A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed once more and I apologize for the very late update but year 12 is rather demanding. Anyway I hope this chapter is ok and not to boring. So once more I'm sorry and this story is nearly finished anyway so not much longer to go now, actually this may be the second last one or the third last I'm not sure yet. Thank you and please review.

Disclaimer: Last time I checked I did not own Naruto in anyway…….well not yet that is.

Previously

"Because I love you" he told her as he kissed her. She gasped at his words which gave Shikamaru an opportunity to enter his tongue into her mouth. After awhile he pulled away and smirked.

"Do you really?" she asked breathlessly.

"You may be troublesome but that's why I love you" She looked at him and smiled as she gave him a chaste kiss on the mouth.

"I love you to" she said as he smiled and kissed her once more. They broke off and stood in an embrace before Ino started laughing.

"I just realized" she said as he frowned.

"What?"

"You lost the dare, you said troublesome" he stared blankly at her for a second before it sunk in.

"Shit"

………………………………………………………………………………….

"You don't have to prove anything to me Naruto" she said. "I love you already and I am proud of you. No matter what anyone says to me you are something very important and I know you will go far despite what people think"

"Really?" he asked as she nodded. He hugged her tightly as Hinata blushed once more.

"This is why I love you Hinata" he told her. "You always make me feel good about myself no matter what and I am never going to let you go" she smiled and whispered in reply:

"I will never let you go either Naruto, never"

-

-

Special moments

"Hn"

"Sasuke do I need to teach you proper English" Sakura asked irritably as Sasuke smirked.

"Hn"

"I know your doing that by purpose" she told him.

"Hn"

"So stop it"

"Hn"

"Sasuke" Sakura cried in annoyance at her boyfriend's behavior. It was a Friday night and Sakura was over at Kakashi's while he was away with work and Naruto was on another date with Hinata. She looked over at Sasuke, who was still smirking smugly, and felt her anger rise.

"You know you are the meanest cold hearted jerk on the planet."

"Hn"

"And that is not an answer"

"Hn"

"It's not even a word"

"Hn"

"You can't even find it in the dictionary"

"Hn"

"Are you making it your goal or something to drive me to insanity?"

"Hn"

"Sasuke why the hell do you always enjoy making me mad and…" she was cut off as Sasuke kissed her on the lips, using her gasp of shock to push his tongue into her mouth. As hard as Sakura tried she could not resist kissing him back as she felt her previous anger and irritation drift away. He broke of and leant back smirking still.

"It's because I find you cute when you're mad" he admitted as she frowned at him.

"Sasuke Uchi…" he kissed her again as she once more struggled to try and resist even know she knew her efforts were futile.

He broke off again, though after both were breathless and rested against the chair as he dragged her along with him so she was leaning comfortably against his chest. She sighed loudly but he knew that she wasn't irritated at him anymore.

"You know you can be extremely annoying, even more so then Naruto at times"

"You did not just say that" Sasuke said as Sakura smiled.

"Actually I did" she said as he smirked.

"Hn" he replied before moving his hands to her sides and tickling her making her squirm in his lap.

"Stop" she shouted as he smirked yet dropped his hands, mainly because her squirming was pressing against a certain area of his and making his thoughts go somewhere he didn't really want to visit just yet.

"Your mean"

"Hn and you love me like that" he told her as he lightly began nibbling on her neck, placing kisses on her sensitive spot making her moan slightly.

"Who said I loved you" she asked teasingly even if part of her was desperate to hear those words from his lips.

"Hn"

"That is not an answer" she sighed before Sasuke started licking her skin making a tingle of pleasure flow down her spine and certain feelings arise through her body that could only be described as hormones.

"I wouldn't be in love with someone who didn't love me back now would I" he replied as she froze and turned to face him.
"Wait what?"

"Hn"

"Sasuke" she cried as he leant his face in so it was inches from her face. She could his breath tickle her nose and found herself unable to breathe.

"I love you" he said before he gently brushed his lips against hers but Sakura grabbed the back of his neck and forced them back together, fiercely and hungrily kissing him as he fell back slightly, with her falling on top of him. Her hands were in his hair as his roamed down her body. How he couldn't wait till they were older. Sakura moaned into him, enjoying every part of this and not for the first time she was glad that they had managed to come so far this year. Since exams were coming up she knew there time would be restricted and was glad for every moment she had with him, just them alone being together.

It was while before they stopped their make out session, mainly because they were a little afraid at how far they might go and Sakura was content just to lie in his arms as the sky and house darkened around them.

"Sasuke"

"Hn" he replied as she lent up and kissed him softly, one filled with more love then passion.

"I love you to" she whispered and even though it was dark she could have sworn she saw him smile back.

-

-

"I know I'm going to fail, I just know it" Ino was wailing for the hundredth time that day. The group was enjoying a quick lunch before they had to go back to class and resume the tiring revision teachers were putting them through.

"Relax Ino" Shikamaru told her gently for she looked close to tears.

"Relax, how can I relax. The exams start tomorrow Shika. TOMORROW" she yelled this last but as he boyfriend sighed. Being a lazy genius he felt that studying and worrying for him were just to troublesome and he preferred to just relax and treat tomorrow like any other day. He was pretty confident he would pass anyway but Ino did not share this view and as much as calming her down was troublesome he hated to see her stressed out.

"Ino" he said as he pulled her down to him so that she was lying in his laps, his strong arms around her small frame as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

"What: she mumbled as he sighed.

"Don't worry or you will make yourself sick, just relax"

"But how can I?"

"Listen I will come over tonight and help you ok" he said as she nodded.

"Ok" she mumbled as she snuggled into his arms ad he tightened his grip on her.

Ino wasn't the only one though who was nervous about tomorrow. Both Hinata and Naruto were eating a packet of chips as they watched Ino and Shikamaru carefully. Naruto had his arms around Hinata and both were equally as worried about the exams yet had found that by encouraging the other not to be nervous it helped reduce theirs slightly. The two had spent the last week studying together for Naruto found that Hinata explained things a lot easier than the teacher while Hinata discovered that by helping Naruto she was also helping herself to remember it all easier. However both had deiced to take Shikamaru's advice which was that they spend lunch not studying and instead relaxing.

"Feel better" Shikamaru asked as Ino nodded making both Hinata and Naruto smile as Hinata gripped Naruto's hand in reassurance.

"We will be fine Hinata" Naruto told her.

"Yeah of course we will Naruto" Hinata replied.

Sakura smiled at the pair, glad to see that Hinata was doing a better job at keeping Naruto calm then she ever did. She herself was slightly panicking as well though even though she felt the same way as Ino she wasn't about to make a scene. She knew that Sasuke and Neji were just like Shikamaru and were not worried about the exams. Both being highly intelligent for one and having calm personalities panic wasn't a thing they were used to. Both were sitting stoically on the ground watching their friends, Sasuke had his arms around Sakura as she lay against him, his warmth making her feel slightly better about tomorrow.

Although Sakura knew she was smart and knew that there wasn't that much of a chance she would fail she couldn't help but feel nervous and anxious about the exams. She had spent most of last night awake worrying about them and even though she was at Kakashi's which made her feel slightly better she couldn't help but feel uneasy. In fact she would have never got to sleep if it wasn't for Sasuke finding her half awake as she poured herself a drink and coaxed her to sleep.

She smiled at the memory of last night. Kakashi was still away and because Sakura hadn't been able to relax Sasuke had stayed with her. She had found it easier to drift asleep with his arms around her and couldn't help but smile as she woke up the next morning to find that Sasuke had fallen asleep and was lying next to her, his arms around her waist and his face with a peaceful expression on it. One that was rare to see. Luckily she had been able to wake him up so he could slip into his room before Naruto found them.

"Hn the more you worry about them the harder it becomes" Sasuke told them, dragging Sakura from his thoughts.

"See that's exactly what I have been trying to say" Shikamaru yawned.

"I don't believe that" Ino replied.

"It's true, when you're worried and nervous you find it harder to concentrate and think properly. The trick is to be calm and relaxed that way you have a better chance of remembering things" Neji pointed out as Sasuke nodded, kissing Sakura on the forehead when she looked up at him to silently ask if this was true.

"Easy said then done" Tenten said calmly as Sakura looked at her friend. Although Tenten seemed to be fairing the best out of the girls, in the way that she had remained rather calm and still instead of pacing and worrying like the others, Sakura could easily see that her friend was extremely stressed out about it. One was that she looked rather tired, much like how Sakura felt, and the other was that she had been extremely quiet these last few days preferring to stick to herself and study then join in any conversations. Sakura had even noticed that she had been doing this with Neji to.

Yet Neji wasn't one to be fooled and he knew what she was doing. The way she would stare of into space and become oblivious to the conversation and the way she would fiddle with her hands as if she was unable to stay still was a dead give away. Sakura noticed that she was once more fiddling with her hands nervously, clenching them up as she gazed into the distance. Sakura smiled as she saw Neji reach forward and pick up one of her hands, holding it firmly as he gave her a small smile when she faced him.

"Relax" he told her as she smiled.
"I am"

"You're stressing" he told her.

"I'm not"

"You are" he said as he looked her deeply in the eye. Tenten sighed but said no more as Neji smirked and snaked his arm around her waist, holding both her hands in his to stop her from fidgeting and hopefully to make her relax a little more.

Sakura looked around at the couples then back to Sasuke who was watching Naruto with a small smirk on his face. She wondered how they would all be coping if they didn't have each other.

She knew that without Shikamaru Ino would have had a nervous breakdown by now and although Shikamaru told everyone he didn't care she could tell that by calming Naruto down he was also calming his own nerves. Naruto and Hinata were coping by sticking together and trying to be strong for the other. She was slightly grateful for this since Naruto was usually a wreck at this time of year yet now he appeared to be doing fine. Hinata had certainly had a good effect on him.

She suspected that Neji was in the same boat as Sasuke and Shikamaru, using their girlfriend's nerves to calm their own. She guessed that Tenten would have been a lot more stressed if Neji wasn't there and even though Tenten would have denied it to others and even herself that stress would have made her sick if Neji hadn't been able to get her to relax. It wasn't the first time that Sakura felt that even though both of them were very independent, deep down they needed the other as much as the other needed them.

Then there was Sasuke who in his way had always been the one to help her through her exams except now know knowing he did it not because they were friends but because he loved her made her feel even better. All through her childhood she had always had Sasuke to rely on and now instead of worrying what she would ever do on her own she was reassured that he wasn't going anywhere in a hurry. She was sure that she could do anything she put her mind to as long as she had him their by her side.

"Come on that's the bell" Shikamaru told them as hand in hand the couples left the calm and relaxing sanctuary of outside and returned once more to the class room.

-

-

Sakura sighed as she leant against the couch and smiled. She had just come returned to Kakashi's after finishing her last exam for the year with Naruto and was waiting for both Sasuke and Hinata to return from their biology one.

"I'm so glad that's over" Naruto said as Sakura nodded in agreement.

"So am I" she said with a smile.

"How long to the others are finished" Naruto asked.

"They should be here soon, their exam finished at three and it's already twenty past" Sakura replied.

"They better not be lost" Naruto growled. "Or teme better have not hurt Hinata"

"Oh yes because that's totally within Sasuke's character" Sakura added sarcastically.

"Why else would they be taking so long then?"

"No idea, how about you as them when they get here" Sakura suggested.

"I plan to" Naruto said as Sakura shook her head at her friend.

"Knowing what Neji is like he probably would have insisted on walking Hinata here with Sasuke, and since he is suppose to be taking Tenten out she is probably tagging among therefore they may be a little slower" Sakura explained.

"I don't get why Neji doesn't trust Sasuke"

"I think it's just that his overprotective of her" Sakura told him. "Much like the way he glares daggers at any male apart from the three that are our friends who come anywhere near Tenten"

"True" Naruto exclaimed. "What about Ino and Shikamaru then?"

"They were in the art exam with us remember" Sakura told him. "And unfortunately just like you and Hinata, they have one last exam tomorrow to so I believe they went to Ino's to study for legal just like how Hinata is coming here to help you study for food.

"So unfair" Naruto whined. "Why do you, teme, Neji and Tenten all get tomorrow off."

"Because we sat our history, or in Neji and Tenten's case health, exams yesterday while you had the day off."

"Oh yeah" Naruto said laughing at his stupidity making Sakura groan.

"Naruto you can really be dense" she muttered as he stared at her.

"Huh"

"Never mind" she sighed as she glanced at the clock. The two were silent until the sound of keys in the doorknob made them both sigh in relief. A few seconds later the door creaked open and Hinata shyly walked into the lounge followed by Sasuke.

"How did it go?"

"It was ok" Hinata replied.

"Hn easy" Sasuke said as Hinata smiled.

"Cool, want food" Naruto asked as Hinata nodded and the two made their way to the kitchen. Sakura looked over at Sasuke with a knowing smile who simply nodded in return.

"Let's go for a walk" he offered as Sakura nodded. It was only right to let Naruto have some alone time with his girlfriend seeing as this was his house.

The two left quickly, Sakura smiling in the light afternoon breeze as Sasuke walked beside her with his hands in his pockets. He led her past the busy streets to the park and once their and out of view from most of society he took her hand in his making Sakura smile again. It was these small acts that she loved the most about him, how he always knew what she wanted.

The two were silent but it was a comfortable silence as they walked through the trees, both content to just gaze at the beautiful scenery and feel happy at the time they had with the one they loved walking next to them. It was getting a little late and the park was lit with the beginning of a beautiful sunset yet Sakura wasn't worried, she felt perfectly safe with Sasuke who she knew would never let anything happen o her.

Sasuke quickly took a look around and when he saw no one in his excellent and wide vision he smirked and stopped making Sakura turn to face him with a confused expression before his lips were on hers and all her thoughts flew out the window as she eagerly responded. He traced her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to allow his tongue entry, enjoying the feel of it all. His arms went around her waist, pulling her closer so he could deepen it while Sakura's went around his neck wanting to be closer to him.

The two were so caught up in their little make out session that neither noticed the two figures in the distance who were watching them with satisfied smirks on their faces. Though these smirks weren't one of good will as if they were happy for the young couple but rather that they had just seen something that would benefit them instead, even at the cost of the two in the distance.

"Interesting" the smaller figure murmured as his partner turned to face him.

"It is" he asked. "I thought it was rather disturbing if anything"

"Hn in fact this gives us a rather good advantage" the small man replied in a rather cool voice as his partner grinned.

"Of course, to get to Sasuke we just have to get to the girl" the smaller man nodded in reply.

"Yes to get him all we have to do is go through Sakura"

"Heh good idea, that would surely make him break"

"Hn"

"What you have a better idea?" The taller man demanded as his companion chuckled lightly.

"Why I was just wondering if we had to stop at the pink haired girl, I believe Sasuke has made a few new bonds this year."

"I see" laughed the other. "Why hit him once when you can continue to hit him while his down"

"Exactly" The smaller man agreed. "And were going to hit him seven times"

"Orochimaru will want to hear of this development" The taller told his partner as the smaller nodded.

"Yes he will" he replied as the other stared at him.

"So?" the taller began before his companion turned to face him, his red eyes shimmering in the light.

"You will go inform Orochimaru Kisame" he ordered before he returned his stare to the two who were now making their way back to the streets hand in hand.. "After all Orochimaru has developed a rather special interest in my brother."

The man named Kisame nodded and vanished as Itachi just stood looking out into the sunset.

'Maybe my deer little brother' he thought to himself. 'Maybe it was a good thing you survived after all.'

A/N: Sorry it's a bit shorter than the others but I don't have any time left to write more and I don't know when I will next get time so I decided to just post it rather than making you wait even more. Well I know I don't deserve it because it took so long to update but please find it in your hearts to forgive me and review. Thanks in advance.