Part 6: "Do you love me, too…?"

Just outside, Iruka heard the many crashing sounds coming from all over the school. The water wasn't helping to drown the flames almost at all. Iruka had a look of utter dread on his face as Kakashi finally arrived, also staring at the academy.

"No… this is not good at all!"

"Kakashi, I'm sorry! We still have students inside!"

Almost on cue, the two heard hoarse coughing as Sasuke came out of the fires supporting an injured Sakura. Kakashi and Iruka helped them away from the building. Kakashi was angry, but more than that, he was afraid for them and relieved that they had both gotten out alive.

"You two, that was irresponsible and dangerous! I would have expected a member of the Uchiha clan to know better…. But this was partly my fault, anyway…"

"S-sensei…"
"I'm happy you both are safe and sound!"

"Eh? Both?"

They looked at Iruka, whose face fell and was pale at paper. His hands shook as he held Sasuke's shoulders and spoke in a weak voice.

"Sasuke? Where is Naruto?"

"Naruto?"

"I saw him go in with you! Where is he now!"

H-he was right behind us! Maybe he fell or got lost, or…"

"Oh my god…that means…"

"Naruto is still trapped in there?"

Kakashi immediately got up and ran back into the building, ignoring the calls of warning from the group. He rushed through the flames with great haste and used a copied wind jutsu to defend himself from the incoming flames, as his face mask helped to block the smoke.

"Naruto? Naruto, answer me!"

As he called, he walked cautiously, as to avoid stepping on weak floorboards. Then, his sensitive sense of smell caught the scent of blood and followed it to the music room and he called again.

"Naruto, are you in here!"

He moved slowly to a hole in the floor as a light moan caught his attention. He then spotted a blotch of bright orange in the darkness below. Kakashi jumped down and finally saw the condition the boy was in, and the damage done to his young body. There were several scratches on him, and the flames around him nipped at his face and hair. Parts of his jacket had already caught fire, and on top of all that, heavy ceiling boards had collapsed onto his back, pining him. Kakashi used the wind jutsu to blow away the flames and then, after moving the boards, he checked the boy's vitals.

"Naruto, can you hear me? Listen, you're going to be just fine! Hang in there…!"

Kakashi lifted the boy into his arms and rushed back through the fire. The group outside had nearly given up hope until a tall figure appeared in the doorway. Kakashi made it out, holding Naruto, and Iruka yelled out,

"Hurry! Get a doctor!"

The flames had finally been extinguished, but…

Kakashi knelt down by Sakura and Sasuke still holding the still, burnt boy in his lap. Sakura tried to contain her tears and gasps as she looked upon her broken and tattered teammate, but couldn't hold them back long. Sasuke reached out a hand to touch the boy's face, but stopped and pulled his hand away, his head dropping down. Kakashi saw this and slowly shook the boy in his arms, trying to smile.

"Naruto? You're safe now, kid. Nap time is over!"

"Naruto…? Please…"

"It's no use now… he's already…"

Kakashi opened the boy's coat and felt for a heartbeat as Sakura continued to call his name, so softly it could barely be heard. Alas, the boy didn't respond or even move. Sakura reached out and gently touched Naruto's cheek, as Sasuke was about to do. The boy was quickly losing his heat. The tears built up behind her eyes again, tried again to contain them. Her hand continued to move across the boy's face and them through the burnt strands of his hair.

"Naruto, you dummy… you really ARE a dobe…! You should have just left this to…to Sasuke…!"

"Sakura… I'm sorry for your loss…"

Kakashi moved to remove Naruto's headband, but Sakura snapped at him.

"Don't touch him! Just leave him alone…!"

Kakashi sighed as things went quiet for a while, but then the man made a slight noise at seeing something Naruto's hand. He carefully moved the boy's wrist over to reveal a blue headband wrapped securely and lovingly around his burnt and bloody hand. He untangled it and held it out to Sakura. She took it with shaky hands and this time, she let the tears roll freely down over her cheeks.

"You idiot… y-you went back for it… idiot… you idiot!"

Sakura finally broke down and leaned over Naruto's body as she hugged him.

"Naruto, you are so dumb! Why would you do this for me! You're such an idiot, and you died like an idiot!"

-Flashback #2-

"Upon this stone are the names of the true heroes of our village."

"Yeah! I just decided! That's going to be me! Believe it! I'll be a true hero!"

"These people were all K.I.A."

"Wow! That sounds so cool!"

"Naruto, K.I.A. means killed in action. They all died."

-Back to present-

Sakura continued to cry and Kakashi held onto Naruto's wrist more tightly. It was then that he felt something. A pulse. It was weak, but a pulse, none the less. Quickly and silently, he cast a healing jutsu as the group silently mourned (well, Sakura sure wasn't being silent!) Sakura's face was close to Naruto's face as she was about to whisper her silent secret, and only when at that distant did she see the slightest twitch in the boy's gentle features. She pulled her face way back as Naruto finally came to and weakly opened his eyes halfway. The first thing he was blurry figures over him, and as his eyes focussed, he saw a lovely face hovering over him, still in tears.

"S-Sakura… you're safe…? I'm glad… believe it…!"

"Naruto…"

"He's okay! We don't need an ambulance!"

Iruka shouted out with glee. She and Naruto shared a moment of silence as they smiled, and then Naruto weakly motioned to the headband.

"I got… your headband back for you…! Only ninja can wear them, you know…"

"Oh, Naruto, you…"

Out of nowhere, a great anger formed inside of Sakura, and she hit Naruto hard over the head. Naruto weakly grabbed at his head as Sakura stood up, still filled with rage.

"You are such an IDIOT, Naruto! You risked your life for absolutely no reason! I knew it from the start! You're going to die in a dumb way and you'll never be famous! Hokage, huh? HA!"

Instantly, Naruto was on his feet, ready to argue back. He seems to be back to normal, until a sudden wave of pain and dizziness hit him and he fell foreward into Sakura's arms, unconscious.

In the background, Iruka called back the ambulance.