Ok, Im back with the update. Sorry, I know it took forever. However you have to realize that I have school. Also, Reviews make a big difference in my motivation to type up the chapters. So if you want me to update badly, leave a review. Anyways here's chapter 1.

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Chapter 1

13 years later…

The sun shines down, glimmering on the river. A familiar pink haired heroine sat on the bank, dousing various clothes in the flowing water. Time had been kind to her, as beauty still defined her in every way. She was quietly mumbling to herself, "just a few more." Sakura paused looking up. The sun's intensity forced her to shade her eyes with her hand. "Ah, what a beautiful day it turned out to be!" She says suddenly enthused.

"I don't see the point," a man's voice says, "We have a perfectly good washing machine." Sakura smiled while gathering the wet clothes together in a basket.

"The point is to survive as if nature is your only provision, Maro," she says turning to walk in his direction. Maro, with light blue hair and stunning hazel eyes, smiled slightly.

"That's right," he says, "You and your training. Do me a favor and be careful. I don't want my fiancé getting hurt." Sakura just continues smiling as she walks past him.

"In that case," she says playfully, "Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to marry you." Before she knew it, Sakura was embraced from behind. She could feel Maro's breath on her ear.

"But the great Haruno Sakura does not go back on her word," he says, "Soon to be Nazaki Sakura." Feeling comfortable, Sakura leans against him, allowing his arms to tighten around her.

"I'll be so glad to get rid of that name," she says with a sigh, "It represents the foolish girl I once was."

"Of course," Maro says grabbing the basket of clothes from Sakura, "You're a woman now. And thus, I'm finishing this chore. You need to relax." Sakura allowed him to take the load and watched as he began trekking through the trees back home.

"And that's why I love you," Sakura calls after him, "You see me for what I really am." Maro turns around to smile at her.

"I know," he says, turning to continue on his way. Sakura's smile was so bright that barely the sun could match it. And he always knows, she thought. Suddenly her smile turned into a frown. A slightly irritated frown at that.

"But, god, am I old," she says, eyebrow twitching, "Going on thirty and I'm only getting married now! Sometimes I still find myself pretty pathetic." Eventually Sakura let it pass and continued in the same direction as Maro. It was then that she felt it, a mild chakra. "Ahead of me? A ninja? Oh no, Maro!" She gasps picking up speed. Her heart raced every second as she leaped over obstacles. "If anything has happened to him, I'll kill whoever did it," Inner Sakura screams. Sakura takes one last leap into the clearing of their house and stops abruptly. Standing there, talking to Maro, is indeed not a threat, but someone she knows. "Eh, Ino-pig?" Sakura says in disbelief.

"Nice to see you too, forehead-girl," Ino says crossing her arms, "Or should I be saying forehead-woman now?" Sakura nearly bursted with laughter. Here they were, thirteen years later, still fighting like normal. Sakura hadn't realized how much she missed it. Maro just stands there confused.

"You know this woman?" He asks curiously. Sakura runs up to hug Ino before answering.

"Careful, You'll make me fall," Ino laughs regaining her balance.

"Maro," Sakura says cheerfully, "This is Ino. She's a ninja and my best friend." Maro watches as the two continue laughing together.

"I see, a ninja like you," He says acting smart, but not knowing anything about them. Except for what Sakura's told him.

"Well," Ino says, "Kind of a ninja now. Shikamaru won't let me do any missions. He thinks I can become pregnant at any moment. He's a real freak about that kind of thing, but I really don't think he understands how babies are made considering…"

"I'm going to leave you two to all your catching up," Maro says wanting to escape the conversation, " I'll be inside, doing the laundry." Sakura smiles as he disappears inside their small house. She could sense his discomfort, he was all together shy when it came to meeting Sakura's acquaintances.

"Anyways, you were saying?" Sakura says turning back to Ino.

"Well considering," Ino continues, " That our first child was a bit of an accident." "An accident?" Sakura says confused.

"Too much to drink on our wedding night," Ino clarifies, "So he has no idea what the hell he did to have us end up with a baby nine months later. We haven't even slept in the same room for 5 months. With him on all his missions, he just comes home late and sleeps on the couch."

"Sounds like you have some issues with your husband," Sakura says after assessing the information, "Which I never knew you got married, nor hooked up with Shikamaru of all people."

"Yeah," Ino sighs in response, " I don't know why I said yes considering his idea of a proposal was trying to kill me with a kunai that said 'Marry Me'." Sakura was shocked by his method.

"A kunai! That man is freaking insane! Listen to me sister, get out while you can!" Inner Sakura exclaims.

"Eh, Sakura, is something wrong?" Ino asks, noticing her silence. "Oh, nothing," Sakura says with a sweat drop, "Uh, hey, Ino, this is nice and all, but I'm sure you didn't come all this way just to tell me about your married life." Ino stops to think for a second.

"Oh, yeah," She says grabbing something out of her pocket, "By Tsunade's orders, we are to have a festival for all ninja! She sent me to Invite you of course!" Sakura saw the invitation in Ino's hand and swiped it without a word.

"Why a ninja festival? Not all ninja like each other, you know," Sakura says while examining the invitation.

"Yeah, it's the hokage's attempt at bringing them all together," Ino says, "So are you coming?" Sakura puts the invitation down for a second.

"I don't know," She says, "I never expected to go back to Konoha." Ino puts her hands together, pleading.

"Come one, Sakura. Don't you miss everyone?" She says begging, "You can even bring your man. I'm sure he'd like it." Sakura smiles slightly.

"Are you kidding?" She says, "The only thing Maro likes is se…"

"I heard that," Maro calls from inside. Sakura turns to retaliate.

"Heard what!" She yells, "I didn't even finish the thought, much less say it!"

"It started with an S. Was it going to end with an X?" He continued from an unknown location in the house.

"Very possible," Sakura says, "You are a man after all."

"See, I knew what you were going to say," Maro says appearing at the front door, "Anyways, I think you should go to this festival. It would be fun." Sakura couldn't help but smile. Of course she wouldn't refuse. Not when herfiancé wanted to go. Whatever he wanted, he got from her. Most of the time, at least.

"Fine, I'll go," Sakura says finally. Ino was startled by the sudden answer.

"Really? That's great!" Ino squealed, "It would be great if we all were there. The whole rookie 9, that is." Sakura frowned suddenly. Being together again would be awesome, but… the last time she had checked, the rookie 9 had included Sasuke. The mere thought of him made her blood boil.

"This is my chance to challenge him. He'll come, I know he will," Sakura thought.

"Sakura?" Maro asks. Sakura snaps out of her trance.

"Huh?" She responds. Maro laughs at her reaction While Ino just smacks her head.

"Sakura, do you want me to go pack our stuff?" Maro continues, "Or would you like to stay awhile longer?"

"No! Pack it all now!" Sakura says abruptly. Both Maro and Ino are caught off guard by her sudden attitude.

"You sure are fired up," Ino says.

"You bet I am!" Sakura says, " I have a mission."

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There, hoped you liked it. Remember, the more everyone reviews, the better chance there is of me updating faster. Stay tuned for the next chapter where we get to see how everyone else's life is going. Naruto's and Sasuke's in particular.

-Iya Kari