Everyone was busy. It felt like they have no time to themselves anymore.

Naruto and Sasuke were roped into the construction of the village. Itachi and Shisui were dealing with Hokage business. She was working on the mass amount of injuries sustained during the invasion. It was remarkably easier than in her last life, fortunately, but that all had to do with the mark on her forehead.

It took Sakura a week of constant healing sessions and restocking their medical supplies for her to see her parents. She felt horrible about it-- her parents were a part of the casualties brought back to life by Pain's jutsu. And she knew that because that's what happened in her old life. But she just didn't want to see them. Seeing them meant facing the same problem that drove them apart in her old life.

But she had to. She knew that. Though, it didn't stop her from taking any and all excuses not to see them. It took Sasuke actually walking her to the Yamanaka's site for her to face them.

She almost wished Sasuke didn't care-- then he wouldn't have forced her into this.

"I'll be back," Sasuke murmured into her ear and she nodded numbly, staring at the tent as if it would swallow her the moment she stepped in.

Sasuke probably got impatient with her hesitation, and she wondered if he rolled his eyes as he placed his hand on her lower back and lightly pushed her forward. When she looked back after he did, he was gone.

Typical.

Sakura took a deep breath and reasoned that she knew what she was getting into, at the very least. She could do this-- it was the one thing she knew couldn't catch her off guard. Her parents would always be her parents.

And maybe they would see how exhausted she was and give her the benefit of the doubt. Or they might use it as a reason for her to just give up her life. She could hear her mother's reprimand as she walked up to the tent and called out.

When the flap opened to reveal her father, she was crushed in a fight hug. She smiled as she wrapped weak arms around him. He at least wouldn't change.

"I'm so happy to see you!" Her father exclaimed, pulling back to look her over. "Why didn't you come find us earlier? We've been worried sick! Of course, we knew you were okay-- we keep getting kids coming around trying to find you. But whenever we try to find you, you're always busy!"

"Sorry," Sakura apologized, attempting to reassure him with a smile. "Things have been hectic at the makeshift hospital."

"Well, that explains why you look horrible," Her mother commented dryly, pulling her father away to hug her. "But it is no excuse not to find us. Do you know how horrifying it is for us? Not knowing exactly what our child is doing? Or if she's even okay."

Sakura frowned, and walked past them and into the tent. She had to remember to thank Ino and her parents later.

"I am sorry, Mom," She repeated, holding her hands in front of her stomach. "Without Tsunade-sama and Shizune, I'm the head medic. I haven't even had much time to sleep."

"But you do sleep," Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Just not in the same place as your actual family."

There it is, Sakura thought. She hadn't been lying when she mentioned that her parents were jealous of the Uchiha clan in this life-- she tended to frequent the compound over her own home in the limited free time she had. Even when Sasuke left with Shisui and Naruto had gone off with Jiraiya, Sakura spent more evenings with Mikoto instead of her own mother.

"The compound is closer to where the hospital is," Sakura mumbled, knowing it was a poor defense. It may be true-- the hospital tent was set up closer to the compound than where the Yamanaka had set up their section of tents, but it was still a pitiful response.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding us," Mebuki said with crossed arms. "We had to find out you were alive through some random shinobi talking about seeing you, Sakura. That's embarrassing."

Sakura opened her mouth to defend herself but nothing ended up coming out-- every word just seemed stay stuck in her throat, unwilling to come out when she knew it was all bullshit.

"We could understand it before," Mebuki continued, with her father nodding in agreement. "But after this? Hasn't it gotten through your head that all of this is too dangerous? That it's not worth it?"

"Mom, I save lives everyday," Sakura told her, her fingers clenching tightly around themselves. "Even if you think it's dangerous, my work is important."

"Is that the only reason you've committed yourself to a career that will ultimately kill you?" Mebuki questioned harshly, causing Sakura to step back. "Yes, you do amazing work, sweetheart. But what has that work gotten you? Our home is destroyed. You are being targeted and it's most likely for those skills. Don't you think it's time to step away from it all and focus on your future?"

Sakura then reminded herself to talk to Ino in private about what she shouldn't talk about so easily with Ino's mother.

"This is my future, mom," Sakura responded in a desperate tone, wondering how ironic it was that this was all actually her past. "I chose this for myself."

"Yourself," Mebuki echoed incredulously. "You think we'll believe everything you do is just for you."

Sakura's eyebrows furrowed together. "Well, of course I'm also doing it for the village-"

"I was talking about the Uchiha's," Mebuki stated plainly. "We're not blind, Sakura. It's obvious they've been grooming you to be one of them; Naruto too."

"They aren't grooming me," Sakura refused immediately. "Where did you get that idea?"

"So, the letter we received from the Uchiha elders two weeks ago means nothing then?" Mebuki asked, in a tone that just begged Sakura to refute her statement.

And in her old life, she would have. But Sakura stood eerily silent after that, watching her parents reactions carefully.

"They asked to meet us, honey," Her father explain in a low voice, nervously glancing at her mother. "We didn't get the chance to and then the invasion happened."

"I spoke to Ino's mother about it," Her mother sniffed. "She said old clans tend to request meetings with another's parents or clan's elders when marriage is on the table."

Maybe their anger this time wasn't solely on the invasion and her reckless choice of career. Her surprise in that was nothing compared to the thousands of thoughts that swarmed her head when the word 'marriage' was mentioned. Her eyes had grown wide, mouth slightly parted as she attempted to just simply process what that meant.

She didn't mention the first assessment she had been given to her parents, so of course she didn't say anything about a second one being requested of her. Everything has been so chaotic and she already has issues simply breathing nowadays-- but this was a direct punch to her gut. Because in the back of her mind, she knew it. She knew what it all meant. But she wasn't ready to face that yet.

It was such a weird thing. In her old life, she would have been thrilled at the idea of having a marriage set up between her and Sasuke. But now that it was actually a probable case, she couldn't help but think everything was too fast.

It wasn't because Sakura didn't think she would be unhappy in a marriage with Sasuke-- she'd probably be the happiest girl in the world even if he was gone all the time because she would have his love. And she knew that in his own way, her old Sasuke loved her. He probably didn't understand it until he decided to spend his last moments protecting her, but she knew he loved her. But this Sasuke. . . He's not the exact same as her old one. At his core, he was. But this Sasuke was different.

This Sasuke had his family. He didn't have a curse mark on the back of his neck nor has he ever succumbed into hatred or revenge despite the tragedies his family has still endured. And because of that, he's different.

And so she wants to really do this correctly. Because their story in her old life was so wrought with wrongs that she had given up hope for a happy ever after with him. And she had a chance at that again-- she refused to mess it up.

Having clan elders decide they should be married as opposed to them making that choice felt like it would mess things up. And she understood she couldn't omit the elders out of any relationship she had with Sasuke in this life; things just weren't that simple. But she wished it was because loving Sasuke was the simplest and most painful thing she's ever done. She'd never regret it for a second. But she just wished it was their story. Not jump started prematurely by some elders.

"Sakura didn't know, darling," He father said in a low voice. "Look at her. She's just as shocked as we were."

"Being a shinobi isn't to impress Sasuke-kun nor is it a result of the Uchiha clan's beliefs," Sakura said thickly, swallowing before she continued. "It's to be strong enough to protect the ones I love. And I'm never going to go back on that. You need to know that I am serious about this. About my life and my choice of career."

She took a deep breath and willed herself not to freak out like she did in her old life. Her parents weren't the only ones to blame for their falling out, after all. "I am a Leaf shinobi and to give up now after everything I've worked for means I'd be abandoning my comrades. And ninja who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

"You'll die in the process," Her mother retorted.

Sakura felt much too old in that moment-- as though the mental years added up and she was truly too old for the body she was in. Never has she felt such a stark disconnect than right now.

She smiled, the expression containing a sense of acceptance and heartbreak that she knew in this life she shouldn't have already developed.

"Dying for them would be the easiest thing I'd ever do."

Sasuke found her afterwards just like he said he would. She was exhausted and walked slowly by his side, not even caring much about where he was leading them. All she had requested was someplace quiet.

While it wasn't an explosive fight like it had been in her old life, it took a different sort of toll on her. One that had her remain silent the entire way. She hadn't even noticedwhere Sasuke had led them when they finally stopped. And the pause caused her senses to suddenly jumpstart, the sound of water and smell of salt suddenly coming to her.

"Where are we?" She asked, peering up at Sasuke. He moved forward in silence, sitting on a nearby bench.

She followed him, settling next to him as he stared at the view in front of him.

"Someplace quiet," He responded quietly. "Away from prying eyes."

"Outside of the village, you mean," Sakura inferred and he nodded.

"But close enough should anything happen," He added and she understood what he meant. If anyone came for them, he would still be able to whisk them back behind the village's walls before they blinked.

"I didn't even realize we left," Sakura admitted, chiding herself for being so distracted. "Or walked this far."

"You have a lot in your mind," Sasuke said, leaning back. He didn't continue and they sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the sun's last rays of light dance across the distant waters.

"They're not happy with a lot of my life choices," Sakura finally settled on saying, glancing at him before focusing back on the sun disappearing under the horizon. "The invasion terrified them, I think. And I'm never home as it is. . . Sometimes I forget that I don't spend much time with them."

At least, not in this life.

"And. . ." She paused. "They're not exactly thrilled that my future is. . . being debated by people who aren't them."

Sakura wasn't thrilled either, but her parents used it as ammunition against the Uchiha's. Sakura understood that it was clan stuff. Tradition, appearances, and politics.

Sasuke didn't say anything but she heard the slight intake of breath he took. She fiddled with her fingers, before she gained enough courage to look at him.

His eyes were narrowed at the ground and was no longer leaning back but leaning forward with his forearms rested on his thighs. He didn't look angry or even irritated, but rather confused and thoughtful.

"You didn't know," She said and he frowned.

"Not that your parents were made aware," Sasuke told her, chancing a glance at her before refocusing on the ground. "But I've known for a while now-- why they were so adamant about meeting you. I didn't want to say anything because. . ."

His words trailed off and she nodded.

"It's no pressure, right?" She laughed lightly, causing him to look at her in surprise. "Just a couple of ancient elders deciding on our marriage before we can decide anything for ourselves."

"If we ever started anything, that would basically be it," Sasuke stated. "We're barely sixteen, Sakura. Marriage is. . ."

"Big," Sakura supplied, tilting her head to look at him. He looked utterly tense and uncomfortable-- so much for this Sasuke being different. Emotions were still foreign to him, it seems. "You know, Sasuke-kun, I wasn't lying before-- when we were atop Hokage Mountain. I do love you."

"You also love every member of my family and Naruto," Sasuke told her in a dry tone and she had to reel in her amusement when his features morphed into a scowl. "Especially Shisui and Naruto."

She poked his arm, the smallest giggle escaping her when he swatted her hand away. "You aren't jealous, are you Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke gave her a hard look before he rolled his eyes as she smiled.

"Shisui-nii and Naruto are a lot alike," Sakura commented, gathering her hands back in her lap and looked towards the sea.

Those two were a lot alike when considering their personalities. She had made the connection a very long time ago that as a child in this life, but also a heartbroken teenage girl who lost the two people she cherished most within mere minutes of one another in her mind, she saw her Naruto in Shisui when she first met him. And to have that comfort back in her life, even with a smaller, more immature version of Naruto by her side at every moment, was a blessing that kept her sane.

"They're overprotective," Sakura continued and Sasuke grunted.

"I have an overprotective brother," Sasuke muttered. "He doesn't act the way those two do with you."

"Sasuke-kun," She said in an exasperated tone. He looked at her with a single brow raised.

"Am I wrong?" He asked and she frowned, because, no he wasn't wrong. But Itachi tended to be an exception for most things.

"Can I ask you something?" She said instead and he simply looked at her to signal for her to continue. "How do you feel?"

"How do I-- what?" He repeated, brows now furrowed together in confusion.

"You're going to be the head of your clan one day," Sakura emphasized. "We aren't even Jonin yet. . . There's people targeting every single one of us for whatever reason. And your elders are concerned with marriage, despite the fact that we aren't of age yet. How do you feel?"

Sasuke remained silent for a few moments, his posture straightening and he pushed his hair out of his face. "This whole thing is just. . . really. . . annoying."

Sakura couldn't help her snort, apologizing when he send her a narrowed look. That single word held so much meaning to her-- but none of that was linked to this Sasuke. But she understood exactly what he meant, anyway.

She didn't say anything further and waited for him to formulate his thoughts into words. Even when the sun fully dipped below the horizon and darkness began to spread over the area. She waited patiently and he finally seemed to be ready to speak.

"I grew up expecting this sort of thing to happen, honestly," He began and she nodded her head slightly when he glanced at her. "Izumi was assessed when she was fifteen and the only girl Itachi ever showed any interest in. When they dubbed me as heir, they had to start looking into my relationships. And I'm positive my mother is the reason that my father spoke to the elders about you."

"She has very blatantly been teaching me the ways a matriarch should behave since we became friends, Sasuke-kun," Sakura noted and he shook his head.

"My mother is stubborn when she decides something for her children," He commented with a roll of his eyes, though a small smile seemed to tug his lips upward at the thought. "My father respects you, too. He wouldn't have argued with the elders about you, otherwise."

"I'm a clanless, civilian raised shinobi," She said and he nodded.

"None of that has ever mattered to me," Sasuke told her seriously, this time looking directly at her. "Neither did the whole marriage thing until I came back. Romantic stuff like that has never been important to me."

"But when my father said the elders wanted to talk to you," He paused and took a deep sigh, looking back towards the sea. "It annoyed me."

He chanced a glance at her, probably to see if she was hurt by his statement. And he looked fractionally surprised when he saw the understanding in her eyes. She would have been hurt once upon a time, in a different timeline, but she knows Sasuke at his core. And she know, probably better than anyone save her Naruto, that Sasuke was horrible at conveying his feelings.

It took punching for Naruto to understand. It took patience for her. So long as she could look Sasuke in the eye, she could know what he was feeling. In her old life, she knew Sasuke was hurting more than anyone, even if she didn't understand it. But this Sasuke, this Sasuke was much easier to read. She wondered if it's because he didn't mind if she knew his heart. Her Sasuke always hated himself whenever he let either of them in.

"I didn't want to. . ." He paused again before he continued. "Not because of the elders. Because I was being told to. Which is why I never said anything."

She nodded and smiled when he looked at her again.

"But it's always going to be you, Sakura," He told her softly and she took in a sharp breath.

It was always you.

Sakura couldn't stop the tears from forming in her eyes, the image of her Sasuke lying bloodied on the ground flashing atop the Sasuke currently in front of her. Love was what got her Sasuke killed. It's what Naruto killed as well.

Love for her. The reason for their fierce protectiveness. Their bonds that would transcend every lifetime.

Love was the thing that saved her life and gave her this chance too. To give them a different beginning that still resulted in the same unbreakable bond.

"Despite whatever you're keeping from me, it was always going to be you," He continued, his features softening as he drew up a single hand to wipe the tears that fell onto her cheeks. She grabbed ahold of his hand after he did so, encasing it within both of her own.

She didn't say anything else-- she didn't even know what to say. Sakura was never very quiet about things, especially her feelings, but now she knew that they were returned in this life. Rather than finding out in the very last moments of her Sasuke's old life, she knew now. She wasn't a seventeen year old exhausted from war. She was a sixteen year old bogged down by the fabric of time and emotionally exhausted after her fight with her parents.

But she had this. She had Sasuke. She smiled and scooted closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder as the moon began to illuminate the ground. Somehow, it was exactly the thing she needed for all the fears, doubts, and anxiety to melt away.

"Your mother is going to freak out," Sakura finally whispered.

"She'll be overjoyed," Sasuke snorted. "Shisui and Naruto are the ones I'll have to fight off."

"You don't need to fight them off," She said, angling her head to look up at him. "You've always had me."

In every lifetime.