Chapter 24

What Seemed to be the End

LAST CHAPTER! WOOT! Then I can work on the sequal! MORE FIGHTING! And you will NEVER guess who causes the trouble in the sequal. He is revealed at the end of this chapter. Then I won't post the sequal for about one week and a half so I can get a head start on the sequal, and you guys can give your reviews! Everyone, thanks for reading this, and I hoped you enjoyed it.

DISCLAIMER: This was my last...for now...chance to own Naruto. And I FAILED!

Naruto smiled as he handed Sakura a cup of tea, and got himself one. The two walked over to the closest table, and sat down, staring at the stars in the night sky that shone above Konoha. "It's nice and peaceful, isn't it?" Sakura smiled, and laid her head on Naruto's shoulder. "Makes me sleepy…"

Naruto pushed her head off his shoulders. "Then don't fall asleep on my shoulder!" he chuckled, and leaned back in his chair. "Stay awake. I have to." The blonde took a sip of his tea, and looked at the villagers. They seemed so happy, smiles on every one of their faces, something that hadn't happened in a while.

"You've changed the villagers' attitudes, Naruto-kun." A soft voice said from behind Naruto.

He jumped and fell backwards out of his chair, landing on his head. "Damn it…" he growled. "That's the fourth time today…" Naruto looked up and saw Atsuiiki laughing. "Atsuiiki-neechan!"

Atsuiiki held out a hand, and helped the jinchuuriki up. "You sure are a clumsy one, aren't you Naruto-kun? Sure they picked the right one?" she teased. "The Naruto I know isn't that much of a dodo-brain."

"Ha ha, very funny. I forgot to laugh." Naruto retorted sarcastically. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day."

"And it's going to be a long night," Atsuiiki pointed out. "But who says it won't be worth it to stay up?"

Sakura laughed lightly. "You sure do find ways to cheer someone up, Atsuiiki-neechan." She complimented the blonde Jounin, who bowed in thanks. "So where were you earlier?"

The happiness that was once in her eyes vanished, replaced by sadness and sorrow. "I was getting the preparations ready for Tsunade-sama's funeral." She choked, and looked at Naruto. "Speaking of which, when is it?"

Naruto looked a bit surprised at the sudden question, and tried to come up with an answer. "In two days. It'll take me about a day to get all my things in the Hokage's office." He answered, and looked over at the Hokage faces. "Then we can give Tsunade-baachan a proper funeral."

Atsuiiki smiled. "Fair enough." She said, and glanced past his shoulder. "You have company."

Naruto peered behind him and saw Kakashi running towards him. "Oi, Kakashi-sensei! Slow down before you hurt someone or yourself!" he shouted at him, and Kakashi halted right before slamming into the new Hokage. "What is it?"

Kakashi glanced at Sakura and Atsuiiki, and stared at them, telling them to step aside a little. When they were out of hearing range, Kakashi bent down towards Naruto. "He's still alive, I suppose." He said, meaning the Kyuubi. Naruto nodded his head sadly, arching an eyebrow in confusion. "Akatsuki will come after you again, you know. Hokage or not." Again, Naruto nodded his head, still having the same stare. "But they're the least of our worries. Naruto, I need to tell you something…"

Sakura glanced behind her at Naruto, who seemed to be staring into space with a horrid expression. "What could they be talking about?" she muttered, and Atsuiiki stepped up beside her.

"Better you not know," she replied, obviously knowing something. "I don't want you destroying the party."

Sakura huffed, and sat down in anger. "Fine, don't tell me." She growled, and stared at Naruto again. What could it be that's scaring him half to death? She saw Naruto shake his head, and go running off with Kakashi. Right when she was going to go after him, the blonde shinobi turned around and smiled at her, telling her everything was okay. But Sakura had seen that smile before, the same one that he gave her before he went into a coma. She knew things were not okay.

Atsuiiki placed her hand on Sakura's shoulder, smiling. "He'll be back," she assured her, much confidence in her tone. "That I can assure. Unharmed…not so sure about that one." The last statement shocked Sakura. Naruto…she said to herself. Where on earth are you going?

"Oi, Sakura!" a voice called from behind the kunoichi. Sakura flipped around and saw Kiba running towards her with Shino and Hinata following. "Where's Naruto-kun going? We we're going to give him a present…"

Sakura shrugged, and looked back to where he had left. "I don't know where he's going Kiba," she said, staring into the darkness of night. "Kakashi-sensei told him something and they both shot off." Hinata sighed, and looked at Sakura with a sad stare. Sakura noticed her, and started staring at the shy kunoichi. "Nani?" she asked her, returning the glare. The soft stare of Hinata changed to a harsh glare, making Sakura jump back a little. Damn…she has one nasty look…she said in her mind.

Kiba glanced at Hinata, seeing her staring angrily at the pink-haired kunoichi. "Oi, Hinata! Knock it off!" he said, and tried to pull her pack. Sakura stared at the two, still a little scared from the glare that the Hyuuga shot her. "Gomen, Sakura." Kiba said nervously. "She's a little pissed at you. You took Naruto-kun from her."

Sakura laughed nervously, "Gomen…I didn't mean to…" Carefully, she began to ease her way over to Hinata, but she kept backing away the closer Sakura got. "Hinata," she said, putting her hand out. "It's not my fault you didn't get to Naruto first. I told him my feelings, you should have done that years ago."

Hinata clenched her fists, and walked away angrily. "You have to watch what you say around her…" Kiba sighed. "She has a really bad attitude." Sakura nodded her head in agreement, and started to walk away slowly, feeling the Hyuuga child staring at her every step of the way. Naruto…she thought. Where are you?

Naruto flew through the trees next to Kakashi, still thinking about what he told him. "They really are going through with it?" he asked Kakashi again. "But what do they have with us?"

Kakashi shook his head, and sighed. "Who knows, Naruto." He said. "Any guess is as good as mine. Maybe they're weak, and need to rebuild their country and or clan. Or, maybe they just want to take advantage of any weakness they think we have." The Jounin stared at the forest ahead of them. "Either way, Konoha is not going to be the same after this."

Naruto sighed, and looked at the trees passing by. "I guess so, Kakashi-sensei." He muttered. "But still, do you think there is a way to protect the village from them?"

Kakashi switched his gaze to Naruto. "Like how?"

"Well," Naruto lingered. "We could have the Jounin guard the walls, put them on extra lookout for them. I will be making constant checks within Konoha to see if anyone who I don't know managed to sneak in."

Kakashi grinned from under his mask. "That might work," he said happily. "Actually, it probably will work. Good thinking, Naruto."

"Arigatou, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said gratefully. "So can you go over the basic summary again?"

The Jounin sighed, and thought about what he had learned. "The Country of Blood has suffered a great attack from the Country of Lightning. Of course, most of their ninjas were killed, leaving a scarce amount. A total of five clans lived in this country, names unknown. The country heard of Tsunade-sama's death, and thought that we had a weakness, which we did have. Seizing the opportunity, they have formed a plan to invade Konoha, as well as the other hidden ninja villages. Already, they have vanquished the Sound Village, and are moving on to the Village Hidden in the Mists. We're next after that." He reviewed, silently praying for the Hidden Mist village. "It is said that the members of the Country of Blood wear dark black cloaks, with red water droplet markings in various placed. They do wear a headband, one with a tear mark carved into it."

Naruto nodded his head, and smiled. "They aren't escaping me." He said with a huff, jumping off a branch.

A black figure appeared in front of the two Konoha shinobi, halting them. "We finally found you," it said in a cold tone. "Uzumaki Naruto, Hatake Kakashi." More people flew down behind the black figure, and Naruto stared in shock at the one who spoke.

"That voice…it sounds so familiar." He stuttered.

The figure chuckled. "It's been so long. I haven't seen you for half a year." He said, and Naruto started backing away.

"I-I thought you were dead!" he exclaimed, holding an arm in front of his face. "H-how…"

"Naruto…is this who I think it is?" Kakashi asked him suspiciously, examining the round shape of the figure.

The figure removed the hat that was hiding his face. "I-It is him…" Naruto stuttered.

"No way…" Kakashi gasped.

Sasori of the Red Sand.

SASORI IS BEHIND IT! DUN DUN DUN! Yes, Sasori is supposed to be dead, or is he? Please review, and I hope you enjoyed this story! Thanks to everyone who read, and especially to my reviewers. Now please enjoy the epilouge, prolouge, and awards. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!

Yamahato Yokimoko-san