AN: Thanks to EmD23 for pointing out a SEVERELY grievous error on my part. I misspelled Uzumaki several times last chapter, something I should know better. Thanks so much! Also this is unbeta'd. I looked over it very carefully but this chapter sat on my computer for a month so I decided to just post it! Please forgive any errors you may find until I find a beta.

I got 10 reviews last chapter! You all rock :D

Chapter 8

"Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!" Smash!

Sakura groaned and turned over in her bed. That was the eighth alarm clock she had destroyed. Naruto had given it to her as a gift a few months back when she told him she had accidentally slept thru her old alarm clock, and he had been nice enough to go and buy one that would "definitely wake you up."

She didn't want to let him know that she broke it, so each time she destroyed it she went to replace it. She rolled over onto her back and sighed. It would make sense to just not use it, but truthfully she needed it on the nights she knew she wasn't going to get much sleep. And Naruto had kept her up all night, all freaking night.

She laughed softly to herself. But it had been worth it. Even when Amano-san had decided to serenade them, it was fun. Naruto claimed that the black eye she gave him for him pretending to drag her upstairs to the room was worth it as well. She looked over at her clock. It was time to get up. But she wanted to spend a few more moments thinking about last night.

At first she thought it was little awkward her relationship transition with Naruto, but then in a surprisingly short time, it just felt natural. It felt like nothing changed in their relationship, but everything too at the same time. They always joked around, but now they were flirting. Naruto was always trying to get into her pants, but now she was letting him. Uh..figuratively speaking of course. She knew she wasn't ready for that yet. She was older than most girls who had already had sex, but that meant nothing to her. It had to mean something.

'I don't know if I am going to sleep with Naruto, but I trust him.' She had a feeling that he wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with. Than she furrowed her brows. She was getting kinda comfortable with a lot though. They hadn't gone any further than the day he kissed her in that alley and left his mark on her. She blushed in the privacy of her room at that. Then she thought back to when he dropped her off last night.

They had walked hand in hand the entire way to her home. When he got to her door he put a hand on her doorknob before she could turn it. She turned around until she was leaning on her door facing him. "I have to go to bed at some point Naruto. We stayed three hours after the restaurant closed. I let you "accidentally" take the long way home, where we literally passed the exact same areas every time. Besides you don't want to wake Papa Haruno do you?"

"I'm a shinobi. They'll never detect me," he responded.

She raised her brows. "A Father's sense is better than a shinobis. Believe me I know," she muttered.

"Papa Haruno doesn't scare me. He loves me." Naruto waved it off. It was true though. Her parents thought Naruto was the most precious innocent thing, and they were so happy when she got over Sasuke. Her mother was always dropping hints about that "Sweet Uzumaki boy who dotes on you."

"I know," Sakura said in disgust. "But even so he won't love you putting the moves on his daughter in front of his house."

"Hey your parents think I'm so reformed from my wicked childhood ways," he grinned. He leaned in closer to her. "Besides all I want to do is kiss you goodnight."

Sakura raised a finger to trace over her lips. And kiss her goodnight he did. She looked at the clock again and with one final groan rolled out of the bed. She could finish day dreaming about him on her way to work.

She walked to the hall bathroom and cringed when she saw her reflection. Her hair was a hot mess as per norm in the morning. She kept it just under her shoulders these days and it was easier to manage than when her hair was longer but it still looked like she had partied hard all night when she slept. Realizing she was wasting a lot of time this morning she quickly showered and dressed.

Normally she just ran a quick brush through it, but today she took her time and made sure it was all flouncy and all. She looked into the mirror and scowled. All that extra special brushing and her hair still looked the same. She refused to believe Ino's it "all makes a difference on some subconscious level."

'Why am I caring now?' She wondered. 'I said that I was never going to change something for a guy again after I let my hair grow long for Sasuke, so I shouldn't be worried about this for Naruto.' But Naruto didn't really care about all these things. 'Well neither did Sasuke,' her mind added, which was true. So why was it different?

She rummaged around in one of the sink drawers and found a lip gloss. It was a nude pink shine and she brushed it on her lips. She then found a mascara and applied a few coats. She looked at herself and fluttered her lashes. 'Even though I don't have a lot on, I may get Naruto to be speechless for once if he sees me with actual makeup on,' she thought and giggled. And then it hit her. That was it. She wasn't doing this to get Naruto's attention or please him in the wrong way, or because he even wanted it. She wanted to do this for him. Was that slight difference all that mattered?

She sighed. 'I'm not going to worry about these little things right now.' She went back to her room and grabbed her bag. She lived in a two-story house and her parents let her have the upstairs which had two bedrooms and a bath. Her parents supported her in everything she did and let her have the extra room for an office and storage place for all her research. Sometimes she wondered how was she so privileged. She had great parents, a great sensei, position, and now Naruto. Though they had their differences then and even now, in an indirect way Sakura owed it to Sasuke for how she appreciated everything now. She had so much and it was not that she took it for granted, she just never realized exactly how much she had. And even when things seemed bad, they always worked out, or Naruto found a way to fix it. He always found a way.

She touched her lips again. It wasn't just physical what she felt for Naruto. Her body had just naturally responded to him since it was so in tune with him as his team mate and friend for years. But it seemed like her heart was starting to catch up.

'I wonder how he would react if I showed up wherever he's at and tell him I smooth-talked my way to him,' she mused. "Actually where is he at?" she wondered out loud. No sooner had the words left her mouth when she heard, unmistakably his voice shout:

"Saaakuuraa!"

She sighed and walked out to stand at the top of the stairs. "Naruto didn't I tell you to not yell in my parents house, it's disrespectful," she shouted.

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized and took the stairs two at a time. "I just wanted to warn you I was here in case I came up here and you were undressed."

She was surprised. "Really? I thought you would just walk right in."

"Well I would have, but I was warning you first. My intention was to get here either before you changed or during, but I saw Chouji on the way here and I talked to him for a bit," he told her without any shame.

She shook her head sadly. "Those years with Jiraiya forever perverted and tainted you. If only my parents knew how you really were."

"How I really am?" he put a confused look on his face. "I came to walk my Sakura to work this morning. I have several tasks to do, but I said I can always make time for you." She looked at him blankly.

Then she noticed her parents presence at the bottom of the stairs and she narrowed her eyes at him. He must have sensed them coming before her since she was so used to them she rarely noticed them.

"Oh, Naruto is the sweetest boyfriend in the world Sakura. I'm so happy for you two," her mother gushed.

"You told my parents," Sakura asked in disbelief. Naruto started to look genuinely worried.

He raised his hands up. "No-no. I didn't say anything. I was going to let you tell them. I'd never do something like that."

She rolled her eyes. There was no getting anything out of him when he was like this in front of her parents. He was the stupid Golden Child.

"No, Sakura." Her mother giggled. "It was the hickeys that told us. Also it was the ten minute make-out session you had on our porch last night."

Naruto paled and started sweating. "Uhh-see, Mom, Dad. I'm sorry, I was overcome by weakness. I'll behave in the future."

They were surprised at her father's snort when he went to stand next to his wife. "Suuure, son. We believe you." He shared an amused look with his wife. "As long as our Sakura remains unpregnant until she's married we'll believe you," he said with a smile on his face, but the threat was clear. Sakura pregnant equals a fatherless child.

Naruto laughed weakly. "Yes sir," was all he could manage out.

"Great!" Her Dad clapped his hands. "We want to make sure you become a future Hokage." Her parents believed in Naruto, so she wasn't surprised that they were taking it well. Naruto still looked poleaxed.

"Sakura honey, aren't you running a little behind this morning," her mother asked.

"Yeah," Sakura responded. "But I was just enjoying the show." She grinned at Naruto.

He recovered slightly to his normal "act." "I felt so bad for keeping her out late, I just wanted to make sure she made it work on time. So we really should leave now." Not waiting for her response he grabbed Sakura's hand and dragged her down the stairs.

"Bye Mom and Dad," he called out leaving a trail of smoke in his haste.

Once they were several blocks away Sakura pulled on Naruto's hand. "You can slow down now. I don't think you have to worry about my Father coming after you with a butcher knife. He just gave you his approval."

He shuddered. "You didn't see the murderous intent in his eyes. It'll haunt me more than the gleam Orochimaru gets around little boys."

Sakura giggled. "Oh come on. He said as long as I don't get pregnant. Which-wait," she exclaimed in indignation. "Did my parents just give their approval for me to have sex?!"

That stopped Naruto in his tracks. "Hey, you're right." He grinned. "I'm only in danger if you get pregnant. That means we can still have fun."

"Exactly Naruto. You just don't get it. My parents just gave me approval to have sex. That makes it weird." She still looked disgruntled.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Really? Hmm, not for me."

"Of course not you." She rolled her eyes and kept walking. "Come on, let's go. This walk can serve two purposes. We'll pass enough people to see us holding hands, and knowing you you'll try to cop some feels along the way."

Naruto laughed. "And what's the other reason?"

She smiled up at him. "The other reason is I get to spend time with you." She tightened her fingers around him. "We're both so busy these days, and I normally only see you a little bit each week. The only day we both typically keep free is Wednesdays but I don't want to change that do you?"

"No," he responded after a moment. "We're all kinda heading in different directions goal wise, so it's doubtful the three of us will be a team again unless for special missions, so I don't want to change that. As much as Sasuke likes to be emo about hanging with us, he wouldn't show up week after week if he didn't want to."

Sakura nodded in amused agreement. "Remember when we both had missions at the last-minute and we didn't tell him? We had to put up with his crankiness for an entire week."

"We're his only friends, and he's all angsty with us. An even more emo Sasuke can not be good," Naruto continued. "Why do we put up with him?"

"More like why do I put up with you two?"

Sakura and Naruto turned around and saw Sasuke. Naruto put a fake shocked look on his face. "Oh no Sakura. He overheard us talking about him. Maybe now he'll stop stalking us."

"So says the guy who was hiding in my closet for hours," Sasuke muttered in reply.

Intrigued Sakura asked, "Huh? When was this?"

Naruto shot Sasuke a dirty look. "I was trying to pull a prank on him, and he took so long to get back I fell asleep."

"Idiot," Sasuke said but then he looked at them and at their hands which were clasped together. "What are you two up to anyways?"

Sakura bit back a smile. Sasuke always hated when people were prying him for information but he was a nosy person himself. That reminded her of Naruto's earlier comment. With Sasuke's affinity for snooping and discovering information he was suited for intel and covert missions. A stark contrast with Naruto but that was what made them so well matched in the team they were in now.

Naruto answered, "I'm just walking Sakura to work."

Sasuke appeared to take all that in. Sakura could tell he was curious and was trying hard to restrain himself but then we wound up asking. "Why are you holding hands?"

Naruto shot Sakura a look as if to say, 'And I'm supposed to be the dense one.' But he knew that Sasuke was a clueless idiot to romance so it would have to be spelled out for him.

"We're going out now," he said simply.

Looking confused Sasuke now asked, "Why?"

Naruto cleared his throat. "Now Sasuke me and you were both there for mandatory sex ed. You see when a man and a woman-"

Sakura cut him off with a fist. "Shush Naruto." She took a deep breath and released it. "It just happened. We're dating now."

"We've already gone through many trials," Naruto said dramatically clenching his other hand to his chest. "Her father threatened me bodily harm this morning."

"You would have loved it Sasuke. It was priceless," Sakura told him.

He looked back and forth between them. He was starting to get a headache. "Hn," was he all could say to that. "I was looking for your Naruto so we could go over plans for our current assignment."

"Always so business." Naruto looked morosely at Sakura. "Will you be able to make it the hospital on your own?"

"I'll try." She pouted good-naturedly.

"Maybe we can try your plan later, okay?" he asked.

"Plan?" nosy ninja of few words asked.

"Sakura wants to find a way to let everyone know we're dating. She thinks I'm going to do something crazy." He shot a sideways look at her.

"Like shout it from the Hokage mountains?" Sasuke questioned and Sakura laughed.

"Hey! Am I that predictable?"

"No," Sakura shook her head. "The fact that that's predictable makes your most likely action something unpredictable horrifying."

"Our date turned out well didn't it," he asked.

"Suuuure," she drawled out. "As well as something with you can go."

"Are you two done?" Sasuke asked abruptly and they looked at him in shock.

Sakura looked at Naruto and he just shrugged. "I guess." Naruto smiled wryly. "I'll let you go now," he said and released her hand. But before he let her walk off he pulled her into a hug. "I'll try to catch you when you shift ends, and if not I'll charm my way to finding you later."

She smiled softly. "I'm sure you will." She waved at both of them. "See you two later."

Naruto watched her walk off and then he turned to Sasuke. "You sure are a mood killer. And it was going so well!"

Sasuke didn't show any type of reaction. "We have more important things than that to worry about."

"No Sasuke. You have more important things to worry about. To me, Konoha is everything so it's safety is a priority for me. But when it comes down to the details Sakura is more important to me than other things. And that is never going to change," he told Sasuke.

Sasuke looked away, he didn't have a response for that, and for some reason he didn't want to think about it. "Whatever. Let's just get to work."

Naruto sighed. Sometimes Sasuke was so difficult, and for reason he was being unreasonably obtuse today. "Fine. But you have to put up with me talking about me and Sakura alll day." Sometimes Naruto took secret pleasure in living up to being one of the most annoying ninjas.

In her office at the hospital Sakura was looking over some files for a new procedure she was contemplating doing. It was minimally invasive but anything she did on shinobis she took special care because she knew even the slight alteration took time for the ninja to adjust to and adapt in their fighting.

She propped her chin in her palm and sighed. She loved working in the hospital but sometimes being cooped up all day drove her a little insane. As much as she liked to heal, she liked to tear down, quite literally too.

Like she wanted to sock Sasuke. She knew she was being childish about it, but she genuinely wanted to spend time with Naruto this morning. Until Sasuke appeared with his more so than usual stick up his- She snickered cutting herself off in mid-thought. But he was was acting a little odd lately, even more than he normally did.

'Whatever,' she thought. 'I'm not going to waste my time thinking about him.' But then she sighed. She did like to bad mouth him, but only to Ino and Naruto, because she didn't want the villagers to see him in a bad light; It had taken him awhile for him to gain their trust back. But as much as she liked to talk about him, she still had affection for him. Definitely not romantic, but she looked after him. 'This whole Akatsuki thing is probably just stressing him out,' she reasoned again. 'It could be that, and also his inability to understand romance.' She snickered again. His dumbfounded expression made her feel pity for anyone who had the misfortune of being the object of his affection.

She swiveled in her chair in absent thought. 'Actually I don't think he's capable of love like that.' She was the only female he even let get close to him, and looked how great that went for her. She smiled to herself. It really did go great for her that it didn't work out. A knock sounded on her door and she looked up.

"Come in," she called out. It was probably one of the nurses with more paperwork. Or Tsunade sending some one of her aides to send in some paperwork she was too drunk and/or lazy to fill them out herself.

She looked up to see Ino at the door. "Ino! I didn't know you were coming in today." Although Ino had some medic and med-nin skills she was primarily an on field kunoichi. But she did sign up to take a few days at the Hospital a month.

"I didn't. But there's really only a few places to find you in the village when you're not on a mission. Home, working in that spare room that should be used like a walk-in closet if I had that benefit, and not an office. Or the hospital, either working on patients or working in your office, and most times even on your break," Ino told her.

"Glad to know I'm so predictable," Sakura grumbled.

Ino closed the door behind her and grinned. "Well that was before you stopped in your spinster ways and got with Naruto. Maybe we can add to the list getting it on with Naruto in his bed," she said suggestively.

"I'm surrounded by perverts," Sakura said in sudden realization. "We just started dating and my parents and even strangers are talking about sex with us!"

"There are plenty of people who'd kill to be in your shoes. Naruto is a legendary sex god," Ino chortled.

Sakura was surprised. "What?! Where did you hear that from?"

Ino was still giggling. "I'm just kidding Sakura. You don't have to go and kill some unfortunate girl. That's just talk. I've never actual heard about him being with someone." She looked contemplative. "Now that I think about it. I've never seen him date anyone. He's a notorious flirt-"

"So I've heard...and seen," Sakura interjected.

"-But he never goes beyond that. And from what I hear from the rumor mills-"

"-That you contribute greatly to" Sakura couldn't help but point out.

As expected Ino ignored her again. "-He never takes up any girls on the many offers he gets. And with that body he gets tons of woman practically tossing their panties in his face."

"What lovely imagery, Ino," Sakura said wryly. "And what's the point of all this? That I'm supposed to be grateful to have a great guy like Naruto. I have should have seen it before-yada yada yah. I realize all this."

Ino huffed. "You're not getting the point Sakura! Who cares about all that? The point is you do realize it now. Besides you both have a great catch. Don't sell yourself short. He should be thankful that you didn't punch him when he pulled that first move on you."

Sakura furrowed her brow. "Waait. You're right about that Ino. He had some nerve kissing me like that."

Ino crossed her arms and smirked. "You forfeited all rights to be angry when you responded right away Sakura."

Sakura chuckled. "I suppose you're right. Too bad you'll never know how great a kisser he is. That belongs to me."

"That was my point Sakura! Before you went and sidetracked me. Don't you get it? Naruto just flirts with girls for fun. He never goes beyond that."

Sakura just looked at her slightly confused. "Okaay. I already know that. He even admitted to flirting with all the nurses here to find me."

Ino looked amused. "Aww he even flirts for you. Sakura what I'm saying is Naruto is probably a virgin too as crazy as that seems. He only has eyes for you. But he's still a man and all men think about and want is sex. It was probably sexual frustration that prompted his move." Ino laughed.

"We don't know if that is true or not," Sakura said. "And if so," she couldn't keep the joy out of her voice if she tried. "It doesn't change the fact that everywhere we turn I'm putting up with innuendos every minute."

"It could be the universe way of trying to get you laid. Why do you fight it," Ino asked. "Just give in to your passions."

Sakura rolled her eyes."I know you're an expert on giving into the universe Ino. But this thing with me and Naruto,I have no idea if we're taking it slow or fast. It just feel like it's right," she said. "Who knows when I'll be ready for sex. Maybe a year from now, maybe tomorrow. I just like the way things are going between us."

Ino made a sad face. "Poor Naruto. He's going to be blue for up to a year. I pity him." She moved to prop her butt on the edge of Sakura's desk. "And by blue I mean– "

Sakura cut her off. "I know what you mean." Than she quirked a brow at Ino. "What was it you came in for anyways? I'm mostly certain, but I never know with you, that you didn't come here to convince me to get laid."

At that Ino grinned and pulled something out of the pouch she had strapped on. "It's funny you mention that Sakura. I wasn't trying to convince you per se, but I just wanted to make sure you were prepared." She dropped a book on the desk.

After her eyes glanced at the title Sakura found herself turning pink. "I – hate – you," she got out. It was a red book titled "How to Satisfy Your Shinobi Lover-A Guide for Kunoichi's."

"Hey, regardless of when you do it, this book is invaluable," Ino laughed.

"Knock-knock!," a too familiar and inconveniently timed voice called from the door. Sakura wasn't surprised when a shock of blonde hair peeked its way in. Naruto never bothered to wait for a "come in."

Ino hopped off the desk when Naruto stepped in. "I guess that's my cue to leave. I'll leave you two lovebirds." When she got near Naruto she slapped him on the shoulder. "I think you'll enjoy the gift I gave Sakura too." She winked and was gone.

He shook his head in bafflement. He did not get other women sometimes he thought, until he saw Sakura trying to sneak something out of his sight.

"Oh is that what she was talking about." He approached her desk and snatched the book right out of her hand.

"Naruto," Sakura said threateningly and stood up to lean over her desk but he spun out of reach.

She could see his lips mouthing the words of the title. And then he laughed in delight. "I take back everything I said about Ino in the past. She's a great friend." He flipped to the table of contents and laughed again.

"Chakra–learning the balance between giving pleasure and pain." "How to match-and even exceed his stamina all night long." "Wielding a shuriken in a bedroom."

He walked back towards her and said, "Oh here's my favorite one "Kage Bushin Lovin'".

Sakura snatched it back out of his hands. "In your dreams maybe."

Naruto got a dazed look on his face. "Nah not maybe, it was definitely in a dream." Sakura huffed but despite her protest she slipped the book in her desk, and not in the trash can beside her desk which was telling.

They were both facing each other with a desk separating them. "The dreams are nice–very nice. But I still prefer this." He reached out to grab just beneath the collar of her white lab jacket and pulled her slightly to him while he leaned in. He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her softly.

She smiled against his lips. "Surprising me at work every day for a kiss? I can get used to this."

He moved his hand from her collar to trace his a finger over her lips. "I'll never get used to this," he murmured.

"Than maybe you'll have to come everyday to prove me wrong," she told him.

He gave her another quick kiss. "Naruto Uzumaki has never turned down a challenge," he declared and then he pulled back.

"Was that all you came for?" she narrowed her eyes at him.

He shifted in apprehension. "Now Sakura don't look at me like that. I just came to check on you."

"Uh-huh," she said unconvinced. "Well I'm fine." He opened his mouth but she cut him off. "And I don't have time to go eat somewhere. I'll eat when I go home. I want to get all this paperwork done."

"I bet you didn't even eat lunch," he told her.

Now she looked guilty. "Noo...but I will eat later. I just want to get this done so I won't have to do it tomorrow and have more free time."

"That's a lie! You just want more time to see more patients. You're a chronic workaholic!" he accused her.

She leaned back over her desk to glare daggers at him. "I don't want to hear this from the grown man who's always whining to Tsunade "Oh pretty please Tsunade. Pleeeasssse! Give me anything. C rank. Even D rank. I wanna mission," she said in an over-exaggerated baby voice.

He bent so they were eye to eye. "But you're the one who's working even though you're off-duty."

She flushed and he knew he had her. "How do you know that," she grumbled.

"You wouldn't be chatting with Ino or me if you were. You turn into S-Rank evil when you're disturbed when you're working. I know you remember when you assaulted the new aid-"

"I remember," she bit out. "You don't have to remind me. What do you want?"

"I just want to take you to eat something, and then I'll let you get back to work," he offered. She still had that stubborn glint in her eyes he knew all too well. He had to up the ante. "We can go get Hibachi, and I'll treat."

He could tell she was wavering because she started nibbling on her bottom lip as in thought. His started at it mesmerized, and when a peek of her pink tongue showed he couldn't resist tilting his head in for a brief kiss. "And I'll get to kiss you good-bye," he finished with.

Sakura cleared her throat and shifted her gaze away flustered in a way that Naruto thought was absolutely adorable. Than she finally sighed out, "Fiiiine. I'll go eat. But then I don't want to hear you complain about me working for at least a week. Got it?"

"Sure," he lied. And when she rolled her eyes he knew she didn't believe him. But he didn't care because he got her to cave in. Much quicker than any other time they argued over her over-working.

She took off her lab jacket and tossed in her chair. Than she moved around to stand by Naruto. "Don't think you can always kiss me into getting your way. Got that too?" she asked and poked him in his stomach with a sharp finger.

He winced and rubbed the spot she jabbed. "You're just mad I found a new secret weapon against you."

She hmmped. "Don't get full of yourself. I just realized that I was hungry. And that it was the quickest way to get rid of you."

Now that there were no barriers between them he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. "You should know by now there's no getting rid of me." He tightened his hold on her. "And now that you're mine, there's no way I'm letting you go."

She titled her head to smile up at him. And then she giggled. "Did you practice that line before you came here?"

He gave a long-suffering sigh. "Woman," he said with a shake of his head. "You all just don't appreciate a good romantic guy. You all want the brooding jerks."

Sakura heaved a sigh too. "Yeah. But I guess you'll have to do Naruto." She put a sad face on.

Naruto used his free hand to gently flick her large forehead. "Brat," he muttered.

Sakura only laughed and wrapped her arm around his middle. "We better hurry. The more time we waste the less time we have to make out later."

He grinned down at her. "Believe me. I'll make sure we have time for that." Laughing they both walked out of her office and headed out to eat.

Sakura started talking about her day and Naruto just looked down at her while she chattered. He had said that line, knowing she would get a kick out of it, but line or not, he meant it. He would let nothing tear them about now that he had her. Nothing.

AN: Coming up...I think Sakura has come to terms with testing out her feelings with Naruto so time for things to move along! Bring on the drama!