Author's Note: I've been really inactive for a while. I've been busy writing everything but this story. Was surprised to find out that this story is apart of a community on here, that was a real shocker to me. Well this is the second to last chapter of the story, unless I can fit one more in which I really doubt. Next chapter will be the epilogue and the official conclusion to this shin dig. I had a poll open for the longest time on my profile asking people what they thought would happen in the end to this story and honestly I was rather surprised by all the people thinking I would go the pure happy ending. PSH You guys make me laugh.

Thank you for following my story so far. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Thanks to the following who favorited or started following my story:

Watanabe Natsume, Thatasiannn, Mitch4747, wolfking98, gunslayer12, mariq, deedee2034, shaythevamp, Perfect Beauty, angelrey, imsomniac, FriedNeurons, soccerlover91, meerastark, renegadestarforce, DayZeroFlash, Dorcyy, BlackGryphon101, shika the troublesome, Darksoul2142, haroldcraig4, , BitteOrca, Bloody. 5507, Duesal10, TheShellBullet14, sabs8301, Chenellie19, Animemad10, daneththereed, sitrukpc, Yellow Flash X14, vinny09, 05rolive, Moldavite, AllForHighspeed0516, sasunarufan 123, , Eva Gish, NotSoSlimSh4dy, Silvercoco, Chiruka, xxnarufanxx, Colliequest, tokio2323, narusaku dramione, Sonata527, sparten07, Tonegawa Rie, katsukiyo-chan, Star Killa, and Vincent J Lionheart

Reviews:

Tsukinokaba: Of course I will finish this thing. I'm no quitter, I just take my time. XD Glad you enjoy this story. Hope you ate something after you left your last review. Thanks for the review.

Tahkz01: I totally should have added 'tune in next time' DARN that was classy. Sorry about the cliff hanger but it was a must. Thank you for the review. :)

onepieceloverforever: You and me both. I can't wait for this next chapter to be done too. X) Thanks for the review.

The Keeper of Worlds: If it's complicated then I'm doing something right. Hopefully this and the epilogue chapter will explain everything for you. Thanks for the review.

SuomiTytt: I'm a meanie! (Cries in the corner) not really though. Happy you enjoy this story and the last chapter. Hope to keep you happy with this thing till the end. :) thanks for the review.

Lightupturtle: You're welcome?

gohan108: Happy that you can't wait. Here is another chapter! Thanks for the review!

Dorcyy : I'm glad you enjoy it. Here is your new chapter. Sorry for taking so long to update! Thanks for the reviews. :)

Duesal10: I gotta be honest but your reviews had me smiling from ear to ear. I'm extremely happy if you find my story interesting. :3 Hope to keep you confused. Thank you for the review.

daneththereed : I plan to end this story by the next chapter. If not that one then in two more. Thank you for the compliments. Thanks for the review.

vionalet: I'm really not that amazing. Any one could have come up with this story. I just got lucky to pick up on this idea. Thank you for the review. :)

xxnarufanxx: Happy you like it. Thanks for the review.

ONWARDS:

I want your eyes to open again. I want to see that light that shines in your eyes like no others. I want to see that smile that only you can make. Most of all I want you to just wake up and simply say my name once more. I need that more than ever.

Chapter Seven: Through Thick and Thin

Sakura stood hesitantly near Tsundae. Her green orbs dying like a flame to water. The world was bleak and dying all around her she thought and yet even in the darkest of times she felt some form of light.

Tsundae sighed and looked at Naruto. "So this genjutsu, do you know what the missing element is?" she whispered out.

The rosette looked down at her wrist before adjusting her eyes to face her master. "I have an idea, but I need Ino to make sure of it."

The blond older woman looked to her pupil and gently grinned. "You want to go back into his mind again and find Naruto for yourself don't you?"

"Yes…"

It all went silent and all eyes went to the Hokage.

Tsundae looked up once and then began to close her eyes. How many times had she wished to take a chance that would not end up wrong? There were fears in her mind that kept her in check when it came to taking steps. Regret was the worst and she knew then and there that if she denied her student a chance it would be the end of the rosette if things turned sour.

"Do what you must…But you must remember"

Sakura froze at that line and reached out for Ino's hand to grasp. Ino gave her hand and allowed for her friend to squeeze tightly.

Tsunade eyed her students and looked at them with an unfamiliar glance. "Remember what could be and what will be" With that the woman got up and stretched.

"Shizune prepare a medical team, this could be bloody and I want this monitored. "

"YES!" Shizune shouted before taking off for the nurses down the hall.

Sakura and Ino looked at each other. Their eyes mirrored their fears, and with a silent nudge from each other they went to the side of the blond man's bed and began preparations with the rest of the crew.

xXx

Naruto stood still and looked off at the kids playing on the playground. There was Shikamaru who sat on the swing and looked at the clouds. Choji who sat next to the swing with food in hand, and talked to Shikamaru. Kiba, who Naruto found rather irritating, cleverly leaned against the fence and gently glanced over towards the girls who all were talking.

Of course though, Kiba was looking at one girl in particular. Hinata Hyuuga, who even Naruto had to admit was a unique individual, was always insights for Kiba. The dog weirdo may not admit it, but he liked her. Naruto just enjoyed all the while, staring at his friends as they lived out their lives.

Naruto however felt lost. Something was missing from this perfect day. From out of his jacket a small face appeared that softly mewed. It was his new best friend Sakura-chan. The kitten chirped and looked at her owner. The blond gently grinned as he stroked the kittens head.

"You love me right?"

The cat however never responded.

From behind came Sasuke who looked down at the sitting blond boy. "Talking to a cat still"

Naruto just looked up and smiled "At least the cat doesn't insult me in more ways than one."

"hmpf" Sasuke responded before nudging his head and gesturing for them to go out and head home.

Naruto just grinned and followed suit.

xXx

Sai raced down the streets of Konoha. His eyes wide and full of fear as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the hospital. He knew the answer now and knew that what they were heading into was a trap.

His mind raced to only moments before when he was still in the dark with the prisoner he was ordered to protect.

xXx Flashback xXx

Sasuke glared at the man known as Sai and in his own way sighed. "So the bracelet is more than likely the chakra crystal from the first Hokage's necklace, that as you put it broke during the invasion a year ago.

"Yes I believe so"

Sasuke looked to Sai and began to think more and more on the issue. "If the Kyuubi is gone then there is no reason that bracelet should be of any concern, so why did that idiot give it to her?"

Sai simply tilted his head and looked down at the dirt floor. "Perhaps Naruto is lying." He muttered out while drawing circles with his shoes in the dirt.

The Uchiha froze at that commit and slowly went wide eyed. Every hair on his body rose, it all made sense now. Quickening his breath the man leapt almost at the bars and grabbed the guard.

Sai stiffened at the man's gesture and sighed. "You do realize this will be added as something against you. You can't just attack a –"

"Shut up you worthless shit!" Sasuke hissed out before pulling Sai closer. "Do not let Sakura go anywhere in his mind with that bracelet you are going to set off a defense trap."

The pale man's eyes narrowed. "You just said it would be no issue?"

"It wasn't until you made that comment, it all makes sense now. The Kyuubi isn't gone. It's been inside his mind this whole time acting as a disguise and defense mechanism. The kyuubi is the reason he hasn't died or been ruined yet. The second you put that charm in his mind everything –"

"Everything will be sealed and released." Sai's eyes widened and it all made sense, this would ruin Naruto and cause a complete end to everything.

Sai violently pulled from the man and ran off and out of the prison. Sasuke sat quietly and watched as the man ran off leaving his post unattended. That was punishable if the prisoner were to escape…

Yet Sasuke sat all the more quiet and cursed in his silence.

(Flashback end)

xXx

Holding onto Ino's hand the rosette smiled a shaky look. She feared what was inside of his disturbed mind. Biting back on her lip the green eyed beauty knew it had to be done.

Nodding to Ino, Sakura closed her eyes as instructed to. Ino placed a hand gently over the blond's forehead and mumbled silent words. A flash of green light went through into the rosettes vision as she felt her mind being transported to a whole new place.

Keeping her eyes shut the pink haired girl awaited instructions. The light blond woman had already opened her eyes and using her now free hand she tapped her friends shoulder as a signal.

Sakura's two green orbs opened slowly only to be shocked, they were in the Konoha hospital, however it wasn't the same. It looked much older and almost newer to a degree.

"Ino, where are we?" The rosette asked as she walked to the single window of the room.

"We are in Naruto's mind." She explained as she herself looked around at the room.

Sakura now stood stiff at the window as she looked out into the world beyond. Her face horrified by what she saw. "This is his mind?" she asked in a shaky breath.

Walking next to her friend, Ino painfully smiled. "Looks just like a history book now doesn't it?

We need to hurry though. This genjutsu that is on Naruto is forcing me out. I don't know how long I'm going to be able to withstand it. So we need to find Naruto now!"

The rosette quickly nodded before opening the window of the hospital. Hopping up onto the ledge, Sakura's heart began to lift as she felt happy yet scared to finally see her blond again.

With all of her might she leapt off of the ledge and down into the streets of Konoha.

Ino just shook her head. 'That girl needs to just come out and say how she feels now.' Like that the blond followed behind her friend.

Ino landed and they both walked to the edge of the street corner. The two of them stood on the corner of a very familiar street, Sakura began looking around. Her mind wandering as it began to think of all the placed the boy could be. Finally it hit her as she looked at the sky to see the sun slowly setting.

"We need to go to the school's playground." Sakura spoke out.

"The school? But why? What gives you that idea that he is gonna be there?" Ino asked as she crossed her arms. She knew that if they just picked and guess things would go bad as they were limited their time here.

Sakura looked left and then right as she felt the need to hurry. "When Naruto was little I often remember him playing with Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji at the playground. I don't know why but I feel like he should be there."

xXx

From down the road Naruto and Sasuke walked towards their homes near the edge of the village's districts. Naruto had been humming the whole way while Sasuke just walked silently. All the while the small kitten sat on Naruto's head like Akamaru would to Kiba.

As Naruto hummed, his tune began to die as he began to ponder more and more on a question at hand. He would open his mouth to speak but then be silenced by his will.

Sasuke had caught wind of this a while ago and for most of the part figured he'd wait till the dobe had the courage to finally speak, but even his patience was beginning to wear thin. Finally Sasuke stopped in his tracks and sighed. "What is it?" he asked in the most bland way.

Naruto crinkled his nose and sighed. "With that attitude I don't wanna tell you now" he murmured under his nose.

"Dobe I will hit you.." Sasuke growled out

With a smile Naruto put his hands up and sighed. "Do you feel like something is off?"

"What do you mean?" the raven haired boy asked.

The blond looked to the sky and frowned. "Like part of our life is missing? I've been feeling like something or someone is missing, but I can't place why. I don't know, do you ever feel this way?"

As Naruto explained his question Sasuke felt uneasy. It was when he was about to respond that everything started in motion. The small kitten from a top of Naruto's head suddenly made a mad dash off of the blond and down the streets. This action sent the young blond into a panic as he chased after the cat like his life depended on it. The Uchiha reached out for Naruto but it was too late as the boy was already half way down the street and gone.

"Damn that cat" Sasuke hissed as he went after his friend. An unpleasant feeling had all the while begun to build in the rave haired boy's gut.

Naruto all the while was racing after his young feline who was all the while making sharp turns at every corner. The boy had no clue what exactly had caught her eye or made her feel the need to bolt, but it must have been important.

The kitten ran and ran with its nose up in the air taking in the smells. The cat was caught on one scent and raced towards it.

From down the road the rosette and her friend quickly walked in the direction of the school while keeping an eye out for their target. Sakura walked and was shocked to see all these faces of people she knew and was saddened at the same time as many were dead now thanks to the many attacks that the village had faced since their academy days.

Yet as she and Ino looked around a loud scream could be heard causing them to freeze in their tracks.

Sakura dashed towards it with her eyes wide and full of hope. Ino all the while was shocked.

"SAKURA WAIT!" the woman yelled as they didn't even know if this had anything to do with Naruto. When her friend refused to respond or comply with the demand the blond girl raced after her.

From down the street in an ally corner Naruto froze, his eyes widening and becoming engulfed in salty water. A crate had fallen from the side of the ally way's trash and in its path was his kitten. The kitten laid half visible in a now spreading pool of crimson red.

Naruto's heart broke into a thousand pieces as he went to go and touch the kitten in hopes this was all a sham. His goal was however put on hold as steps approached from behind him, putting him off guard.

Looking over his shoulder the blond began to shake with fear as there, the woman of his dreams actually stood.

She stood before him finally. His eyes wide and full of fear as the blood of the kitten began to flow towards his feet. Naruto quickly took a step back, away from the rosette, his hands clutching his shirt's collar. He stood away from the expanding pool of blood, using it as a barrier hoping she would not cross.

Sakura looked at him with tear stricken eyes. Her body moved on its own as she slowly began walking towards his small form, forgetting entirely about the crushed kitten and blood all on the ground in front of her. Her feet gently stepped in the liquid crimson without hesitation.

Naruto stared at her feet and began to feel trapped. She was coming closer and even though she did not seem threatening, some part of him told him to run. Run as fast as he could and flee from this woman.

The rosette opened her arms and began to smile through her blurry eyes. "I've found you" she whispered.

Before she could touch the boy, Naruto threw up his hands and covered his eyes. His body fell to the ground as he pulled all of his limbs in towards his body like a turtle hiding in its shell.

"Leave me alone!" He cried out

Sakura froze at those words. He really had no clue who she was and worse yet things were not going as she thought they would. When she had first been told about this jutsu by Sasuke it seemed that as soon as the person affected saw the light to their darkness they would be freed. Surely Sakura was showing all that she thought would wake him from this infernal nightmare that he was trapped in. She was there in front of him, showing him love and attention. Was that not what he needed to wake?

Shaking her head, the woman took a deep breath and dried her tears. From behind her came Ino finally catching up.

"Sakura we have an issue!" The woman yelled out in fear.

The rosette turned her head to look at her friend and was surprised to see how worn out she looked. "Ino Wha-"

"Sakura I can't hold this jutsu much longer, I don't know what you did but Naruto is forcing us out even more than before."

Her eyes widened. They had come this far and now they were going to fail just like that? No there had to be something more that the rosette was missing.

With little time to act the rosette dashed for the huddled up boy and absorbed him into a hug. She could feel his body shaking while her knees became dirtied with the blood on the ground.

Naruto stiffened as she tightened her hold on him. His breath caught and for a second he was unable to breathe. Lifting his head he was shocked to find her hair in his face. Her hair however, had the faintest smell of strawberries on a warm summer's day. A smell he thought he would never smell again.

Pulling away from her the boy went to look in her eyes. She met his gaze and was puzzled by his deep interest in her beautiful green eyes that he gave. The blond observed her carefully, slowly losing his fear of her. As his eyes looked around her face and began to lower towards her body he was caught by a bright gleam.

There on her wrist laid a beautiful green bracelet, and just as he began to wonder what it was made out of his whole world froze. Memories began to flood back making the blond freeze.

Sakura noticed his sudden stillness again and began to feel concerned. "Naruto, what is it?!" she asked in a panic in hopes that things were not going sour again.

The blond boy stayed still and frozen in time for a while longer until finally he looked up to her once more.

As he looked into her eyes once more his form began to glow the most brilliant yellow as his body was engulfed in light.

Sakura and Ino closed their eyes as it hurt to look. From down the road Sasuke who was still wondering where Naruto had gone became attracted to the newfound light that was shinning out of an ally way. Quickly he dashed towards it hopes he could finally find his idiot and the stupid cat and head home.

When the light died down the girls still feared to open their eyes. It wasn't until a voice broke through that everything changed.

"You have the most charming forehead you know." He whispered out.

Quickly the rosette flung open her eyes and was met with the most wonderful smile. He was him again or better yet he wasn't a kid. Naruto was laying half propped up on the ground, with Sakura sitting in between his legs.

His eyes looked weary and tired yet his smile said otherwise. Sakura began to go teary eyed again as she went to hold him once more. Before she could though they were interrupted by the sudden emergence of Sasuke.

The young Uchiha glared at the rosette and blond. "Naruto, get away from her!" He yelled out in furry.

Sakura went to say something but before she could everything around them went white. The world that seemed like a distant past had disappeared leaving both her, Ino, and Naruto in this empty void.

"Ino?" Sakura murmured out before quickly turning her head back to Naruto who was now coming to stand. His eyes looking around as if he had lost something.

"What happened?" The rosette asked.

"I had us jump out and back to the basic realm of Naruto's mind.. I'm gonna have us jump out of here in a sec, so get ready." She explained while slowly concentrating on her chakra.

Sakura could tell this was wearing her friend out, but they had succeeded. Nothing could make her say so otherwise. Slowly the girl rose from the flooded ground and came to stand with her friends.

Yet as they all stood silently awaiting Ino, Sakura came to notice Naruto off on the side of them just standing silently, looking down at the rippling water that filled up the floor of his mind.

"Naruto?" Sakura gently called out causing him to look up and back at her. It was like they were miles apart even when they were a mere three feet apart. She thought things were off as she stood there. They shouldn't feel so strained and apart, no they should be close and happy that everything was going back to how it once was.

"Sakura, do you remember the day I gave you that bracelet?" he asked out while going back to looking at the rippling water of the floor.

Sakura froze in that moment as she came to remember that distant evening. "Yes?" she responded with a hint of confusion in her voice.

"Do you remember what I told you?" He asked.

"You told me to promise you… Promise you that through thick and thin I would be there by your side." She explained while holding up her arm with the bracelet gently gleaming a soothing green light.

Naruto turned on his heels and came closer to her so that they were mere inches apart. Calmly he took her raised arm and pulled her hand in towards his chest. Lowering his head he kissed her hand and smiled.

"Through thick and thin, huh?" Naruto just chuckled quietly before looking her in the eyes once more. His hands went to push her crazed hair from her face so that he could look at her as she was once more.

It was a frightful moment as the young woman looked at her friend and was disturbed to see how he was acting. Something was most certainly off, Naruto was never this smooth or calm when something wasn't wrong.

"Naruto, what is it?" she asked in fear of not knowing the answer.

Naruto pushed his forehead against hers and pulled her in for a tight embrace. In that moment words were whispered that Sakura could not understand and could barely hear as the world around them turned bright and she was forced away from that moment forever.

When things around her died down she found herself having to open her eyes again. With a flush of bright cold light she found herself back where they started at Ino's side. Ino was at the same time coming to, but the rosette did not care, she was more concerned with the now stirring blond man in the hospital bed.

His face scrunched up and slowly his eyes opened. The blue saucers that reminded his teammate of the great oceans looked off and weak. She had expected that though as he had been in a confused state for the longest time.

Reaching out to stroke his hair she was caught in a forceful grip by none other than Naruto who had a full on panic look in his face.

He pulled from her and flung her arm back towards herself.

"Naruto! What is wrong?" Sakura asked out before he pushed himself so far he fell out of bed.

"GET BACK!" He screamed out at her and Ino while struggling to walk towards the corner of room to defend himself. "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

The two girls looked at each other in confusion, just a few seconds ago he seemed perfectly fine.

"Naruto, don't you recognize us?" Ino finally spoke up hoping to relieve the much unneeded tension and stress on both herself and Sakura.

Naruto gave no time to waste as he began to violently shake his head as he tried desperately to stand but was too weak due to not having used his muscles that much over the past few months.

"I've never seen either of you."

It was like a death blow to her heart.

From down the hall way Sai ran as fast as he could to the room at the end of the hallway with Shizune and even the Hokage racing after him. What he had said in a panic was something that scared the older woman as she was completely confused. Yet as the pale man came to the door and flung it open he knew he had been too late.

They all came to stand at the door way to see Sakura collapsed on the floor in defeat it almost seemed with Ino talking to someone. When Sai looked up in the direction Ino was speaking to he saw Naruto in the corner of the room in tears and with a face that Sai had never seen before on that man.

In his books he had read of something called terror or maybe it was fear, but they seemed to be the same. All he knew was that the blond was full of fear.

Sai walked calmly into the room and touched the blond woman who seemed to be pouring her heart at Naruto. His hand brazed her shoulder before he finally put it on her shoulder to stir her from her focus.

"You need to stop Ino." He explained while looking away from the scene.

Tsunade had in the mean time come to Sakura's aid and held her hand. She was whispering something that no one else could hear or were meant to hear. Only the rosette deserved those words.

Sai in the end finally looked at Naruto while the rest were frozen in fear of what seemed to be going on. The pale guy could feel the girl next to him breaking down into sorrow and in moments like this he himself even felt something stirring in him that told him it was over and that their world had truly stopped. Yet he refused. Out of everything he had been told and seen he would not make this moment about himself or the women who were crying useless tears.

Pulling from Ino, Sai came around the bed and towards the huddled up blond.

"Excuse me, could you tell me who you are?" Sai asked out shocking the room.

Sakura stirred from her tears and came to look up. She could see Sai slowly crouching to the ground but as he lowered to the ground her vision was blurred as the bed hid them. The rosette listened calmly as they all wondered and awaited. Of course Naruto knew who he was. What a stupid question.

Naruto stirred out of his form and looked to the now eye level man that he could not identify. The question he had been asked was confusing as the answer seemed to be on his tongue yet he himself could not answer.

"I-I do not know." The man calmly muttered out as tears broke through his eyes in frustration.

Sai was taken a back before regaining his composure. He smiled a genuine smile in hopes of calming the blond that he called a friend. "My name is Sai, and I am your friend."

Naruto looked at the man and began to nod.

Sakura raised herself and for a short second she remembered that promise they had made. Through thick and thin…. Had he truly known this would happen? The rosette pondered on this for only a mere second. Reaching up she dried her tears and slowly walked over towards the two crouched over men.

The woman yelled at herself for daring to act so useless in times of need, Sai was in the right about this situation and she was glad to have him right now. Sakura gently lowered herself and crouched near Sai. The pale man nodded at her before looking back at Naruto.

Sakura tried desperately to smile and yet even a fake one seemed impossible to her at the moment, so she settled for a small one. "I'm Sakura." She stated

The blond reached up and then pulled his arm back down. His head tilted as he looked at her. "Who are you to me?"

Those words stood strong and stung like knives to the rosette yet she pushed all of her fears back when she looked down at her bracelet.

Looking him in the eye she finally smiled a little more. "I am your protector, your best friend, and I've been with you since the beginning…" her eyes softened and calmly she reached out towards him. "I am your Sakura-chan."

The blond froze and hesitated at her gesture to take her hand. Biting back his hesitation he gently touched her hand before calmly relaxing his own hand in hers.

Through Thick and Thin was all she could think of.

Thick and Thin.

Chapter end

Note: I had intended for this to be essentially the last chapter, however I will write one more as an epilogue to this story. It will be yet again another long chapter (long for this story) as I will cover and answer some of the unknowns in this story. I plan to leave a lot open for the reader to guess and assume.

Thank you so much for staying with my story and I hope to have you all stay until the end.

-Kitsune