked with a much more somber mood then usual, and it was striking to Temari to see the normally very happy Konoha ninja to be acting this way.

"Um... alright, Naruto-kun.", Temari said a bit unsure as Naruto led her deeper through the park. Both were silent for a good while as they walked side by side although Temari kept stealing glances at her blond haired date. "Naruto-kun?", Temari said suddenly, getting him to look at her. "I'm... I'm sorry if I upset you at all, I didn't mean to pry or anything, it's just...", Temari said, trying to find the words but Naruto beat her to it.

"It's ok, Temari-chan.", Naruto said, smiling a bit as she looked at him surprised. "You did nothing wrong, I'm just used to keeping things to myself. Hell, even Tenten-chan and the others don't know everything about me.", Naruto grinned. "Don't worry about it so much. Besides, I can't have you feeling akward on this date, right?".

Temari stared at Naruto with a truly surpised look before she grinned herself and nodded. "You're right Naruto-kun. Hey, you know what? How about you treat me to some ice cream, that'll make you feel better!", Temari said, pointing to a cart not more then a few feet away selling the frozen treat, making Naruto shrug. "Sure, hang on a moment.", Naruto said as he walked off to buy some.

Temari watched as Naruto bought two cones, her mind working over everything he had told her so far. As cryptic as it had been, she was tryingto find a cause for it. What was Naruto Uzumaki? He was a talented shinobi, he had a good following of girlfriends waiting for him but he also seemed to have something he was afraid of, something that, if he shared it, would mean the end of his life.

"Gah! It's so confusing!", Temari yelled as she rubbed her hands through her hair fast, trying anything to make her mind work at the moment. But no matter what she tried to do it, didn't make sense!!!

"Temari-chan?", Naruto said, getting her attention as he stared at her confusedly. "Are you okay?". Temari was quick to regain her composure as she smiled. "Of course, Naruto-kun. Now, let's eat!", she said, quickly snatching her cone as she dragged him away from the rest of the park and sat down with him on a large rock once she was sure they were alone, nearly rubbing shoulders in how close they were.

"Well Naruto-kun, what did you think of our second date?", Temari asked with a grin as he smiled. "I enjoyed it, Temari-chan. Too bad I'm going to be busy with the exam and everything. I would like to do this more often.", he said honestly as he licked some of the melted ice cream off his fingers, having downed his snack in a few minutes.

Temari however saw a way to have a little fun with Naruto. Even if she didnt' find his secret yet, there was plenty of time before Narutos other duties pulled him away. Who said it had to be all work after all? "Hey Naruto-kun, you got some melted vanilla on your face.", Temari smirked. "Huh, really? Where?", Naruto asked confused as Temari leaned in closer. "Right here, Naruto-kun.", she said as her face approached his.

Naruto suddenly knew what was going to happen as Temari's lips moved closer. Reacting out of surprise, Naruto leaned back, unfortunately that little bit made Naruto lose his balance as he fell back off the rock and to the ground below. "Naruto-kun, are you ok?!", Temari asked, her moment now ruined seeing Naruto landed stomach first to the floor. "Ow... yeah, Temari-chan, I'm fine.", Naruto replied as she hopped down and started to look him over.

"I better make sure. Here take your shirt off!", she said as she tried to get him to comply. "Temari-chan! I said I'm fine. Hey! Don't grab that!", Naruto yelled defensivly as she pulled at his clothes. "Will you stop acting like a big baby and let me do this! What if you're hurt?!", she said as she gave a triumphant yell as she managed to push his shirt up.

"Ha! See Naruto-kun, that wasn't... so... bad...", Temari said, trailing off as she got an eye full of something she had only seen once of before and it made her freeze as her eyes widened in shock. Narutos seal had appeared on his stomach. "Oh god.", Temari whispered in realization as the piece to the puzzle in her head was staring back at her in plain view.

His insane stamina and chakra limit, how he seemed to have wanted to kill the Hyuuga in the prelims after he had injured his cousin, the way the villagers had been acting around him the whole time they had been seen together. It all made sense. "You're just like him... you're another one!", Temari whispered, backing up from Naruto as he gave her a calm look but one could tell on the inside Naruto was anything but, he was scared, he was worried, but most of all, he was hurt.

"You... you have something inside you, don't you?", Temari asked as Naruto didn't know how she knew this, but she obviously knew what his seal was, so there was no point in lying to he at this point.

Naruto nodded while standing up, his eyes looking anywhere but at Temari at the moment ."That's right. I have something sealed in me, a monster that I have to burden for everyones safety. And because of that, the people are afraid of me.", Naruto said as he adjusted his clothing back to normal.

"It's like I said, Temari-chan.", Naruto said with a wry grin. "I'm a reminder of something they want to forget and I accepted that a while ago. But I won't let that stop me from my dream.", Naruto said as he looked at her with a smile. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way Temari-chan, but you don't have to worry. Soon as the exams are over, you'll be back in your own village and away from me.", Naruto said as he turned around.

"Naruto...", Temari began as her hand slowly went up, conflicting as if to reach out and touch him or not to. "I understand if you want me to stay away from you now, but please, just don't tell anyone else my secret.", Naruto asked as he looked away. "If it's not too much to ask, I'd like to keep my life like this a while longer.", Naruto said before taking a deep breath and sighing as he prepared to walk away.

Naruto however was surprised to feel a hand grabbing the back of his jacket as he was about to walk away. Looking behind him he saw it was Temari's as she stared at him with a hard look, her eyes telling him that it wasn't anger at him for being one... it as something else.

"Naruto-kun... you're an idiot.", she said seriously as she pulled him back to her and held him tightly around his waist. "Temari-chan! Let me go!", Naruto said in surprise of the unexpected actions of the blond Sunakagure girl. "Shut up Naruto-kun... just shut up.", Temari whispered as she rested her head against his back. "You think that I care?", Temari asked, making him stop cold as his body ceased it struggling.

"You're not whats inside you... you can't be...you just can't". Temari whispered. If Naruto was one, then that meant that maybe Gaara... could be saved too.

"I'm not going to ask what it is inside you, Naruto-kun, but you're not alone.", Temari said as tears welled up in her eyes, "You're not the only one with a burden and you're an idiot for thinking I would care.". Naruto looked over his shoulder at her. "Temari-chan.", Naruto whispered as she turned him around. "Naruto-kun... I need you to do something for me... only you can help me... please.", Temari said as she looked up at him with a pleading look.

"What's that, Temari-chan?", Naruto asked confused. She was acting completely opposite then he had expected. Not only was she not turning him away, she was almost begging for his help with something. "I can't tell you now Naruto-kun, but tomorrow after you deal with that Sound girl, please find me. I'll be at the dango stand where we had our first date at. I'll explain everything then, I promise.".

Naruto stared into Temaris eyes as she was hanging on for his answer, her look telling Naruto it wasn't a trick or at least she trusted him enough to have him help her. A moment of thought and Naruto nodded slowly, making Temari let out the breath she had been holding and smiled. "Thank you, Naruto-kun.", Temari whispered as she hugged him tightly.

When Temari finally seperated herself from him, she smiled as she said "I think you better get going Naruto-kun. You have that meeting with your team, don't you?", Temari asked as Naruto nodded. "Um...Temari-chan", Naruto said as she silenced him with a finger. "Shhh, you don't have to say a thing, Naruto-kun.", she said before smiling. "Just keep this in mind.", she said before moving her mouth and kissing him on the cheek.

Naruto's eyes widened when that happened as he held his cheek and asked "Temari-chan, what was that for?". Temari smiled. "For proving everything I have believed was true.", Temari said before smiling. "Remember Naruto-kun, tomorrow at the dango shop.", Temari said before she disappeared in a flash of speed. Naruto thought to himself for a good while, just standing there with the sounds of the park around him the only company he had.

Finally, Naruto began the trip back towards his house, his mind twirling with thoughts of the night ahead and the blond haired Sunakagure girl who had seen the real him.