Hey all! It's been a little bit since I wrote a Naruto fanfic, and decided it sounded like fun! Hope you all agree!

Anyway, I'm all cracked out on LM.C and Aloe juice. Yum!

Disclaimer- It's not mine. I swear, the wtf of this manga totally belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 1

It was one of those nights that made your head spin. Between four missions, three grope attempts and nearly as many ignored smiles, Sakura was quickly losing her cool. She sat and gasped for breath, watching as Naruto and Sasuke were finally able to catch the frigging dog. Kakashi frowned, looking up at the sky. "Let's get this done quickly, it looks like rain." He looked over at the boys and Sakura stood from the path before them, a frown sturdily in place. Kakashi didn't even look at her, as did Sasuke as they passed. Naruto looked at her, noticing her clenched hands shaking at her sides.

"Sakura-chan, You need to go rest after this. I don't think the chill in the air is good for you." He smiled softly, dragging the dog on the leash behind him. Sakura reached out and grasped the strap and yanked it from Naruto's grasp, determined to be helpful in some way to this mission. Naruto frowned and sighed as he followed without a complaint.

It was late that night when Sakura was dressed for bed, had finished brushing her teeth when she heard the voice at her window.

"Sakura-chan, you need to keep your mind about you more. Remember that the reason you weren't very helpful on the last mission was because you were able to do the mission before on your own. I don't like to see you upset like that."

"Who do you think you are to talk to me about my usefulness? I'll be as much use to Sasuke-kun as I can. Don't think for a moment that anything you say will ever effect me."

"Please don't make this about me. Remember, the same looks he gives you are the ones you give me. I would love to be useful to you, but I won't worry about the little things to the point where it damages my health."

"If it's not about you, then why are you here?" Sakura stuck her head out the window, glaring at the blonde ninja who was looking up into the sky.

"I noticed the rising of your temperature. I was worried you were catching a cold. I came by to make sure you were alright."

"I'm fine." She grumbled as she pulled her head back within the building.

"You're not. Your temperature is at least at a hundred and two."

"What?" She ran back to the window and grabbed his collar, dragging his head into the window to tap hers. "No! I can't be sick!"

"You are because you were so worried about your usefulness that you got stuck in the rain for an hour dragging a dog. You need to stay home tomorrow and rest."

"I won't."

"Or I'll tell Sasuke that I saw you in your nightgown." Naruto looked down, for the first time in the visit leering at her.

Sakura covered herself with a blanket and nearly screamed. "Get out!" She yelled and Naruto grinned, teasing her now. "Come on! Just one peek?"

"NARUTO!" She now screamed, grasping him by the throat and doing her best to toss him from the window, but she wasn't able to send him that far. "I will NEVER show you what's under this!"

"You'll wait for Sasuke and never show anyone. If you ever willingly show anyone what's underneath that gown and they don't keep you, I promise I'll take care of you." He smiled softly at her and she frowned.

"If I ever agree to live with you outside of a mission, I'll leave Konoha! At that time I'll be convinced I'm insane!" She screamed as she slammed the window.

oooooOOOOOXXXXXOOOOOooooo

It was a good three hours that Sakura sat on Naruto's floor with her arms around his neck crying her eyes out. Her parents moved away shortly after she turned 18, and her boyfriend was more than happy to inform her that she was no longer important and leave her for someone else. She was worried about what she was going to do.

Then Naruto took her in. She'd only lived with him for the last few months, but it was long enough for her to lose just about everything. She'd been told that he was scamming her, she heard it, but was still surprised when she showed up at her apartment to find the locks changed, all of her stuff gone (She found this out after breaking down the door) and a simple note.

Sakura

Found someone else

not coming back.

Have fun!

Eriko

Naruto was there the instant she told him on the phone that she needed help. "Where are you? I'll come get you."

She cried her eyes out the whole way as Naruto carried her back from the other side of town. When they got there she just kept crying. Naruto just sat there and smoothed her hair beneath his hand and frowned the whole time.

"You know you can stay with me. I'll go get you cloths and stuff, I've been saving up. I'll go out today and look for a bigger apartment. Does that sound good?"

She just sniffed and nodded her head, earning a wide eyed stare from Naruto for a moment before a huge smile. "Really? You'll move in with me?" He sounded so excited and Sakura just smiled and nodded.

"At least I still have you." She sobbed again as she reached out and pulled Naruto in for a hug. "Thank you sniff for being there for me! I just can't believe this! Everything I own! He took everything!"

"You didn't have much left. He'd been stealing from you the whole time." Naruto frowned and sighed.

"I promise, I'll take care of you for as long as you need, if not longer." He smiled and Sakura nodded into his wet shoulder.

"Heh heh, Didn't we make a promise about something like this once a long time ago?" Naruto grinned and Sakura stilled, her eyes wide looking up at him.

"I'm not leaving Konoha." She frowned and Naruto chuckled.

"I don't want you to." He hugged her and she calmed, surprised at the joy he took from such a simple act. She decided not to end it and just sat there, her arms on his hips, his arms on her back, his head leaning softly against hers.

It was two days later that Naruto had gotten a two bedroom apartment and only a day after that when all of his stuff was moved over.

He was surprised when on the third night at the new apartment Sakura walked in, looking down at him with tears in her eyes. "Can I sleep here with you?"

"WHAT?" Naruto jumped up and Sakura shook her head.

"I just... I don't want to be alone." She frowned and Naruto calmed, scooting over to allow her space. She climbed in and curled up, her head on his shoulder and he just laid there, surprised.

"Haven't you ever slept with a woman before?"

"Of course not." He frowned, a deep blush slowly making it's way down his throat.

She looked up at him and giggled before closing her eyes. "Good night. Thank you."

"Good night." He smiled before closing his eyes.

He woke the next morning to see the bed beside him bare and sighed. It must have been a dream after all. He stood and stretched, walking from the room in his boxers to see Sakura in the kitchen, cooking. Naruto smiled to see her at least somewhat back to normal.

One thing all that medical training did was teach her to read and carry out any recipe. She was nearly at a professional chefs level. Naruto sat at the table and watched her with a soft smile. "Morning."

She turned with a smile and nodded. "Good morning! Sorry if I kept you awake last night. I just couldn't sleep."

"It's fine." He smiled and sighed. It wasn't just a dream after all.

They made themselves comfortable over the next few months, goofing off, running on missions and such. Sai was convinced there was something less innocent between them, and for all Naruto cared he could keep that train of thought.

Sakura didn't seem to mind either, which surprised the other. Was there something? Did he miss it?

That would so be his luck...

It was nearly a year later, Naruto at 26, Sakura at 25 that things really changed.

"Sakura, I'm sending you on a long mission. You may be gone a few months or a few years. I need you to go keep tabs on one of the smaller villages at the border."

"Is this a solo? Isn't Naruto going with me?"

"He's not." Tsunade sighed, looking over the papers at the girl. "The area I'm sending you to is known for being stuck in the middle of battles. They have many casualties, and as such many people who really shouldn't be in the Fire Country at all. That's why I'm sending you and not him. I was considering sending Sai or Ino with you, but after looking over the situation, I feel that it'll be safer sending you alone."

Sakura nodded, but didn't speak another word. It was a good two hours till she walked back through the door to her home, Naruto sitting on the couch, eating a cup of ramen. "I'm being sent away."

"WHAT?" Naruto jumped up, nearly screeching. "What do you mean, sent away?"

"Tsunade's sending me to another village. I may not be back for years." Naruto just stood and stared, his ramen now dropped and all over the floor. His eyes were wider than Sakura had ever seen them. He looked more surprised and terrified than he did when he heard Sasuke had defected.

Sakura went to pack and Naruto crept out.

"You can't send her away!" Naruto yelled, an apologizing Shizune still trying to drag him away from the door.

"It's alright, Shizune. He has every right to be here yelling at me right now." Shizune frowned, nodding and backed away, allowing Naruto to step into the room.

"I almost couldn't do it." She frowned. "Sakura's like a daughter to me. Not to mention, since she's been living with you you're almost human..." Tsunade looked at him with narrowed eyes and all he could do was wonder which incident she was referring to. "In the end, I realized that with her medical knowledge and strength, it was her or me. Unfortunately, I need to remain here."

Naruto clenched his hands and frowned. "First Sasuke and now her."

"She won't be gone forever. I'm honestly hoping that someone realizes she's a spy quickly so she just comes back." Tsunade sighed and looked up at the blonde, her eyes reflecting the pain in his. "We have to remember, though. This is Sakura. She knows how to take care of herself. I'll be sending her money every week as well as making sure she sends me an update on her situation every week. If I miss a single one, if it's a day late, I'm sending in troops to pull her out. I'm making sure that she's safe above all else."

"What if Sasuke finds her? What if someone else finds her? We've made a few enemies over the years." Naruto's voice showed his resignation, but he still held some of the fire in his actions.

"I don't know..." Tsunade sighed and turned to the white cup at the corner of her desk. Naruto noticed it was already half empty. "For now, just go and be supportive. She needs you right now as much as you need her."

Naruto returned to the apartment with tears in his eyes. "No matter what, when you come back I'll still have your room for you. You can always come back here."

Sakura turned to him and took the few steps across the room from the half packed bag on her bed and grasped desperately to him, tears and sobs finally breaking her hard face.

oooooOOOOOXXXXXOOOOOooooo

Hope you all enjoyed so far! Next chappy should be up soon!

Til then,

JaNe!

jasminflower69