A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and all my new favorites and follows! You guys keep me kicking honestly.

I can't believe it's already July! I am so sorry for not updating in so long and I'm even more sorry that this chapter is pretty short.

I was in a bit of a funk and uni took most of my time. I really enjoyed writing this chapter though and the story is definitely making it's way to the end soon.

Unfortunately, no Sasuhina this chapter but I promise they will be in the next! Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 21:

Naruto let out a sigh as he stretched his arms above his head. He glanced outside the windows of his temporary office in the Hokage building. Naruto frowned, it was already night time. He stood up, deciding it to call a day. The endless paperwork could wait for tomorrow. He sometimes wondered if his sensei was being lazy and gave him most of the paperwork rather than do it himself. At this point, it would not surprise him. Naruto made his way out of the building realising that it must have been fairly late as many of the employees were absent. He rubbed his eyes as he made his way down the stairs and eventually out of the building. He placed his hands in his pocket and made his way down the street. Naruto felt tense. The papers he read last troubled him a bit. He was positive Sasuke would not be too fond as well to hear about it. He sighed – A drink would be nice.

Xxxx

Sakura made a face as she downed another shot. She never really quite enjoyed shots. Sakura couldn't quite remember how many had it been but the effect she had desired was not coming. Hinata's birthday had only been a few days ago and it was simply magnificent. Sakura enjoyed her time catching up with her friends and celebrating Hinata's birthday. These days all of them were so busy it was hard to find spare time amongst one another. Yet, deep down she despised the jealously she felt towards Hinata. Oh Kami, I can't believe I'm like this. Sakura had supported Hinata and Sasuke. In fact, she was so happy to finally see Sasuke feel peace and happiness. She had no claim over him whatsoever. Sasuke was not obliged to love her in the way she would always love Sasuke. But why can't I stop loving him? After all this time?

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura blinked turning to the familiar voice. She smiled as she saw him.

"Naruto, I'm surprised to see you here."

Sakura patted the bar stool next to her, gesturing Naruto to sit beside her. He made his way and sat beside her.

"I could say the same about you. Long day huh?" He asked.

Sakura nodded her head as Naruto ordered a drink and without asking, he ordered her another shot. He grinned at her sheepishly as if saying – you could probably use another one.

"It seems the days just get busier, dattebayo," Naruto mused as he waited for his drink.

"Mmm. Well preparing to be the next Hokage and running a clinic aren't very easy jobs," she teased.

Naruto chuckled and they then began to talk about their lives. Naruto explained all the different rules he could remember on what the Hokage could do and not do. He discussed the books he read and the villages his visited. Sakura smiled sincerely as she listened. She was immensely proud of him – Naruto was close to achieving his dream. As their drinks arrived she downed the shot quickly whilst Naruto took his time. He then began to explain his dreams for the future of Konoha and expanding the clinic Sakura had proposed to other villages as well.
Sakura then told him about her busy days in the clinic. It wasn't exciting but sometimes the clinic had funny stories that she enjoyed telling him. So she told Naruto about a patient who Sakura had prescribed with eardrops due to an ear ache. The patient had come in again for something else but had told that the medicine had worked but it tasted awful. Naruto snorted, almost spitting out some of his alcohol. Sakura hadn't had the heart to tell the patient that they were called eardrops for a reason.
She enjoyed talking to Naruto because he listened without interrupting her as she voiced her annoyance at some of the medics making silly mistakes. They talked a bit more and she had also mentioned she was interested in expanding her proposed clinic to other villages.

They sat in silence as Naruto finished his drink, the music in the bar being enough to keep her thoughts occupied – so she thought.

"How do you do it?" Sakura questioned, turning her face towards him.

Naruto placed his glass down and turned towards her. She waited for him to read her expression.

He glanced down as if pondering on how to respond. Naruto peeked back up, his azure eyes full of understanding.

"I… don't know," he confessed silently.

Sakura sighed, "I'm really trying to not be in love with him still but…"

"Yeah, I know."

"I guess feelings like this take time, ne?"

He opened his mouth but closed it. Sakura wondered what he was going to say. He called for the bartender and ordered two drinks. Naruto turned to face her and she was surprised to see him smiling.

"I think we'll both always love them. There's no point denying it Sakura-chan. Perhaps over time, we'll be in love with other people again. I really can't say for sure. But, Hinata and Sasuke are important people to the both of us. The memories we've had are irreplaceable. All the good and the bad – I'd do it again Sakura-chan. I don't want to regret my time with Sasuke and Hinata."

Sakura was surprised to find herself smiling. Only Naruto could be so moving with his words.

"Bonds like that just can't be discarded so easily," she said.

He let out a small laugh. "Truthfully, I'm really happy for the two. It hurts… but seeing them happy makes up for it I suppose."

Sakura placed her hand over Naruto's giving it a squeeze. All of her memories with Sasuke would be irreplaceable. She had fought tooth and nail for Sasuke to be in Konoha. And she had done it with her best friend. Her feelings for Sasuke were special. Sasuke was special to her. He would always be. Regardless of what would happen in the future, she was so thankful she could call Sasuke family. Sakura knew that Hinata meant so much to Sasuke. She would never ruin that for her own selfish reasons. She wanted Sasuke to be happy and if being with Hinata made him happy then she was happy.

Their drinks arrived and for the first time tonight, Sakura had felt like some of the weight on her shoulders disappeared.

"Let's toast to it then – to Sasuke and Hinata… and to the happiness that will come our way."

Naruto grinned, lifting his glass to his Sakura's.

"To our family."

Xxx

The Head of the Hyuga clan's birthday celebration was the perfect opportunity to sneak in and get a closer look at the mysterious woman. Uchiha Sasuke was infamous and so his leader had never asked for any information regarding him. However, his leader was interested in whom Uchiha Sasuke spent time with. His other members in his team – Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto were the main people he spent time with. That was not surprising, the Uchiha did not really seem to be a social person. However, he had discovered a few months ago that there was another – Hyuga Hinata, the Head of the Hyuga clan. That had certainly piqued his interest and his leader's interest. Thus, he spent his time trying to gather as much information as possible. However, it was difficult when the woman in question spent most of her time in the Hyuga household or at the Uchiha household. It was simply too dangerous to come too close to both households. He was not stupid.
So far the information he had gathered of her was easy enough to deduce whom she was. She did not appear to be a fighter but she was not the Head for nothing. He was aware that she was seeing Uzuamki Naruto but it was strongly implied from the village's gossip she was now seeing Uchiha Sasuke. However, he needed the confirmation and her birthday party confirmed all his suspicions. And it seemed that he was also courting her.

He grinned as he made his way back to the base of operations. His leader would be pleased that their plans to take something precious from Uchiha Sasuke would work. Uchiha Sasuke destroyed the majority of their forces. It was only fair they too destroyed something of his.

xxx

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