LadyofHubris

Hello people! 

Alright, so, I'm currently writing a one-shot between Naruto and Sakura. I don't know where to take this, to be honest. The chapter starts with them stopping at a resting spot as they are on their way to Orochimaru's lair in pursuit of Sasuke. 

Now, the plot is going to take place during the Sasuke rescue mission, which would be around the time that Sai first joins the group. In this fanfic, he has already left them and followed Orochimaru to the lair. 

I don't even know whether to make this M-rated in case of a lemon or keep it T-rated and just include a bit of a kissing moment. You know, have a special moment between them where Naruto reassures her that he's definitely going to bring Sasuke back for her, etc, etc.

Maybe I'll add a bit of angst between them about Sakura getting injured when Naruto went four-tails. I have no clue where to take this. So, please, give me some advice and if you see something that needs to be retouched, be my guest and tell me.

Thank you guys! 

“We will rest here for the night,” Yamato had said.

The waning sun had almost completely descended underneath the horizon, indicating the swift approach of nightfall. The recurrent chirping from the crickets amongst the surrounding wilderness accompanied with the occasional hoot of an owl alerted the small group of the nocturnal creatures watching their every move.

“Yes,” the pink-haired kunoichi called Sakura replied with assent. The young woman is standing with her intertwined fingers resting demurely at the small of her back. She is the medical-nin of the group which means that her importance is above all others. The splotches of dirt present on her clothes as well as on the surface of her fair skin indicate her work on the battlefield, for she wasn't a girl without strength.

When hearing the order to take the break, Uzumaki Naruto, extends his arms above his head and bends them down to lock his hands behind the base of his neck with an enthusiastic 'yes sir!'. The young man is as strong as an ox with limitless stamina. He could travel all night if underneath the right circumstance, but no complaints were given.

He, too, is covered from head to toe in dirt splotches, but even more so than his pink-haired companion who he offers a broad grin when he feels her jade eyes flicker towards him for a slip second with her mouth lifted slightly at the corner. His azure eyes soften with affection as he watched her for a brief moment. She was the girl he had been in love with since he was twelve, he reminds himself.

Back then and even today, her smile was the cutest thing he had ever laid eyes on. Even if it were for someone else, it still remained implanted within the confinements of his mind. The way the corners of her perfect lips curled upwards as she showed a row of pearly white teeth would let him know that everything was alright. Whenever she smiled, everything was alright. The world was a better place whenever her smile graced his presence.

Her smile was worth preserving. It was worth saving. It had always been a personal desire of his to see her happy at any means necessary. He would do anything, absolutely anything, to keep that smile on her face. Even if it wasn't he who made her smile, but rather bringing back the person that did make her smile. He would do anything just to see it again.

They had a few more hours to go before they reached Orochimaru's lair. Just a bit more—

“Naruto!” An all too familiar voice thunders somewhere next to him and he snaps out of his reverie as he turns to acknowledge the lissome figure of the love of his life. He blinks, processing the nettled expression on her face which quickly melts into exhaustion.

“Sakura-chan?”

“You're collecting the firewood,” she states listlessly, yet the brassy timbre of her voice rings clear that the order was not open for discussion. The captain had already taken his position up in a tree, more than likely his resting spot until it was time to get moving again. His decision to settle down also indicated that the responsibility of getting a fire started was up to them. She was already aching and in a filthy state of hygiene, so she left the task up to Naruto. Besides, he was the one left with plenty of energy.

“Sure,” he assures her as a signature grin adorns his face accompanied with a 'nice-guy' pose. “You can count on me!”

She shook her head, a tender feel to her expression now. 'Always', her inner self whispers to her and she responds with a gentle smile.

It didn't take long for the knuckle-head shinobi to collect a small stack of wood. Sakura didn't look up as he continued with the task of preparing everything. Before long, a decent-sized flame was gleaming before them. The twosome unconsciously scoot closer to their only source of heat for the night.

Sighing, Sakura withdraws into herself.