Chapter Nine
The cherry blossoms began to bloom the day after Sakura's birthday, and there was still no sign of Jiraiya. Tsunade was deliberating whether she should send a team after him or not when no one other than Orochimaru walked into her office, a solemn look on his face. He sat across from her desk, greeting her. "Tsunade-hime."
"Orochimaru," she nodded coldly from her chair. "What brings you here?"
"I came with the intention of discussing some things with Jiraiya, but I have discovered he is not here." Orochimaru practically hissed in his snake-like voice. "I suppose you know where he is?"
"He left a month ago to infiltrate the Akatsuki hideout. He was supposed to return today." Tsunade poured herself a cup of sake. "What exactly did you plan on discussing with Jiraiya?"
"There has been strange activity occurring near Kumogakure. I have been looking into it, but it seems to be closely linked to the Akatsuki. It looks like they're preparing an army."
"Damnit," Tsunade cursed, breaking the cup in her hand. "We need to find Jiraiya immediately. The old hideout was in Amegakure, but it was shut down after the death of Nagato."
"Allow me to do it," Orochimaru stood up. "Some of Sasuke-kun's former friends are still working for me. I have hunch that Kumo is the key. If I send word to you, call a five-kage summit immediately."
Tsunade nodded. "If you need backup, send word immediately. And Orochimaru, if you fuck up or betray us, I will kill you."
The snake-man chuckled at his former teammate. "Believe me. If the Akatsuki begin a war, it will be just as bad for me as it will be for Konoha."
Tsunade poured another drink in a different cup. She threw it back, contemplating whether to tell Orochimaru of Sasuke and Sakura's relationship. "It seems as though the Uchiha brat has fallen for my pupil."
Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock before his face contorted into a smirk. "It doesn't surprise me. He used to mutter her name in his sleep." He paused. "Have you told him about Itachi's past yet?"
The beautiful Hokage sighed. "Not yet. Even I don't know the entire truth. If you forget, none of us were in Konoha when the Uchiha assassination occurred."
"I believe it would be a good idea to tell him what you know sooner rather than later. You don't want the girl getting hurt in the process."
"Have you gone soft, Orochimaru?" Tsunade smiled bitterly at him. "Well, she lost her heart to him long ago. But she's stronger than you anticipate. I am her shisui, after all."
Orochimaru simply nodded. "I'll depart now. Expect a frog or snake soon." Tsunade smiled genuinely. Some things never change.
"Don't tell anyone about this just yet," Tsunade warned as Orochimaru turned the handle on her office door. "If word gets around to Naruto, there will be no controlling what he does."
Her former teammate nodded before disappearing behind the door, leaving the Hokage to pray for both him and Jiraiya.
Sasuke held true on his promise to take Sakura to see the cherry blossoms. The day after they began to bloom, he arrived at her house driving his open carriage to see her waiting in her front gardens, making a small crown of flowers. She looked like an angel of Spring in her pale green and gold flowered day dress, her hair rolled under at the base of her neck. It was held back by a comb decorated with golden leaves, and Sasuke would have loved to pull the comb out to reveal her luscious pink hair.
"Good morning Sasuke-kun!" she chirped as he descended from his carriage. She was holding a pale gold parasol, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Good morning," He took her gloved hand and kissed it lightly. The pinkette blushed prettily. She was not accustomed to such affections from Sasuke.
Sasuke helped Sakura into the carriage and the couple quickly made their way to the cherry blossom forest near the Uchiha residence. The two young lovers were still shy around each other, and so they fell into an awkward but companionable silence. When they reached the edge of Konoha, Sakura could see the cherry blossoms in front of her. She gasped with delight like a child, and Sasuke smiled at her innocence.
They spent the day walking through the trees, talking about the world around them. Sakura felt as though she was floating on a cloud. Only in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Sasuke would be giving her this kind of attention.
"Sasuke-kun?" She murmed as they began to make their way back to the carriage. Small cherry blossoms had fallen in her hair, almost blending in completely. "Is this a dream?"
"What do you mean, Sakura?" The Uchiha looked bewildered.
"I always dreamed of this," Sakura explained. For once, she was not nervous. "Of you looking at me with affection in your eyes. Of us being together, walking through the cherry trees. It doesn't seem real."
"Hn," was all Sasuke grunted. He didn't know what to say in that moment. There was a very long pause before Sakura spoke again.
"What are your intentions with me, Sasuke-kun?" She didn't want to burst her own bubble, but she needed to know. "Are you courting me for the fun of it? Because I'm not a woman who will put up with that, and if you think for one damn minute that-" She was cut off suddenly but Sasuke's mouth engulfing her own. Her senses were overcome with him. Everything was filled with Sasuke.
He deepened the kiss, pulling her lips in between his own, allowing his tongue to dart and lick her lip. She mewled in his arms, driving him mad with longing. He had to stop himself before he got too carried away, and he broke away soon after. Sasuke looked at the rosette in his arms, her eyes widened with passion and her lips swollen seductively.
"I do not intend to court you just for fun," Sasuke told her seriously, his eyes not leaving her own.
"Then why?" Sakura pressed, breathless.
Instead of answering, one of his hands moved from her waist to caress her left one. Sasuke brought her milky knuckles to his lips, kissing them tenderly. "This hand would look nice with a ring on it." He murmured, his eyes not leaving hers.
Understanding his insinuation, Sakura blushed deeply. Her heart was caught in her throat and tears sprung threatened to spring to her eyes. Not wanting to appear weak, however, she quickly turned away and coyly remarked "It would depend on the ring," before darting away towards the carriage.
Sasuke's face flashed emotions of surprise, arrogance, and determination. He quickly ran after Sakura, fully promising to himself that one day, when she was officially an Uchiha, he would make her pay in the most delicious of ways for that bit of flirtation.
Naruto and Hinata married on the 21st of April. It was a large ceremony that took place in the Hyuuga's large palace gardens. Cherry blossoms surrounded the couple, who were as happy as could be. Hinata wore a beautiful white gown decorated in lavender ribbons and flowers, and her hair was covered in small pearls. Naruto dressed in a black tuxedo and vest with matching shades of lavender with gold and blue accents.
Naruto and Hinata were blushing and smiling at each other as though they were the only two people on the Earth during their first dance as husband and wife. Sakura looked on with tears in her eyes as she stood by Kakashi and Sasuke. Her best friend had found his better half. The sun and the moon were officially married.
Sakura reflected on her life at that moment. Her life really was like a reflection of nature. She was the Spring cherry tree: a little late blooming, bright, and steadfast. Naruto was her sun, Hinata was her moon. Sai was the rain, and Ino was the waterfall.
Kakashi was the lightening that accompanied both storm and sun, lighting up the sky when it was too dark out or providing solace in hard times. Tsunade was the magnolia tree who taught her how to be strong and bloom. Her parents were the soil she was rooted in that enabled her growth.
And Sasuke? Sakura believed that Sasuke was the winter. He blanketed her life in beautiful pure snow, and safely carried her into the blissful spring. He surrounded her, and blended white with green to make a glorious world. As she stood by the stoic man who held her heart, watching his handsome face as it studied the newlywed couple thoughtfully, she was certain that he represented the season she had once dreaded but had come to love dearly. Her tears came fresh as she thought about the possibility that one day, it would be her and Sasuke dancing on the floor as newlyweds.
"They look happy, don't they?" Kakashi remarked as Sakura wiped away tears.
"Ah, that's a bit of an understatement," Sakura chuckled. Naruto had never looked so sunny as when he stared down at his wife.
"I suppose it won't be long before there is another Team Seven wedding," Kakashi turned to look at Sasuke determinedly. The Uchiha smirked at him. This exchange, however, went unnoticed by Sakura.
"Yes! Sai and Ino will be married in a little under two months," Sakura laughed. "Then Shikamaru and Temari will get married in July, and Karui and Choji in August. So many weddings!" She dabbed at her eyes again.
"I have a hunch that there will be another one sooner than you believe." Kakashi was smiling under his mask. Sasuke's smirk had turned to a scowl, and he turned a threatening eye on the silver-haired gentleman. He was going to ruin everything.
"What do you mean, sensei?" Sakura looked at him curiously, eyebrow cocked.
"Ah, nothing."
"But-" Sakura was cut off at the sound of Naruto calling out their names. Hinata and him were walking towards Team Seven, arm in arm. Sakura darted to Hinata before pulling her in for a giant hug. Naruto chuckled and moved to speak to his best friend and sensei while Sakura chattered with his wife.
"Congratulations, Naruto," Kakashi clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Your parents would be very proud of you. Hinata is a lovely young woman." Naruto felt a small tear form at the corner of his eye, which he quickly wiped away.
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei." The sunny blonde turned to his best friend, expectantly.
"Hn, don't screw up, dobe," Sasuke smirked at his best friend. "She's too good for you."
For once, Naruto laughed instead of getting angry at Sasuke's insults. "I could say the same to you, teme." Sasuke cocked his eyebrow menacingly.
"Are you still planning on proposing to Sakura-chan tonight?" Naruto almost yelled.
"Shut up or keep your voice down, dead last." Sasuke did not care if this was Naruto's wedding or not. If he screwed up his chances with Sakura, he would kill him.
"What's the hurry anyways?" Naruto asked him. "You just began courting less than a month ago."
"I don't like waiting." Sasuke huffed. "We will be married by the middle of May."
"If she's says yes," Kakashi added. Sasuke turned his death glare towards his sensei. Why did his teammates enjoy making him furious?
Naruto whistled. "May? You really don't want to wait, do you?"
"No." Sasuke seethed. "I don't." It was true. He'd waited the majority of his life to have a family again, and now that he found the woman he wanted, he was not going to prolong the process of making her an Uchiha.
"Well, you have my permission to propose to Sakura tonight! Dattebayo!" Naruto clapped his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, smiling confidently.
"Tch, whatever." Sasuke could help the small, arrogant smile that graced his face.
"Are you prepared for you wedding night, Naruto?" Kakashi asked his pupil seriously. Naruto blushed and stammered, totally unprepared for the question. Sasuke grimaced in pain at his sensei's perverted question.
Luckily, Naruto was prevented from answering when his wife approached standing by Sakura. The two girls looked so happy together. Hinata was shining like moonlight in her white and lavender gown that shimmered when she moved. Sakura was sporting a lovely pink gown that emphasized the green in her eyes. It made the jinchuuriki happy to see the two most important girls in his life so close.
"Naruto, I will tell you now that if Hinata is ever unhappy, I will brutalize you into a bloody pulp." Sakura said to him sweetly. The Uzumaki man gulped before nodding. He then took Hinata's hand in his own and whirled her away for a waltz, away from Sakura's intimidating stares.
Kakashi muttered something about wanting to ask Tsunade to dance, leaving Sakura and Sasuke alone. He offered her his hand, which she gladly took. The two made their way to the dance floor to join their friends.
For the rest of the night, the couple danced, only breaking to talk to Naruto and Hinata or get something to drink. Sakura loved dancing, Sasuke had discovered, and he was more than willing to indulge that love.
When he took her home that night, Sakura was surprised that he was not taking the normal route. Instead, they were going towards the Uchiha home.
"Are we going to your home, Sasuke-kun?" She wondered at him. He did not answer, but instead stopped at the same cherry blossom fields they had been in a few weeks before. The little flowers were falling off the trees, leaving the trails covered in pink flowers. Sakura, though a little confused, did not hesitate when Sasuke offered her his hand as she departed from the carriage. The pair walked closely together as the pale moon watched over them on that warm night.
Sakura sighed contently, prompting Sasuke to look at her. She seemed ethereal in the moonlight, her hair and eyes glowing. Her pale pink dress only made her look more incredible, and the Uchiha felt breathless.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Sasuke-kun," Sakura turned to smile at him. "It's the perfect ending to an emotional night."
"Aa," the Uchiha let out. They were quiet again, but Sasuke's mind was screaming at him. He was not a man of many words, and there was no doubt that his proposal would be much less verbose than most women would deem acceptable. Sakura, however, was not just any woman. His free hand was in his pocket, flipping his mother's ring around in nervous anxiety.
"Are you alright, Sasuke-kun?" He realized Sakura had spoken and was looking at him with concern in her wide eyes.
"Fine," he rasped out, sending an intense look her way.
Sakura's face contorted with anger. "Fine. Don't tell me then. Just hide whatever it is from me."
"No, Sakura-"
"It's not like we've spent every day for the last month together, or that we've kissed each other or that you're courting me or anything. In fact, maybe we should just-"
"Damnit, Sakura!" Sasuke growled. "Would you let me speak? I'm not hiding anything. I…I just.." Sasuke pulled the ring out of his pocket and held it in his fingers.
"Just what?" Sakura refused to look at him. "Just want to get rid of me?"
"I just…here." Sasuke lifted her left hand and she felt something cool sliding onto her finger. She looked at her hand to see a silver band set with a large ruby and two small pearls on either side of the gemstones. She gasped aloud before looking her suitor directly in the face.
"Sasuke-kun…" Her voice was barely audible. The anger in her eyes dissipated into pure, unadulterated love. Her lashes were thick with unshed tears, and her cheeks were a beautiful pale pink.
"It was my mother's" He told her softly. "Do you like it?"
"It's breathtaking." Sakura still couldn't speak louder than a whisper. Sasuke stepped closer to her.
"Will you keep it?" Sasuke prompted. When Sakura could only manage a nod as tears spilled over her eyes, Sasuke's eyes softened, and he continued on. "Then it's yours. It's a ring fit for the head woman of the Uchiha clan. It's fit for you."
Sakura laughed lightly despite the tears that trailed down her face. "I'm not head of it yet, Sasuke-kun." She raised her hand to cup his cheek.
"The sooner the better," he mumbled. When Sakura laughed again, he looked her dead in the eye. "I mean it. We'll be married by the middle of May."
"So soon?" She rubbed away the tears on her cheeks.
"I'm not patient enough to wait any longer for you." Sasuke grabbed her by her tiny waist and pulled her tightly to his chest. His lips brushed hers lightly, sweetly, before pulling back to look her in the eyes. "You will be mine soon."
Sakura was overcome with emotion. This wasn't the proposal of her childhood dreams. Sasuke was not declaring his everlasting love for her in a crowd of people, showering her with flowers and gifts galore. It was boundlessly more spectacular than that. The simplicity with which he gave her the ring, the sweet seclusion of the cherry blossoms, and the unadulterated, simple way he spoke to her was so Sasuke. She was not a little girl with an infatuation anymore, but rather a woman deeply in love.
"I've always been yours, Sasuke-kun." Her honest green eyes looked up at him, full of innocence and sincerity, and if he hadn't already been in love with her, that look would have done the trick.
And so the handsome Uchiha heir fiercely kissed his beautiful fiancée amidst the cherry blossoms, ready for their life together to begin.