火火discalimer火火
I don't own Naruto : Unlike various other authors who wish they did own it I don't...I just want a few shares...XD
火火Chapter Seven: The memories that reached him and the feelings that didn't火火
As the sun rose over Konoha it brought with it the next day. Six people linked by fate all awoke with different thoughts. What the day held for them was unknown.
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As Uzumaki Naruto awoke in his house weak sunlight shone down from the sky reflecting of the foil of the empty ramen cups and creating rainbow coloured reflections on the wall. As he rubbed his eyes and made his way to the bathroom an eagle flew past his window.
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Haruno Sakura had also awoken but she lay in her bed mulling over the events of the previous day she had a sudden burst of anger. Sudden a screeching sound exploded next to her ear. As the birds outside of her window had awoken they brought with them a flood of noise. Unable to bear it Sakura got out of bed and made her way to her bathroom.
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Hinata was already awake as the sun rose she was training in the same training grounds were she had been just hours ago. Tenten had joined her to improve her control over her weapons, she had perfected an array of weapons but was learning control over them with chakra. Hinata was also practicing her chakra control.
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Unbeknownst to the two Neji was watching the pair as they trained. Neji hd watched the progress of his cousin over the last three years and her skills were steadily improving, she had even learned 'Hakkesho Kaiten'. He had started creating his own moves as he had mastered most of the moves he had learnt of Hiashi. He watched intently with his Byakugan as Tenten let loose an array of various weapons.
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In a certain room in the hospital of Konoha, a certain person awoke to find a certain person standing in her room. As that person made there way to the window, the girl's blurry vision couldn't make out who it was. The sudden blast of light temporarily blinded her sp she was forced to close her eyes. She heard the resounding footsteps approach her,
"Still asleep...after what you went through it's no surprise..."
The voice seemed familiar to her so she was compelled to open her eyes, as her vision cleared she saw the Konohagakure Godaime standing before her.
"Ho – Hokage-sama...To what do I owe the pleasure...?"
"So you are awake, after the beating you took you should be asleep for at least a month. Healing you was not easy."
"I'm grateful I made it here in time...it seems that the ANBU disguise was useless after all, but help arrived just in time for Naruto he would have been a goner had Neji not arrived."
"Well he shouldn't have been so hot-headed, I could have arranged a team to retrieve team Kurenai before Naruto set out...baka..."
"Do you think he'll remember me?"
Tsunade could tell there was a hint of excitement in her voice but why wouldn't there be after all that the Jiraiya had told her the girl laying before her.
"He's a bit dim witted so probably not at first, I here you left a pretty strong impression on him before you left so he will remember...(eventually)"
"I hope he does..."
As the sun rose higher into the sky over the forest of Konoha, it brought hope into these six people but what the day held for them was still unknown.
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Naruto placed a cup of ramen into his microwave and set the timer, he had been doing everything sloppily this morning managing to put shampoo on his toothbrush. Something from the conversation with Neji last night had been stuck at the front of his mind since this morning,
"After this cup of ramen I'll take a quick trip to the hospital!"
Suddenly there was a small explosion from the microwave,
"Shit! My ramen!"
As he pulled what remained of the ramen cup from the microwave (a tear in his eye) a pink haired kunoichi made her way out of her house.
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"I'm going!"
"Don't forget to go to the Yamanaka flower shop."
"I won't (I was gonna go there anyway)."
Sakura made here way down the road that lead to said flower shop. She began to think of were she was going later tonight. A date with Amachi-kun ooooh! I can't wait!
"So it's you forehead girl."
"Ah Ino-pig still licking your wounds from your defeat?"
"I got over that ages ago, I should thank you though..."
"Oh yea..."
Sakura's smile turned to a grimace as she remembered that scene three weeks ago.
"So what do you want is it some flowers for your dying Naruto-kun?"
"Like I'd ever get flowers for him! He can roll over and die for all I care!"
"Such harsh words but why? Did your precious Naruto-kun leave you for Hinata?"
Ino watched intently to see how Sakura would respond,
"Naruto is a member of my team and nothing else, anyway my mum wanted half a dozen tulips."
"Okay, anything else?"
"Yeah...could you help me ummmm..."
"Help you what?"
Ino raised an eyebrow at the slightly blushing Sakura In a rage about Naruto and now you're blushing, you're far too easy to read ,
"I – uh – kindahaveadate!"
"Did I just here the word 'date'? Sakura's already found a new boyfriend-"
"He's not my boyfriend. He's just a guy that Tsunade-sama insisted I go out with, so you gonna help me or what?"
"I have time to spare so I'll help you out, what time is it?"
"Eight o'clock tonight."
"Well...I get of at three so I'll come to your house at about five..."
"Nani – a two hour gap?"
Now it was Ino's turn to blush, she stroked her hair as she replied,
"I have – uh – other arrangements..."
Sakura stared Ino sure that Sai had just popped into her head,
"Whatever there's no need for you to come so early anyway. Can I have the tulips please I'm kinda in a hurry."
"Here you go"
She said absent mindedly as she handed over the flowers. Sakura took her leave and made her way back down the road towards her house.
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Naruto walked slowly down the road rubbing his stomach, he had salvaged what he could out of the exploded ramen cup, and he didn't have time for any more food as he had an appointment with Tsunade (Well he knew about it but she didn't). If he came early enough then maybe she wouldn't be as busy. He looked up the path and noticed the hospital. It was well it wasn't strictly on the way but his curiosity was aroused and he was keen to see who this mystery person that Neji had talked about was. As he walked into the hospital he noticed that most of the staff were giving him dirty looks. Probably because of the walls I broke...maybe it wasn't a good idea to come here after all... As he turned to leave someone behind him shouted his name,
"Naruto!"
He froze thinking, Shit I haven't got enough money to pay for the walls...what should I do – what should I do? I could run? But a sudden hand on his shoulder stopped him from moving. He slowly turned around to face them and was surprised to see,
"Shizune?"
"So you did come. Tsunade-sama said that you'd come eventually but I didn't actually expect you to come."
"Tsunade-sama said that I'd come?"
"Yeah to see the girl in the room next to yours."
"Nani! How did you know?"
"Don't ask me, Tsunade-sama just asked me to wait here for you. Are you coming then?"
She asked this politely as she walked towards the door to the stairs. Naruto was still a bit puzzled by all that she'd said, She was waiting here for me to see the girl that Neji mentioned...just who is this girl. She seems to know me? Naruto followed after Shizune and was still thinking as he made his way up the stairs,
"We're here! I think it's best if you go in alone."
"S – Sure."
Why am I so nervous, I'm just seeing some person who I know nothing about but seems to know everything about me Shizune left down the corridor leaving Naruto. As his hand rose to the doorknob they started to shake slightly, he grabbed it with his other hand and steadied it. Why am I so nervous? He turned the doorknob and walked in to see a girl standing by the window with flowing brown hair. He watched as her hair blew in the light breeze that the day had brought,
"H – Hello..."
The girl continued to stand at the window not responding to Naruto. She raised her hand to her hair and appeared to be pulling it out of her face, it was then that she turned around and looked at Naruto. As he watched she seemed to be moving in slow motion, her eyes were a vibrant orange and her face wore an unreadable expression. She looked at Naruto for a few moments and he felt suddenly very embarrassed, Why is she looking at me so intensely, maybe it's the whiskers She turned her entire body around and Naruto took in her stunning figure Why is a girl like this so interested in me She pulled her robe around body more tightly and tied it up, she still continued to look at Naruto intensely,
"Uhh – Neji said that you wanted to see me...about..."
He had trailed of at the last part because she had started to advance towards him, she looked into his eyes and Naruto started to blush She's coming closer! What's she gonna do? Should I move away? Ah she's too close! The girl had come directly in front of Naruto. They were about a head away. She raised her hand to Naruto's face and stroked it slowly. Naruto had frozen mentally. When she spoke it was in a sweet voice that seemed a bit sad, her face had a smile on it that made her look even more beautiful,
"So you don't remember me, Naruto-kun?"
She moved even closer to Naruto and they were only few centimetres away, he could see her eye's brightly sparkling in front of him, Who is this girl? I don't know who she is. I'm sure that such a beautiful girl would leave an impression Naruto finally regained control over his body and stumbled backwards into the now shut door,
"W – W – W – W – Wait a minute! I – I – I don't remember you from anywhere!"
She chuckled at seeing Naruto so nervous, Naruto was on the verge of a heart attack, he could feel his heart beating at an insane rate. She looks so cute when she laughing, just who is she I don't remember her at all did I meet her recently? She continued to look at Naruto and advanced forward once again,
"There's no need to be so nervous, I won't bite."
She had said the last part quietly and seductively, at these words Naruto's mind thawed out Won't bite...JUST WHAT IS SHE PLANNING! What kind of relationship did we have before, if we had one. This girls going on like we're long lost lovers. Naruto started to breathe deeply as she moved even closer, she had a tempting look in her eyes,
"Naruto you really don't remember me...I'm so disappointed, but I have the perfect way to make you remember..."
Naruto was trapped against the door and she placed a hand on his chest pinning him there, she moved just as close as she was before and then even closer. She moved her head to his ear and whispered in a quiet, sexy voice,
"I can't believe you can't even remember my name, I thought you'd at least recognize my face. Ah well..."
She moved her hand slowly down his chest and Naruto's eyes widened, She's not going to – What's she gonna do – I don't even know this girl – How can she be so forward! A sudden burst of pain knocked him out of his thoughts, when he returned he found that she had punched him in the gut surprisingly hard for a girl that looked like she did,
"What was that for?"
"That's for not remembering my name or anything else for that matter; I can't believe I thought that we could just go back to old times. You said you'd..."
...never forget...
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A girl whose face he couldn't remember she was crying, why was she crying? She wasn't standing directly in front of him, she was so far away. He too was crying, why was he crying? He reached out to her as she spoke,
"Promise me we'll see each other again. Then we can go on an adventure again. Promise!"
"I – I promise! Promise me you'll come back!"
"I'll definitely come back Naruto! But promise you'll never - sniff - never -"
"Never what?"
"Never forget me!"
"I'll definitely remember, I'll never forget you!"
"Bye Naruto, we'll definitely see each other again"
"Bye blank, I'll never forget you either I promise."
What's her name
He watched tears' rolling down his cheeks, as his only childhood friend was taken away by her parents. As they steered her towards the gate they both gave his dark looks, this bore into him and the flow of tears increased. His only friend that had saved him from loneliness was leaving him, he was only six and he was all alone again. He ran through the streets of Konoha towards his apartment, as the tears ran down his face he could not see were he was going and managed to bump into a man dressed in white and red,
"S – S - sob – S – Sorry..."
"It's okay Naruto"
Naruto was surprised to be called by his name; normally the villagers would refer to him as 'monster' or 'demon'. As he looked up wiping tears from his face that were quickly replaced,
"W – Who are you mister?"
"So you have forgotten me so quickly."
He raised an eyebrow at Naruto as he noticed that he was crying, but he thought that he knew the reason. He had been monitoring Naruto since he had moved into his apartment and had noticed a bond that he had made with a particular girl,
"I see, so blank has finally left. You two were very close?"
What was her name?
"We were best friends, we still are blank even gave me her favorite orange jacket before! But she had too leave because of her parents!"
What is her name?
"That is most unfortunate, I'm sure she was your first friend?"
"Yeah H...blank was my first friend we always played together! Even when it was raining we could play in my house! Old man will she ever come back?"
"Well I'm the Hokage, I'll make sure Ha...blank comes back. Would you like me to walk you back to your apartment?"
...her name...I can almost hear it...
"B – But there's no-one to play with!"
"You start at the ninja academy next year so I'm sure that you'll make some new friends there, also by next year H...blank will have come back so you can enroll with her."
"Yeah me and blank will have lots of adventures at the academy, then we can be ninja's together and get married!"
...It's becoming harder to hear...H...Ha...
"Hahaha! Maybe one day but you'll have to get into the ninja academy first. When we get back to your house I can give you some books then you can start studying, remember for a ninja mental strength is as strong as physical."
"Yeah! I'll get strong so on our adventures I can protect Hana!"
...Ha – Hana! Her name is Ichirin Hana...
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"I...Ichirin Hana, your name is Ichirin Hana!"
"Uh...?"
Naruto looked around to find that the hospital room was empty. He saw that the window was wide open and was letting in a great gust,
"Sh – She's gone..."
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Tsunade was at her desk filling in paperwork, before her was Amachi who had returned as he had promised the night before. She was filling out papers for his temporary housing which she had put off the night before due to tiredness and was regretting it now,
"Well it all seems to be fine now, here's your pass you can now explore Konohagakure to your hearts content,"
"I see so that's what the paper work was for...well I have nothing to do until later tonight, what do you suggest I do?"
"Well your main purpose is to get along with the team better so I suggest you introduce yourself to them. Naruto can usually be found at the training grounds this time and Sai seems to be living in the library at the moment."
"What about Sakura-chan?"
"Well I think that it's best you don't see her till later tonight, you know it might be a bad omen if you two see each other before then."
Suddenly the door burst open and Sakura burst in red in the face,
"Tsunade-sama! Give me permission -"
Sakura stared around at the two and then blushed,
"Should I have knocked first...?"
Tsunade and Amachi did an anime drop leaving Sakura dumbfounded. Suddenly the two guards burst in,
"Hokage-sama! We're sorry she took us by surprise when we told her you were busy!"
"It's okay I knew she was coming here eventually (with Shizune working at the hospital)"
"Tsunade-sama can you please give me permission to work in the hospital. With Shizune working there I have no-one to train me and it will give me some first hand experience."
"Sakura...uh how do I say this...I don't think you're ready to work in the hospital, you have little experience using medical jutsu in mission/serious situations- "
"That's why- "
He interrupted but Tsunade raised her hand for silence,
"Your skills have progressed greatly but- "
"TSUNADE-BAA-CHAN!"
A vein appeared on Tsunade's forehead as there was the third interruption of the day and it was not even midday yet,
"Hana's disappeared!"
"So you do remember her...can I have a minute please Sakura?"
Tsunade swiveled round her chair and looked at her window ledge to see Naruto standing there,
"Baa-chan! She disappeared! We were talking then...uh...she (knocked me out then ran away)"
"I'm sure that she's fine she should know this village inside out, now if you'll excuse me- "
"But she hasn't been hear for nine years so she might get lost!"
"Naruto you're welcome to search for her but I'm speaking with someone so if you could please excuse me then we can talk later."
Naruto poked his head around her chair and noticed Sakura and Amachi,
"Who's that?"
Naruto jumped down from the ledge and walked around the chair. Tsunade thought for a moment then put on an evil grin, this is perfect if I do this right then I can get rid of both of them! Tsunade swiveled around in her chair a big smile on her face,
"That Naruto is one of your allies for the mission, his name is Amachi."
Amachi walked forward and offered his hand to Naruto, Naruto shook it.
"I'm sure Amachi was about to go and introduce and introduce himself to you but it seems you cam to us, I think it'd be a good idea for you two to get to know each other. You'll be working together so teamwork will be the key perhaps you two could train together get used to working together?"
Amachi was surprised at hearing this,
"Well it's true that I know absolutely nothing about you so we could talk for a while and maybe train?"
"What about you Sakura, do you want to join them?"
All this time Sakura had been thinking to herself, Who the hell is this Hana girl! And why is Naruto so worried about her! Her face seemed to reflect what she was thinking and she Tsunade raised an eyebrow, could she be jealous, well all hell's gonna break loose when she sees her,
"Sakura are you still with us...?"
"Uh – sorry yeah sure (If I stick with Naruto I can make his jealous with Amachi and find out who this Hana girl is)"
"I've got to find Hana first!"
Sakura also felt a vein pop on her forehead Again with Hana, just who is she?
"Find me I'm right here..."
Everyone turned to look at the window, surely enough with her hair swaying in the wind wearing a full ANBU outfit was Hana, but she had her back turned to everyone,
"Hana why'd you- "
"So now you remember my name...hmph!"
She suddenly turned around and kicked Naruto in the face which sent him bouncing around the room (literally) and finishing up in a star shape in the middle of the room. Hana walked towards him drawing a blade as she did,
"W – W – What was that for?"
"That was for not immediately remembering my name! Now I will burn it into your memory with my blade!"
"N – N – N – N – Now d – d – d – don't get hasty! We're best friends right? Best friends don't do this to each other!"
"Best friends don't forget each others names either!"
She pressed the blade against his chin which caused Sakura to take a step forward Best friends! Naruto is best friends with a girl as pretty as that! And why is she about to kill him A hand suddenly grasped on Sakura's shoulder, she looked up to see Tsunade,
"I think it's best that they sort it out between themselves, maybe you and Amachi..."
"No I think I'll watch."
Naruto was looking around the room frantically for a way to escape,
"Hana if you're gonna hurt me please at least do it tomorrow I have a dat – err – plans today..."
"You have a date!"
Hana and Sakura shouted this in unison, but Naruto who was fearing for his life didn't notice her and Amachi slip out of the room,
"Well technically it's a double date I kinda got dragged along..."
"A DOUBLE DATE!"
Naruto felt a trickle of blood run down his chin and knew he had to stop her, he closed his eyes and prepared himself,
"Yeah but I promise that I'll go out with you tomorrow but I really can't today or I'll surely end up dead."
"So you're already with someone...?"
"Well not technically it kinda just happened..."
He felt the blade leave his chin and slowly opened his eyes,
"She's gone Naruto and I suggest you chase her (and leave me in freaking peace geez)."
He quickly stood up and was glad that Sakura wasn't there,
"Where'd she go?"
"She vanished so I have no idea."
"Then I'll have to find her quick..."
Naruto stood up and rushed to the window, the wind blew in his face as he scanned the surroundings, he saw a flash of brown hair in the park not too far away,
"I think you should talk to her, I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on...oh and by the way did I mention that she will be joining you on the mission...?"
"Nani! Since when! I thought that it was only team seven and you add two people from nowhere!"
"Well you better get on good terms with those two people because they're who you'll be working with. I can't have this mission failing because of a dysfunctional team."
"Well I'm not the dysfunctional one (Holding a sword at your teammates throat hardly promoting team spirit)"
"I can see were she's coming from, you haven't seen someone that's very special to you in nine years and they can't even remember your name let alone anything else. She was probably very lonely in Suna having to make friends all over again but never forgetting the first."
"When you put it that way..."
"Now Naruto can you leave me in peace I just remembered that I have to fill in Hana's paperwork and I've had enough interruptions for one day. By the way who is it that you're having a double date with tonight?"
Tsunade's curiosity was aroused at how Naruto had got a date with a girl other than Sakura and at how they managed to get together so quickly (He did only wake up yesterday). Sakura had been crying non stop the last three weeks she was so worried about Naruto since he came back in the state that he was. That idiot Naruto betrayed her trust by kissing another girl, then he lets her know that he has a date the day after you (dare I say break up). Not a smart move...at this rate this mission's going to be a disaster; if he can't rectify his mistakes quickly enough then all that we have riding on this mission will be lost,
"Hinata-chan, Neji and Tenten. How come you wanna know?"
"I was just wondering...Come to see me in two days preferably after eight in the evening...there's something that we need to sort out."
"Okay..."
Tsunade watched Naruto leap out of the window and then started to think, It seems that Naruto is too dim to realize how Sakura feels about him, so I will have to sort it out. I think I should talk to Sakura, two days should be enough to convince her but now I think about it maybe it wasn't a good idea to send those two on a date. Crap I forgot to ask him where he was going...if they go to the same place then the damage could be beyond repair...I reaaaaally need a bottle of sake.
"Shizune!"
Shizune quickly rushed into the room, had she been listening outside the whole time,
"Yes Tsunade-sama!"
"Can you fetch Sakura for me - she then looked at the two guards - I need you two to gather up a few things for me."
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Sakura was sitting in the library surveying (more than being part of) a conversation between Sai and Amachi. Whatever they were talking about she didn't know, she was lost in her own thoughts. Naruto already has a date She couldn't believe that Naruto had already moved on from her so quickly and he had another pretty girl chasing him Maybe he doesn't care he has two other girls and seems content. Remember how worried he was about the other girl, any boy would choose her over me She remembered how worried his face looked. She suddenly spoke out when Sai was in mid sentence,
"Amachi can we not do tonight?"
"I – uh – where did that come from?"
"I'm sorry it's me...I just don't feel I'm ready..."
...To forget...
"Well if you really don't want too..."
"I'm sorry..."
...That feeling...
Sakura suddenly stood from her seat, she had her hands at her sides and her head was bowed hiding the expression on her face,
"Please excuse me!"
Amachi could hear her voice breaking and wondered if he had said or done something wrong.
Sakura ran out of the library the wind blowing in her face making her to close her eyes, which in turn forced the tears to drop from her eyes. She could not see where she was going the wind was too strong. She managed to bump into someone,
"S – Sorry..."
Sakura looked up and saw that she had managed to bump into Ino, the smile on her face was quickly replaced with a worried look,
"Sakura are you okay...?"
Sakura allowed the tears to fall from her eyes but they were quickly blown away, lost in the wind. She could not bear it any longer she could not understand why she had felt like this since seeing Naruto kiss Hinata, she felt as if he had betrayed her. Although we were not officially together we were close and then he had just kissed another girl. But it's just stupid Naruto why am I getting like this, I – I – I – I love him and he kisses another girl what am I supposed to do. He – he even has a date with her! Does he still have feelings for me if so then why is he going out with another girl? If he still had feelings for me then surely he would apologize to me even if I did tell him to go away then I needed to clear my head then. He's such a baka! If he doesn't have any feelings for me then what am I supposed to do with mine? Sakura was standing there crying into a confused Ino's arms for a few minutes before Ino spoke,
"Sakura...what happened...?"
"I – I – I don't know...I just feel like...I'm confused I – I don't know what to do."
Ino raised her hand to her hair to hold in straight as the wind blew it over Sakura's bowed head,
"(Honestly you'd think a hurricane is coming) Sakura I'm confused myself, did something happen with Naruto again or was it this new guy?"
"It's Naruto...I think -"
"Sakuraaaaaaaa!"
Shizune ran over to Sakura and Ino, she looked worried,
"Sakura! Tsunade-sama said she wants to speak with you!"
Sakura quickly rubbed her eyes and blinked to clear her eyes, she looked at Shizune,
"I – I see. Do you know what for?"
"No." She lied,
"Uh – I'll be there right away..."
Sakura walked away slowly in the direction of Tsunade's office, leaving a bewildered Ino and a confused Shizune, Shizune looked over at Ino,
"Do you know what happened to get her in this state?"
Ino continued to watch Sakura's back as she walked away and replied,
"She has strong feelings for Naruto but she doesn't know if he's going to return her feelings or not, him running around with other girls doesn't help the situation. She still has feelings for him despite all that's happened and she is confused at what to do."
"Simply there's currently a storm in her heart."
Ino watched a few trees swaying in the wind as she answered,
"Ironically yes..."
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Naruto landed on the opposite side of the tree that he knew Hana had taken cover behind. She was sitting hugging her knees staring at the trees as the swayed,
"I'm sorry..."
"What are you apologizing for?"
"You're mad because I forgot about you right?"
"I'm not mad because of that...it's just that you've been here and you've made so many friends and you have so many memories here but I feel like..."
"like what?"
"I feel like I don't know anything about you, you've grown up now, you're not a kid...I feel so distant from you..."
Naruto could understand how she felt, a lot had happened in the last nine years and she knew nothing about it. He walked around the tree to were she was sitting and squatted down next to her,
"Well we have a lot to catch up on but we can't do it yet, Tsunade-baa-chan told me you're going on the mission with me and the rest, I promise that we'll catch up straight after that."
"How do I know that you're not lying?"
At these words Naruto stood up and took a few steps away from the tree, Hana suddenly put on a worried face, Did I say something wrong? Naruto stood rigidly with his arms at his sides,
"A lot's happened in the last nine years but more in the last four, I...I failed on a mission so I lost someone close to me...I - sigh - I promised myself a long time before then, that I would live my life with no regrets and that I would never take back my words because..."
The wind had slowed to a small breeze and it made Naruto's blonde hair dance,
"That's my way of the ninja...I will never break a promise or take back any of my words."
When he said these words Naruto had realized something I made a promise to someone. He turned around to Hana with a grin on his face and offered her a hand. She had a slightly surprised look and took it,
"I really have missed a lot haven't I?"
He pulled her up and then walked with her towards the exit of the park, talking with her had made him realize something,
"Like I said we'll catch up but there are a few things that I have to sort out first..."
He suddenly stopped walking and stared at the ground, Hana stopped a few steps after looking back at him. The wind blew her hair in front of her face once again and she put her hand there to stop it,
"Is something wrong Naruto-kun?"
"I seem to have strayed off my path..."
"Whaddya mean?"
"I - sigh - I need to talk to Sakura-chan..."
Hana looked up and saw that Naruto was looking up at Tsunade's office, she could see that she meant a lot to him they were in the same team after all. She hoped that they weren't that close but she decided to ask to make sure,
"Naruto-kun...are you and Sakura...are you close?"
"We...I...I dunno I think I've screwed up...that's why I need to talk with her..."
"Were you and her...to – together...?"
"We...we kinda had a thing going..."
Hana's fears were confirmed but it was inevitable, she had been gone nine years and it was almost inevitable that Naruto would meet a girl. Perhaps she felt silly for still being so attached to her childhood sweetheart. She looked down and suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder,
"Don't worry though, just because well...me and Sakura were – you know – doesn't mean I'll forget about you. I've gotta go find Sakura you should take a look around the village I'm sure one or two things have changed in the last nine years."
She watched as Naruto walked off away from the park gates towards the Hokage's office. She wondered how far her distance from Naruto was now, it had been nine years but could the gap have really got that large. She stood there for a few moments before taking Naruto's advice and walking around the village, Naruto is it too late to show you the shape of my heart?
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"Come in!"
Sakura had just arrived at Tsunade's door, she walked in slowly expecting someone other than her to be there but was surprised to find no-one, the last few times that she had come there had been at least two other people. She walked to the front of the desk and saw that there was a chair there very strange,
"Shizune said that you wanted me Tsunade-sama."
"Yes there is some important business that I need you to sort out, I think that you should take a seat."
Sakura sat down putting on a serious face,
"Sakura lately I've noticed that you've been a little emotionally confused, and well the thing is, is that the way that the currently assembled team is bumping heads, I may have to withdraw you from the team."
These words hit Sakura like a ton of bricks,
...Off of the mission...
"But Tsunade-sama I – I – I, this mission is very important to me, if this mission succeeds then I might be able to bring back Sasuke, ca – can't you sympathize with my feelings?"
"It would seem that unless...hmmm...If you wait here then I could come up with a solution..."
"I – Arigatou Tsunade-sama!"
"Just a few moments."
Tsunade slipped out of the room leaving a shocked Sakura, Could me and Naruto breaking up really have that big an impact on the mission, he seems to have no problem with it waltzing around with other girls! Hmph he should be taken off the mission not me!
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Naruto had arrived outside of the Hyuuga mansion but unluckily there was no Neji to assist him this time. He stood outside of the entrance for a few minutes to gather his courage, I need to tell Hinata, I don't have time to be a coward and stand outside. Naruto lifted his chin to the heavens and strolled boldly forward only to bump into someone,
"You know Naruto you should really watch were you walk."
"Uwaaaaah! Neji!"
"What are you so surprised about, speaking of which what are you doing here?"
"Well – I – uh..."
"It's another couple of hours before we go out."
"About the date...well I think that you and Tenten should go by yourselves."
"Eh – what's brought this up?"
"Well I just don't think I'm ready, I need to clear my head a bit and think things through."
"So you're just gonna dump Hinata, just like that?"
"N – N – Not exactly, I plan to let her off lightly...but personally I don't think that she or I are ready for this."
"Ready for what?"
"I didn't mean it like that! I just don't think we should be going out is all."
"I see, well don't break her heart..."
Naruto watched Neji walk off and then turned back to the mansion realizing that all his self confidence had gone, Oh no bumping into Neji robbed me of all my resolve! Now how am I going to face her after what he said, 'don't break her heart' What kind of comment is that to give to someone when they're about to dump someone,
"TEME!"
"Uhh – Naruto-kun I would appreciate it if you didn't shout swear words outside my house."
"Wuaah! Hinata-chan!"
"What are you doing here anyway, I thought that our date wasn't for a few hours?"
"Well the date is why I'm here..."
"W – What's wrong?"
"I - sigh - Hinata you know I like you a lot, right?"
"Naruto-kun you should say words like 'like' or 'love' so easily, save them for the most important girl in your life."
"Y – Yeah you're right, I just feel like I – we're not ready for this. I've been thinking about it and I just feel that I've wronged Sakura-chan somehow. I know you were probably really looking forward to this but - sigh - but I don't think we should go on this date."
Hinata's face dropped slightly but she still held up her head,
"I see Naruto-kun..."
"I'm really sorry – It's not you it's my fault for not...for not..."
"I'm okay Naruto-kun, like I said before I'm just happy that you know how I feel."
Hinata stepped forward and place a hand on his lips,
"Why did you think that I said I would steal a kiss, it's because I know that those lips belong to Sakura..."
She pulled back her hand and then offered it to Naruto,
"I hope we can still be friends Naruto-kun?"
Naruto had a surprised look on his face, but then realized that it was okay and shook her hand,
"So do I..."
It was then clear what Naruto had to do, he had cleared everything up with Hana and now Hinata, all that was left was to speak with Sakura.
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Tsunade had just left her room and this had started a train of thought rolling in Sakura's mind, Have me and Naruto suddenly drifted so far apart? Could our relationship have become so broken that we can't even go on missions together despite being on the same team? Is Naruto really at fault, could there have been a reason that him and Hinata were kissing? Maybe I should have let him explain? Could all this heartache have been avoided had I listened to him in the first place? AHHHH! SO many questions but no answers, should I talk to Naruto? Another Question!
It was at this moment that the wheels of fate began to grind into action, Sakura stood up from her chair and stared through the window before deciding,
"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama but there is something I must do..."
She slowly turned and made her way to the door, as she reached out for the door the handle suddenly turned by it self. As the door opened a certain blond haired, orange clad ninja entered through the,
...Naruto...
They both stood there for a few moments staring at each other until Naruto shut the door behind himself and advanced into the room. He stood just a few steps behind Sakura,
"Sakura-chan...there's something I need to tell you."
Sakura was frozen on the spot, I can finally hear Naruto's side of it but...but...
...I'm not ready...
Sakura suddenly made a start towards the door,
"Please Sakura-chan let me just -"
She still continued towards the door but was suddenly stopped. She felt Naruto's hand on her wrist but it felt strange, his hand was as soft and calming as the first time that they had kissed properly. That if anything stopped her from leaving,
"Sakura-chan I want too apologize for what I did before, I – I don't know I wasn't thinking straight..."
"Are you talking about...You and Hinata...?"
"Yeah, I just feel that I've somehow betrayed you by doing this."
He turned her around gently and when he did he saw she was crying, he lifted a hand and wiped the tears from her eyes,
"Please don't cry Sakura-chan, I can't bear to see you crying..."
"Naruto..."
"What is it...?"
"I just don't feel...I feel that...?"
She suddenly looked up into Naruto's bright blue eyes and she realized something,
"Naruto...you still..."
"I still..."
She suddenly broke off from Naruto and looked into his eyes with a steel face,
"You still don't understand my feelings..."
"I – but how can I know if you don't tell me"
"You want to know how I feel."
"I guess so..."
"I hate you...I wish all the best for you and Hinata"
He heard her voice break as she said the word hate, Sakura turned around and left passing a shocked Shizune and Tsunade on the way out, Naruto was left inside the room his hand grasping on thin air as once again he let go of the girl that he loved.
火火End chapter Seven火火
This took me a longer time because I was moving around houses a bit so I couldn't find time to start it and when I finally did I got stuck with writers block so I had to get a few ideas from a couple of books, animes etc.
火火Authors Notes火火
I think this chapter was a bit too long if you think it was then I'll make the next one shorter or if you like longer chapters then tell me. I will steadily return this too it's NaruSaku glory and I think there will only be a few people present in the next chapter as it will mainly be Naruto and Sakura. I took full-metal-sousuke's, crash and burnn's and kinda The King Of Thieves advice and kept it NaruSaku but life isn't that simple for Naruto so he will have to perform an extra ordinary task to get her to trust him again, what will it be I dunno I will when I get ideas. Adios for this chappie it changed soo much from what I envisioned.
P.S did anyone notice that I used the weather as an extended metaphor, I think I overdid it but it seems alright anyways. I also used in the last chappie (I think)
RoaringSasuke