Chapter 8: Ninja Relations and Farewells

Quick AN: Ok this chapter is more like a conclusion from the Senju arc.

The next 1 or 2 chapters will be dedicated to Naruto's passing through the Ino-Shika-Cho lands, this will be like a transition chapter(s) with information and more training for Naruto about the ninja age, also expect lemon!.

Still waiting for enough reviews to decide on Naruto's next major clan to visit, even anonymous will do!

As Naruto and the girls exited their room, the first thing they noticed was that the security onboard had been tripled and was fully armed with swords, crossbows and spears. They cursed under their breaths as last night they were to "busy" to notice the new arrival of more guards to the boat. They also noticed that the number of attendants had greatly diminished and could barely be seen.

This would make any attempt to spy, fight or escape far more difficult than they had anticipated not mentioning the inconvenience of being on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

Sakura and Tsunade knew that the increased security could mean a number of possibilities; some high ranking member was coming, eliminate anyone who won't invest with them or they suspected a spy was onboard. Whatever the reason the whole situation became very dangerous for everyone.

Naruto on his side thought that something just wasn't right about the increased security; they already had a skilled ninja onboard, so skilled that managed to remain hidden from them all this time, he didn't felt things were particularly dangerous for him and the girls but still sensed something horrible was about to happen.

As they crossed to have breakfast they noticed that the other patrons were worried as well for the increased security and a bit annoyed for the small number of female attendants left on the boat, also Kita wasn't anywhere to be seen.

As the day progressed their suspicions grew worse; Naruto tried asking for Kita's whereabouts pretending to have a small date later on, but no one onboard gave him a straight answer.

Gathering on the boat's deck to avoid being heard they discussed their current situation.

"Any thoughts on what's going on?" asked Naruto who clearly didn't had any idea but couldn't get the feeling that something horrible was about to occur.

"The remaining attendants seemed to be nervous but I don't think they know what's going on" said Sakura as she watched carefully in the surroundings while holding on to Naruto from his left side.

Tsunade on her right spoke "The guards on the other side seemed excited and expectant, like if waiting for something to happen, I tried to seduce one of the guards to know, but he was tight lipped; which means whatever he knows is going to happen soon, judging by the time, during lunch and the proposal"

"Think Kita will be there?" asked Naruto

"Can't tell, for all we know she may have already left the boat or the ninja onboard will appear disguised as her" answered Tsunade who was trying to remember if she had ever seen such tactics from a ninja.

"What bothers me is, if they invited all this wealthy people to make them investors and facilitators, why get them nervous like this a few hours before the event? Even if they were to kill anyone who refused to invest, the best chance would be when they don't expect any danger"

The mystery just grew larger in their minds as lunch time was nearing, the only available option was to assist the event and be prepared for anything, and disaster seemed apparent but having no way to escape they would have to face it.

The team returned to their room in order to prepare, having brought in sealing scrolls large amounts of ninja tools and equipment, Naruto's only weapon for the coming event was his trusted Tri-Kunai; this time he would not miss, this time he would not fail his friends, this time if the need arises, would be out for blood.

Having prepared, concealing equipment and weapons, they headed slowly to the main deck were tables were displayed for the main event. They were the last to arrive, with Naruto still trying to sport his playboy look. As they were seated and being served lunch, the best choice was to avoid eating it at all, just in case the food was poisoned or affected with some drug.

By time dessert was being served Kita Hubei made her appearance on the main stage and after dismissing all attendants addressed the audience staring at them with an expectant look in her eyes.

"Fine gentlemen, before I continue let me thank you on my organization's behalf, your presence here speaks volumes of your commitment to make your way through life" at this part she stared right into Naruto's eyes "Your ruthless and most disgusting decaying ways has always been a great reminder of why regular people should bow their heads to their superiors!!!" With this she closed her eyes briefly.

Sakura and Tsunade noticed the sudden killer intent emanating from Kita towards the whole audience, they realized that the ninja onboard has always been her; they tensed for combat but became frozen when Kita started to open her eyes.

Dark red eyes with three spinning tomoes stared intensely into Naruto who felt like if his entire body became terribly heavy and his reflexes were dulling; before fading completely all he could hear was Sakura's voice screaming something at him.

Naruto reopened his eyes but he was no longer standing along his companions, this time he was standing only in his pants on a barren wasteland with a lightly illuminated moon over him, no stars could be seen and the only thing he could hear was his own breathing.

Suddenly like a mirage Kita's image appeared before him.

"Mmm, Ryuji seems you are more resilient than the rest of those filthy sub humans, that means you are trained in some shinobi arts" licking her lips she continued "You lied to me the other day, didn't you?" "You weren't looking for me, so taking this chance let me know why you are here, what were you expecting to do by boarding this ship?"

Naruto replied angrily but with a certain degree of fear in his voice, he knew he was trapped in a genjutsu but this was the most impressive and strongest genjutsu he has ever seen, so strong in fact that he was incapable of controlling his own actions much less his chakra.

"What did you do with my companions!?"

Kita laughed lightly "Those sluts are your partners in crime?" "Thanks for that bit of information"

"You see Ryuji, we are trapped inside a world where I am a goddess, and a whole day here is barely a second out in the real world" "Our little exchange is happening at a speed that only light could hope to match"

Now tracing his chest Kita leaned on him "So, are you going to tell me? Or should I make you?" "I am fine in any case"

Naruto realized he was at her mercy, but no matter what he would not speak of anything regarding his mission.

Kita's face made a small pout "Ok, have it your way I will make you tell me everything I need, and just for the fun, I will make you tell me all your secrets, desires, nightmares, and dreams"

Stretching Kita leaned on him once again, "So let's begin my dear, you seem strong so it will be my pleasure to rip apart your mind"

For Naruto It seems like entire hours have gone by now, he had managed to keep Kita out from his head so far using an exercise Jiraiya taught him in case he was interrogated with torture. He had to create a thought he could grab on to and focus solely on it so the enemy couldn't have any openings. His thought was Riku and his promise to never fail a comrade again.

"Well I have to recognize it, your mental fortitude is far stronger than I have anticipated" "But that doesn't mean I have been completely unsuccessful…Naruto, that is your name isn't it?" "The little thing you eat with ramen or the maelstrom, I wonder which one you are"

Naruto panicked, he had faltered he needed to focus!

"This is getting tiresome, so I am not going to be gentle anymore" "This is your last chance Naruto, tell me what are you doing here or I will make you suffer so much that hell will look like a nice resting place"

Naruto remained silent and resolute.

"Fine, but remember this isn't personal" she faded away, he was alone again.

A new mirage started to appear before him, he immediately recognized the figure as Riku who approached him and hugged him tenderly.

"You are fighting so gallantly on my name, me a little girl, I feel so honored" "I wish I could stay with you like this, you would protect me and I wouldn't have to fight or fear anymore"

Naruto was crying, her touch felt so real for a moment he allowed himself to just think she was indeed alive.

But at that moment appearing like a ghost the rogue ninja appeared in front of them. Riku jumped behind Naruto who was still unable to move.

"Please help me Lord Naruto! I am scared!"

"He he he, seems like we meet again boy, still scared of killing?" the rogue ninja said while grinning widely.

The rogue ninja yanked Riku from Naruto's back and threw her on the ground where she remained frozen in panic. The rogue then approached her like a hungry animal with lust in his eyes and started to rip her clothes revealing her young 14 year old body.

"Stop!!! You bastard stop!!!!!!!!!!!" Naruto screamed with all his might unable to move but the ninja didn't hear him as he continued to rip Riku's clothes.

Feeling mad like never before, everything started to acquire that red hue, his breathing turned harder and faster.

"I SAID STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

At this the entire area seem like a cracked piece of glass, the background exploded into pieces as a strong wind emanating from behind Naruto erased the illusion before him, leaving Kita exposed to his wrath.

Kita was speechless and unable to move she felt like her own genjutsu was working against her, the wind was now carrying a red mist that burned her on contact; she saw Naruto who was approaching her slowly, with his eyes covered by his hair.

Naruto growled deeply feeling so angry, he really wanted to smash her but some part of him told him that everything was an illusion; he remembered her last words "…remember this isn't personal…"

He growled again and screaming with rage "GET OUT!!!"

Kita felt an immense gust of wind pushing her farther from Naruto as her grip on his mind was quickly breaking; the last thing she could see from his mindscape was two gigantic red slitted eyes above and behind Naruto.

Naruto opened his eyes and realized he was still standing at the same spot he was when Kita began her Genjutsu, he turned to see Sakura and Tsunade beating the guards who were trying to kill them but failing miserably; he turned again and saw all the rich men lying dead on the tables with lost looks and foam coming from their mouths, apparently Kita played a number on them as well, he was lucky to be trained or else he would be in the same position.

Regaining his composure he took out his Tri-Kunai and launched himself to where Kita was kneeling panting and trembling, he took her from the neck and placed his kunai next to her throat; he was going to demand her surrender but she beat him to it by immediately surrendering and whimpering in the process. She had seen a real piece of hell after all.

xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo

The battle was briefly ended with most guards being killed by Sakura and Tsunade, apparently the guards were actually bandits in disguise, brought under the promise of stealing from really rich people.

Naruto had tied Kita to a chair and had her blindfolded just in case she did her eye thing again.

When Sakura and Tsunade came to check up on Naruto he had Kita already subdued and tied up, they quickly explained that she was an Uchiha and that he was placed under a really potent genjutsu, they had to make a defensive perimeter ignoring Kita to deal with the disguised bandits.

Both wanted to know how he had escaped such technique but he seemed really upset and a bit uncontrolled as his actions were erratic, they figured that he managed to break free but went a bit scarred after the experience.

Naruto once again stepped close to Kita and held his Kunai next to her throat; he really wanted to end her life. "What the hell is going on!?" "Why you killed the investors, why are there bandits!?"

Kita having collected herself and knowing that her life was at his hands replied carefully

"I was on a long term mission from my clan" she wouldn't say more than she needed.

Naruto was very surprised, this was something he never expected, another ninja could be present in the area but to think that she was in a mission like them was a reality of the ninja age he never thought of.

Indeed many battles and even wars started because the objectives of two ninja belonging to different clans went against each other, one had to destroy the other had to defend and so their battle was inevitable.

At this piece of information Tsunade took Kita's bandage away from her eyes, Naruto tried to stop her but Tsunade spoke first.

"I am Tsunade Senju, princess of the Senju clan, lords of the northern forest; in proclamation of the armistice signed 10 years ago I demand an explanation for your presence and interference in a Senju clan mission!"

Kita was surprised to see such a high ranking member of the Senju before her, now that she looked well, she was indeed said woman, only her look, which remained that of a slutty mature slave, fooled her well enough.

"To begin with, my name isn't Kita Hubei, said person perished almost a year ago, my name is Kitara Uchiha of the Uchiha clan, lords of the eastern lands and masters of fire, and I am the first niece of Fugaku Uchiha, current clan leader"

Tsunade not expecting a member of the Uchiha royalty to be present decided that to avoid conflict the best way to go would be diplomacy; she had Sakura untie her and check her up for any injuries.

Naruto was very confused, a moment ago this woman was a member of the Momochi Raiders, the next moment she killed over 100 of the wealthiest people in the Land of Fire and had him terribly tortured in a genjutsu, and now she just said she was from some other clan and had Tsunade and Sakura helping her get up and making sure she was fine.

Getting close and whispering to Sakura's ear he asked "Sakura-chan, why are we helping her? Didn't she just destroyed our mission?"

"Naruto she isn't a Momochi Raider, she is royalty from one of the most powerful clans in the Land of Fire and perhaps the world, our mission for all purposes is over so there is no longer any need for fighting"

"Not to mention that mishandling a ninja from the Uchiha is a bad idea, we signed an armistice ten years ago to stop the fighting that consumed our clans for many generations, Tsunade –sensei as royalty herself has the duty of keeping our clan's honor and safety above everything, even the mission"

Naruto now remembered that Jiraiya once said that the world was divided into many clans and each one was radically different from the other, peaceful politics among them were rare and when peace was achieved was hardly kept.

"So that means we are to treat her with respect and honor?"

"No, that means that we have to be very careful, many on both clans wants the armistice to be broken and reignite the hostilities, we have to tread carefully on this kind of encounters, the last thing we want is to be blamed for re starting the war among the clans of the Land of Fire!"

Back to Tsunade

"So our paths crossed because our missions had something to do with the Momochi Raiders, mind sharing with us your info on the Raiders in exchange we tell you what we know"

Kitara now free from her restraints but continuously eyeing Naruto responded

"Fine I will tell you what you want, my mission is almost over already; Over a year and a half ago one of our intelligence units found evidence that an underground criminal organization started to operate within the Land of Water and its operations were getting dangerously close to the Land of Fire, our leaders dismissed it as nothing but a small time band of thugs abusing the unprotected villages in Water that wouldn't dare to cross the border"

"We were wrong as the organization attacked one of our scouting parties when they encountered a small smuggling operation of rice being transported illegally out from our lands"

"The party was attacked by ninja not mere thugs or Samurai, we lost one scout and the others had to flee"

"After that incident it was determined that this criminal organization was far more than it looked like, and so I was assigned to investigate"

"Over a year ago I infiltrated Green Mist a large neutral city in Water, disguised as another refugee from the constant fighting among Water clans; in this city I met the real Kita Hubei who to my surprise was very similar to my appearance and age. Her front was that of an owner of several whorehouses who received orphaned girls from the battles and gave them jobs as prostitutes and courtesans, in reality she used her girls to establish probable business contacts for the Raiders"

"Since I was almost identical to her I became her favorite to keep close, I suspected it was in case of an assassin she could use me as bait or failsafe in case she failed the Raiders"

"I worked with her for some weeks learning everything I could about them and her; I intended to use our similarity to further infiltrate the Raiders in the future"

"There I learned about Zabuza and his intentions to conquer the Land of Water…"

"When Kita received notice that the Momochi Raiders intended to enter the Land of Fire through a different location and needed her and her girls to gather contacts in Fire"

"Having learned all this I thought that my mission was over, but when I relayed the info to my superiors they commanded that I stopped them from entering the Land of Fire, and was cleared to use any means necessary. The presence of the Raiders in Fire could become a destabilizing force among the clans of Fire and no war would start from a bunch or criminals"

"I killed Kita that day and took over her duties, I sold the whore houses and used the money to build the Casino and the boat; my intention was to attract all those in the Land of Fire and the border with Lightning with enough money and arrogance to challenge the ninja supremacy on Fire and annihilate them all in one blow"

"I succeeded, this way any attempts of the Raiders to infiltrate Fire will stop since they will know that we are watching and we know they exist not to mention that any future investor will be scared to death; as we speak the casino is on fire and Kita will sink along with this boat"

Tsunade nodded taking in all the info Kitara gave her

"It seems the Uchiha managed to infiltrate them a long time ago; would you mind sharing with us if they have any other activities in Fire, I believe the same about the Raiders being a danger for our clans and in good relations name the info could prove valuable"

"You don't have to worry about that, I was the liaison to start business in Fire after my clan destroyed their smuggling operations on the eastern borderlands, they don't have any reach beyond what happened here, and after today they will turn their heads towards Lightning were clans actually profit from such decaying things as slavery and the like"

"Zabuza wants funds to conquer Water, that is his main drive; unfortunately I didn't manage to get close to the man or learn how close to reach his goal he is"

"He could become a dangerous enemy if he succeeds and have the entire country at his grasp, no clan or ninja has conquered an entire elemental land before"

"But with this we bought time and now there is nothing else to do except sink this boat and get back home"

Pleased knowing that the mission was over and a great deal of trouble for the Senju has been averted, Tsunade told the team to abandon the ship along with Kitara as they travelled back to Taki to make sure the casino was nothing but ashes. On the way Naruto never spoke once to the Uchiha, in his mind she was a formidable ninja, having the guts the brains and the will to last years on a single mission, but what she did to him was beyond forgiveness.

On Kitara's mind she acknowledged both Senju girls, the fabled Tsunade and her terrifying apprentice Sakura (word spreads fast!) but Naruto was a mystery. Yes, he was a ninja, but her little mind illusions demonstrated that he wasn't a member of Senju, actually his behavior seemed that of a person bred entirely different to a regular ninja.

And then the last things she saw on his mind the rage, the killer intent, the evil in those eyes; how a boy who seemed so joyous, always smiling to the pinky and grinning like an idiot, could have such things in his core?

Kitara though a bit afraid of his reaction decided to ask "Naruto I can tell you are not from Senju, would you please tell me where you come from?"

Naruto looked at her an just huffed and ignored her

Kitara was now angry, he was acting like a child, she told him that what happened wasn't personal, true the image she used was awful and even herself felt a bit bad for it but she was on a mission!

"Aw common you are still mad for the genjutsu?" "I said it wasn't personal!" "What kind of ninja you are if you don't get that?"

Sakura interjected and dragged Kitara away "Naruto is a, mmm, special case he isn't accustomed to this sort tactics; let me talk to him"

Sakura moved over to Naruto, Sakura seemed like explaining something to him, he huffed as he answered something and Sakura then leaned and spoke softly in his ear.

The next second Naruto was in front of Kitara blushing a bit but still somewhat angry with her

"If you apologize I will forgive you" stated Naruto

Kitara was dumbfounded; Uchihas are among the proudest persons you will find, the single idea of apologizing to an unknown ninja was preposterous. But then again the mystery was eating her away and no one had to know right?

"I am sorry" Kitara spoke in a low voice very much like a child

"What? Didn't heard you speak loud and clear or I won't forgive you"

"I AM SORRY!!!" screamed Kitara

Naruto thinking he had her continued "Sorry for what?"

At this Kitara ignited her Sharingan and dangerously said "Don't push it kid!"

Naruto covered his eyes and whimpered "Ok OK I forgive you just don't show me the evil eye"

Kitara relaxed and deactivated her Sharingan "Hey we began with the wrong step, I am Kitara Uchiha as you know"

Naruto rose smiling at her friendliness "And I am Naruto the new sage from Myoboku!"

Tsunade and Sakura couldn't believe he just told someone else (again) he was a sage!

Surprised Kitara stepped back, "A sage? As in the sages from legend?"

"Yup, that's what I am!"

"I actually believe that, it explains a few things" grinning "especially how you can please several times two women like them"

Tsunade, Sakura and Naruto went scarlet at this. Naruto timidly asked "You saw that?"

Kitara grinned even more "The whole thing!; you know I actually wanted a bit from that myself"

Naruto fainted, Sakura was crying and Tsunade just sighed.

xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo

Kitara left the group on the entrance of the Senju forest as she wanted to take some days to relax before reporting back at the Uchihas, she also warned Naruto that he will have to make good on his promise of compensate her for the trouble they caused onboard. (Read last chapter).

The group decided to stay the night at the staging ground before moving to Green Keep, once again Tsunade managed to convince them of sleeping together since it felt so nice(no sex this time); also because she somehow knew that Naruto would be leaving them soon…

Next day they departed at first hour towards Green Keep to report in and have Naruto make a decision.

The group arrived by nightfall to the city so Tsunade decided to go ahead to the palace and tell them the mission was a success and the report would be given the next day. Tsunade told them both to go and have a date or whatever they wanted to do.

Sakura took Naruto for an easy stroll through the city as they walked with arms linked, under the luminescent trees that worked as light poles (green energies!)

"That was some exciting mission right Naruto?"

"Yeah it was, it taught me a lot of things"

"Me too, but more than anything I got to be with you, I am so happy you came to my life, I was afraid I was going to be left alone the rest of my life…but now that's just a bad memory"

"I am thankful for meeting you and the others as well, I once felt I didn't belonged to this world, that I did something wrong when father kicked me out from Myoboku and it was a punishment"

"He sent me to learn all the wonderful things of being a human and know true happiness"

Sakura looked up to him, the stars and the lights made him look almost like a dream, but as dreams fade she just hold on to his neck and gave him the softest kiss he has received so far.

He returned it as well and soon they were in a tender hug as they lightly kissed each other.

Naruto stopped and watched Sakura, she had changed since they first saw each other at the hospital, she once looked so rough, pushy and somewhat of really strong character; now she looked so delicate, her emerald green eyes were glowing intensely, her lips were the softest thing he touched, and he just wanted to kiss her forehead, she had turned into what Jiraiya always said a woman could be, a living goddess…

Sakura realizing the desire in his eyes led him to a nearby hotel, she could always tell her family she just arrived.

That night the only thing that happened between them was love.

xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo xoxoxoxo

The next day Naruto and Sakura exited the hotel, as they were walking Naruto spoke

"Say Sakura; remember what you told me when we returned from our first mission together?

"Mmm, yeah about finding something worth doing with your skills, have you decided?

"That's the problem, I know I want to stop tragedies, like Riku's, from happening again but even with all the skills and knowledge I have so far, I can't find a way to do it, there is so much I still don't know about the world and its people, I can't understand why someone betrays their home so easily, why others desire to conquer whole nations, why others kill so easily just because it's more convenient or fast, is all this chaos what being a ninja is!?"

Sakura looked at his face, he wasn't scared or terribly confused like in the woods when Riku died he was determined to find an answer for his questions and sadly she realized that those answers weren't in this forest alone, they were spread throughout the world and as all Sages from legend, he would have to walk the world seeking that knowledge or leave it for the next sage to find.

She didn't answer anything and just held his hand as they made way for the Senju Palace.

Once they arrived Naruto was surprised to see the Palace full of people in wonderful clothing as if for a celebration. Tsunade who was dressed in a light green summer dress came to grab them and lead them towards the Ancestors Hall, were Nawaki and Yamato were greeting several monks and priests that respect the forest deities. Apparently they lost track of time and arrived during the many celebrations for the forest deities and the Senju clan ancestors.

They spend the day dancing, eating, and drinking to their hearts content, for Naruto this was his first celebration among humans, he was truly grateful for the ninja world to also have its joyous moments, if only he could make them all like this for everyone.

The next day the celebrations were done and Naruto was before Yamato and Nawaki, also present stood Tsunade and Sakura.

"Naruto, I am glad your second mission proved to be a success, though luck had a great deal of importance, no ninja can survive out there without it. And according to Tsunade and Sakura your performed perfectly, you kept your cover to the very end fooling effectively an Uchiha, which is no easy feat"

"In the name of the Senju I declare your debt to us fulfilled, you are free to do as you wish"

Nawaki who has been quiet in presence of Naruto all this time spoke up.

"I Nawaki Senju, future leader of Clan Senju which to express my gratitude to the sage Naruto for visiting us, your stay was brief and filled with both victory and grief but I can tell great things awaits you"

"It's for this that I extend an invitation to formally join our clan and spend your days as a brother to us all"

Naruto was speechless, the leader of a clan offered him a new home and a real human family to be with; he allowed himself to dream a little about such a life.

Smiling he replied the best he could "Lord Senju, I am truly thankful for such honor but I am afraid I can't accept; I claim to be a sage but they are men and women of great wisdom and knowledge, the day I become one is still many days and journeys away from me"

Sakura felt a little sad about such words but also acknowledged the little piece of wisdom in them, Naruto just learned humility and self awareness, and he was at least on the right path.

"I am sorry to hear that, but we are all glad that such a future sage will grace our times, perhaps you will find that great illuminating experience the ninja age needs"

"I hope that if you do, your path takes you back to us, for you can call the Senju your friends as long as our forests stand"

Yamato was pleased with Nawaki's words, he would become a great ruler some day, and finally some vacations for himself!

Tsunade hugged Naruto tenderly and gave him a good luck kiss on his forehead and gave him a neck less with a beautiful green rock, she told him it was a treasure given by the Senju to the most worthy friends and allies, and it would bring him good luck.

Sakura was assigned to escort him out of the forest to the southern exit. Both stood at the edge of the forest as the sun was setting, Sakura looked very sad but tried to remain calm and strong for him.

Flashback

Naruto and Jiraiya were eating after an intense ninjutsu training session; Jiraiya had been trying to teach Naruto all he could about the things outside the mountain and of course about women.

"Naruto, from all the things about women I have taught you, this one you have to remember above all things; All women are maidens with fragile hearts, once broken it's very difficult to put them back together and they never become like they used to, for a woman the words "I love you" are incredibly hard to say honestly, so if you don't love them back or you aren't sure of your feelings, do or say anything but lie"

"Hey are you hearing me!?"

End Flashback

Naruto smiled at the memory, his father did have some wisdom after all.

"Sakura-chan, remember you told me you loved me?

Sakura blushed lightly at her heated confession and nodded, is he going to confess?, is he going to reject me?

"I didn't knew what to say then, and to be honest I am still at a loss about it"

Sakura dropped her head but Naruto caught her and lifted her face to his.

"There is so much I don't know about myself and everything else out there; but you are the very first thing I can say without doubt that is beautiful, strong and overall wonderful"

"You are my first friend and that already makes you like no other in my eyes"

"As far as saying that I love you, it would be unfair to tell you that and show uncertainty"

"I will be on the road, I will learn a lot, I will get stronger and when I finally find something worthy to achieve; I will return and tell you my feelings"

Naruto hugged her as warmly as he could

"So stay beautiful, stay strong like the wonderful Sakura trees you showed me"

At this he kissed her once on her lips and once on her forehead.

Sakura smiled

"Then I will wait and whatever you decide, I will smile when you return no matter what you have to say"

At this Naruto gave her his biggest smile "Then see ya Sakura-chan!"

She laughed a bit and watched him as he went southwards in search of a worthy goal…

AN: Done! That also took me longer than I expected.

For "uhm of ohm" - (anonymous reviewer) I am truly sorry if my story didn't met your standards or if there are some details that are a bit hard to grasp, but as I said this is my first story ever, as I warned several times in the summary and the prologue.

Also it would be nice if your reviews seemed more serious rather than insults to my intelligence or writing skills, I am new to this and though I want criticism, I expected helpful criticism not just pointing how dumb I am.

You reviewed only the first chapter, so don't expect me to give all the secrets and all the reasons for the setting and the story overall, from chapter one! And I am trying to write my own original stuff so don't use the manga to criticize me.

Lastly it takes certain amount of courage, a good idea, and time to write this stuff so if you don´t have anything helpful to say don't bother reviewing again or any other story for that matter

Rant done, let's move on.

The next chapter(s) will be Naruto staying for a few days with the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka clans, why? You'll see.

I am still waiting for at least one person to tell me which major clan will Naruto visit next, you have until next chapter to tell me so vote people!

Seeing that not everyone is nice out there, any future reviews please make them in a respectful tone if you have any criticism so be it but also give advice if you can, I really want to be like the great authors I have seen at this site and that inspired me to start writing after years of doubt.

Thanks a million for reading and please review more often.