A QUICK NOTE FROM KASHIJI: Before I begin this chapter, I would like to say: Oi! Baka yaro! I check my hits! Where are my reviews? Kuso... - goes on ranting in Japanese -

Inner Kashiji: - rubs forehead -You need to calm down. Anyway, here's what you all really came for...

" " speaking; ' ' thinking

((DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.))

- What Are Partners For? - Chapter Three -

Sakura sighed as she sipped her morning coffee. Naruto had returned home during the night as she had slept. She thanked the gods that he had arrived after she had gotten home as well. She had been asleep when she'd felt a rustling of the blankets and a movement in her bed. She had nearly attacked what she thought had been an intruder until she rolled over and saw the familiar blonde hair laying on the pillow next to her. Now, as he played with Mitsuki, her thoughts drifted to her night with Sasuke. She smiled and almost laughed. She hadn't been caught. Everyone around her was completely oblivious to what she had done. She was so proud of herself.

"Sakura?" said a voice that snapped her out of her day-dreaming. She looked up and saw Naruto standing in front of her. She blushed a bit, but tryied to act as if she hadn't done anything out of the ordinary.

"Y-yes Naruto?" she managed to reply.

"I'm sorry I left so abruptly last time. That mission was urgent. I have to tell you, I'm so glad to be home again. You look even more beautiful than you did when I left, you know that?"

Quickly, Naruto bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Sakura was stunned. It had seemed like forever since Naruto had done anything like that.

"Well, I'd better get back to Mitsuki! She can only entertain herself for so long!"

As Naruto floated out of the room, elated beyond reason, tears began to well in Sakura's eyes. "Dear Lord," she muttered, holding her face in her hands. "What have I done?"

She didn't have long to dwell on it. Sakura soon after heard a knock at her door. Pulling back the tears, she got up to answer it. The person who awaited her only shook her nerves further.

"N-Neji-san," she stammered upon seeing the white-eyed playboy at her door. "What... what could you be doing here?"

"I just stopped by for a chat. I hope you don't mind. May I come in?"

"No!" Sakura answered quickly, peaking Neji's interest. "I mean, Naruto just got home last night and he doesn't want company. He would rather spend a bit of time with Mitsuki, alone."

"It's not Naruto I want to talk to," Neji protested. Sakura still presisted to keep him at bay.

"I think it's better you not come in, lest your reputation makes things look suspicious," she spat, blocking to doorway.

"Oh, but Sakura," Neji whispered, pretending to be hurt. "My reputation isn't isn't quite as bad as my partner's. I've never stooped so low as to..."

Sakura's eyes widened and she hissed, "What do you want?"

"I told you, I just stopped by to chat, but you're right: Naruto's home.. I'm sure you'd like to spend some time with your dear and loyal husband." A grin spread over Neji's lips as Sakura nearly began shaking. "There's not many things that can be hidden from me, Sakura-chan. I really would like to talk to you. Maybe we can meet somewhere...?"

"Tell me where you live and tell me when to be there!" she demanded.

"But won't your husband be suspicious?"

"I'll tell him... I'll tell him I'm going to Ino's! Now please, hurry and tell me so you can leave!"

Neji quickly rattled off his address and added, "Nine 'o' clock tonight, meet me there."

"What if I can't get away?" Sakura asked, praying that she wouldn't be able to.

"Then I'll be back tomorrow and we can revise our plans," he answered without missing a beat. This crushed Sakura's last hope of avoiding him.

"Alright. I'll be there tonight. Please though, don't have any one else over. I don't want any one to know where I am."

"Oh, you needn't worry, Sakura-chan. I don't want anyone to know you're their either." Neji turned to leave, but the faced Sakura again to say something else. "If you breathe a word of this to Sasuke, Naruto will find out everthing. Do you understand?"

Sakura nodded weakly and watched as Neji walked away. In a moment, her world had falled apart around her. In her moment of weakness, she had allowed herself to fall into temptation and be blinded by her emotions. The way Sasuke had treated her had been amazing while her husband had been cold and distant, but Naruto had returned, and he had become his old self again. He was as loving as he had been in the beginning of their marriage, and he had made her feel as beautiful as Sasuke had. All the thoughts that ran through Sakura's head confused her. She had returned to her old ways, being infatuated with Sasuke despite the love that sat so obviously in front of her. Besides, Sasuke's reputation made it impossible for her to know if he had actually cared for her or if she was just another name on his list of women. Sakura closed the door and her tears returned, but she wasn't allowed to cry them because every one would know that something had happened.

"Sakura?" called a voice. It was Naruto. He had already finished playing with Mistuki? Sakura tried to compose herself as she went to find him.

"Yes Naruto?" she answered, approaching him in the hallway. To her surprise, he got close to her and looked into her eyes.

"Sakura, are you alright? You're pale and shaking."

"Oh, I'm fine! I suppose I was a bit restless sleeping last night, that's all. I'm just exhausted. No need to worry."

"Are you sure...?"

She nodded, but said nothing.

"Alright. Who was it at the door? I thought I heard some one knocking."

"It was just Ino," she said, putting her acting skills to the test. "She wants me to go to her place tonight, around nine.

"Why?"

"I don't know. She didn't say. I sounded important though. Would you mind?"

Naruto smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't mind. I should be home for a while now. No need to worry about it."

Sakura managed a smile. Then, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"Naruto," she gasped, finally letting her tears free. "I missed you so much! Stay with me and Mitsuki for a long time! Promise you won't go on another mission for a long time!"

Naruto was surprised at first, but he embraced her and said, "Don't worry, Sakura. I won't. I promise."

Feeling Naruto's strong arms holding her once again made Sakura realize how weak she really felt. Though she feared seeing Neji that night, everything was lost in that one embrace. She forgot Neji, and she forgot Sasuke, and it was finally just her and Naruto back into their happily ever after. As their holds weakened and they released each other again though, everything was real again, and Sakura was all alone once more.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I know that I should wait for reviews before I update, but I'm really excited to post this chapter. I mean, look at it! It's huge! And I am sorry about that, but it's good, in my opinion. I'm really glad I started writing my fiction again. I guess I missed writing for Lately, I've been working on a lot of my original stuff, so I haven't had much time for anything else. Writing this has been not only good practice, but also a nice break. I hope you guys are all enjoying this. I really want to double my ammount of reviews before I post the next chapter! Read and review, dears! X3

P.S: Suddenly, this seems like a decent way to follow the success of "Sasuke's Scars."