Sorry for being late. Lenny doesn't have internet. So I couldn't upload immediately. Anyways, Chapter 3 is up. Enjoy^,~

I don't own Naruto.

CHAPTER 3

"What do you mean we can't get Sakura back?" Naruto shouted at Tsunade, pacing like a wild animal.

"Naruto," Shizune tries to calm the boy but Tsunade held her hand and shook her head to her assistant.

"I guess it's time for all of you to know the truth," Tsunade looks one by one to the people around her. Jiraiya was impassive at one corner while Kakashi and Yamato were standing beside Shizune. Naruto stops and prepares himself.

["I think you will not like this revelation brat. Better leave now before you get hurt," the Kyuubi gleefully told the boy his observations.

"Since when did you ever care for me you fool," Naruto glared angrily at the fox.]

"During the third Shinobi war, Orochimaru left the village in pursuit of more power. That time, the Third received a distress call from the hidden village of the Rain. Despite the lack of ninjas, Jiraiya and I were requested by the Third to rescue a family. But we were too late. The parents were already dead, the eldest daughter was badly injured, and the middle and youngest child were missing. I tried so hard to revive the eldest but her will is weak. I knew that she would die eventually.

Jiraiya managed to find the boy and found two more survivors. Maybe, how little hope might it be, it would be enough to keep her alive," Tsunade narrates back. Her body showing weariness.

Naruto was about to say something but Jiraiya stops him from behind as he held his shoulder in a firm grasps.

"I told Jiraiya I couldn't take any more grief. So much pain and hopelessness. So I left immediately, ensuring the others were okay. I headed back to Konoha, to report everything to the Third. I was nearing the boarder when I felt I was being herded. Enemy from another village were gathering around me. I'm not afraid to die at that time. If that is His will. I just thought He'll give me enough time to contemplate on such things.

Suddenly, I heard someone crying, a little child. She was being dragged by the leader with a chain connected to the little ones neck like she was an animal. She's just a baby for crying out loud. I felt numb. Then I saw blood." Tsunade turns to Jiraiya, smirking. "You know what happens when I feel so mad I could taste death." Nonchalance on her face as she tells the rest of her story. On how she defeated those ninjas, killed the leader and rescued the child.

"So where Sakura does fits into all of this? Naruto asks suddenly.

"Naruto, you're such an idiot," Jiraiya yells back and was about to hit Naruto on the head when Yamato speaks his mind.

"Is that what she means? That Sakura is…?"

"Yes, Sakura is the third child of the hidden village of the Rain. She was born in Amekagure 15 years ago. But because of the trauma, she lost her memories. When I get to her that day, she was in shock and already lost a lot of blood. So I took her immediately to Konoha to be treated. I sent a word to Jiraiya which was still in the village of Rain, to tell the good news, but the message never came."

"We don't know who intercepted it, so we decided to keep the girl here, gave her a new name, just to be safe," Jiraiya added, feeling a little wary as he sat in the Hokage's chair, receiving an irritated look from Tsunade as he continue the rest of his story.

"I took the children under my wings for quite some time. Teaching them how to protect themselves, not knowing that someday, they'll be a part of the world's dangerous organization that all Shinobi nations are afraid of. The Akatsuki."

"No way," Naruto seem to lose his calm. He looks at Tsunade for confirmation. "Granny, please tell me this is all a joke?"

"I'm sorry Naruto. It is not."

Naruto stares at Jiraiya who avoided his eyes. He turns to Kakashi who is totally immobile at his spot, then to Yamato.

"This can't be true," Naruto shook his head in denial, "No, it can't be…"

"Don't blame yourself, Naruto," Kakashi spoke for the first time as he walks slowly towards Naruto, "You can't bring them back."

"No!"

Naruto already disappeared. No one dares to follow the young Shinobi like they knew the effect it will do.

XoXoXoXoX

Naruto runs at full speed. With nowhere else to go to. Anywhere but Konoha.

["I told you to leave didn't I?" the Kyuubi speaks accusingly at Naruto. "I told you it will get ugly. When did you ever listen," he rants on receiving Naruto's venomous stares.

"Shut up! Shut the hell up!"]

Naruto ended up near the falls where he and Sasuke last fought. Remembering the day Sasuke decided to break their bonds. He feels so empty.

His clothes already drenched from the rain. He was so cold.

First, it was Sasuke.

Now, it was Sakura's turn to leave him as well.

Naruto fell to the ground, his face almost kissing it.

He is hurt, badly. His heart felt like dying. Now, all he wanted was to die.

It hurts so much, he couldn't take it anymore. Losing Sasuke was painful enough. Adding Sakura to the picture, their backs turned on him, with no backward glance, it was devastating.

Naruto screamed.

XoXoXoXoX

Unknown to Naruto, Sai was following him. Knowing that his presence will cause the boy more pain, he didn't even think to come close and comfort his teammate. Even from his spot, he can feel Naruto's emotion. Naruto's pain. He felt helpless. For the first time, he felt sorry for someone else. If Danzo knows about this emotion, he will be sent for remedial courses to kill his emotions for the nth time. But he doesn't care. Thinking of some ways to help Naruto, he senses someone coming at them. He prepares to attack.

A few miles from where he is standing, a rushing figure came out from the bushes. Sai was about to defend Naruto but stops as he recognized a familiar face. The girl who always glance secretly at Naruto every time they are at the same place together. The Heiress, Hyuga Hinata.

XoXoXoXoX

Hinata stops as she saw Naruto's condition. She felt like crying. She doesn't want to make things worst so she decided to stay back and keep an eye for him if someone tries to attack him. At this rate, war might break lose but the boy will just ignore it. He didn't even move.

She saw Sai from a distance. Nodding in acknowledgement, he disappeared, before throwing a scroll at her. She reads it and tears started to fall from her eyes.

Sai wrote… "He needs someone right now. A gentle heart like yours could help him escape this pain. Lend him your strength. Give him a reason to live once more and fight back…"

Hinata understood what he meant and finally, she decided to follow her heart. She gently approaches Naruto, moves his face towards her. Surprised to see the boy she loved in so much pain.

"Naruto-kun, I'm…" her stuttering seems to cooperate, "I'm sorry." Silently, she hated fate for hurting him, for taking his friends away. For making him suffer like this, it was so not fair.

["Hmmm… Interesting," the Kyuubi had said. Not wanting to interfere, he decided to leave the brat for now. The boy's grief was like music to his ears yet he found no contentment and he wonders why. "We're not finished yet, Uzumaki Naruto. I'll be back."]

Deep from Naruto's slumber, he felt a gentle hand, holding him. "Hinata-chan?" he whispered.

"I'm here, I got you," she smiled meekly as she touches his face, trying to erase his tears.

She looks beautiful despite the tears and was wondering why she was crying but decided not to ask. "I feel so hollow. So sad," he felt her fingers preventing him to say another word.

"I know," as she looks him in the eyes, forgetting her shyness, "If it makes you a little better, I'm willing to lend my shoulders for you to cry on. It's more comfortable than that ground," she said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

Hinata gasps as she saw him smile a little. Naruto buried his face on her shoulders, on the hollow of her neck, as he releases his sadness, his grief. Hinata holds him close as she cried for him as well. Thankful that she was given a chance to help him, this moment might be the hardest battle that he ever faced, but she is willing to help him at all costs.

Finally, acceptance.

XoXoXoXoX

In Konoha, the Rookie 9 with Team Gai was having an emergency meeting. They already knew what happened to Sakura and all of them were worried about Naruto.

Neji deactivated his Byakugan as he turns to the others, "Hinata-sama has him. I think he is going to be okay. For now."

"What can we do to help?" Tenten asks worriedly.

Ino is chewing her nails, forgot that she just had manicure that morning.

Lee and Shino had gloomy faces. Akamaru is trying to comfort Kiba. Even Choji seem to ignore the food he was holding.

Shikamaru was still beside the post, looking incredulously at Sai who calls that meeting. "Troublesome brat. He's such a pain in the ass."

Temari who was visiting at that time was worried as well. She was silent as she stands beside Shikamaru, not saying a word. If Gaara knew about this, he would come immediately to Konoha to help his friend.

"I suggest all of you should stick by Naruto's side no matter what. He needs all of you right now." Sai has said before he leaves the group. Receiving strange looks from everyone.

XoXoXoXoX

Thanks for reading.

I know its kinda short, but I was hoping to make the 'effect' worthwhile…. Har har har.

Oops. I didn't do it on purpose. I swear.

Sorry. My bad.