12~ Crazy Dreams

She was in civilian clothes. A dark green spaghetti-strap shirt with her clan's crest, and some black cargo pants. Her light running boots had been exchanged for steel-toed work boots. There was no medic apron on her waist, though he could smell a little of the medicines and salves from her pockets. With storage scroll in-hand, and Musubi tied securely to her back, Sakura dragged Itachi out the door and didn't look back.

His transformation wasn't up in time. In fact, he was so distracted by his wife's uncharacteristic behavior that he forgot it altogether.

The medic dragged him by the hand down the street, half-skipping and grinning like someone had just sent her Madara's head on a silver pike. Only a block away, she stopped in front of a florist and yelled at the top of her lungs. "Ino-pig~! Your DARLING SAKURA AND HER HUSBAND REQUEST YOUR PRESENCE AT THE FRONT OF THE SHOP~!"

He choked. By this time, passers-by were staring—gaping, even—and he realized his error. Too late to do anything, however; the blonde was at the front door of her shop at the same instant Sakura finished her sentence, blue eyes so wide he vaguely thought to warn her about them falling out of their designated sockets.

"Forehead you idiot! What're you doing parading him around like this?"

"I came to tell you 'bye." The grin was something you could hear even without looking. "So, anyway, as a last service, can you have some yellow roses and some of those beautiful white orchids sent to Naruto? I know the orchids don't mean this exactly, but I'm not exactly going to stop by the Hokage's office with him en-tow. Naruto would go bonkers, y'know? So here's the message; are you ready?"

"Wait a sec, Sakura-!"

"To Naruto: Sorry bud, but I'm off. You're the last of the original Team 7." Hearing her voice suddenly somber, Ino simply stared at her best friend, watching as she gave the message plainly and clearly. She didn't want to believe it. But she was hearing it.

"I'm off now. I don't know where we'll go, or what we'll do when we get there. Itachi and I can't stay in Konoha; though I should've known it from the start. It's not fair to anyone, but that's the way it goes.

"I've got some crazy dreams, just like you. I'll become a doctor in some small town where the most they'll ever need is a midwife and a medicine-maker. My husband will do some ordinary job extraordinarily well, and people will possibly wonder why, and yet never ask. My beautiful daughter will be the talk of the town, and maybe, just maybe, she'll grow up a little too much like her parents. She'll be a dreamer, just like you, because I want to raise her to find her own way, whether it's as a ninja or not.

"Maybe one day in the future, a girl with black hair and green eyes will show up, and she'll storm Konoha with a force that will remind everyone of Earthquake Haruno. At that time, I ask you to take care of her, okay?

"Don't worry too much. If you ever need me, just look and I'll pop up out of nowhere. I'll beat all the bad guys, and keep this place safe. Even if I leave, the Village Hiding in the Leaves will always be my home.

"From Sakura."

Green eyes stared back at her; just as bright and brilliant as the leaves their village was so well known for. There was a sad light, a strong light, a loving light, all shining there and saying that no matter how determined she was to leave, in her heart this would always be her homeland.

Her home was here, where Ichiraku Ramen demanded most of her spare time, and where Naruto would down seven bowls of pork ramen at a time.

Her home was here, where she'd graduated academy and learned not only the skills for everyday life, but also the skills to live when her life was on the line.

Her home was here, where her team had come together, and where it had also fallen apart. Where Sasuke and Kakashi were buried, and Naruto lived.

Her home was here. But her heart belonged to the man behind her. Wherever he was, she would be there and her heart would be whole. Itachi was staring at her practically agape, eyes filled with an overwhelmed wonder, and Ino could understand. He didn't see it coming. He probably didn't expect anything from Sakura.

He probably didn't even realize how much he meant to her.

And before the blonde could even say anything, Sakura had spun around, and was leading Itachi by the hand to the North Gate.

By now, the alarm had spread throughout the village: Uchiha Itachi was alive, and within the city walls. ANBU were showing up on rooftops, and everyone with a half-pint of courage and some skill was turning out to follow them as they sprinted down Main Street. Sakura laughed. Instead of crying, Musubi giggled too. Itachi was still too confused to do anything other than watch as joy spread across his love's face, her eyes sparkling and laughter filling his ears as though her burdens had never been so light as they apparently were right now. When they reached the gate it was already closed, but she didn't even bother. Without even slowing down, she sped up the wall and onto the roof above it, pausing there and turning to the crowd gathering on the ground behind them. Now didn't look to be the time for admiring familiar faces… but that was exactly what she was doing.

"I love him."

The moment she said that, the noise died to shocked silence. Itachi himself felt his heart almost stop, and he turned his glance from the crowd back to the face of his wife.

It was… the first time she'd ever said it.

"I love Uchiha Itachi. And to all you brown-nosing gossipers, I was never a single mother. Itachi was with me the whole time. He's been living in this village, in my apartment for almost a year now." The cries of distress were low and nearly inaudible, people attempting to suppress their anxiety in the face of a potential predator. Sakura smiled down at them, and she looked for all the world like a benevolent angel, her eyes softening on their shocked and outraged faces. "I'm leaving, and taking my husband and daughter with me. We will always be Konohagakure's allies, though I will no longer be bound by the village's walls. I wish well each and every familiar face here. And believe me, I know you all. I even have your medical records memorized."

She winked mischievously. "Kotetsu-san, Izumo-san, you'd better see about getting brides soon; you won't be young forever. Shikamaru, don't for a minute doubt how much Ino loves you; she turns so green with jealously when Temari-san is around that you'd mistake her for one of her prized flowers. Hinata-chan… I'm glad you and Naruto finally got together. Sorry I had to drug your drink that time to make it happen though." She took a breath, turned, and placed a gentle kiss on Itachi's lips, stunning him, and turning his cheeks a brilliant shade of crimson.

His first experience with public display of affection.

The lovely, lively bride he'd chosen grabbed his hand, and said her last goodbye before they disappeared into the forest beyond.

Goodbye, home of my childhood. I'll always be watching over you.

AN: ONE MORE AND IT'S DONE. I'll tell you some amazing trivia in the next chapter's author's note, so don't forget to read it!