It is the evening two days before the start of the Chunin Exams and the final preparations around the village have been completed. There is a relative calm in the air, as the stars in the night sky are extra bright thanks to the full moon.

The streets are fairly busy as the villagers are making their final stops at the local shops before they close up until morning. Exiting the food district, we see the strawberry blonde medical ninja. Her head is down and in obvious deep thought.

"Two more days," she says aloud with a deep sigh at the end of it. Her eyes begin to shake and glisten in the lighting of lamps outside the shops, the story of confusion buried deep inside the emerald color. "What am I to do," she asks herself.

As she walks and begins to clench her fists; the obvious frustration of the whole situation driving her to the point she could scream. As she raises her head to let out her frustration, she is stopped as she notices two people walking towards her.

It is Naruto and Hinata, laughing it up as they head down the street arm in arm. "Why couldn't it be as easy as their love," Sakura comments to herself. "Well, maybe I can pull some advice from an old friend. I am almost out of options."

Sakura walks up to the couple, putting on her best smile to hide the pain of the past twelve days inside of her. "Hey, you two!! What are you guys doing out tonight" Sakura asks, smiling so hard that she is almost grinding her teeth.

"O-oh hello, Sakura. We are spending a night together before we have to work at the Exams," Hinata replies sheepishly. "Heh, we just finished dinner and now we are going to grab some desert before we enjoy a late night desert," Naruto says with a wink.

Hinata lets out a little gasp and slaps Naruto on the shoulder. "Naruto-kun!!" she yells. She then grabs his arm tightly as she blushes a shade of deep red. "What Hinata-chan? What did I say," Naruto asks. Sakura just shakes here head and says, "Baka."

"Well I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I was wondering if I could talk to Naruto in private. I have something personal I would like to discuss with him, if that is ok Hinata," Sakura asks. Hinata nods in agreement, "but of course, Sakura."

"Ok, sure, no problem Sakura," Naruto responds. "Hinata-chan, how about you save a seat for me at the ice cream shop over there and I will meet you in a few minutes." Hinata agrees and heads off down the road.

Naruto and Sakura head over to a bench along a nearby road where there is very little traffic. The blond-haired shinobi takes a seat and leans forward, placing his elbows on his thighs. "Alright Sakura, something is really bothering you, so what is up?"

Sakura looks down at Naruto in complete surprise, "How…how did you know something was wrong?" Naruto looks up at her and laughs. "We have been teammates and friends for how long now Sakura? I am sad that you thought I wouldn't notice."

Naruto then places his hands behind his head and leans back. "I mean that fake smile was amazing. Even Sai would have been jealous of it." Sakura looks down and lets out a little laugh, "Yeah it was pretty big wasn't it? Ok, so here is the issue…"

The medical ninja then recaps the events that took place twelve days ago, from the argument at the restaurant to the meeting of Sasuke and the kiss to Gaara giving her time to decide. "Well, that is the Kazekage for you," Naruto comments at the end.

"So now you see where I am at and I am looking for some help," Sakura says. "I am just so confused right know and I don't know who to decide on. I care for both of them and I have been racking my brain on who I should be with."

Sakura's eyes begin to glisten again as the bottom of them fill with water. "I mean those past days with Gaara were amazing. I never felt so cared about or special in my life. But when I saw Sasuke for the first time in so many years…."

The strawberry blonde's hands form fists one more time, "I would be lying if I told you my heart didn't skip a beat when I first saw him. And when he kissed me, for that brief moment, my mind raced back to when we all were first part of Team 7."

"I also began to feel those same feelings I had over three years ago. How he was so cool and a great part of our team, but yet he was able to show me some sensitivity. But Gaara also has that quiet manliness and is able to show more sensitivity."

"I can honestly say that I have feelings for both of them, but there has to be one I care about more. I am also worried about hurting either of them. Gaara and Sasuke have been through so much in their lives that I don't want to be the one to hurt one of them."

The pools under her eyes have now grown into streams of tears that are rolling down her cheeks and landing on the ground below her. "That is… That is why I need help. This all is just racking my brain and driving me crazy. I don't know what to do!!"

Sakura then feels a hand on her shoulder and Naruto's voice saying, "Normally, I would make some comment about how you cry too much, but this is not a normal circumstance. Raise your head, Sakura, so you can hear this."

Sakura does as she is asked and looks directly in the ocean blue eyes of her friend. "I'm not the greatest person when it comes to matters of the heart, as you could tell from my comment with Hinata-chan, but I do have two things to say that might help."

"You are always concerned with how the others will feel when you deal with anything in your life. It could be a battle with another enemy, or it could be in your course of treatment for an injured shinobi. That is one of your strengths."

Naruto removes his hand from Sakura's shoulder. "But that also can be your biggest weakness. While I have developed strong bonds with both gentlemen involved, and hate to see one of them left in heartache, it is inevitable."

"You are going to need to be a little selfish on this choice. As Gaara told you those many days ago, you need to choose the one that you feel will make you the happiest." Sakura's eyes no longer flow with tears as she soaks in Naruto's words.

Naruto clears his throat and continues, "The second thing, and I think the most important, is for your decision not to come from here." Naruto takes his hand up to Sakura's forehead and places one finger on it. "But from here instead."

Naruto moves the same finger down to Sakura's chest and stops right next to where her necklace is…right over her heart. "Please don't be blind and deaf to the emotions that come from your heart. Take it from someone with experience on that."

"I was so blind and deaf to my own heart that it took me over three years to realize the person I was supposed to be with," Naruto comments with a small smirk on his face and his own eyes beginning to glisten in the light.

"I was fortunate enough that Hinata-chan waited for me. There are plenty of people who don't listen to their heart and let the most wonderful person who could have been a part of their life just walk on by. Please don't become one of those people."

As the blonde-haired ninja finishes, Naruto looks down to see Sakura's necklace start to vibrate and glow a pink color. So pink that it almost matches the color of Sakura's hair. "Um... um Sakura? Did I just break your necklace?" Naruto asks nervously.

Sakura grabs a hold of the crystal with her right hand. "No you idiot, you didn't break it," she says with a smile on her face. Sakura then gives Naruto a hug and whispers in his ear, "Thank you for your advice. I believe I have made my choice."

With those words, the two friends go on their separate ways. Sakura heads home while Naruto goes to the ice cream shop and sits down with Hinata. "So Naruto-kun, what was it Sakura needed to talk to you about," the violet girlfriend asks.

Naruto takes a bite from his ice cream and replies, "She just needed some help in making a decision for herself. All is fine now and I think she will make the right choice." Naruto then suddenly leans over and gives Hinata a kiss.

"Wh-What was that for?" Hinata asks while blushing. "Oh, just my way of saying thank you," Naruto replies as he continues on his ice cream. "Thank you for what?" The confused Hinata asks. Naruto smiles back, "For everything, my sweet…"