-Naruto isn't mine. N'Sync isn't mine. Lyrics of I Drive Myself Crazy also not mine. What's new?-
Comeback
GaaSaku: 20
ShikaSaku: 13
NejiSaku: 12
KibaSaku: 10
KakaSaku: 9
YamaSaku: 8
Harem: 7
NaruSaku: 5
SaiSaku: 3
SasuSaku: 2
OMG. Have you guys seen the number of reviews? *0* Theres like uhh… A LOT. (Math makes my thinkerbox hurt.) Anyways, I am certainly grateful to all that have subscribed, placed this story in their favourites and reviewed. I LOVE ALL OF YOU GUYS! ^3^
And I'm going to be starting school at around April? So, I'm going to post as much stories and update as fast as possible. I'm hoping to finish 'Comeback' and 'Sakura?' before going back to The Prince and SIW. xD
Then, if I have inspiration I'll write AkaSaku fics! ^0^
Well, do people actually read my ramblings? Go on, whatcha waiting for?
Have fun reading Chapter 7! ^_^
WARNING: This chapter has hints of NaruSaku, SasuSaku, KibaSaku, ShikaSaku, NejiSaku, KakaSaku and SaiSaku.
Chapter 7: To Touch.
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I lie awake.
I drive myself crazy.
Drive myself crazy.
Thinking of you.
Made a mistake.
When I let you go, Baby.
I drive myself crazy.
Wanting you the way that I do.
~I Drive Myself Crazy by N'Sync
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Shikamaru sighed as he watched Sakura from his peripheral vision. The beautiful pinkette seemed to be in a daze and had her famous Thinking Face on. Shikamaru wasn't complaining; he actually liked the view. He could watch her without worrying about getting caught. Whenever she was in deep thought, she would ignore everything else. This also applied to when she was in the midst of healing people. Of course, he had seen this first hand for an entire day before they were able to steal the keys for the handcuffs from Ino.
How did I end up doing this? Shikamaru silently thought.
The Nara genius was clad in his usual ninja attire plus a very frilly apron. Strangely, Sakura was wearing a normal green apron.
"Why am I wearing this?" Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck and looked over at Sakura. She was carrying a tall vase of flowers and only the top of her head could be seen. His fingers brushed hers slightly when he removed the vase from her grasps.
She grinned, "Because I don't like frilly stuff."
"And I do?" He deadpanned.
Sakura giggled, "I think it suits you."
Shikamaru groaned loudly at this and hoped none of the members of his ANBU or Jounin team would catch him wearing the apron. He couldn't care less about how people perceived him. But, the frilly apron was just too much. It looked like little girls and kittens had puked all over it.
The great Nara genius was actually at a loss for words on how to describe the apron.
The apron was that bad.
He was placing the vase next to the door of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, when the doors opened.
"We're back!" Ino shouted; wanting to make sure everyone on the room would know of her presence. Chouji was right behind her, munching on his never ending bag of chips. (How is he still hungry?)
"Took you long enough, Ino-Pig," Sakura placed the flowers on the counter and started to untie the ribbon of her apron.
"Did you hear? There'll be a reunion tonight," Ino raised her eyebrows at Shikamaru's attire.
"That sounds nice," Sakura removed her apron.
"So," Ino drawled, "Could you do me another favour?"
Sakura sighed, "What now?"
"Help me send the message about the reunion to all the other teams, please?" Ino begged, "I have paperwork to complete by tonight and I don't have much time left."
"Fine," Sakura surrendered. There was no point in fighting Yamanaka Ino. She would continue to pester her until she gave in. Sakura tossed the apron at her best friend and waved goodbye as she walked out of the doors in search of the other teams.
Ino turned all her attention towards her team mate. "So," She drawled, "How did it go?"
Shikamaru raised one of his eyebrows and removed the frilly apron, "How did what go?"
Ino gaped at him, "Seriously? Come on! You didn't do anything?"
Shikamaru placed the frilly apron on the counter (He'll burn it later); "I don't know what you're talking about." Letting Ino know, would mean letting the whole of Konoha know. She wasn't the Queen of Gossip for nothing.
The platinum blonde could only pull her long locks in frustration as the Nara genius walked swiftly out of the flower shop. She looked over at her boyfriend who was chuckling. She opened the drawers and lifted the heavy handcuffs, "You think we should use this on them again?"
The Akimichi heir could only laugh louder.
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"Such nice weather," Ayaka commented sipping her tea.
"Isn't it?" Shin agreed taking a huge bite of his onigiri.
Sasuke scowled, "Aren't you supposed to help me?"
"Alright. Alright. You're so impatient," Shin complained standing up and taking hold of the shovel. He walked over the half-buried Uchiha and started to dig him out. Ayaka giggled and started to help.
Shin threw a glance at Takeshi, "Are you going to help?"
"I am. I'm supervising," he replied easily.
The dark haired boy snorted and continued his digging. Frankly, the scene was quite amusing. Genins helping the mighty Uchiha dig himself out.
Shin impaled the shovel in front of the Uchiha, a little too close to his… family jewels.
"Ne, Chickentbutt-san, do you like Sakura-sensei?"
Sasuke tried to fight the blush that was conquering his face, "Hn."
Shin shook his head, "Sakura-sensei is a nice person. She told me once I reminded her of her team mates."
Sasuke looked at the boy. His dark hair and blue eyes were like a combination of both Sasuke's and Naruto's features. "What else did she say?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask. He wanted to know what had happened during the time he was away.
The boy looked up at him, "She said one had a stick up his butt and the other had ADHD."
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Sakura knocked on the doors of Naruto's apartment. Since Naruto's apartment was closest to where she was, she had decided to inform him first about the reunion. It wasn't a surprise that the boisterous blonde still lived in the same tiny apartment.
"Naruto!" She shouted excitedly when he opened the door. Naruto smiled his famous thousand watt smile and moved aside to let her in.
As soon as she entered the apartment, her smile faded, "This place is a dump."
The Kyubi container laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, Sakura-chan."
The pinkette was about to scold her irresponsible team mate about hygiene and cleanliness when she accidentally stepped on something wet and slippery. She fell backwards and landed painfully on her butt. She yelped in pain and surprise.
"Sakura-chan! Are you okay?" Naruto immediately noticed blood dripping from the palm of her hand. A glass shard had impaled itself deeply into Sakura's palm. Naruto's bright blue eyes widened as he started to shout and run around his house searching for a first aid kit.
Sakura stared and laughed at her team mate's panic-stricken state. She lifted herself from the ground and called out his name loudly to catch his attention. He stopped. His arms full of medical supplies. The bandages were unrolling themselves and covered him in a mess.
She lifted her injured had, "I'm a medic remember?" She winced slightly as she removed the glass shard. Her hand glowed a bright green and she started to heal the cut, leaving no scar behind.
Sakura smiled reassuringly. The ramen lover dropped the supplies and heaved a sigh of relief. He mentally scolded himself for forgetting.
Naruto stepped forward, closing the gap between them. He lifted her newly healed hand and started to wipe the blood away with the loose strands of bandages. He placed her hand on his whiskered cheeks and leaned slightly into her touch. Her hands were soft. Naruto was so close he could smell her. She smelled like strawberries and something else, oh so uniquely Sakura.
"Naruto?" Her voice sounded confused.
The blonde opened his eyes and looked straight into her endless pools of emerald as he planted a chaste kiss on the palm of her hand. He quickly took notice at how her face changed to a brilliant shade of red that could rival Hinata's.
Naruto smirked as he placed both his hands on each side of her face. He lifted her face to look up at him. He wondered if she tasted like strawberries. Or maybe she tasted sweeter. Oh, how he was itching to take her lips that enticed him so. He bent down until their noses were touching and their breaths were tickling each other's faces.
But, he could go no further when Sakura pushed him away. Her face had turned a brighter shade of red, "I-I was supposed to tell you that there's a reunion at the bar tonight."
She hurriedly waved her goodbye and ran out of the room. Naruto opened his window and watched with an amused smile as Sakura ran down the road at top speed. "See you later, Sakura-chan!"
The blonde knew that Sakura could hear him since, apparently, he was loud.
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Sasuke grumbled under his breath as he walked down the busy streets of Konoha. He was completely covered in dirt. The Brat had helped him dig him out but he had done so messily and had thrown dirt everywhere in his quest to prove he was faster at digging than his team mates. The girl had been smart enough to stop her digging and just watch him do all the work.
There was dirt everywhere. It was even in his underw- private areas.
"Sasuke! I've been searching for you everywhere."
The Uchiha looked up, trying to find the source of the melodious voice. He found himself staring at a goddess-like pinkette. Her face was slightly pink from all the running and she had this silly little grin on her face that he found extremely adorable. Had she been searching for him?
"Why are you covered in dirt?"
What was he supposed to say?
"I… was training," Sasuke answered quietly.
"By rolling yourself in dirt?" She arched one of her eyebrows.
"Hn."
"Anyway, I'm supposed to inform you about the gath-" Sakura stopped suddenly mid-sentence as she was suddenly hyper-aware of her surroundings. The people around them (both ninjas and civilians alike) were staring at them. Or maybe mostly at Sasuke. No, they weren't planning on pouncing on him like how most of you do. (You know what I'm talking about.) They had looks of disgust and fear evident on their features. Sakura's smile fell as people were either avoiding him like he had the plague or throwing him looks of distrust and pure hatred.
The pinkette sneaked a glance at Sasuke, he seemed to be ignoring the stares and was walking a steady pace next to her. For some unknown reason, this displeased the medic ninja greatly.
Sasuke turned his head to face her when she had suddenly gotten quiet. Before he could actually figure out what was bothering her, his hand was roughly grabbed and he was dragged quite forcefully (courtesy of her monster strength) away from the Konoha streets.
"Sakura. What do you think you-"
Sasuke wasn't able to complete his sentence. He stood rooted to the ground. He hoped he would never come back to this place. The origins of his nightmares.
The Uchiha Compound.
He swallowed thickly, not wanting to show his weakness, "Why are we here?"
Sakura lifted her head to look at him with a slightly confused expression before she realised where she had accidentally taken him. She stuttered nervously, "I didn't mean to take you here. I was just trying to… I don't know what I was trying to do. I just didn't like how they were staring at you."
The Uchiha prodigy looked at her, his blank expression in place. Of course, he had taken notice of the deadly stares but he never actually cared.
"You know, Sasuke," Sakura began to fiddle with the zip on her Chunin vest; "We don't care even if the whole of Konoha doesn't accept you. We will. I will."
Sasuke started to stare at her in shock. Sakura's cheeks started to turn a slight pink. She quickly turned around to avoid his heated gaze. As he watched her back walk away from him deeper into the Uchiha Compound, he found himself itching to hold her. To feel her smooth skin beneath his fingers. To inhale her sweet scent that always drove him crazy. But, he fought back. He held all his desires back and followed her.
He didn't deserve her.
A traitor like him didn't deserve such a rare flower.
"How many times have you been here?" Sasuke instantly recognised the route she was taking. He could recall walking the exact same path to his house. He saw her shoulders rise and fall as she entered his abandoned abode. He tried his best not to notice the blood that still decorated the walls. Sakura silently entered his room with him in tow. It still looked exactly the same, the same way he had left it many years ago.
Except for one thing.
There was a small little lantern hanging outside his window.
He couldn't remember owning a pink lantern.
"I used to come here every night when you left," Sakura finally spoke as she reached out to retrieve the lantern, "I would light up this lantern and hang it outside your window and hope that you would come back, using this as a guide."
She lighted the lantern with a simple Katon Jutsu and smiled sadly as it shone brightly in the dark room. Sakura placed the lantern back on the window and grinned genuinely at him, "Did my light reach you?"
And just with that simple sentence, Sasuke's self-control melted away. He took a step forward unconfidently, before he gained momentum and rushed towards her. He wrapped his arms around her tiny frame. He brought her body as close as possible to him and buried his face against her neck, "Thank you."
For always being there.
For loving me.
For waiting.
For everything.
He didn't want the moment to end. She filled the emptiness in him. Why had he left? Why did he push her away? Why couldn't he have seen her?
Sakura blinked in surprise and her face immediately reddened. Her twelve year old self would have died of happiness at this moment. But, she wasn't twelve anymore. She used a little of her chakra to push him off her. "There's a reunion tonight at the bar. I'll see you there!"
She rushed out of the room in a blur of pink and red.
Sasuke smirked in amusement. Now, that was the shy and innocent Sakura he knew and remembered.
He stared at the lantern and silently vowed that he would keep the light to himself.
The mighty Uchiha wasn't into sharing.
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Kiba sighed tiredly for the umpteenth time that day. His Team had just completed their usual training for that day and he was lying comfortably on the slightly moist ground with his hands behind his head.
He searched the bright sky that was decorated with fluffy looking clouds. Kiba was pretty bored when suddenly; a familiar scent filled his sensitive nose. That enticing scent of strawberries and…
Sakura!
Kiba excitedly shot up from his lying position. His heart felt like it was about to explode; beating erratically against his chest. Unfortunately, Akamaru was much faster and had already knocked the unsuspecting kunoichi down.
He removed Akamaru from Sakura's petite body, "Oi, Akamaru! That's my job."
Sakura laughed as she accepted Kiba's hand to help her up.
"Uhh… Kiba, you can let go now," Sakura shook her hand that was still in his grasps.
Kiba felt heat rush up to his ears, "Sorry." He laughed nervously.
Hinata giggled quietly, "W-would you like to j-join us for l-lunch, Sakura?"
As if on cue, Sakura's stomach rumbled loudly. All that running and molestation (caused by her team mates) must have drained her energy. "I would love to but I mmph-" Sakura was cut off mid-sentence when Hinata stuffed a baby tomato in her mouth. Hey, that was actually pretty good. Sakura couldn't say no when the Hyuga heiress passed her an onigiri to munch on.
Kiba's lips suddenly felt dry when he watched Sakura lick her fingers clean. He blushed furiously and looked away.
"W-what are y-you here for?" Hinata questioned passing Sakura another onigiri.
"There's going to be another reunion tonight at the bar," she answered in between munches. Sakura noticed Kiba wasn't eating and his face had a slightly red tinge.
"Ne, Kiba."
Kiba turned his head at the call of his name. The next thing he knew, his face was inches from Sakura's and he had a baby tomato stuffed in his mouth. Sakura had just fed him a baby tomato! He turned a brighter shade of red.
Sakura grinned, "See you later!" She quickly disappeared from view after waving her goodbye.
Hinata smiled knowingly, "So, w-when are y-you going to t-tell her?"
Kiba chewed the tomato slowly, contemplating. He hated anything that wasn't chewy but strangely the tomato tasted sweet.
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Team Gai (minus Maito Gai) was having their lunch at Ichiraku Ramen when Sakura arrived. Or rather, Tenten and Lee were having their lunch and Neji was just sitting there with his eyes closed.
Rock Lee stood up from his seat with some strands of noodles still in his mouth, "Shaqula-shan!" He slurped the noodles messily and came rushing towards her with arms spread wide. Neji had predicted this from his team mate and had stopped him before he could get close to the pinkette by paralysing him. Lee immediately fell a few feet in front of Sakura. Tenten shook her head at Neji's over-possessiveness as she dragged her boyfriend's body to the side to keep him from blocking the way.
"Watcha doin' here Sakura? Come for lunch?" Tenten smiled.
Sakura shook her head, "No. I came to tell you guys that there's gonna be a reunion tonight at the bar."
Miraculously, Lee immediately shot up from his lying position and threw a fist punch in the air. "I will be there to bestow Konoha ninjas with the power of youth! Yoshi!" Lee was certainly fired up.
Neji folded his arms, "I'll pass." Not wanting to be bestowed with the power of youth. The Hyuga wasn't a fan of crowds and gathering. The last time Team Gai went to a bar, Lee had been completely wasted and started to dance on tables naked. He wished to avoid that, thank you very much. He had no interest in seeing his team mate's… dangly bits.
Sakura shrugged and disappeared in search of her sensei and taichou.
Tenten grinned mischievously, "Well, that's too bad that you're not going. How would poor Sakura fend off all the males that try to hit on her? Since she's the only one that's avai-"
"I'm going," Neji interrupted as straight faced as ever.
Tenten hid her triumphant smile behind her cup of tea.
Oh, Neji. How easy it has become to manipulate you.
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"I'll pass," Kakashi replied; his eyes still glued to his book.
"I think I'll just stay at home," Yamato shrugged.
Sakura placed her hands on her hips. She went through all the trouble to find them and tell them about the reunion and they just flatly refuse. No way in hell. "Come on! Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-sensei and Gai-sensei would be there too!"
Kakashi flipped a page, "All the more reason to stay at home."
"Okay. How about a battle? If both of you lose to me then you have to go," Sakura suggested a smug smile on her lips.
The Copy ninja shut his book and placed it safely in his vest, "Alright, who will go first?" Kakashi wasn't the type to back down from a challenge. Besides, he hasn't battled his female student for a very long time.
Yamato looked alarmed, "Wait! Don't I have a say in this?"
Sakura flipped her pink hair back, "One by one? I'll fight you both at the same time."
Kakashi arched one of his eyebrows, "As you wish." He lifted his hitai-ate revealing his Sharingan eye.
Yamato sighed. He had been completely ignored. Why did he even bother trying?
"SHANAROO!"
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Gaara calmly ignored his bickering siblings and tried his best to not think about a certain medic. He had been so close to kissing her! What was he thinking?
You see, Sabaku no Gaara, had virtually no experience when it comes to human contact and emotions. What if he had slobbered all over Sakura?
He shook his head.
"Reunion? Wonderful! Konoha's Sublime Green Beast shall be present and spread youth!"
Gaara lifted his head at the (very) loud voice coming from Maito Gai.
Reunion?
Well, wasn't that interesting.
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Sakura had a very smug grin on her face when she started healing both Kakashi's and Yamato's injuries. She had managed to beat them both, using Yamato's Wood technique against him and rendering Kakashi's Sharingan useless by throwing dust in his eyes.
"Looks like you'll be attending the reunion," Her voice was noticeably cheerful. Sakura started to heal the fractured bones on Kakashi's arm from trying to block her kick. She had certainly grown stronger.
Kakashi chuckled as he casually flipped opened his orange companion, though he didn't start reading. He watched Sakura intently. Had her eyes always been that shade of green? The Copy ninja reached out and his fingers caught strands of her luscious pastel pink hair. Her emerald orbs stared innocently at him, confused. He brought her hair to his masked lips, "Sakura." Her hair smelled heavenly. Had it always been this soft?
Sakura blushed furiously from his intense gaze and how he had breathed her name. She stood up causing her hair to slip from his fingertips, "Y-You should be fine." She cursed herself for stuttering and started to make her way towards Yamato.
Yamato had caught the exchange between the medic and his senpai. He threw suspicious glances at the Copy ninja.
What? Jealous? No! Yamato wasn't jealous. And no, he wasn't in denial.
Kakashi chuckled as he flipped to another page. It looks like he has competition. Well, nothing the mighty Hatake Kakashi couldn't handle.
Little did the silver haired Jounin know that Yamato wasn't the only competitor.
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"Sai! Watcha doing?"
Sai instantly recognised the voice and threw his body at the painting he had been staring at, hoping that his body would provide enough cover.
"What are you hiding?" Sakura questioned, stretching her neck to try and sneak a peek. She was crouching on Sai's window. The medic figured that instead of knocking on the artist's doors, it would be faster to just talk to him through the window.
"Nothing," Sai answered a little too quickly. He lifted his bed sheet and covered the painting in one swift motion, ensuring that Sakura would not have a chance to see it.
Sakura pouted childishly and Sai tried his best not to give in.
"What do you need, hag?" Sai smiled his usual (fake) smile.
"There's going to be a reunion at the bar tonight," Sakura replied.
Reunion? He had read this before in a book. "I'll see you, there."
The pinkette had expected resistance and was mildly surprised that he had agreed so easily to come. She nodded and jumped from Sai's window.
Once Sakura had gone, Sai heaved a sigh of relief and removed the sheet covering his painting.
Wild colours of pink and green decorated his blank canvas.
Maybe pink wasn't such a bad colour.
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Sakura stretched her tired body as she entered her apartment.
She was about to take a drink out of the fridge when a thought suddenly hit her like an anvil.
Couldn't she have just sent her slugs to send the message?
She cursed under her breath.
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Well, I toned down the humour and brought up the romance! And I bet it's going to be a hell of a reunion! xD
What do you guys think? ^_^
Please do continue voting for the Top 3 couples since this story is going to end soon. (In about 3-4 chapters?)
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