Hey everyone. It's me, Psycho-chan, back with another installment of my lovely and endearing story.

I realized my spelling sucks a little bit. Forgive me if I left any mistakes in there...I'm a very good speller, but...it's five in the morning. I should be dead on my feet, but somehow...

Enjoy. Oh, and I own none of the characters, and all that. If I did, Shino would be with Sakura, Sasuke would spontaneously combust, and *spoiler* Itachi would still be alive. And probably with Sakura-chan in some of my other works. Hrrm. I need to work on that. Itachi is a sexy beast.

5 years later...in a hallway of the Academy...

"Hey forehead! I heard you didn't pass!" a blonde teenager wrapped in bandages and swathes of purple cloth grinned in exuberance. A pale, pink haired teen gave her a look that clearly meant to kill. She held up her fist shaking it, fire in her eyes. A large growl emanated from deep within her throat.

"'Ey! Who told you that, PIG? I passed with flying colors!" 'Shannaro! Nothin's gonna keep me down today!' screeches Inner Sakura pumping her fists out in front of her as Sakura pointed to her hitai-ate. Ino grins, slapping Sakura on the back, albeit a little too hard. Sakura gave her another look as Ino looked ominous.

"Whatever...as soon as I get into the classroom, I'm going to go talk to Sasuke. Don't interfere, Forehead-Face..." Sakura growls again, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Oh YEAH, Miss-Piggy? I'd like to see him give you the time of day!" sparks flew between them as they gave each other the evil eye. Students began filing into the classrooms one by one. Whispers echoed throughout the hallways as one lone figure made his way down the hall slowly.

"Hey...Oi...it's that creepy dude...he's back..." that same mean boy from years ago said nastily.

"Where did he go?" another whispered.

"I heard he was banished from his family-"

"Oh, that can't be right!" another girl intervened. "That's Aburame Shino...he's an heir from one of the four ninja lord clans left!"

The boy in question had fluffy brown hair sticking out every which way from behind his hitai-ate, his skin pale and luminous, the color of cream. He wore pitch dark shades, a heavy jacket that covered the lower half of his face, it stopping at the top of his thighs, It was very baggy and khaki colored. He wore brown three-quarter pants, his kunai holster strapped securely to his right thigh. He wore the standard dark blue nin sandals.

He walked noiselessly past Sakura and Ino, who stopped fighting to see the back of his head as he slowly walked into the classroom. Sakura felt...something...go through her, like there was something that she was supposed to remember, but she couldn't. She felt like she knew him from somewhere. Sakura looked confused. She didn't know him...what was the deal? Sakura forgot all about her fight with Ino, a mistake she would soon regret. Ino whacked her on her head with a fist.

"...-HEY! I'm yellin' at you here!" Sakura snapped out of her reverie, and looked back at Ino with an annoyed look plastered to her face. Ino crossed her arms, a calculating look in her eyes.

"What the hell was that? Are you retarded, or ADD or something? You took one LOOK at that kid, and all of a sudden nothing else seems more interesting. You wouldn't happen to KNOW him or somethin', eh, Forehead?" Ino had that look, that look where whatever next escaped Sakura's lips about this guy and his relation to her would be plastered across Konohagakure by dinnertime. Sakura wisely kept her mouth shut upon that subject, completely ignoring that feeling she had.

"It's nothing, Pig, I don't even know him. Let's go into the classroom now, we're the last ones to go in." Sakura and Ino fought to get through the door first to have privilege to talk to Sasuke. Sakura walked over to Sasuke and sat.

"Ohayoo, Sasuke-kun!" she grinned cheerfully. Sasuke cut his eyes to the side and grunted.

"Feh." Sasuke waited for Iruka to hurry up with the cell assignments. Sakura just bat her eyelashes at him, and his super-ultra emo mood swings turned even sourer.

"What's the matter, Sasuke-kun?" asked Sakura. Sasuke sighed, completely ignoring the question. Naruto, who took the seat next to his 'Sakura-chan' grumbled under his breath in a high girly voice.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun this, and Oh, Sasuke-kun that! Why won't Sakura-chan call me Naruto-kun?" he wondered in despair. Naruto vaguely wondered what was so fascinating about this Uchiha loser. So, as expected, he got all in Sasuke's grill, his face two inches from his, studying him closely. Nope. Uh-uh. Nothin' special. At all, really.

"What do you want, Dead Last?" Sasuke's glare ran cold, but Naruto could hold his own. No one would ever know for sure who would win the contest, for the boy behind Naruto accidentally bumped into the back of Naruto, the kiss of the century happening soon afterwards. When Naruto's lips met Sasuke's, Sakura would have liked to have died on the spot. Inner Sakura fainted screaming 'Oh sweet pumpkins!' with Sakura holding her head, her body wobbly and distorted.

"Nuuuuuuu!" Sakura moaned. Naruto had to go and ruin everything! All the way in the back, between a boy with oversized canines and a little inunin, and a girl with pale eyes and dark hair, sat Shino.

To anyone, he looked like he was staring ahead at the front of the class, when he was really watching the exchanged antics between the soon-to-be Team Seven. Shino had obviously forgotten Sakura as she did he, because whenever he looked at her, his heart seemed to hurt a little for some reason. He couldn't remember too much more about his childhood other than being treated exactly as he was now, but with a little more distance. But the pink haired girl named Sakura...he knew her, he knew...his gut was telling him he did...but he just couldn't place where.

His eyes narrowed behind his glasses slightly. He mentally sighed in exasperation. There weren't many pink haired people around to begin with, so why did he have such a hard time figuring out who she was? Shino prided himself on his excellent memory. But this seemed to elude him, and it greatly troubled him. He was taking an unhealthy amount of time to think about this. He decided to drop the subject for a later date.

And very much later did he do that thinking, around the time Sakura became Tsunade's apprentice, around two and a half years later...

"Tsunade-shishou, I gave you those scrolls containing the new kusurijutsu five hours ago! When are you going to look over them!" A short pink-haired young woman huffed, walking into the Hokage's office, her long legs encased in black boots clicking softly on the ground. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Sakura frowned, knowing Tsunade was drunk because her chair was turned towards the window. Tsunade turned to face Sakura. She was quite serious looking, an apprehensive look on her face, instead of her drunken calmness. Sakura stopped her nagging at that instant. Tsunade had a look on her face that meant there was something that Tsunade wanted to keep from her, but couldn't. Sakura sank into the chair in front of Tsunade's desk.

"Tsunade-shishou?" Sakura was beginning to look a little worried herself, as Tsunade struggled to find her words. She sighed, closed her eyes, and downed a whole bottle of sake. Sakura visibly gulped. A whole bottle all at once? Something must have been out of place to rattle the Hokage so badly. Tsunade hissed as the alcohol burned all the way down her throat.

"Sakura, your parents have recently taken a B-class mission to the Grass Country. I don't know when they'll be back, so I wanted to let you know that. Also, your training with me is officially, as of now, half over. The tedious part, at least." Tsunade shifted in her chair slightly.

"You know everything I do when it comes to chakra currents, healing the human body, and announcing symptoms of a patient just by eyeballing. Now all we have to do," Tsunade grinned downing more sake,"...is to amplify your power. We'll train for the next few months, and then you'll be announced as the best damn medic nin within the great five Countries!" Tsunade smiled wistfully. "At last, all of my research will not be in vain. I most certainly have you to thank, Sakura, for your hard work. But now, the fun starts." Tsunade laid a blue and white scroll gilded with silver and gold tied with a silver tassel in front of Sakura. Sakura noticed the Kanji on the white part of the scroll pressed in gold ink. She gasps in complete shock. She points at the scroll disbelievingly.

"Katsuyu..." Sakura whispered. She looked back up at Tsunade, who had a self-satisfied look on her face as she peered back at Sakura. "You're giving me your summon?" Sakura was speechless as Tsunade nods solemnly. She opened the scroll, noticing that there was only Tsunade's name and one other etched into the scroll.

"You were her second mistress, Tsunade-shishou?" Sakura looked awed. Tsunade nodded again, smiling fondly down at the regal looking scroll.

"No one had ever thought they would need to summon Katsuyu. 'Katsu' means 'divide' and 'yu' means 'more and more', ultimately meaning 'rapid dividing', which is what Katsuyu can do whenever she is hit...she is very gentle, but brave. I'm sure you would be an excellent next mistress for her." Tsunade looked down at her hands, the scroll gleaming in the early afternoon light streaming in from the windows behind her. She watched proudly as Sakura opened Katsuyu's summoning scroll and bit her thumb, writing her name neatly in the next space indicated with her blood, sealing the pact of mistress and servant forever. Sakura blew on her signature, letting the blood dry. She heard Tsunade sigh, a sigh full of past memories.

"I was the best medic ninja in all the land...but the truth is, Sakura, that you will, and in some ways have already exceedingly surpassed my greatness. There is no doubt that you are already closer to my strength than ever before. I took Shizune as an apprentice, but her chakra control pales in comparison to yours, which I can happily say has almost matched mine. I saw much potential in you, and now I must say I'm glad that I chose you to be the next Slug Princess. There was another reason I chose you, however, and it may explain some things." Tsunade turned around and opened a safe that was hidden in the wall behind the chair. She took out a beat up old pink and white scroll in the design of sakura petals. It was tied with a pale pink cord with small pink rubies dangling at the ends of the cords. Sakura looked from the scroll back to Tsunade.

"This scroll was found near a really important battle site. This scroll belonged to your late aunt, Haruno Suika." Sakura gasped. Her father had a sister? Why wasn't she told? Tsunade saw the look on her face.

"She died long before you were born. Apparently, she is the reason you now hold your given name. Please read the scroll, and I'll answer any questions you'll most likely have afterward." Tsunade leaned back into her chair as Sakura unpeeled the scroll carefully. The scroll itself was only three feet long, and it contained a long letter addressed to...herself!

Dear Sakura-chan,

I am about to go on a special SS class mission. I know that I am going to die, but I strangely don't feel any sadness. I do regret, however, not seeing you grow up to be the fine Haruno woman that I know you will one day become. I wrote this letter, because I wanted to tell you a few things before I leave this earth.

The first thing is that I love you very much. I requested to name you Sakura, because not only is it a pretty name, but it was also the name of your great-great-grandmother, who was a most talented medic nin in her day. The Haruno family may not have had the most chakra than most other families, but we rank elite when it comes to the control of chakra, which is better than wasting numerous amounts of chakra on clumsy attempts of chakra control, like those damned Uchihas. Those eyes of theirs are useless. If any Uchihas still exist, tell them they will eventually go blind because of poor chakra control. If they listen, that is.

We may not been a large clan like the Hyuuga or the Aburame, but we were respected. Now, there is only you left. I'm counting on you to keep the Haruno tradition alive, even if it merges to a whole other family. I will always be proud of you, no doubt you'll even have the Haruno women's family traits...the shortness, pink hair, jade eyes, and violent voices in your head...*laughs*

Oh, and there is one more thing, and read this carefully, hon. It's of utmost importance. Our family was nearly wiped out long ago, when our family was considerably larger than it is now. We are the only family left in the Five Countries that isn't from a ninja lord family or descended from one to possess a kekkeigenkai. Our bloodline limit is centered around the element of water, because the Haruno's chakra signature usually contains water chakra.

When our limit is used right, it could have several different outcomes, somtimes more than one ability is bestowed to the Haruno. You may control the weather around you, like Obaasan could...you could infuse water into you chakra for greater healing abilities...you may even be able to make weapons out of frozen water like I could.

There was one instance that you may even gain an animal spirit of some kind through the water chakra. This instance was your great-grandmother, Haruno Ume. I heard a rumor going around that some sand ninja was planning on infusing a sand demon into his kid enabling him to control sand...you'd be that kid's weakness, so keep him in check and make sure that he doesn't cause trouble...there is more that I have to say, but you need to use the Haruno code word that was taught to you to unlock the rest of this letter which can be read by no one but you.

Remember Sakura...our family may lack in numbers, but we more than make up for it in loyalty and love.

I'm proud of you.

*~*Haruno Suika*~*

Sakura was speechless. She had an aunt, and a rather feisty one to boot? A kekkeigenkai? She was to be the next Slug Princess? Her head was spinning. She held onto her chair, but she was already sitting. Tsunade made a sympathetic noise. She slid Sakura a cup of sake. Before Sakura could protest, Tsunade's eyes narrowed.

"Kid, drink it. You look like your ovaries are about to spontaneously combust or something. Just chill, Sakura. You'll be alright. You'll have me to guide you through your training. However, I can't guide you through your dilemmas that are contained in your letter. I know very little more than you do, and the only thing I do know is that Suika was a good friend of the Aburame family, especially to Aburame Shibi. If you want to know more about Suika, you may want to speak to him." Sakura downed the alcohol like a seasoned pro. She had no time for modesty right now. This was insane. She went from being mediocre...ly...okay-ish, to something revered and amazing...well, at least to herself...in the span of a half an hour. Sakura sighed as the alcohol calmed her and warmed her slightly. She remembered seeing the first faded name on Katsuyu's summoning scroll. She wondered who it was.

"Tsunade-shishou, who was the first owner of Katsuyu?" Tsunade smiled. She'd been waiting for her to ask. She sat back into her chair, crossing her fingers together.

"Ironically, it was a descendant of yours...It was your great-grandmother, Haruno Ume, the very same woman that is mentioned in your letter. She was the greatest Haruno to ever have lived. She was the one who controlled a elemental animal of great power that came forth from her own chakra. You potentially may even be able to harness this power. It takes insane control to harness chakra into the form of an animal. Even though Naruto is the number one blockhead around Fire Country, his control of his wind chakra is said to be the highest around. I know you'll be able to do great things, Sakura. you may be the late bloomer, but remember that those that bloom late stay beautiful longer." Tsunade sighed into another decanter of sake.

"I advise you to go home and rest Sakura...you've already been working four twelve hour shifts this week...time for you to take it easy for a bit. I'm giving you a week's vacation to sort all of this out...you'll be paid because we'll call you when we really need you. But for now, just take all of this in. You're only...what? Fifteen, nearly sixteen? Live your life. Mine has been well lived...but I do regret a few things every once in a while...if you learn nothing else from me, my dear, it is that you should never regret anything. Go for it all. Never ask yourself 'what if', go with your instinct." Tsunade watched as Sakura walked out of the office with the pink scroll, leaving Katsuyu in the care of Tsunade until her training began. Tsunade sat back into her high-backed chair, smiling. The fading sun made her brown eyes shine with an amber glow as she stared out into the growing evening of Konoha's streets.

"...and so, it begins. I hope you were right, Suika-chan..."

Sakura began her short trek home. She looked at the scroll in her hands. She opened it again. At the end, it said there was a codeword, something that was taught to her as was such, being a Haruno...what was it her father always told her...?

"Diligence." Sakura whispered. She stood transfixed at the scroll as more ink began to bleed into view below the signature. Not only was it another message for her to read, but it was a map of sorts, leading to the northeastern part of the village, the least crowded of the residence areas. She decided she would find out where the map lead to. She turned towards the north. There seemed to be a little pink dot on a road. It was herself, and it was showing her in the location of the map! She walked a bit faster, following the turns she had to make. There was a small stretch of forest she had to walk through, it wasn't a big deal, it wasn't very far. She walked past a small lagoon outside of the residence area in Konoha. She heard a small splash, and immediately turned her head to look.

Sakura's face was suddenly redder than her shirt, and she hid behind a rather large tree, masking her chakra signature. She'd just seen someone bathing in that small lagoon! Her curiosity getting the better of her, she peered around the bark of the tree to see who it was. Sakura's eyes widened.

"It's...it's...oh..." was the only intelligible speech she could come up with at that moment. It was Shino! Sakura was seriously getting some eye candy. And a nosebleed that was threatening to kill her if she didn't stem the flow. Shino was bathing barely waist deep in the cool water, a refreshing idea since it was such a humid day. His hair was wet, and hung in shiny sable spikes around his eyes so she could not see them clearly. His skin was pale, but his muscles were well defined, rippling with grace underneath his skin. He raised his arm to scrub at his shoulder, and the way his muscles moved made Inner Sakura shout catcalls at Shino, whistling and howling. For once, Sakura agreed with her alter ego. She wondered stupidly how he was able to hide all of those gloriously manly muscles away from everyone's sight. Sakura's eyes traveled up and down his broad expanse of chest to his dusky tan colored nipples, down to his slender torso, as the muscles tightened to show off some majorly killer abs. He had...he had a...oh, Sakura giggled as quietly as she could.

"He has a bellybutton! It's so cute!" Sakura was still blushing quite profusely as the hand that scrubbed his shoulder went down the opposite hip caressing it almost lovingly, as if he were putting on a show for someone...she nearly groaned, her hormones nearly making her dizzy with want. Sakura watched as he cupped water in his hands and splashed it across his body, his hands running up into his hair, pulling his hair back from his face making her gasp.

His eyes were lidded as if in pleasure, and were curved, like cat eyes, their color of swirling molten mercury. Her heart nearly stopped. She'd seen those eyes before...but where? Had she really met Shino before? Those feelings from nearly three years ago in the academy resurfaced with a vengeful ferocity. Her eyes slid helplessly low on his body, below his bellybutton to the soft swell of his abdomen, as the indentations of his legs trailed into the water, his more intimate parts hidden by the water's silvery blue depths. Sakura was so jealous of that water around him...she wished she were there in it's stead. Sakura blinked slowly.

Dude. She did NOT just fantasize about Shino...did she? Sakura mentally drove her head into a concrete wall. Stupid, stupid! Why did she have to fantasize about him, of all people? She rubbed her eyes, the image of a godly Shino permanently burned on the back of her eyelids. She honestly wasn't expecting THAT though...she peered out over to the lagoon again.

She watched as the water slid down his body slowly, the droplets glinting in the mid afternoon sunlight. There was one drop of water in particular she watched as it slid down his body. It began at the throat, in the dip at his collarbone and trailed slowly down his left pectoral, trailing down, down his chest, rippling down his washboard abs, and sliding sinfully down the crevice where his leg muscles separated from his abdomen muscles. Sakura had a spasm, the kind that pooled in *just* the right spot below her stomach and made cool shivers travel down her spine. She should have expected him to be built...he was a ninja after all. She still couldn't believe it. She watched as his eyes closed, and he dunked himself underwater. He came back up, heading for his clothes. Sakura made a choking noise. He was going to find her out!

She quickly made some handseals, and disappeared in a cloud of sakura petals as he exited the water. Shino saw the sakura petals, and looked around. He grinned to himself mostly, only a small smile gracing his lips. So, he had an audience while taking his bath...he sighed as the scent of sakura blossoms whispered softly through the air from the petals left over. He wondered if it were someone he knew...he shrugged and began to put a fresh set of clothing on he'd brought with him. He'd check later...

Sakura appeared down the path a safe distance away, breathing as if she ran a marathon, and then decided to go for a swim around the Atlantic. She was only about five hundred feet away from the place she was supposed to be. She walked up to one of the cliffs that surrounded Konohagakure and acted as a natural fence to keep unwanted enemies out of their home. The map said that she was standing in the right spot. She looked at the words that were hidden from eyes other than her own.

'Sakura, there were some things that I wanted to pass down to you...I consider you a sister of sorts, seeing as how I never had one of my own. Bite your left thumb and draw a circle on the wall that your hand can fit into. Place your right hand in the center of the circle, and repeat the Haruno code. You should find another scroll inside my secret hiding spot.'-Suika

Sakura bit her left thumb, drew a large circle, and placed her right hand inside of the circle, whispering the word. A low rumbling sound emit from the stone, and the stone sank seamlessly away from the rock. Sakura gasped lightly as she walked into the cave. She took one of the unlit torches and used a quick tiger-bird-horse half seal and lit the torch, walking deep into the cavern. There were beautiful rock formations all along the walls. She walked towards the middle and lit more torches in the semi circle near the back of the small cavern. Sakura fell to her knees.

There were wrapped presents everywhere. There were also boxes with other stuff, seals on them to prevent the weather to mess with the contents inside of them. There were other boxes with seals on them that required blood to be drawn from a Haruno to open, the ultimate security feature. Sakura picked up another scroll that lay on a pedestal that surrounded all of the gifts and possessions her aunt left her. She unraveled it and began to read.

Hey, Sakura-chaaaaaan! *big grin*

Glad you were able to make it inside my little secret spot...that spot'll be perfect in case a raid ever happens on Konoha and you need a place to hide. It was passed down from Grandma to me. now I pass it to you...Kisetsu doesn't even know about this cavern. It's best if you don't tell anyone about it unless absolutely necessary...the cavern can hold about a thousand people, so that's a good chunk of Konoha right there. It's impenetrable.

Anyway, I digress. I hadn't had a chance to give you anything for all your birthdays. So I got you gifts for every year, but they are appropriate for you now, seeing as how you aren't wearing diapers anymore. Heheh...erm, well. I'm giving you my bank account too. It should keep you for quite a while...I didn't really need a whole lot, the thrill of missions was all I ever really needed. All of my personal assets, too. I have a couple of kimonos...they are designed for our type of height, so it should fit you perfectly now...you should be about fifteen-sixteen when you receive these items...

Sakura-chan, I...I wanted to sort of raise you, but it couldn't be helped. I had to save Konoha so there would be something left for you to grow up in. Most ninja from other villages don't know what love and friendship is...they don't have that unique quality that Konoha has...and we are considered fools for incorporating feelings with our work. But Sakura, if you never remember another word that I've ever written to you ever again, you remember this: feelings are what makes us stronger. It changes the directions of people's paths in life, for the better or worse it doesn't matter, because the road of life is interesting and full of surprises.

I loved Shibi with all of my heart...no doubt you'd know who he is. He loved me back, but he knew what I eventually had to do. With my superhuman strength and chakra control, I was bound to be put on this mission. He loved me all the way til' the end. I want you to find him for me and tell him that I love him, and I would never hate him for taking another lover.

I want Shibi to share his unique views on love with someone else, just so that she might have a chance to experience it for herself. I personally hope he married my best friend...tell him I did not regret ever being with him...we've had a couple of down days, but there were way more good and great days than bad ones. Tell him we've always been friends and always will be, and tell him that I wasn't mad at him the day before the mission either...he'll understand what you mean...I was a little frusterated, but not mad. It did seem like I was, and for that, tell him I'm sorry.

I trust that every bit of information that I tell you and everything in the cave including the cave will be safe with you, my little sakuranbo. Love you lots!

*~*Suika-chan*~*

Sakura cried with a smile on her face. She really did wish she could meet her aunt..."She called me her little cherry..." she whispered. She hugged the newly opened items to her chest...a set of kunai that were made of some kind of pink metal, various books on medicine and the medic nin traditions, and among other things, there were girly items, like perfumes, hair pins, clamps and other numerous hair accessories, tons of yukata, a few authentic kimono with beautiful designs sewed into the silk...there were pairs of geta, even a pink and brown shamisen with gold trim and tuners with sakura petals engraved in them, and a beautiful golden biwa with the same designs, some of the more popular instruments that were played in some of the Kabuki that Sakura watched. She saw a little note stuck to the shamisen with a sketch of Suika's face on it with hurried and scribbled lettering.

'Oi, Sakura-chan! There should be lesson books for both of these instruments in one of the boxes. please take care of them for me, and make beautiful music, okay? The koto is wrapped up since it's a more sensitive instrument to air and stuff. It's in the long box...about two meters wide. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of them!
Suika o(^,^)o

Sakura smiled wistfully. She vaguely wondered how she was going to get all of the stuff back to her house. She looked around at all the things, and in a corner in the back of the cavern, there was a cart for all of the stuff. It was old, but it was still sturdy enough to carry things to her home. Sakura smiled some more, as she began to load things onto the cart.

"Very thorough, she is. she even made sure to get me something to haul all this stuff back to the house without someone seeing the secret spot here..." Sakura loaded the things that were least likely to break and heavier on the bottom, leaving the light and delicate items on the top. She put the tarp over the cart, tied it securely, and noticed with distinct pleasure that the entryway was just large enough for the cart to come out. Sakura looked around and walked out carefully with the cart. She couldn't break out into a full run like she desperately wanted to do right now, but she made sure she was walking as fast as she could without letting the contents of the cart spilling over. She just couldn't wait to speak to her parents...

Shino pulled the rest of his clothing on, pulling the brown hood over his head. It seemed as if he was wearing more and more clothing everyday...today was just unbearably hot, so he felt he needed a bath after training. Shino smiled wryly. He remembered how he had a female guest earlier while bathing. At least he was pleasing to some girl's eyes...well, at least, he thought it was a girl...the sakura petals were definitely a form of the body flicker jutsu, but he'd never seen someone use sakura petals before, either it was a girl, or some really fruity guy, and Shino hoped, for his own sake, that it was a girl.

He tried to send out a kikaichou to find the source of the chakra that was used, but the signature was too weak by the time he finished getting ready. He shrugged. Girls were predictable. The girl that found him in his birthday suit would obviously make herself known soon. Shino put on his glasses, and dusted himself off when he heard a rickety cart moving rather fast as he strapped his kunai holster to his right thigh. Shino could see distinctive pink hair and a pair of determined jade eyes come into view. Those green eyes turned to see Shino. They flashed and he wondered what that meant.

"Oi, Hey, Shino-kun! How are you?" she came to an abrupt stop as Shino lifted his head. Sakura sighed inwardly inside. He was all bundled up again. Shino made a small non-comittal noise.

"I suppose I could be better, but I'm not complaining. Sakura-san, could you do me a favor?" Shino thought it might have been Sakura, but she was carrying this cart, and there was absolutely no way that she could have made it close enough to the lagoon with all of that noise. Sakura looked at him, gaining his complete attention. She could not see his eyes, but she knew what they looked like, and she blushed a little. "Ne, Shino-kun?"

Shino shifted in place. "I know that there was some girl watching me bathe earlier on today..." Inner Sakura promptly fainted; he knew! He knew, dammit! "...if you could find this girl for me and tell me who it was? I'd appreciate it." Sakura looked sly at Shino. Even though on the inside, she was shitting herself, on the outside, she was calm, and even joking around with Shino...the advantage of having an alter ego. She nudged him in the side, a small smirk gracing her lips. At least he didn't know that it was her!

"Hohoho...so Shino has a girly admirer...why do you want to know who it was? What makes you so sure I'll know, or even be able to figure out who it was?" Sakura was really confused. She did wonder why he would ask her such a question. Shino shrugged, answering logically, like he always did.

"You are best friends with Konoha's number one gossip kunoichi...and you most certainly hold your own in that department...and as for me wanting to know her identity..well, let's just say I want to have a little...talk...with her." the last part of Shino's speech, she could have sworn came out more huskier than usual. Inner fainted again. Sakura blushed, catching what the words meant.

"Oh!...oh." Sakura blushed even harder. Shino laughed slightly. That small sound made her thigh muscles quiver and quake. She laughed nervously, and wrapped up the conversation. "Well, Shino-kun, I'll make sure to let you know...I gotta go now, I'll talk to you later, alright? Ato de!" Sakura began speeding as fast as she would dare in the opposite direction of Shino. Shino sweatdropped. She was acting a little strange, but, that was how Sakura always acted. He began to leisurely walk back to the Aburame compound.

Sakura slowed down again after she was a fair distance away from the lagoon, and on the way towards her house. She walked towards Ichiraku to see the usual sight. Naruto, only on his third bowl of ramen, finished the remnants of the third bowl only to burp, and ask heartily for a fresh bowl. Sakura stopped, and sat down next to Naruto, and smiled as his big baby blue eyes widened with glee.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto enveloped her in a large bear hug that threatened to squeeze her to bits. She smiled even wider, and returned the hug. Naruto was really looking more and more like the Fourth everyday. Naruto's hair was even more wild and spiky than before, long blonde spikes of hair peeking over his hitai-ate, and laying against his neck. His blue eyes were more slanted, another trait he gained from being the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. His whisker marks were more defined, a little longer than they were before. His award winning shit-eating grin was always present whenever Sakura was around. Naruto was always happy to see Sakura, no matter what time it was.

There have been a few times that she came to him in the middle of the night because she needed a talk. After Sasuke left, Naruto and Sakura grew closer, but not as close as Naruto would have liked. Sakura felt that since Naruto was such a blockhead when it came to the matters of love, she needed to intervene before hearts were broken. Sakura constantly had Hinata around her in the hospital, since they were both nurses, and they had a few talks. Hinata only seemed to love her 'Naruto-kun' more and more each day, and quite frankly, Sakura was tired of their shyness and, in Naruto's case, stupidity. She figure now was as good as a time as any to let him know of Hinata's affections. Sakura broke away from the hug reluctantly. Naruto's hugs were just like his character...warm, friendly and inviting. She sighed, and Naruto sensed she had something to tell him.

"Naruto, I can't keep this from you any longer. I'm quite tired of keeping it a secret, and if I don't tell you, then you'll never know." Naruto immediately sobered up, looking a bit more serious. His eyes narrowed in concentration. Sakura thought it was cute how she got his acute attention that quickly.

"Naruto, there is a girl that has had a crush on you for like, I don't know, four years now?. It's getting kind of old, and I just wish the both of you can find some happiness together." Naruto blinked, a slight blush on his face as he took in the information. A girl had liked him for that long? She never said anything? He didn't know. Sakura saw the look on his face. She shook her head and sighed loudly.

"She's tried to say something sometimes, but you always screw it up so easily that she gets embarrassed quickly." Sakura smiled as Naruto looked at her disbelievingly. He really couldn't seem to believe that a girl would like him. Sakura knew that he was sad that she wouldn't return his affections, but she really felt no romantic entanglements with Naruto. Sure, the guy was drop dead gorgeous, and she might've wanted him had he not been on her team, but overall, Naruto was her best male friend. As a friend to her favorite clueless blonde, she decided to give him a little happiness for tolerating her for these past three...almost four years.

"Who is it Sakura? I need to know, surely this girl must be shy! Four years? that's a long time..." Naruto muttered that last part to himself. Sakura nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Naruto. It is. Seeing as how long you two have known each other, I'm surprised that you two aren't together." Sakura decided to torture Naruto into asking her who the girl was. Sakura smiled sadly, placing a hand on Naruto's cheek to get his attention...he looked so freaked out right now. Naruto ignored the next bowl of ramen that was placed in front of him. His eyes were focused on Sakura, his face blushing from the intimate contact.

"Naruto, I know you love me. I appreciate that you do. But I don't feel the same way that you feel about me...we will always be friends, Naruto. Always. Truth is, I never had a problem with you calling me Sakura-chan...I thought it was kind of sweet. At times, yes, you do annoy the hell out of me, but I wouldn't have it any other way from our future Rokudaime, ne?" she fidgeted in her seat. Her eyes began to water, realization sweeping over her.

"I wanted to say that I was so sorry, Naruto, for causing you so much discomfort. You've been there for me, and there's just no way that I could ever return the favor...you are too good to me." tears streaked down Sakura's face as she sat there on the stool, bawling her eyes out. "I'm the one that's so stupid..." she sobbed. "...because I had what I really needed right in front of my face, and I completely missed out." she hiccuped, and sighed as Naruto hugged Sakura again, calming her. When she finally stopped crying, she looked up at Naruto again.

"By the time I figured out my mistakes, someone else loved you more than I ever could. I want you to seriously take her into account, Naruto." Naruto nodded quickly. He needed to know.

"It's Hinata, Naruto. She's loved you since you defended her in the Chuunin Exams. It's only gotten stronger, and I needed to tell you, because I didn't want you to make the same mistakes I did." Naruto's eyes nearly bugged out. Hinata? All this time...he thought it was just her super shy nature that kept her from speaking with him...shit. He needed to find Hinata. He got up, and hugged Sakura one last time.

"Thank you, Sakura-chan. But there is one thing you can do to repay me..." Naruto grinned slightly, and Sakura blinked in confusion. "I've always wanted for you to call me Naruto-kun...could you do that from now on? Even after I become Hokage?" she smiled. Naruto was easily pleased. She nodded.

"I'd be glad to...Naruto-kun." Naruto's grin threatened to make the bottom half of his face fall off. He hurriedly gobbled down his last bowl of ramen, paying with a tip on the counter. "Thanks old man! See you later, Sakura-chan!" he waved as he sped off in the direction of Konoha's Hidden Leaf Hospital. She watched him leave, and waved back, him already long gone.

"Ato de, Naruto-kun..." she whispered.

Shino finally made it back to the Aburame compound. He formed the seals to release the gate for it to open, just as he had several years ago. He walked back through the gates, his mind on Sakura. There was a part of him that was trying to tell him something. Although Shino was an excellent shinobi, instead of always following his instincts, he almost always also followed his heart, too. He was aching inside...he recently always restless, and always having to go train or spar with a friend to get rid of the tension, and even then, only temporarily. He focused on his childhood. He tried to take steps backwards in time to try and figure out where his problem lay. He stood in the middle of the Aburame's forests of scarlet oaks and Japanese maples. He closed his eyes.

He thought back to his time in the Grass Country, where his father did the most of his kikaichou teachings. He remembered missing something terribly...he could not remember what. He was one step closer to finding out. He remembered that for the first few months, he would not speak, for he had no friends...remembering that he left one at home...one he'd just made before he left...his eyes opened. So that was what his problem was! An old friend he'd left back here...he'd missed them. But who was it? His heart ached so much...he was sure it was a girl. A girl. Shino kept walking towards the main house, where he could see his younger brother Shikkei sitting on the porch, waiting for him. Shino groaned inwardly. It was bugging him. A girl, of all things.

Shikkei could not see his elder brother's eyes, but he knew something was wrong when Shino did not ruffle his already trademark ruffled Aburame hair. Shikkei watched as Shino made his way up to the porch, and sat, taking off his hood and brown jacket.

"What's up, aniki?" the boy's silver eyes flashed as his elder brother stood still, not answering him at all. Shikkei watched as Shino sat down next to him, and sigh. Shikkei was worried. Shino was not acting himself at all today. Shino removed his glasses, and smiled, ruffling Shikkei's hair.

"Nothing, ototo...I've just had a rather trying day today." Shikkei visibly calmed, but on the inside, he was not buying it. Something was up with Shino, he could feel it. Shikkei watched him carefully, but his blank face betrayed nothing. He ran in ahead of Shino to let his mother know that he was home. Shino remained sitting on the steps, letting the early evening breeze blow wonderfully through his hair. He remembered that there was that girl watching him...he thought about it some more. It was a female friend that he'd left at home. He remembered thinking she was very pretty...but her face would not come to the forefronts of his mind. He got up and dusted off his pants, and walked up the stairs and into the house. He sat next to his mother and kissed her cheek.

"Hi, 'kaasan, I'm home now..." Aibiko hugged Shino close to her comically, nearly choking the boy. She snuggled her face into his hair.

"My Shino-chan! oh, you've been gone all day! I missed you very much! Did you get rid of that tension?" She let him go, and Shikkei snickered. He was glad he did not get that treatment anymore. Shino nodded nonchalantly, something else clearly on his mind. Aibiko could tell, and she waited for Shino to elaborate. Shino could tell that he looked as if he had something to say. He did, he just...he wanted a clear mind. Perhaps his mother would be able to tell him. She knew a lot of things.

"'kaasan, I..." he began. He didn't know how to form the words, they were stuck in his throat. Shino blushed. Aibiko's eyebrows shot clear off her forehead. Shino never blushed. Ever. Aibiko's grin would have made the Cheshire cat jealous. She nudged Shino, and he only got redder in the cheeks.

"Ah, Shino, do you have eyes for some girl? Tell mommy, dear." Shino's eyes narrowed comically as Aibiko got stars in her eyes. His mother had gotten much more...colorful...since the trip to Grass Country. She was snooping in Shino's private life, and complained when nothing...happened. She scolded him and told him to get out more. Shino was just not interested in girl-watching like his canine ninja friend. He even had to convince his mother that he was not gay, and she breathed a huge sigh of relief at that. He smirked lightly.

"I'm having problems remembering my one childhood friend, mother. I remember leaving her behind here eight years ago...but now I want to know who she was. It's killing me that I don't know. Do you remember who she is, mother?" Aibiko was shocked. So Shiori was right. He would remember on his own. Sadly, as much as she wanted to tell Shino that it was Sakura, who, in her personal opinion grew to be a strong and beautiful kunoichi, she could not. But she did want to help him along.

"I'm sorry dear, I'm afraid I know very little more than you do. The only thing that I remember about the girl was that she had cute little green eyes..." Aibiko shrugged. "I'm sorry I don't remember much more about it, dear. What would you like for dinner?" Aibiko stood, brushing off her fuchsia and peach colored yukata. Shino sighed.

"I'm too tired to eat. Maybe sleep is what I need to clear my head. I'll see you in the morning, 'kaa-san..." Shino rose from his sitting position, and walked out of the room. Aibiko slid open the shoji door to the kitchen. Shiori was sitting at the table in the kitchen, sipping tea.

"I heard it all, Aibiko. I hope you did not tell him too much. Remember that he is to remember on his own. If you tell him, it will be too much of a shock for him, and he won't know what to do. He prides himself on his self control, Aibiko. Let us not try to compromise his pride, shall we?" Aibiko sat at the table, staring out of the window. It was completely dark outside, and the stars were beginning to come out. Shibi was gone on a mission, and she was expecting him back tomorrow evening...

"I know, Shiori, its just, it wasn't fair to rip him from the one thing he truly could cherish as his own...I hope he remembers soon...I can tell he loves Sakura, even though he does not remember it is her." Shiori watched as Aibiko poured herself a cup of the soothing tea. She took a small sip.

"We need to find Shino when he remembers. I'm not sure, but I need to be positive that he knows that while he himself cannot tell her, that he should know that she should remember on her own..." Shiori got up and hobbled over to a back room that was her bedroom. "Oyasumi nasai, Aibiko." Shiori shut her ornate wooden door softly. Aibiko got up to cook dinner for Shikkei and herself. Perhaps she'd have pot stickers tonight...

Shino tossed restlessly in his black cotton sheets. Since it was hot, he had his window opened, his black curtains flowing softly with the night breeze. The moonlight shone it's whitish-silver light throughout the room, the light reflecting beautifully off of Shino's pale body. The sheets were wrapped snugly about his waist, and left nothing to the imagination as his slender fingers clenched in his hair. Though cool in the room, Shino was sweating, his face scrunched in surprised pleasure and anguish. Groans escaped his pale pink lips softly, the blood rushing to his cheeks. A long sigh escapes his lips as he cums. Abruptly, Shino sat up, gasping and shaking.

He knew. He knew who she was.

"Saku...ra...chan..." he gasped. His breathing still labored, he looked out into the cool night.

Everything came crashing back. Seeing her below him while he was in the tree, her sobs oddly making him feel sad. Scaring her after she tried looking for him. Her mothers cookies. Damn, those were some good cookies. Sakura's hopeful eyes. Her smile. Shino remembered it all. He even remembered holding her right before he left, and hearing her cries of goodbye...he didn't turn and look back. He knew if he did, he would not have been able to leave her...would not be as strong of a shinobi as he was now. As painful as it was to leave, it was for the best...and now he had a chance to be her friend once more...to fulfill both promises he made to her...the promise to protect her, no matter what, and to start their friendship as it had before.

As much as Shino wanted to keep that second promise...he wouldn't be able to, not without him feeling rather uncomfortable. Shino, despite forgetting his brief childhood friendship, found Sakura very attractive...a very strong kunoichi, good taste in clothing, not an airhead, and had killer curves. 'Those boots of hers made her legs look very, very nice.' thought Shino, as he rose to change his sheets. Apparently, his dream had major physical effects on his body.

While he did dream of them as younger kids, the dream turned into numerous visions of a naked Sakura having her way with him, her green eyes playfully teasing him in the dark. Shino buried a hand in his face as he turned on the shower water. He knew it was disgraceful to have such amazingly lewd dreams that would make even the Ero-sennin himself blush, but he could not help it. He supposed he loved Sakura as a friend before, but now that he was older, he wanted to show her that he loved her as a man would. He stepped into the shower. He needed to have a talk with his mother in the morning, as soon as she awakened. What was it that Shikamaru always said?

"This is so troublesome..." Shino groaned.

Oh hai. I have up to chapter nine finished, but I like reviews, so I want some more of them. Not quite sure what I'm going to do for ten yet. Those of you who have read up to nine on ...well, you know what happens next. I'll try and put up another chapter tomorrow. No promises. I'm glad to see that there are more SakuShi fans, though...there were literally only two or three stories featuring this couple on this site...now there is a whole page. Let us get more than this! You should love working with Shino. He's such a flexible character, Kishimoto-sama made it very easy for us to twist him to our will for creative writing. Besides, women love a man that has been overlooked...he tends to be sweet and often delightful...at least in my opinion.

Meh. I bow humbly and hope for many, many reviews.