Summery: Naruto comes back from his long training with Jiraiya. Sadly for the leaf village, hanging out with Jiraiya had some big consequences...

Chapter 11. Hidden in the shadows! The truth behind the necklace!

Hello everyone =D I took a look at how many reviews I got and I almost fainted! XD No just kidding, but wow I never had so many reviews ^^ Looks like my writing is going to good way =) I will become a good writer some day, so just keep following my story's alright? ^^ I'm also trying to become so good at this language that I can speak and write it as good as dutch ^^ But really, becoming a writer is my dream. I write poems, lyrics and story's. =) I'm new with the story writing, but I'll get there ^^

Enjoy the chapter and please review afterwards. =D

P.s. This story is going to have some more depth in it. At least, I'll try xD Oh and in parts of this chapter, I'll take you back in the past. xD When it's in the past the text is like this: Like this, like this xD

P.P.S. Alright finally a really big chapter xD It's to make up for the short chapter before this one. xD

Last time in Naruto's change:

Naruto sighed as he left himself fall on the grass. Sakura didn't talk to him since what happened. And hell, he wasn't even sure what exactly happened. She suddenly got sad and walked away from him. He knew it had a connection to grandma Tsunade somehow, but he didn't come any further. He wanted to just ask Sakura about it, but something was holding him back. He took the necklace he won from the bet with grandma Tsunade in his hand and held it in the sunlight, so it shined brightly. He thought she was looking at his necklace for a moment. 'Did it had something to do with it?' Naruto thought as he studied it. Then he dropped the necklace and put his hands under his head. "No, that's not it.." He closed his eyes and felt his mind drift away as he slowly dozed off to sleep...

Meanwhile someone stared at him from the shadows... Waiting.... But for what?

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Sakura's chin rested on her hands as she gazed at the campfire before her. Jiraiya already went to get some sleep in his tent and Naruto.. Actually, she didn't know where Naruto was. She stood up and went looking for him. A few seconds later she saw him lying on the grass, sleeping. Sakura smiled softly. 'That Naruto...' She walked to him and kneeled next to him. Her eyes moved over his body, until they rested at his necklace. She couldn't help but worry about it as she softly stroke the necklace with her finger. It had been bothering her from the day she decided to follow Naruto and Jiraiya. She never let anyone notice, and actually she didn't thought about it for a single second. When she was around Naruto... Well he just made her forget about all the bad things... That was one of the reasons she admired him so much. But when she saw the necklace.. The feeling of fear struck her again. The fear to lose Naruto...

-x-

"Where do you think your going to?" Startled by the sudden voice, Sakura turned around to see Tsunade standing there. It was dark outside and Sakura was about to follow Jiraiya and Naruto.

"Tsunade.. I-I..." Sakura stuttered.

Tsunade smirked. "You didn't actually thought you could leave without me finding out about it, now did you? I'm the hokage and since your my student I know everything about you.

Sakura hung her head down in defeat. "I just couldn't stand it.. The thought of missing him again for so long.." She said quietly. A single tear rolled down her face.

"Sakura.. Don't worry, I'm not going to stop you.." Tsunade said with a serious voice.

Sakura looked up at Tsunade with big eyes. "W-What? Really? B-but why?" She stuttered.

Tsunade smiled softly. "I think you know why.. It's for the same reason you decided to follow him.."

Sakura blushed slightly. "Oh..." Was all she could say.

"Sakura... Have I ever told you about the day I met Naruto?" Tsunade suddenly asked.

Sakura thought for a moment. "No, not really no.."

Tsunade looked up at the sky as she sighed. "Well there's something you should now before you leave..."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Something I should now? About Naruto, you mean?"

Tsunade nodded. The serious look on her face didn't go away.

"When I met him he was a small irritating and loud mouthed boy with no brains at all. He certainly changed, except for his dream of becoming hokage some day... I still remember the look on his face as he said exactly the same words as my little brother and the love of my life..... They look so much alike..."

Sakura blinked and looked at Tsunade confused. "Your little brother and the.. Love of your life? Tsunade you never even told me you had a little brother. I don't understand any of this.."

Tsunade sighed as she smiled a faint smile. She sat down on a bench close to her and patted the sport next to her. Sakura walked to her and sat down.

"When I met Naruto.. He reminded me so much of my little brother and the man I grew to love.. They.. They both died years ago.."

"I'm so sorry.." Sakura said quietly.

Tsunade smiled softly. "It's alright.. It hurt me a lot, but seeing Naruto.. It's like being with them again, so I don't have to miss them that much... I never told him, but he's really like a little brother to me.. Maybe that's why I'm being so hard on him.. Because I need him to fulfill his wish of becoming hokage... I set my hopes on him.. Maybe if he becomes hokage some day, I'll have fate once again..."

Sakura gazed at Tsunade. She never saw this side of her. And that look in her eyes...

"I still don't understand Tsunade..What exactly happened to your brother and the man you loved? And have fate in what?"

Tsunade clutched her hands. "How they died? .. My little brother died in the war.. After that day, I proposed my idea to the hokage, of putting a medical ninja in every team.. But he said it would cost to much time and work... Then he stood up and said I was right.. After that we slowly fell in love with each other.. I gave him the necklace I gave my brother on his twelfth birthday.. He died the day after that... And shortly after I gave him the necklace he... He died on a mission.. Right in front of me.. I tried my best to heal him, but he.. He.."

Sakura lied her hand on Tsunade's shoulder as Tsunade sobbed quietly. "That must have been hard.."

Tsunade wiped some tears away. "You wanted to know what I lost my fate in? Well I lost my fate in dreams.. I didn't believe they could come true anymore.. My brother and love shared the dream of becoming hokage to protect the village from any harm.. But they both died.. If Naruto would become hokage.. If he would survive.. Then maybe I'll believe again.. I know it's wrong to put so much weight on his shoulders but..."

"But there's something about him that makes people put there hopes on him." Sakura said with a soft smile on her face.

Tsunade looked at Sakura with big eyes for a moment. Then she smiled back. "Exactly.."

"But why did you tell me this now?" Sakura asked.

Tsunade's smile faded as soon as it came. "It's about the necklace I gave him..."

-x-

Sakura's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound. She looked at Naruto who began to wake up.

Naruto opened his eyes and as he sat up he yawned. Then he looked at Sakura. "Sakura? Were you spying on me?" He said as he narrowed his eyes.

Sakura sweat dropped. 'I can't believe how someone so cute when asleep can be so... Annoying when he's awake..' She thought as she smacked him on his head. "Off course not you goof!"

"What did you do that for?" Naruto said as he hold the place on his head she smacked him.

Sakura turned around with an angry look on her face. "That's for saying I was spying on you."

"Sheesh, I just asked.." Naruto said. "What were you doing then?"

Sakura flinched slightly. 'I can't tell him about it.. At least not yet.. Maybe some day..'

She turned around and smiled nervously. "Oh nothing I just went here to wake you up, that's all. Your going to catch a cold if you sleep outside."

Naruto off course didn't buy it. But he was too tired to let her explain herself. "Whatever.." He mumbled as he lay back down on the grass.

Sakura sighed. "You never listen, do you?" Then she smiled and lay down next to him.

Naruto looked at her from the corners of his eyes. He grinned widely. "You really do know me Sakura."

Sakura smirked. "I told you so." Then she closed her eyes, relaxing her body.

Naruto's eyes catched a beautiful little flower next to his right side. He picked it and turned on his side, facing Sakura.

Sakura opened her right eye and looked in the grinning face of Naruto, who was holding a beautiful flower in his hand. She now opened both of her eyes and sat up.

Naruto held the flower out for her. "Here you go."

Sakura smiled at him as she took the flower from him. A pink tint spread over her cheeks. "Thank you.. It's beautiful.." She said quietly as she looked at the flower. 'Naruto changed in so many ways... He's even more mature now..'

Sakura's eyes widened when Naruto suddenly took the hand she was holding the flower with in his own hand. Their eyes met and they both leaned in for a soft and sweet kiss.

Naruto suddenly pulled back. He was smiling nervously. "I'm sorry, I didn't knew what came over me.." He muttered.

Sakura couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. 'It's nothing like Naruto to pull away..' She thought as she looked at him.

She wanted to say to him that it was alright. That she wanted nothing but to kiss him and be in his arms forever.. But she just couldn't say it..

"Good night Naruto.." Sakura mumbled as she lay down again, closing her eyes.

Naruto sighed. "Good night Sakura.." He said quietly before he did the same.

A few minutes later they were both asleep.. Not knowing about the person who was still hiding in the shadows...

-x-

"Now, I can't believe your twelve Nawaki." Tsunade said to her little brother.. "Happy birthday." She said smiling with her eyes closed.

"Huh?" Nawaki said as he looked at the present his sister was reaching out to him.

He humphed. "Just because your my sister, you don't have to give me presents. I'm not a little kid anymore, you now that?!" And he gave the present back.

Tsunade didn't took it. "Oh yeah? Your still a kid as far as I'm concerned." Then she straightened her back. "Anyway, whether you are a kid or not, go on and open it. I think your definitely going to like it." She said as she leaned on the railing before her. They were standing on a high building, from where you had a view over the whole Leave Village. Nawaki looked at the present in his hands and opened it. When he opened the box he took a beautiful necklace out. He held It before his face as his eyes widened. "Sister.. Is this what I think it is?" He asked amazed. Tsunade smiled. "Yep. It belonged to our grandfather. The necklace of the first hokage." Nawaki smiled widely and ran to his sister, hugging her tightly. "I love you!" Tsunade hugged him back. "I thought it had more sense for you to have it. I know you had your eye on it for a long time now. Take good care of it." Nawaki pulled back and smiled. "Oh I will and not just the necklace." He said as he looked at the village. "This entire village meant a lot to our grandfather." He put the necklace on. "And I'm gonna' take good care of it." He said. Tsunade looked at her little brother. "Nawaki..." She said amazed. "After all. I'm the grandson of the hokage who build the village in the leaves." Tsunade chuckled. "Remember like you always say, a man never goes back on his word." She said as she walked to him. "Right. And I give my word, I'll follow my grandfather footsteps and be just like him." Then Nawaki turned to the village again and grinned widely. "To be hokage. That is my dream!" Tsunade smiled. "Nawaki, take off you headband. Just for a sec." Tsunade said to him. "Huh?" Said Nawaki as he turned to her. "Go on, take it off. I have one more present I wanna' give you." Tsunade said as she took off his headband. Nawaki looked up at her. "it's a magic charm, to make your dream come true." Tsunade said as she leaned in and kissed him on the forehead. Nawaki looked at her and then he grinned widely. They both laughed...

-x-

Tsunade's thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on the door. "Come in.." She said sadly.

Shizune walked in her office. "Hello Tsunade, I.. Tsunade is something wrong?" Shizune asked when she saw the look on Tsunade's face.

"It's nothing.." Tsunade said as she took a sip of her drink. Shizune frowned. "Come on Tsunade, I know you. Something is bothering you.."

Tsunade sighed. "You can never just leave me be, can you?" She said with annoyance in her voice.

"No, I can't now tell me what's wrong. It looked like you were thinking of something." Shizune said.

Tsunade looked at her drink. "Nawaki..." Was the only thing she said.

Shizune's eyes went big. 'Nawaki?' She came closer. "Were you thinking of that again?" She asked.

Tsunade nodded. "I told Sakura about it... She just had to now.."

"Sakura? Have you seen her? I actually came her, because she's missing." Shizune said.

"Oh she's just training with Naruto and Jiraiya.." Tsunade said.

"Training? With them? Why didn't I know about this?" Shizune said.

"Don't worry so much, she'll be fine. She's a lot stronger then you think she is. And besides.. I had to let her go.. She's the best one for the job.." Tsunade said, who was getting more and more annoyed by Shizune.

"You mean, you send her for that? So she's not only there to train, but it's also a secret mission?" Shizune asked as her eyes went big.

"Indeed.." Tsunade said as she took another sip of her drink.

"But Tsunade.. Are you sure she can? I mean.." Shizune muttered.

"Stop wining already. I won't change my mind, now go." Tsunade said irritated.

Shizune let her head hang in defeat. "Alright..." She said quietly as she walked out Tsunade's office.

Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her temples. "I'm counting on you Sakura.." She said to herself. Then her eyelids became heavier... She closed her eyes and fell asleep..

-x-

The person that was hiding in the shadows slowly came closer when he was sure they were asleep. He kneeled next to Naruto and let his eye fall on the necklace he was wearing. An evil smirk came on his face as he moved his hand to the necklace... His eyes widened when Naruto's eyes suddenly shot open and he grabbed the person's wrist. "So I was right. There was someone watching us.." Naruto said with a growl.

"But how? I made sure you were asleep." The person said.

Naruto smirked. "Well I wasn't. I just waited for you to come out."

The person looked with big eyes at Sakura, who suddenly opened her eyes too and sat up.

"Great plan Naruto, It worked perfectly." Sakura said smiling.

"I see your little plan worked Naruto." Said Jiraiya who walked out the tent.

"I don't understand. What's going on here?" The person said.

"You still don't understand?" Jiraiya said smirking. "This was all part of our plan. Letting you think we were sleeping so you would make a move. You were already watching us when we first arrived at this spot, right?"

"This can't be.." The person said. "So the spar between you two??"

Naruto grinned. "Right, that was just to fool you. We were just taking it easy. We're way stronger then we let you think we were. Besides.. I would never let Sakura beat me."

Sakura looked at Naruto angrily. "What did you say?! I can beat you anytime!"

Naruto chuckled. "Why don't you proof it in a serious spar between us, right after we killed this bastard that is.." He looked at the person, who was wearing only black clothes and a black mask like Kakashi did.

Sakura smirked. "Alright, I will."

Jiraiya sweat dropped. 'They don't take anything serious now do they?'

-x-

It was dark outside. I breathed heavily, because I ran here as fast as I could. Horror was spread over my face. I wanted to go look at him, but Jiraiya stopped me by laying his hand on my shoulder. "No. It's better you don't look Tsunade." He said seriously. Tsunade looked at him.


"What difference can it make?" Orochimaru said with a false smile. He was leaning against the wall of the building they were at. "The condition the body is in. She won't even be able to recognize her little brother-"

"Silence Orochimaru!" Jiraiya cut him off.

Orochimaru just smiled. "This is what happens in war.. Shinobi are just left on the battlefield to die.. There are no doctors or healers to help them.." He said as he took something out of his clothes. "It's too bad the boy was so reckless. As if he thought he was invincible.. And the day after receiving such a lovely gift too.." He hold the necklace Tsunade gave him in his hand as he smirked...

-x-

Tsunade slowly opened her eyes. 'Damn, I fell asleep..' She thought. 'I never even thought of it, but how did Orochimaru know so much about Nawaki's death?' She thought with a serious expression on her face.

She didn't knew somewhere in the darkness Orochimaru was talking about the exact thing Tsunade was wondering about...

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What's the connection between Orochimaru and Nawaki's death? =0 And what's all that stuff about the necklace and a secret mission? And then there's a mysterious man wearing a mask too =0 This can't get any stranger, can it? =0 xD Review please =)