CHAPTER CORRECTED THANKS TO SAVAGEHUNGER 47 FOR BETA READING IT

EziogreatNaruto: NaruSaku romance is always on my mind, thank you

Jeremy: sorry for the wait, hope you will like it! thanks

RigbyDaSon27: thank you very much!

justinrocksit: thanks

JaniBeccharell: thanks

burt: It will be a slow release but I will try to hang on

guest: don't give up on this story too soon, I'm preparing a twist.

Touken:thank you very much. the update for this story will be slow (I don't have much free time to write unfortunately, i'm doing my best with my availability). But it always take me a lot of time to write each chapter. It's a long process for me. sorry for the wait. thanks for the review

LegendaryWriterS: it was on purpose that I made Sasuke charactere to be on the edge between friendship and something more. But if you have some recommandation I would be glad to hear them. For other couple, it will depend how motivated I am to write. This story is already a monster in my head (too much chapter to write, and I might want to cut short few of them to lessen my pain). So, if I am in the mood, yes, otherwise, it might be just a mention of the update, it will be slow. Thank you

guest: It was more a breakdown than him being forward. But yeah the result is the same, he confessed! hehe. thank you

Troa95: This story is here because of you and your support. Thank you for being here with me.

crazyprankster1991: thank you... soon will be very relatif with this story. I think at best it will be every two weeks and more likely three... sorry for the wait.

Yojimbra: did you catch a cold or is my story soporific? (I had to search on internet what was nyquil, not sure I got your message right)

Uzumaki16: Sorry this story might begin fast for me to have some solid this to break down. I hope you will hang on a little longer. thanks

AquaRules: You will see why in chapter 3 she was in denial, but for now enjoy the reaction. thank you

Eddie shadow: I have try to begin on a light tone, and the emotions will change chapter after chapter.

Naru285: thanks

Kimiss:thank you, i Hope you will like the next too.

LimJJ: thanks

Jeanera Targaryen: as you said, it was a prologue to put some base in between their messy relationship. thanks

aize28: thanks

guest: soon will be 2 to 3 weeks I think... sorry for the delay

xblackhunterx: actually Naruto already love her (everybody knew it except her) and her... you will see. (chapter 3) thanks

XxAshishxX: there will be some twist, so be ready for a long ride. I hope you will like it. thanks

LaDdraig: thank you!

I am sorry for the delay. I am not completely satisfied with chapter two, but I couldn't pinpoint what was missing. Be patient for some more answers, they might arrive in chapter 3. I hope you will like the chapter anyway!

Chap 2: Ghost of a breath

REMINDER:

Naruto sighed at her sight. She was so beautiful when she was angry and he was too emotionally exhausted to lie at that moment. "I planned to take my feelings to the grave, but if you're insisting so much to know… I'm tired of lying anyway… I love you!"

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Sakura gaped like a fish out of the water, her eyes exaggeratedly wide as they fixated on the man she called her best friend. She felt dizzy... or maybe lost? She didn't see this blow coming, and she didn't understand what happened. We're friends, best friends! Why?

Naruto had already lowered his eyes, turning his head slightly to the side. His last words resonated in her ears like a distant echo. The sound of his voice faded slowly, carving itself into the most remote parts of her consciousness. She blinked—dumbfounded, before she regained her footing. Her eyes roamed over his face. His features were contrite. His jaw noticeably clenched.

After all the years' they'd been together...She didn't understand. Naruto was her teammate, her confident, her most trustworthy friend... he was closer than a brother could be. Were all those years a lie? This is ridiculous! Her emotions swirled in her belly like a tornado. Why is he doing this?

She was confused... Worse! She was angry!

The man she had known all her life—someone she thought of as her very precious person—was playing a prank on her. She lashed out in fury. Her fist hit his gut harder than she had intended. His body flew like a like canon ball and slammed into the trunk of a centenary tree with a loud thud. The leaves shook, creating a light buzz as they danced from the unexpected, forced vibration. Birds took flight—escaping in fright—flipping their wings hastily and squawking with anger and fear. Naruto's body lay slumped at the roots. He didn't move, his head was bent down, his eyes hidden in an indulgent shadow.

Sakura marched toward her best friend, anger seeped through with each stomp of her feet, a small veil of dust followed behind her. Her petite hands grabbed his collar ferociously, and she lifted him until they were the same eye level. He continued to avoid her gaze, looking off to the side, seeming to be fascinated by the rocks on the ground.

Naruto didn't try to defend himself from her anger. He didn't give any justification for his actions, nor could he even grace her with an apologetic smile. A tremor ran down her spine, leaving her feeling restless in front of this mute version of the man she thought she had known. The pinkette wanted to punch him again, to shake him, to... to... to pull him out of this farce!

Sakura shook him sharply before furiously saying, "What's the meaning of this Naruto?" She jolted him again to try to make him react—to give her anything other than this dull indifference.

This is not Naruto! "Are you in shock? Is it because of the burned village?"

Naruto snorted.

She snapped, enraged. "Explain yourself to me this instant!"

"What's to explain?" he muttered nonchalantly. Wasn't it obvious?

Sakura fumed at his behavior, and she was acting completely unlike herself because of him. Her teeth hurt from how badly they were clenched. Her need for wrath clawed for freedom just under her skin. Her eyes—ablaze with fury—bore a hole into his skull as if she was trying to read his mind. Her grip tightened, her fingers creasing the material of his jacket, a little more and she might tear it apart if he continued to keep up his charade of indifference. How could he? How dare he? After so many years!

There was only reason as to why Naruto 'confessed' his love for her. The pinkette's reply came out forcefully—more violent than a slap, shaking Naruto to the core. "Leave me out of your petty rivalry with Sasuke! Don't try to make up stories just so you won't lose to him."

Petty rivalry? Naruto turned his head towards her. Everything felt like it was in slow motion. His eyes were wide as he looked straight at the woman in front of him. A shiver ran across his skin as if electricity were passing through his body. He stood up tall, towering over Sakura, his muscles tensed. Not a single breath escaped his pinched lips, the muscles in his jaw twitched as he listened to her nonsense.

Does she really believe what she's saying? His words were stuck, trapped in his constricted throat. All his guilty feelings innate from his forbidden confession evaporating in clouds of anger.

Make up stories? This is what she thinks my love for her is? His eyes narrowed dangerously as he continued to listen to her rambling. I say I love her, but all she can think about is Sasuke? Everything is always just for Sasuke?!

Naruto snapped.

His fingers dug into her arms as he sized her forcibly. There was a light of madness in the depth of his gaze, a whirlpool of emotions swirling in the ragging ocean of his eyes. So many words were rotating in all direction in his head, like the chakra in his rasengan, and not one dared to pass the barrier over his mouth. Should he say more? Should he deny it all? Or should he risk everything and throw away their treasured friendship?

Jade eyes studied him, gauging each of his reactions. Naruto was furious, but didn't refute. Was he such a bad loser that he didn't know when to quit? Everything was always about Sasuke nowadays, so much so, that a part of her wondered if there wasn't a bit more behind it than just their rivalry. She huffed, she didn't want to let herself get dragged into her teammates quarrel. Naruto and Sasuke were both important to her and she knew exactly where she stood with them. She was Sasuke's teammate and Naruto was her precious friend.

"I know pretty well your feelings toward me, they were clear since that day in the land of Iron*. There is no need to lie just because Sasuke is back and..." Sakura began but stopped, cut short as his voice whirled around her soul like a freezing wind.

His tone was harsh and low as he spoke, "Do you really believe what you're saying? Do you think I would lie about my feelings?" Naruto spat indignant.

Sakura suddenly realized how close they were, their bodies nearly touching. She realized how small she was in comparison of him and how their faces were just an inch away. They were nearly nose-to-nose. She'd never felt so vulnerable in front of Naruto before. Never, as he always had this gentleness around him for all of his friends. She never felt in danger with him, because of their strong teammates bond that they shared to protect each other against all odds.

Sakura even wondered if she had ever seen her teammate angry at her, like, truly angry. However, now Naruto was slightly trembling, and not from fear. A dreadful surge of energy was coursing through him and she didn't need to be a chakra sensor to feel it.

A shudder ran through her, and instinctively Sakura tried to take a step backward, trying to pull her arms free from his tight hold. But, his grip was too strong, too powerful, as was the force of his gaze piercing into her in that instant. The pinkette huffed again, trying to keep in control, and feigning like she was not impressed by his attitude. She wasn't wrong. She couldn't. The situation was just so absurd. How did they arrived at that point?

"Naruto, listen. I know Sasuke isn't always easy to deal with, but you don't have to be so childish to the point of involving me into your fight," Sakura argued while squirting around to break his hold.

Naruto was so mad, so mad at her for belittling his confession, so mad that all her thoughts were always about Sasuke. A force inside his brain unlocked when he heard her last statement. He didn't know if he could control his body. He didn't know what he wanted exactly in that second, maybe he just wanted to prove her wrong. His limbs just moved on their own freewill. Naruto just stopped himself, however, before taking that last leap into forbidden territory.

Her breath pushed out of her lungs, as, in a swift movement, her teammate switched position and pinned her against the tree. His face looked threateningly as he towered above her, his breath was so close that she could feel the light warmth of it breeze across her skin. Eyes wide, Sakura could only stare in surprise at her teammate after this unexpected turn of events. He had moved at such a dazzling speed that she had been unable to block his attack. She felt paralyzed, like prey, with his face just above hers, his pupil slightly dilated, and all his muscles firmly holding her against the rough surface of the trunk.

Naruto was like a dangerous predator, releasing a form of erotic energy before a kill, sensual and magnetic with fluid and precise movements. She had seen him so many times in missions, his body tensed and ready to attack, mesmerizing in his unique form of power oozing from him. A silent witness, she had enjoyed observing his profile when he was focus, his piercing blue eyes narrowing slightly, and imperceptibly his weight shifting forward waiting for the perfect moment to swoop on his enemy. Naruto was dangerous, bewitching and dangerous.

Sakura had known it, being his teammate for half of her life. She had been in a first-rate position to see him growing up in every sense possible. Her best friend had become all what was best that a shinobi could be. With his unrivaled kind heart, enough power to make an army tremble, and unexpectedly more cleverness that she could ever have imagined coming from him. Naruto was enthralling, in everything that he was, more than that, he was an opponent that nobody in his right mind would want to challenge.

However... She was not any simple kunoichi herself.

With defiance in her glare, Sakura straightened her spine as much as she could, taking a more appropriate posture to leave nothing in her demeanor to suggest fear, and throw an open invitation of challenge. She suppressed a slight shudder as those piercing blue eyes continued to stare down at her. Something in her belly seemed to awaken as Naruto looked at her, something she didn't want to define or acknowledge.

She pushed the thought away, being a full-fledged kunoichi, she had learned to tame all forms of emotions. She was no longer a carefree teenager who would hesitated in a battle, the war had changed her long ago. She had changed along with him, the same man who was standing in front of her, the now familiar stranger who'd decided today to play with their unbreakable friendship.

Naruto would have preferred to never notice it, to never understand anything about her, to not know her more than she did herself. He would have preferred... to never have loved her in the first place... If only he didn't love her so much. He would have ignored the little voice, the pain in his heart, the soundless shattering of his soul. All his anger deflated, losing all purpose. She doesn't believe me. She doesn't want to believe me... Very well! I'll bury all this nonsenses and smile like nothing happened. I'll lie. For her sake...I'll lie…

He sighed, a sigh long and heavy. A sigh of a man who'd known pain for a thousand years.

His gaze shifted to the side, refusing to look at her in the eyes to serve her those comforting words which would solve everything between them. The harmless excuses which would bring back their world into this immovable friendship. She was his friend, his best friend... and he should be happy to have this much. It was enough, wasn't it?

Naruto stretched a small smile on his lips, a smile that didn't reach his eyes, a smile full of pain and regrets. His hands released their grip and slid along her slender arms until they reached her smaller hands. Gently, he tenderly squeezed them, trying to convey through this banal gesture how dear she was to him. Even though his heart writhed in his chest, crushing atrociously under the vicious ache of his love.

Naruto stayed silent a moment, gathering his courage or maybe strengthening the resolve of his cowardice, to do what he had to do to not risk destroying more of their friendship. His throat constricted slightly, his guts twisted in an infinity of small knots.

If only...

If only destiny could have been more kind with him. If only she had loved him just a little, an ounce... a drop of it...

If only...

His voice was soft, defeated when the word escaped past his lips, "Sorry..." The excuse came as a low and discreet as a murmur, far from his boisterous self. "Ignore it... I was out of my mind... I..."

He couldn't deny his love, it was a lie too big for him, he couldn't say such a profanity as 'I don't love you'. Naruto searched for something else to say, stumbling over so many words he could say, but didn't want to in his mind. The jinjuriki cleared his throat with a light growl, unsure, uncomfortable with himself.

"I shouldn't have say anything," he said. "We're just friend! Nothing's changed... Forget it! I'm an idiot!"

The tall blond tenderly took her in his arms and leaned down slightly to kiss her on the forehead. Whatever words he had uttered before, his lips were saying otherwise. There was so much love in that harmless gesture, an unconditional love, pure, infinite... Naruto wasn't expecting anything in return, he didn't even ask to be acknowledged. The war hero just offered his heart in sacrifice like a devout servant to his divinity, with blind faith and complete abandon.

Sakura felt paralyzed, unable to talk, think, or move as his lips landed on her skin in a delicate contact, almost ethereal, light as the butterfly, carrying so much feelings that she drowned in them. She was even more troubled now than ever after his surreal confession. The innocent kiss had totally disarmed her. The young woman was standing clueless, lost, in this war without weapons to fight with.

Her eyelashes fluttered, her eyes blinking absently as she just tried to command at least one of the muscles in her body to respond, just to try to see if her brain was still functioning. Sakura inhaled deeply, expanding her lungs with air to fill herself with freshness, to stop the feeling of dizziness, and the confusion running rampant in her mind. The little space between them wasn't allowing any movement without causing more intimate contact with him, so, as a result, her breasts pressed against his hard chest and her mind filled with a cruel revelation: her teammate had become a formidable man in all his vigor.

Naruto was sturdy and muscular, where her body was curvy and soft.

How did she manage to elude it for this long was a real mystery. But, there was no doubt, even with her superficial comparison, Naruto was a man with a man's hard body. A voice in the back of her mind whispered words that she refused to listen... Naruto was her childhood friend, she told herself. She couldn't continue to listen to her inner voice... whispering tempting words of a woman's want, and a woman's needs. It was insane...

All the while, Naruto rested his forehead against hers, as if to share with her his thoughts, to bring some closeness in their rattled friendship. He loved her... He loved her enough to not want to lose the friendship that existed between them. Naruto closed his eyes, restraining behind his eyelids all his wishes and hopes... there was no place in her life for those feelings. He had to accept it. He would just be her friend.

Sakura could feel his warm breath brush her skin with each exhale. He was so close. She was completely aware of their proximity in a way she struggled with herself to not admit. In the meanwhile, her heartbeat increased, thundering like a horse in full gallop.

Naruto is so close... his lips maybe an inch away... maybe less...All she had to do was tilt her head up just a little and— The kunoichi wanted to smack her head to stop it from wandering in that unnecessary direction. He's my best friend—my best friend! She mentally kicked her inner-self's ass to knock her out and lock her in some unreachable place, to not hear her perverted suggestions. Naruto was sexy, it was a glorious fact... and she didn't need her inner voice to remind her of those disturbing facts.

Had Naruto always been so warm? Or was she the one feeling hot?

The feel of his body nearly against hers, and this treacherous sensation blooming within her was making her restless—making her skin hypersensitive being in such close proximity to him. Her best friend was so much larger than her that she felt completely engulfed by his presence. Her breasts continued to press against his strong chest as she tried breathe to calm herself. It wasn't working. His closeness was shattering whatever peace that came to her mind. Unwanted butterflies were partying in her belly, destroying more of her concentration, and she thought that she might fall off balance, her knees suddenly becoming weak.

Her teammate exhaled loudly, and the mischievous warmth of his breath caressing her face reminded her again of the closeness of his lips...

His lips...

Sakura tightly closed her eyes, shoving away the improper lust awakening in her. This is Naruto! Naruto! She stubbornly repeated to herself to suffocated the desire that should not be there. Her repeated chants that Naruto was her friend halted as the sound of his voice pierced though her defenses.

"I... I care so much about you... Forgive me...Please?" The light murmur danced in her ears, resonating through her mind, and the trailed echo revealed the implicit message within it. Her heart suddenly drummed louder and louder in her chest.

Naruto doesn't lie... Naruto never lies...

He loves me...

Her world was so well orchestrated. They had everything to be happy in the little routine they created. They had their friendship... their so precious friendship. She was recognized as a kunoichi. She was now the Head Medic. He was Konoha's pride and joy, the future Hokage. Even Sasuke came back, and they were now all together, safe and sound, the invincible Team 7, and...

Naruto loves me.

It fell on her like a rock to the head, this incredible truth which did not fit in her little world. She stayed aghast, dumbstruck by the shock of the discovery.

Naruto loves me... Sai wasn't wrong... It wasn't a male rivalry... all those years... all those years, all along, he's been here just right beside me...

Beside me... always...

A sullen sigh, heavy and thick, charged with all his regrets, escaped his tempting lips, pulling her out of her shock. And then his voice invaded her mind again, occupying every corner, seeping into each crack within her soul.Naruto is apologizing for being in love with me? Or for saying he was in love with me?

"We will never talk about it again. You're too important to me..." Naruto trailed off , letting the wind finish his imperceptible confession. His heart was bleeding, but he wasn't a child anymore to claim carelessly something that he knew was already fixed in stone. Why did he let his heart have the better of him? Tsunade-Baa-chan was right, he would not be ready to be the next Hokage if he couldn't hold his tongue in all situation. And this time, he clearly messed up, badly.

He chuckled miserably, trying to make the atmosphere less heavy.

"I swear... never again... and you know my motto..." Naruto offered on a forced lighter tone.

Naruto would never say it again... never...

Sakura stopped breathing for a moment, as if by doing so she could stop the time itself. It was too abrupt, too definitive... She needed time to think...

XXXXX

* Sakura confessed to Naruto in the Land of Iron before trying to assassinate Sasuke.

Do not forget to review please!

FOR THOSE WHO WANT MORE NARUSAKU STORIES (same author):

How I fell in love with my best friend

Dangerous infiltration mission