A/N: hey fans, reviewers, other authors, etc. just a lil update here before the chapter begins. It has come to my attention that Young Love should be longer than 7 chapters, don't ask me why but aren't you glad? Anyways chapter 4 should be here before the year is over and maybe a Christmas fic as a gift to you all.

DON'T FORGET THAT THIS IS AU!

Legend/Key:

*…* = Actions

"…" = Speech

'Italics' = thoughts

Enjoy!

Chapter 3:

~That night~

            Sakura was lying on her bed after supper and she was lost in thought. 'I can't believe I'm his only friend, so maybe I'm his best friend! But, why was I blushing back there? Do I… do I like him? No… I can't, I hardly know him at all. And I have to find out why everyone calls him a monster. Maybe I'll see him again tomorrow…I… I-I hope I do…'  "Well I better go to bed now, I don't want to be tired tomorrow… * yawn * good night Naruto…" her dreams contained eagerness to see her new friend she just befriended.

~Naruto's room (in Sandaime's home)~

            Naruto was in a similar position: lying down in bed, thinking, and wondering. 'I wish I knew what my parents were like. But all I know is that my dad was the Fourth since the old man said he was. But, what about my mom, was she a ninja? Argh… I want to know more…'

            "Hey Naruto…"

            "What is it old man?"

            "How about I enroll you in the Ninja Academy? I'm sure you can make some friends there."

            "Uh… I don't know…. 'Wait Sakura-chan will be there! Yes!'  "Ok old man I'll go just so that I can see Saku--…" he covered up his mouth as if he was about to say something he wasn't supposed to.

"Hmm? You know some one from there?"

"Uh... uh… nope! Nope! Ehehe…" he nervously laughed when he almost talked about his new friend Sakura. He didn't want anybody to know yet, because she may treat him badly too once she finds out that he is the Naruto everyone hates. 'Oops! I almost talked about Sakura-chan!'

            "Sakura, As in Haruno Sakura? Hohahaha… since when did you get a girlfriend? Wow... kids these days…" the third chuckled as he left Naruto's room.

            "Ehehehe…" Naruto blushed slightly when the Third spoke of Sakura and said that she was his girlfriend, but then he shouted, "SHE'S ONLY A FRIEND!"

            When everything settled back down Naruto went back to thinking. 'Well at least I get to see Sakura-chan more often now…' it was until that thought he finally dozed off into his dreams. But during his slumber he mumbled a name, a name that was important to him, the name of his friend, "Sakura-chan…"

~The next day, Sakura's home~

"Mom! I'm ready to go to the Academy now!" Sakura shouted from her room, but there was no response. "Mom?" there was still no response. It was then she walked into the kitchen from her bedroom to look for any signs of her mother's whereabouts. After 5 minutes of looking around she found a note on the counter, it read:

Sakura,

            I'm out shopping. Make sure you get to the Academy early; you don't want to ruin your perfect attendance.

With Love,

Mom

            "Great…"she turns around and looks at the clock, "oh no, I'm going to be late!" she quickly gathers her sandals and dashes out the door.

~The Academy's main office~

            "Ah, Kasumi, I want to enroll this child into this Academy."

            " OK, Hokage-sama. Umm, I'll need his name and any class do you prefer him to be in?"

            "Hold on." The old man kneeled to the Chibi's height, "Naruto how about you tell her, I'm sure you know where you want to be."

"Um, OK old man. Um... Lady, I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I want to be in Sakura-chan's class!"

            "Alright, you're student Uzumaki Naruto. Your designated class is Umino Iruka's classroom, right next to Haruno Sakura-chan right?" he blushed at her comment. "Hehehe... now all you need to do now is sign your name right here."

            "OK, U... zu…ma…ki…Nar…u… to… There! I'm done!" he said confidently.

            "Now Naruto let's go to your new class." said the Third as they ventured down the hallway.

~A few minutes later in Iruka's classroom~

This morning was indeed a special day. This is the day when Naruto would be joining the Ninja Academy. The day when... well when he causes trouble…

"Good Morning class, I hope you were well rested for we will be in for a little field train— oh! Hokage-sama, what are you doing here?" questioned Iruka.

"Oh I'm just dropping off a new student here." The Third answered.

"Really? Who is this new student?"

"Uzumaki Naruto"

"OK, well class let's all welcome your new classmate, Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Aw man, not him…" all the students moaned at the of sight him, except for one…

"Is that you Naruto? Hey! Naruto come on sit next to me!" exclaimed one girl's voice.

"Sakura-chan? Sakura-chan! Is this your classroom? What do you do here?"

"Huh? You don't know?! You're now a part of a school that teaches you how to become a ninja!"

"Huh?"

" * Sigh * 'what's his deal?' If you try really hard, you can become the top ninja! If you do that, you'll be recognized and respected by all hundreds of people!"

"Really?!"

"Yup!"

"Wow! What do you do here again?"

'WHAT?! How could he already forget what I said?! He's lucky that I like him… um…  like him as a friend! Because if I didn't I would have already hit him by now.' "Sigh… Baka…"

"Sakura-chan, what's the matter?"

"Nothing at all Naruto, nothing at all..."

~In a field just outside the woods~

"OK class, today you're going to do some shuriken and kunai practice. Don't worry the blades are very dull so it'll be hard to cut yourself," explained Iruka, "now, lets begin! But, if I catch you trying to hurt each other you'll be immediately be reported to your parents!"

All of them replied, "Hai, Iruka-sensei!"

While everyone started practicing, one new blonde haired student was having trouble. Luckily, his newfound friend decided to help him. So she tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

"Huh? Sakura-chan?" he asked as he turned around.

"Hey Naruto, want me to help you?" asked Sakura.

"Yeah! Um... thanks Sakura-chan. I probably won't learn all of this stuff as well as you…"

"Why not? It's not that hard. C'mon I'll show you how to throw some, ok?"

"Ok Sakura-chan!"

While Sakura was teaching Naruto how to hold and throw shuriken and kunai, some of Sakura's friends were wondering why she was helping Naruto.

"Maybe she likes him. I've seen them together once before"

"Nah, it can't be no one can resist Sasuke-kun's charm!"

"Well maybe she's immune to his charm I mean, she's never really met Sasuke-kun before, so it's possible"

"But why is she hanging around him? He's the troublemaker remember?"

"I know I know. It's just that why would she like him? Maybe she's trying to make fun of us, I don't know…" said Ino. 'Sakura-chan whatever possessed you to like him anyhow, are you just trying to act tough? Whatever you're doing it's working…' Ino started looking back at the couple as Sakura showed him the proper way to hold a kunai. 'Maybe Sakura does like him, but doesn't notice at all…'

"Good Naruto you're getting the hang of it! Now throw it towards that tree!" instructed Sakura.

"Ok! Here goes nothing! Ha!" he threw that knife with all his might towards the tree he was aiming for.

"BULLSEYE! Yay! Naruto you got it!" Sakura exclaimed with pure happiness, she was so happy she didn't even notice that she came up to Naruto and hugged him! 'What the… am I hugging Naruto? Oh well… he deserves it I guess…'

"Um... Sakura-chan… I can't breathe…" whispered Naruto as he turned blue.

"Oh! Sorry Naruto-ku… Naruto. But anyways you keep practicing, I'll be right back I need to talk to some of my friends, ok?"

"Ok, Sakura-chan."

As our hero continues to practice the emerald eyed girl walked over to Ino and her friends to discuss a certain issue…

"Sakura-chan! I would have never expected you to go after that troublemaker Naruto!" yelled Ino.

"What do you mean Ino-chan?"

"You know exactly what I mean, you like that good for nothing idiot Naruto!"

"* Blush * I do not! Besides he's only my friend and he needs my help. So you better not going and make sudden conclusions from what you see."

"Well Sakura-chan… your face is showing otherwise… unless that's not a blush."

"Huh? * Gasp *" Sakura continuously tries to cover her reddening face. 'maybe I do like him…' "Umm... I'll talk to you later Ino-chan! Bye!"

" * Laughs * bye Sakura-chan! Tell your boyfriend I sa---"

"OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed a voice.

All eyes turned to Naruto. They all assumed he did something wrong, and did do something wrong… he accidentally threw one of his kunai at Iruka butt, sure the blades were dull but they still would hurt terribly if they came into contact with skin.

"ALL RIGHT WHO THREW THAT?!" screamed/asked Iruka.

All the students besides Naruto and Sakura pointed to who the assumed culprit was.

"Naruto! Will you please explain to me why you threw a kunai at me?!"

"Umm… Iruka-sensei I didn't mean it! I've never really held a kunai that much. "

" * Sigh * I'll let it slide this time Naruto…"

"hehehehe…thanks."

~After class is over in front of the Academy~

When everyone was being picked up to go home or just plain walked home, Sakura and Naruto were left alone together before the Third came to pick him up. It was silent for the most of the time until Sakura broke the awkward silence.

"So, Naruto how'd you like your first day at the Academy? Was it fun?"

"I guess it was fun, though I didn't like it when Iruka-sensei yelled at me. But spending the day with you was fun Sakura-chan!"

"Um... thank you Naruto. But…. I think the Third is here to pick you up."

"Huh? Oh…" he sighed when the he saw the old man slowly coming up the street. "I guess I'll see you again tomorrow, huh Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah… bye."

"Bye Sakura-chan!" he started waving as he ran towards the Third. As soon as he caught up with the old man he started tell him about his day at the Academy, on how Sakura taught him so much, and the fact that he hit Iruka with a kunai.

"Good night… Naruto-kun…" whispered Sakura as she turned to go home.

~End chapter 3~

Bass Clef: woo... long chapter… anyways I think this wasn't my best chapter, too many errors and awkward typing locations. But um if you spotted any errors where the italics are supposed to be please ignore that problem... document manager hates me when I type Italics…Anyways I'll probably have a Christmas Fic up on the 25th. Please R&R!