Title: Absolute Resolve

Rating: PG

Summary: Dating leads to relationships. Relationships lead to commitment. Commitment leads to marriage and, eventually, kids. I am NOT getting fat for you.

AN: READ&REVIEW

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto… or else I would have made sure Sasuke stuck around long enough for his hormones to kick in

Prompt 11- self-sacrifice

Go over there and just ASK her.

With a deep intake of air, the thirteen-year-old straightened his shoulders back and moved towards the center of the field...

And just as quickly stopped.

What am I doing? Sasuke slumped over in frustration.

About fifty yards away stood Sakura, her back was to him and, and as the rising and falling of her shoulders would suggest, exhausted from her training with her teacher. Even from the distance, his eyes were able to catch her every move with the activation of his Sharingan.

She's amazing, he thought, captivated. Every swing of her axe, every graceful leap, every intake of air. The way her hair was already sticking to the column of her neck with perspiration, followed by her chest rising and falling with her deep panting...

Sasuke stopped to press his lips together to seal in the groan that so desperately wanted to break free.
His hands, already slick with sweat, curled into fists as another wave of desire washed over him. He closed his eyes, momentarily deactivating his kekkei genkai . Not that it did any good. The Sharingan had captured everything and now her image was seared permanently into the back of his eyelids.

Sleep would be hard to come by tonight.

"Focus, Sakura! How do you expect to get to me if you don-"

"I am focusing," Sakura gritted in annoyance.

Tsunade was about five feet away from her apprentice. Crossing her arms over her well endowed chest, she smirked, "If you were, you would have done so by now."

Sakura growled. "You're suppose to be supporting me shishou, not patronizing me."

"My job as your teacher, Sakura, is to do both. The former for when you succeed. And the latter, well, pretty much when I want you to pull yourself together and hit me already, dammit!"

"Aargh!" Sakura hefted her axe and swung with everything she had. Naturally, the woman sidestepped to dodge the blow. "I can't fight like this!" she exclaimed, pulling out a pair of black fingerless gloves from a pouch on her hip and sliding them on. "Much better."

"You really think that's going to make much of a difference?" Tsunade lifted a blonde brow.

"Guess we'll find out, won't we?" Sakura reinforced her statement by flexing her firsts.

"Sakura," the woman sighed suddenly, "let's call it a day."

Said girl faltered at her teacher's words. "Wh-what!? But I'm just getting started!"

"You're obviously too tired." And I'm annoyed the punk is still hanging around here.

"Shishou, I'm fine," Sakura rolled her eyes. "Let's just keep going, okay?"

But the woman wasn't paying attention to her. Brown eyes were already roaming the clearing in search of the familiar chakra.

Since a few months back when Tsunade had decided to take Sakura under her wing and teach her the art of healing and fighting alike, she had also started sensing a third chakra signature hovering near as they trained, one she had come to know as Sasuke's.

At first, Tsunade thought he was going to ask her something but thought she was too busy and always stopped himself. She had had theorize, of course, but it wasn't about a few weeks ago that she finally got around to putting one of them into play and finally learned the real truth behind the Uchiha's silent appearances.

It was a slow night at the hospital and Tsunade decided to let Sakura go home early to catch up on some much needed sleep. As her apprentice's chakra moved further and further away, a second signature trailed right behind her. Sasuke had made sure to keep a fair distance between them and also lower his chakra, but his control on it was weak and Tsunade could tell right away what he was up to. She was sure Sakura would have noticed her stalker, too, had it not been for her depleted chakra.

Tsunade almost laughed herself off her chair.

Sasuke Uchiha, Konoha's number one antisocial male, had a crush on the village's sweetheart.

Ever since then it had become a sort-of game for Tsunade of "if and when" the young Uchiha would ever confront her student. Although, if Tsunade was being honest with herself, she most preferred the brat keep his distance. But being the powerful woman that she was, as Hokage and leader to the village, Tsunade also knew she had to be fair to everyone, and that included giving him a chance too.

Doesnt mean I can't help Sakura if she decides to beat up that smug punk, the blonde woman mused. After all, it was Sakura who had come looking for Tsunade's help in the first place.

"Tsunade-shishou, are you even listening to me anymore?" Sakura's voice finally broke through.

But the woman was distracted by something in the distance.

Was that a flash of red?

And...was it coming closer?

Sasuke wondered why he could no longer read their lips. Then he realized he had deactivated his Sharingan. He was about to turn it back on when something -or rather, someone- caught his attention. And it wasn't Sakura this time, surprisingly.

It was the Hokage herself. She was closely searching for something around the field. For what, Sasuke had no idea. Until her eyes finally landed to where he was currently hiding behind a couple of bushes did Sasuke finally figure it out.

She knew he was there. And her sly smirk confirmed it.

Normally he wouldn't have cared. So what? Everyone knew the Hokage was a master when it came to detecting hidden chakra. Even his weak attempts to hide it were nothing to her.

But what if she were to tell Sakura?

Fear coiled in his stomach, making it feel heavy as lead. She wouldn't...would she? The suspense was killing him. He couldn't just sit there anymore and do nothing. He had take action.

She has to know how I feel about her.

He could feel his Sharingan come to life on its own as his emotions spiked. With each firm step he took, his confidence skyrocket.

That is until he was finally within view and Sakura was eyeing him like she had never seen him before. "What are you doing here, Sasuke?"

Then he wanted nothing more than to crawl under the nearest rock and stay there.

Was it too late to back down?

"Yeah, Uchiha, whatever could you be doing here?"

Looking over at his Hokage, there was no question just how much she was enjoying the show. "Can I talk to you?" His words were directed at his teammate, ignoring the other woman altogether.

"Can it wait," Sakura frowned, "Tsunade-shishou and I were just in the middle of something."

"No, no, I think Sasuke here has something very important he wants to say. Isn't that right, Sasuke?"

"Sakura?" He was determined to do this. He just hoped Sakura would feel the same.

"Yeah, okay."

They walked a ways off for privacy but that didn't stop Sakura from asking, "Is everything okay?"

Was everything going to be okay was a better question. "Ah."

They finally stopped about five feet from where they originally had been. His back was to Tsunade. He did not want to look over at her only to see her laughing at his pain. "S-Sakura," he began, swallowing down a nervous quiver. "I…"

Why can't I just say it! He grimaced in frustration. Why can't I find the right words?

"Hey...are you okay? You look a little sick."

Losing her was not an option. He tried again to find the words that would make clear exactly what was in his heart.

"I feel…I feel…" His face twisted into a scowl. Why is this so difficult?

"What is it?"

When he saw her approach, worry clearly etched on her features, Sasuke realized something—he didn't need words to show her what he wanted to convey.

In one smooth movement, he was in front of her, staring right into her wide green eyes. Her mouth was open but all words came to a halt as Sasuke's warm lips planted themselves on her cheek. "Sakura..." The one word held so much of the things he had originally wanted to tell her.

"O-oh!" she stuttered.

Taking it as a good sign, Sasuke placed gentle hands on her hips and suddenly pulled her up against him. "Sakura," he said once more, only this time he blew her name into her ear. "Go out with me."

"Oh." This time sounded different.

He frowned when he found his arms brought back to his side and Sakura's mouth set into a firm line. "You want me to...go out with you?" She didn't give him time answer, as she was already talking again. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I can't do that."

Out of all the possible things she could have said, he hadn't imagine that. Maybe because in all his daydreaming and fantasies, she always said yes. She always jumped into his awaiting arms, a big smile just for him, lips puckered for a kiss.

Was it really possible Sakura did not love him anymore?

Braving a look, he found her frowning down at her feet. He was pretty sure the appendages weren't the source of her anger, though.

That means she really doesn't… Sasuke couldn't bring himself to even finish the thought.

"But..."

"Look, Sasuke. How can I say this nicely..."

"You can try saying yes," he muttered.

"Dating leads to relationships. Relationships lead to commitment. Commitment leads to marriage and, eventually, kids."

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow, silently telling her to get to the point.

"I am not getting fat for you, Sasuke."

"I am not asking for your hand in marriage, Sakura," he rolled his yes. "It's just one date."

"I thought you wanted to restore your clan."

"On our first date?" he smirked. "Impatient, aren't you?"

"That's not what I meant." Yet her cheeks blazed with a blush without her control. "I mean that's your overall goal, right?"

"Eventually."

She nodded sagely. "Like I said. Dating, relationships, commitment..."

"One date. That's all I'm asking."

Sakura bit on her lip. Contemplating whether or not her teammate would forget about all this if she were to hit him hard over the head. Or if she should except and do as he asks.

"So. What do you say?" he smiled.

Make up your minds on how it ends ;) Even I don't know. R&R