Tsunade POV~

After my outburst, I sat down heavily. My brain whirred and spun at the news.

Naruto. Naruto Naruto Naruto. It's him. He's back.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, already sensing an incoming headache.

What the fuck do I do now?

"Hokage-sama." Homura grunted, "We must go investigate what happened. This is an urgent matter."

Well, yes, it was an urgent matter. Yes, I had no issue with investigating. Yes, I was desperate to know what was going on. But a nagging voice in the back of my mind warned me.

What if they actually find him?

I couldn't help but worry. What if they capture him again? What if he ends up in jail? What if -

I growled and clutched my head, completely at odds with myself. Should I do what I should as Hokage? Or should I listen to my sentimental side? 

Should I do what's good for the village?

Or should I do what's best for the boy I love as much as family?

There was only so much I could do, but as Hokage, I couldn't just let this go. I had responsibilities.

But that wouldn't stop me from at least trying.

Heaving a sigh, I stood and stalked out the door.

"I will send some teams check it out."

"Tsunade-sama."

At the sound of my name, I paused without turning around. 

Danzo's voice was steel-edged, "I will do what I must for the good of Konoha. I suggest you do the same, if you are truly the Hokage."

I opened the door and stepped out. Before closing it, I finally looked him in the eyes and said.

"I will do whatever it takes to be a good Hokage. And I will protect this village."

In my mind, the words played over and over.

I will protect this village.

I will protect everyone.

Everyone.

I will protect him.

It was only a matter of time before Sasuke and Sakura found out. Then the rest of their age group. Then the rest of the shinobi. Then all of Konoha.

But at the moment, the only one truly in immediate danger of finding out was Hatake.

I was a little worried about how he would react to the discovery of Naruto. Even though no one had even seen him and the closest anyone had been to finding him was a slight surge of Kyuubi chakra, just that much was enough. After all, having had firsthand experience in seeing the interactions between Naruto and Kyuubi, anyone who had the slightest knowledge of what Naruto or the Nine-Tails was like would immediately recognize it.

And Kakashi...well, I knew he had good control of himself, but one of my best shinobi having a mini panic attack was not what I needed at the moment. I decided to assign his team the mission of finding out what was going on, if only because I knew I wouldn't be able to stop them once they found out. One ninja freaking out was bad enough. 

My ears perked at the slight whoosh outside the window.

Speak of the devil...

"I heard the news." came the low, smooth voice from his perch on the windowsill. I glanced at him from the corner of my gaze. To the untrained eye, he would seem the same as ever, but I could immediately see the tension in his hands and shoulders. Not to mention that glint in his eye that wasn't quite there before.

"Your team will go to the location to scout it out." I told him. He gave no visible reaction, besides the near unnoticeable twitch of his fingers.

"Hai." he made to leave before pausing. "I'll get the team. We'll be back here in thirty minutes?"

I met his gaze head-on. He knew what was going on. 

"Yes. Now get off my windowsill."

Kakashi gave me another look before disappearing. I sighed and called out to the man I knew was outside my door, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.

"What do you want now, Danzo?"

Naruto POV~

I was out of there before the leader of the Akatsuki even knew it, flashing through the forest faster than ever before.

"Shit." I gasped out loud. I was currently sitting on a tree branch, trying to catch my breath after running 50 miles in less than half an hour. Never had I used so much of Kurama's chakra at once, but I needed it. I was sure I could beat him if I really tried, but I wasn't going to test my luck, not with the risk of other ninjas discovering my location. 

"If all of them are that strong..." I mumbled aloud, not needing to finish the sentence to know Kurama would understand.

"Kit. You okay?"

I heaved another breath and settled on the branch, heading into my mindscape to properly talk to him. 'Yeah. Yeah...'

I could feel Kurama's anger radiating from his boiling chakra, "That bastard. Who does he think he is?"

I sighed, 'No idea. But we can't leave this alone. The other Bijuu are in danger, and we are too. I'm pretty sure this Pain guy won't leave us be after one failed attempt.'

"Hm. At least we've been in touch with my annoying siblings. We could always commune in the Tailed Beast Psyche."

'Should we ask them about their location?'

"Not now." Kurama growled, his voice firm enough to let me know he wouldn't allow an argument. I sighed and leaned back against the tree. I was exhausted, my chakra depleted and my bones aching. The rush of adrenaline had faded, and I wanted nothing but to sleep. The only thing keeping me awake was the worry of being found.

"Sleep, Naruto. I'll wake you if I sense anything concerning."

'Are you sure -'

"Stop. Don't even finish that sentence. You're useless if you're too tired, not to mention irritating. I sleep all the time, anyways." his voice softened slightly, "Don't overexert yourself, kit. I've got your back."

At that reminder, I finally allowed myself to relax. To be comforted with the idea of Kurama being there for me. Everyone spoke of being a Jinchuriki like it was a curse. It could be, without any cooperation or friendship with him, but I couldn't imagine a life without Kurama looking out for me. My friend, my partner. He was like family to me. If it weren't for him, I'd have gone crazy from the loneliness ages ago.

As I drifted into sleep, my steely determination only hardened.

Kurama's siblings, the other Tailed Beasts, were in danger. There was no way we could stop without saving them.

Even just the thought of losing Kurama was too much to bear. So we couldn't lose this battle. I wouldn't allow it.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if we failed.

Sasuke POV~

It took everything in my power to keep from lopping this guy's head off. 

Every time he so much as opened his mouth, I felt my hand twitch towards my katana against my will. 

Said guy was currently fucking clueless about the fact that he called Sakura ugly and got away with it. Barely. My carefully crafted poker face, born from years of practice, was in serious danger of breaking at that moment. 

The only person he had to fear more than me was Sakura. If Kakashi weren't there, no doubt she would've murdered him and make it look like an accident.

Sai, he said his name was. Someone appointed by Danzo, no doubt.

I sighed slightly, forcing myself to ignore the little shit. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Naruto. Fucking dumbass.

So far, no one else knew about that night. The night we'd seen each other last. A final goodbye. I didn't intend on letting anyone know, but our words rang in my ears.

"Promise me, no matter what, that you'll never forget me."

"Don't you ever come back."

I grit my teeth discreetly. I never thought I'd see the dobe again. Hell, I even told him I never wanted to see him again, yet here we are. 

No matter the mission, though, I knew Naruto would never break that promise. And I didn't intend to break mine. Neither one of us wanted to break the unspoken one.

No matter what anyone thought, or what I told them, I was hoping we wouldn't find him. Secretly dreading that we might actually find him. 

My fears were unfounded, though, I knew that.

This dobe was better than he looked.

I smirked to myself. He wouldn't be found. Not if either one of us could help it.

Still, I wondered what happened to cause this slip-up. From the looks of it, the only reason his presence was discovered was because of all the Kyuubi chakra he released. Both he and Kurama were smart, I knew that, Kurama being the more reasonable and cautious of the two. 

Yes, I just admit to the fact that the Nine-Tailed fox was the only reason Naruto was smart. Kurama was always there to speak rationality to the dobe, from what he told me. I still remember meeting the fox, and suddenly understanding why Naruto spoke of him like he did. It was like I was talking to a human (a grumpy, irritable one, at least).

I spared a glance at Kakashi. The silver-haired jounin was strolling along with his annoying orange book, though I could see the way his observant eyes roamed the area every few minutes. The laid-back facade hid deadly skills and perception. I couldn't help but be curious as to what Kakashi thought of this mess. 

I was at least 90% sure he felt the same as me.

Sakura, on the other hand, was no less than a bitch to Naruto all our lives. I didn't know what to think of her. Even after all this time, although she toned it down, she still somehow found time to send me flirty looks every once in a while. She occasionally had the gall to ask me out, which is when I turned her down not-so politely. 

I don't understand what she sees in me. 

There were several things still weighing on the back of my mind, but the one thing that pushed them down was the promise I made to Naruto. His last wish was for me to stay in the village, and despite all their pity and glares, despite the feeling of being held back, despite the guilt and anger of not avenging the Uchiha like I intended, I found that I literally was unable to break this promise. I would fall apart if I did.

Team 7, without Naruto, was pathetic. Not in skill, but in...I don't even know. It was incomplete. That idiot, the one who always smiled and laughed and lightened up a room with everything he did, with every obnoxious shout (most of which were fake, but brought out the desired effect either way) was the only one who understood me and reintroduced me to a side of myself that I thought I'd lost forever.

I'd experienced happiness again, and it was short-lived and small but there. All because of Naruto.

In spite of it all, he fought on. 

And his fight was not in vain.

Not if I had anything to do with it.

AN-

Sasuke will not be a bitch today.