CH9: Wasted
Ino could get out of work much earlier than expected. She, without any other thought, went to see Lee and how Sakura was doing.
'I hope Gai-sensei could help Naruto and Sakura!' Ino thought as she rushed to Lee's place.
She had a smug grin on her face, imagining all the wonders Gai probably did.
Gai would stand there literally forcing these two to make up or something.
"NOW KISSSS!"
Shaking her head, he probably wouldn't really use force. Looking up, she finally made it to Lee's place and knocked on his door. After waiting for a while, Lee opened up and grinned as sakura petals blew away from inside.
Ino coughed as she waved the petals away, annoyed, "So, you have some news?"
Lee let her in and to her surprise, his house was covered in petals.
"Sorry…" Lee apologizes as he tried to pass the 3 foot pile of petals.
Sitting down, Ino rolled her eyes, "Anyways, what about the news! Did Gai-sensei really do it?"
Lee stood next to her and pondered a bit, "Well… Kakashi and Gai-sensei failed…."
"Kakashi!?" Ino yelled as she stood up quickly, "Kakashi-sensei knows?!"
Nodding, Lee went on, "Also Asuma-sensei. Don't worry, they have helped Gai a lot!"
Rubbing her temples together, Ino sat down again, "Alright… Alright! So, are Naruto and Sakura together?"
Shifting awkwardly, Lee nervously said, "Not exactly?"
"What?!" Ino yelled from the top of her lungs, "Not together yet?! We have three grown-ups helping!"
"Asuma-sensei still isn't done~!" Lee yelled as he covered his ears, "He's going to make Sakura and Naruto go on this fancy restaurant together!"
She immediately cooled down, "Ah… I see… When is it?"
"Tonight."
Ino got up again real quick, "What?! I-Is Sakura ready?! Is Naruto ready!? This has to be a perfect night!"
Without letting Lee continue on, Ino quickly rushed out the door while struggling to get through the piles of petals.
Crossing his arms, Lee sighed, "Time to train…"
Ino rushed around Konoha to find Sakura. She looked in all shops and all training grounds, calling her name.
"Sakura! Sakura!" Ino yelled out.
But unknown to her, Sakura was walking with Kakashi, Gai, and Asuma, all eating chocolate ice-cream.
"Thanks for the invitation." Sakura said to all of them while eating her ice cream.
"Sakura!"
Turning around, she saw Ino running towards her.
"Ino?" Sakura asked as she stared at her friend running up to her. Finally making it to Sakura, Ino dramatically held onto Sakura's shoulder, "Thank goodness I found you!"
"What is it?" Sakura asked getting a bit scared. Kakashi and the rest also looked at bit worried, preparing themselves to hear some bad news.
"We must…" Ino panted, "Get…."
Sakura shook Ino's shoulders, "Get what? Ino can you hear me?"
Ino looked up and dragged Sakura's arm, "We must get you… ready!"
"Ino, what?!"
And without another word, Ino dragged Sakura all the way to Sakura's house.
Pulling away from her grip, Sakura frowned, "Ino, what is going on? You had us all scared to death!"
"I'm sorry, Sakura!" Ino apologized as Sakura opened her door.
"But… how do you know I'll go somewhere tonight? I was going to ask you to help, but later on…" Sakura said as Ino rushed to her room.
"You have to be dressed up! Ooo! This is going to be so much fun!" Ino exclaimed happily, rushing to her best friend's closet.
"But, why so dressed up, Ino?" Sakura asked while seeing Ino pick out a dress for her in the closet.
She leaned on her bed, watching her friend choose between three dresses.
"It's only a restaurant... And I'm going alone, so no big rush." Sakura said while stretching her arms a bit.
Ino looked up and frowned, "Sakura! Only the richest get there! And important people! I'm sure some would like to speak with you since you are the best medical kunoichi ever!"
"But I'm going to be alone... Why should I go? There really is no point." Sakura sighed as she continued to watch her friend.
Ino smirked and said, "Who knows, maybe you'll find a cute guy."
'And by cute guy, I mean Naruto.' Ino thought.
Sakura closed her eyes and laid on her bed, "I don't want to do that anymore. Turns out I really can't simply replace him."
She suddenly got up and said in despair, "I've been bumping into him more often than before!"
Ino sat down next to her and slowly said, "And... What do you feel?"
"I feel as if he also wants to be with me again... I can see it... But then, he goes off being stupid saying he can't be near me. He's driving me insane!"
She covered her face and sighed, "What should I do...? Does he really hate me?"
Ino quickly went to place an arm around Sakura and shook her head, "Sakura no! Don't think that! I'm sure he's just being stupid... He'll come back."
Sakura shook her head, "It's pretty clear. I just want to get over him... I can't keep hurting myself. I can't see him looking at me as if he wants to get rid of me."
'Damnit!' Ino thought, 'You two seem like soulmates or something! They can't stop thinking of each other...'
Trying to change the subject, Sakura grabbed Ino's hand and said, "Please come with me?"
Smirking, Ino said, "Nope! Go on and have fun! Now... I think this dress is perfect!"
The dress was a simple one. Not too elegant or too casual. Just right and with a pretty color to it, dark red.
After about two hours, Sakura was done with her makeup and hair.
Sakura looked at the mirror and gasped. She touched her face and said, "Whoa... Is this really me?"
Ino was also a bit surprised, "I must say, I did a pretty good damn job... I can hardly recognize you!"
Sakura slowly shook her head and smiled at her friend, "It's only going to be me... But might as well! I feel so pretty...!"
Crossing her arms, Ino spoke, "Sakura, you're already pretty! You just got... Prettier!"
"Alrigt, alright. Let's get this over with." Sakura said as she waited for Ino to bring in the dress.
Ino quickly ran to the closet and came out pulling the beautiful dark red dress.
"Matches your personality!" Ino smiled.
"What?!" Sakura yelled, "My personality is not dark red. More like… "
"Yea, yea, let's do this." Ino said as she excitedly handed over the dress.
"Naruto...!" Asuma called out to him.
Naruto was sitting on a tree branch, looking at the dark sky. It was already a bit late and he just wanted to be alone now. Seeing Sakura today, being able to be near her again made him so happy, but at the same time angry with himself.
Asuma looked up to see Naruto and saw that he seemed deep in thought and a bit sad.
"Yes, Asuma-sensei...?" He mumbled.
Asuma got on the branch next to him and said, "I see you're not that happy..."
Naruto sighed, "It's nothing important..."
Asuma pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. After inhaling and then exhaling it, he said, "You hungry?"
"Hungry?" Naruto asked confused as he watched him.
Nodding, Asuma gave a pat to Natuto's shoulder, "Yea, hungry! You seem so down, why don't I give you this..."
He handed Naruto a small slip of paper. Naruto took the small slip of paper and read it. After a while he looked at Asuma with wide eyes, "This place?! It's the most expensive place ever! How did you even get this?"
Asuma laughed a bit, "I have my ways... Anyways, just go and eat there... But dress nicely..."
Naruto looked at him confused, "What? By myself? Nah, I never really liked fancy stuff..."
Asuma was beginning to get into panic mode, "T-they have the best ramen ever!"
Naruto eyed him suspiciously, "Really? Better than Ichirakus?"
Quickly, Asuma nodded, "Just give it a try!"
Naruto hesitated but then gave in, "Fine... So I just give them this?"
"Yes, they'll do everything. Oh, look! I have to go. Adios muchacho!" Asuma said as he jumped off the branch, breaking some on the way of the fall. A loud thump could be heard as Naruto heard Asuma groan in pain.
He soon disappeared leaving Naruto confused, "The hell did he just say?"
Should he go? Did he have the energy to go?
'Free food, Naruto….' His thoughts told him, 'Free. Food.'
"I dunno…" Naruto told himself, "I just want to go home and sleep…"
'Freeeee….. foooooddddd…..'
Hesitating greatly, Naruto jumped off and landed on the floor, "Fine! Free food it is."
Ino grinned happily as she saw Sakura standing there in front of the mirror.
"You look like a princess!" Ino squealed as she saw her best friend do a small swirl.
"Whoa, haha!" Sakura chuckled in surprise, "I suddenly feel so much better!"
Wiping away a fake tear, Ino went on, "Come on, let's get you there!"
Sakura nodded and grabbed her matching clutch, "Ok, let's go!"
But inside, Sakura was so nervous. What if she somehow made a fool around herself? Or that some rich idiots would start to question the Hokage to her? Or insult her?
'Just don't punch stuff…' She thought as she stepped out to see Ino waiting happily for her.
Ino gave her a quick hug and said, "I'll see you after you come back! I'll be staying at your house tonight and talking care of the house!"
But Ino gave herself a smirk, 'Not! Spying is my middle name… It's my specialty! Sort of… I just have to see this!'
Sakura took a deep breath and said, "Ok…! I'll tell you how good the food is!" She stuck out her tongue and then saw Ino laugh.
"You're going to invite me next time, got it?" Ino laughed.
"Sure thing… Bye!" With that Sakura disappeared with a teleportation jutsu to not mess her outfit on the way.
Ino smirked to herself and untied her hair to tie it again tighter, "Time for the show."
With that, she activated to get in disguise. She transformed into a much older woman in a fancy dress and huge hat.
"Time to get Lee!" Ino said as she teleported to his place. If she was going to spy on Sakura to see how it all worked out, she would have to be with someone so her cover wouldn't be blown so easily.
She knocked on his door quickly and he opened it, "Um… can I help you?"
Ino frowned, "It's me! Ino! Quick! Transform into some older guy!"
Lee watched her suspiciously, "Ino? Why?"
"I know you also have a slip of paper…"
His eyes grew out in horror, "What…? When did you…?"
"A table for two? Come on, Lee, I saw it on the counter over there. Let's go, now!"
Lee crossed his arms, "What? No! I was saving it to take Sakura out later on! Not to be dressed up like some old person and with you!"
Ino slapped her forehead, "So we can see how Sakura and Naruto go on their surprise date!"
He looked up and quickly transformed into an older guy, who seemed pretty attractive.
"Why didn't you say so before?"
With that, both disappeared to follow Sakura and Naruto.
Sakura was just outside the restaurant. The whole place was covered with expensive decoration.
Taking a deep breath, she walked in the front door.
From the bushes, Asuma, Gai, and Kakashi all watched her enter the building.
"Alright!" Asuma said, "Everyone move near this area! And watch the wonder of a romantic dinner."
Kakshi sighed and said, "If this doesn't turn out good, I will laugh so hard…"
"Ouch!" Gai said as he shifted uncomfortably, "Move it, rival!"
"Ah, sorry…."
"Quiet!" Asuma hushed them, "Look! Naruto is going in, too!"
They all had their eyes wide open as they saw him. He looked so mature in a suit.
"Where did he get that suit? And how did he get that new hairstyle?" Asuma asked.
"Wait…" Kakashi said, "I saw Naruto walk with Jiraiya earlier. He must have helped him get all dressed up."
"DAMN RIGHT I DID!"
All turned around to see the Sanin looking over at Naruto proudly, "Look at him go…"
Gai looked at Kakashi with a questionable look.
Laughing nervously, Kakashi said, "I might have told him about this plan…"
Jiraiya hid with them and said, "Ok, so when is Sakura going to be here? When she sees Naruto she'll be wanting him back!"
Asuma looked at him and said, "Actually… that's not how it went."
Shrugging, Jiraiya went on, "Anyways, how do we see this?"
Asuma pointed up, "Over there… hopefully nothing stupid happens like awalys."
Sakura was seated on a balcony… by herself.
"Oh…" Sakura said in despair, "I'm so gonna look like a loner!"
She looked over and sighed, "At least the view is nice… and tonight is nice, too…"
With a groan, she leaned her head on the expensive table and wrapped her arms around her head.
'Free expensive, food, Sakura…' Her thoughts told her.
As Sakura was in her thoughts, Ino and Lee both got a table, in the perfect view to spy on Sakura.
"She looks sad!" Lee said hiding his face with the menu the waiter had given to them.
"Shut up!" Ino said as she was also hiding behind the large menus, "Look!"
She whispered to Lee and pointed towards the entrance to see Naruto coming in.
Ino's eyes grew wide as she saw Naruto, "Damn… he looks so… hot!"
Lee elbowed her, "Hey! That's Sakura's date!"
Ino quickly whispered to Lee, "How the-? Did you do that to him? Did you give him that make over? And it wouldn't hurt to just look!"
The waiter had unfortunately, heard a very old lady, Ino in disguise, say that there was a very hot guy.
'I don't get paid enough for this.' The waiter thought as he took a deep breath and stepped towards them.
"Are you ready to order?"
The gentleman in front of Naruto quietly led Naruto towards the balcony. There was only one table that was decorated in beautiful candles and bright lights out on the rail.
'All this for food?!' Naruto thought as he looked around and fixed his collar, 'Damn it! This collar is too tight! Pervy Sage went too far with this!'
But as he was fixing it, his first button popped out and fell down the stairs, "Whoops…"
"In here, Mr. Uzumaki…." The waiter said as he opened the door towards the balcony.
As he went in he stopped to see someone was already there, with their head down, buried in their arms.
He looked back to tell the waiter there must have been a mistake, when he noticed the person shift.
Slowly, he walked closer to see the person's head lift up.
Sakura opened her eyes and saw someone standing there. She blinked a few times and then realized.
"Naruto?" She said as she stood up.
Naruto watched her get up and couldn't stop staring at her. She just looked so beautiful in that dress.
"S-Sakura." Naruto said as he looked at her with a small blush, "What are you doing here?"
But Sakura was too distracted to see how Naruto looked so mature in that suit.
'Oh my god.' She thought as she forced to look away, "I came here to eat. What about you?"
He shrugged, "Same here…"
Naruto knew that he shouldn't be here with her. But after seeing her, he remembered of so many things they did when they were together. And he missed that. If only tonight he could bring a bit of that back.
"What about Lee…?" Naruto asked, not looking at her as he remembered what happened days ago.
"It doesn't matter…." She sighed.
Sakura sat down and crossed her arms a bit, "I guess you are about to say you have to leave, right?"
Slowly sitting down in front her he gave her a small smile, "Um, actually I'm kind of hungry…"
She smiled a bit and said, "Yea…"
He continued to stare at her, he still couldn't believe on how pretty she was. He remembered when they were younger, how Sakura would hate herself on how she looked. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked out of the balcony.
Turning her head, she spotted him looking at her and said, "What?"
'Damn it…' Naruto thought, 'I can't stay away from her anymore… I should just tell her why I was avoiding her all this time… I've been so stupid, I just can't stand another day without her…!'
"You just look so pretty tonight." He blurted out without him thinking.
She gave him a sad smile, "I… I know what you are up to. And it won't work."
-/-/-/-/-/-
Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, and Jiraiya watched in suspense to what would happen next.
"He sat down!" Gai said happily, "I think Asuma won!"
Asuma laughed a bit, "Of course I would win! Look at them!"
Kakashi and Gai secretly admitted defeat and looked up to see Sakura standing up and pointing at Naruto angrily.
'Never mind.' They both thought as Asuma watched in horror.
Ino and Lee gasped to see Sakura pointing at Naruto angrily, telling him something.
"I can't hear!" Ino said as she stuffed her mouth with food.
Lee then pulled her and whispered to her ear and Ino nodded.
"You're right…!"
With that, both Ino and Lee went to the kitchen and making sure no one was watching, transformed into waiters.
"Now," Ino said as she grabbed some menus, "We can hear everything. Lee! You will be the violin guy."
Lee's eyes grew wide, "But I don't know how to play-"
"Shut up, and let's go!" Ino said as she pulled Lee towards Naruto and Sakura.
As they reached closer, they could hear Sakura say, "You think I'm going to fall for you again? Every time I see you, I get this pain in my chest… knowing that you never loved me in the first place! And now, you come here, telling me that I look pretty tonight…"
Ino and Lee looked at each other worriedly and knew they had to do something.
Naruto stood up, "Hold on, Sakura…! You don't fully understand why I said that to you. The real reason was because-"
He was interrupted by Ino and Lee in disguise as waiters, who all barged right in.
"Right!" Ino said, "Time for the menus!"
Sakura watched them and then at Naruto, looking a bit confused.
Ino shoved the menus at Naruto and Sakura's hands. It was quite a lot actually… 8 menus on the table in total.
Lee gulped as Ino grabbed the violin she had found and shoved it to Lee's arms, "And this good sir will play the violin!"
Lee grabbed Ino's arm and whispered, "Wait! You can't just-"
But in grinned at Sakura and Naruto and said, "Ah! I will be right back!"
Quickly, she went towards the kitchen, but was interrupted by some rich person.
"Excuse me!" He said to her.
Ino stopped and said, "What."
The man gasped with the sudden "rudeness" of Ino and said, "I was going to ask for water, but since you are sooo rude… I want to speak to the owner! I want him to fire you!"
Ino's eyes grew wide and said, "Wait! No, you don't want that!"
"Yes, I do!"
'GREAAATT' Ino thought annoyed, 'Fat man here is being a pain in the ass….'
The man slammed his hand on the table and yelled, "Security! I want security! Bring in the manager! Fire this beast!"
Ino gasped and yelled, "Me!? A beast?! You son of a-"
Naruto and Sakura looked at each other and then at the menus scattered all over the table.
Not taking any more of this, Sakura got up, "I'm going home. I can't stand being near you…"
Lee's eyes shot up as he quickly played the violin… terribly.
Sakura looked at him in horror and then grabbed her clutch.
"Sakura, please wait!" Naruto said as he grabbed her hand.
But she snatched her hand away, "Please don't touch me. "
Hearing her say that made him freeze. Did she now really stop loving him? He knew he was hurting her, but did that meant she stopped loving him?
He didn't mean it, he never meant for it to be this painful.
Suddenly Lee's terrible playing screeched out, hurting their ears.
Sakura glared at him and said, "Hey, that's enough."
Lee mentally thanked her as he turned his head and his eyes grew wide to see Ino yelling at a fat man inside with everyone around.
He looked at Sakura and Naruto, who were still arguing and then at Ino who was now struggling against security.
"Let me go!" Ino yelled, "This was a set up! I was set up to this!"
The security then threw her out of the restaurant and then the manager looked at her confused and said, "She doesn't even work here!"
Meanwhile Lee couldn't think of what to do, but he knew that Asuma was here… he could sense his chakra and ran over to the balcony rails and waved his arm.
Asuma looked up and then saw Ino in disguise yelling at the restaurant.
"I…" Asuma said as he looked up to see Lee in disguise waving at him and pointing to Sakura and Naruto.
Kakashi chuckled as Gai said, "Go clean up the mess…."
Frowning, Asuma jumped up to the balcony just in time to hear Naruto ask:
"Do you still love me, then?"
Sakura stopped and breathed in deeply. Of course she still did. She had been falling in love with him ever since they had gone out. But she couldn't tell him… what would be the point. He didn't love her anymore, he had proved it more than enough times.
"No. I don't." She said as he gave a single nod.
"Ok." He said as he walked away from her and out into the chaos in the rest of the restaurant.
Asuma jumped next to Sakura and signaled Lee to go and find Ino. Lee nodded and went after Ino to help her along with Naruto.
Sakura felt regret. She could have just told him the truth, but he would probably tell her to forget about her. Asuma walked up to Sakura and sighed, "Hey… you alright, kid?"
She shook her head, "Not really… but it doesn't matter now. Thanks for the invitation, Asuma-sensei."
Feeling very sorry for her, Asuma couldn't help but to hug this girl around the shoulder, "I'm sorry, Sakura."
"Asuma!"
That voice startled the two as Asuma gasped, "Kurenai!?"
Kurenai crossed her arms, "So, this is what you meant by, 'doing paperwork with the guys'?"
Asuma gulped and quickly went up to her, "What?! Oh, sweetpea, please listen! Don't get so mad or else the baby will be ill!"
Kurenai frowned, "You said that you'd be with me later tonight… that you had to do paperwork and that was why you couldn't be with me…!"
Turning her head, she shook it sadly watching Sakura, "I'm so disappointed in you, too, Sakura!"
Sakura's eyes grew wide, "Wait! Kurenai-sensei! It's not what it seems!"
'Damn it!' Asuma said, 'If I tell Kurenai the real reason, Sakura will hear…!'
"Let's just talk this outside, Love." Asuma desperately tried to pull her out, trying to avoid any embarrassment towards her.
"No!" Kurenai said as she stomped her foot, "You will explain it all here right now."
Everyone in the restaurant watched in horror and disgust on this random scene of a soap opera.
"Let everyone know you are somehow a cheater!" Kurenai said, "I never knew you'd do this to me…! You always treated me so great…. What will our child think!"
She dramatically fell to her knees and said, "Oh! And I thought you had some human in you! What will I tell our child!? That you cheated on a pregnant woman!? His mother!?"
Suddenly she passed out and Asuma and Sakura ran up to her. Immediately using her chakra to look over at Kurenai and said, "Did she use some pain killers?"
Asuma sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "She must have taken the wrong ones… you see, there's these pain killers that make her seem so out of character, like a jealous soap opera person… No wonder…"
Sakura watched Asuma pick up her girlfriend and she said, "Asuma, take her to the hospital, she should be looked over with her special doctor, just in case for the baby."
Asuma nodded, "Ah, yes, thank you, Sakura."
With that, Sakura walked away towards her house while hugging herself. She couldn't stop thinking of him, she didn't want to be fooled again thinking that he would pretend to care for her that way.
"I don't want to be hurt again." She whispered to herself.
Naruto was sitting on top of his place. He then laid back and watched the stars, not bothering to change into normal sleeping clothes.
"No. I don't love you."
Her voice echoed at the back of his mind as he forced himself to accept this. He knew this day would come sooner or later. She was probably in love with Lee or something…
Sitting up, he ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the bright moon, "Should I… Should I really not tell her?"
He was going to tell her the truth, but when she answered him that she did not love him anymore, his mind went blank. The only thing he wanted to do was to get away.
But the image of her and Lee getting all lovey and stuff made him sick.
"I have to tell her…" He mumbled to himself, "I just have to tell her the truth."
Yo ayo! Sorry for not updating…! I will update sooner now, I promise hopefully… Anyways, thanks for all the support! You are all awesome! Xx
