A/N: Hey! Thanks for the reviews! Well, this chapter is some kind of… I dunno… Just R&R thanks!! Anyway, welcome to the third chapter!
Disclaimer: I… I… I do not own Naruto!!!! (runs away with precious diamond-like tears flowing from my eyes)
-----
Recap:
"Where's Naruto? It's not his habit to be late like you." Sasuke said in his usual monotone voice.
"Um, actually, the Hokage sent him to an A ranked mission which will last for approximately 9 months… all by himself." The silver-haired man said, scratching the back of his head.
"WHAT!?"
-----
Chapter 3: Gone
-At Hokage's office-
"But why?! I mean, nine months?!" Sakura thumped her hand on the Hokage's desk, her temper lost.
"I already told you that the reason behind this mission is extremely top-secret and that Naruto's the only person who should know this reason." Tsunade replied, almost losing her temper as well.
"But it's also extremely dangerous for Naruto to go to an A ranked mission only with his dumb brain by his side! You should've asked us or, at least, Kakashi-sensei to accompany him!" She said, emphasizing the word 'dumb.'
"Do I have to repeat myself for the gazillionth time?" Tsunade said, more of a statement than a question.
"I agree with Sakura, Hokage-sama." Kakashi said as he went near the two quarrelling females, stopping by Sakura's side. Sasuke, still in his stoic attitude, was just leaning on the wall beside the door as if he doesn't care a thing.
"Look, I don't have time for this nonsense--"
"Nonsense? You're putting Naruto's life in danger!" Sasuke snapped from his indifference as he went near the desk. Kakashi and Sakura just stared at Sasuke as if they haven't seen him like that.
Sasuke… if only you know that you're the reason… "Please, don't make it too hard for me! I also am distressed about this! To tell you the truth, Naruto's the one who wants this."
"But why?" Sakura asked almost in tears, knowing that Naruto's life is at stake.
"Sorry, but I really can't tell you why." She said as she bowed her head sadly.
"Guys, I think even the Hokage's burdened about this thing, and I also have realized that it's Naruto; nothing's gonna happen to him." Kakashi reassured them.
"But Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura whined.
"Aw, stop whining… you're gonna make me cry, too!" Kakashi joked, "Let's go. We still have some training to do."
Sasuke was the first one to leave the room, followed by a crying Sakura. Kakashi was the last one to depart, leaving a weak smile to the Hokage.
Naruto… I… I'm sorry this is all I can do for you… The Hokage fought her tears back, but to no avail, she just can't.
-At training grounds-
They were training as usual, but today only Sasuke and Sakura were sparring.
Sakura leapt into the air, head-first to the ground, and then threw a kunai at the tree on the west side of the training ground. She, then, flipped herself for her to land on the ground with her feet. Sasuke appeared to be strangely looking at her.
"Hey, I know that you're not that good at kunai-throwing, but to miss that far from me?" Sasuke snapped.
Sakura just looked at the tree with her eyes wide because of shock, and then her eyes became sad. "Sorry, I thought that was Naruto."
There was a long silence that's too deafening.
"Hey, guys, how long are you gonna stop and stare there?" Kakashi broke the silence while coming up near them, bringing his infamous orange book to his pocket.
"Kakashi-sensei… Naruto… I… I miss him already…" Sakura whined with her emerald green eyes sparkling extravagantly with tears.
"Haha, if Naruto was here he'd be laughing his ass off." Kakashi chuckled.
They both glared at him, leaving him shut at the moment.
"Sasuke, why don't we just continue sparring?" Sakura asked.
"Nah, I'm going home…" Sasuke replied.
"Hey!!" Sakura called. Sasuke stopped.
"I think--"
"I don't care what you think. So, just shut up." He, obviously, is in a bad mood.
"Hey, I have a right to my opinions! So, just listen to me!"
"You have a right to your opinions. I just don't want to hear them." He said coldly as he left.
"Sasuke!"
"Sakura, just let him be. I think he's in a bad mood right now." Kakashi said as he took his orange book from his pocket, and he started to read it.
-----
A few months later…
"Hm… I wonder where Kakashi-sensei is… He's so late…" Sakura murmured as she played on with the crystal-clear water of the lake with her feet while sitting.
"Hn."
"Hey, Sasuke-kun…" She called on the raven-haired boy who stood beside her.
"Hn?"
"Did you ever miss Naruto?"
"Hn."
"Was that a yes or a no?"
'Poof!' Kakashi appeared. "Yo!"
"Sigh… you're always late." Sakura puffed as she turned to glare at the silver-haired jounin.
"Sorry." He said as he scratched the back of his head.
Suddenly, the Rookie 9 appeared from the back of one of the houses.
The pale-yellow-haired girl instantly spotted the raven-haired boy. She rushed towards him, but was stopped by the pink-haired girl.
"Step aside, forehead."
"I won't, Ino-pig."
"Look, Sasuke-kun and I are meant for each other. So, just get outta my way!"
"Sasuke-kun and you are match made in hell."
"We're not. We're both wonderful!"
"Hey." Shikamaru interrupted.
"Sasuke? Yes. You? No. Know yourself. Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."
"Well, at least I haven't fully developed one part of my body like you have; the wishbone."
"What have I ever wished for, huh?"
"Oi." Shikamaru interrupted again.
"For your forehead to be minimized!"
"Well, at least the best measurement of my honesty isn't the zero adjusted on my bathroom scale."
"Why you!?"
The two were already in their own fighting stance until…
"HEY!" Shikamaru snapped.
"WHAT?!" The two kunoichi were glaring at him. No… not just a glare… a death-glare.
"Oh, nothing. Just continue with what you're doing." He smiled with a sweat-drop.
Kakashi approached him.
"You know, there is nothing more annoying as to have two people talking while you're busy interrupting." He chuckled.
"Well, there is nothing scarier as to have two raging women death-glaring at you… So troublesome…" He sighed.
-----
-At a faraway land-
"Naruto!" An old, yet sweet voice rang through the small, old cottage which contained a very familiar scent.
"Oh, Tsukina-san, good thing you dropped by! I was getting lonely!" The blonde haired boy appeared from the room at the other end of the house while he laid his hand gently on his big belly which contained the 6-month baby.
"I brought you some fruits." The old mid-wife said as she laid the fruit basket on the dining table.
"Oh! Thank-you very much!" Naruto grinned.
"You're welcome. So, how's the baby?"
"Well, the baby's fine. At least, he or she's not moving that much today."
They both laughed heartily as they sat down at the familiar-scented couch.
-----
The ninth month…
-At Sakura's room-
Although Sakura's favorite color is pink, her room wasn't entirely pink. It has a blend of peach and white. Some cute stuffed-toys lay at the desk just across the room, a closet full of her usual red-Chinese-dress outfit, a window just above the pink and white bed in which you can see a backyard full of cherry blossom trees and a fish pond, a soft pink fluorescent light on the ceiling, a study desk beside the door, a box full of weapons underneath it, and a bookshelf just beside her study desk.
There on the edge of the bed sat the pink-haired kunoichi. She was staring at the picture that she held on her right hand. She, then, smiled, put the picture on the table beside her bed, stood up, and went to the calendar which hung on the closet.
She marked off a date and smiled. Finally, the ninth month.
-At the faraway land-
Naruto was serving a cup of tea to Tsukina when suddenly, his tummy ached. He dropped the cup of tea and he dropped to his knees.
"Naruto! Naruto!! Are you alright?" Tsukina asked anxiously.
"My… tummy… it hurts…" He said in pain.
"It's your ninth month, so maybe the baby already wants to get out."
"You're a mid-wife, right? Please do something about it…"
"But… but… you're a boy, right? How could I do it if you don't have a… you know…?"
Naruto formed some hand seals and 'poof!' She became a girl.
"There…"
"Come over here on the couch!" She said as she led Naruto to the couch. He then lay down and the 'operation' began.
-----
"Push!" Tsukina said.
"Ahhh!!" He, or shall I say 'she,' screamed femininely as 'she' pushed harder.
"Ah! I can see the baby! Just a little more! Push!"
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
"Uwaaaah!!"
"Congratulations! It's a healthy baby girl!" She said as she cut off the belly with a pair of scissors, washed the baby gently with mild water, and wrapped her with a white cloth. She, then, went over to Naruto and handed over the baby to 'her.'
TBC
A/N: I'll be showing you the baby on the next chapter!!