Author's Note: Tsuma: Means wife in a soft way in Japanese. It's the way Sasuke refers to Sakura in the manga when talking to her and I just couldn't find a way to properly convey that same sentiment in English.
The morning after the concert, Sasuke and Sakura prepared to journey back to The Leaf Village.
"Do you have everything?" Sasuke asked Sakura as she slipped her tan travel cloak over her shoulders.
"I'm good." She replied with an easy smile reaching out to smooth the collar of his black cloak. "Let's go home, darling."
Those words paired with new term of endearment warmed his heart and he smiled at her. "Yes, let's go home Tsuma."
They thanked the innkeepers and he neatly dodged the teenaged daughter's last attempt to get his attention by letting Sakura step in and catch the girl when she 'tripped' in his direction. They stepped out onto the street and pulled the hoods of their cloaks over their heads as a summer rainstorm rumbled overhead.
"I suppose we should be thankful we made it this long without getting rained on." Sakura commented as they walked down the forest path.
Sasuke nodded and rested his hand on the strap of his bag as he glanced around the forest. It was amazing how a little moisture effected and flora and fauna of such places. Everything was just a little quieter, just a little more subdued. He reached over and touched Sakura's hand and she smiled lacing their fingers together.
They didn't talk much as they walked. It didn't bother either of them though. He enjoyed listening when she'd point out medicinal plants along their route home and he entertained her from time to time when he pointed out toxic plants that often grew right next to her medicinal ones.
"It's kind of funny." She said after he'd pointed out a batch of Nightshade growing next to a small shrine with a serpent carved into the side of it alongside the road. "Lady Tsunade told me once after consuming copious amounts of alcohol that she used to have a crush on Orochimaru."
Sasuke choked on the mouthful of water he'd been in the process of swallowing and coughed before turning wide eyes on Sakura.
"You're joking." He said flatly.
She grinned and shook her head. "Nope. She said that she was attracted to his intelligence and how cool and collected he was. He was the only one that could keep up with her academically and their work actually enhanced one another's. She said that they used to have frequent battles of the mind. Their most common battle would be when Orochimaru would create a poison or drug and she'd have to come up with a cure or antidote."
"That sounds just like the kind of sadistic game he'd play." Sasuke muttered. "So who won?"
Sakura shrugged. "They never declared a winner since Orochimaru's secret lab was discovered and he left the village soon after." She looked over at Sasuke and smirked. "She even told me that they kissed once."
The ink haired man's face paled and his stomach flipped. "There's no way that happened." He protested. "Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade? I could see Master Jaraiya stealing a kiss from her, but Orochimaru? There's no way." As far as he knew, the white snake didn't have any sort of sexual attraction to anything, except power perhaps.
Sure he exuded some form of strange but powerful sexual charm that attracted both men and women. He had a lithe body, an exotic looking face, and that voice that almost felt like it was caressing you when he spoke. But Orochimaru himself never showed any sort of interest in such things, not even in passing. The idea of him kissing anyone was mind boggling. The thought of him kissing the Fifth Hokage was just… ludicrous.
Sakura chuckled hiding her mouth behind her hand as she did. "I thought the same thing. Apparently, it was during the Third Great ninja war. They'd finished off a group of enemy ninja near The Village Hidden in the Mist and had taken shelter in a cave to get out of the rain for a while. They were pretty confident in their hiding place and were completely exhausted so when Tsunade brought out some alcohol she'd taken from an abandoned house, no one complained and they all started drinking."
"Ah. Things are starting to make more sense." Sasuke said with a little nod of his head.
The pink haired woman smirked wider and then continued her story. "After a while, Jariya being the idiotic pervert he was made a pass at her and she slapped him saying she'd rather kiss any man on earth but him. He pointed at Orochimaru and said 'You're saying you'd rather kiss that reptile obsessed bastard than me?' and she replied 'Damn straight.' And Jariya looked her right in the eye and said 'Prove it.'"
Sasuke's lips turned up into a smirk. "She did didn't she?"
Sakura snickered. "Yup. She grabbed Orochimaru by the front of his vest and yanked him forward before he could slither away and kissed him hard while giving Jariya the finger with her other hand." She burst out laughing clutching at her sides. "Can you just imagine their faces? I would give anything to see that. She told me that she passed out shortly after but when she woke up in the morning everyone just acted like it never happened, so she did the same."
"I kind of want to ask him about it." Sasuke confessed. "He's so sly and stoic. I can only imagine what having his lips stolen like that must have done to his pride."
The medic smirked and then burst out laughing again. "I can just see it. The two of them staring at their passed out teammate and Jariya saying something like 'You lucky serpentine bastard. I'd give anything for Tsunade to kiss me.' and Orochimaru glaring at him and saying something along the lines of 'You do realize that I'm the victim here, don't you? This is all your fault you toad faced oaf.'" She said doing her best to impersonate the voice of each legendary ninja.
Sasuke snorted and then threw his head back as he laughed outright at both her mediocre attempts to mimic their voices and the mental picture she'd created with her words in his head.
"I can see it." He said his lips spread into a wide smile as he worked to control the last of the laughter trying to escape his mouth.
She giggled and then smiled. "I've never heard you laugh like that." She said bumping into him affectionately. "It's a wonderful, rich sound. You should laugh more often."
He looked down at her and nudged her back. "We'll see." He replied with a smirk.
$#$
They arrived at the inn just as dusk was settling over the town and settled into their room. After eating the food the inn keeper had brought them, and taking a quick shower, Sasuke sat down on the veranda his gaze fixed on the moon. Sakura joined him soon after resting in the space between his bent knees leaning against his chest with her nose in a book written about medicinal herbs she'd picked up in one of the shops near the butterfly garden the day before.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and tucked her head under her chin before he closed his eyes and focused. It was an exercise he'd often done since he was a child. Itachi had told him once that one of the weaknesses of the Uchiha was that they were too dependent on their sight. He'd encouraged him to train his other senses just as hard, if not harder than his eyes in order to ensure that he wouldn't be at a disadvantage in case he ever found himself in a situation where his eyes were useless. He had taken his brother's words to heart, just like nearly everything else the older ninja had said, and spent at least ten minutes each day training his hearing. He'd neglected it over the past few days in favor of other, more pleasurable activities, but decided that since Sakura was taking it easy tonight, that he could take a little time to get some training done.
The first sounds he picked up on were his own heartbeat and breathing. It was calm and steady reflecting his relaxed state. He then worked to broaden his range, tuning into the soft breathing and steady heartbeat of his wife in his arms. Next he focused on the movements of the other people in the inn. Fourteen people were inside the building and the room next to theirs was empty. A lucky break for him. It meant that he'd be able to encourage more sounds from his new wife when they went to bed without her being so embarrassed about being overheard.
His brow furrowed as he expanded his range further listening to the cicadas and crickets in the forest nearby. Focusing, he removed the insect's calls and picked up on the flapping of wings and a squeal as an owl caught its prey. He listened to the sound of a couple arguing over dishes in the house next to the inn and then the slamming of a door as someone ended the argument. His wife shifted against him, bringing his attention back to her.
"Are you ok?" he asked when she laid her arm over his and shut her book.
"I'm perfect." She replied squeezing his forearm lightly. "Absolutely perfect." She said tipping her head up to press a kiss to his chin.
He slipped his hand out from under hers to gently stroke her hair before turning his gaze back to the moon.
"I don't think I've ever been able to look at the moon the same since our battle with Kaguya." She confessed before taking his hand in hers and tracing a crescent shape on his palm over the spot where The Sage of Six Paths Sealing Jutsu used to rest.
"Neither have I." he agreed.
She snuggled up closer to him pulling her knees into her chest and turning a little to lay her ear over his heart. After a few minutes of quiet, she spoke again. "I feel like I understand her a little though. She fell in love with a man who claimed to love her in return but then turned on her the moment things became difficult. All she wanted was to protect the life she knew was growing inside her. I think any mother would have done the same in that situation. The heartbreak of losing the love she thought she had followed by the strain and stress of giving birth to not one but two children completely alone must have been devastating." She rested her hand on his arm. "I wonder… How different would this world be if her lover trusted her?"
"We'll never know." Sasuke replied tracing the Uchiha crest into the skin of her forearm. "I can't help but think of that man as a fool. Taking the word of his known enemy over that of the woman he'd chosen to share his bed with."
Sakura shrugged. "Like you said, we'll never know. Just like we'll never know what would have happened if Obito had simply returned with Kakashi to the village after Rin died instead of going back to Madara."
He nodded and did a little musing of his own. What if they'd caught up to him before Obito had after his battle with Itachi? Would he have ever learned the truth about everything? Who knew? It was far too late to go back and change the past now.
She kissed his jaw and nuzzled his neck. "Are you ready to go to bed?" she asked.
He nodded. They had more traveling to do tomorrow and they needed rest but he wanted to have her before sleeping.
As they settled into bed and he loomed over her she smiled and reached up to touch his face. "I love you." She said running her thumb along his cheek bone. "I love you more than anyone."
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before pulling away again. "I feel the same way about you."
Her smile was like the sun on a warm spring day and he burned it into his memory. He had so many of her frowning or crying because of his words and actions. To have this one, a smile of pure joy because of something he'd said was a treasure he would keep forever.
"I can't believe we're nearly home." Sakura said as they made their way down the familiar path to Konoha, the gate just barely visible. "That week went by way too fast." She whined as she stretched her arms above her head.
Sasuke nodded. He too felt a little regret as they neared their home. It wasn't that he didn't like the village. He was quickly becoming re-acclimated to the relatively stable and peaceful life there. It's just that the village meant he'd have to go back to sharing Sakura with everyone again. He'd quite enjoyed having her at his beck and call, particularly in bed.
"Sakura! You're back!" a high pitched voice called out as four figures landed lithely just ahead of them.
"Hi Moegi." Sakura replied smiling at the orange haired girl. "Returning home from a mission?"
"Yup!" Moegi replied with a grin.
"We were able to escort our charge with little trouble thanks to me." Konohamaru said rubbing the bottom of his nose.
"Konohamaru, we only attracted the bandit's attention because you screamed so loud." Udon said adjusting his glasses.
Moegi crossed her arms. "You're a Leaf Village shinobi about to take the Chunin exams and you screamed over a spider." She muttered in disgust.
Sakura burst out laughing. "A spider? You're going to be in trouble then. They have spiders bigger than Ebisu Sensei in the Forest of Death." She warned him.
"I seem to remember you screaming over a spider on our first mission together." Sai said dropping from a nearby tree to join the group.
"You shut your trap!" she snarled. "It was half the size of my face and dropped down right in front of me while we were trying to follow Yamato through the woods for no apparent reason. It was less about the spider and more about how I had no idea what the plan was." She grumbled at the smiling painter. "Anyway, what have you been up do?"
"Just finishing up a mission." Sai replied with a smile. "How was the honeymoon? You aren't too sore are you?"
Sakura turned red even as Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Sai, if you aren't careful I'll tell Ino every embarrassing thing you've ever done including the truth about that nickname you bestowed upon her all those years ago." She warned.
A bead of sweat formed on his brown and his smile turned sheepish. "Understood." He replied as the group made their way towards the village.
"So when I become a chunin, will you take me on as an apprentice?" Moegi asked Sakura looking up at the kunoichi with hero worship in her eyes.
Sasuke found it amusing and a bit endearing that the girl that had followed him like a lost puppy once now seemed to have a puppy of her own.
"We'll see." Sakura replied. "It all depends on your aptitude. You might not be suited to medical ninjutsu. Maybe you'll find you have a talent for something else instead." She said. "Tenten wanted to be a medic at first but she didn't have the chakra control for it so she developed her own unique fighting style, one that's been adopted by ninja from every other nation." She explained when the girl's face fell. "I want you to be the best kunoichi you can be and if that means you end up doing something other than medicine, that's just fine." She nudged the girl. "Temari was the first one to land a solid blow on Madara Uchiha during the war using her wind style jutsu. Hinata developed her own unique jutsu that's a powerful variant of the gentle fist. Ino was able to teach an entire army an earth style jutsu in a matter of seconds. There are so many strong women here in The Leaf Village. Even if you don't study under me, you'll become a great kunoichi."
Moegi grinned. "You're right but I still think you're the best." She said.
The pink haired medic smirked. "Thank you. Just don't let any of the others know." She said with a wink.
"How did the honeymoon go in all honesty?" Sai asked the Uchiha next to him as they walked behind the pair of chatting girls.
"We went to a party at the request of a royal and Sakura ended up saving the King of The Land of Many Waters." He replied. "I plan to deliver a report to Kakashi after we get settled in at home."
"Ah." Sai replied. "Attracting trouble everywhere you go, just like Naruto."
Sasuke shrugged. It wasn't his fault the idiot had drank so much he couldn't even avoid a collision with a table.
"So, how is married life?" Sai asked. When Sasuke swung his eyes in his direction he scratched his cheek nervously. "I just meant, is it worth it? Sharing your life with someone like that. Even if you've done things you aren't proud of." He muttered looking down at the ground.
The ink haired man studied the painter beside him. He knew that Sai was a ninja who had been raised by Danzo's foundation. He knew that he'd been sent to assassinate him against The Hokage's orders and had also been used to spy on Naruto and the others. He honestly reminded him a little of himself with his past shrouded in mystery and being used by others.
"It's worth it." He replied after a few moments.
Sai looked over at him and then glanced at Sakura. "Did you tell her everything you'd done before you married?" he asked. Sasuke nodded. "Were you afraid? Of her rejecting you because of those thing?" he continued.
Sasuke looked at his wife, his gaze focusing on the place where soon the Uchiha crest would rest between her shoulder blades for a moment before he continued.
"Yes." He said. "Up until the moment she accepted my proposal there was a part of me that was afraid she'd come to her senses and run away from me, but she never did."
"I see." Sai replied. "You think that people like us deserve happiness then?"
The monk's face appeared in his mind and a small smirk touched his lips. "No." he said noting the way the painter's face fell before he continued. "However, I met an old man who told me that when life hands you a treasure you don't deserve instead of walking away from it because you know you don't deserve it, you keep it and spend the rest of your life trying to become a person worthy of such a gift."
Sai's expression lightened a little at that. "I see. Thank you." He said before his gaze shifted to Sakura who was talking with Udon a warm smiled on her lips. "I honestly haven't seen Sakura this happy before. It seems that being with the one they love truly brings out the best in people."
The Uchiha almost smiled at that before nodding to the guards at the gate.
"Sakura, it's good to have you back!" one of them called out.
She waved and Team Ebisu took off to report to Kakashi.
"So, how's Ino?" Sakura asked taking the space between Sasuke and Sai.
Sai blushed and scratched his cheek. "Good." He replied. "She's a little upset with all the solo missions I've been sent on lately but now that Sasuke's back, I'll probably have my load lightened a bit."
Sakura's eyes widened and then softened. "Right. Both of you are the best at slipping into enemy territory undetected and dealing with multiple enemies singled handedly." She looked over at Sai. "You in particular have trouble going easy on people."
The painter rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'd like to think I've gotten better at holding back over the years."
"You have." Sakura confirmed with a smile. "Though that doesn't do you any good when we spar."
Sai chuckled. "When we spar I always leave thankful that we're usually on the same side."
She smiled as they reached a fork in the road. "Alright. See you later Sai."
"Yes. Enjoy your evening Sakura." He replied. "See you around Sasuke." He said nodding to the Uchiha couple before heading in the direction of the Hokage's office.
"He's a deep thinker, isn't he?" Sasuke said as they approached Sakura's apartment.
A smile touched his wife's lips as she waved to a group of children who bowed to her as they walked by. "Sai was raised very differently from the rest of us. The Foundation created perfect, emotionless, killing machines. He didn't even have a name until he was assigned the name Sai for his mission to infiltrate our team and assassinate you. He's just trying to catch up to the rest of us in terms of understanding relationships and emotions." She smirked. "Being with that loudmouthed, pig is probably the best thing for him."
"I think he wants to marry her." Sasuke said.
Sakura's eyes widened and she grabbed his arm. "Really?!" she exclaimed. "How do you know?"
He nearly rolled his eyes at her enthusiasm. "He asked me if marriage was worth it and if people like us deserve such happiness."
She smiled and nodded. "I think you're right. He probably does want to marry her. I hope it works out for them."
"You're too nice to people." He muttered.
"Is it bad to wish two of my closest friends happiness?" she asked her lip poking out as she pouted. "Ino is the first real friend I ever had and after you left and Team Kakashi was formed, though it wasn't exactly the same, he eventually filled part of the void your absence had left behind. We had a rocky start but now, I trust him with my life." A little smirk touched her face. "He was always the one protecting me and pulling me out of harms way whenever I'd try to chase after Naruto when he'd do something stupid and reckless." She unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside with Sasuke close behind. "Home at last." She sighed slipping her sandals off.
Sasuke followed suit and followed her inside. His eyes widened when he saw a massive pile of colorful paper and bows in the middle of the living room.
"Wedding presents." Sakura muttered staring at the pile. "There's so many of them."
"I wasn't expecting this." Sasuke agreed.
Sakura was well liked and respected in the village but there were many that hadn't forgiven him for his betrayal. He hadn't expected so many to be happy about their marriage let alone give them so many gifts.
Sakura picked up her phone and quickly ordered a delivery from Ichiraku upon realizing that she wouldn't be cooking with so many things to open and then put away. He joined her in the living room pulling up a chair from the kitchen the same way she did and started in on the first box.
Hours later they opened the last card, a note from Kakashi congratulating them as well as reminding them of the trust fund that had been left to Sasuke after the massacre, Sakura threw her hands up.
"That's it!" she exclaimed tossing the card with the others on the table. "The last one."
"Finally." Sasuke groaned looking out the window.
It was dark now and he still had a report to write before he went to bed. He sighed and kicked a ball of wrapping paper into one of boxes they'd turned into makes shift trash cans around the room.
"I'm going to need a bigger apartment." Sakura muttered looking at the crowded state of her living room. "There is no way all of these things are going to fit in here for long."
The money left to him by his clan sparked an idea within him and he simply nodded. Making a mental note to ask Kakashi about the cost of building a house on the property that technically belonged to him now, he stood up and stretched before walking into Sakura's home office to get a scroll and ink.
"What are you doing?" she asked him when he came out trying to rearrange a couple of massive vases in their boxes that had been a gift from Ino's mother.
"Writing a report on the incident that happened at the party." He replied sitting down at the table to write.
"Ok." She replied. "I'm going to shower then." She told him.
He nodded and went to work his brow furrowing a little when the paper shifted under his brush. Another thing that was easier with two hands. Damn him and his pride. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't hear when the running water stopped or Sakura's nearly silent steps as she approached him. He stiffened in his seat when her hands slid over his shoulders before gliding over his chest as she draped herself over him from behind her chin coming down to rest on his shoulder.
"Let me finish that for you. I was the one that performed the procedure after all." She said pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Go shower up and then we can head to bed."
She smelled of water, soap tinged with flowers and temptation. Her body was warm and a little damp and her breath was warm on his neck. He had no desire to argue with her when he knew it only made the countdown until he could have her panting beneath him shorter.
"Alright." He replied touching her arm lightly to encourage her to release him so he could do what she'd suggested.
Instead, her arms slid up and tightened around his chest. "Just one more minute." She said softly.
He smiled and rested his hand on her folded forearms enjoying the quiet moment of warm intimacy before she stepped away and took his seat while he retreated to the bathroom.
When he finished, he found Sakura waiting for him in her, no their bedroom seated on the bed. Her gaze was fixed on the moon and she was dressed in a light green nightgown with light pink lace trim along the low sweetheart neckline and hem line that ended about mid-thigh. She was lovely bathed in the pale moonlight and he felt a jolt of searing desire paired with a warm swelling of affection for her.
Sensing his presence, Sakura turned towards him and smiled extending her hand to him. He quickly crossed to her and pulled the curtains closed blocking out some of the moon's light before he laid her down in the sheets savoring the sigh of bliss that fell from her lips as he kissed her.
He took his time stroking over her smooth skin, kissing each and every scar, as sweet words he'd never say outside their home tumbled from his lips.
"You're beautiful." He murmured tracing the curve of her collarbone with his nose before kissing the hollow of her throat. "Perfect." His hand slid down to the nest of cotton candy curls between her legs making her whine with pleasure. "Gods Sakura." He breathed. "I adore you." The color that splashed across her cheeks made him smirk even as he increased the pressure of his fingers turning her whines into wanton cries for release.
"Please Sasuke." Sakura begged wrapping her legs around his hips.
"Please what?" he asked slipping a finger inside her making her gasp and jerk her hips.
"Love me." She whined.
"As you wish Tsuma." He replied moving his hand from her wet core.
He entered her with one smooth thrust and Sakura arched into him her hands fisting in the sheets.
"Yes!" she exclaimed as he set his rhythm. "Sasuke!" she cried.
"Sakura!" he groaned picking up the pace.
They writhed together until she came undone with a cry and he followed soon after moaning her name as he spilled himself inside her.
"I like your nightgown." He said when she slipped it over her head a few minutes later.
"Thank you. It was a gift from Hinata." She replied picking up her pink lace underwear and slipping it back into place as well.
"At least half of the Uzumaki couple has good taste." He muttered.
"Says the man that wore a black onesie when he took the second part of the chunin exams." She teased as she slipped back into bed.
"It only wore that because Kakashi suggested it." He replied. "It didn't move as much when I ran at top speed which was best while I was learning the chidori."
Sakura cocked a brow at that. "So what's your excuse for that blue and purple skirt thing you used to wear?" She asked, a smirk playing on her lips as her eyes danced with mischief. "I mean that bow was cute and all but…"
A light blush tinged his cheeks. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
She grinned. "Probably not. Though the fantasy of untying that lovely bow is nice to think about every once in a while. " She said with a wink before she rolled onto her back and groaned. "Ugh! I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I'm almost positive my in box is stacked to the ceiling."
He shook his head at her rapid change in focus. "Then you should probably get some sleep."
"I know." She replied a yawn falling from her lips. "Goodnight darling. I love you."
"I know." He replied. "I love you too, Tsuma."
She smiled and within minutes was sound asleep. He stroked her shoulder and then laid his arm over her waist before following her into sleep.
&#&
"Sakura!" he exclaimed dodging a chakra charged fist aimed for his face. "Snap out of it!" he shouted
She didn't hesitate and attacked again. Her normally bright jade eyes were dull and lifeless as she armed herself with a series of paper bombs and threw them at him.
"Damn it!" he growled using his kamui to transport them into a different dimension just before they exploded.
Her eyes met his again and he pushed with his chakra. "Sharringan!" he snarled forcing his way into her mind.
His eyes widened as he stood face to face with his wife naked and bound in chains within her own mind. Her head was bowed, her arms spread out on either side and her legs were together her toes barely brushing the floor. Blood seeped from several deep wounds from where the chains were wrapped around her body, evidence that she'd been fighting whatever had taken control of her body and bound her mind with everything she had. The sight of it made him feel ill even as his blood seethed with rage.
"Sakura!" he exclaimed taking a step forward.
Her eyes opened and her head slowly lifted until she could meet his gaze. "Sasuke?" She murmured a bead of blood running down her chin and dropping to the ground below. "Please…" a tear slid from her eye. "Help me!" She begged her voice shallow and rough.
"I will! I promise. Just hang on!" he vowed reaching for her even as he felt the sensation of her chakra shifting as he was forced from her mind. "Damn!"
"Sasuke! Watch out!" Naruto called out in warning.
He hissed in frustration and grabbed the kunai aimed for his throat and slammed Sakura into a nearby stone wall his soul shuddering and his stomach turning when he felt and heard her arm snap beneath his hand. She leapt away from him clutching at the broken limb and released her seal, purple marks sliding over her skin as she snapped her arm back into place.
"What a brute! You should handle the woman you love with more care. Then again, you have tried to kill her on more than one occasion so I'm not terribly surprised." Came a low sultry female voice echoing through the cave.
"You'll pay for this!" he snarled his hand balling into a fist. "As soon as I save her, I'll kill you!" shouted his violet aura whipping wickedly around him as the tomoes in his eyes rotated.
"Not if she kills you first." The voice replied laughter following the words as Sakura came after him again.
He bolted upright, a strong sense of foreboding and a strange chakra signature sending his heart into a quick unsteady rhythm with a cold sweat coating his skin. His gaze immediately fell to his wife who was sleeping peacefully beside him and breathed a small sigh of relief. She was safe, for the moment at least. He activated his sharringan and scanned the room. Not seeing or feeling anything out of the ordinary he slipped out of bed and padded over to the door to the veranda pushing it open with his foot and stepping out onto the small terrace. His eyes scanned the village as best he could from his position trying to pinpoint the strange chakra that had pulled him out of his nightmare but couldn't find it.
"Sasuke?" Sakura murmured sleepily rising up on her forearm as she rubbed at her eyes with her opposite hand. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing." He replied moving back into the apartment shutting and locking the door firmly behind him before drawing the curtains again. "Go back to sleep."
"Mmkay." She replied sleepily laying back down again and resting her hand over his heart when he laid down next to her.
He covered her hand with his own and squeezed gently as the vision of her chained and bleeding filled his mind. Gods he hoped it was only a dream.
%&%
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked as she set his breakfast on the table in front of him. "You look a little pale."
"I didn't get enough sleep last night." He replied. "Nothing to worry about."
Her brow furrowed and a frown touched her lips. "Well, if you say so." She muttered.
"What time are you getting off tonight?" he asked. "There's someplace I want to take you."
"I was going to work some over time." She mused touching her lip with her chop stick as she glanced at the calendar. "I'm pretty sure I can get off around five, but I'll have to go in early tomorrow to make up for it."
"That's fine." He replied.
It was important that he take her to Naka shrine and show her what was hidden there. She was now officially part of his clan. It was her right to know. There was always a chance with his dangerous lifestyle that he could die at any given time. She needed to know in case he died before he had the chance to show any children they might have as well.
"So what are your plans for today?" she asked.
"I'm going to meet with Kakashi and talk with him about what happened with King Shin. Then I'm planning on doing some training." He replied.
"Sounds like more fun than what I have to look forward to today. Mountains of paperwork." She muttered.
He smirked at that. "You miss going on missions, don't you?"
She nodded. "I do. Running around, seeing the world, dodging danger. It was fun, when our lives weren't at risk anyway." She said raking her fingers through her hair. "That all seems like a lifetime ago now." She glanced at the clock. "Time to go."
She rinsed her dishes and went into her home office grabbing several files and the book she'd bought on their honeymoon and slipped it into her bag before leaning down to pull on her sandals. Sasuke followed her and slipped on his own shoes.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she slipped her bag over her shoulder. "You seem bothered by something. Did you have a nightmare last night?" she asked touching his hand gently when they approached the door together.
"I'm fine." He insisted. "I just didn't sleep well."
She sighed. "Alright. Don't tell me. But if you need help with anything, I'm here."
The image of her bound in chains flashed to the front of his mind again and he winced at the image. It was just a stupid dream. There was no reason to let it affect him.
They walked together to the hospital where the children cheered as soon as they caught sight of the pink haired woman.
"See you later." Sakura said with a smile offering him a little wave.
"Right." He replied. "Be safe."
She chuckled and cocked a brow at that. "Of course. Have fun training."
He nodded and then moved quickly across the rooftops to Kakashi's office window. The Hokage motioned him inside and sighed when he shut the window behind him.
"Why do I even have a door when nobody bothers to use it?" The masked ninja muttered.
"We all pick up habits from our teachers." Sasuke reminded him as he handed the scroll containing his report to the Hokage.
"You got into trouble on your honeymoon? Not even Naruto managed that." Kakashi said as he opened it. "Anything major?"
Sasuke's hand twitched. "Not really." He replied. "Anyway, I was wondering if you had any suggestions for a good housing contractor. I'd like to build a house for Sakura and I soon."
Kakashi's brow cocked and the door slammed open.
"You're building Sakura a house!? That's so sweet!" Naruto exclaimed as he walked in his arms full of files. "Hinata and I are almost finished with ours. It'll be great to move out of my apartment."
Sasuke shook his head. He understood why the couple would rather live in his apartment than on the Hyuga compound, he just hoped that Hinata had managed to clean up the place well enough.
"So how was the honeymoon?" Naruto asked nudging his best friend with his elbow winking suggestively.
"You're one nudge away from being trapped in a genjutsu where you watch a naked Orochimaru cough up another naked Orochimaru in a never ending loop." He threatened.
Naruto shuddered and dropped his arm. "No thank you. I'm pretty sure that falls under 'cruel and unusual punishment'."
"That might be a good torture technique." Kakashi said touching his chin. "Anyway. Now that your initial training with Yamato is over, I'd like to officially return you to active duty as a Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. What say you?" Kakashi asked the slight drop in the pitch of his voice and the gleam in his eye indicating how serious he was.
Sasuke closed his eyes. Images his father walking through the streets dressed in his police uniform followed by images of Itachi dressed in his ninja gear and then his ANBU uniform flashed before his eyes. He remember his mother showing him her jounin uniform while telling him stories about her previous missions. He remembered his time spent at the academy learning the way of the shinobi surrounded my other children with similar dreams. He remembered being put on Team Seven with Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi. Images of their time spent together training and on missions followed by the Chunin exams flowed like water across his mind.
He remembered his time spent as a rouge ninja doing everything with only his own interests in mind. He recalled fighting alongside his brother and then forming the Neo Sannin with Naruto and Sakura. The way his old classmates and teachers had fought together to save the world.
An image of Naruto grinning with the Hokage hat perched atop his head with Sakura on his right and Shikamaru on his left formed in his mind. Just like before at The Waterfall of Truth, there was a place between Naruto and Sakura, the place he wanted to stand. This was one of the steps on the path that led to that place. There was no question as to what his answer would be.
He opened his eyes and then knelt on one knee front of Kakashi's desk his head bowed with his forearm resting across the top of his bent leg. The traditional gesture of loyalty, respect, and obedience towards the Kage from the shinobi who served under them.
"I hereby pledge my loyalty to The Village Hidden in the Leaves." He replied. "I, Sasuke Uchiha, am at your full disposal Lord Hokage."
Kakashi stood from his desk. "As the Sixth Hokage of The Village Hidden in the Leaves, I accept your pledge with gratitude." He said firmly. He walked around his desk and laid his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Welcome home Sasuke. It's good to have you back."
Sasuke raised his head and was surprised by the tear that slipped from the seasoned ninja's eye. He was smiling at him in a way that reminded him so much of his Father and Itachi that he nearly teared up himself. He rose to his feet and was shocked when the masked ninja hugged him. He froze for a moment, after all Sakura was the only person he'd ever been physically affectionate towards. He tended to avoid this kind of contact with others. However, this felt right. The embrace of a father who's wayward son had finally returned home. He hesitantly raised his arm and returned the embrace of the man who'd been the closest thing to a father he'd known after his own had passed away.
It was the sound of the obnoxious idiot's sobbing that broke the teacher, student duo apart. Sasuke released Kakashi and stepped back itching to punch the loser in the face but resisted, shooting him a death glare instead.
"What is your problem?" he demanded.
"It's just so beautiful!" Naruto sniffed blowing his nose dramatically on a handkerchief.
"Whatever, loser." Sasuke muttered under his breath.
"I'll be counting on you from now on." Kakashi said walking back behind his desk to sit down again. "With all of the trouble going on with the ANBU lately, you'll likely end up taking on some of the operations I was planning to entrust to them." He explained.
"I understand." Sasuke replied.
"Excellent. I'll be in touch." Kakashi assured him reaching into the drawer of his desk and pulled out a business card. "This builder is well known and well liked in the village. I'm sure he'll be able to help you with what you need."
"Thanks." Sasuke replied slipping the card into his bag. "I'll see you later then."
"You and Sakura should come over sometime this week for dinner." Naruto said with a smile. "Hinata's a great cook."
Sasuke nearly rolled his eyes but nodded instead. "I'll talk to Sakura about it later." He said before walking out the door closing it firmly behind him.
The troublesome things in the village never changed. Even so, he was looking forward to getting back to what he did best. He knew he was lucky that Kakashi was so forgiving. Pledging his loyalty to him and The Leaf had been simple now that his heart was lighter. Never again would he abandon the village of his birth or the family he was building there. He would protect from the shadows like a true Shinobi. Like his brother had.
$%$
"Zen was happy to see you." Sakura said as they walked through the streets of the village, making their way towards the section that belonged to them, the members of the Uchiha clan. "He admires your strength. He says he wants to be a shinobi like you when he grows up." She said clasping her hands behind her back.
"That's not a good thing." He said thinking of his dark past.
She nudged him. "Sure it is. You're an exceptional shinobi, everyone knows it. We'll just make sure he takes a much smoother path to get there."
He nodded and led her up the steps to where the shrine once stood. "Do you know this place?" he asked her.
She nodded. "Naka shrine. It's dedicated to the Uchiha's patron deity." She replied.
"That's right, though it also serves another purpose." He said walking to the seventh tatami mat and pulling it out of the way. Sakura's eyes widened when the secret passage was revealed. "Come." Sasuke said extending a hand to her.
She nodded and took it using it to steady her as she walked down the steep steps to the Uchiha's secret meeting place. He lit a torch and she gazed around the space with wonder in her eyes.
"Wow." She breathed. "I never imagined something like this existed."
He nodded. "This is a secret place known only to members of the Uchiha clan. Now that you are a part of it, it's your right to know it." He replied walking to the front of the room where the stone slab written by The Sage of Six Paths and then altered by Black Zetsu stood. "This was left to my people many years ago." He explained touching the stone. "This is what fueled Madara's quest to power and drove my father and brother apart."
"I can't read it." Sakura said studying the stone. "The only thing I recognize is the Uchiha crest."
"Only those possessing the sharringan can read it." He explained. "Not that it matters. Though it was originally written by The Sage of Six Paths, it was altered by Black Zetsu. I'm not even sure what to do with it now." He confessed.
She reached out and touched his hand gently. "You'll figure it out when the time is right." She told him.
He nodded and then moved away from the stone tablet. "There are other things here that you should see." He said guiding her to the place where his family's things were kept. "These trunks belonged to my father, my mother, and Itachi." He said motioning to each one in turn. "I've been keeping them here since the massacre."
Her eyes widened and she gently reached out and touched each box in turn emotion shimmering in her jade eyes.
"You don't have to keep them here anymore." She assured him. "We could easily make room for them in my apartment." She cringed. "Well, once we move half of the wedding gifts into storage anyway." She added sheepishly.
"About that." Sasuke said reaching out to touch her face. "Let's build a house together. That apartment of yours was perfect for when you lived alone but it's getting a little small with both of us there."
"That's true." Sakura agreed.
"Would you mind building it on Uchiha property? It's a bit further from the hospital but we'd have plenty of room." He said.
She beamed at him and covered his hand with her own. "We'll build it wherever you like. As long as I get some say in the design." She said.
"Fair enough." He replied touching his forehead to hers. "Welcome to the Uchiha clan Sakura. I'm sure you'll fulfill your duties as matriarch with grace and steadfastness." He smiled gently. "Even if the only ones in the clan are the two of us, your position is still just as important as it would be if it was as large as it once was."
"I will do my best to fulfill my responsibilities as the wife of the Uchiha clan head." She said bowing low to him.
He smiled. "You're a natural." He remarked using his fingertips to lift her chin.
She smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I've spent a fair amount of time with Hinata since the war." She replied. "You tend to pick up on things when you're around the Princess of a Noble house so often."
He tipped her face up to his and kissed her gently. "Regardless, it makes me proud." He said nearly smirking when she blushed. "Also, as of today I am officially a shinobi of The Hidden Leaf Village again. Kakashi welcomed me back into the ranks today."
Her eyes widened and she leapt forward wrapping her arms around his neck. "That's so great!" she exclaimed.
He caught her around the waist and chuckled pressing his cheek to her neck. "You're excited now, but when he sends me on my first long term mission, I'm sure you'll be cursing us both." He teased.
She buried her face in his shoulder. "You're back where you were always meant to be. How can I not be happy?"
"Sentimental woman." he said with a smile tightening his grip on her waist.
"Naruto cried didn't he?" Sakura said.
"How did you guess?" he asked releasing her as she stepped away to touch his face.
"Just a hunch." She replied with a smile.
"Shall we go?" he said glancing at the entry way. "It's probably getting close to dinner time."
"Only if you're ready." Sakura said glancing around the massive space. "I'm glad the ANBU nor The Foundation never knew about this. I'm sure they would have torn this place apart."
"Yeah." Sasuke agreed as they mounted the stairs. "I haven't been impressed with them or The Foundation. Danzo certainly had a heavy handed way of doing things."
Sakura nodded. "Seriously. He had no respect for anyone or anything. He was so certain that only he could protect the village and if that meant constant acts of betrayal and the genocide of an entire clan, that was fine too." She snorted in disgust. "It never even occurred to the vulture that he might be wrong, that most of the dangerous forces threatening The Leaf were ones he'd created with his lies and deception."
Sasuke nodded and resealed the entrance to the secret meeting place.
"Sakura, how often do you come here?" he asked
Her eyes widened and she blushed before looking away. "I tried to come at least once a month." She replied. "Naruto told me a little about what happened to Itachi and your people. I just wanted to honor them."
Sasuke reached out and grabbed her hand lacing his fingers through hers. "Thank you for that." He said softly. "It means a lot to me."
She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Of course Sasuke."
The next day, Sasuke was called into the Hokage's office.
"Yesterday there was a large disturbance near the town of Kozen." Kakashi said pointing to a point on the map. "There's a shrine there that's said to house the soul of a malevolent spirit that once terrorized The Land of Fire. Lady Tsubaki, a kunoichi from The Hidden Leaf and Lord Hisame, a priest from the Kozen temple sealed it away more than seventy five years ago." He explained.
"Ok. What does this spirit do?" Sasuke asked glancing at the two shinobi standing next to him. One was from the Hyuga clan though he didn't recognize him and the other was from Kai Yamanacha.
"Little is known about it except for that it managed to raise an army that march on The Leaf Village." Kakashi said. "That army, was made up entirely of women."
Sasuke's brow furrowed at that. "An army of women?"
"That sounds like child's play to me." Kai said with a smirk.
"You're related to Ino and you can still say that?" Naruto said cocking a brow.
The blonde paled a little and then cleared his throat. "Lady Ino is one of the rare exceptions." He said sheepishly.
"So, what else do we know?" Sasuke asked.
"Lady Tsubaki gave very specific instructions. She said that if the sprit was ever release to send out a group of shinobi who were adept at using genjutsu and other jutsu that effect the psychic plane since the spirit's specialty was mental manipulation. She also said that the spirit has the ability to possess living humans."
"Well that sounds troublesome." The Hyuga clan member said. "I'm assuming I'm going because I'd be able to see the waver in someone's chakra if such a thing happened?"
"That's right Kou." Kakashi said. "The last and most important instruction Lady Tsubaki said that no matter what the circumstance, do not send any women from The Village Hidden in the Leaves to deal with the apparition."
"I see." Sasuke said taking the scroll that Kakashi held out to him. "We'll investigate this thoroughly."
&#&
"I told you that Kakashi would put you to work right away." Sakura said with a smile as she stood from her desk at the hospital and walked to a filing cabinet and slipped the folders in her hand into one of the drawers. "How long will you be gone?" she asked.
"It shouldn't be more than a week." He replied walking around her desk and tugging on the cord for her blinds. "It could last as long as a month."
"Not too bad then." Sakura said sliding her fingers over another set of files. "Who's on your team?"
"Kou Hyuga, and Kai Yamanacha. We're leaving in an hour." He replied studying a photograph of Sakura standing with the other women of the famous Konaha Twelve flashing a victory symbol, dressed in their war uniforms.
She stopped, her fingers hovering over the file she was about to pull. "Oh, so soon." She replied her voice a little softer than normal. "Well it must be urgent then." She said pulling the file out and returning to her desk laying the folder down.
"Sakura." Sasuke said walking around her desk and wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her flush against his chest. "You act like this is the first time I've been on a mission." He said pressing a kiss to her neck.
She sighed. "It's a wife's prerogative to worry when her husband goes away. Even if her husband is one of the strongest ninja's this world has ever known." She turned in his embrace and slipped her arms around his neck kissing him lightly. "I'm also going to miss you while you're gone you know."
He smirked and pressed his forehead to hers. "I won't be gone nearly as long as last time." He promised her.
"You better not be." She grumbled kissing him again.
His eyes drifted closed and fire ignited in his veins when he felt her tongue touch his lip. He slipped his tongue out to tangle with hers and lifted her onto her desk as his hand slid up her spine and then between their bodies groping her through her red shirt before reaching for the zipper of her top.
"Sasuke!" she squeaked when his mouth latched onto the swell of her breast just above the lace of her red bra. "Someone could walk in!"
"I locked the door." He replied sliding the zipper down until he could stroke over her abdomen.
"The window." She said her voice dying off as he stroked her through her black pants.
"I locked that too, and closed the blinds." He said pushing her back so that he could work on pulling her bottoms down.
"You planned this, didn't you?" she accused a low moan leaving her throat when he stroked a finger over her slit.
"Of course." He replied freeing his erection from his pants. "You're not the only one who will be going without." He reminded her stroking the head of his member over her soaking wet entrance.
"Sasuke." She groaned when he filled her with one thrust.
"Sakura." He moaned retreating a little before slamming forward again. "You're going to have to be quiet. The door is locked but these walls are thin." He reminded her.
He felt her clench around him and smirked even as he thrust and twisted his hips. Her hand flew up to clamp around her own mouth to cover her shriek of pleasure as her back arched off the desk. He leaned forward and sucked a rosy nipple into his mouth his hand sliding along her ribcage in the way that he knew made her shiver with pleasure.
It had been one of his fantasizes to take her here. In this office, on her desk while the hospital continued to bustle around them. Reality was turning out to be better than his dreams. Watching her flushed, desperately trying to control her voice even as her eyes rolled back with the pleasure he was giving her. Her clothes were disheveled and her desk was a mess, she was a mess and he felt a smug swelling of masculine pride that he had made her that way.
"Sakura!" he grunted as he felt a build of pressure at the base of his spine. "I'm going to come." He warned her.
Her walls clenched again and he released inside of her hissing when she followed right after. He pulled himself free from her and leaned forward kissing her gently as she panted and shivered in the after throes of her orgasm. Just as he started to pull his pants back up, there was a knock at the door.
Sakura's eyes widened and she jumped up from her desk quickly working to get her clothes back into place. "Who is it?" she called out glaring at Sasuke when he simply smirked from where he leaned against the desk watching her try to get herself presentable.
"It's Mutsuki." A voice replied. "I have the lab results you requested. May I come in?"
"Yes. Just a second." She replied raking her fingers through her mussed pink locks as she approached the door.
She pulled it open and a young woman with light brown hair and blue eyes handed her a file. Her eyes widened when her gaze fell on Sasuke.
"Who's that?" the girl asked blush tinging her cheeks.
"This is Sasuke Uchiha, my husband." Sakura replied motioning to him. "This is Mutsuki, she works in the lab." She said motioning to the young woman.
The girl's eyes widened. "I heard you'd gotten married but I didn't know it was to him!" she exclaimed giving the pink haired medic the thumbs up. "Well done director!" she said with a grin.
Sakura blushed and shook her head. "Was there anything else you needed Mutsuki?" she asked.
"Nope. I'll leave the two of you to whatever you were doing." She said with a wink before dashing down the hall.
As soon as the door shut, Sasuke chuckled even as Sakura turned towards him her cheeks and ears blazing.
"This is all your fault." She said pointing a finger at him accusingly.
"You say that like you didn't enjoy yourself." He countered sauntering across the room to meet her. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her gently.
"Go get ready for your mission." She said pushing lightly at his shoulders. "I'll see you off at the gate."
He nodded and left the room smirking when he heard Sakura hiss. "Damn you Sasuke. Making a mess in my office. Why are you so damn sexy?" under her breath.
He'd have pleasant memories to entertain him during the time he was away at least. Perhaps he could come up with another fantasy to make into reality when he returned home again.
&%&
"Do you have everything you need?" Sakura asked at the gate as she handed him a bottle of food pills and a custom made med kit to add to his pack.
He nodded and she sighed reaching out to smooth the collar of his cloak. "Stop fussing." He muttered. "I'll be fine."
She sighed and laid her head against his chest. "Please hurry back to me." She whispered.
He gently embraced her giving her shoulder a light squeeze before he took a step back and extended his hand tapping her in the middle of her forehead gently. "Until next time." He said smiling at her.
She smiled back and brushed her fingers through his bangs one last time before her arm dropped and he turned to walk away, joining the rest of his team. It was strange. His heart was heavier than it had been the last time he'd left the village without her. There was an ache that seemed to intensify with each step he took away from it, away from her. However there was also a new lightness as well. A desire to quickly finish his mission and return back. To the place where he knew she would be waiting for him.
"Let's go." He said glancing at the two men flanking him. "I want to reach the first village before nightfall."
"Right." Kou replied.
"Whatever." Kai muttered.
Sasuke nearly sighed at the Yamanacha's attitude. It was certainly going to make the trip unpleasant. Even so, he was determined to work with the man. The faster they completed their mission, the sooner they could come home.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading, reviewing, and favoriting! You are the reason I keep going even when I start to struggle with writer's block.
Dear Guest Reviewer Lala; Sasuke was a virgin in every way (except for his poor lips that were stolen by Naruto) when he married Sakura. Also the reason her was emphasized in that sentence was to show that he was referring to Sakura in her entirety not just her sexually.
Dear Gust Reviewer; Saying 'I don't like the way you portray Sasuke, his past, and his relationships' and 'your story is shallow' and calling it constructive criticism doesn't make it constructive criticism. Particularly if you don't present ideas on how to change or fix it. Which is why I invite you to log in so you can PM me ideas on improving.
Also, Sasuke likely didn't create meaningful relationships with anyone during his rouge ninja days, because he was a ROUGE NINJA wanted by every major nation in the world. In Sasuke Shiden; His post Naruto series book; he uses Orochimaru's connections to the criminal underworld, not his own to solve the mystery surrounding The Exploding Humans. Considering how little he cares for Orochimaru and relying on others in general, it's safe to assume that he relied on him because he didn't have any connections of his own to use in that situation, again indicating that during his rouge ninja days, he kept to himself and didn't attempt to form any lasting connections. There WILL be mentions of Sasuke's past and at least one entire arc of this story will feature Team Taka heavily in the future. So chill out and wait or find another Sasusaku story on this site to suite your taste.
