Author's Note: Yay! I'm able to update again! It's been one thing after another. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is amazing! So I'm up at 3:00 in the morning hoping to finish this chapter in time to post it before I leave civilization for 3 long weeks. I apologize in advance for any errors as my adrenaline is going to leave me pretty soon. Enjoy!
Naruto sat up against the end of his bed. He looked down at the weight that was in his lap. It had surprised him that Laura had such feelings for him.
He grinned. He had always wanted to go out with Sakura, but she had always turned him down.
Now Laura was throwing herself at him practically shouting that she was in love with him. Now the next question for him was did he feel the same towards her?
You forgot one thing. She is from another dimension. Would you be happy living in her dimension or would she be happy in our own?
Naruto placed a hand on her head and stroked her hair and a gentle smile grew on his face.
I would be happy in either place. Besides I can always go between each place. I don't necessarily have to stay in place.
What about missions? What about your goal of becoming Hokage? Are you willing to give all that up?
No, I suppose I wouldn't. I guess I can give her that choice. From what she told me and what Logan said, she has never had a place to truly call home. Maybe Konohagakure can become her home.
If we destroy the Akatsuki.
I think the Akatsuki's dream is finished with the fact that we can't be separated.
Until that organization is wiped out they will continue to hunt you. Even if they don't know a way to separate us. They will run us both dry by the time they leave us alone.
If they can catch us. After all between my skills and your strength and speed we could outrun them easily.
You can get yourself into some deep shit with the way you think. You know that? The Kyuubi chuckled. That's why I've had to drag you out of some of the stupidest situations.
Naruto grinned wildly at the memories since his first mission outside of the village until he was transported to another dimension. You know me. I don't run when there is something I have to protect, even if the fight could kill me. After all that is my ninja way.
That it is. That it is. Very well. I will watch you make your decision in this matter with great interest.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Logan ran through the forest following the Kiba and Akamaru.
The five of them skidded to a halt in a clearing where three people waited.
"Lady Hokage," the ANBU greeted without turning their gaze from the man in front of them.
The Hokage studied the stranger in front of them. "Who are you?"
"I can answer that," Logan snarled. "What are you doing here Magneto?"
Magneto gave a curt nod in their direction. "Logan, I did not expect you to be here."
"I can say the same for you, Bub." Logan unsheathed his claws and raised them threateningly.
Magneto smirked. "You can put those away. I don't plan on fighting. I wanted to make a deal with the leader of the ninja village. The Hokage correct? The Akatsuki turned from the deal they made with me and so I have been stranded in this dimension. If you would hear me out, I would gladly do something in return for a way home."
"Jiraiya."
"Ya," he answered. He bit his thumb and made the proper hand signs. Slamming his hand to the ground a cloud of smoke popped into existence along with Gamakichi.
"Hey, what can I do for ya?"
"Take this guy to the other dimension. Leave him somewhere besides the Xavier Institute," Jiraiya instructed.
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
Magneto looked surprised.
Tsunade frowned, "I don't want you anywhere near the village I am responsible for. Go home. Just be thankful that Naruto is okay otherwise you would be a scrap pile along with the metal on your body."
The mutant didn't say anything, but the surprise left his face. "Thank y…"
"Give us a break, Magneto," Logan snarled. "Just put your hand on the Toad and get out of here."
Magneto shrugged, "Sure, why not. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be."
"Just put your hand on my back," Gamakichi instructed.
Magneto nodded and calmly placed his hand on the Toads back. They disappeared from sight in the white cloud of smoke.
"Let's go back. Shall we boys," Tsunade suggested. "ANBU, finish patrolling."
The two ANBU left without a word.
Rogue sat on a stump with a bowl of food in her hands. She hadn't taken many bites, but just sat staring at it, occasionally pushing it around.
How could he do it? How could he find the strength to kill his own kin? Is that what it is like in this village? Is that how Naruto grew up? How all of these ninja grew up? Their lives sound almost like a mutants…we have both learned to survive in unforgiving worlds where one mistake often means death or injury. And Naruto had it twice as worse, just like the rest of us.
But Itachi's reasons for killing his kin. I understand that they were plotting against the village, but did they have to do it in such a way. Such a mentally scarring way for a child of Sasuke's age at the time. Why? Why?
"Rogue?"
She jumped up, startled. The bowl slipped from her hands and spilled its contents at her feet. The one to break through her thoughts was Scott.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked.
Rogue nervously pulled a strand of her hair back behind her ear. "Yah, Ah'm fine. Thanks for asking."
Scott kneeled down and picked up the bowl. "I'll go get you some more food. It was my fault you spilled it."
"No, that's okay. I wasn't all that hungry anyway," she said. "And they need the rations for the villagers here."
Scott glanced at her face one more time. She took the bowl from him and strode away.
"Naruto, you shouldn't be up yet!"
Scott glanced over to the tent that Naruto had been in since Sakura had removed the last of the poison.
He heard a sigh from behind him and turned to see Sakura coming towards him. She pushed her bowl into his hands.
"Could you please hold this for a moment," she requested sweetly.
She marched on past him.
"NA-RU-TO!"
Sakura's fist connected with the blonde ninja's chin. He flew into the air, landing in front of the tent he had just left.
"Sakura!" he whined.
"NO! You are getting back in that tent and back in bed for another day!"
She had stalked up to him and stood over him. If looks could kill hers was just as furious as ever when it came to Naruto.
Laura watched half amused and half scared of the pink haired ninja. Scott grinned and shook his head.
The things that guy does. It's a wonder he has survived to this point with a friend like that.
"What's happening here?" Kakashi asked coming up alongside Scott.
Scott smiled. "Just Naruto being himself."
Kakashi seemed to smile under his mask.
"How is Rogue doing?" he asked.
Scott's smile left, "She seems to be preoccupied by something. I don't know whether it has anything to do with Itachi's memories or if it is something else. I can never tell with girls." He shrugged with a shake of his head.
Kakashi nodded. "That is usually the case. As for Sakura there she used to be quite predictable. She still is in some situations such as this one, but others…well I'm glad I'm on her side. Tsunade created a younger clone of herself."
"The Hokage? Sakura can't be that much younger than her?" Scott asked.
An amused light entered Kakashi's one visible eye. "Don't always rely on looks when it comes to ninja. It could spell your end," he warned. "Tsunade and Jiraiya are around the same years in age."
Scott gaped. "Really? You're kidding right?" Kakashi seemed even more amused by his comment than before. "No, of course not. Thanks for the warning."
The bowl was pulled from his hand. Scott looked down and saw that Kakashi had taken it.
"Go ahead and go eat. I'll make sure Sakura gets this back once she is done with Naruto."
"Uh, sure." Scott left the white haired Leaf ninja and joined Jean and some of the other mutants sitting in a circle around a large flat rock that made a great table.
Kakashi continued watching the unfolding scene between his two pupils wondering if he should interfere. Instead he shrugged and pulled out the infamous Ichi-Ichi book that he always had on him.
"Naruto, you should really go back inside and rest," Sakura stated.
Naruto pouted, "But Sakura!"
"NO BUTS! THIS IS WHAT GOT YOU IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE! NOT TO MENTION THAT THE KYUUBI DIDN'T HELP ME STOP YOU FROM PUTTING YOURSELF AT RISK!" she shouted at the ever shrinking curled up lump of Naruto.
"Well Geez, Sakura. You don't have to scream."
Sakura's head looked like it was going to explode at any point in time. "I AM NOT SCREAMING!"
"Uh, yeah Pinky. Actually you are," the Kyuubi had slipped into control to get a comment into the one sided shouting match he was forced to endure.
"KYUUBI!" Naruto exclaimed in astonishment. "You're not helping here!"
Sakura was quite literally steaming and looked ready to start pummeling him with her chakra charged fists which would consequently send him back to being bed ridden for another day or two.
"Umm…Sakura. Please, he didn't mean it…"
"Yes I did." The Kyuubi had pushed through to the surface again to protest Naruto's lies.
"He's just not thinking straight right now…"
"Are you calling me dim?"
"I really don't want to be put back in bed right now," Naruto whined. "I need to stretch my legs."
"Wow you're really pathetic." His face lit up with an idea, "Hey, Naruto. This is your conscience speaking. Hit yourself."
Thoroughly annoyed, Naruto mentally retaliated against the Kyuubi forcing him to shut up and stay out of the matter.
Sakura's face slowly transformed from fuming to doubled over laughing.
Naruto's face emanated confusion as to whether she would still punch him or not. Alert and watching her carefully he slowly stood up.
"I never would have thought that the Kyuubi no Kitsune would have humor. I always believed you two would be at odds for your entire life and now here you are bantering back and forth."
"Uh Sakura?" Naruto asked cautiously, "Are you feeling okay?"
He reached out a hand to touch her forehead. She felt fine, but she continued to laugh hysterically. Naruto looked around for some help meeting the faces of those around him just as confused by array of emotions the pink haired ninja let out.
She's snapped.
No, she hasn't.
Says the guy who liked her for most of his lifetime.
Shut up.
Naruto blushed profusely hoping that no one would notice.
"I think we should go get some food, Laura," he suggested. "We should let Sakura recover herself."
He tried to stealthily sneak around her and go towards the food. Laura dodged the swing that whipped around from the still laughing Sakura. Naruto wasn't so lucky.
The fist hit him full on in the guts sending him back away from the food.
"Go back inside and wait. I will get you some food, moron. Laura, you are to keep him in his bed even if you have to skewer his arms and legs down," Sakura instructed controlling her laughter.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Naruto announced scrambling back towards the tent.
Laura followed with a shrug.
Author's Note: Okay, adrenaline crash is coming into effect. 3:25 a.m. I haven't stayed up this late in a long time. Well please review! I will be looking forward to reading them on my return. Sorry it's a short chapter again.