Chapter Text
December 16
Naruto and Iruka-sensei were having their habitual lunch together at the Ichiraku ramen shop. They were sitting side by side at the counter, meanwhile Teuchi and Ayame worked hard in the kitchen hidden by the steam of boiling water.
Iruka was watching Naruto as he tried to capture one slice of pork in his bowl of soup, using chopsticks with his left hand. The boy was still clumsy but he focused on the task with all his might. At the fourth attempt he managed to grab the meat and stuffed it into his mouth, content.
Iruka chuckled under his nose then noted with an acknowledging smile "You're getting better at it, Naruto."
That was when Naruto regarded the man.
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei." The boy said, while munching and enjoying the flavor of the food.
The young man's golden, messy locks covered his forehead and not goggles or headband, and a memory came to Iruka's mind, while watching Naruto.
"It's been a while..." Iruka started when Naruto turned his head towards him questioningly. "Hmm?"
"...since you wanted to try on my headband." Iruka finished his sentence in a nostalgic tone.
"Heh-heh, yeah." Naruto laughed awkwardly, remembering back to that moment. He swallowed the food in his mouth.
"And look at you, now you've grown up." Iruka stated proudly leaning onto the table with his forearms, chopsticks still in his right hand.
Naruto rubbed his head, giving it a thought then agreed. "Mmm. Yeah, we can say that."
Iruka was gazing at Naruto with a heartfelt expression and it popped up in his head that he wanted to ask "Oh, by the way, do you still have the headband?"
"Of course!" Naruto reassured right away. "It just needs some repair and... Sakura-chan's gonna fix it for me." His mind wandered to Sakura immediately and he was gazing into the distance dreamily.
And Iruka noticed it for a while now, since Naruto had talked a lot about Sakura.
"Does she know?" Iruka asked out of the blue and Naruto eyed him confusedly, so the sensei made it clear. "About your feelings."
Naruto felt like his heart sank down into his stomach, he averted his eyes to stare at his soup. How did Iruka notice? "No... I couldn't tell her yet." The boy answered in a low tone.
"Let me tell you something, Naruto." Iruka continued in a lively, inspiring tone, succeeding in making Naruto look at him again.
"Many times actions speak louder than words." Iruka gave the advice with friendly emphasis, gesturing with the chopsticks in his hand, then he picked up a good amount of long pasta with his chopsticks from his soup and slurped it up. He was chewing while Naruto was processing the suggestion.
"You sound like an expert, sensei." The blonde noted in wonder. Then he added, as if he had been asking about the weather. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Iruka almost choked on his food, coughing and holding onto the edge of the counter for dear life. Naruto's question caught him off guard.
"Careful, Iruka-san!" The robust man, Teuchi grinned heartily in the kitchen, while Naruto patted his sensei's back.
"Sensei, you okay?" Naruto asked, concerned, but after one last cough Iruka composed himself with embarrassment.
"I'm fine." The teacher said with a painful smile. "Let's just... drop this topic."
Naruto furrowed his brows. Could it be that Iruka sensei had a girlfriend for real? But seeing his teacher's awkwardness, Naruto didn't force this matter.
"Here, some water, Sir." Ayame appeared on the opposite side of the counter, placed one glass of water in front of Iruka, smiling kindly. "It may help a bit."
"Thank you." Iruka reciprocated the smile and drank up in no time. He turned to Naruto again, after putting the empty glass down to the desk.
"I heard that Sasuke is leaving soon. Are you going with him?"
Naruto considered the question then answered "I wanted to, at first. But I've still got a job to do here in the village. I've got promises to keep."
Naruto thought about what he had promised Neji and Nagato and looked at his sensei with dedication in his eyes. He would make a change in the Hyuuga clan and restore the land of Rain, he had sworn.
Iruka held his gaze wide-eyed then broke into a smile. Naruto had already become a great man, and Iruka was sure since the day he had given Naruto his headband that the young man would become a great hokage one day.
*
December 18
On a cold, cloudy day in the afternoon Naruto was in his bedroom, standing in a battle stance, stretching out his remaining hand in front of himself.
"Aaarghhh!" He was roarin loudly as he was focusing his chakra into his palm with all his might, exerting every cell in his disabled body. Without his shadow clones and his right arm it was an understatement that relearning Rasengan was difficult. It seemed impossible. But Naruto had to start somewhere.
At once he dropped his hand together with his head and he was panting hard.
"Crap!" He swore, then readied his hand once more. "Again!" He ordered himself, when a deep thundering voice called for him.
I can make you a rasengan any time you want, kid.
It was Kurama, and suddenly Naruto found himself in the spirit realm, where the huge fox demon was laying in front of him. They were dwelling in a reddish half-light.
"I know." Naruto said. "But for now I wanna see what I'm capable of by myself, without your help."
Kurama smirked smugly. Aren't you arrogant, kid?
"Don't misunderstand." Naruto contested. "I need you and your strength. But I don't want you to feel like a tool I can take advantage of all the time. You're my friend."
Kurama's eyes widened for a moment then he scoffed affectionately. The fox couldn't deny that he was fond of Naruto. They've come a long way together, and whether Kurama wanted or not he had been always watching over Naruto from the beginning. And it won't be otherwise even now. He decided to trust Naruto's judgment.
Alright, good luck with that, boy. Kurama said with another smirk You know where to find me.
After disconnecting, Naruto found himself in his room again, breathing roughly.
His hand was trembling because of the load he put on himself and Sakura's voice echoed in her mind. Don't overexert yourself, baka! Oh, how he would be scolded again, he thought and smiled to himself warmly. Sakura was right but Naruto felt he could take a bit more.
When his breathing evened, Naruto took a look at his open palm, staring at it and thinking. It only popped up in his head now, what could help him while training.
Naruto rushed to his table which was full of calligraphy tools for his writing lessons. Piles of rice paper, many of those already covered with clumsy versions of kanji, hiragana and katakana characters. Amongst them a small glass bottle of ink and a traditional brush Naruto had got from Sai.
Naruto rolled off the bottle's lid, picked up the brush, plunged it into the dark fluid then put the brush's handle into his mouth.
With difficulty though, he managed to paint to the middle of his palm.
When he finished, he looked at the result. The Uzumaki sign was a bit messy and bigger than what Jiraiya had painted years ago but it was recognizable and Naruto liked the outcome.
At the thought of his late-master Naruto felt as his throat tightened and tears stinged his eyes, blurring the view. He wiped them away with his shaking left hand, collecting himself.
"I got this! Just watch me Ero-sennin!"
*
December 21
Sakura hadn't slept well because she had been nervous all night for the important day. Though she got herself together step by step.
After putting on her clothes, Sakura sat down at her dressing table.
Amongst her hair brush, hair ties and other things there lay her new headband which had been waiting for her to wear it for the first time. The metal shield with the hidden leaf's symbol was brand new, the cherry red textil was the one Ino had given her. Sakura knew that she would treasure this headband for the rest of her life.
She put it on happily, the way she always wore it, so the steel piece was on top of her head, and her forehead was free, neatly framed by her pink hair, showing the Byakugou seal.
Watching her reflection in the mirror, Sakura noticed how much her hair had grown during the last months, her pink locks were already long enough to rest on her shoulders. The girl acknowledged that she liked this length. Maybe she would keep it that way for a while.
After having breakfast with her parents, she planted a kiss on their cheeks, packed some important things in her small backpack, put on her long winter cloak and left.
"Naruto! Hurry up!" Sakura urged her friend while knocking impatiently on his door.
Soon the boy opened the door, their eyes met. "Sakura-chan?"
Naruto's hair was disheveled, his white, long sleeved shirt was unzipped, showing another layer of cloth underneath.
Sakura crossed her arms?
"What the heck are you doing Naruto? We're all waiting at the gates!"
"Ehm..." Naruto smirked embarrasedly "I... I got this new stuff from Iruka sensei, but I can't..." The boy gestured at the unzipped jacket.
Sakura sighed with a resigned smile.
"I'll help you with that." The girl offered, then entered Naruto's home, closing the door behind her.
Naruto was one step away from her, when without a second thought Sakura zipped up the shirt and adjusted the orange colored collar at the young man's neck practically.
"Thanks a lot... Sakura-chan." Naruto managed to say while the butterflies woke up in his stomach making him nervous.
"We're not done yet. I've got something for you." Sakura said, feeling as her heart accelerated in anticipation for what she was gonna give Naruto.
To Naruto's surprise Sakura pulled out a hidden leaf hitai-ate from her pocket, holding it out towards him.
"Wow!" Naruto exclaimed as he snatched the headband and examined it. He spotted all of the well-known scratches on the metal shield, meanwhile the new textil was as long as the last one, but it was orange colored.
"It's perfect, Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled happily "I love it!"
Sakura's face heated up at his reaction. She was so glad that Naruto loved the gift. The girl took back the accessory, meeting Naruto's eyes with a heartfelt expression.
"Bend down a bit, okay?" Sakura asked, beckoning with the band in her hand, indicating what she wanted to do.
Naruto did as asked, and Sakura took one step closer, so there became only a few inch distance between them. Naruto sucked in a rushed breath. He closed his eyes to calm himself down, sensing the girl's sweet scent, while Sakura put the hitai-ate on and tied the too long band at the back of Naruto's head.
When she finished, the girl brushed the golden blond hair with her fingers so it would look less messy, then she lowered her hands.
Naruto lifted his head and locked eyes with Sakura.
The boy was so overwhelmed he didn't know what to say. He was utterly happy for the gift but mostly for the fact that Sakura was there by his side. The girl was watching him with her clever, searching gaze, that made Naruto's heart beat faster. The warmth that started in his belly reached his head already.
Actions speak louder than words. Iruka sensei's words echoed in his mind, because words fell short at that moment.
Naruto's focus wandered to the mark on Sakura's forehead for a few seconds. He looked into Sakura's curious emerald eyes again that expressed no objections. So Naruto raised his large hand to Sakura's cheek confidently, resting his calloused fingers on the soft skin of her neck. Sakura couldn't help but lean into Naruto's touch, closing her eyelids. Naruto needed to breathe deep to compose himself. Sakura's racing heart didn't calm down, but she trusted Naruto with all her heart and let him lead the way.
Wonder of wonders Sakura felt Naruto's lips not anywhere else but on her forehead, which overwhelmed her with a fresh heatwave. It could have been a dream but it was the raw and intense reality she experienced with every fiber of her being. The planted, long lasting kiss from Naruto meant so much more to Sakura than she could have ever imagined.
When Naruto withdrew, his hand still stayed at its place, and he caressed Sakura's cheek with his thumb when the girl slowly opened her eyes.
Sakura saw that Naruto was blushing all over his face and ears, averting his eyes and pouting. He might have tried to process the fact that he really had done what he had done.
When their eyes met again, as if time had stopped for a moment. They were alive. And they were together. Being in each other's presence and closeness just felt right.
Then they suddenly started to laugh, releasing the tension of uncertainty that had been weighing on them until now. Everything fell into place, the doubts vanished and were replaced with overflowing joy.
Naruto and Sakura finally found each other.
After wiping away her happy tears, Sakura said with a bit of a shaky voice, still grinning, "We should go." She didn't intend to ruin the moment, so she smiled apologetically. "The others are waiting for us."
Naruto didn't feel like going either but they really needed to. "Yup." He agreed in the end. It was time to say goodbye to Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei.
At the gates of Konoha a group of ninja were gathering to bid farewell. The ones who would stay and the team that would leave. The morning sunshine illuminated all of them, their long winter cloaks with hoods were swaying in the cold breeze, together with the leafless trees' branches.
Tsunade and Karin were standing right at the enormous, open gates, while farther on the opposite side Juugo and Suigetsu were waiting for their teammates to depart together. Suigetsu with his large axe on his back was impatient, he wanted to hit the road as soon as possible.
Between the two groups, in the middle, the members of team 7 said their goodbyes. Kakashi and Sasuke were facing Sakura, Naruto, Sai and Yamato.
At Yamato's feet, a small light-brown haired dog was standing on his four feet. The ninken had long ears and round, tired eyes, the hair was spiky at the top of his head. The kanji of shinobi [忍] had been tattooed on his forehead, a hidden leaf hitai-ate was around his neck, and
a dark-blue garment covered his back.
"Biscuit, keep watching over Tenzo." Kakashi ordered kindly and the dog spoke in a manly, deep tone "You can count on me Captain."
"But you may need all of your ninken, Senpai." Tenzo protested, because he had thought that Biscuit would be his aid temporarily. It turned out, Kakashi wanted Biscuit to serve as a therapy dog for Tenzo for a longer period.
"If that's the case, I can summon Biscuit anytime I need him. After that, I can just send him back to you." Kakashi reassured with smiling eyes. "Don't worry."
"Alright, then I really appreciate it, senpai." Tenzo accepted with a resigned smile then bowed. "I will take care of Biscuit, too."
Kakashi held out his hand. "Goodbye, Tenzo."
"Good luck on your journey, senpai." Tenzo said goodbye, while they shook hands firmly.
After that, Kakashi exchanged a handshake with Naruto and Sai too, and waved goodbye to Sakura. Then he walked away a few meters to join Suigetsu and Juugo.
Yamato exchanged a handsake with Sasuke too, and the man wished the young Uchiha good luck. The taichou retreated just the same, walking back with his dog to join Tsunade and Karin. This way Kakashi and Yamato gave some space for the teenagers.
The remaining quartet dwelt in a tense, awkward silence.
Sai seemed like he was lost, he didn't really know what to do with the situation. He had seen all of those handshakes and learnt that that might be the right way to say goodbye to Sasuke, but the thought felt bothersome. After all, Sai still wasn't on the best of terms with Sasuke.
Naruto and Sakura were waiting for what would happen, exchanging a strange glance then looking at the two raven haired guys.
Sasuke decided to break the ice. He held out his hand as if it hadn't been a big deal.
Sai stared at the hand for a while, and looked at Sasuke, whose gaze didn't falter. In the end Sai accepted the offer and exchanged a silent, confident handshake with Sasuke.
Sakura was happy to witness the scene which looked like a good start for the boys' reconciliation.
Sai stole a glance at Naruto and Sakura before retreating and joining Yamato, Tsunade and Karin.
So the trio of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura remained.
Sakura rummaged in her bag, then held out something to Sasuke that looked like a bento box packed in a moss green cloth.
"Here, some Nara medicine for your left arm. One month dose." Sakura told him matter of factly then her lips curved up to a gentle smile. "Sayonara, Sasuke." With that Sakura could officially say goodbye to her old feelings for him too.
Sasuke reached out and took the gift, returning the smile. "Thank you, Sakura." The boy said gratefully and put the medicine away in his side bag, the sword at his waist peaked out from under his cloak in the process.
Sakura stayed near, yet not joining Tsunade and company. She only took a few steps back, to give some space to her two teammates.
"Take care of the village while I'm away, Usuratonkachi." Sasuke said calmly.
Naruto huffed. "It's obvious, you moron."
"Hn." Sasuke smirked but he got startled when Naruto suddenly wrapped his left arm around him, pulling him close.
"See ya, Sasuke." Naruto said, heartfelt, patting his brother's back. After some contemplation, Sasuke returned the pat on the back, surprising both Naruto and Sakura.
Before turning his back on his old teammates, Sasuke gifted one last half smile to Sakura and Naruto then he joined his team.
From the distance Kakashi sent a bow while Sasuke, Juugo and Suigetsu took one last look at the people they would leave behind.
Then they turned on their heels and began walking away on the wide soil road, framed by bald, ancient trees.
Despite her will, Sakura's heart clenched, and she had to fight back her tears. All the memories connected to Sasuke and team 7, good and bad invaded her, the mixing feelings overwhelmed her, tightening her chest. She needed more air or something to hold onto when anxiety planned an attack.
At once, someone took her right hand, pulling her back to the present.
Sakura snapped up her head to meet Naruto's heartfelt, comforting gaze. The warmth he radiated reached her heart, slowly easing the pressure in her chest, and she could breathe out with relief. Then again, Naruto was there in the right place and right time.
"It's okay if you cry, Sakura-chan." Naruto grinned at Sakura, when the tears started to brim her eyes.
The kunoichi sniffed once and protested, pouting. "I'm not crying… baka Naruto."
Naruto laughed at that and stroked Sakura's knuckles with his thumb, making the girl giggle too. Then she intertwined their fingers.
No one disturbed the couple while they were watching as the silhouette of Kakashi's team slowly disappeared from the horizon.
Naruto and Sakura were reliving every second of the present with hands and feelings connected. They were certain that whatever the next day might bring they would face it together with brave and open hearts.