Omg thank you thank you thank you to my reviewers! You all are awesome!

And now, as many of you prob know already, the special person you've all been waiting for!!!!!!! (more action in this one!)

"Naruto?" Sakura gasped. She backed up against her door, the cerulean eyes of the blonde-haired ninja boring into her emerald ones. His wide, trademark grin was absent, and his expression was serious. So serious and intent, in fact, it started giving Sakura shivers.

"Sakura..." She still managed to take his breath away. Everytime he looked at her, he lost track of what he was thinking for a moment, and instead found himself staring into her eyes, desperately searching for a hint of love tucked away in those green eyes.

"I guess...Sasuke has already talked to you?" He bit his lip, waiting for her answer, afraid of her answer.

"Yes." That single word broke his heart, but for his two best friends sakes, he didn't let it show.

"Oh...so you guys are...back together now? I'm glad...he finally came back to you Sakura-chan!" Trying to smile, but only managing a half-hearted smile that was faltering quickly. "I'm happy that you're happy now, and I'm glad the teme finally realized what he had...good luck!" Turning, he walked out the door quickly, hiding the cascade of tears running down his face at the thought of his beloved Sakura-chan and the teme together, happy, Sakura never faltering in her love for Sasuke but ignoring him...outside of her apartment, he stopped, clutching his heart.

"So heartbreak isn't just a term...you can really feel it." It hurt, with his heart beating painfully and hard, pounding against his ribcage, and wanting to be whole again.

"Why?" The single word let loose a torrent of emotions and memories...

"Sakura-chan! I promise I'll bring Sasuke-teme back! It's the promise of a lifetime!"

It's alright, Naruto...next time I won't be a burden!

Naruto? What are you doing here?

It's your birthday Sakura-chan! You deserve to celebrate! Even then, Sakura was looking stronger but unhappy--her eyes brightened ever so slightly at the sight of Naruto, but then shook her head.

Ne, Naruto...I need to train. I'm still too weak...this day isn't a cause for celebration until I'm strong enough to bring Sasuke-kun back. You won't have to help me anymore...thanks for caring, though. Sakura hugged Naruto, tightly. He was her one tie in civilization, the one person she went to. Kakashi had let her down years before, but Naruto...

Naruto fell asleep when his head touched the pillow. Sakura, back at her apartment, sighed and plopped down on the couch. Why does Naruto think that Sasuke and I got back together? I don't love him anymore...the only person I would have any feelings for is Naruto...Sasuke left me on a cold hard bench. He doesn't deserve anything...just then, a shiny, wrapped box caught her eye. It was a small box and had a card attached.

Who?

Sakura wondered, then glanced at the horrible handwriting and smiled tenderly.

Naruto, of course. He cares so much for me...Sakura hadn't realized she was crying until she noticed the wet spot on the card. Making sure that no one was watching, she dropped her mask of unemotionalness and sighed tiredly. Opening the card, she smiled at the familiarity of the card heading,

[Naruto's card

Sakura-chan! You're twenty-one now! Ha, you're the same age as me. But I'm still older! imagine Naruto sticking out his tongue Well, I don't think this day has been very happy for you. If your other days could be considered happy. But anyway, Sasuke-teme came back...and I guess you still love him, as you always have, right? You've loved him even when you were drifting away from us, even when you were sweating buckets, even when you were creating earthquakes with your heel Sakura smiled . But, Sakura-chan, I've loved you all these years too...I remember when you were a happy, always cheerful genin, always bonking me on the head. Wow, we've both grown up...I miss your smiles though, I miss all the pain you managed to inflict on me with your super strength NO OFFENSE! DON'T HURT ME! I'LL GIVE YOU MY SUPERMAN BLANKET! But most of all, Sakura-chan, I miss you...you can come to me anytime when Sasuke-teme's being mean to you! I'll beat him up for you!

Lots of love,

Naruto

[end card

She smiled, and light and love illuminated her face quickly before fading.

Naruto...I love you too. I've loved you ever since you came back all damaged, all bandaged up like a mummy from trying to bring Sasuke back...for me. Your selflessness, your way of still loving and laughing even though you lost your family and was looked down on by the village, your love for me was what saved me from complete desolation. Without you, I might've become a real empty shell, a female Sasuke...thank you, Naruto, so much.

Sakura then reached out to slowly unwrap the gift, carefully peeling off the tape and being careful not to rip the silver wrapping. Inside was a jewelry box holding a necklace.

But this was no ordinary necklace. The dolphin managed to be sliver and all the colors of the sunset at the same time, and held a small gold heart in it's curve. Although many people thought that Sakura's favorite color and thing was pink and sakura blossoms, only Naruto really knew what she liked. Once he had forced her to watch the sunset with him to relax, and she had told him that she loved the sunset and dolphins (but not when they appeared behind Lee and Gai. When that happened, that was just creepy.) That was years ago...

How could he have remembered? She carefully hooked the necklace around her neck and looked at herself in the mirror. With Naruto's gift around her next and her expression much more lighthearted and content then it had been before, she set out to Naruto's apartment to thank him.

Silently appearing in his bedroom, she smiled at the sight of him sprawled across his sheets, but frowned at the tear stains. Making her way over to him, she leaned down slightly and kissed him lightly on the lips. He woke up and looked at her, startled as she smiled softly and whispered, "Thank you for your gift. I loved it and...Naruto, I know that you think I still love Sasuke. But the truth is, I've loved you all these years, ever since you came back from the fight with Sasuke...you've always been there for me, and I love you."

"I'm dreaming..." Naruto muttered. "This is impossible...this can't be happening... pinch OWW. Oh. I'm not dreaming." He reached up for Sakura's hand and stood up so he looked down at her.

"Sakura-chan...I love you too. I always have and always will, even with Sasuke-teme around!"

BANG

"OWW, Sakura-chan, that hurt!"

"DON'T CALL HIM TEME!"

"Ok, ok! Just don't hurt me! I'm sorry! I'll tell you where I hid your diary from 3 years ago! Whoops..."

Sakura mockglared at him.

"SO THAT WAS YOU?!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Come on, Saku-chan, you love me right? You're not supposed to hurt the person you love! OW!"

Sakura laughed and enveloped Naruto into a hug.

"Thanks, Naruto-kun."

"Anytime, Sakura-chan. Except...my head still kinda hurts...,"

Yay. Done w/ another chap! This one was pretty long--the last part was basically just so Sakura could be happy again! Yay!

Kinda fluffy, but hope you liked it!

Leave your beloved reviews! )

And for those of you who care (most of you prob don't, seeing as this is NaruSaku and my other fanfic wasn't, but I'll update that one later! No promises, but probably sometime soon! So check Switching Teams during the next week [ I'm concentrating more on this one, since more people seem to like it! )