Chapter 56 Nights to remember
"So Naruto…are you ready to die?" asked Sasuke as he and Naruto stood across from each other in the valley of the end, just like they had done so many years ago. However unlike last time when the sun was out and only a few clouds filled the sky. This time a mighty storm was raging. Lightening filled the sky with rage as the wind howled.
"Are you?" asked Naruto as he pulled his sword, the hard rain bouncing off the demon steel.
"Well today isn't the day I die." Said Sasuke as he moved his sword up and pointed it toward Naruto. With one move the blade was struck by multiple thunderbolts making lightening dance around it. "It's too bad this has to happen during a thunderstorm where I can call upon my nature chakra type for help."
"This battle with not be decided by strength alone." said Naruto as Sasuke grinned.
"You are a fool Naruto and once I finished with you I'll kill your little vixen." said Sasuke as they both charge forward.
"Naruto!" yelled Sakura's voice as she rushed toward the battle.
"Sakura get back." ordered Naruto as suddenly an arrow tip appeared in Sakura's chest. Naruto's eyes widened in horror as Sakura fell to her knees before falling to the ground a large arrow in her back. Standing behind her was the red haired woman that Sasuke had appeared with, her crossbow in hand.
"The pink bitch dies." laughed the woman.
"SAKURA!" yelled Naruto as he suddenly sat up a cold sweet running down his body. It took him a moment to realize where he really was, he was in his bed, with Sakura sound asleep at his side.
"Just a dream." said Naruto as he ran his fingers through his hair. The 18 year old Jonnin and demon summer looked down a his 19 year old girlfriend still sound asleep at his side. Her bride maid's dress for Tenten's wedding sat waiting for her in the morning. "It was just a dream…everything is fine."
Naruto didn't know why but something caused him to get out of bed and walk out of the room. For another reason that he could really understand he opened the door to what was supposed to be his room. He walked across the carpet before sitting down in the rocking chair. Unknown to him he wasn't alone, standing in the room was his mother, thanks to her clan's ability she could see him from beyond the grave but he couldn't see her.
"Hello Naruto?" asked Kushina as she got more than a quick look of what her son looked like. He looked so much like Minato it was scary. The same warm blue eyes, the same wild golden blonde hair, maybe the only real difference was he appeared to be an inch or two taller than Minato.
Slowly he reached toward a small lamp table, he opened the small draw, and he reached for the very back of the draw. Kushina's eyes widened as she noticed what Naruto had pulled out. There in his hands was a ring box; he opened the box to show a golden ring with a large diamond in the center with two blue gemstones on the side. She could tell that the stones where Sakura's birthstone. The golden band had two silver foxes inlaid in it. Naruto took it out to look at the inscription inside. It was simple yet powerful.
"Love Forever"
"It is finally time to ask the question." said Naruto to himself as Kushina smiled. "I hope Sakura-chan will like the ring."
"He talks to himself just like I do." thought Kushina as she remembered all the times Minato would look like she was insane as she talked to herself. He just never understood it helped her clear her thoughts.
"She will Naruto." answered Kushina that is when she noticed Naruto looking at a photo of her and Minato standing side by side in the training field. She remembered Jiriaya had taken the photo for them after she had learned she was with child. However there was a next photo. Standing in the same spot in the same position was Naruto and Sakura. She could feel the love coming from those two just like she could feel the love in the photo of her and Minato.
"Mom…Dad…I hoped you would have liked Sakura-chan." said Naruto "I hoped I would make you proud."
"Naruto of course we would like Sakura and we are so proud of you." said Kushina as she wrapped her arms around her son and placed her head on his shoulder. Hugging her son for the first time.
Naruto couldn't physically feel his mother's spirit around him but suddenly he felt more relax. He felt another presence in the room, he didn't know why he knew he wasn't alone but he knew. Slowly he placed the ring away, than he just sat there searching the room with his eyes.
"Does he know I am here?" asked Kushina as she moved to stand in front of Naruto, it was extremely rare but a few men in her clan did have the bloodline ability to talk to the dead, but it Naruto was a Namikaze not an Uzumaki.
"Naruto can you hear me?" asked Kushina as suddenly Naruto's blue eyes flashed red before return to their natural blue, however they were now silted. Instantly Naruto's eyes widened as his eyes locked on Kushina. He had a look of total surprise.
"Naruto? Can you see me?" asked Kushina as Naruto slowly nodded his head.
"My God he can see me." thought Kushina
"Who are you?" asked Naruto
"You said you can see me?" asked Kushina
"I see your chakra not your physical form." said Naruto as he looked at the outline of strange blue chakra in front of him. He could tell it was a female and from the outline a very beautiful woman at that.
"I thought I would never really talk to you." said Kushina as she extended her hand but Naruto back away from the chakra hand. Kushina was a little hurt that her own son wouldn't want to be touch by her, but then she remembered he only saw an outline of a figure standing in his home.
"Naruto maybe if you channel more chakra into her eyes you will see who I really am." said Kushina as Naruto channeled chakra into his eyes slowly the picture started to take form.
First her cloths appeared a light red sleeveless top with a pair of black ninja pants. She had one leaf headband one her forehead. Next her flesh came in expect around the face. Suddenly long bright red hair that reached the small of her back appeared. Next her deep blue eyes appeared followed by her face. Naruto's eyes became like dinner plates as he recognized who she was.
"Mom?" asked Naruto
"Yes." said Kushina with a smile.
"How is this possible?" asked Naruto
"My clan has a bloodline limit that allows us to talk to and from the dead." said Kushina "Whenever it nears my birthday or the date of my death I can return for about an hour."
"I have been here for years why haven't I seen you till now?" asked Naruto
"Simply the bloodline justu only works for females, that is why you couldn't see me." explained Kushina "I am just so happy that I can talk to you…how have you been doing Naruto?"
"I don't know where to begin…well I am seeing someone…" started Naruto
"Sakura Haruno…I know I ran into her and we talked." said Kushina
"Sakura-chan knew you were here?" asked Naruto
"I asked her not to tell you." said Kushina "I didn't want you to think she was crazy."
"I wish she had told me." said Naruto
"Don't worry about that son." said Kushina as Naruto looked up, he always liked it when someone called him son. "Besides soon she will Sakura Namikaze."
"Ya." said Naruto as he smiled just saying Mrs. Sakura Namikaze in his head.
"As for your question, your father and I would love for Sakura to join the family and we are always proud of you." said Kushina
"Mom…I have to ask, I met dad once but it wasn't for long. Half the time I spent trying to kill him so what was he like?" asked Naruto as Kushina sat down across from her son and smiled.
"First knowing your father, he would love that little fight you did." said Kushina "Naruto, your father was the most kind, heartfelt, carrying man I ever known. He was the best of ninjas but unlike most ninjas he never lost that playful spirit. True on the battlefield it was hard to find but off it he would laugh and act stupidly. If he had any faults it was he couldn't cook a decent meal to save his life. He almost burned the house down on four occasions."
"Sounds like a great man." said Naruto
"He was and so are you." said Kushina as she placed her hand on Naruto's check. "Naruto I see so much of your father in you and just from looks. You have that same love of other people and the need to protect your friends and loved ones. The same kindness and playfulness. You have some hints of me in there but Naruto you are your father's son."
Naruto looked at the ground with tears in his eyes.
"It's just sometimes I worry that I wouldn't live up to you two." said Naruto as Kushina shook her head.
"Naruto, you have nothing to prove to us." said Kushina as she felt her chakra weakling. "I wish from the bottom of my heart that your father and I could have been there while you were growing up. To hold you all those times you cried and have given you all the love we have in our hearts. To be the parents we should have been."
Naruto didn't know what to say.
"Naruto I don't have much time before I'll disappear." said Kushina
"When you will be back?" asked Naruto
"I don't really know, my chakra is giving out a lot faster than normal which means I have very little time with period." said Kushina
"This isn't right, I finally get to talk to you and there isn't time." said Naruto
"You know life isn't fair." said Kushina as she started to fade away. Slowly she stood on her tippy toes and kissed her son's forehead. "I love you Naruto…now go make Sakura the happiest woman in the world."
"I love you mom." said Naruto as Kushina faded away totally.
Almost 16 hours later Lady Tsunade sat at a table in a large hall with Jiriaya at her side. Out on the dance floor the younger generation danced in celebration of Tenten becoming Mrs. Hyuga.
"Weddings are always the most fun." said Jiraiya as he lifted a glass of wine "They always have the best shake and wine."
"Why did I ask you to be my escort?" asked Tsunade
"Because I am one of the few drinking buddies that you don't owe money too." said Jiriaya
"I guess you're right." said Tsunade as she looked around the room. Tenten's parent's sat with Neji's mom watching their kids dance the night away. It was a small gathering of friends and family. Haishi himself or anyone from the main Hyuga clan house had bothered to show. In a way it was a good thing, it made it more fun. However the lower Hyuga house had appeared in mass along with Tenten's family. However something was off, in the back corner of the room stood a pink haired woman, who wasn't Sakura. It was her mother Rin.
Slowly Tsunade walked over to the woman.
"Rin what are you doing here?" asked Tsunade knowing full well that while Rin's company did supply the candles she wasn't invited.
"I came to watch." said Rin with a smile as she looked toward her daughter in a long red dress dance with Naruto.
"Watch what?" asked Tsunade
"Just watch." said Rin
Meanwhile on the dance floor Naruto and Sakura like the other couples danced. Sakura had placed her head on Naruto's chest. Sakura loved moment like these, she could hear Naruto's heart beat as they swung around the dance floor. However something was off, the medical mind in her knew that Naruto's heart rate was too high. The music came to a stop and as the live band prepared to start up again, Sakura decided to address the issue.
"Naruto-kun is something wrong?" asked Sakura as she looked up into Naruto's eyes.
"No." said Naruto "Just nerves."
"Naruto-kun I thought I told you earlier you are a great dancer." said Sakura with a slight laugh.
"It isn't that Sakura-chan." said Naruto as one of his hands left her hip and entered his pocket. For a moment Sakura was confused at what was happening then suddenly it became clear as Naruto slowly got down on a single knee with a ring box he had pulled out in hand. He slowly opened the box to show a beautiful ring. Sakura's eyes started to fill up with tears knowing a moment she had dreamed about had finally arrived.
"Sakura will you marry me?" asked Naruto
"yes." cried Sakura instantly as she threw herself at Naruto. She hugged him and kissed him as he stood back up.
"This is yours now Sakura-chan." said Naruto as he placed the ring on Sakura's finger. Instantly people started clapping but Sakura didn't care about them at the moment. She was too busy hugging Naruto and crying tears of joy into his shoulders.
"I love you Naruto-kun." stated Sakura as she hugged him.
"Congratulation to all three new couples!" yelled Jiraiya in his booming voice as Sakura finally looked around the room. That is when she noticed Naruto and her weren't alone, to her right Ino was kissing Choji like a mad woman a brand new gold ring was on her finger as well. A few feet beyond that Temari, who she had hardly ever seen in tears was in tears as kept nodding her head as Shikamaru placed a silver ring on her finger. Instantly she looked back at Naruto and smiled.
"You guys planned this out didn't you?" asked Sakura
"Ya, we did." admitted Naruto
"You sly fox." said Sakura as she kissed her fiancée.
Across the hall Rin smiled as she watched her daughter kiss her future husband. They looked perfect together.
"I see what you mean." said Tsunade with a smile on her face as well.
"I didn't want to miss this." said Rin as the crowed still kept clapping. Ino, Temari and Sakura had hugged each other congratulating each other as the men simply shook hands probably congratulating themselves on pull it off.
"How did you know?" asked Tsunade
Flashback
Rin Haruno was sat in her back office of her business going over some paperwork. When a knock came from the front door.
"We are closed." said Rin until she heard the knock come again.
"I said we are closed!" snapped Rin as she showed the same fire that her daughter had. She stormed out of her office and into the main show room only to see Naruto standing outside the door. She rushed toward the door and threw it out.
"Naruto is something wrong? Did something happen to Sakura?" asked Rin
"No, she is fine." answered Naruto "I came to ask you a question."
"What?" asked Rin
"Well I know it is tradition for to ask Sakura's dad this but since he is dead I wanted…." said Naruto as he stopped and tried to find the words.
"You want to ask Sakura to marry you don't you?" asked Rin with a smile.
"Yes." said Naruto "I want to know if that is ok with you?"
Rin simply smiled "Of course. It is something your mother and I always talked about when I was carrying Sakura and she was carrying you." said Rin "Tell me how you are planning to do it?"
End Flashback.
Sakura was smiling ear to ear as she danced in Naruto's arm. She would never forget this night.
"I love you Naruto." said Sakura as they kissed again.
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I am enjoying my vacation. I decided to update because my favorite college football team the Ohio State Buckeye's won their first game. So until I get back from my vacation I will not update. Now keep reading thanks Wilkins75.
