August 21

Sakura blew on a dusty cardboard box. Its edges were frayed from the move and sawdust had covered most of it. It was her first day in her new home since returning to Konoha. She sat quietly in the center of what was to be her bedroom in a three-bedroom apartment.

Taking a kunai in hand, she sliced the tape holding the box together and carefully opened the flaps one at a time. Lying on top of the box's other contents was a small diary. Its cover was adorned with small pink Sakura flowers.

Ino had given it to her for her 8th birthday. She treasured it dearly—even when Ino and her had their falling out. Sakura squinted at the cover. Times had changed so much. Snorting at the irony of opening a book full of memories in a bedroom that had none, she scanned the pages.

"Sasuke's so cool" here, "Naruto's such an idiot" there. "He left."

Sakura's eyes stopped on the words of the page she just flipped to. She would never forget that day. It changed the course of Team 7's lives forever. It broke her heart, and she, as well as Sasuke, broke Naruto's. She bit her lip as she stared down at the tear-smudged ink, recalling her feelings from way back when.

Flipping to the next page she saw something else which gave her leave to pause. "Naruto promised me. I know he'll keep his word. It's his nindo. I believe in him."

Sakura scoffed.

Neither Sakura nor Naruto had brought Sasuke back. He had come back of his own accord, ready to pay the consequences for his crimes and surprisingly enough—vowing to become Hokage. This had astounded all of Konoha. Sasuke had been forgiven for the most part—considering he had saved the world from sure destruction—along with the aid of Team 7, of course. But his desire to become Hokage was still surprising.

What had caused this change of heart, Sasuke never mentioned; he only swore his allegiance and would hear nothing else of it. When asked by ANBU after the war, he had said that the information was classified and that he had discovered something in his family history that he had previously overlooked. Either way, this set off a new rivalry between Sasuke and Naruto and the two had only become closer in the process. She never saw them as better friends than as they were now.

Sakura sat down on the floor and mused, that after all that happened, the bonds between them were renewed; only, now the two were able to relate on a wholly different level than before. They were, after all, brothers, and had unspeakable power between the two of them.

She supposed they could only relate to one another in this way and so were all the more than content with one another's company. They had even been put together in Tsunade's rehabilitation program along with Shikamaru and Sai. Much like how Ino, Hinata and herself had been placed together.

After the war, Tsunade put priority in care not only for the physically injured but for the mentally damaged as well. Very few Shinobi could say that they weren't suffering from post-traumatic stress. For Sakura, the war had ended when she became Naruto's every breath and heartbeat. Over and over again that moment seemed to haunt her dreams, his heart would grow cold beneath her hand, his skin would whiten, his lips would blue, and then he'd crumble away into a ash that spread all around her, enveloping and choking her, leaving her to drown, utterly alone. Every night she slept sparingly—anticipating her dreams.

Ino had noticed when they shared a tent together. No one in tent 679 seemed to sleep much. Her, Hinata and Ino would often light up a torch and simply sit there in a circle, staring at it all night until, at last the sun would overpower their little light. The three grew rather close on the journey back to Konoha, and that was likely the reason for their being bunched together in the PTSDP (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program).

After the war Hinata renounced her title as the heir to the Hyuga clan and ensured that Hanabi be next in line instead. Her wishes were initially met with resistance from the main branch, but Tsunade had a hand in swaying the Clan into submission. No one asked how.

Ino was also allowed to move out on her own, as her mother had gone to live with Ino's grandma following the death of her father, Inoichi. So here they all were, in 79A of the PTSD commune, unpacking their lives, bringing their old baggage into a new loft.

Sakura was pulled from her reflections when she heard a faint tap at her bedroom door. Standing in Sakura's doorway, looking down at her pigeon-toed feet, was Hinata. Go figure, thought Sakura.

"Um, Ino said that you should stop unpacking for a little while. She said we are having a housewarming party." She looked up from her feet and drew in a breath. Squeezing her lips together, she went and sat down next to Sakura. "Sakura-chan," she blurted out, "how do parties work?"

A sly grin crept onto Sakura's face as she turned to her friend, "oh, you'll see." Tonight was going to be fun.

Base beats thumped the air around the PTSDP Commune. Red plastic cups were everywhere. Hinata, Ino and Sakura were all gathered in the living room, surrounded by other PTSD shinobi, most of them men. Hinata was gulping down her third drink, looking around the party with wide eyes. She was NOT used to this.

Only a few hours before, Ino and Sakura had shoved her into a dark purple dress. Looking at it one might almost think it was black. Hinata didn't particularly like black, but the girls insisted that she should wear it. Eager to please her friends, she did. It had spaghetti straps and ended mid-thigh, with it fitting snugly around her hips and breasts. If her father were ever to see…

Sakura smiled brightly as her friend fidgeted with her dress then took another gulp of the sangria she was drinking. She genuinely liked the Hyuga, she was so sweet it was hard not to like her. It was just then that Naruto, Sasuke, Sai and Shikamaru walked up to the girls' small circle. The other men seemed to slip away at their approach.

"Hiya Sakura-Chan! Ino!" Naruto boomed over the music and as he turned to Hinata, his eyes opened wide in surprise.

"WOW, Hinata-San you look great!"

She swayed from side to side and gurgled out a "thanks, Naruto-kun! You're beautiful too! But not as beautiful as Sasuke!"

Jaws were dropped and eyes bulged as she blithely continued on, "He's –hic, very pretty, –hic." She walked from Naruto and approached a rather flustered Sasuke. His fists were balled and to everyone it looked like he was about to run away. Reaching up for his face she poked his nose.

"But he's hic- too full of himself. He hic- doesn't hic- know the value of hic- some people." Spinning around she turned to an astonished Naruto. "Not like you Naruto. You always fight for hic- the ones that you hic- hic- care about. Its your hic- nin hic- do!" She smiled lazily, grabbing onto Ino. "Come on Ino! Let's hic- dance!" She wiggled about as she drunkenly tried to sway her hips to the rhythm.

It wasn't working.

Sakura turned to Sasuke and Naruto - who were both dumbfounded. Removing their minds from the previous spectacle they all blinked back to reality. Naruto turned his attention to Sakura while Sasuke was staring incredulously at the woman who had publicly insulted him. Naruto was about to say something to Sakura, when he noticed that she was looking elsewhere… at Sasuke to be exact. Naruto turned to see his friend staring down the Hyuga, murderous intent in his eyes.

"Hahah!" Naruto let out a throaty laugh, in a feverous attempt to break the ice, "I never would have thought that something like that would come from Hinata's mouth! Looks like I'm in better standing for Hokage than you thought! I'm soooo much more loveable!"

Naruto tilted his head sideways and inserted himself in front of the Uchiha's line of vision; a big, obnoxious grin plastered on his face. Be angry at me! Take the bait, take the bait,Naruto thought to himself in desperation.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted as he pushed Naruto into Sakura and stormed toward the raven-haired kunoichi.

Failure.

Naruto and Sakura both sweat dropped. This was going to be interesting. They both looked on as the scene began to unfold.

With every step he took toward Hinata, the malice on Sasuke's face would melt and slowly, an eerie grin curved his mouth. Grabbing her hand, he began to sway her in time with the music.

She looked up at him in total awe and yelled; with a smile that had as much volume as the amount of alcohol she had drank, "Okay, Uchiha-San, I'll dance with you."

Sakura and Naruto noticed how he looked away with a scowl while he twirled her around as the music's melody leapt.

Scratching his head and turning his attention away from the unlikely twosome, Naruto turned back to Sakura, laughing nervously and grinning. "Hi Sakura, again."

Sakura returned her best friend's smile. "Hi," she said, bowing her head slightly.

"You guys are running an awesome party so far! Being neighbors is really going to be something!" he yelled over the music.

Sakura laughed while fidgeting with her outfit, "It sure is! Um, can I offer you a drink?" She asked as she reached for a glass.

"Sure," Naruto yelled as he nodded his head to make sure she understood.

She handed him a cup of beer freshly poured from the keg that was stationed behind her. He grabbed it eagerly and gulped the whole thing down, turning to look at her again. She laughed and smiled up at him, taking his glass in her hands as she turned to pour him another.

He had been avoiding looking at her lately, trying to avoid noticing the way her nose crinkled a little when she smiled, the way her collarbones rose from her chest.

Her chest... He caught himself peeking as she turned to pour him another glass. Shaking his head, no, I can't Sasuke is back, she wants him, I can still love her but I won't torture myself. I won't...

"Boobs," he said to himself when she turned back to give him his glass.

"What was that Naruto? I couldn't hear you over the music!" Sakura yelled.

"Oh nothing!" Naruto sweatdropped.

It wasn't his fault. Sakura was in a dress that practically screamed hooray for booobies! It was a red wrap-dress synched at the waist with a dark brown leather belt. The neckline plunged, and, were it not for a small area of fabric below her cleavage, the neckline would easily hit her waist, in either case, showing off a bit of a black lace bra that curved over her cleavage. Naruto took another peek, another gulp, and moved his gaze over the rest of the crowd that had filled the oversized loft.

Everyone in the PTSDP was given a luxury loft or home, apparently to compensate for emotional and physical damage from the war as well as Pein's attack. Konoha may have been undermanned but it certainly had not been in any kind of economical disparity. In fact, prior to the war, they were in an economic boom, which had helped a lot during and after the fighting. Just as Naruto was examining the oversized doorway of the place, a swarm of girls came in pushing Sakura and him apart.

"Naruto-dono, will you sign my chest?" one piped up, shoving a permanent marker into his chest.

Naruto's inner Jiraiya giggled pervertedly. Kurama, however, let out a growl of displeasure. Kurama hated fangirls. Sending the girl a foxy grin, he glanced around the room, looking for Sakura before politely asking, "Love to; and what might your name be?"

He then caught sight of her, if only for a brief moment, she was looking at him, an unreadable expression on her face, and then she turned and walked back into the crowd. Naruto sighed. It hurt whenever she walked away from him.

"Naruto-dono…"

"Naruto-dono!"

He turned his attention back to the swell of girls in front of him. Jiraiya-Sensei would be proud. So then why did he feel so guilty? He looked down at his cup and gulped down yet another glass. Raising his cup he yelled out "we're going to have a good time! Believe it!"

Everyone in the room cheered. This is what the PTSDP was for, giving happy times to those who had suffered so much during the war. From one medic nin to all the nin, people would be happy again. Funnily enough, there was another medic nin who was becoming increasingly unhappy.

Walking away from Naruto and his women, Sakura took four solid gulps of her alcohol. That felt better. Ever since that moment, ever since those dreams, Sakura realized, without Naruto, she was alone. In a matter of a few years, he had become her world, her best friend, her guiding hand, her shoulder to cry on. She would be devastated without him around for the rest of her life.

Seeing him with other girls: she knew that one-day, he wouldn't be around anymore. He'd be off taking care of his kids who would probably be as loud as he was and equally mischievous. He would kiss his wife a million and one times every morning. Her eyes widened. She needed to stop.

This is too much.It won't be me.

She gulped down more of her drink. Her glass was now empty.

"Here have mine," someone said as a new glass materialized in her hand.

She took it with thanks, and resumed her thoughts. As she drank down another gulp, she wondered, what if I could be that woman? Naruto did confess, but that was so long ago. And then, he called me out on my own, fake confession. He probably hates me for it. There is no way someone like him could ever love someone as horrible as me. I broke his heart so many times.

Gulp.

Those girls. One of them will take him away from me. Or Hinata. But she deserves him, she's been so sweet, and so caring towards him, and she's so beautiful… The room is moving. Problems. Time to sit. Where is the kitchen? Weeeeeeeeeeeeee. MMMFFF Noms, here I come!

Naruto had signed his sixteenth set of breasts when he turned to look around for Sakura again. Perhaps he shouldn't have left her alone like that. He did a quick search of the room in search of pink hair. It was then that he saw her slumped over the kitchen counter, head on her hands, while a couple of guys were talking to her and playing with her hair. She didn't seem to notice.

She would never let me do that. Naruto thought, I'd get my ass handed to me on a platter. Maybe she likes the attention of other guys. Naruto smiled painfully as he stared at his life-long love. Her head slumped onto the table and within an instant his smile turned into a snarl.

The girls cried out at his feral noise, apparently shocked and aroused. This, however, was not the time for play. He pushed the women aside and walked up to Sakura who was now out cold and drooling on the counter.

"I'll take it from here, guys," Naruto said as he looked up at the men who were now staring at her like vultures. One of them met his gaze.

"No it's cool; she's my cousin, I'll take her home. Don't worry about it!" Kurama erupted inside of him and another growl ripped from Naruto's throat.

"Sakura doesn't have any male cousins. Now get out of here before I release the Kyubbi on all of you," Naruto said, bearing his teeth at them. He picked up Sakura and walked out the front door with her draped over his arms like a rag doll.

Had she been conscious, she would have loved being held like this, but as for this moment, her head had fallen back and her mouth was gaping open. It was less than a pretty sight. Before he reached the door, Naruto passed Sai where he briefly pointed over to the men at the kitchen counter and said something almost inaudible under his breath.

Sai read his lips perfectly and nodded at Naruto, then he proceeded over to the kitchen counter. Looking down at Sakura, he smiled to himself then exited through the oversized apartment doors.

Sakura blinked her eyes open to an unfamiliar room. Nani? She thought to herself. This wasn't a tent. It wasn't her new apartment either. Those walls were pink, these walls were a light blue. Sakura jolted up from the pillow, she tried to scan the room but immediately grabbed her head as soon as she moved.

Her head felt like it was spinning so fast it might fly off. Then something stirred beside her. A tuft of blonde hair spouted out from the covers. Sakura's eyes widened. She looked down at herself. What happened last night?! She was wearing a large white shirt with the Uzumaki symbol on the front; she wasn't wearing a bra either. What happened last night?!

The tuft grew and a body began to rise from under the sheets. Naruto looked up at her sleepily, then slowly sat up. He was definitely shirtless; she prayed his boxers were on and present under those covers. She stared at the comforters hard.

Please let him be clothed, please let him be clothed…

Pressing one of his hands to the side of her head, he gave her a good look over. She jerked up at him, with eyes comparable to dinner plates.

"How are you feeling this morning, Sakura-chan?" He asked, eyes happy and glittering with inquisition.

How am I feeling?!She looked down at herself once more and noticed there was a bit of blood at the very end of her shirt. How am I feeling?! HOW AM I FEELING?! AM I STILL A VIRGIN?!

End of Chapter 1.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT

AUTHORS NOTE: Sorry guys! I didn't realize the formatting would look like that at first! So I went and changed it up while adding a couple words here and there! At one point chapter 1 glitched like crazy so I had to re-upload it. I promise it won't happen again!

much love,

IF