*Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or any related characters*

He quickened his pace as he left her apartment. He had to get away from her, far away. He knew he should not have taken her home.

"She was drunk, that's all," Naruto mumbled to himself over and over. "She probably won't remember any of that anyway." He took out his pain and anger on the nearest tree. The tree toppled over itself; its trunk snapped in two. He sulked the rest of the way to his apartment building.

Upon entering his place, he slipped off his shoes, tossed aside his coat and shuffled to his room. He kicked aside an empty ramen cup and flopped onto his unmade bed. He lay there staring up at a dark ceiling. Unconsciously, his fingers ran along his lips; it had been so good to kiss her.

"She didn't mean to do that; she was drunk." The shinobi commented to his empty room. He rolled onto his side. There on his nightstand a familiar, faded picture caught his attention. The old Team 7. How long ago was it now? It seemed little more than a pleasant dream; their time together as a team faded in his memory. Sasuke… Sakura… he failed them all. The picture haunted him; Naruto lifted a heavy hand and placed the picture face down on the nightstand. All of that was over now. All of it was gone and never coming back.

Naruto found himself in the Hokage's office early the next morning.

"Come on, just one mission. Anything!" Naruto pleaded.

"Why is it that you are desperate for a mission right now? New Year's is coming up; you should take this time to spend with those close to you." Tsunade eyed the ninja before her.

"I'm bored," he lied. "I just feel like doing something." Tsunade could not be fooled so easily. She waited for a moment before making up her mind.

"You know that was months ago, you can move on…" she tested the waters.

"Just tell me if you have a mission for me," Naruto answered gruffly. She knew she had hit the right spot. She had been worried about this.

"Alright, I have a small mission here: delivery of confidential property. Shouldn't be dangerous; the information is going to our ally- Suna. Should only take a few days." Naruto nodded pleased with her decision. "You'll have one teammate for this mission. You'll leave tomorrow morning." Tsunade's eyes never left the shinobi before her. Naruto made to leave her office.

"Don't you want to know who you are going with?"

He merely waved his hand dismissively. He really did not care as long as he could leave Konoha.

"You know, before you leave, there has been talk of who will fill my position when I retire… your name has come up…You're about the same age your father was when he became Hokage…" her voice trailed off.

"No." his answer was strong and direct. He did not even turn around to look at her. Without saying another word he left her office.

Tsunade was left to herself still staring at the spot Naruto stood only moments before. He had changed so much since they first met. He was young, full of youthful dreams and ideals. She had watched him mature and grow into an excellent shinobi. He was becoming a force to truly recon with. But the man that came into her office today was not that same Naruto. He had changed again, and she was not pleased with the transformation. She understood what he was going through and she also understood that she could do next to nothing about it. She too had walked a path similar to his. She wondered—who would save him like he had saved her? She hoped it wouldn't be too late for him.

Naruto packed in preparation for his upcoming mission. He was thrilled to be leaving. He had to get away from the village, from the reminders, the memories, from Sakura. Tomorrow could not come soon enough.