AN: New chapter… yay! A very short one, but an update nonetheless. I run out of an excuse but hey at least I'm not giving up and still trying to finish this story, right? Anyway, my last check up result is good. So, everything is great, I think. Hopefully this chapter is not a disappointment.

AN2: Thanks a bunch for my beta-reader, Crazylele1.

Chapter 10

"This better be good, brat!" yelled Godaime Hokage-sama as she ripped her front door and showed her – hopefully – scariest face to the blond jounin in front of her. It failed terribly of course. Because after all that they'd been though, Naruto knew that the old lady who refused to look old had a soft spot for him. And if there was a good opportunity to take advantage of it, this was it.

"I need to leave Konoha as soon as possible and I need your consent."

"Get in and close the door."

"No time for that. I need to leave now."

Just like any other Hokage in urgent situation, Tsunade worked fast. She signaled her bodyguard to get her a mission form and Hokage seal. "How high is the threat? Have you formed your team? How many subordinates do you need?"

"What threat? What team?"

"For the mission."

"What mission? I just want to ask for your permission to leave the village."

"What?"

"I need personal time."

"What?"

"Hey, I never take any! And you offered… no you urged me to take leave… so now I would like to take on your offer..."

"WHAT?"

"…please?"

Veins started popping out of her temple and that usually wasn't a good sign.

"Are you telling me that you just dragged me out of my bed in the middle of the night just so you can take my offer of personal time?"

The hissing sound was way more terrifying than the yelling. Naruto unconsciously swallowed his spit and let out an awfully small voice, "Yes?"

"And this need of personal time can't wait until morning? Hmmm?"

The blonde lady might have had a soft spot for Naruto, but that did not mean she couldn't turn into his worst nightmare.

"Baa-chan…"

Tsunade growled and it was horrifying.

Yikes! Strike one!

"Do I ever bother you without a good reason? Even from the very first time we met. One of the reasons I helped ero-sennin to assure you would become the next Hokage is because Konoha was in dire need, otherwise I would never have dreamed to separate you from your sake and gambling. Though I'm sure I was doing you a favor, considering how bad your luck was then."

More veins popped out. "You-"

"Hokage-sama, I really need this… please."

'Hokage-sama' was the one that did it. For almost 6 years she served as the Hokage of the Fire Country and the brat never once called her that. This problem, whatever it was, was certainly not a petty matter.

"Give this to the guard at the main gate. Take as much time as you need."

"Thank you… baa-chan."

Tsunade watched at the orange clad ninja's departure with a smile on her lips, "Brat!"

xxxxxxxxxxx

A pair of black eyes stare hard at the second-floor apartment window, waiting…

His rigid body didn't budge from his hiding place, waiting…

It could have been a second, a minute, an hour, a night…He had lost track of time, waiting…

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Running…

Running like there's no tomorrow…

His feet just won't stop…

Running to reach the end…

Running…

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Oh, I don't believe it!" barked Inuzuka Kiba, "He's got nerve… I give him that!"

"Easy there, buddy," said Shikamaru calmly, someone really needed to restrain the emotional hunter ninja.

"Shove it, Nara! He deserves it… and you know it!"

"I know… but anger won't solve the problem."

"Who said anything about solving problem?" challenged Kiba as he walked toward the figure in white. "Certainly not me."

Shikamaru swore under his breath, Kiba could be so unreasonable sometimes. Fortunately, someone came to help.

Aburame Shino caught his boyfriend's arm and softly called, "Kiba…"

"Shino, you know I need to do this… Naruto is my best friend and he hurt him… So please… I really need you to stay out of it."

Without saying a word, Shino released his grip and let Kiba walk toward Sasuke while Shikamaru stayed alert just a few steps behind him, ready to use Kagemane if the situation got out of control.

"What do you want, bastard?"

"You know what I want, dog-breath. Where is he?"

UGH!

Kiba's punch struck Sasuke's right cheek hard and made him fall on one knee. But it didn't take him long to stand back on both of his feet again. The last Uchiha touched his slightly swollen cheek and smirked. "Guess I deserved that."

"You deserve much worse than that."

"Bring it on, Inuzuka… your punches do not scare me… but I still want to know where I can find him."

"Why? So you can hurt him more?"

"It's none of your business."

"Like hell it's not!" screamed Kiba, "Who do you think picks up the pieces after you've done your deed, your heartless piece of shit?"

"You mean just like when you kissed him the other day?" Sasuke screamed back, "That's how you pick up the pieces?"

"OH MY GOD! I don't believe it! You… You are too much, Uchiha! So what if I kissed him? He's a fair game at the time… you dumped him, remember!"

Sasuke flinched, just a little but a flinch nonetheless. The truth hurts like a bitch.

"Kiba!" Shikamaru called out of the blue.

"Stay out of it, Shika!"

"You need to listen."

"God, why can't you just leav-"

"If you still want to have a boyfriend you better listen to me, Inuzuka!"

"Huh?"

"Shino just left."

"B-but why?" hollered Kiba who finally turned his back to face the pineapple head jounin.

"Did you really kiss Naruto?" asked the shadow manipulator.

Kiba slapped his forehead hard before yelled some more, "Fuck! B-but… it was… it was… FUCK! Now, you've done it, Uchiha!"

"Just go, alright Kiba… find him and talk to him… let me handle Uchiha."

"Right… right… This is not over yet, teme!" yelled the spike haired ninja for the last time before he left in a hurry.

"Are you going to make it difficult for me too, Nara?"

"I never liked you, Uchiha," answered Shikamaru calmly, "I think you're a coward but I do care about Naruto and I want him to be happy."

"Where is he?"

"He said he needed closure and will end it in the place where all this started."

"You can't just make it simple for me, can you?"

"That's what he said. If you don't get it, then maybe you really need to think about whether the two of you really are meant to be together."

After saying what needed to be said, Shikamaru started to walk away.

"Hey Nara…"

"Yes?"

"We're meant to be together."

"Then you better go get him, right?"

TBC