Hey Guys! I know it's been a while. I've had a LOT of things going on lately. Here's another chapter, hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights reseved to Masashi Kishimoto.

Tsunade's gaze narrowed as she regarded the ANBU captain before her. Naruto stood still under her gaze, the determined fire in his eyes steeling his resolve. Tsunade sighed and tapped her lacquered fingernails against her desk.

"So, you've come to request another mission?"

"Yes. Tsunade no Baa-Chan."

"Naruto. You just got back from one. I haven't seen you stay here in the village for more than two days in the past three months. You need to take a day off."

"With all due respect Baa-chan, I'm aware of how much I can take. I haven't been as active as Captain of the ANBU lately and I want to get back into the swing of it. According to my understudies, there are numerous cases open with leads leading to dead ends. They're starting to pile up."

"Your understudies reported a total of 8 dead end cases, all of which in the past month have gained more developments than when they were active. The ANBU units have narrowed the cases down and they've sectored off to continue the investigation on two of them. The other cases are in limbo because there has been no detected movement from the groups involved. Naruto, I've been keeping track of things. You can't fool me into sending you out again. I know you're only doing it because you don't want to be around Sakura. Naruto sighed inwardly and looked out the window, his jaw ticking irritatedly. So, you 're not denying it...what happened?"

"She moved out. We had an argument and she left. It s all in the past Baa-Chan."

"But yet, you're here to avoid her." Naruto flashed Tsunade an angry glare.

"Naruto, I'm not going to entertain your feelings by overworking you unnecessarily. You are ordered to take three weeks off paid vacation. No argument." Naruto sighed and bowed before leaving Hokage tower. He supposed he could understand Tsunade s point of view but in all reality he didn t appreciate her decision. He shook his head and walked into the market.

"The regular Naruto-San?" The young lady behind the counter said with a smile and a very noticeable blush on her face. Naruto cracked a smile and nodded, leaning against the counter as she scurried to retrieve the items he came every week for.

"Naruto, Fancy meeting you here." Ino said as she stopped beside him, basket in hand.

"Ino, How've you been?" The blonde shrugged.

"I've been alright. How are you and... Sakura doing?"

"I'm fine. I don't know how she is. I hear she's fine." Ino quirked an eyebrow at him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"I thought you were living together."

"We aren't."

"Uh-huh..."

"How are things with Sai on your team?" He asked, abruptly changing the subject. Ino brightened, all suspicion in her gaze gone.

"We're fine. He's finally getting the hang of Ino-Shika-Chou."

'That's nice. Tell him I'll be waiting to spar with him when he returns from his mission."

"Will do."

"Alright, Naruto-San, Here's your purchase. $32.60." The young lady said breathlessly as she placed the box of food on the counter in front of him. Ino looked from the box to Naruto in surprise.

"$32 worth of food is quite a bit. Aren t you on missions a lot now?" Naruto smiled at the girl and thanked her as he pulled the money out of his pocket.

"I am. But Tsunade no Baa-Chan ordered me to take 3 weeks off. So, I'm just getting stocked up."

"So, Tsunade-sama noticed you overworking yourself." Naruto sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, So I guess I'll go get started on that vacation. Catch you later Ino."

"Bye Naruto."

Naruto grabbed his box and left the market, walking in the opposite direction of his house. Slipping down the nearby alley and shrugging out of his orange and black jacket, Naruto ran up the stairs of the adjacent apartment complex and stopped at the red door at the end of the hall. Placing the box on the ground in front of it, he knocked twice and jumped off the ledge to the ground below, snagging his jacket on his way and heading home.

Sakura looked at the door and sighed. Once a week the knock on her door came, signaling to her that there was a box of food waiting for her in the hall. There was never a name or a note, but she had a strong feeling she knew who it was from. Opening the door, Sakura slid the box into her apartment, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she surveyed the contents; The ones that never changed.

She sighed, "Naruto, you never take no for an answer, do you?"