Chapter 36 Realisation and new obstacles

Naruto rubbed his head that was pounding from the information overload he was told about elements and all people having elemental affinities. From what he could work out, elemental affinities basically meant that a user of fire affinity could create a stronger katon with less concentration, than a person who has a water affinity that is trying to create the same jutsu.

"My head hurts." Naruto said bluntly.

Kakashi chuckled, "Be grateful we didn't discuss the light and dark chakra elements...Shikamaru would know all about that."

"As boring as it all is, yes that is true." Grumbled Shikamaru, who was standing at the door without his vest revealing his forest green shirt.

Kakashi gave the 'yo' gesture, "Came back for a rematch have we, Shikamaru-'kun'?" Shikamaru gave a lazed expression that Naruto guessed was a half attempt at glaring.

"No, I am quite fine Kakashi-'sensei'" Shikamaru mumbled while stretching and entering.

"Talking to Naruto about elemental affinities hey...I take it that it went in one ear and out the other then?"

Naruto growled in retaliation, "I understood it fine enough thank you!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes while sitting down, "Elemental training is hard Naruto...putting aside my habits, it took quite some time to learn my family's jutsu's."

Jiraiya snickered in retort, "And what was your training routine?" He asked in sarcasm.

Shikamaru shrugged, "Whenever I felt motivated."

"...So basically never." Kakashi stated dully while dismissing Shikamaru's 'troublesome' whine.

Naruto gave a smirk, "I don't care, I have six months to put this training to use, I can't wait to use some grand jutsu! Like maybe I have an affinity for fire. I will be a living fire breathing dragon!"

Shikamaru's sweat dropped, 'Some things just never change.'

"You don't even know what element you are 'dragon' boy...and it takes YEARS to train with your element affinity, which is why not many shinobi focus on the training."

Naruto grinned at his ace hidden up his sleeve, "Well...too bad I already know a way to remove that problem." Katsuya chuckled but didn't talk, letting Naruto have the spotlight to the discovery.

Naruto's grin widened, "Thanks to Sebonegoro-chan and Sakura-chan, I have learnt a secret about kage bunshin's-"

Naruto then pointed at Jiraiya while glaring, "-Which YOU my 'sensei' did not know about since your head is too full of those lame books."

Jiraiya frowned, "Oh well excuse me!"

Naruto ignored Jiraiya's curses while continuing smugly, "Kage bunshin's have a shared memory with the user. Meaning I can learn super fast depending on how many I create."

Naruto waited expectantly for gasps of surprise, or praise like Sakura gave him, but discovered that he was bragging to the wrong audience.

"Naruto...how did YOU not know that?" Naruto froze wide eyed at Kakashi's dismissive tone.

"Umm..."

Jiraiya smirked, "Yeah 'oh great future hokage-SAMA' how did the person that can make THOUSANDS of kage bunshin's not know about this...did that thought ever pass through your knucklehead of a brain!?"

Naruto could have sworn he heard a cricket chirping while the room filled with expecting silence.

Shikamaru yawned over the silence, "Naruto....you officially are the biggest troublesome idiot I have ever known."

Naruto's head fell like an anchor onto the table, "....I never noticed before..." He admitted in a whimper.

Jiraiya decided to continue the jabbing with a smirk, "Oh and speaking of little 'Sakura-chan'..."

Naruto stiffened in his seat while going wide eyed behind his covered arms, 'oh no!'

"I never recalled you taking care of me when I was sick...so what makes little Sakura so different?" Jiraiya said, his words full of suggestiveness.

Naruto gritted his teeth while shooting his head up, "Sakura-chan doesn't get sick from drinking bottles of sake, Ero-sennin!"

Shikamaru usually wouldn't be bothered with such talk, but he was finding this extremely amusing.

"So does that mean you would take care of me if I was suddenly sick?"

"HELL N-" Naruto bit his tongue to silence himself, but he knew it was long too late.

'CRAP!'

Jiraiya grinned sadistically at his opening, "So it is a soft spot for women now is it...how gallant of you gaki."

Naruto formed a pink hue while growling, "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

"Naruto-kun was very supportive to Sakura-sama last night. I am sure she was very touched by his hospitality." Naruto paled while looking wide eyed at the seemingly too innocent blank look from Katsuya.

"S-Sebonegoro-chan!" Naruto cried out, his voice full of hurt from her betrayal.

'Hehehe, seems even Katsuya has a mean streak in her.' Jiraiya thought in amusement as he continued his poking.

"So...did you give her a goodnight ki-"

"Ero-sennin!" Naruto shrieked while turning red in the face.

Jiraiya shrugged casually, "So is that a yes then?"

Naruto shook his head rapidly, "No!"

"He is lying." Kakashi stated simply, while giving a U shaped eye smile.

Naruto blocked out his ears, "What is it with you guys?! I only took care of Sakura-chan because she was sick from the medicines she took to SAVE ME. Can I not return the favour?!"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, "So you're saying you only did it for that and wouldn't have helped otherwise?"

"Of course not, I would never leave Sakura-chan to rot!...NO! wai-"

"Busted gaki!"

Naruto cringed, 'Why do they always pick on me?!'

Shikamaru chuckled, "I must admit...teasing Naruto is a lot more fun that I first predicted, it is very worth the bother."

Jiraiya nodded like he just made a new friend, "Finally! Somebody that shares my belief!"

Naruto mumbled out incoherent curses, causing Kakashi to laugh. Jiraiya was about to continue his 'interrogation', until the bell of the door rang. Naruto bolted from his seat grateful for his escape.

"That must be Sakura-chan and Fuzzy Brows, let's go see them Sebonegoro-chan."

"Saved by the bell gaki!" Jiraiya's voice echoed down the corridor that Naruto tried to ignore.

"Hey Sakura-cha-" Naruto paused and went fully agape when he saw Sakura's state. Her usually fair skin was badly bruised all over from what Naruto's eyes could tell was from fists and kicks, along with red marks from a weapon. Sakura also was gripping protectively on her lightly bandaged hand, almost as if it was stinging.

"Naruto...don't make me wipe that stupid expression off your face." Naruto gulped and tried to act natural.

Sakura sighed and seemed to drag herself up to him, and then Naruto exploded with a reaction akin to a worried parent, "Sakura-chan! How can you be so reckless?! I said some training! Not go to declare war on yourself!"

Naruto then turned and pointed an accusing finger at the seemingly completely unbruised and fresh looking Lee, who held a sickening innocent smile that was starting to make Naruto see red.

"Fuzzy Brows you teme... I swear when I can fight again I am kicking your ass all over Wave datteba-OH!"

"So loud! Put a sock in it baka!" Sakura scolded while elbowing his gut playfully.

"Please accept my sincerest apologies Naruto-kun, but Sakura-san said she would never forgive me if I held back Naruto-kun." Lee said while giving a respectful bow you would expect to give to a leader.

Naruto almost felt guilty for accusing him...almost.

Sakura sighed then yelped when she felt Naruto's hand on her bandaged arm, "Does it hurt?"

Sakura winced at how concerned his voice was but shook it off, "It is fi-"

Sakura was forced to stop and hiss in pain when Naruto brushed over a bruise that had formed underneath the bandage as he gently lifted her arm up to his concerned eyes to see.

Sakura grew a blush, but quickly recovered with a glare, "It just hurts! That's all!" She said dismissively while yanking her arm free, ignoring the burning sting. Sakura then saw Katsuya looking at her blankly, although to Sakura, she saw disappointment clear in the slugs antennae like eyes. Sakura shook her head at her immature actions and replied more softly.

"Sorry...It is fine Naruto, I just badly bruised it. Otherwise I am exhausted."

Naruto nodded while coming to her side, "Can you walk?"

Sakura chuckled, "I am fine baka, how do you think I got here?" Naruto wasn't buying it as he placed a supportive hand behind her back and guided her to the stairs, despite her protests.

"I will come and get you next time I head out to the park again Sakura-san, like we discussed." Sakura gave in to Naruto's persistence and nodded her head while still walking away.

"Ok, thanks again Lee-san."

Lee gave the nice guy pose while wiping away an emotionless tear, "It was an honour Sakura-san!"

'What the hell is he so happy about, HE BEAT HER TO A PULP!' Naruto thought in confusion and rage, but quickly brushed it off.

Oblivious to Naruto and Sakura, a set of deeply amused onyx eyes were watching their ascent, while jotting down notes.

'Hehehe, whatever leg you thought you had to stand on gaki just went out the window!' Lee looked in pure confusion and Jiraiya's expression, but brushed it off and walked past him into the lounge.

"Shikamaru-kun, it is good to see you are awake."

Shikamaru gave a lazy wave, "...I would ask what exact training you did to do that to Sakura, but it's too troublesome to ask." Kakashi shot a glare at Shikamaru, but let out a sigh of disappointment and continued reading.

"I have some distressing news to talk about." Shikamaru at first held a bored expression, until he saw Lee's face that held a nervous expression.

Shikamaru put two and two together, and a glare formed that seemed out of place on the usual laid back Nara, "...What the hell did you both do to the park?!"

Back with Naruto and Sakura, they were still ascending, "Are you ok with wal-"

"Baka, I said im f-"

Sakura gritted her teeth at her next step and suppressed her hiss of pain that shot up her foot, "-I am fine."

Naruto looked worryingly, "Do you want me to ca-"

"If you say 'carry you Sakura-chan' You are being introduced to the street." Sakura hissed.

Naruto blinked in confusion, 'What did I do wrong?'

"Sorry, Sorry I-"

Sakura's sigh interrupted him, 'He is too kind for his own good.'

"No I am sorry Naruto. You are hurt, it will only make your injury worse if you do that...and it's embarrassing to be honest." Sakura admitted while shifting her weight to his side as compromise.

Naruto grinned, "I wasn't going to gloat about it to the others like some hero ta-"

"Drop it right now baka!" Sakura shook her head while giggling.

"I know I over did it, but I really feel great." Sakura admitted cheerfully, while her body was screaming out the opposite of great.

"That's what's so remarkable about training, the feeling afterwards knowing you pushed yourself, feeling like you are one step closer to something."

Sakura nodded furiously in agreement, "That's exactly right."

"Although, maybe next time take it a bit easier Sakura-chan."

"Hai hai, sorry, I know I do get carried away."

"Sakura-sama...you are not suffering from a head injury by chance are you? It's not like you to admit that." The silent Katsuya announced.

Sakura smirked at her summon, "No, my head is quite fine Katsuya-sama."

Sakura decided to change the topic, "So did you work out what is happening with your training?" Sakura asked in interest, resulting in Naruto giving a wide grin.

"More or less...I have a lot to talk to you about."

Sakura returned the gesture, "Then I will be more than happy to listen, once I get changed of course." Naruto nodded while Sakura opened the room to her apartment and walked on in. Naruto stood by the door as he felt Katsuya tickle down his back, and follow Sakura as she closed the door.

Naruto grinned at the closed door, 'Sakura-chan will probably want that hot chocolate drink she likes when she comes out.'

Naruto nodded to himself as he turned, only to meet a certain sensei towering over him with a deeply amused smirk on his face. Naruto gritted his teeth while feeling his cheeks heating up.

"Say one word Ero-sennin..."

Jiraiya gave an innocent look, "About what?"

"You know about me and Sakura-ch-"

'Damn it why am I so dumb!'

"I am sorry, care to repeat that gaki?!" Jiraiya said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Naruto scoffed, trying to control his flush, "Sorry, not my fault you are going deaf too in your old age." Jiraiya didn't seem in the slightest effected by the usual 'old' pay out as his smirk grew.

"You seem disappointed?"

Naruto blinked blankly at Jiraiya's sudden statement, "W-What? Disappointed about what?" If it was possible Jiraiya's smirk widened to ear to ear, making the blond suddenly very aware to what the winking sannin was implying.

'H-He isn't talking about me being in there wi-...-ERO-SENNIN!'

"I AM NOT LIKE THAT DAMN IT ERO-SENNIN!"

"Oho! Sure you aren't gaki. You make it sound like you either feel nothing for women or your afraid of 'understanding' them, no?...is there something I should know?"

"W-What?! No!"

"You have never been given 'the talk' have you? Shall I 'educate' you?"

"Educate me about what?! What 'talk'?!'

The sannin patted his student's shoulder as he spoke as if he was an old experienced story teller...which the blond did not appreciate in the slightest.

"Brace yourself gaki, you are about to understand the entire meaning of li-"Jiraiya stopped when he felt a wash over of murderous intent radiate from his side, and slowly turned to see the door opened and was being met by burning glare from a still unchanged Sakura.

"Jiraiya-sama."

Despite the respectful suffix, her chilling whisper made it sound even worse than 'Ero-sennin.'

"I am only going to say this once...Leave. Naruto. Alone." She whispered frightfully quiet, yet so unimaginably firm.

Jiraiya could only move his mouth, but no sound came out as Sakura cut in very harshly, "There is no such thing as 'the talk' Naruto, Jiraiya-sama is just being the stupid, filthy, and disgusting pervert he always is...right Jiraiya-sama?" She hissed out suggestively at the end, her murderous intent rolling out with Jiraiya's name at the end.

'Naruto is not stupid you pervert, and like hell I will let you corrupt his innocence with god only knows what your version of 'the talk' is.'

Knowing he could die if he even made the slightest mistake, he made the obligation to go with her white lie, "O-Of course I am!" He stuttered out, with a clearly exaggerated enthusiasm bundled with it.

"Very good...and if I ever hear what I think you were implying to Naruto again..." Sakura grew a sadistic smirk that made the sannin sweat bullets.

"I will tell Tsunade-sama."

Jiraiya had received many threats against him by enemies...but this 'child telling to parent' like threat by far was one that never struck so much fear in the sannin. What made it so bad though was how much of a 'cheerful' chirp it sounded coming from such a person.

The Sannin nodded furiously while slithering away from the aura she dropped it with a frustrated groan.

"Naruto I don't care how much I will hate myself for the rest of my life afterwards...if you ever turn into him, in even the slightest way...I will kill you."

'When did I get involved in this?!'

"U-Uh, I swore about something like this before Sakura-chan! Remember?!" The blond stuttered out, while almost jumping back in terror at her change in personality like grin.

"That's true I guess."

Naruto had never been so thankful to see a door close in front of him in all his life.

The hideouts all were the same to Sasuke's eyes. They always were entrenched deep under the ground, and organised like a maze filled with traps that were treacherous to both its inhabitants and unwelcomed intruders. The long, rough stone textured hallways always were identical at every turn, with the only show of destination being the poorly lit torches that never seemed to extinguish. Prisoners that were brought into these hideouts sometimes referred to them more as labyrinths than an outpost. Sasuke didn't care about the no sense of direction nor time, he found the sensation quite relaxing since he couldn't distinguish how long he had been training for, and usually continued for sessions well over twelve hours, feeling he only had done two. The only concern to Sasuke was the room he usually was in, the training chamber.

The chamber was almost out of place to the rest of the hideout, the roof seemed indeterminably high, and darkness hid the corners in comparison to the claustrophobic hallways. There were several large pillars holding the room up with snake engravings slithered around them as if they were travelling up the stone trunks. Lurking in the back of the room, was an overwhelmingly enormous stone crafted cobra, which glowing yellow slit eyes lit most of the centre of the chamber with a yellow hue.

The room also seemed to have an echo that bounced back and forth several times, as each clank from Sasuke's sparking shurikens amplified to almost like thunder storm as they collided with the hollow wooden dummies. Sasuke back flipped over another, bombarding it with a hail of sparking shurikens, effectively turning it into a bright blue Christmas tree, as the chakra withered away, revealing its pin cushioned form. Sasuke glared at his handy work, but felt no such satisfaction as before, only disappointment that the dummy was still in one piece.

Sasuke unconsciously felt with his hand again where the nonexistent mark was, and rested it there as his eye twitched. Sasuke felt himself pulled deep within the back of his mind, as he remembered the image of the rosette he had left unconscious on the bench that night. Sasuke remembered her confession to him, as well as her begging to help him in his revenge, which he denied without even consideration.

'My revenge is something I will achieve alone, any person that accompanies me will be a bother.' Sasuke recalled what his mind had concluded that night.

He distinctly remembered his last words he said to her that night, 'Sakura...thank you'

'Sakura would have still tried to beg me to return to the village, and Sakura is not familiar with the pain of loss, she had no understanding of what I must do. I do however acknowledge her for caring and trying to help me...as Naruto always reminded me in his childish bickering.' Sasuke's mind suddenly became clouded with darkness that seemed almost alive like a shadow, as a new, yet familiar emotion slithered underneath his skin. Sasuke's now black marked hand from his curse seal clenched over his face, his nails digging into his face.

'But what happened to the Sakura that always cried out me and Naruto's name but never could help?! What happened to the Sakura that always needed protection and rescuing.....how?' Sasuke saw the near liquid darkness blinding his sight mould into the familiar frame of the said Kunoichi that knocked him out, causing him to see red, as his sharingan eyes bloomed now in the room almost as bright as head lights.

'How did she become this way? How did the girl that could barely stand up to any shinobi, suddenly defeat ME in one hit?!'

Sasuke tore his shaking hand off his now marked red face, and attempted to crush his swords hilt with all his might, as he whipped it out of the sheath. 'How!?' Sasuke growled as he glared hard into his glowing blue sword that was raining with sparks of electricity that bounced off the rocky floor. Sasuke then eyed the wooden dummy in front of him that was still standing from his previous attack.

'How did she get that strong?!' his angered mind roared as he sliced the dummy in two as if it was paper. The sword must have been burning hot, since the spot that had been cleaved clean in two seemed to have been scorched by minor burns, turning it black.

Orochimaru gave a dark chuckle as he watched Sasuke blow steam out in the training chamber, 'Kukuku...As I expected from him never the less, his pride just cannot accept what happened. The curse seal amplifies the affects of jealously, anger, and desires...the result in Sasuke-kun's case is this childish tantrum kukukuku.'

Orochimaru turned his head in interest when he heard a loud echo emit from the sound of the chamber door creaking open to reveal Kabuto. Kabuto froze while watching Sasuke slice through another dummy, as he then closed the door with a loud bang.

"Sasuke-kun seems to have reached a breakthrough with his raiton weapon training." Kabuto stated, while Orochimaru grew a smirk as his tongue slid out as if the news was irresistibly delicious. "

Indeed, Ronan's guidance has without a doubt have given a large boost to Sasuke-kun's skills...but I think he has another amusing factor that is now driving his sudden desire to train."

Kabuto raised an eyebrow, while lifting his glasses, "What do you mean Orochimaru-sama? Isn't his vengeance enough motivation?" Neither payed attention to Sasuke's roar filled of aggression as he sliced through another.

"Why, can't you work it out Kabuto...Sasuke-kun is now sulking that he was defeated by Sakura-chan in a single blow...it is eating at his 'Uchiha pride' Kukuku."

Kabuto looked back at Sasuke as if to confirm Orochimaru's theory, and turned back ,"How strange...it seems that Sasuke-kun's priorities are at a miss."

Orochimaru shook his head, "It seems your interpretation skills are at a miss Kabuto."

Orochimaru mocked, while Kabuto raised his glasses, and replied with the slightest traces of sarcasm present in his otherwise neutral tone, "Please educate me then, Orochimaru-sama."

Orochimaru gave a creepy, tooth baring smile as he explained, "Sasuke-kun acknowledges that Itachi is a strong opponent that requires his skills to reach new lengths and boundaries in order for Sasuke-kun to defeat...but Sakura-chan in Sasuke-kun's eyes, is a opponent that he felt was somebody he wouldn't even consider as a threat...yet Sakura-chan gladly demonstrated otherwise."

Orochimaru casted a slitted eye at Sasuke, who violently tore apart a dummy with his sword in succession, "Even if he allowed the opportunity for her to strike by his hesitation, being sent into a coma for a few days from a single strike is in his sense of logic, is an impossible phenomenon."

"I agree that Sakura-chan demonstrated some commendable talents in our battle, but I can conclude with minor analysis that Sasuke-kun could easily defeat her. Excluding any possible...personal issues."

Orochimaru smirked, "We are on the same page now Kabuto, but Sasuke-kun's jealously doesn't even put him in the same book as us to realise this..."

'Sasuke-kun can be manipulated so effortlessly, yet it also drives him to surpass his limitations in power...which I will put to proper use soon Kukuku.'

"What do you believe will happen next then Orochimaru-sama?"

Orochimaru was about to answer, when both heard what sounded like an electrified explosion and turned their heads going wide eyed. Sasuke was standing in the middle of a large electrified field, which resembled a plasma ball. Large burning hot lightning bolt sparks shot out from his body, striking several dummies surrounding him what seemed like hundreds of times with miniature lightning bolts. The dummies were beginning to smoke as the electricity burnt the wooden chips, causing some to go a flame. Sasuke did not move as his sharingan eyes glared hard at something in front of him.

Orochimaru gave a slow, spine chilling laugh, "Why isn't it obvious Kabuto?" He cackled as he recovered and spoke more darkly in amusement.

"The next time Sakura-chan meets Sasuke-kun, he is going to ensure that she is put in her place...the only question is when?"

Sakura had returned changed into her night wear along with her own dressing gown into the lounge. She was more than surprised to see another mug of hot chocolate shoved into her face, but accepted it with a thankful smile. All bruises and injuries on her skin seemed to have disappeared as if they never existed, although she did complain about being sore when Naruto asked, but didn't make a fuss about it afterwards. Katsuya must have returned to her realm, since she wasn't with Sakura as she returned. Shikamaru had left with Lee to go and inspect the 'damage' done to the park with a frown on his face. Kakashi decided to return to his room to continue reading his book in peace, but not before having to 'discretely' force hawk fixed Jiraiya to leave as well.

"So what do you think Sakura-chan?"

Sakura lowered her mug from her mouth and grinned, "You are not going to leave me alone aren't you?" She stated simply and continued.

"We haven't even completed toruko rasengan, and you want to jump to that straight away...are you crazy?"

"Well-"

"NO, don't answer that baka." She quickly interrupted with a chuckle.

Sakura smirked, "Lets at least get one jutsu properly working first baka, we can worry about what to do next later."

Naruto gave his traditional fox wide smile while standing up, "Yosha! Let's get started right awa-"

"Sit down!" Sakura instructed in a demanding voice, instantly deflating Naruto's ecstatic behaviour, as she gave him a firm tug to sit him back down in his seat.

"...But Sakura-cha-"

"No! You are not training until I say so." Naruto gave his puppy dog eyes and Sakura gritted her teeth.

'Why the hell does this actually work on me now?!'

"Naruto...stop that!"

"Please Sakura-chan."

"No..." Sakura groaned as those begging blue eyes were starting to get to her.

"Naruto, please, your health is not something you can just throw to the side." She tried to argue logically.

Naruto grinned, "But I have the best medic-nin looking out for me."

Sakura suddenly found it hard to breathe since it felt like her pounding heart was about to erupt out of her throat, "D-Don't give me exaggerated flattery to try and win this, the answer is no." Sakura mumbled, trying to control her flush. Naruto slumped in defeat and nodded, causing Sakura to crack.

"...Ok...listen, If your injury is healed enough, I will allow you to train lightly...but only with my presence, and only with my approval for whatever things you have planned...is that fair?" Sakura reluctantly proposed, now calmed.

Naruto pulled a one eighty and raised an innocent eyebrow while giving a small grin, "But what ab-"

"For god sakes! I gave you a compromise! Just say 'yes' and 'thank you Sakura-chan' and leave it at that!" Sakura hissed now annoyed that Naruto wasn't satisfied with her proposal. Naruto gave his familiar smile.

"Thanks Sakura-chan, you are the most awesome nurse ever!"

Sakura waved a dismissive hand, "Yeah, don't mention it."

'Great, another reason for Tsunade-sama to kill me.' Sakura mused, knowing she was going to regret this decision.

"So...When are you going to find out about your elemental affinity?"

Naruto sighed while rubbing his forehead as if his headache was coming back, "I am still not certain myself, Ero-sennin and Kakashi-sensei said they need me to do some test when we get to Suna or something."

Naruto cringed in memory, "I hate tests."

Sakura giggled, "I am sure it's not a written test, it's probably some instrument that examines your chakra."

Naruto blinked, "...Sorry I don't get it."

Sakura waved a dismissive hand, "That's alright, I was only guessing myself."

Both turned in interest when they heard the hotel door bell ring, and not long met a very unamused Shikamaru and a trying to control himself from laughing Lee.

"...Sakura...violent...troublesome...woman..."

Sakura raised an innocent eyebrow at Shikamaru's mumbling, "What? Is there something you want to say to me?"

Shikamaru held up a shaking fist, but then let it drop finding this too much of a bother and turned and left the room almost like a sulk. Lee shook his head while letting out a chuckle.

"Shikamaru-kun is not exactly happy with the state of the park Sakura-san."

Sakura gave a nervous chuckle while rubbing the back of her neck, "I can see that...he wants me to apologise to Tazuna-san in person I assume?"

Lee nodded in response, "I will go with you too as well then and express my apologies."

"That's ok Lee-san...most of the damage was my fault anyway."

Naruto looked quizzically at Sakura who sheepishly shrugged, "Umm...I think I just got a little carried away."

Before Naruto could ask 'how little' Lee interrupted, "We are starting again early tomorrow morning Sakura-san please be at the ready by nine." Sakura gulped while she glanced at the clock to almost ten in the evening.

"Ok Lee-san." She mumbled along with a groan, but casted a look at Naruto and grinned.

"Actually...make it eight Lee-san."

Lee grew a sparkling smile while giving the thumbs up, "That's the spirit Sakura-san! Your motivation will allow you to blossom with new found powers in the spring time of your youth at this rate!"

Naruto had to bite his tongue to stop himself from yelping in shock when he saw Sakura wink and give a thumb up to Lee, with a teeth revealing smile.

"Shannaro! That's exactly what I want Lee-san!"

Naruto looked back and forth in complete confusion at both Sakura and Lee's attitude, 'What is going on? Sakura-chan knows what Fuzzy Brows 'youth' talk means?? And why is she giving that stupid pose he does?!?!'

"I will be resting extra early then, good night to both of you." Lee announced, bringing Naruto out of his thoughts as Lee left. The grinning Sakura turned to see Naruto's strange expression and blinked in puzzlement.

"Is something the matter Naruto?"

Naruto quickly shook off his puzzlement and grinned, "No." He muttered half heartedly. Sakura was about to pursue, but Kosuke suddenly hopped up on their table.

"I have a message from Tsunade-sama." He stated simply, while Naruto didn't miss Kosuke's strange expression that looked like a cringe.

"Well, she first wishes to say that she will be sending a possible tracking team within a few days time." Naruto nodded, now holding a puzzled expression.

"What else did she say?"

"...Sorry in advance Naruto."

"Wha-"

Naruto was sharply cut off when Kosuke gave Naruto a loud fin foot slap, causing Sakura to go wide eyed in confusion along with Naruto, who was rubbing his cheek that was marked with a beeping red toad leg.

"W-Wha what the hell Kosuke?!" The toad held an apologetic expression.

"I am not a llama, and I am not retiring any time soon you little brat..." The toad stated void of emotions, causing it to click in both teens' heads.

"You called...Tsunade-sama...a LLAMA?!" Sakura growled in her demonic voice. Naruto waved his hands in his defence.

"N-N-No I didn't!"

"Oh and she also instructed me to give this to you Sakura." Kosuke quickly butted in while dropping the scroll, then 'poofing' out of existence.

Sakura looked blankly at the ordinary scroll and shrugged, as she sent Naruto a glare hinting 'this isn't over' and opened it. Naruto watched in suspense for Sakura to return to her previous duty, but soon raised an eyebrow in suspicion when Sakura's mouth went agape with a gasp. Sakura's already fair skin turned pure white, while an audible gulp was heard from her.

"Neh? Sakura-chan you look like a ghost." he stated in interest while leaning over to have a read.

Naruto chuckled once he had finished reading, "'Medic-nin rules I recall you replaying to me like out of the book'...'understanding on drug overdosing'...'keeping secrets from me'...She sounds pretty angry at you."

Sakura nodded her head dully while cringing, "I am in a lot of trouble when I get back to Konoha..." Sakura whimpered in fear.

"Oh I am sure tsu-Tsunade-sama, won't be that harsh." Sakura looked at Naruto with an expression that read 'are you kidding me?!'

"No...I am in for it, big time."

Naruto shrugged unchanged, "Neh, I will put in a good word for you since every one of those 'medic rules' you broke was to save me. We already moved on with that stupid problem that was bothering you, so we should leave it at that. I won't let baa-chan give you a beating, you have my word."

Sakura couldn't resist the smile, "Thank you Naruto....and no she isn't going to give me a beating baka, if anything she is going to overwork me like always...oh and what did you just call her?"

Naruto scratched his head nervously, "W-What did I say baa-chan?? No I didn't mean to call her baa-chan, I mea-"

"Naruto!" she hissed, trying to control her laughter, but failed.

"You're one of a kind." She said once calming, and remembered Kosuke's first message.

"Tracking team?" She said simply, as Naruto then explained to her the situation and she held a proud smile.

"So you are finally waking up?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly, "Sort of, I knew you probably would have hit me if I turned them down."

Sakura grew a sadistic smirk, causing him to pale., "Maybe...but seriously you made the right choice Naruto, I am proud of you."

Naruto held a pink hue while looking away from her genuine smile, "Thanks Sakura-chan."

He mumbled, but grew a mischievous grin, "Does that mean as a reward I get a da-"

"Ok, NOW you're pushing it." Sakura interrupted shaking her head with a soft grin.

'Persistent little baka.' she thought cheerfully.

"Who do you think the team is Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, seemingly recovered.

Sakura put a finger to her mouth as she ran through possible team,. "It most likely is Shino, Kiba, and Hinata's team, or Gai sensei's team if they returned from their mission yet." Naruto nodded his head in agreement, while seemingly showing a dull expression.

Sakura raised an eyebrow in question, "Hey, not getting cold feet on me are we?"

Naruto gave a half grin, "Maybe."

Sakura sighed, but didn't show any traces of annoyance, "What are you worried about?" Naruto paused for a few moments remembering Sakura's words from before once again and finally showed a very lively grin.

"Nothing, I am being an idiot. I will tell whoever they are the truth, I won't be afraid of what happens afterwards, well mostly."

"See, now there's the Naruto I know." Sakura stated with a grand smile.

'He has come quite some way, I am truly glad.'

Sakura payed a quick glance at the clock before looking back, "I better go, since I have to get up early for Lee-san." Naruto seemed to have a strange feeling wash over him at that statement.

'What is my problem, she is getting up early to train, that is all.' he told himself.

"You better be up early too then."

Naruto snapped his attention at Sakura, "Huh?"

"Use your head baka, I am going to check on you before I leave."

Naruto mouthed an 'oh' while giving a sheepish smile, "Hehe ok Sakura-chan, and if I am well enou-"

"Hai hai! One thing at a damn time!" She grumbled while standing and waving a dismissive hand.

"Neh, Sakura-chan?"

"What?!" She groaned in annoyance, expecting more pestering of her compromise.

"I don't have a roommate tonight? I moved in a couch while you were out training?" Sakura at first blinked and went agape, but stopped herself from yelling at him, knowing that through his innocent tone and gesture, Naruto wasn't seeing it in the way she had interpreted it. She probably would blame Jiraiya's book for giving her such an impression.

'How do I say this without offending him?' Sakura wondered, while another half of her was saying

'Why not?'

Sakura shook her head clear and paced herself, "That's very generous of you Naruto, but I have to decline from your offer...I would like a bed for tonight if that's ok."

'Please don't offer me the bed, please don't offer me the bed, please do-'

"Oh, no problems then Sakura-chan."

'Thank god.'

"Great, now, moving to the new topic."

Sakura then glared, "You moved a COUCH?! Do you just enjoy not following my rules?!"

Naruto paled, "I-I didn't physically move it, I used kage bunshi-"

'Oops.'

"Naruto!" Sakura growled gripping onto his shirt around the collar while lowering her eyes to his.

"I didn't think I would have to do this." She muttered aloud, while her emerald eyes glared hard into his frozen and petrified oceanic blue eyes.

"Naruto." She said in that cold whisper that made all the hairs on his back rise.

"If you disobey my rules one more time..." She then presented a clenched fist that shook between their faces. Naruto's audible and motion filled gulp was enough to know her message came across very well interpreted.

"Are we on same wave frequencies now?"

"Y-Yes we are on same w- eh, thingies now." He whimpered.

Sakura's changed back to her normal self, and released her hold on his collar and ruffled his hair as she smiled. "But you have my thanks for thinking of me Naruto, you didn't need to do that for me."

Said knuckle head gave his traditional wide smile, "Hehe, it's the least I can do Sakura-chan."

His breath brushing over her face suddenly made her aware of just how close their faces were, their noses were practically few inches apart, and her vision was blocked by his smiling face. The proximity was now starting to get to her, as her stomach felt like butterflies were flapping around, and she felt her heart pick up into a mad dash race. Naruto's cool breaths were now intensifying her sudden sentiment, with a tingling chill that travelled down her back. Sakura found herself fixated on his calming yet so blissful and energetic filled eyes, discovering just how strangely alluring they were to her. The loud sound of the clock striking at ten in the evening broke her out of her tranced state, suddenly realising she had been staring at him for over a minute at least to what she could tell, and hastily almost leapt back.

'W-What was I doing?!' Sakura didn't even realise when she had turned and made it to the door. Before leaving, she stopped at the entrance, and turned to see Naruto's genuinely puzzled face at her sudden jolt.

"...Good night baka, and don't stay up too late." Sakura muttered, as she felt her cheeks heat up, but left before they could be seen by the still confused blond. Naruto stared where Sakura once stood and tried to work out what had happened.

'She came up to a few inches away from my face, waved her fist to warn me not to break her rules again, then smiled and thanked me for caring...' Naruto replayed it several times over until one thought came to his mind.

'...Why did Sakura-chan suddenly freak out?' Naruto was about to brush it off, until he heard a disturbing giggle filled of perverted delight, which made him physically jump out of his seat in fright and land on the floor with a thud.

"Well now...is 'roommate' the new term they use these days...and holy cow gaki! You are a natural charmer now aren't you!?" Naruto's tanned skin turned ghostly white, as he snapped his head so fast that it made a crack in his neck towards the window, to see a disturbing ear to ear smirking Jiraiya.

"Now gaki, do I really need to educate you on what was buzzing in her mind just then?"

'You had to have noticed!' Naruto didn't even hear Jiraiya's tease as he stared in shock at Jiraiya.

"....WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING SPYING ON ME ERO-SENNIN?!"

'Minato...your son is officially even more naive of a woman's feelings than even you were. Good thing I am still here then to jam his eyes open like I did yours. Hehe, but this is could be book worthy material right here.'

Sakura closed her apartment door and crashed against its wooden surface as she tried to recompose herself from the adrenaline rush through desperate gasps.

'W-W-What the hell happened!?' She rested her hand against her face to suddenly be aware of the hot sensation of her blush.

'I wanted to back away after thanking him, but I couldn't, I just lost myself in his eyes...' Sakura slid down the door and brought up her knees, pulling them as close as she could with her enwrapped arms as she lowered her head on her knees.

'Sasuke-kun is still a mystery to me, and now this happens to make matters more complicated...'

Sakura couldn't help but form a hidden smile though at a sudden realisation, '...I think I have grown something for him. No, I know I have now, I am not that stupid to not understand all the signs my body is now screaming at me to realise.' Sakura let out a small chuckle while rubbing her forehead in disbelief.

'I have grown feelings for Naruto...the boy I said I hated at the very formation of team 7...oh this is ironic.' Sakura's chuckles died down to show a great smile at her discovery that only seemed to bring an extraordinary warm sensation to her.

Sakura soon felt the warmth torn from her as she was pulled back into her shivering uncertainty.

'Great...now I am really lost.'

Sakura groaned at her new obstacle, she had thought it would get easier now that she had at least worked out that she has feelings for Naruto, but just discovered that her previous dilemma was like a bump in the road in comparison to this mountain.

'Do I tell him? What if it is just a crush? Do I pretend nothings different? Does he truly feel the same way about me?' Sakura put a hand to her head to ease her racing thoughts and fears that were forming a pounding headache, but not before a major issue dropped like a bomb.

'What makes this any different for what I feel for Sasuke-kun?'

No matter how much she willed, it was as if the question had been glued to the very front of her head, and refused to shake off from its strong binding.

"...I don't know." She whispered over the silence of her room, and in dissatisfaction of her answer, knocked her head against the door, hoping the sudden contact with the harsh wood would make something click, but nothing changed as she stared at the cream ceiling.

"Why is this so hard?" She mumbled to herself under her breath, only to hear silence. Sakura stood up from her squatted form and approached her bed.

'I will sleep on it, I made the mistake to chase after a boy over being a dependable teammate once before, I will not walk down that path again. This is secondary. Naruto's safety and Sasuke-kun's rescue comes first, not my uncertainty on who I have genuine feelings for.'

Sakura tried to convince herself, but still felt it now itching in her mind like a rash that was impossible to not scratch.

She wanted to know, she had to know.

On one side there was the Uchiha she had always wanted to be recognised by and accepted. She could have once strongly swore that she loved him, and even confessed that to his face, but the Uchiha was now out of her reach and mystified in his lust for revenge. On the other, there was the boy that she once never even considered. The baka that always was there to encourage her, support her, make her form a smile when she felt helpless or sad. Looking at it in that way felt more than satisfactory for an answer, but Sakura wasn't willing to swear by it, well aware of the consequences if she was wrong.

If she was wrong, not only would she be hurting herself, but she would be hurting Naruto a lot more and that alone was enough to stop her dead in her tracks. She had hurt him enough in the past, and dreaded the thought of doing it again. The issue that only drove that fear was Naruto's negligence to accept that she was at fault, and would blame himself for anything.

'I am doing it again.' she scolded herself while crashing childishly on her bed.

'Alright, I accept I have grown to like Naruto as more than a friend, when did it change, I honestly don't know. Until I know where Sasuke-kun really stands for me, I am not budging. I don't want to hurt Naruto anymore than I already have in the past, he deserves much better than that...once I know...I will work out what to do from there.' She concluded, and before allowing her mind to wander again, she reached into her dressing gowns pocket to pull out her small Icha Icha paradise book and opened it.

'I just need time, and I hope it is on my side.'

The valley of the end had never changed from when Naruto and Sasuke fought there two years ago. The craters merely blended in with the edge of the cliff as if the fight was another addition to its history, the shadowed casting along the grounds from the covered sun only added in its mystery. The roaring sound of the waterfall could be heard in the valley, which was streaming down behind the two large monuments of the Shodaime hokage and the once ruler of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara. At the base of the feet of Shodaime, were Kisame, Itachi, and Sasori. Itachi eyed the large monument of Madara, his face neutral, although to his partner, he could see more meaning to it.

"Interested in your elders Itachi-san?" Kisame asked only to receive a non interested 'Hmmph' from his partner.

"Where is Hidan and Kakuzu, it only took us a day to get here, they were much closer than us...yet they make us wait." Sasori growled.

Itachi casted an eye up above at the monument again, "They have arrived." He stated, as two mere dots that could be recognised as figures stood on the head of Madara.

The trio wasted no time ascending to the top, and Sasori greeted them with a genuinely angered tone.

"You are late."

Hidan shrugged non caringly, "It was a long walk to get he-" Hidan was forced to pull out his scythe, that clashed against a steel scorpion like tail that belonged to Sasori.

"You have no excuse, we came from lighting country, and yet we still got here almost two hours before you." Sasori hissed with as much venom as was dripping off his tails stinger.

"The truth is this fool had to stop to pray to his 'god', that was the cause to our delay...but you're wasting your time Sasori, As I have discovered, nothing I do will kill this stubborn bastard." Kakuzu stated dismissively.

Sasori's constant angered gaze flickered, "I will be the judge of that."

Hidan snickered as he battled for dominance, "I hear you are a poison user Sasori, I wonder just how lethal it is on an immortal."

"Enough, both of you." Itachi said in such a flat, yet demanding tone.

Sasori's tail flicked away under his cloak, "Let's just get this over with."

Itachi casted a simple look at Kisame that Kakuzu assumed was his way of saying 'good bye' before standing by Kakuzu's side.

The pair turned and made their exit, leaving the new trio behind. After several minutes of what Kakuzu could describe as refreshing silence, he announced, "Pein spoke to me as well while I was waiting for Hidan's stupid prayer to be over. Apparently Sasori's final candidate is also with Ronan as a hired nin. We have been instructed to avoid his causality if possible." Kakuzu waited expectedly, but heard no response from the Uchiha.

Kakuzu snickered once again, "You know Itachi, you may actually be the first partner I have to kill because you are too quiet."

"I was considering you have dealt with enough meaningless talk from your previous partner and that you would welcome my respectful silence, Kakuzu-san."

Kakuzu gave a disturbingly dry laugh, "I see then, so I should be thankful. You know with an attitude like that, you would have been considered a valuable asset in the great shinobi war." Itachi's lack of response only added to Kakuzu's amusement.

"I will explain the other details as we travel to our destination, at least give me some recognition that you are listening, so I don't feel like I am conversing with myself."

"As you wish, Kakuzu-san."

Deidara yawned, while rubbing his eyes, "So early...couldn't we have waited at least until lunch time, hmm?" Deidara groaned, while squinting at the cursing orange rising sun.

"According to Danzou, the missing nin that may be more than happy to help us is in grass. We don't have time to waste." Ronan answered flatly, enjoying the view from above on Deidara's bird.

"Besides Deidara...you seemed to have been more occupied arguing with that boy."

Deidara grinned, "I find his art intriguing, yet it is so plain, so...dull hmm. It does not even come close to my artworks unique designs." Ronan shook his expressionless head, but didn't reply to Deidara's rambling.

'You have been arguing that with the brat for at least two days now, like I don't know that already.'

"That boy, I assume he is the same as your partner?" Deidara stated rhetorically.

"Indeed he is. Why are you asking?" Ronan replied in an uninterested tone, still more concerned in the rising sun than the person next to him.

"...Are you sure you can trust them, hmm?" Ronan turned his head in curiosity at Deidara's serious tone.

"...Interesting for you to be so concerned about my well being."

Deidara shrugged dismissively, "Hey, you are the one who payed me, remember? I wouldn't be a good shinobi if I didn't voice my concerns to my employer now?"

Ronan grew a smirk, "I see..."

Ronan returned his gaze to the sun, "...We do not have many options I am afraid, while I am aware we are playing a dangerous game, the end result is all that matters to me."

Deidara cocked an eyebrow in question, "Is killing this Jinkuriki really the answer?"

Ronan closed his eyes as he appeared in deep thought, while Deidara could have sworn his eyes twitched, as if he had recalled something horrific and painful. Eventually Ronan opened his emotionless eyes.

"...Hundreds if not thousands of people, shinobi and civilians alike, were slaughtered by the Kyuubi attack. The Kyuubi never made it to the village itself thanks to our efforts fifteen odd years ago, the towns that were before Konoha were not so lucky"

"You make it sound as if the Kyuubi is one of those funnels from the sky hmm?" Ronan perked an eyebrow at the broad description.

"If you mean a tornado Deidara, you are being generous in comparing such a chaotic force of Mother Nature to the wrath and horrors of a monster such as the Kyuubi. Those people Deidara, died, and for what? We could have gained a great asset that would allow us to give fear to our enemies, a force that nobody could compete against. We had the Kyuubi Kitsune, the most powerful Bijuu, in our grasps!"

Ronan was not aware his fists were clenched and shaking violently at his side in anger, but soon went limp, "...Yet it never happened. Instead we have this jinkuriki that slithered through our fingers thanks to the Sandaime, and was expected to be treated as an ordinary boy...the lives of those lost will be at ease when the Kyuubi is finally destroyed."

Deidara's one visible eye flickered, as a smirk grew, but before Deidara could reply, Ronan's hawk flew above their heads, and landed on Ronan's shoulder. Deidara noticed the hawk had a scroll attached to its foot, which Ronan untied and opened.

"News hmm?" Deidara prompted in anticipation.

"...It appears, we have a little detour to make."