---Someone stared at two people talking, waiting and hating. As the people separated, he (she?) thought I'll get you…then he'll be mine…---

Sakura shivered, the feeling that she was being watched had returned sending chills up her spine. The only thing was, no one was there to watch her…at least no one that she knew of. Ever since Sasuke left to join Orochimaru five years ago, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Konoha, was so empty. As she pondered, Sakura walked towards the meeting point, the memorial.

"SAKURA!!!!!" A figure waved at her from a distance and shouted. "WAIT FOR ME!!!!!" It was Naruto Uzamaki, Konoha's number one pain in the butt and boy who held the nine-tailed fox spirit. Also, he was the guy Sakura liked, after Sasuke had left of course. As he was hopping along the ground while pulling up his pants, she ignored him…on the outside at least.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!!! Inside her head she screamed in sheer frustration. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU!!!!! This interesting voice she liked to call Inner Sakura, which was pretty much her first reaction to everything.

"Oh, there you are Naruto." Sakura responded as if she had just noticed he was there. "What were you doing?"

"I really, really had to pee…" Naruto whined, "And you know I had like twenty liters of water before we got here and, well,…I couldn't hold it…" Sometimes he was extremely immature, and this was one of them.

"Well then, let's go!!!! Kakashi-sensei is expecting us!!!" Sakura's heart began to race as she grabbed his hand and began dragging him off.

"Um…y'see, I got a note from him this morning saying that training was canceled today…" He looked around sheepishly.

YES!!!!!! SCORE ONE FOR SAKURA!!!!! Inner Sakura's fist pumped the air in triumph.

"WHAT?!" she jumped up in faked outrage, "WHY DID HE DO THAT?!"

Naruto cringed, "Something about the pervy sage's newest book being out and how he just had to get it…" He shook his head, "Or something like that…" when he was done, he began to relax and walk the way he normally did: eyes closed, arms back, lazy stroll.

"Well, since there's no training today…" Sakura stammered, something she normally didn't do.

SAY IT!!!!!!!!!

"Why don't you go buy yourself some ramen, my treat…" She smiled and handed him some Ryo.

"WAHOOOOO!!!!!" he whooped, "THANK'S SAKURA!!!!!" He then proceeded to run to his favorite ramen stand as quick as he could.

WHY DIDN'T I SAY IT?!!!!! I'M SUCH A…A TOTAL…AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

"Um, Sakura?" a soft voice caught her attention and she turned around. It was Hinata, another one of Konoha's finest ninja.

KYAAAA!!!!!!

"Oh, hi Hinata." Sakura's voice cracked with fear as she addressed the shy young girl, "I didn't see you there."

"It's okay, I figured you wouldn't…" Hinata stared at the ground, twiddling her fingers as she stood. "So," she continued, "How's Sasuke? Is he still hanging with Orochimaru?"

Sakura slumped over, Hinata hit a soft spot, "Ehhh…" Sometimes she hated questions like that. "How's Neji? Still hating the world?" She was hoping for a change of subject.

Hinata followed suit, "Well…" The tables had been turned on her and she had no way of changing that fact. "Better…" Yeah, let's say that. "You still have a crush on Sasuke or have you found another man?" A cheap shot, but she took it anyways.

OHHHH NO YOU DON'T…YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS…Fury built up inside of her, ready to burst.

"Well, yes and…yes!" Sakura smiled slyly and teased Hinata by looking innocent.

"Who?"

"Ummm, well…Naruto! That's who!!!"

OH YEAH BABY!!!!! TAKE THAT YOU STUCK-UP HO!!!!!

Hinata tried not to react to this news, she knew it was coming. "Wow, and have you told him yet?"

"No, not quite…"

"And why not?"

"Ummm… Do you promise not to laugh at me?"

"I promise." She made an X motion over her heart.

"I haven't told him because…" Sakura paused for dramatic effect. "I was too shy," she finished lamely.

"Oh, wow…" Hinata gasped, "I'd never thought there would be a day when you, of all the ninja in the world, would be shy!" Inside she smiled, Now's my chance for revenge…"I mean you're so good at jutsu and I've only just perfected this one I made" Now for the coup de grace!!!!

"Oh, that's so sad…" Sakura sighed.

YAHOO!!! THE PRISSY "QUEEN-OF-ALL-SHE-SEES" JUST PERFECTED A JUTSU!!!!!!! GO SAKURA, GO SAKURA, GO SAKURA…She gave herself a mental high-five.

"Well…I just need to test it." Hinata looked expectantly at Sakura as if she was waiting for her to drop dead.

"I'll test it."

"THANK YOU SAKURA-SEMPAI!!!!!! I swear it won't hurt!!!!!" Hinata gushed fake compliments as she rapidly made hand signs. At least not physically…she grinned and yelled "TRUTH JUTSU!!!!!!!!"

As Hinata's fingers pressed against Sakura's head and knocked her on her butt, she was very surprised., "WHAT WAS THAT?!!!!! WHAT KIND OF A CHEESEY, SUCKY JUTSU WAS THAT LAME EXCUSE FOR A POEM?!?!?!" She clapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that!!! "WHAT DID YOU DO YOU PRISSY STUCK UP---" Quickly stopping herself from offending one of the most powerful people in all of Konoha, she took deep breaths as she tried to regain her composure.

"Sucks doesn't it." Hinata sneered as she leaned over the fallen Sakura, "Not being able to repress some things. I know how that feels, every day I act like your friend when I hate your guts."

"WHAD'DYA' MEAN 'HATE MY GUTS' ?! WHAT DID I DO?" Sakura screamed.

"Oh, something very simple, in fact, almost trivial." She stood up and closed her eyes in thought.

"WHAT?!!!"

"You took my Naruto." Hinata stated matter-of-factly, "I loved him first when you has Sasuke. Then, when Sasuke left you, you whore took my Naruto when I needed him the most." She turned away, "I made that jutsu especially for you and I hope it lasts as long as I think it will. Have fun trying to talk to my Naruto now." And with those words, she was gone.

"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!!!!!!" Sakura cried to herself out loud, "WHAT'LL NARUTO THINK WHEN HE HEARS ME?!!!!! OHHHHH I'M SOOOO DEAD…"

As she worried, someone snuck up behind her. "Sakura?"

A hand touched her shoulder and she whipped around, slapping whoever it was, "BACK OFF YOU CREEP!!!!!!!!!!" Then she noticed it was Naruto. He had a handprint on his face from where she had slapped him and tears were running down his face. "Oh I'm so sorry!!!!! I thought you were some pervert trying to take my virginity…"

"Aw, s'okay." He shrugged, "I've had worse when I was training with the odd sage. Hey!" She flinched and turned around to face him. "Something's different about you…I dunno'. It's like, you're not yourself…"

"HA-HA-HA-HA!!!! DON'T BE RIDICULOUS!!!!!! THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!!!!!WHAT DID THEY PUT IN YOUR RAMEN NARUTO?" Then she calmed down, "I'm tired, let's go home."

"Yeah let's go to sleep" So I can figure out what's wrong with Sakura, he thought as they walked to the residence where they were staying. She's kinda' creeping me out.

---And so the two of them walked into the sunset as another jealous rival watched them, hatred burning in his eyes. I shall not let this pass he thought, the precious shall not be stolen by that child…I will pass my judgment soon and shall have my precious again. Then the figure slipped into the shadows chuckling evilly to himself as he went.---