Okay, I couldn't really think of a time period for this so just smile and nod while agreeing to everything I say ( It is fan fiction after all ) and enjoy the last of the trilogy! Well, the first chapter anyway.
Special thanks to aly247, RealyManlyPimps, BigNuke727, twin083, SonicPhantom01, Three claw Beast, xxxIf-You-Feel-So-Emptyxxx, Monica-san, Kevrules92, badkidoh, and Shadow the Hedgehog 08.
And all the friends that I have gone through...
And how much I deserve the pain...it's a shame
So hold your head
Hold it up high
Here's to the friends that were alibis
Keep this close by your side
When I come home we will have our night
-Friends and alibis, The Used
--
The night was so quiet that all Naruto Uzumaki could hear was his own heart beating inside of him. That, and the small noise the note on the table made when a soft breeze came in through the window. The nin looked at the small note and was once again reminded of the same one he wrote about three years ago to a close friend of his...
But of course, Sakura would never send anything like that.
Especially to him.
Sighing, Naruto told himself that this wasn't really out of the ordinary compared to the bath house incident. He shuddered slightly at the memory. Why were all these girls chasing him all of a sudden? It's not like he minded the extra attention but a little privacy now and then wouldn't be bad either. It had gotten so out of hand that he wasn't even able to go to the infamous Ichiraku ramen stand anymore.
Because girls would be waiting there to stare at him while he ate. And then, when he would ask them if he could help them, they would either faint because Naruto had ACTUALLY said something to them.
Or they would try to rip off his clothes.
He preferred the fainting.
But they preferred the clothes ripping. And it wouldn't just be one girl. No, it would be a whole fanclub. Where were all these girls coming from anyway? It's like he had inherited Sasuke's fangirls, Naruto thought.
Sasuke.
The one reason why he was training so desperately everyday. He missed his best friend who was like his brother. But he wanted to see his other friend happy.
Instead, Sakura seemed almost depressed. And she was avoiding Naruto.
At first, Naruto thought it was because she was on those weird mood swings women had every month that Jiraiya had told him about. So the blonde nin gave her some space. This seemed to make things worse. Later on, Naruto thought maybe Sakura was still shaken up about Sasuke leaving and that she needed some comfort. But when he had tried to talk to her about it, the kunoichi looked like she had a fever since her face was getting more and more red by the second. Sakura left running when Naruto had asked if she was fine.
No, not a great idea to talk to Sakura.
Naruto stretched and yawned. It was getting late and training had been exhausting. Just as he was thinking about what a great sleep he would get, a knock came from his door. He hestitated for a moment, wondering who would be looking for him right now.
Yamato.
"I didn't do it!"
His sensei smiled. "Are you sure about that?"
Naruto blinked, unsure of what to say. "...Yes...ummm..."
Yamato laughed. "Relax, Naruto. I'm have no idea that you and Jiraiya-sama were outside the women's bath house spying on them."
The nin let out a breath of relief. "For a second..." Then realization hit. "Wait-"
The captain laughed again. "I was just kidding." (A/n: Insert Yamato's scary face here XD) "But if that really happened..."
"N-no sensei."
"Good."
Another sigh of relief from Naruto.
"I came here to say that I need you to go on a mission with Sakura."
"Right now?" As much as Naruto would love the training, it was not the best timing...not with Sakura unable to even look at him these days.
"Yes, it's very urgent. I've already told Sakura. Meet up with her at the village gates and I'll be there in a moment to brief the both of you."
Naruto nodded.
"I need to go to inform Lady Tsunade you're leaving." Yamato opened the door to leave and looked back over his shoulder. "When you get back, we'll talk about your punishment for spying."
"Hey! Pervy Sage did it too!"
Smiling, Yamato left.
Soft breezes were what was keeping Sakura barely awake. The night was cold and so was the wind while she was waiting by the village gates for Sai and Naruto to show up. Secretly, the kunoichi was hoping Sai would get there first.
No such luck.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!"
"Hi Naruto." She responded with less enthusiasm.
Naruto had noticed. The smile on his face slowly faded away. She must really hate me, Naruto thought. Was it because he hadn't shared some ramen the last time he went to Ichiraku? No, it was something worse. But what was worse than not sharing ramen? It wouldn't hurt to at least ask what was wrong, right?
"Sakura-chan? Can I ask you something?"
Inside, Sakura was hopeful and nervous. Maybe he had found out that she was the one who wrote the note. Was he going to ask her what she had been wanting to hear for such a long time?
"Is it because I didn't share the ramen?"
"W-What?" It had caught Sakura off guard to say the least. Way off guard.
"You know, is it the ramen?"
"Naruto, what are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about why you hate me." Naruto responded.
"I don't hate you." Far from it, Sakura thought to herself.
"So what did I mess up on so badly that you don't want to talk to me?"
"Nothing!"
He was taken back by that.
"You didn't mess up..." Sakura continued on. She said it so quietly, Naruto could barely hear her. "I did. I had a chance and..."
"Sakura, I know you miss Sasuke but-"
"Naruto, this isn't about Sasuke."
Before Naruto had a chance to ask what that meant, Yamato appeared in front of them. (A/n: Yes, everyone has bad timing in my stories) "Are you both ready?"
Naruto looked around, expecting to see someone else. As if Sakura knew what he was thinking, she asked, "Where's Sai? Isn't he coming?"
Yamato shook his head. "He broke his arm. But, for some reason," He was smiling now at the kunoichi. "Sai told me to wish you a good time on your mission with Naruto."
Sakura turned away to avoid anymore conversation. Naruto raised his eyebrows, "What does he-"
"Your mission," Yamato cut the nin off. "Is to go to a small town on the border of the fire country. There's been some reported disturbances and the Hokage has ordered some lookouts to go over there and make sure it's not a trap or an ambush."
"That doesn't make sense." Naruto said. "If it does turn out to be an ambush, won't they capture us? What was Granny Tsunade thinking? Seriously."
"Actually," Yamato cleared his throat. "I volunteered you two." (A/n: Scary face!)
Twitching slightly, Naruto wondered what he could say..."Heh, in that case, this makes perfect sense!"
Sakura smiled a little.
"It better." The captain told him threateningly. "We wouldn't want your punishment to be too severe when you get back."
"Punishment? For what?" The kunoichi questioned. (A/n: VERY awkward...)
"Nothing Sakura-chan! Let's go!" With that Naruto ran off. He really had no idea where he was going, but it was better than staying back there.
Sakura looked from her sensei to Naruto and back again. "Do I want to know?"
"No, you don't."
She nodded and left.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, she thought as she ran to try and catch up with her teammate. Naruto had no idea it was her who sent the poem. And if he didn't know, Sakura decided she wouldn't be the one to tell him. No, things would stay the same. If they couldn't be together the way Sakura had been hoping they could, then at least she would still have a great friend.
An hyperactive blonde friend who sometimes overreacts.
But still a friend.
And like she decided, they would always be friends and she would hide her feelings.
Even if Sakura did like Naruto more than ramen.
--
Yay! I updated! And it's longer!
Keep in mind that this is NOT a oneshot. I'm going to add another chapter later when I plan the whole thing out more (yes, I've been making this up as I go XD)
So don't flame me yet! At least read the whole story!
lol
-Tsuki Uzumaki