He Walked Away

One day you will be mine.
…One day you’re eyes will light up for me.
…One day I will smile, but only for you.
…One day, some day. Some day soon.


He Walked Away...

{Naruto's POV}

Things have been rough going for me. My life was never easy, but I feel a renewed sense of hope. My physical therapy is going great. Sakura-chan is being nice to me, well she still bonks me on the head when I say something stupid, but she barely hits me anymore. Guess what! She is studying under Tsunade-baa-chan! Isn't that terrific? I heard about Sasuke. He got off with a light punishment, thanks to Baa-chan.

Iruka-sensei has been keeping me busy. He took a break from his job, for me! Can you believe it? Kakashi-sensei has been around a lot too. The ero-sannin has stopped by he offered to take me for special intense training once I get my strength back. I have to make up for that lost time, and all those bowls of ramen I missed.

I actually walked there myself. Today I managed to sneak away from Iruka. He and Kakashi were chatting over coffee. They thought I was asleep. Walking down the street was not always the best experience for me, but today there were no sneers or rude comments, or at least almost none. I wasn't threatened violence. I was not harassed in anyway.

I felt a little dizzy however, maybe It was not such a good idea to go off on my own. I started to blackout as I fell only to feel two sets of strong arms grab each of my own. My first instinct told me to run but then a friendly voice spoke up, "Woah there, You feeling alright?" Spoke the once chubby now more brawny ninja with red swirls on his cheeks.

"Tch, you are troublesome," The other voiced lazily.

"Choji-kun? Shikamaru-kun?" I looked between the two.

"Now don't forget about me Naruto-kun," I felt the slender arm of Ino slip around my neck. She gave me a brief hug from behind then let go.

"I could never forget you Ino-chan," I grinned. It almost hurt, but it was nice ‘cause it was real."Do you need to go to the doctor?" Choji asked more seriously.

"No-no I just had a dizzy spell. I've been getting those a lot. My chakra levels were almost completely tapped out by my physical therapy," I smiled and showed off my thin, but no longer skeletal arms, "But for guns like these it was worth it." I managed to pry a laugh out of all of them. Ino giggled, and Choji enjoyed a good belly laugh, while Shikamaru sort of chuckled then muttered something about me being 'troublesome.'

"So where were you headed?" Shikamaru asked as if he didn't know.

"I was headed to the Library," They looked at me like I was crazy. I snorted, "Just kidding, I wanted some ramen in the worst way, you guys hungry?"

"Ino and Choji nodded eagerly, Shikamaru muttered about it being a drag, but he followed as Choji and Ino made sure the number one hyperactive (temporarily on sabbatical) ninja of the leaf (a.k.a. ME!) did not faint.

"So How long until you will be ready to start ninjitsu training again?" Ino asked ever the curious one. I felt the frown wanting to come out, then the fake cover smile. I feel so confused. Baa-chan said I'd never heal if I hid my real feelings from my friends, but I still don't want to be a burden on any of them.

I settled for a straight face, but a sigh managed to escape my lips as I waited for my fourth bowl (Iruka is gonna kill me for eating too much in my condition, but hell you only live once!)

"It's gonna be at least six more months before my body can handle even light taijutsu."

"We all know that's not gonna happen..." Ino trailed off but looked at me I was expecting a biting comment or an insult, "Knowing you you'll probably be ready in two months," She smiled at me. She wasn't mocking me or anything, her teammates nodded in agreement. Then she frowned, "Don't push yourself too hard though. Sakura, you know she and I used to fight a lot, but she has changed. I think if anything were to happen to you now...Naruto...I think it would destroy her. She needs you now."

I frowned, "Well now that Sasuke's..."

"Wrong! You are the one she cried over ramen for. You are the one she called an angel! There was a point when she thought your were going to die that she really scared me. She basically said if you died she would go on a one woman mission to kill Uchiha Sasuke." Ino placed her hand on mine she looked at me seriously. Her teammates looked at me then at her, "Tell Sakura-chan I am sorry I divulged her secret, I think she will forgive me in the long run." She and her team paid their bills, and left extra for my four bowls of ramen. They were gone before I could form a coherent sentence.

I worked my jaws in shock. I had no idea where that came from, "They must have been teasing me...Sakura-chan hunting down the Teme?"

"You can believe it, Naruto-kun," I jumped there was that voice. "S-sasuke-teme? What are you doing here.

"Hn, dobe," He rolled his eyes and was that a playful smirk on his lips, or was it just me, "I'm here to get something to eat."

"B-but-but you're supposed to be on home confinement!" I pointed an accusing finger his way.

"I'm off now. I can go anywhere as long as I stay inside the village, and oh. I still have to wear a tracker bracelet. He showed me a harmless looking black bracelet.

"So?" I asked pretending not to care. Yeah that's the ticket give'em the old cold shoulder! I began my fifth bowl and Sasuke ordered some pork miso (sounds yummy!)

"So? So what?" He loolked sideways at me smirking, "Oh, and the Dobe's meal is on me." He gave me a triumphant look as he slurped his noodles.

"So...what's it do?"

"What's what do, dobe,"

"STOP calling me that TEME!" I stuffed my face, "Waff yoo bawcet doo!"

"What dobe? Swallow your food then answer.” he slapped my back making me practically choke.

"What's your damn braclet do?"

"Ohhhh...well why didn't you just say so," I was on the verge of strangling the teme, Kami it's so good to be home.

"Spill it bastard cause I'm getting bored!"

"Well it blocks chakra, and If I try to flee the city then it delivers a shock capable of stunning me. Then it sends out a beacon so they can find me easily."

"Ohhh," That actually dounded pretty cool, "You know that is actually pretty cool."

"Yeah unless you're the one wearing it," He muttered as he put money down for his and my bowls of ramen.

He got up I followed.

{Normal POV}

Naruto followed Sasuke out of the ramen stand and down the street, "So teme what you want to do now?"

"Hn," He turned to look at me.

"Maybe could we go to the park..."

"Why?"

"Well you know to hang out and stuff like that, maybe run into team 8 I haven't seen them today..."

"Why would I want to hang out with those losers." Sasuke smirked, he loved baiting his dobe.

"Don't be such a teme. Teme!" Naruto was about to go into a rant when he clutched his head. Sasuke walked on for a little bit before he heard the sharp intake of breath. He turned in time to see his most precious person laying on the ground rigid in the midst of a seizure.

"Naruto!" Sasuke gathered him up...