I'm so sad right now. This is the first fanfic I've ever written and now it's done. Im starting to get emotional. Thank-you to McKazekage, Laurie, Death Love Rose, and XiaoJieMeijin for reviewing. Please enjoy the finale of Return.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter Eighteen

Beep. Beep.

"She's waking up", my mentor said sounding relieved. I felt a sense of irony at the fact this was the second time in a week that I was stuck in the hospital it was almost embarrassing for a medic of my standing.

"Come on Sakura-chan if you wake up right now I promise not to eat ramen for the rest of the day", my idiotic best friend said as my mind started clearing up.

"That should bring down your blood pressure a couple points", I told him as I opened my eyes and shifted myself into a seated position. I winced as pain coursed through my body but the damage was mild thankfully.

"SAKURA-CHAN", Naruto yelled wrapping his arms around me. I hissed in pain and he immediately backed away.

"Oops", he said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Tsunade smacked him making him wince but the happiness still didn't vanish from his demeanor.

"Yeah oops", Tsunade huffed as she ran a chakra filled hand down my side. I took a deep breath as the pain became more and more muted.

"Thank-you Shishou", I told her my voice sounding stronger as the healing chakra coursed through my body. I closed my eyes and made my own chakra continue the healing process and I felt the wounds heal quickly.

"Of course but you shouldn't be thanking me, I only touched up your wounds Ino did most of the work", she informed me making my eyes water.

"How is she", I asked not remembering much after freeing the prisoners. I closed my eyes as memories of their horrible conditions floated through my mind. I could only hope that they were safe.

"She's fine as is the rest of your team. They have you to thank after all had you and Kakashi not found Haruka the damage might have been much worse", she said her eyes looking dead at the thought and I realized she must have been really worried.

"I'm so sorry Shish-

"Shut up", she snapped glaring at me. She flicked my temple making me curse as I held the side of my face.

"Ow what was that for", I asked as I felt a trickle of blood leak down my cheek.

"You nearly died you idiot. What were you thinking", she demanded as her hand crashed down on my bedside table. I looked to Naruto for support but he was looking at the ground. He must have wanted an answer too and I felt very guilty for making him worry when he should be spending time with his sun.

"I wasn't thinking anything. An opponent was about to fatally wound my captain what was I supposed to do", I asked her rising up out of my bed making the heart monitor rapidly pick up pace.

"You weren't supposed to die Sakura", Tsunade screamed pained. She looked up at me and for the first time in years I saw her eyes were brimming with tears. I felt my heart clench as I saw this. She wiped them away quickly but the pain didn't leave. I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out. She pursed her lips and shot me one last glare before heading out the door. I sat back down on the bed and felt extremely exhausted. A hand on my shoulder reminded me I'm not alone.

"She'll cheer up she was just worried, we all were", Naruto assured me his arm wrapping itself around my shoulder. I leaned my head onto his shoulder and we sat there in silence for a few minutes before my voice returned.

"What happened", I asked as Tsunade hadn't told me the whole story leaving me in the dark about all that had happened. Naruto sighed and his grip on me became tighter.

"Kakashi was nearly attacked by that Haruka girl but you stepped in the way and the attack got you instead. According to Ino your internal organs were all ripped and had Anko not brought you to her as quickly as she did you would have died. It's a miracle that you're even alive", he told me leaning his head on top of mine. I still didn't understand.

"What happened to Kakashi", I asked and Naruto grimaced. I felt my pulse quicken but Naruto immediately started shaking his head.

"No don't worry he's fine he woke up a few days ago so don't worry", he said but his statement only made me more concerned. My desperate expression must have alerted him to the fact that his comforting abilities needed some improvement.

"No wait see after Haruka attacked you with her scalpels he kind of lost it. He used the sharingan and ended up sending half her body to another dimension. According to Anko it wasn't pretty", Naruto said shivering. I let out a sigh of relief that he was ok but then his lack of presence in my room made me curious.

"Where is he", I inquired and Naruto grinned.

"Oh Tsunade kicked him out this morning. You should have seen him. The minute he woke up he got out of his bed and went straight into your room, still in his hospital gown of course. Gave some of the nurses quite the view", he told me waggling his eyebrows. I spluttered and Naruto laughed as I blushed.

"Naruto! Stop being such a perv you idiot", I snapped hitting him on the back of the head.

"OW! Sakura-chan why are you so mean", he asked me pouting. I just glared at him and he snickered before continuing his story.

"Well anyway he stayed in here for three straight days just staring at you. Kinda creepy if you ask me OW SAKURA-CHAN. Fine, fine it's so sweet and romantic why don't we all just stalk the people we love that's a great way to charm them OW", Naruto yelped holding his now bruised head and I was a dark red.

"Shut up", I ordered and I stood up out of the bed removing any needles attached to my person. I walked over to the window and was kind of surprised to see Jiraiya holding baby Sasuke. I squinted a little and when what I saw didn't change I turned back to Naruto.

"Uh Naruto why is Jiraiya parading your week old son down the street at seven in the morning", I asked him sharply since I knew Hinata wouldn't question the idiotic blondes antics.

"Well since Hinata is healing all those kidnapped people and I was watching you I figured Sasuke jr. could use some bonding time with his Grandpa", Naruto told me smiling fondly at the pair.

"Wait where is Hinata", I asked him wondering why she was anywhere but home after having a premature labor.

"Well since you and Ino had to come back here, Hinata is the only jounin level medic that they had to send to heal all those people you saved. She's healed up since Tsunade's been invading our house at least six times a day. Shell be back soon since Ino's going to head out there in a few days", Naruto told me and I once again felt guilty.

"Naruto I'm so so-

"Sakura it's not your fault. As a matter of fact when Hinata heard the whole story she actually asked to go. She said that if Sasuke got kidnapped she would want the best care for him so she should give the best care to those children and I agree. I may miss her but I know she'll be back and shed regret it if she didn't go", he said and I stared at him in shock.

"When did you grow up Naruto", I whispered looking at the man who suddenly seemed much wiser and more mature then myself.

"After my first love fell in love with my sensei", he said bitterly and I blanched.

"W-what", I stammered and he looked at me his smile bittersweet.

"You didn't honestly think I wouldn't notice did you", he asked me looking at me ruefully.

"Well I-I", I couldn't find the right words but Naruto just shook his head.

"Don't start feeling all sad for me. I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt because it did, still does sometimes. I love Hinata and I wouldn't trade my family for anything but I loved you for nearly a decade. Those feelings don't just go away. I still wanted to be with you after the war and all the shit we went through but I could tell you weren't looking at me at all. You were always looking at him", he told me his eyes sad. I felt my eyes start to water.

"You would always look at him the way you used to look at Sasuke, the feelings just looked even deeper. I was so angry at not just you but with myself. Felt like you believed everyone else was a better choice than me but then I saw Hinata", he said his smile becoming much more genuine.

"She was just sitting there at Ichiraku's and she just stuttered and asked me to eat with her. I remembered all the comments people used to make about her liking me and I almost turned her down but something in her eyes made me say yes. She kinda looked like a kicked puppy and I realized I'd never seen her actually smile. She didn't smile during that lunch either she was way to busy blushing. But eventually those lunches became dinners and nights and soon when I looked at you it didn't hurt so much. I can't say that I don't sometimes wonder what it would have been like if you would have given me a chance, because I do. But now I have a wife and a son that i wouldn't trade for anything. I have friends and precious people that make my whole world a wonderful place and you're one of those precious people, you always have been. And as one of my precious people I can't stand you sitting here when the man you love is moping around somewhere sad about things he can't change", Naruto yelled his fist knocking into the door. I jumped up a little and I smiled as I looked at my best friend.

"Naruto"

"Nope don't talk to me. You can talk to me tomorrow after you and Kakashi talk everything out", he said pointing at the door. I laughed and started walking towards the door.

"I doubt this will wor-

"NOPE WRONG ANSWER NOW GO", he yelled pushing me towards the door. I walked out still wincing from my injuries but I gave Naruto one last smile before leaving.

"Thank-you", I told him and he grinned and shot me the nice guy pose.

"It will all work out BELEIVE IT", I ran off laughing at the ridiculous saying I hadn't heard in years. I ran out of the hospital and I was thanking Kami and Tsunade(who I was thanking more I'm not sure) for putting me in a medic uniform instead of a hospital gown. The confession probably wouldn't go too good with my ass on showcase t the world. Although maybe Kakashi would appreciate i-

Nope bad thoughts come on girl you got this. You've taken down s-class criminals you just helped defeat one of the snake's apprentices and you ruined a genius plan, you can make on little confession of love. Yeah no problem.

I used my chakra to sense Kakashi's location and I wasn't shocked to find him at the memorial. I made my way there quickly and he didn't even look up when I landed a few feet from him.

"Kakashi", I said looking at the man who was currently staring at the black piece of marble. He looked to be tracing a name near the bottom. I recognized the name as being one of his old teammates.

"Hey", I said my voice think. He stiffened slightly before turning around to face me.

"Hey", he said his voice sounding normal. I looked at him and nearly winced when I saw his tired expression. He looked horrible.

"Naruto told me what happened, you shouldn't have used the sharingan so much you could have been knocked unconscious for weeks", I scolded him and he stepped closer to me until our faces were nearly touching.

"I thought you were dead", he whispered his voice barely reaching my ears.

"You just dropped to the ground completely lifeless. You didn't even open your eyes", he said leaning his head on my shoulder. His face nuzzled itself in my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around him.

"I couldn't just stand there and watch you die. I had to do something", I told him the metal from his headband sending chills down my spine.

"You should have. You have your whole life to live, you shouldn't give it all up at twenty-one", he told me and I shoved him away roughly shocking both him and myself.

"Stop that, stop acting like your life is less then mine. You act as if you've already lived your whole life when all you've done for the past twenty years is mope about stuff you can't control", I snapped at him. He took another step back but that only made me more angry.

"You're always pushing me away like you don't want to be with me but I know you do. Do you think you're not good enough for me or something", I asked him my voice loud enough to scare all life within a twenty mile radius. He just looked down at the ground and that's when the realization hit.

"That's it isn't you. You think you're not good enough. That's why you went out with Anko when you know she doesn't even like you, that's why you didn't talk to me after we kissed", I said and I blinked a few times as the idea set in. Then before I could stop myself I slapped him in the face.

"You moron how dense are you? You stupid, emo, masking wearing bastard", I yelled at him punching him repeatedly and I could tell he was going to have some bruises.

"How dare you make that decision for me! You had no right. I've been in love with you for years but you just decide 'nah why have a relationship that would make lots of people happy when I can walk around alone and mope at a memorial that's older than me", I said making my voice sound deeper as if mimicking him.

"Kami you're such a as-

"You love me", he said looking at me his one eye wide as he walked towards me. I stood there for a second before my eye twitched.

"Yes, maybe if you had talked to me after your little confession you would have known that but nooo you had to OOPH"

I was interrupted from my rant by his lips crashing onto mine. I half considered pushing him away and yelling at him some more but thought twice about it. After all it's not every day I get kissed (although it has been happening quite a bit recently).

We separated after a few minutes and our faces leaned toward search other our noses touching. A smile lit up Kakashi's unmasked face.

"I love you", he said and I stared at him for a second before connecting our lips again. I wish that oxygen wasn't necessary for human life because at the moment it was hindering my happiness.

"Say it again", I said breathlessly and Kakashi just smirked before his lips met my ear.

"I love you", he whispered biting my earlobe. I twisted my fingers around his neck and a poof let me know we were in his apartment. He put his hands on my cheeks and turned me to face him making me blush at the intense look in his.

"Sakura are you sure", he asked me and I just smiled before slipping his headband off.

"My mind hasn't changed the question is are you sure", I asked him thinking of his bipolar mood swings from the past week. He just smirked and placed his hands on my waist.

"Always have been", before I could retort with all the times he had not been sure he cut me off my kissing me again and any sort of thought processing I had was gone.

Let's pray that it doesn't return.

Ok that's it, it's done. I feel kind of unsatisfied with the ending but I can't think of another way to end it. I wanted to put in the Naruto part because most Sakura fics tend to ignore the fact that he'd been in love with her since he was a kid. Now don't think he doesn't love Hinata because he does that wasn't the point of that speech. I hoped you liked it.

Special thanks to:

Blue-10-Spades

jen

Betweenu

Liamescent

Laurie-you are amazing you are one of the best readers ever. You've consistently reviewed and I thank you for your continued support you're one of the reasons the story is done

Ranita4ever-you are the reason I didn't end it ages ago. I wanted to stop it but you're review changed my mind. Thank-you

kisa

sakukaka

Milafox12-another amazing fan. You've been through a lot of the up and downs of the story and I thank-you for sticking with it.

XiaoJieMeijin-thank-you for reviewing my stories. You're awesome look forward to your comments on stories to come.

Death Love Rose-thank-you for reviewing my stories and sticking with it despite the fact this was my first story. I know it must have been painful at times.

oo00KakaXSaku00oo-You are my first Spanish reviewer ever and I must admit I learned more google translating your reviews then I did in Spanish class. Gracias.

Guests-for all of you guests and anon reviewers thank-you even if I don't know who you are your positive support is very much appreciated.

McKazekage-thank-you for your reviews and well founded suspicion of Haruka. For your good intuition I thank you.

funbunny99-your revues on this and Itachi Taichou are very much appreciated. I'm glad to have fans as amazing as you.

scarlet700-your comical reviews about a very serious two chapters made my day.

Sasha-I was really happy that you had read my first chapter and picked it up again after so long. Its nice to know my story was rememberable to you. Thanks.

PersonofAwesome24-thank-you for reviewing and I love your name. Although I'm curious about the 24...

That's it but thank-you to everyone for reading and favoriting. You're amazing. This is the first chapter fic I've ever completed and I'm so grateful to everyone for their support. Thanks and I hope you'll read some of my fics I have out no and future ones.

-Sakura478