Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Story: Is this really love?

Chapter:

Summery: Ever has it been that love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sasuke sighed as he rested his head against his copper mare's neck. Kakashi smiled, "She sound fun." Sasuke groaned.

"As fun as a kunai in the ass. She's like all my duchess', plus my father rolled in one human being. It's weird." Kakashi smirked.

"What did she ask you?"

"Exactly? She asked, 'Where does your heart lie? Here on the road with us or back in your village?' It was hard to answer." Kakashi smirked.

"Where is your heart? Hm?" Sasuke sighed.

"I'm not sure… with Naruto, but not the one we see."

"You mean the real Naruto. Not the cute little female version that is currently sleeping and muttering your name?"

"Ye-… Ayase-san!" Ayase smirked.

"So, Minako-chan is actually the great Naruto. How interesting. Lovers?" Sasuke blushed and Kakashi nearly fell of his horse laughing.

"N-no! W-we are-aren't… I-I d-don't th-think h-he'd…" Ayase smirked.

"I'll take that as a no. As far as I can tell. You love him." Sasuke smiled at this.

"I've known that for years. Tell me what I don't and I'll be impressed."

"He loves you back. He told milady so." Sasuke fainted. That's the only other reason he would have or could have fallen off of his horse.

Kakashi smirked, "Well. Now I have blackmail. Thank you." Ayase smiled and tilted his head.

"You're welcome."

---- ---- ---- ----

Naruto sighed as she shifted uncomfortably in her kimono. It was white with a black obi that had dark pink lilies on it. The long ribbons hung down to her ankles. Sasuke held back a laugh, "It looks g-good." Naruto blushed.

"Shut up." Sasuke sighed as Naruto tripped yet again. Sasuke gently took one of Naruto's hands and put one hand on her waist.

"When you walk. Don't lift up your feet. Glide them on the wood. Like dancing. If you can move like a Hyuga, you can walk in this." Naruto glided and then turned to meet Sasuke's eyes. Their faces only centimeters apart. Sasuke smiled, "Just like that." Naruto blushed lightly and leaned forward. Sasuke tilted his head to the side and brushed their lips.

"Saaaaaaaaaaaasuke!" both turned to see Sakura coming their way. Her own Kimono was a light pink with a dark green obi that had white Sakura blossoms on it. Sasuke scowled, but Naruto smiled and pushed him toward her.

"Go. I have to go to Yuiko's room. She wants her mother's maid to do my hair. Something about perfect for the pearls her mother gave her." Sasuke turned, but Naruto was already gone. Sasuke almost let himself groan in disappointment.

---- ---- ---- ----

Naruto sighed as she ran her fingers through her now lose hair. Yuiko and the black haired maid were in shock, "How do you keep it so smooth! There's no wave to it at all! My god! You hair is fit for a queen!" Naruto blushed and stroked a long strand of her goldenrod hair.

"It's always been like this. It never really changes. I cut it short sometimes, but nothing to terribly short." Yuiko measured her hair and gasped as is fell to her shins. It measured three feet in all.

Yuiko was in shock, "How is it possible that it stays so long with the knives and other weapons you ninja throw around at one another."

"It just does." the maid smiled and carefully pulled a brush through the hair. Naruto stayed seated as the dark haired woman slowly looped and pinned up the soft and perfect loops. Yuiko smiled.

"Use the red pearls. They're the loveliest." Naruto looked shocked.

"My husband-to-be is found of western culture. He enjoys gowns, but he does prefer our own gowns. The beautiful ruby red of somethings is best suited for you. But this will have to do for now. I hope you and Sakura-san will join me so we can prepare you for the wedding."

Naruto smiled, "Sakura would be better at it. I'm not good at shopping." the maid smiled and finished Naruto's hair. Her once strait hair was now looking as though it was nothing but curls. Naruto gasped as she noticed Sasuke had been watching with a jealous and angry Sakura.

Naruto smiled gently at Sakura and Yuiko spoke, "Sakura! Come here! Let us dress your hair as well! It will look so lovely with the black pearls. I find your hair to be a lovely shade that does nothing but compliment all colors you wear." Sakura blushed and sat down on the stool as Naruto moved. Her hair was curled and placed into a bun on top of her head.

Sasuke seemed almost entranced with Naruto as said boy/girl walked toward him and smiled gently. Sasuke tucked a stray bang behind her ear, "You look as though your from one of the nine great clans." Sasuke sighed, 'but he is… remember what Kakashi said.'

---- ---- Flash Back ---- ----

Sasuke watched as Naruto and Sakura splashed each other as they played in the pound with Yuiko and two of Yuiko's younger maids. Kakashi chuckled, "It's nice to see young beauty." Sasuke scoffed.

"Pervert."

Kakashi chuckled, "Your eyes still haven't left Naruto. Your enjoying this." Sasuke sighed and leaned against the oak he was sitting under.

"It's not Naruto. Just a girl who looks and acts like she is. I'm just trying to figure out how they can act like children when they know that Yuiko-hime could be killed at any moment." Kakashi smiled.

"Have you ever watched dogs?" Sasuke gave him a weird look, "Dogs a beautiful little things. When one is injured, and is going to die from it, the others with bark happily and play. It's all to show the other dog that they will continue on, but they also grieve the pain of their friend. They will lay with the injured and will softly lick the others ears. It's their comfort. Both of these actions show that they will miss the one who is going to die. They mourn the loss and often children or the mate will not eat after the wounded dog has died. That is, in a way, the nature of humans as well."

Sasuke sighed and shook his head, "I see a poodle, Sakura, a husky, Yuiko-hime, two Brittney spaniels, the two maids, and a golden lab, Naruto. Yah. I can see that." Kakashi smirked.

"Your like a wolf, Sasuke. Most men are. We watch and wait for the right moment, then we carefully move in and make the pampered home pet follow us into the woods. When the pup gets back to it's home, it's stomach is heavy with pups. Never forget that, Sasuke. Don't be the lone wolf. Be the wolf trying to make a pack, or a clan." Sasuke snorted.

"Naruto's a guy. He can't have children!" Kakashi chuckled.

"Right now, Naruto is a twenty year old woman that has never been touched. You are twenty one, Sasuke. I'm amazed you've held out on your hormones for so long."

Sasuke glared at his sensei, "Shut up. Uchiha's always have perfect control over their emotions!"

"Your father was twenty one when he made his move on Naruto's father. That's the funny part about this attraction. I always figured Itachi would come and take Naruto away from us by seducing him and making love to him. Guess I was wrong." Sasuke frowned.

"Father always said that his Intimate life was only with those of great clans." Kakashi gave Sasuke a look that clearly said 'Smack! You could've had a V8.' (a/n: I couldn't resist! This story is so serious! I had to lighten it up!) Sasuke's eyes grew wide, " So Naruto-"

"Is the heir to the only other great clan that had died out. Which is?" Sasuke was in shock.

"He's the son of the fourth Hokage… he's really Minato's son… I-I… he's the fox…" Kakashi waited for the shock to end. Sasuke stuttered a little bit more before closing his mouth and eyes. He swallowed roughly and then moved his hands up his face and into his hair. Holding his head up as he though about what he wanted to say, "Kakashi… that makes you his godfather, right? But if the clan is so important-"

"Naruto is the only thing I protect, Sasuke. His clan has nothing to do with it. Yes, he's related to Tsunade, yes Tsunade's cousin was the fourth Hokage, and that is why Naruto will be the sixth. He'll be the sixth and he'll be greater then his father was because he'll have you and Sakura at his side. Naruto is every bit as great as the fourth, and I have a filling that Naruto knows more about all of this then he's letting on."

Sasuke nodded and looked back at the blong girl/boy, "We are all fools in love."

---- ---- End Flash Back ---- ----

Naruto was blushing as Sasuke came out of his thoughts. Sasuke gently kissed her forehead only to have Naruto pull away. Sasuke seemed confused, "Sakura loves you… I can't do that to my friend." Sasuke entwined his figures with Naruto's and bowed slightly to Yuiko.

"If you don't mind. I'm going to borrow Minako-chan. She'll be back shortly." Yuiko giggled and nodded. Sasuke pulled Naruto out into the hall, and out to the garden. He pulled her into the shade of a triangle of Sakura trees. Gently Sasuke pressed her to one of the three trees and held her left wrist and her right bicep. Naruto noticed Sasuke looked like the Konoha jonin he was. His clothing made him look like Kakashi or Iruka. His hair was spiked again and Naruto felt both sides of him fall in an even deeper infatuation with the Uchiha.

"Sasuke-"

"Naru, please. Let me talk first, just this once." Naruto nodded, "First of, Sakura has nothing to do with this. She doesn't love me like she thinks she does. She got over me long ago. She's in love with the idea of being in love. She does have an interest, but their both to stubborn- Never mind." Naruto smiled and pushed a few stay hairs back into Sasuke's bangs, "Naru, we're best friends… but I lo-like you, a lot. I can't say if I love this you or the male one that caught my eye. All I know is that when your gone I miss you and when missions get tough I keep thinking that once I get back, your gonna be waiting for me."

It had started to rain. Both boys were quickly drenched.

Naruto freed his left wrist and put a finger on Sasuke's lips and shuttered as he kissed the digit. Naruto's blues eyes shined brighter when light was gone, "'suke… I don't even know who I am right now. I don't know if it's me that loves you or if it's him or if it's both of us! I love you now, but I can't guaranty that, when I change back, I'll still love you." Naruto closed her eyes and Sasuke gently kissed her. The rain seemed to be lessening. Making the sun shine on the couple as Naruto's arms slid up Sasuke's arms and around his neck while his left arm held their bodies off the tree and his right held her by the waist, pulling her closer to him.

It was simple and sweet. Not tongues, teeth or roaming hands. Just a soft open mouth kiss.

"NARUTO YOU SLUT!" Sakura fell to her knees in tears as the two broke apart and stared at her in shock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------