Look At Us Now
By ValkyrieWorrior
Disclaimer: Unfortunately Masashi Kishimoto is "unavailable" for the time being, so I can't meet him. So I am here to say that HE still owns Naruto and I am just a fan. (i.e. I don't own Naruto)
Thanks again for those who reviewed/commented/read my story.
MoD366, the vampire armond, satyanasia420, Ambs1516, AVATAR 65, Ghozt, Naru x Saku, Narusakufan, PinkYellowRoses2, TroublesomeShikamaru, and sah313.
THANX
Oh, as you may have noticed, I changed the name of the story. I just thought this would fit better.
Summary: Naruto and Sakura relationship is put to the test after a series of events causes them to doubt each other. NARUHINASAKUSASU.
I'm trying my best to update every week, but unfortunately I find myself buried in school work. Okay that was a lie. I'm playing Sims 2, which happens to be very addicting.
Also, I wanted to say that this is like the fifty millionth version I thought up for this. I had so many ideas for it, but it would have taken too (copy and paste x299999991) long. Besides, the other version(s) was too angsty for me. So, I'm just going to keep this nice and simple. Sweet and to the point. So some of you may feel like I'm rushing. Oh and I should probably say this now. I don't plan to make this too long. Maybe ten chaps at most and seven at least. But then again I never know.
Onward...
'thoughts'
"talking"
Inner-self
Flashbacks
----
The fear begins to creep in
The distance begins to grow
----
---------------------------------
Previously...
Panting, the man said, "Naruto-san...Sakura-san. Come...pants...quick, the H-Hokage...wants to see you...both." The messenger was still panting hard.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Sakura said, she looked concerned.
The messenger has gather enough air to properly speak, "There's a message for you two...from...Sasuke."
Silence.
------------------------------------
Chapter 2: So What's Wrong
------------------------------------
"W-What?" Sakura was the first to speak. Her voice was shaky, for reasons unknown to her. Her body was still, very still.
"There's a message for you two from -" the messenger began again only to be cut short by Naruto.
"Sasuke!" His ears couldn't believe what he had just heard. The guy just said Sasuke, right? He did mean that ravened haired boy whose sole purpose of living was to avenge the murder of his family, Sasuke? That Sasuke, right?
Sakura was just as dumbfounded.
"H-he has a message? For us?" he still couldn't grasp what he just heard.
"What did it say?" Sakura eagerly asked, to which the messenger said,
"That I do not know. The hokage said to say for you two to report to her office though." he looks at the two astounded kids.
'I can't believe it. Sasuke is writing to us?' Sakura thought. The two kids remained quiet because they were too lost in their own thoughts.
Feeling that his job was done, and was no longer needed there, the guy says, "Don't forget, the hokage wants to see you both in her office." Then the messenger poofed away, leaving a cloud of smoke for them to cough on.
They were quiet for a while, neither one daring to be the first to speak. It was a little too hard to comprehend the thought.
They were glad, happy to hear from their friend. From the guy they have both sworn to help, to get back.
But at the same time, they were both feeling something weird and uneasy about it. It was mostly Naruto. He was getting this sick feeling in his stomach that was screaming that something was wrong.
But he couldn't exactly get it. He knew something was bothering him, he just didn't know what.
'Maybe it was just something I ate.' Naruto thought. He decided that it was better he didn't worry about it.
"Sakura-chan, let's go." Naruto looked back on her.
"Yeah."
The two ninjas jumped from tree to tree, heading to the Hokage's office.
------------------------------------------
Uchiha Sasuke.
The promising rookie ninja of Konoha when he first became a genin. The third member of team seven, the best even. Not just in his team, but the entire rookie nine.
However, the boy was doomed with a destiny he could not escape.
The desire for revenge.
After the murder of his family, he became an avenger. Seeking revenge for the wrongs done to him.
He trained and he trained, always trying to excel his limits so that maybe one day he could kill the guy who murdered his clan. Uchiha Itachi, his brother. Nothing else could occupy his time, nothing else was as important as training his body and his mind. He broke away from people, knowing that they would only drag him down. The Uchiha didn't want any sort of feelings for anyone because to him that was weakness, something to slow his progress.
However, try as he might, he found himself always losing to Itachi. Always.
The cursed seal could not help him. The training with Kakashi was getting him no where and he felt that it was useless. He was getting frustrated with getting nowhere. But then, something happened.
Something great for him, but devastating to his friends.
Sasuke left for Orochimaru to train. Left his friend behind to seek the power of a snake, giving himself willingly to be controlled by him, if only he could be stronger. He left Konoha village that night.
That was the night he broke Sakura's heart, which tore Naruto's apart.
He was once their comrade. No, he is their comrade. Sakura and Naruto vowed to save him, help him out of the trap that he has fallen into. They vowed to each other that no matter what, they would see him again. The guy that they knew to be good, their rival and their friend.
Uchiha Sasuke.
-------------------------------------
"Yo man, wait up."
Shikamaru turns to his friend, who is currently eating something as he tried to catch up to him. Shikamaru stops to wait for him. It was getting really dark and the moonlight casted a shadow upon the town, marking that it was time they get home.
"Hey man, what was that about?" Choiji finally caught up to him. He stops to breath for a second, but only for a second. Soon he was munching on his food again.
"What was what about?" he stated expressionless. Okay that wasn't entirely accurate, he look bored.
"Come on dude, stop acting oblivious. I know you know what I want to know."
"You know what you want to know." Shikamaru said it in a way that sent a message saying I-already-told-you-so-don't-ask-me-again-I'm-not-in-the-mood. Choiji just munches on.
"Oh, you mean that thing you said about In-ahh" he drops the bag of food he was holding and grabs is neck. He was chocking on his food. (AN: '--) You would think that someone like Choiji, who professionally eats, would never experience such predicaments. I mean he only eats every ten seconds! So he should be immune to these sort of things, right? Shouldn't he have by now created some sort of receptor to indicate his brain that he is about to choke so his brain can send impulses to counter it? Shouldn't that be a bloodline trait that they have.
Well that's what Shikamaru thought anyway.
"For crying out loud Choiji. This is why you don't eat and talk at the same time." Shikamaru walks over to his friend to aid him so he doesn't die. He lifts his hand and forcefully slams it on his back. May not be the best tactic, but just then something came flying out of Choiji's mouth.
"T-Thanks man." Choiji was still coughing a little, but he felt better now that there was nothing stuffed down his throat. He wanted to give his friend something in return, after all he did just save his life. He feels around in his pockets, but there was nothing in there. He thought about buying his friend something, but he was broke at the moment. He considered giving him the very food (no, no, not the thing that flew out of him!) he choked on to Shikamaru. His left eye twitched a little.
'Oh well, he knows I'm grateful.'
"Thanks again man." Shikamaru just blinked.
"So, umm, you going to do anything about it?" Choiji began again, but first he picks up the bag and starts eating again.
Shikamaru looks up into the dark sky.
"Maybe I'll just let her be. She's better off not knowing."
"Who's better off not knowing?" a third voice asked. How could they not have seen Ino walking up to them? They should be ashamed to call themselves a ninja if they can't even sense someone coming. For all those days they spent training their ears so that they would always be on guard. And couldn't they sense her chakra, especially after they are all in the same team.
Well, Choiji was too busy eating to care quite frankly and Shikamaru actually sensed her, but didn't do anything about it. He wanted her to hear what he was going to say. He wanted to tell her so badly that she shouldn't be with Sai, that he was no good for her.
Choiji's eyes widen in surprised. He looks over to Shikamaru to see what he will do.
But Shikamaru remained calm and collected. He had his own way of letting her know. Soon enough she will.
"No one really." He replied. But Ino was determined to find out. She was worried about him. Lately Shikamaru had been acting weird and picking fights with Sai.
"You think I'm buying that for one second?"
"I'm not trying to sell it. Up to you to believe me or not." And with that, Shikamaru walks away. "Later."
'GAH!!What's wrong with him?' Ino looks to Choiji, who just shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey where's Sai, Ino?"
"Eh? Oh, he went home."
"Oh, so he left you to walk home alone?" Choiji wasn't exactly sure if pointing this out could help his friend or get him killed.
Ino looked hurt by this statement. 'He left me alone? No way, Choiji's just trying to make me mad! But why would he purposely make me mad?AHH!! I hate this night! So many questions!'
"Grr. Shut up Choiji! Just go home."
----------------------------------------
Tsunade was in her office waiting for the arrival of the two ninjas. She looked tired, her eyes were deep and she felt heavy as she stood there. In her right hand she held the letter, grasping it tightly, afraid that if she eased her hold on it, it would disappear.
She wasn't liking the fact that she is burdened with this sudden problem. Not too long ago, she was just sleeping on a very hard pillow with sake in her hands as she dreamed. It was just another day in Konoha. But no, someone was just determined to make her miserable.
'Ah. This Uchiha kid is just going to be trouble.' She thought to herself. 'Man, this is why I shouldn't have accepted to be hokage. Too much trouble.'
Well she was getting tired of just standing there so she started to walk towards her desk. When she reached it, she carefully places the piece of paper down on her desk as she sat down. She still had so much to do.
Paper works that need to be signed. Her eye twitches at the thought. Villagers that need advising, cats that need to be help off tree's, and many other jobs that need her attention.
'I need sake.' Just then she heard the voice of her assistant on the other side of room. It was unclear and muffled, but she understood it.
"Let them in."
The door springs open and a darting Naruto comes running in the room. Right behind him was a just as enliven Sakura. Tsunade was a little scared about those two sometimes, especially when they looked like this.
"Old hag," a vein pops in her head after hearing his unique voice, " I heard you have something for us. Sasuke, from Sasuke!" Naruto was at the edge of her desk, searching her eyes for the answers to his question. Naruto and Tsunade had an unbreakable bond. They loved each other like brother and sister, mother and son. Though it seems that Naruto would annoy the crap out of her, he could quickly make her feel better as well. He admires her, she has a soft spot for him. He annoys her, she smacks him. Don't get it the wrong way. Though they act like they hate each other and fight after every ten minutes, they really love each other. Tsunade was the mother Naruto never knew and he admires her for being Hokage. He just doesn't outwardly admits it.
"Sasuke has a letter for us?" Sakura was a little more controlled than Naruto, but just as eager. "What did it say? Is he okay? Did something happen?"
"Calm down you two. Nothing bad happened to him." The two teens calmed down after Tsunade assured them nothing bad has happened to him. Sakura signs a breath in relief while Naruto calms down a little.
"So, what happened?" the worried girl inquired from her teacher. See, Sakura became the Hokage's apprentice after the chuunin exams. Tsunade taught her how to manipulate he chakra to help and fix wounds, an important thing to have especially if they were in dangerous missions. Sakura had always been the weakest in her group, always the one holding them back. But she felt that if she learned from none other that the great Tsunade herself, then she would no longer be a hassle to her team, but instead an important member that could help. She didn't want to be bother to them anymore, and by becoming a medic nin, she felt more useful. Tsunade saw this determination in her, this willingness to help her team mates, so she couldn't help but take her in. During their trainings, Tsunade would push her to her limit, making her stronger, and all the while bonding. They became like mother and daughter. Sakura saw her as another mother figure and she is Tsunade's daughter that she never had.
Tsunade motions them to sit down as she moves her hand to get the letter. She unfolds it careful and, after clearing her throat, begins to read.
Sakura and Naruto
I am writing you this letter because of one simple reason. I have killed my brother, Uchiha Itachi. Now that I have, it is in my intentions to return to Konoha to live the rest of my life. I can understand if the Hokage-sama doesn't trust me. But all I want to do is return and complete my second goal. I know that I will be punished for what I have done, and I will accept it.
I will depart two days before I send this letter. So I should be there within a day that you get this.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Tsunade folds the letter and places it in her drawer.
She sighs.
She returns her gaze back at the two. Naruto sat back in the chair, this was a little to much for him to take in. Sakura was just the same.
"Well, judging by your reactions, I guess you two need some time to talk about this." Tsunade was about to get up, but Sakura's questioned stopped her.
"What will happen to him?" Naruto looks at her, then to Tsunade.
"Well, I will let him come back. I'll let him stay and allow his wish. However, he will be punished for what he did. What kind and how badly of a punishment, I don't know."
Sakura nods her head in understanding. She can see that the news is overwhelming for the two because they were quiet. She understood the feeling. They had just heard that their friend is coming back. No matter who you are, no matter how you see your friends, everyone gets this feeling. The feeling of excitement and fear all at once after learning that someone you had thought was gone forever will be back. It was a scary, happy, glad, and terrifying felling. A million questions start to flood your mind. Has he change? Is he okay? What happened to him? So many questions that can't be answered. Tsunade understood this exactly, so she knew they needed to be alone for now until they have sort things out.
"Alright now you two. I want you both to go home and get a good night's rest. Judging by what Sasuke has said, I think he will be here tomorrow afternoon. So go home and rest and be prepared for tomorrow." Tsunade instructed them, to which the two gave her a nod. She watched as Naruto and Sakura slowly made their way out of her office, her face was of concern.
'I hope that this doesn't tear them apart.' She looks to the window after the door closes. 'Sakura, don't break his heart.'
-----------------------------------
It was getting really dark. The two ninjas walked side by side down the empty street, neither one daring to utter a sound to break them away from the fixed trance they were in. Suddenly, the air felt like a stabbing knife as it breezed along, brushing their hair and skin. Naruto saw Sakura shivering from the corner of his eyes and so he unzipped his jacket and placed it around her.
Sakura felt something warm being put on her so she turns to look. She saw Naruto smiling at her as he gently places the soothing material around her freezing shoulders.
"Thank you, Naruto."
"My pleasure, Sakura-chan." He looks into her beautiful green eyes. He could get lost in them. He felt like capturing her in a tight hug and kissing her everywhere. But then a sick feeling he couldn't put a finger on crept in him.
Sakura notices his expression change from joy to an uneasy frown.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" she stops walking to face him, giving him the notion that she was serious.
He couldn't understand why he was feeling like this all of a sudden and he sure didn't like it. One moment he was happy, then the next, he felt like puking. He had that feeling that you get when you feel like something feels terribly off or after doing something wrong and all you could worry about were the consequences. Something like that.
"Naruto, are you okay?"
"What's wrong with him?" Inner Sakura asks, she was just as worried.
'I don't know.' Sakura replied, her tone sounded like she was about to cry.
"I don't know, Sakura. I feel like something bad will happen. Something feels off." Naruto replied to her. It was making him irritated that he couldn't figure out why he was feeling like his.
"Naruto, don't worry. Nothing bad will happen." she tried reassuring him, it work a little, only a little. "I promise you, I won't let anything bad happen to you." Sakura moves in to give him a hug as she slowly rubs his back. "It's okay, Naruto. I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you."
Naruto's heart melts. He immediately felt better in her embrace. She just knew the right things to do sometimes. Whatever he was feeling before, it sure as hell was gone now. Naruto returns the hug as he moves his hand around her.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Naruto moves away to smile at her. "Thanks Sakura-chan." She smiles in return.
'I don't like seeing you so sad, Naruto. It breaks my heart.' she thought to herself as they began to walk again.
-----------------------------------
Ino places her shoes beside the door as she steps into her house.
"Hey, mom, I'm home."
"Hey dear," her mother replied back, "there's dinner on the table if you want any. Your dad and I already ate."
"No thanks mom, I'm not hungry. I think I'll just go on to bed." Ino made her way up the stairs.
"Okay dear, goodnight."
'What's wrong with you, Shikamaru?'
Ino reached her room soon after. Twisting the knob, she walks into a dark, unlighted room. Ino felt for the switch so she could turn the lights on.
'Found it!'
She walks over to her bed and lies down.
"He left you to walk home alone?"
Ino remembered what Choiji had said earlier.
'Gah. What does he know! Sai loves me, he's just shy.' she tried making excuses, but it wasn't really working. So she tried thinking of something else, but that didn't work. All she could think about was Choiji's comment and Shikamaru's actions lately.
'Shikamaru.'
Soon her eyes were becoming heavy as sleep took over her. At first she tried to fight it, but she was really tired. Not long afterwards, Ino fell asleep.
------------------------------------------
The silence of night was comfortable, but Naruto was never the type to enjoy quiet moments for too long.
"So, do you think he changed?"
She turns to look at him.
"I don't know. Maybe he has, maybe not. No way to tell for sure."
"Not till tomorrow at least." Naruto added.
"Yeah. I can't believe it. He's really coming back isn't he?" Sakura asked herself mostly, still unable to grab hold of the idea.
"Yeah, he's coming back."
'He's coming back.' Naruto repeated to himself.
"It's been so long," he continued. The two enjoyed the silence that followed. Each thinking of the Sasuke they remember.
They arrived at the front of Sakura's house. It was almost eleven, Naruto was scared that he may have gotten Sakura in trouble.
"I'm sorry Sakura. It so late, will your parents be angry at you? I should apologize to them."
"It's okay Naruto, they wouldn't mind too much. I'll just tell them the truth that Tsunade called us in her office."
"Are you sure?" Naruto looks at her, making sure she wasn't trying to be brave.
"I'm sure Naruto." She said honestly, to which Naruto nods an 'okay.'
Naruto leans in to give her a kiss goodbye. It was sweet and tender, but it was also short lived. Naruto was pulling back when Sakura wraps her arms around him. This made him feel weak as she held him.
"Naruto," Sakura looks up, "I love you."
Naruto smiles at her and was about to say something but she beat him to it.
Sakura has now placed her hands on both sides of his face, caressing the whisker marks on his cheeks.
"I love you." She said again, as if she was reassuring him that she wasn't just saying words. She looks deep into his eyes that expressed so many feelings at the moment. She knew he felt lost, scared that maybe she wasn't true to him. She wanted to be mad at him for doubting her, but she felt like he had the right to be. Just means that he really loves her. Sakura pulls him down again for a kiss. They break away and Naruto places his forehead on her's as he said,
"I love you too, Sakura-chan." 'I love you so much. I always will...but sometimes it just hurts too much.'
"Now go on inside and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." She looks at him one last time before she smiles and walks away.
"Goodnight, Naruto," She turns around as she said those words, "I love you."
"Goodnight." Naruto watches as the door closes in front of him. 'I know that what you say is true, Sakura-chan. I just don't know if you,'
He starts walking away into the night,
'love HIM more?'
-----------------------------------
End of Chapter 2
Okay, so maybe that was a little anticlimactic. But I felt that it was the best choice out of the others I wrote.
Again, thanx for those who read and reviewed.
AND THANX TO the-everglow.
I feel like I'm rushing this too much.
Feel free to tell me what you think or want.
Well, I'm going now. BYE
Rena.