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Chapter 2: The Longest Wait

It had been two days since her Mistress had told her the news. Naruto would live. Any day now, he would wake up and gradually get back to being the man that he always had been.

Sakura was far from as happy as she should be. When he rose, he would not do so as one of her best friends, he would do so as her husband. She didn't even want to think about what that would entail.

She loved Naruto because he had always been there for her. She had always blown off his advances, careful to never be alone with him for too long because she felt that was best. Ever since Naruto had brought a dead Sasuke back to the village, Sakura promised that she would never allow a man to have such power over her again.

Love was no longer an option for her. It wasn't some light that could right any wrong, it was a darkness that was sure to destroy you. It had destroyed her Mistress Hokage- sama, and it had destroyed her in regards to Sasuke. She had never loved him, not really. It was more along the lines of her being so painfully aware of her weakness while around his strength. She had only wanted his acknowledgement. So, naturally, he never gave it.

She had become strong in her own right, proceeded only by Tsunade and Shizine in the healing arts. She no longer relied on the strength of others….but Naruto had always been there to give it anyway.

Now he had gotten his wish, he had gotten her. She had only agreed to marry him because she knew he would die. She would have never tied herself to him forever in that way had she known he would live. What would she do when he woke up and wished to continue this new relationship? This could not be. She would speak with the Hokage.

"Uzumaki Sakura", Tsunade said with a smile in her voice. "You needn't worry. He will be fine. When he wakes, the two of you can start your new life together. The marriage certificate has already been made official."

Sakura winced at the use of her new last name.

"Hokage-sama. I have come to ask you…..to repeal the legality of that document."

Tsunade frowned, Shizune looked taken aback.

"Why would I do something like that?"

"Naruto will live. I held up my end of the bargain. You know had I known that he wouldn't die, I would have never agreed to this. I cannot be tied to him in this way!"

Tsunade watched her. What was she playing at? She had consented to the marriage, everyone had heard her. She had not been forced, she became Naruto's wife willingly. But then she thought…..ahhh. She knew why Sakura was doing this.

"Sakura…Naruto is a good man. He loves you more than he loves anything He will not hurt you-"

"I cannot be tied to him this way! Please repeal the legality of the certificate!"

"I can't do that. The only way you will get out of this is if he allows it. I will do no such thing until he has told me himself that he no longer wishes to be married to you,".

Which he will not, Tsunade thought.

" You know he would not! Please Hokage-sama!"

"Enough!" Tsunade said.

Using her ample strength to break her desk in two. She was so angry. Sakura had a chance that she would have killed for and she was willing to throw it away all for the sake of a traitor. A traitor that had treated he worst than the dirt under his finger nails. A traitor, who at one point, had tried to kill her.

She would be damned if she made Naruto pay for the mistakes of a fool like Sasuke. Sakura could be happy with Naruto, he could fulfill her in ways that Sasuke never could. Besides, Sasuke was DEAD, and unlike Naruto, he would remain so. Tsunade thought it foolish for Sakura to give a ghost so much power over all of the life she still had to live. Foolish.

She was going to be harsh, but she was doing it for a young woman that she loved like a daughter.

Forgive me Sakura, but I am doing this for your own good. You will be so happy with him. I just know it. He loves you more than his own life. You would see it, but you are not even willing to try….

"Uzumaki Sakura! You will be Naruto's wife! When he awakens, you will take care of him until he is fully recovered! You will honor him with your words and with your actions. You will be loyal to him. When the time comes, you will share his bed and you WILL consummate the marriage! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Sakura was silent for a moment.

"Hai, Hokage-sama" she said through gritted teeth.

"Good, you are dismissed."

Then, Sakura stormed out of the room, obviously distraught. Tsunade knew that this was not over. Sakura was her student after all, she would never give in to this without a fight. Unfortunately for her, she was married to a man that just didn't know when to quit.

Naruto dreamed a lustful dream. A sweet lavender scent filled his nostrils making his head swim. Skin so very soft, brushed against his. He was tasting lips sweeter than honey. His hands were full of her as he touched her and held her close.

Sakura-chan.

He could hear her calling his name, could hear her sighs of pleasure in his ear. She was so perfect, so everything that he had ever wanted. He wished that they could stay in this moment forever, just like this.

I love you Sakura-chan, I have always loved you.

Her head fell back as he entered her, and he couldn't stop his own moan as she surrounded him.

Give in to me. Don't fight, just give in.

Naruto was moaning. Sakura wondered if he was in pain. She had called his name in an attempt to get a response from him, and he had moaned. That was good. If he was responsive, that possibly meant he would wake soon. The sooner he did that, the sooner she would be able to make him see reason.

She would ask him to allow her to annul the marriage. There was no possible way that their relationship would survive, not after everything that she had gone through. With nothing else to do, she watched him. He had truly become impressive over the years.

He was tall now, a good nine inches taller than her. His naturally bronze skin glowed like the evening sun. His body had been honed beautifully, perfect muscles under perfect skin. He had never been ugly and he most certainly wasn't now. His face had matured, almost as much as he had. His jaw line had become that of a man, all traces of boyhood softness gone. His cheek bones were high. His nose, while not as elegant as Sasuke's or as regal as Neji's, was nice and complimented his nine tail whisker marks perfectly.

His lips had become…..enticing. They were not red and they were not pink, they were some abominably glorious color in between. They were the perfect size and fullness. He still had that unbelievably wild, plush blonde hair. That was seemingly one thing about him that would never change. But his eyes…his eyes had changed.

They were no longer the ignorant eyes of a boy, but those of a well versed experienced man. Sometimes, she could feel those deep sea blue eyes staring straight through her…..staring into her soul. They still held some manner of curiosity and could still radiate playfulness, but they also gave view to a maturity that she never thought he would achieve.

So…..basically, Naruto had become…..well….. beautiful…..hot even. Probably even better looking than Sasuke because of his coloring and attitude. But being beautiful and sexually desirable did not mean that their relationship could work, or even that it was probable. After all, Sasuke had been beautiful…

Sakura's head fell in her hands, this was turning out to be the longest wait of her life.

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