Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Italics = thoughts/flashbacks

Sakura (20) = present Sakura

Sakura (13) = past Sakura

Sasuke (20) = present Sasuke

Sasuke (13) = past Sasuke

Tsunade(past) = past Tsunade

Tsunade(present) = present Tsunade

First Person POV- Sakura (20)

It was the day after my conversation with younger Sakura.

I hope she took my advice and went to talk with Sasuke.

I saw a man struggling to lift a large piece of the building back over and into the rest of the piles of broken building parts.

"Let me help you with that sir," I told him.

I carried the piece with no effort and placed it into the pile.

"Wow, your strong young lady," the man, who I suspected to be at least 40 years of age, said. "Thank you for the help."

"No problem," I smiled at him.

Sasuke, Team 7, and I are helping to rebuild the village back together once again. We've been here for about three hours now working nonstop. So, I was helping out in the hospital, healing those who are injured. Luckily, I had an hour break for lunch with Sasuke and Team 7. Currently, I am walking to the location at which we are eating lunch.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" a voice called out.

Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto," I replied.

They were all sitting on a table near the front of the restaurant. I looked across from Naruto and into my fiancé's eyes.

"Hi," I greeted him.

I, then, wrapped my arms around his neck in bliss.

"Sit down," Sasuke offered. "I ordered for you."

I looked down at the table to see the food that he had ordered for me.

Just what I had been craving for.

I smiled and took a seat next to him. As I started eating, I noticed that younger Sakura and younger Sasuke had just come in—younger Sakura had been trying to hide a blush. I saw younger Sakura glance at younger Sasuke from the corner of her eyes to see where he was going to sit. Then, I saw younger Sakura sit in the farthest seat from him—which was on the other side of me. I lifted my eyebrows in confusion.

What could have happened between them?

She saw me look at her and made the facial expression that told me that she was going to explain everything to me later. I nodded in approval.

"What are you nodding for?" Sasuke asked me.

I jumped at the question.

"Oh, nothing," I replied.

He lifted his brows and I knew exactly what he had thought. I sighed in defeat as I continued eating.

I guess I'll have to tell him later on.

Being the usual talker, Naruto, who had been eating ramen, started a conversation.

"This morning was crazy! I couldn't sleep a wink! I can't believe pervy sage slept through it all. Our room was right next to a construction site. What luck! Not to mention his snoring. Do you see these eyes? I'm so tired!" Naruto complained.

"You sure don't act like it," younger Sasuke commented.

"What's that supposed to mean Sasuke?"

"You're an idiot."

"What? What did you say?"

"Are you deaf? I said, 'You're. An. Idiot.'" Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.

"Calm down, both of you," Kakashi-sensei commanded as he walked in the restaurant.

"But he," Naruto complained.

"Naruto," Kakashi-sensei said as he sat down. "Your ramen is getting cold."

"Oh, yeah," Naruto remembered as he continued slurping up his ramen quickly.

We all ate in silence for a while with the exception of several small talks.

"Ah, it's time," Kakashi-sensei stated. "Better go back to work."

"Aw…," Naruto complained for the tenth time today.

"The sooner we finish, the sooner Ichiraku's is going to open up again," Kakashi-sensei continued.

Naruto's whole face brightened as he replied, "Alright! Let's go guys! Why are you all just sitting there? There's work to be done."

I saw him speed out of the restaurant leaving us to all stare at the direction at which he had left. Kakashi-sensei soon followed. The remaining of us stood—ready to leave.

Sasuke embraced me saying, "I'll see you back at the inn for dinner."

"Till then," I replied as I kissed him.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw younger Sakura and younger Sasuke stand awkwardly as if waiting for something.

"Ah," I said out loud and pulled apart from Sasuke.

We walked out of the restaurant together and went in our separate ways. Younger Sakura was heading in the same direction as me and younger Sasuke and Sasuke in the other. I waited for her to speak.

When nothing came out of her mouth, I asked, "So, what was that about before lunch?"

I saw her face flush as she remembered the sudden memory.

First Person POV- Sakura (13)

"Well about that…," I started.

"Uh huh," Older Sakura urged me to continue on.

"I took your advice and when I was heading to lunch…"

Flashback

Finally, a lunch break!

I was helping around the village all morning long and I was starving. I helped deliver messages, sort out parts, and etc. It was so tiring! I walked towards the restaurant at which we would meet, but stopped when something caught my eye.

Is that…Sasuke?

My conversation with older Sakura yesterday came back to me. I blushed at the thought.

Should I? Well, older Sakura said that older Sasuke had talked to him so maybe… It's worth a try.

I gathered up all my courage and walked towards him.

"Hi Sasuke-kun," I greeted.

"Hey," Sasuke replied.

"Um...," I started. What should I say?

"Would you…would you like to take a walk with me after dinner?"

Take a walk? I should have asked him to do something else instead of walking awkwardly around with him for who knows how long.

I saw him looking at me in thought. I sighed inwardly as I knew what he was going to say.

I guess it was worth a try.

I was about to walk away when I heard his reply.

"Sure," he shrugged.

My blush increased furiously as I tried to hide it.

"We…well let's go. They're probably waiting for us in the restaurant," I said as I tried to walk quickly away.

I cannot believe he said yes!

End of Flashback

"Wow," older Sakura commented. Younger Sasuke is starting to open up sooner than I expected him to. Nice job Sasuke!

"I know," I replied. "I can't believe he agreed."

"See, I told you it doesn't hurt to try. Looks like you have a date after dinner."

I froze and my blush grew instantly. "Da…date?"

"Yeah, what else would it be?"

"It's just a walk around the area. Yeah, just a walk."

Older Sakura smirked. "Don't lie to yourself. You're going on a date with Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Kyaa! I don't believe it," I replied. "I told you, it's not."

"Sure. Well, see you later. The hospital is that way. Tell me all about it." Older Sakura said as she turned to the right.

I turned away embarrassed and headed towards the opposite direction.

Thank you for reading the 20th chapter of "Strength of Love".

As you have already noticed, the next chapter is going to be about their date. I can't wait to write about it.

Please review and thanks for all the reviews so far. =)