Summary: Naruto's fight to be Hokage and the fight for Naruto's heart begins. Sakura finally notices him and a shy girl will call upon her courage to stop her. This will be a long fanfic.
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. It's his creators' property (Kishimoto Masashi). The only things that are mine are my own made up characters.
A/N: This is my first fic I hope you guy like it and review, if you like it or didn't, you're opinions etc. well enjoy.
This chapter was beta by S-wondered999, thanks for the help I really appreciate it.
This Chapter was revised by Jiraiya
"Hello" speech
Hello Thoughts
Hello Kyuubi
Hello Kyuubi's thoughts
(Hello Inner Sakura
---------- Scene change
-LIFE LONG FIGHT- by ToniMan.CHAPTER 1 - "THE PROMISE"
Another bright day shines upon Konoha, but unlike any other day this one was very special.
News about Shikamaru's squad had been received and it looked like their A-class mission was a success.
The news of their success spread fast in such a small village, and soon a large number of shinobi were waiting at the gate. In front of the crowd we could find familiar faces: Tsunade-sama, Kakashi, Gai, Ino, Ten-Ten, Kurenai, Asuma and Shizune. They all waited nervously for their students and friends to return.
They waited in silence, a silence that could have been shattered by a pin dropping, until it was finally shattered by a voice.
"Are you sure they're coming back today or if there even alive?" A gray haired jounin asked in a bored tone.
"Kakashi!!! How can you say such a thing, of course they will return. They are the embodiment of youth and their spirit cannot be easily crushed by such vile enemies, besides they have the powerful Neji and even cute Lee, who against all odds went to help them." Gai said taking his good guy pose.
"I hate to admit it, but he's right you know. They will come back alive, but he's wrong about Neji and Lee, they're the ones getting help from Kiba and Akamaru. With their sense of smell and excellent teamwork, they're easily going to find and bring back Sasuke." Kurenai said winking at them.
"Kurenai aren't you tired of being always wrong?" Asuma said and received a death glare from Kurenai, thanks to his comment. This caused everyone to sweat drop
"Ummmm……..well not always……… only in this matter……" gulped Asuma, trying to cover his ass.
"Don't forget that the one in charge is my student, and the only chunnin of the last exam. With an IQ over 200, Shikamaru is a genius, not to forget that he has the help of the heir to the Akimichi clan, one of the strongest genin, Chouji. Plus their team work can beat Kiba's and Akamaru's any day." Asuma said smiling while taking out a smoke.
"Hey guys, that's not fair. The only one of my team is Naruto and he's probably going to get killed by Sasuke, or get lost or……" Kakashi said, but was abruptly cut off.
"That's enough!!!! This isn't the time or place for that." An angry Tsunade said to all of them.
"Hai!!! Hokage-sama." Everybody said in unison.
If you still think that Naruto is weaker than Sasuke…Kakashi, you're going to be surprised, that kid is stronger than he looks. Tsunade thought but was interrupted by a shout coming from behind the gates.
"Hey!!!! Isn't anyone going to open this damn gate!!" After hearing such a shout, everyone cracks a smile.
"To be expected from Konoha's #1 loudest ninja. Well, what are you waiting for open the gate!!!" Tsunade said while smiling.
"Hai, hokage-sama." A group of shinobi answered her, starting to open it.
As the gates opened, three shadows stood on the other side. Everyone was silent, waiting for some kind of noise from them until a voice broke the nervous silence that engulfed the crowd.
"Tsunade-obaachan, mission complete and by the way did you miss me?" A beat up Naruto said to her, flashing her his trade mark grin.
Naruto that baka he made me worry for nothing. Mmm…… well at least he's safe wait!! Obaachan!! I'll kill him for calling me that in public. Suddenly a pink blur went thru the crowd and tackled Naruto.
"What!! Can't…..breathe…..huh…pink…? S-sakura-chan please let go, I can't breathe." Naruto said struggling for air.
"Gomen Naruto, I was just happy to see that you're ok." Sakura said with tears in her eyes and a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Hey Sakura-chan, guess what?" Naruto said.
"Huh?" Was all Sakura could answer.
"I kept my promise you know." Naruto said taking a step aside, revealing a half-dead Sasuke behind him.
"Sasuke-kun!!!!!!" Sakura screamed, now letting a river of tears flow from her eyes.
Sakura stepped towards Sasuke, but only to be stopped by Kakashi.
"Now isn't the time for that, he has to be taken to the hospital. Okay?" Sakura nodded at her sensei's words. (Damn it, I want to be with Sasuke-kun)
"Sakura!" Kakashi said.
"Yes Kakashi-sensei." Was her answer.
"Aren't you forgetting something or someone." He said looking straight into her emerald eyes.
Sakura gasped after seeing Shikamaru and Lee. I forgot about the others and only thanked Naruto. Sakura thought, feeling embarrassed about her rudeness.
"Ummm…sorry guys. Shikamaru, Lee are you guys ok?" She said, looking at the ground.
"I'm ok, and Lee is too." Shikamaru said in a bored tone, while his hands were safely tucked in his pockets.
"Yes Sakura-san, I'm fine as well." Lee said flashing his good guy pose to her.
"And the others are well….look for yourself. They're over there with Gaara and the other two." Lee said pointing at them.
"Gaara?" Sakura said looking at Gaara with some fear in her eyes.
"Are you ok?" Sakura asked him nervously.
"Yes." Gaara said calmly.
"Here are you friends." He added and behind Gaara, 3 beds made of sand carrying the broken genin moved forward.
"Are they…?" Sakura fearfully asked.
"Man this is troublesome. I already told you they were all alive." Shikamaru said, annoyed after such a question. Sakura began to cry again.
"I'm sorry guys. If I had managed to stop Sasuke-kun, you wouldn't have gone thru such an ordeal. I'm sorry, really sorry." Sakura said trying to stop her tears, but to no avail.
Man this is really troublesome. Shikamaru thought after hearing another dumb statement from the pink hair girl.
"It's not your fault, you tried to stop him and besides they're ok. They're just…." He was cut off.
"Take them to the hospital." Tsunade said.
"Yes hokage-sama." Was said by everyone present there.
Asuma appeared in front of Shikamaru.
"Hey Shikamaru, I have to take you to the hospital with the others." Asuma stated.
"..…" was all he said as he turned around and only saw the sand siblings.
"Umm…. Who took Chouji?" He asked his sensei.
"A couple of ANBU took him to the hospital, along with Neji and Sasuke. Gai took Lee, Kurenai took Kiba and I'll take you." Asuma bluntly said to him.
"And Kakashi?" Shikamaru asked.
"He's over there." Shikamaru looked at Kakashi who was waving hello to him.
"Umm…..ok, I could use the rest." Man this is troublesome. I should have never accepted this chuunin job. Shikamaru thought, while looking at the clouds above him.
In a puff of smoke they vanished, leaving only Sakura, Kakashi, Tsunade, Naruto and the sand siblings.
"Hey!! You three sand brats come here." Tsunade said to the sand trio.
"Mm…. Yes hokage-sama." An annoyed Gaara said.
"Here's the address of your new house. You don't look hurt so just rest for today" Tsunade said to them.
"Ok." Gaara said and after that the siblings took their leave.
The gray haired jounin got close to the pink hair kunoichi.
"Hey Sakura they'll be ok. Shizune will take good care of them, so don't worry so much about them." After those words, Kakashi pulled out a book from his bag
"I for one can finally relax a bit, knowing they're all back alive." He cracked a smile.
"Well see ya Sakura." with that Kakashi vanished.
With Kakashi's leave only 3 shinobi of the leaf were left, the Hokage, Naruto and Sakura.
"Um….hokage-sama, will Sasuke-kun be ok?" Sakura asked.
"I don't really know. When he recovers from his injuries, we still have the fact that he left the village and tried to kill a fellow shinobi." Tsunade coldly answered her.
"Kill? Who did he try to ……" Sakura looked at Naruto. His fists tightening, his teeth grinning, his cerulean eyes filled with anger, she was sure she saw a little red in them.
"Sakura-chan, how can you still worry about that Sasuke-bastard. After all he did to you and us, he's a traitor. He left you….how can you still care for him so much? The only reason I brought him back is because I promised you…." Naruto spat out.
After those words Naruto eyes closed.
"NARUTO!!!!" Both of the women yelled as they see him fall to the ground.
"Hokage-sama, is he ok?" Sakura quickly asked.
"Let me check." Tsunade said worried for Naruto's life and well being
"Damn, he's in worse shape that he let on. We have to take him to the hospital now!!!!" Tsunade yelled.
She picked up Naruto and made a dash to the hospital with a worried Sakura in close pursuit.
Unknown to them, a pair of teary, pearl white eyes looked at them from the shadows.
"Naruto kun……."
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Hope you liked it, it's just a setup for later…I just named it prologue…well…Don't forget to
READ and REVIEW…so just do it…