Naruto and Sasuke were in Naruto's tiny apartment doing their own separate things when a knock came at the door.
"Who is it?" yelled Naruto, currently waiting for his store-bought ramen to soften in hot water.
"It's me," yelled Sakura from the other side.
Sasuke rolled off the sofa and unlocked the door letting their friend and teammate in.
"Hey Sakura," greeted Sasuke.
She walked in and neither teen really paid much attention to her. Naruto kept staring at his cup full of ramen. Sasuke was reading a report on the couch.
"Ahem," she cleared her throat.
"Did you need something?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I did just come over to see how Sasuke was doing," said Sakura. "I would guess that the confrontation from earlier today…not to mention having to tell that awful story again….was emotionally draining on him."
"I'm fine," said Sasuke. "Believe it or not, I'm getting used to it. And the less looks of hatred I get now because I simply have to tell my story again, the better."
"Ah, I see," she answered.
Naruto swirled his noodles with his chopsticks a bit before taking his first bite.
"I was going to offer to take you out for some ice cream, that is, if you are up for it," said Sakura.
"Ice cream? You're kidding me," said Sasuke.
"Yeah, ice cream. You up for some, Naruto?" asked Sakura.
"Nah, I'm in for the night," he replied between bites.
Sakura looked at Sasuke with puppy dog eyes. They no longer irritated him like they used to, but he got the message nonetheless.
"Let's go," said Sasuke, sighing. "Your treat…I still haven't earned any money yet."
The two teammates walked through the streets of Konoha under the newly risen moon. The conversation was kept light and casual. Sakura asked how Sasuke liked living with Naruto and Sasuke asked about Sakura's family and how they've been.
After getting two cups of ice cream, the friends found a nice bench on the side of the street on which to eat.
"It's amazing how little things have actually changed," said Sasuke.
"The people have hardly changed. I'd say the village has changed quite a bit after that Pain incident," said Sakura.
"I guess you're right," noted Sasuke. "Then again, they are rebuilding an almost exact replica of the town from when it was destroyed. Once it is rebuilt, it would be difficult to tell the difference."
"Naruto really saved our butts that day," added Sakura. "Did you know that he was the one that defeated Pain and by doing so brought back about half of the shinobi and residents of this village back to life? Apparently, Pain had the power of life and death because he had a Rinnegan."
"Naruto…," said Sasuke aloud, but quietly. "I'm actually surprised you didn't fall for him."
Sakura looked at Sasuke. "Who says I haven't?"
"I'm not stupid. As big a crush as he had on you six years ago, if you fell for him, you'd be together right now," said Sasuke.
Sakura smiled. "You're right. There's no fooling you." She paused for a few seconds, taking a breath. "There is a kunoichi who really loves him though…and now that the war is over, I wouldn't be surprised if they started dating."
"Who is it?" asked Sasuke.
"Hinata," said Sakura.
Sasuke never knew Hinata that well. Pretty much the only time he had ever even talked with her was when the rookie nine were together doing something together.
"She's so quiet," he answered. "How on earth would she ever confess to him?"
"She already has," said Sakura. "It's up to Naruto now. When Naruto was fighting Pain, she stayed by his side and fought Pain as well. She was near death by the time it was all over, but it was during that battle that she made her feelings known. She has guts…just not a very loud voice."
"So Naruto and Hinata…I'll have to keep an eye out for those two," said Sasuke. "Hopefully it happens after my six months of living with him. I'd hate to have to find another babysitter when all I want to do is go to sleep all because they want some privacy."
Sakura knew exactly what Sasuke was talking about and she shoved him playfully as a result. "I tell you what…if he kicks you out for any reason, you can always call me. I'll give you a couch to sleep on."
"Gee, thanks," he replied flatly.
"I'm sure in all your adventures, you've had a lot of encounters with women," said Sakura.
"TONS," he replied sarcastically. "Didn't I already tell you that all I did was train and plan? And it's not like Orochimaru kept a secret harem in his hideout for casual use…not to mention the fact that he had several hideouts and we moved all the time."
"What about that redhead?" said Sakura. She couldn't remember her name, but knew she was somewhere in the village still under arrest.
"Wow, I hadn't even thought about her," said Sasuke. "Karin."
"How could you, Sasuke?" asked Sakura. "She obviously cared for you quite a bit, at least from what I saw."
"I don't think I was thinking too clearly by the time she was captured," Sasuke answered honestly. "I always told those three that they could join me or not and that they could leave at any time. We were a team in name, but really not bonded at all."
"That doesn't excuse leaving a teammate to be tortured or killed," said Sakura.
"C'mon Sakura, we're talking the Leaf here. I'm sure she is being very well taken care of," said Sasuke.
Sakura paused. "Yeah, you're probably right. But you should still inquire," she added.
Sasuke sighed. "You're right…I probably should, since she is here," he agreed.
"So…," she added.
"So what?" he answered.
"What about Karin?" Sakura asked.
"She has never meant much to me," said Sasuke. "If we are talking honestly now. She always did like me an awful lot, but I used her feelings to my advantage. I never….used her for anything other than official shinobi needs. Her sensory abilities are really quite amazing."
"I see," said Sakura.
"So what about you?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura was surprised he even cared enough to ask. "I guess I'm what you call a late bloomer."
"What does that mean?" he asked.
Her cheeks flushed a bit pink. "I've had….crushes in the past. But now that I'm eighteen, I can see how immature and fleeting they really were."
"You mean like the crush you had on me?" asked Sasuke, smiling knowingly.
Sakura knew that he knew, but didn't think he'd blatantly call her out like that. "Sasuke, every girl in our class had a crush on you and you know it. Ino used to yell at me all the time about being too close to you. When we became teammates, I never heard the end of it."
"So does that mean you don't have a crush on me anymore?" asked Sasuke.
"Why are you asking?" she asked in return.
Now his cheeks turned pink. "You first."
"After everything that has happened, I will never not love you, Sasuke. However, I also love Naruto, and Kakashi, and Lady Tsunade. The love I have for you is a bit different just because of the time we've been apart, but I never really gave up hope that you'd return. Do I have a crush on you? Not like I used to. But I could honestly be by your side until we are on our deathbed…that is how much I care for you."
Sasuke got what Sakura was trying to say. The problem is, he just didn't know what to do with it. It was the bonds – the bonds that people who are on teams together naturally develop. Sakura and he had spent some of their growing-up years together and they had been in life-and-death situations together. He loved her, too. But he knew what she meant. What exactly was this love that he felt and could it ever be a romantic love? Or did he even care to explore it at all?
"So…why are you asking?" Sakura repeated herself.
"I find myself thinking about you from time to time," he answered. "Ever since I was in the hospital."
"That's probably just because I was a teammate of yours and because you have seen me a lot lately," explained Sakura.
"It could be that," said Sasuke. "I-I just…"
"What?" Sakura prodded.
"Nevermind," he said.
"Sasuke, you can speak to me about anything….even if it involves something about us," Sakura said.
He looked into her eyes. The gentle green orbs looked so kind and understanding towards him.
"I must be a late bloomer as well," said Sasuke, who laughed just a bit at himself as he said that. "I have never been interested in women before. It was always training and more training and finding my target and killing him. Now though, since you've been back in my life, I find myself strangely drawn to you. I'm not quite sure what this feeling is though. I don't want to ever hurt you Sakura."
"Just keep being honest with me and we'll be fine," said Sakura. "I'm flattered though. So what were you proposing we do about your….maybe feeling."
"Would you go out on a date with me? Maybe that would help me figure some of this out. We've hardly ever just had fun together…you either care for me, babysit me, lecture me, or train with me. Let's do something fun," said Sasuke.
"I'm free tomorrow for dinner," offered Sakura.
"Dinner is perfect," answered Sasuke.
OlOlOlOlOlOlO
When Naruto and Sasuke arrived at the training spot the next day, they were surprised to see a new face waiting there to greet them.
"Sai!" yelled Naruto.
"Hello Naruto," said Sai. "Sasuke," he added nodding to the other dark-eyed member of the team.
"So you're back from your mission?" Naruto asked.
"We got back last night," said Sai. "I'm back with the team now, so don't forget to include me in all the planning and training."
"Sai!" yelled Sakura as she saw Sai talking with Naruto and Sasuke. She ran up and embraced him tightly.
Sasuke noted how close Sai and Sakura seemed to be – first the embrace, and now the wider-than-usual smile.
"What's up with them?" Sasuke whispered in Naruto's ear.
"He's just part of the team," said Naruto quietly.
Funny…I don't remember seeing that reaction from her any other time.
Naruto noted Sasuke looking at Sakura, who was jovially catching up with Sai. "Teme, don't worry about them. She took it upon herself to teach him a lot of his social skills and helped him express his emotions. They got closer because she was his mentor of sorts."
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Sasuke. Sasuke had heard a bit about Sai…and had even met him once while with Orochimaru…but didn't know much about his past.
"He was brought up inside Root and Danzo was his sensei," said Naruto.
Sasuke tensed up hearing the name 'Danzo' again. He hated Danzo…he had killed Danzo.
"As a result, he had little family, was kept on a short leash, lethally trained, and taught to never feel or show emotions," said Naruto.
Poor kid.
"So he was pretty screwed up when Danzo got him assigned to Team Kakashi," added Naruto. "Sakura helped him sort it all out."
Selfless as usual.
"So Sai, Sasuke is back on Team Kakashi once again," said Sakura, now facing both Naruto and Sasuke with Sai next to her.
"I had heard," said Sai coldly. "I am a professional, so I will not treat you any differently than my other teammates," explained Sai. "However, I'm sure we will need to train together to get accustomed to each other's abilities."
"Uh, alright," said Sasuke, a little taken aback by Sai's formality.
"I have also been privy to some of the information that has been circulating about your past," Sai added. "I have not yet made up my mind as to my opinion as to your guilt or innocence, but I wanted to let you know that I trust the Hokage and will do whatever she wishes. You have no concerns about me."
"Thanks," said Sasuke, not really knowing what else to say.
Kakashi swooped in out of nowhere and landed near the four shinobi who already stood at the meeting place waiting for him.
"The first thing for today is a walk to the Hokage Tower," he said. "We've been summoned by Lady Tsunade."
"A mission!" said Naruto excitedly.
Sai looked less happy – he had just gotten back, after all.