Chapter One- Arrival

The rain fell for what seemed like forever. It was almost as if a higher being took pity on the village of Konoha, seeing as it hadn't rained for months, and ironically, it no longer looked like the village hidden in the leaves.

As if that higher being had an epiphany, a certain blonde-haired knuckle headed ninja popped into the old training ground on which Team 7 once trained. Of course, since the defection of a certain raven-haired boy, Team 7 had become nothing but a paradoxical memory; hopeful yet heart-breaking, happy yet sad.

The boy continued his efforts at perfecting a certain technique; ever since his last battle with Sasuke he felt as if his training efforts were for none. He continued blasting the indestructible logs of the training ground when a pink-haired emerald-eyed kunoichi appeared on the scene.

"Naruto!" yelled the ecstatic Sakura.

"Hey Sakura-chan!" replied Naruto.

"Hey, so, mind if I train with ya?"
"Well I guess I don't mind. It's just that I'm kind of trying to perfect this technique…and last time I tried, well….I kind of went…you know…."

Naruto was cut off by an evil voice in the back of his head.

"Four tails?" interjected the demon fox.

"Shut up, fox."

"Fine kid, but hey, remember I'm still evil and hell-bent on getting out of here. Don't think I'm your friend just because I save your weak arse with my chakra."

"Whatever."

"Naruto?"

The blonde looked up at a confused Sakura.

"Sorry, Sakura-chan, just thinking to myself that's all."
"It's okay. So what happened last time again?"

"Oh, well, you know Kyuubi…always trying to escape…"
"You went four tails didn't you ba-"

"Yep, that's exactly what happened. The little critter doesn't know when to quit."

"I heard that. Pssh…little…"

"Anyway, Naruto, if you're not busy later, I was wondering if you'd like to grab a bite to eat?"
"Uhh….are you asking me…on a da-"

"Well…if you call it a date, then you're paying!"
"Fine. But it's a date!"
"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

(In unison)"Hey stop that!"

They stood quietly in awkward silence, leaves blowing past them. Naruto had had a crush on Sakura Haruno for a very long time, but after 3 years, that crush had evolved into something more, something deeper. Sakura, on the other hand, was still a bit confused. Naruto was without a doubt her best friend, her confidant, but Sasuke still had a somewhat lingering place in her heart. There was just something about Naruto, however, that seemed to be catching her interest even more as time passed. Whether or not that growing interest would blossom into returned feelings for the blonde boy was up to her.

The two walked into the main part of Konoha. Carts full of vegetables and fruits zoomed by them, and just as a cart was about to clip Sakura's right shoulder, Naruto swept her off her feet, putting her down on his other side.

"You should be more careful, Sakura-chan."
"Idiot, I could have totally demolished that cart!"

"You were 'obviously' going in for the big kill weren't you?" Naruto chuckled.

"Well, thanks. But you're still an idiot."
"And you're still my best friend."
The two continued their journey to a new restaurant called "The Hidden Shadow". It looked like the old ruins of an Aztec pyramid, with dark-green vines acting as a door to the opening and stones looking thousands of years old acting as the doorway. The inside looked ominously dark, lit only by candles, and heated only by a single stone lined fireplace in the back.

Naruto looked at the place suspiciously, but dropped all of his suspicions when he saw that the restaurant did indeed carry his signature dish- ramen. Sakura sighed at his expression, but then again, he was Naruto, and he was the most spontaneous person she'd ever met or seen.

"So we eat here Sakura-chan?"

"Well they have ramen, and they have my favorite dango. It's a win-win situation. LET'S EAT DAMMIT!"

Naruto and Sakura requested to be seated in a booth next to the fireplace. They quickly took their seats, and stared at the menu. Not long after they took their places, a waiter, looking about 17, gracefully walked to their table, and doing as a waiter should, offered restaurant hospitality.

"May I start you two off with a drink?" asked the waiter.

"Yeah, I'll take some green-tea," said Naruto.

"I'll have the same," declared Sakura.

The waiter, eyeing Sakura with great intensity responded to their requests. Naruto had his eyes on this suspicious waiter, for Sakura was his girl.

"Very well, I shall have those for you shortly. By the way my name is-"

"Yeah yeah, we don't need to know your name, now go do what you're supposed to do and serve us."

"Naruto! I apologize; my friend is a bit of an idiot."

"No need to apologize. Weaker shinobi are always the ones to speak brashly.

"WHAT'D YOU SAY PUNK?!?!?!" Naruto was now infuriated at the black-haired man's statement. After all, what right did a mere waiter have to judge a fully fledged shinobi?

"I said exactly what you heard; weaker shinobi are always the ones to speak brashly."

"You and me. Dawn. Training Ground 7."

"Naruto!" cried Sakura, "Look. I know he may seem like an ass, but c'mon you were pretty rude! And why bother fighting a wai-"

"I have your drinks ready."

"WHAAAAA?!?!?!" the duo cried in unison. How did he leave and come back so quickly without them noticing? Did a clone retrieve the drinks while he bickered with Naruto? What just happened?

"Are you going to order anything?" asked the patient waiter.

"You know, thanks for your service and everything, but I think we'll just eat somewhere else," said Sakura.

"That's fine. I'm off duty now anyway. By the way, my name is Kenbo Hayate. Remember it," he said as he walked off the scene.

"…Sakura-chan…"

"Uh oh…."

"I'm…going….to…kick…his…ASS!!!!"

Sakura bonked him in the back of the head.

"Stop it dummy. You're making a scene. Let's go find another place to eat."

"Fine fine…"

Hayate walked to the restaurant lockers, and calmly took off his uniform as if he hadn't a care in the world. He stood about 5'10, being only a couple inches shorter than the great Sharingan Kakashi. He had black hair spiked almost like that of the Fourth Hokage's, but much more organized in pattern. He had a well-toned body, and the hazel eyes simply made him into the perfect bachelor, waiting for his maiden to skip along, and fall into his well-toned arms. He dressed slowly, putting on his onyx t-shirt, and then putting on his black pants that cut off at his knees. He put on his standard Konoha sandals, and waltzed gracefully out of the locker room.

He glanced around to see if anyone he knew was wandering the streets of Konoha, but he had no luck.

Hayate mumbled to himself.

"Haruno Sakura eh?"

He suddenly remembered the blonde haired ninja's earlier remarks.

You and me. Dawn. Training Ground 7.

Hayate smiled at his little memory, and began his journey to Training Ground 7.

Naruto and Sakura finished their ramen almost within a single breath. With Naruto, the action was completely understandable. Sakura however was different; she didn't usually slurp in a bowl of ramen, unless she really was hungry.

"Damn Sakura-chan, you were really hungry weren't you?"

Sakura embarrassed, slowly pushed the bowl of ramen away.

"Yeah…so…?"
"I just didn't think you could eat it like me! I love ramen!"

"Well, I was just…really hungry okay?"

"Did you train or something?"
"Yeah. Been working on this new medical ninjutsu."

"Sounds tough! I wish I could learn medical ninjutsu, but I'm too much of a knuckle-head to learn."

"The latter is certainly true."

"Ha-ha-ha Sakura-chan."
"Oi, Naruto, didn't you tell that waiter guy to meet you at Training Ground 7 at dawn?"

"Oh that dummy? He probably won't even show. He didn't even give me a response! Whatever I'll go just to show him I ain't scared of a scumbag like him!"

"Yeah…sure, okay. Want me to come with?"

Naruto blushed. Sakura sure was being a bit clingy lately; going out to dinner, talking strolls, and now she wanted to accompany him to his might-not-even-happen brawl with Mr. Spiky-Haired-Cool-Guy. Although Sakura did admit to herself, he was hot.

"Uh yeah, if you want to Sakura-chan. I don't want you to wake up at 5 AM for nothing you know? A medical ninja needs her eight hours!"

"Just shut it dummy. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay then. Want me to walk you home? It's getting really dark."

"I'll be fine, Naruto. Just, pay for the food!"

"Fine fine!"

As Sakura left, Naruto took out his green frog wallet, and inside the wallet lay a wad of cash. Naruto handed one of the bills to the ever-friendly Ayame.

"Arigato, Naruto-kun!"

"Arigato, Ayame-chan!"

Sakura walked briskly under the moonlight.

Shoot, she thought. It was really dark.

She neared her house, and seeing that the time was 10 o'clock and that her parents went to bed at 8, she decided that using her window would be better than opening the door and awakening something rather unpleasant. She slowly opened her window, and crawled inside.

Sakura turned the shower knob to the left in the direction of 'hot', and stepped inside the small tub. She let her muscles unwind with the heat that the steam was providing. As she relaxed, she couldn't help noticing that she was not thinking of the Uchiha, or her favorite knuckle-headed ninja. For some odd and peculiar reason, she was thinking of the waiter. That god damned waiter. What was his name? She had forgotten, but what she had not forgotten were, not surprisingly, his eyes. Why was she thinking about someone she had just met? And more importantly, why were these thoughts ominous, yet delightful?

Sakura stepped out of the shower, and slipped into her crimson red gown. She turned off the light; the only light that had shone was that of the moon. As she fell asleep, a lone figure stood on the opposite building, carefully watching her every move. The fiery red eyes never left sight of the sleeping girl.