Chapter 07

More than a dozen tents were pitched near the unfinished bridge, surrounding a huge bonfire that flickered wildly into the night as the men sat around it as they ate, drank, playing board games or just the usual conversations. It was a well-deserved treat at the end of the working shift for these laborers as Tazuna sat among his men enjoying a beer. Even though the attack that happened a few nights ago had a detrimental effect to their morale, it was not enough to dampen the mood they carry within them. Looking back at the bridge in progress, Tazuna could only smirk a bit, somewhat relieved that it is still in one piece and glad that those goons didn't show up. Though he'd wish the brat should be guarding the site instead, he's glad to have some able friends to make sure they can handle them and no interruptions would occur.

Standing at the top of a tree within the shadows, a hooded young individual gazed at the bonfire at the encampment, allowing the flames to reflect upon his shaded spectacles in a harmonious dance. Aburame Shino held his post as he watches the workers below enjoying themselves, and sometimes his bugs return to give their report, which is everything is clear and the scout team will be returning shortly. Setting his sights on the path through the woods, he watched as Kiba and Akamaru, Hinata and Lee emerge in order to meet with Tenten and Ino.

"How it did go?" Ino asked as the scout team settled in on the ground and passes a bowl of food to them.

"A damn waste of time!" Kiba growled with Akamaru barking in agreement. "And what's worse, the wind's blowing away from us so all I can smell is the scent from the bridge and the workers!"

"Indeed, it tends to be windy at this time of month since the seasonal rainstorms are about to begin." Tazuna offered.

"We would be at a disadvantage." Aburame Shino arrived at the campsite as he sat next to Hinata. "At this rate, it would be the perfect chance for the bandits to attack during the rain."

"So it would rain within a few days from now?" Ino inquired.

"Actually, it rained about last week, and that's just the beginning." Tazuna replied.

Looking up at the sky, Aburame Shino noticed the dark patches of clouds that loom over the land, cursing himself silently on why the fates decide to make their jobs a bit difficult. Kiba and Akamaru noticed it as the two begins sniffing the air.

"Seems like it's been raining for a few hours up north. I could almost smell the moisture and the acid."

"Acid, Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked.

"Yes, rainwater naturally carries a fair amount of nitric acid, which stimulates the ground and gives it its nutrients that are not found in farmlands that don't use manure or fertilizers." Shino added, pushing his glasses back with an index finger.

"We may have a few hours left before it rains so we have to triple our efforts to make sure that no harm will come upon this campsite!" Lee exclaimed.

"None of us are stamina freaks, Lee." Tenten scolded as he bops the young man's head. "Best we could do is to set up alarm traps within the surrounding forest."

"That is a good plan, Tenten-san." Shino said as he stood up. "Let's use the time left to set up traps before it rains. We may all have to stay up all night and guard the area so I suggest taking some soldier pills at midnight."

Everyone nodded as the group ate in silence, preparing themselves for what might be the longest night there is.


It was a quiet night at Tazuna's house as Naruto, Sakura and Sachiko ate with his family. Naruto and Inari were a bit noisy, talking about anything that may sound childish as Naruto flailed his arms animatedly as he exaggerated his exploits during his training with Ero-Sennin. Tsunami listened in, finding Naruto's boisterous attitude a welcome feeling that brightens her house even more as Inari enjoyed his company as well. Sakura was listening to the conversation as well, although she could have wished that Naruto shouldn't be too rambunctious, hearing all about his exploits and adventures with Jiraya-sama somewhat excites her. As they laughed, Sakura noticed the gloom that seem to emanate right in front of her, as Sachiko stares listlessly at the food, hardly eating anything at all. Her hands were holding on the bowl and chopsticks, only to take half of its contents as she forced more food into her mouth.

"Sachiko-chan?" Sakura called out, snapping the girl back to reality as she blinked several times.

"Oh! Yeah! Well, hehe… just listening to the old man and all that, you know, about him and Ero-Sennin during their younger days. Man, am I hungry!" Sachiko blurted as she begins to eat the way she did when back home at Konoha. Sakura watched in horror as every bit of food set in front of her disappeared in record time, a feat that even rivaled Naruto's own record. Having to thank for the meal, Sachiko excused herself, saying something about first watch as she dashed to the door. It didn't bother Naruto or the rest a bit, knowing that she did take after him, but this was something that Sakura was highly suspect about as she finished her meal and left the house after Sachiko.

Since the rainy seasons have started, temperatures in Wave Country has dropped slightly, letting every denizen feel the slight chill that came from the surrounding body of water as well as the smell of the salty air. It was enough for Sakura to rub her shoulders together, wishing she had worn something with sleeves, as well as stockings or long socks. At least the moon was out tonight, allowing a ghostly pale glow to illuminate the once-poor village with its brilliance, something like a village made of crystal. The small glow of several lampposts as well as the ones from homes gives it a warm reception, as she could hear random faint laughter from the village and the sound of dogs barking.

Instead of having to enjoy the evening streets of the village, she made her first business to find Sachiko, and to see what was eating her from the inside. Surely, Konoha's most hyperactive kunoichi suffering from a blue funk can be something short of an omen, much like the Godaime winning a large bet for once. Sakura's tracking skills were good enough, and surely she could smell the soy sauce and wasabi that permeated from the slab of grilled fish they had for dinner. Following the scent, Sakura arrived at a small hill, which a tree sat on top and a feminine figure sitting with her back against the trunk. There was no need to hide her presence as she approached the girl, hoping to strike up a conversation.

Sachiko's eyes were fixed towards the water, allowing herself to be mesmerized by the rippled reflections of the moon torn into a million pieces, almost as if diamonds were floating on the water's dark surface. Ever since she overheard her father about not being who she though he is, a thousand questions has surface since then, and most of them were something that she thought she didn't have the heart to ask. She knew who her father is, the Rokudaime of Konoha, hailed as the most powerful of all the past Hokage in their lifetime. Uzumaki Naruto would still play pranks on the village, usually harmless ones that would alert all the shinobi and ANBU, making sure the trail stops cold before it goes to him. Even if it did, he shrugs it off as a test to make sure that all shinobi are as alert as always despite of the peace that rules much of Konoha under his leadership. It's true, though, that a village too peaceful would lead to laziness, and would lead to the dulling of skills so it's best to pop a few firecrackers just to keep them on their toes.

The sound of footsteps trampling on grass and pebbles alerted the young Chuunin as she turned, to find similar green eyes as Sakura smiled at her.

"May I sit here?" Sakura asked as she leaned in.

"Sure, Sakura obaa-san." Sachiko replied, thus earning her a bop in the head as she squealed slightly.

"Sakura-san." Sakura corrected, adding the appropriate suffix tersely.

Sachiko rubbed the sore spot on her head as she mumbled rather angrily.

Sakura took a seat next to Sachiko as she watched the water, smiling towards it as it brought about certain feelings that made her feel light and contented. Hoping for a similar reaction, Sakura observed Sachiko as she looks on towards the water, her eyes showed nothing but deep confusion and sadness.

"You know," Sakura spoke, "since we're a team, it would help to do a little talk to get the pressure out. It would be bad for the mission of there is something weighing us down."

Sakura could hear the distinctive release of breath being let out as a sigh.

"Sakura-oba…" Sachiko spoke, until she was stopped by Sakura's glare and a shaking fist, "-san, You know my father for the longest time, right?"

"I did, unfortunately." Sakura sighed.

"I can see why you're annoyed." Sachiko chuckled lightly. "I mean, even he annoys me sometimes, always leaving the collected bowls of delivered ramen until old man Teuchi demanded to have all of it returned or repainting the Hokage Monument, again. He even painted his face on the mountain as if he's something like a kabuki actor."

"You're kidding." Sakura made a face.

"He said something like commemorating the day he took his Konoha ID picture years ago. I even have a picture. Wanna see?" Sachiko began reaching in for her wallet as Sakura waited. She only found a few bills and coins, but no picture.

"It's okay, I'm sure you left it at home or something. Maybe next time." Sakura smiled.

"But that's the point!" Sachiko yelled out, much to Sakura's surprise. "I can see my father, I can feel his presence, yet how come he acts like he's never seen me before, like every day was a new discovery to him? All the things I've treasured are not in the apartment, and I don't even recall living in an apartment! I can't find my alarm clock, or my stuffed toys, my clothes, my custom-made fuuma shuriken or the old battle fan that Temari-obaasama gave to me ever since I was dubbed a wind user, as if I don't even belong here! What's happening to me? How come the things and the people I knew felt so far away despite of how close they are that I could touch them?"

Sakura was processing all the bits f information as fast as she can, only to slow down to the point of empathy for the girl in front of her.

"I overheard the old man while he was talking to some graves. I happened to overhear everything, Sakura-san, and it scared me. He said that he's only a genin, and he's practically my age, or maybe older. I can't believe that I've been sent to the past, which is impossible."

Sakura could only look at the girl's tear-stained eyes as she sought for answers of her own. It was futile, and she could only lie for so much that even she finds it ridiculous. Lying is all about hiding the truth, and the truth is nowhere to be found, especially with the mysterious girl named Uzumaki Sachiko.

"I wish I could lie to you, Sachiko-chan, but I can't just lie when I don't even know the answers or the real truth. All I could say is that you're here, and you exist. That's the truth I will place my life in believing." Sakura offered a warm smile.

Sachiko lowered her head until her eyes are no longer visible, yet it failed to conceal the tears already falling off her chin, followed by the soft sniffing and sobbing. Reaching out, Sakura gently wraps her arms around the girl's head, which she slowly leaned on her chest as she sobbed.

"Thank you, Sakura-san."


It was exactly midnight as Shino's team took a few soldier pills, preparing for the worse. The rain was pouring down and hard enough that it was the only ambient sound to be heard. Taking shelter under the tree that gives him a vantage point between the forest and the bridge site, Shino pressed the button of his wireless radio, signaling the rest of the team members.

"This is a crucial night, and its success would determine if we're able to quell these insurgents. Scout Team, what is your status?"

Deep in the middle of the forest, Hyuuga Hinata received the transmission as she pressed the button to respond. The veins around her eyes were thick with chakra being fed to her eyes as she scans the area with the clarity that surpasses most humans.

"Everything is clear. No intruders as of this moment." Hinata whispered.

"This is only the beginning." Shino responded, opening the radio channel to each team. "The real threat would likely begin much later, probably waiting for us to call off the search or until we become complacent. We only need to give them enough breathing room to give them that benefit of the doubt."

Shino ended the transmission as he begins to raise his hands vertically, willing the bugs that resides in his body to gather as a large enough swarm has appeared.

"Return to the village and inform Naruto and the rest about our current situation." Shino ordered as the swarm flew towards the village.

The night was a crucial time that showed a lot of handicaps, considering the clouds that hovered over the land, covering the moon from its pale glow as well as the absence of a campfire. Everything would rely on the numerous traps and alarms, as well as the remainder of the bugs that surround them in order to keep watch, and hopefully survive the night. More than two hours have passed and Shino checked the time on his pocket watch: it was past two a.m. Though he didn't show it, Shino was growing rather impatient and downright irritable, whether it was the enemy's clever play to throw him off guard by not commencing their ambush. It was a one-sided war that would rely only on his bugs, hopefully it would spot the enemy first.

Looking towards the river, Shino passed the time looking at the water that appears to be boiling due to the rain, as well as watching the few pieces of driftwood floating in the middle. To a common spectator, it was something normal to find a floating object or two of no importance, but to Shino, it somewhat concerned him as it was more than one piece. In fact, the number of driftwood would have pieced together a whole tree provided it was gathered. Jumping off the tree he was standing on, he heads towards Tazuna's tent, glad that the old man was still awake as he peered over several blueprints.

"Ah, bug-user," Tazuna slurred slightly due to the alcohol, yet not too much that would impede his judgment. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"Just a question, Tazuna-san." Shino began. "I noticed a couple pieces of wood floating in the river. Is there a lumber mill or another construction somewhere upstream?"

Tazuna rubbed his bearded chin as he hummed. "I don't think so. And if there was, I would know about it."

Shino raised his eyebrows. "How so?"

"Wave Country has regulations when it comes to constructions, especially when it concerns cutting down trees for lumber." Tazuna pulled out a map from the pile of rolled-up sheets of paper at the side and spreads it in front of Shino before continuing. "This is where we are right now. Rules states that any other construction within a five-kilometer radius would need to designate one source to supply lumber." Tazuna encircled an area around the construction site on the map.

Shino studied the area of the map and began picturing the scenario in his head. Since Tazuna is building a bridge, the river would be on the map, and within the five-kilometer radius are two forest areas, and one was already nearby.

"Would there be an exception in the rule, let's say, a construction is taking place at the opposite bank?"

"Well, there's that, too." Tazuna answered until something clicked in his mind as he raised his eyebrows. "Wait, there was a construction that took place. Actually it was a week before I started with the bridge." Pointing at the map, Tazuna indicated the site where another construction project took place.

"I have a friend there, a master carpenter who's in charge of the project. It was a village expansion project and the closest forest available would be this forest over here. After that I haven't seen hide nor hair of the damn fool."

"You do not seem too fond of this carpenter." Shino queried.

"Nothing like that, boy. When you grow old with friends, insults are one way of being friendly. But it doesn't make sense, though."

"What would that be?"

"The housing project was meant to start as soon as the bridge is nearly completed, at least strong enough to carry lumber across. In fact, the forest near my bridge should be used first."

"When you talk about regulations concerning lumber, shouldn't there be some sort of liaison or representative from the daimyo about it?" Shino asked.

"That's right. One comes in every week to check which trees are being marked to be cut down. It tends to be limited, but not too much to hamper construction."

Shino began to piece together all the information he received from Tazuna, about the ongoing housing project, the regulations as well as the floating pieces of wood he found in the river. Although it's unlikely, he wants to investigate the other site to confirm his suspicions. Pressing the button to open the communications link, Shino hailed Hinata's team.

"Hinata-san, I want your team to return immediately." Shino spoke.

"Is there something wrong, Shino-kun?" Hinata replied.

"I cannot confirm yet, but I need you three to return to Tazuna's tent to scout another area." Shino answered.

"Understood. We will arrive within five minutes." Hinata broke the connection.

Even under his hooded jacket, Shino couldn't hide the grim look that carved his face as he examined the map and began playing several scenarios in his head. Strategy-wise, he may not be at par with the lazy genius Shikamaru, but he knows enough on what may unfold within the next few hours. After some four minutes, a drenched Hinata, Lee and Kiba entered the tent as Shino ordered them to gather around the map.

"According to Tazuna-san, there is also another construction site occurring at the other side of the river." Shino pointed at the location on the map. "I want you three to water-walk across and investigate the site."

"What makes you think those bandits wouldn't start attacking while we're gone?" Kiba asked.

"Not through the forest, it would seem." Shino explained, but not too much that even he would convince himself. "Tenten will be replacing Lee just in case they decide to raid us at some point."

"I understand, Shino-kun." Lee stood as he exited the tent to fetch Tenten, who arrived a minute later. The away team prepared themselves before heading out into the rain to cross the river as Shino watched, somehow, unable to remove the tension that was twisting his gut and causing a hollow sensation to expand in him.

He could only pray silently to be proven wrong, although to do so may be fatal.

At three in the morning, Hinata, Tenten and Kiba with Akamaru arrived at the designated area where the housing project was. Hinata activated her Byakugan to give her a clearer view of the site as Kiba fed more chakra into his eyes as his natural night vision was raised a few levels more. Tenten could only make out faint outlines of erected edifices that should resemble houses or the like, but somehow it doesn't appear so. What Hinata saw are not houses, but a large structure that resembled a warehouse of sorts.

"You don't suppose they have those to store building materials or some other junk." Kiba whispered to the girls.

"It wouldn't be this big." Tenten answered. "A few, normal-sized materials shed and probably a few makeshift barracks would be enough."

Hinata kept silent as she willed her eyes to see through the warehouse. Finding several people by the hundreds, her eyes widened at the huge object inside the building.

"What is it? What's going on inside?" Kiba demanded as he noticed the shocked look in Hinata's face.

"It's something huge. I can't make sense of it." Hinata whispered.

Tenten began to call Shino as she pressed the radio button on her collar when all she could hear was static. Though she's not much into electronics, the static her radio was letting could only mean one thing.

"I don't know about you guys, but I have a bad feeling that either our radio signal is out of range from the rest, it's jammed, or the fact that we've been detected." Tenten shivered.

Kiba begins sniffing the air, hoping to find some faint traces of human scent, but the rain nearly covers everything with the strong smell of wet earth and vegetation, until he began to pick up something.

"I can smell something in the air. Not quite sure but it's sharp, almost like…" Kiba fell silent.

The three were interrupted by a loud bang, followed by something that zipped past them, snapping the branches with tremendous force.

"GUNPOWDER!" Tenten yelled.

Several shots were fired, followed by the thunderous explosion that shook the tree violently in two as the three teenagers jumped away to the safety of another tree. The result is a resounding crash, followed by angry voices of several men from below.

"We're being ambushed!" Tenten yelled over the barrage of cannon fire.

"We have to retreat or we're sitting ducks!" Kiba yelled as Akamaru growled menacingly at their hidden attackers.

From below, several torches revealed their assailants as the three made their way towards the river to escape. Upon reaching the riverbank, they stopped as they found several larger than average boats of unusual design, smaller than galleons armed with cannons.

"So that's their plan." Tenten whispered.

"Since Wave Country is pretty much surrounded by water, they're planning to bombard the village and the bridge. We have to get Shino and evacuate everyone on the construction site." Hinata concluded.

"And it's going to be a short trip to boot since the river's headed downstream, passing the bridge, then the village within a few hours." Kiba added.

The three ninjas were interrupted out of their thoughts when a large flare was shot towards their direction. The three jumped out of the way in time as they watched the tree being engulfed in flames.

"Great, they're using fire fountains." Tenten groaned.

"Fire fountains?" Kiba asked.

"It's a traditional weapon where they pack gunpowder inside a hollowed-out tree trunk." Tenten explained. "Once ignited, it would resemble a volcano erupting and the embers would definitely roast us."

Landing on the water's surface, the three made a mad dash towards the bridge site to alert Shino. It took them about fifteen minutes to arrive as Shino stood at the riverbank as the rain slowly receded to a light drizzle.

Hinata approached first as Shino observed the away team's condition. It was the very thing he feared the most.

"You were right, Shino-kun," Hinata gasped, "the bandits were indeed at the other construction site."

"Yeah, they're definitely armed to the teeth with cannons and fire fountains. We're not going to be lucky if all the workers will be caught in the crossfire." Tenten added.

"Understood." Shino answered as he already has a contingency plan in his head has he pressed the radio button on his collar. "Lee, I want you to return to the village and alert Naruto and the others."

"How so, Shino-kun?" Lee responded.

"A large group of bandits will be heading towards the village on ships armed with cannons. It would be bad once they're within range of their weapons." Shino explained.

"YOSH! IF I DON'T MAKE IT IN THIRTY MINUTES, I'LL DEAL WITH THESE MISCREANTS MYSELF AS PUNISHMENT! POWER OF YOUTH!" Lee ended the communiqué.

Shino rubbed his ears after receiving one of Lee's over-exuberant replies. Although he'd prefer Lee to stay quiet, there was no other person who's fast enough to cover the distance in record time.

It was time to evacuate Tazuna and the other workers.


Naruto watched towards the river, glad that the rain has let up. It's been gloomy enough to have the second watch, even with his numerous shadow clones literally watching over the village. Just when he contemplated on drifting to sleep, his ears perked up when he heard something buzzing. Looking up, he finds a swarm of bugs headed towards him. Naruto stood there as his jaw hung open, until he realized that Shino uses his bugs as messengers. The swarm soon began forming letters, a message from Shino saying that everything is peaceful at the bridge site.

"Cool! Tell Shino that everything's quiet here." Naruto spoke to the bugs. It seemed to have understood Naruto as the swarm flew back to its human host.

"Were those Shino's bugs?" Sakura spoke from behind as Naruto turned to meet her.

"Yep, seems like there isn't much action happening at the bridge." Naruto answered. "By the way, what're you doing here?"

"I came to replace you." Sakura said. "You could use some rest since you've been busy all day."

"Nah, it's fine, Sakura-chan." Naruto grinned as he sat on the bank with his feet soaked in the water, allowing the cool feeling take over his body. Sakura did the same as she sat next to Naruto and removed her sandals to dip her feet in the water. Looking up towards the sky, the rain clouds were still visible as the outlines glowed from the moonlight, allowing a decent view of the star-riddled sky. Looking at the corner of her eyes, she observed Naruto as he stared quietly at the water as if in deep though. Although that idea made her giggle, which Naruto was quick to notice, Sakura could never seem to put Naruto and 'thinking' together in one sentence.

"Something funny?" Naruto asked.

"It's nothing, Naruto." Sakura replied. "But you seem to be thinking about something to be so quiet."

Looking at the water with squinty eyes, Naruto kept his lips in a straight line before replying, "Not much, I guess. Probably just thinking about the future."

"The future?" Sakura raised her eyebrow a bit.

"Yeah, I mean, now I'm somewhat of a dad so I thought I should get promoted to chuunin once the exams roll in. It's weird, Sakura-chan, over a week ago I was thinking on how to get my wind element to work with my Rasengan and now I'm actually worrying about how to support Sachiko-chan." Naruto laughed uncomfortably.

"That so?" Sakura spoke. Somehow it was sheer luck to finally have Naruto to herself as she began to press on with her plan to stake claim on the young blonde hurricane of a jinchuuriki. "I was thinking, Naruto, that eventually you'd want to extend your family or something, or maybe have some sort of female role model for Sachiko-chan. I mean, taking care of a teenage girl can be a handful. I should know since I'm still one."

Naruto crossed his arms as he thought about it. Shaking his head he answered, "Well, I don't really have anyone in mind lately. I mean having Ino and Hinata around when Sachiko-chan was young really helped, but I'm not sure if I want to have a formal relationship with another girl.

Naruto's reply shocked Sakura to the core as she stared at Naruto. Is he really serious about not wanting someone to spend the rest of his life with?

"W-what are you talking about, Naruto? Surely you'll want to get m-married someday. I mean, what about poor Sachiko-chan?" Sakura stuttered as her heart was beating erratically.

"Well, Sachiko-chan came out all right without a mother, whoever she may be, and it seems pointless." Naruto shrugged his shoulders.

As if her world was slowly crumbling from under her feet, Sakura stood up as she walked to face Naruto, sloshing the water about at her feet.

"Listen to yourself, Naruto, I mean there are some girls out there and even in our village who would want to marry you someday. Surely you can't be serious on living alone with a girl who claims to be your daughter." Sakura was flustered at this point.

"What's the big deal, Sakura-chan?" Naruto also stood up to meet Sakura face-to-face and was slowly losing his patience. "Sure I've only known Sachiko-chan for over a week, but I have this weird yet warm connection with her, as if she's really my daughter. I don't think I can change history at this point now that she's here in our timeline and that's all that matters. Besides, maybe there's another girl out there with green eyes like Sachiko-chan."

"What?" Sakura yelled angrily, "Are you saying I don't have green eyes as well? Didn't you ever stop to think that I might be Sachiko-chan's mother in the future?"

"There's no proof on that one, Sakura-chan!" Naruto answered back. "Besides, probably in a few years I'll be able to get Sasuke back and you two can get married!"

It was the final straw where Sakura was concerned. Shutting her eyes to prevent the sting of tears from erupting out of her eyes, Sakura stares at Naruto with a righteous fury as she balled her fist and threw a right hook at Naruto's face. Naruto stumbled and fell on his backside stunned as he glared at the pink-haired kunoichi, watching the tears falling freely off her face.

"What the hell was that for?" Naruto yelled.

Sakura grits her teeth, her fist still shaking from the sting and anger that was coursing through her entire body.

"You don't understand, you idiot, and you'll never will." Sakura sobbed. "I thought your nindo was to never give up on your dreams. What the hell happened to that?"

Naruto glared at Sakura as he stood up clutching his stinging face.

"My nindo is to never back down on my word, Sakura-chan." Naruto corrected. "I promised to bring Sasuke back to the village and that's what I'm going to do even if it kills me!"

"So all that time when you've been incessantly trying to ask me out on a date or to have even a sliver of my affection has been a lie?" Sakura mumbled.

Naruto lowered his head, taking his time to answer Sakura. Once he had enough, he spoke: an answer that confirmed Sakura's unspoken fear.

"I gave up on you the time Obaa-chan cured Sasuke from Itachi's genjutsu as you cried over him at the hospital. I finally realized that I don't have a chance with you. Having Sachiko-chan around made me feel wanted, and if that time comes I would surely want to meet the mother of my child someday." Naruto gave Sakura a warm smile, forgetting the punch he received from her. "But I promised to bring back Sasuke for you, and hopefully you can find your own happiness with him, the same way I've already found mine because of Sachiko-chan."

Sakura's world died as she listened to Naruto's proclamation, and she never did doubted him, not even once on the inside. Naruto may fail a few times, but he would certainly keep trying until that promise is kept. Realizing the plight of her younger days and the foolishness that followed, Sakura thought she has outgrown her girlish fantasies to have Sasuke as a boyfriend, and maybe soon a husband.

Her heart was torn a thousand pieces more and this time from a boy whose sincerity and kindness far outshines the genius Uchiha and his gloomy past. Naruto was willing to kill his affection for Sakura in order for his chain of friendship with her to be forever intact, and he never did back down on his self-proclaimed promises. The pieces of her torn heart have chosen sides some three years after Naruto's return to Konoha, and somehow, the tallied numbers have chosen Naruto, which the ANBU shinobi Yamato almost confirmed during their mission together to bring back Sasuke.

Somehow, the intricacies of life have yet to be understood by these two teenagers, even though they've been treated as adults once they received their hiai-ate, especially when it comes to relationships. Sakura took a long breath to calm her nerves as she approached Naruto. Gathering chakra in her hand, she began healing the bruise she inflicted on Naruto's jaw before wrapping her arms around the boy's neck in a tight embrace, much to Naruto's shock and confusion.

"I don't know how long the future would be for all of us, but I hope you'll be able to see me the way you used to when we were younger, even if Sasuke-kun is still in the picture." Sakura whispered in Naruto's ear. "But all I can say is thank you, Naruto, for being a true friend."

Naruto released himself from Sakura's embrace yet still kept his arms on her shoulders as he flashed her his ever-sunny smile.

"You know I'll always be your friend, Sakura-chan, and I won't go back on my word." Naruto beamed.

Sakura, including Sasuke, as well as the rest of the Rookie Nine all grew up together during their younger years at the Academy, all knowing about Naruto's exploits and mischievous behavior that would soon be something of a front that hides Naruto's wisdom. Remembering the days when Naruto was shunned and hated by the village used to be a mystery, only to be understood in the present. Deep down she still yearns for Sasuke, but Naruto was willing to give up his life to return him to her is something she fears the most. To chase after two hares is to catch neither, but sometimes the ultimate sacrifice requires losing one thing in order to attain the other and she would never allow Naruto to perish all because of Sasuke.

Maybe someday, Sakura would finally come to terms about her feelings, especially when it concerns the blonde jinchuuriki.

The two were interrupted when they heard a distant sound coming from outside the village, as Naruto's mind clicked when one of his clones dispelled, informing him of Lee's arrival.

"Lee's back in the village." He informed Sakura. "Wonder what's up with him, though?"

It probably took no more than thirty seconds for Lee to arrive as he skidded to a stop in front of the two, gasping desperately for air after the mad dash to the village.

"My friends," Lee huffed, "our enemies have started to move and they are far more formidable than we thought they were."

Lee took him five minutes to explain the situation, much to Naruto and Sakura's shock. Knowing that their enemies are out to destroy the village in a big way, Naruto dispelled all his clones and began to summon new ones, all carrying the knowledge of an imminent invasion. Pointing at one clone, Naruto ordered him to fetch Sachiko from Tazuna's house.

"In that case, Lee-san, it may be awhile before Shino and the others arrive. Hopefully, Shino would only take Tazuna and have the other bridge workers take a different route back to the village. That way, Shino and his team can arrive much earlier before they do. And since the rains have started, the river's current would be a lot stronger so that means they'll arrive probably about two hours or less."

Sachiko arrived at the riverbank with a clone at tow as she joined in with her father, Lee and Sakura.

"The guy told me the situation, and Shino-san thinks it can get dangerous from there." Sachiko said.

"I was not included with the away team that discovered their whereabouts, otherwise they would be feeling my righteous and youthful spirit!" Lee exclaimed.

Naruto begins to tremble with a kind of righteous vigor as he tightened the band of his hiai-ate as he sets his sights towards the bridge.

"Well, it would be too late to formulate a plan in order to keep the village from getting blown to bits. Best we cut them off while they make their way up the river." Naruto grinned as he exchanged glances with Sakura, Lee, and Sachiko, all nodding to Naruto's plan as they all head off. Summoning a single shadow clone, he ordered it to warn the village chief on the possible battle as the four began to set off to meet up with the invaders.


From the writer:

Yo!

Sorry for the extremely long wait. Until now, I've been following up on every Naruto chapter to date and I'm sure you do as well. This is necessary for me since I have something special planned once "To Save the Future" is completed. Sorry if I didn't warn you on the long wait but I have a life to attend as well, with all the work, DJing and women to... you know, 'play house' with.

Right now, the REAL Naruto manga is progressing nicely the way I predicted to myself, and in time my work would make it worthwhile to finish. Thanks for the continued support and for adding my story to your favorites list.