disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.

Chapter 7: Downpours and Dates

As quickly as the days passed, the weather changed from crisp sunny days to dark and threatening rain. For two days the skies had been gathering dark clouds, and as Naruto sniffed the air, he could sense the downpour would be in less than a day. Since puberty and his developments of Kyuubi's power, he'd become more attune to nature and his surroundings. He still didn't get the deal with a lot of people, but he could smell emotions. He had tried to explain that to Sakura once, who thought he was playing games. But even as he sniffed for the rain, he could tell Sakura was struggling inwardly. She looked calm as they leapt through the trees, her pink locks strewn back by the chilly wind. Naruto didn't have to sniff anything to known she was angry at Sasuke.

"Hey, Sakura. How about some ramen? My treat?" Naruto grinned nervously.

"Whatever." She changed direction to head for Ichiraku Ramen. The meal wouldn't make her talk, but Naruto always somehow put her in a better mood by the end. They didn't eat together often, but ever since the first time they ate just before Sasuke left for Otogakure, Sakura had been willing to eat a bowl occasionally with Naruto. Naruto had even ceased to think of them as "dates."

It was early afternoon and they had just finished a mission to help rebuild a clan's village destroyed by arson fire. Sasuke had been silent and broody as usual, but when Sakura asked for his help lifting several boards, he'd told her to make a kage bunshin and do it herself, knowing very well that Sakura couldn't do kage bunshin. She'd tried to argue back, but Sasuke had been cruel. Naruto hadn't witnessed it, but he heard the story from Kiba, who heard it from Akamaru. Which meant the account probably wasn't entirely accurate. But Sasuke had said something to Sakura that had pissed her off. Naruto understood he needed time before he could truly be Sasuke again, but lately he'd been more cranky. And that just irritated Naruto.

Sasuke and Kaori. Naruto knew people found him to be annoying, but at this time he was finding annoying-ness to be...annoying. He sighed inwardly and put on his cheerful attitude. Sakura needed Naruto to be himself.

As bowls of ramen were placed in front of them, Naruto tapped the side of Sakura's with his chopsticks.

"At least you're not always on a diet like Ino is," Naruto said happily. "Because then I wouldn't know how to treat you!"

Sakura allowed him a smile. "Thank you, Naruto. One of these days I promise to treat you to a bowl."

"Do the 'nice guy' pose." Naruto watched, hoping she'd humour him. Sakura smirked, then gave him a thumbs up and a wink.

"I promise."

Naruto watched her eat for a moment before digging in. The noodles were hot but oh-so-tasty. The warmth the soup put in his stomach made him very happy indeed. He often wondered if it was just his favourite food on the earth or if the fox demon itself had been partial to noodles. More likely partial to chakra noodles. Naruto nearly choked at the image of Kyuubi holding chopsticks with its tails and shoveling blue chakra noodles into its red chakra stomach. Naruto peeked at the demon's reaction. Only the eyes were visible through the gate, and they didn't look amused.

You want to know what I'm partial to? Jinchuuriki...

"Naruto?"

Naruto came back to the ramen shop, an expectant look on his face. Sakura looked mad.

"Why does Sasuke hate me?" Her hands were shaking, and Naruto realized she was struggling not to cry.

"I, uh-"

"I've tried not to be like I used to around him; I try to give him space. I still...I mean I can't...I've changed since he last new me, Naruto, but he just refuses to see that. If anything, he treats me worse than before. But even though he's cruel..." The tears fell. "I can't stop loving him."

Naruto gave her a look of pity. "Listen, Sakura. We've all changed since we last saw each other. No one really knows what made Sasuke change, and I still wonder sometimes what made him decide to leave in the first place. All I know is, things take time."

"But it's been nearly a year!" Sakura burst out, then quickly composed herself.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said quietly, staring at his empty bowl. "Things take time. When I was alone, I thought it would be for forever. Even after I found you guys, Team Kakashi, I was afraid you'd leave me alone too. It took time for me to trust my heart to others." Naruto turned and gave her a small smile. "Maybe you let Sasuke have your heart too easily."

Sakura started, shocked by his last words. She in turn stared at her own ramen bowl, still quite full.

"Kaori has problems trusting people too," Naruto said suddenly. He didn't know why he felt he should mention her, but he did. "She's my friend now, but she's still so distant. She's been alone all her life, longer than I have, and she's afraid. But she needs time." Naruto took Sakura's hand in his. "Gaara once told me that injuries of the heart take a long time to heal. Sasuke's been hurt, Kaori's been hurt, you and I have been hurt. But Gaara also said the ointment for a heart is love. Sakura...I love you. As my friend. Maybe what Sasuke needs is your love...as a friend."

Sakura's eyes grew wide, and the last of her tears trickled out. "Naruto..."

Feeling quite awkward at the entire situation, Naruto jumped back into a more comfortable attitude.

"Are you gonna eat the rest of that?"

Sakura shook her head and pushed it towards him. She stood purposefully.

"Thank you, Naruto. For everything. I need to go."

Maybe what Sasuke needs is your love...as a friend. Sakura never dreamed Naruto could have such deep thoughts. All over a bowl of ramen too. Perhaps not today, but she would show Sasuke that he couldn't mess with her anymore. She was going to treat him like she did Naruto, though maybe less like an idiot as Sasuke was a genius.

Sakura stopped. Standing outside her house was Kaori. Actually, it looked like she was snoozing.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, startling Kaori to wakefulness.

"Ah geez! Oh, um, Sakura-san. Konnichiwa. Um...I have a problem..."

Sakura waited.

"And you were the only one I could think of to help."

Sakura unlocked her door, still waiting. Kaori fidgeted madly.

"Would you like to come inside?" she asked politely.

Kaori nodded, looking around like she was expecting a follower. Sakura was alarmed but she kept her cool and shut the door calmly. She doubled the lock just in case. Even inside Kaori was nervous.

"What's wrong, Kaori-san?"

"How are you today, Sakura?" Kaori said dodgingly.

"Uh, not so great. Do you need something?"

Kaori twiddled her fingers. "Have you heard that Suzume-sensei is teaching me kunoichi basics?"

"Naruto mentioned something about it. Yes."

"Well, uh, for the final test, she wants to do a dinner setting to test me. And this includes...wearing a dress."

"And you don't have a dress," Sakura realized.

Kaori shook her head vehemently. "I've never owned a dress in my life, much less wore one. I didn't know who else I could come to for help."

"Hm, come to my room." Sakura led Kaori towards her closet, in which she shuffled around a bit. "You're a bit bigger than me, height and weight-wise. Uh, no offense."

"Why would I be offended?"

"It's just that most girls...nevermind. This is a little big for me and might fit you. Otherwise, that's all I have to offer." Sakura pulled out a sparkling pink dress. It would have come just above her knees. Kaori stared at it in disgust.

"It's sparkly," she snorted.

"Yes."

"And pink."

"Um, yes?"

"I can't do pink. Maybe sparkly, but not pink!"

"What's wrong with pink?"

Kaori eyed Sakura's hair. "Oh well nothing wrong with the colour, but on me...yeah."

"I think you'll look fine. Just try it on." Sakura threw the dress at her and left the bedroom and closed the door. She went to the bathroom to clean up from the mission, feeling quite irritated. Yet it was also funny. Even Naruto could be more feminine than that Kaori.

Sakura turned when she heard a growl of exasperation at the door. In the mirror she could see that the pink sparkly dress wouldn't work. Kaori's hips stretched the fabric and pulled the hem up to mid-thigh. She wasn't fat, but she was slender either. And her breasts were bulging through the neckline in a painful-looking manner.

"How did you even get that on?" Sakura asked.

"I can't breath," Kaori whined. "I'm not wearing this."

"I agree." When Kaori had retired to the bedroom, Sakura allowed herself a smile. This could actually be fun. She had a plan that could possibly work, but only if Kaori was willing to do it.

"You don't seem too enthused," Sakura commented. "Do you have to dress up?"

Kaori grinned sneakily. "Suzume-sensei told me to, but the only reason I'm willing to do it is because Iruka is."

"Huh? Iruka-sensei's dressing up?" Sakura tried to picture him out of his Chuunin uniform, but no such image would form. "This makes it all more interesting. I want to see."

Kaori sighed. "That's another reason why I came to you; I knew Naruto would do anything to see Iruka-sensei and I all dolled up. It's too troublesome."

Sakura smiled. "I have a plan, Kaori, and now things'll work out great."

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Kaori snuck into a formal wear store while Sakura headed towards Ino's house. She would meet Sakura the next afternoon for make-up. Which would be loathsome, but dressing up meant the whole package. Including shoes. Kaori groaned inwardly at the idea of tottering on heels. She just kept imagining Iruka dressed up and kept going.

She was completely out of place in the store, so when a young woman came to greet her, she didn't even notice who it was until she said something.

"Oh, you're Naruto-kun's...friend?" she said quietly.

"Hello, uh..." Crap.

"Hinata. I don't blame you for forgetting."

"Ah, no that's not it. I'm horrible at everyone's names. I don't even remember Naruto's friend's name. The real moody guy?"

"Sasuke?"

"I guess."

"May I help you with something Kaori-san?"

Kaori blushed, but she managed to spill her story to the shy girl. Hinata seemed very confident in what she was doing, for she immediately led Kaori to the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen. It was a dark blue with a sheer cloth cover that looked like very finely-made webbing. The dress was strapless, but the mannequin had a scarf that matched the webbing around its neck.

"It's sort of an odd dress, but I think it would look wonderful on you. It would make your eyes look more blue than grey. The price..." Hinata held it out to her.

Kaori's jaw dropped and her eyes popped. Ouch. "Um, here's the deal that Sakura and I worked out. We don't know how much power you'd have over this sort of thing, but if I promise to keep it in mint condition and return it as such, could I borrow it for one night? The payment would be...heh, we'd arrange a date with Naruto for you."

Hinata gasped and flushed a deep red. "I-i-i don't know..."

"Ah, it was worth a shot," Kaori sighed, touching the coverlet. It felt wonderful in her calloused hands. Even if she had been able to seal a bargain, could she really keep her word and return a fancy dress in mint condition?

"It's a deal," Hinata said firmly.

Kaori looked at her in surprise. "Really?"

Hinata tapped her forefingers together. "You caught me by surprise. I've pictured Naruto asking me out so many times, I never figured someone would try to set us up."

"Sakura figured it would mean a lot to you. Enough to let me wear the dress tomorrow evening. The date would be set up for during that time."

"Does Naruto-kun know?" Hinata asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

Kaori grinned. "Nope, and that's a good thing. You'll see." And with that Kaori unraveled the plans she and Sakura had already put into action.