Author Note: Hello, first I would like to say I've been on this website for a couple of years. I deleted all my old stories because I wrote them before college. I want to get back into writing for fun (school kills this drive) and I thought why not write about my favorite anime. This story takes place five years after the fourth great shinobi war. It's about how Sakura and Sasuke got reconnected and fall in love. This will be mostly AU with some stuff taken from movies and the anime and Sakura Hiden. I'm a little behind on the anime so if I get something completely wrong let me know and I will correct it! Thank you for reading, and reviews will keep me motivated. I'm also open to suggestions! Enjoy
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or make money from writing about it.
Rating M: For adult content, language, and violence. Reader discretion advised.
Summary: Sakura Haruno has grown into a strong and beautiful woman. But the one thing she craves has been missing for almost five years. This is the story of blossoming love, and the challenges that come along with it. Will it bring them a happy ending, or burn everything in its wake. Sakura X Sasuke.
Mine till Midnight
It was dark out when Sakura's alarm went off. She sat up in bed and rubbed the sleepiness form her eyes. She looked around her small dark bedroom and sighed knowing there was another long day ahead of her. It had been five years since the fourth great ninja war had ended and she had succumbed to repetition. Everything and everyone for that matter seemed to be changing. Everyone except for her. Even though she was the head chief medic and a strong independent woman she didn't feel any different. She was the same in that she was alone. At 21, she was the only single one out of her friends. Ino and Sai are engaged, and hell, Naruto and Hinata were married! Sakura climbed out of bed and stretched her achy body. She felt much older than 21. Work had taken place of a social life and once again she only got four hours of sleep the night before due to an emergency surgery.
She made her way to the bathroom and showered and dressed for the day. She pulled on a pair of black dress pants, black flats, and settled for a red silk dress shirt. Sakura looked in the mirror and attempted to sort out her hair. She managed to pin it behind her ears and tied her red ninja head band to keep her hair back. She stared at herself and wondered what people thought of her. She worked hard to get where she was. Years of grueling combat and medical training with Tsunade. Yet she felt like she hadn't changed much since the war ended. She was beautiful, as the men in Konoha made that obvious. She was taller compared to other women. While she was slender, she was also muscular as many kunochi are. She never admitted it, but she was glad to finally have the body of a woman. But even though she was a well-known kunochi, Sakura still had self-esteem problems. She was always trying to be better, and was never truly happy with herself. Perhaps it was because her goal of being equal with her teammates still affected her, or because even though she changed Sasuke still neglected her.
Feeling at least presentable, though she could never stand to look at herself in a mirror for too long, she made her way to the kitchen. Sakura packed a simple healthy lunch, and strode out the door to begin her day.
Her two bedroom apartment was a vacant and simple place. The walls were bare and she had minimal furniture. She never had company over so why decorate. The only source of decoration was a vibrant vase her mother bought for her. Sakura used to love colors and things that stood out, but that was five years ago. The vase held numerous types of flowers, some of which were from Ino's flower shop, and others were from admiring men. But they were currently dying.
As Sakura made her way to work she went over a mental check list of things she needed to accomplish for today. She had rounds with her residents from 7 am to 10 am. One scheduled surgeries, all of which were ninja, a meeting with Kakashi at 5 to go over a mission, dinner with her parents at 6:30, rounds again at 7:30 to 10 pm. Perhaps tonight should would catch up on shows since she would be getting home early.
It was also this time on the way to work that she would allow herself to think about him. It had been four years since Sakura had seen Sasuke. Four long years since he tapped her on the forehead and said "I'll be back." She often wondered if he had changed physically. Was he taller? Was his hair still spikey? Was his temperament different? Naruto was certainly different though he was still an idiot. But the main question she asked herself was, did he even care about her at all?
It was 6:30 am when Sakura got to work. She stopped in her office to pull the records for her patients and put on her white coat. Now that she looked the part she met up with her residents and started her rounds. Even though she had seen injuries, disease, and illness Sakura was still a little nervous around her patients. Sort of like how Tsunade was afraid of blood, Sakura was afraid of failing. Whenever she had to tell someone that they were going to die she always had a panic attack after she was away from them. And she had constant nightmares of her patients she wasn't able to save. Ino said she was suffering from PTSD from the war. But she didn't have time for PTSD.
Three hours later Sakura led her team to her last patient. The one she was dreading.
"Everyone this is Sakumo Yachi. 45 year old male who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor near the brain stem. He has just completed a six week course of chemotherapy" she said.
"Dr. Haruno, I thought you didn't handle Oncology" asked one of her residents.
"That is correct Yumi, however, he is undergoing surgery later today to try and remove some of the tumor and I am performing that surgery" replied Sakura.
"As you know, Mr. Yachi, this is a risky surgery. The chances of it prolonging your life are slim and the chances of you perishing during the surgery are almost fifty percent. Do you still wish to go along with it?" asked Sakura.
Mr. Yachi looked at the young woman and a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Mam I would give anything to see my grandchild born. Even if this surgery prolongs my life for a year I will greatly appreciate it. Besides, you're the student of the legendary Tsunade. I have complete faith in you" he said wiping away a tear.
Sakura smiled but on the inside her stomach churned. It was up to her to save this man. She sat down on the bed next to him and put a hand on his.
"I will do everything I can for you. I'll see you in an hour" Sakura said. After she dispatched her loyal followers Sakura went to her office to eat her lunch before Mr. Yachi's surgery. She looked down at her sandwich that she took two bites of and threw the rest away. Her stomach was in knots and thought it best not to have a full stomach at the time.
At two PM Sakura scrubbed in for surgery. She was being assisted by two other doctors she had been training the past couple of years. Mr. Yachi was under Anastasia and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
"Alright everyone, let's get started" Sakura said. She lowered her mask and lifted her scalpel.
It was five O clock when Sakura made it to her parents' house. She had texted Kakashi to reschedule their meeting for tomorrow. Sakura also passed along her rounds to the other residents. She was in no shape to do medicine today. Mr. Yachi died an hour into surgery. After she called it she left the operating room and ran into the hallway and towards the nearest bathroom. She threw up the two bites of sandwich she had before and collapsed onto the floor in tears. After ten minutes of collecting herself she splashed some cold water on her face and decided she needed the day off. She didn't even talk to Mr. Yachi's family. It didn't matter, she would be talking to them in her dreams anyway.
Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno knew there was something wrong when their daughter showed up early. She was never early, more late than anything.
"Sakura honey, glad you can make it, but why are you early" Mebuki asked. Sakura entered her childhood home and the familiar smells of family calmed her for a split second. All she wanted to do was to cling to her parents and cry her heart out. But that was the old Sakura. She never cried in front of people anymore. It was a sign of weakness. Not even to those closest to her. So she hid her feelings and lied like a good shinobi.
"I got done early, and thought it would be nice to spend more time together" she said with a blank expression.
Mebuki knew she was lying. Sakura was her daughter after all. It reminded her of the time she was being bullied at school and would come home with the biggest fakest smile on her face. It broke Mebuki's heart.
"Well dinner won't be ready for about an hour, why don't you go watch tv with your father. He's obsessed with that blasted thing" Mebuki said glaring at her husband.
"That sounds great" said Sakura.
Sakura followed her father into the living room and felt overwhelmed at all the colors. Her mother was very frivolous with her home and was constantly cleaning and decorating. It was the very reason Sakura and her mom fought when she was living here. She had different tastes didn't care about housework as much. She was more laid back like her father.
"So blossom, how have you been? You haven't called for almost a month, your mother and I started to think you ran off with a guy" her father said sounding a little hopeful.
"I don't have time for guy's dad. You know that" Sakura said.
"You mean you don't have time for other men" Her father said playing with his mustache.
Sakura sighed, "Dad I'm not in the mood to talk about that right now. And I don't want mom to start. If she gets wind she won't stop and it'll drive me nuts" Sakura warned.
Her father looked at his daughter and wondered when did he lose her? She was once vibrant and cheerful and ready for anything. Now when he looked at her she was pale, a bit too skinny, and her eyes were dead. Kizashi was afraid for his daughter, and he blamed all of it on a certain Uchiha.
"Sakura" Kizashi said sternly, and he was rarely stern, "Your mother and I are worried for your physical and mental health. We've called your friends and found out you haven't been seeing anyone. Every time we see you, your worse. Your mother and I think you need to speak with somebody and move back home until you find your feet" he said.
Sakura stared at her father in disbelief. He never spoke to her like that, and she couldn't believe he was snooping in on her life. She stood up and walked over to her coat.
"I appreciate your concern dad, but I'm an adult, and I'm fine. I don't need you and mom spying on me!" she yelled. She was close to tears now and she didn't know why. All Sakura knew was that she needed to get out of the house.
Mebuki heard the commotion and came running into the living room.
"Kizashi I told you to wait until after dinner!" she yelled at her husband.
"Dear, how can I wait when my daughter is slowly dying in front of me!" he yelled.
Sakura took in a deep breath and addressed her parents.
"Mom, dad, I love you both very much. I know I don't look well, but I've been having a hard time at work. It's just a rough patch and I promise I'll be back in shape soon. But I can't deal with this right now, so I'm going to head home, ok" she said.
Her parents looked at each other and gave her a big hug. Sakura wanted nothing more than to cry, but she withheld once again.
"I promise I'll stop by and call more" Sakura said before leaving her home. When she stepped into her apartment she didn't bother turning the lights on. She put on her Pj's, crawled into bed, and went to sleep. She saw Yachi that night holding his grandson that he never got to meet.
I know this was a sad beginning but I promise it isn't like this for much longer! Please review after reading. I appreciate it!