A/N: I don't own Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, or any of it's characters. All Original Characters however, are my own work.

Italics: Thoughts of characters.

Bold: Ninjutsu


A New Leaf

Chapter I

Springtime, Shikamaru thought, as he was walking through the path in the forest. Has it already been a year? A brisk wind grew, and Shikamaru noticed something fall to the ground. A new leaf? Must be the wind… what a pain. The genius shinobi let out a deep sigh, and walked onwards to the main gate of the village he called home. Wind, and I thought I left her in Suna.

"H-Hey, it's Shikamaru!" greeted the village's gate guards Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, the inseparable pair.

"Oh… hi Kotetsu, Izumo," Shikamaru replied back.

"What's new with Suna?" Izumo asked.

"Oh... nothing in particular. The Kazekage is planning on enhancing the villages technology, making trade deals, the boring tidbits. It is troublesome, really."

Shikamaru stepped into his village after passing the enormous gates for the first time in a year. Being the ambassador to Sunagakure made him realize how much he missed the refreshing grass and air that Konoha offered.

He sighed. Now that I am home on leave, it seems I might be bored. How troublesome.

Shikamaru's boredom, however, was put on hold. His jaw slightly dropped, as he saw that Konoha had easily surpassed Suna in its attempt to enhance itself technologically. Off in the distance, he easily spotted the Hokage Rock, and behind it, tall skyscraper-like structures were on their way to being built, modeled after scaffoldings in their absence.

Shikamaru laughed, It seems like the Fifth really stepped up while I was gone, or maybe it's because she had some help...


There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" called out the blonde sannin, looking at a stack of papers on her desk.

So much work to get done. Six years at this job, and yet there is still so much work left.

Through the doorway, Kakashi, the copycat ninja, entered.

"Lady Hokage-sama," Kakashi bowed, "the final preparations for the skyscrapers above the Hokage Rock are in place. I have received the daily check in sheet from the village gate, stating that Shikamaru Nara has returned from Sunagakure as you requested, and…" Kakashi, with a frown that was easily noticeable underneath his mask, sighed, "Sasuke Uchiha has not yet been found."

The cutting sound of wind could be heard just outside the window.

"Very well. Kakashi, your duties as understudy to the Hokage has been exemplary. After we are done here, take a few days off and report back to this office."

The blonde sannin looked out across the village from her desk. She had only been the Hokage for six years. To think my legacy as a Hokage would be the destruction of the leaf and the Fourth War. Is this what a Hokage endures? She quickly shook that thought from her mind. She had to stay clear from thoughts that would bring the office down.

"There is another problem, Lady Hokage-sama," Kakashi started, "We have received reports that there has been increased activity within Otogakure…"

The Sannin looked up with a surprised expression. After the continual peace after the war, she thought her once colleague would've stopped trying to wage chaos and destruction.

She exhaled. With a slight disdain, she began to speak, "how certain is the intel?"

"It's credible, it is from the reestablished spy network that Lord Jiraiya-sama formed, which was put back into place by Naruto. Iwagakure has already sent it's ANBU battalion to the area. However, we should gather more intel before proceeding with anything too drastic."

"I agree. The Alliance will be more than gladly to assist us, since Iwa has already committed their forces. Have Shikamaru report to the office later. Dismissed."

Kakashi bowed and exited the office. Naruto's new spy network has helped us extremely. I should… Kakashi collided with a purple haired kunoichi, not realizing where he was walking.

"Kakashi-san?" the purple haired kunoichi questioned.

Kakashi looked back up at the female figure standing in front of him. She was wearing a cat-like mask with three red stripes on the facial cover.

"Is that you, Yugao?" Kakashi replied back with a slight grin.

"Hai. It is." Yuhao stated. Her face, underneath her mask, became pink with embarrassment from causing the collision.

"Well," Kakashi said,"I should be more careful next time. What are you doing here?"

"I've come to reactivate myself into the ANBU Interrogation force. I figured that Hayate would've been okay with it. It has been quite awhile since he has passed, and I feel better about coming back."

Kakashi noticed that she had significant growth from her training the last two years. It is a shame that Hayate passed all those years ago, Kakashi thought to himself.

"Well, good luck on your readmittance into ANBU, Yugao," Kakashi said in his nonchalant demeanor as he walked past her.

Now I can go home and relax. What a relief. Kakashi thought with a chuckle, I haven't had a day off since the end of the war.


The sound of kunai clashing against each other could be heard in the distance. Amongst these sounds were three wooden logs, upright against the ground, which could be seen from the numerous trees of the famous forest surrounding Konoha. It was the third training ground, where the infamous bell tests of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi Hatake were administered.

The blue sky was dimmed by a whirl of shuriken buzzing by.

"Close one there, Naruto!" a pink haired kunoichi said as she quickly dodged the incoming assault from the shuriken.

Naruto smirked, "Sakura-chan, you forgot about the wind chakra links to them!"
As soon as the blonde shinobi pointed out one of his simplest moves, the shuriken reached around and came directly at the Haruno kunoichi. She escaped the moving shuriken by substituting a wooden log in her place as the shuriken hit.

"Like I said, Naruto, close one," Sakura stated as she tightened up her fingerless gloves.

"Now how about you dodge this?"

Her hand clenched together to form a fist, and blue chakra rippled to her hand. Shattering the ground beneath her, she punched the earth, causing hundreds of small rocks and debris to rise in the air. Quickly spotting a sizable boulder, she likewise punched the gigantic rock. Fragmented chunks began flying towards the blonde.

Shrapnel, Naruto thought, as tiny rocks went through his body.

A white cloud of smoke appeared, signifying a shadow clone that was destroyed. Sakura began to pant fiercely. They were at this since before the sun rose.

Quickly, Sakura glided over to the lake that was in the training ground.

Well, if the shrapnel didn't work, let's try some ninjutsu, Sakura thought.

Sakura shouted out her water style attack, "Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu!"

"Alright," The blonde leapt out from behind one of the trees in the distance, "let's get serious, then!"

Naruto took a huge breath of air, and suddenly performed the bird hand seal.

"Fūton: Fūdan no Jutsu!"

The Air Bullet blasted from Naruto collided with the Water Bullet from Sakura. The collision ended up making the water bullet burst, and it drenched the area where they were standing at.

Forming a bird hand seal, "Fūton— eh?" Naruto questioned as he was interrupted by the kunoichi.

"Naruto, wait!" Sakura hurriedly tried to say.

Naruto stopped in his tracks, unsure about what was going to happen. It was unlike Sakura to stop training.

"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto.

"I am almost out of chakra. I think that's enough training for today, don't you think?"

"Sakura-chan, you know I would love to go get some ramen right about now, but Sasuke is still out there!"

"Naruto, he voluntarily decided not to come back. You can't keep thinking about Sasuke like he is in danger. He is one of the strongest shinobi in the world."

"I still have a promise to fulfill," Naruto said as he looked into the emerald eyes of his teammate.

Sakura stared back. "You completed that promise a year ago, Naruto! You saved Sasuke from his clan's curse! You offered him redemption and he didn't take it."

With wide eyes, Naruto looked first at Sakura, then down at his feet, almost in tears.

"I tried Sakura-chan, I really tried. But he wouldn't come back with me."

Sakura noticed the amount of pain coming off of Naruto. She took a step forward and embraced her whiskered teammate.

"I know, Naruto. I know. Don't let Sasuke's choice affect you like this. Afterall, he isn't being influenced anymore. Orochimaru, Madara, Zetsu, they are all gone. It was his decision for all the horrible and cruel things he had committed."

Holding out their embrace, Sakura noticed that this was the first time in the last year that they had emotionally connected together since the war. A look of guilt came upon her face. Naruto has had feelings for me for all these years, and all I have ever wanted was his best friend, who has betrayed the village, our team, and even myself…

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto started off.

"Yeah, Naruto?" Sakura replied.

"Thank you, Sakura-chan. That means a lot to hear you say that. Is my promise officially completed?"

With a tearful laugh, Sakura answered, "Naruto... of course you finished the promise. It has been done for the last year."


Naruto and Sakura had just entered the Icha Icha Tavern, so named from the infamous books Jiraiya penned. There, the two teammates met up with Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Tenten, Rock Lee, and Shino Aburame, forming an incomplete Konoha 11.

"Ah! So Shikamaru has finally arrived from out of town, eh Ino?" Choji asked with a childish grin on his face.

The blonde kunoichi became beet red as embarrassment flushed her face. She angrily looked over at her teammate.

"So what if I knew he was back in town already? That doesn't prove anything, Choji!"

Naruto looked over to his friends with a confused expression. Why did Ino-san get so defensive over knowing Shikamaru was in town?

Sakura looked behind her towards Naruto, who was following her into the tavern.

"Why don't we get a drink to celebrate today's training, Naruto?"

"Thanks, Sakura-chan, I'll take a bottle of sake." Naruto looked over to see his friends at a large table.

"I am going to head over to the table where everyone is at."

Naruto walked over to the other shinobi with a big smile. His cerulean eyes wide with excitement that he could enjoy the night with his friends.

"Hey guys! Why'd you want us to meet here?" the blonde fox asked.

"You didn't hear?" Choji asked. "Shikamaru is finally back in town."

"What? That's amazing, living in Suna for a year." Naruto replied.

"He probably just wanted to be there for the Kazekage's sister." Kiba amusingly said.

"Yeah, right. Shikamaru would never fall for someone like that" Ino responded with a scoff.

"I bet Shikamaru will have amazing stories of youth to tell us when he gets here!" Lee stated enthusiastically.

Lee, don't make a scene right now, Tenten thought with hope.

"Why don't you ask him," a voice asked from across the room.

The shinobi looked up at the direction of the voice. A skinny, tall, and slumped man who had a cigarette in his mouth walked over to the table.
"Well now, don't be like that to a friend."

Naruto pounced over to the figure and gave him a big huge.

"Shikamaru, buddy, I missed you!"

Shikamaru began to sigh. Naruto is still as troublesome as he was in the Academy.

"Hey Naruto, how are you?"

Naruto's face became disdainful. "Where do I even begin? Well, they placed me as a Tokubetsu Jōnin, and I actually have to study to become a full fledged Jōnin," Naruto exclaimed with a pout.

Shikamaru chuckled as the man in front of him became sorrow filled at the fact that he was not a Jōnin. Shikamaru figured he was lucky that he was promoted after he took the Jōnin exam, but was surprised when Tsunade had given him the ambassador assignment. He found it troublesome to be away from all his friends and family, but it was his duty to the village. He would not let his father's sacrifice go for nothing, as he was sure to live up to his recognition.

Sakura came to the table with some sake and two cups as she sat down next to Naruto and began to pour the liquid content into the cups.

Not wanting to see Rock Lee in his drunken stupor, Tenten decided that they would exchange pleasantries with the newly arrived ambassador and leave the pub before things got to out of hand.

"She took Neji's death extremely hard," Hinata said after Tenten and Lee left.

"We all did," Sakura replied.

"Not as hard as she did. She grew to have a close bond with Neji being her partner, and Lee is there to fill the void."

Naruto took a quick swish of the drink before looking up at Hinata.

"If Lee and Tenten are happy, then that is all that matters at this moment."

The room was silent save for Choji's chewing of the pork barbeque in front of him. Many did not want to think back to the slaughter of countless lives in the past year. After awhile, normal conversation began again, and the war heroes took their time.

Before anyone knew, it had gotten dark and it was a couple hours after midnight.

"Well, I guess I will be heading out then," Shikamaru stated, nodding to Naruto in a sign of acknowledgement, as Ino and Choji went with him.

"Hinata, Kiba, and I will leave too, thanks for bringing us together tonight, Sakura," the bug user exclaimed.

Sakura slumped back into her seat and collapsed onto Naruto's shoulder from the drunken stupor she was in. Six hours of drinking, laughing, and crying with her friends did little to relieve her of what was going on in her head. Was this attempt at Sasuke's affection worth it? He isn't even here, and he tried to kill me several times. Is he even capable of love? What even is love?

Naruto yawned and looked over at the bartender who pointed to the clock on the wall suggesting that it was almost closing time. Hearing Sakura starting to snore, Naruto picked her up and began to leave the Icha Icha Tavern.

The blonde teen gently opened the side window of the Haruno house. After opening it, he quietly went in with Sakura in his arms and placed her onto her bed and quickly tiptoed his way out as he shut the window behind him.


Shikamaru lit a cigarette as he started walking home. Seeing his friends again made him happy, but the happiness soon faded away as he remembered his old sensei. Asuma would surely kick his ass for adopting his smoking habits, and would tell him that he is a fool for not pursuing Ino or Temari as vigorously as Kiba might.

Shikamaru audibly sighed, as a whirlwind of leaves came in front of him, and Kakashi appeared, using Shunshin no Jutsu.

Kakashi waved his hand in an amusing way, "Hey, Shikamaru, long time no see."

Shikamaru nodded, knowing that there was something more than just a greeting for Kakashi to appear in front of him.

Kakashi resumed, "Lady Hokage-sama would like to see you. Further developments have occurred between the five nations."

"How troublesome," Shikamaru lazily replied as he scratched the back of his head. "I will go see her."


A/N:

This is my first fanfic EVER. I would just like to ask to give me your honest opinions when reviewing! It means a lot, and shows so much support when you guys do it! I am a huge fan of the NaruSaku ship, and I honestly believe Kishimoto messed up when he didn't pair the two off. They have, other than Naruto and Sasuke, one of the strongest relationships/bonds in the whole series if you look at it objectively in my opinion. I really believe that Sasuke should have never ended up with Sakura, and that he should've be 'punished' by Kishimoto for abusing her mentally and physically. But we all know how Kishimoto writes females...


"Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu"

Water Release: Water Bullet Technique

"Fūton: Fūdan no Jutsu"

Wind Release: Wind Bullet Technique

"Shunshin no Jutsu"

Body Flicker Technique