Sasuke slipped into the steaming water and turned to face the sunset. He'd changed first and at Sakura's request had gotten into the water instead of waiting for her. The nervousness she was feeling was almost tangible. He supposed he couldn't really blame her. It was their wedding night and everyone knew what a newly married couple was supposed to do on that night.
The sound of the terrace door sliding open heralded her arrival and she moved quickly to the side of the hot spring.
"Don't look." She said before he could turn to face her. "Just… Stay like that for now."
He resisted the temptation to roll his eyes and did as she asked listening as whatever she was wearing hit the ground before she stepped into the spring and lowered herself into the water.
"Ok, you can turn around now." She said her voice shaking. "Only if you want to though!" she added quickly.
With a little smile playing on his lips, he turned and found her sitting near the opposite edge of the spring her knees curled up to her chest while her cheeks blazed.
"Why are you so nervous?" Sasuke asked moving towards her. "It's nothing I haven't seen before."
Her color darkened and she splashed the hot water at his face. "Quiet you!" she growled. "Every bride is nervous on her wedding night."
She was so cute. Shaking the water out of his ebony spikes he moved until he was standing in front of her and then crouched to reach her level. He reached out and gently ran his fingers through the section of hair framing her face.
"Sakura, you don't need to worry about that now." He said gently before settling into the seat beside her. "Just enjoy the sunset with me." He told her motioning to the brilliant burnt orange globe hanging low on the horizon.
"Oh. Alright." She said relaxing slightly.
He slipped his arm around her shoulders and watched out of the corner of his eye as her posture slowly relaxed until her legs dropped and her head touched his shoulder. Unwilling to push her but wanting to reward her just the same, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"The ceremony was perfect and you were breath taking." He murmured quietly in her ear. "Thank you."
She smiled and moved closer to him. "You should thank my mother. She did most of the work." She replied. "You're right though. The ceremony was perfect." She brushed her lips across his cheek. "You were so handsome I forgot how to breathe for a moment."
He chuckled and trailed his fingers lightly down her bicep. Hearing praise about his looks was something he was quite used to but today, there was a genuineness to it that he refused to deny. The sun dipped lower in the sky until the orb had nearly vanished completely behind the mountains and the crickets and cicadas began their nightly serenade.
"Should we get dressed before they arrive with the food?" Sakura asked.
Sasuke nodded. "Do you want me to turn around again?" he asked glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
The pink haired medic blushed and chewed on her lip for a moment while she thought it over. He knew that she hadn't meant to arouse him, but he felt his heart quicken and his blood heat at the sight of the plump pink flesh between her teeth.
"Just don't stare." She said finally.
"As you wish." He replied once again fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
She nodded and leapt lightly from the water to with the all of skill and grace a kunoichi of her caliber possessed. He watched the hot water run over sharp shoulder blades, down to the narrow small of her back and over her perfectly rounded buttocks ending in a quick glide over muscled legs to the ground. The sight made him throb and he nearly groaned when she bent over to towel off her legs. It was only the knowledge that he would get caught doing exactly what she'd asked him not to that kept the low sound appreciation from leaving his throat. All too soon, she wrapped the pale grey yukata around her and he turned away to look at the mountains just before her gaze turned to him.
"Are you alright?" she asked probably wondering why he hadn't gotten out already himself.
"I'm fine." He replied. "Just enjoying the view." She didn't need to know it had been the delectable view of her behind that he'd been indulging in.
"It is really pretty." She agreed. "It reminds me a little of the place we stayed with Captain Yamato on our first mission with Sai." She admitted.
He nodded and hopped out of the water himself smirking when she stared at him her eyes wide before turning towards the mountains again, her face blazing scarlet. She cleared her throat and pressed her palms to her overheated cheeks as he toweled off his own body.
"I watched Sai draw for the first time that day." She said trying to ease the sudden tension between them. "I thought a view similar to this would inspire him to draw a landscape but he was working on an abstract piece. Naruto walked up to him and said 'That drawing's nothing special.' And Sai replied 'You're right, just like what's between your legs.'" She giggled at the memory. "Naruto turned so red and said 'That does it! I hate you!' It was so funny."
Sasuke smirked at her story. He was starting to think that he and Sai would get along better than he initially thought. Anyone who could insult Naruto that blatantly and get away with it was worth a second look in his book.
"Let's go." He said tying the yukata closed. "They're almost here."
"Right." Sakura replied walking with him back into the room.
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. "May we come in?" a feminine voice asked.
"Yes." Sakura called out.
The doors opened and a group of five including three women and two men filed inside with dishes in their hands. A delicious spread of delectable looking foods were laid on the table before the staff left again.
"Please leave the dishes in the hall. We will collect them later tonight." The hostess said with a neat bow before leaving the couple alone again.
Sakura's eyes danced with delight as she settled down at the table and Sasuke sat down across from her smiling at her obvious enthusiasm.
"Wow!" she exclaimed. "There's so much to choose from! I don't even know where to start."
"It doesn't matter where you start." Sasuke replied picking up his chop sticks. "It's not like Naruto or Kakashi are here to mess it up."
Her eyes met his across the table and a smirk that mirrored his own touched her lips.
"What do you mean your hand slipped?!" they said in unison each one trying desperately not to laugh.
Sakura lost the battle and giggles tumbled from her lips while tears pricked at her eyes. "I can't believe you thought of the same thing." She wheezed.
He shrugged. "Looking back, that was one of the most ridiculous weeks of my life." He admitted.
She smiled and nodded in agreement before slipping a slice of fish from a different plate onto her own. "We were so young then. Sometimes I can hardly believe that my biggest worry in life used to be if you liked my hair or thought my forehead was too wide."
Sasuke shook his head. "To be honest, I didn't really notice your forehead until I heard other kids talking about it. Even then I didn't understand what the big deal was."
Her eyes widened and then blush colored her cheeks as she ran a finger through her bangs. "Oh." She replied. "I never knew that."
The Uchiha dipped a meat dumpling into a dish of sauce, at it and then continued. "I noticed your hair our first day at the academy." He confessed. "I had spent most of my time inside the Uchiha compound up until that point. I was used to seeing dark hair and dark eyes around me all the time. That striking pink caught my attention right away along with your green eyes. I'd never seen anyone like you before." He smirked. "When I went home that day, I told my mother about you. At dinner she told my father and Itachi that a girl with pink hair, green eyes, and fair skin had caught my attention. Itachi asked, 'Is she sweet too?' I told him I didn't know and he said 'I imagine she must be. As sweet as dango with that coloring.'" He chuckled. "Mother laughed and dad rolled his eyes when he grabbed me as soon as we were finished eating and went to the closest sweet shop to get some tricolored dango to take care of his sudden sweets craving."
Sakura laughed and beamed at him. "I'm happy that I was able to provide you and your family with some interesting dinner conversation." She said bowing a little. "Tri colored dango huh? My father is the only other person I can think of who made that same analogy. He used to tease me and say that he wanted to name me Dango but that my mom refused because she didn't want any of the children to be tempted to eat me up."
"That doesn't surprise me at all." He said thinking of the loud man that was now his father in law.
They worked their way through the meal together keeping the conversation light until the dishes were mostly empty.
"I'll couldn't eat another bite." Sakura said with a sigh as she collapsed on one of the cushions once the dishes had been carried out to the hall. "It was so good though."
Sasuke shook his head. "Based on how you ate, I'm guessing you haven't eaten since dinner last night." He said sitting down next to her.
She blushed and looked away. "I ate." She protested. "Not much, but I did eat." She assured him.
"Why didn't you eat properly?" he asked.
"I was too excited and nervous to eat." She confessed. "One minute I was so nervous I felt nauseated and the next I was so excited the butterflies in my stomach wouldn't let me breathe." She said pressing hand to her heart.
Cute, she was so damn cute. He leaned over and brushed her hair behind her ear. The color running along her cheek bone caught his attention and he ran his lips along the pinkness there. Her breathing hitched and he felt his blood temperature spike in response. They had bathed, eaten, and were finally completely alone at the end of their wedding day. The only thing left to do this night, was take her to bed. The thought had a slow burn igniting in his gut and he turned her face towards his and claimed her mouth.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck while his own slithered around her waist. He pulled gently until she was on her knees straddling his hips as he nipped, sucked and licked at her lips. Her slender fingers slid into his hair and he groaned when she instinctively rolled her hips against his lap. His hand slid up her back to the bubble gum locks at the base of her neck and clenched forcing her head back. She gasped and his lips latched onto her throat sucking and nibbling until several red marks marred the creamy skin.
"Sasuke." She breathed framing his face with her hands as she rose up her knees looking down at him with passion burning in her eyes and kiss reddened lips. "How is it that you're mine?" she asked her voice half a sigh as she slid her fingers up and through his hair tipping his head back.
He was captivated, completely and utterly entranced by her. She looked sultry, tempting and he had no desire nor reason to fight that temptation now. They were married. Sakura was his woman, she was his wife. Every part of her belonged to him and he was ready to mark her body and soul as such.
"I think it's time to turn off the lights." He said softly running his nose along skin near the collar of her robe his hand moving to the tie at her waist.
The word 'light' seemed to spark something in her and she quickly jumped up from his lap.
"Wait outside near the spring." She told him. "I'll be right back." She promised.
Confused by her sudden change in behavior he nodded and stood making his way to the terrace doors. One second she'd been melting in his arms and the next she had that look in her eyes she used to get as a child when she was planning a surprise, usually a trick on Naruto or Kakashi that he always took pleasure in watching, though he'd never say it.
"Sorry to make you wait." She said stepping up next to him. "I wanted to do this now before I forgot." She explained.
He turned and saw that she held a paper lantern in her hands. The Uchiha crest in scarlet and white was surrounded by the black silhouette of a crow in flight pained onto the side. He could tell at a glance that it had been professionally made and wondered when she'd ordered such a thing.
"For Itachi." She said blush coloring her cheeks as she offered it to him. "It's his birthday after all. I thought this would be a good way to celebrate. Would you light it please?"
He nodded and focused his chakra until a bright flame appeared on his fingertip. She held it steady above his hand until he lit the base and together they pushed it gently into the sky. The lantern floated into the air and Sasuke watched it with rapt attention. He was a married man, a happy man and it was all thanks to the selfless sacrifice of his brother.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Sakura asked wiping at tears he wasn't even aware were flowing down his cheeks.
"Nothing." He replied. "Nothing's wrong. Everything is good I just… I just wish I could share it with him. With them." He said his thoughts floating to his parents.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him gently. "I'm so sorry Sasuke." She murmured softly.
He accepted her comfort and sympathy wrapping his arm lightly around her shoulders as tears cascaded down his face. He'd cried for his brother in the past, for the suffering he'd experienced and the terrible way that he'd been treated by the ones he'd been trying to protect. He'd cried at their second separation as well longing for just a few more moments with his precious hero. Now he was crying out of the desperate desire to see him again. At the frustration of not being able to share such an important day with the one who had made it all possible.
When the lantern finally winked out of sight and his tears were dry, he rested his forehead against his wife's and pressed his hand to her face.
"You are not allowed to die." He said firmly. "I don't care what happens, you keep fighting, keep breathing, keeping living until I get there." His thumb stroked the length of her cheek bone. "I can't-" he let out a shuddering breath. "I can't lose you Sakura."
She covered his hand with her own and a tear formed in her eye and slid down her cheek. "I will never allow myself to be taken from you." She said firmly before rising up on her toes and pressing her mouth to his. "I will fight even the God of Death himself to stay by your side." She vowed with fire in her eyes.
Her words comforted him and her touch soothed him. It was selfish request on his part. She was a Leaf Village Shinobi. Among the very best their village had to offer. It was inevitable that she would get into situations where her life would be in danger. Never the less he felt deep in his soul that she would never willingly leave him. She would fight with everything she had to stay alive, to see his face again, and he would do the same.
A shiver ran through her when a particularly cold mountain breeze swept past them and he tightened his grip on her shoulder. "Let's go inside." He suggested. "Unless you want to take another bath."
She shook her head. "If I step into that spring again I guarantee you that I'll fall asleep within ten minutes." She said stifling a little yawn.
He smirked. "Well we can't have that." He said pulling her inside and shutting the terrace doors with a flick of his foot.
Moving quickly through their suite, they turned off all of the lights until the only one left shining was the lamp situated beside the large futon that dominated the floor of the bedroom.
He sensed Sakura's heartbeat quicken and felt his own hitch in response. The pink haired medic took a deep breath and then released his hand and walked with measured steps to the top of the futon and knelt down. Curious, he followed her and knelt down facing her.
"Sakura?" he questioned gently.
With shaking fingers, she lifted her hand and slid the clip out of her hair letting the blush colored locks tumble free to her shoulder blades. After placing it in the wooden tray next to the bed she took another deep breath. He watched completely captivated as the indomitable Sakura Haruno; now Uchiha; placed her hands flat on the floor and bowed to him until her forehead brushed the tatami mat. It was a tradition in most of the old houses within The Leaf Village following marriage. The newly married wife submitting to her husband. Showing complete obedience and acceptance as she offered herself to him for the first time. Sakura wasn't from one of the Noble houses of The Leaf like he was and he'd never mentioned such a ritual. Someone, Hinata most likely, had told her about it. He was moved by her display even as guilt writhed within him like angry snakes. She should not be bowing to him this way. He was not worthy of such a demonstration of absolute trust and devotion.
"Yes, sometimes life hands us a treasure we don't deserve. A wise man would remember his place and walk away from such a thing, but a wiser man acknowledges that he doesn't deserve it and treats it with the utmost respect and care in hopes that someday he will deserve such a gem."
With the monk's words echoing in his head, he reached out and touched her face tilting it up and away from the floor. Her jade eyes were full of love with just a hint of anxiety as she slowly lifted from her bow.
"Come to bed my wife." He said softly. "Let me love you."
Her eyes brightened and her expression relaxed even as blush bloomed across her cheeks.
He leaned forward and kissed her gently before pushing her back lightly onto the futon. Before she could recover, he crawled over her and kissed her again his lips and tongue fogging her mind as his hand found the tie of her yukata and tugged.
The bow came free easily and he sat up, leaving her breathless sprawled out across the futon. Desire was once again aflame in her eyes and it stroked his own higher as he slowly drew his hand down the length of her robe revealing her skin inch by inch as he went until it was parted neatly down the middle. He wrapped his arm around her and gently pulled her upright just enough to push the fabric off her shoulders and then pulled it away from her body completely. His dark eye suddenly flashed red as his sharringan activated.
"Sasuke?" Sakura whispered. "Your eye…"
He ignored her as he burned the image of her into his mind. She was perfect. Her cheeks tinged with the pink of her blush, the indigo mark of her power prominent against her pale skin, her jade eyes blazing with love and passion, her lips swollen and red from his kisses. Her hair was splayed out around her head and shoulders like a pink halo, her creamy skin nearly glowed in the soft lamp light, standing out in sharp contrast against the slate grey cover of the futon. Her body was perfect; sleek, deadly muscles paired with soft feminine curves. Scars marked her skin in several places, proof of her status as a warrior but the imperfections only added to her beauty in his eyes. She was gorgeous and deadly paired together perfectly and he'd never wanted her more.
"Perfect." He murmured sliding a hand down past her collar bone, over her breast, across her waist, and along her thigh. "You're absolutely perfect Sakura."
She bit her lip and turned her head to the side her blush darkening. "Don't stare like that."
He leaned down and flicked his tongue over a rosy nipple drawing a gasp from her lips. "Even a man like me has limits." He murmured before he sucked the bud into his mouth.
She moaned and arched into him her hands sliding into his hair. "Sasuke!" she whimpered.
Yes, this is exactly how he wanted her. He continued to suckle at her breasts as his hand slipped to the heat between her legs and stroked over her slit hissing when he felt how wet she was already. When his finger touched the nub at the top, a breathy cry unlike anything he'd ever heard before left her lips and she bucked into his hand. The increase of wetness at the action told him that she'd liked the way it felt when he stroked her there and gently brushed over it again. A high pitched whine left her lips and he smirked in satisfaction. Using her sounds as his guide he stroked, and rubbed her into a frenzy. A light sheen of sweat clung to her skin as her head whipped back and forth at the intensity of her pleasure.
"Sasuke!" she cried out her hands moving to his shoulders. "I can't take it! It's too much!" she exclaimed pushing at him her legs trying to clamp together. "Please!"
"Let me please you Sakura." He purred increasing the speed and pressure of his fingers.
"Sasuke! Sasuke!" she exclaimed. "I think I-" a high pitched wail suddenly flew from her lips as she hit her climax.
Her hands clutched at the sheets as her body writhed and arched until she let out a low moan her and body finally relaxed. She panted for air and stared up at the ceiling her hands releasing their death grip on the sheets. While she took a moment to catch her breath, Sasuke threw his own robe, which had become loose enough to become annoying, away from his body. He felt a bit relieved that Sakura was too wrapped up in the aftershocks of her orgasm to focus on him. He was still a little self-conscious due to the loss of his arm.
"I've never felt anything like that before." She confessed softly her jade eyes finally flicking forward to look at him.
He smirked even as he settled between her thighs and positioned himself at her entrance. "Are you ready Sakura?" he asked.
She met his gaze her eyes still hazy from the orgasm he'd given her and nodded. "Yes. Please take me Sasuke." She begged.
He pressed a kiss to her mouth before pushing inside her. She was tight, tighter than he could have ever imagined and he bit his lip to keep from just snapping his hips forward. He could tell from the crease in her brow and the tears gathering in the corners of her closed eyes that she was in pain and he refused to make it worse by losing control. When he was finally sheathed to the hilt, he froze.
"Sakura, look at me." He instructed softly. Her jade eyes fluttered open and he was relieved to see less pain there than he anticipated.
"You can move." She told him shifting her hips in a way that made him hiss. "I'll be alright."
He took a deep breath before he retreated a bit and then slammed forward. Her warm green tinged chakra rose up to dance along her skin as she wrapped her arms around him her manicured finger nails digging into the skin of his back as he moved, her legs locking around his waist. His own violet chakra reacted to hers and the room flickered with the combined light of their power as he rocked his hips into hers. Her heat and tightness were intense and his body was overwhelmed with new sensations and instincts as strong and old as time. Long before he was ready, he came undone and spilled himself inside her with a groan. He collapsed on top of her panting lightly and felt her gently stroke his hair before pulling the blankets up and over both of them.
"Are you alright?" he asked rolling to the side to relieve her of the burden of his weight.
She nodded and stroked his face from temple to chin. "I'm just fine." She assured him.
"Good." He replied before rolling onto his back and flinging his arm across his forehead. "That was over far too quickly." He muttered mostly to himself.
Sakura giggled softly and laid her head on his chest. "Well, there's always next time." She assured him.
"Thinking about next time already huh? What a dirty girl you turned out to be." He teased running his finger down the curve of her spine. "Then again, you did get that massive nose bleed when Naruto used that reverse harem jutsu."
She blushed scarlet and pressed her face to his chest. "Shut up." She snarled. "Just because I'm a virgin." Her face turned darker. "Was a virgin." She corrected herself. "Doesn't mean I wasn't interested in that sort of thing. I just didn't want to actually do it with anyone but you. Besides, I was already a top ranked medic even before the war. You'd be absolutely astounded by the number and variety of sex related injuries I've had to treat over the years."
"I'm pretty sure I don't want to know." He muttered.
Sakura snickered. "You're absolutely right." She agreed.
A little yawn tumbled from her lips and she pressed herself even closer to him. "I'm so tired but I want to stay awake with you." She confessed kissing his chest lightly.
He sighed and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Just go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." And he was already forming plans for what to do with her when she did.
A sleepy, angelic smile touched her lips. "Alright Sasuke." She replied. "I love you. This has been the happiest day of my life. I'm finally your wife." She whispered before drifting asleep.
He smiled at her and ran his fingers through her sweat dampened hair. "I love you too." He murmured softly.
Sooner than he ever imagined possible, he followed her into sleep.
Sasuke found himself inside The Leaf Village library and frowned when a pair of running children passed right through him instead of running into him. "I must be dreaming." He said to himself as he walked in the direction he sensed Sakura's chakra.
"Now that this new treaty has been signed. Shinobi from The Village Hidden in the Leaves are now free to move in the previously restricted areas along White Wing River in The Land of Quaking Trees." A chunin ninja said motioning to a map displayed on the large board in the library's largest classroom. "However, the river and The Land of Quaking Trees are still within the territory controlled by The Village Hidden in The Stones. Exercise extreme caution. Are there any questions?" when no one offered any, the middle aged man nodded. "Excellent, you're free to return to your regularly scheduled activities."
"Finally!" Naruto exclaimed loudly his head popping up from the table as ninja of all ranks rose from their seats. "That was so boring." He whined. "Why do we have to hear about this stuff anyway? We're already ninja and isn't Kakashi sensei the one who's in charge of things like mission planning and travel arrangements?" he whined.
"You're too loud." Sasuke drawled as he slipped his notebook into his back pack and stood up from his chair. "We have to learn this stuff just in case Kakashi isn't able to go with us on a mission. It's not like we're going to be genin forever." He smirked and looked over at the blonde. "Well, you might be."
"Why you!" Naruto snarled shaking his fist at the dark haired boy.
Sakura sighed and stepped between the boys shoving Naruto's fist down. "Calm down idiot. Sasuke's right though. This change is particularly important because The White Wing River is the fastest way to reach the northern coastline but no ninja from The Leaf have been able to safely use it in years. This will make getting to a lot of destinations much quicker."
"I don't get it." Naruto asked. "Do we not get along with The Village Hidden in the Stones?"
Sasuke groaned and dropped his head to his hand. "Are you ears just for show?" he demanded. "The Village Hidden in the Stones was one of the main villages we fought against in The Third Great Ninja War."
"Oh… Right I knew that." Naruto said with a sheepish grin as he rubbed that back of his head. "Anyway, we have time before we're supposed to meet up with Kakashi Sensei for our next mission briefing. Let's go to Ichiraku for some lunch!"
"Why is it always ramen?" Sakura groaned.
"Seriously." Sasuke agreed.
"Come on." Naruto whined. "It's tradition! Team Ten has BBQ and Team Seven has Ramen! Please!" The blonde begged clasping his hands together.
"Fine." Sasuke grumbled. "It's better than listening to you whine about it later."
Sakura nodded and then straightened when she spotted a tail of blonde hair and a purple crop top.
"Ino!" she exclaimed. The mind transfer ninja turned and she waved. "I'll be right back." She assured her teammates before dashing over to her friend.
Curious, older Sasuke followed her already losing interest in the head butting going on between his younger self and a younger and much more annoying Naruto. The memory had gone in the way that he remembered it. He and Naruto bickering and Sakura stopping their arguments usually by taking his side and telling Naruto what he was supposed to know but had forgotten.
"What is it Sakura?" Ino asked.
"Here." Sakura said handing a note to the blonde. "My mom asked me to give this to you. It's for your mom."
"Right. Thanks billboard brow." She replied with a smirk. "Going on a date with Sasuke?" she accused.
"Of course!" Sakura shot back with a grin hands on her hips. "But… Naruto's coming too." She added slumping forward.
Ino cringed and then laughed. "Serves you right! Good luck on your next mission." She said.
"You too." Sakura replied before jogging back to where her teammates were walking ahead of her.
Just as she was about to call out to them, a pair of chunin began to mutter.
"Do you see that? It's the Uchiha orphan and the nine tails terror." The taller one with brown hair whispered.
"Talk about a match made in hell." The second one, a woman with dark hair whispered back. "I mean sure, the Uchiha kid's a looker but he's got that nasty, cold aura around him. I don't trust him at all. And that Uzumaki brat has always been a menace."
"Yeah. The Leaf is screwed if they're throwing troublemaking misfits like that together. Lord Third must be going senile in his old age." The brown haired man sneered.
Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes as he hovered over the pair. Whispers like those had followed him and Naruto everywhere they went. He wasn't surprised and it didn't hurt anymore but he always wondered why people felt the need to say such things. They were just children caught up in terrible circumstances doing the best they could.
"Shut up." Sakura snarled coming up behind them.
"What did you say little girl?" the dark haired woman asked cocking a brow.
"I told you to shut up!" Sakura repeated. "Sasuke might seem cold hearted but he really cares about his teammates and he's a great ninja. Naruto is an idiot but he's got more guts and determination than anyone I know. Both of them put their lives on the line to protect this village from the Sand Village ninja attacked and defeated Gaara and his monster together." She smirked and put a hand on her hip. "I didn't see either of you cowards there."
The two ninja paled even as the veins in their foreheads twitched in irritation.
"You… You little brat." The man growled. "Who the Hell do you think you are?"
"Before you start spewing garbage about people you don't even know, maybe you should take a good look in the mirror." She hissed before jogging past them. "Sasuke! Naruto!" she called out waving as the two boys paused to look back at her. "Wait for me!"
"Hurry up!" Naruto shouted waving back.
Sasuke stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a step back allowing her to take the space between them before the three of them moved forward in a group.
"Where did you run off to?" Naruto asked lacing his hands behind his head.
"I had to give something to Ino." She replied tucking her hair behind her ear.
Sasuke studied her his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that all?" he asked.
She blinked in surprise and then quickly nodded. "Yeah. I just got stuck behind a couple of slow walkers." She said quickly as Ichiraku appeared in their line of sight. "Let's get going before Naruto's usual spot is taken." She said rushing forward.
The two boys exchanged a glance but shrugged and followed her into the noddle stand.
As he watched, older Sasuke snickered. They'd always been able to read her like a book. It was obvious to the two younger ninja that their teammate was hiding something.
As they ate, Sakura kept glancing over her shoulder.
"Is something wrong Sakura?" Naruto asked. "You seem a little… Jumpy."
She shook her head. "No! Of course not. Everything's fine." She assured him. "I'm just a little distracted I guess."
Sasuke's brow cocked at that but he didn't say anything as was his way. Sakura glanced behind her and blanched when she spotted the two ninja from before standing there. When the woman jerked her head a clear demand for her to come outside, she sighed and slid from her stool.
"I'll be back in a minute." She said.
"Where are you going?" Naruto asked.
"The bathroom you twerp!" she growled before stepping out into the street.
"Something's up." Naruto hissed as soon as she was out of sight.
"Yeah." Sasuke agreed.
"Let's follow her, just to make sure everything's alright." The blonde suggested.
The Uchiha nodded and quickly jogged out into the street. A glance up and down it was devoid of the pink haired medic.
"Where did she go?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke's brow furrowed before he quickly leapt scaled the nearest power pole and searched for the unmistakable pink hue of his teammate's hair. His eyes widened when he found her cornered at the end of a nearby ally with two older ninja bearing down on her.
"Can you see her?" Naruto called up to him.
"Yeah! Follow me!" Sasuke replied leaping to the ground and taking off in the direction of the ally.
"What's wrong Sasuke?" Naruto demanded.
"Sakura's been cornered by a couple of chunin." The ink haired boy explained.
"What? Why?" Naruto demanded.
"I don't know, but they didn't look like they were interested in a friendly chat." Sasuke replied. "Come on!"
They took to the rooftops flipping, twisting and sprinting their way to the building that made up the dead end that Sakura was trapped in. Without a second thought Sasuke dropped to the ground in front of the pink haired girl and blocked punch the woman was aiming for Sakura's face as she pressed back against the wall her arms rising to block the blow.
"Get lost." He snarled as Naruto dropped down behind him.
"She disrespected us." The man replied. "We're just teaching her to respect her superiors."
"Two punks that gang up on a lone girl in an ally don't deserve any respect." Naruto growled.
"Ha! Like you two idiots can do anything to stop us." The girl said with a sneer. "We're chunin. You're just stupid genin. A pair of orphaned misfits pretending to be real ninja."
"What did I tell you before?" Sakura growled pushing away from the wall her eyes blazing as she wiped the blood from her nose. "I don't care what you do to me or say about me, but you leave Sasuke and Naruto alone!"
Sasuke's eyes widened at the sight of blood on her hands. His curse mark throbbed as the desire to rip the idiots limb from limb boiled inside him. His onyx eyes flashed blood red and his older self almost sighed at his lack of control.
"Hey, Naruto." He said softly. "Do you think I'd get in trouble if I did to these guys the same thing I did to the last punks that hurt Sakura?" he asked.
"Probably." Naruto replied moving to stand beside him. "Breaking people's arms isn't really a good habit." He raised his fists. "We could probably get away with roughing them up a bit though."
Sasuke smirked. "Let's get started then."
In a matter of seconds the chunin were in a heap on the ground groaning as the two boys dusted their hands off.
"How?" the man gasped. "How are they so strong?"
"They're just genin." The woman rasped.
"Stay away from Sakura." Naruto growled.
"Next time you won't get off so easy." Sasuke added the tomoes in his sharringan turning once before they winked out and his eyes returned to their normal color.
"You guys didn't have to do this for me." Sakura said looking down.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto replied. "You're our teammate. Of course we're going to protect you."
"You defended us. Isn't that why they attacked you in first place?" Sasuke added.
Sakura blushed and looked down. "Yeah but…"
"Stop worrying about it." He said turning towards the road. "Come on. Kakashi Sensie is going to come looking for us if we don't hurry to the meeting location."
"Yeah! We gotta hurry guys!" Naruto exclaimed grabbing her hand and tugging her down the street.
As she passed by Sasuke, she reached back and grabbed his hand tugging him along with herself and Naruto.
Sasuke watched as the three of them ran down the street Sakura the link holding the three of them together. It had often been that way for them. Without her nothing would have worked out the way it was meant to.
Just as he was about to walk away, the world shifted slightly. The buildings grew taller, and the roads narrowed. He glanced around confused when a familiar looking brown cat with a bow stuck to its ear streaked between his legs.
"Tora?" he muttered remembering the cat that he, Naruto and Sakura had chased down during one of their first ninja missions.
People could scoff about such a mission all they wanted but it really was a job fit for a ninja with how fast and nimble the felines were. He doubted anyone else was truly qualified for the task.
"I've got it!" a loud voice exclaimed.
A boy with blonde hair, and blue eyes wearing a goofy grin dressed in black, pink and white streaked past him in hot pursuit of the furry menace. The kid looked so much like Naruto it was terrifying but before he could investigate further, more steps sounded behind him, these lighter and more refined.
Another figure with pale skin, light blue hair and golden eyes followed close behind streaking past him. "Slow down!" the other child called out. "You're only going to wear yourself out."
"Ugh! He's not listening." Came a higher pitched voice. "He never does. I swear his ears are just for show."
Sasuke watched with rapt attention as a girl with raven hair, and onyx eyes raced past. His eyes widened when he caught sight of her back, the Uchiha crest displayed proudly on her red shirt between her shoulder blades. Without thinking, he turned and reached for her his hand passing right through her as she continued to pursue her teammates.
"Who are you?" he demanded chasing the child even as the world began to fade and he realized he was being pulled out of his dream.
%&%
"Sasuke?" Sakura's voice broke through the last of the haze and his mismatched eyes snapped open. "Are you alright?"
He met Sakura's jade eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Just a dream." He replied reaching up to run his fingers through her hair.
She smiled down at him and stroked his face. "Was it a good one?" she asked.
He shrugged. "It was a memory. You were attacked by a pair of chunin for defending me and Naruto." There was something else too. Some person he'd never seen before wearing the Uchiha crest but he couldn't quite grasp the image, it was already fading away.
Her eyes narrowed for a moment her eyes flickering towards the ceiling her brow furrowed in concentration before they brightened again and she nodded. "I remember. A black haired girl with an attitude and a burly guy with all brawn and no brains."
"Those are the ones." He confirmed.
She smiled and leaned down pressing her lips to his igniting a slow burn in his gut when her tongue slid into his mouth to stroke at his own. She pulled away slightly flushed and tucked a section of hair behind her ear.
"Good morning, darling." She murmured a coy smile on her lips.
His eyes widened and blush feathered across his cheeks at the term of endearment. Before he could come up with a decent response, her lips were moving again working their way down his throat, then across his shoulders and down his chest.
"Sakura." He gasped when her lips descended to his defined abdomen. "What are you doing?"
"It occurred to me that I let you do most of the work last night." She said softly dragging her tongue along one of the ridges of muscle near his bellybutton, making him shiver. "I'd like to make it up to you."
"You say that like I didn't enjoy myself." He said his hand clenching in the sheets when she stroked her hands over his hip bones as she descended lower.
Her hands grasped his length and he groaned his eyes rolling back in his head. She stroked it a few times and then ran her tongue over the tip making him gasp.
"Did you like that?" she asked.
"Yes!" He hissed.
She repeated the action and his hip bucked pressing the appendage into her mouth. She sucked it lightly and then removed her lips again. She stroked it with her hand again before she shifted her body over his and kissed him deeply. His arm wrapped around her waist and pressed her fully against him as they shifted their bodies against one another moaning at the friction. He stroked over her buttocks to the space between her legs and rubbed at her slit as she groaned and peppered his neck and shoulder with kisses. Between how wet she already was and how hard he was, he had a feeling that things would be over far too quickly again. He started to sit up intent on pushing her onto her back so that he could sheath himself inside her but she resisted pressing him back into the futon with her hands on his chest.
"Sakura?" he questioned.
"I want to try something." She told him straddling his chest and then sliding down his torso.
He wasn't exactly sure what she had in mind but the dark blush on her cheeks and the way she worried at her lip with his teeth told him that it was something she was little embarrassed about. Part of him was wishing he'd actually taken a look at the collection of Jaraiya's books that Kakashi had given him the day before his bachelor party. At least he'd have some idea of what she was planning. His eyes widened when she reached his hips and rose up taking his length in her hand. She positioned him at her entrance and he watched completely captivated a low groan rattling in his chest as she lowered herself onto his throbbing erection.
"Damn!" he hissed, as her hot, tight, fluttering walls enveloped him completely.
When she was seated to the hilt she paused for a moment. "Sasuke." She groaned. "Is this ok?"
"Move. Please." He begged, if she didn't, he would.
She smirked and then complied rising up and then slamming back down. He gasped at the sensation and grasped her hip doing his best to help steady her as she rode him. It was a little clumsy and sloppy but he couldn't have cared less. She was beautiful with her hair dancing around her shoulders as she moved, her breasts bouncing in time with the rhythm of her hips. Her eyes were closed, sweat tinging her brow with a small smile touching her lips. When her hands stroked up her body and grasped at her own breasts, he lost his breath his own arousal spiking as he jerked his own hips up to meet hers. She gasped and he grabbed her waist his fingers digging into the soft skin there.
"Sakura! I'm going to-" was as far as he got before he erupted within her, his eyes rolling back in his head.
She slumped over his chest sweaty and panting while he tried to get his own breathing under control. He slid his hand to the small of her back and traced nonsense patterns there while their bodies cooled.
"Sasuke?" Sakura murmured her head still laying on his chest.
"What is it?" he replied sliding his fingers up the curve of her spine.
"Did you like that?" she asked her face heating against his skin. "I mean, was I any good?" she pressed her face against his chest. "What am I even saying?" she groaned quietly against his skin.
Smirking at her embarrassment he slid his hand higher until it could tangle in her sweat dampened pink locks.
"You were great." He said deciding to praise her just in case teasing would have the negative consequence of hurting her confidence. The last thing he wanted was to discourage her from being on top, especially when she'd been so breathtaking.
She pushed herself up off his chest and looked down at him her eyes looking for any trace of a lie on his features. It was clear she lacked confidence in this department and to be honest he was a bit unsure too. Although, that just meant they could figure it out together.
"You mean it?" she asked after a few moments.
He sighed and then reached up to touch her face. "Sakura, I've never done this with anyone else." He reminded her. "Even if you were absolutely terrible, I wouldn't know the difference." When her eyes fell and her mouth moved to apologize, he pressed a finger to her lips. "That being said, I did enjoy myself." He promised her rising up to capture her lips in a kiss before she could argue.
She melted in his arms and he slowly maneuvered them until she was on her back. He moved his lips to her throat and down to her breast drinking in her moans and gasps of pleasure. Just when he was about to slide his hand down to the patch of cotton candy curls between her legs, there was a knock at the door.
"Damn it." He snarled sitting up.
He pulled his yukata tight around his body and tied it before stalking out the door of the sleeping space towards the main door of their suite. Even on his honeymoon people were interrupting them. They were leaving today but not until later in the morning. He'd hoped to have her at least one more time in this space before they left. He raked his hand through his ebony spikes and then threw the door open with a snap.
"What is it?" he growled at the teenaged girl standing on the other side of the door.
The girl blushed bright pink. "Umm… Are you ready for breakfast? You're hot. I mean it's hot!" she stammered her blush deepening.
"Sasuke?" Sakura called out tightening the tie on her robe as she walked up beside him. "Is everything alright?" her voice leeched away the majority of his anger so quickly it was almost embarrassing.
Sasuke sighed. "Are you ready for breakfast?" he asked as she walked up to him laying her hands on his arm.
"Breakfast sounds good to me." She replied leaning against him.
"Fine." He replied. "We'll eat now then."
"I'll bring the food right away." The girl said bowing before she rushed away.
Closing the door again, Sasuke sighed and sat down on a nearby cushion. "Irritating." He muttered.
Sakura chuckled at his obvious annoyance and sat down next to him threading her fingers through his. "She was only doing her job Sasuke." She reminded him.
It was true but still irritating. He'd been suppressing his desire for her for years. Now that he'd had her, a ravenous hunger for her that he'd never known existed was growing. Knowing that after breakfast they'd probably only have time for a quick bath before they'd need to start traveling to their next destination irritated him. It meant he wouldn't be able to satisfy himself until they arrived at the next inn. His eyes widened at his own thoughts and he groaned dropping his head between his knees. How had he gone from one of the most powerful ninja warriors in the world to a hormone driven pervert?
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Sakura asked her hand pressing to his forehead to check for a fever.
"It's nothing." He replied.
Nothing he could tell her anyway. However, this was a phase all married couples went through right? That's why no one wanted be near them for the first couple of years of matrimony when couples couldn't seem to keep their hands off of one another. When Sakura nodded and stood up moving across the room to open one of the windows, his gaze raked over her form and he realized that this 'phase' of his might last his entire life. After all, Sakura bore the strength of 100 seal. If she picked up her teacher's habit of using her immense chakra stores to keep herself looking young as she aged… He smirked, he'd be the envy of every man in the world in a few decades.
"What are you smirking at?" she asked when she turned from the window.
"Just a random thought." He replied turning towards the door when someone knocked.
"Come in." Sakura called out.
The door slid open and staff quickly filed in laying dishes on the table before filing out again.
"Let's eat." Sakura said moving to sit at the table.
About halfway into their meal Sakura shrieked and jumped to the side her eyes wide with surprise.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke demanded leaping to his feet scanning the room for any danger.
"That little idiot!" Sakura snarled picking up the small toad that had jumped in through the window and landed on her leg. "What is it?" she asked the warty creature.
"Just a message from Naruto." The amphibian replied offering its back to her.
"Oh." Sakura replied pulling the small scroll from its carrier. "Is it important?" she asked.
"Don't know." The toad replied shaking as though to readjust the message tube secured to its back. "Congratulations on your wedding!" it croaked before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"Well he obviously isn't expecting a reply." Sasuke said as she inspected the scroll.
"Not necessarily. He might just be expecting you to send it by hawk." She offered.
"Me?" The ink haired man replied cocking a brow as he sat back down to eat.
"Yeah, it's addressed to you." She said tossing it to him.
"Why me?" he muttered flicking it open with his finger.
The scrap of paper unrolled and his eyes scanned over the message written in Naruto's terrible handwriting.
"Congratulations on finally becoming and adult! Remember that Sakura is a delicate flower in need of the gentlest care. If you wear her out too much, it'll be bad for her fragile body ya' know. If you need tips on anything feel free to consult the Make Out series or send me a message. Good luck to you. Love Naruto."
Sasuke's eye twitched in irritation before he turned the message to ash with a push of his fire chakra.
"Sasuke?!" Sakura squeaked at the sudden display of aggression.
"I'll kill him." He snarled crushing the ash between his fingers.
She chuckled and a bead of sweat appeared near her temple as she smiled nervously.
"Alright." She replied. "But would you mind saving the bloodbath until after our honeymoon?"
His eyes widened and he sighed. "Right." He muttered using a push of wind chakra to send the ashes scattering out the open window.
She beamed at him and he felt his heart thump hard in response. Her smile was so lovely. It was genuine, warm and so sincere. He cursed himself a fool for making her frown and cry so much in the past. This, this was how she should always look. Happy, content and safe with that smile on her face. He vowed to do his best to make that reality.
He reached across the table and pressed his palm to the side of her face just to see her eyes brighten and her smile warm further. When she covered his palm with her own he felt some of that warmth spread throughout his own body.
"I love you." She said looking into his eyes. "I want to stay like this forever. The two of us together, living in peace. Is that selfish of me?" she asked nuzzling his palm.
"Probably." He replied. "I want the same thing though."
She released his hand and walked around to where he sat and pulled him to his feet guiding him to the hot spring. When she reached the edge, she dropped his hand and pulled the tie on her yukata letting it slither to the ground.
"Come on, let's enjoy a few more moments of peace together." She said extending her hand to him.
Her confidence was back in full force and he couldn't help but smile at the sight of her standing naked in the morning light. She truly was a striking woman. He nodded and let his own robe fall to the ground and followed her into the steaming water. He sat down on the stone bench build into the spring and wrapped his arm around her waist guiding her to sit between his legs. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and he nuzzled her cheek affectionately before turning his gaze back to the valley. They watched together in comfortable, companionable silence as golden sunlight spilled over the mountains brightening the trees below. Together with the woman he loved, his wife, his most precious person, he enjoyed a few moments of peace.
Author's Note: Phew! This was tough. I did my best to make it as accurate and realistic as possible. I'm sure not everyone was satisfied and I apologize. Even so, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed in and look forward to the next chapter. Until next time!