Chapter 11 (Sakura's Salvation)

The moment Sasuke was out of the Hospital, he looked towards the team of Anbu Kakashi had placed to watch Shikio. He told them not to inform anything to Kakashi yet, and that he will personally go and discuss the matter with the Hokage. The Anbu team agreed and dispersed. Even if Sasuke had no connections with the Anbu, every other Shinobi in Konoha knew that Uchiha Sasuke was right hand of their Hokage along with his brother. They very well knew not to question his judgement.

Sasuke now zoomed through the streets of Konoha towards the Hokage tower. He needed to talk to Naruto and quickly. It was already 7:30 and god forbid if he was already too late. Sasuke shrugged away his disturbing thoughts and focussed all his chakra to his legs making a last minute dash too the Hokage tower.

If the people of Konoha felt the Young Uchiha's inhuman speed before, now they were stumbling back by the gush of wind left behind by him.

XXX

Naruto was in his office, his last Shadow clone just dispersed and Naruto banged his fist on the table causing Itachi and Kakashi to jerk back in surprise.

"Damn it!" Naruto cursed.

"Another shadow clone in vain?" Kakashi asked in disdain.

"Yeah, and the last one." Naruto replied hoarsly turning to look towards both of the Sharingan weilder.

Both Kakashi and Itachi's frown deepened.

Kakashi and Itachi had visited to report their progress so far. And disappointingly there had been no progress at all. Both the Konoha Police Force and The ANBU were still at a complete loss about Sakura's location and neither did they have any other prime suspect. Kakashi had communicated with the two teams watching over thier current suspects and there hadn't been any peculiar movements.

Itachi however had his mind somewhere else. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Sasuke earlier in the day. Sasuke was surely onto something and Itachi cursed his younger brother under his breadth for keeping everyone else at the dark about it. Itachi could withstand everything but he really hated suspense and surprises.

Naruto sunk back into his chair and sighed for the umpteenth time. His sage mode finally wearing off. Kakashi was scratching his chin. He was disappointed with his subordinates. Years of peace had them slacking off. There was no way in hell that someone could hide when the whole of Konoha's ANBUS were searching their ass off for them. And this fact annoyed him further.

Itachi took a deep breadth and leaned forward. He decided that it was finally time he told Naruto about the unusual questions Sasuke had asked him earlier in the day. And just when he was about to speak, the door to the Hokage's office burst open and Sasuke rushed in.

Both Naruto and Kakashi stared at Sasuje, confused. Itachi however despite his slight dilemma had been expecting his brother to show up sooner or later.

"What the hell are you doing here, Teme?" Naruto asked staring at Sasuke, confused. He was supposed to be at the hospital afterall.

Kakashi and Naruto along with Itachi were intently waiting for a reply. Sasuke took a few short moments to settle down before answering.

"Shimato Shikio, Ex Konoha Shinobi, currently a Medic at the Konoha Hospital and a lecturer at the medic training facility. He's your man."

Naruto's eyes grew wide in horror before a death glare set on his face. Itachi and Kakashi almost jumped out of their chair.

"Sasuke, are you sure? He had been under the ANBU survei..."

"He was using Chisio-bunshin." Sasuke interrupted Kakashi and the moment Kakashi heard the Chisio Bunshin, his mind went into overdrive. He dwelled further and immidiately figured how Shikio had managed to fool the ANBU for an entire day. He used a forbidden jutsu.

Realization dawned on Itachi's face. Things were falling into places. Them being unable to track Sakura, Sasuke's absurd questening in the afternoon. Everything made sense.

"Do you have his location?" Naruto asked. His voice grave and dry with anger. Both Kakashi and Itachi immidiately jerked back from their musings.

"Yeah, I've sent out my hawks, and they have detected a barrier around Shikio's house. 4th sector, B block, House No 5." Sasuke replied nodding his head.

"Well, then why wasn't the ANBU or The Police force able to pick it up?" Kakashi asked lurching into the matter.

"Because Shikio is also an expert in barrier ninjutsu. His barrier was casted by his bunshin and it was camouflaged till his bunshin was intact." Sasuke repied quickly, turning to look towards Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded. 'That explains everything.' He thought.

"Kakashi-sensei, I want you to notify Tsunade-baa-chan immidiately. I want the medic team to get there as soon as possible." Naruto stated slowly as he stood up and picked up his white cloak hanging on the back of his chair.

"Hai, I'll be on my way then." Kakashi replied and immidiately hurried out of the room.

Naruto put on his coat and held up his Shakujo which was leaning against his desk. He then walked to the window. "Itachi-san you will come with us." Naruto said looking back from his shoulder to see the elder Uchiha nodding. "Good. Now Sasuke, lead us." With a crash Naruto launched himslef out of the window, shatering the glass into thousands of peices. Itachi followed through and Sasuke hurried forward to lead them on.

XXX

Shikio woke up from his sleep. He checked the clock at his bedside and cursed under his breadth.

'Damn, its already 7'

He gently removed the syringe from his veins and slowly sat up. 'Finally all my strength is back.' He thought smirking.

Getting out of his bed he headed for the bathroom to freshen himself up. Once he was all done, he made his way towards his basement.

XXX

Sakura was awake when she heared the door in the corner crack open. The drug Shikio had administered to her was still in effect. She was still unable to channel her chakra, and she still felt drained off her normal strength. She struggled to get out of the shackel for the millionth time only to be in vain.

"You still haven't given up, have you?" Shikio asked with his demeaning smirk as he slowly walked towards Sakura.

"I'll never bend to your will, you scum!" Sakura spat back, narrowing her glare on the approaching figure.

"Suits me just fine." Shikio replied nochalantly he as stood face to face with Sakura. The demeaning smirk never leaving his face. He leaned forward and trailed his tongue through Sakura's cheeks, causing her to struggle more. "It turns me on when someone resist to my tortures." He whispered in her ear before straight up to face her.

SPITT!

Sakura felt sick to her stomach on hearing his words. Disgusted and enraged she spat straight on his face.

Shikio's smirk was immidiately changed with sick and a dark and deep frown finally settled in his face. He slowly wiped Sakura's salive off his face and narrowed his sickening glare on Sakura. He pulled his his fist back and punched her right in the middle of her face.

"(thump)..You..(thump)..bloody..(thump)..fucking..(thump)..whore..[THUMP]" Shikio muttered, grinding his teeth and landing punches in Sakura's face after each word. After his last word, he pulled his fist back and took a step back for extra momentum and crashed her face with the hardest punch of all, right in the middle of her face.

Sakura felt the forces of each punch, by the time he was on his last, her face was numb and she hardly felt anything. Her vision was blurring, probably due to swollen eyes and she coughed out blood. Her nose was shattered and blood was flowing down like a river, leaving a red trail down her face and down her white tank top. She could feel darkness engulfing her and she slowly began to lose her sight.

Shikio noticed that Sakura was about to pass out and he immidiately grabbed a bottle of water set on one of the tables in the room and poured in on her face causing her to slowly stumble back into partial consciousness. He roughly clutched her jaw and stared into her swollen eyes.

"Passing out is not a priviledge that you have, slut." He muttered leaning close to her before roughly shoving her face away.

Sakura wasn't able to get the words out of her mouth, and she hardly understood what Sahikio just said. She felt the agonising pain all over her head and face and it was hard to make out the actual source. She was now hanging in the shackles holding her arms. She had no more strength to keep standing and she fell to her knees, but the shackles kept her knees from touching the ground by an inch.

Shikio snickered on seeing this, He sat on his haunches and leveled his face with Sakura's.

"Now, its time for you to get undressed my little, helpless, pathetetic slut." Shikio muttered, his sinister smirk returning to his face.

Shikio leaned forward to grab Sakura's top and rip it apart. Just as he was about to, he heared a loud crash and simultaneously through the corner of his eyes, he noticed a weird three pointed kunai flying past his head, missing his right ear probably just by an inch. Before he even had the chance to bat an eyelid, he felt a firm grip across his throat. Immidiately he found himslef being launched into the air with the clutch still firm in his throat and then with unsurmountable power he was slammed back down on the hard concrete floor. He let out a whail of agony when he hit the floor. The back of his skull had cracked and his spine shattered. He faded into unconsciousness before he could see the unusually chilling death glare of the Rokudaime Hokage.

Naruto stood back up and sheathed back the Kunai he had used for Hiraishin. He turned back to face Sakura. He flet a blow to his gut the moment he saw Sakura hanging by her arms from the shackles. Naruto's eyes grew wide in terror and he immidiately got her out of the pulling the cuffs apart. He noticed that Sakura was nearly passed out. Her eyes swollen and had slits over them, her nose broken and disfigured. Her blood and tears mixing together. Naruto held her up bridal style and stood up. He walked back to the team of medic that have just arrived with Tsunade and Shizune leading.

"Holy god!" Tsunade gasped, her eyes immidiately filling up with tears when she took Sakura from Naruto. "we're taking her to the hospital right now. I myself will be leading the diagnosis." Tsunade barked at the medic present as she huried out of the room, holding Sakura in her arms.

"Hai." Everyone replied in unison and followed the former Hokage.

"Shizune, wait." Shizune stopped in her tracks on hearing Naruto's voice.

"Hai, Hokage-sama?" She asked turning to face him.

"I want you to heal him to the point he is conscious again." Naruto replied pointing towards the figure lying on top of the crumbled concrete floor.

Shizune immidiately comlied. For a moment she had the urge to ask him why, but when she noticed Naruto's icy cold eyes along with his chilling voice, she decided not to. She walked over to the unconscious figure, rotated him 180 degrees around for the light to fall better and bent down, green Chakra filled up her palms and she began her work.

Both Itachi and Sasuke had been standing there since all three of them had barged in breaking through door. They witnessed that the moment they were inside the room, Naruto without stopping for a second whirled his three pointed Kunai straight at the crouching Shikio across the room and Naruto appeared right beside Shikio the next instant when the Kunai had just flown past his right ear. Naruto then grabbed Shikio by his throat and lurched him into the air and immidiately slammed him into the ground, but adding extra force while doing so by keeping his grip aroud his throat till he had slammed Shikio into the ground completely. Both Itachi and Sasuke had been sure that Shikio was a goner, his painful whail only confirmed that. Atleast he would never be able to walk again. But they were now confused when Naruto asked Shizune for this unusual job of healing Shikio back. Both of them walked up to him.

"Why did you ask Shizune to heal him?" Itachi asked coming to stand beside him.

"Yeah, why did you?" Sasuke added stepping up to stand on Naruto's other side.

"I'm not done yet. I want him to feel more pain." Naruto answered gravely. His eyes never leaving the picture of Shizune healing Shikio.

Itachi and Sasuke turned simultanoeusly to look at Naruto. They had never seen their Hokage being this ruthless towards anyone. Hell, he had even shown compassion towards Madara. Both of them kept quite and decided to leave Naruto to his own and anyways, Shikio did deserve whatever was coming at him. After a few moments when Shizune was done, they watched Naruto walk up to the now struggling Shikio. Naruto narrowed his glare on the man lying beneath him.

Once shizune was done, Shikio was conscious and felt the pain lessening, but still if he tried to stand or sit, a sharp agonising pain ran up his back. He grunted and fell back down. his spine was still probably broken. He knew he was bleeding from the back of his head when he felt the warm liquid all over his back. He tried to take in as much as his eyes could from his position and he found no body, not even the medic or whoever had healed him. Then suddenly he heard footsteps and focussed his vision towards the bottom and from between his feet he saw a tall figure was approaching him, the silhoutte slowly and gradually moved towards him and as the figure slowly got closer, he shuddered on noticing the blonde spiky hair, the large white cloak with magatamas across the shoulders, and the large shukajo being held on one of the hands. Finally he stared at the Hokage, approching him. And when he saw the icy, grave, enraged glare of Naruto focussed right in his eyes, Shikio pissed his pants.

Naruto saw the dampening of Shikio's trouser around his groin and smirked. He sat on his haunches and pressd one of his knees on Shikio's chest.

"Passing out is not a priviledge that you have, you shit!" Naruto whispered leaning into Shikio's ears. Shikio's eyes grew wider and tried to speak but before he could mutter a word, Naruto pulled his fist and drove a punch right in his mouth. A loud crack was heared and instatnly Shikio's jaw was shattered, several of his teeth broke and blood poured out of the corner of his mouth. Shikio's screams and cries of pain were muffled by his disfigured and broken mouth. He began shaking like a fish out of the water.

"That should shut you up." Naruto stated gravely as he stood back up. The moment Naruto lifted his knee off Shikio's chest, he immidiately coughed out his broken teeth and blood flowed out like a running water. But his relief was short lived when he felt another huge wave of pain in his right hand. He turned to look and his eyes grew wide with with pure terror and fear. He desperately tried to shake his head, begging Naruto to forgive him.

Naruto rejoiced when he saw the look of fear, desperation and beg for mercy in the face of Shikio. "Thats right you bastard, beg.. but not for mercy, beg for your death." Naruto said gravely with his own smirk and slowly began to twist Shikio's arm.

Itachi, Sasuke and Shizune were horrified looking at scene in fron of their eyes. Naruto was slowly twistng Shikio's arm. They could hear the cracking of bones along with the muffled screams of Shikio but Naruto only stopped when a broken bone tore out of Shikio's forearm and stood out. Naruto smiled, let go off his dismantaled arm and jumped up, folding one of his knee while in air, he crashed right in Shikio's ribs instantly breaking several of them. Another whail of muffled srcears rang through the room.

Twenty minutes passed. Sound of breaking bones and Shikio's muffled screams were the only thing ringing through the entire room. Kasashi along with Ibiki were now watching too. Kakashi arrived late as he had gone to summon the said interrogation expert along with him. Shizune had revived Shikio two more times and finally Itachi decided to stop Naruto's madness. He walked upto the now slightly panting Naruto.

"He's had enough, Naruto-kun. Let Ibiki take care of him now." Itachi said softly as he laid his hand on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto turned to look at him and thats when Itachi saw the tears in Naruto's eyes.

"He hu..hurt m..my Sakura." Naruto said with a cracking voice while looking at Itachi and pointing towards Shikio.. or whatever was left of Shikio.

Itachi's eyes follwed Naruto's pointing finger and saw Shikio's battered body. His right arm twisted with a broken bone sticking out, his left arm bent backwards in the elbow. His face, like a smashed tomato was now completely red and hard to be figured out. But Itachi could make out a broken nose and a shattered jaw. Even the great Uchiha Itachi shuddered at the sight.

"Yes, Yes Naruto-kun, and he got what he deserved. Let Ibiki-san handle him now. Come let go and check on Sakura now." Itachi said turning Naruto around by his shoulder to face him. Simultaneously Sasuke came forward and picked up Naruto's Shukajo, which was lying beside Shukajo. Naruto had dropped it in the middle of his outburst.

"Here, Hokage-sama." Sasuke said with a smirk as he handed the Shukajo to Naruto.

Naruto finally smiled and wiped his tears away. He took the Shukajo from Sasuke and looked at him. "Hokage-sama, ha?" Naruto smirked too and turned to face Shizune.

"Take him to the hospital and hand him to Ibiki afterwards." He said calmly now and Shizune nodded. Naruto then turned to Ibiki.

"Once you are done with the interrogation, come and find me."

"I understand. I assure you, he will have his worst possible time." Ibiki answered in his usual gruff voice.

Naruto nodded and headed out. Itachi, Sasuke and Kakashi following by.

XXX

One week had passed since the day Saskura was rescued. A lot happened in that week. Naruto had publicly declared about Shikio's crimes and his arrest. The people of Konoha were relived, especially the females. And once when Ibiki had confirmed Naruto that Shikio didn't have any other accomplice, Naruto had sent Shikio to Kumo along with Kakashi and Shikamaru as escorts. The reason being, when Naruto decided to confide to Raikage about the incident 6 years ago, the Raikage had been frantic but agreed when Naruto said that he will hand over Shikio to Kumo and they were free to do whatever they wanted with him. But he still decided to send Shikamaru to avoid any diplomatic blunder if arised. On the other hand, Tsunade had succesfully carried out Sakura's operation. The former Godaime informed to a very concerned and dismayed Naruto that Sakura would been fine and there hadn't been any permanent damage. Both physically and psychologically. Naruto had been greatly relived on hearing this but still the blond had passed out when he had visited her and saw her heavily bandaged face. Today Sakura was supposed to be discharged and since she was the head medic nin and also the fact that her injuries were partly due to the incompetance of the ANBU, he decided that as the Hokage, he himself would take care of all the hospital charges. And so there he was, on his way to the hospital, Itachi and Sasuke following by.

"Dobe, tell me why is that stupid smirk on your face." Sasuke asked nonchalantly. His arms crossed over his chest and eyes closed as he walked beside Naruto.

Naruto shot his head towards Sasuke. "Why? Do you have a problem with that, teme?" Naruto hissed back.

"Yeah, you look like a roasted kung pow chicken."

"And you look like a thanksgiving turkey."

"Hnh."

"URUSAI!"

Itachi grinned watching both of through the corner of his eyes. They kept on arguing till they reached the gate of the hospital.

XXX

"DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?" Sakura frenziedly asked, jumping up and down in her bed.

"Yes forhead, he really said that." Ino sighed and replied the same asnwer for the umpteenth time that day.

"Are you sure he said 'my'?" Sakura asked again, grinning.

Ino gritted and teeth and shot up. "Yes yes yes, He said that and I quote for the last time, "He hurt MY Sakura." Ino hissed, now clearly peeved by Sakura's constant bugging. She berated herslef for telling Sakura that. But she couldn't entirely blame Sakura though, even Ino herself had bugged Shizune when she told Ino about Naruto's outburst and especially that particluar phase.

"Allright allright." Sakura huffed pouting and crossing her her arms.

Ino sighed once again and sat back down. "So, when are you going to be discharged. its 11 A.M already."

Sakura dropped her pouting and turned towars Ino, her grin returning once again. "The village is paying all my bills, so Naruto will be here to sign some papers, I think he is busy thats why he's taking so long. By the way has Shikamaru returned?"

"Yeah, he got back home early morning. He's on leave today so he must be still dozing off."

Sakura gave a small nod. She was still smiling at the thought of Naruto addressing her as his Sakura. She so badly wanted to ask him, but Naruto refused to talk about that day at all. On the third day after her bandages were removed and she was able to talk, she asked Naruto about Shikio when he dropped by. Naruto simply repled that he had been taken care off, and he vehemently told her not to question him about that day any more. Sakura was a bit hesitant and annoyed at the beginning but she decided to keep quite when she noticed Naruto's mood swing whenever she had tried to bring up the subject. But she still had Karin visiting her on a daily basis. Especially since Anko's due date was approaching and Karin had to accompany her to her regular check ups. And when Anko was busy with her check ups, the red head would visit Sakura nad fill her up with all the juicy details she manages to extract from Sasuke. Even if Sasuke was not the one who would have pillow talks, every night Karin would shoot her question when he's in a really bad predicament. But still Sasuke would only give up small details. A soft knock on the door brought Sakura out of her musings. Sakura checked herslef and straightened her hospital gown. Once she was satisfied she asked whoever was outside to come in. The door opened slightly and Naruto along with Itachi and Sasuke came in.

"Good Morning Sakura-chaaaan." Naruto wished her in his all so familiar, warm and cheerful voice.

The very presence of the blond hokage made Sakura fell elated. "Good morning Naruto." She smiled and for once decided to wish him like wise instead of saying Ohio. She then simultaneously wished both Itachi and Sasuke. Both the Uchiha's smiled and wished her back.

"HEY! I'm standing here too, incase all of you didn't notice." Ino said pouting.

Naruto laughed. "Of course not Ino. Good morning to you too."

"Now thats better." Ino replied smiling. "I'll leave then. Shika is stil.. I mean to say Shikamaru is home and I have to prepare lunch for him." Ino added, quickly rectifying her mistake. A slight pink hue appered on the process. She quickly made her way to the door. She although didn't miss the slight giggle from Naruto and shot a glare at him.

"Just recalled an old joke." Naruto said quickly, drawing his hands out defensively.

Ino dropped her glare, wished Sasuke and bowed to Itachi before quickly leaving the room.

"How are you feeling Sakura?" Itachi asked walking towards her to stop right beside Naruto, who was now seated on the stool, previously being occupied by Ino.

"I'm fine, thank you Itachi-sama." Sakura replied nodding with a soft smile.

"Good to hear that." Itachi said nodding softly. "Come Sasuke, Karin and Anko must be here. Lets go to the reception." Itachi added after a few seconds turning towards Sasuke.

Sasuke a nodded and turned towards Sakura. "Hope to see you in action soon."

"You bet." Sakura replied with her smile.

"Hn." Sasuke smirked before leaving the room along with Itachi.

Sakura turned to face Naruto was sitting right beside.

"So, are you finished with the paper works." She asked turning to face Naruto.

"Yeah, all done." Naruto replied waving the green envelop he was holding. "Shizune should be arriving soon. I met her on the way here."

sakura nodded. "Sooo... What happened with Shikio, I mean I heared you sent him to Kumo so I... just asked." Sakura asked a bit nervously.

Naruto sighed and placed the envelope on top to the table beside Sakura's bed. "Raikage executed him in public."

Sakura nodded. After a few moments of silence Sakura took a deep breadth and asked "Naruto will you tell me in detail about that day?"

The bright, happy and cheerful face of Naruto suddenly turned grey, dull and sad. "I told you already Sakura-chan, I don't want to talk about that day."

"But why, tell me why is it so hard?" Sakura asked insisting. She had been the sufferer after all, she wanted to know what Naruto did to Shikio. The only people she knew who had been present there the whole time were Shizune, Sasuke, Itachi and Naruto. Shizune was never around for more then a few minutes so Sakura couldn't bug her. If sasuke didn't say anything to Karin, then she was sure that she would have jack.
And Itachi was simply out of reach, so that left only the blond Hokage. Sakura broke from her thoughts when she noticed Naruto's blue eyes glaring at her.

"Because, Baa-chan told me hpw mentally broken you were. She told me how scared you had been for the first 18 hours. I don't want to talk about that day so that you don't have to remember it. Ok, thats the only reason." That was only half the reason. Naruto himself had trouble sleeping for 3 nights after that evening. His dreams always consisting of horrible things happening to Sakura while he was chained and forced to watch. He winced and a tear escaped his eye when memories of her battered face came back into his mind.

Sakura's heart sank when she saw the sad eyes of Naruto and she felt a blow to her gut when she saw a trail of tear rolling down his cheek.
She reached forward and wiped his tear with her thumb while cupping his face with her hands.

"It's all right Naruto. I'm safe now. You protected me yet again didn't you." She said softly looking into the cerulean blue orbs. "I promise never to talk about this again."

Naruto nodded and felt her hands with his own. Her touch felt so surreal and natural at the sametime. Like it was only meant for him and yet he had missed it for all these years. All his feelings gushed back into his heart and immidaitely making it heavy. he recalled all the times he had spent with her, good times and bad times. Everything was clearly registered in his mind. The woman of his dreams, the girl he had been so hopelessly in love with since they were 6 years old. The uncountable times she had cried and scolded him when he did something reckless. Her confession of love to him all those years back, even if it was fake one. But her words of 'I love you, Naruto.' were burnt in his heart and soul. And then when she had hugged him after he defeated pain, and the day he was named the Rokudaime Hokage of Konoha. He recalled everything. From the day they were placed on the same team nearly 15 years ago to the day he had left Konoha leaving her crying in his office. Every good thing and bad thing. And one week ago, he had been so close of losing her. He didn't even have the courage to think about the consequences if Sasuke hadn't solved the puzzle. He loved her too much. Sakura was the girl and now the woman his mother wanted him to marry. How could he let anyone harm her. He closed his eyes in her grasp and made a silent resolution to himself.

'I'll protect you till I breadth my last breadth, till I see my last light, till I hear my last sound. I'll protect and love you till the moment I cease to exist.' Another drop of tear trickled down his cheek.

Sakura was entranced by the peacefull face of Naruto and so she was taken back when she felt another drop of tear rolling down his cheek.

"Naruto, its all right. I promise I will never talk abo..."

Naruto interrupted Sakura when he clasped her hands and looked into her emerald eyes. "No." he said vehemently.

Sakura watched him dumbstruck, her emerald eyes meeting his blue ones.

"Promise me that you'll never leave me. Promise me that what ever happens, you'll stay right beside me. You'll always be there for me. Promise me that." Naruto said, his voice calm yet strong, harsh yet caring, loud yet soft.

Sakura was sure her heart skipped a few beats. She watched him wide eyed and with a hanging jaw. 'Did he really ask me that. Yes, yes he did. he still loves me. He still cares for me. He is still the same old Naruto I fell in love with. He.. is still the same old Naruto who fell in love with me when we were just just 6..'

"Promise me." He urged pressing her hands frimly yet with love.

Naruto's voice shook Sakura out of her wonderful Eden. Gulping the lump in her throat, a small soft smile settled on her lips. "If I make that promise then I think I'll have to marry you Hokage-sama." She said, shifting her body to face him completely and letting her legs hang from the bedside.

Naruto's gaze never left her eyes. His face was still the same, filled with love, care and a desperation so cute and adorable.

"In that case.." Naruto said and got down from the stool and kneeled in one knee. He held out his right arm and continued ".. Haruno Sakura, will you marry me?"

A/N: There, no more questions about the pairing. This story is hereby certified as Narusaku. And I'm terribly sorry for the late update. I'll be leaving for college soon, 5th sem's gonna start and there is so much to do and so little time. But read and review guys. Next update, I'm not sure. Till then... Ja ne \/m