Naruto started tugging at the chain only to find out that it hurt greatly. He fell to his knees till the pain subsided. This was the worse pain he has ever felt. It felt like the chain was attached to his heart and every tug felt like it was ripping it apart. He took the chance to look around the room again but seemed nothing had changed.
"Hey Kurama, any idea where we are or how we got here?" Naruto said leaning up against a wall.
No response came.
Naruto was confused either his Kurama was not answering or maybe he was dead. This idea didn't sit well with him as he planned on proposing to Sakura when he got back from his mission. He placed his head against the wall hoping someone would come and answer his questions. Just then a door opened across the room and a man stepped through.
*Back in Konoha*
It had been a month since the team had returned from their mission and Kiba was now fully healed and eager to help find Naruto. The search groups have all assembled at the gate ready to head out and bring Naruto home. Sakura also was also there to see each group off and wish them luck in finding him.
The teams followed Shikamru and Kiba to the battle site where the search would begin as that was the last known location of their missing comrade. All the teams finally arrived at the site of the battle and they all got a good look at the damage. There was a giant crater in the middle of the battel site and bodies of the sound ninja littered the area around it. Most of the bodies were badly burnt and almost all of them were missing limb of some kind.
Every team stood in shock at the site, some even felt like they were going to throw up.
Shikamaru took a deep breath and stated, "Everyone spread out and look for anything that might help us start in a direction to find or lost friend."
The teams spread out looking for anything that might help figure out where Naruto was, if he was alive. The teams searched for hours but hadn't found anything. Shikamaru was about to call off the search and lead everyone back when he heard Akamaru started barking. Shikamaru ran over to see what it was he found, praying they could take good news back to Sakura. When he got to where Akamaru was barking he saw an arm sticking out from under a pile of rocks. The teams gathered and started uncovering the body. After awhile they uncovered the body and it wasn't Naruto but, it was Sasuke, Shikamru leaned down and felt for a pulse but there was none. Shikamru noticed something in his hand and managed to pry it free and found a piece of Naruto's shirt. Shikamaru passed it around for all the teams to get a scent off and they all split up and started searching.
Sakura kept busy back at the village between working at the hospital and preparing for the upcoming baby, but of course she had help from Ino, who after much pestering got all the info she wanted about her and Naruto's relationship. The days flew by for her and she watched her body expand as their child grew inside her. She watched as team after team returned without any information of Naruto's location.
The time finally came when Shikamaru, Kiba and Akamaru returned and gave Tsunade their report of their failed attempt to find Naruto. Tsunade sighed and dismissed the them and realized that she has no choice but to disband the search and pronounce Naruto dead. She got up and walked to Sakura's apartment to deliver the news herself. Tsunade arrived at her former student's apartment and knocked on the door.
Sakura heard someone at her door and managed to waddle her way to the door as she was now 8 months pregnant. She opened the door and saw her former teacher, and current Hokage, standing there and by the look on her face she wasn't bringing her good news. Sakura burst into tears and fell into Tsunade's chest and cried. Tsunade just stood there and held Sakura and let her cry for as long as she needed.
After a few hours Sakura had cried herself to sleep. Tsunade laid her on the couch and covered her up and headed back to the office to prepare for the funeral service.
Over the next several days, Sakura slowly packed up all of Naruto's things. She already knew that his signature orange jacket wasn't going anywhere. She was finally getting around to packing the last of his things when she found a tiny box with fox print on it in the back of one of his drawers. Sakura opened it and inside was a smaller velvet box. She took the box out and opened it. Inside she saw a beautiful ring with a sakura diamond set into a band that looked like a fox head. Sakura started to cry again as she realized she was holding an engagement ring.
Ino had come back in to see if her friend had finished packing so they could get it into storage. As she walked into the room, she saw Sakura crying on the floor holding the ring. Ino sat on the floor and held her friend.