A/N Our group of teens have finished their second year in high school and it is the summer before their junior year. Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto are all 16 years old in this chapter.

The Summer the Sakura Blossomed

The summer had been unusually hotter than most years. Normally their long break from school would be spent actively taking the bus or train to some nearby place and doing whatever or exploring wherever Sakura had planned for them that day. She was usually the motivator of the trio, the one who pushed them to do things in which the two boys begrudgingly agreed. Naruto usually complied because he would be promised Ramen, and Sasuke tolerated the crowded tourist attractions because...well…Sakura was there. And he needed to watch over her. At least that was how he rationalized it.

But this summer Sakura had gone to visit relatives in her family's original hometown, leaving the two boys in charge to entertain themselves and keep each other company. With Sakura not there to drag them around, Naruto and Sasuke occupied themselves with playing video games in a controlled environment of cool A/C that had close access to a freezer and fridge of cold beverages and plenty of popsicles. However, after weeks of logging numerous hours in sitting on a couch playing games, with only each other as company-and no Sakura to act as a buffer-, it was only a matter of time before their mothers had grown tired of listening to the constant bickering and cleaning up after them. Thus the two teenagers found themselves banned from gaming and told to do something productive outside. With the heat nearly unbearable, they found themselves camped out in the Uchiha's backyard pool, where their phones could still at least reach the WIFI of the house and the heat could be tolerable.

The floaty Sasuke was sprawled on bobbed and shifted in the pool as he lay with his hands behind his head and a pair of dark sunglasses covering his face as it angled towards the sky. His feet hung over the edge and lazily hung in the water in an attempt to keep himself cool as the heat from the midday sun beat down on them. Next to him, Naruto impatiently shifted on his own inner tub. Each time, wildly splashing and causing a loud ruckus of sloshing water as he moved around on his raft that was shaped like a ramen bowl.

"Dobe," Sasuke mumbled in sleepy annoyance when his blonde friend's shifting caused a raining of water droplets to fall on his heated skin. "Stop moving around so much. You keep splashing me."

Naruto let out an exaggerated sigh of boredom. "I'm just trying to get comfortable, we've been laying around here for hours," he defended. "I'm bored! And why do I have to be careful! We are in a pool! You're supposed to get wet."

"Hn. My house, my rules," Sasuke retorted, not bothering to open his eyes. "If you don't like them then leave."

"Well maybe I will!" Naruto threatened but didn't make a move to leave. When Sasuke himself did not respond, Naruto let out a huff and settled back down on his floaty, the rubber plastic letting out a wet squeak as shifted around. "When does Sakura come back? Ever since she left for the summer you've been a super asshole!"

Sasuke's eyes snapped open at that and he glared at Naruto. In the next second, his arm reached out and he was flipping Naruto over. The yellow haired teen let out a wild yelp that was cut off as he disappeared under the water, bright orange board shorts and all. The water had yet to even settle when he surfaced with a loud screech.

"What was that for!?" Naruto sputtered, climbing back onto his innertube.

"Hn," Sasuke grunted. "For asking stupid questions."

It wasn't exactly the true reason but it was the answer he was sticking to. In reality, Sasuke himself had been asking the same question in his head and was almost to the point of impatient ignorance, that he was on the verge of booking himself a ticket to where she was, and asking her in person. Though by that time, such a question would be pointless because he would be dragging her back home with him if the answer was anything but an immediate departure to go home.

If an entire summer depraved of her presence was not bad enough, not only was she physically gone, but any form of communication was brief and too few. They had video chatted once at the beginning but the bandwidth where she was at was so small, that the video was nothing but a blurry frozen picture of pink hair. Along with a blurry image, the audio was so lagged their conversation mostly consisted of 'can you hear me now?' and 'are you still there?' So instead he got the occasional message or scenic picture of what she had been up to but with her being so preoccupied, it was hardly a conversation.

He heard Naruto's phone chime and the blonde paddled over to the edge of the pool. "Hey, bastard, everybody is going to that new pool park, we should go too!"

Sasuke lifted his head up and tipped his shades down to look at Naruto directly. "Why? We are already in a pool."

"Yeah, but the other pool has girls," Naruto argued. "In bathing suits," he added with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. As if it was not already common sense to assume anyone who went to a pool wore a bathing suit. He shoved his sunglasses back up the bridge of his nose.

There was a time when he could care less about girls. But then, back in middle school, things became a little muddled and confusing. Now that he was older and had a better handle on things, Sasuke would be a liar if he said he did not appreciate such things. However, as pretty as a girl could be or as perfect her body was, Sasuke never found himself truly tempted. Yes he recognized certain features to be appealing but he never quite understood how those features could cause someone to practically start drooling over themselves or act like a complete imbecile like his peers did in order to gain the attention of said girl. To him, there was always something missing. There was a certain failed allure that couldn't draw him in enough to pursue.

Folding his arms, he leaned his head back and gave out a nonchalant hum. "Hn, and it also has crying babies and little kids that pee in the water," he argued. "No thanks."

Naruto gave out a disgruntled complaint. "But we have been in here all day! I'm getting all pruny," he complained, looking at his hands. Suddenly an idea hit him and he was looking over to Sasuke again. "What about the arcade? We could go down there and play some games!"

"Too hot," Sasuke brushed off, just as his phone's ringtone began to play.

"Someone's calling you," Naruto informed when Sasuke made no move to check it.

"..."

"Aren't you going to answer it?"

"..."

"What if it's an emergency?" Naruto asked as he began to creep towards the edge of the pool. "Isn't that usually why people call instead of text?" He added as he nosily peeked at the lit up screen of Sasuke's phone.

"Who would call me in an emergency一"

"It's Sakura," Naruto interrupted, picking up the phone as he slid his thumb across the screen. "Hey Sakura, what's up!"

Sasuke was deboarding his flotation device immediately. In his dismount, his sunglasses fell into the pool but he made no move to retrieve him as he continued over to where his phone was sitting at the side of the pool.

"Give it," Sasuke barked as he snatched the phone from Naruto's hands. "Sakura, are you there? Are you okay?" He immediately asked as he threw a jab at Naruto, who dangerously splashed wildly as he tried to dodge the punch.

"...Yeah, I'm here? What's going on? Is Naruto okay? I hear a bunch of splashing?"

The sound of her voice did things to his inner soul that he did not even realize, nor have the capacity, to decipher what those feelings meant. He was too buzzed with an intoxicating high that came with the fact that he was finally hearing her voice.

"Naruto's fine," he said quickly as he raised his fist again, warning Naruto of what would happen if he did not cease his howling. "We are in the pool. What's up?"

He tried to make his tone sound casual as the chaos and shock of her call seemed to settle down with the water in the pool. He leaned against the side of the shallow end, doing his best to ignore Naruto who was practically breathing down his neck to eavesdrop.

"Sakura when are you coming back!?" Naruto bellowed near his ear which caused Sasuke to put a palm to his face and shove him away. "Ouch! Sakura, he is being an asshole!"

Knowing Naruto would not let him have this conversation privately, Sasuke hit the speakerphone button and set his phone down on the stone patio surrounding the pool. The moment he set it down Sakura answered Naruto's question.

"Actually that's why I called," she answered. "I just got back and unpacked. I meant to send you a message earlier that I would be coming home today but my phone died and my charger was packed away. I was wondering if I could come over now, I missed you guys so much!"

Sasuke's heart skipped in his chest. "Yeah," he said all too eagerly as he confusedly rubbed at his chest, wondering why his heart rate was suddenly spastic. "I will come pick you up."

"You don't have to," Sakura protested. "I will just change quickly and head over, are you guys still swimming or are you done? I could use a good cooling off!"

"Yeah we are still swimming but I can just pull a shirt on and walk over there," Sasuke emphasized. "You shouldn't be walking around alone."

"Hey, I am coming too!" Naruto chimed.

"Okay," Sakura agreed.

There was a small tone in her voice that indicated how she felt about them picking her up. Sasuke was certain he could hear Sakura rolling her eyes but he didn't care how unnecessary she felt it was. It was something they always did- and he would always do- not matter how independent and secure Sakura felt.

"How about you guys start walking and I will start making my way over once I am changed and we can meet somewhere in-between. Sound good? Okay, bye," she quickly negotiated, hanging up before Sasuke could voice a protest.

Sasuke let out a groan of frustration and annoyance. He didn't like it when Sakura did this. It was not like her neighborhood was bad or dangerous, but it wasn't as secure or monitored as his. There were too many blind spots, unfamiliar cars, and alleyways between her house and his for his liking. He had already been worried about her all summer walking around in a place where he was not a quick phone call away. But at the moment he could not be too bothered by that anymore, because she was back.

Suppressing the wide grin that wanted to manifest, Sasuke braced his arms on the side of the pool and pulled himself out. "Hurry up, dobe," he called as he pulled on his shirt without even bothering to dry off. "We need to get there before she starts walking by herself."

"...and her house is right next to the sea so every morning…"

Sakura jabbered on about her summer while Naruto walked alongside her, listening and chattering right along with her about his own summer with just as much enthusiasm, filling her in with everything that had happened in her absence. While it had been his idea to come and walk her back to his house, Sasuke walked several steps behind, unusually quiet for even an Uchiha. With his hands in his pockets, he unknowingly watched the swish of Sakura's hips as she walked down the road with a lively stride. She was wearing a new skirt that Sasuke had never seen her wear before, the cut of it not her usual style as it hung off her body in a way he had never seen any article of clothing fit on her. It was as if the fabric was tailored perfectly to her shape to accentuate her best features that, until today, he had never realized existed.

They had caught her right as she was closing the front gate of the small townhouse her family lived in. Her back had been to him and to be honest, if it were not for her unique hair, he would have thought her someone else until she turned around. But even as he took in the familiar pink hair and wide green eyes, he had a hard time believing he was actually looking at Sakura. She was...different, yet not. It was like everything about her was just slightly altered enough that she looked like a whole new person.

Given the activities she was describing she had done, most of her time had been spent outside which had earned her a warm glow to her face and a healthy complexion. Her sun kissed face was now speckled with a light dusting of freckles. They accented her small nose and framed her eyes, making her irises seem richer with color and even more lively with the surrounding constellation of pigmentation. Her hair, which had been growing out little by little with small trimmings in between over the years, seemed to have missed her usual appointment that would delay the progress of her lengthening hair. That, combined with whatever was in the air and food at her aunt's house, had done something to make it grow at a much faster rate. Now it hung down to the middle of her back in smooth, silky strands that swayed as she walked.

The way the petal pink tendrils moved in a taunting allure made him want to reach out and run his fingers through it. And her hair wasn't the only thing that had done some growing as well. Her whole body itself had done some growing in all the right places, her legs had gained more defined muscle and her hips had widened, giving her a more adult-like curvature to her hips where her shape dipped at the waist then curved more. And he hated even thinking it, but her chest- which had once been relatively flat- had gained at least a cup size. He felt like a pervert for thinking such things and noticing the appeal of her backside, but the new outfit she was donning made it difficult not to notice. And as much as he hated to admit it, he could not help but be drawn to this version of Sakura more strongly than he had ever been.

And it was not just her physical appearance that had been altered. She was still the same warm and bubbly girl that had left at the beginning of summer. But like everything else about her, it had been enhanced. Her welcoming hug had felt more comforting when she had spotted them and ran up to embrace him and Naruto in turn. She emitted an aura that was inviting to anyone, but it held a confidence that told people that she was not one to be trodden over. She had turned into a person that leads by example and inspires without being in charge. Admirable and confident, beautiful and strong, that was the new Sakura.

And Sasuke didn't know what to do with himself, he did not understand what this meant. He had thought all of his uncertain confusion would end with puberty when his voice dropped but now, more than ever, he did not understand how his life would be affected by these changes. Wary of the butterfly effect that was on the verge of taking place, Sasuke hung back, taking her in as he silently tried to understand what exactly this new Sakura meant for his future. Since the first day he had ever met her, Sasuke could not think of a time he didn't want her around, but now, her presence was unnerving him. He felt self conscious and far too aware of the fact that he was wearing boardshorts, an old tee-shirt that was half damp, and his hair was possibly a little more unruly than usual as he had not bothered checking himself in the mirror after lounging in the pool all day. Had he even brushed his teeth this morning?

Automatically a hand came up to his tangled hair and he tried to comb it into his usual purposeful messy fashion. However when Sakura peeked behind to check on him as he followed behind her and Naruto, he quickly mussed it up, doing his best to exude cool and collected.

For a moment she studied him with a confused curiosity. But the moment he locked eyes with her, she gave him a warm smile before tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, and looking forward, a red tint coming to her cheeks. The demure look of her looking away shyly caused his stomach to lurch and churn as his heart suddenly began to pump a rush of adrenaline through his body.

Sasuke faltered for a moment, just as they turned into his driveway. What the hell was that?

If Sasuke thought he was being inappropriately perverse when he was walking behind her and studying her changes, then he was not sure what word would be used to describe what he felt when Sakura shed her clothes into a pile on his pool deck and unconsciously adjusted the red bikini that she wore underneath. He had always prided himself in not being like his peers, who drooled over themselves as they took in those who were physically attractive, but in this moment he was no better. He would like to say that he had the control to not let his eyes absorb every inch of her exposed and toned flesh that was revealed, but at this point, Sasuke was not so sure if he even wanted to try.

He was torn.

Torn between wanting to rip off his shirt and throw it over her so no one else could look at her, or letting her continue to let the sun highlight her features as the spray of water that rained down on her as Naruto cannon balled into the pool, dripped down her chest and abdomen, leaving her skin to glisten in the sunlight. On one hand, he got to look at her, but on the other, that meant others could too. So far Naruto seemed unphased, but Itachi was home from University for the break and his presence increased the chances of Shisui stopping by unannounced. Sure they were both older, but Sasuke was more than aware of Shisui's perverted mind. However, again, if Sakura were to cover up, then that would mean she would be covered from his prying eyes as well. And for the first time in his life, Sasuke was not so sure he wanted to look away.

For not the first time in the past twenty minutes, Sakura looked up to find Sasuke staring. His dark gaze transfixed on what she struggled to believe was herself. Each time there was a concentrated look to his face as his dark eyes held a heated look that she had never seen before. It did things to her and made her feel under the heaviest of scrutiny. And there was something in that gaze that caused her insides to twist and turn with a giddiness that had her body feeling hypersensitive.

She was grateful the moment his eyes broke away from her because the intensity of his gaze was becoming more and more overwhelming. However, as he looked away and started to move to the pool side Sakura found herself becoming overwhelmed all over again, this time for a whole other reason. He made a show of looking at his phone before kicking off his sandals, and Sakura found her own eyes fixated on him, watching every move and action of his muscles.

His hands went to the hem of his shirt and lifted it up slowly. She wasn't sure if time itself had slowed or if it was just a figment of her imagination, but the action seemed to play out in slow motion. Inch by -flat toned abdominal- inch, of lean Adonis muscle that was carved by Michelangelo himself, was slowly revealed to her. With agonizingly slow pacing, Sasuke pulled his shirt up his torso and over his head to reveal the entirety of his chest and upper body which had gained some extra bulk since the last time she had seen him. Unaware, Sakura licked her lips as she watched his cut arms carelessly toss the shirt aside. Then as cool as ever, Sasuke confidently strode towards the edge of the pool and gracefully dove in. He came up from the water, droplets glistening down his body as a hand came up to his hair and raked his bangs back away from his face. Underneath sooty eyelashes, his eyes slowly moved up as his head tilted up towards the sky. His lips partied as he exhaled in satisfaction, refreshed from the day's heat by the pool's cooler temperature.

Sakura swallowed and suddenly she felt like the heat of the day was getting to her, because she was positive that she had just watched the live version of one her aunt's romance novels play out before her.

"Oi! Sakura, you gettin' in or not?"

Sakura just barely managed to pull her hungry eyes that were practically devouring her dark haired and apparently now, smoldering friend, to look at Naruto. "Uh-um-yeah," she managed to stammer out, doing her best to keep her gaze from going back to Sasuke who was now looking in her direction again.

Quickly she finished entering the pool via the steps, in which she had paused on. As soon as she stepped off the final stair, she submerged herself into the water, eager to cool her flushed and hot face that had nothing to do with the sun and everything to with the dark haired boy that had gone from highly attractive to devastatingly gorgeous and mouth watering hot, in what now seemed like two very short months.

Mentally she let out an agonized cry of frustration. She had made a vow over two years ago that she would never let herself jeopardize her friendship with Sasuke by selfishly asking for more from him. It had been hard, but she had managed her first two years of high school to do just that...barely. But how the hell was she supposed to do it now? Now that he was unfairly irresistible that it should be a sin.

And it did not help that each time she recalled and replayed the looks he had been giving her earlier today, a small voice in the back of her mind identified that look as hunger and attraction. It gave her a false hope that made her feel far too eager for the approaching school year where they would be seated together for the third year in a row for home room. At least that is what she hoped. Hatake-sensei had been unconventional in his seating arrangements, constantly changing them up and switching people around. Yet, somehow, by the work of the gods, Sakura and Sasuke always found themselves paired at the same desk. Not even just the desk, but every assignment and group activity, Sakura found herself always in the company of Sasuke.

Itachi stood at the kitchen sink smiling to himself as he watched his brother blatantly struggle with the obvious changes that had developed in his female friend's appearance during her absence from Konoha. They both had been awkward at first but thankfully Naruto was there to act as a buffer and soften the tension that was practically visually manifesting between the two teens. Now they all sat on the lounge chairs, chatting away and drinking cool beverages as they caught each other up about what was happening in their melodramatic teenage lives.

Sasuke, while mutely participating in the conversation, had a shadow of a smile on his lips that was a welcome sight to his older brother. He was not sure what exactly was being said amongst the three but he was certain that smile was only there because of a certain someone else being there.

He had been worried about his brother when he first got back home from University. His little brother had been moody and at times unbearable even for Itachi's golden patience. It didn't take him long after, when he noticed the lack of presence of a certain rosette head of hair and his mother filling him in on Sakura vacationing with her aunt, to realize what the source of this dour brother was. But it seemed Sasuke was cured and Itachi was more than pleased.

Itachi watched as his little brother stood from his chair and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him when he watched him obviously flex his muscles as he dried himself off in front of a wide eyed Sakura, whose eyes seemed to gravitate towards the obvious display that seemed to go over her head that was intentionally done for her to witness. Sasuke said something to his friends before turning to the house and entering into the side door. Immediately Itachi made a show of innocently washing the dishes as he watched his brother from the corner of his eye as he gave him a suspicious look then continued on down the hall.

Sasuke had hardly left when Itachi heard the familiar voice of his cousin say something. Immediately Itachi prepared for a growl or snap of response from his little brother but to his surprise, no such sounds of hostility echoed down to him. Instead, the shuffled footsteps of a dazed Shisui neared and Itachi turned around to see his cousin enter the kitchen looking slightly disturbed.

"Should I be worried that Naruto is buried somewhere in your backyard?" He asked, jabbing a pointing thumb over his shoulder in the direction of where Sasuke had disappeared to. "This whole summer his mood has been one straw away from breaking the camel's back that sets him on a murderous rampage. But I swear I just heard him whistling like a happy little song bird when I passed him in the hall. And he...he was smiling...at me," Shisui finished with an unsettled shiver as if he was about to become the next victim.

Itachi gave the smallest of smiles at his cousin's antics. It was true that this was certainly a notable thing. Sasuke never smiled at Shisui. He only scowled and glared, but Itachi could hardly put him at fault for that. Shisui brought that upon himself.

However instead of pointing that out, he nodded his head to the pool patio outside the kitchen window. "Sakura came back today," he gave as an only answer.

Understanding came to Shisui's face as well as relief, as if he genuinely was concerned for Naruto's wellbeing. But soon his usual glint of mischief came to his face and he was at the window in two steps. However when he took in the rosette girl, he came to a halt as a new, disturbed horror appeared on his face.

"What?! What happened to her? That is NOT my sweet innocent Sakura!? That is a seductress!"

"Seems she did some growing up over the summer."

Shisui looked back at him. "A little?" He said dryly, before looking back at her. He took her in, watching her as she talked with Naruto as they sat on the edge of the pool. Soon a frown came to his face. "This is wrong, this is all wrong on far too many levels. It should be illegal for her to look like that...I never felt shame for being a pervert but now I just feel like a pervert. I should not be hyper aware of the fact that she will be eighteen in only two short years and convincing myself that eight years is not that much of an age gap!"

Itachi let out an amused sound. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. She could be the same age as you and you wouldn't have a chance."

Shisui nodded in agreement as he looked back out the window. For a moment it was silent before the older Uchiha pondered aloud, "so how long do you think your suppressed little brother can keep it in now that she looks like that. Bet a million yen, that Sasuke breaks down and proposes by the start of the school year."

"I don't see what the hurry is. They still have two more years of high school."

Shisui gave him a skeptical look. "That just makes it worse," Shisui stated as he turned around and leaned against the kitchen sink. "You're telling me that girl–that woman," he corrected, jabbing his thumb in her direction, "can just go back to high school and you think the hormone raging boys she goes to school with won't notice?"

Itachi had no refute. He could not deny it, Shisui had a point.

The two cousins were still standing in the kitchen, speculating and talking with one another when one of their topics of conversation happened to walk in from the side door.

"Shisui!" Sakura exclaimed, coming around the kitchen island with her arms spread out for a hug. "I feel like it's been forever!"

She had pulled on her skirt before coming inside but her shirt, which was drying out on the patio from a rogue splash of Naruto, was missing. Leaving her with nothing but a bikini top to cover the rest of her body. Just as she was nearing him, Shisui's body flinched and his arm automatically rose up as his palm planted on her forehead. Sakura came to an abrupt stop as Shisui stiff-armed her and she gave him an odd expression. When Shisui seemed to acknowledge what he did, he cleared his throat and gave her a light pat on the top of her head.

"Good to see you too Sakura, you're growing up so fast!" He commented, using a tone used for toddlers.

Sakura gave him another look as the older man seemed to look everywhere but at her.

"Sakura, what are you doing!"

All three occupants of the kitchen whirled around to see Sasuke looking panicked and furious. Quickly he hurried over to her, unfolding the shirt which he had come inside to retrieve for her as hers was still soaked.

"Sasuke, I was just一"

Sakura was cut off as Sasuke pulled the shirt over her head. She let out a sound of protest as she wrestled and struggled to maneuver herself as Sasuke roughly and frantically tried to pull the shirt over her.

"Sasuke I can do it myself!" she objected when she failed to pull the length of the shirt down fast enough and he tugged it over her torso himself, causing her to stumble slightly from the force of the yank.

From over her head Sasuke glared and Shisui, who, now that he had gotten over the initial shock and acceptance that Sakura now looked more like a grown woman than the innocent girl he had grown so fond of, he sent Sasuke a wicked grin.

"I told you I would bring the shirt out to you," Sasuke ground out.

"I know but just wanted to see if you needed help bring out some of the snacks一"

Again she was cut off as Sasuke not so gently ushered her towards the door to the backyard. "I don't need help! You just stay out there and make sure Naruto doesn't drown himself or something," he proclaimed as he shoved her out the door.

As soon as the door was shut he turned back around and stoically walked towards the refrigerator. As he sorted through the various drinks and snacks that were available, he became hyper aware of his older cousin sidling up and leaning against the kitchen wall, his mischievous eyes set mirthfully on Sasuke.

"So when are you going to confess?"

Sasuke stiffened, his arm frozen half way in the fridge as he pulled out a juice. He cleared his throat and finished pulling out another cold beverage.

"Confess what?" he said, closing the door of the fridge as he gave a pointed look to his cousin. "I don't recall doing anything that would merit being worthy to be confessed."

Shisui gave his little cousin a mirthful grin. "I mean when are you going to tell Sakura that you like her...as in like-like her...as in lov一"

"You don't know what you're talking about," Sasuke quickly defended.

"Sure you do," Shisui grinned. "You're more than adequate test scores suggest your not stupid, and I know your not blind. You can't tell me you haven't thought about it."

Sasuke turned his head from the fridge and gave his cousin a scornful look. "I think getting promoted to detective has gone to your head. Don't you have investigations to conduct that are actual cases? You're digging for things that don't exist."

"Don't they?"

"We're friends," Sasuke said flatly.

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Shisui admitted. "...but you want to be more." Sasuke gave his cousin a dark look. Snatching his forged snacks, Sasuke began to stomp off towards the door. Wrenching it open, he moved to slam it shut. However he did not close it fast enough before he heard the haunting warning of his cousin follow him out, "if you don't someone else will!"

As the door cut out his cousin's cackling voice, Sasuke scowled at him through the window. Through the glass, his howling cousin looked mad with his head thrown back in a psychotic chortle. And as much as Sasuke wanted to believe that what his cousin was saying was in fact complete ludicrousy, as he turned to face his two friends sitting by the pool, he found his eyes focusing on one in particular.

Sakura.

She was sitting at the edge of the pool with her back to him, her feet over the edge as she let them dip into the water as Naruto laid out on a floaty as they talked. Whatever they were discussing fell onto deaf ears as Sasuke was too distracted by something else. Her long hair was pulled up into a high ponytail that bounced and swayed with every nod and turn of her head. Each time her hair shifted, it rubbed against the back of the old tee shirt he had outgrown over the summer. And it was that image, the contrast of her pink hair against the black shirt, and the red and white uchiwa fan that was printed between her shoulder blades that caused something within him to lurch.

Suddenly, the idea that maybe his cousin might be more sane than he was willing to admit, left him with a foreboding realization. For the past couple of years he had thought he just wanted to be in her company, that he just wanted to extend and preserve their friendship. But now, as he took in that image of Sakura, sitting in his backyard with his shirt guarding and claiming her, he was not so sure he could endure only being friends with her. And for the first time in his life, he found himself agreeing with Shisui. He wanted to be more than friends with Sakura.

And there we have the next chapter. This actually turned out longer than originally planned but I am sure you can all forgive me ;) Thank you all to everyone for your wonderful feedback, kind words, and helpful comments! They truly make a big difference and I would love to continue to read your reactions, thoughts, and reviews! But please remember to be respectful of other stories and pairings, its uncool to belittle other peoples works and preferences.

Take care of yourselves and remember to be kind and reach out to people and let people reach out to you! Stay excellent!

Next Chapter: The Knight in Shinning Armor/The Samurai in a Black Tuxedo: There is an up coming dance that has the students frantically trying to find partners to attend with. An assumption is made, but it turns out assumption is a fickle friend. Sakura already has a date with a certain red headed senior. However, on the night of the dance, there is a second chance.