Konoha was in a state of recovery, buildings were still being rebuilt and people were still recovering both physically and mentally as well. The sudden attack of Momoshiki and Kinishiki left the entire village baffled. But thanks to Naruto and Sasuke and even Boruto and the other five Kage, they were all safe.
So to celebrate the victory and Sasuke's permanent return to the village, the original Konoha 11 decided to go out.
It had been along time since they were all together, and it felt nostalgic to be hanging out like they did in the old days.
"This is great just like old times eh"? Naruto grinned.
"Yeah it's nice to see you not behind a desk Naruto" Kiba said. Naruto chuckled " Its good to not be behind one for once".
"It's seems we only get to see you when there's something wrong in the villiage", Shino pipped in sipping his cup of sake.
Naruto grinned, "Well I'm glad I have Shikamaru or Id lose my mind, and everything else, he lifted his sake cup, so here's to Shikamaru, for making sure I dont screw up to bad".
"I'll drink to that", Choji and Shikamaru said in unison.
"And here's to Sasuke, for finally returning and helping save the world with me once again". "YEAH"! Everyone one shouted. Sasuke just smirked and took a sip of his drink. He looked to his wife who had just finished her sake. He was glad to be home.
Sakura later joined the Kunoichi, they reminisced and giggled about old times. "I can't believe how old we are", Ten Ten giggled.
"Hey Speak for yourself", Ino shot back, don't forget me , Sakura and Hinata are a whole year younger than you, old lady,"
"Hey What does that make me"! Temari said visibly offended.
"Ancient", Ino teased.
"Ino"! Sakura scolded. Ino just laughed it off.
"That wasn't nice", Hinata squeaked out. Ino shrugged.
The night was still young, all the Konoha 11 had drank their fill, especially Ino. She had become very inebriated and she had started talking way too loud, and slurring her words.
Without warning, she had taken a place on the stage meant for karaoke and took the microphone, and started stumbling. "Oh no.. Sai, get your wife", Sakura scolded.
Sai went up to retrieve his wife, but she pushed him off. "I'm fine, Sai get the hell away from me"! She shouted. Sai, taken aback, stood staring at his fairly drunk wife. Ino almost fell off stage but sloppily caught herself.
On that note Sakura, Hinata and Temari, ran to her side. Sakura and Temari grabbed each side of her to keep her upright. " Ino", Hinata said concerned.
"Get off me, I'm fine"
"No your not Ino, your gonna fall and hurt yourself, just please come down, Sakura tried.
Ino hiccupped. " Ino you promised you wouldn't drink so much", Sakura added. "Ugh there you go, don't tell me what to do", Ino slurred.
"I'm not telling, I'm asking you please come down, before you hurt yourself.. Come on go home with your husband", Sakura reach for her, but she jerked away. " You know what Forehead, you think you know everything, just because your the best medic in the world and strongest Kunoichi around, doesn't mean shit"!
"Ino, I never said--
" You don't have too.. Damn always acting high and mighty.
Ino your drunk, please go home with your husband before you do something your gonna regret".
" Why would I listen to you"! "Go home with your husband huh"!? You can't even keep YOUR husband around. Although I don't blame Sasuke for not wanting to stick around and be with you, I mean.. Why would he.. look at you..waiting on a man who clearly took pity on you. He felt bad for almost killing you like what... twice, so he married you, knocked you up and left you to raise a daughter alone--
Sai grabbed her then and held her. "Ino that's enough". Sakura stood frozen, if she was affected by Ino's words, she sure didn't show it.
Sasuke eyes locked on the loud blonde, sharingan piercing. Ino seemed to notice.
"Oh what is it Sasuke did I hit the nail on the head, is that why you abandoned your family.. mission my ass, you couldn't even drop by once in awhile, write a letter, something"!
"You know nothing, besides it's none of your concern", Sasuke spat.
" Bullshit, I wouldn't be surprised if you left again--
"Ino knock it off", Sakura spoke up.
"What it's not like I'm saying anything nobody else is thinking, the whole village knows the sad and pathetic story of little Sakura Uchiha, who still is head over heels in love with that Sasuke asshole who keeps hurting her, even in marriage, leaving her to do everything.. and poor poor sad little Sakura still waits for him to come home--
"Now I'm saying that's enough, as order of your Hokage"! Naruto shouted. Everyone turned, no one had ever seen him that angry before.
A few moments later, Ino passed out drunk in Sai's arms. Naruto came up to Sakura " Are you alright", he asked putting his hand on her shoulder. Sakura nodded and slowly started walking home, paying no attention to the stares from her husband and friends.
Sakura let her feet drag all the way to her house. She entered quietly, knowing Sarada was fast asleep in her room. She went upstairs to her bedroom and slipped off her clothes and stepped into the shower letting the hot water soothe her. Sakura slid down to the shower floor and curled into a ball, she let herself finally cry.
She sobbed uncontrollably. She hated that she let a drunken Ino get to her, she knows Ino was just upset at Sasuke for leaving her best friend, Ino had already expressed her opinions to Sakura on this subject, but her outburst tonight had really hit a nerve.
Sasuke stood outside of their bathroom door, he had followed her home after she left, but kept his distance. He could hear her crying, even over the roar of the shower. Did she really believe everything Ino said?
Sasuke waited for her to come out, her sobbing finally stopped about 5 minutes ago. She stepped out in only a towel, and for the first time ever, ignored his presence. She walked by him only slightly before Sasuke grabbed her by her shoulder and pulled her close to him.
"Anata"!? Sakura gasped. Sasuke ignored her, he just held her for a moment. He had told himself on the walk home that he needed to be more affectionate towards Sakura, to tell her he loved her more often, and.. he was going to let her know what she meant to him, no matter how bad he was at expressing his feelings. Sasuke knew, if she believed what Ino had said, it was entirely his own fault for not making his love for her clear enough.
"Sakura.. I.. I love you", Sasuke whispered his voice muffled by her hair . She looked up to him eyes wide. "Sasuke-kun, What are yo--
Sasuke held up his hand signaling her to hush. "You and Sarada are everything to me, nothing on this earth is more important to me than both of you, than your safety".
" I know me being away all these years has been hard on you..that you've missed me so much it felt like your heart was breaking a little more everyday, that you would cry yourself to sleep most nights, and others it felt as though you couldn't breathe your heart ached so much".
Sakura simply stared at him. "And.. the reason I know you felt that way.. is because I felt the same way.. everyday, every night, every second I was away from you". " I would dream about you and Sarada all the time, only to wake disappointed it wasn't a reality".
"And.. the reason I only came back to report to Naruto and only see you briefly at the meetings.. was because I knew if I came home to spend even a day with you and Sarada every time I came to report my findings... It would get harder for me to leave.. until one day I wouldn't go back to my mission at all".
Sakura stood quietly. " the reason I didn't send many letters, aside from being in different dimensions, was because, I thought if I didn't hear from you in any form... it would make it easier to.. to not think about you, but I was wrong".
" I let my emotions get in the way of my duty..so I kept contact to a minimum even more so than it already was.. but it was Hell on us all. "I don't expect you to forgive me and I understand why you believe Ino--
"Wait! What!", Sakura shouted. "Sasuke-kun, is that what all this was about.. what Ino said earlier".
Sasuke didn't answer.
"Anata, listen to me everything you just said to me.. I already knew.. because I know you, we are connected.. remember.
" You honestly thought that Id believe that you married me out of pity, have you forgotten all we've been through"?! Sakura looked amused. " Have you been away that long that you are unable to read me anymore"? She smirked.
Sasuke just stood like a stone wall eyebrow cocked. "Why were you so upset then", Sasuke asked.
"Well, isn't it obvious.. my best friend in the whole world just embarrassed me in front of everyone we know.. and some people we don't.. I honestly didn't know that's the way she felt about me". Sakura hung her head. " I mean.. I knew she felt that way.. but enough to humiliate me, and say awful things in front of everyone and insult you."
Sasuke's expression softened, and smirked. He walked up to her and poked her forehead. "She just had too much to drink I'm sure she'll apologize tomorrow".
Sakura smiled at her husband. "Yeah".
Sasuke smiled back.
Sakura smirked coyly, "Sooo.. you really missed me that much Sasuke-kun"? Sakura spoke in a teasing voice.
Sasuke's face turned red, " Tsk, Annyoing woman", he mumbled while looking away.
"Awww C'mon Anata, it's ok, tell me more about how you use to cry because you missed me, or how you used to dream about me--
Sasuke put his lips to his wife's... anything to stop that babbling. They pulled apart and looked at each other. "I'm glad your home Sasuke-kun"
Sasuke smiled at her. "I'm not leaving anymore.. I promise, I don't want to miss anything more". Sakura cupped his face in her hand. He looked at her softly.
" Sakura..Thank You, for everything.