"Sakura, this really isn't the best of ideas." Sasuke grumbled. He leaned back against the railing of the Training Ground 7 bridge.
Sakura shot him a look. "Didn'tyou want to find out what's wrong with Naruto?"
"Yes but not like this." Sasuke's eyes drifted toward Ino, who was standing next to Sakura. "It feels sort of wrong invading his mind and privacy like that."
"Well it's not like that idiot is going to tell anyone. Plenty of peope have tried to talk to him. And if you guys can't get it out of him, then no one can. You guys know how stubborn the dummy is. Now even I'm worried about him." Ino pointed out. "Besides, at least this way you guys can find out. And also, " Ino smirked a and crossed her arms. "I thought you were worried about him"
Sasuke looked away. "I'm not worried about him. It's just that he's my rival and whatever is bothering him is affecting his spars."
Ino wickedly grinned at Sasuke. "Who knew Sasuke-kun was such a tsundere." Sasuke glared at Into in response.
"Look Sasuke-kun, do you want to know what's wrong with Naruto or not." Sakura huffed.
"Yes." He begrudgingly answered.
"Then we're going to have to force it out of him." Sakura snapped.
"Hey guys," Into interrupted. The platinum blonde was pointing at something moving in the distance. "What's that?"
Sakura squinted. "That kinda looks like Pakkun."
Sasuke shook his head. "That's because it is Pakkun." When the pug finally got to them, he was a bit out of breath.
"That Kakashi." The small ninken growled. He looked up to see Ino, Sakura, and Sasuke peering down at him curiously. "Oh, um I have a message from Kakashi."
"Is it about Naruto? He did go get him earlier." Sakura asked.
"Partially."
"Is he okay?" Sakura asked urgently.
Pakkun cocked his head. "I don't know. I didn't see him when Kakashi summonded me. Though, Kakashi did say they were both on their way."
"So Naruto must be okay." Ino concluded.
"As okay as he can be." Sasuke muttered.
"Is there something wrong with his?" Pakkun asked.
"We honestly don't know. He's been off since Jiraiya-sama was killed a month-and-a-half ago." Ino explained. "Well we do know that he's depressed, he just won't talk to anyone about it."
"I thought it was something else. When I was in his apartment, it reeked of blood." Pakkun told them. He looked to see three sets of shocked expressions. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
"You really shouldn't have." Sasuke agreed.
"If it's any help, Naruto's and Kakashi's scents are getting closer." Pakkun sain as he poofed away.
Ino's eyes widened. "Oh c'mon guys, I have to hide so the plan can work." Into quickly hid herself and her chakra signature. A few minutes later, Naruto and Kakashi walked onto Training Ground 7. Sasuke instantly noticed that his rival's eyes had a bit of his old spark in them. Sasuke thought in consideration. Maybe he was finally getting out of his slump.
Sasuke turned his head toward Ssakura. "Maybe Ino shouldn't use her jutsu on Naruto. He doesn't look as bad as he has been in."
"It doesn't change anything." Sakura muttered. Sasuke took note of the worry on her face.
"I hope you're right with your choice."
"Oi guys! Are you guys going to keep talkin' or are we going to get down to business." Naruto interrupted. Sasuke and Sakura looking at the duo with curiousity.
Kakashi gave them an eye smile. "New Naruto, aren't you curious what Sakura and Sasuke were talking about?" The jonin opened his eye and gave them a sharp look. "Why don't you enlightened us."
Sakura crossed her arms and looked aw at from Naruto. "We were talking about Naruto and how off he's been for the the past weeks." Sakura looked at Naruto. "We want to know what's wrong."
Naruto walked up to them and learned on the railing beside his teammates. He dipped his head and uttered, "I'm really sorry. I just haven't been… feeling the best lately. It hasn't just been the death of Jiraiya that's been bringing me down, it's something more."
Sakura looked sadly at the sorrowful expressions on his face. "Then what is it. Why couldn't you tell us? You're supposed to tell us if something is wrong with you!"
Naruto looked at Sakura's saddened face. "Sakura-chan, I'm terribly sorry for worrying you guys. I… I never meant to do that."
"Then are you going to tell us what's been wrong with you?" Sasuke asked, speaking for the first time.
"I… I really don't know." Naruto muttered, tilting his head back and looking at the sky. The blonde sort of wore a lost expression on his face.
"I hope you understand that that answer isn't good enough. You've had all your friends worried." Sakura stated. Her voice shook a bit.
"I sorry Sakura-chan." Naruto apologized. "I'll explain when I'm ready, I promise."
Sakura's green eyes sharpened. "I'm sorry Naruto but your promise and apologies aren't good enough. You have one last chance: You either tell us what's wrong or we'll make you."
"You're going to make me?" Naruto repeated. He looked at Sakura in suprise.
"Yes! We've been worried you baka! You better tell us." The pink haired girl growled.
Naruto gave her a distressed look. She looked unsympathetically at the blonde. He then looked at Sasuke. "You don't agree with this too?" Sasuke looked away from Naruto's desperate blue eyes. "Teme?"
Sasuke pursed his lips. "I stayed in for Konoha for you. I gave up my path for revenge for you. You promised you'd help me." Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes. "How can you help if you're not even well." He paused to gather his thoughts. "I asked you for help, why can't you ask us or even me?"
"Sasuke…"
Sakura loudly cleared her throat, drawing the two teens' attention. "So Naruto, are you going to tell us now or will we force you."
Naruto sighed. His face contorted with pain. "I'm not ready to tell you guys right now. Why can't you guys accept that? I swear I'll tell you everything when I'm ready."
"Maybe you two should consider Naruto's words." Kakashi interjected.
"No," Sakura snapped. "I'm sorry Naruto but I can't accept that." The pinkette looked to the left and shouted, "Ino now!"
Kakashi's and Naruto's eyes widened in panic as Ino moved to use her technique. The silver haired jonin yelled, "Ino wait." But it was too late, Ino's jutsu succeeded. Naruto and Ino fell to the ground
Kakashi sighed and then looked at Sakura and Sasuke in shame. "You have no idea what you both have done."
Naruto's Mindscape
Into opened her eyes to see herself in a sewer. The only thing the platinum blonde could say was, "What the hell have I done?" Her complain was followed by a dark, foreboding chuckle.
(A/N: I hope guys enjoyed this new chapter. I'll have the next one out next month. Please tell me what you guys think.)