Chapter 4: The Hokage's decision, Ms. Haruno's Reaction.

Ok, I'm starting on this early, so I hope it will be out by tonight. Last chapter Sakura and Naruto got to have a little fun while Sasuke got a mud bath! I've always wanted to send that bastard back to the academy. Sadly he's a major antagonist in my story, so this isn't the last that you'll see of him, well, unless you know, you stop reading my story. But then you'll miss the lemons! Heehee. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. This chapter has Sarutobi make a decision regarding team 7. Then Sakura corners Naruto in her room, and gives him some attention, before her mom walks through.

Disclaimer: Naruto, and anything from the Naruto-verse, does not belong to me. Anything else belongs to me, including anything not nailed to the floor.

"Talking"

"Thinking"

A word or phrase that has emphasis

Regular words or phrases.

"So, is one of you going to tell me why exactly it took you two hours to get to my office?"

Sakura glanced over to her teammate. Naruto was grinning and had a blush that had even started running down his neck. They had taken so long because they couldn't get twenty feet without kissing, even when they had taken to the rooftops. "Which turned out to be damned romantic." Sakura thought as Naruto began his explanation.

"Well, Jiji, me and Sakura-chan got lost in the streets, so we had to take to the rooftops, but then the road through life came and swept us off our feet and-"

Sakura face-palmed.

"Naruto, I don't think it's a very good idea to use one of my excuses for being late, just a tip." Said Kakashi, who looked over his students with a knowing eye.

The Hokage looked over at Sakura and Naruto and surveyed them both for a moment, then turned his chair to face Kakashi, who was standing to the left of his desk.

"Kakashi, you obviously have an idea as to where your students have been, care to enlighten me?"

At the Hokage's words Kakashi's mind flashed back to what he had seen, first in the forest, and then in the field. He looked both his students in the eye, trying to confirm his suspicions. Naruto was easy to read, seeing as how the boy was still tomato-red in color. Sakura had a calm look, but every time she looked at her teammate she giggled and blushed slightly. Kakashi looked back to the Hokage and eye-smiled.

"Well Hokage-sama, I believe that my students have started to familiarize themselves with one another."

At Kakashi's words Sarutobi's nose dripped a little blood and turned back to face Team 7. He said in a stuttering voice,

"Naruto explain yourself this instant!"

Before Naruto could reply however, Sakura stepped forward and said,

"Hokage-san, we were kissing during the mission." In a slightly raised voice, followed by a blush as she recalled the events that took place at training ground 7.

Sakura added in a challenging voice,

"What's so bad about that huh? Naruto-kun is" at this point Sakura turned to face her teammate. "A wonderful guy, more than any kunoichi could hope for. He defended me from Teme, and helped get the bells from Kakashi-sensei."

Sakura backed up to stand beside Naruto, who then put his arm around her waist. Naruto looked over at the Hokage and said, "Jiji, are you going to punish us?"

Sarutobi sat back in his chair and took a long puff on his pipe, thinking, taking into account who was in front of him, how they worked together to complete their mission, and how they reacted to each other. Finally he put his pipe down and answered Naruto.

"No I don't think I will Naruto," Sakura tuned and jumped into Naruto's arms, screaming in delight. "However, Naruto, Sakura, I want you to promise me something."

"Yes?" they said in unison, staring at him, wondering what he wanted.

"I want you two to refrain from repeating these actions whilst on official missions. My reasons are thus, if an enemy catches you two unawares while you're…together…they would have the advantage and would probably be able to kill one or both of you before you knew what happened."

Each genin nodded at the sound reasoning.

"The other reason is that we don't want knowledge that you two are becoming more familiar with one another to reach outside the walls of Konoha; if that information leaked out, and then one of you was captured, the kidnappers would have the greatest leverage over the one left behind, and could use you against us. Do you understand my reasons?"

Naruto and Sakura nodded the affirmative. Sakura going so far as to say out loud, "Yes, Hokage-san, we will obey your commands and keep our time together…" Sakura paused and grinned. "In the bedroom, where it belongs."

Naruto started laughing, Kakashi sweat-dropped, and Sarutobi's nose started bleeding again.

"If that's the end to that," Sakura said, with an innocent smile that screamed mischief. "I think that Naruto would agree with me that we should move on to talking about the fate of Team 7."

Naruto nodded and stepped forward, saying "Jiji, do you want to give us another teammate? Or can we continue on as a two-man squad?"

The Hokage looked at Kakashi and said, "What do you think they should do Kakashi? You have more experience with them than I do. Do you think they would benefit from a third member?"

Kakashi wasted no time in voicing his opinion. "Hokage-sama, I have personally sparred against these two. I've seen their teamwork and it's astonishing; planning elaborate traps in minutes, timing themselves to each other's movements perfectly, I would go so far as to say that these two have better teamwork than any three-man squad in service."

To say that Sarutobi was surprised at Kakashi's words was an understatement. "Better than any team?" he thought. Out loud Sarutobi said, "Well then, I think my course of action is clear. Naruto, Sakura, come here please."

Kakashi smiled as his now prized students stepped up to the Hokage's desk. He hadn't been lying about anything he said, and he knew that with training their synchronized attacks could be improved beyond comprehension.

When Naruto and Sakura stood side by side in front of the Hokage Sarutobi bent down and reached into a drawer, picking out two folders full of paperwork. Handing a folder to each Genin, he stated, "These are your application forms to become a two-man squad. Fill them out tonight and give them to me tomorrow morning."

Naruto and Sakura each took a folder, then both bowed and said, "Yes, Hokage-san/Jiji." Then looked at each other and laughed at what the other had said.

With their folders in hand, both members of Team 7 left Hokage tower and headed into the village. When Kakashi saw them leave the building he turned to face the Hokage. "Just so you know Hokage-sama, I meant every word I said."

Sarutobi looked up at Kakashi and smiled, "I know, Kakashi, just be sure to take care of them."

On their way to her home, Sakura led Naruto across rooftops, avoiding what she considered the despicable villagers below. Holding his hand firmly, Sakura directed Naruto from rooftop to rooftop, steadily leading him to her house. She had a plan, and she knew Naruto would like it. The only issue that might come up was getting her mother to agree. When they jumped down and landed in front of her doorstep Naruto turned to head to his own house, but Sakura held his hand firmly, preventing him from leaving.

"Naruto-kun, before you go…I have a question for you," Sakura looked down, staring at her hand as it held tightly onto his. "What do you think…about staying here?" She looked up into his eyes. "With me?"

Naruto smiled, slowly wrapped his arms around her, and give her a deep, loving hug. "Thank you, Sakura-chan. I can't tell you how much this means to me," Then a thought seemed to dawn on him, Naruto broke their hug and looked Sakura in the eye. "What about your mom? What will she say?"

But Sakura had already thought of this. First, she would attempt to convince her mother to let him stay simply because she wanted him to and then, if that didn't work she would fall back on the promise her mother had made to Naruto last night. "Don't worry, Naruto-kun, she'll be fine with it." And giving him a kiss, she led him into the house.

When Sakura closed the door behind them she turned toward the kitchen and called out, "Mom, I'm home! And I have a question for you!"

"What is it dear?" Came the reply. A second later Ms. Haruno walked in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. When she saw Naruto standing next to her daughter Ms. Haruno bowed and said, "Naruto-chan, how good to see you! Please make yourself comfortable, dinner will ready in a bit."

Naruto bowed to his unofficial girlfriend's mother. "Thank you Haruno-san."

Naruto turned to Sakura and held his hand out for her to take, but Sakura gently pushed it away, saying, "I'll be right with you Naruto-kun, I want to talk to my mom about what we discussed a moment ago."

Naruto nodded in agreement and left to sit in the living room. Sakura watched him go for a second, a loving smile crossed her face and her mother didn't miss it. When Naruto vanished from their sight Ms. Haruno grabbed Sakura by the hand and led her into the kitchen. When they arrived she turned on her daughter and placed a finger on her chest saying, "alright young lady, spill it. Just what happened between you and Naruto-chan today?"

Sakura blushed, remembering how the events from that day had played out. It would not be wise to lie to her mother, who could smell deceit better than the Inuzuka clan. Thinking quickly, she formed a plan in her head. Looking up to see her mother smiling, waiting for the details, Sakura spoke. "I've got a deal for you mom, if you listen to my question, and consider it, then I'll tell you what's going on between me and Naruto-kun."

Ms. Haruno stood there for a moment, then hastily agreed. Sakura motioned for her mother to sit down and after she did Sakura laid out her idea. "Mom, I want Naruto to live here with us from now on. Before you interrupt, I'll explain my reasons." Getting a motion from her mother to continue, Sakura went on. "Naruto-kun lives in the poorest district in the village, in an apartment that is barely livable. He has to buy poor quality food at higher prices than the rest of us, and he's in danger anytime he goes into the village." Pausing for a moment to let this all sink in, she continued. "You heard what happened last night. The Hokage might have frightened the villagers into pacifism for now, but it's only a matter of time before they attack him again."

Sakura's mother listened to all of this, her heart sinking in her chest with each new bit of information. She lifted her head up, which had fallen to gaze at her feet, and asked her daughter, "Where did you learn of these horrible things? Did Naruto-chan tell you?"

This time it was Sakura's turn to gaze downward, softly she said. "No, Naruto-kun doesn't talk about his living conditions in front of me. I think he wants to protect me. No, I learned this from Iruka-sensei back in the academy."

Looking up, Sakura spoke, resolution in her voice. "So what do you say mom? Can Naruto live with us?"

Ms. Haruno got up from her chair and walked over to her daughter and hugged her. Leaning down, she whispered in Sakura's ear, "Go get Naruto-chan. I have something to say to him."

When Sakura looked up at her mother questioningly, she saw a smile on her face and, knowing what her mother was going to say, squealed in delight and ran into the living room to fetch Naruto. Ms. Haruno smiled, knowing now just how deep her daughters love ran for that boy. Laughing a little at how Sakura had convinced her to let Naruto stay she had to wonder, how far she would have gone to convince her, or if she would even have taken no for an answer.

Sakura came back in holding Naruto's hand, and when they both stood in front of her, Ms. Haruno addressed Naruto. "Naruto-kun, Sakura has asked me if it would be ok if you stayed here to live, but before I give my say-so, I want to ask you a few questions."

Seeing Naruto nod she went on. "Firstly, since she was too excited to tell me before she went to get you, perhaps you would like to tell me what happened between the two of you today?" Ms. Haruno silently laughed at the little fib she had just laid out, she had never told Sakura to tell her the details before getting Naruto in here, mainly because it was too much fun to get her daughter's boyfriend to say it. Sakura was too practiced in keeping a straight face.

Naruto, however blushed an adorable shade of red, and, stuttering the whole time, told her of their fun. During this time Sakura developed a blush as well, especially when he reached the part when Kakashi had interrupted them. But Ms. Haruno couldn't take it anymore when he said that the Hokage had asked them the same question she did, and promptly started laughing.

"Ok, that's enough, I understand everything now." Sitting back down she looked into first Naruto's eyes, then her daughter's. They both had the same look, begging her to say yes. How could she refuse them? "You may stay, Naruto-chan." Seeing them yell to the heavens in joy, Ms. Haruno sighed inwardly. Happy for both her daughter, and what she now guessed would someday be her son-in-law. Laughing a little at the idea, she got up to check on the food.

Sakura was thrilled with the outcome. "Now Naruto-kun has a place to call home, and I can finally be with him all the time." They were both snapped out of their trance when they heard a shout come from Sakura's mother.

"What happened Haruno-san?" Naruto asked.

Ms. Haruno turned to look back at the two of them, a guilt-ridden smile on her face. "Our dinner got a little crispy." Turning to show them she held out a pan with what once held food, but now held an unidentifiable black lump.

Both Naruto and Sakura sweat-dropped, and agreed to takeout instead.

When her mother left to get the food, Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand and dragged him upstairs to her room. When they stepped inside, Sakura closed the door behind Naruto and walked over to him. Naruto was looking around her room, taking in every detail, trying to see what her life was like.

Against the walls stood bookshelves packed with books and scrolls containing everything from ninjutsu instructions to fitness tips to study guides. Everything pertained to learning something. On the walls above these shelves were posters of famous ninja, with sticky notes attached, identifying what ninjutsu the ninja possessed, as well as notes on learning the ninjutsu. By the window stood three potted plants. Each was unique in color and shape, and none could Naruto name. Her bed was pink, and had a stack of scrolls containing history notes in them on the pillow.

Naruto picked up one of these and started to go through it when Sakura slowly slipped her arms around his and took the scroll from his grasp. When he turned around to face her, she smiled and said, "Reading history is interesting and fun and all, no doubt about that, but I think I can think of another activity that's a bit more interesting, and a lot more fun."

Naruto smiled and gently leaned her backwards onto the bed. When she was flat on the bed he slid on top of her and started slowly kissing her. After a moment he leaned back and said, "Is this what you had in mind Sakura-chan?" seeing her nod slightly he went back to work on her mouth, gently working his way from the front all the way to the back, and then back to the front again. This drove Sakura crazy, and before long she stopped his tongue from going back in, and pushed him up, grinning the entire time. When they were both in a sitting position, Sakura eased Naruto onto his back, reversing their positions. When she climbed on top of him she started immediately returning the favor, tasting every bit of his mouth that her tongue could reach.

Ten minutes later her door silently slid open, revealing Ms. Haruno, staring at her daughter as she attacked Naruto's mouth with hers. When they both separated, Ms. Haruno assumed to switch positions again, she spoke up.

"So, does this mean you two are officially boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Hearing her mom's voice startled Sakura so bad she fell off the bed, and seeing as how she had been firmly holding onto Naruto the whole time, he went down with her, landing on top of her in one of the most embarrassing positions they could have been in. sakura blushed as she gave her mother an upside down smile. "Hey, mom." She said, stuttering slightly, "What are you doing back home already?"

Ms. Haruno laughed at her daughter as she tried to turn around while under Naruto, who was attempting to get off of her. "No doubt they would have no problems being in that position if I wasn't around." She thought. Seeing them finally get into respectable sitting positions she waited for an explanation, though she didn't really need one. Apparently Sakura thought so as well.

"Mom, do you really want an explanation?" Sakura said; her blush prominent.

Ms. Haruno thought for a moment, debating the fun of having them tell her over the satisfaction that they knew that she knew. Finally coming to a decision, she stated happily, "No, that won't be necessary." Seeing them sigh in relief, she grinned. "I already saw what happened!" and with that she turned and strode to the door. Right before she went through it though, Ms. Haruno turned her head around to look at her daughter. "Oh, and Sakura? A bit of advice, the next time you want to do naughty things with your boyfriend, lock the door." As she walked out of the room she called over her shoulder. "And don't do anything else besides kiss for now, ok? Judging from the noise that comes out of your mouth when you two kiss, you're going to wake the whole village when you two finally get to foreplay." Laughing as she went Haruno-san could only imagine the look on her daughter's face, and Naruto! "I wonder what's going through that kids head after the idea's I just gave them."

But Sakura's mother had no idea. When they heard the last words she said, Sakura's blush filled her whole face, and traveled down her neck, one scenario after another playing through her mind. She looked over at Naruto, only to sweat-drop when she realized he had fainted from blood loss, his nose still flowing.

A/N: OK! THAT'S A WRAP. I know this chapter was shorter than the last, but really, the end was so damned funny that I decided to add the next scene into the next chapter. Ok, this has been bugging me. Does anyone know Sakura's mom's real name? Does she even have one? If she doesn't then does anyone have any suggestions? I want to give her a name so I'm not stuck with either Ms. Haruno, mom, or Haruno-san all the time. Anyway, the next chapter will be longer, I promise. Speaking of next chapter: Chapter 5: Waking up to a dream and their first mission. Chapter title is pretty self-explanatory really, the missions that I'm going to be giving team 7 for the next few chapters will have explanations from Kakashi as to why they're doing them. There will be at least two chapters of these missions, building up their skills before the legendary "C-rank" mission, which is going to be a lot of fun to write. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Haku or Zabuza yet, so if you have a request, Pm me and I'll see about getting it in. if you request one scenario, and I use another, than the one I used probably had more people asking it. Just so you know. Also, these next few "training chapters" aren't just fillers or anything; they are going to give me a chance to give certain characters a little more time with our new couple. As well as give Sakura and Naruto more chances to get caught! They have horrible luck, don't they? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and hope to see you all again next time! See ya!