Naruto: Senju Resurrection

Chapter 43

"You really have to stop dying on me..." A deep voice resonated through Naruto's body. He blinks his eyes to wake up. "What... happened?" Naruto says. "You got stabbed from the back by that Kabuto boy," the Kyuubi says. "I see... I should have killed him when we ran into him and Orochimaru," Naruto says as he hangs his head. "Yeah... you should have..." The Kyuubi says. "Were you able to heal me...?" Naruto asks. "Hmpf... Who do you think you are talking to?" The Kyuubi pouts. "well, I guess a thank you is in order," Naruto says as he gets up from his lying position. He moves to sit on his knees and deeply bows. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart..." Naruto says sincerely. "You still have to rest when you get back to the village but your life is no longer in danger," The Kyuubi says as he looks away. Naruto thought he looked a little embarrassed. Naruto smiles at the overgrown teddy bear. "I'll be leaving now. Thank you again," Naruto says as he bows one last time and leaves his mindscape. The Kyuubi grunts in confermation.

When Naruto wakes up in the real world, he is moving fast. He recognised the chakra signature. "Kakashi-sensei..." He lets out in a small voice. It hurt to speak. "Don't speak Naruto, just rest until we get back to the village..." Kakashi says in a serious voice. "Did... we fail...?" Naruto croaks out. "Don't worry about that now..." Kakashi says. "Did... anyone die...?" Naruto asks with tears beginning to form in his eyes. "No one has died yet. But some are not out of the deep end yet..." Kakashi says. Naruto grabs on tighter to Kakashi's shoulders. The rest of the trip was in silence. Naruto even let his consciousness fade.

When Naruto woke up the next time, he was staring at the white roof of the Konoha Hospital. He sighs. It didn't hurt as much as it did before. Then, Naruto heard a knock on the window. Naruto couldn't go and open it, and the one who knocked seemed to know this since it opened soon after the knock. "How are you feeling, Naruto?" Jiraiya asks. "Better than before..." Naruto answers in a small voice. "I'm planning on taking you on a three year training trip," Jiraiya says. "Why?" Naruto asks. "I have reliable information that the Akatsuki will not be making any more moves until that three year is up. I also have some info that suggests that Orochimaru took a new body. He will not be able to take another one for roughly three years," Jiraiya lays out. "I see... You are not going to stop me from hunting down Sasuke?" Naruto asks his teacher. "I know you, and I knew your father... You aren't going to leave this alone. There's no point in even trying to convince you to give up on him," Jiraiya says with a shrug. "Even if that is the better option..." He says quietly. He perks up before he can say anything else.

"We have an audience..." Jiraiya warns. "Why don't you come in?" Jiraiya says in a cheerful voice. The door slides open, and Ino is standing there. It was clear she had been crying. "Naruto!" She exclaims, seeing him lying in the hospital bed. She runs over to him and cheeks every nook and cranny of Naruto's body. Naruto adopts a small smile. "I see I worried you. I'm sorry..." Naruto says. "Don't worry about that. You are back and alive. That is all that matters," Ino says with her own small smile. "This is my time to leave... I would say think over what I just said. But you need this. I already talked to Tsunade-hime. She gave the "ok". She even gave some medical scrolls that you need to train with," Jiraiya says as he jumps out the window and onto a giant toad sitting outside. "What was that about?" Ino asks. "Ero-sennin wants me to go on a training trip," Naruto answers honestly. "And you are going?" Ino asks. "As you heard, I don't have much of a choice... But I would have gone either way," Naruto says. "How long?" Ino asks. "Three years," Naruto answers concisely. "I see..." Ino says her voice was thick with emotion. She didn't want him to leave. "Don't worry, When I get back I'll be the most awesome ninja you have ever seen," Naruto tries to cheer her up. "I need to see Choji," Ino says and leaves.

Naruto was alone again. He hadn't heard anything from his teammates. He decided that no news was good news. Then, he heard a slight knock on his door. "Come in..." Naruto answers. The door opened slowly. Naruto wasn't looking toward it; he was looking out the window. He heard from the footsteps that it was Sakura. "Naruto..." She says quietly. "I told you not to worry about Sasuke and I meant it. I'll bring him home... You will just have to wait a while. I told you I never go back on my word," Naruto interrupts her. "Sorry Naruto," Sakura says before breaking down crying. "Bad time?" Shikamaru's voice asks the two. "No, I already told Sakura what see needed to hear," Naruto answers. Sakura nods and leaves. "The others are fine by the way..." Shikamaru says after some seconds of silence. "That's good..." Naruto says.

"Sorry I made you fail your first mission as platoon leader," Naruto apologises, looking depressed. "Don't worry about it. I know you did your best as did the rest of the rest of the squad," Shikamaru says. A few more seconds of silence. "So Sasuke was further down than we anticipated..." Shikamaru says. "Yeah... something like that..." Naruto answers. "It's just... I had him... But I wasn't checking my surroundings and some goon snuck up behind me," Naruto rants. "Don't beat yourself up over it," Shikamaru says as he starts to leave. "Get some rest. It looks like you need it," Shikamaru says as he closes the door. Naruto took his advice and got some sleep.

The next day Naruto was discharged but with an order not to train strainingly the next few days. Naruto walks toward the Hokage's office. He opens the door. "Tsunade-bachan..." He says. "Hello, Naruto..." She answers. "I hear you okayed me leaving with Jiraiya for three years," Naruto says as he takes a seat. "Yeah... The Akatsuki is becoming a real threat to you and the village's safety," Tsunade answers. "I will miss you..." Naruto says after a few seconds. He stands up and begins to leave the office. Just as he reaches the door and is about to leave. "Naruto..." Tsunade says. He stops. She was not behind her desk any longer. She was right behind him. "Get strong... Listen to Jiraiya... And grow up well..." She orders. Naruto turns around. She hugs him closely. "Don't worry about me... You should be focusing on running the village until I take the hat from you... But can you hold on to the hat until I save Sasuke?" Naruto asks his aunt. "Why?" She asks. "I would be a lousy Hokage if I can't even save one friend..." Naruto says as he untangles himself from the hug. "I'll do my best..." Tsunade promises.

Naruto wanted to make one last stop before taking off with Jiraiya. He walks up to his favourite store in Konoha and opens the door. The pleasant smell of flowers bombards his nose. Inomi, Ino's mother, is the one tending to the register. "Hello Naruto it has been a long time," She greets with a warm smile. "Yeah it has... Is Ino home?" He asks. "Yeah she is upstaires," Inomi says with a slight giggle. Naruto ignores that and goes up the stairs. He knocks on the door where he can see a small sign with Ino's name on it.

"I'm coming mom!" He hears her scream from the inside of her room. She opens the door and is visibly shocked to see Naruto standing outside it. "Hello Ino," Naruto says. She was dressed like she was during the final part of the chuunin exams. Her hair has grown quite a bit since then as well. However, she still wore it in a high ponytail. "I just wanted to say good bye before leaving..." Naruto says. "You are leaving today?" Ino asks, sounding kind of hurt. "Yeah..." Naruto answers. "I wanted to tell you something before I leave..." Naruto says as he fidgets slightly with his hands. Ino would have thought it was cute had she not been so sad that he was leaving.

"I think I might like you..." He says. Ino freezes for a second. Her crush had just confessed to her. HER CRUSH HAD JUST CONFESSED TO HER! She hugs him as soon as her brain powers back on. Naruto hugs back after realising what just happened. "You are a bit of a bastard for confessing when you are about to leave..." Ino says into his chest. "I know..." Naruto says. "But you are my bastard from now on, okay?" Ino says as she pulls him even closer. "I can live wíth that," Naruto says as he pulls her closer as well. "When you get back we are going on a date," Ino orders. "Just name a place and time and I'lll be there," Naruto says.

They hugged each other for a few more minutes. Until it was time for Naruto to leave, Ino sneaked a kiss on his cheek just before he left and closed her door as fast as she could. Naruto stroked the place where she had kissed and made his way to the gate where he was supposed to meet Jiraiya with a dopey smile. Jiraiya didn't comment on the smile on Naruto's lips. He just smiled and walked ahead. This was going to be fun.

(AN: Sequel is out! Cheek it out on my profile or search for Naruto Senju Shippuden!)