This story takes place directly after chapter 235 of Naruto.
I do not own Naruto or any non oc's in this fic they are property of Masashi Kishimoto.
Shikimaru's foots steps fell flat as he walked side by side with the current Hokage, racking his brain for reasons to stay a shinobi. Sure everyone was alright, but couldn't he handle the responsibility.
"I was thinking…can I ask you something?" His weakly asked. The Hospital was where bland, and boring doing nothing more than absorbing the negative energy and reflecting it upon the shadow user. But for the princess of the Senju, she felt she owed him and his team all the information she could give.
"What is it?"
"For the level of the mission and the members on the team there where different conditions, but for such a team shouldn't we have been assigned a medical ninja?" If there was a medic with them maybe the mission wouldn't have been a failure, maybe him, Kiba or someone would have been able to help Naruto in the fight with Sasuke, maybe their injured wouldn't have been in critical condition when they got back. He was thankful Neji and Choji where faring well now. But if a Medical ninja was there. Would his failure had been amplified with the injuries like this? Tsunade didn't have anything to say to protect herself, the council would soon react in an un-calmly manner over the Uchiha escaping, not only that she kept all the medical ninja at their posts, only to have to pull away more. Sure the Jounnin where currently doing other mission, but even with as much as she trusted Shikamaru and Naruto the move wasn't glorious on her part.
"I understand what you're saying…" She muttered still walking with the boy down the hall. "A long time ago, I wrote the same thing in a report on team survival and mission success. But it's not easy to train medical ninja. Medical ninja require different skills compared to ninja who focus on fighting. You must have every aspect of your chakra control refined to perfection. Study a large amount of specified knowledge. Have the ability to apply the knowledge and never give up." Shikumaru knew the training was tough, but they could train children to spit fireballs, yet medical ninjutsu was that hard? Shikumaru was good with strategy and tactics, in battle he could squeeze by if needed, but as far as the rest went it was all too troublesome. He turned as the Slug women continued to speak, snapping him out of his own thoughts. "Also it is the "most important thing" that makes a first class medical ninja." He eyes widened, important thing? But his thoughts would go beyond this. "You go on ahead to Naruto's room." The Slug Sannin exclaimed waving him off. "I'll come after I pick up the medicine." Shikamaru walked to the boys room head caught in a daze, what was this most important thing, wasn't it the mission? He'd always put his comrades first, but maybe he was wrong? Little did he know in his current questioning he'd lost the true answer.
-
The water kept moving beneath the bridge as Sakura stared blankly at her reflection. 'Am I as useless as I feel right now?' she wondered, Sasuke-kun had been right there in arms reach, and, he just left. She couldn't stop him with skill, her emotions carried no weight on his shoulder, and even offered to go with him, and all that has happened was her getting chopped in the back of the neck. Left there, now it looked like things where a bit bleaker then she believed they would be when Naruto ran off to chase him. Naruto had become reliable, and even if he spited her for wanting Sasuke-kun back. Naruto never went back on his word. But what if he had failed? She was soon snapped out of her thoughts as her blond haired best friend came running to the bridge, Ino was awfully cheerful for Sasuke-kun to be gone. "It looks like everyone is back!" She exclaimed grabbing Sakura by the arm pulling her along. "Come on now, let's go to the hospital!"
Naruto sat up in his bed, his body was aching, burning but what was worse. Was he had failed, and Sasuke-teme's headband was proof of that. His eyes stayed deadlocked on the headband as he let his thoughts wander.
"I will go to Orochimaru." Sasuke exclaimed with the curse mark spreading across his body. Naruto tried his hardest to keep that from happening, and he failed.
"Naruto…My…Lifelong wish." Sakura cried out, and thanks to his failure. It was shattered.
Then lastly the statement, which broke his pride: a statement from his own mouth.
"I will definitely bring Sasuke back! That's the promise of a lifetime!" More like a failure of the lifetime.
"Well. Well. You're awake." A voice said snapping the blond out of his thoughts.
"Shikamaru!" He exclaimed as the shadow user leaned against the door frame.
"Hows Kiba, Choji, Neji, Lee, is everyone okay?" He asked voiced filled with worry, in his time resting and reflecting on his failure he nearly lost track of his precious people.
"Neji and Choji were in critical condition, but things seem like they'll be fine. Kiba had a small wound and Lee was nothing serious. The team from Suna actually came as back up." Shikamaru said as he took a seat on the bed.
"So, everyone is safe. That's good." Naruto said with a sigh of relief looking back down at the head band. So, they tried their hardest and he was the point of failure, great. Shikamaru stayed quiet for a moment, Sasuke wasn't here, and Naruto seemed down. It was almost too much to ask, but he had to know for sure.
"And Sasuke?"
"Yeah, he got away." Naruto sighed, about to express is guilt for failing. Before he even open his mouth the voice of Tsunade was heard out in the hall.
"What's wrong? You're Haruno, Sakura, Right?" Naruto and Shikamaru turned to the door. Naruto's mind was running rampant. She heard them; he didn't have to tell her. She had overheard it. It was obvious what was wrong.
"The information has spread quickly." They heard seconds after, they both kept their eyes locked as the door opened. Tsunade stood looking at the two a small pink haired girl stood behind her the look of distaste and disappointment on her face. Atleast that's what Naruto saw; Shikamaru saw on of lose and confusion. This encounter would be troublesome, troublesome indeed.
"Naruto." Was the only word out of her mouth as Tsunade's voice came over the room.
"I heard that you were severely wounded, but you're fine now." Naruto's eye began to water as he dropped his head. Shikamaru's posture stiffened. He knew this would be a uncomfortable, troublesome situation.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan." He gently said.
"Why are you adpologizing?" She asked putting up a fact smile to hide her anger and sorrow. Naruto could tell it was fake; and so could everyone else. They remained silent as she made her way to the window. Drawing back the curtains for the sun to cast some light in on the dreary room.
"You look really weird! You're almost like a mummy." She forced out in a cheerful tone.
"I-"
"I mean the weather looks so good out toda-"
"I'm sorry Sakura!" Naruto yelled causing his sore muscles to make him cringe. Damn fox normally heal this kind of thing. "Sakura-Chan! I'll defiantly keep my promise! I said that it was a lifelong promise!"
"It's alright Naruto." At this Shikamaru's mouth opened, these two where too troublesome. Naruto wanting to express his guilt and continue on; Sakura trying her best to choke down emotions, and both of them feeling pain from the others reaction.
"Sakura he's trying to-"
"Shut up!" She screamed holding back tears. The room went silent. Tsunade stepped out leaving the kids to their own drama. She hoped Naruto was okay, but she could do nothing her.
"I won't go back on my word. Because that's my ninja-"
"You aren't even a ninja! You're a dead last who can't even comprehend orange will get you killed in battle! You run around like everything is fine, it's not! Sasuke-kun is gone and you've done nothing, absolutely nothing to help things. You promised Naruto!" She screamed. Shikamaru was surprised. Naruto hardly ever held his tongue. But he just kept his head lowered this time. Not speaking a word.
Her words where pounding through his head. "Naruto, my lifelong wish- Sasuke, bring Sasuke back. I couldn't do it! I couldn't stop Sasuke! Now the one person who can stop him is you Naruto, only you!" Now instead of depending on him, laying her hope onto him, he was being berated for his failure, as it should be.
"You're weak like Sasuke-kun always said. Instead of trusting you to return him to me I should have left too. Now I'm stuck with you!"
"Sakura I tried."
"So did I! But you had my hopes on you. You acted like you could do it! I trusted you and believed in you for nothing!"
"Sakura-"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it. You failed it is okay. Just don't talk." She said making her way to the door; Shikamaru was stunned to say the least. He had heard her insult the boy before but this was not the place or time. "I'm sorry, but next time. I'll bring him back myself." With that she left.
Hours had passed and Naruto was left in his room. Tsunade had heard of the argument between the Haruno and Naruto, she sighed. She was angry but what the council had decided was more irritating to her. Naruto would be suspended for two months. The entire time he'd be under Anbu surveillance while training and all because the nine-tails chakra. So they said. She knew why, they were angry he didn't retrieve Sasuke. But before her fuming was over a knock rattled the door.
"Come in."
"Hokage-sama I have a request." Asked the figure walking into the room.
"What is it?"
"I've decided, if I'm going to be a team leader I want to be able to do more than subdue and work tactics. After the damages taking by my team on this mission I feel as if me learning medical ninjutsu would be best for the all of us."
"Surprising to say the least, I figured that would be too troublesome for you Nara."
"It's troublesome, but I don't want to uselessly sit outside of a hospital room again. If I'm giving them orders, I feel I should take responsibility and at least try to heal their wounds."
"Very well Nara, meet me he tomorrow at 7 to begin your studies, and don't you dare say troublesome."
All the boy did was sigh.
-
Naruto lay in his hospital bed staring at the ceiling. Eyes watering, feeling as if he'd completely fucked up. In many ways Sakura was right. He was worse than her, he failed. He had promised, not just to him but to her and failed. His team mates nearly died for that mission, and because of his weak resolve, his lack of talent. Him "playing shinobi" Sasuke got away. Hell, even the part about wearing orange she was right about. His entire life he used the colorful color for attention. But he was a shinobi, not a child. He should have used his skills. If he'd had put more work into his skills he would have brought Sasuke back, he would have been acknowledged. His thoughts began to wonder when a loud crash was heard outside. Naruto scurried over to the window to find a long hair man standing on top of a huge toad.
"Hello there brat."
"Ero-Sannin!" Naruto yelled looking at the man. He was the closest thing to a father he could ever have. Maybe, this would be some good news.
"I came to talk to you about an important matter." He said sitting on the windowsill his summon poofing out of existence. "When I was investigating Orochimaru's immortality jutsu information about the Akatsuki came to light."
"Information?"
"They won't be after you for at least three or four years from now."
"Well in that case lets go get Sasuke! Oroichimaru could have killed him by now!"
"Sasuke is fine, I know exactly what Oroichimaru wants him for."
"You already know?"
"Like I said before, I was investigating Oroichimaru's immortality jutsu. This might not relieve you, but Oroichimaru can't use Sasuke's body for atleast three years. Don't make short of my information network brat. It seem he can only use the damn thing once within three years of each use. As of right now he can't transfer into a new body. While impatiently waiting on Sasuke he switched bodies. Meaning we still have time."
"Really!"
"Yeah, but, forget about Sasuke. He decided his path himself. Not even you can drag him back onto the right one. He's the same as the snake he ran too. Going after him is a fools task brat."
"He may be nothing to you but he's my friend! I promised!"
"I've been through the same thing. If you think those wounds he gave you to get there are bad can you imagine the ones you'd receive trying to make him leave. Besides, even if you ran off you'd not get far."
"Wha-"
"You've been suspended kid, for using the Kyuubi's chakra. Anbu would follow you out and it would only get worse. If you got away, even if you brought Sasuke back, you'd still have went against orders and be marked as a traitor. Then you'd face shinobi a hell of a lot more troublesome the Oroichimaru in the future. So forget about Sasuke and after this little stent of suspension is over. We'll go on a nice long training trip."
"Why was I suspended for that?" Naruto asked in anger. Jiraiya could hold back and lie, or he could be honest and let him know.
"Kid this is the councils way of punishing you for not retrieving the Uchiha."
"Punished! Not a damn shinobi outside of gennin and Shikamaru was sent on this thing! Yet I'm punished for failure! How is this fair!"
"Kid, calm down, there is nothing we can do."
"I'm sick of this. I risk my life, the team risked their life and all that anyone is concerned about is Sasuke. He plunged his hand through my fucking chest! Neji and Choji almost died! We fought Jounin level ninja yet Sasuke getting- I have never in my life been so mad." Naruto growled, his eyes had turned to slits and crimson chakra was leaking. He wanted to show this village how wrong it was, for the first time in his life he wanted to show someone something with violence. Teach them a real lesson. Jiraiya grabbed the boy, pulling him close.
"It's okay kid, it's okay. You'll learn this world is not about jutsu and power but more time than not it's about following orders. Yours where to bring him back, and you failed. This may not be justified but it happens. It's how the world works." It was the truth, a man could protect an entire village but if his mission failed. It failed. Naruto would have to learn. Suddenly chakra flared the boy pushed the Sannin away. Eyes filled with determination.
"IF THAT IS HOW IT IS, THEN I UZUMAKI NARUTO WILL CHANGE IT WITH MY OWN HANDS. THEY WANT THE UCHIHA BACK THEY CAN FETCH HIM THEIR SELVES! I WILL NOT STAND BY AND PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO A TRAITOR! I'LL TRAIN MY SELF AND RIGHT BEFORE THAT DAMN SNAKE TAKES SASUKE'S BODY I'LL KILL BOTH OF THEM! I'M TIRED OF RESENTMENT!" Jiraiya for a split seconded felt pride in his convictions. Then worry set in. The boy so easily decided to kill his former friend. But in all honesty, he wished he could have come to the same position years ago. It was good to know Naruto wouldn't be going down the same path. After all the brat was a knuckle head. But he was no fool.
-
Okay guys there is the first chapter, not sure how I feel about continuing yet. Plans are for this to turn into a NaruxIno but plans may change. Leave me some feedback, telling me what you think or would like to see happen.