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Thoughts

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Author's note: Here's the first chappie of my new story! Hope you enjoy it. R&R please!

Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama owns Naruto, not me.

Sakura's POV

Rain poured down in Konoha in torrents. Sakura Haruno sat on the windowsill of her apartment as she sipped her tea. She let out an exhausted sigh.

Tsunade had been working her to hell as of late. A massive war was raging between Leaf and Sound. Many had been killed, Shino and Sakura's parents along with them. Nearly everyone she knew had lost at least someone dear to them.

She wanted the participate in the war, being the top konoichi and second best healer (next to Tsunade), but, deep down she knew they needed her more here.

Much to Naruto's distress, Sasuke had not been in the war so far. Instead, he was tracking his brother (or so they thought). So, naturally, there was no chance of bringing him back yet.

'Oh well, no big loss I guess.' She thought sadly staring at the trickling rain. 'It's not like he cared for me in any way shape of form.'

'You keep telling yourself that.' Said Inner Sakura.

'Oh? Well, what should I think? That he secretly loved m all that time but never told me?'

'Exactly.'

'…'

'Why do you think he always protected us on missions?'

'So as not to jeopardize the mission. Duh!'

'Yeah right! That was just a cover up! He wants us, he NEEDS us!'

"Oh shut up. He did not." She grumbled out loud.

"Who didn't? Who ya talkin to Sakura-chan?" asked a new voice from behind her. She jumped and faced the intruder.

"Naruto-kun! Don't sneak up on me like that!" She scolded. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a childish gesture he rarely uses on anyone but Iruka and Sakura now. "Shouldn't you still be in hospital anyway?" She grumbled, turning back to the window.

He came and sat on the opposite side of the windowsill (it's a big window okay?). "I just got discharged. Good thing too. I haven't eaten ramen in a week now! My poor belly is suffering!" He rubbed his stomach sadly.

She let out a sigh of annoyance and rubbed her temple with her free hand. "You are so annoying."

"You're starting to sound like teme."

The mention of the human ice cube made Sakura sad to this day. She always thought about him, but someone else referring to him was another matter. Her face dropped and she gazed emotionlessly at a trickle of rain making its way to the bottom of the glass. "Hn…" She muttered.

"SEE WHAT I MEAN?!" he yelled, jumping up and pointing accusingly at her. "I swear, losing your parents changes people to emotionless voids. I gotta start calling you Sakura-teme soon. I… Sakura-chan?"

A single tear rolled down her cheek. 'Sasuke was bad enough, but now my parents?' She thought coldly, choking back more tears.

"I-I'm so sorry Sakura-chan! I didn't mean it! Honestly! I… uh…"

"I-it's okay Naruto-kun. I know you didn't mean it. You were just playing around. Just, don't mention them again, okay?" She whispered.

"Sure…" He mumbled, pulling her into a hug. After a few moments, she returned it lightly. His black shirt was damp and he smelt slightly of wet dog (or maybe wet fox?).

They stayed in the embrace for a couple of minutes, enjoying each others warmth.

"Hey Naruto-kun?" She asked, pulling away to look into his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"I'm really tired. How about you go see Hinata or get some ramen?"

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. You gonna be okay?"

She let out a small fake smile. "Yeah. I've just been overworked, with the war and all. My next shift is in 4 hours, so I gotta get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure!" He gave her a big smile and headed for the door. "Bye Sakura-chan!" He yelled before running out.

She let out another sad sigh and looked down at her mug sitting on the sill. The now cold liquid shook slightly as she stood up.

'Sasuke-kun…' She whispered in her mind. 'Please come back one day…'

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Naruto's POV

He walked slowly from the hospital towards Sakura's house using his bright orange jumper as a shield from the rain.

'I wonder how she's been. Her parents died only 2 weeks ago and I haven't even seen her yet. Poor girl. I never even knew what it was like having a family, but I bet it must really hurt when they die. Look what happened to Sasuke-teme.' He thought absentmindedly.

He reached her apartment complex to see her looking out the window at the sky. He quickly headed up to her room and snuck in, hiding his chakra.

"Oh shut up. He did not." He heard her mutter. His brow furrowed in confusion. 'Maybe she was having another girly chat with Ino on the phone.'

He jumped out behind her. "Who didn't? Who ya talkin to Sakura-chan?" He grinned maniacally as she jumped and swirled around to face him.

"Naruto-kun! Don't sneak up on me like that!" She scolded sharply. He scratched the back of his head like he used to so as not to arouse suspicion. But inside he was really worried.

Her eyes were a dull green and they had dark shadows underneath. Her skin seemed whiter and her bubblegum pink hair was duller also. Everything around her was sad.

He walked over and sat on the opposite side of the windowsill and they continued their conversation from the earlier part.

(later on at the Ichiraku's with Hinata, btw they're dating, double btw the rain stopped)

"I'm starting to worry about Sakura-chan." He sighed, looking at his third bowl of miso ramen (I remembered his favourite flavor woot!).

Hinata looked at him sadly and squeezed his hand lightly. She didn't know what she could say to cheer him up. She herself was still recovering from the fact of Shino's death 1 month ago, at the start of the war.

He turned his deep blue eyes towards her and squeezed her hand back. "You probably think I'm annoying, talking about another girl on a date. Sorry Hinata-chan."

"It's okay Naruto-kun. You're worried about her. To say the truth, I'm worried also. She's pushing herself way too hard." She said (she stopped stuttering a year ago. Again, btw, they're all 18 now).

"Well, how about we worry about her later. I've got some serious ramen eating to catch up on!" He yelled excitedly, turning back to his ramen and shoveling it down his throat.

Hinata giggled lightly and turned to her own bowl. They both knew, deep in their hearts, that this was only the beginning, but they tried to forget, at least for tonight.

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Mysterious Person POV

A mysterious dark man sat outside in the tree opposite Sakura's apartment, watching her as she drank her tea.

He looked at the road, seeing a familiar orange jacket covering a boy/young man's head. The boy/man walked into the complex and soon appeared in the window beside Sakura.

He watched their conversation with amusement. When the boy/man/fox (hehe, I added another one) left Sakura sat in her place for a while longer before retiring.

'My my, Sakura. How you've grown.' He mused.

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What do you think? Huh? HUH?! TELL ME!! Please?