Chapter 22: Those wonderful days of the past.

I still remember them. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, all training together. I still cry for those past days. I still remember the last time we took a picture together in that sad New Year celebration. That was the last time I saw the three of them together and alive.

Hatake Kakashi

"I'M A JOUNIN!" announced Naruto on top of the Fourth's head to the whole Leaf Village.

Sasuke took another glance to the jounin vest he was wearing since half an hour ago. The jounin exams had been hard, and he had failed two times before finally getting the vest. It wasn't so important. It was just a title. Why was the idiot so happy about it? Sure, it had really nice to beat Lee, but it was just business. He didn't enjoy it a bit. Not a bit.

"What's wrong Sasuke? Are you afraid of losing to me? I can yell much higher than you!"

"Naruto" asked Sasuke"Do you really expect me to start screaming just because you are defying me? Do you think I am so vain?"

"Well, it's OK. I'll just tell Sakura-chan that you lost to me"

Cheating. That was called cheating. Besides, it wasn't as if it were a big deal if Naruto told Sakura. Sure, he would be sleeping on the couch again, and she would constantly remind him of his defeat for at least one week... Naruto would be reminding him for just one month. Oh, man!

«What did I do to deserve this? » Sasuke wondered. He moved near Naruto, and looked at the village. That was stupid. Why did he have to do it?

Sasuke gathered air, and said.

"I am a jounin"

"I AM A JOUNIN!" Naruto yelled.

"I am a jounin!" repeated Sasuke, this time higher.

"I AM A JOUNIN!" Naruto yelled again.

"I AM A JOUNIN!" Sasuke finally yelled.

"I AM A JOUNIN!" yelled simultaneously Sasuke and Naruto. Afterwards, they sat down laughing.

"That was good. You are quite slow, Sasuke"

"That's my line, you idiot. I always got better grades than you at school."

"You may be smarter than me" agreed Naruto"but you don't know how to do funny things. I have to teach you. I have to be your guardian angel!"

Sasuke sighed. However he didn't move.

"We are finally jounins" commented Sasuke"It has been three years since Team 7 was created. We have come a long way".

"It sure was tough, but it was also fun".

"Now I should start the second part of the plan. I am a jounin now. I can easily join the ANBU. Afterwards, I could get access to all the classified information about Orochimaru. I'd know the truth about his Immortality jutsu. Then I'd know if it's safe to defect to the Sound".

Naruto stared at Sasuke with surprise, and slowly got up.

"You are still going on with your revenge?"

"Of course I am. This is something people tend to forget when they give me lectures, but that man killed my whole family. I have to get revenge for myself and for the spirits of my family, so they can rest in peace." Sasuke sighed. "Two years ago, the day I almost went to the Sound, I told myself that going to Orochimaru was too risky. That was the reason I told myself. However I lied. I didn't go back because of that. I just wanted to be with Sakura. I don't want to leave her. I am really an undeserving son" concluded Sasuke closing his eyes.

"But, but... you are still continuing with your revenge, right?" Said Naruto. It sounded weird to Naruto to be the one consoling Sasuke, reminding him that he was still ruining his life, in his opinion, with his revenge.

"If I and Sakura were killed by Kakashi-sensei, what would you do for revenge, Naruto?" asked suddenly Sasuke. "Would you try to get revenge? Or you would forget about us? Would you go as far as me?"

"I don't know" answered truthfully Naruto, and turned to the question he really cared about "Are you going to do it? Joining the ANBU and going to Orochimaru?"

"I already told you that I'm not. If I were to do that, chances are I'd never see Sakura again. I don't want to lose her. I was at home with her. We were in silence. I was tired after training and she was reading something. Suddenly I realized something. I didn't want to lose her. I didn't want to go to Orochimaru. I wanted to risk staying in the Leaf" Sasuke sighed "I bet my parents will kick me as soon as I die."

"Does Sakura know how much you love her? Did you tell her?"

"I didn't tell her anything, but she knows. She knows."

"Why are you telling me all this?" asked Naruto.

"You are my best friend. Best friends are supposed to tell each other everything, I guess." Sasuke answered shrugging.

Naruto smiled sadly.

"You are right. Best friends are supposed to tell each other everything... but I didn't." Sasuke raised his eyes "I have to tell you something... about the Kyubi."

"Aa?" asked Sasuke. Naruto probably was going to tell him that his parents had been killed by the Kyubi. Being an orphan and being born around the time the Kyubi struck, it was obvious.

Sakura was busy sharpening some kunais when Kakashi barged in her home.

"Sakura! There is trouble! Sasuke and Naruto have snapped" Sakura was a real shinobi. She ran and followed Kakashi in a second instead of acting surprised, even if she was.

"Kakashi, explanation!" she asked while running.

"I don't have much time to explain. Fifteen years ago the Fourth sealed the legendary Kyubi in a newborn child. That child was Naruto."

Sakura carefully analyzed the information. The tale was unbelievable, but...

"Is that the reason of his incredible chakra?" she asked.

"That's right. His chakra and the Kyubi's have partly fused. There has been a change in Naruto's metabolism that has raised his healing rate. At first it was just when his emotions heightened. Right now Naruto can use the Kyubi's chakra at will. Apparently Sasuke found out, and they are going all out against each other."

The reached soon the mountain near the Leaf Village, where two huge chakras were flaring.

Sasuke smashed his fist against Naruto's face, who fell hard against the rock.

"Was it fun? Was it fun to watch me try so hard, knowing that you could beat me with your borrowed powers any time you wanted?" yelled Sasuke.

"You think I asked for this?" yelled Naruto from the ground. He used Kage-Bushin and thousands of clones surrounded Sasuke who looked at each of them with the same hate "You have no idea! I hate this power! Everybody used to look at me with fear and hate! I suffered!" yelled Naruto while the clones attacked Sasuke.

"Big deal! I know one thousand people that wouldn't mind to have suffered one millions times what you did in exchange for your power!" yelled Sasuke who had improved in speed enough to avoid the innumerable attacks of the clones.

"You have the Sharingan!" yelled the real Naruto. That was a mistake, as Sasuke attacked and kicked him. Losing the concentration, the shadow clones disappeared.

"Don't compare the Sharingan with the Kyubi chakra! Your powers are far greater than mine. Unfathomable healing rate, incredible endurance, infinite chakra to use at will. Shit! I should have suspected years ago!"

"At least you had a family! I never knew any family! You don't know what you had"yelled Naruto. He created more and more clones. Eventually Sasuke started to tire.

"That's right! You never had a family! You don't know what it means to lose them! At least you can move forward! I can't! I have to kill my own brother! He told me to kill my best friend so I could eventually kill him! You are free, but I have a thousand shackles!" yelled Sasuke, who finally used Katon. The real Naruto didn't even need to avoid the fire. The Kyubi chakra protected him.

Sakura was silently watching the fight with a light smile. Kakashi was looking alternatively at her and to the fight.

"Aren't you going to stop them?" asked Kakashi.

"No. They had some hidden issues that they needed to talk. Both of them are so afraid of loneliness that they didn't dare to lose the bond they had. I think it will be good for them this fight."

Kakashi looked again at the fight. Naruto was currently using his chakra to physically pound on Sasuke that couldn't defend himself from the chakra and fight the hundreds of clones still left at the same time.

"They are going to kill each other at this rate. They are at jounin level."

"Please, trust me, sensei."

Sasuke was finally overwhelmed by a new batch of thousands of clones. Clone after clone they jumped over him till Kakashi was not able to distinguish Sasuke among the mountain of Narutos. Then an inferno erupted and covered the battlefield. When it disappeared only Naruto, with his chakra shield stood. Sasuke had disappeared. One second later Sasuke emerged from underground, hitting Naruto with a fist full of chakra. Thanks to the surprise and to the great energy in that strike, he almost managed to get through.

Having an "almost" usually means the same as having a "nothing". Only Sasuke's unnatural speed allowed him to escape Naruto's violent counterattack. After a brief pause, both Sasuke and Naruto started to concentrate their chakras, Sasuke for the chidori, Naruto for the Rasengan.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU FUCKERS!" yelled Sakura.

Sasuke and Naruto immediately stopped the fight. Their chakras disappeared as they looked at her like two children who had been fighting and had gotten caught by their mother.

Sakura walked calmly to them. First she walked to Sasuke and slapped him.

"Do you want to kill your best friend?" she angrily asked. Then she angrily walked to Naruto. The Kyubi's chakra had protected Naruto against Sasuke's strongest attacks. Nothing protected him against Sakura's punch.

"Do you want to kill your best friend?" she angrily asked.

"Why did you punch me when you just slapped Sasuke?" asked Naruto covering his bloody nose.

"It's because I love both of you, but I love Sasuke more." said Sakura with a grin.

"Not fair" pouted Naruto. Sakura smiled and helped him to stand up. Then she held his hand and walked with him to Sasuke.

"You are best friends. Shake hands" ordered Sakura.

"I didn't know "best friend" meant "somebody I like to pound on"" answered Sasuke. Sakura glared at him – Whatever, I'll do it" Sasuke finally said. Marriage had taught him how to adapt and survive.

"I don't wanna... OK" said Naruto concluded Naruto after receiving another death glare from Sakura. Sasuke considered that maybe Naruto still didn't notice that Hinata liked him, but at least Naruto wasn't completely oblivious when a mortal danger was involved.

"Now hug. Now!" repeated Sakura.

Both Sasuke and Naruto waited till the other made the first move. After some awkward moments, Sakura coughed. Naruto and Sasuke finally decided to move their hands. They shook hands and then they started what it looked like a formal hug. The only odd thing out was when they didn't move apart.

"Sorry. I guess it's not too easy to have a demon inside" said Sasuke.

"Well, it doesn't really bother me anymore. You have a harder time. You have to kill your own brother" said Naruto.

They smiled. Sakura smiled beside them.

"Seriously, if you don't hit each other, you wouldn't even know how to say "hi" " she said.

Kakashi looked at them. He wasn't smiling. He was wondering how long could the happiness last. There were things that they didn't know that could shatter the happy image in a thousand pieces never to be fixed again. The worst part is that time was running against them.

New Year's Celebration was one of the most important events in the Leaf Village. Naruto was wearing his normal clothes. He had laughed a lot when he saw Sasuke's stylish kimono. True, Sasuke was wearing a kimono hand-made by Sakura, who was wearing a striking yukata. She was really beautiful, in Sasuke's opinion, not that he could ever say that.

"Sakura, you are really cute. Be careful Sasuke, or I may steal her from you" said Kakashi who didn't have any problem expressing his thoughts.

«Pervert» was the mental comment that came from Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura at the same time.

"Sensei... " started Sasuke with a dangerous voice.

Ohhh. Take it easy Sasuke." said Kakashi "You are always too serious. Here, let me take a picture.

Sasuke was still feeling irritated, but he couldn't keep an angry face with Sakura and Naruto around. The three of them posed for the picture. After taking it, Kakashi took a long look to the picture: Sasuke was smiling confidently. He smiled now far more often than before. Sakura was smiling and looking straight at the picture. Kakashi looked a long time at her green eyes. Naruto was the one smiling more widely. His whole existence was a sin, according to many, but he wasn't the type to give up.

"Kakashi! How are you doing!" yelled somebody far too high "Let me see " and before Kakashi could complain about the right to privacy Gai had snatched the picture away from Kakashi's hands. " THIS IS A GREAT PICTURE! Kakashi, I'll take a better picture of my students or I'll have to take a picture of every single person in the whole Leaf!"

Kakashi rolled his eyes. Behind him, Sasuke smiled cruelly.

After a few minutes, Kakashi left followed by Gai. Naruto went to the party first, while Sasuke and Sakura remained behind.

"Sakura, I still think this is not a good idea" said Sasuke. What he really wanted to say was that this was not of his business. It wasn't a good idea to say that, considering that Sakura was still set on saving the world, starting with the people close to her.

"Don't try to run away, Sasuke. We are doing this for their own good. The dance is going to start soon, we have to move." said Sakura. Sasuke decided he had married a devil.

The party had started hours ago. The dance had just started. The first song was a happy, fast-moving one, and the couples were dancing while Naruto was very busy eating all the snacks he could with two hands and a really big mouth. Then he felt somebody getting closer.

"Hi, N-Naruto-kun" said a voice.

Naruto turned around to see Hinata wearing a demure yukata.

"Hey, Hinata-chan! How are you?"

"I'm f-fine a-and y-you?" she said. Naruto didn't understand why Sasuke and Sakura said that Hinata didn't stutter anymore. Every time they spoke she stuttered.

"I'm doing great. I'm a jounin now! Isn't it great!"

"N-Naruto-kun!" yelled Hinata closing her eyes and blushing "I love you!"

Naruto looked at the timid Hinata, and for a moment the person that always had something to say couldn't say a thing.

"I'm sorry" she said, and ran to the crowd. Naruto, that didn't understand a thing, listened to his instincts and followed her.

"Hi Hinata-chan" said a happy voice.

Hinata turned and blushed when she saw Naruto. She immediately felt ashamed of her own shyness. She had promised herself over and over that she wouldn't blush every time she saw him, but she just couldn't avoid it. At least she had improved. She didn't run away anymore as soon as he was near her. She had been living near Sasuke and Sakura for almost two years, since she had run away from the Hyuga clan and Naruto was the only person that still made her stutter.

"H-How a-are you d-doing?" Great, just great. First thing she said to him in the whole week and it had to be a stutter.

"Say, do you want to dance?" he asked.

Her first reaction was to stare at him. Her second and third reactions were exactly the same. Was Naruto really asking her to dance? No, it had to be a dream.

Finally, Naruto held her hand and gently pulled her toward the crowd. Just then he dropped her hand and for a few moments she didn't see him.

Just when she was starting to panic she saw him again. He looked at her with a confused face. She smiled. He probably had been scared when they lost sight of each other. She smiled sweetly. He was blushing.

At that exact moment the music changed to a slow song as if following an order. Some people left the stage but most couples started dancing close to each other. Hinata and Naruto grinned embarrassed. Finally they held each other and started to dance in an awkward way.

"Naruto" was evilly grinning while watching the two of them from behind a building.

"Total success. They changed the music in the right moment." said Sakura, transforming back from the fake Naruto form.

"I hate my life" said the fake Hinata covering her face with her hands. One second later Henge no Jutsu dissolved and only Sasuke was left "My first kiss was stolen by Naruto. Now my first love declaration was to Naruto. I want to kill myself."

"Ah, shut up! It's your fault for never saying formally how much you love me. We are doing this for their own good. Hinata is in love with Naruto and Naruto is in love with Hinata, he just doesn't know it. To be together is their destiny. Besides, I said that I could transform into Hinata and you said I should transform into Naruto and you into Hinata."

"I didn't want you to say "I love you" to Naruto, even transformed into Hinata" he murmured. He decided that he didn't want to end up as Sakura's enemy. She had decided that Naruto and Hinata had to be together. Since Hinata was too shy and Naruto was too oblivious, she had hatched the plan which involved him, of course "Have you thought on locking the two of them together in a room?" he added ironically.

"That's an alternative plan if this one doesn't work" she answered. For a second, Sasuke thought she was kidding. When he understood she wasn't, he shivered.

"What are they doing now?" Finally asked Sasuke.

"Naruto has taken Hinata away from the dance. They are speaking now. Damn! They are too far. I wish I knew what they were saying."

Sasuke peeked from behind the building. They were too far, but he could still see Naruto's face. Sasuke activated the sharingan and he was able to read his lips even at that distance. He could only see Hinata's back and he couldn't read her lips, though.

Naruto: «... as a friend. I have someone I already like. I am sorry» Sasuke understood that Sakura's entire plan had gone wrong.

Hinata: «...» Sasuke wished he could read her lips.

Naruto: «Yes, it is Sakura, I still love her» And that moment Sasuke decided that he didn't want to keep reading his lips. Still, he couldn't move his eyes away.

Hinata: «...»

Naruto: «I know, and Sasuke is my best friend. That's the reason I am happy. If she were married to somebody else I'd be sad. Since she is married to him, I'm happy. » Sasuke was feeling like a real asshole because he was reading something he shouldn't be reading.

Hinata: «...»

Naruto: «Yes, sometimes it still hurts»

Hinata: «...»

Naruto: «Thanks. Do you want to dance? » What? That idiot!

Hinata: «...»

Sasuke deactivated the Sharingan while Hinata left the party.

"Damn! Hinata is leaving! I swear I'm going to..." said Sakura.

"Sakura, I'll go talk to Naruto. I'll leave Hinata to you" interrupted Sasuke. "I think we may have hurt them."

Sakura stared at Sasuke for a few seconds and then she nodded.

Sasuke walked straight to Naruto. He didn't know what to say to him. He probably should apologize for reading his lips.

"Hey" said Naruto. He looked a little sad.

"I am sorry, I listened to your conversation with Hinata" said Sasuke who then punched Naruto very hard. Naruto fell to the ground. "Are you a fucking idiot? If you love Sakura why didn't you make her fall in love with you? That's what I would have done if I were in your place. Shit! I am a liar. I manipulate people. I have to smoke to feel remorse for killing a person. My greatest wish is to kill my own brother. Why did she have to fall in love with me! You are a better person than me! Sakura would be happier with you! Shit! Why didn't I notice you still loved her? I am supposed to notice everything. I am supposed to be a shinobi. Shit!"

"You bastard!" said Naruto from the ground "Sakura would not be happy with me. You are the one she loves."

"I am with the woman you love. Don't act as if it doesn't hurt! Why don't you hate me?"

"It hurts. Sometimes it hurts. But there is something I didn't tell you last week when we had that fight!" said Naruto.

"Now what else did you forget to tell me? That you are the Fourth's secret son?" asked sarcastically Sasuke.

"I didn't tell you that when I am with you, it feels like being with a brother."

Sasuke and Naruto stared at each other. Finally Sasuke smiled and helped Naruto to stand up.

"Fucking idiot!" Sasuke said smiling slowly "When you reject a girl's feelings, you can't ask her right away to dance."

"Well, excuuuuuuse me for not having experience rejecting girls, you insensitive bastard. I don't want somebody that has never said Sakura a simple "I love you" to lecture me" Naruto answered in the same tone.

"Naruto... " started Sasuke smiling.

"Hey guys, I'm glad I found you here" said a voice. Sasuke was really glad Kakashi-sensei had interrupted him. He was probably going to say something corny, like he was glad Naruto was his best friend, that he would be willing to die for Naruto, or something clichéd like that." There in a sudden A-mission that I need you to take".

"An A-mission? Cool?" yelled Naruto.

"There is an order of warrior-monks that has requested your assistance. Here is the place" said Kakashi giving Sasuke a map. "More details will be explained when you arrive. Sasuke-kun, this will be your first mission as commander of Team 7. I can't go with you because I have another mission."

"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave the Leaf Village" said Naruto.

"Don't worry Naruto-kun. You have an especial permission just for this mission."

"I'll get ready" said Naruto running to his house. Kakashi also started to leave.

"It's the first time you have called me "Sasuke-kun" in a long time, sensei." said Sasuke, suspicious as always.

Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, and sighed.

"Sasuke, we are in the middle of the Leaf Village. You should relax sometime. Even if you are a shinobi, you are human too."

Sasuke sighed. He hated when Kakashi-sensei was always right. He ran to warn Sakura. He found her at their home. She had already changed into the combat gear.

"Kakashi-sensei already told me." she said, and then she added. "I'm going to kill Naruto. He made Hinata cry. Damn! And it's Hinata's fault too! She should have told Naruto that she was in love with him."

"Sakura" said Sasuke "That was very obvious."

"It wasn't that obvious!" said Sakura selecting some weapons to take "It's always easier to just say it aloud than to send the signals."

«To send the signals. Is she speaking about me?» wondered Sasuke. Well, he really loved her. He just didn't understand why he needed to say it aloud. It was obvious... As obvious as Hinata liking Naruto. Damn! Well, it was just a sentence. Besides, if she were to be happy, he would say it.

"Aa" Sasuke agreed and then he said "Sakura I..." The words didn't go out. Why the hell was he blushing? Seriously! They were married! They had made love already! They were already past the stage of being shy.

"Yes?" said Sakura.

"I..." Damn! Damn! Damn! It was just a sentence. They had kissed a hundred times already! Damn it! He was an Avenger. He wasn't afraid of anything. How could Sakura say it so easily?

"Yeah... What? What did you say?" said Sakura.

"I love you! I love you. Sakura, I love you. I love you" and then he finally added "and I love you.

Sakura blushed, and after a few seconds, they embraced each other, they closed their eyes and they were going to kiss.

"I AM READY! LET'S GO!" yelled Naruto barging inside the house and thoroughly ruining the mood.

"YOU IDIOT!" yelled Sakura blushing.

"What? What did I do?" asked Naruto.

Sasuke laughed. He was still smiling widely when they reached the entrance of the Leaf Village. For a moment he was alarmed that nobody was there, but then he thought that probably everybody was in the party. Seriously, he had to get rid of his paranoia.

Kakashi saw them leaving the Leaf Village. He was widely smiling.

"Kukukuku! Good luck Sasuke-kun."

"K-Kakashi! I found you!" yelled Gai. Anybody closer than one hundred meters could smell that he was drunk. "I w-want to challenge you to go one t-t-t-thousand times around the v-village."

Kakashi looked to Gai, and then looked around him. No one was around.

"Gai-kun" answered "Kakashi" "I hate to be the one that break this news to you, but... you are a freak."

Before Gai could move, he felt a kunai entering his chest. Gai looked with a stupid expression at the wound and to the blood that was falling. Then he collapsed.

"What... Why did... you are not... Oro..." uttered Gai to the changing form in front of him, before the blood in the throat stopped his words. «Lee... I would have loved to train you a little more» were his last thoughts, before he couldn't say anything else.

"Lee, let's go. The dance has already started" warned Tenten wearing a Chinese-style dress.

Lee was not answering. He was violently trembling.

"Lee! What's wrong!" Tenten yelled

"I... I don't know. I was... I was thinking about Gai-sensei, and... I don't know." Lee started to cry "I don't... just started to... to... AAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGG! " Lee fell down and started to scream. Tenten rushed to Lee and hugged him asking questions that Lee couldn't answer.

"This party was fun! Don't you think!" asked Naruto.

Sakura who was still angry with Naruto, perforated him with an angry look. Sasuke managed a smile. His life wasn't always fun, but it was always interesting.

"Let's do a good job with the mission!" he said.

Well, this is the beginning of part 2. I am not going to tell you the name of part 2, since it would be a spoiler. I'll tell you at the end of part 2.

I hope you like this story. First the sentence was melancholic, but then the chapter was encouraging and sometimes outright silly and good-humored. It was most character development. Then, "Kakashi's" appearance, and Gai death... I hope you like my story, because it's going fast into the road of being a tragedy. And still I haven't completely decided on the ending (sigh)

Anyway, please, all those that have never send a review to this story, drop a line or two and tell me what you like. Reviews really encourage me to keep writing on this story, and I think that this story is going pretty good. What do you think?