Here's the next chapter. I'm a little late due to computer troubles, but it's all good now! I'm starting out this chapter with an excerpt from the last moments of Naruto vs Pain. Also, I think you'll like one particular scene…
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, not I.
Credit for the Pain battle section goes to NarutoFan . com. I used their downloads for the quotes and everything in the Pain section.
Later the same day, in Konoha
Naruto walked over to the last Pain, who he had just killed. He grabbed one of his piercings and pulled it out.
"Pain used this to receive chakra, allowing him to move. If I take it out, he shouldn't be able to move anymore…" Naruto thought out loud.
Naruto lingered for a few more moments, and then proceeded to find the REAL Pain, Nagato, that was in a hideout not too far outside of Konoha. He then had a conversation with him, quite a deep one. Peace, beliefs, and other ideology.
"I… will believe in you, Uzumaki Naruto…" and with that, Nagato made a hand sign. He was activating Gedo Rinnetensei. Every dead villager was being revived, and Nagato shared his last words with Naruto and Konan.
"…War brings pain… and wounds and death to both sides… There's nothing harder to accept than the deaths of those you love…… so you believe they can never die…… Especially… those who haven't known war…like… your generation… You try to find meaning in death…… but, there's only pain… and hatred… that you don't know what to do with… Dying like trash… never ending hatred…. Pain that never heals… that… is war… Naruto… this… is what… you must face…heh… the book… and you… it's like… someone… set this all up… or… maybe… this is the hand of the real God… my role is over now… Naruto… you… can really-"
Nagato had just died, entrusting the world to Naruto.
Sakura had just returned from outside and found Suigetsu.
"Suigetsu," Sakura started, and attracted his gaze. "Does Sasuke know anyone in the Akatsuki right now? He said something like 'what is that bastard up to' that sounded like he knew them."
"… Sasuke struck a deal with the Akatsuki. We helped them get the 8-tailed beast and worked with them, but from the start he's been half-hearted about it. If the Akatsuki did anything to Konoha, he will probably withdraw the Taka from working with them," Suigetsu said, trying to be serious, because this was a hard subject for Sakura. Even an idiot could tell that.
Sakura was surprised, but at the same time, she still believed Suigetsu's words. "He sure is switching sides a lot."
"That's an understatement…" Suigetsu joked. Sakura just giggled a little. Even though she was angry with Sasuke and his decisions, she still couldn't help but laugh. Lately, her opinion of Sasuke has been that he's a bit foolish. He's all over the place with his plans, and from a shinobi's perspective, he's ruled by his emotions. Hardy the way to execute a strategy.
"I'm gonna go pack. See you later."
"Alright princess."
Sakura walked back to her room, still thinking about Sasuke. 'I can't wait to see how long it takes for him to get captured in Konoha.' Inner Sakura said casually. Suigetsu somehow put her at ease in the situation.
Before bed the same day
Sakura had just changed into her pajamas. Simple, just loose short-shorts and a tank top. She turned out the lights and was about to climb in bed, when she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in."
Suigetsu opened the door and walked over to her, not bothering with the light.
"Tomorrow might be the last time we see each other, princess," he said with a neutral voice. Sakura looked down before she replied.
"I guess so… before I go to bed, can I say something to you?"
Suigetsu gave her a weird look. "Sure, go ahead."
"Thanks… for being my friend while I was here. You made me feel a lot better."
Suigetsu looked at her and then smiled. "No problem. But before you go to bed, I want to give you something to remember me by."
'I bet he's gonna try to kiss you again!' Inner Sakura screeched. 'Shut. Up.' Practical Sakura replied.
They looked at each other for a moment and then Suigetsu leaned in and grabbed her waist. She looked into his golden eyes as he looked into her jade ones. He then moved his face into hers, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips to hers. She would normally push a guy off that tried to kiss her, but this felt different. It felt… right.
Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck as he licked the outside of her lips, asking for access. She granted it, opening her mouth slightly. Their tongues danced as he pushed her down on the bed.
His hands moved higher up her sides and hers moved around his neck to the hem of his shirt. She lifted it up and he removed his hands and mouth from her and took it off, revealing his muscled torso. So far, she liked what she saw.
"Like what you see this time, Sakura?" he asked playfully.
"You called me Sakura."
"That's your name, isn't it?" and then Suigetsu crashed his lips with hers for the second time. His hands moved up her shirt and she let out a little gasp.
Karin was sitting in the main area with Sasuke and Juugo, and got an odd feeling.
"Sakura and Suigetsu's chakra signals are acting funny. Maybe I'll be nice and see what's going on."
"Hn," Sasuke replied, talkative as usual.
Karin proceeded to walk down the hall to Sakura's room. The uneven chakra signals were getting stronger. She then opened the door and was shocked.
Suigetsu's hands went farther up Sakura's shirt and then a sliver of light hit them. There was Karin, standing there looking at them with her mouth open in disbelief.
Suigetsu slowly took his hands out from under her shirt and Sakura let go of him. They were both red-faced.
"OH MY GOD, THEY WERE MAKING OUT!" screamed Karin as Suigetsu was putting his shirt back on.
"Goddammit…" Suigetsu groaned.
'I told you he was going to kiss you!'
'Shut. Up.'
They can never seem to get any privacy, can they? Next chapter: an awkward conversation, Konoha, and Madara. Next chapter will be up later tonight around 11pm Pacific Time or something.
~akatsukir00lz
