Disclaimer: No (sigh)…I do not own the characters of Naruto…they all belong to that wonderful genius Masashi Kishimoto.

Setting: (Slight AU).This story takes place after the time skip, so the characters who were then 12 are now 15. Sakura is a Chuunin. Naruto is back at Konoha, but because he was off training for so long, he kept missing the exams and is still classified as a Genin (even though he's way stronger than one ;p)

A/N: I just want to say thank you to the people who took the time to review my other story "Aishteru Sakura…I Love You". It's people like you who give authors a reason to keep on writing.

THANKS :-)

Aishteru Naruto…I Love You

Part 1:

Breathe in deeply…breathe out deeply...breathe in deeply once again…breathe out slowly and steadily…alright...I think that I'm ready to do it now…okay, I've got to focus and do this right the first time…Tsunande-sama expects me to get this move down by the end of the day…now relax…concentrate…focus my chakra…and…do…it…NOW!

Sakura released a loud cry, tightened her glove-covered fist, and slammed her entire hand into the side of the mountain that stood before her.

The mountain, which was actually more like a very big hill but its sheer size qualified it as a mountain, began to rumble and shake, and huge pieces of rock began to break off and fall down towards the earth.

Sakura quickly jumped back and away from the heavily falling rocks, and when she was far enough away, she stopped and looked back towards the mountain.

When the dust had settled and cleared, and she saw how much damage she had done to the rocky mountain, Sakura congratulated herself on a job well done.

I did it…I really did it! Tsunande-sama is going to be so pleased!

Sakura then began walking back towards the mountain to get a better look at the damage that had been done, when she suddenly heard someone with a very familiar voice begin clapping and cheering loudly behind her.

Releasing a deep sigh, but with a slight smile working at the corner of her lips, Sakura turned around to see Naruto sitting on top of a huge boulder waving and yelling excitedly at her.

"Hey, hey Sakura-chan! Great job with the mountain!" Naruto shouted as Sakura began walking slowly towards him.

"Hey Naruto-kun," Sakura said with an exasperated smile on her face. "Do you really have to be quite so loud? I'm sure that everyone in the village can hear you from here," Sakura said, the smile on her face becoming one of gentle affection for her excitable friend.

Naruto could always bring a smile to her face. He was one of her best friends...the other one being Ino…and she didn't know how she would have gotten along these last few years without his friendship.

Then the dark thought crossed her mind that she had had to adapt three years ago, when a certain dark-haired boy had walked out of her life…and never looked back.

Sakura shook her head slightly to rid herself of these dark thoughts. She then focused all of her attention on Naruto who had jumped down from atop the boulder to stand in front of her.

Naruto was now slightly taller that she was, as he had grown a few inches while he had been off training with Jiraiya.

"Ahh, Sakura-chan…that's so mean…I came all this way just to cheer you on, and all you have to say to me is that I'm being too loud…I'm hurt Sakura-chan…really hurt," Naruto exclaimed, clutching a hand to his heart and looking at Sakura with wide, wounded blue eyes.

Sakura looked at Naruto quietly for a few seconds, before she burst out laughing at his crazy antics.

"Okay, okay, Naruto-kun…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I take it all back…you weren't being loud at all…is there anything that I can do to make it up to you?" Sakura asked as she looked up at Naruto in fond amusement.

"Hmm…let me think about this for a few seconds…hmm…okay! I've got it! You can treat me to a great big bowl of ramen at the Ichiraku Ramen Shop!" Naruto exclaimed as he grabbed Sakura by the arm and began pulling her in the direction of Konoha.

"I should have known," Sakura said, laughing as she allowed herself to be pulled towards the village.

As they walked along the path that led back to Konoha, Sakura listened in quiet amusement as Naruto told her a crazy story that involved him, Konohamaru, a chicken, a piece of wire, and one very pissed off Tsunande.

Sakura listened quietly to the story for a minute or two longer before she slowly bent her head forward, and rested it gently against Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto stopped talking and looked down at Sakura in mild concern.

"Hey Sakura-chan…are you all right? You aren't coming down with a fever or anything like that, are you?" Naruto asked worriedly.

Sakura shook her head slightly against Naruto's shoulder, before she slowly raised her head and gave him a reassuring smile.

"No, I'm alright Naruto-kun…it's just that its been a while since we've had a chance to talk to each other privately like this…I was just enjoying the moment," Sakura said as she continued looking up at her friend.

"Naruto-kun…how are things between you and Hinata-chan coming along? When we last spoke you told me that you and Hinata-chan were going out on your second official date...so how was it? Did you guys have a good time?" Sakura asked with a teasing smile on her face.

"Who me and Hine-chan? Yeah, we had a great time! We went out on a picnic together by the lake and she brought the most amazing food with her…we had an awesome day!" Naruto exclaimed as a happy smile spread across his face.

Sakura felt a very strange and unexpected pang in her chest when she heard the nickname that Naruto had given to Hinata...she didn't understand why the thought of Naruto and Hinata together was bothering her.

After all, she had known that Hinata had liked Naruto for years now…everyone had…including Naruto. He had finally accepted that he and Sakura would never be anything more than really good friends…best friends…but still only friends.

Naruto had finally asked Hinata out on a date a couple of months after he had returned from training with Jiraiya, and the two of them had been seeing each other ever since.

Sakura figured that she was just feeling a little lonely…it seemed as if everyone that she knew was dating someone else right now.

Neji and TenTen had gotten together, and TenTen now walked around with a permanent smile plastered across her face. The only way that you knew that Neji was as happy with the relationship as she was, was to catch him in those rare moments when he thought that no one was looking.

Another couple…and this one had really surprised Sakura…was Shikamaru and Ino. Sakura would never understand how these two had gotten together…Shikamaru was the kind of guy who didn't like women who were either too bossy or too loud…and Ino fit both of these descriptions perfectly.

But even though she didn't understand how they had gotten together, she was still very happy for the both of them.

So that meant that Kiba, Shino, Choji, and Lee were the only ones who weren't dating anyone right now...even though Lee still tried every once in a while to try to get her to go out on a date with him.

But Sakura always stood firm in her decision to not date him…to not date anyone in fact…it was just too hard for her to take the chance of opening her heart up to anyone else and have them break it the way Sasuke had.

Sasuke…she had been trying her best not to think about him…too late now.

So she did what she always did when thoughts of Sasuke clawed their way into her mind…she buried them.

Now turning back to Naruto, and giving him her full and undivided attention, Sakura said playfully to him, "Hey Naruto-kun…I bet you can't beat me to the gates of the village!"

"Ha! I will definitely be the winner of this race!" Naruto with a confident smile on his face.

"Ready…set…go!" they both cried out as they began running full speed up the path that would eventually lead them back to the gates of the village.

The sound of their laughter echoed softly in the gentle breeze behind them...

To be continued…
A/N: Hey minna:-) Please let me know what you thought of my story and if you want me to continue it by leaving a review.

Even if it is just one word: good, bad, yes, or no. Authors put a lot of time, effort, and energy into writing these stories for your reading pleasure. So please review :-)