Naruto Uzumaki awoke, his energy renewed from a nights rest. He sat up and yawned.

"How'd you sleep Sasuke?" Naruto rubbed his eyes and looked around, Sasuke was gone, "Shit!"

He stood up quickly and drew a kunai from his side.

"Put your weapon down." A voice spoke from behind Naruto, he turned to see a masked ninja, he was holding Sasuke, he pressed a blade to the Uchiha's neck.

Naruto growled.

"Let him go, he's paralyzed! He can't defend himelf!" Naruto yelled at the coward.

The man shook his head.

"No...I know who you are, Naruto Uzumaki, you have quite the reputation of doing anything for your friends. You see, I've bent sent to capture you."

Naruto gripped his kunai tighter.

"Who are you!"

The man didn't answer.

"Drop your weapon, you wanna see your friend dead?"

Naruto grunted, he had to think of something.

"Just go with him Naruto..." Sasuke needed a way out of Naruto's life, "If I die, how do you think Sakura would feel."

Naruto's eye twitched, and he jumped forward at Sasuke, his kunai tightly in his hand. The man watched in shock, he pulled his blade from Sasuke's neck, ready to defend himself, and stepped away from the Uchiha.

But Naruto had changed direction, and was now heading straight for the ninja. The man pushed his sword forward in an attempt to stab Naruto, but Naruto grabbed the blade with his hand, and sliced the strangers neck with his kunai, ending his life.

Naruto looked down at his bleeding hand, and ripped a sheet of fabric from his cloak, using it to bandage the wound.

He turned to Sasuke and knelt down.

"Are you okay?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"DAMN YOU NARUTO!"

Naruto stared at his friend in confusion.

"Why do you still care about me! Naruto you idiot you could've died! What happened to becoming hokage! Don't ever risk your fucking life for me ever again!"

Naruto rubbed his chin and looked at the ground.

"Sasuke...how could I ever become hokage...if i can't even save one friend?"

Sasuke sighed.

"You say that alot...don't you?"

Naruto laughed and picked Sasuke up.

"Are we friends again now Sasuke?"

Sasuke growled in frustration.

"I...guess."

Naruto cheered.

"You don't really like Sakura do you?"

"Not in the least."

"Oh...are you gay?"

"What, FUCK NO!"

"Well, who do you like then?"

"Naruto you don't always have to like someone."

"You like someone."

"No I don't!"

"Sasuke..."

"There is no convincing you is there..."

"Well?"

"I donno...is that Hyuga girl single?"

Naruto laughed.

"You like Hinata!"

Sasuke shrugged.

"I donno, she was the only girl who wasn't obsessed with me...I kinda found that attractive."

Naruto thought.

"Dude you should ask her out..."

"You sure she doesn't have anybody?"

"Nah, I don't think she likes anyone..." Naruto said obliviously. "I don't think we should stall anymore...if I pump enough chakra into you to break Neji's seals...do you promise not to run away?"

Sasuke smirked.

"I promise...nothing."

Naruto sighed, and dropped Sasuke.

"I trust you...I know you won't betray your friends again."

"Don't patronize me..."

Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke's chest and began pumping chakra into his system. After several minutes Naruto backed away.

And Sasuke stood up.

Tsunade sat at her desk, Neji Hyuga stood before her.

"You left them alone!"

Neji nodded.

"Lady Hokage...I had no choice, I would not abandon Lee to the dangers of the journey with an injured Tenten in his arms. Besides, Naruto is the strongest ninja in the village. He also swore his vision was returning."

Tsunade gasped.

"HE'S BLIND!"

Neji was thrown off guard.

'Didn't I mention that?'

"Um...yes Lady Hokage...he was temporarily blinded by the Uchiha's chidori, but as I said he claimed his vision was returning."

Tsunade closed her eyes and frowned.

"God dammit...well I guess we better go look for them."

Neji nodded.

"I will go."

Tsunade shook her head in denial.

"Neji, you and your team deserve rest," Tsunade shifted in her seat, "Why don't you go visit Tenten, I'm sure she's had enough of Lee by now."

Neji chuckled, a rare display of affection toward his teammates.

"Don't worry, I'll get a team together..." Tsunade motioned her hand towards the door, "Go, I'll make sure to tell you how things go."

Neji nodded and left the room. Tsunade dropped her head into her hands.

'Why does he always find a way to get into the strangest situations?'

"Shizune! Get me Team Kurenai!"

Naruto coughed blood, Sasuke had him by the throat, a chidori fused katana inches from his face.

"Naruto you idiot! Why would you trust me?" Sasuke smirked, but he held sadness within his gaze, "I won't kill you yet, but only because you are at your weakest...we will meet again Naruto, and next time, we will fight to the death."

Sasuke dropped Naruto, and sprinted off away from him.

He was unfamiliar with the land, but he knew the general direction from whence they came, and going backwards seemed a better idea than heading towards the leaf village.

He looked behind him, Naruto was crumpled in defeat and slowly fading into the distance.

"That'll show the idiot, I'll never return to that murdereous place!"

Sasuke ran on and on, until something appeared before him, far off in the distance.

'What! No it can't be.'

He continued to run, and the object grew bigger and bigger, until he stopped. He stood before the gates of the village hidden in the leaf.

"No! HOW!"

"I flipped you around while you were sleeping, just incase you tried to escape."

Sasuke turned around, Naruto was behind him.

"What happened to trusting me?" Sasuke clenched his fists.

"Eh, better safe then sorry." Naruto swung his fist into Sasuke's head, knocking him out, "Welcome home Sasuke!"

Sakura awoke from a goodnight's sleep, she looked to her clock. It was six-thirty. She hopped out of bed, and pulled open her curtains, the front gates of the village were clearly insight.

She saw a comotion as the two guards left their posts and ran through the gates.

"Naruto!"

Sakura quickly changed and raced out of her house. As she was running toward the gates, she put her hand on the plate of Naruto's headband. She had it tied around her neck, hanging loosley. As she approached the gates, she saw a familiar orange clad teenager, carrying a large sack over his shoulder.

"NARUTO!"

Naruto turned his head toward her, and smiled. As she got closer she spread out her arms, and wrapped him in an embrace, accidentally knocking him over. She layed on top of him, but he was lying uncomfertably on the sack he was carrying.

"Sorry Naruto, " She looked into his eyes for a second, then stood up in embarrassment.

Naruto laughed.

"Sakura, I can't support your weight and Sasuke's."

Sakura froze, did she hear him correctly?

"S-sasuke?"

Naruto nodded in triumph and stood up.

Sure enough, Sasuke was the large sack he was carrying.

Sakura began to cry softly, and looked up at Naruto.

"You did it Naruto...You finally did it." Sakura hugged Naruto again, and he returned the warmth.

MORE TO COME