Chapter 7
The week flies by, and before they know it, it's the day before Sasuke and Kakashi leave. Naruto insisted on the three of them going to Ichiraku's for one more dinner together, and Sasuke, for some reason, can't refuse. He thinks it's because he's starting to feel that he's going to miss his best friend and girlfriend, and the entire village in general, so that's, perhaps, the whole reason why.
Naruto is loud, as usual, while they eat. They're all fairly focused on their meals, and Naruto can't stop talking about how his training is going, asking Sakura how hers was, and trying to get an idea of what Sasuke might end up learning from Kakashi.
They were rivals, after all. Naruto had told Sasuke several times he was going to miss having him around "as a punching bag", but Sasuke never said anything back, just smile and shook his head.
Naruto had always been like this; it wasn't anything new for him. Though he had mellowed quite a bit recently, which Sasuke thinks is because of Naruto and Hinata spending a lot of time together. Like, a lot of time together. In all honesty, Sasuke wouldn't be surprised if the two were secretly dating and just keeping it from the world right now.
Not like he could say anything against it, since he and Sakura had decided not to tell anyone apart from their parents and Naruto.
His mother had been a sobbing mess the entire day. She wasn't prepared for her youngest to leave for three years, and she was worried, of course. All she was hoping was that Sasuke would be ok, and that he would keep her updated on how he was doing, which he had promised multiple times that he would do.
His father was proud, proud enough that he had told Sasuke several times in the last week that he was, and that he couldn't wait to see how Sasuke will change in the time he's gone.
It made him happy. To hear that his father, one of the hardest people to please, was proud of him, made Sasuke happy. Sakura was so excited when she heard it, and saw Sasuke smiling. It was amazing to her.
Itachi was amazingly proud of Sasuke as well, just as before. He couldn't wait either to see how his little brother changed in three years, and already challenged him to a spar in the future, once Sasuke was home.
"So, are Itachi-niisan and Asuna-neechan waiting for you to get back before they get married?"
Sasuke shakes his head at Naruto's question, saying "No, actually. They're going to have a private ceremony about four months before I get back, and they'll have an actual wedding once I'm home."
Naruto nods. He figured that's what they were planning to do, but hadn't been over to the Uchiha household to check (the main reason was because, the day she met him, Asuna invited him to the wedding, and later invited his parents as well). He knew that Mikoto was beyond excited to have her first daughter-in-law and was prepared to help Asuna start planning the wedding as soon as she turned eighteen, and that was only two years away.
"Ah I can't wait for their wedding," Sakura swoons and Sasuke smiles a bit, rolling his eyes at his girlfriend. "Weddings are so beautiful. I bet Asuna will make a lovely bride!"
"She wants you be one of her bridesmaids, you know. She asked me to tell you so you can let her know as soon as possible."
The second she squeals and hugs him, Sasuke knows that Sakura's going to tell his soon-to-be sister-in-law that she would absolutely be a bridesmaid in the wedding.
Naruto doesn't understand Sakura's obsession with weddings, and he doesn't try to either. He doesn't want to sit through a six hour long explanation about it; he didn't need that nope. Not at all.
Girls are so weird when it comes to weddings…
+!+
Sasuke requests to leave early, before 90% of the village is awake. Kakashi is confused as to why, but agrees, saying it would be best so they can get a head start on their mission, making some headway and get closer to their destination than originally planned. Especially since it would take over a week to get there otherwise. He doesn't want to deal with emotional farewells, especially from his mother and Sakura. He didn't want either of them to start crying.
But the moment they reach the gates, Sasuke can tell his lovely girlfriend is there and he just turns to Kakashi, giving him the worst glare he's ever given someone.
"What? You expected me to keep our departure time a secret form your girlfriend?"
Rolling his eyes, Sasuke makes sure to get ahead of Kakashi, wanting to say goodbye to Sakura right away so she didn't have to get worked up and start sobbing.
It wouldn't be good for either of them.
"Sakura."
Sakura instantly turns around with a smile, hugging Sasuke tightly and saying "I'm gonna miss you so much… I had to say goodbye one more time."
He hugs her back just as tightly, right as Kakashi walks by and says "We need to get going Sasuke."
He doesn't even stop, he just keeps walking. The moment they break their hug, Sakura is quick to give Sasuke a kiss on the cheek, with her ever so bright smile.
"I'll see you in three years, ok? Don't fall for any girls while you're gone!"
Sasuke rolls his eyes again, nodding and kissing Sakura's forehead.
"Don't fall for that idiot blond while I'm gone."
It makes Sakura laugh, and Sasuke leaves after that, looking back just once more to see her still waiting and waving.
He prays three years go by quickly.
Author's Note: I apologize for how late this chapter is. This, obviously, is not going to be an every day fanfic. I have a plan for it, and I will attempt to update once a week until it's finished. Just please understand if I'm unable to. I have business calculus, macroeconomics, accounting, and humanities classes, a leader ship course, meetings with a mentor, and work. It's a lot.
But I'm going to try. I want to finish this fanfic, and several of the others I have going on here, before I start any more.
