I do not own Naruto and please forgive me if I totally changed the rules. But it is my imagination and I will do what I will.
I hope you enjoy it, it is my first story of what I hope of many.
Please review :3
Chapter 1
It had been three years since team 7's third member, Sasuke Uchiha, went to join Orochimaru. The lying snake promised power possible of taking revenge on Sasuke's
brother, Itachi, for slaughtering the Uchiha clan. It was three years ago since Sakura's failed attempt to change the decision of her vengeful crush by admitting her
feelings for him. It had been three years ago since Naruto went with Jiraiya, or as Naruto says "Purvey Sage.", to train and become stronger so that he can face the
danger that would surly greet them in the mission to bring Sasuke back.
Sakura was left behind to train with the Hokage of the Hidden leaf Village, Lady Tsunade, in order to keep up with Naruto so that when the time came, she wouldn't be
the useless girl she was before when team 7 went on missions. Though she never forgot the shock and pain of the night he left, and the evidence of a broken heart fell
from her eyes after he knocked her out. The next morning, when she woke up on the bench he laid her on, she yelled out his name in vain. She realized then that she had
been nothing but worthless in his heart and from that day forward, trained like she never did before.
Training with Lady Tsunade in both combat and medical advances, doing chores around the village, and occasionally going to the ramen shop with Naruto; help keep her
mind from wandering back to that night. Doing this routine daily, and keeping her goal in sight, helped her reach the few tranquil hours of sleep she rarely got at night.
Though the feelings she recalled every night, the pain in her heart, never left her alone. Never once.
At the moment, Sakura was sitting on a well worn stool at the ramen shop. Naruto, who was beside her, was slurping up bowl after bowl and added them to the ever
growing pile of dishes he vacuumed clean. A half eaten bowl of ramen sat in front of her, and if she knew Naruto, any second he would ask if she-"Are you going to eat
that?" asked Naruto who had another serving in his left hand. His right finger was pointing down at her bowl. Sakura sighed and quickly handed him the bowl, she was
afraid if she didn't move it fast enough he would eat her hand too.
After eating three more bowls full, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh and said "That was the best serving yet." He said into the night air. Sakura rolled her eyes at him,
she heard him say this a hundred times before.
"You say that every time you eat here."
"What can I say, it gets better every night."
"So does the expression you get when you get your bill." Sakura said when the chef held it out to him. Naruto's eyes scanned the page until he got down to the price.
His eyes got real huge and he looked up at her.
"Why don't you ever stop me after the first bowl Sakura? You know I can't pay this."
"Because the last time I tried you nearly ate my hand off when I went to grab it from you."
"How many times do I have to apologize for that?"
The chef cleared his throat and held out a hand. Naruto looked at Sakura with pleading eyes. She knew what he wanted.
"Oh no, your paying for this one."
Naruto pouted at her.
"I would but . . . I sort of spent the last of what I had on a ring."
"Ring? Why would you . . . Oh! Naruto! Really?"
"Yeah, I have been meaning to propose, but I wanted to save up money. Though, if I keep raiding the ramen shop, I won't be able to . . ."
Sakura sighed paying the bill and getting up from the stool.
"Thank you Sakura, someday I will pay you back." Naruto said as he followed smiled as she walked with him, "I hope you don't give her too much trouble Naruto, or I
will regret it."
He nodded, but he was a little grim.
"Just as long as Neji doesn't kill me before hand."
Sakura laughed and opened her door. "Naruto has really grown up." She thought to herself.
"Oh Sakura, before you go . . ." he stepped a little out of her punching ranch. "Don't fall off the bed; we don't want to start an earthquake."
Sakura's face turned red and she ran after him. It had been a joke between him and her, because on the way to the Land of Snow she had fallen off the couch. The
chakra she had left over tried to ease her fall, but manage to shake the whole train.
When Naruto was out of sight she yelled. "If Neji doesn't kill you first I will!" she shouted after him. She stomped back into the house and shut the door real hard.
Hoping that a good shower would calm her down, she stepped in the hot water and let it pour over her sores. The doorbell rung, making her curse and fumbled for her
robe which hung on the other side of the bathroom. She nearly slipped once but managed to put on the warm robe and run to the door. Her hair still wet and dripping,
she opened the door the night air outside.
Kiba was standing there with wide eyes and a laugh he tried to hold in.
"Did I um . . . get you at a bad time?"
"Huh? Oh, no it's fine."
Kiba smiled and scratched his head absently.
"Is there someone hurt?"
"Does there have to be something wrong for me to stop by?"
Sakura shrugged as a response. He laughed.
"Anyway, I was wondering if you were off tomorrow."
"What time?"
"Hmm." He thought for a moment. "Before you pay for Naruto's ramen bill."
Sakura leaned against the doorway, her hair slightly damp now.
"Sure . . . yeah, but why do you ask?" "Please don't say on a date, please, please, plea-"
"Well there is this thing that I wanted to invite you to, I mean, its good to break from a routine sometimes, right?" He asked almost uncertainly.
"Oh . . . um." Sakura stuffed her clenched fist into her pockets.
"You know if you don't want to, I mean I know you still . . . him, yeah. Uh, but you don't have to let it control your life Sakura. I just thought you needed to do
something fun." Kiba was mentally kicking himself for not thinking there. Sakura stood there and thought about Sasuke, and about Kiba taking the time to actually make
her feel better about herself. "What the heck, it won't kill me." She nodded.
"Your right Kiba." She sighed. "What do you have in mind?" Kiba smiled and a little behind him his partner Akamaru wagged his tail. Sakura raised her eyebrow
wondering what they were thinking.
"My Family and their family and their . . . well you get the point. Are coming together and we are having a festival for Rukoi tomorrow, I figured you would enjoy
it." Sakura never heard of Rukoi. She shouldn't ask but . . .
"Rukoi?"
"Yeah I will tell you about our history on the way there. I should go now before I have to carry Akamaru home." This would be impossible to do because he was ten
times bigger than he used to be back then. She shut the door on Kiba's retreating back. She walked toward the side of her bed and pulled the covers back just to sink
into the covers and curl up.
