Me: Yo. What's up people?
Naruto: You're a lazy bastard, you know that?
Me: Yeah. I know. I just can't help it. But here's the next chapter of Aftermath.
Me: Like I promised it would be.
Naruto: Is Gaara in it yet?
Me: ………uh, no.
Gaara: ……………………………
Me: Don't kill me! I promise you, (drops to knees) you will have your own story! I just have to get around to writing it!
Gaara: …………Fine.
Me: Thank you Kazekage-sama! (whisper myself) But you might just regret it.
Gaara: What was that?
Me: Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Just talking to myself. You understand, right?
Gaara: …………..(walks away without saying anything).
Me: Damn that was close. (Deep Breath) Any who, lets get on with the story shall we? Who's giving the disclaimer this time?
Kakashi: (raises hand) Yo. I guess I'll do it today.
Me: Before you do, let me ask you one thing. Are you sad you died in chapter 425?
Kakashi: Hmm. That's a good question. I'll get back to you on that one. But I digress.
Kakashi: Our dear author doesn't own Naruto or any of it's characters. If he did, Sasuke wouldn't overpowered and NaruHina would be canon.
Kakashi: There, that should do. See you soon (shunshins away).
Me: Get back here and answer the question you gray haired prick! (turns to the readers) Well…I guess it's time to go ninja hunt' in again. (grabs and cocks the shotgun) Here Kaka-baka!
Itachi: (wonders onto set) Oh Kami. Why have you forsaken me? I mean come on! My knee caps are destroyed!
Sasuke: Come out, come out where ever you are Nii-san. We're not done playing.
Me: (turns to watch sibling rivalry at it's best) I wonder what kind of health plan Kishimoto-sama give these guys?
Aftermath Ch2
"When do you think he'll wake up Kakashi-sensei?" asked a familiar voice. Naruto recognized it as Sakura's. "Soon. Hopefully" came the response. He recognized that voice too. It was Kakashi-sensei's. "hn." And that was definitely Sasuke. 'Wait...Sasuke?' Opening his eyes, Naruto realized where he was. "Why am I in Oba-chan's office?" he asked while still laying down "And why don't I remember coming here?"
Kiba stifled a laugh as Yamato handed Kakashi a roll of Ryo. "Naruto-kun? Are you okay?" Hinata's shy and gentle voice penetrated the crowd. 'She cares if I'm okay?' he wondered to himself, when it all came rushing back.
Jiraiya, the Akatsuki, Sasuke, Pein, the Ame villagers, the other Uchiha, Kyuubi, the trip home, and lastly his confrontation with Oba-chan. Everything that had happened over the last few days hit him like a ton of Doton jutsu. Naruto began to weep again. The gathered group could only stand there and watch as one of the most powerful shinobi in the world cried.
Hinata sprang forward once she realized that Naruto was crying. She forced her way through the crowd of ninja and sat down next to the blond. Hinata wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, letting him cry into her shirt. "It'll be okay Naruto-kun" she said as she began to rock him back and forth "It'll be okay."
"I...I killed them!" he cried into her shirt "I killed the Akatsuki, I killed the bastard fox and I... killed the villagers. I killed innocent people!" Sakura moved to say something, but Sasuke stopped her.
"Let him cry."
She tried to protest, but this time Kakashi placed his hand on her shoulder. Sakura looked over at him and he just shook his head. She sighed and gave in. "Perhaps" Sai's voice caught them off guard "we should give them some time to themselves." Yamato nodded "I agree with Sai. I think we all need to take a few minutes to collect ourselves."
Kakashi and Yamato then ushered all but the two out of the Hokage's office.
Naruto's tears began to subside. He sniffled and caught the scent of lavenders. Looking up, his blue eyes met her own pale ones. "Why?" he asked her, his voice cracking in the process "Why did you risk your life back in Ame?" Hinata stared into the ocean colored orbs in front of her.
"Because I love you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto's eyes widened, but before he could say anything Hinata continued. " I used to always cry and give up" Hinata looked away from Naruto "I nearly went the wrong way," Hinata's eyes began to water now "but you... you showed me the right way. I was always chasing you...wanting to overtake you... I wanted to be with you. You changed me. You saved me with your smile. That's why I wasn't afraid."
Suddenly a hand wiped away the tears that had formed. She slowly turned her head back to her crush only to find his face mere inches in front of her own. "Thank you, Hinata" he whispered as his face closed the gap between them. Hinata closed her eyes and prayed this wasn't a dream.
Their lips met after what seemed an eternity. It was soft and gentle as both had never experienced such feeling before. A minute later, they unwillingly pulled away. "For saving me" Naruto finished as he and Hinata open their eyes. Neither said a word as Naruto wrapped his arms around her waist and just held her.
Hokage Tower Balcony
Sasuke stared out at the village of his birth. The events that had led up to him returning were ones that he had never even thought of. 'At least Itachi's dead' the Uchiha thought to himself 'but what do I do now?'
On the trip to the tower, Sasuke had an encounter that he'd thought he'd have.
Flashback
The Hokage had ordered them to go to the tower. Since he, Jugo, and Suigetsu had decided to stay in Konoha, the order applied to them as well. Lest they anger an already emotional woman. They caught up to Kakashi who was carrying Naruto over his shoulder. Sasuke took the time to look around at the village. He noticed that the people who actually made eye contact with him held nothing but contempt.
Flashback break
Sasuke knew all too well that he wouldn't be welcomed back like nothing had happened. What he hadn't expected was what happened three blocks from the Hokage Tower.
Flashback Continue
The entrance to the tower was now visible. A group of young Kunoichi stood near a corner conversing amongst themselves. As the retrieval team and team Hebi approached, they seemed to notice Sasuke. 'Oh great. The fan-girls are ready to pounce again' he mentally groaned to himself. Preparing to run if necessary, he did not prepare for what they did to him.
The older looking girls in the group walked up to him and spit in his face and walked away. Everyone else stopped when they noticed Sasuke and what was left of his team had. Kiba was the first to comment. "You didn't think that people would just welcome you back without thought, did you?" the Inuzuka asked. Sasuke, for his part, just stood there in shock. "No" he replied "I honestly didn't but I was not expecting that."
"I believe Uchiha" Shino spoke up for the first time during the trip "that you have a long road ahead of you." Sasuke nodded his head. He knew that already. Shino continued "Not only must you prove your loyalty to Konoha once more but you must also prove yourself to the civilians of the village as well. To them, your clan's name is just as bad, if not worse than the Kyuubi."
Again Sasuke was caught off guard. "Now wait just a minute Aburame" he started before he felt a kunai press against his throat. Looking down he found a head of pink hair. "Think before you act Sasuke" Sakura said. "As much as I still care about you, you've proven to us that you cannot be trusted completely."
Kakashi stood still and watched as the kunoichi of his team reacted as she should have. 'She is right. Sasuke already ran off once. But I hope that he can prove his loyalty to the village' he thought. "Okay Sakura, I think Sasuke gets the idea. You can put the kunai down now."
Sakura hesitated for a moment. Slowly, the metal slide away from his neck. "We should get going again" she said.
Everyone turned back around to finish the walk to the tower. A handkerchief found itself to Sasuke's hand, courtesy of the pink haired kunoichi. "Here" she said "clean yourself off." Sasuke took it and began walking with her at the back of the group.
"I meant what I said Sasuke" Sakura started "I care about you. But, I will not let it interfere with my duty to the village. If you threaten anyone in any kind of situation before your probation is up and I will personally kill you. Understand?" she asked.
Sasuke nodded and handed the handkerchief back to her. "Keep it" she said. By that time, they had reached the Tower.
Flashback End
Now Sasuke stood on a balcony, thinking about his future. ' If I have one' he thought. He was right though. He technically became a nuke-nin the minute he left the village three years ago. And the punishment for that was execution.
"What are you thinking about?" Sakura's voice came from behind him. She walked up and stood next to him, but just stared out at the village like he was. "Not much" he replied "just trying to figure out what's going to happen to me."
"And? What have you come up with?" she asked, still not making eye contact. He sighed "Well, since I'm a missing-nin I'm probably going to be executed" he said bluntly. He heard her gasp quietly. 'You've gotten stronger Sakura' he said to himself. "Do you think that's what they'll do?" she asked in a slightly more subdued tone. "Honestly, I don't know. That's the punishment for missing-nin. But there are extenuating circumstances now, aren't there?"
"Oh? And those would be?" Sakura asked him. Sasuke was a little shocked by her attitude. "My help with the Akatuski, Orochimaru, and Itachi" he replied.
"Hahahaha!"
Sasuke turned to look at her. She was laughing at him! "What's so funny about that?" he asked. "Hahahahaha! It's just.......It's just..hahahaha" she continues to laugh "It's just that two out the three things you listed are your fault anyway! Hahahaha!"
Sasuke couldn't believe that Sakura, Sakura of all people, was laughing at him. "Hmph" he grunted as he turned away from her. Suddenly he felt something hit him in the ribs. They cracked under the force and he found himself on the floor. Looking up, he found a furious looking medical-nin. "Just remember one thing Sasuke. I'm watching you. Make a mistake and fractured ribs will be the least of your worries."
As suddenly as in occurred, the anger that filled her eyes and face disappeared and the normal joyous features returned. "Okay?" she asked innocently. Sasuke just nodded dumbly. "Goo" she said "now let's fix those ribs."
'Oh yeah. Aburame was right' he groaned to himself 'a long and painful road.'
Hokage Tower Entrance
"Achoo."
Kiba looked over at Shino. "Dude, did you just sneeze?" he asked the kikaichu user. Shino just looked back to him and stared. After a few moments, Kiba got the idea. "O-okay. I'll leave it alone." Shino retuned to staring out at nothing in particular.
Hokage Tower Roof
Sai sat with his brush and paper drawing what he had witnessed over the last few days. Of course, these pictures would never find there way to Danzo. No, they would stay with him. 'Ever since I joined Team Kakashi' Sai thought 'I've found a new meaning to my life. Memories of my brother are returning. I still do not fully understand emotions, but the longer I stay I may get the hang of it.'
He finished his drawing and looked down at it. I was of Naruto. Half of him was normal but the other half was of the Kyuubi. They were battling each other. 'Now for a title' Sai thought. It came an instant later. "Truth" he said to himself. It fit perfectly.
Hokage Tower Hallway
"Kakashi-taichou, may I ask you something?" Yamato asked. Kakashi looked over at his young contemporary. For once, Kakashi didn't have his Icha Icha Paradise out. "Go ahead Yamato." The Mokuton user nodded. "Do you think Naruto actually killed the Kyuubi?" Kakashi pondered this for a second before nodding. "Yes. I believe he did. Why do you ask?" he replied. Yamato looked at the legendary copy ninja in disbelief.
"How can you say that Kakashi-taichou? I'm mean, yes. Naruto is powerful, but strong enough to kill the most powerful of the Biju? Even if it was in his mind?" Kakashi sighed. "If I've learned anything" Kakashi said "It's that Naruto is always doing the impossible. Never underestimate him. Ever." Yamato listened to the conviction in Kakashi's voice.
'He truly believes in the boy' Yamato thought 'he believes in Naruto down to the very core of his soul.' Yamato contemplated his thoughts on Naruto while across the hall, Kakashi stood with his eyes closed. 'He's close sensei. He so very close to being ready' he thought 'whether or not he wants to know or not.'
Konoha West Gate
Tsunade finally pulled herself together. Whipping away the last of her tears, the Hokage created a Kage Bunshin and ordered it to collect the nearest ANBU cell. Several minutes later, the bunshin returned with the ANBU. Bowing, the lead ANBU asked "What may we assist you with Godaime-sama?" Tsunade looked back the casket. The ANBU looked over at it and one gasped. "Is...is that Jiraiya -sama?" he asked. Tsunade nodded.
"What may we do, Godaime-sama?" he asked again. Tsunade walked back and picked up one end as the bunshin grabbed the other. "Please clear a path to the morgue. Keep the villagers and your fellow shinobi back." The ANBU nodded and replied "Hai."
Main Village Road
"Come on Shikamaru!" Ino yelled "Hurry your butt up too Choji!" The two ninja groaned. "Tell me how we got roped into this again Shikamaru?" Choji asked. The Nara just shrugged. "That's a big help Shika." "Hey" Ino's caught their attention "why is Hokage-sama walking down the road carrying something?"
Shikamaru looked over at the platinum blond. "What are you talking about Ino? I don't see the Hokage" he said. "No, not coming from the tower idiot, heading to the tower. Look" she said pointing down the road coming from the gate. "Hey, there are ANBU too" Choji pointed out.
'ANBU walking with the Hokage in public?' Shikamaru thought. His massive intellect running on overdrive, Shikamaru ran though all the possibilities that could entail the leader of the village's shinobi carrying something and being escorted by ANBU. 'Hm...the only one that really makes sense is...oh no.' he thought.
"Choji" his friend looked over at him "I need you to through me up in the air so I can get a better look at the inside of whatever she's carrying." A foot step behind him made Shikamaru turn around. "Or you could have me use my Byakugan Shikamaru" said Neji. "Neji" Shikamaru began "I didn't know you guys were back already. Wasn't your mission supposed to last longer?" he asked.
Neji opened his mouth to speak, but Lee beat him to it. "Yosh!" the spandex wearing ninja yelled while throwing his fist in the air "It was supposed to last longer but our power of youth enabled us to finish in record time!" Team Asuma sweat-dropped, Tenten sighed, and a vein on Neji's head began to bulge a bit. "What that means" Tenten said "is that Lee carried the client all the way to the village while Neji and I traveled with his cart" 'And I won't stop Neji the next time he tries to kill Lee' she thought to herself.
"He He He" Ino laughed nervously "Let's get back to the topic at hand okay?" she asked. Shikamaru nodded his head in agreement "Yes, lets. So can you do it Neji?" said the shadow user. Neji snorted indignantly "Of course I can. But if I get in trouble for this Shikamaru..." he drifted off. "Yeah, yeah I get it. Just get on with it."
Neji activated his Byakugan and zoomed in on the Hokage. A second later his eyes widened and he took a sharp breath. "By Kami" he whispered. "What do you see Neji?" Tenten asked. 'To surprise him of all people, it's got to be important' she thought. "Neji. What do you see?" Shikamaru reiterated Tenten's question when the Hyuga didn't respond.
"It's Jiraiya-sama" he said quietly "He's dead."
Me: So…here's chapter two finally. Hope you all liked it.
Naruto: Took you long enough, you lazy bastard.
Me:…..Yes well. I deserved that one. It did take me a long time to get it out.
Naruto:Yeah and Gaara isn't happy.
Gaara:………………….(cracks neck)
Me:O.o
Gaara:…………you have a ten second head start.
Me:Come now Gaara, have mercy.
Gaara:Nine....
Me:Okay. Um thanks for reading and don't forget to review.
Gaara: Eight…
Me:Bye! (runs off)
Gaara:Seven…
Naruto:Oh, this is gonna be good.
Gaara:Six…
Hinata:What's going to be good, Naruto-kun?
Gaara:Five..
Naruto: Oh, Hina-chan. Pull up a seat and enjoy the show.
Gaara:Four…
Hinata:O..okay. (sits down)
Gaara:Three…
Hinata:So…what's going on?
Gaara:Two…
Naruto:Gaara's going to have some fun with the author.
Gaara:One…(starts off)
Naruto:Hmmm. Maybe I should go get some popcorn?
Me:H..hey! Sand doesn't belong there!
Gaara:……………..(smirks)