"Let's camp here. It will take us two days to reach the house anyways," Sakura said, as she slowly inspected the cave. It was relatively dry and Tohru was the first one to enter without even looking for any danger.

Naruto shrugged. "Sure," he followed Tohru and looked around. He sniffled and pocketed his hands. Sakura asked Tohru to unpack their stuff, which the girl began doing so without any reply.

"I am going to look around…" was all Naruto said before he disappeared down the narrow cave. Sakura looked up quickly. Her eyes followed him until he was out of sight. Tohru watched her.

"Tohru-san."

"Yes Sakura-san?"

Sakura crossed her arms. "I want you to follow Naruto and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Tohru didn't move to get up. She turns her head towards where Naruto had gone, "Sakura-san… I think Naruto-san is sad."

Sakura didn't say anything and began to rummage through her bag. Tohru grabbed the doll closer and looked at her teacher worriedly. "Is something wrong Sakura-san?"

"Tohru-san, just go will you?" There was no anger in her voice or anything trace of emotion at all. However, Tohru watched as her teacher's expression changed from one of frustration to one of worry. Tohru didn't understand what was going on.

-

"Woooow…" Naruto spoke out loud as he entered a small inner cave with a small lake. Small sun-rays went through the crystals in the ceiling, making the whole scenery surreal. He grinned and sat down at the water.

It was beautiful indeed, and Naruto felt like he was slowly starting to become a part of this place already.

A small water drop fell down on the lake, startling Naruto a bit. He eyed the water and sighed. He stood up and walked towards it, bending forward a bit to see his own reflection.

First it was an adult blond-boy who stared back at him. No grin, just a small smile and a kind face. Naruto scratched his ears and yawned. Slowly the image became orange and fur covered his face. His eyes became narrow and red.

"Kyuubi…"

Naruto stared at the reflection almost transfixed. His eyes were unreadable, and his forehead nearly touched the cold fragile water. He stared into the eyes of the other's image and then closed his own.

"Naruto-san?" He didn't move and Tohru stepped forward. "Hey!"

Naruto glanced at her and sat up, his hands placed on his knees. "What do you want?"

The little girl pouted and crossed her arms. "Sakura-san said I should make sure you didn't do anything stupid." He blinked.

"Really?"

"Yes."

He shook his head and tilted his head towards the ceiling. "I guess I've always been clumsy when I come to think about it."

"Huh?"

Naruto turned his eyes towards her. "Did you know I almost can't see with my left eye?"

Tohru blinked. "You can't?"

He nodded and motioned her to step forward, in a friendly manner. She did as she was told and sat down on her knees, watching his left eye with curiosity. "I lost most of the eyesight when the Sound attacked."

"When did they attack?"

He shrugged and flipped some of his hair away. "Three years ago. The night after Tsunade-no-baa-chan died."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the memory. "I have had a suspicion all along that Danzou had something to do with it. However, as Hokage I needed to get the council's permission. You just can't go and make things on your own." He grinned shortly. "If I was younger I wouldn't have given a damn about them. But I promised Tsunade-no-baa-chan that I would be the best Hokage that had ever existed."

"So that night all of sudden, without any of us noticing, we were invaded by ninjas. It was horrible…" he paused. "…many children died, even women…everyone. Kurenai died that night too."

He looked up to the ceiling once more, trying to shake the gloomy atmosphere away.

"Naruto-san?"

"Yes?"

"Did you win?"

Naruto was silent for a while. "Yeah…" Again, silence.

"I was the one who killed half of the army in one stroke," he halfwhispered.

Looking towards Tohru, "That is why they accepted Tsunade's wish."

-

Shizune stood silently in the hallway, a huge stack of papers on her arms, when she met a familiar face. He looked up surprised too, before he smirked, readjusting his glasses.

"What are you doing here?!" she hissed.

He continued to smirk, which caused Shizune to quickly throw the papers into the air and directly attack him.

It did not surprise him, so Kabuto bent backwards, avoiding her fist and quickly turned around so he could point a kunai in her back. Shizune froze and stared at him shocked. Kabuto smirked.

"That is quite enough!" the new Nanadaime Hokage spoke, hidden behind the thick layers of clothes, making his face not visible. Kabuto released and pouted, obviously troubled the he couldn't kill her.

"I could use this girl you know. She seems quite capable of bringing paper back and forth. How about that?"

Shizune began to pick up the papers, still glaring at Kabuto who stood against the wall. The Hokage walked past her. "I would like the pages on Uzumaki Naruto please."

She stopped picking up papers and the Nanadaime smirked, still walking towards the office. When out of sight, Kabuto bent down and began to help her with the papers, the smirk still visible. Softly he whispered. "So, you're still that bitch's faithful servant?"

He was hit hard across his cheek, which startled him slightly, his eyes wide. Shizune stood panting with anger. "I know who you are, and I know what you are trying to do. Don't underestimate me when I say that Naruto-kun is coming back and beats your ass!"

Kabuto didn't say anything and just stared at her before he began to chuckle. "Whatever you say. He won't survive anyway. We have sent all the Konoha ANBU's out there to eliminate him. Plus every Sound ANBU team. Against the strongest ANBUS in the all the ninja lands, Naruto won't stand a chance."

Shizune stood frozen as Kabuto's chuckling turned into outright laughter.

-

Tsunade slammed the sake down on the table. "Uzumaki Naruto! I hereby challenge you to a drinking contest!"

The blond-haired kid watched the Hokage and Jirayia stand before him with a scowl on their faces. "what are you talking about! I am only nineteen!?"

"sit down on your damn butt and drink!"

"Tsunade-sama, please, he is not old enough." Shizune said worriedly. Tsunade glared at her for a second and sat down defeated herself, before she let out a chuckle. Naruto pouted and took his tea and clutched it tightly. "I won't be an alcoholic like you" he muttered.

Tsunade suddenly grabbed him by the shirt and screamed into his face. "What did you call me?!"

"You wanna to fight!?" Naruto shouted back. Shizune and Jirayia sighed and followed the two of them.

Tsunade stood proudly and Naruto stood with his arms crossed. The old woman grinned. "Come at me."

Naruto frowned and jumped into the air, followed by Tsunade.

Shizune sighed. "I don't get it. They always end up fighting, and no one ever wins. He's too fast and she's got too good a defence."

Jirayia crossed his arms. "Give Naruto a year or two and he would be able to defeat me in a battle. With Tsunade teac-"

"You freaking kid! Come back here!" the Hokage yelled as Naruto quickly fled across the rooftops. A heavenly laughter filling the air.

"I understand. He has already surpassed both me and Kakashi, and is almost at your level now. That Naruto is amazing." Shizune smiled proudly. "He is defiantly going to become the greatest Hokage ever!"

-

"I don't care if you believe a bunch of those kids can take out Naruto-sama, but I know…" Shizune placed her hand over her heart, but kept her glare, "that he will definitely come back. And he will throw you out along with your master."

Kabuto stood up and glared back. "We will see."

-

"Sakura-san"

The pink-haired looked away from the fire and watched her student. "What is it Tohru-san?" The little girl began to fumble with her hands.

"Tohru-san?"

"Did you know that Naruto-san can't see with his left eye"

Silence.

"Excuse me?"

Tohru sat down on a small rock and brushed back her brown hair. "Naruto-san told me that he damaged his eyes when he was 22. Because he needed to protect someone."

Sakura stood still for a moment. "So he can't see with it?"

The small girl nodded. "Yes…" Tohru looked up shyly. "Sakura-san could you-"

"Tohru-san, I would like you to go fix some water. I need to make dinner and then we will practice chakra control. You got it?"

Tohru eyed her teacher before she stood up, trying not go groan. "Of course Sakura-san. How much water do you need?"

Sakura began to fix the cans and found a small pot. "I need enough for three people."

The small girl ran out of the cave, noticing a strange look on her teacher's face.

-

"Tsunade…"

He sat there, watching her still body. Her face covered with a white cloth, her life long gone, yet her sweet smile lingered in the room. Jirayia standing beside him, a hand firmly placed on his shoulder, the same expression on his face.

"It…hurts" Naruto whispered, his hand clutching his shirt. His eyes closed. "I just…it is Tsunade-no-baa-chan after all, she shouldn't…" hiccup "…die just like that"

Jirayia tightened his hold. "Don't worry Naruto, she wishes us our best. All we can do is live for her now."

Naruto dried his eyes, not caring if he had to turn twenty two in a few months. It hurt and there was no doubt about that.

"I really loved her Ero-sennin. She was…like a mom to me, or what I think was a mom." Sniff "I didn't want her to die!"

Jiraiya watched the white cloth, hoping to catch a glimpse of her body rising because she was breathing. But there was nothing. He closed his eyes and slowly, for the first time in many years, ever since Orochimaru's departure, Jiraiya let tears trail down his cheeks.

"Yes, it hurts."

Naruto looked up at him for a second and his eyes widened. The proud man he knew was crying clear tears, just as big as his. Naruto bit down in his lower lip and fell down hard on the floor. Forgetting all about being calm and collected, "TSUNADE-NO-BAA-CHAN!"

-

Gaara rose from his seat when Temari entered with a rather bruised Shikamaru at her side. She was frowning and seemed very mad for some reason.

"This runt here came to explain the Konoha situation, Gaara."

Shikamaru stole a quick glance from Temari and Gaara noticed, his eyes narrowing. "Temari, please excuse us, I think I need to have a chat with this ninja."

Temari turned to her brother and crossed her arms stubbornly. "Very well, I will be waiting outside."

Shikamaru was asked to sit down, and he did tiredly, feeling the bump on his head increase in pain. He groaned slightly. Gaara watched him. "What has happened to Konoha?"

Shikamaru snickered slightly and leaned forward. "What has not happened? Naruto, Sakura and I are now hunted throughout all the countries of the nin-lands. The only place I could think was relatively safe was here, even though you are allies with Konoha."

Gaara narrowed his eyes. "Naruto hunted? What happened?"

Shikamaru groaned again and rubbed his head. "It all started when Haruno Sakura returned…"

-

Temari quietly showed him the small room in the Hokage house, telling him that he was welcome to stay in Suna. She tried to pretend that he didn't give her that gentle look, and that the fact that his hand brushed against hers was only accidentally. Temari had to believe that, no matter how she felt for him she needed to be calm and collected. There was nothing there but a child between them now. They didn't need to be together.

"Temari, why are you avoiding me?"

"I am not, so stop seeing things that don't exist." She hissed those words, tucking on her dress. He crooked his neck a little and crossed his arms.

"Don't Shikamaru, I told you already…"

"Would it change anything if I said that I didn't ONLY like you?"

She narrowed her eyes and opened the door to a hallway. "Will you just shut up! I don't want Gaara to be more suspicious at me than he already is."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes in return. "If I asked you to marry me, would it make any difference?!"

Temari turned around and slammed the door shut to the hallway again. Leaving her and him together in silence in his little room, her was glare obvious. "No it wouldn't. You don't understand do you? It is never so easy. We can't go around living like a married couple like that. Haven't I told you there is nothing between us anymore?"

Shikamaru glared back. "Yes you have, and you know very well that your feelings are still there. Don't freaking pretend like you don't give a damn."

She punched him hard on the cheek and he landed on the floor, surprised. "Stop acting like a kid and grow up! I thought you were the smart one. I can't save you all the time, you are lucky that Gaara hasn't killed you yet!"

Temari opened the door and ran down the hallway. She barely avoided a surprised Kankouru, who stared at the bruised Shikamaru. He glared back at him. "Don't tell me that my suspicion was right…"

-

Naruto sat down tiredly on the rock beside Sakura. It was late at night and the stars were shinning brightly. He leaned back and smiled sadly as watching the stars reminded him of so many things.

He knew that she was watching him.

"What?" he asked.

She turned her head the other way offended and pouted. Obviously unsatisfied with the fact that he caught her staring. It was strange though, because he could barely see her with his left eye.

"Is there anything you want?" he asked again.

Sakura then mumbled something into her hands. He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I know about your eye" she whispered. Naruto bent himself forward, watching her, his heart clenched. He still hasn't forgiven the fact that she didn't tell him the truth. He turned his head to the ground. "It's okay. I am used to it by now."

There was silence.

"I can heal it you know." This time, her gaze rested on his face with a stubborn look. Naruto smiled kindly at the ground.

"Naah, it's alright. Can't change things anyway." There was a sad expression on his face.

Sakura clenched her fists, and glared at the ground. The sky became cloudy and all of sudden the area was filled with rain. However, since they were sitting in the cave, they didn't get wet.

-

Sakura tilted her head downwards as she watched Tsunade try to keep herself sober after the many bottles of sake. There was a frown on her face, when she pushed the cup towards Sakura, who tried to keep herself awake.

Sakura looked up and found Tsunade staring at her.

"Sakura, you do know that you are the only one…"

The pink-haired girl stared at her confused. "Tsunade-sama?"

"You were the only one who had the ability to surpass Shizune, and even me." Tsunade's eyes rested on her. "It was you, not any other girl. No, not Naruto, not Sasuke. It was only you."

Sakura was silent.

Tsunade gulped down another cup of sake and Sakura was about to stop her, when she continued. "Shizune would be a better Hokage than I have ever been., I am just the strongest of her and me. However, you Sakura…"

"…you have the ability to surpass both me and Shizune. And any other medic-nin for that matter." Tsunade smiled.

"I am proud of you."

Sakura felt a strange feeling in her chest.

-

"Stop being like that!" Sakura screamed, and rose to her feet. Her eyes narrowing at him. "Don't you trust me at all!? Do you think I'm incompetent?!"

He stared at her. "That is not it I…"

"What? You always let me depend on you? But NOW that I can help you, you won't even let me?!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes and stood up himself. "What do you know?! You don't know a thing do you! All you think is that it was only your fault that Sasuke died!" she flinched. "I was there too you know! I am here too, you know! All you care about is how you have been treated!"

He turned around, to hide his sad, yet angry face. "You said you were lonely, but you have a family to return to. You had so many people! I had no one. And all I did was admire how good you were back then! That you had this perfect chakra control. That you were the one who turned out better than me! Hell, Sasuke turned out better than me!"

"How do you think I felt! I was so lonely after Tsunade died! I have felt lonely for over half my life …"

She was about to yell at him when he interrupted her, his shoulders shaking.

"I …I…loved you Sakura! I respected that you left the city, but please…" he stood still for a second and breathed deep, surprised by his own actions. "I just…" he turned around. "…don't want you to tell me that I haven't felt pain too. Don't you think I haven't made sacrifices..."

"I don't want to be a bother to you Sakura. That is why I offered to go away. If you don't want me to go with you tell me now. I'll understand. You should just know that I trust you Sakura, and all I want is your happiness."

She furrowed her brows.

"But I was there too. I have cried too…"

Before Sakura could say anything in return, he disappeared far into the forest. Sakura gasped shortly and ran out of the cave into the rain. "NARUTO!"

When there was no reply she brought a hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. Tears streaming down her cheeks. "Naruto…"

-

A/N: Yay, new chapter. Hahahaha. Okay, seriously, this chapter has a lot of drama, and I even surprised myself by making Naruto act like he did. Yet, somehow I had the feeling that it was the right thing to do.

However, it is late, and I do not know what to explain, which isn't going to be explained in other chapters, so no questions today. Despite that there is an IMPORTANT THING YOU SHOULD NOTICE.

"Naruto Loved Sakura!"

It is important that you don't think he is in love with her now, and that Sakura is in love with Naruto. I use the word love differently than most people. It takes time to care for a person really much.

Review or Flame me if necessary.

Note: favs: 30 alerts: 41 (I am so proud of myself!!).

All rights to Kishimoto!