Ch 2

Sakura looked up from where she sat in the waiting room when she heard the door open. As Naruto and Gaara emerged, she smiled and stood, "Time for me to come back in?"

"Nah. She told us to let you know so she could get some work done," he smirked, "which means she wants a nap." Naruto's thoughts were abruptly cut off when a particularly large book flew through the still open door and connected with his head.

"Close the door before you say stupid things like that!" yelled Tsunade from behind her desk. Thankfully, Gaara remedied the situation by closing the door and shaking his head.

Laughing embarrassedly, Naruto rubbed the rising lump, "Thanks, Gaara. I forgot how good her aim can be."

Gaara simply nodded, though even his lips seemed to struggle with a smile at Naruto's situation. "I'll see you both in two days," he said as he walked past them on his way to prepare.

Sakura turned to Naruto with a quizzical expression, "We leave in two days? Why so long? I thought' we'd leave in the morning like usual."

"She's giving us time to prepare and buy supplies." He fixed her with a serious look, though it was obvious that he was a bubbling vat of excitement beneath it, "Sakura-chan, it's an S-class mission."

Green eyes wide and mouth open, it took Sakura a good few minutes before she could even form a thought. Only Jounin were allowed on S-class missions. They were supposed to be the only ones allowed on A-class missions as well, though that never stopped team 7 before. "Are-are you serious! We're only Chuunin though. How can we be expected to complete an S-rank mission?"

Naruto waved a hand dismissively, "It's not really a dangerous mission or anything. She just said that it was so important it couldn't be anything less. All of the villages are involved in this so it actually has to do with keeping our alliances too."

Sakura nodded slowly, "I get it. I was wondering why Sand would risk sending Gaara out on a mission with only two Chuunin. I mean, we may be good but you see how Shizune is. She goes insane when Tsunade leaves her office without telling anyone."

Naruto listened to her talk without hearing a word. His mind was entirely focused on his upcoming talk with the kunoichi before him. There was no way she'd be understanding about it. Hell, she probably wouldn't even be his friend after this. How could Tsunade do this to him?

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled, right into his ear, causing him to jump back.

"Ouch! You didn't have to yell like that! "

"Apparently I did! I asked you three times where we're going and you just stared at the wall!"

"Eh heh," Naruto laughed nervously, his hand behind his head, "sorry Sakura-chan. I was just thinking about the mission. We're heading to Mist Village first."

"Mist eh? Guess I'd better bring some better shoes. These boots take on water way too fast." She grinned at Naruto after her moment of fashionable contemplation, "So all I have to do to get a straight answer is yelling at you eh?"

Naruto laughed and shook his head, not rising to the bait for once. He had to do as Tsunade said and he had to do it soon. It would help him prepare correctly if he knew whether or not he would have her with him. "Hey, Sakura-chan?" he asked timidly, "Would you meet me for dinner tonight? And, before you get the wrong idea, this isn't a date." He looked up to see genuine surprise on her face. Good. She knew he was serious. "I have something I want to talk to you about."

Sakura looked at Naruto in concern. He was never like this. Even just walking around in town with her was a date to him, so for him to make the distinction for a dinner was strange. "Oh. Okay Naruto. Why don't we go to Jasmine Café? They're supposed to be good."

Naruto nodded, "I'll meet you there around six. It's not fancy is it?"

Giggling, Sakura smirked at him, "Afraid to leave that orange jacket at home? No, it's really relaxed in there I think."

"Alright. I'm going to go train for a little bit. I'll see you then." Naruto gave her a slight smile as he walked past her and out of the hokage's building, hoping to get as much time to himself as he could so he could plan out how to tell her.

True to his word, Naruto was on the training grounds, though what he was doing could hardly be considered such. He lay in the grass, staring up at the sky much like Shikamaru would. During the Ero-Sennin's intense training, he had learned that Shikamaru knew what he was talking about. The clouds were so calming and always helped relax his tumultuous mind. Unfortunately they did not hold the answers he sought. Three hours later and he was no closer to knowing how to tell Sakura that he was a monster.

"Hey Sakura. You know the ninetails? He's in my stomach." That wouldn't work. That would have her laughing at him at best. No matter which way he looked at it, there was no tactful way to tell her. He would just have to come out with it. He'd faced down Gaara with only his own power at first, so this shouldn't be so scary, should it? Then again, he hadn't had to worry about what Gaara would say later. Sakura's opinion mattered to him. Hell, it was almost everything to him.

"What should I do?" With only the wind to answer, Naruto continued his quiet contemplation until the clouds began to dress in their evening colors.

Jasmine Café was bustling with customers even as Sakura approached the large red doors. Maybe she should have chosen somewhere else. After all, if Naruto was serious about talking to her, he might be more reluctant with so many people around. That would be okay though. They could have dinner and just take a walk afterwards. Looking at her watch, Sakura was surprised to find that she was more than ten minutes early. Sure, she was looking forward to being treated to dinner but she hadn't realized she'd rushed so much after her shower. She chalked it up to the fact that she was worried about what he had to tell her. He had looked so forlorn when he asked her to meet him that she couldn't help but worry about her friend.

With a sigh, she realized that she would be sitting here worrying for quite a while. Naruto was never early to anything. In fact, he was often late, thinking it made for a more dramatic entrance. To her surprise, however, she spotted him walking towards the café with his head down and his hands buried in his pockets. Now, she was worried. Either what he had to say would be huge or he was dreading spending the evening with her. She doubted the latter.

"Hi, Naruto!" she smiled at him as he approached in hopes of relieving even a bit of whatever was bothering him.

"Oh. Hi." Apparently, her mission failed. "I guess you decided to get an early start too." He spoke in a distracted voice, not at all like himself which gave way to new concerns in Sakura's mind. Here they were two days before an S-rank mission and he was moping around like someone had killed his dog.

Sakura kept up her chipper attitude, hoping it would be infectious and Naruto would get out of this funk he was in. In an impetuous move, she took his hand and led him inside, "C'mon. I'm starving!"

The restaurant was nothing fancy, much to Naruto's relief. The last thing he needed was to embarrass himself tonight, even if it was inevitable. It was a really simple looking place. A bar sat along the wall to the left with the sort of patrons you'd expect to see drinking before six o'clock in the evening. Black tables and chairs dotted the white, tiled floor of the main room and the cream colored walls held a few pictures here and there. All in all, it was the type of place Naruto could see himself frequenting if he had someone to come with.

A young hostess led them to a small table near the far wall and handed them their menus before darting off to see to other customers. The two team mates sat in silence until one of them could stand it no longer.

"What's wrong Naruto? You haven't said a thing since we got in here and you haven't even touched your menu. Is what you have to say that bad?"

"Yeah," he said sullenly, "it is."

Reaching across the table, she again grabbed his hand, this time holding it lightly in what she hoped was a comforting manner, "We're friends Naruto. You can tell me anything."

Sighing, he brought his eyes to hers and opened his mouth to speak when their server finally arrived, "What do you…oh." The old man paused in his question and stared at Naruto with hate filled eyes, "You're not welcome here, boy. Get out."

Sakura closed her eyes and awaited the outburst that was sure to come from Naruto. When nothing happened, she opened her eyes to see Naruto sliding his chair out slowly and calmly, "Sorry. I'll leave. Have a nice dinner, Sakura-chan."

That was it for Sakura. Not only did he not retaliate, he looked like a dog with its tail between its legs. It was as if he knew he'd done something wrong. She couldn't stand it anymore. "What is going on?" she yelled, looking from Naruto to the pudgy, old server. "Why is he not welcome? And why, Naruto, aren't you putting up a fuss and punching this guy in the face?"

When Naruto refused to look at her, the old man spoke up, "To hell with the law. The children of this village should know that a monster walks among them!" He turned his hate filled eyes to Sakura and pointed back at Naruto, "That so-called boy is the Kyuubi that killed the fourth and nearly destroyed the village!"

This time, someone did punch the old man. Only, it wasn't Naruto's fist that sent the old man sprawling; it was Sakura's. "How can you say such things about someone you don't even know?" She stood over the man, giving him the death glare Naruto was so accustomed to.

Naruto rested his hand gently on Sakura's shoulder and turned her to look at him, "Sakura-chan. Don't." He stared into her green eyes for a moment, trying to keep the tears from his, "I didn't want you to find out this way."

"What do you mean, Naruto?" she asked, glancing between him and the man on the ground.

"I mean," he sighed, "he's not lying; at least not entirely. The Kyuubi is sealed inside me."

Sakura didn't know what to say to that. What could she possibly say to something like that? She just stood there staring blankly at him as she tried to digest that information.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I won't bother you anymore." Naruto said softly as he turned away. He looked absolutely broken, his usual façade of hyperactive innocence completely gone, though he wouldn't let anyone see him cry. He left the restaurant quietly and stepped out into the cold, unforgiving streets of the city.

Sakura looked around in confusion, the shock of Naruto's confession still keeping her from rational thought. Still, she could hear relieved whispers coming from the tables all around.

"Good riddance. You're lucky girl. You found out before he could get his filthy hands on you," said the old man from before, glaring at the doors as if Naruto would come back at any moment. Before he knew it, Sakura's fist connected with his jaw once more, this time sending him flying into the wall across the room.

Ignoring the shocked glances sent her way, Sakura ran out into the street to look for Naruto. She had no idea what she'd say when she saw him. All she knew was that she had to find him. Unfortunately, finding a shinobi that didn't want to be found was no easy task and it seemed Naruto didn't want to be found.