Enjoy chapter 10!

Talking: “...”

Thinking: “...”

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
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Chapter 10: He who hurt us all

“And where is he now?”

“We don’t know yet, Tsunade-sama. It’s most likely that he’s back to Orochimaru’s hideout.”

“So, we are back to the beginning again, huh?”

“It looks that way, yes...”

Tsunade sighed. Why was finding Sasuke so damn hard? And they were so close too...

Tsunade decided to change the subject, “Have you found Naruto or Sakura yet?”

Shizune shook her head. “Almost all the ninja’s in the village are looking for them, but still no sight of them both. We are afraid that they both left the village.”

Tsunade sighed again, and turned herself to look out the window. “Sakura... I thought she was smart enough to know that he couldn’t chase him in her condition. And for her to run away from the village.” Tsunade actually gave a smile at the end of her sentence. “Only that... to find that little punk.”

Shizune gave a smile as well, “Love is something amazing, isn’t it, Tsunade-sama?”

“Yes, it is...” Tsunde turned herself back to Shizune. “Continue searching for those two.” She ordered.

“Yes!” Shizune said, as she quickly ran out the door.

Tsunade closed her eyes, as she rested her head on her hands. “Sakura, Naruto... where are you?”

In another room in Konoha, it was warm, comfortable. Wherever Sakura was, she didn’t wanted to leave the place.

She slowly opened her eyes, as she awoke from her sleep. She noticed she was in someone’s room.

‘That’s right,’ She thought. ‘I’m in Naruto’s house... I’m in Naruto’s bed... Naruto’s lying next to me...’

Wait.

‘Naruto’s lying next me?!’ This actually gave her almost a heart attack. But her panic subsided when she saw Naruto cuddling with his sheets right next to her. He was sleeping soundly, with his mouth opened a little.

“Sa...kura-chan...” He muttered in his sleep. Sakura’s face softened when she heard him muttering in his sleep.

She yawned, noticing she was still a little tired. She lay herself down, facing Naruto, who was still sleeping comfortably. She smiled, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She loved his scent, and even when he was sleeping, she could still smell it clearly. It relaxed her so much, that she fell asleep immediately.

But at that moment, Naruto woke up, seeing the face of his angel.

“Sakura-chan...” He whispered softly. He wanted to touch her, but he was afraid that she would wake up.

He suddenly heard a familiar sound.

“Breakfast time.” He said to himself. He carefully went out bed, trying not to wake up Sakura. When he got out, he pulled the sheets over Sakura. She gave a little sigh when he did so, and started cuddling with her pillow.

While Naruto was starting to make his breakfast, instant ramen, he thought about what happened. He couldn’t remember much from that night, but he could remember Sasuke.

And he believed that that the only thing was he needed to know.

“Sasuke...” It was because of him that he hurt Sakura, but he still partly blames himself for hurting Sakura. He pushed that matter away from his mind for now, and started to question the how’s and why’s.

‘Why did Sasuke came back? What did he want? If he wanted to kill me, he could have easily attack me when I wasn’t looking. Damnit Sasuke!’ He slammed his fist on his kitchen table. He quickly turned his head to his room, wondering if he woke up Sakura. He sighed; she was still asleep.

He had to find Sasuke, where ever he was. He had a feeling they were close to finding him. But just as they found him, he was gone again. Like he was running away from them.

He poured the hot water he prepared in his bowl. ‘He said he wanted to finish things, yet he ran away when I...’ He didn’t finish her thoughts. He grabbed to bread and some milk. He didn’t had much to offer Sakura, he had to admit. But how could he know it would turn out like this?

He suddenly heard footsteps behind him, and when he turned around, he saw Sakura standing there while rubbing her right eye.

“Sakura-chan! Good morning, did I woke you up?” Naruto said, as he almost blushed when he saw Sakura standing there, looking terribly cute.

Sakura shook her head. “No, I was already awake, but then I fell asleep again and I woke up again.” She said, not exactly knowing what she was she was saying.

“How are you feeling?” Naruto asked as he pointed to her stomach.

Sakura looked down, knowing what he meant. “Ah, I’m ok. I’m feeling a lot better.” She smiled at him, while he smiled back.

“Ah! I made you some breakfast, Sakura-chan!” He said, as he showed her the bread and milk. He rubbed the back of his head as he saw her breakfast. “Well, I’m not exactly sure if you could call it breakfast... Sorry Sakura-chan, I don’t have much...”

Sakura giggled as she walked over to him. She picked up the bread and milk as she smiled at him. “Thank you Naruto, that’s really sweet of you.” She said as she sat on the most nearby chair. She felt a sting in her stomach, but it subsided soon. She rubbed her stomach, making Naruto worry.

“Sakura-chan, maybe we should go to the hospital, it looks like you’re still hurt.” Naruto said in a concerned voice.

“Ah, well.. I kinda... ran away from the hospital when I wasn’t yet healed...” Sakura said, as she began to play with her bread. “They probably see us now as missing nin, on a count that you’re not ‘back’ either.”

“Huh?!” Naruto almost screamed. “Oh, yeah, we haven’t reported back yet.” He gave an evil smile, “Tsunade-baachan must be scared out of her wits.”

“Naruto, that’s not funny.” Sakura said as she stood up, not finishing her bread. “We must get dressed and go over to- Ohhh...” As soon as Sakura wanted to walk, she felt a great pain in her stomach. She fell down on her knees as she held her stomach with both her arms.

“Sakura-chan!” Naruto quickly rushed over to her. “Are you ok?”

“This pain... it doesn’t go away... and it’s not because of the wound...” Sakura gasped.

“Sakura-chan...” Naruto said, as he was almost certain to where this was going.

“It’s because of Sasuke...” Naruto noticed something. She wasn’t calling him ‘Sasuke-kun’ like she always does. She also called him Sasuke last night. Does that mean...

“I could actually feel his pain, through the blade.” She stood up, with the help of Naruto. “Naruto, we have to find him.”

“I agree, but-“

“We have to finish this.” She harshly said, and Naruto knew she meant it.

“Do you mean...”

She closed her eyes, “If he wants to fight us, we will fight back. With everything we’ve got.”

Naruto couldn’t believe what he heard; was she completely over Sasuke? Does she... want to kill him?

“Naruto, I want Sasuke back, more than everything.” It’s like she read his mind. “But if he... doesn’t want to himself, and starts to fight, I, at least, will fight back.” She looked at Naruto, while he was looking shocked at her.

“He has hurt us all.” She stated, not once her voice cracking. “What are you going to do?”

Naruto stayed quiet for a while. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I... I want to bring him back as well, but if he doesn’t want to, I will fight as well.”

Sakura grabbed his hands, keeping them warm. This is the most difficult decision they have ever made.

“Naruto, we’ll always be a team. We will go trough this together, and hopefully, bring back the one we’ll never forget.”

Naruto nodded at this, “Yeah, always, Sakura-chan.”

They stayed quiet for a while, only looking each other in the eyes, knowing that they both were serious.

“You little punk! Open your door! I know you are in there!” An angry voice said as the person began to slam on Naruto’s door.

“H-hokage-sama?!” Sakura said, recognising the voice.

“Sakura?! Are you in there?! Open this door!” Tsunade said as more slamming came.

“Don’t you dare messing with my door, Tsunade-baachan!” Naruto said, as he could feel Tsunade’s anger.

“If you open this damn door, I won’t have to!”

“Yes, yes...” Naruto said, as he walked over to his door, rubbing his head. As soon as he opened the door, he received a punch on his head.

“Owwww! Tsunade-obaachan!” Naruto whined as he began to rub his head. ‘Thank God she didn’t use her full strenght.’ He thought as tears began to form in his eyes because of the pain.

He looked at Tsunade and saw that she was totally worn out. She gasped for air as her sweat began to fall down from her face.

Sakura walked towards the two, surprised at what she saw. “Hogake-sama?”

Tsunade quickly looked at Sakura with a shocked look on her face. “Sakura... so you are ok?”

Sakura began to walk forward so that she stood next to Naruto, who was still rubbing his head. Sakura quickly bowed down to Tsunade and stayed that way, “I’m so sorry, Hokage-sama! I shouldn’t have left the hospital. But I really, really wanted to see Naruto, so...so...”

Naruto looked at Sakura; she actually risked her own life just to see him.

“Sakura, Naruto!” Tsunade said in a stern voice, making both of them jump. Sakura regained her standing position, and Naruto broke his gaze from Sakura. They now both looked at Tsunade, not actually wanted to think about what was going to happen to them.

She looked so mad.

They both gulped, as Tsunade began to walk towards them.

“Do you realise what you have done?!” She asked angrily.

Sakura and Naruto tightly closed their eyes, as they prepared for the hit.

That never came.

They both felt a warm arm wrapping around them; Tsunade was hugging the both of them.

This most defiantly surprised them, not to mention it shocked them. They didn’t say anything, as they both felt her warmth, her love and protection.

“You two are such idiots,” She whispered to them. “how come you would think you could run from your problems? Did it ever occurred to you... that you could come to me?”

This made them feel guilty. They never thought about coming to Tsunade for their problems.

They felt that Tsunade was hugging them tighter. “I’m so glad you kids are ok... I wouldn’t know what to do if something happened to you.”

And without him noticing, Naruto moved his hand to the necklace that Tsunade gave him.

“Tsunade-sama! Don’t run so quick, I can’t keep-“ Shizune yelled, as she reached panting and sweating the front door. She became immediately quiet when she saw the three hugging each other in silence, with their eyes closed.

Shizune smiled as the saw the sight, and kept quiet as she didn’t wanted to ruin this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

She just hoped that moments like this can come more often.

To Be Continued