Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (of course).

Byuu128 – Thanks for the kind review, for now, I haven't decided the pairing, and I will take a reviewer's vote into consideration.

chaos( ) – Thanks for the review! Pairing is still undecided, but your vote counts!

Rasenth – Bwahahahaha, yes I am evil! For soppy stuff...maybe. Itachi definite yes, but won't be here for a long time.

TimeShifter – As I said for the others, pairing will remain undecided for a few chapters now.

Updates will irregular. Usually I like reading a new chapter everyday if I'm reading someone else's fic and I'd like to do the same with mine, but I can't write 1000 word (that's what I consider longer than short . ) chapters everyday as I'm busy doing school and other things all week. I'll try to get a chapter out every two days or so.

Dreams Reborn

Chapter 2: Forgiveness – Confession?

Somewhere else in Konoha, a certain pink-haired girl sat sadly on a bench in the park. Her face wet from the rain and her tears. There she sat for hours ever since she heard that Naruto failed to bring her Sasuke-kun back. Finally, she got up from the bench, the rain still coming down hard. She shivered in the cold. She stopped thinking about Sasuke for a few minutes and her thoughts drifted to Naruto. Maybe I should go see him. I'm sure he tried his best...for me. Sakura then headed for the hospital with her feet splashing through the puddles.

Back at the hospital, Naruto stirred in his sleep. Slowly he opened his deep blue eyes and sat up in his bed, letting the sheets fall to his waist. Immediately he started to think about his battle with Sasuke. No matter what, Naruto couldn't escape from his thoughts about the battle. Even sleep didn't rescue him from his tortured mind. Naruto heard talking outside his door and then a knock. Still not feeling like talking to anyone, he ignored it. Again, the door opened without his permission and the nurse came in. "Good morning Naruto-kun!" exclaimed the female nurse.

"..." Naruto pretended as if she wasn't there. The nurse didn't seem to notice that though.

"I have great news Naruto-kun!"

She doesn't quit does she? Naruto thought to himself. Again he replied with silence.

"You'll be released from the hospital tomorrow! Isn't that wonderful?" said the cheerful nurse.

Naruto finally spoke a word to someone other than Tsunade, "Yeah..." The nurse left the room a few minutes later to attend to her other duties. Naruto was glad that she left.

The rain had cleared up during his sleep. The sky was now a beautiful array of orange and yellow in the sunset. Hinata slowly made her way to the hospital, now second-guessing herself once more. I want to tell him...but what if...no! Naruto-kun wouldn't hurt my feelings. I have to believe in him...and myself...Hinata stopped walking and looked at the sky. How beautiful...She started on her way again towards the hospital at a slightly heightened pace.

Sakura started running to the hospital as soon as the rain stopped. She had to apologize to Naruto for being so selfish. She couldn't stop him herself...she always had to get Naruto to protect her. She always asked Naruto for things, yet would shoot him down whenever he would ask her out. Soon enough, Sakura found herself in front of the hospital, panting. She walked through the doors and went up to the receptionist. "I'm here to see Uzumaki Naruto," she told the lady at the desk. The woman told her what room Naruto was in and Sakura hurried to his room. Sakura stopped in front of his room. I have to tell him how sorry I am. She knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again, again no answer. What is he doing!? Finally Sakura decided to let herself in. Inside, Naruto assumed his position in the bed with his back towards the door again. Sakura walked in and sat down on the same stool as Tsunade did earlier that day. "Naruto..." started Sakura. Naruto cringed at the voice. The worst person, the person he couldn't bare to confront, had come to confront him. He knew he was going to get it. She would yell at him for being weak and not bringing her Sasuke-kun back. He closed his eyes wishing she wasn't there. "Naruto..." Sakura continued, "I'm sorry!" Sakura broke out in tears as she spoke those words. Naruto's eyes shot open. She's sorry?! I'm the one who should be sorry. I failed. Not her... "I'm so selfish Naruto! I keep asking you things and I never do anything myself! And you nearly gotten killed because of me!"

Naruto turned to look at Sakura. What he saw devastated him. Sakura's deep green eyes were red and puffy from crying. "No Sakura, I promised you. I'm the one who should be sorry."

"But..."

"No buts Sakura. I failed." Neither of them spoke after that. Finally, Sakura started to speak, "Naruto, I'm going to go home to think this over. Thank you for trying." Naruto sat shocked at what happened after that. Sakura had kissed him on the cheek. Still unable to move, Naruto sat there even after Sakura had left.

Out in the hall Sakura was walking out into the sun-filled lobby. She saw Hinata walk in through the front doors. "Hi Hinata," Sakura said while waving hello. "H-Hi S-Sakura-san." Hinata hurried past Sakura and asked the same receptionist Sakura asked for Naruto's room.

Hinata soon found herself in front of Naruto's room. Hesitantly she knocked. And for the first time, Naruto gave permission to let someone in the room. Hinata walked in slowly. "H-Hi Naruto-kun," Hinata greeted nervously.

"Hi Hinata. What're you doing here? Did you visit Neji yet?"

"N-No, not yet. I-I just wanted t-to say s-something to y-you Naruto-kun." Naruto looked at Hinata, wondering what she would wanted to say. "I-It's just that I w-wanted something for y-you to know."

"What is it Hinata?"

"I-It's umm...w-well...I-I...think that you did your best to get Sasuke back." Hinata wanted to hit herself for not telling him.

Naruto sighed, "No, Hinata. I didn't do my best. I didn't bring him back...I broke my promise to Sakura-chan." Hinata's white eyes grew into big O's. She was surprised at this radical change of Naruto's personality. His face dark with gloom and the happy radiant aura of his usual fox-grin had disappeared. "Naruto...what's wrong?"

"I can't do anything right. I've tried my hardest all my life and when it matters most, I failed." He looked away from Hinata.

"Naruto...you never failed in my eyes. You've always tried so hard, and I looked up to you. You became strong, and never quit. You had the greatest perseverance. And you always had a smile on your face even when you were hurting inside. That's why...I..."

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Hahaha, I'm evil! Yesh I am. I decided this would be a good place to stop so I can get some motivation going on chapter 3. Review please! Those who have reviewed already...REVIEW AGAIN!!!! Tell me what you liked...and disliked! One thing I didn't like, the way I wrote Sakura. Soooo...if you didn't like that, tell me! Also...would you rather read the chapter in double spaced format? I find most stories easier to read that way and I wanna know if you think it would be easier to read mine that way!