Another chapter down. It was so cold today, I'm wearing a scarf inside. I miss warm weather! I might not update for a while because of exams are coming.
~Soprana
As soon as dawn broke on the 30th day, Naruto jerked out of bed and flew to the bathroom faster than I could have caught him. "Naruto?" I asked, nervously.
"Yes...Sakura-chan?" He mumbled from the bathroom.
"Are you okay?"
Naruto made a groaning noise.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Be out in a moment." He finally answered. So, I aimlessly floated around the bland room while listening to Naruto from the bathroom. Eww.
He said things like,"I can't get it!", "It's stuck!", "Gahhh!", "I should have skipped on that dinner!", and "I can't force it!" I could have puked if I wasn't dead. He finally emerged. I whirled around to scold him for being nasty when I saw what he was wearing. He was dressed in a cobalt blue collared shirt and a white tie. He wore dress pants and shoes as well.
"Sorry Sakura-chan, the zipper got stuck." He explained. Wow, I had a messed up mind.
"Naruto, why are you dressed like that?" He grinned. "It's a secret. I can't tell you." I pouted.
"Mine is better!" I argued. He raised his brows. "Tell me, and we will see." He coaxed. I then saw his game. "No! I can't! I see what your planning, and I won't fall for it." His grin faded to a smirk. "Same old Sakura, seeing through my plans." he snickered. As he reached the last stair, he spoke again. "Geez Sakura-chan, how can you keep your secret? I'm having a hard time holding it in!" He chirped. I couldn't help but laugh. "It takes talent Naruto."
Naruto's outfit was drawing stares on the streets. Looks that mocked him from the men, and looks of adoration from the women. Naruto remained oblivious and continued down the road with me in tow. We passed the outskirts of the village and into the woods. I remembered that the river was this way.
Sure enough, we emerged on the bank. I recalled memories of Naruto training here and how I used to watch him. I'm not a creeper, I swear!
Naruto suddenly turned around and reached for my hand. I gave him a glare. It doesn't matter anyway. My hand would go right through his. He shook his hand slightly, urging me to put mine in it. I sighed and placed my hand in his. His warmth enveloped my hand. I shivered at the sensation. He gave me his classic grin that made my heart melt, even in death. He then moved to me and put his arm around my waist. I then realized what he had planned.
We started swaying to music that only Naruto could hear. I merely followed his lead as we turned and danced on the river bank. He began to hum a tune so I could follow.
What the song was, I couldn't tell. All that mattered was Naruto. The way he grinned. The way he held me gently, even if he could just pass right through me. How his eyes twinkled at seeing me, even if they were slitted and red. How his breathing came in rhythmic puffs and sighs. He was a truly magnificent creature, a once in a life time person, an amazing man, and the one who I wanted to be with. I cursed myself for not acting before I died. We could have had so many things together. Sooner than I wanted, Naruto let me go. He looked down at me with his ice breaking grin. "The day isn't over yet, Sakura-chan. Come on." He murmured as he led me away again.
He took me almost everywhere.
We visited the art gallery. I have always loved the gallery and Naruto never went with me. He always backed out when I asked if he wanted to go. He stood and actually listened as I gawked and hovered over the masterpieces. I babbled on the artists and the history of the art while he watched me with an amused look.
After that, we entered my favorite party store. I actually hurt from laughter as Naruto paraded around comically. He wore a party hat and his mouth was littered with noise making party favors. He jigged as he tossed confetti around. To explain how funny it was, I was dead, but I actually was exhausted from laughter and joy.
We then moved to the memorial stone. It was more of a somber tone as we payed our respects to the fallen. I gently touched my name upon the stone. I couldn't help but think I was cheating the tradition. I would come back from the dead. What of my name? Would my deed be remembered? As I pondered this, Naruto produced a bouquet of flowers and laid them at the base of the stone.
We then visited the top of the Hokage monument. Naruto sat atop his father's head and motioned for me to seat as well. As soon as I sat, he spoke. "So Sakura-chan, I tried to make this last day one to remember." I was shocked to say the least. I wanted to tell him it wasn't my last day. I wanted to tell him my secret. I wanted to divulge everything.
"Thank you, Naruto." it was all I could say.
He grinned, but I saw the sorrow within. Taking the initiative I decided to play it safe. "Naruto, I want to tell you the surprise. Or at least part of it." His eyes lit up, but the sorrow remained under the surface. "I won't be leaving tonight. I'll be going to a committee, and then I will come back." Okay, not quite a lie. Naruto smiled. "Finally, I get to hear the surprise. I'm glad your staying Sakura-chan." He said warmly. With that, we began to chat on other subjects.
As the final hours passed, I began to get nervous. Naruto noticed and he became nervous. As we sat in his bed room in the final hour, I began to pace-float.
"Sakura-chan, your really making me nervous with your freaky floating slash pacing." He finally said. I turned to him and smirked.
"You just wish you could do it like me."
He remained silent. I sighed.
"Listen Naruto. I need you to promise me something."
Naruto glanced up. "Anything for you, Sakura-chan." He said in determination.
"I want you to promise me that, whatever happens, you will never try and kill yourself again. You'll never forget me, but you will move on. You'll visit my grave at least every week, and never forget my birthday. You'll become a great Hokage, I know this. Promise that you'll protect Konoha and everyone in it. That you'll never change, and remain the way you are now. Teach the children everything. They are our future. If you find someone else, love her like you did me. Don't hold back. Tell her everything and don't hide anything." I blurted.
Naruto stared at me in shock. "Sakura-chan, I-"
"Promise me!" I cut him off.
He stared deep into my eyes. "I won't promise about loving another like you, Sakura-chan. However, I promise. I keep my promises, tebayo." he promised. I sighed. That was the best I could get, I'm sure of it. He then got a serious face. "Why are you asking this? Aren't you coming back after the meeting?" He demanded.
I shrugged. "I wanted you to promise just in case something happened, which it won't." Naruto didn't look convinced, but he dropped the subject. We sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Sakura-chan, I want you to know, just in case something happens, which it won't." He added. I laughed at him. He was mocking me? "I want you to know that I love you, more than anything." His words jolted me. I have heard his words before, but this was different. If I wasn't dead, I would have blushed. He continued. "I could never, and would never, love another like I love you. Your my most important person. I just want you to know that." I felt like crying. I never expected him to say that, but again, I wanted to hear it. Does that make any sense? He could tell that his words hit something, because he smiled warmly. "I..." I tried to articulate words, but it was no use. Words! Come out words! "Thank you, Naruto. I feel...the same way." I could have said better, but Naruto seemed satisfied with what I had said.
"I love you too."
I soon felt Kanji's presence. Naruto sensed her too.
"Naruto." I said quickly as I remembered what happened when Kanji arrives on earth. "I love you, so much. I'll be going now. Remember our promise!"
Before he could answer, Kanji popped into sight and he was frozen in time. "Ready?" She asked. I nodded. Before I followed Kanji to the elevator, I dashed up to Naruto and kissed him on the cheek. I knew he would feel it after time moved again. Kanji patiently waited as I entered the elevator.
Just like she did on the first day, she closed the doors, only to open them a second later. I followed her out the elevator, through the door, and into the familiar waiting room. It still was packed with people, but not the same people. Kanji led me up to the receptionist and whispered, "Haruno Sakura. Appointment three million, twenty thousand, six hundred, and two."
The receptionist nodded for us to enter. As I followed Kanji down the narrow white halls, I caught glimpses of others in rooms. One who had been decapitated sat cross legged with their head in their lap tapped impatiently. A still born waddled around another room.
Kanji finally stopped at a door and opened it. As I entered, I saw that it was filled with people I knew were from heaven. I saw the five jurors perched in the front. The crowd around what speckled with a few familiar faces. As I sat in the chair in the center of the room, I was able to look around. To my utter disbelief, I saw everyone. I mean everyone. I saw mother and father. I saw Asuma-sensei. I saw Sandaime Hokage, along with the Shodai and Nidaime Hokages. I saw Yondaime Hokage with his wife, Kushina, Naruto's parents. I saw many chuunin who died during the Sound's attack many years ago. I saw Zabuza and Haku too. I gave Mother and Father a smile. They returned it. Satisfied, I turned back to the committee.
The head, a man draped in a golden cloak, coughed as stood.
"Haruno Sakura, you come before us on this day to receive judgment on your mission. You were murdered by a Saskue Uchiha, am I correct?" I nodded.
Kanji moved up and whispered, "You can speak."
The golden man continued on. "It was not your time however, you put yourself in front of the blade to protect a man named Uzumaki Naruto?" The silence in the room was disturbing. I could tell everyone was shocked at this.
"Yes, Sir." I answered.
"And you were given an opportunity to return because you are a medical ninja, because you have saved many lives?"
"Yes sir." I repeated.
"And we gave you a mission for a month to judge if you are indeed worthy for this honor. Your mission was to watch over Uzumaki Naruto for a month, and protect him, is this correct?"
"Yes, sir." I said once again.
The committee turned and began to converse on their judgment. I looked to Mother and Father. They smiled and gave me the thumbs up. My gaze shifted to Yondaime and Kushina. They both smiled at me and nodded in thanks for watching their son. I gave them a smile back before looking to the committee, who finished talking. The golden man coughed and spoke again.
"Haruno Sakura, the committee finds your mission a success. You prevented Uzumaki Naruto from hurting himself and ecetra. As for our judgement..."
I held my breath. Here's the moment. The moment I find the fruit of my labor.
"You fail."
