One and a half years after Naruto's return

Things had been peaceful for the last 3 months. Naruto was happy. One of the reasons for this happiness was that five and a half months before, he had gotten the girl he had been after for most of his life. Naruto and the rest of the rookie 9 and Guy's team had defeated the Akatsuki. Only two of the members had lived, Pein and Tobi. Both members hid shortly before Hidden Leaf maid their final attack.

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Sasuke had returned after the attack. His bother presumed dead, his hatred was placed on another. Sasuke had fought his bother but lost. He had been saved buy his ex-best friend, and his life's work had been completed by Naruto. The anger at Naruto's name sent his eyes blazed with red even after a year. Their friendship, from his side, had died that day and to hear him tell it had been dead since the day he left. From that day on, he's trained to kill a certain someone who had taken from him his vengeance.

In Hinata's room

Ok Hinata, today's the day. Hinata was standing over a trash can with a picture of the one she loved or still loved. Since his return, her and her love had gotten to be close friends, but the pain she was feeling because he belonged to someone was unbearable. She had been trying to throw away her feelings for five months now, and today had to be the day. Her hand held limply onto the picture. She was in some what of a daze. Hinata, he is not your love if you can just let go of this picture you can move on. Tears were pouring down her face, eyes red from stress. She had been over the trash for and hour now but couldn't let go. "He-ee isn't even talking to me anymore ….sob….he avoids me, why cant I let go." Just three weeks ago, Naruto had been acting different and had started to avoid even being on the same street as her. Hinata had no idea what she had done. She was sad that Naruto was taken but she was happy at the same time; Naruto was happy and his happiness came before her personal feelings. With these words going through her mind, For you Naruto-kun I will break my own heart. Naruto-kun, today I'll let you free from my heart. With that she let go of the picture……… the picture stayed there in the trash for ten long seconds calling to, tempting her. After ten seconds she couldn't take it, she went into the can and took the picture out. She let a loud cry, "Naaaarrruuutttoooo……sob… why cant I stop loving you?"

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Naruto for the past year and a half had been having the time of his life. He had a girlfriend, friends, and a good shot a becoming hokage in the years to come. Today he felt different, things had been too calm and life could never be perfect, not for a demon brat. He had a mission coming in and it was addressed that he go alone.

"Hey baa-chan. So what's this big mission?"

"Brat if you don't stop calling me that I'LL TRUN YOU INTO A FUCKING GENIN!!!! Any way brat, the kazekage has some info on Akatsuki and someone who has a gift similar to yours. I don't know all the details, but this person's power is not supposed to exist."

"Really? So how long will I be gone? Am I just getting info or something?"

"Naruto I don't know much but from what Gaara has told me you should be gone for 2 months. Ask him the details when you get there. Here's your travel papers."

"Ok, thanks baa-chan."

Naruto didn't have time to run as he was punched out of a window and into the street. After healing himself 'til he could walk ok, he started towards Sakura's house. On his way he saw a white beautiful girl walk towards the hokage building and jump to a nearby tree out of sight until she got passed him and went into the building. Man I got to stop doing this, but what can I do the feelings I have for her I shouldn't have. I have Sakura. If I stay friends with Hinata ...I may just lose myself. I mean I love Sakura, so why do I feel this way with Hinata ... Well I have 2 months to think and get her out of my mind. No one in the village could say Hinata wasn't beautiful. In fact, all the girls in the rookie 9 were vixen level, though Hinata's body was by far the greatest, though her body was not was gave Naruto these feelings. Her kindness and willingness to understand and listen to him played a big part. Naruto, even before he and Sakura had gotten together, had been growing closer and having feelings for Hinata. Although most of him wanted to believe there was no one in his mind but Sakura, those thoughts were quickly proven wrong. Three weeks ago when he had a dream and woke up one morning, he muttered four words that kept him awake for 32 hours straight.

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Dream

Naruto was in the middle of two beautiful women, one with pink hair and one with black/blue hair. They both looked at him and blood started leaking from Hinata's chest, her heart ripping itself out of her. She fell to the floor. He looked to Sakura and she was just standing there as shadow started to cover her body. She looked into Naruto's eyes and walked away. He looked back to Hinata covered in blood on the floor and ran to her, picked her head up, and held her close…

"What the hell is going on Hinata? Speak to me please!"

She opened her eyes and kissed him. "For you Naruto-kun, I'd break my own heart."

Naruto began crying loudly, "Hinata what are you saying? This is a dream I have to wake up, I have to wake up! Fox if this your doing, I swear I'll kill you!"

The body of Hinata got up, blood still flowing from her heart that is now in the open for Naruto to see. Hinata pulled out a blade and held it to her heart, eyes not white but of the Kyuubi and asked, "Naruto-kun, how do you feel about me Naruto?"

Naruto was taken aback for a minute, but he was brought to tears by what happened next. Hinata stabbed her heart. Naruto screamed "Nnnnnnnoooooooo!"

End dream

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I ... I love you Hinata

Naruto's dream brought many question to him, ones he was sure must have just been confusion from bad food. He was done thinking as he was now at the door of his girlfriend's house. He had made up his mind, he wouldn't to anything to jeopardize his relationship with Sakura. I mean she was who he had waited for all his life. He would fight and die to keep and protect her. He knocked on the door. No answer. He knocked again. The sound of feet running around could be heard as the door was answered.

"Hey babe, I thought we'd go out today. I got a mission tomorrow and I'll be out of the village for two months."

"Sorrrry love, I don't think so. I'm a little tired"

"What's wrong, your hair is a little beat and you're sweating. Are you sick?"

"I'm fine Naruto, really. Uummm, uuuhhh, it's just a little cold."

"Ok, can I come in? I'll fix some ramen and make sure you're well taken care of today."

"No, no, Naruto. I'll be ok. I'll see you off tomorrow."

"Ok then Sakura. I love you. Get some rest for me."

She closed the door before he could give her a hug or kiss and without saying anything back. This went unnoticed to the blond. Naruto walked off and as he got to the side of the house he saw that her window was open. No wonder she's sick. He walked around for awhile to no place in particular when he got sight of a store. He went in and saw something perfect for the one he loved. He bought it and headed home for today, taking a longer road so as not to be seen from the hokage building. Hinata would be getting off her shift at the hospital soon.

Hinata walked out of the building. Why was he hiding from me? I get the idea, I'll never have him as Sakura does, but I really do want to be in his life as a friend if nothing more. Have I done something wrong? I wish I knew. On her way to her home, she walked by Sakura's houseShe looked at the house. You're a lucky woman with a good man, so be good to him Sakura-san. She kept walking but looked back as she thought she saw something jump from the window, but nothing was there so she continued her walk home.

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The next day

Naruto was on his way out of the village. He had been practicing on what to say all night, and he had mostly convinced himself that he felt nothing for Hinata. He was about to do something very special for Sakura. Yesterday he had gotten a necklace with a red gem on it much like the one he had from the 5th hokage. This necklace had an engraving in it that said "Promised for you" in gold letters. He was at the gate now, where Sakura was waiting.

"Hey Naruto."

"Hey babe, you look better today." He leaned in and kissed her. "Two months will be too long without that," he said with a grin.

But Sakura looked somewhat sad. He came closer and held her close.

"Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

"I don't know Naruto, there's a lot of girls in Suna."

"Don't tell me you're jealous. Wait I have something for you." He pulled out the necklace. "I know people most of the time use rings for this, but I've never been one to follow life law," he grinned as he put it on her. "Sakura this is my promise to you that I'll always love you, be there for you, and try and work out any problems that may meet us in the future. This, Sakura, is me dedicating myself to you."

Sakura looked at it in awe. "It's beautiful Naruto." She gave him a hug, "Have a safe trip Naruto."

He grinned, took one more long kiss, and walked away. As naruto walked away her seemingly happy smile turned into a frown as she thought about yesterday.

"Hey babe I thougyh we'd go out today. I got a mission tomorrow and I'll be out of the village for two months."

"Sorrrry love I don't think so. I'm a little tired."

"What's wrong? Your hairis a little beat and you're sweating. Are u sick?"

"I'm fine Naruto, really. Uummm uuuhhh it's just a little cold."

"Ok, can I come in? I'll fix some ramen and make sure you're well taken care of today."

"No, no, Naruto. I'll be ok. I'll see you off tomorrow."

"Ok then Sakura. I love you. Get some rest for me."

She closed the door and went to her room. There, still naked in her bed, lay Sasuke.

"Naruto was at the door huh?"

Sakura looked in at him, a little scared that he was angry. "Don't worry Sasuke-kun. I love youuu and no one else."

Sasuke looked at her with a little disgust. "From what I remember, you belong to dead last. That you just brush away"

"Sasuke I'll let him go, I just don't know how to say it. I'll do it in time."

Sasuke grinned. "Ready for round two?"

After round two, Sasuke got up and put on his clothes.

"Do you have to leave Sasuke?"

"We're done here aren't we?"

"You could spend the night with me."

"I have other thing to do." With that, he hopped out of the window. Sakura was left wishing he would spend the night holding her like Naruto had done so many times.

Sakura was at her door now. During her thinking she didn't notice that she had walked all the way home. She took off the necklace and walked in.

"Did u tell him?"

Sakura looked towards the voice, "I didn't get a chance to." Seeing the anger in Sasuke's eyes, she quickly made an excuse, "I was late. He was gone before I got there."

Sasuke still looked irritated, so Sakura quickly pulled out the necklace. "I got u something."

Sasuke looked at it a little surprised. "I know people most of the time use rings for this, but I just wanted to be different… Sasuke this is my promise to you that I'll always love you, be there for you, and try and work out any problems that may meet us in the future. This, Sasuke, is me dedicating myself to you and only you."

A pang of guilt hit her as she said these words. Sasuke looked at the gift and put it in his pocket. With that, he did to her what he had been doing for the past month already, he took her to bed.

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Hinata was on her way to the hospital at the hokage building for her shift. She, Ino, and Sakura were direct apprentices of the 5th hokage. They worked with each other a lot, but lately Sakura had taken the night shift, which left Hinata to listen to gossip about anything and everything from Ino. Hinata liked Ino, but liked when Sakura was around more so she could be ignored. As she was walking by Sakura's house, she was surprised to see Sasuke walking out. Not thinking the worst, she thought, I'm glad those two are still friends. Maybe Sasuke will regain his friendship with Naruto-kun. Thinking nothing important she continued to her work.

Five hours later, Hinata was tired from work and hearing who's like who, who's cheating, and Ino's own sexcipade with Sai. But what she said next made her blood boil and her heart cry out.

"You know, Naruto had a mission today."

Hinata looked up. "Oh."

"Yea that's one guy I really feel sorry for."

"Why is that Ino?"

"Do you mean that you don't … gee Hinata, I'd figured you would be more sensitive."

"Ino what are you talking about? Is something wrong with Naruto-kun?"

"You mean you really don't know? Gee, I thought everyone could see it. She ain't hiding it. Well I figured Naruto was the only one who didn't know."

"Ino really, what are you talking about?"

"Can you keep this on the hush?" Hinata, a little worried by now, nodded. "Sakura's been screwing around on him for about a month now with Sasuke." Hinata's mouth hung open, tears filled behind her eyes, and her heart sunk. "I mean naruto is not the model looking guy, Sasuke is. But he's still a good guy… I mean I don't even think he looks at other girls. I can't say I agree with her on this even if she is my friend. What do you think Hinata?"

Hinata held back her cry. "I think Naruto disserves better than to be treated like that. Ummm, Ino, my shift is over. I think I'll head home."

"Ok Hinata, but remember on the hush. But, I think she'll tell him sooner or later anyway."

Hinata nodded and walked away. On her way home she was being overwhelmed with emotion. How could she do that to someone who loves her so much? Hinata could feel her heart breaking at the fact that Naruto could really be hurt by this when he found out. She was feeling anger at Sakura for what she was doing and helpless to save Naruto from the pain he might feel in the future. But she was also angry that Naruto had been taken by someone who would do something that she would never in her life do. She couldn't take it she ran out of the village and into the woods to cry.