Sakura was exhausted. Sleep has seemed to evade her these days. She knows she's been pushing herself to the limits during her training sessions with Tsunade, both on the practice field as well as in the medical research laboratory, but somehow, she couldn't find rest in sleeping during the night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him. His aura was dark. He radiated power, dark power. It was months ago since they saw Sasuke while scouting out Orochimaru's hideout. She chuckled to herself, it's such a ridiculous thing to think about someone so many months after seeing them. But it worried her that she could not shake off this feeling, a feeling of tremendous loneliness. She felt like such a traitor; she had such a loving group of people surround her every day. Naruto, Captain Yamato, Kakashi Sensei, her Master, the rookie nine, Sakura had no idea why she was missing him so badly.
"Hey Sakura-chan!" she turned around to find Naruto waving at her like a mindless idiot; his cerulean eyes shining as brightly as the afternoon sun. She smiled softly. This silly, orange wearing, ramen loving clown, has been her saving grace through all of this. She knew that Naruto had the power to change Sasuke, to make him understand their love for him. She understood long ago that she didn't have what it takes to save him, she had no place in his heart, but she was hell bent on assisting Naruto to bring him back home! Afterall, they are Team 7.
"Hey Naruto, what are you doing out here?"
"I was taking a walk to clear my head," he said, "and I sort of wanted to stop by Ichiraku's and get a steaming bowl of ramen," one arm behind his head, his signature grin on his face.
"You better be careful, if you clear it out too much there really won't be anything left," she winked at him. Naruto's face sunk, "Sakura-chan…" he whined.
She giggled, "Common, care to have some company? I just finished a round at the hospital and I'm feeling a little hungry myself."
"You mean like a date?!" talk about getting over excited. "Sure, how about a best friend date?" she asked him.
Naruto smiled warmly, "that's the best kind of date there is."
They walked to Ichiraku's slowly, laughing along the way. He asked how her days have been, how she's been feeling. Chastising her for taking on so much work and not taking care of herself.
"I know, I know, you don't have to lecture me. Tsunade does enough of that already," she said as she lifted the small curtain to enter Ichiraku's. They were greeted by two warm smiles and the best smelling flavor you won't find anywhere else.
They dug into their meal with pleasure, Sakura laughing as Naruto inhaled his first bowl.
"You know," she started, "if you continue to eat like that, you may explode."
"Nah, this stomach has been specially trained to handle all sort of ramen indulgence," he patted his belly as he licked his lips, ready to dig into another bowl the old man put in front of him.
"Hey Naruto, this place is sort of legendary don't you think?" Sakura glanced around, memorizing every little detail of this shop. She saw Naruto pause, ramen noodles hanging out of his mouth.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, think about how many memories we all shared here. Remember how we used to lure Kakashi Sensei here and try to get a glimpse of him without his mask?! Or how you used to harass me for a date when and Sasuke would tag along just to annoy you?" she laughed a little at those memories. Naruto was smiling from ear to ear, "Hell yeah! Do you remember when Kiba and I had that eating contest?! I beat him, but man, I really thought I was going to put myself into an actual food coma." They shared warm memories and loving conversations.