*Thank You*

Name: Kari Yamada

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Looks: Long brown hair with roots parted down left side of face; blue eyes; "some muscle, but mostly bone."

Personality: Kari is somewhat reserved, but once she becomes fond of someone, she's surprisingly very talkative. She enjoys training as well as a good challenge. She doesn't especially like fighting, but will do anything to defend herself or her friends. She isn't all that keen of people who are ignorant and disrespectful, and typically follows Sakura Haruno's ways of reprimanding Naruto and any others with perverted tendencies...

Likes: Ramen, Taijutsu training, Writing in her "journal", Team 7, strong-willed people, and onsens {hot springs}

Dislikes: Blood, Seeing her friends hurt or upset, Fighting, Deceitful people, Swimming, Sasuke's betrayal, Celery, Medicine.

Requested One-Shot from @jaidenallen ^_^ I hope you like it. It's short but, I think it's sweet :3

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~Third Person's P.O.V~

"Oh Kari, you're so full of youth!" Gai-sensei praised the young kunoichi as she battled one of his students, Rock Lee.

"Gai-sensei!" Lee gasps. "I am more youthful than Ka-"

Lee was cut off by a kick to the face, courtesy of Kari Yamada.

"Gah! Kari! You should not attack a comrade like that when they are not paying attention!" Lee scolded as if he were an older brother or the likes.

The brunette simply deadpanned at her friend before stating, "You shouldn't take your attention off your attacker either. Comrade or not."

Rock Lee looked down in shame as Gai-sensei nodded his head in agreement with what the blue eyed kunoichi had stated. She was about to mention something else until she saw they were racing into the sunset, crying.

With a shake of the head and a smile, Kari decided to take a break from training and walk around Konoha for a bit.

As Kari was walking part the ramen shop, she heard someone call her name so she stopped and turned to see Naruto smiling at her, peeking out from the curtains of Teuchi's ramen restraunt. Ichiraku's.

She smiled and walked over to him, "Hey Naruto! What's up?"

Naruto's smile got slightly bigger as he answered Kari, "Just taking a break for Ichiraku's, you wanna join?"

Kari's heart felt weird after Naruto asked her stay, unknowing to her, Naruto's heart felt the same when she replied with a yes and sat down.

The minutes ticked by as the two shinobi sat at Ichiraku's, eating and chatting. Naruto had recieved the news about Jiraiya about a week ago, so it was a good sight for Kari to see. She couldn't stand it when her friends were upset, but when she saw Naruto crying... It tore her heart in two.

As minutes turned into hours, Teuchi eventually had to close up the ramen shop. Naruto and Kari said their goodbyes and started walking around aimlessly just so they could keep talking.

Eventually they had managed to walk to the academy. This brought a big smile to Kari's face.

"Hey Naruto.." Kari spoke out.

"Yeah?"

"....Remember that time some kid pushed you and you and Sasuke kissed??" Kari covered her mouth, attempting to hide her huge smile and stop her giggles when she saw Naruto's bright red face.

"Kaarriii!" Naruto whined as Kari burst out laughing.

"Sorry Naruto but that was one of the best memories I had here." She apologized, smiling at him.

Naruto smiled back and little and pulled Kari into a random hug, "It's okay." Naruto chuckled as he pulled away.

"Good.. but.. are you doing alright now?" Kari didn't want to ask but, she had to know.

Naruto took a breath before answering, "I guess.. It still hurts a lot but, I have my friends so it helps ease the pain.. You've helped the most though Kari.. So, thank you Kari.. I really appriciate it.."

Kari gave him a soft smile as she answered, "You're welcome Naruto.. I just couldn't stand seeing you in so much pain. I had to try to help the best I could."

Naruto pulled her into another random hug, "Kari.. Can I tell you something?"

As Kari hugged back she replied, "Of course Naruto.."

"Everytime I see you.. or talk to you.. or anything about you, my heart starts beating faster and I start feeling really nervous.. I think.. I think I really like you.." Naruto stumbled over his words a few times and began blushing quite darkly.

Kari's eyes widened when Naruto confessed to her, a dark blush coming to her cheeks as well. She pulled away and looked at him, still slightly wide eyed. It never occured to her before that her feelings for Naruto were stronger than a friendship.

"Kari...?" Naruto waited for a response from his comrade, the girl he had begun to fall in love with.

She looked down, "I never realized that I felt more than a friendship for you.."

Naruto stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I.. I feel the same way.." Kari finished.

Naruto got a bright smile on his face and pulled Kari into a big hug, squeezing her. "I love you Kari!" Everything froze for a moment.

"I.. I love you too Naruto." Kari smiled brightly at Naruto.

Naruto couldn't help but to get excited and do something spontaneously.

Naruto kissed her.

Naruto kissed Kari.

You couldn't believe how much passion and love was in that kiss.

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{Okay, so there's going to be a slightly different ending below ^^" It's going to be what I originally wanted but, it was 12:30am and my mom wouldn't leave me alone so I got distracted -_- but anyways, onward to the other ending! :3}

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"....Remember that time some kid pushed you and you and Sasuke kissed??" Kari covered her mouth, attempting to hide her huge smile and stop her giggles when she saw Naruto's bright red face.

"Kaarriii!" Naruto whined as Kari burst out laughing.

"Sorry Naruto but that was one of the best memories I had here." She apologized, smiling at him.

Naruto smiled back and little and pulled Kari into a random hug, "Thank you Kari..."

Kari slowly pulled away, still smiling. "What for?"

"For everything. For believing in me when Sasuke left.. For not hating him.. Especially for being the when.. When Jiraiya passed. It means a lot. You were my first real friend too. I can't thank you enough for helping me out the darkness.." Naruto finished his small speech quietly. All Kari could do was stare at him in shock. She knew she helped him but, never realized she made such an impact on him.

Naruto pulled Kari into another hug after a moment, thanking her again.

"You're welcome Naruto.." The young kunoichi replied quietly.

"Can I tell you something else Kari..?" Naruto asked, his heart beating slightly faster.

Kari nodded, waiting for him to tell her whatever it was he wanted to.

She felt Naruto take a deep breath, "Everytime I'm with you.. Everytime I talk to you.. Even when I think about you.. My heart beats faster and I get really nervous. When I see you in pain, I get so angry and upset, like the person had hurt me instead of you.. I.. really like you Kari.."

Kari pulls away slightly, staring at Naruto in curiousity. "You.. Like me?"

Naruto nodded, "I really like you.. I want to be with you.. Will you be my girlfriend Kari?"

A huge blush erupted on both teenagers faces. "U-uh... I.. I don't really know much about dating but.. Uh.. I'd love to learn.." She smiled shyly at Naruto, feeling slightly off since she was stuttering around one of her best friends.

Naruto smiled brightly and hugged Kari, swinging her a little before setting her down and giving her a sudden kiss. After a second, Kari hesitantly kissed back.

She wasn't completely sure what she was feeling but she was sure she didn't want it to stop.

"Thank you.." Naruto whispered in her ear after they pulled away, a smile on both of their faces.

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I hope you enjoyed it, @jaidenallen ^.^ I know it isn't too long but still :3

Vote, Comment, Whatever ya like ^.^