Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO...is sad

Quick A/N: Naruto is going to seem like a stalker in this chapter. I promise that he isn't, it just seems like it...

As Sakura's mother left to her room after comforting her lamenting daughter, Sakura who was near the door, walked over to her bed and collapsed. She sniffed and absentmindedly brushed the tip of her nose. Emotionally, Sakura felt lost. She had finally accepted that Shino cheated on her, and that her not so long lasting relationship was over and done with, but she just wanted closure. She normally wouldn't feel so betrayed if it was someone else, but Shino was her friend before any of this.

"SAKURA-CHAN!!!!" A deep voice yelled outside her window, followed by the sound of a pebble hitting the window. Sakura looked to see where the noise was coming from. After dressing herself in her yukata, Sakura slid open her glass window. Feeling the light raindrops on her robe.

"Eh, dare desu ka?(1)" Sakura asked, grabbing for the shurinken on her desk.

"Yo, koko desu." Shino said casually, making himself more visible to Sakura, by walking into the moonlight. Sakura didn't say anything but grabbed her shurinken and threw it at Shino, who leapt out of the way as three more came his way. He narrowly avoided the last two by doing a back flip and caught the last one in between his index and middle fingers as he stood.

"Oh. Shino...I didn't know it was you." Sakura said innocently, though she was really lying. 'Ha, BOOYA!' Inner Sakura said with pride.

"It's okay. I suppose I kind of deserve it." Shino responded. Sakura snorted.

"But...you didn't let me explain myself. Michiko...my squad captain...jumped on me...literally. Anyway...I didn't come back here to make up...because I don't even think we're meant to go out anyway, we were friends before and I think its better that we...you know...

He dug his hands in his coat pocket. He stood quite tensely, waiting for Sakura's answer. His hair was quite flat, drenched with the rainwater. From Sakura's view she could see most of his face,except for his sunglasses. Sakura frowned, but after a moment to think, she said something.

"Shino...no...Shi-kun...that's all I needed to hear." Sakura said smiling. Shino smiled in return.

"Ee! Watashitachi wa tomodachi, ne? (2)." Shino said, with a tone mixed with guilt and happiness.

"Hehe yeah! Shi-kun, it's late your father might be worried if you come home late and it's also raining...you should get going. I'll see you later!" Sakura said waving to Shino. She closed her window and sat down on her bed. Sakura took off yukata, only wearing pajamas underneath. Sakura felt somewhat satisfied with what just happened, but like all (vengeful) women, she started formulating revenge plans against Michiko.

"Heh heh heh...that stupid skank will be so embarassed..." Inner Sakura diabollically laughed. (a/n...i hope that sounds more funny than creepy...)

"Take that Sasuke...haha...bow down to me!" Naruto commanded into his pillow.

"Ehhhhhh...Naruto?" Said a sluggish voice from up above him. The talking stopped, and Naruto slowly moved his head, looking around his apartment. When he found who he was looking for, Naruto had a silly grin plastered on his face, and he laughed loudly.

"PERVERT-SENIN!!!" Naruto said, hugging his worn out teacher. Jiraiya had bandages on his hands and some on his face, covering up fresh scars. Wearing his familiar gray robes, Jiraiya looked younger than ever, which was odd to Naruto, how constantly liked to call Jiraiya an old lecher.

"Hohoho!" Jiraiya bellowed. "It's good to be back. Tsunade-sama wore me out though." Jiraiya kidded with a wink.

"Ew. Yeah right, obaasan (2) isn't that desperate." Naruto laughed, while punching Jiraiya lightly on the shoulder. Jiraiya winced slightly, making Naruto feel a little guilty. Even if Jiraiya wouldn't tell him what really happened, he was sure Tsunade's punishment would even put Kakashi in the hospital for a couple of weeks.

"So! Let's go training at the hot springs!!!" Jiraiaya declared with a lecherous grin. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"I can't. Sasuke, Sakura, and I have a training session today." Naruto replied.

"...Sasuke...and Sakura?" Jiraiya said, grinning broadly, while growing red.

"...Hai?" Naruto said, sounding uneasy about telling him about Sakura, who would possibly a new inspiration (and peeping tom victim) for Jiraiya.

"...I've got a plan." Jiraiya said with a glint in his eyes.

"Eh...? Where's Naruto? You did tell Naruto right Sasuke?" Sakura whined, as she looked over at Sasuke who was sulking in his own little corner. Sakura narrowed her eyes. Sometimes, Sasuke wasn't fun to hang around with, always angry, or morbid, he wasn't exactly the type you'd want to go to a party with. Sakura let out an exasperated sigh, hoping Naruto would come soon.

"Yeah, I told him." Sasuke responded. Sasuke sighed inwardly. 'That damn bastard...leaving me here to deal with...her.' Sasuke looked over at Sakura, who was blowing a strand of loose hair out of her face. 'Sakura is normally a lot more...annoying...today she's actually okay. Maybe I should say something...it might be awhile until Naruto gets here' Sasuke thought.

"Sasuke, how are things?" Sakura said, smiling politely. Sasuke merely shrugged and turned his head. A rustle was heard in a nearby tree.

"Eh, what was that?" Sasuke asked lazily, cocking his head towards the tree from where the sound was made.

"...Probably nothing." Sakura replied. In a nearby tree, Jiraiya and Naruto were sitting, concealed in the tree's many branches and leaves. Sitting uncomfortably on a high branch, Naruto turned to Jiraiya, who was trying to get a good view of the bridge a little ways from them.

"So...why are we here?" Naruto asked, hoping this wasn't what he was going to do all day. Jiraiya paused, thinking of a good excuse to find inspiration for his novel, for if he told Naruto the truth, Naruto would get in the way and ruin the mood.

"We're practicing our camouflage skills, Naruto. When I was a chuunin and went on missions, there would be days I'd have to sit in a certain position not making a sound so the enemy couldn't find me. It'd last as long as fifteen minutes to two days. So I'm going to test you skill of erm...patience...and see how long you can go on here without being caught." Jiraiya said cleverly, amazed that he came up with a plausible reason to sit here, and leer at the blossoming Sakura.

"...that's stupid." Naruto responded. "You just want to look at Sakura-chan."

"Ahaha, don't be ridiculous." Jiraiya said, grinning as if the idea were ridiculous. Naruto grimaced, but sighed and thought that even thought that wasn't Jiraiya's intentions, it would help Naruto become more patient.

"...Fine, we'll stick here for awhile."

"Ahaha! That's my boy!" Jiraiya said warmly, giving Naruto a pat on the back.

"Shut up!" Naruto responded. Deciding that whatever was going on down there must be more exciting, or at least less disturbing, Naruto looked down at Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke looked around, his hand going for his kunai.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Sakura asked.

"I heard something...it was growling..." Sasuke responded quietly.

"...Eh? That was my stomach..." Sakura complained.

"...Oh." Sasuke said, putting away his weapon. "I suppose we should eat and start training without Naruto." Sasuke blushed when he thought of Sakura and himself eating lunch...together.

"Um...well..you see...I didn't bring a lunch. Naruto usually brings it for me..." Sakura said sheepishly.

"Well...I erm...could give you some of my lunch." Sasuke said, turning a bright red. Sakura blushed a bit to, touched by Sasuke's kindness. "But...it's not really that good because I made it myself."

"No, that's fine!" Sakura said, smiling. 'Hehe. I'm kind of happy Naruto didn't show up today...' Inner Sakura said with a laugh. She followed Sasuke to the root of a tree where he left his lunch. Sasuke untied the rich, dark blue cloth covering his boxed lunch. He opened the box to reveal a mouth-watering meal.

"Er...well there's only a few onigiri(3) and some sweets..." Sasuke said awkwardly.

"Oishii desuyo! (4) Arigatou, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said affectionately, after taking an onigiri and bit into it.

"...Eh. No problem, I'm glad you liked it." Sasuke said, smiling back at her. Sakura's cheeks flushed, and didn't respond. Sasuke smiled and just ate his lunch quietly. 'I could get used to something like this...' He thought happily.

Up in the trees, Jiraiya was leering at Sakura, while Naruto looked slightly envious of Sasuke. He had a pout on his face when he saw Sasuke and Sakura get within a very close distance of each other. 'That's unfair. I'm gone for one day and they do...that. They better not be talking about me...' A childish voice whined in Naruto's mind. In his mind, a more mature Naruto responded with arrogance, 'Isn't it obvious? Sakura still likes Sasuke, and Sasuke likes Sakura. Pretty soon, Sakura will be treating you like a dog again.' Naruto got nervous. 'Maybe it's true...'.

Naruto looked over at Jiraiya, who was getting bored and lazily hanging in the tree. No animals were around, with Naruto and Jiraiya serving as threats. A slight wind, swayed the branches, making Naruto feel as if he were being rocked gently. Naruto eyed Sasuke and Sakura wearily as they got up and left, taking their separate ways. Naruto felt a bit of relief, but it was still troublesome to him. Feeling quite comfortable leaning against the tree, Naruto sat there, enjoying the peaceful moment.

"Eh? Naruto...that was boring...hardly any inspiration...I'm going to go the hot springs." Jiraiya said with a yawn. Jiraiya jumped out of the tree, leaving Naruto with his thoughts. 'Well...I should go home...' Naruto leapt from the tree onto the ground. Naruto decided to stop by Sakura's, to ask if they were having a training session anytime soon. Naruto walked through the busy part of Konoha, where all the markets and stores were located. As Naruto approached Sakura's house, he saw two figures on the porch. He hid behind a nearby tree and listened to the conversation.

"Sasuke why are you---"

"Sakura...I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I--I---I love you!" Naruto could hear Sasuke yell. Silence soon followed, Naruto moved his head ever so slightly, and got a clear view of Sasuke's lanky figure leaning against the door, towering over Sakura. Sakura's face was mixed with happiness and shock, from what Naruto could tell. He waited for Sakura to respond.

"...Huh?" Sakura asked softly, as if this was a bizarre dream.

"...I just...I..." Sasuke stuttered, trying to find the right words. Though, Sasuke gave up, and leaned in closer to kiss Sakura, Naruto glared, and felt a shot of hot anger surging through him. Unable to control himself, he hit the tree, the sound of it echoing throughout the neighborhood. Sasuke looked to the source of noise, but felt something connect with his jaw, and he fell back onto the porch. The impact of his body made a loud thud. Sakura stood horrified, seeing what Naruto had just done.

"Naruto...why did you..."

"Sakura-chan, this guy doesn't deserve you after what he put you through!" Naruto growled. A moment later, he was tackled to the ground, Sasuke sitting on him, holding his arms down.

"What the hell was that for Naruto?" Sasuke yelled. Naruto pushed him off, and punched Sasuke in the jaw once again. Sasuke threw a punch in return. Naruto stumbled to his feet, but tackled Sasuke to the ground.

"You don't deserve Sakura-chan." Naruto told Sasuke. Sasuke threw him off, and the both got to their feet. They both were in a fighting stance, breathing heavily, with adrenaline flowing through the both of them. As both teens were about to fight, Sakura rushed in between them, making them both stop, in order to keep her unharmed.

"Naruto, go home." Sakura commanded in a low voice.

"What? It's his fau--" Naruto started.

"GO." Sakura said firmly. Naruto shot a glare at Sasuke, a fresh bruise appearing on his face. Without a word, Naruto leapt up onto a neighboring house and ran out of site.

"Thanks Sakura." Sasuke said warmly. He was shocked when he saw a tear roll down Sakura's cheek.

"Sakura, why are you cry---" Sasuke leaned in closer to Sakura, but she backed away, her arms wrapped around each other, as if to protect herself.

"Stay away!" Sakura yelled. "You know what you said to me when I said 'I loved you'? You said 'forget about me!' Sasuke...I just...don't want to feel that way again. Just please, go away!" Sakura said.

"...Fine. I'll leave." Sasuke said quite calmly. He slowly walked away from Sakura's house, not looking back.

A/N: Ahhh I'm sorry this took so long! This has probably been the hardest chapter, thus this is probably the crappiest chapter I have written. .

1. Dare desu ka? (da ray des ka) Who is it?

2. Obaasan---someone else's grandma

3. Onigiri---Riceballs. Always in Japanese lunches.

4. Oishii desuyo. This is delicious.

Special thankies to:

Wormkaizer: Eeeek I am so sorry. No Naru/Hina action happenin!!! Ahh gomen!! But I am happy you like this story!

Koori no Tenshi: Hehe thanks. It's nice to know my reviewers are polite . Thanks again!

Cookie6: Oh I hoped this changed your opinion of him...; my fault entirely! But thank you for reviewing!

SilentGlaive: Ahhh Becki!!!! I wouldn't have started this if it weren't for you!! Haha

oOoshortayoOo: Yay! Go Sasu/Saku!!! Wait....um...yah. Thanks for reviewing!!! dances like crazy monkey

inaudiblefever: Hehe cool pen name!!! Thanks for reviewing!

AnimePerfect: Eek! Two reviews...you get....TWO COOKIES!!! gives animeperfect two cookies

daniel of lorien: Awwwe! I bet you are good enough!!! And besides...as long you know a good fanfic/story...then it's easy to point out imperfections in people's story. But try to be all well...non insulting. As hard as that is...;;; but I won't mind!

Phoenix20043: Hehe thanks for the little ...tip thingy! I hope this is good enough! Yeah. Sasuke blushing...maybe like...if he farted...in front of alot of people. He would blush then too. evil giggle

sskezz: Oh please don't hate me!!! But thanks for reviewing!!

rogue solus: oh, i'm so sorry this took so long ;;

genocide heart: hehe. your wish is my command

lady light: hehe thanks for reviewing!!!

okay. So all you Sasu/Saku people! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!! This is kinda how I planned it out. Vaguely...please read future chapters!!!

hands out Sasuke and Sakura dolls holding hands steals one

Um yah!

REVIEW!!!