Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but I do own my ideas...

-------------------------

Chapter 4

Ino's Wrath

Where's Sakura? I need to find her and apologize, Naruto thought.

He hoped that she wouldn't resent him. After all, they used to love each other. In a brotherly-sisterly way, and Naruto still did. He hoped she still loved him as well.

Naruto then spotted a blonde girl walking towards him. For some reason, she had an angry expression on her face. She marched right up to Naruto and just as he was about to mutter a greeting, she slapped him across the face.

"You prick!" she screamed, "How could you do that to Sakura!"

"I-I..." Naruto stuttered. He hung his head. "I'm sorry Ino.."

"Yeah, you'd better be sorry. You caused my best friend so much pain and heartache..." Ino raged on.

Naruto decided he didn't want to waste his breath and started walking past her.

"Hey, get back here you stupid little fox! I'm not through with you!"

"I need to find Sakura and apologize..."

"An apology isn't going to solve anything Naruto. You were supposed to be her friend."

"I was...I just messed up..."

"Oh, you messed up alright. Anyway, I hope you and Sasuke are happy!" Naruto noted how Ino's eyes went all dreamy when she said Sasuke's name, "you and the bastard deserve each other!"

"Well, it doesn't matter. I broke up with him..." Naruto looked at the ground.

"Huh...why?" Ino asked, interested.

"What? Wouldn't you rather yell at me?"

"Of course Naruto, but you see...if you broke up with Sasuke, then that means that he's available, right?"

"Ino! You were just raving about how my being with Sasuke broke Sakura's heart, and now you want to be with him?"

"Well, duh! I mean he's gorgeous, and sexy, and hot, and gorgeous, and sexy, and hot, and gorgeous, and se-" Naruto cut her off.

"Ino, the words that you're repeating over and over all basically mean the same thing."

"Oh, right..." Ino looked embarrassed.

"Well, I've to go find Sakura now...bye Ino."

Ino didn't hear him. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts about Sasuke. If Naruto just broke up with him, then he's gonna need a shoulder to cry on. And guess whose shoulder that will be. Tehehe...

"Gotta find Sakura, gotta find Sakura!" Naruto thought aloud, "I have to tell her just how much she means to me!"

"Hey N-Naruto...what's u-up?"

"Nothing Hinata...I don't have time to talk right now!" Naruto yelled over his shoulder. Then a thought suddenly popped into his head.

He turned around and ran back to Hinata.

"Hey Hinata?"

"Y-Yes..."

"You wouldn't happen to know where Sakura is, would you?"

"I-I thi-think th-that she wa-was umm...may-maybe...n-no...th-that's not r-right..."

"Could you just spit it out woman!" Naruto was growing frustrated.

Instead of saying another word, Hinata just pointed a finger toward's Shikamaru's house.

"Thanks Hinata," Naruto said and he bounded off. Man, I really don't know what that girl's problem is. She's really starting to creep me out though. It's like every time she's around me, she just can't speak. Either I'm stupid or she's just weird.

Naruto's thoughts carried him to Shikamaru's door. He looked behind him, as if he were having second thoughts. When he finally mustered enough courage, he knocked.

-------------------------

"Hey Shika? I think there's someone at the door."

"Hang on!" Shikamaru called, "I'm coming!"

Shikamaru walked to the front door, followed closely by Sakura, and opened the door to reveal a blonde boy wearing ugly orange clothes.

"What the hell do you want!"

"I'm sorry...I need to see Sakura!" Naruto said.

"Wha-" Shikamaru started, but he was cut off by Sakura.

"I thought we said everything that needed to be said yesterday in the park?"

"That's why I'm here Sakura. I came to apologize."

"I'm gonna give you two some time. If you need me, just holler." Shikamaru turned and walked away.

"Thanks Shika," Sakura said. Then she turned back to Naruto, "Why are you coming to apologize? You have Sasuke, don't you?"

"Well, I did..."

"What do you mean, you did?" Sakura asked.

"I kinda sort of broke up with him..."

"And I care because?"

"Because, you're the reason I broke up with him. I'm sorry about what I said in the park. I'm sorry I said I wasn't your friend. I told Sasuke that I was your friend and I still want to be now. I told him that I missed you and I valued our friendship too much to lose it over him. And then I-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses Naruto. What you did is unforgivable. I still want to be your friend too. I don't know why, but I do. And I know I can't. Not after what you did to me. I'm sorry." And Sakura shut the door in his face.

Crestfallen, Naruto turned away. But a glint of determination could be seen in his eyes. I will win Sakura back no matter what! I have to...

-------------------------

A/N: I will probably not go into too much detail about Naruto's attmepts to win Sakura's trust back or if he even does at all. I'm not exactly sure yet about what I'm going to do...

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and the ones before it. If you did, please review. If not, still review and tell me why you didn't like it and what you think would have made it better.