Jiraiya and Tsunade were pleased with Naruto's decision. Jiraiya began to tell his student to say his goodbyes to everyone he holds dear to him.
"Naruto, you'll be away for a very long time. If there is anyone that you need to say farewell to, now is the time. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning" Jiraiya wanted his new student to see all the people he cared for one last time.
" Right!" Naruto replied as he turned to head out the door.
Tsunade grabbed his arm and gently turned him around
"..." Tsunade was just staring at him with a smile on her face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...I just wanted one last good look at you, child. When you come back, you're going to be a man. So, I'm getting a last look at my cute little boy." Tsunade smiled a mother's smile.
"I'm already a man..." Naruto said proudly
Tsunade giggled at that remark
" A man with the body of a boy..." She began to tease him
"GRR I AM A MAN!" Naruto was pissed at being called a boy
Tsunade brought him in and hugged him. She began rustling his hair.
"Dear, you are a man, but that doesn't mean your growing stopped. Once you realize the difference between a woman insulting you and playfully teasing you, you'll understand." She knew Naruto took her teasing as being offensive.
She released her embrace and allowed him to go on his way. She smiled as he left her office.
Jiraiya placed his hand on Tsunade's shoulder to give her some sense of assurance.
"He'll be ok Tsunade. I promise you."
Tsunade just smiled. She trusted Jiraiya. And she trusted that Naruto would make it back to Konoha better and stronger than ever.
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Naruto slowly walked down Konoha's streets. As normal, the villagers gave Naruto nothing less than slander and cold stares.
"Yeah...this just might have been a good decision after all..." He said to himself with villagers' hatred piercing his soul
He continued on walking throughout Konoha looking for Sakura to tell her the news. He decided he'd check her house. He knocked and he had finally found her
"Hi Sakura-chan. Are you still mad?" He thought she may have been perturbed by their last meeting.
"No, I'm not mad. I was just...worried about you leaving in all... So, are you going to just stand at the door or are you coming in? I'll make some of that miso ramen you like so much." She offered his favorite meal with a smile. Sakura really wanted him to come in so that she could enjoy his company.
"That's ok. I just wanted to stop by to tell you that I've chosen to accept that mission." Naruto told her his choice.
"I know...I knew you were going to accept..." Sakura in fact did know what his decision would be. But it still hurt her to hear it.
Inner Sakura
" I want to bear you burdens with you. That promise that I made to the Hokage...again...I'm withholding secrets from him..."
"Ok,...well, I just wanted to say my farewells. I have to prepare because Jiraiya and I leave in the morning. Take care Sakura-chan" Naruto turned around and was stopped before he could take a single step away
Sakura was not going to allow him to get away like that by any means. If it was anyone else, a simple goodbye like that was perfectly fine. However, since it was Naruto, she demanded more. A lot more. She ran directly in his path and cut him off. She had looked directly into his eyes with a mix of concern and annoyance.
"You were just going to leave with just a 'goodbye'?... Just like that...?" Sakura said with her fist clenched.
"What else did I have to do?" Naruto was confused
"Do I mean anything to you?..." Sakura was blunt
"I don't understand Sakura-chan. What do you want from me?" Naruto was slowly beginning to understand. The dense boy that was in his shell was beginning to turn into something more.
Inner Sakura
"No...I guess you wouldn't understand. I can't expect you to understand anymore. We are beginning to lose touch with each other. So it can't be helped..."
"Sakura-chan, tell me what's really bothering you"
"...Don't mind me Naruto..." she just giggled, covering up what she truly wanted to say.
" You're acting weird Sakura, but I've seen weirder. I look in my mirror every day." Naruto tried to offset Sakura's despair with his joke. He was giving her his usually goofy grin.
Sakura laughed loudly. She never allowed herself to laugh at any joke Naruto tried to make in the past. She would just act as if she wasn't amused to seem mature for Sasuke. But a new Sakura was begun to emerge. The REAL Sakura Haruno.
" Sakura-chan,...you never laughed at my jokes before..." Naruto was caught off guard by Sakura's fondness of his joke
Upon hearing that, Sakura quieted her laughter and began to look downward. She began to fully understand how much she had restraint herself over the years. How much she closed off who she really was. All for the sake of trying to appeal to Sasuke.
"I... never allowed myself to be happy before until now..." She smiled at her friend.
"Well you should allow yourself to be happy more Sakura-chan. That way I can see that smile I like so much" Naruto had a smile of his own.
Sakura was blushing but she didn't mind Naruto noticing it.
Inner Sakura
" Naruto-kun, that's why I'm trying to hold on to you for as long as I can...".
Sakura pushed Naruto out of her way and closed her door behind her.
"What was that for...? He was thrown off by her sudden rough treatment
" Naruto-kun...do you have some time to take a walk with me?"
"Umm ok. Where to?"
"Please...just come with me..." All Sakura wanted was for Naruto to follow her.
Naruto did as Sakura asked. He would have followed her anywhere she asked. She was leading him right out of Konoha. He didn't want to disturb her by asking. But he couldn't help his curiosity.
"Sakura-chan, why are we heading to the village gate?"
"Naruto, you told me you would always believe in me right?" Sakura brought up what Naruto said to her earlier that day.
Naruto just nodded his head positively. Showing that he indeed remembered what he had said. And he always stuck by his word.
"Then believe in me..." She took his hand and lead him to a general store that was just by the gate.
Once inside the store, Sakura was grabbing lots of things. She grabbed a knapsack, food, blankets, camera, and an umbrella.
"Ok so we are going on a trip?" Naruto asked, looking at the items Sakura was about to purchase.
She didn't give him an answer right away. All she did was give him a smile
"...I'm stealing you away Naruto-kun..."
He had no clue as to what she meant by that. But he decided not to give it too much thought. Although he was wising up, his clueless demeanor still had some existence.
"Well I guess I should pick out an umbrella too. It wouldn't be fair that you'd be the only one staying dry while I get soaked. Would it?" He said while trying to pick out his own umbrella.
Sakura was annoyed at how dense Naruto was. There was a significant reason that she had only picked out one umbrella. She knew he didn't catch on to things like that easily. But she felt that this was dense, even for him.
Inner Sakura
" You BONEHEAD! How can you be so clueless...?"
Sakura was quite pissed that Naruto didn't even catch on even a little. She snatched an umbrella up and shoved it into his chest. He looked at her, not knowing what he had done wrong, if anything at all. All he knew was he did something to annoy Sakura
"HERE!" she practically impaled the poor boy with the umbrella.
Sakura paid for all of the things she had picked out including Naruto's umbrella. She began to walk out of the store with her annoyed facial expression. Naruto was unaware that Sakura had paid for his umbrella as well. So he put his money on the counter and followed behind her. He saw as Sakura had placed all the items she had purchased into her knapsack.
"Sakura-chan, I'll hold that stuff for you" He reached for the back. But she snatched it away from him
"I don't need help. I'm fine" She said with a bit of a nasty attitude.
He wasn't sure what he had done wrong. But he wasn't the same lovesick guy that used to worship the ground she walked on. So, he decided if he didn't know what he had done wrong, then there was more than likely nothing he'd done wrong.
The two were walking until they made it just outside the gates of Konoha. Sakura suddenly stopped in her tracks.
" Something wrong?" He asked her as he had just walked past her.
" ...I'm sorry for going off on you like that..." she apologized as she started walking again to keep up
"..." He didn't speak. Instead he just kept up his pace
"It's not that you did anything wrong. You did nothing at all...It's just hard to explain...you wouldn't understand" Sakura tried to get him to talk
"You're right, I don't understand." Naruto said bluntly.
Sakura's eyes widened at the sound of his straightforward tone.
"No wait...don't take it the wrong way."
"Take what the wrong way? The fact that I don't understand? Sakura listen, I'm tired of trying to understand you. It's impossible. YOU are impossible." His voice steadily became louder
"No you're wrong,... you do understand me...you've always understood me" She finally came to terms and was able to admit that he understood her so well.
" I used to believe that... Can we just get to where we we're going?" He used to dream of hearing Sakura admit how much he understood her. But to him, this was now just a fantasy he once indulged, not to indulge in again.
"...Ok..." She sadly replied as the two kept on walking. Sakura led the way as Naruto followed behind her.
Inner Sakura
"I really hope this was a good idea bringing him out here...I know I told him I wanted him to let out his anger...but...this hurts..."
In relative silence, Naruto and Sakura continued trekking to a location only Sakura was aware of. The sky slowly began to reveal a kind of darkness that signified the coming of rain clouds. At first neither Naruto nor Sakura gave any attention to it. But then a single, solitary drop pricked Naruto on his nose.
"Oh great...here we go" He sarcastically said to himself. He knew it was about to start pouring rain any minute.
Sakura looked up into the sky and at that moment the rain began beating down on the both of them. Sakura immediately took out her umbrella. Naruto did the same. Both continued with their mutual silence as they walked.
The wind began to pick up dramatically. That combined with the steadily increasing rainfall made Sakura lose her grasp on her umbrella. She was drenched and freezing within seconds. But she noticed a warm aura come from behind her and place an umbrella over her head.
" Thank you Naruto-kun..." she leant into him and took in as much of his warmth as she could
He wrapped his arm around her to bring her closer to her, trying to keep her as warm as possible. She was flustered and blushing. But Naruto never noticed.
"You never told me where we're going." He figured now was as good a time as any to ask her.
Sakura pointed to a cave and the two made their way there. Once inside, Sakura placed the knapsack on the ground and sat with her back on the wall. She just stared at the heavily pouring rain outside.
"Not exactly what you had in mind huh Sakura-chan?" Naruto said as he took a blanket from the knapsack and draped it around her.
"Guess not...but at least we made it..." She snicked and smiled with her reply
"Any particular reason you wanted to come here?" To Naruto this was just a plain, old barren cave.
"Well...this is a very special place to me. I used to play here all the time with Ino when we were younger."
" Two little girls playing in a cave THIS far away from the village? Geez I can just imagine the trouble you two would have gotten into if you were caught." He laughed
"Yeah but we were pretty smart for kids. Catching us would have been a huge task for anyone"
"Ok...so you brought me here because this is a place that you bring your friends?" Naruto asked
Sakura quietly smiled in his direction without answering him. His face looked humorous when he questioned things. And that made Sakura giggle.
"Right?" Naruto asked, looking for some sort of verbal response.
"No...not just any friend. It has be to a friend that I have a one of a kind connection with. Someone I can share my deepest secrets with and be free... Naruto-kun..." She just glared at him, bringing out his shy blushes.
She didn't mind at all. She loved the fact that her last words made him blush. It showed he might have known what she meant. And that's what she wanted.
Naruto was starting to sweat as Sakura kept looking his way. He was ready to find anything to get her attention off of him.
" Sakura-chan, how long did you plan on staying her anyway? I have to leave in the morning you know."
"I know that...I just wanted to get away for a while. Is being out here alone with me so bad that you want to leave?" She was teasing. But despite that, she did want an answer out of him.
"What's that mean? I've been alone with you before"
"You wouldn't understand..."
"Then how about trying to explain?." He was tired of Sakura's run-a-rounds.
"This is what I mean...you're told me I've always understood you. But then you turn around and say things like 'I wouldn't understand' seconds later" He did have a good point
The rain had halted as the night sky had begun glisten the sky. Sakura knew this was starting to tax Naruto's nerves. So she decided try to be candid. With the realization that this may very well be the last time she sees him looming, she wanted everything to be settled.
"...Ok...you're right...you do deserve an explanation" She was scared to tell him her reasons for bringing him all this way knowing he had to leave in the morning.
Naruto just sat awaiting her to talk with his arms and legs folded in.
" I wanted everything between us to be the way they were...like it was when we went on our missions together...those were good times. Weren't they?" Sakura was smiling
" Good for whom? Oh wait, now I know. Good for you because I was fawning over you and all you did was care about Sasuke. Risking my life, sacrificing myself for a girl that didn't give me so much as a hint of appreciation. Then someone who could scarcely stand looking at her gets all the attention. Sakura, speak for yourself if you think those were 'good times' ok?" Naruto was beginning to let his anger out.
Sakura started to cry from just that small response. It was as if all the pain Naruto secretly kept inside from longing for her was started to surface.
" He didn't deserve my love did he?...I've never appreciated anything you've ever done for me...you're my angel that I've took for granted...for so long...I'm so sorry Naruto..." She was crying and her heart was breaking. But oddly enough, she was smiling
He heard her words but wasn't moved. He felt she would always see him as secondary. And that was something he would never accept even in his darkest hour. Her smile was quickly put to rest upon her next words.
"I slept with Sasuke...and made love to him..." She stopped as Naruto cut her off at the sound of that.
"You keep talking about that. I've had it. Bye Sakura..." He never even put chan at the back of her name. He got up and made his way to the entrance.
"PLEASE WAIT..." She yelled out
Naruto halted his speedy pace and stopped in his tracks. He turned around to face her with anger ready to burst from his very being.
"Naruto-kun...I don't expect you to forgive me. But please...I need to say this. You said you would always believe in me. So please,...allow me to finish...and if you still feel like leaving...I won't protest any more..." She said as her tears slowly came down and her hands wrapped her arms.
"And whose to say I have to make any deals with you to begin with Sakura? What's stopping me from leaving..." He was still angry and fed up.
" I am..." Sakura was crying as she said those two words softly
"You are?" He was annoyed with what she had just said
"Yes...it's me...it's because I believe in you Naruto-kun...my Naruto would never leave me behind..." She said with confidence
Naruto slowly walked back to her and sat by her. He actually felt defeated by her words. She sat close enough to him that their shoulders were touching
"That night...your first time is supposed to be special. And with someone you love...And for a long time I thought I loved him...he was my obsession.
"..." Naruto had his eyes closed with his faced turned opposite Sakura.
"Naruto-kun...please...I want your eyes on me...I want your gaze. Your beautiful eyes makes admitting my faults so easy..." She said as she placed both of her hands atop Naruto's whiskered cheeks
Slowly, Naruto's eyes opened and were met by Sakura's teary emerald colored eyes. She slowly removed her hands from his face and placed them atop his closed fists.. Naruto was having a difficult time with Sakura's admittance.
"That night...our bodies touched...and we fell asleep together..." Sakura continued on
Naruto's fist started to tremble. Feeling Naruto's tenseness, Sakura delicately opened his fists and latched his hands with hers. As only destined lovers would.
"Naruto-kun...that night...I've never felt so alone. I gave my gift...my chastity to a power hungry jerk that could care less about me...while someone that truly cared about me got pushed aside...I always pushed that person to the side..."
Sakura's tears were wetting Naruto's hands. But she continued to let them fall. She wanted to get it all out. The pain, the heartache, the growing feelings...it all had to come out now. As it could be the last time she has the chance.
"...My mother...she had a hunch where I was that night but she didn't want to tell you...I was wishing she did...so that you could come and save me...save me from giving my gift to that bastard..."
"Sakura-chan...please stop crying...you're beautiful when you smile..." He said to her as he gently stroked her pink hair.
Inner Sakura
"He called me beautiful...after all the rotten things I've done to him...after how I always treated him...he still called me a beautiful...Naruto is truly not of this world...someone this good can't be human...
" Sakura-chan...this is my fault too...even if your love for Sasuke was false...I still knew he'd get your attention. I let myself be hurt because I vigorously chased after you like a lovesick puppy knowing full well you were into Sasuke." Naruto began revealing his thoughts and feelings just as Sakura had done.
Sakura released his hands and wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for...I can only blame myself for not taking the hint. You know... I wasn't angry at you Sakura...it was just that Sasuke was so mean to you...it pissed me off so much..."
Sakura pressed deeper into Naruto's chest as her grasp around his waist tightened.
"Naruto...I want you to know something...you're my best friend...you always have been" Sakura spoke
"You've already told me that before" He gave her his goofy grin and rubbed the back of his head.
" Let me finish dork..." She giggled and playfully
Sakura, still holding Naruto in her embrace removed her cheek from his chest and looked him straight in the eyes.
"...I care about you...and I don't want to lose you from my life...you're too special to me..."
"Sakura...I..." Naruto was pressed for words.
" You don't have to say anything Naruto-kun...I never expected your forgiveness...I just want things to be...the same between us..."
Inner Sakura
"Look at me...sitting here lying to myself...I want more than things to be the same between us. But after what's happened..."
"We'll have to work on that in about two years. Huh Sakura-chan?" he replied to her as clueless as ever
"...Yes..." She answered putting her head back into his chest with sadness. He's the only one that was unaware of why he was really leaving for so long.
"And to think, all you asked me to do was take a walk with you..." He tried to release the thick tension in the air
Sakura giggled
"Are you mad at me for stealing you away?" Sakura jokingly asked
"No...it's ok" Naruto replied smiling
"Good...because I'm thinking about making it a habit..." Sakura playfully stuck her tongue out at him.
Sakura was truly happy. It felt like a giant weight was lifted off of her shoulders as she and Naruto had a new understanding. Now they can truly be the best of friends.
"Hey are you hungry?" Sakura asked as she finally released Naruto and went toward her knapsack
"Like you wouldn't believe. Have any ramen in there by chance?" Naruto asked that as a joke
" You know I do. How could I steal you away and not bring your favorite?" She said as she pulled out two cups of instant ramen
" Geez that's great and all Sakura-chan but we need water and a fire to make it."
"Give me a little credit here catscratch. There are old logs of firewood in here from when I was younger. And I have bottled water in my bag." Sakura gave him her own personal nickname.
"...catscratch...?" Naruto just realized what Sakura called him
"It suits you..." Sakura smiled at him
Naruto touched his cheek and stopped on his whiskers
"Yeah...it does..." he returned her smile.
Sakura made both cups of instant ramen. She began humming a very familiar song. And Naruto heard her.
"You were humming just like that at the hospital that day..."
"I do that when I'm happy...don't mind me" Sakura continued on
Sakura handed him his cup of ramen and sat by his side. He was practically inhaling the ramen. And some of it was getting on his face. That was the result of his poor eating habits. Sakura just watched and laughed.
"What's funny Sakura-chan?" He noticed her laughing
" I'm just watching you eat. Looking at it makes it easy to see why your house was such a mess."
"But I thought you adored messy boys" Naruto said
"Just one..." Sakura winked at him
Naruto froze at that wink. He wondered if maybe he wasn't just a Sasuke replacement. Her actions as of late showed that her intentions just might be genuine. At least that's what he thought. But she was just with Sasuke days ago. And he wasn't so sure of where his heart was anymore. He still loved her. But he wasn't so willing to just put himself out there any more for a second emotional beating.
The two laughed and joke as they ate. It was getting late and Naruto had to get some sleep Naruto pulled out the blankets for both he and Sakura. Once he set up places to sleep for the both of them, Naruto took off his shirt.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh... no reason..." Sakura lied
She neglected him so much over the years that she failed to see the results of his heavy training. Although he was a kid, his muscles were already beginning to define themselves. And Sakura stared and fantasized about him.
Sakura wanted to change into something more comfortable. As comfortable as you can be inside a cave anyway. She had a shirt in her bag she wanted to put on. But she had never changed her cloths with a male in the same vicinity as her.
"Naruto-kun...um...I need to change..." She nervously said.
" I won't look. I promise..." He knew she felt uneasy about changing with him around
Naruto turned his head as Sakura began to change her cloths. Naruto was true to his word. He never so much as sneaked a peek at her. He really wanted to see. But Naruto always keeps his promises. He fought his urges and didn't so much as hint at turning around until she was done. Sakura was happy that
he was true to his word. But at the same time, she was a little concerned that he didn't at least try to look at her.
Inner Sakura
"A girl is changing within inches of you...and you aren't even trying to look...Guess not all guys are perverts after all...that's a shame..."
"You know...most guys would attempt to look when a woman is changing. But not my Naruto-kun huh?" Sakura was being sarcastic.
"Of course not, I promised I wouldn't look...so I won't" Naruto was always firm on his promises.
Sakura decided she would try to tease him a little. She figured since they were beginning to get past their problems, why not have fun.
" Ever see a woman's body before Naruto-kun?" She asked him
"...No..." Naruto said in a low voice and with a bit of embarrassment.
"Well, my body is smooth...my skin is silky and soft.. You should really see a woman's body one day..."she hoped that would turn Naruto's head.
" I guess when I find that special someone...I'll see..."He replied, ever diligent to his promise.
" I'm sorry...I'll stop..." She decided to give up and she finished getting prepared to get some sleep
Inner Sakura
"I guess that was stupid of me...I shouldn't have teased him like that. Naruto is so innocent...He's never fully going to be able to get over me being with Sasuke like that...First I flirt with him earlier today...Now I'm teasing him shamelessly...I'm just as bad as Princess Morrigan
"Good night Sakura-chan" Naruto said as he turned his body toward the cave's opening and started to nod off.
"Good night Naruto-kun" She replied as she smiled at him.
Sakura then turned to the blankets that Naruto had set up for her. She noticed that there was a lot of distance between her blankets and Naruto's. She didn't want to disturb him. But she couldn't help it.
"Naruto-kun...?" she said softly
"Hmmm?" He heard her call his name
"Why did you set up our blankets so far apart?" She was curious
"What are you talking about? We've always slept about this far apart when we go on missions. Something wrong?" He asked.
"...Nope...Goodnight" She said with displeasure
"Good night" Naruto replied, turning over and once again trying to go to sleep.
Their backs were turned to each other as they both were trying their best to sleep. Naruto had many things on his mind. His training was going to be a very big deal for him. And while he wasn't aware of the real reason for his soon departure, he was certain he wouldn't be the same person he is now. The few friends he did have wouldn't see him for a long time. And more importantly, Sakura wouldn't see him either. He then turned to face Sakura. His stared at her with purity and sincerity. Sakura felt his gaze on her.
"What's wrong Naruto-kun...?" Sakura asked, knowing he was staring at her from behind.
" Two years is a long time...isn't it...?" He had concern in his voice
Sakura's heart skipped a beat as she turned around to face him.
"...Yes...that's why we have to enjoy the time we have...while we have it..." Sakura was afraid that this was the twilight of her and Naruto's time together.
"Geez Sakura-chan, you make it sound like I may never come back" He replied. It was the reply anyone would have given, not knowing the reality of his quest.
Inner Sakura
"Keeping the truth from him is killing me...I wish Tsunade never told me about his real reason for leaving...no...that's a lie. I'd rather know...I just don't want him to leave me..."
She didn't reply to his words. She just looked at him with a wanting, sad look in her eyes. Naruto wondered if she was ok.
"Sakura?"
"...It's cold over here...do you mind if I slept over there...with you...?" Sakura just wanted to be close to him.
"Sakura-chan, you'll be colder over here. The fire is closer to you and..." He stopped himself after looking deeper into Sakura's eyes.
"...Ok..." He gave in to Sakura's need to be close to him.
"Thank you...Naruto-kun..." She happily got up and moved closer to him.
She was extremely close to him. That was what she wanted. They were face to face as she gave him a warm smile. He had never been that close to a woman before. But for some reason, he wasn't nervous.
"Good night, Sakura-chan..." He just wanted to break up the moment
Sakura giggled and turned around. Her back was once again at him. She was smiling and blushing as she was close to her best friend. Naruto was still in the same position. He always felt Sakura was the most beautiful girl in the world. But he couldn't take his eyes off of her. It was as if he saw her for the first time all over again. Even her smell was intoxicating to him.
Sakura on the other hand, loved having him practically hovering over her. His gaze gave her a security that nobody else could even come close to comparing with. She slowly felt her desire for him grow.
"You can...if you want to..." She was actually giving him the ok to take the next step
Naruto wanted this moment for so long. He dreamt about this for many years. The girl of his dreams was laying by his side and wanted him to touch her. She was in less than arms reach of him. But at that moment, he thought heavily to himself about her being with Sasuke.
"...I can't...good night Sakura-chan..." He fought his urge for her. That thought about her being with Sasuke was enough to halt his desires.
He returned his position and now their backs were at each other.
Inner Sakura
"...He's trying move on...but he's still hurting...I'm sorry..."
" Goodnight...Naruto-kun..." She said as tears silently fell from her eyes
Naruto slept as best he could with the thought of Sakura being so close to him. Sakura tried to sleep as she felt dejected and angry at herself. Dejected because Naruto wouldn't touch her as her desires yearned. Angry because her night with Sasuke had put a rift between her and Naruto. And that rift while closing, showed signs that it may never be completely closed. They both slept with great unease.
The morning set in. The sun was bright. And Sakura was wide awake. Naruto found a way to get some sleep. And was still sleeping. Sakura leant over and looked at Naruto's sleeping face. She smiled at him and thought he was cute. She ran her fingers gently through his hair and noticed the drool on the side of his mouth.
Inner Sakura
"Even when you sleep you're a messy boy..."
"Naruto-kun...you have to get up now..." she gently whispered in his air as she began tracing his whiskers.
She was tempted to let him sleep so he could miss meeting Jiraiya. But she knew the importance of the situation. Naruto slowly awoke to Sakura's smiling face just overhead. He was used to Sakura waking him up in a rude manor most of the time when they were on missions. But since she was a different person toward him in many ways now.
"You look really nice Sakura-chan" Were the first words of the day out of his mouth.
"So do you..." She smiled but she didn't move from hovering over him.
"I didn't want to wake you...but we have to get going or you'll be in trouble" She had reminded him of his leaving.
Naruto just stared at her with a blank face for a second before he realized what she meant.
"WE HAVE TO GO...NOW!" He got up and yelled once he realized.
They didn't even pack up their stuff. Naruto grabbed her hand and darted toward Konoha as fast as he could. Sakura was practically flying due to Naruto's speed. It seemed like it took forever for them to get to the cave the day before. But that great distance was covered in just an hour due to Naruto's haste. They made it to the gates of Konoha, just to find Jiraiya and Tsunade waiting there with angry faces.
Inner Sakura
" They look really pissed...I hope I didn't get him in too much trouble..."
"Uh...Hi granny Tsunade...old man..." Naruto nervously smiled expected to get a not so warm reception.
Tsunade picked him up with one hand using her chakra. She was steamed to say the least. Her stare could make the bravest of men into weak little girls in a matter of seconds. Naruto was no exception. In his case, scared was an understatement as he braced for Tsunade's eventually physical punishment.
"YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO TODAY AND YOU WAS OUT ALL NIGHT GOOFING OFF?" Tsunade was furiously yelling at the boy she saw as a son.
She was about to raise her hand to him. But Jiraiya stopped her from striking his knew student.
"Tsunade, I'm sure he's sorry. But don't hurt him. His training will be brutal. No need to add to the brutality before he even starts. Right?"
Tsunade sighed and gently put Naruto down
"Naruto, don't think that you won't go unpunished for acting so irresponsibly. You knew we had to head out today. You should have been sleeping and getting prepared." Jiraiya said
"Please don't be blame him...I made him come with me...punish me instead" Sakura was trying to protect him as he had done for her so many times before.
"OH don't worry, you'll be getting punishment of your own Sakura. You KNEW how important this was and you coerced him into leaving with you" Tsunade made sure Sakura knew she wasn't getting off the hook either
"...Yes sensei..." Sakura said with her head down.
"We have to head out now. We don't have time to waste" Jiraiya was set
"But I don't have my gear with me sensei..."
"You should have thought of that before you went moonlighting" Jiraiya had early showings of a stern teacher.
"But what will I do without my gear?...I won't survive" Naruto knew how roughing it was a strain
"You'll just have to bear it until we make our first stop in wave country." Jiraiya said
Sakura heard that. If they were going to wave country she knew who'd they run into. And she wasn't too fond of the idea of Princess Morrigan being with Naruto. Just the thought of Morrigan touching Naruto was enough to drive Sakura into sadness
Inner Sakura
"Of all times...why now?...He's so vulnerable now..."
Naruto and Jiraiya began to take their leave. They slowly began to walk away and begin their journey. But Sakura grabbed Naruto's arm and swung him around. She pressed her body to his and grabbed the collar of his jacket in both hands. She slowly tried to kiss him. But he didn't accept it. Instead, he turned his cheek. Which in turn made Sakura's lips meet with his cheek rather than his lips. She stayed there pressed on his cheek for about a minute. She gently pulled her face away and looked in his eyes
"...I had to try...you know..." She gave him a fairly defeated smiled as her eyes began to water.
"I know..." A simple reply was his response as he then continued on his way.
Sakura and Tsunade watched the two walk away until they were out of eye's view. They were both saddened by the fact that they would be gone for so long. And that was if they were even able to make it back at all given the situation.
"...I love him Sensei..." Sakura admitted her feelings
"I know you do dear...he'll come back...but you have to let him go for now..." Tsunade tried to ease her knew student.
"I know..." she replied as she cried silent tears.
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As the two new teacher student combo began on their way, Jiraiya was curious about what happened with Naruto last night.
"Sooooooo you spent your night out with a girl huh? I'm proud of you boy" Jiraiya said as he patted his student on the back.
"I thought I was in trouble. What was all that about punishment?" Naruto was confused.
"Well yeah, you're still in trouble, but I can't be too mad at a student that's just like me" He smiled at Naruto
"Well, what are you waiting for? What did you do with her?" This kind of talk was always up Jiraiya's alley.
"I didn't do anything with her. We just talked and stuff? Naruto was honest.
"WHAT? Ok I take back what I said. You're NOTHING like me. I'm going to have to teach you more than I thought boy" Jiraiya was beside himself knowing Naruto didn't make a move on Sakura while they were alone all night.
"More things like what Sensei?" He was wondering
"You'll see" Jiraiya replied with those two words
The two continued on their way to wave country. This was going to be their first stop on this journey of great importance.
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Back at the prison, Sasuke was about to have his first encounter with Malhavoc and Zabuza's superior.
He was a little interested to say the least
"We're back" Malhavoc yelled as he Sasuke and Zabuza stood outside of the dark figure's door
The doors began to open and the figure stood staring at the three of them
"Welcome Sasuke Uchiha...I hope you weren't given too much trouble by these two." The figure gave a smirk
Sasuke sensed this energy before. He KNEW it was familiar. This energy was in Konoha at one time. But, it was manipulated somehow. Darker than it originally was.
"I know you...don't I...?" He asked the dark figure, sensing the familiarity
Sasuke was just given a smirk and a short reply
"Oh yes Sasuke Uchiha...you DO know me..."
To be continued...
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