Naruto - Start Over

Chapter 1. The Feelings of Each other

Of the four seasons of the year, spring had a special meaning for Naruto.

It was in this season that he had first entered the Ninja Academy, forged the first bonds of friendship, met the shy little girl with beautiful green eyes, and was charmed by her.

For a while, he had just been watching her from afar, admiring her beauty and grace as he tried to find an appropriate way to approach her. As the years went by, this feeling grew more and more, and from fascination, love was born. A pure and innocent love that he never knew how to express properly, because he was an impulsive boy and a little messed with words.

But Uzumaki really loved her. Over time, he learned a lot about her ... things that made her sad and things that made her happy. And he wanted to be one of those "things" that made her happy. Naruto longed to be the heart's choice of that girl, who bore the name of spring and carried the color of the season in her hair.

However, things don't always happen as we expect. Unbeknownst to us, the most beautiful flower withers and falls, a strong wind drags it away and the beginning of a new season arrives. With the sense of bringing changes in his heart, Naruto finally listened to the Sai's advice and fearlessly, left the home, deciding to create familiarity with the coldest season of the year, on the winter morning of his seventeen years old.

The day before, he had searched for Haruno Sakura at Konoha Hospital, at a time when she took a short break on her shift. They chatted excitedly for a few minutes and, taking advantage of a breach she had given, Naruto invited her out. Despite the suggestive silence created between them, Naruto didn't make any excuses to Sakura and she chose not question him about it. Sakura just accepted his request, because she would have a day off, then jotted the date on her calendar, confirmed the time and place of the meeting, making his heart skip a beat when she said goodbye with a lovely smile on her face. Everyone knows that Haruno Sakura is a nice and kind girl most of the time. He knew that there was no deep meaning in that gesture. However, his emotional state was unable to prevent a mistaken expectation from building in him, the one that had been tearing his heart apart for years.

That would be his first date. That's why Uzumaki tried to look neat, putting on clean, well-ironed clothes, ending with a woody-smelling cologne. On the night before, he asked for help to Shikamaru and Sai, and the three of them forming the script of the day, choosing a suitable lunch restaurant, and a beautiful and quiet place where they could talk later. He had spent the early morning making preparations and rehearsing his lines. Then, when it was nine o'clock a.m., Naruto was already straight on the rendezvous waiting for her.

While he waited for Sakura, Naruto took a long look at his on reflection in the window of a kimono shop, feeling apprehensive at the image projected there. He hadn't gotten used to the new look yet, so he couldn't keep his lips from curling in disbelief as ran the fingers through his now shorter blond hair.

The marks of war were still visible on his face. The bruises below one eye and the right corner of the mouth were still red. A band aid covered a cut on the top of the left eyebrow.

Naruto just resigned himself to his appearance. He had done his best.

Then his lonely gaze went down to the sleeve of the dark green jacket that hung empty, showing the missing arm.

Naruto never felt regret about the reason of his mutilation. If necessary, Uzumaki Naruto would have gladly given the other arm as well, to bring his friend back to the light. However, his conviction was directly proportional to his discomfort. It felt strange to live without that part of his body, beyond the physical limitation he had now. But this situation he could easily manage, especially since it was a temporary issue. What bothered him at the moment was the certainty that it wouldn't be easy to handle the sentimental component that this fact represented. After all, he had brought Sasuke back to the village ... back to her.

"Naruto?!" It was Sakura calling, taking him out of his reverie. "Wow, I almost didn't recognize you!"

He turned to her, greeted her as usual and while she apologized for the slight delay, Uzumaki Naurto couldn't help but notice how much more beautiful she looked with the long shorts and sweater of the same color as her eyes. He had also exchanged the sweatshirt for black pants, open jacket and a t-shirt. And walking side by side, they roamed the streets of the small neighboring town, while talking friendly about their lives.

They visited a bookstore and joined a Japanese musical theater before heading to the restaurant where they ate a delicious sushi carvery. The plan to please his invitee was working. Sakura were very lively and communicative. However, for an outgoing boy like Naruto, he was too quiet and too silent.

If Haruno had paid a little more attention to him, she surely would have noticed how the blue eyes looked sad and distant and how hard he strove to keep that smile on his face as they walked along the path of a valley covered with winter flowers. Even his voice sounded low and discouraged. And all that happened, because the focus of Haruno Sakura's conversation was entirely about Uchiha Sasuke.

But Naruto didn't blame her.

He knew from the beginning that his beloved one, loved someone else. That, like him, the object of his love had never changed. And that she would do everything and give everything to be with that person.

He didn't find her insensitive either.

It might not seem so, but when it came to feelings, Sakura became as clumsy as himself. Maybe a livelier girl could be more perceptive, capable to read the atmosphere and interpret his real intention by bringing her to that place. But Haruno was still a naive girl. She was just glad to know that she could have hope again. Unlike him, her expectations were not mistaken. And one day, her love would reaches Sasuke's heart.

And the three were friends!

Yes, It seemed difficult now, but Naruto would find a way to deal with the situation. He would certainly support their love and overcome this torment.

But first, he needed to put an end to that long and suffering story.

"Today you will visit him, right?", Sakura asked with an anxious expression as they approached a canyon of stones.

"Probably," he answered casually.

They were facing the horizon where the sun gradually set, tinting the sky with a mix of splendid colors. The setting was beautiful and romantic, yet Naruto could only catch a sharp, chilly breeze on his chest.

Moments later she speaked again:

"Could you take me with you?"

He expelled a gush of air.

"You know I can't do this, Sakura-chan." Naruto justified in a controlled voice. "These are measures imposed by Ibiki-sensei."

"But you might as well mediate for me, Naruto." She stopped walking, forcing him to do the samething. He then turned and faced her indignant expression. " I'm also part of team seven. It's not fair that only you and Kakashi-sensei have free access to his cell. I have been doing my best for the good of the village and no crime of treason has ever come upon me. Why is this distrust all about me? He surrendered himself and let himself be arrested. Why do you think he'd run now?

She was quite right.

But, if Sakura wasn't so overwhelmed by her emotions, she would easily find the answer.

"To the all five Ninja Village, Uchiha Sasuke remains a highly dangerous criminal," he began. "The only ones who can see the situation lightly are probably you and me." Even Kakashi-sensei took some precautions in this case. We only need be more patients."

"What the hell!" Haruno muttered under his breath, his face showing frustration.

"Sakura-chan, he's being treated very well, if that's what worries you." he says, trying to comfort her.

But Naruto intention doesn't seem to have any effect. She then came over and took him by the arm with her chin raised so that she could stare him in the eyes.

"Hey, Naruto ... once you went to that place, you must have analyzed the security system, right?"

"So?" he questioned with suspects.

"Ah, well… we could dodge the surveillance there and- "

"Sakura-chan!," he said with a sharp voice. "At this point, it's crucial that we act more prudently, or we'll put everything to lose. And I'm sure you don't want Sasuke to get screwed once and for all."

"Speak like that, because it's easy for you!", she speaked angry.

"It's not easy for me either." Naruto fixed the green eyes. "I know very well how much hurt be apart with the person you must love.

Sakura's face was confused and Naruto expression was very intense.

"I don't understand you ..." he said with embarrassment at that insinuation. "What are you talking about, Naruto?"

"I'm talking about us, Sakura-chan ..." he clarified placidly, staring at her intently. "I know I've been saying this in a messy way, so today I decided to do it in the right way." he expelled another breath of air. "I always meant it when I said I loved you ... in fact, even now, I still love you."

"What is it ...?" she asked with a startled smile on her face.

"That's me saying I love you."

The deep sound of Naruto voice made Haruno shiver. Stunned, she let go of his arm, backed away three steps, and lowered her face hunched.

"Why are you doing this to me with me? You know that a love Sasuke-kun…" she muttered to herself, in a choked voice. But shame immediately enter in her heart, remember her how rude she behaved. Because it was nothing new to her, what he said.

In turn, Naruto had his mind balanced, preferring to sympathize with his friend who was full of remorse and bursting into tears. And once again, he put his feelings aside and number hold Sakura with his only arm.

A Haruno didn't reject his generosity. She clung to his back in a tight hug, crying copiously.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry… Naruto," she said between sobs.

He closed his eyes and sighed with his chin on the top of her head.

"Okay... I understand…" he said condescendingly, waiting for her to calm down.