12/18: Just came back to do some editing, nothing has changed besides adding italics. For some reason FF didn't register the way I originally posted this chapter.


It's hot in Konoha today more so than usual. The sky is a clear blue, but somehow Sakura can't enjoy it to its fullness. A light breeze sweeps her hair, cooling off her lightly sweat soaked collarbone. The people in the village are bustling around her as they haggle prices with off duty shinobi and civilian trying to keep their children in their sites.

She takes the long way to Ichiraku because although she's had three hours to absorb the fact that Sasuke has come back to the village, it isn't enough time to shake the feelings that he stirred within her - nervousness, apprehension, confusion, betrayal and above all longing - and she isn't sure how she's supposed to take this like it's the most of natural occurrences.

The fact that he's been away for a year since the war ended and knowing that he would come back someday (because he said so himself didn't he) does not lesson the fact that for all the above mentioned feelings she has, Sakura is also angry. Pissed actually. She wonders why she didn't know of his return prior. Did he think that she would make a big deal out of it? Was their last meeting with one another nothing to him?

Haruno Sakura wasn't stupid and naive anymore. The day he left she had sensed a change in him, one that of course she didn't bring, but Naruto, and that's okay, but due to their long history with one another she'd like to think she was entitled to a little information. How many sunrises and sunsets did she spend wondering if he was okay, wondering if everyone outside their circle was accepting his gestures or throwing them back in his face; wondering if the war haunted him just as much as it did her.

Her thoughts distract her on her walk and before she even realizes it she is already in front of Ichiraku. Inside, the medic nin can feel the low hum of Sasuke's and Naruto's chakra. There was no turning back for she's sure they sensed her presence long before she noticed theirs. Her hand parts the curtains to the establishment and she makes her way inside. Their backs are to her as she takes a deep breath to calm her nerves and makes her way over to them. She's glad that there isn't a seat in between them because she isn't sure if she can be near the ex-avenger so soon and so Sakura takes a seat beside Naruto.

"Hey, you made it!"

Sakura nudges her friend with her shoulder, "I said I would." Turning to Teuchi she orders a spicy ramen, waving to Ayame who's down the bar table. She then rests her elbow on the table, her right cheek on one palm as she listens to the rest of the boys' conversation. Kinda.

They talk about mundane things at first like how Naruto wants to try ramen from the Land of Waves ("your ramen will always be the best, Teuchi") to the time they went to Kiri and how the Mizukage kept flirting with him ("she's super weird!") and this catches her attention slightly when she notices the face her dark haired companion makes at the mention of the long haired woman. It's twenty minutes into Naruto's rambling when he finally asks Sasuke about his journey and Sakura's ears perk up, back straightening as she listens closely.

"I went to Sound first," he starts and the pinkette notices the almost disturbed look on his face as he tries to recall everything. "After killing Orochimaru -" A snap is heard and Sakura notices that Naruto snapped his chopsticks at the mention of the snakes name. His knuckles almost white at the force he's holding back, but Sasuke continues without reflecting on the past. "The village was taken over by petty shinobi. The civilians were living like animals. When I arrived everyone was wary of me knowing my ties to him. The so called village leader, however, sought out my help in getting rid of the thieves which I gladly did, but the village needs more help in rebuilding itself."

"How long did you stay there for?" Naruto asks.

"Three months," Sasuke replies.

"Is there anything that Kakashi can do for them?"

Onyx eyes meet with crystal blue. "Establish order and appoint a new village leader. Someone that can protect them from anymore invaders."

"We can talk to sensei about it. I'm sure he would like to know about what's going on outside of Konoha. We'll help, too! Won't we, Sakura?"

Did her friend honestly think that she would want to step into that dreadful village? Even with Orochimaru and Kabuto annihilated Sakura still remembers all too clearly the pain it caused her and her home, but instead of expressing this she just vaguely nods her head because the look in his eyes is so hopeful that she couldn't bare to disappoint him. 'You forgive too easily.'

The three of them continue on with their meal, thoughts of slithering snakes and hissing noises vibrating through Sakura's mind and she has to try her hardest not to flinch away when goosebumps run along her arm. She is on autopilot for the next half hour, nodding and shaking her head when it was necessary. Sasuke, ever the observant type, watches his female companion closely. Not once since their sit down did she make eye contact with him and he most definitely noticed the defensive guard she put up at the mention of Sound. He guesses that she is wary of the village (and how can she not) since it was the snake sannin who took him away from her. Them.

He briefly thinks that he would do things a little differently if he had the chance to go back in time. No, he doesn't regret the choices he made, but he would go about them differently. Especially when it came down to Team Seven. Suddenly, his loud mouthed friend is rising up off his seat, knocking the bar stool over screaming something about missing a date with Hinata.

"Ah! I almost forgot that I was supposed to meet with her!" Royal blue dart between his teammates, "I'll go tell her that I'll see her tomorrow and then we-"

"Go, loser. I'll see you … tomorrow." Sasuke says.

A wide grin spreads across the jinchūriki's face. "Okay! I'll see you two tomorrow! Bye!"

Sakura smiles gently at him and waves her goodbye to her friend, but then she is suddenly aware that she is alone with Sasuke and her nerves are ablaze. There's a pregnant pause for a few moments neither of them saying anything to one another. The medic nin sweeps a glance over to her current enigma from the corner of her eye. His bowl is finished and he's placed enough money on the table for the three of them.

Finally, he breaks the silence between them. "You don't have to go to Sound, Sakura."

She doesn't bother finishing the rest of her broth. It had gotten cold anyways due to her lack of appetite at the start of his story. "Why do you say that?" She asks.

Sasuke tilts his head in her direction - just like that night - "You clearly aren't fond of them."

"Can you blame me?"

"No, but I don't want you going there if you aren't willing to help them."

The dark haired ninja gets up from his stool and proceeds to make his way out of Ichiraku. He's just walked a few steps from the ramen stand when he feels Sakura's hand on his arm almost forcefully getting him to turn around. She looks angry. Her eyes are narrowed slits as she glares at him and it's a look so foreign to him that he doesn't know whether or not he should be irritated at her public display of attitude towards him.

"They attacked us, Sasuke or don't you remember?"

"Yes, I do. But you're being childish."

His comment is like a slap to the face. "Excuse me?"

"You don't want to help them because of me. My decision to go to Sound was my own. The civilians who preside in the village had nothing to do with the invasion. The shinobi who participated in that failed attempt are long gone so there is no reason for them to suffer over the actions of two dead men."

His reasoning is accurate she thinks, but she is a woman scorned by so many incidents which has lead her to be wary of anything pertaining to the past. But what about Suna? Hadn't they planned on attacking Konoha as well? By using Gaara as a weapon and yet she can confidently call him a friend. She was even friends with Temari and Kankuro.

Dark eyes observe the girl in front of him. He could see the thoughts all but running rampant in her mind. Her head bows slightly when she makes what he said sense, heaving a sigh of defeat at his reasoning. He didn't mean to be harsh with her but Sasuke had very little time to be gentle about anything when it came down to making the world a better place. He doesn't consider himself a savior. That would be ridiculous, but if he was going to redeem himself for all his wrong doings, and actually ask for assistance (when necessary) he had to have people willing to genuinely help. This of course doesn't mean that he doesn't understand the way she feels. He isn't blind. Sasuke knows what he put her through.

"Did you … did you ever think of Konoha?" He hears her ask.

He wasn't going to lie to her. "In the beginning I did, but after a while I forgot what it looked like." Truth was that he was too tired most nights to even think. The snake sannin had beaten and trained him till almost his last breath which sometimes resulted in him losing consciousness at times. He wouldn't tell her this, of course.

"I see." Her eyes raise to meet with his. "We'll talk about helping them out with Kakashi tomorrow. Goodnight, Sasuke."

Sakura turns to leave and it's the first time Sasuke has ever watched her walk away from him. His eyebrows furrow together. It's strange he thinks, to see her like this in the village, grown up. Onyx eyes roam her retreating figure and he can appreciate her growth. It isn't sexual, but more so along the lines of her accepting things for what they are and not what they were. Turning on his heel, he makes his way to the other side of the village to his apartment where he spends the rest of the night trying to get rid of the memory of her tear stained face all those years ago.


A/N: I want to sincerely thank everyone who reviewed my first "chapter" if you can even consider that one since it was soo short, but nevertheless thank you all! It makes me happy that some of you already like my story enough favorite/follow it which motivated me to get this up for you guys. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope this was a well sized chapter for you. Please be sure to leave a review and tell me your thoughts!