A/N: Here's a nice long chapter for all of you! Hope you like it! Make sure to r&r!! thanks all

Chapter 6

Sakura walked hand-in-hand with Naruto through the hospital's garden. It had been a week since they had closed the mission as a failure. The rest of the group had been returned to active duty except for Naruto and Sakura. All of the genin had been sent to the Hidden Sand Village to serve as reinforcements as security. The chuunin in turn had been placed on guard duty in Konoha while jonin were sent out on missions.

Sakura stopped at a bridge overlooking the Konoha river. "I feel a lot better Naruto, I think I'll be able to leave tonight." She said, brightly.

He looked at her skeptically. "Not back to active duty."

"Why not, I feel great?"

"Sakura…" Naruto muttered. "You had to fight off a fever last night."

She shrugged. "I know, but I'm okay now right?"

Naruto rested her forehead against hers. "Who's gonna take care of you if you collapse while on guard duty?"

She crossed her arms, standoffishly. "Who says I'm going to collapse?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"I'm a medical ninja Naruto, and I know my limits, I also know I'm well enough to get back to work."

Naruto sighed and nodded slowly.

"Besides," Sakura argued. "You'll be with me."

Naruto kissed her impulsively. Things had become so normal between them, so relaxed. It seemed so right.

Sakura smiled warmly. "I love you."

He returned her smile with his own. "I love you too."

"You two just about make me sick!" Konahamaru called from the bushes.

"Why you little peeping tom!" Sakura yelled, punching him in the face.

"No! Stop!" Konahamaru squealed as a lump on his face began to form.

Naruto grabbed Konahamaru by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "What do you want, Konahamaru?"

"Nothing boss, I just thought I'd see what you and your girlfriend was doing!"

Sakura shook her head and crossed her arms. Boys!

Konahamaru looked confusingly over at Sakura. "Hey… She didn't get pissed when I made that crack about her being your girlfriend!"

"That's because she is my girlfriend." Naruto muttered.

Konahamaru covered his head with his arms, shielding himself. "Oh damn boss, you really said it now! She's gonna pulverize you!"

The punch never came.

"What's going on?" Konahamaru looked lost as he looked between Naruto and Sakura.

"Listen you brat, I am his girlfriend!" Sakura admitted, arms still crossed, obviously irritated.

"For real?" he asked, his eyes widening.

"Yep," Naruto answered, with a proud catch in his throat. " I finally convinced her."

Konahamaru stared at Sakura, mouth agape.

"What are you staring at twerp?" she snapped.

"I just kind of thought you were more in a league with Choji…"

Sakura's mouth widened, flashing Konahamaru a livid expression. "I'll kill you, you little brat!" she yelled, running towards him.

"Oh shit Konahamaru, you'd better run!" Naruto yelled, fear evident on his face. He knew the power of Sakura's punches oh so well.

Konahamaru set off in a blaze. Naruto caught Sakura just as she passed by him.

"Settle down," Naruto said, his grip tightening.

"Damn that little squirt!" Sakura spat, crossing her arms angrily.

"He was only kidding around." Naruto said.

She paused after a few moments and then muttered something mean about Konahamaru and held her side.

"See, you've already hurt yourself." Naruto said, carefully pushing away her hospital gown to see her stitches bleeding from where they had sewed the knife wound shut.

She shook her head and began to heal it by herself. "You're not talking me out of this…

--

The alarm next to the bed woke Sakura up. She rolled over and turned it off. She climbed over the bump next to her and opened the curtains.

A grunt came from the bump. She giggled. "Wake up, sleepy head."

She sat on his abdomen, her legs tucked beneath her on each side of him.

"Sakura…"

She giggled and planted kisses all over his face.

"I'm going to tie you to this bed and tape your mouth shut if you don't let me go back to sleep..." Naruto grunted.

She sat up. "Well, look who's grumpy today!" she said a bit louder than necessary.

"Damn it, Sakura!" Naruto yelled, flipping her beneath him, pinning her down and covering her mouth with his hand. She tried to say something but it was muffled by his hand. After a moment of watching her struggle to talk he finally busted out laughing.

"You're mean when you first get up." She said, joining in with his laughter.

"You jumped on top of me!" he argued.

Sakura made a face and pushed him off of her, she stood up and looked around Naruto's apartment for the door leading to the bathroom.

"Oh no you don't!" Naruto said, running over to her and grabbing her just as she reached for the knob. "I'm not done with you yet!"

Sakura looked up at him with her sweet, big, emerald eyes. "I have to take a shower before we leave for the north gate to keep guard."

Naruto dissolved under her innocent stare. "I'll let you take the first shower, if you let me sleep while you're taking a shower."

She smiled. "Deal."

--

Sakura turned the water off and threw a towel around her body as she walked out of Naruto's bathroom and into the apartment. Naruto was fast asleep on the bed, his body stretched out to both of the sides. His eyes were closed. He looked very peaceful.

"Naruto?" she called and smiled as he opened his eyes. The blue in his eyes seemed to glitter as he searched her body, which was still covered by the towel. Desire bubbled inside of him.

"Sakura…" Naruto said, reaching out to touch her bare shoulder. Never in his life had he known such softness could exist.

Sakura leaned in and kissed Naruto. He felt his heart race, it took every ounce of his being not to undress Sakura. All she had on was a towel, one flick of his wrist and she could be naked before him.

"I want you…" Naruto muttered, not knowing whether he had said it out loud or just in his mind.

Sakura kissed Naruto again and put his hand on her chest. "If you want me, then take me." She said, and in one swift movement the towel fell to the floor, leaving Sakura completely naked before him.

"S…S…Sakura…" Naruto stuttered as he took her beauty in. He closed his eyes tightly. "This is your last chance, if you leave now, then I can stop…"

But she moved closer and pulled his shirt over his head. "I want you too."

"We're going to be late for work." Naruto muttered.

"That's okay, I'll just say I wasn't feeling my best and you helped me." She said, as she desperately reached for the zipper of his pants. His breathing became heavy.

"Sakura…" he pushed her against the wall of his apartment and lifted her up, kissing and touching her. She shivered as she felt his fingertips run down the length of her torso.

"You're so soft." Naruto said.

Sakura smiled as he lifted her up and placed her softly in the middle of the bed. "Last warning Sakura, you can still get out of this." Naruto said, even though he knew he was too far gone.

"I don't want to get out of this." Sakura said. "I love you, Naruto Uzumaki and I want you to be the first man I ever do this with, and I want you to be the last."

--

Sakura smiled, she was cuddled deeply inside Naruto's embrace. They were both still naked and breathing heavily.

"You okay?" Naruto asked, kissing her forehead. "Did I hurt you?"

Sakura shook her head. "I just want to sleep like this."

Naruto smiled. "Then sleep, I think a nap sounds good."

Sakura cuddled into Naruto's naked chest and Naruto leaned back. He thought of all that had happened in the last 4 hours. Neither one of them were virgins. Naruto knew that even though it was a big deal to him, it was an even bigger deal for her. He smiled widely and took a deep breath. The last time he was this happy was before Sasuke left. He felt her kiss the spot right above his ribcage.

Sakura's eyes closed peacefully and eventually she dozed off. He stayed up and laid beside her for what seemed like hours, just thinking. His mind wandered to their future, and the future of Konoha. It lingered on Sasuke's for a while. How he missed his best friend. Determination filled him to find him.

Naruto carefully got out of bed and pulled on his pants. He walked out onto the balcony and looked out around the village. People went from place to place, some went towards the center of town to go grocery shopping for that night's meal, other's headed towards their friends houses for a night of games and fellowship. He turned around and watched Sakura as she slept peacefully in his bed. He felt a sudden urge to protect everything around him. The villagers, his friends, and Sakura, they were all precious to him. He turned back around and looked out to the five Hokages carved in the mountain-top overlooking the village. He yearned to be Hokage, so much it hurt. His hand that rested by his side made a fist.

"Naruto…?" Sakura asked, and he turned, she stood in the doorway, a worried expression evident on her face. She had his sheet wrapped around her body.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked as she walked out onto the balcony with him.

"I noticed you weren't beside me anymore." She said, resting her hands on his sides and placing her head against his back. "Are you alright?"

He smiled warmly and looked down. "I was just watching all of the villagers down below, and I was thinking of how beautiful this village is, and why anybody would want to disturb the peace of this place."

Sakura smiled. "You'll be a good Hokage, Naruto."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

A moment of silence passed between them as the breeze blew the sheet that was still wrapped around Sakura's body.

Naruto smiled sadly. "I wish Sasuke was here."

"We'll find him Naruto, you and me, just like I promised." Sakura said, he felt her soft breath on his back, if comforted him, to know she'd always be there.

"You want to go visit with some of our friends tonight since they are all in the village?" Sakura asked, and Naruto nodded.

"Okay, I'll go talk to Ino, Hinata, and Tenten and get them to invite Kiba, Shikamaru, Lee, Sai, Shino, and Choji, we can go out for some dinner and then maybe go for a walk by the Konoha river, would you like that?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Naruto said, kissing Sakura on the forehead before she left the balcony.

"Okay, I'm going to go get dressed, I'll see you in an hour." She told him, closing the glass door.

--

Naruto and Sakura met up with the whole group at a restaurant just outside of the village's center. Choji had of course ordered the whole group a large amount of pork for the table grill.

"Sai, how have you been?" Sakura asked, looking over at the silent dark-haired boy. "Naruto and I haven't seen you for a while."

"Fine." Sai said, mysteriously.

"Sai just got off of a secret mission for the ANBU!" Ino said, hugging up to Sai.

"Ino! That's top-secret! You're not supposed to tell anyone!" Naruto said, his jaw open.

"Why the hell did you tell Ino anything?" Shikamaru asked Sai, rolling his eyes. "I mean I know you both are dating, but for God's sake, Ino's mouth is bigger than Choji's appetite!"

Sai seemed unaffected by the remarks, but still looked over at Ino, outside no one could tell whether he was angry or indifferent.

"Ino, you need to keep your mouth quiet about that, you could get Sai in big trouble. Most of us didn't even know Sai was in the ANBU." Sakura scolded.

"Whoops!" Ino said, giggling obnoxiously. She leaned over and whispered in Sakura's ear.

"To be honest, I'm just trying to get some kind of emotion out of him, he's so weird! If he wasn't so good looking I never would have asked him out in the first place!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Damn it Ino, do you have any shame?"

"Nope!"

Kiba's arm rested around Hinata's shoulder, they both seemed very happy. "So, rumor has it that Shikamaru is about to become a jonin."

"Really?" Naruto asked, his eyes widening.

"Well, I got elected, but that doesn't mean I'll be chosen." Shikamaru said, modestly.

"That my best friend for ya!" Choji said in between bites. "Always the first to be promoted!"

Shikamaru sat back and sighed. "I don't know, it all seems very troublesome if you ask me."

Shino snorted. "Good for you, Shikamaru."

"Who's gonna help me run the team if you get chosen to be a jonin?" Ino asked, after mulling for a few moments at the end of the table.

"Well, I guess one of the chuunin who haven't been assigned as a team leader." Shikamaru said. "Or they might just leave you to run your own team, Ino."

"Maybe Sai will be chosen to help me run Team Ino."

Naruto leaned over and whispered in Kiba's ear. "Well imagine that, the team's named after her."

Kiba smiled. "I can just see her bitching right now at Shikamaru to get the team named after her."

"Ya'll two seem quiet." Sakura said to Tenten and Lee.

"Oh, well…" Tenten said, blushing. "Should I tell them Lee?"

Lee shook his head and put his arm around Tenten's shoulder, his smile was so wide his teeth glittered. "This is our first date!"

Everyone's mouth hit the table.

"That's great!" Naruto said, with a little too much fervor.

"Don't worry Naruto, I will not pursue Sakura any more. She had her chance to be with an amazing Shinobi."

Naruto's face turned livid. "Hey, I'm a better Shinobi than you, bushy-brows!"

Lee turned his nose upwards and Naruto seethed. Sakura giggled at Naruto.

"Well I'm just glad you both are happy." Sakura said.

"Are we all done?" Shino asked.

"Well, Choji finished off the pork, so I guess we can go for a walk." Sakura said, smiling widely. She felt so happy to be with her friends.

--

Sakura and Naruto had gotten split up as they walked, all the girls had run ahead and were now talking as they walked ahead of the boys.

"So…" Sakura started, looking over at Tenten. "What ever happened to you and Neji?"

Hinata looked over at Sakura and gave her a look saying not to bring it up but Tenten smiled. "He just didn't have time for me."

"What a jerk." Ino said, then looked over at Hinata. "No offense."

"None taken…" Hinata said. "Neji just has too much on his mind, he has a lot to live up to, being the strongest in the clan and all."

"Don't get me wrong," Tenten said, as they continued to walk. "I still have feelings for Neji, and I don't think he's a jerk or anything, he just has other priorities, and those priorities don't include me." She said sadly.

"But you like Lee right?" Sakura asked.

Tenten nodded. "He's really sweet, and he tries really hard to make me happy. I'm satisfied."

"Maybe Lee can help you get over Neji." Sakura said.

"Just like Naruto helped you get over Sasuke?" Ino asked, as she made a face. "I mean, you definitely downgraded."

Sakura turned to Ino angrily. "I didn't downgrade!"

"Against Sasuke, even Sai is a downgrade."

Sakura shook her head furiously. "Naruto is tons better looking than Sasuke!"

Ino crinkled her nose. "I don't know what you see in him."

Sakura began to get angry. "He's a good guy, and at least he actually has emotions! He's definitely better than Sai!"

Now it was Ino's turn to look livid. "Hell no he isn't!"

Hinata and Tenten sighed, walking on.

"So Naruto, Kurenai told me today that you and Sakura are living together." Shikamaru said, as they walked a ways behind the four girls.

"Yeah, she's staying with me for now." Naruto said. "Her parents don't exactly approve of me."

"That's okay, Hinata's parents don't exactly like me either." Kiba said, Akamaru walking beside him.

Naruto nodded. "I feel guilty, I feel like she's choosing between me and her family."

Shikamaru sighed and crossed his arms. "Women are just so troublesome."

Naruto smiled. "I love her though, so she's worth the trouble."

"Have you consummated your relationship yet?" Sai asked and Naruto stopped and turned to Sai, looking a bit confused.

"He's asking whether you had sex yet, just in his weird way." Shino said, as the rest of the group stopped.

Naruto looked over at Sai accusatorily. "Why do you want to know?"

Sai shrugged. "I read in a book about friends that when guys talk, they talk about sex with their girlfriends."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Well, I wish you wouldn't be so weird about it…"

"Sooo?" Choji asked.

"Ah I already know the answer to that…" Kiba said. "They were pretty obvious about it on the last mission we were on."

Naruto turned red. "I'm not telling you guys anything."

"Ah, leave Naruto alone." Shikamaru said, then turned to Kiba. "If you're so eager to offer up info, have you done it with Hinata?"

"Hell no," Kiba said, sighing. "Her parents already hate me enough, besides, there's something about the heir of the Hyuuga clan must stay inside the clan when it comes to having kids and stuff."

Loud shrieks echoed through the woods.

"That's Hinata!" Kiba yelled.

"And Tenten!" Lee agreed.

"Damn it, Akamaru, go find them!" Kiba said, and Akamaru nodded, they ran off in the directions of the shrieks.

It was too dark to see but two figures were on opposite sides of the river, both were forming a jutsu. Two other stood in between them.

"Oh shit." Kiba said, as Naruto ran faster.

"You bitch!" Ino yelled from across the other side of the river. "You'll pay for insulting Sai!"

"You insulted Naruto first, you pig!"

The whole male group froze as they saw Hinata and Tenten between a pissed Ino and a livid Sakura.

"Girls, can't we talk about this?!" Tenten asked as Kiba and Lee ran in between Sakura and Ino.

"Hell no, you're dead Sakura."

Naruto, Sai, Choji, and Shikamaru stood back. "What the hell's going on?" Naruto asked.

"My guess is it's a catfight." Shikamaru said, then sighing. "What a drag."

"Get her Ino!" Choji yelled.

"Hey, that's my girlfriend she's fighting Choji!" Naruto yelled.

"According to my records, the last time Sakura and Ino fought it was a draw, I wonder who will win now?" Sai said.

Naruto looked shockingly over to Sai. "You actually want them to fight? I was there the last time they did and they both were injured so badly they both passed out at the same time!"

"What is it exactly that you two are fighting over anyways?" Kiba asked.

"That billboard-brow bitch made a comment about Sai!"

"I didn't say one thing against Sai! I just said that Naruto was better!"

"Well I'm definitely staying out of this, good luck you two…" Shikamaru said, rolling his eyes and patting Naruto and Sai on the shoulders.

"Is this really how two teenage kunochi should behave?" Shino said, crossing his arms.

"SHUT UP SHINO!" both of the girls said in unison, so much that Shino actually looked shocked enough to take a step back and stood beside Shikamaru.

"They sure are scary." Choji said, taking a step back too.

Sakura sneered at Ino. "You ready?"

"Bring it!"

Sakura ran past Hinata, Tenten, Lee, and Kiba, her fist out.

"Oh shit, we gotta move Sai!" Naruto said, and Sai nodded, pulling out a blank scroll. He drew about twenty-five mice on it.

Naruto shook his head. "Sakura's not afraid of mice!"

Sai looked over at Naruto then smiled. "But Ino is terrified of them."

"Well shit, I still have to stop Sakura." Naruto said as he made a hand sign.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Ten shadow-clones appeared.

One of the shadow-clones reached Sakura just in time. "Sakura, stop!" It caught her as she ran full into him and it disappeared. She lost her balance and fell straight into the river.

Naruto's eyes widened. She was going to be pissed at him now.

At the first moment Ino saw the mice scurrying towards her screamed. "Sai! Sai get these things away from me!" she shrieked so loudly that the whole group held their ears. Ino jumped into Sai's arms still afraid for her life.

"Sakura…?" Naruto asked as she slowly climbed out of the river. She was soaked.

"What did I run into?" she asked, confused.

Naruto quickly dispelled his shadow-clones. "Nothing… Let's go home."

"Why?" she asked.

"You're soaked, and I think Sai scared Ino so much that she can't fight you." He said, gesturing over at Ino who was still in Sai's arms screaming obscenities at him.

"Okay," she said, grabbing his outstretched hand. "See you all at work tomorrow!"

Shikamaru, Shino, Choji, Lee, Hinata, Tenten, and Kiba stood watching with mouths agape, seconds ago Sakura looked like a raging bull ready to take out anyone, but now she was calmly walking hand-in-hand with Naruto.

"If Naruto found a way to calm Sakura, then he's a better man than I am." Shikamaru said, and Kiba nodded.

Sakura shivered. "It's cold."

Naruto put his jacket around her. "Well, you are soaked from the river."

"Don't even remind me, that's the last time I invite Ino to go anywhere with us!"

Naruto changed the subject. "Do you want to stop at a bathhouse? You could dry off there." He said.

"No, that's okay, it's late and I kind of just want to go home." She said. He nodded. They walked back in silence.

A/N: Okay! So look for an update soon! (this story is getting pretty long I already have 97 pages written in Word!! geez I wish I could write my school papers as easy as I write Naruto fanfiction haha)

Anyways don't forget to review!!