The Truth in Dreams

Chapter V: Restless

The temperature dropped noticeably as Sakura reluctantly followed Kakashi into the woods. Of all the times for Kakas-sensei to ‘drop in’ and decide to assist us on a mission; I suppose it’s better that we recognized he was there before I ripped Naruto’s clothes off and mounted him. I feel like such an airhead for drenching him like that! I just panicked when I saw his shoe was on fire. Wait! Shouldn’t I be thinking Naruto is the baka in this situation because he lit his shoe on fire!? Nope. still feel bad. O how the mighty fall when love is involved.

“Sakura, how has Naruto been feeling lately?” Kakashi asked out of the blue, breaking Sakura’s train of thought as he lead the way to some dry fallen branches next to a particularly large looking sycamore tree.

“He seems fine I guess. Normal really. Why? What do you mean?” Sakura bent over to pick up some of the branches and look for any damp spots. Kakashi was quiet for a minute as he bent over to gather some wood too.

“The Summer Solstice is in two weeks.” It looked liked there was much more to it from the faraway look Sakura noticed in Kakashi’s eyes.

“Huh? What? What does that have to do with how Naruto is feeling? Is something wrong?”

“Not exactly. Sakura. . .” Kakashi stopped with a few branches in one arm and put his other hand on her shoulder causing her to stop organizing the wood she had in her own arms and make direct eye contact with him.

“You need to make sure you support him. I can’t tell you specifics, yet, but he is going to need you more than ever, especially in the coming days--and it’s especially good that the two of you have gotten . . . so . . . close lately.” Sakura blushed at that last part.

“What do you mean sensei? Do we seem that much closer?” Does he know about what just happened?

Kakashi started to turn away to pick up a few more sizable branches and sighed rather loudly. In fact, something about the way this particular sigh from Kakashi sounded reminded her of the time Guy Sensei and Kakashi played rock-paper-scissors and Guy lost. Kakashi had let out a similar sigh then. Sakura raised her eyebrows as she remembered.

“Honestly, Sakura. Naruto has been crazy about you his entire life and I’ve only watched it grow and mature into something much more potent and devoted. It’s obvious to anyone who sees the way he looks at you and protects you that he is hopelessly in love with yo---”

“Sensei! Sensei! Really, I mean--I know Naruto cares for me, but, well don’t worry. I do know. So, what I mean to say is you don’t need to worry. I won’t let anything happen to him. Besides, I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to put up with him. We should be getting back now right?” With that Sakura stomped off with the wood in her arms.

Kakashi sighed again and muttered under his breath: “I see. She’s finally realized she’s been in love with him this whole time. She’s just as stubborn as always. Her stubbornness will transfer over into her love for Naruto. Nothing will come between them once it’s consummated. I hope she’s ready when the time comes--she’ll need all her strength to protect Naruto from himself. ”  

After threading her way back through the thick undergrowth on the edge of the woods, Sakura felt a bit better. I can’t believe Kakas-sensei felt the need to say that! Of all the---ARGH! I know Naruto loves me; I’ve always known that. Sakura blurted out in rage over the audacity Kakashi had to try to tell her something she already knew:

“AND GUESS WHAT I AM MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIM TOO!” Sakura slapped her hands back over her mouth surprised at herself that she had just effectively told the entire world that she is crazy for Naruto. Her face colored to a bright pink. What’s so wrong with announcing it? It’s not like it isn’t true. I’ve been in love with him this whole time. Yes, stupid Sasuke had my attention--but he was a very obviously unattainable diversion from whom I’ve always wanted, my one and only, Uzumaki Naruto. I finally understand. I just pushed Naruto away until I was strong enough to handle him and ready to commit. I knew even then, once I went to Naruto, there was no going back and no one else--forever. HOLY SHIT! FOREVER. Well, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to handle him yet, but frankly, I don’t give a damn. He’s mine, with all his idiocy. His imperfections just make him even more. . .more SEXY. And if I don’t show him just what I mean soon, I might end up jumping him in public.

“Na-ru-to. . .” Sakura muttered his name to herself as she walked the last leg of the path back to the campsite.

. . . ….

After watching Sakura and Kakashi walk out of sight into the woods (and enjoying the hell out of watching Sakura’s hips sway as she went), Naruto set to finding a new, much warmer, and much less ripped pair of pants and a shirt from his clothing scrolls. He summoned his clothing from his scroll after making the fairly simple hand positions and placing his palm on the scroll. For this basic sort of jutsu, where a ninja was just extracting non-ninjutsu and non-living objects, like clothing from a scroll, not much effort or chakra was needed.

Naruto was very confused, however, when after extracting his stored clothing from the pile, he didn’t find his sleeping bag among the selection.

That’s odd, I thought I wrapped my boxers in my sleeping bag to keep them separated. I see my boxers, but not my sleeping bag. Naruto went through his haphazardly folded pile of clothing to make sure his sleeping bag wasn’t there.

Whoops. Heh. I know what happened. I meant to seal it into the scroll after I finished throwing out the trash in my apartment. I got distracted because I wanted to hurry and clean up my place before Sakura-chan showed up. . .and in the aftermath, I didn’t remember to seal my sleeping bag in with the rest of my clothes.

Naruto shivered noticeably as he thought about his abandoned sleeping bag no doubt still hanging in his closet--nice and clean--and ready to be folded up.

“I actually spend time cleaning my sleeping bag and I go and forget it.” Naruto sighed and found a spare pair of obscenely orange pants and a long sleeve thermal henley. He slipped off his shredded and wet pair of orange pants and shivered some more as he stood in just his green boxers and his wet shirt. He hurriedly slipped into the dry pants--checking that his boxers were dry along the way and zipped himself up.

As he grazed his hand over the seal on his belly button in the process of buttoning the fresh pair of pants, he felt a pang in his head.

I can’t believe you’re letting that annoying offspring of the Whitefang interfere with our ability to consummate our feelings for our female.

Look, apparently I want her every bit as much as you, but we are just going to have to wait a bit longer. Besides, is she really ‘ours?’ I’m pretty sure all we did was make-out and dry hump a bit. Hell, I don’t even know what I’m doing. Sakura-chan might just be lusting after us.

Tch. You never seen to have difficulty taking risks in battle when comrades’ lives are at stake. Now, when the slightest possibility of rejection exists, you want to run and hide like a little pup! This female is ours. We smelled it! I’ll leave you to your weaknesses for now, but, we have to consummate with her soon but not before the penance is paid.

Consummate? Penance? What are you talking about? I hate to break it to you, kit, but I’m still a virgin!

The Kyuubi snarled in Naruto’s head; he really hated being called a kit or baby fox.

LISTEN, BOY! You had no difficulty playing her into our hands earlier. You may be a dimwit infant, but you will know exactly what to do when our mate is in our arms. JUST DON’T MAKE US WAIT MUCH LONGER. IT MUST BE WITH HARUNO SAKURA--NO OTHER--AND SOON.

Who else would I want to be with besides Sakura? She’s the only woman in the world I see or for that matter, have any sexual feelings for, but what’s the rush?

Kyuubi’s final statement was punctuated with a ringing in Naruto’s ears. His head pulsated with the sound and he felt a bit dizzy. He rubbed at his temples in an attempt to stifle the effects. The ringing prevented him from hearing Sakura yell out her love for him on her way back to the campsite.

Once the ringing stopped, Naruto heard nothing but silence in his head; the Kyuubi had gone back to sleep inside his body for the time being. Well, that was a new parting gift you left me with. Teme. Naruto sighed again and pulled the dry henley over his skin and slipped a clean black t-shirt over the henley and finally put another orange and black fleece on over that. He rubbed his arms to warm up some more. Naruto could feel the temperature dropping rapidly despite how hot it had been the night before. Erratic weather. This is what you get in the woods in late spring. Seems like it’s going to be a cold night without a sleeping bag. He folded up his Konoha ninja headband and put it in his pocket. He fluffed his hair a bit and stretched.

Naruto re-sealed his clothing into the scroll and looked up in time to see Sakura emerging from the woods with her arms full of dried logs.

Her biceps were taut as she carried the pile of 6 or 7 logs. He could clearly make out the striations of muscle in her shoulders and the way her tendons came down to join at her elbow and flowed gracefully into her forearms. Her gloves still covered her hands, but he could see from her grip that even though this load of branches would be heavy by anyone else’s standards, Sakura wasn’t having much trouble carrying it. He admired the way the dirt and sand adorned her skin from their crash-landing earlier and that she didn’t seem to care.

The way her perfectly toned and not too skinny stomach met at her tiny waist made Naruto want to squeeze her. He licked his lips as he continued to stare. Her hips widened out to form a noticeable hourglass shape down through her powerful thighs and the length of her legs. Anyone who looked at her could see how perfect her figure was but as soon as her body was in motion, her muscle tone gave off a serious warning to most. Sakura doesn’t play around and she is most certainly not demure. Naruto loved that about her.

He may believe completely in protecting those who are weak, but weakness or shyness was never a turn on for him. I suppose it is a little funny that I liked Sakura as much as a I did when we were children because she was so shy. No, Sakura was different. She always has been. I’ve been drawn to her my entire life. I’ve always felt the need to protect her above all others. It figures she would turn out to be just as fearsome and headstrong as me. Naruto loved how Sakura could be so hard and intimidating and so soft, sensitive, and delicate at the same time. Her sensitivity is really the root of her strength.

Throughout the years, most of the guy friends he’s made among his peers, namely Shikamaru, Rock Lee, and Neiji, and to a lesser extent, even Kiba, pushed him to date Hinata for a while. Only Gaara stood firm that Sakura was the best and only choice for Naruto, which Naruto had really come to appreciate about Gaara. Teh. It would figure that Gaara would know me best.

Naruto liked Hinata just fine as a friend, but her constant politeness and overly modest tendencies aggravated Naruto. To him, the fact that she was so consistently this way made her seem almost cold. True, Naruto had no idea Hinata was in love with him until Kiba screamed it in his face one day; but, after that, it hit Naruto why he didn’t reciprocate Hinata’s feelings; the way she looked at him and acted around him reminded him of the way Sakura used to look and act around Sasuke, which, frankly, made him sick to his stomach. Naruto would always respect Hinata and after going on missions with her a few times, he had no doubt that she was very strong in her own way. But, he didn’t want to be anyone’s school-girl obsession--not after what Sasuke had done to Sakura. Besides, he was almost certain that Kiba was genuinely in love with her.

After tracing down Sakura’s figure to her feet, Naruto’s eyes shot back up to her chest and face. He noticed that her breasts were smashed against her because of how she was holding the logs. His heart began to race at the sight of her, her strength, her figure, her soft pink hair that shone in the moonlight. Seeing her breasts smashed against her that way, Naruto realized just how big they were. How have I never seen noticed that before? He could feel the heat building in his stomach. His sensitive nose drew in her smell despite the space between them.

God she is beautiful. Her glittering Jade eyes locked on his. She hadn’t moved for almost a minute. Naruto got the distinct sensation that Sakura had been staring at his body too. He had never felt so obviously admired by anyone before--never mind Sakura. The feeling was overwhelming. Continuing to meet her eyes almost felt like staring at the sun. Naruto felt transfixed and overcome with the need to touch her. Her saw her bite her bottom lip.

I can actually feel her lusting for me! What if that’s all it is? This is too much. Not right now with Kakashi around. It was then that Naruto broke his eye contact with Sakura.

Just as a pained look formed on Sakura’s face and she opened her mouth as though she was about to speak, Kakashi emerged from the woods carrying logs of his own. The sexual tension between the two quickly shifted to frustration and Kakashi felt the noticeable tension when he walked in between them and began arranging the wood for a new fire.

Kakashi sighed the same sigh that Sakura had heard him make when they were in the woods not five minutes prior.

“Look you two, I really don’t want to interfere with what’s going on between you. But, I’ve had enough experience to know when two people want to jump each other as much as you two do. And, it’s not like I haven’t seen this coming over the years. I’m not the genius copy-ninja for nothing. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen sexual tension this powerful between two people before---with one exception.” Kakashi smiled to himself as he walked over to take the logs out of Sakura’s frozen arms as she stared at him dumbfounded.

Naruto’s cheeks were starting to color and he was grinding his teeth a bit as he was trying to prevent himself from socking Kakashi across his jaw. It was Sakura’s temper that unraveled first.

“JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN SENSEI!? SEXUAL TENSION!? WHAT TENSION? THERE’S NO TENSION. SEE!” Sakura quickly walked over to Naruto and gave him a ‘heyyyy bro’ slap hard across the back. Naruto flinched a bit at the contact as Sakura hit him a bit harder than she probably meant to. He decided to mimic her ‘heyy bro’ camaraderie.

He grabbed Sakura in a headlock and ruffled her hair like she was his little sister.

“YEA. SEE KAKAS-SENSEI. Everything’s normal!! EHEHEHEH...eh.” Sakura poked him hard in his side and he relinquished his hold on her neck. She glared up at him and fixed her hair.

Kakashi stared wide-eyed at the scene before him.

“You know, you two are so much like them--it’s almost disturbing.”

“Kakashi--who are you talking about?” Kakashi turned his back to Naruto and Sakura and bent over to light the fire with a mini-Uchiha fireball.

“That seems a little excessive for lighting a fire. . .” Naruto mumbled after watching Kakashi use the jutsu. Sakura glared up at him again.

“BAKA! Stop Complaining! Maybe if you hadn’t lit your shoe on fire in the first place, we would already have a fire going by now.” Sakura stuck her fist in his face.

“Well that jutsu you used to put out my shoe fire was overkill too. I hadn’t planned on needing another bath today--but I got a nice cold one. And by the way, we’d have a fire if you hadn’t SOAKED THE LOGS!”

Naruto gritted his teeth and glared back down at Sakura.

“MAYBE YOU NEEDED A BATH YOU GIANT MORON! I SAVED YOUR ASS!” The vein in Sakura’s forehead was throbbing with her rage.

“HEY! WHO CAUGHT WHO when she was falling from the treetops today!  If I hadn’t done that, I’d still be nice and clean.” Naruto’s irises were narrowing to slits and his canines elongated slightly.

“DON’T GET ME STARTED UZUMAKI NARUTO. TWO WORDS. SPOILED. MILK.” Kakashi watched mesmerized as the two bickered and as their foreheads got closer and closer together. He wasn’t sure whether they were going to kill each other or lock lips. It isn’t like Naruto to try to debate back against Sakura like this. Normally he would cover his head immediately when her rage mounted and prepare for the eventual punch that was coming. When he saw the edge of red start to creep into Naruto’s eyes, he figured it was time to step in. He moved with lightning reflexes between his two students and separated them. He was positioned so that his back was to Sakura and he faced Naruto.

Unfortunately, for Kakashi, as soon as he obstructed Sakura’s face from Naruto’s line of sight, instead of the red in Naruto’s eyes retracting like Kakashi expected it to, it grew and consumed Naruto’s eyes until his body was surrounded by wafting red Chakra. Kakashi heard a low growl come from Naruto’s throat.

Fortunately for Kakashi, Sakura’s reaction to his butting-in happened first.

“ALRIGHT SENSEI. If you’re going to butt in, out with it. WHO DO WE LOOK LIKE HM?” Sakura shoved him hard to the side (no doubt transferring her need to hit something to Kakashi) and restoring Naruto’s line of sight with her face. The red chakra began to recede. Kakashi noted the change. Naruto was already amped up because they were bickering. I must have incited some territorial instinct in him by getting between them. So then, he wasn’t going to fight her? Was he going to kiss her? Has the Kyuubi already begun bonding to her?

The red was rapidly receding from Naruto’s eyes. His irises, however, were still slits as he watched Sakura poke him in his chest, which interrupted his analysis of Naruto’s behavior. He stared down at Sakura who was directly in front of him.

“So? Who, sensei?”

“First things first” Kakashi said as he walked away to start to boil water for Ramen. “You two must be hungry.”

“Stop dodging the question.” Naruto said through gritted teeth.

Kakashi sighed for the third time that night.

“You remind me of your masters, Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama.” Kakashi said without turning around to see their reaction. He sped up the water boiling process with some of his chakra and proceeded to pour three cups of ramen.

“GAHH! I’m not a pervert Kakas-Sensei!” Naruto’s face was contorted in vehement disagreement with Kakashi’s statement. Sakura raised her eyebrows in dismay.

“EH! I’m nothing like Shishou! I hate gambling!” Kakashi frowned and turned around to stare at them both with narrowed eyes.

“Sakura, that is probably one of the only things you and the Hokage do not share.” Kakashi slowly turned his head back to the fire. Sakura’s eyes widened in understanding of what Kakashi was getting at. Naruto still seemed confused as he looked from Kakashi to Sakura and back again. Sakura sighed and sat down on a tree stump next to Kakashi as he crouched beside the fire and prepared the ramen.

Naruto’s eyes slowly widened too as he realized what Kakashi must mean. He blushed and looked dumbfounded. His irises had returned to normal.

“Tsunade-baa-chan wants Ero-Sennin? As in. . .she thinks he’s hot?!”

“Baka. You really are clueless sometimes. Come and eat.”

“Eh? I mean I get it. I know Jiraiya is crazy about granny Tsunade--but I never knew she liked him too.” As Naruto finished his statement Kakashi shook his head and lightly patted Sakura on the shoulder. Sakura frowned back at him.

“For a ninja he really is clueless sometimes when it comes to the feelings of women.” Kakashi mumbled quietly as he continued stirring.

“Baka.” She mumbled softly.

Naruto walked over and sat on a log big enough for two people next to the stump Sakura sat on. Sakura was hurt for a moment because he didn’t squeeze next to her on the stump, but she pushed that feeling down. He’s just doing that because Kakas-Sensei is here. Right? ARGH! I wish he wasn’t so damn clueless.

Kakashi finished stirring the ramen for the three of them and handed them their bowls and chopsticks. Kakashi took a seat next to Naruto on the log. They settled in to eat in silence.

After the first few excruciatingly silent moments, Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura were able to make small talk while they ate. Naruto broke the ice first by asking Kakashi about Guy Sensei and if he knew anything about why Rock Lee and Guy Sensei were running with a dozen eggs each earlier that morning. Kakashi explained that it was Guy Sensei’s belief that if they could carry a dozen eggs each without cracking them, it would help them hone their taijutsu skills. The three had a good laugh over that.

The conversation carried on like this while they ate. After they had long since finished eating, Kakashi looked up at the stars.

“It’s getting late. We should turn in so we can finish the walk to the bathhouse tomorrow morning.” Kakashi went over to his backpack and pulled out his sleeping bag. Sakura got up, stretched and did the same. Naruto remained seated on the log. Kakashi sauntered toward the tent.

“It’s too cold for someone to sleep outside the tent tonight--so I’ll keep watch with my sharingan. You two look tired, you should both sleep. You will need your rest.” He said over his shoulder.

“It’s practically summer, Kakas-sensei. Besides, it was so hot last night. Is it really supposed to get that cold tonight?”  Naruto already knew the answer. He felt it in his bones earlier when he was changing that it was going to be cold tonight. But, he wanted to keep them from worrying about him.

“Naruto? Where’s your sleeping bag?” Sakura scanned the ground for his things and looked back at him.

“Eheheh.” Naruto stood up and bashfully ran his fingers through his hair. “I forgot it back at my apartment.” Kakashi stopped in his tracks waiting to hear Sakura’s response.

“BAKA! Naruto! You’ll freeze without your sleeping bag!” As if in confirmation, Naruto shivered noticeably. “Besides, your hair is still damp from earlier. You need to stay warm or you will get sick!”

“I’ll just sleep in my clothes.” Naruto looked uncomfortable with his own suggestion.

“No, Naruto. Sakura is right. You need to stay warm. I’d say you could share a sleeping bag with me, but mine is mummy style--so I’m pretty sure we both can’t fit in mine.” Naruto shivered again--not from the cold--from the idea of sharing a sleeping bag with Kakashi and his Icha-Icha dreams.

Kakashi turned to look at Sakura and the sleeping bag she had in her hands. Naruto was looking at his feet. Sakura blushed.

“Sakura’s bag looks more than large enough for the two of you. Besides, her body heat should help keep you from shivering too much. It is supposed to dip far below freezing tonight.”

The wind picked up a bit and kicked up some dirt with it. Some flecks went up Naruto’s nose, causing him to sneeze. Kakashi continued his progress to the tent and went inside.

“Alright, Baka! That’s it. We are sharing. Come on.” Sakura stomped over to Naruto after pouring water on the fire to put it out and stirring it a bit to spread the ashes. She grabbed his wrist and lead him to the tent. Sakura unzipped the tent and the two found Kakashi already fully zipped into his mummy-style sleeping bag. All that was visible was Kakashi’s face with his sharingan exposed and his two hands peeking out as he held an Icha-Icha book inches from his face and read. A small lamp was hanging from above Kakashi’s head providing a bit of light. He looked like a giant Kakashi-sushi roll. Kakashi looked up from his book as the two crawled past. “I’ll sleep near the entrance to the tent and keep my eye out.”

“I thought you said you’re keeping watch? How can you do that if you sleep?” Naruto looked at him puzzled.

“I can sleep with my sharingan open in case anything should happen.” Kakashi went back to his reading. Naruto was taken aback.

“Have you always been able to do that Kakas-sensei?” Sakura asked him.

“Yes. But, I don’t normally use it--but I want to tonight so you can both sleep.”

“And he says I’m like Jiraiya. . .perv. . .” Naruto mumbled more to Sakura than to Kakashi, who didn’t seem to hear his little remark.

Sakura smirked.

The tent was a decent size and was set up with two ‘rooms.’ But, as anyone who has been in a tent before knows, these ‘rooms’ aren’t exactly private. There is merely a vertical flap of fabric separating the two sections of the tent. Normally, the division came in handy in Sakura’s case so she could have a little privacy from the male members on the team when she changed and vice versa. Tonight, however, both Naruto and Sakura crawled under the flap with Sakura’s sleeping bag. Sakura and Naruto had carried their bags in with them so they could change and prepare for bed.

After they crossed under the flap and into the other ‘room,’ Sakura put down her pack and set out the sleeping bag. Naruto took to removing his jacket. But he kept his back to her the entire time. Tch! It’s not like Naruto and I haven’t shared sleeping space before! Why is he acting like this. Am I making him that uncomfortable?!

Sakura vetted her frustration a bit as she aggressively unzipped her bag and brought out some flannel pajama pants. Well, I certainly have no shame--and if he is uncomfortable with me--there is no sense in delaying this any longer. With that thought, she pulled her shorts down in one fell swoop leaving her in just panties, her top and a jacket she had since put on while they were eating.

She knew that Naruto still had his back to her as she changed, but she could swear that he was watching her from the corner of his eye and that she saw his eyes widen when she stripped off her shorts. Rather than putting her flannel pajama pants on right away, Sakura decided to see if she could push him a little further. She removed her jacket slowly and set it down, arched her back and slowly unzipped her top and let it fall down her shoulders. The top acting a bit like a corset and flattened her large breasts some so they didn’t get in the way during missions.Once the top was removed, her breasts hung more freely in just her bra.

Despite what Sakura thought, none of this was lost on Naruto, who was trying desperately not to take her into his arms. We can’t with Kakashi here. Plus, I want to prove to Sakura that I’m not just some pervert and that this isn’t just lust between us. Naruto kept his back to her.

Although she sat on the cushioned floor of the tent in just her green-striped underwear and fairly basic bra--she wasn’t cold. She knew she could feel the heat of Naruto’s eyes on her skin. Why isn’t he reaching for me? She was overcome with desire and perhaps wasn’t thinking as clearly as Naruto for once. Kakas-sensei may be here, but Naruto could at least look at me. . .or reach for me! Something!

Well, at least I know he was looking even if it was only for a second. She took a deep breath and drank in the sensation. She stuck her hand inside her bra to make sure her good luck charm was still safely in its place.

As she turned around slowly, Naruto completely had his back to her and somehow, during her changing, he had managed to slip his legs into the far left side of the sleeping bag. Without turning to look at her, he slipped the rest of his body into the sleeping bag and lay curled on his side with his back to her. He was wearing his ridiculous walrus-looking sleeping cap; He didn’t say a word. At this, Sakura felt a real pain in her heart.

Why is he being so cold? Does he think I’m being too forward? Did he like the old, shy Sakura better? If so, I’ve got news Naruto. This is 100% real Sakura. Forwardness and all.

Sakura cast her eyes down and looked at herself. With a feeling of disgust at herself she slipped on her flannel pants and pulled out an oversized long-sleeve t-shirt. She carefully removed her bra from under the long-sleeve t-shirt and folded it around the good-luck charm she always kept with her inside her bra. She put her bra with the rest of her clothes, folded them, and put them near her bag. She brushed her hair, used a damp, cleansing, herbal towlette that Shishou had given her for youthful skin to clean her face and slipped into the right side of the sleeping bag. I’m not giving up. Not yet. Even if his love for me is fading and this is only a passing desire of his, I will give to him willing whatever he will have of me. And, I will protect him to my dying breath, even if it kills me.

“Good night Naruto-Kun.”

Naruto didn’t answer. She took his sound breathing to mean he was already asleep.

. . . .

Sakura opened her eyes with a start some time later to find the sleeping bag completely empty and Naruto nowhere to be found inside the tent. His jacket was still laying in the same pile he had left it in the night before. The night was deadly still outside without any wind or the sounds of any animals. Sakura grabbed her jacket and crawled through the tent. She noticed that Kakashi was fast asleep and that his sharingan eye was not open.

Shit. Did something happen?

“Kakas-sensei” she whispered his name. Sakura didn’t want to try to rouse him too loudly in case an enemy was nearby. He was still fast asleep.

“Kakas-sensei!” she whispered more loudly and this time she placed her hands on his legs and shook him a bit. He didn’t move. Her medical senses told her he wasn’t injured. He’s sleeping like the dead. Is this a Genjitsu? It doesn’t feel like one. Sakura tried to release herself all the same.

“Release!” She said quietly. Nope. nothing--definitely not a Genjitsu. What is going on! Where is Naruto? Fear and concern overtook her sense of reason. She moved past her comatose sensei and slipped out of the tent. She slipped on her boots over her flannel pajamas as her eyes adjusted to darkness. There was no moon to provide any help in the darkness. Only the dim light of the stars could help. Luckily, Sakura had learned a little trick from Shishou to help with poor human night-vision. Sakura focused for a second as she redirected a tiny bit of chakra to her eyes. After a few seconds, she could see fairly well in the darkness.

She scanned the campsite and didn’t see any sign of Naruto in the vicinity. But she did notice that some of the lavender was trampled all around the edge of the tent--like they were being watched as they slept. Creepy.

It was then that Sakura felt an incredibly large chakra signature coming from the side of the woods opposite where her and Kakashi had collected wood much earlier in the evening. It was one she recognized.

Sakura took off at a jog to the edge of the forest and made her way through the undergrowth along its edge. Once she had cleared through into the woods she squinted to see if she could make out Naruto’s form anywhere in the darkness. She didn’t see him. But, she could still feel the chakra in the air. She trusted her instincts and kept moving deeper into the woods toward the chakra. After what seemed like an hour of passing tree after tree after tree, Sakura was suddenly on the edge of another clearing. But unlike their camping area, this was just a grassy clearing with no flowers in sight.

She felt her adrenalin surge when she saw the sight in the flattened grass ten feet in front of her. Naruto, surrounded by the largest mass of red chakra she had even seen, had three red fox-shaped chakra tails behind him. His blonde hair had elongated into more defined spikes and the whiskers on his cheeks had darkened. He was writhing on the ground in pain with his head held in his hands. He clutched at his temples and fisted his hair. He was growling and groaning in agony.

“NARUTO!” Sakura moved forward and made a motion to reach out to him. As she progressed toward him, she caught movement further into the center of the clearing. She saw two bright Sharingan staring at them in the darkness. As she squinted her eyes she made out the familiar form of Sasuke. He started to laugh.

Naruto begin writhing more violently. Sakura gritted her teeth in rage as she moved quickly and put herself between Naruto and Sasuke. She clenched her hands into fists. I’m going to kill this fucker once and for all. Sasuke kept laughing and started to walk away. As Sakura stared more closely at Sasuke, he started to vanish like a breeze and slowly he faded into the night and was gone. Sakura was interrupted from her state of confusion caused by Sasuke poofing when Naruto belted out a yell of pain.

She swung around and took leaping steps to him. She collapsed on the ground next to him.

“Can you hear me? It’s ok. He’s gone. I’m here.”

She reached out her hands to touch him, as she did, the red chakra of the Kyuubi expanded to enclose her. Sakura’s skin began to burn. She winced in pain, but she continued to reach for Naruto. Once her hands made contact with his face---the violent writhing stopped and he finally opened his eyes, which were completely red, from the irises to the whites. His hands still clutched at his temples and hair. He looked at her without seeing her. Sakura’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Naruto?” She clutched at his cheeks as his eyes moved around madly like he had heard her, but was searching for her with his eyes. Sakura took her hands and began scanning his body for any injuries. Her eyes passed over her own arm and she noticed the skin was starting to peel and fall off from the wafting Kyuubi Chakra. She ignored her own pain and focused on Naruto. Her medical nin senses told her he didn’t have any surface injuries, but that he was bleeding internally from every chakra point. She could hear that his heart was struggling to maintain a pulse.

Thump. . . . . .Thump . . . . . Thump.

“NO! Naruto?” She brought her hands back up to his face again and looked in his blood-red-eyes. He opened his mouth like he was going to speak.

“Sa . . .ku. . .ra.” His voice was barely audible. Tears were now streaming freely down Sakura’s face.

“Naruto. Listen to me. You--you’re going to be okkk.” She put her forehead to his.

“You can’t die on me. I won’t let you.”

Just as she said that she felt one of Naruto’s arms weakly embrace her. For a second, the blood in his eyes completely receded and his eyes were back to that wonderful, passionate blue that she loved. He saw her and looked right into her eyes.

“Thank you, Sakura.” He smiled weakly and then closed his eyes. His hand dropped from her back and fell limply to the ground. She heard his pulse slow.

Thump. . . . . . . . . . .Thump. . . . . . . . . . .  .

It Stopped.

“Naruto!?” Sakura gripped his cheeks more firmly and shook him. A wail ripped its way out of  her mouth.

“NARUTO!!!!!” Sakura screamed as tears flooded down her face. She was overcome with unbelievable pain in her chest--a knife right to the heart. She couldn’t breath. She couldn’t see or hear. She just felt pain. No. I won’t let this happen. I. REFUSE. You will not die. Sakura could feel a wall of her own green healing chakra flood from her pores.

“Naruto! You BAKA! You will not die!”

Then, just as she moved to embrace him, she woke up.

….......

Sakura opened her eyes and found herself back in the tent in her sleeping bag. It was still dark outside the tent. Her heart was pounding. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. Naruto is ok. He is right beside me. Right here.

She was facing her side of the tent with her back to Naruto. As she came fully to her senses, she started to turn her body to make sure Naruto was beside her. Before she could finish turning, she felt two strong and warm arms wrap around her---one slipped under her body and right hip to rest there and one came over the top of her left hip and gripped her stomach. She felt the arms pull her body back.

The hairs stood up on the back of her neck as she felt her back make contact with heat. She could feel his pectorals against her shoulder blades as his arms squeezed her--a tiny pang of coolness as the stone of the 1st’s necklace that Shishou had given Naruto pressed against her. She felt breathing on her neck and then in her ear: She felt his fox whiskers tickle her skin. Naruto.

“I’m here Sa-ku-ra-Chan. You were just dreaming.” She felt his breath in her ear as he whispered and then on her neck. The breathing got heavier. Then she felt his soft lips and his tongue on her skin. O! The strength and heat and size of his body surrounded her. Her body was wide awake now. He feels so good.

Naruto kissed her neck very softly and left a little wetness with his tongue. Sakura sucked in a breath at his touch and arched her butt and body into him. She felt him tense up like he was unsure of how to react. Then she realized why---her butt made contact with something very hard. Is he being shy? She rubbed her ass against him again. His teeth grazed her neck.

Naruto tightened his grip on her and pulled her even closer so her body was flush up against his. She could feel his erection throbbing against her and his heart pounding in his chest. He kissed her neck again this time with more force. He sucked on her skin. Sakura arched into him again. He bit down on the soft flesh of her neck--but not hard enough to draw blood. Sakura felt claimed. She wanted to be his and only his.

“Na-ru-to.”

He began to suck harder on her neck--no doubt hard enough that a mark would be there later--a mark that Sakura was his. Sakura could feel every cell in her body being lit on fire. She brought her arms down--and touched his thighs behind her. She felt him shove his face further into the crook of her neck. His golden hair tickled her cheek. She just barely heard a muffled moan. Sakura felt a rush of heat between her thighs at his noise.

She moved her hands up his thighs. Before she could make contact with what she so desperately wanted to touch--he pulled her tighter to him and rolled her body so she was practically laying on top of him--which in turn--forced her to remove her hands out from behind herself. She had never felt so close to anyone--and so exposed and vulnerable to his hands at the same time. She could feel the entire length of him against her. She could feel the size of his erection. Sakura felt another surge between her legs. She knew she already must be embarrassingly wet for him.

He slowly brought up his right hand from its place gripping her hip---first over her stomach where he splayed out his palm. He slowed his hand’s progress as he reached her breasts, which were hanging freely under her over-sized night-shirt. Sakura’s nipples had come to points and were pleading against her shirt for Naruto to touch her. He angled his hand so it slid smoothly in between her breasts. his thumb touched the edge of one breast and his pinky touched the other. He just grazed them. He’s teasing me. As his arm continued its progress up her body, his arm had to bend and the muscle of Naruto’s forearm squeezed her breasts closer together.

“Naruto.” His mouth made contact with her ear and his tongue grazed it.

“Shhhhhhh . . .” He whispered.

His hand continued its progress up her chest; as his hand reached her neck--he put his hands around her throat---gently--claiming her again. He touched her cheek and then gently covered her mouth with his palm. What is he doing! I feel so helpless. Naruto! His mouth found its way to her neck again where he resumed sucking and sucking until Sakura thought she might die.

Her eyes went wide when he moved his left hand down her stomach and slide it over her thigh. Sakura was rubbing against his erection as it strained against his pants. Naruto gripped her thigh with his hand. His mouth left her neck and he whispered in her ear again.

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to resist you when you were getting undressed earlier? Sa-ku-ra?” Without missing a beat, Naruto slide his hand under her flannel pajama bottoms and onto the bare skin of her thigh. He moved his hand slowly up the top part of her thigh until he reached the bottom edge of her underwear. He ran his fingertips right along the edge of the fabric moving his fingers so just the very very edge of his index and middle finger went beneath the fabric. Sakura was moaning into his hand. What is he doing!?

He kept going--on the top of her thigh, down her inner thigh and right beside the part of her that wanted to be the closest to him. Sakura cried out into his hand. It’s like he already has the map to my body. Sakura could feel herself soaking her panties and she knew there was no hiding this from Naruto. As if answering her--she heard Naruto suck in his breath when he felt the damp heat that soaked her underwear.  

“I want you Sa-ku-ra Chan. So, very badly.” He whispered into her ear and rotated his hips up so his erection pushed into her body again--hard. Sakura heard him moan very softly as he did so.

“We just can’t act on this yet.” Sakura agreed with him at least partly--Kakashi sensei was still sleeping next to them after all.

He kissed her neck again and withdrew his hand from her flannel pajamas as he said: “Not. yet.”

O no, Naruto. Not without at least a kiss. MY TURN.

Sakura quickly maneuvered so she was on top of him, but she strategically kept the sleeping bag around them both. The fabric draped over her like a cape.

She sat up and straddled him. He looked surprised and confused--that ridiculous expression that was so characteristic of her baka, Naruto. Now who’s helpless!

She moved her hips down so her heat was positioned directly over his erection. The look of confusion on Naruto’s face was washed away by a deep and passionate stare she had never seen from him. There was such a fire in Naruto’s eyes. The crystalline blue of his eyes looked electric in the dim light as dusk grew outside. He is so unbelievably handsome. He also looked older to her somehow. Nothing like the idiotic kid she had grown up with.

She brought her hand to his cheek; he closed his eyes at the contact. He moved his hands up to grip her hips and spread his fingers on her back and brought her torso down to his. Sakura was now laying flat on top of him--with her legs still straddling him.

Their chests aligned as she bent forward and as her face came closer, Naruto lifted his head a bit and captured her mouth in a furious and deep kiss. His arms and hands wrapped around her back as he smashed her body into his. She could feel all of him against her body--inch for inch. His tongue entered her mouth freely and her tongue met his. She moaned softly into the kiss. He squeezed her again and broke the kiss.

He gripped her hips again and rolled to his right so they were on their sides again. Their legs were tangled together and their faces an inch apart. He continued to stare into Sakura’s eyes with that indescribable expression. It was definitely a look of love.

Love is not a strong enough word to describe how he’s looking at me now. She kissed him again---more softly this time. His face took on a look of surprise again-- an almost school-boy sort of sort of surprise. Everytime I kiss him---he thinks it is the first and the last time. He still doesn’t believe me. I’ll prove my love to him and then he won’t be so surprised anymore. Sakura brought her hand to Naruto’s cheek and whispered.

“Not yet.” He smirked at her and kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her--creating this little cocoon for them. They fell back asleep together as the early morning light grew outside the tent.

…...........

Sometime around what they guessed was 9am, they were woken up by the sound of coughing and someone clearing his throat rather loudly. They opened their eyes to find themselves still embracing in Sakura’s sleeping bag and very much a tangle of arms and legs and warmth and comfort. Naruto grunted at the rude awakening.

“Keehhhh too early.” He mumbled without opening his eyes and with a rather raspy morning voice. He pulled Sakura closer to him. Sakura opened her eyes and peeked around the edge of Naruto’s arms as they formed a barrier between her and the rest of the world. She saw one normal eye and one Sharingan staring down at them from the foot of the sleeping bag.

“GEH! KAKAS-SENSEI!” Sakura yelled. Naruto jolted from Sakura’s exclamation and after untangling their arms he began flailing his like a bird preparing for flight. The couple immediately sat up in the sleeping bag.

“PERV! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WATCHING US SLEEP KAKAS-SENSEI!” Naruto stopped his flailing and pointed accusingly at Kakashi. Naruto was wearing his angry walrus sleeping cap again, which confused Sakura because he didn’t have it on during their little interlude last night. Must have put it back on after I fell asleep. Baka! Why does he have to be so fucking adorable! Sakura was glowing like an idiot as she looked at Naruto--who was still looking at Kakashi with suspicion and narrowed eyes.

Kakashi leaned forward even more from his kneeling position at the foot of the sleeping bag so he was further into their personal space and put one hand flat on top of the sleep bag next to their tangled legs.

“Well, I assume you two had fun last night--but no nookie yet right, Naruto?”

Sakura turned her head mechanically from observing Naruto to Kakashi---her face had changed from one of adoration and affection for Naruto to one of pure, unadulterated rage. She brought her right fist up and socked Kakashi across the jaw---who was sent sprawling into the back of the tent, which promptly collapsed on top of the trio.

“AHNOSA! AHNOSA! KAKAS-SENSEI! THAT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” Naruto was a few seconds late on his response as the tent flattened onto his head. Kakashi slowly righted himself from his pancaked position against the tent wall and quickly used chakra to repair the damaged pole that caused the collapse. Sakura was scrambling in her tangled sleeping bag and tent fabric to get to Kakashi so she could strangle him.

“Ah. I’ll just leave you two to get ready. We need to head to the hotsprings. The rest of the team is waiting.” Kakashi crawled out of the tent as quickly as possible after fixing the pole. Naruto had never seen him move so fast---not even in fights with Itachi.

Sakura growled beside him.

“WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!?”

“A younger ero-sennin apparently.” They had both slipped out of the sleeping bag in the chaos.

Naruto frowned and then stretched. Naruto took off his sleeping cap and put on his jacket. Sakura forgot that he had basically slept in his clothes--so he didn’t need to do much to get ready. He kneeled like he was getting ready to leave the tent. After he finished slipping on his jacket, he surprised her by kissing her and holding her cheeks in his hands. He broke the kiss and Sakura saw a flicker of the passion she saw in his eyes from the previous night.

“Sakura-chan. I’m going to go make us some food. We really should get going.” Sakura knew he was right--but she wished they could have just stayed in their little world of the sleeping bag together a bit longer.

“Mm. I’ll finish getting ready.” She touched his cheek and Naruto’s face spread into a huge grin. He laughed his devious little laugh, grabbed his pack and crawled out.