"Sakura stop, you're giving me a headache."
Sakura abruptly stopped pacing and turned to where her teammate sat leaning against a tree with his eyes closed. How is she giving him a headache if he's not even looking at her? She wondered.
She sighed knowing that pointing it out will be useless, instead she walked over to sit next to him. They've been waiting out here for their other teammate for more than an hour now, still there was no sign of her, even Kakashi their tardy teacher arrived fifteen minutes ago though he disappeared just as quick after saying goodbye and telling them everything about the mission-which is just everything the hokage told them-still Naruto had not yet arrived. Sai couldn't make it because he had another Anbu mission. So here she is waiting for Naruto alone with Sasuke and instead of being happy because that's what she'd always wanted but she's angry because not only is Sasuke not talking, she can't think of anything to say that wouldn't make her sound like a fool, and all of this is Naruto's fault if she was here she wouldn't have been in this predicament.
'when I get my hands on her I will...'
She stood abruptly resuming her pacing with her fists clenched at her side, Sasuke didn't bother stopping her this time.
"What could be taking her so long?" She grumbled aloud drawing Sasuke's attention though he remained silent.
She stopped pacing to consider the reason for her tardiness. It is rather unusual of her, she's always been one of the first people to arrive in a meeting, because according to her she'd rather be dead than be later than Kakashi-sensei. With a sigh she turned toward Sasuke who was watching her like she'd spouted two heads she ignored him and was about to tell him that maybe they should go look for Naruto at her apartment but he interrupted her before she could open her mouth.
"She isn't there."
Sakura blinked not surprised that he'd guessed what she was about to say, but that Naruto isn't at her apartment. Where else would she be?
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke shrugged as he stood up to stretch his now stiff muscles. "I sent a clone earlier and there was no one there." He said flatly as if that's supposed to be obvious to her.
Sakura shook her head from her momentary distraction of Sasuke's muscles stretch to focus on what he was saying. "Wait, you mean that Naruto didn't sleep at her apartment?"
Sasuke gave her an irritated look, "what I mean is when my clone knocked at her door earlier no one answered, she's probably stuffing her face with ramen somewhere and she forgot the time. The best course of action is to wait for her in case we miss her when she gets here."
Sakura blinked again, that was the most she'd heard him speak and then she realised that he was probably trying to make her stop worrying in his own way, she smiled up at him. "Thanks Sasuke."
"Hn." He shrugged.
She was about to say something else when they both felt a familiar chakra approaching. They turned to see Naruto running towards them.
She stopped right in front of them, bending over to catch her breath. She was about to apologize when a fist knocked her on the head, hard.
"Ow! Sakura-Chan, what was that for?" She whined rubbing the abused spot on her Head.
"That's for being late idiot." Said Sakura crossing her arms with a scowl on her face. "Where have you been?"
Naruto froze at the question a flash of panic registered in her eyes Sakura caught it and frowned, Naruto's eyes dropped on the ground.
"I-uhm." Naruto's hand shot out to rub behind her head a gesture she always did when she was nervous. Sakura's frown deepened why would Naruto be nervous about answering a simple question?
"You were on a ramen run again weren't you?" Both heads whipped in the direction of Sasuke who was now standing with his arms crossed in front of him. He had one brow raised in questioning while his face remained blank.
Naruto grabbed onto the reason as if it was her lifeline. "Yeah! Sorry guys I didn't mean to keep you waiting, but I couldn't help myself ha ah!"
"Hn Dobe."
"Don't call me that Teme!" Though she smiled in relief at the save, she owed him one.
Sakura's frown didn't disappear in fact if possible it deepened further but this time it was in confusion. She didn't understand why Naruto was acting so strange, where could she have been that she didn't want to tell them? And why was Sasuke trying to cover for her? Did he know something? Did he lie to her about her not being in her apartment? All these question raised themselves in her head in suspicions. She shot him a look to which he shrugged and tipped his head in Naruto's direction, who was now looking to the side seemingly deep in thought judging by the pinched expression on her face, she looked distressed she kept fiddling with her thumb and biting her lips in worries.
Sakura's face softened against her will, a worried expression settled on her face instead. She walked over to where her friend was standing and put a hand on her shoulder startling the blond out of her thoughts.
"Naruto are you okay?" Naruto's eyes widened in surprise at the worry in her friend's face, a small grateful smile graced her lips as she nodded.
"I'm fine, but thanks Sakura-Chan." she said hugging her, she returned the gesture.
"If you're done feeling each other up I'd like to start on the mission." Sasuke said boredom dripping from his voice.
Sakura looked appalled at his words releasing from the hug almost immediately while Naruto just rolled her eyes.
"Jealous much, teme?"
"Hardly." Sasuke snorted, "but we do need to start going, the sooner we start the sooner I can get rid of you."
Naruto glared at him with her hands on her hips, "well it's not like I'm thrilled to be working with you either, your pathetic ass will probably keep us back anyway."
"Are you sure that you're not talking about yourself?" Sasuke sneered.
And just like that they were back to normal with Naruto and Sasuke arguing back and forth and Sakura trying to keep them from killing each other. Whatever the problem was with Naruto, she seem to have forgotten it, for now, so maybe it wasn't that serious, Sakura thought as they made their way to the village gates.
-line break-
"Shikamaru wake up you lazy bum!"
Shikamaru groaned as he woke with a start at the sound of pounding on the door and Ino's voice, he stumbled his way out of his room to open the door. His head was still killing him and the noise wasn't helping.
He opened the door and glared at both his teammates standing by the door. Ino had her hand raised in a fist, ready to pound on his door once more. He scowled at them with his bloodshot eyes.
"Is there a reason why you're trying to break my door?"
"Hello to you too sleepy head. Now get out of my way." Ino said and before he could stop her, she walked right pass him and straight in his living room.
His scowl intensified and he shot Chouji a glare as if this was his fault, the latter only shrugged. "You missed lunch, man." Was all he said lifting a bag of food in his hand. Shikamaru's brows lifted in surprise, he hadn't realised he'd slept that long. He stepped aside to let Chouji in and both followed after their female teammate.
"Damn!" he heard her say from the living room, "what the hell happened in here?"
Shikamaru froze on his track has he'd just remembered why he'd been sleeping. Naruto. At this, he touched his face where she'd punched him. He sigh in relief, the bruise wasn't that bad.
He'd gone straight back to bed after Naruto had left hoping that his headache will subdue, so he didn't get to fix the mess they'd probably made Last night. With a sigh he reluctantly dragged himself where his friends were both standing looking around the living room. He blinked in surprise as he surveyed the room himself. 'It's not that bad' he thought to himself and it's true, only some furniture seemed out of place and they were things on the floor here and there. Frankly, he'd expected worse, broken table, torn curtains...that sort of mess.
He shrugged as a response to Ino's question quickly thinking of an excuse. "I was looking for something." Was his lame answer. Without looking at his friends, he started arranging the couch back in place.
Ino rolled her eyes believing the lie immediately, to her there wasn't any reason why he would lie anyway. "Well, I'm going to fetch some plates, I'm hungry." With that, she went in the kitchen.
Chouji went to help Shikamaru. They worked in silence for a while with Chouji glancing discreetly at his friend in concern, whose mind seemed far away, his expression pensive.
"Are you alright mate?" He asked after awhile.
Shikamaru looked up and was about to tell him that he was fine but he hesitated, should he tell him? This was Chouji his best friend, the only other person he trust with his secrets besides himself. But he's not yet ready to tell anyone, it's probably for the best he doesn't think Chouji will be too happy to learn that he'd just took Naruto's innocence and thrown it back to her face this morning. After a moment of thoughts he shook his head, yep he'd just keep it between himself and Naruto and if possible no one will ever have to know about it.
"Yeah I'm cool, just a little tired I guess." 'And sore', he thought stretching his stiff muscles.
"Rough night?"
"You could say that?" He said, snorting at the understatement.
"I hope Naruto didn't bother you." Chouji turned to him concerned written on his face, with a tilt of his head.
Shikamaru froze and he looked at his friend his expression carefully guarded. "What makes you think that?"
Chouji shrugged, "it's just she was pretty drunk last night and I kinda asked her to check up on you." He sounded apologetic. Shikamaru inwardly sighed in relief, outwardly he gave a smile.
"Don't worry, she didn't bother me at all." He said as they finished with the last of the furniture. They stood up side by side watching their handy work when Chouji decided to ask the question he'd been dreading.
"So where did you go last night?"
"What do you mean?" He said stalling for an answer.
"When I went to check on you two, there was no one on the balcony and since I was in the kitchen the whole time I didn't see you come in..." He trailed of because Shikamaru was giving him an annoyed glare.
"What's up with you? Why are you questioning me?" He gave him a suspicious look when something occurred to him,"did Ino put you up to this?"
"Up to what?" Ino said emerging from the kitchen with three plates and a cup of...something hot in her hands, Chouji went to free her from the plates to put it on the table, happy to get away from Shikamaru's glare. "Are you two talking about the reason why Shikamaru didn't join us at the party?"
"What are you talking about? I was at the party." Shikamaru scowled in irritation, not at them but at himself for being in this predicament.
"Yes, but you weren't with us at the party." She said giving him the cup with the instruction to drink while still hot, "I figured you'd have a hangover so I brought you one of my speciality." She said with a wink taking a sit on the table next to Chouji who was already digging into his food.
"Thanks," Shikamaru muttered the scowl still on his face. With a silent thanks for the food he started eating while contemplating different ways to get rid of them. It is obvious that him missing lunch wasn't the only reason why they'd come. Prying is the main reason and it doesn't take a genius to guess who's idea that was, he thought glancing at Ino who caught him looking and flashed him an innocent smile. He sighed in resignation as he forced himself to eat his food.
Ino spoke after awhile, "so are you going to tell us or do I have to ask you."
"Tell you what?" He said, inwardly he frowned at their persistence. Could it be that they're suspecting something? But it can't be, the only person that knew that he'd been with Naruto apparently was Chouji and there's no way that he'd seen anything happening between them, because if he did, he wouldn't have let Ino to come interrogate him. He looked over at his friend who shifted uncomfortably when he caught his raised brow, but shrugged in response. So yeah, it's something else that brought them here.
Ino rolled her eyes at him, "Shikamaru don't play dumb, you know damn well what I'm talking about." When he didn't say anything but just raised an eyebrow she sighed, "fine, we know about Temari."
He froze after a moment he relaxed again, 'so that's what this is all about', he thought, his mind already figuring where the conversation is going. He carried on eating not raising his head he asked, "who told you?"
"No one. I saw her," she said crossing her arms on the table, "she was really upset, she told me that it was over between you two, but she wouldn't tell me the reason. What did you do?"
Shikamaru scowled, "what makes you think I did something?"
"You're a guy."
He rolled his eyes, "of course, because us guys are scum right?"
"Exactly!" She said with a cheerful smile. "Now spill, and what happened to your hand and face? Were you in a fight?" She said in alarm as she walked over to sit next to him.
Shikamaru looked at his hand in surprise having forgotten about it. He let Ino heal it when she asked for it, but when she went to heal his bruised cheek he stopped her. "Leave it." He deserved that one.
Ino gave him an odd look, but didn't push it. "So do you want to talk about it?"
Shikamaru's teeth clenched, he wasn't ready to talk about it, especially now after yesterday. He'd spilled his gut to Naruto and it didn't end; not that anything will happen with Ino, he is not that hormonal. Though, He couldn't help but think that it was somehow Temari's fault, if she hadn't broken up with him he wouldn't have- no, not going there now, but later when his friends are gone. He sighed again (how many times had he done that this morning?) suddenly not feeling hungry anymore, wiping his hands with a napkin he stood up and made his way back to the living room he threw himself on the couch facing the ceiling.
Ino who's not one to give up so easily followed him bringing his cup with her, he'd forgotten it on the table. He took it from her since his head had started pounding again, he immediately felt better after one sip so he took more, it was tasteless for something that looked so disgusting. Chouji followed after them, sitting on the couch across Shikamaru.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," he said smiling gently, "we just came to check up on you, you haven't been yourself lately."
Good old Chouji, always the peace maker.
"Speak for yourself." Ino said, "I want to know everything. Why did you break up with her if you lov-"
"She broke up with me." Shikamaru cut her off.
Ino blinked in surprise,"wai-what! But why?"
Chouji looked at his friend in concern, "are you alright man?" He asked knowing that his friend must've taken it hard.
Before Shikamaru could respond Ino waved him away so she could sit next to him, "forget about not saying anything, I want you to tell me everything. I need to know what could have caused Temari to break up with you, I mean you lazy and all-frankly, I wouldn't blame her- but I thought you guys were lovey dovey, or whatever."
Shikamaru sighed in resignation, soon or later they would've learn about it and he'd rather it'd be sooner so that Ino would stop pestering him. So with a deep breath he told them everything about him and Temari's break up. When he was done they fell into silence.
"So yesterday after the party you didn't do anything reckless did you?"
Shikamaru sighed, what an understatement. 'Reckless' isn't the word he'd use for what he did. But he shook his head anyway, not wanting to give Ino more gossip to spread.
Ino looked unconvinced, but before she could say anything Chouji opened his mouth to ask.
"So the council is forcing Temari-san into marrying you?"
Shikamaru nodded, his annoyance showing on his face. He still can't believe that Temari had let them talk her into this. She should've known that he wouldn't go along with their ideas. And it's not like Suna and Konoha are not in good terms either, on the contrary, the alliance has never been stronger especially with Naruto and Gaara being close friends and all.
"Is her brother okay with it?"
Ino snorted, "there's no way Gaara will let her sister be forced into marrying."
Shikamaru silently agreed, Gaara isn't one to be easily swayed by the council or anybody for that matter, especially when it comes to the people he cares about. Now that he really thinks about it, it is strange that Temari came all the way from Suna to tell him about it, surely he would have heard about it from the hokage sooner or later. Maybe it wasn't official yet. He frowned as something occurred to him. Would she marry someone else now that he'd said no? He wondered, that will be messed up, he really needs to talk to her. Right now, he felt like he was missing something.
"So why did you say no? I thought you loved her." Ino narrowed her eyes in confusion.
He shrugged putting his hands behind his head he laid back on the couch. "I do. I just don't want to get married on anyone's terms."
Ino rolled her eyes, "we're ninjas, we don't always get what we want, idiot."
Shikamaru shot her a look that says 'You're one to talk ', she sniffed at that.
Chouji took out a packet of chips as he shifted in his sit uncomfortably. "what are you going to do, man?"
"I will try and talk to her."
"You're an idiot." Ino said and he rolled his eyes. "Don't you roll your eyes at me. You can't just 'try talk to her ' that just won't do , you have to apologize!"
"Apologize for what? I didn't do anything."
She jumped up in frustration, "You're so infuriating! How many times must I tell you that us girls like when guys take fault even when they're not wrong!"
Chouji snorted despite himself, humble and Shikamaru didn't belong in the same sentence.
"She's the one that broke up with me. I'm going to talk to her and make her understand my point of view, but I'm not apologizing for anything."
Ino sat back down in a defeating sigh. "Whatever, don't say I didn't warn you."
They fell in silence again with only the sound of Chouji eating chips.
"So how did you get that bruise?" Ino pointed to his face. "I don't think you had it last night when you came."
He was hoping she wouldn't ask, he grimaced at the reminder of Naruto and why she punched him. Now, there's someone he owes an apology to; he had probably hurt her feelings. How troublesome, he thought tiredly.
"I walked into a door." That was probably the lamest excuse anyone had ever come up with but he didn't care.
"From your side?" She looked sceptical.
"Yes."
She narrowed her eyes in suspicions sensing that he was hiding something. "And it left you a bruise on the cheek?"
"Yes."
"It looks like someone punched you."
"No it doesn't."
"Yes it does."
"No one punched me, Ino, just give it up."
Normally she would just pester him until he tells her, but today he wasn't in the mood for her prying.
Ino threw her hands in the air in frustration. "What is wrong with you? Why won't you tell me who punched you?"
"Don't you have someone else to bother?"
Ino was about to respond, but Chouji jumped in before things could get out of hand. "Ino, didn't you say Ibiki wanted you to go in early?"
Ino threw him a glare for interfering, with an angry huff she stood up to go in the kitchen taking Shikamaru's cup with her all the while grumbling to herself.
Chouji visibly relaxed, when she was out of the room he shifted again in his sit to make himself comfortable." She is just trying to look out for you."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "well, I can take care of myself just fine."
Chouji just shrugged his mouth full of chips, he'd already started on another packet. He had so many questions to ask but he knew that his friend didn't want to talk. It doesn't help that Shikamaru's eyes kept shifting between the door and the bedroom it's obvious that he didn't want them here. He shifted again, he frowned as he felt something behind him, he brought his hand behind him to retrieve the item. He saw that it was a small piece of orange clothing, strange, it looked familiar, he narrowed his eyes and stretched the clothing and found that it was a top. He gasped when he remembered where he'd seen it or who he'd seen wearing it.
Shikamaru who had been about to drift off woke up at the sound and looked up at his him in question. Chouji's face was pale, his eyes wide in confusion and he was holding something small and orange. Naruto's top.
Shikamaru's own eyes widened, his whole body froze and his only thought was 'why the hell do I keep getting myself in these situations?'
"wha-" Chouji said still not able to believe what he was seeing, he shook his head to clear it and he tried again, "this is Naruto's top right?"
Shikamaru quickly debated between denying it but decided against it, there's no way Chouji would believe him so he just nodded slowly, If possible, Chouji's face paled even further. Frankly, he thought that Chouji's reaction was a little overboard, it can't be that shocking to have someone's clothing at your place he leaves his clothes at Ino's all the time, doesn't mean there's anything going on between them. Then again, the circumstances are different he could just imagine what's going through Chouji's mind, he must be wondering how did Naruto get home without a top and what could cause her to leave it here. It doesn't take a genius to put the dots together.
Just as he thought, Chouji must've put the dots together because he was now hyperventilating.
"Chouji, calm down." He said calmly or as calmly as he could considering his body was tense, right now all he wanted to do was jump out of his window. "I can explain, this isn't what you think, all this was just an accident."
Chouji relaxed letting out a breath, "ah so you didn't...you know...do it?" He asked blushing in embarrassment.
"Uhm...not exactly,"
Poor Chouji he looked like he was having a stroke as he choked on his spit. "What the hell man?!" He exclaimed when he regained control of himself again.
Shikamaru shook his head, "I can explain, believe me I didn't meant for it to happen-" before he could finish though they heard Ino walked in.
"I need to get back to work guys-"
With speed he didn't know he possessed, Shikamaru snatched the top from Chouji and sat on it to keep Ino from seeing it.
"-Ibiki didn't give me much time..." She trailed off when she saw both her teammates looking wide eyed and pale, "what did I miss?"
Shikamaru glanced at Chouji with a pleading look and the latter shook his head in response to Ino's question. Neither of them speaking.
Ino look suspiciously between them, Chouji wouldn't meet her eyes and Shikamaru wasn't even looking at her. She would have insisted they tell her if she still had time, as it was she was already running late . "Are you coming with me?" She asked Chouji instead.
"Yes... Uhm, I promised to help my dad with something. So see you... Uh... Later Shikamaru." He said standing up, he followed Ino, who was ignoring Shikamaru out the door but not before sending Shikamaru a meaningful look. They will discuss this later.
Shikamaru waited until he was sure they were gone only then did he relax in his seat. After a moment he took out the top and looked at it, it was so bright that he still wonder how he'd miss it earlier. And when had they (as in he and Naruto) gone in the living room? Because he really doesn't remember that part.
"How troublesome." He muttered not for the first time that morning.
-line break -
"Naruto, are you even listening to me?"
"Uh?" Naruto blinked as she was brought out of her thoughts, again. She turned to see Sakura looking expectantly at her, she turned to Sasuke maybe he would give her a clue as to what she'd miss, not a chance Sasuke's face was as blank as a board. She scowled at him, then turned back to Sakura with a sheepish smile.
Sakura sighed in exasperation, "I said we should book a room with two beds to save money, Sasuke-kun doesn't mind sharing a room with us."
"Why do we have to share a room? From what I know we have enough funds to each book a room."
"Because it will be a waste, and we shouldn't take advantage of our client's generosity."
"He's the one that said we could, how is that taking advantage of his generosity." Naruto frowned in confusion, sometimes her friend made no sense at all.
"It is when I say it is, beside Sasuke doesn't mind, right Sasuke-kun?" Asked Sakura in a sweet voice.
"Hn, whatever." Sasuke said without stopping.
Naruto's eyes widened in realization and she pointed her finger accusingly at Sakura. "You just want to be in the same room as Sasuke so you could watch when he s-" Sakura hurriedly covered her mouth with her hands to keep her from saying anything more. But Naruto would not be kept quiet easily, she snatched herself from Sakura.
"Ah Sakura you pervert!" She shouted drawing attention from a passerby. Sakura turned red and with probably more force than necessary punched her loudmouth friend.
"Shut your mouth you idiot!"
"Oww! But Sakura-Chan it's true!" Naruto said rubbing her head from the blow. Sakura was about to punch her again but Sasuke stopped her.
"Both of you should stop acting like idiots, you're drawing too much attention."
Sakura blushed in embarrassment, but Naruto just stuck her tongue out at him. Sasuke rolled his eyes at her childish behaviour, at least she's acting like herself again, well, mostly. She hasn't spoken much since they left the village, she kept zoning out, and whatever she was thinking about will leave her embarrassed. Now they were on their way to find the inn that was appointed to them having traveled at full speed so that they wouldn't camp out for the night. Luckily they arrived just before sunset.
The inn wasn't too bad, mediocre at best, Naruto thought when they arrived. The inn keeper was friendly enough and he didn't even asked questions when they told him that the chief was paying, he just nodded and called for his assistant to show them their room.
The room was spacious enough for the three of them, it consisted of two beds big enough for only one person and Naruto sent a glare towards Sakura to which the latter smiled sheepishly. There was a door on the of the room, probably the bathroom. With a sigh she dragged herself in the room toward the window, at least it has a nice view, she thought looking down at the village.
Sakura collapsed on the bed kicking her sandals off and almost immediately, she jumped back off taking her stuff with her she ran for the shower wanting to be the first to use the hot water.
Naruto shook her head in amusement, she smirked when she saw Sasuke's annoyed expression directed at the bathroom door. The bastard was probably planning to go in first, serves him right. She looked back out the window, to the slowly empting street. She smiled when she saw two kids playing with a ball. The village seemed peaceful enough, not at all like a place being invaded by missing nin, then again the old hag said that it was a particular restaurant that was suspected of illegal activity and it could be rumours for all they know. Something caught her eyes, it was a couple, they were both sitting close together on the bench seemingly not aware of the darkening sky or they just didn't care. They looked so comfortable sitting close together, the girl had her head on the guy's shoulder, he said something to her and she looked up and they were both leaning towards each other. Naruto quickly looked away her cheeks warm, she felt like she was intruding. As she turned she saw Sasuke looking at her with a raised brow, her blush deepened and she grinned in embarrassment scratching the back of her head feeling even more stupid because Sasuke couldn't have known what she'd seen.
"What's up with you?" He asked walking over to his bed (the bed he'll be occupying for the duration of this mission).
"Nothing." It would have been believable if her voice didn't go high up, she cleared her throat, "I mean why would you think there's anything wrong with me?"
"You've been acting weird the whole day."
She has hasn't she? I just lost my virginity to one of my friends who up until now I never looked at in romantic way (not that there's anything romantic about a drunken night sex with your friend), so how am not supposed to act weird? She wanted to shout but instead she took a deep breath to calm herself because she was pretty sure that Sasuke would kill Shikamaru if he ever found out, and the fact that it's pretty embarrassing was another reason why she couldn't tell him or anyone for that matter.
So with a forced practiced smile that Sasuke probably saw through she said "I will be fine." And it's true, she always is fine at the end, because she never lets anything bring her down for long, she always bounces back on her feet, that's why she'd come this far.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed but before he could say anything Sakura came in looking fresh and clean.
Naruto gaped, relieved for the distraction, she pointed her finger at her, "who are you and what have you done to Sakura-chan?"
Sakura looked at her in confusion.
"You took less than ten minutes." Sasuke explained.
Sakura blushed and looked at her toes, "well, we're on mission."
Naruto snorted, "like that ever stopped you before."
"Do you want to repeat that for me?"
"No thanks! I was just about to go take a shower too." She squeaked making her way hastily to the bathroom but stopped to turn, "did you want to use the shower?" She asked Sasuke who looked more irritated. After a moment, he sighed and shook his head and Naruto flashed him a bright smile before sauntering off to the bathroom.
Closing the door she let her smile slip off . She made her way in front of the mirror, her reflection stared back at her, she stripped-down naked still staring at her face in the mirror. She still looked the same as the last time she'd looked at her reflection, yet, she feels different somehow, something in her has shifted. Is that what feeling like a 'woman' means? She'd heard stories about girls having sex for the first time, they said you're supposed to look different too, older. She wrinkled her nose at the silly notion, She looked down at herself and blushed in embarrassment when she remembered last night for the umpteenth time since she woke up. She sighed 'did I really have to make a jutsu name during sex?' She thought her face flaming in mortifying embarrassment. what must have Shikamaru thought of her? She froze in horror, what the hell is happening to her? And since when does she care what Shikamaru thinks of her? She slapped herself on the cheek multiple times to focus.
"Focus Naruto, focus!" She scolded herself, "you have to forget about last night and concentrate on the mission because you can't afford to be distracted-"
A snort interrupted her she glanced around the room in confusion, when she was sure that she was alone and that the sound couldn't have come from the outside so that only leaves...
"Kurama?" She tried softly but there was no response, she tried a couple of more times inwardly and outwardly still nothing.
With a disappointed sigh she made her way to the shower.
Fifteen minutes later she was done and out of the bathroom.
The moment she stepped into the room Sakura abruptly stopped talking and they both turned to look at her with wide eyes. well, Sakura's eyes were wide Sasuke just looked bored.
She looked between the two suspiciously, before she could ask them anything, Sakura jumped from her sit.
"Naruto! We were just talking about you!" She exclaimed cheerfully.
"You were?" She asked looking doubtfully between the two. "Why?"
"We decided to take you out for dinner tomorrow."
"I decided no such thing." Sasuke said immediately.
Sakura sent him a pleading look to which he ignored by taking out his clothes out of his bag.
'Cold bastard' Naruto thought and as if sensing her thoughts he looked up to give her one of his superior smirk. Naruto rolled her eyes at him. Her suspicion about them increased, they were trying to hide something from her or at least Sakura was, it was hard to tell with Sasuke. People always assume that she can read Sasuke easily, but that's only the case when Sasuke allows her but right now, he had his guard up. She looked between the two and decided to let it slide, for now, she's too tired to try and get them to tell her anyway.
"But Sakura-Chan , we're on a mission." She said deciding to play along she walked over to them, "you're the one always saying the mission should be our first priority, so what gives now?"
"It's you."
"Me? What did I do?" She said grabbing her bag where she'd left it on the floor, she took the towel inside to wipe her still wet hair.
"You've been moping around whole day, so I thought that we should all go out together, it might cheer you up." Sakura said taking the towel from Naruto.
"I wasn't moping." Naruto grumbled letting Sakura dry her hair.
"Oh please, have you looked yourself in the mirror lately?"
"uhm yes, why?"
"Because you look pathetic." Sasuke interjected from his seat.
Naruto glared at him. "What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be in the shower by now?"
Sasuke smirked, "what makes you think I'm not?"
Just then they heard the shower being turned on and the sound of water splashing. They turned to the smug looking clone on the bed who mouthed the word 'loser' before dispersing into tiny snakes.
Naruto glared at the spot where the clone had been. "Jerk." She muttered under her breath.
"At least he talks to you." Sakura said with a sigh leaning over to take the brush from the nightstand.
"Yeah, only to annoy me." Naruto grumbled, "and what do you mean by that? Sasuke talks to you too!"
"Only if he has to and those occasions are rare."
They fell silent for a while, with Sakura brushing Naruto's hair. When she was done, Naruto took her hands in both hers.
"Don't let it bother you, Sasuke is Sasuke, he will come around eventually." She said, then added. "Plus, Sasuke is like a brother to me."
"I know." Sakura squeezed her hands, "with the way you guys fight all the time I don't think there will be any time for romance between you two."
Naruto made a face at the word romance and they both laughed.
"So," Sakura said after they calmed down, "are you going to tell me what's wrong with you?"
Naruto thought about it for a moment before nodding to herself. Sakura might know what she's going through, but before she could talk they heard the shower go off. Sasuke was done.
Sakura squeezed her thigh to indicate that she'll always be there if Naruto needed talking. Naruto smiled gratefully.
"Anyway, about that dinner?"
Naruto groaned, "I thought you'd forgotten about that."
"You wish." Sakura said grinning.
"I don't suppose I have a choice do I?"
"Nope!" Sakura sing songed.
"Okay." Naruto said in a defeated tone, but she was smiling.
Sakura jumped triumphantly, she even did some silly dance which caused Naruto to laugh.
"OMG! I've got so much plan for both of us, but we're going shopping first, there's this shop I saw on our way here that sells nice..."
At the word shopping Naruto paled and the more Sakura talked the paler she got.
"Oh!" Sakura gasped and whatever was coming out next Naruto knew she wouldn't like it. "We can go to the spa!" Sakura squealed and Naruto's brain screamed in horror with her.
"Sakura!"
Sakura stopped whatever she was saying to stare at her with wide. She needed to intervene before it got out of control. So with a deep breath and a level of maturity that she does (not) have she said, "we're on a mission. How about we finish it first, then we can have fun later? " She suggested hopefully.
Sakura's excited grin widened, "ha! that's the best part." She took a deep breath as if preparing to launch into an explanation of the fact of life, "we're going to the restaurant in which we were assigned for the mission. Think about it, the villagers see us shopping and having fun they will think that we're just normal teenagers visiting their village, that will be enough cover for us to go to the restaurant without looking suspicious, and whatever missing-nin that might be lurking around will drop their guard around us then BAM! We catch them."
she stopped to take a breath before smirking smugly, "so, what do you think?"
"I think it could work ." It was Sasuke that answered joining them in the room.
Naruto was too busy gaping to say anything. she shook her head in disbelief, no matter how many times this happens she will never stop being shocked at how smart Sakura is. She certainly doesn't look it with her pink hair and all. She'd actually plan this from the beginning!
"Wow Sakura-chan, you really thought this through didn't you?"
Sakura blushed at being complimented by Sasuke. She'd stopped paying attention to Naruto as soon as Sasuke entered the room. He looked hot with his hair wet, and he didn't have a shirt on! She could see every muscles and abs. Inner Sakura squealed in excitement. No matter how many times she sees him like that she never gets tired of it, now only if she could touch it.
"Cover up bastard, you're embarrassing Sakura-Chan." Naruto said from the bed amused at the effect Sasuke's body was having on Sakura.
Sakura glared at her, and Naruto lifted her hands in surrender. "Fine, Sasuke stay like that and why don't you throw in some sexy moves while you're at it?" She said sarcasm dripping at the word 'sexy'.
Sasuke tilted his head to the side a smirk pulling at his lips. "So does that mean you think I'm sexy."
"You wish." Naruto rolled her eyes, "you make Kakashi-sensei look attractive in comparison."
"Sensei is attractive." Sakura said.
Sasuke and Naruto turned to look at her, the former mildly interested and the latter sceptical.
"What?" She said defensively, "it's true."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "and you know this how?"
Sakura willed herself to stop blushing like a school girl, she's eighteen for crying out loud! "Ino once tricked Hinata into using her byakugan to look beneath Kakashi's mask." She said in wonder, how had she forgotten about that?
Naruto's jaw dropped, even Sasuke had his eyes slightly opened wide in surprise. Naruto couldn't believe it, there is one person in Konoha who had seen their sensei's face? Naruto stood up and went to Sakura shaking her body senseless.
"Why haven't you told us?!" She screamed in desperation.
Sakura scratched her cheek sheepishly, "because I was drunk and I forgot it happened?"
"Figures." Sasuke muttered with a snort, he walked over to his bed to go sleep leaving his two teammates gossiping about what their sensei looked like under his mask or should he say masks? He thought, remembering the time they were twelve and they wanted to see their sensei's face...yep he still can't believe that happened. With a soft chuckle he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"So, tomorrow uh?" Naruto said climbing on the bed to join Sakura who was already on her side of the bed which wasn't very far since the bed was small. It was pretty late, she'd spent most of the evening squeezing Sakura for information about their sensei. "So when did you plan all that? There's no way I will believe that you planned it on the spot."
"Well, I've been planning for us to go out together, you know, because it's been awhile and I miss you what with me at the hospital all the time and you training to be the next hokage, so when the mission came I couldn't help to think of what else we could do during our stay here. I hear the village of waterfall has nice clothes lets check it out tomorrow okay?"
Naruto rolled her eyes, "so now you're asking me?"
"Just so you know, your answer won't change anything."
Naruto smiled, "even if it's a yes?"
Sakura smiled back, "was no ever an option?"
Naruto pretended to think about it then grinned, "with you? No."
Sakura yawned, "I didn't think so." She mumbled her eyes felt heavy, any minutes now she will fall asleep.
Naruto laughed softly, "go to sleep Sakura-chan." She said turning around so she can get some rest herself.
"What are you talking about? I'm already asleep." Sakura said with a smile.
"Oh okay, if you say so. Goodnight Sakura -chan."
"Both of you shut up!" Sasuke growled from his bed causing both girls to giggle. With another growl he threw the pillow on his head. The teme had always liked his beauty sleep.
"Goodnight Naruto." Sakura whispered when they were done laughing. She closed her eyes this time letting herself drift asleep.
Naruto smiled feeling way better than she did the whole day since that happened. She closed her eyes succumbing to sleep, because she knows that she will need all her strength if she wants to keep up with Sakura tomorrow.