~ NaruSaku: What the Heart Wants ~
By: beverly46
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
~ One ~
Eyes forward with determination Team seven was packed and ready to go on another Sasuke related mission. Even though Kakashi was the Jonin in charge of the mission, Naruto led the way while each of them were silent, lost in their own thoughts. The only one who wasn't mindlessly thinking was Sai. He just followed behind blankly. He watched the scenery around him and admired the nature. The rest were all thinking about the mission that was given to them by Lady Tsunade. Rumors were spreading of Sasuke joining the Akatsuki and helping them capture the tailed beasts. There were also rumors that he planned to destroy the hidden leaf. Once the rumors spread throughout the five Kage the Raikage informed Tsunade of his plans to kill Sasuke. Tsunade informed team seven of the Raikage's wishes and they begged her to give them a chance to find Sasuke and try to reason with him if the rumors were true. After a lot of begging Tsunade finally gave in and sent them out on their mission. This time they were determined, no matter how long it would take. No matter what happened, they would bring Sasuke home.
They walked in silence for hours until they reached a wide open space and Naruto spoke up. "Kakashi Sensei?"
"Hn?"
"We could probably camp here?"
Kakashi looked around at his surroundings. "Hmmm, theres a lake nearby so we'll have water…..okay!"
"Good! I'm thirsty!" Sakura added before taking off toward the lake.
Sai pulled out his sleeping back and set himself up infront of a nearby tree and pulled out his drawing book and started scribbling. Yamato started a camp fire and looked up at sigh and joked
"You think you can draw us up some food?"
"I could, but it would look and taste like ink. That would be highly un- appetizing don't you think?"
Yamato sighed "Guess ill have to go find food the hard way? Why don't you come along with me?"
Sai thought for a moment and put his book back in his bag and stood. "Sure Captain."
Later that night everyone lay asleep in their sleeping bags except Naruto. He was on lookout duty. But he didn't mind because he couldn't sleep anyway. He had too much on his mind. Would he really be able to get through to Sasuke? Did Sasuke really join the Akatsuki? Just how far was Sasuke willing to go? He looked down to the camp site and looked at all the sleeping faces and stopped when he saw Sakura laying in her sleeping bag. He studied the curves of her face. She even sleeps beautiful. He thought to himself. He continued to stare at her longingly. How he wished he was down there with her holding her while she slept. But he knew that as long as her heart is with Sasuke he didn't stand a chance.
"It's impolite to stare son."
Naruto jumped and turned around seeing Kakashi coming up the hill toward him. "Dad?!" He quickly put an arm behind his head and gave a sheepish grin. "I just couldn't help it."
"Mhm. Well I'm here to relieve you to go get some rest. It's time for my shift anyways."
"I'm really not tired. Mind if I stay up here with you for a little while?" Naruto asked as he sat back down.
"Sure." Kakashi sat down next to Naruto who was staring up at the stars.
"So what's on your mind pup?"
"Nothing. Just not tired."
Kakashi chuckled. "You forgot who raised you. You may be sixteen but some things never change. You only opt out on sleep when you have a loaded mind so spill."
Naruto sighed and laid back with his arms folded behind his head. "Sasuke…the rumors…." He paused…. "Sakura."
"Worried about her?"
"Always dad…..but this time it's not Sakura's safety that's the problem?"
"Oh?" Kakashi said looking down at his son fiddling with a flower he plucked from the ground. He studied the look of sadness on Naruto's face.
"Oh I see, it's a love-sick problem?" Kakashi grinned.
"Daaaaaaa-adddd!" Keep it down! She might wake up and hear you! Shhhhhh"
"Sorry."
Naruto turned back resuming staring at the sky. "She's just so amazing Dad."
"Let me see if I can try and read your mind to get to the real problem here." Kakashi said with a half a smile hidden under his face mask.
"Dad…..you're not telepathic."
Kakashi sighed and shook his head." Again….you forget who raised you.
"Alright Dad go for it! READ my mind."
"Well, it's like this pup. You've been in love with Sakura for as long as you can remember. But the idea of her returning your feelings never dawned on you until now. You want her to return your feelings. But you're afraid that after this mission is over that she still won't because her main goal has always been Sasuke. You're worried that they are going to run off into the sunset and you will lose her forever. Is that it?"
"Well you almost had it, Dad. I'm not worried that will happen…..I KNOW that's what's going to happen!" Naruto sat up holding his arms.
Kakashi tilted his head to side. "So you're just gonna let him?"
"What do you mean Dad?"
"Sasuke….. You're just gonna let him get the girl?"
"He's still my best friend."
"Ok?"
Kakashi took the poor crushed flower out of Naruto's hands and tossed it.
"Look son, Sasuke made up his mind the night he left the village. You are fighting so hard so that everyone else can have a happy ending. But you are forgetting about your own self. You deserve one to."
"Dad she's not looking at me." Naruto looked at the grass trying to avoid Kakashi's eyes.
"It's not like you ever really tried to get her to either."
"It would never work."
"Whats the harm in trying?" Kakashi grinned some more. "Besides, she's not the same Sakura you knew before you went to train with Jiriayia for 2 and a half years. She doesn't think like a child anymore. You don't think that maybe on some level that eventually she will get tired of chasing a man that's clearly NOT chasing her?"
"Where would I even begin? I never actually considered this before. Ill mess this up Dad!"
"Naruto, you may have Uzumaki in your blood….. But you were raised a Hatake. You're just like your old man. It won't be THAT hard."
Naruto grinned. "Really? Then where is your wife? Since the Hatake's are SO good at this."
"Shut up. That's not important. And to answer your question you can start with her birthday. In a few days we will be stopping in a nearby village for a few days to rest. We will be there during her birthday. You can start there."
Naruto reached into his pocket and grabbed his frog wallet out and opened it looking inside. "Hey dad?"
"Hm?"
"Since you are such a big fan of my love life right now…..Can I borrow some money?"
Kakashi chuckled. "I'll see what I can do."
Naruto yawned and smiled. "Thanks Dad."
"For what? My money? Yeah gee sure."
"No dad. Just thank you. For helping me. And for everything else in between."
Kakashi let out a small smile... "You're welcome. Besides….. What do you have to lose?"
Naruto turned his head to look down at the campsite and looked at Sakura sleeping one last time studying how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. Then he laid back on his back and closed his eyes and finally fell into a slumber.
Kakashi looked down at him and smiled. "Good night son. You're gonna be just fine."
Kakashi stretched his legs out and pulled out his "book" and began reading for the remainder of his shift.
End Chapter 1!
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