Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights are reserved to Masashi Kishimoto.
"Sakura… I'm going to go file my mission report with Tsunade no Baa-Chan. I'll be back later." Naruto said, standing outside the bathroom door.
"Wait… Naruto," Sakura said through the door. She opened the door and looked at Naruto. Her wet hair was dripping down her back and her face was slightly flushed from the warm water. "Tenten might be coming over...She asked if I'd like to help plan her wedding. I said yes, is that alright with you?"
Naruto shook his head and sighed. "Sakura, if you want to invite people over that's fine with me. You live here too now so this apartment is as much yours as it is mine, remember?" Sakura smiled and nodded. "Ok, I'll be back before it gets dark." Naruto said before walking out of the apartment.
The two of them had been living together for a little better than a month now. After Sakura's little panic attack Naruto suggested she come to live with him for a while. Naturally she agreed and now that's what they were doing, much to the chagrin of Naruto's heart. Naruto shrugged off the lingering feelings and made his way to the Hokage tower. Even though most reports filed are to go through headquarters, Naruto seemed to always be on dangerous missions so all his mission reports go directly to Tsunade. He smiled at Shizune and waved before walking into Tsunade's office.
"Here's my mission report Baa-Chan," Naruto said as he placed the file on top of the work she had piled in front of her. Tsunade looked up at Naruto and put her brush down.
"How are things going? I heard Sakura's living with you now." Naruto shrugged.
"Yeah. She had a...panic attack, so I suggested that she stay with me, at least during her pregnancy…" Tsunade raised an eyebrow at Naruto, clasping her fingers together and resting her chin on her raised hands.
"Panic attack?" Naruto sighed and nodded.
"When I told Sakura about Sasuke she was really upset. Upset to the point that she even threw up. I think that was more morning sickness than grief but anyways, she had been crying for a few hours so we went for a walk to the market. After we got back I told her to rest and I'd fix her something to eat. That's when Tenten came over and we talked. After she left I just went outside for some fresh air and I guess Sakura woke up. She panicked when she didn't see or hear me and broke out into tears when I came back in…." Tsunade nodded slowly.
"So you told her to come live with you?"
"I just suggested it."
"Hm… Well how are you doing?"
"I'm ok. A little stiff from sleeping on the couch for the past month and a half but-"
"Naruto… I mean how are you feeling about Sakura being in your house." Naruto's smile faded. He sat down in one of the chairs that faced Tsunade and ran a hand through his wild, blonde hair.
"I…I didn't want to do it," He admitted quietly as he stared at the floor. "But she was so hurt and distraught and… and I didn't know what else I could do. I mean I really didn't want to be there for her or comfort her. I didn't want to have to express the feelings that I had tried so hard to pack away…" Naruto said, chuckling dryly. "But you can't always get what you want, and I being who, no, what I am don't get what I want even when I don't want it so…" Naruto said and shrugged, a slightly melancholy look evident on his face.
Tsunade frowned. She hated seeing Naruto like this. It had all started when they brought Sasuke back. At first Naruto was ecstatic, He was so glad they'd finally rescued Sasuke from the hands of Orochimaru but about a month later everything started to go bad. Sakura was treating Naruto the same way she had when she was younger and Sasuke did too. Some of the time it seemed like the two of them ganged up on him. But the thing that took away the always-happy Naruto she once knew was when he confessed his love for Sakura. He'd done so as a youngster but that was nothing but a crush, THIS was real. Naruto had laid his heart of the line. He'd given Sakura the power to break his heart and that was exactly what she did. She even had the Gaul to laugh in his face, not to mention fall in love with Sasuke all over again. After that Naruto had become the very opposite of himself. Although his new demeanor led him to become one of the head ANBU squad members, it changed him. He was more serious and less obvious with his emotions. He had turned somewhat cold and hard, but still soft with those he cared about. Tsunade had been concerned. She told Sakura about it but it didn't seem to make a difference until Sakura announced that she Sasuke were officially a couple. That news seemed to get Naruto even more down, and that is when Sakura came to him, asking for boy help without a second thought. Naruto had grin and bared it all, he smiled and said he'd do anything for a friend. Tsunade shook her head and sighed.
"Naruto don't do that to yourself. You're a good person, no matter what the villagers, or anyone else may think." She heard Naruto scoff.
"Yeah that's why I'm letting the one person who hurt me more than any of the stuff I've been through to live in my apartment." Naruto muttered, his voice taking on a small tone of hostility. He shook his head and rose before she could speak.
"Well Baa-Chan I have to get going. I said I was going to go train with Neji and the guys, and I promised Sakura I would be home before dark so I better head out…" Tsunade nodded and watched him head towards the door.
"Tell Sakura I said hello…"
"Will do."
"Oh and Naruto… I have a mission for you to do." Naruto turned around and looked at Tsunade.
"What kind?"
"Simple escort… You were requested."
"Sakura's not going to take that well…"
"Well you have a job to do." Tsunade said a slightly cold voice. "I cannot have one of my ANBU captain permanently off duty." Naruto sighed.
"When do I leave?"
"In a week."
Naruto nodded and walked out of the Hokage tower feeling more upset than when he had arrived. He hadn't wanted to bring his emotions up again because now that she was in his house, it was getting harder for him not to remember happened. Not to mention now he had to deal with a mission. Naruto took a deep breath and shook his head, heading towards the training grounds.
"Jeez Naruto, You really wanted to train today…" Lee panted as the two faced each other.
"It almost seems as if there is some steam that you needed to blow off…" Shikamaru said matter-of-factly, from his position next to Kiba. Naruto frowned at the group.
"I'm fine… I just wanted to get some real training in…" Naruto muttered. The group rolled their eyes.
"Let's take a break… We've been going all day." Neji stated as he leaned against one of the trees that lined the training grounds. Naruto sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he plopped onto the ground. He looked up at the guys.
"Spill it." Kiba said after a few minutes of silence.
"Spill what?"
"What's gotten you all bent out of shape…" Shikamaru replied.
"It's nothing… I'm just… I'm having second thoughts on whether or not Sakura living with me is a good idea…"
"Why… is she not being a good house mate?" Lee asked as he cocked his head to the side. Naruto looked at him before shaking his head.
"He means for his own personal reasons Lee." Neji specified, motioning for Naruto to continue. Naruto shrugged.
"Do you still love her?" Shino asked. Naruto stared at the ground for a few minutes before lifting his head to Shino.
"Yeah… I do, and that's what makes her living in my apartment even harder. I… I can't love her because she is tied to Sasuke but I can't just put aside my own well being for her," Naruto growled a sigh and rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't know what to do anymore…"
"Why don't you just tell her your feelings…" Lee suggested quietly. Naruto looked at him sadly.
"Lee, the last time he did that she laughed in his face…" Shikamaru said as Naruto stood. His gaze lifted to the moon above. His eyes widened slightly.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed as he quickly grabbed his jacket, throwing it on. "I told Sakura I'd be home before dark…"
"Tenten should still be there, so she's probably ok…" Neji said to reassure Naruto. Naruto nodded.
"See you guys later!" Naruto said as he ran off towards his apartment complex. Neji turned to Shikamaru, shaking his head.
"She's got him whipped…" Shikamaru nodded and sighed.
"And he doesn't even know it…"
"Sakura don't worry, I'm sure he'll be here..." Tenten said as she placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. Sakura nodded absently as she looked out the kitchen window. Tenten bit her lower lip as she looked at Sakura. She felt bad for her. The poor girl had gotten so dependent on Naruto that she even freaked out when he wasn't home.
'I'd hate to see her when he has to go on missions…' Tenten thought as she looked at the worried form of Sakura. Tenten heard a small click at the door and sighed in relief when Naruto came through the door. Sakura spun around, tears filling her eyes. She hurried over to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"You said you were going to be back before dark…" She mumbled, against his chest. Naruto rubbed her back.
"I had planned on it but me and the guys got so caught up in training I guess we lost track of time…" Naruto said softly. "I'm sorry for worrying you…" Naruto felt her nod and he pulled away, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Why don't you go make some tea while I talk to Tenten?" Sakura looked between the two before shuffling into the kitchen.
Once she was in the kitchen, Naruto turned to Tenten.
"Thank you for staying with her Tenten…" Naruto said in a soft, but relieved voice.
"Oh it's no problem Naruto," She said, waving her hand dismissively. Her smile slowly disappeared, only to be replaced by a worried look. "I hate to see her when you go away for missions."
Naruto grimaced. "I already have a mission assigned to me. I'm supposed to leave in a few days…" Tenten grimaced too. She shook her head sadly before placing a hand on Naruto's arm.
"I commend you for your kindness. It's not everyday that someone would put their own feelings aside to help another… especially if that other is the one that caused you pain…" Naruto sighed and smiled sadly.
"It's not as easy as it looks trust me…" Tenten smiled.
"Well I better be getting home, Neji is probably worried… He hates it when I walk home alone at night."
"Hey Sakura and I can walk you home." Tenten shook her head.
"No, Naruto, it's fine…"
"Hmm… Think of it as me paying my debt to you." Tenten sighed and agreed, not feeling up to arguing with the stubborn blonde.
"Sakura? We're walking Tenten home…" Naruto said into the kitchen as he walked to the hall closet to grab her and Tenten's sweater. Sakura hurried out of the kitchen and slipped on her shoes. She slipped on her sweater and the three walked out of Naruto's apartment and into the night.