Author's Note: This one might need some context…so go read Legacy of Heroes by cmartinHFD if you want context. Unti then, enjoy.
Videl landed on the rooftops and took off after Sakura and Naruto. Utilizing all the shinobi training she had absorbed over the past month to remain completely undetected. It wasn't hard really; stick to the shadows, be mindful of your background in relative to the angle at which your target could see you, and roll your heels with each step. Simple.
Adding chakra to the soles of your feet to soften the landing and muffle the sound help out too.
You know you can just fly, right? Gohan deadpanned.
Shut up, this is more fun. Videl stuck out her mental tongue at Gohan.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura had been wondering if they should call out Videl on her subpar tailing skills. Super powered alien or not, the two chunin were not so green that they couldn't notice a stalker with only a month of shinobi training under her belt.
No sense beating around the bush. They silently agreed. Even in a large ninja village like theirs, word would get around fast beyond their control. Better to get it out of the way.
In the middle of the park by the entrance of the village they stopped. The crescent moon shinned down upon them like a spotlight. The trees were just tall enough to block out the city night lights and the path they were on curved just so that no other hints of civilization could be seen. If they moved even ten feet down the stone path in either direction they would risk a building popping out from behind the foliage. For all intents and purposes, right there in that little spot in the middle of the village, they were the only two people in their own little world.
Naruto looked to Sakura, whose pink locks shined brightly beneath the moonlight ever so slightly. Not that Naruto would care to notice, but the rest of Sakura's hair looked a mess. Bangs stuck out at odd angles or stuck to her forehead with sweat. Her clothes weren't in much better shape. Raggedy workout clothes that had been vigorously abused from hours of high gravity sparing. Yet it was the way she carried herself that spellbound Naruto. Ever since completing her training with Tsunade Sakura had their air of confidence about her that Naruto had seldom seen on her before. It was like she had just aced one of Iruka's impossible tests every day of the week. No matter what the challenge they may face out in the field, Sakura now looked like she had the answer. To heal any wound or punch any goon.
Out of habit, Naruto snapped his head back forward when he thought Sakura was about to catch him staring at her. Now it was Sakura's turn to observe Naruto's golden locks positively glow in the moonlight. He too looked a mess but Sakura could see a change in him from the goofy Naruto she had known three years ago. He no longer slumped when he walked, he stood tall and proud. A more mature man had taken his place, one who carried a heavy burden. Not just the burden Sakura had selfishly bestowed upon him back when he went out to bring back Sasuke, but a burden he had carried with him his entire life and one he would carry to his death.
Sakura thought back to their last mission in the Sand, when they had learned of the fate that was to befall Gaara and by association, Naruto.
"You said that Tailed Beasts were placed inside people in an attempt to control them and turn them into weapons for their villages." Sakura frantically questioned Lady Chiyo, like the answer might lead to life and death.
"That is correct, although in the end, no one could. So they merely sealed the demons away."
"But what about the people who were used to seal those demons?!" Sakura screamed.
"Sakura!" Kakashi warned. Sakura bit her lip, wanting to choose her words carefully.
"What can be done…to remove a Tailed Beast from its host?" Sakura asked simply. At this, Naruto went wide eyed at what she was suggesting.
"To extract a demon from its host, one needs a surplus amount of chakra equaling the demon's own chakra levels, and quite a bit of time.
Sakura mentally went off the specifics in her head. So I'd need an amount of chakra equal or greater to the Kyuubi. I think Lady Tsunade once said that the Nine Tails had a chakra level equal to 100 elite jounin.
Where would we find 100 jounin willing to help us unseal the Kyuubi? Inner Sakura asked.
We'd force'em if we have to. Or I could store enough chakra in my seals like Lady Tsunade taught me.
Equal to 100 men? It would take years. And even then you'd run out of skin long before-
I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!
"What's more…" Chiyo continued, flashing Sakura back to reality.
"Once the unsealing is completed, a new equally powerful seal must be ready to store or bare the demon. For when the demon is removed from the host…"
No…
"…the host dies."
Even now the thought brought tears to Sakura's eyes. To know that someone as bright and as sweet as Naruto could be forced to bare such a terrible curse. That he had suffered for it and what's worse that Sakura had been a willing participant for so many years. Adding to Naruto's overwhelming grief when he already had so much thrust upon him on a daily basis.
How can you say that? We didn't know, we were just kids following the example of our parents.
We never questioned it. We just went along with the crowd for fear of alienating our other friends and Sasuke…
It always comes back to him doesn't it?
Not this time…
"Sakura-chan…"
"Naruto…" They said in unison.
Videl, who had taken up a perch on a three story building a block away, almost squealed in delight at seeing that old cliché in real life. Oh this'll be perfect.
What's happening? Gohan asked.
SHHHH! I can barely hear them with chakra enhanced ears, I don't need your voice in my head.
Both Naruto and Sakura had finally shaken off the awkward exchange earlier and were regaining their confidence.
"I'll go first then? I think Pervy Sage would say that it's the gentlemanly thing to do." The whiskered youth said, trying to remember what lessons of chivalry his Perverted Master had tried to teach him that wouldn't get him pounded into gravy.
"Actually, Naruto, if it's all the same to you I'd like to go first." Sakura asked.
"Of course. Sure thing Sakura-chan." Naruto said, secretly delighted that he didn't have to go first.
Sakura took a deep breathe. This was going to be one of the most difficult things she had ever done. It hadn't been this difficult when she confessed to Sasuke. So why now? Because she wasn't desperate to make Naruto stay? He wasn't going anywhere. Maybe she had been more certain of her feelings towards Sasuke back then? Did that mean she didn't love Naruto as much? Or was there just more depth to her feelings for him that her crush on Sasuke couldn't match?
So much for it not being about Sasuke…
Shove it!
Sakura exhaled and looked up at Naruto's ocean blue eyes. Just looking at his small smile gave her the courage to press on. As it had done so many times before.
"Naruto I don't have any good memories of Sasuke."
God damn it.
Naruto gave her a curious look but her own features told him to let her show him where she was going with this.
"What I mean is that I don't have any good memories of me and Sasuke alone, just the two of us. Most of the good memories I have with him are with you and Kakashi-sensei out on missions together or training. Just Team 7 things."
Naruto nodded, further encouraging her to continue on.
"I do have one really good memory of just him and me. Right before we met Kakashi, Sasuke met up with me and complimented my forehead."
Naruto felt his heart rising up to his throat.
"I had always hated my forehead, but Sasuke had said it was cute, that its size made him want to kiss it. I think at that moment I fell for him harder than I ever could."
Meanwhile on a nearby treetop that Videl had moved to listen in better, she was torn between herself wanting to fly down there and snatch Sakura away and cast a genjutsu on Naruto to make him think this was all a nightmare.
"But before he could kiss me, Sasuke lost his nerve and left. When he came back he had reverted back to his usual stoic self. Afterwards I decided to wait patiently for that softer side of Sasuke to appear again. But it never did…"
Naruto felt his heart breaking, not for fear of rejection, but for what he had done.
"After that, I can't remember a particularly bad memory with Sasuke either. For the longest time after you had left I contemplated that. Until I realized I couldn't remember a bad memory with Sasuke is because after each time he had belittled me on my uselessness or rejected another offer of mine for a date, you were there to eclipse the bad memory. Your annoying little antics always distracted me from how sad I was at being rejected again. You got me frustrated and anger at you rather than have me be sad about Sasuke. That's when I realized that more and more of my happier memories with Sasuke and with Team 7 usually revolved around you. Every time I felt down or discouraged, you were there to lift me back up. Watching you stand up to Zabuza, to Orochimaru, to Neji, hearing about you saving me from Gaara, and seeing you promise me to bring Sasuke back while you were bandaged up in the hospital like a mummy. You gave me the kick in the pants I needed to grow stronger."
Back on the tree, Videl was shaking from giddiness. Good job Sakura!
"But when you left, I soon found myself yearning for your return more than Sasuke's. To bring back the stupid outbursts you shout, the begging to go to Ichiraku's for lunch again, your boundless determination, your smile that could light up the night sky, and to bring back the sunshine I didn't realize you brought to my life until it was gone for three long years."
Kakashi, who had been going on one of his midnight walks, now hid behind a nearby tree, was flabbergasted at what he had just walked into. Never the less, he was silently rooting for both his cute little students to finally make that step that his own teammates had failed to do in life.
"Naruto, if there is one thing that loving Sasuke has taught me, it's that you shouldn't give your heart away all at once. But Naruto, I want you to have my heart. Piece by piece, over time. Because I know that you will take it and put it back together. And even if my heart still does not remain yours, I want you to know that no matter what I will be standing by your side through thick and thin…"
Sakura stepped forward and placed her right palm over Naruto's beating chest.
"Just as I know that you will always protect me as my hero. I want you to know that I will do everything in my power as a medic to keep your heart beating, until my own heart grows still…"
With that Sakura stepped back and intertwined her hands behind her back. A content but nervous smile adored her face.
Sage of Six Paths, girl. Save some for the wedding vows… Her Inner self said, but for once Sakura did not reply back. She had meant every word and all that was left to wait for Naruto's reply.
Meanwhile, their Sannin mentors were busy fighting for space behind a nearby bush.
"Will you back off? I'm trying to listen." Tsunade hissed.
"Not a chance, it's my student's turn. You got to listen in on yours, now I get mine." Jiraiya whispered back.
"Ha, like your dope of a student has anything near as good after hearing Sakura's confession."
"We'll just have to wait and see won't we? You sure you don't want to call off the bet? Last chance, consequence free."
"Not a chance, I've got a good feeling about tonight and there ain't no way my apprentice will lose to your apprentice when it comes to love."
Rubbing the back of his head, Naruto tried to think up an appropriate response. How many times in how many ways had he envisioned this moment? It always seemed so far out of reach, him confessing to Sakura and her taking him seriously or even accepting his feelings. He was right on the edge and had no choice but to do what he did best…
Dive in.
"Sakura I can't give you my heart…"
And what in the blue corn fuck does that mean?! Ino all but screamed in her head. She had dragged her two good for nothing teammates along to spy on Sakura and Naruto's confession because a)there were rapists wandering the late night streets and b)she needed someone to slap during the juicer moments so that she wouldn't alert Sakura to her presence.
"Because you already own it." He finished.
Troublesome. Thought Shikamaru as Ino slapped his and Choji's arms again.
"From the moment I first saw you with your pink hair I thought you were the cutest girl in the world. It always baffled me how someone as pretty and intelligent as you could be bullied the way you were."
Sakura frowned a bit at being reminded of the lower points of her life.
"I used to think you were like me, an outsider, someone who just quite didn't fit in. But before I could summon up the courage to talk to you, you had made a friend with Ino. I was so happy for you, it gave me hope that I could make a friend too. And that ribbon she gave you, for the first time I could see your whole face and it was amazing."
Alright brat, move on. The Toad Sage thought.
"But then I learned that you had a crush on Sasuke and I was sad. I tried approaching you, but you'd always reject me. I tried to get over it, but I couldn't stop loving you. Every time I saw you smile at Sasuke, I swear it was the cutest thing. So when we were put on the same team together, I was so happy, but still frustrated that you only had eyes for Sasuke. So…" Naruto stopped.
Sakura was worried, did he lose his nerve?
"So you what, Naruto?" She asked.
"…So I vowed to always be there to support you. No matter what, as long as you continued to pursue Sasuke I would continue to pursue you. And even if you didn't choose me in the end. So long as you were happy, that would be enough for me."
Sakura started tearing up at his selfless proclamation. That he was willing to go so far for her happiness, at the cost of his own if needed be. She wasn't worthy, she couldn't be.
"But now I guess you have chosen me, which is just…you have no idea how happy that makes me Sakura-chan." Sakura could swear the night time turned to day for an instant when he flashed her that ear splitting grin.
"So since I couldn't keep my last promise to you, I'll make a new Promise of a Lifetime."
Naruto took both of Sakura's hands into his own. Sakura was certain her heart stopped. Naruto could feel his own heart busting through his chest.
"Sakura, I will always love you and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and keep that perfect smile on your face."
Sakura had to take one of her hands away to cup her mouth. Her tears of joy just wouldn't stop flowing.
"Also…I completely agree with what Sasuke said. You really do have a large and charming forehead. It makes me want to kiss it."
The blond leaned forward and left a lingering kiss right in the center of the pinkette's forehead. Sakura froze. Naruto tried to savor everything he could about the kiss. How warm Sakura's forehead felt against the cool evening air, the salty taste of her skin mixed with her body soap and the lingering scent of her strawberry shampoo. It was everything Naruto had ever imagined and more.
Not wanting to spoil the moment, he broke the kiss on her forehead. He looked down to observe her expression. She looked up at him with huge innocent eyes. Like the most beautiful deer in the headlights you had ever seen. Her silence was beginning to creep him out actually.
"Sakura-chan?"
Without wasting time replying, Sakura grabbed her boyfriend's collar and pulled him into her awaiting lips. Their faces met in the middle and Sakura felt fireworks. She wrapped her arms around Naruto's head ensuring that he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. Not that the blond had anywhere else in the entire multiverse that he would rather be. He snaked his own hands around her waist and pulled her close, so close that the only thing still between them were two pesky layers of clothing. Not that either of them minded, all that mattered was that it was just them, their partner, and-
"THEY DID IT!" Came the simultaneous cries of seemingly all their friends.
The two lovebirds quickly separated, only from kissing, they still held and iron grip on one another. To notice that they had been quite literally surrounded by all of their friends and teammates.
There was the Konoha 11; all their jounin leaders including Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, and Kurenai; their mentors Tsunade and Jiraiya; Shizune who had brought Tonton the pig along; and last but not least, newcomers Videl and Gohan, both of whom were flying overhead with shit eating grins on their faces.
"Don't tell me you guys were spying on us the whole time?" Naruto asked as Sakura buried her head in his jacket to avoid the embarrassment of having to look at anyone.
"And what? Miss out on a teammate love triangle being resolved once and for all? No way we'd miss out on seeing such juicy gossip first hand." Ino explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Piiiiiiiiiiiiiig!" Sakura growled. How dare her best friend spy on something so private, and let all their friends get away with it too.
No threesome for her. Inner Sakura stated manner-of-factly.
INNER!
"Oh quit being melodramatic, Forehead. This has been a long time coming and we weren't going to miss a second of it. Now come here." Ino reached out and yanked Sakura from the clutches of Naruto.
"Hey wait! Pig! Where are we going?!" Sakura screeched with still clinging to Naruto's chest who was trying to hold onto her for dear life.
"To my house, silly. We're having a sleepover right now to discuss every little detail of what just happened. Especially about that kiss." Ino smirked, the thought of that kiss still made her wet. "Hinata! Tenten! Videl! Come on!"
"Woah now! Pig! You mean the kiss I just had with Naruto? Can't it wait until morning? I wanna spend some more time with my boyfriend!"
"Wait, boyfriend?" Naruto asked dumbfounded. "Does that mean we're dating?"
A gust of leaves blew by.
"YES IT MEANS WE'RE DATING, YOU IDIOT!" Sakura yelled. Honest to God, it was late and she barely had the energy to deal with her friends right now, let alone her clueless boyfriend.
My my, aren't you quick? One minute of dating and you're already calling Naruto our boyfriend like you would slip on a comfortable pair of jeans.
Oh spare me, Inner. And I thought you were supposed to disappear when I start being honest with myself. I'm dating Naruto, so you can go away now.
I'll only stop commenting when it stops being funny.
"GAAH!" Sakura screamed out loud. Between the aliens from another dimension, Sasuke's death, the Akatsuki, and the upcoming mission she needed to vent. So the medic broke free of her platinum blonde friend's iron grip and wrapped herself all up in Naruto for another kiss. Right in front of every one of her loved ones save for her parents.
After a minute, or what seemed like an hour, the two broke free with an audible pop. The onlookers could only gawk in silence, nobody wanted to ruin this moment for either of them.
"Lunch date at Ichiraku's?" She suggested.
"Can we make it breakfast? I'll miss you too much by then." He counter-offered.
"No, I want time to freshen up for our first date and look beautiful for you."
"You always look beautiful to me."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, you know." She smiled.
"I'm counting on it, ya know." He smiled back.
One by one their friends dispersed, leaving the two newly formed couple to continue their walk back to Sakura's place. The entire way back they walked hand in hand, or held each other close, whatever the wind chill was like. Not a word was said between them, none were needed.
Finally they reached her front door and shared one last kiss good night, the promise of their lunch date the only thing making the next few hours of separation worth it.
Sakura shut the door and Naruto remained outside waiting for the lights to turn off. Finally they did and he was left in the hands of moonlight to guide his way home.
Hey Brat? The Kyuubi softly spoke.
Yeah? Naruto replied giddily. Not even talking to the bastard fox was going to bring his mood down tonight.
Great job and all landing your vixen. Nice work.
Huh…thanks? I guess? Naruto replied, not used to receiving praise or anything positive from the Demon Fox.
Just one question. Why didn't you tell her that you were the one who complimented her forehead all those years ago and not that emo bastard you transformed into?
Naruto was almost taken back that the Fox had noticed that. Figures it would know everything going on with Naruto, but Naruto never assumed that he'd be watch all the time.
…Because I failed in my promise to her to bring Sasuke back to her. The least I can do is let her keep the one good memory she has of her first love.
So you're willing to lie to her forever just so that she can cling to one good memory she has of that bastard?
Like I said before. So long as Sakura is happy, it's worth it. The blond said with finality. The Fox offered no more words. Soon the thoughts faded from the orange ninja's mind and were replaced by the excitement that he had a date with his beloved Sakura-chan tomorrow. He drifted off to sleep a few minutes later completely content.
Author's Note: Don't think that just because this series of one shots is about to come full circle means that it is anywhere near over. cmartinHFD assures me that the two of us are in this for the long haul. So much so that we might even see little blond and pink haired children running around. Who they belong too? God only knows. Although causal readers are more than welcome to take an educated guess.
NaruSaku forever.