The one where Naruto burns the poncho


The moment she saw Sasuke entering through the door, her eyes couldn't believe it.

He was finally back.

Even if was wearing a poncho, Sakura could tell that he was more sculptured than before. His raven locks were longer as they now reach his shoulders, no longer having his peculiar duck butt hairstyle. Instead of having bangs covering his forehead, he had a clothe wrapped around it; and a single bang between his two eyes. His confused piercing eyes widened in shock as he saw them. As always, his face was flawless of imperfections. Even if he was traveling a lot and was always moving from place to place, his chiseled jaw and cheekbones were free from facial hair. He looked more matured than before. Instead of finding coldness in his eyes, she found light.

Sakura shook her head as she felt her cheeks getting warmer. She rolled to her side. Now laying on her bed, she couldn't stop thinking about him. She was relieved when Naruto told her that he was coming back. She had a feeling that he wasn't going to return to Konoha and would wander around the world on his own on his redeemption journey.

She felt happy. Team Seven was finally back. Sai had returned on being and Anbu and Captain Yamato sadly had to guard Orochimaru down in case he does something threatening again. They spend many unforgettable missions together and Sakura surely was going to miss Sai's lack of emotion and naive comments about how to interact and how Captain Yamato treated them as their own children, just like Kakashi-sensei, who now was busy with his Hokage duties. Naruto passed his chunnin exam months ago and now was applying for jounin. As for Sasuke, was he still a genin? She didn't know. He might took the chunnin exams in Oto last year or maybe not.

Getting tired of staring at the ceiling she closed her eyes.

"I'm home..." His words echoed in her mind. She still remembered how he wrapped his sole arm around her, pulling her into his welcoming embrace. She knew she got excited over nothing back then. It was just...a friendly hug, nothing else.

Sasuke...Sasuke only saw her as a sibling, just like Naruto. He knew she loved him. She had confessed twice already and got rejected on both of them. She's his friend and that's it. He confirmed it when he poked her forehead before leaving which she still didn't have a clue what did it stand for. Hell, she even expect him to poke her again when she greeted him. She didn't know why but when he poked her forehead, she felt butterflies in her stomach. It made her feel special. He also thanked her, just like the first time he left the village. Yet, the way he thanked her as he left for the second time had more meaning. He thanked her for never giving up on him? Or thanked her for curing his wounds and helping him accustomed to his new life with his sole arm? She was confused, she admits.

"I-If you want y-you can stay Sakura..." She was surprised when he said that. He wanted her to stay. With him...and Naruto. She groaned in realization. Maybe he wanted me to check his arm or cure some fresh injuries he would have! She was definitely going to back to Naruto's apartment later on. They planned to meet at Kakashi-sensei's office but they can go together there.

Or maybe after their meeting she could take him to her office and give him a physical test.


They were both in Naruto's bed, exhausted. After Kakashi and Sakura left, Sasuke took a shower and hang out with Naruto for a while, exchanging their adventures and new jutsus that they have learned after Sasuke's departure. After that, they had a sparred in which no one won since Naruto's neighbour appeared and told them to quit making noise since it was one am. When he left, they ate ramen and left to bed. As soon as Naruto hit the bed, he mumbled a "goodnight Sasuke" and dozed off instantly. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"You never change, Usuratonkachi..." He chuckled as Naruto started snoring. Fumbling, he took his clothes off, leaving his boxers on and put on some black pajama pants that according to Naruto, Sakura bought him. Normally, he would sleep with a shirt on, but since that he wasn't sleeping on the wild and Naruto had the heater on, he slept with his pants only.

Well, he tried to sleep. Three hours have passed and Sasuke wasn't able to sleep and Naruto snores weren't helping him at all. Not even Suigetsu snored that loud when he spent nights with Taka. He kept his eyes closed and tried counting sheep. Seeing that it was actually working, he began to doze off but then Naruto called him out. His back was facing his blond best friend.

"Sasuke...are you awake?"

"Hn..."

"...Is that a yes?"

Sasuke groaned and faced Naruto. "What?"

Naruto grinned widely. "I'm just glad that you're finally home!"

"Hn."

Even if he couldn't see Sasuke in the darkness, the moon reflected on that small smile that played on his lips. Naruto closed his eyes, his eyelids felt heavy, sleep was consuming him once again.

"Goodnight Sasuke"

"Aah..."


"So tell me Usuratonkachi" Sasuke took another bite from his apple. "If you and Hyuuga girl are married, then why aren't you living together?"

Naruto turned the tap off as he finished washing his ramen bowl. "We do live together! Right now, she's on a mission with her team and won't be comimg back for a month." Sasuke nodded. "But don't worry! Even if she comes back, you're still going to be here!"

"I don't want to be a bother..."

"Nonsense! You will never be a bother to me Sasuke! I talked to Hinata and she's fine with it! I want to spend as many time possible with you!"

Sasuke's eyebrows knitted together as his lips formed a frown in dissaproval.

"Naruto..." He began.

Naruto dried his hands off and headed towards the door. "C'mon let's go!" He exclaimed. "Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei are waiting for us!"

Sighing, he stood up and followed his best friend. Sasuke stopped and stared blankly at the empty chair next to the door.

"Oi Dobe" Naruto stopped his track. "Where's my poncho...?" He gulped and left the apartment.

"One day you're going to thank me for burning that poncho!" Naruto laughter echoed through the corridor. Sasuke's obsidian right eye twitch in annoyance.


"This brings back so many memories." Kakashi smiled through his mask, sitting up straightly. After being kicked out by Sasuke last night, he had to return to his office to finish some paperwork. Yes he was tired and he was supposed to return home for the day but Konoha was first priority now. Yet, from all the work he had, he always would get some time off to visit Gai, whose ninja days were over but kept him company and even if he didn't admit it out loud, Kakashi missed those crazy challenges that they have to prove who was the strongest between the two. He also spent some time with Sakura and Naruto, which sometimes they would still train together and gave dinner later. With Sasuke back in the picture, he could already imagine how interesting the sparring would become.

Kakashi stared at the trio in front of him. They were now in their early twenties, and they had accomplish so many things in only twenty years of their lives. Team Seven had been through a lot these past years. Tears, betrayals, nearly death, yet, they could surpassed all that. After the war ended, as much as he wanted to have one last mission together as a team, that couldn't be accomplished. Both Naruto and Sasuke were heavily wounded from their fight that they lasted at least two months in the hospital. In ten months, they had gone through therapy, as their proteistic arms weren't ready yet. Sakura on the other hand, after resting and taking care of her two best friends' injuries, she was barely seen with them. Yes, they went out sometimes, but the hospital needed her assistant. As for him, Kakashi would always spend his days with Tsunade, training to become the sixth Hokage. They were so busy, but at the end of the day, even if they were tired, they would at least spend three hours together having a meal and remembering their missions when they were genin.

He cleared his throat. "There's a reason why I told you guys to come here..." He began. "Please, come in." Sasuke turned around and his eyes widened. Both Naruto and Sakura beamed and Kakashi stood up from his seat.

Sasuke tilted his head in confusion. "Why are you here...?"