Rogue

Chapter 20 (republish)

Naruto

It was the day of the big meeting. Everyone was busy getting all the preparations set up, but I was still feeling anxious because of everything going on. Something wasn't right, and I knew it.

"Naruto... Naruto... NARUTO!!" I snapped out of my thoughts as an angered Sakura stood in front of me. "What's wrong with you? I understand that the situation is rough right now, but remember that as the Hokage, you must remain strong in front of the village. You can't let them know that you are worried because then they'll worry too."

I tried to register what she was saying because I knew for a fact that it was true, but how was I not supposed to worry when I knew that there is a possible threat that can harm the village. I even considered canceling the meeting, but it's too late now.

"I know, Sakura." Was all I said before getting up and walking toward the window. I thought about what I was planning on asking her next; I was nervous about how she was going to react more so. "...How do you feel about Sarada?" I asked quietly as I stared out at the village.

"What?" She asked surprisingly. "What do you mean, 'how do you feel about Sarada'." She continued to say in a confused but angered voice.

"How do you feel about her going rogue." I put emphasis on that part before continuing. "Especially since it was almost out of nowhere too. One day, she was complaining about how Boruto should just return already and stop acting up, and the next she's gone with him. It's just... weird. Don't you think?"

"What are you even trying to imply?" I heard her getting closer before she forced me to turn back around. "Don't you even consider thinking that Sarada is suspicious in any of this. I know my daughter and she isn't like that!" She yelled and at that point, I knew that I had to stop talking.

"You're right... I'm sorry, Sakura." I moved away from her and went back to organizing some papers for the meeting. "I'm lacking sleep and I'm stressed out about everything, to begin with. I'm talking non-sense and trying to find someone to blame. Forgive me?" I told her quietly and she just huffed.

"I'm sorry too. I understand that your stressed out and I shouldn't have lashed out at you first. But please, never say something like that about my daughter ever again. But here, drink this and calm down." She took a water bottle out of her bag and threw it to me.

"Okay..." Was all I simply said before I watched her leave the room. But I was still uneasy. I've been thinking for a while about Sarada and how odd it was for her to leave in the first place. She had all of these big plans and even asked me to train her and teach her to become Hokage. Then, out of nowhere, she becomes a rogue.

I looked down at the water bottle and thought back to what Sakura had said. She was almost different somehow. Her attitude, the wording used was all off. She's usually pretty blunt and mad when speaking to me, but this time it was just.... ahhhh... I'm just overthinking things! She was right, I should calm down.

I opened up the bottle of water and drank it before sighing loudly. I felt like if I was going crazy.

Something just wasn't right.

I pushed aside those thoughts and decided to go to where the meeting was going to be held. It would be along with the other village officials talking about new changes to come and problems with the village that we wish to solve. This meeting happens every year and is an important part of keeping everything organized. Nothing can mess it up.

"SHIKAMARU!" I yelled as I saw him setting up some chairs. He turned to look at me and walked over. "During the meeting, you and a couple of shinobi should patrol the main gates. It's not that I don't trust the two there, but I don't want to take any risk and I trust you with the job. I already set up secret guards all around here so that no one gets worried or even injured if something was to happen."

"Naruto... are you okay." He suddenly asked out of nowhere and I was caught off guard. Why were people asking me if I was okay? Of course, I was oka-... Was I though? "Your hands are shaking."

I looked down at my hands and saw that they were, but I shook it off before laughing. "I'm fine, just a little stressed out about everything going on. I'll be fine once the meeting starts. You know me!" I said with nervous laughter and he just looked at me suspiciously before nodding and leaving to go do what I had told him to do.

I looked back down at my hands once he was out of my sight. I was starting to feel dizzy and lightheaded and didn't know why. I looked up at the clock and saw that the meeting was close to starting. The village would all be either here live or watching it on TV from home. This is an important event. I can't let anybody down.

I decided to go sit in the conference chair held at the center of the room. Others started to sit around me and we started to discuss what it was that we were going to be issuing and presenting to the people. But throughout most of it, I couldn't concentrate that well. My eyes kept on shutting and their words almost seemed to be echoing.

"It's about to start. People are starting to show up. Let get ready." I heard someone say in the background as I looked up and indeed saw the guards letting people in. In the crowd, I saw Hima and Hinata waving up at me and I forced a smile toward them so that they would worry, but I was at my breaking point.

I suddenly got chills up my spine and started to anxiously look around the room. As I was looking, something caught my eyes. There were two guys dressed in white looked straight at me with smirks on their faces. At that point, I knew that something was truly wrong.

"Kakashi.... Sensei..." I barely managed to say as I looked over at where he was seated. He looked at me and his gaze didn't shift. He looked different. Something wasn't right about him. "What's... Wrong..." My voice started to fade out.

I looked back at the two strange men in the back and saw that they were gone. But as I started to search for them again, my body slowly started to go limp. "Good night, Naruto." I heard Kakashi say as I slowly went in and out consciousness.

"Hinata... Hima... Boruto...." I quietly whispered before everything became black.

Author's Note: Ahhhhhh, Surprise!! I got motivated and deciding to finish this chapter right away! As you could tell, it's Verrrrry different from previous chapters. But I hope that you still enjoyed it.

And if you are confused, trust me, everything will make sense later on!!

Why do you think Sakura and Kakashi were acting weird?

Who were the two strange men in the back?

Who's the true traitor in all if this?

Next chapter release date: TBD