A/N: A little longer than the first part...my intention was to keep them all fairly short, though progressively longer (last part is about twice as long as this one). (POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THOSE NOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE MANGA)

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"NOON"

"Are you sure, Naruto?"

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Thanks anyway, Chouji."

Despite everything his stomach was telling him, Naruto felt a little relieved that he resisted staying any longer.

"Okay then," Chouji waved. "Mind if I finish off your share?"

Naruto smiled. "Help yourself."

Mumbling a thank you in between bites, the hefty Chuunin quickly began to devour the bits of barbecue left on Naruto's plate. For his part, Naruto was glad to see someone enjoying the food. Even though he and the others had protested, Chouji had ordered a third round. Mentioning some excuse about dieting, Ino and Sakura had quickly excused themselves. Sai, having felt Sakura's wrath again, politely declined as well. And now, no matter how much his insides craved the delectable array of food before him, Naruto knew he had to take the opportunity to leave, too.

With a final wave goodbye to Chouji, Naruto left the restaurant, stepping outside into the comforting midday sun. He started back towards the hospital, hoping Kakashi had finished talking with Asuma about whatever it was that had been so important. As he wandered along the half-empty streets, Naruto found himself still preoccupied with their failure to save Sasuke. Though he had tried to hide it at lunch, the way Sakura kept glancing over at him told him he wasn't doing a very good job. Despite Kakashi's assuring words and Sakura's continued support and encouragement, he couldn't help replaying the events that had unfolded on the mission to Grass Country. His useless attempts to persuade Sasuke failing; his rival and friend, attacking them without hesitation; Sasuke suddenly appearing in his mind alongside he and the Kyuubi. The whole ordeal seemed too bizarre and horrifying to be real. Yet the pain and guilt residing in his heart told him it was indeed very real.

Shoulders slumped and head down, Naruto aimlessly meandered around town, soon forgetting where he was going. His mind still contemplating the unsuccessful mission, it wasn't long before Naruto realized he had gone completely off course. As he brought himself back to reality, he found himself in a familiar grassy training area. His eyes immediately wandered over to the three wooden poles protruding from a patch of dirt in the area, where the figure leaning against the center log came into focus. The short, pink strands of hair that danced calmly in the gentle breeze were a welcoming sight.

"Good afternoon," Sakura smiled. "Long time, no see, Naruto."

Smiling brightly, Naruto quickened his pace as he approached her. "Yeah…you and Ino took off really fast."

"Yeah," Sakura replied, lowering herself to the ground so her back was leaning against the wood. "She has this thing about food…"

Stepping beside her, Naruto mimicked Sakura's earlier pose, leaning his backside against the same wooden pole.

"So what are you doing out here, Sakura-chan?" he asked. "I thought you were going back to the library."

"The same as you," she answered, mindlessly picking at a few blades of grass. "Thinking…"

"…Yeah…" Naruto nodded, scratching the back of his head.

A few seconds of uncomfortable silence followed, as an awkward tension filled the air.

"Kind of funny being back here," Naruto said, trying to fill the calm. "Seems like a long time since we were first here, don't you think?"

Sakura smiled, still studying the ground. "Yeah…you were tied to that same pole while Sasuke-kun and I tried to feed you…"

"I remember that," he grinned. "You actually fed me by hand…that was so—"

Sakura swiftly elbowed the blonde in his leg.

"Ow!" he yelped.

"I thought I told you not mention that again," Sakura smirked.

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto whimpered in response, rubbing his thigh.

Lifting a hand, Sakura calmly focused until the green aura of her medical jutsu illuminated her palm. Pressing gently against the leg she'd just hit, Sakura quickly healed the tiny bit of bruising she had caused. Naruto, his eyes transfixed to her hand as he realized where she was touching him, could barely move. After she removed her hand, he snapped out of his daze and again massaged his leg, noting the pain was gone.

"Thanks," he mumbled, still a little shocked.

"That's the benefit of training with Tsunade-shishou," Sakura said. "No matter how much pain I inflict, I can heal it."

The thought of Sakura beating him to a pulp and then healing him only so she could do it again made Naruto cringe. Seeing him shudder slightly, Sakura looked up at him with guilt.

"Though I guess not all of the pain," she said sadly.

Naruto glanced down, noting Sakura had turned her face away. It hurt him to see her like that.

"Sakura-chan?" he started.

"I'm sorry," she said hoarsely. "I guess being with Ino and everyone again…and talking about those first few days out of the Academy…it made me remember how horrible I used to treat you."

Naruto sighed before quickly forcing a smile. "Sakura-chan, it's no big deal…"

Sakura turned back, meeting his eyes. "I don't believe that…I was made fun of too, you know? I know how much it hurts…but you had it even more difficult than me. You had to put up with all of us making fun of you and with the villager's hatred."

Naruto frowned as she said this, looking away to avoid her gaze. "I got used to it."

"Naruto…" she began.

"Sakura-chan," he said firmly. "I won't lie and say it wasn't hard, because it was a lot of the time…but I think it made me stronger. Not just because of Kyuubi and everything, but it made me want to earn everyone's respect. It made me want to be Hokage…to prove that I've earned everyone's recognition…"

"Even though we still haven't acknowledged you?" Sakura frowned.

"What do you mean?" Naruto questioned. "You, and Kakashi-sensei, and Iruka-sensei and…Sasuke…you guys were the first ones to acknowledge me."

Sakura shook her head, tossing out a handful of grass into the wind, letting the blades scatter about the earth. "It took us awhile, though…especially me…"

"That's not—"

"I never thanked you," she continued, not letting him interrupt. "Not for trying to look out for me, not for saving me from Gaara back then…not for a lot of things…"

"You didn't have to," Naruto smiled. "That's what friends and teammates are supposed to do, right?"

The simplicity in his response made her laugh. Naruto cocked his head to the side, eyeing her for a moment.

"Yeah," Sakura nodded. "I guess so…still, I'm kind of envious of you."

"Eh?" Naruto responded. "Why?"

"All the pain and difficulties you had to go through, and still have to deal with," Sakura replied. "I don't know how you manage it…I'm not sure if I could. I could barely deal with the pain after Sasuke-kun left…"

Naruto smiled, glancing up at a few rolling gray clouds.

"Maybe…it's better that you can't heal all pain," he offered. "It can help remind you of how it feels…so you can stop it from happening again."

Sakura's watery eyes wandered up to the same cluster of clouds. Muffling a laugh, she wiped a hand across them.

"Baka," she sighed, throwing another elbow.

Naruto easily hopped over it, landing comfortably on his backside and slowly stretching out on the grass a foot or so away. "See?"

Sakura couldn't stop herself from laughing this time.

"Hopefully Sai will learn that, too," Naruto grinned.

"Hm?" Sakura mumbled, glancing over at him.

"You've pounded him a lot, now," Naruto said jokingly. "Maybe he's learned not to call you 'ugly' or 'cow' or 'monstrously strong'…"

Sakura scowled. "What did I sat about calling me 'monstrously strong'?"

Naruto dodged several rocks thrown his way.

"So what were you and Ino going on about?" Naruto continued. "Back at the restaurant, I mean"

"Hm? Oh, she was just saying how similar Sai and Sasuke-kun look," Sakura answered.

"That again?" Naruto moped. "Geez, just because they kind of look alike…"

Sakura grinned, lifting her knees to her chest and leaning her elbows across them. "Jealous?"

"What?" Naruto asked, propping himself up.

"Sai got a lot of attention from Ino," Sakura giggled. "Maybe you're a little jealous of him."

Naruto scoffed. "Hmph…like I care what she thinks. Since she can't obsess over Sasuke, of course she turns to a Sasuke look-a-like…"

Sakura smiled. "Ino can get a little competitive."

"She's not the only one," Naruto laughed. "Everyone was like that…'Sasuke' this or 'Sasuke' that…bastard had it good."

"…Yeah…" Sakura sighed.

Realizing his words, Naruto hurriedly tried to correct himself. "Ah, I didn't mean to say that you—"

"It's okay, Naruto," Sakura smiled halfheartedly. "I was as shallow and obsessive as Ino was."

"Sakura-chan…"

"After everything we went through as a team, though," she continued. "I guess I expected us to be closer…all of us, I mean."

Naruto could only nod.

"Bu after the past few years, it's just you and me…and Sasuke-kun is away ready to sacrifice himself…"

"We'll save him," Naruto quickly assured her.

"I know," she answered hesitantly.

"Even if we doesn't want to be," Naruto continued. "No matter what, we'll bring him back."

Sakura smiled.

"I made a promise, remember?"

That powerful word brought Sakura back to her senses. She saw the terrifying image of Naruto, transformed into a four-tailed miniature Kyuubi, rampaging at the bridge. She could never forget how far Naruto was willing to go to keep that promise he'd made to her.

"Naruto," Sakura began, rising to her feet. "You're right…we will bring Sasuke-kun back somehow. And then things can go back to how they used to be."

Naruto hopped to his feet as well. "Right!"

Dusting off his pants, Naruto stepped over beside her. "So does that mean you and Ino will go back to obsessing over him?"

Sakura glared. "No…and we weren't that obsessed…"

Naruto laughed, trying to imitate a younger Sakura. "Sasuke-kuuun! Hello, Sasuke-kun! That was so cool, Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura quickly balled up both fists, preparing to pummel her loudmouthed teammate.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled apologetically. "You have to admit it was funny. It's like you expected Sasuke to be some fairy tale prince…"

"Hmph!" Sakura snorted, spinning away from him as her face flushed.

Naruto continued grinning. "You have such a large charming forehead…makes me want to kiss it."

Naruto's mild laughter drowned out the sound of Sakura's teeth grinding, until she suddenly moved forward and pressed a hand to his mouth.

"What did you say?" she asked seriously, studying the boy's face.

"Hm?" Naruto mumbled, his blue eyes meeting hers. "I—"

"Never mind…" Sakura stopped him.

The two of them stood for a moment, glancing every so often at the other. Finally, Naruto took a few steps forward, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Kakashi-sensei might be free now," he grinned. "I'm gonna see if he's ready to start my training."

"Right," Sakura smiled back. "Guess I should get back to the library. I still have more research to do."

Naruto nodded, awkwardly waving goodbye. "See you later, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura waved back for a moment, then found herself hurrying up next to him.

"Something wrong?" Naruto asked, stopping to let her catch up.

"No," she smiled. "Just thought I'd go with you to see Kakashi-sensei again."

"What about your research?" Naruto asked as the two of them set off.

Sakura shrugged, clasping her hands together behind her back. "It can wait."