Authors note: This story is getting harder, and harder to write… I don't want to abandon it though! I currentlyon break with my latestfan fiction "Starting from Scratch" so this and "New Student" may be a little late. I plan to work onthis ficnext weekas well asNew Student toupdate to the fourth or fifth chapter! I could really use reviews to improve on this one so review if you want.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Out of His Shell

Chapter 3: Memories

Five days later

Ino and Sakura were at the salon getting their hair done…

"So Sakura, two more days huh? Give em' what's coming!"

Sakura tried to go off subject and said, "So Ino…you let your hair grow long again?"

Ino smirked and asked, "Got any problem forehead?"

Sakura laughed and said, "Off course not! I didn't know you were still after Sasuke!"

Ino mimicked Sakuras laughter, "As it turns out, Choji likes long hair!"

Sakuras eyes widened and choked trying to hold her laughter.

"So hmph, why are you with Choji now?"

Ino went into bragging mode and said, "Choji is nice, he's getting stronger, and he shares a lot, the team really-"

Ino paused and noticed Sakura was getting a haircut.

"Sakura! Why are you cutting your hair!"

Ino shrugged of Sakuras hair dresser and said, "That was a close one!"

Sakura turned to the lady and said, "Sorry! Don't mind her!"

The lady went back to trimming Sakuras hair.

"Why would you want to cut your hair? Anyone special!"

Ino was smiling and Sakura dosed off,

Flashback

"Hey Sakura-chan!" Naruto met Sakura at team sevens old training grounds for practice.

Naruto noticed Sakuras short hair and asked, "What happened to your hair?"

Sakura punched Naruto in the fashion she would always do…in the face.

Sakura helped Naruto up and said, "Sorry! Got carried away!"

Naruto gave his grin and said, "No problem…although it's none of my business, what did happen?"

Sakura kicked the ground and said, "Tsunade won't let me have long hair because it gets in the way of my training…"

Naruto laughed and asked, "Is that all? That's no problem! Don't worry about the little things!"

Sakura frowned and said, "What do you know?"

Naruto smiled softly and said, "Well nobody has had a problem with it! Why would you want long hair anyway…you can make changes!"

Sakura played with her bangs and Naruto said, "Don't hide it! You look pretty with short hair!"

Sakura looked up at Naruto in astonishment.

He was shielding his mouth and said, "Sorry! It slipped!"

She smiled at Naruto and put up her hair the way it was styled when she had long hair, as though it made no difference.

Naruto gave a thumbs- up and said, "See? No worries!"

After training half the day, Sakura finally took a break.

"You know Sakura, using medical ninjutsu, you can excel the growth of your hair cells everyday at it will seem like it was never short!"

Sakura took a moment to think about the ability and replied, "It's ok! I think I'll keep it this way!" Sakura lifted herself up and happily practiced alone.

End Flashback

Ino was waiting impatiently for Sakuras reply.

"Well! Anyone special!"

Sakura returned to reality and replied, "Not really…just for training well!"

"Master, the boy is struggling!"

"Let him! He's too weak to beat me anyway!"

"As much as I would love to believe you, no, he still contains five, you got four."

"I meant to weak to use them!"

"Fine then…so what's your progress so far?"

"Each tail tells a story Kabuto!"

The next day

Sakura was walking through the market when she saw Iruka buying a gift.

"Hello Iruka-sensei!"

Walking up to Iruka, Sakura asked, "Whatcha' been doing lately?"

Iruka smiled and said, "Did you forget? It is Narutos birthday! I'm getting him a present!"

"You do this Iruka?" asked Sakura.

"Yup. I'm going put it on the memorial for Naruto."

Sakura stressed a smile, rather than frown, and said, "I'll get him some flowers!"

Following Iruka through the pathway, they reached the memorial and placed their gifts.

Iruka then leaned down and prayed, and Sakura followed him.

Flashback/ Past Moment (again!)

Sakura parents were praying in the lobby and she asked, "What's the occasion?"

"Sakura, you should pay your respects as well…to those who died defending Konoha."

"From what?" asked Sakura. "The kyubi…it has been fourteen years."

Sakura stood still and thought, maybe Naruto…later.

She sat with her parents and went through two o'clock praying.

Afterwards Sakura immediately left home to buy Naruto a gift.

Walking down the market to see if anything was open, Sakura realized that no store would be open on a day of mourning and recognition.

Thinking all hope was lost, Sakura saw a small store with its door open.

Sakura stepped in and immediately the shopkeeper said, "Sorry we're closed."

Determined, Sakura pleaded, "Sir, a friends birthday is today and I didn't know…if you please just let me take a quick look…I'll be in and out!"

The man was moved and said, "It must be hard having a birthday today, no one would like to celebrate…go ahead take your time."

Sakura, despite the man said- Take your time- she knew that really meant-I'm letting look around but be quick about it!

After storming down the first three walls, Sakura could find nothing but cups and plates.

Desperate to find something, Sakura took her time to look.

Then, she saw a strange pot or plate that caught her eye, not only its shape, but the words imprinted on it.

Sakura smiled and said, "Perfect! Just like Naruto!"

She took the bowl of the shelf and purchased the item.

"Found what you had in mind?" asked the shop owner.

Sakura nodded furiously and said, "I think he'll love it!"

The man then took the bowl for a moment.

"What's wrong?" asked Sakura.

"I'll wrap it up for you!"

After taking directions from the local ramen shop, Sakura was pointed to an apartment said to be Narutos house.

She noticed the door was open while she knocked so she entered to see Naruto, Iruka, Tsunade, and Jiraiya all eating at the table.

"May I come in?" asked Sakura hopefully.

Naruto smiled so wide it scared Sakura.

"Of course Sakura-chan!"

After they all ate and enjoyed themselves, Naruto was anxious to open his gifts.

The first present was from Iruka.

They were heavy, chakra concentrated, training weights.

"Thanks Iruka sensei!"

"You can strap them to your ankles and it'll help increase your speed!"

The next was from Jiraiya; a bottle of sake for the younger aged boys.

"Jiraiya what the hell!"

"Don't worry kid! It's good for soon-to-be-adults like you!"

Tsunade hit Jiraiya on the head and handed Naruto a jonin vest.

"But Tsunade! You know I'm not jonin yet!"

Tsunade laughed and replied, "You will be soon! I'm sure of it!" Tsunade hugged Naruto.

After brushing Tsunade off, Naruto tried on the vest when Sakura handed him a present.

"Sakura-chan…I didn't know you wanted to come. No one really wants to celebrate this time of year…"

Sakura smiled at Naruto and pushed the gift to Naruto.

"Come on! Take it!"

Naruto slowly took the gift, as though expecting it to explode, this annoyed Sakura.

When Naruto opened it, the gift was an orange bowl, perfect size for ramen.

"This is great Sakura-chan! Thank you!" Naruto quickly filled his ramen bowl with (what do you know!) ramen.

Sakura seemed disappointed that Naruto didn't take the time to completely observe the bowl, not just outside but also inside.

Knowing it was late, she said, "I really got to go…bye Naruto! Happy Birthday!"

Naruto frowned and asked childishly, "Why so soon?"

Sakura chuckled and said, "My parents will kill me!"

They waved goodbye and as the hour went by, everyone else left.

Naruto by then was almost done with the ramen in the bowl and could notice some strange letters hiding under the ramen water.

So he quickly finished the bowl and read what the letters in the bowl said, "#1 Ninja"

Naruto slowly soaked in what the bowl and his stomach curled for one reason: either he shouldn't have eaten all that ramen, or it was the stream of thoughts running in his head, "Did Sakura-chan give this to me? Did she know the bowl said this? Did the ramen bowl mutate?"

"Sakura-chan…thanks."

End Flashback/ Past Moment

I hope it wasn't a chick flick but I need ideas…next time I'll think twice before working on three fanfics at a time! How do some people do it! Read my other fics if you want!

I just thought of something! Off to write it down!