"Looks like it's going to ran," Naruto muttered as he looked up at the dark clouds overhead. He quickly made his way through the market with the bottle of sake he purchased. He had just become a chunin and was planning on celebrating alone.
Well at least I'm a chunin now. One more step to becoming Hokage. As he walked through the streets he noticed a familiar pink head walking towards him. "Sakura?"
His teammate smiled at him. "Hey Naruto. Long time no see."
He smiled at her. "Yeah. I heard you were on a mission." His teammate had aged well over the years. Her figure had grown more curvy and she was even more attractive than before.
"I just got back," Sakura said. "I heard you recently passed the chunin exams?"
"You better believe it," he said as he showed her the bottle of sake. "I was going to celebrate it by myself, did you want to join me?"
To his surprise Sakura shrugged. "Sure why not."
"Um cool come on then," he said.
It began to drizzle as they made their way back to his place but once they got to his apartment he quickly turned on the heater and got some glasses. They began to drink some sake and talk about their lives laughing about the old days.
"Hey Naruto, I've been wondering," Sakura said as she sipped her sake. "Did you ever have a crush on Hinata?"
His face turned red, as he shook his head. "Uh, no, not really," he said, a little uncertain. "I mean, I've always been friendly with her, but I never really had a crush on her or anything."
Sakura nodded, looking thoughtful. "I see," she said. "She always liked you but I figured you were too dense."
He shrugged. "Well I never cared for her that way. Hell I hardly knew her." He sipped his sake letting the alcohol run through his body. "Nothing personal but I didn't care for her and never like how the world seemed to want me to be with her."
Sakura looked at him with a clam look. "Yeah Ino was always trying to help Hinata come out of her shell and set you two up."
He sighed and rubbed his head. "I know. That was so annoying; the thing is I never saw her that way and couldn't force myself to like her romantically."
The memories of all the times Hinata tried to confess to him played in his head, he hardly knew her but saw her nothing more than a teammate. Ino had been quite insistent on hooking them up much to his ire.
As much as he loved his friends and teammates he never understood why some of them felt he was obligated to like Hinata. It wasn't that she was a bad person but she just wasn't his type and he didn't know her well.
"Well I understand that," Sakura said. "Frankly you aren't obligated to return someone's feelings."
He nodded. "Thanks. I know you and Ino thought I wasn't getting the hint and was stupid for not recognizing that she liked me but truthfully I never cared for that way." He shrugged and drank some more sake. "Truthfully if I like someone I'd be straightforward with them and not beat around the bush."
Sakura covered her mouth and chuckled. "Sorry but I remember Ino was so upset that you weren't picking up Hinata's hints. I should've told her to respect your privacy."
"Thanks but it's all in the past," he sighed. "Frankly I want to focus on myself and become a better ninja." He looked up at the wall where his new chunin jacket hung. "I passed the last chunin exams with ease, but that was because I trained my ass off and planned for everything."
Sakura nodded and raised her cup. "Congratulations."
He raised his cup as well. "Cheers!"
The two drank some more sake. "So anything new with you?" he asked.
Sakura shrugged. "Not really." Her gaze shifted to the side. "I've been focusing on myself lately. I want to work on getting stronger."
"Don't we all," he said.
Sakura took a sip of sake and looked at him. "You know, Naruto, I've always wondered why you never made a move on me. I mean a lot of girls like you, even Ino made a few compliments about your physique."
His eyes widened a surge of nervousness. Crap now I have to play this right. He knew if he chose the wrongs about Ino he could end up hurt. The two girls were friends/rivals at everything.
"I-I don't know," he stammered. "I guess I was just afraid to make a move because of Sasuke." It was no surprise that his teammate like Sasuke a lot.
Sakura smiled at him reassuringly. "Naruto, you don't have to worry about that anymore," she said. "I've gotten over Sasuke."
His heart skipped a beat, "Really?" he asked, a little uncertainly. "I thought you two were in love?"
Sakura nodded, taking his hand. "Yes, really," she said. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it, but I'm glad that I finally did."
His teammate sighed a sorrowful look spread across her face. "I mean it was really a school girl crush, I hardly knew him and he shows no interest in romance. There are plenty of other guys out there who would want me."
She sighed and looked up at him her gaze a mixture of sorrow and anger. "Truthfully he never cared for me. I was too stupid to realize that and thought that by being loyal he would come to notice me." She shook her head. "It was a stupid idea, I wasted so much time on him."
"I'm sorry about that," he said softly
Sakura averted her gaze. "Naruto, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for treating you badly when we were younger. I know that I wasn't always very nice to you, and I feel really bad about it."
Naruto was surprised by her apology, but he didn't hold any grudges. "Sakura, it's okay," he said. "I know I was annoying back then, and I forgive you. Besides, we were just kids. It doesn't matter anymore."
"I made fun of you for not having parents," Sakura said as she downed a shot of sake. She shivered and looked him in the eyes. "I really am sorry for saying that. That was really shitty of me."
He paused and looked down at his cup. It had been so long ago that he forgot about it. "It's alright I forgive you," he said softly. "We've been through a lot as teammates. Besides we've all done and said stupid things when we were kids. I mean I did tones of bad things and that hasn't stopped me from attaining my goals."
Sakura gave him a small smile. "I know. I may not be as strong as you or Sasuke but I appreciate all the times where you helped me. Thank you Naruto. Thank you for everything." To his surprise Sakura got up and stumbled over to him. "You deserve to be next Hokage."
His teammate stumbled and he quickly got up to grab her. "H-Hey watch out Sakura," he said as he caught her. Sakura smiled at him as she pushed him back. He let out a yelp as he was pushed down on the couch. "S-Sakura-chan."
Sakura smiled at him with her bright eyes. "Naruto tell me the truth did you really have a crush on me?"
Her grip was strong, he swallowed looking into her eyes. "I-I did," he said softly. "But I gave up when you wanted to pursue Sasuke." His heart raced in his chest as he looked into her eyes, they were a mixture of sorrow an dlust.
Sakura sighed as released her grip and sat next to him. He got up and looked at her. "Sakura what's wrong?"
His teammate shook her head. "I sometimes think I shouldn't have chased Sasuke so much. I lost so much of myself and lost may opportunities in life by chasing someone who doesn't even like me." She sighed and rested her head the couch. "You were always there for me and were so kind to me even when I treated you like shit."
He stared at his teammate in shock. "Sakura-chan what are you saying?" It may have been the liquor talking but he still couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth.
"Naruto I want to be happy," Sakura said. "I don't want to chase after people who won't give me the time of day." She looked at him her gaze teary. "I know this may sound gruel I want my own life free from Sasuke."
"Sakura-chan there is nothing wrong with that," he said reassuringly. "You every right to find and pursue your happiness."
Sakura smiled at him. "Thank you," she said as she placed a hand on his. "Naruto you've been so good to me even when I treated you horribly in the past."
They stared into each other's eyes. His heart raced in his chest as he looked at his teammate, the girl he crushed on a lot when he was growing up. "Sakura-chan."
Sakura leaned closer, his heart raced as she cupped his face. He closed his eyes as her lips made contact with his.
He had no expectations about what his first kiss (with a girl) would be, but it was nice. He gently wrapped an arm around Sakura as she held him tightly. Their lips pressed against each other as they held each other tightly.
Tears fell down his face as he remembered all of their adventures together Sakura may not have been the strongest ninja but she was his teammate, his friend who stood by him through thick and thin.
"Naruto if you still like me what to give a girl like me a chance?" Sakura mumbled. "I know I lied before but I mean now."
He stared at his teammate, her eyes were watery and he could feel the sincerity in his words. "D you mean it?" he asked. "I mean we are drunk."
"I…" Sakura's voice trails off, and in her drunken haze her eyes trail down to his lips, and she swallows thickly. She took a deep breath and looked at him with a steely determination. "I want to be your girlfriend."
She then pressed her lips against his. He responded to the kiss and his instincts took over as her arms worked there way beneath his shirt.
"Oh… So we're thinking the same thing." He says quietly, and then leans in slowly, closing the distance between their lips. "N-Naruto…" Sakura mumbles, closing her eyes. It's soft and slow, and Sakura's skin prickles as he reaches behind her neck, pulling her closer.
He gently tugs at her bottom lip, wanting more and Sakura obliges. She opens her mouth, giving him access and he wastes no time as his tongue explores her mouth, swirling around in a dance only the two of them know the rhythm to.
It's a little sloppy and messy, but to Sakura it feels like her world is melting around her, leaving just this man's hand on her neck and the feeling of his tongue in her mouth. "Sakura I want to see you…" he muttered
Y-You too…" Sakura mumbles, and her throat goes dry as Naruto pulls off his t-shirt revealing a toned caramel body. "Y-You g-got bigger…" She whispers with wide eyes.
Naruto laughs. "You can touch if you want." Sakura needs no more words and she reaches out, running her fingers along his skin, earning a few light moans from him. His thick tight pecs, sloping down into ripples of abs.
"Wow…" Sakura stared at his upper body with wide eyes. "I'm not going to lie, I've trained with you since we were kids, when you came back from Jiraya I took a few nice long showers."
He laughed. "Well do you like what you see?"
Sakura only nodded not even able to process how embarrassing it might be to answer that, and she just nods like it's a simple fact. "Y-Yeah…"
"Me too." Naruto says, pulling her in for another kiss, wrapping his muscular arms around her body.
The two made out on his couch, Sakura wrapped her arms around him protectively and he did the same as the two removed each other's clothes. "Sakura I love," he said as he nibbled on her neck.
"Me too Naruto," Sakura moaned. "Take me!"
He smirked at her. "Are you sure?"
Sakura looked him in the eyes and nodded. "I made stupide mistakes in the past but now I'm sure about this. I love you Naruto."
His heart skipped a beat. "Me too Sakura."
/
The next morning Sai headed towards Naruto's apartment. As he approached a window from a tree and gently tapped it before opening slightly.
"Naruto when are we-" He was cut off by the sight in front of him. His two teammates were both naked and on the couch covered by a thin blanket.
He covered his nose as Naruto winked at him. "We'll be busy today."
"G-Got it," he said awkwardly. "Good job?"
"Believe it," Naruto said with a grin.