Where Time Stands Still

Sakura sat alone in her room staring out the window. The clear night sky filled with stars making a beautiful sight. A month had gone by since the end of the fourth shinobi war. In that time she attended may funerals and shed many tears. The chilling scenes of war floated in and out of her mind as the days passed by.

Sasuke was in prison. Naruto, Sai, Yamato and Kakashi were all busy with various assignments they barely interacted. Sakura was sure that Naruto was hanging out with Hinata a lot more. She believed that her time had passed and any chance she had to get him to realize her feelings for him was doomed.

Then every other moment Naruto's words on the battlefield tugged at her heart and she kept remembering every little thing. He told his own father that she was his girlfriend. What did Sakura do but hit the poor guy she really regretted not being able to just… Well what was I supposed to do grab him and kiss him senseless?

With sadness she sat alone thinking. Suddenly a knock at her door got her attention.

"Mother," she questioned walking towards the door. She opened the door.

"You haven't eaten much and you're staying in your room a lot more than normal," her mother, Mebuki said. The concern on her mother's face made Sakura feel a bit guilty.

Arms folded and glaring at her daughter Mebuki waited for a response from Sakura.

"It's been a rough year," the pink haired kunoichi said.

Rolling her eyes the blonde calmly said, "you have a visitor," and stepped aside.

"Visitor?"

Sakura headed to the living room and noticed Naruto standing there with her father. Kizashi mumbled something that made Naruto laugh and sat down with a magazine.

"Sakura-chan it's been a while," Naruto said his blue eyes looked tired as he looked her over.

"Naruto what are you doing here," Sakura asked.

"Can we go for a walk and talk somewhere," he replied.

"Yes I just don't understand why you're here all of a sudden," she added as she followed him towards the door.

Her mind danced with all the possible reasons he could be here. He was serious and not as hyper as usual. If he tells me about his relationship with Hinata what will I do?

Suddenly he spoke as they were some distance from her home, "I need to know why you've avoided me."

"We haven't had any missions lately if that's what you mean," she said staring ahead not wanting to give any indication how she felt knowing that he realized she had avoided him.

"No it's not," he said simply waiting for her to say something.

"I'm sorry," she said as she stopped walking.

She wanted his smile back and the easy way they would talk to each other. She didn't want this Naruto. As long as she still had feelings for him they could never be the same.

He turned to face her with a puzzled look on his face.

"Sasuke is in jail and I couldn't keep my promise-

"No it has nothing to do with Sasuke. I am so sorry if I made you feel that way," she said looking away her courage disappearing. What was the point of confessing to him again if he didn't believe her before…Well that was her fault after all. Nothing she said to him would change anything if he chose not to believe her words.

"Sakura I-

"I think maybe I should go back home. There is nothing about Sasuke that I need to talk about," she said as she turned to walk away. A hand on her shoulder stopped her progress. She didn't turn because tears began to form in her eyes.

Dammit Sakura get ahold of yourself. Don't start crying. Not now he'll never understand if he sees these tears he'll surely think it has something to do with Sasuke.

Blinking back the tears she just stood with her back to Naruto.

"Sakura-chan I love you but I know the way you feel about Sasuke," Naruto said.

She didn't miss the hurt still in his voice but anger returned to her in that same moment. Turning swiftly to face him she angrily challenged, "If that's why you came-

"I just told you I love you," his voice said softly cutting her off.

"What about-

"I came here tonight to see you," he cut her off once more. They stood there staring at each other in silence.

This isn't happening I must be misunderstanding something. This isn't like all the other times he's confessed his love for me. I don't know what to do at this point. I can't lie to him.

"I meant the words I said to you when I told you I love you Naruto," she said and waited for his anger his denial.

"I know," he said.

She was confused, "you what?"

"I told you I hate people who lie to themselves. I can't lie to myself if I still love you so much and I miss you. I'm not so good with this kinda thing so give me a break. But it just feels so wrong being apart from you. I don't want to be without you…nothing is the same without you. Even if you can only love me as a friend I…I just think there is something more we can try to be and I'm not giving up on that so soon," he said.

They began to walk again at a leisurely pace. A few passersby greeted the town hero some even clapped as he came by. Sakura wondered just how Naruto was going to deal with all the new attention. Then again she figured he should get used to it as more attention would come his way as Hokage.

"But Hina-

"Wait I know what you want to say. Truthfully I was so happy when I found out that she…when she told me that she loved me I was so happy. All along she was rooting for me believing in me...," He trailed off looking up at the sky.

"So what happened with you and Hinata," Sakura asked.

"I spent time with her as friends. I am happy to call her friend. She really is amazing but she knows how I feel about you. It isn't really fair to her to try…I just don't feel that way about her. She told me that I had to just lay it all on the line and tell you how I feel Sakura-chan," Naruto said a nervous smile returning to his face.

"Hinata did?"

It would be like the shy timid girl to put Naruto's feelings before her own. But still Hinata you really love Naruto so why?

"I didn't want to hurt her and especially after all that happened I kept telling myself that I could try to see if I could be more than friends with Hinata. But it was a lie and all it…hurt it felt wrong I couldn't fake things like that. It's just not who I am. Then all the feelings I had for you rushed at me the moment I felt you near me on the battlefield. I couldn't deny my feelings it wouldn't be me and then my father showed up and I told him what was in my heart," he continued.

"Naruto I don't know what to-

"Let's just walk around tonight. It is such a nice night and all," Naruto said. He wasn't going to force this he did his part so far so it was up to her now. However he had a little trick up his sleeve and set his plan into motion.

He cut her off once again. Normally she would have been pissed off at him but tonight seeing the smile on his face she let it slide. They walked for a while in silence.

"Naruto I-

"Sakura-chan this is going to be the village of my dreams soon," Naruto beamed smiling at her.

He cut me off again!

Naruto continued to speak about the village and the Hokage. Sakura became irritated that he wouldn't allow her to say all the things she needed to.

"Naruto I really-

"Look at all the improvements they've made to the village. You know –

"BAKA! I'm trying to talk to you here," she inadverntantly got the attention of a few passersby. They turned and stared at her as if she grew three heads.

"Sorry…um so sorry Sakura-chan but were almost there and I didn't want you to change your mind," he said.

"Almost where?"

"Look," he said pointing ahead of them.

Sakura peered into the darkness ahead of them. Shadowy figures walked by revealing a series of benches down a walkway.

"What's the big deal with this place Naruto?"

"Sit down and I'll explain," he said leading her to a bench.

Mustering up patience she sat on a bench. The whole night was full of surprise after surprise. What is he up to now? If he tries anything funny I might…go along with it. She was staring up into his blue eyes and realizing just how her heart had started flip-flopping. Wait he's not going to propose for heaven's sake!

"Naruto just what-

"I remember like it was yesterday," he started interrupting her once more, "you sat there…well pretend like this is like the old village it is similar and all…and I asked you how you felt about me-

"What are you talking about this place is new and I never-

"Of course I was disguised as him."

Wait a minute benches and confessions.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He was overjoyed that she remembered and then his heart sunk thinking that she remembered. After all it was Sasuke that she remembered. Still not ready to give up he carried on with the plan.

"Maybe I should have been straight forward back then but I was still a stupid kid. I think I've grown up some. Then again you being a kunoichi should have spotted the fake right away," he laughed at her scowling face.

"Naruto you-

"So I'm going to start over and do this right. Besides I made a promise to a friend," he said sitting next to her on the bench.

"You made a promise to who?"

"It was so long ago but I'll tell you the story," Naruto said leaning back.

Konoha Academy Flashback

"Oi teme! You have a thing for Hinata don't you," Naruto shouted at his teammate smirking at his newfound discovery.

Sasuke blushed immediately turning away and quickly shot a, "shut up dobe," at the hyper blonde.

"So it's true," Naruto said suddenly back in front of Sasuke's field of vision.

Sasuke stood making Naruto back away as he began walking towards the forest away from the loudmouth. The other Gennin were so used to Naruto's loud mouth they weren't paying him or Sasuke any mind. Sakura was too busy chatting with Ino and Hinata was too busy watching them or to narrow it down properly she only had eyes for the loudmouth blonde and Sasuke just happened to be near. Damnit Naruto why is she so into you!

"I'm going to the river. I'll return when that lazy Sensei comes for us," Sasuke called over his shoulder.

None of his words deterred his best friend who shouted, "wait up teme I'll join ya."

"Don't."

"Come on don't be like that," Naruto said slinging an arm around Sasuke's neck.

Sasuke gave his best threatening stare.

"You care about some-

"I only care about-

"Defeating Itachi right but until then...well I'll get stronger and Sakura-chan will be impressed then you'll be free to be with Hinata," Naruto said jogging along the incensed Sasuke.

"Idiot as if Sakura could stop me," Sasuke said.

"So you admit it you-

"Annoying! Mention this to anyone and you're dead," Sasuke glared at Naruto.

Backing down from his earlier glee Naruto replied, "I won't say a word dattebayo." In silence he continued to walk with Sasuke to the river. He couldn't count the several times that Sasuke threatened him this time he felt a chill thought his spine. He would definitely leave Sasuke alone when it came to having a crush. He glanced back at Chouji and Shikamaru wondering just why his friendship with Sasuke had to be so damn difficult.

Back on the Benches

"So I'm going to start over Sakura-chan," Naruto said finishing his story about Sasuke.

"Sasuke liked Hinata, how…I never saw it," Sakura said.

"Yeah he still does but don't tell him I told you anything because like I said he'll threaten me with death," he said.

"Sure…I just don't believe it," she said.

"Not that it matters but I had to tell you the story," he said.

"Ok," she responded still thinking back to her academy days.

"Forgetting all of that Sakura-chan I think you know how I feel about you. But anyway here goes the real me this time, I love you. I love our friendship. I love our teamwork…I love you so how do you feel about me?"

"Naruto I think you know how I feel too. I'm not that girl who sat on the bench squealing over Sasuke-kun. I miss you when you're gone. I think about you all the time. I worry about you all the time…When I am not worried you make me feel happy. You protect me…Sometimes I feel jealous or angry or frustrated…I don't know I just had a lot of time to think about everything and Naruto I simply love you," she said staring at him. He looked like he could die of happiness.

Baka! I also feel so proud of how you've grown. When did you get to be so handsome? Oh Kami-

"All that?"

"Yeah you drive me insane but I do love you," she smiled dipping her head so he didn't notice the intense blush forming on her cheeks.

"You totally mean it," he said more of a statement than a question but she answered him, "Yes I do."

His face suddenly appeared directly in front of hers. She wasn't expecting it but suddenly his lips brushed lightly over her forehead.

"I always wanted to try that," he said gazing into her eyes.

"All this time…" she trailed off as he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. It was a rather tame first kiss but butterflies swarmed and she felt a bit dizzy.

"Naruto?"

He leaned in again and this time her eyes closed as she returned the kiss following his lead her lips parted allowing his exploration of her mouth with his tounge. It was nice kissing him and she didn't want it to end but he suddenly parted from her and excitedly said, "let's go on a date."

He took her hands and stood her to her feet.

"Wh-What right now?"

"Why not," he said shrugging as he left.

With that they started dating.