Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Recap: Sakura fell asleep, in dreams she was ale to fully become Rin again and she dreamwalked into Obito's dream.


Sakura woke when a knock at her door jarred her from sleep suddenly. Wiping her eyes and rolling herself up out of bed, she walked over to the closed door of her bedroom.

Sleepy emerald eyes and a pastel pink head of hair poked out of the bedroom door. The insistent knocking continued, from the front door.

She spied the clock on the shelf and the lack of light from behind her east facing window. 'Who could be here at this time? It's not even five yet…'

Sakura opened the door and in walked an orange blur right past her. She blinked twice, and breathed in deeply.

"Finally, the man said.

Sakura stared out her apartment door at the empty street and black unlit house windows. All her neighbors were asleep still, even despite the ruckus her friend had made. The dark sky was not even ready to begin lightening at all. Shutting the door slowly, she turned to face her visitor and hoped she could keep her temper from running away.

Pressing her lips together, she watched the blonde pace.

"Sakura. I'm glad you're up. I can't sleep and I needed to see you. Can you believe him? That Teme! We worked so hard to get him back-"

"Naruto," she said cutting his rant off.

"What?" he snapped and then finally looked at the girl. Taking in her appearance, the pajamas, and matted hair, Naruto stilled in his frantic motions. A regretful look came over his whiskered face. "You weren't awake, were you?"

Sakura's mouth dropped open as she reminded herself that this was her beloved teammate. Don't punch him! Just don't do that!

"How long have you been waiting for me to answer the door? That should be answer enough."

His eyes looked out the small window in the room, avoiding her gaze. He knew she was asleep, probably even before he got to her door step. Sakura could read him despite how much better he'd gotten at lying.

"Naruto."

"I'm sorry! I just needed to talk to you! The only other person I have to talk to about all of this is Sai. Kakashi won't talk to me, and you… "

Naruto was feeling bad about waking her, but it was obvious he had been up all night trying to sort out his thoughts. He needed her to be there for him this time, like he was for her.

"I wish you would talk to me," he said. Sakura felt her annoyance dissipate at his somber tone. "You could've. I wouldn't have laughed, Sakura."

"Naruto," she spoke at last, sitting down on the small sofa. Patting the cushion next to her, he sat down and the dark puffy skin beneath his eyes was all the more obvious. She remembered the questions he asked when Tsunade had told them all about her connection to Rin.

"I didn't really know how to bring it up and there was so much going on as it was." Excuses. She owed him more than a brisk brush off. Sighing she decided to apologize instead. "I'm sorry. Her name was Rin. She was Kakashi's teammate and a medic. I think I might have called her Inner when I was younger, but she's nothing like that in real life. I think the two personalities that were in one body... it kind of made us both crazy." With a sigh, she continued, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

Naruto smiled. "It's okay. I guess stranger things have happened, huh?" He pointed to his belly. "And not just in the world, but... well, just look at our team."

"Team Seven. We sure are dysfunctional."

They both laughed. Naruto listed off the silent misfits, "Yeah. Sasuke-teme, and Sai."

"You and me," Sakura added with a teasing tone. "We are one of a kind." Naruto laughed but Sakura sobered as the memories fell on her. The last time she was on a ninja squad, she could see it suddenly,as if the memories wanted to be remembered. That time, as Rin in that life, she was a part of a Team Seven too, wasn't she? The other members of Team Seven...

"We're forgetting the others... Kakashi, Obito, and your dad, Naruto."

His laugh stalled and his bright blue orbs focused solely on hers. It was like she had poured a bucket of cold water on top of him. Like she held his heart in that moment, because he looked at her with fear and was frozen.

"You knew my dad?" he asked breathlessly.

She nodded. "He was her teacher. Rin's teacher. No, our teacher." She leaned back and before Naruto could ask, Sakura went on reminiscing. "He was brilliant, Naruto." Sakura spoke of his father fondly, proudly as memories replayed before her eyes.

Minato-sensei, she called him. A smile stretched out across Naruto's features as he listened to his pink-haired teammate's stories of missions and ramen outings. Sakura began to tell him stories of her last life as well, even things without his father. Naruto was grateful, because even Kakashi hadn't brought up the topic of his parents or anything else about the past.

Now, he was learning why. There was a lot of heartache that came along with these memories.

The stories were hazy at points, and Sakura often had to stop to remember if what she said was real or just a figment of her imagination, trying to connect the facts with fiction.. She was getting better at determining though what was real, because certain things would stand out. Like they were cemented down whiile others could be altered. She knew those hard as rock events were real.

Before the two teammates knew it, they were lying on the sofa, both with eyes closed, relaxing thinking of their precious people and happy times that they could almost see. Naruto's head was on Sakura's lap as she dazedly played with his hair. Sakura had spoken of Naruto's father and the few memories she had recalled of his mother not long ago and Naruto told her of the time that he met her.

It felt good to be able to talk like this. They both were happy to finally share these unique experiences with someone who wouldn't judge, but would just listen.

Sakura even spoke of her old teammates, and Naruto quietly listened as she spoke of the familiar dynamics. Maybe he knew that she wouldn't have opened up about them if he had asked. Maybe that's why he let her direct the conversation when the two older men's names finally arose. Maybe he was a lot smarter than he let people think.

"He was so much like you, Naruto. Obito was nothing like this man now,but I can't abandon him anymore than I could Sasuke or you or any of our friends."

His hand grasped hers and she let go of the blonde spike she had been touching to see his eyes open and staring at her, concern etched on his face.

"I understand, Sakura-chan," he grinned at her and she smiled down at him. Naruto got up then and walked over to the door a few steps away. The sun was pouring in the window by now and the clock said it was nearly nine in the morning. Sakura was surprised at how long they had been talking. She hadn't noticed at all. She was surprised that she had said all of that with no prompting what so ever. She had spoke about her life as Rin, but the thing that most surprised her was that she didn't confide in Kakashi like she had originally thought she would, or even Sai who was great at just listening. It was Naruto that she had opened up to, and a part of her thought it was fitting that it had been him.

"Thanks for opening the door, Sakura-chan." Green eyes looked up at the blonde's friendly and familiar visage. She was glad that some things would never change.

She hoped she could blame her sudden sincerity on a lack of sleep later. "No. I want to thank you for finding me, Naruto. You're a really good friend."

He smiled that blindingly bright smile at her and started to back out the now open door. As he went to close it, he said as his eyes dimmed, "We'll save them, Sakura. I promise." And like that, he was gone.

Her eyes widened at the words he'd spoken. She almost called out to him, said that he didn't have to do that. She didn't want to have him promise her anything again, not after last time, but the door was closed before she could say a word. As Sakura stared at the back of the door, all she could feel was gratitude. All she could say was, "Thank you."


A/N: Review Please, Let me know what you think, and thanks to everyone that's reviewed so far.