Stopping at his door, Naruto reached out and turned the knob and kicked the door open then shut after he walked in. "It isn't much, just basically one big room. But for as long as you want to stay here I can build you your own little section if you want."
"That isn't necessary Naruto. I don't want to be a bother."
Walking over and laying her down on his bed he smiled. "You are not a bother to me. It wouldn't take no time for me to build you a spot just for you to have your privacy. Remember I make more Shadow Clones than anyone."
Nodding as she curled into a ball. "I am sorry."
Kneeling down next to the bed Naruto sighed as he reached out and whipped tears from her cheeks. "What are you sorry for?"
"I couldn't stop him."
Leaning over and hugging her to him as she choked a sob back he sighed. "Don't do this to yourself Tsuki. The guy is someone I know. You knew of him too. It was Sasuke."
Her eyes wide as she pushed Naruto away from her and sat up. Fresh tears falling in steady streams as she made contact with his blue eyes. "The man that killed so many innocent lives in my village is the same man that you want to bring back to yours? Are you serious?!"
Moving to look out his window Naruto sighed. "The Sasuke that I wanted to bring back home to be my best friend again is not the Sasuke that attacked you and your village. It was Sasuke Uchiha. But not the Sasuke that I have been fighting for. I am done fighting that fight. One year after we left your village I was assigned to help with a fresh group of Genin. I have known them since before I became a Genin. He showed up and attacked. I tried my best to protect them all, but Konohamaru was poisoned. Before I could get him back to Sakura he passed. He was like my little brother. That is what showed me that Sasuke is not worth fighting for anymore. I have refocused all my efforts on protecting the Leaf, The Land of Fire, and those that I have left that I care about."
Tsukino softened toward him then she saw the drops of tears on the floor from Naruto and ran to him holding onto his clothes from the back and burying her face in his back. "I'm sorry Naruto."
Turning and hugging her around the shoulders Naruto smiled. "I am sorry that it took me loosing someone so close to me to realize what was really important. And I am sorry I wasn't there to protect you and the Moon."
"It wasn't your village to protect."
Helping her back to the bed he laid her back in the bed. "Lets not talk about anything right now. You need to get some rest. Grandma healed your wounds, but emotionally you are worn out. Get some sleep."
"Where are you going?"
Sitting down in a chair next to the bed Naruto smiled. "Right here. I am going to keep you with me until you feel safe enough to be on your own. I won't leave your side."
Reaching over and taking hold of his sleeve Tsukino gave a slight smile. "Thank you. Naruto." Then she slowly let her eyes drift shut. Hoping that since she was with Naruto that this sleep was going to be a better one than what she has had for the last few nights.
Watching as she fell asleep Naruto let out a sigh. Once she was good and sound asleep he stood and moved over to his desk. He was Chunin now, and still hadn't done any of the paperwork of his last mission other than to tell Tsunade that it went off without a hitch. "I guess I should get it done."
Just as he started to sit down he heard a light knock on the door. Going to it and opening it he let Shizune walk in. "What is it Shizune?"
Shizune looked over at the young girl sleeping on his bed. "You aren't going to be…"
"Come on Shizune. Get over it. No I am not going to sleep in the bed with her. In fact I done told her I am going to build an add on to give her, her own room."
"That's good. I was worried about you." Then she turned to him and handed him a paper. "Lady Tsunade sent me actually. She said she still wants the report of your last mission, and then you are being assigned a new one until further notice."
Taking the paper he glared. "What?"
Shizune smiled. "Don't flip out. Your mission is to protect Tsukino. Keep her safe and in the village."
Nodding he turned and smiled at Tsukino. "That I had every intention of doing."
X
Looking out the window Naruto sighed. Tsukino had been sleeping most of the day. But it had given him plenty of time to think. He couldn't help but go back to the snake, Orochimaru, at that first Chunin exam. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard his name being called from the other side of his door.
Moving to open the door he found Neji and Hinata standing there. "She is still sleeping so keep your voices down." As they walked past he saw the infant that Hinata was holding. "What is with the baby?"
Neji turned and met Naruto's blue eyes. "Our first objective when we got there was to do a search for survivors. Hinata and I scanned every craves with our Byakugan's. We found a young woman and this child."
"Where is the mother at?"
Hinata sighed as she looked down at the sleeping baby. "After we got her out she was terrified until Neji told her that you and Tsukino sent us to find any surviors and how to find the one who destroyed the village. She started crying as she went limp. She made us promise that we would make sure her son was brought back to Tsuknio." She let a tear stream from her eye as she whipped it away. "Right after we promised she passed away."
Neji pulled Naruto's attention back to him as he sighed. "According to Shizune, he is about a week old now. He is healthy so she had us bring him. She said it might give her something to get her mind off of the carnage."
Naruto nodded. "What did you find out about Sasuke?"
"He left the Uchiha fan in blood around every turn. It was him alright. As far as where he is now I don't know."
Naruto nodded then took the baby from Hinata. "Thanks Neji."
Without a word Neji smiled as he lead Hinata toward the door. "By the way Naruto, the baby's last name we don't know. She didn't have the strength to tell us. But his first name was Sumaru."
"Like that guy from the Hidden Star village."
"That's right."
Naruto watched as they left and quietly shut the door behind him then he sat down in the chair with the sleeping baby. "Well this is going to be a whole new experience." Then he looked over at Tsukino and smiled. Propping his feet up he gently laid the baby over his chest, his feet on the bed and put an arm right in front of her face. "Not the most comfortable position but it should work for now." Then he let sleep tug at him once again.
