Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


Chapter 1: Secret Love

Seven months had passed since then, but Sakura could remember it just like yesterday. The night by the lake, the confession, the proposal…

And she had said yes. She had said yes to Naruto's proposal. She, Haruno Sakura, was going to become Uzumaki Sakura in a month.

Somehow, this wasn't what Sakura had dreamt of. The thought of marriage had always wanted her to dance about and shriek out of happiness, and she had imagined the moment over and over again in her head; she'd have told all her friends instantly and already started planning what to wear and what flowers to carry right away, where to hold the feast and what the groom himself was going to wear. Ino would be so envious she wouldn't speak to Sakura for days, but then in the end be one of the bridesmaids, and even weeks after the proposal, she'd be swept away just by the thought of her coming wedding.

But when Naruto had proposed, she had merely said yes and felt a strange feeling of relief. Her friends hadn't known until a month later, she wasn't even excited when she thought of her gorgeous gown, and when Tenten, Ino and Hinata accompanied her to choose what flowers to carry, she was almost bored. Not to mention the mere talk of planning her wedding almost made her want to sleep out of exhaustion.

But then again, the one she had always dreamt of marrying was Sasuke. Never Naruto. So maybe that's why things were different?

Heaving a sigh, she folded all Tsunade's signed papers neatly in a pile, and then went on to tidying up the next mess of papers that was spread on her desk, when a voice laughed coming from the doorway:

"Busy, hag?"

Spinning around, Sakura faced her teammate Sai – Sasuke's "temporary" replacement in the Team 7. He always wore the same face expression of blankness, but today he seemed slightly amused. Many said that he only ever showed true emotion when around his teammates, especially Sakura, something the aforementioned was not very little proud of telling.

"Sai," she said warningly with a playful tone, "Don't call me that."

"Okay, okay." He grinned at her. "So how're things going, ugly?"

"And not that either!" Sakura burst out. She used to punch him for those nicknames, but nowadays she always felt so… tired.

"Fine. You better?"

"What do you mean, 'better'?" Sakura frowned. "I've been doing pretty good lately, you know. It's my marriage coming up. Doesn't the word 'marriage' often mean, 'happy times'?"

"Oh." Sai scratched his head. "Don't know. Well, you look kind of tired."

"Lots to do, as usual," Sakura sighed. "Tsunade-sama really needs to learn how to keep things neat and tidy. You can hardly even separate the rubbish from the important things. I mean, take a look at this!"

She flung a paper at Sai, who caught it and raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" He pointed at a drawing of what looked like a crossover between a pig with misshapen things on its back that were wings and a human with a very bizarre face.

"Oh, just a drawing of Naruto's," she shrugged. "I've no idea what it's doing in Tsunade-sama's office. But I think it's supposed to be Tonton and Tsunade-sama fused together."

Sai peered at the drawing. "This face is Gondaime's? It looks like…"

"… a beaver," Sakura finished the sentence for him. "I know. Naruto's not a great artist, is he?"

"I wouldn't say so. But then again, no penis, no skill," Sai smirked. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Grow up, Sai," she teased. "You talk like you still were in the Academy."

"Thank you," Sai said simply, which made Sakura groan and slap her forehead.

"It wasn't a compliment, you know."

"I know. But I took it as a compliment," Sai responded.

"Okay, then. So how've you been doing?"

"I'm… fine. As always. But you're sure you're okay?" He inspected her face closely. "You look tired to me."

"Uh-huh. I'm doing great. Except that Tsunade-sama's office is making me lose my sanity."

Sai just chuckled. "Well, good luck and have fun. I expect you'll be at Ichiraku later, since Naruto tried to force me along, I guess he was trying to force you, too?"

"Yeah, maybe." Sakura shrugged. "It's not like I don't go there anyway. Naruto's always there, isn't he? When he's not training or doing a mission, that is."

"Aa. Well, see you later then."

"Bye."

oOoOoOoOo

"Done yet, Sakura?"

"No, Tsunade-sama," Sakura sighed. "Tsunade-sama, why can't you just learn tidy your things? This mess drives me crazy!"

Tsunade only laughed. "It's good work, Sakura. Anyhow, how're things going with the wedding plans? And the wedding planner?"

"Well… I can't say Ino isn't a good wedding planner. Somehow, I never expected her to be a good one, either. To be honest, she's fantastic."

"And the wedding?"

"Can't say much about it. It's going to be… fun."

"Fun?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! I mean, the food… the guests… the honeymoon…"

"How about the groom?"

"Well… he's… good."

Tsunade sighed. "Sakura, are you sure about this?"

"This?" Sakura gestured towards her pile of papers with a miserable grin. "Yeah, I'm sure that I need to tidy this up for you."

"No, not that. I mean… the wedding."

Sakura stiffened. "What about the wedding?"

"You know what I mean."

"No, I don't."

"Do you really want to… have this wedding?"

"Tsunade-sama, what're you talking about?"

"Sakura, I'm talking about your feelings. Are you really sure you want to marry Naruto?"

"What do you mean?" She laughed. "Of course I'm sure. There's a reason I accepted his proposal. I… love him."

Tsunade's eyes pierced into her like a hawk's. "Sakura, be honest to yourself. For once."

"What, 'be honest'? Why should I be dishonest?"

"Because you don't love Naruto."

"Why else would I then marry him? I don't get it, Tsunade-sama. What're you trying to tell me, Tsunade-sama?"

"Do you love… Sai? Or to be more precise, Sasuke?"

"What do you mean?" Sakura laughed. "I gave up on Sasuke long ago. And Sai? He's just a friend!"

"You've feelings for Sai because he reminds you of Sasuke. Isn't that correct?"

"No! I'm in love with Naruto!"

Tsunade gave her a disbelieving look of disapproval. "I can't force you to be honest to yourself, Sakura. I just tried to give you some advice, but if you're really sure about this, then fine by me. I'm going to fetch Shizune; she needs to help me sort my books. I can't find anything!"

Sakura sighed and leaned against a bookshelf nearby as she gazed out of the window, closing her eyes. I love Naruto.

Or so… I think.

oOoOoOoOo

"You love her, don't you?" Tsunade said in a low voice as she walked past the boy leaning against the wall. He didn't even look up from his staring at the floor.

"… Sai."


I hope this fic doesn't suck. x.x; Anyhow, it's just a little idea of mine.
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