It takes Shisui a few moments to realize that it wasn't Itachi who had spoken, but Sasuke.

His baby-cousin, who he'd seen crawling after him and Itachi so that they'd help him catch butterflies, was now a man. As tall as him, shoulders broader than Itachi and his voice rough, Shisui feels speechless. Because even though he knows, he knows, it's not his fault, he didn't choose to leave his family, he can't help feeling like he's abandoned Sasuke – like he's abandoned everyone.

But Shisui cracks a smile nonetheless.

'Sasuke-kun, you've grown a lot.' He knows it's lame, but what can he say?

The years away made him good at stating the obvious, apparently.

Everyone around him is now standing awkwardly, Sakura has finally let go of that Naruto person – he will think about that hug later – so Shisui consciously walks into the Hokage's office, one hand tapping Sasuke's shoulder as he passes by him. And Sasuke, honest to God, is gaping.

'Uchiha, you're finally back.'

Tsunade Senju addresses him like he's her long lost nephew and he's been away for a holiday. She's nothing like Shisui expected, but to be fair, he's never met any of the Sannin. He expected her to be older, somber and more – more Hokage like. Instead she blonde, busty and young.

Though he can detect the faint traces of a youth jutsu hovering around her.

'I wondered when I'd finally see your pretty face back here.' Tsunade says whilst taking a sip from the sake cup placed next to some scrolls.

'And good to see you've brought my student with you." Sakura steps next to him, joined by the rest.

'Tsunade-sama' Sakura bows, and Shisui can hear the emotion in her voice.

Tsunade nods back, a satisfied small grazes her lips, then pours herself another cup of sake – surely this cannot be Hokage protocol or whatever?

'This simplifies things. Your teammates here just got cleared for missions and were about to join the search party we sent for you a few weeks ago, despite my strong belief that you would return on your own.'

Naruto looks sheepishly at her and Sakura really doesn't know how to feel. The emotion of being back trumps everything else, warmth at Naruto and Sasuke's concern and pride at the Hokage's trust. She hopes she can make it to her home before she bursts into fucking tears and pulls a Rock-Lee on everyone. Shisui's been away for far longer than her and he isn't behaving like a pansy.

'When will you learn to trust my competence, Uzumaki?' Tsunade scoffs.

'Nee, Sakura-chan, Tsunade-baa-chan was right, we wanted to race after you when you disappeared from the field –'

'– hey! Show some respect brat!'

'– but I had to stay and help everyone fight and then we won but teme almost got cursed by Orochimaru and – '

'He what?'

'– and both my arms got broken but teme's brother brought reinforcements and – '

Sakura tunes out Naruto's rant – not because she doesn't care, she's sure she'll get a play-by-play later – but because she sees Sasuke fidgeting – actually fidgeting – and his eyes never left Shisui's form once.

She vaguely hears Naruto stop to ask 'who's that', but it remains unanswered.

'You're alive.' Sasuke remarks, with just a hint of emotion which probably goes unnoticed by anyone else in the room.

Whatever hope Shisui had that Sasuke had learned more words than Itachi, dies in the moment Sasuke opens his mouth. The curse of the broody claims another Uchiha.

'Good observation, otouto.' Itachi makes his entrance and sweeps the room in one look, with a respectful nod to the Hokage.

'Good to see you're back, cousin.' And Itachi honest to god, hugs Shisui. More than a pair of eyes bulge at the sight. She doesn't know if she should be more shocked that Shisui had been presumed dead or that Itachi knew and Sasuke didn't or that Itachi hugged someone.

Sakura also vaguely wonders if Sasuke will need life support throughout it all.

'Sakura.' He nods to her. 'I'm pleased to see you're safe.'

'Itachi, you're here. This works great because the mission will be partly declassified and your presence is required. Kakashi was expected here for a different reason three hours ago, so if I'm right –'

There's a poof and Kakashi appears on the window sill.

But it's Shisui who beats everyone else to the punch.

'Who did you help this time, Hatake?'

Tsunade explains and explains, aided often by Shisui, but Sakura's brain stops functioning throughout it. Because it makes sense yet it doesn't. Because she doesn't comprehend how Shisui was a victim, yet he was the one receiving the utmost punishment – whether he realizes it or not. He was away from the village, alone, whilst Danzo and Root remained safely in the village and continued doing what they did without any consequences.

It doesn't matter that they were under observation, it doesn't matter that Shisui was valuable intel for Konoha, her heart breaks at how the third Hokage had failed to protect its loyal citizen, because why was Shisui away for so long? How long could it take to gather evidence against Danzo?

All of the small gestures and facial expressions she noticed during the days spent with Shisui make sense all of the sudden.

And her hear breaks a tiny bit more for him.

Shisui maintains his carefree appearance, smile present on his lips and eyes crinkling, but she wonders how troubled he really is and what kind of damage or scars the years away must've left on him. She wonders how he was before he left.

Sakura is not oblivious to the fluctuating chakras in the room, because Sasuke and Naruto are not exactly being subtle. Their annoyance can almost be tasted.

'I'm not in a position to discuss the Third's actions because it would be a one-sided conversation.' Tsunade takes a deep breath.

'Shisui, I wish I could've brought you home a lot sooner, as soon as I took position, but we were on the brink of war and Konoha needed you. In case you didn't know –' Tsunade's look sweeps the room 'It was Shisui who warned us of the attack on Konoha at the start of the war. His intel saved a lot of people.'

'We are in great service to you and we can only hope that your loyalty will be rewarded.'

Sakura bristles at the word 'hope' and Tsunade seems to sense this because she adds:

'That being said, Hatake?'

Kakashi, who had leaned against the wall until that point, oozing boredom, straightens his back and puts his hands in his pockets.

'Danzo and the majority of Root is in custody, chakra severed and awaiting further instructions.'

'Ibiki is informed that they are not to be harmed, but I assume that it can up to interpretation.'

They all know exactly what that means and are also aware of Ibiki's personal opinion of the underground group. They just hope some will be left alive for the interrogation.

Sakura takes a look at Shisui, who appears shell-shocked.

'Just like that?'

And the realization hurts more. Because the power had been in the Third's hands, and he could've changed Shisui fate, protected the village from within, but he hadn't.

But things will change.

Sakura breaks out of her daydreaming as her name is being called.

'Sakura, you will be in charge of the trial against Danzo and Root.' Tsunade takes another swig of the sake and she notices that the bottle is almost half empty. It had been full when they arrived.

'You and Yamanaka will work well with Ibiki Morino and I expect a fair trial.' She locks eyes with Sakura and the meaning is understood to her. 'Root has been a plague to this village for far too long and I want to see it end.'

The last of her words hang in the air.

'Dismissed.'

Itachi is the first one to react.

'Shisui, mother and father should be made aware of your arrival.' But Shisui's eyes are locked onto Sakura's form as a sort of anchor and he hesitates before following Itachi.

'Shisui. Make sure you pass by the hospital for a routine check. Then we can discuss you reentering service.' Tsunade says before exit the office.

'Hai, Hokage-sama.'

When they're right outside the office, Sasuke seems to remember something and awkwardly puts a hand on Sakura's shoulder, then pulls her into a hug. Sakura stills because Sasuke never hugs her unless it's her birthday. And when he gently squeezes her hip, she blushes.

It's Naruto who calls them out.

'Eww, teme, can you back to being broody and uptight?'

Sasuke glares at him and releases her, but it takes Sakura more than a few moments to recover.

There's a lot of blabbering from Naruto as they leave the building and it's odd to Sakura how easily they fall back into their pre-war habits. There's no awkwardness – well, except from Sasuke who just found out his first cousin is alive – but even Kakashi seems to take it in a stride and makes small talk with Shisui.

They cross paths with Genma just as they're outside the tower. Hands in his pockets, smirk on his face, he nods towards Shisui.

'Uchiha, heard you were back from the dead.'

Sakura assumes from Shisui's grin that they are old friends.

'Genma, they've still not retired your old ass I see.'

'Someone had to work while you were away on a vacay.' He smirks back and Sakura is surprised to notice that Shisui's grin widens. Does he get upset about anything?

'And you even brought back my favorite Jonin.' He adds with a smile that would be lecherous on anybody else, but this is Genma and flirting is like breathing for him. 'Sakura, sweetheart, I haven't seen you in ages. What about a hug?' Genma extends one of his arms and Sakura makes a move towards him because she really likes Genma not in that way, but he's always so positive and happy that she cannot deny him the hug he apparently wants.

As she takes a step towards him, Sakura realizes that she cannot move. There's a chakra flare and suddenly Kakashi's hand is gripping her vest, Sasuke's hand in on her head and Itachi's on her shoulder. Naruto seems oblivious for the moment.

'Whoa, boys, no need to get overprotective. I just wanted to greet Sakura back to Konoha…' he says, but Sakura feels the guys' grip tighten on her and she notes that the only way to get to Genma is to fight her way out of it. And that's not taking the Kyuubi into account.

Sakura sighs. 'Maybe next time, Genma-senpai.'

Kakashi bristles.

There's a faint chuckle before Genma turns around nonchalantly. 'Looking forward to seeing you around.'

'Sakura-chan, let's go home. I'm staying with you until I can get a new apartment because my old room got blown up.'

Sakura's brain stops processing words because Naruto cannot be serious. Living with him would be like taking care of 10 hyperactive small children and their puppies.

'Good day, Sakura-san.' Itachi says before turning around with Sasuke and Shisui.

Shisui watches Kakashi and Naruto entwin arms with her and almost pull her from the spot she's rooted in, as they leave for their homes.

He idly plays with Sakura's hitai-ate, which is tucked in the pocket of his trousers.

Sakura learns that Naruto has been in fact living in her apartment for over a month. And how she notices that? By the vast amount of ramen cups littering her kitchen and living room and – and she even finds some in the bathroom but Kami, she hopes that he's been taking baths and indulging in treats. And not what actually most likely happened.

There are a few shouts from Sakura and a few tears from Naruto, but he should consider himself lucky that no blood has been spilled – mostly due to the fact that Sakura decorated her apartment in nuances of beige, grey and butter so she really wants to avoid anything that could stain. She contemplates that as she sees Naruto lugging the trash out of the apartment and sets out to sorting the rest of the stuff, which is rather intact. Sakura assumes it's due to them being too busy after the end of war, with reconstructions and patrols and alliances being made. Her heart squeezes a bit more. She's home.

By the time Naruto finishes with the garbage, Sakura has tidied up the apartment – thankfully he didn't make camp in her bedroom and took the guest one instead – and she's preparing two cups of tea for the cozy evening that will surely follow.

Naruto is – flaws and babbling and ramen and all – her brother at heart.

Sasuke is oscillating between leaning against the wall and throwing his hands up while yelling what the fuck – which he would never do, because he's an Uchiha.

Because apparently his mom and dad both knew about Shisui being alive. Was he too stupid to be told? Were they expecting him to run around the village yelling about Root and their assassination attempt?

What the fuck!

It turns out that his parents were even more in the loop than Itachi, who only found out a few years ago, and even worse, the other clan heads knew.

As he learns, it was the Hyuugas and Yamanakas who managed to bring Root to justice, thanks to surveillance done by the other clans and their hatred for what the organization altogether, but it was his own father that managed to capture Danzo when he attempted to flee the village after his shinobi were apprehended. There's a slight satisfaction in him when he notices that not even Itachi knew about it. At least they were both kept in the dark.

So much for proving he doesn't have a brother complex.

'And you've met Sakura-chan!' Mikoto clasps her hands enthusiastically and Sasuke could swear that her eyes shine a bit.

Itachi glances at him, then at Shisui. It's not such a well-hidden fact that Mikoto is determined to make Sakura part of their family, and seeing as she's had no luck with either Sasuke nor Itachi, she might set her eyes on Shisui.

'We need to invite her to dinner soon, celebrate that she's back. And that you are back! We will host a party, that's what everyone needs in these times.'

There's a small attempt on Fugaku's side to interfere, but there's no stopping Mikoto's frenzy.

'Something classy to let everyone know that you're alive and well, and we will invite the other clans to show our gratitude that they've helped.'

Shisui can't help feeling a bit excited at the thought of seeing Sakura again.

The next day in the afternoon, Shisui finally ventures out to take a stroll around the village. He was probably expecting more, but in all honesty, nothing has really changed.

But he's been fighting the feeling that something is missing and it's odd, because he finally has everything back in his life, so what's wrong?

It's only when he notices a huge dome shaped, chrome building on which bold letters spell 'Konoha Residential Hospital' that he realizes why.

Oh. Oh.

The first shock is for the building, because Shisui swears that when he left the village, the hospital was more of an infirmary and definitely did not look like this.

The second is because the moment his brain makes the connection, he wonders if he can get any weirder and stalkerish than he is at the moment. Honestly, it's been one day. He also wonders if she's thought of him.

Shisui grins, because Tsunade-sama did ask him to go for a checkup.

Sakura is equal parts of pissed and happy because the hospital hasn't been doing that bad, really. Which is saying something, seeing that the staff didn't manage to catch a break during and after the war ended. But her firm hand in handling the stocks and supplies has been absent and it can be seen everywhere. She has no doubt that Tsunade would've approved of the budget needed to buy medicine and props, if anyone had bothered to order them.

She'd have to train someone to take over when she's not around.

But her shift had ended and Sakura is arranging some next day appointments at the reception when both entrance doors burst open and there's a flash of yellow. Since there's no holler of 'Sakura-chaaan', it can only mean it's-

'Forehead! Took you long enough to come back.' Ino struts in as if she owns the place, hands on hips and said hips swaying..

Sakura grins with all her teeth.

'Pig! At least I'm not coming back from catching Tora cat, like you.'

Ino squeals and hugs Sakura, pulling her up from her feet.

'You've go to tell me everything over dinner. I'll get cleaned up and meet you in the village-'

There's a slight cough and both girls turn around to see Shisui standing in the doorway, figure laxed and an amused expression on his face.

'Wow, who's the hottie?' Ino says in what she assumes it's a whisper, but can be heard by everyone in the foyer.

'Ino, meet Shisui Uchiha. He's, uh, Sasuke-kun's cousin.' Sakura stumbles over her words. Why is Shisui here?

'Uchiha, huh? I know every Uchiha but I haven't seen you around. And trust me, I'd remember you.' The worst thing is, is that Ino is not even flirting. This is how she is.

Sakura wonders how she can translate that to Shisui.

But then Shisui smirks a little and his demeanor changes and Sakura realizes that there are more sides to him than she thought, brought on by being home. He's smug, masculine and jaunty – she takes a deep breath.

He's nothing like Sasuke.

'Nice to meet you –?'

'Ino Yamanaka' she says and swings her ponytail back before she stills, then realizes something. Ino narrowes her eyes and looks at Sakura. She's not the leader of T&I for nothing, hence Sakura gulps.

All the flirt has gone from Ino's moves and Sakura sees the wheels turning.

'So how do you know my bestie here?'

'Sakura and I met when I was returning to the village, I've been away for a while.' Shisui's eyes slide to Sakura.

'Yes, Shisui helped me when I was poisoned then travelled together here.'

Before Ino can ask any more questions, Sakura intervenes.

'Shisui, what brings you to the hospital?'

'Hokage-sama has ordered a check-up so I thought why wait?'

Her tone turns business-like when she says 'We usually do the regular shinobi check-ups in the morning, most of the medics have gone home for the evening except for those on duty-'

'Forehe- Sakura, I'm sure you can fit Uchiha-san in for the evening, I can wait until tomorrow for our outing.'

'But I-'

But Ino is already maneuvering her back into the cabinets area, waving a hand dismissively.

'No point in keeping our shinobi waiting, he surely needs his check-up done so he's up and running for missions.'

Sakura doesn't have time to glare before Shisui joins her and they're off to the closest check-up room.

'See you tomorrow Sakura!' and Ino trots out of the room, a knowing smile on her face.

Really, she's too good.

Refusing to let it become awkward, Sakura presents Shisui to a chair and reaches for a new patient file. She writes his name in bold letters, then stares at them for at least 10 seconds. A pink eyebrow twitches and she frowns, like she can't decide.

Shisui smiles.

She frowns a bit more.

'It's a bit odd for me, most of our shinobi have patient files since they are very young. But I assume yours have been completely destroyed and they wouldn't matter anyway because we've missed years of data.' She trails off.

He entwines his hands and waits patiently, blinking lazily at her.

Shisui is amused by her discomfort.

'I guess we can start with some of your known health issues, any surgeries or immune diseases?' Sakura trails off, a slight frown on her face.

'I've been pretty healthy my entire life.'

'Something that runs in your family perhaps?'

'Not that I know of.' He replies a bit dry.

'I guess you haven't seen a medic in uh…' She trails off and winces a little.

There's a bark of laughter from Shisui. 'I didn't really have the chance to make appointments, Sakura.'

Ok, that wasn't very well thought of. 'Any particular events you're aware in you childhood? Any poisoning, fractures?' He's really not giving her anything to go on.

'Except for Danzo removing my eyes, I guess there weren't any-'

There's a sharp intake of breath from Sakura and she narrows her eyes.

'I would consider that a 'particular event', Shisui.'

He's unfazed.

'I've put them back in immediately, so it's not a big deal.'

'Yourself?' She almost spits the words out with incredulity. 'Why weren't you attended by a medic?'

'Nee, Sakura, medicine was not that evolved a few years ago, the hospital didn't exist back then.' He gives her a pointed look, but not unkind. 'Not to mention the whole faking my death thing.'

Sakura is torn between feeling awkward – of course, if everyone thought he was dead, he couldn't just walk into a hospital and ask for his iron levels to be checked – and incredulity at the fact that he literally put his eyes back in his head.

'How did you even do it? What if you had health issues afterwards, like amblyopia?' she says as she removes herself from the chair, opening the desk to pull out some gloves, a thermometer and some syringes for blood work.

Shisui wisely decides to keep his mouth shut. The questions are rhetorical, after all.

'You can change behind the paravane.' Sakura waves a hand to the small alcove on the side of the room.

'Excuse me?'

Sakura looks up at Shisu, her hands still sorting through the medical kit. 'Full check-ups require a hospital gown.' She slowly states, matter-of-factly.

Her poker face is almost perfect, except for the tiniest of tilts in the corner of her mouth. She's enjoying this a bit.

'We have to do height, weight, reflexes, chakra paths, blood samples and an eye exam.' She scowls at the last part.

Shisui wonders if there's any way he can save himself. He wants to protest – but he can't get the words out before she's on to him.

'It's not my fault you missed almost 10 years of physical check-ups. We don't usually do this all at once, they're a bit more spread out.'

Shisui is distressed.

Sakura doesn't even look at him as she states the facts, her nose buried again in his chart, writing down things Shisui doesn't even want to know, so he walks behind the paravane and perhaps – perhaps there's a way he can spin this.

So Shisui strips down to his boxers and waves away the gown Sakura is offering, walking barefoot to the examination table.

Sakura gapes for two reasons. First, the audacity.

Second, she hadn't thought of herself as being shallow. But Shisui is stunning on a whole different level.

He's bulkier than Itachi, yet lean at the same time. Tanned skin marred by typical shinobi scars, Sakura thinks he's perfection as she tries to kill the blush threatening to stain her face and chest.

Shisui plops down on the bed and smiles at Sakura's lingering stare.

'It wouldn't fit anyway.'

She snaps out of it and narrows her eyes – because it's bullshit. Seems like he's begging for a prostate exam as well.

Sakura's in awe at his physical condition – not that she would ever tell him that – and once again curses the Uchiha's for their superiority as – as everything.

'You slouch.' She states – it's really the littlest of slouches – but she'd determined to find something wrong with him. 'How very un-Uchiha-like.'

Shisui scrunches his nose.

'Mikoto-oba's been saying that since I was a kid.'

Her stomach is in knots – he's adorable – but she needs to exploit this a little.

'I need to check your spine, you might have scoliosis and that can aggravate into –'

'-death?' His grin is toothy and she frowns back.

'Now you're going to have to turn around and bend a little for me.'

There's a second – a pause, he doesn't want to overstep – then 'Isn't that supposed to be my line?'

Sakura catches his grin as he turns around and pokes him with a chakra enhanced finger as punishment. Shisui doesn't even flinch.

Why does he always come on top?

Damn. She's not making this easier for herself either.

Sakura traces his vertebra, the tip of her fingers glowing green as she's searching for any misplacements or trapped nerves.

Shisui enjoys her innocent touches as she works her way down his spine – it soothes and tingles him at the same time, the sensation spreading all around his back and leaving goosebumps in its wake.

'I can heal this better.' He hears her say as she traces a purple healed scar on his shoulder.

He just shakes his head and hums. Sakura takes it as an approval and boosts her chakra before pouring it into the old wound. It takes seconds – it's her specialty after all, that and chakra control – before the scar isn't visible anymore.

She runs her whole hand over the clear skin and Shisui's shoulder twitches slightly.

The tingle in her fingers has nothing to do with chakra anymore.

Sakura is less than a foot away from Shisui's body, so there's little time to react before he turns around in her involuntary embrace and suddenly he's towering over her and his body heat is overwhelming.

Sakura lowers her eyes because she can almost taste his breath.

'Your-your eyes, we should start working in your eyes.' She swallows and her only functioning brain cell wonders if she's destined to forever behave like this in front of an Uchiha.

Shisui sits himself back onto the bed and it's his trusting and expecting face that confuses her. Except for Sasuke – whom she's known forever – and Itachi, who respects her as a comrade, she's never been allowed to test any Sharingan eyes before.

'Ok, this might feel a bit weird.' She says before touching Shisui's temples with her fingers and pouring individual strands of green chakra into his head.

There's a soft sigh from Shisui and he closes his eyes.

'It feels nice.'

'For now. It will feel a bit more aggressive as I reach the optic nerve and retinal blood vessels.'

Not a second passes before Shisui's forehead creases as Sakura's chakra reaches his nerves.

Shisui can't stop his hands – doesn't want to – as they reach on their own to grab her hips because it's the only thing he can do to avoid pushing her and her chakra away.

'Your nerves are slightly inflamed – not as much as I would expect from putting your eyes back inside by yourself – and I can see several blood clots and fragments of tissue which cause this inflammation.'

Her chakra turns slightly blue and the pressure on his eyes eases. 'Turn on your Sharingan for me.'

He does and he's taken aback at how clear he can see the tiniest of freckles dotting her nose and – there's one in her eye as well. Her hears fragments of what she's saying but he's too focused on the view.

'Some chakra paths in the eyes were blocked, they mainly lead to dead-ends because they weren't connected through the correct procedure.' Sakura continues, steadily pouring chakra into his temples and destroying the blood clots and healing the paths. 'With proper nerve correction and a few healing sessions, the chakra paths should be realigned and you'll be good to go.'

She needs to keep talking because his stare is unnerving.

'Of course, Tsunade-sama is an expert on the Sharingan, she's the private healer of the Uchiha clan and wants me to take over-'

'Your chakra feels good.' Shisui suddenly says, voice rough and Sharingan burning.

'It's healing chakra, so I'd expect-'

'No.' He presses and pins her with his stare. 'Your chakra feels good. Like cool spring water.'

She doesn't really know what to say to that.

'Like I've said, with proper care and treatment we can avoid the deterioration of the vision. Tsunade-sama-'

'Can you treat me instead?'

'She's the official healer and researcher so I don't know what Fugaku-sama's opinion would be.'

'Sakura. I think I'm at a point in life where I can at least decide who can treat me, don't you think?'

She blinks.

'And I want it to be you.'

'Okay?'

'Good.'

They don't notice that his hands are still on her hips until he removes them.

'Then if we're done here, let me escort you home.'

Sakura wonders why she cannot think of a single reason he shouldn't.

Sakura makes the mistake of taking the home-route through the market, and Shisui is excited and wants to try everything.

For the hundredth time she wonders how can he be an Uchiha because the display of emotions is unreal. Uchihas don't get excited when they see panda-shaped onigiri.

'Let me treat you to something to say thank you.' Shisui says when Sakura eyes the Botchan dango served in one of the stands.

There's not enough time to protest because Shisui is already chatting with the old lady who is smitten with him, handing money over the counter and smiling.

'That's a pretty lady you've got there, Uchiha-sama.'

Sakura flushes.

Shisui doesn't hesitate before answering 'She's lovely, isn't she?' as he grabs the two plates from the old woman.

'Here, take this strawberry mochi to share.' She says as she winks as Shisui.

Why isn't Shisui stopping her? Sakura muses and wills her flush to go down because he cannot know the effect he has on her because it's all just teasing.

Finally their weird banter stops, Shisui holds the two paper plates with one hand and grabs hers with the other to steer them away to a nearby bench. He sits both of them down and offers her a plate.

Sakura thanks him a she picks up one of the dango sticks and bites into it before humming in pleasure.

'This is the best thing ever.' She says in-between mouthfuls, and Shisui could swear her eyes are almost sparkling.

'My brain-damaged teammates always want to go to Ichiraku's or the grilling shop, it's a treat when-'

She stops when Shisui's hand reaches out to move a few stray hairs over her ear.

'They were in the sauce.' He says nonchalantly. Sakura gapes.

'What?' And Shisui laughs a little, the edge of his voice is softer and his eyes warm. It envelops her like the best kind of hug and for a moment she imagines it means more. She wonders how it would be like if it were more.

Sakura shakes her head because Shisui is staring at her staring at him and he sees the question in his eyes.

'Are you –'

'This is the best dango I've ever had.' Not so subtle at diverting his attention but it works and he starts eating his own as well.

They finish their portions and Shisui quizzes her about her work at the hospital.

'When do you have the time to assist the Hokage then?' He asks, head cocked to the side, because he really can't conceive how this 19 year-old girl – woman – can run a hospital, go on missions and play politics with the head of the village.

Sakura shrugs because it is a big deal, but she doesn't like to brag about it.

'It keeps me busy and it beats wasting time at home. I can help people and the missions keep me in shape, because I'm a shinobi after all.'

Shisui smiles and points at her with the dango stick.

'That's not what I asked, Sakura.'

She sighs, because.

'Tsunade-sama mentored me to become a medic-nin.' She starts.

'But you finished training some time ago.'

'That's… correct. Naruto's – my teammate – dream is to become Hokage. I don't come from a clan so I don't have any influence or saying in what goes on in the council, which is where Sasuke and your family comes in. Naruto and Sasuke are both idiots and they argue to show it, but they actually care about each other and Sasuke's been backing Naruto up for years, building him up with your clan and teaching him clan politics. When the time comes, I'm sure Itachi will vote for Naruto to become the leader.'

Shisui looks at her expectantly, black orbs thoughtful.

'Tsunade-sama offered me the assistant position when I turned 16 and I realized that I might be able to help Naruto with etiquette and uh, let's call it inside info about the dwellings of a Hokage. Meaning that I keep an eye on what happens with our allies and tell Naruto about legislation, practices and so on. He doesn't really have any other ways to access this information, so I figured it's the least I could do.' She shrugs again and looks at Shisui.

Who's eyes burn with something she can't decipher.

'That is amazing of you, Sakura.' Shisui says it with such an intensity that her chest tightens.

Her cheeks flush.

He looks at the crowds passing them by, then turns towards her again, the strawberry mochi in his hand.

'We should follow the old lady's advice and share this.' Shisui winks at her, mischief in his eyes, before bringing the mochi to Sakura's lips.

Sakura stares at it for a few moments and opens her mouth to reply, but is stopped by Shisui pressing the soft mochi to her lips. It leaves her no choice but to bite into it, and Sakura closes her eyes in pleasure at the combination of flavors.

She doesn't see Shisui frowning just a little, the tip of his tongue wetting his bottom lip.

When she opens her eyes, his face is back to normal and he doesn't hesitate before popping the rest of the mochi into his mouth. It's Sakura's turn to frown.

The queasiness in her stomach has nothing to do with the dango.

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