This was initially the shortest chapter of the entire story. It was only 800 or so words. Now it may be the longest for a while. The revision for this chapter is to explain the story further than I originally had.
Chapter 3: Promise to be kept
Sakura walked through the village looking for Naruto. She decided to check at the ramen stand and was surprised to find that he wasn't there. Teuchi had told her that he hadn't been there at all that day. She needed to talk to Naruto about the mission he was supposed to be going on, and to make sure that he brought back her precious Sasuke-kun. Sure, if they got into another fight, Naruto would probably lose, and bleed to death in a ditch somewhere, but at least he wouldn't have gone back on his promise. He would bleed out, because Sasuke wasn't the type of person to kill. He would never kill Naruto, no matter how much of a bane he was to everyone's existence. Naruto, on his part, would have fought for her until his last breath, and she knew it, just to make her happy. And she enjoyed every bit of it. Having a boy swoon to her every whim was something she enjoyed, and being able to do whatever she wanted with no consequences was just as fun. That is, until Naruto returned. Never once, had she thought that Naruto had gotten smarter over his three year absence of the village. Never once had she thought that he would have changed and grasped a deeper understanding of his emotions. Never once, did she think anything she did would hurt him. After several hours of fruitless searching, she heard him. In the distance, the distinct shout of "RASENGAN" grabbed her attention.
'Naruto!' She ran to where she heard him.
When she got to a certain distance she saw a lot of smoke. It was the training ground where Kakashi had trained squad 7. When the smoke cleared, she saw that the middle log, the log that Naruto had been tied to during their training, had been blown to smithereens.
"What's wrong with you baka? You-" Naruto turned to her. She gasped. He showed no emotion at all. The look in his eyes is what startled Sakura.
His eyes were cold. They were like daggers piercing every part of her existence. They were more evil than Orochimaru's and even more dangerous than Itachi's. Sakura felt time stop. She was in front of Sasuke. Then she tried to touch him. He shattered into pieces. The sight made Sakura scream and drop to her knees. When she looked up, Naruto was looking at her.
"Naruto…"
"How'd you like my new genjutsu? I learned how to make it almost as bad as Itachi's sharingon. I think it needs a little work since you're still moving."
"That's cold Naruto. Even for me."
'I don't give a damn. She deserves worse and you know it.'
"You are evil, like I said. Maybe I should have a less dangerous person to live in." Naruto ignored him and looked down at Sakura.
"Naruto…why would you?"
"You know exactly why! All this time you treated me like dirt. You blamed me for Sasuke being gone! Everything you said to me, and did to me. You pushed the wrong button Sakra."
-Flashback-
So long. It had been so long since he had seen his own home. Anxious wasn't a powerful enough word to describe how he was feeling. Three years seemed like ten when your training every single day. Jiraiya walked a few paces back, a wide smile on his face as well, as he was anticipating a long meeting with a certain blonde Hokage. As they walked up a tall hill, Naruto got his first glance at his most treasured possession. His home, Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in Leaves.
"We're almost there. So, what are you going to do first?" The toad sage asked now taking the lead down the hill.
"I don't know! I want to see all of my friends, that's for sure."
"Who first? A lovely lady I suppose?" Jiraiya called, poking at Naruto. Naruto slammed a fist into his head.
"Stop being so pervy Ero-sennin." Naruto called, face red and boiling.
Jiraiya just smiled, ignoring the pulsing knot on his head. "Heh, just like Tsunade."
"Baa-chan. And Shizune-chan. I missed them both. But I know who I want to see first."
"Let me guess. Little miss pinky." Jiraiya sighed. He would never know what Naruto saw in the girl. She wasn't as beautiful as he exclaimed. Her intelligence was only complemented by the fact that she had a damn legendary sannin teaching her. She had no original jutsu what so ever, and her combat skills were less than average. If not for Tsunade's training, Sakura wouldn't have even made it to chunin. Hell, she was lucky to have graduated the academy with the knowledge she had as a ninja. To top it off, he hadn't been around them much, and already knew she had stuck her head up Sasuke's ass to the point of no return.
"Don't call her that. Sakura-chan makes pink look good."
"Homo." The fox called in his head, but stayed silent after getting a death glare from Naruto.
"Naruto, why do you constantly vie for this girl? What has she ever done for you?"
"Well…Sakura-chan has a nice personality…she's kind and caring."
"Does she show her nice personality to you? Has she been kind and caring towards you?"
He stayed silent. Why was he even trying to argue with Ero-sennin. A nice personality to Jiraiya was judged by a woman's bust size, and waist line. The rest of the walk was silent after that. The two guards at the gate almost fainted after seeing who was walking towards them. The hastily opened the gates. Jiraiya spotted an Anbu preparing to go inform the Hokage, but ordered him not to. It was supposed to be a surprise. Naruto smiled as they entered the village.
"Finally…I'm back!" Naruto looked around. Several people passing by stopped and gaped.
"Naruto?" A woman said in shock.
"In the flesh." Naruto called and walked forward with Jiraiya.
"Naruto, you can go see your friends. Me and Tsunade have some…business to take care of."
Naruto had enough observation time to know when the toad sage was being perverted, and this took the cake. Jiraiya left Naruto, and Naruto smiled even wider. He ran to a nearby pole and walked up it until he could see all over Konoha. Nothing could be so marvelous to him.
"Naruto? Is that you?!"
A voice he knew he would never forget. Looking down, a spec of pink waved up at him. He dropped down, landing right in front of her.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled attempting to give the girl a hug. However, she turned to the side, and after a little resistance, hugged the blonde back.
"Naruto, look at you! You look…taller. When'd you get taller than me?"
He just noticed that he was looking down on her.
"Dunno. Sakura-chan, I'm glad to see you again! You don't know how much I missed you! And you look fantastic!" He called looking her up and down.
The pink haired girl smiled when she saw that the blonde hadn't lost his interest in her. She put her hands behind her back and smiled at him.
"Naruto, lets go out tonight. I want to talk to you about something."
Naruto's world was recreated at that moment. It was like his wildest dreams, and all his fantasies were coming true. Life was finally rewarding him.
"Alright Sakura-chan. I'll get you at eight, alright?"
"That's fine. See you later Naruto." She said winking at him.
His stops were short after that. His first date, with the girl of his dreams. Going to Jiraiya would have been a bad idea, so he chose the next best person for advice in relationships.
"What're you asking me for?" Shikamaru asked lazily, laying upside down on his bed while playing a play station.
"You and Temari have been going out since before I left the village. You've got three years worth of experience, so help me out!"
Shikamaru sighed and tossed the controller after losing. "How troublesome. Let's get this over with."
Naruto sat with a pad and pen. Shikamaru sat up and faced him. "Look, first off, all you need to do is be yourself. If she doesn't like that, then she doesn't like you."
Naruto's enthusiasm blinded him from the fact that Shikamaru's words were what had been happening between him and the pink haired kunoichi since the day they met.
"Secondly, do what they want. Do whatever you can to make her happy, especially if you two really love each other." Temari had walked into the room as soon as she heard her name. Naruto didn't notice Shikamaru had begun sweating when Temari glared at him.
"Last but not least, she's always right got that." He said, giving nervous glances in Temari's direction. The suna kunoichi just smiled and sat down next to him.
"Listen to him Naruto-san. He's smarter than he looks." She said turning his head in for a kiss. Naruto paled as he realized what had been happening.
"Crap, I got five minutes to get to Sakura's house. I'll see you guys later." He called running out.
"Now Shikamaru-kun. You said do what they want. You know what I want to do?" Temari said pushing him back onto the bed.
'This job does have some perks.' He thought, using his shadow to close the door behind Naruto.
Naruto had picked up Sakura on time, and now they were walking to a fancy restaurant. Both wore their usual clothing, but Naruto had made an attempt to comb his hair. (To no avail.) The entire time, Naruto had been a gentlemen, although the two had said little to nothing to each other. Once in the restaurant, they ordered and Naruto agreed to pay. It was like a real date, minus the talking. The whole time Sakura had been smiling at Naruto though. Once they finished their meals, Naruto wanted to take her somewhere he only took people he cared most about. The top of the Fourth Hokage's head.
"Whoa, I've never been up here!" Sakura called, looking over the village. Naruto smiled, sitting on a little blanket he had bought on their way. Sakura turned to him and smiled, walking back over and sitting down with him.
"So Sakura-chan, how'd you like it?"
"Like what?"
"Tonight."
"It was wonderful Naruto, thank you. Thanks for the meal too."
He smiled, a small blush on his cheeks. He looked up at the dark sky, the stars illuminating the night like billions of stationary fireflies. It was beautiful, and it felt like a perfect night.
"Sakura-chan, I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay."
"What do you want most in this world?" Naruto asked, trying to hide the eagerness in his voice. His left hand was behind his back holding something.
"The most huh? I'd say…to be happy with the person I love the most in this world."
Naruto's spirit soared into the heavens. His life was now officially complete. At least, almost.
"That's good then. I think I can make that happen." He said bringing his left hand forward. Sakura's eyes widened, but her mouth was glued shut.
Naruto held a small black case in front of him. He opened it, revealing a rather large, diamond ring.
"Sakura-chan…will you marry me?"
"I can't believe this…" Sakura breathed out. Naruto could no longer contain his eagerness. His smile was too large for his face.
"No. Of course not Naruto. I want to be with Sasuke-kun."
Just as fast as his life had been recreated, it had been destroyed. The pieces of his happiness that he had received were crashing all around him. The shards tore into his existence, making him bleed his morale. When he was bled dry, all he wanted was an answer.
"Sak…Sakura-chan…why?"
"Naruto…I hope you didn't think this was a date. I just wanted to tell you about the wedding I was planning when you brought Sasuke-kun back. You didn't honestly think I meant I was in love with you?"
"Bu…but tonight…"
"It was nice of you Naruto, really. I like you as a friend Naruto."
"That's not fair! How can you be so cruel?" He asked, his voice raising a little.
Sakura, now getting just as mad as Naruto, rose her voice as well.
"You should be happy! All this time I've went without my Sasuke-kun, and I still consider you a friend. Not to mention it was your fault for him leaving in the first place!"
Another stab into Naruto's existence. "What do you mean?"
"All that fighting you and Sasuke-kun did. You were always bugging him and holding him back. All the time, Sasuke-kun had to deal with you, he got tired of it. He couldn't take it anymore. You pushed Sasuke-kun away."
"How can you even say that? You know Sasuke was my best friend! I would never push him away!"
"He was your best friend in your head. Sasuke-kun never really liked you Naruto. He only put up with you because I asked him too. After a while, I got a little tired of your idiocy as well."
This was news to him. He knew what Sakura was saying was a lie, but why? Why would she try to hurt him, to manipulate him, in such a way? It took all of his strength to keep from bursting into tears with every word she spoke. He loved Sakura, enough to want to marry her, but now her true colors were showing.
"I can't believe you. You're lying!" Naruto yelled. Sakura had enough. There was no way for her to get through to him peacefully so she would tell the honest and whole truth.
"You know what Naruto, forget it. I'm done trying to be nice to you. I kept telling myself to not be mad at you for not keeping your promise-"
"What? What promise?"
"The promise you made to me three years ago gaki! You promised to bring Sasuke-kun back to me that day, and you said you never go back on your word. I told myself that you didn't bring him back because you couldn't. Sasuke-kun was too strong for you. But I learned that you had tried to kill Sasuke-kun, and I even tried to forgive you for that."
"YOU THINK I TRIED TO KILL HIM!? That bastard tried to kill me! I was trying to bring him back to you Sakura! I was thinking of you the whole time!"
She slapped him. "Don't ever speak such lies of Sasuke-kun! He would never try to kill anyone without a good reason!"
She stood up and walked away from him, fist shaking, and tears in her eyes.
"Now that I think about it, everything is your fault! Sasuke-kun probably would have returned on his own if it weren't for you. If I could go back and do things over, I'd stop myself for ever relying on a sad excuse for a shinobi like you. You're not even fit to be called a shinobi!"
Every word, every echo of her voice, tore into Naruto's soul and morality.
"And if Sasuke-kun really tried to kill you, maybe you should have let him. I'd kill you myself if it would bring him back. That's how much I love him. Besides, he'd be doing you a favor-" She was saying until she realized Naruto was no longer there.
He left without a second thought. He left early but the kyubi's sensitive hearing made Naruto hear ever single last word. Sakura sighed and wiped her tears.
'I know it was harsh, but it's the truth. He needed to hear it, since no one else would tell him. Besides, he'll get over it by tomorrow.'
-End Flashback-
He looked away. "You said that you would kill me yourself to bring him back. You said I wasn't fit to even be called a ninja."
Sakura began to cry even more. "Naruto, I didn't mean that. I was just trying to make you understand my feelings-." He looked at her as if he wanted to blow her away.
"WHAT ABOUT MY FEELINGS?! You knew I loved you. I fucking proposed to you that night! Not only did you throw that back in my face, but you wished I was dead, for Sasuke! For someone who betrayed the village, and didn't give it a damn second thought! I was there for you Sakura, whenever you needed help, not him! I wanted to be with you more than anyone else, not him! You wanted to hurt me! And you know what, it worked. But now, I'm going to hurt you."
She looked up at Naruto frightened. "Naruto, please forgive…"
"NO! I'll never forgive you. Sasuke was right about one thing, the longer I stay in this village, the weaker I become. That night, I told myself what I wanted to do. I completely changed after that Sakura. You told me the truth, and now I found how reality must be. Life, and everything about it is as fucked up and cruel as the people you think care for you. That's why I decided to go about a different path. It's the only path that I'm going to follow now. I hate to have to give up my dream of becoming Hokage, but that was a pipe dream anyway. I will go after Sasuke. I'll go after him for you. But when I find him, I'm going to kill him."
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't speak or think.
"After that, I'm going to bring his body back to the village, and I'm going to lay it right on your doorstep. That should at least make us even. And if anyone tries to stop me, I'll kill them all."
Sakura couldn't say anything. She gaped at Naruto. His words froze the air and she got chills. She stood up and ran back into the village. She didn't see Naruto anymore. She saw a demon.
"That is it. You have destroyed the bond you had with your comrades. Now your mission can begin."
'Not yet. I have a feeling that she isn't going to be quiet about this. We are going to have a lot of people on our tail soon.'
"What do you mean we? You're the evil one. I only attacked the village because I was bored. You're doing all this revenge crap."
'You know, I wonder if you're really a fox or a kitten with no balls.'
"Go to hell." Naruto smirked at the victory over the kyuubi but more over the victory against Sakura.
