Note: Before you read this fanfic, do note that I wrote this fanfic as a novel, not a dialog, I'm not going to change how it looks to make it look like an online role play for whoever claimed to be offended about the way I write my texts.

Depression and Nostalgia

She takes a glance at the sunset. Its final sprint tans the clouds in a radiant crimson. Its rays still hit the grounds and bathed it in its warm and friendly colors. "The sun is beautiful", she thought, yet it made her depressed. It reminded her of "him", that boy who is so popular that he doesn't even have time to stay in his own village. Its orange colors reflected his jacket, and its incandescent light reflected his never-give-up- attitude. He had always been the light that guided this Village, and he would certainly become the next Hokage, everyone knew as much. After all, he was the savior of the Ninja World, the victor of the World War and the boy who brought piece among the five ninja nations.

It's clear that he wouldn't have time to stick around with his old friends, and yet, it had been three months since the war ended, and he hadn't returned yet. She hated these thoughts, she thought they were selfish. It is clear why it takes so long. The ninja world needs to see its savior, it needs to know. It needs to…

She takes her gaze off of the breathtaking view and realizes where she is, and more importantly, why she realizes it. Five terribly loud knocks fill the room as they repeat from hitting the four grey-white wallpaper coated walls of her room. Terrified by its loudness, the girl squeaks out the words: "C-c-come… in?" The door had been thrown open already before she had finished her sentence. She could only expect it to be her dad, who is currently at a meeting for the benefit of the clan, or a servant. But none of them fit the description of her visitor.

"Yaho, Hinata!" Inuzuka Kiba. "Mail for you." The so called letter was of course a rhetorical pun. She clearly knew that having known Kiba for roughly 10 years. "We're going on a mission?" The girl said delighted after regaining all of her senses from surprise and greeting him a good afternoon. "How do you know?!" He asked with a dubious face as she was about to leave the room with a smile holding back her answer. Without saying a word, Kiba decides on instructing her on the mission as they take a walk from the compound and through the midtown streets.

It seemed that repairs were slowly showing to bear fruit after Pain's rampage that happened almost half a year ago, and you wouldn't even believe that a war had taken place, even though it brought heavy casualties, especially the death one of Hinata's dearest cousins. "Oi, Hinata!" She suddenly heard her companion snap his fingers in front of her very eyes. "S-Sorry, I guess I get lost in thought too easily lately." He heard her say noticing her red cheeks covered by a wry apologetic smile.

"So, anyway, about the mission, Lady Tsunade has sent team eight on the job for another bandit hunt." You could clearly hear a muffled sigh throughout his whole sentence. Since the war ended bandit activity has increased due to the casualties of the war, and made use of the end-war celebrations for one raid after another. Usually, there should always be a bunch of teams that should take out the trash, and there you have it, team eight.

As soon as the talk about missions was out of the way, they start their usual talk. Since the war had ended, Kiba had only found Hinata sitting in her room when not on a mission. She didn't want to join the girls on their usual shop-amok and she didn't usually go out for dinner. So once in a while he stops by the compound and invites her for a small walk in town.

When they're out he usually starts to talk about what is happening to all of their other friends nowadays, and of course, what he knew was the only thing he would think she would really care listen to; Naruto and his whereabouts.

"It seems that Tsunade finally got the things the way she wanted it." Kiba starts out. "She finally convinced Sasuke to raise a team of three Genin. I'd really enjoy seing him as a babysitter." "Also, as of today, Shino took his team on its first A-rank mission and it went smoothly." After the casualties of the war, Konoha has been in need of new Jonin team leaders, making Tsunade recommend newly established Jonins for the job. Sasuke from team 7, Lee from team Gai and Shino from team 8 were quickly recommended for the job. She wished to recommend Shikamaru as a team leader too, but he had to assume the role of his father as no one else was fit for the job. She also waited for the day when Naruto would finally settle in Konoha so she could recommend a team for him too.

Hinata was also a good candidate for a team leader, but despite that, she still hadn't made up her decision for the greater good of the clan. She didn't feel suited for the role as Hyuuga Clan Head when she had to live up to her own father. On that aspect, her little sister Hanabi would be a better option. Even though her combat skills were terrific, she was still too young to become a leader. She caught herself wishing that Neji was still alive. He would have been a great leader of the Hyuuga Clan, despite being of the side branch. She truly believed that her father would accept him as a leader in spite of that. Hinata slowly sinks into a world of shadows thinking about the dead and the lost.

"Stop being so depressed Hinata, it's killing me." Kiba blurts out showing off his begging puppy eyes. "Tell you what; I'll treat you on some ramen." He says this just as they pass by Teuchi at Ichiraku, and soon after they ordered Teuchi tries to break the silent with a conversations he knew they all could join in. "It's been pretty quiet lately, I can't even feel the heaviness of a dish after a long day of work. Not without Naru—" Kiba quickly hits the table knowing what he was about to say. "Teuchi, not the N-word!" Kiba says in a playful tone accompanied by a big fake smile, turning to Hinata it was like her whole entity was covered by a great dark cloud of depression. "Don't be like that Hinata!" Kiba tries his best to console her, but all he does is wave his arms around in panic.

"If you miss Naruto that much, then this news may be good to hear." Hinata's head perks up immediately on Teuchi's offer, surprising Kiba even further how simple planned she can be when she is this depressed. "Since the war ended you both know that the Hyuuga Hero, Neji didn't get a proper funeral, and as you know, the whole Village is going to visit his grave together on September 15th." They both nod at his statement. "Well, hearing that, Naruto wouldn't miss it by any chance, so she is coming home from his whole tour to stay in Konoha." "That's great news! Right, Hinata?" Kiba blurts out only to find Hinata stare at Kiba with such blaming eyes that it would curse a weak human. He knew what she was thinking: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? And you're supposed to be my Naruto scout!" Kiba laughed on the outside, but he felt dead on the inside.

The street lanterns had just been lit when Hinata and Kiba arrive at the compound. The summer weather made it hard to feel the fact that it was evening since the ear didn't actually become colder or thicker. For the fact that June had just started the villagers knew it would be a hot summer. Kiba gives Hinata his waves before turning around, but he stops for two seconds. "Kiba-kun.. Thanks… For looking after me." He didn't turn around on her gratitude, but from another angle you could see his broad genuine smile as he heads off. He throws his arm in the air with a thumbs up before he takes off once again as a way of saying "Any time, buddy."

Last time he saw this village, the repairs were still incomplete. Streets were crowded with his homeless kinsmen that received refuge for the nights in the tents on the great camp. The village had little in their food stocks, and could only barely supply itself with food. Only because of the charity of the great Kazekage, offering the hidden leaf assistance in food stock did the villagers survive through this cursed period of hunger. They all gave all of their strength to rebuild the village, and worked as the pillars. Each one of them supported the other. This was truly the time when the brotherhood of the village stood strongest. And now, this brotherhood is stronger than ever.

It looked so different. He didn't recognize a single building, except for the main gate, the Hokage's office, the hospital and the compounds that weren't severely damaged. But there was one thing which he didn't take notice of before. The entire block in which he used to live in was… gone. Realizing this, he knew only one person would have to answer for this. She might not have been there for the planning, but she played a great role in it as soon as she woke up.

"Oi, what's the deal to this?!" His voice's mass enveloped the entire office as it entered with his entire "elegant" being through the office door. "You've never been the knocking type, have you?" Tsunade said holding her usual pose, her hands tied together by the fingers. "Well it's nice to see you're healthy too!" She yelled aloud with as much mass to her voice. "What's your problem?!" But she quite frankly knew this already. "Suppose that would be my missing house?!"

The conversation had pretty much started out in a roaring competition. Tsunade was the first to show some tact, surprisingly. "Oh that!" She smirked showing off a wry smile. "I couldn't get myself to rebuild that dump." "WHAT?!" If you watched Naruto from any angle you would clearly see steam popping out of his rage painted skin. If you were an outsider you would find this conversation rather intense, but anyone else would find it comical, as Shizune clearly reflected by her muffled giggle.

"Why of course, that apartment doesn't suit the hero of the hidden leaf, and now, the hero of the whole nation." Naruto's rage went out through the same exit, his mouth. "That apartment was the only memory I had left from the fact that I had a family here!" Tsunade decided to interrupt him before he started reminiscing memories that would depress the entire argument. "That's why I decided on rebuilding something that was destroyed long ago." Tsunade stands up from her office desk. She walks right past Naruto, slapping the back of his head as an offer to follow her.

Though pouting and moaning the entire way, having a hard time realizing if he was pissed off or really just sad, he takes any of these worries back. He stood in front of something nostalgic, something he had never seen, only in his memories. But he knew it. "This is a perfect imitation of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze's house, the house you were born in. And now…" She turns around to face Naruto. She perfectly locks her gaze on his. "It's yours." "For real?!" His eyes couldn't become any wider. Any more and they would certainly pop right out of his face. "Can I…?" He takes a step towards the mighty building suggesting exploration of its interior. "Not without a key of course." Tsunade interrupts him yet again, and drags out a copper key from the side pocket of her green trench coat. It was part of a keychain with two accessories attached to it. They looked like miniature or perhaps even chibi versions of his mother and father.

He eagerly twists the key and hurriedly opens the door. He takes a walk through the whole house. He had heard stories about this house from his mother when she reminisced the past in front of him at the Kyuubi's presence, but now it was in front of him. Tsunade stands in the middle of the living room when he returns to her. "Well, I guess it's got some perks to being a hero huh? Heheheh!" She knew that the boy was indeed grateful, but his ways of saying thanks were usually just as dodgy as her way of saying "you're welcome." "You ungrateful little brat!" She flings these roars into the air as she jabs his head from above, avoiding to toss him anywhere since that would damage the furniture.

The sky turns red when Tsunade leaves the house. She wanted to make sure that the blonde boy had successfully unpacked and felt at home. As she left the house, he walked outside along with her. "Don't think about it Naruto, I can walk home by myself." Tsunade said surprised. "That's not it." Naruto said in the best manner not to get her mad for disliking her idea. "My stock on ramen is limited, and I promised to meet up with my old team as soon as I could." He says this with an embarrassed smile for unknown reasons. "Just like the old days, huh?" "Yeah!" He raises a fist to the air, saluting his home. His old home. His real home.

"So you've become a babysitter huh?" Naruto points and laughs at Sasuke's admitted red face. "For your information, they're all exceptional Genin!" Sasuke futilely tries to turn the tables to his benefit. "I love those words coming from your mouth!" Naruto returns the fire. "Remember the time when we were Genin? You would always tell us to get out of the way because we were worthless, and now you're praising Genin!" Sasuke perks up at his quote. "That's because they're Genin under my command!" And without a doubt, both Sasuke and Sakura would know that he'd pick up the ball. "Are you kidding? I'd bet if I had a team of Genins they would beat your team in-" "Some things never change, do they?" Sakura's voice enters the argument, of lesser value. But her voice isn't full of arrogance of the likes of the two "gentlemen."

"Things have changed but they haven't really changed." Sakura's voice is filled with Nostalgia, just the way Naruto's was earlier on the same day. "Your arguments are still childish and harmless, and I'm still the middleman who is supposed to end it. But one thing is different. We're all taller, older, and pretty much adult. We have responsibilities." "Why are you saying that, Sakura?" Naruto asks with a confused and rude tone. "Because things are changing now, we aren't just ninjas anymore." As her nostalgia creates an oddity in the air, Naruto and Sasuke acquire a shared grimace of doubt. "Sasuke and his Genin, and I basically am in charge of the entire hospital." "Yeah, but weren't you already that already before the war?" Naruto interrupts at a bad time meeting her furious fists. "Don't break my good mood!"

After calming Sakura down, joining their forces of coercion, Sasuke finally gives in to the pressure and tells them about his team of Genin which he has been training for a week. "Kenta and Nori are two very special but tough Genin. Kenta is a talented Archer and Nori is a Hyuuga, and haven't really been getting along since they do not compliment eachother's fighting styles." "Reminds me of Sasuke and I when we were on our first A-rank mission and kept competing instead of helping eachother out." Naruto adds. "Kenta really has a special way of fighting, but in reality, Nori is just much more gifted. His gentle fist is top class, but he's aggressive, while Nori is calm in many situations. They could really learn from eachother if they would just cooperate…"

"You say that, but you're still horrible at cooperating yourself, Sasuke-kun." Sakura comments in a giving-up manner. "Well…" Sasuke scuffs. "That's because I can take care of myself on my own, but I have to keep looking over their shoulders because they can't back eachother up, that's a pain in the ass…" To that Naruto starts laughing out loud in a way that it makes others in the restaurant take notice, and Sasuke both mad and embarrassed. "But, what about your third Genin?" Sakura asks while pulling Naruto together the "Sakura way". "Haruka is a genius." Sasuke says in an immediate response. "An Aburame with a certain knack for hiding herself and her chakra."

You could see on Sasuke's face that he was just asking any of the two to ask him how, so Sakura took the lead. "She hides her chakra in the structure of the bugs, and confuses her target. While her target is confused she can go for a perfect backstab. I've never seen any ninja like that, like a perfect assassin!" Sasuke is so pumped up that the two other are worried that he might use Haruka for his own evil purpose.

"You've made me pumped!" Naruto states, taking his last bite of pork, and setting the tray. "I'm definitely going to get a Genin team that's a hundred times better than yours! They'll beat your Genin into the dust at the Chuunin Exam!" "Like hell!" Sasuke answers the fire, realizing both he and Naruto were standing up from their chairs. They had been rivalising for as long as they can remember as Genin, and now they are rivals on a completely new level.

After the dinner, Sasuke excuses himself and leaves to his Compound. To Naruto's luck, he and Sakura now live a few neighborhoods away from eachother, so she has no reason to refuse to let him walk her home. "It's good to have you home again, Naruto." Sakura acts as the conversation starter, although Naruto had been rambling about his special missions with Killer Bee which Sakura had not heard about while she had her head busy with the war. "Konoha hasn't been quite as loud as today, I've missed that." "Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?" Naruto asks stupidly, to which Sakura clenches her fist. "Moron, I'm telling you that I missed you! Shaa!" And hits his head clean. After regaining her posture, Naruto notices a blush upon her face but couldn't judge whether it was because of embarrassment or something else.

They shortly arrive in front of Sakura's house. Naruto had received three fists to the face along the way, because of his loud mouth. "Goodnight Naruto", Sakura waves at him as she walks up to her front door, but Naruto is in another dimension. The conversation along the way had been quite uncommon for Sakura. She had talked about how much she had missed Naruto and about how she had been looking forward to his arrival at Konoha, in a manner that made her show more affection towards him than he is used to.

"Sakura, I want to ask you something." Naruto says in a serious manner. His hazel blue eyes clearly questioning her to face him. Not deciding to move, Naruto instead walks up to her at her front door, facing bluntly at her front. "Are your feelings for me still the same?" Sakura knew where this was going. Naruto was good at taking advantage of any situation to ask her out, but she would never believe that he would even take a chance like this one. Something seemed different, though. He wasn't his usual self. His eyes were as full of determination as when she saw him facing Nagato after Konoha had been obliterated.

"I can't say my feelings are the same." She timidly confesses. "I realized that you're dear to me, Naruto, and Sasuke too. You're…" Sakura's train of thought is stopped when Naruto has already grabbed her by the shoulders, as his face reaches down to meet hers. He tries to catch something he didn't know if he would actually acquire, a hot sensation on his lips, the true token to prove if his burning wish for the pink haired lady's hand could be granted, or if he had to keep fighting. Yet, he never felt a sensation on his lips, instead, the sensation was a push on his chest.

"… You're my family." Sakura ends her sentence. "Please, Naruto-kun, you know this cannot happen. I love you. But…" "… But not like that." Naruto's voice sinks into a disappointed moan. "Sorry." He adds. "I hope Sasuke will accept you someday, at least. So you can be happy together." "It's not because of Sasuke-kun, Naruto, you know that fully well." She says not accepting his words of defeat. He used to never back down on his actions. Seing him give up is unusual, even surreal.

"I know." He replies in a whisper. "Goodnight Naruto." She wants to end the conversation not to hurt him anymore. She knew what she had done had to be done, she had just hoped that he had given up on her. Yet, there was one thing she felt she had to say: "I know she is out there, the one that deserves you." "Why are you saying that? It doesn't make any sense." Naruto asks with a deeper whisper and a dubious gaze as he walks away. "Because I don't." She says these last words before she closes the door, ending this moment between them, and cutting all of the bonds of love they had shared. This was the end. Could they still be friends?

"… Don't… Deserve… Me?"