Chapter 2

Four-thirty that night Naruto and Sakura stopped in the shadows looking at their friends waiting impatiently. The two smirked at each other before giving a kiss and taking off to land in front of them.

"You guys ready?" Sakura asked making the others give her and obviously not amused look. "Come on it's right down the road."

"What could possibly be left? I mean we are still rebuilding most of the village and it's been a little over a year." Ino started with Sakura as the two women walked next to each other as Naruto lead the group.

"You'll see Ino." Sakura smiled knowing the suspense was killing her friend.

"How come you know all about it?"

"Because... because he needed some help moving and cleaning." She said walking faster to walk beside Naruto who only smirked at her as she came to his side. After a few more minutes they arrived at the Namikaze compound gate making the others stop in their tracks.

"Naruto..." Ino trailed off.

"Ino are you going to stand there all night or are you coming in?" Ino looked at her friend shocked as Sakura laughed. Once inside the questions started to rain down making Naruto look at all of his friends asking questions at the same time. Sakura sat on the arm of the couch off to the side with a small smile on her face as she watched them all ask questions.

"Why are we in the old Namikaze compound?" Asked Lee.

"If we get caught in here, lady Tsunade is gonna kill us." Tenten said making several become worried.

"We have nothing to worry about." Sakura smiled making everyone go silent. "There you go Naruto." she smirked as he grinned.

"Thanks Sakura-chan. Yeah, granny gave me the papers and all earlier. This used to belong to the Namikaze Clan, known better as the home of the Fourth Hokage." Several gasps could be heard as Shikamaru shook his head.

"'Bout time you tell everyone."

"Should have known you knew." Naruto chuckled as the others looked confused.

"What do you mean?" Asked Lee

"This was Naruto's parents' house. They left it for him for when he was old enough." Naruto gave a smirk. "Your father was none other than the fourth Hokage. Wasn't it?" Everyone's attention snapped to Naruto who chuckled rubbing the back of his head nodding with a chuckle.

"Yeah, Minato Namikaze was my dad and Kushina Uzumaki was my mom."

"Kushina?" Ino asked. "My mom used to tell me stories about a Kushina who was best friends with Mikoto Uchiha and got a long with everyone."

"The same Kushina?" Tenten asked. Sakura walked over to a shelf and picked up the picture she had seen earlier and handed it to Ino who looked at the pictures with wide eyes.

"The same. My mom showed me a few pictures when they were younger, but... Naruto..." Ino stared at him as he laughed.

"You guys should see the back yard. Ino they have a huge in ground heated pool and everything." Sakura said making everyone begin to wander out back letting Naruto and Sakura only have a moment to smile at each other before following.

"And this is all yours?" Tenten asked looking around.

"Yeah, have to do a little more work out here because of the Pain attack but the main house was basically untouched." Naruto explained.

Sakura shut the door behind the last friend as they left for the night leaving Sakura and Naruto alone. Naruto smiled as he walked over to Sakura and she warped her arms around him as she kissed him. The two started becoming more and more passionate until Naruto pulled back to look at her.

"Sakura-chan..."

"Naruto, we've known each other for years, I've loved you for so long now. Even though I just told you..." She kissed him again. "I love you Naruto-kun." She whispered low making him need to fight harder to control himself. Sakura kissed his neck making him loose the little control he had. Leaning down he captured her lips again.

"I love you too Sakura-chan." He said before they started making their way to the bedroom. Naruto started working his hands under her shirt as she began to work on his buckle when he pushed them onto the bed with her on her back. Suddenly a light switched on making them both jump to their feet to see Sasuke walk closer to them.

"Ah, so the weakling finally moved on from her little crush, and she's gone for the Dobe." Sasuke chuckled. "It's a good thing I was here when I was. That was almost a disaster."

"What do you want Teme?" Naruto demanded to know making Sasuke chuckle.

"I just wanted to see how my old friends have been. I see you are doing well. Moved into your parents old house, finally got the weakling over there, you're off to a really good start."

"What do you want?" Naruto asked again.

"Just thought I'd give a bit of a warning."

"Warning? Why the hell would you do that?"

"Because I am the one who will kill you, I will not let that poor excuse for a snake or Madara take your life. They are planning an attack. They are working on training their troops and gathering their army so it will take a few years. The soonest they could do anything to come after you would be in about three years but the way things are going for Madara and Kabuto it may be closer to four years. They are training and preparing to come for you." Naruto and Sakura looked at him as he took a step forward to stand face to face with Naruto. "Make no mistake, I only warn you because I will be the one to take the life from your body, to watch the light fade from your eyes. Just be prepared." He said before he made a hand sign and started to burn away. Naruto and Sakura looked at each other before sitting on the bed.

"We should go tell Tsunade." Sakura said watching as Naruto kept his eyes on the spot Sasuke had just been. "Naruto, come on let's go talk to Tsunade." She said standing up. Naruto followed her re buckling his belt as she straightened her clothing.

"Sasuke showed up with a warning?" Tsunade asked standing behind her desk in the middle of the night. "What is he playing at? I want ANBU out for him right now!" She called.

"It won't do any good, he's gone." Naruto said.

"We may have a chance to get him you want to let him go?"

"I'm not letting him go!"

"They why not go after him? Everyone wants his head and if there was a sighting we need to get him before he gets away!"

"He's gone already! He's not stupid, he wouldn't have just marched in here without anything for protections!" Naruto yelled back. Both yelling at each other over the desk making several people run in to see what was going on. "You can't just send people after him! All he'll do is kill them if they do find him!" Kakashi looked through the window as Shizune and several guards ran into the room. Sakura moved forward trying to stop the fight before it got out of hand.

"Naruto, stop." She said walking to his side. "Shishyou, please. Naruto knows Sasuke, I know Sasuke. He would not have walked into the village to give some warning without having precautions set." She looked at the two still glaring at each other.

"Sakura's right." Kakashi said jumping into the room. "Only a select few could even think about going up against him."

"I told you he's not stupid! I've fought him so many times, he was my best friend I know how he works!" Naruto yelled as Tsunade balled her fist and punched her desk breaking it making everyone but Naruto flinch and move back. The two continued to look at each other before Sakura literally got between them and started pushing Naruto back.

"That's enough." She said looking up at Naruto calming him a bit making those in the room wonder even more than they had been.

"What do you think we should do then, if not go after Sasuke?" Tsunade asked looking at Naruto, Kakashi and Sakura.

"We need to start preparing for what he warned us about." Naruto said.

"And how do you expect we do that?" Naruto looked down then back at her.

"I need to take a trip."

"A trip?" Everyone looked at him confused.

"Yeah, I have a few places to go if this is really going to happen. I'll go on my trip and everyone else will start preparing to be in a battle."

"Where are you going to go?" Kakashi asked as Naruto smirked.

"I have some friends to visit, that's all." Tsunade looked at him hard before sighing.

"Fine do your trip but I expect you to be back in no more than two years. Sooner if things happen."

"Yeah, I know." He said turning to leave. "I'll send you a toad every chance there is, Granny." He said as he stopped at the door. She nodded and he was gone through the door leaving everyone wondering what was going on. Sakura looked at Tsunade who gave a small smirk and nod before Sakura turned to run after Naruto.

"Something seems off with them." Shizune said. "Sakura seems like..."

"A mixture of her mother and Kushina." Tsunade said making them look at her. "She has her mother's attitude and just like Kushina with Minato, she has him completely wrapped around her finger."

"Are you saying those two are together?" Shizune asked making Tsunade smile.

"I don't know. Minato and Kushina did pretty well hiding it. We may never know."

"They did well until Kushina found out she was pregnant." Kakashi chuckled.

"Naruto!" Sakura called as she ran out of the Hokage tower to catch up to him. "Naruto, where are you going? What is this trip?" Naruto turned and looked at her for a minute.

"It's a trip for me to train a bit more. I have somewhere to go where I can really train."

"Naruto..." She said looking around. "Let's go talk." Naruto gave a nod as they started off to the Namikaze compound. Once inside the main house the talking began. "Naruto, where are you going exactly?"

"I'm going to train with Bee. We did it a bit the last time but not too much, and I haven't used anything I worked on them since I came back. I'll keep an eye on how things are going and I'll keep sending word to you." He said softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Why don't I go with you? At least for a bit?" She asked looking up at him with her pale green eyes as his bright blue eyes looked down at her.

"If they are coming for me they will go after everyone I know." He said. Sakura smiled knowing that over the years that crazy little boy had grown into a crazy young man only able to think of the future and plan as he got older.

"I'm going to talk to Tsunade." She said turning to leave only to be caught by Naruto.

"I'm going to leave at sun rise. Talk to her tomorrow night about leaving and leave the next morning. You know Granny and Kakashi-sensei." He smiled making her laugh softly .

"Where do you want to meet up?"

"Head for the valley of the end. We can meet up there and then go from there." She smiled as he let go and went to pack what he needed.

Naruto was packed and ready to go. Standing up looking around the room that had once belonged to his parents when he heard something behind him. Turning he found Sakura standing in the doorway with a small smile making him smile. He didn't know what was going on, since the first time they kissed it had been like they had been together for years. He didn't understand it but he wasn't questioning anything.

"You don't have to leave for another three hours..." She said trailing off with a smile as Naruto stared. She started walking over to him slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to wrap her legs around his hips. His hands slid down to her waist before working on sliding up her shirt as their lips connected. The two stayed latched together as he laid them on the bed and they started working on each other's clothes. Slowly they pulled each article off leaving Naruto in his boxers and Sakura in her bra and panties. Naruto unhooked the latch on the bra and slid it down her arms. He hooked his thumbs in her waist band as she did the same with his. They began sliding them off each other when there was pounding on the door making them both stop and look at each other.

"Naruto!" They heard making them both sigh and let their heads drop to the bed in disappointment.

"I'll get the door." Sakura smiled as he stood up. "I'll tell her you're getting a shower." Naruto smirked and kissed her passionately again before she grabbed her clothes getting dressed while she ran to the door and he went in to get one of those cold showers to calm himself. Sakura opened the door to find Tsunade and Kakashi.

"I would have thought you would have gone home for the night." Tsunade said looking at Sakura waiting to see the hesitation but there was none. She watched as Sakura gave a small shrug.

"I was but Naruto and I were talking about the trip. I wanted to go on my own training and we were talking about what I should work on." She said as they walked into the house. Tsunade and Kakashi looked at her as she turned and walked away.

"Where's the brat?"

"He's been in the shower the last five minutes. He said we would talk more when he got out." Sakura turned to see Naruto walking out fully dressed.

"Sorry I wanted to get everything ready." He said looking at the two and led them to the other room. "What did you want granny?"

"I wanted to see if you were ready to go. When are you going to be leaving?" Tsunade asked.

"I'm going to leave in a little while. I want to get a head start."

"Where are you going to head?" Kakashi asked making Naruto smirk.

"I think I'm going to go train where I can use my full powers and not have to worry about hurting anyone."

"Send a toad to let us know where you are and if you're alright. In case we need you I want to be able to get a hold of you." Tsunade said and then looked over at Sakura. "Weren't you saying you were going to go on your own training mission?"

"Yeah, I'm going to go home and pack and then head out to my own training. If it's a war they are bringing then we better all be ready." She smiled turning to say goodbye to Naruto with wink before heading to the door with Tsunade who said she was going to get what sleep she could. Kakashi stood with Naruto as he he shut the door behind the two.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Sakura lately." Naruto glanced at his old teacher as he walked past him into the kitchen to make food for himself for his long trip. "Is something going on between you two?" Naruto looked away trying to avoid his teacher as he answered knowing Kakashi would be able to tell when he lied.

"No, there's nothing going on. I've been trying for years; you really think I would be so quiet about it if Sakura-chan actually agreed?" He chuckled making Kakashi stare at him for a moment before agreeing and letting Naruto continue with what he was doing.

"So where are you going to start your training?"

"I'm going to go where I can use all of my power and strengthen what I have been working on. I'll send a toad as soon as I get there and I'll keep checking in to make sure everything is alright here." He explained as he wrapped his food and grabbed his things. Kakashi and Naruto walked out of the door before saying good-bye and heading in their own directions with the promise to stay in touch.

Naruto stood in a tree not far from the gate three days later waiting for the pink haired woman he had fallen for. He looked at the gate watching as Sakura stopped with Tsunade, Kakashi and Ino. He watched her speak to them before hugging and saying her good-byes and begin her walk out of the village. Walking along the trail, she smiled when she caught sight of the orange color in the trees slowly walking into to line of trees. Naruto dropped from the trees with a smile as Sakura ran to him.

"Naruto! I thought we were meeting later."

"I thought it would be better to meet here rather than travel alone for such a long time." He smiled as he pulled her closer to him. We should get going so we can find a place to stay for the night and travel as far as we can before we have to stop."

"I think you're right." She smiled turning out of his arms and starting to walk as he followed.

Naruto and Sakura had been training and traveling with each other for a year and it was time to check in. The two were on their way back to the village and had stopped for the night one last time before having to go home as if nothing was going on between them. Sakura had kissed Naruto before walking out onto the road the night before, now Naruto walked the very same road walking into the village. He smirked seeing Sakura walking up to him with a smile clear on her face.

"Naruto!" she said walking up to him.

"Hey Sakura-chan!" He grinned. "How was your training?"

"Went well. All of your advice was great." She said as she walked beside him to the Namikaze house. She watched many people look at them walking and playing their secret game, not one realizing where Naruto was living. Once safely inside of the Namikaze main house the two wrapped their arms around the other with bright smiles.

"Why don't we stay in for the night?" She smiled.

"I have to go talk to granny and then I think that would be fun." The two had only grown closer and closer over the past year. Naruto sighed pulling from Sakura's arms before dropping his things and heading for the Hokage tower when he got a scroll from a sand village hawk. Unrolling the scroll he smiled before he folded the paper and put it away as the Hawk turned and flew off again.

"Naruto, you're back!" Shizune smiled as he walked in.

"How has your training been?" Tsunade asked making Naruto flash back to all the memories of training and laying with Sakura. He grinned and rubbed the back of his head as he answered.

"Yeah, it's been going pretty good. I'm just stopping in to check in with you and get some more supplies."

"Well then hurry up and get going. We need you back here and back on the books for missions as soon as you are done. I not only have you gone but Sakura has been on a trip for her own training."

"I heard she wanted to go on one. I'm going to head out in two days to start again. I have a few things that would be better if I had some help. Could I take Sakura with me?"

"What kind of things?" She asked eying Naruto as he shrugged.

"I've been needing a lot of healing already, with the new things I want to work on, I may need someone there to help." Tsunade looked at him for a minute before sighing and giving a nod. "Go ask if she can go." Naruto nodded and turned leaving trying to get back to his house as fast as he could. Smiling he ran in grabbing a scroll from his bag he unrolled up and disappeared before Sakura even knew he was there. Suddenly he turned looking at the Kazekage sitting at his desk, not looking amused.

"Naruto."

"I got the letter." He smirked as Gaara pulled a little pouch from a drawer and handed it to Naruto who opened it and pulled the continence out into his palm.

"So, you're really going to ask her?" Gaara asked as Naruto looked down at the small ring with a diamond in the center with an opal and aquamarine stone on either side.

"The only problem now is telling people. With the fighting coming up and everything going on, it would probably be better if we just waited for everything until afterward."

"What are you so concerned about?"

"Even granny doesn't know so we can't get married without telling her and telling everyone else would cause the village to through a fit. There's no way to deal with that and the fighting." He sighed putting the ring back in the little pouch.

"What if you did everything quietly for now? No one unnecessary would know so no fighting internally." Naruto looked at his friend completely confused making Gaara roll his eyes before the door opened and Temari fell in and Kankuro laughed standing behind her as she jumped to her feet and went to Naruto.

"You should have it here. Gaara can marry you and I would love to help Sakura get ready." She offered making Gaara glare at her as Naruto chuckled.

"We can do that. I am sure Sakura-chan won't have any problems with that either." He grinned watching Gaara give the slightest of twitches at the corner of his mouth. "Thanks. I'll let you know when we're heading out again." Gaara nodded before Naruto formed a sign with his fingers and he burst into flames arriving in the front door of the main house.

"Naruto, where did you just come from?" Sakura called as she walked in to see him smile brightly.

"I'll explain later." He said wrapping his arms around her waist. "Come with me. When I was going through some of those scrolls I brought with us I found something that I think you would really like." He grabbed her hand and led her to the far back of the Namikaze compound. Stopping he told her to close her eyes and waited until she did it. He took a deep breath a pulled her behind him into a small cave. At the very center was a small field with red tiger lily and glowing blue rose flowers. Still with her eyes closed she could feel the nervousness radiating from Naruto. He stopped and stood in front of her; he could feel himself shaking from how nervous he was as he slowly pulled the ring back out into his palm. Taking a deep breath and slowly moving onto his knee she told her to open her eyes with a shaky voice. Sakura opened her eyes looking down at Naruto completely shocked.

"N-Naruto-kun..." She trailed as tears began to gather and fall all down her face.

"Sakura, will..." He paused taking a deep breath once again. "Will you marry me?" He asked and watched worried for only a second before Sakura dropped to her knees wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes, oh yes! I will Naurto-kun." She cried with a bright smile making Naruto grab her, pulling her into a deep passionate kiss. Once they separated Naruto slid the ring on her finger and she was able to get a good look at it. "But we really shouldn't be doing any of this when they should all be working on planning for the battle."

"I know, and that's why I have everything worked out and set for whenever you want it without getting anyone involved. We can tell them later but for now I thought it would be better to keep it quiet still." He told her. "It's all up to you. Do you want to do it secretly or do you want to tell everyone?" Sakura thought for a minute before smiling.

"Tsunade and the others all need to worry about gathering forces for the battles, not worried about planning a wedding and having everyone wrapped around us." She told him as they stood back up. "What is your plan?"

"Gaara said he would help."

"You told Gaara?" She smiled knowing he wouldn't have been able to keep it secret from everyone.

"Yeah, Temari and Kankuro overheard us when we were talking a few times and found out about us and then I asked Gaara to get the ring for me, and when I went to get it they volunteered to help and keep it secret for now."

"Then what are we waiting for?" She laughed. "Let's get our things gathered and ready to go and head out in a day or so."