Chapter 20

Naruto Awakens

Here's the next chapter! NOOO! The story's almost over! But I'll bring out the sequal quick! Enjoy-Super NARUSAKU fluff!

DISCLAIMER: I own Naruto! Well...if I move to Japan I will...

Sakura stared at Naruto lying once again in a hospital bed. Everyone was holding off Tsunade's funeral until the new Hokage was announced. Still, her feelings were mixed with grief and happiness. Her master was dead, but her lover was alive now. Better one of them then none... she told herself, but that didn't ease the fact that it would have been even greater if it were both.

Someone knocked on the door, and it slowly eased open. "Sakura-san?" Atsuiiki's voice called. "May I come in?" Sakura nodded her head, and the blonde Jounin stepped inside. "Still not awake yet, huh?"

"No..." Sakura answered. "So what is going on? Are the villagers grieving or cheering?"

Atsuiiki sighed. "Honestly, everyone is silent." she said, and stared out the window. "No one really knows how to feel. What about you?" Sakura shook her head. "I'm neutral. Nothing is phasing me, though some cheers and tears are inside of me. Just let yourself feel both."

"But how do I do that?" Sakura asked, tears coming down.

"You have to figure that out."

"Of course I do." Sakura spat. "Everyone has to figure everything out by themselves!" Now she was screaming.

Atsuiiki flinched. "Sheesh, don't get so feisty." The blonde walked over to Sakura, and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't let your feelings turn to anger. Just be happy that Naruto-san is alive, and grieve for Tsunade-sama later."

"Okay, Atsuiiki-neechan."

Naruto glanced around. Has she done it yet? Am I alive? He asked himself, and looked around for the Godaime. "Tsunade-baachan!" he called into the empty space. "Where are you?"

"I'm here now." Tsunade's voice said, and her body appeared in front of Naruto. "Are you ready to wake up now?" Naruto looked to the ground, and closed his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I wonder if everyone is going to hate me..." he choked, tears falling from his eyes. "I took away their Hokage."

Tsunade chuckled. "They won't hate you. They can't when you wake up."

"Nani?" Naruto wiped his eyes. "Why?"

Again, the Godaime chuckled. "You'll find out," she said, and Naruto felt a jab in his gut. "Now go see Sakura. She misses you."

Flashes of purple and blue invaded the colorless room, and bright lightning circles surrounded Naruto. It was as if a hidden portal had opened, and sucked him in without knowing. Down, down he shot, going through black spaces, purple areas, shocking circles, and blue walls. A thunk stopped it all, and Naruto felt a soft pillow behind his head. He was awake. Awake. In the Konoha hospital. He was finally back. Naruto grunted and tried to sit up, but his head felt so light-headed.

"Naruto!" Sakura called, and embraced him tightly. "You're back. You're really back." Naruto felt cold tears seep onto his chest, and he looked up at the kunoichi hugging him. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Naruto chuckled. "It looks as if you thought wrong," he said, and hugged Sakura back. "I missed you, Sakura-chan."

No words came from Sakura. Instead, her lips came to Naruto's, finally getting the warmth and life from them that she had longed for when he was unconscious. Naruto gave back the kiss with full force, just sitting there with his right arm around Sakura's waist, and the left arm around her neck.

When they broke apart, Atsuiiki smiled at the two. "Naruto-kun." She said, and the other blonde looked at her. "How's the Kyuubi?"

Sakura gaped at her. "Isn't the Kyuubi dead" she asked, and Naruto shook his head.

"He wasn't dead. We were in the process of becoming one. He died with me, as a part of me," He answered. "He's still in me. So why do you ask Atsuiiki-neechan?"

Atsuiiki smiled. "Just wondering. Haven't seen him in a while." She said, and stared at Naruto happily. "Kyuubi saved me. He helped me get through the times when I was alone, not just for being a fellow kitsune demon. But for being kind to him."

Naruto smirked. "He did like you after all. No wonder he wouldn't answer that question." He chuckled.

Sakura looked back and forth between the two blondes. "So…Atsuiiki-neechan knows Kyuubi, and Kyuubi knows her? And you're nice to him?" she asked, staring wide-eyed at them. Both of the blondes nodded their heads. "Wow…"

"It's okay, Sakura-chan." Naruto said. "Did you not know that Atsuiiki-neechan was a kitsune demon?" Sakura shook her head. "Atsuiiki-neechan, you're so mean."

Atsuiiki laughed. "I'll be going. I have some preparations to make for a later ceremony." She said with a wink to Naruto and Sakura. "Ja ne!"

"Where do you think she's going?" Sakura asked, and Naruto shrugged.

"So how's Sasuke?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"Feh." Naruto looked out the window. "It's storming…" he said, staring. "I wonder what they'll do with-AHHH!" Naruto jumped back and fell out of the bed.

"Oh, gomen." A voice spoke from the window. "Didn't surprise you did I?"

"Sasuke!" Naruto screamed as he bolted up, but clutched his head. "Ow…"

"Get back in bed!" Sakura scolded, and lifted the shinobi into his bed. "Baka."

Sasuke jumped into the room and bent next to Naruto. "Looks like Team 7 is back together completely." He said, and smiled. "Just like you promised, Naruto."

Naruto chuckled. "I guess so." He said. "Just to let you know, I haven't forgotten about my visits to you."

"I was hoping you had." Sasuke muttered.

"Nope."

Now Sakura stared at the two. "What visits?"

Sasuke looked at the pink-haired kunoichi. "When he was in a coma, he kept following me around." He answered.

"Only 'cause you kept missing me!" Naruto retorted. "I only got to see Sakura-chan in her dreams!"

"Oh really?" Sasuke teased, looking at Sakura. "Dreams, you say."

Sakura smacked Sasuke across the face. "Teme." She growled.

Naruto chuckled. "Come on guys! We're back together! Let's not waste it by arguing." He said, and laid back in his bed. "I'm in a good mood!"

Sasuke smirked at the blonde. "You're always in a good mood!" he pointed out.

"Point being?" Naruto argued teasingly. "I'm in a good mood most of the time."

"It doesn't matter." Sakura interrupted. "Naruto. Can you two not argue?"

"We aren't arguing!" Naruto and Sasuke retorted. "We're merely expressing our feelings in an angry matter."

"Sounds like arguing to me."

Naruto huffed. "Someone's at the door," he said, and looked at the door.

The door opened, and Kakashi stepped in. "Naruto. You're awake." He greeted, and took a seat on the other side of his bed. "You sure caused us a lot of worry you know."

Naruto chuckled. "Sorry. Didn't mean to." He said, and felt a hand on his shoulder.

Sakura smiled. "Don't worry about it, Naruto." She said, a placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

Kakashi grinned from under his mask. "You two have gotten close, haven't you?" he teased, and Naruto and Sakura blushed.

"I hear wedding bells!" Sasuke said, and was knocked out of his chair onto the floor by Naruto.

"Shut up, baka." He growled, with a hint of amusement in his voice. "So when can I leave?"

"Not until you feel better." Sakura stated, and smiled at him. "Which should be by tomorrow if I know you."

Naruto smiled. "Arigatou, Sakura-chan." He thanked her, and stared out the window. Arigatou to you too, Tsunade-baachan. His sapphire eyes glowed in the sunlight as the clouds cleared, and the rain twinkled in the bright light. For giving me life again.

Fluffy! Fluffy! YAY NARUSAKU! Lol. Almost done! Please review!

Yamahato Yokimoko