CHAPTER 9 THE PAIN OF LOSS

Naruto stood in the training field sweating and breathing heavily while Jiraiya and Sakura sat off to the side.

"So any luck?" Jiraiya asked Sakura getting a confused look to go across her face.

"Luck? In what?" Sakura asked still confused

"In getting him too like you of course." Jiraiya said with a wide grin, getting a huge blush to cover Sakura's face.

"Wwhwhwhat?" Sakura asked blubbering in shock "What do you mean? I don't like him, I I I…."

"Hehehhe." Jiraiya chuckled "Oh you are just too easy to read." He continued to smile.

"I am?" Sakura asked disheartened dropping her head

"Well I am trained and versed in how to read people." Jiraiya replied "Now what is the problem?"

"What makes you think there is a problem?" Sakura stuttered

"Oh please you have been dotting over him ever since I brought you over to be his onsite medic." Jiraiya replied "And he has been ignoring you."

"Yeah." Sakura sighed with a lowered head.

"Hey don't get so down." Jiraiya replied getting Sakura to raise her head "back when we were traveling together he would never shut up about you, even in his sleep." Jiraiya replied

"Yeah but I hurt him so badly since then." She replied

"Perhaps but those feelings don't just go away that easily, no matter how hard you try to get rid of them." Jiraiya sighed as a distant look went across his face.

"Yeah but he is dating Ino now." Sakura replied

"Wait when did that happen? I knew they had lunch a few times back before that mission but making them actual dates?" Jiraiya asked

"Oh the great spy master can't keep tabs on his own pupil?" Sakura said mockingly

"Well I have been… preoccupied lately." Jiraiya defended as a shiver went down his spin.

"Well if you had been paying attention to him you would have known him and Ino have been going out for lunch almost every other day since he has stopped subbing for Iruka." Sakura sighed with a defeated tone.

"Well isn't this funny." Jiraiya chuckled getting a look of rage to flash across Sakura's face

"What's so funny about?" Sakura said as her eyes whited out and she raised her fists to pummel him.

"It's just that I thought mine and Naruto's situations were the same but it turns out it's your situation that is the same as mine." Jiraiya said as he shook his head

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked calming down a bit and confused

"Well I have loved Tsunade ever since the academy but I was young a stupid so I never let any of that show but teased her instead. So she learned to hate me for it but we grew as close as brother and sisters. Then Dan came into the picture." Jiraiya sighed

"Who is Dan?" Sakura asked

"Well makes sense she wouldn't tell you who he was, it is something you never bring up around her unless you have a death wish." Jiraiya sighed "Dan was Shizune's uncle, and Tsunade's fiancé."

"What?!" Sakura asked in shock "I never knew Shisho was going to get married."

"Yeah but he died on mission while Tsunade was trying to heal him." Jiraiya said getting a look of sadness from Sakura. "After he died she lost all hope and never let anyone else in again, that was when she left the village. As I said I thought Naruto was like me chasing you like I chased her. You only saw him as the annoying little brat but also the brother you grew up with, like with me and Tsunade. But now the roles are reversed you are me and he is Tsunade. You have these feeling for him but he refuses to see them because of past pain."

"But how do I get him away from Ino and make him mine?" Sakura asked.

"That is one thing you'll have to figure out, if you haven't noticed I failed that part of it. Tsunade will never love me like I love her." Jiraiya sighed as he got up and began to walk away.

"So you're saying I have no chance?" Sakura sighed

"No I'm saying I'm out of time but you still have plenty of it just don't give up." Jiraiya said

"Hey Master Jiraiya something Lady Tsunade taught me was that it's never too late… for anything." Sakura called out to him as it just received a chuckle from the old pervert as she turned and looked back at Naruto who was flashing between two points.


Meanwhile in Tsunade's office Asuma's team along with Izumo and Kotetsu were standing in front of her desk about to get briefed on a new mission.

"Alright we have just received a report from the fire temple that two members of the Akatsuki have attacked it and have killed the head monk Chiriku for his bounty, from what the witnesses statement." Tsunade getting Asuma to take in a deep breath of anger.

"They killed Chiriku?" Asuma asked with a bit of anger.

"Yes one of the former twelve ninja guardians." Tsunade replied "One of your former comrades I assume?"

"Yes and a very good friend." Asuma replied still with anger in his tone.

"Well they have been sighted on the road between the temple and here. Your mission is to kill, or capture if possible. But don't risk it if you can't." Tsunade replied as she held out a scroll.

"Do we know why they are coming here?" Shikimaru asked

"Well if they are collecting bounties I'm sure we have plenty of ninja's with bounties on their heads." Choji offered.

"No they are coming here for our jinchuriki." Tsunade replied getting a confused look from Choji and a shocked one from Ino "This is an S-class secret but since you are going after them you may as well know why. The Akatsuki have been hunting down the tailed beasts such as the one tails that was sealed inside Gaara. Now they are after the Nine tailed Fox."

"But the fourth killed the fox when it attacked the village sixteen years ago." Choji replied

"That was just the cover story that was told to the younger generation." Tsunade sighed getting a shocked look from Choji "The truth is it was sealed inside a baby and…"

"Naruto." Ino nearly whispered cutting off Tsunade. "Their after Naruto-kun?!" she said louder

"How do you know?" Tsunade asked forcefully but with shock

"When I was on that mission to recover Gaara, Sakura said that Sasori had called the ANBU that saved her the nine tails jinchuriki, and Naruto is that ANBU." Ino explained getting Tsunade to lower her head to her hand.

"Well before I was interrupted I was going to say the identity of the jinchuriki was made and S-rank secret." Tsunade said getting a look of panic across Ino's face "It was so that none of you would look at him like he was the beast but even that didn't work."

"Wait Naruto has the nine tailed fox in him and is an ANBU?" Choji asked with shock then looked over at Shikimaru who just had his normal bored expression on his face "You don't seem shocked about this?"

"Because I knew." Shikimaru replied "I figured out the whole fox thing a while ago and I am one of the hokage's aids I have meet a few of the ANBU and I figured out one was Naruto a while back."

"Any way we are getting off subject." Tsuande snapped "Take the mission and go take them out before they can cause any more trouble."

"Yes ma'am." Asuma said as he walked up and took the scroll


It had been two days since Sakura had her talk with Jiraiya and she sat at the training field watching Naruto jumping around throwing kunai around the training area and then somehow teleporting to them. She sat there thinking about the conversation she had with Jiraiya and how she didn't want to be like her master and be alone because she couldn't accept her own feelings toward her teammate.

"Oh stop this pity party already." Came inners voice

'What?' Sakura asked in confusion

"Oh cry baby cry." Inner mocked

'Hey knock it off.' Sakura defended

"No you knock it off. You are not like Tsunade unlike her you have already realized your feelings for Naruto and have already declared to fight for him." Inner berated

'Well yeah of course…' Sakura began but was cut off

"Then where the hell is that fight?" inner asked "Ever since he started going out with Ino you have merely given up. When the hell has that ever been our way of doing things?"

'Never but…' Sakura began

"But nothing." Inner cut off

'But he is dating Ino and she is our best friend.' Sakura countered

"Yeah they have been on a few dates, so what?" inner replied "Have they officially become boyfriend girlfriend yet?"

'Well no.' Sakura replied

"Exactly so as far as the rest of the world is concerned he is still fair game." Inner replied

'Well I guess you're right.' Sakura said perking up a bit

"Of course I am now Ino is off on a mission with her team this is our chance we should go have lunch with him and get closer while she is away." Inner plotted

'Yeah.' Sakura said with new confidence 'We won't be like Shisho and just give up on our feelings.'

"That's the spirit." Inner responded with glee.

"Ah fuck!" came Naruto's voice snapping Sakura out of her thoughts as she looked over and saw Naruto on the far side of the training field leaning against a tree with blood running down his leg. She quickly jumped up and ran toward him to help. Once she got to him she saw a large gash running from his upper thigh down to his knee. She quickly sat him down and began to heal the wound.

"Hey Naruto I was wondering if you would like to go and grab some lunch after this?" Sakura asked as she finished healing his wound.

He took a moment and looked up at the sun and then turned back to her and said "Yeah sure it's getting to be about that time." And he stood up and began to walk toward town

'Alright now we just have to make it feel as much like a date as possible.' Sakura told herself as she trotted to catch up with him.


A short while later Naruto and Sakura found themselves sitting at the stools of Naruto's favorite ramen stand. Sakura was picking at her first bowl while Naruto was inhaling his fifth.

"Damn't why does his favorite place have to have stools?" inner complained "If we went to the bbq place we could of squeezed into a booth with him."

'If we did that he might get freaked out.' Sakura counted 'Remember we aren't exactly his favorite person right now so we have to take it easy and work our way back to where we were.'

"Well while we are taking it slow, god only knows what Ino is doing with him while we aren't around." Inner whined

'Oh shut up inner.' Sakura sighed as she ate more of her ramen then turned to Naruto "So you seem to be getting better at that new jutsu you're working on. I haven't had to patch you up as often." She says with a hint of disappointment that she was no longer needed as much for his training.

"Yeah but I can only go so far. From what I've been told about this I should be able to travel a lot further in a single jump." Naruto replied as he set down his bowl

"And what exactly is this jutsu, I may be able to help." Sakura offered

"Sorry it's an S-rank jutsu I can't tell people what it is till I master it, and the last person to master it was before our time and it was unique to him." Naruto replied

"Then how do you know about it?" Sakura asked getting Naruto to choke on his noodles seeing he was caught.

"Sorry that is also an S-rank secret. I only learned about it after I was in the ANBU." Naruto offered.

"Alright since it was in the ANBU you do have higher clearance than me so that makes sense." Sakura sighed "It's just I don't seem to be of much use and I thought I may be able to help."

"Hey don't put yourself down so much you are a great medic and that is a hard thing to accomplish." Naruto replied getting Sakura to look over at him as a small blush crossed her cheeks "Hell I only know the basics of it but…" Naruto says holding up his hand and putting chakra into it and it glowed orange instead of green "my chakra is infused with the fox's, and since you have to put your chakra into someone to force healing it doesn't work out so well, does more harm than good. But I don't need to tell you the harm the fox can inflict." He says gesturing toward her arm

Sakura stared at his hand for a second as his hands slowly turned from normal to clawed. "And that happens if I leave them covered with chakra for too long." He says as he stops the chakra to his hand and it goes back to normal.

"Well I guess we all have our advantages and disadvantages." Sakura says trying to make him feel better.

"Yeah you're smart and are actually good at healing." Naruto said in a bit of a depressed tone "and I'm good at destroying things."

"Hey that's not what I…" Sakura began but was cut off as he whipped his head around to the outside of the shop causing her to do the same and they just caught the sight of someone running by and what sounded like crying.

"Hey Konohamaru wait up." Came a male and female voice Naruto came out to see Moegi and Udon standing outside the stand huffing from running.

"What's the matter?" Naruto asked

"Oh boss, Konohamaru he went to speak with the Hokage and when we asked him about it he just ran off." Moegi replied

"Alright I'll go see what is up with him you guys go find Ebisu and let him know I will take care of Konohamaru." Naruto replied as the two genin snapped to attention.

"Right boss." They both said and jumped back to where they had come from. At that Naruto ran off down the alley way Konohamaru had went down followed by Sakura

"You know you don't have to come." Naruto said to Sakura who just gave him a look.

"Oh no I'm not leaving you alone with him you may try to teach him something to cheer him up and Lady Tsunade would kill me if I let you teach him that technique." Sakura replied

"Good excuse." Inner said with a grin

"Who says I haven't already taught it to him?" Naruto asked with a grin getting Sakura to stumble.

"Who haven't you taught that too?" Sakura asked getting irritated.

"I taught it to him when we first met just before our graduation so long before Tsunade even knew about it." Naruto waved her off. "And I haven't taught it to Kakashi."

"Well that is a relief." Sakura sighs as Naruto jumps down another alley and they find Konohamaru crouched facing into a corner.

"I said leave me alone guys I'm fine." Konohamaru said through tears trying to wave them off.

"Oh don't give me that." Naruto said getting Konohamaru to perk up his head

"Boss?" Konohamaru said looking over at him then he jumped up and slammed into Naruto hugging him crying into his jacket

"Wow calm down man and tell me what is wrong?" Naruto said as he pushed Konohamaru away and kneeled down "Now what is wrong?"

"Asuma…." Konohamaru blubbered "Uncle Asuma he he he's dead." He finally blurted out and began to cry into Naruto's jacket again.

This caused Naruto to freeze up for a second then hugged Konohamnaru "It's alright it'll be ok." He said they stayed like that for a minute "Hey let's get you home." Naruto said holding Konohamaru away from him and standing up.

"Alright." Konohamaru stuttered as he rubbed his eyes as he followed Naruto out of the alley way.

"Hey I'm going to take Konohamaru home." Naruto said to Sakura who just nodded still in shock at what she had heard. "We will probably be getting a briefing later from Tsunade."

"Right I'll head home and get cleaned up then." Sakura replied shaking herself out of her shock

Once they went their separate ways Naruto dropped Konohamaru off at his parents place. After dropping him off Naruto jumped off toward the Hokages office


"You just going to stand there or you going to come out of the shadows and ask what is on your mind?" Tsunade asked to an empty room just then Naruto walked out of the shadows and stood in front of her desk.

"Sorry old habit." Naruto replied

"What do you want I'm busy." Tsunade replied already knowing why he was here and not wanting to have the conversation that was coming.

"What happened with Asuma?" Naruto asked

"He was on a mission that went south and was killed in action." Tsunade replied

"Well no shit." Naruto shot back "how?"

"Well that is confidential." Tsunade replied

"Oh don't give me that I have one of the highest clearances in the village." Naruto shot back getting annoyed but Tsunade remained silent "it was the Akatsuki wasn't it?" He asked but she remained silent. "Damn't they are after me why would you send another team after them?" Naruto berated

"Because of the fact they are after you." Tsunade shot back "If you fall into their hands it's over and the whole village no the entire world will be at risk. So yes I sent them to try to take care of it to prevent that from happening. But that is the job of the Hokage to look out for the safety of this village and the only way to do that is by putting our ninja's in harm's way!" Tsunade nearly yelled

"But not in unnecessary danger." Naruto replied as he turned toward the door "Next time they are around send me, if you don't I'll go after them on my own." He finished as he walked out the door.

Naruto spent the rest of the day lost in his own thoughts as he returned to the training field to blow off some steam. It was only just before sunset that he realized the full effects of Asuma's death and he headed out once again.

Naruto found himself in front of Ino's home. 'Ah I'm probably going to regret this, I should just go through the window.' He said to himself as he reached up and knocked at the door. After a few minutes the door opened to reveal a woman with brown hair wearing an English style slick dress. Once she saw who it was that was at her door her face turned to a scowl

"What do you want demon." She asked

"Mrs. Yamanaka I had heard what had happened to Asuma sensei and I wish to see Ino chan to see how she is taking it and help if I could." Naruto said holding his composure the best he could

"Why would I ever consider letting a demon like you in my house let alone near my daughter?" she asked with venom.

"Well…" Naruto began losing his composure but was cut off as new voice rang out.

"Who is it dear?" Came a male voice as Inoichi walked up behind his wife "ah Naruto how are you?" he said in a more friendly tone than his wife's catching Naruto off guard

"I'm doing alright sir I was just wonder how Ino chan is doing I had heard what happened with Asuma sensei and I came over to check to see if she was ok." Naruto repeated himself

"Not so good she is locked herself in her room and hasn't come out since she got back from the mission, and she hasn't stopped crying." Inoichi sighed

"Would it be alright if I try to talk to her?" Naruto offered

"You can try." Inoichi said stepping away from the door and pulling his wife with him to allow him in. once he walked in Ino's mother stomped to the kitchen "But just remember if you try to take advantage of my daughter in any way I will twist your mind and make you think you're a twelve year old girl."

"Hehe thought you told everyone in your clan to stay out of my head do to the guard dog?" Naruto chuckled

"It's worth the risk." Inoichi said as Naruto walked up the stairs

Inoichi then walked into the kitchen where his wife was sitting at the table fuming "How could you let that thing in our house let alone let him see our daughter?"

"Because have you not heard her ramble on about him for the past month or so?" Inoichi asked

"Wait he is the one she has been fawning over?" Her mother asked

"Who did you think it was?" Inoichi asked

"I don't know but not that thing." She replied with disgust

"He isn't as bad as we initially thought." Inoichi sighed getting a confused look from his wife "He is on Keets ANBU team and from what he has told me he is actually an alright guy and a good friend."

"You just let our daughter alone with the boy she has been dotting over the past month while she is in a very emotional state?" She asked in a 'you're an idiot' tone as he realized his mistake. "and on top of that he is a demon and an ANBU."

"Well I'm sure he won't do anything." Inoichi said more to convince himself than anything else as she just shook her head.

Naruto knocked on Ino's door but could only hear crying coming from the other side, he then knocked harder.

"Damn't go away I told you I wanted to be left alone." Came Ino's voice

"You should know I can't leave a friend alone while they are hurting." Naruto replied as he heard her get up and walk to the door as it opened slightly.

"What do you want?" Ino asked

"I heard what happened about Asuma and wanted to see if you were holding up alright." Naruto asked as she walked away from the door and it swung open and she threw herself back on to the bed.

"How does it look like I'm doing?" Ino asked as she continued to cry into her pillow. Naruto slowly walked in and closed the door, then walked to her bed and sat down next to her and placed a hand on her back.

"I'm sorry." Naruto said

"Oh I don't want your pity." Ino barked from her pillow.

"No I'm not pitying you. I'm apologizing" Naruto said getting Ino to roll over a bit and look over at him.

"What?" Ino asked

"They are after me and the thing I have sealed inside of me. That is why Asuma is dead, he died fighting the people that I should have been." Naruto replied as he hung his head and a few tears began to run down his face.

"What no." Ino said "It's not your fault they would have come for whoever the fox was in and it wouldn't have mattered who it was you or someone else." Ino said "And he was trying to avenge his friend that they killed at the fire temple."

"What?" Naruto asked

"That was our mission someone had attacked the fire temple and killed the head monk who was Asuma sensies friend." Ino replied "Yes we knew they were Akatsuki but we still went any way so don't think for a minute this is your fault." Ino said as she sat up and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

Naruto sat there as she embraced him once she let up on the hug he pulled away. "You know I should get going."

"What why?" Ino asked

"Well I just came over to see how you were holding up." Naruto replied "And your mom seems to want me dead, and you dad threatened to turn my mind into a girls." He said as he stood up

"Hehe well at least you will be able to make the body match the mind." Ino chuckled as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"That's not funny." Naruto replied "but I need to go." He said as he turned around to leave but something grabbed his hand and he turned around to see Ino holding it with eyes still red with tears.

"Don't leave." Ino said "just a bit longer?" she begged

Naruto just sighed "Alright." He gave in "But if I wake up and I think I'm a girl we are through got it."

"Yeah." Ino said with a tear filled smile.


Sakura had waited for word from Tsunade that never came.

'Well I should probably go see how Ino is holding up.' Sakura said to herself

"Yeah she may be our love rival but she is still our best friend." Inner admitted as Sakura walked out of her room and headed out her door. "Hey mom I'm heading over to Ino's." Sakura called out

"Alright." Sakura's mom called back

Sakura walked across town to Ino's house and knocked on the door. After a few minutes the door opened to reveal Inoichi.

"Oh Sakura." Inoichi said "I'm guessing you're here to help comfort Ino?"

"Yeah." Sakura replied "is she in her room."

"Yeah you can head up." Inoichi said as she started to head up the stairs "It's good to see how many friends Ino has."

Sakura found herself in front Ino's bed room and heard the muffled cries behind the door. Without knocking Sakura opened the door and the image that she was meet with made her heart shatter. On the bed sat Naruto with his back against the wall while Ino was sitting across his lap holding him crying into his shoulder.

'Oh god.' Sakura said to herself as she felt herself begin to fall apart inside and tears threatened to fall.

"We're to late?" Inner said as she turned to leave but stopped as she heard Ino call out.

"Sakura?" Ino called out causing her to freeze in the door "don't go."

'No it doesn't matter what is going on here she is our friend and we have to be here for her.' Sakura said to herself, forcing herself to turn around and walk to the bed and sit down at Naruto's feet.

Ino leaned away from Naruto and reached her arm out and hugged Sakura as they both began to cry. "Thanks for coming" Ino said through tears

"That is what friends are for right." Sakura said holding her composure.

Ino then let go of Sakura and leaned against Naruto again. Sakura then made her way up to Naruto's side and wrapped her arms around Ino and leaned against Naruto's shoulder.

"It's alright Ino I'm here for you." Sakura said softly she then felt Naruto's arm wrap around her and a warmth inside her ignited.

"It's good you came." Naruto whispered to her. "She needs her best friend here."

"Yeah." Sakura whispered as she snuggled her head into his side where Ino had her head as well. 'Damn't I'm just so torn.' Sakura said to herself.

After about a half hour Ino had cried herself asleep and Sakura had fallen asleep as well, Naruto just looked down at the two girls in his arms. 'I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Either of you' he said to himself as he hugged the two women and fell asleep.

XXX

The next morning Inoichi stood at Ino's bedroom door looking in on the scene on his daughter's bed. When his wife walked up to him and he turned to her and she looked at the scene and was about to blow a gasket. "You think a demon would cradle and comfort a crying girl all night till she fell asleep? And not take advantage of her or her friend?" he asked before she couldn't say anything.

His wife let out a sigh and replied "no I guess it wouldn't. I guess if she really likes him and he cares this much for her I can try to look past that… thing."

"That's my girl." Inoichi said with a smile as he gave her a half hug "Cause he does seem to care for both the girls deeply."

"Now answer me this what is that dress for?" She asked looking to his other hand that held a pink frilly dress.

"Oh I need to have some fun as the father." Inoichi replied with a mischievous grin as he looked into the room and saw Naruto begin to stir.

"Fine have your fun." She replied as she walked away

Inoichi looked back into the room and saw Naruto looking down at the two girls under his arms and then groggily over to the door and Inoichi held up the dress and then two fingers to his eyes in the 'I'm watching you' hand gesture as a look of fear went across Naruto's face and put his arms up in a shrugging motion to claim innocence while Inoichi walked way staring at him while he did.


It had been almost a week since Asuma's death Naruto was back in the training area flashing from and appearing in different points around the field while Sakura walked up to the field with a basket of round black balls.

'I hope he likes the solider pills I made him.' Sakura said to herself as she walked up to the field.

"I just hope he enjoyed holding us all night." Inner replied

'That was over a week ago and he hasn't said anything about it since.' Sakura said as a blush flooded her face.

"Oh but we enjoyed it so very much." Inner countered "Even if Ino was involved it was great."

'Well yeah his strong arms wrapped around us holding us tight to his body.' Sakura began as her mind wandered to that night and what could have happened if the circumstances where different but she then shook it off as she came back to reality 'But once we all woke up he seemed distant like something had scared him off.'

"Yeah I hope it wasn't anything we did." Inner replied

'Yeah.' Sakura sighed in agreement 'hopefully these new soldier pills will help.' She added with a smile

"Hey Naruto how's it going?" Sakura called out as Naruto stopped and looked over at her then disappeared

"Pretty good." Came Naruto's voice from behind her getting her to swing around in shock

"Jez!" she yelped swinging the basket in her hand at him that he dodged with ease. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry had to try it make sure you couldn't detect it." Naruto replied with a smile then looked at the basket that had nearly made contact with his head "What's that?"

After getting over the shock she took a breath and looked down at the basket "Oh these are some new soldier pills I've developed. They are packed with everything you need to continue to fight." She said with a smile as she held them up "Why don't you try one."

"Alright sure." Naruto said as he plucked one out of the basket looked at it then popped it into his mouth. Sakura gave a big smile as she watched him eat it, then his face turned green and he put his hand to his mouth and bolted to the nearest tree and began to hurl.

"Oh dear god! arrrrgh" Naruto moaned as he threw up. "Why would you do this to me? Arrrrgh"

"What?" Sakura asked in concern "What's wrong?"

"Did you even taste these before you brought them out? Arrrrgh." Naruto tried to ask

"What? No I finished them this morning and came straight here." Sakura said as she held one up and looked at it "they can't be that bad." She said as she went to take a bite

"If you value your life you won't do that." Naruto heaved as he pointed back at her and she took a small bite. "I warned you."

At first she chewed it, then it hit her and she turned green as well and ran to the other side of the tree that Naruto was at. "I'm so sorry. Arrrrgh"

"It's alright." Naruto said as he stood up and wiped his mouth "I think it's done." He sighed "But just promise me you will burn those and never try that again."

"I'm sorry." Sakura said as she stood up as well "I was never good at cooking, I'll just stop now." She said a little disheartened

"I'm not saying to stop trying to learn to cook." Naruto said getting her to look up at him "I'm just saying to never make those again, cooking is something you have to ease into, not jump head first into the deep end."

"What would you know about cooking?" Sakura asked

"Well I have been living on my own my entire life, and unlike popular belief I don't just run off of ramen, I've picked up a few things." Naruto replied

"Oh really?" Sakura replied

"If you want I can prove it." Naruto replied "I can cook you dinner sometime." At this Sakura's heart skipped a beat.

"Did he just say what I think he said?" inner asked

'He just said he would cook us dinner.' Sakura replied happily 'now just play it cool don't sound too excited'

"It's a date." Sakura said with a grin 'damn't' she said to herself as inner face palmed

"Yeah sure what ever." Naruto said as he turned around and an ANBU appeared in front of him

"Lady Hokage wishes to see the two of you." The ANBU said as he disappeared

"Well better go see what she wants." Naruto said as they both jumped away to the Hokage tower.

XXX

As Naruto walked into the office he noticed Yamato standing at the desk, and Kakashi's dog Pakun sitting on the desk.

"What is the problem?" Naruto asked

"I just received a report from Pakun that Kakashi along with team ten have gone after the two Akatsuki memebers that killed Asuma." Tsunade replied getting a shocked look from both Naruto and Sakura.

"What?!" both of them asked in shock "Why would they do that?" Naruto demanded

"They seem to want to avenge their fallen sensei, and Kakashi went with to make it a legitimate mission so they couldn't be punished for it." Tsunade replied

"How can Kakashi going make it a legitimate mission?" Sakura asked

"Because he is former ANBU." Naruto answered "Whether we are active or not if there is a high priority target we can go after it, and if there is not enough time to tell high ups it will be put under black op mission and buried but will still be sanctioned. It's because we are normally away from command for so long we have to make these decisions at a moment's notice or risk losing a high priority target that we are authorized to do it."

"I see." Sakura replied

"Which way did they go?" Naruto asked

"Have you finished your training?" Tsunade asked

"Finished it enough." Naruto replied flatly "I may not be as good as him but even if I wasn't I would still go. You know that."

"Fine." Tsunade sighed "They are on the far west side of the Nara family forest." She said as Naruto bolted out of the door.

"Better go with him make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Tsunade said to Sakura and Yamato who rushed out after him

'I wonder who he was referring to about that jutsu?' Sakura asked herself as she left the Hokage's building

"I don't know he has been very secretive about it ever since he started." Inner replied "I guess we'll have to ask him on our date." Inner said with a girlish squeal."

'Let's just focus on getting through this fight first.' Sakura replied as she caught up with Naruto as they passed through the village gates.


Team ten had encountered Hidan and Kakuzu and everything had gone according to Shikamaru's plan. That was until Shikamaru had led Hidan away and the rest of them had to deal with Kakuzu. They had been able to destroy all but the fire and water elemental hearts.

"Well this has been a very costly day." Kakuzu said with a mouth full of his tendrils "But it seems I have enough hearts here to replenish the ones I lost." He said looking at the three ninja's in front of him who were all breathing heavily.

"I'll start with you." Kakuzu says as he focuses on Ino who gets a surprised look and holds up her kunai in a defensive manner.

Just then a massive fire ball erupts from the fire mask and comes straight at her. Ino jumps back dodging the fire ball as it impacts right where she had been. She then looks up and sees a hand attached to tendrils coming right for her. She landed and braced for an impact that never came. Ino opened her eyes and saw the back of Naruto standing in front of her with his sword drawn and Kakuzu's hand laying on the ground.

"Oh looks like the true prize has shown himself." Kakuzu smiled

"You kill one of my sensei's now you go after my friends." Naruto replied as his tensed in anger. "Oh you are going down." He said as he got into a fighting stance.

"I'll deal with you in a minute." Kakuzu said as he looked at the others "First I need to get the bounty on the copy ninja's head then collect the rest of their hearts to replace the ones I've lost."

"If it's bounties you're after why not go after mine?" Naruto replied with a smirk as he pulled out his own Fox mask and held it up to show him.

"Oh the leaf's fox ANBU and the tailed beast in one package how could I resist." Kakuzu said with a grin. As he got into a fighting stance.

"That's what I thought." Naruto said as he got into a fighting stance as well "Ino chan fall back I'll deal with him, you help Sakura heal the others." He said as Ino snapped out of her shock and looked back and saw Sakura along with Yamato land next to Kakashi and Choji

"Right." Ino said and jumped away to them.

"Well even if I don't get him you will be a good trade off." Kakuzu said

"Kakashi sensei what is he talking about better trade off?" Choji asked

"You know they are after Naruto the fox right?" Kakashi asked as Choji nodded "Well you see since he was in the ANBU Naruto grew a reputation and a pretty hefty bounty on his head, it is almost as much as mine. So if he takes Naruto he gets both the tailed beast and the bounty so he isn't interested in us anymore." Kakashi explained getting a look of fear and concern from both Ino and Sakura.

"I may not have mastered this technique but should be enough to take care of you." Naruto said as he reached into his pouch and pulled out some strange looking three pronged he threw them around the area, and Kakuzu used his tendrils to get his arm and reattach it.

"Kakashi what is he doing? He didn't even get close to him with those throws." Choji asked

"Just watch you are about to see a technique that hasn't been used in over sixteen years." Kakashi said with a smile.

Just then the Naruto launched at Kakuzu who fired a ball of fire engulfing Naruto.

"NARUTO KUN!" both Ino and Sakura called out.

"Pathetic." Kakuzu chuckled but just then his fire mask exploded "What!?" Kakuzu yelled as he looked to see Naruto standing where his fire doll mask had been "How?!" He demanded as he launched a water bullet at him with his remaining mask hitting his mark. Just then Kakuzu jumped away as Naruto slashed at him from out of nowhere, and they continued this attack and appear out of nowhere dance.

"What's going on?" came Shikamaru's voice as he landed next to Ino who had just finished healing Choji

"Naruto kun is fighting Kakuzu." Ino replied

"Alone?!" Shikamaru asked in shock

"Yeah he is using a new jutsu." Choji explained as Naruto and Kakuzu landed on opposite sides of the area from each other.

"I've finally figured it out." Kakuzu said with a smile getting Naruto to cock an eyebrow.

"Oh really now?" Naruto asked

"It's been awhile since I've heard of someone using the flying thunder god" Kakuzu stated as he made his mask doll fire a water bullet straight up into the air and then have it split and then crash down onto the kunai that Naruto had thrown around the area. "Impressive that you were able to learn it."

"Well a son should be able to use his father's technique." Naruto said

At hearing Naruto Shikamaru gasped in shock "That can't be." Shikimaru said looking over at Kakashi who just nodded in confirmation.

"What can't be?" Sakura asked

"Did you not hear him?" Shikamaru asked

"Well yeah it is his father's technique but I didn't think Naruto knew who his father was?" Sakura asked in confusion "Who is he?"

"That is the flying thunder god technique made famous during the third shinobi war by a man who was put in a class of his own double S rank ninja and a flee on sight order." Shikamaru said as everyone but Kakashi stared at him in confusion "That man was named Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage." He finished getting everyone to give him a look of shock then turn to look back at Naruto.

Naruto looks around at his destroyed markers then looks back at Kakuzu and charged at the man head on. At this Kakuzu sent his doll to intercept him the doll opened its mouth to fire a water bullet but the water was cut in half as electricity sparked from Naruto's blade and the mask split in half. Once the doll fell Kakuzu sent his tendrils straight at Narutuo who threw his sword at Kakuzu's chest but just before it could impact Kakuzu used his tendrils open up his chest and the sword passed threw him without any damage.

"Got you." Kakuzu said as Naruto just smirked and vanished in a yellow flash as Kakuzu's got a look of shock

"No, got you." Naruto said as he formed a rasengan that turned into the shape of a star and he slammed it against Kakuzu's back and Naruto was thrown away from the blast as Kakuzu was engulfed by it.

The squad watched as Kakuzu was torn apart by what looked like thousands of tiny blades till he fell to the ground lifeless. That was when everyone rushed to Naruto's side and Sakura began healing him.

"Naruto kun are you ok?" Ino cried to him

"I won't let anything happen to those I love." Naruto said as he passed out. Both Ino and Sakura stared at him in shock

"No we couldn't have lost to her." Inner said in a sad tone

'No impossible how did we lose him?' Sakura asked herself as she looked at Ino who just gave a giant smile and hugged him. Getting Sakura to snap out of her shock and begin to heal him

'We just need some time on our own.' Sakura said 'We need to get stronger.' She said to herself


The next day Sakura stood in front of Tsunade's door and paused for a moment.

"Are you sure about this?" inner asked

'Yes I just need some time and get stronger and Naruto will just distract me from that' Sakura replied

"Sounds like you're just doing exactly what he did, run away from the real problem" inner shot back

'No.' Sakura said as she knocked on the door

"Come in" Tsunade said and she walked in "what can I do for you Sakura

"I want to put a request in for ANBU training." Sakura said as Tsunade got a look of shock on her face then a smirk.

END CHAPTER 9

A/N well sorry for the wait been busy with school but gave you longer chapter than normal. Hope you enjoyed the fight and the feels I put in this chapter as always please review and let me know what you think.