Reviewers;

NaggotFigger: Naruto can change anyone and any way he wants. Imagine Kyuubii Naruto eyes right there and BAM!

Czar Ryno: You should have read my story. It's...good for you. As for the crowning, yes, I noticed. And he deserves it by far.

7th Demon of Razgriz: What can I say? I love to read these feedbacks you guys and girls give me.

Duh Bomb: I had a rather dry turkey, but it was still great leftovers. Relaxed SOOOO Much.

Czar Joseph: Lots of weird symbols on that review of yours. But here I am updating.

Poetic Fire: HEYYYY! Welcome back! So yeah, Naruto's on FIRE!

FuryCutter: Me?...A NH?...LOL! Naruto was meant to shine as Sakura's knight in honor, guarding her for her life. As for food coma...yeah, pretty much ;)

XxAshishxX:He Threatens to sue. Threatening is good for him, but he just wants something simple...his goddess reborn.

Mundane Beast: Well, red handed is a strong phrase...how about cookie jar?

Logan Locke: Numb? Mostly, but raring to go! Support is the most needed in a relationship. Sakura is there for Naruto and he is there for her. You saw her old self, YES! It is the 180 of when Sakura helped Naruto regain his artistic ability. Naruto has 'Kyuubii' inside him, remember? The protective, ruthless one. Yes, public is one thing. Private is Quite another...yet, they always appear to be inside houses and such.

Naruto revelation to society gives them guilt and shame and wanting for a reversed change. You can see that in the last american election with now republican house and senate. Obama all alone now, as his policies all failed. For...obvious reasons. I voted for the other guy. Perry. Anywho, what I am making is a rough draft of what should be done when such pictures are taken.

As always, it is an my honor...My Prince :)

An: So! Happy After gobble gobble day! I was soo relaxed! I slept and...finished the rest of the story! So, now I can update faster. Do you like that?! I mean I still have finals, but I'll update between studying, dead week, finals, you know the gist of things. So...Here we go...

Tone And Stroke

Chapter 23: A Goddess Reborn

A few new nights and a new sunsets came to the forefront of the day and for one Naruto Uzumaki, he was tired beyond belief. Naruto stepped out of the car and made his way to the elevator that would bring him to Sakura's doorstep.

After the ultimatum was given to the company, he had been in interview after interview by news stations and random people all asking about Sakura's well being, his well being, and everything concerning the two of them for the last week. But right now, all he wanted to do was pull Sakura towards him and watch a movie…like old times, which was only a week or so ago? Geez, this event seemed to last an eternity.

Naruto didn't knock on the door. Sakura wouldn't be able to answer anyways. She was getting better, she was…but her mind needed to be clear so that her hazy eyes would lighten and be no more. So instead, Naruto pulled out the key from behind a loose board that counted as a hidden key and unlocked the door, making sure to close it from now on.

A few days ago, Ino had left the door open to get groceries, and Sakura had walked out of the bathroom, fully clothed before she saw the open door and froze in place. Ino had come in a minute later but it had taken the rest of the day to get Sakura to forget about the incident.

Naruto walked along the hallway and living room to Sakura's door and opened it, glad that Sakura had opened the blinds further than where he had left them. She had gotten out of bed at least. And there Sakura was, huddled in the covers, reading the fifth book of Shinobi Wars.

Sakura smiled lightly as Naruto came back in to see how she was doing. He hadn't left her side since this whole thing began and she was so thankful for that. If he wasn't here, she may have moved to drugs or alcohol for all she knew.

Naruto sat down next to her and patted her hair down from its tossed around state and Sakura grimaced. She had forgotten to do her hair when she was in the bathroom again. "How are you, Sakura?"

"Better," Sakura spoke softly, a little paranoid that a camera would appear and capture the moment. "I opened the blinds a bit more than yesterday."

"I can see that." Naruto smiled at her brighter face. "Want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

Now came the hard part. "Let's go to the living room."

And right then, Sakura's hands fell down to the sheets and gripped them tightly. She didn't mean to be scared, but this bed had become her paradise against all else. She didn't like going anywhere. "Can't we just use your laptop?"

Naruto sighed and bundled the sheets around Sakura's frame until finally, her hold on the bed was no more and Sakura was cradled in Naruto's arms. "No, it needs charging."

Sakura sighed and wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck as he walked with her in his arms to the living room. "You can play movies while it's charging, baka."

"Not a proper charge, Sakura-Chan."

Sakura shook her head as the sunset protruded much more into the living room and cast a nice evening glaze upon the room. Sakura felt Naruto easing himself down onto the black couch and once he was done, Sakura stretched like a dog and her feet dangled along the rest of the couch as her upper frame leaned against Naruto.

Sakura smiled a bit. Naruto was helping her so much, but she knew what he wanted and yet, he was holding himself back so well. If only she had the strength to help him with what he needed. Sakura grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

Immediately the electricity sparked and came to life on the screen as a reporter appeared in front of the magazine company's main building. Naruto could feel Sakura slowly sit up and lean forward, as if waiting to see if her life was about to get worse or better. So Naruto kept his eyes on Sakura, waiting for a change.

"Welcome back viewers! We have a breaking story that not five minutes ago was announced by the board of Kyuubii Magazine. They have agreed to recall every single copy of the famed 'Goddess' issue magazine for 75 cents on the dollar. In addition, they have begun to delete the photos bought and copied from their databanks as well as talking to the internet company into deleting all photos that have been posted on there as well.

This is a major event people, and most of who we've talked to have said that this is the work of one Naruto Uzumaki, the boyfriend of the Maiden Goddess Sakura Haruno. This is an unprecedented event and now we can be assured that those who are abused by the paparazzi now have some teeth to fight back with.

As well as this, we have received word of a government bill enforcing much stricter photography laws and guidelines among companies from three different government offices and that is only so far in the Land of Fire. Finally, the company talks to Sakura directly and asks for her forgiveness. They are sorry. We now give you back to your current broadcasting."

The movie that had just started to play on the channel started up again, but there was silence in the room as fresh tears fell down Sakura's porcelain face and Naruto rubbed her back and she cried her worries away.

Sakura smiled brighter than she had in the last month. Her teeth white and her cheeks stained with laugh lines from her years of happiness. She had her happiness back in her life. She didn't have to worry about cameras anymore. Paparazzi would be scared to take a picture of her and the companies would be extra careful to get her approval. She was free once more.

Then there was the love of her life, Naruto. Sakura turned to face him and Naruto stared back at her. Naruto had done all of this for her. He had nothing to gain from earning her reputation back. He had nothing to lose if he chose to break up with her. He didn't have to do anything.

But he did, and that's all that mattered. Sakura smiled fondly as her hand found purchase on his cheek and Naruto's eyes brightened. She had not willingly touched him since all of this began. She knew what he wanted and Naruto groaned a bit as he felt Sakura's other hand touch between his legs where his member immediately moved to attention.

"Sakura?"

Sakura smiled at Naruto's nervousness at what he knew she was heading towards.

"You've been horny since this has come out."

"I…" Naruto paused and sighed. He couldn't help but want to comfort her beauty in the way that he had always comforted her, in bed. But he had held himself back, knowing that Sakura needed the time to solve her own problems and he could only protect her. "Yes. I have been."

Sakura's face told him that she was sorry as well. "You just wanted to comfort me, in the way that you only know best…and I didn't want it. I was so lost in my own world crumbling all around me. I looked at you and I didn't want the caring boyfriend that you've always been to me. I wanted you to grab me and shake me awake,, slap my face, tell me to move on, and take me into that bedroom and force me into having sex, to conquer me."

Sakura looked down as fresh tears began to flow for Naruto's actions. "But no! Instead, you did all this for me. You pushed me to go out into the spotlight that I crave the attention for. You pushed me onto that stage so that I could tell everyone what I really thought. And when I couldn't do that, you tried to change the world for me. It makes me so happy and I can only feel my heart growing bigger to contain my love for you."

"Oh Sakura-Chan." Naruto breathed and hugged Sakura's body closer to him. "I love you."

"I love you too. My wound is smaller now, and you can place the band aid on me. Just, being gentle as you always are."

Of course, Naruto nodded before kissing Sakura until she ran out of air.

Hey, I thought about adding a sex scene, but decided against it for now. So, they are free. What awaits them next?