Author's Note from Panda: TACTICAL FLUFF NUKE! INCOMING!

Enjoy.

Seven days had passed since the Konoha 11, led by Kakashi, had journeyed off towards Hyrule. They had since passed through the forests of the Land of Fire, the deserts of the Land of Wind, the mountains of the Land of Earth, and now they found themselves a thousand miles from home and halfway to Hyrule in the valley of some far off lands none of them knew the names of.

The Konoha 11 were arranged in order of their squads. With Kakashi and Shiekan leading the pack, Team Kurenai leaping behind them, followed by Team Asuma, then Team Kakashi, then tailed by Team Guy. The squads were set up so that every team had an effective visual line of communication with the Jounin leaders in the front. While having specialized ninjas such as the two Byakugan users were stationed near the front and back of the formation.

As the sun began to set in front of the group, just as it touched the tree line, Kakashi gave the hand signal for his troops to descend. Like a wave, they all leapt to the ground and stood ready for action in case of an enemy sighting.

"This looks like a good place to make camp." Shiekan stated, confirming Kakashi's inquiry.

"WE'RE STOPPING HERE FOR THE NIGHT!" Kakashi shouted back. Earning an overwhelming groan of approval from all 11 young ninjas.

"We have just entered the outer boarders of Hyrule." Shiekan said as he looked at his map.

"That means that we are halfway to our destination!" Kakashi clarified. Earning more groans from the greener ninjas as they contemplated having to do run just as far as they had already traveled.

"Set up camp and get some food in your bellies! Tomorrow is a rest day!" Kakashi ordered. Which earned a slightly more enthusiastic response.

The shinobi all immediately dropped their backpacks and rolled their shoulders to try and stretch them out.

This was the second time they had had a rest day, but that didn't make their journey any easier. The idea was that they would run for three days straight, stopping only to sleep at night and to grab a bite to eat, followed by a day of staying at one campsite. That meant nursing blisters, getting a more filling meal, training, and most importantly, sleeping in.

"This means we gotta be on a sharp lookout tonight. There are monsters the likes of which you've never seen." Shiekan said to Kakashi as he pulled out a deck of cards.

He laid them out in front of Kakashi that had different pictures of monsters.

"These are what you need to look out for." He then pointed to one of the cards. "Stalchild. They are slow and weak but they show up in great numbers and only at night."

Kakashi observed a rather goofy looking skeleton with a with top mouth and no jaw. With glowing yellow eyes and was carrying around a thigh bone it no doubt used as a club.

"I think I heard somewhere that these things are weak to water?" Kakashi asked.

Shiekan nodded. "Stalfos." Shiekan said as he pushed another card forward. "Much more dangerous than the Stalchild. They are said to be fallen Hylian knights who are possessed by dark forces. They are proficient with a sword and shield and are difficult to dispatch. Use explosives to finish them."

"Noted. They can only be finished by explosives? No blunt force trauma or fire?"

"Explosives are the most effective."

"Noted. I'll have a few of the Genin make more explosive tags for the group."

Shiekan nodded before pushing forward the next card. "Redead. They are essentially zombies. Easy to kill, but they have a very effective form of defense. A scream that will paralyze your nervous system before it jumps on you and starts eating your head. Fire is most effective against them."

He pushed forward another card. "Gibdo. Same deal as the Redead."

"So what is the difference?"

"Gibdos are harder to kill when it comes to blades, but are very susceptible to fire."

He pushed forward another card. "Wolfos. Tough frontal defense and hunt in packs. Aim for the back."

"A ninja's specialty." Kakashi replied.

"Agreed." He pushed forward one last card. "Poe. Essentially a ghost of demonic nature. Projectiles work the best. Try not to look at them because they will disappear but can still attack you. Senbon and arrows work the best."

"Sounds like right up the Hyuga's alleyway."

"Agreed." Shiekan said before gathering his cards and putting them away. "Those are just what we need to worry about until we get to the inner borders."

"Sounds simple enough. The kids should have the camp set up by now. I can get 4 of them making more explosive tags, e of them cooking dinner, and the rest patrolling the area." Kakashi stated.

"Sounds good."

The two Jounin packed away their map and started assigning jobs to the other ninjas.

The girls (save for Tenten) chose to cook the meal. With Naruto, Kiba, Lee, and Tenten being chosen to make the explosive tags. Tenten because she was the undisputed expert with all things weapons, and the rest because Tenten needed the extra hands. The remaining ninjas were led by Shikamaru to patrol the area while Kakashi and Shiekan gathered firewood.

"No no no, Naruto." Tenten lectured. "You've got the calligraphy all wrong. These seals will detonate way too fast. You'd have to arm them the second you threw them with your kunai, otherwise you'd blow your whole arm off."

"I'm trying, okay? I'm no good at this." Naruto defended.

"Ugh, just go help Lee and dog boy wrap the finished tags. 200 to a stack. 1 stack for everybody." Tenten ordered before shooing Naruto away from her work station. Naruto grumbled as he got up and joined the two other guys on tag duty. He noticed that they seemed to be talking about something or more accurately someone.

"You're so full of it." Kiba said to Lee.

"Full of youth." Lee countered. "I would never give up my love for Sakura-chan to you!" Lee declared.

"Excuse me..." Naruto growled.

The two turned to see that Naruto had joined them.

"Oh hey, Naruto. Think you could settle a bet for us? Who would Sakura more likely go out with? Me or Bushy Brows over here?" Kiba pointed.

"Neither." He said firmly.

"Ah, come on man. Humor us. Aside from Ino, she's the hottest girl here. And last I checked she was into bad boys. Something me and old Duckbutt had in common before he turned traitor." Kiba said.

"Wait, what about Hinata-hime?" Lee pointed out. Earning a chuckle from Kiba.

"Nah, she's like a little sister to me. Plus, a bit too timid for my taste. And having her cousin breathing down my neck would be a pain. But by all means, you two should take a crack at her." Kiba suggested. "Back to the main subject though. Come on, you think I couldn't get Sakura to take a walk on the wild side?" He smirked.

"Neither of you are going to have her." Naruto said. "Because I'm going to ask her out."

Kiba actually laughed. "You? Mister Brotherzoned?"

"Yea, you keep thinking that. You don't know what happened the night before we left." Naruto gloated.

"What? She kicked you into a tree?" Kiba laughed, having heard Naruto's screams from 10 blocks away.

"Well...yea that was after the fact. But I'm talking about before. She almost kissed me before Ino interrupted." Then he thought about something. "Also, she even told me that you stink, Kiba. As in, you smell like a wet dog."

Kiba just shook his head. "Nice try, blondie. I've seen Sakura pet Akamaru just fine when he's wet. Probably because she's used to being around you all the time."

"Why you!" Naruto growled.

As the trio fought, the girls that were cooking watched them.

"W-what do you think they are talking about?" Hinata asked.

"Anything, knowing them." Sakura replied simply.

"Probably arguing over who they wanna date." Ino said slyly.

"W-what?" Hinata stammered, her face flushed red.

"Don't mind her, Hinata." Sakura waved off.

"Why? Aren't you curious who we'd date?" Ino teased.

'I'm gonna kill her.' Sakura thought. "Not really, because there are more important things to worry about."

"Really? You wouldn't want to play Bang, Marry, Kill then?"

Sakura sighed. "If only to amuse you."

"W-whats B-b-bang... that game?" Hinata asked. Earning an evil smirk from Ino.

"Oh it's a fun game. My older cousins taught me how. You pick out three guys..." Ino gestured to the three boys fighting with each other instead of wrapping their explosive tags together. "...and you each decide which of the three you would rather kill, bang, or marry. I'll go first." Ino offered.

"So no brainer. I'd kill Lee, bang Kiba, and marry Naruto." Ino declared.

Both girls blushed furiously at Ino's declaration.

"W-w-what?!" Sakura stammered. "Why would you choose that?"

"Because Lee's caterpillar eyebrows creep me out. Kiba seems like a fun guy, but not long term material. And Naruto has been raised next to you all his life, so he has an idea of how to treat a lady." Ino explained, hoping to get a rise out of both girls.

"L-lets change the subject." Hinata squeaked. Hoping not to have to speak if such vulgar things.

No such luck when Ino was involved.

Sakura on the other hand wasn't having any of it. "Oh no. Naruto isn't going to marry some pig faced pervert."

"It's just a game, Forehead. No one is asking you to propose." Ino stated the obvious.

"Wha-Who said anything about proposing?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"You did. But how about we come back to the first group and move on to another three guys?" Ino smirked.

"Yes, please..." Hinata said softly.

"Alright then..." Ino said as she tried to pick out another three contests. "Neji, Shino, and...Shikamaru." She said.

"Um...I'd have to say...kill Shino -no offense Hinata, but bugs creep me out- bang Neji and marry Shikamaru. He's lazy, but at least he isn't stupid." Sakura listed off.

"Really? I'm kinda divided. I don't know if Neji would be a good husband. Sure he'd be more mature and pretty to look at. But I wouldn't want a stiff for a husband. Then again, it might be better than having a lazy butt like Shikamaru. So marry Neji, bang Shino because he might not fall asleep during the act, and kill Shikamaru." Ino said.

"Wow... What about you, Hinata?" Sakura asked.

"I'm really interested to hear what you would do to your cousin." Ino smirked.

"Kill him." Hinata said sourly. She was still mad at him for what he did to her during the Chunin exams.

"Woah, harsh..." Ino said.

Hinata tried to stay strong. In truth, for the most part she no longer held resentment towards her older cousin. But another part of her definitely did not want to marry or...bang him...

"He's my cousin. Why would I marry or bang him? That's just wrong." Hinata clarified.

Sakura shrugged. "Fair enough."

"Shikamaru I'd marry and Shino I'd...bang..." Hinata said.

"So who's next?" Ino asked.

"Well the only other boy here is Choji, unless you count Shiekan and Kakashi-sensei." Sakura pointed out.

"Shiekan is too old. How about Choji, Kakashi, and Tenten?" Ino suggested.

"Tenten? But she's a girl!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Hey, love knows no gender, Forehead. This ain't like the Warring States period." Ino said smugly.

"Ugh...fine..." Sakura groaned before she looked over to the 3 in question. "Damn...um...I'd...kill Choji...bang Kakashi sensei...and marry Tenten." Sakura decided hesitantly.

"Woahoho, really?" Ino smirked.

"N-no, I'd marry Choji and kill Tenten." Sakura changed her mind.

That didn't sway Ino's devilish smirk. "Something you wanna share, Forehead?"

"There's nothing I want to share and definitely not with you!" Sakura snapped. Getting Ino to laugh.

"Alright, fine. I'd kill Choji, bang Tenten, and marry Kakashi. I always liked the strong and mysterious types." Ino smiled devilishly.

"Yea, now who has something to share?" Sakura smirked.

"Unlike you, Billboard Brow, I don't feel need to hide my more...risqué interests." Ino said as she placed her open palm very high up on Sakura's thigh.

"H-hey! Cut it out!" Sakura blushed.

"Make me..." Ino whispered.

Sakura lit up like a Christmas light and jumped back like she sat on a hot plate.

"AHAHAHAHA! You should see the look on your face!" Ino howled with laughter.

"PIIIG!" Sakura yelled.

"Guys, the stew!" Hinata shouted, stopping Ino and Sakura from kicking over the boiling pot filled with their dinner.

"Oh shit... sorry." Sakura said sheepishly.

Ino opened up the pot to check that the hearty rabbit and owl stew was still intact. Thankfully to their shared relief nothing was burning and it smelled delicious.

"Okay, crisis averted. Now what about you, Hinata? Who'd you Kill, Bang, Marry?" Ino inquired.

"I... don't wanna do this anymore..." Hinata shied away.

"Oh come on. One more and then we can get back to Naruto's round." Ino wiggled her eyebrows.

Hinata sighed. She knew that she couldn't get out of this easily.

"I'd...marry Choji. He seems like a nice boy. Kill Tenten and...bang Kakashi sensei..."

"Huh...somehow I wasn't expecting that." Sakura said.

"I'd...never actually do that. It's just because I have no other options..." Hinata tried to explain.

"Fair enough."

"Alright, so back to the original line up. Lee, Kiba, and Naruto." Ino smirked.

"Okay...um..." Hinata stammered. "Kill Lee, bang Kiba and... marry Naruto..." The last part she said dreamily.

"No fair, you stole my order." Ino laughed.

"Yea mine too." Sakura said without thinking.

Hinata looked shocked at Sakura's quick declaration. Ino herself was laughing.

"Dang. No love for Lee. How disappointing."

"I'd bang Lee and kill Kiba if it meant that I got to marry Naruto-kun!" Hinata declared.

"Oh yea? Well I've known him the longest and we've been there for each other when we really needed it so stand in line sister." Sakura declared before she realized what she said. "Uh...I-I mean..." Sakura blushed.

"You? You're like his sister! His abusive sister that hits him all the time!" Hinata growled, making Sakura snap.

"Only because he deserved it!" Sakura bit back. The two kunoichi then butted heads and growled at one another. With Ino deciding for once to stay out of it.

"Wallflower." Sakura hissed.

"Billboard Brow." Hinata hissed.

"Spoiled Princess."

"Stubborn Brute."

"Chicken shit coward."

"Drooling idiot fangirl."

"Fangirl?! Like you're no different!" Sakura snapped.

"At least I didn't have a crush on a traitor!" Hinata snapped back.

"What?! I never had a crush on him, period!"

"Yeah right! I bet if Sasuke was still here you'd kill Naruto just to bang and marry Sasuke!"

At that point, Sakura snapped and her Triforce seal glowed brightly. She grabbed Hinata by the collar of her shirt and lifted her up high effortlessly.

"You stay away from him. Because no fancy Hyuuga trick or kekkei genkai will stop me from what I'll do to you..." Sakura growled sinisterly, scaring the poor Hyuuga heiress.

"Sakura, stop it!" Ino shouted, but the pink haired medic in training wouldn't listen.

"Sakura! Put her down!" Kakashi shouted as he returned with firewood.

Sakura's eyes remained fixed on Hinata who was struggling to break free. Her eyes solid white with rage and her seal glowing brightly.

"Sakura-chan! Stop it!" Naruto pleaded.

It was Naruto's voice that snapped her back to reality for a brief moment. Hinata fell to the ground before Sakura passed out.

Naruto flash stepped and caught Sakura before she fell to the ground. Kakashi meanwhile checked on Hinata as Kiba and Akamaru crowded around her.

Hinata massaged her neck as she carefully breathed in and out. "Witch." She muttered.

"What's all this then? I leave you three in charge of dinner and you're at each other's throats. You think this is the attitude of ninja?" Kakashi barked.

"Um...well..." Ino stammered.

"No. It is not. I don't care whatever kind of petty squabble is going on between you two. You'll settle it tomorrow during training or not at all." Kakashi declared. "I won't have this impacting the mission. Not while we travel through dangerous lands and certain not once we begin protecting the Princess."

"Fine by me." Hinata said in a rare show of determination.

"Uh, Kakashi sensei? Sakura is out cold." Ino reported. Kakashi sweat dropped. He had saved up this awesome speech and everything.

"Naruto, when Sakura wakes up, tell her she is sparring with Hinata tomorrow to settle their dispute." Kakashi ordered.

Naruto looked down at the unconscious face of his teammate and best friend.

"Sure thing." He said.

He picked Sakura up and carried her back to their tent. All the while, Naruto could have sworn that he felt someone's eyes burning holes in the back of his shirt, only he didn't know that it was Hinata.

Carefully, he slung Sakura onto his back and unzipped their tent before placing her on top of her sleeping bag.

He watched her snoring softly, her chest ever so slightly raising up and falling. She looked so peaceful resting the way she was, her short hair a mess from laying down.

Naruto leaned forward to brush one of her bangs behind her ear, just the way he had always watched her do it.

'She's so beautiful...' Naruto thought fondly.

"Mmmmm..." Sakura groaned as she began to stir awake.

Sakura opened one eye and was immediately met with Naruto's crystal blue eyes. "N-Naruto...?" Sakura mumbled.

"Sakura-chan. You're alright." He sighed in relief as he fell back to sit on his butt.

"What...what happened...?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know. One minute Ino was laughing at you and Hinata. The next minute you and Hinata got all up in each other's faces and then you grabbed her by the neck and started screaming at her in this really scary voice." Naruto reported.

"I... don't remember a thing...is she okay...?"

"She's fine. She's still ticked off at you for some reason. Probably because you choked her. Why would you do something like that, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked seriously. Sakura didn't like that disappointed look he was giving her. She only remembered her mother giving that look to the both of them whenever she caught them pranking.

"Because she...she insulted you Naruto." Sakura lied.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"She was saying that you didn't deserve your Chunin vest. She thinks you're a great ninja. Just not fit for a leadership rank yet." Sakura fibbed. "I told her she was full of crap. One thing led to another and well..."

"Hinata said that? I have a hard time believing that." Naruto said, not buying Sakura's story.

"It's true. I didn't believe it either when I first heard it, but it's the truth." Sakura insisted.

"Sakura..." Naruto sighed. "How long have we known each other?"

"As long as I can remember..." Sakura admitted.

"And how much time have we spent together? In your house, on the street, pulling pranks...we've been doing that for years. If there's one thing I know how to do is read people and I can tell you ain't telling me the truth. I'm not asking as your superior. I'm asking you as your friend. What really happened?"

Sakura sighed. Of course he could read her like a book. She'd have no choice but to tell him the truth.

"Okay...so she didn't say anything about your Chunin rank. She's just upset with me because the three of us were talking about girly things and the topic got on to about you and me. always living together. Hinata was upset that we live together on our own. She's from a very traditional household you know. And she was basically saying that it was unfair that I got to live with you when, according to her, I beat you up all the time. And it just set me off." Sakura admitted. Not the full truth anyway.

"So... she insulted you out of jealousy." Naruto deduced.

"Yeah, basically. It just really pissed me off when she implied that I hurt you for no reason. You're my best friend Naruto. I would never intentionally hurt you like that." Sakura begged, almost on the verge of tears.

"I know you wouldn't and it doesn't exactly make me warm and fuzzy that she would say something like that."

"I know...I'm sorry...it's not her fault. We were all pretty irritated because we couldn't find enough rabbits for the stew. And we had to use an old owl we found. Ino didn't want to use it but I insisted that it was good and it just got so frustrating after a while." Sakura sobbed.

Naruto started rubbing the sides of her shoulders, the same way he did when her mother died. "It's okay Sakura-chan, just be calm."

Sakura just buried her face in his chest and let out her tears. She could feel his soothing touch and smell his musky scent that was so uniquely Naruto. Something that never failed to calm her down. Through thunderstorms when they were little kids or on the couch after she got a B on an exam.

Naruto then started humming to Sakura the same tune her mother always used to sing to them when they were both stressed.

"...hmmm HMMM Hmmm hmmm HMMM Hmmm..." Naruto hummed, just like Sakuri used to lull the both of them to sleep.

The melody was sweet and calming to Sakura, exactly how her mother used to sing it. He was missing a few notes, but she didn't care.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was watching through the crack of the tent door. A pair of piercing, callus eyes whose gaze threw daggers at the two of them.

The figure vanished before either of the ninjas could even realize they were being watched.

Sometime later, the two of them emerged from their tent after Naruto had told Sakura about her upcoming duel. They found the rest of the group already chowing down on rabbit and owl stew.

"Everything okay?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah we're good. Is that rabbit and owl I smell? I'm starving." Naruto quickly changed the subject.

"Yup, dig in."

Naruto did just that, diving right into a bowl of stew as Sakura just rolled her eyes at his eating antics.

"Sakura, I want to speak with you a moment." Kakashi said as he stood up.

"Huh? Uh, sure thing, Kakashi sensei." Sakura replied.

The two walked away from the camp far enough to where they wouldn't be disturbed. "Care to explain what all of that was about earlier?"

"Do you want me to tell you the truth I told Naruto or the actual truth?"

"I want the full story."

"Well the short version is that I've decided that I love Naruto and I can't have Hinata deciding to get too bold with him."

Kakashi actually raised an eyebrow. "Wow...I... wow...I... honestly didn't expect that." He admitted. "Actually no, what am a saying? Of course I expected it. I just didn't think it would happen so soon." Kakashi clarified.

"Geez...did everyone expect this or something?" Sakura wondered.

"Sakura, I've known you and Naruto since he was five years old and you were 5 and 1/2. You two are closer than some semis twins and more intimate than married couples I've known for decades."

"R-really...? Were we...that obvious?"

"You two were like an open book. I knew that someday you two would end up together, but that's beside the point. The fact is that you could have killed Hinata. You need to keep your temper in check, otherwise you will end up killing someone."

Sakura hung her head low. "I didn't mean to. I would never do that to any of my comrades. But she said that I would kill Naruto if it meant I could be with Sasuke..." Sakura's tone grew dark at the mention of their former teammate's name. "...and it just set me off. I didn't know what I was doing. I just wanted her to shut her lying mouth."

Kakashi sighed. "I know you didn't mean to, but you still need to keep a lid on your emotions. Especially with...whatever this power is you and Naruto have. I will talk with Hinata later and hopefully set things straight. For now, go get some food and then you and Naruto get some rest."

"Right, thank you, sensei." Sakura bowed before rejoining the rest of her friends. Leaving Kakashi alone with a hidden Shiekan whom had been eavesdropping.

"I know you've been watching..." Kakashi announced.

"I made that obvious enough to you, but not to the girl." Shiekan spoke.

"I figured."

"So her powers are only triggered by strong emotions. Namely love and jealousy."

"Is that normal? I'm afraid I don't know the full story."

"She has the Triforce of wisdom, which grants her a natural affinity to the powers of Light. Eventually, she will unlock her potential and be able to use this power at will. She will have the ability to banish all those with evil hearts to the sacred realm for eternity."

"Is there a catch to these powers?" Kakashi asked.

"Such as?"

"Anything. It saps her energy, it kills her in the end, it cripples her, she'll never fall in love. In my experience these things never come free."

"Her power was granted to her by the goddesses. There is no catch."

"There is always a catch. Even when it's not obvious." Kakashi stated.

Shiekan sighed as he thought back to the legends surrounding the Triforce. "According to history, those who were granted with these powers had no negative effects. They essentially become demi-gods."

Kakashi just looked at Shiekan like he would any other religious fanatic.

"I've seen a lot of incredible things in my time. Unimaginable powers, dark spirits, monsters larger than mountains, time travelers, never once have I run into anything truly free. There is no such thing as a free meal."

"When it comes to the power of the goddesses, a lot will surprise you."

Kakashi sighed. "If you say so." He said before opening up his little book to find a nice quiet spot to read.

"Actually...there is one thing." Shiekan said before KAkashi walked away.

"And that is...?" Kakashi asked.

"She will be the prime target for the one who holds the Triforce of Power."

"And who would that be?"

"I just had a falcon confirm my worst fears about 10 minutes ago. Ganondorf is the man behind this war and according to the reports...he is the one who holds the Triforce of power."

"Then why shouldn't I have this platoon turn around and head back to the Leaf where Sakura will be safe?" Kakashi asked.

"He would just come looking for her there as well. His power exceeds all of the Kage's and jounin in the Elemental Nations combined."

"You don't exactly inspire confidence. You know that?"

"There is a way to stop him, but it requires Naruto and Sakura to do it."

"And what would that be?"

"Their combined powers, plus the power of an enchanted sword called the Master Sword. Its other name is the Blade of Evil's Bane."

"I've heard of that. One of many legendary swords from around the world." Kakashi stated.

"Naruto has to be the one to wield that blade to slay Ganondorf, hopefully for good."

"Isn't that how it always goes? The hero always defeats evil 'for good?'"

"That it is it seems..." Shiekan mused.

The next morning, Sakura stirred awake, feeling rather calm, warm and...

'What is that?' Sakura thought. She was hearing some thumping noise in her left ear. She opened one eye and noticed that she was sleeping on Naruto's chest and blushed furiously.

'Ooohh...my god...' Sakura thought. She was laying on Naruto and he was...warm, strong and the sound of his heartbeat was soothing coupled with his breathing.

That just made Sakura snuggle up to him more. The sounds she heard were so soothing that she eventually drifted back to sleep with a warm smile on her face.

That's when Naruto began to stir awake. He tried to lift his right arm up to rub the sleep out of his eyes, but found it pinned under something heavy, warm, and soft...

He looked down to see a mess of pink hair laying on his chest and an arm reaching up to wrap around his left shoulder.

'Sakura-chan?' Naruto wondered to himself before his morning brain kicked in. 'Oh...she's sleeping on my chest. She hasn't done that since we were kids. Or since she lost our...her mother...' He thought sadly. That argument she had with Hinata must have really upset her. He decided he could let her continue to sleep on his chest for a little while long. She deserved as much and he could never refuse her. He didn't need to pee THAT badly.

"Naruto..." He heard Sakura say in her sleep.

He looked down and noticed that Sakura was drooling on his chest again. She always did this when she slept on her belly. Sakura would deny it to the ends of the Earth, but Naruto always found it so cute.

"Sakura-chan..." He whispered in case she was sleep talking.

"SAKURA HARUNO!" A voice echoed from outside their tent.

Sakura snapped her head up, still half asleep. "Huh...wazzat...?"

"GET OUT HERE! I'M TIRED OF WAITING!" The voice bellowed again. Naruto could have sworn he recognized that voice.

"Is that...Hinata?" He asked more to himself than anything.

Sakura sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What the hell...can't a girl sleep in peace?"

"Apparently not. I think she wants that match with you." Naruto groaned. This was supposed to be their one morning to sleep in. What the Hell was Hinata doing shouting at...

"Sakura, what time is it?"

"I don't know...do I look like I carry a watch?"

"You know I don't. And I thought you were always the more responsible of the two of us." Naruto reminded her.

It took her a minute, but she realized that she did have a watch and checked it. "Oh for the love of...its 5 in the morning..."

"5 in the...the sun is only just coming out. I thought it was 9..." He groaned.

"It's not..." Sakura showed him her digital watch and it said 5:02.

"Hinata! Go back to bed!" They heard another voice call out.

"SHUT UP, YAMANAKA!" Hinata shouted back.

"Go back to bed! That's an order!" Kakashi called out.

"MAKE ME!" Hinata shouted without thinking about it.

"Oh that's it." Sakura muttered before she kicked off her warm sleeping bag and scrambled to put on her boots.

"Yea, I'm with you on this one." Naruto grumbled before slipping on his sandals.

"No. Don't you get up." Sakura requested as she pushed him back down.

"Huh? Why?"

"Just stay here and keep the sheets warm. I'm gonna beat her ass and then go back to bed." Sakura growled.

"But I..."

"No buts. Just let me handle this." Sakura insisted.

"Uh...okay..." Naruto relented.

Sakura smiled and gave Naruto a pat on the head like a good boy. She then ruffled through her bag looking for her gloves (unknowingly giving Naruto a great view of her behind). As soon as she found them she unzipped the tent and headed towards the campfire where she saw Hinata being lectured by Kakashi.

"-and don't think for a second that I won't regret sending you home." Kakashi said sternly.

"Morning Kakashi sensei." Sakura said as she stepped into their conversation.

"Morning. You can head back to bed, I'll handle this."

"Actually sensei. I'd rather just get it over with a fight her if it's all the same to you." Sakura said.

Kakashi sighed as he saw the resolve and determination in Sakura's eyes. "Fine...good luck."

"Thank you, sensei." She responded. Not that she would need it.

"Let's make this quick because I'm really sleepy." Sakura said sarcastically. "And I'd like to get back to using Naruto-kun's chest as a pillow."

"What..." Hinata growled.

"Oh please. We've been doing that since we were kids. Face it, if he wanted you, he would have asked you out years ago." Sakura retorted. "Now come on." She said as she dropped into her taijutsu stance. "Naruto-kun is waiting...for me."

Hinata activated her Byakugan. "I'll make you regret those words, bitch."

"All I'm regretting right now is leaving his bed." Sakura replied.

That tears it. Hinata dashed towards Sakura with full intent to cause as much harm as possible using her gentle fist style.

She thrusted her open palm towards Sakura's chest, hoping to shut down one of Sakura's major chakra nods. Instead, Sakura grabbed the Hyuga girl's arm, twisted it, kicked out her feet from under her, then threw the Hyuga princess over her shoulder and flat on the ground. As Hinata felt the force of her body hitting the ground, Sakura swept her elbow across Hinata's face, breaking her nose and knocking her out cold.

Kakashi looked on in awe at Sakura's accomplishment. Naruto had taken down Neji in the Chunin exams, albeit with extreme difficulty, but to see his weakest pupil take down the Hyuuga heiress with ease? That was something entirely different.

"Sakura...? How did you..."

"She pissed me off." Sakura said simply.

'Damn. A month with Tsunade and she's already leagues above her peers. Just how powerful will she become?' Kakashi thought. Just three months ago she was on part with the best kunoichi of their year, Ino. She still won that fight, but she definitely struggled. But now...

Sakura walked back to her tent like nothing happened and crawled back inside to an awaiting Naruto.

"Done." Sakura said simply.

"You didn't hurt her too bad, right?" Naruto asked as Sakura slipped underneath the covers.

"I broke her nose and knocked her out. She didn't even lay a finger on me."

"Wow. Someone learned a lot from their mentor. All Pervy Sage managed to teach me in a month was the summoning jutsu." Naruto praised.

"Hey, when your training consists of getting knocked around, you learn fast."

Naruto chuckled. "Ain't that the truth. And you've earned a reward."

"Oh have I now? And what would that be?"

"I don't know... Whatever you want." He said without thinking.

"Is that so?" Sakura asked with a devilish smirk. "I'll have to put some thought into that."

"Yawn, yep, you do that..." Naruto said as sleep began to take him again.

"I think I know of something." Sakura smiled.

"Huh? Wazzat?" Naruto asked.

"I said, I know what you can give me."

"And I was asking what that was in a tired voice." He replied sarcastically.

Sakura giggled.

"Well...um...it's a little embarrassing to ask..." Sakura blushed. "I was wondering...if...you would...give me a..."

Naruto could see she was acting timid and shy, something she rarely if ever showed unless she wanted...

"S-sakura-chan... you want me to kiss you?" Naruto asked in amazement.

Sakura's blush only deepened and she nodded. "On the forehead!" Sakura clarified quickly. "Like mommy used to do..."

"R-really...?" Naruto now had a blush of his own. She had never asked him to do that.

"You said I could have anything right? Mom always used to kiss me there after I did good on a test or when I made it past the preliminaries to the Finals of the Chunin Exams..." Sakura explained.

Before Sakura could finish, she felt a wet warmth on her forehead.

She felt feelings she never felt before. She had felt the warm touch of her mother's lips on her forehead before and she never felt the way she did now. Her cheeks flushed pink, her chest started to warm up, she felt butterflies in her stomach and her body started feeling like jelly.

'W-what is this feeling...?' Sakura thought just before Naruto pulled away.

"So how'd I do? As good as mom's?" He smiled down at her. Sakura felt so flustered that she buried her face in his chest.

"Nope. Not as good as mom's." She said as hid her face in his pajama shirt. 'It was a million times better.' She thought.

"Aw...guess I'll just have to try harder." Naruto smiled before wrapping an arm around her back and laying down with her.

"Yeah..." Sakura said before the beat of Naruto's heart lulled her to sleep.