A/N: Sorry for the long time with no update. It took me a while to figure this part out. The next two chapters will be the day before the battle. Then we will get to the fighting. As you can tell, things are starting to wind down. Going to be a lot a scene switches here so try to keep up.

Naruto woke up the next morning staring at the roof of his apartment. Tomorrow was the day. They were leaving that morning and expected to confront Doutsa by the afternoon. He sighed. Everyone knew the pressure of this mission. If anyone walked away from this, they should consider themselves lucky. It was all riding on his plan.

He quickly got out of bed and started to change into his training clothes. It was 7 in the morning right now. He told Sakura he would pick her up around noon. That left him 5 hours to train. When he was ready he walked to the door before quickly jumping onto the roof across the street and starting towards the training ground. When he got there, Jiraiya and Shikamaru were already there.

Naruto shot Jiraiya a warning glance, "I'll handle you when the mission is over."

Jiraiya smiled and held up his hands in defense, "It worked didn't it? I really think you should be saying 'thank you' instead of threatening me."

Naruto sighed and looked at Shikamaru, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

Shikamaru broke his gaze from a cloud, "I am as ready as I will ever be. It's all too troublesome."

"Did you tell anyone?"

Shikamaru shook his head, "If the Harpy found out, she would interfere during the fight."

Naruto nodded, "I'm not telling Sakura-chan either."

Shikamaru sighed, "You know they are going to pound us if we walk away from this."

"Yeah."

"Now I know what my dad meant by troublesome females."

---Switch---

Sakura woke up as thoughts of the day before crept to the front of her mind. Her cheeks grew warm and developed a pink hue as she remembered kissing Naruto. If my younger self could see me now, she would kick my ass for even thinking about dating Naruto. She blushed more, But she doesn't know how cute her turned out to be. Plus, he's always been there for me, and I just ignored him. She had stayed up late the night before unable to settle her mind as thoughts of the upcoming date. Wait….date? Sakura quickly looked at the alarm clock. 9 o'clock. She had about 3 hours.

She quickly went to the closet picking out her clothes for the day and ran to the bathroom.

---Switch---

Shikamaru stood bent over with his hands resting on his knees as he breathed heavily. He looked up at Naruto and saw him just standing there smirking. He cursed himself, I'm worn out and the Baka doesn't even look winded. This is so troublesome. I have to perfect this before we fight.

Naruto looked at Shikamaru, "You need a few moment to catch your breathe?"

Shikamaru shook his head and stood up straight, "Doutsa would not give me a break if we fought."

Naruto smirked and shrugged, "Suit yourself." Naruto once again attacked Shikamaru as the two spared. Jiraiya stood at the side making mental notes.

---Switch---

Sakura stood in front of Tsunade shaking slightly.

Tsunade massaged her forehead, "Let me get this straight. You want the day off. So you can spend the day with Naruto?"

She blushed and nodded, "Yes, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade placed her hand onto the desk and smirked, "And why the sudden urge to see the little twerp?"

"Well….you see…..he……and I…….."

"You like him?"

Sakura nodded as she looked at the floor.

Tsunade held back a chuckle, She falls for Naruto and suddenly she's acting like Hinata. Hinataoh crap. "And what about the Hyuga girl? We both know she worships the ground Naruto walks on."

Sakura audibly gulped, "I was hoping to talk to her before I met up with Naruto."

Tsunade sighed, "Then, you better get going."

Sakura's head snapped up and then she quickly bowed, "Thank you Tsunade-sama!" She started to run out the door.

"Oh, Sakura-"

Sakura turned around.

"I hope you know what you are getting yourself involved in. If you have a single bit of doubt in you, then I suggest you not meet with Naruto today. You have a very rare advantage over the boy. You can crush his heart with a simple action." Tsunade stood from her seat and pressed her hands onto her desk which started to creak from the pressure. "You crush his heart, and I will crush your body."

Sakura paled and bowed, "Yes Tsunade-sama." She quickly walked out and was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she turned and saw Hinata walking down the hall, Damn. She quickly ran after her, "Hinata! Wait up!"

---Switch---

Shikamaru and Naruto were both laying on the ground breathing deeply. Naruto let out a laugh when he turned his head to Shikamaru, "I think we're ready."

Shikamaru just nodded.

"SHIKAMARU!"

Shikamaru frowned, "I think I forgot to tell Temari that we were training this morning."

There was a few steps before the aforementioned blonde's head appeared in Shikamaru's sight. Shikamaru paled, "Hello Temari."

"Don't hello me. You were suppose to take me to lunch today with my brothers."

Shikamaru turned his head sideways and looked at Naruto, "Got to go face the firing squad."

Naruto chuckled, "Relax, if they didn't like you they would have killed you already."

Shikamaru stood and brushed himself off, "That somehow fails to comfort me."

---Switch---

Sakura had spent the last few minutes talking to Hinata about just about everything other than Naruto. Hinata knew something was going on.

"Um…Sakura-san, why did you wish to speak with me?"

Sakura took a deep breathe, Here goes. "Ummmm Hinata, how strongly do you feel for Naruto?"

Hinata blushed while pressing the tips of her fingers against each other, "Ummmm...Naruto-kun……….he is very special to me."

Sakura sighed, "Which is why it makes this hard to say."

"What is it Sakura-san?"

"Well, you see. Naruto and I-"

Hinata frowned, "I know that you two are together now."

"What! How did you know?"

Hinata looked up and blushed, "Umm….I was taking a walk last night and saw you two at the memorial."

Sakura blushed, "Hinata, I'm sorry about taking Naruto from you."

Hinata shook her head, "No, Naruto was never mine. I simply wish for him to be happy."

"But what about you?"

Hinata blushed slightly, "Um…..Kiba-kun asked me out the other day."

Sakura smiled, "Well, I'm glad for you. Well, I have to go meet Naruto. We'll have to double sometime. That is if we can keep those two from breaking into a fight."

Hinata giggled, "We will make them get along."

"Okay then, we'll set it up after we get back."

Sakura then ran off to meet Naruto

---Switch---

Naruto turned the final corner towards his apartment. He only have about 30 minutes left and then he would have to meet Sakura. He ran inside and quickly showered and changed before starting back out the door. He opened it to find Sakura standing there smiling. He would have spoken but was met with a slight bop to the top of his head.

"I knew you would be late, so I came here instead."

Naruto rubbed the top of his head and smiled, "Sorry, I got a little busy going over a few last minute details."

Sakura frowned, "It's going to be dangerous isn't it?"

Naruto chuckled, "It usually is for shinobi."

Sakura shot him a glare that told him to be serious, "Stop playing. We both know either of us could die tomorrow."

Naruto nodded, "Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'll protect you. Even if it has to be with my life." He was then sent flying across the room by a punch. He stood up rubbing his jaw, "What did I say this time?"

Sakura walked up to him, "I don't want to here how willing you are to die for me. I want you to promise me that we will walk out of this "

Naruto looked away trying to avoid eye contact, "Sakura-chan-"

Sakura grabbed him by the collar, "Promise me."

Naruto nodded trying to avoid the anger of the pink-haired beauty.

Sakura bared her teeth, "Say it. Say that you will do everything you can to make sure you walk out of this."

Naruto smiled, "I'd do anything for you Sakura-chan."

Sakura smiled while embracing Naruto. She took a deep breathe reveling in his scent and then nuzzling into his chest even more.

Naruto stiffened not used to this show of affection, "Um, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura kept her eyes closed as she gave off a lazy smile, "Just hold me for a little bit. You're warm."

A cough cam from the door, "Am I interrupting anything?"

Sakura let off a growl that would rival the Kyuubi. "Go away Kakashi."

Kakashi was obviously smiling underneath his mask, "You shouldn't speak to your old sensei like that."

Sakura scowled and turned around leaning her back against Naruto's chest. She took Naruto's arms and linked them around her, "You know Kakashi-sensei, I think I remember seeing Rin looking for you earlier today. Something about you owing her a lunch."

Kakashi choked slightly and looked either way, "Which way was she heading?"

"Not sure, who knows, she could be here any second."

Kakashi paled and vanished in a poof of smoke.

Sakura smiled viciously as Naruto chuckled, "That was mean Sakura-chan."

Sakura's smile deepened, "Not as mean as tipping Rin off to our sensei's most favorite hang outs and hiding spots."

Naruto's eyes widened, "That's cruel."

Sakura took Naruto's hand and started towards the door, "Shows him for all those interruptions." She then proceeded to drag him down the street to the town's most expensive restaurant.

---Switch---

Kakashi let out a sigh of relief as he was now at his most favorite hiding spot. There was no way Rin would-

"Kakashi-kun!"

Crap. He turned around and raised his hand in greeting, "Yo!"

Rin ran up to him taking a few seconds catching her breathe before playfully slugging him in the arm. "I've been looking for you all day? You promised that we would go out to lunch when we got back to Konoha."

Kakashi chuckled nervously, "Sure thing Rin. We're would you like to go?"

Rin smiled and linked her arm around Kakashi's, "Just show me around the town and show me what's changed. I'm sure we will stop somewhere."

The two started off.

---Switch---

Jiraiya took another swig of sakè before passing it to Tsunade. He chuckled to see Rin and Kakashi going towards the square, "Ah, to be young again."

Tsunade smiled, "Yeah, it's wonderful."

Jiraiya cast a glance at Tsunade, "I mean actually young and not some kind of jutsu." He was met with an empty bottle hitting him in the side of the head. He rubbed the knot it formed. "Have you made the announcement yet?"

Tsunade shook her head, "I will day after tomorrow."

Jiraiya smiled, "This new generation has some great promise."

Tsunade smiled as a picture of the infamous blonde Shinobi entered her mind, "Especially your student."

Jiraiya puffed his chest slightly, "What can I say. Some of my greatness had to wear off on him."

"And he still turned out okay after that," counter Tsunade with a drunken smile. She moved her head as the offending bottle hit the wall beside her.