#nscanon

Note: We should draw and write more Shinachiku. Just saying

When one-year-old Shinachiku first laid eyes on the stuffed toy that Sakura bought for him, his big, round eyes shone with unbridled happiness. Strapped securely to a high chair, he flailed his arms and legs in excitement and attempted to reach the adorable, soft thing in his mother’s hands. When he finally had it, he squeezed and hugged it tight against his chest.

That day, it became his favorite toy. He would not let it out of his sight even as he watched TV or ate his favorite food. Every day, before going to sleep, he would place it by his bedside and hug it contentedly all throughout the night.

Initially, Naruto found Shinachiku’s attachment to the stuffed bear to be highly adorable but it proved to be annoying later on.

====

Standing by Shinachiku’s crib, Naruto and Sakura watched their son play with his stuffed toy before Naruto went closer and stretched his hands. “Shina-chan, Let’s play.” He waited for him to stand and come to him but all he got was a stare and a giggle before Shinachiku completely ignored him to resume playing with his toy.

“Sakura-chhhaaannn….See! he loves the stuffed toy more than me,”

“No. That’s normal. Don’t worry! He will soon outgrow his obsession for it.” Sakura held back a laugh and stretched her arms just like Naruto did. “Shina-chan! come to mom and we shall play,”

Shinachiku immediately raised his head, let go of his toy and walk into his mom’s outstretched arms. Sakura carried him and pressed her nose against his, their giggles filling the room.

Naruto pouted. “I knew it! Shina-chan is playing tricks on me.,”

“Of course not Naruto! Our Shina is the sweetest baby ever. How could you say that,” She turned to her son. “Are you hungry Shina-chan? Let’s go and get your milk.”

She went out of the room to go to the kitchen and Naruto soon followed, all the while wondering how mischievous Shinachiku will become in the future now that he was starting to show little signs of it.

Note: The five children here are Shinachiku, Konohana, Hanami, Hanako and Arashi. I always follow that order. Credits go to various narusaku artists for the kids. I couldn’t mention you all one by one because there are too many versions and designs.

The mission that lasted for three weeks left everyone in Naruto’s team with a great longing for home. Because of this,they traveled back to the village faster than usual, jumping from tree to tree with great enthusiasm and at a maximum speed, the ends of their hair and clothes swishing behind them.

Upon reaching the village, everyone went straight to the Hokage office in great haste and reported the successful outcome of the mission to Tsunade, who nodded approvingly. When they were dismissed, the members of the team bid one another goodbye before hurrying off in different directions.

Despite the tiredness in his taut muscles and the eagerness to see his love ones, Naruto didn't head straight for home. Instead, he decided to pass by the market first to buy food for his wife and five children. It wasn’t a difficult task for he had memorized each of their favorites by heart. He had also stopped by the flower shop to buy something for his wife.

When he appeared by the doorway that evening, his five children jumped and welcomed him with hugs and kisses, relishing in the fact that their father, whom they missed so much, was finally back. Then, Shinachiku grabbed the plastic bag he was holding and his siblings followed him, eager to know its contents.

Sakura laughed and watched them from the background before she neared and pecked her husband on the lips. “’I’m glad you’re home,”

Naruto smiled sweetly before giving her the red chrysanthemum from his pocket.

“I missed you and the children. Every morning, I look at the calendar on the wall of the room where we stayed at and I always feel happy knowing that for each day that passed, I was one day closer to coming home.”

“You never change,”

Note: This drabble was inspired by Chapter three and the things I’ve seen on my dash about the forehead compliment :-) Naruto and Sakura are both twelve here so expect self-centered thoughts

==

Sasuke approaching her and looking straight into her eyes as if he’s looking right into her heart

Sasuke telling her how her forehead,that one part of her she didn’t like about herself, is so charming that it makes him want to kiss it.

Sasuke leaning in for a kiss because he simply couldn’t resists her charm

==

All these things were impossible yet these fantasies invaded Sakura's mind like one giant tidal wave, sweeping her to the pinnacle of bliss.She couldn't help it. Daydreaming about these things brought a warm, nice feeling in her chest even if she knew for a fact that they would never happen.

Unless it was Naruto she was dreaming about

Sakura sighed heavily. With both elbows on her lap, she rested her chin on the palm of her hands and cupped both her cheeks with her fingers. Her gaze shifted to that tree from afar and gasped when she saw the Uchiha leaning against it while looking at her with those warm, searing eyes.

Uchiha Sasuke…warm eyes…Sasuke and Warmth…warmth and Sasuke…something was off…

He looked exactly like the guy in her fantasies. He was just so….so….so…Naruto.

She gasped. She didn’t just think that right? Naruto was annoying. Naruto was dead-last. Naruto failed at everything he does. The list goes on and on. There was no way this guy could be Naruto. It was Sasuke. He looked like Sasuke.

But why was he so different from how she imagined that Sasuke would act like?

The childish, selfish part of her mind dulled all these doubts in an instant. This was Sasuke, her dream guy. And he was looking at her just like how she had always envisioned it. Her heartbeat rose when she saw him approached. She was sure her cheeks were red enough to be compared to a tomato. 

The Uchiha stopped in front of her and looked straight into her eyes.

“You sure have a large, charming forehead. Makes me want to kiss it,”

Her mind reeled. Naruto, disguised as ‘Sasuke’ through henge no jutsu, sat beside her on the bench.

“Sakura, there is something I want to ask you. What do you think of Naruto?”

“Eh? Naruto?” 

Sasuke nodded.

“He’s always getting in the way when I do something important and he enjoys seeing me struggle. He doesn’t understand anything about me. He’s just annoying.”

Sakura paused and gazed at him. “All I want is for you to acknowledge me because I like you a lot Sasuke-kun. I’m absolutely serious about this. I would do anything,” Her eyes, focused solely on him, suddenly closed and she started advancing towards him for a kiss.

The drumming of Naruto’s heartbeat resounded in his own ears. The leaves, the bench, the trees and the surroundings dissipated from view and all he could see was her lips.

Sakura-chan had once again called him annoying and she had just admitted she would do anything to get acknowledgement from Sasuke. He was supposed to get angry. He was supposed to call her self-centered. He was supposed to stop liking her.

Surprisingly, the opposite happened. He couldn’t hate her especially now that he finally found out how similar she was to him.

Sakura, who had everything in life from loving parents to friends to almost everything he desired for himself, had admitted she wanted acknowledgement. Just like him

The conversation made him feel like he was finally starting to understand why he liked her.

Sakura moved closer. He was frozen into place. Her lips went nearer until she was only inches away from kissing him.

He was about to give in but the painful cramps that suddenly attacked his abdomen forced him to immediately withdraw. Clutching his stomach, he stood and ran away, leaving behind a bewildered Sakura on the bench.

===

Note: I followed the anime and used the color green for the medical ninjutsu chakra. This drabble is based on the observation of fellow narusaku shippers that Bolt looks like Sakura. This prompt is dedicated to fantasywithin on Tumblr :-)

Lately, Bolt had been quiet. The lack of news about him playing pranks and wreaking havoc around Konoha greatly puzzled Naruto for he knew of his son's restless nature very well. He thought about the different possibilities that might have contributed to the sudden change and he came to the conclusion that something or someone had been keeping his son occupied enough for him to stop being one of the troublemakers in the village.

He found the answer two days later. Shikamaru informed him that Bolt had been visiting the Uchiha household thrice a week after school. Ever since he started doing that, his behavior greatly improved.

Curiousity seized Naruto and he found himself standing in front of the said household on the same day he got the information only to find it locked. He tried going to the hospital and, as luck would have it, He found who he was looking for.

The nurse led him to the open door of Sakura's office. When he entered, he saw Sakura and his own son standing around a square table where a whimpering puppy lay on its side on top of an opened scroll. He was in time to see Bolt place his two hands just above the small creature. His gaze on the puppy never wavered as green chakra started glow around his hands.

Naruto watched him with widened eyes and bated breath. So the reason why his son had been in good spirits lately was that he was learning medical ninjutsu from Sakura. The revelation brought a multitude of emotions within him. It was disheartening to entertain the idea that both he and Hinata had been so disconnected with their own child that he didn't deem it important to tell them about the things he'd been learning and involved with. The reality was a bitter pill so hard to swallow.

He watched as his son continued gathering chakra on his palms. If he were successful, the puppy's small wound will heal and said creature will be up in a matter of minutes, back to its sound state of health.

Sad to say, nothing happened. The green glow of chakra faded and he watched as Bolt wiped a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand and sighed heavily. Sakura patted him on the shoulder as if to reassure him that he'll succeed with continued hard work and practice. Then, she gestured him to look at that person who had been watching his performance the entire time.

Father and son's eyes met and it was Naruto who talked first. "I didn't know you're interested in Medical Ninjutsu,"

"Dad…" Bolt started but was unable to continue for after the revelation that his father had just witnessed him fail to execute a technique he had been practicing for a good number of days, his courage left him and he was reduced to a silent, sputtering mess.

Sakura asked one of her assistants to get the puppy so they could resumed healing it outside. Sensing Boruto's disappointment, she took the liberty of speaking for him.

"He approached me one day and asked me if he could learn medical ninjutsu. If you'd ask me, I'd say he did fairly well for a beginner. Given enough time, he would be able to learn the technique," She patted Bolt's head affectionately and the child gave him a silent look of gratitude.

Naruto's gaze lingered at the sight before him, drinking in the solace it offered. Sakura being in touch with Bolt in a way that is more maternal than his own biological mother gave way to such pure bliss and immediately, when he found himself almost wishing he could turn back the time and redo all the mistakes he made, he stopped himself. There was no use in daydreaming about things that he will never have.

Note:  I am rusty after a month of not writing anything. –sighs-

Even the strongest falls in battle

Sakura learned that lesson the hard way. It didn't matter that you are one of most skilled medic nin and jounin in Konoha with perfect chakra control. There is no exception. Everyone needs to take a break once in a while.

Lately, there has been too much work at the hospital and in order for her body to not give in to stress, she took extra precautionary measures by taking selected herbs and vitamins. Unfortunately, fatigue had taken its toll on her after a few days of working nonstop. Thus, one Monday morning, she woke up with a high fever and a terrible headache.

===

After finding out that Sakura was sick, Naruto dropped whatever he was doing somewhere in the village and quickly barged into her room through the bedroom window. He expected Sakura to sit up and scold him for trespassing but her condition didn’t allow her to. Instead, she regarded him silently with droopy eyes and muttered his name.

He could tell she felt uncomfortable. Her eyes were drowsy, her limbs were heavy and no amount of willpower could make her body leave the solace of the soft bed and the warm blanket draped over her shoulders.

It was worry that seized Naruto at first but it was replaced by happiness as indicated by his all-too-familiar grin.

“Why are you even smiling?” Sakura’s voice was weak and it sounded like she was fighting back tiredness.

“Sorry Sakura-chan. You know, this actually makes me happy because at least now I have a reason to stay here and take care of you,”

He looked around and found a chair at the corner of the room. He took it, placed it beside her bed and sat. “Go to sleep. I’m not going anywhere,”

“You’re hopeless. I didn’t ask for this but since you volunteered, you better make sure you’re still here when I wake up,” her voice became weaker as she slowly succumbed to sleep.

“Sakura-chan, I’ll even stay forever if you want to,” Naruto whispered to her sleeping form while still grinning from ear to ear.

A few hours later, Mebuki arrived with food and Sakura awoke to find out that Naruto had kept his promise.

Note: Inspired by the latest chapter. I do believe Sakura doesn't love Sasuke in the same way as she used to but if I were Naruto and I were to hear such words from the woman I love with all my heart then I would still be hurt but I would hide it. Definitely 

Naruto loves with such reckless abandon. He promises with unrivalled sincerity and waits patiently until time, itself, gives up on him.

Naruto loves until it hurts. His confession is restrained by the past and he whispers them to the wind, hoping it will reach his beloved someday. He wants her to see herself through his eyes. She deserves so much better and he is more than willing to prove it to her. He refuses to confess because he feels unworthy and inadequate and not when she still has lingering feelings for another.

Naruto loves until his hearts bleed with the wounds from the past. His selflessness transcends reason and his love remains unrelenting, only growing as time passes. If she chooses him then his happiness will be boundless as the depths of the sea. If she wouldn’t then he will gather up all the courage in the world to support her.

Sakura had no idea when she gave Naruto this much power over her and he wasn’t even trying to control her. He was just grinning.

“Quit it,” she snapped.

Naruto ignored her and instead hummed a happy tune.

“I said quit it,”

“Oh sorry Sakura-chan, I’m just…happy,” the grin never left his lips and his voice held a childish playfulness in them. “Want to know why I am?” he said teasingly, clearly enjoying the expression he aroused from his teammate.

Sakura knew exactly why but she didn’t want to hear him say it aloud. “No thanks,” she said, walking ahead. Naruto had to stride to keep up with her. Once they were abreast, he continued.

“Sakura-chan was jealous with that girl who gave me the letter. I feel so loved. You don’t want me to lose me after all,” Naruto sang happily. Then, he stepped closer, put a hand on his chest and looked at her straight in the eyes. “Don’t worry I’m yours forever,” he tried to keep his voice low in a bad attempt at being seductive,”

Heat flared Sakura’s cheeks and she made a quick move to hit him. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to control the strength and her fist hit him hard on the shoulder. Naruto wailed.

===

In the Hospital

“It was your fault! You were teasing me!” Sakura reasoned out but when she looked at his bandaged arm, guilt flooded her features. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right. You just have to admit you love me and the pain will be gone,” the playful tone was back but she gave him a warning look and he stopped and laughed nervously. “I was just trying to make you smile because you look so guilty,”

She looked straight into his eyes and sighed heavily. He was trying to cheer her up and it wasn’t working-not when his injured arm was there for her to see. She wanted to make it up to him somehow.

“I’m yours,”

“What?” Mouth agape, Naruto stared.

Sakura felt her cheeks grew hot at what her words just insinuated. “I mean I will help do some tasks for you for one week until your arm gets better,”

Naruto nodded dumbly. “but Sakura-chan…you don’t really have to,”

“I don’t have to but I want to,” There was resolve in the way she spoke and Naruto found it endearing. She was more attractive when she set her mind on something.

“Don’t give me that look. I might fall in love with you more,” he meant every word.

“You never give up do you?”

“But I am not even teasing you anymore,” he whined.

“Just wait for me here. I need to get something outside. We’ll go out together,” she said, immediately cutting off their conversation.

Outside…

Sakura leaned on the door upon closing it. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like her chest might burst out. She was used to him but she had been sensitive to his teasing today because of that unsettling revelation she had finally accepted last night.