Tsunade stared at the Shinobi in front of her. She rubbed her forehead as she knew her headache would just get worse now. "Are you sure this will work?" She looked at Kakashi.

"It's Naruto's idea. And you know how his ideas usually are."

"Completely and utterly risky and endangering lives. But they always seem to fall into place."

"He is a very skilled shinobi. And neither of us know what his 4 years with Jiraiya did for him."

"So you are wanting to risk our entire village on a test."

Kakashi nodded, "It's a test I know he will pass."

Tsunade rubbed her head again, "We'll go through with it then. We got messages back from the other villages. They're preparing to meet the threat if they get past us."

Kakashi chuckled, "So it's not their problem until they get rid of us?"

Tsunade nodded, "Basically."

"I thought as much."

Tsunade stood and started for the door, "I'm giving our top level Jounin command over our army. They will meet Doutsa if he gets past this attack. If anything else, we'll cut his army down."

"What about you?"

"Me and Jiraiya will be accompanying the team who meets Doutsa at the pass."

"And if you die?"

Tsunade smirks, "I've already notified the elders of who is suppose to replace me if that is the case."

----With Naruto----

Naruto stared at the name of his dead friend, "I've come here more in the last few days than I have in my entire life." He looked at the name of another Uchiha, "I guess I know why Kakashi always comes here now."

Naruto sat on the ground and looked at the stone, "You should see the village now Sasuke. Everyone has gotten so strong since you left. Tsunade Baa-chan finally got her head on the mountain."

Naruto was so focused on the stone he missed a certain patch of Pink hair move into a nearby tree, Naruto-kun, I'm not letting you leave like I let Sasuke leave.

"You should see Sakura now. She's so beautiful now." Naruto chuckled, "I bet if you could see her now you would have never left Konoha." Naruto let himself lean back until he was on his back looking at the sky.

Naruto? You don't still-

"That was another fight you won. You didn't even try this time. You kept brushing her off and I would have done anything for her attention." He sighed "Why couldn't you let me have this one win? I wouldn't mind losing every other one, but I just wanted this one win."

Sakura stared at him and frowned, Naruto. You cared that much. And I didn't do anything about it. I just begged you to bring back Sasuke.

Naruto sat up and looked at the stone before smiling, "In the end, neither of us belonged in this Village. They expected too much from you, and they could never get past what I am." He suddenly rolled to the side as a shuriken landed right were he was, "What do you want sensei?"

Jiraiya landed on the ground not too far away, "You were losing your focus. What have I told you about that?"

Naruto sighed and rolled his eyes. "A Shinobi must always be aware of his surroundings," he answered in a mocking voice.

Jiraiya looked at the exact spot Sakura was hiding and winked. He then looked back at Naruto, "So what are you doing here?"

Naruto sat up and looked at his sensei, "Talking with Sasuke."

Jiraiya sat beside him with a sage-like frown on his face, "You couldn't have done more."

Naruto nodded, "I know. It's a part of being a shinobi: People die."

Jiraiya nodded, "But that doesn't help any does it?"

Naruto nodded.

"You should talk with what's left of your team. The three of you can get through this as a team."

Naruto chuckled, "We haven't been a team in a long time."

Sakura gasped and held her chest, He doesn't want us around?

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, "And the Haruno girl? I know you still have feelings for her." He then looked back at the spot Sakura was hiding and rubbed his chin with a smirk before looking back to Naruto, "And seeing how she filled out I can't blame you."

Jiraiya automatically found himself against a tree with Naruto's forearm against his chest and a kunai at his throat. Naruto's eyes flashed red, "You talk about Sakura-chan like that again or I will kick your ass."

Jiraiya paled, "So, you have forgotten your feelings for her then."

Naruto looked away.

"And you haven't told her."

Naruto slowly lowered the kunai, "It's not my place."

"And why is that?"

Naruto looked at Jiraiya, "You of all people know how much these people hate me. Just think of how they would treat the person who actually cared for "the demon brat". Plus, I have enemies outside of the village. If any of them were to find out, Sakura would be in danger. I can't put her there."

Jiraiya bowed his head and nodded, "I have no choice then." He spun the two of them around Pushing Naruto against a tree. He then made a couple hand-seals before shoving his palm into Naruto's chest. Naruto tried to move but found himself stuck to the tree. Jiraiya smirked, "I never taught you that one. It's a disabling jutsu. You're stuck there until I release it."

Naruto struggled, "Let me out of this you old pervert!"

Jiraiya started to walk off. He stopped right under Sakura's tree, "I gave you 10 minutes before it's released. I'll make sure you're not disturbed."

Sakura jumped to the ground. She had a deep red blush as she bowed, "Thank you Jiraiya-sama."

Jiraiya chuckled, "You two deserve it." He then vanished in a blur.

Sakura turned to Naruto and smiled.

Naruto paled, "Ummmm, Sakura-chan how are you today?"

Sakura slowly walked towards him like a cat stalking her prey, "Oh, I'm wonderful. Hokage-sama is busy so my training got canceled, and when I couldn't find you I came here."

Naruto chuckled nervously, "Why would you want to see me?"

Sakura stopped just inches away from him, "Oh, I don't know. Just to finish our little discussion that we were having before Kakashi so rudely interrupted us."

Naruto once again tried to get free, Damn you, you old man! I'll beat the hell out of you for this! "How long were you in that tree?"

Sakura sat down beside the tree looking at the ground, "I'm sorry I made you make that promise. If I had know how you felt-"

"I would do anything to see your smile Sakura-chan."

Sakura smiled slightly, "Even at your own pain?"

"I'm used to it by now."

Sakura stood and nodded, "Which is why I have come to this choice." She brushed herself off .

"Sakura-chan….what are you doing?"

She leaned forward and kissed Naruto on the lips. Naruto froze as he felt the gentleness of it all. Sakura slowly released the kiss and smiled at him, "I thought maybe you actually could use a reason to come back here."

Naruto nodded dumbly.

"You know Naruto, just because I had a crush on Sasuke when we were younger doesn't mean that I haven't gotten over him."

Naruto continued to nod. Suddenly he fell to the ground as the jutsu released itself. He stood.

Sakura took a deep breathe, "You can leave now if you want."

Naruto sighed, "You know you'll be hated in the village."

"I'll kick their asses."

"And Ino would never let you hear the end of it."

"Oh, I have enough garbage on her to keep you quiet."

"Baa-chan is a little protective of me."

"That makes two of us."

Naruto smiled, "I'm not going to change your mind am I?"

Sakura shook her head with a smirk, "Not a chance."

Naruto bowed his head and chuckled, "I guess I should take you out on a date or something like that."

A slight blush appeared on Sakura's cheeks, "It would be nice."

Naruto started to walk away, "Okay then, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at your place. We'll spend the entire day together."

Sakura nodded, "Okay."

---At Doutsa's camp---

Kabuto slowly entered Doutsa's tent, "Doutsa-sama, I have spoken with the army. They are behind you completely and ready to destroy Konoha."

Doutsa nodded, "So, they will obey my every order."

"Yes, Doutsa-sama."

"Without question?"

"Of course."

Doutsa stood and sighed, "You see. That's where I have a problem. You see, I needed you to make sure they would stay loyal to me. But if they will obey me without you telling them to, it brings me to one conclusion." He turned and faced Kabuto, "What do I need you for?" Several ninjas appeared behind Kabuto as Doutsa smirked, "Kill him." Kabuto's screams of pain echoed through the camp.