= As Time Passed in The Leaf =


Disclaimer: Naruto is not owned by me. This story is purely fictional Anime fanatics/other aspiring author like me create to fill our (and other anime fanatics) desire.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction. Please read and review my fiction. If you'd like you can be harsh with the review, I think I can live with it. Please Read and Review. Thank you everybody!

Notes: (1) "talking" -means the character is speaking. (2) 'thinking' - means the character is thinking. (3) "talking" or 'thinking' - means important conversation/thoughts. (4) (words/phrase) - authors thoughts, notes or ideas.


PROLOGUE

"Nee... Obaa-san (Old hag), will Sasuke be alright?" Naruto asked Tsunade –sama.

"Of course he will be, you did your best to bring him back right?" Tsunade- sama answered Naruto, smiling so he will not worry anymore.

She is the current Hokage of Konoha Village, elected after the Sandaime (3rd Hokage) died. She'll never be here in the first place if it was not because of this boy. She saw in him her brother and lover who died protecting Konoha but still he was different. It was like this kid instinctively knew that he will be a Hokage or even far greater than any of them have been. She then remembered her fight with Orochimaru, how he took the bet that he will complete the Rasegan within a week, and yes, he really did. He never take back his word or promise. He have just proven it again now, when he brought Sasuke back as he promised Sakura.

He breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad that Sasuke's fine now. He had just returned to the Village carrying Sasuke in his back. He was so tired back there in the forest, what just kept him moving on was his promise to Sakura. He has been in a hell lot of trouble fighting that boy, just hours ago. It was the longest 24 hours of his life. Shikamaru, Chouji, Neji and Kiba(with Akamaru), who was with him when they started the mission was just retrieved by the other Genins from the Sand(Gaara, Temari and Kankurou), who became allies of the leaf after the Orochimaru incident, they are now resting in the hospital.

While he was thinking, he heard footsteps running towards his direction. Somehow, he instinctively knew it was Sakura. He instantly looked up to the door as it slammed open, revealing the worried Sakura. As he suspected.

"Naruto! How is he? How is Sasuke-kun?" Sakura said huffing.

"Miss, I'd rather that you keep your voice down and go out of the room since were still in a crucial condition here." One of the doctor told them.

"Sakura, don't worry he'll be alright" Tsunade-sama said, patting her on the back. "Naruto, take her outside will you?"

"Sure Obaa-san." he answered. "Let's go Sakura."

"Umnn..." was all Sakura said, nodding her head instead. She felt so weak even to talk, she didn't knew that Sasuke could affect him this way. 'Maybe...' she thought 'Maybe I love him more than I thought'.

While walking out of the room, Naruto looked at Sakura's worried face, he just knew then and there that he will never be as special as Sasuke in her heart. He was hurt but not much though, he knew it since then in the academy anyway. 'It's fine as it is' he thought smiling to himself 'You're really lucky Sasuke, somebody still cares for you' 'how Stupid could you get just to kill your brother?'. The two sat in a bench quietly, Sakura was looking down to her feet, praying and hoping for Sasuke's safety. Naruto was now getting uneasy beside her, not knowing what to do to comfort her. Just now, he's so pissed of with Sasuke for making her worry.

After what seemed like an hour, Tsunade-sama came out of the room and announced that Sasuke's fine now before leaving them. The two sighed with relief.

'I'm glad, now I can rest' He thought, he was dead-tired and wanted to sleep. "Uhm, Sakura, I'm going to leave now. Will you be fine?"

"Hai Naruto, don't worry about me, go home and rest I'll take care of him." Sakura smiled at last.

"Well then, I'm of now."

"Wait! Naruto..., I..." Sakura shouted behind him, as he looked back to her, wondering what she wanted to say. "I want to thank you for bringing him back."

"Of course! I'm the person who never takes back his words." He was laughing with his fox eyes. He looked a bit disappointed, somewhere in his mind he thought just maybe sakura would be worried and tell her to take care not thank him for what he did.

Then, he remembered, he was going to travel and train with Ero-sennin before that cursed seal incident started. He was going to train harder, to defend himself against the "Akai Tsuki Organization"(was that right?) who was after the demon fox sealed in him. He was afraid they might come after those that he loves dearly in Konoha and the Village itself if he doesn't leave soon. He felt the need to tell Sakura about his departure. 'Anyway, Who knows, I'll be back before the next chuunin exam six months from now'.

"Anou sa... Sakura, I might leave with Ero-sennin again and I don't know if I'll be back until the next chuunin exam. I'd just like to tell you Goodbye." He turned his back without taking a second look back at Sakura. Since it felt as if it was the right thing to do. Walked away fading on the next corridor.

Sakura's heart jumped. 'At first, it was Sasuke and now Naruto?' 'What is happening... why does everybody want to leave?' She just stood motionless watching Naruto fade in the corridor. She just couldn't grasp the fact that team 7 might fall apart soon. 'Am I the only one who wanted us to remain the same forever?'


Question: do youthink I can be a good writer? or I might as well stop now? hehe. your reviews will be highly valued by me... wether good or bad... thanks for reading my very first fiction, which I did only for naruto...