Vengeance in Seven Days

By: Crystal Avatar

Disclaimer: I do not own the character names Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Hinata. Oh, and the author wishes to apologize in advance for any bad jokes, puns, etc. he makes. He can't help it if you're all a TOUGH CROWD. (Hehehe.)

Author's Note: Welcome to the next part of Chapter two! A young new romance blossoms in 'Day Two- Flirtation', Part II! Roll in the reviews, flames and praise- things like that keep me going!

C.A

Punctuation Notes

"Talking" 'Thinking' SFX (Author comments)

Day Two – 'Flirtation', Part II

"You move quite gracefully, even for a geisha."

Naruto had just bumped into this mysterious beauty and his head was already pouring with riddles. He had to know who or what she was: a normal villager? A ninja? A threat? She had a sharp and cultured tongue- Naruto knew he had to be careful with this one.

"Is that supposed to be a complement?"

"No," he lashed out.

"What next? Are you going to tell me how pretty I am?"

Naruto turned red and choked, "N-no…"

The young man was frustrated! They had just met and she was already playing her mind games on him! 'Oh, how women could be so cruel and manipulative', he thought.

"Who are you? Are you native to this village, young geisha?"

"No… but I know you aren't. Even so- I think you're cute."

She allowed herself a small, mischievous smirk.

Naruto remained silent and reddened even more.

"I don't know why you're here and I don't know why it seems that no one notices you," the geisha continued, "but I find myself quite drawn to you, sir."

"Forward and bold, you must make a terrible geisha, miss."

"I've already told you: my name is Sakura. And at least I'm not nearly as rude as you are- have you got a name or not?" She demanded.

"I am Shinta, traveling poet. I've come to Leaf to gain inspiration for my work."

"I see. Leaf would be a fitting place for business such as that, Shinta-san. In fact, I do believe I could show you a part of Leaf you probably have not had the pleasure of absorbing into words just yet. If you would have no better way to spend your night, then would you follow me? I do assure you that your work would benefit much from this."

She spoke overly formal and polite. She definitely had the talk of a geisha, but Naruto knew that was all she had. 'She has to be a ninja. Only ninja could move like she did', he pondered. 'This whole geisha thing has to be some sort of cover.'

He decided to follow her into whatever trap, plan or trickery she had set him up for. He permitted himself to have a little fun with her- a little way just to get even.

"Sakura-san, are you asking me out?"

"Certainly not!" And the pink-haired girl turned away.

"Are you sure? Because it sounds like it."

"Will you follow me or not? The night is still young and I don't plan on wasting it here in Lower Leaf, spoiling my kimono and talking to an arrogant poet!"

'She's being playful,' Naruto thought, 'Nice.'

"Of course, I will follow you, Sakura-san."

"As I thought. Come!"

And the young, female stranger grabbed his hand and led him out of the marketplace. The crowds were beginning to dissipate, returning home to their children and wives. As the moon began its climb to the top of the sky, the streets began to empty- this left only guards, lovers and a handful of villagers to browse through the village of dark Leaf.

'Why am I following a girl I've only just met?' Naruto's logic mused.

'Because she's the only lead you have,' Naruto's instincts replied.

After the market place, Naruto had been drawn by hand to a small artificial canal that supplied water to the farms on either side of the village. The small canal also happened to separate the northern, richer section of the village, from the southern part. Only three bridges crossed over this canal, connecting the two parts of Leaf, and Naruto now found himself at the middle of the three, crossing into the richer, nobleman's side of the village.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Some place pretty," Sakura replied, "we are both strangers here. I was glad to learn that another outsider has come to this boring place. Now we have each other!"

"Isn't this where all the rich people live?"

They crossed the small, wooden bridge and now found themselves at the beginning of a large and beautifully designed garden. Sakura took him to one of the quiet corners of the garden- a quiet mound of grass where a small imitation waterfall trickled nearby. The chirping of crickets surrounded them and only a few dimly lit lanterns provided for their lighting. Sakura took a seat and urged Naruto to do the same.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

She was young, attractive and spontaneous. 'What more could make her better?'

Then, Naruto's belly rumbled.

Both parties heard the sound.

"Is Shinta-san hungry?" She asked with a smile.

"It's been a day for me, Sakura-san, I apologize for being rude. Perhaps I should return home tonight and visit this place in the morning? I am grateful you have showed it to me…" Naruto practically forced the words from his mouth.

He so badly did not want to leave Sakura. He didn't know why.

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Sakura-san turned and produced a small satchel that had been hanging underneath her shoulder the entire time. Naruto was surprised he hadn't noticed it, which further added to his suspicion that Sakura was really a ninja. One that was good at concealing things. For some reason though, this only made her more desirable in his eyes.

"What's in the bag?" Naruto asked.

"I know it isn't even lunchtime anymore, but I made some food back at the manor. I made more than enough, so if you'd like, you can have a spare bento (box lunch)?"

A rhetorical question. The pink-haired girl forced a warm, wooden box-tray of food on to his lap. It was filled with all sorts of palatable wonders that he marveled at his luck that she had made so much of it. All of it was a bit strange, but he was hungry nonetheless.

"Thank you… I will eat with thanks, Sakura-san."

"Not at all, Shinta-san," she smiled warmly, "I don't like eating alone, anyway."

They began eating, under the light of paper lanterns and the company of fireflies. Some guards could be seen patrolling nearby, but didn't bother to stray to far from their path to inquire on another seemingly entangled, young couple. And that's just how they appeared: another young, passionate couple enjoying a summer night in the garden.

"I hope the food is okay, Shinta-san."

"Your cooking is awesome! I mean… quite delicious, Sakura-san."

She smiled back. Hey eyes glowed with contentment and warmth. The small dimples in her cheeks filling Naruto with some sort of wondrous curiosity.

He could not explain it, but Naruto soon found his hand drawing ever closer to Sakura's, like a snake slithering in between the blades of grass. Naruto could feel his chest burning with anxiousness. Never had he met such a stranger that could make him feel like this.

It was as if she had noticed without looking, but Sakura snatched up the ninja's hand in her own and held it close and tight. Naruto felt the warmth in the embrace of her fingers and inadvertently dropped the chopsticks in his free hand. He turned and looked up at her because he could feel that her eyes were already upon him.

They made him feel the heat of the moment.

They were alone together.

He was crazy about her.

Her mouth shuddered with anticipation.

"Shinta-san...?"

"S-Sakura..."

He leaned over. Slowly. Unknowingly. Having lost all control of his reasoning.

She stared and knew what he was about to do. She waited. She didn't move.

He held himself for a second then leaned over gently, and planted a small dewdrop of a kiss on her thin, crimson lips. He could feel her hot breath fall upon him like a ton of bricks. He could swear that her long eyelashes brushed against his tight cheeks for a moment. He opened his mouth and took her deeper into his flesh, nipping at her slowly.

She responded by holding his lips tight between her own.

His arms came up: one hand made for the small of her back, the other reached for her back, stroking her right shoulder blade. Her kimono was coming loose and undone.

She didn't bother to straighten her clothes. Her hands were already busy cupping his cheeks, stroking the length of his hair. Holding him tight so that he would not escape the impulsiveness of her desires, of her hidden agendas.

Naruto could feel himself falling into a deep hole that had no end, a pit from which he could never climb out and escape. He had decided to evade years of ninja training and discipline by holding her in his arms, close to him.

It was as if he was doing something so forsaken by his mind, but so natural.

Sakura's bento slipped over her smooth, silk-covered knees, and spilt onto the grass. The wasted food was nothing compared to a wasted second of feeling the stranger's heat combine with her own. Her arms were not bothered by the small accident, either, they just kept searching for new handles on his body to latch on to and hold.

It was like she tasted forbidden nectar, sweet and addictive.

Naruto knew not what to do. Sakura knew even less.

There was nothing left for them to do, except to continue their charade, or was it really a farce?

Could it even be called a romance?

Or maybe it was just a trivial flirtation?

He knew that all this was uncertain- but he continued to kiss her under the moonlight, wishing without end.

The world became a whole new place for the young ninja, Naruto.

Somewhere in the mayor's manor, a young boy sat, alone in his room.

His lover had just vanished because of something he had to do. 'But there was no other way around it', he had tried to explain.

It was his legacy to inherit control of his father's businesses and works.

One of his maids carefully slid the door to his room open to see how he was doing.

She had no idea that the master's geisha's heart belonged to him. But who would've? It was a dark secret kept only between the both of them.

"Does something trouble you, Sasuke-sama?" The woman asked.

"Nothing, maid. Just focusing on what father told me today. What things I must learn..."

"Sakura-san left your room in a hurry, Sasuke-sama. Did something happen?"

Something in Sasuke suddenly clicked. It was like a bomb had exploded inside him.

"That is none of your business, foolish maid! Your inquisitive nature spites me to no end! Leave me alone with my burdens and woes."

The maid gasped out of sudden fright.

"Y-You would understand nothing, you simple peasant! Leave my room now or should I tell my father of your offense?"

The maid shuddered with fear, her mouth dropped at a deep pain she felt inside. She bowed endlessly before sliding the door to his room closed and running to her quarters, fearing for her living and her life. Tears had already begun to stream down her face.

Sasuke, the young, dark-haired son of the mayor, was alone with his thoughts once again. Brooding on them as he always did when Sakura disappeared into the night.

"Motionless and still/Stubborn but without weakness/I am the mountain."

The poem he recited was the only way he knew to express his thoughts before he allowed himself the escape of sleep.

'How things are tough to be the son of a powerful man.'

"Sakura… what stupidity are you playing at now? You may have my heart, but you cannot change my mind once I've made my decision. It is a choice out of honor."

Sasuke lied down on his spread futon.

"Not one out of love," he added.

DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL! NEXT! "Day Three- Betrayal"

I hope you enjoyed Chapter Two!

In the coming segment…

Naruto comes face to face with his rival!
Will Naruto place his mission at further risk?
Will he continue to ignore his senses?

Falling to temptations has deadly penalties!

Read on for some supernatural jealousy in the next series!

(AN: Please review people! I don't know whether to continue this fic! Thx!)