Chapter 4: Together.
Naruto and Hinata had truly become a part of the community, making friends with everyone there, and one morning they looked back and realised, a year had passed since they first arrived.
"Hey Naruto... It's your 18th birthday soon, right?" Hinata asked as they walked down the street of the village, hand in hand.
"Yeah." Naruto replied.
"So... what do you want for your birthday?" she asked.
"I dunno." Naruto said, "Anything you get me, will be perfect." He added with a smile, before kissing her.
"Oh?!" Hinata said, blushing shyly.
As they continued on, people began to run passed them, frightened, and panicking.
"Hey... what's going on?" Naruto asked, as he stopped one of the people.
"We're being attacked." The man said. "Bandits!"
Naruto let the man go as he looked up ahead, and sure enough he spotted a large group of rouge Shinobi, toying, violently with those brave enough to stand up to the bandits, and breaking into buildings, looking for things to steal.
"Damn it." Naruto said angrily, "Why?! This is a peaceful place."
"Naruto... let's stop them." Hinata said, seriously, ready to fight.
Naruto looked at her, and nodded.
The largest of the bandits threw the man he had in his grip to the ground, "Pathetic." He cried, chuckling. "Now die you weak fool."
He raised his fist and as he went to smash down at the battered man on the floor, his fist was stopped, by Naruto.
"Enough." Naruto said, "Leave now."
"Or what?" the big man said, unimpressed by Naruto.
Naruto smiled, and in an instant, broke his arm, and leapt flipped back, kicking the big man in the jaw, and sending him flying backwards and to the ground.
The big guy shook of the kick, but grabbed his arm in pain, "GET THAT BASTARD!" he shouted to his men.
Hinata quickly jumped into the group and shouted "Hakkeshou Kaiten." And in almost an instant, the men around her were flying in all directions as her rotation hit them away.
The rouges were shocked, they never expected to find Shinobi in such a place, and quickly got up and charged once again at the two.
They defended easily against the group, even after all this time, their skills were still sharp, and after a few minutes, the rouges were running with their tails between their legs.
Naruto and Hinata stood for a few moments to catch their breath, and then looked at each other and laughed.
"We're still Shinobi I guess." Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah." Hinata replied, as she moved up to him and held him. "Do you… miss it?" she asked.
"I… don't know." He replied.
That day they were treated like heroes, having protected the village from the bandits, and Naruto felt great, and when the night came, he and Hinata were in his room, hugging each other as they lay on his bed.
"You haven't said much in a while." Hinata said.
"You know… today was all I ever wanted from Konoha. "He said, a little gloomy, "To protect it and be accepted."
"I know." Hinata said, "And I'm sure they would have… eventually."
"Maybe..." Naruto said, "But I know someone who I never had to impress." He smiled as he leant in and kissed Hinata.
"No. That because I love you, and always have." She said, blushing as she snuggled up to Naruto, Happily.
Back in Konoha, trouble was brewing. "Are... are you sure?" Tsunade said to the chuunin standing before her.
"It is." The chuunin said, "My team found what appeared to be the place described to us by the Akatsuki prisoner, the place where they stored the demons stolen from the Jinchuriki's."
"And the demons?" Tsunade asked.
"Gone." The chuunin replied.
"So... a surviving member of the Akatsuki is out there." Tsunade mumbled to herself. "And they have taken the demons."
Tsunade thought for a few moments about the situation. "Shizune." She eventually said, turning to her assistant.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama?" Shizune obediently replied.
"Uchiha Sasuke... he's been undergoing psychological treatment?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, as requested by many of the nobles." Shizune answered, "You have his report on your desk."
Tsunade looked at the pile of paperwork on her desk, and then looked at Shizune with a cheeky smile, which caused Shizune to sigh as she began to go through the paperwork, quickly finding the file on Sasuke, and handing it to the Hokage.
Tsunade began to read the file, "He's made a lot of progress over the past 18 months since he began treatment." She commented, "And his relationship with Sakura seems to be helping." Tsunade put the file down for a moment, "Shizune. I need to see Team Kakashi." She said.
Shizune bowed and left the office, off to summon the team.
Later that day, Tsunade had finished explaining the situation to Kakashi, Sai and Sakura.
"...and I believe Sasuke's connection to the Akatsuki, may come in useful." She finished, before turning to Sakura. "Your personal feelings aside, Sakura, Do you feel we can trust Sasuke?"
Sakura nodded a serious look on her face, "I do. He's... he's not the same anymore, He's finally let go of his anger." she said, "I think he just needs a chance to prove it."
Tsunade sat back in her chair, her fingers pressed together in front of her as she thought deeply about the decision she would make.
"Kakashi." Tsunade said, "I'm putting Sasuke in your hands. If you trust him, release him into your custody. And then investigate the whereabouts of the remaining Akatsuki."
"Of course, Hokage-sama." Kakashi said.
The next day, Sasuke walked up to the spot where he was to meet the rest of his old team, escorted by two ANBU, who were keeping a close eye on him.
Sakura and Sai were already waiting, as Sasuke approached.
"Sasuke?" Sakura cried as she saw him, she quickly approached the Uchiha, and hugged him.
Sasuke smiled a little, and hugged her back.
Kakashi arrived, a short while later, late as usual. "Hey Guys." He casually said, "Sasuke." He said, greeting his old student. "Ok... you can go now." Kakashi said to the ANBU, who a second later, disappeared.
"Looks like the old team are back together." Sasuke said. But Sakura looked down, sadly.
"Except for... Naruto." She said. She missed him, she had felt bad ever since he left, knowing it was her fault she had caused his pain, which had led to his leaving.
"Yeah." Sasuke said.
"Ahem." Kakashi coughed, "I miss him too, but we should focus on the task at hand."
Everyone looked at Kakashi and nodded.
Back at the village, Naruto and Hinata were working hard. Ever since the attack though, Naruto had become increasingly uncomfortable, staying in the village, and Hinata could see it.
"What's wrong?" she asked one night, as they ate dinner together.
"Nothing." Naruto said, quietly.
"Something's bothering you. I can see it." Hinata said, concerned/
"Hinata... I thought this place could finally give me some peace." Naruto said, "But... ever since the attack by those bandits... I've lost that sense of peace."
"Naruto-kun." She said placing her hand on his. "Look at me."
Naruto turned his head to face Hinata, and looked at her smiling face, "This village has been good to us over the past year, but I want you to be happy. If you feel we can't stay... I'll be with you."
Naruto smiled, and leant in to kiss Hinata. "Thank you." Naruto said, kissing Hinata again.
Over the next few days, they told their friends in the village of their plans to leave, and when the day came, the whole village came out to say their final farewells.
The old couple who owned the inn gave a teary farewell to Hinata and Naruto, who had acted as surrogate grandchildren to them, making them happy.
Hinata began to cry a little as she and Naruto walked away from the village, the emotional farewell had left her happy, but sad to be leaving such a nice life.
Naruto turned to her, sadly. "I'm... sorry Hinata." Naruto said, "I didn't know this would be so hard for you."
"It's ok." Hinata said, smiling and grabbing onto Naruto's arm, wiping away the tears with her free hand, as they walked. "I'll be fine. Saying goodbye was just a little hard."
It wasn't long before they fell into the old routine of stopping and finding part-time work at any place they stopped, and then moving on.
At night, they slept side by side next to the campfire, sometimes falling asleep as they looked into each other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Team Kakashi had spent the past few weeks exploring some of the old Akatsuki hideouts, looking for clues as to who had survived and where they were.
Sasuke had played his part well, perhaps just happy to be out of prison, or with Sakura, or just a part of a team, Kakashi couldn't decide, but he continued to keep an eye on him none-the-less. If Sasuke proved he was trustworthy, he could permanently return to the leaf village.
Sakura slid closer to Sasuke as they sat down to rest. She blushed a little, as she placed her hand on his, and held it, as did Sasuke.
Sasuke looked over at Sakura, "Sakura." He said.
"Y-yes. Sasuke." She muttered.
"I have a question." He said, "When I left the village, if... If I hadn't have stopped you. Would you really have come with me?"
"Yes." Sakura said, without hesitation. "I would have stayed with you, no matter what." She turned and blushed, shyly.
Sasuke smiled. "I thought you would have." He said.
"And I would have knocked that bitch Karin out, every time she came near you." She said, sounding jealous.
"Nothing really happened between us, y'know." Sasuke said, "She usually just flirted a lot."
Sasuke leant in and placed his forehead against Sakura's, "Besides... I don't think you need to be jealous." He said, with a small smile.
Sakura was unsure of how to take that, did he mean what she hoped he meant?