It was now quite late at night now, with only the moon illuminating the darkness over Wave. Kakashi and Shikamaru were casually sitting up on the roof in complete attention, well one was at least.
"Shikamaru...you cannot be serious that you find interest in clouds even at night." Kakashi said flatly to the shadow user who was lying down flat and looking up at the night sky.
Shikamaru smirked, "Did you say something, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's sweat dropped at the very familiar line.
'Using my own line against me...oh this means war.' Kakashi's lone eye flickered with declaration.
"Yes I did say something, I said would you like a game of shogi."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, "If I recall right we are meant to be keeping watch, not playing board games that will result in the same thing every time."
Kakashi turned fully, no longer caring about his task, "The way I see it, YOUR side, that you are meant to be watching, isn't actually being watched at all. But I am sure you can give me a lengthy report on how hostile the night clouds are."
Shikamaru scoffed, but didn't reply as Kakashi continued, "So let me make a proposition-"
Kakashi formed a familiar seal that a certain blond always made, "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"
Two doppelgangers of Kakashi 'poofed' into existence.
Shikamaru rose from his spot now, "You seem very keen to play a game." He said voicing his interest in Kakashi's attitude. Kakashi smirked under his mark but his eye didn't show any change as he shrugged innocently.
"Nothing better to do." He said flatly, trying hard not to snicker.
Shikamaru bought it and smirked, "Well in that case, sure, I guess it's worth the bother then." Kakashi's eye now showed a sadistic expression to the now walking away Nara.
'This time Nara Shikamaru, I will teach you the ultimate strategy, looking underneath the underneath when I beat you.'
Other than the pair preparing the board game, the rest of the hotel was exceptionally peaceful and quiet, with the exception for one person.
'Damn it why?!' Sakura cursed as she tossed and turned in her bed, before sitting up and rubbing her runny eyes.
'Why do I keep seeing their fight!?' She inwardly cried to herself.
'I hated it, every moment of it! Sasuke-kun and Naruto may have always argued with each other, always competed with one another in everything...but they are best friends...I could see it in both of them that they were. it tore me up even more than when they fought on the hospital roof that time seeing them fight like that again.'
Sakura ran a hand through her damp hair, and pushed her hand into her sweating temple, hoping it would push the thoughts out of her head, only to be rewarded with a worsened headache.
'Then there is when Naruto got hurt...' Sakura tried her best to not wince, but her body wasn't listening to her pleads to stay calm as her hand was now attempting to crush her face as if it was a soft ball.
Sakura suddenly felt her stomach turn and gave a disgruntled moan, 'Not this again'.
Sakura bolted from her thick blankets, revealing her long sleeved red top and black tracksuit pants to the world, as she burst into her cold, tiled bathroom, feeling a sudden chill beneath her bare feet that tickled up her back like electricity. Sakura slammed the toilet seat up, and fell to her knees as she felt the hot liquid travel up the back of her throat and stream out of her mouth. Sakura's stomach felt like it was in a grinder, until it eventually subdued and tightened into a large stitch.
'Why did I do this to myself again?' She asked herself through her trembled gagging, while her head was pounding as if somebody was beating her over the head with a club.
'Kakashi-sensei, Jiraiya-sama, and even Shikamaru warned me just how dangerous taking so many soldier pills was...and I should know that more than all of them, yet I was popping them out and mixing all sorts like an addict!'
Sakura rubbed her pounding head, 'Tsunade-sama is going to kill me when we get back to Konoha.'
Sakura eventually stumbled to her feet, and dragged herself back out of the cold room and back into the main room of her apartment. Sakura was about to slide back in under her sheets until a thought came to her.
'Is he alright?.'
Sakura didn't even know when she had turned for her door.
Sakura exited out of her apartment, gently closing the door behind her, as she was greeted by the dark hallway, with only a window showing the blue hue of the moon allowing Sakura to see where she was going. It wasn't hard to find Naruto's room, since it was across from her own.
'I don't think he locked his door. I wonder if he is still awake?' Sakura didn't take any chances and tried the door, finding that it was left unlocked.
She tilted her head to the side while opening the door slowly, and peeked through the crack to reveal darkness, although she could still see her main concern lying in bed. Naruto was fast asleep, but Sakura could not make out his expression.
"Sakura-sama, is that you?" Came a quietened mythical voice.
Sakura slowly opened the door and span around to close it after entering, "How is he Katsuya-sama?" Sakura whispered, looking around to see if she could spot her summon.
Sakura then spotted her slug, the top half of its body sticking up on the chair, as if it was sitting on it like a dwarfed person.
"Naruto-kun is doing fine, more importantly, how are you feeling? From what my senses are telling me, you are not well?" Sakura at first was surprised, but then she remembered about how Slugs senses centralised more on smell than eyesight. Sakura made her way over and waited for her summon to slither up the top of the chair, before sitting down.
"You were right about the nausea." Sakura stated simply.
"How often?"
"Every couple of hours, starting from when I left."
"You haven't gotten much sleep?" Sakura shook her head, as she felt her summon curl around her shoulders, feeling a relaxing sensation.
"You are quite tense too Sakura-sama...what are you so worried about?" Sakura sighed, and looked at the sleeping form of Naruto, while recalling the nightmare that was still lingering behind her emotionless eyes. Being this close, she could now make out his chest rising and dropping under his sheets, and the small smile across his relaxed face.
"...I see" The slug stated, knowing what Sakura was so worried about.
"I just wanted to check, I know I should be resting..."
"That is alright Sakura-sama, Naruto-kun was worried about you too earlier."
Sakura turned her head to look blankly at Katsuya, "What do you mean?"
"Naruto-kun asked me to explain what I meant about nausea, after that he became quite concerned, but I ensured him you would be alright."
Sakura didn't know why that brought a whip lash of pain to her heart, "He always worries about me..." She murmured, feeling her guilt return.
"Sakura-sama...you and Tsunade-sama have talked about this...you said you would think about what she told you to do, which is why she respectfully hasn't bothered you about it since..." Katsuya whispered softly in her ear, as if she was aware of Sakura's thoughts.
"I know...I at first tried to listen to what Tsunade-sama said I should do...Ino even told me a suggestion to try...But I still want to do what I feel is right." Sakura replied, still looking at Naruto's sleeping form.
"You haven't done anything wro-"
"Katsuya-sama...please." Sakura begged, not wanting to have this argument with yet another person again.
"All you are doing is hurting yourself, and even though I didn't know you back then, I know you wouldn't treat Naruto-kun that way." Katsuya treaded lightly.
Sakura tried her best to suppress a scoff, "Katsuya-sama...I was a different person back then...I was selfish, and very stupid..." Sakura broke her gaze on Naruto and found her clenched fists sitting in her lap interesting.
"I insulted him all the time, and I had hit him sometimes around the clock for no good reason....I looked down on him....and he never once treated me the same way....never." Sakura murmured void of emotion.
Katsuya gave a neutral sigh, "Sakura-sama...if what you say is truly what happened, Naruto-kun doesn't seem even remotely angry at you. I was under the impression from the way you both interacted with one another earlier, that you were both close friends."
Sakura gritted her teeth, but continued still whispered, although her hurt was present, "We are...but we were never anywhere near this close before...Naruto never was the one at fault for that either."
"So what is holding you back from just apologising?"
Sakura nibbled on her lower lip before answering, "Everybody is telling me not to...Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama, Ino...you...I am just trying to see the logic behind it, also, Naruto has far more larger things to worry about than me-"
"My teammate and a precious person to me has been beating herself up for two years over nothing. That sounds huge to me, Sakura-chan."
A wide awake voice interrupted her, which made Sakura's entire body freeze in realisation to who that was.
'H-He is awake?!'
She turned her gaze to see a pair of blue eyes looking right back at her dumbfounded face, "N-Naruto?..." She whispered in shock. Naruto without looking away, reached for a switch, suddenly blinding Sakura's vision from an outburst of bright light from a lamp.
When Sakura was no longer squinting, she saw Naruto's soft expression, yet it also held seriousness behind it. Sakura eventually pulled herself out of her surprise and looked away in partial fear.
"...How long have you been awake?" She asked still in a whisper with her down demeanour, her nerves brewing already.
Naruto gave a warming grin, "I'm a ninja Sakura-chan, It would be embarrassing if I didn't hear you come in now wouldn't it?" He said in his usual cheerful voice.
"I see..."Sakura mumbled, finally breathing in the seemingly constricting like air.
'I will give these two some privacy.' Katsuya mused, as she slid down the back of the chair, neither teen paying any attention as she had hidden herself out of sight.
Naruto cringed at Sakura's tensed and crunched up body in the chair, to Naruto it looked like she was trying to hide herself behind her tightly crossed legs and arms, along with her turned and lowered head staring at the floor.
"Sakura-chan...did I grow a second head or something? Look at me." Sakura reluctantly obeyed Naruto's request and looked in his direction, but couldn't meet his eye.
Naruto sighed while sitting himself up, "Well...go on."
Sakura swallowed the lump at the back of her throat and mumbled, "G-Go on and what?"
"Say you're sorry."
Sakura went wide eyed in shock, 'H-He was angry at me?! I don't blame h-' Sakura's thoughts were stopped when he gave his genuine smile.
"So then you can move on with this stupid thing that has been bothering you for so long."
Sakura looked away with gritted teeth, "...How can you even smile at me...how?!"
Naruto smile remained, only opening up more of her guilt as her head fell again, along with a lone tear.
"Stop that...please." She whispered, inwardly cursing her weakness and furiously whipped the tear away.
Naruto's smile softened, "What has brought this on Sakura-chan? You have been yourself and happy around me before?" he treaded softly.
Sakura gave out a sigh showing her anxiety, "...You caught me in a bad mood." She said simply before continuing.
"I didn't think much about it while this mission was starting Naruto...I did start feeling it again when more things happened...the ANBU, Sasuke-kun...you saving me." Sakura winced at the last mention.
Naruto nodded his head as if it was made clear, "Even so...You never did anything wro-"
"STOP!...everybody keeps telling me that, or telling me to move on and accept it as if it was a simple mistake. But I can't!" Sakura half shouted, but soon realised she had yelled at Naruto and cringed, mumbling an apology.
"I can't Naruto...because it is killing me for how much of a b-b-...for how much of a bitch I was to you." Sakura admitted, her eyes turning glassy but she was fighting to stay strong.
'I will not cry!' She commanded herself with all effort. Naruto ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.
"You are not that word Sakura-chan, and don't you ever call yourself that again." Sakura was about to rebut but Naruto cut in.
"Why are you focussing so much on the bad things Sakura-chan? You still did many good things for me before."
Sakura snorted, her disbelief present, while she cupped her stomach that was beginning to get another cramp from her anxiety.
"When Naruto? When did I ever do something good for you?!" She barked, strongly believing she was right in thinking 'never'.
"You cheered for me at the chuunin exams."
Sakura shook her head, "That hardly makes me feel better."
"We always shouted at Kakashi-sensei together for being late."
"Naruto...that was and is fun, but it doesn't have anything to do with this."
"You came to see me in the hospital when I always got badly hurt."
Sakura went wide eyed and slightly agape and tried to speak, but nothing came out, "..."
"You helped me when I asked for help in the tree climbing...and you didn't tell Sasuke." Sakura remembered that day, when Naruto came up to her and asked her straight out for help, which she gave, and even followed his request to not tell Sasuke.
"..."
"You believed in me when it mattered."
"...I did..." Naruto's grin widened, knowing his message was finally getting across.
"Going straight to a more important point, is that you hit me."
Sakura went fully agape in disbelief at what he had just said so casually, "W-Wha...Naruto...hitting you is by far NOT something I did that was good for you!"
Naruto shook his head and chuckled, "Think again Sakura-chan, you always knocked sense into me when I did something stupid. Don't you remember...even I will admit that back then, that words...well they never sunk in for me most of the time...your fists certainly did though." Sakura shook her head in disbelief still and tried to speak.
"Wha-...whe..." Sakura paused and remembered most of the times she had hit him for doing something stupid, going from the chuunin exams all the way through to before Naruto left. Her mouth formed a small smile, which Naruto found refreshing from her constant firm, lower lip digging into frown.
"...Hitting you is still not good Naruto, at least it's not the right way to knock sense into you for being a baka..." She muttered.
Naruto chuckled, "Is this why I haven't been sent to the other side of Wave yet?" Sakura blinked as if the question was foreign to her.
Naruto elaborated, "Ero-sennin knows what I mean, since he claims to have touched down at the other side of Wave...and claims to have also seen heaven too, but I call lies on that one."
Suddenly it all clicked together and she looked away in embarrassment, "You just haven't done anything worth a hit Naruto, but now that I think about it....I guess so..."
Naruto grew a mischievous grin, and leaned himself in towards her suddenly, causing Sakura to snap her head back to him in curiosity.
"Naruto? What are you d-"Sakura cut herself off when Naruto continued closing the distance between them, coming to the point where Sakura could only see his face, causing her to suddenly go wide eyed in confusion and panic.
'W-What is he? He isn't going to-'
Her thoughts were silenced again when Naruto lifted his head above her own and gave a loud and audible sniff, causing her hair to lift itself up to his nostrils.
Sakura practically froze dead in her tracks, staring at him agape and wide eyed, as he did the same action twice more, before pulling away and giving a loud sigh.
"Ahhh! Pakkun was right, that shampoo has an amazing fragranc-"
"YOU BAKA NARUTO!"
Sakura roared as she swung down hard on his head, and gave a loud huff full of rage, turning her furious blushing face away while doing so.
'I can't believe my mind even was thinking otherwise! Naruto you stupid baka!' Sakura suddenly realised what she had done and turned wide eyed at Naruto, who was furiously rubbing his head, but giving an unbelievably genuine grin.
"Naruto! Oh my god I am so s-"
"Now I have." He concluded causing her to go agape and suddenly look away.
"Naruto..."
'He only did it to prove a point...but I still don't like hitting him.'
"...How is your head?"
"Do you have a twin sister Sakura-chan?" Sakura at first was at a complete loss then suddenly realised what that meant.
"Y-You're seeing double vi-"
"I am fine Sakura-chan." Sakura sighed in relief, while Naruto continued.
"Why do you hit Ero-sennin?"
Sakura at first was about to answer with 'Because he deserves it' but soon shut up, although Naruto heard her first word and grinned.
"It is just your way of expressing yourself Sakura-chan, as violent as it may be, it is what makes you unique from everybody else."
Sakura gritted her teeth, "That's not exactly something to be proud of."
Naruto raised an eyebrow and shook his head at her now returned negative demeanour, "Neh...you have become even more moody than Sasuke was Sakura-chan, that was something I never even thought was possible."
Sakura still held her gritted teeth expression, but the edges of her mouth twitched upwards at the corners, "Hey, maybe I am a little emotional about all this, but I'm not moody! And Sasuke-kun wasn't moody either!" She growled.
Naruto tilted his head at her growing smile, "Sure looks like you are disagreeing with your statement."
Sakura snickered, revealing her smile, "Stop it!" She hissed, although Naruto heard amusement and a chuckle.
Naruto grinned, "Better now?"
Sakura small smile held, although it became soft. "Naruto...can I at least say it...please?"
Naruto sighed and folded his arms as he feigned seriousness. "OK then Baka-chan, let's hear it."
"Ok..."
Sakura said as she swallowed her nerves, not aware what Naruto just called her, "...Naruto, I am so very sor-..."
'Wait a second...BAKA-CHAN?!'
"NARUTO!" She roared in her semi demonic voice, causing Naruto to burst into laughter, while going into a coughing fit.
Naruto settled though and gave a wide smile, "Don't apologise, when there is nothing to apologise for Sakura-chan."
Sakura was slightly agape, but soon gave a small smile, as the emotionless tears finally fell.
"...Can I say thank you instead?"
Naruto grinned, "Of course you ca-"
Naruto was silenced when Sakura lifted herself off her chair and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, Naruto!" She said softly, her voice full of just how grateful she was, as she whipped her still falling tears from behind his back.
Naruto was at first stunned by her gesture, but laughed while patting the back of her head and returning the embrace, "Neh, I can get used to these hugs all the time like today, can I get this treatment all the time?"
Sakura chuckled, "Don't push it baka!" She soon tried to pull away, but Naruto held her there longer as he said softly.
"I don't want you beating yourself up anymore about this Sakura-chan. You are not a bad person, and you are the last person that deserves pain. If you stay stuck in the past, it will do nothing but control you...and I don't want that to happen to you like it did for somebody we know."
Naruto then released his hold, but Sakura returned her own, "You idiot...I am not Sasuke-kun."
Naruto gave a smile, while returning his hold too, "I know..."
"...You just wanted yet another hug didn't you?"
"...Maybe."
"Baka!" Sakura cackled through a small giggle before returning to seriousness.
"I won't Naruto, don't you worry about me being stupid anymore... and the same goes to you." She said with all meaning and assurance, while smiling at the wall.
The silent Katsuya observed from her spot in a dark corner at the pair, as she watched Sakura and Naruto reluctantly break apart, and sit there just looking at each other with genuine smiles on their faces.
'I knew Naruto-kun had awakened the moment Sakura-sama had come in...but I am truly glad that I went with my instinct and didn't say anything, Naruto-kun knew what to do to finally snap Sakura-sama out of her guilt...I wonder if Sakura-sama has realised yet, just how much Naruto-kun affects her...'
Naruto broke the long and peaceful silence, "Now moving along." Naruto then waved a hand in front of his face, as if trying to blow something away, while scrunching up his nose.
"Your breath stinks of puke dattebayo."
Sakura flushed and gave a glare, "Don't be so blunt!"
Naruto dropped his playful gesture, "Are you alright Sakura-chan?"
Sakura sighed and decided to just tell the truth since it was obvious he heard her before, "Well you heard what I said about me being sick. It will go away by tomorrow, just tonight is going to be a little bad for me." Sakura paused when she saw Naruto's unconvinced look.
A voice suddenly spoke, startling both of them as they turned to its source, "She isn't lying to make you feel comfortable Naruto-kun. Sakura-sama will be healthy after she rests and the drugs are finally cleared out. Sakura-sama basically has a typical case of overdosing."
"Sebonegoro-chan!" Both looked at each other then back at the approaching slug.
"We kind of forgot about you, sorry Katsuya-sama." Sakura stated, as the slug slid its way up the bed and returned to Sakura's shoulders.
"It's more than alright. I thought you and Naruto-kun would have appreciated some privacy, so I respectfully stayed out of your discussion." She admitted neutrally.
"You didn't have to do that...but thank you anyway." Naruto replied with a smile before returning to the topic at hand.
Naruto ran a hand through his hair, while he remembered what Sakura had told him earlier about how medicines can be useful, but if used irresponsibly can be dangerous.
"I understand a bit about what you are saying Sebonegoro-chan, but Sakura-chan, in memory to what you said about medicines. Solider pills sound like they have such a great risk when using them, why do shinobi have them then?"
Sakura at first was taken aback but smiled, "You remembered everything that I told you?"
Naruto gave a sheepish grin and shrugged, "Umm, well I remember most of it." Sakura chuckled, but still was amazed.
"They don't usually have such a risk Naruto, it's when you take them regularly for over days is when they become dangerous."
Naruto nodded, "But still, why are soldier pills used?"
"During the great shinobi war Naruto, both sides were desperate for creating fast working medications that enhanced a shinobi's capabilities. Back in the olden days, Shinobi's would consume these daily, which allowed them to work at top efficiency practically around the clock. However, it was discovered that continuous usage of the drug leads to poisoning of the body. Another trade off was since they place a person's body in overtime to replenish chakra, our bodies can only take so much before it crashes. They are still used today because they have so many benefits in comparison to consequences, as long as they are taken in moderation."
Sakura gave a small grin, "Iruka-sensei gave us a long lecture about this you know?"
Naruto crossed his arms and looked away, "I must have been absent that da-"
Sakura's snicker silenced him, "You were too busy plotting some prank with Kiba, I know this because EVERYONE could hear your snickering...you baka."
Naruto pouted as a result, "But more or less...You will be sick tonight, but feel better in the morning?"
Sakura nodded in assurance, "How are you feeling now?"
"I was feeling a bit sick in my stomach before while we were talking...but I think that was well...you know...nerves."
Naruto mouthed an 'oh' and grinned sheepishly.
"I probably should go back and let you sleep. I will come check on you again in the morning."
Sakura stated while glancing at the clock to read 11:30pm.
Naruto shook his head with a concerned gaze, "But what about you?"
Sakura smiled but waved her hand assuring, "I said I am fine."
"You don't look fine Sakura-chan."
"Baka don't worry, I am fine!"
"But..."
Sakura groaned in annoyance, "What?! It's not as if I can just spend the night he-"
Sakura suddenly stopped herself and gulped, 'Oh no...I didn't just give him an Ide-'
"Why not Sakura-chan? You can take the bed and I will g-"
"You're hurt! There is no way I am letting you do that!" Sakura suddenly shook her head in realisation to her error.
"Wait a second, I haven't even AGREED to stay! "
"Neh, but Sakura-chan-"
"NO!"
"...Please."
Sakura gritted her teeth in annoyance at the puppy dog eyes she was familiar to receiving from said blond so long ago, it only puzzled her why it was working this time.
"...Naruto, the answer is no."
"...Please, I would feel better knowing your ok. "
Sakura cursed that her frown was beginning to twitch the other way at his soft pleads, "Naruto...."
'Oh hell!'
"DAMN IT fine!" She huffed in annoyance, while crossing her arms at the now smiling wide Naruto.
Both teens turned their heads in interest though when they heard Katsuya laugh, "Don't mind me."
Katsuya said through a chuckle. Sakura returned her interest to Naruto and spoke more seriously.
"Are you sure you don't mind though...I probably will keep you awake."
The blond scoffed at the warning and gave a dismissive shrug, "I don't care."
Sakura gave in and sighed, "Fine...Well since I am staying, there is something I forgot to tell you earlier Naruto."
Naruto's ears perked with interest as he waited for Sakura to continue, "Your enhanced kage bunshin you made to help me asked me to tell you about how much we kicked the crap out of Kabuto." Naruto's eyes widened and mouth was agape in surprise but excitement.
Sakura chuckled at the familiar child listening to a camp fire story look across Naruto's features as she was about to begin retelling the fight, but not before Naruto had quickly mumbled, "Its super kage bunshin!"
Naruto went through several different emotions during the retelling, ranging from a wide grin to an opposing contrast frown and occasional wince. During Sakura's retelling he surprised Sakura and also himself when he finished her story for her.
"Then you did that strange genjutsu and disappeared, and I used henge to transform into you to fool Kabuto, then we-"
Naruto suddenly went wide eyed in shock, along with Sakura's own wide eyed and agape expression, "Y-yes...that is right...how did..."
Naruto shared the same confused expression, "I...I don't know, but I recall it as clear as day."
Sakura then suddenly realised the words that he said to her earlier, "...And there was before...how did you know about Kabuto saying those things to me?"
Katsuya finally spoke, "Naruto-kun, you are aware that your mind is linked with kage bunshin no jutsu, correct?"
The simple statement was met by two sharp gasps of surprise, "W-What?!" Sakura staggered out in shock.
Katsuya explained, "Kage bunshin no jutsu creates a physical copy of the original person, chakra wise they are impossible to distinguish, and medically there are only a few differences. Kage bunshin has a unique trait that when they are dispelled, the user gains whatever information the bunshin learnt, as well as its memories."
Both Naruto and Sakura's jaws were hanging wide open.
"R-Really?!" Naruto managed to say once his voice had strength.
"Hai." Katsuya replied neutrally.
Sakura finally recovered, although still shaken at the news, "A-Amazing..." Suddenly a major realisation hit her square in the head.
"Does that mean that you could learn...different..."
Katsuya seemed to read Sakura's mind and finished her trailed off question, "That is correct Sakura-sama...you could exploit that trait to enhance your learning capability by a multiplication of how many kage bunshin's the user creates...however remember what I said, the user gets all the memories in a sudden rush...the more knowledge the bunshin learns before it disperses, the more information that is received back to the original user...meaning that the person could fall unconscious from their brain receiving so much information in an instant."
Katsuya paused for a moment for that information to sink in and then continued, "That, along with the users chakra being split equally amongst the bunshin's, is why kage bunshin no jutsu is a forbidden technique."
Both teens were silent for what seemed like minutes, bewildered by Katsuya's explanation.
"...How...on earth did Ero-sennin not know that?!"
'How different would I be now if I times my amount of training by ten...or even a hundred?!' Naruto voiced and mused in disbelief.
Katsuya seemed confident enough to answer, "It is a trait that not many people know about Naruto-kun, it really is only known by users of kage bunshin. Since it is a forbidden jutsu, you can see why not many people know about it."
"Kage bunshin is incredible." Sakura spoke in astonishment, while turning to her teammate with a pride filled smile.
"And you can create hundreds...you could learn new jutsu's so fast it would put the sharingan to shame."
Naruto blushed at her praise and scratched his head, "Hehe...I guess so." He muttered.
Sakura felt her pride for her friend vanquish though when another realisation came to her, 'How can I keep up with Naruto, if he can learn that fast.'
Naruto seemed to catch her sudden deep thought with a frown expression and smiled, "You are an amazingly fast learner Sakura-chan, I am sure you could keep up with me...even If I used hundreds of clones."
"W-Wha?!-how did?!-" The blushed features seemed to pass on to Sakura instead after her surprised mumbles on how Naruto read her thoughts.
"I-I am not that smart...and you sure as hell are not THAT slow at learning Naruto." She muttered, then a thought crossed her.
"I can't do kage bunshin...can I Katsuya-sama?" Katsuya eyes locked with Sakura's hoping emerald gaze.
"There is a reason why shinobi's don't use this technique Sakura-sama...and you now know those reasons. Since Naruto-kun has a very large chakra pool and amazing levels of stamina, as long as he doesn't create too many clones, he could use such an exploit to its fullest potential, however it is still dangerous. You yourself Sakura-sama, I am sorry to tell you, but that is something that would be extremely dangerous for you. Kage bunshin doesn't suite you because you simply do not have enough chakra to perform it efficiently. You may be able to create five, possibly six bunshin's, but then anymore and you could faint from chakra exhaustion."
Sakura winced and inwardly cursed her small chakra pool, "Five or six is better than none...for god's sake KONOHAMARU can do kage bunshin!"
"But Sakura-chan-"
Sakura turned her head to the apologetic look on the blonds face as he continued, "-You told me he fainted after creating two, and once you have split your chakra into roughly a quarter or more....What can you do with so little in each clone?"
'Then just one! Just something to help!'
The kunoichi felt her argument was invalid and lowered her head in defeat, "I understand...this training is something only Naruto can do."
'Other than healing...I will be worthless to helping Naruto if he uses this speed training.' Sakura's mind concluded, but she didn't want to be the one watching Naruto's back, not any more...She wanted to fight with him.
"Is there anything I could do Katsuya-sama?" Sakura asked in desperation.
Naruto suddenly didn't feel so proud that he had access to a training method that could make him a genius at training, and leave everybody behind in the dust. Sakura's shoulders slumped in defeat when Katsuya answered softly.
"I am sorry, but there isn't a way you could accelerate your training like that Sakura-sama..." The kunoichi nodded her head almost robotically, as she unconsciously nibbled on her already damaged lower lip.
'I really will be nothing but a healer. Not that I can complain since I still can help, and it is what I have trained to become...but I don't want to just save Naruto's life, I want to protect him from getting hurt in the first place...'
"However...." Sakura's eyes snapped up at Katsuya's blank expression in hope as she continued.
"...That doesn't mean there are no areas for you to improve in, by your own ways Sakura-sama."
Sakura nodded as her shoulders slumped again, "I know I will still improve...but unlike Naruto, who has his amazing amount of chakra and stamina, or Sasuke-kun who has the sharingan...I have nothing."
Naruto winced at just how defeated her tone sounded and decided to try and help, "You are like Lee Sakura-chan." Sakura turned in disbelief at the mention of 'Lee' instead of 'Fuzzy Brows' as he continued.
"You, just like Lee, have to work extra hard to make progress. Between the two of us Sakura-chan, I without I doubt am willing to admit your change has been astronomical in comparison to mine."
Sakura was about to protest, but Naruto didn't let her and continued now in pride, "While you are gifted with chakra control Sakura-chan, I know you must have trained hard every day and night to get to where you are now...and that story you told me about you breaking your arm, dare I say that was not the only time you pushed yourself that far."
"I-I-"
"Oh I can assure you Naruto-kun, Sakura-sama received scolding's from both me and Tsunade-sama sometimes three to four times a week about how much she pushed herself."
Sakura stared at her summon while her cheeks easily matched her hair colour, "K-Katsuya-sama!"
Naruto laughed at the now furiously blushing Sakura, then continued once she had calmed, "So you don't have a kekkai genkai, nor do you have a large chakra pool, SO WHAT?! What matters is your willpower and determination, that alone will allow you to do whatever you set yourself to do!"
Sakura was at a complete loss of words at Naruto's speech, but before she could mutter a response,
Naruto once again interrupted her, "In our chuunin exam Sakura-chan...In the part one paper...did you answer all the questions by yourself?"
Sakura once again was at a loss, but finally closed her drying mouth and muttered, "I-I knew some of the questions off by heart, since they quizzed our knowledge on rules...but the advanced ones...I worked out off the top of my head, I never tried cheating."
Naruto chuckled, as if he knew that was the case, "You know... the only thing I wrote down on that test was my name?"
Sakura seemed to not be relieved of her long agape and loss of words expression, which formed again at his announcement, "What about on your second time through? Was it the same result?" Naruto asked, knowing the answer.
She stuttered out when she finally recovered from her shock, "Y-Yes, I did the same thing, even though the questions were different...b-but...what does that mean in rela-"
"Everything. It proves what I said earlier Sakura-chan as true, I know you took pride in the academy for being the top kunoichi graduate, because you earned your grade for every point. You can keep up with me and Sasuke, because you are smart, not Shikamaru like smart, but smart in understanding complicated things. Couple that with your great willpower and that is all you need to keep up with me and Sasuke, Sakura-chan." Naruto said in proud conclusion.
The room was silent for what seemed minutes, allowing the sound of the night creatures to be heard from the window. Sakura's mouth twitched into a smile and she broke the silence with her grateful and soft question for what seemed like the third time she had asked today.
"...Who are you? And where is the baka I know?"
Naruto grinned, "Your brute like strength won't be your only unique quality, dattebayo."
Sakura soon shook her head and said with a minor chuckle as she talked as if she didn't hear 'brute', "No...just put it with the rest of the things that make you the number one ninja at surprising people."
Naruto gave a wide smile along with a chuckle, knowing that his plan had worked. Sakura averted her gaze then nodded with her still present smile.
'I understand now, I will keep up with Naruto and Sasuke-kun, as long as I don't give up, and give it all I have.'
Sakura looked at the clock on the side of the wall and gasped, "It's almost one in the morning?!" She said in disbelief.
'This always seems to happen, I didn't think time would fly that fast yet again.' Sakura was pulled out of her thoughts, when her aching stomach intensified, causing her to rest a hand over it on reflex and slipped out a moan.
'God I hate this.'
"Everything ok Sakura-sama?"
Sakura gave out a deep and trembled sigh, "Just feeling a little off again." She said a little shaken.
Katsuya slid off her shoulders and looked blankly, "I wish there was something I could do, but one way or another, it has to leave your system Sakura-sama." Sakura nodded rapidly, feeling her nausea build up, while all the hairs at the back of her neck stuck up from a sudden chill that ran down her spine.
"Naruto, I need to use your bathroom!" Sakura stated now in rising panic while going wide eyed.
The silent Naruto nodded, "O-Ok." the moment he mumbled his response, Sakura bolted from the bed and disappeared behind a slammed door, which muffled out her gagging to the others.
'Damn it this is embarrassing!' Sakura inwardly cursed as her body trembled in the near freezing room.
Sakura was too occupied with her loud gagging to even hear the door open, or a presence drop next to her.
'How could I have been so stupid?!' Sakura was pulled out of her scolding, when she suddenly she felt a something warm rub up and down her chilled back, and she turned in deep pants to see the supportive smile of Naruto.
Sakura tried to give a smile of her own, through gasps for air, 'I don't care if I did this to myself, I saved him and that's all I care about.'
Sakura was about to say something, but suddenly felt her gut turn again and span around in time. She felt Naruto tuck her hair out of dangling in front of her face, while still running a supportive hand up and down her back, until she finally subdued into weak pants. Sakura spat the line of drool that was running off the tip of her mouth.
'Great, now I am even more embarrassed!' She inwardly cursed herself.
"I-" Sakura couldn't talk due to her gasps for air, but after a few moments she tried again.
"I feel-so pathetic- right now." She said through a shiver, only to hear such a soothing chuckle.
"That was a lot of junk you puked out...my ramen went to waste."
Sakura didn't even know why she was smiling and suddenly giggling through her gasps for air at Naruto's blunt and disgusting observation.
"What is so funny?" He asked in amusement.
"You're an idiot, that's what...and are you trying to get me even more sick?! Keep your crying about your 'precious ramen' to yourself!"
"Are you ok now?" Naruto asked in seriousness, while flushing the toilet.
"I...I think so." She said through a gasp while she stumbled up from the cold tiles which was now causing goose bumps to form. Naruto still kept his supportive hand on her back as he guided her back into the main room.
"Just a sec." He said, while darting ahead and opening his drawer.
Before Sakura could ask what he was doing, she on reflex caught in her hand something thick, and warm. She noticed it was a woollen dressing gown that was navy blue in colour. It looked identical to the one that was in her room.
"You are as cold as ice Sakura-chan." He stated, while returning to her side. Sakura couldn't even issue a protest when Naruto helped her slither on the thick gown that reached to just above her clenched feet. The effects were near instant after she had tied the gowns belt in a tight knot, enwrapping the thick robe around her thin frame.
"Thank you." Sakura whispered with a small smile, as Naruto then ushered her to the chair to sit down. While sitting down, Sakura rested a hand against her aching forehead.
'My head is driving me crazy!' Sakura sensed a presence in front of her, and looked up in surprise to see a mug she recognised as her own, steaming with what she could tell with ease was a hot chocolate mix.
"N-Naruto...h-how?" The sudden 'poof' made it all clear to her.
Naruto gave a fox like smile, "Sorry for going against what you said...but I felt you needed it."
Sakura at first was in shock but grew a grateful smile and took the mug and smelt in the fumes she was used to.
"Thank you Naruto." She said softly a second time, as she drank down the warm and comforting liquid, which numbed the pain at the back of her throat, while a relaxing warmth washed over her from inside.
"That helped?" Naruto asked with a knowing grin.
Sakura did not reply as she continued drinking, and eventually lowered her empty cup and gave a deeply satisfied sigh.
Naruto chuckled at her carefree expression, "Hehe, I guess that means a second round?"
"Please."
Naruto presented a canteen bottle, "I made enough to last you the night, unless you skull them all down like that."
Sakura's smile still remained, "Thank you." She said for a third time, as Naruto poured her another mug full, and placed the canteen on his drawer.
"Now get back in bed, I am the one that is meant to be taking care of you, not the other way round!" She ordered, while taking small sips of her drink this time.
"I must say, Naruto-kun sure knows how to take very good care of somebody." Katsuya said, causing Sakura to yelp in surprise.
"Wouldn't you agree Sakura-sama?" Katsuya asked neutrally, not caring that her presence kept getting forgotten about.
Sakura tried to hide her smile from Naruto, but failed, "Ah, he really does." Sakura didn't even need to know what expression that brought to the blond...she could practically FEEL his mouth move into a large smile.
'Oh, he is not going to let that one go for a long time.'
"How do you feel now Sakura-sama?"
Sakura's thankful smile remained while sipping more of her drink, "Surprisingly quite better now."
Naruto by this time was back in bed and sitting up, while listening to their conversation.
"That is good to hear, you should get some sleep then, since you are settled for the moment."
Sakura nodded in agreement, letting out a wide yawn full of how exhausted she was, "What will you do Katsuya-sama?"
"I am going to watch over both of you, that is, if my presence is still welcome."
Sakura shook her head with a small smile, "Your presence is always welcome... but it's ok Katsuya-sama, you have done enough for me and Naruto already. I will keep watch of Naruto for the rest of tonight."
"I will keep a look out for Sakura-chan too." Naruto said while pointing to his fox like smiling self with his thumb.
Katsuya laughed softly, "Is that your final decision?"
Naruto and Sakura casted a look at each other, then back at the slug. "Yosha/Hai!" They said in sync.
"I see, I will leave you both in each other's care then. If you need me at all anytime though Sakura-sama, don't hesitate to summon me." Katsuya then 'poofed' out of existence after Naruto and Sakura bid their fair wells.
Naruto turned and asked one more time for assurance, "Will you be ok for the rest of the night Sakura-chan?"
Sakura nodded, "My headache has calmed down at last, and my stomach doesn't feel like it is about to explode like before. I think the worst is over." Sakura said while letting out another wide yawn.
"Are you still cold?"
Sakura unconsciously played with the collar of the gown, while giving a thankful smile, "No, I am more than fine now Naruto."
Naruto nodded and decided to press on, "Now, where would you like to sleep Sakura-chan?" Sakura placed her mug on the drawer and shrugged.
"Doesn't your apartment have a couch or something?" Sakura looked for said object but found nothing.
Sakura mentally noted that all the apartments on this floor were identical. Each had a large main room with a bed in the middle, on the right side was a study table, on the left was where it broke off into the kitchen area, and next to that was the bathroom Sakura had used earlier.
"The family suites are on the other floors Sakura-chan, there is nothing but single's rooms on this floor."
Sakura groaned, "I can see that baka, but just because you insisted we take the lowest class rooms, does not mean you could have at least chose the rooms that had FURNITURE."
Naruto gave a nervous chuckle, "I didn't expect to have a roommate."
Sakura sighed and walked around to Naruto's side and lowered herself down onto the carpet next to the bed, and prompted almost robotically, "Pillow."
Naruto blinked dumbly and did as asked, passing her a spare pillow. Sakura took it rested her head on it, while she turned her back to him after giving off an exhausted sigh.
Naruto spoke his mind, "Sakura-chan...I really don't like this."
Sakura titled her head to catch his gaze as she said reassuringly, "I am not complaining, don't worry about it."
"Sakura-chan...no, it's not right that you take the floor." Sakura flipped herself onto her back as she groaned in annoyance while folding her arms.
"What do you suggest then?" She barked, glaring up at the ceiling.
Naruto held a pink hue across his face, "...We could shar-"
"Naruto!"
"Or how about I take the fl-"
"Baka! You are hurt! If anything I should take it like I am now."
"...But it isn't ri-"
"You're unbelievable!" She sighed as she sat up and glared at him. Sakura then stood up and went around and sat in the chair and placed the pillow next to his side and rested her head on it.
"Better?!" She asked, almost daring him to answer.
Sakura didn't expect him to take her dare, "Neh, Sakura-chan...That doesn't look very comfortable." He said flatly only to hear her give another annoyed groan, while he gave another suggestion.
"What about if-"
"I swear, I am going to kill you."
This exchange of 'suggestion and rejection' carried on for an additional ten minutes, until Sakura didn't make a response from one of Naruto's suggestions. He looked slightly down to his side to see Sakura was fast asleep.
Naruto couldn't resist the chuckle and unconsciously was about to ruffle her hair, until he froze at the sudden wide awake voice of Sakura cutting through the otherwise comforting silence, "Try anything funny…."
Naruto then paled at the now grinning Sakura, as she opened one eye, "Just kidding baka!" She chirped and closed her eye again.
Naruto released the breath he was holding in and made a mental note to stay as far away from the right side as possible, then he closed the light.
"Neh, Sakura-chan?"
"What?!" She groaned in minor annoyance.
"If you feel sick again in the middle of the night, or need me to get you anything, just wake me up. I don't care if it's even four in the morning."
Sakura's frown changed to a smile that was hidden by her pillow, "Will do...thank you Naruto."
'Thank you for everything!'
"Good night Sakura-chan."
"Good night Naruto."