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Romance:Ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; love.A strong, sometimes short-lived attachment, fascination, or enthusiasm for something.

Ardent biggrin isplaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion.

He doesn't want to be the one to make her cry. So I believe his grin is to reassure her, like he has done so many times in the past. He doesn't want her to feel sad for him, to hurt more because of him. So instead he attempts to pretend that everything is alright with him. Then he quickly leaves to mask his real pain, a pain that despite his best intentions, is very badly hidden. And Sakura can just look helplessly as he attempts to shoulder his problems alone. By:heronite

''So heedless of the danger, she runs to him. She was reckless, yes. She acted on impulse and there really isn't anything else she could have thought of: Sai is nowhere to be seen, and she still does not know of Yamato's abilities.

Yet I couldn't be prouder of the answer she gives. Of all the solutions she could have thought up against his pain, the most obvious would have been to set him free from the promise of a lifetime. But all this time, she's witnessed to how important Sasuke is to Naruto as well. She's even told Sai that Naruto considers Sasuke his very own brother. For her to ask Naruto to give up now would have been not only useless, it would have likely been insulting to his character, and insinuating that he can't live up to his promise. That he'd have to give up one of his most precious bonds, as well.

So she cries out the ultimate compromise.
Naruto! This... that's enough! I'll be the one to save Sasuke!

Some translators translate this last sentence as "I'll save Sasuke for you!" They have explained that while the "for you" isn't explicitly mentioned, there is a heavy emphasis on the "I" that suggests this, backed by context. So instead of letting Naruto suffer this much, she is willing to take on the burden for two, even though her chances of ever saving Sasuke would have been that much reduced... And at the same time, she shows just how much she understands his feelings.

But later, afraid of hurting Naruto's feelings even more, she hides the true cause of the injury the mini-Kyuubi has given her. Instead she also puts up a smile and pretends that everything is alright. She doesn't blame him, and doesn't want to put blame on him, not when he suffers so much already...

After the tragic events of the Kyuubi 4-tails transformation, a heartbroken Sakura also ponders what she can do for Naruto. 2.5 years of training, and all she can do is witness, witness, witness...

Same as always...

I can only do the dumbest of things for Naruto.

Yet Yamato sees something more important within her, so after a little smile, he tells her:

It's not what you do for Naruto that's important... It's how strongly you feel about him that counts. Hmph... Sakura, I can tell just by looking at you... the truth is you...

Within her feelings for Naruto, she will find the strength to make a difference as well. She's not the strongest, she can't control Kyuubi, nor heal Naruto of his biggest pains. But while Naruto is isolating himself, she'll be the touch of humanity to care for him and to remind him of what's important.

And while Sakura's words might not have gotten through to a Kyuubified Naruto, her actions leave ripples that finally did succeed in reaching Naruto's heart. Although Sakura is afraid of hurting Naruto, Yamato has no such personal qualms. So he's the one who tells Naruto, and it in doing so, reminds him of the importance of bonds.

In Samurai X, Kenshin never tells Tomoe "I love you." Instead, it's when Kenshin reaches out to her, and tells her in a grave tone, "I will protect you," that Tomoe truly realizes how much they're in love. And those words accelerate the events, leading to Tomoe's tragic demise.

I've checked other animes, and indeed, this "protect" theme is present to various degrees in other shounen and shoujo such as Utena (the anime in any case), Ayashi no Ceres, Ranma, Inu Yasha, and others. Sometimes "I will protect you" is uttered right after a confession of love. Sometimes it is just uttered on its own, and the love is felt from just that.

I've read somewhere else that declarations of love tend to be rare in Japan, that people tend to prefer proving their love with actions. Having the male randomly make declarations of love might be viewed as inappropriate Instead, by making this declaration of protection, they are stating a lifetime devotion, perhaps as strong a proof of love as any.

And when a puzzled Gamabunta asked Naruto who "Sakura-chan" is, Gamakichi offered the explanation that she is Naruto's girlfriend, as though its explains Naruto's dedication.

Back then, Naruto fought with his life to protect Sakura. Then, to protect her feelings, he made her a promise of a lifetime. And even now, Yamato himself states: "If you truly want to protect Sakura." It is not absolute proof of romantic love... but it shows the extent of Naruto's dedication to Sakura.

So in the end, Sakura's care was not in vain. Naruto has finally learned that giving in to Kyuubi might help him save Sasuke more quickly, but the price is too high. To see his brother again, with his own eyes, but also to protect the girl he cares so much about, Naruto will learn to rely on his own eyes. So when Naruto finally does meet up with Sasuke, he learns to say "No" to Kyuubi.

Naruto being there for Sakura in part 1. To cheer for her when she's fighting, to protect her when she's in danger, to reassure her when she's sad, to dedicate his life to her happiness. All the while, never asking anything back.

Sakura being there for Naruto in part 2. To accept him for his strengths. To accept him for his faults. To accept him for his demons. To be kind to him in his pain, to cry for him when he despairs, and to be the touch of humanity to prevent him from losing himself. To be there to protect him as well.

They're there for each other. Growing up together, living victories and failures together, but also pulling each other up again. Feeling happy when the other is happy, feeling sad when the other is in pain, feeling the need to grow stronger while witnessing the other's strength, feeling the need to grow even stronger when the other falters.By:heronite

- it's the same look of anticipation when Kakashi tells them about the bell test.
- it's the same sadness when Kakashi mentions Sasuke, their lost teammate...
- it's the same "bring it on!" expression when Kakashi tells them to begin
- it's the same excited look on their face when Naruto tells Sakura about his plan to defeat Kakashi
- it's the same look of determination as they charge at Kakashi
- it's the same grinning victorious attitude when they get the bells
- it's the same "Ramen! Ramen!" anticipated after the test
- and they both ignore Kakashi the same way as they talk about food, while Kakashi is left feeling sorry for himself for being ignored.
- and as someone pointed out to me, the look Naruto gave Sakura when she showed off her super-strength, was the same look Sakura gave him back in chapter 245!