Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto

Feelings

The search was finally over.

He had finally found him.

He had finally brought him back.

He had fulfilled her promise.

But still he felt sad. Alone.

"Why" he asked himself.

But the answer never came.

There was a cool breeze and a faint smell of cherry blossoms was in the air.

"Even the nature mocks me now" he sighed.

Then he heard the crushing of leaves and footsteps approaching him. He knew who he was, so didn't flinch. He just laid there looking at the clouds.

"I guess Iam rubbing off on you eh, Naruto?"

"Now I know why you like looking at the clouds so much Shikamaru. It feels calming."

"Yea it does." Shikamaru said lying beside Naruto.

"What's bothering you Naruto" said the chunnin still looking at the sky.

"Its just ….. " trailed off Naruto not wanting to say her name. Even saying her name was too painful for him.

"Sakura huh?" said Shikamaru looking at the blonde.

"Yea" said Naruto still looking up..

"Does this happen to everyone or is it just me" he continued.

"Well ……" started Shikamaru.

"Heartbreaks are common but your story is completely different" he chuckled

Naruto smiled looking at him " Yea ….. my story is different alright"

Then he just looked up the sky again looking at the clouds, trying to forget the pain. Trying to forget her.

He always knew it would come to this. He knew she would always want HIM. But still his heart was hoping…..

"Maybe……just maybe" he thought.

All he could do was hope.

Shikamaru looked at Naruto. He had never seen him like this before. It was true that Naruto had matured and was not the dumb, loud kid anymore. He had become more mature and powerful and surprisingly smart. But still his playfulness and the big wide grin had still not left him.

"his trademarks" he thought to himself.

But from the past one month things have been different. He hardly saw Naruto. Even if he saw him it would be just a "hello, how are you…. Iam fine" kind of things.

Even the Old man at Ichiraku's ramen was asking him if he had seen Naruto.

Even though he had his suspicions. Now he was sure of it.

From the time Shikamaru had known Naruto, he knew that his hyperactiveness and his constant smiling was a defense mechanism - a way of hiding his sorrows and pain.

Since the academy days that was the way how Naruto had been. Hiding his own pain to help ease others'. Very few knew of Naruto's ways and Shikamaru was one of them.

But he knew this time it was different. This time it was not some random villager or a rogue ninja who was the cause of Naruto's pain and sorrows.

It was one of Naruto's own.

Someone he cared for. Some he fought for. Someone he bled for. Someone he Loved.

Shikamaru then looked at the passing clouds and muttered "Girls…….troublesome"

"Troublesome indeed" smiled Naruto.

Sasuke sat in the hospital bed.

He was back. Back in Konoha.

He didn't know if they would want him back. He was traitor, a missing nin.

"I will fight"he thought.

"I will fight to earn their trust back."

He had missed this.

Konoha

It was his home afterall.

Then Sasuke's thoughts began to wander. And he began thinking of the events which led him back to Konoha.

It had been almost a month since Sasuke had finally managed to fulfill his life long goal of killing his brother.

The final confrontation between him and his brother was not easy on for either of them.. But in the end it was his lust for revenge which gave Sasuke the upper hand and was finally able to land the final blow on Itachi. The fight had depleted all his chakra. And all he could remember before he passed out was a blur of yellow.

He was found in the brink of death by Naruto and his team. He had carried him all the way to Konoha. For two days straight Naruto had carried him. That's what the nurses told him.

"Dobe" thought Sasuke smiling.

He looked outside the window. It was a bright day and a faint smell of cherry blossom was in the air. He smiled.

"It's time a paid back my debt for the tears she shed for me"

Sakura was sitting in her desk at the Konoha hospital. Tsunade had made her the head medic nin of the hospital. She was the second best medic nin in Konoha and as powerful as her sensei. People had actually started her calling Tsunade Jr. She didn't mind it though. Atleast people feared her. Respected her.

She looked at the medical report in her hand.

"Sasuke kun" she thought.

He was finally back. And she couldn't be more happier. She had been treating Sasuke from the time he had been back. Looking after him. He was out for full four days. And she was by his side till he woke up. She left after he woke up. She knew he would be fine now.

She was the head of the hospital and she had other serious cases to handle. Personal matters don't mix with work. That's what she believed.

"I'll go see him today." she thought.

Then her thoughts wandered to her other teammate. Her friend. Best friend.

"that baka actually kept his promise" she chuckled.

Sasuke was dressed and was ready to leave the hospital. He took one last look at the room which was his home for the past month.

"I should go and see Sakura" he thought.

Then he heard door of his room open.

"Sasuke kun"

"Sakura" he said looking at her. "I was just thinking of you". Sakura blushed a bit.

"So……" Sakura was about to say when Sasuke cut it off and said " do you want to go on a date with me. I guess I owe you one."

Sakura was stumped. He had asked her on a date. Her dream was finally coming true.

"Well I think you owe me more than one Sasuke kun" Sakura said, smiling mischievously.

"I'll take that as a yes" smirked Sasuke.

Author's Notes - Hey people this is my first fan fic. I want to make this a long story and i do have a idea of where this will be going. Iam gonna take this a bit slow and not rush since i don like to read stories which are rushed so i don intend to rush either. Plz review and criticism is welcome. I would like to know my flaws and correct them.

P.S - this is gonna be a NaruSaku. And No Sasuke Bashing.

So till next time. Peace.