It was sunset in the peaceful village of Konoha and Naruto Uzumaki was ready to head home after a long day of training. Naruto decided to take a shortcut on his way home, so he cut through an alley. Suddenly the blonde Uzumaki heard something behind him. He turned around quickly and saw no one.

“Well that was weird.” Naruto got ready to walk again when he felt something rubbing against his leg. “WHAA?” Naruto looked down to see a small kitten rubbing against his leg. ‘Why cats, I hate cats.’ Naruto picked up the tiny kitten and put him in the opposite direction. “Go that way little guy.” Naruto walked off again when the kitten jumped on Naruto’s back, and popped his head over Naruto’s shoulder. Naruto grabbed the kitten and pulled him up to his face. “What’s the…” The kitten was looking at Naruto with her big sad eyes. “I guess you’re kind of cute.” The little kitten started to purr. “AHH-alright you can live with me for awhile.” The kitten licked Naruto’s face in appreciation. “Alright, alright don’t get sentimental. Hey you need a name. Hmm…HEY I GOT IT!!! How does Marbles sound to you?” Marbles started to rube his face against Naruto’s cheek. “Hey what did I say about getting sentimental?” Naruto said jokingly. Naruto started walking back to his house. “You’re house trained right? Meow once for yes, two for no.”

The next morning when Naruto woke up he looked over where Marbles was supposed to be sleeping. “Marbles, Marbles where are you boy? I guess he left, oh well.” Naruto put on his shirt when he felt something furry crawling around against his skin. The young Uzumaki started to laugh uncontrollably. Marbles popped up from the collar of Naruto’s shirt. “What are you doing in there?” Naruto pulled Marbles out of his shirt. “Sorry you can’t come with me today boy.” Naruto put Marbles down on the floor. Then Marbles started to purr and looked at Naruto with his big, sad kitten eyes. “Oh those eyes should be classified as an S rank jutsu. I’m sorry but no.” Naruto left feeling guilty.

Today Naruto was supposed to meet Sakura then talk to Kakashi, but he couldn’t help but to think about Marbles. “Come on Naruto it was just a little kitten. A small, cute, and adorable kitten but still a kitten.”

“Hey Naruto!” Naruto looked up to see Sakura waving at him.

Naruto muttered to himself, “If she doesn’t cheer me up then I truly will be pathetic.” Naruto caught up with Sakura. They went to Ichiraku and ate lunch together. After that they met up with Kakashi to find out what they’re next mission was, who was early for once.

“Oh hey guys.” Naruto and Sakura looked at their sensei in total awe.

“Sensei what are you doing here?” Sakura asked in shock.

“Oh I thought I’d try something new and be here early. Anyway there’s nothing to do. No missions, no training so you two have the day off. See ya.” And with that said Kakashi was gone.

“Well that was nice of him. What do you want to do Sakura?”

“Sorry Naruto I just remembered I have to help my mother with something.”

“Oh that’s okay. See ya Sakura.” Sakura ran back to the village waving back to Naruto as he waved back feeling sad. Naruto went home, thinking about his new roommate. He opened the door and as soon as he looked inside he saw Neji sitting on his bed petting Marbles.

“Well, well, well Naruto I didn’t know you were a cat person.” Naruto’s face went dead in disbelief and his jaw was hanging open.

“Wha…what’re you doing here Neji?!” Said Hyuga prodigy stood up with Marbles on his right shoulder. Neji tilted his head towards the cute little fur ball hanging on his shoulder waiting for an answer. “Okay, okay he kind of followed me so I decided to take him in. What are you doing here anyway Neji?”

“Iruka told me to ask you to help us set up a surprise festival for lady Tsunade. Her birthday is in one week, so do you want to help?”

“I have a few questions first. One how did you get in my house? And two how do you make a surprise festival? It seems like the kind of thing that would attract a lot of attention.”

Neji looked at the ceiling to think. “Do you want those in any specific order?” Naruto nodded. “Okay. First the door was unlocked. Two Tsunade is leaving on a vacation filled with gambling and drinking. I asked if I could go but they said no.”

“Alright I’ll help, but uh Neji can you not tell anyone about Marbles.” Neji’s face grew a slight smile.

“Oh so Marbles is his name is it?” he asked mockingly. Naruto growled in anger, “Oh calm down I won’t tell anyone. What’s to be ashamed of?”

“Well I think it’s a little embarrassing.” Neji smiled at Naruto.

“You mean you don’t want Sakura to know about this cat of yours?” Naruto looked away trying not to smile. “I won’t tell. Meet us in front of the Hokage Mountains tomorrow at four.” Neji started to walk off.

“AM or PM?” Neji turned around.

“You know I can do sometimes talk to Ino every now and then, wouldn’t it be so much fun to see how quickly a story about you having a kitten would spread across Konoha like wildfire.”

“Okay, okay calm down.” With that said Neji left. Naruto sat on his bed and Marbles jumped on his back and started to purr. Naruto grabbed Marbles and brought him to eye level. “You need to lock the door if I forget next time. Meow if you understand purr if you don’t.” Marbles started to purr. “Okay purr if you understand me, meow if you don’t.” Then Marbles meowed. “You’re messing with me aren’t you? Meow for yes and purr for yes. HA outsmarted you didn’t I?” Marbles didn’t make a sound. “I don’t believe this I’ve been outsmarted by a cat.” Marbles smiled at Naruto. “You’re enjoying yourself aren’t you?” Naruto looked at his alarm clock. “It’s ten already, wow. Well time to go to bed.” Marbles jumped on Naruto meowing. “What I need to go to sleep.” Naruto looked out the window where Marbles was looking. “Alright we’ll take a walk.” Naruto put his jacket and shoes back on. “Come on Marbles. And if anyone asks you don’t know me and I don’t know you.”

The next day Naruto got up and got ready to meet up with Neji and Iruka. Marbles was in Naruto’s shirt again, but this time Naruto was one step ahead of his furry roommate…okay so he wasn’t and he was tickled again by Marbles. “You can come with me today, but you can’t show yourself until I say okay boy.” Marbles meowed. “I have no idea what that means but good enough for me.” When Naruto met up where Neji had told him to be he also saw Shikamaru, Lee, and Choji. Before he could even greet anyone Marbles jumped out and landed on Neji’s shoulder. Everyone turned their heads from Neji to Naruto. “Well how did that get there?”

“Well, Well Naruto I didn’t know you were so into little pets like this.” Shikamaru looked at him jokingly.

“Well…I…um.” Naruto explained about Marbles and why he took him in. “But you guys have to promise that you won’t tell Sakura please.” They all looked at each other. Then they heard Marbles purring and looked at his big sad face. “How can any sane or moral person resist that face?” They all agreed not to tell Sakura about Marbles. For two full weeks straight the entire village worked on the festival for Tsunade. Sakura, Shikamaru, Neji, and Naruto were setting up the decorations around the street where Naruto lived. After two hours Sakura had to go somewhere else to help with the festival.

“You know if you want Sakura to like you, you could just get her a really great present.” Naruto looked over at Shikamaru with curiosity.

“Like what?” Neji asked.

“I was talking to Naruto. I didn’t know you had a crush on her too though Neji,” Shikamaru replied lazily.

“And I was answering for Naruto,” Neji shot back.

“Okay Shikamaru, what should I get Sakura?” Naruto asked, putting an end to their fighting.

“Well for her last birthday I got Ino a goldfish.” Naruto gave Shikamaru a look that obviously questioned his sanity. “What? She liked it more than anything I got her before.

“If a goldfish was the best gift you got her then maybe you shouldn’t be giving Naruto gift advice.” Shikamaru threw some decorations at Neji.

“Wait…that’s not a totally stupid idea.” Shikamaru pointed and gave a loud HA at Neji, then shot a confused look back at Naruto, “Wait, it isn’t?”

“No the goldfish was stupid, but I just have to get Sakura a really great pet. But the question is what should I get her?” Marbles popped up from his collar and started to rub against the bottom of his chin. Naruto looked at Shikamaru and Neji who were looking at Marbles. “Wait, whoa, whoa hold up.”

“It’s not easy but it’s the best thing you got.” Naruto looked sadly at Marbles and then at Shikamaru and Neji. “Man those eyes are contagious.” Shikamaru said as he smacked his forehead.

“It’s your choice Naruto, whatever you think you should do.”

Naruto thought about giving Marbles to Sakura and he could hardly stand the thought. But then Naruto thought of how happy it might make Sakura to have someone as cute as Marbles. “What do you say boy? Would you mind being someone else’s?” Marbles meowed sadly at Naruto. Naruto felt the tears gather up in his eyes when Marbles started licking his face. “Again with the sentimentality. I’m going to miss you boy.” On his way home Naruto found a little box that Marbles could fit in perfectly, and he also found a bow to go around his neck. “Okay so how much is all this?”

“About fifteen dollars young man.” Naruto had just enough money to pay for the box and bow.

“Thank you sir,” Naruto waved to the store clerk and went back to his house. When Naruto opened the box he noticed a card. The card had on the front a puppy dog and a small kitten snuggling. The cat on the card looked like Marbles but black, Marbles was an orange cat. Inside the card was blank so Naruto had to think of something to write. Naruto looked at Marbles and was struck with inspiration. Naruto tide a red bow around his neck and tucked the card under his bow.

Naruto went up to Sakura’s bedroom window and she was fast asleep. Naruto opened the box to get one last look at Marbles and snuck into Sakura’s room. He gently placed the box on her bedroom desk. He was about to leave when he was startled by a loud noise. He looked over at Sakura and realized that the loud noise came from Sakura snoring. Naruto tried not to laugh at her. Naruto pulled Sakura’s blanket up to her shoulders to help keep her warm. He stroked her hair out of her eyes and just looked at her for what felt like an hour but was really about ten minutes.

The next morning Sakura woke up and felt something licking her face and she started to laugh. “Oh Naruto.” Then she realized that she wasn’t dreaming. She quickly jolted up and looked around to make sure that no one heard her. Then she found out there was a small kitten on her head. She lifted the kitten off her head with both hands. “Oh aren’t you just the cutest.” She noticed the card tucked under the kitten’s bow. “What’s this?

‘Puppies and kittens are cute but to me you’re still the cutest one around.
Sakura, first of all I really hope you’re not allergic to cats. I also hope that Marbles will bring you even half of the happiness that he’s brought me.
Love, the former owner of Marbles
P.S. don’t ever tell Marbles ‘no,’ you’ll see why soon enough.

Sakura read the card over and over then looked at the cat. “Marbles? So is that your name?” Marbles meowed. “Oh you are the cutest thing yes you are.” Sakura couldn’t help herself but to snuggle the hell out of little Marbles. “Hey you want to come with me today Marbles?” Marbles meowed and jumped on Sakura’s head. “Alright then let’s go.”

Sakura got dressed then walked down the stairs with Marbles on her head. Saiki, Sakura’s mother, gave the young her daughter an odd look. “Sakura,” said Haruno stopped, “Why is there a cat on your head?”

“I got him as a gift last night from someone,” she explained as she picked Marbles off her head again. “Isn’t he just the cutest though?” Sakura said in a baby, goo-goo voice.

“Sakura…I don’t know if we should be taking in random cats and whatnot. Our house isn’t a pet store.”

“Mom, it’s one little, cute, adorable, snuggable, lovable-”

“Okay I see your point but still I…” Sakura held up Marbles with two hands. The little kitten’s paws were balled up showing his big sad eyes. Saiki was powerless to resist Marbles’ persuasive eyes. “Ohhhhhh…kay fine, the cat can stay.”

Sakura squealed in happiness, “By the way his name is Marbles.” Sakura bolted for the door, unable to wait to show off her new friend.

Sakura showed up with Marbles on her head and when Ino and Tenten saw him they did the same thing Sakura did…snuggled the hell out of Marbles.

“So where did he come from, and what’s his name, and isn’t he the cutest?”

“Do you want those in any specific order?” Ino stopped snuggling Marbles and looked at Sakura.

“I would like for them to be in that order.” Sakura looked at the sky and then looked back at Ino.

“He was in my room this morning from someone, his name is Marbles, and yes he is.” Both Tenten and Ino looked at Sakura at the same time.

“MARBLES!?!” they asked in disbelief.

“That’s what the card said,” Tenten looked at Marbles with a questioning look that basically said ‘you must be joking.’

“Someone named Marbles gave you this cat?” Sakura started to laugh at Tenten.

“No, no the kitten’s name is Marbles. I don’t know who gave him to me.” Marbles jumped back on Sakura’s head. “Anyway we have to meet up with Shikamaru and Naruto.” The three girls met with Naruto and Shikamaru. When Sakura was close enough Marbles jumped on Naruto’s shoulder and started rubbing his cheek. “Well Naruto I didn’t know that you were a cat person.” Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

“I guess he likes me for some reason.” After another day of preparing for the festival Naruto and Sakura were ready to head home. When Naruto was walking off Marbles started to follow him. “No boy you have to go with her.” But Marbles still stood by Naruto.

“I guess he really likes you Naruto.” Naruto laughed nervously. “Come on you can walk me home.” Naruto’s cheeks turned a slight pinkish, when in his head he was screaming

‘YES!!! IT’S BEEN ONE DAY SINCE I GAVE HER MARBLES AND IT’S ALREADY PAYING OFF!!!’ So Naruto walked Sakura back to her house at her door step Marbles jumped onto Sakura’s shoulder.

“Well thanks for walking me home Naruto,” Sakura said sweetly.

“No problem Sakura.” Sakura opened the door, but before she went in she took one last look at Naruto.

“Goodnight Naruto.” Sakura then closed the door.

“Goodnight Sakura.” Naruto went home that night and got ready for bed. Laying down he looked up at the ceiling and thought about Marbles and Sakura until he fell asleep. Later that night Naruto felt something crawling on him. He woke up and found Marbles lying on his chest. “Marbles? You should be at Sakura’s. I miss you too but…”

“So it was you who gave Marbles to me.” Naruto jolted up and Marbles fell into his lap. Naruto looked to where the voice had come from and saw Sakura standing in the corner.

“Sakura how…why…when…” Sakura walked over to Naruto who was still stammering and put her finger over his lips, and Naruto stopped talking.

“It was pretty obvious when Marbles jumped onto your shoulder.” Naruto tried to think of something.

“Well…”

“And then he wanted to follow you home instead of me.” Naruto’s cheeks turned red and his face felt hot.

“Ummmm…” Naruto’s cheeks turned redder and his face felt hotter when Sakura flung her arms around his neck.

“This is the nicest thing you could have done for me. Thank you Naruto.”

“Sakura I did that because…I…um…what I mean is…” Sakura put her finger up to Naruto’s lips again.

“I know Naruto. Now shut up and kiss me.” Sakura leaned forward and locked her lips with Naruto in one hell of a passionate kiss.

Naruto could hardly breathe at first, but Sakura leaned against Naruto more and more until Naruto had to lean back against her. Sakura’s arms slid down Naruto’s shoulder then snaked their way to his back pulling them closer together. Heat ran to Sakura’s face as she took notice of how broad Naruto’s shoulders were. Naruto cautiously ran his hands around to Sakura’s back as well, with heat running to his face. Naruto then, very cautiously ran his hands down Sakura’s back, causing her back to arc, pressing herself against Naruto’s body even more. Reluctantly they had to break off their kiss to breathe at least. They fell back on the bed and heard Marbles meow.

They both looked over at adorable kitten and started to laugh. Sakura pulled the covers up to their shoulders so they could go to sleep. Naruto put his arm over Sakura and kissed her on her forehead. Marbles started to rest in front of Sakura when they both started scratching his ears.

“Thank you Marbles,” they both said. Naruto, Sakura, and Marbles all fell into a deep sleep, and this is where the story ends. Now go read some of my other stories please.