Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!! Sadly...or Sasuke and Naruto would be together...sigh...

Summary: He left fifteen years ago...his home, friends and everything he held preious to search for something that seemed to be lost years ago. But he went anyway...He went because he that there was no way he could survive without him...he needed Sasuke...even if the other didn't need him back...

Now, a girl appears strange and different then anything they have ever seen. Black hair and blue eyes in contrast then they were expecting. She came from out of the blue, but was it as unexpected as they thought? And why does she have the power to use the sharigan? She also has whiskers..."Who are you?" Kishin asked intriqued. The other smiled. "I'm Uchiha Arika."


Brilliant rays of light shone down from the deep blue sky only to be deterred by a few stray clouds passing every now and then. A breeze shifted through the green lushes of the trees carrying helpless leaves far from their homes. Water rippled pleasantly with the wind and reflected the sun's light graciously. Children ran down the streets laughing and playing without a care. Others went about their daily business just trying to get through the long day so they could enjoy themselves later on. For a particular blond though, it was basically making it through his next mission's overview.

"Naruto!" a very angered Tsunade called out to the inattentive young man. "Are you listening to anything I'm saying?!"

Naruto tore his eyes from the scene that lay behind the villages current Hokage to look at the pair of angered brown ones. She grabbed the front of his black shirt pulling him forward in a threatening manner. He flinched when she began her loud long lecture about paying people the respect of listening to what they have to say and blah, blah, blah. He just tuned her out, something he learned to do after about four years of her ordering.

Tsunade faded out when she noticed the absent look in Naruto's blue eyes. She sighed knowing that he wasn't even considering her words in the least. Letting go of his collar, she sat back into her and started rubbing her temples.

"Naruto," she began again. "You really need to pay attention to the details of this mission. This is unlike any other that you have ever had to deal with, considering that you don't count your training mission with Jiriaya. Your life will be at risk the moment you leave the Fire country."

"I know already, obaa-san," Naruto said annoyed.

"No, Naruto. You obviously don't know if you're speaking in that tone." She had to pause to take a calming breath before she could explode. "You can't take any chances in this situation. You should actually be grateful that I'm even giving you the chance to-"

"After six years of asking, then you telling me to give up on the whole idea-"

"-search for Sasuke's whereabouts and to even see if he's still alive-"

"He is," Naruto proclaimed his voice unwavering.

Tsunade stopped. Naruto was staring at her with determined eyes and she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from rising. No matter how many times people told him to give up the missing nin he refused to do so. Even her inept apprentice had finally given up on the search. She just guessed that Naruto was too stubborn and thickheaded to give up.

"Then let's continue with the mission, shall we?"


Outside of her sensei's office, Sakura paced nervously. She had no idea what expect of the Hokage and her decision on the mission. And Naruto…..how would he react to the news of what she was allowing?

Sakura stopped in front of the large oak door and bit the bottom of her lip in anxiety. Naruto had become so distant the last few years. He wouldn't start conversations or try to hit on her like the old days. No, he would only speak if spoken to or if he had one of his mood swings and explode at them. His eyes weren't as bright and his laughs were short and raspy. He avoided almost everybody, except for a selected few, and his appetite had gone down considerable. It had practically given poor Kakashi-sensei a heart attack the first time it occurred. He was so different now.

She began to wring her hands scared that Naruto would come out in a mood like most other times. And the fact that Tsunade's voice could be heard wasn't very reassuring.

Taking deep breaths, Sakura was able to calm herself down enough to walk over and sit down in a nearby chair. She tried to remember the last time she had seen Naruto really smile. It was so long ago that she could only pull out a fuzzy image of his 15 year old face, three years ago. It was quite ironic that someone like Naruto who always saw the brighter side of things fell into such a depression as he was experiencing right now.

Nobody could figure out a cause to the sudden lack of happiness in the blond boy, but Sakura knew exactly why. It was really just coincidence that she happened to figure out what was bothering him. They were just talking, one of those now rare moments, when they began talking about the old team 7 and Sasuke. The moment she said his name, Naruto's face fell and his eyes grew distant. He claimed sickness and basically ran away from the area.

She didn't understand why he was so depressed three years after the incident, but Naruto was her friend so she respected him and didn't bring Sasuke back up. It took three weeks for Naruto to talk to her again.

The Hokage's door swung open and the orange boy walked out a small smile on his lips and an excited glint in his eyes. He reflected a little of whom he used to be right after he received a very satisfying mission. His azure eyes met her emerald ones and he smiled a shadow of the one he would give her every morning when they were 12.

Relief washed over her upon seeing that long lost smile. Damn, how she had missed that smile……

"Gozen, Sakura-chan!"


She waited for him at the village's gate, knowing it wouldn't be any longer now. She knew it could be years until she would see him again and she wanted him to know. She had wanted him to know for so long now that it nearly killed her every time they met.

Her shoulder length navy hair fluttered lightly in the wind and she closed her eyes in content. She began to image how it would be when she finally told him how she felt….

"Hinata-chan..."


He watched her silently from a close tree. He just stared at her peaceful face as she felt the breeze fly by. A content smile stretched across her face and he could feel himself growing angered by the second. Only after biting down on his hand was he able to calm down.

He laid his back against the rough bark and let a sigh escape from his lips. He ran a hand through his messy brown and chuckled at his sheer stupidity. Why was he so jealous of that blond idiot anyway? Just because he had captured the heart of the only girl he wanted, but couldn't get wasn't a reason to become envious of him…right?

He sighed yet again and turned his gaze back over to the beauty waiting by the gate. He would just have to accept that his feelings would never reach her. It would be hard, but what else could he do?

"Kiba-kun!! Metsuki, suzume!"


Hinata gasped. She spun around to see Naruto staring at her in confusion, a black pack was strapped to his back. That was the only indication that he was truly leaving. The pressure of truth pushed against her lungs. She wouldn't ever have another chance to tell him after this.

"Hinata-chan?" He called her name in a questioning tone as he walked up to her. "What are you doing here?"

Hinata swallowed hard. It was now or never. "Naruto-kun….." she started. She looked down and raised her head up again, this time with a smile. "Good luck on your mission. I hope everything works out right."

She failed……

Naruto smiled softly at her. "Thanks, Hinata-chan. I hope to see you again." With that he walked on and out of the gate.

He would never be able to see the tears that stained the gravel path.


Kiba glared after the blond as he disappeared into the trees. He had made Hinata cry again, but this time he would never know about it. He knew it was probably selfish of him to feel happy that she hadn't told him, but he couldn't help it. He felt so many things at the moment, anger, sadness, and happiness.

He jumped down from the tree branch he had resided a moment ago and walked to the crying girl. He reached out and gently touched her shoulder. She gasped at the sudden contact, but relaxed when her eyes met his face.

"Kiba-kun…." She whispered. Tears welled up in her eyes and she threw her arms around his torso. She sobbed into his jacket as he patted her back soothingly.

"It's okay," he whispered in her ear. "Everything will be okay…."

And everything would be…..in time.


Sakura fell to the ground in the deserted apartment. Sobs raked her body and her hands tried to stop the steady flow of tears from leaking out of her eyes. He really left. She couldn't believe it.

"N-Naruto-kun!" She cried out between sobs.

Why was everyone leaving her?! First, Sasuke-kun because of his desire for revenge, then Kakashi-sensei because she hadn't been quick enough to dodge the attack, next Sai to a stupid sound nin no less. Now Naruto….

She punched the floor creating a dent in the wood and cement. They were heartless…all of them. Didn't they know how torn up inside she was because of them?! They were precious to her, irreplaceable.

She laughed hysterically. She had no one now…..no one…..

"Sakura-san? Sakura-san?! Daijoubu deska?!" a familiar voice asked worried.

Sakura shifted her gaze to find a very flustered and worried Rock Lee staring at her pathetic state with the upmost sympathy. His expression completely softened in understanding. He could now see that her distress was caused by the unexpected mission that their Naruto had received. He himself had just been notified by his teammate Neji about Naruto's leave. He had rushed over to see if he could catch Naruto before he left, but found a crying Sakura instead. Not that he was complaining much…..

"Lee-kun?" Sakura asked wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

"Hai," Lee answered quietly. "Sakura-san, are you alright? You aren't hurt are you?"

Sakura shook her head to answer both of his questions. "Iie, Lee-kun. Demo," she continued looking up at him now. "I will be……maybe…."

She looked once again into the apartment before Lee helped her off the ground.


Um, yeah...so here's a story...Oh! For future chapters, I'm giving out a yaoi warning!! If you don't like it then don't read! It's that simple. IF you like yaoi, or you just don't give a damn, then enjoy!!

Was it bad? good? PLEASE review for my sake!! I need help!! REVIEW!!

Gozen morning, metsuki look, suzume sparrow, daijoubu deska are you okay?, hai yes, iie no, and demo but.

REVIEW!! ONEGAI!!