[A/N]:  This is the last chapter of "It Started With A Kiss" and I'm glad you guys stuck around for the conclusion!  Again, please read and review.  Arigato! 

THANK YOU mkh2, Japime gurl, Aiko Yamada, Donella, dracanta, pingu, Zxully for stopping by and reviewing chapter 6!  Whoo hoo!  I was excited to see your entries!  ^_^

THANK YOU Irkee, FeatheredEdge, P-chan, Ookima, Watermelon Gal, RuByMoOn17, Bishiehuggler, GWFascination, Beta 4 Hire, jellox, mashimoro_love, iceheart19, D.A, Kuroi Hikari, Koril Dragonic for reviewing my stories a couple of times now.  I am so touched! 

LOL…  I believe some of my readers' comments are even funnier than my own story.  =P  Thanks for pointing out my mistakes because it only helps me improve myself.  I try to keep my characters true to form and sometimes I neglect other important details.  Also, I think I rely too much on the spelling/grammar checker on my Microsoft Word.  No English teacher can save a lost cause like me.  T_T  If there are any mistakes, please feel free to inform me.  Thank you! 

Disclaimer:  Naruto is owned and created by the brilliant mind of Kishimoto Masashi.  However, this "fan"fiction is created by my twisted mind.  ^_^ 

Warnings:  YAOI, mainly SasuNaru and also teasing you with a hint of KakaIru.  =P

Chapter VII:  Naruto's Explosive Declaration

Naruto probably could have handled that better. Ever since he had stabbed himself in the left hand, Naruto vowed that he would never back down from anything. This time it was an exception.  Because for a moment there, for a space of two heartbeats, he'd almost replied, "I love you too".


Almost.


Naruto raked his fingers through his blonde hair in frustration. Why did Sasuke say that he loves him? They were enemies, then friends, and exactly... what are they now? The sound of floorboards creaking underneath someone's weight cause Naruto to froze. But it was Shikamaru's voice, not Sasuke's, that spoke.


"Sasuke told you his true feelings?"


"Shikamaru, please... I don't want to talk about it..."


"Naruto," said Shikamaru, sighing. He realized that this was his last chance to help them when he saw how desolate Naruto looked over his and Sasuke's situation. "This will be the last time I'm going to interfere between you and Sasuke. Remember how Jounin exams are less than 2 months away?"


"Yeah, so?" Naruto asked warily.


"After we all become Jounins, you and Sasuke are going your separate ways. So no more pretending to hate each other while secretly relieved that you have an excuse to see each other."


"What are you talking about? After we become Jounins, things won't change! Sasuke, that bastard, will still be on the same team as me!"


Naruto never once considered that he and Sasuke would part. He assumed that they would always be together, going on missions and fighting over the smallest things. 'Sasuke...' Shikamaru grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and started to shake him violently.


"Wake up, Naruto! Look at Asuma-sensei or Kakashi-sensei! Are they in teams? Once you're Jounin, you're on your own and set the course for your own life." Shikamaru looked at Naruto and could see the blonde's cerulean blue eyes starting to focus. Maybe he could get through to him. "You have no reason to see or even talk to Sasuke again, unless..."


"Unless what?"


"Unless you love him so you two could be together. Tell him before it's too late."


Naruto didn't answer and started running back to the room that he and Sasuke shared.  When he opened the door, the sight that greeted him had his heart stand still.  Choji was leaning over Sasuke in a very compromising position. 

A hard lump formed in his throat and tears were burning his eyes.  Naruto couldn't bear the sight of it any longer and started to run away.  'Sorry, Naruto, but sending Choji into Sasuke's room was the only way you could understand…'  Shikamaru chased after Naruto and placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. 

"Looks like you're too late, Naruto…"

"Sasuke took the first step by telling me that he loves me," Naruto stated slowly as he finally understood and his feelings started to become clearer.  He sighed and decided it was time he did something for Sasuke in return.  "Shikamaru, can you help me one last time?"

"Sure, Naruto," he obliged.  "What do you want me to do?"

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~


Sasuke, meet me at the bow (front section) of the ship.  I need to talk to you.

~Naruto

"Hn," scoffed Sasuke.  "Does Shikamaru honestly believe that I'll fall for this obviously forged note again?"

Setup or not, Sasuke was not in a humorous mood and was ready to pummel the nosy shinobi.  He was already pissed off at Choji when he came to get his stuff to go back to Shikamaru's room.  He had kneed Sasuke in the stomach as he attempted to steal the free chocolate mints that Sasuke had placed on top of the headboard. 

Sasuke rubbed his aching belly as he headed towards the bow but spotted Shikamaru setting up some odd display of fireworks.  When Shikamaru left, Sasuke gave an evil grin and pulled out some trinitrotoluene in a box nearby.   

"Nothing like a little TNT to make things a bit more festive..." 

When he was done sabotaging the display, Sasuke went to the bow and met Naruto.  He wasn't surprised to see the kitsune standing there and waving madly at him. 

"You wanted to speak to me?"

"Hai (yes)…"  Naruto answered hesitantly.  He raked his fingers through his disheveled blonde hair.  "I'm sorry I ran out on you like that but when I came back and saw you with Choji, I finally understood…"

Sasuke's left eye twitched and he looked as if though he had swallowed something sour.  'Baka!  How could he possibly believe that I would like Choji?'  He was about to correct Naruto about what he had thought he'd seen but Naruto held up a hand to prevent Sasuke from interrupting. 

"It made me realize that I do love you, Sasuke…"  he continued. 

"You…you do?"

Sasuke's jaw dropped open in shock and he couldn't believe his ears.  He felt as though all the happiness in the world was given to him when Naruto said that he loves him.  Seeing Sasuke's response as encouragement, Naruto grinned and he continued speaking. 

"I-I want to show you how much I do love you, Sasuke..."


~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~


From a distance, Iruka sat and watch as the two shyly declared their love for one another. Naruto was starting to stutter while Sasuke could only look down shyly. Naruto was taking hold of Sasuke's hands and awkwardly trying to pull him closer.   


"Would they hurry up and kiss already?"


"Kakashi-san!" Iruka exclaimed, startled at the jounin's sudden appearance. His facial expression started to soften. "Let them take their time. They have forever now."


"Hai, hai."


Iruka sighed contentedly. Without warning, a tick mark appeared on Iruka's forehead when he felt a foreign object on his body. Through a forced grin and gritted teeth, he requested, "Kakashi, take your hand off my shoulder."


Kakashi willing obliged and placed his hand somewhere else. Iruka stiffened when he felt where Kakashi's hand went.


"I didn't say you could put your hand beneath my butt!"


Kakashi raised an eyebrow and using his most innocent voice, he inquired, "Then where would you like me to put my hands?"


"In your own pockets!"


~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~



'Aishteru (I love you), Naruto…'

"Sasuke, my heart is exploding with love for you," Naruto declared, using a pun that would go perfectly with his display of affection.  He called for Shikamaru and gave him the thumbs up sign.  "Shikamaru, now!"

"Hai!" Shikamaru exclaimed as he got the cue.  He struck a match and started to light the array of fireworks simultaneously.  Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as he realized what was about to happen.   

"SHIKAMARU, NOOOOOO!!!"

Sasuke's horrified scream was drowned out by the massive explosion.  The ship promptly burst into flames and everyone screamed in panic as the ship started to sink.   


~ * ~ * ~ * ~

**sigh** 

"Well, Naruto is the number one ninja at surprising people," remarked Kakashi to no one in particular.  "You've got to give him credit for the originality in his love declaration." 

Kakashi sat on top of a floating door that was dislodged from the ship and could only watch as everyone started drifting by him and screaming for help.  He ignored their desperate pleas.

"Kakashi-san, tasukete kure (save me)!  I'm going to drown!" 

Iruka grabbed a hold of the door Kakashi was floating on and hanged on for dear life.  Kakashi grabbed him by the wrist and was on the verge of pulling his love up but before he did, he asked, "Iruka-san…  Exactly what do you feel for me?"

"Huh?" asked a startled Iruka.  "What do you mean?  I respect you like a sempai (elder)."   

"That's it?"

"What you do mean, that's it?  Isn't that enough?"

"Sorry, wrong answer!" Kakashi replied.  "I hope you'll start to learn how to swim fast, Iruka-san!"  Kakashi pulled out his copy of "Come Come Paradise" to read and ignored Iruka's crude obscenities as he started to plummet deeper into the murky blue waters.   

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Shikamaru-kun!  My plan worked!  Look at those two!"

In the midst of chaos, Shikamaru had managed to grab one life preserver which he and Ino were holding on to.  Shikamaru sighed and smiled indulgently as he watched the two shinobis finally get together.  'Even I hadn't plan on this explosion but at least everything worked out…'

"Yes, Ino-chan.  Your plan really worked." 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Chikusho (Dammit)"!  Naruto cursed, slapping a hand against his forehead while the other arm was linked around a broken ship part.  "Everyone's going to blame me for this!"  He turned to Sasuke, who was holding the other end.  "Gomen ne (sorry)…  I wanted it to be everything to be perfect so you could see that I really do love you." 

Sasuke stared at the broken ship parts that were on fire and had to suppress his laughter as Sakura tried to swim away from an ardent Lee who was protesting that she needs CPR.  Sasuke lets out a sigh and then smiled.  He should have known that mischief and mayhem always follow Naruto but this time it was his fault.  However, he wasn't about to admit that. 

"It is perfect," he murmured, startling Naruto.  "I couldn't have asked for a better love confession.  Now let me show you how much I love you, Naruto."

Sasuke smiled as he leaned forward to kiss Naruto and this time, the kiss was no accident.  The fireworks continued shooting out brilliant colors above them and the panicked screams sounded more like a chorus of cheers for the two young lovers. 

It started with a kiss... and fittingly enough, the conclusion of this story ended with a kiss.

~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~

"Dynamic" and "sparks will fly" was me prepping you for the 'explosion' in the last chapter.  ^_^ 

The End… or is it?   =P 

~  *  ~  *  ~  *  ~

I'm seriously contemplating a sequel or perhaps a new story that involves a SasuNaruGaara triangle.  I'm starting to love Gaara, he's such a twisted little boy!  =P  Until I get an outline of how the story is going to be written, I won't start on it just yet.  "It Started With A Kiss" had an outline, that's why I update pretty fast.  In the meantime, I'd like to read some of the wonderful Naruto fics out there.  ^_^ 

SPECIAL THANKS goes to Irkee, FeatheredEdge, P-chan, Ookima, Watermelon Gal, Iceheart19, GWFascination, Sei the purple Ryu, firedraygon97, Kuroi Hikari, Sei the Purple Ryu, purrfect679, Sasuluv for sticking around so long!  You guys made me laugh with your silly comments and input and it makes me happy to know that you enjoy my weird sense of humor.  I realized that some of you guys are Gundam Wing writers.  I have never even seen GW!  T_T  However, it's so flattering to have talented writers and kind readers as yourself to review my fics.  *slobbers kisses over everyone* 

Thanks again everyone who read my fic and left me a review!  They are good for a writer's soul and it gives us motivation to know our story is being read.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness and it is deeply appreciated.  ^_^  Until next time!  *waves*