DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. THEY BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER AND PUBLISHER.

I think I am unconsciously turning Naruto into a shojo. Forgive me if it seems like that.

Excuse my grammar and typo. Too lazy to review.


In the dark her pale skin glows, eyes gone bright, lips painted red

This night she is beautiful

Deadly beautiful

And his heart stops...


With the event that happened I completely forgot the mission that the Hokage had given me. It was swept away from my mind, until Kakashi sensei appeared into my door that I remembered about it. Oh crap I haven't talked with Hinata yet. I hope someone told her about this.

"Naruto, not because you are the hero of the Shinobi world it does not mean you can keep your sensei waiting." He said once I opened my door. "Hurry up and pack your things."

"I'm sorry I forgot about it." I said as I hurriedly toss things into my back pack.

"Just hurry up, Sakura and Hinata are waiting already at the gate." Then he vanished into smoke.

Sakura chan and Hinata in a mission with me. What in the world we will do? Isn't Team 7 complete already why can't Sasuke join us instead? Oh no! Sasuke can't be with us in this mission, Sakura chan is still in the process of moving on. Maybe it is just right to be with Hinata.

"Would you be able to face that white eyed girl?" Kurama suddenly asked me.

"Well, I'm not sure. Do you think she will forgive me for standing her up?"

"That's not what I meant. Her confession you still haven't told her anything about it. How long would you pretend that you forgot about that?"

"Will you please not remind me about that? I am already nervous about meeting Sakura chan, don't add things up."

"Alright you said so but let me tell you one thing, don't say anything without proper thinking. You might lose whatever it is that you desired if you will continue to act harshly."

"Hahaha." I suddenly burst out laughing. Who could have thought that this is the wild nine tails? He had softened to me and acting like an older brother giving me advise. I never dreamed of this day, not even imagined it but nevertheless I am thankful that he cares about me.

"What is so funny?"

"You are. You no longer act like the feared Kyubi but as a gentle Kurama caring for his friend."

There is a growled of anger. I know he is trying to remind of who he is but it has no effect. I know he is no longer living in a world of hatred and pain.

"I haven't imagine I could be friend with you brat."

"I somewhat believe that one day we will come to understand each other. I don't believe that you are that bad at all."

"I don't think rasengan or hermit mode is your best technique."

"Eh?"

"Your greatest weapon is your mouth. You can talk to anyone and make your words reach them."

"Being a big mouth ain't bad, huh?"

"Just don't disturb my rest."

Having this talk with Kurama, I feel a little light. Somewhat the worries I felt awhile ago was lessened a bit. Ok, here I come. I have to face them and not run away.

I reached them after some minutes. Kakashi sensei is reading his favorite book, Sakura chan is standing beside him, her head bowed down so unlike the usual Sakura that I knew and Hinata is on sensei's other side. It seems like she found something interesting on her intertwined hands.

"Morning! Sorry for being late!" I said in my usual voice.

"Next time don't make your superior waits for you." Kakashi sensei said as he put away the book he is reading.

"Superior?"

"You haven't been promoted into being a chuunin yet."

Does he really have to remind me of this? This somewhat dampen my spirit, I sure won against Pein, Obito and Madara, but I still have to take the chuunin exam. In my talk with that old woman, I will be given a special exam when everything comes back to normal. Oh yeah Sasuke will take that same exam with me. I wonder what it is.

"Anyway what is our mission all about again?" I asked. I completely have no idea. When the old woman told me about the mission, I got totally hyped out that I did not ask what it is about.

"We are going to search for this medical plant that is needed to cure a lot of ailments. Since there were many casualties of the recent war we needed to have them on hand." Kakashi sensei explained.

"Isn't this too much to send all of us for such thing?" Sakura asked the question that I am thinking. This is such an easy task if you asked me.

"Don't be too full of yourself just because you are a survivor of that great war. In this mission we need a medical nin to identify them and we need someone good in tracking them. It is also said that some rogue ninjas are taking advantage of the situation and attacking those village who are still in the process of recovering. We might have a chance of meeting them in the way."

"What will we do when we meet them?" I asked.

"Don't held back."

The exact answer I am waiting for. Of course there will be no way of me holding back against them, those people taking advantage of what happened to discord the peace in the ninja world that we created through great sacrifice.

We journeyed in total silence. None of us is speaking and moment by moment the silence is turning into awkwardness. I wanted to break it but how can I? I look at my left to see Sakura whose eyes are focus ahead. To my right is Hinata, her eyes are downcast again and in front of me is Kakashi sensei who abruptly stopped.

"What happened?" I asked as I run towards him.

"Let's have a short break. It is time for lunch." He said and he was right.

"But aren't we in a hurry? We have to finish this as soon as we can." Sakura said.

Yes of course she wanted this to be over as soon as possible. She can't stand my presence for sure. Who would? I mean after all that happened, she surely would not.

"Well, then let's have some lunch here." I said hoping to lighten the mood. "Oh yeah I got no bento."

"I have spare one." Hinata said in a quiet voice.

"Oh you saved me Hinata." I said and then I remember what Kiba said. I don't have right to touch anything she prepared for me. I'm not worth anything after all I should be ashamed. "There's no need for it. I forgot I have a cup of ramen here."

"But there's no hot water here."

Oh crap, she caught me there. There is no way I can cook my instant ramen without any hot water. What should I do?

"I will find a way."

"Here," Sakura chan surprised me by putting a bento on my lap. "Eat."

"Eh? Thank you."

I think she wanted to make ammends on what she did. I should just act like nothing had happened between us. It will be better that way.

"Itadakimasu!"

I opened the bento made by Sakura. It is my first time eating something she had prepared and like the kiss it was a disappointment. The food does not look appealing at all. I look at the bento that was made by Hinata, Kakashi sensei asked if he can have it instead. It is well prepared and really appetizing. Just by looking at it made my mouth watery. I should have swallowed my pride and just accepted it. Then I feel someone glaring at me. I look at the source and found Sakura chan. She knows what I am thinking and if I did not eat this I will sure receive a death blow from her. I forcefully take a bite and it does not taste that bad. She made this bento I should be grateful at the least and eat it. Then I looked at Kakashi sensei again eating Hinata's bento shamelessly. I want to taste it to. She made it for me, it should be eaten by me!

"Hey you, aren't you going to eat that?" I heard Sakura's voice and it scared me.

"Of course I am eating it now!" I said and I hurriedly eat all the food. It surprisingly taste better than I expected.

"Thanks for the food Hinata it tastes great." Kakashi sensei said.

"It's nothing. I'm glad you like it." She said in her gentle voice again.

Now that I noticed it, she is always kind to anyone. I never heard her say anything rude or act mean towards anyone. Even to enemies, she would always have her gentle heart. She is so gentle, so cool and the more I look at her, the prettier she gets.

"Are you alright Naruto kun?" she asked then I realized I have been staring at her for quiet a time. I suddenly felt embarrass.

"Ah- nothing. Don't worry about it." I said excusing myself.

"Don't worry about that idiot Hinata." Sakura chan told her. "He is probably looking for a toilet."

Mean Sakura chan!

"But we are in the woods, there's no toilet here." Hinata said innocently.

Good point, we are in the middle of the forest there won't be any toilet here. Wait! I'm not thinking about the toilet. Geez what is happening on you my brain?

"The point here is just don't worry about him. He does not concern you."

That is harsh! Whatever I did do not concern Sakura chan too so there's no need for those harsh words. I look at Hinata who seemed troubled.

"Man, Sakura why are you so tackless today?" it is Kakashi sensei who spoke. I'm thankful for his interruption.

"I'm s-orry. I'm stressed out I think." She apologized to Hinata who surprisingly gave her a genuine smile.

"Don't worry about it Sakura chan. No harm done." She told her in a gentle voice.

"Let's go and continue the search."

In order to reach our destination we need to pass through the Hidden Vine village. It is the village that Kakashi sensie told us about earlier. The place shows the recent attack of those rogue ninjas. I know this is not our main mission but I can't just let this one go.

"Kakashi sensei, I think we have some job to take care off here." I said.

"We are not in a hurry so staying for a bit won't harm."

We waited for the said rogue ninjas to come and they did, just some minutes before midnight. They are a group of twelve shinobis. It is odd to have such number moving in one group. They don't even look intimidating at all. Are the villagers sure that they are fearsome?

"Don't judge the book by its cover." Kakashi sensei told us.

But no matter what, I don't feel like they are strong.

"Four persons each." I told them.

My calculation is correct. These people ain't even that strong I bet even Konahamaru can handle them all alone. I don't even waste much of chakra. Are these people really scary?

"Go get your ass off here!" I shouted at them.

"Our boss will hear about this! Just so you wait!"

"Then tell your boss that I Uzumaki Naruto of the Hidden Leaf is waiting for him."

"Y- yo-u a-rre Uz-umaki Naruto?" one of them said with shaking voice.

"Yes I am." I said clueless.

"This is bad.. Let's go guys!"

Then they run and vanished out of our sight. If there is one thing they are good at, I guess it is running. But I wonder what was that for? Hearing my name and shaking. Wait is it this? I am becoming famous that the my name brought fear to others! Hah! I'm proud of this! Then something hit my head with so much force that I was thrown face down on the ground. Sakura chan and her deadly fist!

"Idiot! Don't be full of yourself!" she said as if she had heard what I am thinking.

"Sakura chan your fist is deadly." I siad and regret it in an instant.

"What did you say?!"

And I accepted all the blows from her! A kick here and a punch here. I wonder if I will still be alive by tomorrow! But I'm quite glad. At first I thought Sakura chan and I will always feel awkward towards each other after what had happened, it's nice that she is back to the same old brutal Sakura that I know. It was fun in a way.

She only stopped on beating me when she saw my almost lifeless body.

"Sakura chan you are so cruel!" I complained while still on the ground.

"You wanted more?" she asked in a scary voice and approached me.

I was ready for another blow but what reached my forehead is a pair of soft lips. What had happened? I looked up and saw her smiling.

"Thank you." She said gently with a sweet smile on her face.

By this time my breathe should have stopped and my stomach would be turned upside down but there's nothing I feel. Well except lightness. I feel relieved that she is alright now nothing more and instead my eyes fell on Hinata.

She is there at the side staring at us. Even though there is a smile on her face I can see the pain in her eyes. At this moment I wanted to run to her and explain that what Sakura chan did mean nothing. That it was just a friendly gesture but I am terrified to speak. If I said those things, if I assured Hinata that there's nothing between me and Sakura chan it would look like I will be giving her another wrong hope. I don't want her to have the wrong idea. I know I can't return her feelings. Someone as almost as perfect as she is does not need to be with someone as stupid as I am.

I will do what it is right to do. I stood up there pretend I did not notice the pain in her and smiled as widely as I can and bid them goodnight.

It is the correct thing to do right? But then why it pains me so much?