Summary: Naruto's fight to be Hokage and the fight for Naruto's heart begins as Sakura finally notices him and a shy girl will call upon her courage to stop her.
A/N: This chapter wa beta by Swanderer999, thank you for you're help, I'm grateful
TO: Shinji-Higurashi and Solar Eclipse, Thank you for offering you're help, i'm happy i have readers willing to help me, if by any twist of fate Swanderer999 can't beta any more i hope you would help me.
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. It's his creators' property. The only thing mine are my own made up characters.
"Hello " speech
Hello Thoughts
Hello kyubi
Hello kyubis thoughts
( Hello) Inner Sakura
---------- Scene change
CHAPTER 8: FORGOTTEN TEARS
A calm morning came upon Konoha, everyone enjoyed life in the village, the ninjas worked extra hard for the village, commoners enjoyed and kept the life in the village.
Every one was happy except for one mad Kunoichi.
Damn you Kakashi-sensei, what could you possibly want to see me for...especially this early in he morning.......why do I even go this early, he probably will be late again......(Yeah that late bastard)....I should go home and sleep for a couple of hours more. She thought while she made her way thru the streets.
"Good morning Sakura-san" A green dressed boy said to Sakura.
Sakura who was seeing at the ground while walking looked up at the boy.
"Hi Lee-san, what are you doing this early in the morning?" Sakura asked the boy.
"Ho I just finish my morning training Sakura-san, I doubled my training since yesterday." He said in a proud voice.
This statement surprised Sakura, what could make the already hard working genius work even harder.
"Is that so Lee-san, but be careful it's only been a couple of weeks since you had that operation, so be careful" Sakura said in a concerned voice.
"I'm touched you're worried for me Sakura-san, but I can't be left behind by one of my rivals" Lee said clenching his fist.
This caught Sakura's attention all of Lee's rivals where in the hospital.
Rival?, but every one of them is in the hospital, Neji, Sasuke-kun, Naruto, could it be Gaara. She thought wondering who it could be.
"Really Lee-san who could possibly leave you behind?" She asked in a joking tone.
"Ha! Sakura-san I'm grateful for the confidence you have in me, but I haven't trained as hard as I should be. I just started to train a few days ago, but Naruto was training the very day he left the hospital." Lee said.
This last word hit Sakura like a ton of bricks. She was in shock, but recovered in a few seconds, she got right up to Lee, then with out a warning she grabbed Lee by the collar and started to shake him furiously.
"Naruto! Did you just say Naruto, Lee-san!" She screamed at the boy as she shook him madly, almost choking him to death.
"C-can't breathe...S-Sakura-san...." Lee struggled to say.
Sakura reluctantly let go of his collar, but still hold on to his clothes and looked at him with anger in her eyes.
"What about Naruto, Lee?" Sakura said again.
"Gulp... I saw him yesterday...he was training...and we talked...he said he left the hospital yesterday...and......" "And what?" Sakura cut him off. "That's all, that's all" A scared Lee said.
After saying those words, Sakura released Lee from her death grip and started a dash toward the meeting place they always had, leaving a frightened Lee behind.
What the hell, why didn't you see me the day you got out, I was really worried.... She thought running to the bridge.
As she got to the bridge she still was thinking of the boy........I was so afraid I'd lose you, I don't know what I would do if you weren't there any more.
"There's no one here...." She said as she looked around.
He's always here about the same time as me.... Where could he be......? She thought.
The girl walked to a tree near the bridge, and sat in front of it using it as support.
I ran here, that's why he hasn't gotten here, that's why......yeah that's got to be it... She said reassuring her self.
An hour since the meeting time passed and still no sign of the blond boy.
....He's not coming here...Kakashi-sensei is going to change us to different teams.... I couldn't sleep because of that fear..., and it came true. She thought with tears coming out of her eyes.
I thought...we would stay in the same team no matter what.... Naruto you baka...you've only been getting my hopes up...and letting me fall. You baka, I don't know why I thought I liked you...I didn't sleep thanks to you, worried about being in the same team and thinking yawn of a way to say I like you.... She thought that just before she fell asleep.
There in front of the tree laid a sad disappointed Kunoichi. A girl who's heart had been crushed so many times, tears still ran from her green eyes, her sleep was anything but calm as her eyes twitch, her arms hugged her legs trying to forget the feeling of loneliness she is in, her voice was heard but only a word could be understand.
"...Naruto..."
While the girl was in her pain of loneliness, a boy just extended his arms towards the sky.
"Man I slept great." He said just before he looked at the clock.
"NANI?, I'm late, I'm very late, aw man" He said putting his clothes on.
Aw man I don't have time for breakfast either, man this sucks. Naruto thought as he passed his kitchen and made his way out the door.
The boy ran thru the streets for a few blocks before he stopped, and realized something he never thought of before.
Why am I worried, Kakashi-sensei is never on time, man I can actually relax. Mm... why didn't I realize this before?, I always ran to get there on time... He thought.
The boy started walking instead of his usual running, he was still thinking of why he was always early if his sensei was always late and not by a few minutes, but a few hours. While the boy walked a shadow stood in front of him.
"You there wait...." The man in front of Naruto said.
Oh man, a villager who blames me for his losses, when the kyubi attacked. Man I hate it when they do this. He thought looking at the floor.
"Wait there, you look like you haven't eaten. If you haven't then come and in and try our new Tayaki special, found only here in Maehara's restaurant." The man said in a very friendly tone.
What the hell? Naruto was surprised, this was the first time anybody ever wanted him to eat at their restaurant, other than Ichiraku's.
"No thanks, I don't have any money on me" Naruto said in a suspicious and low voice.
"Ha that's a shame, but no one can be denied such a wonderful treat." As the man said that, he gave Naruto a small sample bag, and moved to another person passing by.
Naruto was suspicious, and kept walking not eating anything but still not throwing it away, the boy kept walking until his jacket was pulled from behind.
Now what? The guy just found out I'm the fox kid and wants his food back......Naruto thought turning in a fast way, and was about to say something when he noticed the people there. Two small boys, about the same age as Konohamaru, looking at him.
"Ha you're right, he's the ninja that brought back the traitor." The boy on Naruto's right said.
"Told you..." The other boy said back
"Hey Nii-chan you're so cool, my dad told me you brought back a traitor from that really strong clan...what's its name?.." The boy to his right said.
"Uchiha, you know the copy guys" The other said.
"Yeah you're so cool. My dad said the worse thing a village can suffer is when its shinobis betray it". The boy to his right said.
"Yeah, the worse." The other said.
"You want to play with us. Come on hero, lets play ninja." The boy on his right said.
"Yeah, come on and play with us." The other said.
What, this is really weird... I...don't know what to do..., wait a minute I got it. Naruto thought.
"Sorry kids I have training today, but I'll play with you some other day" "Awwww" was heard by the disappointed boys.
"Here take this, its for not playing with you guys" As he said that, Naruto gave them the samples he got from the guy.
"Thanks Nii-chan" Both the kids said as they left.
That was pretty cool. Naruto thought.
The boy kept walking wondering why everyone was so nice to him today. What the boys said had caught his attention, now some people saw him like a hero. This was a big change for him, who was seen as the killer of a hero, the Yondaime.
He was a few streets away from the bridge when he saw two girls in front of him. He noticed they were staring but ignored them the look they gave him, it was very different from the cold stares he was used to. When he was side by side with the girls, his arm was held and a voice was heard.
"You're Naruto, right? A voice said in a joking manner.
A girl who was thin, slightly taller than Naruto, with short clear brown hair, done up like Ten-Ten's, and beautiful, clear honey colored eyes said to him.
"Yeah, did you forget us" A slightly taller girl, with long black hair, and deep dark brown eyes, and her haita-ite on her forehead said. (A/N: They're the girls that said Naruto was cute, after he beat Neji.)
Each girl looked older than Naruto, yet they still knew him. Both the girls had Ten-Ten's figure, something that no guy would ignore, and even though Naruto's dense he wouldn't waste an opportunity to talk to two cute girls.
Who are they?...they look familiar...man I can't remember....
"Hi, I'm sorry I don't know who you are" He said a little embarrassed.
"Ah... I'm Kanako and she's Ema." said the black hair girl and pointing at the brown hair girl.
"Yeah, we saw you in the exam a while back, you were so cool!" Ema stated, smiling at him.
"Yeah!, you were. Hey I got an idea, how about you have breakfast with us?" She said grabbing his arm.
"Oh sorry, I wish I could but I can't. I have a team meeting today, so I can't go." Naruto said to the girls, their disappointment was visible.
"Okay then, but you're coming next time." A pouting Kanako said.
After that the girls said there farewell to Naruto and made their exit.
"You have quite the female friends boy" The voice in his head said. What the hell do you want now?
"Mm... Those females look delicious" The fox said. What are you thinking you dumb fox.
"The same thing as you kid, just the same thing" The fox said back.
As if you dumb fox!!. He sighs. Man now I have three perverts around me, what can I call him? Ero-kitsune? Aw man, I have the worse luck with people. He thought while starting to walk again.
The boy kept walking thinking of the morning he had so far, not complaining at all but surprised. He was being talked to by strangers, looked up to by boys, and even girls talked to him.
All the thing that were happening to him reminded him of one person, Sasuke.
Man everyone is so nice, they ask me to eat at their restaurant, and girls talked to me. I bet that's how Sasuke was treated every single day. He thought.
I don't know how he would leave this place, especially just to get power.... That's stupid all the strongest people trained here, Ero-sennin, Tsunade-obaachan, Orochimaru, the third, the fourth, even his brother. All the strongest people I know, trained in this village...then why did he wanted to leave? He asked himself not seeing the logic that Sasuke used.
He finally arrived at the bridge, he wasn't surprised that he didn't see his sensei, but he was when he didn't see Sakura.
"Huh? Where's Sakura-chan?" He said looking around.
"Ha there she is, what? She's sleeping?". He said to himself, while getting close to her.
She looks cute when she's sleeping. He thought looking at her.
"Naruto...I'll...kill you..." Was heard from the girl.
This made Naruto sweat drop. Why doesn't that surprise me? Well I better wake her up, its two hours since he was supposed to be here, so he should be here any minute.
He gets close, crouches very close to the girl, looks at her and started to speak.
"Hey, hey Sakura-chan, wake up already" Naruto said to her in a gentle voice.
"Hey, hey Sakura-chaaaaaaaan" He said again, a bit louder.
HUH? What I feel asleep? I must be still dreaming, I swear I heard Naruto's, voice. She thought while trying to shake away the sleep.
Her eyes that where red from crying in her sleep, started to focus, and the first thing they saw was a kid giving a huge foxy grin.
Naruto, its you? Am I still dreaming?...She thought while tears started to run again.
The blond boy was about to say something, when the girl jumped forward and hugged the boy, a hug that was a surprise for him.
Naruto...it was true, you're ok...I'm so happy,...but I was so mad when Lee told me. She thought while tightly hugging the boy.
Naruto was at a lost, he never was hugged by a girl, and he never dreamed of Sakura ever giving him one. He didn't know what do or why he was being hugged.
Oh man, why is Sakura crying, and hugging me? Did she found out about Sasuke being punished. He thought, trying to hug her back but wasn't able to because of his doubts.
Sakura broke the hug, her eyes running with tears, her body shaking with every snivel she let out, she took a deep breath and tried to speak.
"Naruto you baka, why didn't you told me you left the hospital yesterday, I was so worried." Sakura said crying and sobbing, after that she hugged him again harder even then before.
What, she was worried for me, she was crying because of me? He thought before hugging Sakura back. He wanted this moment for so long, since he could remember he always wanted someone who cared for him, not just Iruka-sensei, or the hokage. He wanted a friend who cared for him that would be worried about him, a friend that he could see every day. He thought he finally found one, one for most it was nothing, but for him it was such a beautiful and large number. The fact that it was Sakura made it all the more worthwhile.
He hugged me back, no boy ever hugged me before...only my parents have hugged me...I feel safe... so happy...I would have never imagined it would feel so nice to be hugged by him... She thought while pressing her face onto his chest. The boy started to rub her head trying to calm the crying girl.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither one of them letting go of the other. Naruto simply lifted his head and tried to calm her.
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan, yesterday wasn't such a good day. I had to sneak out, then I hurt Lee and Gaara, then this guy wouldn't stop following me, then a meeting with Tsunade-obaachan." He looks at the girl who was unfazed with his explanation.
"If you're sad because I didn't see you yesterday, its not that I forgot or I didn't wanted, its that I just couldn't, I wanted to do a lot of things yesterday and seeing you was one of them." He said slightly blushing.
The girl looks up at the boy, she wasn't crying anymore but her beautiful emerald eyes where red from the tears.
"Really?" The girl asked
"Yeah, of course you know I would have seen you if I could Sakura-chan." After this the girl let go of the boy, they sat face to face looking at each other.
I can't believe I'm crying, I was sure I was going to kill him and scream at him...She thought.
"Thanks Sakura-chan." Was heard interrupting her thoughts.
"Why are you thanking me Naruto?" This surprised the girl she had never received a thank you from the boy.
"Because you went to see me, took me nice flowers and were worried about me." Naruto said smiling at her.
"Oh it was nothing." Was all Sakura could say, trying to hide her slight blush by looking up at the sky.
"But why did you take me two different types of flowers?" He asked just out of curiosity, not really caring about her answer.
"Mm...I didn't take you the violets....Hinata took you those, she visited you too you know. She went almost as often as me. (Liar, liar how could you lie to him)" Sakura said to him.
This was a surprise for him, of all the people in this village she wasn't the one he expected to take him flowers. Such a shy girl he knew which he only spoke to on a couple of occasions, yet that didn't matter to him he felt happy, excited, moved and more emotions he never knew a girl visiting him could create.
...Hinata...visited me.... He thought smiling a bit. Why do I feel so happy?...Only because she visited me?....Why did you ...Hinata...chan...? Naruto thought.
Naruto looks to happy just because I told him Hinata visited......She thought as she looked at the boy.
"Hey Naruto" She interrupted his thoughts. "Yes Sakura-chan" He replied with a smile.
"Well I have something I want to tell you...." She said blushing... "I know I've been mean to you and I hope you can forgive me, even if you don't feel the same way. I just wanted you to know, I think I'm starting to li..." "Oi! Naruto, Sakura" Kakashi interrupted her. words.
There she laid in shock, how was it possible that fate itself would stop her at such a moment? One that always seem to be interrupted by someone, when she tried to say it to Sasuke, it was Naruto and now fate was using her own sensei as the tool for it.
Her sensei, who was in front of them was surprised at the scene. Naruto and Sakura sitting very close to each other, Sakura blushing crimson red and Naruto...well Naruto was Naruto, but didn't look as confused as always. His lazy eye opened more than usual in surprise.
"Did I interrupt something?" He asked. "You're late!!" Naruto screamed at his sensei.
While Naruto was screaming to their sensei, Sakura was cursing herself. "Damn it, damn it....why me.....damn you Kakashi-sensei, why!!!!!!" She said in a very low voice.
"No you didn't interrupt anything Kakashi-sensei, I just want to know why you were late." Naruto said in an angry voice, while Sakura was biting her lips so she wouldn't scream insults at her Sensei.
Sakura who just recovered from her disappointment tried to act calm. "Kakashi-sensei, why are you late today?" She asked.
"Oh, I just went to pick up you're new team mate" Kakashi said.
"Liar! Wait that doesn't sound like a lie." Sakura said back to him. "Of course, when do I lie to you guys." Kakashi said back, causing the two to glare at him.
"So is Sasuke-kun never coming back to our team?" Sakura asked. Man she still cares. Naruto thought.
"Don't worry Sakura he'll come back when he's ready." Kakashi said reassuring her. "So guys here's your new teammate." pointing at the bridge.
A figure slowly walked towards them from the bridge, it was slowly walking their way, almost afraid of getting there.
The two were shocked, neither of them expected that person to be their new teammate.
Naruto ran towards his new teammate, "Hey Lee, you're our new teammate?" Naruto asked excited.
"Yes Naruto-kun, I'm your new teammate" Lee said while taking his good guy pose.
"Lee why didn't you tell me you were going to be with us this morning". Sakura asked him. "I didn't have the chance Sakura-chan" this answer caused her to blush.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei, why is fuzzy brows with us? Did something happen to Ten-Ten?" Naruto asked.
"No Naruto she's fine, the thing is Gai, Kurenai, and I were told to disband a team temporally so there would be two three man teams. So we played a game, Gai lost so his team got split up." He said. Oh that reminds me today we have a little practice match with Kurenai's team he said smiling under his mask.
"Alright a match, I can beat any one on that team...wait if Ten-Ten went to Kurenai's team doesn't that mean there's Shino, Ten-Ten, and Hinata. That's two girls, isn't that weaker than our team now that we have fuzzy-brows." Naruto said stating more that asking.
"I wouldn't be so sure Naruto-kun, Ten-Ten is a weapon specialist, she can hit 100 targets out of 100 tries" Lee said proud of her skills.
"Yeah you're right, and Hinata isn't weak either. You saw how she stood her ground in her fight with Neji, even if was just for a while, right Lee?" Naruto said back.
What are they both that strong, I can't be the weakest,...can I? I fought Ino and tied, but Ino isn't that strong either. She thought cursing herself for being weak, so weak that the two boys in front of her had saved her before. I can believe I'm weaker that Ten-Ten, but I'm not weaker than Hinata.
"Yeah guys, girls can be as strong as you boys. Take the Hokage for example, she's stronger than Gai or me". He said smiling.
"Hey Lee!!" was heard. "Ho its Ten-Ten, Hi Ten-Ten" Lee shouted back.
There walking in the streets, a jolly Ten-Ten waved at them, Shino, slowly walking, and behind him was Hinata shyly walking.
The three stopped in front of the new team seven exchanging hellos.
"Naruto are you ok?" Shino asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, but it looks like you're the lucky one, getting two cute girls as teammates while I only got him" he replied pointing at Lee next to him, this caused a little reaction from the green boy.
"Hey Naruto your sweet talking won't work on me. But I'm glad you're ok, now we only have to wait for Neji and the others." Ten-Ten said smiling at the boy.
Naruto-kun you're okay I'm so happy you woke up. Now I can tell you...wait did he just say he thinks I'm cute, like Ten-Ten.... "Hey Hinata" She heard.
"Hi N-Naruto-kun, I-I'm so glad y-you're okay." Hinata said blushing and touching her fingers.
Naruto walked up to Hinata and hugged her. "Hinata, thank you for visiting me, worrying for me, taking me flowers...caring if I was hurt..." He whispered to Hinata.
Hinata and every one was surprise about what Naruto did, but two more than the rest.
What, why did he hug her?(What the hell?). The pink hair girl thought trying to hide her slight anger.
Naruto-kun, he's hugging me...I feel light headed, no don't faint Hinata, you've dreamed of this moment, I can't faint now when it finally happens. What do I do, do I hug him back...no I can't, what would they think...but when will I get another chance? Hinata thought trying with all her strength to put her hands around him.
What is she doing? Sakura thought as she looked as the small girl put her hands around Naruto.
Hinata, she's smaller than Sakura, its nice being taller than someone for a change.... She smells nice, like flowers, but not so strong as Sakura its more subtle but nice...,very nice. He thought holding her close.
I'm so happy....his arms feel so nice, they're holding me in a gentle way, just like I imagined Naruto-kun would...and I'm hugging Naruto-kun too...I have to tell him now it's the perfect moment...She thought but oddly she wasn't blushing she simply had a smile on her face showing she enjoyed this moment.
Cough Cough
This interrupted their moment. "I'm sorry I had to butt in but you can have your moment later." Kakashi said.
"I don't know what perverted things you're thinking, but I was only thanking her for visiting me." Naruto said blushing.
"Really, then thank me" Ten-Ten said as she grabbed his arm.
"What you visited me?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah duh, not only me, but Lee, Shino, everyone here went at least once." Ten-Ten said to the blond boy
This comment made Naruto blush out of embarrassment. It looked like his emotions of having someone who cared about him overpower the fact that he acted as he did while in front of five other people, who by the looks of it also visited, and cared if only a little for him.
Naruto's and Hinata's blush made them wonder if that's the only reason he did it, especially Shino who knew Hinata's, likes and her dislikes.
"Oi, this is training, you can chat after it. It's going to be Naruto's team versus Shino's, one on one matches chosen at random." After saying that, Kakashi took out a bag with their names in it.
"In this bag I have Naruto's, Sakura's and Lee's names, pick them" He said to Shino and company.
Ten-Ten walked up and picked one. "I got Naruto, lucky aren't I" she said winking at Sakura and Hinata. This made them both blush and look away. Naruto's reaction was a little different. A girl, I've never fought a girl other than Tsunade-obaachan.
Now Hinata walked up, she slowly pulled out a name. "Sakura" She said in a quiet voice. Sakura's reaction was joy. I can show them I'm not weaker than her (and make her pay for hugging him). Sakura thought having two motives for wining.
"Well then the last match would be Shino Versus Lee. Well guys after the matches are done you have the day off, and tomorrow we have a mission together. C-class if you're wondering Naruto, see you." Kakashi said before puffing out.
What the hell, we were going to talk about Sasuke...man this bites... Naruto thought forgetting about his sensei and thinking about his fight.
"Well he's gone, lets get this started". Naruto said pointing at Ten-Ten.
"Sure and don't worried I'll finish it quick Naruto-KUN" She said to him. This made the other girls a little mad at the way she's been talking to Naruto.
After exchanging slight trash talk, they walked to a clearing with only a few trees, that was away from the meeting place where they watch each other eye to eye. Naruto prepared his hands for his Kage bunshin, and Ten-Ten, got ready to draw her weapons.
Lee walked in the middle of them like referee and raises his right arm and screams like he always does when he's excited.
"FIGHT"
After hearing those words, Naruto ran straight at Ten-Ten, She simply stood her ground and drew two Kunais.
END CHAPTER 8
A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to update i had mayor beta problems, which are solved know, that should speed up updates.
Don't worry about Hinata not having such a big impact here, her fans should know she wouldn't make such a big scene, but she will have her chapter.
A/N: If any one wondered why the hunter nin doesn't have a name yet is becuase of a little game i want to do, i used name's similars to one of my favorite anime if you can find the names and e-mail them to me you get to name the hunter nin, the ones posted in the reviews don't count i want the name to be a surprise. remember only the first one and who gets all the names gets to name him. if by luck no one can answered i'll name him my self.
Dont forget the most important thing is to READ and REVIEW, so REVIEW