Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Talking: “....”

Thinking: ‘....’

Chapter 26: Silence Before the Storm.

“Good, good, Naruto! Mark your defense!” Tsunade yelled as she began to attack Naruto.

“You know I’m all about attacking, Obaachan!” Naruto remarked with a smirk and jumped back.

Tsunade smirked as well; “Don’t be so confident yet, punk!” Suddenly, Tsunade disappeared from sight and Naruto was looking around him, searching for Tsunade.

Except above.

Tsunade appeared again above Naruto, ready to punch him above the head, burying him in the ground.

But Tsunade suddenly saw a blur of pink and red in the corner of her eye. Just in time, Tsunade dodged Sakura’s punch attack by putting extra chakra into her feet which quickly send her down.

“Very nice, Sakura!”

Naruto looking up to see Tsunade dodging Sakura’s quick attack. He smiled his big smile; “Sakura-chan!”

“Naruto! Look before you!” Sakura called from the air, as Tsunade gave Naruto a quick punch in the stomach, which send him flying over, hitting a nearby tree.

“Naruto!” Sakura yelled as she followed Naruto’s flying body towards the trees. Concentrating on Naruto, she didn’t noticed Tsunade was coming at her at great speed.

“Stop daydreaming, Sakura! Concentrate!” But before Sakura could defend herself, Tsunade had already gotten closer to her, and kicked Sakura in her right hip, which also sent Sakura flying.

Luckily, Sakura was able to stop herself before hitting something, and did a flip backwards so that she laned on her feet. Her hand was placed on her right hip.

“That was... Harsh... Master...” Sakura said between gasps.

But Tsunade didn’t had mercy for anyone. “That is your own fault, Sakura. Stop paying attention to your teammate all the time. You knew he was fine, so why did you put all your concentration on him? Why was it that you suddenly didn’t sense my chakra anymore while it was so easy to feel that I was right there?”

Sakura looked down as her hand let go of her hip and was placed next to her body. “I... I don’t know...” Sakura softly said as she shook her head.

At that moment, Naruto came running towards the two. “Sakura-chan! Are you alright? Are you hurt?!” Naruto asked as he stood right before Sakura.

“I’m fine, Naruto!” Sakura snapped at him from frustration, but she immediately regretted it and looked down again.

Tsunade sighed before she talked again; “You two are getting better and better in teamwork and defending each other. Your attacks are getting stronger and much better than in the first training. Although we only had a week, I see some improvement. But... I must honestly say of this will be enough. We figured out the Akatsuki members, Itachi and Kisame, will be here in two days.”

This news made Naruto and Sakura gulp together.

Tsunade continued, “But you two need to work on your concentration. Even though you are a team, you must thing about yourself too. That is the way of the ninja, to show no emotions such like worry.” Tsunade looked at Sakura while saying this. “You also mustn't get too overexcited and blurry your surroundings with it.” With this sentence, she looked at Naruto, who was heavily nodding his head ‘yes’.

“Even though I and Jiraiya will aid you in this most-likely battle...” But Tsunade was cut off.

“Most-likely...?” Sakura asked. “Do you mean that there maybe won’t be a fight at all?”

“I don’t know, Sakura, I honestly don’t.” Tsunade said, looking at her. “We don’t know what they are after. The only thing we know is that they are after Naruto’s Kyuubi, but is that really their objective? What do they plan to do more? Will they destroy the village...? As fifth hokage, I cannot let that happen. I will protect this village, even if I will lose my life with it.”

Sakura nodded, “We know, master.”

Naruto showed his trademark grin again, “And we will help you with it!” Naruto shifted his right feet. “But, after that, you will have to make me the sixth hogake!”

Tsunade suddenly lifted her fist and gave Naruto an punch on the head, creating a bump. “Don’t bet on it, kid!”

This made Sakura giggle. It were simple and tiny things like this that made her feel really happy to live like this, even though there is always danger lurking in the shadows.

Tsunade coughed and stood straight. “So, tomorrow, I’m giving you two a day off. Even ninja’s have to relax. Besides, I can’t Shizune do all my work for me.” Tsunade giggled, thinking about poor Shizune was stressing out over the pile of paper work Tsunade left behind.

Naruto rubbed his bump on his head and slightly turned his head to the left, “Tsunade-obaachan is really scary when she giggles...” He whispered, but Tsunade hear everything.

“You want another one, punk?!” She said as she held her fist up high.

“Uhm, no thanks, Tsunade-obaachan!” Naruto said as he ran off, since training was over for the day. “Thanks for the day off, obaachan!” Naruto yelled with a big grin as he waved goodbye. He was already out of sight in a matter of seconds.

‘Probably getting some ramen...’ Sakura thought to herself with a little smile.

She could hear Tsunade sigh next to her, “Oh, that boy...” But Sakura noticed a tiny smile that even Tsunade couldn’t hide.

“Uhm, master...? Is it really ok for us to take the day off tomorrow?” Sakura asked, with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

“Yes. Believe it or not, even ninja’s need some time to relax before a big battle comes up. And I have a lot of work to to.” Tsunade sighed after her last sentence.

“Does Jiraiya-sama knows about this..?” Sakura asked further.

Tsunade nodded, “Yes, I contacted him three days ago. He was training,” She shook her head. “or whatever he called it, and is coming home right now. He should be here tomorrow night.”

“I hope we... can protect the village.” Sakura said, bending her head down again.

Tsunade looked at Sakura with shock in her eyes. “Are you doubting, Sakura?”

“N-no, master... I just... I think that...” Sakura trailed off, not finding the right words for some reason.

“Your afraid last time will repeat itself?” Tsunade asked.

That’s right; when Sakura was captured by Orochimaru and took her to his lair, she met Sasuke, but he wasn’t doing anything to help her, even though she fell ill due to the drugs she constantly got injected. But Naruto, Jiraiya and Tsunade came to her rescue, in which Naruto almost lost his life.

Sakura never wants to feel the pain and loneliness the felt back then ever again. She really thought she lost him.

“Never again...” Sakura whispered.

“It won’t happen again, Sakura.” Tsunade said, making Sakura snap her head up. “Naruto is strong, and so are you. You two are now able to help each other and protect each other.” Sakura nodded when she heard this, and this gave her a bit of confidence.

“But,” Tsunade continued. “I sensed you are still feeling troubled about your feelings for Naruto, am I right?”

Sakura looked a bit shocked at Tsunade; was it that obvious what she was thinking?

Sakura answered, “Well... I don’t know... Maybe... But after he almost died... I never want to lose him again, I want him close to me, I also want him to protect me... I don’t know, I just want everything from him! But... It feels so different from when I had a crush on Sasuke. Back then, I thought that was love. But then why does this feels so different...?”

Tears were starting to well up in Sakura’s eyes as she became more confused the more she thought about it.

Tsunade moved in front of her and gently placed her hands on Sakura’s shoulders. “The reason why this feels so different is because Naruto is different from Sasuke.”

This caught Sakura off guard, “Huh...?”

“Well, think about it. Naruto always thought of you, right? He gave you his silent love, even though it was not always silent...” Tsunade quickly shook her head. “He was there for you when you needed him, even though you yourself thought you never needed him. he didn’t wanted your attention just to beat Sasuke, right? He stayed with you even when Sasuke left. That’s a lot different from Sasuke, isn’t it?”

Sakura slowly nodded, and slightly blushed when she thought about all the ‘silent’ moments she had with Naruto. He was never sick of her, he was never annoyed with her. He stayed by her side.

“Well?” Tsunade asked, “What do you think, Sakura?”

Sakura looked at Tsunade, still a slight blush on her face. “Master... I... I think I l-“ But Sakura was cut off.

“Hokage-sama!” A jounin came out of nowhere and appeared at Tsunade's side with one knee on the ground and his head slightly bowed.

“What is it...?” Tsunade asked as she let go of Sakura and faced the jounin.

“Ah, hogake-sama.... A message from Shizune-san. She said it was important.” The jounin seemed quite uncomfortable to bring her this message. He handed Tsunade the letter.

After Tsunade read it, she sighed; “It seems like Shizune can’t take it anymore. I’m sorry Sakura, but I have to leave.”

Sakura smiled, “Of course, Master, I understand.”

Tsunade looked at Sakura and walked towards her. She bent down to whisper something in her ear. “Tell you what,” Tsunade whispered. “go on a date with Naruto. Maybe this will clear up your feelings.”

Sakura blushed again when she heard this. “M-master!”

“See you later, Sakura. I’ll let you know when we will continue our training.” Tsunade said with a wink as she dissapeared from sight.

Sakura sighed her blush away, “I first should go home to take a bath. After that, I should pray at the shinobi altar.” Sakura said to herself as she also disappeared with a gust of wind.

-Later that Day-

Somewhere in the village, there is an altar placed, which symbolizes the many shinobi who died during the attack of the nine-tailed fox or just to protect the village. It is made from a huge rock, neatly crafted, and standing on thick plate also made of rock. But from the top, it looks like a sun clock. Next to it stands a flag pole, with a white flag attached to it. The grounds were also often being used as a training ground for beginning Genin.

Even though Sakura didn’t came here much, She sometimes felt she had to. So when she came, she prayed for the safety of the village and her friends.

Sakura had her hair in a ponytail and she had a red shirt with white, short sleeves on. She had her purple skirt on with green knee length shorts underneath it. Just the clothes she felt comfortable in when she didn’t had to train or to go to a mission.

Sakura kneeled down before the altar, closing her eyes and clasping her hands together. The wind slightly moved her hair, but it wasn’t cold.

“I knew I would find you here.” A familiar, kind of hoarse, voice said. She knew he was saying it with a smile on his face.

Sakura finished her prayer and opened her eyes again. She stood up, and turned around, seeing Naruto standing there.

She smiled as well, as she saw his blue eyes laughing playfully at her. “How did you guess?” Sakura asked him, as another breeze came by.

The wind seemed to play with Naruto’s golden locks as they slightly moved around. She noticed he didn’t had his headband on, which was rare for Naruto.

“Where’s your headband?” Sakura asked, cocking her head slightly to the side.

Naruto shrugged and walked towards her, “I guess I forgot.”

Sakura giggled a bit, “You? Forgot? That’s rare, even for y-“ But Sakura couldn’t finish her sentence, as Naruto held her in a tight embrace.

She had to admit, it felt pretty good being in his arms again.

It was so quiet around him, almost like the whole village was on vacation. Sakura’s heart began to beat faster and harder, but she very much liked this.

But she had to ask; “ Naruto...? What’s wrong?” Automatically, she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him back.

“Nothing... I just... Wanted to hold you without getting punched...” Naruto said as he closed his eyes.

Sakura blushed, “Oh... Ok...” Sakura laid her head on his chest, as it seemed that Naruto grew a few inches once again in these past few weeks.

“Sakura-chan...?” Naruto almost whispered.

“Mh?” Sakura also whispered.

They both didn’t move; they liked the position they were in.

“Do you like ramen..?”

Sakura giggled, “Yes, I like ramen, Naruto.”

Naruto also let out a tiny laugh but both of them didn’t move.

“Naruto...?” It was Sakura this time.

“Mh...?” Naruto answered.

“I like this...”

Naruto held her tighter. “Me too...”

It was quiet once again, and the only thing Sakura could hear, was Naruto’s heartbeat. Oh, how glad she was to hear his heartbeat.

Naruto spoke up again, “Sakura-chan...?”

“Yes, Naruto?” Sakura said, smiling.

“Would you like to go out with me..?” Sakura could hear Naruto’s heart beat faster after he asked this.

Sakura pushed herself away slightly to look into Naruto gorgeous blue eyes. She smiled; “I’d love to, Naruto.”

After hearing this, Naruto’s smiled went wider and his eyes sparkled more than before. It was like a kid who got candy from his mother.

“Tomorrow? On our day off?” Naruto asked hopefully.

Sakura giggled. It was like he still thought she would reject him. “Yes, I would love to, Naruto.” Sakura repeated.

In his joy, Naruto quickly gave Sakura a peck on the forehead and let her go. “Thank you, Sakura-chan! I- I gotta go! Gotta get ready! I’ll let you know on what we are gonna do! Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything!” Naruto happily said as he ran away, happy as a little schoolgirl.

“I hope he realizes the date’s tomorrow and not today.” Sakura giggled, and also blushed. She could feel her heartbeat quicken again.

‘I can’t wait until tomorrow!’

To Be Continued