Two years later…
Naruto scratched his head in frustration while Tsunade sat across from him with fold arms and a stern look on her face.
"Come on now, I need you to answer. What would be your best course of action if a team were to fail under your guidance?" Tsunade asked again sighing. Naruto fiddled with his bandaged arm now as he tried to think of the best answer.
"It depends on what happens exactly. You never really gave me any situations of what the failure was supposed to be." Naruto replied back with his scrunched up face.
"Alright then, imagine you're simply training in a team exercise and one of your students leaves the others behind in order to do some recon but is captured by you. In that situation, you fail your students because of lack of teamwork. What would you have them do?" Tsunade asked growing impatient. Naruto sat for a moment and thought about his answer before an idea came to him.
"Oh! I know! I could have them tied to by ankles and wrists and force them to have to move as one for the next four hours and if they didn't learn the value of team work in that time, they'd be tied together for the night!" Naruto exclaimed with a childish grin.
'Almost twenty and he still has the childish charm.' Tsunade smiled at his foolish nature.
"That would be a good idea. Not the same idea as the bell test as Kakashi gave you but it's different. But I would assume you'd probably use the bell test anyway since it works so well." Tsunade replied leaning back in her chair.
"Well, I'd thought it'd be kind of lame to use the same test as the Sixth Hokage so I've tried to come up with my own ideas. Personally I never thought much of myself as a team leader but more of a protector." Naruto shrugged his shoulders crossing his legs.
"I see but there's no shame in using something your old teacher used to train you. But it's also a good thing to always think of new ways to get your students to work together. As for protecting people, well that's something I'll never be able to change about you. However, you have to learn how to raise a group of young Genin if you want to ever be Hokage." Tsunade explained with a smile.
"I know but I've always been more inclined to do everything myself." Naruto replied scratching his cheek. Tsunade simply giggled at his statement, causing Naruto to look at her funny.
"It's funny how seven years after I met you, you still want to take on the world." Tsunade smiled and sighed while thinking fondly of those times.
"Granny?" Naruto asked her.
"I remember when you used to be a bratty kid that came looking for me with Jiraiya to be the next Hokage. I still remember how annoying you were, proclaiming you were going to be Hokage that you were going to surpass them all. You were a twelve year old kid that stood up to Orochimaru and Kabuto, to master a technique that your father took years to master and never truly evolve sadly. You convinced a cynical old woman to have faith once more and to believe in your dream." Tsunade beamed with pride while Naruto sat and listened with his own pride welling in his chest. But he saw that her eyes had darkened and carried sadness in them.
"I have many regrets Naruto, I have regrets of my past that I'll carry with me till I pass away. I regret not giving Jiraiya a chance all those years later, I regret sending him on that mission that killed him, and I regret not telling you who your parents were. I didn't know if you would hate your father for that or not so I couldn't say anything about it." Tsunade said with guilt lacing her voice. Naruto didn't say anything, he didn't need to.
"I understand." Naruto replied with a smile. Tsunade looked at him with questioning eyes and then closed them with a smile.
"How can you be so forgiving?" Tsunade shook her head. Naruto smiled at her.
"I just understand people have their faults. We all do and there's no point in trying to explain everything in the past. If you learn from those mistakes then at least we can move forward." Naruto explained resting his hands on his lap. Tsunade chuckled at his words.
"I was right to believe in you and your crazy dream." Tsunade spoke softly.
"Doesn't seem so crazy now does it?" Naruto laughed sheepishly.
"That doesn't seem crazy but letting a brat like you lead a team sure does." Tsunade smiled, unable to resist joking with him.
"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed standing up ready to prove he wasn't crazy. Tsunade just started laughing uncontrollably.
"That's one thing that will never change about you though is your inability to take a joke." Tsunade kept laughing as she stood from her seat.
"Eh, makes me wish Kakashi sensei would teach me these things. He wouldn't kid around as much." Naruto grumbled crossing his arms.
"Oh? So you don't like spending time with your Granny Tsunade, since you like to call me that all the time?" Tsunade asked standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. Naruto remained unfazed, despite the fact that his next words could land him in the hospital.
"I didn't say that." Naruto continued to grumble looking away from her embarrassed.
"Or would Naruto rather spend his time with his Sakura?" Tsunade leaning forward with a smug look. Naruto's face just burned up in embarrassment. Tsunade just giggled and flicked his forehead gently.
"She's busy today as well and I'm sure she wants nothing more than to spend time with you as well doing whatever fantasies you both have in your heads." Tsunade teased him more.
"Hey! That's personal!" Naruto exclaimed but was quickly silenced by a pair of lips on his forehead, a pair he had felt years before. Tsunade pulled back and smiled tilting his chin down.
"You may be taller than me now, but that doesn't mean you're older than me. And that was for never changing who you are." Tsunade continued to smile. Naruto felt his embarrassment fade slightly as he returned the smile back.
"Thanks Granny." Naruto laughed quietly then felt his stomach grumble loudly.
"Umm…oops." He simply replied. Tsunade just rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Come on, let's go get some food. I'll send for Sakura and see if she has any available time." Tsunade said making her way to the door. Naruto just stood in shock at Tsunade offering him lunch.
"Well then, what are you waiting for? Let's go and get some food, just don't over eat your way in ramen." She warned him. Naruto quickly got out of his trance and quickly followed her out the door.
Sakura sighed as she went over paperwork on her desk, very bored and depressed that she didn't have a certain someone bothering her. Of course it wouldn't be a bother to her since he brightened her day up whenever he was around. She wondered where he was right now with Tsunade as she hit her head against the desk out of boredom.
'Why couldn't I have the day off today?' Sakura thought as she moved more papers around.
"Having fun there?" someone said to her. Sakura lifted her head up to see a familiar masked face.
"Apologies Hokage-sama." Sakura replied embarrassed as she stood and bowed to her sensei.
"Sakura, there are no need for formalities between us here. I'm just checking in on how everything is going." Kakashi smiled as he took a seat in one of the chairs near her desk. Sakura wiped her brow as she took her seat back and sighed quietly.
"It's fine, just very tedious right now." Sakura replied as she moved the completed stack to her right while leaning back in the chair that creaked from lack of oil. A chuckle came from Kakashi's throat at his former student's reply.
"What's so funny?" Sakura looked up at him, her lips forming into a frown.
"It's nothing, just thinking about how much you've grown since you were so little." Kakashi answered while scratching his leg. Sakura crossed her arms and wondered what else he had to say.
"Oh then continue please, I'd love to hear what you have to say about me then sensei." Sakura smirked while cocking her eyebrows.
"Well, considering you aren't as rash as you used to be, you're calmer now and look at you now. You're in charge of probably the most important sector of the hospital. It's hard to imagine seven years ago you were just a little twelve year old Genin and now we're here." Kakashi complimented her.
"Well I don't want to brag….wait! Probably? You said it was! Did you promote me to something that isn't important?" Sakura growled, thinking of all the paperwork she was doing when instead she could be spending time with Naruto. Kakashi could read her like a book sometimes and just kept smiling.
"Sakura, you know I couldn't trust the critical injuries sector of the hospital to just anyone. I mean, I could have had Lady Tsunade done it but she absolutely refused need I remind you? But I know what's really troubling you." Kakashi putting his hands in his pockets.
"And what is troubling me?" Sakura replied feeling her cheeks turn pink. Like it or not, her sensei did know what made her tick.
"You'd rather spend the day with a future Hokage than spend it doing paper work." Kakashi answered correctly. Sakura looked away from him, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"Shut up." She replied with a bit of annoyance. She hated when someone could read her like that, or at least anyone except Naruto.
"Not the best thing to say to your Hokage is it?" Kakashi laughed, enjoying his tormenting session.
"You said no formalities here. I could say much worse...or do worse." Sakura reminded him cracking her knuckles.
"The difference is that if you do that now, you could be jailed for life or executed." He answered back scratching his face without removing his mask.
"I'd take my chances. Naruto would bust me out and we'd abandon the village." Sakura shrugged as she ignored the paper work in front of her completely.
"I'd say Naruto would never abandon the village, but if it came to you I think he would." Kakashi chuckled.
"Yeah, I know. Don't start teasing me about that now, I'd rather get this paperwork done so I can actually go and see him today." She sighed, grabbing her pen and began to sign documents anew.
"The funny thing is, I'm actually here to pardon you from that today." Kakashi stated leaning forward. Sakura's grip on her pen relinquished and it crashed down to the tiled floor below her.
"Did you say what I think you said?" Sakura looked at him, hopeful he wasn't lying considering she hadn't a day off in two weeks. Kakashi nodded in response.
"Today and tomorrow. Shizune will be doing the paperwork for you so you can enjoy some time off. You'd better thank Lady Tsunade for it though because she's the one that wanted it." Kakashi stood up from his seat. Sakura looked at him in disbelief.
"But why? I know I've been working but I don't mind it." Sakura said.
Shut up Sakura, you've got today and tomorrow off!
Kakashi turned around, ignoring the sound of medical carts going by with nurses and doctors following them.
"Because she's been working with Naruto just as much getting him prepared to take a team of his own but even she can see the importance of rest and relaxation. Considering you two have been working ten hour days for months and had very little time to enjoy each other she decided to give you a few days off and Naruto as well." Kakashi explained. Sakura felt her heart flutter in joy at the thought of some time with him.
"I know I'm taking a chance asking something else, but why did you agree to it when you know we're the best at what we do?" Sakura asked her sensei standing up from her own seat. Kakashi didn't answer right away as he grasped the handle of the door. He turned around and she could see the smile beneath his mask.
"Because you deserve time to relax and enjoy time with Naruto. Just because you live together doesn't mean you get to enjoy each other's company all the time. He's at Ichiraku right now enjoying some lunch with Tsunade." Kakashi smiled walking out the door and down the hallway.
Sakura didn't dare question anything else about this, sometimes it led to worse outcomes than what she wanted. Taking off her white coat and setting it on the hook, she locked up the draws to her desk since Shizune had her own key and quickly made her way to the door, eager to spend the remaining daylight with Naruto.
'Work be damned, I'm taking this day.' Sakura smiled happily.
"Naruto, you need to stop now before you fill yourself up too much. Eight bowls is a bit much." Tsunade flatly said resting her cheek against her hand. Naruto slurped up a noddle and looked at her with a wide grin.
"I never fill up on this Granny, it's too good." Naruto laughed as he was about dive into another bowl. Tsunade just shook her head and watched the endless pit of his stomach somehow still take it all in.
"Most women would kill for your metabolism, hell so would most men. It's unbelievable how much you can put away and not gain any weight." Tsunade sighed, wishing she had not decided to treat him to lunch. Still, she smiled. The flap behind them opened up, bringing the sights and sounds of the market with it momentarily and allowing a woman with long red hair and glasses to walk in. Naruto turned his head to meet her gaze.
"Hey Karin, we didn't expect you to join us." Naruto said with a mouthful of beef, quickly swallowing it. Tsunade almost hit her head against the counter while Karin just laughed.
"Come on you brat, learn to not talk with your mouth full. It's a wonder you got Sakura to like you." Tsunade groaned, wondering if he really was the right person to be Hokage, if only for a moment.
"It's fine Lady Tsunade, I don't expect him to mind his manners. Besides, Sakura is just as nuts anyways." Karin smiled taking a seat next to her kin.
"Don't let her hear you saying that, she may try and destroy you into a million pieces." Naruto laughed wearingly, well aware of Sakura's temper. Karin just shrugged at his warning.
"She can if she wants, I'm sure you'd get her to stop before she could follow through on it." Karin smiled pushing her glasses up.
"I'm crazy but not that crazy to try and stop her, you're on your own with that." Naruto laughed boldly then offering his fresh bowl of ramen to her. Tsunade almost fainted at the sight, wondering if he was sick.
"Naruto, do you have a fever?" Tsunade checked his forehead.
"Umm, no…" Naruto looked at her with a weird looked.
"You have to be if you're offering someone else your ramen." Tsunade said with a questioning look.
"Umm…I'm not allowed to offer my ramen to family?" Naruto looked at her furrowing his brow. Tsunade glanced over at him one more time before sighing in defeat, but smiling regardless.
'Guess he has matured after all.' Tsunade thought.
Karin looked at him and then at the bowl of steaming ramen in front of her and smiled. He really was someone that was truly selfless. She was glad that she had found him. He was someone that she could say was part of her. She knew some of her clan's past and she had found that he didn't really know much either. She had told him what little she did know of it but she was happy that he felt some pride in his clan and that he knew of it. Tsunade had of course told him more over the last two years, what she knew wasn't that much more than Karin but she was part of the Senju, in many ways distant relatives. But Naruto had of course said it wasn't a big deal, he just wanted to know. He had never grown up with such things like that, and neither had Karin who had it much worse. So as she ate the ramen, she felt a sense of joy that only Naruto brought to her.
He was family to her and the same of her to him.
Sakura meanwhile was rushing quickly to spend her time alone with Naruto, quickly opening the flap to Ichiraku's but was quickly disappointed when she saw that there were two other women speaking to him.
'At least they aren't strangers, but….damn it! I want to spend this time alone with him!' Sakura inwardly groaned as she stepped inside.
"Sakura! You're here!" Naruto jumped up from his seat and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Sakura's heart fluttered in her chest at his hug.
"Okay Naruto, I get it! You're happy to see me." Sakura giggled but carried a threatening tone in her voice only he could recognize. Naruto quickly let go and grinned uncontrollably.
"Sorry, but you know how I am when I get to see you like this." Naruto defended himself.
"Geez Naruto, we sleep in the same bed every night, it's not like you wouldn't have seen me tonight anyways." Sakura rolled her eyes but was happy that he was wanted to spend his time with her.
"I'm pretty sure you do more than 'sleep' in that bed." Tsunade smirked trying to stir the pot so to speak.
"That's none of your business!" Naruto and Sakura shouted in unison at her. Tsunade just laughed at their reaction. Karin just closed her eyes and shook her head in amusement.
"Hey, if you're going to talk about bedroom matters, either keep it down or take it out." Teuchi stated leaning over the counter while Ayame stood to the side embarrassed.
"Sorry about that, my apologies." Tsunade replied as she paid an extra amount of money as atonement. Teuchi simply grunted and took it. Fifth Hokage or not, he did not want that discussed here.
"Anyways…I should thank you for getting me out of paperwork Lady Tsunade, but considering your comment just now, I'll reserve that for another day." Sakura muttered as she noticed there was a shortage of stools to sit on.
"Teuchi-san, where are the other stools at?" Sakura questioned him.
"Oh they're broken and being repaired. Sorry to say this is all we have right now." Teuchi apologized to her. Sakura groaned at her luck.
'First these two are here and now I have to stand?' Sakura thought dejectedly. This wasn't her idea of relaxing.
"Here Sakura, take my seat. I don't mind standing." Naruto offered her his now empty stool. Sakura smiled at his generosity.
"Are you done eating?" she asked him. Naruto nodded eagerly in response.
"He should be after eight bowls…" Tsunade deadpanned placing her hand against her cheek again.
"Hey!" Naruto shouted back at her. Sakura and Karin just laughed at their bickering.
"I think I'll take it go Teuchi-san. I have the day off today and tomorrow and I'd rather enjoy it outside, even if it's slightly cold out here." Sakura said to him who simply nodded and quickly started making her favorite ramen bowl.
"Well where do you have in mind then Sakura?" Naruto asked turning back to her. Sakura sighed annoyed slightly.
"I had in mind that it would just be us today but since we already have Lady Tsunade and Karin here, we can go to the training grounds and enjoy the lunch. There shouldn't be anyone out there except us." Sakura explained as Teuchi handed the ramen over the counter. Sakura bowed in respect and thanks, taking it and grabbing Naruto's hand.
"Well, if you two are coming then move it." Sakura ordered the other two women as she pulled Naruto out the flaps. Tsunade and Karin looked at each other wondering if they should intrude.
"I guess they're inviting us then, you think we should go?" Karin asked as she quickly finished her bowl.
"Of course we should, imagine the fun we'll have. Besides, family takes care of family." Tsunade smiled as she stood from her seat and made her way outside.
'Family takes care of family.' Karin thought happily as she quickly followed them outside.
When she did, she saw how close Naruto and Sakura were, arms and hands interlocked with each other. She saw the bandages on Naruto's other arm and remember seeing how he didn't have his, all because of Sasuke's stupidity. He may have been able to forgive Sasuke, but she could never understand it. He really did have a bright chakra and in turn a bright heart, somehow able to avoid the temptation of pure evil that Kurama had once been dormant. She still didn't really know him even though they had talked, probably because she still needed to earn trust from everyone else around them but really, because she didn't ask because she was afraid of the answer. He never showed her any hostility and only unconditional love and concern. He most have had some quality that made everyone love him, she would have to ask Sakura if the chance ever came up.
After all, she saw that even with a fake hand, Sakura grasped it tighter than his real one.
The wind picked up and blew the leaves around the trees while the scent of ramen passed their noses. They had taken seats against trees lined up close to each other. Naruto sat in the middle with Sakura leaning against his side and found herself enjoying Tsunade and Karin's company who sat on either side of them. She enjoyed these moments of peace, the days where paperwork wasn't a hassle for the day and she could spend time with her Naruto. She got to spend the nights with him from a long day's work and he still had energy for her when he or she arrived home for the other, energy left to talk or laugh or…other things she thought as she blushed but smirked wondering about what she could do tonight with him. But moments like this were seldom in their current busy lives so when she got to enjoy them, she made the most of it.
"I'm bored, how about we have a sparring session?" Tsunade suggested sitting up.
'And there goes my quiet peaceful day. Damn it Lady Tsunade.' Sakura groaned to herself. Naruto looked over her direction, no doubt aware she was now pissed.
"Granny…" Naruto warned her nodding to Sakura.
"Oh don't be so boring Sakura, we could make a fun thing. Tell you what, Naruto and I will go first while you two watch. And to make things interesting, we'll use bo staffs to see who's a better fighter all around." Tsunade added in as she stood and began to stretch. Naruto groaned and eyed down towards Sakura. She didn't need him to ask the question, she could read his eyes.
'You want me to?' they asked. Sakura nodded and looked back at him.
'Kick her ass for suggesting it, we were relaxing.'
Naruto nodded and easily removed himself from her grip to stand up and begin to stretch. Karin watched the silent exchange, amazed how easily they communicated with each other without the need for any words between them.
"By the way Granny, where are we going to get the bo staffs from?" Naruto asked her slightly confused as he stretched his legs out.
"Oh I had ANBU place them behind these trees before we got here. One of the perks of being a former Hokage." Tsunade smiled reaching behind the teach and pulling out two staffs.
"Why am I not surprised…." Naruto deadpanned, wondering if she had planned this all along grabbing the staff thrown to him.
"Nothing will surprise you when you take the role, but we'll see if you are worthy of it by beating me first. Come on, move your lazy ass and let's go." Tsunade ordered him as she moved to the center of the field.
"That's it! You asked for it!" Naruto exclaimed boldly as he followed her and took his stance, never having practiced much of it in his life time.
He always preferred his ninjutsu, tai-jutsu and weapons as his primary form of combat. Granted, he no longer had much need for weapons like kunai and shuriken but he always remembered how to use them. His confidence didn't waver as he tighten his grip on the staff and waited for Tsunade to make the first move.
"Well brat, your move." Tsunade beckoned him, standing straight with a hand on her hip and smirk across her face. Naruto granted her request, kicking off his front leg and twisting in the air swinging down to strike. Tsunade quickly parried his attack and avoided another aimed for her throat as she leaned back and kicked his gut squarely. Now felt his breath hitch slightly but grabbed her ankle firmly and spun her around before swinging his staff and hitting her in a particular spot.
"Did he just…." Sakura felt some anger and fear rise in her at the spot, wondering if she should kill him or if Tsunade would.
"Yep, he just hit her on the ass with it." Karin laughed, waiting for the punishment to follow. Tsunade felt her cheeks flush but smirked as she back away from him and looked at him with a glare.
"Oh…I see were going to play that game then?" Tsunade replied tightening her grip on her staff.
"I thought we were only using bo staff? You kicked me in my gut so I assume rules include staff and hands. But if it wasn't then you got a bit of punishment." Naruto laughed as he took his stance again.
"I see, and is that what you do to Sakura if she's been a 'bad girl?' I can only imagine." Tsunade giggled standing calmly. Sakura felt her cheeks flush bright pink while Karin just kept on laughing.
"Karin, shut the hell up! Naruto don't just smack her ass! Kick it!" Sakura shouted standing up and shaking her fist at Tsunade.
"Now, now Sakura, nothing to be embarrassed about. It's perfectly acceptable to try some kinky things in the bedroom." Tsunade waved her off like nothing was said.
"I'LL TAKE YOU OUT MYSELF!" Sakura shouted louder cracking her knuckles and started to walk over.
"It's alright Sakura." Naruto called out holding a hand up to stop her. Sakura stopped midstride as he looked at her with a calm look.
"Let her think what she wants to think. Besides, she probably liked it knowing she couldn't have her way with me anyways. That and she's too old for me." Naruto smiled, daring her to challenge his threat. A vein started to twitch in Tsunade's forehead. Sakura's head fell down, already planning the funeral.
"He's so dead." Sakura sighed taking her seat back next to Karin.
"Probably, or she'll be dead. He's really a hot head." Karin stated pulling her knees, which were covered in long black loose pants, to her chest which was covered by a light blue t-shirt.
"He is, always has to make things more difficult than they are." Sakura sighed again watching Tsunade's rage build.
"Too old huh? You'd be surprised what I could if I wanted to, not that you could a handle a woman like me anyways." Tsunade growled quietly.
"Nah, I'd do just fine." Naruto shrugged, making sure to hide a part about Sakura he could have added to for measured affect.
"Alright then, don't be upset when I break you for saying that." Tsunade warned him with a devilish smile.
"I'm not hearing you deny you liked the spanking." Naruto replied still in his stance. Tsunade yelled out as she charged him and they began their duel anew.
Sakura and Karin watched as each parried each other strikes, going in for blows and narrowly missing multiple times while going for leg sweeps, downward strikes and jabs to the chest. Considering Naruto's skill level with a staff, he was doing quite well against the former Hokage, probably actually holding back. When it came to things like this, instinct was his teacher now. Bruises would be formed on their ankles and legs as they tried to get the other's footing, or at least that was what Tsunade was doing. Naruto was trying to get another smack in to try and infuriate Tsunade more. Deadly or not, he was a jokester at heart and wanted to mess around with his loved ones once in a while. Karin watched her kin fight with the ease that her clan was known for but noticed how Sakura was keeping up with his movements, her jade eyes almost reading his movements as if she was sensing what he was thinking.
"Sakura." Karin piped up, causing her disruption.
"Hmm?" Sakura turned her head to meet her gaze.
"I…I'm not sure if it's my place to ask this but…but what is it do see in Naruto that makes him so special?" Karin asked her carefully. Sakura didn't answer her back, trying to search if there was some meaning behind this.
"I mean, people have just told me he's special but never really said why. I think it's because I'm still not trusted in the village yet but I understand. I just want to know what is so special about him that everyone tells me about." Karin said with a truth in her voice Sakura could hear. Sakura smiled as she looked back at Naruto and Tsunade who were now arguing and getting ready to dispose of their staffs for fists.
"Naruto is someone that everyone should be. He has this ability to change people's hearts, to make them see right from wrong, to prove that nothing is impossible. He had no family growing up, no one that truly cared for him. I'm always regretful and bitter that I was one of those people. It makes me wonder sometimes if I should give up my love for him so Hinata could have him. I wonder a lot about that." Sakura smiled sadly.
"But he forgives you." Karin reminded her leaning forward.
"I know he does, that's what I mean though when he can change hearts. His is incorruptible; he sees the good in people, the flaws that don't mean anything to him as long as you are good at heart. I remember as Genin that I wasn't kind to him always, that I berated him a lot. Even when we got older I still did it, if only to hide my own embarrassment or feelings. One of my old leaders even told me that he could see it on my face by the way that I acted. He just never got to finish it. Looking back, I wish he had finished it. It would have made things so much easier. I'll always be brash but I've learned to be gentle too because of Naruto. I'll always have that regret that I wasn't nicer to him that I ignored what was always there. And I'll always feel sad that maybe he couldn't love Hinata the same way back and I feel like I stole him from her." Sakura wiped her eyes.
"He chose you though." Karin said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I know he did, I know." Sakura smiled grasping it.
"So that's what is special about him? That he change hearts and forgive?" Karin asked her. Sakura turned and shook her head.
"No, it's not those things. He never gives up, that's what is special about him. He never gives up on people and it changes them. Even when it's someone like Hinata who says she's moved on, it's because of his strength that does it. He's someone that always has faith. It's why I told if anything ever happened that he should find someone in case. But he never gave up on me and it made realize what I wish I had learned. It's funny how we think we know everything and then he comes in and made us realize what's true. I fell for him hard. Are there regrets? Yes, but I have to look forward because that's what he's always done." Sakura looked at her with a bright smile and turned back as Tsunade proceeded to kick her foot on Naruto's back side, sending him flying across the field.
"Guess he has faith that his ass will withstand that bit fighting against her." Karin joked but smiled as she watched Naruto stand up and laugh it off while Tsunade growled again charging.
"He just has that confidence. But that's what makes Naruto…my Naruto." Sakura said with admiration as they continued to watch the former Hokage and a future Hokage wrestle on the ground. Karin began to understand what she meant and it was about the best explanation anyone had told her. It put some light as to the chakra she had first felt when he had met him. It was bright with the Nine-Tails dark chakra inside of him.
'No one he had to prove himself and was alone.' Karin thought sadly.
"The way you talk of him, I'm surprised he hasn't asked you to marry him yet." Karin added in. Sakura felt a sudden lump in her throat and rise in temperature.
"I'm pretty sure he wants to, I just think he's thinking too much about what I want." Sakura replied calmly.
"Well, if he asked you to marry him today, would you?" Karin asked leaning forward again. Sakura's face adorned a smile across.
"I would have said yes a year and a half ago." Sakura said, her smile widening. Karin's eyes widen but she smiled as well.
"I wish I could find someone like him." Karin replied quietly watching Naruto and Tsunade continue to fight.
"You will, and worst case scenario, you can always have Sasuke." Sakura teased her with a giggle. Karin scoffed at the notion.
"Fuck him, he tried to kill me along with everyone else at one time it seems. It doesn't help he's not here most of the time anyways." Karin said with hatred.
"Yeah, I've heard that too often now. I'll give him some credit, he's learned to accept it and try to earn our trust back. He really doesn't have a choice considering he still has that seal for another three years." Sakura said leaning back against the tree.
"I'm counting down the minutes every day." A deep voice said behind them. Sakura and Karin quickly turned their heads to see a familiar face.
"I see you've returned to the village Sasuke." Sakura smiled before turning her attention back to the fight.
"Great, so now we have to deal with him." Karin sighed.
"It's good to see you too Karin." Sasuke replied quietly.
"Shove it. How long were you listening anyways?" Karin asked him.
"Longer than I wanted to." Was all he answered.
"Of course." Karin said quietly annoyed.
"So Naruto and Tsunade are going at it even harder now? It doesn't surprise me considering he hit her and kept egging her on." Sasuke smirked while he placed his hand in his pocket.
"You've been watching the whole thing? Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all." Sakura shook her head in amusement. "Well at least when it's done you can have your arm checked out. You left so quickly that she didn't have time to see if it was holding up."
"It's doing fine." Sasuke looked down at his bandaged arm.
"Sure it is." Sakura scoffed while she watched as Naruto and Tsunade were slowing down in speed and power.
"Give it up…you brat…" Tsunade panted out, feeling her age catch up to her.
"Never…grandma…" Naruto grinned, panting as well. Tsunade felt her vision blurred slightly, but still amazed at just how much he was willing to push. His will of fire to never quit, it always made her proud.
"You're such a…baka…" Tsunade laughed quietly as she fell backwards on to the grass and stared up into the clouds. Naruto walked over and looked down at her with that same grin.
"Takes one…to know one." He laughed as he fell next to her and let his body rest from his bruises.
"Think Sakura is going to be pissed off at us?" he asked her. Tsunade just laughed again.
"Oh yeah, she's not going to be happy about this at all." Tsunade answered.
"You're damn right she's not!" Sakura shouted as she walked over, followed by Karin and Sasuke. Naruto looked up and gave a weak wave.
"Hey Sasuke…didn't expect you to be back this soon." Naruto chuckled quietly putting his arm back down while Sakura began to heal their bruises.
"Hmm." Was all Sasuke answered to his friend.
"That's all huh? That's alright, I'm sure you'll tell me when you're ready." Naruto laughed smiling. Sasuke gave an uncharacteristic grin, something that Karin took notice of.
'Still an ungrateful bastard.' Karin thought, thinking back to Sakura's words.
"You two are idiots sometimes. Why do you have to always do this now? I expected better from my teacher." Sakura said with disappointment.
"It's not my fault if he's a brat." Tsunade smiled.
"It's not my fault you can't take a joke." Naruto laughed.
"Or a smack to the backside." Sasuke added calmly. Sakura just whipped her head around and glared evilly at him.
"If you don't want that seal to be extended another twenty years, you'll shut the hell up." Sakura warned him. Sasuke didn't say anything, but wondered just how much truth was behind that threat.
"You have some nerve doing that though Naruto. Any man that does that to me usually dies or comes close to it." Tsunade warned him.
"I know, Jiraiya told me once or twice something like that." Naruto replied feeling his heart hurt. Tsunade looked over and saw the pain in his smile that needed comfort. She took his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb over his hand.
"I know, I miss him too." Tsunade smiled, trying to ease his and her pain.
Sakura watched Naruto's tension ease as their bruises vanished as well and smiled. Karin watched the scene play out in front of her along with everything else. She had tried to understand what it meant to belong here and she really hadn't been part of a group for the two years she had been here. But today, she had seen everything that Naruto had told her about. Sakura, Tsunade, even Sasuke, they were smiling and happy. This man in front of her, her kin, made them happy somehow through it all. She'd have to ask Sakura one day how he had done it because she doubted Naruto would take any credit.
"Everyone, can I have a moment alone with Naruto?" Karin asked. The group looked at her strangely, wondering what was going through her mind.
"Umm…sure thing. After that, we can go and find some other stuff to." Sakura replied wondering what she had to say. She helped Tsunade to her feet and the trio made their way over to the tree line and watched.
'I was hoping for a more private moment but whatever.' Karin thought turning back to Naruto.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked her as he sat up rubbing the back of his head. Karin shook her head and smile.
"No, I just needed to thank you." Karin said smiling brightly at him. Naruto tilted his head confused.
"Thank me, for what?" he asked her scratching his cheek.
"For making me a part of your family and changing me for the better. For making me happy and for giving me people I care for." She explained still smiling.
"Umm, it's no problem but you're a nice person so I think…" Naruto stopped his ramblings as Karin wrapped her arms around him, kissing his cheek while she began sobbing into his shoulder.
"You don't need to say anything. Just know you're an amazing person and that I'm thankful." Karin sobbed quietly. Naruto instinctively wrapped his arms around her giving her the warmth of his chakra she sensed.
"It's OK, please don't cry." Naruto said smiling, his eyes closing in an appreciative look. Sakura, Sasuke and Tsunade watched on as the pair embraced, smiles adorning their faces as well.
"I think she finally feels like she's home." Tsunade remarked. Sakura and Sasuke simply nodded in agreement.
'He always brings out the best in everyone.' Sakura thought fondly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Karin laughed, wiping her eyes as she pulled back.
"You're my family, just like everyone else. I think you remind me of my mom, just like Sakura does. You're both kind, fiery tempered and full of love. You're my blood and it means you're my family." Naruto replied caressing her cheek wiping away the tears. Karin smiled, sniffing a little as her tears dried.
"You'd better ask Sakura to marry you soon, she deserves it." Karin remarked, causing Naruto blush slightly and her to laugh. Naruto watched as Karin stood and walked away back to the trio standing by the trees, still in shock at what she just said.
'What the hell…'
Karin turned back to look at him and smiled.
'Maybe if he can forgive, so can I…'
Naruto stood up and began to walk back over to the tree line, feeling happy at the family bond that he now shared with Karin. But the words she had said still laid in him hard. He wasn't sure when the right time would be to ask Sakura to do that. He would have done it years ago but he wanted to make sure she was ready. Maybe Karin's words would shake into asking. He had talked to her parents about it and they were more than accepting whenever he proposed but understood he wanted to make sure the time was right. However, he had something discuss with Tsunade first.
"Hey Granny, can you come here for a moment? I promise I won't start a fight I just need to ask you something." Naruto called out, motioning for her to come over. Tsunade gave a surprised look but walked towards him so that they were out of earshot the others.
"What's on your mind?" Tsunade asked crossing her arms.
"Remember the lessons we've been going over?" Naruto asked her.
"Of course, I remember that you don't like them." Tsunade teased him.
"Shut up. I'm being serious about this. I just thought about this but I've never really led a team before and yet I'm going to have to teach kids. Instead of doing that first, why don't I lead a team consisting of Karin in it?" Naruto asked her. Tsunade stood there in thought while the others watched from a distance.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Sakura asked the other two.
"I'm not sure." Sasuke simply replied.
"Well that certainly helps." Sakura deadpanned at his response.
"I never said I was a talkative person did I?" Sasuke questioned with a smirk. Karin noticed the playful tone in his voice.
'Maybe he has changed…' she thought wearingly, but hopeful.
"Karin hmm, because she's family and you feel a connection with her?" Tsunade asked him.
"Yeah, I feel like she would benefit from it." Naruto explained his reasoning.
"I suppose so, but we'll talk about it later. I will say though I'm surprised you wouldn't include Sakura on this." Tsunade remarked.
"Who said I wasn't, I'm just saying Karin could join, become an official shinobi of the village. I know things are peaceful but there are still people out there that aren't accepting the new ways of the world. I think it would be good for her and me. Then once I learn how to lead a team, I can teach students." Naruto replied eagerly. Tsunade smiled at him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"You've done a lot of growing up Naruto. I think it's a good idea, and we'll discuss it later on. For now, let's enjoy the rest of the day." Tsunade said turning him around and leading him back to the others.
Naruto couldn't contain his excitement at those words.
Nighttime had fallen after a semi-relaxing day, Naruto and Sakura had bid farewell to their friends deciding that they would try and catch up in a few days, with Naruto ending it in a so colorful message regarding Sasuke's departure. Sakura wasn't going to give up her day off tomorrow to anyone but Naruto. She was busy changing into a simple t-shirt and sweat pants since the night was cool. Naruto had already changed into his night time clothes as well and was sitting on the balcony when she had found him. His eyes were closed and he was smiling as he relaxed, feeling at ease. Sakura pulled the vacant chair up next to him and sat down on it.
"Enjoying the calm and quiet night?" Sakura asked him quietly. Naruto's eyes cracked open seeing her smiling face.
"Yeah, it's nice. Better though when you're here." Naruto grinned at her.
"You're such a dork sometimes." Sakura giggled resting her palm against her cheek.
"I'm sorry that enjoy spending time with you day or night." Naruto replied feigning hurt.
"Guess you'll have to make up for it." Sakura teased him back. Naruto just chuckled at looked up at the stars. Sakura though kept her gaze on him wondering what was going through his mind.
"You know, I used to do this a lot when I was a kid. I didn't have much to look forward to when I got home other than scrolls and practice, even after I was tired from doing it all day." Naruto sighed looking at each bright light.
"I know, I don't think I could imagine that loneliness." Sakura replied, guilt falling on her shoulders.
"It wasn't always so lonely, but most of the time it was. I remember sitting on the swing nights like this and feeling sad. I remembered when the village came under attack and when it was done if it had survived. I was glad it did because it held so many memories for me, good and bad." Naruto smiled as he sat up.
"I have something I want to ask you, but I have to take you there." He said looking at her, his eyes turning a darker shade of blue. Sakura would have ordinarily said it was too late or not a good time since they were in casual clothes, but she could tell he was serious.
"Ok." She nodded. Naruto stood up and offered her piggyback which she gladly accepted. Within minutes Naruto had landed at the academy and set her down. He motioned over to the swing and she followed, taking a seat on it. He stood behind her and gave her a gentle push, and Sakura smiled all the while as she felt the cool air against her face.
"I thought you wanted to ask me something." Sakura giggled again as he pushed her back and forth.
"I do, but I want to do this first because I never had anyone do it for me." Naruto said smiling. Sakura didn't feel too happy hearing those words. The more she had begun to understand him, the more she realized that she would always be hurt at what he had to go through.
"I wish I had." She replied quietly.
"It's alright." Naruto said solemnly but his smile never fading.
"There are so many things I wish I had done right." Sakura said, wiping tears from her eyes. Naruto pulled the swing to a stop. Sakura gasped at the sudden moment watching as Naruto walked around and knelt down in front of her.
"Sakura, look at me." Naruto said facing her eye to eye. Sakura remained silent but didn't look away.
"Everyone has flaws. I was drawn a bad hand early in life, but I never let it finish me off. I fought, I struggled, and I bled for everything I have now. We all learn as we live our lives. I'm not the smartest person in the world, I know that. I'm a prankster, I'm someone that loves to joke around, I'm a loud mouth. I've had people tell me I'm someone to look up to and there are times I laugh because if they knew the real me, they'd think I was a goofball and it's because I am." Naruto said boldly. Sakura watched as he took his hand in hers.
"There are those like you that know who I really am. There are those that accept me for who I am so why can't you let me accept you for who you are?" Naruto asked her seriously.
"Because, I feel like even after all this time, it'll never be enough for…" Sakura tried to answer.
"Sakura, stop ok? This isn't you. I know you as someone who's strong and you've shown it every day of our time together, before the war, all of that. I don't know why you're acting like this, but someone said something to you today and I can tell even in when you don't show it, it's on your mind. When I say it's ok, it's ok. I've never held it against you, I never will just like I know you never hold my craziness against me." Naruto smiled, wiping under her eyes as he saw the tears flow. He felt a lump in his throat begin to form though as he tried to say what he needed to next.
"Naruto, there's something you wanted to ask me and I can see you're having a hard time. You're not the only that can read the other you know." Sakura replied quietly, trying to hold back a sob and a laugh. Naruto could only chuckle because she was telling the truth.
"I'm not sure if this is the right time or not, or if we're too young but I was working on this for a long time now, finding the right pieces and things." Naruto said as he pulled out a necklace like the on Tsunade had given to him years before. Taking her hand and opening it up, he took the necklace and cupped it in her hands with his.
"It was like the one that Granny gave me years ago. I wish it hadn't been destroyed but this is as close as that one was." Naruto explained, a small smile creeping across his lips.
"Naruto, why are you giving me this?" Sakura asked him feeling her heart racing.
"I want you to have this…forever. I want you to take this and just answer me this." Naruto said quietly, looking her right in the eyes.
"In all my goofiness, in all my craziness…will you marry me?"
Time stopped completely for Sakura. Everything seemed to disappear between them, leaving just her and Naruto looking at each other. It was the question she was ready for and it seemed Karin's question and his was either a stroke of fate or it was the Uzumaki lineage saying it was the right time. She felt tears form again but happily smiled, genuinely feeling her heart leap in joy.
"Yes." Sakura sobbed as she leaned forward capturing his lips in a deep kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and never wanting to let go. Naruto happily returned it, feeling the lump in his throat disappeared and instead felt sweet relief. They pulled away from each other and looked deeply into each other's eyes. Naruto wiped her tears and placed the necklace on her while Sakura laughed.
"What's so funny?" Naruto asked her confused.
"It's nothing, it's just I've been waiting for this for a while, at least a year." Sakura explained palming his cheek and smiling at him. Naruto's face just dropped.
"I could have asked you a year ago? Son of a…" Naruto turned away to hide his disappointment. Sakura just giggled, knowing she accepted him like this. She grabbed his face and turned him to look back at her.
"Just shut up and admit you would have asked me to marry you five years ago if I said yes." Sakura smiled rubbing her thumbs over his cheeks. Naruto nodded quietly, knowing full well he would have.
"That's all that matters. Now I want you to do something else for me." Sakura said in a sultry voice as she pressed her hands against his chest.
"I want you to take me home, check that it hasn't been ransacked since we left it open. Then, get out of your clothes, get me out of mine, and make sure this necklace doesn't come off my neck." Sakura smiled seductively at him, her eyes closing to show her half glazed eyes in a new light. Naruto felt something hitch in him, picking her up while resisting the urge to throw her over his shoulder.
"Well I wouldn't want to disappoint my wife to be would I?" Naruto grinned pecking her lips.
Sakura just kept smiling as they leaped off into the night.
A/N: Yep, I wrote a sequel to it. I wanted to see the characters get a better send off, especially Karin since the story never really revisited her story all that much, especially her lineage to the Uzumaki Clan and that she deserved to be developed. Not sure when I'll add to this or who I'll add into the story. Might be Hinata again, Shikamaru, Ino, Kiba, etc. who knows? I want to give the characters a proper send-off that I felt we didn't really get, not based on pairings.
So this chapter had more Karin so that she could have a better send-off which I felt was a missed chance on her character and Tsunade in it and even in this, I felt like Tsunade could have been done better in this but I wanted her to see how Naruto had grown while also still having that Granny / Naruto bond they have come out in a funny way while having Naruto keep his prankster natures. Those are my opinions; you don't have to agree with it. I also wanted Sakura to further delve into her own regrets about everything. Like I said, the next one might have more Hinata back in it to develop her character more as well as Sasuke, I don't know. I'll be waiting till after the movie confirms, retcons, denies or whatever happens because at this point, I expect anything to happen.
As for any rants, I'm not going to bother because I don't want to argue about it anymore. I have my opinions about the ending and others agree or disagree. I'll just say this and one other thing, there's a lot of people that don't like the ending either I've talked to and not because of pairings. As for anyone that doesn't agree with me, why did you click on here to do so? I'm just saying I don't do it to other pairings but you feel some justification in doing it to me. There's better ways to spend your time I assume.
That's all I'm going to say about it. PM if you want on who you think should pair with who but I have of course led it towards SasuKarin with this one, if only a little. Might happen, might not. Maybe I develop Hinata towards him or maybe some crazy twist. I don't know, we'll see what happens. Might even try actual canon pairings to at least bring me some sort understanding, at least make it more believable.
Hope you enjoyed it and prepare for craziness on December 6th.