You guys probably forgot President's Day even existed. I always do. History of any sort was never my strong suite... That's all the rhyming you'll get from the Author's notes. Part of the reason I pushed for this chapter at all, was to not only have an excuse to put those two in a situation directly after one of Sakura's schemes, but to also have an excuse for a third chapter this month. Apparently At the moment, before this chapter has even been posted, I have about the same number of viewers as last month, but 3 times the views. Last month, which would really be the first full month of this account even existing, and it had the same number of views as it did visitors. Meaning that, WAY more people are actually getting attached and wanting to actually come back to read the story. And this is before I've even posted this one. So we'll see where this chapter takes us. If you couldn't see it coming, this chapter will be more of a reset, so I can start chapter 10 wherever I want. Love you guys. Please keep reviewing and reading. I promise not to disappoint fully with uploading chapters... maybe...

ENJOY THE SHOW!


2/15/2021

Something else we've all wanted to see, the next-next holiday episode. Enjoy it while it lasts, it's gonna be a long bumpy road. But we're not here to talk on the author's lack of discipline. she's a drug pony who no more feels the effect of Ritalin. Like it or not, much to the audience's dismay, the inconsistent posting schedule is here to stay. And while no one really cares about this chapter's delay, we are gathered here today to celebrate a very late President's Day. Will Sakura just flat out be too much for Naruto to handle? His nerves are already bad from yesterday's scandal. He walked down, and again, she stood in front of the door. But this time she's dressed in Abraham Lincoln galore. Of course, he wasn't going to acknowledge it, not even a good costume. Just a gross beard, suit, tie, and top hat from some dusty back room. He slowly walked to her and held in his breath. If anything, she was going to be the death... of him... AGAIN!

"..."

"Oh my god, Naruto! It's been sooooo long! How have you been?"

"..."

"Oh Naruto, you'll never change."

"..."

This time Naruto commits to HIS bit, the variety of ignoring elephants. The metaphorical one or the pink haired snobby S.O.B. excrement. Sometimes she opens her mouth and dirt just flies through her maw. What she sees as personality through her eyes, just flaw... after flaw... after flaw...

"Are you busy right now?"

"No, Sakura. Why don't you give me a long-winded monologue about how you're doing, complete with an obnoxious amount of exposition, and an unbearable amount of political commentary?"

"..."

"..."

In a rare "gotcha" moment, Sakura is clearly unprepared. Naruto's ignored her outfit again, so she's just left to stare. And now that she has Naruto's full attention, she can't run with it in any direction. Is Naruto's petty indifference dooming her to fail? Has Naruto finally taken the wind out of her sails?

"Actually? I don't think I will."

"Come on, Sakura... tell me." *nudges her arm*

"No... now I'm not going to. You just have to ruin people's fun, don't you?"

"Oooooooooh, what's wrong, Sakura? Does your pre-made fake story that you designed specifically for this conversation not meet my aforementioned criteria? Or are you suddenly becoming self-aware and are now trying to avoid blowing my already incredibly low expectations out of the water even more."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Extraordinary, it's amazing how much one miscalculation would cost. You think the Mars Climate Orbiter was a waste, you should see what Sakura has lost. Naruto's not really sure what she's even trying to prove, but Naruto, for once, doesn't intend to move.

"Ooooh you're real quiet now. I thought you said 'it'S gONNa BE aTleaST 18.' Has your dumb stance changed already?"

"Well now I think it's gonna be 19. It might end up being 25 if you keep that up."

"Oh really? How so?"

"Don't think I've forgotten how you treated me yesterday. Not to mention the other day where you dropped your phone."

"And what about it, Sakura?"

"Well, if I'm being honest... I think I deserve an apology."

"...?"

"..."

Naruto fully caught off guard, was Sakura serious? She knows she's not getting one, she's not THAT delirious. Well it at the very least lines up with her vibe, demanding friendly retribution was clearly her tribe.

"...an apology... to you...?"

"Yeah! You went off on me yesterday for no reason. And the other day, you were telling me to shut up, and yelling at me. And I really have no earthly idea what I have done to deserve such treatment."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"You know... silence isn't an apology... It counts as acknowledgement that YOU were in the wrong... but-"

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but do you truly-truly-truly believe that you deserve a real apology?"

"I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want one."

"No, Sakura. I mean, do you really REALLY want an apology? Because this thing right here, this is getting out of hand."

"Come on, let's just get our apologies out of the way, and get this nastiness between us dissipated."

"..."

"..."

Naruto had decided that he was here to make it clear* that the on and off ambiguity needed to disappear. So, he collected his thoughts, so that he could truly apologize. Sakura couldn't do it alone, as much as she tries. It was time to let her in and start arranging to make amends. He did have something to apologize for, this bitterness needed to end.

*Sigh* "...Oh alright."

"..."

"I apologize... to you... for how big your damn forehead is."

"..."

"I'm also sorry for how greedy and obnoxious you are."

"..."

"And I'm reeeeeaaally sorry about your constant need to interrogate and instigate in the name of you having quite literally nothing better to do, than bothering me."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"But, I'm most sorry of all about your filthy, underhanded, evil, attention-whore, backstabbing ways. From the depths of MY heart, you're number one desperate-for-attention-neighbor fan, Naruto Uzumaki."

It was pretty obvious that this wasn't going to go to Sakura's favor. She's the one who should apologize for all her misbehavior. And so, the battle of petty silence permeates the hallway again. Naruto got her good this time and foiled her plans. Naruto, now finding himself the victor of this match, can walk into his apartment, baring no scar or scratch. But he wasn't going to leave like that, Sakura never has. No, he was gonna enjoy it a minute longer, he really torched her ass.

"..."

"..."

"..."

None the wiser, Naruto had waited long enough. The look on Sakura's face showed her defeat was extremely rough. That wasn't his problem though, in fact, it was her own fault really. The best thing she could've done was stay in her lane ideally.

"I think I'll be going now."

As he closed the door with a familiar goodbye, Sakura loses her chance to keep fighting for what's right. A rude awakening, Sakura's will has now come undone. She's now finding herself back at square one.

3-4 = 0-1 in Sakura's book. She has lost her lead; despite the creative risk she took. She only has herself to blame, this wasn't as planned out* as Valentine's Day. And the costume a huge waste, no doubt.

Naruto had gone and locked the door. A slide, 2 clanks, and a pop sound here or there. Waging war against the Uzumaki has proven a risky affair.

To add insult to injury, Naruto being a complete troll, he stuck his blue retina into the door's peephole.

Sakura, flustered and annoyed, admitted that he won this round. But Sakura's down, and not out, she just couldn't give up now.

As she moved into her own apartment, she gave a look that said-

"This isn't over yet!"

Naruto Uzumaki, do you even have a secret?


Part of the reason that this, and the previous chapter were so late, was because I was simultaneously editing chapter 8, Hold Me chapter 2 (and 3), and also redoing this chapter. I didn't like Sakura winning every damn time she puts on an outfit. Also this chapter ended with Sakura deadass being lowkey homophobic, and I'm gonna wait til a later chapter to bring on that plot piece. There is a reason, I promise. But I did have to recognize that people were actually reading this, so I cut back a little. Also needed the reset, because I have NO IDEA what I want chapter 10 to be, all I know is that it'll be out by the end of March... Reading reviews is a big motivator though, so if you like the story, definitely leave one. Also, I finally got section breaks to work, sorry if that annoyed you about previous chapters.