It was the beginning of Winter and the temperature was dropping. Yet the Village streets were still filled with people and among them was Naruto Uzumaki. He was wearing light warming clothing and had a Black scarf on. He walked into a Building filled with flowers. There was a Female all alone moving Flowerpots around. She had blue eyes and long platinum blond hair worn in a ponytail, with bangs framing the right side of her face. She noticed someone enters the building and went to the front counter.

"Hello, Ino."

"Naruto? What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for a watering can. I accidentally broke mine."

"Sure, we have plenty. I didn't know you were a Gardener."

"Eating can't be my only hobby."

"Hehe, how long have you been at it?"

"Since my childhood. Helps me with… stuff." Ino froze. She knew about the failed mission. The strange cave, what Sakura did, the casualties.

"What happened wasn't your fault. No one blames you for Sai's death, Ebisu's, the Tsuchikage's or anyone else." Naruto lowered his head. "Wait here."

Ino picked a purple flower and handed it to Naruto.

"What's this? Why are you giving me this?"

"It's a Crocus. It symbolizes cheerfulness and joy. Something you need right now." Naruto frown turned into a smile.

"This will go great with my garden. Thank you."

"And here, a brand-new watering can. On the house."

"No no no, I can't take this."

"Keep it, this is my thanks for, you know, saving the world and stuff."

"End a war and get a free watering can, seems like a fair trade." Ino chuckled and gently shove his shoulder. "Thanks. Guess I'll be heading home now." Naruto grabbed his new watering can and towards the exit. A thought came to Ino's mind, her smile disappeared, and she saddened.

"Before you go, I want to know. Have you talked to Sakura?" Naruto stopped at the entrance, not turning to face Ino.

"… No…"

"A- are you angry at her?"

"… I don't know."

"If you find her, tell her to see me. I feel like she needs to talk to someone. The same goes for you if you want to talk to someone just find me."

Naruto looked at Ino and she gave him a smile. Seeing her smile, Naruto couldn't help but feel happy himself.

"Thank you, Ino."

[The Last City, Present Day]

Naruto sprung up from his bed getting himself tangled in the medical tubing. An Exo came to his side, calming him down.

"Easy, easy."

"W- where am I? Where's Olympia?"

"You're in the Last City. Your friend brought you here when you were ambushed."

"Where is she now?"

"Must be around the Tower." Naruto laid back on the bed. With the adrenaline gone, he started to feel the pain in his body.

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"I remember Olympia being killed, saw a Hunter and… nothing. I can't remember the rest."

"According to our tests, your second Chakra source went out of control."

"Second?"

"Huh? Sounds like this is new information to you."

"I'm supposed to only have one, I think. Why didn't you tell me Hiruzen?"

"Your Ghost is not here. He's with the Vanguard giving the mission report." The Exo grabs her tablet and began writing.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Lakshmi-2, the Representative for Future War Cult. I'm also one of the lead scientists studying you."

"Future War Cult? Isn't that one of the factions in the city?"

"Correct. If I may." Lakshmi placed a patch with a wire on Naruto's chest. "You might feel a slight shock." She pressed a button on her tablet, electrocuting Naruto.

"OUCH! What was that for?!"

"Your Chakra levels seems to be back to normal."

"You can just ask me. You don't have to electrocute me."

"Worry no more young one the tests are over."

The door opened and Ikora came in. She was surprised when she found Lakshmi in the room.

"Lakshmi? Why are you here?"

"I was just checking our patient or am I not allowed to that either."

Hiruzen came inside the room and hovered over Naruto.

"Are you okay Naruto?"

"Eh, I'm fine. Just want to get out of here."

"Well, you will. Now that you're awake, we can meet Zavala. It's important."

"But he just woke up," Lakshmi said to Hiruzen.

"It's okay, I feel normal."

"If you feel alright then you may leave." Naruto smiled and got off the bed, removing the medical tubing on his body.

"Thanks, Ikora! Come on Hiruzen!" Hiruzen disappeared and Naruto left, leaving Ikora and Lakshmi alone in the room.

"What are your intentions, Lakshmi?

"Haven't you heard? I've been added to the Research Team."

"What!? We agreed that any factions are not supposed to interact with Naruto."

"I volunteered, not the FWC." Ikora scoffed at her.

"If the FWC gets involved, there will be consequences."

"I'm well aware."

Ikora stormed out room, walking through the halls. She spotted a female with light purple hair spying on her. The Female turned trying to escape Ikora.

"Olympia!"

Olympia froze in place. She was too afraid of Ikora. Knowing she needed to say something Olympia cracked up her charm to 100% and faced Ikora putting on an adorable face like it was a self-defense mechanism.

"What are you doing here? Naruto already left."

"I know…"

"Then why aren't you with him?"

"B- because he doesn't want me around him."

"Nonsense, he enjoys being with you. Just talk to him, you're just making things more complicated."

"A-are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Ikora patted Olympia's head and left the Hospital leaving Olympia to ponder.

[Hall of Guardians, The Tower]

Naruto entered the Hall of Guardians. He saw Zavala arguing with an Awoken Hunter and Cayde was there just watching things unfold.

"I'm not babysitting!"

"I am giving you a direct order!"

"To hell with your order!" Zavala was infuriated at the Hunter response. Cayde noticed Naruto and quickly went to his side.

"Hey Wonder Boy, bet you 4,000 Glimmer on Zavala."

"I rather not get involved."

"But they're arguing over you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, since some Guardian is out to kill you the Council decided to get you a bodyguard."

"Bodyguard?!"

"Yep, they thought it would be better to have you on the move doing missions than being here in one place. Kind of unnecessary since the Hunter found you during a mission but whatever."

"I don't need a bodyguard."

"Ha, seems like you two will get along well." Cayde drags Naruto over to the Hunter, he pulled on his cloak gaining his attention.

"Wonderboy, Ryse. Ryse, Wonder Boy." Naruto waved at Ryse but he growled at him.

"Cayde, I'm not doing it. Find someone else."

"Thanks, man. I know this will be annoying but you'll get used to it."

"Cayde, I said no!"

"We'll be here trying to solve who is this rogue Hunter and deal with the Hive in the Cosmodrome."

"Don't ignore me!"

"I'd take a break if I were you Wonderboy. You had a long couple of days and are going to have many more ahead of you."

"Dammit!" Ryse stormed off the room, cursing under his breath.

"So he is my protector or…"

"Sure, just give him some time."

"O- okay? Hey, have you seen Olympia?"

"Nope, she gotta be around here somewhere." Naruto sighed. Soon Naruto said his goodbyes and left in search for Olympia.

[Hours Later]

Naruto entered an empty room. Usually, Guardians sleep at special Building at the Last City but since they're always on the move and some have their own hideouts, the other Guardians have the rooms all to themselves. Naruto laid down on the bed, exhausted. He has been searching for Olympia all day, but no luck. Hiruzen appeared above Naruto, floating around him.

"Wherever could she be?" Hiruzen said to himself while scanning the room.

"Hiruzen, what happened on that mission?"

"Don't know. I blacked out too."

"Why haven't you told me of this? This second source."

"Remember Naruto you're an anomaly to us. We thought this was normal at first but after the mission, it's clearly not."

"Then what is it?" Naruto yawned and laid his head down.

"It's Chakra but much more… intense. And to make things more complicated your light reacts wildly to this Chakra." Hiruzen turned around and saw Naruto fast asleep.

"Are you serious!? Forget it, I'm already used to this kind of stuff."

[Long Ago in the Hidden Leaf Village]

It was sunset and Naruto was walking along the empty street with his brand-new watering can in hand. It was becoming colder, making him grab his Orange scarf.

"Strange? Wasn't this scarf Black earlier today?" Naruto thought to himself.

He heard someone coming from behind, when he turned around he froze in place. It was Sakura, she was standing there, her head lowered. Both looked at each other in silence.

"Naruto… I…"

"Sakura, I… I'm not in the mood to talk. Please, just leave me alone."

"Naruto please I- I'm sorry. I know you're angry."

"I'm not angry."

"Yes, you are. You haven't talked to anyone since the mission."

"Just tell me what you want."

"People are calling me a monster, an idiot, some even ignore me. I- I thought I was doing the right thing. I-"

"The right thing?! You left people to die!"

"People were dying, I had to take action! If I haven't those robots would have reached the surface and who knows what would have happened!"

"I could have saved them!"

"No, you couldn't! You were struggling. Naruto you have to understand that you have limits. Those Monsters don't. I needed to do something." Sakura had tears in her eyes. Naruto took steps back.

"What do you want me to do? To give you a thumbs up and a smile, say that it'll be alright. It's not. When I came back, I had to face Ebisu's team. I have known them for so long, to say that I failed to save their teacher, a father figure to them, it hurts. But you don't know how it feels. To lose someone who taught you so much."

"I- I…" Sakura tried to form words but nothing came out.

"Sakura I'm sorry. I- I don't even know why I'm arguing you." Naruto turned around. Sakura felt her heart shatter.

"W- where are you going?" Naruto started walking away. "…Don't leave me…"

"Sakura, I'm sorry."

Naruto keeps walking, leaving her behind. Crying, Sakura got to her knees and watched as he walks away. As the Sunset Sakura continued to cry with no one around her, all alone.


A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy with my other fanfics. Shameless plug here:

Undertale: s/12830268/1/Nexustale

Naruto/Boruto: s/12707571/1/Peace-Doesn-t-Exist

We got to the Flashbacks, Yay! Been planning them for a while now and I finally got to them. I also added some drama in an attempt to make things spicier. My worry is that this may come off as "Sakura Bashing" when it's not. I wanted her to be judged by her actions in this story rather than her character in the series. As for why Naruto acts out of character, well, that's part of the story.

If you'd enjoy the story, please Follow and/or Favorite, Share and leave Review. I love to hear your opinions. Have a nice day and I hope to see you next time!