Sakura (Young)
Sakura loved Sasuke. He was her Sasuke-Kun and no one would keep them apart. Not even her blond loudmouth teammate. The very same loudmouth teammate who has been mumbling that the two of them were destined to be together. And the more that Sakura refused to accept it, the more Naruto did his very best to defend his theory that the two of them belonged; and that Sasuke was the one in their way. Even after Kakashi had asked everyone to leave so that he could examine the unconscious forms of the older Naruto and Sakura, the young Naruto was doing everything in his power to convince Sakura that they were destined to be together based on the fact that the older versions of themselves were holding each other as they fell.
"What else do you expect when two people fall from all the way up there, baka!" exclaimed Sakura glaring at Naruto while Sasuke was walking next to her with his hands in his pockets, "I… I mean the older me was probably scared and she had no choice but to hold on to the older you, and… and if Sasuke-kun was there then she would have held on to Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke simply sighed.
"Sakura-chan, we were holding hands at the end, if that's not…" Naruto rubbed the back of his head as the three of them reached another room with a low table and cushions around it, next to the kitchen where Tsunami had begun putting something on the stove as a celebratory late lunch; a thanks for Team Seven saving the town from Gato and his minions. Sakura saw, out of the corner of her eyes, Sasuke huff before walking out the room to the balcony facing the water. A balcony adjacent to the one attached to the room where the older Naruto and Sakura were lying unconscious.
'Wait for me, Sasuke-kun!' she thought herself before turning her eyes towards the younger Naruto who continued to speak, trying to keep on convincing her that they were meant for each other. Their older selves holding hands after landing in the bridge was his latest evidence that they belonged together – him and Sakura, not Sakura and Sasuke.
Sakura growled as she stopped when they were about to follow Sasuke out to the balcony. She spun around and said, while her right arm was pointing to him, and then to herself, and then back to Naruto, and then back to herself, "we never held hands." She then pointed towards the wall to her left, referring to the room where their unconscious selves were laid down on the tatami mats, "they held hands. And by the way, I can't think for the life of me why I, in any place and time, would even want to hold hands with you."
After saying that, it seemed as if a pin dropped. Everything went silent. Sakura could only hear the rapid beating of her heart as she panted while staring at the hurt expression on Naruto's face. She felt her chest rise and fall while Sasuke sighed as he leaned against the wooden railing and looked out towards the large lake. Sakura's eyes tore themselves away from Naruto's eyes, which also looked away from her. Sakura's eyes landed on Tazuna and Inari who were about to enter the room with some drinks, instead they backed away and went back into the kitchen where the sounds made by Tsunami moving pots and pans around also stopped at the pink haired girl's outburst.
Sakura then looked back at Naruto who just stood there, his eyes still looking away from Sakura.
"I don't know what…" Sakura said before she stopped. The pink haired Genin took in a deep breath as she wondered what kind of a relationship, if any, existed between her older self and the older Naruto. The more she tried to wonder the possibilities of there being anything between herself and Naruto, the less reasons that she could think of to even hold hands with Naruto much less date him. She knew that her heart belonged to Sasuke, and that she would never let him go.
"I think we do belong together," Naruto whispered, his voice bringing Sakura out of her thoughts. She looked back towards Naruto, their eyes locked together as he continued, "I…"
"I don't think we belong together," Sakura said in a calm voice – she needed for this to stop. She needed to tell Naruto that he had no hope to be with her, that her heart belonged to Sasuke. No matter how much she, or rather her inner-self wanted to scream at Naruto, she knew she couldn't really be in any relationship with him.
She knew that, like it or not, the three of them were a team and they needed to work together for the foreseeable future.
'At least until we become Chuunin, then things will change and I cold go on more missions with Sasuke-kun… just me and him…'
Sakura couldn't have anyone coming between herself and Sasuke; especially Naruto who would be bugging her about destiny bringing them together, or asking her out on dates. Sakura took a deep breath before saying, while her arms hanging by her sides and her thumbs pressed against her dress and upper thigh, "Naruto, I don't love you."
"Sak…"
"Stop," Sakura, trying to keep calm, said whilst shaking her head, "please. Naruto, I don't love you. I… I won't ever have feelings for you the way you want. I can't." Sakura saw the hurt on his face, and a part of her told her to just stop it. But she knew that Naruto wouldn't stop bothering her, and she really wanted him to stop. She needed for him to stop. She couldn't let Ino or any of the other girls win Sasuke's heart. Especially Ino, "I can't give you what you want. So, I am asking you to stop, Naruto. Stop asking me out, stop insisting that the both of us are destined to be together, just…. Just stop."
"So, the teme gets a chance and I don't," Naruto whispered, his left hand rubbing the back of his neck, his voice tinged with hurt.
"We're a team and… and that's all we'll be Naruto… just teammates," Sakura whispered looking straight into Naruto's eyes, afraid that looking away would show Naruto how much she regretted what it was that she was saying. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that unless she was honest… he would never stop interfering in her own private mission to have Sasuke for herself, "I'll watch your back…" Once Sakura said that, she stopped talking upon hearing Tazuna, in the kitchen, scoff. The pink haired girl knew that she wasn't able to do anything to help Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke during the battle on the bridge. She knew that all she could do was stay with Tazuna to protect him. "We'll train together, we'll… we'll be professional and maybe go for the occasional ramen or.. or something… but there can't be an us. I don't love you, Naruto."
"But Sakura-ch…"
"I will not settle, Naruto," Sakura pressed inwards, her eyes locked onto his blue orbs, "I… I can't settle for you when…"
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds before Naruto looked away and stepped back. Sakura could see a look of anguish on his face for a few seconds before his expression changed to that of a small smile.
"Naru…" Sakura was immediately interrupted before she could continue.
"I'm going to go train… you know, more tree walking for me," Naruto said while rubbing the back of his head, and a wide grin on his face before taking another step back as Sakura looked over her shoulder at Sasuke, his back to the both of them, and then she looked back at Naruto.
"You know you can't go out there alone, and…"
"My clones can patrol the area in case there are more of Gato's goons around here," Naruto chuckled, waving his hands before a smile formed on his face. However, the smile on his face never reached his eyes which looked away from Sakura with a look of sadness before turning around and striding out of the room. Sakura watched him and walk hurriedly past the kitchen where she heard Tsunami call out for him.
"I'm just gonna get some training done, Tsunami-san," the blonde answered as Sakura looked away while Naruto waved at the three people in the kitchen before walking out of the front door. She then heard many popping sounds, indicating Naruto's activation of his Mass Shadow Clone Jutsu, before focusing on Tazuna, followed by Inari, stepping out of the kitchen with a frown on his face while Tsunami started cooking again.
"A bit cruel, don't you think, girl?" Tazuna said shaking his head in disbelief while Inari glared at her angrily before turning around and storming off out the front door.
"Dad!" Tsunami yelled out before Sakura could answer Tazuna, "please stay with Inari."
Tazuna frowned while looking towards Sakura, who was already looking away, her hands rolled into fists as she fought everything she had to go after Naruto and apologize. She couldn't do that, Sasuke and his love was too important. She needed him, and Sakura knew that he needed her. She watched the front door swing to a close behind Tazuna before she looked to her right, and at the wall that separated the room she was standing in and the kitchen.
Confident that she did what was best for her, Sakura turned and looked at Sasuke who still had his back towards her. Sakura told herself, essentially forced herself, to calm down as her mind came up with different scenarios on how to approach him.
Once such mental scenario had her screaming "Sasuke-kun!" before rushing to the balcony and hugging him before declaring her love for him. Again.
'Maybe that's what my older self did in the future… and it's still difficult to process that my older self is from the future.' Sakura began walking, 'anyway, maybe she did that, and drove Sasuke-kun away. So there was no other choice but to have a relationship with Naruto? Sounds unlikely but… maybe it's possible?' Sakura then sighed before continuing her thoughts while making her way towards the balcony, 'I have to play this right… Sasuke-kun said he wants to kill a certain man, and then restore his clan. So, what if I convince him to turn it around and restore his clan first before... before killing this person who wronged him.'
"I will tell you the same thing you told Naruto, Sakura," Sasuke said, without turning back, once Sakura reached the threshold to the balcony that jutted out over the water. She traced the Uchiha symbol on his shirt with her eyes before looking at the scowl on his face as he stared over his shoulder directly at her.
Sakura looked away and out at the lake in front of them before stepping out on the balcony. She took a few more steps and leaned on the railing as a cool breeze rushed through her pink hair. Sakura felt Sasuke's eyes on her before they looked away once she leaned on the wooden railing.
Sasuke
"I don't have any feelings for you that go beyond a simple teammate," Sasuke added. He glanced at Sakura putting her head down and counted down the seconds until she would begin to cry. 'Five,' he thought while mentally telling himself that that he didn't have time to appease any of the girls who were obsessed with him. In his opinion, they should channel that obsession into something more productive, such as training. Sasuke knew he needed to be stronger, and to do that, he already admitted to himself that he needed at least Naruto, who already showed some potential to get better, 'and when I finally beat Naruto, or whoever comes next after him, I can gauge myself.'
'Four.' Sasuke thought to himself.
'You're the weakest one of the two of us, Sakura,' Sasuke glanced at Sakura once again.
'Three.'
Sasuke looked out towards the lake, the two of them in silence as they stared out into the distance. And Sakura still didn't start crying. However, Sasuke did notice her hands gripping the wooden railing tightly.
'Two.'
Still no crying.
'One.'
And still no crying, much to Sasuke's surprise – although the boy didn't show it on his face.
'Zero.' Sasuke glanced at Sakura when she sniffled before turning her head away from him and wiping her eyes. 'And there she cries.' Sasuke shifted his eyes back towards the water as Sakura turned her body towards him and whispered.
"I… I will support you when you decide to go kill this man you're talking about," Sakura said as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, "but what will you do after you're done… what will you do after you've killed him?"
"I already told you and Naruto," Sasuke said as gentle waves licked against the concrete columns that held up the balcony over the water, "I will rebuild my clan."
"And if you die?" Sakura said. It was that sentence that cause Sasuke's sharingan to flare out in anger before he snapped his head towards Sakura, who gasped slightly before taking a short step back. She told herself that seeing Sasuke with the sharingan activated would take some getting used to, 'and I will get used to it.'
Sasuke snarled, "I will not die, not until HE is…"
"Rebuild your clan first," Sakura interjected after quickly recomposing herself as Sasuke's Sharingan faded. There was a bit of surprise etched on his face before he forced a neutral expression and turned his head away. The boy didn't say a word, instead letting Sakura continue to talk.
He listened as Sakura told him that there was a possibility, no matter how small, that he could die at any time; and Sasuke bit his lower lip in anger before he turned his head towards Sakura again and glared. He was about to repeat that he'll do everything he could to get stronger when Sakura said, "even I could die, or Naruto, or Sensei, or any of our friends. We could all die tomorrow, or the day after, or next month, or…"
"What's your point, Sakura," Sasuke hissed as he turned his body towards Sakura, his mind already counting down the time since Naruto left for training. He told himself that he should be training too, that he needed to pit himself against someone strong to determine how ready he was to beat Itachi. He was glaring at Sakura while thinking to himself that the girl was wasting his time, especially when she could be training as well.
A second later, Sakura stepped forward and then gently placed a hand on his left upper arm. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, wondering what Sakura was trying to do. And then she spoke, "protecting someone you love makes you stronger, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke frowned before he was about to turn around and leave the balcony when Sakura stepped in front of him, her hand still on his arm.
"You should follow your own words to Naruto," Sasuke said looking down at the hand, and then back towards Sakura's face, "I'm not interested in you, Sakura. I'm not interested in the legion of loser girls who think they have affection for me because of my clan name and my circumstances. You're a teammate, and a teammate's job is to get stronger. And right now, you are the weakest one on this team."
Sasuke saw the look of hurt on Sakura's face. It lasted for a few seconds before it faded away, only to be overtaken with a look of determination.
"Then… then train with me," Sasuke looked on as Sakura continued, "we'll grow stronger together. We'll train together with Naruto, you know… and… and… and in the meantime just think about what I'm telling you, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke simply glared at Sakura.
"Having someone to love makes you want to get stronger to protect that person," Sakura said as Sasuke simply listened, "I love you, Sasuke-kun. I have for a very long time and… and I am willing to train as hard as I need to so that I can get stronger, just so that you would recognize me as the one who…"
Sasuke could see that Sakura was beginning to blush as she looked away slightly.
"Who what?" he asked, curious now about why Sakura was blushing.
"As the one who would eventually bear you the children you need to restart your clan." Sakura spoke rapidly, her blush increasing as she looked away after finishing what she wanted to say. Even Sasuke could feel a blush forming on his cheeks as he looked away from Sakura as well. He continued to look away while Sakura turned her head back towards him and said, "if… if you have a family to protect then… then that's a motivation to become stronger, Sasuke-kun. So… so please consider what I'm telling you. I will support you… I will watch your back… and Naruto's too and… and please, just think about what I said?"
"Hn," Sasuke, trying to mentally force the blush on his cheeks away, grunted as he twisted his arm from Sakura's grip before he put his hands into his pockets. He walked past her. Suddenly he stopped as Sakura turned, the girl now looking at the back on his head, as he said, "what's the point of rebuilding my clan now when all I'll be thinking about is the death of the man who killed everyone in it? What if he comes back and decides to kill any children I may have?" Sasuke looked over his shoulder at the determined look on Sakura's face, "have you thought about that?"
"You'll train hard, I'll train hard, I know Naruto will train hard, and we have our friends and a whole village behind us," Sakura said, her hands clasped together on her chest, "your children… hopefully our children…" Sasuke frowned at the look of hope on Sakura's face as she continued, "will be safe. Sasuke-kun, we'll work together to bring that man to…"
"This is my fight, Sakura," Sasuke said, however, in the back of his mind, a part of him agreed with what Sakura had been saying. That if he should somehow die, then the clan would die with him. The Uchiha would be extinct. And that thought was the first clink in his armour… but Sasuke pushed that thought aside as he then began walking away into the large room, "there's no 'we'. It's just me, and…."
"What did Kakashi sensei teach us about teamwork?" Sakura said, taking a step back as Sasuke stopped again, "how can we let you fight this man on your own without being called lower than trash?"
Sasuke looked away from Sakura and then began walking towards the large room. Crossing the threshold, Sasuke looked over his shoulder and said, with cheeks that were blushing, "if you mean what you say, then train harder. I don't know if you realized it or not, but you could have been already training if you hadn't been talking to me all this time."
"I.. I know," Sakura nodded her head, "but it was something that needed to be said, Sasuke-kun."
"Then we should join Naruto," Sasuke said as he made his way towards the front door, "you should talk to sensei, tell him that we're heading out and will be back in an hour."
Sakura could only nod her head as she watched Sasuke walking towards the front door while she made her way to the door where Kakashi was still checking the older versions of Naruto and herself. As she stepped in front of the room's door, Sakura imagined being wedded to Sasuke while her bitter rival, Ino, was sobbing loudly that she should have been the Uchiha's wife. Sakura had a small smile on her face as she knocked on the door before telling Kakashi that she, Sasuke, and Naruto were going for some training.
In the meantime, as Sasuke stepped out of Tazuna's home, he had to admit that everything Sakura said seemed to make sense. And all Sasuke could do was mentally tell himself that he had some thinking to do.
Tsunade, now.
Tsunade followed Tsunami into the modest home, Shizune closing the door behind her. Tsunami led the two of them into the living room, walking past the kitchen which was facing the foyer where they took off their shoes, and the front door. It was upon entering the living room that Tsunade laid her eyes on the people sitting around a table looking back up at her; a child wearing a blue and white pin-stripe hat looked back over his shoulder with the tail end of a fish hanging of the side of his mouth, next to the boy was an old man drinking beer who stood up as Tsunami explained she was going to get Kakashi.
Tsunade's eyes then shifted, and her heart jumped at the sight of the young Naruto who was looking back up her with curiosity on his face as he chewed on some rice he popped into his mouth just as she entered the room. Tsunade gave a small smile before nodding her head at Naruto, who gulped down the rice before giving her a small smile; and then she looked over at the young Sakura… the pink haired girl was just as Tsunade remembered when she first became her apprentice.
However, Tsunade could sense there was something wrong from their body language… the biggest give-away was that Naruto seemed to relax a bit more when he looked up at her whereas earlier he had been tensed up while sitting next to Sakura.
'Or it could be just my imagination,' Tsunade thought to herself before her eyes focused on the Uchiha, and she did everything in her power to keep the small smile on her face as she nodded her head. The boy who had caused so much trouble for her village, who had broken both Sakura and Naruto, was here sitting next to Sakura. The girl was sitting closer to the Uchiha than Naruto, and a part of Tsunade was unhappy with that given the boy's future S-Rank Missing Nin status.
Her eyes shifting away from Sasuke to the man with grey hair approaching her, she nodded her head as he said, "my name is Tazuna. Welcome… sorry, you are?"
"My name is…"
"Tsunade-sama?" a male voice asked. Tsunade heard the gasp from Sakura before Naruto leaned sideways and whispered towards the pinkette if Tsunade was anyone important. The Sannin ignored the three Genin and turned towards the grey haired Jonin who was walking towards them with Tsunami by his side, "I… I don't understand how or… why are you here?"
"Tsunade-sama of the Legendary Sannin?" Sakura asked, her voice pitch higher in surprise, while Sasuke stared at the woman and Naruto's question was ignored. Naruto was still confused as he scratched his cheeks; he supposed that Sakura's surprised statement was the answer he was looking for, but he still had many questions. For example, he had no idea who the Legendary Sannin were as he made a mental note to ask Sakura later.
'Or maybe I'll ask Sasuke,' Naruto thought as he looked up at the young woman with the large chest, 'I don't want to get screamed at again.' Naruto's eyes then went towards the younger dark haired woman and the pig she was holding. Naruto didn't really know what to ask about the pig. All he did was sigh, reminding himself to ask Sasuke later, 'or I'll just ask Shikamaru later. Yeah, maybe that's the best thing to do. Shikamaru would know.' It was then that Naruto realized he missed something. His eyes went back to Tsunade's forehead, and his eye narrowed at the familiarity of it with the one on the Older Sakura.
Tsunade turned her head towards the younger Sakura and nodded her head before turning towards Naruto who said that she had the same seal as the Older Sakura in the other room.
"Naruto, that was supposed to be a secret, dumbass," Sasuke said as Sakura slapped the back of his head.
"Baka!" Sakura exclaimed to say, as Tsunade sighed before turning back towards Kakashi who was looking back at her with suspicion. She didn't blame the Jonin for his suspicions, after all it was his job to not only teach his Genin, but to protect them as well. And the arrival of a stranger, even one who was a Sannin, would be something so unexpected that it bordered on suspicious.
Tsunade turned back towards Shizune and told her to stay by her side before she turned back towards Kakashi again.
"I assume you already know my apprentice Shizune," Tsunade said as Shizune blushed before bowing her head towards Kakashi.
She then lifted her head back up before saying, "Kakashi-san."
Kakashi nodded his head at Shizune before his eye shifted towards Tsunade, who then continued to speak.
"A few hours ago, I was in a nearby gambling town," Tsunade said, and it was something that Tazuna confirmed before adding that many of the villagers used to go to that town for gambling and prostitution.
"Ewww," Inari and the others shivered, even Sasuke.
Tsunade then continued after that little interruption, "so imagine my surprise when I suddenly had memories form in my head of an older Naruto and Sakura falling through the sky towards the unfinished bridge out there."
Shizune was confused as she stared at Tsunade before whispering, "Tsunade-sama? What are you talking about?" It was just then that she noticed Kakashi tensing up.
Tsunade stared at the surprised look on Kakashi's face as she continued, "I know the older versions of Naruto and Sakura are here, Kakashi. And I need to know if they're okay. I… I need to know what happened?"
"Wait," Kakashi narrowed his eye at the blonde woman while the others whispered among themselves at what Tsunade just said, "Tsunade-sama… are you saying that… I mean…" He then shook his head before taking a deep breath, "are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"I need to see them, Kakashi," Tsunade said as the Genin and everyone else looked on, "what happened when they hit the ground? Were they injured? When I saw them, they were falling, and I heard them screaming so… so how did they survive?" Tsunade took one step forward and asked, hopeful that the answer will be a positive one, "are they alive, Kakashi?"
Tsunade could see Kakashi hesitate for just a moment before he breathed out and then nodded his head. And Tsunade felt at peace that the two of them, her future subordinates, were safe and sound. However, she still wanted to know how they made it down safe, and figured that was a question the two of them could answer. Once Kakashi said that he would take her to them, Tsunade nodded her head before telling Shizune to join them.
"The rest of you," Kakashi said looking over at Naruto and the others, "stay here." He then turned to Naruto, "S-Rank secrets, Naruto. I'll excuse this mistake as excitement on your part just this once. Don't do it again."
Naruto gulped at the serious expression on Kakashi's masked face before he nodded his head. He then smiled under his mask before putting his hands on his waist and saying, "a Hokage knows to not reveal information that is supposed to be secret, Naruto. Understand?"
Naruto nodded his head in the affirmative before Kakashi turned towards her, "I think we have a lot of things that need to be talked about, Tsunade-sama." Tsunade nodded her head before she, Shizune, and Tonton were led to another room where the older Naruto and Sakura were laid down on Tatami mats. Tsunade took in a deep breath before she walked into the room following Kakashi, her eyes on the two teens.
"Naruto, Sakura. You brats, what did you two do?" Tsunade said looking down at the two of them as she walked around Naruto and was about to kneel between them while Shizune gaped at the sight of the two teenagers; two teens who looked so much like two of the three children in the living room. Tsunade glanced at Shizune who was particularly focused on the seal on Sakura's forehead while Kakashi closed the door behind him.
"Tsunade-sama," the girl said kneeling next to Sakura, "this seal is just like your Strength of a Hundred Seal."
"That's because it is," Tsunade said as she began a medical examination that started with Sakura since she knew that the Kyuubi would be dealing with whatever injuries befell Naruto. She glanced at the surprise on Shizune's face before her eyes shifted towards Kakashi who was staring back at her. Tsunade then looked back down at Sakura as she placed her hand on the side of her neck, "this older Haruno Sakura is my second apprentice after you, Shizune."
"But… but that's not possible, Tsunade-sama," Shizune said while Tonton oinked his agreement, "I was with you, by your side the whole time we were together and… and I never saw you take on another apprentice."
"You're right, Shizune," Tsunade said before nodding her head as she placed a hand on Sakura's forehead before whispering, "Chakra Exhaustion, but she's recovering." Tsunade then sighed before looking back towards Shizune, "I asked you to believe me because what I am about to say may seem impossible, but…" Tsunade looked over at Kakashi, "I'm guessing Kakashi has already deduced it, correct?"
"When all other explanations are taken out of the equation, then the impossible has to be the truth," Kakashi said, "Tsunade-sama…. I don't know how but… but you're from the same future as these older versions of Naruto and Sakura, aren't you?"
"What?!" Shizune exclaimed while Tonton oinked loudly in surprise.
Tsunade nodded at Kakashi as she added, "and believe me when I tell you that I have no idea how I'm here." Tsunade then looked over at the surprised, and a little worried, Shizune before looking down at her pink haired apprentice. Tsunade took in her injuries before her eyes focused on Sakura's torn sleeve and the acid burn. The future Godaime gingerly brushed her fingers against the raised scar tissue and whispered, "how did this happen?" Tsunade shook her head before looking over at Naruto who was already healing nicely.
Tsunade then made some hand seals before placing the palm of her hand on the space between Naruto and Sakura. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu." Two small slugs appeared in a puff of smoke before they were picked up by Tsunade and each placed on Naruto and Sakura's chests, "Katsuyu, begin transferring some of my chakra to these two until they awake. Once they do, then dispel."
"Understood, Tsunade-sama," the two slugs said as Tsunade remained kneeling on the floor between the two teens and looked up at Kakashi and Shizune, both of whom were speechless.
"I won't tell you everything," Tsunade said shaking her head as she motioned for the two to take a seat on the floor, "there are some things that I simply don't know, or things that can only be said to the Sandaime, 'especially about that bastard Obito.' Tsunade sighed before continuing, "To be honest, I'd rather tell the Hokage this in person, but I'm guessing the two…" Tsunade then looked over at Tonton, "sorry, Tonton. I meant that I'm sure the three of you, want an explanation."
"Yes," Kakashi said while Shizune was simply staring at Tsunade with confusion on her face.
"If this is the mission to the Land of Waves, then that means the…" Tsunade stopped. There were a lot of think that she could touch on, but felt that the Fourth War would be a good place to start, at least for now. When they returned to Konoha, she could have the Yamanaka clan use their technique to broadcast their memories to the Hokage and the Elders, 'we need to deal with that traitorous Danzo first.' But for now, Tsunade decided to give them some limited information, "in about five years, there will be another war."
"Tsunade-sama, you're…"
Shizune stopped talking at the glare from Tsunade. She closed her lips, preventing herself from saying that what Tsunade just revealed was ridiculous. Instead, the assistant to the future Godaime Hokage looked over at the older Sakura, and then she thought about the younger version sitting out in the living room. The two looked so similar, and the seal on the older girl was the Strength of A Hundred seal… Tsunade herself confirmed it.
'But still…' Shizune thought to herself as she glanced at Kakashi who was waiting on Tsunade to continue. Shizune looked away and back towards Tsunade, "sorry, Tsunade-sama."
"Having these new memories… or old memories… I suppose, is strange for me too, Shizune," Tsunade said shaking her head while rubbing her left temple, "I need for you to trust me, because what's coming is… is deadly." Tsunade then turned towards Kakashi, "in the future I'm from, I am the Godaime Hokage."
That put looks of surprise on Kakashi, Shizune, and Tonton; especially the last two since they knew Tsunade would never have gone back to Konoha for anything. And that included becoming the Hokage.
"The Godaime?" Kakashi was stunned,
"EEEEEEEEH?" Shizune cried out in surprise.
Tsunade waved their reactions off before continuing while looking down at Naruto, a small smile on her face, "I would never have come back if not for this idiot."
Kakashi glanced at the older Naruto, and then back up at Tsunade who placed a hand gently on his forehead. He guessed that if Tsunade had become the Hokage, then that meant the Sandaime was either dead or retired. He wondered, as did Shizune and Tonton, what role Naruto played in Tsunade's return to the village and her ascension to Hokage. But they could guess that was a question for another time as Tsunade continued to speak about the future.
"For the first time in living memory, the five Kage combined the forces of all our villages to fight for humanity against Uchiha Madara..."
"Uchiha Madara?" Kakashi was even more stunned now, "one of the founders of Konoha? But, he's dead… he's been dead for a long time. The Shodai…"
"He was an Edo Tensei, and believe me…." She then looked up while recalling the battle where she was cut in half, "if it wasn't for Katsuyu and that snake Orochimaru, I would have died after he ploughed through the Kages and cut me in half." Tsunade pressed her lips together at the surprise on the faces of Kakashi, Shizune, and Tonton. "Anyway," Tsunade continued as she looked down at the unconscious Sakura and Naruto, "it was all five villages against a powerful enemy, Kakashi. I can't give you the details without talking to the Sandaime since… well… it deals with a few S-Ranked secrets." Tsunade looked at Kakashi once again, "know that Uchiha Madara wasn't the only one we fought."
"But…"
Tsunade looked down at Naruto and Sakura before sighing, "in the end, if these two are here, then I can only guess that we lost." Tsunade remembered looking up at the red sharingan reflected on the moon before she was over taken by darkness, and then a moment later, she saw Naruto and Sakura in that blue and white tunnel before following the screaming teens down towards the Land of Waves, "the last thing I remembered was Naruto, Sakura, you, and Sasuke fighting the enemy before everything became dark. And now I'm back here, Naruto and Sakura are back here. The Uchiha's not back here and…"
"Ummm…"
Tsunade stopped speaking upon hearing the groan from Naruto. She looked down over at the blonde while Kakashi was staring at Tsunade. The masked man was thinking to himself that Tsunade's voice was filled with contempt when he mentioned Sasuke's clan name. At first, he thought it had something to do with the old enmity between the Senju and the Uchiha, but he pushed that aside quickly. He remembered the look of contempt and anger she tried to hide earlier when she smiled and nodded her head at Sasuke.
'What was that about?' Kakashi thought before turning towards Naruto who was rolling his head from side to side.
"Brat," Tsunade whispered, placed a hand on the side of his head as the Katsuyu on his chest dispelled, "Naruto, can you hear me?"
Tsunade saw Naruto slowly opening his eyes, before closing them again while licking his lips. Her heart was racing as she shifted her eyes towards his chest so that she could see it expand and contract before looking back towards his whiskered face. Tsunade was about to call his name once again, but Naruto beat her to the punch.
Naruto (Older)
"Baa-chan," he whispered, opening his eyes slowly once again as he looked straight back at her, a look of confusion forming on his face.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" Tsunade replied, a small smile on her face as Kakashi and Shizune looked at each other before turning back towards Tsunade and Naruto; two people they were certain had never met.
Naruto chuckled before saying in a tired voice, "please, you're over sixty… or is it seventy. You're a Baa-chan."
"Brat," Tsunade chuckled, placing her hand on Naruto's forehead before continuing, "Naruto, I know you're exhausted, but I need to know..."
"Sakura-chan? Where's Sakura-chan?" Naruto whispered looking up at Tsunade, his eyes widening open, before he turned his head to the side and saw both Kakashi and Shizune, as well as Tonton, looking back at him. "Kakashi-sensei, Shizune-neechan…" Naruto was surprised at the presence of Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton since there was no way they could be in the Land of Waves in the first place. But his mind was focused on Sakura as his head turned to the other side and his eyes shifted towards the pink haired teen lying next to him.
'Sakura-chan,' he thought as he watched the girl with her eyes closed, her chest expanding and contracting while the small fist sized slug was glowing green. 'Oh God, she's so beautiful.' Naruto turned his head towards Tsunade once again while he started to feel the rest of his body… he had been feeling numb until now, so having feeling back in his limbs was a welcome relief, "how… how are you and Shizune-neechan here?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Tsunade answered in a gentle voice, "the last thing I remember was darkness covering over me, and then I find myself staring down at the two of you falling down towards the bridge. I remember flying though the air and then entering my own body… which still sounds so ridiculous."
Tsunade then sighed at Naruto narrowing his eyes, 'he's suspicious. Good.' Tsunade then added, "I remember everything. I read the report on the Land of Waves mission, I wasn't here the first time. I remember the challenge I issued the day you and Jiraira found me. You restored my faith in the Hokage position, remember." Naruto then released the breath he was holding, the boy assured that Tsunade was who he thought she was supposed to be.
"How about Shizune-neechan?" Naruto turned his head towards Shizune who nervously waved her hand, "do you remember?" Shizune shook her head.
"It seems she doesn't remember," Tsunade said as she turned her head to look at Shizune, and then back towards Kakashi, and then back to Naruto, "I know you're tired, Naruto, but can you tell me what happened?"
"We failed, Baa-chan," Naruto whispered as he stared directly into Tsunade's eyes, before he turned his head towards Sakura once again. He could feel his arms already, and so he willed his arm to move towards Sakura's hands, "but I need to talk to Sakura-chan. She.. she had a plan… we need to…" Naruto felt eyes on him as his finger's brushed Sakura's hand lying on the mat. He then tore his eyes away from the profile of her face and back towards Tsunade, "we were supposed to look for you before making our way back to Konoha."
"Here I am," Tsunade whispered, her eyes glancing down at Naruto's fingers brushing the top of Sakura's hand. Her eyes shifted back to Naruto's face with a raised eyebrow, "what are you doing, brat?"
"Sakura-chan shared her chakra with me," Naruto whispered turning his head away from Tsunade towards Sakura's profile with Kakashi and Shizune looking on from the other side, "she released the seal on her forehead and transferred some of her chakra since Kurama was weakened…"
"Kurama?" Kakashi asked.
"My…" Naruto turned his head towards Kakashi just as he had a flash of memory where he was kneeling on the ground holding onto Kakashi's hand while the latter's body was slowly turning to dust. Naruto recalled tears going down his cheeks as Kakashi gave him an eye smile before saying he was proud of Team Seven working together once again, and that he would see them in the purelands, along with Sasuke, Obito, Minato, Jiraiya, and Kushina. That memory fading away, Naruto found himself back in Tazuna's home, and he could feel wetness gathering as he stared at Kakashi before he looked away and brought his left hand up to wipe his eyes, "sorry, Kakashi-Sensei, I just saw you die so…"
Tsunade glanced up at Kakashi who was speechless. His eyes met hers before looking back at Naruto.
"Before Sakura slipped into unconsciousness," Kakashi said, "she said she was glad to see me alive."
"Sasuke?" Tsunade asked.
"Dead," Naruto whispered, his cheeks now dry of tears after wiping them away with his left hand, "anyway, my… well… my tenant…"
"Tenant?" Shizune said as she looked at Kakashi, and then at Tsunade, and then at Naruto, "what…"
"The Third's Law is still in effect, Naruto," Tsunade said, "you can tell Shizune about… well… you know… But Kakashi and I can't. But we can wait until later for that."
Just before Naruto was about to tell Shizune that he was the Jinchuriki for the Kyuubi, there was a groan from Sakura's lips just as Katsuyu popped away.
"Sakura-chan."
"Sakura," both Kakashi and Tsunade said as the pink haired teen slowly opened her eyes. Jade orbs landed on brown and there was an audible gasp.
"Shishou?" Sakura whispered at Tsunade before she turned her head to her side and saw Kakashi and Shizune, and then to the other side towards Naruto who was looking back at her. Sakura saw the nervous smile on his face; unknown to Sakura, he was remembering the conversation about the beating he would be getting over the remark about her forehead. Sakura narrowed her eyes at him before looking up at Tsunade, her mind swirling with questions about Tsunade's presence in the Land of Waves when she wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. "What are you doing here?"
"First, I'm glad that the both of you are alright," Tsunade said looking down at Sakura before her eyes went towards Naruto, and then back to Sakura, "second, I too would like to know what I'm doing here since the last thing I remember was…"
"Tsunade-shishou," Sakura said, interrupting the blonde woman, "I know you, Kakashi-sensei, and Shizune-senpai have a lot of questions for us," Sakura took a deep breath before continuing, "but before we answer any questions, may I speak to Naruto alone?"
"Alone?" Tsunade asked, eyebrow raised.
"Alone?" Naruto said, a tinge of fear on his voice as Sakura turned her head towards him and narrowed her eyes. He gulped before a chill ran up and down his spine as, in the back of his mind, Kurama chuckled while lightly sleeping, "now?"
"Or would you prefer it when I can actually move my arms and pound you into Naruto paste," Sakura's left eyebrow twitched.
"Now is good," Naruto squeaked as he recalled Kurama saying he would be beaten up by Sakura. However, since she couldn't move her arms fully, Naruto thought it best not to wait until she could, 'a Ninja takes all the advantages he or she can get. And I do not want to be beaten up by Sakura-chan.'
"And this is something you couldn't speak about in front of us?" Kakashi asked, his curiosity piqued. 'What are they hiding?'
"What is this about, Naruto, Sakura?" Tsunade beat Kakashi to the question, her voice stern, "somehow we've come to the past and you want to talk to each other about… what?"
"A prank," Sakura said as she glared at Naruto while Tsunade narrowed her eyes, as did Kakashi and Shizune, while Tonton made a quizzical 'oink'. Tsunade then looked up at Kakashi and Shizune, her face etched with confusion before looking back down at the two teens looking at each other.
"That was not a prank, Sakura-chan." Naruto was in disbelief that Sakura could even think he'd prank her, "it was real, and…"
"Then why didn't you come to me as you… why did you come to me as Sasuke-kun?" Sakura demanded to know, the both of them already forgetting that there were three others in the room as they stared at each other. It was as if they were in their own little world, "Naruto, you just came to me that day under the tree when I was feeling low and… and you said that… and…"
"What did he say?" Tsunade asked before turning to Naruto and growled, "what did you do?"
"I… I… wait, I thought Sakura-chan asked for some privacy!" Naruto exclaimed as he turned his head towards Tsunade. The boy could feel the arm he lifted towards the Slug Princess. He pointed at her before exclaiming it was a private conversation.
And before anyone could answer, Naruto turned to Sakura and continued, "I did tell you it was a joke."
"No you didn't."
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Naruto! You didn't tell me it was a joke!" she hissed low. She then closed her eyes and shook her head, "tell me the truth, was it a prank? Or did you really mean what you said?"
Kakashi and the others had questioning looks now, but although they needed to know what happened in the future, they still wanted to know what it was that Naruto did to make Sakura so angry.
"I meant what I said," Naruto answered, "Sakura'chan, I told you, while I was Sasuke, that what I, as Sasuke, said was something I… I mean me as Naruto… would say!" Naruto slightly raised his voice since he knew he needed to defend himself. He recalled saying that it was only something 'Naruto would say'.
Sakura then whispered "you baka! I thought Sasuke-kun was only being coy!"
"Wha…. I… I wasn't being…"
"I didn't know it was you, you dummy!" Sakura exclaimed. Her loud voice travelled through the thin walls and reached the ears of the people in the living room. The words hit the ears of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke – the latter two who turned to a genuinely confused Naruto.
"What did you do?" the younger Sakura hissed while Naruto shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know what they're talking about," the younger Naruto whispered as he looked at Sakura, and then he shifted his eyes to the spot where Sasuke had been sitting. Until now, that is. Naruto saw the dark haired boy tip-toeing down the hallway with Inari, Tazuna, and Tsunami… all of them wanting to know what it was that had the older Sakura yelling at who they presumed was the older Naruto. The younger Naruto motioned at Sakura towards Tsunami walking into the hallway, and the two of them quickly, but silently, got up and tip-toed into the hallway where Sasuke already was crouching next to the door.
Inside the room, the older Sakura closed her eyes and took in a deep breathe. She opened her eyes once again, looked into Naruto's blue orbs, and her heart raced. Her anger slowly faded away as she realized Naruto really meant what he had said, even if it was under a henge.
"I didn't know how you would act if it was me," the Older Naruto said while Tsunade got up to her feet, "I thought if I came to you henged as Sasuke, then maybe I'd know how you… you know… really felt about me."
The younger Sakura and Naruto reached the door at that point, and the two of them froze. Sakura looked at Sasuke who pointed at himself and shook his head before nodding at Naruto. The younger Sakura then turned her head towards Naruto when the older version said, "and I meant what I said, 'ttebayo."
Sakura took in a deep breath as she imagined Naruto being the one who told her about her forehead. She was wondering what she would do if she was younger again, she wondered how she would act if Naruto appeared as himself that day. The truth was she didn't know. What she know what that day was the defining moment when she realized Sasuke had a soft, romantic spot underneath his cold and calm exterior; that was the day that Sakura's crush turned to love.
'And it was Naruto the whole time,' she thought before saying, "baka, that day… the things that I thought Sasuke said? Those words confirmed to me that he was a person who… who deep down… loved me."
"Oh," Naruto said, his eyes widened.
"Oh," Tsunade and Kakashi whispered.
And both Shizune and Tonton remained confused.
At overhearing that confession, the younger Sakura and Naruto looked at each other. Naruto had a nervous smile on his face, a smile that vanished at the look of anger on the younger Sakura's face.
"How could you do that to me? How could you make a fool out of me?" the younger Sakura hissed before she stormed past the whiskered blonde who stood frozen still. He stared at the spot where Sakura was once standing, and then looked away towards Sasuke who was staring at the door. Naruto then saw the looks of pity from Inari, Tazuna, and Tsunami before he turned and began walking away. He didn't see Sasuke close his eyes and shake his head; nor did he stop to glance at Sakura crying softly on the balcony in the living room – her back was to him.
Instead, all the younger Naruto did was walk out the front door as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Back in the room, Tsunade walked towards Kakashi, Shizune, and Tonton while the two teens were staring at each other, "Kakashi, Shizune, I guess it would be best to drink some tea while these two talk through their angsty issues. I'd like their minds to be free of any lingering thoughts about whatever's going on between them before they can fill in some of the blank spots in my memory."
Kakashi nodded his head before he left the room with Tsunade, followed by both Shizune and Tonton. The hall outside the door completely empty now; the eavesdroppers rushed off back into the living room. Kakashi and the others made their way to the living room where they saw Tazuna and his family were seated around the table while Sasuke was leaning his back against the wall. They then saw Sakura walking back into the room, her eyes were red and puffy, tear trails were still visible no matter how hard she tried to wipe them away with the back of her hand.
They saw her sitting next to Sasuke while staring at the floor.
"Where's Naruto?" Kakashi asked, noticing that the blonde was missing.
"Ummm…" Tazuna rubbed his chin just before Sasuke interrupted him.
"We kind of overheard bits of what the older Naruto and Sakura were saying," Sasuke said before sighing, "Naruto's outside."
"We should really talk about you guys following orders," Kakashi said, eyeing Sasuke and then Sakura before shaking his head, 'the incident the older Sakura and Naruto were talking about must have already happened, and Sakura is feeling humiliated.' He then glanced at Tsunade who shook her head before turning and walking out the front door, telling both Shizune and Tonton to stay in the house.
Tsunade, just before reaching the front door, stopped and looked over her shoulder at Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi. She sighed, hopeful that what happened to Team Seven in her future didn't happen to this one.
"Kakashi, I'll talk to Naruto and then bring him back," Tsunade said, "I'll leave Shizune and Tonton here. Shizune's one of my apprentices, if you need anyone healed then she's your girl." Shizune blushed at the compliment as Tazuna stood up slowly while saying that some of the construction workers were injured, and that they were short on doctor.
"The faster we can get them healed, the faster we can finish this bridge," Tazuna said.
Tsunade nodded her head before looking over to Shizune, "if Sakura and Sasuke need healing, then heal them. Once you're done, start triage protocols."
"Understood," Shizune said nodding her head before looking over at Tazuna, "I'll need an area to begin work."
Tazuna nodded his head, a wide smile on his face.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said, "I know it's not in your mission parameters, but like Tazuna-san said… the faster they heal, the faster this bridge is done, and the faster we'll accompany you to Konoha."
"I'll have Sasuke guard Shizune," Kakashi said, "Sakura and Naruto…"
"Sensei, I…"
"Sakura will guard Tazuna's family, just in case," Kakashi said, cutting off the younger Sakura, "I'll have Naruto set up his clones to guard any makeshift infirmary."
"I'll get him back here after I talk to him," Tsunade said before she shunshined away.
"Tazuna-san, if you'd please…" Shizune bowed, "I would like to begin work immediately."
At the same time that Shizune followed Tazuna and Inari, and Kakashi spoke with both Sakura and Sasuke on their duties.
While of that was happening, back in the other room, the older Naruto and Sakura were speaking.
"Naruto, every time I saw Sasuke-kun, I was reminded of those words," Sakura said in a gentle voice as Naruto looked on, "I…" she took a deep breath and then continued, "I thought he accepted me and my biggest flaw… my forehead." She then chuckled, "that was him acknowledging me, Naruto."
"Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered, unsure what to say next.
"Did you really mean what you said? Was it a joke? A prank?"
"Maybe I could have done it better but… no, it wasn't a prank," Naruto whispered as a smiled formed on Sakura's face.
Sakura took in a deep breath again before saying, "everything that happened later, was because I was reminded of those words. I thought I could keep him in Konoha because I thought deep down he loved me, I thought I could convince him to take me with him because I thought deep down he loved me…"
"Sakura-chan," Naruto said in surprise. He didn't know that Sakura offered to leave the village with Sasuke.
Sakura shook her head while saying, "it wasn't my proudest moment." She stared at Naruto, tears welling into her eyes as she continued, "those words he said echoed in my head that day at Konoha main entrance. The day I came to you and the retrieval team blubbering like a fool and…"
"You were not a fool," Naruto said shaking his head, "you…"
"Those words were in my head when I begged you to bring Sasuke-kun back," Sakura had tears going down her cheeks now, "those were the words that had you make that promise of a lifetime."
"Sak…"
"That promise you made was for me," Sakura said, "later on, you wanted to bring Sasuke-kun for you… for us… but that first promise was for me." Sakura closed her eyes and whispered, "Sai was right, that promise was like a poison that… that was…"
"Sakura-chan, you're wrong," Naruto said shaking his head.
"Am I?" Sakura asked, "Naruto…"
"You're wrong," Naruto whispered, "I would have still gone on the mission to bring him back, even if you didn't ask me to bring him back."
Sakura shook her head, realizing that Naruto was correct. He still would have gone to retrieve Sasuke. He still would have gotten injured at the Valley of the End. She turned her head to look up at the ceiling while feeling Naruto looking at her.
"What would you have done if I came to you as me? What if I was the one who said that you have a charming forehead and that I wanted to kiss it?"
Sakura turned towards Naruto after he finished the question, and looked straight into his eyes. The truth was that Sakura still didn't know what she would have done. It wasn't as if her feelings for Sasuke would have gone away just like that, but would her feelings for Naruto have begun then and there? Could a part of her heart have been given away to the blonde much earlier?
"I know the kind of girl I was then, Naruto," Sakura knew she needed to be honest with Naruto, "I think I would have knocked you out for pretending to be Sasuke-kun…" she saw Naruto flinch as he looked away, "but I'd also know that you acknowledge me for my faults." She smiled as Naruto turned his head and looked back into her eyes, "I honestly don't know what would have happened, but what I hope would have happened is that I'd start keeping a place for you in my heart. Maybe I wouldn't have been so obsessed with Sasuke-kun, or…"
"Great, It's my fault," Naruto whined while Sakura chuckled.
"I would have still been obsessed with him, I guess," Sakura stated, "maybe not as much. Maybe I'd have encouraged you more."
"Which may mean you'd hit me more," Naruto chuckled.
"To keep you in line and stop you from saying, or doing, stupid things?" Sakura narrowed her eyes, "you bet."
Naruto chuckled before he continued to stare at Sakura.
"When I almost killed Sasuke-kun at the land of Iron," Sakura said, "my Kunai was inches away when I remembered what he said… or what you said… it made me believe there was still good in him."
Naruto remembered that day very well. How could he forget? It was the day Sakura lied about loving him. He was about to ask if she really meant what she said, but the pink haired girl spoke first, "I thought declaring my love for him again would bring those feelings… the ones I thought he had for me… back." Sakura then looked away, "I remember how upset you were when I said that, Naruto. I can never fix that… but…"
"Did you mean it, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, surprising the pink haired girl, "when you confessed you loved me, did you mean it? Or did you really lie? Or did you lie about the lie?"
"Naru.."
"It won't change my feelings for you," Naruto whispered as Sakura looked on, "I still love you. I loved you the first time we met, and I know my feelings will be the same the day we die."
"Do you think I lied?" Sakura asked gently as she remembered the anger on Naruto's face when he said "I hate people who lie to themselves" back in the Land of Iron.
Naruto thought back to that day as their surroundings changed. The two of them were now standing under falling snow with a cold breeze causing their capes to flutter sideways. At that moment, it was only Naruto and Sakura standing under the snow. There were no witnesses, just two teenagers; one having made a declaration of love and the other standing opposite her.
"I don't know…" Naruto whispered as he stared at Sakura, snow landing on her pink hair as they stood on the layer of snow, "my gut told me that you were lying. And so…"
Sakura took a step forward, closing the gap between them as the snow continued to fall from the grey coloured skies above. Her green eyes were locked onto Naruto's deep blues as she said, "my first thoughts were about the pain I caused you. That promise…"
"Sak.."
"Let me finish, Naruto," Sakura whispered. The two were silent for a few seconds before Naruto nodded his head. Sakura took in a deep breath and then spoke, "Sai was kind of correct. That promise was like poison, but it also pushed you. I imagine that crying girl at the gate begging you also pushed you along." Sakura just stared at Naruto as she traced his whisker marks with her eyes before locking back onto his blue orbs, "on the way here, I knew what you wanted to hear from me. Three words that I thought would help ease your pain, and we could go back home. Three words that I hope would help heal the pain I was responsible for causing when I made you make that promise"
"I love you," Naruto repeated those three words.
Sakura nodded and then said, "I never counted on the possibility that you would want Sasuke-kun back for your own reasons, Naruto. And that was my mistake." Sakura looked away and down towards the drifting snow, "I made a lot of mistakes. So many, many mistakes." She then looked back up into Naruto's eyes, "when you said that you hate people who lie to themselves, it broke my heart."
Naruto looked away, as did Sakura who continued, "I thought that I wouldn't be affected since I… I said what I thought you wanted to hear. Then… then, when you said that, my heart broke. At first I didn't know why… but when we were facing Kaguya at the end…" Sakura took another step forward, her sandals crunching he snow beneath their feet. She raised both arms and grabbed a hold of Naruto's hands, "when I thought we were about to die, I saw my life flash by in a single second. Every single moment of every second, hour, day, week, month, and year. It flashed by just like that."
Naruto gulped. The boy wanted to say something, Sakura was sure of it as the condensation, caused by the exhalation of her breath, brushed against his chin. But she powered through.
"As my life flashed before my eyes," Sakura said, "I realized why my heart broke. I began admiring you then… I began admiring you from the moment I saw you never give up against Zabuza… do you remember? When you went back for your forehead protector?"
"Yeah," Naruto whispered.
"It wasn't romantic love," Sakura clarified as Naruto looked on, "but that admiration grew over time. And like I told you already, you started taking places in my heart that were reserved for Sasuke-kun. It took the end of the world for me to realize it, Naruto." Sakura and Naruto interlocked their fingers together, "it took the end of the world for me to realize that I meant the words 'I love you' that day. That I love my blonde baka."
"Hey," Naruto whined at being called 'Baka' as Sakura chuckled. She closed her eyes, as did Naruto, and the two found themselves lying back on the tatami mats in Tazuna's home. They were still looking at each other, their hands over one another, the fingers inter-twined.
Sakura saw Naruto smile before he whispered, "I know I'll be second to Sasuke and…" Sakura was about to say something, but Naruto asked her gently to hold off, "I'm just glad that… I mean I'm not glad that…" Naruto then sighed, "what I'm trying to say is that I'm glad even if I have less than half of your heart reserved for me 'ttbayo. I know you will always love Sasuke."
"Baka," Sakura whispered with a deadpan expression, "that was a really bad pick up line."
"Hey," Naruto whined as Sakura started to chuckle, "I'm not exactly the greatest when it comes to this stuff."
"It's new for me too," Sakura whispered, her eyes full of mirth as she stared at the blonde next to her.
"Soooooooo…." Naruto drawled before speaking with a quizzical look on his face, "maybe we can go on a date?"
"Surprise me," she whispered before she had a smile on her face. She watched Naruto smile in contentment before she closed her eyes and whispered, "Naruto."
"Ummm?"
"Why didn't you kiss my forehead back then?" Sakura asked as Naruto started to nervously chuckle. The boy could hear Kurama goading him on in the back of his mind.
"Yes, Naruto. Why didn't you kiss her? Was there a problem?" Kurama bellowed before he began laughing as sweat gathered on Naruto's forehead.
"I… Ummmm… well…" Naruto then sighed, "I had some bad milk that morning so…."
And Kurama laughed out loud. It took Sakura some time to realize what Naruto meant before she started giggling too. In between the giggles she struggled to speak, "so… so… oh God…" Sakura laughed out loud while Naruto simply stared at the pink haired girl, "that.. that's why… that why you were holding your stomach and… and feeling sick…" She laughed for a few more seconds, tears coming out of her eyes. It would be a few seconds later that she stopped laughing, and looked on as Naruto moved his arms towards her and used a thumb to wipe the tears off her cheeks.
"Naruto," she whispered as he pulled back his arm and lay on his side before saying that he was finally getting feelings around his body thanks to the chakra boost from Tsunade. However, his left leg was still numb as Sakura whispered, "when are you ever going to kiss my forehead?"
Naruto grinned as he shimmied over with an excited look on his face. Sakura chuckled before he stopped, and then moved his head over her so that their eyes were locked. Sakura closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as she felt a warm pair of lips touch her forehead, right onto the purple seal, before she opened her eyes to find Naruto pulling back.
"Don't hit me," Naruto chuckled as Sakura smiled. She sighed as she stared up at Naruto, and wondered what she would have done if Sasuke also had made it back.
'He didn't,' Sakura thought to herself as she told Naruto that she still needed a chakra boost from Tsunade, 'but I'll always remember him. He has one part of my heart. But in the here and now, Naruto's here. He always been with me through thick and thin. And I'm not going to hurt him. Not again.'
Even though her body was numb from chakra exhaustion, Sakura still felt warmth spread from her forehead to the rest of her body. She sighed in contentment before a realization came to her. She looked over at Naruto and asked the very question that she was certain was going through Naruto's mind as well, "what's Tsunade-sama doing here?"
TBC.