The Monument

Karin hadn't given as much thought to having more children until recently. They were still quite young but not too young to have children. The fact that Sasuke would think that she was pregnant still puzzled her.

For now she just wanted to enjoy her youth. Obsession with youth was a reoccurring theme to some people she knew. An image of Rock Lee popped in her mind and that made her laugh.

"That wasn't a joke," Naruto said looking at her.

"What," Karin asked.

They had all gathered at the Valley where Naruto fought to save Sasuke. Nothing was being built it was abandoned with caution tape surrounding the area after all this time. Sitting around a fire listening to the peaceful water they started reminiscing.

Another fit of laughter washed over Karin and she had to straighten out because she was the only one laughing. The others looked at her as if she were a crazy person.

"What is so funny," Naruto asked.

"I-I'm calm n-now," she inhaled, "I just thought of that phrase you know that man you know Rock Lee always says."

"Which one there are so many annoying phrases of youth and inspiration," Sasuke said rolling his eyes.

"Y-youth and inspiration," Karin began to laugh again.

"I've never seen you laugh so much Karin," Sakura said.

"I was just thinking…I guess it wasn't that funny. Didn't you two have a falling out or something," Karin asked trying to straighten up.

"With Lee," Sakura asked.

"Not him, her," Karin said.

"You mean Lee's girlfriend," Naruto asked.

"Lee has a girl-

"That time when Sakura fought with the purple haired girl," Karin said.

"That," Naruto stood up a sure sign that whatever he was going to say would earn him a knockout punch from Sakura, "was more like Ami going after Sakura."

"Who's Ami again," Sasuke asked.

"She's a bully," Sakura said and glared at Naruto, "I could easily take her down anyhow."

"Lee and I had to separated them," Naruto teased and moved further away from Sakura's spot.

"She's so mean to people I don't understand Lee," Sakura complained.

"Well it didn't matter anymore because Lee is teammates with TenTen and TenTen was on Sakura's side when it came to Ami," Naruto said.

Shadows danced on the statues making Naruto think of Yamato's scary faces. Sakura was just thankful for the strong fire that kept them all warm but mostly because Naruto insisted that he was warm without his jacket.

"Creepy," Naruto said and moved closer to the fire.

"She is-

"No I meant the shadows on the statue faces. Like someone's watching us," Naruto said cutting her off.

Sasuke glanced in that direction.

"Naruto give it a rest," Karin said and turned back to the group, "there is nothing there."

"Ami could pop up out of nowhere I guess," Sakura giggled.

"Well I never thought Sasuke was nice," Naruto said, "look how that turned out."

"Thanks," Sasuke said sarcastically.

"He heh," Naruto laughed, "you can't always judge people. Look at Sai I used to think he was a total jerk. Rock Lee is really a nice guy; no way would he stick with a jerk. Maybe Ami's changed."

"Maybe they were both crazy," Sakura said.

"Hn," Sasuke stretched back on his elbows, "anyone crazy enough to mess with Sakura's crazy strength must be insane!"

"She did improve her ninja skills somewhat," Sakura said clenching her fist.

"Ami knocked-

"Shut up Naruto," Sakura yelled threatening with her fist.

Naruto jumped up dashing away from her.

"…ON HER ASS," he shouted.

Sakura was in pursuit.

"You'll have to catch me," Naruto teased as they took off running down the riverside. He knew Ami was no match for Sakura and it was only that she caught her by surprise that she succeeded in knocking her to the ground.

Sasuke shook his head watching the two of them chase each other around playfully. He felt better but he wasn't about to do the same with Karin. The Uzumaki woman was just quite enough that it wasn't annoying and he didn't feel forced into conversation.

They watched Naruto and Sakura play as the fire made their shadows dance.

"They really are two idiots," Sasuke said.

"I don't think they mean to be. They are just trying to make the best of things," Karin said.

"I know."

Sakura and Naruto returned to the fire.

Naruto looked at Sasuke,"What did you do to Karin?"

"Eh," Karin exclaimed just noticing the flood of tears on her face. She swiped at her cheeks with her jacket sleeve.

"Did you make Karin cry?"

"Of course not idiot," Sasuke said standing to his feet he had to glance at Karin to make sure he wasn't the cause.

"Naruto I'm fine. Thank you for your concern but Sasuke hasn't done anything." The red eyed woman hoped that Naruto would avoid pressing Sasuke. The last thing she wanted was a fight out of stupidity. She wasn't aware she had been crying.

After the war had ended she was so sure that Sasuke would abandon her. That memory triggered her tears but she didn't dare say anything about that. The feeling she had that day seeing Sasuke with Sakura and Naruto heading back to Konoha and leaving her behind. Even Suigetsu had to say something which she quickly brushed off and denied but once he left them out there in the world she was devastated. She kept thinking that he chose her.

"Calm down Sasuke you look as if you'd take Naruto's head off," Sakura said.

"Sorry," Naruto apologized to the group of them, "It's just been a crappy day is all…I shouldn't of judged."

"You're right you shouldn't have," Sasuke said. He looked back over Karin with concern. In a couple of minutes she went from laughing to sobbing.

"He apologized," Sakura said.

"Don't push me Sakura," Sasuke said.

"What is your problem teme," Naruto was back in Sasuke's face. Karin stood now and pushed against Naruto's chest while Sakura was pulling at Sasuke's arm to separate the two.

"We shouldn't fight we are on the same side," Sakura pleaded and Naruto backed down.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said and started to walk away.

"Wait don't go," Karin straighten up the best she could and tried to pull him back towards the group, "I was just remembering a sad time in my life I didn't mean to start anything. It isn't your fault."

"Just sit back down Sasuke." Naruto motioned for him to sit back around the fire but Sasuke had his back turned.

"Hey Naruto don't incite him," Sakura said.

Something made him stop and Sasuke turned and sat back down. Everyone looked at Sasuke until Karin just sat back down beside him.

"Sorry Karin," Sasuke said staring back at the fire. He hated apologizing for no reason but he was always so cold or indifferent to everybody and with Naruto they could fight about any little thing.

"You should say something to Naruto. He's our friend," Karin said. She actually grew rather close to the strange blonde especially since learning their shared heritage. She considered herself his cousin.

"Sorry," Sasuke said looking at both Sakura and Naruto.

"Sure," Naruto accepted the apology. Amazed that his friend apologized, it wasn't as if he really did anything wrong.

Naruto exhaled and sat down on the opposite side of the fire as Sakura followed and did the same.

000

Naruto and Sakura sat opposite Sasuke and Karin around the campfire they hastily built. They traded stories and told each other jokes now Sasuke wanted to get business taken care of.

"I have to tell you this first and I hope you understand," Sasuke said poking the flames of their campfire.

"What is it," Naruto asked straightening at the serious tone their conversation had taken.

"About what Kakashi said today. I'm taking on that role," Sasuke said.

"You can't Sasuke," Naruto spoke up. The meeting with the Hokage was brief but gave great detail about what the five nations expected from the Otogakure. Naruto knew where this conversation was headed.

"What are you saying," Karin shifted in Sasuke's hold to look at Naruto, "what role?"

"The Otogakure need a leader. I love this land but I can't fix all I've done sitting around Konoha," Sasuke said.

"You can't fix all that you've done," Sakura repeated, "what are you saying, Naruto you knew about this?"

"There was a meeting Sasuke said some things about the Otogakure but I never thought Sasuke would think of this," Naruto said. Maybe what Sasuke learned after the meeting tonight shaped what he thought about going to Otogakure.

"I've talked to Kakashi about this more after you left and now that I know what I'm dealing with here I'll talk to her some more," Sasuke said confirming Naruto's suspicions.

"Sasuke you are going to do this even after what happened to Karin," Naruto questioned. It was one thing for him to leave everyone and another for him to leave Karin again. They still didn't know what was going on with the nightmares.

"I'm leaving weather or not Karin will go is up to her," Sasuke said. He wasn't sure when Naruto found out about Karin's nightmares.

"You know you will let me go with you Sasuke," Karin said standing up and staring out into the darkness.

Sasuke ignored what she said and added, "Gokage have decided that the best way to deal with the Otogakure is to have someone capable in command and leadership. They found someone and now I am going to help out. I know all the hideouts I have connections there and since so many seem to want me dead here I have no choice really."

"Gokage tried to have you killed too do you remember that," Sakura said getting up defiantly. She though this time Sasuke would stay for a while. The truth was she was getting used to having him around and didn't want him to leave.

"Did Kakashi ask you to do this to take on this responsibility," Naruto asked.

"This isn't a decision I take lightly. You heard the issues facing that land. The reason the others had to worry about their unborn children is a result of what Orochimaru did to that land. I volunteered myself, for what that's worth," Sasuke said.

"I know that it isn't something you'd take lightly," Naruto said and stood by Sakura continuing, "I understand where you're coming from and I know all that stuff you're about to say: 'I'm an adult', 'I can make my own decision.' I know all of that but do you think you are the right one for this. I have friends in the Land of Rice who want to see their clans restored and maybe we haven't paid enough attention to them but I don't think they will all openly accept a Konoha Shinobi rushing over to help them."

"Naruto's right and what if Karin stays here," Sakura asked looking at the too quite Woman.

Karin quietly returned to Sasuke's side around the fire. She decided what she wanted no matter what he said this time they would still be together.

"I want to go with him," Karin said squeezing Sasuke waist and looking at Sakura, "We can do this. Home doesn't feel like home to me any longer if he isn't there. Our relationship is different there is no need to explain that if Sasuke goes I'll be by his side."

"This is the place," Naruto turned looking at the water not wanting to choke up in front of them, "where…this is where you first tried to break our bond. I understood you Sasuke. You don't need my permission to go and I appreciate you telling me this. Besides we can both be great..." Naruto trailed off unsure of what to say. This didn't feel right. Sasuke leaving the village didn't feel right at all. Why would he care so much for a land that had no ties to him?

This is the place where I will be Hokage. I'll change things. I can't have you all leave before I start.

Sasuke imagined the goofy grin on Naruto's face and said, "There is always this distance between us. I wish I could stay here in Konoha forever but I feel so miserable leaving the mess that Orochimaru sanctioned that I was accomplice to."

"Will you two go alone," Sakura asked.

"For now yes," Sasuke answered.

Karin stared at him with wonder. For once he wasn't arguing that she couldn't come with him.

Sasuke couldn't take Karin and he knew this. There was nothing he could do about it he knew the minute he tried to leave she would be there wanting to come along. However Sasuke wanted Miyako to grow up in Konoha and she couldn't be raised alone.

"That's insane, there are too many hostiles there," Sakura said.

"Exactly why I want to go restore that land for the people who are innocently living there surrounded in hatred and pain," Sasuke said.

"When I spoke to Pein," Naruto turned to them, "he told me of the war torn Amegakure. If we can do something to stop that sort of thing from happening we should put the effort in. They have the backing of the Gokage so I'm sure they aren't alone, Sakura-chan."

"When," Sakura asked.

"Day after tomorrow," Sasuke said.

"Ok, Sasuke. It seems like we just got you back," Sakura said tears spilled over her cheeks. She just knew that she'd be left behind again.

Sasuke looked away. They were his family now. He couldn't leave like this but it was something he felt he needed to do. He wouldn't go until they gave him their blessing this time, even if it took all night.

There were just too many obstacles staying in Konoha. The elders, the council, the Gokage and all of his haters wanted him out of town. This was the plan he agreed to this was the truce he made promising not to touch the village his brother fought and dedicated his life to.

"Sakura-chan please stop crying," Naruto said, "I think we have to believe in him. He can do this; we have to let him go."

I don't know what else to say to him. Not again. What can I do to eliminate the darkness?

The village was dark and the sky clear. The crescent moon and twinkling stars lit up the leaves all around for miles. Looking down over the "Valley of the End" and listening to the rushing water they all sat around the fire. No one was ready to leave and everyone remained quiet. Occasionally Naruto would tend to the fire rejoining a forlorn Sakura. He tried to think of the words to say to cheer them up but he didn't feel like making a fool of himself in the atmosphere.

"Someone talk or say something dattebayo," Naruto said interrupting the silence.

"Like what," Sasuke asked staring at the burning embers.

"I always wondered how you ended up with Karin," Naruto said.

"Naruto," Karin said. It could have been a question but she spoke so silently he barely registered what she was trying to say.

"We don't have to talk about that," Sakura said apologetically.

000

Somehow in all the sadness Karin managed to tell a story about her feelings during the war. She hadn't thought about it in quite some time and all her love was for Sasuke and Miyako now.

"That was a cute story," Sakura smiled uneasily at Naruto. Her own feelings during the war came to surface. She was never the one for Sasuke after all.

"Cute," Sasuke questioned and raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't know you were watching us…that we seemed like that to you," Naruto said soberly.

"Things turned out for the best," Karin said.

"Had I known that...I'm sorry," Naruto apologized.

"If I took away your happiness I would miss out on who you've become. If we went through with destroying the village we would have destroyed you. It isn't exactly a romantic story now is it…but the way that you two looked at each other wasn't lost on me. I just happened to be concerned about Sasuke," Karin said. She pulled her long red hair over her shoulder and smiled at Naruto.

Sakura moved closer and started to say something but Naruto cut her off gently kissing her lips forgetting their friends altogether.

Sasuke looked at Sakura and Naruto they were so lost in their own world. Karin was so worked up about him leaving again. He settled for gently rubbing her back in comfort.

"You haven't lost me, us," Sasuke stood up placing his hands on their shoulders, "I have to do this please understand that."

Karin joined him standing beside him.

"Thank you for everything Sasuke-kun, Karin," Sakura said hugging each one.

"We'll always come back here," Naruto said.

"Promise," Sakura said.

"I promise," Karin said and gave her a squeeze.

"Come by the hospital if you can. I'm on duty there and I really don't want to go without saying goodbye properly," Sakura said.

"Of course," Karin said.

Naruto got a hug from Sakura then stood awkwardly in front of Sasuke. Sasuke put a hand on his shoulder and Naruto followed. Sakura pushed Naruto towards Sasuke and the two hugged.

"Jerk, see ya," Naruto grinned.

"Loser, latter," Sasuke waved.

And like that Sasuke walked hand and hand with Karin along the river path. Sakura threw herself into Naruto's arms even her hugs were powerful.

"Sakura my ribs," Naruto complained half joking and added, "can't breathe."

"Sorry," she was crying. It was easy for him to tell how Sakura felt because her actions showed. He couldn't help but remember a time when those tears were accompanied with pleas for Sasuke to take her with him or for him to come back to the village.

"Are you alright," Naruto asked. He couldn't expect her to feel nothing at their best friend's imminent departure. He understood her.

"Yeah it's just that I don't want him to change into a monster," she said. She straightened out and swiped the tears from her cheeks.

"I want to tell you that-

"I know," Sakura said cutting him off.

"Let me finish it is important that I say this," Naruto said.

"Well," Sakura asked crossing her arms.

"I love you Sakura-chan," Naruto said kissing her forehead and wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you Naruto always, that hasn't changed," Sakura said looking up at his clear blue eyes.

The word always danced around in his mind. It was true and absolute. He had family now but longed to lead a village. Still she would remain by his side as she vowed to the day his heart stopped beating and she had to breathe life into him.