Wedding Woes

Anime/Manga—Naruto—Romance/Drama/Humor—Rating: T

Summary: Sakura and Sasuke are finally engaged! But instead of the upcoming wedding bringing blissful days, shocking secrets are suddenly uncovered and surprising crushes are unexpectedly revealed that will screw everyone up! Many pairings involved.

A/N: My second Naruto fanfic done all by myself! Though, I admit, I was mainly motivated due to my co-author's writer's block. That, and that I wanted to write this story for a while now, anyways.

Anyway, (as I've said before) many pairings are involved, which will be revealed at different times in the fanfic. The timeline is during Shippuden where everyone is around sixteen years of age. Also, the fanfic is when Sasuke has already returned to Konoha.

Oh, I almost forgot… some characters will be OOC. But don't worry, most characters will either be slightly OOC or not.

And, by the way, while the fanfic is centered on SasuSaku's upcoming wedding, Sasuke and Sakura will NOT be the ONLY main characters.

Disclaimer: I, Princess Malika, do NOT own Naruto in any way. Not its characters and anything else in Naruto. All credit and ownership of Naruto goes to its creator, Masashi Kishimoto. (Although I wish I'd owned Naruto; it's so cleverly done! :)

Chapter One: Her Confession

"Today's the day," the kunoichi said to herself as she wrapped an especially picked meal into a handkerchief.

When she finished tying the handkerchief up, her lips formed a bright smile. First, I'll give him this. I can't wait to see his face when he sees what I got him. He's going to be so surprised, so happy.

"Then…" she continued as she bent down to put on her sandals, "Then, I will finally tell him."

Her smile broadened in joy as she played one possible situation out. He'll probably be surprised at first, but after all we've been through, I'm sure he'll soon respond with equal delight.

Opening the door to the outside, she continued her daydream. And then, he'll embrace me, just like before.

"But," she added after she'd stepped outside of her apartment and closed the door, "I will not be embarrassed this time. I won't."

She then began walking towards the forest, where she knew he commonly trained. At first, her steps were quick and bouncy, as she was eager to reach him.

But then she slowed her pace, her earlier confidence eaten away by a growing anxiousness. What… what if, he doesn't like what I'd bought for him? Or worse… what if… what if, he… he…

She couldn't say it, but the very thought of it made her halt in her steps.

In fact, her worries almost made her turn back in the direction of her home, but then she stopped herself. No, I can't go back. After all of this time, I've finally found the courage to do this. I can't give up now.

Determination rapidly overcoming the anxiety, she continued onward.

"Things might not work out exactly the way I wanted it to be," she said to herself as she moved closer and closer to her destination, "But I know it'll still end the way I wanted it to be. It'll end with—"

"Hinata!"

She froze. The one who'd called her named frowned in bewilderment. Did I say something wrong? No, that can't be. All I said was her name.

"Hinata?" he repeated.

Hinata remained—motionless—where she was.

Worried, the one who'd said her name dashed up to her. "Hinata, are you okay?"

Finally, Hinata managed to find strength to speak. "Y-y-you're…"

She hesitated. I can't say it.

"I'm…?" he supplied, more baffled then before.

Gulping down her nervousness, she concluded, "You're… shirtless."

And immediately she regretted it. I can't believe I said that!

He blinked, confused, before he realized that what Hinata said was true. "What's wrong with—?" he began, then recalled the one time he accidentally began changing in front of Sakura…

"You baka! Put your clothes back on!" Sakura had fiercely bellowed.

He began protesting, "But it's—"Bam! Only to get punched in the head!

"Sakura…" he whined, aching from the growing headache he was now having.

"I don't care what your reason is!" Sakura barked. "Just put your clothes back on!"

With a pout still on his face, he did as he was told. Still, she didn't have to hit me that—

"Naruto?" Hinata abruptly questioned, bringing him back to the present.

"I'm sorry," Naruto sheepishly apologized, hurriedly putting his clothes back on.

While doing so, he also felt that he owed her some sort of explanation. "It was getting hot while I was training, and so I decided to take it off."

Naruto suddenly noticed Hinata's cheeks slightly reddened, and, concerned, asked her, "Are you recovering from a sickness or something? Your cheeks are red."

"Here," Hinata unexpectedly began, holding out her gift for Naruto right in front of him. "This is for you."

Naruto was puzzled at the abruptness of it all, yet gratefully accepted the gift. "Thanks Hinata!"

As Naruto eagerly began unwrapping his gift, Hinata quickly tried to calm herself to get rid of her red face. And I promised myself I wouldn't get—

"Instant ramen?!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed in surprise when he realized that was the gift Hinata had gotten him. "Thanks Hinata!"

Glomp!

In a show of appreciation, Naruto had hugged Hinata, which swiftly turned her face red all over again!

N-Naruto is… is touching me… … … Stop it. Don't let Naruto see you blushing again.

Hastily, before Naruto released Hinata from his hug, she'd succeeded into putting a stop to her blushing.

"I will cherish every bite," Naruto vowed, showering Hinata will a broad grin before—to Hinata's horror—unpredictably rushing in the direction of his house!

No! Not yet! Not until I tell him—"W-wait!" Hinata desperately hollered before Naruto was out of sight.

Naruto, though eager to savor his ramen, halted himself.

Hinata was about to say the words she'd repetitively replayed in her mind for some time now, yet paused.

What's wrong with me? Now's my chance! If I don't say it now, then when? When am I going to get an opportunity such as this?

Naruto stared at the inwardly struggling Hinata, mystified. I've never seen Hinata like this before. She's always been weird, but never this weird. First, she appears when I'm training—something she's never done before. Then, she buys me instant ramen all of a sudden—not that I'm grateful for it. Now, she's—

"Like you."

Those were the words that Naruto suddenly heard that came from Hinata's mouth.

Darn. She was saying something, and I wasn't paying any attention!

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Naruto guiltily asked. I hope she isn't mad that I didn't listen to her in the first place.

But Hinata wasn't mad at all. He… didn't hear what I'd said. That means… I could just say it was nothing, and Naruto would probably forget about it and go eat his ramen. Then, I wouldn't have worry about his response. If he'd say… No, I've come too far now. I can't just drop it. I have to say it. I have to tell him.

"N-Naruto…" Hinata softly began, half hoping that he couldn't hear her, half hoping that he could. "I…"

Naruto patiently waited for her to finish, as he didn't want to be rude again.

Hinata hesitated once again. Once I say it, I can't take it back. And then he'll know. He'll know, and then… then, how will he reply? Will he hate me? Or… will he… will he actually… actually…

"Hinata?" Naruto asked—once again, in concern. She looks… so afraid. But of what? What is she—?

"Ilikeyou." There. I said it. Now it's his turn. Now, he'll have to either—

"Huh?" What did she say?

"Huh"?! That's not the response I was looking for!

"I-I'm sorry," Naruto hastily apologized, seeing the frustration on Hinata's face. "I swear I'll pay closer attention this time."

Suddenly, a realization dawned on Hinata… Did I speak too fast for him to hear me?

Wanting to get it over with, Hinata repeated—this time clearly stating, "I like you."

A/N: How will Naruto respond to that? Stay tune for chapter two to find out.

Anyway, I hope you readers like it. I know it was a bit drawn out, but I wanted to put a lot of what the characters were thinking and feeling to make the chapter as romantic—yet realistic and IC—as possible.

Also, for those of you wanting some SasuSaku, it'll be coming soon. I just wanted to give my favorite Naruto pairing, NaruHina, their moment to shine.

By the way, Hinata is slightly more courageous and assertive due to the amount of time that has passed and her eagerness to have Naruto as her boyfriend.

Plus, while I've edited my fanfic, I may have missed a few things, so feel free to double-check my fanfic.

And please read and review—whether with constructive criticism or praise (I'll take them both, because at least it's something—and something's always better than nothing).