Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...

Thank you to the following people for reviewing the previous chapter: The hero of time 2005, WhateverBLEH, horus501, Riiiceballe, Ranko, LbcLostKid, saiyan prince1, Shinku Naito, and Soul of the Silver Phoenix, Shinigami143, and Genesis D. Rose and for the awesome reviews!

A/N: Umm, this chapter turned out a little angstier (something like that) than I originally planned. It'll still have Naruto and Kurenai together and stuff, but just in a little angstier way. AND NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, maybe this story will have 6 chapters. The reason is because their relationship can't move too fast or it'll seem to rushed. So 6 chapters would do... But of course, I'm STILL not sure. Lol.

I Will Win This Bet

Chapter 4: "Naruto and Kurenai's Date"

At first, Naruto and Kurenai were going to hang out for a while before eating dinner. But when they slowly wandered around the banks of the river, somehow, Naruto got to the subject where he said he knew the Gokakyu no Jutsu, and she became interested since she knew that the particular Jutsu was known by Uchiha members.

During the time they walked around, Naruto told Kurenai of the many other Jutsus he knew about. She was difinitely impressed at his knowledge and talent.

And just like that, a few hours went by.

... 7:15 pm: Time for Dinner ...

Inside the restaurant, Naruto and Kurenai ordered some food. While waiting, there were other people who were staring at them, envious that Naruto was eating dinner with the 'Ice Queen' of Konoha. Naruto tried to start a conversation to distract himself from the glares. "So..." Naruto started at his glass of water in front of him. He began with a randomn subject. "Was teaching three Genin hard?" 'Now where did that come from...'

Kurenai leaned back in her chair and answered, "Not really, once I got used to it. Are you planning on becoming a Jounin-sensei?"

Naruto shook his head. "I may take on Anbu, even though it's more dangerous, it'd be more interesting than to deal with three brats."

Kurenai laughed lightly and said, "So are you saying you were a brat when Kakashi was teaching you?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?" Kurenai raised an eyebrow. "I would have expected you to deny it. But then again, you were the 'brat' Kakashi had always talked about."

"What?! Kakashi said I was a brat?"

Kurenai waved her hand in front of her, in a manner as to dismiss the subject. "He doesn't think that anymore. You're quite talented to have mastered your chakra element when he was teaching you."

Naruto lowered his head and said softly, "But I still wasn't able to bring back Sasuke."

She didn't know what to say. She knew they had been best friends yet rivals at the same time. "He was your best friend, huh?" She asked.

"He was more than that; he was a brother to me." Naruto said. "No, he was even more than that. I should have gotten stronger sooner, then I could have killed Orochimaru or brought Sasuke back before the three years were over."

"Naruto, you put so much effort in your training. It was beyond the speed of normal, and even so, you couldn't bring him back. It was his decision to go, he wanted revenge, that was his purpose of life. He didn't even get his revenge in the end. It was him who was stupid enough to go to Orochimaru ---"

"Don't talk about Sasuke like that!" Naruto growled but instantly regretted it. Kurenai looked shocked at his abrupt outburst and he lowered his head in shame. She cast her gaze aside. When people talked about Sasuke like that, Naruto just got angry. He didn't like it when people said he was the 'idiot' who went for power just for revenge. Naruto was going to apologize to Kurenai just as the food arrived.

He opened his mouth but the waiter spoke, "Your food is here." The waiter bowed once he put down the food and drinks. Then he left.

They both looked at the food in front of them and hesitantly started eating. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, neither of them spoke. Naruto knew it was because of his outburst a few moments ago.

After dinner, Naruto brought Kurenai to a place she'd never gone to before. The place was outside of Konoha (even though weren't permitted to leave just like that) with short mountains that was filled with flowers growing from the ground. By the time they arrived at the place on foot, the sun was already setting which was a beautiful view from the top they were seeing. Both sat down, and just fantasized in the pretty view.

"Kurenai-san," Naruto said after a while. "Sorry... about what I did before in the restaurant. It's just that..."

"It's all right, I understand." She knew it was hard for him to lose someone like Sasuke. It was probably a sore subject for him to talk about. "I know what you're feeling."

Naruto looked over at her, she was staring at the setting sun. How could she possibly know the pain he felt? How could she possibly understand what he had gone through all his life without parents or family? How could she understand how it felt to lose a brother who meant so much to him?

"No, you don't." Naruto said, a little anger in his voice. People always told him they 'understood' his feelings when they didn't really. 'She doesn't know what I'm feeling. No one understands.'

Kurenai looked at Naruto, a little surprised. She hadn't expected that reaction from him. "Actually, I do know how you feel." She said.

"How could you?" Naruto asked bitterly. This was not heading in the right direction, but he wasn't about to turn it back around when in his opinion, she was being stubborn. "I've never had a family and Sasuke had been the only one. But I still lost him."

"Losing one, someone who also decided they wanted to choose that path. It's hard, but," Kurenai paused, casting her gaze down. "Losing your whole family with the killer being your own father is even harder."

And at that very moment, the sun set, disappearing behind the peaks of the mountains. Faraway clouds covered the remaining light that emitted from the sun. It seemed as though darkness had swallowed both of them in the pits of it's stomach.

"Die! Die! DIE!!"

A sudden ear piercing scream was heard and then everything was quiet.

"Did your...?" Naruto trailed off. Could she be talking about her family? Now that he thought of it, she had never mentioned her family before.

Kurenai looked away from him, pulling her knees against her chest and said softly. "Yeah. The whole clan died by the hands of my very father."

Naruto was shocked. Kurenai had never struck him as a person to hold such tragic memories. "How?" Naruto decided to push the matter just a little further and find out what happened.

"My brother betrayed the clan and became a missing-nin." Kurenai said, her voice was becoming muffled. "My father went insane and attacked the whole clan. My mother protected me, but ended up dying. When my father thought everyone was dead, he commited suicide."

Silent and unshed tears escaped the barriers of Kurenai's eyes. From Kurenai's soft and muffled voice, Naruto knew she was trying not to cry. Shinobi were not permitted to show their feelings, because that showed weakness.

Strong arms wrapped around Kurenai from behind and she flinched at the sudden touch. She relaxed against the arms after a while. It felt comfortable for her, it had been a long time since she'd ever thought the warmth of another human's touch was comforting.

Naruto didn't know why he did what he just did. He had just thought that embracing this woman before him was the right action to do. He knew she needed someone. And he knew that this very woman in front of him didn't mind him hugging her.

"Please don't cry, Kurenai-san." Naruto said soothingly. He moved beside her with one arm over her shoulder. The other hand reached for her face slowly and he wiped her tears away. When he finished, he smiled. "You look much better without tears."

Kurenai couldn't help but smile at Naruto. She didn't know why, but he made her feel safe. His arm was still over her shoulder and she felt it very comforting. Naruto suddenly realized how close their bodies and faces were. He quickly pulled away, but Kurenai's hands stopped him. She held onto the front of his jacket as though telling him not to go away.

Naruto looked into Kurenai's eyes, they looked like they were pleading him no to go. He knew she needed someone, just like he needed someone as well. He sighed inwardly, and returned back to the position he had been before. This time, Kurenai leaned against him, making both of them blush a little.

It was eventually that Kurenai fell asleep leaning against Naruto. It was already night time (time seemed to fly) and Naruto picked Kurenai up.

He piggybacked her all the way back to her apartment and was glad that no one was around to see them. When he got to her apartment, he tried looking for an open window to go through but found none. Just in case, he tried the front door to see if it was locked (obviously it was). Naruto considered waking Kurenai up to get her key, but he just couldn't do it. She seemed too peaceful when she was sleeping.

Sighing inwardly, Naruto walked back to his own apartment. He made sure not to accidently drop Kurenai when he fished around for his key in his pocket. Once inside, he gently set her on his bed as not to disturb her. He pulled the blankets over her before closing the door to the bedroom and plopping himself on the couch.

Naruto was pondering about the events that happened today. He didn't know what feeling he'd gotten when he hugged her. Something that spread from the pit of his stomach all the way to his chest. It took him a long time to fall asleep, and when he finally did, he had a smile plastered on his face with an image of the time when Kurenai and his face had been so close that evening.

The next morning, Kurenai awoke to the sound of something falling on the floor. It was a crash that had come from the kitchen which was followed by an 'Woops...' from Naruto. She was surprised to find herself in his house, but then remembered that she had fallen asleep against warm, strong arms. But her keys had just been in her pocket...

Naruto heard the washroom door creaking (it was the only door in his apartment which creaked) and then closing which meant Kurenai was awake. He was eating some bread right now (not ramen for a change).

When Kurenai came back out, she was still dressed in the same clothes as she wore yesterday. Her hair was a little bit messy from sleeping.

"Morning, Kurenai-san!" Naruto greeted her, smiling as usual.

She nodded, "Morning, Naruto."

"Want to eat something?" He pointed to another slice of bread he'd prepared beforehand.

Kurenai nodded again and Naruto handed her a plate with the bread on it. He went to his kitchen and to the fridge (which was nearly empty) to give her some juice. The only juice he had was orange juice.

After breakfast, Kurenai thanked Naruto and said that she had to go now. At the front door, Naruto offered to walk her home, but she refused. She had just turned around and started to walk away (with Naruto seeing her off) when she suddenly turned around and walked back. She stopped in front of Naruto, and then leaned forward, pressing her lips against his, only momentarily though.

When she pulled away, she mumbled, "Thank you, Naruto. For yesterday."

Leaving a speechless and startled Naruto standing at the door, she went away. After a few minutes, Naruto finally realized that she was already gone and went back inside.

It wasn't until he got to his couch and sat down that he realized something: She kissed him! There were two things he was feeling right now. One was that he was delighted that she kissed him (her lips tasted very good in his opinion and now he wished it had been a deeper one) and the other was that he was even more delighted because he'd won the bet!

A/N: When Kurenai thanked Naruto, what she meant was for being there for her. Not just for the date.

And by the way, this chapter was something like a start-off for their relationship. So chapter 5 might have more. But right now, I'm still deciding how to do that. I'm not too good at making non-canon couples (hehe) cause I need to find a reason they would like each other and then develop it more. ARGH, now I need to think what's going to happen next...