Naruto had never been the type of person who cared about sleeping alone in a cold bed, in his dark room. His hand wandered to his face, letting his palm cover his eyes in a frustrated fashion. It had been two years from this exact day, and he had a few months ago turned 30. He still felt like he was in his early twenties, even with three kids on his side, he stayed young and youthful in spirit. He had though gained a few wrinkles in the corner of his eyes, due to the stress of being a hokage over one of them most powerful villages.

It didn't bother him though, for eight years he had been married to a stunning woman. A small smile escaped his lips as he remembered back. His wife had not been the prettiest of them all, even when being married to her, he always thought Sakura had a beauty unmatched. This statement had made a few people raise their eyebrows, wondering if the Hokage still managed to crush on the lone woman.

It had never been the case though, Sakura had throughout the years maintained her and Naruto's friendship, and had loudly claimed they were best friends. Naruto had been fine with that, his wife gave him the comfort and support he needed. He loved her more than anything, and he loved her even more when she gave birth to three healthy children.

Hinata had been his surprised wife, when they had decided to marry. She was a shy woman, but a strong one too. She may not be like Sakura. Not so proud, or psychically strong, but she controlled emotions in a way that it was scary. Naruto had not been the type that sought tenderness, cuddling or hugs – yet during the years, he had become a bit more …soft?

He pondered lightly on his current situation. It would be a lie if he said he didn't miss her – to be completely honest with himself, he wanted her back more than anything else. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. It scared him that he didn't sleep in the Hyuuga house anymore, and instead claimed the bed in the hokage tower for his own. It was a large bed, fit for two and a large child. Yet, it was only him lying there, groaning as if he was in pain.

It was early morning, but Sakura had already arrived, and he could hear her walk around in his office. He sighed, she was probably doing the paperwork he didn't bother finish last night. Her steps were not as light as Hinata's, a bit heaver in the way they smashed against the ground. He pushed his lips forward and stared at his cracking ceiling – white….like his diseased wife.

He lay there for a good hour, before he heard her knock gently on the door – waiting for a response. He quickly thought that maybe he should pretend to sleep, but then she would just forcefully drag him out of bed, and then afterwards give him a lecture in proper hokage behaviour. Too bad that she tended to forget he had been Hokage for 8 years, and always bragged about how she could do it better.

Sometimes he seriously considered letting her do it, and just lay in his bed, remembering how it was like to have Hinata by his side. The door opened with a soft click, and the light from the hallways streamed into his room, illuminating the bottom of the bed. He had his back towards her, laying stubbornly in the bed – not wanting to get up now.

It wasn't really fair. Of course Sakura was a strong woman and all, a proud woman too – but she had been there for him ever since Hinata died. Taking care of most things as if letting him cut down on his hokage duties, and even with that, she had managed to take care of his kids too. He could feel her walk around in his room, picking up his discarded clothes, and put it in the corner, so the maids could clean the room better.

She never said anything to him in mornings like these – she just let him lie there, staring into the air, while she would walk around and clean up some of the messes he could make. Sakura also made sure never to touch any of his pictures of belongings from Hinata – something with the smell might disappear he had said.

Naruto gazed at Sakura from his side of the bed. She was curvy, womanly, and quite the sight to look at – but really, all Naruto wanted to see the black long hair curve down her neck, replacing the red skirt and blouse with a grey kimono. When she would turn to him, it wouldn't be the glittering fascinating green eyes, but the calm and relaxing white.

She pushed the curtains aside, letting the light stream into the dark room – and somehow as he turned his head to shield out the light, it was like he was shutting the world out to. Pulling the covers over his head, he felt a soft pad on his side. Sakura didn't carry a smile on her face, she wore that concerned look again. When he didn't react, he felt her sit down beside him, slowly taking off the cover, to reveal his sad face.

The pink-haired girl sighed in frustration, and petted his hair. "up with you Naruto – or I'll not give you ramen tonight, and won't make you paperwork"

"like I care" he knew he shouldn't have said that – especially because the special vein on her forehead suddenly became more visible.

"oh? Is that right?"

He didn't answer back, and just lay there – his eyes focusing on the picture of a smiling Hinata. Sakura seeing this brushed his hair gently with her fingers – those deadly fingers that could kill him with just a single flick. Yet, he knew Sakura would never hit him…which in some cases were sad.

Naruto would lie if he said he didn't miss their times together. Him, Sakura, and even Sasuke, the three of them going on adventures. They would fight of every enemy, and afterwards they would sit beside the fire, chatting, laughing. The years after that, it was only him, Sakura and Kakashi. Things didn't change as much – they laughed, chatted, and sometimes he was sure Sakura was flirting with him. He would never know.

It had been the year before Tsunade retired, and Naruto became Hokage, when Sakura decided she would travel the world. He was left on his own, and found comfort in a woman he never ever gave a thought before. Hinata was a woman build up from inner strength, relying on herself, and not on others as Sakura.

In her he found hours of crying, loving, and lastly comfort. She was that kind of woman who gave everything, and always received something back. Naruto had become trancefixed with everything she stood for. The way she walked, the way she talked, the way she would shyly peck him on the cheek. Naruto knew that a relationship with Sakura would be slow moving, tough, and they would fight a lot.

Naruto never fought with Hinata. In the beginning it was strange to not meet the resistance he liked so much with Sakura. However, as time went on, and a wedding passed him, and a his first born was born – he really realised, it was a salvation. To come home every night, rest on her shoulder, letting her hold him – and hear the chuckle of his baby girl lying beside them.

It was too sickening, too loving – but Naruto couldn't help but want more. He wanted Hinata with him, saving him from the world outside. The pain, the tears…were all replaced with a stricking image of a white eyed girl with an insecure smile.

Now…8 years later, one girl and two boys born later – he had sent her on a mission…

He closed his eyes hardly, and Sakura hands stroked his cheek even more tenderly. Naruto could hear the children slowly begin to wake up. His daughter Minori had always been a girl who woke up early, usually to greet Sakura with a toothy smile – something she had inherited from her father.

Sasuke, his secondborn was too lazy to wake up when Sakura asked him too – and too young to remember his mother properly.

Hiashi had only been two years old when Hinata had died in that mission, so he had reached the age of four, and strangely saw Sakura as his role model.

"you have to get up Naruto – the village needs you…"

He sat up almost angrily. How he hated that he enjoyed how Sakura comforted him – but it was wrong. Sakura's hands were not gentle, were not smooth and white as Hinata's. No. Sakura's hands were full of scars, her skin rough in a tender way – and last of all, they had a tan. Sakura was not Hinata.

"I know" he muttered, and took of his shirt – knowing that Sakura had now gotten offended, he bend his neck slightly to receive his punishment. Nothing came, and he heard her hard footsteps across the floor, and the door slam close. Naruto bend his head downwards – closing his eyes hard. His knuckles turning white from the pressure.

And then there was light…

-

Naruto stood still, resting against the wall. The garden in the hokage building, rested lazily in the setting sun. There was hardly any wind this day, and thanks to Sakura's help earlier this morning – he had finished his paperwork earlier than intented. Sometimes he hated her for doing it, because it gave him time to think, time to wonder all his "what ifs".

He could hear the light footsteps of his daughter coming from the other side of the hallway, heading towards the garden. When seeing him she stopped up slightly, he didn't look at her and his eyes seemed transfixed with the way the water lay in the pond. She gulped and raised her hand in a welcoming gesture. He didn't blame her. Sakura was usually the one taking care of them at this point of the day – and she was also the only one, besides her own apprentice who was allowed in the Hokage estate.

Naruto sat down on the terrace. "Come over here Minori – I have some matters to discuss with you."

The girl, confident in her stance, nodded and walked over to her father. He gave her a side glance, noticing how her walk reminded him of Sakura's. He suddenly couldn't help but feel a bit mad. The feeling of Hinata was slowly disappearing from his children, the glint in their eyes were replaced with a hint of unbroken will. Sakura had defiantly gotten past their wall, and slowly she replaced Hinata in their mind.

Naruto turned his head away – the bamboo pipe hit the water surface every time the water from the spring hit the other end of the pipe, making it go upwards in a monotone rhythm. His hands rested on his knees, a serious expression claiming his already worn features. His daughter fidget slightly in her seat – he knew she was uncomfortable every time he wanted to "talk" to her.

The conversations would always start out with how her training was doing, then turn to Hinata, and lastly if she liked what Sakura was doing. He surprised her this time though.

"do you remember Hyuuga Hanabi? Your aunt?"

Minori bit down her lip and took a while to find a proper response. "yeah – I do, father."

Naruto nodded, his eyes still gazing on the water. "you know of the Cloud nation am I right? I believe you have met the Kazekage and his daughters, am I right?"

"yes I do, father"

There was silence for a while, and he leaned forwards, folding his hands. Minori noticed the whiskers on his face, and how he had gotten a small wrinkle by his left eye. She had her own hands folded in her lap, not mimicking her father – and Naruto could see it. Sakura always sat like that every time she was nervous about something – and it had been a while since he had seen her be nervous about anything at all.

He opened his mouth and was about to continue, when another person interrupted.

"eh? Naruto – what are you doing here!?" the pink-haired woman stared dumbfounded at the man before her, and his daughter. "you're not slacking off are you?" her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, making Naruto glare back at her. "No I am not Sakura. I am here because I am done, and I wanted to talk to my daughter"

The Haruno scowled and clicked her tongue in annoyance, before she walked down the hallway, in search of Sasuke and Hiashi. Naruto noticed the way she walked. Her head was raised high, her shoulder stiff with proud. The muscles in bare arms and legs worked, and strained with every step she took. Her hair had been cut recently, and showed a good amount of her neck…

However, all Naruto wanted to see slumped shoulders, and her upper back covered with black midnight blue hair. Her skin would be pearly white, and instead of a low skirt, it would be a long kimono. Sakura was nothing like Hinata – he turned his head, staring at the pond. His hands clenching hardly, Minori noticed, and strangely it felt when her small hand covered his. "she doesn't mean ill by it, father."

Naruto sighed. "I know…I am the problem here anyway"

"I miss mom too dad – I remember her too. But Sakura-san is a wonderful woman; she is only doing her best."

With light came the earth we stand upon.

-

He never really insisted on being present to Sakura's weekly examinations – it was just something he always witnessed, and by the look on Tsunade's face, it was not going to be good news.

Sakura had during her travels managed to receive an insanely amount of wounds. He stared at her back. Scars trailing down almost gently from her shoulder to her hip. The muscles were tense because of Tsunade's future words. He could see her spine through her tanned skin. He crossed his arms, his face never bearing a scrowl. His face was twisted in worry, and displease of Sakura's stupidity.

It was no secret that she had apologized for it time over and over again. However, it wouldn't change the fact. Sakura had gotten unlucky with a poison ninja, and it was now invading her chakra system, and at the current time she could not use her super strength in her left leg. Tsunade sighed and leaned back in chair.

"I really am quite puzzled about this Sakura." Her voice was a low mutter, and she placed her hands over her stomach, as if she thinking hard. Naruto could see the vein in her forehead become more visible as she, just like her apprentice, was about to get mad. Tsunade bit down her lip, and licked her teeth. Sakura sat tensely, her head leaning towards the ground, as if she was trying to suppress guilty emotions.

"Sakura, you are one hell of a stupid girl. Are you aware of the consequences – you won't be a ninja if you don't find a cure for this." He could see her muscle work on her back work when she clenched her hands. Sakura was easy to read when you were just looking at her backside. Naruto leaned forward, listening to what Tsunade had to say.

"you can put your shirt back on." She muttered, and Sakura bend her arm towards the right – showing some of her breast, but Naruto was unaffected by the display of womanly features. The red shirt was buttoned up quickly and Naruto moved over to sit beside them. Tsunade gave him a knowing look. "what are the chances?" he spoke lowly, and the old woman took a hand through her hair.

"they are slim, but there are of course chances – unless…what do you want Sakura?"

The pink haired woman blinked, and stared at Naruto, who gave her a questioning perusal. "you should not look at me Sakura, it is your choice." She turned her head away, and the morning sun rested upon the figures in the small room. Tsunade gave Sakura a small pad on the shoulder, and stood up, stretching her limbs. "Don't worry, I'll look through every file I have. If I find something I will contact you. I'll see you in a week"

Naruto gazed at Sakura staring at her own folded hands, her own stare showing her internal turmoil. He sighed and quickly brought an arm around her shoulder. He was her friend afterall – and as her friend he couldn't bear to see her distress.

And upon the earth it shone, the first seed of life.

-

Hyuuga Hiashi, Hyuuga Neji and Hyuuga Hanabi sat before him. The usually dinning table, where he and Sakura along with the children, spent their time eating whatever the cook created, were now full of papers, assignments, and scrolls. On his left side sat the Cloud's kage's youngest daughter, along with some from the council.

Naruto rubbed his eyes. "I guess you all know why you are here." He muttered underneath his breath, opening one scroll. The curly haired cloud woman nodded fiercely, her eyes boring into his monotone ones. Hanabi just gave a short nod, seeming really uninterested in where the topic was headed. Naruto guessed it was usually Hyuuga custom to seem like that – Hinata apparently really were an outsider in her clan.

"Cloud, you start." His own council member spoke outloud.

The curly haired girl stood up proudly. "we are here to engage in possible political marriage between the Rokudaime hokage and me, Skye, the youngest daughter of the Kage of the Cloud." Naruto watched her stand before him. Something about her pose reminded him of a certain pinkhaired woman – but still he couldn't quite place what. Sakura would never, never in front of any kage stand up like that. She surely wouldn't give herself to any man in a political marriage.

He did not understand why, but it brought a small smile to his face. Skye gave herself a satisfied smirk, believing she had managed to move into the heart of the Hokage. Hanabi frowned deeply, and the council member asked the Hyuugas to stand up. Hiashi tucked unto his jacket, and stood up.

"we as the Hyuuga clan here in Konohagure propose a marriage between the former husband of Hinata Hyuuga – in order to let the children grow up in proper Hyuuga environment." He sat down again with a loud puff, and Naruto rubbed his eyes. He had spent the whole evening with his children last night. They were really become quite the handful – perhaps he should really admire Sakura for what she is doing.

The councilmember looked at Naruto – and he could feel how a long meeting was going to take place the rest of the evening…and night. If Hinata had been there she would wait up for him, and take him into her arms – and they would spend the whole night being awake, chatting, talking, kissing…you name it. However, there was no Hinata anymore, and he needed to ensure the safety of Konoha.

His eyes rested on the stubborn cloud woman, and then back to Hanabi. Being Hokage meant more than just helping the people, it meant sacrificing yourself. He turned his head to quickly glance at the window – it was going to snow soon, but all he could see was a sunny sky, and the laughter of his children in the garden.

…When the seed grew, so came the understanding and love for the seed.

-

Naruto had expected Sakura to shout, yell, destroy a wall, leave the estate, but all she did was simply to stare at him with an empty look. He rubbed his neck, feeling the situation get a bit too awkward. Why didn't she punch him? Wasn't she the one telling him never to marry politically, and instead marry out of love. Funny it came from the same woman who was left because she couldn't get children. It reminded him he should really let the Anbu work faster…

…he coughed to somehow try to let the awkward situation disappear. Sakura seemed to not even stare at him, she was looking at some thing outside of the garden. His eyes wandered to her bandaged leg, something Tsunade must have done earlier that morning.

"uhm…Sakura, are you okay?"

She jumped slightly in her seat, and gave him an insecure laugh. It was her own desperate attempt to cover up for her own mistake, she had just commited a few seconds ago. Her hand tucked on to the pink hair in her back, which was a bit longer than the hair in front. Her hands were busy, and she licked her lips in her attempt to think rationally. It surprised him a bit when she looked up. It was then he realised that Sakura's eyes were really, really green. It was like they were grey in the past…

"so…" she started, letting her hands go to her lap. "you're intending to sacrifice yourself, and marry a princess from the Cloud?" she asked out of pure curiosity, her eyes slightly wide in excitement. Naruto gave her a laugh back. 30 years old, but he felt like he had just turned 50, perhaps Sakura felt the same. "yeah. At least it benefits me more than marrying Hanabi."

Sakura nodded, her eyes turning away from him, and gazed upon the snow falling down. "right. However, Naruto, this means that she will be the one to take care of you from now on." She rubbed her cheek in a tired motion. "I will probably be moving away from here, right? That is why you're telling me this?" and her hair was really, really pink…

…he shook his head. "eh!? What?" now she wasn't the one confused, he was.

She turned back to him, and pointed her index finger towards him. "you didn't even tell you had gotten married to Hinata – and when you did it was because you needed me to do some business in Rock, right? So now when you tell me this stuff, it is because you would like me to move out of the estate. Which means I would have at least three days to mo-"

"what! What! Hey! That is not what I meant!" he said, interrupting Sakura. She lowered her hand slowly, indicating that she was listening. Naruto gave her a small glare, showing her he had become hurt by her speech. "that is not it Sakura. I want your opinion on this. You have always been sort of smart when it comes to this"

She turned around, crossing her legs, and lay her head on her arm, which rested safely on the wooden floor. "my opinion? Now Naruto, I am not the hokage. However, I do see the good things about commiting yourself to this woman…or girl I may safely presume. First of all, the alliance will benefit Konoha insanely."

She had really green eyes, they were almost sparkling in the evening sun.

"we can use it to our own advantages. It will also give a good amount of jutsus to our library, since we can get some information out of her…"

Her lips were small, not red….they weren't really special…but the muscles flexed and stretched with every word she said…

She sat up, this time on her knees, an excited look on her face. "think of all the medical jutsus! Maybe they have something that can cure me!"

Her hips were boyish, her body was thin, slim, most consisting of muscles – but he could feel himself stare at her unexplainably. The words disappeared, as the usual image of Hinata never came. Instead it was replaced with a sunny aura, surrounding a pink haired woman. Determination beyond his understanding. His hands were aching to reach out for her…

"it is a great de-…what are you doing?" she questioned, her voice a bit low. His head was buried into her stomach, his arms around her waist. It wasn't intimate, it was surprising, unexpected. Sakura stared upon his form, as she slowly let her raised fist wander down to his head. However, instead of hitting him, she opened her palm and slowly started to play with the golden locks.

"I don't know…" he answered weakly. Her other hand touched his spine, not doing anything besides laying there.

It was something they only did when they were alone. Naruto never showed any display of weak emotions, unless he was alone with Sakura. People had always believed they despised each other – hated each other, by the way they talked. However, when they were alone…they could laugh together, cry together.

Right now, it was Naruto's turn. His arms tightened on her waist, and she was sure he wouldn't even move if a council member came. Sakura silently begged him to let go, but he shook his head. A display of childish stubbornness. He froze though when she lay her chest down upon his head, trying her best to embrace him back. It was strange, weird, and brought him unwanted feelings…

…so he pulled away and sat up, rubbing his dry eyes. Sakura didn't look the least puzzled, and just sat still, patiently waiting for him to gather the courage and talk again. His hands slowly took hers into his own, clenching them hard. "I don't want you to die." He murmured. In response she gave him a small smile, and it was all he needed.

"stupid idiot…why should I go and die?"

The understanding and love for the seed, made it grow – and soon it broke through the earth, and the sunlight embraced its holy form.

-

Naruto slammed his fist into the shower wall. The water drenching his bare skin, as if trying to clean him from every dirty thought he might have in his head. However, his hands continued to hit the china walls, making it crack slightly from the pressure. What had just happened? He weren't supposed to feel intimate like that around Sakura. He shouldn't experience the butterflies in his stomach flutter, making him somehow feel nauseas.

He brought a hand to his mouth, his face red from the fierce blush. Of course he had taken a shower, and it was cold, bloody cold. However, he this feeling that even with the icy water pinching his skin, it wouldn't let the deep fluttering fire within him die out. It was horrible, dreading, and he closed his eyes. His hands went from his mouth to above his head. These thoughts in his mind – they were human, and needy. The problem was that these thoughts should never be about Sakura.

Naruto wanted china-white skin, and transparent eyes that could see to inner of his soul. Small gentle hands caressing his skin with the tenderest touches. He defiantly didn't want this!

He didn't want to imagine Sakura stand before him in the shower, those horrible transfixing green eyes, which swallowed him like a sea. He was the Hokage; he was supposed to keep his emotions in check. He should honour his new fiancé, because she was to become his wife, he should be transfixed with her. He could see her pink hair now, and with a fast hand his hand shot down to the shower, making the water colder than before. He gasped when it hit him, and let his arms go around his head again, while he rested his head against the cool wall.

He had no idea how long he stood there, but he resisted moving his hands from his head. The thoughts alone made him sick. To fancy a woman in such a disturbing manner to himself made him want to puke right then and there. His body was shaking under the cold water, and he knew Sakura would come to his room sooner or later, probably going to scold him for leaving her so much paperwork.

The thought of her coming into his room made his body stop shaking, and all of sudden he could imagine her stand before him. Staring up at him with those green eyes, he couldn't see if she wore any clothes. However, her collarbones were visible, and he suddenly stopped thinking all together. Her face was heated, and her eyes were searching his. It was pure torture.

It wasn't supposed to be Sakura! Hinata!

Hinata!

Hinata!

Hinata!

"HINATA!"

The door to the bathroom opened with a bang, and he could hear Sakura's worried voice speak from the other side of the curtain. "Is something wrong!?" he blinked, the events that had just occurred left his already troubled mind, and he needed to swallow his spit painfully. His voice was low as he tried to get rid of the blush on his cheeks. "no…no, nothing is wrong."

There was silence for a moment, and her feet slowly walked out of the bathroom, closing the door with a soft click.

The sunlight illuminated the ground around the seed, making it grow, and break the surface of the ground.

-

The snow fell quietly on the garden trees, covering the bare branches like a cold blanket. The grass was bent down towards the ground by the sudden weight from the sky. Only the footsteps covering the training area indicated that someone actually dared to walk out into the freezing cold.

Naruto leaned against the columns, watching Sakura and Lee from afar. When it was winter, the glass windows, which usually were open in the warmer periods, were closed and hid him very well behind the curtains too. It was an unusual long winter this year; the snow had been there for more than a month now, a rare sight never seen in a hundred years. He admired the colour of the curtains all of sudden, the wonderful red colour, which hid the private areas of the estate.

Lee had volunteered to help Sakura with her training, since Naruto was too busy. Not that he really wanted to be busy, but it wouldn't be fair towards the villagers that he spent all his time using kage-bunshin in the office, so he could sneak out. Perhaps he shouldn't stop doing it, but when he did he should not stand in the hallway instead, staring at a pink-haired woman. People might think of him as a freaking stalker when he stood there. However, all these thoughts in his head wouldn't calm down.

So he had made the seals, and three clones had appeared, glaring daggers at him when he had exited the office. So he took a walk, and ended up in the estate. Now all he could see was the red dress flying around in the freaking cold as Sakura managed to kick Lee on the shoulder. It worried Naruto that she didn't use chakra; she always used chakra when she fought him. He had several scars on his head proving that.

It reminded him of his conversation with Tsunade a few days prior to this. The old lady still hid herself with the youthjutsus, but Naruto had gotten used to think of her as an old lady, so why not treat her as one.

She had leaned back, glaring at him for no reason other than feeling like it. However, that wasn't what bothered him. What bothered him was the words escaping her mouth as small daggers piercing into his chest.

"Sakura will have to undergo a surgery to cut off all of her chakra paths."

He had been silent, not saying anything in return.

"even with perfect chakra control, Sakura has managed to harm the paths so much that they are acting weird, and doesn't function well enough. Perfect control or not, she can't use them. If we don't do it, the chakra will begin to attack various parts of her body."

So now he stood here, watching as Sakura desperately tried to focus enough chakra to just heal herself from her wounds. It was impossible.

His eyebrows turned downwards in a sad frown; it made him poignant seeing a once brave woman, who relied on her strength in both life and battle, to stand there unable to do what she wanted. Lee saw this, and tried his best to stop the fight, but by this Sakura intensified her hits. She wanted so desperately to be like before.

Naruto took this as he chance to approach her, and opened the glass door. However, both of them either ignored or didn't hear him come towards them. Lee grabbed her by the wrists, and stopped her from attacking completely. "Sakura-san, stop please, you're hurting yourself"

She turned her gaze to her hands, watching as they had begun to bleed from the knuckles, and the left one even felt a bit numb. She couldn't look back at her friend, feeling so pathetic attacking him so desperately. Did she really want to hit him so badly? Was it even fair for her to use him as a punching bag for her own frustrations?

"hey – I think you can go home now Lee" a cheerful voice said a bit further away from them. They both turned their heads to see the hokage wave at them, a kind smile tracing his aging face. Lee released Sakura's wrist and gave him a thumbs up. "hello Naruto-san! I must say Sakura is doing great progress! I am proud to let the spring of youth invade your garden!"

Naruto gave him a heartily laugh back, and pocketed his hands, feeling them becoming cold in the winter air. "true, true, but haven't you noticed it is snowing Lee, and even me and Sakura have turned 30 some time ago" Lee gave Naruto a disapproving glance and crossed his arms. "Naruto-san! Do you mock me and the spring of youth!?" the glance soon turned into a smile.

"hehe, always Lee, well, see you around won't I?"

Lee nodded and disappeared into a pile of smoke, and Sakura turned her own gaze to the sky, where the snow had started falling again. Naruto didn't turn to look at her either, and also decided to watch the snow fall.

He didn't notice how long they stood there until he accidentally saw the pile of blood on the ground, most likely from Sakura's knuckle wounds. He smiled at her, and took an arm into his pocket, finding a roll of bandages. "hey, give me your hands."

Sakura turned around surprised and stood silent for some time, until Naruto decided to take her hands by himself. They were hot from the blood streaming towards it, and he couldn't help but trace a few of the scars. Her skin was rough, worn and the tan from the summer had disappeared and was replaced with the white skin she had from when they were young. She gave him a smile back. "I bet I was a bit too wild today."

Naruto gave her a laugh. "What's the change? You've always followed your own rules and smashed me when you felt like it." He softly bandaged her hands, and he could feel her tense from the lingering touches. Perhaps he shouldn't have held so affectionately on her hand. The air grew hotter by the second and a blushed claimed Sakura's cheeks, before she with a frown took her hand back.

Naruto gave an insecure laugh, blaming the lack of sleep for his odd behaviour. He began to chant in his mind, about all the things that might explain the growing warmth in his stomach. Of course, this was no mystery to him why. He had always been attracted to Sakura since he was just a kid. However, Hinata still held the vast majority of his heart, claiming it and never taking it back.

That is what he had wanted to believe. He didn't want to dishonour the memory of his why, hell, he dreamt of her every night. Naruto longed for her kind gazes and gentle touches. Sakura was so different that it might be why she turned him off a bit too. He didn't want a woman who hid things, and she did. Sakura loved to tease, flirt, and generally be a tough woman in all aspects. The same things he didn't like about her were always the things that made him attracted to her.

He turned his head towards the estate as the window was closed by one of the servants that occasionally wandered about. Sakura dried the sweat from her brows and gave him a grin, clearly hiding her frustration from him again. "aah – that was good, it has been a long time since I fought like this."

He gave a glance and nodded. "yeah."

Sakura brought her bandaged hands to her behind her back, and turned to look at the window too. "I am curious, when is the wedding going to be held?"

He licked his lip in thought and scratched his head. "I think it is the 28th of March."

Naruto felt her tense, but she didn't say anything and just nodded. "That's good isn't it? Is there anything you want me to do?"

His heart suddenly jumped, and he couldn't quite explain why. "Well uhm – no, not really."

Suddenly the sun was covered by the dark clouds, and the rain clashed hard upon the blooming seed.

-

A new fiction of mine, I was a bit unsure weather to post it on Hollow Production or Selun-chen, but as you see, I figured that out. The reason why it isn't in Hollow is because I have veto on this story, which means my partner can't say anything about my decisions. I sure hope you'll enjoy the story and Rokudaime too.

I promise! Not more than 5 chapters! If it becomes more hit me!

Note: Sakura's birthday is the 28th of March.

All rights to Kishi.

You might wonder why the story is called futile, because it might seem like a regular love-story, but the problem is that it isn't. The story is called futile because the ending will be futile…so…that is it.