Hey my loyal readers. I'm sorry that it's taking me so long to update. I've been so busy with school, college apps, and other personal things. As I said last chapter, this is the last chapter in book 1, and book 2 will start soon. Also, before I forget, I would like to thank a few certain people for sticking with me throughout this whole story:

Wind797, krymsom, and Gnosismaster… thank you guys so much.

Well, here we go, the last chapter of book 1… enjoy.

Chapter 8: Finally!

It has been two months since the kiss, and Sakura couldn't stop thinking about it. The smoothness of his lips, his soft yet slightly calloused hands caressing her face, his gentle yet passionate kisses; he gave her goose-bumps. It was all she thought about.

Today was no exception. She was on the bridge, waiting for her team. She smiled in spite of herself. If someone had told her that her first kiss would have been with Naruto, she would have gagged. But now, she found that she was slowly falling out of love with Sasuke and in love with Naruto… and she loved it.

"Morning Sakura." A voice came.

"Morning Sasuke." She sighed. She had really hoped that it would be Naruto; she really needed to talk to him.

Sasuke looked at her strangely. Lately, she had stopped fawning over him and truthfully, he was beginning to miss it.

"Hey Sakura?" He began tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"I know that it's kind of late for me to say this but I'm sorry for what I said to you that time. I was just frustrated that someone who I thought was dead-last could beat me and I took it out on you. I think that now, you two have left me behind. I wish thing could go back to what they were."

"I don't know about all that. Actually, I forgot about that day. I also know what you are alluding to when you say you want things to go back to what they were, and I don't want that. I'm not going back to being the foolish little girl that followed you everywhere you went, nor am I going to be the girl that you can walk all over like before. I still love you Sasuke, but only as a brother. I love someone else now. But I hope we can still be friends."

To say that Sasuke was stunned would be an understatement. Not once did he think that Sakura could be that strong and resilient.

"Sure, I guess." He replied.

"Good. You'll find someone Sasuke, it just won't be me."

He nodded.

"He's really lucky to have someone like you."

"That's funny. He said the same of you."

Sasuke was about to reply when Naruto walked up.

"Morning Sakura-hime, Sasuke."

"Morning Naruto-kun."

Sasuke just nodded again. This was too weird for words. He looked at Sakura and saw the same longing look that she used to give him directed to Naruto. But something else was there. Love, caring, and compassion; feelings that Naruto's gaze towards Sakura returned ten-fold. That's when it hit him like a tonne of bricks.

"She loves Naruto, and he loves her back. Finally!" Sasuke smirked.

Kyuubi saw it too. He may have been over 100 years old, but that didn't mean that he didn't know love when he saw it.

"Good job, kit."

Naruto sat on the edge of the bridge and smiled. He had seen the whole exchange between Sakura and Sasuke, and now he was going to make his move. He braced himself.

"Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember two months ago…when we…"

"Yes, I remember." Sakura said, blushing.

"I couldn't stop thinking about it." Naruto replied.

"Neither could I."

"And I was wondering if… uh…"

"JUST ASK HER OUT ALREADY! THIS ISN'T THE CHUUNIN EXAMS!" Sasuke screamed, his patience with this scene snapping.

"For once I agree with the teme. Just do it!" Kyuubi growled.

"Okay, okay… Sakura-chan, would you…"

"Yes." She cut him off.

"Really?!"

"Yeah, I realised that I am in love with you Naruto, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you will have me."

Naruto didn't reply. But he did pull her into a passionate kiss. So passionate that Kakashi, who had been standing there the entire time, stopped reading his coveted Icha Icha Paradise to watch.

"So, the journey has finally begun?" He said.

"Finally!" Sasuke replied. "Finally!"

END OF BOOK 1

Well, there it is my first finished story. I hope everyone enjoyed it. Send me an idea for the second book and I'll try to put it in. Thanks you guys. Akiro Knight signing off (for now).