Warning: Boruto manga spoilers from this point onward.

REVELATIONS

Madara, currently stood alone in his office, reading and rereading the message in the scroll. Hoyamarin's instructions were absolute and immediate. Madara had a new mission. He, along with the men he had trained were supposed to head towards Iwagakure and keep themselves hidden upon arrival until further instruction.

He already knew Hoyamarin was in Kiri, and if he was to head towards Iwa then he deduced his Sensei already knew about bloody history between Kiri and Iwa. Wondering if he'll be tasked with assassinating the Tsuchikage, Madara pulled out a map of the surrounding terrain, and began to chart a course with the least possibilities of encounters with any of the Iwa scouts. For a moment, in the midst of planning, his thoughts drifted to Haruhi. She was still sleeping blissfully in his bedroom from their recent wild fucking. A rare smile grazed Madara's face. He had grown fond of her in the last year and a half. She was a brilliant and strong willed individual with a wild side that he greatly enjoyed. And the fact that she harbored the same hatred for the five great nations only appeased him that much more. This mission, however meant that he'll be away from her for the first time since they met and the thought left him unusually disturbed. He already knew that Haruhi loved him to his core, since that already was a part of his plan. Moreover, she wouldn't fuck him the way she does otherwise. But what unsettled him was the fact, that if he too was beginning to share those emotions.

Realizing immediately that he was letting his guard down, Madara pushed those thoughts aside and returned to his planning. Right now he had a mission from Hoyamarin and finally having the opportunity to prove his worth, he had no intentions of disappointing his Sensei.

As soon as Madara finished charting a course, he assembled his 20 men. Relaying them their mission, he ordered them to wait at the edge of the village. After he was left alone in the office once again, he began to write a note informing Haruhi of an emergency in one of the outpost near the Iwa border that warranted his presence. Tactfully leaving out any details about the duration of his absence, he finished by stating that he would be back and as soon as possible. Sealing the note in an envelope, he left his office, sealing it behind him and made his way towards his living quarters.

Once in his bedroom, his eyes were instantly drawn towards disarray around his room and finally settling on the naked feminine form, soundly snoring away in his bed. Her covers laid in a heap near her feet. Upon reaching closer, he had to curb the sudden urge to kiss her. Instead, he placed the envelope in the nightstand next to her. Tucking some of stray locks behind her ear, he let his thumb trail the side of her face. Then silently gathering his gears and weapons, he quietly climbed out of the window.

Konohagakure (same night):

The shopkeeper curiously observed his patron, who had been aimlessly strolling up and down the aisles for well over 20 minutes now. But he, like any sane person, refrained from letting his thoughts known, lest he wished for a broken jaw or a black eye or my be even death.

Haruno Sakura, on the other had other things on her mind. The entire last month had been weird. Too weird for her taste. Sure, Sasuke had been released, thanks to Naruto's passionate speech in the Gokage summit, as she later found out from Kakashi. And frankly she couldn't have been more thankful. Just the fact at how easy it had been to get Sasuke out of the dark cell and into the bright sunlight of the village, demonstrated her of the influence Naruto had over the other Kages. It amazed her to no end, that the guy who had to go out of his way just to get graduated from the academy now commanded respect from the greatest shinobies around the world. Her being on the front of that line herself.

Although Sakura hadn't seen him since the day of Sasuke's release, she didn't miss him much since his face was plastered across more then half the billboards around the village. Every other shopkeeper now had a big frame of them shaking Naruto's hand, hanging conspicuously behind their counters. As if to imply that Naruto had personally sponsored the place.

"Vultures." Sakura silently cursed as she absentmindedly began picking things up off the shelves before putting them back.

But her current state of sleeplessness had little to do with Naruto and more with her other team mate. Sasuke on the other hand has been around her, a lot. Over the course of the month, they have had numerous lunches and dinners. Sakura as she expected felt elated at being around Sasuke at the beginning. But, as the days went on, she began to feel a certain weight on her chest and constantly found herself being on the edge. She didn't quite feel like herself when around him. And when she did, it felt like Sasuke wasn't there with her. Also, being silent around him was greatly uncomfortable and she would consistently find herself yapping. As mentioned, things have been very weird. Nonetheless, Sakura sighed and silently berated herself for being so fussy. Ever since she was a little gill, this was all she had wanted.

'Or I thought I wanted.' Sakura mused as she picked up a box of sanitary pads.

'What am I doing? It's not even my time of the month yet.' She realized and inwardly cringed as she placed the box back in the shelf.

Deciding she had spent enough time loitering around, she picked up a pack of mints and headed towards the counter. Upon reaching the counter, a vein ticked out of her forehead when she saw a rather large photograph, of Naruto and the owner shaking hands, hanging behind the counter. Paying for her purchase, Sakura hurriedly walked out of the store and was about to turn a corner when she rammed nose first into something that felt like a brick wall. Stumbling back, she fell flat on her ass. Rubbing the bridge of her nose she looked up to find a pair of blue eyes worriedly looking down at her.

Few minutes ago back,

Naruto was walking with Konohamaru while trying to explain that he had no idea, Ichiraku would be closed at this hour. Konohamaru didn't seem convinced.

"You are full of shit, nii-chan." He had grumbled. But calmed down when Naruto offered to buy him ice cream instead.

"C'mon, its just around this corner." Naruto said as he urged Konohamaru to pick up the pace, who was still somewhat dejected after being wedgied and denied a free ramen buffet. "I even know the owner, he's a great guy." Naruto announced trying to cheer his subordinate up a bit. Still somewhat pissed, Konohamaru followed behind. As Naruto turned around the corner he stopped, abruptly. Swaying his head to the side to see around Naruto, Konohamaru saw Sakura flat on her ass and Naruto looking confusedly at her. Shifting his gaze form one to the other, Konohamaru decided it would be a good time to get the fuck out of there.

"Sakura-chan?" He asked, confused and worried as he held his arm out to her.

Sakura, still rubbing the ridge of her nose, gladly took his hand and pulled herself up to her feet.

"What the hell are you doing here?" They asked each other at the same time, and burst out laughing.

After a while, when both of them caught their breadth, Naruto decided to answer first. "Well I'm here to buy Konohamaru some ice cream." He looked around but was utterly confused when he found him missing.

The weight on her chest vanished and Sakura's heart warmed at how adorable he looked. "I noticed him running away while you were helping me up." She smiled and offered, to levy his confusion.

Sakura found that she actually had missed him. Even if she saw his face practically everywhere and all the time, even few mins back in the store while making her purchases. But to see him in person clad in a loose white t-shirt and black shorts, and for the first time a month was strangely very pleasing.

'And his right arm seems to be integrating well.' She noticed as she did a quick sweep of his systems while he was helping her up.

"After all the shit he gave me on the way here. Sheesh." Naruto grumbled to himself as he folded his arms across his chest. "Why are you here anyway?" He asked, turning his focus back to Sakura. She had her long pink locks tied loosely in a ponytail, and wore a crimson tank top with a long off white skirt with green petals strewn all over. She tucked one of stray locks behind her ear before answering and Naruto's heart skipped several beats at the sight.

"Oh! I wasn't feeling sleepy so decided to take a walk." She answered while trying to hide her flustered face.

"Why? Is everything alright at home?" He asked, the worry imminent in his voice.

"Yes, yes, everything is fine." She replied quickly. Too quickly for her own liking when she noticed the suspicion in Naruto's eyes. She began to pray inwardly that he doesn't ask about Sasuke. But, sensing that he was about to, she quickly cut in, grabbed his arm and pulled him along. "Lets go to the park. I here its lovely at this time of the night."

Not having a choice against Sakura's vice like grip on his arm, Naruto silently followed, although inwardly gleaming at the feeling of her arm around his. It took several moments for Sakura to realize the way she had her arms intertwined with Naruto's. Embarrassed and red, she abruptly let go off his hand, making sure to hide her blushing face from the searching blue orbs. Naruto on the other hand was slightly depressed at the sudden loss of her touch.

Soon, both of them had reached their destination and Naruto agreed with Sakura. It indeed was very lovely at this time of the night. There were fireflies all around them, giving the place an ethereal glow, the sound of crickets and toads made it that much serene. 'Simple pleasures.' He reminded himself with a smile.

"What's so funny?" Sakura asked upon seeing the grin across Naruto's face.

Breaking out of his musings, he replied. "Nothing, just enjoying the atmosphere." He turned and winked at her. "You were right. Its really lovely at this time of the night." He remarked as the smile returned to his lips.

Sakura rolled her eyes as they kept walking, a comfortable silence soon falling over them. 'This feels so natural, being around him.' Sakura noticed that she didn't feel the need yap consistently. Instead, she quietly began to study his profile from the corner of her eye. As she did so, she was swept over by a sudden overwhelming sense of gratitude and respect for the man walking beside her. So much so, that it almost brought her to tears. Just seeing how far he had come from being the class loser, to being touted as the greatest of all time was nothing short of extraordinary. She quietly uttered a prayer for being a witness to something truly special.

Naruto picked it up immediately. "Sakura-chan, did you say something?" He asked, eyeing her intently. 'She's really acting strange.' He thought.

"Just a prayer, for those who sacrificed themselves for our sake." She solemnly lied without meeting his gaze.

Naruto's features immediately softened as his mind drifted to everyone they had lost. Sakura noticed this and cursed herself for ruining his mood. "I still think about Hinata and what she said..." He suddenly spoke up and turned to face Sakura and met her eyes. "..you know before Pein..." He trailed of as he couldn't bring himself to relive the horror.

Sakura's heart sank at this revelation. Hinata has been gone for over 2 years now. Professing her love for him before sacrificing herself against Pein and saving Naruto in a moment when no one else was able to. Sakura had never once heard Naruto talk about Hinata ever since that day. But then again she had never heard him talk about Jiraiya or his parents either. She almost broke down when she realized the amount of hurt he still carried inside of him.

She reached for his hand and placed it between her palms. Guiding him to a bench nearby, she sat him down. Still holding his hand between hers, she knelt in front of him to reach his level and looked straight into his eyes.

"Listen to me Naruto." Her voice was unusually tender and soothing. "She loved you and died protecting you, knowing that you would have done the same for anyone of us." She raised one of her hands to cup his cheeks, her thumb wiping a sing streak of tear that had managed to escape his eye. "Honor her memory and remember her with fondness." Her hand dropped from his cheeks, back to his hands. "Her sacrifice is the reason you are here, and you are the reason the rest of us are here." She could feel herself getting through to him. "So, in a way she saved all of us, so don't you dare sully her memories with tears." She finished, a bit stern then she had began. After she saw an inconspicuous nod from Naruto, she smiled, stood up and joined him on the bench.

Eager to change the subject and seeing that Naruto's mood has improved somewhat, she decided to ask him about his studies. Upon which Naruto went on a tirade against the sixth and his assistant. Namely Kakashi and Shikamaru. How they don't let him a moment of peace and is on his case all the freaking time.

"Let me tell ya Sakura-chan. He's getting old and the power has gone to his head." Naruto grumbled, causing Sakura to chuckle at the statement.

"I find that very hard to believe." She playfully retorted.

"Hey, whose side are you on?" Naruto whined, feigning dejection. Causing another chuckle out of her. "I'm tellin ya Sakura-chan, senile old bastard needs to get laid. He spends way too much time with those dirty books." In spite of the lewdness in Naruto's last statement, to her own surprise, Sakura found herself rolling with laughter. Naruto on the other hand failed to understand the hilarity of his situation.

It took some time for Sakura to catch her breadth. She couldn't recall the last time she had laughed so hard, wondering just how she had spent an entire month without seeing him. Just being in his mere presence seems to put her in a profound sense of contentment. "Baka, I have missed you." She remarked, playfully nudging him in the shoulders.

"Of course you have. I can't imagine how depressing it must be, being around teme all the time." Naruto hadn't realized after the words were already out. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant it like that." He immediately apologized and looked away, afraid he might have crossed some boundary.

Sakura did feel slightly offended, not by his statement but with his apology. "Shut up Naruto." She scolded and he winced. "Look at me." She commanded, rather loudly. Upon receiving no reaction, she cupped his cheeks and turned him to face her. "Do you want me to stop seeing Sasuke?" She asked, peering deep into his eyes.

Naruto was befuddled by the temerity of her bluntness. "WHAT?! No, of course not." His reply was quick and vehement.

Sakura let his face go and her hands dropped to her knees. His answer somehow left her dispirited. All of a sudden she felt very confused. 'Do I want him to stop me?' She asked herself, shifting uncomfortably while trying to put some much needed some space between them. 'Argh! Why am acting like a 13 year old?' Sakura inwardly kicked herself.

Naruto was glad of the little distance she put between them. His heart was about beat out of his chest when Sakura held his face. However, having calmed down after a few moments, the significance of her earlier question dawned on him. 'What the hell did she mean by that?'

Sakura on the other hand had her head slightly spinning at her own inner turmoil. She replayed her entire 18 years of existence and began to question everything she thought she knew about herself. Her childhood, her days in the academy, her days in team 7, the immense burden she placed on Naruto's shoulders when Sasuke defected. That memory particularly made her feel like choking herself to death. And everything that followed there after. She was amazed at how huge of a presence Naruto had been in her life. She had in fact grown up staring at his back. Heck, she became who she was by following in his footsteps. Her mind continued to wrestle with what she wanted and what she thought she wanted. However she broke from her thoughts when Naruto shook her gently by her shoulder.

"Huh?" She asked confused.

"I asked, if you would stop if I tell you to?" Sakura could only stare back, the sincerity in his eyes was apparent to her. He genuinely wanted to know if, she indeed would. Suddenly knowing what her answer could imply, she felt weak in the knees. Glad they were sitting and seeing she had Naruto's full attention, which was a rarity in itself, she weighed her next words very carefully.

"I mean, I would at least hear you out and you reason." She answered, suddenly timid and unsure of how he might react.

To her surprise, Naruto turned sideways on the bench, grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Sakura-chan, are you all right? Did he hurt you or something?" He asked, suddenly very worried. His blue eyes searching for any bruises or scars. He was absolutely certain of the love Sakura harbored for their other team mate, having seen it first hand numerous times over the years. So when he heard even a hint of doubt in her voice, his mind immediately went into overdrive, assuming the worst.

Sakura's heart melted when she saw the honesty in Naruto's eyes. Her lower lip quivered as she tried hard to not break down into tears right there. Mentally steeling herself, she gulped down the lump in her throat. Putting forth her meanest deameanor, she answered. "Of course I'm fine. Just who do you think you are talking to?" She cracked he knuckles, as if threatening to pummel him to death.

Naruto sweat-dropped and immediately backed off. What was he thinking? Of course Sakura was fine, she could pummel the very earth Sasuke stood on. He began to apologies profusely before it was too late and he was being tossed around like a wash cloth. Sakura instead chuckled at his antics, and Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. Leaning back he crossed his arms behind his head. Observing her from the corner of his eyes, he tried to get a read on her thoughts. Watching her, as she pulled her long ponly tail over her shoulder and began to run her fingers through the pink tangled ends. Naruto had to the fight the urge to kiss her right there. "So.." He began after a few moments of silence. ".. you're happy Saukra-chan.?"

From his tone, Sakura couldn't tell if it was a statement or a question. But she had to answer nonetheless. The few moments of silence they had just shared, gave Sakura enough time to make up her mind and steel her resolve. Feeling his warm gaze on her, she let her pony tail rest over her shoulder and her hands drop to her thighs. It seems like being around Sasuke made her realize how much she needed Naruto in her life. Heck, looking back on her time on earth, Naruto was her life. And knowing what she knows now, she'll kill herself before she ever let him get away. Suddenly feeling extremely shy and red, she found herself at loss of words and began to twiddle her thumbs. Her eyes fixed on her feet. Instead, without directly looking up at Naruto, she scooted to his side and without a word, wrapped her arms around his torso and laid her head on his chest.

Naruto with his hands still locked behind his head, was stunned for several moments. The sweet scent of her pink tresses brought him out of his stupor and he realised just what had happened. Sakura had him in her arms. The scent of her hair continued to send chills down his spine and the feeling of her being wraped around him, made his heart race. Slowly his fingers unlocked and his hands dropped down to envelope her in his embrace.

Sakura wasn't sure what would happen after she wrapped her hands around Naruto. She half expected to be yanked away, but instead she felt him being still as a rock. Worried that she might have crossed some boundary, she began to panic and was about to break away and run off into the night, maybe even dig a hole and bury herself in it. Other equally absurd solutions were being considered when suddenly she felt a pair of strong arms engulfe her in a warmth that she could only describe as heavenly. Still extremely shy to meet his gaze, Sakura buried her face further into his chest and melted in his arms. 'Yes, now I'm happy.' She inwardly gleamed, basking in the warmth of her new home.

Several block away, hidden in a dark alley, two hooded figures quietly observed the proceedings. "I think it worked." Neji stated, finally deactivating his Byakugan.

"Hnh." Was the only response he received. As if it were even a question.

"I think we should let Shikamaru know." Neji offered as he began to massage his eyes. The implications from the recent events will be major.

"Also Kakashi." His spoke, adding his two cents.

"How were you so sure it would work out?" Neji asked turning to look at his companion as they began to make their way towards the Hokage tower. "Like you said, they havn't even seen each other in a month."

"Because only when you know darkness, you can appreciate the light." Sasuke replied without turning to look at him. Neji mutely nodded and continued with Sasuke. The faint morning light broke through the horizon and a new dawn had arrived.

Kirigakure:

In one of the peaks that surrounded Kiri, Hoyamarin's rest was disturbed when he felt a familiar presence in the vicinity. Too familiar for his liking. Pulling himself up from his repose. He heard an all too familiar voice behind him.

"My Lordship, forgive my transgression. I would have made myself known had I known of your Lordship's presence on this seed bed." The figure went to his knees and bowed low.

Hoyamarin was annoyed at being found out. He wasn't worried, just annoyed. "Took you longer then I imagined.." He stopped and turned to look at the man, who was on his knees, and his head bowed to the ground. "..Otsusuki Ishiki."

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a/n: let your thoughts known. Leave a review. Thanks.