A/N: My first Naruto fic, I wanted to write something realistic for Sakura and Naruto after the land of iron incident. I think it does a disservice to both characters that, as far as I know they never have a mature conversation about their feelings. Maybe that's different in the Manga, I have no idea, but this is what came from that idea.


The whirlwind of events that occurred over the five Kagae summit was finally over, but Sakura's head wasz still spinning...

Sasuke is a criminal now, Naruto is a hero, to think they used to be so childish. I was stupid thinking I could lie to Naruto, he's not stupid. But was I lying? I don't know. Everything is just so different now; we're not kids anymore. I know that I love them both but which one am I in love with? It was always Sasuke. Yes, but can you honestly say you haven't fallen for that blond knucklehead? He's handsome, so I can't dismiss his looks anymore, and he's taller than me now. So he's attractive, but how do I feel about him? I don't know. Well you know how he feels at least. All Sasuke's ever done is break your heart, that's not a lie. Why am I holding on so tightly to someone who's never acknowledged me and even tried to kill me? Come on, you want to save him, but is that a good reason to love someone? No but I can't help it I don't want to see Saskue destroy himself! Well, if you're not careful he'll destroy Naruto and the village, maybe even the world! Dammit Sakura you have to figure out how you feel! I'll have to talk to Naruto smooth things over. If I start there maybe I can figure this out…

So Sakura left her house for Naruto's apartment building. Her knock on his door was full of nervous energy.

"Oh, Sakura, what do you want?" The blunt tone was so unlike him.

"I came to talk, to apologize, let me in, please."

"Fine." Naruto opened the door and let her pass before closing it again.

"It was wrong of me to play with your feelings." Her face was somber and apologetic.

"What would you know about my feelings, your so busy worrying about Saskue, you didn't even know anything about them until Sai opened his stupid mouth!"

"Why didn't YOU ever tell me? If not just out of the academy, since you returned to the village we've spent more time together than any other team combined!

"Whats the point in that, you wouldn't choose me." He said.

"Oh, so you're a mind reader now?" Sakura said indignantly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"It means who are you to assume anything about me or how I feel. You did this back in the land of iron too. I was trying to protect you, you idiot!" Sakura shouted.

"Sasuke nearly killed you, and it's like you think I'm stupid…lying like that; we're not 13 anymore." He said anxiously.

"Naruto you are always protecting me. I just wanted to protect you for once." She looked regretful now. "It's the least I can do after how much I've ruined your life with that stupid request!" She sounded disgusted with herself now.

"What are you talking about? I would still be trying to bring him back even if you hadn't asked me." Naruto said.

Sakura looked on the verge of tears. "He's so far gone, that girl told me his Chakra is so dark and cold that it's like there's no humanity left in him. There's at least one thing I wasn't lying about. Sasuke just keeps breaking my heart." She sounded spent.

"But you love him, believe me I get it." Naruto said simply.

"I should have figured it out sooner, how long Naruto? Please tell me." She locked eyes now.

"It won't change anything." He said dismissively.

"Please, I need to know to figure out how I feel about you because you snuck up on me, Naruto so tell me when you fell in love with me." She was emotional at this point.

"The first time you punched me. We were five, and I'd been watching you for days; I finally got up the courage to talk to you, and I said I couldn't stop looking at your forehead. You thought I was insulting you." He turned red now.

"Naruto…"

"It's okay, Sakura; I just want you to be happy." He said quietly.

"You deserve someone better than me, I've done nothing but make you suffer." She held his hand. Her face was full of self-disgust.

"Is that why you lied you think I'm suffering because of you?" He asked quietly.

"You are suffering because of me!" She insisted.

"No, I'm suffering for many reasons, but loving you is not one of them." He said assuredly. "Watching you love someone who doesn't love you back is what hurts."

"All this time, I thought you were jealous," Sakura said, blushing slightly.

"I was when we were kids." He admitted, "But now I'm frustrated because…." He hesitated.

"Don't hold back now." Sakura implored gently.

He took a deep breath and met her eyes with an overwhelmingly intense gaze. "Because I will always love you more than Sasuke ever would or could!" There was no arrogance behind Naruto's words, only conviction.

Sakura felt a seismic shift in her feelings at his declaration, she wasn't sure of much, but she knew that her feelings for Naruto were something entirely different from Sasuke and yet, they were just as powerful. Still she wasn't sure what that meant.

"I need some time to think. Can I have a few days before we talk again?" Sakura asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sorry I piled on to you." He forced an awkward smile.

"I won't keep you waiting long." She assured him.

"Sakura, promise me something?" He asked.

"Name it." She said turning back to him with a small smile.

"Don't lie to me about anything ever again." He said seriously.

"Never again." There was an emotional intimacy in her response that stilled the two of them for several minutes before she smiled and left.

Sakura knew that she needed to talk to someone, she just couldn't sort out her feelings by herself. The question was who should she talk with? There were really only two options Ino or Hinata… In the end she settled on Ino because talking with Hinata would be far too awkward…

A few hours later…

"I'm here Sakura but your voice on the phone sounded so anxious what's going on?" Ino asked quickly.

"Well you see…"

Hearing the story of the last few days left Ino speechless. It was some time before she responded to her friend. "I think you screwed up this time, Sakura, toying with Naruto. I mean, he's many things, but he's not blind or stupid. You are lucky; I don't see why this is so difficult."

"Your joking right? Ino, this is like if Choj or Shikamaru told you they were in love with you since we were all little!" She said anxiously.

"Fine, I see your point; that would be awkward." She relented. "But I think I meant why are you having such a hard time deciding what to do? Sasuke tried to kill you, Naruto saved you the math seems simple to me."

"It's not; I can't explain why I've loved Sasuke; but then Naruto, it's so easy to explain why I could love him. He's brave and loyal and never gives up, and he's always been there protecting me, and others." Sakura was very shy now. "There was a time when all he did was annoy me, but now I want to stay by his side to make sure that he becomes Hokage. He's even handsome in his own way."

"So then, what's the problem?" Ino said impatiently.

"I don't deserve him." She said simply.

"Is that it or are you only saying that because you're afraid?" Ino challenged.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"It's easy to love someone who needs to be saved, but it's scary loving someone who would never stop trying to make you happy," Ino said gently.

"Naruto said that he would always love me more than Sasuke ever would or could," Sakura said with a long sigh. "It hurt knowing that I love someone who didn't love me back."

"Sakura, you need to think long and hard about this, Hinata loves Naruto the way he loves you, and I feel that sooner than later, he will notice," Ino warned her best friend candidly.

"Ino! That doesn't help me. How am I supposed to choose between Naruto and Sasuke!" She anxiously said.

"Ask yourself which one of them you can't bear to live without. The answer you come to is what's truly in your heart." Ino looked extra serious now.

"If it was three years ago, the answer would have been Sasuke but now... Let's face it I've been living without Sasuke just fine for a long time." She continued with a pained voice. "I don't even want to try and imagine Naruto not being in my life. The three years he was off training, I missed him more than I ever thought possible… If he dies, no… A world without Naruto, I would never get over that."

"I think you have your answer, Billboard brow." Ino said cheerfully.

Sakura was in a state of emotional shock now. "I'm in love with Naruto Uzumaki…"

"Get out of my house and go tell him already!" Ino urged.

"Ino, thank you."

The blond simply waved to her best friend as she left…

By some miracle, Naruto and Sakura hadn't been summoned for a mission in the last few days which meant this was the first time she would be seeing Naruto since their conversation some days ago. Nerves get the best of her as she knocked three times on Naruto's door.

He looked drowsy answering the door. "Sakura? People don't usually show up this late. What's wrong?"

"Oh, I didn't realize…it was…so late. I ran all the way here, I had to talk." She was out of breath.

"Come in, I can't have you passing out, ya know." He insisted.

"Thanks." She took the water he gave her and sat on the couch. "I told you I wouldn't keep you waiting long."

"Here to put me out of my misery, it's fine. I knew I couldn't compete with Sasuke but I still know I could make you happy, ya know." Naruto was very resigned to lose out here.

Sakura frowned. "Do you think so little of yourself that you honestly believe I didn't give this serious thought? I'm not 13 anymore Naruto, and I might not have been aware of how you felt but I am now and you're right."

"I was selfish saying that last time. I'm just so tired of seeing you heartbroken." Naruto said shyly.

"Even if I marry Sasuke one day and we have a family, we would be alone most of the time. I could put in years of work, and he would never be able to fully connect with us. The guilt he is going to feel when you finally beat him back to how he was before his obsession with revenge and power won't allow him to live a normal life." She was very somber.

"What are you saying here Sakura? Naruto asked anxiously.

"I'm saying that I'm not that naïve child anymore. Wanting to save someone from darkness isn't healthy love, and I don't just want to be content; I want to be happy, I want to be adored, and I want my future kids to feel that way too." She smiled emotionally.

"What about me then?" Naruto casually asked.

"First, I'm sorry I lied; you've never been anything but honest and selfless to me. I was shocked when Sai told me that you were in love with me and even more shocked when he said you were willing to carry the burden of your promise to me for the rest of your life. I decided right then that I didn't deserve to be with you, so I tried to make you hate me. I think I always knew that you would see through me but if you were protected, I didn't care." She was quiet.

"What's changed, Sakura?" Naruto said bluntly.

"I've changed Naruto; you've changed me. I realized that I couldn't live without you in this cursed world. Living without you feels impossible, unbearable even so believe me now when I say that I've fallen in love with you." The look in her eyes was was intense and emotional.

"I've wanted to hear you say that my entire life and I'm not sure what to do now." Naruto confessed softly blushing.

"Just come here and kiss me you idiot." Sakura told him with tender and loving affection.

Naruto grinned as only he could, and then their lips met, and at that moment, this first kiss with Naruto, she finally understood that this was what being loved and being in love was supposed to feel like. It was something that she never wanted to let go of.

"Naruto, why did you never tell me how you felt?" Sakura asked sadly.

"I couldn't, I was terrified you would think I was taking advantage of Sasuke being gone to steal your heart. I never wanted you to think that I didn't care about how you felt. Sasuke's put you through that enough." He looked so heartfelt, his eyes screamed selfless devotion.

"The way you look at me, how did I miss it all these years?" Sakura asked as though she was finally seeing clearly.

"I'd get over excited every time I saw you, it's a nervous habit of mine and then I was nothing compared to Sasuke. I felt inadequate so I decided I would train to become strong enough to protect you, I love you. I covered it by acting like it was a crush." Naruto admitted quietly.

"Naruto, I was so mean to you; you took every punch from me, watched me fawn over Sasuke for years and still you love me." Sakura looked overwhelmed now and snuggled in close.

"I can't explain it, I never think about it; it just is, Sakura." He stroked her hair gently.

"There are so many times I'd be dead if you hadn't been there." She sniffed. "I'm going to return the favor and keep you alive!"

"I've never been worried about dying before but people are after the me so often now, and my dad wants me to control the stupid fox but I have no idea how to do that…" He sighed.

"Your dad wanted—did he leave a message for you or something?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Not exactly, he said that he put some of his chakra in the seal that he placed inside of me to contain the nine tails." Naruto explained. "It was keyed to manifest if the seal weakened to the point where I grew the eighth tail." He lifted his shirt. "There's no rebuilding it anymore. My dad knew I would almost destroy everything, that I would hurt people, I hurt you." He was ashamed.

Sakura became momentarily transfixed by the sealing mark just above his navel. "So this is the reason you had such a terrible childhood." She was pretty sad.

"Yeah-Huh? Sakura…" He felt his shirt being lifted off over his head.

She touched the seal fighting back angry tears now. "What kind of a father burdens his only son by sealing a demon spirit like that evil fox in his own son."

"I'm scared Sakura, I don't like hurting people when this damn fox takes over, when I hurt you at tenchi bridge— "

"You didn't hurt anyone, Naruto Uzumaki." She said intimately.

"I know how long it took for the scratch on your arm to heal; please don't say I didn't hurt anyone." The guilt on his face was palpable.

"Naruto, I remember how you looked after the cloak disappeared; you looked like a battered, bloody, dead man. I don't ever want to see that again, and it's not because I'm scared of what's inside of you, but watching it destroy your body, seeing how much pain you were in..." She fell against his chest and cried, unable to hold back tears any longer.

"Who knew I mattered so much to you." Naruto said with a playful grin attempting to lighten the mood.

"Don't be an idiot, I said once already that a life without you…I just can't." She managed to collect herself. The serious look on her face was unmistakable.

"So you really love me that much." He questioned anxiously, fearing that it was too good to be true.

"Let's go to bed and when we wake up together tomorrow maybe then it'll sink in that I love you, Naruto Uzumaki." She pulled him to a stand, he looked at her with a curious grin. "What?"

Naruto pulled her close, chucking. "Sorry, it's just that you were the other dream I always had, the one I never thought would come true."

"Me?" Sakura chuckled. "Why would you waste energy on me I'm a mess."

"Between your eyes and your forehead, I couldn't help myself." He admitted softly.

"I'm not used to this charming Naruto and besides, nobody likes my forehead.," She blushed.

"I think it's beautiful, ya know." He smiled warmly at her.

"I could get used to this side of you, come on." She gently pulled him over to his bed.

"Sakura, are you sure?"

She smiled falling gently on top of him. "Yes, I love you, I'm in love with you."

"We can take it slow, you are what's most important to me Sakura." He said softly.

"You have become the most important thing in my entire life too. It's no secret that I haven't always felt that way, it took me years to figure it out, but I know that I'm completely in love with you." Sakura felt a weight leave her chest; her quiet emotions overflowed with affection.

"I love you too, Sakura." He looked childishly happy.

They shared a long and explorative kiss, getting lost in the feel of each other's faces and mouth; it was deliberately so slow. They were trying to savior their new dynamic. For Naruto it was the realization of his most fleeting dream. Being Hokage always felt possible but Sakura Haruno falling in love with him was an impossible dream. The softness of her face against his, the way her light as a feather hair tickled his skin, the combined warmth of her tongue in his mouth and her hands against his chest. Not even ramen compared; this must have been how his parents felt when they were together...

Sakura hadn't known what to expect from her first kiss and she was even less prepared for the guy who she was kissing to be Naruto Uzumaki. Still there was something instantly right about it. The devotion behind it but also the loving tenderness, there was no greed here. His hands were completely still around her back, and their slight tremor told her that he was battling his typical over excitement.

Sakura paused their make-out to quell his nervousness. "It's okay." She said. He tensed.

Wait, does he think I'm going to hurt him if his hands wander? Damn, I really did punch him way too much! Okay, fix this, Sakura…

She held his face with one hand, her voice a tender whisper. "Naruto, I'm not going to hurt you no matter where you touch me."

"Sorry." He said quickly.

Sakura frowned, her voice apologetic and full of regret. "No, I'm sorry, your so used to expecting a punch from me." She looked determined now, affection in her eyes. "Expect frequent kissing and other PDA from me from now on,"

"Any chance that could start now?" He asked innocently.

She grinned. "It's nice to see you act a little selfishly for a change."

Sakura met his lips again, this time she occasionally teased the markings on Naruto's face with a kiss. It wasn't long before her curiosity got the best of her.

"Those markings on your face, I've always wondered if it was scarred as a kid?" Sakura asked gently.

"I asked Pervy Sage about that. He said it's an imprint from the nine tails since I was a newborn when dad sealed it inside me, but he was never completely sure that's the reason I have them." Naruto said quietly.

"I'm sorry Naruto, being a vessel for that fox spirit must be hell." She said sadly.

"I'm furious at Sasuke for being a coward about his past, whining about his suffering because of his family when I never had mine. I had no one ever. He thinks he understands the pain of solitude; gimme a break! The selfish bastard has no freaking clue idea what real loneliness is!" Naruto looked resentful.

Sakura never realized until recently how much she admired Naruto. In many ways his childhood was far lonelier than Sasuke's. Still, he was kind, gentle, selfless… It was remarkable that someone born with no family who grew up hated or shunned by everyone in the village was now its savior. Naruto was right, family tragedy or not; Sasuke had no excuse for acting like a coward and deserting the leaf village. It was pitiful the more Sakura thought about it.

"You're not alone anymore." She reminded him. "You have people who care about you."

"I know, listen Sakura, thank you." He said quietly.

"For what?"

There was a lot of emotion in his voice now. "For having my back, you could have easily run after Sasuke even after he left the village. Not that I'm the only reason you stayed, but it made it easier to accept how you felt back then. I was afraid that you would leave me too." He found himself crying albeit silently.

"I wasn't going to abandon you or the village." She said with conviction.

"I just wanted to matter to you, Sakura, that's all I've ever wanted from you since we were kids, to matter to you." He admitted as he wiped his tears away.

"Naruto, you do matter to me more than anyone else who's been in my life." She assured him. "I think it's time I make sure you believe that. I'm not going to hold back anymore."

Sakura slowly kissed him and continued kissing more than just his lips. She heard his breath quicken as she moved to his neck and clavicle which she took as positive sign as she continued over his chest. The muscle definition Sakura noticed earlier was even more apparent now. She could feel the calm pulse of his muscle tissue, it was a stark contrast to the faster beats of his heart under her right hand. It was as her hand moved down that she paused. The skin here felt different, almost rougher and scarred. She felt like a hypocrite for stopping but being a medical ninja, she could not ignore it.

"Hmm?" Naruto asked in concern.

She frowned. "Your body, I thought you healed from fighting Pain?"

"That isn't because of Pain." He said in a subdued voice.

"Wait you mean it's from the nine tails!" Sakura said anxiously.

He shrugged. "You've seen how my body is after the cloak appears; the fox isn't interested in sharing my body as much as ripping it to shreds, ya know."

"I didn't know that you had so many scars." She looked in shock.

"Well, you hadn't seen me with my shirt off." He said playfully. He was surprised to see that she burst into tears on the spot. "Hey Sakura, I'm okay." He said softly.

"I never realized—oh Naruto!" His name was an empathetic wail of despair on her lips.

"Sakura, I'm not going to die." He said seriously, trying to gently reassure her.

"It's so unfair." Her voice cracked. "At this rate, if someone doesn't kill you in battle that thing inside you will do it first!"

"I kinda always thought you would kill me first." He said with a smile trying to make her laugh.

"Don't," She was laying on top of him now, her head on his chest, still sobbing. "It's just like you…joking like that, you're such an idiot. It's not funny, I can't watch you die!"

"There's no way I'm dying until I become Hokage; I still don't care what happens!" He said seriously.

Sakura abruptly stopped crying, flooded with memories of the other times she had heard him say that.

She turned meeting his eyes, the devotion in hers was undying. "I swear I'll keep you alive, no matter what. I love you, and you are not going to die until after we're old and grey, and you've changed the shinobi world as the seventh Hokage!"

"I'm glad you're not crying anymore; I can never handle it." He was subdued.

"I know it's annoying." She said subdued.

Naruto shook his head earnestly. "No, that's not it…" He chose his words with the utmost care. "It's just…when I see you hurting so much that you cry…well it hurts me, it hurts me so much inside that I can't leave it alone." Naruto told her quietly.

"That's why you had a panic attack in the land of iron. I'm sorry, Naruto. " She whispered empathetically.

"Honestly, it's everything else before that." He sighed.

"I let you take on too much on your own, I'm still too weak, sorry." She looked sad.

"Sakura, stop; you fight as a ninja without any special abilities. Your chakra control is the best in the leaf village, your strength and medical ninjutsu just keep getting more powerful. The only reason you don't fight more is that medical ninja should always be the last to die on their squad." Naruto said as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I want to be able to protect you." She said anxiously.

"You do protect me; I would have died a long time ago without you. The last thing you are is useless, Sakura." Naruto told her kindly.

Sakura was not used to this kind of love, which was tender and empathetic. All she had ever paid attention to was Sasuke, a man who had now tried to kill her twice and, even at his best, showed her little more than annoyance and disinterest. It was so overwhelming to realize that being loved and respected by Naruto had affected her to the point of falling in love with him and reducing her feelings for Sasuke to little more than sadness or pity.

"I've taken you for granted, Naruto. I'm not going to do that anymore." Sakura held his gaze seriously.

"But?" Naruto asked slowly.

Sakura was blunt. "I need to tell you something… I don't know if we can save Sasuke. He's become…Cruel, evil even… I can't let you die for someone who doesn't want to be saved. You're too important to the world, too important to me."

"But if we give up he'll destroy everything, even himself. I just wish I knew what to do."

"For tonight, I just want to stay here with you." Sakura was staring into his eyes with deep affection. She kissed Naruto deeply, it was so liberating, and wonderfully calming all at once. Just sleep with me." She snuggled tightly into him and lay her head on his chest.

"We don't have to go that fast ya know." He said quickly.

"Did you think I meant sex?" She seemed amused.

"Well…" He blushed bright red.

It was so different for Sakura, passionately looking at her yellow-haired squad-mate; it was new and exhilarating at the same time. There was nothing childish about these feelings and she wanted to explore them slowly.

"Sakura, you look like a woman. I'm sorry I'm so dense so often that I didn't notice the moment I saw you the day I came home." He said anxiously.

Sakura smirked a little but found his sudden realization gratifying. "All your training definitely helped you grow into a man." Her eyes followed every ounce of definition his body had now. "A much taller man at that and quite handsome too. I've said so already but you really did sneak up on me Naruto. You know me better than anyone else. I'm yours."

"It feels like this is going somewhere that we shouldn't cross yet. I don't know how much you know about sex but I'd mostly be flying blind, I never got that talk or anything else like it." He admitted turning red.

Does he not know the specifics? OF COURSE, HE DOESN'T! IT'S NOT LIKE SEX-ED IS AN ACADEMY COURSE AND HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS PARENTS! YOU COMPLETE IDIOT, SAKURA…! Okay, you have to be the relaxed one here. Just calm his nerves!

"Relax, Naruto; as much as I want to, we need to get used to dating first." She said.

"I don't think I'll be good at that either." He sighed.

Sakura felt bad, until now she never considered the real impact that never having parents would have had on Naruto. Sure, there were adults in the village to teach him how to be a ninja, but love, women, dating. That was a parent's job and suddenly there was an explanation for his complete lack of tact with girls and general past immaturity about love…

"A little practice being us and I'm sure you'll be fine, but let's save that for tomorrow." Sakura said gently.

"Hey Sakura?"

"What?"

"Do you remember the day the three of us became team 7?" He asked.

"You were acting weird, and Sasuke went from liking my forehead and waiting to kiss me to calling me annoying." She smiled sadly, almost wishing they were kids again.

"Yeah, it turns out I drank expired milk that morning and I wasn't taking it well… and Sasuke..." He shrugged.

"I should have seen it right then, but I didn't and by the time I noticed he'd already let his hatred swallow his heart." She sighed. "What about it?"

"The first time you talked to Sasuke, that day it was me using transformation jutsu." He blushed apologetically.

"That means… You were the one who liked my forehead and wanted to kiss me." She looked emotional.

"You're not mad?" He said looking surprised.

She smiled. "Mad? Back then, I'm sure I would have been, but you don't have to worry about that now. Now, it's further proof that you have always been the one that genuinely cared about me."

"I meant everything I've said, I love you Sakura I have always loved you and even if you don't think your forehead is beautiful, I do." He looked seriously heartfelt.

"I love you too, Naruto… You never go back on your word and I promise I won't go back on mine." Sakura said affectionately.

Together they drifted to sleep in each other's arms, and it was the best night's sleep they had had in quite some time.


A/N: I'm not a shipper, and I honestly like both Hinata and Sakura when many fans either love or hate them. I tried to be very realistic about her feelings because I don't think Kishimoto ever was, he wrote something that paralleled Naruto's desire to save Sasuke at the cost of her character development, that's how I feel about it. That is to say she's trying to save Sasuke by the mere act of loving him and that's noble but if you're going to do that as the writer you shouldn't blur the lines of Naruto and Sakura's friendship, I think that's the mistake that was made because you've created, even if unintentionally a strong investment for them to end up together and have put no such investment into Sakura and Sasuke. I know Boruto makes up for this, but I am looking at the original series writing in this particular commentary.

May end up doing more with this if I feel like it.