I do not own Naruto…I own this fic. Yay for me!
Now You Notice Me?
Sakura awoke without the warmth in her hand. She looked around nervously, "Naruto?" she didn't hear anything. She stood up quickly, "Naruto!"
Naruto came out from behind a tree and walked over to her, "What! Can't a guy go to the bathroom without an audience?" he asked.
She flushed, "Sorry. I thought you left me here."
Naruto flipped on the rock and looked down at her, "I said I wasn't going anywhere. I promised."
She smiled and nodded, "Thanks."
Naruto turned away from her smile and looked towards the forest, "Want me to get something to eat or did you want to go back now?"
"I'm famished." she admitted. "I haven't eaten since last night."
Naruto nodded and pointed to the rock, "You stay here, I'll be back in a second." he jumped off the stone and ran into the forest in haste.
She sat on the stone and looked in the direction of Naruto's fleeting figure. 'You will come back, right?' She couldn't believe she was so insecure now. She was afraid to be left alone in any way, no matter how short the time frame was.
She heard footsteps and tensed as she looked back to Sasuke. "Sasuke?"
Sasuke looked up at her, hands in pockets as usual. He didn't say a word.
"What are you doing here?"
"Walking." he said shortly.
"Something wrong?" She asked as she jumped down beside him.
"Nothing. Just the weather." he turned to avert from her gaze.
"What's really bothering you Sasuke? I can see it in your eyes, something's up." Sakura pointed at him accusingly.
Sasuke crossed his arms, "Odd seeing you and Naruto so close."
"Now you notice me, right?" Sakura retorted and turned away.
Sasuke grabbed Sakura back to look at him, "Don't you get it? I'm worried about you." he scolded.
And for once, Sakura was terrified of her teammate. She pulled at her arms and tried to kick him away. "Let me go!"
"Sakura!" he yelled.
This wasn't Sasuke! And if it was, she didn't like him at all!
"Let her go."
They both turned to Naruto walking up to them, a rabbit in his hand. Sasuke instantly let go of Sakura's wrists and she fell against Naruto's body. Naruto dropped the rabbit and caught her, glaring at Sasuke, "What is wrong with you?"
Sakura looked back at Sasuke, afraid of the answer and leaning into Naruto. Sasuke put his hands into his pockets, "What do you care?"
As he walked off, Naruto called back, "I don't care about what's going through your mind but if you ever touch her like that again, I will rip your hands off at the wrists and feed them to your inner demon." he threatened.
Sasuke looked back and glared at Naruto, "You're not strong enough. You're only a fox, a thief living in that body. You have no power over me in your form."
As Sasuke walked off, Naruto started walking to show him what he could do, with or without his inhabitant. Sakura grabbed his shoulder as he walked by her.
Naruto paused and looked back at Sakura strangely, "Naruto?"
"Yea?" He was the same old Naruto again. He never showed such hate towards her as Sasuke did. "You're not going to thank me again, are you?" he jested.
She shook her head, "No, but I wanted to tell you that I don't have the slightest bit of problems with your Kyubi."
Naruto looked at her as if that was the kindest thing anyone has ever told him, "Really?"
And it was.
Sakura nodded, "Yea. It can't be half as terrorizing as Sasuke just was."
Naruto smirked and stood straight up in front of her, "Thanks." he said in an awkward way.
She smiled and folded her hands in front of her and he looked down at the red marks Sasuke's hands had gripped into her flesh. He was filled with hate and worry at the same time. "Hey Sakura?" he looked up at her.
She tilted her head to the side, "Yea Naruto?"
"If you ever want to get it off your chest, I won't judge you. Promise." he gave a thumbs up and walked past her back to the camp.
Sakura watched him go to cook the rabbit, 'Please…don't go. Don't leave me alone…
…Naruto.'
He paused as if he heard her words and looked back to her standing there watching him, "You coming?"
She instantly brightened a smile and followed him, thanking him silently that he didn't leave her behind. "Yea."
"I meant what I said, you know." Naruto looked at her.
Sakura looked back, "About?"
"About not letting you get harmed again if I can help it."
She smiled warmly at him, "Thank you Naruto."
"You keep saying those thank yous and I'm gonna get a big head, I keep telling ya."
Sakura gave a small laugh and looked towards the camp. What a change it was. She was afraid of Sasuke. She felt safe with Naruto. She didn't really care if Sasuke was in a battle right now. But she'd fight with Naruto, for Naruto.
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Sasuke was riled up! What the hell was wrong with him? Why should he care about that little brat! All she did was get in trouble!
He decided it was only because he felt the need to defend someone who did the same for him all those times.
But really, he was jealous of Naruto, getting her attention when he didn't get any. Especially not anymore, she'd never trust him again.
Like he cared, right? Or did he? Sasuke sat down and meditated again. 'Why is life so meaningless and meaningful at the same time?' he thought and zoned out.
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Ayame woke with the noises of a stampede. She looked over at Kakashi, "What in the world are you doing Shi?"
Kakashi was moving the firewood to another part of the campsite. "We gotta start the lesson sometime!"
Ayame stood up and dusted herself off, "Shi, the kids aren't even here yet." she informed him. "They aren't ready now."
Kakashi turned to her and barked, "obstacles come up and you are either ready or not, whichever will determine if you are to live."
She slapped him and he pulled back quickly, "Don't you get into a huff at me, Kakashi." she emphasized his name.
He paused and looked away. "You…hit me?"
Ayame crossed her arms, "Of course I hit you. Isn't the first, isn't the last time." she continued when he looked back at her, "These kids aren't in danger at the moment. If they are, they'll be ready. But for a test? MY test? I will not be ready if they aren't so the test is meaningless either way." she explained.
He nodded and sighed, sitting down, "I just don't want them to face anything they can't handle."
Ayame knelt beside him and placed her hands on his shoulders. He looked at her strangely, "Their biggest threat right now is each other."
Kakashi looked at her strangely, "What? Why? They never had too much trouble with each other before."
"Times change, Shi." she sat down beside him. He missed the warmth of her hands upon him the instant they left but he remained silent, "Because you have been so long without it, you might not remember how it felt to want to protect someone you truly love." she paused as he looked down, "Shi?"
Kakashi smirked, "I've been protecting her this whole time."
Ayame rolled her eyes, "I don't mean anything perverted."
Kakashi looked at her sincerely, "Nor did I."
Ayame was speechless. His words struck her. Did he care of her like she did of him? "Shi, the kids need guidance, not a fight right now. They can't afford it so close to being who they wish to become."
Kakashi nodded and stood up, "Then let's teach them before training. They might do better in your test."
Ayame smirked and jumped to her feet, "Let's go find the kids."
Kakashi nodded as they walked into the forest and saw Sasuke meditating. "If he wasn't meditating, I'd kick him." she muttered to herself.
Kakashi almost laughed. Ayame never did like Sasuke's kind. The kind that revealed nothing, and killed before asking or hearing out…and what's worse! An ego that can't even be cut down with a scythe!
As they walked by, Kakashi almost swore he saw Sasuke open an eye and glare at Ayame. He didn't like her either. She was too much like Sakura. Longing for the one she loves and never understanding it was unrequited. Not to mention, she had a temper!
They walked into the clearing where Sakura and Naruto were eating the rabbit he had cooked. They watched from afar, barely able to hear the two.
Sakura giggled at Naruto's explanations on how the sexy jitsu helped him in many ways. "And then, the bartender wondered where I had gone and why all these guys were on me trying to kill me. The guys realized and backed up. Then I beat em all!"
Sakura rolled her eyes, "You're using feminine curves in all the wrong ways." she pointed out and smiled at his bewildered features, "Our curves are to attract guys and make us feel pretty, not to show we're strong, but fragile." she pointed out.
Ayame smiled at the girl's words. Kakashi glanced over and saw Ayame's curves again. 'Yep. Fragile. Sure.' he thought and looked back to the others.
Naruto shrugged, "But you're a girl, of course you can do that. I don't want girls to see me as fragile, I want to see them swoon over my great victories!"
Sakura shook her head, "We wouldn't care if the guys we were with were the biggest loser or the heavyweight champions. It doesn't matter if they treat us right. Most the time. Looks are a plus though!" she jested.
Naruto smiled, "Yea, but I still want a girl to think I'm strong."
"How bout if she knew you were strong? Not just thought?" Sakura asked.
Naruto thought for a moment, "Yea, but what if I'm not strong enough to protect her when I need to?"
Ayame and Kakashi knew there was hidden messages in each of their words. Neither Sakura or Naruto understood they were listening to the other speak of each other.
Sakura waved her hand up as if it didn't matter, "As long as you try, she'll understand silly." she looked over and saw Ayame and Kakashi walking up. "Oh…hi?"
Ayame bowed a bit, "Hello you two, have a good night's rest?"
Sakura and Naruto blushed, not facing each other, "Yea. We did." Sakura answered before Naruto.
Naruto nodded, "Yep, plenty of sleep." he added.
Kakashi and Ayame exchanged looks of humor and then looked to the others, "What should we do?"
Sakura and Naruto looked at each other and then back to Ayame and Kakashi, "What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
Ayame cleared her throat, "I hear there is a small carnival in a town a little ways from here. Would you two be interested?"
"What about Sasuke?" Sakura asked.
She was unaware of Naruto's fallen face in defeat. Even after everything Sasuke did to her, she still asked of him. Ayame and Kakashi saw and then thought a moment, "Well he can come if he's out of his meditation." Ayame said, "Didn't want to disturb him though."
Sakura nodded, "Alright, shall we go Naruto?" she turned and he was on the rock again. "Naruto?" she jumped up, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just don't feel like going." he muttered.
Sakura walked around him to have them facing each other, "But Naruto, why not?"
Naruto backed away and turned his face, "I just don't think that I'd be able to protect you."
Sakura almost felt her jaw hit the ground, "But Naruto! You stayed by my side this whole time! That's more than Sasuke would ever do--oh." she put her hand over her mouth as she saw him tense at his name. "Naruto. I didn't mean…"
"Forget it Sakura." he cut his words short and looked at her. His eyes full of pain. "Can't control who you love." he muttered as he jumped off and ran into the woods.
Sakura wanted to run after him. Oh god! What had she done! What had she said!
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Naruto ran to Sasuke and pulled him up by the collar. Sasuke immediately came out of meditation and broke Naruto's hold on him and crouched in front of him in a fighting stance. When he realized it was Naruto, he stood up straight and glared at him, "What?"
Naruto pointed, "You're going to a carnival. Get ready." he grunted out.
"Why?" Sasuke dug his hands into his pockets and looked away.
"Because Sakura wants you there. That's why." Naruto said, his own words cutting into his heart like a dull blade, pushing in so slowly.
Sasuke looked back at Naruto strangely. "And you?"
Naruto crossed his arms and turned away from Sasuke, "I don't feel like going. So you go. And don't let her get hurt." he walked away from Sasuke before he could hear him say anything else.
He walked to the camp and looked around. Just the other night, they had arrived. And Sakura had called him a moron. He was. He was completely ridiculous in all of his thoughts.
He couldn't believe he thought she'd like him just a little like he loved her. But she loved Sasuke, she always would. He had no place in her heart as she would occupy his forever.
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Sasuke walked into the clearing as Sakura kept looking behind him, 'Naruto?' she thought and jumped down running towards Sasuke, "Where is Naruto!"
Sasuke stilled her from going into the forest. She jumped away from his touch, tears threatening to fall.
Ayame and Kakashi saw her immediate reaction to Sasuke's touch. "Something tells me he was not kind." Ayame whispered.
Kakashi sighed, "When is he ever?"
"But Shi, she doesn't even trust him. He must have done something that scared her more than anything in this world."
He nodded in agreement, "Let's go."
Sakura looked back at Kakashi, "But Sensei! What about Naruto!"
"He's not coming." Sasuke ground out and walked with the two shinobi.
"Come on, Sakura. He might show up later tonight." Ayame said hopefully, not even believing her own words. She knew why Naruto didn't come. He wouldn't complex things with Sakura. He loved her so much. It was so clear to her. But yet, Sakura didn't understand. Not yet. But she would.
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At the Carnival
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Sakura walked around with Ayame and wore a frown the entire time. Sasuke walked by Kakashi.
Ayame and Kakashi were side by side. They weren't having much fun at all.
For an instant, Sasuke was separated. And Sakura noticed a bit longer after. She looked back and Sasuke was wearing a smile with Ino. She looked away. She could never make Sasuke smile so much. "Sensei, Miss Ayame, forgive me." she called back and pushed past Sasuke and Ino.
"What's with her?" Ino asked.
Sasuke looked after her. He felt like a piece of him was ripped away from him. Ayame stepped up with Kakashi. As Ayame seemed to be stretching, her hand hit Sasuke's head. "Oh god! I'm sorry!" she exclaimed as Sasuke and Ino glared at her.
Kakashi sighed. She was up to it again.
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Sakura neared the campsite and saw Naruto by a fire, drawing pictures into the dirt with a stick. He was clearly bored. And clearly saddened.
She didn't even make her presence known. She came up behind him and dropped to her knees behind him and hugged him.
He was about to jump up and fight an enemy when she whispered, "It just wasn't right without you Naruto."
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Cliffhanger! HAHAHAHAHA! Now, how will Naruto react? What is to happen in the next chap!
Reviews please…
Kage1586