After The Rain

After the Rain

Chapter 1, A Promise Made is a Promise Kept


Sitting in that cold , creaky chair by the window, Naruto watched the rain pour outside. The
lightning streaked across the sky, almost to light up the entire world with one bolt. Sakura,
who was sitting across from him, could only look down at her feet.

"I miss him, Naruto," Sakura told him, tears leaking from her eyes. "Bring him back to me.
Please, bring him back to me."

Naruto took one last look out the window before rising from his chair. He walked over to Sakura
and lifted her head, while putting his hand on her cheek. "I will, Sakura. I miss him as well."
He thought back to the times that they had shared together. Naruto kissed her softly on her cheek
and started walking toward the door.

"Naruto," she said softly, "I'm sorry." She stands and looks him in the eyes. "I'm sorry, I
really am. I hate to keep breaking your heart like this." She walks toward him and hugs him tightly
from behind, putting her head on his shoulder.

"Sasuke has been gone for three years, Sakura, what makes you think I can find him?" Naruto asked
curiously.

"You can do anything, Naruto," Sakura added. "There has never been a time when you have never
kept your promise."

"Sakura, what's going on? What are you not telling me?" Naruto asked most curiously now, eyeing
her even more so than he normally did.

"Lee proposed to me earlier today. I couldn't answer. I still have feelings for Sasuke, but
I know I would be much happier and safer with Lee," Sakura sighed, tears beginning to form in her
eyes again.

"What, Bushy Brows did WHAT?" Naruto exclaimed, almost speechless. "I know you have been seeing
Lee, but I didn't know that it was that serious!"

"Naruto," Sakura said, pulling out of the hug and she moved in front of him. "I am pregnant with
his child. I haven't told him yet because I don't know if that would change his mind about getting
married to me."

"Don't worry, Sakura, I will talk to him! Believe it!" Naruto smiled and gave a thumbs up. "I think
I will invite him and the rest of the guys out for Ramen. It's been a long time since we all have
been at home. So, you're really going to have a baby, huh?"

Sakura nods, "I love Lee, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been
between Sasuke and I."

"I know Sakura," Naruto replied. "In the morning, I will leave to search for Sasuke." With that, Naruto
left Sakura's room and headed out of her house.

The sky was covered in clouds, and the rain was still pouring down. This brought up that empty feeling
inside of him. He missed Sasuke more and more as the days passed on. He remembered that fateful day,
they shared their battle and Sasuke was never seen again. He loved Sasuke then. His feelings were mixed
now. Even through all of those magical nights that they had shared together, Sasuke still proceeded to
fight him. He never understood why they had to fight, but he knew it was because of that curse mark.

He continued his walk down the one of the many streets of the leaf village. He was headed to see Lee.
His mind kept going back to Sasuke, even that very first kiss that they shared together. Sasuke didn't
talk about that until Naruto thought he was going to during the fight with Haku. Naruto remembered holding
Sasuke in his arms, and Sasuke telling him how much he liked him, even before that kiss. That he didn't
care if he was the Leaf Village's number 1 hyperactive, knucklehead ninja, he was still Naruto. He loved
Sasuke's serious attitude. The way he was so confident, how he looked so damn cool when he was doing
everything.

He shook the thoughts out of his head, as he realized the rain started coming down harder, so he began running
toward Lee's.

"Where are you headed off to so fast, there Naruto?" Iruka-sensei called out.

"Oh, Iruka-sensei! I almost didn't see you! I am going to round up the guys for some ramen! Believe it! But,
right now, I am headed to Lee's," Naruto explained quickly.

"I see, Naruto," Iruka-sensei commented. "Is something bothering you?"

"Not at all, sensei!" Naruto shrugged, knowing he was lying,"Believe it!"

"Are you sure, Naruto? It's not like you just to be wandering around in the rain," Iruka-sensei
commented.

"I know, sensei," Naruto said, "I am on a mission to get ramen. You are welcome to meet us all at the
Ichiraku Ramen Shop later, if you would like."

"I will think about it, Naruto," Iruka-sensei told him. "You see, I have a date tonight. So, I don't know
if I will be able to make it."

"Just bring your date along! It will be fun! I am sure she wouldn't mind hanging out with a bunch of really
cool ninja! Believe it!" Naruto boasted.

"Um, Naruto, my date is not a she," Iruka-sensei explained.

"Then, who is it?" Naruto asked curiously, doing the whole confused head scratch that he does so often.

"Oh, hey, Iruka," says Kakashi, walking by, reading his book covered in plastic, that way it is not damaged
from the rain. "I'll see you tonight!" He winks and keeps walking toward his destination.

Naruto keeps staring back and forth between the two, as he watches Iruka's face turn bright red. "NO WAY!"

"Yes, way, Kakashi and I have liked each other for a long time. He just finally had the courage to do
something about it," Iruka sighed and smiled. "That Kakashi Hatake, he's so mysterious."

"Yeah, well, I better get on my way. Believe it!" Naruto exclaimed, trying to walk as quickly away from
that one as he could.

The clouds started to go away as the sun started shining through them. He wondered if he would ever find his
Sasuke and be reunited with him. As more of the clouds cleared away, the more his hope soared and he found
himself face to face with Rock Lee. "I almost ran into you! I'm sorry! Believe it!"

"It's not a problem, Naruto. Have you heard anything from my darling, Sakura?" Lee asked, doing one of his funny
poses. "Have you talked to her at all?"

"I just came from there. All she could do was talk about you. Believe it!" Naruto smiled.

"I have been worried about her lately, she's been sick. She went to see the Hokage this morning. She hasn't been
by yet," Lee informed him.

"Let's go inside. I have something I need to talk to you about," Naruto looked at him seriously.

Lee led him inside and they both had a seat at the kitchen table. "What is it, Naruto? What is wrong with
my beloved Sakura?" Lee pleaded. He needed an answer. He loved her more than life itself and to have
someone know something about her before he did, I caused him to be very curious.

"Go to her, Lee, she needs you right now. She needs you right now, more than ever." Naruto looked down at his
feet. His mind wandered to Sasuke. He wondered how long it would take him to find Sasuke. He knew of all the
thousands of places he could look. Even if he had to find Itachi to find Sasuke, he would do it. This was something
that he had to do this for him, not for Sakura. He was going to make sure Sakura saw Sasuke one last time, but
after that, he was going with Sasuke. He would abandon his village for the love of one man.

"I shall go to her! I will go to my darling Sakura! I will comfort her," Rock Lee exclaimed. "My Sakura needs me!"

"Believe it!" Naruto said loudly.