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Thank you so much for the reviews! :D
This by far is my fastest update of the story because I couldn't wait for your reactions.
PLEASE tell me what you think about this chappie, (this one's longer than the previous ones) so I can do some insy-bitsy changes-- so that it would suit to your liking. :)
Once again, thank you so much for the reviews, and I hope that y'all would like this chapter too.
And before I forget, please read the A/N found at the bottom part when you're done reading this chappie. :)
"So that's why you left? Because they were MURDERED!"
"I wasn't safe anymore, Sakura. YOU weren't safe anymore!"
*Flashback
March 11, 2002
5:31 am
"Naruto? Namikaze Naruto?" A stranger's voice could be heard from outside. Naruto groaned. Yesterday was the worst day of his life. His parents were burned to crisp. So was his house. Nothing was saved. He was sheltered by the Harunos, who were like his second parents. They were kind enough to let him sleep in under their roof.
"Who are you?" Little Naruto asked, rubbing his eyes, sore from crying. Naruto barely got any sleep, since people kept coming and coming to say their condolences.
"Open the window" The voice commanded. Naruto became alert. His parent taught him never to trust strangers. Naruto grabbed a nearby vase and peered out the window. A man big man with long spiky white hair waved a hand at him and motioned him to come out. Naruto cautiously opened the window, gripping the vase tightly in his hand.
"Yo, I'm Namikaze Jairaya." The spiky white haired guy said, making himself comfortable beneath a sakura tree. He patted on the ground beside him. "Sit."
"Namikaze? Who are you, old man?" Naruto questioned, not moving an inch closer to the guy.
"I'm your father's uncle and your godfather. Now sit down."
"…." Naruto slowly sat beside the man, hugging his knees as if protecting himself.
"I don't use my last name anymore. You will not acknowledge me as a blood relative okay? Just say I'm your godfather, which I really am." Jairaya said, smiling warmly at Naruto.
"I'm sorry for the loss. Minato was a great guy but Naruto, you need to make a heavy choice which I would not wish on anyone." Naruto gave Jairaya a puzzled look, confused at what the guy was babbling about.
"Naruto, as you know, your dad was a great leader. He lead this village of yours well and he too, was a great investor. He thought of nothing but your future. He had stocks in banks, gaki. He had a lot of money, and he was wise in spending. A group of men was interested in making a deal with him, and he refused." Jairaya stopped his storytelling to see Naruto's reaction.
"I know that. Otou-san wasn't just the village leader. He had stocks on some big shot banks but he never mentioned trouble from the banks…" Naruto said. Jairaya chuckled at Naruto's statement. "Naruto, how old are you?"
"Um, I'm turning thirteen next month. Why?"
"Precisely. Why in the world would Minato share problems so heavy with his thirteen year old son?" Naruto blushed in embarrassment. Of course Otou-san wouldn't want to trouble Naruto with problems that were for adults.
"I still don't get it old man. What choice do I need to make?"
"You see, Naruto, the evil businessmen that ordered your house to be burned expected that you be burned with your family. With you living, they can't get the stocks."
"So?"
"So, if you stay here, you will be in danger. Not only you, but your pinky friend as well."
Naruto's eyes widened at the thought of his precious Sakura-chan getting in danger because of him.
"Minato was prepared if the worse came to worst so he briefed me on this a few months ago. He made me your legal guardian. Now Naruto, if you move away with me, you would be hidden, and for the time being, safe. Maybe in a few years the heat will cool down and those thugs would forget about you but in doing that, you must leave."
"I can write to Sakura-chan, right?" Jairaya shook his head, frowning. "Naruto, they'd be investigating. Those thugs would search for any clues you left behind. If you were to write to Sakura, then…"
"I understand. If I were to write to Sakura-chan, she'd be in more danger… but can't I say goodbye?" Naruto asked Jairaya with tears in his eyes. Jairaya sighed. "How about a note?"
Thank you for everything. I don't want to burden you anymore, so I'll stay in my cousin's house. I'll see you when I see you.
-N.N.
Naruto posted his note on the fridge. Surprisingly, no one was awake yet. He snuck out quietly, out to a new life without Sakura.
Unknown to Naruto, one person was actually awake, and nonetheless, speaking to the white haired man outside.
"Make sure he's safe, Jairaya."
"You do your part, and I'll do mine."
"Yeah."
End of Flashback
By the end of Naruto's story, Sakura was again in tears. Words were useless as Naruto hugged Sakura, something he wanted to do for a long time.
"You're gonna be late." Naruto whispered to Sakura's ear as he loosened his grip around Sakura's waist.
"Yeah. I missed you." Sakura said, rubbing her eyes.
They walked in silence as they made their way to Sakura's school. It was as if a heavy burden was lifted off their chests.
Sakura's phone rang, and their blissful silence was broken.
"Hello?"
"Babe?"
"Sai? What is it?" At the mention of Sai's name, Naruto was suddenly reminded that Sakura's heart was already taken. Ah shit. To hell with stupid love. Naruto thought.
Sakura smiled apologetically at Naruto and signaled him to silence.
"I just miss you." Sai said. Sakura could hear the sincerity in Sai's voice. "Let's go out tonight. You don't have any plans right?" Sai suggested. Sakura glanced at Naruto's pouting figure.
"Umm Sai? I'm sorry but I made plans with an old friend." Naruto perked up at Sakura's statement.
"So, who's the old friend?" Naruto asked, grinning at Sakura.
"We have a lot to talk about. Sai won't mind." Sakura said with a shrug, a smile adoring her face.
"I'll see you at your house okay?" Naruto said as they reached the university.
"Okay." Sakura said. "Um, Naruto?" "What is it, Sakura?"
"I'm really happy."
"Me too, Sakura." Naruto smiled and gave Sakura a hug.
"Ja ne!" Naruto said as he made his way out of the growing crowd.
Sakura smiled to herself. Her life was getting better by the moment, that is, until Ino arrived.
"FOREHEAD!" Sakura cringed at Ino's high pitched scream.
"What is it Piggy?"
"Don't tell me, you have the HOTS for that Uzumaki guy!" Huh? Uzumaki? That's Naruto's middle name… Weird.
"No, Piggy, where'd you get that idea?" Sakura shrugged off her worry for now. She'd ask Naruto about that later.
"Duh! You two were walking together!" Ino exclaimed, disbelief in her eyes. "And here I thought you were hooked with that Sai hottie!"
"Ino, you're assuming too much." Sakura stated
"Nuh-uh! Why was that Uzumaki walking you to school?"
"We're friends."
"What kind of friends?" Ino asked, still believing that Sakura and Naruto were in some kind of secret relationship.
"OLD friends, piggy." Sakura stated
"You never had a CLOSE old GUY friend, Forehead!" Ino argued, stressing out some of the words.
"Look, we were friends before I moved in the city. Okay?" Sakura's response managed to quiet down her loud friend.
As far as Ino was concerned, Sakura moved in the city four years ago. She was a loner, until Ino made friends with her. So Ino was satisfied with the answer. But her satisfaction was short as Ino remembered another thing.
"What about Sai?"
"We're dating."
"So you don't like Naruto?"
"We're friends."
"Really?"
"Really." Sakura was getting annoyed by the moment. "INO! For the love of God, Naruto and I are just friends!" Sakura hissed into Ino's ear.
"Haruno? Yamanaka? Sit down already." Professor Grouchy – that's what Ino and Sakura called him- said, annoyed at the sight of two students at the door.
"Okay, now that the two princesses are seated, let's begin." Professor Grouchy handled basic human anatomy, one of the few classes that they shared together.
When classes ended, Sakura officially had a migraine.
"So many tests. Grr." Sakura grumbled. "Ouch." Sakura had apparently bumped into someone-hard. "Hey, watch where you're going." A voice said. "I'm really so—SAI!" Sakura exclaimed, happy to see her boyfriend.
"I guess you had a bad day?" Sai chuckled lightly at Sakura's grumbling. Sai gave Sakura a quick peck. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"Hey babe?" Sai asked
"Hmm?"
"What do you say for some doughnuts on the go?" Sai smiled knowingly that some Krispy Kreme would help Sakura ease out from her stressful day.
"I'd love it." Sakura smiled back at Sai and tightened her grip on Sai's hand as a sign of affection.
On the other side of the street, a loud laugh could be heard.
"It's not funny Kiba!" Naruto hissed, embarrassed to be seen with such a loud mouth, inside a crowded doughnut shop.
"Dude, you scraped both of your knees because of a twig this small!" Kiba held his fork on one hand and used his other hand to imitate Naruto's jogging.
"Pssh. You're exaggerating it wasn't that small." Naruto rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Whatever you say, lover boy!" Kiba smirked at Naruto, knowing that he had a point. "Let's go. The people are making dizzy with their smell. Why can't people have simple cologne on?" Kiba complained too much about people's smell--he claims that he had some sort of super-heightened sense of smell, and Naruto beleived him.
"By the way, doggy, Why are you here?" Naruto asked.
Although Kiba's family lived in the city, Kiba lived in the dorm two cities away ---- and he was going to be Naruto's future roomie.
"Professor Kurenai suggested that after the break that our school's having, we would be allowed to bring our pets for discussion of sorts. So I was going to get Akamaru now, but I bumped into you." Kiba was clearly elated by the fact that Akamaru would be with him. After all, Akamaru was Kiba's best friend.
"Oi." Kiba elbowed Naruto in the gut.
"That hurt, doggie. What?"
"Isn't that the pinky you were talking about?" Kiba pointed Sakura and Sai, smiling at each other. What's lacking there is the stupid drool on that idiotic face of Sai! Naruto thought as he crossed his arms, frowning at the sight before him.
"Awwh, ain't that sweet eh dog? That could be you instead of that dark haired guy…Too bad you lack balls." Kiba said, tsk-ing at the end of his statement.
"Shut it doggie. You're the one to talk aren't you? Why aren't you dating the Hyuuga, hmm?" It was now Naruto's turn to smirk. Too bad it didn't last.
"Naruto!" Sakura let go of Sai's hand and hugged Naruto briefly. "How're the knees?" Kiba chuckled at Naruto's face. Dog fell deep. Kiba thought, waiting for his best friend.
"They're okay, Sakura. Thanks." Naruto scratched his head, blushing at Sakura's concern
"Sakura, you didn't tell me that you and Uzumaki were close." Sai's disappointment could be heard in his voice.
Again with the Uzumaki.. Namikaze Naruto, what the hell is going on? Sakura thought.
"Well, Sakura, me and my friend over here should be going. Later." Naruto waved good bye at Sakura and gave Sai a curt nod.
"Ooh, tension. I like." Kiba laughed when they were out of earshot from the couple.
"Shut it."
"Don't you have a date with pinky over there later?"
"It's not a date."
"And you wish it was."
"Fuck you."
"I'm not gay."
"Neither am I." Naruto shot back. That was what he liked about Kiba. They're thoughts were so in tune it was like they shared one mind. The bad thing about it was that they annoyed the hell out of each other too often for Naruto's taste.
"I'll see you at the dorm, dog."
"Okay. Say hi to Akamaru for me, doggie." Naruto said as he left Kiba at the bus stand.
Ouch. I better do a re-touch on my knees when I get home. Naruto winced at the pain in his knees. Figuring that it would be masochistic to walk all the way home, he took a cab.
Silence.
Silence..
Silence…
Sakura couldn't handle their awkward silence anymore. She stopped walking and looked at Sai in the eye.
"Tell me, are you jealous?"
"Huh? Of course not!" Sai replied, giving Sakura a smile that reassured her that he was not lying. Too bad Sakura didn't believe Sai's façade. Sakura continued to eye Sai, as if expecting him to continue speaking.
Sai let out a sigh, signaling his defeat.
"Okay, maybe a little…" Sai whispered, dragging Sakura to a nearby bench so they could sit. I hate it when my girl has brains… Then again, it would be stupid if I dated a dodo bird. Sakura, even though they have only been dating what Sai considered a 'while', was able enough to read him like an open book.
"Really? Why would you be jealous of Naruto?" Sakura asked with a disbelieving look in her eyes.
"Why shouldn't I be? He's hot---Sakura forgot that she was in a serious moment with Sai and laughed her heart out.
"SAI! Are you GAY?" Sakura shouted, purely amused by her boyfriend's choice of words. Sai couldn't help but pout. Really? Me, GAY? What the hell is my girlfriend thinking?
Sakura managed to control her laughing fit and let Sai continue with his speech.
"Babe. I'm not GAY! I was just telling the truth." Sai crossed his arms and dropped his head like a child, refusing to meet Sakura's eyes. "Aw, Sai, I was just kidding!" Sakura said, kissing Sai's cheek. "Now, what's the real reason?" "Umm, because he's a member of your opposite sex?" Sai said.
Sakura believed in Sai's statement, disregarding his jealousy as what she called "A case of trivial-idiotic-jealousy-that men apparently have", and Sai couldn't be more thankful that she bought his excuse as he walked her to her home.
They don't know it yet--And I refuse to believe it. Sai thought as he bade goodbye to Sakura at her doorstep.
Sai grew up with a pair of FBI as parents, or in layman's term, he grew up with secrets, masked emotions, and all that crap. He knew how to read the calmest poker face, and he surely knew how to read his girlfriend. He'd deny the truth… for now.
"I'm home." Naruto called out as soon as he entered the house.
"You're late, gaki." Jairaya called out from the kitchen.
"Neh? You're early, Ero-sensei." Naruto replied, seeing that the sun didn't even set and Jairaya was already in the house. "No luck with the ladies, sensei?" Naruto smirked as he dropped himself on the couch.
"Actually…" Uh-oh, I know that tone… Jairaya never got angry at Naruto unless he did something very wrong. But there was another emotion in his tone rather that anger… was it—concern?
I'm in deep shit.
"Gaki, you baka." Jairaya started, walking into the living room with his left hand on his waist and his right hand holding a cup of sake.
"The stupid truck got your things around nine this morning. The only thing it forgot to bring, was apparently—you." Aah! No wonder I sensed I forgot something—nani? Shit! I was supposed to be in that damned university hours ago…But..
"Chichi, why are you so angry? I can always take the train tomorrow." Naruto asked, almost the look on his face was almost that of a child scolded by his parents for getting lost in the supermarket. And Naruto sounded like one too. He only called Jairaya 'Chichi' -which generally meant father- if he really needed money or if he needed to get away with something. In this situation, it's probably the latter.
Jairaya sighed and drank his sake. He slowly made his way to Naruto, not quite sure how to break the news. He gently placed the cup on the table and placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders.
"A little birdie whispered in my ear…" Jairaya started saying. Jairaya always got information through his 'little birdie' – as Jairaya would call it. But Naruto figured how Jairaya generated the money he used on women. He controlled his very own spy network that he refused to talk to Naruto about.
"That… the thugs are back."
O.o?
I dunno...what do you think?
RnR.
Next chappie will be filled with NARUSAKU stuff. Although I must admit I'm not as good with light romances compared to serious stuff.. but I'll try my best!
So.. once again,
.RnR.
-ksko81, signing off.
