“Well, do they love you back?”
    “That’s the thing! I don’t know, and the more I say nothing, the more it hurts.  My heart feels like it’s on the verge of bursting! You know what I mean?”
    “Well Naruto, you’re never going to know unless you ask...”
     “But I’m just—“
     “Afraid?” She finished his sentence,
    He nodded sheepishly,
   “Well then you’ll never know Naruto! God, don’t be stupid, I mean how else will you find out?”
    He turned his head away sighing,
   “See? There is no other way!”
   “But how?! If I—“she”...doesn’t return the feelings I have for “her”, then I dunno what I’ll do...”
   Sakura shifted a bit, she had been taken back by Naruto’s burst of seriousness for once, she had a sudden burst of pity for the blonde a strange compassion she felt, she smiled pleasantly placing a hand on Naruto’s shoulder,
   “Don’t worry, if she really cares about you as much as you care for her, then it’ll all work out, trust me”
   Naruto’s wide grin returned on his face, “Thanks so much Sakura!” He exclaimed hugging her graciously (practically knocking her to the floor),
   She pulled him off finally, he grinned and thanked her again, then left, falling asleep immediately once he got home, waiting for the next day to arise once more.
  
   “Itachi, you have still done nothing, not even an attempt to kill him? I might as well step in...”
   “No Kisame” Itachi snarled, “This is my job, my assignment back off”
   “Then finish your assignment already! Enough is enough Itachi!” Kisame roared
     Sadness burdened Itachi for if he did continue doing nothing Kisame would step in.  But to hurt Naruto, would utterly kill him.
    “Fine. I will. He will die” Itachi muttered bitterly, the pain of knowing what he must do, a gut-wrenching decision, it made his heart hurt, a burning sensation in his soul, why, why couldn’t it be anyone but him? His sweetness left a mark on him that couldn’t be removed, the instant joy he felt just being in the same room, presence of him, it was a never-ending dream, but as all dreams go, you eventually have to wake up, snap back to reality.  And he knew that, he and Naruto were from two different worlds, two different paths they chose to go down, now both paths meeting.
   “You’d better do it...” Kisame muttered
    Gilt stricken, Itachi trudged into his room.  He sat there deciding, he loved him. He had to kill him. He loved being around Naruto. He had to complete his assignment.
     “No...” He muttered, he arose from his seat and silently escaped through the window.  
     
     It was late, the crescent moon glistened softly in the sky, he appeared at Naruto’s window rapping at it softly,
    Naruto turned over blinking innocently, then looked up rubbing his eyes, “eh Itachi?!” Her sat up yawning then slipped out of bed groggily, opening the window, Itachi came in silently, Naruto felt the grimness surrounding him,
    “Something wrong?” He asked,
    Itachi nodded solemnly, “yes...”
    There was a long pause, Naruto shifted unpleasantly from the silence,
    “I was sent to kill you...” Itachi choked,
    “No, it’s a joke right? Right Itachi?” He whispered,
     The Uchiha shook his head,
     Naruto gasped taking a step back, “Please...please don’t...” He whimpered
    “That’s why I’m here, to tell you I can’t”
     Naruto sighed in relief, “good...I’m glad because I—“His voice trailed off, he looked away bashfully,
     “Because what?”
    Naruto gazed at him, “Promise you won’t hate or think differently of me if I tell you?”
    Itachi chuckled, “Of course, I promise, now what?”
    Naruto began to sway side to side, “Itachi...” He stuttered, “I think I’m in love with you...”
    Itachi stepped back a bit shocked, “You? Have an infatuation with me?” He asked his face glowing a deep shade of red.
     “You hate me now, don’t you?” He quivered stepping back, he felt embarrassed, maybe he shouldn’t have taken that advice from Sakura.  Bah, love was confusing.
     “No, no! I don’t hate you...matter of fact...” He slowly approached Naruto wrapping his arms loosely around his waist, “I’ve loved you for a very long time now...more than you might possibly know...”
    Naruto gazed at him lovingly, then he awkwardly went and kissed him softly on the lips, Itachi returned the kiss, but with more passion, small sighs escaped from Naruto with every breath he got, Itachi’s tongue roamed the inside of Naruto’s mouth, massaging each other’s tongue, both boys felt the warmth of one another so close to each other as each kiss became more passionate, Itachi held Naruto’s head in his hands as he kissed him deeper, it sent a tingling sensation through Naruto’s wet lips, their faces were so close their noses touched, Naruto’s whole body felt limp and numb, he would surely fall over, he was a puddle in Itachi’s hands.  Their lips finally unlocked themselves, Naruto let out a deep heavy sigh, for once he was completely speechless, Itachi pressed his forehead against Naruto’s, Naruto felt his warm breath over take him, he heart was ready to burst right in front of him, Naruto’s warmth made Itachi smile,
   “I’d love to stay but, Kisame doesn’t know I’m here, I have to go” He kissed him softly again, and quickly ran off,
     A sudden chill entered the room; the warmth had faded slowly, if only he could stay longer.  Naruto wanted more of Itachi, though he knew he couldn’t, he’d have to wait for the next night to come along, though he wished once of these times he could come in the daytime.  His stomach still had butterflies and his lips still had that sweet tingling sensation, it kept him up that whole night, he tossed and turned about that whole night, that one simple kiss kept him up, and yet he wondered one thing, deep in the pit of his stomach and in the back of his mind, he pondered on his choices, was what he was doing right? And one face popped into his mind, Sasuke.  That kiss reminded him of his first actual meaningful kiss with Sasuke (no, not that accidental one on the T.V. show XD), awkward but passionate, just like the one he had with Itachi.  But he was sure that he loved Itachi, there was no doubt in his mind, he slowly drifted off to sleep, but one question in his mind, was Sasuke happy where he was? And where was he?