The burden

Hey guys,

This is the chapter I tend to have 90% done and waiting before a final edit and post. My usual process is finish a chapter and shelve it for however long it takes for me to write the following chapter, then, go back and re-edit for the final draft before publishing. Taking my mind away from the chapter helps me come up with a fresh perspective later when I go over it again. However, at the moment, I don't have a lot of time and I want to get one more chapter out in the five days before my oh so crippling "Endless Summer of Entertainment" BS starts at my job. So, in order to minimize the stress later, I'm just posting this one now. This means I can do one more before a two to three month gap. I know that sucks but, such is life.

Warning: Lemons

This is one of my more larger chapters, but I don't think it drags. 15.7K Enjoy!

NARUTO

"So you really want this?"

"I do," she answers.

In his old apartment, in the dark, Naruto and Sakura face each other in his nearly empty and cold bedroom. They don't need more than moonlight streaming through the window to see each other. Naruto's sad eyes don't detect any doubt in Sakura's stern determination.

"You want me to touch you everywhere?" Hoping she might back down in order to retain a shred of his innocent heart for her, Naruto adds for unnecessary clarity, "your breasts, your ass, your pussy?"

Sakura hadn't expected him to be as crude as he is straightforward. 'While technically accurate names, he could still tone it down and say my flower, bottom, or chest.' Still, Sakura answers, "y-yes."

Taking a commanding step forward, he asks, "and if I kissed you?"

Thinking of her month-long training with Ino henge'd as Naruto is the only reason she's not panicking. Sakura couldn't believe she actually gained practical experience in kissing Naruto as she confidently answers, "I'd kiss you back, obviously."

"If… if I kiss you like I love you?"

"…That's why we're doing this," Sakura voices delicately. "For a better tomorrow, a better team, I want you to have this one night. Tonight will be y- our one lifetime…"

Fighting the log lodging in his throat, Naruto weakly concludes, "…and then… it's over."

"Then it's over," Sakura repeats, finding it hard to stomach the hurt projected on his baby face.

Naruto's feet move with reserved purpose and he enters Sakura's personal space. His right foot lands between her feet so she can feel his hot thigh between hers and his right-hand rests on her waist while his left-hand digs into his pocket to retrieve an item. Naruto hears Kurenai's voice in his mind guiding him not to rush stimulation and to allow his partner to become used to the idea for a better connection, a better engagement, and overall results.

Sakura stopped breathing for a couple seconds as she hadn't expected him to be so assertive. Considering everything she's done with Ino and how hurt he is, Sakura was expecting to hold his hand throughout what her analytical mind calculates to be a short two, maybe three pump experience.

'He feels really warm,' her nervous mind notes before realizing, 'I'm actually letting him touch me! …What's that,' her mind finishes as Naruto pulls a moderately sized squeeze tube from his pocket.

"There's no running water so I brought a bucket of water and a washcloth for cleaning," Naruto informs her as he shamefully delights in the warm sensation of her against him, despite the grand insufferable ache in his breaking heart. "I want you to use this," he states showing her the squeeze tube he purchased. It's the level above the one Nai-chan likes to use. This version has a relaxing agent for first time anal players.

"What is it," Sakura curiously asks tilting her head to read, 'Oil-Based,' and, 'Bottom Butter.'

"Lubricant," Naruto answers. Still hoping she might back out, he adds, "for your butt."

Humored, Sakura wryly informs him, "Naruto, I don't know if you know this but that's not where you have sex. It's actually more toward the front- You know? Don't worry, I'll show you."

Naruto blandly assures her, "I know where it is. This is for your ass because I don't want it to hurt if we have anal sex too." Naruto was bluffing of course. If she asked for it, he would, of course, oblige, but, if anal sex doesn't scare her into stopping, he isn't sure anything will.

Sakura thought being so close to each other with his firm hand on her waist and his leg between hers was shocking, but her green eyes bulge at his mention of anal sex. "You- you want to put it in my ass?"

Staring achingly at the spoiling love of his life, Naruto answers, "you said you'd give me your virginity."

Aghast with clear shock, Sakura yells back, "yeah, the front, not the back! That's- That's disgusting!"

"I don't want to stop in the middle if we go that far, Sakura," he states, squeezing her waist for emphasis, making her breath hitch.

"Wha-" Sakura grasps at any coherent thought in her brain and attempts to ask, "I- really, Naruto? That?"

Naruto shrugs, offering her a way out, "or we don't have to do this."

Sakura's jaw tightens as she sternly stares at his sad eyes. Thinking of her photo, her Sasuke-kun, she tries, "but in the butt? Are you some kind of pervert?"

Naruto can't muster more than a non-committal shrug before expressing, "the only thing I want you to do is be vocal. Tell me if I do something you like, tell me if I do something you don't like, and ask if you want me to do something, including anal. That's it."

"But… in the ass?"

Turning his neck to look out the window, Naruto wonders if this will truly be their entire lifetime… one night to love and lose Sakura-chan. If this is truly what she wants, then this is all the time he'll ever have to express his love for her, and so he tells her, "we don't have a lot of time."

"It's not even that late," Sakura mentions just to say something normal that had nothing to do with fucking her in the ass. "Midnight isn't for another three hours." 'That should be more than enough time for him to get two maybe three shots before she can go home, shower, and be one photo away from finally returning to how it was,' she thinks.

SAKURA

Sakura can't believe she's actually pressing the nozzle into her sphincter and squeezing nearly half of the tube's cold gel into her rectum. 'This is weird! Of course he'd make even this difficult! Kami, his tiny prick better be a quick shot!'

Sakura faintly recalls the photos she's burned that show Naruto's penis may actually be the length of her face. Sakura never got a better look than what Ino showed her and she burned all the ones she earned immediately without looking, but she's fairly certain he's not actually small. 'Or it was just the perspective! She took the photo at an angle that made it look bigger than it actually is.'

In her white and pink bra and panties, Sakura walks out of the bathroom to find Naruto, naked but for his boxers, walking up to her. 'Uwwha we're both naked," she nervously thinks and voices at the same time.

Naruto actually chuckles as he walks up to her and takes her hand. "Nervous?"

Swallowing after taking a deep breath, she answers, "no," as she allows him to lead her toward the bed.

Naruto yet again, offers, "the second you want to stop, no matter what, we will."

"I won't, Naruto," she resides herself. Sakura's prepared. Though she won't be as pure for Sasuke-kun as she would like, at least she'll be with him.

"I was thinking," Naruto begins to express. "The least I can do is make sure your first time is really good."

Sakura chuckles softly before saying, "thanks, but that's not necessary. This is about you."

Dubiously, Naruto points out, "if this is really about me, then making you feel great is necessary." Again, they're both reminded that this isn't how it's supposed to be and Naruto tells her, "lay down, please."

Green eyes widen soberly at the worn bed next to them as her heart hammers painfully in her chest and her nerves force Sakura to ask, "why," simply to think about anything other than the fact she was going to have sex with Uzumaki Naruto.

Sitting her on the sheeted mattress, Naruto escorts her placement on the bed with his gentle hand as he answers, "this isn't going to feel great if we're both tense and uncomfortable, so I want to give you a massage. On your stomach."

Sakura nervously shuffles until she's lying face down on the mattress. Despite all the times she's seen Ino henge'd as Naruto on top of her, kissing her, licking her, this wasn't some minor genjutsu. This was the real deal and Sakura can only just manage not getting up and running away. 'At least I won't have to see anything,' her mind desperately grasps at; though she can still hear him.

Naruto starts, and at his first touch, Sakura automatically tenses, yet, he doesn't remove his hand. Instead, the entirety of his palm lightly runs up and down her spine and body of strong muscle surrounding it, pressing and rotating his thumbs into her shoulder blades and connecting shoulders, rubbing her trapezius muscles, stroking her neck and just below her cranium, before kneading her and forearms. The resulting blood flow felt better than she had anticipated and she had no complaints when his warm and strong hands traversed her bottom half, massaging just as thoroughly the ball, arch, and heel of her feet, the full length of her Achilles tendon, her calves, the back of her knees, her warming hamstrings, and to her great surprise, her buttocks.

Naruto spent more time on her round rear than any other muscle group and to her unexpected surprise, her body feels joy at his ministrations. The pleasant kneading and rubbing of her round cheeks somehow made her slippery sphincter itch and pulse. Sakura is confused by the tickling sensation a few inches deep into her rectum and attributed the grating feeling to the lubricant he gave her.

In the forty-minute deep-tissue rubbing session, Sakura became accustomed to the idea of Naruto touching her and applying the perfect pressure to all her nervous and unduly strained muscles—of which there were many—manipulating them everywhere he caressed to soften and hum warmly.

'How does he know how to do that,' she weakly thinks as he slowly relieves all the stress in her body and improves blood circulation. Sakura sighed happily after he concluded with her backside, and didn't even mind when he unclasped her bra. What was therapeutic and warm slowly morphed to pleasurable and heat. The way he kneads and subdues her tight muscles felt unexpectedly like magic.

When Naruto gently turns Sakura around, she can see him start to work on her thighs, however, she hadn't expected him to start talking. "The first time I saw you," he starts. "I was nine and it was springtime. You know how everyone likes to go to that one park by Yoshino's to look at the pink trees?" Despite the question, he was in a trance as he kept up the pleasurable massage and slowly recounts his train of memory to a confused Sakura. "I was running around, looking at all the trees when I saw you, well, I saw your hair first. I was confused because I thought a bunch of petals fell on your head. I mean, how could anyone have hair so pretty?" Though he asked, Sakura's throat closed tight during his melancholy recollection.

"Anyway, you fell and skinned your knee, so your dad picked you up and put you on his shoulders while your mom looked you over. She had blond hair just like me. The way your parents cared for you… that amazed me to see, and I thought, 'I want that.' Then we were in the academy together, but you liked Sasuke and I felt like I had to fight for you if I wanted that feeling of family."

A mute Sakura wished she didn't have to see that clear ache on his face or the blank haze in his lost eyes as he gazes into the past of the seed of his love for her. 'Damn, you Ino!'

"I remember the first time you rejected me," Naruto's hollow voice continues. "I thought I was going to die," he chuckles as he describes going to the Hokage's office and laying down in the corner, weeping. "When I cried to Ji-chan about what happened, he said I shouldn't give up. That girls like someone who doesn't quit. He told me he never would've been lucky enough to marry the love of his life if he quit the first time she said no… a Hokage never quits, he said." Naruto mournfully states.

Before Sakura can ask him to stop hurting her resolve, he adds, "I'm going to massage your breasts now." Sakura wasn't aware of how relaxed she was until his destination tenses her up again. When Naruto removes her unclasped bra, she looks away, blushing profusely. "You look beautiful," he confesses before moving past his own feelings to continue. "Maybe, Ji-chan was wrong. I didn't… I guess that's not the right way to love someone. Competing like that…"

Closing her eyes, she feels his warm hands massage her full pert breasts and to her surprise, it's as warm and nice as everything else he's done. No pulling or pinching like Ino likes to do, just interesting, pleasurable, and enticing rubbing. Sakura grows embarrassed when her nipples harden and her sex grows humid despite her partner, growing more sensitive and receptive to how his hot hands knead her graspable bosom.

Sakura is hyper-aware of his right hand slowly move down her toned abdomen to the apex of her legs and begins to rub her over her panties. Along with the pleasantness of his breast massage, his hands create a tingling current sparking up and down her legs and up her spine to the base of her skull. As he massages from one breast to the other, he's also rubbing up and down the sensitive petals of her leaking flower for many minutes, until she's breathing heavy and soaked through her thin garment. Sakura's pumping heart accelerates as her blood flows effortlessly to her dilating quim.

As unexpected as everything else he's done, Naruto begins playing with her nipples as his other hand slides underneath her flimsy panties. His thick fingers touch her directly and for some reason, Sakura's body doesn't hate it. 'Mnnn, Kami, I can hear it,' her rapidly hazing mind notes the squishing noise his fingers produce against her soaking sex. 'Why isn't he terrible,' Sakura's melting mind thinks to ask the moment before his fingers plunge inside her slick folds.

Unable to keep from letting it out, Sakura moans, "ahn," and somehow, he's not overjoyed at drawing a moan from her. Sakura can't quite grasp why he's so calm, until she realizes he's heartbroken. 'Of course he wouldn't be happy,' she thinks despite the physical activity they're doing. Soon, however, the sensations insist on dominating her mind as his fingers feel, massage, and stir her hot pleasure folds.

"Sakura," she vaguely hears him as she tries to fight the tightening rise of pleasure. Moving his fingers even deeper in her, breaking her silence as she moans, "AHHN!" He calls again, "Sakura."

"Mnn," she hums with closed eyes when her hips start tensing and mewling.

"Remember, you have to tell me where you like it," Naruto softly says and it's not at all within her intelligence to comprehend as a finger brushes against a wonderful patch of pleasure, making her moan loader and squeeze his thick slick digit.

The welcome discovery didn't go unnoticed by either of them and her body rewards his rubbing and curling fingers with a rising flood of pleasure. Sakura's womanhood somehow vibrates even softer, weaker, as his enthusiasm gnaws at her sanity and elevates her arousal that much further. Despite her embarrassment, Sakura takes comfort in that he isn't his normal boisterous self, and moans a little more freely as she slowly spreading her jittery legs. Along with her mollified mind, the way his fingers and palm play with her nipple and breast while his other hand pumps his fingers her sensitive pink slit repeatedly tightens a grand coil of bliss at her leaking center. Then his thumb finds her sensitivity-engorged clitoris.

"Ahhh!" Sakura moans as her legs shake when he strokes her body-mushing button. 'I'm close!' "Mmmm, AH! N-Naruto!" 'He's doing it! He's doing it! He's doing it!' her mind repeats as her humming body rushes closer to her impending orgasm. "Naruto! I'm going to! It's happening, it's happening, it's happening-"

"Cum whenever you want Sakura," Naruto softly tells her, and she wants to fight her rapturous end that much harder, until his hot mouth descends on her pert pink nipple, sucking on her pink teat powerfully. Her hips buck as his fingers quickly curl and massage her weak-spot in tandem with her clitoral and nipple stimulation. Crunching her green eyes closed, a perspiring Sakura couldn't withstand it and her mind explodes in reverberating white bliss.

"AHHHNNN!" Sakura's spine arches the same range of curvature as her stretched toes as her mighty pleasure sponge wrapped around his fingers contracts powerfully, squeezing out jets of her slick juices and drenching the bed beneath. Dopamine floods her quaking system from head-to-toe and back, repeatedly, making her vibrate deliciously as she rides her spectacular high.

Naruto removes her panties along with his tight boxers. Hoping to kiss her at some point, Naruto decides not to eat her out just in case she doesn't like tasting herself, or the kiss. For her benefit, he also rolls her onto her stomach, mournfully assuming she wouldn't want to look at him when they have sex.

Recalling the doggy style position from sex with Ino, as well as her research, Sakura heaves her silent approval. The shift in weight scares her as much as his heat lightly prodding her vulnerable and aroused womanhood. When Naruto rubs her moist and sensitive cunnie with long strokes of his pleasure pole, Sakura's mind would simply repeat, 'it's only Ino, it's only Ino, it's only Ino,' but when his mushroom crown kisses her contracting cock-pocket, her thoughts immediately correct themselves, 'that's not Ino, that's not Ino, that's not Ino!'

The duet groan together in serene pleasure with his first thrust into the juicy marrow of her center. Sakura's neck extends out at being stuffed and stretched so wide before she drops her sweaty pink-haired head against the pillow, silently thanking Ino's vibrator for preparing her for the veiny dick that feels like her forearm.

'He's huge,' Sakura's mind yells as her mouth moans, "UOOHH!"

"You feel amazing," Naruto voices, delighting in simply savoring the way her wet, ribbed nodules twitch in her tight grip of his cock head. Her hot honey-hole feels more than lubricated enough to push in deeper, however, Naruto pulls back to her entrance, gives her a second, then thrusts right back in. Gripping and massaging her athletic love-handles, Naruto keeps a slow and steady rhythm, feeling her out and enjoying the pleasant song of her moaning whimpers.

'I can't believe I'm fucking Naruto,' her mind yells as he inches closer to something she feels is dangerous. 'Someone I don't love,' she mentally cries as she buries her perspiring face into the sweat-soaked pillow as she thrills in back-arching delight. 'Who am I,' her mind asks a few pumps before Naruto finds her cluster of body-quashing pleasure, and her hyper-analytical mind shorts as her love tunnel snaps with her loud, "AAHHH!"

Sakura's mind hazes under the quick bolt of pure ecstasy, barely questioning, 'what was that,' as Naruto voices, "there you are." Naruto switches gears and speeds his pussy-displacing cock to always dig against that area, and Sakura's mind evaporated under his euphoric assault. "Ahh! Ahn! AHH! OH! Kami! Kami! AHH!" Sakura would moan with each slamming thrust and the only awareness her dazed mind is conscious of is the monumental orgasm building at the very center of her. His perfect thrusts set a fear in her she might not survive the explosion only moments away.

"Na- AHH! Naruto! MN! Please! Please!" Sakura yells, beginning to lose all control over her shuttering body, but she didn't even know what to ask. "I'm cumming, I'm cummmmm AAAHHHH! AAAHHH! AAAHHHH!" Sakura's quaking quim seizes as her erupting walls clutch his thick meat wantonly. The sheets she clutches strongly tear from tensing muscle and her whole body arches in explosive pleasure. Engaging his own muscles, Naruto held on to her strong, sheen-covered body as her passions erupted violently, gazing lovingly at the curvature of he feverish back and the matting of her sweaty pink locks as she quakes and trembles.

Naruto was still hard and when he spotted the way her lubed sphincter twitched and pulsed. Hoping to calm her down some to continue, he unexpectedly plunged in thumb in her lubricated rectum. His bodily desire wanted to keep going, but he didn't want her to pass out, and so, pistons his thumb in and out of her puckered bunghole, but when she offered no protest, he switched his thumb to his middle and ring fingers and applied firmer friction. Her moaning and humming body just kept sporadically twitching greatly as he tells her, "Sakura, my fingers are in your ass." However, Naruto couldn't know that Ino offered a photo to finger Sakura's ass once, nor that Sakura found she wasn't as revolted by it as she thought she'd be.

Naruto presses down with his fingers as he flexes his cock up and Sakura moans between deep gasping breaths, prolonging her after-climax haze that much longer. It takes a few minutes until he begins fucking her again, starting with a slow rhythm before moving deeper and faster. Naruto loved how hot her cushy wetness grips him, how she moans mindlessly, suffering orgasm after orgasm, until he's finally pistoning her full depth and he grunts, "so hot!"

"Nahhh! AHHn! RUuuuh! TTooooo! Fuck! I! I! I! CAN'T! CAN'T! SO GOOD! Ahhh! MMn!"

Clinging to her athletically firm hip with one hand, and the top of her twitching thigh with the other, Naruto thrusts into Sakura's drenching meat-intake over and over again, hunting for his own climax while she's lobotomized by the multitude of hers. Naruto rubs his moist hand up Sakura's rutting sensitive spine to the back of her neck and firmly grips the base of her stimulated nape using the sensitive muscle as leverage to thrust harder. In the fever high of incoming oblivion, Sakura revels in the way his commanding hand presses her face into the pillow as his thick pleasure stick ushers her into the upper echelon of euphoria, uninhibitedly screaming, "MNN! Yess! Yess! FUck! Me!"

Naruto grunted repeatedly until he buries the length of his probing organ into her wet, hot velvety nook, and groans when his balls brace as he pressure-shoots load after load of his thick man-milk directly into her thirsty uterus, drowning her quaking insides with hot gelatinous spunk.

Tongue out, chin drenched in saliva, mewling nonsensically, Sakura saw white as the overdose of bliss is more than her mind can handle and passes out as her body contracts and shudders ceaselessly, instinctively gripping him in with all her primal unconscious might. Naruto himself loved unloading hot into hot and shuddered happily throughout.

As Sakura came to, she felt a wave of peace with the universe, voicing her love of all the wonderful feelings tingling up and down from scalp to toe-nails and hurting Naruto in the process. Hearing a hazy Sakura say Sasuke's name put the final nail in this coffin housing what remained of the innocence of his first love.

Her face against the mattress, Naruto felt the urge to take out his loss on her, to wake her up by stuffing her virgin anus with his thick meat and making her feel him, Uzumaki Naruto, is the one inside her and making her pass out from pleasure. He wanted to dominate her for willfully hurting him like this... But he learned long ago, even if others choose to hurt or belittle him, he doesn't have to choose revenge no matter how good it felt.

Naruto knows the outcome wouldn't be honest. Naruto wanted everyone to acknowledge and respect him because they realized it through his convictions, not his vengeance. He's pranked enough people to know teaching others a schoolyard-lesson isn't as lasting as truly understanding one another is, so rather than paying the hurt forward, Naruto exhales that anger with a long calming breath and flips her compliant blushing body over, so she's on her back, then lifts her onto him as he sits.

Sakura is flush against his chest, her legs spread and straddling his pelvis while she comes to. 'Why am I sitting on Naruto's lap,' her groggy mind wonders before she feels his hard rod hooked between her soaked legs and flush against her riveting sex, beating hotly against her.

Her green eyes focus more when he asks, "you ready to go again?"

"Hah… Again?"

His answer is taking her thin waist with his arm and lifting her while his left-hand grips and guides his meat missile toward her dripping target, before lowering her sensitive sex until she's fully impaled. Naruto savors the sight of her beautiful face contort in blissful rapture and the guttural sound of her moan as she slowly filled to brimming with pulsing meat.

Though they are face to face when he tells her, "go ahead, Sakura. Show me how much this is for me." Naruto pulls her close so her head is beside his and they can't see the dejection in their eyes. While Sakura seemingly decides to voluntarily ride his hot, thick, shapely cock, her breast and hard nipples press wonderfully into his chest as he rubs and kneads her sensitive ass for many moments waiting on her.

Loose in the head and craving more in her sex, Sakura begins rocking her hips slowly. It isn't long before she craves more friction and quickly picks up the pace. Not only did she enjoy the stability of his rock hard body, the way her soft breasts and hard nipples pressed against his in the motion of her bucking hips, the control of riding his thrilling pussy-stuffer at her leisure, but she also enjoyed the itch her rectum percolated with as he kneaded her plump split rear.

Sakura's round butt humped his glistening cock repeatedly all the while he whispered in her ear how amazing she feels; "Your pussy feels so great," and, "I love how wet you are," and, "keep- mmn squeezing me Sakura. Just like that," and, "your pussy's going to make me cum, Sakura. I'm going to cum in your pussy." On and on as she rode him madly, until Naruto slapped her white sweet-cheeks and the itch in her ass and the pleasure coil in her cunt snapped. Sakura impaled herself to her rupturing depth, hugging him for vital stability as she moans and cums powerfully. Her soaking climax pushed him over and he breaks his balls letting flood after flood inside of her, sending her over against at the molten seed filling her birthing chamber yet again.

For a moment, Sakura lost all awareness of time and inhibition as she weakly leans back in the radiating oven that is his embrace. Naruto moves a bit of her sweaty pink hair matted to her forehead, delicately cupping her face as he woefully admits, "you look so… beautiful."

Though he should be overjoyed to be doing such an intimate act with her, his first love, his eyes and brows strain mournfully, like the abrupt loss of a life-long comfort, and despite the way her body sings, that saddens her. 'I did that,' Sakura's groggy mind accuses. Regardless of what Ino made her do, she went through with it, and Sakura hates the way that makes her feel. Rather than suffer this ugly truth, however, Sakura leans down and kisses Naruto. Her lips dance with his, deeply, openly until their tongues meet and Sakura actively seeks to forget her offense, her shame, her love, and just be.

Though it wasn't a representation of mutual love, Sakura and Naruto have fevered passionate sex throughout the night, steaming the room with their pungent fluids. Sakura was so mindless, she even asked Naruto to scratch the horrible itch in her ass, and though she meant with his fingers, Sakura came so hard from his cock-pistoned thrusting and ultimate climax, that she passed out from the exhaustive pleasure. Her need to forget and his need to accept what will never be, drive them to share this one comfort. If they could think, they might regret it, but it simply felt better to escape into ecstasy, if only for the night.

Despite having to wait for her to regain consciousness after nearly every one of his orgasms, a scorned Naruto came in or on her twelve times before morning, knotting her five times. He did eat her sweet honey-hole, he did cum in her rectum, he made her cum repeatedly, and by the end, the demented grin on her face made him proud of his clear skill, yet, hurt him at the same. This was nothing more than base sex with someone he truly wanted to marry at one point. Now, however, he knows things between them will never be the same.

The room is bathed in morning sunlight and Naruto just zips up his orange jacket while gazing a slumber Sakura covered in bed. Thinking of his future counter-part and what might've been with Sakura, he admits to himself, "I wanted an answer." Naruto sighs as the ache sets in, sorrowfully adding, "but I didn't want it now…"

Naruto leaves her in bed, and in the coming days, skips team meetings and practices, though it took Haku, Hinata-chan, or Kurenai no time at all to notice his mournfully dour depression.

INO

"…Oh, sweet Kami," Sakura moans after another tremor, repeatedly recalling that Uzumaki Naruto made her cum so hard she passed out, multiple times.

Sakura's in her bedroom, on her bed, showered, yet unable to remove the Bottom Butter lubricant in her ass, and changed into comfortable home wear, reminiscing. She'd been hugging her stuffed bunny, reflecting on the most monumental physical milestone in any young girl's life. Sakura was a woman now. Sakura didn't really talk to other girls beside Ino, and never about sex when she did, so the pink-haired girl can't be sure how the experience is for everyone, however, she's fairly certain, the first time isn't usually so mind-blowing. 'I asked him to scratch my ass and didn't care he did it with his dick!' her flabbergasted mind yells in disbelief.

"So I take it he was good?"

Surprised, Sakura shrieks as her green eyes snap on Ino like a whip, unsettling her and asking on reflex, "what are you doing here?"

Upon seeing the confusion on Sakura's face, Ino answers, "you've been in a blushing daze since this morning, mumbling, 'sweet Kami,' like every thirty minutes. You told me to give you a minute nearly four hours ago!" At Sakura's shocked, blushing face, Ino huffs in complete understanding, noting the obvious. "…Guess he rocked your world, huh?"

"N-no," Sakura pitifully tries to lie and feeling her face flush with warm blood. "He d-didn't… he couldn't!" Sakura felt defensive in front of Ino. She couldn't allow her rival to see her vulnerable truths… her reality of self-doubt.

"You know I can tell you're lying, right," Ino points out. "How good was he?"

"He wasn't!"

"Oh, my," Ino humorously chants, taunting the pinkette. "It couldn't be… you're not scared Naruto might affect your feelings for Sasuke-kun, are you?"

"…You're so childish Ino," Sakura answers without her usual fervor, still feeling the waves of him inside her sex and ass, drilling her walls until she erupted in gushing bliss. Sakura's body just couldn't shake Naruto off, however, her mind was her own and she weakly responds, "you like to think you're so smart because of your parents, but you're really just pretending; spouting stupid nonsense until something finally sticks. Did you really think sex, no matter how amaz-… no matter how satisfying it may have been, could change what I feel in my heart?"

Sakura felt hollow in her defense, but she certainly wasn't expecting Ino to laugh horribly amused, to the point Sakura questions the blond's sanity. "No, actually," Ino eventually answers, reading the pinkette perfectly, and at Sakura's confused face, she verbalizes, "then why have you fuck Naruto, you're wondering… Easy. This was never about Naruto," Ino states with authority. "He was just the best option to prove my point-"

"That I wouldn't love Sasuke as much just because Naruto so happens to be good- because he's not the worst in bed?" Sakura never likes when confident Ino targets her. The girl's certainty can be unnerving, and in panic, Sakura also asks, "how pathetic is that?"

"It had nothing to do with how he was in bed either," Ino answers. "But that's a surprise to hear," Ino effortlessly lies.

"Then what!" Sakura yells in clear agitation, feeling fragile in fear of the answer. "What? What was all this about!"

"Kami, how can you be so blind," Ino huffs with sheer disbelief. "This has always been about you! Not Naruto, not me, not Sasuke-kun, but you! In all your witless declaration of your supposed love, you actually convinced yourself that having sex with me, having sex with Naruto, was the only way to prove your love for Sasuke-kun; as if it was some hard-fought victory! 'Here, look at how much I suffered to validate Sasuke-kun's the only one for me,' like a simpleton. Only weak-minded people who lack any self-respect fall for stupid shit like that. How is Sasuke-kun supposed to love someone who thinks so little of their own self-worth?"

"I…" she pauses when she feels her eyes grow humid and prickly. Swallowing she yells through the horribly mounting ache, "I do respect… myself!"

"You respect yourself but you also had sex with Naruto," Ino questions as obviously ludicrous. "Someone you don't even love-"

"Because of you!"

"I always gave you a choice," Ino further bullets as Sakura's mind recalls all the times Ino gave her the option to back out and even the chances Naruto gave her to back out. 'But I couldn't,' Sakura's mind yells in defense. 'Not if it meant losing Sasuke-kun!'

With fear-inducing accuracy, Ino continues, "but you never took it, did you, because you were all to happy too throw away your self-respect, your dignity, if it meant you wouldn't lose your precious Sasuke-kun." Sakura couldn't keep her surprised brows from rising or shocked eyes from shaking as Ino adds, "it's because you have no respect for yourself that you can't see Sasuke-kun could never love a doormat like you."

All her research on obsessive love plague her mind like a virus and her cum filled stomach sinks as Ino adds, "I bet Sasuke-kun could beat you, could try to kill you, could try to kill your parents, your teammates, or even everyone in this village and you would still 'love' him," Ino declares with such confidence. "Do you think that's normal? Do you? Because that sounds like the delusional fantasy of what some anti-social man thinks a woman's love is."

"…Sasuke-kun wouldn't… He'd never… How could you say something like that!" Her mind hops on the nearest branch of sanity, yelling, "this just proves you don't love him!"

But Ino is just as stern, just as defiant, just as confident as Sakura always remembered her to be when she refutes, "I never want him to feel so much hurt he would descend to that level of darkness. It's actually my biggest fear and it would break me to hear how much his hatred has consumed him, but no, Sakura, it proves I'm not blind to the lengths his pain and suffering would take him. I see him, and I won't ignore what his vengeance is capable of just because I love him! You don't have to believe me, but it's okay. I'll help you get your own answer."

Ino takes out the last photo; a good shot of Sakura licking Naruto's third leg before Ino explains, "this last photo is for that conversation I originally wanted you to have with Sasuke-kun. You'll meet me after to take this last one when you ask him what his vengeance is worth: you, his teammates, our village, our country. Ask him if…" Ino pauses to keep the tears at bay as her voice fights to finish asking, "if we got in the way, what does he feel in his heart of hearts he would do?"

SASUKE

"Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to spar, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi looks at him and Sasuke truly attempts to suppress from his face the urge to beat some sense into his blond teammate. For the past month, a ferocious Sasuke has thought of nothing but Itachi and the Dobe, which isn't right in any conceivable measure. For his complete betrayal, Itachi has earned Sasuke's murderous thoughts. The Dobe on the other hand, shouldn't even be a point of serious thought, but for how much of an idiot the blond is. Brash, loud, talentless…

'How!' Sasuke gravely asks himself. 'How did that idiot defeat a former Anbu? Where did that power come from?'

Even though Sasuke recalls Kakashi's explanation: 'mmn, what he did is a first-rate example of why you should never underestimate your opponent. You didn't expect it as much as every other person on that bridge, which meant not a single one of us could've guessed he had a trump card he could successfully land. That's how Naruto-kun won. It's why we always look underneath the underneath.'

Despite knowing the specifics of how the Dobe defeated the former Kiri Anbu, Zabuza, it doesn't explain away the embarrassment of his arrogance, as if it's okay for him—a nobody and an idiot—to act strong. The world will not tolerate it. 'I will not tolerate it!' For if the Dobe can be strong, then what does that say about himself? What does that say about his own chances of killing his treacherous brother, the clan-killer? Or returning the Uchiha name to its former glory? Sasuke simply doesn't have the time to waste putting his blond teammate in his place. He needs to concentrate all his energy on hating the only person who deserves it.

Currently, in Iruka-sensei's mildly forested backyard, Kakashi is observing a very down and depressed Naruto, and even Sasuke will admit it's unnatural to witness as their sensei says, "ma, maybe next time, Sasuke-kun. We all just reunited after all."

The Dobe was late to their meeting on the bridge near training ground 13; So late, in fact, Kakashi-sensei showed up first. After it seemed apparent the Dobe wasn't going to show, they all went to Iruka-sensei's house. Kakashi had to drag their blond teammate out of bed and that's where they all find themselves; in Iruka-sensei's wooded backyard with a listless Dobe in his pajamas and a Kiri traitor serving all but Sakura, tea.

"A month has passed," Sasuke returns, tightening his fist. "If you've already entered our team into the Chūnin Exams, we should reassess our skill level."

Kakashi looks him over before sighing and calling, "Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan, let's see how you've progressed." Naruto flinches but mournfully moves to the center of Iruka's grassy backyard while Sakura slowly removes her navy-blue utility rig around her thigh to keep their spar even.

'Even Sakura looks like she just crawled out of the grave,' Sasuke thinks as they begin their pathetic spar. 'What the hell is wrong with these two?' As Sasuke watches the worst taijutsu exchange he's ever seen in his young life, he actually questions if this is reality or a genjutsu illusion. He's seen that stupid cat they've chased on a few D-Rank missions move faster than this. 'Are they trying to fool me with this pathetic display?'

Kakashi stops the weak match when Naruto is knocked flat on his back and doesn't move to get back up. Sasuke can clearly see the blond isn't hurt but is stumped as to why he's not getting up. Sakura's punch didn't even look like it had any muscle behind it. Sasuke mentally yells, 'Is he fucking sky gazing?' before actually yelling, "what the fuck is going on?"

"Sasuke," Kakashi warns before he turns to the other two and asks, "what is going on here?" The Dobe looks to Sakura pained, heartbroken even. Something tells Sasuke she knows what this mystery is since she doesn't even return eye contact. 'Did someone die,' Sasuke wonders.

Kakashi sighs before suggesting, "maybe we shouldn't enter the Chūnin Exams."

"Tch," Sasuke angrily sucks his teeth while Sakura whirls around to her sensei and asserts, "no, sensei. It's fine. We can."

Kakashi simply shakes his head, addressing his genin students, "if we can't come together as a team, then there's no place for us in the exams. It's as simple as that."

Sasuke didn't think he could get angrier. His thought pattern mirrors his elevating frustration and aggressively questions, 'why can't they see they're holding me back? You're all in my way!'

Sakura moves to Naruto, who sat up, though still looks away, and pleads, "Naruto, come on, it's okay, right? Tell sensei, we're okay to participate."

Sakura's concern for Sasuke is clear as she looks from the Uchiha to Naruto, and again, he looks heartbroken. It wasn't until Sakura looks away saddened that he finally understood, and couldn't help the bubble of laughter that erupted from his belly. Drawing all their attention, Sasuke eventually says, "that's what this is about? A loser like you is dragging me down because your pathetic feelings got hurt? You should've known this is exactly how it was going to end! Love means you've lost, Dobe. It's a weakness, like cancer, and you should be grateful her rejection finally cut it out!"

It's the first time the blond idiot looked more alive; angry to be sure, but alive, as he idiotically states, "I don't regret loving Sakura. Even though it hurts worse than anything I've felt before, that doesn't mean I hate her or regret loving her."

The image of the way Itachi smiled when he'd flick a young Sasuke's forehead drives Sasuke to shout, "then you never loved at all! Or you'd know that pain isn't worth it!"

"It hurts like crazy, yeah, but that doesn't mean you give up you idiot!" Naruto states, blue-eying Sasuke with every ounce of conviction he has.

Sasuke saw red and hopped high and far on the nearest tree, sticking perfectly as his hands rapidly transition from Monkey, to Dragon, to Rat, to Bird, Ox, Snake, Dog, Tiger, and finally Monkey seal before he channels a high concentration of Raiton chakra to his left hand, yelling, "in this world, strength is all that matters!" Though Sasuke's current limit is only one a day for forty seconds, he's only barely learned Chidori from Kakashi-sensei before they had to return from their training trip. He's certain with more training her could manage two a day for at least a minute.

"Sasuke, that's enough," Kakashi calmly calls. "Chidori was created to protect friends and comrades."

"You also said it was stronger than his technique," Sasuke yells to them below, before singling out his blond teammate. "So, let's see it Dobe! Let's see who's right and who's stronger."

Kakashi moves perfectly between the genin to block Sasuke's path, asserting, "Sasuke, use your head. He's is your teammate-"

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," Naruto quietly calls and a single clone pops next to him, looking just as angered.

"Naruto," Kakashi warns, removing his hands from his pockets, the most threatening gesture Kakashi could make that wasn't lifting his headband, and both boys instinctively knew what would happen next if they didn't stop.

Sasuke smirks in satisfaction to see Naruto ignore their sensei in favor of making his ball of chakra. He can still hold Chidori for another thirty seconds before he runs out of chakra, which is more than enough time. Sasuke notes the blond has gotten faster at forming the dense sphere of blue chakra and was eager to test his strength against the technique that defeated the former Anbu Zabuza…

…But he couldn't just yet. For whatever reason, Naruto continued to feed more of his chakra over his open palm, vibrating the surrounding air as the wind seemed to funnel and circulate around the still growing ball of chakra. Raising his open palm above the waving blond hair of his head, the size of his technique continued to grow, stunning them all, until it was the size of his entire torso.

It was so massive, Sakura had taken many steps back and Sasuke couldn't understand the hows or whys of Naruto possessing so much power. They were all staring in stunned disbelief, so long, in fact, Sasuke ran out of chakra to support Chidori and it extinguished painfully from his hand. When a worn Sasuke had to return to the grassy earth, Naruto slowly reduced his massive spherical cyclone of chakra to the size Sasuke remembered before it fizzles out.

Naruto wasn't even breathing heavy as the blond's hard blue eyes turn from Sasuke to Kakashi and tells him, "I do want to enter the Chūnin Exams, sensei. I just need some time." Despite Naruto's aching heart, none of them could know that he wanted to meet Gaara and create another bond Naru-nii described as life-long kinship. Naruto looks at Sasuke and what angers the self-proclaimed avenger was the look of understanding on the blue-eyed blonds stupid face. 'As if he can understand my pain!' But Naruto simply walks back into Iruka's home.

SAKURA

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura calls after him.

Kakashi dismissed his team soon after Naruto's unbelievable chakra display and Sasuke-kun had immediately left. She could tell he was upset, though it's understandable. She doesn't think any of them expected Naruto could do that with his chakra. 'It was stunning,' she thought. 'Kakashi-sensei was right. He really is the most unpredictable ninja… Especially in bed,' an errant thought unconsciously adds, making her repeat for the thousandth time, 'I'm a woman now. Naruto made me a woman.'

Sakura shakes her head of the second most prevalent thought in her young life. Since their night together, Sakura can't help wondering why she felt so good, marvel at his sexual ability, and daydream of the possibility of reproducing those sensations. Of course, no matter how good she has to admit he was, she never will again and the reason why is multifaceted. The hurt on his face is not something she likes or wants to see, and she absolutely hates her part in putting that pain there. Sakura also hates how great sex can effortlessly cast a confusing shadow of doubt in what was previously bright and unshakable.

Seeing Naruto, feeling him, unsettled what was once grand and majestic, and if Sakura is ever going to return to that beautiful existence, she'll need that last photo; a photo that requires her to have a conversation with Sasuke-kun. Sakura was tired of questioning the nature of her awkward emotions and just wanted to return to some semblance of comfort. Sakura simply wants to love again, however, their team won't meet again until the exams, forcing Sakura's hand. This is her moment. Her best opportunity to speak with the love of her life and set her back on the right path. "Sasuke-kun, wait, please!"

A miffed Sasuke stops and turns to her, asking with clear aggravation in his voice, "what?"

Startled, Sakura weakly responds, "I just want to ask you a question."

Sinking further in annoyance, Sasuke turns and continues walking until Sakura cuts in front of him, stopping him. "Please. wait." Stoically, he says nothing, but he doesn't leave either. "I want to ask you something, and I promise, I won't get mad. I just want to hear the truth or your truth-"

"Spit it out already," Sasuke cuts in.

"…What is your vengeance worth?" Her question makes him blink before his brows come together in irritation. "I know you want to kill a certain man," Sakura continues. "But what if you lose your soul because of it? I can't imagine you would hurt others just to satisfy your-"

Sasuke promptly challenges her with irate black eyes and a hard voice. "What could you possibly know about my vengeance? Rather than wasting my time asking me useless questions, you should be training. Honestly, you're even weaker than the Dobe," Sasuke finishes before walking around her.

Despite the tumorous lump lodged in her dry throat and her hot moist green eyes, Sakura turns and calls out, "wait, please Sasuke-kun! I just want to be useful to you. Just… just help me to understand-"

Whipping around to face her, he declares, "how could you, Sakura? With all your intellect, how could you possibly understand me when your house has parents still breathing?" Thinking of that disgusting look of empathy Naruto directed at him… that look of complete understanding, Sasuke nearly yells, "you can't! Not a single one of you can! And it only pisses me off when you try!"

Blobs of tears well around her green eyes as Sakura tries, "b-but I want to-"

"Then kill your parents," Sasuke commands. She couldn't believe how small and clear his black eyes were when he then tilts his head, as if reconceptualizes. Sasuke moves close to her like a predator as he states, "better yet, the bothersome way you'd hang all over me, reminds me of how stupid I used to be." As delicate as the entire raven-haired-scope of her world is, rather than fix what feels fracturing within her, Sasuke-kun flicks her forehead… her insecurity… sharply, shattering something vital within her. She flinches at his flick under his striking eyes as he asks, "what if I killed your parents, Sakura? Would you still call me your Sasuke-kun then? Would you still be so blissfully ignorant about how completely irrelevant your understanding is to me?"

"Sa-Sasssuke-kun," she weakly tries as hot tears finally spill over when she shudders. Her voice croaks as she wills herself to say, "don't… you-you're not like that… You can't be…"

Sasuke snorts at her blind, dewy-eyed innocence, before his demanding eyes labels her with the most disheartening pitiable regard she's ever felt. "All I have is my hate- No, all I want is my hate. Someone as naive as you will never understand that. Outside of team duties, leave me alone," he easily demands, then silently leaves. Sakura doesn't follow.

On autopilot, Sakura's sandaled feet shuffle to the field of flowers near the Academy. The walk felt like the longest and shortest trip she's ever made, and before she knows it, she's standing in front of a quiet and sympathetic Ino.

"…What did he say," Ino softly asks.

Sakura's wide eyes finally focus on Ino, and though she feels like she should be angry at the platinum blond, or raging in defense of her love for Sasuke… she, in fact, feels nothing.

Sakura is in such a state of limbo, she has to question something she never thought would be an issue. To her horror, Sakura actually contemplates if she's more shocked about the fact he threatened her parent's lives, or how he claims she could never understand him while her parents still live… and that made her sick to her stomach… that she would weigh the possibility of her own parent's deaths— their murder—simply to better understand this boy. At the smiling faces of the mother that birthed her and the father that loves her unconditionally, under the full bloom of Sakura trees Naruto had reminded her of, Sakura felt sick.

For the first time in her life, Sakura was scared of this dominating feeling she has for Sasuke. Thinking evil, morbid thoughts against her own family in order to understand the boy in her heart is 'wrong… It's wrong! Something about this is wrong! My love is…'

Sakura's tears are flowing before she's even aware of them. The moment her confused mind feels the fat globs of salty liquid racing down her pink cheeks, Sakura begins to wail in agonizing sadness. Both kunoichi end up on the grass with Sakura wrapped in the Yamanaka's arms. Ino doesn't simply hug the wailing girl for comfort, she holds Sakura together, to keep her once best friend from breaking, periodically whispering, "it'll be okay," and, "I have you, Sakura. I have you."

Sakura wanted to respond, 'it'll never be okay,' and, 'I hate you,' but she couldn't stop crying and Ino was the only life-sustaining warmth in that very cold day. They stay in the field of flowers, where a crying Sakura and an understanding Ino first became friends until late into the night.

NARUTO

If it wasn't for Naru-nii, Haku, and Kurenai's unyielding support, Naruto couldn't imagine walking beside a morose Sakura and a rigid Sasuke up to the exam room a mere five days since his night with his pink-haired teammate. Though Kurenai refused to have sex, advocating an emotional imbalance could ruin what they have, she at least slept with him every night until the early morning, before leaving for team duties. Naru-nii would talk to him about good times with many new friends Naruto is still looking forward to making, and after convincing Haku not to murder Sakura, his brunette friend would simply be there for him. No matter the time of day, Haku would simply be there.

After a wave to Tenten and a fist bump to a confused Rock Lee, Naruto waits beside the entrance doors of room 301 for Sasuke to lose to Guy-sensei's smaller younger doppelgänger. During Naru-nii's story times, he'd already heard how strong Rock Lee is and the amazing grit the shinobi possesses to overcome his shortcomings. 'He's the epitome of hard work defeating geniuses who don't work hard,' Naru-nii had said, which Naruto immediately liked.

"Shouldn't you be with your teammates," Naruto hears Kakashi ask from behind him. In the hallway, Kakashi is by the doors of the exam room while Naruto leans against the wall.

"They'll be here soon," Naruto dully states, not bothering to turn to the legendary Copy-Ninja.

"You've certainly grown, Naruto-kun," Kakashi slowly voices over his little orange book. "Far more than I ever anticipated."

Despite everyone from Ji-chan to Naru-nii endorsing Kakashi as one of the strongest shinobi in their village, an aggrieved and miffed Naruto responds, "yeah, well, Kurenai-sensei is pretty great." It didn't take him more than a second to realize that response came from a bad emotional place and he regretted saying it. "Sorry, Kakashi-sensei. I shouldn't have said that. It just sucks sometimes; you spending so much more time with Sasuke than me or Sakura. I mean, don't we matter too?"

"It's fine, and though it may not seem like it, yes, you do. You both do," Kakashi calmly states, unoffended. "It's true, I haven't been fair with my time to you and Sakura-chan. As Jōnin-sensei for all three of you, that isn't how it should be, but life is rarely fair. It's better to learn that bitter lesson early."

"I'm pretty sure I learn that lesson every time I go outside," Naruto huffs, though thinking of Kurenai-chan and Ino-chan, he lazily wonders if there is some form of cosmic balance.

"I suppose you do," Kakashi sheepishly admits, mono-eying the less jovial Naruto. "And here you stand, one of the strongest genin to come out of the Academy. Despite all your opposition and hardships, you overcome. I'm not excusing them, but isn't that a valuable trait to learn about yourself? It means you're a survivor."

Snorting, a glum Naruto simply asks, "you think it'd be asking too much to be a survivor with friends, family, and or a sensei who doesn't favor one student?"

"…No," Kakashi admits, considering his own history a moment. Realizing that Naruto is heartbroken on top of consistently brushed aside, Kakashi tries to balance the other end of this state of rejection. "Listen, it's not like Sasuke-kun and I are eating ice-cream or going to the hot springs to relax. Whether you believe me or not, Sasuke-kun needs more help, and I just so happen to be in the best position to do that."

'No, you're not,' Naruto thinks, wondering if he can run into Itachi sooner than Naru-nii had. "I get it. He can be an obnoxious ass, but I want to help him too."

"Focus on your training," Kakashi tells him. "You're already cutting the leaf with your Fūton chakra. Training in the waterfall is going to be even harder."

"Yeah, well, it's not enough," Naruto despondently states, not bothering to correct his sensei on the progress he's recently made as thoughts of Naru-nii's warnings and aches of a broken heart cloud his mind horribly.

Kakashi states, "you don't have the frame of reference, but trust me, the way you're going is an amazing achievement."

"It's going to take a hell of a lot more than Fūton chakra to protect everyone," Naruto returns all the while thinking how pitifully small that feat is compared to how Naru-nii is trying to protect the entire world. One Fūton user isn't going to be anywhere near enough.

"You have time, Naruto-kun," Kakashi states to which Naruto nearly chuckles. "Don't be in such a rush to be Hokage. You keep going like this and I have no doubt it'll happen before you know it." Naruto doesn't say more as he waves to Team Guy when they walk by and enter the exam room—of the three, Lee was the only one to wave back, putting a small smile on Naruto's face. Sasuke and Sakura eventually join him and though Sasuke looked like he got a good kick to the chin, Naruto only wondered why Sakura wasn't healing him.

Kakashi informs his genin, "I'm glad each one of you decided to take the exams. I know things are strained right now, but you're still Team 7. Remember, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum. Stick together and make me proud."

When they finally enter room 301 and the large classroom is full of grungy, older, odorless genin, all stern of eyes and threatening of posture. Even the daylight streaming in the room doesn't dull their drab aura of homicidal intent. Naruto does find it humorous that he can smell the old wood of the large room more than the ninety or a hundred hardened genin filling it.

"What is this?" Sakura asks. "Why are so many applying to be Chūnin?"

Naruto ignores her question in favor of looking for red hair and a sand guard in the large gathering when he hears Ino call, "Sasuke-kun!" before hopping to encircle his neck with her arms. "You're late," she moans. "It feels like forever since I last saw you."

'First Sakura, now Ino…' Naruto didn't think his inside could squirm and wither any worse. The heartbroken blond stays quiet as Kiba calls out exactly what he felt, "get away from Ino-chan, Sasuke-kun. That's my woman you're- …you're letting hang all over ya!" Akamaru barks for added punctuation despite a vexed Sasuke clearly doing nothing to instigate the aggressive hugging.

"Ino…" Sakura says, lacking her usual fervor as she eyes the Yamanaka expectantly. Sakura hates this platinum blond bombshell. She can feel the hate within her every time she looks at a stoic Sasuke and recalls the potential depths of his disgusting darkness. Looking at Sasuke now, Sakura doesn't see her future as his wife and mother of his many Uchiha children. She sees someone who's capable of both incredible good and incredible bad, who needs help, and worse yet, she sees her own emotional disorder, like a recovering alcoholic gazing at his demons in the bottle.

Ino has made Sakura see the lengths of her fixation on a boy who needs psychological treatment more than a girlfriend, and Sakura hates Ino for it. Life has been hard, dark, and colorless without the basket of sunshine that was her eternal love for Sasuke. And to make matters worse, Ino has hurt Naruto. 'No, not completely. I treated him horribly at every turn.' It's hard to imagine how things within Team 7 might've been if she continued to love Sasuke as much as Naruto continued to love her, but she would hate to think the blinders were removed too late.

Though Sakura blames all of this on Ino, it feels like hating her parents for making her eat her vegetables. It's not about the taste, it's about personal growth, and somehow, Sakura feels like one day she'll look back on this time and possibly be grateful for suffering through this bleak, agonizing, and love-calloused existence.

"Forehead," Ino happily calls, stepping away from Sasuke and mildly surprising some by hugging Sakura close and around her neck, purposely pressing the fleshy breasts together. Though she hears Kiba proudly tell Shino, 'did' ya see that? She got off him,' Ino ignores the Inuzuka to happily insult Sakura with no real heat. "Love what you haven't done with your hair."

"Oh, Ino-pig," Sakura returns, clearly faking happiness despite allowing the warm hug. "As usual, if you don't keep your mouth shut, all your stupidity will leak out." Despite all their drama, their 'insults' feel like hello and they both smile softly as Sakura whispers, "I still hate you…"

"As long as I get to see how strong you get, I don't care," Ino whispers back and Sakura smiles a little as Shikamaru, alongside Chōji walk to the gathering rookies.

"We heard you guys were taking the exam as well," Shikamaru states, looking around the gathering of the Rookie Nine with a somewhat reserved Chōji by his side eating from a bag of potato chips. "This is such a drag," Shikamaru huffs.

"I wonder which one of us'll make Chūnin first," Kiba eagerly calls with a confident smirk. 'Shikamaru,' Naruto off-handedly answers in his mind as he continues to look around the room and Kiba adds, "I bet our sensei's been training us harder than yours, Sasuke. This isn't going to be like in the Academy. I'll show you the true strength of a man!" Kiba looks at Ino, blushing a bit at the sight of her. Sasuke returns a simple grunt and arrogant smirk.

"I hope you're not all bark, Kiba," Chōji declares. "Because our team is stronger than ever." 'He's not wrong,' Ino thinks. Chōji's attitude has changed quite a bit and Ino's heard his home life is far more strict on him.

"I think as long as we try our best, we'll be happy with our results," Hinata unexpectedly shares with her former classmates, whom did not know how to respond to the usually quiet girl.

'Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji, Yamanaka Ino, Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru, Aburame Shino, and Hyūga Hinata… They all have their quirks, but they're all good people Naru-nii becomes close friends with,' Naruto thinks as he looks throughout the large room of murderous faces for any redhead at this point. 'Why the hell can't I spot a redhead in this grungy-ass crowd?'

"Are- are you okay, Naruto-kun," Hinata-chan asks from behind him. Naruto recalls how worried about him she's been since their last dinner together.

It was really nice of her, so he nods and gives her a genuine, if not large, smile as he responds, "hey, Hinata-chan. Yeah, I'm doing okay, I guess. Thanks for asking," he answers as he wonders if it would be wrong to ask her to use her Byakugan to find Gaara. Shaking his head at the thought, he returns to his search, looking farther back in the long room.

"What's up with him," Shikamaru asks Sasuke as the Nara ponders the change in the generally loud blond.

"He's probably scared shitless," Kiba laughs, however Sakura and Sasuke know that isn't the case.

"Leave him alone," Sakura calls, defending her teammate.

"Oh! Letting a girl fight your battles now, Dead Last," Kiba snorts.

Ino smacks him in the shoulder, adding, "don't call him that." Though Kiba is surprised by Ino's reaction, they're all interrupted.

"Hey, you guys should be a little quieter," says a silver-haired boy with round glasses Naruto has already met. Walking up to them with a friendly smile he adds, "as the nine rookies taking the exam, you're all a little too cute to leave alone in a room full of more experienced shinobi."

"And who are you supposed to be," Ino asks, eying his Konoha forehead protector.

"Yakushi Kabuto," he answers. He turns to Naruto and nods with a genial smile, greeting him, "hello again, Naruto-kun," before turning to the others and adding, "you should all probably take a look around."

Rather than look around with the other rookies, Naruto mentally ponders, 'is Kabuto really a spy? He seemed so nice when Haku introduced him.'

Before Naru-nii had a chance to explain a bit about the part Kabuto plays in the future, the silver-haired spy had apparently made friends with Haku. Naruto was introduced to him when Kabuto had come by to drop off some medical ingredients Haku uses to make his medicine. Though Haku brushed it off as two healers comparing notes and expertise, Haku was smiling in a way Naruto hadn't seen before… even when he'd talk about Zabuza-jiji.

'There's no way I'm letting the guy who's helping Orochimaru kill Ji-chan, take Haku,' Naruto mentally asserts. Kabuto catches Naruto gravely staring at him and gives a gentle wave. Naru-nii had told him how he met Kabuto in his timeline and assumed this alteration in events was due to the fact they saved Haku's life. Naru-nii also thought Haku was exactly the type of shinobi that interests Kabuto's boss, Orochimaru, a collector of Kekkei Genkai.

Due to his older counterpart and their story-time, Naruto knew how bad things were going to get; Kabuto is a spy, a disguised Orochimaru is in the Chūnin exam, Suna's betrayal, Gaara's past and his horrible part in the invasion, and Ji-chan's death. The events ahead prompted Naruto and Naru-nii to use their past week's sessions to brainstorm possible solutions to avert all that befalls the village without outing Naruto's connection to the fracturing future.

"Those hot-tempered genin behind you are from Amegakure," Kabuto continues. "Everyone is tense before the exam so I thought I'd warn you guys. I'm sure none of you want to have an 'accident' before the exam starts. Not that it can be helped. You're rookies after all…"

As Kabuto explains more about the Chūnin Exams, Naruto finally spots the red hair he's looking for, but is then aggravated when it turns out to be a girl with glasses. 'What the hell? Is he late? Hey Kurama, can you sense where your little brother is?' 'I'm napping,' is all Kurama grumbles to which Naruto immediately thinks back, 'you know, this would be a really good time to start caring more!' When the red-headed girl with glasses spots Naruto looking at her, he abruptly smiles and waves only for her to quickly turn away.

"I want to know about Sabaku no Gaara, and Rock Lee," Sasuke asks. Hearing about Gaara's B-rank mission and returning unharmed made Naruto humorously recall Naru-nii's explanation of the Suna-nin's sand armor. As a prankster, Naruto always gets a thrill out of knowing something others don't. Kabuto is about to look up Rock Lee when Naruto asks, "actually before that, can you point out where Gaara is?"

"…Why," Kabuto curiously asks.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Naruto replies in a clipped tone.

"Naruto," Sakura yelps. "That's rude."

"It's okay, Haruno-chan," Kabuto states before turning leaning closer to an aggravated Naruto. "I realize how important you are to Haku-san, Naruto-kun, and I want you to know I'm not trying to replace you in any way. I promised him I'd do all I can to make certain you remain safe."

"That's a lie," Naruto flat-out states with hard blue eyes. Naruto may not have come up with a plausible way of outing the spy without explaining his knowledge of the future, nor does he understand why Haku appears to like Kabuto, but he knows Haku would never think him so weak he'd ask someone else to protect him.

Though Kabuto seems surprised by the confident assertion, Naruto cuts any reply he may have had by jumping on top of the nearest desk, the noise of which grabs the attention of many. He'd wondered if maybe Gaara's too short to be seen, and on top of the desk, he has a better view as he yells out, "listen up you Grungy-Ass Senpai! My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I'm looking for a Sabaku no Gaara!" The second he waits for a response is filled with murderous glares and the sound of multiple metal instruments of death unsheathing before Naruto continues. "…Sabaku no Gaara! Come on, don't be shy! Uzumaki Naruto is looking for yo-"

Naruto is dragged back by Ino who promptly yells, "what the hell are you doing? Didn't you hear what Kabuto-san said? He's dangerous!"

Looking so closely at her with an odd mix of mournful confidence, Naruto assertively relays, "it's okay, Ino-chan. I'm not going to lose to anyone here." Ino is taken as she recalls Iruka-sensei's assertion, 'that boy never gives up,' and her eyes soften at his proclamation and his close proximity to her.

'Except to Orochimaru,' Kurama chuckles from the seal. 'Lazy freeloaders get to keep their comments to themselves!' Naruto mentally returns, though enjoys their little banter. Now that they have a better connection, Kurama can respond so long as both parties want to. Luckily the great Chakra beast naps more often than not. Naru-nii explained that a part of their brain unconsciously echos what is being said which is why Kurama can hear what Naruto is saying even if he's within the seal.

With this sort of mental echo, Naru-nii had explained to both of them how Orochimaru was the biggest threat in that room, followed by Gaara, Kabuto, and the Sound-nin, however, even knowing this didn't produce much of a plan that wouldn't affect the final round of the Chūnin exam. It's already bad enough that Haku met with Kabuto and Naruto completely missed meeting Gaara with Sasuke—though, it was nice of Sakura to defend Konohamaru. Naru-nii didn't think exposing their scheme would stop Orochimaru from trying to kill Ji-chan some other way.

'That snake-bastard doesn't quit easily,' Naru-nii had explained. 'So I bet you he'd try something else to get at the old man, only this time I won't know what it is.'

'You also said sealing him with Fūinjutsu would be hard,' Naruto pointed out.

'Hard only because you have to catch him,' Naru-nii points out. 'He's a strong slippery bastard and we're not fast enough just yet. I mean, I know you're crazy fast now, especially with Kurama's chakra, but this guy can go toe-to-toe with Ji-chan.'

'He'd lose,' Naruto had yelled.

'Oh, for sure he'd lose,' Naru-nii naturally agreed before he added, 'if it was a fair fight. But that asshole doesn't do fair.'

'So…'

'The thing about this is, we need to tip them off before the invasion, but the intel has to be credible. For example, Gaara's dad isn't dead yet and nothing's happened that can be explained without mentioning me. It's like this whole intelligence analysis thing Shikamaru told me about one time. Konoha has a whole department just for rating the credibility of any intel they receive. If it passes their tests, then they tag it as Reliable-Actionable. Unless you personally tell Ji-chan why you know what you know, they may not believe it and we could mess things up even further.'

'Why don't we just tell Ji-chan then,' Naruto asks—not for the first time. 'I'm sure he'd believe us.'

'Hey now,' Naru-nii chimes. 'You know I'd think he'd believe us too, and honestly, I don't mind, but we still have time to think of another way, and more than anything, I need to pass on what I know to you first. It's a lot of information and I'd rather not waste the time answering other people's questions.' Naru-nii had paused for a few seconds before he truly scared Naruto when he relayed, 'Now, don't freak out but, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up for. Every time I stop to rest, it's possible I won't be able to use it anymore-'

'Naru-nii!'

'Hey, I said don't freak out-'

'You know that never works on me!' Naruto thought back in frantic haste. 'Are you going to be okay? What can I do? Whatever it is, tell me and I'll do it! Just don't leave.'

'Hey now, you know I don't go down so easy… most of the time, anyway,' Naru-nii stated. 'This may not be the case, but if I never get to talk to you again, I need to completely prepare you before we even consider telling others. I don't want them cutting into our time until it's absolutely necessary. And all I need from you is for you to do your best.'

'I'll learn it all,' Naruto yells. 'I promise!'

'I believe you,' Naru-nii happily agrees. 'As for the Chūnin exam, I think your two best moves right now is getting to know Gaara—I'm telling you he's a great friend once he stops wanting to kill people—and keeping Orochimaru from putting that cursed seal on Sasuke.'

'You got it Nii-chan!'

"This has become even more bothersome," Shikamaru grumbles warily as the many shinobi ahead of the rookies part to the side, making a path from the back to the front of the older genin. "I hate loud midgets like you the most," Naruto hears a boy wearing an all black jumper and face paint states.

Ino lets Naruto go as he states, "you're not Gaara."

"Kankuro," calls a grave voice from behind the face-painted boy.

"Ah," Kanakuro clears his throat, before addressing the red-head. "Gaara, just let your brother handle this-"

"If you don't stop getting in the way of my prey, I'll kill you." Gaara is revealed when Kankuro shuffles out of the way, stuttering, "O-Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Just then, Naruto senses the Sound-nin group make their move. Naruto didn't mind one bit if they attacked Kabuto but one murderous glare from a nearby Gaara and the three genin stop before causing any ruckus. The sound-nin eye the Suna genin before they slowly retreat into the crowd. Naruto knows their boss is disguised as genin from a different village, but Naru-nii couldn't recall what village they're from. So Naruto keeps his eyes open for a shinobi with long black hair and a ridiculously long tongue.

Turning to Naruto, a dead-eyed Gaara asks in a detached voice, "what?"

'So that's Gaara,' Naruto thinks, noting the red hair and sand guard as he steps closer to his fellow Jinchūriki. Recalling the circumstances of Gaara's life from Naru-nii's story session's, Naruto is intuitively aware of the painful loneliness and constant betrayal that broke the weaponized sand-nin. Spotting the Love tattoo on his forehead, the lack of sleep around his eyes, Naruto can't help but recall his own broken heart, and the long sleepless nights in Kurenai's arms.

Baby-blue eyes water with fat salty tears and Naruto groans before the sand siblings, declaring, "ugh, love's a bitch, ain't it?" Though those surrounding them didn't quite comprehend the first thing Naruto says to this dangerous looking shinobi, many are too perplexed by it to feel embarrassed. Gaara remains stern of countenance as Naruto says, "I think we totally get each other," then extends his fist, expressing, "let's be friends!"

"No," Gaara immediately answers before walking back.

"What? How come?" Naruto asks as he tries to follow when Temari steps in between her brother and Naruto.

"You heard him; stay away," Temari warns with a knowing smirk. "Or Gaara can't be held responsible for ending your life."

Naruto chuckles, eying her confidently as he tells her, "he can't kill me."

Recognizing Naruto's assertion as a challenge to his existence and opportunity for blood, Gaara stops and slowly turns to the blond. His light blue eyes are impossibly smaller and his mouth widens menacingly showing teeth.

"H-hey, Gaara, it's f-fine," Kankuro tries as Temari adds, "please, remember why we're here."

"Oh, I get it," Naruto notes aloud drawing the Suna sibling's attention. "You need proof that I'm serious, right? We can get some Ramen after this and talk!" Ignoring the rising homicidal look in Gaara's expression, Naruto quizzically asks, "you like Ramen, right?"

Kankuro's thoughts of, 'he's dead,' mirror Temari's, 'if he's too stupid to recognize mortal danger, he shouldn't live anyway.' Sakura, along with the others watch but unlike the others, she's not overly worried. It actually surprises her how much faith she has in Naruto's strength, and doesn't even worry when Ino asks Sakura to, "stop him before he gets himself killed!" The pinkette even enjoys smiling confidently and confusing her blond quasi-friend.

Gaara raises his hand as if to activate jutsu to his siblings fear when a large puff of smoke catches everyone's attention before a hard voice yells, "quiet down you worthless bastards!" A group of proctors stand behind a tall scarred man.

'Morino Ibiki,' Naruto mentally comments. After warning the Sound and Sand ninjas—along with the entire room—about fighting, the participants peacefully turn in their registration for their numbers and just like Naru-nii's experience, he got to sit next to Hinata-chan. Though Naruto knew what was going to happen, it was still pretty intense to actually sit through. Ibiki was a real shinobi who survived the worst, and it was impossible not to get sucked into the bloody-minded world he clearly painted with his appearance and the gravitas of his words.

Naruto was so taken he nearly forgot he would, and has, put his life on the line. Even in this very moment, his future self is putting everything on the line to save the entire shinobi world and it's deeply upsetting to look at the uncertainty around the room.

'They're raising their hands!' Naruto observes as genin after genin raise their shaky palm and quit, hurting their teammates in the process. Naruto momentarily forgot his tortured heart to raise his own hand, high, before slamming it down hard on the desk, making the connected desks around him creak and crack from the force as he arrests the entire rooms attention. "Don't underestimate me! I won't run! I'll take your damn question! Even if I'm a genin forever, I'll still become Hokage!"

"I'll ask you again," Ibiki calmly yet strictly states. "This is your last chance. Your life is riding on this decision."

Thinking of Naru-nii, of Iruka-sensei, of his team, of Kurenai and Haku, of Gaara and all the other shinobi of this world, Naruto confidently asserts the single greatest fact of his entire existence, "I don't quit. Not now, not ever!" Words that echo profoundly for many in the room, but more with Ino as this wasn't the first time she's cognizant of that frame of his mind. Ino's heart pumped a little faster by his rather public conviction and she grows a little warm, tightening her crossed legs at the repeatedly verified thoughts of his virility.

Sakura can't help but smile affectionately, thinking with fondness, 'that's just like you.' If it's possible, Hinata didn't think she could admire him any more than that moment. Sitting next to him as he shouted his nindō to a seasoned Jōnin shinobi—who's daring her blond love to quit now or lose the very thing he loves forever—Naruto would not bend, nor go back on his words. 'Kami…' is all Hinata mentally gasps as her heart beats incredibly fast.

Sasuke smirks in mild amusement, thinking, 'that idiot.'

After looking around the room, a stern Ibiki calls out, "congratulations on passing…" but rather than listen any more to Ibiki's explanation, Naruto is looking around the room. He confuses the red-haired girl with glasses looking at him for Gaara again before he locks eyes with Gaara and uses hand signs to ask, 'do you want to grab lunch after this?' To which Gaara squints confused before looking away.

Naruto hears Ibiki finish with, "those who can't put their destinies on the line, who cling to the uncertain future of 'there's always next year,' and walk away from their chance… those pieces of trash who can only make such cowardly choices don't have the right to become Chūnin!"

It's then that Anko makes her flamboyant entrance just like Naru-nii had chuckled about. Naruto's heard a little of her history as well and found it just as sad as many of the other tragic characters. Naru-nii didn't know the details around Anko's story but he did mention that she was Orochimaru's student and was marked with the same curse Sasuke gets, though Sasuke's is supposed to be much stronger.

Rather than be put off by her odd, theatrical entrance, Naruto claps in part because he's empathetic, but also because he appreciates showmanship. He calls out as he claps, "whoo! Sweet entrance! It's bad timing, but I'll definitely remember it!"

HAKU

With a basket of lunch in his grasp, Haku waits for Naruto outside of the Academy. It's slightly surprising when the long-haired brunette recognizes the buxom kunoichi lugging a large, rolled up black screen over her shoulder. Haku bows respectfully as one of his interrogators stops to greet him.

"Haku-kun," Anko hollers. "I hope you're keeping your pretty little nose clean. We may have accepted your asylum, but I'm sure I don't have to remind you what'll happen if you break any of the conditions of your probationary residence."

"You do not, and I am, Anko-san," Haku greets.

"You waiting for your blond brat to get out," Anko asks, turning to the Academy behind her.

"Yes," Haku answers sweetly. "I thought I'd bring him lunch, since he's always ready to eat," he says as he lifts the cloth wrapped bento for Anko to see.

Anko chuckles, verbally adding, "aren't you just the cutest little housewife. I doubt he'd pass the first task, but if by some miracle he does, he'll have, like, maybe an hour before the second task."

"I have faith he will," Haku informs the buxom torturer.

"The first examiner is Ibiki," Anko happily prods Haku's confidence with. "You remember him, right?"

Haku's pleasant mask doesn't break and he nods, answering, "I do. How lucky of Ibiki-san to finally have this opportunity to witness how amazing Naruto-kun is… and how wrong he was."

Anko chuckles knowingly before changing the topic and directly stating, "I could tell what team you play for, but, what I don't get is why you wanted to rile up Genma by steppin' beside Kurenai." Looking at the beautiful unflinching face smile in answer, Anko's grin widens before she shrugs, saying, "not that it matters. Truth be told, I thought it was hilarious, but she's my babe, Haku-kun, so I'll tell you this now. I don't know what you're playing at, but if she gets hurt, in any way, the kid-gloves come off and I show you what real torture is. Got me?"

"Of course, Anko-san," Haku calmly states, bending his head with respect. "I have the utmost respect for Kurenai-san. She's shown me nothing but kindness since I've come to Konoha."

Though clearly suspicious, Anko nods, stating, "yeah, she's pretty amazing… worth killing others brutally over, if you get my drift."

"Loud and clear," Haku says smiling at the clear death threat should anything happen to Kurenai.

Anko quickly nods then rushes away to the adjacent building. From Haku's vantage point, he can barely see Anko rolling herself in the large black curtain, then hurling herself from one building to the Academy, smashing through the window in the process.

Wide-eyed by the woman's Naruto-ish antics, Haku is yet again marveled at the difference between his past and current life, bringing a smile to his womanly face. Though he misses Zabuza-sama terribly and thinks about him every day, Haku is immensely content by Naruto's side. Not simply because the young blond was such a positive force in this dark and bleak world, but because being here was Zabuza-sama's gift to him. 'And it's the best gift I could ever hope to receive,' Haku thinks with a content smile.

As if thinking about the amazing shinobi he's aligned his allegiance to, the blond potential Chūnin exits the building. Haku waves at Naruto, and though his smile isn't as bright as he'd like it, it's better than the tears four days ago. Fortunately for her well-being, his pink-haired teammate is dragged away by Ino-chan as Naruto rushes to him.

"Hey, Haku," Naruto greets happily, thinking how amazing it feels to have someone waiting for him after getting out of the Academy. Naruto realizes he's no longer a student, but, having always watched on from his lonely swing how many families reunite at the end of a school day always added a deeper gash to his lonely life. Though his heart is aching, Haku being here, waiting for him, refined his perspective to something a little more positive.

"How did you do," Haku confidently asks, as if there's only one clear answer.

"I totally killed it," Naruto says with a smirk before they hear behind him, "Naruto-kun was amazing."

Kabuto walks up to them as he praises, "he completely blasted away the mental challenge of the proctor's plan."

"…I don't like suck-ups," Naruto flatly states, frustrated by his inability to think of a believable way of handling the spy without exposing Naru-nii and the future. If worst comes to worst, he'll tell Ji-chan regardless of what happens, but the Narutos know any great plan only needs one thing to fall into place and get everything going.

Haku places a gentle palm on Naruto's shoulder and smiles before apologizing. "Forgive him, Kabuto-san. He- well, we're both connected by the strongest of bonds."

"I understand," Kabuto says. "I think it's wonderful you both have each other."

"May I speak with Naruto-kun alone," Haku asks, squeezing Naruto's shoulder before he could object to asking permission.

"Of course," Kabuto says before shyly asking, "do you think we can see each other again?"

Naruto hates the blush on Haku's cheek as the beautiful boy responds, "I'd like that." After Kabuto leaves, Haku quickly asks, "is there anywhere we can talk in private?"

Naruto grumbles, "there's a place on the way, since I don't have a lot of time."

INO

After dragging Sakura away from the other rookies, the kunoichi find a secluded area in the field behind their Academy, near the tree line and under the shade of a tree.

"What do you want?" Sakura finally asks before focusing on what really matters. "Did you see Naruto? I may not completely hate you for what you did to me, but I most certainly hate you for what you did to him." Sakura hadn't seen Ino since that day. Sakura had fallen asleep in Ino's embrace and hadn't woken up until the following morning, weak, tired, and dry.

"I know," Ino agrees as she takes out her lunch. "Come on. We only have an hour and I want to tell you what I never got a chance to say before." Ino begins eating her bento while she waits for her pink-haired former friend and rival.

With a huff, Sakura settles in the grass to eat her own lunch, demanding, "so?"

"Look," Ino starts. "I know it sucks he's hurting right now-"

"Because of you," Sakura exclaims.

"Because of us," Ino corrects. "Or are you telling me he wouldn't eventually be hurting when you reject him- truly reject him at some point down the line. You were going to break his heart anyway."

"I may not want to date him, but I wouldn't have hurt him like that," Sakura retorts.

"Look I don't want him to have a broken heart either," Ino states, mentally finishing, 'but I maybe, sort of want to date him and I don't want to compete with you again!' But rather than being brutally honest with Sakura, a cowardly Ino moves on. "The thing I wanted to tell you before is, I think Sasuke needs help more than a relationship, so I'm not going after him anymore." Dropping her dumpling, Sakura is clearly surprised as Ino continues, "regardless of how much more conscious you are, I don't know if you want to continue pursuing him or not, but if you do, I won't get in the way."

"You… you're giving up on Sasuke," Sakura incredulously asks.

"I wouldn't say I'm giving up on him," Ino states, thinking of the evolution of her definition of love, and all that she's learned throughout the past five months. "Sasuke's my first love, and he'll always be someone special in my heart, but, he's a person first, and his needs as a person are more important than my fantasy."

"Ino…"

Feeling a little closer to the raven-haired genjutsu mistress Ino greatly admires, she smiles and tells Sakura, "I know the type of kunoichi and woman I want to be. No matter how challenging and uncomfortable it is for anyone and everyone to accept, myself included, I don't want to run from who I am."

"…And who is that," a mildly astonished Sakura gently asks.

"I don't know yet," Ino answers with a genuine grin. "But I'm less scared of who that might be now."

They remain silent for the remainder of their lunch, both thinking about the questions and answers of who they are and who they want to be, but one also thinking about all the possibilities blond boy presents.

NARUTO

Seated on the top of the Fourth's monument, overlooking all of Konoha, Naruto is inhaling his delicious, home-made ramen as he hears Haku ask, "why don't you like Kabuto-san?"

"Why are you friendly with him," Naruto returns.

"Naruto-kun…"

Rolling his eyes, Naruto states with a huff, "…I just don't trust him," and feels a strong tug of guilt pull at his heart for not sharing why. "He's… he's… nice? I don't even know. It's nothing specific I guess, and I know that's unfair. I don't want to dislike any friends you make, but with him, I just can't help it." 'Yet,' Naruto thinks. Eventually, it'll come out, but until then, he'll keep up appearances.

"I… I never told you how we met," Haku starts overlooking the wonderfully sunny view of Konoha and the bustling streets below. The vast village is picturesque in his eyes as Haku recalls aloud, "I was searching the market for any drugstores or medicine shops that might purchase from an independent source and as I was walking into a store, Kabuto-san was exiting. I've gotten into the habit of never letting my guard down, however, in that rather abrupt moment our eyes met, and I witnessed something real… something he wasn't expecting to show me… something I recognized."

"What was it," Naruto asks his friend.

Haku returns his attention on Naruto, answering, "due to my own experience wearing a mask, there's a slight burden when you uncover your self to the world. When I saw Kabuto-san, I detected the subtle shift when he raised his guard of a friendly mask, and I knew then, what I saw was his true self, uncomposed, vulnerable, and lost. From that moment on, I've had fairly regular contact with him and I haven't seen his true face again." Naruto was silent, unsure how to process that occurrence when Haku adds, "you have good instincts Naruto-kun. Whether it's fortunate or not, I've seen his real eyes, and ever since then, he's been hiding his self from me, despite…"

"Despite what," Naruto asks.

"Despite… nothing tangible at the moment," Haku answers with his serene smile.

Naruto struggles to understand any of this and asks, "so, if you think he's bad-"

"I don't know what to think," Haku points out. "It's why I'll be careful while I wait and see."

"I don't want to lose you, Haku," Naruto states. He may have saved him from dying in the Land of Waves, but that doesn't mean Haku won't die some other way. Only this time, Naru-nii won't be able to warn him about it beforehand. It worries Naruto immensely, especially after how Haku stayed with him the past five days.

"Nor I you-" Haku started to state when he's interrupted. They both feel a gentle tug of their naval and know exactly what the first of a three-step alarm means. Since they both know Naruto has to go to Training Ground 44, Haku states, "I'll handle it."

"Be careful," Naruto states.

"Of course," Haku smiles.

Sakura had always struck me as someone with little to no self respect when her love is in the picture. That is to say, when she's just Sakura and has nothing to do or say about Sasuke, she's cool, I get her and I like her. When Sasuke's in the picture, it's basically like she throws out all her principles and dignity out the window for this homicidal introvert. It boggles my mind that a normal girl(as Kishimoto likes to describe her) is nearly murdered, twice, by the love of her life and she still wants his babies at the end! A NORMAL girl! Do you guys realize that Sasuke had to shake the hand of the father whose daughter he attempted to kill, TWICE?! Sasuke had to bow to Sakura's father after Mr. Haruno said, "please take care of my daughter," before their wedding. I could easily imagine Sakura would never tell her parents that Sasuke tried to kill her for fear they wouldn't accept him as her husband, but even then, they know he was a criminal which meant Sakura very likely had to convince her parents that Sasuke is good now. The more thought I give the more it sounds utterly ridiculous to me, borderline disgusting, and I won't have it in my fic.

Ino's plan to drag out this ugly side of Sakura was harsh and immoral and didn't make her look good, but after what she made Sakura reflect on, I, personally, can't see Sakura acting like she had, and that will ultimately help her personal growth. Setting Sakura on the right path is exactly what Ino wants, regardless of how horrid it made her look. Sure, Ino could've simply given Sakura the pictures and begged for forgiveness, and I could've figured out another way to bring Sakura into the Harem, but then Naruto AND Sakura would've remained blind. This is literally one stone, three birds.

Who's that red-headed glasses wearing girl? 😜😆

Yes, Haku is gay. That being said, there will be no Yaoi. Reasons why I went this route: I know Haku admires men's bodies, or possibly just Zabuza, from a comment he made in Part I. Also, I felt like Haku would be the type of shinobi Orochimaru would want which Kabuto would then scout. Haku is interested in medicine and Kabuto is genius when it comes to medical ninjutsu. My mind just sort of weaved an interesting story with them that I want to explore. So, if you're not a fan, I don't mind hearing about it, but this is the will of the story and I won't fight it.

Kakashi... I feel comfortable where he's at in the story. Nothing significant will change for him until I bring in another character. Then I can focus on him more.

I hope Naruto isn't too depressed for you guys. I tried to balance it with story progression so as to avoid being all emo. Like in the Wave mission, I just focused on the parts I changed.

As always, thank you all for your continued support and taking the time to comment. I really do appreciate it.

Have a great one,

-Moon