Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, a very talented man by the name of Kishimoto Masashi does, thank you so much for creating such an amazing Manga and Anime for us, we are forever in your debt.

Blinded

Chapter 8

The water glowed orange and blue as the sun lowered slightly in the sky. A lone willow shaded an area near the small waterfall that filled the lake. Naruto's smile grew as he led Sakura over the rocks that lined the small lake.

"Wait here while I test out the water." Naruto helped her set on a nearby rock.

"Don't worry, I won't be going anywhere." Naruto smiled at her as he pulled his black shirt over his head and removed his pants.

"Woo-hoo!" Sakura laughed as she heard Naruto jump into the lake. Water sprayed up and splashed Sakura.

"It's not too bad." Naruto popped up out of the water and swam over to Sakura's rock; "Need any help?" Naruto propped himself up on the rock.

"I think I can manage, I've had a lot of experience you know." Sakura smiled at him and stood up on shaky legs.

"Easy now." Naruto almost jumped out of the water at the sight of her wavering body.

"I'm not a horse Naruto." She frowned at him as she unzipped her athletic shirt. After laying it on a rock nearby, Sakura reached down and untied the drawstring on her pants. As they slid down her legs Naruto became aware of the large scars that covered them.

She bit her lip and played with strand of hair. "I think I might need your assistance now." She gave him a half smile. Naruto just laughed and got out of the water.

"Up we go." Naruto lifted Sakura off the rocks and she placed her arms around his neck.

"Is this really necessary?" Sakura questioned in an unsure voice.

Naruto smirked and readjusted her body a bit. "I think it's best if you hold your breath."

"Naruto!" Her cry was too late for Naruto had already leapt into the air and landed in sun-warmed waters.

It felt like haven to her. The eternal weightlessness that surrounded her was more then bliss; if there ever could be such a thing. The water coming off the falls massaged her sore and tattered body in ways she could never imagine. How she wishes she could stay like this forever, away from the cruel world of which she was born into.

Sakura hugged her body at the horrendous memories that flooded her mind; she wanted to cry.

'You know what she dose for a living right?'

'Slut.'

'What kind of women would do that?'

'...Bastard of a child.'

'No father?'

'Whore.'

'I heard that she...'

'Oh how degrading, and she calls herself a ninja..'

'Might as well work on the street...'

As the words flooded into her head Sakura seemed to feel herself sink further into the darkness that she could never climb out of. She wished sometimes that they had just left her in the woods to die. If she had died then she wouldn't have had to wake up and face the reality that always seemed to knock her down. She wouldn't have to wake up every night to see his face in her head.

The waters currant wrapped around her like a warm blanket she so needed at this point. That's how she felt in his arm; safe, warm, and content with life. Sadly, Suku was the only link she had to the man that had saved her life not so many years ago.

Letting all her air out in a sigh, Sakura breathed in the calming waters in hopes to ride herself of the flood of memories that tormented her. This felt right, the tightening and convulsions of the lungs, the slow thumping of the heart, the enormous pressure on the chest, and then finally the ever lasting warmth that slowly seeped into your body.

Sakura's eyes snapped open as she was jerked out of her peaceful mood. A hand—calloused and hard, yet familiar—came from nowhere ripping her from the waters depths and up to the surface.

She spit water up at the surface and gasped for air.

"What the hell was that!" Naruto yelled more then asked.

Sakura just took in ragged breaths and tried to ignore him. She put her hands out in front of her and swam, hoping to hit rock soon.

"You think you can just swim away from me Sakura and act as if it didn't happen? It doesn't work that way and you know it." Naruto swam after her.

"Just leave me alone." Sakura was weak and she knew that she had to find the rocks; 'Where the hell are they?' She wanted to yell out in frustration.

"Sakura what's the matter?" Naruto ask softer this time touching her shoulder.

"Everything!" She turned to Naruto in fury; "I can't go anywhere in this town without ridicule and mockery! I could handle that at one point, but look at me now! Look at me! Just another thing for them to point and scoff at, but this time I can't do anything about it. I can't even make my hands do the simplest seals." If she had been able to cry, Naruto was sure that it would have been a thunderstorm.

"Sakura." Naruto pulled her against his chest; "They're just jealous."

"Oh what." She scoffed at herself into his chest.

Naruto smirked at bit and pushed a small amount of chakra to his feet causing them to rise out of the water, "Well, your beautiful, intelligent, cunning, and strong. You have an amazing son who adores you more then he does Neji. Hey, and how many Ninja can say that they conned some of the most important as well as dangerous Missing-Nins into bed and still live to tell about it. I'm still waiting for Hino Minako to call me back."

Sakura smiled a bit at his reply, Naruto seemed to have a knack for knowing what to say, even if it wasn't the best word usage.

"Sakura you are an amazing ninja and if anyone ever tells you differently just tell me and I'll help you demonstrate how great you really are." Naruto nudge her chin up and saw a small smirk she was trying to hide; "Much better, but I'm starved lets eat."

"We just got here." Sakura made a funny face.

"I know, but your not going swimming any time soon and Lee should be bringing little Suku by any time." Naruto lead her across the water to the rocks.

"What?" Sakura stopped in her tracks.

"Yah I packed a picnic so we could all eat out here together." Naruto pulled out a basket and blanket and laid them out on the rocks. A smile touched Sakura's lips.

"Thank you Naruto."

"Not a problem." He reached out to her and pulled her up on the rocks.

Soon after Naruto set all the food out Lee arrived with Suku who couldn't keep himself away from his mother. As the evening wore on the trio ate—Lee had gone home—and enjoyed the peace and quite. Suku started off the meal in his mothers lap, but as the stars popped out he was all to eager to jump into Naruto's lap so he could properly learn all the constellations.

"And those three stars over there make up the Orion's Belt."

"Where's Orion then?" Naruto laughed.

"He's right there," Naruto picked up Suku's little hand and drew Orion's arm and bow; "See, right there." Suku just stared in joy at the pictures the stars made.

"Can I make my own constellation?" Suku looked up at Naruto with wondering eyes.

"I don't see why not." Naruto smiled at the child as he began to draw his own pictures in the sky. He looked over at Sakura to find her staring—facing—at them with a look of pure joy.

Naruto looked at her long and hard, he knew exactly why everyone in town talked about her. She had wasted her life on missions filled with darkness and lust. She had wasted so much time, but she was not used up as she thought, she was not used up to him. She was still the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on, now more then ever. The moons reflection off the water made her face look silver and her hair—which blew in every direction—almost white. The lilac sundress she had slipped into earlier made her glow as it waved around her body. She, to him at this very moment, was the essence of bliss, love, and comfort. To him she should always look like this, but she didn't.

Naruto looked down at the rock at the memory of her lying in a hospital bed near-death.

"I think you wore him out." He heard her voice whisper across the wind to him.

Naruto looked down, astonished at the child sleeping in his lap; "You should take him home with you tonight, I don't like it when he hangs around the hospital so much."

"I couldn't Sakura." Naruto just stared at the small form.

"He likes you Naruto, maybe even more then he does Neji," At this Naruto turned to look at Sakura; "You actually talk to him and play with him. The others treat him like he's porcelain or just a mere child. Tonight you made him feel like he was something other then that." She scooted over closer to Naruto and patted his hand.

"Okay." He nodded slightly and then smiled sheepishly. He could feel the butterflies building in his stomach, but he wasn't nervous, he was happy.

AN: Wow that took to long if you ask me. I dislike computers some times, mine crashed twice and then it wouldn't read my disks so blah.

Anyway I love you all and thank for your review they're what keep me going so without further ado:

Hellblazer: sorry for the delay but here it is and oh you wont know till the end.

LadyLight: That might be in short supply, but you'll understand later, it's actually kind of funny.

Merffles: thank you so much I'm trying my best.

Emir: you bring up a very interesting point, but alas I have also thought of it so only time (and how fast I write) will tell.

If I left you out I'm sorry, thank you all once again and remember don't hesitate to tell me something that you don't like or you think might need revision the worst I could do is not do it so have no fear I'm not going to call you an idiot for an idea.

-Lady DragonHeart