AN:- ….. So….. here's the next chapter… Kinda short. :P Anyway guys I wanna thank the nine people that reviewed. Thank you so much again. Fills the heart of any writer to see their work appreciated. After all, besides writing for ourselves, we are writing for you as well. ^_^

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Sunagakure

Temporary residence of Konoha Nin

It was quiet. Calm, one would say. But then again most houses had long extinguished the last of their flames, plunging their homes into darkness for it was getting late. This seemed to enhance the effect of the coloured lights that littered around the streets of the village, which was nothing short of beautiful. Naruto had always thought it looked like a festival had just finished whenever he had the opportunity to take in the Hidden Village of Sand when night fell. The wave of peace that engulfed his being whenever he was here always made him appreciate the simple things in life even more than he usually did. It was amplified many times over as he turned away from the window and his eyes found the body currently occupying his bed. Her milky skin was soft and flawless. Her trademark pink hair, he could run his fingers in it for days. Her hands, so small compared to his.

Naruto chuckled at the last part. He would have thought with most of her arsenal being taijutsu that her hands would be rough and calloused; you know, manly to accompany that monstrous strength. The softness of her hand against his skin was anything but manly though. It felt like a gentle kiss from the wind when she caressed his face. 'Heh….. But she can certainly be rough when she wants to.'

It was certainly the truth he thought as he stared at her, covers covering high enough that only the top of her bindings were visible. Their make-out session had gotten pretty hot and her hands certainly weren't being gentle at the time, but then again, neither were his. Her top lay somewhere on the floor, flung away during the heated exchange, as his pants and T-shirt were earlier. He didn't really remember when or how it had happened, but he could not honestly say his thoughts were very coherent at the time. As a matter of fact, he was still buzzing as the state of euphoria had not left him and had actually increased as he had stared at her sleeping form during the evening. It hadn't sunk in yet, that he had gotten the girl of his dreams. That she loved him, as much as he loved her.

A chuckle escaped his throat again. He averted his gaze back through the window staring into the night sky. 'Sakura-chan…. Is…..mine.' He wanted to laugh. To yell. Scream out of the window that he loved his Sakura-chan, but he restrained himself despite his body shaking from the adrenaline. A wistful sigh escaped his lips, his shoulders finally dropping in relaxation since she had first entered the room hours ago, and a small smile appeared as he looked to the stars. 'After all these years…. I've finally got her.'

He closed his eyes, relishing the thought. Images flashed through his mind of the journey they had taken to get to where they were. Fighting for her attention while she would shoo him away so she could talk to Sasuke. Being on a Gennin team and her starting to show concern. Coming back from his training and their friendship and care growing to a deeper level than they had previously experienced with anyone. The war, the despair and the ray of hope in the aftermath. The arguments. The tears. The comforting of one another after failed missions, dead patients and personal problems. It finally…. lead to this. And for that, he was happy.

Naruto opened his eyes, and it was only then he realised that it was probably twenty two hundred already. A sigh left his lips. 'Guess I better get going.'

He rose from the chair by the window and moved to pick up the piece of fabric from the floor. Having put back on his pants earlier, he slipped on his black T-shirt and his sandals before moving to the bedside table. He took up his Hitai-ate and stared at it for a moment. There were many memories attached to this piece of metal. From when Iruka gave it to him as the dead last of the class, to when Jiraiya had it fixed with new fabric and handed it to him while saying he was becoming a great shinobi. A smile graced the face in the reflection of the headband. Naruto then shook out his reverie and fastened the protector to his forehead, leaving his jounin vest on the floor. It clashed with his orange pants anyway. Satisfied he had everything he needed, he silently moved around the bed heading for the door. His hand moved to open it before he was stopped.

"Naruto?"

It was soft and angelic. It calmed Naruto, while giving him goosebumps. Kami help him he loved that voice.

He turned his head, a soft smile and loving gaze gracing his features, to meet a barely half opened green eye.

"Where are you going?" Sakura whispered sleepily. His smile just grew larger. All she did was ask a question, and he couldn't help but think how beautiful she was right then. Silently, Naruto walked over to the bed before sitting on it halfway. A bronzed hand reached up and outwards to gently cup the pale skin of the Kunoichi's cheek. Sakura nuzzled into his touch semi consciously. "I need to talk to Gaara about something. He said to come back when we could talk alone. I'll be back soon."

His long time crush raised her eyebrow as far as she could in her state and fixed him her best glare. Unfortunately for the rosette however, there was no way Naruto could take her seriously when she was so desperately fighting a losing battle against sleep's embrace which was obviously very reluctant to let her go. He chuckled, his head dipping down ever so slowly. "You know what?" he whispered in her ear, thumb caressing her cheek. His touch forced her eyes closed and an approving sigh escaped her pink lips. "What?" she questioned back, just as softly. Naruto moved within inches of her lips. "Waking up to you in my arms, was the greatest moment of my entire life."

Seeing her eyes open half lidded and the soft smile adorning her face, Naruto knew he had won. He placed a single lingering kiss on her lips and her eyes closed as her head sank into the pillows. "Go back to sleep," he soothed against her lips. Her mumbled reply was indecipherable as she slowly nodded, already halfway back to her dream world. Satisfied when he heard the soft, steady breaths a few minutes later, he once again stood silently before leaving the room.

Hi no Kuni

Konohagakure

The Godaime Hokage and last surviving member of the Legendary Sannin sat in her chair with her penetrating gaze set to nothing in particular. Her interlocking hands were in front of her mouth as her ponderings held her captive in its own world inside her head. On the desk contained a mission report from an Anbu captain describing a mission failure as well as a very important development in several issues that were of the utmost importance. There was also a brief from a top ranking Jounin currently in the Hidden village in the Sand which reiterated the same issues the Anbu captain submitted with a few minor details attached.

"Tsunade sama, I have more reports for you to sign."

The first apprentice of Tsunade walked in smiling with a new stack of papers, not noticing the tension in the Hokage's frame. It was only after walking a few steps forward that Shizune noticed something. There was still a large pile in the inbox that had not yet been completed. At first, the pile was introduced to a puzzled stare. Then, after the seconds passed, it was met with a ticking vein. An exasperated sigh came from her lips before Shizune scolded her master. "Tsunade sama!" she bellowed, slamming down the load in her arms on the desk. "I gave those to you this morning and you still have not finished! Why are you constantly slacking off like this? I swear if y-.."

"Be quiet, Shizune."

The dark haired woman was taken aback. Her master's voice held absolutely no anger, but the authority imbedded within commanded absolute obedience. Shizune quickly realised something was wrong. Tsunade had not even glanced in her direction since she entered, the blonde's gaze still fixed to the nothingness ahead.

"What is it, Tsunade sama?" asked Shizune, concern apparent in her voice. Her master seemed to not have heard her at first as there was no indication of a reply being given any time soon. Eventually however, Tsunade's eyes glanced down ever so briefly to the files in front of her before once again staring ahead blankly. Shizune was quick to pick up on her master's subtle gesture and approached the table before picking up the files. The office was silent for several minutes as the younger woman scrutinized the details of everything written. Occasionally eyes would widen or narrow at the contents of the file. Finally, when finished, her eyes found her master's.

"So Madara's finally done hiding."

It was a stated as though it was the inevitable. As though there was no doubt that one day it would come to pass. "He's been quiet since the war. If it wasn't for Jiraiya sama's spies we would have still thought him dead from the aftermath." It was true. If it wasn't for the late hermit's network that was already firmly in place at the time of his demise, the ninja world would surely have thought Madara had perished.

Once again if her master heard her was beyond Shizune. She noticed the pensive look upon the Godaime's brow and knew the blonde was deep in thought. She wondered for a moment if she should leave her master to her thoughts, but, Shizune knew, that she should voice her question.

"What are your orders on the matter Tsunade sama?"

The blonde's eyes closed. Images started flashing through her mind. It felt as though, all the pain, all the suffering that the Uchiha had caused, was being relived. The descendent of the Senju felt heart grow heavy.

She thought about Jiraiya's death at the hands of Pein, the misguided former student of the toad hermit, her former teammate, her closest friend, and if he had come back from that mission, maybe more. She thought of the misleading of Sasuke, the Uchiha whose path could still have been saved had it not been for his ancestor's interference, and how much pain it brought every day to Naruto and Sakura, the grandson and daughter she never had. The massive loss all the countries had suffered during the war, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, never coming back home to their families. And finally, the disturbance of the peace the dead had rightfully deserved when his ally Kabuto used the mass Edo Tensei to bring back former shinobi to fight unwillingly against their loved ones.

Her teeth clenched as she remembered her former lover being one of the souls disturbed. The thing all these things had in common was that they had all been orchestrated one way or the other by Madara. The pain he caused the world, was immeasurable.

The granddaughter of the Shodaime clenched her teeth tighter and furrowed her brow. Anger took over her features. There was only one thing that her grandfather's rival deserved. One justice that could possibly be handed out that would be sufficient enough to act as atonement for the sins he had committed against the world and all the people he hurt. There was only one thing, she could say. She glared at her apprentice, her order loud and clear, venom laced in her voice as she growled,

"Kill him."

Border of Kaze no Kuni

Uchiha Sasuke's back was against a tree. He stood with folded arms and closed eyes, the flat of one of his feet, resting against the towering piece of nature as well. There was only silence around him, naught but the sounds of crickets and night time critters. But he had been expecting it. After all, it took a while before Madara's plan sank in his own head and that was after he had seen the effects with his own eyes. It would be hard for anyone to believe who was just hearing it.

"You're sure about this?" a voice from the shadows enquired.

Finally hearing a reply before his impatience got the best of him, the survivor of the Uchiha massacre merely gave a, "hn." Slowly, his eyelids rose, revealing his ever bored, onyx eyes. The eyes were often said to be a portal to the soul. They reflected the moods and inner turmoil of a person if someone would pay enough attention, but this definitely was not a trait of Sasuke's as his were, always, undecipherable.

He stared at the silhouette of his addressor. His contact was currently hidden in shadow to conceal his identity lest they be seen together. It would prove most, problematic.

"It seems like your little stunt earned you a bit of trust."

Sasuke made no move to reply.

"Not to mention your little act. Although who could ever believe that from Uchiha stick-up-his-ass Sasuke. Madara should be diagnosed as brain dead."

"Tch," was the reply the shadow got from the proud Uchiha as he turned his head away, still looking bored. "It was merely necessary to show my disdain for Konoha. I needed him to trust me in order to hear about his plan. Kisame would have reported to him that I 'lost it' when faced with my former 'comrades'."

A chuckle rumbled from the shadows.

"I know, I know. Sheesh…. stick up your ass indeed."

Sasuke shot a glare in the direction of the voice. The action merely got another chuckle for a response. Soon though, the chuckle died and there was a growing tension filling the air as more and more time passed.

"We've got to go ahead of schedule." Sasuke stated what they both knew already. There was no question that they could no longer follow the original course of action.

"We need to move immediately."

"Ah. I know." There was a sigh. It was filled with regret. "We really don't have a choice."

"Hn."

The raven haired young man calmly leaned forward, using his foot to push himself off the tree. He turned around with no sense of urgency and started to walk away.

"Sasuke….."

Itachi's younger brother merely stopped, but he did not bother turning around.

"…. If you get the opportunity….. Take him out….." the voice said with much tension.

Sasuke stood unmoved. Second passed, and naught came from him but a flap of the clothes when an occasional night breeze would see fit to pass over the area. It seemed like he was never going to give a response until he turned slightly to look over his shoulder.

"I don't need you to tell me that," he began. He stared right at the figure, eyes showing not a care in the world.

"He may think I've forgotten his role in the slaying of our clan, but …I've been waiting to kill him since I was fifteen."

And then he turned around and walked away.

"I'll see you later…." He said, mumbling something unintelligible afterwards before blending into the darkness.

The shadow left behind took a step into a ray of the moonlight that shone through the canopy, illuminating his features. A grin on his face before he called amidst a chuckle, "Take care..."

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AN:- Now don't forget to check out 'The Truth' and 'Naruto's Legacy' otherwise Imma sic Sakura chan on yo ass….. that was weird. :P