Author Note (AN): Hey everyone. This is maybe my fourth attempt at a Naruto fanfiction, so I hope it is sufficient. I chose this pairing cause it's fun and kind of cute. I promise not to get too sappy. That's not my style anyway, haha. Hope you enjoy. And leave your comments/crits please.

Disclaimer: All Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto

Chapter 1

"You're early, Sakura! Are you visiting again?" Sakura turned around to the nurse, smiling.

"Yes, I have to," she said, raising her hand in farewell as she continued up the path towards the hospital. It was a month ago that Sasuke returned to Konohagakure. The world was again at peace now that Akatsuki was disbanded; their leader, Pain, dead. Sakura pulled her coat tighter around her neck as a chilled winter breeze blew against her. The shockwaves of Akatsuki's chaos were still reverberating amongst the villages, but cooperation between the leaders was helping to stabilize life for everyone. For Sakura, it meant she began her internship at the hospital as a medical ninja.

She stepped inside, walking towards the nurse office to change into uniform. Folding up her street clothes in her locker box, she closed it and glanced at herself in the mirror across the room. Her forehead didn't seem so big now, even with her hair pulled back. She smiled a little and turned away, picking up her patient assignments and exiting to the main corridor.

The ER was quiet. The last three months had been non-stop, but with problems resolved, few injuries required intensive care. She looked down at her folders, flipping through the names. 'Uzumaki Naruto' was on the top. She smiled. 'Hatake Kakashi,' 'Rock Lee,' 'Maito Gai'...everyone she expected. 'Uchiha Sasuke.' Sakura stopped, her smile gone. Tsunade had restricted access to that ward: only herself and specific ANBU staff were allowed. Even Naruto, who had begged and threatened, and was the closest thing to family that Sasuke had, was rejected. She quickly tucked the files under her arm, walking towards the recovery ward. She would ask Tsunade once her other patients were seen.

"Sakura!" Naruto's eyes lit up to see her walk in the door. She snorted. He was bandaged head to toe, his arm in a sling and hair sticking out every which way from the bandage around his head.

"You look ridiculous," she said laughing and opened his file to look through his progress.

"Chehe! Hey, hey, do you think I'll be out in a week?" Sakura shook her head, ignoring his ridiculous statement. He had fractures all over and bruised wherever he didn't have open wounds. He could be best described as a grape with hair.

"Heey..." he started to whine.

"Naruto, you're probably not going to walk for a whole year."

"WHAT?!" Sakura grinned at him, waving her hand.

"Just kidding, stupid. You're loud as usual, so probably another few months, you can go home. But! That doesn't mean you go hardcore training or anything dumb, okay?" She pointed at him threateningly. Naruto eeked out a half-hearted laugh and agreed.

"...Still...I want to see Sasuke," Naruto said, his voice calmed. Sakura clutched to his file a bit tighter.

"...Well, no one is allowed yet. You'll get a chance as soon as you're well," Sakura said, setting down the folder and putting a thermometer in Naruto's mouth before he could answer. He frowned at her and looked down. She stayed quiet, waiting a minute then checked his temperature.

"You're doing fine. Just take it easy, okay?" Naruto sighed, laying back. Sakura tried to smile for him, walking over to the window to pull the curtains open a bit more.

"Sakura," he said. She turned to him. He smiled.

"Do you think he's okay?" Sakura sighed, turning to glance outside.

"I don't know." Naruto watched her.

"You'll be a good mom someday." Sakura whirled around.

"Stop saying random things! People think you're weird enough already!" Naruto grinned and they both laughed.

She picked up her files, waving to Naruto before leaving his room. It was hard not to say anything. He would have clawed his way through the wall for a chance to see Sasuke. But it was better that he didn't know anything, for now.

Kakashi glanced up as she walked through the door, holding up a hand.

"Ah, Sakura-chan. How kind of you to visit your favorite teacher. And looking so cute..." Sakura made a face at him.

"I'm not afraid to put an extra dose of tranquillizer in your IV, you know," she said. Kakashi laughed nervously, unsure of whether she was serious. Sakura started about her standard routine of checking bandages and health statistics. She dropped her pencil, shaking her head a little as she picked it up. A moment later, she dropped it again. Kakashi stared at her.

"What are you thinking about?" She looked up, smiling.

"Nothing, why?"

"Hmm..." She frowed a little.

"...Really, nothing."

"Hmmm..."

"You won't get anything out of me."

"Hmm..." Sakura sighed, giving in.

"I'm going to see Sasuke today."

"Oh, really?" Kakashi raised his brows.

"I don't know what to do," Sakura pursed her lips, pulling up a chair to sit at his bedside.

"I think it's a mistake, but why would Tsunade allow for such a huge error. Especially with interns..." Kakashi glanced up at the ceiling.

"A lot has happened to you guys, but the ties between you still hold." Sakura looked over at him.

"You grew together and shed blood for each other. Doesn't matter what happens, you can't forget that," he said. She smiled a little, looking down at her hands.

"Still, I don't know what to expect..." Kakashi didn't answer. He probably didn't know either. Sakura took a deep breath, picking up her files again and left Kakashi.

Gai and Lee were roomed together, a troublesome arrangement, but they had demanded it. Sakura could hear commotion inside already, opening the door. Two assistant interns were struggling to get Gai and Lee in their beds. Lee was laying on the floor, trying with all his might to get in a push-up, and Gai managed to achieve at least one.

"Remember, Lee: the road to recovery is faster with exercise!" Gai beamed at his pupil.

"Yes, sensei," Lee chimmed back.

"You two are crazy," Sakura exclaimed, crossing her arms. Lee looked up quickly, seeing Sakura, and obediently hobbled to his bed. Gai followed suit, finding himself caught.

"Sakura-chan! You've come to nurse my wounds, merciful angel!" Sakura ignored Lee's comment, turning to Gai.

"You should understand the value of rest, Gai-sensei," Sakura said, opening up their files. Gai laughed, giving her a thumbs up.

"Sakura! You're good with words! I, Maito Gai, will always strive to do my best for my students! We will take a long break for now, Lee!"

"Yes, Gai-sensei!" Sakura rolled her eyes sticking a thermometer in their mouths, to the assistants' relief.

"Now listen," she said, crossing her arms. "I want both of you to rest for two weeks without any kind of training. Just take it easy for once! Then if you're sufficiently healed, at the approval of Tsunade-sensei, then and only then, can you start up your training regimen again. Understood?"

Lee and Gai gave her a thumbs up and a sparkling grin. She sighed smiling, shaking her head. Handing the paperwork to the assistants, Sakura watched them perform the rest of Gai and Lee's check-up and re-bandaged their injuries. Administering a mild sedative for each of them, Sakura and the assistants left the room. She waited until the two interns were well on their way down the hall before pulling out her last file.

One left.