AN: I know it is OOC, but quite frankly, I don't care. I hate his character, so I'm changing it. Just take it as the mood affecting his behavior.

2900 words in this chapter

Unmasked

Chapter 25- Always

"Are you alright?" her voice reached him from behind and he stopped walking, frozen and unable to respond.

She sounded so compassionate, after everything she had just done, and he had no idea why.

"Naruto…" she sighed "please talk to me"

"Why should I?" he didn't turn, only looking ahead to the stone in the center of the clearing.

"You were there for me… and I've just been insensitive. I've been too busy with Kakashi to even notice your own problems."

He couldn't help but to feel confused. "What are you talking about?"

Her delicate hand brushed his shoulder "Ino told me about what happened with Temari"

"That has nothing to do with you" he shrugged her off and sat down on the grass beside the memorial, but was too distracted to look for the names.

"Naruto… I know it isn't. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to; but who else would you talk to? Ever since…" she knelt down beside him and ran a finger across the one name that meant most to them both. "It's just been the two of us."

He stayed silent, trying to understand what she was saying.

She continued with a regretful tone in her voice "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Kakashi. I should have, much sooner. I was just scared of your reaction. I didn't want you to find out that way…"

"Why Sakura…? What happened?"

He heard her breathe deeply beside him, and she let her hands drop to her lap. "I don't know… I mean I, I know what it was… we had this mission. Well it wasn't really a mission; it was just entertainment for Tsunade. Ino and I were told to seduce some information out of some jonin. Each of us were in a different room, and we didn't realize until the last minute who it was we were supposed to seduce. Ino got Shikamaru, and I got Kakashi.

"You see, technically, I made the first move. I didn't get feelings for him then, but he did for me, and he began to… flirt back. At first I just felt sick and disgusted, much like you were when you first saw us together, but as the week progressed I found it less disturbing. It was fun; more than I thought it would be, and it felt comfortable between us. Waking up next to him didn't bother me, even when he started to hold me in his sleep. I still didn't want to be with him, but he just got stronger and stronger feelings for me, even when I stopped humoring him. All he wanted by the end was for me to kiss him, resulting in what you saw in the hospital.

"I'll admit he was a good kisser, which was the only reason why I responded like I did, I didn't want him as a boyfriend or anything like that. He wasn't forcing me into anything, but he wanted it more than I had ever seen. He told me, that he was a virgin, and that he saved himself and his face for that one special person. He told me he thought I was that one; that he wanted to be with me forever." She giggled slightly "I almost screamed at him. I just couldn't believe how irrational he was being. But I was thinking… not seriously, but I was idly wondering what it would be like…

"So I decided to give him a chance, just in case my inhibitions were holding me back from something that wouldn't be too bad. He took me on a date, far away from public places, and it was beautiful. My heart started to beat a little faster every moment, and I couldn't explain it, but it must have been something in the way he acted. It was the first time it had been just the two of us, and…"

She stopped, looking over to find that Naruto was completely enthralled in the story, and shook her head. "I don't really know when exactly I fell in love with him, I'm not even sure it was before I told him I might consider marrying him, but when he was away on that mission and I had to sort everything out on my own again, it was agony."

"But, you are married… doesn't that mean…?"

"It was only during the last week, but there was something about him that let me know immediately that it was all or nothing. I knew that, from the second I knew I was in love with him and he me, we were going to be married, so we just decided to get it done sooner, rather than later."

"Just the last week?"

She nodded in reply "we have been dating for over two weeks, but it's only gotten serious in the last week. We got married on Thursday. We haven't been keeping it from you for a long time; you know I couldn't do that to you. Can you forgive me?"

"For falling in love? I'm not stupid"

"I hate to bring up Temari again…"

"I'm not in love with Temari!" he turned to her with wide eyes

"I didn't mean that" she smirked "I just mean that your intelligence isn't that highly ranked at the moment"

He sighed "Of course I forgive you, as long as you are happy. Just promise me… tell me in the future…"

"Naruto…" she smiled gently "do you still love me?"

"Hai" he grinned

She seemed as though she couldn't figure out what to say.

He decided to continue, explaining what he meant. "I love you as a sister Sakura… Our team is and always has been a family to me, because mine…" he let his gaze wander to his father's name on the memorial.

"Arigato Naruto…" she breathed "it means a lot"

"You see, you were like a sister, caring and smiling, but short tempered. Sasuke was my annoying older brother who was always better at everything than me. Kaka-sensei… well he was never a father figure, that was Iruka-sensei, but he was more like that crazy uncle that's loads of fun at Christmas, but never visits the rest of the time. I think that's one of the reasons I was so upset about it. Can you imagine your sister, who you look up to and admire, marrying that uncle out of the blue and not telling you?"

"Gomenesai Naruto…" she bowed her head again

"Are you happy Sakura? With him I mean."

"I'm very happy. I've never felt like that with anyone else before"

"Then you don't have to apologize, not to me" he continued to stare at the memorial.

She stayed still for a minute, thinking to herself, and he began to do the same. What would Sasuke say about this? Would he be ok with it? Probably… he would probably just shrug and walk off. It made me so angry how he could be that calm. He had to be thinking something. There's no way he had absolutely no emotions.

I wonder if she even realized what I felt for him… he glanced back at her from the corner of his eye he was never a brother to me… Itachi was his brother, I wouldn't want to be a brother to him if that's what it would remind him of. I never told her, or anyone, that he wasn't the brother I treated him like.

I told everyone it was her I was in love with, because I was always after her attention, but that was just because I wanted to see what Sasuke felt like, so I could understand him more. No, I was never in love with her that way, but I kept my real feelings secret, because I didn't know how everyone would react.

I think I get it now… Sakura and Kakashi hid their love for the same reasons I hid mine, but at least they had the bravery to do something about it before it was too late. They are together and happy, so I can't hold a grudge against them, but I know why she wants to apologize. I feel the same, every time I talk to her, I want to tell her about Sasuke, but I feel too guilty.

"Sakura… we never did this, did we?"

"Huh?" she snapped out of her thoughts and faced him

"We never sat at the memorial and talked about things. I did it with Kakashi, but never with you."

"No, we never did"

"I need to tell you something." He sighed

"You sound serious Naruto. What's wrong?"

"It's not now, but just like you and Kakashi, I have a secret. It's worse, because it has been for longer."

"What is it?"

He took a deep breath, then traced Sasuke's name on the memorial with a finger, his eyes beginning to water as he prepared to loosen things he had never told anyone before… no one but him…

"What is it Naruto?"

"I… I love him…" he said it barely above a whisper, a powerful pang striking him with the thought. He felt her entire body tense beside him. "I never did love you that way Sakura"

It was obvious that she was too shocked to say anything

He let a tear fall, leaning back a little "what's worse… is that he loved me too. When Kakashi found me, after that fight, I wasn't fully unconscious. Sasuke, he… he thought I wouldn't hear either… and he kissed me. He told me he loved me, just in a whisper.

"I couldn't stop him… I couldn't tell him I felt the same… I couldn't tell him I knew. He had to leave me, other wise I would distract him, and he couldn't get what he wanted. I understand why you kept it from me Sakura… I'm glad you got the chance to tell him."

"Dear Kami Naruto" she gasped, pulling him into a tight hug, letting her own increasing tears drop softly onto his shoulder "if only I had known… I can't believe I was so insensitive…"

"It doesn't matter… he's gone. He's the past now, just another name on the stone."

She pulled back and stared long into his eyes. "No, no he's not. Not to us. We'll always have the memories, right?"

"What good they are…" he grumbled

"Naruto… that's why I killed him, can't you understand?" she frowned, trying to give him some certainty "If he continued the way he was, he wouldn't be Sasuke. I'd much rather have him dead, but still have respect for him in my memories, than I would he still be here, but unrecognizable. The last thing I told myself before hand… was that I wasn't killing Sasuke, not the one we knew and loved. I was killing the cancer that had taken over under his name and body over the years. My only regret was that I hadn't realized earlier."

He nodded solemnly, hugging her back, but in truth her words did very little to comfort him. "Sakura… I just need some time to think by myself… I'll be fine; I just need to be alone."

"Alright Naruto… just promise me we're still friends?"

"Always…"

She stood up and left silently, leaving him to his thoughts.

Always…

Tsunade tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk, feeling incredibly perturbed and confused. What the hell is going on here? Is this some incredibly pathetic practical joke the medics are playing on me?

She looked down at the bottle resting beside her feet accusingly and thought; maybe it is the sake…

Never mind, another half minute or so and I can ask her directly.

She could see Shizune staring at her curiously out of the corner of her eye. Everyone seemed to be thinking that their Hokage had gone mad this weekend, judging by the glares they had been given, every time she asked for that name repeated.

A polite knock came at the door, and Tsunade, just about reaching braking point, yelled straight out, rather than have Shizune answering the door. "Sakura!"

The young Kunoichi came inside, seemingly playing the innocent as she looped her hands together in front of her. "Hai Shishou, what is it? I'm very busy"

"Would you mind telling me what this is?" she thrust a sheet of paper towards her on her desk

Sakura stepped forward and scanned the document for a second, then snapped her head back up in frustration. "This is the equipment release form I sent for you to sign yesterday. Why is it still here?"

"You sent this?"

"Hai, it has my name on it" she glared incredulously, only making Tsunade feel more walked over.

"It doesn't have your name on it Sakura" Tsunade glared back

"Really? Well, my mistake" she sighed carelessly "I must have been tired"

She fought to retain her composure "alright, lets try this again. Why are your staff, taking orders from Hatake?"

Sakura gave her a puzzled expression, which was mirrored in less than a second by Shizune, but there was a slight amused sparkle in Sakura's eye. "Are you feeling alright Shishou? You haven't been drinking too much again, have you?"

"Who else would her staff be taking orders from?" Shizune asked

"Her!" Tsunade snapped "her staff, her orders. What is wrong with everyone this weekend?"

"What is wrong with you this weekend Tsunade? Surely you of all people know about Sakura's new surname"

Sakura was smirking in full now, letting herself gloat over the revengeful victory. Over the last few days, Tsunade had made a mockery of herself, because no one had told her about the marriage, everyone assuming that she had performed the ceremony herself.

The shock on her face must have been evident, because Shizune's face sunk into an even deeper frown. Tsunade shook her head in disbelief, "Gomen, I think I misheard you. What did you say?"

"I said, you of all people should know about Sakura's change in name since her marriage."

"Marriage?! What the hell?!" she stood up from her desk childishly and aimed her anger at Sakura. "Explain now!"

"Kakashi married her days ago." Shizune pointed out "didn't you…?"

"It wasn't me… who…?"

Sakura giggled lightly and leant herself comfortably against the desk, examining her rings. "I never thanked you for inviting the Suna party here, did I?"

Both of the room's other occupants gasped loudly and in unison "The Kazekage?"

She shrugged in response "He owed me a favor or two"

"So, let me get this straight" Tsunade started "When people refer to 'Hatake-sama', they mean you? You really are his wife?"

"I am" she grinned

Tsunade sighed, knowing better than to keep displaying her shock, seen as it would only stroke Sakura's ego more. "You just can't do it like a normal person, can you? How long has this been going on for?"

"Since…" she paused in thought "the day of that mission"

"That long?!"

"Tsunade… the rest of the village knows this; can't you just ask one of them to fill you in? I have work to do."

"No you don't" Kakashi appeared through the doorway behind her.

She turned to face him "Yes I do."

"Excuse me" he said to Tsunade and Shizune, before leading Sakura off a little to the side by her waist. "Sakura, remember what you said the other day?"

"Which part? We talked for hours"

"You promised you would be around more."

She winced at what she knew he was going to say next.

"Sakura, I have talked about you more than I've seen you since we've been married. I've been turning down missions to make time and you're still working 20 hour days."

"Kakashi, there's really nothing I can do about…"

She was cut off as he pressed his lips lightly against hers, and felt his smirk grow. "You are putting down the folder and coming with me, right now."

She closed her eyes for a second in bliss, but then her common sense caught up with her and she pried herself from his comforting grip. "I can't"

"Tsunade-sama, is there anyone to cover for Sakura's work?"

"What work?" she pointed out "most of the work she does isn't even necessary, she just does it out of habit."

"So she will be all right if I want to take her home for the day?"

Tsunade was suitably amused by both the obvious undertones in Kakashi's speech, and the look of embarrassment on Sakura's face. "Absolutely; I doubt you took a honeymoon period at all. You're ordered, Hatake to spend a week in his company, and figure out exactly what it means to be his wife. Kakashi, that's as much as you get, then I want you back on the missions. Do let me know though, if you are planning to repopulate the Hatake clan, because there will be steps I need to take."

Sakura's eyes snapped wide in dread, obviously not anticipating that possibility.

Thankfully for her, Kakashi knew this. "I hope that isn't another order Tsunade, because I'll only get angry if it is."

"You don't want children?"

"I don't want orders"

AN: I don't know if anyone else thought that during that scene with Naruto and Sasuke, but the way Sasuke said "Naruto… I…" and the way that they ended up face to face like they did, definitely sent some heavy hints, so I just finished the sentence.

It's kind of Blah, but the way Tsunade finally gets what she deserves, makes me happy.

I just thought I had better update this week.

Go to the website pleshies, and feel free to message me if you want to add anything to the fanzone.

Stay shiny and show the luff

Xx Belizma-chan xX