Yo! I got some more NaruSaku goodness for you loyal Naruto fans out there. I sincerely hope this has been enjoyed by all you crazed fans of the pairing I've chosen for this story.

I'll say no more.

Naruto and Sakura ventured out into the town that day. Konoha had returned to mostly normal activity now with people in the market and nins going about, keeping the security. Naruto and Sakura briefly wondered how their sensei, good old Kakashi was doing at the moment.

Speak of the Devil

Kakashi appeared out of a burst of smoke in front of them. Sakura let out a stifled cry in shock as she jumped and grabbed Narutos' arm tightly. Kakashi only briefly gave a questioning look with his uncovered eye before getting to business.

"Naruto, Sakura, how are you?" he asked seriously. His face looked for the most part like it always did: Lazy. However, anyone who would've spent time with him in the past would be able to recognize the slight sadness on his face.

"Err, fine," said Naruto.

"A lot better," answered Sakura, still holding Naruto's arm.

"I'm glad," said Kakashi. "Anyway, I'm here just to give you both a message from the Hokage. Good thing you were together. You're to proceed to her office immediately. Sakura, right after that, your parents would like to at least know that you're okay. They were a bit worried this morning that their daughter was gone."

Sakura blushed and looked down. "Yes, sir," she said in unison with Naruto.

"Well I'm off then." Kakashi disappeared into a whirling cloud of smoke, and the couple ran to Tsunade's office.

"Come in," said the female when there was a knock at her door. Naruto and Sakura proceeded to enter and stood at attention in front of her desk. "Relax guys," she said politely. "No need to be formal. I just wanted to talk-discuss some things, if you will grant it."

"No problem," said Naruto, relaxing a bit. Sakura didn't reply, but allowed her posture to relax as well.

"First, I want to express my apologies for the death of your friend," said Tsunade, standing up. "I know what its like to loose close team members, but not at such a young age. I can't blow smoke up your asses and say it'll be alright or that I understand, because I frankly can't begin to pretend I know what you're going through."

"Thank you Tsunade-sama," said Sakura and Naruto.

"If you would like to talk about it, I invite you to do it now," she said, sitting on the edge of her desk facing them, crossing her legs. "Is there anything you wish to know or would like to say? Would you like anything?"

"What is to become of Team Seven?" asked Naruto seriously.

"There are a few choices," said Tsunade. "I want you to consider them seriously before you decide. You'll have a week to think them over. Your first choice is that you can remain Genin nins and continue training with Kakashi until a third Genin is ready to stand in and complete your team. If this option is taken, you won't be given any grave missions to deal with as a unit until your team is four-strong again.

"Option two is the disbanding of Team Seven altogether," said Tsunade. Naruto gave an audible gulp. "You both will become independent Genins until the academy releases their next graduates and the draft chooses teams. You will both be inserted randomly into new teams under new leadership as Genins, though I daresay you'll have an edge over your teammates.

"Your third and final choice is to give up your career as ninja and take up a civilian life," said Tsunade grimly. "You may choose to quit, and no one will think any less of you if you do. No one will blame you or hold you responsible. You had to witness what most shouldn't have to at your age. It would've shaken even myself to the core to watch what you saw. Should you leave, you will be given your standard six months paid severance so you have something to live off of until you find your next job."

"Those are our choices?" asked Naruto.

"Yes," she answered. "Take your time. You have the week off to make your decision. Like I said, weigh the choices carefully. I expect you both in here at noon a week from today to discuss your future. You are dismissed. Oh, and Sakura, go visit your parents to tell them where you've been. They've been worried."

"Yes ma'am," said Sakura, bowing and leaving. Naruto waited in her office until Tsunade looked up and noticed he was still there.

"Uh, Naruto, what's the matter?" asked Tsunade.

"It's about Itachi and the Akatsuki, Tsunade-sama," said Naruto.

Sakura, beginning to walk down the hall to exit, realized that Naruto wasn't with her, and, assuming he stayed behind, went back to the office. She was about to open the door, which was slightly creaked open.

"They want the demon in me," said Naruto.

"Yes," said Tsunade simply. Sakura's hand stopped on the door handle.

"Why do they want Kyuubi?" asked Naruto.

Kyuubi. Thought Sakura. Where have I heard that before. Kyuubi's the name of the nine-tailed demon fox from years ago. It destroyed Konoha practically.

"I don't know what their interests are in you and Kyuubi," said Tsunade. "They may want that thing inside you for power. That would be a safe assumption."

Inside him? The demon fox? That's impossible!

"Can you tell me anything?" pleaded Naruto. "Do honestly not know anything, or are you just covering up a truth in a sad attempt to protect people?"

"Young man, I don't appreciate having my trust questioned," said Tsunade sternly. "I am being completely honest. I have many nins trying to figure out what Akatsuki's plans are, but it is very difficult to find out anything at the moment."

"My friend is dead because someone wanted a monster that's sealed inside me!" said Naruto heatedly. "I want to know why!"

"I don't know why, Uzumaki!" shouted Tsunade back at him.

Kyuubi? Sealed inside Naruto? That's why Akatsuki's doing this?

"Then get it out of me!" said Naruto. "I don't want this stupid thing in me anymore. All it's done since I was born is cause trouble for me an anyone around me! Come on! You're the Hokage. Surely you have some kind of power to help me."

"I'm afraid I don't, Naruto," said Tsunade sadly. "I'm sorry, but Kyuubi is in you to stay, probably for the rest of your life. Kyuubi cannot be destroyed, just locked up."

Naruto stormed out of the office without a word. He flung open the door and began to barge out, but he was frozen in his tracks. Sakura was standing absolutely still, a look of shock and surprise on her face. Naruto's face mirrored Sakura's. She had been listening… She knows… Sakura knows there's a demon in me…

Naruto felt tears beginning to sting his eyes. He couldn't bear to let anyone see them. He hid his face and ran by Sakura, leaving her to watch, unable to speak as he fled the budling.

"Naruto!" yelled Sakura to his back. It was too late. He was gone. Dammit. What have I done? I finally got close to him, and I went and destroyed everything. I'm so hopeless.

Naruto tore through the streets of Konoha, sobbing and trying to hide his face with his arm. People watched as he blindly ran passed them and even into some others. He didn't care. All he wanted was to get away.

Things were finally going well, he thought, sitting on top of the Third Hokage's head. I finally got Sakura to like me and accept me, and then she finds out about the horrible thing inside me. Why am I always the one who's picked on? "Why can't my life just be easy for once!" he screamed.

He started to cry as he sat there alone. All ruined. Now everyone hates me again. Sakura knows I'm just a demon container, a monster who's dangerous. Perfect. It's back to normalcy from now on.

There was a set of footsteps approaching from behind, tentatively, carefully. "N-Naruto?" asked Sakura fearfully from behind. Naruto looked up at the horizon in front of him as the sun was setting.

"Yeah, Sakura?" replied Naruto, sniffling and wiping his eyes. "What do you want?"

"I…" Sakura fidgeted. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

"So now you know," said Naruto, still looking ahead and not at her. "Now you know what I am. You know the monster that I am."

"What?" asked Sakura. "Naruto, what are you talking about?"

"Come on, Sakura," said Naruto painfully through his tears. "You heard it all. Didn't you! That stupid demon is inside me! The Kyuubi is in me, just waiting to be freed someday. I'm a monster, Sakura."

"No you're not," said Sakura, sitting next to him. She draped her arm around his shoulder and pulled his head to rest on her shoulder. "You're a kind, wonderful human being that is the most opposite thing to a monster possible."

"Do you hate me again, Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto fearfully.

"Oh course not!" said Sakura forcefully. "Come on, Naruto. I'm not going to hate you because something is inside you. It's not your fault, Naruto."

"You mean it?" asked Naruto.

"Yes I do, Naruto-kun," said Sakura. "You're being silly. Why didn't you tell us?"

"It's the reason I'm neglected," said Naruto. "It's why all the adults hate me so much in this town. They all know what happened, but were forbidden to tell their children, so instead, they just told their kids to leave me alone, because I'm dangerous. It's the cole cause of me being ignored all the time."

"Oh, Naruto, I had no idea," said Sakura. "I'm so sorry. You've had to deal with so much." She hugged Naruto tightly. "Naruto, never be afraid of me. I won't let something as dumb as Kyuubi make me mad at you. Don't worry, I don't hate you."

"Thanks so much, Sakura," said Naruto. "I'd be lost now without you."

"I'd be the one lost without you, Naruto-kun," said Sakura.

This one wasn't very long, but it got across that the news was out. I liked the last chapter a little more. It was more romantic in my mind, one of my better works.