After Kou and Kai left, Sasuke hopped in the shower and changed into more casual clothes wearing black long sleeved tunic and grey pants. He pulled the dishes he'd prepared from the fridge and prepared a plate for both himself and Sakura setting them on the table. Satisfied with his work, he padded over to the bedroom and pushed the door open his blood and heart warming at the sight that greeted him.
Sakura was curled up like a cat in the bed on her side hugging his pillow like a child. The blankets had slipped down as she slept exposing the curve of her shoulder and the top of her breast. One of her hands was tucked up near her face, her bubble gum colored locks a ruffled mess around her head, a small smile touching her slightly parted lips. She looked adorable and tempting at the same time. It would he so easy to slip into bed with her, take the place of his pillow and roll her under him. To rouse her from the haze of sleep and tumble her over into inferno of passion before she truly realized what was happening. Had her aura not been so weak, he probably would have, but her health was his top priority so he pushed his fantasy away determined to live it out another day and approached his sleeping beauty stroking his fingers through her hair near her temple.
"Sakura, it's time to wake up." He said softly moving his hand to her shoulder. "Dinner is ready."
Her jade eyes fluttered open and met his. Her smile was as bright and warm as the sun. "Hello, Darling." She breathed reaching out to touch his face.
His heart stuttered in his chest. She was so happy to see him. There was no way to deny the pure joy in her eyes, that radiated from her aura in almost tangible waves. He never imagined that anyone would ever feel such things for him. Of course she'd reacted similarly when they were children but those feelings were tinged by hero worship on her side, and bitterness on his. Without either of those barriers now, he felt an amazing sense of peace and contentment at her reaction. She loved him so much and it was erasing all of the traces of loneliness he'd carried with him from childhood.
He cupped her hand with his own and pressed it more firmly to his cheek. "Hello Tsuma." He replied gently his heart swelling with love and affection for her. "Did you rest well?"
She nodded. "I did. How could I not, knowing you were watching over me?"
He shook his head and smiled gently at her. "Come on, let's get you dressed and fed."
Sakura nodded and slid slowly out of bed the blankets slipping over her skin and revealing her naked form in a movement so sensual that Sasuke's previous resolve to keep his hands off her until she'd eaten nearly went up in flames. Damn she was so beautiful. Firm muscles paired with the subtle softness of feminine curves. Creamy skin, blush colored hair and those warm jade eyes. She was such a vibrant, beautiful woman and she was all his.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked as she glanced at him. "Are you alright?"
Realizing that he'd been caught ogling her, he quickly nodded. "I'm fine." He assured her reaching out to steady her when she stumbled a little. "I should be asking you that question."
"I'm alright. Just a little dizzy. It'll pass." She assured him using his arm to keep her balance as she walked towards the closet.
She pulled out a green top, and white shorts changing with a little help and gasped in surprise when he led her to the kitchen.
"Oh!" she exclaimed as she studied the food laid out on the table. "Did you make all of this yourself?" she asked as he helped her into a chair.
"Yes." He replied a little tinge of blush touching his cheeks. "If something doesn't suit your taste, just let me know."
A warm genuine smile touched her face as she brought her palms together. "Thank you for the food." She said before picking up some of the noodles. "They're great." She said her eyes warm. "Thank you Sasuke."
He nodded and smiled himself more pleased than he'd ever let on that she approved of what he'd made for her.
"So how did your mission go?" Sakura asked after a few minutes.
"Which one?" he replied.
She blinked at that. "How many have you gone on?" she asked.
"Three including the mission to bring you back to the village." He replied.
Sakura's face paled at that. "The demon…" her fingers clenched around her chop sticks. "It's all a blur but I remember…" her gaze flickered to his side. "Did I… Did I hurt anyone?" she asked softly.
He should have known she'd ask such a thing. She was such a kind hearted person. Of course her first concern would be for those around her. Though he knew it would hurt her, he knew he had to be honest. It wasn't his policy to lie and she'd never forgive him when she found out the truth if he did.
"Yes." He replied his heart twinging a little when a look of pure agony touched her face. "It was only four broken ribs and a bruised lung." He said motioning to his side. "You kick much harder than I've ever given you credit for."
Her eyes widened at that. "You?" she whispered. "I kicked you." She dropped her head to her hands and let out a shuddering breath. "So that wasn't just part of the illusion. I really fought you. I tried to… I tried to kill you." She said to herself tears forming in her eyes. "I'm… I'm so sorry Sasuke."
He jumped from his seat, rounded the table and was already wrapping his arm around her before she'd finished speaking. "Hush." He murmured softy pulling her head against his chest. "It wasn't you, it was the demon controlling you and I'm perfectly fine now." Her tears wetting his shirt made his heart ache and he pulled her closer. "Please don't cry." He pleaded.
"Sorry. So sorry." She whimpered over and over again her body trembling with her sobs.
"Stop." Sasuke said firmly. "I said stop." He repeated when her body shook harder in his embrace. "Damn it Sakura, look at me!" he demanded.
When she refused he gripped her chin in his hand and turned her face towards his muffling her sobs with a hard kiss. She squeaked in surprise and tried to pull away but he refused to let her go slanting his mouth intimately against hers, nipping and sucking at her lips until she finally responded her arms twining around his neck, he slowed and softened his attack until he finally pulled away gently.
"Look at me." He said again cupping her cheek with his hand. When her jade eyes met his he spoke. "I didn't tell you this to hurt you. I told you because I cannot, will not lie to you." He gently stroked her cheek bone. "You know better than to blame yourself for things that are out of your control."
"But I-"
"I love you Sakura." He told her softly.
She blushed scarlet at his words and glanced down at the floor. "I love you too." She replied.
"Then relax, eat your dinner and I'll tell you about everything else that happened alright?" he said brushing her hair out of her face.
"Ok." She replied returning to her meal as he went back to his seat.
She managed to listen to the whole story without crying again though he knew she'd nearly lost control when he explained about their battle outside the cave. It was fascinating to watch her face change over the course of his telling of the story. From sadness, to anger, to grief, to pride in rapid succession.
"I wish I'd gotten a shot at the witch." She grumbled when it was done nibbling on the dumplings he'd brought her. "These are really good by the way." She said finishing them with speed he'd only seen his brother accomplish while eating sweets and then stood to take her plates to the sink.
Sasuke chucked and rolled his eyes as he snatched the plates from her hands before she could walk them to the sink.
"Remember our deal? No walk if you help with any part of dinner." He reminded her as he set them in the sink.
Her eyes widened and then narrowed at him. "Are you threatening me Sasuke Uchiha?" she asked her brow cocked.
"No." he replied. "Just reminding you." He said putting his own dishes in the sink. "Now, are you ready to go?"
She nodded and walked over to the entry way and slipped on her shoes. They walked out the door and Sasuke offered her his arm.
"Umm…" Sakura muttered softly glancing around. "Are you sure about that?" she asked knowing about his dislike of public displays of affection.
"You are still recovering." He reminded her. "It would trouble me if you fell."
She blinked a couple of times as if trying to figure out his motives but eventually gave up and slid her arm through his walking through the streets of Konoha heading in the direction of land that had belonged to the Uchiha clan as he talked about his escort mission.
"That anti shinobi movement is getting pretty violent for an organization preaching peace." She muttered touching her chin.
"I agree." He replied. "Perhaps it's a cover up for something else." He mused.
"Maybe." Sakura replied as they went. "It seems Omoi warmed up to you though." She said with a smile. "He's a good guy. I like him." She noticed the slight scowl that touched his lips at that and chuckled low behind her hand before nudging his shoulder gently. "Not like that." She assured him. "I only have eyes for you."
He nodded knowing it already and stopped at a place not far from the road on Uchiha property. "Here." He said motioning to the mostly empty field. "I was thinking we could build our house here."
Sakura's eyes widened at his sudden change in subject but she soon recovered and looked over the space with a smile touching her lips. "It's a lovely place." She said walking over to touch the trunk of a cherry tree. "Are you sure we need this much space though?"
He nodded. "Yes. We need enough room for at least three bedrooms as well as a home office." He explained walking up to her. "I'd like to have a garden and space for light training out back as well."
The pink haired woman smiled and nodded. "That sounds lovely Sasuke, but are you sure we can afford it?"
Contrary to popular belief shinobi did not make nearly as much money as people seemed to think they did especially when the cost of their equipment was so high. Not to mention missions to help their own people that didn't pay at all. There were exceptions to this of course particularly when it came to old, powerful clans in the village, but Sakura, having been born into a lower class house wasn't used to having lots of money on hand. Even now she lived frugally in spite of her rather sizeable salary from her job as hospital director as well as the occasional mission.
Sasuke chuckled and eased Sakura to the grass covered ground before sitting next to her himself. "Sakura, I am the only survivor of the Uchiha clan." He said. "Do you realize what that means?"
She blushed and shook her head no. "Sorry, I don't get it." She confessed.
"It means that all of the money left behind by members of the Uchiha clan belongs to me." He replied.
Sakura's eyes widened dramatically. "Wait, all of it!?" she squeaked.
He nodded. "It wasn't just a coincidence that I lived better than Naruto even though we were both orphans." He explained.
Sakura lowered her head between her knees and giggled once, then twice before bursting out into loud laughter that had Sasuke eyeing her warily.
"Are you alright?" he asked cautiously.
She nodded and coughed a couple of times as she fought to get her breathing under control and smiled. "I just realized that you're every girl's dream guy. You're handsome, smart, powerful, and filthy rich." She grinned. "Too bad you're so moody."
He rolled his eyes at that and jabbed her playfully in the ribs. "Well that's your problem now isn't it?" he replied with a smile.
"I am the only one that can handle it." She replied jabbing him back.
He cocked a brow at that and reached out dancing his fingers up her ribs making her giggle.
"Sasuke!" she exclaimed pushing at his hands. "That tickles!" When he didn't stop, she reached out and pushed him onto his back and straddled his waist her hands pressing down on his shoulders. "What are you doing to do now?" she challenged as she leaned over him.
He smirked and leaned up just enough to capture her lips with his own. Her eyes drifted closed and he took advantage flipping their positions so that he was on top of her. His wife was so lovely, so kind and here they were in the place where they would build a home together.
His hand tangled in her silky hair as he kissed her stroking her tongue with his own as her arms wrapped around his back and held him close to her. She squirmed beneath him igniting fire in his blood and he moved to pepper her face with kisses making his way down to her neck and over the slope of her shoulder.
He was about to tug her top down further when he caught a glimpse or movement near the tree line. His eyes narrowed as he went perfectly still on top of her.
"Sasuke?"
"Quiet." He hissed slipping a pair of shuriken from his pocket.
He threw them and frowned when he heard a hiss of pain. Sakura was in no condition to fight if things got ugly. His sharringan and rinnigan activated as he scanned the tree line. There was one person who was already on the move making their way back towards the main part of the village.
"Sasuke?" Sakura questioned again.
"Let's go." He said quickly standing and pulling her to her feet. "We'll let the builder know that this location will work."
"Who did you throw those shuriken at?" she demanded.
"I don't know." He replied.
"Why didn't you chase them down?" Sakura asked.
"Because I didn't want to leave you alone." He replied pulling her towards the road.
"I'm not some damsel in distress who-"
"Considering you haven't been out of the hospital a full twenty four hours, I must disagree with you on that." He replied. "Now you can come home with me quietly, or I can sling you over my shoulder and carry you through the village like a sack of potatoes."
Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't…" she blinked. "You would." She grumbled. "Fine! Grouchy overbearing Uchiha."
He smirked at that. "You're just mad they interrupted us right before the good part."
"Aren't you?" she countered following him down the road.
"A bit." He admitted. "Even so, you need to get back into bed." He could sense her exhaustion.
"Only if you're joining me." She replied with a wink.
He smirked at that and nodded. There was no way he was going to deny her.
%*%
"Hey there Sasuke! I hope you don't mind, but the others found out that Hinata and I were coming over to visit you and Sakura today and decided to join us." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head nervously.
Sasuke's brow nearly twitched as he observed the crowd gathered at his front door. Naruto and Hinata were planned for, the visit arranged the day before, however Sai, Ino, Temari and Shikamaru were not. Even though he didn't liked the idea of Sakura having so many visitors at once, or so many people in their home in general, he knew she'd be irritated if he turned any of them away.
"Come in." he said simply stepping to the side in order to allow them further inside the house.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief before stepping over the threshold with ease as if it was his own home and slipped off his shoes. The others followed suite as Sasuke walked into the kitchen and started a second pot of tea before walking to the bedroom.
"Sakura, Naruto and Hinata are here." He told her. "Ino, Sai, Shikamaru and Temari came with them."
She blinked in surprise at that. "Well that's certainly more than we were expecting." She admitted shifting up in bed. "I suppose I should move to the living room."
"No. Stay in here. You shouldn't visit with so many of them at once anyway." He leaned forward and touched his forehead to hers noting her skin was still a few degrees warmer than his own. "Your fever is still lingering. Don't overdo it."
"Alright." She relented.
The night before, she'd been struck with a sudden fever and a small seizure. He'd eased the sudden attack with genjutsu before calling Lady Tsunade over from the hospital to check her over. After confirming it was simply her brain running into a small hiccup while healing some of the last effects lingering from the demon's possession of her mind, the legendary healer had left making it clear that the pink haired medic was to stay in bed for the rest of the day just to be safe.
"Hello Sakura." Hinata said with a gentle smile walking into the room with Ino and Temari flanking her. "It's good to see you."
"Thanks. It's good to see you too." Sakura replied returning the pale eyed girl's smile.
"Thank you for helping us Sasuke." Ino said smiling at him.
"You really saved the day from what I heard." Temari agreed.
"Yes. Thank you very much." Hinata said with a small bow.
"You're welcome." Sasuke said simply. "She had a rough night last night. If anything happens let me know."
"Of course." Hinata replied.
"Leave her to us. We'll take care of her." Ino assured him.
He nodded and then left the bedroom closing it partially behind him before joining the men where they were sprawled out in the living room.
"There you are." Naruto said with a grin. "So, how's Sakura?"
"She had a rough night last night but otherwise, she's healing well." He replied sitting down in a chair next to the loveseat Naruto had claimed for himself.
"That's good." The blonde said with a small smile.
"How did your escort mission go?" Shikamaru asked.
"Well enough." Sasuke replied. "That anti-shinobi group is becoming a serious annoyance though."
"Agreed. They're becoming more and more violent." Sai commented.
"They preach peace by spreading chaos. What a drag." Shikamaru muttered.
Sasuke quickly rose to his feet with the tea pot began to while and made four cups of tea and brought them to the men gathered in the living room.
"They haven't hurt anyone yet have they? I mean, they're not that bad right?" Naruto asked.
"You're the same as ever, ridiculously optimistic." Sasuke muttered. "I'm nearly positive they've killed shinobi already."
Sai's eyes widened. "What makes you say that?" he asked.
"I ran into a woman in one of the towns while escorting Omoi and Karui. She was dressed as a beggar and approached us. She was wearing gloves soaked in deadly poison and tried to touch us with them. I managed to stop her but I'm sure we weren't the first ninja she'd encountered there." He said pausing to take a sip of his tea. "The poison is deadly but slow acting. It won't kill you until at least three days after contact with it. There's no telling how many people she managed to use it on before we stumbled upon her."
Shikamaru sighed while Naruto growled in irritation.
"Cowards." The blonde snarled. "What's their problem with us anyway?"
"They see us as money loving parasites that thrive off the death and misfortune of others." Sai replied rubbing the edge of his cup. "They believe that we even purposely incite conflicts in order to benefit financially. More extreme, fanatical followers of their movement believe we're all demons in human form."
"Stupid." Naruto muttered. "I don't know of anyone that really enjoys killing other people. And those of us who fought in the war despise serious fighting more than anyone else in the world."
"True but the bottom line is that it is part of our job to kill and fight and we get paid well to do it." Shikamaru pointed out.
"Perhaps they are jealous of our power?" Sai offered.
"It's a possibility." Sasuke agreed. "If someone has something you don't and it's something you can never get, hatred is the quickest and easiest response."
"So dumb." Naruto muttered.
"Indeed. Even so, the information you gave us has been helpful. We've been able to identify many of their local leaders. It's only a matter of time before we work our way to the top." Sai said.
After a few moments of companionable silence, Naruto glanced around making sure that the girls were wrapped up in their own conversations before leaning forward his hands cupped over his mouth.
"Shikamaru, Sasuke, I have a question. You too Sai I guess." He whispered.
"What is it?" Shikamaru asked crossing his arms over his chest.
"Shh!" Naruto hissed motioning for them to come closer.
Sasuke refused to lean towards the blonde ninja but focused his hearing none the less.
"Has Sakura, Temari or Ino said anything about their…" he glanced around making sure the girl's were busy again before whispering in an almost nonexistent voice. "Fertility seals?"
Sai turned scarlet, Shikamaru turned an odd shade of grey and Sasuke choked on his tea at the blonde's bomb shell.
"Why would you bring that up?" Sasuke hissed.
"Hinata mentioned it a little while ago but said she wanted to wait because she wanted our kids to grow up with friends of their own." He insisted. "She keeps going on about how wonderful it is that so many of our friends are settling down and how nice it would be if all of our kids grew up together like we did. I don't get it." The blonde confessed.
Shikamaru paled further. "Oh no. What if… what if they're planning a pregnancy pact?" he whispered.
"A pregnancy pact?" Sai repeated still bright red.
"It's when a group of women plan to get pregnant around the same time." Shikamaru said. "Normally the men have no idea it's happening either."
"Would that really be so bad?" Naruto said with a shrug. "We all got along well didn't we?"
"What academy did you attend?" Shikamaru muttered. "I distinctly recall a loud, obnoxious troublemaker, a gloomy, pretty boy with a major attitude, and a lazy good-for-nothing that could hardly stand one another."
"Yeah, but it could be different this time." Naruto protested.
Shikamaru sighed and touched his temple. "Naruto, I don't have a problem with our kids being friends, and going to school together, but you do realize what that means don't you?"
"What?" Naruto asked his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Temari, Sakura, and Ino would all be pregnant at the same time. You do know how women become when they're pregnant right?" he said his voice nearly trembling.
Sasuke suppressed a shudder at that. He'd heard stories from Itachi about their mother's pregnancy with him. How she'd switch from sugary sweet, to raging mad at the snap of a finger. How she would cry over silly things and scream over sillier ones. Sakura was already volatile enough on her own. How on earth would she be with raging pregnancy hormones coursing through her body?
Naruto paled at that. "Do you think the village will survive Sakura's pregnancy?" he asked softly.
"I think the real question is, will Sasuke survive Sakura's pregnancy?" Sai replied glancing at the Uchiha.
"Let's talk about something else." Shikamaru said fiddling with the lighter in his pocket nervously.
"Seriously, you're all a bunch of chickens." Naruto scolded.
"You have the most docile partner here. You don't have any room to talk." Shikamaru hissed.
Sasuke went back to sipping his tea as the pair bickered and thought for a moment. Sakura had mentioned her seal once but hadn't said anything since. He knew she wanted children and she knew he wanted to wait before having any and that was enough for him. Even so, every time he thought of children with Sakura his mind always tried to conjure up an image, dark hair and a wide forehead but the rest was too blurry. He shook out his head and rolled his eyes at Sai's flushed expression. Ino must be bold indeed to have mentioned her seal before the two of them had even discussed marriage. At least he'd dodged that shuriken. The boorish blonde was Sai's problem not his.
&%&
"Well, this crop of chunin recruits looks promising." Sakura said watching from her position stadium side dressed in a white lab coat.
Sasuke nodded from where he sat near her his gaze focused on an intense battle between a Sand shinobi and a Stone Shinobi.
"They're not as blood thirsty as our original group was." He replied.
"None of these kids have as much to prove as our group did. They don't have an adorable little psycho among them either." She said wincing as the sand shinobi landed a particularly hard blow on her opponent.
Sasuke's brow cocked at that. "Adorable little psycho?" he repeated glancing over at her. "Are you referring to me?"
She shook her head. "No. I'm talking about Gaara." She said glancing at the place where the Kazekage sat next to Kakashi.
"Adorable?" The ink haired Uchiha muttered.
"Yes. He is adorable." She replied with a smile. "It wasn't his fault that Shukaku was sealed inside him any more than it was Naruto's fault that Kurama was sealed inside him. Anyone would be cranky if they had to stay awake constantly in order to keep from turning into a giant sand tanuki."
Sasuke's brow furrowed at that. Clearly she was much closer to the red haired shinobi than he'd thought.
"Sakura! Long time no see! How are you?" Kankuro called out as he made his way down to where she was cleaning up the medical tent.
She turned towards the puppet master and smiled warmly. "Kankuro. I'm doing great." She said moving towards him. "It's so good to see you! How are things?"
"Wonderful as always. Thanks for taking such good care of everyone again this year. There hasn't been a single casualty since they put you in charge of the medical core for these things." He said with a grin.
"Don't jinx it." She warned him pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's all the after parties and pity parties that pose the most danger now."
"Your work was excellent as always Sakura." Gaara said stepping forward. "Thank you."
"I'm happy to be of service Lord Kazekage." She replied bowing to the redhead.
He smiled a little at that. "There's no need to be so formal with me. Please, call me Gaara."
She smiled and nodded. "As you wish, Gaara."
Sasuke approached carrying a box if medicine. "Is this what you wanted Sakura?" he asked.
"Yes! Thank you." She said taking it from him. "Where was it?"
"One of the other medics had it." He replied simply before turning to face the men that had been conversing with his wife.
He'd observed their confrontation from the start and had become a little uncomfortable with how the Kazekage had insisted Sakura drop the formality.
"Lord Kazekage, Kankuro." He said bowing to the pair.
"Sasuke Uchiha." Kankuro said his jaw tightening a little.
"Sasuke, it's been a while." Gaara said stepping a little closer to him his pale eyes sharpening. "When did you return to your village?"
"May." He replied studying the Kazekage carefully.
"Uchiha Sensie!" a young leaf medic called out rushing towards her. "A fight broke out between two of the failed chunin applicants and it got pretty nasty. We need your help."
"I knew things had gone too smoothly." She muttered to herself. "I'll be right there!" she called out before turning and bowing the two sand shinobi. "Kankuro, Gaara, I apologize but I have to go. Let's meet up again before you leave though."
"Of course." Kankuro said.
"I look forward to it." Gaara added.
She smiled and grabbed her med kit from the table but stopped beside Sasuke. She reached out and ran her fingers lightly through his bangs.
"If it gets too late, just head home without me." She told him.
"I'll wait." He replied touching the back of her hand lightly. "Just go do what you need to."
"Alright. I'll see you later then." She replied giving his fingers a gentle squeeze before she jogged off after the waiting ninja.
Kankuro's eyes widened slightly. "So Temari wasn't messing with us." He glanced at the ink haired man. "She really married you."
Sasuke nodded.
"Congratulations Sasuke." Gaara said nodding to him. "She's a fine woman."
"Thank you." Sasuke replied.
The red haired man stepped closer his pale eyes studying him closely. "You've changed." He said. "There is no longer madness or darkness clouding your eyes." He glanced back towards the direction Sakura had run off in. "It's because of her." He said a small smile touching his lips. "I always sensed she had that kind of power. It's the reason I tried to kill her, back then."
The ink haired man's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.
"Sakura." Gaara replied. "She carries such a warm light wherever she goes. It forces back madness and darkness so that a person can think clearly if only for a moment." His smile was a knowing one when Sasuke shifted back a little surprised by the Kazekage's perceptiveness. "As long as she's by your side, I have no doubt that the darkness will never take you again." He reached out and touched his shoulder. "It truly makes me happy to see you back here where you belong." He glanced at Kankuro when he cleared his throat. "It appears I have duties to attend to. I'll see you again soon, Sasuke." He said waking with his brother towards a group of waiting shinobi from The Land of Lightning.
Sasuke sat down in a nearby chair his mind reeling. Sakura's influence was that potent? So powerful that young Gaara had sensed it and the demon within him had prompted him to destroy her. Looking back, it made sense. There was no other reason for him to have singled her out like that back then. She was no threat to the sand shinobi, she simply didn't have the power to hope to take him on. The young soon to be Kazekage could have easily just knocked her out but instead he had attacked her at full force. Making sure she suffered as he killed her slowly. Almost as if he wanted to punish her for forcing him to realize that he was out of his mind. The same way he himself had tried to do the same while submerged in darkness. He realized then that the very power she held to keep the demons of his family's curse away, would likely draw people to her. Some who would want to possess that light like himself, and Lee; and others who would want to destroy it like the old Gaara.
"What a troublesome girl." He murmured to himself.
"I hope you weren't talking about me." Sakura said walking up to him with her medical bag in hand.
"Of course I was." He replied standing from his seat. "How did it go?"
"Just kids being stupid. It's all fun and games until someone takes a shuriken in the eye." She muttered.
Sasuke winced at that. "Were you able to save their sight?" he asked as they walked towards her apartment building weaving through the crowded streets.
She nodded. "Who do you think I am?" she demanded tossing her hair. "I can heal just about anything, except for a full removal of course. Even then I could probably make a prosthetic." She said as they walked.
He nodded and then suddenly pulled her down a side road by passing the one they usually took to get to their apartment.
"Sasuke!" she exclaimed. "I know you hate crowds, but we still have to go that way to get home."
He tugged on her hand. "Just be quiet and follow me." He told her in a clipped voice as they walked away from the crowds towards the more wooded area of the village. Just before they arrived at their destination, he stopped her. "Close your eyes."
"Alright…" she replied reluctantly as she complied.
He smiled and pulled her a few yards further down the road before he stepped to the side and said. "Ok, open them."
Her jade orbs fluttered open and then widened as she stared at the place that would soon be their home. The framing was complete and part of the landscaping was under way. He'd received word that it had been done earlier that day before the big tournament started but Sakura had been too busy to even consider slipping away to see it.
"Sasuke! It's actually coming together now." She said her eyes sparling with delight. "I'm so excited."
"I thought you would be." He said walking over to the bone work of what would soon be their home. "It's a lot like the house I grew up in." he glanced at her. "Are you sure that doesn't bother you? It's not much like your home at all."
She rolled her eyes and walked up beside him leaning her head against his shoulder. "I'm positive." She assured him. "Even if I wasn't, I wouldn't say anything now, the frame work is already going up. I'd be a pretty terrible person if I suddenly changed my mind now and threw all of this hard work away." She pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin just below his jaw making him shiver. "I'm not the insecure, people pleaser that I used to be. I have no problem saying exactly what is on my mind." She reminded him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love the house, and I love you so just relax alright?"
A small sound that was half contentment half exasperation left his throat before he bent to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. "Alright, I get it." He said grabbing her hand. "Let's head home. I'm sure we're going to be busy tomorrow."
Sakura groaned as they started back towards the main part of the village. "You're absolutely right. I've been invited to the official after party. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of all of the Kage and most of their advisors and even the feudal lords but some of them really should never be around alcohol." She lamented shaking her head. "On the plus side, I won't have to worry on being hit on all night long this time, at least hopefully not. Even if I am, I finally have a legitimate reason to refuse them." She said bumping against her husband.
"What do you mean 'legitimate'?" he asked cocking a brow.
The pink haired medic chuckled and glanced up at the sky as a bird flew by. "Saying 'I'm already in love with someone else' only works for so long. After so many years, people started to get the idea that it was just an excuse or a challenge and pushed harder."
Sasuke's brow furrowed at that. "Did something happen before?" he asked.
She shrugged. "This year will be different. I'm sure of it."
"Answer my question." He persisted.
"Don't worry about it." Sakura said waving him off with a flick of her wrist. "It's ancient history."
His jaw clenched and his hand balled into a fist. If she wanted to keep her little secret, fine. He'd figure it out one way or another but, he was going to be assured of one thing first.
"Are they here?" he demanded his voice and the look in his eyes leaving no room for lies.
"No." Sakura replied.
"Alright then." He said walking with her to the stairs of their apartment building. "But don't think for a second that this conversation is over. When the exams are over, you will tell me what happened."
"You worry too much." She said opening the door of their home.
He slammed the door shut and then pushed her up against it. "Don't give me that." He snarled. "I need to know these things. You should know better than anyone how quickly intense interest can turn to madness." He grabbed her wrists and firmly pressed them to the door above her head his pulse racing when she blushed at the dominate action her eyes igniting with passion as she glanced demurely away. "Sakura." He breathed. "You truly have no idea, just how desirable you are."
"The only person I want to desire me, is you Sasuke." She said her cheeks blazing darker.
"I do." He said leaning forward his lips ghosting over hers as he spoke. "Let me prove it to you."
He pressed his mouth to hers and she gasped and then moaned when he ground his hips against hers. Her hands pulled from of his grip and wrapped around his neck as he nibbled on her ear.
"If you don't want me to take you right here against the door where anyone who walks past will be able to hear you scream, I suggest you get moving." He growled his hand almost tearing her coat from her shoulders.
She shivered in his embrace and then pulled away moving down the hall towards their bedroom peeling clothes from her body as she went.
They never made it to the bedroom.
"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed when he bent her face down over the table. "What are you doing?"
He leaned forward and latched his teeth on the back of her shoulder as his fingers stroked over her soaking slit.
"You're so wet." He purred in her ear as she shuddered against the wooden surface.
"Sasuke, please." She whimpered when he rubbed his hardened member teasingly across her slick folds.
He smirked and eased inside her his eyes drifting closed at the sensation and the sound of Sakura's low rattling moan of pleasure.
"So deep!" she groaned fisting her hands in the red table runner.
Sasuke retreated a little and then slammed back into her making her gasp again. He moved with lazy thrusts, a contrast to their earlier frantic pace and Sakura cried out, repeating his name over and over again like a prayer.
He kissed the tops of her shoulders and licked over the length of her neck as he gripped her waist, anchoring himself. She was so beautiful, so tight and warm around him. His hand slid down the length of her back to her hair and he tugged lightly forcing her back to arch and take him in deeper.
"That's it." He growled softly when she cried out. "Feel me." He leaned forward and sucked on her neck leaving a dark red mark.
A loud high pitched shriek left her throat and her walls tightened around him forcing him over the edge. He shouted her name as he released inside her and then sighed when he pulled out and sat on the floor, pulling her with him.
"Well, the table has officially been defiled." Sakura muttered as she snuggled into his lap. "What's next? The couch?" she teased.
"That isn't a bad idea." Sasuke replied nuzzling at her neck. "Give me five minutes."
She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. Your stamina isn't that good besides, we really should be heading to bed soon since we have meetings and a giant party to attend." She reminded him before a wicked smirk touched her lips. "Perhaps I should break out that red dress. Do you think I could give Ebisu Sensei a nose bleed?"
The ink haired man's brow twitched at that and he caught her by the chin turning her face to his. "Wear whatever you'd like but my warning from our honey moon still stands."
She paled and then blushed scarlet. "It was a joke." She assured him. "Besides, Ino already brought me a dress to wear."
"I didn't know that." He replied nudging her to stand up.
"It happened while you were helping with the first part of the exam." She replied. "How did that go by the way?"
He shrugged. "There were few that stood out to me." He replied.
She nodded and he handed her the panties he'd nearly ripped from her in their stumbling race to the bedroom that ended at the table.
"That reminds me, I was told by another proctor that was there when we took the exam that you answered all of the questions on the written test correctly." He said.
Her face lit up. "Really! No way! I can hardly believe it." She exclaimed excitedly. "But how would he know? I thought our answers didn't matter."
He shook his head. "They didn't matter as far as the exam went but they did record the scores in order to see who was best at information gathering and had higher intelligence." He glanced at her admiring the shape of her behind as she bent over to pick up another piece of clothing. "Tell me, how did you do it?" he asked.
"Do what?" she replied.
"Get the answers." He asked.
"I didn't cheat." She replied draping his tunic over her arm. "I just answered the questions."
He stared at her for a moment completely dumfounded. "You did that test by the book? You didn't cheat at all?" he asked. He'd been top of their class and hadn't understood a single one of the problems listed.
"Yeah." Sakura replied carrying the pile of clothes towards their bedroom. "I mean, they weren't easy or anything like that but I was still pretty confident in my work. It seems I have good reason to." She giggled as she dropped their clothes into a hamper near the door. "Naruto told me that when it was first announced that the scores would be cumulative but that a zero would fail the entire team, he was terrified. Not of failing, or of the proctors, but of us." She laughed out loud. "He told me that he had this vision of you and me standing over him glaring at him from behind and nearly had a panic attack."
"He wasn't that far off." Sasuke admitted. "I knew you'd be fine since you were the smartest out of the three of us, but Naruto…" he shook his head. "He was doomed, we all knew it." He glanced up and was surprised to see Sakura staring at him with wide eyes. "What is?" he asked.
"You… You had faith in me?" she said softly.
Sasuke cocked a brow at that. "What do you mean?"
"You knew that I wouldn't fail?" she elaborated.
"Of course I did." He replied. "You've always been the most intelligent, and observant one on the team and I haven't met anyone who has such excellent chakra control. You might have been weaker physically and had an annoying tendency to worry about me instead of doing the actually mission initially, but I've always known you had the potential to become a great shinobi." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "That's why I would get so annoyed when you wanted to play instead of train after missions. Here was this girl who had so much potential wasting her time on boys instead of honing her skills." He turned to look at her and was shocked to see tears running down her cheeks. "Sakura! What's wrong?" he exclaimed rushing to her side.
"I'm sorry." She said brushing the tears from her eyes. "It's just… When I was younger, all I wanted was for you to acknowledge me. To be someone you were proud to have on your team, as your partner. Every time you'd glare at me with those ice cold eyes, or call me annoying, or troublesome, I was sure I was failing." A smile touched her lips. "Knowing that you had faith in my abilities, makes me happy that's all."
He reached out and cupped her face tipping her chin up to meet his gaze. "I'll admit that until we were put on the same team, I'd never really paid much attention to you. It wasn't until we were became part of team seven that I realized just how incredible you were." He leaned forward and captured her lips with is own. "Cute, smart, observant." He said punctuating every work with a kiss. "And after the first phase of the chunin exams you developed a will of iron and an even hotter temper." He pushed her down onto the bed and hovered over her. "I was secretly quite pleased to be your partner. I knew that you could keep up with me intellectually and I never worried about you doing something stupid." He kissed down the slope of her throat and across her collar bone before moving up her neck again stopping near her ear. "I've always had faith in you."
She beamed at him, her smile as bright and warm as the sun before she rolled him onto his back and straddled his hips.
"What do you think you're doing?" He questioned his blood heating at the fire in her eyes.
"It's been five minutes." She said sliding her hands over his chest. "This isn't the couch but I think it'll do." She purred before kissing her way down his chest. "Are you up for round two?"
He smirked and in a matter of minutes showed her that he was more than up to the task.
He decided the next day, that though the dress Ino had chosen for Sakura hadn't been summoned from the deepest pits of Hell to torture him like the red dress had been, the devil had still had a hand in making it.
The dress was mint green matching the shade of Sakura's eyes perfectly. A knee length, A-line, short sleeved number with a lace overlay and a rhinestone encrusted band just below the bust. A pair of strappy silver heels borrowed from Ino sparkled at her feet and rose quarts drops shimmered at her ears. Her necklace bearing the Uchiha crest lay just below the hollow of her throat and a diamond tennis bracelet twinkled at her wrist. Half of her hair was pulled away from her face held there by small silver rhinestone encrusted combs and her makeup was a mix of subtle and bold with pink shadow and red lips that seemed to bring attention to her necklace.
That was fine with him, perfect in fact. Anyone with half a brain would realize that the bubble gum haired beauty belonged to the dark man standing near the current Hokage and keep their grubby hands to themselves.
"I'm not going to ask you to try to look like you're having fun," Kakashi said swirling the glass of wine in his hand gently. "But can you at least put a damper on that murderous aura? It's a bit unnerving."
"How many of these fools usually throw themselves at her?" Sasuke questioned darkly when a blonde lightning ninja approached her and casually took hold of her hand.
Kakashi chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "More than you'd like." He admitted. "But they're not as aggressive or large in number this year. Word of your marriage is spreading quickly."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and then sighed when a young woman approached him. She glanced back at a group of girls who made encouraging motions and he wanted to groan.
"Umm…" she said nervously twisting her hands in front of her. "Lord Uchiha?" she asked nervously. When he didn't respond, she coughed lightly and then took a deep breath. "My name is Minami, I'm from The Village Hidden in The Grass. I was wondering, would you dance with me?"
He cocked a brow at that and glanced at Kakashi who shrugged.
"I don't dance." Sasuke said moving away from the wall. "Excuse me."
As he strode past her intent on returning to his wife's side now that her only company was Shino and TenTen, the young woman reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Please wait I just-" Her words cut off and she gasped. "Your… Your arm it's-" She turned white as he glanced back at her with piercing eyes. "I'm so sorry."
The words 'get lost' nearly tumbled from his lips at the look of pity he saw in her eyes but he bit them back as he yanked his empty sleeve from her fingers. He moved quickly across the room to Sakura and nearly sighed in relief when she smiled and brushed her fingers light across his hand. Her touch was like dumping water on the flames of his temper and had they been in a more private setting he would have wrapped his arm around her from behind and laid his head on her shoulder.
She seemed to understand and smiled gently at him. "We can leave whenever you'd like. I've made all the greetings I need to."
He nodded and was about to suggest that they leave when he heard a familiar voice call out his name. With an annoyed hiss he turned and saw Naruto standing near Kakashi and Hinata motioning him over.
"I'll be right back, then we can leave." He told her touching the small of her back lightly before heading over to talk with the loser and the lazy old man. "What is it?" he demanded irritated that his attempt to escape had been thwarted.
"How did he even get in?" Naruto demanded. "Is our security really that terrible?"
Kakashi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Our people were focused primarily on rogue ninja and that anti-shinobi group. A nobleman slipping in with the entourage of a Feudal Lord wasn't terribly high on the priority list. Besides, no one thought he'd be stupid enough to show up after what happened last time."
"What the Hell is going on?" Sasuke demanded. "Don't wave me over and then continue your conversation like I'm not even here." He fumed.
"You tell him!" Naruto hissed jabbing a finger at Sasuke. "I'm not."
"Naruto." Hinata said gently touching her husband's arm. "This isn't Lord Kakashi's fault."
"Yes it is! And don't call him 'Lord'. It's weird." The blonde snapped.
Kakashi sighed and turned towards Sasuke. "Lord Sakamoto somehow slipped into the village. We haven't been able to track him down since he was initially spotted."
"And your point is?" Sasuke said cocking a brow. "I don't even know who Lord Sakamoto is."
Naruto's eyes widened. "You mean Sakura didn't- Ow!" he hissed when Kakashi smacked him on the back of the head.
"There was an unfortunate incident involving Sakura and Lord Sakamoto last year following the chunin exams." Kakashi explained.
Naruto snorted. "Sure, 'incident'." He muttered.
"He was banned from ever entering The Leaf Village again or coming near Sakura." Kakashi continued. "He didn't show up at the last exam so we assumed the issue had been resolved. Unfortunately it appears he slipped into the village this year with another Lord's Entourage. We need to find him before he and Sakura meet up." He said.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked his eyes narrowing.
"I think that's something you should ask Sakura." Kakashi replied.
"I'm asking you! What the Hell is everyone so worked up about?" he demanded taking a threatening step towards his former teacher. "Tell me!"
"We don't have time for this!" Naruto snapped stepping between the two. "Sakamoto is about five feet eight inches tall. He has green hair and brown eyes. He's about thirty years old and likes to wear super loud colors and prints." He told Sasuke scanning the crowd, his brow suddenly furrowed. "Sasuke? Where's Sakura?" he asked.
Sasuke let out an exasperated sigh. "I left her with Shino and TenTen." He replied.
"Shit! She's not with them now. TenTen's with Lee and Shino's with Kiba." He glanced at Hinata. "Find her! Do it now! If that creep has already found her then things are going to get ugly and lots of things are going to end up broken."
"Byakugan!" Hinata exclaimed quietly activating her potent visual prowess. "I've found her!" the gentle woman exclaimed. "She's in the garden near the greenhouse but she's not alone."
"Is that creep with her!?" Naruto demanded quietly.
"Yes." She replied. "Hurry Sasuke!"
The Uchiha didn't think twice and sprinted across the room and ducked out a pair of sliding doors that led to the garden and swept the area for his wife's chakra signature. Locking onto it, he made his way through the maze of foliage and picked up on a heated exchange between his wife and another he didn't recognize.
"How dare you show your face here!?" she exclaimed. "You're not wanted or welcome. Get out of my village!"
"Lady Sakura, please be reasonable. I have nothing but the upmost respect for you and my intentions towards you are genuine. Leave this life behind and become my wife. I'll save you from the tainted, blood stained path of the shinobi." Sakamoto insisted. "My sources tell me that you've already committed adultery; a heinous crime against God; by fornicating with that despicable waste of a human being, Sasuke Ucihiha I'm willing to overlook all of that though."
Sasuke rounded a corner and found himself facing the confrontation from an angle, more towards the man's back. He did indeed have green hair and had a naturally slim build but had a bit of extra thickness around his middle, typical of a pampered aristocrat.
Sakura was silent for a moment before she giggled with her head bowed. "I'll have you know, the only moral code I follow is my own ninja way. I don't care for nor will I ever be bound by the rules of whatever God you follow." She said before her eyes lifted to focus on the pompous aristocrat. "That being said, I'm fairly certain that adultery consists of having sexual relations outside of marriage correct?" when the green haired man nodded Sakura smirked. "In that case, your accusation is groundless because the only man I've fornicated with; as you put it; is my husband."
Lord Sakamoto gasped and took a small step back his hand lifting to cover his mouth that had dropped open in shock. "That cannot be!" he exclaimed. "You married that murderous, violent, disgusting demon in human form!?" his body language shifted became threatening. "How dare you!? I thought better of you than this." He took a step towards her. "All well, it'll be fine. I'll whisk you away to my hidden estate and in no time he'll forget all about you and then you'll be free to marry me."
"Insult my husband one more time and I'll punch you so hard you'll feel the pain for years after this day." She snarled. "There's no way in Hell I'd go anywhere with a slimy man like you."
"En was right. You've been completely bewitched by that demon in human form." Lord Sakamoto said reaching into his robes.
Before Sasuke could move to stop him, Sakura launched herself across the space and ploughed her fist into the man's gut.
He gasped and then heaved as he bent over gasping for air. The pink haired medic slammed another fist into the earth, and it buckled under the force of her power breaking stone and shaking the ground. A blow that was simply a manifestation of her immense rage since she couldn't in good conscious hit the noble with that much power since she knew it would kill him.
"Did you think I was joking!?" Sakura roared shifting into an offensive position.
"Sakura! Stop!" Sasuke called out rushing forward to put himself between her and the Lord. "Don't do this, not for my sake." He said grabbing her arm.
"Let go of me!" She snarled. "I've had enough of him! Enough of his creepy letters, his outrageous demands, and his insults to my family!" she glared at the nobleman. "I am Sakura Uchiha! Your money, political power, and social status will never change that!"
"I have nothing but the best intentions." Lord Sakamoto said again staggering to his feet as tears streamed from his eyes cradling his aching middle. "Ever since you saved my life all those years ago, I've wanted to save you from the blood stained life of the shinobi and from the dark spell that man cast upon you." He said glaring at Sasuke. "I love you Sakura! I want you to be my wife. Take responsibility for these feelings!" he shouted.
"I don't care!" Sakura shot back. "I gave no indication that I was even remotely interested in you! I healed you because it was part of my training and my mission. That's all! You were just another patient to me. I'm sorry you have feelings for me, but that doesn't mean you have any say in how I live my life or give you permission to stalk, harass, and blackmail me!" her jaw clenched before she relaxed her hand and turned into Sasuke's body wrapping her arms around him. "I married this man because I love him. I loved him long before I met you. I'm happier than I've been in years. So please, just leave me alone." She begged before pressing her face to her husband's chest.
Sasuke laid his hand on her head and stroked her hair gently knowing that she'd never act so clingy in public without good reason before turning his sharp eyes on the Lord who was staring at them with a mix of shock, surprise, anger, and a touch of arousal in his eyes.
"Stay away from my wife." Sasuke said firmly his eyes blazing. "If you come after her again in any way, Lord or not I will hunt you down and show you what Hell is like." He vowed sliding his arm possessively around Sakura's waist.
"You've… You've ruined her. Ruined everything!" Lord Sakamoto growled. "It was supposed to be me! She's supposed to be in my arms, my house, my bed!"
"Shut up before I kill you right here and now." The ink haired man snarled enraged by the implication of the man's words.
"Sasuke." Sakura said softly seeming to sense his distress her head rising to meet his eyes.
"Quiet!" he hissed tucking her head back under his chin. "So you hired En to spy on her? Is that how you got the information she was 'committing adultery' as you put it?"
Lord Sakamoto smirked. "Perhaps." He replied though Sasuke could tell by the sweat beading on his brow and the nervous flickering of his eyes that it was true. "It doesn't really matter anymore. All that matters is that you've defiled her with your dark seed! The only way to save her is for me to cleanse her, body and soul. If you truly love her, give her to me so I can save her soul. She is the chosen one who will help me create an army of angels to save this world from destruction!"
"He's insane." Sakura murmured softly her grip on Sasuke tightening as she shuddered. "Completely out of his mind!"
"He will never touch you." He vowed softly his grip on her tightening as well at the madness that gleamed in the man's eyes. He focused his chakra and met the man's gaze slipping into his mind as he cast a genjutsu to immobilize him.
The world of the nobleman's mind was warped and dark. Explicit images of Sakura filled the space making the ink haired former avenger reconsider his stance on killing people who weren't a threat to the world or actively trying to kill someone else.
"Mine! She's all mine! God told me so." the man's voice echoed in a never ending loop.
Sasuke was shocked when he felt himself being cast from Lord Sakamoto's mind and glared at the pair of shinobi who appeared at the man's side.
"This isn't over Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura will become my wife, no matter what!" The Lord vowed. "Wait for me Sakura dear, my sweet angel. I'll be back for you soon." He promised in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"Wait!" Sasuke exclaimed cursing his missing arm for the millionth time as he awkwardly armed himself with a kunai while still holding onto his wife. "You're not going anywhere!" he shouted letting the knife fly.
"No! He's getting away!" came Naruto's voice from a distance away as he sprinted forward to stand beside the Uchiha couple. "Bastards!" he snarled.
The two shinobi competed their transportation jutsu just in time but he managed to nick the man in the chin before he vanished in a swirling of leaves.
"Damn it!" Sasuke growled in irritation. "Who were those men?" he demanded glaring at Naruto who shrugged and glanced back at Kakashi who was walking briskly forward with Shikamaru and Hinata by his side.
"Sasuke." Sakura whimpered pressing her face against him. "It's bad isn't it? What you saw in his mind." She trembled. "He won't stop, will he? He'll keep coming after me using his money and power until he gets what he wants."
He reached town and tipped her face up. "He will never have you. I will not allow it." He swore pressing his forehead to hers. "Trust me Sakura."
"What happened here?" Kakashi demanded.
"Lord Sakamoto hired En to stalk Sakura. He's also hired shinobi body guards." Sasuke said his grip on his wife tightening. "I don't like this. It almost feels like a storm brewing."
"I feel the same way." Naruto replied his brow furrowing. "This isn't over."
"It is for tonight." Shikamaru said stepping forward. "He's left the village for now and that's enough." He glanced over at the Uchiha couple. "I think it would be best for you two to head home."
"Alright." Sakura said pulling out of her husband's embrace. "I'm sorry for all of the trouble."
"None of this is your fault." Kakashi assured her.
"You caught the eye of a psycho, that's not something you really have control over." Naruto agreed. "Go home and get some rest."
Shikamaru nodded and then met the medic's gaze. "I know it's uncomfortable, but you need to tell him what happened Sakura." He said glancing at the former avenger. "He needs to know. He needs to know everything."
Sasuke watched the color drain from her face and her jerky nod as she clasped her fingers together.
Naruto walked forward gently ran his hand along her arm. "Come to dinner with tomorrow." He said motioning to Hinata who smiled and nodded. "We'll go to that new place near the Saratobi compound. We'll come pick you two up around six thirty."
"Ok." Sakura replied softly.
"Excuse us." Sasuke said laying his hand on her arm and tugging lightly. "We'll meet with you all later."
"Good luck Sakura." Hinata said softly.
The pink haired woman nodded and followed her husband dutifully down the road.
"So… Anyone wish they could be a fly on the wall for the upcoming conversation?" Kakashi said watching as the pair left.
"Kinda." Shikamaru admitted. "Though that's only because I'm pretty sure I don't know the whole story myself."
Naruto sighed and hung his head. "Hinata, the time we've spent together has been precious to me. I'm sorry that I'll be leaving you a widow so soon." He said wrapping his arm around her shoulders from behind. "Kakashi will help you with the burial arrangements." He said laying his forehead on top of her shoulder.
She chuckled lightly and squeezed his forearms. "It's not that bad." She assured him.
"You don't know Sasuke like I do." Naruto protested. "When he finds out the whole story, about how I wasn't around when Sakura needed my help and I worked with her to keep the entire incident a secret from him." He sighed and shuddered. "He's going to kill me. I just know it."
"Really Naruto? Give Sasuke a little more credit than that." Shikamaru protested.
"So… Do you want your original genin photo to be displayed or the one we took a couple of months ago for your jonin application at the eulogy?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto groaned and then sighed. "Both, both are good."
Author's Notes: Thank you all for reading, reviewing, favoriting and such. I really appreciate it. As I mentioned, I have a plan for this story and the next little bit is going to be a little on the dark side, but it's all leading somewhere I promise. Also, I won't be posting next week since I'll be out of town just so you're aware.