Konoha had been in such a collective rush recently. With the end of the war, the fierce competition over who would replace the council behind the hokage, and eventually the Lady Hokage packing up and leaving the village to keep an eye on the resurrected Jiraiya ("To make sure nothing falls off that can't be put back on" she'd said) that led to a brief yet heated debate over whether they were electing sixth or seventh hokage…
Well.
Everything just sort of blended together in an ecstatic rush. Behind the end of the war—and if she were completely honest with herself, maybe just an inch above it—the most important thing that stuck out in that blur was of course…Sasuke came home.
Things might have been hectic, stressful, and incredibly difficult to deal with all at once, but none of that really…all of that…she was perfectly…it was alright, because Sasuke was home.
Finally. Team Seven was finally back together the way they should be, and that made anything else bearable. At least…for now. Eventually things would normalize, as things do, and that would only be somewhat of a boost in rough times. For the moment, however, she could deal with just about anything short of more deaths.
It's funny how 'just about' could be so all-encompassing and…miss so much.
She was carrying a message from 'Narukage' (that was not sticking no matter how many times he said it) to Sasuke…primarily because Naruto was buried in paperwork and she didn't mind dropping by at pretty much any excuse to see Sasuke.
It's not that she didn't knock it's that she…didn't knock. But that was never a problem before! He'd just be reading or meditating and give her his characteristic huff (which she would translate into indifference, annoyance, or welcome through experience) and that would be it. Sh-she didn't expect him to…be…
She yelps in surprise—greeting completely forgotten in her shock—halts in place just a moment, and then quickly steps out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
She didn't bother to flee further—either he'd leave her be, or she had no chance of outmatching his speed and they'd have an awkward conversation no matter what—and instead took a few moments to lean back against the door and gather her composure again. Her face burned so strongly there was no question people would—assume certain things which weren't entirely wrong if she fled from his house like this.
But.
More importantly—
She'd caught Sasuke—Sasuke actually—He..
Ohhh. She was never going to be able to look him in the eye again. And then Naruto would find out and Ino, and the whole village would start thinking that they…and how would they go on missions? She'd be forced to think about whether, in the other room…No! Was she really becoming a pervert? There had to be another—
"Sakur—"
She shrieked and turned toward the voice, cheeks red, hands up, stumbling over an excuse—only to find an incredibly puzzled looking Sai, leaning slightly away from her now, the wariness in his expression no doubt a result of her shout (and possibly concern she might strike him).
"Is something wrong?"
She stared at him a moment or two, weighing options: attempt to speak to a presumably irate Sasuke? Continue to agonize over and complicate matters for herself?
Or….
Attempt to ignore it ever happened, and definitely do not stash away her brief glimpse (rather brief stare, but cut her a break!) of the impossible for a rainy day alone?
She grabbed Sai's arm and began purposefully hauling him away from the door with a fixed smile she suspected even he wouldn't buy. "Not all! Come on!"
"But I was here to fetch—"
"He's not home! Come on! Let's go get ramen!" She was fairly certain his silence was less acceptance of this than resignation, but that was alright.
He really should start locking his door, though. Conversations between Team Kakashi would never again be comfortable if Sai had been the one to walk in on him. Of that,she was certain.