Inspired by daarlinguliet Anbu Sasuke and civilian doctor Sakura fan art from Twitter to which I strongly suggest you all take a look at by the way. Because it looks amazing!

"Don't you have your own village to go to?" Sakura asked as she wrapped a bandage around Sasuke's chest. He was an Anbu captain from Konoha, the first time she met him was at thirteen. Sakura had been constantly told by her parents to never leave the village, as there were bandits and evil people out there. Like any teenager, she ignored them and ventured out by herself. The girl never had any friends around her age and there was only so much you could do.

So what harm would there be in seeing the outside world?

Unfortunately, as her parents predicted she didn't last longer than ten minutes.

Sakura ended up trapped and the thirteen-year-old could only cry accepting her fate. Until he showed up, that is, along with his team. There were only three of them, Sasuke, a blonde boy that she now knew as Naruto and an older man Kakashi. Sasuke had been the main one who saved and got her out but the other two helped fight them off.

Kizashi and Mebuki thanked them over and over again.

"This is why we left Konoha in the first place, it's too dangerous for you."

The Haruno girl could only nod as her two parents in front of them scolded her.

"You're from Konoha?" Kakashi asked curiously. It wasn't every day you got to meet someone from your own village elsewhere.

"Used to be, I was a ninja but when my wife got pregnant I knew things had to change. I didn't want Sakura here to grow up in an environment like how I did."

"But Dad… maybe if I became a ninja I could get stronger and-"

"NO! This isn't up for discussion, you're staying here." She flinched at his tone but remained silent as their new guests could only stare at her with pity.

"You know, you can't protect her forever," Kakashi commented as he eyed his own two students. "Whether you like it or not kids will be kids and they won't always listen to you, they do things on their own. What's going to happen when she turns eighteen?"

"I appreciate your concern, but I think I can raise my own daughter thank you."

"Kizashi!" Mebuki elbowed him but Kakashi politely waved it off. The three left later that evening much to her displeasure, oh how Sakura envied them. She wanted to leave and venture into the outside world, even with her father's disapproval. So that's what she did.

As Sakura grew older she turned to books to learn the simple methods of healing and how to fight. Sure she wasn't a pro by any means but she could make one nasty punch.

Time flew by and she left the village on her own journey. Did Haruno expect to run into him again? Nope, it was pure coincidence. They were both fifteen. Sasuke had left the village, not that she was aware of and had been training intensely. Sakura offered to help, to which he questioned why?

"Call it returning the favour. Unless… you don't remember me?"

"Who said I don't remember you? It's hard to forget someone with pink hair." With a smile, the girl nodded and started healing him the best she could to her ability. Sakura had constantly apologised repeatedly for not fully healing him, but Sasuke shrugged informing her he had a medical ninja that could do the rest.

They parted ways and again that was the last they saw each other until he found her new village.

"You don't want me to visit you anymore?" Sasuke asked in a teasing tone.

At first, he was just there for the healing, especially as now she was a fully qualified doctor but as they got to spend more time with each other it turned into something... different. Something neither one would fully admit to.

"I…I never said that" she gave a pout, the two had become way too comfortable around each other much to her uneasiness. Sasuke is a ninja from another village, she knew it would never work out between them. I mean what ninja would want to be with a civilian anyway?

Especially as there was plenty of other kunoichis in his own village. Sakura scooted away slightly after fixing him and headed towards the kitchen.

"You know, you've been coming here more often lately. And whilst I don't mind it, is there any reason for it?" Sakura was vaguely aware of Sasuke's rough past with bits and pieces but he never went into full detail.

The Uchiha stiffened and just lightly shrugged. "It's not… I… I just don't like being in the village for too long." Whilst Sasuke knew he should be grateful for being pardoned and escaping death he still couldn't have forgiven them for being the cause of his pain, to begin with. Sure he accepted joining the Anbu, but only because these missions allowed him to be outside and away from everything else.

Bumping into Sakura again had been only a coincidence, and it helped she had her own place now. There were no nosy people invading his privacy and asking why he doesn't stay in the village more often or having the rest of the elders down his back. Just them, and she knew when not to pry either.

He liked her presence.

"If you need a place to crash there's always room here," Sakura froze, realising what it must have sounded like. "I mean you know… in the spare room, where I have a spare bed and uh wait why did I say that?" She kept her mouth quiet before embarrassing herself further whilst Sasuke smirked.

"Ah, if you don't mind."

"Oh, I almost forgot." Sakura ran towards her bedroom finding a small gift she wrapped up for him. It wasn't much but hopefully, he would like it.

"I know you probably didn't want me to get you anything but it's your Birthday okay. You can't expect me not to. Besides, it's the best I can do and well Happy Birthday!"

Sasuke froze unexpectedly with the treatment but took the gift. Inside there was a pendant that was shaped as the Uchiha fan. And whilst Sakura may not see it as a big deal it meant more to him than she'll ever know.

"Thank you, Sakura."

One of the reasons why I love posting on Twitter/Tumblr is that I can tag the artist and artwork so it's easier to see. I always feel guilty about posting these types of fics on here because I can't fully 'tag' them, like yes I have their permission to write this and it's 'my fic' but you know you just want to credit them right.

Like I want to say 'hey without this art this fic wouldn't exist' you know? That's probably just meXD