Sorry its a little shorter than last chapter. It seems around about this length is my limit. :Sigh: I tried my best to make it longer but in the end this is as far as i can go . hehe. Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews. You're legendary ^_^

Sakura gripped the door frame for support.

What's going on with my body?

Her breath was slow and shaky and her legs were getting weak, her knuckles white from how hard she was grasping the wood.

I shouldn't be so worked up over this, its just some kind of accident, she thought as her eyes jumped to the roughly carved number on the wooden door frame to check. Yes, this was Sasuke and Naruto room but the girl was having problems accepting that the two people in the room really were her two team mates. It was already late morning and Kakashi had sent Sakura to make sure the boys were up. When she arrived she had found this. She shook her head.

I should just go in there and beat Naruto, the pink haired girl reasoned forcefully, setting her eyebrows in a deep frown, but all the fight left her body as she looked back to the two forms.

Both were cuddled up in Sasuke's futon, wrapped in one thick blanket. Sakura blinked away something that was stinging her eyes. What was the numb feeling that was draining all her energy?

"Come on, what's wrong with you?" she murmured to herself quietly, staring at the two boys. Naruto was curled up against Sasuke, his head turned into his shoulder with his face hidden, one hand holding onto Sasuke's navy shirt. Sakura bit her lip, waiting for the anger that she usually felt when Naruto did something annoying to arise. Nothing came. Nothing but a strange tightness in her chest.

Where is my anger? Why aren't I really mad about this? Naruto is snuggling with my Sasuke kun! She frowned at the blonde boy, trying provoke some sort of feeling. She felt her features begin to tremble. It was hard to breathe. What was it about this situation that was leaving her so breathless?

She looked to Sasuke; one arm wrapped around Naruto, holding the other boy against him. Even in sleep, his face was so captivating she was instantly dazzled and couldn't look away. She stared for a long time at his sleeping face before she suddenly realized why her body was weak, why she couldn't breathe, why there was no anger prickling at her skin. Her sea foam eyes widened and she felt light headed. Her blood felt like it was flowing backwards, rushing all the way to her heart.

Two boys so close to each other. It was wrong. Two boys wrapped in such an embrace. It was wrong. Two boys fitting so perfectly side by side. It was wrong. But Sasuke and Naruto; so close, sleeping so comfortably next to each other. Why did it look so right? Why did her Sasuke kun's face look so at ease, why was he holding Naruto so closely to him, why was Naruto clutching him like that? Why did it all seem so natural?

Sakura breathed in raggedly, bringing her hand to her face. It was wet. I'm crying, she realized. Sasuke kun and Naruto... Was there actually more to this rivalry/friendship? There were so many clues, now that she thought about it that would suggest so. Her shoulders shook violently but no noise came from her quaking body to accompany the tears or to release the tightness in her chest. Could it be true?

Sasuke never paid any attention to his admirers and even once he had become closer with her he hadn't shown interest in anything but distant friendship. But with Naruto, Sasuke felt so much. She smiled sadly at the memory of Sasuke's expression of superiority as he was hammered by Naruto's insults that clearly had no effect. He looked almost happy. His handsome face was never more alive than it was when he was with Naruto and the same went for the goofy blonde too. He always seemed to glow from the inside out whenever he was with Sasuke, even when they were fighting his striking eyes were always that little bit brighter; always danced with a little more blue fire. They were constantly together. Sakura could barely picture one without the other. In her mind there were always two boys, side by side, one in navy, one in orange. Always together, with some sort of smile on their faces; a smirk for Sasuke and a grin for Naruto.

What should I do? She slumped against the door frame and slid to the ground. Neither boy stirred. The pink haired kunoichi gazed at Naruto. His hair looked soft and downy, mussed slightly.

I always thought it would be me, she told him silently, not feeling the tears falling over her cheeks, not really feeling anything apart from the dull ache of tension in her chest. I always thought I'd be the one to heal Sasuke kun and then he'd bring me into his arms and hold me like he's holding you... But it's always been you, Naruto. You, who Sasuke treated differently, you who have always been saving him with that stupid smile of yours.

I wonder, she thought lifting her tear stained face to the ceiling. Is it selfish to wish this isn't happening...

I know I love Sasuke kun... But I do love Naruto too... I love them both and somewhere along the way, without me even noticing it, they have become the most important people to me. Her fingers curled into soft fists by her sides.

"Okaasan, what's love?"

"Love? Love is... having the desire to make someone happy without wanting anything in return. It doesn't even matter if they don't love you back...True love is when the best thing is seeing that person smile."

Sakura clenched her eyes shut. Love had seemed so easy back when she had asked her mother that question. Just seeing that person smile... wanting nothing in return... What should I do...? Sasuke had always belonged to her. Some of his other admirers had even given up on him a bit when she had been put on the same team as Konoha's biggest heart throb, and now he was being taken away from her. Could she really give him up to Naruto? Did she want to? Maybe.

If what was happening was just friendship, could she accept being so left out by both boys? Wouldn't she feel less abandoned if the bond was of a different kind? But Sasuke was the only love she had known. She had liked him for as long as she could remember. Her eyes wandered back to his face.

Oh Sasuke kun... Do you really like that idiot? Do you even realize how you feel? You're so mysterious and distant... Can't you see that there's a cute girl right in front of you?

Sakura laughed softly. What was with that last thought? How selfish... Even though I can see now, that there is a chance that Sasuke kun likes Naruto as more than a friend, I'm still trying to ruin his chance at a happiness he probably hasn't had in a long time with my love for him.

I've always been selfish...she thought, not bitterly, just observing something in herself, accepting it without a second thought. I'm always forcing my feelings on Sasuke kun. I want him all for myself so I try to push Naruto away from the person he might care about the most. I don't do it on purpose, but I can't help it. Sakura sighed painfully. Right now, what is love? For this situation, what is love? To see that person smile... What do I have to do? The whole hallway was quiet, most of the rooms occupants were already up. She was alone.

"Let go?" she whispered, her voice sounded strange in the silence. Sasuke kun, to make you smile, to make you happy, do I have to let go? She stood slowly. The thought of Sasuke's smile, such a sight that she wasn't sure she had actually ever seen genuinely made her heart flutter and some of the tightness disappear.

"Letting go, is that all I can do for you?" the girl murmured from the doorway. Love right now is... letting go? I don't know if I can...

At that moment, Naruto rolled over.

"Sasuke teme, you're such a jerk," he muttered, sleep talking loudly. Sasuke's face wrinkled into a frown as he slipped back into consciousness. Sakura stepped away from the door before she could be seen.

"Shut up, you Usuratonkachi..." she heard Sasuke growl sleepily. The girl laughed lightly as she started down the hallway, wiping away tears that still hadn't finished.

I can't stop crying, but it guess its fine for now. I can let go of him slowly, because neither of them get it yet. She closed her eyes and smiled. It'll take time, for all of us... So just for a while longer, allow me to be selfish. Please keep quietly accepting my affection and my constant pushing, just until you two realize... And when that time comes, please, don't leave me behind. We are still a team, a three man squad no matter what you two might feel, so don't you dare abandon me. She turned a corner. It's all right for now.

…

It was cloudy overhead as they began the journey back to Konoha. They were taking a different path home so that they wouldn't have to pass the battlefield from the previous day. It seemed like such a long time ago to the jounin, much longer than just 24 hours. Time had been passing too slowly for his liking lately. He sighed. It would be hot and muggy in Konoha with the thick cloud. Just the kind of weather he hated at the end of a mission. He'd hand his report into the Hokage and then drag Naruto off to the hospital to get the seal checked out, he was still concerned about that even though Sasuke had given him a nod at the breakfast table to let him know that the night had gone smoothly.

Kakashi lifted his eyes to the three young ninja in front of him out of habit; he seemed to be always checking on them. Well, he thought, I suppose it's only natural, they are a bit dysfunctional at times. Sakura and Naruto were walking together, Naruto slightly in front with his hands behind his head, face turned to the skyward. Sakura was dragging her feet a little walking just one step behind. Sasuke was in the lead. Apart from Sakura's feet, everything seemed pretty normal between them. He didn't dwell on Sakura too long; he had done his part towards cheering her up the day before. Someone else's turn, he thought lazily. As if he had heard him, Naruto turned to the kunoichi. Her face lifted and she picked up her feet, laughing gently at something the boy had said. Kakashi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Subconsciously he had been a bit worried again, another part of his mind running through memories from the Country of Waves mission that wasn't really that long ago; picking out the similarities between that mission and this one.

The horrible red chakra that had burst from the walls of the house of ice mirrors; the same red chakra that they had revealed itself yesterday, the dusty green eyes that darkened in anguish on that day that Sasuke had "died"; the same green eyes that had painfully shed tears before him. He watched the boy and the girl's interaction with fond eyes and smiled when Sasuke dropped back to add his sarcastic foot note, glad that they were all alright. They had really pulled together and become a team, so different to the three kids who had showed up for the first day of training back then. The dark avenger who thought he was so much better than the rest, the difficult brat who wanted to achieve his big dream without any help and the giggling fangirl. Maybe it was time to test them again soon. He wondered idly where he had put those bells.

…

The journey back to Konoha was fairly boring and the young Uchiha was happy to finally pass through the big wooden gate. Kakashi told them to come for training tomorrow and then they all went their separate ways; Sakura and Sasuke heading to their houses and Kakashi and Naruto off in the direction of the hospital. On the way home he saw Team 10. Yamanaka Ino painfully reminded him about the New Year's festival coming up while making eyes at him. He stopped politely to listen without turning his face to her before leaving them behind. He hated the New Year's Festival. In the years before the massacre, the Uchiha family had always gone together, but now it was just another suffocating memory, the scenery lit with the soft glow of lanterns, everyone's smiling faces blurred and dark.

Sasuke frowned as he approached the part of the village that was painted red and white; a locked away part of him started crying and screaming, but he barely heard it after so long. Sasuke calmly walked towards the big house at the end of the road. His lips didn't part into "tadaima" as he unlocked the front door. No one would answer anyway.

…

"Iruka sensei! I'm having miso today ok?" The blonde haired boy turned his face up to the man walking beside him, his blue eyes round and bright, still holding all the warmth of the sun even though the day was ending. He had met Naruto as he and Kakashi came out of the hospital. Naruto looked fine, pouting a little but unharmed. The boy was tugging Kakashi's sleeve, yelling about being treated to ramen after being dragged all the way to the hospital. The academy teacher had watched them approach and then once they met had offered to take Naruto off the jounin's hands, smiling gently at Naruto. Kakashi thanked him headed home, complaining lightly about the heat.

"Alright Naruto," replied Iruka, reaching out to ruffle Naruto's hair. The boy grinned.

Iruka leaned on the counter of the ramen shop, watching Naruto throw back his meal. For a moment he just watched the boy, taking in how he had grown. Was he really that trouble maker from the academy, who was always pulling pranks and never paid any attention to what his teacher was trying to teach him? He was so big now, he'd grown taller in the year, still below average height compared to the other boys but he couldn't be far off Sasuke's height now.

Sasuke. He'd never understood that boy, but somehow Naruto seemed to have developed a real affection for the dark haired Uchiha; a strange kind of friendship. They were complete opposites. One bright and full of energy like the sun, the other silent and mysterious like the moon, but now it seemed the moon was the one that the little sun was most fond of. In an odd kind of way. Even when Naruto was with Iruka, his eyes didn't hold the same light they did when he was with the Sasuke.

"So Naruto, are you going to the New Year's Festival," asked Iruka, tightening his ponytail. The boy looked at him out of the corner of his eye as he ate.

"Dunno, if the others go I guess I will too." Replied the boy, stopping his mouth long enough to speak. He lifted his brilliant blue eyes to the lanterns overhead in thought. "I'll have to get a kimono if I do. I wonder if Kakashi sensei has one... Sasuke definitely won't lend me one..." The older male scowled a little but evened out his features before the boy could see; a bit hurt that Naruto thought of the silver haired jounin before him.

When Iruka had lost Naruto and the others to their new squad leader he had to admit he had been a bit jealous of Kakashi. He had been so used to seeing each of their faces everyday. Being so close to them, spending so much time with them that he didn't even notice them growing up before him. It was always hard to give up students, but now he was starting to think differently. Sometimes its good to watch from the back, thought Iruka. Being like this with Naruto, just watching, not seeing him everyday, it means I get to see the change better than anyone else.

"So Naruto, why were you at the hospital? Did you get hurt on your mission?" asked Iruka, blinking as Naruto throw back his second bowl of ramen.

"Ah. That. It's because. Of that damn seal," the boy replied in between shoving noodles in his mouth. The chuunin's expression switched quickly.

"What about it?" Iruka leant in, his eyebrows pulled together into a worried frown, his lips in a tight line. Naruto looked up.

"The seal was hurting but the medics at the hospital couldn't tell us anything. No one really knows much about the seal," he replied, his face open and unconcerned. Iruka's frown deepened. He ran his thumb across the tip of the long scar that stretched over his nose nervously.

"Is it really ok just to leave it at that? What if something happens to you?"

"I'll be fine. I won't let anything happen."

"It's not really up to you..." said Iruka. Naruto set down his chopsticks and then turned to him, grinning.

"Don't worry, just believe in me. I won't let anything happen. I promise!"

The chuunin pulled back, dazed as Naruto's energy burst from his body with those words. Iruka suddenly felt light. He smiled.

"Ok then, Naruto, I'll just have to trust you."

"Alright! Another bowl then please!" cried Naruto, reclaiming his chopsticks and waving them in the air.

"Another?"