Naruto ran his hand up Sakura's arm and squeezed her shoulder, wondering how long she was going to allow him to hold her. She sighed and snuggled closer to him, her arm slipping underneath his and pressing her hand lightly against his back.

He tensed slightly, surprised by the affectionate gesture, but she just smiled to herself and pretended not to notice.

Sakura looked up at the massive trees, admiring the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves and sighed in contentment, "Fire country really is beautiful isn't it?"

Naruto smiled and looked down at her, "Yeah, it is. We could get there a lot faster, but it's sort of nice to take our time and enjoy the scenery for once."

She looked up at him with a playful smile, "I can't believe you came up with something like this."

He raised one eyebrow as he looked at her, "What are you talking about?"

She grinned, "Just taking off like this. I didn't think you had it in you."

He laughed, "You didn't? I used to do it all the time when I was a kid. It's fun to be able to take off whenever you want to." he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, "I haven't been able to do this in awhile though, you know how busy we get."

Sakura tilted her head at him, "I'm not sure 'busy' is the right word for it Naruto." she clutched the back of his jacket, entwining her fingers in the orange fabric; she looked away as the Atkatsuki crossed her mind.

Naruto was surprised when he felt her tighten her grip on him and he looked down at her, "Sakura-chan...?" he frowned at the back of her head while she was stared out into the forest, deep in thought.

He frowned as he took in her suddenly serious mood, Naruto watched her intently as they continued to walk in silence. She shouldn't be so serious on her birthday, I make her worry too much. He took a deep breath as he tried to think of a way to lighten the mood.

He gulped, then in a lighting fast movement he swept his beloved kunoichi off her feet and swung her through the air before catching her in his arms.

The sudden movement startled her out of her thoughts and she stared up at him in shock, "Naruto! What was all that about?"

He grinned mischievously at her, "You looked so serious just now that I wanted to lighten your mood." he tossed her in the air once more and caught her carefully, "I was debating between tickling you, and sweeping you off your feet. I decided to go with the one that was less likely to get me flattened."

He grinned at her, hiding his apprehension as he waited for her reaction. She glared at him for a moment, then smacked him on the back of his head. For a moment he thought he had pushed his luck too far, but then she laughed and threw her arms around his neck, letting the flowers hang across his back.

"Naruto! You're such an idiot! Only you would 'lighten' someone up like that!"

The blond grimaced, "Owww Sakura-chan..... I was just trying to cheer you up!"

Sakura grinned at him, "I wasn't unhappy, I'm having fun with you. I was just thinking about--" she bit her lip, abruptly ending her sentence.

Naruto tilted his head at her, "What were you thinking about Sakura-chan?"

She shook her head, "Nothing, don't worry about it."

He frowned, She's always worrying about everyone.

He turned away; a distracted look on his face, and she frowned at him, trying to regain his attention. When he didn't respond, she pinched his shoulder, "Naruto! Quit zoning out!"

He winced and turned his attention back to the woman in his arms, "Ouch! What was that for?"

Sakura stretched her legs and Naruto shifted to accommodate the movement, "You're supposed to be paying attention to me."

Naruto smiled as he gazed into her sea foam green eyes, "Sorry Sakura-chan." he shifted his hold on her slightly, pulling her closer to his chest, "Don't worry! My attention is all yours!"

Sakura laughed and leaned back in his arms, trusting him to hold onto her, "Good! I'm feeling selfish today!" her cheeks took on a rosy tinge and she smiled at him, "I think I'm getting a bit spoiled Naruto."

"Good! I wanted you to feel spoiled today," he grinned at her, "Today's an important day to me too!"

She tilted her head at him, "Today is special to you too?"

He laughed, "Of course! Today, 16 years ago is when you were born! It's also special because this is the first time we've left Konoha alone, just the two of us....." he trailed off as he felt himself starting to blush.

She smiled and released her hold on him; he sensed her wishes and set her on her feet, "You're right Naruto. Today is a really important day."

Sakura looked into the mesmerizing depths of his eyes, Today I've begun to realize what you mean to me.

Her mouth opened then shut again as she tried to speak, wanting him to understand what she had learned about herself in a few short hours. Her eyes fluttered to her feet when words failed her, Maybe I'm not ready to tell him yet.

He was still watching her expectantly so instead she pivoted on the ball of her foot so she was back at his side, then she grabbed his hand, entwining her slender fingers with his.

Naruto smiled and tried to fight the heat that was rising in his cheeks; he took the antlers from her and threw them over his shoulder, letting the canvas bag swing against his back.

Dusk was approaching when they finally reached the hot spring resort, Naruto grinned and turned to Sakura, "What do you want to do first Sakura-chan? Dinner, a movie, relax in the hot spring, or did you want to go shopping in the outdoor market?"

She smiled back at him, tingling with anticipation, "How about we go check in first? Then we can put the flowers in water and we can leave our things in the room."

He laughed and squeezed her hand, "That's my Sakura-chan! You always were the smart one! Let's go."

Together they made their way through the crowd of their fellow resort goers and entered the main hotel building. There was no line, so Naruto sauntered right up to the registration desk, the girl behind the counter sat up straighter and smiled at them, "Hello! Welcome to the hot springs, would you like to register for a room?"

Naruto smiled right back at her, "Hello! Yes, we would like to register for one night. Do you have two singles available?"

Sakura frowned and grabbed his arm, pulling him a few feet away, she frowned, "Naruto, this place isn't cheap. Isn't getting two rooms too expensive?"

Naruto grinned and put his hand on her shoulder, "You let me worry about that Sakura-chan. This is all my treat."

She shook her head, causing her strawberry hair to whip around her face, "Naruto, how are you supposed to afford that?"

He laughed, "Tsunade Baa-chan made Ero-sennin pay back all the money he borrowed from me over the last three years." he gave her a thumbs up, "I've been working again, so it's extra cash."

She laughed, "I can just imagine the way that conversation went! Tsunade-sama never did like the fact that Jiraiya-sama took money from you."

"Yeah! Anyway, you don't have to worry about anything, I've got it covered."

He started to turn back to the now impatient hotel employee, but Sakura grabbed his arm again and pulled him back around to face her, "Well at least don't waste your money, just get a double room."

Naruto blushed, and looked down at his feet, "Y-you and me....share a room...?"

She tilted her head at him, slightly amused by his reluctance "Yes. Why not? We've shared rooms before."

He shifted uncomfortably, and fidgeted with the zipper on his jacket, "That's true...but..." his head snapped up and he watched her with conflicting emotions swirling in his sapphire eyes, "That was different Sakura-chan! We were with Kakashi-sensei and S--, or, or, you know! The others! We've never slept in a room alone before!"

She laughed, "Naruto! Are you actually nervous about sleeping in a room alone with me?" she patted his shoulder reassuringly, "It's not a big deal! I know you'll be a gentleman." her eyes took on a dangerous glint, "You know what would happen if you tried anything..."

Naruto shrank away from her as he envisioned the consequences of the half-veiled threat, "O-of course Sakura-chan! I would never do anything....anything ah...rude."

Not to mention what Baa-chan would do to me... he shuddered at the thought.

Sakura smiled, "I know Naruto! Anyway, we have slept alone together before." he looked at her quizzically, so she sighed and continued, "We've shared tents before, we've even shared rooms before. So someone was in the next room, I really don't see the difference."

Naruto half-smiled, then nodded at her, "Alright Sakura-chan, you win."

He calmly turned back to the receptionist, but in his head he was shouting in triumph and shaking his fists in his own personal victory dance, "Sorry about that miss. We've changed our minds. Do you have one double available?"

The dark-haired woman looked him up and down appreciatively, then she looked around him to wink at Sakura, who blushed, "Why yes I do." she handed him a clipboard, "Just fill out this form and then sign here and I can give you your keys, you can pay the bill when you check out."

Naruto smiled as he cut the stems of the daffodils and placed them in a cup of water that he had gotten from room service, "There, that looks nice." he set the cup on the nightstand, "I wonder if Sakura-chan is done changing yet."

He heard a door slide open, and he turned to see Sakura step out of the bathroom, now wearing the hotel's guest robe, "Your turn Naruto."

She smiled at him as she tucked her hair back with headband that they had picked up at the shop in the lobby when they had gone to buy toothbrushes. Naruto picked up his bundle of robes and walked to the bathroom door, "I'll be quick Sakura-chan, then we can go to the hot spring."

She smoothed the folds of the robe and turned sideways to admire her reflection in the mirror above the dresser, "Sounds good Naruto."

Sakura caught Naruto's hand as they made their way to the other side of the hotel where they could bathe in the hot spring. After a moment she looked down at her hand that Naruto held loosely in his own, her hand looked so small in his grasp, his tan fingers almost completely hiding her pale digits. He squeezed her hand and she tightened her grip, feeling warm and safe in his presence.

"Naruto?" he looked down at her so she continued, "Naruto, you've been telling me you liked me since we were in the academy, but you never said why you like me."

Naruto laughed, "Why are you asking now Sakura-chan?"

She pouted at him, "Don't laugh, I'm really curious, what is it you like about me so much?"

He put his free hand to his chin, "Hmmmmm, why exactly do I like Sakura-chan so much.....?" he smiled down at her, "Because you're Sakura-chan!"

Sakura glared at him, "Naruto! Be serious, I want to know!"

He shrugged, waving off her annoyance, "That's just it Sakura-chan! I like you because you are who you are! Ever since we were in the Academy I liked you because you always seemed to be nice to everyone." he laughed, "Well except for Ino!"

She frowned at him, "Don't say that Naruto. I was horrible to you back then. It's not something I'm proud of."

He shook his head, "Don't say it like that Sakura-chan. I never held it against you. I always assumed that I had done something to offend you. But enough about--"

Sakura stopped in her tracks, yanking him to a halt, "You? You never did anything! I was stupid and young! I didn't know how much it hurt you...."

He raised his hands, fending off her enthusiastic objections and her guilt, "It's not a big deal Sakura-chan! Really! I was the one following you around all the time!"

She fought the urge to stamp her foot, knowing that if she lost her temper she could seriously damage the hotel, "That doesn't make it right. Anyway, I don't remember seeing you much until the last couple of years of training. You were always at the center of any trouble around that time."

"Haha, yeah, but Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chouji were usually right there next to me being chewed out by Iruka-sensei. That was later though, when we were kids, I just tried to stay out of everyone's way," he paused, putting his chin in his hand, as he thought back to their days at the academy, "But let's not talk about that. Today is about you."

Sakura squeezed his hand, "Maybe, but you're a part of me now Naruto." she smiled as she gazed up at him, "I've realized that I don't know much about your childhood. Sure we were in the same class, but I never really saw you outside the classroom."

Naruto closed his eyes for a moment and gently pulled his hand from her grasp, then turned and smiled at her, "Let's not talk about it today Sakura-chan. Ask me another day okay?"

She clenched her fist, missing the feel of his hand in hers, "Yeah,okay Naruto. Another time." she felt her eyes growing moist, "Promise?"

He took a deep breath; internally debating whether or not it was a promise he would be willing to keep; finally he smiled, "If that's what you want Sakura-chan. I promise."

She frowned at his obvious reluctance, and she felt guilt gnawing at the back of her mind for bringing the subject up, I shouldn't have said anything.

Naruto grinned at her, his discomfort hidden almost flawlessly beneath his blinding smile that only a few could see past, "Well, have a nice bath Sakura-chan! I'll meet you out here in an hour okay?"

She barely heard him as she looked up through watery eyes; there was a moment of panic, when she saw him turn his back to her and walk away.

Sakura stumbled after him, flattening herself against his well-muscled back, "Naruto!"

He turned back to her, surprised by the outburst, "S-sakura-chan?"

She smiled up at him, grabbing fist-fulls of his jacket, "You have me Naruto." she locked eyes with him, trying to force all her emotions into her gaze; hoping he would see it and understand.

Naruto smiled down at her where she was pressed against him. After a moment he leaned down and gently brushed his lips against her forehead, "I know. Thank you Sakura-chan."

He pulled away from her, grinning as he propelled her towards the ladies' bath; she turned back to him and smiled, then closed the door behind her.

She took a few steps into the dressing area and sank to her knees with her hand to her forehead, relishing the memory of his warm lips against her skin.