I woke up that morning with warm hands wrapped around my waist.

"Hey love. Good morning." Sasuke whispered in my ear.

I smiled warmly at him. "Someone's a morning person." He returned my smile. "I could make you into one you know."

I laughed at him. "I like to see you try. I think the only person who managed to get me up this early in the morning is…well…okay okay so maybe it was you. Akiko failed and Miroku did too."

Sasuke laughed at that. "I guess I'm the special one."

"Hey Sasuke…Can I ask you an odd question?"

"Odd? Odd to me is normal, but go ahead."

That was true. Anything in Kohona that was odd was considered normal, except for demons like me. "Would you ever…leave me? Even if it was to protect me would you leave me?"

Sasuke sat up in surprise. "What are you saying Naruto? Of course I would never leave you, and even if it was for your protection I would never leave you. Why would you ask something like that?"

I rolled over on my back so that I was looking up at the white ceiling. "I don't know…guess it just kinda popped into my head that's all."

Sasuke bent down and kissed my forehead. "You've been thinking a lot lately. Is it because of Orochimaru?"

I shrugged and continued to look at the ceiling. "Maybe…I don't know what the mission is about, but I can tell it's not going to be pretty. Sasuke if I die just remember that I love you okay?"

I didn't want to look at his eyes after I said those words, but I had no choice. He grabbed my chin and twisted it so I would have to stare into those charcoal colored eyes of his.

"You, Naruto, are talking nonsense. You are not going to die for a very, very long time. Why would you even think that Naruto?"

I tried to look away, but he had a firm grip on my chin. I can't tell him about the talk Kyubi and I had. That would lead to trouble with Tsunde. The only choice I had left was…to lie to him.

"I was just thinking ahead I guess. Sorry to worry you…" He sighed and let go of my chin.

"You don't have to keep things from me Naruto…I can handle it." Something in my heart ached. Could it be guilt? Probably was, but I couldn't tell him just yet.

I dropped my eyes to look at the maroon colored sheets. "Please understand Sasuke…that some things are better left unsaid. I'll tell you when the time is right, but until then I can't tell you."

"I'm not someone who needs to be protected Naruto. I will respect your decision to not tell me what is wrong with you, but I will find out eventually." Sasuke wrapped his arms around my shoulders and brought me into a hug.

I sighed into his bare chest. "I'm sorry Sasuke…If…" I was interrupted by Sasuke, who tilted my head back and put his warm soft lips over mine. "Shhh, love. It's okay. I'm not mad at you."

Our romantic moment was interrupted by a telephone ringing in the kitchen. I growled. Sasuke chuckled.

"Growling at the phone won't help Naruto. Guess you have to get up…"

I looked into those black eyes and saw the lust that was just waiting to explode. The same thing was happening inside my body as well. My eyes traveled over Sasukes bare chest, and then they travelled up to those lips, those wonderful lips.

I couldn't keep that bottle of lust locked in. I tackled Sasuke and covered his mouth with my lips.

He was surprised at first, but quickly responded. Sasuke wasted no time dominating me in the kiss. "What about the phone?" he whispered, his voice deep and raspy.

"Let the answering machine get it." I answered back. When the machine did pick up the message it wasn't a very friendly one.

"NARUTO! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!!!! YOU'RE LATE!!!!" Naruto sighed as Tsunde's voice echoed through the house. "Guess that ruins the moment."

Sasuke let go of me, and I slid off the bed giving Sasuke a full view of my body. I walked to my closet and pulled out my ANBU outfit. I took my time putting on those clothes because Sasuke was starting to drool and I wanted to have some fun.

I laughed lightly. "Sasuke clean up the drool please. I have to go bye!" I ran over to Sasuke and he kissed me goodbye.

I ran as fast as I could to get the mansion, but bumped into Iruka and Ichiraku's ramen shop. He was dressed in his normal wear. The hair was up in that usual spiky ponytail of his, and a big smile was plastered on his face. Well someone got laid.

"Oh, hello Naruto. Going to the hokage's mansion today?" he asked me with a bright tone to his voice. Yep. I thought to myself, he totally got laid by Kakashi.

"Uhhh…yeah. Why are you going there to? We could walk together if you want."

He shook his head at me. "No that's all right. I have a date with Kakashi anyway. You better hurry Tsunde looks pissed."

I smiled. Oh this was going to be a fun day. "Okay thanks. See you later."

By the time I was at the mansion I was wheezing. Wheezing! I shouldn't be wheezing, but I couldn't worry about that right now. I had a very pissed off Tsunde to deal with.

I walked through the empty halls not thinking about anything or at least trying not to think about anything, but my mind traveled to what life was like now and what I thought of it.

Life…was like a boat in a bottle to some people and to other people it's just a game. I was one of the people who thought life was like a boat in a bottle. I always wondered why I thought that maybe it was because you see the same faces every day of your life."

For me it's different. You know how if you screamed out load because you were in pain and somebody came out rushing to help you? Well for me when I screamed nobody came, so I just kinda learned to deal with it. Take the beating and move on that was my motto.

Well not really, it's different now, but you get what I'm saying don't you? Good. Saves me time.

During that talking period of doom I ended up in front of Tsunde's office. I took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door.

I heard Tsunde yell "Come in." I opened the door slowly. "Sorry I was late. I was…uhhh…busy with some things and I lost track of time."

Tsunde laughed at me. I mean she actually laughed, and it wasn't one of her 'I'm going to so kill you laugh. It was an 'Oh that's a good one' kind of laugh. This made me a bit nervous.

"Right okay. Anyways there is someone I want you to meet Naruto, two people actually. They are for your mission so listen up."

There was another soft knock on the door. "Come in!" Tsunde yelled at the door.

When the door opened Narutos eyes widened. The first one that came in was tall. He had glossy black hair, and charcoal colored eyes like Sasuke's were. The man had on a blue uniform with stars and badges.

The seconded person that walked in was short. I could tell from his irritated look that he didn't like to be reminded. He had golden hair that was neatly put back in a braid, and his eyes were the same color as his hair. Golden. He wasn't wearing the same thing the first guy was wearing.

He was wearing leather pants, and black boots. He wore a black silky tank-top, and a red coat that had a weird symbol on it.

"Hello Roy, Ed. I would like you to meet Naruto. The one you will be helping out during the mission. I know he's going to be in your hometown, but…"

The taller one, Roy I think his name was, put his hand up to interrupt her. "It's okay. We'll be the greatest help we can to him. And like you said we will protect him at all cost."

I registered all the things that Tsunde and Roy had just said, and suddenly I became very angry.

"Excuse me Roy and Edward. I have something I have to talk to Tsunde about in private." Roy and Edward silently walked out of the room.

Once they were gone I turned to glare at Tsunde. My glare must have been harsh because it made her flinch. "What do you mean I need help? I don't need anybody's help! You know that!"

It was her turn to glare. "I know you don't need help Naruto! I just don't want you to get killed! If Orochimaru is as mad as you say he is then we need you to be protected at all cost."

The heat of my anger ran through my veins. "Protected? I was never protected from anything before Tsunde! I can take care of him with nobody's help! If I die well then you all can have a dance party on my grave."

Red flashed through Tsunde's eyes, and somehow I knew I hit her boiling point. "You think we wouldn't care if you died Naruto? Do you think we would want to throw a great big party because you died? What about Sasuke? He wouldn't be laughing or cheering. He would be devastated. I'm pretty sure he would start crying."

I stayed silent for a moment, and then glared my harshest glare at her. "I know he would be devastated. Give me a chance Tsunde. I'm in the ANBU for pete sake. If I am in a stump I will come to them, but not for the major stuff."

Her anger died down a bit. "Naruto…you…never mind. Orochimaru has been sited there and he has a new team mate with him. I want you to take him down once and for all."

Without waiting to be dismissed I walked out of the office. Outside of the office Ed and Roy were talking to each other. I just walked past them without even saying a hello.

I could tell from behind that the Edward kid was staring at me. I didn't look back at them just keep walking until I was out of the building all together. I sighed at sat on a wooden box near the entrance of the mansion.

"You know you were kind of harsh to Tsunde back there. She was just looking out for your safety."

I turned my head slightly to see Edward walking toward me. "I know. I guess I'm still not use to people worrying about me this much. Nobody ever did before so why start now?" I was more asking myself that question instead of Edward.

"You had a rough childhood?" Ed asked in interest. I nodded at him. "Yeah. Started out with no, and probably going to end that way too."

Ed just stared at me with those golden eyes of his. "You can tell me more on the ride to central, but right now we need to go. Go home and get things packed."

I nodded my head and got up, stretched, and started walking towards home. " Well tomorrow I start a new day in Central."