AN: My my. Over 1500 hits. Many favourites and Story alerts. And yet, Only 6 reviews. I see hasn't changed. No love for the writers. But it's fine. ^_^

3 Years ago I'd think I was wasting my time. But now I just hope you guys are enjoying it.

To the 6 people who reviewed. Thank you so much. It made me want to update just for you guys.

Shout out to AstroMarze, Anonymous, soccernin19 for reviewing. :)

Special shout out to BlueEyedBabyy. I actually rushed this chapter from scratch after reading your review since I thought you might like it. So if it's a little choppy it's all your fault! ^_^

And I want to personally say thank you. To Winnow. And Kiyoshi Shichiro. Who were original readers over 3 years ago and still read and followed the last chapter. :)

IMPORTANT:I like certain things in my fic to be portrayed as a movie would. Thus, the writing is a bit….. Well …. Choppy to say the LEAST. But picture it with your mind's eye.

SONG: Evey Reborn from V for vendetta can be used in the later scene as prompted. You can find it on YouTube. You can read without it but as I said….. It's not much of a writer's scene. :P On with the show.

The two women walked the streets of Sunagakure in silence, but Sakura would be lying if she had said she did not prefer it that way as she had much on her mind. The emerald eyed young woman was thankful her friend was giving her the time that she desperately needed to think about what she was about to do. Currently, Sakura was leading her fellow Kunoichi to the place the Konohagakure party had been residing during their stay in the sand village. It was there, she thought, that she would finally confront him.

Before leaving the hospital Hinata had stunned her when the Anbu clad girl had asked her, rather bluntly she might add, if she would confess her feelings to Naruto when they got to the lodging tonight. It took a while before Sakura regained her composure and offered her friend the truth. "I don't know." The pink haired med Nin was quickly reminded by the Hyuuga heiress that the building was close so if she was going to do it tonight, she better think fast.

While Hinata was being discharged and during their trek to the aforementioned building, Sakura's brain had been waging a silent war against her heart.

.

'He deserves better'

'But he WANTS me'

.

'You've hurt him'

'But I've always healed him in one way or another'

.

'You might destroy your friendship, and lose the bond you have with him forever'

.

This thought made Sakura's breath hitch. In the corner of her eyes she noticed her travelling companion's raised eyebrow, but again, nothing was said….. Did the Byakugan read minds or something?

She shook her head and jumped back on her train of thought. Could she really lose Naruto forever? No, that was the wrong question. The correct question was, even if it was a small possibility, Could she STAND losing him forever? The thought of Naruto no longer being her best friend made her heart ache with more pain than she thought mere hypothetical pondering should be able to inflict. She felt the all too familiar wetness coming to her eyes, but, she quickly pushed them back. Even though she HAD done a lot of crying this week she was hardly the cry-baby Sakura anymore…. Well, when it didn't come to feelings for stupid blonde bakas that is.

She mentally scoffed. Knowing Naruto, she'd probably confess her feelings to him and he'd ask her if she was sick or something. She'd hit him and he would spend the rest of the night begging her to tell him when he did wrong. A small smile found its way on her face at that point. That baka. Stupid, idiotic, perverted, loveable baka.

As the Kunoichi walked by two boys being berated by their mother for fighting, she could not help remember something when they turned their faces from one another and pouted, lip jutting out, as they folded their arms. The scene was IDENTICAL to a situation where Naruto and Kiba had acted when they received their scolding from Tsunade sama after a fight they had. They had been arguing during a group spar that the old gang organised at the training grounds when, Kiba finally had enough and grabbed Naruto's collar and pulled him closer and whispered something in the blonde's ear.

Whatever was said was something both parties agreed would never be repeated. But never before in her life had she ever seen Naruto so enraged. The killer intent he exuded had everyone in the training field rooted to the spot in shock. He lunged at Kiba, and before the rest could intervene, it had broken out into a real ninja fight. It took Neji, Lee and herself to restrain the cerulean eyed blonde but his eyes lost none of its rage. When she saw his cerulean pools replaced by the red slitted eyes she was honestly, for the first time in her life, afraid of Naruto.

'Naruto, you're scaring me….'

And that was all it took to make his eyes widen before change color and averting his gaze to the ground in shame.

Tsunade had been pretty rough on the two of them afterwards about their fight. The techniques they used…. They could have killed one another.

But of course….. As all things with Naruto…. Ten minutes afterwards he was ruffling Kiba's hair as he joked and teased the latter about a new girl in his life. Ten minutes! After he had been so angry that he for the first time in his LIFE, had killing intent towards one of his friends! That boy could forgive ANYTHING!

'Oh my god!'

Sakura gasped.

Her reminiscing brought her to a surprising, but unsurprising revelation. 'It's NARUTO' she thought with a smile.

'How….. could I have been…. So utterly. Stupid.'

He wanted to kill Kiba. He forgave him within ten minutes. Pein killed their sensei. He forgave him after speaking with him. The villagers hated him. Scorned him. He grew up with no one. Alone. No one to love him. To hold him. To cherish him and tell him it's not his fault. Getting the glares and insults and just being a five year old boy not knowing why… and yet….. he saved them….. more than once. He wanted to be Hokage to protect them. He had forgiven them a long time ago.

Sakura thought about these things and literally wanted to hit herself. If he could do these things then nothing mattered. No matter what she did, or if his reaction was no in her favour to what she was going to tell him, their bond would never, COULD never, be broken. Her cheeks burned and made her realise that she was holding a big grin on her face.

'No matter the outcome of our talk…. We'll never lose our friendship…. I'll never lose him'

And with that, her brain had no retort.

"Sakura-chan?"

Her green eyes shone with determination as she looked at the questioning silver staring back at her and she gave a foxy grin. "I'm gonna do it!"

XXXXX

'I can't do it'

Her outstretched fist was mere inches from rapping on his door. After all her anticipation just moments before, there was naught but a wooden barrier separating her from the man she so loved. But her self confidence was slowly ebbing away.

She had held this in….. For so long... too long. She was in so much pain. But at least there was always hope. There was always the chance that somehow, the two would find each other again. What she was about to do… would be an end to all those years of pent up emotions, one way or the other.

But if it was the other…. Then there would be no more chances. There would be no more hope. It would be final. And that scared Sakura much more than staring the Kyuubi in the face ever could.

She stood there nervously. Her heart pounded. Her knees felt weak for the second time tonight.

Once again finding herself shaking her thoughts away, she remembered how she got the courage in the first place. 'Even if he doesn't return my feelings anymore, he'll always be Naruto. He didn't turn Hinata away after her confession. He would never do it with me. I have nothing to lose…. And everything to gain.'

She sighed. Gently she placed the flat of her palm against the door before resting her forehead on it as well.

'Maybe I shouldn't rush it though. After all, it's only been a couple hours since Hinata told me all of this. Hell I've held it in this long. I can surely bare waiting a couple more days. It will give me time to talk to Ino and tell her what Hinata said. Maybe they can both give me some advice how to bring up the subject. Yeah. That's what I'll do.'

She smiled softly. Her head left its resting place as she took a step back. She stared at the door, knowing he was on the other side.

'I will tell you… I owe us both that much….. We've been through too much together…..'

She took another baby step backwards, still smiling at the door.

'But not tonight'

And with that, Sakura slowly turned around and started to walk down the hall.

"It's open… Sakura-chan….."

Her foot never even touched the ground for the first step before her body froze and her eyes widened in fear.

'Masaka!'

Her mind was racing. How long did he know? What should she do? Go in. don't go in. What to say? Confess? Just ask how he was going? Lie? Truth? What to do?

"You can come in Sakura-chan. I'm still up."

She gulped. Turning around slowly her heart clenched and her hand instinctively went in front of her chest.

He knew she was still outside. She knew she couldn't escape going in anymore.

'So…. I guess this is it after all.'

This was it. This was it. Five years of torment. Of pain and suffering for her, maybe even for them both, was going to end tonight.

Sakura took a deep breath and steeled herself.

'I owe you that much'

The door was opened by her pale hand.

XXXX

He sat on the bed in front of her, a soft smile on his lips. "I figured you'd be worried to wake me or something."

She smiled for him.

"You were out there for a long time."

She closed her eyes with a semi nod before walking over to the bed and sat next to him.

Her gaze was in front of her looking at a small cabinet in the room. She knew his was on her face, she saw it in the corner of her eyes. But she was in the room. She was here. And this was going to happen. For some reason…. In total contrast to a minute ago, Sakura finally felt at peace. She was content.

"Sakura-chan?"

"You worry me."

Looking to her left she saw what she expected to mar his features. Confusion.

Cocking her head to one side she looked him dead in the eye, talking to him with her soul.

"Every time. Every single time Naruto, that you come back like you did and I have to heal you I wonder 'is this going to be it? Is this the last time I see him'"

The blonde man's features softened immediately, tinged with a bit of regret. The young woman could tell he was angry at himself for making her worry.

"Sakura-chan."

Even as his strong hand gripped her bare shoulders sending pleasure throughout her body, she never let her gaze drop from his and continued staring into those eyes she loved with a smile on her face.

"I'm sorry I worried you. But come on. You know I won't die that easily. I haven't become Hokage yet," he said while chuckling at the end.

A soft and smooth hand placed itself on the one he had on her shoulder.

The lid of her eye came down ever so slightly as she increased the intensity of her stare. She then poured every bit of her soul, and her heart into her next words.

"That's good Naruto…. Because honestly….. Truthfully…. I don't think I could go on living without you."

The strong golden hand on her skin stiffened, but she had expected it. His mouth was open as his eyes wide, but she expected it. The emotions within his eyes, were confusion, but something else akin to, maybe hope? Sakura had been hoping for it, for it gave her the strength to press on.

"Naruto….."

"Yes… Sakura-chan?" came the uncertain reply of the jounin.

"I want you to answer me honestly. No matter what you think. I want you to be truly honest with me….. Please?"

She felt a little of her composure leave her as she said the last part. She was pleading, she knew it. But she needed this. She needed to know, what he really felt.

He gulped and eyed her seriously. "Anything, Sakura-chan."

The bed in the space between them was suddenly very interesting to Sakura and she just traced the pattern of the sheets for a while. Feeling the restlessness growing from him, she squeezed his hand slightly before asking slowly, brokenly, "Do you think you could ever… love me again?"

She felt it, the tension in his hand. The pattern of the bed was her lifeline at the moment. She did not want to raise her head because she knew what she would see. But she did not have a choice. Closing her eyes she brought her head up, before slowly opening again. She was not surprised. His eyes were narrowed. Guarded. Cautious. And even, slightly angry.

She gulped. Her eyes began to sting. Licking her lips Sakura slowly rose to her feet before padding across to the cabinet, finger trailing a tiny ceramic man that adorned the surface, back to her teammate. It would be a lot easier to continue with not having to look into those eyes. They hurt her.

"I-…" her heart pounded.

"I know I wouldn't deserve it…. After all….. you waited for years… it's not fair of me to ask you for a second chance…demo…."

She flung around to watch him, completely vulnerable. The tears, streaking down her face, nose red and throat swallowing. "I've kept this in so long, Naruto….. I didn't want to ruin our friendship because it is the most important thing in my life. You are the most important person in my life… but I can't keep it inside me anymore….. It's burning….. It's paining me too much….. to be so close to you…..yet not as close as I want to be."

Naruto's eyes were unreadable, his eyes still slightly narrowed, but it didn't matter. This was her chance to get it off her chest, and by all that was holy she was going to do it.

"It hurts me soo much seeing you right here in front of my face! Not knowing ….. It's killing me Naruto….. It's breaking my heart….."

Her hand went up to instinctively guard her chest area in what had become a familiar movement the past few days. "What I feel for you….. It defies anything I've ever known… Naruto….. I-.."

"Sakura."

The young medic was taken aback by the drop of the honorific accompanying the serious tone.

"Don't say something…."

His gaze holding the same intensity hers had earlier.

"That you are going to regret in the future. I don't need another Lightning country again," he finished with a bit of a bite.

The pink haired woman's mouth was slightly open as she stared at him with incredibly hurt eyes. That….. really stung.

A small scoff escaped her mouth with a slight shake of the head. "I guess I deserve that," she conceded with a dark chuckle.

Noticing the regret that flashed across his features she softened as well.

"I didn-….. It wasn't a total lie…." She started. She found more strength at his curious gaze.

"I did love you back then as one of my most precious people. It WAS then that I was contemplating my real feelings for you. But….. It wasn't ready to be said then, and I rushed it to try and manipulate you…. I'm sorry."

Deciding she should hurry up and clarify after seeing his look of sadness and 'I should have known' she trudged on.

"But this time… I know… I know. It's ready. I'm ready. Naruto. I've thought about this for years. For years. Trust me when I say, I will not be taking this back."

Looking into his eyes now she could see the switch in emotion. Shock. Pleading. Hope.

It was then a small smile graced her lips. There was definitely a chance.

Slowly, her bare feet padded across the wooden floor till she stood in front of his seated form.

The palm of her hand lay on his face, while her thumb caressed her whiskers.

"Is it so hard to believe? Uzumaki Naruto?"

Cerulean stared up at her. Relishing her touch. Pleading. Begging. Just tell him already.

Her voice came like the wind, a breeze with no real sound.

"That I've fallen in love with you."

Naruto coughed down a sob and pressed into her hands further, furiously blinking away unshed tears. His throat kept moving up and down and his eyes closed while pressing into her touch.

"Naruto…."

He looked at her.

"Do you think….. you can ever love me again?"… she began her caress of his whiskers again. "Do I have a chance? At winning back your heart?" she finished with a smile on her lips.

She could see it. She did not have to ask him. She may have to fight a little bit, but there was no way, seeing him as she did now, that Naruto could EVER make her believe, that he did not want to be with her whatsoever.

His gaze was cast downward and a sad smile on his face.

"Win back my heart?..." he chuckled ironically.

That sound made Sakura worry slightly.

He looked up, and she could see, tears were now streaming down his face, his smile, sad as can be.

"How do you win something you already own?"

She stifled a gasp and watched him carefully. She was prepared to fight for his love…. But was he saying….. after all this time…..

"You never gave it back to me Sakura chan…. It's yours….. It'll always be yours… No matter what you do….. No matter what I do….."

Her lips trembled and she laughed while sobbing. "The roof?" she questioned.

"I lied."

Another chuckle sob. "Why?"

"To make you happy," he rushed out lest his voice fail. It was obviously taking all he could muster to not have his voice break.

She stared at him. He stared back. Emerald. Cerulean. Both crying. Both broken by each other. Both desperately in need of being repaired by the other's reassurance.

His mouth was opened staring at her in awe despite his sadness before he spoke.

"I love you," he breathed out.

Her body started shaking. Sobs wracked her chest. She stared into his eyes. Once again baring her soul and putting all of it and her heart into her reply.

"I love you, Naruto."

Before she could even register, her nose was in his shirt and tight arms were around her. "I love you." She cried while holding onto him tightly. They stood there, holding each other as they cried, not ever wanting to let go.

After a while their sobs died. She felt his hands grip her to him tighter and she did the same. From there, Sakura's thoughts became muddled.

[Evey Reborn 1:00]

His strong fingertips ran from her back trailing up her bare arm. She shivered in pleasure. Her slender hand did the same running very slowly, firmly over his shoulders, trailing down, to his bare biceps. She felt his hand squeeze the back of her neck. She moaned silently. Her fingers…. Running on his chest between their bodies… before moving behind to his lower back, once again pushing herself as close to him as possible. Hands roaming relishing every bit of contact, every bit of what they've been longing for all these years, before they slowly they parted.

She licked her lips. He stared at the moistened offering. Their noses, grazing the sides of the other. Breathing becoming hard. Ragged. They could feel each other's breaths on their lips. Almost touching…. Almost…. Paper thin…

[1:56]

And then… their lips touched….. slowly pressing into each other….softly.

Chaste. But sweet. Soft. But powerful. Small. But long.

They pulled away, letting out a breath against the other again. Slowly, their lips parted, a little wider this time. Moving in slow motion. About to touch. Touching. Interlocking. Pressing. Clamping.

It was slow. Ridiculously slow…..lingering….. before they parted again.

[2:30] Another breath.

Wet. She felt his tears. He was crying again.

It was ok. She was too.

His hand was in her hair. His fingers, grazing her scalp.

Her tongue caressed his lips, tasting him before she clamped hers on them.

A hand, caressing his whiskers.

His tongue met hers for a moment before their lips met once again.

Not pulling back this time, they went straight for another. Opening wider, tongue caressing the other more firmly before the kiss this time. Their lips lingered on one another's. Like the calm before the storm. Then…..their hands were pulling each other's heads as close as possible.

[3:16]

Tongues meeting forcefully before their lips clamped down hungrily. Over. And over. And over.

Her hand was in his hair. She was lowered. Her back hit the bed. [3:29]

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AN: So, I know the kissing scene was a little weird. It wasn't written to be portrayed as I would normally. I wanted Sakura's memory of it to be in parts. Not really being aware of everything. Also, I guess it's because I can see what I was trying to portray. If I did not give you the movie feel then I'm sorry.

Please let me know what you think and say whether you enjoyed that kind of style for the kissing scene if I should write a proper kissing scene. Thanks guys. Oh btw. Please PM me with any errors or scenes that felt rushed or disjointed or if you think the kissing scene should be edited. Don't waste a review on that. :) If you liked it, then review. I literally wrote this chapter in a little under two hours with little editing. Thank BlueEyedBabyy for that I guess. ^_^