Chapter 19

"Hold still! Jeez you think you'd be in pain with the amount of injuries you have." Sakura scolded.

Blue eyes searched frantically around him. This was the first time he had been outside since he could last remember.

"Sakura look at how beautiful it is."

"Uh huh that's nice Naruto, now will you please let me do my job? We can't get back to the village with you in this condition."

Naruto continued to turn his head in every direction.

"But Sakura you haven't really taken the time to study and appreciate everything, have you?"

Her vein on her temple began to pound. 'Why can't he get it through his head already? All I want to do is get him better so I can get home faster. Doesn't he want to get home at all?'

His eyes suddenly caught hers by surprise.

"It's been a long time since I've looked into your eyes Sakura…I've missed you…" he mumbled softly, his blue eyes never leaving her green ones.

A small pounding began to form in her chest from the intense gaze he was giving her. A small blush came over her cheeks before she could understand what was happening.

"You crack me up Naruto. I've missed you too; heaven knows I didn't want to have this baby without you around."

Unexpectedly Naruto reached out and placed his hand on her stomach.

"Yeah…a baby…I'll be there for you Sakura, really. With the look Sasuke gave me…and the way he acted…I don't think he'll ever come back."

Her head lowered and her pink bangs covered her eyes from view. The green chakra never ceased swirling as Naruto watched her.

"Sakura…"

Lifting her head she had a smile on her face.

"Don't worry about Sasuke, he'll come around—he just has some things to do before he gets here, that's all."

If anything Naruto was able to read through her smile. The way she forced it was obvious for someone that had been by her side since their Genin days.

"Yeah…"

"Well it looks like the fox is doing most of the work, that's good it means that he's still alive." Sakura commented.

"I wish he'd just die, I don't want him around anymore." Naruto muttered darkly as his hands went to the spot where the seal was hidden.

"Hey now I don't like that tone. You've been handling it splendy. Okay, now we're finished. That girl did all this to you…and I can't believe we just left her there."

Naruto laughed mockingly.

"You kidding me, I usually don't like to wish anything ill on anyone but…man she needs to travel to hell for a while."

Sakura grinned as she playfully punched Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto rubbed his shoulder and then grinned back.

"So how has Kakashi- Sensei been doing? Has he been moping around his house missing me?"

"He's been worried yes, but other than that he's been performing his duties like he should. He actually has been there for me…I'm glad he was around when I went back to the village." Sakura answered as she dusted the dirt off her knees.

Naruto gazed at her as she began to pull her hair away from her face. "Sorry I wasn't there for you when you found out. I wish more than anything that things had gone differently when I came looking for you when Sasuke had you. I just…lost it; I've been doing that a lot lately. I don't know what's wrong with me but for some reason I've been losing my control. Sakura…the nine tailed fox is getting stronger, or perhaps I'm getting weaker."

Her green eyes found their way to the sky.

"Naruto you can do anything you set your mind too. I know you'll be able to control the fox, you have so far and you'll continue to do so. I may not know what happened while you were gone but I do know you, and I know you aren't a quitter. Just keep believing in yourself and you'll make it through this. Don't worry so much about it; I like to see you smiling not frowning."

Getting up off the ground Naruto walked over to her side. "Okay let's get going, I can't wait to see the village and everyone."

Sakura smiled at him and nodded once, her smile never wavering.

"Let's get going."

Sweat covered their faces as the village gates loomed in sight just before them.

"Man, I never thought we'd get here." Naruto whined. Sakura rolled her eyes as she landed firmly on the ground in front of the gates.

"And I never thought you could be more annoying."

Naruto huffed, "Just because I was worried about you pushing yourself too far. It's not like you aren't invincible. You need to think about the bab—" he was cut off by her hand clamping over his mouth.

"Say another word and your dead meat." The air around them stiffened and he gulped. 'She gets scary fast…maybe this is a sign…she's going to be awful with her temper from now on.'

Walking through the gates she dragged him with her. She waved at the two guards stationed at the entrance. They had to do a double take in order to check if their eye sight was correct.

"Well it looks like Naruto is back…and Sakura is teaching him who's boss." One of them commented, a sweat drop appearing when Sakura banged Naruto's head against a low wall.

"…Yeah, crazy how much those two get along, do you think they'll get together?" the second guard asked.

"Who knows…guess it's possible." The first replied.

Sakura grumbled as she made her way through the village with Naruto on her heels.

"Sakura I'm sorry! I don't know what I did but it must have been something to really piss you off and I'm sorry!"

His rambling and apologies were starting to irritate the hell out of her. 'Okay count to ten and everything will be okay…1…2…3…4…5…'

"C'mon Sakura say something! I know you're really pushy since…"

'6…7…'

"How bout I take you for ramen? Will that make you feel better? And then we can talk all about…stuff?"

'8...9…'

"I'll even buy so that way you don't have to worry about…ack! What are you doing?!?"

Her eyes flashed with rage as she grabbed onto his jacket and pulled him closer to her.

"I'm not going on a date with you!"

Naruto gulped and scratched the back of his head. How was he going to get out of this one?

"Hee,hee well you see…that wasn't really what I meant."

She made her hand into a fist and it was quickly swinging towards his face when suddenly smoke appeared and her hand smacked into someone else's.

"Now, now, Sakura there's no reason to hit him."

Naruto's eyes widened as Sakura's grip on his jacket loosened.

"K-Kakashi Sensei you have no idea how happy I am to see you."

Kakashi looked down at Naruto and placed his hand on his shoulder. "It's good to see you in one piece Naruto." Turning back to Sakura his eyebrow rose.

"Kakashi Sensei I thought you were heading out to find Naruto." Sakura stated before he could ask her any questions. Kakashi grinned behind his mask.

"Yes you see that was what I was doing when I got an urgent message from Lady fifth telling me to come back immediately; she said something about you being kidnapped. So of course I came back full speed. It appears that you're safe and sound though."

Sakura bit her lip and glanced away. "Well except for the look you have on your face." Kakashi noted softly.

Naruto looked between the two of them and gasped. "No way! Kakashi Sensei you don't have feeling for her do you?!?"

A sweat drop appeared on Kakashi's head and Naruto's cheek was met with Sakura's fist, sending him flying into the ground.

"What are you a pervert? Of course there isn't anything going on between us!" Sakura shouted, anger flowing out of her.

Naruto stayed on the ground his eyes spinning. "Sorry…my mistake."

Kakashi cleared his throat which got both his students attention.

"Lady fifth wants to see you—she wants to know what happened."

Sakura stiffened and shook her head. "Kakashi Sensei…I can't…not right now."

Naruto stood up and his face softened at seeing Sakura's expression. "Don't worry Sakura you go home and get some rest. I'll fill Granny Tsunade in on what happened."

"As long as one of you goes I think it'll be enough." Kakashi responded quickly.

Sakura gazed off into the distance. "You sure it's okay Naruto?"

"Yeah you have a lot to think about and deal with in your own way. I'll come by to check on you once I get out of her office. Just leave everything to me." He grinned, giving her the thumbs up sign.

"Thanks Naruto." She mumbled before walking off towards her apartment.

Naruto's face fell as soon as she was out of sight.

"Kakashi Sensei? We need to find Sasuke and stop him…he's not himself anymore. He's even cold to Sakura now. But…I don't want to kill him."

Kakashi watched Naruto's face closely. Finally after a moment of silence he spoke. "all right, we'll talk to Lady Tsunade about it and see what she thinks we should do."

Naruto turned on his heels and made his way into the Hokage tower, looking over his shoulder he called for Kakashi.

"You coming old man?"

"Old man?" Kakashi asked as she walked behind his young student.

Naruto grinned at him. "Yep and I'm going to surpass you, just you wait!"

"This old dog can still learn new tricks." Kakashi stated simply.

Naruto laughed as they continued to make their way to the Hokage's office.

'Naruto you've grown before my eyes…and I know without a doubt that you will surpass me…'

A/N: Hey y'all Sorry its taken me FOREVER to update. Ever since everything with the recent Naruto chapters have happened I just didn't have the drive to get anything out. So feel happy that this short chapter was able to come out. I felt so terrible about my lack of updating but hopefully I'll be able to find my Sasuke drive again. lol right now he's totally bugging me...sorry! I know that's so bad but...can't help it. For a while there I just wanted him to die...but i no longer wish that for him. I want him to live but only if certain events happen. But anyway, please review! this chapter hasn't been edited by anyone except me so please excuse any errors that may be in here. I'm terribly sorry I would have gotten someone but I thought you guys would like the chapter sooner than even later. :D review and tell me what you thought!