Chapter Four

"All I need is being able to scoop up happiness with a tiny spoon"

It had been three months since the whole incident with one of Akina's old friends. Sasuke had stayed very close with her and one of the things he did regularly was work with her on the tea field. They had finished doing all of that so Sasuke and Akina began walking down the hill back towards the village. Sasuke had his hands in his navy pants and her hands were busy holding a woven basket filled with small boxes of tea leafs. She threw a hissy fit every time Sasuke asked to carry it for her, 'I will not allow it' with a puff of her cheeks and she would not waver on her decision. Sasuke would sigh and just chuckle at her stubbornness.

To anyone who didn't know them, it looked as if they had known each other for years and had a deep understanding of one another. The gentle, silly, and very klutzy non-shinobi and the cool, powerful, and collected shinobi had found a good common ground and a good relationship. They practically spend every other morning together and once a week in the evening and were still not fed up with each other. Naruto was the only one of the circle that had known of Sasuke's true feelings and always warned him when it became too obvious. However since that night all the boys knew something was going on and all of them were silent about it. If anyone dared to open their mouths it was sure destruction by Sakura's wrath.

The matter regarding Seichi and his friends was solved that night three months ago. Not only did Sasuke hand him and his friend their asses in a fight and did not hold back but he got them in so much trouble that a majority of them were dropped in rank. It made Sasuke realize that he had gotten to that point where he had to open up the Konaha Police Force again, for his parents, his brother but also for himself. A sense of responsibility had awoken in him thanks to her, though he was never quite sure how to express that gratitude.

As they neared the village gate it dawned on him. "Hey, Akina." He stopped walking and after two steps so did Akina. She looked back at him and tilted her head. "Do you want to go on a date this afternoon?" He looked to the side refusing to let his Uchiha mask drop at such a time but when he glanced back at Akina's shocked face he thought that it was too much and too soon and he nearly burst into a fit of laughter, but instead he covered it up. "Never mind, that was inappropriate, sorry." He began walk closer towards the gate and after five steps he had to stop from the voice behind him.

Akina shouted behind him. "I'd love to!" When Sasuke glanced back at her he had never seen anyone so rigid before in their life, it reminded him of Naruto when he was younger and more coy around Sakura. Sasuke smirked at her and her grip on the basket of tea began as strong as iron. "B-but… you said that your ex-girlfriend wants to get back together with you." She said as she took the necessary steps to stand beside him.

"Doesn't mean I want her back." Sasuke said with a low chuckle.

"What about her friends? You two are still teammates, it would be wrong to hurt her feelings." She said.

Sasuke smirked and began to walk again. "That's why I know the perfect place to go." Akina stood on her toes for a moment before she dashed forward towards him, to walk beside him again.

Hours passed and it was nearly nine at night when Akina heard a knock on her door. She opened it and there was Sasuke dressed very casually, black long-sleeved, turtleneck shirt and navy pants that cut off just above his ankle. She was equally as casual, navy pants that cut off below her knee and a white three quarter long sleeve scoop neck. The only thing that seemed really well down about her was her hair. Usually it was wavy but it was straight and it reached about an inch beyond her shoulder blades.

"You straightened your hair." Sasuke commented. He wasn't sure how to feel about her hair looking like that, it surprisingly made her look older and more sophisticated. Which is probably why she keeps it curly… he thought.

"Nope," She came out of the house and closed and locked the door. "I usually curl my hair." She began descending down the stairs.

Sasuke smirked at her response, "Odd ball." He whispered before following her.

"So where are we going?" She asked, when he reached the bottom of the stairs and began walking away from the apartments and into the village.

"Not telling." Sasuke said, mimicking her stubbornness.

She chuckled, "So, you have no idea where we are going." She said confidently.

Sasuke smirked at her. "You are such a girl."

"So long as I have someone to share it with."

They got food for take out and went to one of the locked up training fields. By the end of the meal they were both on their backs on the grass around them laid empty cardboard containers. Sasuke had said a joke about Sai's fascination with Naruto's little man and the girl still hadn't calm down. "Shut up." He said turning his head to see her on her side laughing. He watched her prop herself up on her arms.

"He didn't really do that at a hot spring?" She asked, a small gleam of happiness in her eye.

Sasuke nodded and kept his head turned towards her. "There was also this one time when Sai asked if he had lost it in battle." Akina started giggling like a small child again.

"Get away from me, my maturity level just dropped because of you." She said, shooing him away with her hands. After a moment she regained herself again. "Oh, god. You know I see all of the guys on a weekly basis but I never really got to meet any of them personally. Except for Naruto." Sasuke rolled his eyes and looked away. Akina tilted her head. "Do you not like Naruto? You two seemed tied at the hip."

"Like brothers." Sasuke said with a sigh and looked back at her. "He's my annoying brother. But, you are right, I like him. Without him I wouldn't be here and my head would be so full of hate that I would have probably laid waste to Konaha." Akina seemed upset by that. Sasuke used his arms to push himself up to a sitting position. He set on foot onto the ground and rested his elbow on top of it twisting most of his body to look at her. "He changed me."

"I like this Sasuke." Akina whispered. Sasuke smirked at that.

"Yeah, I like me too."

She gave him a light shove. "You jerk." She said. She rested back down into the grass and Sasuke followed. "Sasuke?" A hum came as a response. "Do you like being alone? I mean, you aren't really alone you have a lot of friends but your past… you were truly alone at one point. Did you mind it?"

"Yes, now, I don't mind it as much." Sasuke replied. "You need to share happiness and love with people around you and solitude doesn't seem as bad because your bonds with them are still there so you are never truly alone." When he looked at him she was still staring at the sky. "Akina are you alone?"

"I used to be. For three years I was really, really lonely and felt so isolated but… I got a job at this small teahouse in the middle of the village that the heroes of Konaha like to go to for tea once a week. And then one of them one night introduced himself to me over my own ignorance." She smiled at him. "And now, even though I am still alone, I don't feel as alone because I know I will see that person in the morning or in the evening."

She smiled at him and he smirked back at her. They spend the rest of the night talking and just staring at the stars. Even moments of silence were throughout the night were fine between them, they weren't awkward at all. At one point Sasuke looked over at her and wondered why the silence was fine. Then their conversation came back to him. Because even in the silence of solitude I don't feel alone. Sasuke smiled a bit. After a long moment of silence he looked over at her again and realized that her eyes were closed and her head was leaning in towards him. Her breath was soft and she was fast asleep. With their empty cartridges of food above their heads, Sasuke too found himself drifting in and out of sleep at the feel of the cool wind and the silence of the night.

Before he realized it, they were both fast asleep on the grass of the training field. The morning came and Sasuke only realized it when he heard the voices of gennin. He lifted his upper body and looked over and saw three gennin whispering and giggling amongst each other. "Oi, brats." He snapped. The kids ran off. He reached down and pushing some strands of hair out of face.

"Akina." She shifted lifted her arm that she had placed over her eyes. She winced at the sunlight but got up regardless. "It's morning."

"It was only a matter of showing some kindness"

Naruto walked through the streets towards his favorite and familiar café with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He opened the door and because it was still early no one was around. Akina was sweeping the floor when he came in. "Naruto." She said with a small smile. He smiled back at her. "Is something the matter?" It was usually Sasuke in the café this early in the morning.

"No nothing at all." The blonde boy said, shaking his head. "These are for you." He said placing the bouquet in front of her. Akina tilted her head. "Take them and go to the KIA Stone."

Akina put the broom against a table and took the flowers without moving from her spot. "The memorial? Why?"

"There's someone there that I think will appreciate your presence." Naruto said. "Go, I'll cover with your boss." Akina nodded and started walking out. "Also, one more thing." Naruto said and Akina stopped and turned around. "Thank you for taking such good care of Sasuke. I don't mean to sound insulting when I say this but," Naruto scratched the side of his eyes, his gaze falling to the ground for a moment as he collected his thoughts. "Thank you, Sasuke had been saved but he had never experienced the feeling of saving someone before you. It really opened him up and in ways even I couldn't. So thank you."

Akina smiled. "Thank you for being such a good person and such a good friend, Naruto. You have no idea how much Sasuke appreciates it even if he doesn't really say it. Thank you for keeping him in line."

Naruto chuckled and smiled at her. "Go on."

Akina nodded and dashed off. What she found was rather unpleasant, Sasuke standing over the stone with a heavy black cloud over his head. She immediately guessed what day it was. She had seen a similar sorrow when he spoke about the Uchiha Massacre and assumed that this was it. She walked over to him and he didn't even noticed, it was only when she took his hand into hers did he register her presence. His onyx eyes gazed at her.

"Is today the anniversary of that day?" She asked in the smallest voice as if saying it louder would physically wound him.

"Yeah…" He whispered. He watched her set the bouquet down to the wooden platform of the stone. She let go of his hand so she could bow her head in respect. Her hands settled behind her, one in the other. Sasuke looked from her back to the stone, his hands dug into his pockets. "You don't have to stand around with me. I already made you miss work last month."

"It's ok." She whispered. "This isn't about missing work, this is about you not being alone. I'll stand here for as long as you need me to stand here." With that his head fell onto hers, however their hands did not move their places. The raven haired shinobi, dressed in jounin attire and the black haired waitress, dressed in her uniform both stood there for the longest time, until the sun began to set.

One the slightest hint of purple began to seep into the twilight sky Sasuke spoke, "Do you think… that they would be proud of me? My parents?"

"Definitely." She whispered.

"To the boys hugging their knees in the season-less town…"

"Sakura-chan! No, I can't, I won't!" Naruto screamed as Sakura pulled him from the floor into one of her death grips. Hinata watched in horror on the side of the room.

"Who is this girl that Ino's students saw around Sasuke? Who is Akina?" Sakura asked as Naruto's skin began to change into all sorts of fun colors starting with, the all too classic, red and ending with a pleasant shade of purple.

While the torment progressed there something more enjoyable was happening on the outskirts of the village up on the hill with the tea field. A small table with a pitcher of water and two glasses and two chairs were laid out. Under the shade of the shed Sasuke read a report and Akina was inside the shed checking on certain leafs. When she came back out she whipped her hands on her apron and poured her glass and refilled Sasuke's.

She sat down and realized he was completely distracted. He had one of his feet on his knee and his elbow opposite form the raised leg was leaning against the table and on the raised leg was the report he was reading and his face was still as marble. "Sasuke? Is everything alright?" She asked. He raised his head to look at her; his solemn expression, however, did not change.

"Just… here." He said and handed her the report. "There have been a lot of bandit attacks on the outskirts and they are closing towards the village." He watched her flip the page and scan over the writing before handing the papers back to him.

"Is it serious?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yeah, these men are not kidding, they want to bring back the anarchy from the war and destroy the alliances between the five great villages. If this continues you shouldn't be coming here anymore, especially unattended."

"But… Sasuke." She whispered.

"Akina, it's dangerous. I've fought these men, they could take down three gennin at once, and they are not a joking matter. Alright?" He said in a stern, almost fatherly tone.

"Alright, you are right." Sasuke nodded at her response.

They finished a few more jobs before either spoke again. "Let's go back." Sasuke said and helped Akina up from a crouching position. The girl nodded and took off her gloves. "I'll wait here ok?"

"Yeah." She was back in a second and she noticed another expression on his face. "Sasuke? Is something wrong, you look troubled today."

Sasuke shook his head and smirked at her slightly. "You are becoming more observant." She blushed a bit and looked away placing her hands on her hips. "No, I just have a weird feeling that something has gone terribly astray."

Akina relaxed from her defiant pose. "Like what?"

Sasuke looked down at her and shrugged and started walking, Akina followed suddenly confused.

However, Sasuke's intuition was proving right because in the middle of Konaha in an apartment both Naruto and Hinata were restraining a furious Sakura. It was only when Naruto finally snapped and stopped playing mister nice ninja did Sakura finally calm down. When Naruto started yelling back and being serious did Sakura calm down.

"What's wrong with him finding another girl, that he really likes and gets along with very well?" Naruto asked and Sakura sat back in her seat. "She's great for him and he's great for her. They are actually in love and I have never seen Sasuke happier. You want to make Sasuke happy don't you Sakura?"

Sakura's eyes widened at that question. "Of course I do."

"Then let go of him." Naruto said and Sakura gasped at that reply. "When you see them together you will understand. When you see him teasing her and her getting frustrated and him laughing which will in turn make her laugh… that's when you will understand. Nothing good will come out of clinging onto him while he loves and cherishes another woman. Sakura, do it or it will destroy you and your heart."

Sakura's shoulders fell and so did her head, she was sad and Naruto could easily tell. From years of being side by side he could tell how every movement revealed her mood and state of mind. Naruto grasped and pulled up her shoulders a bit so she was standing up straight and with her shoulders her head straightened up and she was looking forward once again. "He still loves you, just not romantically. That love he has for you should be enough. His bond with you should be enough, because no matter what if something happens he will still throw himself out for you and Sakura… that more than some could hope for."

Sakura sighed and looked away from Naruto. One hand slipped off of one of her shoulders. "Naruto, when did you get this wise?"

"Meh… I don't know, but many people have been telling me that lately." He said with a smug grin.

Sakura cringed a bit and glared up at him from her seat. "Never mind you are still annoying." She said.

Naruto's shoulder's slumped forward in sorrow at her words. "Ah, Sakura-chan… you always know how to cut right into my heart don't you…"

"But even so…"

When Sasuke reached for the village gates he saw Sai standing there waiting. He jogged forward leaving Akina a few feet behind. He stopped in front of Sai. "What is it?" He asked.

Sai looked like he was contemplating the answer, "As Naruto would say, there is good new, bad news and worse news. Which one would you like first?" Sasuke noticed Akina stepping beside him.

"Good…" He answered. "Give them to me in order." He said that last part dismissively, not in the mood for these games.

"Well, good news, you two won't have to hide your relationship anymore because, bad news, Sakura knows your relationship and, worse news, now team 7 is being sent to a mission to find the hide out of the bandits, the mission is going to start tomorrow."

Akina looked up at Sasuke who shifted his weight to one side. He glanced down at Akina who wore a soft expression contrasting his hardened one. "Thanks, Sai."

Sai nodded, "Naruto wanted me to tell you right away." Sasuke nodded and the three of them made their way towards Naruto's apartment. When they arrived there the door was open and Sasuke opened the door to find the sight of Naruto sitting on the couch with Hinata trying to realign his damaged neck. "Did Sakura strangle you?" Sai asked. This sight frightened Akina, who had never met Sakura.

"Naruto-kun will be fine in a second." Hinata whispered in her usual hushed tone. She lifted Naruto's head slightly and he squirmed pain under her touch, she gently moved his head to one side and then back to the other. "There."

Naruto relaxed and slumped forward, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thank you, Hinata." He said giving her a great big smile. Naruto removed his hand from his neck and looked up at his guests. "Come in and sit down." Sasuke moved into the apartment with and sat in a seat across from Naruto.

Sai closed the door and remained standing along with Akina. "Naruto, how bad is this? Who are these people?" Sasuke asked. He had the same solemn look on his face as he did before at the tea field.

Naruto looked serious too. "I don't know exactly but… They go into towns kill the strongest shinobi and they leave stealing and destroying as much as they can. Though, I doubt that they are remnants of Akatsuki and that era, this is a new group. I want to find out where they are coming from and what their purpose is and this team is the best that I can think of." Sasuke nodded, agreeing.

"Alright. We'll start the mission tomorrow."

Akina looked at the way they looked at each other dead in the eye. Naruto's legs were separated, his hands on his knees and his chin up looking at Sasuke. Sasuke hand his ankle resting on his knee, one arm was resting on the armrest and his other hand was propping up his head his elbow on the armrest and he looked down the bridge of his nose at Naruto. For a moment Akina thought she wasn't looking at adults but their thirteen year old counterparts and it actually brought a smile to her face.