Naruto's P.O.V

I had just come back from what I believe they call the 'white light at the end of the tunnel', only to be greeted by Sakura kissing me…okay, maybe I was dead…this is heaven enough for me.

She pulled away, breathing heavily with shimmering eyes and a blush similar to a red rose, "Um…welcome back to the land of the living," she said with a smile and a few stray tears falling down her cheeks, "You gave me quite the scare." She brushed a hand against my cheek.

Wait…I'm alive? Not in heaven…? How did I come back? I had no idea…

I spoke to the fox, "Kyuubi, did you…?"

"No, I was as helpless as you." Kyuubi replied groggily; he must have felt as dazed as me.

"Then…how did we get back here?"

"I have an inkling feeling that it was Sakura; I don't know how, but she must have broke the curse on the toxin running through you. I can now clean it out of your system, but you'll be weak for a while, even after the process is complete." Kyuubi explained.

I looked up to see Sakura crying into my chest. I noticed that she had a weak smile on her face though.

"Hey, Sakura-chan, why are you crying?" I asked her with a chuckle.

"I (sniff) thought I lost the most important person in my life…" she replied, wiping away her tears. She had a firm grip on my sides, and due to her enhanced strength from all her training with Tsunade, it was hurting a bit. I didn't stop her though. I simply rubbed her back and told her everything was all right now.

I heard the door open and saw Tsunade walk in. She looked terrible; her eyes were puffy, her hair was a mess, her clothing was stained around her collar with tears, and she had a bottle of sake in one hand.

"Hi,Granny Tsunade. You look like a wreck." I said when she looked over to us.

"Oh…hey Naruto. Listen, can you just kind of leave alone for awhile? I just found out this morning that Naruto…wait…NARUTO???!!!" she went wide eyed, stared at her sake bottle, rubbed her eyes, then ran over to the bed. She pushed Sakura to the side and muttered an apology. She pinched my cheeks, looked at my whisker marks, then ran her hands through my hair, "Naruto? You're…alive?"

"Believe it!" I shouted with a thumbs up.

She screamed with joy and embraced me in a super-powered hug. I felt a rib snap, and thanks to Sakura's earlier embrace, I felt weaker than before, "I thought I lost you, you knucklehead!"

She let go after hearing another rib break, then stepped aside for Sakura. Sakura immediately wrapped her arms around me, and nuzzled under my chin. Tsunade raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. I felt my face heat up, seeing Tsunade watching Sakura give me this attention was embarrassing, especially since she knew I had a crush on her.

"How are you not dead?" the Fifth Hokage asked me.

I turned to Sakura, and then smiled, "You can thank your apprentice for that."

"What?? Sakura…you know revival jutsu? I never remember teaching you such things…they're practically forbidden." Tsunade asked with shock.

"I-I didn't do anything involving revival jutsu…or any jutsu for that matter. I simply gave Naruto a kiss to say goodbye, and the next thing I knew his heart started beating." Sakura explained nervously.

I heard Kyuubi speak, "Hey…do you think that maybe she broke the curse by doing that?"

"What?" I questioned out loud, and the two looked at me, "Oh…s-sorry, I was talking with Kyuubi."

Tsunade became a bit more serious, "Really? What does he have to say?"

"He thinks that Sakura broke the curse on the poison by kissing me." I answered. Sakura squeaked and blushed even deeper that before.

Tsuande looked quizzical, "Well…I suppose the power of love can do anything when it comes to my apprentice," she beamed, "Orochimaru must have used that kind of seal believing that no one cared that deeply for you. Apparantly, he was wrong."

Sasuke's words came back to me…

'That poison shouldn't be a problem if she feels the way I think she does about you…'

I grinned, Sasuke knew that I would live through this…he must have guessed that Sakura had feelings towards me, but never mentioned anything to me.

I felt Sakura sigh, then look up at me, then to Tsunade, "Yep, Orochimaru was wrong…I care about Naruto."

I realized how wonderful my life was that day.

I was tired, yet peaceful at the same time. About two hours of being hugged and squeezed by my fellow kunoichi, and dealing with all the toasts and slaps on the backs from the guys wore me out. Finally I could get some sleep.

Kyuubi was still focusing on cleansing me, and he was right, I would be tired. He told me any normal person would have died within an hour of exposure, but we weren't normal. He was occasionally scolding me for being reckless like that, saying that the vessel of the 'Great Kyuubi' should be the most powerful, or at least most aware, ninja of all time.

I was dozing off when I heard the door of my hospital room open. I felt the light hit my eyes, and expected a nurse to come in and say she needed to take a blood sample.

"Ugh, can't the check-up wait until morning?" I groaned, putting a pillow over my head.

"Well, if that's how you feel, I can come back tomorrow then." I heard a female voice say. She laughed then.

"Hey Sakura-chan, how are you?" I asked, jolting up, then hissing as I felt my ribs throb with pain. I maintained my grin though, and she apparently didn't notice.

"I'm wonderful Naruto-kun." She replied with a cheerful smile. She was wearing a night gown and had taken her headband out for the night.

Naruto-kun? When did she ever say that?

I felt my face burn up, "Oh…g-good to hear…" I stuttered a little.

She checked my fluid levels, my vitals, then took my temperature. She then sat on the side of my bed, "Do you hurt at all? Be honest."

Truthfully, my whole body ached. Being bedridden for a week can do that to people. Kyuubi would have healed me up, but he was currently occupied with more important matters.

"My body's sore…and I know I have a few gashes left from the battle still on my body. Nothing else though."

Sakura nodded to herself, then set down the clipboard, "Okay, take off your shirt then." She said in a orderly tone.

"Uh…what?"

"Go on…I don't bite…much." She joked.

I awkwardly pulled off my shirt, hissing in pain as I felt some large scars open up. Sakura noticed.

"Oh…that looks bad. Okay, lie down now." She told me, and I did so.

Sakura lied down next to me, crawling over my chest gently. I was suddenly frozen, and thoughts from Jiraiya's books started playing in my head…oh dear, in my current state, she has complete control…this could be good though.

"Now, just relax." she said as she pulled off her robe. I was ready to cover my eyes, but felt a smack of her hand to my head, "Idiot. I'm wearing a shirt under this." She smiled though.

I took a few deep breaths and calmed my nerves. She probably was planning on some sort of healing of sorts, or maybe she was trying to check my injuries…I have no clue. A wave of warmth washed over me suddenly, and I felt her pour chakra from her body into my wounds and muscles.

I let out a groan of relief, and she laughed, "Shh…if you get too loud, the staff might think something other than healing is going on. Tsunade was kind enough to let me stay with you and keep an eye on you. She told me to heal anything, but she never told me how it needed to be done."

"Well, this works…" I sighed.

"Want to know a secret?" she asked. I nodded, "I planned on using this healing style on you when you got injured next time."

"Heh, and to think I hated the hospital." I laughed quietly.

I felt her chakra flow continue, and to be honest, I never knew she could keep the healing going for so long.

"Sakura-chan, you should probably stop now. I don't want you in here for chakra depletion." I suggested.

She yawned, obviously exhausted, "Okay…but I get to stay in here in case anything goes wrong." She was sleeping beside me within minutes. I fell asleep a little later. I remember wrapping my arms around her and falling asleep to her breathing.

Morning came all too soon, and I smiled as the sun peeked through the window curtains.

"Morning Naruto." Came the tired voice of Sakura. She gave me a peck on the cheek.

"Whatever happened to Naruto-kun?" I yawned. She smirked.

"That's only on special occasions…but you can keep calling me Sakura-chan…" she winked.

I heard a feral yawn inside my head, "Morning…I got rid of the poison and healed up the remaining injuries. Not much to heal though, Sakura did quite well on her own."

"That's great. I'll have to take her out on a date as a thank you present." I said to the demon fox.

"That's a lousy reward." Kyuubi joked.

I shook my head, then turned to the sleepy, pink-haired kunoichi, "Hey Sakura-chan, I've decided to take you out for a date tonight. Your choice on where and when." I said with smile.

"Okay, but first I'll have to let my mother know." She nodded. I suddenly got worried. Crud, I forgot about her mother, would she let Sakura go out with me?

Sakura must have noticed the worry on my face, "Naruto, don't worry. My mom knows that I…care about you. After all the things I've told her about you and how you've protected me and the others, I don't think she'll have any problem with me and you dating. She seemed relieved actually, I think she was worried that I would never look for a boyfriend again."

"Oh…well, that takes care of things. I'd like to meet her actually." I smiled, feeling much better.

"Hey, how about we do a double date with Ino and Choji?"

"Okay, that sounds great!" I agreed. I only hoped Choji and Ino would be under a separate bill if we went to a fancy restaurant…Choji was high maintenance when it came to appeasing his appetite.

"Hey, Naruto?" Sakura asked, shaking me from my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks…for being with me from the beginning. I…I promise to take care of you too now, to make up for all those years back…and…because I love you." She said running a hand through my hair.

I chuckled, "Aw, you don't need to make up for anything, but the care is appreciated. I'll always be by your side Sakura." I breathed in her scent and sighed, "I'll always love you too."

I looked at the clock, it was 8:45 in the morning. Breakfast can wait right now. I was quite content spending the morning next to my most precious person, who now was my girlfriend.

The End

Well…I did it…I finally completed this work of art. I really wish I had more to type, but then I'd just be dragging things on. This was what I like to call the 'fluff' chapter, but I kind of suck at the romance when it gets too intimate. I don't think I could ever cross into the M rated mark with these romances. I'd probably feel really dirty and have to take a shower.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone for reading this story, and for putting up with my slow updating at times. A sequel may come along (which is a most likely) since I did leave out the fact that Itachi is still romping around, not to mention I have a lot more I want to add dealing with Naruto, Sakura, and the others. Well, stay tuned, and keep your eyes peeled until we meet again!