The Savior: Uzumaki Naruto

Chapter 4: Post-Departure

     Naruto winced at the pain he was feeling. Not any major pain, mainly just his ears. 'Tsunade-sama is harsh.' He thought.

     He was there to report to the Hokage on his previous mission but was forced to wait while she reprimanded Sakura and Ino. Once she was finished, she listened inventively to Naruto's report.

     "And that about wraps it up, Hokage-sama."

     "Thank you, Naruto. You're dismissed." The aforementioned blonde nodded and retreated in a flicker. He was glad to be done with that mission, but he also needed another one to keep his mind off things. Asking while Tsunade was teaching was suicide, and there was no one else that could give him such a mission.

     His favorite was any mission away from the village. They gave him space from the crowded and cruel village. He was still going to become Hokage, but that would be one of the changes he'd make as the Fire Shadow: more space. Or maybe he was just claustrophobic. Kurama didn't help the issue, as he believed that Naruto was just picky.

Naruto arrived at his apartment. It was very bland, and it seemed as if it was ready for a potential client to come to tour it. That is not the case, however, as Naruto dropped onto his bed. His mind was a huge cluster, and he wanted the storm of it to stop. He was close to falling asleep when he heard a knock on his door.

Naruto got up to answer it, opening the door to find a lightly blushing Hinata. "Hey, Hinata! Whatcha doin' here?" he asked.

"I-i was wondering if y-you would want to go up t-to H-hokage Mountain for a while?" she stuttered.

"Sure! Lemme change out of my mission outfit first, I'll be right back." A quick change later, and they were walking towards the monument to their former leaders. They made some conversation but saved the bulk of the talk for the mountain. Once they arrived and sat down, Naruto asked the million-dollar question.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk about Hinata?"

     "I-i was wondering why y-you've become s-so distant, Naruto-kun."

     Naruto was surprised but only showed it by thinking for a few moments.

     "I've been distant?"

     "Y-yes. It's worrying."

     He was once again shocked. He kept his composure, however, so as to not worry Hinata any more than he has. "Well, I guess I'm just a little busy with all my missions, so sorry about that. They take a while sometimes, so I can get pretty tired when I return." Kurama chuckled at the pitiful excuse from within Naruto's mindscape.

     "I know t-that isn't a-all. P-please tell me." the Hyuuga pleaded. Naruto sighed, acknowledging his defeat.

     "I'm sorry Hinata-chan. Thing is, I've been upset with myself for letting Sasuke get away. I let my rank and my growth get to my head, and now he's sure to have surpassed me. Sakura-san made me promise to bring him back, but I don't know if I can." Naruto explained. "Doing missions and training nonstop is the only way I have any hope of keeping up, much less bringing him back."

     The girl listened intently to the entire thing. She gave him a few moments to affirm if he was finished and gave her own advice: by lightly slapping his face.

     Naruto was shocked, but before he could say anything, he realized she hadn't moved her hand, and it seemed as if she was about to say something important.

     "Wake up, Naruto-kun. Wondering if you can or can't won't get you any closer to bringing Sasuke back. Think about all the opportunities you have, to train and become stronger. You have Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-sensei, Sandaime-sama, and all of your friends. Use your resources, like your kage bunshin and anything your father may have left you. You have no excuse to not be trying your hardest regardless of the chances, and if you think even once about quitting, I won't ever forgive you."