AN: Sooo, here's Chapter 2! Much earlier than expected, thanks to your reviews! To those who reviewed, THANK YOU! Just so everyone knows, I have a new poll up, asking you guys who should join Naruto and Sakura in the harem. I'll pick the top two and work from there. But enough of my blathering! ONWARD!

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! RIGHTS GO TO MASASHI KISHIMOTO!

'Human thought'

"Human speech"

'Kyuubi/Inner Sakura thought'

"Kyuubi/Kyuubi Naruto speech"

Chapter 2: The Start of Something Wonderful

With the meeting with Hiruzen over, Naruto had walked out of the office in order to clear his head more… or he would if not for the pinkette hanging onto him as if he was her only life source.

"Sakura-chan… you've been like this since Sasuke's funeral… not that I'm complaining, but it's just not like you at all…"

"Y-You… Naruto… I… I can't lose you as well… losing Sasuke-kun was hard… but… you… he died to… save you… Naruto, you are his legacy now…"

"So… by holding onto me… you see yourself holding onto Sasuke… you… really DID love him, didn't you?"

Sakura then looked up into Naruto's cerulean blue eyes and could see something… odd… something… not Naruto-like at all. It was… pain. Not the physical pain… but the pain of… Betrayal? Hurt? Sakura couldn't place her finger on it, then Naruto spoke up again.

"I understand… Sakura-chan… I understand all too well. But you know what? That time you nearly kissed Sasuke and he ran off on you? That… wasn't him… it was me under a Henge."

"N-N-Naruto… that… was you? Oh Kami…"

"Sakura-chan… I was madly in love with you… perhaps to the extent that you were in love with Sasuke. I wanted you to notice me, to get to know me, to be my friend and perhaps eventually, something more… but it takes Sasuke's death for you to finally recognize me, and it's not even of your own volition. You say I'm Sasuke's legacy… to me that's saying 'You're my new Sasuke-kun'… and that's what hurts the most… that to you, I will always be second best, that I will always be a step behind Sasuke, even in his death… don't get me wrong, I don't hate him nor do I blame him and I am still gonna kill that Kanno guy… but your words, whether you meant to or not, has stabbed me in my heart."

'Naruto… I…'

"I… just wanted you to know… how I really felt… I'm sorry if I upset you, Sakura-chan… I really am…"

Naruto then pried himself from Sakura's death hold and started to walk ahead, with even more on his mind.

'I walk out of Jiji's office to clear my head… and this happens… Kami why do you hate me now?''

He was brought out of his thoughts by a tackle to the ground from Sakura, who was crying into his back.

"Naruto-kun! I'm sorry! Please (sniff) don't… leave me!"

"Sakura-chan… I never said anything about leaving you… and did you just call me 'kun'?"

At that, Sakura blushed a little and dired her eyes to no avail. Naruto took the dead space as a yes and turned around to face her and to dry her tears. He looked at the pinkette in front of him, her hands wiping away the tears, her pink locks draped over her face… Naruto couldn't take his Hime crying, so he did the only thing he could… he hugged her.

"Sakura-chan… I will never abandon you, if that's what you're thinking. Nothing less than Kami herself making an appearance would drag me away from you… my Hime…"

Sakura wrapped her arms around Naruto and cried long and hard into his chest after hearing him say those words. But something was off… she felt… warm, happy even, wrapped in Naruto's arms. It gave her the feeling that she would never be abandoned, just like he said. She felt content and long after she stopped crying, she dared not leave their embrace. She didn't even feel him pick her up and move them to a spot that was not in the middle of Konoha's streets.

Naruto had his back up against a log that was sticking out of the ground, and between his legs, with her back to him and his arms wrapped around her back and resting on her stomach was Sakura, who was snuggled nicely into Naruto's chest. The sun was setting and it was casting it's rays onto the small river that was beside the trio of logs that were sticking out of the ground. (Something like the Training Grounds in Ultimate Ninja Storm 2). Naruto let out a content sigh and rested his chin on Sakura's head. All she did was snuggle even closer into his chest, a content smile on her face. Both felt right and both felt content.

"Sakura-chan…" He got a low 'hmm'. "I think you should cut your hair… you'd look even more pretty with shorter hair."

Sakura's blush came back again. "I… I'll think about it, Naruto-kun… but… I… I have something to confess…"

Turning herself so she was on her knees and looking at Naruto, she continued.

"Naruto-kun… this… I've never felt this way… not even towards Sasuke…" Naruto raised an eyebrow at her dropping the honorific, but allowed her to continue. "Just relaxing with you… being in your arms… snuggled against your chest… I… just feel right. Like I was meant to belong with you… I don't know any other word to describe it as… so here I go… Naruto-kun… I-I love you."

At that, Naruto sighed and placed his hands on Sakura's shoulders.

"Even I could have told you that, Sakura-chan."

He gave Sakura a foxy grin and pulled her closer so he could whisper into her ear.

"I have always loved you… and I always will… my Hime…"

Naruto brought his face back to hers and found himself leaning in, and her leaning in also. In a matter of seconds, their lips locked together in what was an earth-shattering kiss. Naruto's hands found their way to her lower back and he pulled her full flush against him, deepening the kiss. For lack of oxygen, the two pulled back to breath. Both were blushing and both had a smile on their faces. Remembering that he had training tomorrow, Naruto got up, enticing a whine out of his pinkette.

"I gotta train with Zabuza and Haku-chan tomorrow… so do you want me to walk you home?"

"Hai. I'd love that."

He helped her up and they began the trek to her house. While walking, the two talked about numerous things, among which was their future as an official couple. Once at her house, Naruto gave Sakura a peck on the lips and, after saying good-night, left for his own apartment. Once there, Naruto was leaping off the walls with joy.

"We kissed, we kissed, we fucking kissed!"

"Stow your noise. You're giving me a headache."

'Shut up, fox. Today has been the best day of my life! Sakura-chan and I are dating!'

"I care not for human relations… all I care about is helping you get stronger mentally… and perhaps giving you a physical boost as well."

'What do you mean? I thought only real physical training could boost up my speed, strength and such?'

"Baka-gaki. I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the greatest of the Bijuu! Human limitations do not apply to me!"

'Yet you are stuck within a kid that DOES have 'human limitations' as you put it'

"I shan't argue with you further. Go to bed and open your mind to me. I will be making some changes to your physique and, at the same time, building up your mental fortitude… and bringing down the barriers that you have put on yourself in order to look like a baka and the 'dobe' to quote your deceased Uchiha friend."

'If you give me tails, I swear to Kami…'

"I shan't go that far. Your appearance shall stay human… just your mental state shall change and you shall look slightly different physically as well… now, enough dawdling! To bed!"

Naruto shook himself out of the link with Kyuubi and proceeded to strip down and replace his Shinobi clothes with his nightwear. He then plopped down into his bed and quickly fell to sleep, entrusting the Kyuubi to not do anything too drastic.

The next morning, Naruto woke up and felt slightly different. It wasn't a big change, he just felt… better… refreshed, even. So he stripped down to his birthday suit and began the morning routine. Once finished, he donned his 'KILL ME NOW' orange Shinobi wear and his Hitai-ate, then walked out of his apartment to begin training. Once outside, he saw that Haku was waiting for him.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun. Did you sleep well?"

"That's an affirmative, Haku-chan. I slept wonderfully."

"That's good. You're gonna need that rest for today. Follow me and I shall take you to where Zabuza-sama is waiting for us."

Nodding, Naruto followed his new sensei and took in her new appearance. She had cut her hair, so no longer was it in the bun, but was down to just past her ears, her Konoha Hitai-ate tied to her forehead. Gone was her kimono in favor for a dark blue tight tank top that stopped above her belly button and accentuated her bust, which was the most striking thing about her. Naruto had put her at an A, but without her kimono, she easily had C-cups. Urban camo tight cargo/combat pants and black Shinobi sandals adorned her lower half, to which Naruto tried to not follow… but was failing epically. The cargo pants were slightly baggy, but still gave him an eyeful of her plump ass… and some of the blue panties she was wearing. On her arms there sat armguards and underneath that sat Jounin gloves (The gloves that Kakashi wears). Again, Naruto's eyes wandered to Haku's ass.

'No! Baaad hormones! I'm dating Sakura-chan… yet I feel drawn to Haku-chan as well… Kami, you sadistic bitch…"

At the training grounds, Naruto was finally given a repriev from staring at Haku's ass all the way. He glanced over to Zabuza and the only things he changed were his wrappings were gone and he was wearing a Jounin flak jacket. Kubikiri Houcho sat on his back, waiting faithfully to be used again.

"So, gaki… you ready?" Zabuza spoke.

"Hell yeah… I'm gonna blow your socks off, Zabuza-sensei!"

And with that, Naruto began his charge.

AN: Chapter 2… DONE! So, what do you guys think? Did I bring Naruto and Sakura together too fast? Personally, I don't like to wait on romance to happen, but that's just me… and I serve you, the readers and reviewers! So, tell me what I can improve on and give me your opinions on who should join the NaruSaku harem! Remember your reviews are my lifeblood when it comes to updating this fic! Until next time, my people! ZeroDivisionRaijin signing off!