Rolling the Dice

(Sasuke's Point of view)

"Did you ever think you would be the person you are today?" Gaara questioned Sasuke as they waited for their escorts to arrive. Sasuke raised an eyebrow surprised that Gaara would ask that. Sasuke shook his head. "I Don't think I ever saw myself living past killing Itachi, and now that I have to move on". Sasuke replied hesitating for a moment. "You don't feel it's real?" Gaara replied looking into Sasuke's waiting to see his reaction. Sasuke nodded. "Sometimes I feel as if I died in that battle against him and this is all a dream". Sasuke replied. Gaara nodded. "I had the same feeling when I became Kazekage, a feeling of being in a dream".

(Karin's Point of View)

Naruto backed away a bit shocked. "I don't know if I should be". Naruto replied. "You said you haven't been seeing anyone". Karin replied. Naruto nervously moved away. "I don't have a girlfriend but I have gone on two dates with Ino and…" Naruto nervously replied. "You don't want to ruin it?' Karin questioned. Naruto nodded. "What do you feel for her?" Karin questioned. Naruto felt a strong blush spread across his face. "Could it be that your focused on her because she was the first to accept your feelings and not because you genuinely like her?" Karin asked.

(Ino's Point of View)

Ino walked along the streets of the main shopping district unsure what she wanted to do. Ino would often take walks to clear her head or to plan out an event ahead of time this was routine. But ever since Naruto entered her life she was unsure of what she wanted and her walks became more about organizing herself than anything else. It was as if Naruto had shown her a new way to look at life, a different way that she hadn't thought of before. "Ino?" a woman's voice called out to her from the side. Ino turned to face the voice that called her. "Sakura?" Ino voice showed how surprised and bewildered she was at her appearance. "I haven't seen you really since the war ended". Ino commented. Sakura bowed her head. "After Sasuke finally accepted my feelings, I traveled with him where ever he went". Sakura replied. "I saw him not that long ago with Naruto and Gaara". Ino replied

(Karui's Point of View)

Karui entered her home and began putting her stuff away. "Choji" Karui repeated his name over and over in her mind. When she moved to this city she didn't know what to expect, naturally apart of herself wanted to be welcomed with open arms. "I wonder what kind of man he is". Karui pondered as she slipped into some casual clothes she used at home. She had never dated that many men in her life but she had a few serious and short term relationships. "Konoha is a far different land and world than my own, even if that's the case will the men be worse or better?" Karui threw a soft stuffed bear against the wall of her bedroom and watched it return to her hand, she repeated this over and over as she thought about Choji.

(Sasuke's Point of view)

"Your marriage with Sakura Haruno did that feel real or something you didn't even focus on". Gaara asked as he braced himself for the beginning of their journey back to their respective homes. Sasuke normally would never answer that but he knew him and Gaara where kindred spirits both reflections of the other. Sasuke stopped to reply. "Some days I feel my marriage and my time spent with Sakura other days I just seem to drift through it and only remember it because of our anniversaries". Sasuke replied truthfully. Gaara gave him a look of understanding. "What about you?" Sasuke asked. Gaara seemed to be caught off-guard because he paused having to think about the question. "Before I became Kazekage I had no interest in sharing my life because frankly I wasn't living a life, I was alive just not living it". Gaara replied. Sasuke gave him a look of understanding.

(Karin's Point of View)

Naruto backed away further and took a moment to reply. "It's true she is the first to not completely blow me off and treat me like dirt". Naruto replied grimly. Karin's eyes narrowed. "I know how that feels like too, so I don't blame you for feeling the same even now you're the first man to treat me like a person". Karin replied with a blush that soon turned her face bright red from embarrassment. Naruto walked closer to Karin. He pulled her in and kissed her and then slowly parted from the kiss. "I shouldn't reject someone's feeling so brashly like they were done to me but I don't want for either of us to start something that isn't real". Naruto replied to Karin's look of confusion. Karin lowered her head. "You want to take things slow so there won't be any confusion or mix feelings". Karin replied with a genuine smile. Naruto nodded and then he thanked her for dinner. Karin smiled and offered to give him some food to take home which Naruto accepted.

(Ino's Point of View)

Ino felt bit ashamed she didn't think Sakura would be with her Husband visiting. "You did see him?" Sakura replied a bit surprised to hear that. "You didn't know?" Ino replied confused as to why she didn't know. Sakura could see the look of confusion and decided to clear up any confusion created by her. "Sasuke has been busy these last few months and he hasn't taken me with him or Sarada with him". Sakura replied her face turning red from embarrassment. "I see so you decided to visit Konoha while Sasuke was off doing his own missions". Ino replied. Sakura nodded. "Well we should catch up". Ino replied. Sakura nodded and grabbed Ino's arm. "So have you met anyone?" Sakura asked cheerfully.

(Karui's Point of View)

A loud knock awoke Karui from her sleep. She rushed to the door but stopped when she realized she looked very funny wearing an oversized shirt that reached her knees and long colorful pants. She yelled at the door she would be there in a moment. Karui dressed up in something more decent. As Karui opened the door it struct her mind it could be Choji but it was far too late to close it as the door was half opened when idea hit her. "Tsunade?" Karui covered her lips as soon as she realized it slipped out. Tsunade smiled. "Why are you here?" Karui questioned Tsunade without thinking. Tsunade smiled grew into a grin. "Hello Karui it's been a while, I thought we would start with formal greetings first and perhaps you would invite me in?" Tsunade tried to hide how amused she was at Karui reaction. Karui bowed her ahead ashamed to have reacted that way especially towards a living legend.

Naruto stood before the door to Ino's flower shop afraid nervous and unsure of himself. Shikamaru and Choji approached from the end of the street themselves having the same idea as Naruto, Ino at this hour was bound to home and hopefully having time to talk. Naruto fought himself on the best way to ask for a date. As Shikamaru and Choji moved closer and Naruto shape became more familiar they realized who it was.

Please Favorite, Comment, and Review Next Chapter Naruto and Ino double date