So first things first. I did not expect the reviews I got for last chapter.

I must say…

They made me want to write more so quickly!

So, as a reward, here you guys go!

I initially wanted to spoil the chap, but I'll let you guys find out what's going on and why I wrote it like this. (Character development is a given)

Also, yes, it is still a Naruto x Ino, but I'll also take this opportunity to give you a "preview" of my Naruto x Sakura.

(Finding Love)

Ino Yamanaka is currently inside the Hokage Office. To be more specific, she is inside Kakashi's office. See, a year has passed since Kakashi and Naruto had the talk of the male blonde returning to ANBU, and within that year, Kakashi took the title of Hokage, and the responsibility as Hokage religiously.

Now, however, the Scarecrow was facing a problem.

"What the hell do you mean by you don't know where Naruto is?! You, the Hokage, don't know where Naruto is?! He's one of your damn Shinobi! He was your student! He—"

"SHUT UP!" Kakashi shouts as he shoots up from his seat. "Sit down! Right! Now!"

The ANBU in the room flinched at the KI their superior, and to some their senior, was releasing. They knew Naruto was a sensitive subject for Kakashi, and even to them, but they never imagined it would be to this degree.

Then again, perhaps there was a reason why only ANBU ever talked about the blonde Jinchuriki openly, and with each other.

"I just want to see him!" Ino shouts, not sitting down at all, and somehow managing to fight back Kakashi's KI. "I haven't seen him in months! I—"

"You haven't seen him in a YEAR!" Kakashi shouts back, and that caused Ino to flinch. "Do you know what he's been doing?!"

"No, that's—"

"Do you know where he even went?!"

"No, but—"

"Do you know WHY you can't find him?!"

"I—"

"YOU DON'T! Now! Out of my sight! Find at least an answer for one of those questions, and I'll let you back in." He states, commands, even. He didn't spare the now teary-eyed girl a second glance. "I told you to leave!"

It was then that Ino hung her head. Tears fell as she ran out the office.

No one in the said office even felt pity for her.

And so the day passes and night arrives. Konoha no Sato was dark now, minus the few bars here and there, and the dim light coming from Kakashi's office.

"Senpai, should I call the next watch?" An ANBU asks as he emerges from the shadows.

"No, you may leave. Thank you for your time, Tora." Kakashi says. He slumps down on his chair as the lights turn off except for one candle by his desk He feels the chakra signatures of each ANBU vanish as they leave him be. The moon was out, and it was nearly cherry blossom season. Once in a while, one could see a cherry blossom petal float by. Kakashi sighs and his eyes narrow as the candle flame is blown away by a gust of wind. The room turns dark. The moonlight can only illuminate so much in the room. Such as the lower half of a kneeling ANBU member. "Report."

A man's muffled voice comes from the darkness of the room. "We found Jiraya."

"And?" Kakashi asks. He didn't have time to be playing games with this person.

"He's dead."

Kakashi's eyes soften. "How many did you lose?"

"Only Sakura and I made it."

"Both of you, come here." Kakashi says as he eyes his two students. Once they step forward, Kakashi's face saddens. There were many things that went wrong in his life, and these two… they were one of them. "Do you… want to talk about it?"

Sakura, who was wearing a black ANBU cloak, had a tear roll down her face. "It's alright… sensei…"

"Naruto?"

Naruto shakes his head. He was wearing Kakashi's old ANBU uniform, but his face mask is pulled down. "I'll be fine."

Kakashi sighs in frustration. It's always been this way with Naruto since that day. The walls were resurrected, even improved. No one could get in. Not even Kakashi could break Naruto's walls. However…

"Very well. You may leave, Naruto." Kakashi says and so the blonde does leave. The Hokage then turns his attention to Sakura. "As for you…"

However, even if Naruto didn't let anyone in, the news of Jiraya's death would be devastating.

"Can you go comfort Naruto?"

Sakura looks down in shame. "How can I?" She asks, not even looking up. "After what I did to him? And now, he's like this because of me… because of me, he and Ino got closer, and he's what he is now… how can I?"

Kakashi's eyes steel themselves making Sakura look at him. "Sakura, with Jiraya's death, Naruto's walls are sure to fall. He will hate you, but this is also your only chance to mend your relationship with him. If you don't believe me, tell me again why you joined ANBU."

"Sasuke… cheated on me… with Hinata…"

Kakashi gives a sinister laugh, mocking his pink-haired student. "Now look at you. If only you chose Naruto, but no, you chose Sasuke. You—"

"I get it! Okay?!" Sakura shouts with tears in her eyes as her head snaps to look at Kakashi. "I get it!" She turns away to head to the door. Once by the door, she halts and asks, "Sensei… why are you so cold to me?"

The man answers her without a second thought. "Naruto's like a son I never had. Why do you think I had Inoichi suspended from duty for two years?"

Sakura pauses. She then gives a small nod before leaving.

Naruto, on the other hand, enters his room. He hasn't been in it for a long time, and it shows through the dust and cob webs. He goes to his room where the moonlight shines on his bed. His dusty bed. His fist clench. He decides to leave, and leaving in an overpowered Shunshin that destroyed his windows, vases, and…

His garden.

The blonde man arrives at the only place he knows well enough now.

The head of the Yondaime Hokage.

He takes a deep breath before releasing it in a shivering exhale. He drops to his knees and stays that way for a few moments until finally finding the strength to move his body just to sit and hug his legs close to him. His tears fall; slowly, but surely, they fall. He never noticed the presence behind him until she took a seat next to him.

Neither spoke a word for a full hour, when the moon was at its peak.

The first to speak was Naruto. "What are you doing here, Sakura?" His voice held no malice, but no hopeful tone as well. It was almost as if asking the question indifferently.

Sakura swallows. She didn't know how to do this. She just suddenly found Naruto here as she was making her last round around the village. She realizes, however, that silence will get them nowhere, and so she speaks. "Naruto… I know you probably hate me…"

Naruto resists the urge to give a sarcastic comment at that.

"And… I'm sorry… Naruto… I've noticed too late how I really feel about you. I know you like Ino now… and I know what—"

"Leave." Naruto says so plainly that Sakura bites her lower lip.

"Just—"

"I said leave."

"No." Sakura says, determination slowly finding its way into her. "Naruto… you still love Ino. I can see that." She continues when Naruto didn't say anything. "I… I don't know how you feel. All I know is that… I've come to love you, Naruto. And as much as I want to be with you, I can't. Not only because you want to be with Ino, but because… I know what I did to you." She pauses, as if contemplating her next words. "At least… at least let me care for you. A hug, even. That's… all I ask, Naruto… a simple hug."

Naruto sighs before standing. "The problem with that, Sakura, is that I still like you…" He says before looking down below. "I just don't know if I can ever trust you." He never noticed how hope appeared in the eyes of his teammate, only for him to crush it not a moment later.

"Do you know why I joined ANBU?" Sakura asked. She didn't know why she was bringing this up. Maybe it was to let Naruto know that it wasn't only him who had his heart broken? Maybe it was to comfort her own self from his rejection? It didn't matter to her. She just needed to talk to Naruto now.

"I do. I read your file. Another typical ANBU application of someone wanting to run away from something that hurt them." Naruto replies and sees Sakura nod. "Why bring this up?"

"I really don't know, Naruto." Sakura says, her tone rings true.

"I'm sure you do know, Sakura." Naruto says coldly before sighing. "I know that you want to tell me I'm not the only one…"

Sakura looks down as Naruto walks over to her. She remains silent as she feels his gaze on her.

"Sakura… maybe in another world…" Naruto says before walking away. He doesn't get far as he feels Sakura hug him from behind. His eyes sadden as he hears Sakura's next words.

"Sensei told me your walls would go down… that's why I took the chance to talk when I saw you…" Sakura says as she sniffs, the tears starting to fall. "They did… but I guess you built them up too strong, huh?" She asks, trying to lighten the mood. She didn't see it, but it made Naruto smile a little.

"Sakura?" Naruto asks as he turns to face her and gives her a hug making her blush. "Maybe in the next world." He whispers making the woman in his embrace nod and cling to him. "Also… thank you…"

Sakura's eyes widen and she smiles. Especially with Naruto's next words.

"I'll get through this, so stop worrying."

(TBC)

So, that's what I got so far. Now…

Will Naruto face Ino next chapter? Or will he face Sai?

Or… will there be another person in play that he will encounter?

Also, will there be another twist?

Those things aside, please don't forget to review (if you aren't lazy) and also, as you saw, I gave Kakashi and Sakura some "decent" amount of screen time. So yeah, there you guys have it.

Until next time!

Finished on November 21, 2016| Philippines| 22:50 Hours