Disclaimer: You ever get the feeling where you wish you had created Naruto? Yeah...me too.
Chap.15: Apologies
(Naruto's P.O.V)
I awoke with a pounding headache. I tried to remember what happened. Sakura and I had a fight, I left, went to a tavern...and the last thing I remember was seeing Kakashi.
"Well that explains this hangover and how I got back here...Kakashi probably got me back here." I said to myself. I got out of the bed, and rubbed my temples in a futile attempt to relieve the pain, "I guess I deserve this hangover."
"Kit, can I ask you a question?" came the ever loud voice of a nine-tailed demon fox.
"Ask away..." I mumbled.
"Why are you an idiot?"
I groaned, "Kyuubi, please not now."
"No way, I'm going to give you the worst headache ever so you can be sure to never go out and pull something stupid like that after fighting with Sakura." Kyuubi replied with a growl, making my already horrid condition worsen.
"You wouldn't understand..." I whispered, knowing full well that it wouldn't make a distance.
"Cut the crap! I've been with you since the day you started wetting yourself! I'm not going to let you sulk, got it?!" the demon-fox answered, banging his tails against the cage for added effect.
"What do you want me to do?" I sighed, getting up after the echoing in my head ceased.
"Well, shower up first. You reek," Kyuubi snapped, "Then go over and apologize to Sakura. I think she's in one of the others' rooms."
"Sure thing," I replied, "you mind getting rid of this headache?"
"As soon as you apologize to Sakura..." Kyuubi finished, and cut off further connections with me for the time being.
After showering up and changing into a different jumpsuit, I ate quickly and went to Kakashi's door. It was close to ten o' clock, so he was surely up by now. I knocked on the door, and moments later there stood a very tired looking Kakashi Hatake at the entrance.
"Well, look who's up..." he said with very little cheerfulness in his voice, "...care to explain last night?" his voice was stern. Not good.
"Is Sakura here?" I asked, ignoring the comment.
"No. She, Temari, and Rin left to look around the town just an hour ago. Gaara and Kankuro left for breakfast, so you can explain to me about last night until they return." he replied, folding his arms. I had to admit, he could really be intimidating when the occasion called for it. If I didn't know him any better then I was sure I would have turned tail and ran back to my room.
"Sakura and I got into a little arguement last night, that's all."
"Yeah, but I think there's more to it than just 'a little arguement', am I right?" Kakashi asked, reading my thoughts.
"...yeah..." I admitted.
"Come inside, we'll talk in here." the Jonin said, opening the door to his room all the way.
I walked in and noticed something peculiar; one bed appeared completely untouched, while the other had the sheets ruffled and kicked to the foot of the bed. I gave Kakashi a knowing look, "So, it looks like all those years apart from Rin had an affect on you, didn't it."
Kakashi merely looked at me and shrugged, "We just shared the bed, nothing else. It's not any different from what you and Sakura did..." he paused, then spoke a little softer, "...besides, you should talk, seeing as how I heard about Sakura's 'real' birthday gift for you on that night."
I stood there, mouth open, but nevertheless, mute. After a minute, I spoke, "How...did you...?"
Kakashi smirked behind his mask, "Trust me, being a Jonin means you hear these things...and considering that I'm a friend of Kurenai's has it's advantages at times when you want to learn about the happenings in the kunoichi world. You shouldn't be ashamed though; Sakura seemed fairly pleased with-"
"Okay, okay, enough..."
We both sat down and Kakashi spoke, "What made you two start bickering like that last night?"
I slumped into my chair, shaking my head, "...Akatsuki."
Kakashi let out a "hm" to indicate his understanding. He knew better than anyone how Sakura and I were affected by the group, "So...what did you say?"
"I just said that I don't want her to get involved any further so she would be safe."
Kakashi chuckled, despite the topic, "I'm sure that she definitely agreed with that, right?"
I glared a little, but then realized he was trying to lighten up the situation, "Heh, if only."
"You don't like the idea of her fighting alongside you in a battle with them?" Kakashi inquired, leaning forward a bit in his chair.
"I'd be lying if I said otherwise. If she isn't the reason for them to attack, or if it doesn't directly involve the both of us, then why should she bother helping me?" I asked.
"Naruto, I can understand where you are coming from...but you got to understand that it sort of does involve the two of you. The reason why Sakura would fight for you is the same reason why you would fight for her if the roles were switched between you two and that she would contain the Kyuubi." the masked Jonin replied.
I hated it when he used his superior logic against me like that.
I banged my head against the table we sat at, "Why did this have to happen to me? Why did those stupid missing-nin have to become interested in Kyuubi and me?"
Kakashi gave me an almost sympathetic look, "Naruto...I don't think I'll ever be able to fully understand how it feels...but I'm trying to understand, believe me. I don't know what it's like to house the most powerful of the tailed demons inside of my body. However, I will tell you that, considering how close you and Sakura are, you should try to see Sakura's point of view in this situation. She has someone who means the world to her that is in constant danger of being captured and killed by some of the most dangerous shinobi in all of the shinobi nations."
I nodded, but then spoke, "Exactly; this is Itachi and Kisame we're talking about here. They won't let anything get in their way, and taking a hostage I'm sure isn't beyond them. Sakura would make the perfect target for them."
Kakashi sighed, "That's a valid point. You have to remember though that Sakura's anything but weak."
I smiled, "Yes...but she's also a medic-nin...not an ANBU...she doesn't specialize it taking down these kind of shinobi."
"Oh, and you're an ANBU?" Kakashi shot back with an amused tone.
"Not yet...I plan to be one soon enough though." I replied in defense.
Kakashi nodded while putting a hand under his chin, "Well then, I look forward to hearing of your accomplishments when you join the ANBU Black Ops."
Before further conversation could be made, the door opened to reveal Rin, Sakura, and Temari. Sakura looked to me, then looked to the floor to avert my eyes.
"Well, how were the stores?" Kakashi asked, trying to prevent any awkward silence.
Rin seemed to catch on, "They were all right. The selections were not to big, but..." she lifted her bags, "...they should do."
"Well, I'm going to pack up my things so we can get going. We're heading back to Konoha today, right?" Sakura asked.
"Yep, we'll probably be going at a faster pace though with Rin. If Akatsuki got word of her being here, well...things could turn ugly." Kakashi answered.
"Well, I'm heading back to Suna with my brothers first to get my belongings all packed up. I'll probably be back in Konoha within a week's time." Temari added.
Sakura smiled, "I still can't believe that Shikamaru actually proposed...I was thinking you were going to be forcing it out of him soon enough."
"Yep, I was suprised as well," Temari agreed, "he seems to pull a fast one like that when no one else expects it." A dreamy looked started to show on her face, but then turned into a frown, "Still, he could have done it soner."
A half hour later, I was packing up my few things that I brought with me on the mission while an uncomfortable silence hung in the air between me and Sakura. I needed to end this. Either that, or face the never end wrath that Kyuubi would throw upon me in the form of a nine-tailed migraine jutsu...
"Sakura...I'm sorry for that whole...fight we had last night." I said, walking up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
She turned to face me with a smile, a weak one, but still loving nevertheless, "I know...but you didn't have to go and get drunk..."
I nodded, "I still don't have an excuse outside of being a total idiot for doing that."
"Promise me something..." she said, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
"...anything..." I replied.
"Promise me that you'll always trust me...no matter what." she continued.
"I promise, Sakura-chan. I also promise you something else..."
"What?" she asked.
I looked into those shimmering emerald eyes that held all the beauty, ferocity, wisdom, and kindness that a kunoichi could ever ask for, but never recieve, "I promise that as long as you live, I will be with you."
"...Naruto..." she said, tears threatening to fall.
I meant it. Sakura was my light, my pillar of strength. With her by my side, I could lift up the universe if she wanted me to badly enough.
The trip back to Konoha was relatively peaceful. The day after we returned, Sakura moved in with me. A week and a half later, Temari became a resident at the Nara household. She also became the first shinobi to have dual citizenship between Suna and Konoha in the villages' histories.
Rin moved in with Kakashi, and became a Jonin-level medic after showing her expertise to Shizue and Tsunade. She now ranks above Sakura, but Rin herself said that Sakura was likely to surpass Rin, Shizune, and Tsunade in due time.
Life seemed to be going well for me, and Tsunade promoted me to the ANBU within the month.
However, though things were looking up, I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad would soon befall not just Konoha, but maybe all of the ninja nations...
end of Chap.14- Well, there you have it. The end of the Palm Dunes mission is a success. Not to mention that Naruto is an ANBU now! Well, as you can guess, things aren't that wonderful all the time in the world of Naruto. I'll probably wait and let you all suffer before I update again, oh, don't worry, the next chapter should be fairly good. R&R!
And now for some recent reviews: IronicEnding (thanks for your opinion on Naruto and Sakura's relationship on the story. Yeah, I was trying to avoid the sappy perfect relationship thing, because we all know that there's now way that the two wouldn't anger each other at some point in time. As for Naruto, yes, the tavern scene was a little OOC for him, but I figured he never truly planned on it, and was just trying to forget about his problems...I don't plan on anymore like that, since he hated the idea from the start.) mangalover248 (glad you like how I went along with Kakashi and Rin. I was worried people would end up getting pissed saying "Oh no, not another 'Rin comes back after so many years and says she misses Kakashi' fic." Well, they will be a couple in this story, and will probably remain in the background for now as far as romance scenes.) And to the rest of those who even after the long wait period have reviewed my recent updates, thank you for your reviews. I will finish this story, or so help me I'll run two hundred laps around my campus!!!
Lee: Gai-sensei, Denim88 seems to burn with the flames of youth like we do!!!
Gai: Indeed my youthful student!
Lee: Denim88, I would greatly enjoy a match with you someday!
Denim88: Um...I don't know anything about Taijutsu...
Lee: Gai-sensei, our youthful friend doesn't know how to fight.
Gai: It's all right Lee...he's an author...
Lee: That's right Gai-sensei! He's beyond our capabilities!
Gai: Lee from here on out, we'll be working on our writing skills as well as our regular training! Now, let the flames of youth give us some inspiration to write like Denim88! (runs off)
Lee: Ossu!!! (follows Gai)
Denim88: Wow, I have too much spare time on my hands to do this stuff after a chapter...