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A Little Bit of Logic
The sun had set many hours prior, yet Sai had barely made it through the village's new gates when he felt both his friend's chakra pulses approaching. The medic always checked in on any of "her boys" when they returned from a mission, but she usually waited until they had made it to their respective apartments. An uncomfortable knot - no, anxiety he recalled quickly - settled in the pit of the ex-Root member's gut. He could only think of a couple of reasons for his friends to seek him out so quickly.
He didn't have to wait long before they reached him.
"Are you injured?" Sakura asked with Naruto practically dancing with the need to explain to the ink-user what happened during his two-week absence. Sai's anxiety increased, so he focused on his more sensible friend. Her facial features were relaxed, abnormally so. The conclusion he was quickly drawing shouldn't have been a shock. This was what I - we, risked everything for, right?
"No." He stole a sideways glance at Naruto; he was still fidgeting. "I'm quite hungry, and I need to rest soon."
"That's fine. You can use my shower. I have some extra pajamas that'll fit you."
Naruto chuckled. "Who's dickless now?"
"Considering how masculine Ugly is, I'm not surprised she has sleepwear for men." It was comforting to slip back into habits, and this time was no exception. Even the 'thunk' to his skull as Sakura expressed her enjoyment of her nickname offered Sai a bit of peace as the three close friends took to the rooftops.
When they entered Sakura's humble apartment, she explained how Hinata was already using her bed for the night. Sai had no issue with sharing the couch, he simply wanted to be brought up to date.
"I'll get your pajamas." With an almost genuine smile, the pink-haired woman had turned and left.
Naruto and Sai watched her walk away. "So, it's him?"
"Yeah."
The two ninjas had a rough start, but eventually they began to understand one another. Moreover, they began to build a solid friendship. They both knew without words that the mix of concern and protectiveness towards their female team mate was mutual.
Somewhere between their disastrous first mission together and the scramble of making project sunshine feasible, Sakura had let the dark-haired young man get to know her true self. It wasn't surprising that she was utterly complex as a person, but he was surprised to find that her level of empathy neared masochistic. He had also learned just how precious Sasuke was to her.
Yes, the need to protect the soft-hearted kunoichi was definitely a mutual feeling.
Sakura returned and handed over some soft, folded dark clothing to the ink-user. He instantly recognized the cloth as the summer training outfit that had mysteriously disappeared the last time his friends had stayed the night.
Sai glanced up from the clothes to meet viridian eyes that somehow managed to be simultaneously amused and sheepish.
"Go ahead and take a shower." She waved a hand toward where he knew to be her bathroom. "I have plenty of left overs in the fridge. Feel free to rummage around when you get out."
Offering a quick thanks, Sai ventured into the familiar bathroom and began the process of reclaiming his personal hygiene. He never needed long to wash. Whether it was the shinobi lifestyle he lived, or that he was merely an efficient person, he didn't know. Either way, he was squeaky clean in under ten minutes.
She hadn't been teasing when she'd mentioned leftovers. All three settled into seats around the small kitchen table. Sakura and Naruto nursed their large mugs of tea as they waited until the dark-haired man was done stuffing his face before beginning their debate. A rare courtesy that was always welcomed.
Setting down his eating utensils and leaning comfortably against the back of the chair, Sai broke the silence. "Alright, say it."
Sakura choked on her tea. Both men turned towards her. "Nothing, sorry."
"Then why are you blushing, Sakura-chan?"
"Anyways," she drawled, "project sunshine is officially a go."
"Details?"
"The other night, Sasuke returned to the village with two others; most likely from the group he was in as a missing-nin." Naruto took a gulp of his tea before continuing. "The two following wouldn't surrender," which was a nice way to say 'were killed,' "and Sasuke is under Sakura's care." He flashed a quick grin. It felt stronger than any other I-told-you-so the pink-haired medic had experienced before. She grinned back.
"Naruto and I believe he learned the truth behind the Uchiha massacre somehow."
"So, he was visiting home to slaughter those responsible after murdering his brother?" Sai's brow furrowed as he held his tongue.
"That's what we figure."
"Shouldn't Shikamaru be here as well?" The ex-Root member asked. They all realized how fatigued he must be to just think of the intelligence-nin after beginning their discussion.
"He's in Suna. If we're lucky, he'll be back in a few days."
Sai nodded. "What have your learned so far?"
"He's definitely not just Sasuke's body and long-term memory with someone else behind the wheel. Even the fucking cursed seal is gone."
"I told you the bastard would never let that snake take him over." Naruto said, while elbowing the ink-user in the side.
"Take him over, maybe not. Take him, quite possibly." Sai replied easily.
"Like hell- ! Ow!"
"Don't be so loud, Naruto. You'll wake up Hinata-chan."
Somehow Naruto managed to pout alarmingly well while also glaring daggers at Sai.
"I was merely making an educated assumption due to the Uchiha's chosen apparel."
"Oi! Just 'cause he dressed like a fairy doesn't mean anything."
"Boys, grow up. We have an important situation to discuss."
"Right."
"Sorry, Sakura-chan."
"It's fine, but focus. I knew his reactions from years ago when I... right, but I've spent some time with him and have a better read on him. He's being frustrating as hell, to be honest."
Naruto laughed. "So, he hasn't changed much then." He stopped laughing when he noticed Sakura's pensive look.
"I know you can't disclose everything, but you're being too vague." Sai, now resting his elbows on the table as he gave his undivided attention to his pink-haired team mate, said quietly.
"He won't answer any questions about the Akatsuki, or anything else of import." Upset, she stood and began to pace the length of her small kitchen. "I just don't fucking get it."
"Sakura-chan..."
"I'll get the answers if it kills me and him." She finally looked up at her two remaining team mates - not liking the way they eyed her with concern. "I just don't get the point in not answering me. Does he truly want Konoha to fall?"
"If there is anything that I have come to know about the trai- Sasuke, it's that he has a very simple mind."
"What? The bastard has done stupid shit, but he's a genius, for sure."
Sai shook his head. "His being a genius doesn't change the fact that his mind is simple."
"A one track mind, of course!"
"Huh?" Naruto slid his eyes from Sakura to Sai, not getting what was so important.
"But how will I appeal to his mindset?"
The three stayed up debating the issue at hand for another hour before deciding it was time for sleep. It didn't take long for the three to set up the pull-out bed in her couch. Cuddled between two forms of warm and solid comfort, Sakura was lulled to sleep quickly.
She was crying.
"Why are you crying?"
She couldn't really remember the reason. "...I don't know."
"Then stop."
It was silly to cry without a reason worth remembering. "Okay."
So she did.
The next day Sakura awoke feeling refreshed. It seemed that everyone had taken their leave, but no one wanted to wake her any earlier than need be. She smiled at her friend's thoughtfulness and her smile grew when she found the note on her fridge door with all her friend's handwriting on different parts of the paper.
Masculine, yet flowing handwriting wrote, Thanks for the food and clothes. Contact me when Shikamaru is back.
Barely legible handwriting wrote, I know you're busy, Sakura-chan, but you should eat with Hinata and me sometime soon.
Delicate handwriting wrote, Thank you so much for letting me use your bed. It's nice to not deal with Naruto-kun's snoring sometimes.
Destroying the evidence of Hinata's admittance, Sakura happily began to get ready for another day. Catching a quick glace at the clock in her bedroom, her smile disappeared quite quickly.
"Son of a bitch!"
Ibiki was going to kill her.
