A/N: Hey guys! I decided to start over with this fanfic. I wrote way back while I was in high school and while I didn't officially finish it, I've been thinking about how I would finish it for nearly 6 years now. Thanks to Vovu for encouraging me to get back into it, though it took me a while to get back into writing it. This one is for you! The beginning will remain the same, but I wrote it like 10x better. Also the Konoha 11 generation and younger start off about 2 years older than they are in canon. So Naruto is 15 instead of 13 by the end of the Sasuke retrieval mission. Anyway enjoy and I'd love to hear some feedback :)
Naruto's body screamed in agony as he lay motionless in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the sterile, white ceiling. Every breath sent waves of pain through his battered form, the dull ache of his wounds refusing to subside. The Kyuubi's chakra surged within him, trying to speed his healing, but even its immense power couldn't work fast enough this time. His mind, weighed down by guilt, drifted back to the battle with Sasuke. The destruction they had caused left him uneasy, knowing the village they fought to protect had suffered because of them. Despite their return to Konoha, the gravity of their injuries meant they would be confined to the hospital for weeks, especially with Tsunade gone. And without a Hokage, Sasuke's fate was left in limbo.
Naruto's eyes dropped to the blue crystal necklace resting against his chest, its cool surface a sharp contrast to the heat of his injuries. Tsunade had entrusted it to him, and the memory of their final conversation flickered in his mind like a fading dream.
"I'm leaving now," she told him, her tone firm but laced with sadness.
"But you promised to stay until Lee's treatment was complete!" Naruto had protested, his fists clenched as he turned away from the splintered stump he had relentlessly trained the Rasengan on.
"I've done all I can for him without surgery," Tsunade had said softly, her eyes dark with regret. "He may walk again, but he'll never return to the life of a shinobi."
Frustration boiled over inside Naruto. "That's not enough! You're the best medical ninja—if anyone can help him, it's you! Lee's dream is to become a strong shinobi!"
Tsunade shook her head as she moved closer, taking his damaged hands in hers. "It's not that simple. The surgery has only a 50/50 chance of working. And with the village in its current state…" She trailed off, releasing a gentle, healing glow from her palms, soothing the pain in his hands. Her voice dropped to a near whisper. "Naruto, snakes hidden within our village, lurking in the shadows. Trust only those closest to you, and even then, be careful."
Her words unsettled him, but Naruto's resolve hardened. "If that's true, then you have to stay! Become Hokage and help us-"
But Tsunade cut him off and merely shook her head again. Sorrow clouded her eyes. "This village isn't my home anymore, not like it was when I was young. Too much has changed."
Naruto could feel tears welling up in his eyes, his voice cracking as he begged her to reconsider. She could still move on from the past that haunted her. Yet, instead of responding, Tsunade reached up and draped her necklace around his neck, the cool crystal resting against his bandages. She smiled softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is me moving on."
A familiar ache settled in Naruto's chest, a bittersweet reminder of the bond they had formed. During their journey back to Konoha and the time she spent treating Lee, they had grown closer. Yet, despite that connection, it hadn't been enough to keep her in the village.
The nearby door creaked open, interrupting his thoughts. A nurse entered, her footsteps soft as she approached his bed, clipboard in hand. "Naruto, you're healing up quite well," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. She set the clipboard down and reached for a syringe, filling it with a clear, shimmering liquid. "It'll take a while before you're discharged, but you'll be able to start receiving visitors tomorrow."
Naruto gave a small smile, though his voice betrayed his uncertainty. "That sounds great. Hey, do you think you can give me an update on the others? Please. They have not told me much."
The nurse hesitated. The status of the other boys was not looking great and devastating news like that could impair his recovery. The way he looked at her though made it hard to resist.
"Choji and Neji are both in critical condition. We have them stabilized, but it's up to them whether or not they make it. Kiba isn't doing much better, but it's looking like he'll pull. Shikamaru was the least injured and was released the same day he came in."
That wasn't great, but at least one team member made it fairly unscathed. "Thank you, Nurse… um…" he trailed off, searching his memory for her name.
"Nurse Kimiko," she replied, her tone flat as she injected the medicine into his IV.
"Nurse Kimiko! Of course, I remembered," Naruto chuckled awkwardly, his expression guilty, like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Kimiko pursed her lips, reminding herself she was dealing with a 15-year-old. "I'll come back later to take your vitals and maybe perform a head examination too."
"Okay," Naruto nodded, but as the words sank in," Wait, head exam-" He barely got the words out before she disappeared from the room.
Turning his thoughts back to tomorrow, warmth filled his chest. He would be able to see Sakura. He had kept his promise to her, and pride swelled within him. Maybe now, she'd finally notice him. A yawn escaped his lips as the medicine took effect, pulling him toward sleep. It was a matter for tomorrow, he decided, as he let his eyelids fall and drifted off.
Danzo stood at the head of the long table, watching as the clan heads and civilian council members filed in, each taking their designated seats. He noted their tense expressions and heightened emotions. A flicker of excitement stirred within him—not that he'd let it show. If he played his cards right, their current state could be an asset in achieving his objectives. The Uchiha and Senju seats on either side of the Hokage's chair remained conspicuously empty, a stark reminder of what the village had already lost.
Once everyone was seated, Danzo skipped the pleasantries. "We all know why we're here," he said, his voice cutting through the room. Tsume Inuzuka snorted halfway down the table, amused by his bluntness, but Danzo ignored her. "The Sasuke retrieval mission didn't go as planned, but it was ultimately a success."
"That's the only thing that went right," Sachiko Ito, the medical councilwoman grumbled from down the table," What about the condition that everyone came home in?" She was the one that had to see the hospital bills go up every month with each new attack and Naruto Uzumaki was a name she was tired of seeing in her roster.
"The team is alive are they not? I've had missions go far worse." Their faces grimaced. He had a point, but they still did not like it.
"Why wasn't a Jounin with them? Or at least a medical ninja. Nearly every team we make, at least one has some medical knowledge," Shibi Aburame asked. He was grateful that his son was not recruited for this mission but was extremely anxious imagining him being sent out on a mission like this. He knew that he could not shield his son forever and that he had seen his fair share of horrors, but there was a difference between a mission going wrong and being sent out unprepared, by one of the great 5 villages no less.
The other clan heads nodded in agreement with the normally quiet leader. "If I knew my son was…"Chouza Akimichi began shakily and then paused thinking about his next words," This was an important mission to retain an important asset to the village. I feel like any of us here would be more than willing to assist. They went up against Orchimaru's bodyguards!" He could not get the image out of his head of Choji looking unnaturally skinny and barely moving after using the Akimichi clan's secret food pills.
Danzo pursed his lips. He had a choice before him. Admit that he did send them out on purpose and at best look incompetent or at worst bring suspicion to him. Or he could lie and say that he was not informed, though that may hurt his image. 1 shinobi running off isn't a good look. 5 shinobi running after him without approval is a sign of weak leadership.
His old age had not caught up to him and he was as sharp as ever. He did have his ROOT ninja following them with the strict orders to bring Naruto and Sasuke back to him and him only if they saw a chance to. The less fight in them the better. In the end, it was a good decision. Sasuke Uchiha was left barely standing after their encounter, making it easy for his ROOT ninja to knock him out. What he wasn't counting on was Kakashi arriving there so soon. His ninja got out of sight quickly but could not grab the boys with them. With his ninken, it would only be suspicious if their scents moved so suddenly. And now he had to play this political game in addition to finally securing the Hokage's seat. The temptation to use Kotoamatsukami was strong, but there were better situations it could be used. He had made his decision.
"I knew that Naruto was planning to go after Sasuke. As interim Hokage, he did burst into my office screaming about it. I did approve for him to find Shikamaru and make the best team he could with our current manpower. The invasion has left us at a disadvantage," he paused watching their reactions," I also told him to come back to the office with his team while I assembled his backup to join him. Instead, he ran forward recklessly with the team he had."
It wasn't a complete lie. He had assembled backup for him and even got the Suna to get the Sand trio to turn back around and help. He also did get in touch with the hospital. Having the future clan heads dead would be a thorn in his side much bigger than he was willing to deal with. He just omitted the part where he waited until the team was well out of the village. He also never told Naruto to come back with his team. Ultimately, it was his word against the word of a 15-year-old who was known to be forgetful.
This time the Tamaki Sato head of the merchant guild spoke up," We cannot have shinobi forces running rampant like this, especially not the younger generation. I know the loss of the Third was staggering, but it's time we selected the fifth Hokage."
"I agree. An incident like this could have been prevented if we had stronger leadership. We need to choose someone imminently." The Academy councilman chimed in.
"But who? The Tsunade fled the moment she was no longer needed here and Jiraiya has refused the title multiple times. What other options do we have?" Tsume asked. The table fell into momentary contemplative silence.
"What about Shikaku Nara?" Hikaru Funeno, the Knowledge and Academy councilman offered up. He was in charge of the libraries and both the civilian and shinobi academies amongst other things." He's one of the smartest shinobi I know and if there's one thing a Hokage needs, it's wits."
Shikaku let out an audible groan from his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose just imagining all that paperwork," No thank you, that would be such a drag. Besides, my clan needs me to remain head for now. My son is too young to take over and none of the other members are jumping to be clan head."
Tsume let out a sweat drop, 'Of course only in the Nara clan will everyone actively avoid taking up more power and responsibility.'
"How about Kakashi Hatake? His father was the White Fang and he was trained by the Fourth Hokage. He definitely has the strength and fame as Kakashi of the Sharingan." Shikaku deflected.
"Maybe in a few years, but considering his mental state currently, I don't believe he would be a good choice," Inoichi argued. As head of T , he was privileged to shinobi's psychiatric notes. He has seen some progress in Kakashi, especially after taking up the mantle as Team 7 sensei, and the mounting pressures that come with being with Hokage might take away all the progress he's currently made," Not to mention that because of his strength, he would be better placed out in the field."
Danzo saw his opportunity," Well, if I may if those are your concerns, I think we already have the perfect candidate."
"Who did you have in mind?"
"I'd like to put myself up for nomination. I have the intelligence and strength to lead this country. I also have not been needed in the field for years. With the Sound Village and the Akatsuki attacking, my previous experience with, well, all of the shinobi wars will be a great asset to any possible upcoming battles. Konoha is my home and I will do anything to protect it."
The clan heads frowned. They did not like the idea, but he was the best choice, at least until they could groom someone else for the role. The previous Hokages all had the advantage and privilege of working under their predecessor in some way or shape sans the First one for obvious reasons.
"What about your public image though? You need to have both shinobi and civilian acceptance on some level and where it stands now civilians haven't warmed up to you so far and the shinobi…." Hiashi Hyuuga trailed off.
"The shinobi will accept someone powerful at the helm. I am aware that while I am not popular, the seat of the Hokage is not to be won with a popularity contest, but off of their skills and ability to lead. The civilian sector will come to see that I am the best choice."
The clan heads and the head civilians looked at each other, a silent conversation occurring between all of them. Danzo continued," Do you have any other candidates in mind?" Resignation fell over their faces. No, they did not, none that could both take up the job and wanted to take the job. The merchant councilman raised his hand first.
"All in favor of Danzo Shimura becoming the Godaime." Apprehensive looks were spread across the table, more so among the ninja than the civilians. They had a hint of what Danzo could truly be capable of, and the idea of him being in power sent a shiver up a few of their spines, but he was right. What other choice did they have? A constellation prize is that he was elderly. It's not like he would rule over them for a great many years to come and it did give them time to find the next Hokage candidate. Slowly one by one their hands raised. Danzo let out a very rare grin.
"Danzo Shimura will be the next Godaime, pending the fire lord's approval," Koharu announced," I'll send a messenger bird out immediately."
"Now onto our next issue," Danzo finally took a seat at the head of the table," What is to be about Naruto and Sasuke?"
Sakura's hand hesitated before reaching the door. Nerves shot all over her body. It had been a few days since Naruto and Sasuke had come home and this is her first time she was allowed to officially see them. She got a glimpse of their state when Kakashi carried them back, but they were whisked away by the medical team. Both were covered in mud and blood, and it was hard to see where one injury ended and another started. She looked down, the white flowers in her hands growing heavier by the second. Before she could allow herself to think about it more, she opened up the door.
"Hey Naruto…," the rest of her words caught in her throat when she saw him, bandages seemingly covered him from head to toe and she could see where it looked like a few were ready to be replaced.
Naruto turned to her and smiled broadly and gave her a thumbs up," Hey Sakura! I did it. just like you asked, I brought Sasuke back home." His words barely registered with her as she looked at his injured body.
'This isn't what I asked for' she thought, guilt weighing heavily on her. He let out a small groan as he readjusted himself to a sitting position. Walking over to the windowsill, she placed both flower vases down. One for Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto seemingly did not notice her quieter-than-usual demeanor. Or if he did, he did not say anything.
"Are those for me? They're very pretty," A cheeky smile spread across his mouth," Just like you Sakura-chan." Reflex got the better of her and she went to hit him upside the head. She stopped right before she made contact, Naruto was already braced for the blow.
"Naruto…" she let out exasperatedly. Only he would come back in that condition and still crack jokes at the possibility of being exposed to her wrath. She sat on the bed, new guilt eating up her further. He was bruised and battered in the hospital for her, and she had tried to swing on him. It may be their dynamic, but perhaps she shouldn't be always so hard on him. She looked at him, his bright blue eyes meeting hers, and leaned over closer to him.
"Uh…Sakura," Naruto started to turn red at his crush's sudden closeness. She cut him off with a hug and he his shoulder getting slightly wet.
"Thank you for keeping your promise and bringing back Sasuke," she sniffled into his shirt," You're a really great teammate too." She could have kept thanking for all the times he had saved like during the invasion or on the Great Naruto bridge, but she would have been there a long, long time.
"Anytime Sakura-chan," Naruto wrapped his arms around her, much to the protest of his arms. They stayed there momentarily before Sakura released him.
"Now you have to fill me in on what happened. The details have been kept under wraps and I've been dying to know how you got him back." Naruto excitedly dove into the story telling her about the Sound Four and the 'weird' bone ninja they ran into, Naruto's words. Sakura stayed glued to every word, even the more gruesome ones that occurred during Sasuke and his fight. She was particularly disturbed by news of Sasuke 'bat' form.
"Sasuke was above me, and the only thing I think I could do was charge up a rasengan while he activated his Chidori."
Sakura was surprised," You used the rasengan? I thought you did not have that mastered," she recalled the times she'd pass by the training field to see half broken posts, remnants of a failed a jutsu, and a very frustrated Naruto standing in the center of it.
"I'm not great at it yet, but I can perform it sometimes. It's not consistent yet though. To be completely honest I thought I failed it too back at the valley, but I woke up to Kakashi taking us back to the village, so it looks like all of my hard work is paying off. Speaking of, have you heard anything about Sasuke? The doctors here are being extra tight-lipped about it."
"His condition is similar to yours. He woke a few days ago too. Kakashi-sensei pulled a few strings so he would be allowed some visitors today, but from what I hear, he's not talking to anyone." Sakura informed him. She hoped that he would talk to her. Leaving her on the Konoha bench like that was cold and she wanted answers. Naruto frowned at the news.
"He's being as stubborn as ever. C'mon Sakura-chan, let's go to his room and knock some sense into him together," he joked, starting to get up much to his body's chagrin.
She lightly pushed him back him back down," Sit back down dummy. You need to rest. I'll let you know how it goes and when you're cleared to leave this bed, then we can see him."
Naruto let out a small whine, but he knew that there was no arguing with Sakura, ever. She'd make him stay in this bed one or another and he already knew what that another looked like if he did not comply. The clock nearby let out a small chirp, signaling the start of the next hour. Her eyes widened and she stood up.
"I have to get going now. There's still a lot I have to do after I see Sasuke today." Grabbing one of the vases off the windowsill, she went for the door," Hey Naruto," she turned to slightly face him, but he still couldn't fully see her face," If Sasuke ever does something this stupid again, next time we're going together. That's a promise."
Danzo sat behind the Hokage's desk, the infamous red and white hat resting before him. The faint smell of the Third Hokage's cigarette smoke still lingered in the air. He frowned. Despite cleaning the office countless times, the smell clung stubbornly. But not even the ghost of the previous Hokage could dampen his spirits today—he was now the Hokage. The letter to the Fire Daimyo had already been sent, and Danzo felt confident in his approval.
The door creaked open, and Jiraiya walked in. Gone was his usual casual air, replaced by a sharp focus as he approached the desk. His eyes narrowed at Danzo. "That's not your chair. Or your hat."
Danzo smirked. A rare sight, one that made Jiraiya uneasy. Hell must've frozen over. "It is now. The council agreed, and the Fire Daimyo is approving it as we speak." He slid a letter with the council's signatures toward Jiraiya.
His expression betrayed nothing as he scanned the documents, though he knew he could've stopped this. Guilt welled up—over Orochimaru, his own choices, and the future. All those issues that stopped him from taking the title suddenly seemed smaller now that Danzo being Hokage is now a reality. Still, they felt so insurmountable, he still wasn't sure if he would ever be able to accept it. With the Akatsuki and Orochimaru still being out there, his skills as a spymaster is still needed.
"Is that all you called me out here for?"
"No. We've also come to a decision about what to do with both Naruto and Sasuke. They will be transferred to separate hideouts, undergoing training and remedial lessons." It took the council some convincing on Danzo's part for this plan. The only stipulations they had for Sasuke is that he goes through mental health evaluations first and isn't a flight risk before training begins.
For Naruto, it was surprisingly harder. The young shinobi's recent victories seemingly quelled the vitriol the village had for him. Not everyone liked him, and many still feared the fox, but none outright hated him. He was able to get them to agree that Naruto needed to learn how to contain the fox chakra better, but the idea of practicing it anywhere near the village made them anxious. Even without the Kyuubi, what was to stop the Akatsuki from showing up at their front door step again?
"Sasuke, I understand. For Naruto though, let me take him. I'll train him as we travel, and that way we can keep off of the Akatsuki's radar," Jiraiya knew he couldn't stop Danzo from isolating Sasuke, but he wasn't about to let Naruto fall entirely under Danzo's control.
"We were planning on having Naruto train the Kyuubi's chakra. If things go wrong, we do not need another country declaring war because a training accident was mistaken as a deliberate attempt."
"I'm a seal master. I can stop Naruto before the chakra gets to be too much," Jiriaya avoided telling him he had the key to open the seal. He can't order him to hand it over if he does not know it's in his possession.
Danzo wanted nothing more than to tell the younger to simply accept it, but Jiriaya was tenacious and wouldn't stop if he didn't give him something." Yes, you are a seal master, but we have something stronger. There's an ANBU soldier who was once Orochimaru's experiment. He wields the First Hokage's mokuton." He could also use his Kotoamatsukami to tame the beast if it ever got released. Truly make it Konoha's lap dog…lap fox.
Jiraiya opened his mouth to interject, but Danzo continued," My point about the countries before still stands. We're going to set up multiple hideouts for Naruto in the Fire country to switch between and we're going to need your sealing ability to make sure they're well hidden."
The two gazed at each other intensely. The younger one could see that this battle could not be won. It was no longer a fight over Naruto's future, but if Jiraiya could accept his new Hokage's directive.
"I'll still need to be there to overlook the seal and adjust when needed. He also still needs direction on his toad summons and rasengan."
Danzo waved it off," Of course. You'll still have a hand in his training. We won't reach that part for a while since there's other basic arts he's sorely lack in. In the meantime, you should reach out to your contacts. See if they have heard what the Akatsuki plan to do during this break of theirs. They may not be collecting the bijuu, but they'll be doing something."
Jiraiya eyed the man suspiciously. His gut twisted at the idea the impressionable boy being left to train under Danzo, "I have one last request. I should be the one to tell Naruto about this new situation. It will sound better coming from me."
Danzo thought it over. Jiraiya could try to sneak a hidden message in, but once Naruto was under him, escaping was unlikely. He'd have to be sure to put anti-reverse summoning seals in the hideouts as well. The jinchuriki would put up less of a fight if he heard it from someone he trusted.
"Approved. They will be brought in tomorrow and moved to a more secure sector until they're healed enough to travel to the hideouts."
Jiraiya nodded before leaving, his mind burdened with more problems than he had solutions.
Sakura walked up the stairs to Sasuke's room, each step getting harder than the last. She had chatted with Ino longer than usual, trying to procrastinate the inevitable. After hearing about their fight. her anxiety morphed into downright fear of Sasuke's reaction. The Uchiha that sat on the other side before her felt different the Uchiha that her was teammate.
Her grip tightened on the vase, its weight somehow mirroring the dread in her chest. The ANBU guarding the door moved aside without a word, his silence thick with the knowledge that nothing in this room was truly private. Sasuke as a potential ticking time bomb did not get the luxury of privacy.
Sasuke sat with his back to her, staring blankly out the window. His wrists were bound to the bed by leather cuffs lined with inky seals that drained his chakra, rendering him powerless. Bandages covered nearly every inch of him, tracing the injuries that seemed endless. Sakura's voice trembled as she began, "Hey, Sasuke-kun..." But her words felt like they were swallowed by the room, just like her hope. He didn't move. He didn't even acknowledge her presence. Her heartbeat quickened looking at Sasuke. She still loved him, but his refusal to even turn around showed that she wasn't dealing with her Sasuke now. She knew this wasn't the Sasuke she used to dream about, the one she adored. This was the Sasuke who had chosen revenge over everything, drowning in his own bitterness and grief. He wouldn't speak to her now—he never did in these moments. Often he would go into long contemplative silences, and for the sake of his pride, Sakura never pried into it, not even when she could see his eye gloss over.
Sakura walked towards the end of the bed, she raised the flowers slightly," These are for you." From this angle, she could see that Sasuke's bandages also went up to his face. Unlike Naruto's bandages that went across the middle of his face, Sasuke's bandages covered his eyes. The bandages were black, placing him in permanent darkness. Her chest panged at the sight of her beloved teammate restrained like that. Replacing it soon after was a moment of hot anger. Angry at who though? It is his fault that he ended up here in the first place. He looked far more peaceful than she felt.
'Is he asleep?' she wondered, but then he let out a soft 'hn' of annoyance. She realized that he could not see the gift that she bought him.
Sheepishly she said, "I brought you some get-well flowers, fresh from Ino's shop."
Sasuke did not move. It was like she was not there. The kunoichi inhaled slowly. She had grown used to being ignored, but this felt much colder than his usual dismissive attitude. It felt pointed.
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "We're worried about you, Sasuke. All of us. I—I'm worried about you." Her voice faltered. His indifference made her feel small, like a child seeking attention from a parent who couldn't care less. "When you left... you scared me. We don't want you to go to Orochimaru. He doesn't care about you. We can help you find another way, Sasuke... together." she shuddered remembering the snake sannin. How could she ever forget eyes like that?"
Still, nothing. Not a word, not a glance. Her fists clenched. She had poured her heart out, but he didn't even care enough to hear her. How could he be so blind? How could he throw everything away—his team, his friends, their bond—just for revenge? Frustration rose up in her like a storm
"You really messed up this time. This technically is desertion of post but considering your Genin status and you're the last Uchiha, I think they might take it easier on you. Especially since you'll have us fighting for you. We're on your side Sasuke. We're your friends. No, we're more than that. We're comrades Sasuke, and we have entrusted our lives to each other. You can trust with your hate too."
Still, no response. For the first time, Sakura genuinely wanted to smack Sasuke. Maybe that will wake him up. For someone with the Sharingan, he was surprisingly blind to everything he currently has.
The announcement speaker crackled to life. "There are 10 minutes left for visitors. Repeat. There are 10 minutes left for visitors." She sighed, resigning herself to try this again time was up, but she felt like she had achieved nothing. Sasuke was still locked away in his own misery, and she was powerless to reach him.
"I'll come back soon," she whispered, her voice heavy with defeat. "Maybe... maybe next time." Sakura made to leave the room. She turned back to get one last look at Sasuke who was still in his own world. Maybe Kakashi-sensei would know how to break through the walls Sasuke had built.
Naruto walked down the streets of Konoha, his body still aching, but nothing would stand between him and his ramen. After all, ramen was the food of the gods—good for the soul and the body. It had been too long since he last had Ichiraku's, and by "too long," he meant anything more than a day. He could already smell the savory broth as he approached the shop.
He had left two clones at the hospital to let him know if any nurse tried to come in and check on him. Jiraiya had told him the secret about shadow clones on the way back from the failed mission as some sort of consolation prize. He was excited to try training with it and he couldn't think of a better way to test it first than with a ramen mission. One lay in his bed as a decoy, and the other hid, ready to pop and let him know if he needed to get back. Just as long as they didn't try to use any needles, the mission would go smoothly. He neared closer to his destination.
'Heavenly' he thought. Pushing open a white flap he let himself in. Ayame stood in the front while Teuchi tossed some ramen in the back.
"Naruto! You're back," she greeted him with a warm smile before eyeing him up and down. "Shouldn't you still be in hospital?"
He waved her off before flashing her his signature smile. "Don't worry about that. Ramen is the best medicine that can be offered."
"Ok…" she said hesitantly, "The usual?" Naruto nodded excitedly. "One usual coming right up! So I heard your mission with Sasuke was a success. That's great."
"Yeah. I can't believe that idiot thought he could leave the village. So many of our classmates got hurt because of it, and now he's refusing to talk. Why doesn't he understand that we're here to help him?"
Ayame nodded along as Naruto ranted. She was well acquainted with the quiet Uchiha and the tragedy that befell the clan a few years back. It's not every day you lose a chunk of your customer base. Her heart ached at imagining the trauma he went through. She wouldn't even know how she would react in that situation.
She gave him a sympathetic smile," Sasuke's been through a lot. Maybe he feels like some tasks he has to handle alone."
Naruto frowned," By going to the man that recently attacked our village a few months ago?"
"I'm not saying what he did was right, but sometimes it feels like there's no other choice. He's always been…focused. Besides, who knows what he would have done after he completed his goal? Maybe he would have come back afterward."
"There's no guarantee," Naruto mumbled slouching over in his seat.
"Are you sure?" she smiled slyly remembering the day Naruto came in talking about his teammates," Didn't you say one of his goals was to restore his clan? How do you think he's going to do that?"
Naruto's face turned red, as he understood her meaning" Ayame! Stop, I don't want to hear anymore." He put up his hands defensively. A bowl of piping hot ramen was placed in front of him. He looked down noticing doubles of everything.
"For our most loyal customer," Teuchi said. Warmth spread across Naruto's chest.
"Itadakimasu!" he picked up his chopsticks and placed his hands together. He had barely tasted the rich noodles before a memory popped into his. Two ANBU…no their masks looked different, had walked into his hospital room stating he would be taken to the IT building and escorted the decoy out of the room.
'The Intelligence and Torture unit?' he thought. They may just have more questions about the fight, but the pit in Naruto's stomach deepened. Something did not feel right. Tsunade's warning played in his mind to watch for snakes. He got up from the bar and moved to leave. There was a good chance that his decoy would be discovered if the building lived up to stories. Even a simple mind sweep would show that he's a clone.
"Sorry, something came up. Maybe next time!" he shouted and rushed to leave. Their shouts of protest faded in the distant as he contemplated what to do. Best case scenario, it's an interview and he can swap back with his clone at the hospital. Worst-case scenario…well he did not want to imagine the worst-case scenario. While many of the villagers and shinobi have come around to him as a shinobi, they still remain ignorant when it came to the fox. He couldn't blame them, but he knew that using its chakra in the past mission without their permission had them on edge. Maybe they'll tighten his seal? Or would try other methods to make sure the fox did not get out. If there is one thing he has seen is that fear makes people desperate. Desperate enough to ignore his existence, and in Gaara's case, desperate enough to try and kill him. No, for now, he'd wait by the perimeter of Konoha for his decoy's memories, ready to move towards the hospital or towards the Hot Springs to find Jiraiya.