Like I said there was going to be a new story and this time I PROMISE the story line will unfold gradually unlike the other stories where it just goes WHOOSH and holy crap we're done?!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

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Sasuke didn't go to Orochimaru even after the attack by the sound four. Sure he wanted power but he wasn't so desperate as to leave his home for a chance to get his revenge. The next day he told squad 7 about what happened and of course Sakura got very worried. Naruto on the other hand didn't really give a crap. Kakashi was slightly worried and decided that he needed to train Sasuke more. He called them to meet at the bridge they always had to tell them something.

"Okay now listen, I'm very proud that all of you made it so far in the Chuunin exams." Kakashi began. "However I plan to hold you all back for the next two years no complaints."

Surprisingly Naruto the one who Kakashi expected to protest the second he told them his plan kept quiet. Shaking it off he excused the them for the rest of the day except Sasuke of course.

"Whatever, I'm gonna go get some ramen." Naruto said as he walked away.

"Wait I'll go with Naruto." Sakura said.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Let's talk?" She asked with a smile.

"Uh....sure!" He said.

They walked to Ichiraku's while Sasuke and Kakashi stayed for training.

"So what did you want to talk about Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he took a seat.

"Well, I know how you feel about me Naruto, hell I'd have to be blind if I couldn't see how you felt." Sakura said.

"Yeah..." Naruto said, he didn't like where this was going.

"It's just well can you stop? Don't get me wrong, it's very sweet that you think of me that way it's just. It'll never happen between us Naruto and I don't want you to get your hopes up" Sakura told him.

"Is that really what you want Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked clearly sad.

"Yeah it is." Sakura said.

"I don't like it but okay, but I'm still gonna call you Sakura-chan." Naruto said.

"I don't think- well I guess since you've called me that since I can remember it's okay." Sakura said.

Sakura got off of her chair.

"Just remember Naruto you'll always be my friend no matter what." She told him.

She walked off before he could say anything back.

"Yeah your friend, that's all I'll ever be, the friend." Naruto said to himself.

He ordered as much ramen as he could buy and began to attempt to eat his depression away, yeah not as effective as he thought.

Sakura walked back to her house to study up on some jutsu, but she couldn't get her friend out of her head.

"I just told Naruto that we'd be friends but was I right to tell him to stop liking me?" She asked herself. "Because like what if I start to like him?"

She stopped in her tracks and her last words just rang through her head.

'Because like what if I start to like him?' 'Because like what if I start to like him?

"No! My affection is for Sasuke-kun and Sasuke-kun only!....right?" She asked again. "Well I guess Naruto isn't too bad and he is pretty cute- NO! Bad Sakura bad!" She scolded herself.

She shook her head then resumed her walk back to her house. Once inside she walked up to her room and looked at the picture of squad 7, her fingers traced over Naruto.

"No! Bad Sakura! BAD SAKURA! Sasuke-kun or nothing remember?!" She told herself.

Sasuke was already panting hard, why did Kakashi always have to train him?! Why couldn't he torture Naruto or Sakura for once?! Sasuke thinking fast dodged multiple shruiken and countered with a fire jutsu. Kakashi simply moved out of the way and came at Sasuke and let fly with a hard kick. Sasuke was knocked to the ground as he listened to Kakashi's taunt.

"Come now Sasuke, surely you've got more than that."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, did Kakashi think that he was a Jounin aswell?! He got up and started to walk off.

"Hey where are you going Sasuke?" Kakashi called.

"Home, I'm done for the day." Sasuke replied.

As he walked back to his house he saw Naruto slurping down ramen at Ichiraku's and couldn't help but wonder.

'Where's Sakura?'

Still walking he passed Sakura's house and saw her sitting on her balcony with the picture of squad 7, she looked at him and gave a tired wave. For somereason he waved back.

"I thought you went with Naruto for some ramen." Sasuke called. Why was he so interested in his teammates?

"Huh? Oh I went, but I didn't stay all that long." Sakura told him.

He shrugged and went back to his walk. He reached his house and even though it was ridiculously early he fell to his bed sound asleep.

"Well thanks for the ramen, I should get home now." Naruto said as he pushed away from the ramen bar.

He walked back to his apartment and went to sleep not even bothering to get to his bed, he went to sleep on his couch.

"Maybe all I need is a good night's sleep to get my head straight." Sakura said to herself.

She nodded her head and put the picture back on her dresser then fell asleep in her comfy bed.

As all three Genin of squad 7 slept they all had different dreams. Sasuke dreamt of getting his revenge of course, Sakura dreamt of her wedding day with Sasuke but even then Naruto was there. Finally Naruto dreamt of what he always did, ramen and being Hokage.

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This was not meant to be a long chapter nor a super informative one. It's just here to be here ya know

Next few chapters will be focused around one of the Genin of squad 7.

-Raidori