'Author's Note' Hello guys! It's been a whole a year since I last posted, I am truly sorry for my fans and people that kept supporting the story, I am back now I really appreciated the support the story got I am happy you guys are enjoying it. To answer some repetitive questions like is Sakura catching feelings too quick she doesn't know she loves him all she knows that she misses Naruto as a friend guys not love yet, this story still is NaruSaku so if you don't like it please do not read the story Thank You!. Also I noticed that I said is suppose to go the land of wind to the save the princess, I am truly sorry I meant to add The Sand Village but for some reason it won't let me edit the chapter so please a heads up. Thank you.
Chapter 3
The Sun shined brightly. It was the perfect morning if it wasn't such tension. Naruto and Sakura in particular. Naruto barely had any sleep how could he? He couldn't be near the girl he has loved his whole life, it was killing him in the inside not talking to her, Sakura on the other hand had no sleep, the guilt had been growing more and more and it kept her up all night.
"Morning everyone. Hope everyone slept well." Kakashi greeted his team.
" Morning Sensei" the three genins said while yawning.
"I'll get us some fruits." said Sakura with a little energy in her voice she was trying to stop thinking about her blonde teammate.
" Okay well me and Sasuke will packed our gear. After we eat. We head out. Naruto that leaves you to make breakfast, are you up for it?" Kakashi asked.
" Yeah! We'll make something we all like."
Naruto began to make breakfast. He made a very special meal of cherry oatmeal and chocolate pudding it was special to him because that was Sakura's favorite and he knew that. Despite how hurt he was, her happiness was always a top priority to him. Breakfast smelt great. Kakashi and Sasuke noticed how good breakfast smelled.
Meanwhile Sakura had found the fruits . She was trying to decide if she should choose apples or the tangerines. She knew Sasuke love apples, but she also knew that Naruto's favorite fruit is the tangerines.
Inner Sakura
".. Sasuke-kun eats a lot of apples. So, i'll pick some of these…"
Sakura picked as many apples her arms could carry and began on her way back to where everyone was about to start eating breakfast. But before making it over , she took one last look at the tangerines and sighted.
Inner Sakura
"... I don't have enough room for tangerines, Naruto will just have to settle with apples, at least Sasuke-kun will be happy….Sorry Naruto... "
Back at the camp Naruto just finished breakfast. Kakashi and Sasuke were starving.
"Ok Guys, foods finish, eat up." Naruto called as the food was done.
They both started making themselves breakfast.
"You know dobe I really don't like you, but you can cook for me anytime." Sasuke said enjoying his meal.
"I am with Sasuke on this one, Naruto this food is amazing. You on cooking duties for the rest of the mission."
They both started to eat like crazy but Naruto stopped them.
"Can't you guys at least wait for Sakura to be back so she can eat." he said with a firm voice.
Sakura had just come back and she was happy when the smell of cherry oatmeal hit her. She was happy her favorite breakfast was made unlike the other times Kakashi made crap literally crap food she hated Kakashi's food. She assumed quickly that Sasuke was the one who made breakfast. That made her smile.
"Wow this tastes amazing Sasuke-kun. I brought apples. I knew they were your favorites, there was also tangerines but I know you don't like them."
Naruto heard that. He got up and once again isolated himself from the team. He started his morning workout and got his gear ready for the journey. By now Kakashi figured out what was going on here just by looking at how his young blond student acted. He decided that he will stay quiet for now and let them figure it out. He wanted his students to grow up.
"Sakura I didn't make breakfast." Sasuke said as he continued eating.
"Oh.. I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei, it tastes great." she said embarrassed.
" Wrong again Sakura" Kakashi said as he too continue eating.
" Wait.. you don't.."
"Yup." Kakashi and Sasuke said in unison.
"These aren't my favorite apples. I only like macintosh apples." he said angrily as he threw the apple away to the ground in a rude behavior.
Inner Sakura
"Geez you could at least be more appreciative Sasuke-kun.. Naruto… Naruto even made my favorite breakfast for me.. He is so considerate, and I left the tangerines behind for someone who didn't even appreciate the apples. Ugh why can't Sasuke-kun act more like Naruto… so sweet and caring and always so cheerful. Naruto is always there for me.. Naru…"
Sakura's train of thought was broken when Kakashi complained and said for everyone to not eat the apples because they were rotten inside. Sakura wasn't going to eat them anyways. Naruto heard that and walked back to the rest of the team.
Sakura had a sad look on her face. She felt like she was just a screw up for the team. Naruto despite on what Kakashi had just said, he grabbed an apple and began to eat it.
"NARUTO! Do you want to get sick?" Kakashi yelled as Sasuke and Sakura looked on surprise.
"I won't get sick sensei.. A kind hand picked these apples. And I would never let those hands effort go to waste." Naruto replied while still eating the apple away.
Sakura was in total shock. She couldn't believe what she just witness. Naruto is the type of guy she wish Sasuke was.
Inner Sakura
" I can't how much compassion he has.. Willing to make himself ill, just to make me smile. And I didn't even get his favorite fruit. Instead I told him to stay away… that I hated him… but the truth is how can I hate someone as sweet and nice as you? You who would do anything to make me smile…. You should be the one hating me."
Sakura looked at him with intensity and sincerity. Anywhere Naruto moved, her eyes followed. She wanted to talk to him so badly to say how sorry she was, she wanted their friendship back, but she knew he would find some way to keep his distance from her.
Team 7 set out and continued their way to the Sand Village. The had trekked a long way and stopped to catch a breather and to replenish their energy. All while Sakura walked beside Sasuke. Naruto kept his distance as he had been doing since the very start of the mission. As for Kakashi he was minding his own business. The wind began to pick up as the Sun began to set. Sakura started to get cold and she saw this as an opportunity to get close to Sasuke.
"It's cold.." she started shivering.
"What kind of ninja doesn't come prepare for the weather?" That was the response Sakura received from him.
"I'm sorry Sasuke-kun…" she said looking down in disappointment.
"Whatever. Why are you saying sorry to me anyways? You're the one who is freezing out here?." he said as he started to get away.
Inner Sakura
"Why can't he show at least some compassion for me? I try to be strong for you Sasuke-kun.. Can't you learn to accept me?."
Naruto was ahead of them, but he did catch Sakura shivering. Even if she didn't want him near her, he would find a way to help her. He took a jacket out of bag and hung on a nearby tree. Sasuke and Kakashi both saw what Naruto did but paid no mind to it.
When Sakura go to the trees she saw the jacket. At first she thought someone set a trap or someone may have lost it. But then a blast of wind fell on them and she decided to put the jacket on. She was quite happy with it. It warmed her right away and she loved how the inside of the jacket felt. But she noticed a funny itching at her neck. She pulled out the collar and saw the name.
Inner Sakura
"Narutoo… even when he's distant he finds a way to help, he protects me without restraining me.. Ohh.. if you were only Sasuke.. Sasuke could really learn some things from you Naruto.. Thank you..
Naruto just kept about his business. Walking as if nothing happened, not noticing how Sakura was looking at him. She beginning to have a deep respect and admiration for the teammate she once thought to be worthless. She started to smile.
"What are you smiling about?" Kakashi asked as Sasuke looked, both awaiting a reply.
Sakura saw that Sasuke was looking at her so she didn't dare say the truth.
"Oh… Uh.. Nothing. Just happy I get to be close to Sasuke-kun." she replied back.
When he heard that, Sasuke shunned it off and kept on walking. Sakura saw Sasuke's demeanor and it saddened it her. Sakura started to wonder if Sasuke would ever return her affections back.
The team just at the horizon at the village of sound.
"Listen up team, we will camp right here. The Sand Village is just over this horizon. Stretch, stretch your muscles, get some sleep. Do whatever you need just be prepared. Tomorrow we rescue the target. " Kakashi told his team.
"Yes sensei" the three replied in unison.
Sasuke just walked of to an area to get some exercise in. Sakura was about to follow to get another attempt to win his heart. However, she turned and saw Naruto. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to have a talk with him. But she was afraid of how he'd react. Last time she tried he found an excuse to get away from her. But she told herself that she would try anyway.
Naruto quietly sitting up in a tree. The view was perfect. He had a great view of the Skyline. Naruto saw Sakura walking towards the tree he was sitting at. Sakura stopped and looked at Naruto. Their eyes met for a while they stared at each other until Sakura asked if she could come up there.
"Would it be okay… if I came up there with you..?" she asked as her eyes never wavered from his.
" All right." he responded not sure if it was a good idea to let her get near him.
Sakura climbed the tree and sat side by side with Naruto. Naruto quickly slide over to make some distance between them, but Sakura quickly grabbed his hand and looked at his eyes. Naruto was shocked by the contact but he turned his head away.
" Please don't turn your head way, I want you to see me." she slowly turned his cheeks with her palm so he can look at her.
They had another brief moment of silence. It seemed that they were just drawn to each other, Sakura loved looking at his eyes. They had warmth and beauty that she wished that Sasuke's had.
"Naruto I'm sorry.I didn't mean to treat you the way I did two days ago. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to take away your sense of self the way I did, and for that I am truly sorry. I realize I was much happier when you were yourself... I do like you … I do care about you." She said looking at him eye to eye
" Sakura I forgave you the moment you yelled at me… I just thought that maybe you would be happier if I'd do exactly as you said."
"No I was wrong. Very wrong…. Can we please be friends again?.." She asked still gazing into his eyes. Almost ready to cry.
" I never stopped being your friend Sakura-chan.. I'll always be there for you." Naruto said smiling.
Sakura gave him a warm smile. Naruto returned the smile, and that relieved her. The Naruto she had been travelling with was sad and distant. That Naruto was foreign to her. She was more accustomed to the smiling, and cheerful Naruto. That was the Naruto she preferred and that made her smile.
" Naruto, please listen to me. I want to give you my friendship. But… I can't give you my heart. I'm sorry.. That's for Sasuke-kun.." She said as she finally broke their gazing.
"... I know…" Naruto said softly as he looked away.
Sakura wrapped her arms around her teammate. She was happy to have their friendship back. But she felt terrible about breaking his heart. She knew he had a crush on her for as long as she could remember. She also started to wonder if it was more than a simply crush. She came to wonder if Naruto truly loved her, and that is what she was looking for from Sasuke.
" Thank you…" she whispered into his ear as she slowly let go of her embrace. She walked away and headed off to where Sasuke was.
Naruto just starred as the pink kunoichi walked off. Sakura's intuition felt his warm eyes staring at her. She loved how he looked at her. She turned around and gave her teammate one final glance and ran off, no longer in sight.
Inner Sakura
"... his eyes are so inviting and warm…. oh why couldn't Sasuke be Naruto and Naruto be Sasuke…"
And with that, team seven went on about the separate ways till morning .
Author Notes: Okay, phew finally I am done. I am sorry I have taken so long to post this chapter I have read every single review. I honestly don't care if you complain about the grammar but please keep it to yourself because there not big grammar mistakes you can still understand the sentence. So please be positive.