Reader info:

Yes...I am back, and very glad to be so. For more details on this, check out my bio. there will also be other relevant info in greater quantity on the intros of some other stories when I finally post them. This was not originally intended to be story number one, but it has turned out that way in a strange turn of events. That being said, I hope you all will enjoy this short story featuring Naruto and Sakura as the main pairing. Just one small chapter for now, but more content should be coming soon. In any case, be sure to review and follow/favorite! I really appreciate it!

P.S. Uploading/updating of my stories will be staggered over what I presume will be the next few days. More info on my stories is also available in my bio under the My Stories section if you're interested.

Over the Years

Disturbances

Quiet is a state of being very rarely achieved and a much more valuable commodity than most people realize. Konoha's Main Hospital had this oh-so-precious commodity in droves. Sure, there were places where things were a little busier than usual, but for the most part, peace was the general order of things. The only disturbances came from the random beeps of equipment or the quiet conversations of doctors and patients, and it was worth questioning if those could even be called disturbances at all. They seemed to fit in with the hospital atmosphere, the random beeps serving as a reminder of the way technology had progressed into such an effective tool to help people, and the quiet conversations adding a human element to it all. Those things were as natural to the place as the blue and white walls. All things considered, the hospital was something just beyond a tranquil escape, much more than most people knew. At least, Sakura Haruno thought it was. She, for one, loved it.

The mellow atmosphere soothed her and brought a sense of calm to her ever-wandering mind. On her better days, she would even find a soft tune on her lips, much like today. Her soft hums would carry through the walls in the immediate vicinity like a gentle breeze on a cool autumn day. The patients loved her for it and would always comment on her singing habits whenever they found the opportunity, most times complimenting her on the softness of her voice or speaking of the mellowness her airy tunes brought to their souls. It was no surprise to her that they so enjoyed her wistful hums. Everyone from Tsunade to the desk nurse knew that most hospital patients wanted to escape reality in some way. They didn't want to think about the fact that they had a broken arm or a cracked skull or the fact that they may never walk again. Despite many of them being ninja, some thoughts were simply too much to bear, even if such injuries were to be expected in their line of work. So she had long ago resolved to sing their problems away, at least for as long as she could. Reality always came knocking at some point, but until it did, she hummed her very best, helping to soothe their troubled hearts as she contributed her part to the peaceful ambiance. It was nice. Calming as well. Very calming.

This calming effect was part of the reason she loved the library so much in her younger years. That peaceful atmosphere just never got old, even if she was twenty years old. Despite the passage of time, she was still in love with it, whether it was here at the hospital, or back at the library, or even at a quiet café. It was all the same to her. There was one downside though. Wherever there was peace and quiet and calm and tranquility, there was always something to mess it up. And more often than not, you could count on one person in particular coming in and ruining the mood...

"SAKURA-CHAAAAAN!"

The tired eyelids suddenly fell halfway and the jade eyes shifted to the side, the soft tune leaving her lips as soon as the familiar scratchy voice had burrowed its way into her mind. Turning around, she saw the familiar blond head making it's way towards her, one hand waving energetically as he maneuvered through a few nurses and orderlies in the way. Sighing, she turned around and kept walking at her normal pace.

"Hey!" he yelled. "Wait up!"

His footsteps echoed off the hall as he ran up to her side, falling into step beside her. 'Great,' she thought. 'Disturbance Uzumaki has officially arrived.'

Eyes closed and grinning like he had been injected with too much botox, he chirped, "Hiya, Sakura-chan."

At his greeting, she rolled her eyes. "Naruto, how many times have I told you not to yell my name at the hospital?"

"Hmmm..." he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know; I can't remember. Anyway," he continued. "Wanna get some ramen later?"

"Nope," she chirped happily, her inner self basking in the sweet revenge of shutting him down so abruptly after another one of his inconsiderate hospital barge ins. She did have good reason for rejecting his little evening ramen offer though.

"Aw," he pouted. "Why not?"

At his prodding, she perked up proudly. "Because, I-" she sang. "Have a date."

"What?!"

A pouting frown pulled at her lips. "Jeez," she said, eyeing him from the side. "What's so surprising..."

Naruto squinted, hands on his hips as he walked. "It's not the date that's surprising, it's that you're getting involved in the dating scene before me – Konoha's most eligible bachelor." He pulled a face angrily, eyes nearly closed and bottom lip jutting out. "Not cool."

"Well, too bad," she chirped, smiling and turning away with her chin up and eyes closed. "It's happening."

"Not on my watch," he snorted. "No way I'm letting you get on the dating scene before me." His head fell towards the ground in thought, his next words mumbled lowly. "I've gotta find a date before tonight…"

She shook her head, a huffing grin on her lips. "Everything's a competition with you."

"No, it's not."

Letting her eyes fall flat and her brows furrow ever so slightly, she gave him a look that showed she knew that they both knew he was lying, then turned away without saying a word.

"No, it's not!" he protested.

"Says the competitive fool," she thought, hospital flats never stopping their course.

A light frown pulled at his lips before he swiveled his head away. "Ok, fine, maaaybe- Maaaaaybe I say. Not definitely, Not certainly. Maaaaaybe."

"Mhm."

Pulling a stank face at her patronizing, he turned back to her with a dissatisfied snort. "So," he asked. "Who's the unlucky guy?"

Her lips pulling into a sideways smirk, she huffed and answered, "Four."

"F-f-four?" he stuttered. "W-w-who's Four?"

Quite amused at his befuddled state, she replied, "That's the rating I give your little "unlucky guy" joke." Her joke tier system was a fresh idea and she hoped it would get on his nerves as much as his constant quips did hers.

Naruto paused then squinted. "So, we're rating my jokes now?"

"Well, as of late they've been in poor taste, sooo...yeah."

"Four out of five?" he asked.

"As if," she snorted. "Four out of ten."

His face did a scrunching pout that she very much enjoyed, then he replied. "They've only been in "poor taste" because they don't involve you clocking me across the head."

"Two," she said with a small smile.

A low growl invaded the air. "Fine," he snapped. "I'll just start rating your jokes too then."

"Go ahead," she smirked. "They're way better than yours."

His mouth was already wide open and ready to spit his next witty retort, but she quickly put one finger on his lips and smiled.

"As much as I'd like to entertain you and your...whatever it is you do, I have a patient to check up on."

Naruto frowned, eyes traveling downwards to her finger as he spoke through tight lips. "Burt I cam here tuh see you."

She removed her finger from his lips, then smiled. "I know and I'm very grateful, Naruto. I'm always grateful," she finished, her smile softening in the slightest. "But I'm still working."

Naruto dropped his head in defeat. "Fine..."

"Good boy."

"I'm not a dog." he pouted.

"You follow me around like one."

He tilted his head as if thinking about something then said, "Five."

Sakura paused, tilting her head a bit before it dawned on her. "Ah," she smiled. "Only a five? I thought that one was pretty good."

"As if," he said. "The only reason I didn't give you a four is because what you said is half true."

"Half?"

"Don't push it."

"Well, I'll take it." she shrugged. "Still better than anything you've done so far."

"Whatever," he said, turning around to leave.

"See ya," she said.

"Have fun on your daaaaate," he mocked, waving a hand as he walked away.

"I wiiiiill," she sang.

"And don't scare him off with that temper of yours either!"

"Three!"

Author's note: Hope you all enjoyed that. It's a very small excerpt, but one designed to be dialogue-heavy and to show the relationship between Naruto and Sakura that way. This also serves as a sort of introduction to this story. I'm sure you all can now see what the tone will be here. That being said, I hope to see you all in the next one. Do follow, favorite, and review! I appreciate it! Peace!