I'm sorry for the cliffie!!! I really am! Anyways lol here's the next chapter…enjoy
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Shikamaru and Neji looked at the two medic nins, nodding in understanding of their mission.
"So…where is Naruto?" asked Sakura. Shikamaru looked up towards the monuments.
"Here's there with Sasuke…" Neji answered.
"What? Why would he allow Sasuke near him?" asked Sakura. Shikamaru shrugged.
"We have to make sure he gets home" Hinata said. Neji nodded in understanding as he and Shikamaru disappeared, heading towards the Hokage Monuments. Sasuke stood up, dusting off his pants.
"I have to get back…hokage orders to not be out and about after the sun sets" Sasuke explained. Naruto nodded in understanding, but made no effort to move.
"They changed the ANBU in charge of me…though I don't understand why I have to be watched like a baby" Sasuke continued.
"That's because you are a baby…childish ass self" Naruto said. Sasuke smirked, he missed this Naruto, and he was happy that Itachi did not completely destroy the blonde.
"At least I'm not a dobe…ja" Sasuke said as he walked away. Naruto glared at him slightly, crossing his arms. /I have to speak with baa-chan/ thought Naruto as he stood up.
"Naruto" Neji said as he and Shikamaru appeared before him. Naruto looked at them annoyed.
"What's going on now?" he asked the duo.
"The hokage has requested that you do not take part in any activities for the time being…in order words…we're going to be babysitting you" Neji said. Shikamaru smirked as he saw Naruto's jaw dropped.
"No way! I don't need babysitting!" he shouted. Sakura and Hinata showed up and Sakura smacked him upside the head.
"You idiot! You should be home resting…we are in charge of you as of today Naruto…and what we say goes until Tsunade sees it fit that you are well enough to continue your journey as a shinobi" Sakura said. Naruto nursed his wound and looked at her confused.
"Why can't I just be a ninja again?" he asked. Hinata averted her gaze while Sakura just sighed.
"The Hokage…has told us that you need to be in our care…you know Akatsuki is still at large…and even though you can defend yourself…we still will protect you" Sakura said.
"I can protect myself…and last time I remember…you guys failed" Naruto said as he ran off, leaving them alone. Neji clenched his fists angrily. He knew that…he knew that well. And because they failed to guard their flank Naruto was taken, and broken. Shikamaru kept a serious expression, though inwardly he knew Naruto was right. But for Naruto to be so bold as to say it out loud, it unnerved the lazy ANBU captain.
Hinata closed her eyes, feeling the tears sting her eyes. He was right, but it wasn't as if they didn't try. She tried so hard to fight and help, she even trained harder the past four years just to prove she is qualified to be a Hyuuga and a shinobi, even if it's in the medical field. Sakura shook her head slightly.
"Can't blame him…he's right" she said, voicing their thoughts.
"But we can at least do it this time. We tried our hardest…but we can try harder now" Hinata said. Sakura nodded but Shikamaru sighed.
"Naruto isn't trusting anymore…judging by the things as of late…Naruto will not trust us or anyone of the village…with Sasuke's arrival a surprise, Naruto will seek refuge in himself once again. At this moment, I believe Naruto wants to cease all contact with the real world…including us and Sasuke" Shikamaru said. Sakura's expression saddened and Neji started walking.
"We can stand here and watch him die without doing a damn thing about it…or we can follow him, order him around and make sure he lives" he commented. Shikamaru sighed.
"You're so troublesome" he said, but with a smirk on his face. Sakura and Hinata nodded. They weren't going to give up on Naruto, now much less than ever, since Naruto needs them the most for the battle he will have to fight…a battle that may have a catastrophic result.
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Kakashi stopped his team. They looked at the surrounding area, and he motioned for them to disperse. His sharingan awake and at full blast, Kakashi jumped down from the tree and landed in front of Itachi.
"It has been a while Kakashi…how is your mind?" questioned Itachi.
"At last I found Itachi…you won't be coming out of here alive…" Kakashi said as he to a fighting stance.
"How is Naruto? Last time I saw him he was a little…bound" Itachi said. Kakashi glared at him as he charged at him. His team jumped down, ambushing Itachi, but Itachi only smirked. Kisame's saw sword swung down, ambushing Kakashi's ANBU team.
"You are right about one thing Kakashi…you won't be coming out of here alive" Itachi said as he attacked Kakashi.
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Iruka stared out the window, a tightening occurring in his chest. He looked at the moon, which seemed to be covered in clouds, shrouding its light.
"Kakashi…you better be ok" he said as he pulled the curtains and headed to sleep. Iruka stared at the ceiling, unable to shake the feeling of dread from his being. He turned one side, and then turned to the next, yet still no sleep. His mind was preoccupied, both with his perverted scarecrow, and his adopted family.
"I wonder if Naruto is ok…I can't visit him now…strict orders…but I wish I could see him now…" Iruka said to himself.
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Hinata bowed in her father's presence, her father nodding in acknowledgement.
"Though your mission is a little…absurd…I will allow it…that young man has suffered enough. Make sure you don't disappoint our lineage Hinata…and show them how good a shinobi you are" her father said.
"Thank you otousama" Hinata said respectfully. After taking four years of medicinal training, her father has treated her with more respect, and has finally accepted her as a Hyuuga.
"I will be going now then father…" she said as she bowed one more time and left the mansion. Hinata stopped as Sakura reached her.
"Are you ready?" asked Sakura. Hinata nodded. The two headed towards Naruto's apartment; where Naruto was trying to beat Shikamaru in a game of Go.
Neji rolled his eyes slightly as Naruto accused Shikamaru of cheating, while Shikamaru closed his eyes in boredom.
"You're so troublesome…" Shikamaru said. Naruto glared at him.
"I want a rematch!" he shouted. Shikamaru sighed.
"You don't have to yell" he muttered. Naruto grinned as the board was cleared once again. Neji turned his gaze towards the door, and soon after Sakura knocked and opened the door.
"Hi guys…we brought some things to make dinner" Sakura said. Hinata walked in after her and smiled at guys.
"Hello Naruto-kun…Neji-niisama…Shikamaru-san" Hinata said.
"Hinata…hey" Naruto said. Hinata closed the door and Sakura placed the bags on the table. Shikamaru stood up and walked towards Neji.
"We'll be outside for our routine. We'll be back in an hour" Neji said. Sakura nodded as Naruto crossed his arms.
"I don't need babysitting" he muttered. Hinata laughed softly as she began to prepare a meal while Sakura glared at Naruto.
"Naruto…while we are here you WILL BE TAKING your medication…got it?" she asked. Naruto gulped as he momentarily saw Inner Sakura.
"Yes ma'am…" Naruto said as he blinked. Sakura smiled as she went to help Hinata prepare the meal.
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Sasuke entered his new home, since he requested not to live in the Uchiha estate. The hokage agreed surprisingly, so here was Sasuke in a small yet cozy apartment, with only the necessities. He sat down on the couch and sighed. All he could do was train until the Hokage decided it was ok for him to be a ninja again, but in order to become a ninja again he had to take a special exam.
Exams…how he hated them with a passion. But that is what he gets for betraying everyone four years ago. He looked around his new place and noticed that the old team 7 picture was placed in his apartment. He smiled slightly as he reached over the couch to the table and grabbed the picture. He looked into Naruto's eyes, seeing the pain of enduring loneliness.
Sasuke's expression saddened as he continue to gaze at Naruto's picture. His Naruto was gone…thanks to his brother. Sasuke's grip tightened around the frame. How could Itachi do something like that to Naruto? Hasn't Naruto suffered enough already? Naruto has known nothing but pain, and now he knows death. That was right…Naruto is dead inwardly, and all thanks to his brother.
Sasuke cursed as he placed the frame back on the table and stood up. It was all Itachi's fault that things were so chaotic. The moment Itachi spilled the Uchiha blood he had turned Sasuke's life and those close to him to a living hell. Hell, it's because of Itachi that he betrayed Konoha and betrayed Naruto…the only one who truly cared for who he was and not for his name. He was so stupid to leave him behind, to attack him so brutally, and to allow Itachi to take him.
No…if he hadn't left those years ago he would've been able to protect Naruto, and none of this would've happened. Sasuke yelled in frustration as he punched the wall. It wasn't Itachi's fault…it was his own. IT was his fault that Naruto has been broken, because if he had never left in the first person, then Naruto would have had someone there for him, and Naruto would have never been captured and killed in such a way as he has been killed.
The Naruto that spoke to him in the monument was not the Naruto he knew, but the empty shell of the Naruto that was there, that remained. Sasuke's eyes stung for a moment as he pulled his fist from the wall, the concrete cutting his knuckles.
It was his fault and his fault alone that his Naruto is gone…and there is nothing that he could do about it. Droplets of water fell to the ground and Sasuke closed his eyes, sliding to the ground. It was his entire fault…and he couldn't do a damn thing about it.
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well…that's all I could think of tonight…heh…/sweatdrops/
Tamara2187: Sorry for the cliffie…but I just had to throw one in there lol
Bhodi li: I'm trying to make the chapters longer I really am /bows/ but I can only write what I can come up with lol
Momochi Zabuza: /sweatdrops/ uh…I have Kakashi /grabs Kakashi and places it in front of Haku/ see lol enjoy this update
Magy: thanks for the review…I'm gonna try to make them longer but I can't promise much considering my brain is in overdrive lol
Half Devil: thanks for the review lol I see that shortness is my problem /sweatdrops/
Pickles: I'm glad you like my story…here's an update for ya and enjoy it…it's even more centered on Naruto lol