Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

_Hokage Tower_

Naruto arrived at the Hokage tower after racing there from his apartment, eager to get there and return back after Sakura's message that he left with…however he couldn't shake Ino's letter from his mind 'from your blonde beauty' …it was true, he did think she was beautiful but he didn't know the she was his. Did she actually have feelings for him? Or was she just teasing him, Naruto couldn't decide and pushed open the doors as if to free him from his mind.

"You arrived quicker than I thought you would Naruto-kun" chirped a familiar happy voice.
"I'm sorry for what happened at the apartment, I shouldn't tease so much, huh?" She said sounding sincerely sorry and a little down, as if she may have upset Naruto.
"It's okay Ino-chan" He smiled towards her. Remembering the letter she gave him once more.
"D-Did you read the letter?..." she stuttered to him looking embarrassed.
"I sure did my blonde beauty" he said repaying the teasing she gave him. She looked away almost glowing red.
"You shouldn't blush Ino-chan…" he said "It just makes you look prettier." Without realising he heard his own words…'what did I just say?'
"Naru-Kun!" she exclaimed playfully slapping his arm "Go see Tsunade-sama already!" she said now trying her best to hid her red face.

Naruto chuckled that she liked his compliment and blushed at the name of 'Naru-kun' she had given him 'She's really nice!...and makes me feel so warm…just like when I was with Sakura-chan…' he averted his thoughts once again running up the stairs faster…'things might get complicated.' He sighed.

He pushed open the door where the Hokage would be waiting for him, but his surprise the toad great toad sage Fukasaku was also in the room. Naruto's face was delighted after not seeing him since the battle with pain.

"Jiji! When did you get here?" Naruto exclaimed happy to see the elder toad
"Ahhh Naruto-boy! You're here at last!" Fukasaku said at the final arrival of his student
"However…This is not the time for re-uniting, we can do that when we get to Mount Myobuku after a certain somebody's funeral." The elder toad said in a more serious tone
"You will be finishing your Sage training , and it should take around 2 years!" declared Fukasaku to his student, not taking no for an answer.

"It is settled then!" bellowed the Hokage "Naruto, you are to leave a messenger toad within the village. Who knows when we'll need you." She said in a professional manner, in the presence of a great toad sage she had to act in such a way. "Oh, and about your jacket, it was beyond repair…" she said softly to her Gaki.

"So it's ruined for good this time?" he said disappointed
"Yes, That is why I have gotten you a new jacket, Uzumaki Naruto! I hereby instate you a Jounin of The Hidden Village of Konoha!" She said fighting the smile that was creeping up her face.
"F-For real? I'm a Jounin!" He cried, ' I can't believe she finally made me a Jounin!'
"Thank you Baa-chan!" his smiling beaming at widely at her.

"That's not all, Your Jounin jacket I had custom made, in your colours" she brought the jacket from of her lap holding it out widely for Naruto to see. It was orange, the same shade as his previous jacket –the black on it came from the flames towards the waist of jacket that curled upwards stopping at his ribs, the trim was also black instead of the usual green colour, and on the back of the jacket was an Uzumaki swirl in a darker shade of orange,

Naruto was speechless, well for a little while anyway, "Baa-chan! I love it! Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you!" he wept hugging her with his new jacket in his arms. She couldn't help but enjoy the hug, even in the presence of an elder.

"*Ahem* well, I'm glad you like it Gaki…You are dismissed for now!" granted the fifth Hokage, Naruto immediately dressed himself into his new Jounin jacket and left with a final smile and gave his thanks, walking down the stairs proudly in his new beloved piece of clothing he met paths with the blonde haired kunoichi.

"Naru-Kun? That's a nice jacket! I didn't see it with you when you came in" Ino said while gazing at the new jacket, it really was nice, it looked expensive too and reminded her of that of a Jounin's.
"Baa-chan gave it to me!" he announced over joyed with his gift "She gave it to after she made me a Jounin!" he grinned widely at her.

"Ohh Congratulations Naru-Kun! She hugged him tight in reward of becoming Jounin. 'That's right, unlike Sakura, I don't lie to myself!' she thought pouting. Still holding him she gently pushed him against the wall of the stairs and laid her hand on his chest.
"Alright! In celebration of your new rank! We are going to Ichiraku's tomorrow at 3pm…and it IS a date!" she announced to him making him blush heavily
"…oh and Naruto, if you know what's good for you and your pretty jacket, you won't be late" she said with a menacing smile before continuing her duties.

Naruto left the Hokage tower with the biggest grin on his face it was possible for him to wear tonight went great! He got a new rank, a new jacket and a date! All at once. He ran back to the apartment as fast as he could wanting to tell Sakura the news of his promotion.

_Naruto's Apartment_

Sakura sat alone, not so endorsed in joy, she stared blankly at the television – it had been paused for some time and she didn't intend for it to play until Naruto arrived back to enjoy it with her, after all last time they nearly kissed 'I bet Ino Is all over him while he's at the tower!...but what if she really likes him?... what if she loves him, and doesn't mind showing it?' she thought to herself questioning the intent of her blonde female friend '…what if I'm only like this with Naruto because I'm jealous that the attention won't be on me anymore?...but I think I love him…' the last word she thought caught her off guard and she blushed remembering the two of them at the park 'It made me feel so warm and funny. I felt so safe in his arms' she hesitated to think anymore remembering the feeling
'I hope you get back soon Naruto.'

The door flung open to invite the sound of a heavily panting Naruto sporting a his new jacket, Sakura looked at the time, he hadn't even been gone a long time, yet it felt like it had been hours.
"I-I'm …back…SA…Sakura-chan!" he said taking breathes in between words smiling towards her while leaning on his thighs with his arms supporting him while he took in oxygen before continued talking.

"I paused our movie Naruto-kun, come watch it with me!" she pleaded wanting to be in his arms again she looked back at him noticing his new jacket.
"Naruto! Where did you get such an expensive looking jacket? ...It looks like the ones that Jounins wear!" she can't believe she didn't notice it when he first came in.

"I'm glad you asked Sakura-chan" He said merrily "Baa-chan made me a Jounin!" he announced
"She was the one who had the jacket made for me too." He smiled appreciative of his Baa-chan's gift.
"Congratulations Naruto-kun! … It's about time!" She sniggered at him knowing he deserved to be a Jounin a long time ago, the pink haired kunoichi patted down on the couch.
"Well come on already!" She teased wanting to be laid with him again.

Naruto sat down on the seat next to her as she had instructed, and took of his jacket, folding it and placing it the table in front of the couch. When he sat back upright on the couch he looked at Sakura smiling, who then proceeded to lay down in the position where she was before. He leant back against the couch slouching into the back cushion of it.

Sakura noticed him sat back in place, even after she'd laid down first, expecting him to come lay with her, she was a little disappointed – but blamed it on his thick-headedness, and came up with a plan to make him lay down and be with her again.

She pulled the blanket that was now laid on the arm of the couch at Naruto's side, leaning over passed him as she collected it, making sure that their faces nearly touched on her way by and the on the way back she laid down again before pulling the blanket over her, smothering Naruto's body in it, making him look similar to a stereotypical Halloween ghost.

Looking at him sat there she considered her plan had failed, but looked at the lump in the sheet with eyes of hope as it disappeared and a head came wiggling out of the blanket, her hope was lost as it appeared at the opposite side, his feet near her head.

"N-Naruto? ..." she asked quietly a glint of hurt in her voice?
"What is it Sakura-chan? "He asked blinking at her in interest
"D-Don't you want to sit up here…with me? ..." she asked not expecting a bright outcome,
'what has Ino done to you?' she thought angry that the blonde kunoichi showed up, even if she did originally ask for something to stop them from kissing.

"S-Sorry Sakura-chan, I didn't know if you'd want me too or not" he smiled softly, trying his best to hide his lie 'Can I really do this? What about Ino-chan…But when I'm with Ino-chan I think…What about Sakura-chan…but it's not like me and Sakura are doing anything…I'm just comforting her …right?' he thought to himself , hiding under the blanket in case the cherry blossom saw through him, and wiggled out at the opposite end.

He rested his head where he had before, and while gently crawling his hand up Sakura's he reached the remote and pressed play for their movie to continue. She rolled over to face him, their faces dangerously close again – she spoke to him.

"There that's better" she said letting out a sigh of relief "Why would I not want you at my side Naruto-kun…that's where you've always been, why stop now" she smiled at him, dropping the remote and clutching his hand that he left near to her own. He looked into her eyes and averted his gaze trying not to blush at her kind words, that and she was seriously close to him.

She giggled and invited herself to smother her face against his chest. He still wasn't holding her though; she took his hand in hers and rolled over making his arm follow her. 'Smoooooth.' She thought to herself proud of her last move. Naruto suddenly tightened his grip around her hugging her tightly, her hand still in his was now close to her own chest, and he rested his head over her shoulder and watched the movie.

She noticed him now leaning over her shoulder, she could feel his warm breath on her neck, making her blush, and she turned her head again, almost brushing his with her own. And with that she pulled an arm behind her back and pulled his head closer, almost forcing against her neck, and continued to watch fearing what she might do if she continued looking at him

"I'm glad I'm not alone tonight…Thank you Naruto-Kun" she whispered softly into his ear and quickly had to spin her head back to resist her sudden lust over him. 'Calm down! Calm down! It's just because you're not used to this! You've never had anyone hold you tight…that must be it! ...but that's not to say you don't enjoy being with him…' she thought again nearly tempting herself to go back to him.

Naruto with his head nuzzled in her neck almost, had to fight with all he could to resist the urge of kissing it softly, the words she whispered in his ear didn't exactly help! 'Dammit! What about my datewith Ino! … Why does Sakura have to make it so hard not to kiss her!' He thought his mind for staring at the television screen.

The two sat in silence, in each other's comfort, too close for each other, both struggling desperately to resist each other, they held one another and said nothing, hours past until movie – their salvation from each finished, it had become dark, and it was now late at night. The room dimly lit Sakura rolled over only to quickly notice her mistake, it was just too tempting!

She got up off the couch, it was the only escape, and taking the blanket with her she trailed into Naruto's room. Expecting him to follow immediately like a little puppy dog running at her feet.
He shot up on the couch, slammed back against the back of the cushion 'I don't know how much more of this I can take!' he said putting his hands across his face pulling down as if to wake him up. He ran over to the sink, and poured himself a cold drink drinking it in one gulp trying to refresh himself.

"Naruuu-toooo?" she called softly to him in a tempting way, she couldn't help it, when he wasn't with her , she missed the feeling, the warm fuzzy feeling – yet it was driving her mad while on the couch, she close to throwing herself on him it was maddening! Yet…yet she couldn't bear for him to be away.
"You're not going to make me sleep alone after all are you?" she called again faking a hurt voice

"A-A…J-Just a minute, I'm just going to brush my teeth' he called back in answer, not thinking of the reasons on why one may think he was brushing his teeth.
"And who exactly do you want your breath to be fresh for Naruto-kun" She called sweetly in a way that made chills go down his spine a good way.
'There is a siren in my home! An evil temptress!' he called to himself in his mind quickly splashing water over his face before brushing his teeth. He headed to his bedroom slowly dreading having to resist again. That'll work for sure! …no it won't, he shook his head disagreeing.

"S-Sakura-chan…are you sure I should sleep in here? …I could sleep in the spare room or on the couch…" he asked almost trying to find an escape root 'C'mon let me sleep, without fighting temptation"
"It's fine." She said bluntly "besides I didn't bring my stuffed bear to hug tight…I'm sure you can fill in for him for one night." She said gazing into his eyes ready to use puppy eyes if needed.
"…I'll go get the pillows" he said defeated, there was no way he could go against that.

He arrived in the room and placed the pillows on the drawers by the bed the opposite to end to Sakura's resting head. He pulled out his pyjamas ready to change. Sakura bit the pillow softly in surprise that he was going to change in front of her, she wouldn't stand a chance.

"D-Don't you think you should change somewhere else Naruto-Kun" she said quietly as if she didn't want him to hear it.
"Oh! ..." he quickly fled the room pyjamas in hand "Sorry Sakura-chan!" he shouted back to her from a different room. 'What did you do that for! He was right there!" screamed inner Sakura to her other half 'Shush you! You were the one who's encouraging this! This is your fault!' she argued back, 'Don't pretend you don't like it! You should be thanking me!" she said before disappearing to let Sakura fight her own battle.

He walked back through the door fully changed, noticing the pillows had been shifted to next to Sakura's …'Ohh come on … I could cry! I could lie down and cry! Why I is this happening!'
"S-Sakur—"
"Shhhh! I'm tired…" she said interrupting any excuse and placed her gently against the pillow "…and I need my bear already!" she muffled through the pillow.

Naruto slowly approached the bed, and the got in quickly, as if approaching a crocodile and jumping over its jaw quickly in fear of it biting. He was in…he'd done it. He felt a hand slowly stroke his side and crawl down his ribs until he was being held in a hug. 'Oh God.' Was all Naruto could manage to formulate in his head.

She lifted her head on to his shoulder, hugging to him tightly, she was so close to him – her breath tickling his neck lightly, she could smell the soft honey fragrance of his hair, she had to resist diving her head into to get a better scent and kiss him from his ear all down to neck where she'd rest her head. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Just the thoughts made her face change to shade of tomato.

He rolled over to see her. Immediately regretting it 'why did it do that? …this isn't going well.'
He slid his arm over her waist and leaned closer, they were both pressed against each other, heads over one another's shoulders.

The pink haired woman used her free hand to slide up his hard stomach feeling every bump and centimetre of his surprisingly toned chest, enjoying it too much for her own good, she bit her bottom lip and had to quickly slip her hand under him and wrap it around him to mark it as out of use. It reached up however and stroked at the back section of his blonde locks, then scrunched at it and placed his head down her neck one again.

He couldn't fight it anymore, she could do whatever she wanted with him now, but he wasn't going to make the move – that's the most of the fight he could put up, his could feel his breath hitting her soft, perfect neck, and he moved his hand up to stroke the cherry blossom hair, his nose brushing against her cheek.

"Mpfhh…Naruto!" she moaned quietly at her bliss. She wanted to kiss him, she needed to. 'Quickly make conversation.' She thought to herself. She pulled back away from him, missing his warmth.
"So what did Tsunade-sama want of you…? …it must have been important to take you away from me" she said almost out of breath from fighting back her moans.

"I will be leaving after Sasuke's funeral…for two years to complete my training as a sage…" he said softly, not eager to hear her reply.
"Two years?" She questioned "…I won't get to see you for…two years?" she wept arms around his neck now looking in his eyes.
"…I'm sorry Sakura-chan – I made a contract with the toads." He said accepting that he gave his word.
"B-Bu-But…I want to come with you!" she demanded throwing her head under his chin and resting her soft cheek against his neck.
"S-Sakura, I can't bring other people to Mount Myobuku…I'm sorry" he said weakly

She pulled him down to the pillows and stared into his eyes, her nose against his, she closed her eyes. And breathed out, 'not now, I can't kiss him here, I can't get addicted to him when he'll leave me for so long!' she pushed her head over his shoulder and closed to her eyes, clinging to him tightly
"Goodnight Naruto-kun." She whispered softly to him

He stroked her cherry blossom hair, which was currently free of her ribbon headband, it was soft and fragrant, his hands devoured by the countless strands that he couldn't stop caressing.
"Goodnight Sakura-Chan." He whispered into her ear and closed his eyes.

Author's notes: This one was hard to write! I was seriously at war with myself for most of the time that I was writing it I nearly split those two from each other but didn't want to throw drama everywhere like normally.

Next time Ino's Assault!

Please Review if you have the time! And thank you for reading the story so far, I hope you enjoying it!
Expect another Chapter today!