After some time, Sakura sat up in the bed and stretched. She looked over at Naruto. He was still gazing at her tenderly.

"Hey, Naruto," she said.

He smiled softly at her.

"What's up, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.

Sakura smiled as well.

"I'm gonna go take a shower now. I do have to work today, but they don't expect me until the afternoon since we had a mission."

Naruto nodded.

"Sure, Sakura-chan. Make yourself at home."

The pinkette slowly got out of bed. Naruto blushed lightly at the sight of her nude form in the sunlight. He politely looked away as she picked up her clothes. Sakura glanced over at him and grinned at his shy behavior before walking into the bathroom.

"I'll be right back," Sakura said as she was closing the door.

"Okay."

As Naruto heard the sound of running water, he smiled to himself. He didn't think his life had ever been any better.

/

Sakura's parents were sitting at the table in their dining room eating a simple breakfast, still dressed in their nightclothes. Kizashi set down his utensils and looked over at his wife.

"I checked her room, and it looks like Sakura didn't return from her mission last night. What do you think happened?" he asked.

Mebuki pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"I'm sure nothing happened. It wasn't a dangerous mission. She probably wanted to spend more time with Naruto-kun," she replied.

Kizashi frowned.

"I like the boy, but don't you think they're getting too close?"

The pink-haired woman looked at him with seriousness.

"You need to try to understand. Sakura is just like me. When she loves someone, she doesn't go about it half-heartedly. She puts everything she has into being there for that person. Don't worry about it. Naruto-kun thinks the world of her. I know she'll never be hurt by him."

Kizashi sighed.

"I know that. They've always been teammates. But I still don't like it."

Mebuki frowned.

"Well, you'll have to get used to it. You'd better not give Sakura a hard time when she returns. It'll just upset her."

Kizashi nodded reluctantly.

/

When Sakura had finished in the bathroom, she dressed and came out to see that Naruto had fallen asleep again. She smiled seeing that he looked even more peaceful than he usually did. She decided not to wake him. The pinkette walked into the kitchen. She was a bit hungry. She looked through the cabinets at all the various colorful ramen packages. She frowned. She really didn't feel like eating ramen yet again.

She finally noticed an unopened box of pancake mix sitting in a corner. Clearly it had been there for some time. She highly doubted Naruto had syrup, but she decided to make them anyway. She put water in one of the larger ramen bowls and added about half the box to it. She then put a saucepan on the stove and turned the fire on. She stirred the mix while she waited for the pan to heat. She checked the refrigerator. He had butter, at least.

Some time later, Naruto opened his eyes. There was a sweet smell wafting into the room. He got up and put on his pajama bottoms and a shirt before entering the kitchen.

His eyes widened to see Sakura standing next to a tray of pancakes that were fairly large, buttered, and stacked about half a foot high. She heard him enter and turned the stove off before turning to look at him with a casual smile.

"Oh, Naruto! I was about to wake you. I was hungry, so I decided to make these. Sorry, I really didn't feel like ramen..." Sakura said.

The blonde was still gazing at her with wide eyes. Gears were turning inside his head. She looked at him quizzically.

"... Naruto?" she prodded.

Naruto blinked a few times before finally smiling.

"Sakura-chan... You're so amazing."

Her expression grew more confused.

"Naruto, pancakes are pretty easy to make. Did you ever try reading the box? That's what I did."

Naruto shook his head.

"No... I could never be as amazing as you, Sakura-chan. You're so great at everything. You don't have to be modest."

Sakura laughed at the absurdity of the situation. If it were anyone other than Naruto, she would be sure that she was being made fun of.

"Haha. Okay, whatever. How many do you want?"

Naruto grinned.

"Just take however many you want. I'll have the rest."

The pinkette nodded.

"Okay."

She got another smaller plate and put a few of the pancakes on it. She was about to take out another plate until Naruto spoke.

"No, that's alright. I'll just take the tray."

Sakura chuckled sensibly.

"Haha. That's just like you, Naruto."

They both sat down at the table and started eating in a comfortable silence. Sakura finished what was on her plate in a few minutes. She looked up at Naruto. She frowned to see that he'd only eaten about half of them. He couldn't have been eating at his usual ravenous pace.

"Doesn't it taste okay, Naruto?" Sakura asked.

Naruto looked up at her.

"Yeah, it tastes great. They're really good."

She cocked her head at him.

"It's just that you usually eat much faster than this."

The blonde blushed lightly. He looked down at the half-finished tray.

"Well... It's just that I don't want this to end. Everything is so wonderful with you, Sakura-chan. I don't want to rush through any of it... Especially not something that you made... I'm sorry if it seems like I'm being silly."

Sakura's eyes widened. She blushed as well.

"Oh, Naruto... I wouldn't want it any other way."

They both smiled. They talked casually as he finished eating. When he had finished, Sakura spoke up.

"Hey, soon I'm gonna need to go back home so that I can change into my work clothes," she explained.

Naruto nodded and stood up.

"Okay. I'll get changed so that I can walk you there."

Sakura looked at him with concern.

"You really don't have to, Naruto."

The blonde grinned.

"But I want to. I just love spending time with you, Sakura-chan. I can't help it. If you want me to stop, you'll have to tell me to go away."

Sakura grinned back at him.

"I could never do that, though. So I guess we're stuck. You should hurry up."

Naruto nodded.

"Okay. Be right back."

He rushed off to get changed. Sakura sighed nostalgically. Some things would always stay the same.

/

The couple were walking together to Sakura's parents' home. Sakura turned to look at Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto, I'm concerned about something," she said.

He looked at her with interest.

"What's that, Sakura-chan?"

The pinkette regarded him seriously.

"I'm happy about what we did... Really, I am. But I'd prefer it if no one else knew about it for a while. My parents really like you, but they might not understand. I mean, my mom probably wouldn't care, but I don't think my dad would be happy about it. So don't tell anyone that we're lovers now, Naruto."

Naruto nodded.

"I would never tell anyone. That would be really disrespectful towards you, Sakura-chan. I could never do that."

Sakura smiled.

"Okay. Thanks, Naruto."

Her eyes widened after a moment.

"Oh, crap. We forgot to report back to Kakashi-sensei," she said.

"Well, do you want to go do that now?"

Sakura nodded.

"Yeah, let's go. It would probably be best if I'm still wearing my kunoichi gear when we report."

They went to the Hokage Tower at a quick pace.

/

When they arrived, Shizune had been expecting them for some time, so she quickly let them enter. Kakashi put his book down and looked up at them as they entered. The pair greeted him and Sakura stepped forward. She handed over the official mission report. Kakashi put the Hokage hat on as he started to read it. After a few moments, he frowned.

"Sakura, I'm very disappointed. I won't be docking your pay, but you should know that you just cost Naruto a promotion. I am certain that had you gone into detail as you were supposed to, I would have found his conduct exemplary enough to merit one. But since you didn't put it in the report, I can't justify it. I sincerely apologize, Naruto," the white-haired man explained.

Sakura's eye was twitching. She didn't understand how Kakashi could possibly have known. Surely it couldn't have been a lucky guess.

"What the hell... Have you been spying on us, Sensei? How could you have known?" she asked.

He looked up from the paper and smirked invisibly at her.

"I didn't... Until now, when you just told me. Maybe Naruto will be getting that promotion after all."

Sakura glared at him with a furious blush on her face. Naruto's face wasn't much better off.

"Naruto... We're leaving now."

She grabbed the blonde's arm and started to drag him out. He offered no resistance. Kakashi made a small note on the mission paper before returning to his book.

/

Naruto followed Sakura as she walked to her house in a huff.

"Well, so much for no one finding out," she said.

Naruto smiled nervously at her.

"Kakashi-sensei wouldn't tell anyone. He's just a pervert. He wanted to know for that reason. Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan."

The pinkette looked back at him and seeing his nervous smile, she found it hard to stay angry. She let out a long sigh.

"I guess you're right. But you're not the one who would look bad, Naruto, I would. People might think I'm a... loose woman, or something. They'd think that I did it so that you would stay with me. Especially considering the whole thing with Hinata. I just really didn't want anyone to know."

Naruto looked a little distressed at this.

"So... Do you regret it, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura shook her head.

"No. I could never... When it comes to you, I'll never regret anything. I refuse to apologize for anything that I do for you. Because it's you, Naruto. You should understand how I feel by now."

Naruto smiled softly.

"Yeah... I do."

/

Eventually, they had made it to the home of Sakura's parents. As they were standing outside, the pinkette suddenly embraced Naruto.

"I really love you, Naruto. I can't tell you how much. Please don't ever leave me. I don't know what I'd do without you," Sakura said shakily.

Naruto was frowning lightly when they pulled apart.

"Sakura-chan, you know I feel the same way about you. So I don't like seeing you act so vulnerable. You're too amazing for that," he said.

She smiled weakly at him.

"I know you do. I guess I'm just being paranoid. I'll see you later, Naruto."

He smiled back.

"Okay. I love you, Sakura-chan."

They waved at each other as Sakura entered her home. When she closed the door, he finally walked off, a wistful look on his face.

/

Sakura explained to her parents that she had been staying with Naruto. Neither of them questioned her about it, which was something she found strange. She quickly went up to her room and changed into her hospital garb. Then she headed to work. They still weren't expecting her for a half hour or so, but she figured she may as well make sure that everything was going smoothly without her. Her position at the hospital was actually quite an important one. She had been the most talented medical ninja there ever since Tsunade stopped attending.

She rounded a corner and bumped into someone.

"Oh, pardon me," Sakura said softly.

The pinkette looked up and saw that it was Kiba. His eyes were as wide as saucers.

"You've gotta be kidding me," he said.

Sakura was reminded of a conversation she had with him upon returning to Konoha with Naruto.

"You've gotta be kidding me."

"What do you mean?"

The dog ninja was glaring at Sakura angrily.

"I mean, how could you do this? You've had years... YEARS, to be with that idiot Naruto. He's always been wrapped around your little finger. But you never wanted to be with him. Yet now, when Hinata finally got him to look at her, something she's been trying to do for her whole life, you want to be with him? What the hell is your problem? Are you just a bitch?"

Sakura flinched. She looked at him seriously.

"Listen, I'm sorry if Hinata was hurt. And I can't do anything about the past. But I love Naruto, and I want to be with him. It might not be fair to Hinata. In fact, I'm sure that it isn't. But I can't help the fact that I love him. And he loves me. I'm sorry if she can't accept that. But I don't see what business it is of yours."

Kiba turned his head dismissively and spat on the ground. Akamaru jumped away from the spittle. The Inuzuka looked back at the pinkette derisively.

"So, the answer is that you're just a bitch?"

She scowled.

"Get away from me, Kiba."

"Gladly. I don't want anything to do with someone like you. I hope Naruto comes to his senses."

With that, Kiba stomped off. The pinkette sighed tiredly.

Sakura tilted her head at Kiba's shocked expression.

"... What do you mean?"

Kiba narrowed his eyes at her.

"You know exactly what I mean. Don't act innocent. You've only been with him for what, three weeks at most? Sasuke isn't going to want you if he knows where Naruto has been. You don't understand male rivalry if you expect him to even look twice at you anymore."

The pinkette found herself scowling much like she had in their first encounter.

"Well, it's still no business of yours. And how on earth did you know? I took a shower."

Kiba shook his head.

"You can't fool the nose of an Inuzuka. If anything, that just made it easier to detect. His scent is only mixed with one particular scent of yours. It couldn't be any more obvious."

She gaped at him.

"You mean... You can smell... Wow, that's disgusting, Kiba. If you're smart, you'll never tell Hinata what you just told me."

The dog ninja frowned.

"Well, I know one thing that I'm going to be telling Hinata. She still has hope that Naruto will come around. It's obvious that he won't. You've got him eating out of your hand."

Sakura sighed.

"Fine, tell Hinata. Just don't tell anyone else. I have enough problems as it is."

Kiba frowned more deeply.

"Why should I do you any favors?"

Sakura glared at him.

"It's not a favor, it's common courtesy. If you do, I'll make sure you regret it. I'll tell Naruto, who will tell Hinata, and then she'll know what a dipshit you are."

Kiba rolled his eyes before giving her a cold stare.

"This is great. I'm being blackmailed by the girl who is having sex with the guy Hinata loves. She's going to take advantage of the way Hinata feels about him to hurt me. Even though she's hurting Hinata more than anyone else ever has. Even though she's fucking the guy Hinata loves, she's going to make me the bad guy in the eyes of Hinata!"

His voice got louder as he went on. Sakura looked around nervously.

"Would you keep your voice down?"

Kiba lowered his voice and spoke more quietly, but with even more irritation.

"Sure, 'Sakura-chan.' I have to leave anyway. Have fun with everything else."

He stormed off. Sakura stared after him for a moment before hurrying to get to her workplace.

/

After the pinkette had arrived at the hospital, she only got the chance to work for about an hour before it was already time for lunch. She wasn't very hungry. Everything had been going wrong since she had left Naruto's apartment. She filled a tray and sat down at a table anyway, picking at her food. A few minutes later, Ino came in and waved at her. Sakura nodded back. The blonde woman sat down across from her.

"Hey there, Forehead. I missed you when you were on your mission. How was it?" Ino asked.

Sakura sighed.

"The mission was fine, Ino-pig. It was wonderful, actually. I showed Naruto how much I cared about him," she replied morosely.

Ino looked at her confusedly.

"If that's the case, why do you seem so stressed out?"

Sakura gave the blonde a somber look.

"Because, after we got home, I showed him how much I cared about him again... In a different way. And now things are getting complicated."

Ino's eyes widened.

"Wow, really? I guess I knew it was going to happen because of the jutsu and all, but I didn't think it would be this soon. You actually beat me. I thought for sure I would have been the one... You're really something, Forehead."

Sakura nodded.

"I mean, I don't regret it. Not at all. But it feels like there are going to be problems now."

Ino tilted her head at her.

"You mean, with Naruto? Wasn't he happy with it?"

Sakura sighed.

"Not with him. Naruto could never be a problem for me. It's everyone else. Everyone seems to care so much about my being with him. And for some reason, something like this is impossible to keep a secret."

Ino frowned.

"You mean... Kiba and Hinata, then?"

Sakura frowned as well.

"Yeah, I already talked to Kiba. I'm sure I'm going to end up talking to Hinata. And my parents will definitely find out. They always do. And no one understands. Hardly anyone understands how strongly I feel about Naruto."

The blonde watched her with sympathy.

"Well, they'll have to get over it, Forehead. Naruto loves you and you love him. No one can take that away from you. Not Hinata, not your parents, and certainly not Kiba."

Sakura crossed her arms on the table and rested her head on them.

"It's fine whenever I'm with Naruto. It's great, even. I couldn't be happier. But the second he's gone, everything starts to fall to pieces."

Ino smirked.

"Well, why don't you move in with him, then?"

The pinkette chuckled.

"Haha. My parents would react even worse to that than they will to this. I'd rather not give my dad a heart attack."

Ino shook her head.

"No, I'm serious, Forehead. You need Naruto. He's like your teddy bear, or something. You are a giant ball of stress without him."

Sakura sighed.

"Well, you're right. I don't know how I even survived before. I really can't live without him, Ino."

Ino watched her seriously.

"Give it some thought, Forehead. I really think that it would be for the best. It would make Naruto happy too, right?"

Sakura smiled softly.

"Yeah, he would be ecstatic."

Ino continued to observe the subdued pinkette.

"So why not, then? I just don't see why you shouldn't."

Sakura gave her a blank look.

"I guess I'll think about it. Thanks, Ino-pig."

Ino grinned.

"Anytime. That's what I'm here for, Forehead. You'd better be there when I'm the one who needs the advice."

Sakura laughed.

"Haha. Of course. You can count on me."