Naruto pulls the covers over a now sleeping Shiro, he had fallen asleep soon after they began the walk to Sakura's place. He smiles down at the down before leaving the room quietly shutting the door behind him. He walks into the living room where Sakura was sitting on the couch and two cups a tea were waiting on he small table. He takes a seat next to Sakura "Thanks for this, im sorry for the trouble" he picks up his cup and takes a sip. Sakura nods her head "Its no problem, I cant exactly let you keep Shiro in a hotel now can I" she sets back in her seat and looks at Naruto his elbows were rested on his knee's a serious but calm expression on his face. 'He seemed alot more grown up then before, that distant look in his eyes, its not one ive seen' Sakura sighs trying to think of what to say. "Naru..." "Sakura im sorry" Sakura got a confused look on her face, why was he appologizing. "What for? You didnt do anything" Naruto just nodded his head. He places the cup down on the table and then rests his chin on his joined hands. "Yea I did, I did something terrible to you and im sorry" Sakura stayed quite for a moment. This wasnt the Naruto she remembered, the one who was rarely serious, always smiling, the one who was strong and determined. This Naruto seemed distant and serious, there was no prevailing emotion in his eyes.
The two sat there for a few minutes in silence, Sakura unsure what to say, Naruto lost in his thoughts. "Naruto, why did you apologize, if its for the room its no bother at all, I dont mind really" Naruto shook his head "No its not that" his voice was still "Then what is it" Naruto sighed then looked at her, he then stood from the couch "Im sorry because I broke my promise to you" his fist clentched. Naruto walks over to the door. "Ill be back later, I need to collect a few things" with that he left, a confused Sakura sitting on the couch. 'So thats what it was about, but he had already apologized' Sakura's eyes closed remembering the day the war ended.
(Flashback)
Naruto walked toward the Konoha medical tent, in his arms lay Sasuke covered in blood that was slowly being washed away by the rain. Tsunade and Sakura came running out to meet him, as Sakura say Sasukes limb body she froze, tears starting to run down her cheeks, she fell to her knees, the wet and trambled mud splashed around her. Tsunade stop infront of Naruto who seemed next to life-less himself, not physically, but there was no life in his eyes, he didnt say a word, he just handed Tsunade Sasukes body then walked into the text city. "Wait Naruto, what happened" Tsunade yelled after him but to no avail, he didnt turn back, he just kept walking. Tsunade looked down at the Uchiha who lay dead in her arms. 'What happened out there between you two'.
-Ten minutes later-
Tsunade and Sakura stood over Sasuke's body, FukaSaku at Tsunades feet, he had come to check on Naruto but the young blond refused to leave his tent. "Lord Fukasaku, what exactly happened out there" Tsunade ask his voice calm or as calm as she could get it at least. The toad sighed and jumpped onto the small bedside table which until then only help a lantered. "We found this boy waiting for Naruto-chan in what used to be the land of whirlpools. Soon after we arrived a fought insued, Naruto-chan kept speacking to this boy trying to convince him to return to Konoha, he had something about a man named Itachi's wish" Sakura's eyes grew wide at the sound of Itachi's name. "I have never seen Naruto-Chan fight so violently before, he went after the boy with full force. And even though I had never seen such power come from Naruto-chan I senced no killing intent." Sakura listened quietly to Fukasuka's words as she looked at Sasuke. "In the end much like his father and Jiraiya-chan, Naruto found there was no choice left, though I dont believe he intended to survive, how he did so is far beyound my understanding"
Sakura's eyes opened wide at the last statement. Though she knew there was a chance that Naruto could die, it hadnt set in till just now that it could be a choice. Sakura excused herself from the tent and walked down the mud path, 'He could have died, he risked his life to end this war, he defeated Madara, prevented thousands of death, and all I did was cry over Sasuke. What was I thinking' she found herself infront of Naruto's tent "Naruto, can I, um, can I come in" her voice was shakey. She heared no responce. "Naruto" He pushed open the door to find Naruto sleeping, of course he was tired, how could he not be. She walked over to him and shook her head "You shouldnt sleep in wet clothes your get sick" She unzips his jacket slowly as he not wake him, as she lefted his undershirt off of him her eyes grew wide, her body began to tremble, where on his cheast, close to his head, was a large patch of scared fleash, she placed her hand ontop of it, the green glow of her chakra soon filled the room. 'What is this scar from? He didnt have it before, I saw him right after he faced Madara and it wasnt here, that means it must be from his fight with Sasuke, but how, it shouldnt scar over to quickly' A groan soon hit Sakura's ears. She looked down to see deep blue eyes looking up at her. They quickly left her gaze though. "Naruto" "Sakura im sorry, I couldnt keep my promise" Naruto raised from the bed and kneeled down infront of her his head down "Im sorry I killed Sasuke and couldnt bring him home, im sorry I came back without him" his voice was shakey and Sakura just stood there in shock. "Im so sorry Sakura, I intended to either live or die with him, and it turned out like this" Sakura wanted to tell him she was just happy he was alive, she wanted to comfort him to tell him it was ok because atleast he was home. But she couldnt, she opened her mouth but the words wouldnt come out. Naruto grabbed his jacket and left the tent, that was the last time Sakura saw Naruto.
(End Flashback)
'Naruto' Sakura stood from her seat and took the two now empty cups into the kitchen, wuickly washing them and placing them back in the cabnet. She walked down the hall stopped infront of the room Shiro slept in. She opens the door and peeks in to see a soundly sleeping Shiro, she couldnt help but giggle a little, he slept the same way Naruto did, mouth wide open and limbs sprawled out everywhere. She closes the door and makes her way back into the living room thinking about what to make for dinner.
