Hello, Chris here. I decided to write another story since I got no reviews for my last one, Redemption. Is it that bad? Anyway, sit back, relax, and enjoy the reading.

Oh, and I don't own the rights to Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. Any other resemblance is just a coincidence and I don't own them. Any originality belongs to me.

A Promise to Death


A Rumor of Him


'Its so hot'

In the burning season, it tends to be hot. The sun gives out such heat that even the Mist Village are having problems performing their jutsus.

Naruto sighs anyway. The Mist Village is not his problem, for the moment at least. "Gotta get back to the village"

After a sneak attack from the remaining few of the Sound ninja, Konoha went on high alert for any attackers and sent their best ninjas to scout any remaining threats. You see, it has been years since Orochimaru was defeated. Of course, that only leaves the Akatsuki but one by one, some in pairs, were defeated as well. The one that ended their leader, were none other than Uzumaki Naruto.

Of course, all that came with sacrifices. Naruto is no longer a Jinchūriki, having the kyuubi removed from him during his Akatsuki battles, something that Naruto doesn't want to go into.

It has been ten years since the fall of Orochimaru and Akatsuki and the twenty-five year old Naruto reached over the mountaintop, looking down at Konoha.

Walking through the gates, Naruto sighs. Even though the hated stares are gone, the ignorance still occurs. You see, the people who ignores Naruto and hate him as the kyuubi… still ignores him but hate him less. Such pride still lingers on, even if they are stupid.

In the mood for ramen, Naruto ventured to his favorite ramen stand, Ichiraku. After a few good words with the old man and Ayame, Naruto started to eat.

"Naruto?"

With ramen noodles hanging from his mouth, Naruto looks back to see Sakura looking at him with a growing smile.

"Hey, didn't know you were here. When did you get back?" Sakura took a seat next to Naruto, after ordering a ramen bowl herself.

"Just a few minutes ago" answered Naruto after slurping the hanging noodles.

"So how the mission went?" asks Sakura, placing her head onto her hand.

"Boring, found none of those sound bastards" not noticing how close Sakura was to him, Naruto continues to eat his ramen.

When Sakura's order came, she open her chopsticks and dug in. Silence fell onto the two…

"I heard rumors of a raven haired stranger passing by in one of the villages I've been to. It could be Sasuke" mutter Naruto, not looking at the reaction Sakura would have, knowing full well how it would be.

With Orochimaru and Akatsuki's fall, Itachi fell the hardest. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke defeated Itachi together but no one knows about it. To the world, Itachi simply disappeared without a trace. With Itachi's defeat, Naruto and Sakura offered Sasuke to return to Konoha with them, to have him as a comrade again. But sadly, Sasuke would not have that. Sasuke cut his ties with Konoha and will not return back. Sasuke will now make his own destiny, knowing full well he'll still be a missing-nin. It was truly Team 7's final moment together.

So hearing that Naruto heard of Sasuke passing by brought such sadness to Sakura. Even after Sasuke admitting wanting nothing to do with Konoha anymore, Naruto will still oblige to his promise… a promise of a lifetime.

"Naruto… you don't have to… anymore… Sasuke-kun… he… he doesn't want to return…" whispers Sakura, starring at her ramen bowl.

"Sakura-chan, it's my promise of a lifetime. A promise I made to you, a promise I'll make sure to grant. I'll make that Sasuke-teme to come back even if I have to drag him myself," exclaimed Naruto, still not glancing at Sakura.

"Naruto, just stop it! Sasuke-kun doesn't want to return to us anymore! He left us to find his own way of life! He… he wants to forget us!!" shouted Sakura with little droplets of tears edging to come out of her eyes.

"Sakura-chan…" whispers Naruto, finally looking at Sakura after her little outburst.

"…but… you love him…" it sounded neither a statement nor a question nor anything… just… simple words… words that was directed more to Naruto than to Sakura… words that lets anyone know that Sakura loves Sasuke… and only Sasuke.

Doing nothing but starring at the defeated Naruto, Sakura slowly walks to him… hugging him… crying on him… letting it out on him.

Despite the pain cursing through his body, Naruto hugs Sakura back… because Sakura too is in pain, such pain that Naruto wishes she wouldn't go through. Pain that Naruto has been suffering since their childhood.

"…Na-naruto… I… I…"

"I have to go now Sakura-chan" letting go, Naruto just simply left leaving Sakura behind to look at his retreating form.

"Naruto…" whispers the lonely girl, hugging herself, hoping to bring back the warmth she felt when she hugged him.


Suffering


For the first time in the long days in the burning heat of summer, rain covered the fire nation. It brought joy to the people, a night of non-heat for the first time since winter will do that to people.

As the ninja enjoy the full blasts of rain outside of their houses, Naruto is no different but he did it differently.

Sitting on the roof of his apartment building, Naruto looks over his village with a blank stare, feeling the cool temperature, courtesy of the rain.

His hair covered his eyes but you can tell Naruto is watching with a blank stare. Not even blinking, weird. Not even moving, weirder. Not even looking like he was crying thanks to the rain…

Memories of his past courses through his mind. His struggle as a young child, his moments in class, his attempts to court Sakura, his graduation, his first mission in team 7, his first kyuubi transformation, his battle with Neji, Gaara, Kabuto, Kimimaro, Sasuke, Itachi, Orochimaru, Akatsuki, kyuubi and everything else.

'…you…'

Bursting with rage, Naruto was engulfed by the flames of kyuubi as Kyuubi Naruto roars to Haku in the Land of Waves.

'…hate you…'

As the chakra formed into a kyuubi-body chakra armor around Naruto, Kyuubi Naruto form 2 growls at Curse Seal Sasuke level 2 at the Valley of the End.

'I hate you…'

Transforming into the four tailed kyuubi form to fight against Orochimaru.

'I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!'

Grabbing his head, Naruto silently screams. The pain was growing immensely within him. His body shook with such tremors.

'GOD DAMN YOU!!! EVEN WHEN I FINALLY GOT RID OF YOU!!!! YOU STILL CAUSING ME PROBLEMS!!!!! I HATE YOU KYUUBI!!!!!!!!!!!'

Standing up, Naruto ran towards his apartment, still grabbing his head and still shaking with tremors. Jumping through the window, Naruto went to bed and scream onto his pillow, soaking his pillow with blood.


Sakura sighs as she looks out her window from her room. She can see the rain falling and wouldn't blame the people running around outside in the rain too, she would herself but… she wasn't in the mood.

In her child years, she was ranked as a smart and intelligent girl. She can memorize information and has great chakra control, she was a really smart girl back in the early days in the academy.

So why isn't her smarts helping her out with her problems of real life? Simple, it doesn't. Granted, the information and chakra control helps her greatly but… they're not enough to satisfy her… not anymore… more like, they never helped her in her personal life.

She, along with every other girl, fell in love with Uchiha Sasuke. And upon the early days of team 7, Sakura chased after Sasuke and insults Naruto for getting in her way.

Years passed and feelings changed… maturity got the better of Sakura… in both physical and mentally… and even though her insulting Naruto decreased a little… still… still her foolishness lingers within her… the same foolishness that's causing her to suffer.

You see, Sakura was in love with Sasuke but as the years passed and maturing, Sakura just lost the love she had for Sasuke. Instead, she found herself growing attach to Naruto, the one she insulted, the one she hits in the early days, the one she brought pain to, the one she loves.

Yes, Haruno Sakura is in love with Uzumaki Naruto but… her foolishness ruined her chances with him. Being as smart as she was, when it comes with human interaction, she as equal as Naruto. Sakura can't help but feel stupid, knowing that she was never really in love with Sasuke in that manner. She thought she did but hanging with Naruto upon his return from his 2-year training with Jiraiya, she realizes how special he was to her. Especially, when she saw him transformed into that four tailed beast, Sakura never felt so scared in her life… not because of fear of him… but because of losing him… she feared that she would lose him… the one that mattered more to her than Sasuke.

After their final confrontation with Sasuke after Itachi's defeat, Naruto started to change. He started to spend less and less time with her and spending more time on missions, especially ones that will have him away for more than two to three months. Sakura began to miss him during those early months.

That and Naruto hasn't asked Sakura on a date since the days before their confrontation with Sasuke. Usually, it was Naruto that got them to spend time together, either to train or to hang out. Nowadays, Sakura is lucky to get even ten minutes with him. The only times they truly spend together are certain occasions like birthdays and such.

It was obvious to the world, and even to Sakura herself, that Naruto has lost his love for Sakura. He has waited for her for so many years but after seeing her tears when Sasuke left them for good, Sakura knew that Naruto's heart broke beyond repair. Sakura truly has lost any chances to be with him.

For ten years, Sakura did everything that she could to get Naruto to notice her when they got time together, which weren't that long. Naruto still is a friend to Sakura and brings a present to her on her birthday and any other occasion. Sakura treasures those gifts and moments together because Naruto spends a whole day with her when he delivers gifts to her.

She would do anything for him now, which shows how dedicated her love is for him. Sakura also knows that Naruto doesn't have a clue about her feelings for him. So she would wait, wait until Naruto would notice and hopefully, hopefully by some unknown reason returns the feelings.

The only reason she hasn't told him her love for him yet was because… fear… for some reason, she's afraid of telling him how she loves him. Her, Haruno Sakura, former apprentice to Tsunade the fifth Hokage and head of the medical department. If Naruto willingly admitted his feelings for her long ago, why can't she now?

The fear comes from rejection… rejection from the only man she can trust with her entire life. The only man she loves… the man she has genuine feelings… she already knows that Naruto has lost interest with her, she just doesn't want to hear it being confirm by him. Naruto… she already caused him such great pain… and she wouldn't blame him if he doesn't return the feelings.


Finder, Unsealer, Assassinator


Yawning, Naruto locked the door to his apartment and went towards the hokage's office to receive another mission.

Arriving at Tsunade's office, Naruto wasn't surprise to see Sakura there along with Shizune discussing with Tsunade about medical operations.

"Good day to you ladies, Tsunade-obachan" grinned Naruto, still finding humor at seeing the angry look at Tsunade's face.

"Grr, I take it you're here for another mission" gritted Tsunade, the veins on her forehead throbbing so furiously that it may pop, thank god for the umbrellas that's in the room.

While looking through many mission scrolls, Tsunade noticed a sadden look over Sakura's face. 'Hmm…'

"Sakura, all that's left is the checkups on patients, correct?"

"Yes, Tsunade-shishou" Sakura can see that Tsunade has an idea.

"Then Sakura, I want you to accompany Naruto on his new mission" vice versa, Tsunade finds humor at seeing the shocking look on Naruto's face.

"B-but Tsunade-obachan, I can handle this mission myself. Besides, Sakura-chan is a medic-nin, she is needed here" protested Naruto, trying his best to change Tsunade's mind on letting Sakura go with him on his mission.

"No buts, Sakura is going and that's final. Naruto, Sakura, you are to be prepare by tomorrow morning at 7 at the gates. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Tsunade-obachan/shishou" replied Naruto and Sakura.

"Alright, here you go Naruto, Sakura. The mission would be A-Rank with the possibility of turning into an S-Rank which could last up to three weeks. The job is to infiltrate a sound ninja's camp hidden through powerful genjutsu and assassinate them on the spot, leave no witness. Understood?"

"Yes" nodded Naruto and Sakura.

"As such, each member has a purpose on this mission. There are three aspects to this mission. The first aspect is to find the hidden sound camp. The Second aspect is to break through the genjutsu. And the third is to assassinate them, fit for every member" explained Shizune looking at them both.

"Three aspects for this mission… fit for every member… is there going to be a third ninja?" wonder Sakura, after figuring the hidden meaning from the mission's details.

"Yes, you will. And you will find out tomorrow morning so… GET OUT OF HERE!!!" screamed Tsunade, having Naruto and Sakura running out of the office.

"So I guess we're going to be on a mission for the first time in a long time, huh Naruto?" Sakura couldn't help but smile, she would spend with Naruto for three weeks. She never spends with Naruto more than three weeks since the days of the Akatsuki battles. Granted, she has to spend it with someone else but eh, better than nothing. That and it better not be H…

"Yeah, I guess it does" Naruto sighs, really not wanting to have her on the mission. Not that she's weak, she's anything but that but… Sakura is one of his important people and he wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her.

"Maybe we should hang out since its going to be a while for us to be in the village again" smiled Sakura, grabbing a hold of his arm.

"I'm sorry Sakura-chan but I promise someone that I would help train tonight so I guess see you in the morning. Bye Sakura-chan" and with that, Naruto vanished.

'Naruto…' Sakura couldn't stop the lonely tear coming out of her eye.

Naruto ran through Konoha until he couldn't anymore and collapse on Team 7's old training grounds.


Its morning in Konoha and almost everybody by now are experiencing the first symptoms of the flu; well they're not feeling well.

Naruto coughs so hard that his throat began to hurt. Leaning over the same log that he was tied to during his first genin test from Kakashi, Naruto vomits blood.

'God damn it!'

Wiping the blood away from his mouth, Naruto glares at the blood he vomited on the ground, knowing full well the reason for his sickness.

'God damn you kyuubi!!! I will survive this!!! I will not… I WILL NOT…' eyes widening, Naruto looks back to see a shadowy figure looking at him from behind the tress but couldn't make out who it is.

"W-who's there?!" slowly getting up, Naruto threw kunai at the direction of the shadowy figure but misses. The shadowy figure vanishes before Naruto could run towards the trees.

"Who… (Coughs) who was that in the woods?" slowly regaining consciousness, Naruto jumped his way towards the gates to start the mission, not noticing the shadowy figure watching him from behind the three logs Naruto vomited at.

"Such a fate fitting for a Jinchūriki, Naruto… we'll meet again… one last time… for I have one simple role to help you" and with that, the shadowy figure walks away.

Arriving at the gate, Naruto sees Sakura already there with her backpack.

"Naruto, you're late" annoyed Sakura, to which Naruto nervously chuckles, "Ah, Sakura-chan, I was just at the training grounds where I notice this mysterious person there in the woods so I had to check it out…"

"Liar" said Sakura, with her hands on her hips.

"Heh-heh-heh"

"(Sighs) You're beginning to be just like Kakashi-sensei Naruto"

"Ah! Sakura-chan, but I'm not a pervert!!!" screamed Naruto with his hands over his head.

"Alright, alright keep it down already, sheesh" Sakura pulls Naruto's arms down. Both Naruto and Sakura stood there, looking at each other in silence, just… starring.

"Naruto…" whispers Sakura, starting to blush.

"Has our third member arrive yet… Sakura… chan?" asks Naruto, breaking the staring contest. Sakura, sadden for a few seconds, answered, "No, not yet… Naruto…"

"Don't worry Sakura-chan, this mission would be a cinch. We'll be back before you know it," grinned Naruto with a thumbs up.

"Naruto…"

"I wonder who could our third member be, huh Sakura-chan? Could it be Shikamaru? Naw, he doesn't have any jutsus that will help us in this mission. Hmm, my guess would be Kiba, Neji, and Hinata since they have what we need for this mission" thought Naruto out loud, trying to find out the identity of their third member.

Starting to thing about it, Sakura wonders who could it be. Hmm, Kiba would be acceptable since his and Akamaru's sense of smell could track and find the sound ninja, although Akamaru is getting old now and wonders if he can still fight now? All that leaves are the Hyuugas, which Sakura doesn't want to have on their team. There's nothing wrong with the Hyuugas but Neji is just a reminder of Sasuke for his coldness and silence. Granted, Neji did changed for the better, he talks more and stuff but still keeps that silence of his. And Hinata, she's still a great girl and not as shy as she was before. She still stutters from time to time but a great fighter and a great persuader as well. Thanks to their history together, Sakura thinks Hinata is a real b…

"Good morning Naruto-kun, its nice seeing you again" hearing the voice of a newcomer, Naruto and Sakura both look back to see Hinata walking towards them with a smile.

"Oh, and hello to you too Sakura-san" smiled Hinata.

"…ye-yeah… hello to you too" gritted Sakura.

"Hinata-chan! Good morning! Wow, still looking beautiful as ever!" smiled Naruto, making Hinata blush and angering Sakura.

"T-thank you, N-naruto-kun, so should we be off for our mission?" smiled Hinata, grabbing a hold of Naruto's arm.

Blood boiling like hell, Sakura did her best to withhold herself until she realizes what Hinata said.

"Wait, a-are you the third member?" asks Sakura, hopping against all odds that Hinata is NOT the third member.

"Why, of course. With my byakugan, I can pinpoint the whereabouts of the sound ninja's hideout," answered Hinata with such politeness.

"Wow, of course. Since Hinata-chan's byakugan is now the strongest one of them all, heh-heh-heh. Hinata-chan, I'm really proud of you, being the strongest Hyuuga in the family now" praised Naruto, causing Hinata to blush deeper and causing her to point her fingers, something she only does with Naruto around.

"O-oh Naruto-kun, s-stop it. Y-you're e-embarrassing m-me"

"Yeah, Naruto you should really stop" Sakura said trying to hold her anger.

"Anyway, we should go start our mission. Come on Naruto, lead the way" Sakura smiles.

"Alright, then. Let's go!" and with that, Naruto leads his team outside the gates, with Naruto leading and the girls following him from behind.

"Listen you little bitch, I know what you're up to and let me tell you it ain't going to work. Make sure to keep your dirty little paws away from Naruto, understand?" whispers Sakura angrily to Hinata who just smiles.

"Sakura-san, I see that you still have your pride burnt from the relationship me and Naruto-kun has. I'm sorry Sakura-san but you lost your chance LONG ago, and Naruto-kun is now mine" smile Hinata her answer, making sure that their conversation is out of Naruto's hearing range.

"Bitch" growled Sakura quietly.

"Hussy" smiled Hinata quietly.

"Dattebayo?" confusedly spoken Naruto.

It would definitely be a LONG three weeks…

To be continue…


Author's Notes

There we go, the first chapter finished. This fanfic would be really short, like a two, maybe a three chapter fanfic. I still don't know if the ending I have in mind would really be the ending. Happy or sad ending, only the story would tell.

On another note, if anyone really wants to continue reading my other fanfic, Redemption, just say so when reviewing for this chapter, on the next chapter when it comes out or just say so in the reviews for Redemption. I want to know if Redemption is really good to continue or not. Anyway, later yosh.

Preview

"There's the base…"

"Hinata-chan, you shouldn't be this close"

"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?!?!"

"Shhh… don't… I don't want her… to know…"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Sakura-chan… you love Sasuke, right?"

"Naruto, the truth is… is that…"

"Stop fighting!!! The both of you STOP!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I've longed for you…"

"How can Naruto do this?! What's happening to him?! He's not a Jinchūriki anymore so how?!?!"

"Kyuubi…"

"Naruto… why didn't you tell me?"

"Good to see you again, dobe"