Sasusaku Month -

Watching

Mistakes are all mine. Unedited.

xxx

A tuft of vibrant red can be seen easily from any part of the dusty Konoha main street. There is a large menu obscuring the newly instated kunoichi but it is not nearly covert enough to be considered stealthy. The woman has been seated at the small cafe for at least half an hour, waiting for her target. She is not only gathering important intel but doing the smart thing and having lunch at the same time.

"Whatcha doing?" Uzumaki Naruto asks vibrantly, making Karin startle dramatically. Her grip on her disguise does not fall though, and the teetering cup seems to settle down.

"Watching." Karin hisses, letting her maroon eyes peek over the menu curiously. "Go away, you will blow my cover." She continues seriously.

Gazing over in the suggested direction Naruto finds Sakura and Sasuke, the people he was about to go and meet. It has been days since he has been able to eat with them, but this situation seems rather interesting. So, picking up a second menu the obnoxiously orange ninja raises it to his face to mimic Karin's disguise. Cluelessness must be an Uzumaki trait because the two look absolutely ridiculous.

"What are we watching for?" The blonde questions whisperingly. From the looks of it his team mates are eating their lunch like usual.

Sakura has her usual bowl and Sasuke has his. There is an oolong tea sitting between them and they seem to be engaged in regular conversation. Really, Naruto is a bit jealous.

"Isn't it obvious." Karin growls. "I want to find out what kind of relationship Sasuke-kun has with Sakura! She may be my head medic but that doesn't mean I can't get the man." The kunoichi says impassioned and the boy can't help but feel bad for her.

"Karin they are just eating lunch." Naruto says, then with narrowed eyes he asks. "How long have you been following them?"

"All day." The red head sighs.

"And?" He questions curiously.

Shaking her head she replies, "It doesn't look good. Sasuke-kun treats Sakura-sama better than anyone I have ever seen." Banging her fist against the table the girl asks, "Why? Why her? It isn't fair."

Naruto nods slowly in understanding. He knows what it is like to love someone that loves another. "I'm sorry Karin." He offers. "It's always been Sakura-chan." It is the truth, despite being exactly the opposite of what his new friend wants to hear.

"Does he love her?" Karin says after a long defeated pause. She stares over at the couple eating amiably with longing eyes.

"It's hard to tell with Teme. But I'm sure he does, in his own Sasuke way." Naruto watches his friends also with a small smile. Sakura currently holds out her chopsticks with a morsel of food near Sasuke's face. The nin shakes his head resolutely before Sakura says something unknown that makes the Teme cave. Sasuke's mouth opens just wide enough and the food disappears. Sakura smiles brightly while her counterpart nods slowly as if giving an observation of some kind.

"I was afraid of that." Karin murmurs, taking the last gulp of her tea. "I wonder if I will ever find love..." She thinks aloud.

"In my experience love is usually right under your nose. Hinata-chan loved me for years and I didn't even know because I was too busy looking at Sakura-chan. Maybe you should look closer?" Naruto responds helpfully.

"Thanks Naruto. You're a good friend." She says, unable to stop her mind from wandering to an infuriating white haired ninja.

"Yeah I am!" The blonde exclaims, then turning to watch his team mates once more he sighs, "I bet they are thinking up horrible ways to make me pay the bill. I gotta go anyway. Cheer up!"
Then Naruto is up and bounding over to Ichiraku. He feels much lighter now that he has helped someone for the day. I'm going to be a great Hokage. The ninja thinks to himself kindly.

"Hello Naruto." Sakura greets, looking up at him with a big smile. It seems that her and Sasuke have just shared in a rather funny joke.

"Have fun over there?" She asks, motioning to the cafe behind them.

"Yeah I did actually." Naruto answers and Sasuke makes a Tch noise of disapproval.

"What were you doing over there anyway? What is Karin up to?" Sakura continues, taking a bite of her ramen.
"Oh, she is just watching." The blonde states, raising his hand to order.

"Hn. Stalking." Sasuke interjects and Sakura makes a noise of amusement.

"Nah she is gone now." Naruto tells him, and the three turn to see the empty table that previously housed a love sick kunoichi.

"Oh wow, she has been following us since training. What did you say to her to get her to go away?" His pink haired friend asks curiously.
Answering honestly the blonde haired ninja is unable to hold back the gigantic grin at the expression adorning his team mates faces as Sasuke's chopsticks snap in two and Sakura gapes like a fish.

"I just told her that you guys are in love." Naruto explains. "You always say that the truth is the answer, ne Sakura-chan?"

Needless to say, Naruto is left with the entire bill...