"I can't believe you invited him!" Sasuke and Gaara both yelled in unison, not breaking eye contact with each other.
Sakura sighed and looked at Naruto who had a smile on his face, Naruto really enjoyed seeing everyone back together again it reminded him of old times, before the 4th Ninja War.
"I can't believe you invited them…" Sakura said, looking at Sasuke and Gaara still arguing.
"No need to pout just let them work it out." Killer Bee said, folding his arms behind his head.
"Hey guys…" Naruto tried to say but was drowned out in the noise of Sasuke and Gaara's argument
"Guys…" Naruto tried again, waving his arms in the air but was continually ignored by Sasuke and Gaara who had resumed growling at each other.
"HEY!" Sakura shouted, slamming her fist down in the table, making Sasuke and Gaara break their stares and look at her with fear in their eyes
"My husband didn't call you out here so you could argue with each other, he asked for your help in his time of need and all you've done since you got here is fight with each other! Grow up!" She said, anger evident in her voice
"Yes ma'am." They both said in unison, sitting back down in their chairs.
The room fell silent for a minute, nobody wanting to make a statement, Killer Bee finally broke the silence, he looked at Naruto smiled.
"So what's your plan Naruto?" Bee asked.
Naruto stood up and pulled a map out from a cabinet to his left, the map contained the internal architecture of the chunin exam stadium he took the marker on the table and dotted 4 different points on each edge of the stadium.
"When The Wolves attack, they'll be after Hana and myself. So I'm going to give them exactly what they want. Once all the residents are evacuated from the village I'll be waiting inside the stadium, once The Wolves realized that they can't get to Hana they'll come for me, once all of them are inside the stadium this is where you guys will come into play." Naruto said
"So, we're going to ambush them? I know that we're all skilled ninja Naruto, but we can't take on an entire mercenary group packed full of high level jounin." Sasuke said.
"You won't be taking them on, it'll just be me. You guys will be putting up a chakra barrier to encase me and The Wolves inside the stadium, one of you will be at each of these points..." Naruto said, not noticing the shocked looks that were on the faces of his friends and his wife.
"Naruto, you can't be serious. You'll die and you know it." Gaara said.
"Yeah... I know, but I'll be able to get The Wolves out of Konoha." Naruto said
"How?" Killer Bee questioned
"Once you guys put up the barrier, I need you to place these.." Naruto said, pulling out four flying raijin seals. "On each of kunai that the barrier is projected from, if we get this correct, I'll be able to teleport the entire stadium to the deserts in the Sand Country, they'll be lost in the deserts for weeks, months even; I doubt many of them will survive." Naruto said.
"Naruto, what you're doing is crazy. You're not going to survive!" Sasuke said, banging his fist down on the table.
"Yeah.." a sad smile crossed Naruto's face, "I promised when I became Hokage that I would keep these people safe no matter what. If that means putting my life on the line than that's what I'm willing to do; all the Hokage before me did the same." Naruto said, smiling at Sasuke.
"Alright Naruto, there's no point in arguing with you. You're not going to change your plan and I know it." Sasuke sighed.
"You have my support." Sasuke said reluctantly.
"Me and Sand-man, are with you to bro!" Bee said, putting his arm around Gaara's shoulder, Gaara's discomfort could obviously be seen in his face.
"Thanks guys." Naruto smiled at them, he then looked at Sakura who was bowing her head in sadness, he knew she was probably hiding tears.
"Can you guys give us some space?" Naruto asked.
The three men obliged, standing up from their seats and exiting the room, Naruto walked over and sat down next to Sakura.
"Sakura…" Naruto said gently as he reached out.
"DON'T!" She said as she knocked Naruto's hand away, her sobs began to resume.
Naruto looked at Sakura's sobbing form and wondered if he had made the right choice keeping something like this from her, they both promised that there wouldn't be any more secrets in their relationship, He knew that lying to her was bad, but it was necessary; if she found out sooner than she might've put the entire plan in jeopardy. However, looking at her now made Naruto wonder if it was worth keeping it from her at all.
"Sakura… I'm sorry." Naruto said
"You're sorry?" Sakura yelled
"I would never keep something like this from you Naruto! Is this how much faith you have in me? That you have to lie and keep secrets from me?" She continued.
"Sakura..." Naruto said softly.
"No, I don't want to hear it! I would've thought with how long we've been together that I would've earned some trust by now but I obviously haven't!" She yelled, tears falling from her eyes.
"Sakura" His voice, increasing in its volume.
"What other secrets have you kept from me? Huh?" She yelled standing up. "Is your love for me just a lie so I wouldn't run off with Sasuke?" Sakura yelled before lowering her tone looking at the fierce anger in Naruto's eyes.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT" Naruto yelled back, his pupils turning red. "I love you with all my heart, you're everything to me!" He yelled before putting his hands over his eyes and rubbing them down his face, calming himself.
Naruto sighed and sat back down; focusing his eye contact back to Sakura who seemed to be listening intently, after 30 seconds passed Naruto finally spoke up. "A long time ago, when I was traveling with Pervy Sage he used to always talk about the future. He believed that there are points in time and history that we can't change; he called them 'fixed points', I used to think he was just talking garbage but now… now I think I understand what he was saying." Naruto said as he stood up and put his hands on Sakura's shoulders.
"This is a fixed point in history; this is where Naruto Uzumaki has to die." He gave a sad smile to Sakura whose tears were gathering in her eyes.
"Why... Why do you have to be so damn heroic?" Sakura said as she sobbed into Naruto's chest, hitting his shoulders with her arms.
Naruto wrapped his arms around Sakura's slender body and allowed her to get all the tears out, he couldn't imagine what emotional turmoil he must be putting her though right now.
"I'm sorry Sakura, but there isn't any other way. It's either me or the entire leaf village; all of those traders, shinobi and children will die. I couldn't live with that on my conscience." Naruto said.
"Naruto..." Sakura said quietly as she gazed up at the man in front of her wondering at how the bratty kid that always annoyed her had somehow turned into her hero.
"Listen, if you don't want go through with it its fine. I'll change the plan." Naruto said.
"No, if you think it's what's right, then there's no point in arguing." Sakura said, wrapping her arms around Naruto.
"I wish it could've been different." Naruto muttered, just loudly enough for Sakura to hear him.
"Me too." She said; looking up at her husband before pressing her lips to his passionately.
Naruto and Sakura walked into their house to see Hana sitting on the couch practicing her hand signs, they both smiled at her attempts before joining her on the couch.
"Hi Daddy, Hi Mom!" Hana smiled
"Hey pumpkin." Naruto said, pressing his lips to Hana's forehead.
"Hana, Daddy needs to talk to you for a moment." Sakura said, signalling to Naruto.
"Am I in trouble?" Hana said, scared of being punished.
"No, I just want to talk to you. C'mon." Naruto said, holding out his hand.
And it was like that they disappeared on moment and reappeared the next, only this time they were on the Hokage Mountain; Hana and Naruto walked over and sat down on top of Tsunade's Hokage Head, Naruto sighed before resuming eye contact with Hana.
"Hana, the bad people are coming back in a weeks' time. They're going to attack the village, and try to take you." Naruto said, grabbing Hana's hands gently.
"But I don't want to go with them" Hana said, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey…" Naruto said gently, wiping away her tears with his thumb.
"We're not going to let them take you; you're going to evacuate the village and me and your mother are going to stay here." Naruto said, studying Hana's face carefully.
"But then you and Mom might get taken." Hana said, squeezing her Father's hands.
"Not a chance, I'm going to take them on. Mom is going to help me for a little while but then she's going to come back to you, I promise." Naruto smiled.
"But what about you?" Hana asked.
Naruto sighed and gave Hana a sad smile, "I'm not coming with you two." He said, the sad smile remaining prominent on his face.
"So… you're going to show up late?" Hana asked.
Naruto hated lying to her, but it seemed like the only thing he could do right now to keep her safe.
"Yeah, I'll be very late." He said, smiling.
"Can't I come with you?" Hana asked.
"No, this is something Dad has to do on his own." Naruto said as he stood up and turned to face the Leaf Village; Hana followed her Father's actions and stood up as well.
"Hana, you know what Dad's job as Hokage is right?" Naruto asked.
"Of course! To aid and care for all shinobi in the Leaf Village!" Hana said with a smile.
"Close, but there's a bit more to it than that." Naruto said
"More?" Hana asked, looking up at her Father in surprise.
"I have to take care of EVERYONE in the Leaf Village, which means merchants, shinobi and even the kids that go to your school. And if even one of them is in danger I will gladly do everything I can to keep them safe." Naruto said, kneeling down and smiling at his Daughter.
Hana smiled and hugged her Dad, Naruto took this opportunity to use his flying raijin to teleport him and Hana back into their house.
"Just remember Hana, stay in the house on the day of the attack. Inoichi will come get you and keep you safe until Mom arrives, promise." Naruto said.
"Yes Sir!" Hana said with a giggle.
Night had come to the Leaf Village, Naruto sat on the roof of the Hokage Mansion by himself; that was until he heard footsteps coming up the stairs, he turned around to see Sasuke Uchiha with sake in hand and two glasses in the other hand he moved towards Naruto and sat down next to him.
"Coming up here to brood with me?" Naruto smiled at Sasuke.
"I guess so." Sasuke said, pouring himself and Naruto a glass of sake.
"Y'know, if I don't make it.." Naruto said.
"Stop it." Sasuke interrupted, "You're going to make it, it's just that simple."
"There's always a chance I won't, If anything happens… take care of my family." Naruto said, eyes gazing down the village below.
"But.." Sasuke said before he was interrupted by Naruto
"No buts, I'm not saying you have to fall in love with Sakura or become Hana's step-father" He said, giving clear hints to Sasuke that he would kill him if he even thought about that, "I'm just asking you to keep them safe from harm. If I'm not around to save them from harm you're next best thing." Naruto said, putting his arm around Sasuke's shoulder.
Sasuke nodded and raised his glass, "Good luck, dobe." Sasuke said with a smile
"You too, teme." He chuckled before clinking his glass with Sasukes.
In a dark cave on the leaf-sound village border, The Wolves were beginning to amass their assault.
"My lord, everyone's here and ready move on the village." Yakushi said, bowing before the man in the chair.
"Good, it seems we are ready then." The man said as his snake tongue slithered out from the shadows.
"Yes my lord, we'll move at once. We expect to arrive within 5 days." Yakushi said before standing up and leaving the room.
The man in the chair laughed to himself before standing up, and stepped out of the shadows; his pupils were not that of mortal man, but those of a snake.