Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights are reserved to Masashi Kishimoto.
Naruto appeared behind Tsunade in a flicker of light.
"Hello Naruto."
"Tsunade-Sama… What'd you want to speak to me about?"
"Come here so I can see you…"
Naruto walked around the desk and stood before her, his fox mask hanging limply around his neck. Tsunade sighed and rubbed her face with a tired hand. Her other hand traveled under her desk for a minute only to return with a Katana. Naruto's eyes widened when he looked at the Katana. It was Sasuke's Katana. His look of shock turned into one of confusion.
"Tsunade-Sama… Why is Sasuke's Katana here if he's out on a mission?" Naruto asked fearing he already knew the answer.
"Sasuke died on his last mission. Apparently it was a rogue ninja from Stone country and somehow they broke out of Sasuke's doujutsu without his knowledge. The ninja striked. Sasuke died before any real healing could happen… He asked for this to be given to you and for Sakura to be told that he loved her."
Naruto stared at Tsunade. What she said couldn't have been true. He'd just seen Sasuke two weeks ago. Naruto sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
"Tsunade-Sama… Sakura isn't going to take this well, especially since she's pregnant with his child." Naruto said in a surprisingly calm voice. Tsunade nodded.
"I know. That's why I called for you, Naruto. If anyone can help her get through this it's you."
"Tsunade-Sama… Yes Sakura's my friend and yes I've liked her as more for a while but…"
"Naruto she'll need you. She's going to need a strong shoulder to cry on and you know that she'll turn to you."
Naruto grimaced.
"I know Tsunade-Sama, I just…. I don't want to get hurt again. I don't want to get so close, lay everything out on the line and then have it taken for granted. I'm through with that. I promised to be her friend because I care about her but that's something I'm not going to let myself fall victim to again…"
"Naruto I understand your feelings but you have a teammate, a friend who needs you. Aren't you the one always talking about companionship and what a team is really about?" Tsunade said looking Naruto right in the eye. Naruto sighed.
"I'll do my best Tsunade-Sama…" He mumbled as he turned to leave.
"Oh and Naruto…tell her when you get home. I know she's there and here…" she said as she handed him Sasuke's Katana. "Do something good with this OK?" Naruto nodded and disappeared in another flicker of light.
Naruto walked into his apartment quietly. He slipped off his cloak, shoes and Hitai-ite. He walked in, Katana in hand. He looked at where Sakura was sitting when he left only to see her curled up on the couch. Naruto sighed and shook his head. He placed the katana in his hall closet and walked over to the couch, scooping Sakura up. She stirred a little but soon relaxed. Naruto walked into his bedroom and placed Sakura in the bed, tucking her in. He sighed and walked out of the room, turning the light off as he left. 'I guess I just have to tell her tomorrow.' He thought as he stretched out on the couch and faded into sleep.
Sakura stretched and yawned, her eyes squinting against the bright light that shone through the open window. She glanced around the room. 'I must've spent the night at Naruto's.' She thought as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and walked out of his room. She smiled and shook her head at the sleeping form of Naruto that was stretched out on the couch. His blonde hair shone in the incoming sunlight, his toned stomach muscles rippling with each breath.
Sakura snuck past Naruto and crept into his kitchen. 'I know! I'll make him a surprise breakfast…' Sakura opened the refrigerator to nothing. Typical Naruto-no food, but being an ANBU there wasn't really time for him to get anything. Sakura sighed and shook her head. She'd just have to go shopping for him. She slipped on her shoes and went to grab her coat from the hall closet. She opened the door and reached for her coat only to stop. Something had caught her eye. She reached for the small shimmer only to freeze when she felt cold metal. She slowly pulled it out of the closet and frowned. Naruto had never owned a katana… so where'd the one in her hand come from? She carefully flipped the katana over, her eyes locking on some writing on the handle. It was the same Kanji that was on the katana that Sasuke used. 'Why is this here when…' The katana slid from Sakura's hand as it dawned on her. The clank resounded in her ears as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
Naruto heard a loud clank and slowly opened his eyes. He winced against the sunlight as he sat up, looking around for the source of the sound. He stopped when he spotted Sakura kneeling in front of his closet.
"Oh no," He mumbled under his breath when he saw what she was staring at. He ran a hand through his hair before standing up and walking over to her. "Sakura…" She looked up at him, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I-Is he? Is he really?" Naruto knelt down next to Sakura and sighed.
"Sakura… I'm so sorry." She looked back down at the katana. A sob escaped her, soon followed by many. Naruto grimaced. The sight of her so upset was breaking his heart. He slowly, and somewhat reluctantly, wrapped his arms around her shaking frame.
Sakura sobbed against Naruto's chest. Visions of her and Sasuke flashed through her mind, only making her hurt more. The thought of Sasuke being dead made her feel alone, helpless and sick to her stomach. She placed a hand over her mouth as a wave of nausea hit her. Naruto relinquished his hold on her, sitting back when he felt her pull away.
"Sakura… are you-" He was cut off as she stood and bolted to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Naruto stayed still for a moment before picking up the katana and putting it back in the closet. He stood up, closed the closet door and made his way to the bathroom. He gently knocked on the door.
"Sakura, Are you ok?"
He heard shuffling and water running. After a few minutes the door opened and Sakura shuffled out, her eyes and nose red from crying. Naruto smiled.
"How about we go and get some food?" He said softly as he grabbed a shirt and pulled it on. Sakura nodded and followed Naruto out of his apartment. The two walked in silence to the market.
Sakura was lost in her own thoughts. Her mind was reeling. Memories of Sasuke flooded her mind only to be replaced by the idea of being a single mother, all alone. Sakura stopped in mid-step. She closed her eyes as another wave of nausea hit her, this one a little stronger than the one before. Naruto stopped when he didn't hear footsteps anymore. He turned to see Sakura standing there, one hand over her mouth and the other on her still flat stomach. Naruto quickly walked over to her.
"Sakura?" Sakura shook her head.
"I'm OK." She mumbled from behind her hand. Naruto's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned and walked into the market, Sakura in tow. The two walked down the aisles, Naruto placing things into the basket as Sakura walked beside him.
"Is there anything you'd like?"
Sakura shook her head and looked up at Naruto.
"N-Naruto?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"Sakura-"
"No. Thank you for being here with me…" Naruto looked at her for a moment before looking away.
"Hey that's what friends are for…" He looked down at her and smiled. "Come on. Let's pay and go eat breakfast... well lunch now huh?" He said, glancing at the clock that hung above the checkout counter. Sakura nodded and followed Naruto to the counter. Naruto paid and they walked back to his apartment.
"How about I fix lunch and you relax?" Naruto suggested as he placed the bags on the kitchen floor.
"Ok…" Sakura said as she sat on the couch.
Naruto smiled and started fixing lunch. He put some rice on the stove and grabbed the chicken in the freezer he'd gotten from the elderly woman down the hall. He opened the container and poured the chicken and vegetables into another pot. 'OK… lunch is cooking.' He thought as he walked out of the kitchen. He stopped and shook his head at the sleeping form of Sakura that had curled up on his couch again. He walked over to her and picked her up, doing the same thing as the night before. Naruto walked into his room and placed Sakura on the bed, covering her with a light blanket before leaving the room. He closed the door, but not all the way so he could hear her if something happened. He was on his way back to the kitchen when a knock sounded at the door. He walked over and opened it, only to come face-to-face with Tenten.
"Oh. Hey Tenten… What brings you by?"
"I heard from Neji, I'm so sorry Naruto. I figured Sakura would come here, is she doing alright?" Tenten asked in a quiet tone. She had never been close to the blond or the Kunoichi though they had always been friends with one another.
Naruto nodded.
"Come on in," He said as he opened the door wider, inviting Tenten in. "Yeah... she's doing ok. She's sleeping right now... I guess all that crying she did wore her out."
"I would have been surprised if it hadn't. She already told me she was pregnant. This was the worst that could happen to someone as good as her, I'm thankful that she has a friend like you. But how are you holding up? I know you and Sasuke were close and with him gone it must be awkward with Sakura being so close." Tenten mused. She sat on the couch that had once held Sakura's sleeping form and said, "I don't need Neji to tell me you love her." Naruto sighed and sat next to her.
"I'm Ok I guess..." He mumbled, a frown marring his normally happy face.
"Yeah right Naruto, you're as easy to read as Lee." Tenten said sighing, "look I've got to go to headquarters to drop of my report from my last mission, maybe you should come to. Take some time off to grieve. Or at least get things settled here with Sakura, if I know you as well as I think I do, you want her to stay here until she can take care of herself." The bun-haired Kunoichi had propped herself up on her knees with her elbows. "Hinata-Chan will most likely be by later with some food, think about it okay?"
Naruto nodded. "I will..." He said as he turned to Tenten. "Oh and Tenten..."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks..."
"Don't mention it, shinobi need to stick together. We're the only friends we've got" Tenten said and stood up heading towards the door, "Tell Sakura, when she wakes up, to come by for some herbs, she must be sick as a dog." Naruto nodded and stood up, following Tenten to the door.
"Hey tell Neji I might be by later when you see him..."
"Will do." Tenten opened the door and walked out into the afternoon heat, "summer is definitely on it's way." She said absent-mindedly.
"Yeah... I hear it's the best time for a wedding..." He added, winking at Tenten.
Tenten blushed, "Who told you about that!?" she said in horror. Naruto laughed.
"I have my ways Tenten..." The Kunoichi shook her head, hiding her face behind her hand.
"Good grief… If Lee told you, tell him he's a dead man." She continued walking with Naruto behind her as she said, "This village is too small, news travels too fast."
Tenten stopped and turned back to Naruto. "I hear Hinata still hasn't found a date yet, and last I checked you've still been eyeing a certain Hyuuga Kunoichi" Tenten said returning the wink. Naruto shook his head and playfully rolled his eyes.
"Have a nice day Tenten." He said with a smile on his face. He shut the door and walked back into the kitchen. Lunch was ready but Sakura wasn't awake. Naruto sighed and sank down on the couch.
'Things are going to be different now' Naruto thought as he let what Tenten had to say sink in. As much as Naruto would want Sakura, he couldn't because there was no way he'd love the girl his best friend loved. Naruto wouldn't betray Sasuke, or hurt himself again like that. He'd just have to suppress his feelings again, heck he'd been doing it for the past few years, why would another few hurt? Naruto rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. He stood, hopped out of his window and sat on his balcony, watching the villagers go about their daily chores.
Sakura yawned and opened her eyes. At least the morning sickness had started to wear off. She grew curious when she didn't hear sounds coming from the rest of the apartment. "Mmm… Naruto?" Sakura mumbled. She sat up and looked around. When she didn't see him, she climbed off the bed and walked into the hallway. Sakura frowned when he wasn't in the living room. She quickly made her way over to the kitchen, which was empty too. Her heart started to beat quicker. Where is he?
"Naruto?" Sakura called, looking around when he didn't answer. This wasn't happening. Not again. She called his name a little louder this time.
"Naruto!"
Naruto turned at the sound of his name being called and climbed back through the window. He saw a bewildered and frightened looking Sakura staring back at him, tears rising in her eyes.
"Sakura what's…?" He trailed off when she ran up to him and threw her arms around him, crying into his chest. Naruto frowned and instinctively wrapped his arms around her. 'She's shaking…' he thought as he held her closer to him.
"It's OK Sakura… I'm right here." He said as he rubbed her back gently. After a few minutes he felt her nod and start to pull away. He let go and looked at her. She sniffled and sat on the couch, hands clasped together tightly.
"I… I guess I got scared. When I woke up and you weren't here I just…panicked."
Naruto knelt down in front of Sakura and placed a hand on her knee.
"Don't worry Sakura I'm not going anywhere soon. Ok?" Sakura looked up at him and nodded. Naruto smiled. "Good."