A/N's will be at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

"No."

"Just do it! You're being a pussy!"

"Then tell me the reason why you're so interested in my curse seal all of a sudden." Sasuke questioned coolly taking a seat on the couch. The raven narrowed his eyes as he watched Naruto begin to fluster. The blonde stood tall refusing to sit. Sasuke noted how even as a man his best friend still acted like a child.

"Now who's the pussy?" Sasuke scoffed as Naruto remained silent.

The blonde glared at the calm Anbu Captain sitting in front of him before proceeding to flip him the bird. As fed up as Naruto was though he was glad his best friend was here. Some days it seemed unreal how normal they were. How they could still act like teenagers when no one was around to watch them. Maybe that was the reason why Sasuke was one of the few people Naruto truly trusted.

That was why when he was Hokage, Sasuke would be his right hand man.

He finally gave up and with a sigh ran a tanned hand tiredly through his hair. He walked over to the seat across Sasuke and sat down. Even after all these years he still lived in the shitty apartment he had as a genin. The showers were still frigid, the walls had cracks, and the furniture was less than desirable. Still, Naruto didn't think he could bear to part with it.

"You remember what I told you about ah….Anko…?" Naruto said sheepishly, his eyes glued to the ground.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at that before nodding slowly. The blonde idiot had talked about her before with him – most profoundly about how he didn't get her and all women were irritating – still he remembered their talks.

"Yeah I remember. What about the crazy snake lady?"

Naruto looked away blushing. "I kinda spent the night at her place last night…" Sasuke sighed. He could already feel the future headache that would come on later because of this. No reason he couldn't make some fun of this while he could though.

Cocking his head slightly Sasuke used his hands to make lewd gestures. "You mean you banged her? Wow, I didn't think you had it any you, congrats man."

Naruto practically jumped from his seat bright red. "No! It wasn't like that at—" Sasuke smiled knowingly, effectively silencing his best friend. How was it that Sasuke could always play him so easily?

"I was joking. We've talked about you fucking random girls in the village a million times before and you've never gotten this flustered about it. Nor have you had a problem flaunting that your tiny dick is apparently bigger than mine."

"You're such an asshole." Naruto said sticking his tongue out. "And it is!"

"Hn"

"Hey! What did I say about doing that? It's fucking annoyin—"

"Shut up and just tell me what happened." Sasuke said not wanting his friend to go off into another one of his rants. It looked like that headache was going to come on faster than he originally thought.

Naruto stopped mid-sentence gaping like a fish. He was flustered again and promptly shut his mouth. When he started pacing, Sasuke really knew he was in trouble.

"She's just….she's..." Naruto threw his hands in the air like a child. "I don't know what she is, but I just need to do this for her okay?"

The blonde pointed at Sasuke's shoulder. "I need to do this for her, but I don't want to get her hopes up. I'm not sure if I can even do it Sasuke…" He finished quietly.

Sasuke didn't miss the wavering in his voice. He rubbed his temples. Naruto was literally the strongest ninja in the village and easily decimates any opponent, but in private he was still so insecure about his own power. It baffled the Anbu Captain.

Sasuke looked at Naruto silently. Quietly getting up he sighed before proceeding to unhook all of his gear. Lifting the hem of the shirt up his torso was left bare. "I guess we better start working then."

Blue eyes widened in surprise at his childhood teammate. It was only a few moments later that a gentle smile began to play on his lips. "Thanks Sasuke… I knew I could count on you."

"Tch." The Anbu Captain said crossing his arms impatiently. Somehow he got the feeling that this would be a long few hours.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "You know after this I can even talk to Hinata for you ya know? I'll put in a good word and everything."

Sasuke's eyes popped open. "You wouldn't dare…"

Naruto grinned and waggled his eyebrows. The raven leapt at his friend lunging for the blonde's throat just missing it as the man fled. He chased the knucklehead who ran through the apartment laughing.

"Get back here Uzumaki!"

"Hey! You know I'm not too sure Hinata's the type that likes it rough… but I can find that out for you to if you want!" Naruto said cackling.

"I'll kill you!"

Even as the Uchiha ran through the hallways of the tiny apartment only one thing crossed his mind as he watched the back of his blonde friend running and laughing, "You deserve to be happy to Naruto… and if she's really something special… well then you better go for it."

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" Kurenai demanded glancing at her friend. "You've been staring at your dango for the past ten minutes and you've not insulted me once. What's going on?"

Anko looked up and gave a sheepish smile. "I don't know what you're talking about Kure-chan."

"Then why haven't you noticed that dog over there just stole your dango?" Kurenai deadpanned, her red eyes following the mutt as it trotted away happily. The dango stick was hanging happily out of its mouth.

"What!" Anko sat up in surprise and looked down at her empty plate.

"No!" She wailed. "You fucking dog! Give me back my dango!" Kurenai quickly grabbed Anko's wrist and held her to the table. Why was her friend always so difficult?

Kurenai's eye twitched. "We're getting off topic. Tell me what's going on… please?" Anko looked away from nervous.

"I…I think I might have met someone." The hazel eyed jonin began to blush as her friends face practically lit up.

"Oh my god… no, are you serious? You're blushing!" Kurenai said with a smile squealing like a teenage girl. Anko who was quickly becoming flustered stood up abruptly, "I am not!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

"You're not!"

"I am!" Anko said finally before realizing her words. "Ah shit…"

Kurenai laughed before motioning for her friend to sit down. "I've never seen you so worked up over a guy Anko. I mean whenever I talk about Asuma with you, you make fun of me. Who is he?"

Anko pulled out her kunai and played with the sharp metal in her hands. "He's no one; you probably don't even know him…"

"Tell me~~" Kurenai said in a sing-song voice determined to win the name of the unknown man. She picked up her drink swirling the liquid before sipping. Her eyes never leaving Anko's.

Anko bit her lip. She wanted to tell her. She was literally going to explode if she couldn't talk about it with someone and Kurenai was the only one she trusted enough. "…Naruto Uzumaki." She said nervously.

She watched as Kurenai's eyes popped out of her head. And the next thing the jonin knew the alcohol her best friend had been drinking was all over her face.

"What!" Kurenai said choking and gasping for air. "I don't think I heard you right because what I think I heard is completely insane."

Anko's eyes twitched. It twitched a lot. She took her arm and wiped the offending liquid off her face doing her best not to strangle the only female companion in the world who she didn't completely hate. At that moment though… it was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Naruto Uzumaki." She repeated more confidently this time. The woman willed herself not to blush or act like a fucking school girl again. She refused. She was a woman. And he was a man. They hadn't even fucked for pete sakes'!

"You're not joking are you…?" Kurenai said slowly. Anko shook her head picking up Kurenai's dango and eating the tiny morsel.

"So… you guys had sex then?" And that did it. The confident façade was gone and Anko was sporting a full time blush spluttering on the food she just ate. Choking she did her best to swallow the food lodged in her throat.

"No! Nothing like that!" Anko finally managed to say. Her mind couldn't even handle that image right now. She could barely think about him clothed without getting hot.

"So you didn't have sex… okay that's good… that's good right?" Kurenai asked slowly never having been in this awkward situation before. Anko's had sex with a lot of men, A LOT of men and she had been VERY vocal about her previous adventures giving her such vivid and explicit details.

She wasn't exactly sure how to approach a shy Anko. The hazel eyed jonin on the other hand glared angrily at nothing, the bright red blush still evident on her face.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened last night then?" Kurenai asked.

"We talked." Anko stated chewing on her lip.

"Just talking…. no sex whatsoever?"

"Yes!" The snake woman hissed. "We just talked! No sex, no hot weird kinky shit, no fucking, no riding his dick like rabbits in fucking heat, nothing, nada, zilch! Happy now?" Anko stood in uproar. It was then she realized everything had gone silent in the restaurant.

All eyes had somehow fallen on to her.

Kurenai quickly stood up and put some cash on the table before grabbing her pyscho pseudo best friend and leaving the premise. The pair walked down the street silent until Anko broke the silence.

"We just talked. He let me talk to him about… him…" She said. Kurenai's eyes became more sympathetic knowing how closed off Anko could really be about certain problems.

"And you know things happened and one thing led to another and then the last thing I remember was falling asleep next to him in my bed and waking up with him snoring on my couch." Her hazel eyes lifted up and watched the clouds that floated through the sky.

"That's it?" Kurenai questioned wanting the full story before she said anything.

"…he stayed for breakfast."

Flashback

The first thing Naruto woke up to was the smell of food. It was amazing. He never woke up to the smell of food like that in the morning. That's how he knew he was dreaming because the only thing he ever ate for breakfast was ramen in a cup.

He groaned as he forced his body to move. It felt so stiff and sore. Exactly how long had he been asleep? It was no matter; it was time to get up anyway. Rolling to the side he felt the hard furniture underneath him disappear.

'Fuck!' He thought momentarily before crashing face first into the floor. He cried out in pain holding his nose. "God damn it! That hurt!" He cursed.

Naruto jumped when a kunai thudded next to him on the coffee table. "Get blood on my nice floor and I'll castrate you." A very distinct, very feminine voice said.

Blue eyes looked up and instantly met hazel. And it was like a switch. All of a sudden everything from last night came rushing back. He stared at her dumbly spluttering like an idiot. He watched her every movement and saw the small smile that contradicted the terrible and horrible threat she just used against him.

"Oh and breakfast is ready so get your ass over here and eat." She said before walking off. Somehow Naruto – as he sat with his ass on the floor in her living room – couldn't help but guffaw as his eyes never left her hips.

The blonde scrambled to his feet trying to catch up and follow her, all the time berating himself for acting like a whipped dog.

'You're a man!' He thought. 'Act cool, be tough, be... be man-like!' He puffed out his chest, stood to his full height, and tried to appear aloof and cool like he did with other women. He could do this. He was cool. What the hell he was the next Hokage, he was the epitome of cool! Everyone wanted to be as manly as he was.

Anko looked up at him from the table before saying, "What the fuck are you doing? You look stupid." Naruto deflated miserably before taking his own seat. In front of him sat the best smelling breakfast in the whole entire world. It looked amazing.

He looked up at her and saw she was already eating quietly so he proceeded to do the same enjoying every morsel of food that went into his mouth. He couldn't help but notice though that as he ate the terrible and awkward silence that settled over the duo.

He honestly didn't know what to say. And after last night… he wasn't exactly sure where they stood. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"I…uh I didn't know you could cook." He said lamely.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." She bit out while eating another bite. Her hazel eyes wouldn't meet his.

It sounded like an accusation. It sounded like she was angry.

The blonde jonin didn't know what to say. So they finished eating the rest of the meal in complete silence, but Naruto couldn't help but feel like he had lost his appetite.

When all was said and done Anko whispered something he almost missed, "Maybe you should leave…" Naruto said nothing as he sat staring at her.

"Naruto I said maybe you should leave." She repeated more forcefully this time standing up, intent on ushering him to the door.

"You're right." He said simply.

He stood up from his seat and strode confidently over to her. Standing directly in front of her he towered over her small figure. She backed up glaring at the intrusion of her personal space. She wasn't going to make this easy, but he refused to relent.

Finally she backed into her kitchen wall and could no longer retreat anywhere. Naruto cornered her and when she tried to walk away again he slammed his hand roughly on the wall next to her head. His blue eyes forcing her to stare at him.

"I don't know you Anko, but I want to. I want to know you Anko Mitarashi. And I don't want to be the only one of us two that doesn't regret anything that happened last night because I don't. And I never will because it brought me one step closer to knowing you." He brought his mouth close to her ear and whispered softly.

"I know you can cook and that I thought it was fucking amazing. I know you're an amazing ninja and you scare the living shit out of me sometimes. I know that you're strong, but you are also weak. I know that every time I look at you I think that you're beautiful." He finished firmly.

Secretly though he had no idea what he was saying. The words were just spilling out of his mouth like he needed to say it, like he had been waiting to say them for a lifetime. He could feel his heart ram against his chest almost painfully and he prayed to God that she couldn't hear it.

Anko looked wide-eyed at him for a moment. And then instinct took over. She grabbed his face and brought his lips to hers in a forceful kiss. Her hands grabbing his hair tightly as his hands wrapped around her waist pulling their bodies closer.

It was desperate. It was passionate. It was scared.

Her lips devoured his and Naruto felt as if his body were on fire. It was instantly like last night where he just couldn't get enough of her. He would never be sated, not of Anko. He would always want her. And that would be the honest truth for the rest of his life.

He picked her up placing her on the counter as her long legs wrapped around his waist almost painfully. It was amazing how well she just fit into his body. How every curve of her fit smoothly against his chest, how her lips felt so perfect on his, how her hands claimed him like no other women had.

When they finally broke apart for air they were breathless, but neither of their hands left the others body. Anko's curled tightly into the fabric of his shirt refusing to let go. Naruto nuzzled his head into the crook of her shoulder and as she breathed against him he began to laugh.

He just started laughing and he couldn't stop. It wasn't like it was full blown ugly cow laughing like he had heard some other people do, but he just couldn't stop the melodious chuckle leaving his chest.

Anko hit him over the head. "What the hell is so funny asshole?"Her mouth quirked and her eyebrows were raised. He looked at her and smiled bringing his face close as he whispered to her.

"Absolutely nothing." He said before placing his lips on top of hers for a much more gentle kiss. She responded quickly and Naruto knew then that nothing else mattered in the world. He was going to be okay. He would always be okay if every morning he got to spend it like this.

After that things had eased up for them. He could tell Anko was still tense, that she still wasn't sure of this, but he didn't want to think about it right then. They laughed and talked for what seems like hours and when she finally led him to her door to leave he stopped.

"Anko," He said looking at her. "What are we?"

She was silent and he would be lying if he didn't say it hurt, but he knew with her this was going to take some time. It was going to take a lot of time and trust.

"I don't know Naruto."

"What do you want us to be?" He said pulling her closer to him.

She pushed him away ever so slightly. "I don't know. I'm not sure if there is an us yet."

Naruto eyes were sad, but he smiled nonetheless.

"What?" She said.

"I'll change your mind. I'll do whatever it takes, I'll wait for however long you want me to, but I will change your mind Anko Mitarashi. Believe it." And once again he watched as he left Anko dumbfounded. He smiled at the funny look on her face, before taking his leave.

"I'll be sure to see you around Anko." Was the last thing he said before shutting the door.

That's what she was scared of.

Anko stood there staring at the spot he had been in for what seemed like forever. Finally she moved and packed her things quickly before leaving.

She needed to talk to Kurenai.

Flashback End

"He stayed for breakfast, I tried to kick him out after breakfast, and then somehow we ended up kissing... a lot." Anko said looking at her friend. "And that is everything."

Kurenai instinctively ran a hand through her hair. Anko was so difficult.

"What am I supposed to do Kure-chan?" She said stopping in the middle of the street looking at her.

"Do you like him?"

"I don't know."

"You have to know Anko. Do you feel anything for him? Because whether you do or don't different things are going to have to happen." Kurenai insisted.

"He's different."

"I'm going to assume that's a yes then." Anko scoffed and looked away.

"You know that he's a seven years younger than you right? He was Kakashi's student, he's the next Hokage, and he's going to be a lot of things in the future Anko." Kurenai said feeling more than a bit guilty.

"I just want to be sure you understand that." She felt like the bad guy. She felt like a bitch. This was a chance for Anko to be happy, but the woman tended to run into things head first and Kurenai just wanted her to be careful with this.

There could be serious consequences if things went south. Naruto wasn't exactly a nobody in this village. He was the future Hokage.

"God, I know that. Kure-chan I know that. This… this could never work out. I know that. He deserves a lot better than me." Anko said tiredly.

"No, no Anko that's not what I'm saying. Don't ever say you're not good enough because you are." Kurenai said frustrated. "I'm just saying there's going to be a few people that won't readily accept this. I want you to know what you're getting in to."

"I can't do it." Anko said beginning to talk more to herself than anything else. She turned to Kurenai looking at her more directly. "You should go; you have a mission brief in ten at the Hokage Tower."

"No, it's fine. It'll be alright if I'm a few minutes late. Plus I'm on a team with Kakashi so I'll be on time either way." The genjutsu mistress began backtracking.

Anko grinned cheekily. Kurenai flinched at how fake and plastered it looked. "No, you have to go. I'll be alright. I have to go meet up with Ibiki anyway." She said shouldering her way into the opposite direction.

Kurenai could only watch as Anko retreated into a mass of people. Somehow she felt as if things were going to get worse before they get better.

"Damn it Anko, please don't do anything you'll regret."

2 Weeks Later

Sasuke bit his lip painfully, eyes shut tight. His fingers dug into the palm of his hands and he could feel the beginnings of blood seeping down his pristine white skin. Sweat poured down the side of his face and his hair was more than a little damp.

"So….ah…. she's still avoiding you?" He grit out.

Naruto's blue eyes were narrowed in concentration. His eyebrows furrowed deeply as he worked to move his hands quickly. He knew Sasuke wouldn't be able to handle much more of this today. And he too was also reaching his limit.

Still he couldn't help but marvel at the black markings that littered Sasuke's entire body. Intricate designs and swirls curled in all sorts of directions and sometimes briefly burning red with power. As a seal master this was a puzzle he had to figure out.

"Two… shit…" Naruto quickly flicked his hand fixing a minor mistake in the notion of his seals on Sasuke's back. "…two weeks. She's been avoiding me for two straight weeks." The blonde dipped his brush in black ink and continued his precise strokes. He was so close. He was so close to figuring out what his godfather could not.

Sasuke laughed hoarsely, his throat dry. "Your – fuck!" He bit out painfully. "—luck with women is terrible…" He felt the skin on his back sear with burning pain as Naruto painted another seal on his back.

Stopping, the Kyuubi Jinchuriki looked at his handiwork before sighing tiredly. "Sasuke I think that's enough for today."

Sasuke let out a large breath. "Finally." He said tersely. His entire body was stiff and his back still itched with small traces of pain. Quickly he called back the power of the cursed seal. The black tribal patterns receding back to its origin on his shoulder.

It without a doubt took a toll on his body, but the raven was used to it. And secretly he still loved the power surge it gave him. Maybe it was the adrenaline rushing through his vein or the raw immense power coursing through his muscles that made it so addictive. Either way Sasuke knew he would never be able to let go of that power.

Naruto knew that to. The raven knew his blonde best friend knew that he would never let go of the curse seal. It was engrained into his body, his soul. They didn't talk about it. Sasuke was ashamed of his refusal to let go, but Naruto never judged. And under extreme circumstances the future Hokage had even mentioned that it is an asset that can prove useful.

That's how they rationalized it anyway. It was useful and Sasuke had the control and the temperament to use it.

Yet it was the same with Naruto. His Jinchuriki status while publicly known was still treated with some caution. Sasuke knew Naruto tried not to use it in front of people unless it was dire because secretly his best friend also craved the power as well.

They were one in the same. They always had been. And that would never change.

"Are you sure she's been avoiding you?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto cocked his head in annoyance. "Yeah, it's like every time I try to find her or every time I try to talk to her she disappears. She won't talk to me! She won't look at me! She won't even fucking insult me!" He finished with arms crossed.

"Yes, because her insulting you is any better." Sasuke said mockingly.

"At least she'd be talking to me…" The blonde said quietly.

"Sasuke, I just don't what to do. I'd do anything for her and I mean look at me! I'm doing this right now! But I can't keep dealing with these little mood swings, it's like one day she's fine with me and the next she won't even look at me." Naruto put his head between his knees. "You're right I have the worst luck with women."

"Did you ever think that it's because she avoids you, because she treats you differently than anyone you know, because you just have no idea what to do with her that it makes her the right one?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto peeked at his friend with his blue eyes, mouth turned into a confused frown.

"How do you think I felt about Hinata?" Sasuke's face warmed up as he gathered what little courage he had. "Never in million years did I think I would fall for her of all people, I refused to accept that I fell for a Hyuga of all people but I did. And as confused as I am, I plan to chase after her until the day she falls for me as I've fallen for her because she makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to be different. She makes me look forward to the future." He finished with a red blush across his cheeks.

Naruto looked at Sasuke. Sasuke looked at Naruto.

"Wow. I didn't expect that… it was a little weird man." Naruto said slowly. Sasuke's eye twitched and he grabbed a kunai from his bag before Naruto started waving his hands frantically.

"No, no! That sounded bad, probably really bad but I didn't mean it like that." The blonde rubbed the back of his head. "It's just I can't believe this is how things ended up for us." Naruto started, smiling softly.

"I mean can you believe it teme? Eight years ago I never thought this would happen. All I was focused on was beating the shit out of you and wiping the smug look off your ugly ass face." He said laughing. Sasuke could even feel the smallest traces of a smile starting on his face.

"And now look at us, I'm going to be Hokage in a year –maybe less—and you're going to be the Anbu Commander. And of all things right now, we're talking about women!" He finished with no small amount of mirth.

Sasuke laid back and closed his eyes. "The things we do for women." Briefly the image of Hinata flashed in his mind and her beautiful smile plagued his mind. He would have to tell her soon. He didn't want to be just friends anymore.

"You should go talk to Anko, Naruto." The Uchiha said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, for some reason women seem to like seeing you're stupid face. An you always convince them that you're not the big idiot that you seem to be."

Naruto deadpanned at his friends comment. Still he couldn't help but chuckle as stood to his feet. He walked towards the door intent on finding Anko.

"Thanks Sasuke."

"Anytime dobe."

Naruto paced in front of the door. "This was a terrible idea. Stupid Sasuke, stupid idea, stupid Naruto!" He banged his fist against his head as he continued to pace frantically. He had walked all the way over here, planned a speech, planned to sweep her off her feet and kiss her, and now he was chickening out.

"Do it. Just do it." He thought walking up to the door fist raised to knock.

And then he made a face and backed away. Maybe he was too early. He hadn't realized when he left his place it had only been seven in the morning. It was weird to randomly show up at someone's house at seven in the morning right? How did that give Anko the right message?

And he looked down at himself and realized he looked a mess. When was the last time he had taken a shower? Naruto was back to pacing.

"Shit, double shit." He stopped and pretended Anko was in front of him. He coughed and deepened his voice trying to sound manly. Then he made different gestures with his hand trying to decide what felt right. And then he tried to tear his hair out for being stupid. Sasuke said all he had to do was talk to her.

All he had to do was talk to her. And really that was all he wanted to do. He missed her. He missed her voice and her smile. He missed her scent and her kiss. All he wanted to do was be with her.

He walked up to her apartment door and raised his fist. Knocking loudly the sound echoed through the wood smoothly.

"Anko? It's Naruto."

Anko woke up that morning to loud, annoying, brash knocking. "What the hell?" She muttered under her breath. She grabbed her pillow and pushed it over her head trying to block out the noise. She had a splitting headache.

How much had she really drank last night? All she remembered was the first shot of vodka and then things got really blurry. She felt a body move next to her. Her hazel eyes looked over and saw a stark naked Genma laying next to her. One of his eyes was cracked open glaring daggers at the door.

Anko buried her head cursing. "Shit." She looked down at herself and instantly knew what had happened last night. She was such a slut.

"It'll go away soon." Anko muttered to her partner.

"It better." Genma drawled before rolling over and wrapping in arm around Anko's waist. "Last night was fun… I was surprised you wanted to do it, I thought our deal was done." He said referring to their past.

"We are." Anko thought bitterly. Thinking back to only a few months ago she remembered the deal her and Genma had agreed on. As the only two in their group of friends not in a relationship or looking for a relationship they agreed to politely be "fuck buddies".

And Anko will be the first to admit that it was nice and fun while it lasted, but now she wasn't sure. Then again she couldn't even remember last night. If the pain in her lower regions was anything to go by she knew it was rough.

Still, Anko couldn't help but like their relationship. There was no commitment, it was always just pleasure. The mornings after consisted of either leaving without a goodbye or a quickie and then leaving without a goodbye. That's what Anko liked. That's what she needed.

The knockings on the door persisted and finally she heard her name. The voice sounded familiar.

"Anko?"

She heard Genma get up. He would get it and make whoever it was go away. She still couldn't get over how familiar that voice was though.

"Anko? Anko, its Naruto. Can we talk?" Anko shot up out of her bed, eyes wide.

"No." She got up, but Genma was already at the door. "No, no, no…."

Genma opened the door.

Naruto stood banging on the door for what felt like forever. He knew she was in there though because he could feel her chakra, something in which he had memorized the feeling of. He wasn't going to leave. He refused to leave until he got to saw her.

And finally the door opened.

"Anko!" He said almost excitedly. "Look I know you've been avoiding me, but I meant what I said last ti—"

"Dude, you're kind of a buzz kill right now. It's too early in the fucking morning for this." Naruto froze looking at the man in front of him.

"Genma?" He said with a little disbelief. He could feel the hurt start to thrum through his chest. Naruto knew the jonin from working a few missions with him before. He had never seen him like this though shirtless, boxers hastily pulled on, and hair a mess.

"Oi, Naruto it's you." Genma said finally recognizing the blonde. "Sorry I didn't know it was you. Does Anko have a mission or something?"

Blue eyes ignored him as he looked around and finally saw Anko in the bedroom behind him. Wrapped in sheets, she was looking at him wide-eyed. It didn't take a genius to figure what had happened.

Naruto took a step back. "Naruto…" Anko called out desperately.

The blonde hardened himself and looked at Genma. He forced a smile to his face. "Yeah, something like that man. Could you just tell her that she has a mission debrief in an hour?" He said lying through his teeth. The long rectangular box in his pocket all of a sudden felt really heavy.

"Yeah, yeah no problem. Sorry for getting on you earlier, I didn't know it was you at the door." Genma said coolly.

"No problem, I can see you were a little busy." Naruto said laughing. Genma grinned back. "You do her good?" Naruto asked.

Genma waggled his eyebrows before nodding his head. Naruto had to restrain the urge to strangle the man on the spot.

He had never wanted to hurt someone so badly.

The blonde took one last look at Anko. She was throwing on her clothes as quickly as she could her eyes literally screaming at him to wait. She wanted him to wait for her as Genma stood practically naked in front of him.

Like hell if he was ever going to wait for her again.

"Well, I should go. I'm supposed to meet Sakura and Sasuke later. See ya Genma." He said before turning and walking away as quickly as he could. He couldn't hold out any longer. He couldn't stop the hot tears of embarrassment and hurt that leaked from his eyes. He was so fucking naïve. He was so fucking stupid. And he hated himself for it.

Anko pulled her coat on as quickly as she could intent on following Naruto. Genma turned around confused at her state of dress, "Hey what are you doing? I thought you wanted a quickie before I left?"

"I want you gone by the time I get back." She hissed running past him and out the door. She could just make out Naruto's bright blonde hair leaving the apartment complex. She called out his name.

"Naruto!" She yelled. "Naruto, please wait!"

Then Naruto just disappeared without so much as a glance back at her.

The minute Naruto had shunshined out into the training fields he let his chakra run wild. Taking on almost a physical form the blue strands of energy whipped the wind angrily. How could he have been so stupid?

He charged a double rasengan charging forward blindly. Trees were decimated, rocks smashed, kunai flung everywhere anything that would distract him, let him release the pint up energy that felt like lead in his chest.

It felt like he was literally drowning in emotions.

There was anger and sorrow, but most of all he just felt betrayal. He felt betrayed. He laughed bitterly, "We weren't exclusive though. She never said we were exclusive. She never even said there was an 'us'."

Maybe that's what hurt the most. That everything he could have thought he felt, the raw emotion and feelings that he held in regard for her were only one way. In his mind he had just made them up and clung to them childishly because one night three years ago she had told him to get the fuck over himself.

Was he really so desperate that for three years he secretly pined after her? His delusions so false, that the night he spent with her, the morning that his lips were on hers, and his arms wrapped tightly around her waist was just another fuck?

She had been different. He had sworn up and down that she had been different! She hadn't been just another random girl. She understood. She could see the real him. She could see past the Jinchuriki, she could see past the future Hokage and the murderer and the savior. She had seen the man behind everything despite the walls.

Naruto balled his fist tightly. Then how in the hell had he been so wrong?

He let his body fall to the ground. He brought his knees in close and just laid his head down between them. He thought of his godfather.

"If you truly love'em, tell them. Don't you ever wait boy. Promise that you'll never wait otherwise you'll die regretting it the rest of your life."

Those were his words. Those were his words. Then why were they so wrong? Had he not made his feelings to Anko clear? Had she misinterpreted his words? He had done what his godfather said and they came back to bite him in the ass.

"Is this why you never told Tsunade Old Man?" Naruto wondered silently. "We're you scared that she'd never accept your feelings? We're you scared of never being loved? Jiraiya I wish you were here, you perverted old bastard."

"You humans are so stupid." A voice rumbled through the back of his mind.

"Shut up. I thought I sealed off communications with you fox." Naruto said angrily. His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. Despite all attempts to become friends with the fox, despite everything the fox still hated Naruto.

"You are not the great seal master you think you are nin-gen. You're arrogant in thinking otherwise." The fox mocked tails swishing from behind its cage savagely.

"So the pot called the kettle black." The blonde snorted. Taking out a seal paper, he took out his ink brush and designed his own sealing quickly and fluently. It was almost radiant in which the elegance the art of sealing had. It's what mesmerized Naruto the most.

"You know those little flimsy seals will only last so long. I know you can feel it boy. I'm getting stronger," Naruto felt his hand fingers tighten their hold around the brush. The side of his mouth fell downward.

"You're father's seal is beginning to fail. Soon… soon there will be no barrier between us and I will rip you to shreds." He didn't want to hear blonde quickly finished before slamming the slip of paper on his forehead. His body convulsed momentarily as he forced himself to hold still. And soon his mind became quiet once again.

His thoughts though could not be silenced. It was just one problem after another.

Unfortunately the problem with Kyuubi was becoming more and more apparent so his heartbreak would have to be put aside. The fox wasn't lying. And Naruto wasn't sure how much longer he could hide it from everyone. He was already having to send a fourth of his chakra to the seal to help keep it functioning properly.

The Kyuubi Jinchuriki stood up. He had started estimating the time he had left before things would really get bad not too long ago. He had two months at the max. If somehow he didn't figure out a way to fix the seal by then… well, Naruto knew no matter what the cost he could not endanger the village.

He would cross that path once he met it.

Naruto felt a chakra signature appear behind him. The blonde quickly fixed himself, hiding any signs of concern, any signs of worry.

"Naruto." An Anbu in a raven mask announced.

He turned and gave the masked man a crooked grin. "Sasuke." He could already see the frown forming under the mask at the mention of his name.

"It's Raven."

"Whatever you say Sasuke. What do you need?" Naruto questioned.

"The Hokage wants to see you." Sasuke said briefly.

The blonde nodded his head. "Alright, let's go meet the old lady then." He said preparing to shunshin to the tower.

"How'd the talk with Anko go?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto's face turned dark at the reminder and he dismissed his friend. He had no interest in talking about it. He was just ready to move on. He had more pressing matter anyway. "Don't want to talk about it." He said quickly before disappearing leaving Sasuke alone.

The Anbu Captain looked at the spot where Naruto was before saying, "I'm guessing it didn't go well." He followed suit soon after going to report to Tsunade.

When Naruto appeared at the Hokage Tower he was quick to knock on the windows. He took pride in the pure look of hatred Tsunade gave him opening the window for him to enter the room. "I'd prefer if you used the door brat."

"We have a door Granny?" That comment had earned him a stapler at his head. Then Tsunade got more serious.

"I have a mission for you." Naruto instantly straightened up. He had the best track record in the village and when he was called for missions by the Hokage it was never for the easy shit.

"I accept." The blonde said dully reverting to a state where all that mattered was the success of the mission.

"Good. It's S-Ranked and you'll be joining up with Suna on this mission as well. They'll meet you at a separate location from when you depart."

"Understood."

"You'll also have a partner this time around. Her abilities in tracking will be useful for this mission. I'll fully explain all the details of what this will entail when she arrives. She should be here any minute now." Tsunade said eyeing the man in front of her.

She could never get over the fact how much Naruto had grown up.

Naruto was about to ask who his partner was when the door opened behind them "Sorry I'm late Tsunade-sama, I had a rough night."

Naruto instantly stilled as his blue eyes narrowed on his partner. His chest felt like lead again and the dull pain he had been ignoring for the better part of the morning came back full force.

"Shit." Hazel eyes landed on Naruto and she knew her day just got a whole lot worse.

Naruto turned around and looked at Tsunade. "I refuse to accept the mission." He said with finality that meant he was not going to be flexible about this.

Anko cursed. Scratch that, her day just went to bloody fucking hell.

A/N: Long time no see! And for the record I'm sorry its taken me this long to post anything. I've been trying to write this chapter for a while, but I've been really busy with exams and finals lately. On the bright side of things though, I've passed! Yeah educational school system...not. But y'all don't actually care about that so moving on. What did ya think of the new chapter? Good? Bad? Terribly shitty? Drop a review and let me know.

Oh and if on the off chance you haven't figured it out, I will be attempting to continue this story or in other words its no longer a two-shot! At least so long as the responses to the chapters are good and everyone is jiggy with it. So really updating and continuing this will be highly dependent on reader responses. I'm honestly not joking when I say any and all reviews would be helpful including critiques.

Quick side note as well because I would like to thank Xellax7 for her review and message because it has given me some great ideas for future chapters and I appreciate all the help given to me. My ultimate goal is to make the readers happy. If y'all are happy then so am I.

Last note will be just read my two other stories if you haven't done so already. If you like this I think you'll like my other ones. So... go read it!

Thanks so much for everything! I'll be looking forward to reading reviews from my readers!

Iron Legends13