Count: 4120

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Chapter Ten

Endings: I Love You

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The view might have terrified anyone else, but not Kakashi. He enjoyed the beautiful view, not fearing for his life at all. However, he was getting tired.

"Hmm, I really am getting too old for this," Kakashi thought as he hiked up the steep canyon. He grinned, seeing as he was making his way through that list of ingredients, albeit a bit slower than he anticipated. There were quite a few obstacles that required quite a lot of strategy to find and get - also physical activity.

His eyes widened, brightening when another herb for the antidote was in arms reach. "What the hell is wrong with that guy anyways, finding impossible ingredients to locate?"

He looked to his list, seeing that there were quite a few more ingredients to go. "Watch the next one going to be deep in the underbrush of Snow Country. Or the tears of the Raikage," he couldn't help but think, deflating at the thought.

Kakashi gave a long, agonizing sigh, realizing this would take longer than he originally thought.

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The dismay on Naruto's face was clearly visible, a glower appearing.

Sasuke walked into the medical room, frowning when he saw the state of both his teammates. He sighed, never seeing a scene so hopeless. He pitied both boys who were silent the entire time as they heard the steady beeps of the heart monitor.

"Why don't we all get something sweet?" Sasuke suggested. This was a surprise to Naruto, considering Sasuke hated any sweets. Rikuto grinned, nodding in content.

"Yes, sweets are a great idea! I'll call Takumi!" Rikuto said. He simply pressed a button on his person, and Takumi was there in less than a minute.

"Yes, my prince?" Takumi asked.

"Please tell the chef to make us dangos with green tea!" Rikuto ordered, and Takumi nodded and walked out of the room.

"Yes, yes, everything will be just fine. Sakura will wake up, and she will dump the blond, to marry me, and all will end happily ever after," he thought aloud, smiling at his fantasy. Naruto glared, arguing how that would never happen, and Sasuke sighed, shaking his head and wondering why he was even in the same room as those two idiots.

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Rikuto's eyebrow twitched, fuming and annoyed that he was forced to wait an excruciating long time. He had pressed the button countless times already, and Takumi still hadn't arrived with their dangos and green tea. The prince was not having any of this.

"Where is that servant? I should fire him for this long a wait. This never happens."

"Takumi!" he called out, opening the door. He was irritated, until he saw three figures in front of him. He gasped, taking a step back.

"Why, if it isn't the brats again." Sasuke gritted his teeth his hand reaching for his holster for a kunai, while Naruto was perplexed, wondering how it was possible Takeshi was still alive. He shook his head, realizing the man who poisoned Sakura was there and could give him an antidote. Both Naruto and Sasuke assumed he had to have an antidote on his person.

"Hey! Where is an antidote for your poison?" Naruto called out, clenching his fist when he saw the man laugh after looking at the girl in bed. Takeshi looked over to the girl, smirking at his handy work.

"Oh, she's somehow still alive? That's surprising. But she won't be for long," he cackled, and Naruto glared at the man before him.

"Shut up and give me the antidote before I kick your ass again!" This time, he glared at the boy, frustration running through his brains.

"You're not going to do that again. I admit, I was down. But I won't let that happen again," he reassured, his eyes ready to kill.

Naruto and Sasuke got into a familiar stance, while Rikuto cowered behind.

"Rikuto. I need you to leave here with Sakura, got it?" Sasuke declared, looking back to where the three stood. He dumbly nodded while Sasuke helped her onto a wheelchair, still attached to her IV.

"Is there another way out?" Sasuke demanded to know. Rikuto managed to say a high pitched yes, afraid of not only the three ninja by the door, but Sasuke who's eyes seemed panicked. "Then go!" he ordered, and Rikuto managed to push her out the room, however, her IV was still stuck. .

"Not so fast," Souta shouted, throwing a kunai Rikuto's way. Rikuto yelled, freezing and ducking before Sasuke's shuriken blocked him.

"Naruto, I need you to go with Rikuto. I'll hold them off."

"But Sasuke-"

"What are you waiting for? Move! The main priority right now is Rikuto and Sakura! They need to be protected at all cost. Go!" Naruto looked at him with sullen eyes, but then nodded.

"Where do you think you're going-"

"I don't think so!" Sasuke smirked, activating his Sharingan while he blocked Naruto as he managed to leave.

Souta looked at Sayuri, urging her to follow the boy. Sayuri gladly did, excited to get her revenge.

"Not so fast!" Sasuke shouted, throwing a kunai with a paper bomb their way. They jumped, and Sasuke then threw a smoke bomb, making them cough mid-air. They couldn't see either.

"Perfect," Sasuke thought as he made his move.

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"Rikuto," Naruto called. "Do you have a place in the castle that's safest? Like a bunker?"

"I believe so. It's at the very bottom of the castle, underground." Naruto nodded.

"Lead us. We have to get both you and Sakura-chan there, where you two will be safe," he said. Rikuto nodded.

As they made their way to the stairs, they faced a problem.

"I knew I should have installed ramps," Rikuto cursed.

"No time." Naruto picked Sakura up bridal style, being careful not to knock out her IV's. "I need you to hold the IV machine while we run down. Got it? You need to be quick!" Naruto said. Rikuto nodded, doing the best he could.

When they finally made it down to the bunker, Naruto dropped Sakura off in a comfy bed, holding her hand for a brief second before he let go and turned to Rikuto.

"Protect Sakura-chan at all cost." He nodded, shaking, but trying to be brave for his love.

"W-where are you going?"

"I have to help the Teme. I always have to come in and rescue his butt, of course," he grinned, making his way out of the bunker and closing it shut.

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"So it's all three of us now against the Uchiha… that's practically committing suicide. You're willing to die for an ungrateful prince and your two idiots for teammates?" Sayuri wondered, licking her lips.

"I should ask you the same. Coming back here instead of fleeing, when you know you'll fail," Sasuke retorted back, his eyes and body ready for whatever they might do.

Sasuke smirked, making hand signs, ready to blow a heap tone of fire their way.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu," Sasuke called, and all three jumped away.

When Takeshi landed, he noticed the man cringe. Sasuke watched, realizing they were all still injured from the last battle. He admitted that he was still recovering as well, but not as bad as them. They seemed slower than when they faced them the last time.

"Perfect," Sasuke thought, examining their moves carefully, dodging every attack they threw at him.

He improved tremendously, simply after facing them previously.

"By the way," Sasuke trailed off, smirking when Naruto's shadow clones were behind them, kunai's to their neck.

"It's over now," Naruto finished for Sasuke.

"Naruto…" Sasuke quickly made similar hand signs, releasing a large amount of fire whilst Naruto held them down so they wouldn't get away.

However, one of the clones moved Takeshi out of the room, his kunai to his neck.

"I see you wanted to save me for some reason. Realized you didn't want the antidote to get in the crossfire?" he asked curiously with a smirk on his face. Naruto placed the kunai to his neck tighter, glaring at the man.

"Don't give me that! Just hand it over!"

"That pink haired bitch will die before you can even get it to her," he said, and Naruto forcefully moved the kunai to his neck even more, a small groan coming out of Takeshi as Naruto drew some blood.

"I'm not playing with you. And don't you ever say anything bad about Sakura-chan ever again." Naruto's eyes turned to slits, flickering from blue to red.

"That bitch is going to die, and I've never been happier! Just like her friend," he confessed, and Naruto growled.

"Take that back, bastard!" Naruto snarled, shaking. His eyes turned crimson completely.

A reddish aura began to surround his body.

I want to be drenched in his blood, came a sinister voice, deep in the depths of his mind.

"No…" Naruto thought, trying to fight back his inner demon, who was urging him to do something he'd regret.

Takeshi's eyes widened, wondering what was going on with the blond ninja. His chakra level increased tremendously, and he feared for his life. The feel of the excruciating high chakra level caused his skin to sting because of being so close.

"W-what is this?" This feeling he felt, he felt his life in the hands of this boy, his skin feeling as though it was now deteriorating due to the chakra.

"D-don't kill me," he pleaded, his skin burning now. "I-I'll give you the antidote, just please, don't kill me."

Naruto growled, his fingers leaving burn marks on the man's neck before he punched the wall beside him, enraged. Takeshi shakily revealed the antidote, trying to quell Naruto so he would not do anything rash.

"Sakura-chan will be safe. I don't need as much of your chakra," Naruto thought, but Kyuubi growled.

Give me his blood! he growled, and Naruto groaned, trying to fight this urge to kill. Naruto snarled, this time punching his face into the ground.

"Get out of here, before you die," Naruto seethed, his whisker marks becoming more distinct. Takeshi's eyes widened, too shocked to move. "Leave!" Naruto growled, and Takeshi took a few steps away, fearing for his life.

Naruto's back was turned, and Takeshi took this opportunity to at least damage the boy. However, that did nothing, for Naruto jumped, back flipping mid air to get in Takeshi's proximity.

Naruto's claws scratched his stomach, making a small crater on the floor.

"That's it!" Naruto's eyes grew sinister, his foot moving high, only to get brought down on Takeshi's stomach. Takeshi gasped, losing air, and soon fainting.

Finish him! Naruto heard his voice ringing in his head.

"No… not yet. He's not going to get up anytime soon," Naruto reasoned.

And the other two… with Sasuke, he heard in his head. The urge to have blood seep through his fingers had never been more prominent then at that moment. Naruto's fist clenched, trying to fight all the Kyuubi's chakra that was given to him.

"No… first thing first… save… Sakura-chan," Naruto said aloud, determined to hold the Kyuubi back. He was still new to controlling his chakra, and it made it harder to do so when his emotions were in the way and at full force. However, remembering Sakura brought him back to his senses. Drawing the Kyuubi's chakra back, the last thing he heard from the maleficent voice was weak. There was barely any time, and Sakura was on the brink of death.

He could absolutely not let Sakura die.

He looked back to Sasuke, and saw that Sasuke was holding himself well.

"Sasuke, are you alright?"

"Yep, did you get the antidote?"

"Yeah!"

"Then what are you still doing here with me?" Sasuke questioned, and Naruto nodded, knowing Sasuke could handle himself. "Save Sakura!"

"Yeah, I know. Don't have to tell me again," Naruto yelled back as he ran down.

Sayuri looked over to the boy, ready, once again, to take him out, when Sasuke threw shuriken, that soon exploded once they got near her.

"Your fight is with me." Sasuke said, his Sharingan more prominent.

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Sakura found herself in an odd situation.

"S-Sasuke-kun?" she wondered, her lower lip and eye twitching in disbelief.

"Yes, Sakura-chan?" he asked, batting his eyelashes. Sakura took a few steps back at Sasuke's close proximity, wondering what was going on.

"Okay, this is way too weird." Sakura jumped away from Sasuke, wondering what had gotten into him. Sasuke acting affectionate sent shivers down her spine. "Awkward," she couldn't help but think.

"Where's Naruto?" Sakura finally asked.

"Naruto?" he wondered. "Why do you care about that dobe? He's a brood," Sasuke said, and Sakura raised a questioning brow. "Did you get hit in the head, he's over there by the river." Sakura nodded, thanking Sasuke and hoping to get out of the situation of Sasuke trying to be affectionate towards her. It was weird to say the least, and did not suite him.

"What do you want? Shouldn't you be with the Uchiha?" Naruto questioned. Sakura raised a questionable brow, wondering what has gotten into him.

"Naruto… I don't get it." She looked at him oddly, wondering why he was eyeing her like he was trying to scare or intimidate her. It was obvious with his glower.

"I'm surprised you're not shaking in those shorts like you usually do," he said, and Sakura tilted her head.

"Why would I be afraid of you, Naruto?" she wondered moving closer.

"What is going on?" she wondered, perplexed.

"Don't come any closer! I can hurt you if I wanted to!" Sakura's eyes twitched, coming closer and bonking him on the head.

"Baka!" she yelled, angered. Naruto rubbed his head, purely confused by what she was doing. He pouted. "Why are you being so stupid all of a sudden? Stop acting like we're not together," Sakura huffed, her hands on her hips.

"W-what?"

Sakura blushed.

"W-well, I mean, pretend of course. But we're at least friends," Sakura reminded. And Naruto tilted his head, not understanding.

"Since when?" he seethed. Sakura frowned.

"Naruto, do you have amnesia? What's wrong with you?" she wondered. Blue, curious – cautious – eyes watched her, not sure why she was getting so close to him. Sakura looked at him, now amused. She got even closer to him, her hand reaching out to feel his forehead. Naruto blushed, trying to get away from her gaze and her touch.

He was not used to this at all.

She wondered what made Naruto feel this way. She took his hand, her eyes determined to prove him wrong. The heat that was rising to his face increased at this contact, wondering what was going on, until he finally broke the contact, taking a few steps back in disbelief.

"W-what's up with you? Why are you touching me now?" he couldn't help but wonder, perplexed. "No one ever talks to me, let alone touches me!" Sakura frowned, her eyes solemn.

"Why is that?" she wondered. His eyes grew dark.

"So is that what you're trying to do? Just trying to make fun of me, huh?"

"What, that's not it at all. Idiot!" she yelled, smacking him on the head again.

"Will you quit that?" he growled, glaring at the girl. She glared back, and he was surprised that the previous stares of fear were wiped away from her gaze. She didn't look at him with fear, but anger. She wasn't acting like everyone else, which he found odd.

"Don't say stupid things, then! Naruto, more than anyone, you're my dearest… friend," she said, moving closer to him again. "I-in fact… I see you as more than a friend now," she began. Naruto's blue eyes, at first seemed full of shock, but then a stern stare formed, cautious.

"Naruto, I-" She only stopped when she felt a surging pain in her head. She fell in front of him.

"W-whaaaa," he gasped, his hands catching the girl who fainted in his arms.

"S-Sakura?" half-lidded eyes saw him looking down at her, fear in his eyes. For a second, she thought she could hear him call her what he used to, with the concerned blue eyes she remembered so fondly.

"Sakura-chan? Sakura-chan? Are you okay?"

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"Sakura-chan? Please be okay, please," a familiar voice begged. She felt arms wrapped around her, her body aching.

"N-Nar-"

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, his whole face showing relief at the fact that the girl was awake.

"Naruto," she said, smiling before she closed her eyes. Naruto panicked, shaking her a bit. "I-I am just… tired," she reassured before passing out. Naruto nodded in understanding.

Naruto turned to Rikuto.

"Rikuto, stay here with Sakura-chan. I think she's resting now, recovering. She'll probably need water too. I have to go back again," Naruto said, running back to help Sasuke once more.

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Kakashi sighed in relief when finally grabbing the last ingredient. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, smiling at his accomplishment.

"Well, this was fun. I better hurry back then," Kakashi said as he leaped away.

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Sasuke was very observant, noticing they haven't been using many jutsu.

He smirked, realizing they were most likely tired by now, not having enough chakra to use the big moves they did previously.

Sasuke began to move, when a surging pain rose on his knee. It was a plant wrapping around his left leg.

"Don't think we're stupid." He realized Sayuri was using her last bit of chakra so Souta could finish him off. He growled, glaring as he attempted to find a way out.

"Prepare to die!" Souta shouted.

"Naruto barrage!" Naruto shouted, his foot making a big impact on Souta's head. Naruto jumped back, landing on one knee, as he smirked, knowing his entrance was just in time.

Naruto readied himself, with Sasuke as well. They were back to back, observing their surroundings.

"I don't want you freaking out, Sasuke." Sasuke scowled at such a notion.

"I'm more worried about you," Sasuke retorted.

"As if I'd let them ruin things even more."e

"It's happened before." Sasuke tried to fight back the pain in his left leg. After Naruto made his entrance, Sayuri was surprised enough for Sasuke to escape, free from her grasp.

"What happened to Takeshi?" Sayuri wondered.

"Let's just say he won't be helping you anytime soon," Naruto shouted. "And now it's your turn!" Naruto shouted, making shadow clones making their way to make their finishing hit on Sayuri. Due to her lack of chakra, she went down easily, moaning in pain.

"Looks like I was here to save the day once again," Naruto said, attempting to act smug. Sasuke's eye twitched.

"You got here at the very end…" Sasuke reasoned, but Naruto didn't pay attention.

"Naruto! Sasuke-kun!" Both boys were brought out of their stupor by the angelic voice calling their name. Sakura waved, her other arm around Rikuto who helped her walk up the stairs.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto smiled, waving himself. "Thank goodness," Naruto whispered. Sasuke merely smiled gently at the sight of his teammate being alright. Sasuke released a heavy breath he didn't know he had when he saw everyone was alright.

Naruto and Sasuke sighed, smirking at each other before collapsing from the intense battle.

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Half-lidded eyes fluttered open to see Sakura resting her head on his bed side. Naruto blushed, realizing Sakura was waiting for him to wake up so much that she even fell asleep waiting.

"Sakura-chan?" Sakura's eyes opened, smiling when she saw Naruto awake.

"Naruto!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his head. Naruto's face heated, not accustomed to feeling this sensation. Her skin was so soft and supple, and her cheek was against his. He could feel how warm her own cheek was. However, the fact that she was even up, as opposed to in her coma-like state, was something that left Naruto even happier.

"Sakura-chan, you're okay!" Naruto said, his mouth forming a big toothy grin. His eyes brightened.

"Baka, I should be the one saying that!" Sakura said in between giggles.

"You had me worried, but I knew you would make it out of that. You're too strong to let that kill you," Naruto stated. Sakura blushed at the declaration.

"I never got the chance to thank you for saving me today, and the last time we fought the grass ninja."

"I'll always protect you," Naruto said so casually, looking at her with the same look she was familiar with but never paid attention to before. She gulped, wondering if right now was the perfect time to tell him.

Naruto thought back to their time in the cave, remembering something important. His eyes widened at the red-spotted tulips he completely forgot about. He looked around, trying to see if it was still even there. He looked to the table and reached for it in the drawer. He mentally cursed that damn ninja that interrupted and made him forget about his flowers to Sakura.

"S-Sakura-chan!" Sakura tilted her head, confused.

"What's wrong?" When he brought out the flower, Naruto frowned at the sight of it bruised and tarnished from sitting in the dark so long. "Is that for me?" she asked, eyes widening.

"Well, it was. Sorry, it's all messed up now." Sakura smiled, taking it from his hand and gazing at it.

"It's beautiful, thank you," she said, placing it in her hair.

"Seriously?" he questioned, his eyes widening, and Sakura nodded, looking at him in a way he usually never witnesses.

"Of course," she declared, her face heated. "Naruto, I want to tell you, finally. I love you. I love you so much. I know before, we started out pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend. B-but, I don't want to pretend anymore. I care for you so much. Please, accept me as your girlfriend again." Naruto's eyes widened, wondering why Sakura was the one who was asking him.

"Sakura-chan, you don't have to do all that for me," he said, scratching the back of his head. His face was incredibly red, taken aback by Sakura's vulnerable side. Her hands reached for his, and Naruto was beat red.

"I think this goes without saying, but I feel the same," he began. "I love you so much, Sakura-chan, for so long. You have no idea how happy you've made me." His grip on her hands tightened and he gulped, moving closer to her, and she did the same. He never thought this would actually be happening, not sure if he was moving in closer out of need or disbelief. He figured it was both in hindsight, but right now, his mind shut down, no thoughts able to surface, he was just enraptured in the moment. They both closed their eyes, moving so close, Naruto could feel her hot breath on his skin.

Their lips were so close to meeting, finally, when-

"Ouch!" the two genin yelled in pain, retreating as they both rubbed their heads. Their foreheads collided in the makes of attempting their first kiss.

"It's probably for the best, I don't want to give anyone a show," she said, glaring at the prince peeking from the corner of the room. He felt her glare bore into him, as he appeared, chuckling nervously at being caught.

"Come on, time to go," Sasuke said, his eyebrow twitching as he dragged Rikuto away from the two.

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"I'm back!" Kakashi exclaimed. "You won't believe all the crazy stuff I went through just to-" Kakashi raised the only visible eyebrow… what the? The site of Sakura up was not one he was expecting.

"Ugh, about that… I'm already cured…" Kakashi deadpanned.

"Well I can see that. Are you kidding me? So everything I went through just to get this medicine for you was for nothing?" Kakashi asked monotonously. Sakura sheepishly giggled, nodding. Kakashi sighed, throwing the medicine away. "You know what, that's cool, that cool then." Kakashi said, annoyed. He then sighed, trying to think of the biright side. "Actually, that means we're done. Let's just get out of here. MISSION COMPLETE!"

Sakura couldn't keep her smile off her face, everyone laughing and enjoying the easy going atmosphere.

"Uh, thank goodness that this mission is completed I'm so glad!" Kakashi said.

"Yeah, me too!" The rest of the team shouted in unison. And so they all walked to Konoha. Naruto went in front of everyone else and put his hands in the air to cheer that the mission was finally over. He stopped when he noticed Sakura walking right beside him with a smile on her face as she rested her head on his shoulder. They both blushed as they walked, their hands grazing one another's, until finally, their fingers interlocked.

. Fin .

AN: I wanted Sakura to fight here too, actually. Shoot! Sigh, oh well, unfortunately. :( My mistake.

This was long overdue, and a long journey in general. I would like to thank everyone who has stuck by this story. Remember, this story was meant to be humorous moreso than anything else, so that's why it's not like my other works. I was finally able to finish this so I can move past it and hopefully, write better stories (and finish the other incomplete stories on my account haha). Little fun fact, that dreamscape scenario Sakura is in is somewhere if the Kyuubi being locked in Naruto was well known to the children as well. I always wanted to write a story like that, so I figure might as well include it here to satisfy this plot bunny. X) Thanks so much for sticking by me once more, and I hope to hear what you guys thought about this fic! Oh man, I keep saying thank you, but I still can't thank you guys enough for all the support!

Also, check on my profile to vote what I should work on next! ^_^