*Naruto does not belong to me, nor will it ever.
The big buzz today around town was that a former trader was coming back. Sakura just frowned at her reflection as she hated herself for being happy and wanting to look good for him. A knock at her small house's door brought her out of her thoughts as she shouted down the stairs "Come on in Ino!"
Her best friend walked upstairs quickly to see Sakura standing in a towel finally done straightening her hair out of its waves.
She frowned at Ino's knowing smile.
"Oh shut up Ino, it's not like that."
"Oh come on Forehead-chan, you can't hide from me."
Sakura sighed as she put her brush down and scavenged her closet for a pair of short white shorts and dark green tank top. She slipped her shoes into white flip flops and picked up her headband, tying it in the same way she did when she graduated from the ninja academy. She looked at her self and compared it to the picture on the end table behind her. No longer did she have a slightly chubby face, now it was more defined, but still soft.
"Sakura, you look fine!" Ino tried reassuring her.
Sakura just smiled to her best friend and they linked arms knowing full well that in an hour, their lives will change yet again.
"Sakura!"
She looked down from the tree branch she was sitting on to see Naruto smiling at her.
"Sakura, he's coming back! He'll be here in a few minutes LET'S GO!"
Sakura smiled at him and jumped down knowing all too well the butterflies in her stomach weren't from the fall, and she hated it.
The Rookie 9 had been the first to be in line at the gates, forming a wide horseshoe with Sakura and Naruto in the middle.
They weren't waiting two minutes when the gates opened to reveal Sasuke Uchiha and a red head girl beside him. Sakura looked her up and down. A few inches taller than Sakura, bright red hair and matching eyes, ugly glasses, and was sort of chubby. Sakura looked at Sasuke and noted that he was the same height as Naruto and his hair had grown shaggier. He looked her dead in the eye but she didn't back down. His body looked distant but Sakura had a knack for reading his eyes. They told her that he was confused and upset, but yet relieved. They took a step in together and Naruto was the first to take a step toward him. They looked each other in the eye and Naruto reached out his hand. Sasuke looked at it for a second before grabbing it, and Naruto pulled him to him in a man hug. Sasuke gave a small smile and then looked at her. She stepped up to him and with a deep breath slapped him across the face. When he looked at her stunned she gave him a bear hug just to make sure it really was him. She didn't expect him to hug back, but she was surprised when he rested one hand on her hip and the other on her head.
"You grew your hair out."
He whispered into her hair. She just nodded before pulling away.
They stepped back and the rest of the Rookie 9 crowed in their own way greeted him before finally asking who the now pissed off girl was beside him.
He rubbed his head and introduced her as Karin, his teammate.
Sakura knew of his other team, but the acknowledgement still stung in her heart.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun, that's all I am to you?"
She gave a fake pout that made her look even more like a pug.
He apologized to her quietly and stated she was his girlfriend. Suddenly, the group's eyes went from Karin, Sakura, and Sasuke. Sakura straightened herself up and appeared to look unfazed. Just then Sai made himself known by hanging his arm around her shoulders.
He looked at her, than at Karin.
"Hey ugly, who's the chubs?"
Sakura giggled despite herself finding Sai's presence comforting after that comment.
Karin visibly faltered and clenched her fists at her sides.
"What did you say?"
He straightened up and looked her in the eye.
"I wasn't talking directly to you chubs-"
"I am NOT fat!"
"Are you kidding me? Just look at your self."
She ran towards him but he, as the rest of the crowd, side stepped her as she zoomed past him and then turn around to charge again, like a bull.
He side stepped her again.
"Karin."
Sasuke spoke so coldly, she stopped immediately and her demeanor changed to a flirtatious one.
"Yes Sasuke-kun?"
"You're making a fool of yourself."
She just nodded like a good dog and stood at his side, only slightly behind him, clearly showing the world he dominated the relationship.
"You," he turned to Sai "just who are you?"
Sai fake grinned at him.
"I'm your replacement!"
Sakura and Naruto looked at each other as a look flashed over Sasuke's face.
"You could never replace me."
With that he crossed his arms and Tsunade walked up to the group.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you are to meet me for court in three hours. Until then Sakura will take you and your thing to the hospital for a check up."
Sakura looked at Karin who frowned but could tell to not mess with Tsunade.
She walked over to Sasuke and tugged on his elbow.
"Sasuke, follow me."
She walked forward knowing he'd follow her. She kept her back straight walking gracefully.
She made Karin wait outside the room in the hallway as she closed the door and buttoned her sterile lab coat Tsunade had made for her when she finished her medical training. It had her name stitched above her left breast, over her heart, in pink lettering. She washed her hands and put on gloves as she took out a thermometer and stuck a plastic covering on it.
"Open up."
He refused to open his mouth.
"Sasuke."
She gave him a look until he opened his mouth slightly.
She gently put the thermometer in his mouth and waited for the beep. His temperature was normal. She grabbed the pressure cuff on the wall and fitted it on his arm. She put her stethoscope in her ears and placed the circle end on the bend of his elbow as she pumped air into the cuff. After marking down his BP was normal, she took her gloves off and explained her next procedure.
"Sasuke, I need you to trust me."
He gave her a confused look.
"How long do you use your sharingan at a time?"
He paused for a second before answering.
"I haven't really needed to use it. Unless there's a fight, so, I'm thinking a few hours."
"Has anything changed in your regular vision?"
"No."
She took out a small light and asked him to trace his eyes with it. He followed it just fine.
"Now, this is where the trust comes in. I need you to close your eyes and not activate your sharingan until I tell you."
He just nodded as she placed her middle fingers on each side of his head and concentrated her chakra into healing whatever damage had been done by the sharingan.
"Okay, now."
She felt a sharp fire enter her chakra flow as she invaded the sharingan and made sure no damage had been done there.
She straightened up and wrote more things on her clipboard.
"Alright Sasuke, strip down for me to your boxers. I have to leave the room real quick so I'll give you some privacy."
She didn't even look at him as she opened the door and leaned against it after it was closed with a sigh.
"What's wrong with him?"
She looked up at the girl named Karin. She was giving her a hard look.
"I can't tell you that without Sasuke's permission. But I assure you, he's fine."
She crossed her arms.
"I want to see him."
"You can when I'm done."
"He's not done know? Why are you out here then?"
"I'm giving him privacy to undress."
"WHAT!"
"Karin."
He was standing in the doorway.
"Sasuke-kun!"
She was blushing. Sakura just rolled her eyes.
"I take it your done? Alright go sit on the bed I'll be there in a bit."
He turned around and she closed the door slightly.
"I want to see you next, just so I know you're not allergic to anything in the village and give you a physical too."
She just looked away and Sakura rolled her eyes.
She opened the door again and closed it as she went to rewash her hands and put gloves on.
"Alright Sasuke, I'm going to check your reflexes and then take some blood samples. After that, you can go."
He just nodded at her and she started hitting his knees with her rubber hammer. After drawing the standard order of the draw she untied the rubber band around his upper arm and band aided the draw site.
"Alright, we're done. If you want, you can stay while I give Karin's physical. It'll be shorter than yours but I'm sure you want to see her."
He just looked away from her and dressed.
She opened the door and took off her gloves.
"Karin, you can come in now."
No sooner had she said that Karin had rushed in and checked Sasuke over in a frantic manor. Sakura put on a fresh pair of gloves and checked her vitals like she had Sasuke's and took blood. She finished up her chart for Karin and told her to step on the scale. Karin gave her a look but complied anyways. Sakura balanced the weight and marked it down on her chart.
"Karin, I need you to trust me when it comes to this jutsu okay?"
Karin refused.
"Karin," Sasuke interfered "trust her, she's a doctor. She can't legally harm you in here."
Sakura smirked and sat Karin on the bed before performing a few hand signs and mentally sighed. She wasn't pregnant. Just fat, thank god.
"What was that for?"
"Allergies."
"And the blood?"
"To have in our system should we ever need to give you a blood transfusion."
Karin just nodded.
Sakura removed her gloves and pulled Sasuke aside.
"Naruto and I cleaned your estate head to toe so it should be fit to live in. If you head to Ino's flower and tailor shop she can take your measurements and have you a suit tailored in time for court."
He just nodded at her before leaving.
She sighed as she called her nurse button and handed one of them her clip board. She cleaned up the room a bit before heading to the lounge and hanging up her lab coat to go report to Tsunade.
I hate clinic duty.
She walked the streets of town heading for the Hokage tower just thinking about Sasuke's return. It'd probably be better if that cow wasn't with him. Sakura didn't get it; she was skinnier, prettier, and smarter. But yet, Sasuke still didn't want her. She looked down at her body noting her nice full chest and flat stomach from years of training.
"Forehead-chan!"
Sakura paused in step realizing she had walked in front of Ino's shop and said girl was calling her. But she wasn't alone, Sasuke was with her smirking obviously because of her nickname. Sakura walked to Ino with a smile on her face.
"What do you want Pig?"
Ino giggled before handing her the measuring tape to her.
"Sasuke-kun's pet dog won't let me touch him. Can you take his measurements while I distract her?"
Sakura just sighed and shook her head yes.
She took the tape and measured his chest, pant in-seam and out-seam along with his arm in-seam and out-seam. She recorded his measurements on a sticky note for Ino before standing on her tip toes and measured around his head.
"Sakura, what are you doing?"
"Just wondering if your head's gotten bigger since the last time you've been back to Konoha."
He rolled his eyes at her and she wound the tape around her first to fingers and set the tape on the sticky note.
"Sakura, can we-"
"I have to get going, I'll see you around."
Sakura left in a hurry, not even saying bye to Ino.
When she walked into Tsunade's office she saw the elder woman sitting on the window.
"Tsunade-sama?"
"Sakura, how is he?"
"He's fine. His vitals checked out and I fixed what small vision problem he had with and without his sharingan."
Tsunade nodded still deep in thought.
"This court is going to be hard for you Sakura, be prepared for that."
Sakura just nodded knowing she was the main character witness next to Naruto. They both talked about it for weeks on end.
"Tsunade-sama, can I ask-"
"You know I can't answer you. About any of it. Just know everything will be okay."
The elder woman sat up and pulled Sakura into a hug while petting her hair.
"You are me in every way and form Sakura, I would die before I saw you hurt okay?"
Sakura nodded her head, fighting back her tears.
"Would you do me a favor and get ready. I need you and Naruto to escort Sasuke to court."
Again Sakura nodded leaving through the window and jumping on rooftops to get to her house faster. She scavenged through her closet and found a black pencil skirt and a dark green silky button up shirt tucked into it, only a few buttons undone. She found a pair of black high heels and pulled her hair into a high yet loose pony tail, with her bangs shaping her face. They were told to leave their headbands at home. She automatically felt naked without it.
She walked to Naruto's who lived closer to her than Sasuke. He had called her saying they'd all meet up there. When she walked in the door she found them both with their shirts tucked in but struggling with their ties.
"Sakura-chan, I can't do it!"
He whined at her and she just smiled as she stepped closer to tie his tie. She turned around to see Sasuke giving them a weird look. She shrugged it off before stepping forward and helping him with his tie too.
"Hey pink bitch, what do you think you're doing?"
Sakura, who still had her hands on Sasuke's newly tied tie turned around to face a mad Karin dressed in a blain black dress.
"Oops sorry Sasuke, didn't know your dog had jealously issues."
"Dog?"
"Enough, both of you."
It wasn't Sasuke though, it was Naruto.
"Sasuke coming back should be a happy occasion but we have to go to court now so Sasuke if your girlfriend can't calm down she has to stay here. Don't make them give you a harsher punishment."
Sasuke nodded and grabbed Karin's hand and drug her to Naruto's spare bedroom.
Sakura looked at Naruto and they shared a look but smiled when they heard Karin exclaim in anger. Soon after Sasuke walked out and with a small "Let's go." They left.
A/N : What do you think? Like I said, a bit of an AU and probably some OOCness, but hopefully not too much. This is a test run chapter but I'm already starting the next. Review if you like, until then bye bye!