Chapter One

Konoha: 2nd district, Haruno Health Clinic…

"Finally finished"

Sakura Haruno sighed as she put the last folder inside the filing cabinet. Keeping up the paperwork for the audit was difficult since she had to do it all by herself, but she was used to it seeing how her mother was too drunk to care. Fifteen year old Sakura Haruno was an all around decent girl, second in her class at the academy and apprentice to Lady Tsunade Senju. When she was younger she dreamed about being the damsel in distress and having her handsome shinobi lover arrive just in time to save her at the last second. That all changed when her father died though and her life took a different turn. Her mother, Shiki Haruno became depressed, started drinking, and then turned abusive. It was a welcome relief when she had been treated by Shizune at the hospital who then informed Tsunade about the girl's treatment. Her mother had been fired from her position at the hospital and Sakura had begun her training to be a medical ninja. She was only a chunin but she had a lot of responsibility for someone her age, she had been given this clinic by the city council to help treat civilians and injured shinobi, she did her job well.

Despite the treatment she had received from her mother, Sakura gave her a job at the clinic against advice from her teacher and members of the council. Shiki did do a great job most of the time but when she was tipsy or drunk it was a nightmare. Sakura was going to have to fire her if she kept going like this, she could understand the woman was in mourning but it had been four years already. Sighing again she closed the cabinet and hung up her white coat on the back of the door of her office. "Yuki, Katara, I'm heading out now, call me if anything serious happens" she called as she clocked out and grabbed her bag. "You got it Sakura-sempai" Yuki answered as Sakura headed out the door.

It was one a clock, she still had time before she had to meet Sasuke for lunch so she decided to window shop, and maybe something would catch her eye this time.

Konoha: Uchiha District…

"Excellent Sasuke, you have finally matured your Sharingan to level three, I'm proud of you" Mikoto smiled at her son as he stood across from her, panting slightly from the rough battle they just had. "One step closer to Itachi now, soon I can fight him on equal ground" Sasuke smirked, he had been waiting for years to fight him and stand a chance. "I think you'll need more experience though, you know how tough Itachi is, it's the reason he's the clan heir" Mikoto sighed at her son's antics, the boy was always talking about Itachi. Her late husband before his death had been very cold and stubborn about tradition; he put Itachi through constant training, drilling him into being the perfect Uchiha. It was a relief when he was executed for trying to murder Naruto Namikaze three years ago. However the damage had been done, Itachi never could show emotion anymore thanks to years of conditioning. Her son was a completely different person now and she refused to allow Sasuke to become like him.

Sasuke was first in his class followed by his girlfriend Sakura Haruno and then Naruto Namikaze and all three of them were close friends. Sasuke was considered unstable shortly after his father's death by the elder's council, it was all a ploy to keep Sasuke away from Naruto though, and everyone knew that. Whenever something or someone tried to harm the blond the threat would be eliminated, Naruto was Sarutobi's adopted grandson after all and Sarutobi always protected his own. Shortly after graduation Sasuke had began training at home instead of being put on a genin squad, it turned out the shinobi council had wanted him, Sakura Haruno, and Naruto to be on the same team, Sarutobi struck that down, his reasons being focused on Sasuke and any revenge attempts he would make while partnered with Naruto. Sasuke held no anger for Naruto however; he never liked his father anyway and would have most likely killed him when he became older. "I'm going to go get cleaned up, I have a lunch date with Sakura" Sasuke voiced as he left the dojo, missing his older brother walk in from the other entrance.

"He's grown stronger since last time" he spoke as he stood next to his mother. "Indeed he has, he's looking forward to fighting you soon" Mikoto smiled. "He doesn't stand a chance, even if he trained for the next ten years he till wouldn't be ready" Itachi replied. "I know but he can still dream can't he?" Mikoto spoke as she left the dojo. "Foolish little brother, grow stronger and take the right to be heir from me" Itachi thought as he too left the dojo to attend to other duties.

Konoha: Hokage Monuments…

Hinata smiled as Naruto fed her another dumpling. So far it had been a wonderful date, Naruto had prepared all her favorites, chose the perfect spot with the best view of the village and was now romantically feeding her while she fed him. Back in the field behind the monument were several Shadow Clones training in wind manipulation in order to improve his rasengan, Naruto was one of the few shinobi in the village that could spend the entire day with his girlfriend and do hardcore training at the same time. It was one of the many reasons Hinata loved him, he would give her all the time she wanted and still managed to get his training done in order to get stronger. "You coming to the complex tonight?" she asked as she sat down at the base of the sakura tree. "I might as well; the clones can do my evening training anyway. Besides this meeting with your father sounds important" Naruto replied as he laid down, resting his head in her lap. "What do you think our marriage will be like? Think the elders will interfere?" Hinata asked. "If I have it my way it will be the biggest event in the village, and I'm sure your father will tell the elders to shove it" Naruto replied getting a giggle out of Hinata. "Yes father and I have been waiting too long for this, I'd think he'd kill them for even suggesting anything" Hinata smiled as she moved a lock of Naruto's hair from his face. "When was the last time I said I love you?" Naruto asked as he reached up to cup her cheek. "Last night, when you kissed me good night outside the complex" she replied as she leaned down to him.

"I love you Hinata-chan"

"I love you too Naruto-kun"

And they locked lips, getting woos and curses from the clones that wanted to do that with Hinata.

"So Troublesome, can't you two love birds get a room?" a voice spoke forcing the two apart.

"Shikamaru why did you have to ruin the moment?" Naruto asked as he spotted the pineapple haired chunin walk up the hill, his hand locked with a certain blonde haired Suna shinobi. "You haven't broken him of his habits yet Temari-san?" Hinata asked as the two sat down next to the tree. "No, he still resists even after everything I've done" Temari sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned against the tree. "What a drag, can't you be less troublesome?" Shikamaru asked only to get wacked upside the head by a large steal battle fan. "WHAT WAS THAT?!" Temari shouted. "Nothing dear" Shikamaru voiced."I thought so" she smiled and went back to relaxing getting sweat drops from Naruto and Hinata. "Well it seems he is learning, but it's a work in progress" Hinata spoke. "I'm so glad I learned not to tick you off Hinata-chan, a gentle fist strike to the head makes you learn really quickly" Naruto voiced. "Shouldn't you be dead if she struck you in the head?" Shikamaru asked.

"I meant my other head Shikamaru" Naruto voiced, looking downward.

"OH" Shikamaru realized and then suddenly feared for his life as Temari got an evil glint in her eyes. "Don't even think about it Temari, or else you won't get any later" he threatened and that glint vanished. "Your cruel sometimes Shikamaru-kun" she replied. "Alright we don't need to hear about your after hour activities, beside you may get Hinata-chan riled up again" Naruto spoke. "But I want my Naru time!" Hinata whined. "You can have all the Naru time you like, after the wedding" Naruto voiced. "Fine, but until then you owe me a massage so let's go" she replied as she dragged him to his feet and pulled him back to the village. Temari sighed as she watched Hinata drag the blond off, "did you think we'll ever be like that?" she questioned. "I hope not, it would be such a drag" Shikamaru replied.

"WHAT WAS THA- MMMMPPPP!"

She got cut off as Shikamaru locked lips with her, silencing whatever she was about to say to him.

"Unlike Naruto I know how to make my troublesome girl quiet" he smirked in his head.