Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Talking: “…”

Thinking: ‘…’

Chapter 22: Lying Truth

Sakura was shaking. Or was it the ground that was shaking?

No, it was defiantly her.

‘W-what does this mean? Why does Sasuke... want to meet me? It doesn’t make any sense!’ She thought furiously, as she read the words over and over again.

She suddenly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ‘Ok, Sakura, don’t let it get to you. Calm down...’

She read the letter once more, noticing that there was more written on it;

Come to the entrance gate of Konoha tonight at 8, I will be waiting for you, but come alone. That will be a warning.

‘What does he want to tell me...?’ Sakura thought as clenched the letter tightly in her right hand.

The yellow bird who was sitting on her head made some noise, but didn’t move an inch. Sakura was getting annoyed by that.

“What are you still doing here?” She asked the bird. “Get off my head, you delivered the letter, now fly back to Sasuke.”

The bird didn’t move.

Sakura squinted her eyes, getting even more angry at the bird. “Argh! Go away! I accept, ok?! Is that what you wanna hear?!” She raised her fist ready to punch the bird away.

At that very same moment, the bird flew away, like nothing happened. Sakura stood there, her fist still in the air, watching the bird fly away.

“Crap...” Sakura said, suddenly feeling very nervous and hot. Sakura lowered her fist slowly and didn’t look away towards where the bird flew off to. ‘It needed my approval! Now he’s flying to Sasuke saying I accepted!’

Sakura let herself fall on the ground, her eyes closed.

‘What should I do?!’



“So, you couldn’t save Sasuke, huh?” Iruka asked Naruto who sat besides him. The two agreed to go to Ichiraku’s for some ramen, while Naruto told the story from their mission.

Naruto nodded as reply, stuffing some ramen into his mouth.

“What about Sakura?”

Naruto swallowed, “What about her?” He asked.

“Well, she was... well, kidnapped by Orochimaru, right? Didn’t she see Sasuke there?”

Naruto thought about it, while finishing the rest of his ramen, “Mh, I haven’t actually asked her about that, really...”

“You should, maybe Sasuke left some clues. But I’m glad you two are ok, it seemed like you had a tough battle. Including Jiraiya-sama and the fifth Hogake.”

“Yeah...” Naruto said, staring at his empty bowl. “I was... scared though, when Sakura-chan was kidnapped. I... I honestly thought I would never see her again. Or that when I would see her... she would be... dead.”

Iruka was a bit shocked Naruto confessed this, “Naruto.. it’s not like you to think like that.”

Naruto looked up at Iruka, “I know. I don’t know what it was...When I think about it, it gives me Goosebumps and a sick feeling in my stomach.”

Iruka nodded, “Yeah, love is great.”

Naruto nodded as well, “Yeah... wait, what?!” Naruto looked at Iruka with a shocked look on his face. “What does all that have to do with love?!”

“Mh? Isn’t it obvious?” Iruka said with a sly grin on his face. “You want to protect her.”

“I want to protect everyone.”

“You want to be there by her side when something happens.”

“I want that with everyone else.”

“You are scared that something happens to her. You are scared for her.”

“That... that is...” Naruto didn’t knew how to respond to that.

“Naruto,” Iruka started with a soft smile on his face. “you are a good kid. You want to help everyone, despite what happened in the past. But what you feel for Sakura, is more then normal to feel that way. You love her, don’t you?”

“Y-yes! I love her!” Naruto said with a blush on his face, but confidence in his voice.

Iruka nodded, “Then go tell her that. Tell her you want to be with her, close to her.”

“You think she’ll accept? I mean, her punches hurt, you know?” Naruto said, rubbing his left cheek automatically.

Iruka laughed, “From what I’ve seen before, I think you’ll be just fine.”

Naruto blushed a bit. That’s right; Iruka saw the both of them almost kiss.

“Thanks Iruka-sensei! I have to go to Sakura right now! I just want to see her!” Naruto stood up with a wide grin and his fists clenched.

“Then go, Naruto.” Iruka said.

“I’ll leave you with the bill!” Naruto said as he ran out.

“What the- Naruto! Not again!” Iruka said as he also went outside, only to see Naruto almost being on the other side of the village.

“Oh yeah, and get a girlfriend!” Naruto yelled, barely audible, but audible enough for Iruka.

That sentence made him blush slightly as he muttered, “I’m working on it...”


“I’ll go... no, I can’t go... But I already accepted... but that was to get rid of that bird... But what harm could it cause if I go...? Naruto...” Sakura muttered in herself, while she was still at the monument, walking in circles.

All sorts of things went through her head as she thought about Sasuke’s invitation. What could he possibly do to hurt her? She knew how she could defend herself, no problem.

“But what would Naruto think...” Sakura stopped walking and looked sadly to the ground. “Should I even tell him?”

She grabbed the letter from her pocket as she read it again. She couldn’t believe this actually happened.

She had doubts, but... “No Sakura,” She sternly said to herself. “you are not who you used to be. You’re not a weakling anymore. You have to do this! Truth is... I have some questions for him a well...” She sighed as she read the letter again.

“Sakura-chan!” She heard a enthusiastic voice coming from behind her. She knew who that was.

She quickly put the letter away in her pocket and turned around to see a happy blonde with big blue eyes running towards her.

“Naruto...” She softly whispered. She tried not to make any sad faces or suspicious movements. But she hated to lie... to him.

“Sakura-chan! I knew you would still be here!” Naruto said happily as he came closer to get.

“Y-yeah, I had a lot of thinking to do.” Which wasn’t a lie.

“Sakura-chan.” Naruto softly said as he pulled her into a hug. She tightly hugged him back, her heart racing.

Naruto noticed the tight hugging. He softly pushed himself away from her. “What’s up, Sakura-chan? Are you that happy to see me?” He asked with a goofy grin on his face.

Sakura smiled a sad smile, but tried hard to hide it, “Yeah... I really wanted to see you, Naruto.”

Naruto blushed as he now turned into a insecure school boy. “W-well, here I am, Sakura-chan. Uhm, uh, do... do you wanna talk about something? Uhm, s-since you wanted to see me, and all...” Naruto scratched the back of his head, looking up towards the sky.

Sakura giggled at this, forgetting the situation for a moment. “No, not really. I just, wanted to see you. Is that bad?” She asked playfully, but Naruto didn’t seem to notice.

Suddenly, he grabbed both her hands with still a blush on his face. “No-no! It’s not bad, no, Sakura-chan! We can always see each other, whether or not we have something to talk about!”

“So, why do you wanna see me?” Sakura asked, letting Naruto to hold her hands.

Naruto was quiet for a while, as if he had forgotten what he wanted to talk about. Suddenly, he remembered.

“Ah, yes! Sakura-chan... I have... actually two things I wanna ask you...”

Sakura nodded, “Ok, go ahead.”

Well, the first thing... and tell me if you don’t wanna talk about it, but... did you see Sasuke in Orochimaru’s lair? I mean, before the fight started?”

Sakura looked shocked at this question. There was a pause for while until Sakura answered, “Yes, I did see him there.”

“R-really?!” Naruto didn’t really expected this answer. “Did you speak with him?”

Sakura shook her head, “No... not really... I actually don’t really remember much before the big fight...” Sakura said, looking down. ‘Probably because I have been drugged there...’

“Ah, I see...” Naruto said, and it seemed he was thinking about something. Sakura carefully looked at him, checking if he was looking strangely at her.

He wasn’t.

He quietly looked towards the sky, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

“And what is the second thing you wanted to ask me...?” Sakura carefully asked.

It was quiet for a while until Naruto looked at her again and replied;

“Ah, the second one is something important I want to say to you... But I don’t want to say it just like this. I want to make it... special. So... Sakura-chan?” Naruto asked, his blue eyes looking at her emerald eyes.

“Y-yes?” Sakura said, a bit nervous, but her heart raced faster, which had a good feeling.

“Would you... like to go out with me on a date tonight?” Naruto asked with a serious face, but somehow scared for rejection.

Sakura almost cried, “T-tonight? Oh, Naruto, I-“

“Oh, we aren’t going to Ichiraku this time, Sakura-chan, so don’t worry about that!” Naruto said, thinking she was hesitating about that.

Sakura stayed quiet. What was she supposed to say? She couldn’t tell him she was going to meet Sasuke tonight, she just couldn’t.

“S-Sakura-chan?” Naruto broke the silence as he heard no reply from Sakura. “Could it be that you don’t want to go on a date with me? Because I would totally understand if-“

“No! That’s not it, Naruto!” Sakura interrupted him. ‘Maybe he’s thinking I don’t want to go on a date with him... Maybe he thinks I don’t like him!’

“Do you maybe have to do something else?” Naruto asked, his head slightly crooked.

“Ah, uhm, yes. Yes... there are some personal things I need to do tonight. I- I’m sorry...”

Naruto laughed and pulled her into a hug. “Silly, don’t worry about that! I know you wouldn’t lie to me.”

Sakura hugged him tighter when he said the word ‘lie’. It seemed like it was echoing in her head. She couldn’t take him.

She quickly pulled away from him and looked him straight in the eye. “Naruto!”

Naruto looked shocked at her sudden movement, “W-what is it Sakura-chan?”

‘I’m meeting Sasuke tonight... Come on, say it! Meeting... Sasuke... Why can’t I say it?!’ Sakura yelled to herself as Naruto waited for her reply.

Sakura sighed; she just couldn’t say it. ‘It seems like I’m still weak, after all...’

“Uhm, h-how about tomorrow? You know, going on a date? I mean, I’m available, I don’t have anything to do.”

Naruto smiled. “I was thinking the same thing, Sakura-chan. I’m so glad you want to go on a date with me.”

Sakura smiled as well, as she quickly gave him a peck on the cheek. Then she hugged him again as he hugged her back, burying his face in her hair, smelling her scent.

‘I’m so sorry Naruto,’ Sakura said to herself as she buried her face in his chest, hugging him tighter. ‘I’m so sorry...’

To Be Continued