[[ alumina | open ]]

[[[pocky|naruto]]]

Dare ni mo mirenai yume o mite iranai mono wa subete suteta...

Sweat beaded off of the blond's forehead, the lack of the headband caused for the young sixteen year old's hair to fall into his eyes. Dark blue eyes were glazed over, a fisted hand at his side before failing to hit the log in front of him. How did he miss? How did he not hit that log? Uzumaki pondered for a moment; the moon lit sky dimmed as clouds hovered over. The blond made one conclusion. And with that one conclusion alone could have told him to train harder.

"I am still...So weak..."

Frowning and letting out a heavy sigh, Naruto brought his fist back before aiming it at the log again. His knuckles collided with the wood, turning white every passing second. Anger surged through his body, the need to save a friend was strong. Breathing heavily and at the point of just falling over, Naruto stared at the log. It was the same log he had been tied to, about three years ago. When Team Seven was started.

"Sasukenii..."

A taboo name, one that meant so much to Uzumaki Naruto, it was someone to be brought back. Of course, with that there was always a consequence or two. He feared two major problems, both of which left him in the dust.

One, was that Sasuke was probably going to be punished for leaving, probably death.

And two, he would lose his love all over again. And just when he thought they working together so well, the raven hair comes to mess it up again. Naruto glared at the ground, he did not want to lose his love. However, his teammates' happiness was something more precious than his own.

He has to protect them.

He has to bring her back.

Asking for nothing in return, and giving up everything.

[Shunsuke-|-Kakashi]

A stong wind rustled through the trees as a young black haired boy emerged from the trees. He had noticed Naruto training alone for some time. He had been working extremely hard, it however seemed he was too focused, and loseing his edge. He walked over, his red scarf swaying in the breeze. Hey, Naruto-kun he said, noticeing the beads of sweat dripping down Naruto's face. He looked extremely tierd and exhausted, but who could blame him? He had probably been out here for a couple days, determined to get stronger in a short period of time. Compared to Sasuke's strength now, it seemed that Jaraiya's training had done nothing. He reached into his pack and pulled out a large canteen filled with fresh water. Take this, we don't need you passing out now. he said, smieling as he passes the blond the canteen. How long have you been out here? You look terrible. he said with a smirk.

[[[pocky|naruto]]]

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Calling out the familiar jutsu name, three shadow replicates appeared on either side of Naruto; each wielding a paper bomb attached to a kunai. The copies of Naruto all frowned, a determined look in his dark azure eyes. Looking at three targets several meters away, Naruto's gaze flickered to the ground. He felt dizzy, exhausted yet he continued training. The replicate on his left threw a kunai hastily, watching as the paper bomb detonate when it had met contact with a tree. Another miss.

Naruto growled angrily, why was he so frustrated now? Why was he missing all of these easy targets? The thoughts raced in his mind, Naruto's clones had disappeared in three large poofs of smoke. Perhaps it was time for a break, the blond thought. A small, minuscule break; Uzumaki did not have time to take breaks and hang about lazily. Training was needed, training was mandatory. He had to save Uchiha; the promise he had committed himself to still stood. Breathing heavily, Naruto fell to his knees; glaring at the ground.

"Dammit...Sasukenii...Where are you...? Are you ok?" he mumbled quietly, trying not to let a sob or two let out. He was too old to cry; he made a vow never to shed a tear. He kept his head held high, he did not want anyone to be burdened with his pain. It was just too much to ask for; so Uzumaki made sure no one knew what he was really feeling. Those feelings that were kept behind that fake grin, or that faux smile. And all of this for the sake of others' happiness.

"Hey, Naruto-kun."

Turning his head slowly, so that he did not injure himself any further, the blond looked tiredly at the person behind him. It was someone he had seen before, but had not really conversed with. cocking an eyebrow, Naruto struggled up to his feet. Swaying slightly, he steadied himself by focusing on a piece of grass. Clearing his throat and wiping blood and sweat away from his mouth, Naruto gave a soft, fake smile.

"H-Hi...What are you doing out here..." Naruto paused, he did not remember the other's name. Thinking for another moment, it popped up. "W-What are you doing out here, Shunsuke-san?" he asked finally; his breathing calmed down and his hands at his side gently. A canteen of water was given to him without his consult, but Naruto was rather grateful for the guy. Grinning sheepishly, shoving away the feelings of exhaustion and fatigue, he accepted the offer. "Domo arigatou (Thank you) for the water, Shunsuke-san." he thanked. Bowing his head slightly, Naruto took his sweet time opening up the canteen and taking a long drink out of it.

Naruto listened intently for a moment, holding an empty canteen a moment after taking a drink. He shrugged his shoulders, thinking of something to use as a cover up. He did not need anyone worrying about him. That was his job; "...Only a few hours 'tebayo. Eh, intense training does that to a guy." Naruto replied, faking a grin.=

[{Hori}-<C>Ha.N]

Sakura, the pinked haired girl with the larg forehead, although right now it didn't look to large. She walked threw the forest, she had a basket. She was plaining on trainig and had a lunch with her, it was fairly large, like she was planing on staying until later that day. She walked along the forest, not walking very quickly. She continued to walk as she looked around and up at the clouds, of course it was difficult to see them. The Sun was shinning lightly threw the trees as the chunnin walked.

Sakura came up on an opening and walked threw it. She was at the training ground finally. She looked to see naruto and.... some other boy. She noticed how tired naruto looked. She ran to him, Pushing past the other boy, NARUTO-KUN!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR SELF? She asked. She as very concerned, he looked so beat up. You need to rest she said to him. She held out her box. And Have something to eat She persisted. He looked so tired, Probably training to get Sasuke back. Have you wounded your self? She asked. After this she would probably train with naruto. But right now she was worried for him. She was completely ignoring him, but she was worried about naruto.

[Shunsuke-|-Kakashi]

*FWAP* The black haired boy was thrown to the side by the pink haired girl. He hit the ground hard, he hadn't been expecting her to just run through him. He sat up, rubbing his head. He immediatly recognized the girl as Haruno Sakura, a girl he had been on a couple missions with in the past, as well as Naruto, but it didn't look like they remeberd. He sighed, I guess they just didn't remeber him. He got up and brushed himself off, standing again, taking the empty canteen from Naruto. You've been out here longer then a few hours Naruto-kun, you don't need to fool me. he said before placing the empty canteen back in his bag. In Konoha, it wasn't much of a secret about Naruto's mission. He and Kakashi had had their share of talks and Shunsuke knew alot about what transpired inside Team Kakashi. Can i help you train? he said, picking up one of Naruto's fallen Kunai. He twirled it on his finger and then flipped it, handing Naruto the handle of it. Let me help...