I Miss You
3
"Hi Sakura." Naruto said as she opened to door.
"Naruto? I thought you'd be avoiding me." Sakura said remembering the accusations he made the night before.
"Can I come in?" He asked leaning on the door frame with an apologetic expression.
"Yeah." She replied moving out of the way for him. "How did you find my new apartment?"
"I'm Hokage Sakura, it's not hard to find out where people move to around here." He said sitting down at her window seat.
"Hey Sakura I left my dishes in the sink, I hope you don't mind but I have to get going." Shikamaru said walking out of the kitchen. "Hey Naruto."
"Hey." Naruto replied.
"That's fine thanks for stopping by." She said to Shikamaru with a smile.
"If you need anything let me know." He said with a reassuring glance before heading toward the door. The room remained quiet until he left the apartment.
"You and Shikamaru have been seeing a lot of each other lately it seems." Naruto said with a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"We've both had a lot on our minds I guess. I could same thing about you and Hinata." Sakura said boldly.
"We're good friends."
"Shikamaru and I are the same way, it's just nice to talk to someone you know?"
"I can agree with that." He said with a sigh.
"What brings you here?" She asked getting right to the point.
"You have a nice view." Naruto said looking down at the training field. Her cheeks became warm with the idea that he knew she'd been watching him. "Look…" He started as he looked into her eyes, mirroring the look she had given him the night before. "I was out of line. I didn't mean what I said last night. I don't think you were just settling on me."
"Then you believe me when I say I love you?" She asked. Naruto got up from the seat, and walked to her placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes Sakura I do…and-" He began before Shikamaru burst through the door out of breath.
"Naruto come quick! There's been an attack just outside the village. We think that they are going to try to invade."
"I'm coming." He said, looking back at Sakura. "I'm sorry, can we finish this later?" He asked.
"Yes of course." She said with a smile. "Go get'em Hokage." And with his signature grin he ran out of the apartment with Shikamaru. I better head to the hospital in case there are injured. She thought heading out behind them.
The situation was worse than she thought, and Sakura found herself helping wounded. I need to know more about what's going on out there. She thought as she began healing a young ninja with some burns to his chest. Trying to focus on the task at hand she couldn't help but wonder how Naruto was doing.
"How did this happen?" She asked him as the pain seemed to subside, and his body began to relax.
"Exploding kunai, and wasn't pretty. I think I was lucky to get out of there in one piece." He replied.
"How many were there?"
"Twelve maybe more, I don't really know they spread out so fast. I saw the Hokage though." He said. Sakura finished him up, but stayed for more information.
"What was he doing?"
"Went straight for the leader, I guess he figured if he took the leader out the rest would retreat."
"The leader is probably really strong." She thought aloud.
"I wouldn't worry too much; it is the Hokage we're talking about after all." He said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks." She said returning the gesture and got up to look for Ino, who was helping her with patients.
"Ino, how are things going over here?" Sakura asked after leaving the burn unit.
"Things seem better now. I think we gave them a run for their money."
"Did you hear anything about their leader?"
"Some are saying he and Naruto headed into the forest to duel it out. Lots of explosions and showy jutsus you know how Naruto is." Ino said as she bandaged up her last patient.
"I have to help him Ino." She stated.
"Don't go out there Sakura leave it to Naruto. He is much stronger now, I'm sure this little attack will be taken care of. Besides we need you here."
"Things seem to be wrapping up around here, and I found some more medical personnel. We should be fine here. I just have to know he's okay Ino." Sakura said determined.
"Alright, but I'll head out after you just in case."
"Thanks Ino." She said giving her best friend a last big hug before running out the hospital doors toward the love of her life.
When she got to the main doors of the village her mind began to race. Please be okay Naruto. I'm coming just wait for me. She thought. But how was she supposed to help? She knew she was stronger now than she ever has been. Yet she felt like something about her going to him felt wrong. An almost foreboding feeling past through her, and she suddenly felt like she shouldn't be doing this. I feel like I have to be sure he's okay, but I don't even know what I'm walking into. Naruto is the Hokage now after all… He's probably fine. Passing the main training grounds she suddenly stopped. In the distance she could hear the sounds of a struggle. This sound was all too familiar to her after all those years of fighting beside Naruto. I'm too close now I can't give up. She knew that he would do the same for her if the tables were turned. Slowly she began to track the sounds of battle. Suddenly voices became audible making her slow her pace. Glancing around a tree she spotted them. Both looked tired and ready to drop.
"No use Hokage you'll never be able to save your village." The man said to Naruto.
"That's where you're wrong. As Hokage I'd rather die than let my village be defeated by the likes of you." He said, and Sakura knew he was exhausted.
I have to do something. She thought. I can't just stand here…but what do I do? Suddenly Sakura stepped out of the shadows.
"Naruto!" Sakura said. What a stupid idea. She thought, internally kicking herself. At least I distracted them I guess.
"Sakura get out of here!" Naruto shouted.
"You think I'd just let you do everything yourself? I came to help you this time." She said to him in a voice that seemed much calmer than she felt.
"Well isn't this sweet?" The man said.
"Shut up! We're not finished here." Naruto said with a glare preparing to fight once more. But just as he turned back to Sakura, she noticed the man pull something out of his pocket.
"Naruto watch out!" She shouted, and before she knew what happened she had leaped in front of Naruto just before a kunai could pierce his heart. Everything then seemed to slow down and become barely audible. The only thing she could feel was the kunai in her stomach and the moment when her wounded body met the ground. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt. She thought as she felt warm hands cradle her, picking her up slowly. She could hear soft voices and someone running away.
"You're going to make it Sakura." Naruto said. "Ino! Thank goodness."
"Oh no, Sakura! What happened?" She heard Ino say. "We have to get her back to the hospital."
"Of course." Naruto said with concern.
"She'll be okay Naruto." Sakura heard Ino say just before she lost consciousness.
Her eyelids felt very heavy as she began to feel the world around her once again. Too heavy…can't open. She thought to herself. Warmth seemed to wrap around her body, and there was no more pain.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." A voice said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you." That's Naruto's voice. She thought. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner… I should have just come out and said it when I was at your apartment…I love you Sakura. With every fiber of my being I love you, and I don't know why I could ever doubt those feelings. So many years I felt like I sat around waiting for you to say those words back to me, and when you finally did I didn't know what to do with myself. I'm so stupid, so please don't die on me Sakura because I want you to know how I feel." Sakura's thoughts hung on every word he whispered to her, but soon unconsciousness came once again.
Soon her eyes didn't feel so heavy anymore, and as she opened them she had to squint from the bright lights. Where am I? She wondered as her vision began to clear.
"There she is." Ino said. "We thought you'd never wake up sleepy head."
"Naruto?" Sakura asked, her voice seeming so small.
"He's not here silly." Ino said holding her hand.
"Where is he?" Sakura asked sitting straight up ignoring the rush in her head.
"Whoa not so fast. You're still healing Sakura."
"How long have I been out?" She asked.
"A full day, I knew you'd go off and try to find Naruto." Ino replied.
"Where did he go?"
"You're so full of questions." Ino said with a smile, an obvious attempt to calm her down.
"Stop it Ino. I'm serious, where is he?" She asked again. Ino's face then became very serious as she got a bit closer.
"The leader ran off right when he stabbed you. Cowardly little bastard if you ask me. Naruto of course helped you back here first before he ran off looking for him. The rest of them followed as soon as they heard what happened." She whispered. "We haven't seen him since he left your side a least an hour ago."
"I have to go to him Ino."
"Not in your condition you're not." Ino said no longer whispering.
"He thinks I'm dying, who knows what he'll do to that guy when he finds him." Sakura said urgently.
"We can send someone else."
"No way, you think he'll believe some random person? It has to be me Ino." Sakura pleaded to her friend.
"Fine, but let me go with you." Ino said, giving into Sakura's request.
Sakura had greatly underestimated her wound, and became tired too easily.
"We can always take a break." Ino suggested as the two skipped from branch to branch.
"No we don't have enough time." She said. I'm okay Naruto…Just please don't do anything stupid that you'll regret later…
"Well I think I have an idea of where they went. Last I heard from intelligence they had grabbed one of his followers before they all ran off. He said they had all met up before the attack at a bridge on far from here. They probably all convened back there afterward. I got the coordinates before I went to see you at the hospital today." Ino said.
"Great, then that's where we'll start." Sakura said.
It took a while to find the bridge Ino had mentioned, but when they found it Sakura was relieved. Relieved not only because of Naruto, but because of her tired legs and aching wound.
"There it is." Ino pointed.
"And there they are." Sakura said pointing out two figures in the distance. They looked as though they were just arguing, but then she noticed Naruto take one step back. She knew what he was about to do and without thinking once more ran out in the open to stop him.
"Naruto!" She screamed when she reached them and instantly grabbed his arm before he could make a single hand sign. "Please don't kill him."
"Sakura?" He said astonished. The man now fell back to the ground, eyes wide with fear. "He almost killed you!"
"But this isn't the way and you know that. So please just let us take him back to the village for questioning." She pleaded not letting go of his arm.
"How could I let him just get away with something like that?" He asked as he glowered at his enemy.
"You know what killing someone like that will do to you? It will make you someone you're not, and erase the person I fell in love with." She said. His expression softened at the realization that she was right.
The man realizing his opportunity started to get up to run.
"Not so fast buddy!" Ino said from behind them, coming up to take the man back.
"Let's go home." Naruto said giving Sakura a gentle hug.
Naruto wouldn't leave her side once they got back to the village. Everyone congratulated him on his victory, but he seemed to only care about Sakura's rest. Once they got to her apartment she sat down on the couch slowly and began to feel her muscles relax.
"Home at last." She said with a sigh. Naruto took his place beside her and took her hand in his.
"Thank you for stopping me." He said not taking his eyes off of their hands.
"You would have done the same for me. I just couldn't let you do it."
"I was just so angry. The thought of losing you was just…Feeling you lifeless in my arms scared me so much. Then all I could feel was the thought of vengeance. That's not the kind of person I am, I've never believed in revenge. I'm so glad you showed up." He said looking into her eyes.
"It's okay now. You saved me after all." She said cupping his face, trying to sooth his thoughts.
"I thought you weren't going to wake up." He whispered
"Don't be silly there are plenty of well-trained medics around here." She said with a smile.
"I know, but I just couldn't stop myself from thinking I wouldn't see you again. I just want to tell you something." Naruto said. "Something I should have told you before. Sakura I know I was stupid to blow off your feeling for me that way, and I just want you to know that I-" Naruto said interrupted again, but this time by a kiss
"I love you too." She said wrapping her arms around his neck.
Thank you for being so patient. I hope you enjoyed this story. I'm planning on starting a different one soon. Something similar to Hidden Behind Broken Letters, but I'm still not sure. We'll see what happens. :) As ever please review, my work will only get better with feedback.
Have a great day/night my lovelies!
:D