AN: First off, the couple has not technically been finalized. Though I'm sure most of you guys know which direction I'm heading in. Shikamaru's relationship is not really affected by the main plot at all. Hell you would think they're in another universe. But that's just my little convenient plot device. Also note, I have NO idea where I'm going with Shikamaru's Love Triangle. After reading Kyuubisensei, I have some weird and crazy ideas.

All right, fic time.

Sakura and Naruto walked down the street this time. It was early, the sun was out but it was frigid cold. It was one of those strange days in Konoha, where you could see your own breath as clearly as the sun in the sky. Sakura was wearing Naruto's coat, the cold getting to her eventually. Though a professional at Chakra control, she hadn't learned how to use Chakra to keep her body temperature normal.

Naruto on the other hand had plenty of practice while training with Jiraiya up north. He wore nothing but his T-shirt and Jounin vest (Which he never wore with his jacket, but he grabbed it before heading out for extra warmth). "Sorry if you're a bit cold Naruto." Sakura said, trying to be polite. She loved the jacket to death. It was so warm yet it felt so thin. Was it Naruto's body heat reflecting off the jacket or something? Whatever it was, it made Sakura feel secure and warm.

The two looked like they were on a date. It was strange though, if you didn't know the two ninjas, you would swear it was their first date together. Obvious mistakes and meaningless meandering signaled it as a first date. If you knew the two and knew who they were, their personalities. You would think they were an old couple walking down the street. (But then if you knew them, you would then mentally slap yourself for thinking such a ridiculous idea) Bickering at times but also comforting and complimenting each other at sudden turns.

Sakura felt warm... but strange. It was a weird feeling. She felt content in her mind, hoping that another kiss was awaiting her at the end of the day. Yet in the corner of her mind and in the pit of her gut she felt something truly strange. She had never felt it before, never before in her life.

Shaking her, the young kuionichi flung the strange feelings away and continued to smile with Naruto. She looped her arm his instinctively, like it was a natural thing for the two to do. They've done it numerous times on undercover missions as their times as Genin and occasionally their rare missions together as Jounins.

The two continued to walk around, looking at random trinkets (Naruto sworn he saw Frog Boss as a key chain for sale. But when he looked again it disappeared). They both enjoyed themselves greatly, despite Naruto's inner voices being confused as hell.

"I got no idea what's going on." One voice said.

"Is our kid turning into a player...?" The conversation dropped after that, since they were both afraid of how disturbing and dirty the topic could turn in a matter of seconds

"Naruto, let's stop by Ichiraku's, I'm a bit hungry." Sakura smiled politely at her friend. She was genuinely hungry, but she was hoping to do something a bit more "Boyfriend-Girlfriend" thing.

"We're not going out with Naruto..." Inner Sakura whined. "We love Sasuke right? Sasuke! Raven Hair, Uchiha Heir? Only boy left of Wheel Eye Family? Hello?" The voice yelled into the empty mind of Haruno Sakura. No reply came as the inner voice sighed. "You're in for some major bad dreams tonight girl."

Naruto smiled. "Sure Sakura-Chan! I'm hungry too!" The two walked in, arm in arm. There wasn't anyone at the small Ramen stand except for Ino and Shikamaru, talking. Well Shikamaru was trying his best to eat in peace while Ino poked at him with words (and fingers... and strangely with kunai as well) constantly.

"Ino-Pig!" Sakura said. Even after many years of friendship building and even 'Sasuke Help/Support Groups' the two still kept each other's pet name.

"Big Forehead!" Ino replied with a smile. She got out of her seat; giving Shikamaru a death glare beforehand, then hugged her best friend.

"What are you and Shikamaru-Kun doing out here?" Sakura said, looking over her friend's shoulder. Shikamaru was now talking with Naruto, obviously complaining about something – Ino and Temari – something that Sakura had no knowledge about.

"He's taking me out on a date... and he's SUPPOSED to be just eating and LISTENING to me!" Ino yelled back. Shikamaru's eyes went all buggy and turned his face back to his ramen. Naruto wisely decided to leave his friend's side and back to his date.

"Date...?" Naruto played with the words as he sat down. He waved for his usual, words not needed at his favorite ramen stand. Was he on a date? The young blonde shinobi played with the word in his mind. And finally decided it was way too troublesome to figure it out. He also added a mental note that he's been hanging out with Shikamaru too much.

Sakura and Naruto sat down again, talking about their day, a normal casual date. Naruto screwed the whole 'date' concept, realizing calling these outings 'dates' would save him much confusion. But then if he WAS on a date... what does he do with Hinata-Chan? They did do feel like dates, real dates, real outings. Going out, Hinata really connected with Naruto. He couldn't understand why, but Hinata made him feel secure just by being around him. He's never noticed it, not until now anyway.

It was getting dark soon, the ramen stand closing up for two hours so the old man can catch some sleep before the drunk guys come in for something warm to sober them up.

"Want me to walk you home Sakura-Chan?" Naruto said, smiling his same old smile.

Sakura replied with a smile. "Sure, but let's take a scenic route." She looped her arm around Naruto's and started leading. It was peaceful, cold, but the warmth from Naruto's jacket felt better than the sun hitting her skin.

"Naruto... do you like Hinata?" Sakura said. She had to know, did they? Or was it Naruto being kind to Hinata out of pity and friendship?

"Of course!" Naruto replied, without a single moment of hesitation. "She's a nice person, great to hang out with." Naruto smiled, thinking about the events that he and the Hyuuga Heir share.

"Oh..." Sakura replied, her face showed a slight twinge of jealousy and depression. Suddenly, the image of Sasuke and Naruto going at it flashed in her mind. Sasuke's Chidori and Naruto's Rasengan appeared only as a background image. Her mind focused on the image of her two teammates. Suddenly, the Chidori flashed back into the image, and burned the picture out of her mind.

"Sakura-Chan? You alright?" Naruto said. Sakura had just paused in the middle of the road, stopping for no reason.

"Ano... Sorry Naruto, I guess I just spaced out for a moment." She shook her head a few times and continued to walk with her friend. Her mind continued to wander until they arrived at her house. Hinata-Chan, Sasuke-Kun... Naruto. Hinata had always crushed after Naruto. Sakura shouldn't just barge into her dreams and crush it. The Hyuuga Heir deserves the young blonde shinobi. But her feelings were so raw, so passionate. She wanted Naruto so badly, her compassion started to twist her logic. Hinata could always go out with Kiba right? He's just as loud. It was a highly unlikely scenario and even Sakura could see the faults in that plan. Her mind really was just twisting up her own opinions just so she could justify her feelings for Naruto.

"Alright Sakura-Chan... I'll see you later!" Naruto started off for his house.

Sakura couldn't take it. Her feelings, bottled up. She kept on seeing Naruto and Hinata's kiss in the forest. Then that rumor of the two sharing a hot passionate kiss just outside the Hyuuga mansion, it was all driving the young girl insane. Heat rising up from her stomach, Sakura grabbed Naruto by the wrist and twirled him around. She pulled him into a hot and passionate kiss. Her tongue already lashing out before Naruto's lips met hers.

Naruto was caught by surprise, his eyes still wide with disbelief, but they closed, feeling Sakura's tongue snake into his mouth. All logic in his brain screamed; "Get the HELL OUT OF THERE!" But all logic was lost especially in a boy's mind that was mainly dictated by desire and feelings.

Sakura broke off just for a second to let out a slight moan; Naruto had started hugging her, caressing her back with his muscular arms. He pushed her back into an alleyway, instinct carrying him through. It was like the Kyuubi in him had broken out, and the fox was in heat.

"Hinata..." That single word rung throughout Naruto's head. It... gave him control, somewhat.

Sakura and Naruto's mouths merged once again, their tongues fighting in each other's mouth. Sakura's legs lifted up, cradling Naruto's hips.

"Hinata-Chan..." Those two words... they were so familiar. It was so strong. Those words... what were they? He felt so strongly towards them, not just a fiery passion, no more than just that. It was a passion tempered with love. Affection and love

Naruto's eyes snapped open. He stopped abruptly, surprising the Haruno girl.

"Naruto-Kun?" Sakura's eyes opened slowly, her body still hot from their heavy physical contact. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry Sakura-Chan... I can't do this." Naruto pushed him off the wall and started bounced off the tightly concealed walls. "I just can't..." He could feel a single tear trickle off his cheek as he exited the alley.

Sakura bit her lip. She knew what happened, she could tell by Naruto's actions... and those hurt eyes. Those cerulean orbs filled with despair. It was so unlike her friend. The girl fought back the tears and ran into her house. Ignoring the cries from her pleading and worried mother.

Sasuke smirked slightly from his position. He saw the whole thing and he knew why Naruto had backed down. "Hinata..." Sasuke smiled devilishly. She would prove useful. He can get Naruto to fight his very best... if she was in trouble, if her life was in danger. Sasuke smiled.

Shikamaru was out with Ino again. This time it was... much more enjoyable for the two. Ino and the lazy Jounin were sitting on his favorite hill, staring up at the clouds. Shikamaru was just doing his usual thinking, life, death, things he couldn't help but wonder while he looked up at the ominous clouds.

"Look, that looks like a dog doesn't it?" Ino said, poking Shikamaru in the ribs. He doesn't know how she does it, but whenever she whispers into his ear, it always sounds seductive. She could say "I hate you and I'm going to kill you and your family in your sleep" and still make you think she's trying to seduce you. Of course Shikamaru only heard this tone when she whispered to him, not to Chouji, not to Sakura, not to anyone. But him.

Shikamaru nodded slightly. He just agreed, it was easier that way, less troublesome. The two continued to do that for a good three hours, until Ino fell asleep on his chest.

Her breathing was so elegant. It was a silk like movement, her breath felt so wonderful on him. Wait what the hell is he thinking? He could've recalled a point with Temari where he thought the same thing. The two girls were more alike then they thought. They were both bossy, they actually shared a lot of likes and dislikes and they both... were so damn sexy.

'Got to stop hanging out with Naruto...' Shikamaru sighed. Hanging out with the boy had obviously caused some... troublesome side effects on Shikamaru's thoughts and speech pattern. Shikamaru looked around, making sure that no one could see. Then he checked Ino, poking her in the head, doing random things that would most definitely wake her up.

"Good..." Shikamaru looked around again, making sure. If anyone... ANYONE caught him doing this, he'll never live it down. He just couldn't resist. Her hair smelled heavenly and her skin... he's only heard of such a radiance in stories of angels. He bent down and quickly stole a kiss off Ino's sweet, delicate lips.

Shikamaru cocked his head back to its original position and made sure no one could see. He smiled, this time not with his crooked smile. A genuine smile he rarely ever showed. Even Chouji hasn't seen it much. Ino really was a sweet girl, she just... needed control. He smiled again, thinking that he was going soft. He looked up at the night sky, the stars starting to show themselves.

Five more minutes. Shikamaru thought to himself. The night sky really was great. The coldness of the sky gave such a nice feeling on Shikamaru's skin. Combined with Ino's breath and skin brushing over his own was a major plus.

"Shikamaru-Kun..." Ino muttered in her sleep. She tightened her hug on Shikamaru, her arms encircling his body entirely, and her touch warming up slightly.

Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. "Maybe ten more minutes..." He looked up to the sky again. Wondering what his future would be like. He couldn't decide between the two, he doubts he ever could. Oh well, it was way too troublesome to think about something like that.

AN: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. You guys got it early cause my friend burned me a CD full of Naruto AMVs. (For those who don't know what that is, it's a Anime Music Video.