They made it back to the village before lunch time, just as Kakashi had anticipated.

"Finally! Yes! See you guys later!" Naruto took off as soon as they passed through the big gate leading into the village.

"Naruto! Wait! We still have to report to…Lady Tsunade…" The last part of Kakashi's sentence was said to thin air because Naruto was gone. "Hhh, that boy."

"Hrmp, he always takes off like that, what is up with him!" Sakura cracked her knuckles. "When I find him, he is going to regret running off like that."

"Has Naruto seemed to be acting weird to you since we met back up? Kakashi glanced over at Sakura as they made their way to see Tsunade.

"Now that you mention it, he has seemed different. He has still been weird, but different than his normal weird. Does that make sense?" Kakashi nodded. "Do you think something happened?"

"Possibly, Sai, do you have anything to say on the matter?"

"I don't know if I'm the best person to consult about matters such as this." He chuckled a little bit. "I'm still learning the basics." They went the rest of the way in silence.

xxx

"Where is Naruto!?" Tsunade slapped her hands down on her desk.

"He took off as soon as we got back to the village my lady." Sakura answered.

"To go get ramen no doubt. That boy, will he ever learn?" She let out a sigh as she sat down. She leaned forward, elbows on her desk, fingers intertwined. "Very well, give me the full report."

xxx

Naruto had run straight home, he had something he needed to do. He had kicked his shoes off and put water in the pot to boil. After getting into more comfortable clothes he had poured the hot water into an instant ramen cup. He was sitting at his kitchen table staring at a blank piece of paper. He didn't know where to start. How could he fit all of his feelings into one letter?

Sasuke, I love you.

No. He crumpled up the paper and threw it toward the trashcan. He took a bite of ramen and repeated the process a few times before having a beginning he was okay with. He decided against using names in case someone found the letter.

I hope you everything is going okay, and you are staying safe. There are a few things I feel you need to know. That night out on the lake, and the time we spent together after you carried me to camp, everything I said to you I meant 100%. This time apart has only served to strengthen my feelings. I am totally crazy about you and I want you to know that it will never change. I will love you with my dying breath. Ever since we were kids, we never got along, but I see now, it was just the way I used to get close to you. I didn't understand my feelings and that was the only way I knew how to express them. I know now, and I am never going to let you go again.

I will fulfill the promise I made to you that night, I don't know how, not yet, but I've never gone back on my word, and this isn't going to be the thing that makes me. I've been trying to think of different options, because it is really important that it gets done right. Together I am sure that we will be able to figure it out.

I want you by my side, through thick and thin, I can't bear to think about living life without you in it. When I close my eyes, I see you, feel your touch against my skin, I relive that night all over again. Only to open my eyes to loneliness. Suke, I love you. You mean more to me than my own life. I will continue to make plans; I hope to see you soon. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, I hope that's true because I really miss you. I think I am a bigger supporter of birds of a feather flock together though.

Stay safe; know you have my heart, even if you don't want it, it will always be yours. Just know if we move forward, I am a jealous man.

- Ruto

It was late afternoon by the time he finished. Naruto read over the letter what seemed like a hundred times. He hoped it was good enough. He grabbed a cloak out of his closet, put on his shoes and headed out. The sun was beginning to set as he made his way to the old dead tree, they had agreed to make their communication post. The sunset painted the sky in beautiful pinks, oranges, and yellows, animals of all types were out looking for their dinner before dusk turned to dark. It was serene. Naruto let his fingers drag across the dried-out bark of the hollowed-out tree. He pulled the letter out of his pocket. He read it one more time before strapping it to the handle of a kunai. He lodged it into the inside of the tree; he tried to get it in a place that wouldn't get wet if it rained.

"I hope you get this soon." Naruto said to himself. He sighed and leaned against the tree. As a cool breeze blew by, he pulled his hood up over his head. He watched as the sun fell further below the tree line. A few small rays of light still penetrated through the trees. Naruto's mood was the exact opposite of the beautiful evening, he didn't feel peaceful and serene. His thoughts and emotions churned like a raging ocean. This whole situation was troublesome. He needed more details about what happened with the elders, who knows what they could be involved with now if they were responsible for such horrible acts in the recent past. There had to have been other options. Naruto clenched his teeth, thinking about the atrocities that had occurred made his anger flare. He needed to find out more. He needed to get into the Anbu's files. There had to be more information in there. Easier said than done, but at least he had his first step, there was no time to waste. He would find a way into the Anbu headquarters, no matter what.

xxx

"Well, here we are." Suigetsu walked up next to Sasuke. They both stood outside the entrance to the Akatsuki's current hideout. Sasuke looked at him out of the corner of his eye. He walked inside, Suigetsu close on his heels.

"So, you've decided to return." The deep voice had a challenging tone to it.

"I had some things to take care of." Sasuke answered callously.

"So, you did. Have you made up your mind then?"

"I will destroy the Leaf, whatever it takes. Nothing will stand in my way." Sasuke's answer was unwavering.

"Good, glad to know you're committed. By the way, while you were out finding yourself did you manage to divert those pesky Leaf ninja off our trail like I had requested of you?" The masked man emerged from the shadows into the candlelight.

"I'm not a child. It should be a while before they realize they are following a dead end." A maniacal laugh came from behind the mask.

"Good, that should give us time to implement our plans. Zetsu!"

"Yeeessss." The creepy half white, half black plant man appeared from the ground.

"Fill them in on the plan and give them their orders."

"As you wish Tobi."

"I have things to attend to. It will be some time before we are able to meet again. Until then." With that, he disappeared.

"Well Zetsu?" Sasuke let out a sigh of annoyance and made himself comfortable on a shelf of rock in the side of the cave. Knowing Zetsu he would take his sweet time filling him in. What a pain, people really were bothersome. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the cave wall. He let his thoughts drift to Naruto…he wondered what he was doing right now. Probably eating ramen, at this point, even that sounded better than listening to Zetsu's voice for the next few hours. Tch. He frowned. This whole thing was stupid. Stupid and annoying.