Naruto's POV
The warmth of the morning sun slowly touched my face. I groaned softly and opened my eyes. For a few seconds, I didn't remember where I was. Then I felt the arm wrapped around me. I looked up. I blinked a couple of times before remembering what happened last night. We stayed here in the woods. I must have fallen asleep in his arms. I carefully moved, trying not to wake him, but the moment I shifted, his arm tightened around me.
I froze.
"Kashi?" I shook him a little to wake him up but no response. I looked up at him. And there he was still sleeping. I smiled a little. Watching him, he actually looks peaceful when he's asleep. I decided not to wake him yet. After everything that happened yesterday, I think he deserved the a little more rest. I leaned back against him again and closed my eyes for a moment.
Inside my mind, Kurama suddenly spoke.
"You're awake."
Obviously.
"Then why are you still sitting there?"
Because I'm comfortable.
Kurama scoffed.
"Pathetic."
I frowned a little then smiled
You're just jealous.
"Of what?"
That I have someone to cuddle with.
I actually feel Kurama gets taken aback he was silent fo a while then-
"I am a giant fox sealed inside your stomach. Why would I want to cuddle?"
Just say you also want a cuddle, could cuddle me though.
I watch him got a thick mark and surprisingly answers me calmly. Knowing him he would go shout and cursed me. "Absolutely not." He answered and turned his head to the side refusing to look at me. I laughed quietly. The movement finally woke Kakashi.
"Hmm?"
He slowly opened his eye and looked down at me.
"Morning."
"Morning, Kashi."
He looked around the forest before sighing. Realizing that were still in the woods.
"We should probably head back."
"Yeah."
I slowly stood up and stretched my arms. My body was sore from yesterday's fight, but nothing serious. I looked at Kakashi.
"You okay?"
He nodded.
"I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm fine."
He stared at me for a moment. I knew that look. He was checking whether I was actually okay. I gave him a smile. "I'm really fine." then he nodded.
"We should head back before Sakura decides to send a search party." I snorted. at what he said "She probably will, she'd probably blame me for making you disappear."
Kakashi sighed.
"That's how she is."
We stood up and started walking back toward Tazuna's house.
The moment we stepped inside the house—
"WHERE HAVE YOU TWO BEEN?!"
I stopped. Sakura was standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. She looked furious. As if she was worried sick. Actually... She looked more annoyed than worried.
"Naruto!" she snapped. "What did you do this time?!" I blinked. Here we go again
"What?"
"You disappeared all night!"
"I was with Kakashi-sensei."
"That's exactly what I mean!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, then she crossed her arms.
"You could have at least told us you were leaving!"
I frowned what the heck? since when does she cares?
"I didn't know we needed permission from you."
"Well, you should!"
Sasuke was sitting nearby, looking completely uninterested in the argument. Sakura suddenly turned toward him.
"Sasuke-kun! Are you okay? Did you sleep well? Were you comfortable? Did you eat breakfast?"
Sasuke slowly looked at her.
"...I'm fine."
Sakura immediately smiled.
"Oh! That's good!"
I stared at her. A second ago, she looked like she wanted to throw me out the window. Now she was practically glowing because Sasuke spoke to her. Kurama's voice came into my head.
She's exhausting.
Truthfully!
She hates you and worships the Uchiha.
I tried not to laugh.
Sakura suddenly looked at me again.
"And Naruto..."
"What?"
"You should stop causing trouble."
I mentally rolled my eyes she's so annoying.
"I wasn't causing trouble."
"You always cause trouble!"
"I literally just slept in the woods."
"Exactly! Who does that?!"
I looked at Kakashi. He shrugged.
"Apparently, we do."
Sakura groaned.
"Whatever."
Tazuna walked toward us, shaking his head with an amused smile.
"Well, at least you're both alright."
"We're fine," Kakashi answered.
Tazuna then looked at all of us.
"The bridge is finally safe. Thank to you, guys. If it you guys turn back when before the village would probably die so thank you."
I smiled. That's good. After everything that happened, hearing those words felt like a weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders.
Tazuna continued.
"Gato's men have scattered. The people are beginning to come out of hiding."
I watched as Sakura gained a proud smile on her face. As if she was the one who saved the village from Gato. If I haven't known I would actually think that she helps saving the village. Ugh!!
"Then that means the mission is over, right?" she excitedly said.
Kakashi nodded.
"Pretty much."
Sasuke looked toward the window.
"So we can go home."
Home.
For some reason, hearing that made me feel a little strange. I should be happy. And I was. But when I looked outside, I saw several villagers carrying pieces of wood.
Some houses were still damaged. There were people cleaning the streets. Children were helping their families. The bridge may have been completed enough to be safe, but the village itself was still trying to recover.
"uhmm, Kashi-sensei."
Hm?"
"Do we really have to leave immediately?" Kakashi looked at me. "The mission is complete."
"I know. But..." I pointed outside. "They're still rebuilding." Kakashi followed my gaze. He was quiet for a moment. Sasuke looked at me.
"You're thinking about staying Naru-nii?"
"Just for a little while." Before anyone else could say anything, Sakura suddenly stepped forward.
"NO."
I blinked.
"...No?"
She pointed at me, clearly annoyed.
"Don't even think about it, Naruto! You were about to ask us to stay, weren't you?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said just for a little while."
Sakura's eye twitched.
"I want to go home!" She clenched her fist and raised it toward me. I didn't move at first.
"If you make us stay for another week, I'm seriously going to hit you!" I quickly took a step back, as I saw her charged at me.
"Why are you going to hit me?!"
"Because you always make things difficult!"
"I'm just trying to help Sakura-chan"
"I know! But I want my bed!"
She lowered her fist and dramatically threw her hands in the air.
"I want a proper bath! I want my own things! I want to sleep in my own room!"
She paused.
"And I want to go home!" I stared at her. Losing all my patient I have for her.
"...You really want to go home." I slowly ask "YES!" Before I can do anything, Sasuke gets her things and throw it outside. Sakura got shocked from what Sasuke did.
"Sasuke-kun"
"If you want to go home then start walking right now, If Naru-nii wants to stay then I'm staying. What so wrong in helping people?" That's the longest line Sasuke said to this entire journey but I'm proud of him. Sakura's shoulder slumped down, she gets her things back and stayed. She just wouldn't leave her Sakuke-kun alone! I mentally rolled my eyes.
I walk past Sakura and go to where Sasuke is, I ruffled he's hair and smiled at him. Sakura eyed me with contemp. I pay her no mind I'm starting to lose control anyways.
"I suppose another day won't hurt." Kakashi said and thumbs up at me. I smiled.
The rest of the morning was spent helping the villagers. Sasuke helped carry wood and other heavy materials. Sakura's tailing Sasuke and do absolutely nothing. And me? I was assigned to help the children. Apparently, they liked me. Not that I was complaining. Inari was among them. He walked beside me while we carried some smaller pieces of wood.
"Nii-chan."
"Hm?"
"Are you really leaving soon?"
I looked at him. And Nodded "Yeah."
His expression fell. I smiled and ruffled his hair.
"But that doesn't mean you should go back to the way you were before."
He looked at me. "I won't." "Good."
He clenched his little fists. He looked at me with determination. "I want to become strong too." I smiled at what he said. "Then become strong."
He looked surprised. "Really?" I stared at him for a bit before I answered him. "Of course." I crouched down in front of him. "But being strong isn't just about being able to fight. Being strong means standing up even when you're scared." Inari looked at the bridge.
"I was scared." Replaying all the things Happened from the last day. Sure, as hell you'll be scared no shit.
"I know."
"But you weren't." He looked at me when he said that. I smiled at him and answered. "Of course I was." His eyes widened. Shocked written all over he's face. "You're that strong and you still get scared?" I just nodded and stood up. He looked up at me and waited for my answer.
"Being strong doesn't mean you aren't afraid. It means you keep moving even when you are."
Inari smiled. "I'll remember that." I smiled at him and ruffled he's hair. He chuckled as I do so. Behind us, I heard someone clear their throat. I turned around and saw Kakashi was standing there.
"You have training to do Naruto" He said I sighed and ask "Already?" He nods as an answer leaving me with no choice. Feeling defeated I turned to Inari again and smiled. I uttered him to go and help others; that he happily nods and turn back.
When Inari go me and Kakashi walk back. We moved farther away from the village so we wouldn't disturb anyone. As we walk, I saw the two standing there and waiting for us. Kakashi stood in front of us.
"Yesterday showed us something important." Kakashi started. Sakura crossed her arms. Still annoyed.
"What?" She ask?
"We all have areas that's need improvement." Kakashi looked at each of us.
"Today, we're going to work on those weaknesses."
I sighed. "Do we have to?"
"Yes."
Do I really have to pretend to struggle again?
Kurama chuckled.
"You could always reveal your true strength."
And then everyone would start asking questions.
"Exactly."
So I'll hold back.
"As always."
I rolled my eyes. Kakashi started with Sakura. Then Sasuke. Finally, he turned toward me.
"Naruto."
"Yes?"
"Your turn."
I stepped forward. Kakashi threw a kunai. I caught it. Then another. Then another. I made sure to react a little slower than I actually could. Kakashi watched me carefully. I knew that look. He knew. He always knew, not that I hide my true abilities from him anyways. That's why he was worried the other day when I did what I did when fighting Gato's men. But he didn't say anything. Luckily that time Sakura is far enough to see everything and Sasuke is unconscious.
"Again." I nodded. The next round was faster. I deliberately let one pass close to my cheek.
Sasuke frowned.
"You could've dodged that." I smiled. Even though I helped him once I don't want him to know my true abilities just yet. "Guess I wasn't paying attention." Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly. He knew exactly what I was doing. But he played along.
"Pay more attention next time."
"Yes, sensei."
Inside my mind, Kurama laughed.
"You two are ridiculous."
Shut up.
"He knows you're pretending."
I know.
"And you're both pretending that he doesn't know."
Exactly.
Kurama rolled hes ayes at me.
By late afternoon, we returned to the village. The difference was noticeable. The damaged houses were slowly being repaired. The streets were cleaner. The villagers were no longer hiding. There was something different in the air.
Hope.
I looked at Inari. He was helping his mother carry something. He noticed me and waved. I waved back. For some reason, seeing him smile made me happy. Maybe this was what helping people actually felt like. Not because someone ordered you to. Not because it was part of a mission. Just because you wanted to. Kakashi walked beside me.
"You did good today."
I looked at him.
"We all did. Aside from Sakura"
He chuckled a bit and shakes he's head probably thinking what could possibly good words for Sakura he can wrote down to he's report for the Hokage.
"That too."
I smiled. For once, everything felt peaceful. No enemies. No fighting. No blood. Just people rebuilding their lives. That evening, after everyone had finished eating, Kakashi called the four of us together.
"Alright. We leave tomorrow morning."
Hearing that Sakura looked up and smiled widely.
"What time?"
"First light."
Sasuke nodded.
"How long until we reach Konoha?"
"Assuming we don't run into trouble, we should make good progress. We'll stop before nightfall and camp along the way. If everything goes smoothly, we should reach Konoha within a couple of days."
"So we're leaving after breakfast?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"No. We'll leave early. Pack tonight. Get some sleep afterward."
Sakura nodded.
"What about Tazuna?"
"I'll speak with him before we leave. We'll say our goodbyes in the morning."
I looked toward the window. Tomorrow It was really time to go. I felt a little sad about leaving. Especially Inari. But at least the village was finally safe. Tazuna's dream had become reality. The bridge was standing. The people were free. And Inari had found his courage again. That was enough for me. I stood up.
"I'll go help finish packing."
Sasuke looked at me.
"We're supposed to be resting."
"I know."
"But I want to say goodbye to everyone properly tomorrow."
Kakashi nodded.
"Then make sure you're ready before sunrise."
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."
Later that night, I lay down on mines and Kakashi's futon. Tomorrow we'd leave Wave Country. I stared at the ceiling for a while. Inside my mind, Kurama suddenly spoke.
"Enjoy it while you can, kit."
I frowned.
Why?
Kurama was silent for a moment.
Then—
"Because peace never lasts long in the shinobi world."
I looked toward the window. The moonlight was shining over the village. Tomorrow morning, we'd cross the bridge one last time. Then we'd begin the journey home. I didn't know what waited for us in Konoha. I didn't know what kind of trouble we'd encounter on the way. But for tonight... I smiled. Tomorrow was another day. And for now, I just wanted to enjoy the peace.