WHY I'M SO STUPID?
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Okay, I'm back and bet you're glad you didn't have to wait another year for this update. Unfortunately, I'm also looking for work, so be ready for a reduction in updates again if I get hired.
I know the names of Sakura's parents suck, and that they finally revealed them in the movies, it was one of those just pick a name and don't care about the consequences. I'm going to stick with them because I'm that lazy and I just don't want to.
This was Rose came in and told them that dinner was ready. (Use your imagination on the food because the only Japanese food I can remember is Sushi.) While gathered at the table, Rose was having a little war with herself, or to put it simply, some old habits take longer to die out, "So tell us a little bit about yourself, Naruto?" She asked politely.
"What would you like to know?" Naruto asked, while trying to be as polite as possible.
"Well, Sakura told us about that mask you wore and I want to know what your likes and dislikes are, or rather your real ones." Rose said.
Naruto took a drink before and said "I like training and I hate people who use the past as a reason for their actions. As for my dreams, well settle down with the right girl, have a family, that kind of thing."
Everyone, including the Harunos, knew that there was more, yet Naruto wasn't willing to give them anymore then he felt they deserve. John decided to change the subject, "So anyway, how was your journey with Jiraiya, Naruto?" He asked, curious what it is like traveling with somebody that is both famous with perverts and infamous with most of the female population.
The atmosphere in that room jumped from slightly depressing to die-hard laughter, with a touch of awe on what Naruto went through on his journey, especially on how he keeps blowing Jiraiya's cover whenever he did his research, like having Kisame sneak up on him and swat him hard in the butt like a baseball, with using Samehada as a bat.
He even made Sakura and her mother blushed, Sakura putting Hinata to a whole new level of shame, when she told them about the time when Itachi and Kisame stripped his ass completely naked and threw him into a women's hot spring. What got them laughing, and Sakura feeling more jealous then she did in the Sasuke Fan Club, was the fact that he received the opposite of what Jiraiya usually receives when caught, which was him running like crazy, still naked, being chase by the women, same condition as him, with their mother's, daughters, the whole nine yards. The only somewhat funny thing about that was the tears that Jiraiya was crying out due to the fact that the boy has girls wanted to have their way with him, while all he got was a pounding. According to him, that was how he ending up getting a fan club in every single nation, especially, ironically enough, Iwa.
After they finished dessert, Rose, being a mother, couldn't help but to ask "So Naruto, you said you were planning on settling down with the right girl," Naruto gave her a nod, with one of his eyebrows raised, "Do you have a certain girl in mind?" She gave him one of those smiles parents get whenever they hope it is daughter gets picked. (Don't ask me what it is, the only sister I have is an in-law and that's it.)
"Moooooooooom!" Sakura said her face still red from Naruto's spa story.
"I've got one in mind," Naruto said, giving Sakura a brief look, which caught it, "But considering all of the sacrifices I've made and got nothing in return, I'm not taking any chances anymore because I'm not sure how much more I can take."
While Sakura knew that Naruto meant that he still has feelings for her, she felt guilty because it was through her words and her actions that has made him more cautious on who he can trust his heart to. Right now she is hoping karma would be less of a pain and give her a chance to make things right between the two.
Everyone picked up on this as well, so they quickly changed the subject, only this time to fail, "So Naruto, tell us about your childhood." Rose said, causing the mood in the room feeling from a small drizzle to a strong rainstorm.
"What childhood?" Naruto asked, even though it wasn't much of a question, "According to Hiruzen, if he didn't have at least an ANBU, a jonin or himself present at certain times when I was born, then the people at the orphanage would go out of their way to make sure I got the minimal service as possible, even fire the people who actually care about me to make sure I have no love to begin with. When I turned four, I was given the boot from there because they were hoping the outside world would kill me, and the first year I moved into my apartment, I was beaten, stabbed, burned, and nearly maimed that I would have died more times than ninja would on a bad day." While Itachi and Kakashi knew about this since they were among the few to watch out for Naruto's safety, Sasuke had a look of rage and the Harunos had a look of complete shock, as well as a little sick, at how low the villagers would go.
A loud commotion could be heard outside, with the familiar words "demon" and "monster" giving them a good indication on who they were after. "Three guesses who sent them." Sasuke said, "And you would only need one."
Sakura remembered only telling her team about the dinner, and then she remembered who was nearby. "I didn't think Ami would go this far just to get her hands on Naruto." She said.
Kakashi knew who Ami was, and who she was related to, "Ami, no, but her parents are a different story."
Naruto stood up, "Excuse me while I go teach these them a long overdue lesson." He said, just as he started to leave.
"He's not going to kill anybody, is he?" Rose asked.
"No, pound them to a coma maybe, but killing them, only as a last resort." Itachi said, "And considering the fact that there is no longer anybody to save their hides, this time they are the ones over their heads.
When some loud screams could be heard, some saying "Make it stop! Make it stop!" Naruto came walking back in. "You finally got to use that jutsu, didn't you?" Itachi asked, knowing the answer. Naruto only nodded to him as an answer.
"What jutsu did you use?" Kakashi asked.
"It's one of two genjutsu I created while I was on my journey." Naruto explained, "The one I just used is called Victims Revenge, which has them experience the things I was forced to grow up with, except from my point of view. This well includes the pain, feelings, the whole enchilada."
"And from how he describes it, it makes Tsukuyomi seem more like paradise." Itachi explained.
This caused everyone to go wide-eyed at this. If there is something that could be stronger one of the world's most well-known and dangerous techniques, then it must be something serious. "And what's the other genjutsu?" Kakashi asked.
"It's called Victim's Requiem, I don't know what else to call it." Naruto started to explain, "Basically it puts them in a what if scenario, like say for example, what if I never had the kyubi sealed inside and the person they attacked and killed was just a harmless boy who just happened to be born sometime during the attack, asking the question is will they still be pleased with themselves after they administer their brand of justice."
The rest of the evening went on for another half hour before everybody had to leave. Right now both John and Rose are sitting on the couch, with Rose crying onto her husband's shoulder, finally let all of the guilt and sadness out, while also asking repeatedly, 'what have we been doing to that boy?'
Meanwhile, Sakura was walking with Naruto. While Naruto has made it clear that he wasn't going to rush anything, especially when it comes to their feelings, he can still be a gentleman when he wants to be. Right now both were silent, which was okay for both due to personal reasons.
While Naruto was using the opportunity to cool down, Sakura was using the time to think about everything that she has learned about the blonde, especially what his life was like. Right now her guilt was just as bad as her mother's due to how she treated Naruto before the exams. Now knowing what she has been taking advantage of throughout her life, from the love of parents to Naruto himself, she realized that for the first time, she has no idea what to do next.
When they reached her door, "Naruto, can I ask you something personal?" Sakura asked. When he gave her a nod, "When you were wearing that mask, were your feelings towards me, your love for me, real?"
Naruto gave a small sigh, knowing full well that he can't keep everything buried inside for too long, "Yes they were real, and I really would have stepped aside if your feelings for Sasuke were real." He said. He watched as he seen Sakura's face go from shocked to sad, with a touch of guilt, "And I still have them, especially since Sasuke found Karin, I'm also afraid to act on these feelings. In some ways, I don't trust you with my heart yet because it's still fragile from all of the heartbreak that I had to endure."
Sakura wanted to protested, but can't because she really can't blame him, "So will an apology be enough to make things right?" She asked.
"Just don't say your apology." Naruto said, causing Sakura to look down towards her feet, "You need to show me it first." When she looked up, trying to figure out what he means, "While saying it is easy, yet people don't always mean it, they're just trying to find a way to let your guard down. Instead I want you to prove to me that you are actually trying to make things right through your actions, from your attitude to everything else that you want to make right."
Understanding what he meant, "Okay, I'll do what I can to get back on your good side, Naruto." Sakura said, "And just maybe, we might just heal each other out in the end."
Just as she opened her door, "I look forward to it." Naruto said. And just before he could leave, he decided to throw a Jiraiya-style curveball to check a theory, "Just like you are looking forward to limping out of bed after a romp in a sack."
Sakura gave a smile just as she was about to close the door, then she double take after what she realized what he just said. Instead of responding like Tsunade would, which involved maiming the pervert, she ended up doing a perfect Hinata impression by pulling a full body blush, followed by a faint.
Naruto gave a small chuckle, "Perv was right, there is a little pervert in everybody." He said, before making a shadow clone and having it scoop up Sakura and carried her unconscious form to bed, just as he closed the door.
Here is the latest update. Sorry for the long wait, and sorry for the chapter being too long winded. Next chapter will be either a month or year time skip, with some adventure, fights and a sprouting romance. Read and Review.