It took a minute. And I'm willing to admit that, while it's only a day later than I had wanted, it's still late-ish in terms of my deadlines. Anyway, this chapter will wrap up the introduction arc. And I promise at least two more chapters will be out by the end of March. I want to say more will come out, but my energy will be placed in school midterms projects, and a possible 10,000 word chapter for my other fanfic. I'm glad you guys are sticking with me. And also, when I posted the last chapter, the stats that I was bragging about in the beginning author's notes were doubled by the time February ended. And I'm ready to start March off right! Thank you guys for reading, the reviews so far have been positive and there have been a lot of people reading the new chapters, so I take it as a good sign. Just remember to keep reviewing, it motivates and sustains me.

Onto the show :D


The story of a lifetime about to unfold. A boy, a girl, and a secret to be told. But this is not a fairy tale filled with love and laughter; for this is a chapter with no "happily ever after." Let's introduce our heroes and the daring plot, the mystery that Naruto is hiding and whatnot. Will they stand to live aside one another, without borders? Or will it come down to an excessive restraining order? Who knows where this is going? I'm willing to bet* that Sakura's gonna find out eventually, she's not giving up yet. A crooked tale of boy meets whale, will it entail an epic fail? (I don't know okay?) Does Sakura have on an outfit? No, to the contrary. Nothing in this moment seems out of the ordinary. That isn't stopping Naruto from glaring, very wary* of Sakura. Even with no costume, she's the very scary hairy dairy carrying fairy... XD

"..."

"..." *chuckle*

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, the Narrator just made me chuckle a bit."

"The what did what?"

"..."

"..."

Well I guess they're just not going to talk about Sakura apparently being omnipotent. Naruto doesn't truly understand, she just seems like a crazy rodent... to him... damn it...

"Oh Naruto... this is RIDICULOUS!"

"..."

"Naruto... what's going on? Every time I try to talk to you... you just flutter away."

"..."

"I'm not a ghost Naruto, why are you looking at me like that? You're not SCARED of me, ARE YOU?"

*Sigh* "Really, Sakura? Are you really gonna give up that easily? This is so uncreative and stupid what you're doing right now."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not giving up... I'm standing right here."

"..."

"..."

*Groans and pinches bridge of his nose*

"Sakura... I'm not gonna be apart of some big dumb loop in my life just to make you happy."

"Well maybe it wouldn't be a big dumb loop around anything if SOMEONE worked through HIS issues quicker. I mean, I'm not gonna tell you how to live your life. But... you know me... I'm not gonna sit around not doing anything at all. I'm gonna have my fun Naruto."

"...?"

"..."

"What the hell does that have to do with anything? What the hell does that even mean? You're not gonna judge me on how to live my life, but you ARE gonna judge me? I don't need you in my life, Sakura!"

"Well then let go, I'm not the one forcing anything, you can just go crawling back into your room."

"..."

"Regardless of what you do, I'm gonna have my fun, and live life. This type of conversation, this kinda energy, I don't need it. I give out positivity. I'm really only here to help you, Naruto."

"You haven't helped anything, in case you've forgotten, I now have a broken phone thanks to you."

"You mean thanks to your rash decision?"

"I meant what I said!"

"Need I remind you that every time I've met with you, I'm the one initiating a friendly conversation. I even invited you to my apartment the first chance I got, still waiting on an invite Naruto."

"..."

"Oh, it's okay. I understand... It would just be nice to… you know… have the invitation. You know…. I mean we did have somewhat of a conversation when I invited you to my apartment three months ago to welcome you to this apartment. And-and, you could return the favor…?"

"...?"

"…Of course, you're not OBLIGATED to…. reciprocate, but it would be nice to know that we're on good terms Naruto. Sometimes it feels like..." *Squints*

"?"

"..."

"Sakura, please stop. You know I don't wanna revisit memories of you right now. I don't even wanna look at you."

"Well, your door is right there, LEAVE!"

"...?"

"..."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what this is all about; what are you really after Sakura?"

"I think I've made it obvious; you're stuck in a loop of not being friendly and I'm stuck in a loop of reaching out. I'm not gonna stop, maybe YOU should reflect."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Naruto, name one thing that I've done that blatantly hurt you in anyway."

"..."

"You've called me nosy just for trying to make small talk."

"..."

"I don't think you know a true friend when you see one."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"And to top it all off, now you're wondering if I'm trying to get a rise out of you?"

"..."

"Do you think God really put me in the same space as you, to wreak havoc on your life?"

"..."

"I didn't think so. I'm gonna walk away this time, and just say that you've won..."

"..."

"But I think it's obvious, that you're the one that needs to change gears."

"..."

"..."

She turned around, her intention obvious; e was starting to show an unbearable cockiness. And if he truly wants to be stuck in this hell hole he calls a life, then he can deal with it alone; she won't be dealt any strife.

"Sakura, wait!"

"..."

"One day... I will invite you into here."

"?"

"Yeah... it's gonna be a long ride to that, but... you're honestly right."

"?"

"I could use a friend."

"!"

"Just one question though."

"Uhhhhh, sure. What is it?"

"What the hell do you do when I'm not around?"

"Oh, shut up!"

"No really! Like what the hell is life like with Sakura Haruno?"

"Well, when I'm not working, or hanging out with Ino, I'm here, at most spending an hour out of my week to annoy you. And then going inside my apartment and doing what I like to do."

"Great way to avoid the question, maybe this should all be about you, maybe the headline should be Sakura's Big Juicy Secret."

"Maybe, but until I get that invitation, I hereby am thoroughly rescinding mine."

"You are soooo fucking childish Sakura."

"Yeah, I am, that's part of the fuuuun!"

"Well what do you think of, after an elaborate heist of my time has proven victorious? Do you just go in and eat a sandwich?"

"Maybe, regardless of what I'm doing, I'm probably just thinking of, and saying, morbid stuff aloud... And laughing to myself..."

"Oh my god. What?"

"Yeah..."

"What kinda psychopathic things are you imagining after our interactions, Sakura."

"Well for instance, on Valentine's Day, I went in while you were, picking up your phone... And then I said to myself 'I wouldn't be surprised if I never saw Naruto Uzumaki ever again' as I was about to eat something."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah, and I went the whole rest of the day saying it to myself, over and over."

"Hahahaahaa-"

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if I never saw Naruto Uzumaki ever again." *mimes washing dishes*

*Naruto starts wheezing*

"I would NOT be surprised if I never saw Naruto Uzumaki ever again." *mimes sweeping the floor*

*Naruto's soul starts leaving his body*

"And, of course, I'm laughing too; like it just becomes so damn funny. Really just imagine me trying to go to sleep at night, and I just can't because I can't get that morbid phrasing out of my head."

"Oh my god, Sakura!"

"Yeah..."

"Well if you-"

"And then I just start weirdly autocorrecting your name every subsequent use of it."

"Wha-"

"Giiiiiiiiirl, I wouldn't be surprised If I never see Tar Toes Uzbekistan ever again."

"Stop! Stop! PLEEEEASE!"

"And then the truly evil part is when I start to dehumanize you in the process."

"SAKURA, I CAN'T-I CAN'T BREATHE!"

"Giiiiiiiiiiirl, I wouldn't be surprised if I never saw Car Keys Uber Driver ever again."

*Naruto in full tears*

"And then by the time this gets overly funny, to an obnoxious point, I really just can't even remember you're name, or what day this joke took over my life.

*Naruto is now on the floor, holding his sides*

"And then the next time I see you, you ask me what my purpose for bothering you is."

*Naruto gets off the floor*

"...Yeah?"

"And you know... I don't intend to harm individuals..."

*Naruto trying to calm down*

"But I do, to some extent, wanna see the planet burn, one morbid thought after the other."

"Uuuugh... Oh my god... uuuh, I need some a massage therapist AND a chiropractor after that. And also, a counselor. This was so incredibly painful."

"That's always how it starts... one day you laugh a little too hard, and your back starts to give out... and I see you limpin around, then I start thinking... God... I would NOT be surprised if I NEVER saw Naruto Uzumaki EVER AGAIN!"

"AHAHAAAHA!"

Of course, this went on for a few more minutes. The joke was funny, but Naruto reached his limit.

"Alright... alright Sakura. Based on all that alone, we can be friendly. How about that?"

"Oh, so not friends, but acquaintances on good terms?"

"I guess so."

"You're really weird, you know that Naruto?"

"You... of all people? I'm leaving now."

"Bye, I guess..."

Before he closed the door with an actual goodbye, Sakura bids Naruto a "stay safe" and "good night." Interesting, a close to a bizarre introduction. Sakura finally changed his mind, a new dynamic construction.

Naruto had went away without locking the door. The weird new air between them incredibly hard to ignore. She heard footsteps fade away, the quiet too hard to bear. Waging war against the Uzumaki has become something truly rare.

To add insult to injury, Naruto not here to fill his role, she saw no one look back at her in the door's peephole.

Sakura stood taken aback, she thinks she won this round. But Sakura's at square zero again, a true reset had went down.

As she stared with worry, she doesn't know what'll happen in the morning. Her face now brimming with concealed but noticeable mourning.

As she moved into her own apartment, she softly stated.

"This isn't over yet."

Naruto Uzumaki, what is your secret?


Like I said, I'm gonna drag this train all the way to a hundred. And that's at the least. I'm trying to get a theme going, because I've already decided on the ending. Let me know your thoughts. I... don't wanna sound like... I'm BEGGING for your reviews... But... PLEASE! Anyway, this will be the beginning of more fun with this story. And the next gateway, we'll see Naruto get into his own shenanigans. We have a ways before that though. Thanx for reading.