Naruto woke up gleaming from yet another dream about his beloved Sakura-chan. Last night was certainly a very pleasant one untill of course he was punched across the village by Sakura. He recalled the look on her face when he offered her his hand while leaving the the diner. Once again the boyish grin returning to his face, he thought.. "Oi kurama, waht do you thing, should i ask her out yet?"
"Doesn't matter, because if you don't, she certainly will. But thats not the important matter right now. I've found the Yonbi and the Niibi."
Sakura was up and was getting ready for her day ahead, albeit her thoughts were still on Naruto.
'Maybe i'll ask him out for lunch, but we do that all the time' she was still fighting with the voices inside her head. 'Oh god! this is Naruto, he'll never take me seriously, last time i tried somthing with him i got an "i don't like people lying to themselves", but its not like that, i really really like him.' she sighed as she closed her front door and left for the Nmikaze mansion. She kept thinking about ways to approach Naruto along the whole way when she finally gave up and thought,
'To hell with this, I'll just ask him to train with me and the right moment arrives i'll just k..' She was reaching for the door, when suddenly it swung open and she was almost knocked over by a very frenzy Naruto, and thus forcing her out of her thoughts.
"Naruto" she gasped as he somehow managed to stop running over her and stood only an inch from her face. Seeing him this close and feeling his warm breadths on her face, a jolt ran through Sakura's spine. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly and she barely managed to stay still. Unable to take her eyes of of his deep piercing blue eyes, she decided not to torture herself to death by interpreting this feelings as just being freindly ones. 'This is certainly more then just being freinds' she thought looking intently into those deep blue eyes. Just like everyone else the Head Medic Nin of Konoha has fallen for their mighty Hokage.
As much as Naruto wanted to keep looking into those emerald green eyes without even blinking his eyes, he knew that now was not the right time.
He pushed aside his carnal desires and returned to his full on Hokage mode, he spoke.
"Sakura-chan, what a plesant surprise." He took a step back as he continued. "I was about to send for you anyway"
"Me? What for Naruto?" she asked with a weak and sensual voice as she was still under the spell of those bright blue eyes.
"Kurama has pinpointed the location of Yonbi and Niibi." Naruto said it with a slow yet firm voice as he figured the state sakura was in.
"What?" Sakura snapped back into reality on hearing the news.
"Yes, I want you to inform everyone, I'm heading into the office, I'll notify Baa-chan."
"Hai" Sakura was listening with full attention now.
"I want everyone in my office, in an hour. I'll let everyone know the details there. I have to hurry and confirm something"
"Allright Naruto, I'll get going then. See you in hour." She waved at him as she hurried back. Naruto nodded as he took off towards the Hokage mansion.
Everyone was waiting for the Hokage at the conference room, along with Neji. Naruto stated the presence of both of his Commander in Chiefs this time.
Suddenly the door swung open and a very furious Naruto stormed in. Everyone was surprised at the sight, even the stioc looks on the faces of Neji and Sasuke was dispersed for a moment.
"Damn that Kabuto."Naruto growled as banged his hands on the desk.
"Naruto-kun, What is bothering you?" Itachi asked, after a few silence and confusing moments as calmly as ever.
"Kabuto has figured the only loophole on the seal placed on the bests as of now." Naruto sighed with a deep frown in his face.
"WHAAAT"? Everyone gasped as they learned what exactly had happened.
"Yes, and last night two bijuu-dama went off in the land of forest and the land of rice. And thats why, Kurama was able to pinpoint their location much sooner then we anticipated."
Everyboby was exchanging glances in utter disbilief.
"And thats not all." Everyone turned to Naruto, fearing what catastrophe would he drop nest.
"Uchiha Madara has finally returned to his original form and is already manipulating the two bijuus." Naruto spoke with clenched fists and grinding teeth.
Suddenly there was a terrible shift in the atmosphere in the air of the conference room. Tensionas rising in the air, as everyone tried to dissolve the massive blow that they have received.
Tsunade was the first one to speak up.
"We need to take measures now, before things get out of hand really bad." Tsunade had a very worried face and a tensed voice.
"Yes, and thus, this meeting."Naruto spat, still furious. He looked toward Shikamaru, the head stratagist.
"Shikamaru, what do you have to say?" Naruto asked slowly trying to regain his cool.
The Nara sighed as he stood up and finally spoke.
"If he already has two of them, we should temporarily seal the other five of them." He took a pause before speaking again. "Naruto will they agree to that?"
"Yes, they will."
"Then we have to alert Raikage-sama so that B-sama is secured." Everyone nodded in approval.
"In the meantime Naruto can finish the seal."
"This should be our basic strategy." Shikamaru said and sat down.
"Yes, this is the basic strategy, but what if Madara decides to attack with the two Bijuus that he already holds in control" Neji stated.
"Naruto, how long will you take to finish the new seal?" Sakura asked with a deep concern in her voice
"Three or four days, tops."
"Well, we certainly cannot leave them alone for that long" It was Kakashi.
"Oi, dobe I have a plan." Everyone turned towards Sasuke as he spoke after a few minutes of silence.
"Go ahead, speak" Naruto replied, impassive.
Sasuke leaned forward as every eye in the room was locked on him wondering what the young Uchiha had in mind.
"Deploy two teams, 4-man-cell each to those location. Strong shinobies that can hold their ground untill you finish that seal or whatever. And once you are done, you can show up and place that seal on them." Sasuke said and leaned back with a slight grin as if he was satisfied with himself.
'Typical sasuke' Sakura thought to herself and smiled on his gesture.
"Its troublesome but i have thought about that." shikamaru spoke up.
"What do you mean, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, even if were to send our best shinobi, considering the best ones amd their abilities, they will be able to hold for a maximum of 2 days, that too if we are just talking about keeping them occupied and not engaging in any kind of battle. And even if we send the teams today, Naruto will take a day more to finish the seal after the teams have made contact. Considering his speed, if he even makes it to the teams in a day, he will make it to just one of the team, and then the other team will be in a major disadvantage. That is unless he can create a Kage-bunshi, but I don't think that a seal of that level can be placed by a mere Bunshin. In worst case scenario it'll be like givin away four of Konoha's best shinobi in a silver platter. This Strategy is useles untill Naruto can move around both the location in the blink of an eye." Shikamaru himself was disappointed after his own analyzation.
Everyone else sighed in disappointed knowing that the genius bastard never lets anything go unnoticed.
The last sentence though sparked a light in Naruto's mind.
'Two locations in the blink of an eye.'He thought to himself, and suddenly a deep grin broke across his face. He jumped up and looked towards Sasuke pointing a finger at him,
"Oi, teme. How did you know about it"? he asked incredulously with a curious grin.
"What? I am responsible for the elite group of your personal guards." Sasuke replied with a cool smirk on his face.
Everyone sat clueless in the room, exchanging galnces trying to figure out, what exactly were these two were talking about.
"Both of you, care to tell us what exactly are you two are talking about? There are others present here as well." Sakura finally spoke up with a slightly impatient voice.
"Well, we both know that my plan can work." Sakuse replied impassive wihtout looking at her.
"How is that? Shikamaru clearly told you, that its not possible unless..." Sakura was interrupted by Naruto before she could finish.
"I'll show you how" Naruto said and alomst at he same time drew out a kunai from his sleeve and hurled it straight towards Sasuke.
Everyone was starring at the both of them, eyes and mouths wide open due to the events that transpired in front of their eyes just a few seconds ago. Everything happened at lighting speed. One moment Naruto hurled a kunai straight towards Sasuke's head and the next moment Naruto was crouched on the desk in front of Sasuke, holding the same kunai merely an inch away his temple. Everyone was still tranfixed by the display put on by their mighty Hokage when finally Sasuke broke the silence.
"Hn, showoff" He said it with a grunt.
Kakashi and Itachi were the first to realized, what had happened. Itachi finally nodded in appreciation and Kakashi still unable to belive what he just saw, spoke up.
"Naruto, when the hell did you...?" and he let his voice trail off.
"Hai, the second ninjutsu created by the late Yondaime Hokage, my father" He took a deep breadth as he got down from the table and stood up.
"We know it as the Hiraishin-no-jutsu" He replied proudly.
"why didn't you tell anyone about it?" a proud yet bewildered Tsunade asked.
"Well, shizune saw me once, but i told her not to mention it to anybody as i havn't perfected it completely."
"What do you mean, by perfectly?" Sakura still unable to belive that a dunce like naruto can actually pull of an S-rank ninjutsu likr that on his own. She has read about the Late Yondaime's Hiraishin-no-jutsu at the Konoha Central Library.
"Well, from as mother told me, father was able to fly off with Kurama when it attacked Konoha, but so far I am unable to do it with something that large." Naruto replied, walking back to his seat across the room.
"Well, this is a pain, but lets decide the teams now." Shikamaru said leaning back on his chair.
'Minato, Kushina you gave us a fine boy' Tsunade thought to herself as a tickle of tear ran down her cheeks and she quickly wiped it away.
Sakura was still transfixed at the display made by her recently acknowledge crush. Tsunde saw her and smiled.
"Itachi-san and Kakashi-sensei, I'm putting both of you as the captains of both the respective teams." Naruto picked up his Kage hat and started towards the door, as he kept speaking. "Feel free to select any shinobi you want. I'll go and start working on the seal. The meeting is hereby adjourned" and he left the room.
That afternoon..
Naruto along with Tsunade and shikamaru were in the main gate as both the teams were about to leave for their respetive destination pinpointed by the Kyuubi.
"Ok, I want to go through all the details once again." Shikamaru spoke up.
"Team Kakashi, consisting Haruno Sakura, Hyuuga Neji, Sai, and captain Hatake Kakashi is to travel to the Land of forest and engage with the Niibi. And Team Itachi, consisting of Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Karin, Sarutobi Konohamaru and the captain, Uchiha Itachi is to travel to the land of rice and engage with the Yonbi. Now remember, you are not supposed to do anything drastic, but just keep them occupied untill Holage-Sama here finishes the seal and places it on them, both the team has the Kunai marked with Hokage-Sama's Hiraishin-no jutsu's formula, so once he is finished, he'll be there within a second. But if anything goes worng before that, Sakura will notify Tsunade-Sama using Katsuyu whereas Konohamaru will notify Hokage-sama using one of the toads. And if any of you have the opportunity, you will take down Kabuto and Madara for good. Is everything clear."
"Hai." All of them said in unision.
"Hokage-Sama?" Shikamaru said and stepped aside.
"Hai, I wish good luck to all of you. Follow your captain and don't let the people of Konoha down. I hereby announce the commencement of your mission." Naruto spoke with great pride and authority.
"Hokage-Sama. We won't let you down." Itachi and Kakashi said and thay headed out in different directions.
"Oi, Naruto, are you really sure about letting Konohamaru go in this risky misson?" Tsunade asked Naruto as they were heading back from the village main gate.
"Yes, he is your pricious protege after all." Shikamaru added.
"Naah, both of you need to stop worrying about him, I already taught him the Sage Mode, he is as strong as I was, when I went off against Pain."
Naruto replied with his boyish grin as he dashed towards the Hokage mansion.
"Geez, he is still as reckless as ever." Shikamru replied with a facepalm.
Tsunade smiled as the Young Hokage jumpped from roof to roof on his way towards the his office.
Since both the locations were almost same distant from Konoha, both the teams had reached their respective places after one and a half days.
Kakashi summoned his ninja hounds and asked them to do a proper survey of the terrain. Meanwhile Itachi asked Karin to keep an eye on unfamiliar chakra presence and asked Sasuke to do an air survellience using his hawk summon.
Both teams began their scouts for the tailed beasts.
"Pakkun, Have you found something?" Kakashi asked as he saw Pakkun running towards him.
"It... It was a 'pant' close call 'pant'" Pakkun was trying to cath his breadth as he reached Kakashi.
"What is it?, Tell us?" Sakura came down from her lookout point fron the top of a tree.
"Ask Neji to activate his Byakugan towards 10 o' clock. That should explain everything" Pakkun exclaimed still trying to catch his breadth.
"Neji?" Kakashi gestured Neji to do so.
"Hai, Byakugan." The stioc face turned stern as he focused towards the mentioned course.
"This is it, we have located the Niibi." he declared.
"I'll do an air survellience" Sai said as he pulled out his scroll and did a Chouju-giga drawing out a large eagle and flew up.
"Ok. Sakura, Naruto gave you the scroll with Kushina-sama's barrier ninjutsu, right?"
"Hai, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura replied.
"Well, then get ready, as soon as Sai returns, well put up the barrier aroud the Niibi and notify Naruto." Kakashi said as he dispersed his summonings.
"And Sakura, be ready to summon Katsuyu before hand, i we fail putting up the barrier, we'll need to notify Hokage-sama immidiately." Neji spoke still focussed on the Niibi.
"I'm already on it." She Bit her thumb, did a few handsings and slammed her palm on the ground, and shouted "Kuchiyose-no-jutsu"
Naruto let out o deep sigh as he has finally finished the seal. It had been roughly 18 hours since Team Kakashi had finally restrained the Niibi. It has been a good idea from Kurama to bind the tailed beast using his mother's Barrier Ninjutsu. Meanwhile Itachi's team was yet to locate their beast. 'Yosh, there's no time to slack. We'll go and help team Itachi as soon as I'm done placing the seal on Matabi.' Naruto thought to himself.
"Shizune?" he called out.
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"Go and ask Tsunade-obaa-chan to take over the office till I return. I've finished the seal, I'll be leaving for the Land of forest immidiately."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
There has been no outside hindrance from neither Kabuto or Madara, due to which they were able to restrain the Niibi without much problem, but it was still a very doubtfull coincidence. Things were progressing too smoothly to be true. Kakashi couldn't help but think that this was somekind of a trap.
'I have a bad feeling about this. I hope Naruto is here soon, Team Itachi may be in somekind of trouble.' he thought to himself. And just at that moment, The Young Rokudaime was standing before him, his back turned towards them, appearing out of nowhere. His golden blonde hair bright as the sun were swaying with the wind. His Hokage Jacket fluttering behind him, reverbrating power and authority. It was a sight to behold.
'Damn, where the hell were my eyes for the last 20 years.' Sakura thought to herself while admiring the view, the butterflies in her stomach,
tickling sensation in her spine... 'Now's not the time to be drooling over a boy, Sakura' her inner voice remimded her and she snapped back from her daydreamimg.
"Now where the hell, is Matabi, that damm cat's gonna get it from me. Being influenced so easily." Naruto said as he turned to look at Team Kakashi with a subtle smile on his lips.
Sasuke, returned from yet another survellience.
"Got anything?" Itachi inquired, adjusting his specs.
"Nothing yet." Sasuke replied frustrated.
"Itachi-sama, Sasuke.." Karin called out from a distance waving towards them.
"What is it, Karin?" Itachi asked as they reached her.
"Konohamaru is sensing some strange chakra." Karin replied showing them towards the young jounin who was still standing on a branch high up on the tree right beside them, He had a very worried look on his face.
"Konohamaru-kun, do you feel something?" Itachi called out drawing his attention.
"Oh, Itachi-sama." He jumped down and landed slenderly in front of them. It was then Itachi and Sasuke both noticed that Konohamru had activated sage mode.
"I was just about to come and get you, I have been feeling this unfamil... OH SHIT" Konohamaru was interrupted by a huge puff of smoke going a few hundred metres from them and alomost immidiately followed by a ferocious wind. iy was just like when Naruto summoned the Kyuubi. All of them jumped high to avoid the wind and thats when they saw a ferocious Yonbi, charging towards them in a terrible speed. as soon as they landed, the Yonbi shot out a bijuu-dama towards them. The balst came at an incredible speed annihilating everyhing on its way. Sasuke realizing that ehy cannot dodge it pulled Karin into a tight embrace and crouched on the ground immidiately activating a full formed Susanoo around him, Itachi almost at the same time pulled Konoharmaru and jumped right in front of Sasuke's susanoo, forming his won susanoo wich held out the yata mirror to nullify the bijuu dama.
While Itachi was sheilding them from succesive bijuu-damas, three figures emerged from the ground in front of Sasuke. Sasuke realizing this stood up, did a the handseals and shouted "AMATERASU" and looked straight towards them and thus causing them to burndown instantly to the ground.
Itachi drew out the Sword of Totsuka, to seal away the menacing bijuu advancing towards them at inhuman speed, but it was already too late. The Yonbi was towering right over them and it was about to crush them below his feet. Itachi held out the yata mirror with his full chakra and energy, but he knew that it was too late, it will not be able to hold an attack of such magnitude. 'Sorry Naruto, I wasn't able to keep my promise to you.' Itachi thought as he pushed konohamaru away from him and stood up, as if ready to face his death head on. Suddenly there was a white flash of light in front of him, followed by a very familiar shout.
"Damn monkey, eat this. Fuuton-Rasenshuriken-rengan." Itachi saw their Hokage standing in front of him as he held 5 mini rasen-shuriken on the fingertips of his palm. Naruto jumped up at lightening speed and thrust his palm in the Yonbi's chest just beforr he was able to crush Itachi and sent him flying backwards. He, followed the fying monkey and placed his palm on his chest, placing the seal before letting it go and landing right beside Itachi. He turned back and was infuriated with a deep rage when he saw an unconcious Konohamaru and Sasuke, while Karin was being held by Kabuto.
"Let m..me g.. g.. go?" Karin was trying to struggle out of Kabuto's grasp when he spoke.
"Oh boy, I seriously didn't expect things to get his intense. Wow, Naruto-kun, that was pretty impressive display out there, but i don't think you are fast enough to stop me from killing this woman now, are you?" Kabuto said with a snickering laugh as he was nearly 50 metres away from Naruto and Itachi.
"Sure i am." Naruto said and before kabuto could blink his eyes, Naruto was standing right behind him, holding him by his neck with his one hand and the arm with kunai with his other.
"In th.. that c.. ca.. case.." Kabuto was chocking under the grip of Naruto. but there was still the evil snicker in his face. Suddenly Kabuto's true form cameout bursting from his mouth and bit Karin in her neck, who was still under the firm grip of Kabuto's other arm. And almost immidiately like a snake, he was running away. Itachi saw this and a deep anger burst inside him.
Naruto was trying to hold Karin as she fell to the ground, Itachi saw this and was after Kabuto in no time. He stepped on the tail of Kabuto, as his true form was one like that of a snake. Kabuto struggled to get out, but could not. He looked in horror, and began wailing like a little bitch.
"Not today, you sick motherfucker." Itachi said with disgust as he rammed a Kunai, straight through his skull instantly killing him. Itachi, rushed back to see if Konohamru and Sasuke was allright. Seems like they were fine and were just knocked out with a blow behind their heads. He turned to look towards Naruto. Naruto had a very worried look on his face as Karin lay on his lap.
"Naruto-kun?" Itachi said as he walked upto him.
Naruto looked up. "I let Kurama feel her pulse, it is very weak. My Kage-bunshin will take her to Tsunade-obaa-chan righaway. Team Kakashi is on their way here right now"
"Hai." Itachi said with a look of anguish and defeat on his face.
"Don't worry Itachi-san, She'll be fine. And you did very well sheilding everyone against those bijuu-damas. Nothing less from the best Uchiha."
Naruto said and looked towards Itachi with a grin and a hint of acknowledgement.
"Arigatto, Naruto-kun, but what about the Yonbi?" Itachi asked as he forced a smile into his face.
"Yeah, Niibi, already told me everything, I'll go and disperse Yonbi to his realm. He too needs to heal. Those Rasenshurikens were small but deadly no matter what." Naruto said as he created a Kage-Bunshin.
"I want to you to take her to Baa-chan right away." He said as he placed Karin in the bunshin's arms. The bunshin nodded and flew away using the Hiraishin-no-jutsu.
"I'll give you all the details, once when we are in konoha. Its pretty disturbing." Naruto spoke as he walked towards the unconcious Yonbi.
"And moreover, they are here." Itachi turned back to see a huge toad land a few feet away from them creating a large crater. Team Kakashi got down and was dumbfounded looking at the destruction in front of them.
"What the hell happened in here adn where is Karin?" Kakashi asked turning towards Itachi.
Itachi let out a sigh, "I'll give you the details, but first i need Sakura to take a look at these two."
"Hai." Sakura said and immidiately got into work. she turned around to look for Naruto, but he was nowhere to be seen. She too then wondered the same thing. 'What in the world made a mess like this?'
Evryine reached the village safely. They were greeted in the main gate by Naruto, Shizune and Shikamaru. Naruto of course using his Hiraishin-no-jutsu reached way earlier then the rest. He looked at Sasuke and let out a sad sigh. Sasuke, realising that something was wrong raced towards the hospital without a word to anyone.
"Sakura-san, Tsunade-sama requested your presence at the Hospital immidiately upon your return." Shizune said with a worried face.
"Its about Uchiha Karin. She is in extremely critical condition..." Sakura wasn't listening anymore, she was already on her way to the hospital as fast as her legs could carry her. Shizune walked towards Kakashi and held his hands.
"I think you should go for a check up too." She told him with a wife like concern in her face.
"Don't worry dear. I'm fine. Moreover we need you to arrange a meeting immidaitely with all the head officials. We have some disturbing news."
"Yes, its already been fixed. We were waiting for your arrival." Shizune stated still concerned about Kakashi's safety.
"Well, then I'll be heading towards home now. Need to get some of these tension off my shoulders before the meeting." Kakashi bowed to Naruto and left the group.
"Shizune, you should take a leave and tend to Kakshi-sensei." Naruto said turning towards Shizune.
"But Hokage-sama.." Naruto cut her in before she could continue.
"Don't worry, I think I can manage without you for a day." Naruto saying with a reassuring smile on his face. Shizune nodded and left after Kakashi.
"Itachi-san, I know that you are already aware but don't let anyone know about it untill the meeting." Naruto told Itachi as they were walking beside each other after he asked Neji and Konohamaru to go for a check up in the Hospital.
"Yes, I know." Itachi said without any reaction in his face. Naruto tried to figure out what was going through his mind.
"Ok then, I'll see you in the meeting."
Later in the meeting.
"Its Madara." Naruto said as he was seated with all the top officials of the village leaving out Sasuke and Sakura. Sakura was still treating Karin while Sasuke refused to leave her side under any circumstances.
"Just as I expected." Tsunade said with a deeply concerned voice. "So, what are his intentions?" She asked.
"He knew about our strengths already. He knew exactly the teams that we would send. In other words it was a trap." Naruto spoke as he looked at utter disbelief drawing in the faces of everyone. How can be blame them, he himself was dumbfounded when he came to know about Madara's true intention from Matabi.
"Are you sure about that?" Shikamaru asked with a puzzle and a look of disbelief in his face.
"Affirmative." Naruto replied. "I got this intel straight from the Niibi."
"Then what are his real plans?" Neji cut in with a frown.
"The same as it was 6 years ago. Eye on the Moon plan." Itachi carried with a straight face. "Except that this time he wanted someone else as the jinchuuriki of the Juubi."
"And that someone else would be Naruto?" Shikamaru questioned uneasily.
"No, that would be the wife of my brother, Uchiha Karin."
"WHAT?" everyone sputterd almost at he same time.
"Yes, she comes from the Uzumaki caln, so its clear, Why he wanted her?" Naruto replied with a worried sigh.
"But we still don't know why, he needs someone else to be the Jinchuuriki of the Juubi." Itachi exclaimed, as murmurs and whispers started around the room.
"But, are the tailed beasts secure now?" Kakashi asked, ignoring all the murmurs and whispers.
"Yes, they are absolutely secure now. And Madara won't be able to do anything untill i have that seal on them." Naruto said with confidence.
"So, what will be our next step?" Kiba asked, representing the Inuzuka caln.
"I've already notified the other Kages. We are sending a team of anbu from each village for some reconnaissance around the entire five nations.
and thus bringing us to the second matter at hand. Kakashi-sensei, I want you and Yamato-Thaicho to pick the five of the best Anbu we prefer for recon missions. And Kiba, I want someone from the Inuzuka who knows the fire country to its every nook and corner." Kakshi, Yamato and Kiba agreed to Naruto's orders.
"This matter will be classifeid as top secret untill we have any further intel. And till then Uchiha Karin is to be kept under close supervision. I've already sent two Anbus to the Hospital. They will update Haruno Sakura about the meeting and keep an eye on Uchiha Karin. Naruto said as he concluded the meeting.
Naruto left the room, when Tsunade, came up and placed her hand on his shoulders. He looked really preoccupied and lost. He must be troubled with Karin's situation, Tsunade thought and tried to cheer him up a little bit. "Where is the Rokudaime Hokage that I know of?" she asked with a grin.
Naruto turned to look at her and forced a smile to his lips. "I'm fine baa-chan. You don't have to do that."
"You know Naruto, Jiraiya and Minato were just like you, even my grandfather. If even a single shinobi had a scratch from a mission under their command, they would torture themselves to death." Tsunade said withdrawing her hand from his shoulders. "But you should know that, its a great honour for a shinobi to die for his people. Especially for his Hokage. You don't have to burden yourself boy. Just be yourself, and when the time comes, kill that sonofabitch Madara." Tsunade's voice had a certainty and had brought a genuine smile onto the face of the Young Hokage.
"Hai, Tsunade-obaa-chan." Naruto replied calmly yet a bit more cheerfully then before.
"So, where are you going now?"
"To check on Karin and Sakura-chan" Naruto replied while heading for the door. Tsunade stood with crossed arm, as she looked at the young Hokage with a sublte smile on her face. 'I hope you find peace soon my boy. I really do.' She thought as Naruto exited the building.
"Umm, I am really sorry Hokage-Sama, but Sakura-Sama has already left the premises." The receptionist replied with a wide grin and sparkling eyes as she was surprised by the sudden appearance of their handsome and single Hokage at this odd hour.
Naruto thanked the receprtionist and walked past Karin's room. All of the interns present there stood up straight on his arrival. Naruto nodded in approval and asked about Karin's condition. One of them said that she was out of harm's way now. She'll be kept under observation for a few more days before being discharged. Naruto let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He turned to the two Anbus stationed outside her room. He excahnged a few words with them before leaving the building. Naruto concluded that Sakura might have been tired as she came over to the hospital directly from her mission and thats why left early. He decided to grab a snack at the same 24 7 diner where sakura had taken him the previous week.
Sakura... An hour ago.
Sakura, was getting ready to leave the hospital when she saw the two Anbu appear in her office. They told her that they were there on Hokage's orders. When asked why, they told her everything that had transpired in the meeting that she wasn't able to attend but instead asked Tsunade on her behalf. She nodded and updated them on Karin's condition before leaving for her house. She wanted to go and talk to Naruto herself, but she didn't have the energy to do so. 'I'll ask him the complete details tomorrow.' She thought to herself when a familiar voice called out her name.
"Sakura. Can i talk to you for a moment." It was sasuke. He had a distraught look on his face, shoulders stiff, and touchingly vulnerable. She couldn't help but feel his agony and displeasure. 'He needs a freind right now, and thats the least i can do for him' she thought to herself.
"Sure Sasuke. Come lets go and grab something to eat." Sakura replied forcing a smile into her tired face.
They sat there with two cups of tea and silence. Sakura was feeling uneasy and decided to break the silence.
"You kn.." She was cut in before she could complete.
"I was my fault." Sasuke said with a heavy voice.
"Sasuke..." She let her voice trail off, as she didn't know what to say anymore.
"The plan was mine, her being involved was my idea too." Sasuke carried on with a very hoarse voice.
"Its not like that Sasuke" Sakura tried to console him. For the past 21 years she had never seen Sasuke so unsecured as she did now.
"All the decisions I make, end up hurting people I care. I was so so so stupid, and when I think that I'm finally past that point. I put another one of my precious person in danger." Sasuke was silently crying now. Sakura could make out his sobs. "I'm really sorry for treating you the way I did when we were young." Sasuke asid unable to control his sobs now. He looked down while wiping his tears away. Sakura melt at the sight of Sasuke being so prone. she just wanted to guard him at that moment, protect him at any cost. She wanted to console him like Naruto consoled her, when the person sitting in front of her had left her on that night 10 years ago. Almost in reflex, she reached out and held his face in her palms. She pulled his face up gently to face her. She wiped his tears away with her thumbs while still holding his face in her palms. She really pitied him at that moment. She felt like a mother who was trying to console her child, saying it would be alright.
It was then when it suddenly happened. Sasuke looked into her emerald green eyes and almost instinctively leaned in to kiss her on the lips.
Sakura was completely taken aback. She was too confused to do anything but to kiss him back. And after a few very confusing and baffeled moments, when she realized what they were doing, she pulled back almost the same time Sasuke did. They both looked perplexed at each other.
"I'm really sorry Sakura, I did not mean that." Sasuke almost stammered as he realized the gravity of the situation. He truly loved Karin and would never betray her. If anything that kiss just made him realized that he just cannot simply lose Karin, no matter what.
Sakura was almost as perplexed as he was if not more. She hurriedly tucked her hair and stood up. "Its ok Sasuke, I know neither of us meant whatever just transpired between us." She replied calmly as her senses were coming back to normal. If anything that kiss just erased any more hidden feelings she might have held for the Uchiha. She was finally and completely over him. 'Its just you now, Naruto' she offered her hand to Sasuke.
"Come, lets get going. Its getting late." Sakura said.
Sasuke held her hand and stood up. "Yes, come I'll walk you home".
In the streets while they were walking back to Sakura's home. Sasuke said softly.
"I'm really sorry Sakura, I did not mean for that to happen, though I'm really glad that we kissed."
Sakura smiled as she looked at Sasuke's face and understood exactly what he meant.
"I glad that it happened too Sasuke, now I really know what my heart wants." She leaned in and gave him a peck on his cheek. Both were so lost in their own emotions that they failed to notice a cetain someone had been trailing them since they had left the diner. The Young Rokudaime Hokage was stading at the roof across the street as he heard their conversation and watched them walk away, with tears gushing out of his eyes.
note: I'd really like to apologise for the spellings mistakes in the last chapter, ait was uploaded in ahurry. I'll be updating a new version on finishing the story. Real story starts from next chapter onwards.
