Part 7: "I can say it now"

Outside of Naruto's hospital room, Kakashi-sensei stood with Sasuke and watched the boy through the window. He looked tired and was bandaged up a whole lot. Some parts of his hair had been cut shorter due to being burnt, and if the boy had been conscious enough strong enough, he, no doubt, would have complained about it. Sakura was the only one in the room with him, sitting by the boy's bed in a wheelchair and a cast on her leg.

"How are they, doctor?"

"Young Sakura received a broken ankle, and will require the use of her chair or crutches for at least three weeks. Naruto, on the other hand…"

"Is it bad?"
"He received two broken ribs and an almost severe blow to the head, not including the cuts and burns. His appetite has also decreased, but it should return to normal sooner or later."

"How do you think will this experience will affect him?"

"Good question. It may not affect him at all. My thoughts on it are… that this has only proven to knock some sense into that boy."

"I see…"

Inside the bright, white room, both ninja were silent. Sakura was playing with her slightly burnt headband, and Naruto was barely awake enough to think. He was propped up in bed and staring out into space blankly. Occasionally, Sakura looked up from her lap to stare sadly at her teammate.

"Naruto? …Can you hear me?"

"Mm…"

"Can you understand me?"

"Kinda…"

Sakura looked to Naruto's untouched food.

"You need to eat, Naruto. You need it to heal and recover your strength. You can be up and ready to spar with Sasuke in no time at all, if you eat!"

"Don't wanna…"

"Just because it isn't ramen?"
"Not hungry."

"Liar…"

There was more silence for a while, and this time, Sakura was just staring strait at Naruto. Slowly, the boy's expression changed to one of discomfort and he tried to squirm around. Most of his boy was secured down to the bed, aside from his head and right arm. The rest of him was either sore or burnt.

"What's the matter, Naruto? Are you in pain?"

"Yes…and no…"

"What? What hurts, Naruto?"

When he didn't answer, she rolled over to him and held his hand as Naruto began to squirm more. He whimpered slightly, and tears started to fall. Kakashi saw this and understood, and he had to restrain Sasuke as he tried to run in and help.

"Naruto! Please tell me what hurts! I want to help you!"

"M-my heart…"

"What?"

"My poor heart is aching… It's been aching for so long now…and it hasn't stopped even now!"

Sakura was in shock as she thought she could feel Naruto's heart breaking as she looked at his tearing face. It took her a moment to realize that it was her OWN heart that was breaking, then. She was staring at him in a confused way again, and Naruto almost couldn't bear the weight of her stare. Realization hit him then. He could never have what he has always wanted. He would die sad and alone, just like he almost had in that fire.

"P-please don't look at me like that, Sakura… My heart…it can't take it!"

Naruto moved his head aside, as the tears continued to spill over his red cheeks. Sakura was still staring at him, until that feeling came back, and a flush of pink appeared across her own face. For once, she felt a fear of those feelings swimming inside of her… is felt almost as painful as Naruto's broken body. Slowly, she lifted herself out of her wheelchair to sit on the edge of Naruto's bed. Then, she lightly touched his hand again. It was almost as warm as her face felt.

"N-Naruto… there is something I need to tell you…"

"I know, already… you want to tell me how much of an idiot I am. Well, I've already been told that a million times today… I just can't take it anymore…! I just can't, Sakura…! I just…"

"Naruto."

Sakura set her hand on the right side of Naruto's cheek and ran her fingers along the whisker-like scars. Naruto gasped. He could sense no anger or resentment in how she was touching him. Instead, there was a feeling reaching out to him; one he had never felt so strongly before. He finally turned his head to look Sakura in the eyes Her face was calm.

"S-Sakura…"

"Shh… you dobe."

Sakura set her hand lightly on Naruto's chest as she pulled his face near hers, bringing their lips softly together. Watching, still, Kakashi sighed in a happy way, whereas Sasuke was almost certain he was going to be sick to his stomach. The feathery kiss ended shortly, and Sakura pulled her face away from Naruto's innocently blushing one.

"Now… go on and eat your food. I promise I'll sneak in some ramen for you later."

Every woman knows… the best way to a man's heat is through his stomach…