A/N: This is a special chapter focusing on Naruto. Kitsune means Fox Spirit. I am warming up to the idea of NaruSaku so much i'd like to try them, but still i'd keep the concept of the story, so NaruSaku wouldn't be so in the end.

This chapter was inspired by Rurouni Kenshin's soundtrack "HER MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE." i suggest that you watch this video first: www. youtube. com/watch?v=v2nFwpd2zAM to get the hang of the chapter!

Disclaimer: Some lines are from Naruto Manga... characters are from Kishi's Naruto...

"Sakura, there is something I want to ask you. What do you think of Naruto?"

It only started as a crush.

"He's always getting in the way when I do something important, and he enjoys seeing me struggle. Naruto doesn't understand anything about me. He's just annoying."

It only started as a crush way back in the Academy.

"All I want is for you to acknowledge me."

It only started as a crush way back in the Academy, but it had escalated thereafter.

His lovestory was an iconic cliché. He adored her. But she adored another. He loved her. But she loved another. Yet when the other left her, she had no choice but to stay; and he stayed with him. But he could never replace the reasons for her smiles once upon a time. So he vowed his life to bring him back to her. That was his way of the ninja.

I never go back from my words, said he.

And on his words she hoped. And with his words they were stuck.

And from strangers to classmates to reluctant teammates to friends to best-ofs to almost siblings, they worked hard all in the fulfillment of having the one person they wished had stayed return.

And in the process, he had also wished that fate could work herself to somehow keep the wheel moving from being almost siblings to something much… more than that.

Or maybe that could only be wishful thinking.

But where it all started to deepen, he honestly didn't know.

"All I want… is for you to acknowledge me…" She once said.

"I feel like I finally understand… why I like her," the Sasuke-henge thought.

When exactly did he start to stop falling in, he can painfully remember.

"Naruto, I beg you!! Please… please bring Sasuke back." Her tears were real, yet painful. "I couldn't do it… I couldn't stop him! The only person… who can probably stop Sasuke-kun now is you…

"Naruto… Only you…" The moment was then. The pain was real.

"Sakura-chan, you really like Sasuke, huh?" And he gave her a smile too painful to muster he had to bite the insides of his cheek to brush the kneading pain away.

"I know how much pain you're in because of Sasuke. I can understand." Because we are going through the same pain.

"Naruto… Thank you."

"Don't worry! I'll bring him back! Promise of a lifetime!"

And so he walked on forward with his teammates; and as he went, he dug a hole and left everything behind, but a promise.

But then, he found himself going back to that hole two years after he buried it. Though as he slowly recovered what was underneath, his mind was screaming at him to distance himself from what he was trying to retrieve. He tried, but there was something that kept whispering that maybe fate was moving his wheel again.

The time she almost risked her life to stop him from transforming into more tails, he hit her. But her gestures then were something so soft he'd like to risk his heart to feel it again.

There were instances that Sakura was looking at him like she acknowledged him, a lot of instances he saw that. And during those times that he was really hopeful.

But he was still cautious.

And he was glad he was so.

As he was watching her mold rice cakes with a childish smile, he couldn't help but feel confused. That was the smile he was trying to retrieve, wasn't it. However, he felt bad that it wasn't him who made her smile like that again. The reason for her lively composure was of her own doing, wasn't it? She was the one who brought him home, not him as he had promised.

"Mmmmm… I'm done," she chimed. "Sai-kun, help me get these inside the boxes. The blue bento should have two of the onigiri with dried tomato, and then one tuna. Make sure to stuff the bento with tomatoes."

"Yes, Sakura."

"Make it presentable, okay?"

"Yes, Sakura." Sai said for the fiftieth time.

She's happy. That's all about it. That's what's important, right? And he's already here to make everything okay for her. Things could go back to where they used to be – hopefully.

But maybe, just one last time. At least let fate make him feel that at one point she had been his.

For one last time.

Maybe tomorrow.

She could be his one last time – even for just a day.

It was still dark when Naruto woke up. This was one of those rare days that he wouldn't be sleeping in when no missions were assigned. Most of those days were self-training agenda so he could beat Sasuke-teme on team meets; sometimes, he would be disturbed in his sleep while dreaming of his precious ramen so he'd go out and wake up the Ichiraku store owner to cook him his breakfast.

But today was different.

He was already out of the house way before the sun was up. He trod the streets he knew so well and arrived at Haruno Sakura-chan's apartment. Her bedroom was still pitch black, so was the rest of the house.

Maybe he woke up too early. He waited for an hour or so. And that's fine with him; he waited for years – an hour or two wouldn't hurt.

He then knocked on her door when the kitchen lights went on and when he heard her moving around. Pakkun barked.

"Naruto? What are you doing here?"

"Nya-ha-ha. Good morning, Sakura-chan! Come on, let's have breakfast."

"Breakfast?"

"Right! My treat! He-he-he…"

"But… Oh, let's just eat here. I'll cook."

"Okay!"

"Would you like some ramen, Naruto?" she asked as soon as they were inside. Again, Pakkun was still translating everything for him.

"Ramen? Of course! But, wouldn't it take you hours to prepare it?"

"Not really. I've already set aside some beef stock last night for the teriyaki I'm preparing for the team, anyway. We'll just have to cook the noodles and chop some vegetables."

"Team?"

"Yes. I'm making teriyaki and maybe add some vegetable tempura as well for Taka's lunch today."

"Oh. That's great, Sakura-chan," he mused. "Thoughtful as always."

She giggled. "So, come help me with these. Get the vegetables on the counter and start cutting them, okay?"

"Yosh! Ahh, ano, Sakura-chyaaaan. There's too many. Ahe-he. Errr, do I really have to do all these?"

"Eh? You don't expect me to do all these, do you? I'm blind now. And don't you want your ramen to have other ingredients in them besides meat and noodles?"

"But Sakura-chyaaaan, how do you plan to prepare their lunch if I didn't come?"

"Well, Sai volunteered to help out, but he's not here yet."

"He did?! That bastard!"

"Now, now, Naruto, you know Sai's changed; and he'd been more reliable now, ne?"

"Hmmmmmph! I guess you're right."

"So start peeling. Cut the raddish in circles."

"Sure sure."

Naruto did what he was asked to do. Sakura was now blanching the noodles and everything smelled so good. He wanted to eat the noodles as it was, but Sakura scolded him when he tried to sneak some in a small bowl. Instead, she gave him a cup of hot soup as an appetizer.

"Ya-re! Ya-re! Sakura-chan! You're really good! This tastes better than Ichiraku's."

"Che! You always say that to every ramen you eat!"

"Ehehe. But really, this is good. I should keep eating here at your house. I could save a lot of money!"

"Fat chance, Naruto."

Naruto finished the task and handed Sakura the vegetables. He took charge of the cooking – following Sakura's instructions, or more like nags – as it seemed that she was having a hard time searching for which is which and eventually making a small mess in the working area.

A little while later, Sai-kun entered and joined in. Of course, Naruto didn't pass the chance to reiterate his lateness, given that Sakura was counting on him to do most of the work.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, I'll make it up to you later," was all he could say. And sneering was all Naruto could do.

The three shared the ramen she cooked for breakfast, fixed Team Taka's lunch boxes, and headed on out. Sakura's next itinerary: Kakashi-sensei's.

He had been the messenger and delivery boy for Sakura's masterpieces. And he actually didn't mind. Naruto then accompanied her to their master's house, as he would accompany her to the hospital later on, and to Tsunade-baa-chan's, and to her house again for Taka's dinner preparations, and lastly to Kakashi's again.

"Iya! Sakura-chan! Are you sure you're not tiring yourself out making them meals all the time? You really don't have to do this. I'm sure Sasuke's strong enough to fend for his team."

"I don't mind, really. Besides, I want to. The time I was with them, we only ate fish and mountain berries and tomatoes and tomatoes and rabbits and tomatoes," she argued. "And Naruto was with me all day. He had been a lot of help."

"And Naruto didn't add up to your stress at all?"

"HEY! Stupid pervert, you don't know what you're saying!"

"Of course not, Sensei."

"Well? How have you been holding up?"

"I'm good. Sai-kun and Naruto have been doing most things for me. And I'm actually getting used to this – a little. Pakkun has also been a great help!"

"Che! She didn't really say that, did she, Pakkun?" Naruto smirked.

"Oi, boy, Kakashi knows I never tell a lie!"

"So, would you two like to join me to Sasuke's tonight?"

Naruto didn't miss the glimmer that appeared in her eyes after Kakashi's invitation. However, she just smiled one of her beautiful smiles.

"Maybe next time, Kaka-sensei. Naruto and I will be having dinner later."

"Eh?"

"Right, Naruto?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Fine. Maybe tomorrow, Sakura, your training can commence. You too, Naruto. I have someone I want you to meet."

"Huh?"

"We'll talk tomorrow, okay? Be at the training grounds at dawn. As for you, Sakura-chan, I'll just look for you after my talk with Naruto."

Naruto led Sakura to the door once they were ready to leave their teacher's apartment. The moon was just rising preparing for its flight that night. Konoha had been rather peaceful these past weeks. And being this peaceful just after the Akatsuki invasion and before the dawn of the Fourth Great Shinobi War was a blessing – yet nerve-wracking.

"So, where do you want to eat, Naruto?"

"Huh? You're really serious about that dinner?"

"Of course I am. Now, would you like Ichiraku? I'm treating." She looked so much like that little girl who still wore a red headband over her cherry blossom hair.

"Yosh! Sakura-chyaaaan! She's asking me out! It's a date!" She laughed, instead of punching him like usual when he kept asking her to go eat together, just the two of them.

"Yes. It's a date." He was happy. He'd take any rare opportunities as this, even if she was only doing it as payment for his kindness during the entire day. This might not ever happen again.

They'd reached the ramen stall and Naruto didn't have to look where he was going to get there. After all, he had known the place so well like the back of his palm, or the number of dimples Sakura showed whenever she smiled.

"Hey! Oji-chan! Two Ichiraku Special please!"

"Special? Oi, Naruto, you don't want to bankrupt Sakura-chan's wallet here, do you?"

"Hi-hi-hi. Don't worry, Sakura-chan, I'm paying for these."

"Naruto? But –"

"Oi, Pakkun! Would you like some, too?"

"You're a little generous today, huh!"

"Shut up, before I change my mind!"

"Sure! This would be something I would brag to Kakashi – Naruto treating me a special bowl of ramen."

"Bah! I'll just have to make Kakashi-sensei pay for it!"

"Thank you, Naruto."

"That's okay, Sakura-chan!" And his stomach flipped over again when she gave him that smile he thought he could only see when she was with Sasuke.

It was only minutes after the bowls were served, and they ate while talking and bickering and teasing. Just like old times.

Naruto would tell her about that other day when he met Konohamaru and Ebisu-sensei at the marketplace, and boast about the new techniques his apprentice had learned – with the influences of the Super Ero-Sennin and important notes from his unreleased volumes of Icha Icha that Naruto had given to Konohamaru.

"SHANNAROOO! Naruto! What kind of teacher are you?! Teaching little kids what even adults shouldn't know! I should've proposed Tsunade-sama to ban such materials and jutsu in Konoha!"

Sakura would tell him her training escapades with her own master during the time when Naruto was away with Jiraiya-sama. During the time when she tried to revive an almost-dead fish, or during which she herself had to regenerate her own cells.

Of course, during the time Sakura was talking alien words, Naruto was blank-faced. Regenerating cells was beyond Naruto's comprehension, neither was the concept of chakra concentration, which they had already tackled with Kakashi back in their Genin days.

But still, it was undeniable that they were having a good time.

And on that note, the two fell silent.

Sakura searched for Naruto's hands, and squeezed his fingers.

"Naruto," she whispered. "Thank you. I wouldn't know what would have become of me if you weren't here."

Naruto caught it. He didn't need Pakkun to repeat what she had said. He understood her clearly. Her face said it all.

But as much as he wanted to rejoice in her sudden gratefulness, sadness and guilt rushed over him.

"Sakura-chan, the truth is, if I weren't here, if we didn't know each other, you wouldn't be suffering as much as you are now. You wouldn't be in that state on my behalf." He said. It was true. It all came down to him being a vessel for the Kyuubi – the same monster who had destroyed the lives of so many: ninjas, civilians, children, parents, Iruka-sensei's parents, his father, his mother…

And now, because of him, more people would go into the same fate if he'd been captured in Madara's hands – Sakura and Sasuke were the first ones to go through hell again – especially his Sakura-chan.

"No, Naruto. I had suffered so much more than this. And during those dark times, you have been there cheering me on, encouraging me. Always have, always will. All possible because, because you're Naruto."

And because I am Naruto that you could never love me back, he wanted to add. Instead, he didn't say anything. They continued eating in silence. After a while, it was broken.

"Naruto, if we didn't know each other, maybe some other girl would. And she could be so much luckier than I would be if that'd be the case. So, still, I am thankful fate has played her part and picked me instead. I wouldn't have it any other way."

After Ichiraku, Naruto walked her home. The two were furious about something Pakkun had blurted out. It was probably one of his pick-up lines that he usually uses when in a dog pub.

Naruto walked her to her door, greeted her goodbye and turned around to head home. It was a normal day, he could say. There was nothing special that happened – except the fact that she had asked him on a date, well, ok, that was the highlight. Something special happened that day.

But as Naruto started to walk, Sakura caught his forearm and whirled him around.

"Hey, Naruto, thank you for today."

"No problem, Sakura. I enjoyed it!"

"Naruto, I, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For the pain I am causing you right now."

"Sakura?"

"Naruto… Oh Naruto… When I said I love you, I meant it so much that it hurts when you wouldn't take it as anywhere near sincere," then she paused.

His face remained blank, but was counting in his head – waiting for the conjunction but that would break him into pieces for the thousandth time.

"But I couldn't make myself love you more than I should, more than you have…"

He had expected this, he knew what she had in mind, but why did it continue to hurt him? Surprise him?

There was a time when he had loved a girl so much he promised himself never to let her go. But one day, he did – he had to. Because he never knew loving her could only give him so much pain.

Ero-sennin, how could you not give that Baa-chan up? How were you able to stand in front of her after all those years when you've never really moved on?

"…I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm sorry I kissed you inappropriately. I regret doing so not because I don't like it, but because I hope it came from a girl who truly loved you and is worthy of the love you are offering."

Sakura was looking straight into his eyes. Her pupils was indifferent, however, it still exude so much sadness and sincerity. Her cracking lips were silent, but each movement stabs him with alternating intensity. Yet all he could do was stare at her, scared at what he could say when he opened his mouth.

But suddenly, his body moved on its own, his arms were instinctively wrapped around her as he pulled her closer and closer to him.

"I have loved you the longest, Sakura, and god knows how much. But I knew what I had gotten myself in, so don't apologize," he whispered to her ears. "I've always known that your heart will always be for Sasuke, and I'm not here to change that. I want you to be happy. And with him getting back, I wish to see your most beautiful smile again, the one you only reserve for him."

Sakura cried. For the second time since coming home, she cried. She returned Naruto's embrace with equal tightness, and sobbed in his shoulder.

"You will always be my Sakura-chan." He let her go, stooping to plant a soft kiss on her cheek, and wiped her eyes dry with his calloused fingers.

"Goodnight, Sakura-chan." He left.

It was just normal for any teenage boy who had just gotten his heart broken to roam the streets without a purpose and without any intention of going home. So like any normal teenage boy, Naruto had no place in mind and just continued walking from Sakura's house.

He understood. He had his day. He had his time. And those times Sasuke wasn't here, he was glad it was him who at least tried to make her loneliness go away.

He didn't know where he was – well, he did know, but his navigational instincts were off at the moment – but he found an empty bench overlooking a meadow of flowers pale under the moonlight. He looked on ahead, as if his own happiness was hidden behind the bushes.

He didn't know how long he sat there, how long he stared. And he certainly didn't notice the crackling sounds nearby, or the laughter of an eager child along with it.

But the flicker of colors caught his eye. There on his right a few meters away from him were two girls playing sticks of fireworks. It was a spectacular display of greens and blues and yellows and violets. The girls lit one stick after another, and Naruto was struck with the view.

"N-na-naruto-kun? Would you like to join us?"