Hello readers, thanks for the reviews and keep them coming…I need more input! Chapter 4 coming at you.

Disclaimer: don't own don't sue

Chapter 4

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?" Naruto y elled as he jumped around, pulling out large golden-blonde tufts of hair.

"Naruto, calm down!" said Tsunade, rushing over to the angry boy and grabbing his arms. "It's for your own good, you know."

"Old lady! I don't need to hear that from you! I can take care of myself you know!" Naruto said as he pulled his arms away and stood against the wall, grumbling.

Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto and Tsunade were standing in the Hokage's office, the former two with stunned looks on their faces at the overzealous reaction from Naruto. The late afternoon sun shone through the window as the Hokage attempted to reason with the newly arrived ninja.

"I never thought he would take it like this, Kakashi-sensei…doesn't he know what their capabilities are?" whispered Sakura to Kakashi, who was watching the scene with fascination.

"Naruto has always been overly proud and independent, he grew up a loner and a loud mouth and will always be one. He doesn't realize that this time he can't take care of himself. The Nine are too powerful for him…he cannot be left unguarded." Kakashi said in an explanatory tone to Sakura while watching Naruto struggling with Tsunade intently.

Naruto was now yelling angrily at the Hokage and pointing an accusatory finger at her, a waning look of offended anger on his face.

"That's it, I'm sick of this." Said Kakashi wearily as he walked over to the verbally sparring pair of mismatched ninjas. "Oi! Naruto!" he called and pulled Naruto away from the Hokage. Tsunade looked tired and gave Kakashi a look of extreme thankfulness, stepping back and perching on her desk while pouring herself a small glass of Sake.

"Naruto, you know-…."

"Get away from me Kakashi! I don't need a lecture from you!" Naruto interrupted and spun around, pouting as Kakashi scratched his head.

"Naruto, listen to me. I don't think you realize the danger you're in. The Akatsuki nine are on the prowl. We have this information from a reliable source and are making the necessary preparations in order to protect you from the threat. Naruto, your protection is also the village's protection. Don't you see this?" Kakashi said questioningly as Naruto's arms came down from his chest and he put his head against the wall.

"Kakashi…I just got back, I don't want to have to be separated from everyone!" Naruto said protestingly, but Sakura saw that his indignation was slowly changing to pleading.

"Naruto…you will be allowed visitors, it's just that we can't watch you at all times wherever you are, it would be too trying on the ANBU. You need to be in one spot so your protection can be adequate and precise. Naruto…most of all…I know you probably don't believe this but…" Kakashi looked at his former student and turned him around, looking into his eyes. Naruto looked away and pursed his lips.

"We love you, Naruto. We don't want you to be hurt, or…" Kakashi paused and sighed. "This is final, Naruto. It's for your own good."

At these words Naruto looked around at the people in front of him. He looked at Tsunade. The Hokage was intently staring into her glass, brilliant blonde hair tied back conservatively and wrinkles of fatique beside her dangerous eyes. She looked angry and impatient, but Naruto saw that her eyes were strained, her whole body in fact, and he realized how tired she really must be. Old Lady Tsunade…she really is serious about this, isn't she…? Naruto thought painfully to himself as his gaze wavered on the Hokage for a moment longer and then switched to Sakura.

The young Kunoichi was leaning against the wall, arms crossed across her somewhat womanly chest. She was looking at Naruto, and at his unyielding gaze she looked down at her feet, a pink tinge arising in her cheeks. Naruto thought that she looked very serene, standing there so timidly as if ashamed of agreeing with Kakashi and Tsunade. She looked up again and spoke. "Naruto…what Kakashi said is true. We just want to protect you…and…" her eyes began to water and she glared, squeezing away the tears. "We…we love you, you baka. Yes, we, okay?" Sakura looked into Naruto's eyes and it was then that he realized what he had done. These people loved him, they really did, and he had selfishly denied their offers of protection in his anger at being babied. He clenched his fists, frowning at the injustice of it, but held his chin up high and began to speak.

"I accept your offer, Old Lady Tsunade. I guess I was being a bit hasty…my protection looks like it has to be top priority, because this damn fox can't be given to the Nine. However, I…" Naruto faded off and staggered back. Sakura was hugging him.

"Naruto, I'm so happy that you made the right decision!" Her face was painted with a look of relieved affection, and she stood back and put her hands on Naruto's shoulders.

"Naruto, I have some details to tell you about your new living arrangements," said Tsunade, getting up from her uneasy perch on the edge of her large, cluttered desk. "Hatake, Sakura-chan, would you please leave us for the moment?" Tsunade stood and fixed Kakashi an expectant glare as he grabbed Sakura's right arm, pulling her away from Naruto.

"Come on, Sakura, you can cuddle later," said Kakashi, a smile playing across his lips beneath his opaque mask.

"Kakashi-senseiii!" Sakura growled and pulled her hand away, slapping his. "You don't know what you're talking about!" Former sensei and student stepped out of the room and closed the door.

"Come on, Sakura…Naruto's a stud now, you can say it. You should take the opportunity!" Kakashi suggested, smiling at the red tint of Sakura's face as he heard his remark. The blush quickly turned to a look of horror, however, as Sakura let herself slide down the wall and sit on a bench.

Naruto…I admire him…but…She winced and thought of a certain raven-haired ninja, long gone now. Sakura still held a place in her heart for Uchiha Sasuke. But would he ever come back….? The thought settled in Sakura's brain. She thought of three years ago…

She felt Sasuke nearly up against her, standing roughly a foot behind her. A gust of wind blew his black hair across his face, and her contrasting strands of rose-hued locks fluttered in the air.

"Thank you." She heard him say, and the words repeated themselves again and again, every day for the next year, until the pain numbed away and she became herself again, putting her long-lost love in the back of her head.

But I can't dwell on Sasuke forever. He might even be in sympathy with Orochimaru now…she clenched her fist and fought back tears. As she realized that he wasn't coming back, she felt a slender hand fall on her shoulder. Kakashi was crouching in front of her, arm extended and a look of concerned sadness on his face.

"Sakura, I know what you're feeling…Sasuke meant a lot to me, too. But don't you think it's time to move on? I couldn't stop him, Naruto couldn't stop him, and you couldn't stop him. I don't think he'll be coming back, Sakura."

At this, Kakashi stood up, saluted Sakura, and vanished with a comforting smile on his face. Sakura stood up, looking out the window. The late afternoon sun shone through, glaring if she looked at it at a certain angle, as if accusing her of being too harsh with Kakashi. She sighed and turned away from the angry orb, and walked towards the door leading out into the village. Sasuke's face was in her head, but it faded and she realized that she had learned something today. Naruto was here…Sasuke was not. The door opened, and Konoha smiled at her.

That's it for you, will update if I get some freakin' reviews. Geez, I'm beginning to think this was a waste of time. Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW ANYONE WHO READ OR IS READING THIS. The faster you review and more reviews I get, the more I am inspired to write.