Understanding a Nightmare, becoming a Dream

Oh, my, GOD! It's been forever since I've updated this story, and this chapters extremly short, but then again, it's an update, right? That's good? Right? Right? Well, enough delays!

Chapter Two…

I jerked awake as I felt a breath of cold wash over me. Shaking my head to orient myself, I realize that I'm not in my own bed, but that I was in Naruto's…

I remember now, we confessed to each other, and he took me to his apartment… I think to myself, a warm smiling finding its way to my face. That's when the smell of food reached my nostrils, and I gasp in surprise, Naruto cooks!?

Standing up on still wobble legs, I walk into the kitchen to see Naruto flipping some pancakes, some bacon already on the table, and eggs in another pan. Wow…

"I can't believe you cook!" I say excitedly as he turns to look at me, a smile reaching his face as he realized it was me.

"Yeah, during the training trip with Ero-Sennin (Perverted Hermit), he forced me to cook, so I had to learn how…" He trails off with a sheepish smile, and a slight blush.

Giggling, I walk up to him and give him a kiss on the nose before taking a seat at the table, which I saw could hold four easily. A minute later, he piles two pancakes on my plate, as well as some eggs, and handing me the bacon plate, giving me first pick. As we both eat our breakfast, I couldn't help but compliment Naruto's ability to cook.

"This has to be one of the best pancakes I've ever tasted, how'd you get so good? It couldn't be just because you were forced to!" I say as I finish both pancakes in record time for me as he gives me another helping as I plop some eggs into my mouth.

"Actually, along the way we saved a cooks caravan, and he taught me a thing or two, and gave me a cook book, so that was a major help," Naruto explains as he swallows some bacon before speaking.

"So, what do you know how to make?" I ask out of curiosity, already loving the little bit of spice he added to the eggs.

"Ano, let me think…" He trails off, before he started listing things, "Cherries Jubilee, French Toast, although it isn't really French, well, a lot of stuff, actually…"

I couldn't help but laugh as Naruto's face scrunched up in concentration, "You really don't want to think about it, do you?" I ask, seeing him nod his head as he had just placed some eggs in his mouth…

Just then, a knock sounds on the door and Naruto gets up to get it.

"Naruto, Tsunade-sama wants in her office, pronto! And that includes you Sakura," Kakashi says from the door way, his face a mask of seriousness. Standing up and putting my stuff down on the table, I walk up to the door.

"What's the problem Kaka-sensei," I ask, leaning over Naruto's shoulder.

"There's been an attack on an outpost south of here, we think its Sasuke's doing, and you two know him better then anyone else, the rest will be explained when you get there," And with that, Kakashi disappeared. Blinking a few times, I turn my head to stare at Naruto, and I could see the same expression on his face.

"Ano, maybe we shouldn't keep Baa-chan waiting?" He asks in that tone of voice that tells you he's completely out of it.

"Yeah, maybe…" I say, before shaking my head, and standing up straight and taking Naruto's hand in mine before pulling him out the door with a tug. He was already dressed, so we shouldn't waste time, right?

"Wait, you should lock your door," I comment before he shakes his head.

"Naw, I put a few seals on the door a few nights back, no one can enter without their specific DNA code being entered into it. It's really helpful against intruders, ninja or not, it designed it off the original blood seal," He explains, and I'm impressed that he was able to commit such a feat.

"You learned a lot on the two year journey, didn't you?" I ask as we start towards the Hokage Tower, taking to the rooftop with blinding speed.

"Yeah, all thanks to Ero-Sennin (Perverted Hermit), he's a perv, but he's a great teacher, sometimes…" He trails off with a disgruntled look on his face. I couldn't help but laugh. As we entered the tower, through the window, we're surprised not to receive an ear full from Tsunade. Jiraiya, Kakashi, Sai, Yamato, and Tsunade are all in the room in a dead silence.

"Uh, what's with the silence, it's making me uncomfortable…" I hear Naruto shout from behind me, and to our surprise once more, Tsunade only responds with a quiet command of sit down. Deciding not to linger in the window, we hurry to a seat.

"I'm sure that you've been told that this has to do with Sasuke. But there's something else. He's taken Ino, Chouji and Shikamaru hostage, as they just so happened to be there for the inspection. Jiraiya's sources say that they're still alive, seeing as that the only reason they'd be taken was hostage was because Orochimaru would need them, or they'd be dead. This is a grave situation. Three of Konoha's best and most loyal ninja are in the hands of the enemy. The assignment is this. You are to discover the whereabouts of the hostages, retrieve them, and make it back to Konoha in one piece. Any forces that get in your way must be dealt with. We don't want them in Orochimaru's hands for too long," She finishes, nodding to Jiraiya. I was a little surprised that Naruto hadn't interrupted yet, but then again, this was Sasuke and Orochimaru.

"The only still operational base around the outpost that was attack is three miles east of the Valley of the End. I'm expecting there'll be scouts all over the place. It's been very busy for the last month and a half, so Orochimaru might have actually been after the three. My spies couldn't tell me much more then that without putting themselves in danger," Jiraiya informs us, and I see Naruto nod.

"The team for this mission will consist of Kakashi, Yamato, Sakura, and Naruto. Sai, you're to go with Jiraiya and check with another contact of his. I suggest you leave immediately," She says, before waving us off. You could tell she was in a bad mood; normally she actually spoke the dismissal. Something else was bothering her. But I barely catch a whisper as we exit through the door. "Don't die…" This got me to furrow my brows. Was she worried about our health? Kakashi's one of the best ninja in the village, not to mention Naruto's unpredictable right now, he has so many new abilities. He's only been here for a few months, and during that entire time he was holding back! That two and a half year training trip was good for him.

As we went our separate ways to get our things, my mind starts to wonder as I take the usual route to my apartment. If Sasuke was there, Naruto would be after him in an instant. Wait! Naruto was too calm during that entire thing! Turning on my heel, I race for the gates. Naruto didn't even head to his apartment! He's going to try and do it alone! But we promised to do it together damn it! Pumping excess chakra in my legs, I get a major boost as almost everything around me starts becoming a blur. Halting at the gate, I see the guard sitting there and joking around. "Did Naruto go outside the village a minute ago?" I ask with urgency.

"Yeah, like three minutes ago." One says, and my eyes widen. Dashing outside the gates, I start after Naruto's chakra signature, which was growing fate. Whoa, Naruto had got a lot faster! Squinting, I take to the trees in pursuit. No way I'm letting you do it alone Naruto. He's ours, and your mine. I think with a determination. Speeding up to the human limit, I feel the major strain on my legs and wince. It was similar to using gates going this fast; the strain on my legs would snap them like twigs if I wasn't careful. Focusing chakra into the leg muscles, I start to heal the tearing ligaments. From what I could tell, I was barely making any gain on Naruto. Was he going almost as fast as I was? Even though he's a Jinchuuriki that should hurt! All I could do was continue on, and hope Naruto slowed down.

(Fifteen minutes later)

The constant strain on my chakra was starting to wear my down. I only had three quarters of my full chakra left, and we still hadn't reached the Valley of the End. Spoke to soon. I think as I jump onto a river, with two humongous statues of two legendary ninja. I could sense Naruto's chakra at the top of the waterfall. Along with someone else's.

"No, they're already at it…" I whisper with wide-eyes. Growling, I start climbing up the stone wall, trying to get there before they could start. Just as I got up there, I could see them getting ready for their signature moves. The Rasengan (Spiraling Sphere) and the Chidori (One-Thousand Birds).

"This is it Naruto, I kill you here." Sasuke said in an apathetic voice. It sent a shiver down my spine.

"Wrong, today, I bring you HOME!" He yells the last bit as he charges at Sasuke with a fully developed Fuuton: Rasengan (Wind Release: Spiraling Sphere) in hand. I only had a split second to think about as I saw Sasuke start his charge. Have the chance to lose Naruto or Sasuke, or prevent both? Easy. Running forward and pumping my legs with chakra, I get right in between them. Just like my dream, and I realized my mistake. Why wouldn't Naruto do the same thing in the dream as now? Naruto, just like I thought, a bit too late, pulled his hand back and crushed the Fuuton: Rasengan, as he grabbed my arm and tugged me behind him, his arms out stretched. Just like the dream, I see Sasuke's hand ram right through Naruto's chest, and I could feel the splash of warm blood on my cheeks. No… no… no, no, no… "NO!!!!!!!!"


Review, flame, and whatnot...

Well, here you go! Hope it's enough to tide you over as I work on my other stories! Hope you don't mind! The curse of an over-active imagination!