A/N: You know, somehow I was able to gather all this up. A lot of things happen in this chapter, and I have a feeling a lot of you will be pissed with me but you know what, don't kill me yet!

Warning: A LOT of drama happens this chapter. But then again, it's a love story Hehe.

Chapter 5:

--Five--

And just like that, the days passed and the world continued to spin. She walked passed the café, where they had a number of good times and the thought of such struck at her. She grimaced, strolling passed the various stared and ignoring the greetings a few people would offer her. The ground, for the time being, was appealing to her as it provided leniency to the situation. Allowing a sigh to escape her lips she then kicked at the pebbles that stood on the ground.

"Sakura!" A voice shouted from behind, but she carried on with her sulk. "Sakura? Why the long face?" A childhood friend caught up with her pace, turning to glare at her with curious russet eyes. Sakura only shrugged, hoping that her friend would get the hint, but to no avail.

"Man Sakura, how were you able to get Sasuke like that? You're so lucky…" The comment received a glare full of hatred as the slightly younger teenager stepped back a few paces. Sakura squinted her eyes, muttering a few incoherent words as she clutched her fists "Whoa Sakura, what's the matter? Are you guys in a fight?"

Sakura could only stare, debating on whether it was the right time to admit any truth at all to this no name female, or to remain silent and isolated with it. She decided on the latter, and instead of disregarding an old acquaintance, Sakura chose to admit reality. "Not a fight, we're not together anymore." Like that, in a whisper, she closed her eyes and awaited the response of the other Sasuke fanatic.

A gasp followed, causing her brunette bangs to fall in front of her face, "Are you kidding! When! Right now!-"

"Days ago, where have you been?" Almost in monotone, Sakura maintained calm. To think of it, the way her friend reacted to such a break up, it gave her satisfaction in a way.

"…No, Sakura, common. Quit joking around with me, hardy har har. We all know that everyone would love to be in your shoes, besides, I saw you two yesterday. You two looked so adorable together-"

"What?" She snapped, jerking her head to stare into the eyes of her gossiper. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh…Sakura, it's not funny anymore!" The young girl jerked her wrist in a friendly gesture; a smile grew upon her lips. "Yesterday, in the middle of town, everyone saw you two. It was cute…"

Sakura chewed at the inside of her mouth, she questioned the validity of her friend's statement. She hasn't seen Sasuke in days, after he suddenly decided to be friends out of the blue. She refused to come out of her house until this morning, only after her mother forced her to buy groceries for her. What the heck could have happened in the mere days that she hasn't been around Konoha! "Are you sure? You're not making this up?"

"Oh please Sakura, the joke is over. Thanks for giving me false hope." The girl replied, before watching a glint unfold her friend's eyes, causing unsettling shivers to rupture down her spine. She gulped, sinking in the effects of such a scare. As she watched Sakura tread heavily down the street she could only bit her lip. 'M-Maybe…they are o-over.'

--Four—

Sasuke's been hearing rumors for a couple of hours. Usually, Sasuke is able to ignore such rubbish, because most of the tall tales hardly ever pertain to him. And if they do, he hated soaking in his own self worth, no matter how much he deserved to. But the past few hours, a few whispers of chitchats have been tickling his ear. Of course, no one ever had enough guts to confront Sasuke on anything, and so he was left to allow his mind to wander.

Anyway, what really ticked him off was the little buzz of Sakura and he. Now, he still cared for Sakura but he knew that she wasn't the girl of his dreams. However, everyone else still cooed and awed over them, and somehow some idiot out there concocted a story of he and Sakura head over heels with each other the night before. Now, all he could remember out of yesterday was that he woke up at dawn, went out to meet Kakashi-sensei for another sparring match and fought Naruto…

Naruto…

He wouldn't dare…

Would he?

After retracing his steps all he could conjunct that Naruto wasn't in his natural mind state to begin with, the boy was focusing on something else. Moreover, it did bother him that Naruto was not very excited about the training the day before since the boy is always giddy in the midst of any battle. Count to think of it, Naruto's been acting slightly more spiteful towards him these past few weeks, he knew it would happen after being with Sakura. But then again, yesterday wouldn't make sense. Unless…

Sasuke gritted his teeth, allowing all the pieces of the puzzle to come together. Still, all he needed was one last shred of proof,

--Three—

Naruto rubbed his elbow; he was submerged into counting the amount of cracks on the sidewalk. He was disputing whether to go to Ino's house or to wander in the middle of town, yet his conscious eagerly voted for the first option to his dismay. He knew he was obligated to face the truth sooner or later, but stalling felt like the best alternative for now. What mustered of his imagination consisted of Inoichi cackling as he ran out of the house.

He bit his lip, attempting to block out embarrassment, but he knew his guilty conscious wouldn't let go until he patched everything with Ino. He gasped for air, shoving his hands into his pockets. Really, what drove him to do what he did the night before? Was it some killer instinct, pure curiosity? Of course he was boy, but he couldn't place fault on his own sex that way, even if he wished he could. There was something that drove him to kiss Ino, and something that forced him to enjoy it.

In a selfish way, he hoped that she enjoyed it as well, even if it would cost him their friendship. The question is, was it worthwhile?

"Naruto!" He flinched, turning to meet a pair of turquoise eyes. He was hoping to have Ino run into him accidentally but instead was greeted by Sakura, who looked rather fretful to say the least.

"Hey Sakura-"

"I sort of want to talk to you…" She smiled at him, taking her hand in his. Electricity shot through his veins at her will, he shivered at the thought of being in a position he wanted since forever. He couldn't think straight at this rate.

"Uh…s-sure." He nodded, allowing Sakura to lead in front of him. She dragged him a couple of steps before turning back to say,

"We haven't talked in a while," She panted to catch up to her breath, "I sort of want to tell you that," The link between them disconnected as she finally came to a full stop, "I like you Naruto."

"W-What?" Naruto could only stutter. "What did you just say? I didn't hear you…I think…" He rubbed the inside of his ear, feeling the sensation in his heartbeat jitter.

"I said I like you, Naruto."

"…Do you really mean that?" He was able to collect himself for the first few seconds, his eyes watering from lack of oxygen.

"Yes I do."

--Two--

Ino shredded the last daisy, watching the pedals slip onto the table. Repressing a sigh, she scooped them into her hands before throwing them into the air. "Look, yay, a party." She spat with sarcasm, allowing her boredom to tank. With her eyes half open, they shifted to the door to see none other than Uchiha Sasuke walking towards the door.

"Are you kidding me?" She stroked her eyelids, opening them to see Sasuke open the door to come into her flower shop. Feeling her heart flutter she tried her best to keep from blushing. After all she was over Sasuke, right?

Bad habits die hard.

He didn't smile at her, nor did he wave a greeting. He only sauntered to the counter before lightly banging his fist against the hard wood. "Miss Yamanaka," He whispered, lifting his head for his dark eyes to meet her light ones, with those simple words she held down her defenses and melted like putty. All it took was one sentence from Uchiha Sasuke to break her. "I have just one question," He grasped her elbow, yanking her closer to him to fully catch her attention. She acknowledged that he was breathing in a fast measure, settling on the fact that he ran all the way here. He caught her off guard, the sudden action shocking her. "Where were you yesterday?"

Ino gulped, somehow she figured she was caught, of course he wanted to know if she 'converted' herself into Sakura the night before. "What are you talking about?" She knew it would only irritate him, but she had to stall for a few minutes, she had to know his true intentions for all of this.

"I said, where were you yesterday?"

"Why do you care!" She found herself shouting, wondering how someone like Sasuke would actually pay attention to someone as small and insignificant as she.

"Were you with Naruto!" He quickly snapped, his patience running thin. His held a slight squeeze to her arm.

"Does it matter?" She took a grab at his hand, enforcing equal amount of pressure to show him that his intimidation technique wasn't working for her.

He closed his eyes, lessening his grip and returning his composure. "…Ino, I really need to know. He's been acting weird lately and if he was with you then he wouldn't have done what I think he did." To insure his sincerity he flashed a warm smile, content to see that she relaxed as a result.

"Sasuke, he was with me…the whole time." In a wicked way, it gave her pleasure to know that she was being totally honest with him and deceitful all the same.

As he apologized, Ino understood that the phase in which she was obsessed with Sasuke was over, and that her teenage infatuation had finally come to an end. Watching him leave, she settled on her verdict, and sought to see the famous Shinobi that was the main subject of everyone's wonders.

--One—

He couldn't call it, it itched at his senses and numbed his nerves, as Sakura admitted this attraction to him, and he found himself holding her hand. It was some sort of gratification, as if he was striving for something like this in his life. And now that he finally reached it…

He brushed back the bangs off of her face, watching as she leaned into his touch, as she slowly brought her face to brush her lips against his. As he kissed her lips a flash of shame wavered through his limbs. It shook him, the touch of her parted lips, and the repercussion of all of this.

And he quickly realized it didn't feel nearly as valuable as it did when he kissed Ino.

He quickly jerked his hands out of her grasp, shoving her chest a few feet away from him. He wheezed as his blonde bangs covered his tearful eyes. "I can't," He whispered, shaking his head side to side.

"Naruto, why not?" Sakura frowned, "You think I'm lying don't you?"

"No, no, it's not that-"

As if by luck, Ino found herself amidst the center of a love triangle. She watched Naruto and Sakura close the gap between them as something in her chest splintered. A couple of ideas rose to mind, and instead of keeping her mouth shut like she was accustomed to, she decided to make her presence known. As if everything came together, her legs marched against their own will closer to the bright tinted glowing idiot that blurred against her damp sight. Reaching her hand out, she dug her fingers into his shoulder, ignoring the shock that flickered through her, and then she shouted the words, "I have a question!"

Words, explanations, clarification, whatever the hell verbs and vocals that conversed in front of her between the two love birds was unheard as Ino blocked out complete clamor in her earshot. She waited until their utterances were over before raising her voice another octave. What mustered out of anger, rage, and anguish merged into the following words, "Do you feel clever?"