"Naruto?"

Sakura's beautiful and slightly confused voice stopped Naruto dead in his tracks. His brain was screaming at his body to run before it's too late, but his stubborn heart had taken over and was refusing to move an inch.

"Were you just about to run away?" Sakura asked in a disappointed voice.

"I..."

"So you were... you don't want to go on a date with me?" Sakura asked sadly.

"I don't want to fall into another one of your traps." Naruto replied honestly. "I just can't take it again."

Sakura blinked in surprise and then frowned. "I suppose you have plenty of reasons not to trust me... I'm sorry about that. But... this isn't a trap Naruto. I want to go on a date with you. No tricks, just you and me."

"I want to believe you Sakura...but everytime I try to all I see is that look you had on your face after you enslaved me, and all I hear is that mocking laughter when Tsunade was basically calling me worthless."

Sakura's frown deepened. "That's understandable I guess. Fine, we won't go on a date, just please don't leave the village? Even if I can't be with you, not ever being able to see you would be awful."

Naruto turned around and looked closely at Sakura. She generally did look sad, and there were tears gathering at the edges of her eyes. Naruto knew what he wanted to say, and his brain was screaming at him to keep his mouth shut. Despite his brain's protests Naruto's mouth opened anyways.

"Ok."

Sakura smiled sadly at him. "Good, I'm so relieved you're staying."

"Ok." Naruto repeated.

"Ok what?"

"Ok, I'll go on a date with you."

"But I thought you couldn't trust me?"

"I'm going to, just please don't betray my trust again. I won't be able to handle it."

Sakura's eyes widened and a happy smile overtook her face. She rushed forward and wrapped Naruto in a tight embrace.

"Thank you. You won't regret this." Sakura whispered. "Now come in with me, there's a few things I want to show you before we go."

Naruto gulped. That sounded like last time. She told him she'd go on a date with him, then after he got excited she told him he had to sign the contract...

Sakura noticed his hesitation and smiled at him. "Don't worry, you'll like this."