After the Storm.

14.

Something about watching Naruto fumbling over his words and making Aa complete idiot of himself entertained Sasuke to a whole new level. I mean sure he thought it was entertaining from when Sasuke himself would make the blonde flustered, but this one was different. Naruto was actually trying to make himself not look stupid to someone. To Sasuke, he was making himself look like a complete idiot.

"H-How was your mission, Hinata?" Naruto asked the blue haired girl. She looked over at the blonde, her face reddened from having the boy she was so fond of all these years finally talk to her. She still couldn't believe that the two of them were in what she would call a relationship. The two of them were actually spending time with one another. They were both in the same place at the same time and it wasn't coiencidential. This was something she waited for from when she first laid eyes on Naruto. She felt as though she could never compete with someone like Sakura, someone who she thought Naruto completely adored at one time. She didn't know what changed, but she was sort of relieved that it did. She knew that Sakura would probably never accept Naruto simply because she was too into Sasuke to understand that someone else actually found her attractive.

"Uhm, it was nice." Hinata spoke softly, avoiding her gaze on Naruto. Her eyes quickly found Sakura, pleading for some sort of comfort that she was doing okay. Sakura pursed her lips together and nodded slowly. She was proud of her friends coming together like they were. She knew eventually she would find someone for herself. Someone who would actually love and appreciate her the way she would love and appreciate them. She wanted to be loved so badly, but she knew that she was going about it the wrong way. She was chasing after the wrong love. She wanted a love that didn't want her and the harsh reality was, she had to accept that. They were friends now and that's all she ever really wanted.

"Great." Naruto nodded awkwardly, trying to find something else to talk about. He tapped his fingers on the woodened table of Itchiraku's. "Just, Great."

Sasuke took in a deep breath, trying to contain his laughter. Sakura heard a grunt come from the raven and she quickly shoved him in the ribs, shushing him. Sasuke hunched over, coughing loudly from the impact of Sakura's Elbow in his side.

Sakura took the same arm and placed it on the table, Watching the two from the corners of her eyes. Her attention immidietly went to Sasuke, who raised his eyesbrows surprised that she moved towards him so fast; and because he was too busy staring at her.

"Sasuke take a walk with me." She says. "Our food isn't going to be ready for a while and I'm getting antsy sitting here."

"We'll walk with you guys!" Naruto quickly offered. He was already standing to his feet when Sakura and Sasuke looked their way.

"Let him come." Sasuke whispered. "He's trying."

Sakura pursed her lips together and stood as well as Sasuke. "Sure." She finds herself saying. Naruto pulled the small curtain back for them to walk through, Sasuke meeting his gaze as he walked behind Sakura. Naruto blushed, knowing his best friend knew his motives. Naruto quickly stepped out behind Sasuke.

Sakura linked her arm with Hinata's and the two girls walked a few paces ahead of Naruto and Sasuke. They both giggled loudly, Sakura teasing the girl of her and Naruto's new found love.

Sasuke stuck his hand in his pocket, his pancho blowing in the wind.

"Congradulations." Sasuke says to his friend. Naruto's face flushed.

"What are you talking about, Sasuke?" Naruto kept his cool. Sasuke finding that very amusing, smirked.

"Hinata's a nice girl." He says. "And she likes you. Maybe, this one might work out for you since ya'know, Sakura didn't."