The Shadow's Fox

Chapter 15

Tsunade was surprised when they came back and told her that Naruto would need to be taken off active duty again. She was skeptical at first, but after she confirmed herself that there really was another life growing inside Naruto, she took him off active duty. She, along with the few other people they told, Shikamaru's parents, Jiraiya, Asuma and Kurenai, Hinata, Ino, and Choji, gave them congratulations, and Yoshino became just a tad more protective of him than she already was.

He had to let Kakashi, Sai and Sakura know that he wouldn't be able to go on missions with them again, and while Kakashi and Sai didn't ask questions, Sakura absolutely blew up.

"Are you kidding me?" Sakura yelled. "What is it this time? You break a fingernail or something?" Sakura yelled. "Why do you think you're so special?"

Naruto bristled at her, but before he could say anything, Kakashi stepped between them. "That's enough, Sakura," he said as he crossed his arms. "I think it's about time you told us what your problem is with Naruto."

"He's done nothing wrong," Sai added.

"Nothing wrong? He does nothing right!" Sakura yelled.

Naruto clenched his fists and stepped up to her. She didn't back off and just glared at him. "What did I do to you? Why do you hate me so much?"

"It should've been you that left, not Sasuke," she replied.

Naruto's eyes went wide and he took a step back. Sasuke? She was mad at him because Sasuke left? "I had nothing to do with him leaving."

"If that's why you're so mad, Sakura, then it should be me you're mad at, not Naruto," Kakashi said. "Sasuke defected from the village, and I was unable to stop him."

"I didn't even talk to Sasuke outside of team missions or training sessions, and even then we didn't really talk. He hated me, and I hated him," Naruto said, then looked down. "I thought that after his clan was wiped out, that maybe we could be friends. We were both alone, but he acted just like the freaking jerk he was before. He hadn't changed at all. No. Actually, he got worse."

"Sasuke was nothing like you, Naruto," Sakura said. "He was from a prestigious family. He was a somebody. You? You were a nobody, a monster, a freak, and yet, Sasuke was the one that left. He left and I was stuck with you." She spat the last word as if it was venom in her mouth.

Naruto looked up again, anger on his face. "You had no idea who I was. You never once tried to get to know me."

Sakura turned her nose in the air. "I didn't want to get to know you. You were a disease that should've been stomped out years ago. I was supposed to be with Sasuke, but then he left, and it had to be something you did."

"I didn't do anything! He left on his own!"

"Naruto, calm down," Kakashi said, placing a hand on Naruto's arm.

Sakura glared at him again. "You were always causing problems for us! Constantly making mistakes and getting in Sasuke's way! You got in my way by driving him away! It should've been my wedding people attended last week, not yours."

"So what? You're jealous? Is that it? You're mad because I'm married? I have a husband and son who love me and you don't?"

"You don't deserve love, Naruto," Sakura said as she stepped up to him again.

Naruto felt more anger bubble up inside him, but this anger was not his. Kurama growled and he could feel the fox's chakra trying to push out. He thought about letting some of it slip out, if only to scare her, but he kept it in check.

"Ok. That's enough," Kakashi said as he grabbed Sakura's arm and pulled her back.

"If you want to be with Sasuke so badly, then why don't you defect too!" Naruto yelled.