CHAPTER 17: FOG LIGHTS

Naruto began his training the moment he was released from the hospital. At least, that is what he told Sakura. In reality, he had been sneaking out his window during the night to train the little amount he could sneak in. He had thought he was caught one night, but it ended up being Pervy Sage spying on Tsunade. This incident forced Naruto to be more secretive while training.

"I can't let that happen again!" said Naruto on his way to his first authorized training session in weeks. "First it was Sasuke, now it is Gaara. This won't happen again. Next time I will save my friends, Believe It!".

Naruto's training was as intensive as ever, constantly moving and always loud. This noise would eventually attract outsiders to observe his training. "Hey Naruto!", shouted Sakura, "They let you out already?".

"Yeah," replied Naruto, "Earlier today."

"It would have been much sooner if you didn't sneek out to train." Sakura stated blatantly.

"What?! How did you know about that?!"

"Well, you arn't exactly quiet."

"Damn"

"Well, now that you're out do you want to get some ramen or something?"

"Yeah! Lets get going!"

Naruto and Sakura strutted though the village, both excited to talk to eachother. "I can't believe youre gonna treat me to ramen" said Naruto. "Who said anything about me treating?" questioned Sakura. "You offered the ramen," stated Naruto, "so that means you're treating."

"Well, alright. I guess if you just got out I can treat you. Next time though, you'll be buying."

"OK, next time I'll treat." said Naruto excited at the prospect of a second outing with Sakura.

In the distance the two could see the impactful stand. Red lettering above several bar stools stood infront of a wooden bar. The man behind the bar had his wonderful smile, indicating that everything would be alright. Seated at the bar was a familiar blonde.

Naruto ran ahead of Sakura, "Common Sakura, I can see the stand!". Sakura, reluctantly sped up, "That guy loves his ramen, doesn't he." When the pair reached the stand they were surprised by the familiar blonde. "Oi, Naruto, Sakura, didn't expect to see you two." "Tsunade sensei, I didn't think that you liked ramen," said Sakura. "I felt like it. With Naruto over there getting out of the hospital I had an urge to eat some Ramen". While this conversation was going on, Naruto had already gone through his first bowl, "Another one please, Teuchi!". "Naruto slow down! I'm not made of money!" Sakura then stared down to her little coin purse; 'Naruto please slow down' she thought.

"It's alright," said Naruto, "It's free, right Teuichi?". "That's right," said the old ramen slinger, "since you're on a date the ramen's free!". "What!?" shouted Sakura, "We're not on a date."

"Yeah," muttered Naruto, "we're not on a date." "I'm sorry Naruto," said Teuchi, "I'll tell you what, the ramen's still free. My treat!" "OK!" shouted Naruto, "I'll make this count!". Sakura laughed at this. 'Oh Naruto,' she thought, 'Even after rejection you're still so positive. I wish I could love you back. I wish I could.'

After thanking Teuchi and Ayame for the wonderful food, Naruto and Sakura began to walk back towards the training grounds. "So, you're not done training for the day?" inquired Sakura.

"Yeah, I'm still not strong enough. I need to keep training."

"Do you have someone to train with?"

"No, I've been training alone this whole time."

"Did you ask Jiraiya to help you?"

"No. He saw me at the hospital, but then he left to work on his spy network."

"Hah, He needs a network to peep on women?"

"No, his real spy work. Since he's left I haven't had anyone to train with."

"I could help you if you want," sakura muttered.

"What was that Sakura?".

"I could help you if you want. It might be fun."

"Awesome! It would be great if you could help!".

"Perfect, just tell me what to do."

Naruto's training with Sakura went better than he could have ever guessed. They have great chemistry when they fought together, but while sparing eachother this chemistry made them eachother's perfect counter. "That was awesome," said Naruto panting, "Let's do this again some time!". "Yeah, lets do that again," said Sakura, also panting and joyful. Both soon parted ways and headed home.

Naruto decided that a walk through the village would do him good after training, so instead of jumping on the rooftops he walked beneath them. His walk was longer than he had planned on, taking him past the Hyuga compound. One Hyuga walking home was Hinata. Hinata was mostly a shy girl, but she was especially shy around one Uzumaki. After noticing Naruto she quickly jumped into the bushes, "I can't let Naruto see me."

"Hey Hinata!" shouted Naruto who easily noticed the hardly hidden Hyuga. "Oh, hey N..Naruto," stutered Hinata, "What brings you by here?". "I'm just walking home after having a great time with Sakura."

"With Sa…Sakura?"

"Yeah, we both had a great time!"

"Oh, I see…" said Hinata, clearly heartbroken. "Are you Ok Hinata," asked Naruto. "Yep," gagged Hinata. "OK," said Naruto beginning to walk away. 'Women sure are weird' he thought.

Across the village inside a pinkett's head there was turmoil. In the depths of Sakura's mind there is a little room. Concrete walls encase it, with a solid steel door blocking the escape. Inside the concrete clad walls is one oak table with chains on its corners. Trapped by these chains is a white stenciled, colorless being. This creature has been chained for years, ever since that day.

Naruto first left the village, Inner Sakura was chained. "Tell him," demanded Inner Sakura. "No, I don't love him," yelled Sakura internally.

"Yes you do, you just don't know it yet."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

This internal monologue was to much for Sakura to handle. Rather than thinking about why her inner doppelganger would be adamant about her loving Naruto, Sakura decided to force her double to the dark depths of her mind.

That was now Three years ago. Ever since that day Inner Sakura has been chained up, unallowed to show herself in any way. Sakura could not allow thoughts of her loving Naruto show in her main self. Still though, for three long years Inner Sakura has waited for the perfect moment to show herself; for just one moment of fault in Sakura's stance. For someone on the outside to make Sakura question her love hearself. Never did Inner Sakura expect for Sakura to think: " I wish I could love you back. I wish I could." With those thoughts, Inner Sakura felt the chains around her crack. Just a bit more she hoped. 'If these chains can crack just a little more, I can escape.' Then, it happened; Sakura had another moment. Sakura Haruno had a good time with Naruto. Nothing romantic, but the positive feelings toward the Uzumaki were enough to crack the chains completely off. 'I'm out' thought Inner Sakura, 'Now I can get those two together like they should be!'.

Hinata woke up in the morning with thoughts of her ever so short conversation with Naruto in her head. "What did he mean by good time?" she asked herself. Thoughts of this interaction she had plagued her mind throughout the morning until she left her house and ran into Ino.

She bumped into Ino walking down the street, knocking the pair over. "Oh, sorry Hinata I didn't see you there!" said Ino. "No, I'm sorry. I'm the one who wasn't watching where I was going," said Hinata, bowing.

"Let's just both agree we bumped into eachother," said Ino.

"Agreed!"

"So, I heard you muttering something about Naruto and Sakura earlier, what was that about?"

"Nothing…"

"Come on Hinata, we both know you have a thing for Naruto."

"How'd you guess?"
"It was hardly guessing, you freeze up and blush whenever you see him."

"Oh, but you do that to," said Hinata trying to switch the focus from her, "Do you like him to?"

Ino blushed, she didn't expect the usually quiet Hinata to be so upfront. Still though she was blushing at the thought.

"So, do you?" the Hyuga nearly demanded.

"Maybe…"

"Did you ever act on it?" asked the Hyuga begging for hope.

"We did go on a sort of date,"

"Oh, I thought he was with Sakura."

"What?!" asked a startled Ino.

"I ran into Naruto last night and he was talking about just having a great time with Sakura."

"Oh, I see. Bye Hinata"

"Bye Ino."

Both girls walked away from eachother heartbroken by the words of the other. Hinata headed back home, she had to much heartbreak for the day. Ino on the other hand went out to find Naruto. She was going to shoot her shot. If Naruto was with Sakura she would be happy for them, but she didn't want to just give up. That isn't who she is. She is Ino Yamanaka, and she is going to ask out Naruto to see for herself.

SASUKE FLEES 2

Sasuke arrived infront of Orochimaru's door with conviction. He slowly walked through the door and prepared for his fight. After passing the door's threshold, Sasuke was attacked by Kabuto. Kabuto grabbed hold of Sasuke and shoved the boy onto the ground. Sasuke struggled as Orochimaru got out of his bed and began to approach him. "The time has come, cough, for you to be my vessel." Sasuke screamed as a white snake emerged from the Sannin's mouth and approached him. 'What the hell is that thing', thought Sasuke, 'I can't let it touch me.' Sasuke unleashed his Curse mark and forced Kabuto of of him. After Pushing Kabuto off of him, Sasuke ran. The Last Uchiha ran away from what he feared. He couldn't stand how he ran, but he kept running. His shame was less than his fear of Orochimaru.

Kabuto gave chase, but to no avail. The Last Uchiha escaped the grasps of the Sannin. Sasuke Uchiha freed himself from his captor, now he was free to go after Itachi. Sasuke left Orochimaru's base and went to look for clues relating to his brother. This quest of his would once again, completely fill and cloud his mind.

Back at Orochimaru's base however, things were not going to swimmingly. Orochimaru lay on the floor motionless when Kabuto returned to him. Kabuto picked up the Sannin, leaving a silhouette within the red that now covered the floor. As Kabuto set his master's corpse in the corner, a orange masked figure appeared from behind. "Who are you?" demanded Kabuto, not even looking behind him. "That's not nice of you to forget my name."

"I never even learned your name, you just hid around. I ask again, What is your Name?"

"You can call me Madara."

"So Madara, are you going to kill me to?"

"Orochimaru was at Death's door, I just guided him."

"So why am I still alive?"

"Because, you will be far more helpful than he ever was. I'll be seeing you."