Naruto: The tenth Jinchuuriki
A NaruSaku fanfic
Taking her Konoha headband from its place on her dresser Sakura sighed, she tied it around her head, carefully picking strands of pink hair from behind her ears and she gave her reflection a small smile.
Today I'll make them proud
And with that she gathered up her gloves and left her bedroom, after briefly glancing at her team 7 photograph. She did that less and less now, look at the picture that is, it brought back too many painful memories. She needed to make up for those memories.
Pulling her gloves on, she stepped out into the streets of Konoha, missing breakfast as usual now. As she stepped into the bright sunshine she closed her eyes against the glare.
I wonder if team Kakashi has any missions today. It would be nice to spend more time with Kakashi-sensei and Naruto; I'm always with Tsunade-sama when there aren't any missions so I haven't really caught up with my friends...
That Tsunade had better watch out, I need ME time I tell ya!
Shut up you, Just cause you have "inner Sakura" stamped on your head does NOT mean you can contradict everything I say
Whatever, watch out!!! You're walking into people!!!
Shut up shut up SHUT UP!
"Hey, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura's head snapped up, she was at the Hokage's building and a familiar orange figure was running toward her.
"Naruto! Hi! Have you seen that Yamato guy or our nasty new teammate? I thought we were meeting up here today, before the meeting on the bridge, I want to see if we have any missions today- what is it?"
Naruto was rubbing the back of his head, his face betraying the fact that he wasn't pleased with how this conversation was going, "eh... Nothing it's just- we just got back yesterday from the last mission, don't you think that granny Tsunade will give us a break- OW! What was that for?!" The pink-haired girl had just hit him across the face, not hard enough to break anything... she thought.
"Don't talk about the Hokage that way! You should have more respect! Did Jirayia-sama teach you nothing in those two years? You haven't changed at all have you?" And with that she crossed her arms and turned her head away in contempt of her friend.
"Sorry Sakura-chan, I forgot my manners..." Naruto kept his eyes on the girl's face, Ero-Sennin had taught him how to apologise to women, it was something that he knew would come in handy with the mini-Tsunade.
Thanks Ero-Sennin, really, thanks!
"... And I'll keep it in mind next time." He looked at her earnestly, searching for a sign that she was at least contemplating forgiving him.
Sakura sighed, what could she say? That was one heck of an apology for such a small thing... Though she had hit him pretty hard. "Ok Naruto I forgive you," she smiled at him, "and I guess you're right about Tsunade-Sama giving us a break after our last mission involved Akatsuki..." She stopped. Akatsuki... The Shinobi group that was out to collect all of the Jinchuuriki and well... kill them in order to possess the spirits inside them. Naruto had the Kyuubi inside of him, so he was on their list. She looked away from her blond friend, not smiling anymore.
If Naruto got killed... What would I do?
The question came out of nowhere, but it was a good one. Without the #1 hyperactive ninja, what would Sakura do? She'd be on her own again, but this time without any hope of seeing either of her former teammates again. She couldn't bring Sasuke back on her own, and she would get bored without Naruto. She had other friends too but, when Naruto was training with Jirayia, she'd had to focus on her training with Tsunade to stop herself from thinking about how much she missed him. He was her best friend... More than Ino.
"Sakura-chan? Are you okay?" He was waving his hand in front of her face with a frown on his, "you kinda spaced out there... you sick?"
"What? No! I'm fine, just- I'm fine." She smiled to reassure him.
"You're sure you're not sick?"
"I think I'd know"
"I guess..."
Naruto leaned against the wall of the Hokage's building, resting his head against the door frame, a slight breeze made the two close their eyes and lift their heads slightly to enjoy the sensation of the cool wind on their faces, when their eyes opened again they found that they had been joined by a silver haired man wearing a mask holding, as always, a small green book.
"Kakashi-sensei! You're meant to be resting!" The two younger ninjas cried in unison. Before simultaneously adding, "Though I guess it's to be expected..."
"Sorry kids, I had to help an old lady down from a rooftop..."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Naruto lunged for the Jounin but the girl held him back.
"Leave it Naruto"
"But-"
"LEAVE IT!"
The boy visibly quailed under the glare of the female ninja and Kakashi smiled to himself, those two... They really were quite cute together.
Mental and physical strength, heaven and earth, they actually complimented each other perfectly really. It was perfectly obvious to Kakashi that Naruto loved Sakura, and, even though she probably didn't know it herself, Sakura, in turn, loved Naruto back.
If they were given a chance, I know that they would find each other. How cute it would be! My two sweet students falling in love!
Kakashi looked up at Tsunade's office window and was suddenly struck by an idea. "Could you two wait here for a bit? I need to ask the Hokage something..."
The two younger ninja blinked at him, stunned, what the hell was Kakashi going to ask the Hokage? And why couldn't they hear it? Naruto glanced at his pink haired teammate to make sure that it wasn't just him who didn't understand, he was quite relieved when he saw that she was... well... a little bemused. As Kakashi left them outside, they felt another cool wind and looked to the sky.
"Those clouds look dangerous..." Sakura started.
"Nah, who's scared of some clouds?" Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head in an attempt to impress the girl, who gave him nothing but a quick glare. "What Sakura-chan?"
"If we have a mission we need to take the weather into account, a storm would cause huge problems baka Naruto" and she hit him again, but not hard enough to hurt him.
"Okay, sorry Sakura-chan."
"It's ok Naruto; it's not a big deal." She smiled, "You're apologising a lot lately."
"I know, I'm sorr- OW!"
"Sorry, but really, stop now." She smiled again and was pleasantly surprised when she saw that he'd blushed in embarrassment, his whiskered cheeks going faintly pink.
He's grown up a lot really; he has more sense than before, which is a little sad, since his idiocy was such a part of him, but his hope, determination and unwavering sense of protectiveness hasn't gone anywhere... I'm glad.
Plus he's hot!
Shut up you!
What? You know it's true; he was pretty cute before, now he's matured he's even better!
What the hell are you talking about? Naruto's a friend, that's all, I still love Sasuke. Naruto is my best friend, but I don't like him that way... Although...
Aha!
No! I mean- he's nice. He's the nicest guy I know, and I know that he's been treated awfully by the other villagers... and me too, I've treated him like crap, but not anymore, because he's one of my precious people, someone who I will protect with my life, like he will for me, because he means a lot to me, and I think he feels the same. So whatever you think, I don't love him like I do Sasuke... But he's important to me.
Whatever, just don't mess anything up with this one...
"I wouldn't."
"Wouldn't what?" Naruto asked, surprised at her outburst seemingly out of place. "Are you sure that you're not ill?" He said, remembering what happened before.
Sakura just smiled at him, "Nothing, I'm not ill... just thinking."
"Thinking about what?"
"Sasuke... I guess"
"Oh." Naruto scuffed his feet in the dirt as he looked up at the sky. "I really am sorry that I couldn't bring him back Sakura-Chan."
"I know Naruto... I know."
"What exactly are you saying Kakashi?" Tsunade's grip tightened on her sake bottle as she poured herself another cup, the masked ninja standing before her smiled, well, at least she thought he'd smiled, it was just like him to smile when she was annoyed.
"Well it's pretty simple actually."
"Is that what I asked?" She glared.
Kakashi tucked his book into his weapons pouch, sighing. "I just think that the kids could do with a break, they've fought Akatsuki and are pretty wiped out. I'd like your permission to take them on holiday."
"... On holiday..." Tsunade blinked. "... Why?"
"I think I just said-"
"You think I'd fall for that? You're up to something Kakashi... I know you, I can tell."
"Fine, fine... I just think that those two are kind of cute together is all, and in my book-"
Tsunade slammed her fist into the table, shattering the wood and making Kakashi jump backwards, but her expression was more like that of someone about to laugh in excitement than that of an angry Hokage... "That's a stupid idea Kakashi... I have a better one!"
"... Wait, what?"
Naruto couldn't shake this feeling, he knew that it was their ultimate goal, to bring back Sasuke, but he couldn't help feeling like he'd just been turned down. He put a hand to his stomach, he could feel the Kyuubi getting irritated, but then again, the Kyuubi was easily annoyed.
He closed his eyes and remembered the day that he'd made that promise to Sakura, that time, she'd come to him, crying, shaking, unable to talk properly. Naruto had felt his heart tear, seeing her like that. So he'd made the promise of a lifetime, and then he'd failed.
Then, in Orochimaru's lair, when fighting the image of Kabuto, she'd almost thrown her life away, because she thought she was a hindrance... As if.
When he'd returned to Konoha after about two years, he came back to find her so much stronger, physically and mentally. She'd even defeated Sasori of the Akatsuki alongside Elder Chiyo. She was amazing, and Naruto knew that he still loved her as much as before... No, he loved her even more. But he knew that she'd never love him back, partly because of the Kyuubi, but mostly because she loved Sasuke.
Quit whining kid, I'm trying to sleep!
What?! You're talking to me?!
Yeah, you're giving me a headache brat. Now be a good boy, and cause me no problems.
Whatever baka kitsune...
What did you just call me?!
Naruto kicked at the dust, frustrated that he was the one who became the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki.
"Naruto, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned him."
Naruto's head snapped up, and his eyes were wide, "It's fine, and by the way, who's apologising now?" He grinned and Sakura grinned back. Looking up he grumbled, "How long do you think Kakashi-sensei will be? I'm getting really bored." He glanced at his companion sidelong and saw that she was watching him intently.
"Sakura-chan I-"
"Oh my god! Naruto? Sakura?" Naruto looked to the source of the voice and saw Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji walking up the road towards them, Sakura raised an eyebrow at them but Ino ignored her expression and started chatting to her. Sakura glanced apologetically at Naruto for Ino's interruption before reluctantly being drawn into the conversation. Shikamaru and Chouji greeted Naruto briefly before taking their places beside him looking up at the clouds.
They hadn't been this way long before Kakashi appeared at the doorway with his book. He glanced at the sky once to see what the boys were looking at but when he saw nothing but the oncoming storm he walked off, followed quickly by Naruto and Sakura.
"Did Tsunade-sama give us a mission Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked him as they entered the village centre.
Kakashi didn't look at her, "Well, yes actually, she did, but without Yamato or Sai." Naruto smiled, loving the idea of an action-packed, A-class mission (and without Sai!), but his hopes were shattered as Kakashi said;
"You're to go into the mountains to collect a package for her before the storm breaks. Hokage-Sama said it was a very fragile package... So you have to hurry there." Sakura nodded and Naruto just sighed, typical. As the only Genin in his age group he knew that he'd only get these crappy missions, the mission to save Gaara had only been given to team Kakashi because they were available and it was an emergency.
"Kakashi-sensei... what's the package?" He asked, thinking that he might as well do the mission well if he was going to do it... which he had to, or Sakura would hit him again.
Kakashi glanced at the boy, "I don't know."
"WHAT?!" Naruto yelled, "YOU DON'T KNOW?!"
Sakura sighed at her friend's reaction... he'd matured a bit, or at least he'd tried to. But he wasn't much different from before.
Which is good in a way, he wouldn't be Naruto otherwise...
And the guy has a point, how can we collect a package we know nothing about?! I swear Master's going too far! Hell yeah!
Yeah, the package... I wonder how we'll get it.
"Where do we collect the package from Kakashi sensei?" Sakura asked, ignoring her own thoughts and Naruto's complaints. "I mean, is someone waiting for us?"
"Yes actually. Near the peak there is a small building, the owner has the package ready for Hokage-Sama, he will hand it over... Oh... wait."
Kakashi stopped in his tracks, lost in thought.
"I'd better go."
The other two ninja stopped too, glaring at him dangerously.
"What do you mean? You're going to rest right, Kakashi-sensei?" The boy growled.
Sakura clenched her fist and Kakashi took a step back. "He's right Kakashi-sensei, you'd better not go off on some sort of pervy trip like Jirayia." She said in a low, dangerous tone. Kakashi nodded but still said;
"I'll go and rest later, I'm sorry guys, I'll write down the details for you but there's something I have to do. Sorry, I'll make it up to you after, heh... how about I buy you both ramen?"
Kakashi smiled to himself as he saw Naruto's eyes light up at the thought of free ramen. But Sakura was harder to persuade, so he just said, "I know you'll do well, you shouldn't encounter any enemies on this mission, and the Akatsuki aren't going to show up." He knew this was the problem and wanted to reassure her. When he saw her begin to relax he handed over the mission details and began to walk away, before remembering something very important.
"Sakura, could I talk to you for a moment?"
As Naruto watched Kakashi talking to Sakura, he felt his stomach growl, and it wasn't the Kyuubi causing it.
Damn, this talk of ramen has made me hungry... and we're only a short walk from Ichiraku's ramen store...
You know what's a good idea? Trashing this crappy village... ahhhh... good times...
Quiet you.
"Naruto? Are you alright?" Sakura appeared at his side, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.
Naruto rubbed his head, smiling, "sure Sakura-chan. Just hungry."
The girl paused for a moment. "... I guess we have a little time to eat something before leaving..."
"Alright! Let's go!" And he dragged her behind him as he rushed to the familiar store. To be greeted by the owner and his daughter with big smiles. Every time he came here as a kid, he'd be greeted and welcomed, it was a completely different atmosphere to the other shops in Konoha. The owners had always turned him away, calling him a monster, but these two had never cared about the Kyuubi inside him.
"What do you want Sakura-chan? I'm having miso pork ramen, man I'm hungry!" They sat down as the only other customer left the shop.
"Umm, whatever... the same please."
"Coming right up! Good to see you again Naruto!"
"Thanks!" Naruto beamed, turning to the owner and getting out his green frog-shaped purse, "How much?"
Sakura looked up, "I'll pay for myself Naruto it's alright-"
"No, my treat this time" He grinned at her, handing over the money, "So what did Kakashi-sensei want?" Sakura looked away.
I can't tell him can I? Kakashi-sensei didn't tell me not to but-
"So Naruto, are you two out on a date?" Ayame leaned on the counter and smiled at the two ninjas, who had just been served their ramen, she saw Sakura glance up quickly before raising an eyebrow.
"A date? Us? No, we're just about to go and collect something for Tsunade-Sama. Also, Kakashi-Sensei suddenly decides that he isn't taking part in this mission, so Naruto and I have to go up into the mountains, collect this package and return it before the storm breaks." She gestured at the sky with her chopsticks, "Which will be difficult, I'm sure it's almost here." Naruto smiled weakly.
"Yeah."
Ayame glanced sidelong at Naruto, and couldn't help smiling at his expression. She knew that he liked the girl, but he was able to grin and bear it now, he really was growing up. Naruto's face had flickered with disappointment but he was now eating his ramen as though nothing had been said. The pink haired kunoichi next to him elbowed him in the side, and, smiling, said "Don't eat too much Naruto, we have to go soon. Those clouds are coming in fast."
Both of them finished their ramen quickly and left the shop after thanking Ayame and her Father. The shop owner looked at his daughter knowingly and smiled, she understood.
"So that's why Kakashi left so quickly, he's hiding from them."
"I think those two are going to get tricked into something on this mission of theirs, and I think Kakashi's doing it to them... I wonder why." He shrugged and ducked into the back room to get some more pork.
As Naruto and Sakura left the village, they looked back as they felt someone watching them but when they couldn't see anything, they glanced warily at each other before setting off again. Both ninja had their backpacks filled with weapons, supplies and camping equipment in case they got caught in the storm but Sakura also carried medical equipment, just in case... they showed up and she needed to heal someone. Namely Naruto.
"I wonder what Kakashi-sensei is doing?" Sakura murmured quietly, Naruto smiled.
"Probably just re-reading that book Ero-Sennin wrote, he's not been doing much else when on breaks. I just don't get why he's leaving us to it... It doesn't make sense." He put his hands behind his head and walked that way for a while, only bringing them down when he heard a twig snap behind them. "We should move quickly anyway."
"Just what I was about to say." Sakura smiled grimly. Someone from the village was following them. Who? Why? It hardly mattered, this wasn't an important mission anyway. The pair launched themselves up into the trees and leapt from branch to branch, ever conscious of the fact that their pursuer continued to follow them.