A/N: Due to 3 reviews who wants an update(yes, I don't care if it's just 3...I'm fine with it), here's chapter 3! Please go read stories of Dreamer609...she's been posting some nice and beautiful stories so far...she'd appreciate readers! Now, on with the story...please enjoy!

The Last Message?

Chapter 3: Scouted

It has been a week since the party, a week since Naruto had seen since Sasuke, and most importantly, a week since the "incident".

Six days ago, Naruto found himself in his bed after everything went black. He just thought that it was a dream back then - and until now, actually - because...how else could he have been in bed, dressed in his pajamas? When he decided to ask people who were nearby during the incident, all said they watched him go home safely. So after that, Naruto found it to be just a silly dream.

The blonde was currently lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He would have been heading to the Hokage's office for the information about his mission, but Sakura, who he had just so happen to have met up with the day before, told him that something came up and that they'll just inform him if the mission was ready to be deployed.

His cobalt eyes suddenly drifted to his desk where the 2 cloths still lie. "Sasuke...", he muttered". Things about Sasuke have been popping out recently - first, the cloth, which he was still berating himself if it was the raven-hair's or not, and now how he came about in his dreams. He truly knew it was a dream - why would Sasuke kiss him in the first place? His doubts about being it a dream was still shouting at the back of his head, though, even though he thought about the question, but he felt really bothered. Tanned fingers reached for his lips. Their was really a feeling he had, that someone did... "Gaaaahhh! Who am I kidding!", Naruto shouted to no one. He then decided to get up and head to his training grounds in the woods. "Then maybe I could rid my mind off him...".

"Dammit!", a certain raven-hair, who was currently training in the woods, growled. He still can't get over the fact of what he did last week - it was kinda destroying him that he only had a short moment, you see. When he left the Haruno household, he placed a liquid sedative in his mouth - that he stole from Kabuto then - so that when he would kiss Naruto, he would be unable to remember the whole incident, since it would probably shock the blonde - besides, it seemed unexplainable too. As for the bystanders, he confused their minds so that they'd think that nothing happened that time - Naruto was probably smart enough to get information from them anyways.

As of now, Sasuke was releasing all his anger to a poor tree. He was training in a serene part of the woods that he just found a day ago. The same person who probably scratched the tree barks found it a great place as well. But Sasuke will decide if he gets the place or not until that certain shinobi comes. Besides, he/she seems skilled enough, based on the markings and the great and perfect hits.

Meanwhile, Naruto was still sprinting off through trees to his training area. He liked the place. It was really quiet and you could really calm down with the relaxing atmosphere it has. The blonde thought that no one would find it since when he himself found the place, it took him about a day, not to mention that he's an Anbu Captain. But his confidence was replaced with doubts when he suddenly heard grunts in his area.

He approached quietly and safely. Good thing this raven-hair dude doesn't notice anything...Anbu skills do have it's benefits! Wait! Whoa! Raven-hair? What's Sasuke doing here? The blonde, knowing that he had to start training but had to keep an eye out for Sasuke to end, decided to find an alternative training spot where he could still hear Sasuke.

After 2 hours, Naruto felt he's improved but not as much when he was in his own place. Just as he was about to rest, he heard Sasuke's grunts seemed to have died down, until there was nothing but silence in the woods. Naruto decided to check, and just as he heard it, Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. The blonde usually ends training at midnight, so he had 2 more hours to go to spend his training here. As soon as midnight struck, Naruto left.

The next day, Naruto started training at 7, making sure he headed there as quietly as possible in case Sasuke woke up as early as him to start training. After 3 hours, Naruto had heard footsteps, and as soon as he did, the blonde headed off to his alternative area, murmuring, "Starts at 10, ends at 10, huh?...".

For the next week, they followed the same routine - Naruto starts at the first 3 hours, Sasuke the next 12, and last 2 for Naruto again. But, one day, as soon as Naruto was just going to head off, 3 knocks came to his apartment. When he opened the door, he immediately saw his silver-hair sensei, doing an eye smile with a 2-finger salute.

"Yo!".

"Kakashi?".

"Fancy meeting you here, Naruto!".

"Sensei...this is my house".

"Oh is it?".

The blonde sighed while rolling his eyes. "Why are you here anyway?".

"Well, you see, Tsunade told me to tell you about your new mission yesterday and that she's suppose to have you today...and well...", he rubbed the back of his head, "I kinda have to tell you now since I forgot...and my head is literally on the line".

"Sensei, I still have no idea how you got your jounin title...".

The silver-haired man just gave him an eye smile.

The blonde ruffled his hair and sighed. "...okay, I'll be there...".

After a few minutes, Naruto had already arrived at the Hokage's Headquarters. He silently chuckled as he heard angered grumbles from her room, while her Anbu bodyguards eyed him as if they were warning him about what he would probably see. Upon entering, the blonde saw a very tired out Tsunade, forcing herself to be awake to finish the mountainload of paperwork she was currently concealed in.

"Hey Granny!", Naruto called out, startling the blonde woman.

"Oh, Naruto! It seems Kakashi had delivered the news to you?".

Naruto gave a small smile. "Well...he did a good enough job...".

"It's a surprise you're here at an early morning...".

"Training...ya know...for things like these...".

A tug came from the blonde woman's lips. "You've grown quite responsible, Naruto! I never thought I'd see the day!".

"Give me some credit here...Old Hag!". A vein suddenly popped in the woman's head, making Naruto snicker. "Alright, so what's up? Why was the mission delayed?".

The blonde woman placed her hands under her chin while her eyes turned serious. "This is an S-rank mission that only I could give you, Naruto...you'll be working alone...I know you could handle it, anyways".

The younger blonde gave her a wide smile. "Sure!".

"Now, there seems to be young man on the run who has the same skill and abilities as you, and he has killed about 5 of our men who tried to search for him. We believe that Sasuke didn't get things right since this man wears the Akatsuki robe. I'll leave the task to you, Naruto...you have to go for the kill...we don't want any more trouble from him. You'll be leaving in a week".

Naruto just stood there, nodding through the information, while giving a somewhat nervous smile that Tsunade wasn't able to get a glimpse of, though, as she said, "Naruto, I want you back here, safe, okay?".

The blonde didn't answer for a while then said with a wide smile, "Of course! I have to follow on to you, don't I?".

The blonde woman gave him a gentle smile. She really loved the blonde - he was really like her little brother.

"Does Sasuke know?".

Tsunade blinked. "Uhhh...no not yet, actually...".

"Maybe it's best that you don't tell him?".

"Well...".

"It'd probably best not to send him to a rampage, ya know?".

"Alright...you're dismissed, Naruto".

The younger blonde gave a small curt nod with a pairing smile. As he walked out, a new emotion he never thought he'd feel, registered inside of him.

Fear.

He wasn't really the type to be fearing things. He already knew that all too well when he made the oath after he decided he'll be going for the Anbu Captain title. But the mission was a bit too complicated and worth fearing from. First, it was an Akatsuki...not to mention, Sasuke left him behind, not even noticing him after he had slaughtered everyone...including Orochimaru! Second, 5 men? At best, an Anbu group would have 2 killed! Tsunade knew who she recruits...she knows the best of the best among the Anbus...5 men was to much! Lastly, his skills were matched? He's a good one, then. The blonde sighed. There's no time to be thinking about this! I knew someday that I'd be getting a mission like this in the first place!

Soon, the blonde had already reached his home, and he just collapsed in the comfort of his bed. I don't really want to worry anybody by telling them about the mission...that would be best, I guess...it might reach Sasuke, and who knows what he'll do to tamper the mission! Speaking of Sasuke... The blonde bit his lip as a dust of red surfaced on his cheeks. He sighed. Maybe...I have to tell him...about...how I feel...? The mission may not go so well...b-but I'm not saying I'd die...I promised the old hag! The blonde sighed again. But if anything does happen...I feel like I have to...and if nothing, I'll take the reply, but not too soon...I just hope he wouldn't take it as something that might break even our friendship...

With that, Naruto slowly closed his eyes to fall into slumber, his mind set on confessing to the raven-hair.

A/N: There's a reason why their training sessions were mentioned...will be explained in latter chapter! So now...R&R