Author's Note: Everyone for a while now I have been suffering a major bout of writer's block, but I'm slowly starting to break through that by revisiting some ideas of the past, but also speaking to someone about my story that gave me a new perspective on a few things. I know that it's been two years since I originally posted the re-post/re-wrote first chapter, but a lot of things happened in that time.
You would think that with the lock down and such I would have posted more, but unfortunately for me things didn't go that way. I was classified as an essential worker as I worked in the food service industry meaning my only option to stay at home was to quit my job and collect the unemployment like a lot of my co-workers did. However, as Kakashi would tell Naruto in the early days to think things through and used what my brother would call my "Logic Jutsu"... I realized that sooner or later that free money would dry up, the lock down would end, and I'd have nothing if I threw away 13 years of employment.
I ended up working nearly 70 hours a week due staff shortages and people calling in making not even 11 dollars an hour to see my checks get heavily taxed, because the more you make the more, they take as they say. Becoming bitter and envious of the people that were sitting at home doing nothing, but making as much if not more (talking after taxes). Though I stayed the course, because I chose security and certainty over easy and fun. I chose that, because I'm for better or worse I'm the caretaker to my mother who is totally disabled and my brother who was in poor and failing health.
This note/rant is getting really long, so I'm going to wrap it with some cliff notes. This year, January I turned 40 and finally left that job after 15 years to a better (while less paying position with a new company in retail.) In March, I was in an accident and totaled my car, in May my oldest nephew graduate high school, and in June... my brother passed away at the age of 39. I don't know if any of you are still with this story from the original posting (the one that I took down), but if you remember someone mentioned something hooky about me always having the same two posters reviewing my stories.
Well one of those people were my mom, who can no longer read my stories due to her declining eye sight and the other one (the one that often threw out a star rating and a lame parody jutsu) that was my brother. So, in hindsight I wish I didn't take down the originals, because I'll never have those reviews back. In closing, I just want to say I will save the rest of the author note for the story stuff for the next chapter, but I will say this in this time the fourth Great ninja war ended with Madara's defeat the stuff with Kaguya and the moon never exists in this timeline as well as the events of Naruto: The Last Movie and because this is set before the events Boruto in general... most of those events don't happen. However, not saying that some of them wont... anyways. To the first chapter again... take three.
It's been two years since Naruto and Sasuke defeated Madara Uchiha to end the Fourth Great Ninja war as a midsummer's breeze enveloped the village streets as the first warming rays of sunshine started to cover the village's landscape. It wasn't long before the streets lights around the village would slowly start to flick off thanks in part to the automatic sensors detecting those same amber rays. For the most part it was just going to be just another day in Konoha as what remains of the old village walls and buildings from eras past meld with sections that have started to modernize. It wouldn't be much longer and the center of the village is going to be full of people out doing their morning shopping, taking their children to either school or the ninja academy, or just on their own way to work.
It's truly a sight to behold, but as the people of the village were about to start their day there was at least one person not in a hurry to get out of bed. The warm rays of the sun were finally reaching toward the most rundown section of the village, to one of the oldest apartments located in what is known as Old Konoha. The rays entered through the lone window of one of the apartments. The room itself is spacious, but is a complete wreck, as there were dirty clothes; dirty dishes; trash; and ninja tools laying all around the single room apartment that was located at the top of the building.
The furniture in the room looked like it had seen better days in the past as all of it could be call relics from the past. As most of it had tears that had stuffing falling out of them if you just looked at them in the wrong way. There was a table... a used table that had gouge marks in it from kunai on the surface, the legs were cracked a little bit, and one of the legs even had a tattered old text book underneath it to keep the table level. There was just one chair to go along with it, that's padded cushions were devoid of any stuffing.
From the looks of apartment there is only one occupant and from the state of the room... they are either extremely frugal or if his apartments furnishing were the product of dumpster diving. The nicest looking thing in the room appears to be wooden bookshelf that hangs above the bed that is shaped just like the village's leaf symbol. Over the tattered, faded, old looking blankets that covers the bed and the apartment's occupant. As the temperature in the room continued to rise with even more sunshine coming through the window sounds started to come from underneath the worn blanket as the person started to reluctantly stir. It wouldn't be much longer before he finally had to get up, his spikey, blonde hair was messy with rampant bed head, as the twenty-something-year-old, wearing a dingy orange shirt with a red swirl on and white shorts, nearly flopped out of the bed.
He rubbed his eyes for a moment trying to get the eye crust out of them before slowly forcing open his eyes to reveal the icy blue rises of his eyes. He yawned loudly as he started to stretch out his limbs a little bit as he walked, more like shuffled his way towards the kitchen. He opened up one of the few cabinets next to the sink and the stove that was rusted badly. He pulled out a package of instant ramen that he placed down on the cluttered counter top. While he picked up a green colored teapot from the sink. He checked inside of the piece of cooking equipment to make sure that it wasn't tea that was the last thing he made in it. Luckily, it wasn't so he dumped the remnants of leftover water out of it. He then filled it up with fresh water before putting it on the stove. Which he set to high heat and then started to wait for the water to boil.
It didn't take long for the water to boil in its teapot vessel. Once the pot was screaming at him, he turned the heat off, and removed it from the heated surface. A mere second later the pot quits it screaming at him, but he could still feel the heat radiating off the metal surface. While he had waited for the water to boil, he already opened the package of ramen up, so that he could just pour the water in. Once that was done it was time for the most agonizing three minutes of the young man's life as he had to wait for the noodles to become tender. After the long awaited three minutes were up, Naruto dumped the ramen out into what could pass as a "clean" bowl and began to eat the noodles with a pair of chopsticks that have seen better days. With his food in hand instead of heading towards the table to sit down to eat he moved towards the window of the apartment.
If anyone were to ask him why he decided to eat in front of the window he would tell him that he didn't have a reason for it... he'd just felt like it. However, he had a reason and that reason why was in 3, 2, 1... there she was! Sakura Haruno, dressed in her jounin flak jacket and white medical coat as she navigates the village streets to get to her small clinic that she opened up after the conclusion of the fourth great ninja war. He wondered if she ever felt his eyes watching every morning, but he doubted it. As she has never really noticed how much affection he has for her, because if she had than they more than likely would be a couple right now, but because of her feelings for Sasuke they are not.
Naruto hated the fact that he felt Sasuke was unworthy of Sakura's love, because of the things that he did in the past, but he was too nice of a guy to actually say anything about it. Plus, there is the fact that Sasuke is his best friend too. So, he suffers in silence and imagines what could have been each morning as it's like Sakura is leaving "their" apartment to head to work.
"Naruto?" came a gruff voice, but Naruto didn't flinch in the slightest hearing it. Wondering why and who was in his apartment with him this morning, because he already knew the answer to both questions. The voice wasn't another person that was in the apartment. It was the Kyuubi's voice inside of his head. "Are you okay?"
Naruto just continued to eat his ramen and watched as the love of his life disappeared down the street. As he knew the Kyuubi could already feel the answer to that question. As Naruto is the type of person that wears his emotions on his sleeves, but it isn't like he is lonely or anything like that. He actually does have a wonderful girlfriend of his own, Hinata Hyuuga, the heiress of the Hyuuga clan. It took Naruto a long time to realize that Hinata cared about him in the way that he feels about Sakura. He knows that he cares for Hinata... maybe even loves her, but a part of him has to wonder if the only reason why he chose to be with her was out of guilt.
Guilt, over how for years he didn't see her standing right beside him loving him for who he was and not for what he could be in the future. Guilt, for how she was nearly killed at the hands of Pain when she attempted to save him from the member of the Akatsuki.
"I'm fine." Naruto answered, knowing that he was lying to himself as he was pining over a girl that will never be his all the while he leading on one of the sweetest, caring, most genuine girls in the village so that he can pretend to be happy so that his friend's don't worry about him. Speak of the devil, as Naruto was placing more of his noodles into his mouth, he caught a glimpse of the lavender haired young woman as she made her way to the front door of his building. Meaning that it was time again for her to come check on him to make sure that he was getting up and eating something other than Ramen for breakfast. He wondered, if she was going to fuss over him eating ramen this morning if she were to see him. So, he quickly devoured what he had left, putting the bowl up in the cabinet out of sight, as he threw a dirty frying pan on to the stove with dried up remnants of eggs glued to the metal, to try and fool Hinata into thinking that he had eggs for breakfast this morning.
"Naruto, you should be honest with yourself that your relationship with Hinata isn't working," Kurama said, as he understood the reason behind the lie, but he also realized that Naruto was trying to use Hinata as a substitute for Sakura. There was silence between the prison guard and the prisoner, but Naruto knew that Kurama was right. That was what he was doing and that the longer the charade goes on the more that it is going to hurt Hinata in the end. He didn't want to see her hurt at all, but unfortunately for the both of them, no matter the way the relationship ends that's what is going to happen.
Many people would say he was crazy for wanting to be with Sakura the way that she treats him, but in hindsight, she only does it when he really doesn't something that is stupid and warrants it. Whereas with Hinata... she might be loving, kind, and thoughtful of him at all times, but it just feels weird to him. The way she reminds him to wash his hands before he eats, to eat his vegetables, and to wash behind his ears... it's like she is his mother. That's why it feels so awkward for him because he loves Hinata like Kushina, the mother he never got to know.
As he is lost in his thoughts, he never hears the door of his apartment open up as Hinata slips in. She can't help, but roll her eyes at the slight of the apartment, because it was just a few days ago that she had most of it cleaned up, but now it's right back to the way that it was before. However, she doesn't stay mad at Naruto for too long, because that just goes to show her that he needs someone in his life like her. She walked up behind Naruto and wrapped her arms around him. At first, he was a little resistant to the hug, but it wasn't long before he accepted it.
"Good morning, Naruto!" Hinata cheerily said, as she waited for him to turn around and kiss her like every good boyfriend should. However, when he turns around to face her the last thing on his mind is kissing her. In fact, realizing how he truly feels about Hinata made him realize that it was time for him to come clean with her.
"Morning, Hinata." Naruto replied, but before he has a chance to continue on with what he was going to say there is a tapping sound from the window. The both of them look towards the window and they see a messenger pigeon sitting on the window sill. "Damn it! Not right now." Naruto thought to himself, as he broke away from Hinata's embrace to let the pigeon in. He took the message from the bird and it quickly left as it had come. Naruto read the message quickly as it started with bold lettering "URGENT!" The rest of the message didn't go into much detail other than he was to report to the arena as soon as he finishes reading this message. "I'm sorry Hinata, I have to go, but we really need to talk later."
Hinata just nodded with a smile on her face as she already knew what was going on, but she couldn't tell Naruto, because that would ruin the surprise of the moment. However, she wasn't going to lie to herself she was worried that this talk they had to have later was going to be the end of their relationship. She just had to continue to pray that he was going to propose to her. While Hinata is lost in her own thoughts now, Naruto grabbed some clothes off the floor and headed into the bathroom to change. When he came back out, he was wearing his orange and black jacket over a blue shirt, his black pants with the orange stripe down the legs, and his black open toed shinobi sandals. As he goes to walk out of the apartment, he grabs his forehead protector from the nightstand and quickly ties it around his forehead before vanishing.
As Naruto rushed through the streets of the village towards the arena, the hair on the back of his neck started to stand. As he was starting to feel as if something was off about the village as for this time of morning it's too quiet. Abnormally so and that is when Naruto realizes that since he left his apartment the streets have been empty. In fact, now that he is thinking about it, he realizes he hasn't seen anyone in the village since he left Hinata back at his apartment.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Kurama asked, as he could feel Naruto's muscles tensing as if he was preparing to get attack or attack while his anxiety level continue to rise as he was trying to figure out what happened to the villagers.
"I don't know... where is everyone?" Naruto half wondered, and was half asking Kurama even though he knew that he wouldn't know any better than Naruto in this moment. Naruto comes to a complete stop and starts to preparing to enter Sage mode in an effort to figure out what was going on.
"Naruto, wait!" Kurama bellowed, breaking Naruto's concertation halting Naruto's transformation. "Think back to this morning and the message!"
Naruto was puzzled what this morning has to do with message, but it was apparent that Kurama had pieced something together. So, Naruto thought back to this morning and how he was watching Sakura from his apartment's window like usual, but however there was nothing usual about it. Sure, Sakura was headed towards the clinic taking the same route she always takes, but now thinking about it everyone was walking in the same direction as Sakura with the exception of Hinata. So, Naruto realizing that everyone was headed in the same direction as Sakura he just has to figure out the connection to the message...
"The message!" Naruto exclaims, as he takes off running again in the direction of the Arena... in same direction that Sakura and everyone else was headed in earlier. As Naruto realizes that Sakura's clinic is in same direction as the arena. The message and the actions of everyone this morning was connected... meaning that some kind of event is planned at the arena. Naruto sighed, as it would seem that despite the two years of peace since the end of the war, the situation with Sakura and Hinata has him itching for a fight. So, he was starting to imagine a situation that wasn't even there with something happening to the villagers.
"Naruto..." Kurama mused to himself, as Naruto started thinking about how things have changed since then... Sasuke has reformed his ways and returned to the village briefly, before he was sent to The Blood Prison to atone for his crimes. Naruto on the other hand was celebrated not only as a village hero, but a world hero now. Orochimaru has become a good ally to the village since his "revival" in destroying his experiments that were left behind when he "died".
Other than that time has continued to slip by as everyone's lives returned to normal with missions and daily life. As time passed by it was gracious to Naruto more in some ways than compared to others. During his final growth spurt he grew several inches, his boyish body was molded into a lithe and sculpted muscles, and what was his boyish charm of a face became more defined with a masculine jawline in pace of his chubby cheeks. The only remnants of his boyish good looks are his ice-blue eyes and his spiky blonde hair.
Though, for a moment last year he thought about changing his hairstyle. He had just finished a mission with Sakura, Ino, and Sai who was their team leader. It was during this mission; he had narrowly escaped getting hit in the face with a face fire jutsu. However, his hair wasn't so lucky as parts of it got singed. Sakura as his friend decided to help him with his hair by brushing it out to see if it had to be cut. The entire time felt like she was trying to rip his hair out of his head.
"Naruto, do you even brush your hair?" She asked, with a hint of anger in her voice as she was struggling to get the brush through his thick hair and that isn't even the burn portions of it.
"Brush it? I don't think so... don't think I even own one." Naruto replied, as he pondered the question some more to make sure. Yup, he was sure he has never brushed his hair until that day because he doesn't have a hairbrush. Sakura just sighed, because that would just be her luck. Just looking at his hair and the brush she didn't think she could manage to get the brush through the hair if she imbued it with her chakra.
"I hate to say it, Naruto, but I'm going to have to cut your hair at this point." Sakura didn't see another option.
"Really?" Naruto whined, because he didn't want to lose his famous or infamous spiky locks of hair, but he didn't really fight her over it. In fact, a part of him started to wonder if she would fall in love with him if he let her cut his hair. However, nothing changed between them after his hair was cut. They were still just friends, but after the slight change in his hairstyles, the rest of the girls in the village started to flock around him no matter where he went. It was flattering at first, but he started to realize how Sasuke must have felt in the academy.
Back then Sasuke couldn't take a breath without some girl fawning over him and now it was happening to him on a daily basis. Random girls out of nowhere coming up to him declaring their love for him, but his heart is forever with Sakura. However, he couldn't keep living like that so he made two life changing decisions. One, he would never cut his hair that short again, but two... he had to try and move on from Sakura with Hinata on a public level to keep the girls away.
As Naruto came upon the arena it was still eerily vacant of any villagers. The entrance to the arena was completely open and as Naruto drew ever closer, he could start to see a silhouette of a person standing in front of the entrance. The person standing in front of the arena was his sensei, Kakashi Hatake, he was reading one of his infamous pervy books, but he still noticed as Naruto as was getting near the arena.
There were no words spoken between the two shinobi, as Kakashi just waved Naruto on through, to the arena entrance with what Naruto can only guess was a smile or a shit eating grin behind his mask. Naruto just snickers a little bit and runs in to the entrance and it doesn't take him long to get through it, but when he comes out the other side and the sun's bright rays temporarily blind him as he emerges from the darkness, he is hit with a wave of nostalgia.
For just a moment he feels like his younger self as he runs towards the center of the arena where waiting for him was younger versions of Shikamaru, Gaara, and even Sasuke even though on the actual day, the Uchiha prodigy was late getting to the arena. Naruto drew his attention to The Hokage's viewing box and for just a brief moment he thought he saw The Third Hokage standing there holding his pipe inches away from his mouth that has a huge smile on it.
However, as that wave of nostalgia passes the vestiges of his friend's younger selves disappeared revealing the current day, Sasuke Uchiha, waiting in the center of the arena. The arena was still packed with all the villagers and they were cheering loudly, but in the Hokage's viewing box it wasn't the Third Hokage... it was the Fifth, Lady Tsunade and her personal assistant, Shizune.
"You're late, Naruto." Sasuke said, as Naruto came to a stop right next to him. Confusion was evident on Naruto's face as to what was going on right now. He looks towards Sasuke to see if he looks like he knows what is going, but before he has a chance to say anything.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now that both of our guests have arrived let us begin!" Tsunade bellowed at the top of her lungs after clearing her throat. The villagers in the arena just continued to cheer wildly, but some of them were even chanting Naruto's and Sasuke's names. "Due to other commitments this has been postponed for far too long, but seeing as this is the first day that both Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha have been in the Leaf village at the same time in quite a while."
"Do You know what's going on, Sasuke?" Naruto whispered, through the corner of his mouth without turning to look at his best friend, because the last thing that he wanted to do was anger Tsunade by interrupting her.
"Not a clue, you dope," Sasuke responded, curtly in kind as it hasn't been that long since he was escorted back to the village by Sai and Yamato from the Blood Prison. He had barely made it through the front gates of the village when a messenger pigeon dropped a message off to Yamato telling him to bring Sasuke straight to the arena.
"Both of these fine shinobi, these fine young men did more than their fair share to end the fourth great ninja war. They have both expressed their intentions on becoming the next Hokage!" Tsunade continued, and the mere mention of the title of Hokage was enough to perk Naruto's ears up. As he started to have thoughts about this is the moment that she appoints him as her successor, but then he catches a glimpse of Sasuke, who is staring at Tsunade hanging on her every word as well.
"Do you think that she is about to have us fight over the right to be the next Hokage?" Naruto asked, as he started to imagine what would happen in a battle between the two of them for the position of Hokage. As right now that was the only thing that made sense since they were asked to come to the arena.
"You'd like that wouldn't you, Naruto?" Sasuke curtly replied again, as he knew that Naruto was always up to the challenge of taking him on. As if it was ingrained in their DNA to fight one another. "But you know I'd win, right?"
"SAS..." Naruto started to lose his cool, but calmed himself back down as he realized that Sasuke was trying to rile him up. As if he was trying to get Naruto in trouble to make himself look like a better choice to become the Hokage. It was a crude tactic and it would have been very effective, but Naruto has mellowed out a little bit thanks to the influence of Hinata. "Nice try, Snoozuke."
"However, it would be unprecedented, unheard of, for a Genin level shinobi to raise to the level of Hokage. So... as of today, Sasuke Uchiha, as you can wield both fire and lightning chakra natures, and for your role in ending the war I hereby promote you to the rank of Jounin!" Tsunade announced, and everyone in attendance started to cheer like mad for the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan.
Naruto though, couldn't bring himself to cheer for his best friend, because in that moment he felt as if his heart was going to burst out of his chest. As his future was starting look a little darker, because Sasuke already had the girl of Naruto's dreams, but now he could possibly take the role of Hokage from him as well. As he knew all too well what the requirements that have to be met to become a Jounin level ninja. He knows he has the mission experience to get promoted, but he hasn't mastered a second element chakra release. Hell outside of his Wind Style: Rasen Shuriken he hasn't been able to develop a second wind stye jutsu.
"Naruto Uzumaki, while shinobi of Jounin rank should indeed have two element chakra releases, but given your selflessness to save not only our village, but countless others, that with the blessing of the village elders we are promoting you to the rank of special Jounin." Tsunade continued, and once again everyone was cheering like there was going to be no tomorrow over the announcement. Naruto was on the verge of tears, because he was really thinking that he was going to lose to Sasuke again.
"Congratulations, dope you're special," Sasuke quipped, with a slight smirk, because truth be told he was going to turn down his promotion if Naruto didn't get the same consideration. As he would've never done what he had done if it wasn't for Naruto always believing in him.
"If we could take a moment... here to present Naruto and Sasuke with their Jounin vests... Sakura Haruno and Iruka Umino." Tsunade yelled, and out of the shadows came both of their former sensei from the Ninja Academy, but also the woman at the center of both of their hearts. Naruto had hoped that Sakura would present him with his vest, but she, of course, went straight to Sasuke. As Sakura handed the vest to Sasuke, he said something to her, that put a big smile on her face, and then the two of them kissed. Naruto couldn't hear what was said between the two of them, but his heart broken a little more when their lips touched. Naruto just wanted to hang his head in defeat at the moment, but he kept up his brave face as he didn't want to ruin this moment for anyone else.
"You did it, Kiddo... you're a Jounin now." Iruka said, with that big brother like tone as he handed Naruto his vest as another wave of nostalgia washed over him. However, this time it was to when Iruka and he had defeated Mizuki. For a second there Naruto saw Iruka standing in front of him holding his old goggles and covered in blood as he told Naruto: "You did it, kiddo... you're a Genin now."
"Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto cried out, as he couldn't hold back the tears any longer and hugged his former sensei.
"There... there Naruto, of course Ichiraku Ramen is my treat." Iruka said, hoping to take Naruto's mind off of what troubles him. Even though he hasn't been in Naruto's life much lately due to all the chaos of the war he can still tell something is bothering the young man and he has a good idea what it is. As Iruka glances over to Sasuke and Sakura.
"Now, to be the Hokage you need leadership experience, and while Sasuke it is impressive what you did with your team Hawk, but that team isn't officially recognized by the village. So, when the next academy class graduates in one years' time... you will both be eligible, if you choose to lead a team of Genin to gain said experience. This concludes the ceremony, but Team Kakashi... all the original members I'd like to see you in my office within the hour."
An hour later, the original team seven were standing in the office of the Hokage. Kakashi was standing towards the back of the office still reading his pervy book from earlier while occasionally glancing up to keep an eye on his squad mates standing in front of him. As it's one of the village's worse kept secrets the little love triangle between Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. It was painfully obvious to everyone what was going on with the exception of Sakura. She's still just as oblivious to Naruto's feeling today as the day that they were selected to be a part of his team.
He has to give Naruto credit; he is doing his best to keep his emotions in check despite the public displays of affection his team mates are showing. Naruto was keeping his eyes glue to the window watching the sky and probably thinking about that ramen he's going to have with Iruka later. Though even though he wasn't seeing what was going on behind him, Kakashi could sense the daggers that must be piercing his heart.
"Obito, that must have been how you felt." Kakashi thought to himself, thinking about his own Genin days and his team mates Rin and Obito. Who were in similar situation back in those days. The door to the office finally opened up and Tsunade along with Shizune finally entered the room. Kakashi wanted to complain to The Hokage about her tardiness, but he had no room to talk.
"Good, you're all here," Tsunade said, as she made her way to her desk. "Sorry for the delay, but an urgent mission request came in."
"Already sending team Kakashi on a new mission?" Kakashi asked, as his glance once again focused on the two newly appointed Jounin.
"Yes and no..." Tsunade said cryptically.
"Can we get a move on?" Naruto snapped, and at that moment Kakashi knew that he was reaching his limit. It wouldn't be much longer and there was going to be incident in the Hokage's office.
"First, Naruto and Sakura, the two of you will be paired together on one of these missions," Lady Tsunade said, as she picked up a scroll and started to hand it to Naruto, but Sakura was the one that took it and skimmed over it quickly. The flash of anger that shows on Sakura's face let's Kakashi know that she wasn't happy about the details of the mission.
"This is a joke, right? Naruto and I, playing a couple on a mission! Wouldn't it be better if it was Naruto and Hinata or Sasuke and myself?" Sakura said, in protest of one of the main details of the mission. Kakashi could only sigh, because he already has a good idea why it was the two of them that were chosen for the mission.
"Normally, you'd be correct Sakura, but Naruto and Hinata are still a very new couple. They just don't know each other enough to play a married couple. Whereas Naruto and yourself have grown up together, you have treated so many of Naruto's wounds you could describe his scars without looking at them. That's why it has to be you and him." Tsunade said, with a definitive tone in her voice over the matter. However, she didn't address the fact that Sasuke would be just as good of a partner for the mission for very much the same reasons. Sakura is about to renew her objection to the mission being with Naruto instead of Sasuke, but she doesn't even get his name out of her mouth.
"What about Sasuke then?" Naruto blurted out, interrupting Sakura, because as much as he would love to go on this mission with her and at least get to pretend for a little while to be her husband. He knew that in the end it would kill him when the pretending would have to come to an end.
"Sasuke, can't take part in the mission due to the terms of his release from the Blood Prison." Tsunade said, as she really couldn't go any further into what those terms were. Sakura in that moment was on the verge of crying, but just as the first tear started to form in her eye. Sasuke reached up and wiped it away from her face.
"Don't cry, Sakura. Naruto will protect you on this mission and when you get back, we will do what we talked about." Sasuke said, speaking for the first time since the meeting in the office started and it didn't take Naruto long to figure out what he was alluding to. He might not have heard what was said between them earlier, but he had a gut feeling what it was.
"You promise?" Sakura asked, as she sniffled a little bit.
"Second order of business, Naruto and Sasuke... both of your clans have been destroyed and now that you are both old enough to marry, the Elders have felt that it is need to put in affect the Clan restoration act." She said, and for the youngest members in the room they had no idea what that meant, but Kakashi cringed at just the thought. In theory the Clan restoration act is a good thing to revive clans that are nearly lost, but for it to be enacted with those two... this was not going to end well.
"What's that?" Naruto asked, as Sakura and Sasuke were both all ears too.
"It's a decree that will allow both of you to take multiple wives to repopulate your clans." Tsunade answered, and for a moment the room was dead silent as that was allowed to sink in to the minds of young members of Team Kakashi. Sakura stared at Sasuke and the tears started to well up in her eyes again as she could see that Sasuke was really thinking about what that meant for him. Which meant that she could see what was supposed to be her happy ending wasn't going to be as happy as she thought that it was going to be.
"I don't need to marry more than one person!" Naruto shouted, as his anger was really starting to boil over in that moment. As he could tell that Sasuke was thinking about the possibilities of having multiple wives. He could even feel the Kurama's chakra becoming agitated, because of how angry he is becoming. He couldn't believe that Sasuke would think about having anyone other than Sakura as his wife.
"Naruto calm..." Kakashi started to say, because he really didn't want to have to try to take him down. However, Naruto's broadening whiskers went back to normal as he went eerily quiet before exiting the room through the window that he been staring out of.
"Sakura, go find Naruto, and make sure he is briefed on all the details of the mission." Tsunade ordered, and while she didn't want to go after him, Sakura nodded her head and then followed after Naruto out of the window. Kakashi sighs, as he really doesn't think it was such a good idea to send to Sakura after Naruto in that moment.