A/N: Yes, this has clear allusions to a rather one-sided NaruSasu… nothing will happen, though. x3
Was is so difficult to want? They all wanted someone, someone close and distant. They all wanted to be with that person that made their hearts pump and beat - what was the point of life without the other half? The complete whole was greater than the half. So they wanted. They dreamt and the wondered, but how many actually acquired that? That one thing that was so dear to their hears? Their love?...
On a clear noon with the sun on high, Naruto Uzumaki was distractedly stirring his now cold ramen noodles in the Ichiraku Ramen Shop. Normally, he would be gobbling the delectable dish down, but that day, right there, he just could not focus on his favorite meal. There was something across the counter, something so interesting that it made Naruto Uzumaki, the Naruto Uzumaki, not eat his ramen. Of course, there is only one thing that it could be: Sakura Haruno.
She was so beautiful, so fluid in everything she did - at least in the awed Naruto's eyes. Every movement of that lithe body sent a tingle down his spine. He wanted to reach out and stroke that soft, flowery hair, that body that made his own ache with such longing. Why did she have to walk like that, so smoothly? Even the mere act of pouring the ramen soup was sexy if she did it. The lure of Ichirauki was great enough with their tasty ramen, and now they dangled Sakura in front of him, goading him to come more often. Sakura was true to her name, and Naruto wanted to pick that flower.
But then in his awkward staring, he started stirring too quickly, and some of the ramen soup spilled out. Naruto snapped out of his trance and grabbed tje nearest, though slightly stained, napkin to wipe up his little mess before she could see how clumsy he had been, how he always was.
"Still ogling at Haruno?" Said a sneering voice behind him. Naruto turned around and grinned at Sasuke, his best friend and team mate. He pointed to the empty chair next to him with a mouth full of noodles. Sasuke sat down with a snort and a scowl, but he felt happy inside that Naruto would offer him a seat instead of the usual scared look people got around him. If only he would do more than have that stupid smile on his face!
"How are you doing, Sasuke? I just finished my training session with Kakashi, so I'm taking a break here for lunch. Sakura sure looks cute in her Ichiraku uniform!" At that, Sakura finally turned around to whack the blonde kid in the head with her chopsticks. Her past hour and a half had been spent avoiding Naruto's creepy gaze, but the threat of losing her job prevented her from acting. If only she did not desperately need the pay for her prospecitve tummy tuck... She had finally put up with his stares for long enough, and she also ditched her plan to act cool and collected for Sasuke.
"Don't mind him, Sasuke-kun! What would you like to order today? There's always the chef's special! No peanuts, just the way you like them. I know you so well, don't I! Better than that Ino pig, at least" She gushed at the calm boy, and her face turned bright red as Sasuke met her eager gaze. In that moment, Naruto transformed from happy to sad as he saw how much Sakura liked Sasuke more than himself. The ever observant Sasuke noticed the dejection on his face, and he replied with a scowl loaded with contempt. Why did Team 7's relationships have to be so complicated?
"I would rather not get any of this unhealthy "food". I... only came here to get Naruto for Kakashi. He said we are going to do some special training together. You can keep working here until your shift ends, Sakura. We don't need you." With those few words, actually a lie, Sasuke had managed to lift Naruto's spirits and dampen some of Sakura's undying love for him. Finesse came naturally to a Uchiha, of course. This day wasn't looking to be as bad as usual for Sasuke.
As the two team mates strode out of the shop, they heard a sharp shriek. Only one person could scream that high and still have a voice. Sakura was angry about something, and Naruto grinned as he realized he had not left a tip. But he thought about how nothing could cover the amount of satisfaction being near Sakura gave him, so he was content. Trouble caused Naruto to be happy, and a happy Naruto was never good.
When the two had been walking for some time, Naruto stopped and finally expressed the thoughts that had been boiling in his hyperactive imagination the entire morning. "Hey, Sasuke, I was wondering about something… do you want to know what?" The two were closely walking side by side, so Sasuke could even smell the tangerine shampoo Naruto had used… mmm… tangerine…
"Sasuke? Did you hear me?" Sasuke snapped out of his daydream and absentmindedly nodded. "Okay, so I was watching Sakura this morning from the bushes, and I noticed that she is always home alone!" He looked to Sasuke with wide eyes, waiting for him to realize how strange that was.
"Uh, Naruto, I am home by myself, too. So are lots of other people. Why is it so strange that Sakura is home alone as well?" Sasuke looked to Naruto with a strange look. Naruto was being even weirder than usual, and that was something.
"Sasuke! Everyone knows that you lost your parents, but what about Sakura? She never talks about her mother or father, and I've never heard anyone else talk about them either!" His eyes grew even larger, if that were possible, and he nudged Sasuke with excitement. One could almost see the mischief bubbling inside him. Then, Sasuke smiled, a real smile, too, as he relished in the soft touch of Naruto's jacket, soft like the newborn day…
"SASUKE! What is wrong with you today? Did you drink some of Tsunade's punch? Come on, focus! Be a UCHIHA!" Naruto exclaimed with waving arms. Sasuke shook his head with disgust, and stared at Naruto intently. He wouldn't dwell in those thoughts anymore.
"You are saying you want find out about Sakura's parents. You are also wondering if I will help, and the answer is yes. I too am curious as to the Harunos." In the darkest caverns of his heart, Sasuke was really just looking forward to spending the day with Naruto, but he would never admit that to anyone, himself included.
" Aw, thanks, Sasuke! I don't think I could go do this myself. No one respects me for some reason." Naruto's smile faltered a bit, but then he lit up again. "We'll go find out about Sakura's parents, and I'll make a great impression on them! They'll see how mature I am – girls like mature guys, right? – and put in a good word about me to her! I'm sure to win her heart, someday… but first we have to go do whatever Kakashi sent us for, right?" Naruto was talking so quickly, anyone but a Uchiha would have only heard gibberish.
"Oh, uh, wait, Naruto, the training can wait until tomorrow or the next day. Kakashi wasn't as urgent as I had first thought. Let's go solve this mystery first." Sasuke's cheeks almost turned pink at his lacking excuse, but a Uchiha cannot physically blush, can he? Naruto was puzzled for a moment, but he recovered his carefree attitude. Sasuke would take care of those responsibility things. On the other hand, it was his job to have fun.
"Alright, Sasuke, let's go do this! We are going to find Sakura's parents. I only hope her mom is as hot as she is."