Author's notes:

I'm really, really sorry for the late update! I was…distracted by Ryuusei no Rockman (both the anime and the game), so it took a while for me to finish this chapter up. Anyway, if you have any questions or complaints, please voice them in a review and I will be glad to address them. Technique translations will be listed at the end of the chapter.

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I would be rich. But I'm not. Do the math :D


"It involves your team mate…Uzumaki Naruto."

Sakura blinked, unable to comprehend what had just been said for a moment, before realization struck. She gasped and looked at Tsunade, half-expecting her to say that it was a joke.

"Shishou, do you mean he's back?"

When she didn't receive an answer, Sakura immediately formulated her own conclusion from the grim look on the Hokage's face.

'No…it can't be…'

The pink-haired girl forced a smile onto her face as she desperately forced her rising concerns away.

'There's no way…no way that Naruto could ever die!'

Tsunade hesitated, before looking straight into Sakura's emerald eyes. The girl straightened her posture immediately, recognizing the look that her Shishou adopted during training. The look that said "Pay attention or else".

"I really don't know how to say this, Sakura."

The pink-haired kunoichi felt a sense of foreboding, and she knew she wouldn't like what was coming.

'Shishou sounds so serious…Naruto, you'd better not be hurt!'

"Your team mate…he's in Konoha."

Sakura felt her heart skip a beat at the words, and she was overcome by a sense of relief.

'So that's it...he's finally back…Naruto, I can't wait to show you how much I've grown!'

"To be precise, he's been back in Konoha for six months now."

'What?!'

"Tsunade-sama, that's impossible! I would've seen him at least once!"

The Hokage sighed and took a swig from her disguised Sake bottle. 'Why did I ever become Hokage? This job is so troublesome.'

"It's possible when he's an ANBU who spends more time out on missions than inside Konoha. Not to mention the fact that he's either on patrol duty or training when he's in the village." She replied curtly, feeling a headache coming.

Sakura stared blankly into her Shishou's face, disbelieving and waiting for the punch line. After all, this had to be a joke…right?

When nothing else came, Sakura felt her knees weaken as she collapsed onto the ground.

'Naruto…why…'

"Shishou, why didn't he look for me when he came back? I was so worried for him!'

Tsunade said nothing, and Sakura felt her Shishou's eyes boring into her head, as if deciding if she should be told. The girl stared defiantly into the Slug Sannin's eyes, projecting all the confidence she could muster.

'I need to know what happened to Naruto! The Naruto I know would never do this!'

The blonde shook her head slowly, a reluctant smile spreading across her face.

"That look in your eyes…it reminds me of the brat when I first met him. He was so stubborn, unwilling to back down even at the cost of his own life. Did you know that he was the one who convinced me to become Hokage?"

Sakura's eyes widened as she brought a hand to her mouth in shock.

"More points to the man!"

'Now's not the time!'

Sakura proceeded to knock her inner self unconscious with a mental baseball bat, before returning her attention to her Shishou.

"Before he came, I was convinced that wanting to become Hokage was a fool's goal, a title that could only lead to death. That brat…I was so angry at him for being foolish enough to want it."

Sakura saw a fond look pass across Tsunade's face as she recalled the past events.

"He changed my mind, brat though he was. That day when he saved my life…"

Sakura shook her head, dumbfounded. Naruto saved the life of one of the deadliest Kunoichi in the Shinobi world?

'Just how much do I not know about you, Naruto?'

The blonde Hokage chuckled softly at Sakura's shock.

"Don't look so surprised. Many people underestimate him, just as I did. They failed to see that underneath that annoying exterior was a boy who would give his life to save his precious people. Like he did…on that day he defeated Orochimaru's apprentice and saved my life."

Sakura felt a knot twist in her heart as she realized just how she had been treating Naruto ever since she had met him.

'Naruto, you're annoying!'

'Naruto is always getting in the way of my love life!'

'Naruto doesn't understand me at all!'

The girl clenched her fist tightly as she remembered how all her biting remarks had been met; with a large smile and a stupid remark.

'How could I not see it before…? Naruto, that was your defence mechanism, wasn't it? Whenever you were hurt, you smiled to hide your pain… Can you ever forgive me?'

"I can still remember the words he said that day…I won't die until the day I become Hokage! He was so bright, so cheerful, I was so sure he would never change…"

The pink-haired girl was astonished at the revelation, having always believed that Tsunade had acquiesced to becoming Hokage of her own free will.

'How many lives have you touched with that boundless energy of yours?'

Sakura watched the Sannin's face harden as she once again regained her tough demeanor.

"Sakura. Let me tell you up front that Naruto has changed greatly since you last saw him. If you want to know why, there is someone in this room who is better suited to tell you than I. Isn't that right…Jiraiya?"

Looking extremely annoyed, Tsunade shot an arm out and grabbed onto what seemed to be a patch of air. Sakura stared, beginning to question the woman's sanity.

When the hand twisted and pulled, however, the form of a familiar white-haired man materialized into the office.

"Ow, ow , ow…Tsunade-hime, you're still as brutishly strong as ever."

The Hokage gritted her teeth angrily and gave Jiraiya's ear a hard yank, pulling him into a headlock.

"I don't have time for this, you pervert. Now, tell Sakura exactly what happened."

The said girl was watching the proceedings in a bemused fashion.

'These are the strongest Shinobi in Konoha? We're doomed…'

As if to prove her wrong, Jiraiya straightened up and he adopted a grave posture in contrast to his previous perverted grin. Sakura was struck at the change that had come upon the man within the space of a few seconds.

'Well…he is a Sannin after all, as well as Tsunade-sama's team mate. He reminds me of Naruto in a way…'

"I'll kill him if he turned Naruto into a pervert!"

"Sakura, are you sure you want to know what happened to the gaki? I don't think you're going to like it."

The pink-haired girl hesitated for a moment, but an image of her team mate's smiling visage flashed across her mind.

"I'll bring him back for you, Sakura-chan! It's a promise of a lifetime!"

Sakura stared resolutely into the Sannin's eyes, her stance oozing confidence and determination.

'Naruto…I don't know what has happened to you, but I promise I'll try my best to help you!'

"I need to know, Jiraiya-sama. Naruto…he's my best friend! The reason I trained was to gain the strength I need to protect my precious people. So…please…tell me what's wrong with Naruto…I want to be the one to save him for once!"

Both Sannin nodded in approval at the resolute look in Sakura's eyes. Tsunade put a hand on her apprentice's shoulder, and allowed a proud smile to filter through her normally stern face.

The Frog Hermit grinned, noticing the similarities between Master and apprentice.

"You picked a good one, Tsunade. She's as stubborn as you are, and from the looks of it, she's got the potential to be just as strong too."

The Hokage smiled smugly in response, crossing her arms over her ample chest.

"Of course, she's my apprentice after all."

Sakura flushed at the praise given to her by the two legendary Shinobi, before a perverted giggle cut through the air.

"Oh my…she's taking after you in other ways too. Only fifteen, you say? Not bad…not bad at all…" Jiraiya wriggled his fingers in a perverted manner as he examined Sakura's chest.

"HENTAI!"

A crushing blow was delivered to pervert's face by his former team mate, who huffed in anger at his shamelessness.

"Tell her what happened to the brat now, or I'll remove something that's very precious to you, you perverted idiot!"

The white-haired man nodded painfully, rubbing the comical bruise on his left cheek. Sakura shot a disgusted look at Jiraiya, all traces of respect she had for him erased from her mind.

'Tsunade-Shishou left Naruto alone with this man for two years?!'

"About a year and a half ago…we were on the outskirts of Kusagakure, where I was planning to let the brat learn some techniques. That's when it happened…we encountered Orochimaru with an escort of Oto Shinobi accompanying him."

Sakura's brows furrowed as she contemplated the implications of Jiraiya's statement.

'Hold it, Kusagakure? What would Orochimaru be doing there? He was with an escort, so I would assume was a political visit…'

Tsunade, noticing her apprentice's confused expression, interrupted to fill in the blanks for her.

"Shortly after that, Kusagakure broke off all trade and diplomatic relations with us, so I would presume that Orochimaru was there for an alliance."

Sakura nodded in understanding. 'I see, so that's how it was.'

"Shannaro! Get to the point already!" Sakura growled at her inner self in annoyance at the show of disrespect, but found her mind traitorously agreeing despite herself.

'I need to know what's wrong with Naruto…but I have a bad feeling about this…'

Sakura took a deep breath, trying to calm her rising nerves.

"Jiraiya-sama, could you please get to the point? I want…no, I need to know what has caused Naruto to change!"

"That's more like it!" Inner Sakura punched the air in victory.

Jiraiya shook his head, a grin forming on his face.

"You're as impatient as he was. To put it bluntly…it was the Uchiha."

Sakura felt the air escape her lungs as she exhaled sharply. No…it couldn't be…

"What do you mean, Jiraiya-sama? You mean Uchiha Itachi, right? Because Sasuke-kun would never hurt Naru-"

Sakura was cut off by a sudden twinge of pain in her shoulder as Tsunade tightened her grip. Turning around, the girl found the blonde with a neutral look on her face.

"Shishou?" Sakura asked in a confused manner. "Is something wrong?"

The Hokage shook her head slowly, before addressing her apprentice.

"Sakura…" the said Kunoichi winced at the slightly disapproving tone in her Shishou's voice. "Do you remember the injuries Naruto procured after his fight with the Uchiha?"

Sakura nodded, recalling the medical report on her blonde team mate's injuries that day.

"Superficial bruising concentrated mostly around the neck area, first degree burns on his arms and legs, and no other injuries were discovered. Not even scrapes or cuts."

Tsunade looked towards her white-haired team mate, seemingly having a non-verbal conversation with him. After several minutes, during which Sakura fidgeted impatiently, the Hokage appeared to have reached a decision.

"Yes, that is the state Naruto was in when he arrived at the hospital. However…"

Tsunade exhaled, blowing one of her bangs to the side of her face, before continuing. "You do remember what I told you about the brat being a jinchuuriki?"

Sakura stiffened, giving her Shishou a hesitant nod. Since the Hokage had imparted her with that knowledge a year ago, she had tried her best to ignore it for the first month. It was only avoiding the issue altogether that she could lessen the guilt she felt for adding to the burden he carried during their childhood.

It had taken a few months, but the pink-haired girl had come to terms with her guilt, and acknowledged the fact that she could not change the way she had treated the boy in the past. Instead of feeling guilty, she had thrown herself into training, waiting for Naruto's return so she could apologize to him for all that she had done.

"Hai, Shishou. What does that have to do with his injuries?"

"Well…one of the side effects that he gains from being a jinchuuriki is increased regenerative abilities." When Sakura opened her mouth to interject, the Hokage shook her head. "I don't think you understand, Sakura. What I mean by regeneration is that most fatal injuries will heal up in a matter of hours."

"But that's impossible!" the pink-haired girl let out, realizing what her Shishou was arriving at. "If what you say is true, then the fact that Naruto had injuries at all when he arrived at hospital means that…"

Tsunade nodded, confirming her apprentice's suspicions. "From what the brat told us, Sasuke used the Ryuka no Jutsu on him from point-blank range, before…driving him head-first into the ground and breaking his neck." She hesitated for a moment as Sakura's eyes watered, before finding the resolve to continue. "If it wasn't for the Kyuubi, Uzumaki Naruto would have died."

"…Sasuke must die!"

Sakura felt a fist clench around her heart as she realized the implications of what she had just been told.

'While I was feeling sorry for myself after Sasuke-kun, Naruto…he almost died to keep his promise to me…And I never thanked him for it…I'm such a horrible person!'

"I…" Sakura's voice cracked as she tried to vocalize the shame she felt when she realized that she had never expressed gratitude towards her blonde team mate. "I…n-never knew…"

She recalled Naruto in hospital after the retrieval mission swathed in bandages. Even then, she had been too blinded by the loss of Sasuke to really see the pain the blonde had been in.

"He told me what truly happened during the fight on one condition: that it never reached the rest of the Rookie Nine. That brat didn't want anyone to give up on the Uchiha…he said that he had to keep his promise to you."

Sakura felt her eyes water as she was told of the extent to which her team mate would go to keep his promise to her. "W-why…Why would he go so far…for me…"

'Sasuke-kun nearly killed Naruto…and he didn't want anyone to know just so he could make me happy…Naruto, you idiot!'

Tsunade sighed, putting her arms around the teary-eyed girl. Sakura broke down, tears of sorrow and regret making their way down her cheeks.

"It's all…m-my fault…I made h-him promise me…" loud sobs erupted as Sakura clung onto the Hokage while letting all the pent up guilt she felt from her treatment of Naruto loose.

Flashback

"Naruto!"

The blonde turned around slowly, a curious expression on his face. The other members of the retrieval team also halted, although only Shikamaru turned around to scrutinize her.

"You're too late, Sakura. Hokage-sama has specifically stated that you are not to join this mission."

Sakura nodded her understanding, eyes fixated upon the ground as she approached her blonde team mate with hesitant steps.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, stepping forward to meet the pink-haired girl under the arch of Konoha's gates.

The girl desperately tried to keep her emotions under rein, but could not prevent tears from leaking from her eyes. They trickled down her cheeks to splash on the ground, creating splatters as they impacted.

"Naruto…please…I couldn't stop Sasuke-kun from leaving. Only you…only you can bring him back…so please…promise me that you'll bring him back to Konoha…to me!" Sakura raised her head to meet her team mate's sapphire orbs, imploring him with all her heart to bring back the boy she loved.

To her surprise, she found not his usual goofiness and idiocy, but a deep-rooted sadness in his eyes. The grief she saw there confused her, what had happened for her easygoing team mate to feel so strongly?

"I can understand how you feel all too well…Sakura-chan…you really do love Sasuke, don't you?" The boy twisted his face into a pathetic excuse for a smile which conveyed not happiness, but an unbearable pain which could not be expressed through words alone. For a moment, Sakura was lost in the maelstrom of raw emotion that could be found in his eyes, before a sudden movement broke her out of her stupor.

Naruto had flashed her a thumbs up and a bright grin, erasing all traces of the sadness he had shown moments before.

"I'll bring Sasuke back for you no matter what, Sakura-chan! That's a promise of a lifetime!" With that, the blonde nodded at Shikamaru, who lazily told the squad to take their positions.

Sakura watched from Konoha's gates as the five Shinobi chased after her missing team mate. After they had gone out of sight, she turned around and slowly made her way home, ignoring the stares her tearstained cheeks received. She didn't realize till later that not all the tears that had hit the ground were hers…

End Flashback

Recalling the way her obsession with Sasuke had blinded her to her other team mate's feelings, Sakura's weeping became increasingly violent as she grabbed fistfuls of Tsunade's robes in her grief.

"It's alright…just let it all out…" Tsunade whispered soothingly, patting her apprentice on the back. The motherly side she rarely showed surfaced as the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, one of the strongest Kunoichi in the Shinobi world, comforted the girl she had come to consider a daughter.


"Neko reporting. There's nothing unusual on my side, Taicho."

"Tori here. It's all clear, Taicho."

"…"

The ANBU captain known as Kitsune sighed, rubbing his forehead with the hell of his palm.

"Inu, get your face out of that damn book and report!"

The voice of his most annoying squad member squawked through the radio.

"Maa maa, my bad, Taicho. I was lost on the road of-"

"…your perverted book, hentai. Report." The blonde hissed impatiently. After he had made ANBU, very few things could make him lose his cool. And it so happened that his squad member and old Sensei was one of them.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, T-a-i-c-h-o." Kitsune could almost picture the man's smug, albeit invisible grin under that damn mask he wore. The sound of muffled laughter from his other two squad members did nothing to improve his mood.

'I'm not paid enough for this.'

The boy let out another sigh that sent a wave of static crackling into his headpiece, before heading back in the direction of Konoha.

"Regroup at the gates so we can give in our report and get this over with."

Upon receiving confirmation from his squad, the ANBU captain, also known as Uzumaki Naruto, increased his pace, intent on reaching his destination as soon as possible.

'I need to get back to Konoha and train so I can get stronger. Sasuke…I'm coming for you, and nothing will stop me from surpassing you.''

An image of the pink-haired girl he had seen half an hour ago flashed involuntarily across Naruto's mind, nearly causing him to slip on a branch. He cursed under his breath and hurriedly regained the pace he was moving at before.

'Sakura, huh? She sure has grown since I last saw her… Not that it's any concern of mine. She is just a part of my past, another one of those bonds I need to break in order to get stronger. A former bond, no more, no less.'

Reassured of his purpose, the blonde continued on his way to Konoha, ignoring the lingering doubts his traitorous mind conjured.


Sakura embarrassedly wiped the remaining tears off her face, acutely aware that there were tearstains down her cheeks, and that her eyes were puffy and red.

"Sorry, Shishou…I just…"

Tsunade smiled fondly at the girl, happy that Naruto had someone who cared enough to cry for him. God knew the brat needed it.

"It's all right, Sakura. I understand that this must be difficult for you, but Uchiha Sasuke is a dangerous missing-nin who will not hesitate to attack anyone who gets in his way."

The pink-haired girl looked down at her feet for a moment, before staring straight into the Hokage's eyes with a look of steely determination in her emerald orbs.

'Sasuke-kun…how could you do this to Naruto? You, me and Kakashi-sensei, we were like family to Naruto, the family he never had…For him to be betrayed by the one he thought to be a brother…it's unforgivable.'

"Hai. I understand, Shishou. So he was the reason that Naruto…has changed so drastically?"

The previously forgotten Gama-Sennin cleared his throat, causing all eyes to turn to him. "There is something I must inform the two of you. Something extremely important." Jiraiya commented with a serious look in his eyes.

Sakura gulped nervously, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the back of her neck.

'Jiraiya-sama looks so serious…maybe it's something to do with why Naruto's become so different!'

"You two are…" he paused, creating tension in the air as Tsunade and Sakura waited for him to finish his sentence. "The inspiration for my next Icha Icha Book!"

Maybe not.

"Shannaro! Pevert!"

For once, Sakura found herself in total agreement with her inner self. Legendary Sannin be damned, a statement like that couldn't go unpunished! She looked towards her Shishou, noting an identically disgusted look on her face. They made eye contact with each other, and nodded in unison.

Moving forward simultaneously, Master and apprentice smashed their fists into the pervert's face, sending him crashing through a wall and flying towards the general direction of Sunagakure.

"Hmph." Tsunade sniffed contemptuously. "I can't believe that old letch was my team mate."

Sakura nodded vigorously in agreement, all sadness forgotten for the moment as she and Tsunade shared a moment of mutual pervert-bashing.

"Have you forgotten? Ask her what happened to blondie already!" Sakura's other persona roared, swinging her fists around in anger.

The girl gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth in surprise.

'All that drama…and I still don't know what happened to Naruto.'

"Tsunade-Shishou? I know that Sasuke-kun did something to Naruto, but what actually happened?"

Tsunade merely shrugged in response.

"I don't have the exact details, but the old pervert said that he was distracted by Orochimaru and his escort while the Uchiha dragged him off. It was only when Orochimaru retreated that Jiraiya was able to find the brat."

Sakura sucked in a nervous gasp of air as she awaited the details on her team mate's condition.

"He was in a bad state, to say the least. According to the pervert, he was on the brink of death. If he had been found an hour later…" Sakura blinked away the shocked tears that had welled up in her eyes. She had to be strong for Naruto, she had to know what had happened to him in order to help.

Tsunade cast her apprentice a sympathetic look, knowing how hard the news must be for her. "There was a gaping hole in his stomach, obviously from the Chidori. Thanks to the Kyuubi, however, it had healed sufficiently for the brat to survive, albeit weakened from blood loss."

Sakura felt the Hokage's words impact into her psyche, shattering beyond repair any notions she had of Sasuke being innocent. She clenched her fists tightly, nails digging through her gloves hard enough into her skin to draw blood. She no longer felt grief, for that had passed. All she felt now was red-hot anger, fury at the boy she had once loved for hurting the blonde who only wanted to fulfill his promise to her.

'Sasuke-kun…how much have you changed? To use the technique Kakashi-sensei taught him for the purpose of protecting loved ones to hurt them…the Sasuke-kun I knew would never do that!'

Tsunade cleared her throat, causing the pink-haired girl to break out of her contemplative state and look at her. "That isn't the extent of his injuries. It seems that the Uchiha was prepared for Naruto's regenerative ability after their previous fight, so he came…prepared."

"That bastard! I'm going to mutilate him!" Inner Sakura had somehow procured a gigantic cleaver and was waving it around with reckless abandon.

Sakura found herself agreeing despite herself. Even though he was her crush, what Sasuke-kun had done to Naruto was unforgivable.

"Are you listening, Sakura?"

The girl stared blankly at Tsunade, realizing with a sinking feeling that she had just missed everything that had been said.

"Um…could you say it again, Shishou? This is just a lot to take in…"

Tsunade's face softened as she nodded, knowing the turmoil Sakura must be going through. After all, the same thing had happened to her when news of Orochimaru's betrayal had reached Konoha.

"The Chidori wound wasn't the worst of the brat's injuries." Sakura raised an eyebrow skeptically.

'A technique worse than the one Kakashi-sensei used on Zabuza? How is that possible?'

"The Uchiha…he…" Tsunade's face darkened as she remembered the description of the wound that Jiraiya had presented to her. "He left Naruto with a wound that will never truly heal. There was a stab wound that the Kyuubi could not heal, for some strange reason. As such, the brat had to undergo intense medical treatment in Kusagakure to salvage his right lung. If it hadn't been successful, he would have been unable to continue as a Shinobi."

The pink-haired girl was aghast, and felt bile rise in her throat as she realized how close the blonde had come to quitting the Shinobi profession and being forced to abandon his dream. All because of the boy he had promised to bring back to her. A wave of anger rose within Sakura as she slammed her fist into the wall.

'Naruto…what on earth did Sasuke-kun do to you…'

"Because of me…Naruto nearly died twice…" As quickly as it had come, the anger left her body, making Sakura feel weak and hollow at the realization that she had nearly caused the death of her team mate with her selfishness. That Naruto's drastic change and avoidance of her was because he hated her. "Because of that stupid promise…this is all my fault! And Naruto knows it…that's why he's avoiding me!"

SLAP!

Sakura held her rapidly reddening cheek as a brutal blow broke her out of her trance. She looked up to see a furious Tsunade glaring at her viciously with her hand outstretched.

"Are you done with the self-pity, Sakura?" the Hokage growled, raising her arm as if preparing for another strike. "Because I will not allow you to ruin your life by wallowing in guilt the way I did!"

Sakura stared at the furious woman with teary eyes, waves of guilt battering her heart as she imagined her bright and cheery team mate becoming a dark assassin in ANBU.

"But…Shishou…there's no other explanation! Naruto's been avoiding me and he joined ANBU! He must hate me for making him promise me to bring back that…traitor!"

Her last words were hissed as Sakura felt pure, unadulterated anger for the first time in her life. Anger at Sasuke for running off to Orochimaru, for hurting Naruto, and most of all for still occupying a portion of her heart despite all the things he had done.

Tsunade sighed, once again bringing her apprentice into an embrace.

"Sakura…you don't have to feel guilty. What Naruto did for you…he did of his own free will. You know that he wouldn't hate you for something so petty. The Uchiha is responsible for his change, don't tell yourself otherwise."

Sakura looked into the blonde woman's understanding hazel eyes and nodded reluctantly, seeing the logic in her words.

'I know that what she says is true, but…I just can't stop feeling guilty. Gomen ne, Naruto. If it wasn't for me, you would've never gotten hurt…'

The pink-haired girl stepped back from the embrace, wiping her eyes in an embarrassed fashion.

'Shishou must think that I'm such a crybaby…'

Tsunade cleared her throat, an amused look in her eyes as she smiled fondly at her apprentice.

'You've grown a lot since I first took you as my apprentice, Sakura. In every possible way. '

"Now, moving on…" Sakura straightened her posture and looked into Tsunade's eyes with a determined gaze, projecting confidence despite the fact that she had obviously been crying.

"After that encounter with the Uchiha, Jiraiya said that Naruto changed in every possible way. He threw himself into training, achieving results that were stunning, to say the least. Within a year, he had surpassed your old Sensei Kakashi."

To say Sakura was stunned was an understatement.

'How could Naruto have gotten that strong…in a year? It's just not possible!'

"Anything's possible for Naruto! I hope he beats the bastard up!" Inner Sakura once again added her two cents, swinging her fists in the air for emphasis, before Sakura locked her up in a soundproof box.

"However…"

Sakura could hear the "but" coming from a mile away, and she had suspicions as to what it was about.

"This incredible rate of growth has come at a price. Ever since that day, the brat has been obsessed with growing stronger and learning new techniques. He closed himself off from everyone else, and interacts with others only if it's necessary for his missions."

The girl stared blankly at the blonde Hokage, hoping beyond reason that what had just been said was a joke. She had been expecting a change, but for Naruto to become a completely different person…

'Obsessed with training and getting stronger…Naruto sounds like he's becoming just like…him…' Sakura clutched her chest in pain as she felt her heart jolt at the thought of the blonde treading down the same dark path that the Avenger had.

Tsunade sighed, massaging her temples as she felt the migraine she had anticipated make its presence known.

"To put it briefly, he improved so rapidly that the training trip became redundant after a year. Jiraiya decided to allow him to return to Konoha half a year ahead of schedule, where the brat requested to join ANBU. He also asked that his return be kept secret for as long as possible."

Sakura ground her teeth together in anger, and slammed her fist against the wall, uncaring of the consequences her actions might bring her.

"Shishou! How could you let Naruto join ANBU? He doesn't have the heart to assassinate someone in cold blood!"

Tsunade shook her head in despair, and Sakura realized that the Hokage was just as torn about the issue as she was.

"I couldn't refuse him…Naruto is currently one of the most talented ANBU in the corps, with an entry exam score equaling that of Uchiha Itachi." Sakura exhaled sharply, recognizing the name from the digging she had done on Sasuke's past.

'Uchiha Itachi…prodigy of the Uchiha clan, youngest ANBU captain in history…and the perpetrator of the Uchiha massacre, which scarred Sasuke-kun for life. Naruto…have you really become that strong?'

"I don't like him being in ANBU any more than you do, but we're still suffering from the aftermath of the joint Oto and Suna attack from three years ago, so I'm bound as the Hokage of Konohagakure to do what's best for the village." Tsunade avoided her apprentice's eyes, ashamed by what she had been forced to do.

"I think…I understand." Sakura bit her lip, knowing how frustrated Tsunade must be. She might not be happy about Naruto joining ANBU, but she understood the reasons behind it.

'Shishou is the Hokage after all…she has to put the village's wellbeing ahead of an individual's, no matter how much she hates to do so.'

"Don't worry, Sakura." The pink-haired girl tilted her head upwards to face the blonde woman, who had a confident grin on her face. The same grin she donned whenever she was about to lose a large sum of money while gambling.

'I don't think I'll like what she's about to say next…' Sakura felt a chill go down her spine.

"Since I couldn't stop him from joining ANBU, I put someone on his squad to keep an eye on him. Someone who is concerned for the brat, emotionally perceptive, and highly responsible!"

Sakura blinked in shock.

'That…actually doesn't sound too bad. Maybe my gut feeling was wrong.'

"Shishou? Who is this person you have keeping an eye on Naruto?"


"Inu!" an irate Neko screeched, her hand getting closer and closer to her hip where her Katana was sheathed. Beside her, Tori and Kitsune stood silently, burning a hole in their squad member with their eyes. "We arrived half an hour ago!"

The dog-masked ANBU laughed sheepishly at the killing intent that was being directed towards him by his squad members.

"Gomen, gomen…you see…I was lost on the road-"

"Mikazuki no Mai!" Radiating insane levels of killing intent, Neko went berserk and proceeded to attack her squad member with her Katana, fully intending to mutilate him.

"He is without a doubt, the most irresponsible man I have ever met in my life." Tori commented, casting a disgusted look towards the orange book her squad member held in his left hand.

"…" Kitsune shook his head in disgust.

'That time-wasting perverted bastard…why is Kakashi on my squad?!'



Sakura raised an eyebrow at Tsunade, who had refused to tell her the identity of the mysterious person she had placed in Naruto's squad to watch him, only telling her that her team mate was in safe hands.

'Whoever it is must be really trustworthy, for Tsunade-sama to believe in him this much.'

"Well, Sakura. That is all the information I have called you here to tell you today. Now, the question is, what will you do?"

Sakura hesitantly ran her hands through silky pink locks as she tried to sort out the thoughts running through her mind.

'I can't believe this has happened…Naruto was the one constant in my life…the guy who remained bright and happy no matter what...and now…'

"I've remained quiet for long enough now!" Inner Sakura broke out of her mental prison, intent on making her outer self see the light. "For someone so smart, you really are dumb! Isn't it obvious what we should do?"

Sakura brought a hand to her chest as she realized the truth in Inner Sakura's words. 'That's right…now isn't the time to wonder about the cause, but rather what I can do to help. Naruto has done so much for me…now it's my turn to help him!'

Tsunade reached for her Sake bottle and took a swig, watching her apprentice's reaction change from uncertain to contemplative, and finally rested on determined. A slight smile graced her visage as Sakura squared her shoulders and looked up with green eyes that burned with resolve.

"Shishou…please leave it to me. I don't care what it takes, I will bring the old Naruto back no matter what!"

'I'll bring Sasuke back to you no matter what, Sakura-chan!'

Sakura's lips curved upwards into a large grin reminiscent of her blonde team mate's as the words seemed to flow from her mouth without requiring conscious thought, joining Naruto's voice in her mind.

"It's a promise of a lifetime!"


I really apologize for the lack of action, trust me when I say that it's coming up soon! ^_^ Again, some constructive criticism would really be appreciated, so please leave a review if you have the time.

Mikazuki no Mai – Dance of the Crescent Moon

Chidori – One Thousand Birds

Thank you to the following reviewers!

Denim88, DemonicLove555, Lady Wicked, dbzgtfan2004, Legally Fabulous, suzako, mangalover248, CrystalICE1, lilgirl, nathaniel smith, templar132, rickp2006, AgentBEATS, Mira94, Meca Vegeta, Chris Robins, Gnosismaster, Vengeful Beast, arkard, ofdarknesschaos, IronicEnding