Alright, this is my first crack at writing Naruto, so I'm probably way off when it comes to personalities. I think I got it right though. This little piece of insanity was brought on by my thinking about Sai not understanding feelings such as love (again, way off. I know he understands… but this wouldn't have worked out.) Just a short, Naru/Sai with a hint of Naru/Saku, and a little hint of angst at the end

"I don't see why you put yourself through this kind of torture, Naruto." Sai said, watching his teammate get shot down for about the fiftieth time. It was a sunny day in Konoha, and the members of Team Seven were taking a day off. What had started out as a simple lunch al fresco, had turned into Naruto trying every which way to convince Sakura to go out on a date with him. Now the blonde was sporting quite an impressive collection of lumps on his head- a result of his 'constant pestering' and a very annoyed Sakura was walking away. The dark haired shinobi watched her go from his spot against the trunk of a tree, wondering why the hell someone would subject themselves to this. With a sigh, Naruto sat up and rubbed his throbbing head.

"You wouldn't get it if I told you." He said, reaching for the ramen Sakura was kind enough to leave behind. Slurping the delicious noodles, Naruto almost missed the blank stare he was receiving.

"I'd understand if you explained it to me." Sai said with a little shrug, watching the other boy eat. Naruto shook his head.

"No you wouldn't. It has to do with actual feelings, something you'd never get." There was just the tiniest hint of animosity in his words. True, Naruto didn't mind Sai, but he never really liked the idea of someone who was so inept at feeling normal, human emotions. One dark eyebrow arched gracefully upward as Sai spoke again.

"I've read a lot about lust and sex, but I've never seen someone do what you do," Catching the confused look on Naruto's face, Sai explained himself. "Badger a girl for a date, get shot down and still keep trying. If I remember correctly, the kind of people who thrive on pain are called masochists." One finger came up to his lips as he thought.

"It's not lust," Naruto snapped, giving his teammate a harsh glare with his crystal blue eyes. "I have no intention of sleeping with Sakura."

"Then what is your intention? If you don't want sex, what are you after?" Holy hell. Why was he having this conversation about sex and Sakura with Sai of all people? Clearing his throat, the blonde looked away, a noticeable pink tint in his cheeks.

"Why do you care all of a sudden?

"I'm merely trying to study this bizarre emotion you display every time Sakura's around." Sai didn't miss a beat.

"It's complicated."

"I think I can understand." Naruto sighed; he really wasn't going to drop this was he? Pinching the bridge of his nose, Naruto closed his eyes.

"Love, Sai. It's called love." He opened his eyes in time to see the dark haired boy tilt his head ever-so-slightly in confusion. "You really don't know what love is? Come on, even someone like you should know." The pale boy shook his head slightly.

"I may have read about it once-" He started before Naruto waved his hand at him.

"You can't just read about it," He said, shaking his head. "You have to experience it firsthand."

"How does one experience it?" Naruto let out a loud groan.

"You're hopeless, you know that?" His eyes flicked upward as he rolled them. "It's like… uhhhh," The blonde struggled though the right words. "That fluttery feeling you get when they're near." Sai's look was that of utter confusion. He wasn't going to get this, unless Naruto gave him an example. But how the hell could he show someone love? The only way was if Naruto- oh hell no, he wasn't going to do that. There was no way in hell… no way was he going to be the example.

"I don't get it," Sai's soft voice broke through his thoughts. The raved had moved and was now kneeling directly in front of Naruto, hands in his lap. "Is this feeling so strong that it makes someone a masochist?"

"Holy fuck just work with me here! It's not masochistic, Sai," He was going to have to be the example if his friend was ever going to understand it. "It's powerful, and it's the most important feeling humans have." With a resigned sigh, Naruto reached out and picked Sai's hand, holding gently.

"For example," He said, his thumb gently sweeping over the back of the pale hand. "Just one touch from the person you love can bring utter happiness. Something like hand holding is a simple way to express feeling." Sai nodded, taking this as though it was a lesson. "It's wanting to be close to the person, to feel they're skin pressed against yours."

"And we're back to sex."

"It's not about sex!" Naruto snapped. "God, how can I make you understand this? It's not all about sex, it's not something you can study or read about, it's something few find, and fewer hold onto. It's the feeling of pure bliss whenever they speak to you, touch you, smile. It's hoping that they'll press their lips against yours, or even just brush their hand over your cheek or through your hair." He stopped his rant when he saw the pensive expression on the artist's face.

"You feel all of that towards Sakura?"

"That and more," All of a sudden, he caught the crestfallen expression on Sai's face. "What is it?"

"I've felt what you've been describing, I could just never figure out what it was."

"Oh don't tell me you think you're in love with Sakura!" Naruto's voice was filled with competitiveness as he thought of someone else in love with his beloved Sakura. But that dissipated as Sai shook his head.

"No, it's not Sakura." Curiosity was eating away at Naruto. He had to know who Sai thought he was in love with.

"Tell me tell!" He said, rolling up to his knees like an excited little kid. He had about three seconds of the excited feeling before he was roughly pulled forward, nearly into Sai's lap. The artist wrapped his skinny arms around the other boy's shoulders, squeezing tightly. "Sai- ngh- What the hell are you doing?" He tried to push away, but the other boy had him in a very tight hold.

"So this is what you were talking about," Sai's voice was warm and soft as it drifted into Nauto's ear. "I think I get it now." One soft kiss was bestowed of Naruto's cheek before he was released. He half expected the blonde to smack him, but instead he got the other reaction: the wide-eyed gape.

"Sai." His voice came out as thin as paper as he stared at the onyx-eyed boy. The artist face broke out in a small smile as he stood. Tentatively, he reached out and lightly stroked Naruto's cheek before cutting off body all contact.

"I get what love is," He said, tucking his hands behind his head. "Something you and Sakura share… Something we will never have." The words held such sadness, but his face was still contorted in that fake smile. Without another word, the boy stalked away, leaving Naruto kneeling on the grass alone. He swallowed thickly. What had started out as a simple lesson had turned into something horrible. He had taught Sai two things: what love is, and that his love would never be returned.

A/N Sorry for the sucky ending! I couldn't think of anything! But, I think I did alright for it.