Chapter One

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"Naruto you asshole! Wake up!" A voice yells from outside the door of Naruto Uzumaki's apartment. The person behind the door hears silence and gives a groan, but after several long moments the door doesn't open. "Oh come on Naruto! Kakashi-sensei is going to have our asses if we don't show up on time!" Within the apartment is total darkness; inside, it is quite clean with everything in order. Books and scrolls are filed together on the shelf in the living room, which is of decent size. There is no dirt of stains on the tan carpet, with the three cushioned couch being just about spotless.

The moderately small kitchen is completely clean as well. In the cabinets, all dishes are clean and placed nicely. The counters are cleanly wiped, with the stove oven being dirtless. The ebony double sick is empty and clean, the floor of the kitchen is without crap and unwanted dirt, in all the apartment is spotless.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"Naruto! I know your ass is in there!" Though the person could not hear from outside, a groan was voiced from inside the pitch black room. The bamming continued until the origin of the groan finally opened their eyes and started to get out of bed. Grabbing the bottle of sake by the bed, they take a swig. Leaving the room, they traveled through the dark apartment, reaching the door. The person on the outside gave a sigh of annoyance as they waited to see if they needed to look under the mat. They give a sigh of relief when they hear the locks to the door opening, and as the door opened, the words literally died in their throat as a furious blush colors their face, eyes roaming over the athletic very well toned body of the young man in front of them.

Due to their own height, they looked up to Naruto who stands at 5'10 and seems to weigh a perfectly distributed solid two hundred pounds or so. A messy mop of wild golden blond hair sits on his head, his bangs nearly reaching his sapphire blue eyes that are completely focused on them. Since he is shirtless, his visitor admires is sculpted chest and wonderful arms, fruit of his hard labor. "Sakura-chan," he speaks in a almost guttural voice due to just waking up, and he takes a quick swig as he himself admires her.

He looks down at her considering she does stand at 5'6. Her hair is an odd yet beautiful natural pink cascading down her back, two bangs framing the side of her face. She has fair skin with strong emerald green eyes that hold slight annoyance. Sakura isn't exactly the curviest girl but it doesn't take away her appeal, as she does own an athletically toned body that she is happy to show off. She doesn't have much in the chest department, however, her butt is quite an eye catcher that goes well with her strong thighs. For her choice of clothing she wears a red sleeveless turtleneck halter top, showing off her abs, along with black pants that sit a bit low on her waist. She wears shinguard boots and adds a pair of gloves, her headband is tied on her head keeping her hair back a bit. "There a reason you are banging on my door at seven in the morning?" He questions, and Sakura Haruno rolls her eyes, even though a blush still colors her face.

"Teme! It's fucking One in the afternoon!" she growls out of irritation while Naruto just gives her a blank look, which is his eyes half lidded and his lips pursed in a thin line.

"What's your point?"

"Agh! Move!" she snaps, pushing him out of the way and entering his home with grumbles. Naruto rolls his own eyes with his own grumbles as he closes the door and following after his teammate.

"Oh gee, Sakura, please come in." Sakura ignores him as she flicks on the light to his living room, heading to the kitchen. "What are you doing?" he asks as stops at the threshold of the kitchen while she goes through his fridge, pulling out eggs, batter, seasoning and a package of bacon.

"Making you breakfast, what else does it look like?" she responds with a mutter, then grabbing frozen biscuits along with a few pans and his pancake maker.

"It's One in the afternoon remember?" he responds sarcastically, walking into the kitchen and tossing the empty bottle of sake into the trash. He goes into his freezer and pulls out another one, and just as he is about to open it, Sakura snatches it from his hand. She replaces it with a glass of water that is currently fizzing. In response, his eye twitches as Sakura opens it herself, takes a light swig and puts it to the side. "I was about to drink that…"

"You've had your fill of alcohol this afternoon Naruto," she tells him with a simple tone and gestures to the water in his hand. "That will help your head," then she gets to seperating the eggs but gives him a light look, "And will you go take a shower? I'm serious about the meeting dummy," Naruto rolls his eyes as he downs the drink of water. His head is starting to hurt a bit, and he did need something else besides alcohol to help his throat.

"Thank you," he throws in, missing the small smile that appears on Sakura's face. "What's the point of even rushing again? Kakashi isn't going to be there when we show up anyway," Naruto mutters while Sakura shaking her head with a sigh as she doesn't stop her movements.

"That's not the point Naruto. Whether Kakashi-sensei shows up on time or not, as Shinobi we are supposed to be on time regardless," Naruto doesn't say anything at first, simply watching her before he makes a face.

"Then why are you making me breakfast?"

"Because you need to eat something and I don't want to hear you bitch and complain later about how hungry you are, and you aren't getting ramen either!" she gives him a pointed look while Naruto whines a bit. "I swear, if you did not have an alarm clock, or me, you would sleep all day. You're just as lazy as Shikamaru," she grumbles, but tenses when she feels a pair of arms wrap around her from behind, and also feeling cool breath on the back of her neck. "What are you doing baka?" she sighs, though relaxes in his embrace.

"Proving that I can do more than Shikamaru ever could, and to give you my thanks," he states, placing lingering kisses on the back of her neck, making her shiver a little. But despite the fact Sakura is enjoying it, there is one problem, maybe several.

"Okay, stop Naruto," she tells him firmly, and stops where he is, waiting for reasons for him not to keep going. "First you reek of sake and outdoors, second your still drunk, third I am not really in the mood to be going through changes with you, and four there is no time to be fucking with you, go take your shower and get dressed," she lists calmly and sharply, but makes no moves to get out of his hold. Naruto however sighs as he lets go of her but he does surprise her as he grabs her chin, making her turn to him. Sakura gives him a look, "Go take your shower…"

"Fine!" Naruto huffs as he turns to leave and Sakura turns back to her cooking, though an amused smile touches her lips. No longer sensing him and hearing the shower start, Sakura focuses on her cooking, but as she does so her smile becomes a little bigger. She enjoys cooking for Naruto, she enjoys doing lots of things for Naruto because he is her best friend and honestly, she might be the only real friend he has besides Sasuke. He is a bit socially awkward when other people are concerned, he isn't the type to shy away from people and he's anything but an introvert. He is alot of things, but one word that fits Naruto is blunt, with other people, he has not a care if he hurts their feelings or makes them feel good. He only considers himself and her.

She has to guess it is because of how he was treated when he was a kid, in fact he is still treated the same way. She nor any of the kids their age no why, but the older generation does, they just can't tell them, if what her mother says is true. She has a feeling Naruto knows, but he won't tell her. While it does make her a little sad that he won't, she understands. Maybe he is afraid she will leave him alone if he tells or, or start acting differently, there is a whole range of things he is probably worried about, but none of these things will happen because she loves him too much.

She just wishes he realizes it.

"I have to clean this place up," Naruto says quietly as he looks around his dirty room. Clothes are tossed all around the room, he doesn't know whether they are clean or dirty. He scratches his head as the towel is still wrapped around his waist and then he looks to his messy bed to see a pair of folded clean clothes sitting on the bed and frowns in thought. They were not there before he took his shower, and he glances to the doorway where the smell of food is entering through and he gives a small smile. "Thank you Sakura-chan!" he calls out, but he gets no response, not that he expected one. As he gets dressed, he can't keep the grin off his face as he thinks about the girl he is in love with.

To think that showing up late one day actually lead him to her...

"Guess I gotta get up."

Nine year old Naruto Uzumaki sighed as he rolled out of his bed. A sleepy look was on his face as he yawned, and stretched. Smacking his lips he gave a grimace as his stomach growled angrily. He would never understand how he could eat so many bowls of ramen but still be hungry the next morning.

"Yeah yeah," he muttered as he left his bed and headed for his kitchen. He frowned tiredly as he tried to come up with an idea and thought of something a moment later. He grabbed a bowl and found his cereal. He poured it in with a grin and went to his fridge. Humming to himself he grabbed the milk and moved to open it. Flipping it over he poured...or at least he tried too.

"What the?" he blinked and saw only a splash of milk come out. "No way." he tapped the carton more as if more would magically spill out. But no. None came, not even a drip. Immediately he felt rage but then he deflated, wondering why the hell he put two drops of milk back in the fridge.

He looked back at his cereal grimacing how dry it was. He had no milk...what the hell was he going to use? His eyes then wandered to the sink and he considered using water. But that was only for a moment before he shivered in disgust and shook his head. He heard his stomach growl, but he ignored it and simply sighed.

Leaving his kitchen he took off his clothes and headed for his bathroom and started the shower. While he waited for the water to heat up he brushed his teeth quickly. Then he got on only to jump and nearly slip and fall from how cold it was. "What the hell man?" he scowled. The water was freezing! Why didn't it get hot? Was the landlord messing with him again?

Of course he was, he didnt even have to ask that question. Giving another sigh, he reached for the soap...and continued to reach but...grabbed nothing. Looking to where his hand was, there was no soap. Well there was but it was a small piece of it.

Now he knew he wasnt going crazy yet. There was a new box of soap just the other day! There was no way he went through it like that in two days! Then his mind went back to the milk, there was no way he left that lack of shit! Someone was messing with him!

"God damn it!" he cursed. How the hell was he going to get clean? Then his alarm went off, telling him he needed to leave for class or he would be late. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" quickly he turned off the water and left the shower, heading to his room where he began to throw some clothes on. But as he did so, he made look of disgust as he smelled his clothes.

He wanted to take them off and change but there was no time. So regretfully, he held his breath and continued to put on the clothes. Once they were on he ignored his stomach and headed out the door, closing it behind him. He took off at top speed, passing by all the villagers that glared at him or scowled.

But today he didn't have time to pay attention to them. He didn't have time to wonder why they hated him. He didn't have time to care. He was late, and he really didn't want to be chewed out by Iruka more than usual. Maybe Iruka wouldn't flip today? Maybe he would just sigh and tell him to take his seat!

"You're late!" Iruka snapped at Naruto who walked in the class, interrupting him giving the lesson. "What's your excuse this time huh?!" Iruka demanded with Naruto frowning as Iruka scowled. "Never mind I don't want to hear it."

"Oh man what is that smell?!" Kiba Inuzuka choked as he covered his nose while Akamaru whined a bit. "Ew! It's the dobe! You guys smell that he reeks!" Kiba taunted with a laugh, pointing at Naruto. "Look at him! I bet he didn't even brush his teeth!"

This caused the class to start laughing as they mocked Naruto. He and Iruka looked at them, a bit loss for words. Iruka frowned as he looked to Naruto to see he had blank look on his face, curious and sad eyes.

"Man not only is he an idiot but he's dirty too!"

"Didn't your mom teach you to have good hygiene? Oh wait!"

"What a nasty loser!"

"Hey hey dobe! You want me to lend you a bar of soap or are you okay with the trash?"

Naruto hung his head low a bit, as he did his best not to get angry not to show he was upset. Usually he would flip them off or even laugh with them to show he didn't really care. But no, today was different. He just hung his head low and waited for the taunting to stop. His fist balled up a bit as it continued, why weren't they stopping? Why?!

"Alright that's enough out of all!" Iruka told them sternly. However they continued to laugh and he tried again. " BE QUIET!" using his demonic head jutsu. They instantly shut their mouths and he gave an nod. "Alright Naruto, go find a seat quickly." at the order Naruto stepped on the steps to find a seat. However he got the same reaction for every seat that was empty beside someone.

"Ew! No, go over there."

"Hell no stinky."

"Sure...sike! Like I want my nose to fall off."

"No you cant sit by me, I dont like you."

Each rejection, whether it be a glare, or insult continued to hurt him. Iruka having enough, spoke up. "Naruto, would you just sit down already? Sit next to Ino."

"What?! But Iruka sensei! He smells and I'm pretty! I can't let a loser like him sit next to me!" Ino argued. Iruka didn't seem to hear any of it and was about to force it when a hand shot up.

"He can sit next to me sensei." everyone blinked and looked to see Sakura Haruno raising her hand, an empty seat beside her. "I don't mind at all," she smiled. Naruto blushed lightly as he passed Ino and slid into the spot besides Sakura.

"Thank you." he said quietly to her, not even looking her in the eye. He turned away, focusing on Iruka who decided to return to his lesson. He expected an insult from the girl, or something rude.

"You're welcome!"

But not that.

Naruto didn't say a word the entire class period. He didn't raise his hand to answer questions, he didn't even mutter right answers when someone got it wrong. Silence. He felt quite uncomfortable sitting next to Sakura. Though she hadn't said or done anything mean or rude, he just felt like a burden to her. After all he was stinky and his entire outfit is an eyesore.

So when the bell rang signaling it was lunch time, he was the first one to stand and be out the door. He was so fast out, he didn't even hear Kiba's snide comment which was, "Typical. Last one to show up, first one to leave." Kiba then waved his hand a bit to dispel the smell, "He sure knows how to leave behind a trail of shit though," this made some of the kids laugh while Sakura had enough.

"Oh shut up Kiba!" She snapped at him. "You're just happy that for once no one talked about your dog breath. Which honestly smells worse. Makes me wonder if if you ever brush your teeth."

"I brush my teeth!"

"Well then you need to do a better job." With that Sakura left the classroom and a fuming Kiba. With her lunch in her hand, she looked around the campus and couldn't spot Naruto. Then she caught a glimpse of orange. Smiling softly she made her way over to the tree that Naruto usually sat at, but this time he sat behind the tree.

She stepped a bit close and heard him sniffle while wiping away his tears. "Hey," she called and he jumped a bit in surprise, turning to look at her. "Is it okay if I sit here?" Naruto gazed at her for a few moments before he nodded.

Sakura watched him stand up and about to leave but she quickly squashed that idea. "Hey! You don't have to leave!" hearing this confused Naruto as he looked at her curiously. "I actually wanted to sit with you. If that's okay with you?"

"Why?" he wondered and Sakura gave a smile as she shrugged.

"Because you seem like you could use a friend," She said honestly. Naruto's eyes widened upon hearing that word...friend. He never had a friend before. So hearing this offer was...mind boggling to him.

"Y-you wanna be my friend?" he asked cautiously and she nodded. "Why?" Sakura smiled softly as she already had an answer for him.

"Because I feel everyone needs a friend," Sakura told him before she sat down at the tree. Naruto watched her and blushed lightly when she patted the spot next to her. He sat down beside her as she began to pull out her lunch.

She then looked to Naruto to see how far away he was. But also he looked to be on the defensive. He was cautious It made her frown slightly, but she spoke up, "You know Naruto you can sit a little closer, I won't bite you," she joked lightly.

Naruto didn't laugh though as he had thoughts running through his head. "Why are you being nice to me?" he questioned first and she looked at him curiously. "How come you didn't laugh when everyone else was? You even offered me a seat knowing how much I stink. Why?"

Sakura had a thoughtful expression as she gave her answer. "Like I said, everyone needs a friend. Besides, what Kiba said wasn't funny." Sakura muttered.

"I never see you laugh."

Sakura frowned before she turned to Naruto, "Because nothing is ever funny. Either the jokes are lame or they are hurting someone's feelings for a good laugh," Sakura responded. "So thats why."

Naruto only gazed at her in thought before his stomach gave a very loud roar. Sakura blinked in vast surprise as she looked at Naruto's stomach. "Wow. Did you eat?" she wondered and Naruto frowned, deciding not to answer. By his silence and the look in his eyes, she got her answer.

Sakura then opened her lunch which was a rather tasty looking bento. Turning to the blonde she gave him a smile. "Here have some!"

"What?"

"Eat with me silly," Sakura clarified. "I usually don't eat it all by myself, but if we eat it together, it'll all be gone." Naruto was speechless then looked as if he was going to argue. But before he could, she put a spoonful of food into his mouth, "Just eat will ya?"

Naruto chewed as he glared at her a bit. But he completely had wide eyes at how good it was. Once he swallowed he gave a light blush as spoke quietly, "May I have more?" Sakura gave a giggle as she nodded her head and began to feed him.

As she did so, Naruto still had a blush on his face. He wanted to tell her he could feed himself but she looked happy and content feeding him. Plus he liked it, it was the most attention anyone ever gave him. It made him feel all good and warm inside.

"Well well, what do we have here?" a voice sneered, ending Naruto's thoughts as well as Sakura's. The two turned to see several kids peeking at them with sneers and smirks. "Two lovebirds sitting behind a tree,"

"What are you doing with this loser Sakura?" one of the kids wondered and Sakura frowned. "Don't you have better things to do?"

"I have better things to do than talking with you idiots." Sakura scowled. "Go away, we don't want you here." she waved them off.

"We can go anywhere we damn well please forehead!" another boy said. "Plus ol stinky wants us here, don't you stinky?" the boy sneered at Naruto. Naruto said nothing as he looked away from them.

"Leave him alone Toji! He hasn't done anything to you! Just go away!" Sakura glared.

"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do huh?!" Toji demanded as he got in her face. Sakura stood up to him, not flinching. "You think your all badass because your mom is the head councilwoman?" Toji sneered. "She aint shit! Just a whore who fucked her way to her position! And have a useless ugly daughter with stupid pink hair and huge forehead!"

Sakura's confidence fell as she looked away with a frown. Toji sneered at her amd before he could say anything else, he got a face full of fist. Toji fell back, holding his face while his friends looked surprised. "Take it back! Sakura-chan is not ugly! Her hair is not stupid and her forehead is just fine! Take it back!"

"You damn...ow! Don't just stand there idiots!" Toji snarled at his boys. "Kick his ass!" the boys nodded and swarmed Naruto who tried fighting back, but it didn't really work. Sakura was stunned for a few moments, but decided to help but she was being held back by two boys.

"Naruto!" she called out as he was being beaten on by the group. "Stop it! Leave him alone!" she screamed. But no one listened as the stomped and punched Naruto who just laid there trying to protect himself. Toji stomped on Naruto particularly hard.

"You damn loser!" Toji growled out with each stomp. " What gives you the right?!" he demanded. "Huh?! What gives you the right to touch me?!"

"Enough!" The kids heard as Iruka appeared before them and knocked all the kids of Naruto. "Let her go!" he snapped at the two boys holding Sakura. They did so and Iruka helped up Naruto before glaring at the kids. "What the hell is going on?!"

"Iruka sensei he started it!" Toji snapped pointing at the dazed Naruto. "He hit me first! For no reason!"

"Shut up Toji," Iruka snapped at the boy. He then looked to Sakura. "Sakura, what happened?" Sakura glared back at Toji before she spoke.

"Naruto and I were minding our own business, enjoying lunch when these assholes came up and starting bullying Naruto," She informed looking to Iruka who glanced between the kids. "I defended Naruto, Toji insulted me and Naruto hit him. Toji then ordered his friends to start beating on Naruto, which is what you walked in on," Sakura explained with Iruka huffing as he turned to the boys.

"Everyone here besides Sakura is in the wrong," he told them, as he looked to Naruto. "You shouldn't have hit him. But you shouldn't have came to be bullies," Iruka told the group of boys with a glare. "For your excessive use of force, all of you," he pointed at the group, "Will be given detention. I will inform your parents," he told the group. "Now beat it," he ordered. The boys scowled at Naruto and Sakura before they walked off. Iruka then turned to Naruto, "I'm sorry for what happened Naruto. Would you like to go to the nurse?"

"No!" Naruto refused adamantly, which took Sakura by surprise. "I'll be fine."

"Naruto, you're not fine! You should go to the nurse," Sakura insisted but he shook his head. "Iruka-sensei, make him go to the nurse!" she requested but Iruka looked to Naruto who was glaring at him. Sighing he shook his head.

"If he says he doesn't need a nurse, I won't push it," he responded. Sakura blinked in disbelief as Naruto relaxed a bit. "Stay out of trouble you two," with that Iruka left. Sakura then looked to Naruto who gave a sigh and sat down. Sakura frowned as she stepped in front of him.

"Naruto, why don't you want to go to the nurse? They beat you up pretty bad," she pointed. Naruto frowned as he glared into space, debating on answering her or not. After a few moments he did so.

"I don't like any nurse or doctor that isn't my personal doctor," Naruto answered which made her frown then sit beside him. "They...They always find a way to hurt me. Or they ignore me, some even keep me from getting help," Naruto explained. Sakura looked amazed by this, but not in a positive way. He then shook his head, "That's why I don't like them. The pain will go away soon enough, it always does."

"Why do they do that?" Sakura wondered with Naruto frowning as he shook his head with a shrug. "Have you told anybody?"

"No one cares," he muttered. "I told the Hokage, he gave me a personal doctor. However I only go when I need too, which hasn't been in awhile," he shrugged. "To be honest, I don't trust her either." Sakura looked away before she looked back at him.

"Then I'll be your doctor," Naruto frowned in thought as he looked to her confused. "You say no one cares, but I care. So when I grow up, I'll be your doctor which works because I'm already your friend!" she grinned. Naruto gazed at her, simply astonished and he felt his heart nearly leap out of his chest. He then gained a small smile, before it became big, wide and happy. Sakura saw this, and she blushed lightly. She didn't know why but...she loved his smile. Maybe because it was genuine and true? Or it gave off warm feelings and positive vibes? No matter, she was completely taken with it.

"I really like your smile," Sakura voiced her thoughts. Naruto looked at her, curious as she smiled softly, "You should smile more often, Naruto-kun." Upon receiving the praise and hearing the affectionate suffix to his name, Naruto blushed and it was rather noticeable. However he simply chuckled sheepishly, scratching his cheek a bit.

"Thanks, Sakura-chan."

"Naruto breakfast is ready!" Sakura calls to him as she is making his plate, his orange juice already on the table. Personally, she would just make him eat it on the way to their meeting, but everytime Naruto refuses. He says it's because she took the time to cook it for him, that he will take the time to sit down and properly enjoy it. He'll rush down some ramen or take out, but he will never rush her cooking. Though she simply called him a dummy when he told her, it made her feel very happy inside and appreciated. To think, that Ino wanted her to stop being friends with such a sweet guy...

...The two enjoyed the rest of lunch time, simply talking and getting to know each other. Both shared what they liked, what they disliked and what they hoped to be. Naruto shared his goal to be Hokage, and expressed his dream to be acknowledged, loved and happy. Sakura shared her own goal of being successful through hard work and her own skills, and shared her dream of a having a family way better than hers. The two found out they had matching likes and dislikes, and a few hobbies which they figured they could do together sometime.

The two also sat together in every class, Naruto way more comfortable than he was before. While he still didn't participate in class, he did still speak with Sakura and do whatever assignments given to them together. Their class of the day however was not together which actually bummed them out a bit considering now they were friends. The time apart made Sakura eager for class to be over, so she could meet up with her friend. It was why she was putting her stuff away a few minutes before the bell would ring.

"Hey, Sakura," she heard and looked up to see Ino walking up to her desk. Sakura didn't greet Ino like she usually did, which Ino found strange but she said what she needed to say. "I heard about what happened at lunch, you okay?"

"I'm fine Ino. Naruto is okay too, thanks for asking," Sakura muttered with Ino rolling her eyes.

"No one cares about that kid," Ino said with Sakura glaring lightly at her. "And you shouldn't either. He's bad news Sakura, plus he's lame and not cool," Ino expressed. "You should stop hanging out with him, or his lameness will rub off on you," Ino chuckled but Sakura didn't laugh. "Oh c'mon it's funny."

"No it wasn't." Sakura refused. "Look Ino, I don't care what you or anyone else has to say about Naruto. He is my friend, and it's going to stay that way," Sakura glared. "He's not lame, or even a loser. You guys just treat him like that. He's actually pretty cool. He's funny, smart and fun," Sakura defended. "So no, I won't stop being friends with him. If you don't like it, you can shove it up your ass Ino." Sakura said as she began to walk off.

"W-what?" Ino blinked before she got angry. "How dare you speak to me like that Sakura! After all we've been through you think you can talk to me any kind of way?!" Ino growled at Sakura who stopped and looked to her. "I defended you and your billboard brow! I was your friend when nobody else was! I made you cool! You owe me!" Ino snapped at her. Sakura glared at Ino before shaking her head.

"If that's how you really feel, then you were never really my friend," Sakura said just as the bell rang. She walked out, heading to the front of the school. She waited there for a few minutes or so, till she saw Naruto walking out of the building with a frown on his face. Seeing this, she couldn't help but frown and walked up to him. "Hey Naruto-kun, what's wrong?" she wondered. Naruto saw Sakura then looked away, his hands in his pockets.

"Um...Ino and some other girls told me we couldn't be friends," he said which made Sakura angry. "They told me I wasn't good enough to be your friend, and…"

"Naruto," Sakura stopped him and he looked to her. "No one, and I mean no one, can tell me who I can be friends with. Ino and those girls are simply jealous bitches that I have an awesome friend like you," Sakura smiled. "So don't worry about them. If I say we're friends, then we're friends, understand?" she assured before hugging him. Naruto was surprised by the contact, but he slowly returned the hug.

"Thank you, Sakura."

"Thanks Sakura-chan!"

Sakura blinks upon hearing her friend and looks to see him walking into the kitchen, slipping on his short sleeve high collared orange jacket. He wears a fishnet tanktop underneath, zipping it up. For bottoms he is wearing black pants that tighten at the ankles while he wears calf high shinguard boots. As he passes by her, he places a kiss on her cheek, his usual affectionate greeting. She takes in his smell, the booze and outdoors now replaced with fresh spring and a tinge of cinnamon. He sits down at the table as does Sakura who fixed her own plate. "We still need to hurry, Kakashi-sensei is probably waiting on us now," she tells him and he gives an uncaring hum.

"How much you want to bet, he isn't?" Sakura pauses as she glances to the clock to see it's almost fifteen till two. She furrows her brows and looks to the challenging Naruto who is eating his food. Against her better judgement, Sakura smirks herself as a glint comes into her eye.

"You're on baka!"