''I read something interesting in a book. Would you like me to share it with you?''

Naruto wasn't one to discourage Sai's attempts to bond and to understand emotion, but he wasn't really a big fan of what those stupid books ever had to say, either.

Naruto was getting bored of walking back to the campsite with Sai in silence; and hey, maybe whatever it was that Sai seemed so excited about would distract him from making wildly inappropriate comments about his manhood.

Neither a yes or no, he grunted neutrally.

Sai would have spoken no matter what Naruto's response.

''I read in a book somewhere that in order to truly be able to love something, you must have ten good reasons for it.''

Naruto scoffed.
''That's stupid. Who made THAT rule?''

''Well, Naruto-kun, there's much more to it than that. There's actually a much deeper meaning. Would you like me to elaborate?''

''Hell n-''

''People often throw the word ''love'' around too freely, causing the word to now have an empty meaning. So, in order for ''love'' to have meaning, you must know what it is you love and why you love it. Ten is just a number set so that one can strive to find ten reasons, seeing ones he didn't realize consciously before in the process. So when those ten reasons are found, love can-''

''Hey, Sai, I'd LOVE you to shut the hell up.''

He smiled his fake smile.

''Do you have ten reasons, then?''
Naruto spun around, raising both his hands up to Sai.

''Yeah, I do! 1, 2, 3...'' he then proceeded to count off using his fingers, until all ten of them were balled into fists.

''Ten reasons for you to shut the hell up,'' he growled.

The smile never left Sai's features.

''Clever use of your ten philanges. I read in a book somewhere that...''

-

-
After what seemed like hours to Naruto, they had returned to the camp site.

Being greeted by Sakura with two fried fish in her hands was like a dream on this mission. He thanked her graciously and began to eat on the spot.

Later that night, looking up at the stars, Naruto thought about what Sai had said earlier.

He glanced over at Sakura, who was asleep, no more than seven feet away.

'Do I have... ten reasons for loving Sakura?' he mused.

He began to think of the first.