The Heart of the Demon

Chapter 20

The Girlfriend

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters

AN: Sorry this chapter is mostly filler, but soon things will happen! So don't worry I'll update again soon with a chapter that is less filler.

Sakura sat up in her bed hitting the alarm to stop its incessant beeping. She stretched and got ready for the day, spending an excessive amount of time fixing her hair and putting on makeup after her shower. Her long pink hair hung to the middle of her back and held a shine only meticulously maintained hair could have. She had a red shirt with pink lining and small black shorts on along with standard shinobi sandals. Finally she tied her headband up to keep her hair out of her eyes. She smiled at herself in the mirror and made her way out of her house, her boyfriend would be up soon and she didn't want to keep him waiting.

Sasuke slowly sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes before looking at the time. He pushed himself out of bed and slipped on a pair of black pants and a white undershirt before walking out of his room. He could smell the breakfast Itachi was already cooking and smiled at the familiar aroma of bacon and eggs. He stopped at Naruto's room and knocked on the door "Breakfast Naruto" an annoyed groan came in response and Sasuke smiled to himself.

Naruto sighed and looked out the window to the budding morning sun and willed it to slide back below the horizon; she didn't want to wake up yet. A few moments later there was a knock on her door and she herd Sasuke through the door, she groaned at him and slowly shifted to a sitting position. Her hair hung messily around her and she spent a few minutes corralling it into an acceptable manner with a brush. She stepped out of her room and walked into the kitchen with a yawn.

The Uchiha brothers bid her good morning as she got a plate and placed food on it before taking a seat at the table. After a few moments Itachi started up a conversation "So Naruto what are your plans for today?"

"Well Hinata, Sasuke, and I are going to meet up and show off what we learned over the past four years, other than that I have nothing planned, Jariya decided to make me wait a week to actually start with ANBU."

Itachi nodded along with her "Why did you decide to join ANBU, it's not a life for everyone."

Naruto thought about it for a moment before shrugging "I've always been interested in ANBU and it just seemed like it was the right time to join." She of course had real motives for joining ANBU; it was an intricate part of her plan.

"ANBU life is rough, but if being part of ANBU is what you want then I wish you all the luck. I have no doubt you will be an exceptional member of ANBU."

Naruto smiled "Thank you Itachi some people weren't so supportive." She looked to Sasuke as she said it.

"Hey I'm supportive! I'm sure you'll be the best member of ANBU they've ever seen, I was just worried, and ANBU life demands a lot of your time I was just hoping we would be a team again."

Naruto smiled at him "Don't worry; the reaper himself couldn't kill me."

Sasuke chuckled lightly at the notion but it wasn't going to keep him from worrying. There was a knock on the door and Sasuke quickly put his plate in the sink "I'll get it." He walked to the door already suspecting who it was. He slid the door open and as expected Sakura stood on the other side.

"Morning Sasuke" she quickly pressed her lips to his in a short kiss.

"Morning Sakura, come on in, I'll be ready in a minute."

"Hey perv when do you want to meet Hinata and me… Oh, hey Sakura" Naruto called as she walked around the corner.

Sakura's jaw hung slightly open as she took in Naruto standing there in Sasuke's house in nothing but a tank top and a pair of panties. After a few moments she shook herself out of the initial shock "Hey Naruto." She hesitantly replied.

Naruto looked at the two easily noticing the way Sakura protectively clung to Sasuke's arm "Oh I see, you two are dating."

Sasuke rubbed the back of his head with his free hand "Kinda"

Sakura shot a hurt glance to Sasuke before fixing her gaze back on Naruto. Kinda? They had been dating for more than a year and that was his response?

Naruto raised an eyebrow for a second "Anyway when do you wanna meet up later?"

"How about training ground seven around noon?"

"Sounds good" she turned back down the hallway and went into her room putting on some clothes before going to the bathroom and putting on her eye shadow and brushing her teeth.

Naruto slipped out of the bathroom and gave Sasuke a wave as she passed him in the hallway. She walked into the living room heading to the door but the still waiting Sakura caught her attention before she made it out of the house. "Hey Naruto, I was just wondering, why are you staying here?"

Naruto cocked an eyebrow at the pinkette "Because they said I could."

"Well yeah but why aren't you staying at your apartment?"

"I didn't want to."

Sakura sighed it wasn't that big of deal she knew Naruto and Sasuke had always been close but she also knew how Sasuke felt about Naruto and her staying in his house walking around in virtually nothing had her worried. Just as Naruto was about to leave again she spoke up "What are you guys doing at noon?"

"Huh? We're just going to show each other what we've learned over the past few years, you can come if you want, I'm sure Sasuke wouldn't mind."

Sakura gave a small smile before another question came to mind "Um Naruto, why did you call Sasuke perv?"

Naruto smiled and laughed lightly "Because he is a perv, I'm back for less than a day and he's already peeked on me in the shower. Anyway I better be off, see you later Sakura."

Sakura stammered and tried to say something but Naruto was out the door and gone before she got it out. Sasuke had peeked on Naruto? No Sasuke wouldn't do that, he was a gentleman whatever happened she was sure Naruto was exaggerating or more likely out right lying.

Sasuke walked with Sakura to training ground seven, she had been acting odd all morning and he couldn't figure out why, of course she wouldn't just tell him, that would be too easy. They arrived shortly and Naruto, Hinata, and Shikamaru were waiting in the training ground laughing about something.

Hinata noticed them coming and waved causing the others to turn and wave to the approaching couple. Naruto smiled broadly at the two "Great now that you guys are here we can start showing off, something I personally never get tired of."

Sasuke laughed lightly "You know showing off isn't really a good thing."

"It is when you always have more to show" she stuck her tongue out childishly at him. "Alright who wants to start?" she looked around to the other members of the group before pointing to Shikamaru "Shikamaru you go first, show me what you learned"

Shikamaru sighed "Alright" He made his signature seal and his shadow extended and connected to hers causing her to lock up and mimic his position.

Naruto scoffed "You could already do that!"

"I'm not done yet" shadow hands climbed up Naruto's body wrapping around it all the way up to her neck.

Naruto struggled against the shadows as they squeezed around her "All right, I think I've seen enough"

"I'm still not done" shadow tendrils split off the shadow and pilfered her weapons pouch pulling out several three pronged kunai. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at them "These are some odd kunai"

"They were my father's."

He placed the kunai back into her pouch and cut the jutsu "I thought you didn't know who your parents were?"

"I didn't, now I do"

"Wait what? When did you find out who your parents were?" Hinata interjected

"A while ago now, jiji gave me some of their things when we left, guess he thought it was time I know about them."

"Well who are they? What were they like?"

"They were both awesome, but we can get into it later right now we're supposed to be showing off our new skills."

"But…"

"There will be plenty of time to tell you about them later Hinata, it's going to take a while."

Hinata sighed "fine."

Naruto smiled "Alright who's next?" she looked to Sakura "How about you Sakura, do you have anything cool to show off?"

Sakura's face scrunched up slightly in annoyance, she had learned a lot over the past four years but most of it was genjutsu and medical jutsu and kind of hard to show off. "Of course I have." She huffed and her hand glowed green "I've been learning medical jutsu"

Naruto raised an eyebrow "Alright let's see how good you are." She took one clawed finger and sliced up her arm causing a vicious laceration. She held the now profusely bleeding arm to Sakura who, along with the rest of the group, was stunned by the action. "Well, what are you waiting for? Heal it."

Sakura shook herself out of it and quickly started healing the wound "What the hell was that Naruto!"

"You needed an injury to show off you healing skills, so I provided one."

"Do you have any idea how much damage you could have done? You could have killed yourself!"

Naruto smirked "It will take a lot more than a cut on the arm to kill me, besides you were right here to heal it."

Sakura shook her head disapprovingly as she finished healing the wound, it had gone surprising fast "Does it hurt?" she asked as she poked the arm.

Naruto laughed "No, it doesn't hurt." After a few moments she settled down "So anything else to show me?"

Sakura shook her head "No I think that's enough, most of what I've learned is genjutsu anyway."

"Then show me a genjutsu, put me under the most powerful one you know."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh come on Sakura are you afraid of hurting me? Don't worry, I can handle anything you throw at me."

Sakura narrowed her eyes, fine if that's how she wants to play it "I don't know Naruto, I've learned some pretty strong genjutsu, stuff used to interrogate the toughest criminals."

"And I want to see it, I'll be fine don't worry."

"Naruto…" she froze up as she heard a voice whisper into her ear. Slowly she turned around to see Gaara standing there as if he had never died.

Naruto choked up and stepped away from the ghost before looking back to where her friends were but they weren't there anymore. She looked back to Gaara but he was different now, there was a bloody wound on his stomach, the wound that killed him. "Why Naruto, why did you let me die? Why didn't you avenge me?"

She shook her head, this was genjutsu, well she did ask Sakura to put her under the most powerful one she knew.

Naruto stood still with a blank face staring into nothing and Sakura smirked "Looks like I got her."

"Is she going to be alright? What kind of genjutsu did you put her under?"

Sakura looked slightly ashamed "Well it's the most powerful one I know, it is designed to break the target, force them to relive the most painful moments of their life."

"What?! How could you use a jutsu like that on Naruto?!" Sasuke shouted

"She asked me too, don't worry I'll break the genjutsu before anything bad happens."

"No need, I Already broke it." Naruto said now back in the real world

Sakura snapped her head to Naruto "Wha- how? That genjutsu is supposed to be nearly impossible to break out of."

Naruto smirked "Maybe you didn't cast it right, to be fair though I've yet to encounter a genjutsu I couldn't break out of. It was powerful and defiantly very useful, an impressive jutsu to say the least."

Sakura frowned slightly at the insult and compliment.

"Only two left and then I'll show off what I learned, so Sasuke, Hinata who wants to go next?"

They looked to each other and Sasuke motioned for Hinata to go "Ladies first."

Hinata gave a small smile and nodded "Alright" she stepped away from the group and activated her Byakugan "I've learned a lot since you've been gone Naruto" She smiled at her friend before spinning rapidly "Rotation!" She called and Naruto saw the same ball of chakra form around her as had formed around Neji in their battle during the chunin exams.

Naruto clapped as she came to a stop "Awesome Hinata!"

Hinata smiled brightly at her "I have a lot more to show." She shot her palm toward a tree "Eight trigrams air palm!" a blast of wind shot out of her hand and slammed into the tree which splintered and broke under the force collapsing to the ground. She turned back to Naruto with a proud smile "If you would please provide a clone."

"Of course" a clone popped into existence next to her and looked to Hinata "At your service."

Hinata noted that Naruto created the clone without even making the hand seal "Please stand over there" she pointed a few meters away from her and the group. Once the clone was in position she took a unique stance and activated her Byakugan "Eight trigrams sixty-four palms!" Her hands lit up in blue fire that looked like lion heads and she shot forward nailing the clone with the jutsu.

The clone was dispelled from the jutsu and Naruto whistled at the sight of it "Wow Hinata that was amazing."

Hinata smiled widely at her only slightly winded from the exertion of the various jutsu.

Shikamaru clapped "That's my girl."

Naruto watched as they came together in a short kiss with a smile, she was happy Hinata had found someone to love. She turned and grinned at Sasuke "Alright Sasuke, your turn."

Sasuke smirked back at her "Alright." He stepped forward and bent his knees holding his right wrist with his left hand before the area was filled with high-pitched chirping sounds and a ball of condensed electricity chakra formed in his hand. He shot forward and slammed the chidori into a large boulder causing it to explode. He turned to Naruto with a smirk on his face.

"The chidori huh, so Kakashi did teach it to you. It's almost surprising he was willing to pass on his one original jutsu."

"I suppose he was probably trying to get me to move past my distaste of him after I found out about your past."

"Did it work?"

He shrugged "To a degree, I still don't really like him but we can work together without any issues."

Naruto nodded "Well that can't be all you have to show, come on impress me."

Sasuke smirked again and pulled out a tanto he had strapped to his lower back. He held the tanto out in front of him, pointing it at a tree a stream of electricity infused chakra extended the short blade the several meters to its target. The chidori stream easily pierced through the tree and split it as he brought the blade up extending it as he went to keep it completely through the tree. As he finished splitting the tree it groaned and its two halve bent toward the ground eventually snapping with a loud crack and slamming into the ground.

Sakura clapped and cheered, she had of course seen his jutsu before but they were always impressive to behold.

"Very nice, easy to surprise someone with a jutsu like that." Naruto complimented

"I've learned a ton of other elemental jutsu as well, too many to show off, that was just one of my original jutsu."

"You made that? That is very impressive, what do you call it?"

"I call it chidori stream."

Naruto grinned slightly and shook her head "Of course."

"I do have one more thing to show you." His eyes morphed from their regular coal black into the red of the sharingan. Instead of the regular thee tomoe sharingan his were three red ellipses crossing each other with a black pupil, the places where the ellipses crossed were also black giving the effect of six triangles around the pupil.

"Sasuke don't…" Sakura tried to get out but was too late as a tree burst into black flames and a trail of blood fell from his eye.

"The Amaterasu, the everlasting black flames."

Naruto's eyes widened, that jutsu could really come in handy. "Wow, how did you do that? Can you teach me?"

Sasuke put out the flames with his other eye causing it to bleed as well. He wiped the blood away and put his tanto back into its sheath "I would if I could but it's one of the sharingan's jutsu, it's not something you can learn."

She pouted slightly, she would have liked to be able to do that. She brightened back up shortly after "Okay now it's my turn!"

Sasuke walked back over to Sakura so Naruto could show off "What were you thinking Sasuke, you know the consequences of using the mangekyo sharingan, you're supposed to only use it in an emergency." Sakura's voice was filled with concern.

"It's fine Sakura, I'm not going to go blind from one use, I haven't used the mangekyo for months." She frowned worriedly at him but didn't say anything else as Naruto started.

Naruto first created two clones that then pushed elemental chakra into their gauntlets, one bursting into flame the other pulsing with wind chakra. "So you guys already know I'm a master of fire and wind chakra." She then pushed chakra into her own gauntlets causing them to spark and start chirping with electricity "Well I mastered lightning chakra as well." The three of them shot bursts of their chakra into the air causing a bright explosion when they collided. A pulse of electricity shot out from explosion and washed over the training ground causing everyone but Naruto to lock up for a few seconds as their muscles spasmed from the shock. "Needless to say I can make much more powerful blasts then that."

Sasuke smiled slightly as he regained control over his muscles "Nice trick, how were you not affected?"

"Coat yourself in chakra before the pulse hits you and you won't be affected."

Shikamaru chuckled "Giving away all your secrets huh."

"Well it's not like we're going to be fighting, and if we are ever out on a mission together it would be good for you guys to know how to avoid being hit if I use this jutsu." Shikamaru nodded and she continued "I also learned some family jutsu from the scrolls that jiji gave me." She held out her hand and a ball of swirling chakra formed in it "It's called the rasengan." She dashed to a boulder and slammed the rasengan into it causing it to explode much like with Sasuke's chidori.

"That's an impressive jutsu, your family must have been powerful" Shikamaru complimented

"Thanks, I also learned to seal, apparently my clan was renowned for it before they were destroyed."

"I've read about the Uzumaki, they were close with Konaha before their tragic destruction, it's good you're keeping your families legacy alive." Hinata said smiling

"It does make me feel close to them, and my parents, they were both seal masters. I also learned some healing jutsu from Tsunade but my favorite thing she taught me is this." She jumped and did a spin in the air before slamming her heel on the ground. The ground split from force of the strike leaving fissure in the ground.

"Remind me to never piss you off." Sasuke said jokingly

Naruto laughed lightly "Anyone want to go get some dinner?"

"Yeah we'd love to" Hinata happily agreed, Shikamaru simply nodded in agreement.

"I'm up for it, how about you Sakura?" Sasuke said

Sakura looked around the group thinking about it before finally agreeing.

The next few days passed slowly as Naruto struggled to find things to keep her occupied. Sasuke and Itachi had to leave the village for some clan business for a few days and as much as Hinata would have liked to spend all the time Naruto had before starting in ANBU with her she had responsibilities that she needed to attend to. The boredom led to Naruto wandering aimlessly around the village.

Naruto idly browsed a weapons store gazing at the various weapons lining the walls. An intricately designed katana caught her eye, she stared at the fantastical design outlined in gold on the sheath and the jewels embedded in the hilt. She grabbed the weapon and unsheathed it, the blade also had intricate designs carved into it, it was a gaudy thing clearly meant as a show piece and not an actual weapon, no doubt it was there to catch the eyes of any nobleman visiting the village. She sheathed the sword and placed it back on its pedestal, this boredom was going to drive her mad.

"Naruto?" She turned to see Kiba.

"Hey Kiba."

Kiba smiled widely "Looking to buy that thing?"

She looked back to the katana then again to Kiba "That tourist bait? No."

Kiba chuckled "So what are doing?"

"Desperately trying to stave off boredom, if I don't find something to do it's going to kill me."

Kiba's eyes brightened "You want to go get a drink or something?"

Naruto smiled "Sure."

"Great, there's a nice bar a couple blocks away." He led Naruto out of the store completely blowing off what he was there to do. He bent down and patted Akamaru on the head when they got outside "Hey buddy can you got tell Shino something came up and I'm not going to make it?" Akamaru barked in response and dashed off.

They made their way to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks, Kiba was finally getting the chance he had always wanted, if he played his cards right tonight he might just get to be with Naruto. "So how have you been? You're starting ANBU in a couple of days right?"

Naruto set down her drink "I've been bored, with Sasuke and Itachi out of the village and Hinata so busy I haven't had much to do, at least when I start at ANBU I'll have something to fill the time."

"You know if you ever want someone to hang out with I'm always willing."

She smiled sweetly at him "I may just have to take you up on that." She finished off her drink and ordered another. "So what about you, what have you been doing?"

He shrugged finishing off his own drink "Mostly training, our team hasn't been getting many missions lately since Kuranai sensei is pregnant."

"Wait really? Who's the father?"

He motioned behind her and when she turned elaborated "Asuma sensei." Asuma and Kakashi were sitting only a few chairs away drinking and talking.

Kakashi noticed Naruto looking at them "Hey Naruto, heard you were back in the village, I suppose I'm not really surprised you haven't come around to say hi."

"Why don't you two join us." Asuma offered

Naruto looked to Kiba who shrugged "Alright." She quickly downed the rest of her drink and ordered something a bit harder before they moved to sit with the two older jonin. Kakashi smiled as they came over, he wanted to fix his and Naruto's relationship or at least heal it a bit.

"So what are you two talking about?" Naruto asked to try and get rid of the tension surrounding them.

"Nothing really, just chatting." Kakashi offered.

Naruto looked at the open bingo book sitting on the table "Really? It looks like you're talking about something interesting."

"We were talking about Akatsuki." Asuma said.

"What are Akatsuki?" Kiba questioned.

"They're a group of S-ranked criminals." Naruto answered.

"They're some of the most powered shinobi in generations." Kakashi added.

"We were discussing they're possible goals, they've shown increased activity in the land of fire lately."

"The most worrying thing is this new member they've picked up, we have no idea where he came from and have virtually no information on him."

"All we know is that he goes by "The Phoenix" and he is possible the most powerful member of the group, no one has ever survived an encounter with him."

"Akatsuki had a sudden change in tactics right about when this Phoenix guy showed up, The Hokage believes he might have taken them over and anyone powerful enough to do that is a danger to the village."

"Do you really think there is someone that powerful wandering around?" Kiba questioned.

"It's hard to say, we haven't been able to find anything on him, it is possible Akatsuki made up this new member but I can't see what they would hope to gain by doing so." Kakashi responded.

"Intimidation perhaps, Akatsuki is powerful but hardly invincible, maybe they're trying to scare off the hidden villages while they prepare for something." Naruto offered.

"It makes since, if the villages think Akatsuki has someone so powerful with them they are more likely to prepare for a possible attack than to go looking for one. If they are trying to prepare something that can't be interrupted than it would be a good strategy." Asuma commented.

Kakashi stood and grabbed the bingo book "It was good to see you guys, have a nice night."

Asuma also stood "I should be going too, Kuranai will be expecting me home soon."

"See you later." Naruto and Kiba waved to them as they left.

They stayed for a couple more hours having a good time, by the time they left Naruto could hardly stand. Kiba caught her as she stumbled and she giggled "I… I may have *hic* had a bit too much to *hic* drink."

Kiba laughed, he was hardly sober but he was a lot better off than Naruto "Maybe just a bit." He had had a lot of fun and from the looks of her so had Naruto, he might just have a chance with her after all. They started stumbling toward the Uchiha district to get Naruto into bed.

Sakura was headed home after dropping off a welcome home basket for Sasuke; he would likely be back tomorrow morning. She walked down the now mostly empty street, most people were already home for the night, and saw Naruto and Kiba slowing making their way toward the Uchiha district.

As they approached her Naruto raised one arm and waved to Sakura "Hey Sa…" she swallowed to keep from vomiting "Sakura." Once they were close enough she latched her arms around Sakura in a drunken hug.

"Hey Naruto." She chuckled lightly as drunken woman wrapped her arms around her "I see you've been drinking."

Naruto giggled and pulled slightly away, holding onto Sakura's shoulders for support "Yeah we…" she looked to Kiba and giggled again nearly falling over as Sakura caught her. Sakura led Naruto to a nearby bench and sat her down.

Kiba followed after them but Sakura stopped him pushing him out of Naruto's earshot and giving him a death glare "If you think I'm letting you take advantage of her."

Kiba threw his arms in the air "Wo why would even think that?! I'm just helping her home."

Sakura crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a questioning look "Alright Kiba you're a real gentleman but I'll take her from here, you can go on home."

"But…"

"I've got it." She gave him a stern look and he finally gave up.

He looked over to Naruto and waved "Sakura's gonna get you home from here, I'll see you later Naruto, I had a great night."

Naruto gave a wide smile and waved at him "So did I, thanks Kiba." She managed to get it out without much trouble.

Kiba walked away back toward the Inuzuka compound and Sakura went over and helped Naruto up. This was a great opportunity and she wasn't going to miss it, nobody would suspect her of doing anything when she could hardly stand. As she put her arm around Sakura's shoulder she placed a small seal on her neck that glowed blue for a second before fading from view.

It didn't take them long to reach the house and Naruto used her key to open the door and stumble in. Sakura helped her to her room and out of her clothes before she crawled into the bed. Naruto sprawled over the bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Sakura watched Naruto for a few minutes, she looked so innocent when she was asleep but Sakura could still see her tearing Gato's head off when she closed her eyes. Why did all the guys chase after her? Sakura couldn't understand it, Naruto was a brutal viscous person even if she hid it well, why did all the guys want her, Gaara, Kiba, Even Sasuke always pined after her. 'He was never really yours'

Sakura's attention snapped back to Naruto but she was still fast asleep, she could have sworn she heard her say something. 'I can take him whenever I want, you were just a cheap stand-in' That time she was sure she heard it, she backed out of the room and sat on the couch in the living room. 'You can't even compare, you'll never be what he wants.'

"Get out of my head!" She shouted rubbing her temples trying to will the voice away. She was plagued by the voice all night and hardly managed to get any sleep, Naruto was trying to steal Sasuke away from her, the bitch, after everything she had gone through to get him she wasn't letting him go.