Wrenching her door open, almost ripping it off its hinges, and practically flying down her apartment stairs, Sakura ran frantically down the busy and bustling streets. She found herself bumping into people more and more frequently in her less-than-sane-and-oh-so-late-run.
Since slowing down time was impossible, Sakura went for the closest alternative – speeding herself up, as she opted for a quicker route, via the rooftops of the busy street, leading all the way to the branches of trees in the heavy greenery, that was the training grounds of Konoha.
Finally making it, only 11 minutes late, Sakura having slowed her pace down, was breathing hard, in huffs and puffs as she walked over to a still sleeping Naruto.
Kicking his sprawled-out form, Naruto slowly opened one eye to look at a rather-sweaty, pink-haired woman. A large grin pulled up the corners of the blonde's mouth, as he smiled up at her, noting her lateness. Never in a billion years, did he think he would swap places with Sakura, in the form of her being late and him on time for once.
Then again, time changes people.
"Sakura-chan, you made it in record time, only 3 minutes from your apartment to here, surely that's gotta break some kinda bloody record." Naruto smiled widely as he sat up of the ground, feeling proud of his oh-so-speedy best friend.
"A…a…um… how did, you guess" Sitting on the grass next to him blush coloured her pale cheeks as she looked away in embarrassment from being found out.
Placing a light hand on her pink hair, he slowly ruffled it, before he gave in and gently hugged her.
"Because you are Sakura-chan, and Sakura – chan always wakes up at 8:30 no matter the occasion". Naruto explained, chuckling as he said it.
Despite their weird, sitting-hugging position, it was warm and comfortable, always something soothing that was their home to return to, because for these two people who had been through so much, it wasn't the place that made home for them, it was the people.
"Sorry for making you wait" She muttered against his shoulder, chagrin evident in her voice.
If it were possible for Naruto's smile to go any wider at that point, trust me it would have. As the giddy feeling spread through him, he softly rubbed Sakura's back, glad that at least he was one person she would let her guard down in front of, because Naruto knew more than anything that she wouldn't show this side to anyone, ever, not in the way she was now; devote of any feeling of love, save for those of affection and brotherly adoration she felt to Naruto, and those of respect and care towards her master and sensei, lastly the lighter ones towards her friends.
However that was all, any person who saw Sakura on a mission, and then saw how she was with her friends, would not be able to put two and two together, despite the look being the same the personality was wholly different.
Eventually breaking the hug, Naruto stood, stretching and clicking his back, he raised his eyebrows beckoning Sakura on, with a challenging smile.
Standing up and facing him, with a tender smile resting upon her lips, she took her stance, ready to fight.
All the same, despite the stance she took, she still needed that ounce of reassurance from Naruto.
"You sure this is ok? Should you really be doing this, wasting this time on me when you should be getting ready?" Worry evident in her voice.
"Sakuraaa- chaan" He replied, dragging the words out as he charged forward. "Didn't I tell you already? Its… OK" At the last exaggerated word Naruto thrust one balled fist charged with chakara forward, towards her lower abdomen.
One bright complacent smile, replaced the worry etched on Sakura's sweet face. Relief evident as it shined in the early morning light, showing that rare show smile, revealing true, natural beauty, in those second before she disappeared, just narrowly avoiding Naruto's killer fist.
"Ohhh look who is getting good" Naruto said into the vast emptiness of the training grounds, with mock admiration, part of which was true, as his words trailed over to Sakura at her hiding place in the think underbrush surrounding the training grounds.
"Hoo, you aint seen nothing yet" A fake gangster tone ripped Sakura's voice as flew forward, kunai in both hands aiming for the clueless blondes growing hair.
Oblivious to the attack, and looking like he was going to take it, a wide grin crossed Naruto's face as he turned around, grabbing her wrists, countering it.
And so the games began.
The usual half-serious half-playful training that Sakura and Naruto had almost every day went on as usual, despite their arrangements for the rest of the day, it was something they always, without fail, did. They relied on each other, improving each other to the point they were at now, almost flawlessly the best.
Their breathless pants soon filled the area, as the dust soon began to settle down, with the sun rising to its midday peak. Both paces away from each other, tired and sweating, they regarded each other with the same look, acknowledging the same thing, each waiting for the other to admit to it.
Sighing Naruto straightened his posture and relaxed his shoulders, finally being the one to give in.
"We should get going about now don't you think"
Feelings of resignation were evident in his demeanour, however the overwhelming feeling of shock was what pertained Sakura. She hadn't expected him to be the one to give in, it was always her, being the one to give in and get back to work. Then again, Sakura thought with unease today was the day Naruto had been waiting for his whole life, change was inevitable.
Walking back, too soon they had to part, each going their own way, leaving Sakura alone to wonder the entire journey home, whether they would ever be able train like they always did after today.
After all today would be the day when things would change, and despite the excitement and pride she felt for Naruto there was also that glimmer of worry, that life as it was would never be the same.
Back In her apartment, she shrugged away the pessimistic ideology, stripped her clothes and headed for a nice cold shower, hoping to dilute her thoughts and clear away her perspiration from the long , hard training session.
Wrapping herself in a nice fluffy towel, she riffled through her large closet, in search of what she knew was hiding somewhere. After a good 10 minutes of searching, she happened upon the blessed thing. Pulling out the one occasional outfit she owned yet had never worn before, she held it up against the direction of light, and gazed over it in admiration. Thinking over it, it really had been a good buy, despite her worry at the time that she would have no occasion to bless it with, or the more self-conscious worry that it wouldn't suit her.
Running her hands over the luscious silk upon her body, she marvelled at the beauty of such an outfit. It was a long knee length cheongsam, made from black silk with the decorum of the outline of a marvellous silver dragon, which began from the bottom of the dress, winding itself all the way round, right to the top. Her favourite aspect of it was how it fit so harmoniously with the tattoo on her back that no one would ever see, despite that, the feeling of being able to bask in such beauty always settled her and reminded her of how blessed she really was.
There were slits on either side of the dress which ran up all the way to just above her thighs and bordered along the line of her hip bones, thus in any normal situation her usual black, lycra shorts were required, however today she had no intention of going on any mission or getting it to any fights unless needs be. Upon deciding to chance it, she rummaged through her drawers once more, soon finding a pair of fish-net tights, which perfectly showed of her cream, elongated legs, which she was conclusively proud of.
After slipping on a thin, black cardigan, she dried and brushed the tangles of her blush-coloured hair till it was fell in perfect curls and waves along her back. Reluctantly she pulled it tight into a high bun, wound by a long red ribbon, and stuck one pink and one black chop stick in for decoration. Sliding on her long boots, and admiring her natural beauty in her closet mirror, she sighed as she turned to her bed to pick up her weapons, placing a small, inconceivable black pouch in place of her hip pack, filled with a variety of assortments. Then her thigh pouch with her kunai, and lastly she pulled the 2 long silk- ribbon, holders for her katana, one over each shoulder, so that the lay crossed over her back and tight against her body in close reach.
Locking up her apartment she headed down the block stairs and began walking the bright midday streets of Konoha, headings for the large hall that was the ground floor of the hokage tower.
Finally arriving, a slight sigh left her lips as she looked up at the mountain face which bore the monuments of all the previous hockages on it, then she looked at the current construction work being carried out on it, leaving a small sad smile upon her lips.
Taking a deep breath, pushing aside the large, heavy doors of the grand hall, she strode into the place where all important occasions were celebrated, or mourned.
With her head held high, and her should pushed back, there was an air of confidence that radiated with every step she took, leaving few and far between that dared approach her. People were intimated by her, not just by the refinement of her every skill or the capacity of her power, but the perfection that every cell in her body seemed to scream out, and to make things worse there was a cold aura she unconsciously leaked out when around people, due to the strong influence of her assassination missions.
The single man that would dare to approach, in the entire bubbling cloud of people that filled the space, was the one man she knew would always be that "one in a million".
Excusing himself from a conversation with a few very important people, that in any other case with any other person, they would stay to listen due to the endless possibilities and advantages from getting in the good graces of such people, the young man, now the hot topic of everyone in that room and possibly the whole village, advanced towards the snack table, aiming for the pink haired woman, who stood alone, empty glass in hand.
Every head turned as he passed, and upon being subdued to almost every stare in the hall, he finally reached that one that made it an almost.
"Yo, Sakura – channn" Naruto hummed, as he grabbed a plate and shoved on piles of sweets and pastries all mixed with the odd savouries, such as spaghetti and fries.
Getting another plate and shoving it into the hands of the pink headed woman that still wasn't looking at him, he continued to pile on food to that plate, adding all sorts of food, like spaghetti, fries, kebab and even lasagne.
The woman just stared with wide eyes at the overflowing plate laying lightly it her hands, as she felt the weight of it swiftly increase with more food being impossibly piled on.
Naruto just smiled all the while.
"Ne, Sakura – chan, you've got to eat more, your too skinny" he said without a glance her way, as he put his plate down and began filling, or should I say , over-filling, two glasses to the brim with some kind of strange mixture of apple and raspberry juice.
"See, I even got them to make your favourite food – lasagne, because I know how much you love it…" he trailed off, beginning to worry about her silence.
Nevertheless, one winning smile broke out across her face, as she turned towards him, pink hair and all.
"Thank you" She whispered.
"Yeah" he replied in that usual, upbeat, Naruto-tone of his.
Picking up their plates, they headed towards a vacant table in the far corner of the room, all the while, ignoring the endless amount of curious stares headed their way.
As he walked ahead of her Sakura watched the back of her long-term friend, as the long, overflowing white of the hokage gown trailed out behind him and his broad shoulders swayed with the walks movement.
A smile almost instantly broke out as she realised his dream, her dream had finally come true.
Setting down on the small, round marble table and drawing in the heavy, marble chairs, Naruto's mouth was soon full with food as he looked up at a smiling Sakura.
"vvat shou smoolinn foow"
Sakura now laughed at Naruto's failed attempt at coherent Japanese through a mouthful of food.
Nevertheless through many years of experience and training, she understood what he was trying to say, and it just made her smile even more, one sweet tender smile reserved only for her best friend.
"Nothing"
The rare few in the room, who hadn't had enough staring, were the rare few who were able to witness such an event. All who saw were undoubtedly shocked by the unparalleled sweet smile on the 'Frozen blossoms' face. They couldn't fathom that she was able to hold such an expression, though those older ninja and her few friends were able to understand in some way as to how she could, knowing what she was like in the recent past.
Off in a corner, somewhere in another corner, hiding in that corner, Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as he watched their little encounter from some corner across the room.
A content sigh eased through Sakura's lips, as she stretched her arms above her head, folding her hands as she clicked her stiff back. Now walking out the doors of the still bubbling atmosphere, she headed out along the dark empty streets of Konoha.
She'd had enough for one night. After watching the whole ceremony, she had left Naruto to make acquaintances with some important people, she knew he would need, thus she didn't want to worry him by hanging around by herself, neither did she feel like socialising with her now-in-partying-attire ninja friends, so with a kiss upon Naruto's cheek she headed on home.
Naruto did offer to walk her home, though he knew it was a hopeless cause; for one, she was well and truly no match for anyone but 4 people in the entire village and two, she wouldn't let him and he knew it.
Shivering in the cool night's air, Sakura decided to take a short detour in her route home.
Two tall, muscular, male ninja guarded the entrance of where she detoured too. They gave her one glace and swiftly moved aside, knowing very well who she was, and very much wanting to keep their family jewels should they oppose her, further noting the blades kept securely across her back.
She paced silently through the endless corridors, and after passing through a hall of empty cells, at the end of it she arrived at the single occupied one she was looking for.
Jade eyes stared vacantly through metal bars at Sasuke's sleeping form inside the cell.
She didn't think, her mind wasn't working, she was much too tired for that. However the one thought she did manage to muster about her old team mate was a whisper that came out loud in the empty corridors;
"At least he finally looks peaceful"
As she paced away, heading for home, knowing, yet not turning to looking into those sealed eyes, she knew watched her as she walked away.
Passing through a narrow street, still alive with activity, as the clock struck midnight, she sighed maybe going for a bowl of ramen after all. However as she eyed the shop only a few paces away from her, a loud echoing sound stopped her in her tracks.
Coming to a halt, she listened hard, as the breadth of an explosion echoed through, shattering the peaceful night air, reverberating through her body and shaking her very core.
"They knew" her thoughts hissed, as anger encased her very being.
