Thank you so much for the 18 reviews for the previous chapter! I can also finally start replying to reviews again! Thank you so so much again! I just love all the support you guys give me :) So I've only got more chapters to pre-write and this story is finished! Then I just need to post them on the site :) Aw I still want to thank you guys for helping me reach the 100 mark! I'm so grateful that you wouldn't believe it! And following my 100th reviewer's request, I will continue to post a chapter a day until this is finished!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto characters/places used in this story
Chapter 10 – Confronted!
"Sakura, would you come downstairs for a moment," Tsunade called. 'Ugh, I need her help since I've got this impromptu dinner with Shizune, Genma, Minato, Kushina and Naruto, and then Jiraiya if he decides to pitch.'
"I'm coming," Sakura replied, voice echoing. "What do you need me for?" 'Just when I was about to fall asleep too,' Sakura groaned.
"Sorry to do this but we've got guests over tonight and I need you to set the table," Tsunade stated, voice somewhat pleading. "I don't have any free hands so will you be-able to?"
Sakura sighed, "Of course," she continued, smiling. "How many are we setting for?" 'I hope it isn't more people from Tsunade-s work, they are always so boring with how they always talk about some part of the human body. I can't even keep up with the conversation from what I learnt in school.'
"There's about seven but set for eight okay?" Tsunade replied. "We must just have an extra if someone decides to pitch up."
"Someone, who is this 'someone'? Do I know them?" Sakura questioned, eyebrow raised. "I do know them?" 'If I do then maybe I'll have someone to talk to at the table while the other guests can talk about all things medical.'
Tsunade shook her head, "Unfortunately it was before you came to Konoha and then he left before you arrived as well," she offered, weakly smiling. 'I don't think she would have wanted to know that perverted man anyway, not with a figure as hers anyway.'
"Okay, but just a quick question," Sakura asked. 'I've got to find out who's coming to this dinner so I can prepare.' "Who's coming to this dinner?"
"Ah well there's Minato, Kushina, Naruto, maybe this someone and…" she paused, balancing a pot and pan. "…and my assistant Shizune with her husband, I think you might have met her."
"Does…she work at the hospital?" Sakura nervously queried. 'The doctor that gave me the check-up was named Shizune, wasn't it? And wasn't that Genma guy in the check-up room before we entered? Didn't I still call him hot?' she thought, gulping. 'But that's not the point; she doesn't know that Naruto and I aren't really boyfriend and girlfriend and that Naruto isn't actually the father. Come to think of it, no-one knows that Naruto and I pretended to be boyfriend and girlfriend yesterday.'
"Yup, that is Shizune, she and her husband have been married for about a year now," Tsunade replied. "Isn't she the one that gave you your check-up? I'm sure that I asked her to."
Sakura nodded, giggling anxiously. "She did… he, he, he."
"Is something wrong? Did she do something wrong during the check-up?" the blonde woman queried, eyebrow raised. "If she did something wrong you should tell me so that I can make sure it doesn't happen again."
"N… no, she didn't do anything wrong!" Sakura objected, hands waving. "It's not that, I got along really well with her." 'Should I just tell Tsunade here and now? It makes it easier for both Naruto and I.' "It's just that… well Naruto and I kinda, sorta pretended to be boyfriend and girlfriend for the check-up yesterday…"
"What? Why would you do something like that? You know that he has got a girlfriend right?" Tsunade warned, bewildered. 'Sakura, you can't get yourself into a mess like this, what if Naruto's girlfriend saw you or one of her friends saw you?'
"Because I didn't want to go into the check-up room with everything thinking I was a pregnant loner whose boyfriend dumped her as soon as he found out she was pregnant," Sakura confessed, blushing. "I know that he has a girlfriend but we were just not planning on having anyone see us and then we could just forget that this entire thing never happened."
"Ah, you and Naruto have put me in a difficult position but I do understand your reasoning," Tsunade stated. "If it comes up at dinner I'll try my best to divert the question okay?"
"You're the best baa-chan," Sakura called, embracing the woman. 'Ooops, I think that was a little too much Naruto influence coming out.'
"Since when do you call me baa-chan?" Tsunade warily asked.
"Too much of Naruto's influence I guess," she sheepishly replied. "But look I've got to set the table dattebayo." 'Ack, since when do I say 'dattebayo'? Maybe I have got too much of Naruto's influence in my life.'
Tsunade stared in shock as Sakura left. Shaking her head she sighed, 'I don't think we'll be-able to tell those two apart one day!'
----
"Naruto," Kushina called. "Get the door would you? Your father and I are busy getting ready!" 'Besides, I've got a towel on. If it's that pervert Jiraiya I wouldn't want to be caught dead standing in front of him with just a towel on.'
"Going mom!" Naruto replied, begrudgingly scoffing to the door. 'I wonder who it is this time? I really hope it isn't one of those door to door salesmen that annoy the hell out of me when they just won't go awa-, "Ero-sennin?"
"Naruto," the white haired man began. "Is that any way to greet your godfather?" Jiraiya whined. "I thought you had agreed to stop calling me that!"
"What are you doing here ero-sennin?" Naruto questioned, eyebrow raised. 'I thought he was never coming back after what happened last year.'
Jiraiya sweat-dropped, "Is that anyway to greet your godfather Naruto? Aren't you supposed to be happy that I'm here after what happened last year?" 'Jeez and here I thought my godchild would welcome me with open arms,' he whined.
"Of course I'm happy to see you," Naruto objected. "But the thing is my mom hasn't fully gotten over that little stunt you pulled," he laughed anxiously. "She still randomly rambles about how she burnt that book into ashes, wishing it was you."
"That's right, and if you dare try and pervert my son again I will burn you, along with all your damn perverted books," Kushina piped in, eyebrow twitching. "I mean it Jiraiya! No woman could walk past Naruto without him getting a nosebleed and a half thanks to you!" she accused.
"So if you pull that again I swear that you'll wish you had never met Minato," she growled, fist clenched. 'I really don't feel like having a 24/7 blushing Naruto walking around whose nosebleeds at the slightest glimpse of a woman.'
"She's serious sensei," Minato appeared, grinning sheepishly. "She would really do it, and not even I'd be-able to stop her."
"Okay I promise I won't try anything," Jiraiya sighed. "So can I come in now?"
----
"It was really nice of you to invite us Tsunade-sama," Shizune spoke, entering the blonde woman's house. "Especially since tonight is one of your nights off," she continued.
"It's a pleasure," Tsunade smiled, closing the door as both Shizune and Genma entered. "How's things been going in the baby ward?"
"Good, we've had several births since you last visited," Shizune replied. "You really should come and visit again. The babies seem to like having you around Tsunade-sama."
"Maybe I will now that Sakura will be having one, I should orientate myself around kids," she began. "Maybe you should to because aren't you supposed to be… you know?"
"Not yet Tsunade-sama, I've been trying to get her to agree but she won't," Genma lazily spoke, senbon in mouth. "She just doesn't seem to want to listen."
"Not even when I gave you those lighter shifts Shizune?" Tsunade questioned. "You should know better than that. Really, it won't be much of a problem will it?"
Shizune moaned, "Great, now I've got you and Genma on my case about this." 'Well maybe it is time to finally get pregnant, I'm not getting any younger am I? Besides Sakura is already pregnant and she's younger than me.'
----
"Naruto, you need to get here now," Sakura anxiously called as the blonde entered the house. She latched onto his wrist, "I've got something we really, really need to discuss."
"Oh ho, who's this Naruto?" Jiraiya queried, smirking. "Did you finally decide to dump that Hinata girl and get a girl with a bit more of an appetizing figure?" he asked, eyes lighting up. 'She's a pretty one, maybe I can give Naruto some tips before I leave… He wouldn't want to miss out on this one.'
"This is Sakura-chan, ero-sennin, she's my best friend," Naruto sheepishly laughed, watching as Sakura's fist clenched. "I haven't dumped Hinata-chan."
"Oh, that's a shame Naruto but this way I guess I could have her to myself," Jiraiya winked.
"That's it," Sakura growled before sending her clenched fist flying, Jiraiya's face her target. "No-one talks about me in such a perverted fashion ero-sennin," she called, watching as he staggered backwards.
"Damn, she's got a mean right hook," Jiraiya whined, cradling his injured cheek. "She's a keeper Naruto."
"Eh he, he, he…" Naruto chuckled. "You wanted to speak to me right Sakura-chan so then let's go speak," he quickly spoke, dragging Sakura by the wrist.
'I need to get them both out of here before this escalades,' he thought. "So what was so important Sakura-chan?"
She sighed, "You know Shizune, the doctor that gave me my check-up?"
He nodded.
"She's here."
-----
'So good so far, dinner is going smoothly,' Sakura thought, 'Shizune hasn't brought up my cheek up and Tsunade has diverted all hospital related questions and Jiraiya hasn't tried anything else since earlier. I think this will be a good dinner overall.'
"Oh Sakura-chan," Kushina started. "I've been meaning to ask you but how did your check-up go yesterday? I remember you telling me and Naruto didn't want to give me any details."
"Eh… my check-up… it went well," Sakura nervously stated, glancing at Tsunade. 'Help, this can't happen now! Not after everything has been going so well, this would just totally ruin everything.'
"Kushina-chan," Tsunade piped in. "Maybe we-
"Tsunade just let Sakura-chan reply, you've been avoiding all hospital related questions all night," Kushina reprimanded. "I get the feeling that you're trying to hide something which I know you wouldn't do."
"Then allow me to speak," Shizune spoke. "I am the one that gave her the check-up."
'Oh flip, Naruto and I are so, so dead if she mentions anything,' Sakura groaned. 'I wish Kushina didn't bring this topic up, then everything would be fine and we wouldn't have to talk about this and Naruto and I wouldn't potentially get into trouble.'
"Well the baby's vitals all seem fine and there were no complications as of yet," she began. "The heartbeat is beginning to faintly be heard as well, ne Naruto-san?" she questioned. "It was very soft but you could hear it."
Naruto nodded, gulping. "It was very… soft."
"Aw that's so cute Naruto," Kushina stated. "I'm glad you got to hear the little baby's heart. I remember how completely awestruck Minato-kun was to first hear your heartbeat." Minato nodded in agreement.
Shizune smiled, "I always want the partner to be part of the birth, even if they will just eventually just stand there while the mother gives birth."
'Oh crap, here it goes,' Sakura thought, head flopping. 'We are so dead and we are in so much trouble.'
"Eh, what do you mean by partner?" Kushina queried, eyebrow twitching.
Shizune frowned, "Isn't Naruto-san the father?" 'They were holding hands when they walked in weren't they?' "They were holding hands as they walked in."
"Now what's this Naruto?" Kushina questioned, faintly smiling. "What does Shizune-san mean when she says that you two were holding hands? Because Naruto isn't the father…"
"Eh… he, he, we can explain…" Sakura stammered. "Well…"
----
"I thought we would never escape that!" Sakura exclaimed, "I though that your mom was going to punch me while Shizune was going to faint from shock."
"I know, but everything worked out fine didn't it?" Naruto offered, idly strolling. "You know this reminds me of the time we went out for ramen two months ago."
Sakura smiled, "It does, except we're a little bit later than the last time, so I don't think Ichiruki will be open at this time," she said softly. 'It's a really beautiful night tonight, and the lake looks really magical under the moon's glow. Coming to the park was a great idea!'
"Well I'm full, baa-chan always makes the best food," he replied, grinning. "So unless you're still hungry…?"
"No, for once I'm fine," she responded. "Baby-chan is full for once," she continued. "But I wouldn't mind if we got a closer look at the lake."
Naruto nodded, "It does look pretty under the light." 'Besides, nothing will happen and there is no-one out here this late at night.'
She grinned, pulling him closer. 'The way the light reflects off the water makes it seem all the more mystical,' she thought, watching her reflection take shape in the water. 'Everything is so clear.'
"Don't you think it looks really beautiful Naruto?" she questioned, gently tracing the water's surface.
"Not as beautiful as you," but he clamped his mouth shut. "Sorry that wasn't meant to come out…" he bashfully laughed, blushing deeply.
Sakura giggled, "That's sweet Naruto," she replied, somewhat red from the statement. 'That was really nice of him to say that. If he and I weren't just friends, I'd find this quite romantic.'
'I can't believe I just said that, why did I just say that?' Naruto groaned, steadily rising from his crouched position. "I think we should start getting back Sakura-chan," he said, taking a step backwards.
Yet he never realized that that simple step would send him spiraling into the lake as he lost his balance, pulling on the nearest thing.
Although pulling on Sakura-chan most probably wasn't the greatest of ideas either…
"Naruto!" Sakura called, spluttering. "Why'd you go and be an idiot by falling into the water and then pulling me with you?" she questioned, vision focusing. 'Ugh, this dress is going to take forever to dry and to get all this mud out of it.'
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan…" he trailed, gulping. 'This position is compromising,' he thought, noting how she had fallen on-top of his larger frame and was now pressed against him.
"Huh, Naruto what…" but she stopped, finally noting the position. 'Damn, this is… ah…' she thought, blushing as their gazes locked.
Naruto gulped, impulsively leaning forward.
'Is he going to kiss me?' Sakura questioned, breath quickening. 'But we're just friends; we can't kiss each other can we? What would others think if they had to see us like this? Hell we don't even know if someone can see us like this.'
"Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered.
"Yes Naruto…?" 'Damn, he is going to kiss me…' strangely, she found herself prepared for it.
"There are rumors of water babies in this lake."
'Way to ruin the mood Naruto.'
----
"Naruto," Sakura began, giggling uncontrollably. "I am absolutely soaked thanks to you," she teased, pushing his shoulder. "Do you know who long it will take to get the mud out of this dress?"
"I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I just can't help that I don't have eyes at the back of my head!" he countered.
She merely rolled her eyes, "But strangely, I really don't mind it." 'Aside from the fact that I thought you were going to kiss me and then you went and ruined the mood by saying something about water babies.'
He grinned, noting as a slight breeze filtered through his soaked clothing. He shivered, 'We should hurry back before we get sick,' he thought, turning to Sakura. 'Shame, she's only got that dress on and it can't be all that warm.'
'I should have brought a jacke-, but she was interrupted. Turning, she found that Naruto had gingerly placed his arm around her shoulder. "Naruto, what are you…?"
"You looked cold."
"Thanks," she smiled, blushing. 'Maybe he isn't that bad of a romantic after all.'
'Nah.'
Not just one, but 2 NaruSaku moments for you amazing reviewers! I hope you like them despite being slightly rushed in my opinion :P I hope this chapter is long enough because this is 8 pages and my usual is 5-7 so I hope this is good enough! Thank you for agreeing with the couples I set out yesterday, you just made my day!
Lorelock :)