Naruto's Farewell
It was 7:00 and the night was a drizzling mess but he knew he couldn't bale out or she would be insulted in some way. All the blood rushed to his head leaving him light-headed and dizzy. A couple soothing breaths and the color spread across his face once more. Why was he so nervous? It's not like she would bite him or even worse, kiss him! It's not that he wasn't a good kisser, but he was worried that it would ruin their relationship if one was more in love with the other than the other person was. And he knew who that person would be. Also, the only kissing experience he had was with Sasuke!
"Hi Sakura- chan," he stuttered as he approached her in the ramen shop.
They sat down as Naruto held the curtain for Sakura. The old man and his daughter whipped up Naruto's usual ramen. Sakura ordered the same trying to forget that she was on a diet. Ramen seemed to go straight to her thighs. She would have this guilt make her jog around the village a couple of times until she felt that it was all burned off.
"Sakura- chan, can I ask you something?"
It wasn't the question that surprised her, but the tone that he said it in. His usual spunky voice was down to a shy whisper that was barely audible.
"Go ahead. Ask me anything."
"Well… I was wondering if you…"
He was suddenly cut off by Ino's loud booming voice shattering the silence.
"Sakura!! Oh, there you are." Ino's face popped through the curtains. Now that the drizzling rain was a steady downpour, her hair was plastered to her face. Ino shoved herself in between Naruto and Sakura while making sure that Naruto had a good view of her butt before planting it down.
Over the last three years, Ino had created a little crush for Naruto. All that training seemed to turn into muscle right before her eyes. He was cuter than Sasuke, and that was saying something!
"Sakura, what are you doing here? Oh, Naruto, I didn't see you there," she gave a high-pitched giggle and flashed him a seducing smile.
"Shut-up Ino-pig! You knew he was here!"
"What are you talking about Miss. Fore-head? Can't I hang out with my teammates without being accused of flirting?"
"No, you can't!"
"Fine, be that way. Besides, I'll have that whole mission to be alone with Naruto, so I would be careful with what you say or he might be claimed by the time we get back."
"Actually, I don't think that will be happening," Naruto chimed in giving Sakura a reassuring wink.
Feeling that she was unwanted, Ino stalked out of the shop. But before she was out of hearing she muttered something about Sakura laying off the ramen and giving a piercing glance at Naruto.
"Oh, no," Naruto mumbled.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to be on a mission with her for who knows how long."
"Poor Naruto," Sakura soothed while holding back the laughter that was rising.
"Just go ahead and laugh," Naruto angrily mumbled, "I like it when you laugh," he silently added.
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing."
Naruto started on finishing his ramen as Sakura pushed hers to the side. He slurped down the soup and started up on Sakura's before it got cold.
"Aren't you hungry, Sakura?"
"Not really," she said this calmly but her lie was ruined when a low growl came from her unfed stomach.
"Here, I'll get you something."
"No, I'm fine!" this time, a louder growl emerged, "Ok, maybe I'm a little hungry."
Time ticked by and Sakura, despite her constant complaining about how she wasn't hungry, had eaten two bowls of ramen and a side of dumplings. Naruto starred sadly at his now empty wallet.
"Talk about not being hungry!" he joked.
"I'm sorry! I'll pay you later," she assured him, "Oh, I almost forgot! What were you asking me earlier?"
"Forget about it."
"Please ask me," Sakura batted her eyes and pouted with her bottom lip sticking out.
"Don't do that! You know I can't stand the puppy face!" Trying to block the image of the pouting Sakura, he shook his head making his hair like a wave of sunshine.
"Please Naruto. I thought that you cared for me."
Oh No! Thought Naruto. She was using his weakness for her gain.
"Fine! I'll ask you," he finally gave in.
Sakura's face lit up with triumph and excitement as she leaned in to make sure she didn't miss a word of what Naruto had to say.
"Would it be okay if I walked you home?" Naruto's voice trailed off on the last part. Sakura had to strain her ears to make sure she heard it.
Her face suddenly drooped.
"That was it?" Her words were drenched in disappointment.
Naruto nodded so slightly that she barely noticed it.
Sakura sighed, "Of course you can walk me home."
Color flooded back to Naruto's face and his oceanic eyes returned back to its natural glow.
"All right!" exclaimed Naruto.
Sakura rolled her eyes as the blonde ninja leaped out of his seat and into the rain waited with a broad smile for her to join.
"Did you bring an umbrella?"
"Oops," Naruto replied.
Sakura sighed and stepped into the rain. They started their journey to her house without word and the uneasy silence finally got to Sakura. Looking up into Naruto's eyes, she saw fear that was rare to ever appear. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong but only shut it closed when he turned her way. She never noticed how much he had changed. How his golden hair had grown longer which made the spikes fall boldly over his headband, his big oceanic eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, his square jaw and leveled cheekbones. How his black shirt hugged his muscular features with no sleeves to flaunt his sinewy arms.
He must have noticed her gawking at him because his infamous smile stretched on his face from ear to ear.
"What are you smiling at?" she said sternly trying to keep the embarrassment hidden. She did a poor job.
"Oh nothing."
"Agh," she groaned at started to walk. Not until she reached the corner of the street, did she realize that he had stopped following her. She looked back only to see him staring blankly at the ground with his bangs dripping in his face. What was with this strange behavior? Thought Sakura.
"Is there something wrong, Naruto?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
"Answer me Naruto."
Still no answer.
"I'm going to leave you here unless you tell me." She waited. Sakura sighed and started to turn when a hand grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back. It wasn't the warm and tender hand she was used to, but a clammy and trembling one.
"Are you okay?" she couldn't hide the worry from her question.
He stared at her through watery eyes. It was hard to tell if he was crying or it was the pouring rain. The pink haired ninja placed her hand under his chin pulling his face back up. Looking into her peaceful eyes only made him shake off her touch and turn his head away.
"Naruto Uzumaki! You tell me what's wrong right this instant!"
"I can't," he whispered so softly that Sakura had to lean in to hear.
"Why not?" The anger had dissolved into worry.
"I just can't," he mumbled.
"Wow, Naruto! I never thought I could be so confused in my life!"
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"You don't have to apologize. Just tell me what's wrong and I'll fix it," she pleaded letting the annoyance wash away.
He sighed and looked up at her only to turn away again.
"I think I know how to make you talk," she mumbled as she held his face in her open palms. She closed her eyes and leaned in towards him and parted her lips. He followed suit and soon enough, their lips touched and the soft embrace become powerful as Naruto crushed her lips against his. At first, she was about to slap him for his eagerness but decided not to, because no matter how she tried to hide it, she was enjoying it.
They parted only to take a breath when Sakura noticed that Naruto was starting to weep.
"I'm I that bad?" joked Sakura but quickly became serious. "I'm sorry Naruto. Was that too much?"
"No, it was perfect. I never felt better, but I shouldn't have done that."
"Why? Why are you so glooming all of a sudden?" she stared into his wet eyes as he started to weep again.
"I'm just making it harder…for both of us," he emphasized the last part. Suddenly, he ran down the alley leaving Sakura to stand with a shocked expression.
Before he was totally out of earshot, he whispered "farewell" to his beloved Sakura that he knew he had hurt because of his carelessness.
