"Naruto!"

He turned—it was Sakura and she was staring at the ground. Why? Sakura only did that with Sasuke and he was dead now. Besides, that was only when she was super self conscious. She'd never bothered with that on Naruto—he gave her a bad look at it cost him a tooth. His blue eyes ran over, just making sure she wasn't hurt or anything…but that was ridiculous. Oh, ever since he'd had that dream about her last month he'd looked at every movement, word, or thing she said so deeply because he knew he had only two years left to do it or he'd have to give up.

That had been Naruto's vow. He was sixteen and, yet, Sakura Haruno usually didn't give him more than a second look. That is, if she looked at all. But now she was giving him every look.

"What is it, Sakura?"

She looked over at the tree and, rather stupidly, Naruto looked too. When she realized he'd followed her gaze, she looked straight back at him. His eyes are really blue. I never noticed that before—and they're really bright, really excited. Is that just now? Or has it been all this time?

"So I heard Ino asked you out, huh, Naruto?" she said. There was a hint of accusation in his voice, not enough to suggest jealousy, but enough to make Naruto uneasy without a real reason.

He started to look at his nails. So that was it, was it? Ino and her have been so competitive for years. What if she asked me out just for this? What would I say? Would I say yes even though I knew it was more of a bet then a relationship? Damn it—I would, wouldn't I? I bet Sakura would've done the same for Sasuke. "Yeah she did, but I'm really not interested in her that way…or anyway as a matter of fact." There defiantly was accusation in this glance that he shot Sakura afterwards and she blushed.

"Well anyway I got this coupon for free ramen and I thought you might want to come with me…" Her cheeks began to react not only to heat, but to clichés. "That is, if you aren't so busy training. I mean, I know you've been working so hard and I thought you might like to have some fun. Anyway if you can't come that's fine; we could just do it some other time. Anyway, it's alright if you don't want to. If we do it some other day though we could always bring Kakashi-sensei along and maybe see his real face. You know, behind the mask. Remember when we tried that? That was so fun…" Her face got redder. YOU'RE BABBLING, SAKURA! Remember how much Sasuke used to hate that? Inner Sakura began crooning and making her redder and redder.

"Sure I'll come! We can invite Kakashi another time—he's boring anyway. All he'll do is read Icha Icha Paradise while we're there. Let's go!"

Sakura smiled shyly and they started off towards Naruto's favorite ramen place. Finally—she's going to listen to me like a really person! Maybe this time…maybe we can actually be friends…she hasn't spoken much for about a year.

"Sakura! Naruto!" Hinata waved cheerfully. Ever since she'd befriended Naruto, things in her had drastically changed, maybe from him or maybe from realization. But all bets were on Naruto.

"Hey Hinata! Want to come eat with us?" She nodded quickly and took a seat beside Sakura and away from Naruto. Well at least she has some common sense to know that this is. Because Naruto honestly doesn't! Sakura was inwardly pouting. He must not realize why she invited only Naruto…if she'd wanted to go somewhere with him that wasn't a date, she would've brought Hinata or Sai or even Kakashi along. The old familiar feeling of wanting to gouge his eyes out took over…

The chef put three bowls of steaming hot ramen in front of them and the waitress giggled at Naruto. Well it appeared someone had hit puberty a bit late—but better late then never because she'd developed something that Sakura would call c-cups and what Naruto would call boobs. And now that Naruto was sixteen and rather good looking, she wasn't beyond wearing a loose shirt and hanging over him while he ate.

Sometimes she wondered if he was gay…because he drooled more over ramen then that.

"So, um, how's your training going, Hinata?" Naruto said awkwardly.

"Oh it's going good. Father's saying that if I keep this up, I'll eventually be on equal footing with Neji. Of course, I don't believe that, but still. Tenten and my sister are helping me train a lot of course, but I've made a lot of process." She giggled. "How have you and Sakura been doing?"

Sakura smiled and said, "Lady Tsunade is the best teacher ever! It's too bad a lot of her jutsu are things you can only learn by yourself like that one where she can heal herself from fatal injuries. Of course, it takes years off your life, but it's a great thing to know."

Naruto secretly smiled. When Sakura talked medical, she was as happy as Naruto talking ramen or talking about when he became hokage. Only she didn't say, "Believe it."

"So which one is it, Naruto?" the cook asked in a whisper. "Grey eyes or pink hair?"

Naruto gave him a long blank stare before realizing which one it was. "Um…uh…ah…well…"

"Well don't answer right away, kid. Here, have another on the house." He heaved ramen into his bowl and Naruto grinned. "Thanks!"

"Don't worry about it—hey, if I gave away a bowl of free ramen for every ten visits like that other one does, I'd owe you a lot of ramen. But just between you and me, what's your preference over there?"

"Pink hair," he whispered guiltily, "but she already knows."

They ate quietly for a few minutes until Sakura finished and said too sweetly, "Naruto-ooo, why don't I talk to you later about something very-eee important? You know…a good place would be over near our old training hollow." Conveniently placed where no one can here you scream and where no one will find your body for a few days.

Oh god—it's—it's nice Sakura! I'm scared…Hinata, I'm scared. Maybe I should say I have to go hide behind Kakashi-sensei instead. Or maybe I should just make a run for it. Maybe Tsunade…she'd hand me right over to Sakura, the witch. And the Pervy Sage would just laugh and run if I could find him at all. What about Ino? No—not even I'll sink that low. Shino? Too creepy. Kiba? I don't think he's forgiven me for destroying him with a fart. Shikamaru? Psh, like he'd do anything. Neji? No, just, no. Hinata's too shy. Lee? Sorry, too much self respect for that. Tenten? I hardly know her. Konahamoru's too weak. Augh I'm screwed. Royally, brutally, and terribly screwed.

He shoveled his last spoonful of remaining ramen into his mouth for all he knew this could be his last meal. Poor Hinata tactfully left and even the cook didn't stay around too much longer. And there was no more dragging it out…