Chapter 2! This story doesn't really go with the time skip and there might be some OOC-ish-ness. You have been warned.

----------------------------------------------------------5 years later------------------------------------------------------------------

The reports flooded Naruto's desk as the 6th Hokage grumbled at another full day's work added to his already century long To Do list. He felt like burning all the paperwork and then tossing himself into the blaze. Of course Sakura wouldn't let him do that as she stood next to him. She had warned him about pulling that stunt again, even if she didn't have the fire extinguisher and copies of the documents on hand and at the ready.

"The Akatsuki are making things hard again..." Naruto told Sakura, knowing she'd be by his side at the meeting coming up. "Their latest addition's giving even Orochimaru's goons the Death Penalty. Man, if they attack here-they'll slaughter us all."

"Naruto, don't talk like that." Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. "You know as well as I do that Sasuke and Kazuma will be back soon. He'll come back to protect Konoha and she'll return with loads of information on the other villages. You know that they'd never let anyone other than themselves take Konoha. They'd let us all live and allow us to stop them."

Naruto sighed and leaned back in his chair. "But that doesn't change the fact that they've both have been missing for 5 years and only sightings of Sasuke have been made. She'd contact the Anbu if she was still alive. You and I would both have heard from her in one way or another by now. Admit it, Sakura. She's most likely been done in by Orochimaru."

Naruto had a point. As the 6th Hokage he had really mellowed out and such. He was responsible and you didn't have to catch in a battle to find him serious about a subject. He saw things as they really are and how he wanted them to be but wants were often tossed aside for reality. That was a fact of life and living he had accepted years ago.

"Send word to Gaara. He and I need to meet. If we don't get together soon, both of our lands could be targets again." The Fox-hosting Male ordered standing.

"Aren't you going to finish your work, Naruto?" His temmate asked gently.

"Not right now...I'm going to go put flowers on Haku and Zabuza's graves for Kazuma."

"May I come as well, Lord Hokage?" Her formal tone told the blond she knew how much old memories hurt. He nodded once not looking at her and the old teammates left together.

-----------

"Hmm? Hey, Naruto, Sakura-look, someone already put flowers on their graves." Sakura carried the flowers Naruto wanted to leave as Ino, Shikamaru, Shino, Choji, and Kiba had tagged along for Naruto's protection.

"Those garlands look like Kazuma's handy work." Sakura whispered to the Hokage. His hands tightened into fists at the thought. There were signs but no real proof that Kazuma was still alive. The tightly woven garlands of Water Country flowers were placed on both graves along with food for the deceased. "It's just like what happened every year before."

"I know but we can't send any Anbu out to confirm this. With Akatsuki's recent activity, we need all of our shinobi home to protect our villages." Naruto told her firmly in a low voice. "It's a risk I'm not going to take in this unsettled time."

"I understand, Lord Hokage." His pink haired sister-in-arms assured with a smile.

"Did you two hear me?" Ino asked, hands on her hips.

"Yes, Ino. We heard you." Sakura knelt and arranged the flowers she had brought on each grave, inside the rings of flowers. "It's just that I was remembering how they were buried, that's all. Naruto was bringing me back to my senses."

A common lie that she had told multiple times over the years. The others knew but they didn't contridict the Jounin aid and the Hokage. Naruto stood off to the side, the scene replaying before his eyes.

Rain soaked Kazuma as she knelt by Zabusa. He motioned her closer and forced himself to sit up. He gave her a kiss on her forehead like a real father would.

"You're as beautiful and as strong as your mother. I'll tell Kagome you're hanging in there. We're both so proud of you, my little Whirlpool. Stay strong and never fall."

She stood, her head bowed and grabbed his arm. She lifted half of Zabusa's body on to her back and started to walk off the bridge. Kakashi took the corpse from her and put him over his shoulder before having Haku lifted onto his other. Sasuke and Naruto lifted the Guliotine blade and carried it behind them. They had poofed close to Konohakure and the never die crying Kazuma dropped her knees and started digging into the soft wet ground with her hands. She was soon joined by Sasuke, then Sakura and then Naruto. Soon Kakashi was able to lie both bodies in the holes before he ushered Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke away for a little bit. Naruto looked back and saw Kazuma's face lifted to the sky and tears falling from her face...

"Life never dealt you a fair hand, Kaz, but you swallowed it all and let nothing take you down...you were never allowed one time to truly just be a kid-not even when you joined Squad 7." Naruto said to the wind.

"You say something, Lord Hokage?" Shikamaru asked, although he had heard it since he was closest with Kiba. Naruto shook his head and then turned back towards the Villlage.

"I have work to do. I've spent enough time on this detour. Sakura, let's go."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." She stood and walked to the retreating Hokage's side. The others fell into suit behind them but didn't speak the whole way back. This day, every year, was always the hardest on the two remaining Squad 7 members.

Uh, yeah. Squad 7 had four people in it: Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki and Kazuma Momochi-Hatake. I was only put in Cell 7 so Uncle Kakashi could keep me under control.