Note: Not edited. Not beta-ed. Nada. Just thrown together on a whim like a year or two ago. Also, Sakura is with an OC until she and Sasuke can sort out their situationship. Also, also, title is from Florence + the Machine.
By the second year of Sasuke's absence, Sakura stopped waiting for him. She still loved him immensely but with meager information at best on his whereabouts and when he was coming back, Sakura needed more than a non-existent relationship with someone who wasn't even there. So she started dating much to Ino's delight and Naruto's dismay.
It took a couple of dates, some major bribing and an earnest smile from Sakura to convince Naruto not to be a company on her dates.
"You seem happy." He off-handedly remarked one day when they were grocery shopping with what little time they had to spare. Time was a luxury neither could really afford with Naruto's mandatory roster for missions and the hospital's constant demand for Sakura.
She hummed, taking out several ramen packages Naruto managed to sneak into her basket and replacing it with healthier alternatives. Like cheese sticks.
"Are you?" He asked, frowning when he noticed his ramen missing.
Sakura rapped him on the knuckles when he picked up three boxes of ramen to deposit into the cart. "I'm not unhappy." She replied vaguely.
Naruto leveled her a suspicious look and then shrugged. "I wasn't too keen on the idea of you dating but I want you to be happy either with Sasuke or without him."
She was contemplative for a minute, reading the nutrition label of a jar of pickle without moving her eyes. "Thanks, Naruto." She said after putting the jar back on the shelf, "I mean it."
Kota Miura was his name and if Sakura wasn't in love with Sasuke, she would have probably fallen in love with Miura. Naruto felt this way too. He didn't remember the last time he saw his friend smiling so widely and so lovingly. It tugged at his heart and a part of him felt the slip of guilt when Kakashi called him in to brief him on the latest news they had of Sasuke.
Sakura declined to take part in these meetings after the second one. She said it hurt too much to hear something she wasn't involved in. Both Kakashi and Naruto understood.
"He's somewhere in Cloud." Kakashi said, tapping his pen on a map laid out on his desk.
"What's there to do in Cloud?" Naruto grumbled, eyes shifting to the red dots littered all over the map as indicators of where his friend has been. The only open area now was Konoha. It was like Sasuke was going everywhere but home.
The Sixth raised an eyebrow, "You don't see the pattern in his travels?"
Naruto waved his hand, "Lost track…and interest for that matter." He replied honestly. "I just want him to come home."
"He will. Soon." Kakashi said evenly.
The blonde frowned but didn't push the topic any further because his attention was directed at the window behind the Hokage.
"Do you think Sakura-chan is falling in love with Kota?" The blonde asked, seemingly out of nowhere. Sakura was coming out of the hospital with the other Jounin taking her bag off her hands as she slid her jacket on. A small smile lifted Naruto's lips when Kota placed a hand on the small of her back to navigate her away from a cart vendor as she animatedly talked.
"Maybe. It'll be good if she does." Kakashi replied with blase but honestly. He handed Naruto a scroll, gesturing for him to open it. "It's from Sasuke."
Naruto grabbed the scroll and scanned the contents of the letter. His lips pressed thinly together. At the bottom of the scroll was a postscript regarding Sakura. It was the first time in three years Sasuke mentioned anything about Sakura. Naruto's stomach churned.
"He's coming home, isn't?" Naruto whispered.
Kakashi nodded, "That he is." He cast a glance behind his shoulder where he could spot his former student laughing with Kota. They never really did have good timing. Rather, Sakura never did. Kota, by association.
Naruto tossed Kakashi a troubled glance. "So after three years of no words to Sakura, he's finally asking about her because he's coming home." He clenched his fists and wanted to chuck the letter in the waste bin. Sakura was shafted and it made Naruto angry. "Bastard."
The Sixth sighed, running a tired hand through his hair and rubbed his aching neck. Falling asleep on a chair, no matter how comfortable, was never beneficial to the body. "You know why he didn't contact her or ask about her."
"I'm tired of making excuses for him. You and me both." Naruto growled. "Sakura-chan, she's happy." He added.
"If she's truly happy, she'll stay that way even with Sasuke here to witness her budding romance with Kota." Kakashi advised sagely but Naruto was right. Even Kakashi had to admit that Sasuke never reaped what he sowed and he was partially culpable of that.
Naruto didn't appreciate Kakashi's dry humor so he handed the letter back to the Hokage, "Are you going to tell Sakura-chan?"
Kakashi's eyes dreadfully travelled to the ceiling, "No. Telling Sakura would turn it into a personal matter."
Naruto scoffed, waving his hand in departure. "It is a personal matter."
Kakashi didn't argue with that.
Naruto was walking on eggshells around her. She could tell by the way he would minutely jump every time she spoke or the way he would fidget and warily glanced her way when he thought she wasn't paying attention. It was grating her nerves. Naruto didn't develop any tact as a shinobi or in general. He was obviously keeping something from her.
"If you have something to say, then say it." Sakura said, rapping her knuckles on his head. "If not, then get out. Miura is coming over soon."
The blonde swallowed, chuckling apprehensively. "You uh…you like Miura?"
Sakura stared at him blankly, "Is there a point to your question?"
"No but just answer it." He grunted, crossing both arms over his chest.
Sakura appreciated his motor skills of the artificial limb for a quick second before scowling. "I do." She said.
Naruto nodded, satisfied by her short answer. It was exactly what he was looking for. "Good." He said, "Because Sasuke is coming back."
Sakura wasn't expecting that. She was in the middle of plucking dried herbal leaves from a container and transferring it to another when Naruto's announcement shot straight through her. The medic's movement slowed first and then came to a complete stop. "I see. That's wonderful news." She said after being momentarily disabled. Her heart was already starting to deconstruct like a prism.
Naruto watched her carefully, "But you like Miura, right?" He said softly.
"Yes." She said, capping the lid to the container. She swirled her chair to meet Naruto dead on. "But I love Sasuke-kun."
"Are you going to dump Miura?" The blonde asked without any reserve.
Sakura frowned, whacking Naruto on the knee. "Don't be so crass, Naruto. I'm not going to dump him."
The blonde rolled his eyes, "Fine, let him down gently."
The medic shook her head, "No, I'm not doing that either."
Naruto stopped, surprised by her answer and then smiled at her, "I'm glad." He said, getting up and patting down his pants. "I don't ever want anyone to hold you back, even Sasuke-especially Sasuke." He told her seriously, reaching forward to hold her hand. He squeezed her middle finger gently. "If Miura can make you happy, then I'm glad."
After Naruto left, Sakura slid down against her door. Sasuke was coming back. She leaned her head against the door and wondered if Kakashi would be willing to give her a mission.
"Are you volunteering because it's something you want to do or does it have to do with Sasuke coming back?" Kakashi asked, stamp hovering centimeters above her mission being approved.
Sakura shrugged. Kakashi could see right through her but she was pretty transparent, "Both. Does it matter?"
Her former teacher raised an eyebrow, "Probably not." He replied ambiguously. He stamped her scroll, "I was going to get you to do the check up for Sasuke." He handed her the scroll, "But I'll get someone else to do it."
"That'll be good." Sakura muttered, tucking the scroll away in her back pocket.
"The allotted time frame is two weeks. I'll give you three." Kakashi said, leaning back on his chair. "Sasuke is predicted to be in Konoha by the end of this week. I would like for the head medic to be here on official business when we reinstate him. While another medic can give him a check up, the head medic needs to approve of it since he's been travelling."
Sakura nodded. She'd rather not but she was the one who implemented that protocol, "I know. See you in three weeks."
Miura walked her to the gates, their pace slow and leisurely. He handed her her pack, "I probably won't be here by the time you get back." He said, brushing her bangs to the side with a smooth motion of his wrist.
"Hokage-sama is sending you out?" She asked, brows furrowed. "Solo or team?"
He nodded, "Team." The man leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on her brows to unfold them.
It only deepened her frown, wondering why he felt so cryptic and why this felt like a goodbye. His fingers trailed off the height of her cheekbones and she grabbed his fingers gingerly, pulling it away from her face. "Is there something wrong?"
Miura was a handsome man with an aristocratic nose and eyes almost as electric as Naruto's. His hair was a shade or two darker than Naruto's. He stood almost a whole head taller than her and was a skilled Jounin. She knew he ran with ANBU-which mask he wore though, she didn't know.
They met, of all places, a bookstore when he reached around her shoulders to grab a book off the shelf for her. It was straight out of a fairytale and Sakura thought she deserved a little happiness in her life too. She was the one who asked him out.
"Nope." He said, smiling at her and something close to love clenched her heart. "Be safe on your mission."
"Don't change the subject." She admonished, plucking a strand of his hair on the base of his neck as she wound her arms around him. She pulled a little roughly and was rewarded with a grunt.
"I didn't. I said nothing was wrong." Before she could argue, he pressed a kiss to her lips and then pushed her out of the gates.
"I'll see you when you come back." She said, waving her hand.
"You will." He promised.
Miura loved Sakura, Naruto could tell. He was genuinely happy that someone didn't take fifteen years or so to realize that love.
"You can come out, Naruto." Miura said, eyes shifting to the shadows.
The blonde rubbed his head sheepishly, leaving the shadows of the alley. "Guess I can't fool someone from the shadows."
Miura stuffed his hands in his pockets and gestured with his head towards a dango stand. "Want some?"
Naruto smiled, "Sure, why not?"
They sat a little off the ways, away from prying eyes with Naruto taking purchase on a branch and Miura slouching against the body of the tree. Naruto licked his dango stick clean and threw it into a trash bin with surprising accuracy. It lined the rim and then rolled in. He was never really good with aim. That was Sasuke's department. Sakura was pretty good with it too, all things considered.
"I know what you're trying to do." Naruto spoke up first. "You shouldn't."
The other man hummed, deftly twirling the wooden pics in his hands. "What is it that I shouldn't do?"
"Back off just because Sasuke is coming home."
Miura's hand stilled then he flicked the skewers into the trash can. "Who said I was backing off?"
"Taking a mission to Lightning for re-negotiation?" The blonde scoffed, "You're an assassin, not an ambassador." Naruto jumped from his tree branch and landed neatly in front of Miura. "I haven't seen Sakura-chan look this happy in awhile. She was...a little listless after Sasuke left and even I wasn't able to lift that cloud away from her."
Miura lifted an eyebrow, "Aren't you supposed to be friends with Sasuke-san?"
Naruto waved his head, "He'll get what's coming." He said vaguely.
The other man sighed, craning his neck upwards, suddenly feeling very tired. "Sakura is still in love with Sasuke." He said, voice pitched so low Naruto had to lean in to catch the last of his words.
"She's been in love with him for eight or ten years." Naruto laughed, slapping Miura on the back again, "You got a lot of catching up to do! But isn't Sakura-chan worth fighting for?"
Miura wanted to say yes but something kept his mouth shut. He simply smiled at Naruto and if Naruto noticed his hesitation to reply, he didn't say anything about it.
Naruto sent Sakura word eight days into her mission that Sasuke returned home. It was a short message that really only said: The Bastard is back. Be safe. Sakura could appreciate the succinct person Naruto had become. Her thoughts wander to Sasuke a number of times during her mission but what was more surprising was the overturn of her thoughts wandering to Miura.
Down in the depths of her bones, she knew it wasn't fair. She liked Miura but she loved Sasuke. Miura took the mission because of Sasuke's sudden announcement of coming home-that thought made her stomach churn. Her fist clenched around the letter. She would see this through. She owed it to herself and she owed it to Miura who saved her from a loneliness that was crippling her heart.
Sasuke's return home wasn't highly celebrated-in fact, it was rather normal. Familiar faces simply smiled at him or greeted him with a nod of acknowledgement. Naruto threw an arm around his shoulder but didn't hang out for more than ten minutes. Sasuke only had to shrug him off once before the blonde man took it in stride and said something about a meeting with the Hyuuga clan.
He was sent to the hospital by Kakashi for a check up before he could ask and was surprised to find a normal nurse assisting him in the physical.
"Uchiha-san, good to have you back." She said with a polite detachment that was reserved for specifically people like him. He knew the detachment very well. It was the same one he used when he was traveling. She gestured for him to sit on the gurney. "Just need a sample of your blood for the bloodworks since you've been traveling and a temperature reading real quick."
Sasuke blinked and everything was done. The doctor and nurses moved him on autopilot and then suddenly, he was being pushed out of the hospital. He was beginning to grow suspicious with how mechanical everyone was moving. He turned on his heels, opening his mouth but was cut off.
"We'll send the report over the Head Medic and Hokage-sama for review. You must be tired. Go get some rest." She said, dismissing him flippantly.
Head Medic…
Sasuke frowned, "Wait, who is your head medic?"
The nurse sent him a reluctant smile but answered nonetheless, "Haruno Sakura. She's not here right now. She-."
Sasuke left her mid-sentence, taking to the roofs. He arrived at Kakashi's office unannounced but quite expected. Of course, Naruto was there pestering Kakashi about something. Both of them immediately ceased their bickering when he entered. He was now completely suspicious.
It wasn't like he forgot about Sakura but no one gave him any time to even ask about her. They were carting him off in eight different directions like they were distracting him. Not even Naruto mentioned her.
"Yo, Sasuke!" Naruto greeted. "That fast. How was your-"
"Sakura." He said and the blonde snapped his mouth closed with an audible click. Sasuke looked at him, expectantly. "She's out on a mission?" He directed his gaze over to Kakashi since Naruto just stuffed his hands into his pockets and refused to answer.
Kakashi nodded, "She'll be back soon. I'm sure you can wait."
Naruto threw the older man a not so subtle side glance. Sasuke narrowed his eyes; the jab wasn't lost on him.
"Is she doing okay?" He asked, a little softly.
Naruto smiled and slapped Sasuke on the shoulder, "She's doing just fine." He said genuinely.
Sasuke was relieved to hear that but didn't know why that left an unsettling feeling over his chest.
On the fifth day, he went in for his mental evaluation. Much to his dismay, Ino sat opposite of him with an impatient tap of her fingers against the table. She seemed a little irritated with him-for what reason, he had no idea. Women were odd creatures.
"How are you, Sasuke-kun?" She asked, starting off with some polite pleasantries. It didn't feel very pleasant.
He nodded back slowly. "Okay." He paused, not sure if he was supposed to ask it back. "...and yourself?"
Ino laughed, "Don't force yourself." She said waving her hand. "And I'll be the one asking questions." She said with a voice she had perfected for interrogation.
Sasuke fixed her an unbothered stare and she was so ready to wipe that unbothered stare off his face. She mentally cracked her knuckles. "Did you find your atonement?" She started off, leaning back on the hind legs of her chair. She propped her legs on the table, uncaring of the look of disgust that managed to slip past Sasuke's defensive face.
He was quiet.
"You don't have to answer but it'll be in your best interest to be honest." Ino piped up, examining her nails with disinterest.
"...no but it's fine." He said with reluctance. Confiding in Ino was the last thing he wanted to do. She wasn't beyond using this as a means for entrapment.
"Cool. Did you find redemption?"
"...no."
"Cool. Great conversation we're having." The blonde quipped, snapping her chair forward. She stared him directly in the eyes and there was something hard behind them. "You had to have found something right? Something that kept you away from Konoha for so long?" Ino was deliberate in her question if not bitter.
Sasuke didn't hear "away from Konoha". He heard "away from her". He clicked his teeth in annoyance and didn't answer her.
Ino let that slide. Kind of. "I hope whatever you found out there was worth more than what you could have found here."
Her statement was a deadly blow.
She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulders in a very explicit display of superiority, "But then again, what do I know?"
Three hours later, Sasuke was released with clearance from Ino and he hoped he never had to see her again. Just as he stepped out of T&I, Ino ran after him and caught him by the sleeve, careful not to touch his hand. She quickly released him after he turned. His stare was icy but Ino burned with fire too.
Ino simply raised an eyebrow, taking on his challenge with an unimpressed stare. "Off the record, don't fuck things up." She snapped and then spun around, her ponytail nearly whipping him across the face and left.
Naruto was there to laugh at him, "Ain't she just charming?" He said with a tone that had Sasuke's finger twitching.
"No." He deadpanned.
Ino read through the only thing she noted on Sasuke's file.
"You didn't find your atonement, your redemption, or anything that was the initial purpose for leaving. If you're not going to give me something, I'm going to mark you certifiably insane. What did you find by leaving Konoha for three years, Sasuke?"
She stared at the one word on the otherwise blank piece of paper.
Peace.
What a load of bullshit. Ino snorted and burned the paper then stamped his file cleared.
Sasuke was about to barge into Kakashi's office to demand solitary confinement away from the leech that was Naruto hanging off his back when the blonde suddenly snapped his spine upright and nearly pulled the both of them to the ground.
"What the hell, Naruto?" Sasuke growled, swinging around to glare at the idiot.
Naruto had his lips pressed tightly together. He grabbed Sasuke by the shoulder and turned him away, stiffly nudging him towards the stairs. "Go home for today, Sasuke." He said, unexpectedly solemn, eyes glued to the doors leading into Kakashi's office.
The Uchiha frowned, shrugging Naruto's hand off his shoulders, about to demand why when he felt it. A tug at his heart. He whirled around just as the door opened a sliver for Shikamaru to slip out.
"Oh, Uchiha." He said, shifting his shoulder to block Sasuke's vision.
It was brief and through the space of Shikamaru's body, he was able to see it. Pink and the slightest widening of green eyes before Shikamaru hurriedly slipped out completely and quickly shut the door cutting off his vision.
Sasuke took a step forward, intent on opening the door to see the one person he'd been wanting to see for the past two weeks. For the past three years.
Firm hands gripped him by the elbow.
Sasuke's eyes followed the hands that were tightening in response. It wasn't Naruto that held him back, surprisingly. "Nara." He said through gritted teeth.
"Not now. She's in a meeting." Shikamaru said, releasing him. His eyes slid behind Sasuke to where they met Naruto's. A quiet exchange happened and Sasuke noticed. He wasn't an idiot.
"I-"
Naruto butt in, uncharacteristically calm and serious. "Sasuke, Sakura-chan will see you on her own time."
There was a stalemate between the two before he breathed in and relented. This was the reason for his journey after all-to let go of his anger. It would come full circle eventually. He left the tower and didn't look back.
Naruto was right. Sakura did come to see him. Four days later. She was bright and brilliant. She smelled like springtime if he ignored the smell of antiseptic that stuck on her like a second skin.
Rather, she smelled like home.
He wondered why it took her four days to come find him. Maybe she was busy-she was the head medic after all. He pushed the thoughts aside and greeted her for the first time in three years. "Sakura." He said and it felt right. Saying her name felt right. Her standing in front of him felt right. "I'm home."
She smiled and it took his breath away. "Sasuke-kun, welcome home."
He opened his mouth to invite her in but she merely handed him a folder. He took it automatically albeit confused.
"It's a copy of your medical records. You're all cleared. I sent approval to Kakashi-sensei." She paused and said a little more softly, "Thank you for taking care of yourself." She gave him a fond smile that made his heart stutter.
"Saku-"
"There's a twenty-eight day probation period before you can go on active duty but I can pull some strings." She interjected smoothly reverting back to a medic. Her smile turned professional-just an amicable smile he could tell she would give any other patient. Sasuke was confused. It felt like she was carving a distinctive line between them. There was a threshold she couldn't cross.
Sasuke could only stare at her. Her hair was a little longer, curled at the bottom and her fringe swept to the side. Her hands were dainty but he knew the pads of her fingers were calloused from hard work. She was slimmer but toner. Her attire filled out in all the right places.
She was Sakura-only not because she was already waving goodbye to him.
He caught her by the wrist before she stepped off the railings.
"Wha-" Her hand braced against a pillar to keep from falling onto Sasuke.
"Sorry." He muttered then, "Where are you going?" He asked.
Sakura blinked. She wanted to shake his hand off because his touch burned her. It burned her deeply.
"Dinner." She blushed, looking down at her stomach the moment it growled.
"Dinner…?" His brows furrowed and in his slow comprehension, his grip slackened and Sakura pulled her hand free.
She smiled at him, a little brittle but still genuine. "I'll see you later, Sasuke-kun."
As she hopped off the stairwell, Sasuke thought he caught a glimpse of dirty blonde hair, peeking out from around the corner of his apartment complex. Sakura disappeared and so did the mop of unrecognizable hair.
Sasuke frowned, the tension tightening in his stomach like a coiled spring.
Naruto was throwing him a welcome home party-one that he fervently objected to.
"You don't have to come." The blonde said. "But Sakura-chan will be there."
And that basically sealed the deal for him. He hadn't seen Sakura since she handed him his medical records and that was three days ago. He didn't actively seek her out but he didn't think it was going to be this hard to see her. He stopped by the hospital once but she was in the middle of surgery. He tried to wait for her but Kakashi called him in to help decode a scroll. Then Naruto whisked him away for training.
Now it was eight-thirty pm on a Friday night and he was surrounded by a number of people officially welcoming him back. Naruto formally introduced him to Hinata as his wife and Sasuke was surprised by Hinata's growth as a woman. He gave the former heiress a small smile as they shook hands.
"Sasuke-kun, it's good to see you again." She said, her voice still as soft as ever but her stutter was gone. He liked his best friend's wife. She wasn't blatantly nosy like Ino and they can have small conversations without prying into each other's lives. She understood privacy and most of all, she understood the politics of a clan.
An hour and a half passed and Sasuke was about to call it a night. He was too sober and had enough socializing to avoid everyone for the rest of the year. Not to mention his shoulder was starting to hurt from everyone clapping a hand to it. He was pretty sure Kiba slapped him with intentions to hurt. He managed to avoid a hug from Lee and Naruto had to step in before he wiped the floor with Sai's ugly mug.
And Sakura was nowhere to be seen.
He squeezed through a string of people to get out when Naruto popped up and whirled him around.
"What is it?"
"Sakura-chan is here." He said, looking a little unsure, "But-look, Sasuke, I don't know if you guys spoke yet. I don't think I should be the one to tell you."
Sasuke shoved Naruto to get some space between them, "What are you talking about?" That unsettling feeling he had in Kakashi's office came back. "Did something happen to her?" Something in his heart curled.
"Well, kind of. But it's not bad though." Naruto said, waving his hands to diffuse the anxiety that was probably evidently clear on his face.
Suddenly, Kakashi appeared next to them and Sasuke had the immediate feeling that he was being guarded.
"Yo." His former teacher greeted him with a floppy wave. Sasuke ignored him because at the moment he saw her.
And he felt it again. The tug at his heart that soared and then plummeted when the man behind her locked eyes with him. The mop of dirty blonde hair. When Sakura moved, he moved.
She was standing in front of him, smile soft and hesitant.
He couldn't hear anything but he felt Naruto nudge him forward.
"Sasuke-kun." She looked behind her at the man with the dirty blonde hair and then back to him, "This is Miura. My boyfriend."
So this was what Ino meant by what he could have found.
"You're taking this surprisingly well." Naruto said a couple of days later.
Sasuke shrugged, "How else am I supposed to take it? I was gone for three years."
It was a bitter, bitter pill to swallow and Sasuke wasn't sure he was done swallowing. But he understood and somewhere in the depths of his journey, he had tried to prepare for something like this. He did Sakura a disservice the three years he was gone.
To call her a friend at this point was a privilege.
Naruto was silent, words on the tip of his tongue like he wanted to say something. His friend never held back on his account and if he thought Sasuke was going to get hurt by the truth, he was wrong. Or right. Doesn't matter at this point.
They were walking along the outskirts of the village. Naruto thought it was a good idea for Sasuke to meet civilian faces and be introduced to a world outside of theirs. Sasuke told him his journey took him far beyond the shinobi world. To places where only trades and merchants stepped upon and civilians knew nothing about chakra and swords.
They stopped just short of the entrance into the village. "Sasuke, Miura is a good guy." Naruto said, waving a hand to several traders signing out.
Sasuke didn't want to hear it. Of course, the man Sakura was dating is a good guy. Naruto wouldn't allow anyone within the vicinity of her if he was anything less than good. It was a wonder how Sasuke even stood within a foot of her. He guessed Naruto had his bias.
"I'm sure he is." Sasuke replied, dryly but honestly. He swallowed, "How long…?"
Naruto frowned, "You should talk to Sakura-chan."
That was out of the question. "No."
"Are you going to avoid her?"
"No."
"Then why don't you-"
"I don't want to hear it from her." Sasuke snapped. In truth, Sasuke never expected Sakura to wait for him but he wanted her to which was unfair. He'd always been a selfish person though. The only difference between his twelve year old self and now was that he learned to keep that to himself.
Love doesn't save everyone, Sasuke learned. He learned that first from Itachi and now he was learning it from Sakura.
Sakura and Sasuke bumped into each other a week before his twenty-eight day probation ended. Kakashi was eager to get him out of the field to test his abilities to take on missions again. They were in times of peace but missions were pouring in since new civilian and merchant cities began emerging. The lack of ninja in those areas caused an influx of requests for escorts and surveillance from the hidden villages.
It didn't take an S-class ranking shinobi to escort a merchant from point A to point B but the pay was good and Kakashi was petty. He took a higher cut of Sasuke's pay than other shinobi.
"Call it interest." His former teacher said. "You owe me."
To be frank, Sasuke didn't owe Kakashi shit. He knew the Hokage was just pulling an abuse of power.
Sakura walked in just as Kakashi handed Sasuke the scroll.
"Oh! Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-sensei!" She said, a smile lilting her lips. Her eyes could outshine the stars. Sasuke never realized how bright it was but maybe because it never was until now. "Sorry, I'll come back later." She said as she began to close the door.
"No need. Sasuke needs to get cleared for his mission. You can do it."
The medic blinked, "A mission? Already?"
Sasuke shuffled awkwardly to the side, making a clear path for Sakura to approach. It was his first time seeing her since his party and his heart was in his throat. Or hands. Or sleeves. Whatever-he was sure she could tell from the way her eyes were critically assessing him right now.
"It's fine." He said sharply, "I can just go to the hospital." He inclined his head forward in a small bow and stepped around Sakura.
"No, I can do it." She said suddenly and then he was being pulled away. When they were out in the hallway, Sakura let go of his sleeve, not in an urgent matter but Sasuke took note that she never found an excuse to try to touch him longer than necessary.
He felt oddly disappointed.
Sasuke took a seat on a stiff chair in Sakura's office. He was impressed by how much she had achieved while he was away. Hospital staff bowed to her, regarded her as Sakura-sama or Haruno-sensei. Kids crowded her as she walked the hallways. The name plaque on her desk was golden, for god's sake.
It was like karmic justice being shoved in his face in every direction and he was drowning.
Sakura gave him a quick but thorough check up, running down his breathing and reflexes with practiced ease. When she was done, she hovered over him.
She smelled of lavender and mint. Fresh and overwhelming.
"Sasuke-kun…"
He wanted to stand up and leave but she was close enough where their knees would collide if he stood up so he remained seated, his back ramrod stiff.
"I-"
"Am I clear?" He asked, cutting her off.
She snapped her mouth shut and nodded slowly. "Yes, but…"
"Then, thank you." Sasuke said, not unkindly but not entirely friendly either. He scooted his chair back so he wouldn't encroach her space when he stood. For the first time, he felt like running away from Sakura. Call him cowardly but what was enveloping his heart wasn't anger but a certain prick of betrayal that was quickly getting louder and louder and was he still wearing his heart on his sleeves because fuck. He'd rather run far from her than show it to her.
He swiftly turned and underestimated Sakura.
Her hand snatched out, grabbing his cloak and she shoved him back in his chair so hard that the legs screeched against the floor.
He stared at her, bewildered. "Does your boyfriend know you're this violent?" He joked untimely.
Sakura's mouth pinched. She clearly did not find his joke amusing or appropriate. She placed a hand on her hips and damn if she didn't look intimidating. "Shouldn't we talk, Sasuke-kun?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's nothing to talk about."
Green eyes pierced him like she was reading his soul or sucking his soul out. Either way, he felt incredibly naked under her stare and it was extremely unsettling that he felt this shaken by Sakura.
"I'm with Miura."
"I know." He said nearly inaudible. He really didn't need a reminder.
"Sasuke-kun, you left and you didn't write or ask about me. For three years."
"I know." He gritted his teeth, fingers tightening around the chair armrest.
"But I...I never stopped. I still lo-"
Sasuke roughly stood up and sealed his hand over her mouth a little harsher than he intended.
Her eyes widened, startled by his action.
"Don't." He whispered, lips barely moving. "I was unfair to you these past three years and I'm sorry but do not say those words when you're with another man."
He was angry. With Sakura and Kakashi and Ino. With Naruto and that Miura dude. And he was angry with himself because while he wasn't sure about love-he always thought Sakura was his.
Sasuke's eyes sharpened to her door and there was a knock just two seconds before it opened. Sasuke was gone by the time Ino popped in and Sakura was pushing her chair back with a knee.
"Hey." The blonde came over and swung an arm over the medic's shoulder. The fresh lacquer of wood peeled from the floor didn't miss Ino's trained eye.
Sakura hid her face into the crook of her best friend's neck and exhaled deeply with a shuddering breath. Ino didn't need to ask what happened. There was only one person in the world that could make Sakura look like that.
Sasuke knew eventually he'd have to face Miura head on-he just didn't think it'd be on a mission. Kakashi was an idiot if he thought this was going to resolve anything but if Sasuke knew to be anything, it was professional. Naruto laid out the floor plan of the building they were supposed to infiltrate.
"Sai sent in one of his drawings. This is as accurate as we could get."
Sasuke stared at the blue print. "This is a brothel." He said flatly.
Naruto chuckled, "Good eyes, Sasuke." He sniped sarcastically. Sasuke ignored him. "Our contact is already inside posing as, uhm...one of the girls."
Miura raised an eyebrow, "Who's the contact?" He asked, doubtful.
Naruto shook his head, "Doesn't matter. We get in, she gets out. She was only able to get in because of her connection with upper management there. This is a civilian sector but they've got shinobi guards playing dress up. Yamazaki Hiro is our target. It needs to be done quick and easy. This used to be a pleasant establishment but Yamazaki Hiro overthrew the owners and turned it into this shithole. The owners' daughter contracted Konoha to have Yamazaki Hiro taken out so they can reclaim their spot. We have a small window of opportunity to get him. He's heavily guarded. Do not engage with the guards. They're from Lightning."
Sasuke closed his eyes. This was a problem. They were always walking on eggshells around Lightning. "We don't need three people for this. It's an assassination."
"That's the first objective. Miura, that's you." Naruto instructed.
Sasuke was surprised. He slid a glance over to Miura who only nodded. It was only then that Sasuke caught the mask hanging off his forearm. ANBU.
"Sasuke, there's a captive there. A young girl they're holding down in the cellar. Our contact there found her and let's just say we're doing this pro-bono. Get her out of there." Naruto continued. "Before Miura gets to Yamazaki."
"What are you going to be doing?" Sasuke strapped his katana to his side and clipped the front of his cloak to shield his weapon and any form of identification.
"Securing our contact. They're already suspicious of her. I need to get her out and since I can use Hiraishin, I'll have the best chance."
Miura tightened the bands around his forearm, "The real objective is getting our contact out, isn't it?"
Naruto was rueful. "Her position may have been compromised which is why we're moving this mission ahead of its timeline."
"Has her identity been revealed?" Sasuke asked, suddenly extremely cognizant of a dreadful feeling creeping up his spine. Sakura was sent on a seminar mission three weeks ago and hadn't returned yet. She told him it was a simple healing seminar. He chanced a look at Miura but his temporary teammate already had his rat mask pulled down to his chin.
Naruto's lips pressed into a thin line and was quiet for a moment before speaking, "Get in the cellar and get the captive out, Sasuke. That's your mission." Naruto held onto his father's legacy between two nimble fingers. "Let's go."
Miura's kill was swift and easy. It took a quick second to incapacitate Yamazaki, who wasn't much of a fighter. He wasn't much of anything but a thug. It seemed like their contact had been slowly poisoning Yamazaki. There were few people that had the ability to do that undetected. He didn't want to speculate so he simply did his job and left quietly.
Sasuke was in and out of the cellar in three minutes. A young girl, maybe thirteen at most. She clung to him as he reassured her he would get her to safety. She was being groomed, he knew. The marks on her neck and arms told a story he didn't need to ask about. Her fingers clutched his cloak and she whispered something that had Sasuke narrow his eyes.
"Please help her." Before she drifted into the realms of unconsciousness. Was there another captive? He'd ask Naruto once they made contact again.
But when Miura and Sasuke met up at the rendezvous, Naruto was late.
Sasuke cursed, "Didn't he say he was the fastest one for the job?"
Miura smiled under his mask, "Let's give it another minute. He should be coming soon."
Silence followed. Sasuke could remain silent forever but there was something weighing in the depths of his chest. Miura was Sakura's boyfriend.
But Sakura was his-or at least in his delusional mind. He snorted to himself. Role reversal. The divine heavens have intervened and they definitely favored Sakura, as they should. Sasuke had been nothing but cruel and selfish.
"She still talks about you." Miura started, as if they were friends talking about the weather and not the woman who claimed both their hearts.
Sasuke didn't want to acknowledge that so he stayed quiet. Miura continued like the silence didn't bother him.
"I suggest you fight for her." He said blithely.
Anger seared through Sasuke's veins. "You're telling me to take your girlfriend away from you." He sneered.
Miura turned, his mask still in place. "If you can." He challenged.
Sasuke was about to lunge when he felt it. Miura was already gone-Sasuke, half a step behind him.
Sakura was limp in Naruto's arms.
She had lied to him.
"Going somewhere?"
Sakura tightened her pack and gave him a steady smile, eyes unwavering. They hadn't seen each other since the slight mishap in her office but she wasn't ashamed. Sakura's love for Sasuke was one thing she was never ashamed of-even when he was a criminal. "Yup. Medical seminar. I'm presenting."
Sasuke eyed her protruding pack and tanto strapped to her back. "I'm sure a medical seminar needs weapons." He noted with skepticism.
Sakura's hand immediately went to her weapon and she smiled sheepishly. "I'm traveling alone so…"
Sasuke didn't like how that sounded. "Do you normally?"
The medic fumbled with the short sword, trying to tuck it behind her pack to obscure it from view. "Yes, because I'm an offensive fighter too. Medics who aren't trained to be in the front lines usually require a guard. I don't." She sighed, giving up when the tanto still stuck out.
Sasuke unclasped his cloak and tossed it over her shoulder.
"Oh." She gasped, "It's fine, Sasuke-kun."
"Take it and be safe."
Sakura blinked. "Sure." She laughed and took off.
Sasuke let Naruto and Miura fuss over Sakura in the hospital. He didn't feel like it was his place to stay. With Naruto there and her boyfriend, Sasuke was a floater. Shizune had said it was nothing critical and as soon as she was stabilized, Sasuke stomped over to the Hokage's headquarters. Kakashi's doors were already opened as if inviting him in. Better than destroying it he supposed.
"You sent Sakura undercover." He accused.
Kakashi set aside the scroll he was reading but didn't look up as he organized his files, "I sent Sakura on a mission." The older man corrected him.
Sasuke bit his tongue from lashing out. "She's your head medic."
The Hokage dragged his eyes slowly, disapprovingly to meet Sasuke's gaze. "I'm well aware of what she is."
"Then why compromise her?"
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his eyebrows. "Perhaps you've been away for a little too long but when I make my decisions, it's based on numbers not partiality." Kakashi reminded him methodically. "Sakura isn't just a medic, she's still on active roster and is highly requested. She's a jounin and she'll probably be able to curb-stomp your face." He added because once again, he was petty. He didn't like Sasuke coming back to question his authority and executive decisions. "The best laid plans, Sasuke."
To Kakashi's surprise, instead of turning away in a huff and leaving, Sasuke took a seat. His one hand wound around his neck and he looked uncomfortable. An awkward silence passed between them but Kakashi was used to being awkward. He didn't mind and he let Sasuke stew for a little bit.
"I missed out on a lot." Sasuke finally murmured and Kakashi didn't even have to strain his ears to hear the regret. Sasuke was staring out the window but he wasn't seeing anything. Kakashi was sure the Uchiha was plagued by hindsight.
"You were gone for three years." The Hokage reminded him. He dabbled his initials on scroll and sealed it up, tucking it in one of the drawers.
Sasuke averted his eyes from the window and tilted his head against the chair, rolling his neck. "Naruto mentioned her once after the human combustion fiasco. I wanted to go home then." He said, "But I wasn't ready."
"Sasuke, you didn't write to her once." Kakashi admonished softly.
"I thought about her a lot." Sasuke said as if that explained everything. It didn't but the admission was so out of left field, Kakashi was stunned into silence. That was almost as close to a love confession coming from Sasuke. "But I didn't know when I was coming back."
"But you were going to come back."
"Yes." Sasuke said without hesitation. "But it wouldn't be fair to her if I kept her waiting on words and letters."
"Well, she waited anyway."
"Did she?" Sasuke shot back, heat finally rising in his words. He cleared his throat, not realizing he had stood up and sat back down. "Sorry." He murmured, looking away with chagrin. For Sasuke, once it was out, he realized how easy it was to commit to his feelings. He dragged his hand through his hair, disheveling it. It was growing long and was evidence of his nomad's life.
"Sakura doesn't owe you anything." Kakashi took pity on his former student but it was finally time for Sasuke to bear the consequences of the choices he made. "But I'm sure you knew this leaving." Kakashi said with some sympathy. Just some.
"I…" Sasuke paused, "Sakura has never owed me anything." He agreed then stood up taking his leave. He stopped just before the door, "The best laid plans." He repeated to his former teacher.
When Sasuke came back to the hospital, Sakura's room was empty and a nurse directed him to her office. Her door was cracked open and he knocked out of respect.
"Sasuke-kun, it's open!" She said.
He walked in to see Sakura dressing Naruto's wound on a window bench. Miura was nowhere to be found for which Sasuke was glad.
"Why is Sakura taking care of you?"
Naruto jumped off the bench with a wide smile, "Cause she's the medic." He said just as Sakura whacked him on the head. It only served to widen his smile. "She checked everyone, you're the only one left."
"Where's Kota?" Sasuke asked, keeping his tone carefully neutral.
"Naruto sent him away." Sakura said, glaring at the blonde.
Naruto rotated his shoulders, "Report. Assassination jobs require a separate debriefing." He patted Sakura's head then leaned down to give her a kiss on the forehead. She smiled pleasantly at the blonde and Sasuke felt like he was intruding on a private moment shared by two people he sought solace in each other during his absence. He looked away just as Naruto made his exit. "Don't give him too much of a hard time, Sakura-chan."
Sakura tossed him out by the ear then waved for Sasuke to take a seat.
"I don't need a check up." He said but took a step forward and closed her office door. "Besides, you're the only one who came back unconscious."
The woman looked up from where she was rolling together bandages when the door softly clicked shut. "You know you have to sign a waiver for that." She said, dismissing his comment about her state after the completion of the mission.
"I already did. At the hospital."
Sakura observed him with disbelief, "If you're lying-"
"I'm not lying." Sasuke cut her off. "I don't lie to you, Sakura."
The medic tilted her head to the side in question. She caught the immediate shift of his intentions because Sasuke was looming with dark eyes. She swallowed, "Sasuke-kun?"
He approached her, steps with purpose and stride then plunked down on the bench where Naruto had just been. "My eyes." He said, closing them.
Sakura didn't need to be told anything else. She ran her cooling chakra over his lids, inserting it into the space of his retinas and delicate bloodline. "Does having the Eternal Mangekyou hurt?" She asked out of curiosity. She was vastly interested in the mechanics of the Kekkai Genkai but had no one to study. Now that Sasuke was back, she wondered if he would allow her to do some research on it.
"It doesn't hurt. Just sensitive."
Sakura hummed, focused on his eyes. Her fingers trailed the outer corners of his eyes, fluttering across his lids. Sasuke forced himself to stay still but he desperately wanted to reach his hands to clasp her wrist, to feel his fingers in his. He just wanted to touch her but he curbed his urge.
Sakura wasn't his to touch so freely.
Her chakra simmered until it vanished and the cooling sensation sweeping his eyes disappeared. Sakura hadn't asked about the Rinnegan and he wondered if it was because of the boundary she drew. When he opened them, his vision was blurred. Sakura swiped a cotton swab against his water line to clear his eyes. He blinked a couple of times and his sight returned. Sakura had switched to dabbing a cotton swab along his cheeks where the tears had dampened them.
"Your optic nerves are good." She said, impressed. "Chakra pathways are clean too. Some signs of usage but nothing damaging." She smiled at him warmly-the same smile that conveyed her love and Sasuke didn't think he could be near her anymore. She was a constant reminder of what he couldn't have because he was a fool. He looked away as Sakura turned to toss the cotton into a waste bin. "You stayed out of trouble when you were out there, huh?" She asked softly.
"I wasn't out there to fight." He said, slightly offended.
"I know." She said turning with a hand on her hips, "That much I know."
Ah, there it was. The jab.
He felt the need to explain himself; something he was never compelled to do before. "How did you two meet?" He asked instead and wanted to slam his head into the floorboard. He had no subtlety but at this point, with the way her eyes widened, he couldn't care less.
He wanted to know. Didn't want to know but wanted to know and it was slowly consuming him. His journey was supposed to leave him open with less regret and an avenue for Sakura to be a part of his life.
"Oh, uhm...the bookstore by Ino's." She blushed, twiddling her finger. "He grabbed a book for me."
He grabbed a book for her. He grabbed a book for her. Sasuke wished he didn't ask but his tongue was loose now. "How long have you been seeing him?"
"A year." She shuffled around her office, putting things away and capping lids, busying her hands.
"Does he treat you well?"
Sakura stopped and looked over her shoulder to catch his eyes. There was a hard glint. She was offended by the question with the way her lips dipped in dismay. "Does he treat me well?" Sakura asked back in disbelief. "What's the point of that question, Sasuke-kun?"
He regarded her calmly despite her ever growing agitation. "It's just a question."
"Do you mean if we've slept together?" She asked bluntly.
Sasuke couldn't stop the hiss that escaped between his teeth, "That's not what I asked." He abruptly stood up, "Forget it." He snapped.
Sakura snatched his wrist, forcing him to stop. She was unnaturally strong and he was pretty sure his wrist would dislodge itself from the socket if he pulled away. Sakura would take his hand with her to the grave if she was steadfast on holding him down.
"Ask me the real question you want to ask." She demanded.
Sasuke held her gaze and he knew Sakura was his end game. He would be selfish to the end and so he asked. "Do you still love me?"
"I have only ever loved one person, Sasuke-kun."
Miura was waiting for him outside of Sakura's office. Whether or not he heard their conversation, he was cordial enough to give Sasuke a tight lipped smile. Sasuke glanced at him then motioned to the door, "She's inside."
"I know she's inside." Miura said, pushing off from the wall. "I'm not here for her. Mind if we have a conversation?" He pointed upwards to the roof.
The last time Sasuke was on the hospital roof, he and Naruto nearly put a hole in each other. And killed Sakura. He flinched at that memory. It was quite reminiscent. He wondered if Miura was purposely doing this as the other man led him up the stairs.
Miura wasted no time. He unsheathed his sword and it clashed with Sasuke's in a high shriek that rang and vibrated through their bones. It was exhilarating.
Sasuke smirked, "This isn't the conversation I thought we'd be having."
"No?" The blonde quirked an eyebrow then swiveled a foot behind Sasuke, bringing both swords down, forcing Sasuke to relent and flip backwards. The ANBU member flicked behind him and their swords met again. "I heard you were skilled with the sword." Miura mused.
A beat later and the two drew back, sheathing their swords.
"Sakura thinks the first time we met was at the bookstore." Miura started.
Sasuke wasn't sure if that meant he heard their conversation or not but he really didn't care because the smug look Miura was casting was a reflection of Sasuke's old self.
"I know eventually she's going to choose you." The other man stated this like it was a definite fact and it probably was. "But until then, Sakura is mine."
Sasuke snapped his head up, glaring at Miura.
"You don't have to worry about me treating her well." Miura shot him a side glance that basically screamed Sasuke's loss. The Uchiha could feel his anger burning with those words. "I'm not going anywhere."
Warning: This will probably never have an ending. Needed to dump this somewhere though. Hope you guys enjoyed it.
And, all my dividers went to shit after uploading it so I hurried and added some. Don't even know if they're in the right place but whatever.