Their time together came to an end far to quickly, and it was all Sakura could do to not cry, but she couldn't hold it back. As she watched the man she loved walk away for three years, she couldn't help but to cry. He mind was in a constant war with itself, whether to keep moving forward or to linger on the precious memories on him. She remembered the words he'd spoken to her before her left. 'Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, blood for blood, we've all gotta die someday, Sakura. If I die out there, get those bastards for me, aye Cherry Blossom?'He gave her one final eye crinkle and head nod before turning around and beginning his long journey to Suna.
She ghosted his final words as her cheeks began to sting, the grief and pain tore at her stomach and her throat was beginning to close up. The pain was getting too much, she needs to be anywhere but there. Preferably out there in the field, watching Kakashi's back. Not that he needed it, after all, he is the famous Copy-Ninja and he didn't just get that name for no reason. He was the best of the best. Kakashi of the Sharingan. And she was his just as he was hers. Averting her thoughts from the silver-haired legend for a moment, she pondered to herself, 'now, what to do for three years..?'
She'd heard all about Sakura's little relationship with the copy ninja from Naruto. He'd told her during one of their many recent meetings to discuss things, to help her get away from the weight of her problems. Ino found solace in Naruto for one reason or another, and she wasn't quite sure what he meant to her just yet. After all, he was the Hokage of the leaf and she was just a pathetic ninja who worked part time at a flower shop. 'Maybe I should go find forehead, after all, wasn't today the day Kakashi left?' She pondered the thought for a moment before coming to the conclusion that yes, Kakashi had already left the village to go off on his little mission in Suna. And so, on that note she set out to find her childhood friend and comfort her in anyway she could. It hadn't taken Ino long to find her friend. She told Sakura it was because of her billboard brow as a joke but in reality, Ino knew she wouldn't have moved from the main gate yet, probably lost in thought. Plus, the pink hair just made it all the more easy to locate her in the crowds. 'Hey forehead, I heard you're probably feeling a bit lost without your cute silver lover, so, to make up for it. Girls night!' She chucked a fist in the air and at the same time clapped her friend on the back in a cheery manner. Desperate to raise the girls spirits no matter what.
'Did you really just call my boyfriend, Kakashi Hatake, cute? Come on Ino, have a little respect.' The pink haired Kunoichi chuckled her words out, as a slight smile crossed Ino's lips. It was working. She was on the path to happiness.
'Well, yeah. I'd be lying if I said he wasn't cute. But aye, I never picked you as the type who was into the older guys. Or maybe it's the angsty past? That would explain him and Sasuke.' She threw a wink in her friends direction and watched her face as she laughed. It was true laughter. Not like the fake shit that she'd used for so long when they discussed Sasuke, or when Ino herself spoke to Naruto about Sai. Maybe Kakashi had truely changed this pink haired Kuinoichi for the better.
'But hey, I do like the idea of a girls night, It'll be fun.' Sakura said with a smile, and with that, the two girls took off in search of their friends.
He needed a drink. Naruto had been stuck in the office doing paperwork the entire day and didn't even manage to catch Kakashi before he left which honestly pissed him off the most. If he'd known all the work that was required to be Hokage he would have gladly settled for a Jounin class ninja ranking. Sighing for what seemed to be the hundreth time that day, he finished his most recent stack of work and before Shizune could bring anymore for him he silently slipped out of the window. As he slowly drifted through the streets of Konoha, he took his time to enjoy the light breeze and the clear streets during his twilight stroll. It wasn't often these days that he could just leave all his responsibilities and cares behind and just be himself, in his own mind again. The soft wind felt refreshing and calming on his face as he came to a stop at training ground three. Where it all began. He slowly slid his eyes closed as he tilted he head towards the coming stars and let his mind wander. He'd come such a long way since he first came to this place. And he wasn't the only one. Sakura and the rest of his friends had all progressed and matured so well and they all led a successful ninja career to date. Even Kakashi, ever since his battle with Pain had dedicated himself to becoming a stronger ninja. But then Sai and Yamato's deaths happened and Naruto watched from a distance as both Kakashi and Sakura slowly slipped away from this world and into a world of their own. Locked in a nightmare of their own minds. It honestly had pained Naruto to see some of his closest friends in so much pain but he had been so occupied with so many other things. First there was the fact that Sai and Yamato were his friends as well, and while he had no connection to their deaths, he did feel the sting of losing two close friends and comrades. Then there was his duties as Hokage. No matter how hard he tried, he could never escape them for long. It was only at during times like this when he could be free and let his duties go, even if it was only for a moment. And finally he had his promise to Ino. He swore to her that he would help her through the loss of Sai and Asuma. Along with all her other smaller problems, he'd effectively become her therapist and he really didn't mind. He'd grown exceptionally close to Ino Yamanaka. Of all the people in the leaf, Ino was one of the ones who he never expected, in his entire life, that he would become best friends with. She was beautiful, amazingly smart and an overall joy to be around, when she wasn't in a bad mood that is. He'd grown to love her company and the many conversations they'd shared, even the gloomy ones, simply because it gave his life a meaning besides his duties as Hokage. It gave him something to look forward to and to cherish in his mind. 'Maybe this is how Kakashi feels when he is with Sakura? Maybe.. Could this be the start of something new.. Maybe I shouldn't have flipped out so badly the other day when I found the two of them together. Whatever makes them happy I guess, it's their lives.' His inner monologue slowly drifted from topic to topic, never focusing on a single one for long. But no matter what it drifted to. It always ended up returning to thoughts of Ino. He shook his head and turned his back to his former training field. He needed a drink.
After rounding up Hinata and Tenten, Sakura and Ino headed back to Ino's place to get ready for the night out and Sakura already knew exactly what she was planning on wearing. The dress Kakashi had bought for her before he'd left. A strapless, frilly dress that fades from a bright aqua to a similar shade of pink to her hair. She was honestly speechless when Kakashi gave it to her after all, she had no gift for him. She hadn't been on a mission is a while and was struggle to even feed herself. Thankfully he understood but to compensate he claimed to be entitled to one hundred kisses when he returned, which she intended to give him with pleasure. Obviously following in Sakura's example, Ino wore a dress that she'd been given by Naruto about a week prior during one of their days together. It was a simple frill dress with shoulder straps and frills down the length of it. The most intriguing feature however was the colour. The dress was a deep violet, Ino's favourite. 'Naruto certainly has grown up I see. He finally knows how to treat a woman.' Sakura was the most shocked of all people to see Naruto and Ino bond together so closely. They've always been opposites, fighting over anything and everything. She sighed to herself. The more she thought about it, the more it confused her, so she tucked her thoughts away into the back of her mind, making sure not to think about it and directing her attention to the stunning Hyuuga who stood shyly in front of her, fidgeting with her fingers and seeming to be trying to sink into the background. Unfortunately for her, while she was sporting a low cut sparkly dress that reached her mid-thigh, that wasn't going to happen. Although it wasn't the normal Hinata style, Sakura had to admit it looked stunning on the girl. She squealed as Sakura's gaze dropped to her overly exposed cleavage.
'St-stop staring, Sakura.' She stuttered, self-consciously crossing her arms over her chest in a desperate attempt to block the stares. 'Seriously. Ino, you too. Stop it!' She shrieked while the two other girls giggled, finding her blushing Hyuga quite entertaining.
'You realize that we aren't the only one's that'll stare right? We are going to a bar, think of the sleazy guys who aren't Naruto?' Sakura emphasized the word 'aren't' and got the desired blush. She laughed to herself and turned her attention to Tenten who was just emerging from the bathroom, clad in a loose and flowing scarlet dress that frilled down from the waist. Her hair in its usual double bun and a little makeup splashed across her feminine features. Sakura wasn't going to lie to herself. Her friend could look dam sexy when she wanted to. With a nod to Ino, Sakura stood up from where she had been sitting and spoke, 'so. We're all ready, yeah? Alright. Let's rock this town.'
He downed his latest shot of Sake with a fierce demeanor. He'd been at the bar for about an hour and he still couldn't feel the effects of the alcohol. 'It must be the ninja training..' He was sick of this weight on his shoulders. He had no idea how Tsunade managed to be Hokage through all the stress that the village had seen in the recent years, he couldn't even keep up with everything in a time of peace. 'Maybe that's why ol' granny Tsunade drinks so much aye.' He shook his head and ordered another shot. He was intent on drinking till he couldn't feel this stress.
'Well well, if it isn't our esteemed Hokage getting piss drunk after sneaking out of the office.' The womans laughter drifted through the bar, a laugh that Naruto could recognize anywhere.
'Ino,' he mumbled, not wanting to turn around. Knowing Ino she was probably dressed like a complete babe and he'd gone to the bar to forget about his growing feelings for the blonde haired beauty.
'Aww, What's gotcha down Naruto? Maybe we can cheer you up, although we are on a girls night out.. Hmm..' She spoke lightly and acted as if she was pondering the problem at hand. He didn't want to tell her what was wrong, he didn't want to say it was her. Oh well Naruto, you have company now, you can't just sit here and sulk. Face your problems.' He turned to face Ino, and was utterly gob smacked by what he saw. He probably drooled. Standing before him were four of the most beautiful Kunoichi in the village. First there was Tenten dressed in a dazzling scarlet dress that flowed down to just above her ankles, and then there was Hinata who blushed and looked away. She had her hair up in a ponytail on the side of her head and was wearing a dress that complimented her features perfectly. She glanced his way slightly and when she noticed his stare, squealed and looked away again, the blush growing darker. Next to her was Sakura. She was wearing a beautiful aqua and pink dress that he was guessing was a gift from Kakashi, considering he'd been in her closet a few times in the past for one reason or another and he'd never seen that dress. Needless to say it looked great on hair, along with the pink ponytail she had up, she was quite the sight. And last of all there was Ino. 'Dam she's hot.' He thought to himself. She looked absolutely stunning in the violet dress he'd bought her a while back and with her hair out of its usual ponytail and just hanging loose around her face in a frame of platinum. He almost choked on the sake he was drinking. She was utterly beautiful.
'Yo, Naruto? Quit staring you pervert.' She strut her way over to him, over exaggerating the sway in her hips. He was mesmerized. "Naruuuuuto? God, stupid baka. He's drooling.' She smacked him on the head and snapped him out of his trance. 'You act as if you've never seen a few dressed up girls Naruto. God, you're Hokage for crying out loud.' She giggled before continuing, 'and you're probably a virgin.'
The friendly blow to the head had effectively knocked Naruto out of his little trance but he still had the tell tale strand of saliva dripping from the left side of his lips. Before he had a chance to wipe it away, Ino leaned in and with her index finger, wiped the liquid off the corner of his mouth and slipped it between his lips before leaning her face close to his ear, just so he could feel her warm breath sending tingles down his spine. 'We're going to have to do something about that, aye Naruto-kun?' He shivered at her words. And then it finally sunk in what she meant. He spluttered and choked on absolutely nothing. He stood abruptly in order to get away from that tantalizing breath of hers on his neck. Unable to formulate a response to her comment, he settled with answering her previous question, 'I'm perfectly fine Ino. Just thought I'd take a break from all the paperwork, it was giving me a headache.' He rubbed the back of his head before continuing, 'anyways, what's the occasion?' Gesturing at the four beautiful women before him.
'Well, not really one in particular, although Sakura probably needed a good night out with the girls to cheer her up a bit. Ya know, considering you sent her poor little baby away.' He could detect the joking tone her comment carried but he still couldn't help but feel bad. He'd brought sadness upon two of his closest friends. He hung his head to the ground and sighed. He couldn't even bring himself to look at Ino in the eye, let alone Sakura. She probably hated him. 'Naruto? I was only joking you know. Damn man.' He heard Ino's light tone slide through his ears but he paid them no attention. It was all he could do to keep himself upright. The emotional turmoil raged on in his head, hidden from his company.
'Naruto?' He recognized that voice. It pierced the veil that hung over his conscious. It was Sakura. 'I'm not mad at you Naruto you baka, I know you were just doing what was best for the village. We all know that the village comes first. So stop blaming yourself, because I sure don't blame you.' It took him a little while to register what she'd said. She didn't blame him. It felt like a weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. 'Come on, have some fun with us. Loosen up Naruto. It's not often we get to hang out anymore what with you being Hokage and all. Let's just have a good time alright?' She was right. They'd barely seen each other recently and he had to admit, he did miss her.
'Alright, that's fair enough, I'm down for that. Now ladies, shots?'