PART 1: Mis(s) Matchmaker and Palaver Boy
Chapter 2
A spring stretched beyond elastic limit... can become two.
THE FEW ROMANCE NOVELS she had read had moments when the protagonists just happened to look into each other's eyes, then a spark and an undeniable fixation.
It wasn't spying on Sasuke when she moved her single couch and her chipped, plastic coffee table by her window. She studied research literature, ate, and brushed her teeth there. Actively playing her part is more like it—to give dignity to this embarrassing past time.
She deplored being this antsy. As if it wasn't so long ago when she was a nine year old, overly conscious of her big forehead, timing her way out into a corner so she'd have the chance of Sasuke noticing her after school. But she wanted to be there when Sasuke takes a peek. Then she'd act caught in the middle of something, give him a sweet smile, and wave her hand good night.
So far, Sasuke had the curtains down, though she could tell he was awake by the glimpse of light in the room. Did he fall asleep? Does he sleep with the lights on? The more she paced, biting her thumb in front of the window, the more questions filled her mind.
Without warning, the line of light escaping Sasuke's window curtains went out.
The morning after, she rose earlier than usual to make miso soup, stir-fried vegetables, and rice balls. When she walked up to Sasuke's apartment unit, she knocked once and received no reply. Not wanting to wake him up, Sakura wrote up a note to leave with the warm food containers bundled up at his doorstep.
Being a popular medic at the hospital, known for her regular submissions to medical ninjutsu journals, wasn't all about higher salary and other perks. By the time she arrived at the lobby, she was immediately surrounded by the usual mob of young nurses and medic-in-training ever interested in her life affairs.
"You're glowing! Did something happen?"
"Really?" Sakura asked. She didn't do anything special on her face. Without seeing Sasuke since last night, she was far from confident about herself. "Nothing much," she said softly.
"Hmm, I don't think that's what I'm seeing." They giggled.
"The salon I visited this weekend did miracles on my hair! They do great massages, too! I can book you an appointment if you want. It's on me. Their makeovers—glorious. Does more than just a glow-up especially on brides. I keep thinking they'd make you perfect for the day."
Her face heated up in embarrassment. She hadn't disclosed any information to these girls about Sasuke. Yet, as expected, they're quick and observant. "Isn't it too early to be talking about that?"
"You're too modest really. You always leave us with no choice but to admire you."
"Need someone to write your speech? I can volunteer."
Sakura continued her fast pace descending up the stairs, while her followers trailed behind her like a train. "What speech?"
"For your inauguration as Head Medic!" All others in the jolly band in white hissed at the other for speaking way too loud in the hallway.
"Quiet! Nurse Kim might hear you."
"Everybody else thinks she's got a shot on the position… But not on Miss Sakura, oh no she doesn't!"
They broke out in restrained laughter.
"So you all were talking about the promotion?" She pivoted on her heel, stopping in front of the doctor's lounge.
They blinked. "What else? Are we missing out on something?"
Sakura blushed while keeping a firm, poker face. "N-no, you're absolutely not missing out on anything."
"… Soon-to-be Lady Sakura, Head Medic of Konoha Hospital." They broke into excited giggles yet again.
This time, it was Sakura who shushed them. "It's too soon to tell."
"Oh, you know it's gonna be you."
Sakura didn't bother hiding her amused smile, rolling her eyes at their flattery.
"Please don't forget us when you get there, Lady Sakura." They implied Lady Tsunade's office in the floor above
Soon as she was left alone, she reclined on her chair and sighed.
She liked those girls. Most of them are excellent, educated girls from well-to-do families in the village. But keeping up with them can be overwhelming, their praise and accolades almost suffocating. For someone who grew up in a poor neighborhood and whose frequent company on training and missions was a loud-snoring glutton who used to hate cleaning his room, she felt constantly kept on her toes as their eyes probe in surveillance to judge her.
She straightened her back to reach for the patient records on her desk when she got a hold of a small piece of paper folded in half.
She opened the paper and reading its contents temporarily froze her in shock.
Sakura, by the time you read this, I am most likely already at the southern gate. That is if Naruto understands and does not hold me up.
I am leaving. This time to seek me a future. If I still deserve one.
The sender left no name. But Sakura recognized the penmanship. Receiving Sasuke's farewell note first thing morning fresh into her hospital duty, she was reminded of an o-washi.
Their great wingspan was the delight of nobility, their perch bearing semblance of Sasuke's magnetism, not having to say a word and yet commanding respect. They come with the moving sea ice along the coasts of the Water Country to settle over the winter in the ports of Masa in the Fire Country. Once waves of cherry blossoms spread like wildfire across the country, the adults first depart until the last remaining, with fledglings later learning flight and catching prey.
They make it a point to never stay in one place.
She knew. She feared it.
Become head medic, marry Sasuke—those were the things she looked most forward to. There was no way her life should be headed somewhere else. But right now, she must give up one for the other.
She hurtled across town past cognizant gazes. Once she saw him standing there under the shade of the pines, nothing else mattered. Quietly, she eased her rough breath with a fist pushed up against her ill, pounding heart.
"What if I told you… I'd go with you," she said with a shaky voice, careful not to show much of her desperation.
"My sins have nothing to do with you," he said. "This journey is mine alone."
She reached his black cloak. The one she had gifted herself. Didn't it mean something, that he wore it?
"I've always waited for you to come back…" she said.
He faced her direction, looking down at her. "If you'd come hoping I'll return your affections, I don't need it."
In his calm, dark eyes, there was no spite or his wry sarcasm. He sought for her assurance, perhaps, if not testing her certainty. Whichever one, she wasn't sure.
Her lips quivered. Tears spilled from her eyes. "I love you, Sasuke. I always have."
He drew close. Sakura held her breath, her fingers clenching up in anticipation.
Will he take her by the waist, lift her chin up, and swoop her in for an all-consuming kiss?
"Don't degrade yourself." Sasuke's voice was low. Sakura barely heard it over the hot blood flow drumming in her ears. "I heard you're up to becoming head medic. Think properly about what you should be doing as a shinobi—going after me isn't. But, I'm thankful for everything, Sakura."
He gave her a rare small smile, almost a sorry look, and tapped her on the forehead with two fingers.
"Till next time."
It felt like the pat on the head adults give to children to curb their troublesome eagerness. A piteous consolation.
People say men stay for women's tears—those dumba**es clearly lied. And if it ever was true, Sasuke didn't share their tear fetish. She stood there motionless and all alone, watching his crossover to the other side of the south gate.
Once he disappeared into the woods, never looking back, Sakura wiped the tears from her eyes and briskly smoothened the crisp ends of her hair in slight disarray. Having dusted off her dark, stretchy pencil skirt, she strode dismissively back to work.
The upkeep of a tenderhearted lady in-love disposition without its trigger was an impossible feat. Without Sasuke, she's a different girl altogether. She's a hard-line realist with only stacks of scrolls and papers on her desk, a schedule, and a patients' list. Her station's lack of color allowed introspection with an objective detective's eye, removed from the scene of the crime.
She was never really his reason to stay. That was it. The bare truth.
Fresh tears welled up again.
Loving Sasuke was all about careful subtleties. The flimsiest, most delicate thing you can imagine. Like walking on eggshells. Whatever made her profess love spanning a startling decade when she never really took up significant space in his life was lost to her now.
There were times when she found herself empty. Most often she shrugged the thought and slept it off hoping tomorrow she'd find herself in-love again with a constantly absent boy. Now, it was officially tiring.
Still, she was not beyond quietly crying in a hospital toilet cubicle. A little later, as she was pinching her nose drool with toilet paper sprawled all over her lap, footsteps of her two co-workers made their way in.
"No way Haruno's gonna be it. Ms. Kim's served the hospital for a longer time," said an older nurse's voice—clearly Nurse Reiko with the indelible disdainful frown.
"But Ms. Haruno is way better already," replied a diffident younger one. Must be one of those slow mammals—apprentice wannabes lining up to greet Sakura every morning. "I have a feeling she'll catch up to experience in no time."
The older woman snorted and slammed the door close in the next cubicle. From behind the wall, a hissing sound issued. "Running the hospital is not all wounded soldiers. She's too arrogant. Too young, that's why. Whereas Lady Hyuuga and Ms. Kim had known each other for years. I tell you it's all been long decided long before Lady Tsunade decided to retire this year."
The other lady seemed to take long going for a comeback, washing her hands until the elder nurse was finished with her business. Sakura bit the inside of her cheeks debating whether she should come out and defend her name.
Over the tap running, finally, the young nurse said, "But she's Lady Tsunade's disciple. Wouldn't she be referred to Lady Hyuuga as the best choice?"
The water stopped."Oh, stop pretending to be all about her!" Nurse Reiko's voice echoed even louder. "Lady Tsunade's vouching for Ms. Kim and rightfully so. They're cousins. If I were you, I'd switch sides before it's too late."
As her co-workers left, a cold feeling drenched Sakura from the head to toe. It was the dread of all her hard work going to waste.
Hearing she wasn't her teacher's best bet isn't only the greatest betrayal of the century. It implied her questionable character if not salty teacher-disciple relations, either thing sure to drag her name down the mud in front of the whole medic nin community.
Panic began setting in. An uncontrollable tightness rose, squeezing at her chest. She was hyperventilating.
Sakura shook her head, slamming her balled hand against her chest. She needed to calm down and think of positive thoughts.
Not becoming the head medic would mean freedom from expectations and other engagements. She could be with Sasuke. She was prepared to leave anyway.
"NO, I'M NOT!" shouted a loud voice.
Sakura raised her head. Before she could identify whose voice it was, her vision drowned out.
THE PETITIONS AGAINST SASUKE rushed in by noon and there hadn't been peace in the Hokage Tower since. Telephones rang tirelessly, the fax machines jammed. Busybodies mostly from the media crowded the hallway rambling about not being let into the main hearing room.
Inside, the tension ran even higher as merchant guilt leaders, clan leaders, and diplomats ganged up in droves against Kakashi.
"Pardoning the Uchiha was a big mistake. Now we're having trade problems. The farmers' guilds in Water are supporting a petition to get him back to correctional—for life!"
"Do you realize how much of our food and medicine are imported annually from Water? Herbs, legumes, coffee beans, salt, et cetera—all forty percent! Do you realize how much this would affect the merchants, the common citizens, all the way to whatever we put on our tables and the rations you send your agents on the field?!"
The Sixth Hokage remained calm and pensive, patiently listening. With a measured, leveled voice he said, "Gentlemen, so long as communication channels are open and their ports are open, there's no need to exaggerate. Diplomatic action will be underway."
"Exaggerate?! You're downplaying concerns, Lord Hatake! As long as Uchiha Sasuke runs free, none will be convinced of any diplomatic action. He's a threat to any nation's peace and security. Unless you prove control over the Uchiha, the state of our economy and rapport will only go downhill from hereon..."
Naruto had his fist clenched while seated beside Kakashi. Next to him was Shizune writing the minutes like a speedy automaton. The anger and frustration of everyone who dared to speak up reflected a chaos of his own, brewing inside. Even after he begged, it didn't stop Sasuke from leaving. Sasuke never thought about others, what they'd feel, and it irked Naruto why he should remain bothered against Sasuke's apathy.
Minutes peeled into an hour. He tensely glanced over at Shizune beside him, writing minutes of the meeting like a speedy automaton. As it stretched into a longer list, their names, their repetitive contentions laced with fire, he realized none of them was really about Sasuke. There flashed a brief thought and sheer was its clarity. The whirlwind inside him dispersed, the landscape of the meeting and its participants facing him now muted, slowing into a mimed farce act. His clenched fist loosened.
Chagrined, he rose from his seat. Venerable men red in their faces directed their attention to him. It wasn't immediate but soon as they realized he had something to say, they waited to hear it. He may not be as articulate as they are, nor will the length of years he lived ever catch up to them, still, he alone was certain.
"I understand Sasuke now," he began, following the trail of his thoughts as he went, "Why he wanted to go… He knew people would fear him. Maybe he also knew we'd be talking about him like this… He never used to care what people think. But Sasuke is trying to be different now." He paused, taking the words in for himself. "And I honor his resolve… There's no need for all this long, boring meeting. My ears hurt, the room's getting hot, and none of us wants to be here. So let me say this quick—I'm here. That's all you guys need to be thinking about… Tell this to the guilds in Water, the business people, the money makers, your wives, your sons and daughters, to whom it may concern… I, Naruto Uzumaki, assure you that my comrade Sasuke Uchiha is only as much of a threat as anyone of you present it this room. I bet my life on that."
At his declaration, discontented murmurs sprang up. Among the group of merchants seated at the rear dais was Lord Hiashi. The head of the Hyuuga clan never said a word up until that point, though, while he didn't seem particularly agitated, his white eyes focused sharply at Naruto, seizing his attention. He rose and moved swiftly forward commanding no nonsense from those huddled in front of him.
"I respect your sentiment, future Lord Seventh," said Lord Hiashi. His voice was low and loud. "But with the Uchiha free and the Lord Sixth left without guarantee of even a semblance of control over this agent, even with my connections in Water, negotiations are impossible. You must understand none of us would be here if this were such a simple matter as your assurance claims it to be. But didn't we hear clearly from you, Lord Sixth?"—he gestured to Kakashi—"That the Uchiha has not been reinstated as a member of our ranks nor is he working under you? In other words, Sasuke Uchiha remains an untagged rogue."
Kakashi seemed doubly tired. "Technically that is true but…" He breathed in deep. "Coming from a straightforward man like yourself Lord Hiashi, I honestly have no argument."
"It's what Sasuke wanted," Naruto interrupted. "That's the least we can do for him… Besides, ever since old man Hagoromo lend us powers I have always been able to tell where Sasuke is. We're connected for life whether we like it or not."
The people were quickly astonished, their dull faces now filled with genuine ease. "Is that true, Lord Naruto?" they asked.
"It's not impossible for me, isn't it?" Naruto said cleverly, crossing his arms. "Geez, there's no point in lying, something as simple as that…"
With that, the meeting went adjourned at last.
"Bold claims. Be sure you're up to it," said Kakashi.
"Huh?"
"Are you really willing to tell anyone where he is?"
Naruto lowered his gaze. "Not just anyone. If it's you then… "
"Even if it means betraying what Sasuke wants? You said you'd honor his resolve."
Naruto moved his mouth but failed to get an answer out.
Kakashi laughed quietly. "You didn't think that, did you?… What if Sakura asks? Will you tell her, too?"
Sakura can easily go after Sasuke. As much as Kakashi is willing to sign for, she can be with him for missions that last a few months up to a few years.
"… You'd never let her get the short end of the stick."
Naruto hasn't decided yet what Sasuke meant. In the meantime, granted Sakura must've skipped work and sobbed in her pillow the whole day, both for Sasuke leaving and for all the money she spent on him, Naruto bought three boxes of sushi bento from the convenience store that evening and ordered a bucket of chicken. He'd encountered all sorts of Sakura's moods before, and whatever comes out of this one only needed protein to get back on track.
Before posing to knock at her door, he idled for a while. He practiced in his mind what to say, the tone of voice he'd use. After all, it was best to be careful should Shukufuku Area witness one of its apartment complexes rattled down to its foundations with one brokenhearted lady's decisive strike.
Growing more nervous, he put the bucket and the bag of bento boxes on the floor to wipe his forehead with his arm and fan his body with the front of his jacket.
"Naruto, is that you?" Sakura called, muffled behind the door.
"Uh… y-yeah." He snatched up the bag and bucket and gathered them in his arm like a bouquet. It didn't escape his ears, however, that her voice sounded all too chirpy.
"Finally!" When she opened up, her radiant smile and the flowing sunflower print dress that she wore took him by surprise. She gasped looking at the things he brought. "Did you buy all this for me?"
Naruto nodded, dumbly awestruck by how beautiful she was.
"Aww. You didn't have to. Come on in." She gave the bulk of his arm a hearty squeeze, sending shivers down his spine.
"W-Wait… Sakura-chan..."
He followed stiffly behind her as she dragged him to the table where receipts were spread out. She shunted aside the organized piles to make space for the food.
"I couldn't wait to see you! I've been wanting to ask a favor." Sakura widened her eyes, hungry and almost predatory. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it firmly. "Can you help me get rid of all the stuff in Sasuke's apartment? Return them, get a refund. If you can't then sell them to thrift shops or donate them somewhere. Also, please tell the apartment manager I want all my money back. I'm sure they're willing to make adjustments if you represent me. I can't take care of it right now. In return, you get to keep ten percent of all the money…" Her jade eyes shone, waiting for his answer.
Naruto looked away guiltily. "Stop acting like you're not affected by Sasuke leaving… If it helps, you can tell me what's actually bothering you. This morning. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do anything. "
Sakura suddenly laughed, pulled a chair, and crossed her legs. "Can we not talk about Sasuke anymore?" Suddenly she was sulking. "You can't believe what I went through today. Nurse Reiko, who hated my guts—because I'm young, prettier, and smarter than she'll ever be—claimed Lady Tsunade was more likely to recommend Nurse Kim to Lady Hyuuga and the rest of the board for my Head Medic position. So I showed her who's boss. Now everybody knows she's been chasing younger men. I doubt she'd show up to work tomorrow. 'Cause I sure skinned her alive right in that hallway," she said smugly.
"You what?!" Naruto fisted his hair at the disturbing news. He slid his hand over his face to grab at his mouth, racking up his brain for the implications. "Did you get called out?" He reckoned any answer to be painful.
"Of course, I did. I explained to Lady Tsunade the matter and she confirmed it true—tsk! Told me I'll get my chance in another ten years, that damn old hag. Her reason? I'm still twenty," she lamely pointed out. "I call that unfair, discriminating, an ugly crap on her wet bed…" After some thinking, she dropped her head. "Truth to be told, at this rate, I'm not sure how long I can keep working at the hospital."
Naruto started to worry. Never before had she appeared so helpless. This was her job. She was always perfect. "What do we do?"
"Do you want to help me?"
"How?"
She took his hand and clutched it close, looking up to him piously. "If you file a formal request to the hospital's board of trustees to make me your official nurse after your surgery, I might still have some hope. I promise I'll take good care of you."
Feeling awkward, Naruto slid into the chair adjacent hers so they were levelled. "Geez, I never thought you'd ever get into trouble. Sure, Sakura. No problem. I'll send in a request for you."
She sprang into his lap unexpectedly and hugged him tight.
"Thank you," she whispered. "No one cares for me like you do… Did you know? I dressed up for you tonight. So don't talk about Sasuke ever again," she said darkly.
Naruto's ears burned. He couldn't believe what he heard, being appreciated by Sakura. It took a while to register their proximity, her arms around his neck, her lips and the sound of her breathing near his ear, her bittersweet smell, the weight of her body pressed down on him. His initial instinct had been to push her away. Instead, he found himself bound and transfixed, holding his breath.
Slowly, she caressed his cheek. "Please take care of the apartment first thing in the morning. And don't ever… ever let me know until you're done."
DM Corner:
I'd like to point out once again that there are five protagonists in this story. And while I didn't want to mislead anybody, for a while, to my surprise, Mission Creep was tagged NaruHina. That was a mistake. At this inchoate stage of the Mission Creep, I don't want to place emphasis on who ends up with who.
Thanks for dropping by:))))-triple chin signout