One month later

In Konoha nightime

Location: the Uzumaki compound

*Naruto was reading the scroll Akira gave him trying to figure out what he great-grandfather couldn't when the door was knocked Naruto looked at the clock*

Naruto:at this hour? Who's even still out at this hour?

Slug:want me to tell them that you are unavailable little prince?

*Naruto chuckled softly looking at the slug since becoming tsunade successor and the next head of the slugs his new summons gave him that nickname until Tsunade can no longer hold the mantle*

Naruto:the day Tsunade gives that up will be her last..

*Naruto frowned that was a dark thought something he didn't want to think about it but the thought still remained*

Naruto"Tsunade is pushing 55 how much longer until she can't be a Shinobi and retires Jiji was old and he was still fighting but he didn't have a choice in that matter Tsunade does so how much longer does she has until.."

*The door knocked again Naruto got up*

Naruto:I'll answer can you make some tea in the meantime?

Slug:of course little Prince it would be my pleasure

*Naruto gave the slug a smile as thanks and walked to the door opened it and it revealed Sakura Haruno Naruto frowned he hasn't seen Sakura since the trail, Naruto crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe*

Naruto:can I help you Haruno?

Sakura:yes.. I've...come to talk to you if.. can i come in?

Naruto:.  .  .shoes off

*Naruto walked back inside and sat down a little later Sakura joined him she sat down on the chair opposite of his tea already on the table Naruto had a small smirk at that*

Naruto"if i asked the toads for something like this they would just laugh at my face and insult me man i used to be such a doormat"

*Naruto took the tea and took a sip with Sakura just looking at her drink*

Naruto:unless you enjoy a cold drink of leave juice i suggest you take a drink

*Sakura flinched and does so burning to roof of her mouth but not showing it*

Naruto:now why have you come here at this ungodly hour

Sakura: it's...something that has been bothering since our last mission what you said about Sasuke..

Naruto;ah...i assumed we would be having this conversation at some point tell me do you intend to act like a crazy screaming banshee or will you actually hear what i have to say have an adult discussion?

Sakura: I'll... I'll listen

Naruto:i plan on killing him simple as that I'll give him 1 chance one last chance to come back peacefully but if he refuses I'll cut him down

Sakura:but you...!!

Naruto:you actually except me to keep a promise i said when i was young and naive? Tell me Sakura did you keep the promises you've made when you were young?

Sakura:....

Naruto:that's what I thought and i know what you're thinking "but oh his our teammate oh remember what Kakashi sensei said does who abandoned the mission are scum but does who abandoned there comrades are worse then scum" well to the first one Sasuke hasn't been our comrade in years Sakura and to the second point Sasuke abandoned us not the other way around he chose to abandoned his friends to abandoned his village to abandoned any chance for a normal life to abandoned you

*Sakura flinched at that as Naruto sighed and looked up at his ceiling*

Naruto:as much as i now hate him Jiraiya did say something that still holds true, he told me to forget about Sasuke he's gone and his right our Sasuke the one that at one small point in our life was our friend is gone

Sakura: he's being manipulated Naruto we need to help him see that!

Naruto:is he? Again more words of Jiraiya holding true if you're wondering how can that be, that's because I was in your shoes back then Sakura i was thinking the same thing, Sasuke went to Orochimaru of his own free will he wasn't manipulated he wasn't force he went because he wanted power the fastest way possible no matter what we do we cannot change him trust in Jiraiya's words and mine when I say this you should just forget about bringing him back the path he's going is the tragic path of self righteous fools, you know when he told me that i was so mad i yelled at him calling Sasuke my friend trying desperately to defend him i wonder did i defend him because of that small moment of friendship or because of that promise i made to you? But his words are something you need to hear Sakura can you honestly call Sasuke a friend? A comrade? Just look at what he's done do you and to me i had his hand impaled my chest and almost died twice trying to bring him back and you...well the less said the better

Sakura:hey!

*Naruto raised his hand to stop her and let him finish*

Naruto:Sasuke was destined to leave sooner or later you can't blame yourself for not being able to stop him Sakura and i won't blame myself for not bringing him back not anymore

Sakura: but you promised me you gave me you're nindo your ninja way

*Naruto chuckled at that*

Naruto:is that the best you got? I did promise that but again i was but a child too naive to see the true world to be a ninja you need more than strength and justsu we must acquire the judgement yo make the right decisions if we are to live as a ninja we must become smarter this world is no place for fools that's the reality i said i would remain a fool but i was wrong even a fool can learn when it's time to cut your losses and let go and i did

Naruto"I'm still not forgiving him that's just a fact but does few times Jiraiya actually taught me something...guess he has some good teacher inside him"

Sakura:so that's it we just let him go? How can you just cut him out of your life like that how can you cut me out like that?! Answer me!

*Naruto got up and walked to Sakura he took out a picture and showed it to her*

*Naruto used his fire justsu to burn the photo in such a way where only Sakura remained, Naruto let the photo drop to the table*

Naruto:Sasuke choose his own path Sakura its a path of loneliness and hatred but it's his path nonetheless, kakashi chose a path where he's stuck in the past Jiraiya chose a path where he does as he pleases, and me? i choose my path a path of self improvement and loved one sorroundings me now you must choose you're path will you stay stagnant waiting hoping that one day some way Sasuke will come back for you and you'll live happily ever after or will you train whatever little time you have left for what's to come

Sakura:what do you mean what's to come?

Naruto: can't you feel it? The winds of change are coming and coming fast i can't say what it is but something bad is coming there will be pain and a lot of it..

*Naruto finished his drink and got up*

Naruto: I've believe you've got what you came here for miss Haruno I'll see you out

*Sakura nods and walked with him to the door Naruto opened it for her and she walked out*

Sakura: thanks Naruto for...talking to me i can't say I'm over Sasuke thanks to one conversation but... you've giving me a lot to think about and maybe..maybe it helped me see you a little better

Naruto: the first step is always the hardest and i see a lot of hard days ahead of you having to fix your family name what's left of it at least

*Sakura just nods and leaves Naruto walked back inside*

Slug;little prince are you ready to go?

Naruto:just about how long do you think it will take?

Slug: well seeing as you already know how to use half of sage mode it shouldn't take more then a few months

*Naruto nodded and looked out the window seeing the pink hair of Sakura waking at the distance giving a small prayer to his old teammate to find her path before going with the slugs to the slug kingdom*

To be continued or on Patreon

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