Forgive me before I die

“Forgive me before I die”
Author: Kinai26
Paring: Naru x Sasu
Rating: Angst M/M 18 + later on
Disclaimer: I don´t own Naruto… Masashi Kishimoto-dono does.
Beta: Not beta-ed…. Yet!

1. Returning home

I don´t know where I am anymore… and I normally wouldn´t care… but I have to achieve one last thing before I die.

I lost track of the road about an hour ago… or so I think… I lost track of the time as well… I have to go on… I have to hold on… just a little bit longer. I´m close… I can feel it somehow… I can feel his presence… so close now.

All I need before I let go of this pity existence of mine… is to see his face… just one last time. I can´t die… before I tell him… the truth… about my clan… Itachi´s reasons… as well as my own… for leaving… for hurting him so badly back then… for pushing him away over and over again though… though I have always loved him more than life itself.

He needs to know… that both Itachi and I had to do what we did… to save… Konoha… to save the fourths legacy… I need him to understand… that I´m sorry and that I… always wanted to stay… but there was no other way, at that time anyway.

I feel so dizzy from the lack of oxygen and blood. The battle I just barely won against Orochimaru and his lackeys… took a rather bad turn, though I´m the only one still breathing… yet anyway.

The wounds the damn snake bastard gave me are painfully slow sucking the life out of my veins… the end isn´t far away now… but I deserve it. I betrayed Konoha, Orochimaru and I betrayed the trust and love you offered me… and I need you to know… the truth before… before the end.

My body trembles as I cough up some of the blood that is threatening to drown me from the hole in my left lunge… its hurts so badly… I´m so tired… I want nothing more than to rest. I choose not to give in; because I know what the consequences would be eternal sleep.

Still I´m the lucky one, because I´m the one still standing, still breathing and still the sole occupant of my body, while Orochimaru lost not only his life… but also his power and soul to me.

Even if Tsunade would try to patch me up… no… There are just too many cuts and broken bones. My right arm was almost crushed under Orochimaru´s snake form; the left shoulder is dislocated and broken. The poison from that last bite has already spread into my entire system… slowly killing me.

Only my stubbornness keeps me on my feet; one slow and painful step at a time… to get to him.

Finally… I feel his chakra so strong… so pure… right there in front of me… just a few more steps… I have… to… make it… I need you….

I… I want… you to hold me… while this life… leaves my body… because I know that… no one down there would never… save a traitor… like me… will you be able… able to forgive me?
My vision become blurry from tears of regret and agony… as I slowly feel my consciousness slip away… No… not just yet… not when I´m… so close… to you.

The guards at the gates! I can see them… they are already running towards me as I stumble down the hill towards my former home… I fall onto my knees; not even feeling the pain as the skin breaks as my mind is already shutting down.

“No…” I whisper. “… I… I… Naru…to.”

~ # ~

“Ohayo, Hokage-sama.” The pink-haired medic said with a warm smile as she entered the office; two cups of freshly brewed coffee in her hands.

“Ohayo, Sakura-chan… coffee... for me?”

“Yes… You know who much I care about your health… and you need to start the day with something else that the usual stuff.” She grinned as she handed her superior the one cup of the hot drink.

“Are you on you way home from nightshift, right? Had a rough night?”

“Nah, it was a rather peaceful shift this night… but I´m starting to feel sleepy.” The young woman yawned as she sat down on a comfortable chair in front of the heavy wooden desk.

“Understandable. So is your spouse still up for a spar, when I´m done with the boring paperwork, that Shizune keeps bugging me with.” The Kage chuckled.

“Sure he is.” She smiled warmly.

“Would you mind asking him to picking me up? You know how I sometimes doze eh forgets things… and I have a lot of boring paperwork to do today, as you can see.” The blonde Kage said with a smile.

“Aha.” She grins teasingly. “And I thought you had to talk to the new graduated genins today too.” Sakura said.

“Yeah, in an hour. Iruka-sensei asked me to see how much these kids have grown since last time I saw them… he is so proud of them.”

“He always is… with good reason. He´s a compassionate teacher after all. Will you assign Kakashi to a team this year?” The pink-haired woman asked.

“Yup. I though you would like to see your boyfriend more at home… with you being pregnant and all.”

“Thank you, Hokage-sama… you know how much I appreciate it.”

“No problem, Sakura-chan. You do so much for Konoha and me… how could I resist to make you even happier.”

“… You have always had a heart filled with care and compassion for others… I just wish that someone could offer you the same.”

“Don´t worry about me… I´m used to being alo-“

Knock! Knock!

“Hokage-sama? There has been an incident!”

“Enter!” The blonde Hokage told the ANBU on the other side of the door.

“Hokage-sama, I´m sorry to interrupt your meeting.” The ANBU kneeled respectfully in front of his boss.

“Don´t worry about it. What has happened?”

“The guards at the northern gate… they found a very badly injured man and brought him to the infirmary. He is on the verge of death and he keeps on murmuring the same thing… he asks to see Uzumaki Naruto!”

“… Sakura-chan, go to the infirmary with me… I need to see who is requesting this and I think we should try your improved healing jutsu on that person. I have no intention on letting anyone die today… no matter who it may be.”

~ # ~

They teleported themselves to the E.R. and was immediately led to the operating room where the stranger was being treated for his massive wounds.

“I should go in alone first.” Sakura told the Kage. “We don´t know if this person is a threat to Konoha or not… I will call you when it’s safe.”

“Sakura-chan! I´m very capable of taking care of myself.” The blonde Hokage growled and was rewarded with a death glare from the pink-haired medic.

“… I´ll just go talk to the guards and hear their report!”

“Good.” Sakura nodded and entered the room.

Five seconds later a surprised cry scattered the usually quiet hallways of the hospital. This caused an immediate reaction from the Hokage who rushed into the room, a protective jutsu already in mind.

“What is going on… do you need any… h help?...!... Sa…Sakura?” The blonde walked slowly up the stunned medic and looked over her shoulder to find out what had put her in this state.

“… Oh god… Sa… Sasuke?!” The blonde Kage felt confusion and sorrow well up inside… The Uchiha looked so beaten up… his body broken and he looked to be in pain.

“Sakura-chan… don´t just stand there… help me to heal him!”

“But… he´s…”The pink-haired girl looked at her Kage with tears in her beautiful green eyes.

“Don´t you dare say it!” The blonde growled. “We can save him… if we work together. I will not let this bastard die… I want him to live and recover, so I can beat the crap out of his stubborn ass for leaving.” The Hokage told her.

“Shizune?”

“Yes, Hokage-sama?”

“Get Kakashi here as fast as possible… I need him to assist us with his sharingan. I want you to call Neji, Kiba and Shino. I need to know where he came from. I also need Chouji, Hinata and Ino… to guard this room… and Shizune; that he is here.” The blonde pointed at the Uchiha “Is classified information, understood!”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” She said as she watched Sakura and her Hokage do everything they could to save the bloodied body on the cold steel table. She teleported directly to the house that Kakashi shared with Sakura.

~ # ~

“Yo, Shizune. What can I do for you on this fine day?” He asked. He was reading a newspaper while sipping at a cup of coffee. He was waiting for his little pink-haired muffin-cake to come home from work.

“I have an urgent message from the Hokage. There has been an incident and we need the sharingan.” She told him.

“What kind of incident? Is Sakura alright? Is it Naruto?” The silver-haired nin asked with a worried tone.

“No, they are both fine… Uchiha Sasuke has turned up… more dead than alive. They are working on him as we speak. This is for your eyes and ears only.” She said before leaving him to alert the others.

“… Sasuke… is back?” Kakashi muttered as he gulped down his coffee and teleported himself to the hospital.

~ # ~

Shizune gathered Neji, Shino and Kiba and told them what had happened.

“So the Hokage wants us to back track his route?” Neji asked.

“Yes, Neji-san… you three are the best in tracking down people, and with the massive amount of damage to the Uchiha´s body… it shouldn´t be too difficult to find his tracks. Hokage-sama wants you to be on your guard… the ones that the Uchiha fought might still be out there.”

We´ll be careful.” Kiba told her as they left the city to investigate where Sasuke had come from.

~ # ~

Ino, Chouji and Hinata followed Shizune back to the infirmary without hesitation. Sasuke might be a traitor, an anti-social bastard and an ass…but they knew how important the Uchiha was to Naruto… and therefore they would do their best to keep the raven-haired traitor safe.

“Will he make it?” Hinata asked.

“They are working on him as we speak… but it looks really bad.”

“How… is Naruto holding up?” Chouji asked in concern of his blonde friend.

“… Naruto is Naruto… He just keeps going and won’t give up… as always.” She said as she left them to go check up on the operation.

~ # ~

“Use my chakra, Sakura… use as much as you need… just save him.” The blonde Kage demanded.

“… But… I´m not powerful enough to save him… if she was here… she could…”

“Cut the crap, girl! You are the best at this kind of things and I know that you can do it.”

“… I really want to… but… the wounds are just too severe…”

“He is strong, he has always been strong… he can make it. “ The blonde pushed more chakra into his hands and into the body beneath them. “You hear me, Teme… don´t you dare to give up and die on me… don´t you dare.”

The sweat was dripping from Sakura´s nose as she gritted her teeth and forced her green chakra to mix with the pure blue from her Kage, to mend the countless broken bones, close the endless wounds and remove the paralyzing venom that filled the raven-haired mans veins.

´Oh God… he is so pale… please… dear God, save him… don´t take my Teme away from me… please let him live… I´d do anything. `

“Naruto… it’s working… the wounds are finally closing… and I have been able to remove all of the venom.” She smiled through her tears. “Tsunade would be so proud of you… you really are the best, Hokage-sama.” She told the whiskered man. She was on the verge of collapsing as she had used almost all her chakra.

“Thank you, Sakura-chan… I couldn´t have done it without you. Kakashi-sensei is already waiting for you outside.” Naruto said. “I just need him to take a quick look at Sasuke and then you can go home together and rest up.” Naruto said as he took of the blood stained Kage robe and washed his hands.

“I will stay with him, so you need not worry.” He gave her one of his trademark smiled and saw her relax a bit.

“You need to think of the baby… I´ll send for Baa-chan to give you a check up. She can heal the last of Sasuke´s wounds too… so go home and get some sleep.” He felt better as he saw her nod smilingly at him before she left the room without any kind of protest.

¤ Kit… I feel his heartbeat growing stronger too… you and the breeder really made it. You saved your Teme. ¤

´Don´t call Sakura-nee that Kyuu. Are you sure about the Teme´s condition? ´

¤ Oh I´m sure. He´ll live and be a royal pain in your ass again before you know it, kit. ¤

´Thank you for lending me the extra chakra to save his ass… you´re the best, kyuu-niisan. `

¤ Just happy to be able to help, kit. May I suggest something? ¤ The demon fox asked his host.

´Sure you can…` Naruto told the fur-ball.

¤ May I suggest that we put the Uchiha on a leash? ¤

´… What? ` Blue eyes grew wide at the kitsune´s comment. ´ You suggest we tie him up? `

¤ Not literally kit, I was more thinking of an invisible chakra leash… so you´d always know where your Teme is… just in case he decides to run once he wakes up.¤

´Hmmm, good point, Kyuu. How do we do it? `

¤ Kakashi knows… ask him. ¤ The Kitsune purred as he curled into a ball and went back to sleep.

~ # ~

“Hokage-sama… Naruto? Are you alright?” Kakashi asked as he saw the thoughtful look on the blonde´s blood stained face.

“Kakashi-sensei… I´m fine.” The blonde sat down on a chair next to the bed and looked at the pale man that occupied it.

“… And how´s he?” The copy-nin asked softly.

“He´ll be fine… he´s not a quitter after all…” Naruto sighed. “Did you know that he asked to see me as they brought him here?”

“… Yes, I heard it from Shizune… What can I do to help?”

“I need you to check his mental system with the Sharingan… to see if everything is alright with his chakra and stuff.”

“Sure, no problem, Hokage-sama.”

“Just Naruto please… and I need you to do something else too.”

“Sure Naruto… what do you need?”

“I want to put a chakra leash on the Teme… just in case. Can you teach me how to make one?”

“… Good idea. I can put one on him if you like!”

“Thank you, Kakashi, but I´d like to be the one that put him on the leash. You have a pregnant woman and a genin team to look after… I can manage to keep an eye on the Teme.”

“You are too concerned with his feelings, Naruto… He doesn’t deserve your kindness. How dare he hurt you and Sakura so badly and then come running back here when he´s on the verge of death… expecting us to patch him back together.”

“Kakashi… I don´t believe that he came here to be saved… I think he came to tell me something… before he died… I doubt that he expected us even to try to save his ass. I need to know what he has to say… and then take it from there.”

“Alright then. The jutsu is called ´Nekkuresu no Hokaku` and the seals goes like this.” Kakashi sighed but knew that when the blonde had made a decision… he would stand by it; no matter what, so he decided to show the ´entrapment necklace` jutsu to Naruto.

Two days later:

´… Am I dead? I feel no pain anymore… so that means that I´m dead, right? ` The raven thought as he slowly opened his eyes and found himself blinded by a bright white light.

´… Is this hell? I though hell was supposed to be dark, scary and filled with the scorching flames of purgatory? ` He blinked a few times to allow his eyes to adjust to the brightness.

He suddenly realized that he was lying in a comfortable bed in what seemed to be a room in a hospital. He used his hands to try to get into a sitting position, but as soon as he put pressure on his arms the pain returned, not as bad as before he ended up here… but still very unpleasant and painful.

He felt a familiar chakra too; swirling around his wrists, restraining him without causing any pain or real discomfort, it almost caressed his skin lovingly; sending promises of protection and safety… this chakra… so strong, pure and… blue with a touch of angry red… this chakra, felt just like HIS. But different… stronger somehow.

“You shouldn´t put any pressure on your arms just yet... the bones are still a bit fragile and need time to grow strong.” A slightly harsh voice told him.

He turned his heard towards the voice; he almost fell out of bed in fear as he saw who was standing at the door.

“… Hokage… sama…”

“Nope… I´m not Hokage anymore, Uchiha-san. And I wouldn´t even be here if it wasn´t for the new Hokage´s constant nagging! I think he still feels sympathy for your traitorous ass.” The busty blonde medic told him with a growing smirk on her face that only confused the Uchiha even more. Tsunade could be so damn scary sometimes.

“… What?!” He asked in confusion as she walked towards him. ´Did she save my life just to kill me later herself? And if she´s not the Hokage anymore… then who is? Kakashi perhaps?`

“Let me take a look at those arms, Uchiha.” She said as she pushed him harshly back down on the mattress before grabbing his arms with more force than necessary.

“I might have been tempted to let you die if they´d brought you to me, ya know.” She told him as she examined and healed his arms with her chakra. “You´re lucky that he still cares about your sorry ass, Uchiha… I always told him that he was to nice and forgiving for his own good. But he´s in charge now… and he decided that he was willing to give you another chance, brat… so you better use it wisely, cause there will be no second chance… do you understand?”

“Who… saved me? I never asked… to be saved.” The Uchiha whispered. ´What is going on? Why did they save me… and the new Hokage is definitely not Kakashi… he´s not that nice or forgiving… he would have kicked my ass for running away and getting into this much trouble… but if he´s not the new Kage… then who is?`

“Don´t be a fool… use this opportunity wisely, Uchiha. He and Sakura did a damn good job in putting you back together… you should be grateful for this chance.” The golden-eyed woman told him.

“I´m so proud to have been able to teach the art of healing to both of them, though he´s not as skilled at it as she is… And I AM glad that he decided to save you, I really am… if only to see him smile truly happy again.” She told him as she examined the rest of his brushed body.

´Since when did she have two medic students? I thought that Sakura was the only one who could survive her training… who would smile happily… because I survived? Naruto… would you smile for me if you knew I was back? ` He thought. ´Where is he? I want to see him?`

“We have healed all the mayor wounds, all your broken bones and Sakura successfully removed all the poison from your veins two days ago as they brought you in.” She told him.

“… I´m gonna leave the minor cuts and all the brushes as they are… to remind you that you´re still alive and to serve as a mild punishment for making us worry about you … I think that´s only fair.” She smirked at him as he nodded without any kind of protest.

“Good… I´m leaving now. Try to get some more rest and stay in here.” She told him as she began to leave. “Only a few people know that you´re back… and I doubt that the villagers would welcome you back with open arms.”

“Hoka… Tsunade-sama… who… saved me and… who succeeded you?” The raven whispered, his dark eyes focus on his hands that rested in his lap.

“You´ll see soon enough… I´m sure that the Hokage will stop by as soon as he finds out that you´re finally awake… you´ve been unconscious for two days straight brat, and he´ll be anxious to talk to you I´m sure…” She told him as she opened the door. “I´ll check up on you later, Uchiha-kun.”

´Returning home after this long isn´t going to be easy or painless… but I already knew that… and who the hell is the new Hokage… Naruto… did you finally make it? What will happen to me if you are in charge?` The raven thought with a sigh as he let himself fall back down on the pillow.

~ # ~

“So how´s he doing?” A voice in the darkness asked the busty blonde woman as she entered her former office. She still looked like a woman around her late thirties though she was closer to seventy.

“He´ll be fine, gaki. I won´t heal the last remaining brushes and minor cuts… he deservers to feel a bit of pain for all the shit he has put you and everyone else through, don´t you agree with me?”

“Yeah… he does deserve a bit of pain… scaring me and Sakura-chan like that!” The blonde man leaned onto his desk; looking at the smirking woman with a serious expression on his tanned face.

“Damn kid, you look more and more like your father with every passing year.”

“… I hear that all the time… Say Baa-chan, you knew my father, what would the Yondaime have done in this situation?”

“Same thing as you did, Naruto. He would have done everything he could to save the ones he cared about… just like you… Minato would be so proud of you.”

“… You think so? Would he have used up almost all of his and his best friend´s chakra too save a man who is considered a traitor to our city? A city that I have sworn to protect?” The fox-container asked.

“Most would have let the Teme bleed to death for all he has done… they would probably even say that saving him would just draw out his final punishment for a little while.” Naruto sighed as he found a bottle of Sake and two cups from the top shelve of the cabin behind him.

“You are not like everyone else, gaki… and that´s what makes you so perfect to be the Hokage. You use your mind, your experience and even more important… your heart. Making decisions like that one is never easy… It was your decision and I believe it was a good one…there is more to him than he wants us to believe, just like a certain gaki I know…” She told him with a warm smile as she took the cup with Sake that he offered her. “Speaking of punishment… what do you plan to do with him once he´s recovered?”

“You know that I have to turn him over to the new council. They will officially be back on active duty from next week, as you should know as you are part of it.” The blonde said while sipping at his drink.

“I know that brat… But are you planning to speak on his behalf? You want to save him, right?” She asked as she gulped down her third cup of Saké.

“It depends on him… I´ll keep him under close observation till he is ready to face the council. And I need to know why he´s back and why he wanted to see me, Baa-chan.”

“I see… but how are you planning to monitor him? I know that you have posted guards you can trust outside his room… but if he decides to run… well they won´t stand a chance against his power. There are only a few shinobi inside these city-walls that can take him on… and at least one of them is in this room right now.” Tsunade told him.

“I have put him on a leash made of unbreakable chakra; a mix of my natural chakra and Kyuubi´s. I´m the only one who´s in control over it and no one will be able to see or detect it if I don´t allow them too.” He crossed his arms above his strong broad chest and let of a deep breath.

“No one except I can remove it… he won´t be able to run anywhere, I guarantee it.” Naruto said. “Only you and Kakashi knows about this and that´s the way it stays.”

“Why are you telling me about this?” She asked, though she had already guessed why because of Sakura´s situation.

“Because I trust you and you´re going to be his medic, as Sakura-chan is in need of rest because of her pregnancy. I pushed her too hard in healing the bastard, and she needs bed rest for a few days at least.”

“You don´t want to humiliate him, do you? That´s why you do it this way, right?” She smirked at him. She knew him too well.

He loved the Uchiha brat; he had always loved him, even though he probably wouldn´t admit it to himself… and she knew very well why Naruto tried to hide his true feelings for the damn Uchiha brat.

He didn´t want to get hurt again like when he lost her(A/N: will be explained later heh heh). Life had been cruel on the blonde though he had finally gained everyone´s respect, friendship and loyalty.

He had gained and lost more than anyone in this city… and she understood perfectly how he felt about Sasuke´s homecoming. They had to be careful in trusting the dark-haired nuke nin again as too much were at stake.

“There is no need for anybody else to know. The villagers would just try to harm him, and I don´t want or need that kind of trouble. The council will be informed after their official re-instatement… he will remain under my care till then.” Naruto told her.

“Isn´t that to risky… you don´t only have yourself to think about after all. What about your little sunflower? What will she say to this?” Tsunade asked with a grin.

“Taiyô-chan is already aware as I asked her if she´d mind if I brought the Teme back home with me tonight. She was fine with it… she said she wanted to meet him.” Naruto grinned as he thought of his little sunshine.

“She really takes after you, Naruto… Say, where is your daughter anyway?”

~ # ~

“This looks really bad.” Kiba mumbled as he and his teammates arrived at the end of the trail they had been following for two days straight now. The track had led them to an underground hideout… the smell of blood and beginning decay filled the air.

“I think we are standing in Orochimaru´s lair… or what is left of it.” Neji stared at the mass of blood, gore and body parts that had once belonged to the Sound nin.

There was blood everywhere… on the floor, the walls and even at the ceiling. “We should send one of you nin dogs with a message to Naruto-sama… this is of great importance; not only for Konoha… but for the Uchiha as well.”

“I found something!” Shino called out to them from afar.

“What did you… oh god. Is this who I think it is?” Kiba asked as he stared at the mutilated and decapitated body that had been pinned to the wall with several kunais´.

“Yes… Orochimaru and I think this one over there was his assistant…” Shino stated.

“… Do you think that the Uchiha did this?” Neji asked as he looked at the body in front of him.

“He has been nearly skinned… and his intestines… are all over the place. The one who did this must have been really pissed.”

~ # ~

“Iruka is looking out for her… they should be here any minute now.” Naruto grinned. His five year old daughter was his great pride and joy. He had met her mother on one of his endless searches for Sasuke.

She had offered them to help them as a guide through a very hostile area at the wave where they had heard a rumor, that someone had sighted Sasuke.

~ # ~

Six years ago at The Wave:

“Let me be your guide… you´ll never find him if you go on your own.” The raven-haired woman growled. She had just finished cooking dinner for Naruto, Sai and Sakura.

They had met a few days ago as they had rented two rooms at her little hotel, to get out of the storm. The storm had raged violently and the four people had been forced to stay inside for almost a week.

“No, its to much of a risk, Kanae-chan.” The blonde stated as he and his teammates were getting ready to leave.

“Naruto-kun… it would save us a lot of time and-“

“I said no, Sakura. I don´t want to put her in any kind of danger…” Naruto barked. “I… I like her to much for that.” He added in a soft whisper. Kanae walked over to the blonde shinobi and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I´m a former shinobi, Naruto… I can take care of myself. Please don´t leave me here.” Her dark-brown eyes locked with his crystal blue ones.

“Allow me to stay by your side… I couldn´t bare it if you or your friends got hurt if I could prevent it.”

“Alright… you can come… but stay close to me, I´ll keep you safe, Kanae-chan.”

~ # ~

The present day:

“Daddy!” The five year old girl stormed through the door to the Hokage office. Naruto crouched down to catch his daughter and hug her.

“Oi sunshine, I missed you.” He kissed her nose. “Where is Iruka-jiisan?”

“Jiisan is talking to his girlfriend… he said he´ll be right there.” The blonde child cheered.

“Hi Baa-chan.” Naruto and Tsunade both smiled at the cheerful girl as she let go of her father to run to her granny. They knew that Iruka and his spouse Shizune would be here in a few minutes to make sure that the mischievous and very curious girl had arrived here.

“Hi Taiyô-chan… have you had fun today? I hope you didn´t pull to many pranks on your jiisan today.” Tsunade hugged the girl tightly. Taiyô had most of her looks from her father; the golden hair, the azure blue eyes and his natural tan. She had her mother´s cute nose and a hair-cut much similar to her mom´s and Sakura´s.

“Jiisan and I visited mommy today. We brought her sunflowers and lilies.” Taiyô told the blonde woman.

“That was nice of you… she loved sunflowers and do you know why?” Tsunade asked the child.

“Because they reminded her of daddy and me, right?”

“That´s right, Tai-chan.” The former Hokage said as she picked up the little girl and sat her down on her lap. Naruto and Kanae had found love and comfort in each other during the mission at the Wave.

~ # ~

The past:
Kanae had stayed with Naruto and his team as they had returned to Konoha, and they soon moved into a new apartment, as Naruto´s old one was to small for the couple.

They got married as she found out that she was pregnant with their child. Iruka and Tsunade had cried tears of joy at the beautiful wedding.

All of the rookie nine, their sensei’s, Tsunade, Iruka, Kakashi, old man Ichiraku and his daughter Ayame, the Kazekage, his family and quite a few of the Suna villagers… even some of the villagers who had come to love and cherish the cheerful blonde attended; bringing gifts and flowers.

Kanae´s family traveled in from the Wave as well as a lot of friends from all over the world had attended to the weeding… only one person wasn´t there and everyone knew how had it was on Naruto, that Sasuke wasn´t there.

Taiyô was born in the following spring on May nineteenth; a beautiful baby-girl that loved to explore her surroundings from a young age.

They were the perfect family till a year ago, as Tsunade announced her retirement. She chose Naruto as her successor and the majority of the council accepted in acknowledgement of his strength, good hearted and fair judgment, his control of the demon fox, his love for his friends, family, the city and its inhabitants and his strong will.

One sunny day as Naruto was about to finish his Kage training with Jiraiya and Tsunade, something terrible happened!

Naruto´s beloved wife, Kanae and their little Taiyô was enjoying the warm summer day in the forest that surrounded the hidden leaf.

A group of rogue nin attacked them out of the blue, and though Kanae was a former nin, and a skilled one too… she never had a chance.

She somehow managed to fend them off till Naruto, who could feel that his family was in trouble, arrived with Tsunade and Iruka.

They were able to save little Taiyô… but Kanae died that day in the arms of her weeping husband. Her last thoughts and loving words were about her beloved daughter and husband.

Kakashi, who had arrived soon after with Kiba and Neji tracked down and capture the nuke nins. A few of them had somehow managed to break a few bones on the way back to Konoha where they were interrogated by Ibiki, Tsunade and Kakashi.

Naruto was forbidden to even show up at the prison where the nin were held, because he was going to become the Rokudaime… and none of his friends would allow him to ruin his chance to fulfill his dream by becoming a vengeful murderer.

He wanted nothing more than to kill those who dared to hurt his family till Tsunade asked him if he wanted his daughter to grow up without both her parents… as he did. The penalty for murder without an order was imprisonment for life.

The blonde and his raging fox then calmed down and accepted Iruka and Kakashi´s offer to let him and Tai-chan live with them for awhile.

The rogue nin told Ibiki, Tsunade and Kakashi that they had been paid to kill the demon and his family by one inside the city council… which led to a huge investigation. A lot of the members of the council were dismissed and a new council was assembled.

The new members of the council were going to be:
Tsunade and Jiraiya, because of their title and experience,
Hyuuga Hinata,
Akimichi Chouji`s father,(A/N: gomen… but I couldn´t find their names anywhere)
Nara Shikimaru´s father,
Aburame Shino’s mother,
Inuzuka Kiba´s mother,
Sarutobi Konohamaru´s mother,
Yuhi Kurenai,
Hatake Kakashi,
And from the hidden village of the Sand: Sabaku no Temari

Temari was replacing Hyuuga Neji who was a member of Suna´s council (and Gaara´s spouse) as the two shinobi villagers tried to strengthen their bond. Neji is currently helping Naruto out as he visits his pregnant cousin Hinata and her husband Kiba.

~ # ~

The present day:

“Anosa, anosa… when are we going to meet your friend, daddy?”

“… We can go right now if you want. Baa-chan just told me that he woke up.” Naruto told his daughter. “We just need Kakashi –ojiisan to show up. He and I need to talk to my friend alone before you can see him, k!”

“Why?” The curious five-year old asked.

“Well, you see.” The whiskered blonde began. “My friend did something dangerous and a bit foolish… just like you do sometimes… and he´s in a bit of trouble.” Naruto tried to explain.

“Are you gonna scold him?” The girl asked. Both Naruto and Tsunade couldn´t help it to grin at the child’s logic.

“Kinda, sunshine.”

“Oh that´s why he has to come home with us then… you´re grounding him!” She said; proud that she had figured it out. Naruto laughed and patted his daughters head.

“Something like that, Tai-chan.” Naruto chuckled as he picked her up from the ground as he felt Kakashi´s presence outside his office.

“She really is a smart kid.” Tsunade grinned as she followed Naruto, Taiyô and Kakashi towards the infirmary.

TBC