Naruto wrung his hand together, nervous about stepping into the room he had been kept out of as a child. Minato stood between him and Kurama as they greeted members of other clans, bowing respectfully to the heads. A word would not be spoken, not until they we're all seated around the long table and the meeting began. Kurama gave him a concerned look, obviously worried about Naruto partaking. He had argued with their father but Naruto had stepped in, saying that he no longer wanted to be kept in the dark.

The three of them followed the last family in, taking their seats at the head of the table. Naruto peered around. The Uchiha's, Fugaku, Sasuke and Itachi we're opposite them. The Hyūga's, Hiashi, his youngest daughter Hanabi and Neji we're sitting on the left while the right side was empty, the Nara family had gone straight after their Shikamaru's birth and no other family had come forth to take their place so their territory had been split between the three remaining clans. Naruto wished they had shown, the invitation had been sent and he was afraid the Akatsuki would still target them, which meant Shikamaru could be in danger.

"Why have we been summoned Namikaze, it' been years since we've all sat down together" Hiashi questioned, his tone firm and suspicious.

"Have the Hyūgas become ignorant, locked behind those high gates of yours or do you just not care that we have all come under attack" Fugaku smirked, trying to get a rise out of his fellow clan leader. Fugaku Uchiha, in Naruto's opinion, was a stern man. One who had the unsettling ability to see a person's weakness and use it to his own advantage. Naruto would have considered him emotionless but he had been around him enough as a child to know that behind doors it was a façade. Yes he was tough on his children, hammering the same emotionless mask into them but he also praised them when they achieved. It wasn't the perfect upbringing but due to it both his children strived for excellence and achieved it under his watchful eye. It was also balanced out by Fugaku's wife, Mikoto. Naruto adored Mikoto, she was soft spoken, calm and loving.

"Do not push me Uchiha, I am the only one here who has lost family so far" Hinata's father glared back before turning to Minato "How do I know it wasn't either of your families? The timing of Sasuke's and Naruto's engagement is quite suspicious"

"My engagement" Sasuke spoke up "Is one that is no concern to you nor your clan. Yes it is to strength the ties of the Uchiha and Namikaze family but it poses no threat to you"

"How dare you talk to me as if you are my equal" Hiashi snapped, his pearly white eyes narrowing.

"Now, now" Minato winced, holding his hand's up awkwardly "We are not here to squabble"

"Then why are we here" Neji's tone was flat and Naruto's brow creased. His friend hadn't been the same since he had found out about his father's death.

"As you all know a threat has risen against us. This threat has been targeting members of each of our families. Kurama and Naruto have both been harmed by this group, Hiashi you have lost your brother and I doubt it won't be long before they move against the Uchiha clan" Fugaku scoffed at the notion but didn't speak "Respectively we have maintained a distance between us, with the exception of our children of course but I feel it is time we open the doors of communication"

"Communication? I will never willingly give away my clans secrets!" Hiashi stood up, hands slamming down on the table "You dare ask this of me? Of my clan?"

"No, not secrets" Naruto raised his head and straightened his back. This had been his idea after all "We mean no harm but we, the Namikaze's and if I may speak on behalf of the Uchiha's" Fugaku nodded and Naruto continued "We feel as if this threat is not something to be pushed aside and we are at a great disadvantage if we do not work together. We are not asking for clan secrets, we are asking to openly communicate between clans about this threat, to share information that a clan may know about their movements, members or plans"

"I don't see how this will benefit my clan" Hiashi sat down but Naruto could tell he was taking in his words as he had calmed down.

"It benefits all of us, by having a united front we can monitor them and hopefully be a step ahead of them, over time we may be able to put a stop to their actions all together" The room stayed silent as they all thought over Naruto's suggestion. This gave him time to look around the room properly and he noticed just how tired everyone looked.

"I think…" Neji started, warily looking at his uncle to stop him. "Naruto has a point. Divided we are an easy target, they are picking off our weakest links and it would be wise to have more eyes on the streets. The hospital attack would have given us information on a few of their members, the Hyūga clan has the video footage of the bank robbery and I'm sure Fugaku that you have information as well"

"I spoke to their leader…" Naruto confessed. No one knew, it was something he had kept to himself as he still hadn't gotten his head around it. "A man who called himself Tobi, he worked at the hospital…"

"You spoke to this man?" Minato pursed his lips and his eyes narrowed. Naruto went to shrink away but knew if he did he would lose the respect he had gained in the short meeting.

"Yes. I don't believe Tobi is his real name but he did give me some insight into his plans" Naruto took a shaky breath "His goal is to destroy us, to burn this city to the ground and rule it through fear and pain...he believes that only common pain will bring people closer together and he made it pretty clear anyone who opposes him will be taken out"

"Ramblings of a mad man" Sasuke sneered. Naruto nodded and gave him a weak smile.

"A mad man yes, but it seems he has the means to do it. Our families run this city relatively peacefully, the common citizens barely get caught in the cross fire but war is coming and we can try our best to contain it by standing together or let our city fall to chaos"

"I believe Minato, that your son seems to be the only reasonable one at this table" Fugaku stated "I agree to this…open communication as you put it Naruto and share any information we may have"

"Uncle?" Neji questioned. The older Hyūga nodded, his lips in a firm line.

"We agree" Hiashi forced out. Minato clapped his hands together a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Well, now that we are all in agreement how about we put business aside how about we have a few drinks to celebrate"

…..

God he was nervous. Standing at the hospital entrance Naruto shuffled foot to foot. Tsunade had requested him to come in to check how he was healing. Naruto had denied her request but after his ear drums getting a verbal beating he submitted and agreed. He knew she had ulterior motives as his father had Kakashi monitoring his progress. Tsunade knew that to so that only meant one thing, she was going to try convince him to come back.

It wasn't that Naruto didn't want to come back to work, he missed it like crazy. Without it he felt lost. Sure he had a focused direction but it wasn't one he had chosen out of passion. Naruto would take his job back in a second if he thought it would be safe to. Naruto's shoulders slumped, it would never be safe now, he was going to marry Sasuke so that meant his already targeted back would just get bigger; even after the Akatsuki threat was gone.

"Are we going to stand out here all day?" Kakashi asked, the silver haired man had his nose in a book and his eyes peaking over the top. Sasuke had wanted to come but Naruto thought it would be to cruel if they ran into Gaara. He winced when he thought of the surgeon. He was struggling to let go still and he was beginning to wonder if he ever would. Sacrifice was just part of being in his family and he had accepted that.

"Yeah…" Naruto let out the breath he was holding and step into the doors. People bustled around, families we're asking for directions. It was almost like a train station. People coming and going at all hours, never ceasing to be busy. Naruto walked over to the reception desk and the woman behind it smiled "I'm here to see Tsunade, can you let her know I'm here?"

"Of course, Naruto" the woman replied. Naruto thanked her, feeling slightly bad he didn't know her name and yet she knew him.

It took a while for Tsunade to come down but when she saw Naruto she was not impressed. He wanted to run immediately at her infuriated look and he hoped that she was just having a bad day. The angry woman waved him over to the elevator and he quickly made his way over, Kakashi trailing behind him.

"You" she glared at Kakashi "Stay"

"I've been order to accompany Naruto" His body guard for the day replied. Tsunade narrowed her eyes to such a point Naruto couldn't believe was possible.

"I wasn't giving you a choice, Hakate" Naruto chuckled when his father's friend raised his hands in defeat and Tsunade pushed Naruto into the elevator. Neither spoke on the trip to her office and Naruto jumped when she slammed the door behind him "Sit"

"Granny, what's this about?" he queried, keeping his voice quiet as he sat down. Naruto sunk into the seat and made himself as small as possible, hoping to avoid her wrath.

"This, you brat, is about me not being able to find a damn fill in for you!" Naruto cringed at the answer "I have interviewed numerous people and none of them! Absolutely none of them can run that damn department the way you can!"

"I'm sure if you just give them a chance Granny" Naruto wanted to disappear, he didn't know how he could get out of this one.

"Your department is in shambles! Nobody knows what they're doing, the roster is all over the place, parents are complaining and I'm the one left to work it all out!" That surprised Naruto, he was certain his team could handle it. "I don't give a shit what issues you have Naruto but as of this moment you are re hired"

"I can't Granny!" Naruto jumped out, slightly panicked "What if they attack again! People died because of me!"

"People died because of a terrorist organisation, not because of you!" Tsunade gave him an empathetic look "I know the burden Naruto, I hold it in my heart just as much as you do but life cannot stop, as medical professionals it is our responsibility to step up when others can't"

"I have other responsibilities now Tsunade, responsibilities that aren't exactly…legal" Tsunade laughed.

"I know that you brat and I'm willing to make an exception here. You're a damn good nurse and I'm not going to let you throw that away just because you are going to have Uchiha for a last name" The exhausted man groaned. "Now, here is your swipe card. I want you back here tomorrow for the morning shift"

"Tsunade…I can't" God he wanted to take that card, he really did but he couldn't risk it.

"Yes Naruto, you can" she threw it at him and Naruto caught it quickly "Now get out of my office"

"Yes Granny" Naruto mumbled. He clutched the card in his hand and made his way back downstairs, wondering how he was going to explain this to his father. The man certainly wouldn't be happy and Sasuke. Sasuke would have a bloody fit knowing he was coming back to work.

"You done?" Kakashi's eyes flicked to his hand and a small smile tugged the mask that covered the lower half of his face "Wouldn't take no for an answer, eh?"

"You think dad will be okay?" Kakashi shrugged and stood up.

"Naruto!" The blonde felt himself tackled to the ground and he let out an 'ouff' noise as his stomach hit the ground

"Hey Sakura" he winced out as he rolled over. Seeing his best friend kneeling over him.

"Do you have any idea how worried I have been! You just disappeared! I've tried calling! I even went to your apartment only to find it cleaned out! Seriously I should knock you into next week for all the stress you've put me through!" What was with him attracting all the hate today? Was it pick on Naruto day or something?

"Sorry Sakura…" he mumbled, avoiding eye contact with her. Sakura was the one person he really missed. It was hard talking to anyone else about his feelings and without Sakura he really didn't have anyone to express himself to about his break up. Any time he tried to bring it up with his family they would brush him off and tell him to move on already.

"That's all you have to say!" Sakura wacked him on the head and he yelled out. His hand went to the spot, rubbing it to try and sooth it.

"I'm really, really, really sorry" he offered. Sakura huffed and got off him, offering her hand to him. Naruto took it and stood up, brushing himself off. When he looked back towards her Naruto noticed that her shoulders were shaking and he prepared himself for another hit. It never came though, instead a sob escaped her trembling lips and Naruto wrapped his arms around her. "Oh shit Sakura, please don't cry, I'm fine!"

"It's not that…it's just, I'm so relieved to see you" Guilt, a feeling Naruto was far to acquaint with now, hit him. "It's been so horrible without you here"

"Why, what's been happening?" Naruto pulled away to have a decent look at his friend. Sakura looked unusually dishevelled, dark bags we're under her eyes and her pink hair had a straw like appearance. Her coat was crumpled and her makeup was quickly done. Something was definitely wrong. "Have I got time for a coffee Kakashi?"

"Yeah, I can give you guy's some time. Go to the staff café, more security" The man with gravity defying hair gave him his token two finger wave and disappeared into the crowd. Naruto turned his attention back to Sakura again who was rubbing the tears off her cheeks, looking embarrassed.

"Come on, I think we need to chat" She nodded and lead him down to the staff area, ignoring the looks people gave them and the whispers that followed. Thankfully it was early in the morning so the lunch rush hadn't started.

The two friend's found a seat in the far corner and Naruto gave Sakura a quick smile before going up to the counter and ordering them their drinks; a latte with two sugars for Sakura and an espresso for him. The pinkette thanked him when he returned and he waited patiently for her to calm down before asking any questions.

"So, are you going to tell me what's got you so rattled?" Sakura took a sip of her coffee and took a deep breath before talking.

"It's…Gaara" She bit her bottom lip and stared at him for his reaction before continuing "He hasn't been the easiest person to work with lately, especially if the person is close to you"

"I knew he would take it hard but I didn't think he would direct that anger at you" Naruto was really kicking himself now. He had been an idiot for thinking that he could just up and leave with no repercussion. He had left a mess, literally a trail of destruction and a man with a broken heart.

"He isn't doing well Naruto, he's just so angry and he's lashing out…he's taken me off all of his cases. I've had to beg Tsunade to take on some complex cases just so I don't fall behind on my skills…" No wonder Tsunade was a walking tornado, with his department in shambles, renovations and a investigation going on, adding case's to her already stacked pile of things to do had her strung out.

"Surely he can't do that" Sakura nodded her head, the tears forming again.

"He can, no one can reason with him at the moment so Tsunade thought it was best just to leave him and let him work through this in his own way but…at this rate Naruto he's just running himself into the ground and anyone that gets near him has to walk on egg shells" Naruto pushed the idea to talk to his ex-aside, he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to get involved even if it was his fault in the first place. Naruto didn't want to make things worse for anyone.

"Maybe I can talk to Tsunade? See if I can convince her to pull him aside" Sakura looked at him warily.

"I think, you should talk to him Naruto" his gut clenched. "I mean, you're going to be working here again and you're going to run into each other at some point…"

"I don't know if that's a good idea Sakura, he's angry enough as it is and he has every right to be, I don't want to make it worse" She pursed her lips and looked behind him. Naruto felt dread run through him. "Oh god, he's here isn't he?"

"Just…talk to him" she stood up, giving him a supportive smile and Naruto wanted to beg her to stay. He wasn't prepared for this! Hell, Naruto didn't even know what to say. Sorry Gaara that I broke your heart but can you stop being a prick to my friends? He let out a snort, that would go down so well.

"What are you doing here?" Gaara's voice was cold and strained, anger causing it to waver.

"Uh…Hey Gaara" Naruto craned his neck around to look at the man. Gaara's teeth were clenched and his green eyes piercing

"What…the…fuck…are…you…doing…here" His ex-seethed out, taking a step forward. Naruto stood up quickly, sensing the man wasn't in control of himself.

"I'm going, don't worry" Naruto held up his hands, trying to show he meant no harm but instead flashed Gaara the swipe card, still clasped in his hand from earlier.

"You're coming back to work?" Run, run as fast as you can! His brain screamed at him. "Are you fucking kidding me"

"Look, I'm not here to cause any trouble" Naruto took a step backwards, trying to put a safe distance between him and his enraged ex.

"You spin me some bullshit fucking story about wanting to protect me, protect this fucking hospital and now you're coming back?" The red head sneered "Oh, I get it. It was just some bullshit excuse for you to justify dumping me for that bastard"

"No! Everything I said was the truth! I would never lie to you!" Naruto hated himself for hurting Gaara. If he had a choice he would take it all back. "I loved you! I wanted to be with you!"

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Gaara grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled the frightened blonde forward "You don't get to tell me you loved me! Not after what you fucking did!"

"Gaara, calm down!" A crack rang out and the room fell silent, all eyes on the two ex-lovers. Naruto clattered to the floor, a hand rubbing the side of his jaw. "Fuck"

"You think that you get to come back here and apologise! That you can just get your job back and think everything is going to be fine! It's not fucking fine!" Gaara stared down at him, his whole body trembling now "I don't want to be in the same fucking city as you let alone building!"

"Well! Neither would I but Tsunade didn't give me a fucking choice!" Naruto felt blood dribble out from the side of his lip. "You think I wanna be here? You think I wanna see you every day knowing that it would hurt you? Jesus Gaara, what do you think I am?"

"I think you're a fucking lying, cheating asshole, nothing more than mafia scum, a monster" Naruto saw red. Yes his family may be a mob family but that did not make them scum and he was not a damn monster! He had grown up with that title, the kids at school teasing him, beating him just for who his parents were. The teachers ignored him, belittled him when he asked for help and the parents of the other kids warned their children off. Naruto had grown up with very few friend and he had worked damn hard to change that.

"Fuck you Gaara, I don't need this shit. You can be angry all you fucking want but don't treat my friend like shit just because you're a sore loser" Gaara launched himself at Naruto but this time the blonde was ready. He crouched down, swiping his foot out and knocking the red head over onto his back. Naruto climbed on top of him, panting hard with anger and adrenaline. The angry blonde raised his fist, ready to strike but when his blue eyes meet Gaara's he froze.

Gaara was staring up at him, tears streaming out of his pained green eyes and his face scrunched up in agony. Naruto lowered his hand, completely frozen by the amount of emotion the man was displaying. God it hurt seeing Gaara this way. He look so weak, so vulnerable and it was a stark contrast to the strong man Naruto knew he was. It was in that moment Naruto knew he couldn't take the job. It was obvious Gaara was only holding on by a thread and he would not put him through the pain of seeing himself every day. It just wasn't fair. Naruto dropped the swipe card onto Gaara's chest and stood up, wiping the blood off of his lips.

"I really am sorry Gaara, I won't take the job" Naruto ran out of the room, not looking back even when he heard Gaara call out his name. He couldn't do this, this wasn't his life anymore and he had no right to try pretend it could be. Not when Gaara was around, reminding him of everything he had ever wanted.