After The Rain

This is chapter 5, yay! I am trying to keep updates as regular as possible. I would like to get some feedback about this story, so if you could please read and review!



After the Rain



Chapter 5, Sailing Through Memories





"Lee-chan," Sakura said softly, her head laying on his chest. She had woke up before he had. She felt a wave of nausea hit

her and she quickly ran to the bathroom. She vomited, only today finally understanding why she was having these problems.

Rock Lee came up behind her and rubber her back and pulled her hair back from around her face.



"Thanks, Lee-chan," Sakura said, puking again.



"Sakura, I'm sorry you are in pain," Rock Lee comforted. "What can I do to help?"



"Could you bring me some tea and some dry toast?" Sakura asked kindly.



"Anything for you, my lovely," Rock Lee told her as he left to fetch her tea and toast.



Sakura grabbed a towel and wiped her mouth. She flushed the toilet and slowly stood up. She grabbed a cup of water and rinsed

her mouth out and began brushing. She signed as she thought about Naruto and his quest to find Sasuke. She had no idea

of his feelings for Sasuke, but she did know that she wanted to see him once again. She wanted to tie up all loose ends

before her marriage to Rock Lee.



"Sakura, my love," Rock Lee, "I've got your tea and that dry toast you asked for."



"Thanks Lee-chan," she managed to say. She smiled at him, his face brightly shined because he was able to do something

for Sakura. Every little thing that he could do to please her, he was willing to do. He wanted to be there for Sakura until

the end. He was going to be there for her until the sun stopped shining, until time stopped. Lee loved her with every fiber

of his body. Every ounce of him loved her, loved everything about her. He couldn't live without her.



*On Naruto's Journey*



"Neiji," Naruto said, "I really appreciate you coming along with me. I just have to see him again. I have never felt this

way about anyone before, I just didn't realize it fully until he was finally gone. I don't know why I couldn't have seen

this sooner. If only I could have saved him from Orochimaru. If I hadn't been down for the count on the Chuunin exams, I

could have prevented him from getting that curse mark."



"If it happened, it was meant to happen," Neiji explained to him, "It's just what you make of the situation. I will help

you kill Orochimaru. There is no way that I could stand there and watch you just do it alone. I mean, after all he is

a traitor." Neiji facial expression went to a serious one. "I would do anything to avenge the one I love."



TenTen had fallen asleep on the ship, she was resting peacefully. She had been going nonstop since they had left and she

needed the rest. They just hoped Gai didn't get mad that they had left the village on conquest to find Sasuke. A small

smile had appeared on TenTen's face as she moved to a new comfortable position.



Neiji smiled looking upon TenTen. He was glad to have found happiness in that fellow ninja. He would gladly give his life

for TenTen and wouldn't worry about the clan becoming upset for it at all. He knew that if he did, it would be for a good,

valid reason and that he should be honored. He just hoped Naruto could find that same kind of happiness and wouldn't end

up on deaths end with Sasuke. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sun. It was about noon, the sun was at the top

of the sky. There was no food to eat, not until the ship pulled into a port at a neighboring nation. "Naruto, I think it

would be a good idea to remove our headbands when the ship pulls into port. There is no hidden village in the Land of Waves,

so lots of shinobi from other villages will be there. So, it is best not to start a disturbance."



"That's a good idea, Neiji," Naruto agreed, already taking his headband off. Naruto slowly untied the knot that held his

headband on. "I rarely take this thing off! Believe it!"



"Oh, I believe it," Neiji looked down, trying to hold down a laugh. Naruto's excited personality made it to where there was

never a dull moment while being around him. He also knew that he had some natural blond moments.



Naruto leaned back, "So, when are we going to be there?" I'm starving and ready for some ramen!" Just then, something caught

his view. It was the Great Naruto Bridge, the one that they had helped Tazuna with. The one that was named after him.



*Flashback*



Naruto held Sasuke tightly in his arms, "Sasuke, you aren't going to die!" Naruto sobbed. "You have to live. You told me

that you couldn't die until you killed Itachi."



"I have to tell you something that I never told you before," Sasuke softly said. His words seemed to fade and tears leaked

from his eyes. "That kiss we shared. I'm glad I shared my first kiss with you, Naruto Uzumaki. I have liked you ever since

before that moment. I just never told you. I guess now seemed like a fitting time." Sasuke laughed.



Naruto pulled him closer and more tears leaked out, "Sasuke." He smiled at the dark-haired boy he held. "Sasuke, please

stay with me. I promise to protect you with every ounce of my might."



The wind blew an icy chill as Haku laughed at them. "It's your turn to die, Naruto." Time seemed to stop for that short

moment and all Naruto could think about was Sasuke. It didn't matter that he was about to be face to face in combat with

Haku, a boy with a Kekkei Genkai that scared Kakashi. Naruto would make sure that Haku paid for everything that he did to

Sasuke. He would pay for it all and then some. He could no longer see anything around him and he knew what he had to do.



"Naruto," Sasuke choked out, "Please, if I don't make it, I want you to kill Itachi for me. I want you to promise me you

will. Avenge my clan!"



"I will," Naruto accepted, sobbing. He hugged Sasuke tightly as he felt his body go limp. Naruto rocked the lifeless body

in his arms for a few moments before laying him down and shutting his eyes. "You are going to pay for everything you've

done!" Naruto yelled, standing up, with a certain red aura coming from around him.



*End Flashback*



"Naruto, are you alright?" TenTen asked, very concerned, seeing tears leaking down his face. It wasn't like Naruto to start

crying at random. She figured he must be remembering something, I mean he did have a really tragic past.



"Nothing," he said, wiping his eyes, knowing that he had lied. That was the first moment that he had realized Sasuke cared

for him. From that moment on is when things had changed between them. That's when they started being more open with each

other. He remembered them both getting a little hot and heavy during the Chuunin exams. Sakura had left them alone for the

time being and they had some time to themselves. A sexually frustrated Sasuke had jumped his bones in the forest of death.

That was just a while before Sasuke was bitten by Orochimaru. After Sasuke was bitten, things had seriously changed between

them. Sasuke didn't show emotion toward him, he was cold, bitter, posessed by that evil mark. That had seriously changed

things in their relationship. It killed it, but it didn't kill Naruto's feelings. He tried to win Sasuke back over that

mark.



"Well," Neiji announced, "Since we are passing the bridge, we should be to the port in a few hours." He glanced out to the

sea. He watched as the waves hit up against the ship and how it seemed to cut through the water like glass. It was

rather peaceful, being out here on the open sea.



TenTen looked over at Neiji, her dark eyes seemed to smile at him. She was content to be here in his presence. To spend

time with him on this mission, as with all others was what she wanted. She just wondered when Neiji would see how much

she really does care for him. She would do anything to make Neiji happy, she just didn't think he realized it as of yet.

TenTen vowed that she would show him, no matter what it took. "Neiji, I hope that Lady Hokage realizes why we are out

here. I hope we don't get banned from the village."



"That won't happen. I don't think that Lady Hokage would do that. I know she's probably talked with Iruka-sensei by now.

I know that ANBU Black Ops are probably following us, but I haven't seen anything with my Byakugan right now. Of course,

we are no where near land and they are probably watching us from there."



Naruto sighed as his stomach grumbled loudly. "Im tired of being on this ship! Believe it! I'm ready to find Sasuke!"



"Patience is a virtue, my friend," Neiji explained. "It won't help you to complain about it one bit. You have to be

patient."



"Sakura said she wanted to see Sasuke before she married Bushy Brows," Naruto informed them. "She doesn't know how I feel

about Sasuke."



"Did you tell her?" TenTen asked.



"No," Naruto admitted. "The look of utter sadness that she gave me when she mentioned his name just made me realize how

much she does love him."



"I thought she loved Rock Lee?" Neiji asked, in utter confusion.



"She does love Bushy Brows, she just loves Sasuke too. She told me she doesn't want to wonder what could have been."



"Ahhh," TenTen agreed. "I understand her reasoning."



"Sasuke wouldn't date her," Neiji blurted. "She's pregnant with Lee's child. He couldn't raise a baby that wasn't his,

especially with the need to restore his clan. I don't see how he's going to do that with you, either."



"That was really nice, Neiji," TenTen griped.



"I was just saying that they are both males and couldn't possibly have a child together," Neiji explained himself.



"You're right Neiji. I can't give Sasuke that one thing that he needs. But, that's not going to stop me from loving him."

Naruto sighed. That comment from Neiji had really hurt him. He couldn't believe Neiji had blurted that out, but in a way,

he could. Neiji was telling the truth. He was telling the rock hard, cold truth.