A/N: Hello everyone. I am sorry for the delay on the other stories, but my computers been acting up. This is a new story I am writing. I am continuing ALL of my stories. This a Naruto/Angst fic. It will have a NaruSaku pairing later. I wrote this while listening to very depressing music.


Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!!!

Chapter One

Tears

"Tsunade-obaachan, I would like to request permission to leave the village." I said to her. I had been thinking those thoughts again. The same ones that had constantly plagued my mind when I was training with Ero-Sennin. I knew there was only one person that could stop me thinking like this.

"Naruto, you just got back from your training with Jiraya, why do you want to leave again?" She asked me. Shizune-neechan was filing some papers that Tsunade-obaachan neglected to do.

"I… have to go see someone. Please!" I begged her. I was on the verge of tears yet again. I cursed myself for my weakness. I cursed him for leaving. I cursed myself for not being able to stop him. Dammit all! The tears flowed freely now. Shizune-neechan stopped filing and looked over at me with a concerned look in her eyes. Tsunade-obaachan did the same.

"Okay. But you have to take Sakura and Kakashi with you."

"Thank you." I didn't mind taking Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei with me. They knew whom I needed to see. But I was a little sad. If what I planned to happen was to take place, I didn't want them to see me.

I left the office quietly. I didn't even acknowledge Shikamaru, whom I passed on the stairs. I walked towards Ichiraku's Ramen like I always did, when I was depressed. I always tried to drown my sorrows in ramen. Unfortunately it didn't work. The only thing I got out of it was an empty wallet and a stomachache.

As I was walking home I bumped into Sakura-chan. "Naruto-kun, what's wrong?" She asked me. Everyone who I had met on my way home, that actually cared about me, asked me what was wrong.

"Everything." I answered. I think I might have scared her a little. I mean here was Uzumaki Naruto, the biggest happy-go-lucky-hyperactive-always-smiling-idiot whom all my friends knew and loved, with tearstains down his face and the most depressed look you could possibly imagine.

"I see." She knew whom I meant when I said everything. So did Kakashi-sensei. We walked towards the bridge Team 7 always met at, when there was a Team 7. At the bridge we saw Kakashi-sensei, his face buried in the latest issue of Icha-Icha Paradise as always.

"Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan…" I started. I didn't know how to tell them. "I will be leaving the village soon."

"What? Why?" Sakura-chan asked me.

"But, Naruto you just got back! Why do you want to leave again?" Kakashi-sensei put his book away.

"I have to go see someone. Tsunade-obaachan said it was OK, but I have to bring you two with me." I said in a low monotone.

"Well, where are we going?" Sakura-chan asked me.

"So you'll go?" I asked.

"Yes, if it'll get you out of this funk you're in. But we'll need to bring Yamato with us." Kakashi-sensei said. Yamato-sensei was the only one capable of truly suppressing Kyuubi.

"Why?" Sakura-chan asked him.

"So I can help Naruto with some special training, without having to worry about Kyuubi acting up." He said. "So, where is it we will be going?"

I started crying again, but not for the same reason as before. I was crying because I have such understanding friends. "The Wave Country." I said. A smile had finally managed to creep onto my face.


We left for the Wave Country the next day. Yamato-sensei was talking about something with Kakashi-sensei, and Sai kept bugging me. That is until Sakura-chan slammed her fist into the side of his face. I don't know why Sai came with us. He said it had something to do with emotions and getting closer to people. Whatever, I didn't care, as long as he didn't interfere with my plans.

Actually a part of me was glad Sai came along. He could keep Sakura-chan company while I went to see them. I wanted to talk to them in private.

"Naruto! Hey NARUTO!" Sakura-chan yelled into my face.

"Huh?" I looked around. Everyone was staring at the Bridge that Tazuna built.

"Great Naruto Bridge…" Kakashi-sensei read off the plaque. I think he was smiling, but I couldn't tell with his mask on. Sakura-chan was laughing, Sai just stood there looking confused, and Yamato-sensei had a knowing smirk on his face. For some reason, having the bridge named after me, only made me more depressed.

"Why is it named after Naruto?" Sai asked. I was going to ask the same thing, but he beat me too it.

"Because Naruto is the name of our villages Hero!" A voice said from behind us. I'm no hero. I can't be a Hero, because heroes are strong, handsome, and brave. I wasn't strong enough to bring Sasuke back, nor am I handsome, and I always resort to using the Kyuubi's chakra out of cowardice.

"Tazuna-san!" Sakura-chan exclaimed. Old Tazuna hadn't changed one bit.

"Huh? Do I know you?" He asked her. It's not surprising he didn't recognize us. Sakura-chan and I changed so much; Yamato-sensei and Sai had never met him, and Kakashi-sensei… Wait! Where was Kakashi-sensei?! He was just there!

"Tazuna-san, don't you recognize us?" Sakura-chan asked him.

"Nope, 'fraid not!" He laughed. "Wait a minute! Aren't you that annoying little girl who was on Naruto's team?" Big mistake. Kakashi-sensei just barely managed to stop Sakura-chan from clobbering Tazuna. Sai and Yamato just stood there laughing. I was just staring at the bridge.

"I'm going to see Zabuza." I said and promptly walked off in the direction of his and Haku's graves.

"Naruto…" I heard Sakura-chan whisper.

"Naruto? That's Naruto? But He's TALL!" I heard Tazuna yell. A part of me laughed, while another cried.


It took me a little while to find their graves. Zabuza and Haku's graves were in impeccable shape. I wondered who took care of them. My answer came in the form of a young boy. It was Inari. I jumped away before he could see me. He cleaned the graves, and said a small prayer for the two of them.

After Inari left I jumped down. I didn't want him to see me like this. I walked over to Haku's grave and sat down in front of it. "So, what will you teach me this time?" I asked him, even though I knew he couldn't answer me. I don't know how long I sat there, but it made me feel better. I don't know what it was about Haku that always seemed to make me feel better, but I think it had something to do with his lesson on 'protecting those who are precious to you'.


"Hey! Kid! Wake up!" I looked around, but the people whom I saw surprised me quite a lot. I front of me, sitting on his grave, was Haku and standing beside him, was Zabuza. I just sat there gaping at them. It was night by now and I wondered if I was asleep.

"Yes, Naruto you are dreaming, but that doesn't make this any less real does it?" Haku asked me.

"You… can read my thoughts?" I asked him, though the answer was obvious.

"Yes, now, I have something very important to tell you." Zabuza said to me. "You need to get over this funk your in."

"How? That's what I came here to do."

"Yes, I know. But Sasuke leaving wasn't your fault. It was Itachi's and Orochimaru's. You can still bring him back." Haku said to me.

"How?! He's so strong! And I'm so…" I couldn't finish.

"Weak?" Zabuza asked. "You are NOT weak. He's the weak one. He had to turn to Orochimaru for his strength, you earned yours on your own. You are the strongest people we know."

I just sat there. Letting their words sink in. Before I knew it I was crying again. Haku came and put a comforting arm around my shoulder. I had some questions I was dying to ask them.

"Go ahead. Ask it. Everyone who has a spiritual journey asks it." Zabuza said.

"Is there really a god?" I finally asked.

"Yup. And he looks like-" Haku couldn't finish.

"Haku, you're not supposed to tell mortals."

"Well, what's heaven like?"

"How are you so sure we went to heaven?" Zabuza asked me.

"Just a feeling I have."

"Its very… White. Seriously, it's just white everywhere!" Zabuza exclaimed.

"Naruto-kun, we have to go now. The, um, higher ups don't like it if we're on earth for extended periods of time without smiting people." Haku said in his gentle voice.

"Okay, thank you." I whispered.

"Oh, hey, kid! Take my sword with you." Zabuza said.

"Huh? Why?" I asked him.

"Because, the next time you have an emotional breakdown, you won't have to come here. Haku will just go to you." Zabuza smiled.

"Okay… I will!" I exclaimed.

"Will what, Naruto?" Sakura-chan asked me.

"Huh? Sakura-chan? What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Well, you never came back, so I came looking for you. Whom are you talking to anyways?" She looked around. I started laughing. Could she see Haku and Zabuza?

"No, she can't see us. You see, Naruto-kun, angels are only aloud to become visible to one Human at a time." Haku's voice came to me. I looked around and saw they were both gone.

"Oh, okay."

"Naruto-kun why are you talking to yourself?" Sakura-chan asked me. "Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?" She placed a hand on my forehead. I laughed as I pulled her hand down.

"I'm fine. Just talking with angels." I said. "Come on lets get back to the others." I walked over to Zabuza's grave and pulled his sword out of the ground. Then I strapped it onto my back.

"So, did this angel tell you to take Zabuza's sword?" She asked me playfully.

I flashed her my biggest fox-grin. "Yup! Well, one of them at least."

"So how many angels did you talk too?" She smiled. I could tell she was happy to see me smiling again.

"Three." I answered. I still held her hand in mine, and she didn't protest.

"Oh? Who were they?"

"Well, there was Zabuza and Haku." I paused for a minute. "And you." I whispered.

She blushed. "Naruto-kun…" She whispered. I pulled her in close to me and gently kissed her lips. Her emerald green eyes flashed open, and she started to protest, but she soon gave in to her inner feelings.