Chapter 1

This is my first Fan-Fic

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


"Happy birthday Sakura, I give you my blessing." Sasuke spoke in a timely fashion, right when the clock struck twelve.

"Don't say it like that!" Sakura pouts, "I don't want people to think I'm that old yet."

"She's just like Tsunade…" hissed Orochimaru, delighting himself with some cake. The young, pale skinned lizard happens to turn good. It just goes to tell you that Orochimaru isn't a stupid man. He knows when he got beat, would he jump back to the dark side once another opportunity shows itself, it's highly likely, but right now he's a real help when it comes to things Konoha doesn't know yet.

Tsunade's brows slightly waiver, "What did you say?" she said, smiling somewhat evilly.

"What?" Orochimaru replies, biting unto the cake as he carelessly walks away before he gets hurt, but Tsunade keep's up with him, "I'm not done with you!"

Sakura and Sasuke are finally left alone as the others move on to chat with someone else. Their eyes move towards each other, and slowly but surely, they find each other in the other's arms. Sakura blissfully smiles and says, "How did we end up like this…?"

Sasuke lightly grins, "I think we could thank our friend Naruto for that."

"That's right…" Sakura takes a look around, but the blond hair idiot is nowhere to be found, "Where is that goof ball anyways?"

"He's probably still trying to find someone to replace you." Sasuke said truthfully.

Naruto never tried to make a move on Sakura, and when Sasuke came back into the picture. He took even further steps away from Sakura by isolating the two together. He would receive pardons from missions, dodge team meetings; he would even call in sick for a simple practice lesson.

It did help after all, the two finally hooked up after several close argument's and it's all thanks to Naruto's absence.

This absence though created a hole in Naruto's heart, and now he has to find something, or somebody to help him break this curse.

"I hope he's okay…" Sakura whispers, feeling guilty about this even though it's not fully her fault. She did try to get Naruto to forget Sasuke, but no matter how clueless Naruto would seem, he saw right through her plan, perhaps, she was faking it so badly that even Naruto could see it crystal clear.

The bitter truth, she does not love him, nor will she ever.

It's not that Naruto's a bad guy, or because he's bad looking. Naruto's actually a pretty handsome individual, especially after he matured a bit. The only problem is that she's in love with someone else, someone who stole her heart a long time ago and that someone is staring idly into her eyes and it's all thanks to Naruto.

"I would think he would make a good pair with Hinata." Sasuke honestly said, "The two are as different as night and die, but like they say, opposites attract."

"I told Hinata about that too, but she's too busy with her being the new clan head of the Hyuuga clan. She doesn't have time to chase love." Sakura mentions and Sasuke shakes his head slowly, showing his disapproval, "I'm not one to talk, but I definitely know from experience how she must be feeling. I guess she would have to learn it the hard way, just like me."

"Learn it the hard way?" Sakura looks puzzled as Sasuke continues, bitterly smiling upon it all, "I thought that I was doing something important, something that would make a difference, but little did I know. The most important thing was right in front of me the whole time. Naruto understands, it's saddening to know he understands…"

Sakura didn't get the last part, what does he mean Naruto understands.

"What do you mean?" she blandly asked and Sasuke just sighs, "You'll never understand it, since you understood it since the beginning. You knew what was important and what was not, perhaps Naruto understood it as well, but he's way of thinking was masked through lies and fed off other people's problems. Naruto thought that being Hokage would provide happiness; he thought that if he could at least become Hokage, he would learn what it means to be happy. Everyone always thought that Naruto and I could've switched roles at any given moment, that I could become the hero and he the villain, little did anyone understood how right that statement was. Naruto could've been your boyfriend right now and I could be him, wondering what purpose does his shoe fill, but sadly…" Sasuke's fist clench, "…fate has brought misfortune to him, even though he had taken the hard way and it has brought a blessing to me, even though I took the easy way. Naruto played by the rules…and he still loss."

Sakura felt really bad. She didn't want to be a prize given to the victor, but she couldn't help but agree that it's partially her fault for having Naruto do what he did. She asked him too, no, she begged him to bring Sasuke back, despite knowing that Naruto has feelings for her as well and when he finally does it, does everything she asked of him. She still chooses the one who left her in the first place, it's not fair, but it's not wrong either. If she had pretended to love Naruto, what truth does that relationship hold?

The two force themselves to forget the tragic role of Naruto Uzumaki in their relationship and try to better the situation by reminding themselves that they're in a party. They mix into the positive atmosphere of other people, but little did they know, someone had already heard them, dipped in the negativity of their conversation.

Ino holds the cup in her hand tightly, looking blankly at the air and troubled about what she heard, "Naruto…" she whispers, feeling sorry for the poor shinobi that is given nothing.

"I have to do something for him…" she looks away from the crowd and sneaks into the night to find Naruto. She could only wonder where the most unexpected ninja is at. She looks everywhere, asked everyone, but to her luck, he's nowhere to be found.

She's about to call quits, until a small child runs out of the forest, giggling and fumbling about.

"Little boy?" Ino looks at the kid while the kid looks back, "Have you seen Naruto?" she asked, giving the one chance on the answer of this young child.

"Yea, he's in the forest telling stories about prince and dragons and knights and everything!"

Ino couldn't help but smile as she races into the forest, only to find a group of kids sitting around in a circle and in the middle of it all is Naruto, displaying a story in front of the children.

"Sensei!" one of the children raises their hands, "Have you ever fell in love?"

Naruto's smiling face disappears like a candle being blown out as he sits back on his slump, "Yea…" he whispers, "Yea, I've been in love, but I guess it was just not meant to be."

"What do you mean sensei?" the little boy continues and Naruto grins with a bitter smile, "When it comes to love…a man and a woman would show affection towards one another, but when it comes to a monster…he has no one to show affection to."

Ino clasps her hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. She's angry Naruto felt that way, no one in the group would say Naruto's a monster now, maybe when they were children, but they know who Naruto is. Why is he saying he's a monster?

It was like the little kid read her mind as he asked again, "Who's the monster?"

"I am…" Naruto responds.

"You're no monster, sensei, you're a hero." The kid said and it brought a smile on Naruto's face, but Naruto says something that makes everything awkward, "A hero can be a monster too, anyone can be a hero, but a monster can't find someone who would love him. He can find victory in the field, he can find friends, but he will never…find someone who would love him."

That's when a little girl from the audience stands up and grabs Naruto's hand, "Can I be your lover?" she asks innocently and Naruto laughs, it almost brings tears to his eyes, "I think you're a little too young." He told her honestly and the girl shakes her head, "No!" she argues, "I can take care of you. I can feed you, I can hug you whenever you feel sad, I can wash you, I just have to ask my mom if I could keep you, that's all."

Naruto just laughs while shaking his head and then Ino pops into the picture, walking up to Naruto a little upset. She grabs him by his arms and looks at the little kids watching, "Sorry kids, but Naruto has to go to bed."

The little girl steps back, raising her hands in defense, "I didn't know he had another owner!"

Ino just chases them all away and drags Naruto to the streets, the whole time leaving Naruto within his bubble of confusion, "Uh, Ino? Where are we going?" Naruto finally asked and Ino looks back at him, pouting with a small blush on her cheeks, "You said a monster can't find someone who would love him, right?"

It took a moment for Naruto to catch on, but the old brain kicked right up and he remembered what he said seconds ago. He laughs and shakes his head, "No, I was just joking!" He admits, but Ino's not convince. She would never be until he finds someone for him, "Let's just see okay!" Ino complains and Naruto finally sighs with agreement.

They arrive at the party and everyone stares at the two blankly, "Hello everyone!" Ino calls out to get everyone's attention. She doesn't want to say it again, it's embarrassing enough already, "I'm here at the party with my date."

The crowd turns their eyes to Naruto and jaws literary drop. Sai is standing at the side, looking confused, "I thought you came here with me?" He was wearing his normal clothing, barely anything with only a tie on.

"Sai, this is the first time I get a date, don't ruin this for me." Naruto joked, obviously not interested at what Ino's trying to prove.

After a few mumbling here and there, Sai left, everyone is back to normal and Naruto and Ino are at the dance floor.

"I hope you brought your A game, because we're about to kick butt." Naruto jokes once more, even stretching to add comedic affect. Ino was serious though, she really wanted to give this a try.


I'm ending here, even though it's not a good place to end it. I just got tired of writing and I would continue it in the next chapter. It's not like I'm missing anymore plots. The plot would sum up in the next chapter and the problem would be presented. I gave you guys the gist of what's happening. I might make this a five chapter novel, or perhaps if my great talent of writing kicks in. I could extend it to ten. I'm not sure, tell me what you think, maybe it'll give that spark.