Hello everyone, How is everyone doing?
Side Note: I have a poll up for my story "Let Him Go" so go check it out.
Here's an update I hope you enjoy it.
Naruto woke up in the morning the next day reeling off of what happened last night. He wasn't proud of coming to her but she told him that it was okay and she was one of the only people he trusted the most in his life.
"Naruto, are you awake?" Suke asked from outside the room.
"Yeah, I'm up now," Naruto said getting up yawning as he opened the door.
"What happened?" Suke asked.
"I got a package sent to me and was reminded of one of my close friends that were never found. We left him there." Naruto said and she could see the sadness behind that statement that broke her heart.
Naruto always seemed so happy go lucky that it didn't seem like the war affected him at all but she was now realizing just how much it did.
"I got awarded the Medal of Honor," Naruto said tears forming in his eyes. "I don't think I deserve it and people are talking about how I do," Naruto said.
Suke grabbed hold of his face to put her forehead to his like when they were kids as she tried to calm him when they were younger. She loved him dearly and hated to see him hurt like this. The feelings he always had for anything he did were always so strong that it scared her.
"You do deserve this especially if people are pushing for you to get it. I am sure any of your comrades would be happy about you getting it. Take pride in which you are and get the medal I'm sure you deserve." Suke said pure confidence oozing off her.
"Do you want to go? I got five tickets." Naruto asked surprising her.
"Of course, I will go for you," Suke said nodding her head quickly. "When is it?" Suke asked.
"This week Friday during the day," Naruto said.
"I will make sure to take off that day," Suke said with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Naruto said nervously.
"I already told you I would always be there for you and that you could talk to me," Suke said with a warm smile. "Now come to eat breakfast," Suke said dragging him to the chair in the kitchen.
"Thank you Suke for real I don't know what I would do without you," Naruto said pulling her into a hug.
"It really was no problem," Suke said gently pushing him into his chair a bit nervous about the contact.
After that Naruto and Suke talked for at least an hour before he knew it was time for him to go. As Naruto walked out the door he reached into his shirt and grabbed the dog tags of his fallen comrades along with his missing one. It was weird but Naruto held onto everyone's tags. He just didn't have his own until they got sent to him by Utakata who had his along with Tobirama's. Shinki kept his own tags.
Naruto didn't know what to say to Asura's family he didn't want the thank you because he felt like he didn't deserve it. He missed Asura he was like a big brother to him. Naruto got taken out of his musing when his phone rang with a number he didn't know.
"Hello," Naruto said.
"Did you get the package too?" It was Tobirama's voice.
"Yes, how are you?" Naruto asked.
"They asked me to speak on your behalf," Tobirama said ignoring the question.
"You don't have to. I don't even feel like I deserve the Medal." Naruto said.
"Shut up kid, you deserve it. Hashi would have died before he did if it wasn't for your fussy medic training." Tobirama said making Naruto chuckle.
"But he was a magnet for trouble," Naruto said laughing.
"Yeah, he definitely was," Tobirama said and the phone went silent. "Naruto, do you still think about Asura?" Tobirama asked.
"Yes, all the time. That's one of the reasons I don't feel like I deserve this medal." Naruto said as he got into his car.
"You deserve it Naruto. It wasn't your fault that Asura went missing." Tobirama said trying to reassure Naruto.
"You can say that all you want but it's hard to think about it like that when I have his tags and we don't know where the hell he is," Naruto said slightly irritated.
"A lot was happening that day and all of us would have died if you didn't think quickly on your feet. You alone decided what we should have done after we lost those three. Think about how Nagato was when he saw Yahiko die. You ended up with the tags of our fallen comrades because you were the salvation we all needed." Tobirama said.
"Okay, I got to go though so I will see you Friday," Naruto said.
"Naruto, we should all meet up. Shinki, Uta, me, and you we should all talk and hang out without something blasting over our heads. What do you say?" Tobirama asked in a hopeful voice.
"If everyone else agrees I don't mind," Naruto said reluctantly.
"Good I will see you on Wednesday night then," Tobirama said.
"Okay, later," Naruto said hanging up after he got his reply.
It was weird for Tobirama to be calling him first but he has to say he wasn't really surprised because after Hashirama died Naruto kept Tobirama sane. Naruto doesn't even realize how sane he kept everyone after the deaths of their comrades. He would never know how much his words empowered them because in the end he was lost too.
Naruto leaned back in his car then set his head on the steering wheel thinking as hard as he could to get out of the thoughts from the war. Naruto couldn't even be by a gun because he didn't want flashbacks to come back to him. Truth is that Naruto was back in the states two months before he came home he just didn't think it would be safe to come back because his flashbacks were really bad.
'Maybe I should see a therapist because I don't want this to get really bad and hurt someone I love.' Naruto thought to himself.
Naruto got broke out his thoughts again from a phone call from Shikamaru.
"Hey, I'm on my way back over there I will talk to you when I get there," Naruto said answering.
"Okay, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I had to stop Temari from going outside looking for you last night. I told her you would be fine." Shikamaru said.
"Tell her thanks and I will be there soon," Naruto said with a smile starting his car.
"Okay, Naruto you are home. Remember that." Shikamaru said.
"Yeah, thanks," Naruto said hanging up and driving to his house with Shikamaru.
When he got back to the house Temari ran out the house hugging him and pulling him back to the house like the mother hen she was.
"I'm fine Temari I ate at Suke's," Naruto said laughing as she tried to feed him food.
"Okay, but I made your favorites," Temari said fussing over him.
"Thank you I will eat it then," Naruto said even though he wasn't hungry at all.
Temari was one of the female friends he had that was like a sister to him and he loved her dearly. He couldn't reject her when she did nice things for him even if it was overbearing.
"Shikamaru you eat too you didn't eat while you were waiting for Naruto to get back. Now sit and eat while I go take a shower." Temari said fussing over both men then walked away.
There was a weird awkward silence between the two men when the woman stopped fussing over them.
"I'm sorry I left without saying something," Naruto muttered after a few minutes as he picked at his fruit.
"I understood you don't want to stress me or Temari out because of the baby," Shikamaru said pushing his food away not really hungry, to begin with.
"I still need time to sort myself out," Naruto admitted.
Shikamaru turned to his friend. "Naruto, I will have your back no matter what understand that. If you ever need me I am here for you. I don't know what you went through over there but I am here for you. Your home Naruto." Shikamaru said pulling Naruto into a hug that he knew his best friend wanted.
Naruto teared up "thanks Shika," Naruto whispered softly tears falling freely hugging Shikamaru back.
Temari was in the hall listening to them she couldn't help but feel bad for Naruto because he never spoke when he was having problems. Temari just hoped he would be okay because whatever was in that package had a deep effect on their friend.
Naruto chuckled when he pulled away from Shikamaru.
"Why are you crying?" Naruto asked slapping Shikamaru's back.
"I can't help it when I see you crying," Shikamaru said slapping him on the back. "Now let's eat so Temari's cooking doesn't go to waste," Shikamaru said pulling his food back to him.
"Yeah," Naruto said.
They both ate as much as they could before they just stopped stuffing themselves.
"My friend from my platoon called me earlier," Naruto said suddenly.
"Yeah, and what happened?" Shikamaru asked drinking his coffee.
"He asked if I wanted to meet up with everyone," Naruto said.
"Are you going to?" Shikamaru asked.
"I think you should. There your friends, if you feel worried, bring Shikamaru." Temari said as she walked into the room drying her hair.
"I appreciate you two being worried about me but I think this is something I need to do alone," Naruto said.
"Well you know you can talk to either of us if you are feeling down," Temari said hugging him tightly while Shikamaru went to answer the house phone.
"I know," Naruto said hugging her back.
"Another thing I want you to know is that you will be the godfather of the baby," Temari said with a smile.
"That... is amazing," Naruto said with a smile hugging her again.
"Shikamaru wanted to wait until the baby was born to tell you but I figured you should know you have something to look forward to so don't give up on anything and to let you know that you are family to us," Temari said making tears come to his eyes.
She just hugged him back while he quietly sobbed in her arms.
"Temari, Gaara is going to be here in two days," Shikamaru said as he walked into the room.
Naruto pulled away and walked out of the room.
"Going to take a shower," Naruto said as he walked toward the room he was staying in.
Shikamaru and Temari had a house with five bedrooms. One was theirs, one was the baby's room, and the rest were guest rooms for now. Before he could even make it to the shower his phone started ringing and the number was once again from the paper that sat on his bed with the box.
"Hello," Naruto answered.
"Naruto, how are you?" Utakata asked.
Naruto could hear the smile in his voice from the older man.
"I'm living," Naruto said.
"I know that's right. I heard you talked to Tobi. Have you talked to Shinki?" Utakata asked.
"No honestly you and Tobi are the only people I talked to and that's because you two called me," Naruto said honestly.
"I get it; it's hard to hear from us after so long," Utakata said.
Naruto stayed silent he really didn't know what to say about that.
"You can't feel guilty about making it home and living your life Naruto. No one that passed would want that. Hey, how about we get together tonight? I know you and Tobi discussed it for Wednesday but how about we have a little alone time." Utakata asked.
"I'm not sure," Naruto said.
"Come on Naruto come out to dinner with me," Utakata whined.
"Fine, I will go. Where are we going?" Naruto said.
"Don't know yet, but I can come to get you," Utakata said.
"Okay, well I'm about to get into the shower so I will talk to you later," Naruto said.
"I will be there by eight at the house I sent your package to," Utakata said.
"Okay, bye," Naruto said.
"See you later," Utakata said hanging up.
Naruto shook his head he didn't want to go but he knew he needed to. The three other survivors knew what he was going through better than anyone else in his life and he knew that. Sadly, as much as he would like to talk to his friends about things that he was going through in his head he couldn't. He didn't want to burden them the way he felt like he would.
Later came sooner than Naruto really wanted it to and Utakata was at Shikamaru's door being welcomed into the living room by Temari.
"You must be Naruto's friend from the war," Temari said. "I'm Temari," Temari said holding her hand out for him for him to shake it firmly but gently at the same time.
"Yes, I'm Utakata the platoon leader," Utakata answered with a smile.
"Temari who came to the door?" Shikamaru asked as he walked in from the back. "Nice to meet you my name is Shikamaru," Shikamaru said right away shaking the man's hand.
"My name is..." Utakata didn't even get to finish before Naruto answered.
"Utakata, I thought you said you would be here by eight," Naruto said.
"I was a little too excited to see someone from our platoon," Utakata said happily to see Naruto.
"Well, why didn't you ask one of the other ones to hang out?" Naruto questioned.
"Because they were both busy and Shinki isn't in the country right now he won't be here until Wednesday morning. Another reason was that you already said you would and you know early bird always gets the worm now let's go." Utakata said.
"I will be there in a second," Naruto said running upstairs really quick to get his tags because he noticed Utakata has his on too.
"So, you're Shikamaru? I heard a lot about you. He used to say how lazy and intelligent you were without even trying." Utakata said glad to finally meet someone in Naruto's life.
"That bastard didn't have to talk about me," Shikamaru said blushing to turn his head away.
"Where is the girl he happens to like?" Utakata asked curiously.
"Suke? Oh, she is probably at home, work, or with her brother it's Sunday." Temari answered.
"Does everyone know about his crush?" Utakata asked.
"Well, he isn't subtle about it now," Shikamaru said chuckling.
"That's good," Utakata said laughing as Naruto walked down the stairs.
"What are you three talking about?" Naruto asked.
"Your subtlety," Temari answered.
"Don't tease me," Naruto said walking out the door dragging Utakata with him as he said his bye.
Naruto and Utakata walked out the door to Utakata's car.
"Where are we going?" Naruto asked.
"We're going to this one place called Ichiraku is that what it's called?" Utakata asked.
"Stupid," Naruto said smiling.
"Finally, a smile. How have you been? Have you been to a therapist?" Utakata asked.
"Yeah in the beginning but not since I have been back home. I have been good." Naruto said.
"How is it with that girl you like?" Utakata asked as he pulled into Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
"We're in what you would call a trial period she is afraid to fall in love with me," Naruto said.
"Doesn't that mean she already is in love with you?" Utakata asked as they got out the car.
"Okay, then she is afraid of being with me thinking I'm going to leave again," Naruto said.
"Can you be deployed again?" Utakata asked.
"They said that I'm not deployable because my brain waves are unsettled and that I'm mentally unbalanced," Naruto said.
"So, you're un-deployable like Shinki," Utakata said.
"Shinki isn't deployable anymore?" Naruto asked shocked as they walked into Ichiraku getting seats.
"Nope, he is worse off with PTSD. They said it would be best if he didn't have guns in his house. That's probably why Tobi wanted to get us all together to see how each other are doing." Utakata said.
"How are you? Do you still have nightmares?" Naruto asked.
"Here and there but my wife keeps me afloat," Utakata said with a smile.
"Is Tobirama deployable?" Naruto asked.
"I think so but I'm not sure," Utakata said. "Last time I talked to him he said he had nightmares too," Utakata said.
"What can I get you two? Hello Naruto," Akane the owner's daughter asked.
"Hi Akane, I would like beef Ramen two bowls please and a cup of water," Naruto said.
"I would like the same. I never ate here before so this will be my first time." Utakata said.
"Yeah, Akane when I was deployed I told this man that the shop in my home village had the best Ramen in the world and he insisted we come here when we get back," Naruto said with a smile.
"I can't believe you remember that. That was a good day in the ditches." Utakata said with a smile.
"I will get it right away. It was nice seeing you again Naruto." Akane said twirling her hair out of her face then walking away taking a last glance at Naruto before disappearing from sight.
"She has a thing for you," Utakata said seeing it all.
"No, she doesn't she is like five years older than me," Naruto said.
"When did that stop someone's love? Let's be serious here you are good looking guy it would be shocking to see you not with someone." Utakata said.
"I don't have any interest in someone..." Naruto was saying only to get cut off for a text.
"That is that girl Suke. I'm right, right?" Utakata asked as he watched him smile at the text.
"Yeah..." Naruto said nodding his head.
"That's good, so does she know how you feel?" Utakata asked.
"Yeah, I told her," Naruto said with a small smile appearing on his face.
"What did you and Tobi talk about on the phone?" Utakata asked.
"Just talked about how we were and set up a time to hang out," Naruto said not wanting to tell Utakata that he didn't that he deserved the award.
"Naruto, I know you told Tobi that you didn't deserve the award. Why do you feel that way?" Utakata asked.
"I was next to Asura when he disappeared nothing I did after those measures up to the fact that I failed him," Naruto said.
"You did good and just so happen to be there when Asura disappeared but what were you supposed to do? Run off the field to look for him? We had men die that day and we tried hard to look for him after it happened but we couldn't find him. We tried and every day that we were there we kept trying so stop acting like it was your fault." Utakata demanded.
It hurt Utakata's heart that the youngest from his platoon took everything on his shoulders when it wasn't supposed to be that way.
"Naruto understand that you helped us a lot after that day. You literally kept us all sane. Do you know how broken we were after the first time we lost someone no one would have lasted if you weren't there? We needed you and now all we want to do is be there for you." Utakata said making Naruto look away.
Akane came back with their food and got a smiling Utakata thanking her for the food while Naruto didn't say anything.
"So how has been back felt like?" Utakata asked as he took a bite of his Ramen.
"It's actually been pretty fun. I went on a date with Suke yesterday and it was fun." Naruto said happily to change the subject.
"That's good, what did you do?" Utakata asked.
"We went on a boat cruise and ate her favorite dinner. It was actually nice we had a nice dance and we watched the stars after it was all over." Naruto said.
"So, will I get to meet this lovely lady that has caught your heart?" Utakata asked.
"Yeah, she will be there on Friday," Naruto said.
"Why don't you bring her on Wednesday?" Utakata asked.
"What about the guys?" Naruto asked.
"Come on, they won't mind. Let's call Tobi right now and ask." Utakata said pulling out his phone.
"She is more than likely going to be at work and not only that I thought it was meant to be for us to talk privately," Naruto said not really wanting to bring Suke into that part of his past just yet.
"Come on I want to meet her in a non-professional setting," Utakata said as he was calling Tobirama.
"Hello, Utakata what is it?" Tobirama said sounding slightly annoyed.
"I was wondering would you mind if we brought Naruto's girlfriend Suke with us on Wednesday," Utakata asked.
"Is Naruto okay with this?" Tobirama asked.
"Not really he is currently making excuses on why she can't come," Utakata said.
"Well then that makes me want to say yes but Utakata we are going to talk about certain things while we're together. I don't even know if Shinki will be okay with that." Tobirama said as Naruto sighed because of what Tobirama said.
"I will add him to the call," Utakata said.
"Uta you are really bothersome," Naruto said.
"I agree with Naruto on that one," Tobirama said as the other phone was ringing.
"Hello," Shinki answered the phone sounding tired.
"Hey Shinki," Utakata said.
"What do you want Utakata? It's late over here remembered?" Shinki grumbled.
"Well, you remember Naruto's girl from the tape?" Utakata asked.
"Yeah, I watched the tape only yesterday so of course, I remember it," Shinki said.
"He wants me to bring her on Wednesday when we all get together," Naruto said knowing Shinki wanted Utakata to get to the point.
"Naruto? Yo man what's up? You never called me." Shinki said sounding more awake.
"I didn't really call anyone, to be honest. These two just called me." Naruto said.
"These two?" Shinki wondered.
"I'm on the phone too," Tobirama said.
"Oh shit, so what are we talking about?" Shinki asked.
"Well I wanted to meet this girl of Naruto's so I wanted to know if she could come on Wednesday so we could meet her on non-professional settings?" Utakata asked.
"Do you think she can come to Naruto?" Shinki asked.
"Not really she works a lot but if everyone really wants to meet her I can ask her," Naruto said.
"Ask her now; we know how you operate Naruto," Tobirama said.
"Yeah, we know you will say that you did and you will but you won't tell her what it's for or anything," Utakata said.
"HAHA, do it Naruto," Shinki said.
Naruto just shook his head and pulled out his phone and started to call Suke.
"Hello," Suke said.
"Hey," Naruto said softly with a smile appearing on his face.
"Hey, you okay?" Suke asked worry in her voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm with one of my friends from my platoon and they wanted actually they all wanted to know if you wanted to meet them on Wednesday night?" Naruto asked.
"I would say yeah but I have to go out of town with Itachi until Thursday. I told him that I had to be here on Friday for you so I could get out of one day of meetings." Suke said with a smile in her voice.
"Well, that sucks we really wanted to meet you in a non-professional setting," Utakata said.
"Am I on speaker?" Suke asked.
"Yes, you are," Naruto said.
"Well... hello everyone," Suke said.
"I will be able to meet you on Friday but my name is Utakata," Utakata said and put his phone next to Naruto's so the others could talk.
"It's too bad we can't meet you sooner but take care of Naruto for us while we're not around," Shinki said.
"That was Shinki," Utakata said filling her in.
"My name is Tobirama," Tobirama said neutrally.
"Okay, I will meet you on Friday and then maybe after the ceremony we can all go out," Suke suggested.
"I like this girl Naruto," Shinki said.
"Yeah and then you can meet my wife," Utakata said.
"Sounds good," Suke said gently.
"Okay you guys," Naruto said taking her off speaker while the others talked on the phone.
"So, you're with them?" Suke asked with a smile on her face.
"No, I'm just with Utakata. The other two are on the phone." Naruto said.
"Okay, I have to go though Naruto got to wake up early tomorrow to get going so call me if anything," Suke said.
"Okay I love you," Naruto said shocking her.
"I love you too Naruto," Suke said and they both hung up.
"You already say I love you to her?" Shinki asked.
"Even if I am not properly dating her right now I would still love her and I always told her I love her," Naruto said.
"Do you think she is going to be with you in the end?" Tobirama asked.
"I hope so," Naruto said.
"You need to stop being so negative Naruto. You will get the girl because you're a great guy." Shinki said.
"Thanks, why is everyone lecturing me today?" Naruto asked.
"It's because you're stubborn," Tobirama said.
"I know you're not talking," Naruto said.
"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?" Tobirama asked.
"You're stubborn," Shinki said making Utakata laugh.
"Look what you started Naruto," Tobirama grumbled.
"Haha," Naruto laughed and they were all relieved about it.
They were all not sure how he was going to be when he knew they were all back too.
"Well, I get to get some sleep I will talk to you all on Wednesday," Shinki said.
"Later," they all said.
"Later," Shinki said and hung up.
"I'm going to go too," Tobirama said.
"We will talk to you Wednesday," Utakata said and hung up.
"That was rather humorous," Naruto said softly as he ate the rest of his food.
"It sure was and speaking of which this place does have the best Ramen I ever tasted," Utakata said making Naruto smile.
Naruto and Utakata joked around until Utakata had to go and then he took him to Shikamaru's house.
"I will see you Wednesday unless you want to hang out sometime during the week," Utakata said as Naruto got out the car.
"I had fun Uta you don't have to worry so much about me," Naruto said and got out the car.
That night Naruto went to bed rather early. As he fell asleep he dreamt that night and it was something he never thought he would dream.
"Naruto I will be home soon," Asura said and that woke Naruto up right away.
Naruto shook his head and went downstairs not really wanting to be around anyone or by his bed. Did he really just dream of Asura? It was going to be a long night.
Reviews...
This was a great chapter for me. I really enjoyed it because it talked more about the bond between Shikamaru and Naruto and his platoon members and what they really think about each other.