Author's Note: If ever there was a segment in this "story" that needs context it would be this one. Still I hope that all the context you will need will naturally be explained as this short chapter goes by. And if that is still not enough, you could always do that thing I keep pestering you to do every freaking chapter. But I think I can repress the urge this one time…
"I thought so. So when and where do you want this portal? I could do it right here and now, but I would imagine that you want to run home and grab your toothbrush." Whis said while looking at the bottom of his empty ramen bowl, hoping that more ramen could be willed into existence through the power of dreams.
"I could run home and grab my travel bag. Shouldn't take me more than an hour. Sakura-chan, what about you?" Naruto turned to his girlfriend with an excited look on his face. A new adventure was on the horizon and they needed to move quickly if they were going to save Sasuke's soul.
"I'm not going." Sakura said.
Wait, what? Inner Sakura thought.
"Sakura-chan? I'm sorry I must have misheard you-
"I said I'm not going Naruto!" Sakura shouted more clearly. "I'm not going to Hell to fight demons or whatever and I don't think you should either!"
Naruto was taken back, where was this coming from? Especially from Sakura of all people.
"Sakura-chan, what are you saying? This isn't just us going to fight demons, this is to save Sasuke, our teammate…"
"Our former teammate, Naruto. Emphasis on former. He's dead now, remember?"
"Yeah, I do!" Naruto bit back. "And I also remember that he is trapped in Hell! Being tortured as we speak for all eternity! And you just want to leave him there!" This whole scenario was disturbing to Tsunade. Naruto never, and I mean never, yelled at Sakura with that tone of voice.
"Of course I don't want to leave him there! But this whole going to Hell thing is just asinine! It's ridiculous! To go this far for anyone!"
"I was always ready to risk my life to save Sasuke, and I thought you were too…" Naruto said with a touch of sadness breaking through his anger.
"I was! But this…this is Hell we are talking about! We'd be risking more than our lives on this journey…mission…whatever this is! And for what?!" Sakura through her hands up.
"For Sasuke! Our teammate!"
"For Sage's sake, Naruto! Can't we just forget about Sasuke for once!?"
"Forget…about Sasuke?"
"YES! He's dead, alright! Dead and gone! He's no longer our concern! I understand that you made me that promise to bring Sasuke back no matter what! And I admire your dedication, I truly do, but this is over the top! There is no use helping the deceased, Naruto. The dead stay dead."
The dead stay dead… Tsuande could remember telling Sakura those exact words when she began her medical training. It was more personal advice than advice to a fellow medic though. It was Tsunade telling Sakura not to chase ghosts like Tsunade had done for half her life. Better to move on from your failures than to dwell on them for decades until a certain blond haired idiot comes along and knocks some sense into you.
"The dead stay dead…?" Naruto whispered. "What a load of horse shit! The dead don't stay dead Sakura! We literally just met my dead parents an hour ago!"
"That's different!"
"How so!?"
"They were good people!"
"And Sasuke wasn't!?"
"NO! HE WASN'T!" Sakura screeched, the dam breaking loose. "HE WAS A JERK SO FULL OF SELF PITY THAT HE BROUGHT EVERYONE AROUND HIM DOWN WITH HIM!"
"You don't mean that…"
"I DO! I was just too blinded by my stupid crush on him to see it! But now that I think it over, yes, maybe he does deserve to rot in Hell!" Sakura spat. Her chest heaving.
Naruto looked upon her with a face of utter disgust.
"A jerk full of self-pity huh? So I guess that means you think I deserve to rot in Hell too? Is that right?" Naruto asked.
Sakura was taken back by his response. "What? No, Naruto, that's not what I meant at all!"
"But it is what you implied. You might not have realized it Sakura, but I did want to bring Sasuke back for more than just your benefit." The blond spat.
"I wanted to bring Sasuke back because I wanted to bring him back. Sasuke is like a brother to me, the closest thing I could ever hope to have like the real thing. We're cut from the same cloth, him and I. So if you think he is a jerk full of self-pity over his tragic past, then I guess you must feel the same way about me."
"Naruto no, that's not what I think at all!"
"Or is it just that I'm alive and I'm here? And Sasuke isn't?" Naruto questioned.
"What's that supposed to… Tsuande! Aren't you going to say anything!?" Her apprentice spat, hoping her mentor could come and save her.
Tsunade had been patiently watching the argument unfold before her. It never seemed her place to butt in, but never the less…
Tsunade sighed. "Naruto, I agree with Sakura. This whole plan is asinine. You say you want to be Hokage, Naruto. Well a Hokage's duty is always to his people, his living people. You need to learn here and now that a ninja who chases ghosts is of no help to anyone. And I am not about to allow any of my ninjas to go on a suicide mission to ease the suffering of a dead traitor." Tsunade said, trying her hardest to keep her Hokage persona going.
"Granny, you can't be serious."
"I'm being very serious Naruto. I forbid you from going to Hell." She ordered.
"Oh my," Whis spoke up. "This is getting rather tense."
The attention of everyone in the room returned to the god still standing in the center of it, trying to catch drops of ramen broth on his chopsticks.
Just then, Gohan flew through the open window to join the Hokage's side. "Sorry I'm late, Videl had severe morning sickness and- who the heck is that?" Gohan looked at the tall man standing in the center of the Hokage office with ANBU crouched in fear all around him, like he would kill them if they got any closer.
"Oh don't mind them. They're just traumatized from coming back to life." The man explained as if he read Gohan's mind.
"I see. And you are?"
"I am Whis, caretaker to Lord Beerus; the God of Destruction."
"I see...can you guys fill me in? I'm kind of lost." Gohan asked.
"Long story," Sakura began. "But we found out that our former teammate Sasuke is in Hell and this idiot- Sakura gestured towards Naruto- wants to travel to Hell and enter some tournament to get Sasuke into Heaven or whatever. And this one- She gestured towards Whis- says that he'll let Naruto enter after Naruto gave him ramen!"
"Okay…you said Hell right? Capital H, e, double hockey sticks?" The women medics nodded.
"Naruto that's crazy!"
"Don't you start too, Gohan."
"No I'm serious, everyone who dies goes to the Afterlife right? If our dimensions have the same afterlife, then you won't just be facing the worst souls of your dimension, you could end up facing the worst of mine!"
"I don't care Gohan, I have to save Sasuke. If you don't want to help me that's fine."
"No Naruto, I do want to help you, I do, but this isn't worth the risk." Gohan pleaded.
"I should have known you all wouldn't understand." Naruto said, he then looked towards Sakura. "You especially… I thought you of all people would support me on this." Naruto positioned himself in front of the window to take off. He turned back towards Whis. "Can you open up the portal in an hour? I need to get my stuff ready."
"Sure thing." Whis said before disappearing.
"What! No, Naruto!" Gohan cried. But Naruto was making his way outside the office window.
"Naruto if you go on the mission I will demote you to Genin!" Tsunade threatened.
"Go ahead." Naruto didn't even look back.
"Naruto! If you leave I will kick you off the Neo Z Fighters!" Gohan tried.
Naruto untied his gold plated headband and threw it on the floor. "I preferred my old headband anyway." Naruto was just about to make the final leap.
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted. "If you leave I won't ever forgive you!" He hesitated…for just a moment.
The orange ninja leapt out to the rooftops and sped off into the distance. Sakura ran up to the window and leaned outward. "NARUTO! FINE, BE AN IDIOT YOU STUPID FUCKING JERK!" The pinkette screamed. Her face betraying her true feelings, her cheeks were stained with tears.
Tsunade turned to her useless ANBU guards. "Follow him and don't let him leave the village no matter what!" She barked. The ANBU all scrambled to attention and nearly tripped over one another trying to leave the room.
Tsunade slumped back into her chair. This day could not get any worse. That's when Gohan stood in front of her looking serious.
"Don't worry Lady Tsunade, I'll bring him back." Gohan promised.
"You think you can out preform my ANBU when it comes to hunting Naruto down?"
"I know I can. I'm faster and can track his energy signature practically anywhere on the planet."
"Yes, but you will need some help if you want to convince the little idiot to give up this plan of his. Jiraiya and Kakashi have already been called away on other missions, and Iruka is off on a class field trip." Tsunade listed.
Gohan thought it over for a moment, then a lightbulb went off. "I think I know a few guys. I'll round them up and then cut off Naruto before he can get anywhere."
"Perfect, get to it." Tsunade ordered. Gohan nodded, not that he actually took orders from Tsunade, and blasted off towards his destination.
Tsunade was left alone to look at her apprentice staring blankly out the window in the direction that Naruto was last scene. "Sakura…"
Without answering, Sakura turned around and headed for the door. "Sakura where are you going?"
"To the hospital." Sakura answered back. "Gohan mentioned that Videl came down with some severe morning sickness and I want to check to make sure that my patient is alright. Just as you taught me."
"Sakura, I know you must be upset about Naruto…"
"Upset? I'm not upset, that idiot can go and get himself killed for all I care!" Sakura slammed the door on her way out of the Hokage's office, leaving Tsunade to ponder how everything could have gone so wrong so fast.
Meanwhile, Sakura was left alone with her thoughts.
Ok, what the Hell was that back there? And I don't mean with Naruto's half assed plan, I mean why didn't you agree to go along with it? Inner Sakura asked.
Just drop it. Sakura though in a tone that even her inner self couldn't argue with.
Author's Note: READ LEGACY OF HEROES BY cmartinHFD!
Sorry, sorry, I tried…
This was a short chapter, or maybe because the last chapter was so long it feels way shorter. Either way I feel that any halfway realistic romantic story has to include some angst in it where the main couple in question goes through a rough patch. That might have spoiled any future chapters, but if you didn't already figure out that they would get through this then you need your head checked.
As it stands, how much more of Gohan and Videl can I include in these segments before it turns into a series of crossover one-shots? Are the administrators going to come in and kick my teeth in? I hope not, as of 11/18/15 this story has had over 4,800 views since it was first published a few months ago.
That may not seem like much to some, but considering that my other story Out Man Squad has been up since early May of this year…well… the way things are going, it looks like Naruto and Sakura at Ichiraku's is going to break 5,000 views before Out Man Squad can even break 1,000 views.
Maybe it is the power of pairings that makes one fic more popular than another. Whatever the reason I'm still enjoying the traffic immensely. Thank you to everyone who has favorited my stories and my profile. Those little email notifications I get every once in a while always put a smile on my face.