Disclaimer: I own nothing, damn it all. I don't own Naruto, belongs to Kishimoto-sensei.
A/N: I am fully aware that the time jump is quite unsettling and bothersome, but it was for a reason and not random. Hope you enjoy and thanks to all those who are reading this story as well as those who comment it is appreciated. ^^ Searching endlessly
Trying to find what
Filled the void
You never knew was there
Until it had become a void
Of endless anxiety
And twisting agony
Chapter 14
Three Months Later . . .
Naruto triple checked his pack, sure to have enough kunai and shuriken for him and Sasuke. He also had his jutsu scrolls and Sasuke's for their more powerful jutsu, both having memorized the ones they used the most cutting the amount in half. He had another set of clothes for Sasuke as well and enough rations to get him by for three months or more. Two canteens, a medical kit along with a scroll Sakura had given him years ago once he'd finally figured out how to really control his chakra and learn medical jutsu.
He closed the pack tightly and slid his arms through the straps. His new attire, something other than his jonin uniform was made for traveling for a long period of time. He now wore black pants with the ankles tied tightly around a new pair of the usual ninja shoes. He had a black sash for a belt, made of leather that doubled as a sling if need be, it was long enough. He still wore the mesh shirt, though now long sleeved and over a black tank top. He had on a short sleeved white shirt with orange flames on the sleeves and the leaf symbol on the back of the shirt. He walked over to his bed and picked up the robe Tsunade had made for him, to wish him luck on his journey.
It was a cloak that had a special quality to it, fire proof, water proof, and it had the same orange flames, though outlined in red. On the top part of one sleeve was the blue spiral symbol of his clan, the one he'd always worn, on the back were the gold embroided symbols for his last name. It was white, but changed by the light of the moon to a midnight blue. The flames and symbols changed to a mix of blues and black.
He was amazed when Tsunade told him that it changed to blend in with his surroundings, a camillion effect due to an advanced jutsu that was often forbidden. It fit comfortably and well, even over the pack. But if he wanted to blend in he would have to wear it over the pack on his back as well. He stood and took a deep breath and then did the last thing he had to do before heading to the gate to leave.
He reached his hands up and untied his hiate-ate headband, pulling it off his forehead he brought it in front of him holding it in both hands. He stared at the metal with the symbol of the leaf village carved into it and had to take another deep breath to calm himself. He felt a piercing pang in his heart as he set the headband on his new bed.
He'd been given an apartment closer to the Hokage tower, since his had become nothing but rubble. The scrolls, photo album, and few books he'd saved were all stacked on one bookshelf. He'd managed to buy a new wardrobe and had replaced Sasuke's as well using his own money. They were cluttered together in the small closet to the left of the bed next to the door to the room. There was a large window that made it possible to see the tower and the mountain of the kage's.
He looked to it and stared for a moment then turned his back and walked out of his room, turning off the light and closing the door silently behind him. The hallway was narrow and dark, across the hall to his right was a small bathroom, at the end of the hallway to his right was the hall closet. He turned left and walked the ten paces to the end where the small living room, with only a couch and a small t.v. were and turned to face his front door once he walked five paces into the room. There was another large window behind him and to the left of where he stood now was a small table with only one fold out chair and then to it's left was the kitchenette only barely big enough for one person.
He reached out for the doorknob and before he could open the door he was tackled by a person with a shock of pink hair and more weight on her than usual, luckily, his reflexes and years as a ninja kept them from falling back. He was forced back a few steps, but his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as she clung to him with her arms around his neck.
She let go at the same time he did and stepped back with a blush on her face looking down. He sighed, "Sakura," a shocking thing was that she was now five months pregnant. He was happy for her, even though it saddened him that she was going to be a single mother with Neji . . . gone.
She sighed and looked up at him with a wide smile, though the tears in her eyes seemed to dim her smile and make it look very forced. Naruto looked at her sadly, "Sakura, please don't cry."
She nodded quickly and sniffed, trying to keep from letting her tears fall from her eyes. She only managed for a few seconds before tears fell freely down her cheeks and she clung to him once more crying into his chest. Her voice was saddened, thick with her tears, "I won't tell you to stay, but I don't want you to go because . . . " she sniffed and clung tighter to him, "they may not let you come back . . . going against the council . . . "
Naruto embraced her and rubbed her back, "I know, but I can't not go Sakura-chan."
She nodded into his chest and her arms slid down to cup her face as she rested her forehead on his chest. Naruto let go and directed her to his couch by a hand on her shoulder. Once she sat down he knelt down in front of her.
"Sakura-chan, if I can, when I find him I will come back."
She nodded and a sob broke free from her, "I know, but I don't want you to if they are going to charge you for leaving . . . "
A thick silence fell between them, something left unspoken but known to both of them. Naruto knew full well what the consequences were with him leaving without the councils approval and with them denying him the right to go and search for Sasuke. He took a deep breath, "Sakura . . ."
She shook her head cutting him off, "Don't, I know why you're going and if I were in your position I would be doing the same thing. I want you to be happy, you've been through so much and worked so hard. I want you to be happy for once, really know what it's like. The hell with the council and the elders, and everyone else that wants to stop you from going after him. Don't stay here for me or anyone else, not even for yourself. I want you to go and get him, save him, and no matter what stay with him, enjoy what the two of you have and live happy, long lives."
Naruto was speechless for a few minutes, he couldn't think of anything to say so instead he embraced her and muttered, "Thank you Sakura-chan."
She returned the embrace and when they pulled away she wiped away her tears and managed a real smile, one that lit up her eyes. "I will miss you, but I will be fine as long as your happy."
Naruto smiled back, "I'll miss you too Sakura-chan."
He stood up and took the key to his apartment from his pocket and placed it in her hand, "Keep this safe for me while I'm away." He added as he scratched the back of his neck, "You know me, I'll loose it or something."
She nodded with a knowing glint in her eyes, "Yeah, you were always clumsy and careless at best."
Naruto glared playfully at her and she laughed, he grinned at the sound of her laughter. He didn't want to leave with her in a depressed mood. He rubbed his jaw in memory of the amount of times she'd beaten the hell out of him for being a idiot, "Well, I wouldn't want you to knock my head off for loosing it."
She laughed again and smiled, "Be careful."
He nodded with a short laugh, "Yeah, of course."
He headed for the door and Sakura's voice, serious and strong stopped him just before leaving the apartment, "Naruto, you're like a brother to me, so come back only if that's what you want."
Naruto smiled to himself and nodded before opening the door and stepping out into the hallway, he said over his shoulder, "I will try, for my family Sakura-chan."
He closed the door silently behind him and headed down the hallway to his right, the stairs at the end lead down to the lobby on the first floor. He'd heard the sniffing and silent crying as he left his room and fought down the pain in his heart.
He wasn't going to use any chakra or jutsu to leave the village, he didn't want everyone to know he was leaving. His friends and the family he'd made knew he would, but they didn't know when. Sakura always had a sixth sense with him, but he couldn't handle saying goodbye to everyone. He didn't know if or when he'd return and saying a goodbye that might be final was too much to bare. He moved through the streets in the night without much more than a glance, the elder community lived in this area.
With Tsunade and Kakashi as the previous leaders, Kakashi was still bedridden, but he would be fine; those that hated and depsised the demon vessel were sworn to silence. That usually meant ignoring his existence, but it still didn't stop him from being harassed, the attacks on his apartment, the violent notes and letters he got. He found it ironic really, they were adults, elders, and yet they acted so childishly. Their glares and hateful words, their harassment and terrorism against him, when they were supposed to be adults. He couldn't help but scoff to himself at his line of thought. It had gotten better, at least the hateful words had ceased when Tsunade became Hokage, but it was still there.
What really helped were those his age and younger, they saw him as Naruto and defended him against anyone that said otherwise. It had taken the war for most to step up and defend him, silencing the ignorant and brainwashed ones, but it still happened. Sakura had been one of the first, following Hinata's encouragement to him when it was just the two of them.
He felt a swift emptiness fill him suddenly, more lives lost because Madara had wanted Sasuke. He hung his head as he continued through the street, oblivious to the cold stares of a few elderly people standing outside their homes.
Neji, Kiba, Juugo. Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, and Sakura's parents. Kiba's older sister, then Anko as well. Baa-chan had left out that the Cloud nin infiltrated the village at the same time. Madara had nearly killed Iruka, Sakura, and Hinata, had killed Neji and Kiba, and nearly killed Kakashi. No one had seen how badly wounded Sasuke was but Kakashi-sensei. He'd said he was in worse shape than he was . . . A chill ran down his spine, he shoved the thought of being too late down before it could rise. He refused to believe Sasuke was dead. No matter what, No matter what, Sasuke won't die, he sure as hell wouldn't let Madara kill him. He's too stubborn.
He sighed and looked up, he was only a few blocks from the gate now. He would have to search every country, but he had a feeling he needed to start in Iwagakure. He'd been visiting Kakashi, trying to console Iruka when he'd felt a jolt. It had taken Tsunade to keep him from leaving the village, her and a entire platoon of Anbu. He'd even been detained for three days, but that jolt had been from Sasuke, he'd felt his energy and it was coming from the direction of Iwagakure.
He later realized that it had been the natural energy and he'd sensed it because of the hyper-sensitive senses of Kyuubi that had awakened because of his stress and being torn between staying and going after Sasuke.
He stopped in front of the gates and looked up at them, after a moment he took a deep breath and adjusted his robe then focused chakra into his feet, he would need to focus enough to jump over the wall and gates to avoid making too much noise. By the time anyone noticed, he was over the gate and landing softly on the ground in front of it. He broke into a run and disappeared into the night. His robe had changed to that midnight color as soon as he'd stepped outside, but he'd been too lost in his thoughts to notice.
Naruto ran quickly, stealthily changing direction as he made his way from limb to limb heading towards the country he wanted to search first. The Anbu that had wanted to go after him had been stopped unbeknowist to him by Sakura and Tsunade. Tsunade looked out into the dark forest and said softly as a soft breeze swept through the village, "I hope you will be able to save him and yourself Naruto-gaki."