'Today's the day!' I thought to myself. I had been preparing myself for this day for a good month now. If there was any other way of seeing this day as the perfect day for what I intended to do, the sun was shining, and there wasn't a cloud in the blue sky. A gentle breeze blew through my hair, and I began to quietly hum to myself, walking with a little spring in my step through the streets of Konoha.

"Today, I'm going to tell him!" I said, echoing my thoughts. On the outside, I looked cheerful and giddy on the outside, but my inner self was a bit different.

"Yeah! This is it! There's NO way he can turn us down!" she cheered with the volume of an erupting volcano.

If anyone was able to figure out that I planned on telling a certain ninja about my feelings toward him, they would assume the boy to be the handsome Sasuke Uchiha...well, at least about three years ago they would have. Until he left Konoha, the people...and me. Times change though, and so do people. I'm no exception to this. It was with the help of my sensei, who is also the village leader, that I realized it.

flashback

"So Sakura, tell me...who do you have your sights set on?" Tsunade asked me during a break in our training.

"What do you mean sensei?" I asked her.

"Oh come on Sakura, you know what I mean; who do you have a crush on?" she grinned. A pained look appeared on my face.

"Oh...I forgot about that..."

"It's okay Tsunade-sama, really...I'm better than I used to be over him." I reassured her.

"Listen Sakura, I know he was part of your team, and also a close friend, but he...betrayed us, you included. You understand that, right?" Tsunade asked, "I mean, it's hard to believe, but he's with Orichamaru now."

I nodded slowly, "Yeah, but...he meant alot to me." I replied.

"Sakura, you want to know something?" Tsunade asked me, setting down her food.

"What, sensei?" I inquired with a genuinely curious look.

"There's someone else that you've known since you were a kid who cares about you, maybe even more than you do for Sasuke." she answered with a laugh, seeing my face.

"Who! Who is it?" I asked her, jumping to the edge of my chair.

"That's for you to figure out. By the way, why don't we go get some ramen for Jiraya and Naruto. I hear the two idiots just arrived back from another mission, and Naruto's already training again. I swear, that kid runs on more than than just chakra." she answered with a shake of her head.

"Um, okay...come on sensei, who is it?" I whined.

"You'll know soon enough." she replied.

end flashback

Looking back at it now, she had actually indirectly answered my question right there. Though I never realized it, that loud-mouthed Naruto has always been special to me. He means more to me than just a close friend...much more. He had shown how much he cares for me openly, stating it in no easier or obvious way. He would always ask me out on a date, and every time, I'd just shoot down his proposal. He never does that anymore as of the past couple months.

"Well, Naruto, you don't have to ask me anymore...it's my turn. I realize what you mean to me now. Kyuubi or not, I love you Naruto Uzumaki." I sighed. I had seen Naruto go beserk before, if only briefly. He actually used the Kyuubi's power to protect me more than once...I think he did at least. If not just my witnessing it, Tsunade had told me openly when she had a bit too much sake once. It explained how he could be so powerful at times. It also explained why the adults of the village hated him. I found it infuriating that they could be so idiotic and narrow-minded at times.

At least now, he'd know that he has me.

end of chap.1- So, what did you think? This is my first fic on the Naruto series, so please don't be TOO harsh. Please let me know! More on the way!