"So what?" Sakura snapped.

Naruto didn't say anything.

Sakura gritted her teeth and clutched her kunai.

Naruto blinked and started to walk towards her.

Sakura moved into a defensive position.

"There's no need for you to go on the defensive." Naruto said softly, still moving.

"Shut up."

"I love you, Sakura. I really do."

Sakura's hands were trembling. "Isn't love too strong a word?"

"I care for you, Sakura. I'd never hurt you."

Sakura moved a step backward.

"I love you, Sakura…"

"S-Shut up." Her heart was pounding, and aching at the same this. Why am I feeling this? This isn't the real Naruto speaking, but why?

She moved another step.

Naruto suddenly reached out and grabbed her hands without warning.

"!" That was fast!

"Urgh… Let go of me!" Sakura tried to sound dangerous.

Naruto didn't seem to listen at all.

"I… love… you."

Before Sakura could say a word, Naruto kissed her.

-------------------------------------

"OW! I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON! LET GO OF ME, NARUTO!" Lee yelled.

"No! You can't see this!" Naruto snapped, pinning Lee to the ground.

Damn it… I wish I were that daring…What am I thinking? Arrgh…

-----------------------------------------

"Neji! NO… You can't die! Don't!"

Tenten started to cry.

"Don't…"

Neji coughed and blinked. Something wet was on his face.

He blinked again. Tenten's… crying?

"Tenten?" He sat up.

Tenten blinked through her tears. "N-Neji… Neji…"

She opened her arms wide and hugged him.

"W-Wha… Tenten… What's up with you?" Neji blushed.

"I-If you'd died… I-I'd never forgive myself…"

"I'm alive, see? Calm down…" Neji muttered.

Tenten sniffed and let go, not looking at him.

"Ninjas don't cry like that, Tenten." Neji said, trying to console her. "Come on…"

Tenten laughed shakily and looked up.

"I'm sorry… You're right."

She rubbed her eyes and looked up at him.

Neji swallowed.

"I-I-' He couldn't say anything.

He coughed and tried again.

"I-I think we should-'

"Neji." Tenten said softly.

"?"

"Neji, I like you." She said with a burst of courage.

"What?" Neji gasped, his face turning red.

-----------------------------------------

"NO!" Sakura yelled, trying to pull away. Tears were leaking from her eyes, fast.

She turned and gasped.

Someone was looking at them, his eyes wide with shock.

"Sas…uke…" Sakura gasped.

Sasuke halted for a moment.

Then he ran forward and pushed Naruto away.

"That's it. I've had enough!" Sasuke shouted.

Naruto stumbled to the ground. He didn't say a word.

"Sakura." Sasuke breathed, not looking at her. "Stay where you are."

"Sasuke…" Sakura didn't know what to do.

Sasuke took out a kunai, his eyes flaming.

Naruto got up slowly. "Sas…uke…" He said in a strange tone.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Naruto's gave a weak laugh.

"!" Sakura noticed Naruto's eyes. They were glazed.

----------------------------------------

"They're… going to fight soon!" Lee gasped.

Naruto banged the floor with his fists. "Damn it! What am I going to do?"

He banged the floor hard again.

----------------------------------------

"Arrgh!" The fake Naruto dropped his kunai. His fists were turning bright red.

"…!" Sasuke noted this.

"Hey! The fake Naruto's in pain!" Lee said, turning around. "Naruto-'

"…Lee, hit me hard. Until I collapse." Naruto said seriously, looking at his red fists.

I feel the fake Naruto's pain… And if I'm right…

-------------------------------------------------

…He'll feel the real Naruto's pain too! Sasuke thought.

He looked down at his kunai. Naruto, hurry up and figure this out!

"!"

He dodged a fist. Naruto was attacking fast.

He dodged another one.

"You!"

He tried to kick Naruto but Naruto dodged.

"…!"

Sasuke gasped, blood spurting out.

Naruto had slashed Sasuke on the arm.

Sasuke jumped a few feet away, clutching his arm.

I've been careless!

He blinked and realized that Naruto was charging at him.

"Sakura, don't go anywhere!" Sasuke shouted and ran, with Naruto a few feet behind him.

"I-!" Sakura shouted, but they were gone.

She bit her bottom lip and took out a kunai.

"I won't stand here and watch!" She muttered, running after them.

----------------------------------------------------

"N-Neji!" Hinata called, emerging from the trees… only to find Neji and Tenten staring at each other…

Neji was still stunned by Tenten's words. She likes me? But… But I thought…

"I thought you liked Sasuke!" He burst out.

"What?" Tenten said, taken aback. Then she realized that Hinata was behind them.

"I-I- If this is a bad time… I-I! I'm sorry!" Hinata stammered her face red. "I-I'll go somewhere else…"

"No, it's all right, Hinata- sama!" Neji said, standing up and grabbing hold of her hand to stop her from leaving. "Finding Naruto comes first." He looked warily at Tenten.

Tenten nodded. "Are you all right, Hinata?"

Hinata nodded. "B-But where did the bomb come from?"

Neji glared at the trees. "It was planted there beforehand, I think."

"How did you detect the bomb?" Tenten asked.

"I saw it." Neji pointed at his eyes.

"C-Can we go search for N-Naruto-kun now?" Hinata asked awkwardly.

Tenten and Neji nodded.

-----------------------------------------------

"Dammit, this guy won't give up!" Sasuke cursed as the blood flowed freely from his arm.

He went to the top of a tree and took out some cloth from his pocket.

Gritting his teeth, he bandaged his arm.

"That'll have to do for a while…" He muttered.

"Come out."

...?He caught up so fast?

"Come out." Naruto said in a robotic voice. He was right under the tree Sasuke was hiding in.

"NOW!" Sasuke yelled, coming down onto Naruto with his kunai…

Author: You think Sakura will choose Naruto or Sasuke in the actual Naruto series? I know I said that it'll be Sasuke, but now I'm rethinking the whole idea again… Any people out there who have read the latest chapters and know? (Like, you know, hints that Sakura is getting to like Naruto in that special way or something…) Please tell me if you know, thanks!