CHAPTER RATING: T

Chapter 28: "Did you miss me?"

Naruto held Sakura in his arms, thankful that their attempt to heal her was a success, and even more thankful that she was somehow able to regain control of herself after having to deal with the overwhelming chaotic nature of the Nine-Tails chakra. She was so much stronger than he had ever imagined, to have resisted the corruption of the Nine-tails was incredible.

He assured himself that all remnants of the Nine-tails chakra were gone from her body.

He was sure of it.

Completely sure of it.

Definitely.

"I'm glad that we were able to ensure your safety, and we should get you two back as soon as possible. But, before we leave, I'll need you to follow me, Naruto." He said while hopping away.

"Sakura-chan, are you alright? Can you walk?" She nodded and stood up; her arm still hanging on Naruto's shoulder for support.

"I'll be fine, don't worry." Sakura replied.

They arrived in a large chamber, with scrolls wrapping around the pillars that held the structure up, and faced a huge elderly toad that sat upon what appeared to be a throne. Fukasaku motioned for Naruto to step forward. Sakura nodded to him as he let go of her arm and stood still in front of the elder.

"Oh, Great Toad Elder! We have brought to you the Child of Prophecy." Fukasaku started. "Speak to him the words of your eternal visions."

Naruto straightened his stance as the Elder began to speak.

"Uzumaki…Naruto. Listen to the words that I speak, for this vision will come to pass."

Naruto nodded attentively.

"One day, you will come across an octopus. He will be key in your ultimate struggle against the one who fights with his eyes."

Sasuke.

"You must remember, Uzumaki Naruto. You must remember, that child's eyes have been blinded by vengeance. His mind, lost in the darkness. The light of redemption will no longer reach his vision. This, you must remember."

Naruto nodded. The truth in the Elder Toad's words pained him.

"That is all." The Elder Toad finished. He brought his hand and waved them away. Naruto walked over to Sakura and helped her up again, together; they walked out of the hall and followed Fukasaku through the landscape.

They returned to the same mountain top and once again took position into the engraved seal. Fukasaku set his hands down; the seal began to glow brightly, before a flash occurred.

…

When Naruto and Sakura opened their eyes, they were standing in the office of Tsunade. The Hokage herself was seated behind her usual desk, her head held low in hopelessness, facing the wooden desk. She was oblivious to the arrival of the trio.

Suddenly, the door gave way to a loud crash. The doctor that was assigned to watch over Sakura entered the room in a severe panic.

"HOKAGE-SAMA SOMEONE HAS TAKEN-" He paused in surprise. Tsunade looked up from her trance and saw the trio standing before her.

"Sakura!" She interjected. "You're back?!"

"I am, Master." She placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder. "And it's all because of Naruto." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. The doctor stood behind them, still dumbfounded.

"But you two just left a few minutes ago." Tsunade expressed.

"What do you mean only a few minutes ago?" Naruto questioned.

"I see," Fukasaku chimed in. "Allow me to explain, there is a difference in time between this world and Mount Myōboku. What may seem like hours, or even days there, may only be a few minutes here."

Tsunade stood and walked towards Sakura. She wrapped her arms around her trusted disciple. "I'm glad that you're alive, Sakura, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you."

She let go and gazed toward Naruto. "As you for, Naruto. I have no words to express the gratitude that I hold towards you. You are a true hero of Konoha, and I don't know what we would do without you." She reached towards him and embraced him.

"Thank you, thank you for everything. I'm sure you're tired, please, take some time to rest." She said while waving them out. They smiled and obliged, walking out of the room together.

Fukasaku stayed behind, he solemnly looked over at Tsunade and hopped onto the desk.

"I have something I need to discuss with you, Tsunade-chan." He whispered.

"What is it?" Tsunade subtly replied while taking a seat.

"There is something that Naruto still does not know about Sakura."

"What would that be?"

"When Naruto went to heal Sakura with Nature Chakra, he mistakenly used the Nine-Tails Chakra."

She sat silently at the news.

"But there is something remarkable about Sakura…She was able to suppress the Nine-Tails by herself. We were able to heal her using Nature Chakra, but I fear there is something present that Naruto still does not know about."

"What would that be?"

"Sakura still has the Nine-Tails Chakra within her."

…

"Are you sure you're okay?" Naruto asked.

"Don't worry! I'm fine, Naruto. The Nature Chakra really did heal me." Sakura replied. "What about you?"

Naruto held onto his ribs with his right hand. "I-I'm fine. Don't worry. I think I just need to go home and take some time to rest. I-I'll see you later, Sakura-chan."

"Take care, Naruto."

They embraced each other tightly, and then when their separate ways, desperately wanting to rest.

…

Sakura rested on her bed; slowly taking in breaths.

"Sakura…Haruno Sakura."

She shot up at the sound of her name.

"Sakura!" her mother cried out. "Sakura!"

"What is it, mom?!" She shouted back.

"Your friends, Ino, and Shikamaru are here!"

"Okay, I'll be down in a little bit!" she replied.

Before she exited the room, Ino and Shikamaru entered.

"Forgive us for intruding." Ino astutely replied as she entered Sakura's room. When she saw her best friend, she jumped with joy and hugged her. "Sakura! I can't believe it! You're alive!...W-Well, I mean, I knew! I knew! You would be fine!"

Sakura smiled and patted her friend on the back. "I'm happy to see you too, Ino."

"There's something that we wanted to give you." Shikamaru stated. He reached into a pack he carried and pulled out an object; A steel gauntlet, with a clear orb in the middle of the wrist, a gauntlet that she had seen before.

"This was just developed by the Department of Technology. It's an upgrade from the models that we encountered a while back. We thought that you'd find it useful."

Sakura extended her arms and took hold of it gratefully. She fitted the gauntlet onto her left hand and saw the clear orb shine with a brilliant blue.

"It's just like the first time you put that thing on. I think it's pretty fitting. Don't get the wrong idea…It's not like we were…well…There you go." Shikamaru stuttered.

"Is there anything you want to do to celebrate? Come on, let's go out for a drink!" Ino asked.

"It's okay, I'm just tired, I'd rather just take a rest for now. Thank you again." Sakura replied. "It was nice seeing you two."

Ino and Shikamaru exited her house, leaving Sakura in the semi-solitude that she had within her walls.

"Haruno Sakura."

She heard the voice again. Before she realized it, her eyes were closed. When she opened them, she was in a dark chamber, standing in stagnant water in a room tinted with a yellow-green light. She looked in front of her, and in her vision, she saw a giant caged door with a piece of parchment centered in the middle; it read "SEAL."

Behind the bars of the cell, she saw a scarlet fox with a wide grin; his huge white teeth stretched in a sinister smile.

"Haruno Sakura. The one woman that Uzumaki Naruto always dreamt about. The one he always loved." He said in his deep voice.

"What's going on here?" Sakura asked.

"I'm surprised at your ignorance…Wait…You know exactly what is going on here, your disbelief is just a part of fear." The Nine-Tails replied.

"…"

"You may not recall, but when Naruto healed you; his thoughts were filled with the one Uchiha that he cannot defeat. Uchiha Sasuke. In his rage, he let down his guard, and he managed to implant my chakra…My own existence, into you."

"What are you looking for? What is it that you want?" Sakura asked.

"Contrary to what you believe, I never did WANT this…I'm merely a victim of circumstance." He replied with a grin.

"So…Why did you bring me here? What is it?"

"I will tell you, if Naruto dies, I will disappear from this world."

"If Naruto dies, so do you?"

"No. I will not die. The Tailed-Beasts are not bound to the same mortality as the Jinchuuriki. I will return again. Unchained. Unleashed. Unsealed from this prison." He stated with an extended finger reaching out of the cell.

"But there is one more thing you will need to know…You must help Naruto." He paused before adding:

"Now."

Sakura's eyes shot open, she took several breaths to fully realize what she had just witnessed. Quickly, she exited her house, and took off towards Naruto's.

…

Naruto laid down on his bed, he focused his thoughts and channeled Chakra over his ribs. He could feel his wounds healing with every second that passed. He took a deep breath; pain from the healing process was spreading exhaustion through his body. He let in one last deep breath before his world went black. He heard a clicking sound that woke him up.

When his eyes were opening again, he saw a figure sitting next to his bed.

A familiar figure.

A woman.

A woman with magenta colored hair, and scarlet eyes.

"Did you miss me?"

Thanks for reading!