Love’s in the air in the Konoha Village! And Sakura's just made an inner revelation; she's in love with NARUTO! Can she tell him? What's he doing on a date with Hinata!? Has he forgotten about her!? And who is this mysterious girl who’s stolen Sasuke’s heart away? NaruSaku SasuOC

I just re-edited this entire story. I am making as many changes as needed, in hopes that it will inspire me to finish up the damn story. I’ve been trying, so what?

About Luffy: She’s an OC. She’s based very loosely off of me, but she is NOT a Mary-Sue. She’s far from perfect. She doesn’t have a dark past. She isn’t going to have every boy fall in love with her. She is not related to anyone in Konoha. Blah, blah, blah! Luffy is thirteen. She is from the Village of the Hidden Clouds. (I think it exists…) She is a mind reader, that’s her bloodline limit. Lalalala… deal with her.

When I started writing this story I hadn’t decided which Sasuke couplings I liked yet. All I knew what I hated SasuSaku. Now, I have an extensive list, but this story is already started.

This is a very short first chapter but I don’t care. I wrote this a very long time ago. It was my first fanfiction and the first one I ever put online. I can’t stress that enough. I’m working very hard to make this good. I know it won’t get as much love as my others because I have an OC in it, but hell, shut up, I didn’t know.

Main Pair: Naruto/Sakura

Secondary Pair: Sasuke/OC

Featured Pairs: Ino/Shikamaru, Temari/TenTen, Neji/Hinata

Mentioned Pairs: Asuma/Kurenai, Jiraiya/Tsunade

Dedications: This story is dedicated to MelanieStar who was my first real reviewer and liked my stories. I really enjoy her reviews. I hope she stays around. She’s a real sweetie. X3

Naruto © Mashi Kishimoto; Fiction and Luffy © Courtney Dracon (me)

I Just Wanna Say “I Love You”

Chapter 1: Sakura and the Mind Reader

“I love you,”

“Aishiteru!”

“Te amo.”

“I, Sakura Haruno, LOVE YOU!”

Sakura sighed and stared at her own reflection. She brushed he rose colored bangs from her emerald eyes and inhaled.

“I love you.” she let the words come in a smooth, blunt fashion. She smiled, “I like it.” she murmured to her mirror-twin. “It’s direct. Naruto wouldn’t understand beating around the bush,” at his name her heart skipped a beat.

It took her so long to realize how she felt about her blonde haired teammate. He was sweet, albeit a little clueless. Though it wasn’t like she could talk, she had been even more clueless than him. She’d spent so long all tied up in Sasuke, she never realized now much she actually loved Naruto. She’d never given him a chance. That was about to change…

“He has a crush on you, right?” she asked Mirror-Sakura, prompting an answer. “This should be easy! You confess your love, he agrees and you ride off together into the sunset on his white stallion. PERFECT!” she grinned and gave herself the thumbs-up.

Sakura rubbed mousse on her hands and worked it through her hair. She pulled her hair up into a claw clip at the back of her head. One of her bangs dropped over her eye. Fiddling through the piles of beauty products on her vanity, she applied a little makeup, accentuating her eyes and cheekbones with a few small strokes of her brush. She smiled inwardly as she pulled on her new outfit. She slung a black messenger bag over her shoulder and exited her house, yelling her goodbyes over her shoulder.

- 0 -

Sakura trotted down the streets of Konohagakure, searching for Naruto. Until recently, she most likely would have been searching for Sasuke, but things had changed. Consumed by her own thoughts, Sakura didn’t notice where she was walking. She crashed into a girl.

The girl fell on her behind and let out a low grunt. She looked up at Sakura, “SORRY!” They said together; then laughed. Sakura held out her hand and helped her up.

Sakura surveyed the girl standing before her. She was taller than herself and her violet eyes were incredibly wide. She was foreign. The hiate headband on her forehead was that of the Village Hidden in the Clouds. The girl’s hair was black, with a long purple bang that covered her right eye. She wore thick black glasses with square frames that slipped low under her nose. She was cute. The girl smiled at Sakura and held out her hand, Sakura took it and they shook hands. The dark haired girl dropped her hand.

“I’m Luffy, Luffy Dragon.” The girl grinned to show sparkling white teeth, which were oddly sharp. Luffy wore a purple off the shoulder top with a thin black choker. Thin yellow straps stretched down the front. Underneath the shirt were short fishnet sleeves and fishnet covered her flat stomach. Her eyes were such a deep violet, they were almost glittered. Luffy hitched up her black Capri pants and grinned again. She treaded on one of her sandals. It was as if she didn’t know what to say. She had odd gloves on her hands, ones without fingers.

“Oh, hi!” Sakura greeted her pleasantly. “I’m Sakura Haruno.” Luffy studied Sakura. Sakura felt a little self-conscious. It was like Luffy’s eyes were burning through her.

“You’re pretty.” Luffy stated plainly, looking Sakura up and down. She examined Sakura’s outfit. She was wearing a blue halter top with an orange Kohana symbol on the chest and a short black mini skirt with orange leggings. The outfit was more low-cut than what she usually wore, making her look as though she were a little more gifted in the T&A department.

“Uh… thanks?” Sakura didn’t exactly know how to respond to the comment. It was uncommon to meet a person and tell them how attractive you thought they were. What was with this girl!?

“I’ve got to go see the Hokage.” Luffy smiled again, placing a comforting hand on Sakura’s shoulder. “Sorry to unnerve you like that,” she apologized, “but I thought you should know that the boy you want will think you’re just as pretty as I think you are.” She winked and Sakura gasped.

“I can read minds.” Luffy added, dropping her hand. Sakura turned her head to the side, “It’s a bloodline limit my clan shares,” she explained quickly. “Now I really have to go, the Hokage is supposed to assign me a temporary team” She turned on her heel. “He’s at Ichiraku.” Luffy included as she left.

Sakura stood for a second, thinking. Was that girl right? Was Naruto at the ramen shop? ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT! Sakura sped off in the opposite direction.