So here is the shittiest chapter in the whole thing, and that's saying a lot. Just thought you guys should know I'm not dead. Just lazy and full of crap.

Try to enjoy.

Naruto POV

I could tell something was wrong when Sakura walked away.

Why would she give me Koyumi so easily? Something wasn't right. I smiled at the beaming Koyumi clutching at my leg, but my mind was racing.

Covering up my confusion, I lean down and pick Koyumi up in my arms.

"Right, more introductions! Koyumi, this is Sai, my team mate. Sai this is, my daughter, Koyumi."

Koyumi gives an enthusiastic wave, and Sai smiles back awkwardly. During this exchange, I look over my shoulder at Kakashi. He looks just as cool and aloof as always, but he gives me a slow nod, so I know he has noticed Sakura's behavior.

"Naruto, why don't I take Koyumi back to the hotel? It is your turn to guard after all." Kakashi says, looking at me pointedly.

I'm confused for a moment, then I understand. I need to find Sakura and follow her.

"That sounds good. Sai, let's go."

He nods, obviously understanding, and we walk away from Kakashi and Koyumi. When we turn the corner, I clear the plan with him and leap away. I jump across the rooftops of the village, searching for a familiar chakra signature. I can't find it. She must me covering her chakra…..

Damn. I can't see her in sage mode either.

Things are going to be more difficult than I thought.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx

I end up spending most of the day running around trying to sense her. I even start asking villagers if they have seen her around.

No one has.

It is evening, and I am about to give up, when I sense it. The tiniest flicker of the chakra I had spent years next to. I quickly start to follow it. It gets stronger, and I know I am going in the right direction. She obviously wants me to find her.

I do.

She is standing at the edge of the woods surrounding the town, facing away from me. Her pink hair has a gold tint in the sunlight. She is still beautiful, after all this time.

"Hello, Naruto. I knew you would come." She says, and I can find no emotion in her voice.

"Well, you were acting pretty strange. I mean, going from not wanting me to know she existed to giving me custody? A little odd." I respond, incredulously.

She laughs softly.

"Yes, well, this whole situation is a little odd, don't you think?"

"I guess so, yeah."

We are silent for a time, then I speak.

"What are you doing, Sakura? Why are you acting like this?"

She turns around and looks at me. She looks…. Defeated. Her big green eyes I loved so much are empty. It's strange. She was always so full of life and energy. Now she is a shell, just an echo of the person I knew.

"Because I'm done." She replies.

"Huh?"

"I'm done. You can take better care of Koyumi then I can. She wants to be with you. She deserves to be with someone who can look at her without feeling regret."

"Sakura, what are you saying?" I don't like this. The way she sounds.

"Thank you, Naruto. I'm sorry."

"Wha-" I try to respond, but I am cut off by a jab of chakra to the back of my neck.

"Naruto…. Goodbye."

"Naruto!"

Ugh

"Naruto, wake up!"

My eyes open slowly, to see Sai looking down at me. Very close to me…

"Gaah, Sai I've told you not to do that!" I exclaim, scooting backwards.

"Apologies." He says. Is that sarcasm? I almost like him better without emotion….

"Naruto what happened to you?" He asks, breaking my train of thought.

"Huh?" I have no idea what he is talking about.

"We found you in the woods, passed out. Did you and Sakura fight?"

….

Huh?

My mind is drawing a blank. Fight Sakura? When would I have….

Oh….

"Crap!" I exclaim, jumping out of bed. "Crap crap crap crap CRAP!"

I start pulling on my shoes, before Sai grabs my shoulder and pulls my head up to face his.

"Naruto, tell me what's going on! Kakashi took out Koyumi, so she won't hear."

I look into my teammate's inky eyes, and know I can't tell him everything. I can barely get myself to accept it. But I have to try.