The Uzumaki household was busy with people inside it planning for Naruto and Sakura's upcoming wedding. Many months had passed, and winter had arrived in the Leaf village. With the wedding date officially set for April the third, time was of the essence for the soon-to-be-married couple to finalize a venue and send invitations. Ino, as the wedding planner, had been working with the couple hand in hand with every step. With multiple venues needing to cancel, the couple's invitations had to be postponed several times. The newest venue seemed promising, as they would hear the finalization of confirmation today.

Sakura sat beside Naruto, piling up a stack of invitations with her signature. Naruto slowly scribbled out his signature, wanting it to be perfect, but his handwriting was messy. Sai sat at the end of the dining room table, bored, waiting for Naruto to finish so he could pack away invitations to be mailed out. Ino was leaning against the doorway between the dining room and kitchen with the phone between her shoulder and ear as she was busy handling a call with the latest venue. Mebuki Haruno was busy running in between the kitchen cooking and trying to listen to Ino's conversation simultaneously. In contrast, Kizashi Haruno snored mouth wide in the living room's recliner chair in front of the television.

So far, the invitation packing tracking was going as fast as Naruto let it when Ino's eyes widened before they narrowed, and she began to growl. "What do you mean you have to cancel? You realize this is a large wedding, and you are the biggest public space we can rent!" the others at the table paused at the table while Mebuki ran to Ino, eyes wide, looking for an update. "Yeah, I'll remember this the next time I have a bride that has a large wedding! We won't consider you at all. It's a promise goodbye!" Ino took the phone from her shoulder, hit the end button, and put it back on the dial. "Jokes on them because I'm not planning any more besides my wedding!"

Sakura sighed, her shoulder slightly slumped as she stood up. Her hair had gotten much longer as she decided to grow it out for the wedding. She tucked some hair behind her right ear. "We lost the venue again, right?" She asked, sounding defeated.

Ino sighed and began rubbing her temples. "Yes, how will we house all these people for a wedding, not to mention decorate the place? We've still got four months before the date, but we need to give people time to set aside the time for the date!"

Sakura frowned and then grabbed the clipboard beside Naruto. "Alright, what if we look at the guest list again? We can find more people to remove from it, right?"

"Not really," Naruto said, running a hand through his hair. "We're both getting asked daily for invitations, y'know."

Sai frowned and set the envelope down. "Then we should stop packing the invitations….Again."

Mebuki angrily exhaled and put her hands on her hips. "And we need to get a caterer and the wedding cake! How will we afford enough food for more than two hundred people?"

"Two hundred?" Ino said, almost laughing. "Two hundred would be fantastic; we're back to six hundred! These two know and are friends with almost everyone on the face of the earth!"

"And I still need to get a wedding dress…" Sakura said softly. Everyone groaned, and there was a knock at the door. Sakura sighed and headed toward the door. "I'll get it." She opened the door, and her eyes widened to see Kakashi standing in the doorway.

"Yo," He said happily.

"Kakashi sensei! Please come in!" Sakura said, taking a step back.

She took his coat, hung it up, and closed the door as he took his shoes off when they returned to the dining room. Everyone greeted the Sixth Hokage, and he sat next to Sai at the head of the table.

"So, how's the wedding planning been going?" Kakashi asked the room. Everyone groaned, and his eyes widened. "That bad?"

Ino began rubbing her temples. "The venue canceled."

Kakashi's eyebrows creased together, and he looked over at Naruto. "Did you mention that you invited Gaara on our phone call with him today?"

Naruto looked away as he began rubbing his neck. "Well ah…."

"YOU WHAT!" Ino shouted, turning her glare in his direction.

"Ino!" Sakura said, pointing in the direction of Kizashi. "My father is trying to sleep!"

Ino turned her glare from Naruto to Sakura. "Uncle Kizashi can sleep through an earthquake. We all know it! Do you not realize what other kinds of problems this will bring?"

Sakura angrily exhaled. "Ino, get to the point! You knew we were going to invite him anyway!"

"Political scandal!" Ino growled each word slowly.

Kakashi cleared his throat, causing everyone to look his way. "Yes, Ino would be correct. If one Kage were to visit during the wedding of someone supposedly in line to be Hokage in the future, that would mean our village is showing the Sand political favor. And in our current agreement between the five villages. That would be very unfortunate, especially given some of our history. So, to solve this, I made a point to invite all the other Kage on your behalf."

Sai's eyes widened then. "So the Five Kage, their guards. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire will be here along with his guards. Not to mention all the people Naruto and Sakura have met over the years. The Anbu is going to be spread thin."

Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose. "So we're now in the thousands range."

Kakashi folded his hands atop the table and nodded. "Yes, so Lady Fifth and I have a plan to mitigate a lot of the traffic that will be occurring in the village. You can use the Hokage building as the venue for the wedding. We'll convert one of the largest rooms into a wedding hall."

Naruto's eyes widened as he excitedly perked up. "You'll do that for us, Kakashi sensei?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Thank you, Kakashi sensei!" Sakura said, feeling relief wash over her from head to toe. "Now, what about all the visitors and guests?"

Kakashi smiled. "With that many high-profile guests visiting now, you can be more exclusive with the actual wedding ceremony attendees, which means mostly your friends and family here in the village. As for all the other villagers, we'll set up some cameras inside so that villagers can view the wedding on TV. For the reception, we need to think about another location."

Ino tapped her chin with her index finger several times before smiling. "Training ground seven! There are a lot of cherry blossom trees there, so it will fit with the spring theme Naruto wanted! And since we get to use the Hokage building for free, that gives more than enough money to pay for caterers, decorations, and the reception! Bring a gift, get a ticket reception, no gift, no entry. Save the dates notices are back on! We'll send a follow-up with the new location next month!"

It was as if someone had opened a window, and all the tension in the air had been sucked right through it. Naruto grinned and grabbed the next invite in the stack before him. He quickly signed it and handed it to Sai to place into an envelope. Mebuki happily squealed and returned to the kitchen to check on the food. Kizashi woke up from sleeping. Everyone stopped and looked at him. He opens a water bottle, takes a sip, and falls asleep without provocation. Ino took the opportunity to move to the table, sitting next to Kakashi and across from Sai.

"Also, Kakashi sensei." Ino started as she grabbed her notebook, a pen waiting in the metal spiral along the side. "That reminds me, since you are here. Would you do the happy couple the honor of officiating the wedding?"

Kakashi's eyes widened then. "Me?"

"Yes, of course you!" Ino replied matter of factly. "Think about you being their sensei, and this wedding will be a celebration the village needs. Who better to officiate than the Hokage? Either that, or we need to hire a well-known priest."

Kakashi began to look away when he saw Naruto and Sakura busy at work with the invitations. They went from the adults they were to the twelve-year-olds he first saw in the classroom at the academy. The memories of them with Sasuke and eventually Sai filled his mind until they eventually turned back into adults in his eyes. He chuckled at the fond memories and turned back to Ino.

"Alright, I'll officiate."

Ino grinned and wrote something in her notebook: "Thank you very much! Sakura, we need to get your dress as soon as possible. I need to talk with our friends about wedding gifts. That can wait until after Hinata and Kiba's wedding. And I need to do one hundred other things. Plus, we need to decide on flower arrangements done by my shop, of course!"

Kakashi chuckled again. "Sounds like you have your hands full, Ino."

"Yes, I do! But once all the upcoming brides see all of the flower decorations I've been thinking of at the wedding, orders will be through the roof! I can practically smell commissions coming in by the droves next wedding season!" Ino said, closing her eyes and clasping her hands under her chin, smiling from ear to ear.

Kakashi chuckled, grabbed an invitation from Naruto's stack, and read it. With the venue set at the Hokage building, one of the many tasks ahead of the engaged couple was handled. "Who created these invitations? They're very well done!" Kakashi said in amazement.

"Sai made the design with a couple of ideas I gave him," Ino explained. "From there, I took it to the print shop and cut a deal with them. At this point, if Sai and I wanted to go into the wedding planning business, we'd be rolling in money."

Sai chuckled, placing the following invitation he received from Naruto into an envelope. Naruto signed another invitation, handed it to Sai, slid it towards him, and turned to Kakashi.

"You'll join us for dinner, won't you, Kakashi sensei? Mrs. Haruno makes great food, y'know!"

Sakura sighed next to Naruto, shaking her head. "Every time he says that, I swear her head swells more and more. Nothing but the best for my son-in-law!" She whispered in a mocking tone.

"What was that Sakura?" Mebuki called happily from the kitchen.

Everyone at the table began to snicker silently as Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Lord Sixth wants to stay for dinner, Mother!" Sakura answered.

Mebuki entered the room, grinning from ear to ear. "Yes, please! It'd be an honor to serve you dinner, Lord Sixth! I need to serve something special for an honored guest."

Kakashi smiled then. "How could I possibly turn down food that smells that good? I'd be happy to join!"

Mebuki practically skipped into the kitchen while Sakura shook her head again. Kakashi leaned back in his chair and relaxed, watching the finished invitations grow more significant by the second.

The next day, Sakura took a half-day at work, knowing she needed to get a wedding dress as soon as possible. She knew the sooner she got a dress, the earlier alterations could be made to fit her body. The last thing she wanted to do was find a dress she liked and then worry about trying to lose weight to fit it. If it didn't fit, she'd find another gown, as it was a promise she made to make the dress fit her and not the other way around. Of course, with Ino and her mother being there for the consultation, she knew it would be difficult.

Mebuki was one for traditional and classic tastes. Sakura knew this firsthand, growing up under her mother's strict rules. Meanwhile, Ino was the polar opposite. Ino embraced modern themes and revealing clothing while constantly heavily dropping hints to Sakura about wedding decorating with the magazines she continued to show her all the time. Sakura took a deep breath and continued walking toward the wedding shop. This was a great task ahead of her, but this was her and Naruto's wedding. And if Naruto hadn't caved into either of them regarding what he wanted in the wedding, she wouldn't as well.

As Sakura approached the wedding store, she saw her mother walking toward her from the opposite direction. Snow was gently falling from above, creating a picturesque scene. Sakura's heart swelled with joy as she smiled and waved at her mother, who reciprocated the gesture. Despite the cold, the warmth of their excitement was palpable. They embraced each other as they met at the luxurious glass-front store.

"I'm so excited!" Mebuki said, pulling away from Sakura. She had tears in her eyes and wiped them away. "I've been looking forward to this day for so long. I can't wait to see you in the dresses!"

"Me too, Mom! Have you seen Ino?"

"Hey, Sakura and Auntie, you beat me here!" They both turned to see Ino approaching them, waving. "It's time to pick out the wedding dress! Come on, let's go shopping. I can't wait to see what kind of gowns they have inside!"

Both Ino and Mebuki practically skipped up the stairs, leaving Sakura behind. Sakura shook her head, giggling as her wedding planner and mother acted like kids in a candy store with endless money to spend on delicious treats. When they entered the store, the speakers played soft music. The store walls were primarily painted an eggshell color with a lavender-colored carpet. Bright lights were used so the brides could view their dresses as best as possible. Other women stood on pedestals with their guests sitting or standing on a provided couch to view the bride's choices.

Squeels of excitement and light applause came from one party, and the bride-to-be wiped tears of happiness from her eyes as she turned around and smiled at her family. Sakura smiled, looking from the party to her mother and Ino, who was excitedly smiling. A middle-aged woman dressed in a short-sleeved, knee-length black dress and matching heels approached them. She smiled as she looked at the three of them and bowed slightly.

"Hello, do you ladies have an appointment?" The woman asked.

"Yes," Ino quickly said. "We are here for Haruno Sakura."

The woman nodded once and went to the podium to check the appointment book. After writing something in the book, she looked up, smiled, and motioned for them to follow her.

"We've been expecting you, Ms. Haruno. Two people from your party are waiting for you!"

Sakura's eyes widened slightly as she turned to look at Ino. The plan was only for the three of them to be there. Ino smiled, motioning for Sakura to keep walking. When they reached the designated area, a white circular couch was placed before a large mirror and a footstool. Sakura immediately recognized Tsunade and Shizune sitting on the sofa, and both turned around and smiled as they approached them.

"Surprise!" Tsunade and Shizune said in unison as they stood up.

Sakura grinned and hugged each of them individually. "Lady Tsunade! Shizune! You both came!"

Shizune laughed. "Ino told us you were picking out your wedding dress!"

"And we wouldn't miss this for the world," Tsunade said, smiling. "Now take that jacket off. We need to see you try some of these dresses!"

Sakura nodded and began taking her jacket off along with the others. The woman who led them to the sofa smiled at Sakura and then led her to the pedestal. A large mirror was placed by the pedestal so the bride-to-be could view her dress from head to toe. Another younger woman, holding a measuring tape roll, approached her.

"We will take your measurements first, and then we will get a feel for the type of wedding dress you want to purchase today, " the shop worker said.

As the young woman stepped onto the pedestal and took Sakura's measurements, Mebuki began looking through one of the catalogs on a table set just before the couch.

"I think we should look into some traditional kimonos! It'll be perfect for the wedding, Sakura!"

Ino frowned slightly next to Mebuki. Having spoken to Sakura beforehand, she knew Sakura wanted more of a modern dress. "And we should look at some modern dresses, too!"

Sakura began to laugh awkwardly as Mebuki frowned and looked at Ino.

"What's wrong with a traditional Kimono?" Mebuki asked.

Ino looked around as if it were obvious. "It's old school, Auntie. Some people like traditional kimonos, but young brides also like new, modern white gowns. I know I'm wearing a white gown when I get married."

"No," Mebuki stated firmly before looking at Sakura. "We're looking for a traditional kimono today—one made with fine silk and the head covering."

"As the wedding planner, a modern wedding dress was envisioned with the wedding. A white dress with a veil." Ino stressed, looking at Sakura for backup.

"The measurements are done." The seamstress said to the wedding dress consultant.

Mebuki and Ino stood up, glaring daggers at one another before turning to Sakura. The pair of them began to speak in unison. "I'm going to find you the perfect wedding dress!"

They took off in opposite directions and immediately looked through the options for dresses to pick from. Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose while Shizune sighed, giving Sakura a look of sympathy. Sakura's shoulders slumped as she frowned, looking at herself in the mirror. The next hour was absolute hell for Sakura. As soon as she tried on one dress from her mother, Ino had another modern dress for her to try on. To make matters worse, her mother and Ino chose styles they wanted, which weren't Sakura's preferred style.

She walked out of the dressing room wearing a modern white wedding gown that was a little big on her. The dress consultant already advised that, with Sakura's size, the dress could be altered to her taste. But this dress she wanted to take off immediately. Most of her back was out, and it was supposed to be form-fitting around her bust and hips, but it wasn't. And at her knees, the dress was sown close to resemble a mermaid gown with ruffles. Before she could even step onto the pedestal, Mebuki was shaking her head.

"No, absolutely not! It will not do at all. Even with the alterations to the gown, there is too much skin to be shown at the wedding." Mebuki said in a disgusted tone.

Ino narrowed her eyes at Mebuki. "The dress is beautiful! Yes, it needs some alterations, but she will look flawless after it's done!"

"No!" Mebuki growled. "My daughter is not going down the aisle dressed half-naked!"

"She doesn't want to go down the aisle in fifty layers of an old stuffy kimono either!"

Mebuki and Ino glared at one another, and an argument began to brew between them when someone from the couch cleared their throat. "What?" They asked angrily, looking at the sofa before their eyes widened as their faces drained in color in pure fear.

Tsunade glared at the both of them, lip curled with Shizune holding on to her arm, trying to keep her seated on the couch. "I've had absolutely enough of this!" Tsunade growled, shaking Shizune off of her. She stood up and stomped over to both Mebuki and Ino. "You two are going to sit your asses down and remain quiet for the rest of this fitting. I don't care who the mother is or the planner! Have I made myself clear?"

Everyone in the store watched the former Hokage as they stepped back in fear, knowing she could easily knock the building down angrily. Both Ino and Mebuki nodded and quickly sat down on the couch. The dress consultant and the seamstress looked relieved that another dress that wouldn't be accepted would be returned to the fitting room again. Tsunade turned her attention to Sakura and walked over to her.

"Come on, let's get you out of this…" she paused, looking over the dress and frowning. "Mess and back into your regular clothes. This doesn't suit your style at all. It's more of Ino's than yours."

Sakura smiled and started backing up toward the fitting room. Shizune began to giggle a little.

"Sakura, why are you backing up to the fitting room?"

"I have to hold the back of this dress up," Sakura said, blushing lightly. "Otherwise, I'd have more than my back out."

Tsunade glared over at Ino then. "What size rack did you get this dress from?"

Ino sheepishly looked down at her lap. Tsunade rolled her eyes and helped Sakura walk back to the fitting room. Sakura went into one of the changing rooms, locked the door, and let the gown practically fall off of her body onto the floor.

"Why would you sit there and let them take over your fitting?" Tsunade asked, sitting in a chair outside the fitting room. Her arms were crossed under her chest, and a look of irritation remained on her face.

Sakura sighed while changing back into her clothes. "I want my mother to be happy. But I know Ino wanted to help me get the dress I wanted. But then she started looking for dresses she'd like for herself instead."

"How'd that turn out for you?" Tsunade asked dully.

"A mess," Sakura said, exhausted.

Tsunade sighed, deciding not to question Sakura further. "When you get dressed, find something you want in your style. I'm not paying for a dress your mother, Ino, or anyone else wants to wear."

Sakura opened the door to the fitting room dressed in a green sweater, fitted blue jeans, and her pink sandals. Her eyes were slightly wide with excitement as she grinned at her sensei.

"You're buying my dress?" Sakura asked excitedly.

"It was supposed to be a surprise after you picked the dress," Tsunade said, standing up. Sakura walked over to Tsunade and hugged her former master. Tsunade smiled, wrapping her arms around Sakura. "Now, let's turn this horrible experience around and find your dress!"

Sakura pulled away from Tsunade and nodded in agreement. They returned to the storefront, and everything appeared normal as the other brides and their consultants looked through dresses together. Relieved that her party was no longer the center of unwanted attention, Sakura walked over to the consultant and told her what dress she wanted—a modern dress in a specific style. Ino smiled while Mebuki frowned slightly. Tsunade cleared her throat, causing them both to jump in fear slightly. The consultant smiled and led Sakura to a specific area of the store.

Together, they picked through a couple of dresses until the consultant pulled out three. They went to the dressing room together, and the consultant returned, waiting for Sakura to return.

Shizune smiled as she looked over at Tsuande. "I can't wait to see what Sakura' has chosen! It's going to be beautiful, I know! And Mrs. Haruno, you can still buy a stunning kimono. As you know, the mothers of the bride and groom tend to wear matching Kimonos so that no one outdoes them in style. But with Lady Kushina no longer with us, you will represent both bride and groom."

Mebuki's eyes widened as she realized what Shizune had just said. "That's right! Oh, I'll be sure to wear something that both Naruto and Sakura approve of. And also for Lady Kushina!"

"Yes," Tsunade agreed happily before looking back towards the dressing room. "When I see that smile appear on her face, I know it'll be just the one she's looking for."

The others nodded in agreement as they turned to the dressing room. Sakura emerged from the dressing room in the first dress, which was long and needed to be held up as she walked. It was a ball gown sleeveless dress. She stepped onto the pedestal and looked at herself in the mirror. The consultant and seamstress adjusted the dress. Sakura looked at the gown, turning her body to examine it from different angles.

"Not this one, but what are your thoughts?" She asked everyone on the couch.

Shizune shook her head. "Not quite. It's more of your style, but it's missing something."

The consultant nodded in agreement. "Let us try the next dress?" She suggested.

Sakura stepped off the pedestal and back into the changing room. After a few minutes, she emerged in a white dress that went straight down. It was perfectly fitted and needed little to no alterations. She looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head.

"It's almost there." She said more to herself than the others.

"Let's try the last gown." The consultant suggested. "You liked that one a lot."

Sakura nodded and then stepped down again. Everyone waited in anticipation as She changed dresses again. When she walked back out, everyone on the couch gasped in surprise, and they all began to smile. Sakura stepped onto the pedestal, and her mouth dropped open in awe. She turned in the mirror, looking at the dress from different angles.

"Oh, Miss Haruno," the consultant said softly, helping move the dress a little. "I believe you found your wedding dress!"

Sakura nodded in agreement as she grinned at herself in the mirror. She turned around excitedly, looking at everyone on the couch. Tsunade and Shizune began crying slightly. Ino grinned excitedly, practically jumping up and down with joy. Mebuki walked up to Sakura, turned her toward the mirror, and looked at Sakura together. Tears began to fall from Mebuki's eyes as she smiled at Sakura's reflection.

"You look stunning in this dress, Sakura! I think this is the one as well!" Mebuki said proudly.

Sakura smiled and turned before hugging her mother. "I'll take it! I want this dress! But I want to do something specifically with the lace."

They all cheered and happily applauded as the bride-to-be finally had her gown.

Naruto and Sakura were in their bedroom preparing for Hinata and Kiba's wedding the following day. Dressed in black suit slacks and a white button-down shirt, Naruto was busy tying his tie in the mirror for the third time when the first two attempts had gone wrong. After finishing the last section, he pulled the tie in place, and once again, it was too short. He grumbled angrily, giving himself an exasperated look in the mirror as he undid the tie. Sakura who'd walked out from their shared walk-in closet wearing an emerald-colored dress with sheer sleeves. She finished putting in her earrings when she noticed Naruto's frustrated expression in the mirror.

She smiled, walked over to him, and turned him around to face her. "Here, let me." She said softly.

He sighed and let go of the tie before smiling. "Thanks, Sakura; I don't know what I will do on our wedding day when I still can't get this tie right."

She giggled and started looping the fabric around his neck. "Have Shikamaru or Choji do it! They both are pretty good at tying their ties."

He sighed and shook his head. "I can hear it now. What a drag, y'know."

She laughed again and then pulled the tie into place. She had him face the mirror. "There, what do you think?"

"It's perfect!"

"Thanks; can you do me a favor and help me with my zipper, please?" She asked before turning around and showing her exposed back.

He nodded and pulled the zipper up to close the dress in place. "All set."

She turned around and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Uzumaki. Don't forget your suit jacket. We need to get going before we're late." She pointed at the nearby clock with her index finger.

He turned to look at the clock, slightly jumped, and then went to the closet and pulled out the matching suit jacket. He slid his arms into the coat and quickly followed Sakura downstairs to the front door. The gift they had prepared for the couple and cash were already waiting as Sakura placed it there earlier in the morning. Naruto slid his shoes on, then his winter jacket before grabbing the gifts and holding his hand out for Sakura to take when she finished putting her shoes and coat on at the front door to stand up. Together, they left the house with Naruto locking up the front door and quickly made their way through the shoveled snow sidewalks.

When they arrived at the Hyuga compound, they weren't shocked to see it decorated to the highest caliber. Hinata wanted a smaller wedding than the one Neji and Tenten had. Therefore, the ceremony would be held in the central house of the Hyuga clan. The heads of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akumichi clans, along with the Hokage Naruto and Sakura, found themselves among great company for the guest list. Lord Hiashi, Hanabi Hyuga, Tsume, Hana, Shino Aburame, little Mirai Sarutobi, and her mother Kurienai were there. Neji and Tenten were in charge of accepting the gifts, more so Neji, because Tenten was in the late stages of her pregnancy.

After a short ceremony, Kiba and Hinata were officially married. Kiba became Kiba Hyuga, and Hinata became the head of her clan after defeating her father in combat. The battle had been long and drawn out, but in the end, it was Hinata who stood victorious. With the official ceremony over, light refreshments were being served to all the guests. Sakura sat with Ino, Tenten, and Hinata, and most of the guys were talking and congratulating Kiba.

Sakura smiled precisely in Hinata's direction. "Congratulations Hinata! Your ceremony was beautiful!"

Hinata smiled, still dressed in her traditional wedding Kimono. "Thank you, Sakura!"

"Yes," Ino added before taking a drink. "Now, girl, I got you a good gift to help you on your wedding night tonight! You feel free to thank me later!"

"A gift to help with her wedding night?" Sakura asked.

Tenten began to laugh. "If it's anything like the gift Ino gave me, you'll be pregnant next, Hinata!"

Ino and Tenten began to laugh when Sakura realized what Ino must have gotten her. "Ino! Tell me you didn't get her lingerie! That is not an appropriate gift to give a new wedding couple!"

"Look, she's going to her wedding night with her new husband tonight! Besides, you don't have to worry about me getting you anything. In fact, on your wedding night, you should run in the room naked after making Naruto wait, and I wait to hear all the details."

Sakura blushed profusely, her eyes wide while Tenten and Hinata looked at her. "Ino!"

"You haven't tried it at all?" Tenten asked, surprised.

"Not even once?" Hinata followed up.

Sakura began to stammer incoherently when Ino shook her head. "Well, we make out a lot, and umm, I have had some wild thoughts before…"

Ino snorted. "She's probably worried Naruto will whip out some shadow clones on her in the bedroom."

Tenten's eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open in shock. Sakura had turned beat red as she held her cold lemonade up to her forehead. The thought of multiple Naruto coming towards her on her wedding night wasn't what she had thought of before, but the idea wasn't so bad in theory.

Hinata finished the last of her lemonade and stood up. "Excuse me, I think it's time for me to spend quality alone time with my new husband! I think he can make some shadow clones, too!" She said before waving her hand to catch Kiba's attention. He noticed her and quickly excused himself from the guys walking towards her.

Ino and Tenten laughed while Sakura fanned herself with her free hand.

"It's always the quiet ones you need to watch!" Tenten said between laughs.

Ino nodded, still laughing. "I guess that means we need to get ready to leave! Mrs. Hyuga isn't wasting any time. See Sakura follow Hinata's lead, will you?"

"Have you done anything with Sai yet? It's been a few months since you started dating," Sakura asked.

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Girl, do you remember who you're talking to? Of course, we've done it! Let me get him now so we can go home and follow Hinata's lead myself."

Tenten began laughing again as Sai, Neji, and Naruto approached them. Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at Sakura. The redness on her face and how she was fanning herself immediately made him think something was wrong as he touched her shoulders, crouching beside her.

"Sakura, are you okay? You're flushed?" Naruto asked worriedly.

Sakura's eyes widened at Naruto's sudden appearance. She giggled nervously as the conversation from earlier replayed in her mind. "I'm fine, Honey, just a little warm."

Ino grinned and wiggled her shoulders, causing Sai to blush lightly and smile. Tenten laughed, pointing between the two couples.

"You two take them home and cool them off!" Tenten suggested, between laughing.

Neji chuckled as he held his hand out for Tenten to stand up. "They didn't put anything in your lemonade, did they?" He asked jokingly.

Tenten shook her head, wiping tears from her eyes. "No, just some good girl talk!"

Ino laughed and then stood up. "Come on, dear! Let's head on home okay!"

Sai smiled. "Sure, Shikamaru and Choji are already leaving with Lord Sixth."

Naruto held his hand to Sakura's forehead. "You sure you aren't feeling sick? You're hot, y'know?"

Tenten began laughing again; she gave up on trying to stand up, causing Neji to chuckle at his wife's amusement. Sakura sighed and shook her head. "I'm fine. Come on, let's go home, honey."

They said their goodbyes as Sakura dragged Naruto out of the house by hand, and they made their way back home.

When they returned home, it began snowing, and Sakura looked out their kitchen window. Her mind wandered back to the conversation earlier at the wedding, and she wondered if she'd been overthinking all this. She was attracted to Naruto; otherwise, they wouldn't have been in a relationship. Something about sex made her feel like it would change her relationship with him. Would it bring her closer to him in ways she couldn't imagine? Or, in some cases, leave her unsatisfied, as some women have said in their relationships. This fear of the unknown was eating at her, and yet the more she looked at Naruto longer than necessary, which was often, the more her fear was beginning to waver.

Her mind wandered to his lips; she enjoyed kissing him. Feeling the muscles in his arms and abdomen as she kissed him or when they relaxed. The warmth of his body brought her just sitting next to him, holding her in his embrace or his hand. Or when his hands grabbed his waist when he was behind her, reaching to grab something too high up for her to get from a cabinet. The way his laugh instantly made her smile. When she watches him train in the backyard, doing sit-ups and push-ups, getting hot and sweaty while shirtless, an involuntary shiver runs down her spine.

She shuddered slightly as she returned to scrubbing the dish she'd prepared for lunch for them earlier, as the wedding had ended much earlier than expected. Glancing upward into the sitting room, Naruto, who had already taken his suit jacket off, was watching TV absentmindedly. A game show was on, with a buzzer going off, and the contestant won some prizes. He began to laugh heartily, and she smiled. He removed his tie and started undoing the top buttons from his shirt.

With a slight bite on her lip, Sakura resumed her task. The suds of soap began to fill the dish as she focused on the simple act of scrubbing. Once the dish was spotless, she rinsed it off with hot water and dried it. With the dishes done, she had a rare gift: a day with no further obligations. The hospital had not called her in, and Kakashi had given Naruto the day off for the wedding. The rest of the day was theirs to enjoy.

Captivated by the sight of Naruto, Sakura stepped into the sitting room. He was fully engrossed in the show, his eyes wide with excitement. She moved closer, curling into the spot beside him on the couch. He responded by wrapping his arm around her, pulling her closer. Together, they watched the contestant's joyous reaction to winning.

"So, what did she win?" Sakura asked curiously.

"A vacation to a hot spring resort; she almost knocked the host down excitedly!" Naruto answered before turning to look at her, smiling. "Thanks again for lunch; it was delicious, y'know!"

She smiled slightly. "I'm glad you liked it! It's one of my mom's recipes but didn't come out quite like hers."

He chuckled. "Really, what did you think it needed?"

She thought about it for a moment before looking up at him. "Maybe a little more pepper or garlic?"

"Nah," He answered before smiling. "I thought it was perfect!"

She sighed, shaking her head. "You're always saying the meals I make are delicious and asking for second helpings. Even when I make a disgusting dish by accident."

He chuckled then. "It's because you made it! You try to make new dishes or a dish your mom made when you were younger. Especially when you proudly bring it to the table when you know you nailed it!"

When he said that, she understood why he appreciated the meal more. She blushed slightly and hugged him a little tighter than before. "I'll make them better. Just give me time, okay?"

He nodded and leaned over, kissing her head before grabbing the remote. "Should we watch something else, baby?"

"Anything is fine." She replied

He smiled and put the remote down, letting the game show he had been watching earlier continue. Hours passed while they relaxed together. Now Naruto's head and upper body lay across Sakura's lap, sprawling on the couch as she sat beside the arm. Sakura started a book she'd bought a while ago. It was a romance novel about two individuals living across the road from one another. It was a classic case where the girl fell in love first, and the boy fell harder when he realized his feelings.

While she read her novel, with her free hand, her fingers played and ran through Naruto's hair mindlessly. She'd reread the exact sentence multiple times as her mind returned to Naruto. She purposely turned the page to make it look like she wasn't distracted. She even faked a laugh like she would if she genuinely enjoyed her book. What she wanted more than anything was for them to be rolling around on the carpet naked together in passionate love. But she was second-guessing her, too afraid to make a move.

While reading her book, she was unaware of the blue eyes that had moved from the television to her face. Naruto could hardly focus on the TV while Sakura played with his hair. He licked his lips and laced his hands with his fingers over his torso. There was something about how Sakura focused while reading that made him feel curious and left out. Curious about what she was reading and what was happening caused her to react slightly. But he was also felt somewhat out because she was experiencing something without him. He'd tried to read some of her books before, but they didn't interest him. Eventually, she'd tell him all about it, and he'd like her version of the story instead.

But that wasn't the only thing distracting him from the TV. He'd been trying to give Sakura as much time as she needed. But he was finding himself more restless by the day. Something about the way Sakura walked in heels caught his attention. The way it made her legs look even longer than before. Her hips rolled so smoothly as she walked, like she was gliding atop the surface she was walking on. The smell of her perfume and how it lingered in their bedroom after she sprayed it. How the curves of her body looked, especially her backside, in anything she was wearing. The soft smoothness to her skin as he ran his hand up and down her legs and feet, massaging her after she'd had a long day at the hospital.

He swallowed dryly, looking back toward the television to hear her giggle. As he looked up, she grinned, turning the page and making his heart flutter. He couldn't hardly take it any longer and moved to sit up. Standing up from the couch, he stretched his limbs.

"Are you okay, Honey," Sakura asked, looking away from her book.

Naruto was blushing and looked away from her. "Yeah, I'm okay, just feeling a little tired. I think I'm going to shower and go to bed, y'know!"

Sakura looked at the clock and went back to Naruto. "It's only six p.m. We haven't even had dinner yet."

Naruto's eyes widened as he realized it was still so early in the evening. "Ahh, that's okay. I'm not too hungry. Anyways, goodnight. I love you!"

"Okay, I love you too," Sakura replied as he took off upstairs.

Naruto ran up the stairs, skipping some of them as he went. He hurried up, tore his clothes off, threw them in the hamper, and started the shower. He began calming him down under frosty cold water in the shower. The chemistry between them was getting significantly more intense by the day. It was like laying a steak before a lion and snatching it away as soon as he was about to pounce. The last thing he wanted to do was to rush her into something she wasn't comfortable with. But his desires were growing more intense by the day.

Soon, he turned it to the warmer setting and washed his body. The hot water caused steam to fill the primary bedroom bathroom. He hummed, trying to distract himself from the excitement in his neither region as his fiancée came to mind again, so much so that he didn't hear the bathroom door open. He also didn't hear the sound of clothing hitting the floor. Suddenly, the shower door opened, and Naruto practically jumped until he saw Sakura stepping into the shower. She was wholly unclothed and walked toward him. She kissed him, her hand running through his wet blonde locks. Naruto closed his eyes, returning the kiss. And then he pulled her into his embrace.