Chapter 1: Mission

"Is it possible for someone who couldn't save his friend become Hokage?" Naruto asked Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't answer.


It has been four months since Naruto has seen Sasuke since he came back to the village. Everyone has been looking for clues where Sasuke might have gone but no one has gotten any clues.

"Naruto," Sakura said banging on his door.

Naruto slowly arose from his bed and went to the door. "Did you guys find anything?"

"No," Sakura said sadly. "But we have a mission to go on. Hurry up and get ready."

"Okay," Naruto said.

Naruto has never been really depressed before. Sakura tried many times in the past month to help him but everything failed. When he trained he always had a sad face on. Not even Ichraku Ramen had helped him. His house was a mess and he hasn't eatin' much since he came home. He would eat one meal every other day since he came back. His hope for saving Sasuke slowly started to disappear as they days dragged on.

"Sakrua what is our mission?" Naruto asked as he closed the door.

"We need to pick up a weapon and bring it to the village," Sakura said.

"That is so boring," Naruto grumbled.

"I'm not done," Sakura said. "We also have to bring the blacksmith's family with us so they can be protected."

"Why?" Naruto asked.

Sakura smaked him on the head. "WHY? Hello we are supose to be protecting people from bad guys."

"How can we protect people from bad guys when one of your friends is one of them?" Naruto barked.

Sakura looked at the floor. She hated bringing up Sasuke. It always was the seed of their agrument. At times Sakura would run home crying because she remembered how sad Naruto was when they returned to the village empty handed. She had neve felt someone else's pain in all of her life. "I know your upset about Sasuke but don't take it out on the mission."

Sakura didn't mind of Naruto took it out on her. She was strong and had always tranined so she wouldn't just stand by and watch as her friends went off into battle. If he took it out on someone else or on a mission she got really mad at him but never showed it.

Naruto looked at Sakura. "I'm sorry."

"Just don't do it again," Sakura said walking past him.

Sakura and Naruto walked toward the Hokages office. Sai and Captian Yamato was there.

"Hi Naruto," Sai said giving him a smile.

"Hi," Naruto said not looking at him.

Sakura stood by Sai and waited for orders.

"Is he still mad?" Sai asked Sakura.

Sakura only nodded. Sai was the new member of the team and he had only been with Team 7 for six months. He only read about peoples emotions recently but Naruto's emotions he was able to tell really easy. It was as if he was a book himself.

"Alright. Your mission is to bring miss Kira here," Tsunade said.

"What about her family?" Sakura asked.

"The are both unfrotiantly dead," Tsuande said sadly. "She is still a good black smith and a healer. Her mother was one of my students. I want you all to get her here saftley. She shouldn't be hard to bring. She is also the same age as all of you. You all understand the mission?"

"Yes," everyone said except Naruto.

"Alright, get going," Tsunade said.

They all walked out of the office but Naruto stayed.

"What is it Naruto?" Tsunade asked.

"Is there any news about Sasuke?" Naruto asked looking at the ground. Sakura stopped in the middle of the office toward the door. Sai and Captian Yamato was at the door when they stopped to hear the conversation.

Tsuande wasn't sure if it was the right time to tell them but she wanted to make sure with Shizune. Tsunade looked at Shizune and she nodded.

"The only information that we got is that Orochimaru is dead," Tsunade said looking at him.

Naruto's blue eyes shot at Tsunade. She took her cup of tea and sipped it. The pig in Shizunes arms made a sad face. Shizune looked out the window so she wouldn't have to see Naruto's gaze.

"Orochimaru is dead!" Naruto exclamed.

"Yes. As for Sasuke we don't know where he went," Tsunade said. "Now go on your mission and we will talk more."

Naruto looked at her and just nodded. He folllowed the others outside. Orochimaru is dead. I wonder if Sasuke did that? Naruto said as his team went to the gate.


"Should we tell them?" Shizune asked.

"No. The less they know the better. Besides I think it would be good for them to get to know somethings about Sasuke before they look for him again," Tsunade said.

"Lady Tsunade that is just so cruel," Shizune complained.

"It's not reallly. I wish someone knew Orochimaru so me and Jiyraya could understand him more," Tsuande said sadly.

"He was a lost casue my Lady," Shizune said.

"We still could have been happy if we had known more about him. Then the wouldn't have to go through this much pain as me and Jiyraya did. I think it is me and Jiyraya's fult that Naruto is so hurt right know," Tsuande said looking out at the village.

"Don't blame yourself my lady. Things might have gone this way anyway," Shizune said.

"We will never know," Tsuande said looking at the past when it was her, Jiyraya, Sarotobi, and good Orochimaru.


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