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Chapter Fifteen: Giving Up

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Ino huffed, knocking even louder on Naruto's door. She was here for a good minute, but it felt like hours to her. She was in a hurry and stressed, hoping to fill Naruto in on what had happened, along with having him help her this time around.

It was one of the first times, she honestly had no idea what to do.

After another minute, Naruto finally opened the door, his hair disheveled and still in his pajamas. His eyes strained to open, rubbing the crust from them to get a better view of the person abusing his door.

"Ino, what are you doing here so early?" he asked, and Ino was too busy to figure out if he was joking or not, since it was the middle of the day.

"Naruto, there is no time for games. She knows," Ino's expression was one of panic, and Naruto raised an eyebrow, wondering why she seemed so concerned and what exactly she was talking about.

"What?" Naruto furrowed his brows and leaned in closer.

"She knows," Ino reiterated, staring into Naruto's eyes. Naruto tilted his head, still utterly confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, opening the door and ushering in as Ino began pacing back and forth.

"Sakura knows… what happened." Naruto's eyes widened, disbelief.

"You mean with our deal?" he clarified. Ino nodded. "How'd she find out? You told her?" he accused. Ino scoffed, shaking her head.

"Were you planning to hide it forever? Pretend like you aren't in love with her in the hopes that you'd move on to someone else?" Naruto groaned, knowing her answer by her deflection. Ino liked to accuse when even when she was in the wrong. He should have known better. His eyes grew stern.

"She didn't have to know. We would have been fine," he tried to say, but Ino growled, her hands on her hips as she pointed an accusatory finger at him.

"No, you wouldn't! You would have been miserable otherwise!"

"I've already moved on," he reasoned and Ino rolled her eyes.

"Really? So how did you move on?"

"I have other priorities now."

"Still Sasuke…" she clarified. Naruto shook his head.

"Look, I don't want to say anything when I have to focus on training and Sasuke. Anyways, I think I like someone else anyways, so it doesn't matter. I like you." An awkward silence permeated the room, as Ino stared at him with an odd look, before she frowned.

It didn't feel right.

Ino laughed, trying to make sense of it all. "Is this some kind of joke?" Naruto frowned. Ino slapped him, anger eminent.

"Hey, why you hit me after I just told you that?"

"Gee, I don't know, you seem to be into that," Ino said, still flaring with anger. Naruto rubbed his cheek, his eyebrows furrow.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't be an idiot," she demanded, furious. Naruto was legitimately surprised, not sure what she meant by her words.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"It's clear as day that you still love Sakura. You're trying to get over her by falling for me."

"What? No way, that's not true at all, you've become a great friend of mine, and-" Ino interrupted him, her index finger over his lips as she glared.

"Doesn't mean you haven't been, Naruto. If you want me to be honest, I feel like you're trying to get over her so much, you started to have feelings for me. I'm like… your rebound." Ino crossed her arms, her face scrunching up. No, she was not going to be the rebound. Never.

"Ino, don't say that! I-I'm sorry about all this, but I'd never think of you like that. You're my friend, and I do love you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart." Ino sighed.

"It's your fault, you know. You're too stubborn to realize."

"It's true!" he protested, his fist clenched.

"Geez, Naruto." Ino shook her head, not even sure what to do anymore. "When you came to me, asking for help, I didn't think this would happen. Now I got you confused. I guess my good looks really would get anyone to fall for me," Ino said, whipping her hair to the side conceitedly.

Naruto deadpanned.

"So…"

"So, remember why you even asked me to help you in the first place. You were a sick puppy for her. And now that she finally fell for you, you're being a little wimp and not making a move," Ino sighed, shrugging at his inactivity.

"T-that's not true!" Naruto yelled back. Unfortunately for him, Ino was just as loud, and just as stubborn.

"But it is! I think you're just afraid. Now that she's into you," Ino smirked. "I mean not that I would know or anything."

Naruto slumped looking at his languid arms.

"She is in love with Sasuke. She's the one that's confused. I know it." Ino rolled her eyes.

"Oh brother… see this is why you two are crazy about each other, but too damn stubborn to actually get together." Ino crossed her arms, sitting next to him, exasperated by the huge amount of work she will have to do to fix this mess.

"I really do love you, though. You're the only one that was there for me," Naruto admitted.

"Then you wanna kiss me and find out?" Ino flirted, giving him a suggestive wink. She giggled at Naruto's expression, who immediately backed away, standing up and stammered. "Too easy.

"Wait, Ino! I don't get it though, how did she find out? How did that topic even come up?"

"You know Forehead. She was telling me about how you loved me, and it just came out!" Ino clarified.

"Ino…" he trailed off, shaking his head.

"Look, I'm sorry, but there was no way you could hide this forever, anyways. I don't know how many times I have to apologize or make it up to you, but I will fix it. Which is why I'm glad you realize how much you are still head over heels for her," Ino smirked. Naruto blushed, stammering.

"I-it's not like that!" he retorted, and Ino shook her head.

"Goodness, I don't know what you see in her. She can be really bossy, you know? And, you may not know this, but she gets super cocky with me, she thinks she's so much better with medical ninjutsu, and she likes rubbing it in, and- and…" she began to laugh. His face was heated, and he looked up to the clear blue sky, not sure what to do anymore. She could tell his heart was racing. She grinned. "You're just as weird and stubborn as Forehead, isn't that right? No matter how much you try to hide it, or bury your feelings, I feel like they'd resurface sooner or later. You can't just escape your feelings with me, you know."

"Ino…" he called, yet still trying to figure out what else to say to her.

"Of course, I can't let two of my best friends be such idiots. I mean, really." Ino continued to ramble, neither sure where she was going with this. Naruto chuckled. "Like really… Naruto, the girl you've loved since you were a kid, genuinely confessed her feelings, and you just turned her down," Ino said, bringing reality down on him like a cold, hard hammer.

"What did I do…" Naruto said, regretful.

"I mean, it's not the first time…" Ino shrugged. "It's actually kinda funny. I always thought it would be Sakura who rejected you, or finally accepted your feelings." Naruto sighed, his hands grasping his head.

"It still just doesn't make any sense to me," he said. "How can she get over him that quickly? It doesn't… It doesn't seem like she would." Ino sighed, her hand patting his back.

"I know it's hard to believe, but people can change. You know, I don't think it happened so quickly. It was more of a gradual thing, but you're so dense, you didn't even realize it. She probably didn't even realize it herself. I can't really say why or how, since I'm not Forehead… but I'm pretty sure it did."

"I don't… I don't want to make a mistake… I… My promise…" Ino sighed.

"I know what you said before… how you don't feel you can confess to her with the promise, or how you want to save Sasuke-kun for yourself. But this is a time where I think you both should just be honest with each other. It's better to just talk about it than anything, you know. If anything, it'll be good to at least say everything you need to say, and get the whole Sasuke-kun angst out of the way, otherwise both of you will be miserable." Naruto was still reluctant to accept her words. Everything she said made sense, but it still felt too good to be true.

"Don't worry. I think once you and Forehead talk it over, all will be well." Ino explained, becoming the voice of reason. Naruto smiled gratefully, happy to hear this from Ino.

If anything, it was better to clear everything up and fully see eye to eye.

"Thank you for this," he said appreciatively.

"Anytime," she responded, and Naruto grinned from ear to ear.

"Although, I don't know how Sakura-chan would feel about this."Ino shrugged.

"She'd probably be happy… although you're right, she's incredibly stubborn. To be honest, she's probably incredibly upset right now, with both of us." Ino furrowed her eyebrows thought, attempting to figure out how to mediate the situation. Naruto grinned.

"We'll figure something out!" Naruto reassured. Ino nodded, determined as well.

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When Tsunade glanced at her student, she was surprised to see her in her old ninja uniform. She wondered why, and if that had anything to do with Sakura wanting to meet with her.

"Tsunade-sama…"

"Yes?"

"I'd like to go on missions again."

"Why is that, Sakura?" Tsunade wondered, raising a curious brow. She questioned what altered her young student's mind.

"I just felt it was time for a change," she began.

"Is that so? Are you finally ready to get back to your team then?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," she declared, her fist clenched and ready to go. Tsunade smirked.

"Very well, I'll put you on the roster for missions again," Tsunade agreed, and Sakura smiled, nodding.

"And… I was also hoping there was an available mission I can do as soon as possible?"

"Hmm?" Tsunade raised a brow.

"Solo," she added. Tsunade looked up from her papers, curious as to why the sudden want for a solo mission. She sighed, figuring it was to stay away from something.

It was none of her business.

"Yeah, I have a perfect one for you. You'd leave tomorrow morning," Tsunade explained, handing the girl the scroll. Sakura smiled as she perused the mission details.

"Perfect. Thank you, Tsunade-sama." Sakura bowed, making her way out.

"Sakura," she called. Sakura turned, wondering what else her sensei had to say. "I wanted to ask, why the change of heart?"

Sakura smiled.

"I felt I was needed more at the hospital. And, although I enjoy it, and do feel needed, I realize there is someone who will need me much more." Sakura smiled, and Tsunade wondered what she meant by that.

In the end, Tsunade sighed, nodding, before giving her a quick briefing about the mission.

It was a diplomatic mission. She was the Hokage's apprentice after all. Even with all the hospital work she did, she of course, still had to find time for her master as well, who she ran a lot of necessary errands and helped her out. She remembered when she was younger, when she was basically a second assistant to Tsunade-sama, just like Shizune. This was a part of it. She would go with her, as her student, to attend important meetings and she met with numerous people.

Aside from that, she learned a lot about politics and more than just medical ninjutsu and super strength from her master.

Tsunade would laugh, especially when she was drunk, and mention how Naruto better watch out. How in a few years, Sakura would be more than qualified to become hokage.

"I don't want to be Hokage, but I'm sure Naruto is going to need the extra help," Sakura would laugh. However, she remembered liking that idea - or at least teasing Naruto with that notion. It would certainly make for a funny running gag between them. She would often giggle to herself at the idea.

But regardless, her mission entailed keeping relations with the Daimyo well, which included guarding him and his family as they attend a very important festival of the new leaves.

She wondered if this was really a solo mission.

Tsunade sighed.

"Yes and no. You are going to be the one there, the one that will be the main face and who will be talking to the Daiymo and his family. However, for security measures, I'll be having ANBU scouting and making sure everything goes to plan as well," Tsunade explained at the time. Sakura nodded. "You won't have to interact with ANBU at all unless something goes wrong, or you need it. They will be an hour behind you. So it's basically a solo mission. But considering how high class/ status this mission is and how important it is to keep up relations, I thought it would be fitting to send my student." Sakura nodded, before she bowed.

"Yes, thank you for this, Tsunade-sama," Sakura said, before turning to make her leave in order to prepare.

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"Thank you, Kiba," Sakura said, watching her Little Pup jump around with Akamaru, not as big, but running in between Akamaru's legs. Little Pup was excited, playing with the other dogs in Kiba's yard. She was really thankful that Kiba said yes to dog sitting for her while she was away on her mission.

"No problem," Kiba said, showing his canines with a big grin. "Happy to help dog sit."

"Yeah, I figured you'd be the best to take care of him. Sai is too much of a wild card."

"Ino or Naruto too busy I take it?" Kiba instantly noticed Sakura's grimace for a brief second, before she strained a smile.

"Oh, they are too dumb, you know how they are," Sakura said. Kiba raised a curious brow, wondering what she truly meant. "Knowing them, they'd probably forget to feed him or something," Sakura laughed.

"Trouble in paradise?" he wondered, and Sakura scoffed.

"What paradise?" Sakura took in a deep breath, hoping to conceal her emotions and not let them get the better of her. She smiled. "Thanks again, for watching him while I'll be away on a mission. I really appreciate it. Sorry I can't talk much, but I have to hurry up and leave for my mission." She waved goodbye and left before her anger got the better of her. She got extremely irritated just thinking about her two so called best friends.

Her mind quickly went to her mission, however, soon arriving at the gates of Konoha.

"It'll be good for me if I am out of the village for a while," Sakura said to herself before walking out the front gates and not looking back.

"This is good for me," she said to herself like a mantra all the while she stretched her muscles as she walked on.

"Sakura-chan!" she heard a voice that she didn't want to hear, a voice that cut through the air and into her eardrums, demanding her attention. She didn't want to look back. Her fist clenched, her eyes closed as she tried to take more steps forward.

"Sakura-chan, wait!" he called again. Sakura stopped now, realizing his voice was not in her imagination.

"Naruto?"

"Sakura-chan!"

"What are you doing here? I have a mission, I have to go." She was annoyed, him being the second to last person she wanted to see. What would make this worse would be…

"Forehead!"

And there was the last person she wanted to see… she turned to leave, not ready to say anything to them, otherwise she might have hurt them.

"Wait, please hear me out, Sakura-chan!" he tried to explain.

"I have my mission, I can't be late."

"Sorry, sorry, but it'll only take a bit! Please! It's important." Sakura frowned, too angry to deal with him now.

"I can leave too, if you want," Ino said, reading the situation. Sakura glared, still frustrated with the girl.

"One minute." She finally relented, her arms crossed. She was not having any of this. It was rather annoying, actually. They were jeopardizing her mission now.

"Okay, I'm sorry, Sakura-chan! I don't know what came over me but I was wrong to do that to you, Sakura-chan! I shouldn't have made light to your feelings! I'm sorry for that, I wish I could have been smarter about handling all this. But I love you, I care for you so much. It was always you," he confessed. Sakura was surprised by his confession, delighted to hear those words, but she still frowned, looking away.

"You hurt me again… again, you didn't believe me. How are we supposed to come back from that?" Sakura said, frowning.

"Sakura-chan, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, you have no idea! Please forgive me."

"I did forgive you."

"But… I mean… really forgive me. I mean it when I say it. You confessed to me… but I never got the chance to do so for you. And I wanted to, I really did, but… I… I could never do it when I still haven't brought Sasuke back," Naruto said, his eyes sullen and shameful. "Those times that you did, I just wanted you to be honest with me. That's all I wanted." Sakura frowned, before she turned away.

"Naruto, the truth is, I gave up on Sasuke-kun. If you truly want me to open up my heart to you right now, then here it is: I stopped going on missions, and worked more at the hospital, to show you – no, to show myself, that I can move on from Sasuke-kun. I didn't want to go on missions, because, well, what if I saw him again? What if something happened like the last time?" She began to cry. "As much as I hate change, I adjusted to life without Sasuke-kun, and I hope you'd see that too, and forget about him. Because…"

"Sakura-chan," Naruto whispered, not sure what to say after that. Naruto moved closer, wrapping his arms around her.

"Because, as much as I hate to see our team broken, I'd hate it even more to know that something happened to you because we were still focused on Sasuke-kun. You've always been there, Naruto, and that's something I never want to change." She wiped tears, staring at him.

"Well, there you have it."

"Sakura-chan, I've never been more scared in my life. You know, I hate giving up more than anything. But when it comes to you, Sakura-chan. Well, I gave up for you. I wanted you to be happy."

"I found someone else, because, well, I thought that's what you would want. I moved on for you."

Moved on the wrong way. She couldn't help but think.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, I don't think I could ever let go of Sasuke. Even though you say I don't have to fulfill that promise, Sasuke is my brother, and it's my duty to save him. I have to. Maybe that's why deep down, I could never really let go of my feelings for you either, no matter how many times I told myself it was for the best."

It was then, she realized, that Naruto was more afraid of change than she was. She continued to stare at him, making the blond nervous, wondering what she was thinking.

"What?"

"Nothing, I was just right in thinking that you're the biggest idiot I've ever met, baka-Naruto. I guess that will never change, at least."

"If you're going to keep your promise to me, then let me keep the promise I made to you…"

Naruto stared at her oddly, confusion emanating from his features.

"I told you that we would find him together," she started, determination eminent in her eyes. "And that is a promise of a lifetime, one that I will keep. From now on, I will be right there with you, always…" she declared.

"S-Sakura-chan…" He blushed.

"Do you believe in me?" she wondered, looking into his eyes and taking his hand. He looked down to where they were linked, still in shock. However, he soon looked up to her determined eyes, and smiled, his blue eyes showing fierce determination as well.

"Because I believe in you." Whatever he set his mind to, she knew he would accomplish his goals. Defeating Akatsuki, saving Sasuke, winning her heart – she knew he would always win. He was Naruto, and he never gave up, and neither would she.

His grip on her hand tightened.

"Always."

Sakura smiled.

She planted a light kiss to his cheek, before she stepped back.

"Good, now stop making me late for my mission!" she teased, waving goodbye. Naruto frowned for a second, before smiling, and waving goodbye.

"Always, Sakura-chan, always," he said under his breath.

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AN: I'm so sorry. Not only for the long wait but for the horrible ending. I know it was rushed, but I'm just so tired and frankly, was not sure where to go with this story anymore. This was unfortunately a story from my teen days when I didn't know how to write an outline/ plan things out. So I just edited chapter 15 because I'm that embarrassed by it. xD Sorry everyone. But I hope it was okay. I understand if you hate me. I envisioned this story to be something else, but unfortunately, my writing abilities made this really really bad. I hope to fix that in future stories. Maybe someday when I'm a more capable writer. But in the mean time, yeah… sorry.