Things are going to get serious from here on. I mean, not more fluff or cute things, but it may come back sometime towards the end. Please bare with me. I have this opinion in which I feel Naruto is WAY stronger than Sasuke. By the way, am I the only one here who thinks that Naruto may be related to the 4th himself? Tell me I'm not the only one.
A million, million thanks to all my reviewers. I am so happy that I am not the only KakaNaru fans. I just wish that others would write more about this pairing. I broke an oath that 'I would not write YAOI again'. But I just can't resist KakaNaru and KakaIru (hence my other on-going fic called HOPE). But anyway, I'm really happy you guys like it!
WHY NOT 6Tsunade stared at Naruto. The boy had a flush on his cheeks as he finished explaining what he wanted to do to the fifth. Tsunade remembered to breathe and slowly leaned on her desk. "Let's get this straight." She took in a steady breath before speaking. "You want to leave the village for the next few months or years to travel?" Naruto nodded. "And you don't want to be a missing-nin?" Naruto nodded again. "And you're doing this because Ero-sennin inspired you?" Naruto nodded several times at that statement. Tsunade was basically parroting what he just said a few seconds ago, word for word. "And that you want passes so that you can enter other villages?" Naruto nodded once and sharply. "So that you may live as normal citizen who happens to travel a lot?" Naruto sighed.
"Yes, baa-san." Naruto said tiredly. Tsunade frowned at the nickname. "Umm – what exactly was the point of repeating everything I said?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you did not loose your mind." Tsunade let out another sigh. "Naruto, why do you want to do this? And don't give me the Ero-sennin excuse. Really!"
Naruto remained silent. "I – I –" Tsunade felt her heart reach out for the boy. He had seen and faced so many things and he still was. "I just thought that m-maybe if I left and traveled I'll find people who can love me." He looked at the floor. "I'm just tired of everyone hating me because I'm a cage to a demon. A lot of them hold grudges. I – I know that Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei cares for me, but somewhere deep down, there has to be a tiny bit of negative thought towards me. They did loose their close ones after all." Naruto twiddled with his fingers. "I figured if I left maybe I can be stronger, you know? Learn things along the way and maybe I'll come back for the chuunin exam."
Tsunade suddenly felt depressed. But she did not say anything. She knew what the boy was going through, but she just wished that such a decision were not to be made by her. "I understand." She pulled out a scroll that was actually a pass to any village. "You do realize that you cannot carry your ninja title anymore right?"
Naruto nodded and reached for the back of his head and untied the knot of his hitai-ate. He took the scroll and tucked it safely in to his pocket. He stared at his hitai-ate for a while, forgetting that Tsunade was in front of him. He remembered the day Iruka gave it to him and to Naruto; it was his most prized possession. It's been with him through hail or rain, sadness or joy, troubled or carefree moments and most of all, it had made him feel secure.
He handed it to Tsunade. "Please give it to Iruka-sensei." Tsunade nodded. "Tell him I'll be back." He stared at his feet. "I just don't know when. I don't want to say any goodbyes. I – I don't think its necessary."
"What about your team?" Tsunade asked. "You won't bid them farewell?"
"No." Naruto shook his head. "Anou – please don't tell them the real reason I left."
Tsunade nodded. "I promise." Naruto turned to leave but was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug. Tsunade pulled out the necklace she had given him some time ago from under his orange jacket. "But you promise me that you will come back." Naruto nodded and clasped the necklace and her hand.
"I promise."
Tsunade kissed his forehead and hugged him tight. "Have a safe journey, Naruto."
And then he was finally gone.
*
Kakashi arrived in the bridge ten minutes later the next day to meet up with his team. He found Sasuke and Sakura there but no signs of Naruto. His heart began to race, the rush of blood becoming a loud roar in his ears. He did not follow Naruto to the Hokage's office the previous evening simply because he knew that the Hokage wouldn't let him leave and if Naruto left by force, he'd be a missing-nin. Naruto wasn't that stupid to run away.
But he was not in the bridge.
"Good morning!" He said, although his eye did not reflect some sort of cheer towards the greeting. "Naruto late?"
"Well, he's normally here before the both of us. Maybe he slept in?" Sakura said, and then frowned. "That idiot! Slacking off! Maybe we should go give him a wake up call."
"Yeah." Sasuke mumbled, staring at the flowing water under the bridge.
"Well, I guess." Kakashi said and nodded.
The three made their way to Naruto's house and knocked on the door, only to find no one answer. Sasuke kicked the door open and barged in. "Oi! Dobe! You're late! Wake up!"
"You know, for a rather reckless guy, his house is pretty clean." Sakura commented looking around.
Kakashi agreed. But his room was probably a mess with different scrolls and heaven knows what else. He headed straight for the bedroom, pushed the door open and blinked. The bed was made and room was – neat! But on the bed was Naruto's orange jacket and pants, folded neatly at the foot of the bed. Kakashi suddenly felt weak at the knees. He stared at the closet and approached it, throwing the sliding doors open.
"Shit." He whispered, finding the closet empty save for a few old house clothes at the bottom.
"He's not in the house, sensei!" Sakura whined. "Where did that boy go?"
Kakashi merely picked up the little gopher sleeping hat that Naruto always wore before going to sleep, holding it close. So the Hokage had let him go. Kakashi felt the gaping hole inside him grow. No more loud yelling. No more loud bickering. No more begging for ramen. No more whining for personal training.
No more Naruto.
He clenched the hat tightly in his hands. "No." He said, making Sasuke and Sakura blink. "He's not here all right."
A dove flew by the window and in to the blue sky.
TBC