Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Crossroads
Chapter Four
Sasuke just finished taking his written tests. It didn't take him a long time to answer them. He was done by lunch time and had passed his modules to Shikamaru.
"Seems like you didn't even break a sweat." He told him.
"Hn. I hate sweating." He answered.
"Well good luck with your combat tests. Even if you don't need it." Shikamaru said and left, giving Sasuke's shoulder a pat along the way.
"Thanks." Sasuke replied.
Sasuke had thought to come home and just relax to prepare himself for tomorrow but he knew it was just too early for his own good. Naruto was currently on a mission, he had said goodbye to him on the second day of his tests and that he won't be back in a week.
He suddenly had an idea and rerouted to Konoha Hospital. Maybe he can finally settle his thoughts and get an answer to the question that even himself is asking.
He reaches the Hospital doors and opens them again, this time without hesitating. He sees the receptionist again who offered him an awkward smile. He continues to get that reaction from people like he's going to hit them with his Chidori every time. He sighed inwardly but nodded to the girl behind the counter. He continued his way, not needing to ask if Sakura is around today.
He stopped in front of the pink door and sighed again. He knocked two times just enough for someone inside to be heard.
"Come in!" Someone shouted from the inside. He followed and turned the knob.
He had spotted Sakura sitting on her desk doing some paper work. Their eyes momentarily met and then she smiled at him. Sasuke felt a bit embarrassed, feeling like he has not thought this through. He looked away and closed the door behind him, finding a reason to end their eye contact.
"What brings you here today Sasuke-kun? Don't you have your exams today?" She wondered.
"How did you know?" He asked, suddenly wondering why she knew everything despite never leaving her desk.
"Oh, I think Shikamaru told me. Or was it Sai? I forgot." She answered.
"Let's have lunch." He said abruptly.
"W-what?" She asked, not seeming too understand his sudden invitation.
"I said let's have lunch." He repeated. If Sasuke competed in a no blinking while staring competition, Sakura thought he would win it.
"Lunch, uhm right now?" She said, still can't digest what he's trying to say.
"Is there another time to have lunch?" He countered,
"Oh, no, it's just so sudden. But, yeah, let's have lunch." She agreed. She stood up and removed her white coat and revealed a her sleeveless white top matched with a dark red skirt that hugged her figure. It had made Sasuke stare at her unconsciously. Luckily enough, he had looked away before she caught him staring. He opened the door and let Sakura walk out first.
"Thanks Sasuke-kun." she said.
Just as they were seen together in the hospital, both of them had noticed almost everyone whispering after they laid their eyes on them. They had said nothing about the matter until both of them were outside the confines of the hospital.
"Do people at the hospital always whisper like that?" He asked, knowing exactly what they were whispering about.
"Just when I'm with men." She answered. Sasuke seemed to be unsatisfied with her answer and took a quick glance at her who was now walking beside him. He'd wanted her to expound that answer further, but maybe he can save it for later conversations.
Sakura knew that Sasuke isn't the type to eat out so she guessed that the Uchiha isn't really quite familiar yet with eateries in Konoha.
"I know a place we can eat, are you in for some yakiniku?" She asked him.
"Sure." He answered and guessed that a little protein would be good for tomorrow's combat.
Sakura was a little taken aback from Sasuke's sudden invitation. She didn't want to give meaning to it though. She knew that Naruto was currently on a mission. It's possible that Sasuke just wanted some company. Whatever the reason, this can be a good opportunity to get to know the new Sasuke and possibly determine how she feels about him.
They arrived at the Yakiniku restaurant and Sakura approached the lady to request for a table for two. She had assisted and had them seated. They sat across from each other.
"You finished your exams early didn't you?" She said in a confirming tone. She knew that Sasuke was too smart for him to take too long to answer.
"I did." He answered. "They were really easy questions." He told her.
"That's not whay Naruto told me when he took them." She reported. She even remembered him rushing to her and telling her he was going to fail big time.
"That's because Naruto is a dobe." He said. She had smiled at his remark.
The smile she had on was the warm kind, he categorized. It was similar to the smile she had when they met him at the gates when he arrived home from his journey. At least that's how he felt when he sees it. It feels warm inside him.
Their food arrived and the Lady turned their grill on for them to start cooking.
"What made you ask me to lunch today Sasuke-kun? Is there something wrong?" She wondered as she started cooking the meat.
"Do we need a reason to have lunch?" He asked her calmly.
"Hmm no.. It's just unusual." She said.
"Is wanting to see you unusual?" He said and took a piece of meat into his mouth and stared at Sakura to see her reaction.
She dropped the meat upon hearing what Sasuke said and tried to hide the blush creeping on her face.
"W-why would you want to see me?" She stammered. This was a Sasuke she is definitely not used to. Was he always so straight forward?
"Why wouldn't I? We haven't seen each other for a long time." He stated as a matter of fact.
"Yeah.." she replied and looked at his cool expression. So this was casual Sasuke. It was actually comforting but foreign at the same time.
Alright, Sasuke wants to play this game with me then she would play along.
"You don't seem to be in a sour mood like last time? Storming out all of a sudden." She relayed their last meeting.
"You misunderstood. You looked busy." He said.
"I'm always busy." She said.
"Not when you're with your men." He stated blankly. He was thinking what he could get out from her with what he said. He knew that she liked him before, who wouldn't. But what about now? For a while it seemed like she was avoiding him even. How does she feel about him now? It's only fair to know since he's going all out to see through his own self.
She raised one of her eyebrows at this. He's definitely confirming something.
"Of course." She agreed.
This made him tick a little.
"What's that suppose to mean?" It was him now who was raising his eyebrows.
"Does it have any other meaning? It means just how it's said."
"Who exactly are the men you're talking about." Sasuke had said, caving in a little. He had to know this piece of information now.
"Who else am I talking about, silly, Naruto and Sai of course." She smiled innocently like the previous exchange didn't tick him off.
"They're not men, they're idiots." He smirked.
Sakura laughed at this because she can not stress enough on how true Sasuke's statement was.
He gave a small smile when their eyes met and he felt something tingling in his chest.
They proceeded to eat and enjoyed each other's company.
They left the restaurant fully satisfied.
"I haven't had yakiniku for a long time." She said.
"That's the most I've eaten since I can remember."
Sakura giggled and faced Sasuke. She was beaming.
"Thanks for taking me out, Sasuke-kun." As she flashed him the sweetest smile she could give.
Thump.
He felt flushed in that moment. All of a sudden he found himself unconsciously tapping her forehead. Just like what Itachi used to do to him.
Sakura pouted but blushed with the contact. Feeling the part of her forehead that Sasuke had touched with her fingers.
"What was that for Sasuke-kun?" Keeping her pouty face.
"I'll tell you next time." He told her and walked to the path leading to his home. One hand raised in the air as he said goodbye.
Sakura can't help but feel all giddy for the rest of the day. Today he had made an effort to see her, a gesture that's unexpected but exciting. She was always the one to initiate something like this before. It felt as if he was reassuring her somehow.
Clearly this is not the Sasuke she was used to, although she knew that there's still a part of himself that he kept. He seemed more comfortable and if she isn't mistaken, he was a little curious as well. It's not the time to overthink it now, she thought. It would be nice to enjoy it for a while and see how it goes a long the way.
Their parting when he left for his journey was like an unspoken promise to her. She didn't even know if it had meant anything to Sasuke at all. If he had thought of what they are or who she was to him. She wondered then if he will even really develop something more to what their bonds have made them? This was the biggest risk for Sakura at that time. She'd give up a love from men who would have offered their all in exchange for a man trying to pick up the broken pieces of his soul.
It was her decision to wait. She had never been on a date with other men, declining dinner invitations and nights out. She had never even been kissed. Whenever she and the ladies go out, somehow it was difficult not to envy their experience with men. Ino at some point suggested that she should try considering going out with other men, but she had shoved the idea every time. The time has come now to see if every decision she has made was even worth something.
This is a chance for the both of them to see if they can build a relationship from hope. Thinking about it now, it was foolish for her to have been confused. This was Sasuke and will always will be Sasuke whatever and whoever he becomes.
Sasuke couldn't wait to get in combat for the next day. Testing his ninjutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu for each day would be a piece of cake, but his always ready for the challenge. Being promoted to jounin would give him access to missions he'd been anticipating to go to.
He had fed Midori for the night and headed for a shower.
He thought of his lunch with Sakura and how natural it felt to be with the her. He had felt his heart thump earlier and he could not be more embarrassed about it. It had come from nowhere and he didn't know what to do about it.
He made her feel something and now it's time to discover it.
He let the water flow to his body and let his mind drift to the thoughts of her.
She has gotten more beautiful through the passing years and he can't help but think how physically attractive she was. He'd remembered what she was wearing earlier and desire had come to bother his system. Feeling something harden down south had turned his warm shower to a cold one.
It was definitely not the time to think about that. Physical advances are to save for later when he pretty much knows what the hell is going on with him and her.
He turned the shower off when he cooled down, put on light clothes for bed and lay down.
He looked at the ceiling and thought about what would happen a week from now. He'd be promoted to Jounin Rank and will finally get missions. This was the life of a normal ninja in Konoha. Something mundane that he was craving to have ever since he was a kid. No judging eyes, not being the talk of the town or being eaten by hatred.
He drifted to sleep and this night, like some of the few nights he had, he dreamt of team 7, his team 7. Memories of them trying to see what's behind Kakashi's mask, of him and naruto almost killing each other.. and one memory he had stored in his mind that kept him from insanity for all these years.
A girl with pink hair sitting beside his hospital bed peeling apples.