Chapter Three

Friendly Words Of Advice

Uzumaki Naruto could not stand seeing Uchiha Sasuke in such a sorry state, after finding out what was wrong with his beloved rival he realized that he must do something. If there was anything that was in his power to do to make this better, he would do it. The blonde haired kitsune boy had been searching for many different ways to cure the blindness, or in the very least to help Sasuke get over it, and possibley learn a different way to do things. But so far, he had definatly had no luck in his mission and so he was currently sitting back in Ichiraku's starring at the noodles in his bowl as they swirled slowly about. It was weird seeing the blonde this depressed, and rarer still to see such a thoughtfil expression on his features when he was sitting before ramen. Ramen that he had not touched for the last several minutes.

"Naruto kun, are you alright?" Ayame the ramen girl asked Naruto in a concerned voice when she realized that he really had not touched his ramen at all. The kistune boy looked up, looking slightly startled to see Ayame there, like he had totally forgotten that there was a world outside of his thoughts.

"Oh, yeah I guess so," he replied to her half heartedly. Placing an elbow on the counter and his chin in his hand. He stirred the ramen noodles before slurping up a bite and starring off into space again.

"I can tell something's bothering you. And I hate to see you sad. Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?" Ayame asked, sitting on a stool behind the counter to stare at Naruto in that kind and concerned way a friend would. Those that worked at Ichiraku had all come to know and love the crazy blonde who ate there almost every day.

"It's Sasuke. I am sure you heard what happened a couple days ago when he told me he was blind. I hate seeing him so miserable like this... I want to make him happy and get him motivated to fight again but I just can't figure out how too," Naruto responded in a dejected manner. He hated not having ideas, especially considering he pretty much always figured out some way or another to help his friends, especially when it came down to things like this. Seriously not knowing what to do was really eatting away at him inside.

Ayame smiled gentley and patted Naruto's arm. "Maybe you're going about things the wrong way. Don't try to motivate him and make him happy in one go. Why don't you just try to get him to relax first? You know, make him happy before trying to get him to fight again? He's probably really unconfident in himself right now. And if you show him he shouldn't be then maybe that'll help," she suggested to him. She loved helping the blonde haired boy, especially since she had noticed that Naruto had such a crush on Sasuke. It was a shame he had always been to shy to persue it.

Naruto brightened slightly. "You're right. That could be why it's so hard for me to think of anything. I am trying to do two things at once and that's not going to work," Naruto agreed. Sitting up straight and taking another bite of his noodles. This was a good sign indeed. Naruto was cheering up. Ayame felt proud of herself for that accomplishment and it showed in her face by her widening smile. "But what can I do?"

"Why don't you take him to dinner or something?"

Naruto scruntched up his face at that, looking thoughtful but confused. "You mean like on a date?" He asked, though the thought of it made his heart skip a beat he was not going to let Ayame know that he liked the idea of going on a date with Sasuke one whole lot.

"Well it can be just as friends," Ayame said, a little to hastily for Naruto to not get suspicious.

"Why would I want to date him?"

"We can all tell you have a crush on him."

"Is it really that obvious?" Naruto went scarelet and hid behind his ramen bowl, hoping desperately that no one was here to over hear this conversation that would go off and tell the entire town.

"Well it is to me. I don't know about everyone else. But wouldn't a little love in Sasukes life be a good thing? I bet he's just as lonely as you are Naruto. It would never hurt to try," Ayame replied encouragingly. Throwing cation to the wind now that Naruto seemed to be liking the idea. He was cute sometimes.

"But Sasuke doesn't like guys," Naruto protested, looking hopeless.

"How can you say that?"

"Because I just know! Look at the fanclub of girls he's got!"

"But did you ever notice that he's never gone out with one? Or even shown feelings towards them?"

"I guess not..."

"See, you do have a chance," Ayame encouraged him.

Naruto suddenly downed the rest of his ramen and put the empty bowl down. He had already paid so that was not a problem, he had made sure to pay in advance incase he had to run off in a hurry, since that seemed to happen to him a lot. His eyes shined with inspiration. "You're right! Arigatou Ayame san! I gotta go talk to someone. See you later," Naruto said. He darted out of Ichiraku's and down the streets. Who better to talk to about Uchiha Sasuke then Haruno Sakura. Since she had gotten over her crush of the Uchiha when he had left and her total hatred of Naruto, the kitsune boy and the pink haired girl had gotten rather close as friends.

Naruto arrived on Sakura's door step and knocked, grinning widely. Now that he was inspired he sure as hell was going to adress it before it escaped his mind. A very unimpressed Sakura openned the door, her hair was full of curling rollers and her face had some mucky looking mask on it. Naruto yelped and jumped backwards. "Oh my god! Sakura's been eatten by a monster! Don't eat me oh mighty, Sakura eatting monster!" Naruto howled, cowering suddenly on the door step.

"Don't be an idiot Naruto!" Sakura snapped, looking at the shiver orange form on the welcome matt outside their house. Naruto looked up innocently with his big blue eyes, then grinned.

"I couldn't help it... You look so scarey when you're doing that!" Naruto replied sheepishly.

"What do you want?" Sakura asked. It was rare for Naruto to harrass her at her doorstep unless something really urgent was going on.

"I really need your help," Naruto told her, getting so serious it startled the pink haired genin. She waved Naruto into the house when she saw the look in his eyes and closed the door. Walking over to her kitchen she sat down on one of the chairs. Her parents were out shopping so neither of them needed to worry about being over heard.

"What do you need me for?" She asked, resting her chin in her two hands as she starred at Naruto.

"Can you wash that stuff off your face or something first? It's really distracting," Naruto asked, trying not to laugh at her. It was hard to be serious when she had mud plastered all over her face, especially since it was cracking now. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Just hold on," she reponded and walked off to go wash the stuff off of her face. Naruto nosed around her kitchen until she returned with a towel wrapped around her head to keep him from getting distracted by the multi coloured curlers that were still in her hair.

"Okay... I need you to help me... Cause I am going to ask Sasuke out to dinner with me and I don't really know how to do it..." Naruto said, saying it as fast as possible so that he could not back out of it. He felt his stomach do a flip after it had finally escaped his mouth and Sakura just starred at Naruto in confusion.

"You mean like on a date?" Sakura asked dumbly, just starring at Naruto.

"Uh... yeah. Like a date... But I don't know how to ask him and have him say yes and not totally shoot me down," Naruto replied. Sakura burst out laughing and Naruto pouted. "It's not funny. I am serious..."

"I'm sorry Naruto. I know. I just think it's funny you're asking me. The girl who lived for getting shot down by him!" Sakura responded, still sniggering. Naruto scowled and got up.

"Fine. Laugh at me. You'll see!" Naruto snapped, and he started to walk away from her, looking mortally offended that she had laughed.

"No! Naruto come back," Sakura called, catching his shoulder and turning him to face her. "You just caught me off guard is all. I knew this was coming eventually. I was wondering when you'd come out of the bloody closet," Sakura replied, forcing Naruto to sit down. It was his turn to look confused.

"What the hell? Is it really that freakin obvious?" Naruto asked in exasperation. "First Ayame and now you!"

Sakura laughed in response again. "Yeah, Naruto. It is obvious. Now the first thing you gotta do is make sure you catch him off guard. Cause you might have to trick him into it the first time. He's to proud to admit he likes you," Sakura explained, sitting down infront of Naruto and looking excited about this. Since she had gotten over her childish crush of Sasuke she had wanted to set up Naruto and the Uchiha, they were adorable with each other. And they already faught like a married couple so it was perfect.

Naruto seemed to have calmed down again now that he was getting advice and help on this, he was actually sort of surprised to find this sort of support. "Okay. But that'll be easy to do. If I ask him out he'll be caught off guard right away. But I mean where should we go?" Naruto responded.

"Not Ichiraku's," Sakura replied instantly. Naruto grinned sheepishly, laughing and scratching the back of his neck. "Okay. He really likes sushi. So here's how you should do it all..."

Sorry for the really long wait on the update but I really just was haveing hell in life. As I warned you somewhere at some point. I know I warned you somewhere. My updates did not happen as I would have liked them too and this chapter is just as short (or shorter) as the other ones. So sorry for that but I didn't want to spoil to much about their date to come.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Sorry again for the lack of updates and thank you for all the reveiws I love hearing you're thoughts on this.