Hello to all the readers, smoK1ngP4apers here.

AN - Important note - When I started this story, Naruto (The manga) was half way through the war. Since I can't see into the future there are two differences in the characters from chapter 699 to this story.

Eg, Naruto and Sasuke did not lose their arms and Kakashi still has the sharingan.

Another Note- Since this story starts 3 years after chapter 699, I imagined the characters in the Leaf village as themselves portrayed in The Last - Naruto The Movie, except Naruto has longer hair, so I ask of you to do the same.

This story is rated M for a reason, there will be some lemon on later chapters, but I will put a warning at the beginning of all chapters that have lemon.

Cheers and I hope you enjoy.

" " - Talking

' ' - Thinking.

"blah" Kurama speaking

I do not own Naruto or One Piece.

Chapter 1

"Kaka...Saku..."

"WHAAATT?!"

"He-he-he's waking up? How's that possible?"

"I don't know! He shouldn't be able to move let alone wake up?!"

"He's a tough little bastard isn't he?"

xxx

Three years had passed after the end of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Peace treaties were made and maintained between each great nation of the Shinobi Alliance.

After the war, Tsunade's love for the village only grew and decided to maintain her position as Hokage. As much as she hated them with all her soul, no amount of paperwork would force her to resign. Also, Sasuke decided to finally return to his homeland to receive the punishment he deserved for all the crimes he had committed against Konoha and the entire shinobi world. However, to everyone surprise, especially Sasuke's, no severe punishment were in store for the Uchiha. The Council believed that it would be a shame and a waste to execute the last holder of the feared Sharingan.

The last sannin was furious when she heard the council's decision but deep down she knew they had a valid point. Thanks to those eyes, Sasuke could hold his own against Naruto, who, was arguably the strongest shinobi in the village and next in line for the title Hokage.

As a substitute of an indefinite prison sentence, the last Uchiha was placed under probation for 5 years with an entire ANBU squad monitoring his every move 24/7. Sasuke was also assigned to rebuild and lead a new Konoha Police Force as an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to the village and to regain the people's trust.

It was a peaceful spring evening in Konohakagure. The sun had dipped under the horizon creating a beautiful dark blue sky. The lights of the shops and the voices of the villagers gave the streets a great sense of peace and could never have imagined that this village had experienced the most devastating war ever seen in history just three years ago. All may seem well on the outside, but deep down in the mind of Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, everything was anything but peaceful.

Stepping out of the shower, Naruto wiped the condensation from his bathroom mirror and took a hard look at himself.

Since Sasukes return, Naruto and Sakura had been spending more time together alone and with Sasuke in an attempt to return his life back to normal. However, during this time Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that their interactions had changed, the atmosphere in their talks had become a little... flirtatious. The occasional 'innocent' touch on his thigh, laugh at his horrible jokes, the common soft eye contact. He thought that these were all signs of her finally showing interest in him.

However, 3 years and still, he had nothing to fully certify that the 20 year old medic wanted to take their relationship a step further. On the other hand, Naruto also couldn't help but notice that Sasuke was receiving identical treatment from Sakura, but he concluded it to Sakura being friendly her long awaited team mate. Since his return, Sakura hadn't displayed her usual fan girl behaviour towards the Uchiha so Naruto didn't think much of her unusual behaviour with both him and Sasuke.

He took a towel next to the sink to dry his face, bare chest and inhumanly defined abs that he had acquired over years of insane and intense training. He hadn't noticed it, but Naruto had also grew a few inches taller and his hair was little longer in the last three years.

The tall hunk also lost his baby fat which enhanced his facial features especially his incredibly neat jaw line which got the ladies' attentions everywhere he went. Even some members of the Rookie 9 would say he was one of the most handsome men in the village. But, due to his life-long crush on the pink haired kunoichi and pure lack of knowledge in the field of romance, the blond had failed to realise his effect on women.

Naruto exhaled heavily as he solidified his resolve. "Yosh!"

He relocated to his bedroom to change until a deep familiar voice interrupted. "Oi, Naruto..."

'Yeah what is it Kurama?' He answered the fox.

"If you're really going to face her, you should at least keep your emotions in check before you do something stupid."

"Can you blame me for being nervous? I'm only about to ask the girl that I love to actually go out with me. And if it turns out she doesn't feel the same way, this move could potentially ruin our friendship forever."

Naruto squinted while tilting his head pretending to be shocked. "And why should I take advice from a fox about HUMAN romance anyway!?" he joked heatedly.

"Shut up you damn brat! I may be a demon fox but I have lived for over thousands of years! I've learned a thing or two."

Naruto accepted Kurama's word with an anxious face.

"Don't worry kit, I can tell she has always shown interest in you. She probably hasn't found the courage to confront them to you yet."

The 20 year old blonde stopped to consider what his friend just said, after some contemplating Naruto formed massive ear to ear grin. "You're probably right, let's go find her. Thanks partner!" And with that, Naruto got dressed in a flash and jumped out his window in search for his cherry blossom.

Sometime later

After visiting her apartment, her parents' house and the hospital, an hour had passed and Naruto was close to giving up to try to look for her tomorrow. But then he thought of the one women who'd most likely know where Sakura was… The Hokage.

Hokage Office

Arriving at the Tsunade's office, Naruto knocked on the door and waited patiently for the leader of the Leaf village.

"Come in."

Tsunade was surprised to see that it was none other than Naruto who actually knocked on the door, not smashed it down or climbed through the window.

"What a surprising entrance brat, now what can I do for you?"

Tsunade made a note to herself on how this blonde young man standing in front of her used to be the loud mouthed knucklehead prankster that everyone despised. But looking at him now almost brought a tear in her eye just by being able to have had the privilege to witness him grow into such a fine mature young man.

"Oh come on Baa-chan, just cause I knocked on the door doesn't mean I've changed or anything." He smiled brightly.

'Actually I take that back.' Tsunade thought.

Sighing in defeat, the Hokage replied, "So what do you want?"

"I'm looking for Sakura-chan, I can't find her anywhere."

Tsunade lifted a curious eye brow. "Sakura? She was here 20 minutes ago to file a report. But before she left she did mention something about visiting Ino's flower shop."

Naruto rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration for feeling like a human pinball.

"Alright, well thanks baa-chan, I'll see you around!" He said half way out her office.

Meanwhile Tsunade gave her visitor a lazy goodbye wave as she reached for a sake bottle in her desk draw.

Leaving the room, Naruto bumped into two friendly faces, "Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru, where have you guys been lately? I haven't seen you two in weeks?" He asked curiously.

Shikamaru waved lazily. "Oh hey Naruto, we just got back from a recon mission. It was a drag but it was an emergency"

Kakashi decided to speak up, "Off to see Sakura?" Making sure the hint of tease was in his voice.

Naruto's face instantly grew a few shades redder and had to look away from sheer embarrassment. "Yeah, uhh, she's at Ino flower shop, how did you know?"

Kakashi smirked through his mask, "Intuition."

The Copy Cat Ninja had been observing his two students in the last few years, patiently waiting for the day that they would announce their newly form relationship. But even he never thought it would take this long.

Naruto frowned but shrugged the thought, "Okkaayyyy... well I gotta go, I'll catch up with you guys another time." The blonde placed a hand on their shoulders and departed the tower.

Shikamaru smirked. "Always chasing after Sakura"

"That's Naruto being Naruto for you." Kakashi replied, entering the Hokage's office.

Yamanaka Flower Shop

Busy rearranging her flowers, Ino and Sakura were catching up on the latest news and gossip spreading across the village. The ladies were interrupted and startled by the smashing of her shop doors.

Naruto with his hands on his knees, small beads of sweat on his forehead, was panting heavily.

Ino nudged Sakura with her elbow. "Hey forehead, what's wrong with your teammate?"

Sakura thought about yelling at him for being rude but then saw his eyes. Those eyes she knew too well and instantly knew he was serious.

The medic places a hand on Ino's shoulder. "Naruto and I need to speak alone. I'll be back in a minute okay."

"O-okay." A stunned Ino retorted, questioning what happened to make those two act so weird.

Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand and quickly dragged him out of the shop and into a quite alley way opposite the flower shop. "What's going on Naruto? Is something wrong?" She asked with dread in her voice.

Naruto flinched. "Ahh, Sakura-chan, c-calm down. I just wanted to say something and ask you a question."

Sakura's raised an eye brow. "So you got me all worried for that? Geez." Much to his relief her voice was softer and playful.

Naruto chuckled nervously. "Aha sorry, but what I want to say is pretty important and its quite difficult for me to say so please be patient with me."

"Sure, we've been team mates for years, you can tell me anything." Her curiosity peaked, never witnessing this side to Naruto before.

Naruto took a moment, he closed his eyes and inhaled slowly but intensely.

"Sakura-chan. I love you. I've loved you since the very first moment I laid my eyes on you."

Her eyes immediately widened, but something in her told her to shut up and listen to him.

Naruto took her silence to continue.

"These past three years; I can't help but feel something changed between us. I feel that we've gotten so close and maybe it's just me but… I think you and I are meant to be together." He confessed with a loving smile.

"When we were kids I'd always ask you out on dates but you would always reject me. I always thought that it was because you thought my feelings for you couldn't possibly be real, and you may have been right I mean, we were just twelve and to be honest, at that age, I've never truly felt love before. So how could I have knew what I felt for you was real? But here I am now, standing before you, 20 years old and knowing full well what it means to love and be loved back in return. My feelings for you have never changed and they never will. So my question is, would you go out with me, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura was too lost for words. At first she was confused about the sudden confession but all her worries were soon irrelevant after hearing all his deepest feelings towards her. She found his words so sweet that she almost shed a tear of joy, but that joy was short lived because now she needed to answer him but no words came to mind.

The pressure was building and with every passing second the atmosphere around the two became unbearable, and with Naruto staring deeply in her eyes, she knew she had to give her answer and fast.

"Naruto, you know I love you too right?" She whispered sweetly.

His eyes widened with joy.

"As a friend, I'm really glad you told me how you felt, everything you said was so nice and sweet but..."

"You still love Sasuke." He cut her off with darkened eyes.

"Y-yeah." She looked away from his saddened face. "Don't get me wrong I still love you but… not in the same way as I love Sasuke-kun. You're my best friend Naruto, don't you think us going out would be weird?" She asked nervously.

He could have sworn his heart smashed into a million pieces. The pain in his chest grew and grew until it was something that he had never felt before. True despair.

"Can I ask you something?" He spoke, "What do you even see in him?"

Sakura paused, unable to look him in the eyes, "You're just not him, Naruto."

Moments of agonizing silence passed.

Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets, hung his head low and began to walk away. He was stopped by a small tug on the back of his jacket, but he was too devastated to even turn around and face her.

"Naruto, wait. I just, I don't want this to get in between us and our friendship."

A single tear dropped down the face of the smirking man. "Too late for that Sakura."

Without another word, Naruto shrugged her grip off his jacket and walked away.

Rejecting him, shattering his dreams and watching him leave was painful, more painful than Sakura had expected. She instantly felt emptier inside, like she lost something important. Her chest felt impossibly tight, her heart ached with sadness as she was overwhelmed with guilt.

And for a second, just for a slit second, she could have sword she felt the sensation of regret.

Fearing what the future had in store for their friendship, Sakura reached out for him as she dropped a tear. "I'm sorry Naruto. I'm sorry I could never return your love for me. I'm so-"

"Sorry, Kit." Kurama told the boy.

The fox now knows his optimism about Sakura was now mere wishful thinking. He felt extremely guilty and responsible because he was the one to push Naruto over the edge and give him the courage to confess, but all that got him were shattered dreams and a broken heart.

The blond shinobi nodded with an emotionless expression as he walked towards the Hokage tower once again.

"Don't be so down. There are plenty more vixens in the forest."

Naruto smirked at the fact that the feared nine tailed fox demon was trying to cheer him up from a rejection. In truth, Naruto was beyond depressed. The love of his life, the women he just expressed his deepest feelings to, the women he would do anything for had just chosen his best friend.

A guy who has never shown any signs of romantic feelings towards her, a guy who was branded a traitor to the village no longer than 3 years ago, the guy who once tried to kill her. Behind the gloomy surface, hid an unmeasurable amount of mass anger and jealousy.

"Want me to kill her?"

Naruto chuckled. "No Kurama, you're not going to kill Sakura. Although I feel sick to my stomach and if I saw Sasuke right now I'd probably kill him, we are not going to do anything."

"So you're just going to give up?"

Naruto shook his head to reject the question. "I didn't give up. She made her choice and I'm going to respect that. There's a difference between giving up and moving on."

Kurama's eyes shot open from his partner's answer. "When did you get so mature?"

A small smile leaked from the corner of Naruto's mouth.

"What are you gonna do now?"

"We are going on a mission. Now."

Hokage Tower

For the past 15 minutes, Tsunade listened carefully at Kakashi's and Shikamaru's report of their latest mission. A recon mission about the strange activities around the borders of the leaf and the waterfall.

"...it seems like it was just another training exercise as we suspected Hokage-sama."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I see…Those damn Waterfall ninjas and their training sessions."

"Hai." Kakashi answered.

Content with the report, the Hokage spoke again, "Alright, well if that's all, then you two are dismissed."

Much of her surprise both jounins remained where they stood, "Is there anything you two would like to add?" She questioned peculiarly.

The only males in the room looked at each other deep in thought then nodded, "On our way back from the mission, we felt something... ominous." Shikamaru described.

"Ominous? What do you mean?"

Kakashi took over, "Shikamaru and I felt some strange Chakra signature coming from within the southern forest. We both agreed it was something we have never felt before so we decided to investigate before returning to the village."

Tsunade swallowed her saliva to remedy her suddenly dry throat. "So what did you find?"

Kakashi stared at the floor. "Nothing. We couldn't find the origins of the strange chakra." His voice was filled with disappointment and confusion.

"How is that even possible, Kakashi? How could you fail to track your target?" The slug princess asked in disbelief.

"I don't know Hokage-sama, but I request you send couple of sensory type shinobi to investigate. It could possibly be a threat to the village."

"Indeed it could." Tsunade careful thought about the situation and her options.

'Sensory shinobi are usually located within the village to sense enemy threat from the outside, their skills are an essential key to the Leafs protection if any of the other nations decide to break the treaty and attack us. I have a bad feeling about this so I can't send anyone below a jounin level. What to do?'

Tsunade had no choice but to send Shikamaru and Kakashi to investigate again in hopes they'll be luckier a second time. But before she could give the order, Naruto slammed his way into her office. He stood next to Kakashi without so much as a greeting or eye contact.

"Naruto what are you doing here you brat? I thought you went to see Sakura?" Tsunade yelled out, "And what happened to knocking? Did you just suddenly forget?"

The blond confused those in the room when he failed to reply with his usual flare, instead he just stood there with a face devoid of emotion. It didn't take long for everyone to realise that something wasn't right.

"Baa-chan, I need a mission away from the village, right now. I don't care what the job is or the rank."

His tone certified their thoughts, something's wrong and he's not to be messed with right now.

"Oi Naruto, what happened?" Shikamaru whispered, hoping the Hokage wouldn't notice his sudden act of rudeness.

Maintaining his attention on the Hokage, Naruto failed to even hear Shikamaru.

"What's the matter kid? Are you okay?" Tsunade questioned with motherly affection.

"I'm fine. What about that mission?" the blonde responded instantly.

"If something's bothering you, you know can always talk to me, Kakashi or even Shikamaru" She reassured.

"I told you I'm fine. I just need a mission that will get me out the village."

Sensing the demand in his voice, Tsunade knew he wasn't in the mood. She figured a mission would actually be a good way to clear his head.

The Sannin sighed and lowered her head in defeat, her patience with the blond were running thin. 'What the hell did you do Sakura? Wait a second, this could be the answer to my problems!'

A small curl formed on the edge of her mouth but first, she had to deal with the Nara heir who had been patiently listening to everything, probably thinking this whole situation was 'troublesome'.

She switched her attention to Shikamaru. "You're dismissed, get some rest, you deserve it."

"Hai, Hokage-sama." Shikamaru bowed then turned to make his leave, not before glancing at Naruto's direction hoping that he would receive some form of attention, but he failed to do so.

The door clicked closed, sounding Shikamaru's departure.

Tsunade continued, "Fine you little brat, be like that. I don't even care anyway." She lied, "Though I do have the perfect mission that requires you to leave the village right now."

Naruto couldn't believe his luck. "That's great Baa-chan! What's the mission?" He questioned with excitement and relief.

"Not so fast kid, I still haven't told you my requirements yet."

Naruto shot her a questioning look "What do you mean requirements?"

"This mission is very important for the safety of the village. So I can't have an emotional wreck like you to do this alone."

Naruto flinched hearing the words 'emotional wreck' as Tsunade continued her bashing. "Just because you graduated jounin last year does not mean you're invincible!"

"But, I-

She smacked the table with her fist. "No buts Naruto! If you want this mission you're going to have to do it with a team that I assign."

The boy lowered his head and dropped his shoulders inwardly in disappointment. 'I just wanted to be alone and get away from the women who smashed my heart into a million pieces. Is that too much to ask?' the blonde thought. 'But I guess since it's outside the village I won't have to see her for a while. I'll just deal with it.'

Realising arguing with his stubborn Hokage was futile, Naruto reluctantly replied. "Alright fine, I'll accept your requirements. I want to know who's in this team you're sending me with first."

Tsunade was caught off guard, she expected more of a resistance. "Good. And as for your team mates, one of them is standing right next to you." The Sannin flicked her head to Kakashi.

Turning his head to the masked man, Naruto finally acknowledging his presence in the room. "Oh hey Kakashi-sensei, guess we're going on a mission together."

Feeling relieved, Naruto smiled brightly. He had always seen Kakashi as a big brother figure who'd always given great advice in the past.

"Kakashi has the details of the mission and he will inform you and the third member of your team on the way, You can leave as soon as you have your team and ready."

The grey haired jounin's visible eye widened, realising the peculiar look the Hokage was making he quickly picked up on the Sannin's plan and smiled.

'So she wants me to bring Sakura along for this mission huh. She probably wants to find out what's wrong with them and hoping that this mission will force them to work together and fix their relationship. It's risky but it could work.' Kakashi nodded in acceptance of his new side mission.

At this point Naruto was already half way out the door, "Come on Kakashi-sensei, let's go already."

Kakashi sighed knowing he had a stressful mission ahead of him, "Hai, hai."

'Good luck Kakashi, you're going to need it.' The Hokage thought to herself.

A strange awkward silence developed in the hallways of the Hokage tower. Confused about the sudden shift in mood, Naruto broke that silence. "Hey Kakashi-sensei, I just realised that Baa-chan didn't tell us who the third member is. How come you know where we're going?"

"Oh don't worry about that. Let's just say the Hokage knows what she's doing." He reassured. 'I think.'

Minutes Later

As Kakashi and Naruto walked down the streets of Konoha, the blonde couldn't help but feel a sense of de ja vu walking down the strangely familiar road. But before he noticed, they were already outside Yamanaka flower shop.

"K-k-kakashi-s-sensei, the third member of our team, isn't Sakura is it?" Naruto stuttered anxiously.

'Just Sakura? This can't be good.' Kakashi thought curiously.

"Yes Naruto, Sakura is the third member, is there something wrong with that?" He questioned with authority.

Naruto crossed his arms, and turned around to face his back against the door. "No, not at all!" the blond lied unconvincingly, hoping his mortifying rejection would remain between him and Sakura.

Kakashi sighed deeply. He wanted to ask what the problem was but since Naruto didn't ask him for advice then he obviously wasn't ready to talk about it.

"Alright, you stay put while I'll check if Sakura is still here."

Naruto didn't respond, he was too nervous to respond. Knowing he left her crying without a goodbye, he was unsure whether to feel guilty or shift into a fighting stance.

Stepping into the shop, the aroma of dozens and dozens of different flowers flooded the nose of the sharingan holder. Next to the counter, he saw Sakura whispering to Ino with a dazed look on her face. Ino couldn't believe what she was hearing, but her response was cut short by the arrival of Kakashi.

"K-kakashi- sensei! You know it's rude to eavesdrop."

"Hai, I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt"

Sakuras made a quick 180 turn. "Kakashi-sensei! What? What are you doing here of all places?"

The jounin analysed his student before retorting. 'Her body language is off, her hair is a mess and her eyes are sore like she just spent the last half an hour... crying. Something terrible must have happened here.'

"We've received orders from Lady Tsunade, we need to leave as soon as possible " He informed.

"What? A mission this sudden and... We? Is there anyone else coming?"

Hesitating before answering, Kakashi replied carefully. "Naruto."

His name ran a shiver down her spine. Anxiety flooded her system knowing Naruto couldn't have gotten over the rejection so quickly. In a matter of seconds, Sakura felt a pair of hands on her shoulders causing her to face Ino.

The Yamanaka stared deeply into Sakura's eyes. "You can do this Forehead. Stay strong."

Sakura couldn't think of anything else to do but throw her arms around her best friend for a heart-warming embrace. "Thanks Ino pig." Sakura whispered to the blonde.

Sakura knew she wasn't ready to meet with Naruto but she desperately wanted to apologize to him. However, since this was an emergency mission she had no choice but to face her fears head on and confront him. Astonishingly, her strong willed self seemed to have returned.

Naruto waited for the arrival of his two teammates, the feelings from the last encounter with Sakura had put him in an edgy mood. His heart rate gradually increased for every minute he waited for the inevitable awkward silence when Sakura steps through them doors. Speaking of doors, the one behind him just closed.

"Yo Naruto, Sakura is here so let's get going." Kakashi said, observing the blonde's reaction.

Naruto paused for a second, mentally preparing himself to see her. He turned around but to face Kakashi and only Kakashi, ignoring Sakura as if she was invisible, something that didn't go unnoticed by the son of the White Fang.

"Sorry we made you wait. Sakura had to borrow some equipment from Ino." Kakashi explained

"It's fine. Let's just go already!" Naruto complained, annoyed with himself that he imagined Sakura's naked body as she changed.

The pinkette stood still behind her squad leader uncertain whether it was appropriate to say hello to her teammate. She knew she had to expel the awkwardness but knowing Naruto was beyond pissed made her very picky about her set of words.

Kakashi could feel the tension in the atmosphere as two of his teammates stood there in deadly silence. Deciding he had enough of their childish behaviour, he took immediate action.

"Are you guys alright?" He asked knowing the answer.

"Fine." Naruto shot a solid, dismissive reply.

"Yeah, fine Kakashi-sensei." Sakura answered with nervousness lingering in her voice.

Kakashi sigh in defeat knowing he wouldn't get anything else from these stubborn individuals. But knowing the importance of the mission they're on, he didn't have the time to question them about it. Instead he thought it would be best to stand back and observe their actions a little further.

"Okaaayy, now that everybody's here, follow me while I tell you the details of our mission."

Southern Forest of Konoha.

There was an eerie aura about this forest that no one could put a finger too, maybe it was the unusual silence that most forest shouldn't have. Maybe it's the feeling of being constantly watched in a lifeless area.

"Man this place gives me the creeps!" Naruto shivered.

Kakashi felt relieved that someone other than him spoke. For the whole journey, if they weren't talking about the mission, there wasn't any talking at all. "Yeah this place can do that to you. Okay Naruto, you know what to do." Kakashi ordered with a nod.

The blonde muttered something to himself in the lines of how stupid this mission was, how this plan was never going to work, thought there would be more action.

Kakashi shook his head in annoyance while Naruto sat down, placing his hands on his knees to absorb nature energy.

FLASHBACK

Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Kakashi briefed his team mates about the mission.

"Listen up you two. This ominous chakra Shikamaru and I felt, it's nothing like we have ever encountered before. I'd go as far to say that it wasn't chakra at all."

Naruto's and Sakura's eyes shot open. "What do you mean it's not chakra?! Is that even possible?" The blonde panicked.

"I don't know. But the most accurate word I can describe the feelings is... organic."

"Huhh? Organic? Like its natural or something?" Sakura responded sceptically.

"Yes precisely. That's why when we get there, Naruto, I want you to go into sage mode and try to locate the chakra's origins."

Naruto squinted. "Why sage mode, Kakashi-sensei? I don't get it."

"It's just a theory..."

END OF FLASHBACK

Finding a minute of peace, Kakashi decided to finally confront Sakura about her situation with Naruto; being the more mature out of the two, he thought this conversation would go smoother with her.

"Sakura."

"Y-yes Kakashi-sensei?" She stuttered anxiously.

"Come on, no more games Sakura. Anyone with half a common sense can tell that something's wrong with you two. You know can you always come to me if you need someone to talk to." Kakashi reassured her.

She avoided his eyes out of shame.

"Look, we're in the middle of a mission right now so you don't have to tell me anything at the moment. But you have to talk to Naruto. You can already see how this, is affecting your teamwork."

Sakura thought hard about her captain's supportive words.

"I know Kakashi-sensei. I'll- I'll make more of an effort from now okay?" She pulled a genuine half a smile.

Returning the smile, Kakashi finally some release of tension in the air.

"THERE!" Naruto alarmed, startling his team mates.

"What is it Naruto?!"

"I-I don't know, but I've never felt anything like this either." He said slightlyconfused.

"Um, is it far Naru..to?" Sakura asked nervously.

Her sudden question caught the blond of guard, but recovering from the initial shock, Naruto stood up. "No, um, it's quite close actually."

Kakashi shot a proud smile to Sakura. "Lead the way, Naruto."

"Roger."

Somewhere deep within the South Forest

Jumping from tree branch to tree branch, the trio anxiously waited for the inevitable encounter with the ominous chakra.

"Do you sense it, Naruto?" Kakashi questioned.

"Yeah, it's getting stron- LEFT!" They redirected their momentum to their left and landed in a middle of small open piece of grass circled by huge dark green trees. In the middle of the opening they were standing on, 15 meters away from them was something none of the three shinobi could explain.

"What. Is. that?" Sakura quizzed in disbelief.

Silence brewed as they inspected the reason for their mission. After a short period of time, Naruto finally found the words he wanted to say, "K-kakashi-sensei, please tell us what the hell is that thing?"

"I, I can't, I have no idea what that is. But if I have to guess, it looks like a crack in the air?"

He wasn't too far off. It was a crack, several actually. A transparent crack in the middle of the air with a blinding white light leaking out from within. It made no noise, no movement, it just existed. Kakashi stared intensely into the light, contemplating their next course of action. Looking to his left he saw Naruto's and Sakura's faces filled with amazement.

"Hey you two, snap out of it we are here on a mission did you forget?" Kakashi scolded.

"Sorry Kakashi-sensei, what are your orders?" Sakura asked worryingly.

The son of the White Fang searched his memories for a similar event, unsurprisingly, he failed. He then noticed a sudden shift from the corner of his eye, Naruto walked closer to the unexplained object.

"NARUTO!" Kakashi and Sakura shouted caused him to stop. The blonde turned his head to see his question team mates.

"We aren't going to learn anything about it if we don't take a closer look." He explained, taking another step forward.

"Naruto. Stop! We don't know anything about it yet so don't just rush in. Think!" Kakashi warned.

'Could his fight with Sakura be clouding his judgement?' He thought.

The 9 tails jinchuuriki ignored his captain's command and continued walking. The crack started to react when Naruto was within 10 meters. Widening without warning, the eye numbing white light was replaced by a dark, cold, pitch black colour. Strange dark purple air oozed in the air, forming a thin layer of purple mist.

The sudden hostility scared Naruto to return to his team mates.

"Look what happens when you disobey direct orders! I told you not to rush in!" Kakashi lectured with frustration.

"How the hell was I supposed to know that was going to happen!?" He yelled in self-defence.

Kakashi lifted his headband over his Sharingan, an instinctual reaction to threatening situations. Out of nowhere, he heard the forming of a very familiar jutsu.

'Rasengan?'

"Naruto, what are you doing?!" Kakashi shouted beyond pissed at how irrational he's behaving. 'He would never usually do anything this reckless; I can't believe how much that fight is playing with his head.'

"It looks dangerous. So I'm gonna destroy it." Naruto replied calmly like destroying unexplainable objects was the most normal thing to do.

Kakashi was taken aback at how large and how fast he formed his rasengan.

Sakura was in equal disbelief. "Naruto are you an idiot!? We came here to investigate that thing not destroy it!"

The blond gritted his teeth with bone crushing force, "If it's a threat then I have the right to destroy it! If you don't like it, take it to Sasuke!"

He was truly surprised that came out of his mouth, it seemed all the emotions he bottled up gave in. No words came to Sakura's head as she fully acknowledges how damaged he truly is.

"Now is not really the time for this, guys. We kinda have a situation here." Kakashi attempted to bring some focus into the mission.

The squad captain looked straight into the dark depths within the crack, the sight of the never ending darkness scared even him. He soon found himself on one knee and wondering how on earth his eye began to bleed.

His teammates looked over to see him on his knee withering in pain, but the unusual thing was that his Mangekyo was activated. Sakura rushed Kakashi's side to attend to his unexplained injury.

"Kakashi-sensei, are you alright? What happened? And why did activate your Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"What? I never activated-"

[CRASH]

A deafening loud smash sounding like thousands of plates breaking simultaneously shocked the ears of the trio. The object began to break apart, judging from it's hostile behaviour it looked like it could implode at any second. Strangely enough they could hear the waves of the ocean, the call of the seagulls and several incomprehensible voices.

Naruto however, was too occupied on developing his rasengan. "This has gone long enough! I knew I should have destroyed it sooner!" Naruto took his battle stance and leaped towards the threat.

"Naruto – wait!"

"Narruuuttoooooo!" Sakura screamed with everything she had in hopes that will stop Naruto's attack. But failed.

"Sage Art: Odama Rasengan!"

Sparks flew at a thousand directions as Naruto's Rasengan made contact with the cracks. The constant battle took its toll on both parties as one force tried to dominate the other. The familiar sound of broken plates rattled through the eardrums of the trio once again. Naruto's rasengan eventually broke through and destroyed the cracks but his forward trajectory continued as tthe air reversed and sucked up the dark purple chakra in the air.

Sensing the objecting swallowing him, Naruto accepted his situation. 'Shit!'

Kakashi and Sakura helplessly watched their teammates attack break through the cracks, followed by an eye dazzling white light that could have covered the entire Fire country. Kakashi instinctively assumed it was a bomb and grabbed Sakura to avoid the incoming blast. As the white light slowly vanished returning the sky back to its original dark blue, Kakashi found himself hugging Sakura behind a tree several meters away from the small open piece of field where they last saw Naruto.

Slowly releasing her, they looked into each other's eyes to send a mental message that asks if they were both alright.

Their eyes popped when they noticed that Naruto was missing and they couldn't even detect his chakra signature. Without a single word, both Kakashi and Sakura jumped up and ran towards the epicentre of the bright light only finding nothing but a small patch of grass surrounded by trees.

Naruto was missing and they couldn't help but think of the worst. "This is all my fault..." Sakura stammered. She dropped to her knees and began to pound on the ground. "I can't believe it, it's my fault! It's all my fault!" Tears flooded her eyes uncontrollably.

Kakashi did the only thing he could do in this situation, he knelt down on one knee beside her and placed a comforting hand on her right shoulder. For a moment Sakura's sobbing stopped hoping it was Naruto, but the sobbing quickly returned, possibly even harder than before when she realized it was Kakashi.

"Hey, it's not your fault. We were not prepared for this mission. I'm the one responsible here, alright." his hands squeezed her shoulder a little tighter. "Don't worry Sakura, We'll find him, I promise" Kakashi wrapped his arms around the girl for a warm embrace.

After several minutes, Sakura's crying decreased and her breathing started to form a rhythm. She then looked up at her captain's face with sore eyes and wet cheeks. "But, I, I didn't even get to tell him that I'm, I'm sorry!" Sakura screamed. With fresh tears, her weeping returned. Kakashi could do nothing else but tighten his embrace while pressing the back of her head on to his chest.

Meanwhile, in a far off dimension, the Straw Hat Crew were performing their usual everyday routines as they travelled through the New World. The Thousand Sunny was smoothly riding the ocean sea breeze on a warm spring day on the Grand Line. Luffy, Chopper and Usopp were dancing and laughing idiotically to a song that Brook was playing with his guitar. Nami was in her room drawing out a map of the island they recently visited. Robin was reading a book on the top deck of the ship drinking a freshly made drink from Sanji, who at the moment was almost ready to serve lunch. Zoro was sleeping up in the crow's nest since it was the most peaceful place on the entire ship. Finally, Franky was repairing damaged parts of the ship.

It was a completely normal day on the Straw Hat ship, until an ear smashing crash was heard high above the ship caused everyone to instantly freeze and stop whatever they were doing. All the crew members quickly ran on to the main deck of the ship to meet Luffy, Chopper and Usopp. even Zoro jumped down from the crow's nest and was already in his fighting stance.

"What the hell was that noise?!" Sanji shouted believing it was an enemy attack.

"I think if you look up you'll find an answer to your question, Cook-San." Robin replied with her cool and collected tone.

"What are you talking abo-?" Sanji looked up at what everyone else was staring at and immediately lost his words.

Usopp broke the silence to snap everyone's attention. "W-w-w-what the h-hell is that thing?"

"Shsishishi, I don't know but we should check it out" Luffy replied with his ear to ear grin.

"Baka! Look at that thing Luffy does that look safe to you?" Nami scolded while hitting Luffy on the back of his head.

"Ouch Nami that hurts you know. I was just curious." The rubber man pouted childishly.

"That noise was so loud it would have busted my eardrums. Oh wait I don't have eardrums yohohohoho!" Brook joked.

"OW! It was SUPERRR loud. I never heard anything like that before."

"Oi, don't be fooling around just yet, we don't even know what it is." Zoro fired towards Franky and Brook, never taking his eye off the object high in the sky.

[CRASH]

Another ear melting bang originated from the crack but this time it widened to the point where the crew can see the darkness within.

"OHH NO! It's underworld!" Usopp Chopper and Nami screamed as they grabbed onto each other for dear life.

Luffy couldn't help but laugh at his nakama's antics, "You guys are too funny!"

[CRASH]

A third and final bang erupted. Everyone's eyes except Robins widened when they saw the sky break into millions of little pieces, leaving a massive black hole in the middle of the sky.

"Th-this is it, this is where we die Thanks for all the memories guys!" Usopp cried out.

"Nooo Usopp, don't leave me!" Chopper yelled back and held on to his sniper friend.

"Oi Luffy." Zoro quietly said to his captain.

Luffy rearranged his straw hat so he could get a better glimpse of the sky. A human shaped figure fell out of the hole and headed straight down on to their ship.

Luffy looked up at the falling man with seriousness written all over his face, "I know."

The captain jumped in the air and took a huge deep breath. "Gomu Gomu No Fusen!"

Luffy inflated and caught the falling man in mid-air, softening the impact and possibly saving their life. He bounced on to the ship while the unknown man bounced off his stomach and on to the deck. Luffy deflated to re-join his crew to find out more about the mystery person.

"Ohh that was a close one!" Luffy laughed while scratching the back of his head.

"Nice catch, Senchou-san." Robin smiled and giggled

"Yeah Luffy, I'm surprised you didn't mess that up." Sanji said sarcastically, placing a cigarette in his mouth.

"Hey! I'm not that unreliable!"

At this point the blond with sun kissed tanned male was unconscious in the middle of the deck with the Straw Hats circling around him. They studied his motionless body to a great extent, cant help but think his orange and black clothes were unusual. He also radiated a strange aura that made him seems so... different.

Nami stood next to Robin as they stared into his face. His hair was still spiky, but had a bed head look that made him look adorable. He had several scratches all over his body while his jacket was torn in several places.

"Could everyone stand back, please? I need to treat him!" Chopper urged while attempting to push himself into the centre of the group. The whole crew stepped aside to let the doctor carry out his examination and treatment.

Chopper had no choice but to remove his jacket and black vest to start the treatment. As both piece of clothing piled on top of each other, his insanely ripped abs, firm tone chest and bulging arms were revealed.

Nami's eyes shot wide open, she had never seen someone so beautifully sculpted before in her life. the sight made her instantly blush.

In the meantime, everyone was having separate conversations involving the strange man who was sent from the heavens.

"Hey Luffy, where'd you think he came from?" Usopp questioned.

"Mmm, I don't know but I bet they have good meat!" Luffy laughed before his jaw dropped open and saliva begun to drool.

Usopp sighed at the sight of his captain. "To think, I thought that you could actually come up with a sensible answer."

"Oi moss head, what do you think caused those injuries?"

"Ehhh? You talking to me you shitty cook!?" Zoro darted his eye sight towards the cook.

"Do you see anyone with stupid green hair?!" Sanji retorted while placing his hands in his pockets and glaring right back to the swordsman.

"You wanna go curly brow?! I'll slice you in half!"

Nami's gaze returned to the unconscious blonde barely understanding how the hell he managed to literally fall out of the sky. The orange haired beauty decided to ask the smartest person she knew.

"Ne, Robin? You usually have all the answers, how did this guy all of a sudden fall out of a black hole in the middle of nowhere?"

Robin thought extremely hard to find an answer for this most bizarre event. She searched her memory for any information from any of the books she had read.

She gasped as she remembered something relevant. Her entire body froze from the answer she concluded.

"Wh, what is it Robin?" Nami quizzed worryingly as she saw the rare shocked look on her friend's face.

"That can't be..." Robin's body became immobilized as she put together all the pieces of the puzzle. "That hole... those clothes... but that's impossible."