I'm back! It's been a long time, hasn't it? One thing after another, and I couldn't find the time to just sit back and write for a change. Ok, so here's the next chapter!

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Chapter 8

Sakura slowly opened her eyes and felt that she was lying on something that was slowly moving up and down. As she moved her eyes to her side, she realized that she fell asleep on Naruto's chest.

Oh, my god. So what happened yesterday was actually true! I didn't dream it up! I somehow feel so content, so perfectly happy… So, was Naruto the one for me…? The one that was always right in front of me…? Not Sasuke-kun…?

Sakura moved her head and buried her face in Naruto's jacket. She felt him fidget a little and then he suddenly sat up straight so fast that he banged his head against a branch with full force.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

"What's wrong with you!?" exclaimed Sakura, remembering how that was exactly the tone she always used for scolding Naruto. 

"Eh?" replied Naruto, looking forward. Then he snapped his eyes on Sakura and looked her up and down for a minute. "S…so, it wasn't my imagination…?"

"What?" said Sakura, but then she realized what he had meant. She blushed furiously. "N-no, it was real. I do like you…"

Naruto's eyes went wide again, just like the night before. He still couldn't get used to that.

"I really meant to ask you but was afraid," said Naruto. "Why…?"

Sakura looked from side to side.

"Perhaps I realized what I had been missing," she answered. "I really hope you're not angry of having to put up with me for all these years and only now hearing that I began to like you…"

Naruto put on a weak smile, that in a second turned into a grin and he hugged her tight. He wanted to burst into tears but forced himself to realize that he is a man. It finally happened to him! All that wait!

"It was worth it…!" he said quietly and hugged her even tighter.

"Naruto!" choked Sakura. "You're really crushing me!"

Naruto laughed and let go, his face all red. They looked at each other for a few moments before Sakura suddenly had her eyes look past Naruto at somebody who was slowly walking towards them.

"Sasuke-kun!" cried Sakura and sprang forward. She hugged him and noticed that he didn't like that. Neither did Naruto. "What happened?"

"I had to pretend to be unconscious," answered Sasuke. "It's a good thing you didn't jump down to help me. Otherwise, the plan would have failed."

Sakura remembered that that was exactly what she wanted to do and felt a little embarrassed and grateful that Naruto had stopped her.

"Anyway," said Sasuke. "I got the scrolls. They are actually planning something, but nothing big. I read their plans and it's just for gathering supporters from different villages. We better take these scrolls to Kakashi. Let's go."

Naruto and Sakura looked at each other and then slowly, Sakura looked up at Sasuke.

"Did you meet Itachi?" she asked.

"No," answered Sasuke bluntly. "And I don't intend to. Come on, already."

Sakura let out a sigh of relief and went to grab her traveling bag with the others.

* * * * *

As they were approaching Tazuna's home, Sakura decided to let Sasuke know about her feelings. He probably still had the impression that she liked him.

"Sasuke-kun…?" she said quietly.

"What is it?" he answered coldly.

"I just wanted to tell you I don't like you anymore," replied Sakura with such great speed that Sasuke stared.

"What?" he asked.

"I said I don't like you anymore," she repeated and stole a small glance at Naruto, who wasn't looking at either one of them.

"Fine," said Sasuke and kept on going. "Like I cared in the first place."

This remark made Sakura become red in the face.

What the heck is wrong with Sasuke-kun? He usually isn't this mean to me… But I'm not going to stand for that! He makes it sound like my feelings were just garbage that was had to be thrown out a long time ago!

Sakura balled her hands into fists and looked at the ground, tears forming on her face.

"I cared," she said loudly. "But then I realized how stupid I had been. I really hope that someday somebody comes to love you like me so that you don't have to be so closed up and alone anymore. Sometimes, it's okay to love in return."

Sasuke didn't turn around to face her but he stopped dead in his tracks. He stood there for a few moments before he heard Sakura speak again.

"If you keep pushing everyone away, then you'll never find happiness in this world. It's the small things that make up your life and you have to treasure them dearly."

Sasuke's mouth was slightly open now. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, and what Sakura said next made him totally paralyzed.

"I found my happiness in someone else. Someone who didn't have happiness but just wanted to love and be loved in return. Someone who deserves much more than that he had to endure all his life!"

With every word that Sakura said, Naruto's memory was stirred and he remembered all the painful memories he had to go through. Then he looked up at Sakura, who so defiantly told Sasuke her real feelings and it made him feel like he was finally acknowledged… finally loved.

"…you don't mean…," said Sasuke turning around and looking at Naruto.

"That's exactly what I mean!" exclaimed Sakura. "With all my heart, I wish you find happiness as well, Sasuke-kun."

And with those last words, she brushed past him and kept on walking towards Tazuna's. Many things ran through her mind and maybe just a little bit, she regretted having Sasuke put on such a face because of her, but all those years she had no courage to stop acting like she liked him and now she finally did it. She finally made her Inner-Sakura make its appearance and set things straight. Sakura put on a small smile and looked up at the sky feeling like a great weight was lifted from her shoulders.

Neither Sasuke nor Naruto returned home until late in the evening, when everyone was finishing eating dinner.

"I'm not hungry," they said simultaneously and went up to their rooms.

"Ehh!?" cried Sakura. "I can understand Sasuke-kun… but Naruto, too!?"

Sakura was all ready for bed when she noticed that neither of the boys ate their dinners.

I know that they're as hungry as hell, so I'll bring them some rice balls.

She made a couple of pairs of rice balls and separated them on two plates. Then she went upstairs and slowly opened Sasuke's door. She saw him sleeping on his bed and tiptoed over to the bedside table. Carefully, she put the plate down and exited the room.

When she entered Naruto's room, she realized that he wasn't there, but the window was open and someone was sitting on the balcony ramp.

"Naruto…?" said Sakura quietly, so as not to surprise him.

"Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here so late at night?"

She held up the rice balls and Naruto gulped them down in an instant.

"Why didn't you eat at dinner?" she asked him.

Naruto shook his head vigorously.

"Don't think much into it!" he replied. "I just wanted to have some time to register some things in my mind."

He tapped his head with his index finger and put on his goofy smile.

Sakura sat down on the balcony's bench and Naruto followed suit. As soon as he sat down, she scooted very close to him and closed her eyes.

"Is it ok if I still call you by just your name?" she asked softly.

"Eh?" replied Naruto and after a moment said: "Oh, it's ok, really! I'm so used to it that I wouldn't want to have it any other way!"

Sakura blushed a little and brought her face to his. When their lips met, she pulled him closer to herself and deepened their kiss. As Naruto was slowly running his hand through her arm, he felt her have goose bumps all over her skin. He broke the kiss.

"Are you cold?" he asked her.

"A little," she answered. Naruto stood up and took her hand. She followed him back into the room and they sat on the bed.

When Naruto was kissing Sakura again, she felt herself sink back onto the covers. It was such a comfortable bed indeed.

As their tongues were intertwining, Sakura slowly reached for Naruto's head protector and carefully started to untie the knot on the back. When it was completely untied, she slipped it off and her arm fell on the side of the bed, where the head protector slowly slipped out of her hand and with a soft thump fell on the floor.

After that, Sakura started to proceed to unzip Naruto's jacket.

(A/N: They're not going to have sex, they're just making out. I'm still an innocent child!)

When the jacket was unzipped all the way, Sakura put her hands on Naruto's chest and he started kissing her neck. She let out a little moan and he continued.

Sakura put her hands on either side of Naruto's face and pulled him in for another kiss on the lips. This time, she tried to go even deeper while Naruto was moving his hands over her hips. She shuddered a little as his hands were cold. He let out a "heh" and with one hand, pressed her tighter against him.

They kissed some more and then felt kind of tired and drained. Naruto lay beside Sakura and looked up at the ceiling. Sakura lay down over his stomach as her feet were dangling in the air.

"It's so funny how ironic life can get," she said. "But I'm glad. I love you…"

Naruto smiled to himself and looked at Sakura's profile. She was even more beautiful than before. Much more…

"I love you, too," he answered. "And have all these years."

Sakura sat on her heels and then looked at Naruto. She cuddled up close to him and then whispered in his ear: "Thanks for waiting…!"

The End

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Whew! I'm done!! Finally! Thought I'd never get this down! I hope not too many of you were disappointed that they didn't do anything kinky. But think, they're still only teenagers! Let them grow up a little! THEN have them do kinky things. :D Well, then, hope you enjoyed this! Bai bai! And don't forget to review!

Side Note: I still can't see Naruto matured or acting "normal". Oh, well, that's why this is called fanfiction. =D