Say You'll Haunt Me
A/N: There's a rant at the end but I will leave that for you to read at your own pleasure or risk.
"You know how weird it is not having your arm?" Naruto asked Sasuke as they sat outside on his rooftop.
"I have a pretty good idea dobe." Sasuke replied in his usual tone. Naruto just looked at him with a deadpan look.
"I know, I'm just saying, it's weird." Naruto replied looking down at the area where his hand used to be.
"Not as weird as Kakashi becoming Hokage." Sasuke replied.
"Nah, it's not that weird but I think Granny Tsunade was tired and knew she wasn't the person the village needed to protect it anymore." Naruto answered back looking at the clouds.
"Aren't you a little disappointed that you weren't nominated for Hokage?" Sasuke turned to face him.
"A little, but the way they explained it to me, I'm still too young apparently. And they're probably right since I'm not the best with politics and things like that. Just be glad you aren't going to be executed or jailed." Naruto smiled.
"Yeah just chakra reduced seals for five years." Sasuke replied with a scowl, still slightly pissed off that he couldn't use his Sharingan.
"Better than being killed." Naruto chuckled.
"Hmm, seems you haven't changed the last few years." Sasuke smirked in response.
"Tell that to Sakura, she still calls me a baka from time to time. But she smiles a lot more too since you're back." Naruto replied with a solemn smile on his face. Sasuke took notice of it.
"I think she's happy we're all together again and things are peaceful now." Sasuke tried to convince him.
"I'm not so sure if that's true. She's happy that you're back." Naruto replied sadly.
"You say that, but she's spending more time with you the last time I checked." Sasuke said leaning back onto the floor of the roof.
"She's just taking her time getting used to you being back, once she's past that, she'll be spending more time with you." Naruto said as he felt his chest pain a little bit. Sasuke just closed his eyes and sighed in annoyance.
"Even I can see that's not the case Naruto." Sasuke replied, causing Naruto to scowl in his direction.
"Hey! I didn't spend three years and multiple death dealing idiots to bring you back only for you to ignore her!" Naruto shouted at him.
"I'm not ignoring her because I've spent every possible moment I have with her but she's told me that she's spent almost every day with you." Sasuke admitted to him. That actually shocked Naruto a bit but he still held his doubts.
"Let's change the subject." Naruto quickly diverted his attention away. Sasuke just grunted back.
"Have they said anything about Orochicmaru?" Sasuke asked him.
"Only that he's still missing or hiding. We just have to keep our eyes open and make sure nothing happens." Naruto answered him, hoping to get his new arm soon in case anything did happen.
"What about the others?" Sasuke said. Naruto didn't need to say who he was talking about when it came to Orochicmaru. Team Taka was still a part of who Sasuke was trying to stay away from.
"It's the same situation with them. Only Karin is still here." Naruto answered.
"You know she's an Uzumaki right?" Sasuke asked him.
"Yeah, I know she is. It's weird but we really have a connection. Still, it's nice knowing there's someone from my line that's out there. Gives me some hope there are others. But she is crazy like hell from what I hear." Naruto grinned thinking about her going after Sasuke.
"Don't remind me. She go nuts on you?" he asked him sitting up.
"No, she was really happy that there was someone else out there from her line like me. Pretty much when I told her who I was, she jumped up and hugged me like a sister would. I couldn't help myself and gave her one too and then we talked for hours. She's actually really nice when you get to know her she's just had a rough life." Naruto explained to him.
"Yeah, she's really nice, if you mean crazy." Sasuke scoffed at his comment.
"Trust me teme, she's actually really nice." Naruto assured him. Sasuke just sighed.
"Fine, I'll talk to her, but on the condition that you talk to Sakura about certain things. I'll even push her in the direction." Sasuke offered. Naruto just remained silent, unable to answer right away. The wind picked up slightly and blew his hair around as well as Sasuke's.
"She doesn't feel that way about me Sasuke." Naruto replied quietly.
"Trust me dobe, she does." Sasuke said to him. Naruto just let his shoulders slump before he stood up, offering a hand to his best friend.
"You're a real jackass sometimes. I can't believe I gave my arm to bring you back." Naruto chuckled quietly.
"Yeah, and I gave up mine to learn the error of my ways." Sasuke answered way with a smirk.
"Fucked up way to do those things I guess." Naruto just laughed loudly. Sasuke didn't answer but smiled at his friend's laughter.
"Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked her mentor as they sat down in a dango shop. Tsunade looked up from her tea to meet her pupil's gaze.
"Yes Sakura?" she asked her in return. She could tell by the way Sakura was fidgeting that she was nervous about something.
"What is it like to be in love?" Sakura asked very quietly. Tsunade's brow peaked slightly as she set down her drink.
"And why would you ask me that?" Tsunade questioned her student back. Sakura looked at her with a bit of a glare.
"Because you're the only one that I can really question that won't give me some crazy answer." Sakura answered.
"Hmm, I see…we'll then may I ask who it is you're in love with?" Tsunade knelt forward leaning on her hands.
"I…I really don't want to say but…I'm so confused about it. On the one hand I feel like I'll betray one side and then if I go to the other I'll hurt someone else I care about." Sakura explained. Tsunade nodded in understanding, she didn't even to ask who or what.
"I'm going to be blunt Sakura, choose whoever you feel the most happy with and who you spend the most time with. Be with the one that makes you feel special. I can't say who to choose because it's not my choice because it's yours to make. I didn't give someone a chance at that happiness and it will always haunt me." Tsunade said to her leaning back in her seat, sadly thinking of the old pervert that was her closest friend.
"That's all? There's nothing else? What about the person I'll hurt depending on who I choose?" Sakura asked her demanding more. Tsunade just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Sakura, love is not this complicated all the time and I can't say what you should do with it. I take back what I said about choosing, you'll know who you love when you know it. I don't know if it'll be today or tomorrow or in ten years but when you know it, you just know it. They only thing I can say is what I said before, it's the person you're most comfortable and happy to be around. As for the person that you may hurt, if she hasn't made a move on that person then chances are that she won't unless she is forced to. This may actually help her grow if you chose said person. Do you understand?" Tsunade questioned.
"I'm wondering if I should have told you who it was then it wouldn't be as confusing." Sakura groaned dropping her head down. Tsunade just laughed.
"It's not it's just you're just making it confusing. The choice should be simple considering I know who you're talking about, but I wanted to save you the embarrassment. I know who you'll choose, it's written all over you, Yamato told me as much." Tsunade grinned at Sakura's blushed cheeks.
"Wha…what…"
"Just don't say anything else Sakura, it'll come to you sooner than later." Tsunade smiled taking a sip from her glass.
Sakura's cheeks remained blush and she wanted to just disappear. She thought about the time she had spent with a certain blond haired Jinchuriki, how he had impacted her life in so many ways and she never really thanked him for it. She had done that when he had saved them from Pain but she had never really sat down to thank him the way he should have been. And she thought about what Sasuke had meant to her so long ago and what he meant to her now. He was back and she was happy because she knew he had been saved, but none of it would have happened if not for the sacrifice of a young boy who was now a man and his promise of a lifetime. She at least owed him a real thank you, one from her heart that she needed to give. The only thing holding back from acting on her feelings was what would happen to another close friend of hers.
"Sakura…" Tsunade distracted her from her thoughts. Sakura looked up to see her master gazing intensely at her.
"Go talk to Naruto." Tsunade simply said and closed her eyes ready for a nap. Sakura didn't answer her and nodded with a smile as she made her way out of the dango shop.
"Crap, I forgot to make her pay for hers. Oh well, I'll take it this time for young love." Tsunade smirked as she relaxed.
"She'll owe me for that new arm of his as well."
"I'll do my best to meet you at the gate before you depart. You sure you won't wait to get your replacement arm?" Naruto asked Sasuke as they walked down the market street.
"No thanks, I want to be able to atone for my sins and I'd rather not be in the village right now when they still don't trust me." Sasuke answered.
"Shame you're leaving so soon already when I just dragged your ass back here." Naruto smiled, happy to know that his friend would be back soon though.
"Yeah, just don't lose the other arm while I'm gone. Sakura won't be happy about that." Sasuke joked.
"She'll be more disappointed that you're leaving so soon." Naruto said trying his best to hide his own sadness.
"As long as you keep her company, I think she'll be alright." Sasuke assured him, and getting tired of his friend's blindness.
"Guess we'll see. Anyways, go ahead and see Kakashi-Sensei. I'm sure he'll get everything ready for you, even if he's the Hokage now." Naruto smiled as he stopped at an intersection in the street. Sasuke simply nodded and continued down his path.
"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto called out. The Uchiha stopped in his tracks and turned to face his friend.
"Don't you lose other your arm either." Naruto laughed raising his hand in the air.
Sasuke just smirked and lifted his own in appreciation before continuing down his path to the Hokage's office. Naruto just kept smiling as he turned and walked down the other street, not sure what to do with his day. His thoughts fell back onto Sakura again, thinking about what he was going to do. He felt his heart ping in guilt that he wanted her more than anything, but he knew her heart was set on Sasuke. He remembered the war and what had happened. He remember what Hinata had said to him, how she had been inspired by her words after Neji's death. He at least owed it to her to talk to her after comforting her at his funeral. After all, Neji was one of his closest friends as well. It seemed fate had just that in store for him today.
He saw Hinata walking towards him…and his mouth dried slightly.
'Oh no…now is not the best time now.'
Hinata looked up to see Naruto walking towards her.
'Naruto…'
They both approached each other slowly, unsure of what to say so Naruto being himself began with a simple word.
"Hey." He said as he stopped in front of her.
"He…hello." Hinata replied timidly.
'Why does she always have to quiet?' Naruto thought.
"How are you doing?" he asked her. Hinata felt her heart race slightly but felt her strength from the war come back.
"I'm, I'm doing well. It's…it's been hard though what with Neji…." Hinata answered quietly. Naruto felt his eyes tear up slightly at her pain.
"I know, it's been hard on all of us but I can't imagine what you're going through." Naruto said gently grasping her shoulder with his hand. Hinata smiled at the gesture while looking at him.
"It's okay, I know he gave his life to save yours because he knew you would be the one to save us all." Hinata said with admiration in her voice. Naruto sadly smiled at her.
"It doesn't wash away the guilt though." Naruto said quietly. Hinata heard the pain in his voice and grasped his right shoulder gently in return.
"Do you…do you want to take a walk?" Hinata asked him. Naruto didn't need to think about it, he smiled and nodded. The two of them then began to walk off to the park. They enjoyed each other's company throughout the walk that lasted for half an hour before taking their place on a park bench and talking about what each were doing right now.
"You know what the weirdest thing about not having my arm is?" Naruto asked her, grinning while he asked. Hinata smiled back and shook her head.
"It's when I say something really weird or awkward and I'm a righty so I tend to scratch with my right hand but now…." Naruto lifted his arm and only had the cloth of his shirt fly back loosely.
"…I've got nothing! Seriously, it's the weirdest thing ever!" Naruto laughed loudly. Hinata couldn't help break out into giggles before it was full blown laughter, surprising even Naruto.
"Hey, I actually made you laugh!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes, you did. But I think you're funny, it's something I admire about you." Hinata admitted looking away towards the trees. Naruto felt a sense of peace hearing those words. He was happy that someone like her could admire him like that, even if he found her strange at first. The war had showed him what she was really like and he felt a bit of guilt thinking that way about her. But there was still something that he needed to ask her.
"Hinata…" he said quietly. She turned to meet his gaze.
"What you said to me when I was fighting Pain, everything that happened in the war. Is it all true…how you feel about me?" he asked her quietly resting his hand on his lap. Hinata felt her heart race back up remembering what she had said, but it was out in the open and she wanted to be strong for him.
"Yes…it is." Hinata said in a quiet whisper.
"So…you actually, love…?" Naruto asked her. Hinata nodded in response.
"Wow…I, I never had someone actually tell me that, at least not in real life." Naruto chuckled quietly, unsure of how to take it all in.
"My mom told me that when I saw her helping me control Kurama, of course we're now friends." Naruto chuckled avoiding the subject best as he could. Honestly, he didn't want to say anything because he had no idea how to answer her back. He admired what she did and what she had become. She was still shy and quiet but she was stronger now.
"I…I don't know how to answer that Hinata. I really don't." Naruto answered honestly. Hinata only kept smiling, feeling the pain in her heart.
"I know, I just wanted to make sure you knew. I want to be strong, it's why I admired who you were, who you are now." Hinata said turning to him, smiling sadly.
"Please don't be sad Hinata, I don't want to hurt you." Naruto said, trying to comfort her.
"I know that you don't have those same feelings for me, and I don't know if you ever will. I can't hold onto that when you hold them for someone else." Hinata said with conviction in her voice. Naruto just turned away from her and looked at the ground.
"The funny thing is, I'm sure she doesn't feel the same way about me." Naruto admitted. Hinata listened to him, feeling some sense of guilt for him.
"Hinata, I can't do that to you. I can't give you my heart if it's on someone else. Not right now, not until I know. I don't give up on my goals and she was one of them. At first it was a crush, but it went further than that. I know I joke around, like I did with my dad but…I am serious about this. I don't want to be with you if I can't give you my heart fully." Naruto said shaking visibly. Hinata could feel her heart breaking, but in some ways, he could tell he was struggling as well.
"It's okay Naruto." Hinata comforted him scooting closer.
"No it's not. You've loved me from the start and…I can't even give you that in return. It's not fair to you when I love someone else." Naruto's voiced shuddered from guilt. Hinata could tell that this was even more painful for him and she actually felt more sadness for him than herself. She took his hand in hers and forced him to look at him who had some tears in his eyes.
"I may not have your heart, but I have your friendship and if it makes me stronger in the end to show you I am strong, then I'll endure. I can't force you to love me but I want to be close to you always, even if it's only as friends." Hinata smiled, wiping away his tears. Naruto stared at her disbelief, unable to comprehend it all, just what she was to him.
"You deserve someone that can give you his whole heart, and I can't do that, not now, maybe never. But I will always…..always see you as one of my most precious people. That's the promise of a lifetime." Naruto assured her, fire his voice and squeezing her hand gently.
"That's all I can ask of you. You'll always have place in my heart." Hinata continued to smile. Naruto smiled back sadly before leaning to kiss her cheek, causing her blush.
"You will too. That's for believing in me." Naruto replied, pulling their interlocked hands to his lips.
"Friends?" he said, kissing her hand. Hinata smiled back, saddened that he couldn't give her his heart, but happy that he understood her and she understood him.
"Friends."
"Alright then, I have everything ready for you when you leave. I really wish I had never taken this job though." Kakashi sighed as he sat in his chair relaxing.
"Well they were hell bent on giving it to you so you had to take it. Besides, it actually helped me out from being killed." Sasuke admitted as he stood in front of him.
"Like I said, don't go around fucking up out there because it's my ass on the line now. Don't think I won't hesitate to send Naruto back out to drag you home." Kakashi warned him.
"Yeah, and then we lose our other arms. Smart idea." Sasuke joked. Kakashi just smiled underneath his mask.
"Probably." He answered as a knock came to his door.
"Enter." Kakashi responded. The door opened to reveal Sakura who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.
"Well, well. Now we just need Naruto and it'll be another Team Seven reunion. What brings you here Sakura? It's your day off isn't?" Kakashi asked his former pupil.
"I know, I just need to know if either of you has seen Naruto?" Sakura asked them, clearly fidgeting in her sandals.
"No, I haven't seen him all day. Sasuke might have though." Kakashi motioned over to him. Sakura quickly whipped her head and waited for his response.
"We were talking earlier today. Apparently he's got it in his head that you're happier now that I'm back." Sasuke bluntly said to her.
"Well I am, we're all back together now! But I need to talk to him." Sakura said rather urgently.
"It won't be like that for long, Sasuke here will be leaving soon to go on a soul searching journey or something like that." Kakashi said calmly.
"What? Why?!" Sakura exclaimed to him.
"He just said it Sakura. I need to find myself and atone for my sins." Sasuke explained to her. Sakura simply stood in shock….then anger.
"But…Naruto just dragged your ass back here! He lost a fucking arm for you!" Sakura punched him in the shoulder, causing him to flinch slightly.
"You don't have to punch so hard. I know, but I'm not wanted here right now and I need to see how the world works to try and fix it." Sasuke tried to explain.
"And the last time that happened?! You know damn well you went crazy!" Sakura shouted at him. Kakashi just watched as he felt sweat drop on his face.
'And now she's yelling at him. Such a temper.' Kakashi thought quietly.
"Sakura, I don't expect you to understand, but remember that the seal on me is there for five years and if I try to remove it, I die. I can't do anything to anyone and since I can't protect the village I can at least go out and try to help a world that I tried to destroy. It's atonement and it's the only thing I can think of." Sasuke said to her with the sincerest of looks. Sakura felt her blood calm down as he explained everything to her.
"It's not right though, we sacrificed everything for you and you're leaving again." Sakura replied sadly. Sasuke placed his arm on her shoulder as gesture of friendship.
"You have friends and family here, you have someone that cares for you that deserves your time." Sasuke stated releasing his grasp and turning to the door.
"I'll meet you all down at the gate in an hour." Sasuke stated opening the door and making his exit.
"He certainly is blunt." Kakashi sighed standing from his seat.
"But I don't know why he wants to leave so soon." Sakura said to him. Kakashi walked over to Sakura placing his hand on her shoulder.
"He has his reasons just like Naruto had his reasons for his journey. He'll be back." Kakashi assured her.
"Yeah, I'm sure he will." Sakura said.
'Guess he made my choice easier than it already was.' Sakura thought.
"And as for Naruto, we'll see him at the gate or afterward. He knows as well about today and I'm sure he'll want to see Sasuke off." Kakashi assured her again.
"Let's go see how the hospital is managing before we see him off shall we?" Kakashi smiled at her. Sakura nodded, smiling as well.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?" Sakura asked Sasuke one more time after they had all arrived at the gate, except for Naruto.
"No, I need to go and see the world." Sasuke replied looking at Sakura.
"I guess it'll be awhile before we see you again then." Sakura replied sadly.
"Sakura, don't worry about me. Worry about the dobe, he needs you more than me." Sasuke gave her a rare smile.
"Right." Sakura nodded returning the smile.
"Just remember, it's MY ass on the line this time." Kakashi said sternly.
"I'll see you all soon." Sasuke only replied as he made his way out of the village gates.
"Well, there he goes again. Guess an Avenger doesn't sit around too long." Kakashi said.
"I just wish Naruto was here to see him off." Sakura added in watching him walk away.
"I think they'll see each other momentarily, you know, bond between brothers and such." Kakashi smiled leading Sakura back into the village.
'Did he not show up so I could say something to him? I'm really not deserving of him.' Sakura thought with guilt ridden emotion as she walked along with her sensei.
Sasuke made his way down the path when he felt a presence appear from the trees.
"I figured I'd see you here. Guess you have something important to say." Sasuke replied stopping as Naruto walked towards him.
"Much doesn't need to be said, just wanted to give you something I've had." Naruto smirked as he handed him a piece of fabric with metal attached to it. Sasuke just smirked back.
"Guess you held onto this all this time." Sasuke said taking it.
"Just make sure you bring it back." Naruto told him watching the metal glint over the symbol of a leaf and the slightly rusted edges.
Naruto had managed to bring himself back to the training ground that he had learned his earlier skills on and began his journey here, thinking of all the memories he had here years ago. He remembered the happy times, the days of innocence before he knew who he was. He thought about what Sakura might have said to Sasuke just a little while ago, perhaps some confession of some sort. He wouldn't ever be able to have her and that was okay as long as she was happy. Maybe one day he could move on and give Hinata the heart she wanted.
'Well you old perv, I wish you were here to explain this to me even if you would give me some bad advice. I miss you though, I hope I made you proud. I'll keep doing everything I can to make your dream come true.'
"Naruto?"
The voice that called out caused him to quickly stir his thoughts and look around. He quickly saw that it was the person that he probably didn't want to see right now.
"Sakura?" he asked sitting up against the tree he was resting on. She just smiled at him.
"Is it alright if I sit here?" she asked him.
"Of course, I'm just thinking about everything that started here." Naruto smiled trying to rub his head again with a missing hand.
"Damn it! This is stupid! Freaking teme just had to take my arm." Naruto groaned in annoyance. His displeasure gained a laugh from Sakura.
"It's your own damn fault, both of you." Sakura tried to get him to lighten up.
"Still…" Naruto rest his remaining hand in his lap. Both then sat in quiet silence, just taking in the surroundings and enjoying the company of one another making Naruto what brought her out here.
"How did you find me?" he asked her watching the leaves blow.
"I had the Hokage track you down. You didn't see Sasuke off with me or sensei." She said pulling her legs up to her chest.
"I saw him, I had to give him something in private though. Sorry." He apologized looking at her.
"It's alright, as long as you saw him off. It's weird though…" she said trailing off.
"Hmm?" Naruto looked at her.
"It's weird that after all we went through that he would leave again. Just like he did all those years ago. I guess he'll always be like that though." Sakura said with a sad smile.
"Well, we all have to make our choices. I'm just glad I was able to bring him back for you." Naruto smiled back at her. Sakura felt her heart ping with guilt again.
"I never did thank you for that you know. You went to hell and back for me, even when I said you didn't have to, even when I…well, I'd rather not remember Iron Country. I think you wanted him back just as bad as I did." Sakura said with admiration.
"Yeah, but I did it for you too." Naruto said to her, trying to keep himself calm.
"I know…I know you did, and I can never thank you enough." Sakura smiled taking his hand. "But I wanted him back because he was my friend too. I realized something though in the past few months since the war ended, I just…I don't know if I deserve to have it." She added with a few tears threatening.
"What are you talking about? Did he something to make you sad? I swear I'll get him back here!" Naruto growled at the thought of him hurting her again.
"No, no Naruto." Sakura laughed. "It's not that. I don't, I don't feel that way anymore, not for him anyways."
Her words left Naruto in a state of shock.
"What? How, it doesn't make any sense!" Naruto exclaimed looking at her.
"Well, I found someone that's more deserving, but…but I don't think I'm worthy of him. I thought I loved Sasuke when he complimented my forehead years ago but….it wasn't what I thought it was." Sakura said as she turned away from him.
'She still remembers that? Oh my….what have I done?' Naruto thought sadly.
"Sakura, I have to tell you something but before I do…who are you talking about?" Naruto asked her. Sakura quickly turned back to him and look at him with a fire in her eyes.
"It's you! It's you Naruto!" Sakura shouted at him, tears now falling down her cheeks. Naruto could have sworn he felt his heart stop.
"I don't know how, but you won my heart Naruto and I feel….I feel like I don't deserve to have you. I never gave you the admiration that Hinata did and she deserves you more than I ever could. But I want you to know how I feel about you. I grew because of you, I learned what it meant to never give up from you. I learned how to overcome anything because of you." Sakura told him as she struggled to hold herself together. Naruto couldn't stand holding his lie back anymore.
"Sakura…it was me that said your forehead was pretty." Naruto blurted out. Time seemed to stop momentarily, the leaves frozen around them and the cool air of winter still around them. Sakura's eyes widen at what he had just said. She felt her heart stop.
"You…you did that?" Sakura asked her, remembering what apparently he had said to her. Naruto simply nodded.
"I henged into Sasuke…and look at what it caused. Sakura…I…I don't…I did something that hurt you in so many ways. You say you don't deserve me, but…I feel like I don't deserve you now." Naruto said sadly. Sakura felt herself shake, everything she had thought had been all him, it was always him.
"You…you baka…" Sakura stuttered out. Naruto closed his eyes and started to stand up, willing to leave since she was no doubt mad at him. The only thing was that something pulled him back down violenty.
"Wha…" Naruto stuttered out as Sakura grasped both sides of his face.
"You baka…I love you you baka." Sakura smiled with tears and then mashed her lips against his, holding nothing back. Naruto lived in momentary oblivion before returning it, crashing their lips against each other letting their hormones take over as they felt the heat of passion warm their bodies. Naruto used his arm to grasp her waist and pull her closer to him, wanting more of her and Sakura wanting the same. The moans of passion escaped their lips as the fought to get closer before they separated. Both were breathing heavily looking into each other's eyes.
"Wow…." Naruto breathed out catching his breath.
"Yeah…wow." Sakura nodded smiling while Naruto wiped her tears away. "I don't deserve someone like you."
"Yes you do, never tell yourself different." Naruto smiled back at her. Sakura felt her heart race at his words.
'Screw the complications. We'll deal with them later.' Sakura thought as she palmed his cheek and rubbed it gently.
"Then tell me what you've always wanted to say." Sakura urged him. Naruto leaned forward and kissed the diamond on her forehead.
"I love you Sakura Haruno, I love you. You're the only one my heart belongs to." Naruto whispered to her. Sakura leaned her forehead against his and smiled.
"Hopefully Lady Tsunade will have your arm ready soon, I want you to show me how much you love me with everything." Sakura smirked at him.
"I only need one arm for that as long as I have my mouth." Naruto joked. Sakura just raised her eyebrows before leaning back in to start another passionate session of lip mashing.
"Shinachiku, are studying like I asked you to?" Sakura called out to her seven year old son as she studied over medical files from the hospital while walking to his room.
"Yes mom! I'm studying the Rasengan like dads!" he called back.
"What did I say?! No advance techniques until you get the Shadow Clone jutsu and Clone jutsu!" Sakura smiled as she walked into his room.
"Aw come on mom! Even dad couldn't do the Clone jutsu and I'm already great at the Shadow Clone." Shinachiku whined to his mother.
"Well that's great of course, but think of it this. If you want to be just like your daddy, learning the Clone jutsu along with the Shadow Clone will put you on the path to beating him." Sakura explained to him kneeling down next to him.
"Well why aren't you at the hospital today mom? Then I could learn all this stuff!" he answered back to his mother.
"Because it's my day off and yours as well from the academy. What, you don't like spending time with your mom?" Sakura smiled setting the documents to the side.
"Well yeah, but I wish dad could spend more time with us too." He replied back disappointed.
"He spends at least three days a week with us. It'd be nice if he could spend every day with us but he has to go to those meetings so that he can spend those three days a week with us and not worry about someone that could endanger us. You can understand that right?" Sakura explained rubbing her son's back.
"Yeah. I do but I wish he could spend all day with us." He said with a smile.
"We both do honey." Sakura hugged her son as she heard a door click behind them. "And I think we just got our wish."
"Daddy!" Shinachiku shouted as he ran down stairs to greet his father.
"Ooh! There's my big guy!" Naruto laughed picking up his son.
"And there's my favorite lady." Naruto smiled leaning forward kissing her, causing their son to groan in disgust.
"You'll learn one day." Sakura smiled at her son's reaction.
"Dad! I started learning the Rasengan like you have!" Shinachiku excitedly said.
"Well that's great, hopefully you'll be as strong as your father one day." Naruto smiled at his son.
"I'll be stronger than you one day! Shannabayo!" he exclaimed raising his fist in the air.
"He's definitely your son." Sakura laughed resting her head against his shoulder.
"He's yours too." Naruto smiled setting him down on the ground. "Why don't you in your room and I'll be in there in a few minutes to help you study ok buddy?"
"Alright!" he shouted running back to his room. Once he was out of sight and earshot, Naruto kissed Sakura with more passion reserved for their intimate moments.
"And maybe we'll work on that future daughter of ours tonight." Naruto whispered to her and grasped her backside quickly.
"You'll have to find my replacement for the hospital first." Sakura smirked at him.
"Who said I already haven't?" Naruto smiled as he kissed her again and made his way back to his son's room. Sakura just stood there for a moment and smiled.
She had made the right choice, and she knew it.
A/N: Yeah, REAL hard to write romance. It's human emotion, big part of storytelling just so you know Kishi. Hell, I could have pulled it back but I decided "Nah, let me go all out at the end."
Ok…I wrote this rant before I started writing the story because I have some things to get off my chest.
First, I would have had NO ISSUE with the 'canon' pairings if they had been developed better. To me, they just weren't and if I'm missing something, sorry, we'll agree to disagree. I respect the pairings out of respect of the people that don't brag about them.
Second, if you are here because you are a NH or SS fan to come and gloat about your favorite pairings being canon….fuck off. I never went into NH or SS stories, forums, whatever and spout my favorite pairing and threw it in your faces for the five plus years I really enjoyed this pair.
Third, I'm not going to sugarcoat any of this rant, it's something that I need to say, regardless of what happens with the movie and again if you're a fan of the opposite side that will brag and troll, etc. Again, fuck off. You wouldn't want the NS brigade doing it to you would you? No and I never have and can respect a good story coming from the NH side and even one from the SS side, rare as it is for my opinion.
Fourth, the only shippers that are hurting worse are of course the NejiTen fans which I'm sure did not like Neji being killed. Hearts out to you brave fans.
Fifth, to share in the disappointment of the ending whether it is pairings or the end in general, I give my permission to use this story on Devianart, Tumblr, wherever you desire as long as you give me credit. Heck, even use this rant while you're at it.
Alright then, here's my opinion on the ending.
Of course the ending I felt was rushed and a complete disaster to the character development for everyone in the story as well as the unresolved issues that it had left for a MOVIE to fill in the gaps, a movie that at this point if the spoilers are somewhat true (I'm ninety-nine sure it's mostly bull crap and I'll wait to hear about the movie or see it) that it pretty much makes no sense. My thought on the matter with the ending? It was for money to promote the movie and get that last bit of the cow.
Whether that was due to the studios or Kishimoto, I don't know but the way I'm seeing some of these interviews that have leaked, it sounds like they're trying to cover their asses and it's not just me. I've talked to non shipping fans and regular people who don't even know about 'Naruto' but read books of all types of fiction and such and they agree that the ending is complete crap just from hearing about it. Here's my deal, there's no win win in this situation for fans. If it was about getting the movie out and supposedly catering to the popular fan bases, then shame on Kishimoto or the studio or whoever for doing so. If it was his writing, or his assistant or who the hell ever, then he or they failed as writers.
Think about it, in the case of NS, you have all the parallels of Kushina and Sakura, for crying out loud, she looks like her in Chapter 700! You have the parallels, in fact, almost the SAME EXACT panels of Minato / Naruto saving Kushina / Sakura, same mannerisms, same behaviors (confirmed by Minato). You have traits that both hated, Kushina her hair which Minato complimented and made her fall in love with him to put it blunt, Sakura with her forehead which was NEVER REVISITED considering it was NARUTO that said that even if he was henged into Sasuke.
Not to mention that panel time of the three major pairings were NS having the most time together and most development together. I had nothing against Hinata before the ending. But hearing how this movie is set two years later and she STILL hasn't been able to get Naruto and then the span of three to four months, he has this SUDDEN realization about it and his own feelings while mentioning a bunch of flashbacks that were never in the manga and a scarf that was never mentioned either?
Bullshit.
If the manga was about overcoming obstacles, growing as a person and coming of age, then why was Hinata the exception? So Naruto gives up his feelings for Sakura and settles for the silver? Yes it can be considered growing up but we never saw ANY feelings towards Hinata be mentioned in anyway in the manga (again, what the MOVIE is for). And Sakura ignores the things that Sasuke has done to her and doesn't even try to go with her own feelings with Naruto? And don't give me that bull crap she never loved him romantically, those panels throughout the years show otherwise. Sorry, but Hinata could have grown too and become the head of her clan but she never did, she became fodder just as Sakura did. Naruto and Sasuke fell into this as well with Naruto giving up and settling (two years later mind you when he never did anything afterward about his own feelings) and Sasuke who pulled more 180s that a drift car racer in a u-turn.
Everyone can say who's feeling what here and there, but here's the problem. It's not a book, it's a manga. We can't see what the characters are feeling completely in the limited pages of a weekly manga. You have to get what you see from the panels. What most people and even some NH and SS fans admit was that the ending was rushed and the development was none existent throughout all the panels over the years. Basically, the ending was complete crap and most fans know it, even the ones that brag "Our ship is canon! Hahahaha" but won't admit it.
Congrats to those that brag, your favorite ships are based on either no real development that wasn't shown enough in 15 years or at the least mainly being one sided throughout. Or if the other was based on a man that put the woman he "loves" in a genjutsu that showed him stabbing her not to mention trying to kill her, or destroy the village or wanting to kill all the Gokage and Naruto.
Notice I haven't included any of the movie 'plot' in those two statements? Because you can't deny it.
I'm sorry, I can't simply ignore the development that was present for the years I've been reading this and to simply get a bunch of unanswered questions that may or may not be resolved in the dumbest ways in a movie that at this point seems like nothing but a money grab. It goes beyond the pairings and just writer integrity which apparently he has none at this point.
I don't even care if all the crazy theories about the movie being the real ending and it becomes NaruSaku, SasuKarin, etc because at the end of the day, it shouldn't require a movie to do that with a work of manga. Sadly, those theories are awesome but my doubts are high.
And in reality, ninety nine percent of me says it won't be that and it'll follow what all the rumors are and that chapter 700 is the real ending blah blah blah.
Here's what would have been good for the series if Kishimoto or the studio or whoever wanted more money. You end the manga using the character development as it was meant to be based on the parallels and hints at it. You make those two chapters last 50 plus pages to get to that magical 700 you wanted while still being able to fully explain everything. Then you leave it with Naruto or better yet Team 7 reunited in a final panel where Naruto is not Hokage yet but is happy none the less. THEN you make the movie where you show him five years later or so where everyone is beginning to journey to who they are and watch as Naruto becomes Hokage instead of the epilogue. But honestly, the ending should have never been like that with the development that had been gone through. It pointed to NaruSaku and SasuKari which would have left Hinata to probably take over her clan as leader which would have made her a better character in the end because it would show her growth as well.
Don't like my opinion? Then that's fine, but respect it like I respect the opinions of the ones that don't brag and any that do brag, great for you but my question is why are you on a NaruSaku story or page in the first place?
Me thinks you are insecure about your own pairings.
Anyways, that's the rant. We'll see what the movie brings but I have a feeling it's not going to change anything.