Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto... It's getting annoying to say this every time now :p

A/N: I've edited the beginning of chapter 5 slightly of the hinted NaruHina part, where Naruto's possible interest in her has been deleted... Because I really want to portray NaruSasuSaku-ness but NaruHina will get in the way. (I hope no offense is taken to any NaruHina fans out there)... Now, a sincere apology for such a late update.. I've been realizing & brooding about how... bad my writing is. Especially after reading "Blind" - the SasuSaku fanfic with the top reviews, for anyone who doesn't know. I honestly can't believe myself I got this much reviews for this story so far, because I myself doesn't want to read it haha, So a sincere thank you to all my readers and reviewers!

Chapter 7: Coward

The next day, Uchiha Sasuke awoke from yet another nightmare, its indelible images burned to his mind for the rest of the day. That is, until a certain blonde came storming towards him, and the Sharingan holder would have been crushed had he not sidestepped at the last second.

"SASUKE-!" Naruto instantly retaliated from the ground, not bothering to wipe away the dirt on his face. Sasuke held his bland expression and gave his friend a slight nod as to question his anger.

Naruto did not faze away and instead charged forward again, his eyes threatening to turn into red slits. The blonde drew back his arm in a rush, then thrust it towards Sasuke, who swung his body away with impressive celerity, holding back the blonde's punch with a bare hand.

"You want to talk with fists?" Sasuke questioned in amusement.

Naruto calmed down infinitesimally, and tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke. "It's your fault. Sakura-chan…"

'Sakura?' Sasuke quickly masked his alert and curiosity, and he egged Naruto on cooly with a statement. "Something happened to her." The image of the morning's nightmares flashed by and Sasuke quickly continued. "Is she hurt?"

"Sakura-chan." The previous tremors were gone as Naruto spoke up with a newfound determination. "She wasn't a coward."

Irritation was blatant on Sasuke's face as he urged him on. "What does that have to do with anything?"

This time, Naruto made sure to gaze into Sasuke's eyes as he continued. "Sakura-chan wasn't a coward, unlike someone here." The Sharingan user was utterly perplexed, but a tiny gash somewhere inside him was inflicted by the blonde's words.

"Sakura-chan I knew was honest to her feelings – unlike someone" Naruto emphasized again, and there was such strong intensity to his eyes that Sasuke slightly shifted his gaze to the ground.

"So what's your point, dobe?" He said, as he tried to brush Naruto away. Something snapped inside Naruto again as he slammed his hand into Sasuke's shoulder, his fingers crushing in deeply. Sasuke stood there, unflinching.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto gritted through his teeth, obvious pain in his eyes as he spoke the words. "confessed to me."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows, seeing nothing wrong, for after all, they were close comrades – confessing secrets and feelings weren't all that uncommon. Then, it registered in his mind as two words descended to his thoughts. 'Love confession?'

His raven hair was very still, and Naruto silenced to wait for some form of response.

"Hah."

A smile crept into Sasuke's face, awkward, yet persistent.

"Hahaha!" His pale hands gripped Naruto's hand free from his shoulder. "I get the joke now – who would ever ask you out? But, I understand. She's a girl, so it's only to be expected."

Sasuke turned to leave, but Naruto's words froze him in his tracks.

"I love Sakura-chan."

Inwardly, Sasuke flinched, but it hadn't come as that much of a surprise, he realized. Somewhere within him, he had known all along – Naruto's feelings for Sakura. Sure, it seemed like an immature crush when they were all genin, but – Sasuke had to admit – that idiot had grown up after all. While Naruto appeared to be oblivious to many things, it seems that he had come to understand accept his own feelings for Sakura.

Without turning around to face him, Sasuke asked, choosing his words carefully. "So what are you complaining about?" There was a pause. "Oh, you want me to congratulate you guys?" Sasuke's hand reached up to rub his chin, as if to contemplate. "But aren't you being ironic here, Naruto? I don't ever recall you having congratulated me and Mayuri."

"Face me, Sasuke." Naruto's fists were trembling. "I know there are some feelings between you and Mayuri-san, but even I can tell that it's not love." Sasuke stayed still. "Maybe pity for each other, or sympathy… But whatever it is, you better not be toying with her."

At that last remark, Sasuke instantly flashed in front of Naruto, his hands threatening to kill inches away from the blonde's neck. "Watch it, Naruto."

"Haha!" Naruto let out a sarcastic laugh. "I know you're not simply toying with her. I know it, and that's it. I know you, and it's as simple as that. And that's why I want you to be sincere with your feelings as well, because Sakura-chan is becoming…" Naruto's voice trailed off, and the next part came in barely audible whispers. "… a coward, like you. I also know Sakura-chan well, and I can tell… How much you still affect her."

Sasuke felt it, as his friend's words shook up his entire body: Naruto was in pain. Damn it, he had already hurt the two enough, and he sure didn't want that to happen a second time.

"Sakura…" Sasuke took a silent gulp. "loves you, dobe. She confessed, as I remembering hearing from a certain loud-mouthed idiot."

"Stop denying, Sasuke!" Naruto's heightened tone was desperate now, and Sasuke saw it – Naruto's willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for Sakura's, and the idiot was totally convinced that Sasuke could bring that happiness. The blonde continued, trying hard to make Sasuke understand, and Naruto was right: he understood Sasuke, but Sasuke also understood Naruto. "I told you I know you –"

"Hn." Sasuke smirked, and he leaned in forward, until his mouth was barely inches away from Naruto's ear.

"That's why I'm telling you to make her happy." He breathed, and a pause followed before he finished. "For me." Before Naruto could turn to face him – to be able to see the feelings when one gazes onto another's eyes – Sasuke had disappeared off, perhaps for more training.

To be continued.