Well, finally after a long time (last update was 1/1/2015) But I'm here ;)

First, One of the reasons I stopped for a little bit was because

1. Writer block

2. To go back to the original path of this story

3. exams, assignments and grades sigh

You see I wrote that Sasuke chapter because there will be more about SASUKE meeting someone. Personally I don't ship sasuke with anyone but so you ppl should know there might be some sasukarin ONLY LITTLE like one scene or two. (again, I don't ship sasuke with anyone really, except with naruto)

And writing the narusaku Christmas chapter was out of my plan, but that didn't damage any part of the story, if anything it made everything more clear.

Dear who ever read/follow/fav this story, thank you for your patience **hugs and kisses**. I will update with better writing, EVERY WEEK!

He would stay awake for hours,

He should be thankful, because now they were friends, better than before right?

She acted like she was fine with this... Going to her will ruin it all; they would go back point zero. And they might not be back to that point at all.

He was so determine in telling her what he felt that day, he was ready to put it out there for her to acknowledge and see. Whatever the result was he was going to be fine.

—

3 hours and 17 minutes till sunrise.

Looking at the ceiling, eyes wide-awake, the muscles of his eyes aching and he can't close them it hurts to. His hands crossed under his head, he took a deep breath, feeling a bit nauseous, he hadn't eaten anything for four hours which was strange because he was always hungry; he can't even let a sip of water into his digestive system, it would be heavy and he would probably vomit.

He lay on his side seeking warmth shutting his eyes but opening them again for the billionth time. His mind was making lefts and turns all day, analyzing everything that happened in the past three weeks.

After their Christmas talk he felt relieved and happy; as if a door has opened in a dark inky room. He cherished her gift; actually among the things he makes sure to be clean in his apartment those chopsticks were among those things. He would use them when eating instant ramen, he liked to look at the craved "N" that was a bit skewed, because he could imagine her carving it with the small powerful hands of hers, he would noticed himself smiling at the thought, he later would feel empty when he sees the present, the reality, however he would shrug and continue eating his meal so he won't lose his appetite.

—

3 hours and 4 minutes till sunrise

They talked and hanged out. They actually became close. Again.

They sparred that day; at first they both didn't want to use their full strength until she kept teasing him, saying that he is scared, predictable and such. He knew she was strong and she actually saw through him, until he made a kage bunshin with low chakra signature so she won't notice it that held her ankle when she was chasing him, while they were taking the trees, she fell flat on her face, but recovered quickly and starting shouting profanities at him. Her retour was her angry fist colliding with the earth losing his balance, which made him slow down, after his trick their sparring continued normally, like before.

Naruto chuckled at the memory, her face covered with dirt, shaking her fist at him, his laughter increased when he thought about it, but died slowly, noticing that it was in the middle of the night and he was laughing like an idiot.

He was happy, really happy. He got her back. It would be laughable if he didn't. Because Sakura was his teammate. His best friend. And currently the one who has his heart and that wouldn't seem to change.

Part of himself laughed at him, like whom was he kidding, of course he have feelings for her. Ever since the academy, and his love for her only increased then. Part of him wished that he got over her when his feelings were small and easy to erase. That would've helped, but nooooooo, wasn't he the one who never gave up, he had all certainty that he can win her heart.

And when he thought about it, was there a time when his feelings for her small and that easy to erase?

And look where he is now.

Its funny because at first, she was helping Sasuke to get along, and when he went on this mission to leave them be after the news. He made a decision to forget her. And move on

But when Kakashi and ..

He saw himself at the doors of the wedding hall. Looking for her. To his surprise, she ran away. His Sakura— Sakura ran away!

First thought. Why, how and WHEN?!

He couldn't be happy because that was stupid. He didn't any more conflicts so put the happy, cheerful mask on and took them all to Ichiraku's. The only place he found happiness, and he was a little bit hungry…

From that point on the atmosphere clouded on them, Sasuke seemed to actually be fine; he wanted to steal his antics on how to appear calm and not awkward in awkward situations.

And then there was the hospital thing. And the argument ..

His mind overloaded. He shook his head. This wasn't going to work. He needs to make a decision and stick to it!

It was there. How can he actually forget her? It was hard. Because now they're friends, very good friends.

Lately, he waits for her at the hospital and they would go and pick up Sai and play cards and such at Shikamaru's or pass by Ichiraku's or meeting at the library.

He can't risk losing her again. He better appreciate that she still wants him in her life.

2 hours and 48 minutes left till sunrise.

7:09am, At the Hokage's Office

The blonde was excessively using the seal, dotting the ink on a scroll, an approval to some buildings then rolling it and placing it to her right for Shizune to take it later, this went for an hour… Reaching out for another one; reading it carefully, the stern look that Tsunade wore was worrisome, it wasn't for the Hokage to be in focus, her black-haired assistant knocked and the Hokage shouted for her to come in. taking steps to the office

"Tsunade-sama I think the rest can be done tomorrow" she pointed out.

"I know," she replied knowingly.

Her assistant stood there for a moment before the Hokage asked for the batch of mission scrolls, the assistant went and brought them, placing them on the left side of the desk that was surprisingly clear.

The fifth Hokage began looking at the scrolls, dividing and assigning teams and rankings, stamping what approve and what wasn't,

"Shizune!" she called for her assistant.

"Yes! Tsunade-sama"

"I have an idea, but first make sure to call Sakura and Naruto first thing tomorrow" her assistant nodded, taking a note.

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing in particular" she smirked.

"A mission?" Sakura raised a brow.

She was standing in front of her shishou, at 10 in the morning,

"Yes, it's a two-man mission, now where is that idio-"

"Here!" The door banged open.

The Hokage rolled her eyes, "I'm only gonna say this once"

"Yes" Naruto saluted, and walked to stand next to his teammate.

"A sum of money need to be collected, the location, amount and the all the info regarding that person is in the scroll" she handed it to Sakura.

"My only warning to keep out of ambushes, there might be a group of rouge nins who knows about this but nothing you two can't handle" she stated.

The medic opened the scroll and scanned the content "the money is expected to be redeemed in a four days?"

"The distance is pretty long" she pointed out.

"Any questions?"

"No" they both replied.

"We will be moving tomorrow at dusk" Sakura said, the Hokage nodded before both of the teammates left the room.

They got out and she read the scroll while walking together with Naruto, briefing him about the mission, he listened and nodded. She noticed the lack of questionnaire... He used to ask all kinds of questions but now he seemed like he knows it all. As if he didn't need her to tell him, it wasn't a bad thing, it was actually great, maybe he matured a little bit and she just didn't notice.

Dusk, 4:54am

Standing in front of the mirrors that was hanged on the doorway, checking everything in place, medical pouch. Ninja bag. Water. sleeping bag, food, spare clothing. Perfect.

Closing the apartment door, she headed to the gates; the sky was covered with clouds indicating rain. A lot of rain, a gust of wind almost pull the trees out of their roots, leaves were swirling around the roadsides, if there was a sign of the sun it was faint, the streets clear, she could only see some cats taking the shelter under some trashcans and some restaurant signs that were blinking and glitching. Walking to the gates, she expected Naruto to be there, but he wasn't. She huffed and stood in front of the large gates crossing her arms over her chest she decided to wait and be patient for once in her life.

Ten minutes and she was holding her temper, the weather was harsh cold, rubbing her shoulders and cursing under her breath. Where the hell he is?

She literally told him that they should meet at 5 sharp in the morning.

Another ten minutes passed and its technically half an hour, this was ridiculous, why the hell isn't he here?

Leaving her stuff on the side. she was practically running to his apartment, slowing down when she almost reached his door and taking a deep breath, calming down. Maybe he's at the door now and opening it any second.

1….2…..3…

She would've banged and broke the door,

CRASH!

And she would.

"Uzumaki NARUTO" she practically shouted his name. Hearing a loud thud coming from his bedroom. She frowned and walked to his room.

The blonde picked his aching body from the floor 'owwwwww''. He was having a nice dream, but then an explosion sound of some sort practically made him jump in his sleep… and Sakura shouting his name... "Sakura!" he gasped.

"Naruto?" he heard her calling him. He could sense some impatience and anger in her tone.

"S-s-sakura I will be there in a minute" he declared.

"Naruto, don't tell me you didn't know about the mission, because seriously I told you that you should be the—" she rambled as she walked into his room but stopped as she saw him… with nothing covering his body except his for boxers...

her eyes widened and went red and immediately covered her eyes and turned away "For kami's sake put some pants on Naruto" she complained trying to stop her face from turning into a tomato. Letting out a breath, she wasn't supposed to be embarrassed, it was Naruto, well… and shirtless naked Naruto is something else. okay that's it! Mentally slapping herself with an oven. So what? Its just him with only boxers on why she should she be embarrassed, its not like its the first time she sees him in that state… well, last time was a long time ago… now …ugh

Feeling a tap on her shoulders, "Sakura, its okay I'm done" laughing nervously at her as she turned to look at him, hoping her face was not red as she calculated in her head, then seeing that he only has pants on with his perfect chest and shoulders and … SMACK

"What the hell Sakura-chan?" rubbing his shoulder, pouting.

"Go get dressed and get ready! We have a mission for kami's sake" she complained as she began to stomp out of the room.

"You only said to wear my pants" he mumbled as he walked to the bathroom

He distinctly remembers setting the alarm clock, he did! But apparently it was on PM instead of AM, Sakura was really annoyed, later he freshened up and got all the mission necessities in a very short amount of time, because Sakura was waiting in his living room and making her wait for more time wasn't a good thing.

They were now walking their way out of Konoha gates, after scolding him for twenty minutes she explained to him the best route to take, he nodded agreeing to her decision and taking a look at the map she held, "but Sakura that would take three days to go and another three days to be back... why can't we take that one" he pointed at the road next to the river.

"Well, that one would be better, but according to some ANBU, they said some traps and explosive talismans were detected, meaning rouge nins expect some ninja to cross there, so better late than sorry" she told him. He nodded again.

—

There were miles away from Konoha boarders which is good, Sakura thought that if they could speed up they would reach the location by tomorrow, looking at the sky above it was burning orange and at the horizon she could see the dark purple mixing with the orange, starts were beginning to be visible glittering the sky, it was breathtaking.

Naruto suggested that they found a place to camp and so they walked till they saw a little clearing with huge boulders and scattered trees here and there, Sakura set up the fire and Naruto made sure to plant some traps.

By the time it got dark, they sat next to the fire, seeking warmth and preparing their dinner, Sakura got her packed food, which was some cooked vegetables and rice, she took a look at Naruto's food; it was instant cup of ramen. "Naruto..." she was going to tell him that ramen is not really a good healthy meal but she saw him opening a small wooden box and getting out a pair of a familiar wooden chopsticks... she only stared at object that he used to dig it inside the cup and twirl it eating his first big bite of the hot ramen "hhaat" he replied while slurping. She smiled and shook her head "just don't eat while talking" and she went back in eating her own meal.

After putting their dinner away Naruto buried the fire, Sakura got her sleeping bag out laying it on the floor and went rummaging in her bag while the blonde went to set up his sleeping bag, so he opened his bag and automatically pulled it out to be presented with a shirt... he went and looked again and there was a matching pants…panicking he emptied his bag… it wasn't there.

holy shit. This wasn't right, he always packed his sleeping back, shaking his bag empty, this was not a good day for him… glancing at Sakura, he saw her placing some papers around her sleeping bag... "S-sakura-chan what are you doing?"

"Sticking those medical tags, they help in keeping bugs and mosquitoes away, I have extra do you want some?"

"Ummm Sakura.. Do you happen to have extra .. umm you know, extra blanket or anything like that?" he chuckled nervously, he was hoping she wouldn't be mad at him.

Extra blanket. Looking at him and at the stuff that were thrown in random directions, "Something wrong?" she inquired.

"I kinda forgot the sleeping bag, it's okay I'm fine, you have don't to worry, I could use this-" he picked the shirt "and it would be fine hehehe"

Sighing, "Naruto how can you forget it?" she didn't even had the energy to scold him or even be angry at him,

"I was in a hurry and I always have it but maybe—"

He was rubbing his neck nervously, trying to explain his idiotic mistake, which she felt guilty about, he sure was late, but she kinda rushed him and broke his door… "You can share mine" she abruptly suggested, motioning at her sleeping, trying to be cool with it, she wasn't nervous and she had no reason to be because she isn't nervous.

"Wh-what?"

"Naruto," she began "We can share mine, don't worry it will fit both of us, the one I have is pretty huge, i always roll the extra under it" she assured him, the sleeping bag she had was a little bit bigger, but it was easy to carry so she always carried despite the extra space that came along with it.

"Are you sure?" he asked warily. Sharing a sleeping bag with Sakura-chan was something only happened in his wildest scenarios that he never thought it could happen until now…

"Its fine" she reassured him, as much as she was trying not to show any nervousness, it was fine, because they're teammates and such things should be okay and normal. Not nervous and embarrassing.

please PLEASE if you don't like this chapter don't negative review! i cannot handle them, Cuz the last thing I want to deal with is negative reviews here! So please say something nice if you want to.