The Ways of Love
Sakura's first love was instantaneous, like a flash of lightning illuminating an inscription on a holy tablet. The knowledge clear and absolute and unchanging.
Sakura's second love, on the other hand, grew so very surreptitiously that she was well in the middle of it before she realized what was happening.
It was a bright spring morning when Sakura surprised both her loves in quick succession. After inflicting her signature right hook on an unsuspecting Sasuke (if you actually thought that that dramatically laconic apology was sufficient, Sasuke-kun, you are really a moron!), she turned to one awestruck Naruto with a face ablaze with determination.
"I held your heart in my hand once. I want to hold it forever, in a non-life-threatening-while-the-future-of-the-world-is-in-balance way, if you promise to hold mine."
A preternatural silence followed her words. For once she had successfully rendered her blonde teammate speechless without using her fists. When Naruto's bulging blue eyes refused to revert to their normal size, Sakura began to grow flustered.
Bakabakabaka-
Sasuke chose the wrong moment to mutter an affectionate "Idiots!"
After the Uchiha unwillingly embraced the earth for the second time that day, Sakura found herself grabbing the still paralyzed Naruto's collar and drawing him down to her in a demanding kiss.
That seemed to arouse him from his stupor.
As his hands dangerously snaked towards her lower back, Sakura smirked against his now insistent lips.
He'd always been kinesthetic.