Rated T for language, alcohol use, suggestive themes, and any possible sexuality.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the Fanfiction you are currently reading.

Theme ( 037 ): Maintain
: Sincerely – Yvette

. 維持 .

"Sakura-chan," he said one evening when they came trotting out of the bathing houses.

"Hm?" replied Sakura as she combed her fingers through her damp strands of hair. She eyed the blond, noting the interest he showed as she eased every strand from the other. Giving her hair a flip back, she allowed it to curtain above her shoulders naturally.

"Sakura-chan, shouldn't your hair be longer by now?" he scrunched his brows together, examining the multilayered strands that poked out from the crown of Sakura's head. "You cut it nearly four years ago, and I'm starting to think my eyes are messing with me! Some pieces are shorter than I last remember!"

Sakura's expression flattened, and the grip on the bin she held under her arm grew firm, readying for a thrash.

"Is there something wrong with my short hair, Naruto?" She smiled, her words seething out venomously. "If there is, please say so."

"N-no! That's not what I meant!" He flinched, subconsciously expecting a blow at his skull. "I mean, it looks nice—but I'm just wondering why you never grew it out again . . ."

When Sakura's brow evened out with its opposing, he eased himself back to normal.

"Well," she began, her smile growing nostalgic. "You wanna know why I even grew it out in the first place?"

Naruto stare at her curiously. She continued.

"It was back when we were still in the academy . . . I heard that, um, that Sasuke liked girls with long hair . . ."

Naruto felt his spirit drop, but he allowed Sakura to continue.

"Of course, I was naïve back then, so I grew it out and rivaled against Ino." She paused, shaking her head in amusement. "It was really hard to maintain since it got to the point of growing past my waistline. It got in the way of training, too."

He watched her stare forward, recalling their past.

"Then during the chunin exams, when it really got in my way, it was a relief, actually, when I chopped more than half of it off." She turned to him. "I kinda liked it . . ."

Naruto nodded.

"I grew it out again, though, while you were gone with Jiraiya. But after about half a year, I decided to go back to my short hair. I got it layered and short—and I've stuck with it ever since." She smiled, reaching up to rake through her hair. "It's still lush, and even better, it doesn't get in my way."

Seeing her look content, Naruto grinned.

"It suits you much better, Sakura-chan."

Her attention was to him, now.

"I like girls with short hair."

. 維持 .

Author's Note: I got this idea little while ago. I thought it was cute, actually. Can you picture Sakura-chan's expression in the end? ;)

( and yes, I decided it was time for a new Penname. For now on, I am known as: Sincerely – Yvette. )

Naruto prefers short hair. Yvette's mailbox prefers reviews.