Naruko's POV:

He stared at me for a long time. I jumped down keeping my composure unlike the last time we met.

He put a sword to my back and I couldn't move. He used his lightning blade as well. Now I know what to expect.

I was surprised when I was woken up in the middle of the night by a carrier bird, a hawk to be exact.

It was an easy night. The squad was sleeping while I was on lookout.

I was getting tired. I shut my eyes for five seconds and then opened my eyes. A bird was sitting on my knee.

I screamed and fell back, shielding my eyes. I thought I heard a crow but it wasn't so.

I stood when I remembered hearing the news that Itachi had passed... this wasn't from him. Unless it's from his ghost!

No it's not. It's not even the right bird.

I leaned down, letting the hawk get on my arm. It fluttered it's wings as I took the scroll off its foot.

I want to meet. Alone. East forest at midnight.

-Sasuke Uchiha

My hands couldn't stop shaking once I read the signature.

I fell to my knees. After three years... he finally came to me...

"My name is Naruko Uzumaki and I'm going to be Hokage one day! Believe it!"

"Yeah in your dreams, pigtails."

"What did you call me?!"

"I called you pigtails! Are you hard of hearing too, knucklehead?!"

"Hey, you're not hurt, are ya? Scaredy

cat!"

His eyes widened in awe as he looked at me.

"Naruko..."

"Sasuke! Stop this!"

"I'm not holding back! Just give up! You know nothing!"

He kicked me down into the water. I opened my eyes and felt my skin burning. The nine tails!

"Why! Why didn't you kill me then?!"

I could hardly listen to what he said because I was frozen with shock. He's right there.

He was at my side in the blink of an eye.

"You said becoming Hokage was your dream, right Naruko?"

I've been training with Pervy Sage all this time so I could face him and the Akatsuki.

I need to tell someone about this before I go. I need to be quick. It's almost midnight now.

"Man I'm exhausted. Naruko, remember we have to report back to Lady Tsunade so no ramen-"

I was staring at the sunset, thinking about him. Sakura, Sai and I just came back from a C-ranked mission.

"Naruko, are you alright?"

"If it helps, I read in a book if a friend is sad you should comfort them even if you don't know why they are upset."

"Thank you Sai. Why don't you go on ahead?"

I could hear the irritation in Sakura's voice.

"But the book also said-"

"Sai, will you get?!"

"Leaving!"

I let out a deep breath as the sun sank and the moon rose.

"We were successful with our mission. What's bugging you?"

"Sorry Sakura. I've just been doing some thinking."

She sat next to me. "Yeah, and?"

I drew my knees up to my chest before standing and patting off my backside.

"Uh never mind. Maybe I'm overthinking, haha."

Sakura looked up at me with concern but I pushed it aside.

"Naruko, you know you can tell me anything."

I smiled. "Of course."

She can't know.

I twirled my hair in my fingers. "We should catch up with Sai."

I started running after him.

"Ah Naruko, wait up!"

I couldn't tell Sakura how I was feeling. Even though we're best friends. I couldn't tell her because she's in love with Sasuke. I'm so confused when I think about him. I don't know how to feel.

"Hey Ino, Shikamaru."

"Naruko, what's up?"

I smiled brightly. "Just got back from a mission."

"We were on our way to lunch with Choji-"

"Guys!"

Sakura was running up behind them. I wanted to run away and hide from her but I had to listen to what she said.

"The Hokage has summoned us."

That day we made a plan to capture Itachi to learn about the Akatsuki and bring Sasuke back. But we just got news in a roundabout way from an Akatsuki.

Itachi was killed by Sasuke...

I have to go. I scribbled a message on the other side of the paper.

"To the Hokage."

The bird squawked and flew off.

I can't let the others know. I have to do this alone. If he knows he's being ambushed...well, I could be too for all I know.

I know I get myself into reckless situations but I know what I'm getting myself into this time. My guard is definitely up.

I hop down from my post and start hopping through the trees.

I know I'm the only one who can bring him back.

Now I'm here. Standing before him.

He was making no move to hurt me but I still prepare to take out a kunai.

"No tricks this time, Sasuke? No lightning blade or sharingan?"

The wind blows between us, filling the silence.

I drop my cape to the ground, preparing myself. I'm not afraid anymore.

"No. I don't intend on fighting you this time."

He draws out his sword and I take my stance, reaching to my back pocket.

No but you want to kill me, like last time, I thought.

He fully unsheathes his sword and extends it out, just like last time. I draw out a kunai from behind. Who's going to make the first move?

My eyes are trained on him.

His sword clunks to the grass.

Huh? Wait, what?

I blink several times, shaking my head before I stood up straight.

"Why aren't you-? Wait, I don't get what's happening."

He started walking up to me.

"I said I wasn't going to fight you."

"Am I under a genjutsu or something with your crazy eyes?"

He smirked. I hate it when he does that. My stomach always flips when he does that.

"No. It's just us."

He was close enough to the point I had to look up to him.

"No way. You're lying. I-I was planning on beating you until you came back."

"I'm right here. Go ahead. Take a hit."

He held out his arms, waiting for me.

I stepped forward, clenched my fist and punched him softly in the gut.

I'm sure he was very confused until I fell forward into him, breaking down into tears.