A/N: So i've been reading some mangas and watching some animes to gather more detail information to write the next chapters in this story since i was truly stuck after the last chapter, and honestly it's kind of hard to imagine how Sasuke would be romatic-but i got some inspirations from the old naruto series, where i found some hints of him (Sasuke) expressing his feelings and Sakura being the phsycic she is was able to read these and later on conclude that he somewhat has her in a special place in his heart. Also despite reading somewhere that Kurama's jinchuriki was supposed to be able to regenerate, when Sasuke left for his soul-searching journey Naruto was still missing an arm and later in the gaiden is seen with bandages in his new arm, so that's probably Tsunade's Prosthetic, so whoops.. And i'm not sure if we can call Naruto the last jinchuriki since all of them (beside Gaara, Killer Bee and Naruto) are dead and now Naruto is more like a meeting point since he has a bit of every biiju's chakra, also i forgot that Gyuki is still with Killer Bee, so...another whoops

This is not yet the edited version of the chapter, but enjoy anyway !

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters mentioned in the story

"What?" Sasuke cut her in mid story

"It wasn't that serious" Sakura shrug it off. He tried to kill her a few times, she doesn't think her well-being would be a big deal for him "Naruto overreacted like always of course, he even stayed in Suna for my sake. It's so like him" she continue

Sasuke feel a pang of jealousy even more intense than before. He already thought about it, and he knows it would make enough sense if Sakura and Naruto formed a tight bond over his absence, she might even return his feelings by now. He goes back to when he has told Sakura that Naruto had saved her from Gaara and for the first time she actually thanked him and acknowledged him, he was jealous of Naruto that day, but today he's not jealous of his prowess for once "I see. So Naruto was late because he was worried about you. I suppose that's good"

"Everyone can always depend on Naruto, he's the last person that would ever lose faith and we can always depend on him, he has a huge effect on people. That's why everybody loves him" Sakura say suddenly, looking at nothing in particular

"Everybody huh?" Sasuke has noticed how people has been treating and talking about Naruto these days, everyone sees him as a hero instead of a monster now and Sakura's explanation just reassures him of what he concluded

"I see a lot of girls has been falling for him after the whole pain incident" Sakura giggles

"The one that destroyed most of the village?"

"Yes, you should've seen it, everyone was cheering for him and crying" She remember the day with a big smile and a loving expression "Even Ino said she could fall for him"

"How about you?" Sasuke ask carefully

"Of course I love Naruto to bits, it's impossible not to" Sakura seem to giggle at a distant memory "he's such an idiot, but I can't imagine anyone else more dependable than him. I guess, he's always been but it took me some time to notice it, I'm such a moron"

"You were a little bit clueless sometime, is all. I don't even think you are anymore"

"A lot of people's lives had changed thanks to him, mostly mine…I guess, mostly ours"

"That's true" Sasuke smirk silently. He doesn't want to be any less courageous than his best friend at the least "But even he wouldn't have been able to get me home all by himself"

"What do you mean, didn't he do exactly that Sasuke-kun?"

"He was the one that finally convinced me. But you made me doubt my actions and tempted me to give up on my ambitions lots of times during those years"

Sakura blush furiously, her heart beats quickly as if she's been running laps on the outer wall

"You knew didn't you?" Sasuke gaze away to the orange sky "Even before I left, you've been the one that remind me of a certain feeling, that Naruto or even Itachi couldn't"

"I still couldn't make you stay" Sakura smile bitterly, looking at the ground as they continue to walk side by side

"But I was grateful that you gave me your heart, it made the days I had to spend before I left more bearable than I thought. Sometimes, I even forgot about the revenge and fought for you and the others instead"

Sakura's face even hotter if that's even possible "I'm really happy to know that. Thanks for telling me Sasuke-kun"

"I'll tell you anything"

"B-but why suddenly? I mean, I'm glad, but you never were an open person"

"You will always understand right?"

"I will always try"

"That's more than good enough for me"

Sakura feel like a ton of weight on her shoulder has been lifted, like she can stand straight without even trying, light as a feather "Then talk to me about everything Sasuke-kun"

They stop at Sakura's building front, Sakura's carying her big carrier filled with her souvenirs that she refused to hand to anyone to carry even from Suna. Before she even start to struggle Sasuke open the door for her and let her in, she told him which part of her backpack has her apartment's keys and he also unlock it for her

Sasuke stayed at Saukra's for a while until they realized that Sakura still have to get back to her usual duties of night shift and start packing again

"I'll carry this big sack this time"

"You don't have to Sasuke-kun"

"Well, can you carry this, a backpack and drag along a suitcase?"

"Well"

"It will look ridiculous if anyone sees you walking with all those while i have nothing on my hand. People will think I'm an even bigger jerk than they already thought"

"They don't think you're a jerk"

"You don't think I'm a jerk"

Sakura hesitate for a bit, knowing Sasuke still only has one arm "Alright, here" she hands him the big sack, help him slung it over one of his shoulder diagonally

Sasuke feel the weight right away, he can sure carry this to his house with no problem, but he couldn't believe Sakura carried this along with her backpack all the way from Suna to Konoha. But she probably didn't really feel it since she possesses her godly strength

They talk some more on the way to Sasuke's house, Sakura for once did less of the talking and listen more to his thoughts and experiences. She wants to know everything as if they never parted for a day in their lives

Sasuke make a habit out of talking to Sakura until she fell asleep and carry her to his room before getting himself comfortable on the couch. He'll go with her wherever she needs to go that following week, sometimes he even pick her up from the hospital and walk home together or stop somewhere for dinner first. Some nights when the she's not too tired, they even cook dinner together

"I used to suck at this, but Ino was very patient. She was stuck tasting my first tries" Sakura giggle "She even choked once and I had to help her"

"What else can you make?"

"Hmm, Kakashi told me my Nabemono is pretty good"

"Lets try that next time"

"I actually think I can come home early tomorrow. I mean, if you want we can make it Sasuke-kun"

"Ill go to the market and buy the ingredients, just don't forget to make a list for me"

Sakura still couldn't stop from blushing at the thought of them having a routine like a married couple. At the morning they usually wake up around the same time, he'll make breakfast for the two of them and she'll accompany him until someone comes to supervise him that day. She'll come home and have dinner together, talk some more until she fell asleep, then that wonderful scenario repeats itself the next day

Tonight Sakura talk about her training experiences with Tsunade and Sauke talk about a dog he had as a child and his brother's friend Shisui.

"It's already past eleven, you're usually too tired by now"

"R-really?" Sakura blush "Well, I like how you talk about your family (clan)"

"Hmm" he shift his position on the couch "There were good people among us. I know how history write about us, and as I said, I wanted to make a revolution"

"By becoming the version of Hokage you said before?"

"I will stay faithful to the village and do whatever it takes to protect it, with anyway I can, like Itachi did. But I want to restore the honor in my name, I'm the only one capable of revolution in that sense"

Sasuke glance at Sakura, her expression is invested and wide eyed yet very unreadable somehow. He knows there's no one else that he would rather be with, but he can't ask her to help restore his clan now, when they're only seventeen, before they even talk about their feelings about each other or go on an actual date. It will sound like the worst proposal ever

"Sakura" he say after the longest pause

"Yes?"

"Do you think your feelings can change?"

"Of course"

"I mean… for me"

"Of course. It's been growing everyday" she can feel herself leaning closer by the second

"But could you ever lose that feeling?" he lean a little bit slower in pace

"I don't believe I can. Even if I try"

"Have you?"

"I did, really hard. But it didn't work"

"Good. Cause that piece of my heart you had has grown as well" his eyes go between her eyes and lips before he cup her cheek and caress her skin with his thumb, feels very soft against his own

Sakura creep her hand over his chest, feeling the steady breath and quickening heartbeat before tugging completely on the fabric and pull him lightly but enough to make his lips crash onto hers. They both jolt from the sensation of each other before relaxing

From a shy contact, both deepen the kiss—Sakura tug harder on Sasuke's shirt while he sneak his hand to the back of her neck to pull her face closer to his—before breaking apart for air

They're both flushed and panting lightly

Sakura still feel like her whole existence will burst as what she's been imagining since she's twelve now just happened, they just kissed. Her taste lingers on his mouth, making a feeling of a haunting shadow of Sakura still being there, it's hot and the area where she touch pulses along with his drumming chest

"It's late, you have to wake up early right?"

"We both wake up around the same time" Sakura lift her head still a faint blush on her cheeks

"Let's get some rest then"

"You know… You can't sleep on the couch forever, and I know it's a gentleman thing to let me sleep on your bed, but it is big enough for the two of us" she blush harder "I'm just saying, I mean.."

Sasuke stand up and let a hand out for her "Let's go to sleep"

They walk hand in hand to the bedroom and slip under the covers, it was quite a chilly night, but they were perfectly warm lying close to each other. She got her hand on his chest while his rest on her waist. Both are clearly still testing the water, shy and careful.

They keep on doing their routine for a while, a kiss on Sakura's forehead before bed and tangling limbs under the blanket. They even talk on the bed after their day, lazing around, Sasuke likes Sakura's lap more than any pillow as she plays with his hair

They only pack one bag of towels and water everytime they train with the rest of the team, and after a while both got used to all the teasing Naruto, Kakashi, Yamato and Sai are throwing at their relationship. At the end of Sakura's second moth home, she even moved in since both see no point of her keep paying rent for an empty apartment, Sakura's parents were pretty naggy about this one since they thought it will be rather weird to have friends of the opposite gender live together so suddenly, but they couldn't really decide anything for her anymore for she's legally an adult now.

"I don't want to make you do things you're not comfortable with" Sasuke said before she finalized her decision

"You can take the obligation to pay rent away from me, that would be super comfotable"

Sasuke just smirk to what she said

They continue to have this routine of a happily married couple. Sakura would reach out her arm to the other side of the bed and bump into a chest or a face that's way too familiar with her by now. She truly feel like she's living in a dream, like she wouldn't need anything else in this world, she continue to live here for days, weeks and months

Without knowing exactly when, Kakashi has become the Rokudaime. The village was gathering a huge crowd for the ceremony, Team 7 in the front line watching Tsunade give her legacy down to Kakashi, Sakura and Yamato cried, Sai and Sasuke watch in silence while Naruto grin representing Obito's presence in watching his friend become the Hokage.

The big group of friends—consisted of the 9 rookies, team Gai minus Neji, Yamato, Sai and Iruka—gather and have a feast that night at an all-you-can-eat bbq restaurant. They open Kakashi's tab without him even being there

"Naruto-kun, are you sure this is okay?" Hinata ask hesitantly

"Of course, he treat our team ramen all the time" he cheerfully say "Now now, Itadakimasu!"

"But wouldn't these be expensive?" Ino ask

"Well this is a special occasion after all" Chouji defend his full plate

"Where is Kakashi-senpai anyway?" Yamato ask

"Is he even coming?" Sai ask

"Well yes, Shikamaru would make sure of it"

"He's gonna be late as always" Sasuke speak

"He's Hokage now, I believe he'll change that about him" Lee say

"Yes Lee, the optimism of youth" Gai say

"We'll if I feel bad for eating without him being here just yet" Tenten say

"Don't worry we do that all the time" Sakura say

So they start eating and a little before they all about to finish, Kakashi and Shikamaru finally show up at the last second, saying sorry for being late

"Well we had much to do" Shikamaru explain

"But it's only your first day" Naruto say

"Well work can't wait for new Hokages to get comfy" Kakashi smile

"I'll sure remember that when I become Hokage" Naruto grin

The night went festively, as festive as the day. A little before 10 they finally goes their sepperayte ways.

"What a great day ne, Sasuke-kun"

"Hnn"

"I wish these days could last, all of us being together" she smile brightly

There was a long silence as they walk and enjoy the night air

"Sakura"

"hmm?"

"My probation will be over soon" That's right, they both know there's only three weeks left in Sasuke's probation, then he's going to be given some sort of deal by the council at court as a mild yet permanent punishment.

"I know"

"I'm leaving if I'm pardoned by the council and the Hokage"

A pain expression briefly sit on Sakura's face, she thought maybe she had changed his mind, but she's wrong again she could never stop him from leaving, the first or the second time "Oh, okay"

"I'm going to redeem myself, look for who I am, what is it to be a shinobi" he explain

Sakura keep silent

"After losing my purpose to avenge my clan, and the obsession of power I had… I still have much to seek, to learn. I hope you understand"

Since that night Sakura cling a little bit tighter as they sleep, look twice carefully and spend all the time she had to spare with him, even work harder on the artificial arm

Until one morning she stretch out her arm and feel an empty side opposite her

See you when I'm back

Sakura has no other choice but to be patient, waiting for him to get back home, to her.