Departure
The sun bleached the dark sky as Shino strolled through the sleeping village. With his jacket collar covering his face and his hands in his pockets, he headed for the village gate until a shrill voice shattered his quiet mood. Ino appeared next to him with her light blonde hair blowing in the wind.
"What'cha doing, Shino?" Ino asked in her flirty voice.
"Exactly what you are doing," he replied in a steady emotionless voice.
"So," she looked down at her feet, "did you say good-bye to your family?"
"Why would I need to do that? Good-byes are useless," he stated.
Ino opened her mouth to retort when a flash of yellow whipped by her face.
"Watch where you're going Naruto!" she shouted after him.
Naruto was feeling a mixture of guilt, sadness, and anger when he finally arrived at the village gate. Why did I do that? It only made it harder. He kept saying to himself over and over again. He knew that he left her heart broken and he knew that it would be impossible for him to make it heal. Especially with her anger.
The gate stood before him looking more like a prison gate than a welcome to coming visitors. The two enormous tea green doors that always were opened unless there was an opposing threat on the other side and the open forest greeted Naruto with grief and regret.
"Why did I kiss her?" he mumbled to himself as he paced the entry waiting for the rest of the team members.
"Actually, I think it was me that kissed you," came a stone cold voice. "Why did you run off like that last night?"
Naruto turned around to be face to face with a fuming red-faced Sakura.
"Are you going to answer me or just run off like you did last time?" she demanded.
"Sakura, I'm sorry. I can explain what happened. Well, actually, I can't."
Sakura turned to stalk off the direction she came from hoping that Naruto would try to stop her. When he didn't, she whipped around to unleash her anger when she saw tears fall down his cheeks. Instead of going to comfort him she turned her head and kept walking. It's his turn to shed tears! She screamed in her mind.
Yamato walked out of the hokage's office and headed for his destination. He braced himself for whatever Naruto was going to say about being late. He was surprised to see the hyper- active ninja standing calmly at the opening with no facial expression. He looked more like Sai than Naruto.
"Is there something wrong, Naruto?" he asked with curiosity. Naruto turned around and shook his head no. "Okay, then. Where is the rest of the team?" As he finished his sentence, Ino and Shino appeared followed by Neji.
"If we are all here, I would like to head out as soon as possible," Yamato announced to the group.
"Right!" they agreed in unison and they all set off into the forest.
A pink-haired ninja stalked into her room and slammed the door shut.
"Ahhhhhhh!" she screamed as she punched into her pillow. "He is such baka! I can't believe him! He didn't even give me an explanation!" She sighed and rolled over on her side facing a black velvet case with her name engraved at the top. It was the birthday gift that Naruto had given her. She remembered exactly what had happened that night.
Sakura lounged on the top of her roof as she waited hoped that at least one person would remember her birthday. Naruto didn't even congratulate her on turning nineteen.
"Sakura?"
She turned around to see who had called her name and saw Naruto. He was fiddling with something in his hands and Sakura could tell that he didn't know what to do.
"Is there something you need?" she asked.
"Well… I didn't have the chance to um… wish you happy birthday… so um… I um…"
"What is it, Naruto?" she demanded but in a kind and gently way.
Naruto shoved the object in his hands towards her and said, "I got you this for you birthday."
The velvet case had a pink bow tied clumsily at the top. She laughed at the thought of Naruto's big hands tying the tiny knot. When she looked inside, she nearly choked Naruto in a tight hug.
"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed as she pinned the broach onto her red dress. It was in the shape of a cherry blossom with petal like ribbons flowing from the center. She laughed again at the sight of Naruto's flushed face.
"You didn't have to do this Naruto. It's gorgeous and I can't thank you enough for it!" She pulled Naruto in for another hug and gave him a peck on the cheek before climbing in through her bedroom window.
"He didn't run away that time," she stated. "Maybe something really was wrong."
She thought back to the look on his face when he said how it would be harder for both of them. What did he mean? She asked herself. She shook off the memory and was replaced with the image of Naruto crying as she left.
"When he gets back from the mission, I'll apologize," she resolved. "And I'll tell him how I feel," she added as she feel asleep.
