It was the look on Naruto's face that made his pink haired teammate follow him down from the Hokage's office past the upper side of town, through the lower end, to a place that despite the city having been recently rebuilt only a few short months ago looked to have been scrapped together and built from pieces of run down junk. The aura of this part of town was to her, fearful. Coughs and sounds of general disease echoed from dark, dank and unkempt alleyways, worn and scornful looking faces peered out from the unnatural twilight produced by the ragged assortment of torn and holed tarps and blankets above her as she paced herself behind the bright figure of her teammate.

It was about now the sounds of a crying child took them. Sakura fought the urge to race pass Naruto and to the child at once, just as she had the urge to help these people.

"Kazu... baby please stop crying... I... I know you're hungry baby, but mommy can't do anything." Tears among other things seemed long since impossible for the woman. Beside her, a young man stood watching with a pained expression, looked desperate. It was the kind of face only a man ready to do things he would never wish to do, if only for the sake of his child and his wife. So it came as no surprise how equally shocked Sakura and the pair were when from his backpack Naruto retrieved a bottle of formula. The child was silent as he took hold of it, the woman stunned and the man defensive. However the eternal nature of Naruto's gift came to light and with a small smile he began talking.

"He's beautiful. How old is he?"

"Thank you... He'll be three months... a week from now." The pause and look very much sent a message to the two intruders of this place. If he lived that long. If they lived that long. These three had not always been like this. They were not always homeless, but somewhere between the destruction of Konoha, it's rebirth, and then the war, they had lost everything. Everything but each other. The man, who was just barely older than both ninjas, and woman talked with them, as they watched the little boy eat his fill, which was a worryingly small amount then fall asleep. As Naruto spoke the reason for their predicament came to light. They had come for the girl's father, a ninja who had lost his home in the Pein attack then his life in the 4th shinobi war to a Zetsu clone. With the man dead and his home still not rebuilt the two had arrived to find nothing but an overworked and unapologetic noble forced to handle civilian matters. The pregnant couple was tossed aside. The hospital was one of few places free to all, and the child was delivered safely. But no matter what, as soon as she was able, the three were forced onto the streets. Like loose leaves the trio had been blown aside.

To her amazement no one threw themselves at the young man with the pockets of gold, and ever more where more than a handful who refused to take what was offered. Only asking their share to be given to the children instead. And children there were. Most were older than ten, but a small percentage of children pooled to the side, cautious.

"I wish I could do more. I wish I could help everyone here. I'm sorry." The crowd in a collage of voices denied his apology, the more vocal thankful for what he gave. Naruto was truly sorry, the look upon his face seeing those around him in such a condition was not of pity, but of knowing. Sakura couldn't help but feel horrible herself. As Naruto mentioned he would return soon he

"Naruto... I don't understand. How can you be so happy about everything? You gave up your home, your money, everything but the clothes on your back and that shabby little apartment! Everything you had you used to help those people. It's amazing and incredibly selfless but there comes a point when you need to be selfish! It's too much, Naruto!"

"But is it so bad, Sakura? To want to help those who need it more than you?"

"But your family home? Well at least a house on the land your parent's gave you?"

"Does it look like I need all that myself? Besisdes... Something Sandaime-Jiji once said to me I think applies here. He said, 'Yesterday, is history. Tomorrow, is a mystery. Today, is a gift. That is why it is called, the Present.'" He gave another small laugh at her puzzled look. "I'm here today. I'm alive. That is the greatest gift they ever gave me. So I don't see the problem. I never needed that house, or that money."

"So you gave the house to a family who you had never met before? The money to people in the streets?"

"Yes." The complete lack of hesitation coupled with the look on his face made her pull hold back the next rant feverishly begging to be brought from his lips. "I can't save everyone, but if I can make their lives better, then why not do so?"

"I wish I could help them more. Isn't there anything we can do, Naruto?"

"Give what we can, help when we're asked, and..." he trailed off.

"And, what?" She asked. His eyes turned to the rising sun. The warmth of the rays hitting her cheek and forcing her to squint against it to see his expression.

"And one day, when I become Hokage. I'll be able to save everyone." The look on his face, the conviction in his tone all at once brought a blush to her face from his sincerity. "No one will have to live like this anymore." Sakura's smile could not be dampened, even when she gave a salute with as much sincerity as his words.

"I believe it, Hokage-sama."

Naruto just went too far for me to enjoy anymore and RL has left me with no interest in trying to keep writing in this fandom. Therefore, this fiction is as finished by me as it every will be, and any one may continue should they wish. PM's are always welcome if you would like to know where I was heading with the story. Adoption papers are a go.