A/N : Edit is done!
So, I thought this chapter was okay. Not a personal best but still got the job done, haha. Anyway, thanks to all that reviewed, favorited, and followed- I love you all! I'm sorry that Naruto's anger seems suddenly gone but almost a week had past since his freak out so things are slowly dying down- I apologize if I portrayed it to happen so suddenly. His anger with the woman will still flare up occasionally, but the Naruto we love has never managed to be this angry at Sakura before so it is all new and unpredictable and confusing. So, please bare with me and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer : I do not own.
Chapter 14
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"Well, that was delicious- if I say so myself."
Ino's comment had earned a fit of giggles and amused scoffs from those at her dining room table, casuing a sly grin to appear on her face.
"Natsumi, did you enjoy my cooking?" She asked the child playfully as she began to stand up from her seat.
Giving her aunt the desired response, the small girl nodded enthusiastically with a side grin on her face. "It was delicious, Aunt Ino!"
Sakura looked down at her daughter with a small smile. "It really was fantastic, Ino. Thank you." She said as she looked up at the woman standing across from her.
"It was no problem!" She replied with a blinding smile. "You all can go into the living room and I'll clean this up."
The men, as well as the children, quickly got up from the table in attempt to leave before the woman reconsidered her offer. Unlike the rest, Sakura had remained seated, and, once the room was empty, she proceeded to help her friend clear the table.
"Oh, Sakura, you don't have to-"
"Please, Ino, it's the least I can do." Sakura interrupted.
Ino gave her friend a smile and continued to gather dishes. "I'm so happy to see you guys working it out- I'm sure Shika is happy as well."
"Yeah, but I doubt it will go anything past the idea of co-parents." She admitted, her eyes softening sadly as she avoided her friends gaze. "He tolerates me because of Natsumi not because he wants to."
Ino eyed her friend suspiciously as the pinkette quickly gathered plates in order to avoid all chances of eye contact. "Do you really believe that, Sakura? You saw how he brought Natsumi to see you today when he didn't have to- he just wanted an excuse, and I saw the way he kept looking at you tonight when you weren't paying attention. Sakura, do you truly believe that man does not love you anymore."
"I do," she whispered timidly. "He can't love someone that has hurt him so badly. I still catch him glaring at me when we are alone, and what I did was unforgiveable Ino, I was selfish-"
"You were scared, Sakura." Ino corrected the woman as she put the plates back down on the table and made her way over to the pinkette. "You weren't selfish, you were scared. There's a huge difference between the two, and he should eventually come to understand that. You stayed away because you were scared you were going to mess things up even more, it's a natural reaction, Sakura." Ino said softly as she stood in front of the pinkette.
"I know, but it doesn't change the severity of what I done." She muttered slightly, still avoiding the woman's gaze by collecting the dirty plates.
Ino rested a gentle hand on top of the stack of plates her friend held. She gently took them out of her friend's hold and placed them back on the table, capturing the pinkette's full attention. "You're right, Sakura, it doesn't change what you have done, but it makes it much more understandable- and forgivable- when you realize that. You didn't keep Natsumi because you simply wanted her for yourself, you kept her because of all the repercussions you two would have- as well as Naruto. You thought you were the problem so you stood away, there's nothing selfish about that, Sakura."
"But he thinks that," Sakura responded, her eyes still wandering away from the blonde's.
"Oh, Sakura, did you ask him that?"
"No, but-"
"Exactly!" Ino exclaimed, still staring at the pinkette. "I think that the best thing for you two would be to talk about the situation."
Now, Sakura looked up at her friend. "That's a bad idea." She said steadily to her friend.
"Sakura-"
"No, Ino," Sakura shook her head, "that is most definitely a terrible idea. Honestly, I'd rather leave things the way they are than talk to him about it all- I would never again try to bring it up."
"Why- I don't understand what is so wrong with it?" Ino asked, her blue orbs full of concern and confusion.
"I tried before," the pinkette began as she grabbed the plates once again, "and it didn't end so well." She finished as she began to walk into the kitchen.
Ino quickly picked up the rest of the plates and followed her best friend out of the dining room, into the next. "What do you mean you've tried before?"
"Remember when we went out for dango and the incident that happened afterwards?"
"Yeah..." Ino said as she recalled back upon the day, placing her plates next to Sakura's pile in the kitchen sink.
"Well," Sakura said as she turned on the facet, "after that we tried talking in Tsunade's office and... it- it didn't end so well." She finished softly.
The blonde woman stared at her best friend intently, waiting for her to add on to what she just said.
"Natsumi wasn't there- and this was even before he knew he was her father- and we started arguing. I only meant for us to be on friendly terms but everything I said he took in the wrong context." She said softly, her eyes focusing on the dishes she began washing in the sink. "He thought it would be best if we stood away from each other- and he was saying all of this even before he knew Natsumi was his. I know he's only putting up with me because of Natsumi, Ino; he hates me."
"Sakura, he said all of that because he thought Natsumi was a child from another man." Ino argued softly, glancing sadly at the pinkette's back. "I doubt he could bear the though of you having a child with another man, Sakura- much less be around for it."
Pink locks shock side to side in response. "Ino, you cannot justify it- he hates me and that is it."
"Sakura," Ino snapped angrily as she swiftly shut off the water in front of the pinkette. "You have to stop telling yourself that." She said sternly as she gripped onto the woman's shoulders and forced her to face her.
"If that's what you believe then it will remain like that." The blonde said in a softer tone. "Of course Naruto is angry at you Sakura, any sane man would be, but even when he said he hates you I'm positive that he doesn't really- there is a very, thin line between love and hate, Sakura. He's just hurt, Sakura..." Ino's blue orbs stared sadly into Sakura's emerald ones. "You have to give him time- but you have to show him that you're trying. You haven't always been the first person to accept his affection."
Sakura gazed at her best friend, her expression soft and tired. She gave the blonde a small nod, signaling that she understood what she was saying, and turned away from her slowly.
Honestly, the blonde was right and the pinkette knew it. Sakura knew what her friend was saying was held some degree of truth within it but it seemed like such a far fetched idea, a distant dream. The pinkette believed that she could eventually earn the blond male's forgiveness- and even fix things for the sand siblings- but love? Love seemed completely out of the question.
Could Naruto love her again? It all seemed so impossible- but then again, she also thought it was possible for her to tell the man the truth in the first place.
"It's just been a long day." Sakura mumbled quietly, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Go home and get some rest, Sakura." Ino advised her friend, gently pushing her away from the sink. "I can take care of this, okay?"
The pinkette nodded in response and gave a small smile. She began to turn towards the door, to retrieve the other two from her party, but found the two emerging in the door way at that very moment with Natsumi sleeping soundly in her father's arms.
"I think she's done for the day." He said with one of his famous, blinding smiles. "Are you ready to go?"
Sakura couldn't help but smile at the duo and gave him a grateful nod. "Yeah, I'm ready." She walked towards the man and once she reached him she glanced back at her friend who was grinning madly.
Sakura shook her head as a tiny, amused smirk dawned her lips. "Bye, Ino. Thank you again."
"No problem," Ino said as she grinned, baring her white teeth. "You three are welcomed any time, but all of you must be present okay? You're not allowed in if you're missing someone!"
Sakura gave the woman a pointed look before pushing a chuckling Naruto out of the kitchen and into the living room. They entered the room, heading towards the exit, and caused a relaxing Shikamaru to stand up in response.
"Thank you for having us, Shikamaru." Sakura said as she made her way over to the man, embracing him in a hug.
The dark haired male gave the woman a gentle squeeze before releasing her. "It's no problem, you know you're welcomed here whenever."
"Not too much of a drag?"
Shikamaru revealed a slight grin and shook his head. "Never too much of a drag."
Sakura allowed a light giggle to escape her lips as she followed the man towards the door, Naruto trailing behind her with their daughter. "The kids went to bed?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru responded, "all three of them knocked out in a matter of a few minutes." He nodded towards Natsumi.
"Thanks for having us, Shikamaru." Naruto said as the said man opened the door for the trio. He shook his friend's hand as he balanced Natsumi with arm, trying his best not to disturb her.
"It's no problem." Shikamaru responded as he watched them move across the threshold. Interlocking her fingers with his, Ino slipped in smoothly beside him at the door as they watched the trio leave.
"Get home safely you guys!" She called, waving bye to them happily.
The pinkette glanced back at the two and waved slightly with a chuckle. Naruto held up one hand in response and gave a half wave without even bothering to look backwards.
Ino gave her other half's hand a tight squeeze as she watched the family until the they were no longer in her view. The blonde turned towards her husband and giggled excitedly, jumping up and down like a child.
"What is up with you?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"I just have a good feeling about them, Shika." She said as she skipped into their home. "They are just perfect together!"
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"Thank you, Naruto."
"Oh, it's nothing," the blond answered as they neared the door of the woman's temporary home. He glanced at the child sleeping in his arms and a smile began to gradually appear on his features. "She's not a problem."
"She certainly is a hand full though." Sakura laughed as she began to unlock her door.
The door opened with a click under her nimble fingers and she turned to face the blond standing before her. "I can take her now," she offered with her hands outstretched.
Naruto shook his head. "I can take her in, Sakura." He chuckled. "If you don't mind."
"Oh- um, sure." She muttered as a slight blush crept onto her cheeks. "Come in then."
The blond nodded and walked slowly into the room as the pinkette shut the door behind them. He carefully made his way over to the large bed and cautiously placed Natsumi in the soft cushion. As soon as he set her down a large snore emerged from her tiny body, causing the man to laugh loudly.
"She definitely gets that from you." Sakura laughed as she made her way over to stand next to the man. She gazed at her daughter fondly, a small smile upon her plump lips. "I thank you for giving me her, you know?" She said softly.
Naruto glanced at the woman with slight confusion, watching her steadily as she began to continue.
"I know she wasn't brought upon under the ideal circumstances, not what you would call a perfect family I guess." She scoffed. "But I wouldn't change any of it, Naruto. Natsumi is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
The blond ninja watched the pinkette in awe as she sat down next to their sleeping daughter, petting her orange locks fondly.
"That's why it was so hard to come back here. I-I... I was-"
Naruto waited for several moments for the pinkette to continue but she looked as if she was done saying whatever she had planned to. His cerulean orbs scanned over her face which had suddenly grown pale. Her usually lively emerald eyes seemed pale and full of fear. Her mouth was in a tight line and her eyes were glued onto their child, refusing to differ them else where.
"You were what, Sakura?" Naruto asked softly, trying not to worsen her sudden mood.
Sakura shook her head, refusing to finish her thoughts in the presence of the man. She tore her eyes away from her daughter's sleeping face and turned to look at the floor instead, the back of her head now facing the man.
She felt ridiculous doing this in front of him- crying. There was no reason to honestly, which made her feel even more ridiculous. Bringing up the situation of her leaving in front of the same man she had been keeping herself away from was ironic- bitterly ironic- and for some absurd reason she could not fight the childish tears that were threatening to fall.
"Sakura," Naruto called tenderly, "you were what? Scared?"
The pinkette made no response to the man and stayed with her back facing him.
"Sakura-"
"I was nothing, Naruto." She responded quickly as she whipped the tears at the corners of her eyes, her back still towards him. "I was nothing." She repeated.
Naruto stared at the woman in disbelief and a scoff managed to escape his lips. His blue eyes gradually became stern the longer he gazed at the pink locks, his expression growing into one full of anger.
"Typical Sakura." He spat viciously as he clenched his fists tightly.
He hated to admit it but Sasuke was right. She was the same awfully prideful woman that she left Konoha as.
"I'm trying, you know?" He said as he let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm trying and you're so full of pride that you can't even allow yourself to talk to me. I am trying not to be angry with you, Sakura, but you make it so damn difficult when you do things like this. Why do you have to be like this?"
Sakura clenched her teeth, refusing to allow a tear to fall down her face, and tightly shut her eyes. She was not going to breakdown in front of him, she was not the pathetic little girl that she used to be. She had to be like this; she had to be strong for the sake of her daughter- for herself as well. But it was becoming difficult, she had to admit, difficult for her to keep fighting to keep her guard up- the façade she put up against the man. She was growing tired, and- to be honest- she had no clue on how much longer she could remain fighting.
"This conversation was not going to end well, Naruto." Sakura said with a shaky breath. "So why bring it up? It didn't end well last time, what's difference between the outcome then and now."
"Sakura, things are different now then they were a week ago and you know that."
"Don't pity me because of our daughter, Naruto." Sakura snapped angrily, still facing the opposite direction than the blond.
"It's not pity, Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed, his volume increasing out of frustration and anger. "I know things now that I didn't know a week before so my opinions have changed. That's not pity." He gritted between his teeth.
Sakura remained silent with her head held up high; but, despite her best efforts not to cry, her tears began to cascade down her pale face. She had tried to prevent herself from breaking down in front of the blond but it was all in vain and it was starting to seem useless to try to do so.
"Sakura, look at me."
The pinkette heard the man's demand but stood remotely still in response, not making no move to obey him. Tears were streaming down her face with a newfound intensity and she couldn't let him see her like this.
"Sakura," Naruto said between his teeth, "look at me.."
The blond was trying his best to remain calm, he really was.
Naruto had been restraining his urges to scream at the woman and storm out of the room, choosing to be more level headed than he had been several days before. His anger towards the pinkette was almost conquerable due to the times he spent with his daughter as well as the pink haired woman. They weren't at the same place they were at before she left but their relationship was gradually improving, growing to some sort of an understanding as the days passed. The two parents had even found each other's company pleasant at some points, but the tension was still there however and Naruto's anger still burned within him.
There was times were they both sensed it tremendously; Naruto's inability to prevent his anger from bubbling on the surface and Sakura's ability to avoid all eye contact caused the tension to increase dramatically on some days. When she sensed his ill aura the pinkette would avoid all unnecessary conversation with the male, only managing to enrage him further without actually knowing she had. See, what Sakura thought was best for the duo never sat right with blond.
When Sakura saw it necessary to avoid conversations, Naruto thought it was best if they discussed the situation. When the pinkette pushed upon a subject, Naruto wanted nothing to do with the usually enraging topic. When Sakura thought the blond would be best without her, Naruto experienced the worst years of his life with her gone. And when she deemed herself not worthy for the future Hokage, Naruto believed she was the missing piece to his happy ending.
The constant differences between what they thought was best for their relationship made it difficult for them to patch up their broken bond. Sakura would find her self unable to do the things Naruto had prayed she had, deeming it as self degrading, and Naruto would grow angrier at the pinkette's stubborn nature, unable to see a positive change in the woman's character, which would then cause the thoughts of her betrayal would resurface in his head ever so violently.
So they kept on acting the way they had, neither making a change about it, and received the same results every time: enthralled to take a step forward only to regress by three steps several moments later. But this time, like he had done a million times in the past, Naruto attempted to break the cycle and pushed his pride, along with his most profound emotion- anger, to the side only to hope the pinkette would do the same.
"Sakura-"
Naruto was cut off short as the woman turned towards him with a sudden quickness, revealing her now tear-stained face and tired eyes. Giving off an aura of surrender, Sakura's emerald orbs stared sadly into his cerulean ones, unable to fight against him any longer.
"I was terrified, okay?" Sakura admitted, her voice shaky and her tears were no longer visible slipping out of the corners of her eyes. "I was going to ruin you, Naruto."
The blond haired man stared at the pinkette with wide eyes, flabbergasted by the words that fell from her lips. Growing pale in response, Naruto felt his body grow cold and his anger momentarily subdue at the woman's outburst- never hearing those words from her before.
"You had the perfect life ahead of you, Naruto... and it didn't have me in it- it never did." She whispered to him, her eyes full of sorrow. "I-I... You... I didn't deserve you the way Hinata had and I-.. I ruined that for you." She managed to croak out, stumbling on her words.
Naruto watched the woman intently, his eyes still wide from surprise. He opened his mouth to respond to her, to let her know that she was wrong- completely wrong- in her judgment, but the his voice could not find the words he was looking for. So, he stood watching the sad woman as she continued to ramble about the things she should have said to him long ago.
"Everyone would have called Natsumi names if she had been born here, the villagers would have hated her." Sakura mumbled sadly as she gazed upon the sleeping girl. "She would have been known as the child that broke up the village hero and their beloved sweetheart... I couldn't ruin two lives, Naruto."
Sakura's emerald orbs held onto a certain sadness to them and was evident even more when she stared at her child. The thought of Natsumi being hated amongst the village managed to form tears in the corner of her eyes in a matter of a few seconds, finding it almost unbearable to think of the torment her child would have faced. She could not have lived with the guilt if her child had to go through that, she would have never forgiven herself for allowing her child to live in a place she knew would belittle her at an early age.
"That wouldn't of happened." Naruto said sternly, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "They don't do it now-"
"Only a handful know about her, Naruto, if I would have stayed the situation that she came from would have been thrown in her face- our faces- any chance someone got."
"I could have protected her."
"There's only so much a parent can shield from their child." She rebutted with a sad smile, her eyes glued upon her little girl.
"But, I would have protected her, Sakura." Naruto responded, finding himself growing frustrated at the pinkette's decision once again. "If I knew about her, I would have done everything to keep her safe. I would have-"
Sakura cut the blond off as she signaled his tone becoming louder and louder with anger and frustration. "Any decision I had made would have had consequences, Naruto, regardless of what it was." She informed him softly, not even bothering to raise her voice at the man. "I chose my decision based on fear and what I thought was best for you. I couldn't ruin you, Naruto, you were so close to reaching your dreams-"
Naruto shook his wild blond hair in response. "Not really," he scoffed with a bitter laugh, "I couldn't have been further away." He finished causing the pinkette to grow quiet.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked the man after several moments of silent confusion, and eyebrow arched slightly.
"You were my dream, Sakura," Naruto said in a harsh whisper as he gazed upon the woman's tear stained features. "All I wished for was you and a family- a little girl just like Sumi..."
"...And I took that from you..."
Trying his best to restrain his growing anger that laid within him, Naruto simply shrugged at the woman and turned away from her slightly, hiding his clenched teeth and balled fists. "You said you thought it was best."
"I just-"
"It's okay, Sakura." Naruto said softly as he turned towards the pinkette, a tired, fake smile upon his lips- his attempt hide his true emotions from the woman. "I think it's time I went home."
Sakura stared at the man with her brows furrowed, unsure if he was trying to shield her from his true feelings or if he became to tired to fight her.
This was difficult for them, trying to understand the other's motives, and their usually intense bickering had reduced to soft, exhausted conversations, neither having the sufficient amount of energy or desire to remain angry for that matter. The pinkette wasn't sure if this was a bad or good thing just yet; personally, she knew she was beyond exhausted from arguing with the blond male, it was too tiresome to keep up with the constant disagreements and trying to shield him out at the same time.
Sakura was tired and confused; and, frankly, the pinkette knew she had drawn the white flag first but she wasn't sure if Naruto would raise his definitely, for a part of him was still furious at the woman, unable to call a truce just yet.
"I'll see you tomorrow, I guess?" Naruto asked as he moved quietly towards his daughter, placing a tender kiss on her rather large forehead before standing up straight once again.
Rubbing her eyes tiredly, Sakura gave him a slight nod in response.
Naruto gave a small nod as he began moving towards the door. Once he reached the exit, he opened the door as silently as he could and then glanced back at the pink haired woman sitting on the bed. "Good night, Sakura."
The woman smiled slightly, ignoring the strange feeling that began to reside in her gut, "Good night, Naruto. Get home safely."
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Kankuro was returning from the bar at an indecent hour of the night while trying his best to remain as quiet as he could. He wasn't drunk exactly, of course he had a few drinks that made him slightly tipsy but it wasn't enough to cause the man to become an incoherent, nuisance. He didn't wish to get ridiculously drunk, he just needed to get his mind off of all the things going on for a small moment.
The whole situation was shitty in his eyes. Taking a toll on the Kazekage more than anyone else, Gaara had receded into his old, stolid self without the pink haired mother or her child around. Their absence in their everyday lives was so profound that it was difficult at times to imagine that this was how things were before they came along. All three of the sand siblings felt strange without seeing the brightness of the Harunos in their days, it simply didn't feel right. And on top of all things, they had found out their bundle of joys would not be returning to Suna like they all thought they would be.
Tsunade had declared it necessary for Sakura to remain in Konoha with Naruto and her child, forbidding her to return to Suna at the moment. So, despite the lack of time they were already experiencing, the sand siblings had to return to Suna without their little princess, unsure of how long it will be until they saw her again. They were not going to complain about it though, for they knew that Naruto was well over-due in being able to spend with his own child- they would not dare speak up against the proposition based on that sole fact.
In general, however, the whole situation sucked. As Kankuro would say repeatedly to his siblings, it sucked ass.
Kankuro squinted his eyes as he neared their fake home, noticing a figure sitting out beneath a window. As he got closer, the painted man began to notice an unforgettable color of pink that he grew to know so well.
"Sakura?" He whispered fiercely, causing the woman to look up at him with a small smile. "What are you doing out here?"
The pinkette watched as the young man neared closer to her and slowly brought himself to sit next her. Dropping with a thud, Kankuro rested his back rested upon the wall behind them.
"I couldn't sleep so I came out here, and I didn't want to go too far cause Natsumi is sleeping inside." She said, pointing to the window directly above them.
Kankuro nodded in response as he gazed up at the window directly above their heads.
"What are you doing out here so late?" She asked as she eyes him suspiciously with an amused grin on her face.
"I was exploring Konoha's night life," Kankuro grinned, "just wanted to get out for a night."
Sakura smiled at the man and shook her head playfully. "You shouldn't be out too late, you don't know who could be roaming the streets."
"I think I can handle myself, Saks." Kankuro laughed a little too loudly causing the pinkette to giggle as well.
The pinkette's fits of giggles slowly ceased to nothing as she glanced at the man. "How are you, Kankuro?"
"I'm doing alright, Sakura," he answered with a sigh. "How are you?"
"I'm okay, just tired." She breathed out, her emerald orbs gazing on the ground.
"You've been working things out with Uzumaki?"
"Trying," she replied, "it's just so exhausting to argue with him anymore. I think I'm going to start letting him in, talking to him more-"
"Wait, the Sakura Haruno is about to set aside her pride?" He asked dramatically, earning a playful slap from the woman. "No way, I wouldn't have thought it was possible." He laughed.
Sakura shoved him playfully, causing him to lose his balance momentarily. "I'm not that bad."
"You are when you want to be." Kankuro responded.
After spending years living with the pinkette around Kankuro quickly began to notice how prideful the petite woman actually was. When ever they had got into an argument the pink haired woman would rarely apologize first- or even at all for that matter. It had to be something big for Sakura to actually apologize to the painted man, or anyone in general, and she was not the one to be viewed as weak. He had managed to see her cry on only a handle full occasion, all of which had happened in past year or so, and he quickly noticed that she would not allow herself to succumb to things that made her seem inferior.
She was too prideful for her own good at times, but Kankuro did not mind it so much; it made her much more entertaining to bother in his opinion.
"I suppose it's a bad thing?"
Kankuro shook his head as he turned to look at the woman that was staring at him with sullen emerald orbs. "You just gotta learn when to let it go, Saks. It's not a bad thing." He said as he gave a reassuring pat on her leg. "I promise."
Sakura gave him a small smile and nodded in understanding. After several moments she turned her head away from the man and gazed out into the urban scenery before them. She remained silent for another moment, stuck in deep thought, and slowly opened up her mouth to confess a thought that had been residing in her mind for the past week, gradually becoming a reoccurring thing.
"I-... I think it would be best if I stayed here, Kankuro."
She whispered it softly- almost inaudible- but Kankuro managed to hear the words loud and clear. He could sense the timidness in her voice when she said it, as if she wasn't completely sure of her decision just yet. However, despite of what the pinkette thought would be best, he knew it had already be planned for her to remain in her old home- the idea wasn't a surprise to him; but, even having time to cope with the thought, it still bothered the man slightly to think about leaving the pinkette and Sumi behind to stay for good.
"I think so to," Kankuro said calmly, his voice even and controlled. What he said wasn't exactly the truth but then again it wasn't a complete lie either. He wanted her to return to Suna but that was selfish of him to think that way. She had to stay- Sumi had to stay here with her father. "Sumi needs her real father."
Pulling her knees to her chest, Sakura wrapped her arms around her legs and nodded slightly. He was right, just like the several others who had said the same thing before him. But coming to decision to leave another home was much more difficult this time than it had been the first time around. Unlike her sudden urge to abandon her life and start anew in a different village that she experienced the first time, she was dreading the moment when she would have to say goodbye to her little, snug apartment next to the Kazekage's home.
"I'm not sure if-"
"Don't think about it too much," Kankuro interrupted her suddenly, "you'll manage to talk yourself out of the decision if you do." He smirked amusedly at her. She had to go through with this one, and Kankuro understood it even though he didn't want to. She had to return home for good.
Sakura glanced at the man, her bright green eyes upon him as a small smile crept onto her features. "I'll miss you, you know?" She spoke softly, causing him to chuckle lightly as he moved to lift himself off of the ground.
"I'll miss you too, Saks." He said as stood up straight, towering over her small frame. He cracked a toothy grin at her and held out a hand. "Even your annoying nagging in the morning."
Sakura accepted his offer for assistance and used his hand to pull herself upright. "I'm not that bad." She laughed.
"No," He said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder leading her towards the entrance closest to them, "you're not that bad, Sakura."
Sakura gave a content smile and allowed Kankuro to steer her inside towards the directions of their neighboring rooms. "I think Natsumi would like to spend some quality time with you three these last few days, especially since she recently came to forgive everyone."
"I meant to ask you about that," Kankuro said, the woman reminding him of his earlier idea, "I was wondering if I could take her for the whole day tomorrow? Temari and Gaara would surely would want their own separate day with the child, but I figured since there was a few days left in our visit everyone could have their own day."
"That would be perfect." She said, smiling at him sadly. Sakura wrapped an arm around Kankuro's waist and took in a shaky breath, trying to overcome the growing pain of sadness she felt knotting up her stomach.
Kankuro gave the pinkette's shoulder a tight squeeze and let out a deep sigh. "This situation sucks ass."
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A/N (UPDATE) : Now, I don't usually include Author's Notes at the end of a chapter but I thought it was somewhat necessary. So, everything is slowly dying down on Sakura's part and becoming all mushy with everyone slowly coming to the realization that Sakura is staying in Konoha, even she realizes that she has to! But there is probably a solid 10-12 more chapters left, so please stick with it and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
*I altered Naruto's reaction to fit with his emotions in the next chapter, because, like a lot of you had said, he is still angry at the whole situation and it isn't something he will get over right away.