Sakura arrived at her destination. She rapped on Naruto's door in her usual fashion. She was surprised at how quickly the door opened.

"Sakura-chan!" she heard.

She saw a yellow-haired blur for a moment as she felt strong arms wrap around her torso.

"You came a little later than I expected... I've been dying to see you, Sakura-chan. I'm so happy that you're here," Naruto said earnestly.

The surprised pinkette smiled knowingly as she returned the embrace.

"Same here, Naruto. Sorry, I had to go visit Tsunade-shishou... She needed to talk to me about something."

Naruto pulled back and looked at her with a pleasantly curious expression.

"Really? What did Baa-chan want?"

Sakura blushed lightly.

"Let me tell you about it later. Is it okay if we go inside now?"

Naruto smiled.

"Yeah, let's go."

Sakura followed him inside. They stood facing each other in the living room.

"So... What do you wanna do?" Naruto asked.

She glanced away with a pensive expression.

"I don't know. Now that I think of it, there's really not a lot to do at your apartment."

Naruto laughed.

"Haha, I know. I mostly only sleep and eat here. You never really came over here when we weren't together."

Sakura looked back at him.

"Well, it seems I really didn't have a reason to. But now I do."

After saying this, she gave him a bright smile. Naruto gazed at her for a few moments, admiring her beauty as he often did. She tilted her head at him.

"Naruto?" the pinkette asked.

His eyes widened.

"Oh! Sorry, Sakura-chan... It's just that you looked so pretty."

Sakura laughed. This was something that Naruto also found pretty, but he wasn't rendered awestruck by it.

"Well, thank you, Naruto. You don't look so bad yourself."

He looked down at his outfit. They were just his normal orange and black clothes, though he wasn't wearing the jacket.

"But I'm not wearing anything special... I've never seen you wear that outfit before."

Sakura then looked down at her own clothes, the white shirt and dark pants.

"You like these clothes, Naruto? I wasn't sure about them, but I felt like I should do something different this time."

Naruto nodded.

"Yeah. They're really feminine, but not in an obvious way. You look so beautiful, Sakura-chan. Not that I don't like your other clothes, because I do."

Sakura looked down in thought. She wondered about something.

"Did you like that dress that I wore back when we were in the Academy?"

Naruto blushed lightly and nodded.

"Yeah... That was the Sakura-chan that I thought about for so long while I was with Ero-sennin... I don't think I'm ever going to get that image out of my head."

The pinkette blushed as well for a moment. Then a coy smirk appeared on her face.

"It's too small for me now... Though I guess I could always ask my mother to make me another one. It's not really the kind of thing I would wear anymore, but would you like that, Naruto?"

Naruto blushed more deeply. He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't that.

"I guess... If you want to, Sakura-chan."

Sakura chuckled.

"Okay, one day I'll show up here dressed like that. It'll be a surprise."

The blonde gaped at her in amazement. He couldn't believe she actually wanted to do that for his silly nostalgia.

"So, I'm hungry. Do you have anything to eat?" Sakura asked casually.

"I have ramen..."

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Okay. Let's make some."

Naruto nodded.

"Sure, Sakura-chan."

They went to the kitchen and cooked the ramen. Slightly more than three minutes later, they sat down at the table and started eating. Sakura smiled softly after slurping some noodles.

"This is how I know that I love you, Naruto. I could have had my mother's delicious cooking, but I chose to eat cup ramen with you."

Naruto frowned.

"Hey, don't talk bad about ramen. I thought you liked it?"

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"I like it because I only eat it with you. So if I'm eating it, then you're there with me. It isn't bad, but I don't think I would choose to eat it on my own."

Naruto was both flattered and depressed by this revelation.

"Oh... I thought you liked it more..."

Sakura chuckled.

"It's nothing to be sad about, Naruto. I like it because I like you. Can't you be happy with that?"

Naruto finally grinned.

"I guess I can. That's one thing we have in common, Sakura-chan. As much as I love ramen, I love you even more."

Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"Wow... You're really serious about me, Naruto. I knew you were, but I didn't realize how much until now."

They both laughed.

/

It had gotten quite late. It was a pretty hot night by Fire Country standards, and they were both sweating a little. Sakura yawned.

"Naruto, I'm getting tired. Did I leave my bag in your bedroom?" she asked.

Naruto thought for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah, you tossed it on the bed, I think."

"Okay. Let me go change, I guess."

Sakura walked off into the bedroom, shutting the door. A minute later, Naruto heard her call out to him.

"Uh... Naruto? I guess you can come in now," Sakura said through the door.

"Okay, I'm coming."

He opened his bedroom door and entered. He saw Sakura sitting on the bed wearing the same outfit as before. She looked up at him sheepishly. He watched her with some confusion.

"Apparently, since I was in such a rush earlier, I forgot to actually put pajamas in my bag. It still has my outfit from work in it."

Naruto looked down in thought.

"Oh... Do you want me to run over to your house and ask your parents for some?"

Sakura shook her head.

"No, I don't want them to think that anything weird happened. I'll be fine like this... It's pretty hot for pajamas anyway."

The blonde raised an eyebrow.

"But... Aren't those about the same?"

Sakura smiled shyly. She was still wearing the same outfit, except she had taken off her shoes some time ago.

"Well... Let me go change."

She got up and entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Naruto didn't understand what she was going to change into. She didn't even bring her bag with her. He sat down on the bed facing the bathroom door.

After a minute or so, Sakura came back out holding her pants and socks against her waist. She quickly turned and moved to shut the bathroom door. Naruto blushed deeply as she reached for the doorknob. Her long, pale legs were in full view, along with a hint of something more. Her top was long enough to cover her underwear, but her subtle movements were causing the pink fabric to intermittently become visible. Without looking at him, she went to put her clothing items into her bag. After doing so, she dropped the bag in front of the foot of the bed. She finally turned and looked at the red-faced Naruto.

"Naruto... It's not that big of a deal. Aren't I your girlfriend?" she asked, but her voice let on that it was a bigger deal than she made it sound.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Yeah, it's just new to me... I keep feeling like you're going to yell that I'm a pervert and punch me for seeing you like this."

Sakura smiled shyly like she had before.

"I don't want to do that... We're having a good time together and I don't want to ruin it."

Naruto nodded.

"I see... I understand you, Sakura-chan. It's just not what I was expecting. It doesn't feel weird to you?"

Sakura shook her head.

"No... Actually, it feels good. It's much cooler... And it's strange... But when I see that you're looking at me even though I'm like this... That feels good too, Naruto."

They both looked away from each other with incendiary blushes.

"So... You don't want me to stop looking at you?"

Sakura had turned back to face him, but Naruto was still looking away. She took a few steps around the bed until she was standing in front of him.

"No."

As he turned to look at her, Sakura grabbed hold of him and pulled him up towards her, locking lips with him somewhat forcefully. When she grew tired of standing, she slowly pushed him down onto the bed and crawled on top of him, holding herself flush against his body as they kissed more passionately. Naruto had one hand on her waist and the other in her hair, slowly stroking her pink locks. The blonde was being careful to be gentle with her, as he was growing intoxicated by her pleasant scent and the feel of her soft curves. He didn't want to accidentally hurt her or touch her in a way she wasn't comfortable with. They continued until Sakura pushed herself up off of the bed so that she could sit on top of him. Her weight was divided between his stomach and her knees that were on either side of him. She was gazing down at him and grinning widely.

"I love you so much, Naruto," Sakura said tenderly.

Naruto smiled softly.

"I love you too, Sakura-chan. Are you still tired?"

"Not really... Let's just lie down and talk for a while."

"Okay."

They stared at each other silently for a few seconds until Sakura detached herself from him and they laid side by side. Sakura pulled the bedsheet over herself while Naruto remained on top of it. They talked about the past, about what Sasuke might be doing, and about their other friends. They smiled happily thinking about how they got to this point in their lives, and feeling like they wouldn't want to change it for anything.

/

After some time, Naruto finally yawned. The pinkette turned her head to meet a pair of icy blue eyes.

"I guess I'm tired now," Naruto said.

"Okay. We can go to sleep, then. But, Naruto, aren't you hot?" Sakura asked.

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"I guess I am, but what can I do about it?"

Sakura frowned lightly.

"You could take that shirt off. The sleeves are long, so it has to be making you feel warm."

Naruto looked up at the ceiling.

"I guess I could... I just didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, or make you feel like I expect something from you. I never want you to feel that way around me, Sakura-chan."

Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"Naruto... I'm not sure if that's even possible. In the entire time you've known me, how many times have I told you that you were making me feel uncomfortable?"

He only thought about it for a moment.

"I guess you never have..."

"So... You're still wearing that shirt because...?"

Naruto sat up and took the shirt off, tossing it to the side of the bed. Sakura smiled softly.

"There, I'm not wearing it anymore."

"Good."

He still hadn't cooled down enough to want to cover himself, so Sakura took the opportunity to examine his chest as he laid back down. His physique was quite appealing to her. Naruto saw that she was looking, but said nothing. She noticed a good-sized circular patch that was slightly lighter in tone compared to the rest of his skin. One had to be quite close to notice it. Feeling a sudden urge, she reached out and ran her fingers across it gently, a timid expression on her face. Naruto watched her as she did so.

"Naruto..." Sakura whispered.

She swallowed. Her eyes widened and dilated. She blinked a few times. The blonde watched her calmly as she continued to stare at the faded scar.

"This was from..." she continued slowly.

Sakura didn't want to say it. She felt like she would start crying if she did. She wished so desperately that it could be from something else, even though she knew it couldn't be. And she knew that when she voiced her belief as to its origin, it would become irrevocably true. Then this inevitable truth would become crystal clear, and she would have no means of denial or escape. Her lower lip quivered. She didn't want to make a sound.

Unfortunately, Naruto misunderstood the reason for her silence.

"Chidori," the blonde quietly intoned.

The floodgates opened.

"No... Naruto... Why? Naruto, why?! Why was it me, Naruto?! Why?! No... No... No...! You could've been killed... And I wanted you to... But you're Naruto... How could I...? You're Naruto... Oh... This can't be... Tell me that it's a lie... I couldn't have hurt you... Not you... Never you, Naruto... I never wanted you to be hurt... Not for him... Not even for me... Oh, Naruto... Why did I...? Why to you, my Naruto...? Why...? Naruto... Naruto...!"

She grew more and more incoherent until she could only produce anguished sobs. She collapsed onto his chest as she did so, her cheek coming to rest on the spot in question. She wept tears that fell off her face and onto the affected area, anointing it with the salty water that her distress produced.

Naruto watched her uncomfortably. He really didn't know what to say.

"Sakura-chan... You didn't know?"

She looked up at him, the hot paths of liquid still visible on her face. Her nose was starting to visibly drip as well. She sniffed loudly.

"No... I didn't... No one told me... I knew he must have hurt you... I knew you didn't beat him... But I never knew that he tried to... I never knew that you almost... Naruto, I'm so sorry... I'm the worst... How can you stand to let me kiss you...? Why do you even let me touch you...? How can you stand to be with me...?"

Naruto looked at her with compassion, though he didn't smile. It was still a painful memory, and for many different reasons. And it would be a lie to say that most of them didn't have to do with Sakura. He was very happy to be with her, but the pain of that time was a life-defining experience for him. No amount of love she could show him would erase it. But he didn't need it to be erased. He just needed her.

"Sakura-chan... It wasn't your fault. You didn't know what would happen... You probably didn't think I would even end up fighting him... And you definitely didn't think he would try to kill me. It's okay."

Her eyes widened in horror.

"How is it okay?! He did try to kill you! Why didn't you tell me?! Oh, Naruto... I sent you to your death... This was a fatal wound... As a medical ninja, I know... If it wasn't for Kurama, you would never have survived... And I didn't even know about him back then... How could you possibly be okay with that...? How could you possibly be okay with what I've done to you...?"

Naruto finally smiled, albeit weakly.

"Because... I would have done it anyway. He was my best friend. It's true that I really didn't want to kill him because of my promise to you, but I don't think I would have been able to kill him anyway. I always tried to avoid killing anyone. So there's no way I could have killed my best friend... I didn't get hurt because of you, Sakura-chan. So please stop crying."

Sakura sniffed again. She rubbed her face on the bedsheet.

"But I betrayed you... I took advantage of you... You loved me, and I sent you off to die because of my love for him... It seems so twisted and sick... Only the worst kind of person would do something like that... I don't see how you can possibly be okay with it..."

Naruto sighed.

"You didn't know that either, Sakura-chan. It was obvious you didn't think my feelings were serious at all. I'm sure if you had known, you wouldn't have done that. Even back then, you were so caring. I've never thought you were a bad person or hated you for any of it... I just thought that you couldn't help the way you felt about him."

The pinkette gazed at him miserably.

"But, Naruto... I don't deserve... I'm really not a... Oh... I feel so terrible... I'm so sorry I asked that of you... I'm sorry that he was so ruthless... I'm so sorry that I loved him... I wish I never did... I really wish I never met him... Then you wouldn't have been hurt... Naruto..."

Naruto gave her a serious look.

"Sakura-chan... He tried to kill me the second time too. Trying to kill me is just what Teme did back then. You had nothing to do with it. And even if you did, you've more than paid me back. You risked your life for me... You always tried to help me... You saved my life... So don't think that this could ever change anything. I loved you back when I made that promise, I loved you even when he left me for dead, I loved you after that, and I always will. If you feel the same way, I don't care if it was wrong or not. It was a long time ago."

Sakura lifted herself off of his chest and sat up on the bed. She was slightly more composed as she looked into his eyes.

"Naruto, I do feel the same way... That's why this is killing me... I can't bear to hurt you... I would give up my own life if it was the only way to save yours... But I almost killed you... And it was over something so selfish... It's tearing me apart inside... I don't know if I can live with it..."

"He was the one who almost killed me, Sakura-chan... And that would have happened even if you hadn't done anything. I'm telling you that I would have gotten this injury with or without my promise to you. Can you please believe me?"

She nodded very reluctantly.

"I'll try, Naruto..."

Naruto sat up and moved to hug her, wrapping his arms over hers. She timidly rested her head in the crook of his neck.

"Sakura-chan, you need to try to forgive yourself. Because I'm not going anywhere either."

Sakura started to feel very sedate in this position. She closed her eyes and nuzzled deeper into him.

"Good... I know I don't deserve this... I don't deserve to be held by you... To be loved by you... But please let me have this anyway... I know I'm wretched... I know I'm trash... But I need this... I feel like I'm going to fall apart otherwise... And I'm sorry... But even though I know I'm not worthy of you... I still want you... So please stay with me anyway... Because I love you... I'm begging you... Please don't leave me, Naruto..."

The blonde smiled.

"I told you I'm not going anywhere, Sakura-chan. Stop being silly."

They remained like this for some time. Eventually, Naruto felt her breathing become very regular. He gently rested her head on one of the pillows and covered her with the bedsheet. Seeing that she was sound asleep, he laid beside her and pulled the sheet over himself. He rested his hand idly on the patch of skin, lost in thought. After a while, he finally closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

/

Naruto woke up in the early morning, the sun shining in through a window. He looked to his left and saw the pinkette sleeping next to him. Her delicate features were slightly agitated as she breathed softly, her pink hair fanning out across the pillow. He got out of bed as carefully as he could so as to not wake her, taking soft steps as he walked into the bathroom. When he entered, he shut the door gently and sat down, thinking about the previous night. He wondered why everything had happened this way and what it said about the two of them. He heard a rumbling voice in his subconscious.

As the shirtless blonde stood up to his ankles in the water, he looked up to see the greatest of the tailed beasts gazing imperiously down at him. Kurama opened his fierce jaws and began to speak.

"Kit... She was right. I was there. I saw it all. Everything she said was the truth. I don't understand this human emotion of love."

Naruto frowned at the great fox, who was showing off two rows of gigantic teeth.

"Kurama, I don't care. I love her. I need her with me. So I don't care if what she did was wrong... I can't bring myself to care. As long as she loves me, I never will be able to."

The fox looked away haughtily.

"Hmph. That's exactly what I don't understand."

/

Sakura slowly opened her eyes. Her heart sank as she recalled where she was. She thought of Naruto suffering at the hands of Sasuke because he wanted her to be happy. She thought of him bleeding all alone, not sure if he would survive, thinking of a girl. It was torture to think about Naruto in that state. There had been no comfort for him. He had been horribly injured. He was probably going to die, and for a girl who didn't love him. Because the girl loved the boy who had put him in that state, and she had seen him as a way to retrieve something she had lost. It was a truly monstrous action on her part. The pinkette didn't understand how someone could be that cruel.

She didn't understand how anyone could be so cruel to someone like Naruto, who cared so much for others. She couldn't imagine how someone could take advantage of him to get something they wanted, especially if he could die as a result. She couldn't bear the thought of him dying, especially in such a brutal way. It was ghastly to think about. So she thought the girl was disgusting. She was absolutely vile. She hated her. If she had the opportunity, she wouldn't show her any mercy. She'd beat her until she was at the edge of death to make her understand what Naruto had to go through. She really hated anyone who could do something like that to him. She would never have let it happen. She wouldn't have let him go. She felt that she couldn't allow any course of action that could risk his life, as his life was simply too precious. She would do anything to protect it. That girl obviously didn't feel the same.

And yet... The girl's name was Sakura. It was her. She had been the one. And there was a pain in her chest that had yet to go away.

Why...? Why does it have to be true...? Why can't it be a lie...? Sakura thought.

Her heart felt like it was being crushed.

How could I have asked that of him? Because I loved someone who didn't care? Someone who was willing to kill a friend? Why couldn't I have loved him instead? I would have been so miserable if Sasuke-kun had killed Naruto. I don't know if I could have even gone on. The guilt would have destroyed me. How could I have wanted him to risk that? How could I have been so stupid?

She had cared about Naruto so much, even back then. But not only had she allowed that to happen to him, she had actually asked that he put himself in that situation. It didn't matter how many times he told her that he would've done the same thing regardless. Sakura refused to accept that. It was far too convenient an escape. To accept it would be a craven act. It was nothing but a lie. For one simple reason.

Doing nothing was not the only other option available to her. She could have told Naruto to be careful. She could have asked him to promise her that he would survive. She could have begged him not to risk himself for Sasuke or for her. She could have used the influence that she had over him for his sake instead of for her own. And there was no way that Naruto could ever convince her that it would have made no difference had she done that instead. It wasn't even worth bringing up. To do so would only hurt both of them.

So she knew the truth.

She had used her emotions and his feelings for her to manipulate him into a situation that could have resulted in his death. And she had done so for her own benefit, and for no other reason. Sakura didn't know if she could ever forgive herself for that. She could risk her life for him a thousand times and it probably wouldn't feel like it was enough. She understood now why Naruto had felt she hadn't really cared about him. What she had done had been so selfish, so very dangerous, perpetrated against someone so precious, and possessed a design that was so dark and sinister... That she was simply beyond redemption.

The only thing that she felt like she could do was to move on for Naruto. And for herself. As long as she could still show him how much she loved him, her heart would remain intact. But if she lost him over this... She didn't want to think about what would become of her. There was nothing that was more terrifying to her than the thought of Naruto hating her.

Naruto...

She turned her head to look at him, even though she knew it would only make her feel worse to see his comforting visage. She saw that she was alone in the bed. She sat up in a panic and looked around the room. As she found that it was empty, her eyes began to water as the pain in her chest got worse.

No... He isn't here... He left me... He's gone... He must have thought about it more... He must have realized how unforgivable it was... How disgusting it was... How cruel and selfish I was... And he couldn't bear to look at me anymore... He probably never wants to see me again... What am I going to do...? I loved him... I loved him so much... He was everything to me... I want him back... Naruto...

The pinkette's hands were clutching the bedsheet. She brought it up to her face. It smelled so much like Naruto. Her insides were twisting into knots. She was quivering as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Naruto..." she choked out.

Sakura covered her face in the thin fabric and sobbed, the aroma reminding her of everything they had shared together. All their experiences training together, being a team, their long history as friends. Their journey to visit Sasuke after the war. How she had shyly shown him how much she loved and trusted him the night before. She wondered why he had changed his mind. She thought he was going to accept her even though she didn't deserve it. She believed him because she knew how caring and generous he was. She wondered what had gone wrong.

"Naruto...! Naruto, I'm so sorry! Please come back! I promise I'll do my best to make it up to you! Please, Naruto!" Sakura wailed.

The bathroom door swung open. Sakura didn't hear or see it as she continued to cry into the crumpled linen, truly distraught. She was surprised when she felt a pair of strong hands take hold of hers, causing the sheet to fall into her lap. She looked up, her eyes meeting the concerned blue orbs of Naruto.

"Sakura-chan... I-" he started to say.

The pinkette leapt off the bed and onto Naruto, latching onto him desperately.

"Naruto... Oh, Naruto... I thought you left... I thought you hated me... I was so terrified... I didn't know what to do... God, Naruto... Don't scare me like that again..."

The surprised Naruto sheepishly put his arms around her, rubbing the top of her head in a comforting way.

"I was in the bathroom... This is my apartment, Sakura-chan. Why would I leave? Wouldn't I have asked you to leave if I was mad at you?"

Sakura blushed and wiped her eyes.

"Shut up... Just don't leave me again, okay?"

Naruto grinned lightly.

"I won't, Sakura-chan. But I do need to get dressed. So you'll have to let go of me at some point."

Sakura shook her head as she lightly swayed while she hung onto him tightly. She had a weary smile on her face.

"Not yet... I'm not done... So stay right where you are."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. She was still in her same state of dress, while he hadn't bothered to put on his shirt before going to the bathroom.

"But... Don't you want to get dressed too?"

Sakura chuckled.

"Nope... This is just fine."

The blonde sighed, a content smile on his face.

Their embrace was full of happiness and love. They didn't ever want to lose what they shared.

But they both knew how wrong she had been. So as he acquiesced to her request, the words that went unspoken were deafening.

It was like the chirping of a thousand birds.