Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Summary: Because Haruno Sakura says she is not worried at all.

Outpours

By: caelizar

Hours have gone by and the rain still hasn't stopped. Outside the window, the rain, heavy and unrelenting, seemed to pour down endlessly. Lightning and thunder graced the somber dark grey sky, and cold winds blew, chilling the night air. And the rest of the people of Konohagakure take refuge in the sanctuary of their homes, perhaps eating family dinner beside a warm fire, or drinking a cup of hot tea, or standing by their bedroom window, looking out into the rain—like Haruno Sakura.

Sakura peered into the cold darkness that is outside her window, her fingers touching the icy surface of the window pane. Letting out a deep sigh, she checked the wall clock, which told her that she had been there for almost an hour.

An hour of trying to reconcile why she feels that everyday was somehow incomplete.

I hope he got home alright, came a sudden thought as she viewed the storm in front of her, remembering that Sasuke escorted her back to the Haruno household, and the rain began the moment they stepped upon the doorstep.

Just my luck, the Uchiha muttered, the Konoha rain season is not to be taken lightly. "See you Sakura!" Sasuke bid goodbye and hopped off for the shortest way to his house, carrying the umbrella Sakura offered to lend him, which he was reluctant to take at first, but seeing the angry sky, Sasuke felt he had no choice.

The Sharingan master darting across the village roofs with a pink umbrella in hand. Sakura's thoughts indeed caused her to let out a small chuckle.

Sasuke is still… well…, Sasuke. Just as silent and competitive as he was before. However, the good side of him has grown in this few months. Slowly, he made his way back to Konoha, and slowly, Konoha welcomed him back. His eyes no longer burned with neither hate nor revenge, but simply reflected who he is: Uchiha Sasuke. He is changing, and it was a good change, as Sakura and Kakashi-sensei both agreed upon during one of their training sessions.

Sasuke-kun will soon be taking the Chuunin exam, Sakura remembered, the one next year perhaps?

Sakura continued to muse, pulling a warm blanket closer to her form. Despite being inside, her room seemed to share the cold outside.

Everyone else was so proud in the progress that Sasuke is making, and Sakura was sure that Naruto would also be proud.

If he knew.

If he was here.

And Sakura wonders when Naruto will come home.

What am I thinking?

What are you thinking! Inner Sakura seconded.

The pink-haired kunoichi continued to stare outside, her green orbs searching, as if it can see through the thick blanket of rain. The noisy blonde has set off to the Water Country for a visiting mission that will last for five months.

What's taking you so long? She questions, and finds it unusual that she Haruno Sakura, had been anticipating Naruto's return, almost angry, considering the fact that it has been eight whole months since his departure.

And actually, she asks the same question every single day.

Eight months! Eight months, Naruto! The mission said five! FIVE! Not eight!

Naruto had been out of Konoha for almost a year. A month after getting their teammate back, Naruto went away with Jiraiya for three months. And the day he came back, she learned that he has accepted a mission immediately. With that, he left again.

Haruno Sakura always thought that things would go back to normal once Sasuke was back. Team seven would be whole again. They would be together in missions again. With Naruto and Sasuke boasting off who's better, with Kakashi-sensei coming with a lame excuse for being so late, with her trying to get Uchiha Sasuke's attention, and her sending Naruto flying into the air for disturbing her. Just the way things used to be.

And Sakura perfectly knew how wrong her thoughts had been.

Change is inevitable.

In this time, only several of her missions were done together with Sasuke and Kakashi; most of the time, she'd get assigned with the other teams as their medic nin. Training is now done with the sake-loving Godaime, and yes, surprisingly, even to herself, she no longer exerted effort to get the raven-haired Sasuke to date her. She respected that he still has deeper wounds to heal.

And of course, with the kyuubi vessel away, her days are less noisy. No Naruto dragging her to Ichiraku, no Naruto screaming out: Saaakuuuura-chaan, no Naruto giving her that thumbs up sign with a grin that reached both ears, no Naruto around foolishly trying to make her smile.

And she realizes how her thoughts of the sunny shinobi were the complete opposite of the scene outside her window. The dark nimbus above showed no sign of slowing down, the downpour continued.

What's taking you so long? her mind repeats.

It's just a visiting mission! No enemies! No one to escort and protect with your life! No Akatsuki! Or even that evil Sannin! Sakura yelled in her head.

Sakura tried to drown out thoughts of Naruto's life being in grave danger. Or of him in a bar filled with women.

You better come back alive! Or else! I still have to crush that face of yours for leaving without saying goodbye!

"And why am I worried? WHY? WHY? WHY? Why do I even think of that loudmouth Uzumaki who kept his promise, why worry about that baka who understood me better than anyone else in this drenched village!"

Sakura gasped. She had actually screamed those words out. Quite loudly. She now found herself standing up.

"That it!" she said, placing her hands on her hips, and thankful that she is in her room where no one is around to witness her blush furiously. Turning around, she pointed towards the photo sitting at the desk by the bed, the one that was taken during their genin days, with her and Kakashi smiling, while the other two idiots sulked. She glared at the blonde-haired idiot.

"That's enough Naruto! I don't know how you do it, but you still manage to irritate me even when you're outside the Fire Country!"

"In fact Uzumaki Naruto, I'm NOT even worried about YOU at all! NOT ONE BIT!" she added.

Ridiculous as it is to blame and threaten a harmless photograph, Sakura didn't mind. She proceeded to near the bed, in decision to finally take a rest, and maybe break the frame to vent out her annoyance, imagining that it was Naruto himself that she was pummeling.

About to reach for the frame, something made her stop. Beside it, lay the gorgeous hair ornament Naruto gave her one time. She was contemplating if she is going to wear it for this day, but she was running late and had forgotten to tuck it back in the drawers this morning.

She picked it up and admired the detail. The ornament took the form of a flower, its texture glazed and smooth. Its purple color was complemented by the golden jewel that shone at the center. One could tell it was rather expensive. Her finger traced the glassy petals, feeling the depth of the carvings. "Three years worth of birthday presents," that was how Naruto described it. Sakura smiled at the memory of receiving it. Carefully and slowly, she placed it back inside the drawer.

Giving a loud hmph, she looked at the frowning Naruto in the picture and said, "That doesn't mean anything, you still annoy me." With that, Sakura went to slip under the bedcovers, curling up and hugging her pillows. And tried to sleep.

Another NaruSaku fic churned out!

It was supposed to be longer, but when I wrote the last paragraph, I felt it had to end there. I might write a part 2, a Naruto-Sakura meeting, but good ideas for that still elude me, heck; it has eluded me for weeks. And will probably so. I'm seeking inspiration for that part right now. However, I'll add to this a short fic, somehow related to Outpours. I'm still polishing that up.

And finally, please give your precious reviews!