A/N: Naruto hears a rumor about Sakura and Kiba

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anyone/thing in this story...sadly...

Chapter: 1

"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Sakura blinked her eyes open and stretched before turning to look at the clock. Seven in the morning, on her day off.

"Ugh..." she muttered rolling over to face the wall.

"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" Came the voice again.

"Naruto-kun..." she mumbled. If she didn't shut him up he'd wake the whole village. Yawning widely she went to her window and leaned out to see the blonde staring up at her with an anxious expression on his face.

"Ahou!" She hissed, "what are you doing here? Don't you know what time it is?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Forget about the time and get down here! I just heard the most horrible lie about you!"

Sakura raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"Just get down here and tell me it's not true!" He screeched, scaring off a few pigeons.

"It's not true," she tried. He put his hands on his hips and shot her a look. She sighed knowing there was no way to appease him other than to leave any hope for more sleep behind her.

"I'll be right down."

She dressed as quickly and as quietly as possible, making sure to close the door softly behind her. Once she got out onto the street, she found her teammate pacing and wringing his hands. When he saw her, he grabbed her by the shoulders and began shaking her.

"Sakura-chan, oh Sakura-chan, you won't believe what I heard!" He realized what he was doing and stopped. "I think I know who started the lie, probably that Inuzuka gaki, but Chouji's the one who told me. I just ran into him when I was buying milk." Naruto paused, pointing to the bags he had set on the ground. "But don't you worry Sakura-chan. I'll find out for sure who started it, and they'll wish they'd never been born. Believe it!"

After years of being on the same squad, Sakura was used to Naruto's emotional outbursts. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Naruto-kun, what are you talking about? What did Chouji-kun say?"

"I'm not so sure I should tell you now. I mean, if I told you, you'd be devastated. Or you'd laugh hysterically. It is pretty ridiculous."

"Chotto matte! You got me up early on my day off to tell me something and now, NOW you're having second thoughts? A bit too late for that baka!" Sakura grabbed him by the collar and shoved him up against a wall, being careful not to shove him through it.

"Naruto-kun," she growled, "you will tell me what you heard and you will tell me NOW!" The daggers she was glaring at him left no doubt as to the fact that she was serious.

"Hai Sakura-chan, alright. But if it makes you mad, you can't take it out on me."

She stared at him him for a minute not quite believing what he said before she shook her head and released her grip. Naruto slid down the wall until he was seated on the ground.

"Sugoi, Sakura-chan," Naruto grinned up at her rubbing the back of his head. "You're getting more and more like Granny Tsunade everyday!"

She rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to change the subject. What did Chouji-kun say?"

"Anou, ya see Sakura-chan, like I said, I saw Chouji while I was buying milk. And uh, he told me that he was at the Korean Barbeque place with Shikamaru a few days ago when Squad Eight walked in. Chouji had to go to the uh, facilities, and when he came back he heard Inuzuka talking to Shikamaru about you." He paused and looked questioningly at Sakura. "Did you train with them, Squad Eight I mean, last week?"

Sakura suddenly became very interested in a pebble by her foot. This isn't how she wanted Naruto to find out, but she nodded.

Naruto looked at her oddly before continuing.

"Anou, like I was saying, Inuzuka was talking to Shikamaru about how you were training with them, and then he said that he walked you back to your place,"

Sakura knew what he was going to say next, and her face blushed a deep shade of red.

"Then, he uh, he said he kissed you."

When she didn't immediately deny it, or launch into a long speech proclaiming undying love for Sasuke, or even fall down laughing, Naruto felt a lump form in his throat.

"Say it ain't so Sakura-chan." There was an edge of hurt to his voice.

This really wasn't how she wanted him to find out. She looked down and stared into his blue eyes. She nodded ever so slightly. "It's so."

"Oh." It was Naruto's turn to become interested in something by his foot. After a few minutes of silence, Naruto chuckled.

"I guess I should go apologize to Chouji then."

"Naruto-kun?" Sakura asked suspiciously, "What did you do?"

"Nothing much," the prankster grinned. "I just snatched his bag of chips and ate the last one right in front of him."

Sakura laughed, "I'm surprised you're still breathing." Everyone knew how Chouji had to have the last bite of something.

"Hai, I'm gonna have to keep my distance from him for a while. But then, maybe he'll forgive me quicker if I treat him to lunch."

The friends smiled at eachother. Naruto seemed to be dealing with the news okay, and now that there were no secrets, Sakura felt much more at ease around her favorite knucklehead ninja.

"So you uh, like Kiba?"

"I'm still getting to know him," she shrugged. "we've only gone out a couple of times. But what I know, I like. He's on a mission right now, but when he gets back we have plans to go out again." She held out her hand to help Naruto up. "Daijoubu ka Naruto-kun?"

"Hai, as long as he treats you well, I'm fine. Hontou ni." He dusted the seat of his pants before continuing. "Besides, I'm not the one you should be worried about."

"Nani?"

"Two words...Bushy Brow."