The sun hadn't even appeared in the sky when she walked to the closed city gates. The night watchmen shared twin looks of curiosity but didn't approach her. She had gained a reputation as a crazy female who wasn't 'all there' after she had attacked the Hokage. Not many people approached her if they weren't on first name bases with her. On the bright side she never had to wait in line anymore as people suddenly left when she entered a queue.
She didn't speak to the two men who were the only crazy people up at this time. She just sat in the middle of the closed gates a few feet away and waited. Eventually the sun dragged itself begrudgingly from its bed and crawled snail like across the sky. The two ninja's were replaced by refreshed guards who opened the city gates for morning business. Her butt had gone numb and she was forced to move from the middle of the street due to back pain. She now lent against the giant door frame of the village so she could stare out at the only road entrance to the village.
The sun was still crawling to its highest point when its avatar came to sit beside her. Naruto wordlessly passed over a bento box and began to eat. She smiled gratefully and in silence they consumed their food. Eventually Naruto chucked his box to the side and stretched out at her side using his arms as pillows as he lay across the thresh hold of the village. He was glared at by the few cart drivers that had to manoeuvre past them but none said a word as he was with the crazy bitch.
When the sun paused in the sky for a rest before starting its downward journey Kakashi-sensei appeared. He had his hands deep in his pockets and strolled over to them. He walked to Sakura's other side before flopping down and taking out his 'come come paradise book.' He placed cardboard takeaway boxes down lightly in front of Sakura. She passed one to Naruto and left Kakashi's opened at his side before eating her own. Kakashi read quietly and made sure not to block Sakura's view of the road.
The sun has started its descent when Naruto stood and stretched out a cramp in his leg and back. He rubbed his numb bum and tried to crack his spine. Sakura got up and helped him. He returned the favour and she stretched her neck and legs out before retaking her seat. Kakashi licked his finger and turned another page. They retook their seats.
The town buzzed and moved around them but they sat froze at the side just waiting.
The sun was weak and exhausted but still on its journey when Sai walked up. He opened his mouth to say something but the silence filled him and instead he sat down beside Naruto's sprawled frame and passed out the long paper wrapped baps he had brought. They ate quietly. Sai took out his own book on how to make friends. He glanced sideways at Naruto and his gangly frame before he tried to imitate him. He still looked stiff and uncomfortable but contented himself to wait like the others.
It was when the sun began to sink gratefully behind the mountains that a lone figure tiredly trudged down the road. Sakura stood straight away instinctively knowing who it was. She knew the walk and the posture could belong to no one else. Ino had finally come home. Her boys looked up at her and then at the figure coming down the road. Kakashi put away his book, Naruto sat up and Sai followed. As one they stood. Kakashi squeezed her shoulder and crinkled his eyes in a smile before he nonchalantly walked away returning his hands to his pockets. Naruto clapped her on the back hard and smiled widely at her. With a wiggle of his eyebrows he retreated waving. Sai hovered awkwardly in front of her for a second before smiling shyly and giving a tiny wave before he followed Naruto.
She took a step towards the exhausted figure that was almost within her grasp but stopped as a figure left the embrace of shadows to get to her first. Shikamaru was met with a warm hug and they conversed for a second before he stepped to the side. Ino the noticed her standing waiting. Her body tensed but her face smiled genuinely and she went to meet her with a renewed spring in her step. Sakura felt herself returning the smile.
Ino stopped, a foot of space separated them. It wasn't much and could easily be breached but Ino didn't have the right to do it. "She died," Ino said the first words Sakura had heard all day startled her "her own men killed her before I got there. My services weren't needed."
Sakura felt her smile stretch to fill her whole face and she embraced Ino breathing her in like she was oxygen and Sakura had been drowning. She closed her eyes and gripped back just as hard. She pulled away and taking Ino's hand dragged her back to her apartment. Ino laughed as she pushed her down on her bed and kissed her hard.
Ino laughed with joy as Sakura fumbled with her buttons. She gasped with pleasure as their naked flesh slid perfectly together before she cried in passion as Sakura's mouth writ the only words that consumed her that day.
I want to be with Ino. Forever.
XxXx
Sakura zipped up her jacket as she crept quietly out the door. She had left Ino a note to explain what she was doing but couldn't bring herself to wake Ino up. After last night and all the travelling Ino had done she deserved a rest. She made her way to the east side of the forest.
"Yo, Sakura!" Naruto called waving to her. He had bento boxes in his hands. He sat down on the step and handed her the other box when she went to join him. "I'm surprised you wanted to meet me so early after Ino's return. I thought you guys would be 'busy,'" he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
She laughed and swatted him on the shoulder lightly. "I wanted to talk to you seriously about a decision I've came to."
"Oh weally?" Naruto asked his mouth full of food. He gulped it down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "What is it?"
"I'm going to quit team 7," Sakura said simply. Her chest ached at admitting the news out loud but she was resolved.
Naruto spewed, his food went everywhere and she screamed as bits of egg landed on her arm. "Ew! Naruto that's disgusting!"
"No, what's disgusting is you wanting to leave!" Naruto accused glaring at her.
"I'm sorry," she looked away from him then up at the clear sky. It mirrored her mind "I can't ask Ino to stop doing those types of missions if I can't give up something equally important. The thought of her touching another person and being with them makes me so angry…" she clenched her fist and it shook from the very idea of Ino being so personal with someone else.
Naruto stared at her for a long time before he looked away. He pulled his face into a pained smile before he nodded. He spoke using his quite thoughtful voice that rarely ever showed up. "Okay," it was his turned to look at the sky. He lent back and his eyes glistened slightly "when you were talking about Ino some of the old Sakura came back. You've been walking around in a dream since she left, totally different from normal. If being with Ino makes you happy, and this is the only way you can be with Ino then you have to do it," he looked directly at her and his understanding and compassion was so profound Sakura felt herself tearing up. This was probably the first time she realised that Naruto would make a great Hokage. "We'll always be friends, Sakura and even if you don't go on missions, you'll still be a part of team 7."
"Naruto…" she threw her arms around him tearfully and they fell over. She didn't care she still clung on to him. How much he had grown. He was the best man she ever knew or would know.
He laughed embarrassed and pretended to try and push her away. He even kicked his legs comically in the air to give emphasis to his meaningless protests.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
They both looked up at Ino's stern face as she towered above them. Her arms were folded and she glared down at the pair. They broke away quickly. "It's not what it looks like!" Naruto spluttered.
"Obviously," Ino scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Hey, why don't you sit down and share my breakfast?" Sakura offered her deserted meal to the blonde but Ino turned away stuffily and stuck her nose in the air.
"I don't think so, I only came to stop you making a fool of yourself like usual," Ino said harshly and Sakura was stunned at the tone. Naruto frowned. "I got that note that said you're off to quit team 7 because you can't take me being a ribbon ninja," Ino flicked her hair back and declared "for your information I planned to quit anyway but not because of you. I've decided to become part of the intelligence network." Ino flashed a quick grin at Sakura before she stomped off.
"Wow what a bitch," Naruto glared after her.
Sakura shook her head grinning "she was only pretending to be that way but it means that I don't have to quit team 7! And I get to keep Ino all to myself!"
"You can stay?!" Naruto said cheering up immediately.
"Yep!" Sakura nodded frantically and Naruto hugged her hard and they bounced up and down together.
XxXx
"Hey!" Sakura put a burst of speed into her tired gait to catch up with Kakashi.
Kakashi turned and smiled waiting for her to reach him before he walked on. It was early in the morning so he was probably going to meet Naruto to train. She had just got off the night shift in the hospital and was postponing bed in order to talk to her teacher.
"Sakura," he greeted his eye twinkling kindly. He tilted his head to the side and took her in. From anyone else the gesture would have been sleezy but he made it seem caring. "You need to get out more, you're too pale."
She laughed "I'll keep that it mind. I just wanted to tell you that you were right."
"It's always good to be told that," he said lightly still smiling.
She rolled her eyes and gently butted him with her shoulder. "I didn't really know who I was or what my job was in the team. I do now. I'm going to be the best medical ninja so that I can patch Sai and Naruto up. Together we can save Sasuke. It also means that you can't be my teacher but I want you to know that I owe you so much and I'll always think of you as my sensei." She walked away before her tears could fall and she embarrassed them both.
A gently hand restrained her. Instead of turning her to face him Kakashi moved. He crouched down and his eyes narrowed and she imaged that he was smiling widely. "Ah, Sakura-chan," he mocked gently stressing his words and shaking his head "you don't give your old teacher enough credit. Even a medical ninja needs to be trained in other areas. We can't have you falling behind your boys now can we?"
She blinked shocked. What was going on?
"Let's go," he nodded to the forest and began to guide her that way. "Along with Chakra control, endurance and stamina are also very important qualities for a medical ninja. You must also learn to dodge but I guess Hokage-sama would have already taught you the basics," she swore he grinned evilly at her "now we can start with the hard stuff."
Joy and excitement bubbled through her at the thought of finally being able to train. She felt right for the first time in months. Her skin paled and trepidation gnawed at her as Kakashi seemed to grow excited at the prospect of training her also. She had just remembered that this man had a sadistic streak the size of her forehead.
XxXx
A/N: Yay! We're nearing the end finally!