Chapter 3 A promise that needs fulfillment

Naruto (POV)

On the way home I couldn't help but think of what Gaara had said to me in all honesty I thought of Gaara as more than a friend not necessarily a relative but It was always something that seemed to come up and bother me. Yet I suppose it was the fact that him and I are a lot alike even if he is an ex Jinjuruki he still felt the same pain the idea and the actuality of being alone, no friends, family. Even so he has surpassed that he is now the Kazekage of the village that once thought of him as a monster, now thinks of him as their beloved hero. I could feel a small smile creep up over my face as the mere thought of becoming a kage and also for Gaara who managed to change the hearts of many as well as their minds. I let those thoughts sink in as I let the wind carry me through the trees that were laden with a white abyss the cold nipping away at my cheeks giving a slight tingling sensation that made me feel a slight sense of nostalgia. My body didn't feel cold in fact it felt quite the opposite like a fire has been relight within me, I felt myself lighten with each passing second as I recalled Gaara's words. "Naruto….I considered you as a friend… Before the word friend was just a word to me…..nothing more nothing less…but after meeting you I realized something that what that word means is important…..now you must decide what you can do for your friend….your friend Sasuke." ….. heh that guy sometimes I really don't get him, but…

"I will do what needs doing as Sasuke's friend…and for Gaara as well…. hopefully Gaara I will become an even better Kage then you just you wait!"

"Hey Naruto stop talking to yourself and keep moving or we are going to leave you!" Sakura yelled looking at her team mate with an agitated glare. "Ya ya I'm coming! Geez theirs no need for you to be so mean Sakura-chan!" I mumbled starting to feel a little glum "What was that?" her glare deepened as she began to crack her knuckles. "W-w-w-wait what did I say S-S akura?!"

Sasuke POV

I saw the possibility of change in myself during my time in Konoha, as a gennin, I felt as if nothing meant more to me then to be an avenger of my clan. On top of all that there was always something beating at me that made me begin to doubt my resolve, playing ninja was what it felt like. Konoha had begun to change me along with the people in it the ones that where known as my comrades, team 7 and everyone else as well. There was a time that I believed that I could be that way forever, my hatred for my brother almost seemed as if It was just a very faint memory that still plagued on me yet it began to become less prominent even after Itachi had come to retrieve Naruto. In truth it was not Naruto that had made me upset at the world or my brother it was myself, the fact that he kept getting stronger while I began to fade within the background as I became a shadow. Still the need for power was too overwhelming for me and too hard for me to resist, and it ended up harming Naruto in the process. I sighed out of remembrance of that day and the many times I had actually hurt him out of pure confusion of my feelings for him. Now that I have come to terms with them for the past few years I am more than adamant about making Naruto keep his promise to me. "You are mine Uzumaki Naruo….and mine alone."

Normal POV

(back in Konoha)

"Alright everyone while Kakashi and I go to the Hokage tower to fill in the report I want all three of you to take it easy and relax and go home." Yamato said making eye contact with each of his students except for Naruto whom had his hands tucked away in his pockets and his eyes glued to the ground. This cause Yamato to sigh and nod his head as a small good bye and left with Kakashi in a puff of smoke. Sakura turned to Sai and Naruto with a small smile and waved them good bye as she left for her home, leaving Sai and Naruto to themselves. The two of them stood together side by side in silence for what seemed like an eternity but Sai took the initiative of braking that silence. "Naruto?" the boy remained silent but lifted his head to look at his comrade as if to say what? Sai looked away for a moment and placed his hand inside of the cloak he was wearing and pulled out his sketch book and pulled out a page that was sticking out of the book. Naruto eye brows furrowed out of confusion and opened his mouth but Sai beat him to it. "This is for you." Sai extended the piece of paper face down and eyed Naruto as he took the paper with slightly widened eyes as he turned it over to see what Sai had made.

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at what he saw before him it was a portrait of himself but more beautiful it was a portrait of him sitting In the snow. Except it as a side view of him in black and white, from the side he could see the fine detail Sai had out into his eyes and his facial structure over all it was beautiful. " Sai I-" Naruto looked up only to find that Sai was indeed gone. Naruto smiled and looked back down at the portrait and placed it at his side as he turned around and began to walk away.

Naruto's head snapped up at the sound of children screaming only to see children chasing each eachother happily running around, Naruto smiled as he walked by the park he eventually found himself sitting on a stone bench right across from the children. Yet over all it was quiet and Naruto relished in the way his hair moved from the frosty wind that blew through his hair. A deep breathe of the winter air soothed him and reminded him of his previous discussion with a certain red head. Naruto smiled and remained there looking at the portrait that Sai had made him and grinned as he stood up and made his way to the Hokage tower.