Inspiration for this chapter: I don't think I had any. It was just random cause I wanted to lead up to this thing...that'll happen in two chapters. Yeah.

Thanks so much for all the reviews, guys! You really know how to make a miserably-stressed-out-school-is-killing-me-person happy.

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My Pretend Boyfriend

Xmarksthespot

DISCLAIMER AFTER TEN CHAPTERS: Opps, I totally forgot about the disclaimer. Even after ten chapters, I still can't own Naruto yet. One day, one day I will...

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The next morning, Sakura woke up with bags under her eyes (she could not sleep) and got into her hospital uniform, leaving for work. However, she skipped breakfast since there were leering eyes from the table – she was thinking the entire night why no one, even Yuki, had asked her anything about her 'engagement'.

Maybe it was the fact that she didn't have an engagement ring on her finger that they weren't fussing over it as much. Either that or they're hoping their silent treatment and rudeness towards her would give her a clue that 'family is more important than anything, respect their choices and cancel the engagement'.

Her Grandmother, she knew, was originally fine with her dating Sasuke. After all, the woman had high hopes that the two would end up like the majority of couples; Sasuke and Sakura were going to break up. However, now that they were betrothed, her Grandmother's attitude towards anything that reminded her of the Uchiha was bitter.

With an empty stomach, she started off heading towards the hospital, but turned to the Hokage tower instead. Today was the meeting at the Hokage tower about the Festival of Nations.

Sakura noticed that there were many people already there, standing in rows of approximately five or six. She quickly ran behind a line that consisted of Yamato, Sai and Naruto.

The door opened again and a crowd of people entered including Sasuke. He stepped to his team's line, behind Sakura.

Her chest started to thump rapidly again and tried to lean away from him so her face wouldn't change color, but it was him who leaned towards her.

"Sakura, we should wait until your relatives leave, then we can tell your parents the engagement was fake," he whispered.

Sakura shakily nodded and agreed with him. She had thought about telling her parents now so they would stop giving her the uncomfortable looks, but she knew their acting wouldn't be that good which meant the rest of her family would be more suspicious.

There were many whispers and one of the nins yelled, "Shouldn't we start now, Hokage-sama?"

Tsunade sat back comfortably in her chair. "We still need one more guest. Be patient."

Sakura looked around, noticing everybody, even Jiraiya within the room. That was when she looked at her own team and discovered Kakashi wasn't there.

"He's late again," Naruto said, crossing his arms.

A puff of smoke appeared at that moment, but the masked man didn't give any excuses and just walked to his line.

"Alright," Tsunade started. "First off, after interrogating the spy from the Mist Village, we have found out that he was the only one in the village. Although we have no reason to believe him, everybody who was on patrol in the village still haven't seen any abnormal behaviour. Even so, please continue to be on the look out.

"Also, we've received updated news about the Mizukage. Apparently, he is going to be bringing around three guards, but also a few teams of jounin and chuunin.

"The kages and I will be within the ceremonial building on the east side of the village on the day of the Festival, but we're not going to stay there the entire time. Actually, we will be going around the village – like tourists.

"The teams of chuunin and jounin are permitted to roam around Konohagure on their own and enjoy the festival. However, because of what has been happening lately, I want all of you to be scouting the area during that time. We have already devised a plan and locations for all your teams."

Shikamaru then stepped up, showing a chart with a diagram of the village. "The medics should all spread out in different locations so that there wouldn't be any problems if there are attacks," he started, pointing at the small stars on the map that were all evenly across from each other.

"I suggest that Sakura Haruno should be on the western side of the village because of your strength. It's not too far from the hospital which is where you might be needed part way through the night, but not too close to the village to harm anybody – just mostly open fields. Also, since your team works well with you, Naruto will be in the village between the center and west of Konoha and Sasuke will be in the south-western area. It'll be easier to get backup that way."

Shikamaru went on with the other teams and where their locations should be.

"However, this is just a rough plan and we don't want to get caught or look too untrusting to the visitors. We're still unsure if there will be an attack on that day or if there will be one anyway."

Everybody nodded.

Finally, after more talk of what is taking place at the festival, Tsunade spoke up. "Thank you for coming and we're going to meet again next week – exactly one week before the festival.

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It was just the four teams, the way it used to be; Rookie Nine and Team Gai were all together. They all sat down on the grassy fields of the training area, enjoying their lunches – Sakura the most since she'd barely eaten anything the previous night (she was rushing dinner to avoid her family) and the fact that she had no breakfast that morning.

"Sasuke." It was the voice of someone in their mid-forties.

Everybody turned their heads and saw Sakura's father, standing there with a stern face with a straight line for a smile. His greyish brown hair was combed neatly but blowing through the slight breeze.

"Is it true that you asked for my daughter's hand in marriage?"

Whispers suddenly came up as well as widened eyes and loud gasps.

"Damn," Sakura cursed beneath her breath, shaking her head.

"...Aa..." The Uchiha didn't sound as confident as usual.

Again, there were whispers among the four teams, but louder this time.

The man approached Sasuke and grabbed onto the collar of his shirt. "I don't accept. I don't want you to be with her, talk to her or touch her. You understand, Uchiha?"

Sasuke knew better to say anything, so he nodded. "Aa."

Sakura jumped up, pulling her father away from Sasuke and away from the crowd. When she got back (her father finally agreed to leave after thirty minutes of the rosette trying to convince him), all eyes were on her. She rolled her eyes. "Isn't it obvious that it's fake?"

In the end, Sakura – Sasuke stayed silent the entire time – explained how she went from behind his fake girlfriend to fake fiancee.

"Oh.." they all said.

Naruto sat there, nibbling on his food. He hadn't spoken during the entire time until he grabbed his water bottle, raising it in the air. "To Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha!" he joked.

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The group was eventually divided into sexes; males were on one side, below the shady trees, and females on the other. Some of them, however, were training or playing in the fields.

"Sasuke! You haven't even confessed yet and now you're engaged," Naruto cried out.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're wrong, dobe. I did confess, she just won't believe it."

"Well, then make her believe it!"

"Hn, I was 'drunk'. If I tell her, then she'll know I was pretending."

Shikamaru sighed as he watched the clouds between the branches of the trees, hearing Akamaru bark in the distance with Kiba playing with him. "But in situations like yours, wouldn't girls do the 'awe' thing because they find it sweet that you went through all that trouble?"

Naruto laughed. "No way! Sakura's definitely not the girly type!" He yelled.

"I'm not the what?!" It was Sakura. Although she was still a distance away from the males, with Naruto's loud voice, almost everybody heard him.

"Nothing!" The blond quickly replied, then turned around to his friends. This time, whispering his words, "And she gets mad easily too.."

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"So what are you going to do?" Tenten asked, pulling grass from the ground.

"Do about what?" Sakura asked. She took a small bite from a cupcake that Hinata baked. Her apple-green eyes moved to the side and stared at the chocolate brown ones that was talking to her.

"About Sasuke," Ino answered for the weapons mistress. She was laying on her belly and her chin was resting on her palm. "I mean, are you going to confess to him about your undying love for him?"

Sakura shook her head. "No!"

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"You should ask her out again. I mean, you love her," Naruto teased.

Sasuke looked at him and scoffed. "Naruto, why do you want me and Sakura to be together so badly?"

The blond's eyes averted from Sasuke. "So..you owe me...and I can be the Godfather of your future children who I suggest you name after me." He grinned widely.

"No," Sasuke merely replied.

"Uchiha, you do realize Naruto won't stop bothering you until you be a man and ask her out."

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"He's already rejected me once, you know."

"Sakura, y..you were twelve then," a mouse like voice said.

"Then why should I humiliate myself again?"

Tenten let out a sigh. "Because we're your friends and we only want the best for you. You're going to regret it if you don't."

How Sakura hated the word 'regret'. In fact, she loathed that entire phrase; it always makes her give in.

"Besides," Ino added, "if you don't tell him, we will."

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"Fine, I'll ask her out."

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"Fine, I'll confess to him."

Note: The next few chapters are going to be pretty short.

Please review. :)

I'll see you guys next week!