Chapter 2 Gone

A/N: They are around 17-18 years old!

Sasuke shocked stared at Sakura waiting for who that person was. Naruto then glared at Sakura since they were not supposed to say anything about who died. Naruto stood up and left the room as Sasuke went after him which Sakura told him to stay. Naruto shuts the door behind him staring at the sky with blank eyes. Sakura sat Sasuke back down on his seat as she started explaining.

"Well Sasuke he died just a year ago and it was Iruka Sensei."

"But isn't he just a teacher too Naruto so that means that he shouldn't act that way."

"Well Sasuke just ask Naruto how it was dramatic but I'm sure he won't answer or even talk. Since he uses actions rather than his voice, meaning that he didn't talk for over a year. But I will tell you that his one year death anniversary is tomorrow so with that exception you can come with us to the party. However if he talks that means he was forced too. Naturally he only talks to Hokage-sama."

"I see."

"Well Naruto is outside and if you need anything I'll give you my number so that you can call me. But I'm for sure you'll just sleep since its late already so just meet you tomorrow at 9 o'clock sharp. Okay then good bye!"

Sakura got up and left the house closing the door behind her. Sasuke got up from his seat and went to his room grabbing a set of clothes to sleep in resting for the night. Naruto stood outside of the house sitting down going to sleep. Naruto went to sleep where another ANBU member picked Naruto up and placed him inside on top of the couch. The ANBU stepped outside of the house and stood guard until Naruto woke up.

---------------Sakura-----------

After leaving Sasuke's home she went to her own home greeting her parents. Entering her room she opened the lights and slowly looked up at a team 7 picture when she remembered when she was in Naruto's apartment.

---------Remembrance---------

(Naruto's Apartment)

Sakura was right behind Naruto as they traveled to Naruto's apartment. Sakura would start up a conversation asking Naruto how he feels about Sasuke coming back.

"Ne Naruto-kun, how do you feel about Sasuke's arrival?"

Naruto did not answer turning his head to face Sakura showing his cold eyes. Sakura then became quiet until they arrived at Naruto's home. Naruto opened his door allowing Sakura in where she saw that Naruto's house was very neatly arranged. The living room was small which a kitchen was connected. The dinning table was in front of the kitchen in a neat manner where plates and utensil were placed there never touched. Naruto pointed his finger at a small couch in the living room where Sakura sat down waiting for Naruto. Hearing some rummage inside Naruto's room Sakura quickly scanned the apartment from where she sat. The whole area looked like someone was home but at the same time is that they never exited. It was like in those department stores when they tried to sell some furnisher which was neatly arranged and actually no one came to sit in those items. Sakura saw Naruto's hand with his index finger telling her to come to Naruto's room. Sakura stood up and entered Naruto's room where like his home that everything was neat and no one has used it for some time. Naruto looked up at her and threw a black bag at her motioning her to leave his room. Sakura left the room and asked Naruto where the bathroom was making Naruto point to where the bathroom was.

'Man even his bathroom is neat' Sakura thought when she used the toilet. After using the bathroom she pulled up her pants and exited the bathroom flushing the toilet. Naruto was waiting for her standing in the hallway. Sakura walked in the hall noticing that the entire picture's where faced down on the tables. Sakura look at the watch and noticed that it was dinner time and asked Naruto what to eat.

"Naruto-kun its time to eat and I'm pretty hungry aren't you?"

Naruto shrugged placing his bags on the couch walking to the refrigerator pulling out some food. Sakura plots herself down on one of the seats looking up at Naruto who was cooking some ramen. Sakura was disgusted but she didn't mind and she got up handing a bowl to Naruto which was placed on the dinner table. Naruto grabbed her plate setting it beside his own bowl near the pot. Pouring some ramen in the bowls he handed it to Sakura who saw that Naruto's bowl was still empty. She then ate her food and saw Naruto look out the window with sad eyes. She saw that Naruto came back to the table sitting down placing his bowl on the table. Sakura then grew angry seeing that Naruto's bowl was empty as she then spoke.

"Naruto, why are you not eating?"

Naruto shrugged at her question as anger boiled inside the kunochi.

"Naruto you should eat! Since you should not want Iru—"

Naruto threw a kunai across her face shocking Sakura. Sakura sat back down as she finished her food sensing a deadly presence from her comrade. Naruto would look at her with a death glare waiting for Sakura to be finished with her food. Once Sakura was finished she got up and handed her bowl to Naruto who took it washing the plates. Sakura took the kunai out of the wall putting it in her pouch as she gathered one of Naruto's bags. Naruto finished cleaning the table he grabbed his belongings shutting the door behind him. Sakura stood behind Naruto and waited for him to do anything. They finally arrived at Sasuke's house entering.

----------------End--------------

Sakura dressed into her night clothes closing the window of her room. Rummaging through her closet she looked for an outfit she would wear to the party. When she was all set for the party she laid herself down on her bed to sleep for the night.

--------------Next Day----------

(Sasuke's home)

Naruto was awake making some breakfast for him and Sasuke. Sasuke was still asleep and the time was only 7 o'clock in the morning. Finish setting up the table he waited for the young Uchiha to wake up from his slumber. Naruto walked to the living room and saw a calendar facing him. Looking at the calendar he saw that today was Iruka's one year anniversary. He dropped on the floor and sighed hearing that Sasuke got out of his bedroom going to the kitchen to eat some breakfast. Naruto got up and looked at his plate with nothing in it he pretended that he finished eating. Sasuke entered the kitchen to see Naruto wash the plates as he sat down and greeted a good morning to Naruto. Naruto huffed and went to his bedroom closing the door locking it. Sasuke saw that the time was 7:30 only as he waited for Sakura. Sakura was supposed to pick up Sasuke at 9 sharp for the party. Getting himself ready he finished his food and washed his plates as he went to the bathroom to take a shower. After dressing up he looked at the time which was only 8:15 so he only had 45 minutes to himself. Turning on the TV he watched some history channels only to hear the door bell ring. Getting up he opened the door to see Sakura at the door he was surprised. Sakura wore a red dress with no sleeves except a sleeve warmer which was colored red. She wore some dress shoes and her hair was held up in a bun with chop sticks. Holding a purse on her right arm which was also colored red she entered the house as Sasuke asked her a question.

"Sakura isn't it too early to be here?"

"Oh, it was I'm sorry but I would like to hang out for a bit wouldn't you mind."

"Fine whatever…"

Sakura smiled as she entered the house slipping off her shoes setting down her purse down on the couch she sat on. Sasuke came over to sit in a recliner next to the couch. Sakura sighed as she thought up a topic to talk bout when Sasuke asked her more on what had happened since then.

"Sakura what had happened to Naruto since then?"

"Well Naruto is going to be a jounnin soon like me. Well he stays home a lot and rarely goes outside. But that's all I can tell you."

"I see…"

"Well where is Naruto?"

"He went to his room when I woke up."

"Okay then I will say hello and you just wait here."

Sasuke gave an immediate snort and Sakura just smiled again as she got up to Naruto's room. She tried to open the door only to find it lock she took out her keys to open the door. (Sakura took care of the house so she has keys to everything) She opened the door to see her comrade asleep. She went to his side and shook him a bit to see if he would wake up. Naruto shrugged but still didn't move at all as he turned to face the wall of the room. Sakura sighed as she checked her watch looking at the time. The party would start at 3 o'clock sharp so that means she had to bring Naruto with Sasuke to Kakashi's house for the party. Tsunade gave an exception for Sasuke since her favorite student begged her for it. Walking out of the room she closed the door and Sasuke looked at her as she began to speak.

"Sasuke do you want to know what happened?"

"Yes I do if you don't mind."

"Well Iruka sensei went to a mission just a year ago where it was an assassination mission."

Sakura sighed sitting down trying to put things into words. Sasuke looked at her when she continued.

"Well he was in that mission and they reported that there was an explosion. Well then we couldn't find him till the next day where they found him dead."

Sakura stared at the ceiling when she remembered how Naruto reacted when they told him of Iruka's death.

----------1 Year Ago----------

Naruto and Sakura were laughing as they saw a large gang of ANBU run past them. Sakura would have her suspicions as they were training with their teacher. Kakashi would read his orange book teaching and reviewing the history of Konoha to Naruto and Sakura. Sakura would reason with her teacher and Naruto would listen to his music player. That time it was soon to be Naruto's birthday a week later. Sakura would smack Naruto on the back of his head so that he can listen to his teacher. Then Kakashi would bring out his perverted thoughts which made Naruto punch his teacher as they all laughed. They all moved on without Sasuke since they knew he would come back soon. A few minutes later they saw an ANBU member meet them saying that they should report to Tsunade's office immediately. They all ran quickly to the office when they felt something bad was going to happen. Naruto gulped as he pushed the door open when he saw a corpse on a table with a white sheet covering the body. Tsunade looked at him in concern as Naruto came forward and took of the sheet away from the body when Naruto puked. Tsunade stood and tried to talk to Naruto.

"Naruto I'm sorry but Iruka is gone."

"No he's not! He is just sleeping there! No, no, no!"

Naruto got up and started running not caring about the people around him. Tears came from his eyes when he was in the training grounds. He sat beside a tree as tears flow from his face. He kept murmuring to himself when his mind was blank.

'He's gone…'

Sakura and Kakashi found him bringing him to his apartment. Sakura placed a blanket over him when they both walked away.

---------------1 Year Ago done----------

Sasuke would look at Sakura who would still remember what happened. Sasuke then coughed making Sakura come back to reality. Sasuke got up going to the kitchen as he made some tea. Sakura looked at her watch and saw that time has passed so quickly, she got up entering Naruto's room. Waking Naruto up she told him to get ready for the party. Naruto got up rummaging through his bags to get another black t-shirt. Walking out of his room he went to the bathroom to take a shower. His body was slim and muscles replaced his baby fat. His hair was longer than before as he entered the tub. Turning on the water he cleaned himself off. Getting out of the shower he sighed and went to his room putting on a black long sleeve shirt as he puts on top a dark blue t-shirt. He wore some dark blue jeans and a black tennis shoe. His hitate hanged around his neck as he got out of the bedroom to see his past teammates. Sakura would smile pushing out her two teammates out of the house without struggle. They arrived at Kakashi's home where the whole rookie nine gang where there with Gai's team. Lee greeted them giving Sakura a large hug where Sasuke looked for a seat. He sat down on the couch as Naruto sat on the same couch but on opposite ends. Tsunade went on top of the stage holding a small microphone as she wore a green dress with a green high heeled shoe to match. She then spoke making her speech as everyone stood there to watch her.

"Well hello everyone and I guess it has been a year since our fellow shinobi left. But we shall now celebrate that he went to a happier place. Also this is a party to celebrate Sasuke's return to Konoha."

Sasuke snorted in reply as Tsunade continued.

"Well now everyone let's party and hang out!"

Tsunade then bowed showing that she was finished as she held a wine glass in her hand. She held it up and everyone cheered except Naruto and Sasuke who just huffed as his old comrades came in a swarm talking to Sasuke.

"Hey Sasuke long time no see!"

Ino shouted as she held on to Shino's arm. Hinata would shyly hide behind Kiba's back who would just smile as Akamaru was on his shoulder. Sasuke looked on how everyone changed. All the girls have grown taller and became more womanly like. Naruto stared at the stage where a large picture of Iruka was on there. Sakura came to his side to pat his shoulders and give him something to eat. Naruto surprisingly had tears flow from his eyes getting up and left the house in a dash. Kakashi looked at Tsunade who gave him a nod calling Sakura to come along. Everyone was curious on what's going on when Tsunade told them that nothing happened. Everyone went back to their normal things especially talking to Sasuke.

--------------Meanwhile----------

(Kakashi/Sakura/Naruto)

They saw him under a small tree in the training grounds. His eyes were blank as tears were flowing. His body sat there unmoving as he kept murmuring 'he's gone' over and over again. Sakura shook him a bit to make the blonde look at her but there was no response. 'This is the same as last time' Sakura thought placing her hand on Naruto's forehead as she used some healing chakara. Naruto closed his eyes slowly as he drifted to sleep. Kakashi picked Naruto up and the three of them went to Sasuke's home placing the kitsune on the couch.

"Ne, Kakashi sensei will he be okay?"

"Sakura it's been awhile since I heard sensei from you. Naruto will be alright and everything will be back to the old days so just cheer up."

"Sensei you said the same thing when Naruto and Sasuke were fighting on the hospital roof."

"It will be soon so just are patient and I will get going then."

"Bye Sensei…"

Kakashi waved a bye leaving Sakura to watch Naruto who was peacefully sleeping on the couch. Sakura went to the kitchen to get a glass of water drinking it staring at her teammate. Naruto groaned in his sleep and murmured the same words again.

"He's gone…"

Hey everyone and sorry for being late and all! Well hope you enjoyed and hopefully I will get to the next chapter right away considering that I will go to school tomorrow! Well then please review!