*dodges various thrown objects* yeah I deserved that... Anyways I'm back. To be honest I don't like writing long chapters... Thats why with every story that I've EVER written, I've kept the chapters under 2 or 3 thousand words. And honestly I'd prefer more short chapters than a few Chapters that are longer. ANYWAYS... ONTO THE STORY.
Previously...
"Sakura..."
"I'm sorry... " *Sakura runs away*
Chapter 4:Apologize
A few weeks had passed, news of Naruto and Ino's relationship had got out. Though Sakura wouldn't admit it, She was jealous. Every day, Sakura's mind wandered, thinking about the blonde... She hadn't seen him since that day. That day. She had her chance to apologize, but she didn't. Ino had talked with her about it, but she didn't want to do it.
*Flashback, 3 weeks ago, Haruno residence*
Sakura was in the kitchen doing the dishes when she heard a knock at the front door. She quickly dried her hands off and went to open the door.
"Ino, what's up?" She said, letting her friend in.
"Not much forehead, just checking on you. You've been distant lately. Everyone's been worried. Is everything okay?" Ino asked
Sakura let out a sigh, "I'm fine. I've just been working longer hours at the hospital." Sakura lies.
Ino gives her a stern look. "You and I both know that is a lie Sakura." Ino says. "What is wrong. Spill it."
Sakura stayed silent for a few moments before speaking up. "He's mad at me. I know it. He did the one thing that I asked of him and I pushed him away."
"Pushed who away? You mean Naru-Kun?"
Sakura nods before she realizes the suffix added onto Naruto's name. "Wait NARU-KUN?!" She yelled.
"Yeeaahh about that..." Ino said scratching the back of her head while blushing nervously.
"Anyways," she continued "All you need to do I apologize to him, then again if you do, he'll probably ask why, but that's not the issue."
Sakura let out a started to form in her eyes.
"Sakura, why are you so against going to apologize to him?"
"I'm afraid he wont forgive me okay." Sakura started sobbing. "I've already said why."
Ino let out a short laugh. "You do realize we are talking about the one person that is possibly the most forgiving person in the world, right? Were talking about NARUTO for Kami's sake!"
Sakura wiped her eyes. Ino was right. She could trust that Naruto would forgive her.
"I'm giving you three weeks. If you haven't apologized by then, I'm going to drag you to Naru-kun's house so that he gets Said apology." Ino said in a brash tone.
*Present day*
Three weeks. It had been three weeks since Ino had talked to her. Ino said that if she was going to say anything she had to do it soon before he went on his next mission. Which was tomorrow. Sakura had never been much of a procrastinator, but this was different. This was something she didn't know if she could do.
"I hope he's in a good mood today." Sakura said to herself as she headed out to find him.
***With Naruto and Ino***
The blonde couple was headed to Ichiraku's ramen stand. This was the last day together before they would be separated for an extensive amount of time. A month to be exact. Naruto protested against it, considering that The two blondes were almost inseparable since the night they got together. Well, almost.
An Anbu ninja with a jaguar mask dropped in front of the couple.
"Naruto Uzumaki, Lady Tsunade needs to see you immediately. "
Ino made to follow her boyfriend, but was stopped.
"I'm sorry miss Yamanaka, she wants to see him alone." The agent said.
Ino sighed. "fine." She turns to Naruto. "Come back soon." She smiled
"I will." Naruto says as he kisses her cheek and then jumped away across some roof tops.
Ino turned and walked off. She decided to go find Sakura. Little did she know, Sakura was already off to go find Naruto.
*Time skip 5 minutes *
Tsunade hears a knock on the door. "its about time he's here" she says to herself.
"Come in!" She orders.
"you wanted to see me?" Naruto asks.
"yes, get in here and sit down."
Naruto does as he's told and sits in the chair across from her.
"What is it Baa-chan?"
"Stop calling me that! Anyways, the details of your mission are in this scroll. You will be heading towards an island north of the border for a scouting mission. Rumor has it there is a new clan. I want you to investigate it. Its going to be an S ranked mission so keep quiet about it. Ok Thats one thing I called you here for. The second reason Is that you will have a new teammate to replace Sasuke."
Naruto groans.
"Oh stop your you'll like your new teammate. Your new teammate will be one that you are quite close to. Ino Yamanaka."
"WHAT?"
"You heard me. Your girlfriend is part of your squad."
"B-but what about the Ino-Shika-Cho?! How are you going to-" Naruto spouted off.
"I've already dealt with that. Ino's cousin Inomi will take her place."
Naruto couldn't keep his jaw from hitting the floor. After a few moments, the blonde finally managed to regain his composure.
"So does Ino-Chan know about the team changes?"
"Not yet. You will be the one to tell her." Tsunade says.
"Alright, ill let her know." Naruto says with a nod, turning to walk out.
"OH and Naruto?"
"Hmm?"
Tsunade throws a vest at him.
"You have been promoted to Chunin rank for your completion of the Sasuke retrieval mission." Tsunade says with a smile.
"Thank you Baa-Chan. I wont let you down." Naruto says as he walks out the door.
***With Ino***
Ino had managed to make it back home and was about to open the door until she heard a voice call out her name.
"INO!"
Ino turns around, trying to figure out who called her name. She looked through the crowd to find Sakura running up to her.
"Sakura? Hey what's up?" Ino asked.
"I wanted (Pant) to see (pant) if you knew where Naruto was." Sakura says, slightly out of breath.
"So of all the days you could have picked, you picked the last one. Honestly I would've never pegged you as the procrastinator type forehead!" Ino mused.
"Yeah yeah. Where is he?" Sakura groaned.
"He's in lady Tsunade's office right now. But he should be done soon. You might be able to meet up with him if you hurry."
When Sakura heard this she wasted no time getting there. She hopped across roofs, and at some point, interrupted Kakashi's reading session after tripping over his foot. But she did a little roll and kept going until she reached the Hokage's tower. She waited by the main door outside for a few minutes until it opened, revealing Naruto reading his mission scroll. Sakura then called out to him.
"Naruto!"
"Huh? Oh Sakura! Hey what's up?"
There was an unsettling silence between the two and Naruto was first to break it.
"Sakura?"
"Naruto... C-Can we talk?"
"Yeah sure. Your my teammate after all. What is it?"
"I'm sorry."
"What?"
"Naruto I said I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Naruto, the day you came back. I'm sure you remember it right?" Sakura asked.
Naruto thinks back and then nods
"Look I'm sorry. I'm sorry I acted the way that I did. I'm sorry for Everything I've put you through. I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner. Sakura was tearing up "I shouldn't have snapped on you about Sasuke and I was out of line and-"
Within seconds Naruto's arms were around her as she cried out. She felt truly terrible for what she made Naruto go through, And he recognized that.
"I was never mad at you Sakura. Never. If anything I was worried that you'd still be mad at me. Ino-Chan said otherwise, but I still had my doubts. Looks like I was wrong Sakura."
After a couple more moments, The two Broke the embrace. Sakura had some questions and shell be damned if he doesn't answer them.
"So Naruto, you finally made Chunin. I'm proud of I also noticed you dropped the -Chan off my name and gave it to Ino. Care to explain how you managed to get ahold of Ino pigs heart?!" Sakura says with a smirk. Naruto swears Sakura is hiding her Killer Intent behind this.
"We'll have plenty of time to discuss that on our next mission in the morning. The whole team is going. We leave in the morning. Meet at the northern gate. I'll explain everything Then." Naruto says as he makes a Hand sign and poofs away.
Sakura sighs. Her job was finished. She did what she didn't have to. But she felt it was needed. "Mission accomplished" Sakura says to herself as she heads home to prepare for her mission.
AND CUT!
Naruto: ITS TOO LATE TO APOLOGIIIIZE ITS TOO LAAAATE!
Sakura: SHUT UP NARUTO
Me:*Sigh* cant you two just get along?
Sakura: Maybe if he stop being stupid!
Ino: HEY HANDS OFF MY MAN FOREHEAD!
Me:Oh Kami why?
So, I thought that was a good place to stop things. I know some people are going to whine that the chapter(s) are too short, but you take what you get. ANYWAYS thanks for reading and please be sure to R&R! It helps tremendously with my motivation! Until next chapter, PEACE!
