It has been two years since the war against Madara and Konoha has been rebounding from the attack by rebuilding their village.

Sasuke had gone on his journey of redemption and frequently visited Sakura and Naruto while discovering new people on his path in life. He finally decided to stay mainly in Konoha as he could now officially be a shinobi again since he had finished his punishment period. Sasuke soared through the chunnin exams and trains more until he can become a Jounin.

Since he was reinstated as a shinobi he can go on missions with the old team seven and Sai. Although, Sakura as one of the best medics of the hospital was usually clocking in hours and had no time for missions with the team. The time she spent with Sasuke was on team outings and him coming to the hospital for her to heal him since she was the only one he trusted, and again one of the best.

Not seeing Sakura irked the team and Naruto would often comment durin' team outings to Ichiraku.

"C'mon Sakura-chan! You said that last time! Why can't one of the others take your shift?!"

Sakura sighed, "Naruto, you know this can't be helped. I am one of the most developed medics at the hospital and I am needed for surgery and other situations at all times. So stop pestering me about it!" This was preceded with even more complaints and a beating from the fiery kunoichi.

"Anyways, I'll see you guys when you get back from your mission alright?"

She waved goodbye and started trotting off towards the hospital.

"Awwwww! I wish Sakura-chan had more time for us. She didn't even finish her ramen! …I'll just take a little…ow!" Naruto flinched from the hit and glared at Sasuke. "Teme!", he growled.

"Dobe." He then looked down at the leftover food in contemplation.

"Ugggh," Sakura groaned and slowly rubbed her forehead.

She had just performed three surgeries one after another and was exhausted with a throbbing headache. Wincing in pain, she crossed her office to locate her pain medicine, and popped one in her mouth drowning it in water.

'I'm tired, I'm hungry…why didn't I just eat the rest of my ramen?!' she thought. But, she did know why. Sasuke. It had been two years since he had come back to Konoha and thing were great. Of course in the beginning it was a little awkward because it had been years since they were a team. People had changed. They had changed. In body and spirit.

They started being a team again reading each other's moves and moods. Knowing each other as shinobi and as civilians. It was great. They were friends again. And Sakura thought being friends with Sasuke would be enough. But sometimes she would see his eyes soften towards her or see him trying to hide his smile when team seven was joking around and her heart would throb with unshed tears of sadness in her eyes. She would wonder if being friends was really enough, but then berate herself for even thinking such a thing. "Things are good as they are don't go messing with something already so precious! And besides, it is not like Sasuke even likes me. All I wish for him is to be happy. And I know he may find his happiness with someone else so maybe it is time for me to move on.

As Sakura pondered over her meandering thoughts, she heard a tap at her door and muttered, "Come in."

I really hope no one is asking for me again! Inner Sakura yelled. "Hi, how can I help yoo…" she stuttered. Speak of the devil. Sasuke Uchiha was standing in the doorway of her office with a takeout bowl and a pair of chopsticks in his hands. He looked at her and held out the bowl then looked away shyly.

"Here's your ramen," he said with a passive face.

"Oh. OHH! You mean from before!" Sakura exclaimed. "Thank you so much I really needed to finish that before I clocked in but you know I was in a hurry and never gave a second thought about it and.. oh you had to pay for my food didn't you I'm sorry I'm so forgetful. I can pay you back or I can even pay for the next outing, blah blah blah blah blah…" she rambled.

Sakura and Sasuke have a comfortable relationship now even with his verbal barrier and her moments of consistent rambling around him. Sakura was polite and acted friendly for him, but you would never know that she had been in love with him for how professional she always acted.

"It's fine." And Sasuke didn't really know how to feel about this. He was very grateful that she didn't cling to him and all like she did before but he felt very comfortable with her and might even find her…attractive. As in this Uchiha has it bad. He doesn't know it of course because of his emotional constipation and all, but his other teammates sure as hell noticed the difference in his demeanor when he talks to Sakura. Even that idiot Naruto could see the bloom of warmth coming from the stoic Uchiha.

"So you have an A rank mission tomorrow right?" Sakura asked.

"Ah."

"Well you need to be careful and don't overdue it. I don't want to come into the hospital and see both of you numskulls in critical condition just because you try to outdo each other, alright?" She said with a glint of warning in her eyes.

"Ok." He grunted.

"Sasuke...", she started in a sugary sweet voice.

"I promise", he said, because he certainly didn't want this kunoichi to get mad what with her super strength and all. Yes he is a little daunted by her and yes he is not afraid to admit it.

"Good", she said in satisfaction, "You should go get some rest it's already 9:30 and you have a lot to do, ok?"

He grunted and started for the door only to be stopped by a "wait!"

He heard footsteps and then arms wrapped around him from behind. She placed a chaste kiss on his cheek and said softly, "Be safe."

He froze for a moment and then moved away from her towards the door. "Ah".

He left and started the trek to the Uchiha compound. With a hint of blood tinting his cheeks.